I do not doubt your strength, Gil. Not here, not ever. But there is no reason for you to suffer from what is inflicted on me. A phantom pain.
[It seems not right. They want the best for him and him experiencing an empty, never-ending sense of sadness.
No, Enkidu cannot allow that]
She was my other bonded. The loss of this bond leaves me...utterly empty. [They pause for a long time] You aren't going to drink that potion..., right?
ah, the irony that they think in terms of sparing him from never ending pain. ]
Living things disappear. Transience is the natural outcome of all life.
[ he shrugs his shoulder.
Enkidu has not known loss. not as Gilgamesh had.
not since -- ah. well. there was that girl from before... the one with the flower crown... yet... no, he puts aside such an ancient memory. another time, perhaps. ]
As King, I shall not enact such cowardice. Nor should you. You are my friend. Come to me to give vent to this grief.
[ because while Enkidu is a novice in dealing with loss and sadness, Gilgamesh has a thousand lifetimes of experience. ]
Edited (cleaning up some phrasing, la la.) 2020-06-15 00:31 (UTC)
[Gil is right and Enkidu knows that. He isn't going to take that potion unless they manage to overwhelm him and force it down his throat. And even then they had to overcome his strong will.
It would not do. It would not be right to treat his friend like that. To be a coward. They have never been cowards.]
I do not doubt you. [They say it again.] And I do not question your reasoning. [A long silence follows as they contemplate his words.] Gil, this is...ah... I... [They don't finish those sentences.] I will try to be back at the end of this afternoon. Perhaps around the evening. [Maybe then some of these feelings are gone and they can admit to being an absolute fool and make Gil a large pile of sandwiches.]
[And when Enkidu arrives at the apartment it is late in the evening. Later than they promised to be back. When they enter the livingroom they look more pale than they normally are and the first thing they do is washing their hands.]
Gil, I have returned. [When speaking they barely raise their voice.] I am quite tired.
he sits half-upright rather than sprawling, hands clasped loosely before him. it is quite unfortunate that he is unable to meet his friend dressed in the full splendor of his golden armor or any other regal attire, this world having taken its toll on his wardrobe.
but he does appear comfortable, casual, and his expression is a touch more serious, his posture ever-so-minutely reflecting a more attentive frame of mind. ]
You may speak freely, Enkidu.
[ there is no need for any coyness between them. there never was. and Enkidu knows very well, and has already agreed, that Gilgamesh is not one to fear a confrontation with his friend's feelings. ]
Ah. [ he leans forward, continuing to gaze at them from afar as the water trails down the drain. ] It seems that the friend with whom I shared laughter and adventures has experienced a new emotion in this world, hm? A grief that you have not yet learned to find succor for?
[To be honest, Enkidu has no idea where to start. Their bond is gone and their heart aches because of it. And in a way they had not expected that it would feel like this. That it would be something so big. So very sad.
And of course, when they see their friend there is this short moment of relief. He is still here and it is not a surprise that he exactly knows what is going on. And why wouldn't they tell their friend what is going on in their mind? They don't have any secrets for one another.
Why would they think their feelings would compromise him? Him of all beings. Truly, could they be a bigger fool?]
A new emotion. Perhaps that is the best way to describe this. I never knew breaking a bond would be so severe.
[Enkidu steps back slowly and spends a ridiculous amount of time staring at their hands, very aware of the stubs where once were fingers.]
Is this feeling similar to what you have felt after I returned to the soil I came from?
[Slowly they move to sit in the chair across of the couch and yes, they're dreadfully tired.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
[voice]
[It seems not right. They want the best for him and him experiencing an empty, never-ending sense of sadness.
No, Enkidu cannot allow that]
She was my other bonded. The loss of this bond leaves me...utterly empty. [They pause for a long time] You aren't going to drink that potion..., right?
[voice]
then, he just smiles. ]
It is nothing I have not endured before.
[ does his friend still not understand?
ah, the irony that they think in terms of sparing him from never ending pain. ]
Living things disappear. Transience is the natural outcome of all life.
[ he shrugs his shoulder.
Enkidu has not known loss. not as Gilgamesh had.
not since -- ah. well. there was that girl from before... the one with the flower crown... yet... no, he puts aside such an ancient memory. another time, perhaps. ]
As King, I shall not enact such cowardice. Nor should you. You are my friend. Come to me to give vent to this grief.
[ because while Enkidu is a novice in dealing with loss and sadness, Gilgamesh has a thousand lifetimes of experience. ]
[voice & some action]
It would not do. It would not be right to treat his friend like that. To be a coward. They have never been cowards.]
I do not doubt you. [They say it again.] And I do not question your reasoning. [A long silence follows as they contemplate his words.] Gil, this is...ah... I... [They don't finish those sentences.] I will try to be back at the end of this afternoon. Perhaps around the evening. [Maybe then some of these feelings are gone and they can admit to being an absolute fool and make Gil a large pile of sandwiches.]
[And when Enkidu arrives at the apartment it is late in the evening. Later than they promised to be back. When they enter the livingroom they look more pale than they normally are and the first thing they do is washing their hands.]
Gil, I have returned. [When speaking they barely raise their voice.] I am quite tired.
[action]
he sits half-upright rather than sprawling, hands clasped loosely before him. it is quite unfortunate that he is unable to meet his friend dressed in the full splendor of his golden armor or any other regal attire, this world having taken its toll on his wardrobe.
but he does appear comfortable, casual, and his expression is a touch more serious, his posture ever-so-minutely reflecting a more attentive frame of mind. ]
You may speak freely, Enkidu.
[ there is no need for any coyness between them. there never was. and Enkidu knows very well, and has already agreed, that Gilgamesh is not one to fear a confrontation with his friend's feelings. ]
Ah. [ he leans forward, continuing to gaze at them from afar as the water trails down the drain. ] It seems that the friend with whom I shared laughter and adventures has experienced a new emotion in this world, hm? A grief that you have not yet learned to find succor for?
[action]
And of course, when they see their friend there is this short moment of relief. He is still here and it is not a surprise that he exactly knows what is going on. And why wouldn't they tell their friend what is going on in their mind? They don't have any secrets for one another.
Why would they think their feelings would compromise him? Him of all beings. Truly, could they be a bigger fool?]
A new emotion. Perhaps that is the best way to describe this. I never knew breaking a bond would be so severe.
[Enkidu steps back slowly and spends a ridiculous amount of time staring at their hands, very aware of the stubs where once were fingers.]
Is this feeling similar to what you have felt after I returned to the soil I came from?
[Slowly they move to sit in the chair across of the couch and yes, they're dreadfully tired.]