[treasure 7] and i'm feelin' like a ghost, and it's what i hate the most

[throwmoreswords]

WHO: Gilgamesh + the network
WHERE: the network and maybe Gilgamesh's Serenitea pot at Vergil's house if ya'll wanna swing by?
WHEN: February 1st
WHAT: sometimes, the ghost of you is more present than ever and you have a couple of good things and one really alarming thing to address.

un; AUO, voice post; network

Rejoice, mongrels, for the Wakawaka Zabuun waterpark will be open in a mere two weeks time! It's amazing what you can get done with monetary grease to both the modern workforce and the wheels of bureaucracy! What better place to enjoy a day with your loved ones than in a fully heated, fully functional tropical paradise away from anything tropic? Vergil Vittore's previously informed me that I could 'afford to be less of a skinflint miser' and I suppose I will consider granting VIP passes to the users of this particular application if you ask politely enough.

Secondly! Zulius, ever a visionary and genius ahead of his time, has stumbled upon the concept of a Kaisou Calendar for charity. As he's either announced or will announce, I didn't care enough to check, if you're over the age of 18 and willing to show a little skin for a good cause, feel free to contact either of us. There will be a men's and women's edition; I've seen what you people get horny about. Your taste is impeccable, even if most of your vibes are rancid.

[ he sounds so cheerful, and then he's silent.

there's a long pause, as if Gilgamesh forgot to stop recording his voice. there's a few chirpy beeps, and then he starts speaking again--but it sounds a lot more. stressed? not even slightly resembling his beginning boomingly playful tone, spoken at a normal person level of voice. like he's being held hostage in his own voice post. it appears Goldie has applied a filter to keep certain zealous eyes off of whatever else is happening in his Livejournal entry. ]

And now that most people have dispersed, my body has completely disappeared. Are dreams about whales portentous? [ he's trying to channel bemused ease, but it's probably not working. ] So, I don't have a physical presence anymore, and I feel oddly... floaty. I don't know how to get out of my teapot--it feels strange and staticky when I try, like I might get swept up into whatever magic makes the transition happen and fail to come out on the other end. I've passed through the walls of my house several times and it gets no less jarring each time it happens.

Any information regarding rampant curses or unexpected magic would be appreciated.

... I do have a more focused suspicion as to what my sudden weight loss might be attributed to, but I'd rather not entertain that right now if there's some plague of de-materialization sweeping the city. It would be. Bothersome.

... thank you for your time. I suppose.

Why must this be so difficult to end--

[ how do you poke the off button when you don't have hands?? slam your spirit against it until electricity does something and you're left in eerie, uncomfortable silence, feeling odd and fallen apart. do they make gloves that let incorporeal fingers work swipe lockscreens? ]

Comments

voice; un: silverrose

[fionnuisce]

[If Waver was a more vindictive person, he might have laughed.]

[...As it was, he did smirk only just a little.]

My guess? You should probably find someone to make a contract with, and relatively quickly.

voice; un: AUO

[throwmoreswords]

[ he can feel that smirk

do not play vindictive games with him you know he's a top contender for pettiest bitch in the playpen ]

Sounds awful. I could probably get my affairs in order in under a week.

[fionnuisce]

Not quite what I meant, but you'll probably need to do that if you don't find someone capable in a hurry.

I mean a magical contract forged between Master and Servant. If your current form is that of the latter, you're going to need the support of someone with powerful magical energy to keep you anchored to this world.

[throwmoreswords]

I am perfectly aware of what you meant, and I'd almost rather die than forge said contract, knowing of the caveats.

[ ... almost.

Archer was always afraid of death, in the end. ]

So, no other magical bullshit this could be the subject of, huh.

[fionnuisce]

And while I respect that's your choice to make, I would feel something resembling guilt were I not to observe you could do [have done] far worse than most anyone in this city.

But no, to the best of my knowledge regarding this city and the stupid horseshit it gets up to, mana deprivation is the most likely culprit. Or at least, the one most worth dealing with for the sake of caution.

Voice

[prunedworlds]

Ritsuka was going to comment on the first part of the post--she'd totally ask for a VIP pass, after all--but the second bit entirely overrides her attention.

"... Uh. How much do you know so far about Servants, again?"

Because that sure sounds like he somehow gained the ability to dematerialize. Somehow.

Voice

[throwmoreswords]

Should've asked for the pass. He's kind of hoping to see if there are any people who cut out early--he probably has a bet running with some money on it.

"Enough to think the whole thing terribly boorish and to be very, very hopeful that has nothing to do with my present circumstances."

Re: Voice

[prunedworlds]

She'll probably still ask for one. Later. Once the immediate issue is dealt with.

"Well, Servants are spirits, basically. They don't really have physical bodies, just the ability to materialize one with magical energy. They can also switch to just being in spirit form if they want, too, to save on that energy or just because it's convenient.

