CALHOUN HOUR - CHOICE

[vivariummods]

It has been two and a half days since the end of the virus takeover. The power, lights, and heating has been turned back on. All the newer areas have been sealed, BP is once again required in certain rooms, and it appears that everything is returning back to normal. Asides from Calhoun. Whether characters have chosen to give pieces of Calhoun to Zero, to hold onto them, or to destroy them, it does not matter. There has been no indications as to when he would ever be back, so there has been a robotic mouse void within the warehouse. Zero has refused to leave any information as to the status of rebuilding Calhoun, but they have left this one message for everyone shortly after the power restoration: "While you may be left alone to your devices, do not trick yourselves into thinking that there is a way out of here, or that you can do as you please. I will always be watching." It has been two days since Zero has left these parting words before entirely disappearing. When attempting to call for them, everyone will only be responded with silence. It's clear that they're still watching over the facility though, as any kind of rule breaking or suspicious activities would automatically be rewarded with an injection of Soporil β. True to their word, Zero is somehow monitoring the behaviors without saying a single word. It is not until the morning of Day 72 does everyone hear again from them again, through the speakers throughout the warehouse. "Good morning, Subjects. Today, you will be partaking in another experiment of mine. It has come to my knowledge that my assistant has been throwing these so-called "Calhoun Hours" every three days to keep everyone stimulated between his rooms. Don't assume that I will do anything similar of the sort. This activity has far more care and thought put into it than this camping nonsense, so let us begin." "The rules are simple: every test subject will be paired up and placed against each other. The collective will then have to vote for one of the pair. The one with the fewest amount of votes will be subjective to a punishment of my choice. The one with the most amount of votes will continue their dull experimental lives until the next set of events." "Any petty attempts of rebellion will be met with serious repercussions, so I would suggest that you rethink any sort of plans." "Now, best of luck, Subjects. We will talk again soon." BASIC INFO ✖ MINGLE ✖ VOTES ✖ RESULTS

Comments

[detectiveofthewest]

Yes, so awesome. A punishment game.

Heiji was on the lookout mostly for Clive and Sasuke, who were injured already... and Snake, who merited a special sort of consideration.

But he'd also absolutely seek out anyone else in the room who was not otherwise occupied to let them know what his plans were and to ask them how they wanted to handle things.

[vengefulyears]

Clive was not hard to find at all because he was just sitting in place, staring vacantly towards the ground in front of him with his arms folded across his chest and wasn't going to move anytime soon - he was far too absorbed in his thoughts. His expression was mostly subdued, but there was a vague mixture of concern and anger in there too.

[detectiveofthewest]

"Clive? You okay?" Heiji just scootched on over beside him, looking concerned. Clive usually didn't just stare into space, and things had been pretty rough for him lately...

[vengefulyears]

There was a bit of a delay before Clive looked up at Heiji, still looking pretty vacant.

"Oh, um..." And then an unusually long pause followed, as if he actually had to think about how to respond to that. Though it didn't take too long for him to break eye contact with Heiji, looking off to the side instead. "Yes. I suppose so." Clearly he wasn't much up for conversation right now. He just wanted to get the voting over with already.

[detectiveofthewest]

"Okay." He'd just have to take Clive's word for it for now; maybe he could coax a bit more out of him.

"Look, I just wanted to let you know that it's okay if you vote against me. And... ask if there's anything you wanted me to do when I vote on your pair. I wanna make sure you're safe, but I also want to make sure I take your wishes into account. If there's something I can do for you, just tell me."

[vengefulyears]

He took a moment to consider Heiji's words, but unfortunately, his next reply was another ridiculously short one.

"Don't vote for me. Even if I'm paired with Jake." Mwah mwah love you Jake-senpai.

[detectiveofthewest]

Wow, Clive. Heiji looked super worried now.

"What're you sayin'? You can't even walk right now; if you got injured again...!"

[vengefulyears]

"Exactly. I can't walk. I don't think it can get much worse than that, honestly. I'd rather take another injury myself than have my partner end up as crippled as I am, or worse." Especially if his partner was Alfendi - the guy was in even more danger than Clive was right now.

[detectiveofthewest]

"Back to that 'leave me behind' stuff, huh?" Heiji frowned, clearly unhappy with this. Alfendi was in worse shape than Clive, but that didn't mean he could automatically throw Clive under the bus. Even if... you know, Clive was asking him to do it.

"Okay. I can't make any promises, but I'll try to keep it in mind. ...Can't say I wouldn't ask people to do the same thing, to be honest with you." He hated this place, and this stupid fucking game.

"Hey... do you remember the name of that beer you bought? The one from your memory?"

[puzzlinglad]

Clearly the most important thing he could do right now is check on the mint plant, fussing over any sign of damage the cold weather brought. It was looking well enough, thankfully, so mostly he was poking at nothing. When he noticed Heiji he raised a hand.

"I was wondering when I'd see you." He straightened, regarding his bud for a moment. "No new injuries? Those robots were pretty intent on causing trouble."

[detectiveofthewest]

"Nah, everything went pretty, um... smoothly..." Heiji quickly ducked his gaze to the side, look at this absolutely smooth operator, nothing out of the ordinary here.

