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001 - Charisma
Who: Anyone mid-day, Saber only for the evening.
What: Idle mingling and arrival.
Where: Plaza in the afternoon, the Ordo Neighborhood in the evening.
When: July 10th.
Style: Prose preferred, but will match.
Status: Open.
It had been two weeks or so since his arrival. Without a Master to fuel his consuming abilities, the Heroic Spirit would find need to lay low and approach the city in a more tactful manner. The problem was, browsing the network and collecting information without wine left Gilgamesh listless after a week, but irritable after the second. He decided to finally go shopping one morning.
Blending in was simple enough with the curse of his A+ Charisma. None questioned the one wearing a black tracksuit in the middle district as he would purchase enough wine to drown the local drunk. The kind smile that strangely fit any scenario made it easy to keep a low profile and learn about the realm he was summoned to this time..
Hrmph. In time, I could grow to enjoy this.. simpler kind of life.
The cart he had managed to borrow from a shopkeep would creak under the weight of the product. Only a few eyebrows would be raised by the locals. When he was satisfied with his haul, he would then hold a single bottle in his hand and begin wandering about the market looking for wine glasses.
Truth be told, the apartment he moved into had been occupied previously and.. a few things did not suit his tastes. Most of his time after his arrival was spent redecorating the house to be something of a more.. kingly.. taste. Far too much pink was involved, and tea.. tea of all things was neatly organized in the wine cellar. What mongrel would do such a thing? Picking up one of the thinner glasses he found, he'd run his finger along the rim as the soft vibration released was like music to his ear..
"Beautiful."
The plaza would be his choice of leisure for mid-day. An open bottle of wine in one hand with a decorated glass in the other would now make for an easier and more approachable demigod. Gilgamesh began to indulge in his desire to watch people interact among themselves. Pouring himself a glass of wine, his watchful gaze would linger from the coral to the people around him.
Gilgamesh had learned much about his neighbor since his arrival. He just had to plan for the most convenient means to.. introduce himself. After all, what would be needed besides a simple meeting? His future bride was there and ready for him.
She just didn't know it yet.
He had the perfect plan, really. Simply come home, and happen to bump into her admiring her apartment from the outside. Who wouldn't want to strike a conversation with the Oldest King, after all? Inhaling the scent of the contents within the glass, he'd sigh contently while waiting.
Yes, this would do nicely.
What: Idle mingling and arrival.
Where: Plaza in the afternoon, the Ordo Neighborhood in the evening.
When: July 10th.
Style: Prose preferred, but will match.
Status: Open.
It had been two weeks or so since his arrival. Without a Master to fuel his consuming abilities, the Heroic Spirit would find need to lay low and approach the city in a more tactful manner. The problem was, browsing the network and collecting information without wine left Gilgamesh listless after a week, but irritable after the second. He decided to finally go shopping one morning.
Blending in was simple enough with the curse of his A+ Charisma. None questioned the one wearing a black tracksuit in the middle district as he would purchase enough wine to drown the local drunk. The kind smile that strangely fit any scenario made it easy to keep a low profile and learn about the realm he was summoned to this time..
Hrmph. In time, I could grow to enjoy this.. simpler kind of life.
The cart he had managed to borrow from a shopkeep would creak under the weight of the product. Only a few eyebrows would be raised by the locals. When he was satisfied with his haul, he would then hold a single bottle in his hand and begin wandering about the market looking for wine glasses.
Truth be told, the apartment he moved into had been occupied previously and.. a few things did not suit his tastes. Most of his time after his arrival was spent redecorating the house to be something of a more.. kingly.. taste. Far too much pink was involved, and tea.. tea of all things was neatly organized in the wine cellar. What mongrel would do such a thing? Picking up one of the thinner glasses he found, he'd run his finger along the rim as the soft vibration released was like music to his ear..
"Beautiful."
The plaza would be his choice of leisure for mid-day. An open bottle of wine in one hand with a decorated glass in the other would now make for an easier and more approachable demigod. Gilgamesh began to indulge in his desire to watch people interact among themselves. Pouring himself a glass of wine, his watchful gaze would linger from the coral to the people around him.
