Locked Rooms (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
guillotineroom) wrote2022-11-01 10:48 pm
guillotineroom) wrote2022-11-01 10:48 pm
[elevator] [cerberus]
[ 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.]
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.]
no subject
He smiles sadly. Of course she will help, everyone one Cerberus will. They are all such good people, so strong, and so kind. He treasures them all, but wishes they had no need to be the ones bearing the weight of the world.
Of course he already remembered his last interaction with Xiao, but bringing it up again feels like reopening a wound not quite healed.]
Ah, I did.
He... Ran away from me.
no subject
... there's a fair chance he wasn't in that cage. I didn't see Ardbert, either... though I can't be sure.
[ Lifting a hand to his cheek. ]
I'm certain 'twasn't rejection, Zhongli. How could it be? You're a stalwart, caring and sweet being. Who happens to look even more lovely with his hair down, but that's neither here nor there...
[ Gentle teasing??? ]
There is so much to love about you. Xiao is not a fool to not see it. So please... once this is over... give it time.
no subject
I... Our strings matched. I know he feels the same about me as I feel for him.
[He sighs, leaning into the touch on his cheek. It is comforting.]
He thinks of himself as a weapon. A tool, a thing to be used. Not someone who is to be loved, desired, cared for. I think he just... It was too much, too quickly. Because I insisted upon his personhood, and his importance to me, and that he need not have a 'use' to bring me joy.
It is a lot. He was... afraid.
no subject
[ So cute... she'll gently stroke his hair behind his ear too.]
Someone like that simply requires patience, and you've an abundance of that. But don't give up on him... I can't imagine him ever being unhappy about this. No one could.