possibly headed somewhere soon? or maybe not idk

[babbylon]

I am neither childish, nor do I babble. Your clever attempts at wordplay fail to amuse, mongrel.

[...Saber's practically a saint for dealing with you, Gil. You're lucky she didn't cleave your head off while she was smiting metaphysical evil.]

Was she, though? The lonely king dying upon the lonely hill... [Grinning like a creeper, yep.] 'tis a shame I couldn't have partaken in such an agonizing view for myself. Alas, only the whims of ants might entertain me now.

[So you wait.]

Indeed. So I wait.

Comments

[knight_king]

[...]

Does my struggle offer you such a sight that you keep attempting to remind me of my past regret? I do not understand men like you.

[babbylon]

What an adorably flustered face.

[Is he helping? No? Sorry-not-sorry.]

I stand above those pawns you served, Saber. You do me great offense to compare me to their like.

[knight_king]

What did you say?

[Flustered face? She wonders if this is a test to her patience as knight to not attack when she's obviously provoked.]

I would never compare one of my knights to the likes of you, Archer.

[babbylon]

It seems you prefer to run them through, instead. Grisly.

[Alright, alright. He's done. Probably.]

Men like me... men like us... never existed as men at all. Perhaps the sole tenant of rule you seem to understand, though for entirely the wrong reasons.

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[knight_king]

You-

[She gnashes her teeth and silences her curse, but her gaze is full of venom. He had to say this when she noticed Mordred and when she feels that old wound opening again.]

[knight_king]

[But she will never show weakness and specially in front of him. King Arthur was truly heartless, when confronted with the unpleasant human regret of slaying one's only child for the sake of the kingdom, she can only return to that lifestyle.

...

Yes, she does understand. She hates that she can agree with that. She dislikes she has to share this with Gilgamesh when she sees him as nothing but her adversary and opposite.]

My reasons were correct.

[She wasn't wrong. It was a long way she spent learning this, but she could finally proclaim it.]

You can judge them as I know you will, though I was not mistaken.

[babbylon]

[It's a fair answer. If there's one thing she can't rightly be called, it's lacking in resolve or dedication to her cause. Saber earns a fairly level gaze for her trouble and a King of Heroes who subtly seems to signal a step back with his body language.

But like most affairs, it's all relative with Gilgamesh. Mercy is fleeting.]

...she's truly under quite the delusion, isn't she? Knowing and yet not knowing, accepting yet refusing at the same time. A regrettable trait to pass down.

[knight_king]

[When she finally believes that this conversation will end without any incident, he speaks again.

He speaks of someone she has regrets but not as a king. She protected her ideals and kept her oath flawlessly intact as ruler of Britain. Arturia has come to gain awareness, in the time she has spent in that cursed island, of her failings as friend, as husband and as a father. She has protected her ideals but she has never saved her loved ones.

Her eyes narrow dangerously and her cold voice is just as hostile than it was when he stepped between her and the Grail.]

Stop talking to Sir Mordred. You will not use that child for your games, Gilgamesh!

[babbylon]

Indeed I shall not, though I heed no orders from you or any other common savage.

[A pleasant response...]

I have my sights firmly set on another. No lesser substitute will take her place on my stage.

[...until he gives the rest of it, anyway.]

[knight_king]

[She is still tense, but that response somewhat placates her suspicion. She has been incapable to stop Morgan when she twisted her mind, so this won't happen a second time.]

Sir Mordred is one of my knights, therefore she is placed under my protection.

[Traitor or not, Mordred's status does not change the fact Saber is her king. Because of that, only she can judge her actions and punish her.

She knows her well. Mordred has a short-temper and can be provoked with ease.]

[babbylon]

Your protection comes late. She challenged me outright.

[And Gilgamesh generally has a poor track record of letting dogs bark at him without consequence, as she might recall with Lancelot. A miracle she still stands, and in one piece, no less—or a very calculated gesture on his part.]

You stand in my debt, Saber, for her violation of honorable code and my generous mood which spared her.

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[knight_king]

I understand.

[It is just as she has thought she would do.

She would have said something to defend her king's honor. She cannot object to the motive of actions, even though her volatile temper was precisely one of the reasons she had a poor qualification as king.]

[knight_king]

If she challenged you, then I should answer as an opponent in her place that would permit me to make reparations.

[That will cancel the debt. She does not like to owe anything to Gilgamesh and she is not convinced he spared Mordred out of simple kindness.]