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[sealeted]

...

[She bites her lip and glances away, carefully running the sponge over his belly before handing it back to him and scooting backwards, so they each have a tub-end to lean against. Their feet and ankles are a bit tangled, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.]

[babbylon]

[Maybe not, but Gilgamesh definitely looks huffy about something now, sinking into the water until it's up to his shoulders.]

You know I am prone to... certain expressions of jealousy. It is unwise to tempt that wrath within me, Hakuno.

[sealeted]

It's not like I'm getting familiar with them in ways that I should only be with you. I haven't... made contracts, or anything.

[One hand drifts up to the side of her neck consciously, her cheeks gaining a bit more color.]

You're still my one and only Servant here. I'm just trying to... m-make friends, I suppose.

[babbylon]

Was that mark also a matter of "making friends"?

[Uh-oh.]

[sealeted]

...maybe a bit more than friends, with that one. I mean, Rin-san has kissed me a couple times, but that was for mana. And...

[She stares at the water, her cheeks heating.]

I think, when somebody calls you beautiful, at that point it's a little more than platonic. ...well, maybe not for somebody like you, exactly. But for other people.

[babbylon]

You keep very troublesome company.

[But he doesn't sound as put out as might be expected by it. If anything, he's amused, slightly.]

However, I would go against my own principles to scold you for exploring the many pleasures of the body. Do it safely; that is all I ask.

[sealeted]

Yes. It's—he's always been very nice to me. He's... probably the first person to ever really call me beautiful, yeah, but it's... beyond that, he's been nice. A bit of a smooth-talker, but nice.

[The words are coming in short jolts, as she tries to get her thoughts in order. He's brought up his own notched belt himself, so she takes it as permission to use him as a sounding board for her own jumbled feelings.]

I think I want to get to know him better, and I enjoyed kissing him. Beyond that, I'm not sure yet.

[babbylon]

[That earns her a splash in the face. Permission denied, apparently.]

"Do it safely" did not entail "give me an in-depth description of your forays with other men", for the record.

[sealeted]

Consider it payback for that time I stumbled in and say you having your way with a man on stage.

[She pulls a face but very maturely does not splash him back. Mostly because she's too tired.]

What would you like me to talk about, then?

[babbylon]

How you regret your choice in previous partners and have now decided to settle monogamously with none other than myself.

[Gilgamesh, that's super unfair on like fifty different levels.]

[sealeted]

...pff...

[He's joking, right? Gotta be.]

—ahahahaha! I-If I ever start talking like that, d-definitely check me for some s-sort of spell!

[Give her a moment to compose herself, you big old joker, you.]

...where did that come from?

[babbylon]

[It's true. He follows all that nonsense up with a clever wink.]

I was assessing if you were prepared to lead the life of a true polygamist. Or, as modern terms go, a "player".

[sealeted]

I really don't know. I can't exactly picture going off and marrying Kojirou or anything super-serious, and I still plan to date around and get to know other people. I'm... what's the phrase? 'Keeping my options open'?

[babbylon]

Building a harem...?

[sealeted]

Harem? Doesn't that imply that they'd all be devoted to me, only? ...I don't think I have it in me to demand something like that, without full reciprocation. If I'm not limited, I wouldn't want to limit anyone else. And if I'm committed, I'd want a partner with the same feelings.

[babbylon]

[Oh... that kind of answer was...]

Cute.

[Why are you all the way over there, Hakuno, let him love you up close. Maybe if he reaches with his arms, hopefully...!]

[sealeted]

Wha—h-how is that cute?!

[She puffs her suddenly red cheeks out at him. She was being sincere...!]

[babbylon]

It sounded like some pure, virginal, endearingly trite fantasy!

[Which... you know... isn't an entirely false estimation.]

[sealeted]

Well, excuse me for being a virgin with limited experience!

[POUTS!!]

What's so wrong with settling for a one-to-one relationship, if everybody's happy?

[babbylon]

Because it hopelessly limits your options. I cannot very well be with both a man and a woman at once in your little scenario, can I?

[Actually, he could. And there's a reason why that person was his best and only friend.]

[sealeted]

...? I never said anything about you, did I? What I might want doesn't have to line up with what you want. I don't know enough to really comment, but it should be okay as long as you and everybody you, uh... consort with, is happy. I'm sure you and Vietnam make it work just fine.

[babbylon]

You will want what I want, eventually. All human beings do; they are not built to be singular creatures. And when you want...

[Gilgamesh leans back with what might be a familiarly smug expression.]

Would you not prefer your horizons to be open and broad, rather than restricted to what's right in front of your eyes?

[sealeted]

I don't want to be alone. But is it wrong, to want to be the person most precious to somebody? To have a reciprocated love? I might not have anybody I want to be exclusive with right now, but if I commit to somebody...

[She blows out a sigh.]

Commitment won't mean I'm not attracted to other people. Just that at the end of the day, I'll still want that partner more, and respect them enough not to stray, if that's our agreement. I think I'd want something that lasts over a moment of passion that might hurt somebody I care about.

[babbylon]

You want to be wanted.

[Well, that's fair. And he can't rightly argue against holding someone precious in your heart, either. Suddenly he's regretting he didn't bring some wine into the tub to sip on; it made for a convenient distraction from things he didn't especially care to answer.]

It is not wrong. But if that day should come, that precious person may also be the one to hurt you the most.

[sealeted]

Maybe so. But, that's always the risk with letting people into your heart, no matter how much. I want to believe when that day comes, they might be worth the risk of being hurt, whoever they are.