Finis Chaldea

It took some nerve to remind him of that day the White Titan interrupted his ultimate victory. Thinking back to that time, he scoffed anew. That damnable beast would be slayed by his bare hands if it ever returned. Regardless, his math needed no further work. A few simple blinks beforehand, and he would not have slipped into Irkalla; it was all so simple. Death by overwork was not something that could claim the King of Heroes while he remained conscious of the state of his being. Ah... but now that he thought about it, there was still work to be done.

What of Artoria's exposed flesh? It was not done for his sake, but to avoid dying of a heatstroke, according to Artoria. How laughable. "Perhaps you should have let stroke take you, just a little. A seizure or two would have prepared you well for my return, and the consummation that will come soon enough," he announced. He had to admit though, there was much appeal to this little outfit of hers. He could see so many perfectly-placed openings to take advantage of on a whim. If she had something like that in place during the celebration of her Holy Grail acquisition, perhaps things would have gone quite differently within the Nexus. Oh, but Artoria had something else to comment on as she turned to him with a freshly-flushed face. He was dressed... differently? That wasn't quite right. Her words were true, but he saw in her face much more than an acknowledgement of change. "I would not wear the same old rags during my grand resurfacing. What's the matter? Does your mind implode upon itself as you consider all the possibilities?" he teased.

Suddenly, there was yet another interruption to an existing conversation between the two. This one led to Artoria rushing off to a basin, only to return with the original Excalibur in tow. Had he truly been gone so long as to let that sword be repaired? It seemed so. More importantly, he was soon to be met by something very new, and very much overdue. Whatever happened after she ran off, Artoria returned with a greeting complete with embrace. Gilgamesh's brow rose; this was not something he foresaw during their little spat. Regardless, he would meet that embrace with a smug grin, one arm of his own wrapped around the woman's torso while the opposite hand rested atop her head. "Hmph! Resisting to the bitter end, all for this to be the result? It seems seven years of Uruk has not altered the likes of you, Queen of Knights."

The return of the King of Heroes was full of sass and quippy behavior. Whenever Artoria determined why she needed to be constantly annoyed by the men in her life, she would figure out how to kill the one who determined her lot would be slayed by her own hand. Whatever the case, it seemed the King of Heroes did not take kindly to her thoughts about why she'd changed clothing. Apparently, she should have let herself be taken by heat, so that she might be prepared for their eventual consummation. "You still say the most outlandish things..." Artoria said this, but they were alone now, even Siduri had wondered off when noting that none would come to blows. After all, she did have a message to deliver to the King of Nippur. Besides all of that the Queen of Knights was a rather private person. What of his new look? Well, she was obviously thinking more things than she was saying, but of course she was... she had a strange amount of problem vocalizing things that had to do with the King of Heroes. He wanted to know if her mind imploded when she thought of him in his new clothes she managed to simply avoid eye contact. "Implode is not the right word. Do not tease me King of Heroes."

Yes, that was it, she could be firm and understanding. Of course, he did look kind of great, and what was more within his arms she could also say he felt great. He was warm and inviting and so much bigger than she was. He also looked a bit younger than she'd seen him before. Not necessarily different just less stressed in general? With a hand atop her head and one around her waist she could only scoff at his sentiment. "The world bends to the mighty remember. Things are more likely to change around me than I am around them..." she said sounding generally pouty. She looked up at him for the first time in a long time and met those eyes she'd come to enjoy quite a bit in the time before. "No one asked you to be so smug about this King of Heroes," she said as those fingers of hers danced along his back. He was definitely younger than he'd been the last time she'd seen him. That was a frightening idea, he'd come back younger that would make him problematic in ways she didn't know if she was prepared for. "Also your hair like that reminds me of the other younger, you I ran into... you are a problematic individual to have summoned, both in personality and power," she said producing this Archer Class Card in one hand while ruffling his hair with the other. Since he was holding her it would do her a world of good not to be annoyed by that haircut which reminded her of a jerk she'd stabbed to death in the desert.

Implode was not the right word, she said. One could not avoid realizing that Artoria never rejected the overall idea of his statement. Of course, it would be Gilgamesh who brought such a thing up. "H'oh? Should I instead say explode, as your loins will do in time? Perhaps that would be more fitting," he corrected. The way she looked in combination with the dainty fingers shifting along his exposed back, told more than enough tales of her wandering mind. Ah, it seemed to be more than deviance that overtook her consciousness. Good. He would be quite disappointed if that were the only thing. "Fear not. In time, I will explode the whole of your being. Your wandering mind will not be left alone."

