epidemiology | [closed] someday I will take you by the hand.

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[closed] someday I will take you by the hand.

CHARACTERS: Gilgamesh and Pearl

DATE: after the jail breakout

WARNINGS: They're contracting, so... it'll be intense on some level. But nothing much else, really.

SUMMARY: Gilgamesh finds a new Master in a very unexpected place.

[The night is calm.

Calm and cold but not at all lonely. Wherever Pearl has chosen to take up residence, a warmer sort of air seems to hang over her, around her, as if she is being watched by something or someone, as if they might be standing guard—and it is not far from the truth.

When Gilgamesh makes his entrance, is it slow and methodical. Sparkles of magic hang above, and they unveil his form a little at a time, garbed in full armored regalia. Sternness creases his brow, the look in his eyes intense and unyielding. He has come with clear purpose and he will follow through on it.

When he speaks to her, it is as she remembers, low and booming and in control of all present.]

Pearl.

[He lifts his head, ever so slightly, and breaks the act—just a bit—with a small smile.]

Are you well this evening?

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[For one, Pearl was actually sleeping. After everyt ging that had happened, rescuing who she could, it had taken a a lot out of her. She had taken up residence at her designated room at the inn. But she rests rather oddly on her bed. She sleeps with a pillow right over her forehead.

She stirrs at the feeling of warm in the room. And then she hears her name. She sits up in bed, the pillow falling from her face and onto her lap. Rubbing the last bit of sleep from her eyes, she turns her head towards the sound of the voice. Her vision slowly registers the brilliant gold armor. Blond hair.

Her eyes widen. Well. That's one way to get her rejuvinated. She scrambles off the bed, standing up.]

G-Gilgamesh! [This was unexpected. But he looks to be in better spirits.]

I'm fine. More importantly, how are you feeling?

[Gilgamesh has to laugh, and at once he remembers exactly why he's doing this—why he's made the right choice. He doesn't feel too guilty for interrupting her sleep, either. She'll have reason to feel very much awake very soon, if all goes according to plan.]

I am doing quite well, thanks to your intervention. I owe you my life.

[He holds both of his hands out for her, beckoning her closer.]

Come here. Let me see you.

[She wants to protest. Surely someone would have saved him eventually. Thankfully, she bites back the protest and walks forward a few steps, as requested.]

What are you doing here, anyways? You should be resting. [The Gem crosses her arms with a small frown, looking him up and down. This could all be for show, for all she knew. But materializing into someone's residence. Doesn't that take up energy?

Pearl hopes, whatever it is, it's important.]

My, my. So stubborn.

[Gilgamesh doesn't sound too put out by it, though. If anything, he sounds as though he was expecting it. She's simply too much of a mother hen by nature and he can't fault her for it, really. It was the same sort of attitude that saved him and many others, no doubt. That kindness. That generosity.

No, there's no question of it. She's a good person. Better than he deserves. But he's greedy, so he'll ask anyway.]

I had been thinking about it. My situation. It's unflattering for a King to be so helpless, and it's improper for a knight to be without purpose. There's no war to win and no Grail to squabble over, but even so, day by day...

[I am dying. His eyes wander across the room, distant, then settle upon her again.]

You told me pearls were simple things, back on your planet. Servants. Pretty pieces on a shelf. But I ask of you now, do you believe that to be true?

[The Gem shifts uncomfortably at the mention of her kind. Yes, they were pretty things to look at. Used to carry things and follow orders. She was a divergent Pearl. One who strayed from the path of what a Pearl should be. Granted, people would think of that as a good thing, but any Homeworld Gem who saw her now? They'd see her as defective.

However, Pearl shakes her head.]

I'm not like other Pearls. I learned to fight. I researched how to build things. I'm not just some... decoration.

[There's some budding confidence there, but it doesn't bloom. Not entirely, after all Peridot has said to her perviously in their travels in Chantes.]

[Whereas Pearl is uncertain, Gilgamesh is absolutely decisive, stepping forward to clap her on the shoulder. His strength is her strength. His courage is her courage. And even recovering from weakness, he stands taller than ever. More confident in this than in anything that he has found the one.]

Yes. I think so, too.

[He holds her gaze a moment with unyielding eyes, with eyes that see through to her very soul, before continuing.]

I think... it is time you were given the chance to prove it. The chance to rise high above. The chance to brandish your sword and for all to recognize you as a true defender of justice—as someone proud and strong and powerful. I am going to give you that power. I am giving you the power of my belief.

