guillotineroom | [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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Does that mean we count on them being focused on? That we should join in? Or go a different way...

I don't know.

I'm trying to find someone to raise that I don't think is about to get launched to the top already and I'm not coming up with much.

We could aim for the middle again, like Nymph or Bugbear, under the assumption that they aren't low enough to be piled on but not high enough to be in real danger. It's a pretty sizable gamble though. Tch, I wonder if people are saying the same thing about us.

Bugbear is in a precipitous position. If we're wrong and someone else raises them, they're in extreme danger. Nymph is even worse. If we raise them twice, they lose.

And aiming for the middle once already is why Kraken is where they are.

True, but maybe that exact line of logic means they'll be ignored now. It all depends on if other teams are thinking like we are. I'm not saying I'm attached to that plan of action, I'm just pondering. [small groan] This is like trying to read minds without the means.

Trying to read minds and working around all of our own preferences. Either one is difficult enough on its own.

Which brings up the notion of renegotiating preferences, but we're a stubborn bunch.

And if we keep putting it to a vote-- well, it's democracy, sure, but it's not likely to be an easy majority again, and it's going to start getting risky.

It doesn't seem like there's a way to make a choice that keeps people safer and that we all agree on, in this one, so... we renegotiate preferences, or renegotiate how we're prioritizing.

I don't want to, but perhaps it's time to consider limiting the number of teams we can each demand protection for. Restrictions might be frustrating, but if we don't come to a consensus it's going to be worse. And then there's also... Well, have we discussed targeting ourselves yet? I don't know that it's the move this round, but we've got to weigh all options.

If I may interject—

[which he is polite enough to add in this situation, when he did not add it while interjecting with Yu Junghyeok]

Raising ourselves is not an option within the rules of the game. I would not want to risk it even if it were, but there is no debate to be had about it.

[blinks several times (furi: i forgot so he did too)]

Right. I forgot, I guess I was just wishing it was the case. All we can do is lower ourselves and that won't resolve a thing.

Please do not wish for our misfortune, Mister Kusumit.

[But he says it as if he's delivering a joke, so he is probably taking the whole idea in stride with black humor. (Because it's not an actual threat he has to contend with.)]

[forces a cheery expression]

Of course, my mistake. Part of me wonders when--never mind, it's not important right now. Let's just figure this decision out.

...

[He is curious to know where that was going, but it has the potential to be something very bad, so he finds it wiser to refrain from asking.]

Very well. My strongest opinions are on who we should not raise. Beyond those, I will accept whatever is deemed "strategic".

[feeling like he dodged a bullet because now is not the time to broadcast to teammates about a former life as an assassin]

I don't think we've actually talked about that one-on-one. Remind me, what are your personal wishes regarding teams being off limits?

I refuse to raise Yatagarasu. For Da Vinci's sake, I also refuse to raise Cerberus. Otherwise, though I may have my conflicted feelings, I will defer to logic regarding the other teams and putting them at risk.

I also refuse to raise Cerberus. I was insisting on avoiding raising Phoenix too but we may be past the point of me extending that courtesy just because I enjoy certain members' company.

It is a personal decision. You are the one who draws the boundary you can live with. This is not something that "we" can be past the point of. You alone are past the point, or else you are not. Either is understandable.

I suppose it is, but it's all of us who have to cooperate, so I don't consider it entirely personal at the point. Regardless, I will see if there are other courses of action and if none present themselves I will try to give us more options.

You may do so if you choose. My own refusals on these two points are non-negotiable. So, if anything, I will feel relieved if I am the only one in such a position, and will not need to come into conflict over it.

I'm not trying to change your mind Ingo. This doesn't have to be an argument.

(no subject)

derailer - 2022-11-07 16:53 (UTC) - Expand

Last round, I said we should just pick a path without second guessing ourselves and now I'm second guessing every possible move we can make.

[He is annoyed.]

At some point things were bound to go off the rails if I'm being honest, but I'd hoped to make it a little further based on the previous rounds. I think we have to figure out what options we are second guessing least. Either that or we have to compromise on who we're collectively willing to target.

What I'm second guessing the least is raising Cerberus. Which isn't an option.

Edited 2022-11-07 02:40 (UTC)

[CONFLICTED FACE]

Even if I were to concede there would be resistance. I don't think it'll work.