True enough, Artoria Pendragon was more likely to alter the whole of Uruk before being affected herself. Frankly, Gilgamesh would even be elated to see a full overhaul of this world while she dominated the whole of it beneath her boot heel. A chortle even managed to slip through the king as his hand shifted slightly through tightly-wound hair. "Do I not have the reason to be priggish? Does one not feel satisfaction when looking upon the rising sun, being greeted by its warmth as the long night's cold melts away?" The way Gilgamesh viewed a situation such as this could not be considered in high regard; that would be far too simple. The language of this world had no words that could fully express his thoughts. He would have little choice but to change that line of thought, however, as Artoria chose to do away with the styling of his hair. In doing so, she mentioned that pitiful copy of his younger self. Gilgamesh scoffed once more, turning his gaze from that disgusting card. Seven years ago, he'd seen that imitation in a vision. Of course, this meant it came as no surprise to know Artoria encountered it. "I may have been somewhat excitable in my youth. Those imitations shall be removed from their resting place. None will be allowed to summon me." As he spoke, Gilgamesh reached out to the card held by Artoria. "Least of all you. You are permitted only to partake of the genuine article; nothing less."

The words of Gilgamesh hit her ears with such aggressiveness. He really meant things like that. She knew it down to her soul, but that didn't make it better for the young woman who was not at all used to being addressed in such a way. "You really can not help yourself. So content to put strange ideas in my head," the young queen said. Of course it went without saying that she actually had no real problems with the way the King of Heroes spoke to her, when they were alone. It'd become something very obvious, she did not mind how he was, she actually quite liked it. Her dignity simply wouldn't allow her to accept such openness while she was carrying on her knightly duties.

Speaking of things she accepted when no one else was around one of those hands of his was inside of her hair. That felt kind of nice... why? Well, apparently she didn't always need to know why, but this was a strange thing to discover one liked. "It seems your realm of death still left flowers in your mouth... I do not mind though," she said that sentence and felt she would likely regret it at some point. This man literally just compared her to the sun after a cold night and she found those words strangely endearing. Whatever the case he seemed to scoff at the mention of his other self. What was more he was content to try and take from Artoria her acquired card, claiming she would only be allowed to partake of his real self. "Oh? I do not think that is a worry to have. That version of you gives me only the desire to kill. Mercilessly. Ire-inspiring you were in your youth, at least to me. Though I do understand why you should not be summoned by others. It is proof that I actually succeeded in killing you... I may not be keen to part with my trophy," was Artoria teasing? Maybe just a little. Truly she was not overly fond of the young King of Heroes, and in her own opinion he did not seem too fond of her either. Aside from some strange obsession he had with breaking down her personality. Strangely, this seemed to be somethng shared by his older self, but utilized in a different way. Still she was enjoying her time in the King of Heroes arms, she really had missed him. How young was he now? She could not tell, nor did she want to ask, lest she be confronted with the nature of her wandering eyes once more.

"It is not so simple a matter as that," Gilgamesh insisted. Putting ideas in the queen's head was too small a thought. "I am content to put a few things in many places. All of such places happen to be found somewhere on your person," he continued as he always would. Never having a shortage of ammunition, even more loaded itself into his chamber when Artoria spoke of his flowery speech. One might wonder if she ever realized what she was setting up. "If you mind it so little, you will surely enjoy the things that will be left in your mouth. Flowers may be the least of it."

Gilgamesh's thumb and forefinger were closed around the corner of that blasted card, yet Artoria had not released it to him. She had a desire to kill him that was exasperated by dealing with his young self, so she would not be relying on that card for any summoning. However, she wanted to keep it to herself for an entirely different reason. She thought it to be a trophy that represented her success in killing him? Nonsense! Defeating some poor imitation was no mark of victory over his own greatness! "If it is a trophy for killing the likes of me you desire, then you should be capable of killing my true self," he said, forcing a grin through twitching lips and brow. "Perhaps I shall allow you the privilege of holding this atrocity when you manage to best me. A wonderful idea, no? I will be magnanimous and not limit it to matters of combat." That suggestion was about all he had to offer, but... suddenly, the existence of that card was even more of an annoyance than it previously was.

Oh? He wasn't just putting ideas in her head. She was thinking too simply? He was content to put a few things, in many places on her body? Her thoughts ran wild. What things? What places? Would she enjoy them? Her face flushed intensely at the thought and her eyes finally averted from the King of Heroes face for a moment or two. "I want to say I should be silent to avoid these moments, but I do not feel like silence is enough to stop you from saying such things..." she mentioned as her eyes came back to him. One day her face wouldn't always be red in his presence. In some ways, she would rather face an army of a thousand armed fighters than deal with the things Gilgamesh said to her and try to figure out how to respond without leaving herself more open to verbal attack. Like this last sentence? How was this taken in such a way... "I am convinced you cannot help yourself," she said of this man's constant speech. Those words that filled her head with curiosity and ideas not natural to her being were always strange.

