[closed] this is a second coming, this is a call to arms.

[babbylon]

CHARACTERS: Gilgamesh and Saber
DATE: Backdated; during the tail end of the team's Oska stay.
WARNINGS: It's a fight log, folks. Blood, gore, and violence are almost guaranteed.
SUMMARY: Fated Battle! Gilgamesh vs. Saber!! The two Servants duke it out to determine the true winner of their fight.

[At dawn, she tells him, but Gilgamesh finds he cannot sleep the night before, and so rises much earlier.

He's too antsy. It isn't out of fear, or anything like it, just a sense of foreboding, of a pending burden now thrust upon his shoulders. He had been taken from early in his timeline, he'd since surmised. The others knew more of his fate, more about him than he cares to admit. Regardless of the outcome here, Gilgamesh intends to ask over what really transpired on the Grail's stage. Over what led him to that future in which he attempted to destroy everything.

It should make him shudder, expect he isn't at all surprised.

He ventures to the simulation area and begins clicking away at the controls, setting the stage just right. Disabling certain functions, making sure they will be allowed to use the full extent of their abilities. He puzzles over the scenery but ultimately decides for a vast desert under a twilight sky. They were not the sort to hide behind terrain; they would face one another head on. Truthfully, it favored Gilgamesh, but he doubts the proud King of Knights would ever claim disadvantage.

Once everything's settled, Gilgamesh awaits her in the lobby. Shishi will greet her first, by the door, and lead her straight to her opponent.]

Comments

[invisiblade]

[when Saber arrives at the Training Center the sky is still dark, the sun still fast asleep, however dawn will be soon approaching. it's a king's prerogative to be punctual so she always arrives early. she has a reputation to uphold after all.

finding Shishi waiting for her at the door is unexpected, though it's not an unwelcome surprise and she pauses to greet him with a friendly how-do-you-do and a fond stroke of his mane. he certainly serves to lighten the foreboding air a bit and she follows his lead without hesitation. the gentle clinking of her armor gives her away at once, echoing off the walls of the near empty lobby. her eyes wander about the room at first, this is her first time setting foot inside this place so such curiosity can't be helped. of course, the visual detour doesn't last long at all before her gaze focuses in on Gilgamesh lying in wait. her boots scuff lightly against the floor as she stops a few feet away, regarding him fully.]

Have you been waiting long?

[no, she doesn't realize that particular line gets written into the script for every cheesy romance novel-esque date scene in the history of cinematic film. she's just trying to be courteous!!! also marginally concerned over the possibility that she could've flubbed the timing-- she did say dawn, didn't she??? HER PERFECT ATTENDANCE RECORD, FLUSHED DOWN THE DRAIN. SAY IT ISN'T SO???

in truth she's mostly stunned to find him ready and waiting despite how early it is. he'd mentioned something about setting the stage, though she hardly expected him to have finished his work with ample time to spare.]

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh, once, perhaps shockingly, was an early riser. Enkidu always wrestled him out of bed, and every day would encourage him to chase the sun while it rose on his kingdom. And he had to admit, the view was beautiful each and every time. He never grew bored of it. Once, perhaps unbelievably, Gilgamesh had been not just a ruler, but a great adventurer who would've put even the legendary King Arthur to shame when it came to terrific tales of skill, valor, and heroism.

He's there to greet her in his familiar suit of armor. However, it doesn't feel so heavy. It doesn't look so heavy, or so foreboding. They're not fighting over the Grail, and they're certainly not fighting to the death. They're fighting for a matter of pride, which was a simple thing at its core. They're fighting because they are Servants, and because even Saber could not refuse him, not when honor was invoked.

He turns on his heel and nods to her when she arrives. Shishi returns to his side, and again there is humanity here; he smiles and pets him before addressing Saber.]

Not at all. I admit it freely, I could find no rest at the thought of facing you.

[Gilgamesh gestures to the display, which is now just waiting for both their input to begin.]

I have set the boundaries in a manner I feel most accommodating to us both. Shall I explain?

[invisiblade]

[she's not surprised to hear him speak of unrest, of that anxiety induced adrenaline which faithfully makes it's appearance prior to any oncoming battle. as warriors they know it well. she's fought many battles and so countless nights Arturia lay awake, restless and eager for first light. last night was no exception. and just as she was apt to do then, she rose early to meet her future head on, rather than wait around for it to greet her.

as his attention shifts so too does hers and she turns to the advanced display, which proves to appear rather daunting to a fifth century warlord. after a moment of silent gawking she nods in concession to his inquiry.]

As I am unfamiliar with such technology I would appreciate a debriefing of some sort.

once more, with feeling

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh had the luxury of owning all human knowledge, which included that of technology and video games. He explains it with casual ease, even if does seem a bit out of a place, an ancient Sumerian king knowing such things. This went beyond the knowledge the Grail granted; it was a certain expertise even his modern kin could not boast of. He accompanies the debriefing with relevant examples on the display.]

In the virtual environment, we rely on a key parameter known as "hit points", or HP for short. HP mirrors the damage we would suffer in a real battle; rather than fighting to the point of unconsciousness, or death, we are fighting until our HP drops to zero.

