anti_altruisms | IC Contact for futurology

[Several hours pass before Gilgamesh tries his luck again.

Of course, he never had any intentions of holding meaningful conversation regardless, not with Michel's death hanging in the background and a thousand different people blasting his ear off for what was ultimately a matter of necessity. He suspects the whole affair has placed him in a less than stellar mood so he bides his time and waits for things to smooth over first. To a certain degree, Archer must be appeased before he's willing to listen. Words must be chosen with care.

This time, he favors audio. There are certain sentiments he means to express that are ill-suited for plain text and require a... charismatic lilt. Of sorts.]

Good evening.

[Most of their comrades are asleep by now. But as they both know, Servants never rest. Not truly.]

I see no one's claimed your head on a pike yet. Either you're too swift or they're too sloppy.

[ It hasn't put him in a foul mood, really. Many of the reactions, he expected -- some he did not. There is nothing anyone can say to convince him he took the wrong path, and his self-esteem (or lack thereof) isn't contingent on people he hardly knows. It was a terrible but necessary thing that he did, as he has countless times before.

In any case, he does take the King of Heroes at his word. The call does come, and he isn't surprised.

Archer doesn't sleep, anyway. ]

They would be foolish to try.

[ Seriously. ]

Why have you contacted me?

[ He gets right to the point. ]

[Indeed, almost jarringly straightforward. Except he's accustomed to the other man's mannerisms by now, knows he means no real insult with it and so doesn't take it as such. He continues on calmly—and, thankfully, free of any of that earlier poking and prodding.]

I am going to ask you a question. You may answer freely and honestly, without fear of consequence or retribution.

[Not that Archer ever tended to answer otherwise, but it's his way of keeping the discussion floor open. He needed it to be for this.]

Have you given consideration to killing Pearl?

[ Jarringly straightforward is just how he does things.

It's why he doesn't bother with hemming and hawing and running circles around the question. Gilgamesh knows what he is, likely has at least some insight into how he thinks, so it's almost a pointless question. He should already know the answer. ]

I have.

[Unsurprising. Neither is the follow-up, crisp and yes, just as to the point:]

And would you consider doing so moving forward?

If it became necessary, yes.

[ Another question he should already know the answer to. ]

Then you should know the same applies for me.

[Gilgamesh admits to as much without any degree of malice, just as something that is and could be if pressed that far. However, that's the whole point of this discussion—to avoid such a situation to begin with and instead come to a fairer compromise.

He's just not letting on quite yet that he's already come into said compromise knowing full well what he wants.]

It leaves us at an impasse. Our Masters are both strong, but they cannot match up to the likes of a Servant. They are vulnerable in the case of attack.

[His eyes sharpen, unseen, behind the feed.]

To this end, I have a proposal.

[ Of course, he knows. They are both Servants, and they have both fought in the Holy Grail War. It's simply how things are done, regardless of personal feelings.

He remembers, of course, the last time Gilgamesh pressured him to come to terms. An unspoken threat hung in the air, and whatever else transpired between now and then, their conversation on the network earlier didn't exactly endear him to the man in any shape or form.

He doesn't need to be told what he is, how he is, or why. He is already aware, and he's more self-critical than he is of anyone or anything else.

Still, he's not infuriated like he was nearly a month ago. He can easily say no to anything Gilgamesh proposes, but this time, at least, he won't shut him out. Gilgamesh has taken a direct approach with this so far, and he'll respect that, if nothing else. ]

I will hear you.

Edited 2016-02-05 02:22 (UTC)

I will leave her be.

[There's an awfully big but hanging off the other end of that. He's waiting to see how Archer reacts first, though. If he'll bite at all.]

[ Oh, he is well-aware of that. ]

What do you want?

[ If he agrees at all, which of course, he hasn't. ]

I will leave her be; I will speak to her only when spoken to; I will neither touch nor deride nor do anything else to impede her honor. I will free her of my attentions and seek pleasure elsewhere. And, of course, her life will be spared, regardless of any hostilities between us.

[But, but, but. Gilgamesh must keep himself from laughing; either Archer will totally go for it without concern, or...]

In exchange for assuring the safety of her body, there is one thing you might give me that will sate my thirst.

[ He's not a fool. After that long list, he has a fair idea where all of this is going. ]

And?

