worthallthis | The Last Voyages: IC Inbox

Godric hesitates a moment, finger on his king, and then just tips it over.

"No." The language was still evolving at the time, mixing with Latin, which Godric occasionally uses as a substitute for words he doesn't remember.

"But if you didn't particularly like someone, you could simply add mavledhwen." He did say he would teach phrases, but adding in a swear can't hurt.

Good to know. English is full of so many loan words, he'd probably understand about the Latin, if Godric mentioned it. He nods, watching the king fall. "Are you giving up?"

"This time," he tells him. "I would rather bow out gracefully at this point." 'Giving up' sounds so...defeatist, though he knows that's what it is.

"Could play again," he suggests, eyes down on the board, expression carefully blank. "Or just talk longer." Translation: don't go yet.

He knows what it means and he doesn't make a move to leave. He does unwrap a leather band from his wrist and dangle it down, hoping to attract Vesta's attention.

"Reset the board. I won't let you take my queen this time. I can tell you a story while you do."

Vesta lunges for it, like she was waiting to be invited to play, and digs claws and teeth in. Have fun with that, Godric. B doesn't trim her claws because he doesn't know he should, so they're very sharp.

B, on the other hand, contentedly starts setting pieces back where they belong. "Okay." Tell him your story, Godric, he's listening, and being very particular about the pieces to make sure there's plenty of time.

Godric's amused more than anything. Her claws, when they do find skin, don't hurt too badly, and Godric heals rather quickly from it. He focuses on bringing the little leather band up over her head and having her chase it.

"Gilgamesh was a demi-god, and king of Uruk. He was a cruel, cruel man, forcing his people into slavery to build his monuments and great city walls. For his hubris the gods created Enkidu, a wild man, though he was too wild to confront Gilgamesh at first. He enjoyed being of the wild, running with the animals who were his companions. A sacred prostitute named Shamhat was tasked with taming Enkidu, and she did as most know will tame a wild man, she tempted him to bed.

She laid with him for six days and seven nights, and Enkidu was tamed. He rejected his wild life and returned to Uruk with Shamhat." He pauses there, extracting a stray paw from being stuck in the bracelet.

About halfway through Godric is getting a sidelong skeptical look. Is this a story all about sex? Because that is not a thing he wants to think about-- at all. Ew.

Vesta is very good at jumping for things. Have fun with that, Godric. She will grab the bracelets still on your wrist, whether by accident or design.

Godric catches that look and smiles, though he's distracted by Vesta when she attacks his wrist.

Wincing at those tiny claws, he unhooks her from his wrist, continuing his story. "Enkidu came to Uruk to confront the king. He challenged Gilgamesh to a fight, and after sizing up his opponent Gilgamesh gladly took on the former wild man. They fought, wrestling through the palace, through the temples, through the city. They fought for days and days, until finally Gilgamesh won the match. But he was so impressed by Enkidu's strength that the two became close friends -- even lovers.

"With Enkidu's influence, Gilgamesh became a righteous man. It's said that the wild man tamed Gilgamesh in the way Enkidu had been tamed," Godric explains with a soft laugh. "The two traveled across the land, performing amazing feats, until one day upon returning to Uruk Gilgamesh found the goddess Ishtar waiting for him.

"She wanted to make him one of her lovers, but he rejected the idea. She had a tendency to be abusive to her consorts, and Gilgamesh had heard the tales of men and women being punished in wicked ways if they displeased her. Naturally, Ishtar was enraged by Gilgamesh's rejection, and sent the Bull of Heaven down to destroy Uruk."

By this time there's no way to stall any further, the board is set up, and B leans down to collect the now-tired Vesta to set on his knee. She accepts this with good grace and lets him pet her slowly and carefully.

He's settled into patiently listening, curious more about the feats and adventures the two friends got up to than about the whole sex part (c'mon, not important, stick with the fun fighting parts boys). Wondering idly whether one or the other was always hauling the other out of trouble.

Epics are difficult to retell with just the fun fighting parts, but Godric tries to work around it at the end.

He reties the band around his wrist idly, seeing the board done and wrapping up the story. "Of course, the two men slayed the Bull of Heaven, and defied Ishtar to her face by throwing pieces of the mutilated bull at her. I'm certain you can imagine how that displeased her. They rejoiced in their victory together, having fought as one for a common goal. The people of Uruk celebrated, but Ishtar put a terrible curse on Gilgamesh. She would not be shamed in such a way by these two men.

"Weeks later, Enkidu dreamed of the underworld. It was premonition that would come true, and in days Enkidu lay dying a terrible sickness. When he passed, Gilgamesh was inconsolable. He had lost a friend and companion, the only one he saw as an equal."

"That. Is an awful story," B says after a moment, slighty expression balanced between confusion and unhappiness. "His friend died. Because some woman was jealous." Stories are supposed to make you feel better. Aren't they? (Well. His collection of stories do, anyway. Which are for kids. Except for the one book from Becca he's managed to read, which also has a happy ending.)

"There is more to the story," he assures him. "Gilgamesh's story doesn't end there. But many stories are like that, B. I like it. They spent many years together, fighting and working together. Having...adventures. And yes, there was death, but there always is. If I had ended the story to you before they met Ishtar, it wouldn't change their fate."

