"Hey, idiot! I already said no! Let go of me already!"
"Not happening, Mordred~! Let's go! Naomi is waiting!"
"I never agreed to this!"
"That's okay~! I never asked you~!"
Frankenstein walked behind the one-sided, bickering pair with a small smile. As the trio walked through the hallway, Astolfo happily dragged her friend by the wrist while the saber made a theatrical play out of her escape attempt. The overly happy rider had a thousand-watt grin as he happily skipped in a pink sundress. While the berserker had a white variation of a retro-styled dress, Mordred sported a pair of ripped denims and a white crop top. Her red leather jacket flapped in the air as the rider continued his mission.
Mordred growled and looked back at Frankenstein. The berserker merely smiled sympathetically. "…Sorry."
"I've been betrayed by both of you…" Mordred glumly huffed as Astolfo and Frankenstein giggled.
"Oh come on, Mordred! It's just a dress! You need to look cute for your first date with Jekyll, and no one knows cute more than me~!"
Mordred only growled again as they turned a corner. Her eyes widened in hope and delight upon seeing a potential savior. "Hoy! Iskandar! Help me! This dumb rider's trying to get me in a dress!"
"Hey!" Astolfo pouted with a small huff.
Iskandar stopped walking as the trio approached, with one massive hand clutching a can of Pringles. The muscular redhead scratched his beard with an amused grin before placing his hand on his jean-covered hip. He noted the trio glance briefly at his plain, black shirt which lacked any logo, but sported two simple words: Total War. With a slightly devious look, the King of Conquerors merely shrugged, making the small glint of hope vanish from the saber.
"Ah… but Mordred. I admittedly know very little about modern fashion trends! Though… it appears you have the finest war host for the intended conquest." He grinned. "You are only missing Cleopatra and Ne-"
"What!?" Mordred fell into a mixture of flabbergasted and betrayed, making him and her companions laugh. "H-How could you!? Save me, dammit!"
"Have fun, Mordred!" the king proclaimed happily as he turned down the corridor they appeared from. With her incredulous yelling, and her companions' giggling, fading away, the king inhaled half of the can's contents. As he chewed, he tossed one last, satisfied smirk at the hallway behind him. Mordred was stronger than both, so she should have been able to break free easily; You can only hide something so well.
It was just another unique moment in this curious place.
Compared to every other war he has participated in, this was by far the most unusual of circumstances. Though he was concerned at first it would lack the massive battles he had experienced during the Moon Cell war, he was content to discover this was far from the case. With the potential for large scale conflict on foreign lands, his interest was more than piqued. The down time, company, and living standards only sealed the deal, and the king found himself more than exhilarated at being summoned to Chaldea.
With a content smile as he crushed the now empty can between his hands, he made his way towards a less-traveled section of the Residence Area.
¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨
Fragment 47: Ballad of Conquest
¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨
Although Marisbilly Animusphere was far more open when compared to most mages of the Clock Tower, prestige was never far from thought. His living conditions were significantly better than the rest of the staff who shared the smaller rooms in the main sector. At nearly seven times the size of a regular room, the former director's suite mimicked a small manor. This private sector had six rooms adjacent to it for high profile guests, but none ever used the slightly smaller accommodations save for his own daughter. Accessed by a lone hallway and built separately in the mountain, it was perfectly isolated.
This made it ideal residence for two of Chaldea's more egotistical kings.
Iskandar didn't have much of an interest in room space since he often spent time elsewhere, and Gilgamesh's suite was one of the rarer spots. The King of Heroes had taken over Marisbilly's old suite since all personal belongings had been long removed. He was sitting in the living area, which served as the first of many smaller rooms that encompassed the suite. It was the largest of the connected rooms, which made a great lounge for a small host of occupants; Four couches, two tables, a large bookshelf, and a minibar defined this purpose.
There were only two individuals in the room, and there had never been any more.
With a more unsatisfied look than usual, Gilgamesh rested across the entirety of a couch. Dressed in the leopard print pants and a loose, white V-neck shirt, the King of Heroes swirled his golden goblet of wine with a sour expression. He stared at the burgundy wall as he lounged on the royal-red cushions. The colors complimented the stained cypress wood of the other furniture scattered about the luxurious living room. They did not, however, reflect the same shade of irritated red from the eyes of the archer.
Patiently, the King of Conquerors sat with one arm thrown over the back of a matching couch. He remained silent, waiting for Gilgamesh to sort out his thoughts as the blonde's attention moved to a wall-mounted cuckoo clock sandwiched between two landscape paintings. The goblet in his hands was swirled again, but Iskandar's own remained still and empty. Quietly, the large man placed it on the coffee table in front of their perpendicular couches. This caught Gilgamesh's attention, who opened a portal to reveal the container of golden wine.
"Thanks," Iskandar nodded as he took the jug to refill his goblet. Gilgamesh only remained silent before sipping on his own. After placing the jug down gently onto the coffee table, the rider dared to break the silence. "Is there a reason this one bothers you, goldie?"
Gilgamesh flashed a glare of annoyance at the chosen nickname, but ignored it. "It's just a memorial essence. It should not bother me this much."
The room fell silent as the King of Heroes took another sip. He swirled the wine in his hands, mimicking the thoughts that churned behind divine, red eyes. Only the ticks of the clock could be heard as time passed. Finally, it broke once more. "… They were memories of my child state."
Iskandar watched Gilgamesh curiously after his admittance.
