Finis Chaldea

[Apollymi]

Artoria stared at Gilgamesh. This man literally just said he had so much stuff he always expected an improvement to the things he could build or create with what was found in his coffers. "Ridiculous." Yes, that one word completely described how she felt about this man all the time. He said so many outlandish things and always so truthfully that she could not argue with him. Even so, she was always stunned by how far from the normal his expectations were.

Speaking of expectations Artoria's mind was about to be hard reset, once again. This time, the notes about this 'bed' created by Gilgamesh was full of random information she knew enough about to be more than aghast at his call of 'rudimentary'. Why. Oh, well, there was the cloud mattress... "Cloud belonging to Sun Wukong and you just made it into a mattress. World tree wood... yes perfectly normal thing to have on hand. I have no idea what a Huma is, but it smells like a fire-bird so we are just not going to think about that.. and a constellations blanket," she was so near outrage she could hardly contain it. "And you just say all that as if you have never read a book, seen an anime... nothing. Right no memories. I should not be so upset still..." she mumbled to herself. If she could have smothered herself to death she would have done it, but instead she watched as Gilgamesh entered this bed unceremoniously. He claimed she should save her naysaying for waking hours because he'd be taking none of it now. That was pretty unfair, Hoshimi Eri shared a bed with no one. Artoria Pendragon shared a bed with no one... and here and now she was sharing one with Gilgamesh. So, of course she couldn't settle immediately. No instead she would watch wondering if it would even be possible for her to fall asleep while he was so close. Instead she busied herself taking in the details of him, having a great internal monologue about how foolish it was to fall asleep beside someone who'd already mentioned having a nagging desire to murder you.

[Bloodedge]

Gilgamesh's eyes were closed, his breathing already beginning to slow and deepen while Artoria went on the tangent she always chose. This time, her repeat of things he listed came with mention of books and... whatever anime was. She went on to note a lack of memories, so it was presumably a thing of that other world. No matter; these things were reality in present life. Never would there be a point to treating them as anything more, or less, than what they were. "If it is of value, it is mine to claim. Perhaps one day, you will learn that surprise at the extent of my treasury is without purpose," he mused, yawning once more thereafter.

In the following moments, Gilgamesh would be found musing almost at random. Consciousness was slipping from him rather quickly, given his general lack of sleep and recent physical activity. "Hmm. It may even be worthwhile to let you see for yourself. One of those 'dates' as a journey through my treasury. A lovely thought, is it not─" The more he spoke, the more his words faded. Whatever Artoria's concerns about a shared sleeping arrangement were, it couldn't be clearer that he didn't share them. Only moments after settling, the king fell silent in all but breathing. He would not be waking any time soon, nor very easily at all. . .

[Apollymi]

Gilgamesh had the thought wandering in his mind and over his lips that one day she wouldn't be surprised by the things he had in his treasury. To that there could only be a scoff. "Never. I might stop talking about it for my own sanity but I doubt I will ever stop being surprised," she commented. It was the truth, with any amount of knowledge of what items were, the thought of it just became more ridiculous. When you add to it the fact that it was seemingly endless well... it was downright unfair that he had access to everything. Well, that wasn't entirely true, anything he'd collected with his own hands was fair game by her own logic but he couldn't even remember what all of those things were.

Ah, but there were more important things. The mention of a date through the treasury was apparently an option on Gilgamesh's list. Artoria gave that but a second of thought before she came to the conclusion that it was the sort of thing she'd like. "I always did like museums..." she stated with a small smirk knowing full well he wouldn't even know what such a thing was. Of course, none of that mattered as his breathing became deeper and he fell further into the clutches of sleep. It was obvious he did not share her misgivings about sleeping with another person. The fact that he was so trusting was beyond moronic to her, but in looking upon his restful form she could do nothing but sigh. "Baka! You are actually pretty cute when you are quiet," she said softly. "Oops, never saying that again..." she corrected herself immediately. Of course she did not need anyone knowing the depths of her feelings, but sometimes even those welled up a bit beyond her own control.

