Gone are the age of the innocent ones

[isolophobia]

| characters | Pitch Black and you?

| date/time | 6/11-? (please specify date in header)

| location | The purple-blue Lifestream

| rating | G? (TBE if needed)

| summary | Fear has pointedly stayed away from the Lifestream. Now he's right next to it. Houston, you have a problem.



Usually Pitch didn't make much use of the dark moth's wings he had been sporting since coming here. But they really were ideal for silent flight between the levels. Most people were staying well away from the changed Lifestream, but not Pitch. He was unbothered by that feeling of being upset, stressed even. It was more sorrow than he preferred, but there was fear to be had here. Old fear. Harder to find, though, which may account for his presence here.

It was small, but still. Better than that golden light that everyone gathered around and felt so calmed by. Better to dance in the dark like this. Light without light. alone in the dark.

Comments

[isolophobia]

Well that's different. there have been so few people willing to go near the altered Lifestream, that someone altogether ignoring feeling it inspired catches Pitch's attention. Pitch didn't consider it 'evil' exactly, but stress, sadness, and all the negative feelings usually associated with the darkness are stronger now.

Pitch lands silently wings tucked behind his back like an extra bit of cape, and hands folded together over that.

"You are bold to come close at night."

[kingpika]

"I could hardly be a hero if I weren't bold, could I? If anything, you're the bold one."

Gilgamesh spoke without a single shred of doubt. His was a legend of adventure, of rule, and of raging against the gods themselves. There was very little that he feared, and there were many who feared him. It was simply the way of things.

"You don't often see this much darkness in something with voice and form. Most minds can't bear it. What are you?"

He struck straight at the heart of the matter. Gilgamesh, even as the child Gil, knew otherworldly things when he saw them, and this was definitely something otherworldly.

[isolophobia]

Both Pitch's brows raised then. He was utterly charmed by this small piece of a spirit being so demanding, without even offering anything in return.

"I could ask the same of you, with the slight edit to 'who are you'. Because you are most assuredly not a child."

Plainly It was a spirit of some kind, but professed itself to be hero. Not the first time this old Boogeyman has met some kid professing to be a hero, but this kid definitely asked pointed questions if he was just looking to make a name for himself.

[kingpika]

"Me? Even though I am not a child, I am most definitely a child." The mind follows the body in many ways. This was one of them. He retained all the memories and experience he had, the good and the bad, but the core of his personality had certainly reverted to what he had when he was nine. There was a strange dissonance, to both have seen so much and still be able to project childish innocence and charm.

"I'm Gil. Or perhaps I should say Gilgamesh, King of Uruk, perhaps you've heard of me, perhaps you haven't?" There was a strange respect being given here, for Gil to give his entire name instead of his childish nickname so readily. The Epic of Gilgamesh itself was an old, old tale. By some records it was the first legend committed to writing. Most worlds would have it, but not many on those worlds would be familiar with such prehistoric stories.

[isolophobia]

Curiouser and curiouser to quote Lewis Carroll, though it's a wholly different quote by Frederick Nietzsche that says the mind is a plaything of the body. And it was only a complete fool that didn't learn to recognize their downfall when they saw it. Pitch Black bowed deeply and without reserve. Even the extra moths wings only became partially extended to show their golden edging as he straightened.

"Your majesty. As I recall, Uruk, was a single city within ancient Sumeria. Ah, but then you say you are a hero. So I suppose it is more about the promise of such a great kingdom, not the kingdom itself.

The problem was that like recognized like, and where a child would be Fear's undoing so too would Gilgamesh be his own end.

[kingpika]

"It was a different time, where having a city-state at all was quite the achievement, and Uruk was the greatest city in the world. But you're right, merely being a king won't make you a hero." If this spirit was trying to get Gilgamesh to prove his credentials, he was definitely not above showing off. Even diminished as he was within the Tree, he was still the King of Heroes, and the King had his ways.

"First you slay a giant, taking his auras and the cedar he guarded and giving it to the lands you rule. Then you collect all the treasures of the world." Ripples in space opened behind him, coins and jewels falling out like rain. Money was the least of his treasures, but it was what he had left. The truly great items, the many tools that would become part of the legends of some other, later hero, had been left behind in the summoning somehow.

"After that, you find and lose immortality." The rain ceased, the treasures disappeared, and Gilgamesh pulled out a single flask from nowhere. Contained within was the Potion of Immortality. In his life he had tossed it away for the snakes, but it had found its way to him regardless.

"Finally you die, and you get your story written in stone that will endure for thousands of years." For Gilgamesh was dead, but legends endured and were given shape. This particular form had been granted by the machinations of some foolish mage who thought Gilgamesh could be contained and controlled. Alas, that was not to be.

"But well," he tossed the potion back through the hole in space he had gotten it from, "it doesn't actually matter! Almost everyone here just knows me as Gil, the precocious boy who just got here, and that's fine too."

[isolophobia]

Pitch watched each display with an eye for the magic it was taking to summon all these different things. Did beg the question of where they were being kept most of the time, and it did a fine job of proving little Gil's credentials, so to speak. Can you really blame Pitch, though? Gil said he was a child, and yet was not. How this piece of a spirit had means and access to such magics was still a mystery, or if it's even really a piece after all, but this is the mortal king who was and is Gilgamesh.