The two made eye contact as Gilgamesh stared sourly at the rider. Only a small number of people Gilgamesh ever interacted with him on a rather civil level. Though his male master could be counted in the number, even Gabrielle could not get through to him. It was a rare form of acceptance of sorts, and Iskandar took that honor seriously. It was one of the few times the rider would consciously attempt to reel in his overbearing persona, if only not to lose this rare chance at being in Gilgamesh's good graces.
Though the newly arrived Indian trio were added to the count, Iskandar may have been the only one Gilgamesh would reveal any slights. He wouldn't disclose all of them, but on occasion, like now, he would let something slip. It was never a need for acknowledging someone's opinion or asking for advice. Gilgamesh did not declare anyone here his friend, since no one here would ever have that honor as he often declared. To be honest, Iskandar had a few hunches on why Gilgamesh occasionally spoke to him of such grievances, but he would not voice it.
Perhaps if the time came, he would, but today would not be it. He only sighed and scratched his beard. "You never were fond of your child self though. Why would it bother you further?"
"The memories of my younger self were hazy," he admitted again, startling Iskandar. The archer's eyes narrowed. "This newfound clarity is a source of frustration. I don't like it."
"So there are even things in your own life you loathe…" Iskandar mused out loud, earning another sidelong glare from the archer. "His time in Chaldea too?"
Gilgamesh remained silent, but Iskandar already knew the answer. It was likely a collective of tied memories, much like the one Arturia had received yesterday. He would not receive a definitive answer from the archer. "We shall leave it there… This is not what I wished to discuss. I have bigger interests than dealing with a mild irritation. Gudao has dutifully informed me the final singularity has been located, and we depart this weekend on Doctor Roman's suggestion."
'Looks like Shakespeare's play is delayed again,' the rider thought with amusement.
Curiously, the blonde's mood had risen ever slightly. Though the recent memorial essence still sullied his expression, there was the glint of interest Iskandar had rarely seen. It was rare Gilgamesh ever took interest with a singularity, and he had only deployed to primary ones at Gudao's careful request. For him to be even remotely interested in the location, and the male master's act of informing him first, made it relatively clear for the rider. Iskandar was the first one to secretly guess Gilgamesh's identity during their time's fourth war, so this was hardly a comparative investigation.
"Babylonia. We're setting foot in your kingdom, then."
"I shall permit it, though many do not deserve that high honor," the King of Heroes noted as he shifted to a seated position. He swirled his wine before taking another gratifying sip. His lips twitched ever slightly downward. "It is in that caster's best interests not to have ruined my kingdom… I shall judge him personally, as is my law."
"So you will be with the first team arriving," Iskandar noted easily with a small grin.
Gilgamesh nodded back, though he did not smile. "As it should be. However, I have made recommendations on who shall be accompanying me. I know not if your retainer informed you yet, but you are one. There are very few I hold respect for, and I wish to personally introduce you to my kingdom upon arrival."
"I can't say no to your invitation, Gilgamesh," the rider chuckled.
"You cannot. I have already ruled it so," the King of Heroes actually smirked back. He reached for his goblet and picked it back up, raising it towards the rider. "Feel honored and privileged, Iskandar. I shall show you the civilization of the true king."
The two raised their goblets and clinked them together. With small sips, they consumed the alcohol. Iskandar noted the arrogant man's now clearly better mood, and his occasional glances towards a nearby door. As the rider drank the rest of his heavenly beverage, he too passed a glance towards the ornate oak door. It was not the fancy electric doors behind him, which led to the Chaldean hallway, nor did it lead deeper into the suite.
Yes. He was likely looking forward to the chance to see that individual, more than anything.
As he reached over to refill Gilgamesh's cup, he pondered the possible thoughts of the man before him. He always held himself to high regard and prestige, and demanded everyone do so. Was it the same for that person the king held dear? They had never talked about them, but he wondered how those two were like together. This arrogant king considered someone his equal, but what was that person like themselves? There was only one way to truly learn since Gilgamesh was so tight-lipped, but that only raised the real curiosity.
Would the only person Gilgamesh considered a friend ever occupy the neighboring suite beyond that door?
¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ III ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨
The Pyramid was fairly empty, with its three occupants only having arrived from dinner's conclusion. Iskandar's act of overthrowing Darius III had earned him the title of pharaoh, and a welcome place among the Egyptians and their chamber. Like during his campaigns, he often wandered with no solid home, but he had many places he felt welcome. Ozymandias' Egyptian Room in Chaldea was but another he was more than appreciated, and even honored as a fellow pharaoh.
"Tomorrow our last respite begins, but there is no reason it cannot begin now! I deem it suitable for we pharaohs to begin our own celebrations!"
"A splendid idea, Ozymandias," Nitocris responded from her seat across from Iskandar. She materialized her staff before standing up, looking dazzling and proper as always in an ivory sundress with gold accents. "I shall get the fine wines Caesar has gifted. A fine, friendly tribute from our dear Roman allies."
With a snap of her slender fingers, Nitocris summoned a portal to bring forth her minions. The little Medjeb, who seem to be used for everything from combat to chores, waltzed out of the portal. With unbelievable coordination with no hands, they scurried over to a nearby cabinet within the Pyramid and opened the latch. Bouncing like toddlers, they quickly acquired the wines and balanced them upon their heads. Iskandar enjoyed the sight, but soon turned an inquiry to the Sun King.
"The famous Roman Emperor and his dear Pharaoh are not with us tonight?"
"They are enjoying a romantic walk on the beach, but they will join us later," Ozymandias replied with a million-dollar smile. It matched the rich nature of his white suit pants and dress shirt as he sat proudly at the head. "Until then, they trade one luxury for another! Nitocris! I cannot allow you to have the only minions doing work! Therefore, I shall summon some dear children of Wehem-Mesut!"