A few moments passed and that ceremonial knife appeared in her hands. She'd casually play with it. Twirling it across her fingers as she thought over the possibilities. On the one hand, she could sleep on the farther side of the bed, with the knife she so preferred holding. But his body radiated heat and was practically calling to her to nestle in after all they'd done. Ah, but she also didn't like that at all. But she also thought it might be good to experience at least once. Just the same she couldn't well give up her gun hand for such an endeavor could she? Well... maybe. A few more seconds to of thought and a yawn escaped her. "You really should rest more often Gil... you fell asleep way too easily for me to believe you have been getting a proper amount of rest. You really should take better care of yourself," she mused gently. Finally that knife disappeared from her hand, and the stoic Knight-Queen made a decision. "I am going to trust this thing you call sleep... just the once. And if I do not like it, you will hear no end of it tomorrow," she mentioned as she rolled closer into his side. That little blade had disappeared, safety first and all of that. She wouldn't want to accidentally stab anyone. "Oyasuminasai, Gil..." she murmured. How would she end up as she drifted off to dream of Avalon once more? Well, her head on his chest, her body tucked into his her still useless legs entwined as she pulled the cover up over her shoulder. Like this the Queen of Knights would find a deep rest for the first time.

[Bloodedge]

Gilgamesh had always known of the future in which he claimed Artoria Pendragon. What he didn't look into, was the little moments along the way. Even unconscious, he felt the presence of Artoria against his own flesh. It was at some point during the night that an arm found itself hooked around the sleeping queen, and that... was how things were when Gilgamesh woke the next morning. The sun's rays shone through the window, and he stirred as lidded eyes were assaulted. Maybe he should have done something about that, if nothing else in the room.

Shuffling about only slightly, Gilgamesh came to realize Artoria's position quickly. She was without the usual armament when sleeping, it seemed. She seemed quite at peace... Good. He would not disturb her rest. Instead, the king would tilt his head toward the woman. Lips would peck her forehead as his free hand shifted stray hairs into place, and then... he'd spend whatever time he had left simply staring into her face. He'd claimed numerous victories aloud recently, but no─ this was triumph incarnate.

[Apollymi]

Over the course of night Artoria's body had an arm thrown over it. Strangely, this did not trigger her fight or flight response in the slightest, and instead she ended up snuggled in closer. She appreciated the extra warmth even with her empty gun hand. Perhaps this was trust, actual trust... The last time she slept properly without a weapon in her hand she'd been 10 years old in this world. After that she'd stolen a kitchen knife and fairly soon after that, been gifted a dagger by her elder sister so she could sleep comfortably. Still, she dreamed of paradise and nothing set off her instinct to protect herself in the night. Instead she found the deepest sleep her body had ever known.

When the sun rose she was still sleeping and when the first movements of Gilgamesh took place she was still unconscious. It would be quite a awhile before her body wanted to rise. That kiss to the forehead definitely made the process quite difficult the twitches of her muscles seemed to calm quite a bit. Whatever joy Gilgamesh got from watching her sleep in this way, she'd already experienced in the previous night. Just a few more minutes? Since when was she the type to oversleep? She wasn't at all... but she had the hardest time waking up today. So warm and that overly honest body of hers stretched out more entangling more in Gilgamesh's form as her body began the process of waking. Fingers moved soon or rather her hands unconsciously twitched. So used to holding a weapon in her sleep that waking without one was not something she had conventions for. So instead those finger tips twitched against Gilgamesh's exposed torso. Those eyes of hers flickered open to light and gold. How interesting. "Ohay...." pause. That was the wrong word wasn't it a strange one he would not understand. "Good morning..." she managed instead. Strangely enough she didn't move to immediately extricate herself from his side, she was actually quite comfortable. With that knowledge she supposed she'd avoid giving him grief for forcing this arrangement in the first place.

[Bloodedge]

Very little time passed between the waking of Gilgamesh, and of Artoria. At the same time, he spent nearly an eternity gazing upon her visage. Even when she woke, there was no interruption to his staring. Oh? There was a greeting of unfamiliar nature... or perhaps not so unfamiliar at all. A word went only half-spoken before being replaced by words of the common tongue. "H'oh? Did you nearly rise as your other self?" he questioned. She'd yet to move, so he remained stationary as well.

Of course, there was always something to be done. The festival had to begin at some point, and there were likely many more tablets to address. Still, he presently had little desire to deal with any of that. Oh well; a few additional moments wouldn't hurt. "Sleeping without your blade? I should take offense to your lack of replacement," he quipped. Such a discussion had occurred between them once. As he recalled, that particular meeting had been brought to an early end. This one, luckily, had not been. Perhaps fate would have it that no other of such interactions would see interruption again? Well, if Gilgamesh maintained the amount of control he preferred, that would be the case.

