kaisou | [treasure 8] it's black and white, this message is for you

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[treasure 8] it's black and white, this message is for you

WHO: Gilgamesh, Sampo Koski, and you
WHERE: Gemini
WHEN: endish of January
WHAT: in which Gilgamesh is only so good at waiting before his temper snaps and a few executive decisions need to be made. Payments arranged. Favors compensated. Please help.
WARNINGS: n/a

one. voice; un: AUO - to whom it may concern (and it should concern you)

in which a king needs to buy stuff like rocks and labor

[ Gil's tone is... strange. neither of his usual emotions--bored or smug--seem to be present in the tension that he speaks with, and he's trying to sound... neutral. overwhelmingly so. he is pulling a facade of calm into his voice that feels like it doesn't quite fit right. ]

I am quite tired of waiting for the pieces of a puzzle to fall into place, and so, I will see them seized for myself.

I need material ore. Whether it's tin, copper, gold, silver, tungsten, platinum, cobalt, or diamond itself--or some unknown to me magical panacea rock that exists only in an anomalous riftgate, I am in the market to purchase ore or information regarding ore.

If you know a deposit that can be pulled up, or have the means to put together a mining expedition if only you had the currency, I am paying for your services. If you need someone to keep beasts at bay while you collect the ore, I am available for the work, or I will fund your hirelings. Hook or crook, I simply need a stockpile of materials and I need it a month ago.

My. [ and that neutral, authoritative tone falters here; he takes in a breath, digs his teeth into his tongue and steadies himself again, though there's a noticeable shift and an unease in his attempt to sound like the boss of you. ] My partner has a crystal growing in his skin and the symptoms are getting worse. It glows constantly and he's lost the ability to differentiate temperature. He has a forgemaster on retainer, but they need materials to find one that can contain whatever the hell it is-- [ oops, that's an emotion, can't have those.

swallow it down. go back to neutral, even though it's cracked and his temper is beginning to show through. he's shifted to a sort of... resolved, unflinchingly firm calm. ] I will not lose him a second time. I don't care what it costs. I don't care if you think to bleed me dry. I'm available at the Auguries of Innocence during the day, and if I'm not there in the evenings, the Vogue.

[ a long pause. another slow breath. ]

I do not know what I will do if he's taken from me again. Therefore, I will not entertain the possibility. You may respond to this solicitation, or to me directly.

[ that's not a threat.

that's a promise.

a King does not break his promises.

and then, soft and so very, very tired. ]

... please.

two. action - with lightning in my heels and my heart on fire

cash for gold. or silver. or titanium. or rainbow magic rock.

[ and as he promised, if you have stuff to sell, Gilgamesh is outside of his teapot and ready to pull out his fancy golden wallet. he's given to the masculine urge to perch on the roof, standing on the Auguries bundled up in many, many layers of expensive winterwear because he was still born in a dry, desert climate, and this sucks, but he needs fresh air and to not be near people unless they're doing his bidding.

if you'd prefer a Vogue introduction, there's a certain particularly gothic corner of the party palace that he's sitting adjacently to, nursing a glass of wine and trying not to look like he wants to explode. the look on his face is dire--anger, concern, constipation. he's bottling things and it's fine; one day, like all proud rich and powerful men, he'll do enough cocaine about it that he'll probably explode and die. ]

three. closed to Sampo and close CR - and oh, I am so tired

when i'm alone, i fall apart

[ and when he's not brooding and hovering over his phone, waiting for someone to come through with something, Gil is doing a surprisingly good job at avoiding the people who might be coming to see him just for him. he's running on a few anxious months of watching things get worse while Sampo laughs that it'll be all right, just let ol' Bladie work and then here it is.

not all right.