With a wave of his staff, and a bright flash, the two male pharaohs were laughing. Nitocris, with wide eyes, a happy squeal, and an adoring smile, quickly attempted to corral all the newly summoned kittens into her arms as they played on the table; Her former air of elegance was entirely destroyed. Her headdress twitched happily as the female pharaoh blushed, instantly coming under assault by the mewls and gentle pawing from the celestial kittens. As she cooed and played with them, two larger cubs were helping the armless Medjeb pour the wine into golden-accented glasses.
Briefly breaking her descent into adorable bliss, Nitocris raised her filled glass with the other pharaohs. "Cheers!"
Their glasses clinked, and they soon sipped the luxurious beverage. Nitocris had to stop part way through as the kittens attempted to get a sip. She struggled to hold them back while giggling. "No, no, babies… This is alcohol."
Ozymandias turned his attention away from Nitocris' loving coddles with a chuckle. "Iskandar. Will your retainer be joining us after he concludes the strategy meeting with the masters?"
"That depends how late they run. He's been complaining about a lot of uncertainties the landing may encounter."
"I see. That is understandable, as the safety of every pharaoh much be taken into utmost consideration, isn't that correct, Nitocris?"
Ozymandias purposefully redirected the confirmation to her because she clearly wasn't paying attention. She only continued to pamper the little kittens as one of the larger cubs rubbed against her leg beneath the table. The two male pharaohs only laughed again. "Yes. That is what I thought! That said…. I hope the masters have seen fit to place me with the landing team. I am also curious to see the King of Heroes' lands with my own eyes."
"Surely he wants to brag about his kingdom to you too. Maybe you were among his recommendations and were not informed yet," Iskandar responded with a chuckle. "Rivals or not, Goldie won't hesitate to prove his superiority over you."
"Yes… well, that will be for me to judge. The King of Kings shall have the final say, as proper of a true Pharaoh," Ozymandias laughed back with an amused smirk.
The trio's attention was soon snapped to the doorway to spy a quietly squealing Astolfo. The pink-haired rider looked into the room happily while holding his own kitten. His eyes were locked on his gifted pet's companions. "Ah~! So this is why Mister Sprinkles wanted to come here! He kept pawing towards more kitties!"
"Astolfo! Please, do come join us. The Sun King demands it so," Ozymandias motioned with a proud grin. He was met with the happy nods from the fellow rider, who quickly began skipping around the table to join Nitocris and her batch of cute companions.
Iskandar chuckled before taking a swig of his own glass, relishing in the openness of the Sun King. He still had that unmistakable air of superiority, but his improved cordiality and friendliness to his fellow servants was a welcome change. It was nearly as drastic and welcome of a change as the King of Knights' attitude and outlook. If the serious Arturia and proud Ozymandias could shift their view even slightly, it made him curious if the same could happen for Gilgamesh. The chance was likely to be slim to none though.
That attitude was one of the hardest conquests he's ever seen, and it has barely changed in the many months he's been in Chaldea.
¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ IV ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨
The video intercom's alarm buzzed to life at exactly 0700, but the snoring didn't stop until nearly an hour later.
Iskandar sat up abruptly, throwing the empty bags of chips from his bare torso. They joined the crumpled blanket at the foot of his mattress, alongside several discarded magazines. With eyes still closed, the rider scratched the only clothing he wore: a pair of briefs mostly covered by loose, black gym shorts. With a yawn, and a well-practiced throw, Iskandar sent a small, rubber ball careening towards the buzzing screen. The annoying sound was halted upon impact, making the rider chuckle in victory.
He threw his legs over the large, custom bed, which sat lower to the ground than the standard ones. With legs bent carefully around discarded books and magazines by his bedside, the muscular man rubbed the sleep from his eyes. After a loud yawn, he stretched his arms outwards and stood up. A few quick strides later, the lights in his room flared on to reveal the sheer chaos that often defined his living space.
If there was one thing Iskandar could never conquer, it was keeping a clean room.
The only extra furniture was an oak display case that acted as a trophy rack. With no other furniture, one would think the room could be kept clean, but the floor was a minefield of snack bags, magazines, books, and other items he found interesting. Several large pillows acted as the only form of seating, and the rider preferred using the floor as opposed to a table. During many campaigns where speed was of the essence, he had grown accustomed to using whatever was available to plan, which was usually the ground.
He walked over to his closet, which was the lone space kept relatively in order, if only because of his retainer. Sliding the door open, he mumbled to himself about finding something comfortable for the day. With a quick glance, he reached in and pulled out his signature Admirable Tactics shirt and loose, grey sweatpants. It was going to be a very casual day, so there was no need for anything remotely formal.
With ease, he tossed the clean clothes onto the only part of his bed without clusters of material he had been browsing before passing out. They landed between his only bed pillow and a stack of magazines borrowed from Gudao, though he didn't mind they were already a week late on being returned. They were the last subscribed magazines his family received on a monthly basis, acting as a pseudo time capsule for where the world was when Chaldea became its own dimension.
Iskandar had happily browsed through the magazines, gleaming as much information as he could about modern warfare. These articles in specific were from the United States Air Force, where Gudao's father had served as some sort of coordinator. He had been less interested on the pieces involving direction and focus, and more on the new weaponry that caught his fancy. He was surprised to find the small documentaries he saw during the fourth war were just the tip of the iceberg for modern combat.
He was happy to learn the B2 was still a popular contraption, and still wished for multiple for his own army.