[A grin spreads across his face. No more dancing around it; he comes right out and asks:]

Pearl, form a contract with me. Become my Master. And from both our backs... let us shed this helplessness and move forward together.

[She feels that hand on her shoulder and looks to it, only to follow the length of his arm to meet his gaze once more. To prove herself? To who exactly? ALASTAIR?

That's until he presents the proposition, which causes her to flinch in surprise.]

Master...? [Pearl blinks slowly, trying to understand. All her life, she had followed orders, followed others so willingly, to help in any way she could. Blindly even. She wasn't of a leadership role. She was never made for such a thing. Gilgamesh had briefly mentioned Servants and Masters in passing once before. They fought in wars. For a wish of some sort. A grail. But he had said there's no grail to fight over.

Her lips purse into a thin line, her gaze lowering, staring at her reflection in his gold armor. Unsure. But the support wouldn't be unwelcomed in any case.]

What does a Master need to do? I mean... I don't have to order you around, do I? Or make you do chores? [Her eyes flicker back up to him.] I can do chores just fine, I like doing chores...!

[And someone is rambling, trying to ignore the rising anxiety in her chest, and the questions flooding her mind. Gilgamesh was a king. A somebody. A spirit of sorts of great nobility! How could she just be a Master to him? Why would he even choose her, out of everyone here?]

Edited 2015-12-07 01:18 (UTC)

[Gilgamesh chuckles under his breath, and that same hand shifts to her face. Just as before, on their daring escape.]

It means you are granted the authority of command. Whether you give those orders or not remains your choice, but it is you who holds the reins and you who I am sworn to obey. It is a sacred bond, a mingling of minds and a joining of souls.

[Something not unlike fusion, the way he describes it. He understands this must be overwhelming; it is a life-changing decision. But it is also one for the best, one she deserves to unlock what sleeps within. Gilgamesh could and would lie about many things, but it was true that he believed in her and believed in the potential of their bond.

And, more selfishly, he needed her to survive. She was his best chance, and he had every intention of taking it.]

It means, Pearl, that whatever we do now... we do it together. As one, as Master and Servant.

[His eyes shimmer with a certain sharpness. Something like protectiveness.]

As your turn to lead at last.

[Her heart almost leaps into her throat. What he is describing... it was just like Fusion. The combination of two people. Mind, body, and soul. Something she witnessed rarely, but when she did, it was exhilarating. When she was Opal, when she was Sardonyx, when she was... Rainbow Quartz.

Her hand reaches up to take Gilgamesh's hand into her own, her grip gentle, her thumb running over the smooth gold that covered his fingers.]

I want us to lead together. [A firm nod. That's what Fusion was all about. A collaborative effort.]

If you're sure, about your choice... then I accept.

[Gilgamesh takes to one knee before her, hand still in his grip. He does not see it as an act of submission or even of fealty; instead it a direct reflection of his respect that he'd lower himself to such a position. Respect she has earned as treasure beyond measure.]

Then repeat my words, and so reaffirm the bond between us: "I hereby offer you the profits of my soul's state. Thou seest all things; thou wilt see me to my victory. Make it thine own."

[An invisible wind in the area picks up. It encircles them both, and intricate runes appear beneath their feet. The ritual has been invoked and so a great power, spirited from across realms, has been summoned. Another presence is clearly in the room now, but even Gilgamesh could say for sure if it was the Grail or not.

It touches Pearl and all that she is and urges her forth. It is only the beginning. There is no turning back now.]

[Pearl watches him carefully, not wanting to miss any details about the ritual. The wind around them causes her to inhale in surprise. She closes her eyes tightly, feeling whatever it was ensnare her very being. Wincing, she tries to keep herself steady, gripping tighter onto his hand. This was like no other power she's felt before.

Lowering her head, she clears her throat, looking at the rune at their feet. This was it. Now or never.]

I hereby offer you the profits of my soul's state. Thou seest all things; thou wilt see me to my victory....

[Again, another surge from that mysterious force runs through her, causing her gem to glow brightly gradually.]

Make it thine own.

[They were inherently magical beings and so magic would affect them the most. It's like the force of a thousand Gems put together; like one fusion after the next, spiraling, repeating itself, over and over. The endlessness of power. Eternity onto itself.

That was what it meant to contract with Gilgamesh: a force of nature, sent down by the gods, as a peerless agent of chaos and order.]

"Take up my command: my will shall create thy sword, and thy sword shall create my fate. If thou dost accede to this will and reason, swear to me."

[His answer, of course, would be obvious. But she is the Master and so she must be the one to say the words.]

