the garden

[vivariummods]

T H E  G A R D E N Early in the morning, yet again, the test subjects get to wake up to Calhoun’s dulcet tones. Through a megaphone. “Hey! Lazy test subjects, get your human rears up!” Once everyone is moderately awake and gathered, Calhoun will continue. “You all did such a great job last round, and everyone’s been so pathetic lately, that I, your glorious, merciful host, decided to open a room for you! Remember, rooms are a privilege, not a right! That means!” He takes a deep breath to scream out the next parts: “Don’t. Break. My. Stuff!!” He eyes at a few people in the crowd before leading everyone up to the second floor, where a new door will now be openable. Once inside there is a surprisingly refreshing breeze and bright light flooding from the ceiling. Welcome to the Garden! The roof of the garden is made up of what appears to be grids with screens depicting a blue sky during daylight hours and a starry night during the evening (they must be sunlamps because the light from the ceiling feels warm and, yes, finally some vitamin D for you sad test subjects). It appears to be more of a dome than anything else, but the grass is green, there’s a few trees around, some flowers, a bench here and there, and even a little waterfall that creates a small creek around the garden! Sure, there aren’t any edible plants, fruits, or vegetables around, the water is freezing, everything feels almost artificial, but this is a lot better than the cold, monochrome, and bleak look of the warehouse so far, so unless everyone else wanted to stay in the boring lobby instead of here, there wasn’t much to complain about. Well, have fun! Enjoy your new surroundings. basic info ✖ mingle

Comments

[blind_badass]

Ah, so this is where this sound is. *Snake walks over, his closed eyes scrunched tighter than normal, as though he is concentrating intently.*

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji, in the middle of picking a couple more poor, defenseless flowers with one hand, sat up when he spotted Snake. "Hey, ya made it! You want a rundown of the layout?"

[blind_badass]

It...would be useful. This place sounds strange to me. *Maybe because it feels like an outdoor area but it didn't sound like one entirely left him a little hesitant.*

[detectiveofthewest]

"Well... it is a little strange, I guess." Heiji gave Snake a description of their surroundings so that he could orient himself, then lifted something up into the air. It was not clear from the sound what it was.

"Oh yeah -- c'mere and bend down for a sec, willya?"

[blind_badass]

*That didn't sound entirely good.* Why? What are you about, Heiji?

[detectiveofthewest]

"Oh, come on. It's not gonna hurt or anything, I promise." Whatever it was in Heiji's hands rustled a little. IT WAS KIND OF A SUSPICIOUS RUSTLE...?

[blind_badass]

If this is something that's going to stab me in the hand, I'm going to kick you in the shins. *However, he does kneel down a bit.*

[detectiveofthewest]

"Sheesh, don't even joke about that." Heiji reached up and carefully placed something on Snake's head. It felt like... some kind of loose ring or headband? If Snake reached up to feel it, he'd probably realize that it was... a flower crown.

"There. Now ya look properly princely!"

[blind_badass]

What did you...*he then feels around on his head, touching flower petals.* You are in a whimsical mood, aren't you?

[detectiveofthewest]

He grinned. "You kiddin'? It's been three weeks since I've seen anything like 'outside'. I'd like to see someone who wouldn't be at least a little happy to come out of something like that."

[blind_badass]

I suppose you have a point. *He sits down and pats his flower crown* I thought it was Hersel who said I looked princely. It sounds like you agree.

[detectiveofthewest]

"Just goin' along with the theme," said Heiji, lying back down on the grass. "I know this is probably just transplanted earth, but it feels so nice!"

He was just going to. Resist the urge to nuzzle his cheek against some flowers. "I figure sleeping out in the open's better than the floor, so I guess I know how I'm spendin' the night. Kinda feels nostalgic."

[blind_badass]

I'm not sure if I've ever gone camping but I think sleeping on the grass might be more comfortable. We might have to stake out our own little territories if that's the case.

[detectiveofthewest]

"Right?" Heiji asked, smiling. "It gets real hot in Japan in the summer -- in Osaka, at least. It's milder if you're somewhere like Hokkaido. But at night it cools down a little and there are cicadas. You got 'em in the States, too, right?"

[blind_badass]

Cicadas? Yes. I know what a cicada sounds like. I think there are a lot more in the Eastern half of the country than the West, but it's a sound of summer.

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji looked satisfied with this. "Of course. If it's summer, it's gotta be cicadas and iced coffee!" And swimsuit guessing contests

"Say, in America, havin' a tan is supposed to be a good thing, right?"

[blind_badass]

And he's so good with that too.

Generally, yes, especially in the summer. Why?

[detectiveofthewest]

"In Japan, it's kinda the opposite. Like a lot of women use umbrellas and stay in the shade so they don't tan too much. I guess guys get more sun, though."

Should he ask why Snake is so pale hmmm nah it would probably be rude.

[blind_badass]

*Showing tact, Heiji? Remarkable.* I don't know why you wouldn't want to be tan. It's an attractive quality. Although if you're the type that goes to tanning beds, then it can get a little ridiculous.

[detectiveofthewest]

Tanning beds... Americans were weird. "I'm tanner than most Japanese people, so I'm guessing I stick out a little. It's more normal for islanders."

Or people who spent all day at the beach for one reason or another.

[blind_badass]

You'd probably be just fine in America. *Heiji is very tan? An interesting new tidbit of information.* Are Japanese people paler? Does that mean that I'd be fine over there?

[detectiveofthewest]

"Yeah?" Heiji sounded mildly surprised by the idea. He hadn't really given it much thought before.

"Most of them are paler than me. I mean, there are definitely people with naturally darker skin around..." So he wasn't freakish, just a little unusual. "But anyway, I don't think anyone would think it was weird to be an American with a pale complexion. The stereotype is usually blond hair and blue eyes. You'd still obviously be someone from a foreign country. That could be good or bad, depending."

[blind_badass]

Is being a foreigner looked down upon in your country because your population is more homogenous?

[detectiveofthewest]

"Depends, but I don't think you'd really have a problem. If you were a little kid, you might get picked on. And some people might avoid you 'cause they don't want any trouble. Then again, you'd probably get other people crowdin' around you and askin' about New York or movies or whatever else." And be prepared to be complimented on your Japanese whether you were actually any good at it or not.

"It's really unlikely that you'd get mugged or whatever, if that's whatcha mean."

[blind_badass]

Oh because if you're a foreigner and an American, obviously you're from New York? *Snake shakes his head. The crown stays where it is.* What does your country think about the blind?