He gestures to the board. "But, if you start, I will tell you another story with a happy ending."

"It's a story. It can be however you want."

That comes out like a grumble, but he moves a pawn out, anyway. Using the metal hand, since the flesh one is still occupied with Vesta. He may not entirely subscribe to the idea that just because a tale went one way one time, it always has to go that way.

Real life has enough death in it. Stories should be better than that.

"Once, there was a man named Odysseus. He was trying to return home to his wife and child after a long war, but he was met with obstacles along the way. Some were his own fault, but some were direct interference by the gods. Different gods than Gilgamesh knew.

"After a particularly harrowing encounter with fruit, the crew comes across an island where they capture wild goats to eat. They venture to the mainland, finding a cave with everything they need. Goats, milk, cheese, enough to last them for their trip."

He moves his pawn to meet the other head on.

"They told Odysseus to take what he could and leave, but he refused, choosing to linger. But, because of that, he was met by the Cyclops Polyphemus, who returned to his cave." There, Godric pauses, gauging his interest.

This is already starting off better than the last story. "A harrowing encounter with fruit." One corner of his mouth tilts up. "Was it oranges."

This is probably not a joke Godric will get, because he made it with Misty, but it amuses B at least. (He does not like oranges. Or orange flavored anything.) He continues his previous strategy of making a staggered defensive line of pawns, with a second one beside the first.

Godric takes a more aggressive approach this time, pulling out his knight early. He doesn't understand the reference, though, and looks up, bemused, as he continues.

"No. Lotus fruit." He inspects the board serenely. "Well, Polyphemus, son of Poseidon, was not pleased to see the humans in his cave. He seemed friendly at first, but soon turned hostile, devouring two of Odysseus' men and imprisoning the rest inside of the cave by a large rock that only he could move.

"Of course, Odysseus was angry, but he knew that he could not kill Polyphemus inside the cave, or they would remain trapped behind the rock. So he had to devise a plan. He waited until the Cyclops was outside and fashioned a spear out of a wooden staff."

B does't explain, not today anyway. There's a story to follow. He continues sedately moving another pawn out, though he doesn't put the next one directly in the knight's path, at least.

Since the first question was allowed, he asks another, "Why did he start off friendly? If he's so big. And eats people." Seems like a waste of time.

"It was a ruse," he explains. "He wanted to know where the rest of his men were. He asked about his ship and Odysseus knew he was being fooled, so he lied to him. Polyphemus knew the lie when he heard it and grew angry."

Godric swings another pawn out on the edge of the board, trying to free his bishop.

"Now, Odysseus had brought with him to the land a bit of fine wine that had been gifted to him. Polyphemus asked him his name and, cleverly, Odysseus agreed to answer if they drank together. But, he was not truthful. He cleverly told the Cyclops that his name was 'Nobody.' Polyphemus drank the wine, too foolish to realize the potency, and eventually fell asleep, too intoxicated to stay upright.

"Odysseus and his men took the sharpened spear and stabbed the Cyclops in the eye. Of course, Polyphemus woke and cried out, attracting his equally terrifying neighbors."

B matches and blocks that pawn. "Nobody," he repeats thoughtfully. If only he could get away with that. It seems like an entirely unobjectionable title, from inside, but he's pretty sure everyone else would complain about it.

"Mm, there was a reason for it." He lets the bishop loose, taking it across the board, out of reach of the pawns, but aiming directly at his knight.

"When the neighbors came, they asked what had happened. He replies 'Nobody is trying to kill me' and they think him simply ill. They advise him to pray to their father, Poseidon, and left him alone. Polyphemus, blinded now, lifted the rock from the entrance and outstretched his arms across it, hoping to catch anyone who escapes."

Godric lifts his arms, demonstrating with a smile. "Odysseus' plan had worked, but he still needed a way to get out of the cave without being touched or caught by Polyphemus."

Apparently the cyclops' neighbors are pretty dumb, to think the guy blinded himself-- but then again, so is the cyclops himself for falling for a really stupid name. They could have used an asset around to handle things like this for them.

"Guessing he came up with one?" B moves a pawn out to block the bishop, though the bishop could take the pawn if Godric wanted to.

He does take that pawn, setting it aside as he continues his story.

"Of course he does. He was a man who frequently had plans." He leans forward, elbows on the table, fingers linked together, chin on his hands.

"He and the other men hid underneath the sheep as they were let out of the cave and to graze in the fields. Polyphemus realized he had been tricked after it was too late."

"He knew he had people hiding in his cave. And he let the sheep out anyway. Polyphemus is an idiot," B states firmly, and takes the bishop with his knight, which might in fact be why he sacrificed that pawn. "Good for Odysseus, though."

He tsks softly, but he spies an opportunity for his rook to jump forward, taking a pawn in front of him.

"Polyphemus might have been easily tricked, but Odysseus had a large ego. Just before departing, he called out, telling the Cyclops his real name as a gloat. Polyphemus calls out to his father, Poseidon, god of the sea, and asks him to take revenge on Odysseus."

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