[Apollymi]

It seemed that vocal slip of hers was one which was understood at least enough to know that it signaled her other self. Of course, in waking even gently she had to reorder her brain a bit. Did she almost wake as her other self? "Iie... no. Not exactly," she mumbled as she used that twitchy hand to rub at her eye just a bit. "The line between us is rather thin, especially if I have been unconscious or around my siblings..." she mentioned as she tried to explain the situation of her word slips. She then returned that hand back where it had been. Given the fact that her legs did not work, she wasn't in any real rush to get out of her current position. She needed to give her brain time to properly separate something it hadn't done in quite a while given their previous activities.

Oh, what was more, he noticed that she'd slept without a blade in hand. What did he do upon noticing this? Bring up the fact that she'd not replaced it with him in anyway. He apparently wondered if he should take offense to that and she could only scoff. "I decided to be responsible and only stab you on purpose. I did not risk accidentally stabbing you in your sleep, so I slept without blade in my hand. Since you couldn't manage to stay awake long enough to hear my list of complaints about sharing a bed with you," she said curtly. "But I also did not wish to wake you so I decided to only complain if I hated the arrangement..." she said while looking towards the light of the sun. The words she spoke had no real complaints within it. "As for the lack of replacement... I would not risk waking you from what was likely the only sleep you have managed properly in however long it has been since you last did so," she said. True enough she wouldn't have risked stirring him into wakefulness by grabbing hold of his manhood. Even if she often spoke of it as if it was separate she wouldn't have wanted to wake him from a restful sleep regardless.

[Bloodedge]

So, the issue of Artoria's verbal slip-ups was one of weak borders. Considering the amount of time she spent switching between selves as of late, that sounded more than reasonable. He had nothing negative to say regardless. She was free to be Artoria Pendragon, Hoshimi Eri, or any other random entity floating around in her head. It didn't matter the identity she chose; they were all his fated queen. Both he and her would know this as absolute truth eventually, but for now, he would have to be the only one understanding.

Apparently, Gilgamesh would also be the only one moving. His rise began while Artoria completed her explanation about the missing dagger... and the missing replacement. Not wanting to wake him was about the most ridiculous excuse he could have heard; it wasn't worthwhile enough at all. "Your concern is without purpose. If ever I am to be woken, let your body be the thing that stirs me. It is a far better calling card than the rising sun; wouldn't you agree?" he asked while crawling out of bed. "Consider it as one thinks of cleaning a dinner plate. A meal that satisfies is to be consumed to the last morsel. A willing cook shall never complain when those he feeds go looking for seconds, even if he has finished cooking. So long as there is food in the pantry, the hungry shall eat."

[Apollymi]

It seemed her explanation of her verbal slips was one which was accepted in general. That is, Gilgamesh felt no need to question it further. What he did question instead, was her lack of waking him in the moments after he fell asleep. Particularly the actions which led to her, not taking hold of her new tool as a point of comfort. According to the Golden King her care of him in such a situation was unnecessary. He'd prefer to be woken by her than anything else. And if the proverbial pantry still had food to offer she could partake of her own accord? "That is ridiculous and you know it," she said awake enough to simply hold her face for a few more seconds. "But fine... if you wish to be woken in such a way and it will not impede upon the rest you obviously deny yourself... I will only give it light consideration next time," she announced. Ah, that wasn't exactly going along with what he wanted, but it did imply at the very least that she did not intend to keep herself from him at a great interval. And who knew, perhaps the world was finally willing to let them spend some amount of time together, so she could finish reconciling her feelings about him long before her end.

Moving on from this point, she watched as he extricated himself from the bed. She wished to properly protest this action. She couldn't even move her legs, the audacity of him to be moving about as if all was right in the world. Of course, she wasn't actually the sort of person who could even be upset properly, at least he wouldn't abandon anything just because she was not performing at full capacity. She managed in the next few seconds to sound only a little annoyed. "So, will you leave me breakfast, a tub and coffee... I can pretty much look after myself if I have those things..." Those words would lead one to believe she would not be intrusive at all while she recovered but also implied that even if she could she had no plans to abandon him in the foreseeable future.

[Bloodedge]

Once more, something he announced was called... ridiculous. One could presume that would never change, no matter how many centuries they lasted. At least Artoria would acquiesce well enough to the very rational things he offered. It was not rest he needed; it was satisfaction. Damned be the idea of sleeping when and if the perfect queen felt particularly desirous toward him! "One correction. Do not consider it an impediment at all. What man in his right mind would remain asleep while his queen's loins burn for him? I will never be such a man. This, I assure you."

