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It's...it's open.

[Waver himself was sitting on the couch--on which were several molted phoenix feathers--with his head in his hands and the slightest traces of sparks flickering around him. He had probably transformed at least twice by now from stress alone, judging by the feathers.]

[The feathers didn't matter to him as much as his panicking friend. Immediately Takame was at his side, putting a hand on his shoulder.

As much as concern and hits of anger made him bristle, his voice was soft and steady.]

Stay with me, Waver. Remember to breathe.

[Much easier said than done. The air around him was intermittently uncomfortably warm, changing as he tried to control his curse on top of his panicked mindset.]

This can't...be happening. [Inhale. Exhale.] I can't--I can't tell if he's a threat or not. If he isn't now, he could be later. If that...if that happens...

[If he became a threat later, Takame would kill him. If he came back like Moxxie, Takame would kill him again. He knew saying that wouldn't help matters considering Waver asked him not to fight this man.]

If he has only just arrived, it's unlikely he is in a position to harm anyone. He has no power over you or anyone here.

Who is he? He said his name was Gil... [Gil... there's a long pause as Takame searched his memory. And sure enough.]

... Gilgamesh?

...

[He answered with a slight nod, sparks beginning to fade as he focused on getting control of himself. This was a larger picture issue more than an immediate disaster; something to be carefully watched and taken measure of.]

The oldest hero in human history, and perhaps the most powerful. I knew him as 'Archer', Irisviel's--no, her husband's Servant. He's the one who-...

It was his Noble Phantasm clashing with Saber's that-...that caused the initial explosion at the end of the war. There were only three Servants left, and that clash ended the war by bringing the number down to zero.

[He didn't say who the third Servant was.]

[He knew he didn't need to.]

[An Archer-Class.

One whose Noble Phantasm eliminated three Servants. Kami above... Takame only saw a glimpse of the destruction it wrought. His teeth clenched as he choked a growl back. No wonder Waver was so afraid.

This was the man that killed not only Diarmuid, but countless others in the same blow.

Another long silence, his tail twitching in agitation.]

I doubt he has the means to access his Noble Phantasm here. It may be possible as well that he is a native of this world who does not know who he is. Regardless of what he is, should he become a threat we have time to develop a plan to stop him.

I do not know if he is a man who can be reasoned with. If he is that may be another option available to us.

That...looks like it's the case. I don't know what he's capable of in this form, but without memories...I don't know. Maybe this doesn't have to be as dangerous as I assumed.

[Brushing a couple of feathers off the couch, he dropped them carelessly on the table. At least he could sell those later, but being stressed enough to drop them wasn't worth it.]

As for reasoning...hard to say. I only ever spoke with him once, and that with with both Irisviel and Lancer present. He operated on his own set of rules, but if Irisviel could coexist with him there has to be some way to work with that.

Given what he is capable of, I do not blame you for how you feel. Nor for keeping your guard up.

[Even with everything Takame had seen, one man razing an entire city and killing a loved one right before his eyes would have shaken him. Or so he assumed if he were a normal man like Waver at the time.

Takame's hand didn't leave his shoulder even as he started to calm.]

We have alternatives, then if Irisviel kept him near without issue. If he is willing to speak before brandishing a weapon there is some hope to be found.

There's...too many factors at play for me to grasp a clearer picture. I don't even know if he's the same Archer, or if he's from another war entirely. Another world entirely, given the current track record.

[Despite the fact that he'd calmed considerably, his shoulders still carried a tremble to them.]

He's...I think he'll speak first, but he had a hair-trigger temper. Arrogant one second, throwing swords the next. I don't know what memories of that kind of shit will do to someone that's...ostensibly a normal person.

[The hold on his shoulder tightened.]

'Tis a matter of waiting then. Seeing what he remembers and how he acts upon it. Still, for the time being he isn't a threat. And I do not believe he will be for some time.

[...]

I won't fight him. Not now.

Don't. Please.

[That came out a ltitle too urgently, and he tried again:]

If it comes to that we'll have to ask Cu Chulainn and Nagiko. Servants are the only thing that stand a chance against other fully fledged Servants--and even then, I don't...know if he can be defeated.

Ah. [All pretenses of aggression dropped at the urgency like flipping a switch. Don't fight him.

Do not fight him, Kesi. Waver told you not to fight him.

He nodded. Should the need arise, he would rely on Caster. But only as a last resort. Until then...]

I understand. I'll observe and nothing more.

[He dropped his head back into his hands, looking exhausted.]

He's--'dangerous' doesn't even cover it, Berserker's nothing compared to him. His Noble Phantasm...I've seen it twice and managed to survive, but I don't expect I'll be lucky a third time.

[Deep breath.]

Enuma Elish is the genesis of creation itself, the power that first split heaven from earth at the dawn of time. It's something primordial, beyond what any human could comprehend--beautiful and maddening all at once, watching the world itself twist and burn like all of reality around you is nothing but fabric and he's the one holding the needle.

...I don't want it to come to that. Not ever again. Past life memories make this both more complicated and less immediately a cataclysm, but it's still going to be difficult.

...

[Enuma Elish. A primordial Noble Phantasm... Berserker's presence alone was immense. Takame had no reason to believe Waver was exaggerating Gilgamesh's power. It seemed like something beyond comprehension had Takame not met the likes of the Ascians.

But how... how in the world could they combat something like that as limited as they were? With the Servants' power and the Warriors of Light perhaps? But even then he didn't know.

And he did not want to assume and cause Waver more panic. He held back a frustrated growl passed off as a deep breath.]

Is there anything that can be done? Anything I can do should the need arise?

...I don't know.

[There was something helpless to that--less a strategist fumbling for a next step and more knowing there was no next step right now. End of the line, with no clear conclusion in sight.]

All there is to do is just...act normally. He isn't even Gilgamesh as I knew him, not yet. Maybe if...if things unfold right, he won't be. There's nothing that necessitates a past life should end up fully matching or overwriting a current one, so far as I know.

I see.

[Even more frustrating. Worse so because Takame already knew that was the answer. There was nothing to do but wait. Act natural. Do nothing to arouse suspicion or ire.

Hells...]

We can only hope, then. I will stay as long as you need me to. [Even if he dislikes the situation, he'd help his friend how he could. With his company.

Seven hells, though, were Gilgamesh's vibes rancid.]

...thank you. Sorry, I...

[He shook his head, exhaling in a long and slow breath.]

I wasn't prepared for this.

You don't need to apologize. I shall stand by you and support you however I can. I will not abandon a friend.

...I know. But I do appreciate it all the same.

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