Sampo's skin freezing cold to the touch because he stood in an icy, unheated shower for thirty minutes, unaware that he'd forgotten to put the heat on. he's angry, he's tired, he's ~~scared~~ and he's digging his teeth into his lip until he tastes blood as he runs through a hundred different contingency plans and keeps coming back around to what happens if the worst happens.

the King may have fallen apart in his grief for Enkidu

but Gilgamesh has mourned Samuel Kouvac once before, so all he has left is to get angry about it and that... feels like it won't end well for anyone.

so he does his level best to avoid the people who know him best. including Sampo. especially Sampo. ]

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Don't touch weird rocks at the Goodwill without gloves.

wdym a DUNGEON opened up under your forge???

Bladie, buddy, please tell me that's some sort of joke? I'm dying for a laugh right now!

[Yasuho's reply for a short bit is to just slurp some of the smoothie. It's something grounding, in a weird way, and she nods to indicate that she heard Fugo at all.]

Mnh. The gemstones here at least have some magical properties, so whatever we find, even if it isn't a diamond, it's worth taking...

[She trails off.]

...But I also thought about something else...

I will lend my assistance as well, Maxima.

[wols gonna wol and if its a guy this wol doesnt like

who the fuck cares his partner is at risk]

I found him while wandering the ruins of my home on my initial arrival, and he showed me the exit into the city before we both froze. Granted, he didn't explain the situation until we had stepped through, but I doubt I would have believed him without the proof of my own eyes to see it in any case.

We've only spoken a few times since, but I've found no reason to disregard that first impression. Of course adventurers don't work for free; he was still willing to put his original intentions on hold when he encountered someone in need of guidance.

[Given all the tension, Yasuho obviously won't bother with a message back, but she's adding 'Talus Hearts' to the list of possibilities to try once she reads Gil's message.

There's gotta be magic in those giant hunks of rock right??]

[Ever so typical of Amal, always just too energetic for the formalities.]

I'll have it ready and waiting for you.

[ it's been a very surreal day.

Gilgamesh is very used to spending his days idly doing whatever pleased him best; he works when he wants to, plays when he wants to, and looks for things to interest him in-between the few things that he counts as obligations. he's been in a holding pattern, frittering his days away, practicing with his odd new powers and finding ways to color his time

and Samuel Kovac has been dying beside him, in silence.

he's noticed, of course. how couldn't he notice the changes? it's been a slow, subtle enough change that it's been like a frog in a boiling pot of water--and every time Sampo laughed it off, said that work was slow but good, the fire went up a little higher, the water got a little hotter, and Gil had tried very, very hard not to notice.

he can still feel the cold on his back, hours later. the chill lingers and soaks into his magical facsimile of skin; he holds onto the feeling in the same way a penitent man brings a flogger down on his own back--it's a reminder as much as it is a punishment as much as it is a focus.

Sampo is not okay.

and Gilgamesh is not okay because Sampo is not okay.

for all that he's spent his life feeling like he is a solitary entity standing apart from the rest of the world, lonely on his throne--in this age of mortal men, so many terrible mortal, terribly frail men have done their level best to chain him down to his humanity, to keep him from staring lonely and empty towards the stars. they've plead so sweetly with him, proclaiming themselves his friends, his family, wearing these blessed titles with such innocent joy without realizing the terrible consequences that come with bearing the load of the King's humanity.

in another life, the King wept bitterly as Enkidu washed away in his hands, clay turning to mud and slipping back to the loam under the uncaring eyes of the gods.

in this life, Gilgamesh has already wept for Samuel Kovac once.

if he loses him a second time

~~if it is truly his fault this time~~

he is going to walk into hell to drag Sampo back, and then he's going to burn the world down to start the Garden anew starting with that blasted shop and its 'caveat emptor' marketing philosophy. he is going to rage and grieve and rip until the newborn pit inside of him begins to feel whole again, and whatever happens in the meantime will be his bloody corpse-laden burden to bear--

and then Sampo pulls him away from the worst case scenario with his heavy, comfortable presence; less cold this time, for better or worse. he looks up after he relaxes his jaw and breathes out the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding in with the tight little ball in the center of his chest, the pupils of his eyes pulled to slits as he considers Sampo Koski--Samuel Kovac--as the man perches on him like the world's saddest parrot, all tired smiles that don't reach his eyes and bed-mussed hair. ]

