the world stopped turning after my fall

[bowandblade]

Characters: Archer/Gilgamesh [AU3] and you!
Setting: Dorm room 2-12 initially, then on to other floors
Format: Whatever you prefer
Summary: Newly arrived and quick to shirk heavy duty explanations and get down to the business of exploring. That's Archer for you.
Warnings: Arrogance and dangerousness if provoked. Typical Gilgamesh.

Dormitory 02-12

Waking up to the feeling of not being able to move was not a completely new experience to Gilgamesh, unfortunately enough. After all, it had not been that long ago that he had expended just about all of his prana and then been overtaken by Saber's Excalibur, and waking up from that feeling had not been fun at all.

But he did not remember falling asleep in a bed. Did he even make it to the couch? Either way, he was staring at a ceiling that was unfamiliar, and his head was cushioned in such a way that--

--Ah. And there was the ability to move again. His lips quirk into a frown as he sits up and stares at ... his clothes. What was this thing supposed to be? Whatever it was, he was better off without it, and so he immediately unzipped the skin-tight suit and began tugging the material off of his arms.

Depending on how long it takes for someone to discover the new resident of room 12 on floor 2, he may be stripped down to half-wearing the suit, not wearing the suit at all, or be in the process of changing into a pair of black pants and an orange v-neck shirt.


Various dormitory levels

After getting out of the dorm room, it's time to properly acclimate himself to his surroundings.
That means wandering around. Gilgamesh doesn't really glance at the nameplates as he goes along, instead focusing on how everything looks pretty much the same wherever he goes. Boring.

He can be seen looking at some of the network terminals as he goes along, though he's not yet to the point of actually operating them. Maybe later, after he's gotten a little bored of exploring by foot. On the dormitory first floor, he's even looking at the open elevator with mild curiosity. Because this floor numbering system is downright odd.


Floor 81

A fascinating display.

Gilgamesh cranes his head back as far as his neck allows, taking in the strange view of the tower that seemed to stretch onward beyond earth and the stars. Seated at the window and quiet in his musings, he wonders if this is a view like what the gods could see. Was this the empty space that Enki sliced through in its devastating drive towards earth?

The mere question sends him back to his battle with Saber, and he finds himself scolding Enki for having failed him at such a critical moment. Because muttering to yourself while staring into space is definitely not strange. (But muttering to a pair of golden swords really wouldn't be much better, anyway.)


Various first block floors

The very idea of exploring new surroundings seems to give energy to the golden-haired man's actions. While he has no set destination on any of the floors he visits, he looks confident; a sharp smile never seems too far away from his face. After puzzling out the elevator earlier, it seemed fitting to go out and actually look at some of the floors in between elevator-visited areas.

Comments

[bowandblade]

[Oh good. They can be unimpressed together.]

What a troublesome affair. Could they not have at least waited until I had finished my War?

[His priorities are straight. Of course.]

[canofworms]

[His laugh this time is definitely darker, but also distinctly amused. Guess whose priorities are aligned?]

If they had that courtesy, I wouldn't be here, either.

[bowandblade]

[A curious hum escapes Gilgamesh at both the laughter and words spoken.]

I thought you had said you had finished your War.

[canofworms]

I lived to see the next one.

[Ah, the amusement left.]

[bowandblade]

[He tips his chin towards the ceiling at that, thoughtful.]

Unless you happen to be an immortal magus, then that means the time between Wars was greatly reduced. [Just like what had happened in his own world.] I presume something happened to the Grail.

[canofworms]

The time was ten years.

[He falls silent for a moment; the answer to the next question is something of a gamble. It's bizarre to even be thinking of talking to Archer, even an alternate version, about this sort of thing -- he knew little of the original, but it's enough to make him pause and consider.

It's bizarre to be talking to Archer at all, but what can you do in this Tower. He keeps his voice to some semblance of casual.]

What would you do if something did happen?

[bowandblade]

[What would he do? A loaded question, even if it hadn't been presented to him in such a vague manner. His arms loosen from where they are crossed over his chest, falling to his sides -- only for one to come back up to rest lazily on his hip.]

You ask a strange question, Matou magus. I do not care about the Grail, but the idea of another War occurring so soon is an intriguing notion.

[canofworms]

[It's not exactly a challenge or an overt gesture of hostility, so Kariya considers the trial past -- speaking to Heroic Spirits is always a unique game, let's say, and this one odder than most.]

My name is Kariya. [Let's keep it matter-of-fact, but we're addressing that before it turns into a habit.] The Fifth happened sooner because the ritual was interrupted in the Fourth.

[Pause.]

I don't know why you would have been summoned, if you don't want the Grail.

[Does that make you lucky or unlucky?]

[bowandblade]

Perhaps the Throne decided to send its best to oversee a war over a miracle, Kariya. [He smirks as he says the magus' name, as if taunting him for his insistence. But whatever he thinks of being reminded of the name is lost as he decides to focus on Kariya's comment.]

My involvement has more to do with my Master's desires than my own. Such is to be expected as the greatest Heroic Spirit.