Gilgamesh had learned much about his neighbor since his arrival. He just had to plan for the most convenient means to.. introduce himself. After all, what would be needed besides a simple meeting? His future bride was there and ready for him.
She just didn't know it yet.
He had the perfect plan, really. Simply come home, and happen to bump into her admiring her apartment from the outside. Who wouldn't want to strike a conversation with the Oldest King, after all? Inhaling the scent of the contents within the glass, he'd sigh contently while waiting.
Yes, this would do nicely.
( evening )
That didn't mean she couldn't try to eat at home more often. She could make herself salads and sandwiches, and take them with her for her patrolling for the Defense Force.
Saber had seen someone off in the distance, standing on the sidewalk in front of her home. It could have been someone meandering around or killing time, but.. the closer she came to her home, the more she felt it. The feeling of a Heroic Spirit's presence. She didn't need to get too much closer to be able to piece a few things together; they were wearing black, had blond hair, emitted a very strong presence, and-
Holding the brown bag in front of her head as she looked to the side, she kept the bag between her face and her view of him at all times. Even when she turned down the sidewalk towards her front door, she shifted the bag into one of her arms to keep him out of her view.
Her clothing and the blond sticking out above the top of the bag were a fairly obvious confirmation that it was her, though, if he wasn't already certain who it was. Her throat tightened as she resisted the urge to walk quicker, wondering how in the world her luck.. her luck could be so dreadful? It usually wasn't the case..!
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"Is this any way for the legendary King of Knights to address someone?"
His voice soothed, much like the creepy stalker he appeared to be. Even without realizing he was doing so, his gaze was direct to the bag intending to stare her down even now.
"We have this...uncanny way of meeting up, don't we? The only difference is that this time we do not have the faker for a distraction. In truth, I have no malice to what happened. We are here, this is now."
He stopped in his approach knowing that would hit a sore spot with her. Conflict was not his intention, simply to better understand Saber's position in the world now that they were bound to this 'experiment'. Gilgamesh's good mood spilled into his words as he looked at his hand with a raised eyebrow. The look was condescending as if a hangnail was the least of his worries. That unnerving tone returned with his final question.
"After all, shouldn't neighbors be better acquainted..?"
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Her hand moved to unlock her door and open it, the brown bag kept in her one arm. Saber didn't want to say anything more, and she had no reason to. ..He was her neighbor? How spectacular. Had that been deliberate on his part, too?
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"It matters not. Neither are here. Truth be told, had I taken such a trivial fight seriously it would have resulted in an obvious win. Why not experience something different to make it interesting?"
Even he knew it was a stretch, but his ego would not back down. Calling the 'death' or 'loss' a worthwhile experience and insulting their efforts was an all time low for him. The quick followup was meant to be more peaceful than it sounded..
"Are you not to invite me in for tea? That is what a proper acquaintance does, is it not? You have no better place to be than by my side, Saber.. After all, we have much to discuss."
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Saber opened the door fully, and began to walk in. As soon as she was able to, she'd begin to close the door. No matter how much she wanted to, she didn't slam it. She'd just close it.. and.. double-lock it..
Gilgamesh seemed much more like the Archer she had come to know during the Fourth Grail War than what he was like during the Fifth. Or, perhaps, that was wishful thinking. Either way, the King of Knights hoped that he wouldn't push his luck too far. They were both without Masters, but a fight in Vatheon would undoubtedly result in destroyed properties and possibly people harmed.
And since foreigners in Vatheon could come back to life, so they said, it seemed utterly pointless. Killing the King of Heroes would do nothing for her as he'd simply return.
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He'd start, putting his hand to the door if only for a moment to buy time. He had no intention of actually stopping her from closing the door as that would cause problems.
"I will respect your privacy, for now. If you seek to speak in person, for whatever reason, I am simply across the street in Apartment 2 and 3."