As he was about to enter his bathroom to shower, there was a knock at his door. Looking at the time, he gauged it was probably his former master who remained prompt and regimented to an extent. He turned towards the door, but did not call out. Due to his snoring, and the complaints from nearby servants, his room had received extra sound proofing. Yelling through his door would have to be rather loud, and though he never checked his volume, it was still too early for him to feel that rambunctious. He wasn't on campaign or anything.
The door slid open to reveal Lord El-Melloi II's back as he gave a friendly wave to a disappearing Billy and Nobunaga. The long-haired man turned around and smirked at his king. It was unusual for most to see the usually formally dressed El-Melloi with hands in the pockets of black track pants and a loose, forest green shirt. Iskandar and the rest of their little group saw it rather often.
"Good morning, Rider. Glad to see we're still on your time, and your room is as much of a warzone as ever."
"You always harp on the little things," Iskandar chuckled as the caster rolled his eyes.
"Zhuge Liang's saint graph also finds it distasteful, but it's pointless. I can't move a mountain."
"Not with that attitude. You always needed to learn when to charge straight through!"
"Perhaps when it's not my king then. You always do as you wish," El-Melloi noted with an amused smirk. "Shall I wait for you?"
"If you wish to. I shouldn't be long," Iskandar noted as he motioned towards the shower. "We've got a great day ahead of us, ripe for conquest!"
El-Melloi chuckled. "As much conquest as party games will allow us, mind you."
Iskandar stepped out of the doorway to allow his retainer to walk in. With careful steps around the dropped conveniences, the caster walked over to the collection of pillows and sat down on one. He glanced at the clipboard discarded on another, carefully reached over, and plucked it. The shower turned on, but he didn't turn to note it. Only a minute after Iskandar's disappearance, a rapidly forming cloud of steam poured from the open doorway to explain everything.
"Did you go over the notes I gave you?" El-Melloi asked with a raised voice. It was one benefit of having a sound proofed room.
"Indeed. It is good you will be with the landing force. I also look forward to the others in the small team!"
"…and the part about your critical role should our team hit a hostile beachhead?"
Iskandar's chuckled echoed from the steaming room. "Of course. I presume my retainer will be with me to help drop the Leyshift Beacons."
"Certainly. If they work or not that far back in time is the real question," El-Melloi sighed as he placed the clipboard back down. "Mashu's shield is potent enough not to warrant any detection concerns, but the beacons are small and one use. We're hoping they will still be targetable."
"Then there's only one way to find out!" Iskandar laughed heartily from the shower. "We can only give Gabrielle's team good luck if they have to use them! Toss your strategic worries to the side and let your king seize victory from chaos!"
El-Melloi chuckled again. "I figured you would say something like that, Rider…"
"We can talk more about this another time. This break is for celebration and rest! Our only thoughts should be of gaming conquest!"
¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ V ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨
As expected, the gaming marathon during Chaldea's last respite was off to a solid start. The electronic section of the Game Room had the core group plus a few extra employees. With a theme centered around party-style choices, it was meant to be a fun and uplifting venture before the servants departed for a long deployment; The last big competition had been last week.
While the activities took place in the smaller section, the bigger one was dedicated to snacks and drinks. Shuten was going to bring luxurious, but tame, food for the actual meals, both from Kintoki's curious request and to save the kitchen staff effort. Until then, the countless bags of chips, dips, pretzels, and other assorted treats were scattered on different tables. The recent trip to a more-recent time allowed for their massive stockpile, which Blackbeard acquired for all of them; Raiding was his specialty after all.
Currently, the pirate rider was trying to control his breathing as he steadied himself against one table. His other hand clutched his plain, white shirt above his heart as he laughed while his jean-covered legs shook with the threat of collapse. The current round of Pokemon Stadium minigames had been stopped for the few employees and Waver to stare at the unfolding scene with laughs of their own. Even Iskandar, who was chuckling between mouthfuls of chips, was having issues breathing.
"Waver get us out of here then Burn. The. Room. Down!"
"I'm not burning anything," El-Melloi chuckled as he crossed his arms. "What has you acting like a bloody baby?"
The caster smirked at his gaming rival who was currently doing his best to imitate a cat. Crammed as tightly as possible into a corner of the section, Tyler was crouched on top of a sturdy bookshelf lined with board games. With arms gripping the walls for dear life, he stared towards the center of the room with unmitigated terror. Even beneath the loose-fitting white polo and jean combo, one could easily tell the employee was quivering. With a shaky hand, he pointed briefly at the offender.
"That!" He yelled as he shot a half-glare at the caster. "Do something about tha- No! Don't take a picture!"
Too late. One of his employee friends already snapped a photo for posterity. He would have grumbled more, but he was still quivering in terror.
"Pray tell, then... Why does it have to be me?" El-Melloi asked incredulously with a small smirk, making Blackbeard laugh harder.
"Because you're the only one here with fire! I wouldn't dare ask any of my friends to get near that damn- OH MY GOD! THE SPIDER JUST MOV- HELP!"
For the friendly and carefree Tyler, there were very few things that actually caused him great stress and panic. Both of his phobias were the epitome of unyielding anxiety, as proven only a handful of times. While Iskandar heard from Serenity and Rena that needles were one fear, the group collectively knew about the spiders. Of all the possible things to be worried about in Chaldea, including the end of the world and having a chaotic servant tearing through the place, only these two made him lose sleep. To Iskandar, these were rather ridiculous phobias, and ones Tyler should get over.
Too bad the rider's first attempt, which was this one, did not build a beachhead for a road to recovery. At least it was good entertainment. The doors to the room slid open.