[ He'll let Gilgamesh get as wordy with this as he wants. ]

Take her place in my bed.

[Was that what he expected? Doesn't matter. That's what Gilgamesh wants. That's the but.]

[ It isn't as lengthy as he expected, but the content isn't a surprise.

There are quite a few things he could say to this, too. How he thinks Rin had a place in his bed to start with (she doesn't), and how much the other man rubs him the wrong way on a very instinctive, almost primal level.

He is logical, however -- methodical, even, in how he assesses this. ]

That's what you want.

[ No inflection. It's an incredible thing to him, but of course, he's never really engaged much in the pursuit of selfish wants or desires. He hardly understands it, except it drives certain people more than others. Gilgamesh, quite clearly, is one of those individuals where less is more certainly not more. ]

Is it a problem?

[Gilgamesh sounds cool, composed, a perfect match to that analytical inquiry. He could boast at length at fantasies he's had of his Master, how of course she belonged in his bed, everyone he lusted for did, and Saber too someday, how fascinating he found him, how he wanted to put hands all over him and tear him apart...

But he refrains. Archer, yet again like an animal, responded to precise gestures. Blunt statements. He had no taste for long-winded rants, for extended imagery no matter how beautiful Gilgamesh would argue it to be. He wanted short answers, so he would get them.

He wanted a simple exchange, so this was it. This was the price of poker.]

[ He considers it from every possible angle.

On a very keen, almost visceral level, he wants to decline. He wants to do it on the basis of principle (he told Rin he wouldn't bargain for her safety), and on the other hand, he doesn't particularly like Gilgamesh, either. A fuck isn't anything special in the big scheme of things, but he doesn't know if subjecting himself to this (to Gilgamesh) is wise.

But then, of course, he thinks of other possibilities. How easy it would be to slit the man's throat in the act when his guard is down, how all the weapons and knowledge of his Gate would be useless when panting and distracted.

Archer works through the pros and cons of such an arrangement, and ultimately, logically, giving Gilgamesh a body to fuck, even if its his, is honestly cheap in terms of an arrangement such as this.

He's quiet for a long moment, but when he answers, he is adamant and clear. ]

You will speak to no one about this. You will not heckle or direct any unwanted commentary towards my person where others can see or hear. You will uphold every caveat you just recited to me, or I swear, you will wish you had.

[ He will find a way. He's stubborn and resourceful. ]

If this is to be the arrangement, it will be between us and us alone.

Then you will come when called.

[Like a good dog.]

And you will sate me until I am satisfied. I will hear no complaints, broker no arguments. If you give your body to me, then you give it entirely. Those are the conditions. If I am understood, then I agree to your terms as well, and we will have ourselves a deal.

[Not that he wouldn't find ways around said terms. Rin was too interesting a target to give up on entirely; he'd just have to do it more carefully, where he couldn't see, and subtly enough that the girl wouldn't tell anyway. Shouldn't prove too difficult now that she's let her guard down some.

Gilgamesh grins, feeling as though he's gotten everything he could possibly want in one fell swoop.]

You are a very pragmatic man, Archer. I respect that.

[And he's also going to demolish the hell out of that the first chance he gets.]

There is only one Master I answer to, Gilgamesh.

[ There's an edge to his tone now. He will not tolerate this boundary being disrespected. ]

My first duty will always be to her, not to you, and I cannot accept unreasonable demands on my time.

If that is understood, I will consider the agreement in effect.

[Gilgamesh hums, a vague sort of sound that could go one way or another. He doesn't address any of his concerns, really, because they don't matter. Archer will come when called. He'll just take care not to yank on his leash too often and risk fangs being bared at him.

There's a slow intake of breath on the other end, and then a very purposeful purr. A taste of what Archer will endure behind closed doors.]

I look forward to having you.

[With that, the pact has been sealed.]

[ A pact with the devil.

Certainly not the worst thing he's done, though it does leave a sour taste in his mouth.

He doesn't answer this time. As far as he's concerned, they're done here. ]

IC Contact for futurology

audio; [KINGOFHEROES]

audio;

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cw: some disturbing imagery...............

also they're talking about boning so don't read it at all maybe

yeah don't read this, it's kind of terrible

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