With that, he'd release his hand from the door realizing she was in one of her moods. By mood, he realized that she just simply didn't like him, but that was what made the appeal all the sweeter.
A sly smile would pass by the crack of the door as he intended to head back to his apartment.
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Saber stood there for a moment before speaking.
"You are not satisfied with the situation," she repeated calmly, thinking over it in her head. She had been asking people lately in Vatheon about if they wished to go home or not. Many didn't or weren't sure. Saber could understand that, but she couldn't understand not wanting to go home to the point of letting oneself be used for experiments.
The mention of her feeling more comfortable behind the device also bothered her, but that wasn't enough of a reason to want to give Gilgamesh anymore of her time. If he was insinuating she was a coward, she couldn't even bring herself to care enough to correct him when he knew himself he was wrong.
"Come in. I'd like to hear what you think of Vatheon and the reason we're here."
Leaving the door open entirely, the knight walked down the short distance in the hallway and then turned directly into the kitchen. She could put her items away while he spoke.
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"There is plenty to learn when you have nothing better than to crawl the network. I want your opinion first. This leaves a sour taste in my mouth, and I've no reason to continue staying except to enjoy the simpler life."
Which he was. Casually at best.
"Experiments, actions with a coral, and even the interactions we are to share. It all seems too..convenient. Also these curses?"
He was opening up to Saber now that they were behind closed doors, at least he had hoped they were behind them.
"How long do you plan on staying confined here?"
A simple question that would warrant a less than simple answer as he knew her the type to not be satisfied either..
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"The only way to leave is when it happens; apparently, upon going back to one's home world, no time has passed and they will hold no memories of their visit here. People can return to Vatheon, however, and when they do.. they hold memories of their first Vatheon visit sometimes."
What else was it.. the knight paused with a container containing a chef's salad before putting it on a shelf.
"Ah, and people will go into comas. Sometimes when they awaken, they hold more memories from their home world than they did before."
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Gilgamesh repeated slowly, a hint of interest in her words now. This was not going to be a pleasant experience for him then. At least he was learning more about the situation they were in. Gilgamesh's tone changed somewhat when addressing the next issue he had with what she said.
"It may not mean much, and you probably would not care, but I do hope you have no interest in going into said coma. Not when we have just had our first set of actual pleasantries. Is there any information regarding what triggers this?"
Gilgamesh had pulled his communicator out with the intention of making notes. Even though the communicators were provided to them and possibly logged, he cared little about it. If they were to stumble upon something, it would be a pleasant experience to simply exert all of his energy into disappearing gloriously.
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Yes, that was it. Saber had such a difficult time keeping this all straight. She should make notes for herself, really. Standing up, the brown bag was now empty. She looked Gilgamesh briefly before shuffling around the kitchen to put the brown bag away and tidy up.
"No one has any choice when it comes to any of these circumstances. ..And you are aware that the devices are used to watch us, correct?"
She knew someone who had devices that could stop the SFCs from broadcasting information, but she wouldn't mention that in case that was overheard, too.
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His statement in regards to them 'watching' the people of Vatheon with the communicators was amusing to him. When it was his time and he tired of this little experience, he would ensure that they would be the first to know of his rampage..
It would be of biblical proportions, rest assured.
"I am a bit perplexed at your sequence of events, but it seems more of an understanding situation. If one was to leave then return, they would have more memories instead of simply arriving."
Gilgamesh understood, as that was one of the reasons he actually enjoyed talking with Saber. The King of Heroes believed she makes no sense at times or gets things mixed, but he understands perfectly.
He found it rather cute in all honesty.
"I suppose this will be the extent of what we can share now. With that in mind, I will see myself out and come if I have more information."
This wasn't too enlightening as he knew most of what she said. The comatose situation was a bother, especially if he was to go comatose without any real way of recovering..
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Thank goodness. This didn't go half as poorly as it could have.
"Good day," the knight replied simply, already leaving by the opposite entrance of the kitchen than the one they came in. He knew how to get out, and is his aura lingered any longer than necessary.. well, she'd come assist him out of her home.
