video / seelie / mid-august

[flashcraft]

[The young man that shows up on the lockets this time has an angular face and coppery skin, dark hair littered with braids, and a thoughtful expression as he methodically strips the leaves from a cut branch, setting them in a neat pile beside him. He's seated outside somewhere, but it's hard to say where with only the tree he's seated against as a backdrop.]

Does the queen ever actually make an appearance? It seems strange that she should steal complete strangers from their homes and expect them to fight for her without ever once even addressing them. I can't imagine many people would throw themselves into a war for a queen who is herself conspicuously absent.

[And yet apparently people are, judging by all those he'd seen around the training grounds and preparing arms. It certainly prompts further thinking on the subject. But reconsideration requires evidence that reconsideration is worthwhile, so for the time being his jaw is stubbornly set. Still, he isn't looking for a fight, so his tone is mild and trader-like.]

I don't plan on playing soldier myself, whatever the royal command, and if the queen has a problem with that then she can show herself and speak with me about it. But I have some skill with making flash, and I could use the practice. So if anyone is interested in a charmed trinket or two, let me know. We can work out a trade.

[He frowns over the thought. But nothing else seems worth saying here, so he just nods. For a moment he looks like he's about to close the locket, but then he pauses for a last comment as a thought occurs to him.]

Does anyone know who made these lockets? I'd like to meet them.

Comments

compass, video;

[babbylon]

[Oh... hello, beautiful. Gilgamesh always makes a point of addressing the new recruits—or at least the pretty ones. The rest he just lets lesser folk deal with. But he looks and he sounds exotic compared to most he meets here, and so his attention's immediately drawn.

Did he ask a question? Eh, whatever.]

You are new to this realm? I suppose you must find this all overwhelming.

[Gilgamesh flashes an innocent smile at his compass. As innocent of one that a fox might wear, anyway.]

Your name. I would have it.

[flashcraft]

[It's either that smile or the failure to answer any of his actual questions that seems to set him on edge. That, or maybe it's just him being ever the cautious one. Someone has to be.]

I'm getting used to it. It's easier with something to focus on.

[And almost pointedly, he strips away the last leaf and deftly wraps the small pile in a swatch of fabric before taking up the now bare branch and a small carving knife.]

My name is Fire Dancer.

[babbylon]

"Fire Dancer"?

[Well, that was... ominous. Gilgamesh doesn't question it, though. He's been here much longer, but the Drabwurld always seems to get stranger and stranger by the day. He couldn't even answer where the lockets came from; he'd never looked into it himself.

But he can backtrack and give him another answer. An important one.]

Good to meet you, Fire Dancer. I am called Gilgamesh. [He omits the "King of Heroes" for now.] The Queen makes time for her subjects at the opening of each month, during the public audience. You may speak with her then, if you so desire, but no sooner.

[flashcraft]

Gilgamesh.

[Just an odd a name, as far as he's concerned. But he saw some shit during the welcoming feast. Strange flatlander names don't really warrant much more than a practice repetition and a nod of greeting.

He appears to ease just slightly upon being given an actual helpful answer though, shoulders relaxing just a little an fingers tapping thoughtfully against the side of his knife.]

And will she actually speak with me?

[He knows it's not necessarily the way of queens to give just anyone who wants one an audience. Raisa's an outlier and shouldn't be counted. For all his insistence upon it, he wouldn't really be surprised if the queen refused to see him.

But still, it seems like the least that could be done for a bunch of people you just effectively kidnapped.]

[babbylon]

Indeed. Mine is the name of a great Hero, in a land far away from this one.

[Which is why Gilgamesh doesn't mind a bit of awkwardness. He's finally used to not being recognized on sight now, and this newcomer seemed earnest enough. He can do his good deed for the day in the promise of a far more interesting evening.]

And the great Queen, Solais, attends all who approach her. You will not be forgotten; I can promise this personally, as she has always been frank and forthright in addressing my own concerns.

[Maybe a little too much. He does feel some small amount of regret that he may not call himself Seelie much longer, if only because of that rose.]

If I might be so bold, what is the nature of your inquiry? You need not waste words if it is simply asking after your summoning. I have that answer.

[flashcraft]

I've never heard it before.

[It's not actually snark. His tone is even, but there's the slight edge of hint that suggests he does appreciate a good story as much as any Clanborn, at least in better circumstances.

He pauses for a moment, considering the offer; this seems to be his default manner, thoughtful and reasonable despite plenty of justification for anger and stubbornness. Maybe this is a question better answered by another "guest" here than by the queen herself.]

I want to know why the people here think she's worth fighting for.

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh suffers that edge without complaint. He has learned patience in the Drabwurld, if nothing else, and it takes a great deal more than controversially straightforward tones to unsettle him.]

Solais would tell you herself that it is not she you fight for, but for the shard within your chest. For the gem and for this war that ties together each and every universe. It is a war she fights in other planes outright, with awesome power beyond us all.

[Dancer would be right to detect more than a bit of skepticism in his tone, but Gilgamesh brushes past it quickly.]