"Woah! What's with you, Tyler?" Kintoki appeared at the entrance of the room with an amused grin. He crossed his arms over his unbuttoned, black collared shirt. It displayed the front of his muscular torso and partially covered the top of tan slacks. Iskandar looked towards the berserker with a small grin, which Tyler couldn't see, and mouthed the key word. Kintoki raised an eye in curiosity until Blackbeard pointed to the ground. Upon seeing the eight-legged fuzzy cretin, the berserker also laughed.
"It's not funny! Why the hell can't Solomon vaporize spiders!? Why humans!? Look at that damn thing!" Tyler practically squeaked as he pointed at the spider on the ground. Iskandar didn't have the heart to tell him it was plastic. "Multiple eyes that stare into your soul from the ceiling! Demons I tell you! DEMONS!"
"Hoy, it's just a spider, Tyler," Kintoki chuckled from the doorway. "You handle the ones in the games pretty golden!"
"Those can't crawl up my leg and murder me in my sleep!" Tyler roared, causing one of his fellow employees to lean on her friend for support. Iskandar had dutifully informed the others of his intent, but not Tyler. Too bad his plan didn't work, but not many strategies survived first contact. "Someone just please! Please! I beg you! Do something about the demon!"
"The demon? Does that refer to mine presence, Tyler?"
Iskandar turned to the doorway again as Shuten sauntered through with her usual smile. The Oni's seductive, sapphire wrap dress was still leagues better from her battle attire. While Iskandar could appreciate the female body, those clothes had been beyond daring compared to some others. The more pressing concern was her intoxicating aura that… incapacitated most humans until yet another dosage-potion had to be mixed; Tyler and the other employees have apparently had worse-tasting medicine to ingest, admittedly.
She tossed a giggle and gentle touch to Kintoki before turning her attention back to Tyler. He remained petrified. "Shuten! Be careful! There's a vicious demon in the room!"
"Always charming of thou to see an Oni so innocently... I could almost devour you," Shuten teased as she looked at the source of fear. "This is thine problem?"
"Yes! Oh good god I think it moved again!" Iskandar also didn't have the heart to tell him El-Melloi was playfully moving it telekinetically.
Shuten giggled as she tossed an amused glance at Kintoki. The berserker chuckled. "Fear? Why does one fear that which cannot bring thou harm? You are always the comical human."
Tyler was unconvinced. "They're beings of evil, Shuten! They bring all sorts of hellfire!"
The Oni tilted her head and released an amused, sultry giggle. Tyler was unfazed due to petrification. "Dear Tyler… A fake spider is no herald for terrible consequence."
"…FAKE!?" Tyler roared, making the entire room burst into laughter. Slowly, and with a look of pure rage and betrayal, he turned to his rival. "…YOU!"
"Place blame where it belongs, Tyler. My king only wished to help you get over your phobia," El-Melloi chuckled as the glare slowly turned to Iskandar.
"Well done, Iskandar! I haven't laughed this hard in months!" Blackbeard stated as he attempted to dry his tears of laughter.
"I didn't think you would react like this!" Iskandar bellowed as Tyler slowly got off the bookshelf, grumbling and groaning all the while.
"I feel so betrayed…"
With renewed control, Blackbeard walked over, casually picked up the spider, and tossed it into a nearby trash can. Tyler quickly shoved his hand into a nearby bowl of pretzels to stuff a few pieces of comfort food in his mouth. Still giggling in her usual, seducing undertones at his former dilemma, Shuten began summoning bowls of her luscious and exotic foods. Kintoki walked over to help her set up a table as they began talking quietly to each other.
Thanks to the restoration of stability, and a half-hearted apology to Tyler, Iskandar happily cleaned off his hands with a napkin. His retainer and the employees had returned to the other room to finish off their round of the current video game before trading off with the second group. The King of Conquerors would state today was off to a great start, but he always made sure every morning began that way.
There was simply no substitute for human satisfaction and laughter. What better way than a few jokes and these entertaining modern activities?
¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ VI ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨
Even as dinner was being held at the salon, the Game Room was bustling with even more activity. Some servants and employees had opted to join the enduring group for more entertainment rather than have a regular meal. With Shuten returning yet again to give catered, personal food for the occupants, the only thing they were missing was the kitchen's five-star cuisine; The Oni's food, while extraordinary, was admittedly rather ordinary.
At the curious suggestion of Kintoki and Iskandar, the assassin stayed to observe the modern games. The game group had become well acquainted with Shuten due to how much time she spent around the berserker. Remembering her fondness for festivals of all kinds, Iskandar figured she might like a particular brand of games that really brought a celebratory air.
To his and Kintoki's delight, he was not wrong, as Shuten's curiosity turned to fondness for the current game selection.
~~I throw my hands up in the air sometimes! Saying "Ayo! Gotta let go!"~~
~~I wanna celebrate and live my life! Saying "Ayo! Baby, let's go!"~~
Thankfully the sofas were safely against the wall this time.
"Shuten's winning this round!" "Go Shuten!" "Don't just let her win, boys! Shake those hips more!" "You need more seductive sway, Tyler!" "Shut up, Scowly!"
"Thine modern activities are certainly enjoyable," Shuten giggled as she followed the dance moves displayed on the screen.
As with Mordred and Cu with fighting games, it was merely a matter of matching Shuten's interests. If those two liked fighting games, Iskandar figured Shuten might enjoy dance genre. Now she was playing with a bright smile as she danced alongside Kintoki and Tyler. The berserker and employee were struggling a bit with some of the moves while Shuten made them look natural.