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"I meant what I said, Saber. You would make a lovely housewife with how clean this place is. I will look forward to it one day."
He figured she wouldn't hear him and as he left, he'd close the door slowly behind him and intended to return back to his apartment to check his sources. This was frustrating.
It only meant that if conflict ever broke out and he wanted an easy way out, he'd simply have to expend all of his energy at once...
How foolish. He had to pull an Emiya to get results...
(midday)
Whoever was responsible for the god's singular torture had amassed quite the supply, and Mr. D could not possibly let that go without some kind of investigation....
And so here he was, approaching the blond man who was so brazenly drinking his wine in public and watching other people pass by. It seemed like a perfect moment to Mr. D, but he still had half a century's worth of sobriety to deal with before he could join in on the fun.
It put Mr. D in a mood. That, and the fact that every aspect of the man screamed "hero" to the god's senses although he did not immediately recognize him. Any conversation would no doubt be disastrous, but it did not deter him in the slightest. He approached directly and addressed the unfamiliar hero.
"You, there. With the wine."
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That wretched aura of supremacy that he simply could not acknowledge despite being two thirds of.. The slight smirk was enough to reveal that he was in a gambling mood as this person no doubt had some qualms with the display he shared.
"If you are a fan of the white, mongrel, I have left it with the merchant. Such swill is of no value to me. Red is the only kind that appeases the palate."
This was no longer a simple greeting. This was an understanding. If this mongrel had any appreciation for the product he was stocking, their discussion could mature into something more fruitful.
"Shiraz is the closest of the original that I had the pleasure of consuming when the world was but an infant.."
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The smirk was really the last straw, but instead of lashing out (as he was prone to do), Mr. D would bide his time and take his revenge slowly. However, that didn't mean he would take the insult without retaliating. The hero showed no fear, and Mr. D would not flinch. "I'm no more a mongrel than you a mere half-bred mutt." He ignored the slight against white wine because, in truth, there was a point to be had there, but he would not be acknowledging it.
"For being so judgmental, you still dare to compare such a young vine to the wine of a child earth? You only wish you had tasted Ge's flavour. It's more than an insolent child can appreciate." He sneered. "No matter how red his appetites."
Mr. D knew all the secrets of the oldest and strongest wine, and if pressed hard enough, might even be forced to demonstrate that knowledge. In the spirit of the thing, it was against his restrictions to create and manipulate wine. But it was a matter of pride, and the god wouldn't be drinking it himself. If the hero took the bait, he was planning on giving the arrogant cur alcohol poisoning.
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"I live in the present, as such, said flavor does not exist. I take what I can get and enjoy life."
The next drink came rather easily, as he decided it was not worth the time or effort to carry this conversation further. Such accusations were true, as being two thirds god did not play in his favor when it came to being associated with them.
"Being two-third bred has benefits..."
Gilgamesh gave a disinterested glance. If the dog would simply bark and show no humility, the conversation was over. This would not be something that would change his good mood. The slow refill of the glass held Gilgamesh's attention as he spoke firmly.
"I simply did what the gods could not."
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"What the gods could not or what the gods would not? There is a fine distinction there that I'm fairly sure you're missing."
Summoning a dark-coloured bottle to his hand, Mr. D scowled at the distant sound of thunder. He considered the item he now held in his hand. The grapes in this wine were extinct in the modern world Mr. D had come from. Why waste it on a disrespectful two-thirds bred just to prove a point? Because he was a man who could appreciate the old vintage, for whatever reason, and that was a talent far lost in the modern world.
"If you could taste that old wine again, something that the gods can do that I mortal will never be able to again..." he paused as he was still considering not handing the bottle over. "Would you tell me your parentage, hero?"
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His voice lowered just enough to show that the peace offering had it's effect, despite it not being a true sign at all. This divine being oozed vengeance and despite the aged taste, Gilgamesh could appreciate it.
The distant thunder caught his attention as the man had brought forth something near forbidden it seemed. The scowl pointed out more than he cared to tell and this caught the Oldest King's attention. The words though..Those were what caught his attention. In a near stoic reply, Gilgamesh spoke without accepting the gift.
