guillotineroom: (Default)
Locked Rooms ([personal profile] guillotineroom) wrote2022-11-01 10:48 pm

[elevator] [sphinx]

[ When you open your eyes again the first thing that you, and your teammates, may notice is that you are confined within an iron cage, rectangle in shape. Further inspection will reveal that outside of the cage is a large structure of sorts, reaching far above you. It kind of looks like an unfinished clock tower, really... there are spots that look finished and bolted tightly, and others that look like they had been left once and the work never thought of again.

Also, it's pretty chilly. You might get to notice that.

It's foggy and windy—the kind of wind that howls and roars, jostling your cage against the tall shaft, and every so often you feel as though you might have had the ghost of a raindrop on you. The tower-like build creaks horribly ominously in the wind, and you can see the rusted metals swaying slightly. But if you decide to look around...

Flapping above you (and not helping with the wind) is a harpy-like creature, iron chains wrapped around their talons. Though, maybe it's more like a lion? The chains are bolted to the top of your cage. There are also little indicators on the structure, the same distance apart, that seem to be declaring different levels or heights. They look horribly unhappy to be here, but they're also impressive at ignoring any call you might have for them.

There's a door to the cage, but it won't open, even if it's just a simple-looking locking mechanism. If you peer out, it's too foggy on the ground to make out very much, but you can make out nine other, tower-like structures with similarly flapping harpies. Each one, including your own, has an emblazoned emblem of every team's patron monster, so that you can see where everyone is—it's just difficult to make out exactly who may be in each one. Even more difficult to try and communicate like this.

Attached to the door is an aged metal panel with a screen and four buttons; two to choose between the team names that appear on the dark green and black screen, and two to choose whether you wish for that team to go up or down.

After a moment, a little speaker in the corner starts playing an incredibly bad quality version of this.]
derailer: (Fire Punch)

[personal profile] derailer 2022-11-05 01:19 am (UTC)(link)
They have. ...My apologies for the extreme oversight if you were unaware of their occurring.
naturalcauses: kuuyasthings @ tumblr ([noticing] i'm driving my car)

[personal profile] naturalcauses 2022-11-05 01:40 am (UTC)(link)
No, no! I knew they happened, but for a long time after arriving I kept my distance from almost everyone. So between that and having been spared, I know what to expect in theory, just not in practice. It's rarely the same thing twice around here.
derailer: (Hex)

[personal profile] derailer 2022-11-05 01:54 am (UTC)(link)
I see...

Then, I am sorry nevertheless, that you must experience this.
naturalcauses: kuuyasthings @ tumblr ([annoyed] running running)

[personal profile] naturalcauses 2022-11-05 01:57 am (UTC)(link)
It's not all right, but it is what it is. For the moment, I am focused on getting through this with all of you on Sphinx.
derailer: (Calm Mind)

[personal profile] derailer 2022-11-05 02:57 am (UTC)(link)
Mm. ...It is a relief that Sphinx is full of pragmatic personalities.
naturalcauses: kuuyasthings @ tumblr ([solemn] i don't like you)

[personal profile] naturalcauses 2022-11-05 03:14 am (UTC)(link)
Indeed, I can only imagine how messy this would get if we had more irrational people to deal with.
derailer: (Double-Edge)

[personal profile] derailer 2022-11-05 03:31 am (UTC)(link)
There is nothing wrong with feeling upset in an upsetting situation. But...

Hah. In a moment like this, I remember the description of the dokkaebi we hatched, who only summoned anger for the very worst offenses. It is not the most flattering portrayal... but it is hard to summon the energy to fight when the battle is so futile.
naturalcauses: kuuyasthings @ tumblr ([cross] made of glass)

[personal profile] naturalcauses 2022-11-05 04:23 am (UTC)(link)
People are of course entitled to their emotions. As the poet Yeats said, "The only duty of the mind is to bow in ceaseless obeisance to the heart".

Ah yes, the dokkaebi. That feels like long ago now, that was one of my first times really participating with Sphinx on a task.
derailer: (Shadow Ball)

[personal profile] derailer 2022-11-05 04:31 am (UTC)(link)
With all due respect, I do not think the poet Yeats was ever in such an elevator.
naturalcauses: kuuyasthings @ tumblr ([laughter] acting like there's something)

[personal profile] naturalcauses 2022-11-05 04:35 am (UTC)(link)
[laughs a bit]

As the elevator was invented after his lifetime, that's a safe bet.
derailer: (Shelter)

[personal profile] derailer 2022-11-05 04:44 am (UTC)(link)
...I apologize for being very poor company, also.
naturalcauses: kuuyasthings @ tumblr ([genki] the way you see through me)

[personal profile] naturalcauses 2022-11-05 04:47 am (UTC)(link)
[shakes his head]

You needn't apologize for that. I hope that I don't seem too cavalier when this is all obviously weighing on you.
derailer: (Tri Attack)

[personal profile] derailer 2022-11-05 05:00 am (UTC)(link)
...

[Now he just feels bad that it's so obvious, too.]

No... Not at all.
naturalcauses: kuuyasthings @ tumblr ([talking] tell your bare faced lies)

[personal profile] naturalcauses 2022-11-05 05:05 am (UTC)(link)
[reaching over and giving Ingo's shoulder a squeeze]

We're in this together, we're going to get through this. Those sounds like platitudes but I really mean it.
derailer: (Ancient Power)

[personal profile] derailer 2022-11-05 05:23 am (UTC)(link)
I know. ...But please... don't feel the need to comfort me.
naturalcauses: kuuyasthings @ tumblr ([genki] better than i do)

[personal profile] naturalcauses 2022-11-05 05:32 am (UTC)(link)
I won't if it bothers you, but I don't feel the need. I simply want to because I like you.
derailer: (Hex)

[personal profile] derailer 2022-11-05 05:48 am (UTC)(link)
[He does not smile—he generally does not smile—but he nods in acknowledgment of this, tucking the thought away.]

...I do not want to be comforted for making cold-hearted decisions. Rather, I cannot be cold-hearted if I am also being comforted. So it bothers me a little bit. That is all.
naturalcauses: kuuyasthings @ tumblr ([complex] hella scared)

[personal profile] naturalcauses 2022-11-05 05:50 am (UTC)(link)
Very well then, we'll move on for the moment.