She also fights for the Void, the terrible abyss that gnaws at the fabric of our reality. An end to this world, and the beginnings of another.

[flashcraft]

[His lips turn down in a slight frown, but even this is more thoughtful than anything else. The shard business, he'd heard bits and pieces about, but even the consistency of all that didn't make it any easier to believe -- especially with the bit of disbelief he can hear from Gilgamesh.

He'll have to look into all that some more.]

It isn't exactly reassuring that you say she fights for something you call "terrible".

[Okay, maybe that was a hint of snark.]

[babbylon]

[And Gilgamesh snarks right back at him.]

There are those among the Seelie who do not fully support its cause.

[It's a very, very tight-lipped statement, and the slightest bit tongue-in-cheek. A particularly astute listener will deduce that Gilgamesh counted himself in those rebellious numbers, but his pleasant smile otherwise gives nothing away.]

[flashcraft]

[Tactfully, he doesn't pry into those issues of causes and support.]

Do you fight for her?

[...A more general sort of prying, however, he'll totally allow himself. His question is delivered neutrally and without hint of judgement, but there's definitely a bit of curiosity there seeping out.]

[babbylon]

[Here Gilgamesh becomes boastful. Any concern for prying gives way beneath a natural—and powerful—ego.]

I fight for myself, and for my island. The people of Leathann consider me a hero, and I look after them thusly.

[flashcraft]

[And here comes the arched brow, though the rest of his face remains, by all appearances, coolly unaffected. Save, perhaps, for the tiniest glint of something like mischief in his eye.]

I haven't heard of Leathann either.

[babbylon]

It's marked on your map. Can you read?

[Alright, now he's being snarky.]

[flashcraft]

There's a lot on that map and it's all unfamiliar. I haven't exactly memorized the names yet.

[But, putting the sass aside for the moment, he sits up a little to dig through his carry bag, coming up with the map in question and unfolding it.]

An island, you said? Which one? [He peers at the various scribblings on the map, like he might be able to spot the name before Gilgamesh can point it out.]

[babbylon]

[You're in luck, Dancer! Gilgamesh happens to have a spare map on hand, which he produces with a golden flash, accompanied by an enchanted quill. He scribbles... and scribbles... and scribbles... and finally...]

I found it!

[...produces this in front of his compass.]

[flashcraft]

[For his part, Dancer doesn't bat an eye at the flashy magic or the rude as shit sass there. He stares at the locket for a moment before shrugging and carrying on almost conversationally.]

Oh, is that it? I was looking at these little ones off the southwest coast. It seemed like the most plausible option...

[And he picks up his own map so he can helpfully point out the part he's referring to.]

[babbylon]

[Damn, that is some EX class sass. Gilgamesh raises his eyebrows and might just be impressed. A little. Maybe.]

How cute. So you can play. But I do believe you owe me something for my trouble, hm? Something like a... shiny trinket or two?

video;

[depicted]

[Oh hey! It's this guy! Dorian will talk to him again.]

Is flash the term for, ah, 'charmed trinkets,' as you put it?

[flashcraft]

I'm not giving anything away for free. [Friends get that privilege, but all his friends are in another world right now.] And I can't offer anything shiny until I find a supply of metals and stones to work with, or funds to spend on them. But otherwise, yes, I could make you something.

[babbylon]

Oh, I don't expect it for free.

[Actually, yes he does, but Dancer can keep thinking that he'll have the honor of charging Gilgamesh for anything. A peerless King of Heroes he may no longer be, but he still has his pride. A whole lot of it.]

What exactly can you fashion? Presuming I were to get you these materials.

video;

[flashcraft]

[Oh. The smoking guy from the feast. Dancer offers a nod of recognition in wya of greeting.]

Flash are what we call any Clanmade magical objects. Amulets, talismans, "charmed trinkets", and more.

[flashcraft]

[Good luck, bro. Clan are natural traders.]

I'm willing to try anything. I could use the practice.

[There's a hint of sheepishness there born of the fact that he's largely self-taught and very aware of the shortcomings that come with that, but it's just a hint. Honestly, he's very proud of his work.

And thoughtful and observant as ever, he takes the lead here.]

Are you a wizard?

[There was that flashy magic earlier, but things are strange here.]

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh laughs outright at the question. His interest seems to cheer him a little, as some of that grating arrogance drops off.]

A magus? No. I am a Servant, born of magic, but standing far apart from it. Though I am familiar with its general use.

[flashcraft]

[There's that thoughtful stare again. Though here it's more of a default expression to cover his total blankness at that explanation.]

...There's nothing like that where I come from, as far as I know, so I can't claim to understand what that means at all. I guess that means you don't need an amulet? Unless you have one hidden on you somewhere?

[At least, he hadn't spotted any of the telltale signs he's become used to looking for, like a lump under the fabric of a person's shirt or the edge of a chain peeking out from under their collar.]

[depicted]

What would you seek that you'd trade them for? Oh, and as for the lockets, no idea. But if you're interested in someone whohas a gift for making similar things, Hermione Granger is the one to go to.