Artoria had teased the King of Heroes just a little and she'd caught sight of it in the moment. His absolute annoyance at her words, marked by that twitching brow and lip as he tried to talk himself into claim of the thing she'd won for herself. A cheeky little smirk came to the Queen of Knights' lips. "I do not always desire your death, King of Heroes... sometimes it is more or less about the victory~" she said as if she did not know why he could be upset. "Right now, your lips and brow are twitching... does the comparison between your younger summoned self, and your self now really that upsetting to you?" she asked seeming to find amusement in managing to get anything resembling a rise out of him that he was not in control of. Of course, she'd done this before, so she knew the signs... right, when she'd hinted at the idea that the King of Magecraft could be recognized as her sovereign match. What was more, he claimed he might allow her to hold the card if she managed to best him, and it didn't even have to be in combat. "Oh? But I won the card already... you really are a hoarder trying to take it from me when I was the one who captured it," she said giving that same little smile. "No matter, if it really is so important I will relinquish it to you. Like I said I am not fond of the counterfeit version of you anyway," she clarified. Actually, that was how she got under that one's skin, she seemed to have no problem being so close to him now. She even actually let go of that card since he wished to have it. And now that hand came to rest against his chest. It was really firm and kind of nice to be against. What was with his body? Truly she should have had less of a problem ignoring him than she did. It was because she liked him that she found it annoying to try and concentrate while he was so close?

There was indeed no way even silence would stop him. Even that sort of statement was another bayonet with which to arm the King of Heroes. "You are allowed silence. It will be made that much sweeter when you begin screaming to the high heavens," he said as if it were a matter of fact that she would be doing so. Gilgamesh never seemed to deal in conjecture with this woman. No, all that he said would happen, and neither she nor fate had any say in the matter. Well, Artoria technically had a say, but only "yes" would be considered acceptable.

It was not about the death, but about the victory, she said. Even that was presumptuous... yet somehow erotic. Yes, it was exciting to observe the Queen of Knights' resolve in action. She fancied getting under his skin, did she? Well, he'd make sure she was repaid in full, in whatever ways he thought up at the time. "Do not presume to know what I find upsetting. A forgery has no right to stand in my place unless I allow it. I would consider allowing one that would reach out to you, only under the proper circumstances," he clarified. Only in one scenario would some cheap copy of Gilgamesh stand before one Artoria Pendragon. It could be permitted only when Gilgamesh himself took his place behind her... or the other way around. Yes, that should be the law, but even that had an air of repulsiveness about it. Moving on, Artoria released that card in the end. Where would her hand go once emptied? Onto his chest as she spoke her distaste for the counterfeit. Interesting. Since she wanted to touch him so badly, he took her by the wrist and shifted her hand toward his own cheek instead. All the while, he was moving forward, the grin returning to his visage. "Save such sentiments for later, Queen of Knights. You've yet to truly know the original model. But, do not worry. You will soon know nothing more than the one true Gilgamesh."

A sigh left the Queen of Knights. She'd truly done nothing to deserve this sort of punishment from life. The King of Heroes needed very little to use as ammunition and he'd still find a way to turn any utterance into something that would leave her face heated. Still she found it more disturbing that he was always so certain of his own words. Even right now, he claimed she would be allowed silence because her screams would be sweeter later. This was not that sort of battle, but he was firm in his surety of being able to elicit some sort of response from her. "You definitely cannot help yourself..." those eyes of hers would not be dealing with the smug visage of the King of Heroes right just now. No... she allowed them to wander a bit. Well actually they wandered a lot but it would start off innocently enough. That jewel in the middle of his forehead, different earrings, not terrible she supposed. Gold... Artoria's eyes were moving around if only for the sake of having different focus, when she realized that in general this man wore jewelry instead of actual clothing. He had tattoos on his arms as well that was not bad actually. He was saying things, how a forgery had no right to reach out to her without his permission. She shouldn't presume, "I presumed correctly so I will continue to do so." Artoria had a small smile on her face as she tried to figure out why this man dressed in such a strange manner and why she found herself liking it. She really shouldn't, but she really did.

She'd freed her hand of his Class Card, relinquishing it to his control, and then placed that hand against his chest. This man's entire upper body was always so exposed. Soon that hand she'd laid against his chest would be moved by the wrist. He was moving it towards his own face. She found herself placing her hand there and her gaze finally returned upwards. 'Shit.' That was the thought, she'd definitely been staring unabashedly for several moments just trying to figure out why she liked this change in attire and coming up with no real answers. Instead she'd been ogling him instead of being much for conversation or anything of the sort. And now, he was grinning. He claimed she should save her sentiments, that she would soon know the one true Gilgamesh. Meanwhile she was going through ways in her mind to avoid having a conversation about her wandering eyes. Her hand was against the side of his face now. His skin was smooth and soft under her hand, her fingers twitched ever so slightly dancing just enough to flick one of those earrings as she traced his jaw. "You really are young right now," she murmured that little thought aloud. If she was meeting his eye perhaps she couldn't be distracted by him, but his face was nice to look at. Especially his mouth.... always talking was the King of Heroes besides those eyes she'd come to enjoy his mouth was a prime target.