Iskandar leaned against the back wall with his retainer, enjoying the sights and sounds of a high-spirited Chaldean gathering. From the delighted laughter between Cu, Blackbeard, and Mordred in the next room over a game of Cards against Humanity to the cheers in this room, it brought a fond sense of comfort. Though far different from the drunken celebrations with his men, it had its own flair of exhilaration and satisfaction he gladly relished.
Two employees left the virtual section to join the group playing the offensive cards in the neighboring area, or possibly get snacks. The marathon party was only going to pick up further as he heard Drake's booming voice enter the room, likely with the promised armada's worth of alcohol for Blackbeard's proposed game. Though stripping games of any sort were banned, unless in private, there was no bar on beer pong or some other drinking games; There was only an unspoken rule of moderation.
Cu stuck his head into the doorway with a grin. "Hey, Iskandar! El-Melloi II! Blackbeard's going to set up Beer Battleship! First round is him again Drake!"
"Oho? This is something I want to see," Iskandar grinned enthusiastically as the room erupted into cheers. The current song had just ended, and Shuten had maintained the highest score by a longshot. The rider could see the glint of satisfaction in his retainer's eyes upon noting Tyler's dominance in the dancing game field was coming to an abrupt end.
"Victory may grace you next time, boys," Shuten suggested with a small giggle as she playfully nudged Kintoki. The berserker sighed bashfully and scratched the back of his head while Tyler chuckled. With his attention now divided, Iskandar patted El-Melloi's shoulder, signaling their turn. With a smirk, the caster nodded as they traded places with Kintoki and Tyler to fight the current winner. As the other employee traded off with his companion, Tyler cleared his throat.
"Try not to break a sofa this time, King of Bros! Val will be pissed!" the dark-skinned employee jested, causing many in the room to chuckle at the colorful memory.
"No promises!" Iskandar yelled as he flashed a grin and thumbs up to Tyler. The laughter drowned out the beeps as another employee chose the random song button.
The roulette began, making the room go silent in anticipation. Soon, their fate was decided, and El-Melloi instantly groaned in exasperation. Shuten looked rather curious and pleased about the brief preview while cat calls and cheers filled the room. Cu's head reappeared back in the doorway with delighted intrigue. "Did they get that Cairo song? Barbra Streisand?"
"Better!" Tyler answered between chuckles. "Waver's favorite! Katy Perry's California Gurls!"
"It's not my favorite!" the caster snapped as Iskandar laughed heartily beside him.
"Whatever ya' say, Grumpy! Get those hips swaying!"
¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ VII ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨
Iskandar stretched his arms under the starry sky of the resort, enjoying the power of the view from the Tropicana Sector of the boardwalk. Even if it was fake, the skyline's mimicry of reality's clear sky gave a comfortable sense of place. It was appreciated unanimously over the endless overcast of their dimensional prison, though it was not why he always came here. Iskandar was no star gazer like the male master, but it made the real focus shine brighter in his eyes.
With softly lapping waves, and the vague reflection of the stars upon its surface, the makeshift ocean looked as wonderful as always. So many times on his journey did he wish to see this sight at the other end of the world. Countless more had he seen it as a servant, scattered across many singularities in human history. Every time he stared, his mind would lose itself in its majesty as the soft crashes matched the beats of his heart.
If only his army could share these moments with him.
Well, there was one who did. His retainer slowly approached the king. "Little far for a tiny stroll."
It was quite the walk from the Game Room, admittedly. Iskandar personally couldn't wait for the proposed Arcade section of Club Cove to be accepted and built. The Game Room was always just a tad cramped, but he made every room a bit smaller with his presence. "Oho? Have I been away that long?"
"Not long enough for the others to notice," El-Melloi chuckled with a small smirk. "They're far too lost in Rocket League."
"Ah! That fun event, is it? I must make a hasty retreat then," Iskandar bellowed in pure excitement. "So the employees were not bluffing about the length. That's good."
"Tyler would have never lived it down if he did. Thirty-six hours straight, and it's only hour fourteen," the caster noted as they began their stroll back to Club Cove. Sliding his hands into his pocket, he sighed. "… and after that, another seventy-two and we'll be landing in Babylonia. Here's hoping Gilgamesh is a hospitable host."
"I think being among his own people will do him good," the rider explained simply with a shrug.
"Let us hope so… or we're in for rather frustrating down time."
"There you go again… always worrying about what might come," Iskandar chuckled, making his retainer roll his eyes. "Gudao's team is the strongest yet to form a beachhead! Everything will be fine and we can go about our business... Maybe we'll even find you another date in this singularity."
With bellowing laughter, he relished the caster's sudden break in composure. "Rider, you idiot… I'm not going to just bring back some ancient woman as a trophy!"
"That's how we did it back then…" the muscular hero pointed out. There were plenty of trophies during his campaigns, and his men certainly didn't mind. A boost in morale did a lot of good, and his retainer could likely use a bit. "Hmm… that girl we found in our war was rather fitting for you, I'd say. Excitable, overbearing, and enthusiastic. Just the thing you needed. Maybe I can find you another like her."
El-Melloi walked both dumbfounded and amused by his former servant. He sighed, though a humored smirk was present. "There you go again… deciding things for me without my input. Bloody hell... And you call me your equal?"
"Of course you're my equal. That should never be questioned. We are both servants, and you have done remarkably well as my retainer. I knew I chose well."
With a satisfied smile that matched his King's, waver chuckled. "Thanks, Rider."
"Anytime, boy… Now, about your issue with claiming a woman. It's gone on long enough. I will negotiate with Roman and the masters to allow me to leyshift-"
"Rider!"