Obviously, King Gilgamesh was never short on grand declarations. There couldn't possibly be an absence of outlandish promises─ especially those made to the woman currently known as Artoria Pendragon. Ah, but it would always be far more than promises, wouldn't it? Upon hearing the request for food, drink and bath, Gilgamesh halted his movements. He could have left the room, but Artoria spoke of looking after herself with only a few measly items. What would he do? Surely, she could have all of those things... just as easily as she could have more. "Hmph," he muttered. Moments later, a Divine Gate appeared not by Artoria, but by Gilgamesh himself. A short sword was spawned from this gate, bearing the appearance of an intricate key, constantly shifting about the handle. As casually as he launched anything from his treasury, he tossed that key toward the bed Artoria inhabited. "You have Bab-ilu itself at your disposal. Make use of it as you please, while I deal with the upcoming festival. I expect to meet with you before day's end."

[Apollymi]

An admendment was apparently to be made to Artoria's sentence about waking or not waking the King of Heroes. According to him, she was not to consider her intrusion to his sleeping hours as an impediment at all. He would apparently never be the type who turned away the desires of his queen... and questioned apparently the type of man who would do so. Shock and a light pink flush stretched across her face. "Admitting something like that is outrageous... but I will concede," she said choosing not to argue the point. She was quite certain she couldn't and even if she tried to it would only make the ridiculous things he claimed have more of an effect on her physical countenance.

Whatever the case, she was content to have the few items she'd asked for to amuse herself for the coming hours while Gilgamesh went about his business. But it seemed the king was not willing to leave her to meager activities. Would he simply leave her the tub, coffee and breakfast she asked for? Of course not... he would give her something much grander. So expected in fact that she wouldn't initially know how to react. A divine gate opened near Gilgamesh and out of it came Bab-ilu. She recognized it. The first time she'd met him after the attempted attack on her person... this thing had been explained as the physical key to his treasury. And what would he be doing with this? Throwing it at her feet on this bed. Claiming she could have use of it to do as she desired. "You... you... you..." she had no idea what to say. "You can not give me this!" she was adamant. What the hell was she supposed to do with the key to his treasury. Why did he trust her with it? Was he mad? He had to be mad! "You will be gone for hours, at maximum I do not need much to occupy myself!" she was adamant. The idea of being given access to something so intrinsic to his being felt strange to her. She was certain she did not need such access. She did not even trust herself with normal levels of power she did not need access to anything that could be called endless.

[Bloodedge]

Gilgamesh had done a great many ridiculous things in regards to his interactions with this woman. Of all those things, perhaps the most ridiculous of all was suddenly handing over the key to his entire fortune. It was quite likely that he'd do even more outlandish things in the future, but at present, this would be very difficult to top. Apparently, he couldn't give it to her. Well... there it was, sitting right next to her on the bed. "Of course I can! It is my belonging, is it not? Who should I dare trust with it, if not my own bride?" he questioned, seeming to have no expectation for an answer.

True, he would hardly be gone for any time at all. Ah, but a short absence was no reason to offer Artoria anything less than... well, everything. She had no use of his entire collection, but they obviously viewed things very differently in this regard. "If you do not need much, then do not use much. To have everything at your disposal does not mean you must utilize everything. I will offer you everything; it is your prerogative to take anything, among everything, that pleases you."

[Apollymi]

Of course he could. This was not a matter of physical ability. A now flustered Artoria Pendragon was left trying to argue against some pretty sound logic. "That is not what I meant and you know it!" she scoffed throwing her hands up in the air. He was right there should be none more trustworthy to gain anything than his future bride. And he'd chosen her for this purpose and though she'd not yet agreed to anything like that she was starting to believe it was at least a possibility of the future. Somehow the thought of that made her face more warm than normal. "I cannot argue it is logical but it is still stupid!" she declared. How outrageous, she was embarrassed and yet could not bring herself to properly argue either way. It felt strangely freeing to be trusted even when it was plenty obvious why she should not be. "I mean I know I do not have to use everything it is still just a ridiculous gesture..." she tersely replied her bottom lip poking out just a little. Artoria Pendragon was pouting, but no one would ever know that.