"I am the son of Lugulbanda and Ninsun. It appears I have misunderstood you."
Gilgamesh actually admitted something of a fault here. The divine radiance he radiated was..different, yes, but he was not aware that this person was actually mortal. Either he truly angered the gods in a way that Gilgamesh could not and would be bound to punishment, or worse.
Much like looking up to an older brother who was actually cool in this respect, Gilgamesh's demeanor changed to a more interested manner of conversing. Even if he had not wanted to admit it, the choice of words caused Gilgamesh to respect him more than most others.
"I will accept your offering on the single condition that you, in turn, do the same."
As he spoke, the stance the King of Heroes took now was almost aggressive, reaching to the side as his fingertip dipped into a golden ripple of water that appeared in the air beside him. A pristine jug was produced, bathed in gold no less, revealing the sweet scent of something equally as impressive, but not as old as what this being had shared with him.
"I have what little is left of the stock from my time..By no means is it as divine as what the gods themselves consume, but I assure you it is of the finest available to man."
The way his voice trailed off showed he was equally hesitant in sharing his reserve with this man, but still.. They understood each other in a way few in this world could.
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The names of the hero's parents earn him a head tilt from Mr D. Ninsun... and Lugulbanda.... Those were old names. Ones Dionysus hadn't heard since before the Olympians moved out of Greece. There was absolutely no denying this man's identity now, and it gave the god another moment of pause. If the hero had lived continuously since that time, Gilgamesh and Dionysus were nearly compatible in age. That changed a few things.
"My mother is Semele of Thebes, and my father is the Cloud Gatherer who rules Mount Olympus," he said after a moment. The purple flames of his power seemed to burn in his eyes. Make no mistake. Even though Dionysus was born a demigod, he was fully immortal now and had earned his right to be counted among the Olympian gods.
"So little left. What a shame." And worse was that the wine god could not consume it. His punishment by Zeus was growing crueler and crueler by the moment.
// mid-day
In any case, she's used to seeing the occasional new person around, usually standing near the coral... sometimes she talks to them, but often she doesn't, mostly because she's not really that good at making conversation. But Ilya usually makes note of them, at least, because they're usually interesting somehow.
But something doesn't feel right today.
The small girl can't put a finger on it at first, because there's nothing obviously wrong or strange about the scenery in front of her. Still, she can't help but get the feeling that there is someone dangerous around, even if she knows that Vatheon is a safe place... or maybe she just doesn't want to believe that there's another one of them around.
Ilya decides to just walk quickly down a street of shops. There's enough people there that it'll be hard for someone to do anything around all of them, right?
Re: // mid-day
Oh how amusing..
Leaving the cart unattended, he'd follow the source of the 'strange feeling' before catching Ilya turning a corner. Could one imagine the joy he felt? Grinning ear to ear, he'd truly want to confirm this was the young one he had previously shared a..
Heart to heart talk with...
No, this was no time to jump to opportunities. He had no reason to do so, nor no motive. After all, what he simply wanted to do was see how she was faring in this new world. A world devoid of actual connections to the past and people.
Who knows. Maybe even he could get to the heart of the matter with this Ilya...
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He's a Servant. That same kind of feeling. He doesn't seem familiar to her - not one of the Servants of the Fifth War she knows, at least - but he doesn't seem like one of those more honorable Servants, either. The War isn't among them any more, though, so why does he still feel so... dangerous?
It's not until too late that Ilya realizes she can't leave the store without running into him. Hopefully, he won't do anything to her while she's in the store...
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After all, it would be interesting to continue this on a more equal ground that she didn't feel so threatened on. Maybe he'd inquire about the young girl to his neighbor and see if such a thing was truly possible. After all, there was nothing but malice in the fact that Gilgamesh had easily taken down her Servant in his timeline. Even with the power that she radiated as a great Master, it would do her no good currently..