Iskandar chuckled at his former master's expense. It was always reassuring to know he could still find ways to prod the caster.
¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ VIII ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨
Twenty-four hours and the group was still going. It was an accomplishment for the humans, but just a trivial thought for the servants who didn't need sleep. To them it was likely a serious effort that they poured their energy into, and he recalled the many days he did that on campaign. Judging by the sounds of Sci-Fi weapons, they were currently using war games to keep themselves awake through simulated adrenaline. Even with the loud noises in the background, he remained focused on his task.
For Iskandar, there were few things that could match the thrill of a serious campaign.
He was the King of Conquerors, and his exploits have been well researched into the modern times. Military Academies and scholars would often analyze his concepts and strategies, placing them among the highest tier of prestige among names such as Hannibal Barca and Sicipio Africanus. Though many could pore over his plans and ideologies, they could never feel what he did on campaign. Sometimes it wasn't as complex as many made it out to be.
It was often very straightforward for him, as was the decision to simply cleave the Gordian Knot.
The dream of Okeanos was always on mind during campaigns, and that drove him forward alongside the thrill of battle. To clash his treasured and mighty followers against a worthy, opposing force was just another step. To celebrate and share the burdens with his followers thereafter was yet another. Every moment he lived was but another step on his grand strategy to realize that dream through his conquests.
To think that dream was but a wild fantasy. He still laughed ironically at that revelation to this day.
Even with his new perspective of what Okeanos meant, he merely learned the lessons and chased the meaning of that dream. In this new time and chance, he gladly pursued another glimpse among allies old and new. He still partied, celebrated, planned, and more beside his more recent companions, and it made taking those steps forward that much easier again. With so many powerful allies at his side, and with dozens fulfilling their own, unfulfilled desires, he felt it was only right to pursue the new meaning of his vision of Okeanos; It was a song of courage for the wild human hearts that dared to chase fantasies and dreams that may never be truly realized.
He just wished he was doing better at the current task.
With a serious expression and a scratch of his chin, Iskandar stared at the board game in front of him. He had opted to take a small break from the marathon to find new entertainment with some recent, curious visitors. Even still, the rambunctious laughter echoed from the nearby section, but it did not shake his focus. Even as Blackbeard and El-Melloi looked over his shoulder curiously, he did not ask for any advice.
This was his battle, and his alone, against the forces opposing him. He always reveled in the challenge against worthy forces.
He didn't blink as one of his opponents finished her turn with simple consolidation. "A safe move, Altera."
"Thank you, Iskandar. I look forward to your counter attack."
The battlefield was far different from his usual. The board game before him depicted a map of the world, with boundaries drawn across vast swathes of space and separated by different colors. Dotted lines reached across various waters to connect territories, creating avenues for the armies placed upon the fields. These little plastic men, artillery, and cavalry in various factional colors were scattered about the board in various amounts. Though simplistic at best, Risk sometimes was never as straightforward as intended depending on who was playing.
Across and to his left at the table, Altera was happily sitting in her chair. With a lovely white blouse and a black skirt, the tanned saber lightly kicked her legs underneath the table in content bliss. She had an amused, yet competitive, glint in her eyes that was mirrored in her tiny smirk. A pile of white troops rested on the table before her, similar to Iskandar's yellow cluster in front of him. They were copied by the third and last player, whose red pile was currently much larger than both.
Nero was slumped in her chair with a defeated expression. Her ahoge dipped lower than usual, and she pouted in her chair with crossed arms over her vibrant red sundress. She occasionally stomped her foot lightly in irritation, earning chuckles from the rider and a sympathetic smile from her self-declared little sister. Her expression only fell again as Iskandar looked to her with a smirk.
"Empress Nero… My armies will commence their invasion of Iceland. Prepare your defenses!"
"W-What!?" Nero balked, earning a giggle from Altera and a chuckle from Blackbeard. "You just took Great Britain from me last turn!"
"I wish to have the reinforcing aid of Europe before Altera's armies breach the Urals and assault Ukraine!" Iskandar declared without hesitation. El-Melloi shook his head behind him, likely thankful his king didn't reveal battle strategies in actual combat.
The King of Conquerors grinned as Nero pouted with raised fists. "Fine then! I accept the challenge from the legendary King of Conquerors! Prepare to lose your forces!"
They both picked up their respective dice and began rolling. Iskandar's three dice ended up five or higher, while Nero wound up with snake eyes. On the first roll, Nero had already taken a dreadful hit. With her mouth hanging open in disbelief, Altera couldn't hold her overwhelming giggles back any longer as Iskandar bellowed with laughter. She removed her first two casualties, leaving only four pieces garrisoned on the little island.
They were all that stood against Iskandar's invading army of fifteen, which was likely the prelude to a true breakout campaign into North America.
"I will not stand for this! I will take back Rome if it's the last thing I do! Umu~!"
"I could give you Rome after I conquer the world," Altera offered with a smile, making Nero stick her tongue out at her. The tanned saber giggled again.
"My hands shall earn the victory, Altera! I will personally beat you, King of Conquerors!"
"We shall see, Nero," Iskandar simply chuckled as they rolled their dice again. The rider's troops took a single casualty as Blackbeard offered the muscular man a bowl of pretzels.
With a nod of thanks and a new mouthful of snacks, the king continued his fight with Nero. It was far different from their conflict in the Moon Cell, and far less violent. Their armies had clashed hard, each with their leaders fighting to prove something to someone. Ironically, even on opposing sides, their intent was all for Altera's sake, even if Iskandar did always relish in battle.