Whatever the case, she would stare at the key by her feet trying to figure out if such a thing was a dive she wanted to take. She did not really have an option given her current state but what could she do with the amount of trust placed in her other than honor it. "Fine, since trust is being placed in me... I will dabble and amuse myself for a while. Though this is still a crazy thing to offer a person... I will not argue that it is useful," she mentioned as she made the decision to reach for that key he'd left at her feet. It still looked like a weapon and so she'd inspect it a bit before using it to amuse herself. "Well then, I guess it is you and me for the morning. Are not you the well-balanced piece of equipment for something I should not use to stab someone~" she mused. This man really seemed to like objects that defied human logic. This key, his sword Ea... Artoria might have even counted herself if she wasn't so honestly modest.

[Bloodedge]

Logic would always win, as much as Gilgamesh himself defied it. Ridiculous gesture or not, it was no different to Gilgamesh than a normal man offering free roam of his abode to some woman of interest. He even moved on, certain that many random objects within the treasury would one day belong to Artoria Pendragon. Caliburn was still of no use to him, but of great sentimental value to her; it would be hers. A particular crown had been fashioned eons ago, and her head was interestingly missing such an article for her to be called a queen. Weapons... she was so fond of them, yet in possession of so few. All of those problems would be fixed in due time, and only with the best!

Soon enough, Artoria took the key into her own hands. She treated it as a weapon, which was quite the interesting thing to do... considering the fact that it was a weapon. "It could easily be used to stab someone. That thing is no less a sword than it is a key. Twist it properly, and its might as a weapon of mass destruction may astound you," he explained. Alas, she clearly hadn't been talking to him. That was something worth his response either way. "Have your fun. Know that you are free to join me at the throne, if you have the gall." With that, Gilgamesh took his leave. He'd cleanse himself and dress in his new favorite kingly robes en route to the throne room, and at last... he'd take that chair of his without a single worry for whatever came his way. He also did so without hesitation. There was always one person he expected to find next to his throne, and it was she who had access to everything else he required. "Siduri! The time has come!"

[Apollymi]

According to Gilgamesh this weapon she now held was no less a sword than it was currently a key. Apparently it could indeed be used to cut something. Artoria was astounded but having witnessed Ea and even the dual daggers that became the bow he used she was not all together surprised. "One day we will find out why your owner enjoys things that defy normal logic, swords that are not swords, bows that are not bows. I am sure there is an entire list of such ridiculous things to consider but... for now I will graciously let that point go...." she said as she twisted that short sword around in her hand. It truly was well balanced. What was this, Gilgamesh was leaving but told her she could have her fun or join him at the throne if she possessed enough 'gall'. "I am remiss to announce that I currently own no audacity. I am sure it slipped away from me some time in the last 10 days along with the use of my legs..." she said. A joke at her own expense and a little sass were at least on the table for Artoria. "I will see you later, Gil."

At the same time, Siduri stood where she always did this time of day. Imagine her surprise when the King emerged a full week and some extra after his departure with the Queen of Knights. The browned haired veiled woman had nothing but bright eyes to offer her king. "Good Morning, my King. I assume the Queen is also in high spirits?" she said with a bit of a smirk. To be truthful, the pair had been busy enough for most of the inhabitants of the ziggurat to take up temporary residence on lower floors. Beyond that they'd also at least lightly worried for the Queen's safety. Though she was not here now, she knew enough of Gilgamesh to know he would not seem so pleased if there was anything wrong with the Queen of Knights.

And what was Artoria doing? Well she was currently trying out this key. Sitting in bed with a mortar and pestle, crafting... a bath bomb. The idea for one had come to her as a part of her morning thoughts over that first cup of coffee which was also on the bed beside her. Since she was alone, much like in her own bedroom she just had several things strewn around her person as she did what she wanted. A cup of coffee to her left, pieces for this particular cosmetic strewn around her person as she added them to the mortar in sequence. "Talc, from that fast moving river here... weird he just has it but whatever. Mixed with the salt of Havria... this item is classed as divine for some reason. Weird choice but alright," she mused to herself and the sword she was keeping as present company. "Hm... Star Whale Oil, which smells very strange but also very comforting. Nothing can go wrong with that... and Soul Bee Honey, to bring that part of the 'dry' mixture together," she stated. She was no master craftsman but she at least remembered how to do this from adventures with her younger and older sister. "Ah then the solvent added just enough to make it stick in a ball. Chaos Tide... it smells... like a dragon, but nothing too anger inspiring. Strange..." she mentioned. Yes, working was Artoria Pendragon all to move towards the perfect morning bath to accompany the second cup of coffee.