I am still incandescently furious with you. [ he says, in a conversational tone that he's carefully bled of all of his feelings, acquiescing to letting Sampo sit on him by uncrossing his legs even if he doesn't bring his arms up to embrace him.

he's angry at himself, too, but Sampo gets to deal with the front-facing problem, and not the inside thoughts ones. ]

Thank you, Takame. You're also welcome to sign up for the guild if you like - most of the proceeds from our work go toward the upkeep of the Fortress, but once we have a couple months of finances squared away we'll be offering compensation for jobs taken under the guild's banner.

[You could earn some extra money doing regular adventurer work if you want.]

Or we can consider you a consultant just for this job.

but the sooner we find anything the better, yeah?

yeah, i'll keep in touch. you know my number.

your boyfriend, the proudest and richest man i have ever met (and i work in gaming i've met a lot of very very proud and rich men), is all but begging on the network to help you not die slowly and horribly.

we're far past "it'll be fine haha". how bad has it gotten and for how long?

But not impossible. Do you know where they're most likely to be found or are they just—

[Random loot drops, he's about to say, but uh, no, he's pretty sure she doesn't know that bit of gamer jargon.]

Scattered all over the place?

S' how ore deposits work, more or less. Find 'em in groups scattered about more often'n not. Ain't usually too out in the open, neither; want to be lookin' a little deeper than surface level.

I'll make it worth your while, whatever you find.

[ it's been an exercise in neatly assuaged frustration--Gilgamesh has always been aware on the fringes that there are options and things beyond himself, he just hasn't cared enough to pay attention to what they were. he's stuck in an odd cycle of being relieved at having names and options and possibilities, and angry that he has to be here in the first place, waiting like a bride whose husband takes to the sea for months at a time.

he hates waiting for things. he hates that he's burning money and everything is just potential. he's too old of a dog to spend his time figuring out new tricks, damn it. ]

Although I'll leave him to owe you the whiskey. I'm already spending an arm and a leg on the consequences of his actions after all.

[ why did you listen to his voice post where Mimi could hear you irresponsible pet father?

the lounge is beautifully appointed (though it looks more lived in than ever), but it stands empty when Jing Yuan comes calling. Gilgamesh has been a force of movement today--unable to keep himself still for long and wanting to avoid the people who know him best with every fiber of his being, but his best laid, spiteful plans aren't... y'know. good ones.

especially not when Siduri's in the mix.

Mimi's 'nyaa?' is met with a 'miau?' as Siduri (the calico) arches her way out of an upstairs office, peeking through the railing down at her brother from another mother and the Jing Yuan that comes attached to him. she brrts out a greeting, hopping up on the railing to get a better look while also maintaining maximum tallness. ]

[ heartbreaking: person you thought you were comfortably in a non-political political rivalry with shows you a modicum of human kindness and puts aside your differences in the wake of a crisis. the hell is he supposed to do, be sincere about it? sincerity gives him hives. ]

I have no idea what I'm talking about, diamond was bandied about as a possibility. If there are any gemstones with... alchemical significance? magical weight? I would figure those would be the most poignant subjects to start with.

Our starting goal has shaped up to be an everstone from the Kanto gate.

Hopefully some of the early excursions to find everstone provide a large enough sample that Blade can work something to his satisfaction. You may want to hold off on visiting the forge; there's apparently a hole opening up beneath the floor? This is why I buy two of everything when I can.

[ now some people would argue that it's hard to furnish and equip two separate forges, but those people are poor and Gilgamesh is barely aware they exist because every person who's not him looks the same to him. like some sort of non-wealthy face blindness. ]

If that is what you wish. I've lost patience with waiting for things to work out--so it pleases me better to know there are direct lines of cause and effect filling out space with the problem.