Unless..She were to contract with him. The idea made him chuckle and he'd already be retreating back to his wine carriage with the intent of celebrating more with another glass.
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For those few moments, Ilya was scared, not quite sure what he was planning to do, but more aware of what little she could have done to stop it. She thinks back to the time when she wasn't scared of anyone at all, how everything seemed so easy with her own Servant. In Vatheon, she was hardly ever threatened, so it didn't seem necessary to be armed, but that man's presence makes her aware again of that void present in her life.
But he decided not to do anything. Maybe he thinks it's too easy to attack her, or too hard given the people aroud, or maybe he just wants to taunt her.
Ilya thinks of asking Saber, but would she know this Servant? Perhaps, given the knowledge a Servant is bestowed when summoned, but the Einzbern isn't sure. For now, she decides to keep this encounter to herself; maybe Saber will broach the subject when she meets him, because there's no way that she isn't also aware of his presence by now...
And so her day in the stores continues as normal, although the encounter doesn't once leave her mind.
Midday
In a city full of interesting people, it takes a lot to stand out. And Gilgamesh was a man who stood out. There was something about the blond stranger with the wine glass that caught the dwarf's attention. Like the guy oozed charisma. It reminded him of Hawke. Hawke multiplied by ten, that is.
As a man who makes a business out of knowing people, Varric simply had to talk to him. The human with the wine glass looked like one of those classy types, one who took pride in himself. Having taken an educated guess on what the man was like, it was time to say hello, approaching Gilgamesh from the side.
"Serah, I must say, you have excellent taste in drink."
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The bottle was extended outward in a rather glorious display while he reached into the cart that held all the bottles so neatly and produced a second glass.
"A testament to my greatness, do drink up. Opportunities such as these are rare to come if my sources are correct."
With that, the full wine glass was offered to the man before him. Although he would be somewhat short, he had no need to deny even a bouncing babe the pleasures that came with red wine.
Gilgamesh was far too easy to get along with when in a pleasant mood.
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"I'm never one to turn down an opportunity," Varric replied, taking the glass. He certainly found an interesting one, alright. In fact, the dwarf feels a bit of kinship with him. It's hard having to bear the burden of how great you are. It's a massive weight on one's shoulders and truly, this man understands so. "Might I have a name I can put to this greatness?"
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He'd extend his hand in a heartfelt manner. It seemed that his experience over the last few weeks with this environment has softened him somewhat from the tyrant he once appeared to be.
Even in slight, one would expect nothing less than the true pleasure of his company. The King of Heroes' natural charisma shined like no other, yet the drinking had only begun.
"Tell me, does this realm intend to remain as archaic as it currently is? I see not even a public place for consumption and this truly ails me."
Extending his glass as well, Gilgamesh offered a toast to his new found drinking partner. This pleased him greatly to see such fine people among the mongrels..
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"I certainly hope it doesn't. As for a place for consumption, all I've found are places that don't suit my needs," he replied, glad to find another person who shared his laments. "I intend to remedy the problem with my own hands and give this city a proper place to drink and be merry."
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He'd state in response, the exchange now met with hearty return as he'd sip at the glass once more. Before long, he'd turn his gaze to the dwarf.
"I look forward to such things. Perhaps even becoming a regular! No doubt an establishment with your fine tastes in wine would be anything less than divine."
A hearty laugh now, Gilgamesh gazed upward to the bubble then sighed.
"I must know your name. It is not often few can be in such high spirits when bound to this forsaken place. We will have to share food, drink, tales. You look a seasoned adventurer yourself."
The good mood Gilgamesh was in was clear by his extended speech and desire to converse.
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Yes, he decided he liked this Gilgamesh character. It's not often you see a man who truly enjoys the good things in life.
"I would absolutely love to enjoy your company further. Surely, a man such as yourself has many a fine tale to share."
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Another toast. Gilgamesh was actually quite fond of this man after such a short conversation. It would be only natural to have this grow and develop into something more.
Business or otherwise, things would be getting interesting. Especially if he could find a place to consume his drink and share tales of victories long since past.