Pitch supposed this left it his turn, which of course left him at something of a disadvantage. He had no name to give, not really, and Gilgamesh had precious few fears. Still, with his flare for the dramatic, he does at least try.

"I have been many things over the years. In ancient Sumeria..."

Pitch tapped his chin in thought.

"Likely you would have known me as Zaqar."

Maybe. Gilgamesh wasn't all that known for reverence of the gods or their messengers. And it was a long time ago, so it wouldn't really be accurate to say say that Pitch Black of today is anything like he was.

"But as you say, it was another time, and I've found my own way since. I have been El Coco, la croque-mitaine, Pitch Black, Derr Schwartze Mann, and the Boogeyman.""

Each time he listed off a name he took a step around the bluish-purple pillar, spreading his hands before Gil when he came back to the start. He bowed deeply once again, with no irony at all. Can't punish him for that sharp smile, though. It's not everyday that one meets the spirit of long ago kings.

[kingpika]

"I hope you're not going to show up under my bed, then." Gilgamesh was honestly surprised. From the moment he spotted Pitch, he knew that Pitch was no ordinary creature, but he had not expected it to be an actual god of fear. Or perhaps personification was a more accurate term?

"Unfortunately, as I'm sure you've figured out by now, there isn't very much I fear, and I'd rather not institute a reign of terror over this tree if I can at all help it. We aren't much use to each other." There was a degree of respect being extended here that was incredibly rare from Gil. He was not someone who feared the gods, or had much love for them at all, but they were still gods. Even if one did not bow, it was still impossible to deny their identity.

"But how curious, that the Boogeyman is stuck in a tree with the rest of us mortals. I wouldn't think that was at all possible."

[isolophobia]

"Not curious at all. Here, everyone can see me!"

And with the second emphatic proclamation, Pitch spun in a giddy little circle. He raised his arms and fully extended his black and gold moth's wings in sheer high spirits, quite at odds with the moody, blue-ish light next to him.

Pitch could only assume that Gil must be like Saber, in that they weren't quite mortals and they weren't quite spirits. It did leave them at something like a deadlock, and since neither was really willing to break it Pitch crosses his arms thoughtfully.

"It does beg the question as to why you sre here, and what your purpose then becomes."

[kingpika]

"Heroes are called from all times and places from their resting place to wherever they are needed. Gilgamesh's legend isn't one of the king in the mountain, but it's true regardless. Someone, somewhere, with the right skills decided they needed the power of the King of Heroes, and here I am." That wasn't the whole truth, but it was enough of it. It was true that heroes could be summoned with great enough power and need, but he had never been called to another place once he was already incarnated like this time.

"I couldn't tell you why I've been called, but it tends to be difficult to get heroes to do your exact bidding. We're a strong-willed group of people after all. I'm just going to live until something piques my interest."

[isolophobia]

"Oh so you've decided, then? You shall live only so long and no more."

Pitch really shouldn't poke fun, but it was a ridiculous thing to say. Usually it was people a lot more than things that got Pitch's interest these days, anyway. And this whole concept of 'Epic Heroes' isn't new, so there's no good way to tell one of these almost-spirits they were being silly. Pitch had spoken with Archer a little and naturally the other was quick to chide him about not being more secretive about his nature. Pitch deadpanned back that he hadn't had so many people believe in him because they could see him in centuries.

Whatever these 'Epic Hero' types were, they were very different to beings like Pitch.

[kingpika]

"I have decided! I sought immortality once, but it wasn't worth it. Life is valuable because it's ephemeral! Man shines brightest when the alternative is death!" It was a conclusion Gilgamesh came to near the end of his life. He hardly needed to live forever, he had already done everything he needed to do in his life, and forever established himself as the mightiest King of Heroes. If he had taken the Potion of Immortality back then, over four thousand years ago, his legacy would have been one of tyranny and stagnation, not the golden rule of Uruk and Babylon.

He said all of this with utmost sincerity. It was impossible to mock those who truly believed.

[isolophobia]

It is a truth that a creature like Pitch couldn't deny even if he'd wanted to. After all, he survived through the long ages by feeding off fear. Fear is a very personal thing, and as such, it is as varied as the different people those fears belong to.

Some fear spiders, some fear snakes, some fear failure. But whatever they fear, large or small, one thing remains the same for all mortals; they will all one day die.

It still makes what Gil stated sound silly. Even moreso now.

"So you plan to allow yourself to...what? Be alive as long as you are bored? Do you plan on dropping dead the moment you find some person of vague interest? If so I want to reserve a space to be able to see this."

[kingpika]

"Don't be ridiculous. Everyone must dies, but nobody must choose death. What I seek is the struggle to live, and you can hardly struggle if you can't die!" Gilgamesh nods. It was one thing to pass on with dignity, having done everything you needed to, it was quite another to suicide.

"I fully intend to live until this body I've been granted gives out, or somebody shows up and kills me. That is the best way to appreciate the gift that is life!" In some ways it was a paradox, wanting to live as long as possible but refusing immortality, but it was simply how things were. To die and to never die were equally awful things, in Gil's eyes.

"Besides, if I do find someone interesting, it's only right that I enjoy watching him be interesting as long as possible."