[ like some sort of affluent 'per my previous email'. ]

"One day, I'll be reclusive enough that I cannot be bothered to manifest a physical body most of the time, and then I shall truly be rid of you lot."

Though it's lacking his usual sardonically playful tone, it's not colored by actual anger or displeasure at having been followed so easily.

After all; the more things change, the more they stay the same. Gilgamesh craves the acquisition of all of humanity's treasures and seeks to appreciate the beauty of his Garden in all its forms. Hyrule is mostly untouched wilderland and untapped possibility. Of course it would bring him a measure of comfort.

"Hm. I seem to recall that it's next to impossible to change your mind once you've made it up, and your presence is not so reprehensible that I have reason to turn you away." Which is glowing for a review, really. "Did you have a particular trip in mind?"

[ it was cuddle time, you know the rule when you have a cat upon your lap. you do not move. it is illegal if you move.

the response has Mimi's ears flick in the direction of the sound, bright blue eyes spying the calico peeking down at them from upstairs. with what can only be described as a happy crip Mimi bounds up the stairs towards Siduri, impossibly fluffy tail held high. it warms his heart to see the interaction just enough to take the sting off the ache, if only for the span of a breath. ]

In the office, is he?

[ Jing Yuan follows his son up the stairs, his steps slow as he ascends. Mimi seems to wait at the top, choosing the moment Jing Yuan catches up to the be moment he leaps up onto the railing alongside Siduri in a display of grace all should be envious of. for his display, Jing Yuan rewards him with a scratch on top of his head and then provide Siduri with one as well, a silent thank you for spoiling his father's best laid plans.

he will have to bring her treats next time he visits. ]

[Y'know what, she's done much, much worse than that in the Goodwill. Consider this a lesson learned for her.]

Yeah, okay, thanks for the advice! Ugh, how long has this been happening? And don't be funny about it! We have to know so we can help, this is your life on the line.

[And everyone else's lives, although March doesn't know that.]

I'm not that surprised it took a lot of arguing to get him to admit it got really bad. He was like that too back when I knew him—but that was more about any super-shady stuff he was getting up to and not, you know, threats to his life.

Okay. Okay. Caleb's checking out the dumpsters and the Goodwills—I'm going to go poking around the Spirit Gates. I heard Stardew Valley has mines, I can start there.

"I dunno, I bet you'd get bored and start missing us if you did."

If Gil were truly displeased, he'd have no hesitation in making it known, in Ritsuka's experience. And she couldn't blame him for lacking his usual humor, considering everything.

"I was thinking of trying to scout out more places for people to try mining. If I can find them, I can bring people there, you know?"

Group teleportation was a truly amazingly useful trick. Though also, because it was cold in Kaisou, she started moving toward the portal as she spoke.

"Maybe check up on some other stuff while I'm there, that kinda thing."

P r o b a b l y.

I mean
In my world's case, it was definitely a sadist calling the shots.
But po-tay-to, po-tah-toe.

[as usual they will never speak of this again]

From an alchemical standpoint? Gold, primarily. But I don't think I can create that one. Magical in general, most any clear precious stones carry similar characteristics and qualities. I can give diamond a try to start with.

Yeah, I heard about the forge. Sudden and annoying complications is pretty on brand for dealing with Cruxis Crystals. How long will it take to get another forge running?

[Because honestly, Zelos can respect the rich person logic. Why deal with a pain in the ass dungeon when you got the ultimate speedrun cheat there is? Money.]

It is. I don't mind getting money for any other kind of gig, I'm not some selfless goody two shoes. And hell, I respect the hustle of throwing money at the problem, because it will give you results.

But lets just say for purely personal reasons none of us want to get into, I don't feel good taking money for Cruxis Crystals. I much rather get money for my penis.

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[treasure 8] it's black and white, this message is for you

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[Not Here]

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text; un: AUO

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