[elevator] [cerberus]

[guillotineroom]

[ 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.]

Comments

[messianic]

... You know?

Thank you. For being that person. For always, always fighting for everyone's health and well-being. Sometimes, I think... the rest of us can only be the idiots that we are because we have you here.

[cultfavorite]

Ah . . . honestly, Minato . . . you could thank me by putting yourself first for once.

[SARDONICALLY. BECAUSE, AS IF.]

[messianic]

[ he's quiet for a moment at that, before... he shrugs a little ruefully. ]

Maybe... maybe someday, I'll figure out how.

[ he can't promise anything, because he knows how he is. But... sometimes, he thinks it's not a bad thought. ]

If that day ever comes... I think it'll be because you were always here, giving me the space to try.

[cultfavorite]

You always turn it around on me.

[But he wraps his arms around Minato, drawing him in to hug him.]

Thank you.

[messianic]

[ he will gladly hug back, slumping for a moment into the hug.

And, a mutter: ]

's because you've gotten a lot better at being embarrassing too...

[ and then, more properly: ]

But also, it's all true.

[cultfavorite]

I studied under the best.

[He ruffles Minato's hair. Whose fault is it that he's leveled up in being sappy and embarrassing, huh!]

[messianic]

[ he will accept and allow the hair ruffling, but innocently: ]

Moon? Randy-san?

Oh, I know. It's Satoru, right?

[ HA!! ]

[cultfavorite]

[He starts snickering, his whole body shaking as he tries to keep it down in deference to the mood.]

That's right. I learned everything I know about being supportive and affectionate from Satoru Gojo.

[messianic]

[ Minato smiles at that as well, something in his shoulders and tense posture easing. They're still in the same situation, but...

Something about taking a moment for this has helped. ]

Mm, I knew it. We'll have to thank him for that when we all get out of here.