[A simple enough concept. Gilgamesh folds his arms, tone growing sterner.]

On that note, though we will appear to bleed and feel pain, it is not occurring in actuality. So you've no reason to hold back whatsoever. Go for the throat, aim to kill, and use every ability at your disposal, with the knowledge that you will return to reality unharmed. By all means, slay me if you can...

[A cocky smirk tugs at the corner of his lips, at the mere thought of it. He'd never let her come remotely close, but it's worth mentioning.]

..and be aware that I will attempt to do the same. Those are the basics.

[invisiblade]

Of course. I never had any intention of holding back, regardless.

[simulation or no, she has every intention of facing him in earnest and battling against him with everything she's got. anything less would be a complete waste of time. she wouldn't dream of holding back. of course, she expects Gilgamesh to employ every ounce of leverage at his disposal in order to emerge the victor. an outcome she will fight tooth and nail to prevent from coming to fruition. killing him would be of no consequence to her, as they are both weapons of nature at their core. as Servants they were designed to engage in battle with one another in a fight to the death, and so that is the destiny they shall fulfill here today. the fact they'll both get to walk away from it with their lives intact, well, that's just a bonus.]

I believe I have a fair understanding of these so called "hit points" and their functionality within the arena. Are there any other simulation-specific details I should be made aware of?

[babbylon]

...I have one request.

[And not the request she may be thinking of. Gilgamesh hesitates for a moment, because she truly has no reason to honor it. It wouldn't be of any benefit to do so. But it's clear from his longing in his expression, the want in his eyes, that this was important to him—and only Saber could fulfill it.

But he has to know. Eventually, he must know.]

That if I should prove victorious, you will tell me what exactly became of our battle in the Fourth War.

[He has a sneaking suspicion he can already guess... but Saber, and Saber alone, could tell him for sure.]

[invisiblade]

[she appears quite surprised to hear him ask such a thing, her brow dips and furrows as she eyes him skeptically.]

You... mean to say you have no knowledge of it?

[of course she is well aware of certain time anomalies among those from their world. she knew Rin to be from a time far behind her own, but the differences were relatively small in the grand scheme of things. she'd never considered the possibility Gilgamesh could have stumbled through the rift as early as the fourth war.]

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh shakes his head, and for a moment, looks something like ashamed, or as close to it as he would ever come.]

That is why I requested this battle. From my perspective, we never finished; we never even got the chance to start. I know of my future, was told of certain schemes concocted on my behalf, but no more. I do not even know how I...

[How I came upon such wickedness. He trusted it was done with full lucidity, yet the more he hears of it, the more backwards it seems. Something truly terrible must have happened. Had he lost so much faith in humanity? Was that the extent of his duties, to wipe the slate clean and simply start over?

The more he spends time with ALASTAIR, and with his comrades, the more he feels it did not necessarily have to be that way.]

Regardless, if I could have that small truth from you, I'd consider the matter thoroughly resolved. But I recognize that is something to be earned.

[invisiblade]

[as strange as it all sounds, Gilgamesh has no reason to lie about such a thing. should she tell him the reality of it all is hardly any different than the unfinished business his own timeline has left him with? it almost doesn't feel right, allowing him to fight under the pretense that he'll be given the satisfaction of closure. only to find that something else inevitably stood in their way. it's only because he stakes that wager upon the contingency of his winning their fight that urges her to hold her tongue. seeing as how Saber has absolutely no intent of allowing him to beat her in the first place. but fine, she'll bite.]

Very well then, I accept your terms. However if I prove the victor, you must then grant me a favor.

[her eyes flash with determination, reflecting the intensity of her desire.]

I want your word that should you lose, you will henceforth put an end to your irrational pursuit of my hand in marriage.

[#notyourwaifu]

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh expected her to request something in return, so it doesn't really surprise him she'd take advantage of the situation and get her own two cents in. You truly are upset about that, aren't you? Gilgamesh stares evenly back—and this in itself should be taken as a positive sign, as before he would've simply laughed it all off and refused to entertain even the idea of it—and then gives his answer after a serious moment of thought.]

I will sideline the matter until such a juncture ALASTAIR sees fit to return us to our proper timelines.

[So it's not exactly full and enthusiastic agreement, but for their purposes she would be free of the hassle for the foreseeable future. Of course, the wording's intentional, and may yet be used against her... however, with a man like Gilgamesh, it's the best she could hope for. It's this or nothing. Your move, Saber.]

[invisiblade]

[whelp, that's better than nothing- she supposes. she narrows her gaze as she stalls a moment or two. mostly convincing herself that it's a compromise... at the very least it ensures she won't have to endure any more public proposal disasters while they're here.]

Deal.

[she's not entirely satisfied with his spin on things- but she'll take it.]

Have you anything more to add before we begin?

[babbylon]

May we both shine as Kings and blaze across a battlefield to be remembered.

[His proud way of wishing her luck. Gilgamesh then nods to their respective pads; there's nothing left to be said or done. His whole stay was building up to this, as the fulfillment of his grandest wish. If she looks close, she'll notice his hands are shaking a little from excitement, or perhaps even anxiety.

But that's the only clue. His face remains otherwise stoic.]

Step up to the pad when you are ready. The simulation will begin shortly.