[The intensity of it all was overwhelming. But Pearl keeps her feet grounded, her eyes clenched tightly as the wind blows her hair upward, the glow from her gem becoming more intense. Is this what other Masters felt when they created a pact? And they were humans. Dear stars...

She cracks one eye half way open to look down at Gilgamesh, gripping tighter on his hand, knuckles white, trembling at the magic coursing through her tiny frame.]

Take up my command: my will shall create thy sword, and thy sword shall create my fate. If thou dost accede to this will and reason, swear to me.

I so swear.

[All the noise calms to a sudden lull. It's quiet, but only on the outside. Within her mind, a drum begins to beat, constant, incessant. The circle on the floor glows bright. Gilgamesh's eyes shut and his brow draws tight with focus. Now, it is his turn. His turn to speak and his turn to pledge.]

Speak my name, highest among Kings, noblest among heroes; he who saw the beginning, the middle, and the end; who toppled the wild bull, who wielded the sword of all creation, with immortality gained and immortality lost; who stood tallest among men and challenged the gods as one not of their own, but above and beyond them. Upon the highest throne, with the highest crown, the highest purpose...

[Gilgamesh squeezes around that hand in solidarity. The drum grows louder, and louder, and louder, almost deafening now.]

Speak my name! GILGAMESH! And for my Master, I swear my service, until Death itself may come to claim me!

[The drum beating within her mind. The sound of his voice. The power behind each word. It causes the Gem to stand straighter through it all. Her stance much more pronounced. Maybe even regal and proud.

She lifts her head, opening both pale blue eyes to stare at the man kneeled before her And if her were to open his eyes, her own would be staring into his, with that rare confidence of hers. Pursing her lips, she takes in a deep breath, chest ballooning as she does so. And then, she speaks his name, loudly. Her hand gripping his as tight as she could muster.]

Gilgamesh!

[Everything stops.

The pounding of drums. The hissing of mana, whipped around like waves. That strange presence flowing through her. It all draws to an end and not even their breath can be heard, it is so still, so soft there in the night. So peaceful.

But something is happening. And when it does, it explodes.

The room spills forth with blinding light, every bit of space covered in an cosmic glow; the beating from before booms like bombshells being dropped, and she's flooded in every sense of the word. Every part of her filled to the brim, as if she were empty up until now. She will feel whole, complete, as she's never been and never will be again.

The contract has been fulfilled. Upon her hand are now engraved the Command Seals, marking her status as Master. Gilgamesh rises, bare from the waist up and radiating pure power from every inch of tattooed skin. The energy he exudes is surely on a ludicrous level. It seems this was his true form all along.]

Pearl.

[It ends as it begun, with a single utterance of her name. His Master's name.]

Yes... I can feel it. I am as I should be. I am myself, all of myself, as was always intended.

[He feels strong, but he recognizes she may be feeling a little dizzy on her end. He reaches out to support her back. She will feel this, too, the intimacy of his touch.]

You may reach me this way, now, within our minds. If you should think of me, I will never be far away.

[Those words filter into her mind, weave through her thoughts. In this way, she will never be alone.]

[The blinding light causes her to wrench her eyes closed once more, and all this energy filling her, it was almost too much. So much that the corners of her eyes stung. But then the persence before her stood up. A familiar and yet, much stronger presence. She pries her eyes open, seeing a tattooed chest in her view at first before she takes a step back, taking in the sight of her new Servant.

Perhaps that wasn't the best move on her part.

She feels herself sag back into his supportive hand on her back and shudders. Her gem's glow dies down and she takes note of the seals on her hand, looking at them with knitted brows. Her fingers flex and wriggle, watching as the red marks flex and twitch naturally with her muscles and tendons. Almost like a tattoo.

And then the voice in her head. It was him. It was bizzare. All of it was, but. It helped right? He'd be better now.

Pearl looks up at Gilgamesh again, her cheeks a gentle blue hue. She had never seen him like this before. Was this... was this all because of her? She offers him an exhausted smile, trying to look at everything but the bare chest in front of her face.]

I'm glad you're... f-feeling better now. Peak performance I hope?

[Effortlessly—and rather like a knight himself—Gilgamesh lifts Pearl up and into his arms, and with a coy little smile deposits her back on the bed, as she had been prior to her arrival. Contracting could be an exhausting experience on both ends, and certainly one that took some adjustment. He's patient with her as she had been with him in his hour of need.]

Better than ever. And this prana... it's perfect. You are sincerely something magical, Pearl, in all ways imaginable.