"How you doin', Hershel? I can kinda guess what you'd want me to do, but I thought I'd come ask anyway."

[puzzlinglad]

"Oh?" Have a raised brow, what's that behavior, Heiji... "Well, as long as you promise you aren't hiding some great injury. We get enough of that around here."

He sighed, rubbing the side of his neck as he took a seat by the plant again. "You know what I want, yes. It doesn't matter who it is, don't vote for me. I'm one of the few people without any fading or recent injuries, you know." There's a glance at your leg at that, Heiji. "I'm alright, I suppose. I'll be less alright once this is over I'm sure, but for now there's no reason to fret over it. In times like this you need a clear head."

[detectiveofthewest]

Nothing, he wasn't blushing either, everything was fine everything was under control. "You know I don't do that kinda thing, Hershel. Sheesh, you're just like a mother cat. Or maybe a hen?"

"That might actually be somethin' I can do. Clive wanted me to do the same thing, but his knees are wrecked right now, and he can't even walk! He said somethin' like he ain't want to slow anyone down, but that reasoning's just..."

[puzzlinglad]

Uh huh... "I hope you don't, you might be better at hiding it." Hershel said a tad dryly. "Are you sure you're alright? You seem a little flushed." Maybe he was just imagining things...

He shook his head. "I already planned on voting for Clive in most scenarios. I'm sure he'll be cross but I worry he doesn't realize just how much all he's already gone through here has effected him, not to mention his injury." He stifled a sigh before glancing to Heiji again. "I assume you'll want me to vote for your partner no matter what? I can't promise I will but I'll take that into account."

[detectiveofthewest]

"Y-yeah, I'm fine." Totally imagining things, Hershel.

Heiji laughed. "Nah, you just do what you think is right. But, um... if it's between me and Snake, maybe you could vote for Snake? I don't want him to get hurt if I can help it."

Wow how embarrassing, what a pile of moe garbage.

[puzzlinglad]

"Hm..." Have a look that does not believe that at all. He stared at Heiji with his beady, soulless bird eyes for a moment before apparently deciding to let it go. "Well, if you're sure. Here, have some water just incase." He handed over his water bottle, drink up, bud.

Hershel regarded him a moment more before his expression softened some. "Alright, that I can promise. I doubt he'll be happy about it but-" Well, Heiji was kind of his best bro so sorry Snake, he gets to make requests like this and have them kept. "-hopefully whatever happens we'll be alright. I hope this doesn't pit anyone against each other once results are out."

[detectiveofthewest]

"Yeah, I'm sure he won't be," said Heiji, taking the water bottle. Why this sudden interest in hydration, Hershel?

"Fact, he might even be really mad about it. But I just... I don't want him to get hurt, but I especially don't want him to get hurt on my account." He'd even fallen through a glass floor for Snake, can't change course now.

"I hope it'll all turn okay. But y'know... it's not really anyone's fault what happens. Except for Zero, that is."

[blind_badass]

*Snake had been walking around, getting a general feel for the voting, trying to make up his own mind. If he felt disturbed at all, he didn't show it at all, looking calm, if thoughtful.*

*He did cant his head at the sound of Heiji's footsteps.* Hello, Heiji.

[detectiveofthewest]

"Light!" Just the person he wanted to see. "...What do you want me to do?"

Not going to beat around the bush on this one.

[blind_badass]

It will be difficult, I admit. We don't have a choice but to hurt people. Quite clever of Zero. In an evil genius sort of way. *He smiled a little bit.* As for what I'd like you to do, even though you aren't going to be happy with it, don't vote for me, especially if I happen to be against someone injured.

As for my reasoning, I seem to function well with being disadvantaged, so to speak. Having something temporary added on will not change anything, no matter what it is.

[detectiveofthewest]

"But...!" But Heiji didn't want Snake to be injured, physically or otherwise. That was his only real protest, and Heiji knew it. Snake wasn't injured like some of the others, and he was capable. But still...

"I don't want you to get hurt..." Heiji's unhappiness was quite evident in the tone of his voice.

[blind_badass]

Heiji... *Snake's calm voice softened. He gave Heiji a brief hug.* I know. I'd rather not see you suffer, but knowing you, if you're paired against someone injured, you'd want me not to vote for you, correct? And what if you're paired against Hershel? You'd want me to not have him hurt because he's your friend, correct?

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji was almost entirely still for the brief moment in which Snake hugged him, but his nod was unmistakeable against Snake's shoulder.

"I'll be better soon, anyway. Oh, I..." He reached into his pocket, sounding a little sheepish. "I keep forgettin' to give you this. I might as well do it now, right? Hope you didn't get one for yourself already."

He pressed something into Snake's hands: a hairbrush.

[blind_badass]

*Oh, this was a wonderful gift. Snake's hair had been tangling and finger combing it only did so much.* Where did you find this? And is this for me or did you want us to share it?

[detectiveofthewest]

"In the red room." Heiji sounded almost shy about it; Snake's hair was one of his favorite things to play with, and he'd thought at once of Snake when he'd come across it.

"I thought you could use it since your hair's longer. I found a comb, too, so you don't need to worry about me."