vivarium | CALHOUN HOUR

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

*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.

"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.

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.

"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.

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?

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.

*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?

"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."

*Snake immediately put it to good use, although he did have quite a few hidden tangles to deal with. After some minutes, his hair looked a lot better.* At least now I can say I face any potential punishment with good hair.

Not that Heiji had had a problem with it before, but it was nice to see Snake happy. He knew how much Snake cared about keeping a neat appearance, after all.

"Hey, Light? I guess I never asked you this before, but how come you wear your hair like that? Longer, I mean."

I'm not entirely sure. Perhaps I kept it short and didn't like it. *He shook his head to feel his hair.* I think this is a good enough length. I wouldn't want it too long.

"Yeah, you wouldn't look the same with shorter hair. I like it the way it is." And his habit of playing with Snake's hair was probably proof. It was nice and soft, okay?

*Just the right length to have Heiji's hands tangle it. So clearly, win-win.*

Yours I can run fingers through a bit.

"Yeah. I like it when you do that..." There you go, Snake; this was Heiji heeding a bit of Clive's advice. Even if it did feel a bit silly to say out loud.

"Yours is, um. I like how soft and wavy it is."

Oh, really? I might have to do it more often since you enjoy it so much.

*As for his own hair...* I imagine it is a textural difference. Plus I like it when you play with it.

"Yeah," said Heiji, smiling and apparently not realizing that he was kind of giving away how much attention he'd been paying to even small details about Snake.

"It's finer than mine, and I think the color really suits you. I've never seen a guy with skin as nice as yours, either. You really don't have many scars; I'm kinda embarrassed."

*Oh believe you, Snake was paying attention to Heiji's response. It made him smile broadly.*

I wasn't aware you'd been giving the issue so much thought.

"Wh-- " Heiji sounded immediately flustered. "I-investigations require a great deal of attention to detail, that's all!"

Wow, he was a terrible liar. Even he seemed to realize this.

"...Your smile is really nice, too."

So you enjoy investigating me, do you? *Snake lowered his voice to something low and intimate.* Just like when we were alone? Very up close and personal.

"You... did the same thing, didn't you?" Snake had been rather thorough with his hands, after all. Not that Heiji wasn't rather tactile himself, but the way that Snake had done it, like he was memorizing everything he felt...

"I'm not planning to close this case anytime soon, you know. And I'm gonna hold you to your promise." God, he always ended up saying the most ridiculous things around Snake. He wondered how Snake managed it.

Well, I sort of have to. With you it's optional and very much appreciated.

*It was quite ridiculous. Snake snorted.* What are we calling this case exactly?

"I'm not complaining about it or anything, it was... I liked it."

Heiji at least pretended to give this some serious thought. "Well, in novels, they usually name cases after something important from the story. Like a piece of evidence, or the location where the crime took place... or the culprit."

CALHOUN HOUR - CHOICE

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