[He admires her openly for it. His hand remains on her arm, such a small thing, but hardly delicate. He knows firsthand how strong it could be.]

The Command Seals marking your hand are your rite of passage as a Master. Think of them as wishes, for when you are in dire need. No matter where I am, no matter how hopeless you may be, if you invoke them I will definitely come. I will break through time and space for you to see the matter done.

[He gives them a little pat and, quite shamelessly, curls their fingers together in a gentle hold.]

Remember, Pearl. I am your Servant. So do not be afraid to call upon me for any reason. This contract is for both of us, and you should see it as such.

[Pearl makes a small sound of protest at being lifted up into his arms, but she quickly quiets down once she's settled onto the bed. Her world spun for a moment, but the hand on her arm keeps her mind grounded. Stability.

She sits up a little against her pillows and takes a look at her command seals once more. Wishes. She could make him do anything for her? An unsettling feeling sinks to the bottom of her gut. She could see how Masters would use this to advantage but... what if it was against the Servant's will? That isn't--

And then she feels his fingers thread with hers, yet again, snapping her out of her thoughts. Her eyes trace the outline of her command seals.]

Let's just hope I don't have to use one any time soon. [A pause.]

What happens if all of the Command Seals are used?

Edited 2015-12-07 13:23 (UTC)

[And, without warning, Gilgamesh settles onto the bed beside her, head propped up on his hand, arm on the sheets. He's grinning like a fool, probably because he knows he can get away with it... but coupled with his state of dress it does make for an awkwardly intimate moment.

Which he appears entirely unaffected by. It's hard to say whether or not he's doing it on purpose or if he's just that comfortable.]

If you expend all the Seals, you forfeit your rights as a Master, and I am free to do whatever I please.

[Which includes killing you.

That grin inches just a bit wider.]

Oh, by the way... it's tradition to consummate the contract... ♥

[...he's totally aware of what he's doing. What a nasty little troll.]

[Wait what.

Pearl moves instinctively, pulling her knees up to her chest, to give him a little more room, scooting to the other side of the bed. He effortlessly seems to make that blush rise to her cheeks as she listens to him, slightly distracted by his state of dress.

But the forfeiting part catches her attention and she looks back down at her command seals, holding her hand up to her chest almost protectively. She had to be careful about what she 'spent' these on. Then again, she'll do her best so that she doesn't have to depend on him too much.

His last comment causes her to visibly bristle, her blush reaching up her cheeks and down to her neck and collarbone. Wh--]

[Then, she takes up the pillow and shoves it, gently, in his face, looking away from him stubbornly.]

I'll pass. [She says, her face face so warm, it could rival Ruby's temper.]

[Gilgamesh just starts to laugh. And he laughs, and he laughs, and he laughs, and rolls around like a child until he tires of it.]

Ahahaha... hahahaha... oh, I was only teasing, dear Pearl.

[Gilgamesh rests both arms on the pillow and glances up with hope in his eyes. He hasn't looked so bright in a very long time, and when he speaks it's with a delightful sort of youthfulness. The handsome king in all his splendor. The terrible little tyrant in repose.]

Well, that's alright. It's improper to tousle about with treasure, so let's spend some time together instead. What shall I read tonight?

[Tonight meaning this was about to become a habit. Enjoy your Servant, Pearl. He's going to be glued to your side for a while yet.]

[That was... oddly endearing, and Pearl couldn't help but softly smile, seeing him laugh and roll around like that. He was at ease. No longer vulnerable, like she had seen the other day. Then again, he wasn't so serious either just a few minutes ago.

Pearl laughs softly and brushes some hair from her cheek.]

You're going to read to me? [She taps her chin, thinking for a moment before she settles back against the rest of the pillows on her bed, watching him. She snatches up a pillow, almost mimicking him, resting her chin atop it, blue eyes wide and attentive.]

Do you think... you could you tell me a story of your past? Perhaps one of your many battles?

I will tell you so many you will grow sick of hearing them.

[And there were so very many. But he takes her request into account, and when it comes to battle, only one story leaped immediately to mind. Of course, Enkidu leaped to mind along with it, though he stifles the unpleasant rush of nostalgia. There's no room for sadness in this tale.

Gilgamesh gets himself comfortable as well and begins.]

Once, there was a great ogre, Humbaba, that guarded the forest of the gods. I, of course, have no taste for such things, for ogres or for gods, so I decided I would storm the beast's territory and claim its head for my own. My brother and dearest companion, Enkidu, did warn me, however...

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