"So unless there's some other reason for you being able to pass through walls..."

[throwmoreswords]

But it'd be a nice distraction--ping miss Kafka to set up the VIP list while not thinking of the potentiality of a looming, imminent demise. Of all the ways he thought he'd go, dissipation wasn't ever one of them, but man. Who knew it'd be the frontrunner over alcohol poisoning?

"I was hoping for more generalized magical bullshit. Like it was a fun craze that half the city'd been struck with. One person's an emergency, ten people is a fun running joke, don't you think?"

[prunedworlds]

Too bad, Ritsuka cares too much, you're stuck with her fussing first. Water parks can come after!

"Well yeah, if it wasn't just you, then it'd probably be something else, but..."

Boy, she needs to gather her thoughts quick so that she's not just rambling.

"Servants need magical energy to exist, but also something to anchor them to the world. With everything in the spirit vein lately there might be enough magical energy here that you'd be fine with just that, but it's possible you still need that anchor." Especially if he can't even leave his magic teapot. "For that, you can make a contract with a Master."

un: kesitakame

[hoshikiri]

[... Okay, Takame didn't like Gil but he didn't want the guy to fucking DIE.]

... 'Tis likely to do with your past life, I'm afraid.

voice; un: AUO

[throwmoreswords]

[ aw come on. what's one less billionaire sending you pallets of beans in the world? ]

Sounds awful. Past me was terrible. This is apparently the opinion of every iteration of me, but I feel particularly empowered to say it right now.

[hoshikiri]

[one less friend of his boss' and for Zulius to lose anyone is simply unacceptable.]

It is less to do with who you were, and more to do with what you were. [...]

What do you recall of beings known as Servants or Heroic Spirits?

[throwmoreswords]

[ it's fine Zulius has Vergil, they can comfort each other and enjoy whatever portion of Gilgamesh's estate they'd inevitably get assigned. ]

Enough to really, really hope that this isn't that. I'm guessing you know more?

[hoshikiri]

[no that's not fine actually??]

Somewhat. All I have learned has been within this realm. Servants -- Heroic Spirits -- are just that. Spirits. Beings comprised entirely of aether, or mana. In order to remain tethered to the world, they will need to contract with a "Master" who can act as a suitable source for it.

action bc i make the rules

[kowase]

[ it's technically his house, even if the teapot belongs to gil. anyway it doesn't matter. after seeing his network post, Vergil is meandering over to the thing from where it's sitting in its display case, tapping the top of it and in it he goes--without a moment to ask permission.

It admittedly takes him a hot minute to find Gilgamesh inside the thing--because locating your friend of 10 years is difficult when he doesn't have a body, after all.

Perhaps he should be thanking Krusnik for whatever it was they did to his eyes a few months back, because he realises that it is gilgamesh he's staring at when he passes into the room that's sort of set up like a lounge for the other man--only to see a very ... odd sight.

A mass of brightly glowing gold magic that's vaguely in the shape of a man hovering over one of gil's favorite loungers he'd finally convinced Vergil to let him use inside the teapot since he 'wasn't keen on selling it'.

He crosses his arms and just... stares at the ... aether in the air, tilting his head as he tries to figure out what exactly caused this. ]

...Here I thought you'd be in a state of deep panic if you ever lost the body you seem to take so much pride in.

But here you are.

Just floating around.

you are the worst landlord-roommate ever

[throwmoreswords]

[ so, being rich and bored, Gilgamesh has practiced mindfulness before.

focusing on the immediacy of things, the sensations one experiences, the things that keeps one in the present, focused and whole

and Vergil Vittore swanning into his living room to make a joke at his expense immediately undoes all of the work he'd just done in being a fairly solid cloud of magic, scattering out in irritated, frenetic particles, wishing for the strength to just. lob something at his stupid head. ]

I'm terribly sorry I'm not keeping it together better. Maybe if you come back at a better time, there'll be less of me scattered about making a mess of the place.

[ his voice is odd and distorted--coming from nowhere in particular and the inside of Vergil's skull all the same as the golden cloud of magic tries to manshape itself once more. ]

listen he's just now realising

[kowase]

[ ...he recognises the tone in gil's voice. Which is to say, he hasn't heard it often enough to lose the meaning behind it: gilgamesh wasn't feeling his usual self. it reminded him of the day he'd crawled-hovered up to his balcony the same day he'd first become a demon: the same day he was reminded of a certain green-haired man he'd lost.

Gil is feeling cornered, and maybe for the first time in a long time, scared.
Vergil can recognise it. He'd felt it a few times before. But seeing it in someone who is never scared, never cornered? It makes him feel strange.

A feeling he can't quite put a handle on. One that, were he someone like Zulius, he'd be able to call it 'Worry for a Friend'. ]

...My apologies. I was not making a comment with an attempt to belittle or tease you.
It was my--in hindsight--poor attempt to give a little levity to this.

