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

[Muffled from the corner where he has wedged himself, facing away:]

Please... Please stop. If we don't lower Sphinx. At least lower Basilisk? Please? I can't—I can't just let you try to do this again. I can't...

[Yu Junghyeok looks at him.]

[He doesn't say anything and, eventually, looks away.]

[He at least can hear the other conversations enough to be relieved to some small degree. He grips onto the bars to break down crying now that he is hopefully safe from talking for real.]

I'll accept either of those. We did already help Kraken once.

[she's quiet for a few moments.]

...I don't exactly want any of us to just-- have to accept risking ourselves if they're unwilling.

[Oh. Talking is still happening. He struggles to speak normally and without sobbing, with mixed success.]

It is—not as if we are attacking ourselves. As long as we are protecting someone, out of love. Then I will believe that our vote, is being used wisely. And I will believe... that we will be safe. I will believe that we will be safe...

-you won't be alone in that.

[they're all just going to have to believe it.]

We are going to be all right...!

[he's concerned but Da Vinci is there and his last attempt to support Ingo went so poorly so he's just going to hang back]

[The time for making cold-hearted decisions has clearly passed. Either way, for better or worse, Ingo is faced away too steadfastly to notice what people are doing unless they're talking. He is crying to himself now.]

[ Though he's facing outwards, Ori can't bring herself to look at him as she hears him struggle through the words he says the others; and as empathetic as ever... as soon as she starts to hear him cry in earnest, she's unable to keep herself from doing the same. ]

[Oh no. He can hear that happening, and feels a wave of guilt that rouses him from his downward spiral. He doesn't quite turn around, but he glances over his shoulder, looking distraught.]

I... I'm sorry!

[THIS IS TERRIBLE SENPAI BEHAVIOR!]

[ NO BECAUSE... NOW SHE FEELS GUILTY THAT HE FEELS GUILTY... ]

N... No...! Please don't apologize, M— [ sob ] Mister Ingo...!

[WE'VE ENTERED AN INFINITE FEEDBACK LOOP]

Please do not lose your conviction...! We are—we are going to survive this! And so will Basilisk!!

[ THEY 100% HAVE... it's so difficult to take his senpai encouragement to heart when he is weeping, which just makes her weep all the more...! ]

Y—Yes! N-No matter what, at least we... We did our best, s-so... Keep your chin up, Mister Ingo...!

I—

[He wants to apologize again but he knows everyone will be upset again if he does!!]

B, Bene... Of course. My reaction is, involuntary. But my outlook is positive! Surely, somebody. Surely somebody again. Will help us. Or, we stay exactly where we are.

[ Involuntary!? ]

It's... It's okay if it was voluntary, too...! [ sob. ] It's alright for you to cry!

I-I know, but, I would rather not make you all so uncomfortable...

(no subject)

hearthwarming - 2022-11-08 23:12 (UTC) - Expand

derailer - 2022-11-08 23:52 (UTC) - Expand

Ingo... I am so sorry.

D-Do not apologize! I understand your feelings well! We ought to extend help to them in their time of need!

[He may be sobbing as he says it but he sounds very emphatic!!]

There are no words for how grateful I am for your understanding, but I know we have also forgone our own safety for my request.

So please... if there's anything I can do...

I... I am sorry. If I knew how to stop reacting this way. I would have stopped it, already. I know I have been making a scene this whole time...

Ingo... I... would you like a hug?

[ That seems like such an insignificant thing to offer, but it's all he has. ]

[He makes a muffled noise of embarrassment, burying his face in his hands for a moment. Would he? There's no hope of regaining his composure anyway, so maybe he should just lean into his instincts?]

If. Only if, it is not too much trouble...

'Tis no trouble at all.

[ He opens his arms, gathering Ingo close. C'mere buddy. ]

[He shifts away from the wall of the cage to press his face against Arthur's shoulder, still tensely wondering if this is Too Much. He is probably still holding Da Vinci's hand too. It is all very awkward.]

inklongdry - 2022-11-08 22:54 (UTC) - Expand

derailer - 2022-11-08 23:54 (UTC) - Expand