One always went to war with great purpose, but it didn't have to be a lone one.
Fighting against Altera's forces and losing had been quite the battle, as had his defeat at the hands of Nero. It seemed even the King of Conquerors was destined to lose against worthy opponents, but he held no regret over that. Though not as ecstatic as Cu Chulainn or Li Shuwen, the rider was happy to fight strong opponents, and even lose, especially when they wound up on his side now. To clash with hearts and minds on the fields of battle showed true personality and shined a spotlight on a person's soul.
Even in such a mundane game, he could see the competitive spirit within an individual. It wasn't as much as battle, and certainly not enough to truly prove a point, but it was present. With games as various as they were in modern times, it also told tales of a person's likes and dislikes far more than a clash of armies ever could. With their own skirmish of plastic figures drawing to a close, Iskandar smiled. Though he would gladly accept a rout at the hands of the beautiful and determined Nero, who also held him in exceptionally high regard, today would not be his loss.
With a satisfied grin, and a pout from the Empress, Iskandar moved seven of his remaining troops onto Iceland. His forces now controlled roughly a third of the map, leaving Nero with one less territory. Her ever shrinking expanse of red was being assaulted from two sides, but it was the same case for them. Still, she resolved to pout and throw a light tantrum as Altera gave another sympathetic smile to her dearest friend and now bigger sister.
It had little effect. Altera was comfortably in control of nearly half the world.
¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ IX ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨
They actually managed to do it.
Thirty six hours straight of playing games, and the spent employees were mostly scattered across the ground and furniture of the Game Room. Tyler was totally wiped out at one of the snack tables. He had gone to sit down and have a few pretzels, but promptly succumbed to his tired state. As proper for the group of friends, Kintoki had carefully drawn a mustache on him in permanent marker. Judging by the other employees who were passed out on other furniture, he was the only one to receive the special treatment.
Rena's newly modified, robotic hand gently poked at Tyler's cheek. "Rena… Please let him sleep."
"I just wanna see if he's dead or not~!" Rena quietly chirped, making Serenity giggle. The robot sat among the snack bags on the table between Serenity and Tyler. The assassin had come to check up on her friend and found him in this state. She had brought along her stacked bowl of ice cream, while ensuring none dripped onto her sky-blue sheath dress. Quietly, she enjoyed the blueberry ice cream, while contemplating whether to carry him back to his room.
"He'll likely be out until tomorrow," El-Melloi informed after guessing her thoughts. Staying up for the servants was a joke, so he merely sat nearby with a Pepsi in hand and a pleased smirk. "We got pictures of his current state if you want them."
"Oh~! I want them if Serenity doesn't!" Rena chirped. Serenity was about to tell it to lower its voice, but Iskandar's bellowing laughter proved Tyler was absolutely comatose.
The muscular man entered the room with several containers of ice cream, making Serenity smile. Though Shuten kept stopping by to give the group actual food and drink to consume, including alcoholic beverages, the modern frozen treat was not in her inventory. Discarding the containers and bowls onto one table, he looked around with a grin to note at least one employee was stirring. El-Melloi rolled his eyes; The group really had driven themselves into the ground.
It was a pleasant sight nonetheless.
A facility at war could still proudly claim moments like this on a monthly basis, if not weekly. It was these times of celebration and personal entertainment that kept morale at an all-time high. Spirits were important during war time, which was always part of the reason Iskandar was constantly overbearing and enthusiastic. There was no point going to war if the men had nothing to look forward to, both in terms of when they return and the hard-earned trophies.
Then there was the final truth he had come to realize with his residence in Chaldea. Ever the traveler, the King of Conquerors rarely settled down in one place. They were just brief stops on his endless campaigns during his short life, but he never yearned for a place to call home. Given the circumstances of his summoning, he had finally experienced what it was like since his childhood. While it lacked many things that exhilarated him, it also offered him many more he never previously considered.
Tyler quickly shot awake with a surprised expression, startling Serenity and Rena as he quickly rubbed his eyes. "Oh god! What time is it!?"
"Nearly half-past ten now," Kintoki stated as he helped Iskandar open some ice cream containers. The muscular redhead began scooping some chocolate swirl while the grinning berserker organized the paper bowls. "You did golden, buddy. Just fine."
"I didn't sleep before thirty-six straight, right!? Right!?"
"No, you goofball… El-Melloi II said you stayed up and promptly passed out on the mark," Serenity offered with an amused smile.
"Ah…" Tyler responded with a tired nod of his head. Iskandar pushed the newly scooped plate of ice cream in front of the employee and began to scoop Kintoki's-
Tyler promptly passed out again and fell face first into his ice cream. Serenity and Rena were having serious issues breathing through their giggles while El-Melloi chuckled during his newfound search for a camera. With a devious grin, Blackbeard quickly disappeared into the Video Game Section before returning with the aforementioned item. Kintoki and Iskandar only stood by and let them snap away, sure to place this among the other fun moments they've collected.
Regardless of the glory from the conquests, there was no greater satisfaction than knowing a lively home would be waiting for their return.
¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨
CONTINUITY NOTICE: Fragment 48 isn't next chronologically
¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨
The next piece in chronological order is supplemental story "Redemption from Sin". It is the development of Gilgamesh with snippets of a few other servants. It is highly recommended to read the entire story next, though it is still fine to continue reading Fragments without it. As stated before, this is a Short Story Cycle (Interconnected One Shots), with every supplement story counting as a giant entry. They are separated only because of the thematic shift and length.
There will be relationship/friendship/character developments and scene references that will not make sense if you continue to Fragment 48.