Situation.

I can see you. Perhaps thanks to the damage done to my eyes, but I can see 'you'.

I can't say I understand why you're suddenly an... invisible mass of literal magic in the air.

Other than without body or form.
How do you feel?

deep inhale boi

[throwmoreswords]

[ he wishes he felt cornered. cornered would be a centered emotion, something had weight and a space to be in--it had a focal point and a reason to go along with the fear that was being expressed.

what Gil's feeling right now is something much more esoteric and strange and he's not sure how he's doing with that. not well. ]

It is funny, isn't it? I'm sure there's more than a few people who're thinking it couldn't have happened to a better bastard, if they bothered to listen past the naked calendar thing. I was hoping they'd tune out by that point.

[ he's trying to match the energy, but the levity feels just this side of frantic as Gil pulls himself together as best as he can--glowing bright to Vergil's enhanced sight, sort of resembling himself... with no features. or form. ]

I imagine, if I was reborn from another world and another time, the me that existed there was the ghost of the king of old--written to the World's core to be used in fun magical wars for profit and glory.

I feel awful. I think I'm falling apart, and I don't know if that's metaphorical or literal.

give him a minute

[kowase]

...I am not laughing.

[ because no--he doesn't find it funny that gil's turned into scatterable mana who can barely keep his shape and is in literal danger of falling apart.

'Eat the Rich' and 'Couldn't have happened to a better Capitalist' thoughts are pushed so far out of his head right now, he actually starts to pace.

...Circle?
His friend with his arms folded behind his back, trying to... settle his thoughts. ]

I have a friend in the city.
I am certain you know of him. Waver Velvet.
He has told me some stories of the existence of a 'Grail War' and the existence of 'Servants' much like his friend Lancer. ...Saber, rather. As he corrected me.

I also met and had quite a lengthy conversation with Alexander the Great from the same world.
I have no interest in War other than to study it--being in one isn't of interest to me. Nor is profit something I care about. You know that.[ he and his horde of treasures he won't sell to fucking anyone. ]

It is not a fond wish in my head at all to see you fall apart.

If something can be done for me to aid you here. [ ...please. tell him. do you know? does he have to contact waver? help him help you. ]

Video: UN: hotgoss

[bebest]

[He's about to go off, all flair and bedazzlement to really push the absolute stunning brilliance of the calendar idea- to bounce effortlessly off of the setup Gil has given him. He is ready to sparkle!!!

And then Gil suddenly sounds like that, and everything else is thrown to the wayside for worry to take front and center.]

What the heck? That sounds super freaking bad? Did anything happen before this? Like, did you go near those bitch-ass foxes in the park or something? Do you need me to come over? Or...bring anything? I don't know what I can actually bring for this but I can totes bring it.

voice; un: AUO

[throwmoreswords]

[ it would've been kind of funny if Zulius had gone into the pitch. part of Gilgamesh was hoping he would! it'd be nice if the world felt normal for just a while longer, but nooo, Zulius has to be empathetic and hone right in on the problem. ]

It's not great, no. [ he tries to sound so light about it--Zulius is the one person he doesn't really want to turn his ire on. ] It's unfortunately a circumstance of my past life--unless you have a spare pile of souls hanging around, I need to contemplate certain... solutions.

[bebest]

[It would be the perfect low-hanging fruit, something easy to slip into excitedly and drum up attention for that rather than... whatever the fuck is happening with Gilgamesh right now. But Zulius is too altruistic for such things. Not when a friend is in clear distress.

So, unfortunately for Gil, he'll have to deal with someone worrying about him. ]

Oh, damn, past life circumstances are the worst. Sorry, Buddy, I'm fresh out of souls. [He's a little afraid to ask. Gil... didn't put that in a very comforting way. It doesn't sound like this is gonna be easy.] So, what are your other solutions?

[throwmoreswords]

[ but think of the poor people of Kaisou who need the hot people of Kaisou in skimpy outfits. it's public outreach, service, and charity all in one bag. who cares what Gilgamesh's deal is in the wake of that. ]

Darn. I have half a memory of a basement full of orphans--wonder if anyone has one of those laying around. [ again, it might be... a joke. maybe.

regardless, Gil continues on at a breezy clip. ]

In one scenario, I make a pact with someone and become their Servant. In another scenario, I burn up what's left of my magical energy just existing and I glitter away into nothingness. Alternatively, if the Holy Grail is just laying around, I could make a wish on that.

[thewarriorqueen]

"Afraid I can't help you with whatever it is. More of whatever strange stuff happens here? Or some past life nonsense?"

To judge by her tone, she's didn't find either notion appealing, but especially the latter.

"Your waterpark sounds nice though, I suppose?"