[canofworms]

[Acquiescence is acquiescence. He'll take mocking iterations of his name over 'Matou magus' any day, especially since he was going out on a limb there anyway.

... He really doesn't understand this Archer's reasoning any better than the last one's. Either they're complete opposites, or... he just doesn't get it.

Ah, well.]

Are you saying you're above the War itself?

[bowandblade]

I partake in the War because finding a worthy opponent for someone of my caliber is a true rarity. [He gestures with his free hand, curling it into a loose fist with a competitive smile.]

What else could I possibly want from this modern earth?

[canofworms]

[... In the end, is that it? It's not an entirely surprising ambition for a Heroic Spirit, those who have seen and lived through each age of the world and have ended a cut above all the rest. At the same time, in light of everything, it seems so petty.

So magus-like.]

... You see nothing wrong with a tainted War in these worthy duels you want? [He pronounces 'worthy duels' with the faintest touch of disdain. He can't understand. He doesn't want to understand.]

[bowandblade]

Hah? [He raises a brow at the question. This magus, posing such questions of a Servant... The King of Heroes, certainly -- but a Servant in the context of the War.]

A tainted War?

[canofworms]

[His eyes narrow a little. If this Archer hasn't encountered the true nature of the Grail, regardless of his opinion of it, this might not be the time to get into it. How should he approach this?]

If your Master had entered the War without understanding it at all. If every magus who participated in the War was only a fool who called a Heroic Spirit for something they didn't fully understand.

[Of course, he's stating the obvious: it's something inherent in the very nature of the Grail War that they're toying with forces greater than themselves. It's the nature of the Grail that gives everything that extra layer of irony.]

Doesn't that make a joke of the whole thing?

[bowandblade]

[A joke. He goes silent at the question, frowning contemplatively to himself but refraining from showing such a thing to the magus in front of him. No, the magus receives a neutral look.

In truth, Gilgamesh had his moments of serious wondering about the War. The Servant Rider was an oddity, a creature born from the commands of a Master who could not fight the War. Ayaka was... He did not even know what she would want with the Grail; she always seemed so reluctant.

But over-analyzing the competition had never been something worth his time; his complete lack of interest in the Holy Grail had led him to pursue his own interests and not take seriously his own Master's ambitions.

With that in mind...]

It is a joke.

[canofworms]

[He tenses at the sudden silence; it's a little dramatic for his liking, and he can't read anything from the suddenly quiet Spirit.

So when the answer comes he's just left blinking at the anticlimax.]

... And you're fine with that?

[bowandblade]

I do pity the modern world for having to stoop to such forms of hope. I have little love for the gods, but they would at least pass a hand over humanity at times. [He speaks almost nonchalantly on what could be a surreal topic to passersby.] Is it not obvious that humans gamble when they reach out to higher powers?

The basis of the War is mired in ugliness. There are those who participate for ulterior reasons. Neither of those change the conviction of Masters and Servants who still seek the Grail.

[canofworms]

[There's a quiet laugh at that; he might be a little too used to surreal topics, or maybe it's just this one.]

The 'gods' have been quiet for a long time. If they ever make any noise, they're probably laughing at us.

[He shakes his head.]

Convictions based something as ridiculous as a miracle -- that's the joke, isn't it?

[bowandblade]

Such questions. I am beginning to think you wish a full history. [Though there is a bit of amusement in his voice, it's also obviously alert; he knows probing when he sees it, and the magus is asking these questions with a purpose in mind.]

The promise of a fulfilled wish -- it is a powerful thing. But to think humans could produce a miracle made by their own design? That is an arrogance that leads only to destruction.

[canofworms]

Humanity's always harnessed things greater than themselves.

[And if you think too hard about it, everything is a detour to destruction -- Kariya's not quite to that point of cynicism, though. Not about humanity.]

Magi, though. They make miracles on a daily basis, why shouldn't they look for a greater one? What's a little collateral damage? [His tone becomes a little wild before he reins it in, pausing for a breath.] So you participate in the War for the sake of the War, Archer?

[bowandblade]

[Ah, there it was -- the loosing of emotion that spoke towards the man's purpose. A hint of what he had seen beyond the War and the Grail. An airy laughs escapes, and he shrugs his shoulders as he allows himself to dip into more modern speech. Just for now.]

I participate in the War because I do what I want. Or is that too facetious for you?

[canofworms]

[The breath that escapes him isn't quite a laugh -- it's somewhere between that and a sigh. He'd thought that maybe Archer understood the stakes of the War, but...]

... I don't know what it is, to be honest. [He wonders if the Archer he knew would have said such a thing, in light of everything else. There was always Kirei to consider, the warp in the fabric.] If you don't have a wish, then it depends on your Master, doesn't it?

[He's admittedly curious.]

[bowandblade]

Correct. When you want to win, you call upon the greatest Heroic Spirit. But that does not mean every wayward magus gets to hear about my boring Master and his equally boring wish.

[Why would anyone want to hear about his Master, anyway?] The man never leaves his office at all.