"And why should I bother showing restraint, when the mere sight of my queen sets my very soul ablaze?" he countered. He could have helped himself in all honesty, but he saw no point in doing so. He saw Artoria quite differently than she could ever see herself; that much was clear. Also clear, was the aversion of her gaze... multiple times over in the midst of discussion. This was not the first time she'd done such a thing. What of the last incident? If he recalled, she claimed there was merely nothing else to look at. In this case however, there was much to view, yet her eyes wandered only across the King of Heroes' body. "Hmph," he muttered while watching her gaze bounce about.

This time, he would grant some leeway. Artoria would have the time to continue her observation without interruption. What would she say when it was over? That was a major point of curiosity for the king. As such, he spent a rather long time staring into mobile emeralds, until such a time as she viewed his face again. The fingers upon her hand were fiddling, and her eyes still did not meet his own. Oh? Was she looking to his mouth again? Yes, it seemed she was. With that, came the commentary regarding his newfound youth. How ironic that was; he'd spent so much time, and lost so much just to have restored youth taken from him. Now that he had it, though, he had quite a few plans for its use. "Is that what claims your attention? Indeed, I have been restored to my prime. I should have Siduri make amendments to that note. As I am now, it will take more than a fortnight to leave you crippled, which you may be for an entire month at this rate. I must admit, I found no answers to the situation of your death. Not to worry. I will find the answer soon enough, or I will slay fate itself when the time comes. So... what say you, Queen of Knights? Are you prepared to finally experience life before that fated day, and before the end of fate as you know it?"

Why show restraint? The sight of his queen set his soul ablaze? He meant her?! Artoria's face was stuck in its reddened state. Why did he say that? Who said things like that? Why... did she like that? Artoria had come to several conclusions in her life, not the least of which was that being a girl and thinking like one had a strange effect on the way her mind worked. "You say things and I am surprised. And they are the kind of things I expect to be lies and then they are not lies. You are ridiculous," she was firm in her knowledge that this man was absolutely ridiculous. To be fair she did not mind that though... she was coming to strange conclusions about herself. It probably didn't matter, everyone told her such things were normal, but perhaps they would remain strange to her because she'd never experienced them before this point.

Moving on, there was the matter of her staring and her accidental utterance. She rolled her eyes slightly. He'd noticed her staring he was always going to, she realized but how would he bring attention to it. By answering that question she'd not meant to ask. He was in his prime now. That was interesting, to come back from the dead in one's prime was an interesting thing to have happen. Ah and teasing, having Siduri make adjustments to his most ridiculous claim left the Queen looking aghast. Who had two weeks to waste on not being able to walk? Why would one want to not be able to walk? He'd found no answers to the situation of her death? Well that was fine, she wasn't looking for them either... the only one who was particularly worried about her death before now was her elder sister who'd died to have more time to devote to fixing it, as she said. "It is outlandish that you can say with a straight face that you intend to leave me in such a state for more than a month like it would be acceptable," she said with a roll of her eyes. "I worry not about my death, there are enough people doing that already. And I am not actively seeking it..." she said knowing that part of her elder sister's plan to die as Morgan was the ability to use her influence and the spare time to find a better method of restoring her sister to the other side of the world. Though she'd told her she was uninterested in such a thing, there was no stopping Hoshimi Rie when she decided to work, especially when said work was for the sake of her siblings. In that way, her elder sister and the King of Heroes were quite similar. "I would tell you not to exert yourself but I see such a thing is lost upon you..." she said with a small smirk coming to her face. Those fingers of hers stopped at his chin. Was she ready to see what this was like? Yes, actually... that was a surprising thing to realize. But... there was one other thing that needed doing before she could do so as freely as she would like. "You would have me commit to a month. I ask you give me a day..." she said. Though feeling particularly selfish now, she would still be responsible. "Though I am prepared to see that which you offer. I cannot let a copy of Excalibur, with fewer restrictions than my own sit alone the world with no master... it is easier to use than my own and I would rather it be where it needs to be," she said. "I also need to lay eyes on my Kingdom and make sure the Lady Kay is fine with her continued duty, though admittedly this line of action is the only one I have ever offered that she has given her own agreement to," she said. It was still strange to her that the Lady Kay seemed so alright with her activities within Uruk and concerning the King of Heroes. She was not after the Kingdom of Camelot though, instead she simply wished for the Queen to experience things. Artoria could see that in her agreement, and none could argue with Kay when she made such a decision. "Is such an allowance within the King of Heroes's magnanimity?"