vivarium | CALHOUN HOUR

Entry tags:

CALHOUN HOUR - SURVIVOR

At the crack of dawn, presumably, Calhoun gathers everyone in the first floor warehouse to make an announcement.

"That's right, it's time for another of my special events!" He seems pretty pleased with himself. "I noticed you lazy, fat test subjects really let yourselves go last round! It's like I don't feed you here or something."

"Well, I'm worried about your health, always lazing about and not getting proper exercise. So, I decided to be the change I want to see in the world, and so we're going to do something a littttttttllllllle different this time."

"To stop you guys from getting soft from all the fun you're having here, it's time for a little workout."

From one of the doors Calhoun never lets anyone go through there's a loud, metallic banging sound repeating, as if something is trying to get out. Calhoun does not seem troubled at all by this. In fact, he seems pretty excited.

"The rules are simple, everyone's getting sixty coins to use as they see fit. You'll notice the vending machines on both warehouse floors. Anyone who isn't caught will even get a memory back." But what does that mean?

"So go on, survive for 23 hours, I'll even give you a five minute head start. Good luck!"

And with that he scurries off. Should people hang around they'll get to witness that same door open five minutes later. From the door comes several figures, human in shape but something is very, very wrong.

They seem to be robotic, skeletal humans. At one point they must have had some synthetic skin over them but most of it seems to be melting or ripped off. They don't move very fast, mostly they shamble about until they focus on a target. Better hope it's not you!

BASIC INFO ✖ FIRST TEN HOURS ✖ LAST HOURS ✖ POST EVENT MINGLE

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[There might be a flickering on the other side of the lounge, maybe it's a robot, or a ghost??? ...or maybe it is someone hunkered down behind something and checking the light on their watch while trying to cover it, generally defeating the purpose, you know, either way]

[That...

That has to be a person. The ghosts spark - the light is far too consistent for that. He moves reasonably close, not quite making the turn to this mystery person's location before he whispers quietly:]

Hello?

[the light goes brighter then goes out, accompanied by some shuffling and muffled curses. Then a hissed reply:]

Who's there?

[He takes a couple steps closer so they can keep their voices down.]

Sasuke. I saw your light. It might be better to keep it off.

O-oh. Didn't think it'd be that noticeable.

[Which sounded lame even to her own ears. The problem was that without it, it was quite dark; understandably dark but still really--dark, a condition that lights tended to alleviate.]

Ah, where're you headed?

Anywhere I can hide.

[There's a soft rustle as he sits down. Might as well take the opportunity to rest - who knew how much longer they had before the game was over?]

How long have you been here?

A while. The ones who keep a regular schedule don't seem to look back here. Too open, I guess. You?

I've just been staying on the move.

[He'd prefer to just camp in the garden, really, but the unfortunate part about that is the fact that he can't rely on both hearing and visuals in there - the grass helps soften the footsteps. But at this rate, he's going to run out of energy if he ever is pursued...]

[she nods in response, which doesn't mean much in the dark, but details.]

Sounds t--

[she cuts herself off at the sound of a faint clanking in the distance, like footsteps against metal flooring down the hall. hopefully--hopefully it was one of the dumb ones and would keep moving...]

[He holds his breath, ducking down even further. It's a really, really good thing her watch is off, maybe it will just pass them by--

Did the footsteps just pause?]

[There is a definite pause, a sparking flicker that doesn't quite outline a shape from the far doorway, before the footsteps resume--growing closer this time. No need to freak out, of course, it was possible to branch into another hall rather than come in here, just because it was walking closer doesn't mean it's coming for them, r-right?]

[It's walking in a straight line, so surely it won't--

Turn. Just like that. Right into the room.

Sasuke slowly, silently shifts into a better position to spring. Hopefully he isn't in its line of sight at the moment, but either way, they're probably going to need to make a run for it sooner or later. The way to the exit just needs to be clear first...]

[The robot continues to lurch forward; perhaps one of its legs is a bit misaligned; the clank of its pace is just a bit off. Maybe it wouldn't be that difficult to knock it off balance, maybe it wouldn't run quite as fast as the other 'bots. One arm seems to be locked outstretched high above it; the other hanging limply at its side; this is obvious from the lightning-like sparking coming alternately from its shoulder and what seems to be a sunken eye socket, artificial skin sagging from its cheeks.

It seems to head directly towards them a few plodding paces...there is probably enough time to make a run for it, though Ema doesn't seem to be doing anything, save for crouching there, tense and wide-eyed as it draws closer]

[He's not hearing anything from Ema, and he can't tell if she's simply frozen up or not. Trying to get a message to her like this is going to be near impossible, too...

He still remembers the general layout of the room, though it may have changed with people moving in and out of it. Hopefully it will be enough.

Quite suddenly, he jumps up from his hiding place, jumping over the couch and making a sprint for the door. As he runs, he flips the light on his watch to on.

C'mon, follow him...!]

[but

weird deja vu feelings though, the kind that choke you up for no good reason?? she just wants to--to--

...to wildly throw a knife, apparently?? At least, that's what she does. Her aim is still off--just because she can walk straight again doesn't mean she can throw straight, apparently--and the clatter of the blade against the floor behind it is startlingly loud, enough that Ema can finally start to breathe again, and realise where she really is.

The robot turns towards the sound even as Ema notices Sasuke's bracelet light at the doorway (when the heck had he gotten over there anyway?), and with only a breath of hesitation, makes a break for it, shoes clacking on the floor.]

[Ah-- she's on the move too. Okay, he can work with this.

He runs out into the hallway, keeping his left arm behind him, the lit surface pressed against his back. It still emits a slight glow against the black fabric of his shirt, but hopefully she'll be able to follow that.

It also makes it a bit awkward to run, but well. He's dealing as best as he can.]

[she can follow it, thankfully; it means not having to worry about what's ahead so she can concentrate on the weird silence before the limping thump scrape of the robot starts again, faster this time--guess it figured out that the footsteps were what it ought to be following. It's still on patrol mode, but is closing the difference nevertheless...]

[Crap. What can they do? They can't really lose it if it catches up to them...

...

He's mostly running blind. But he could remember the general layout of the building, and working on half guesses, he begins trying to direct them to a nearby room. Perhaps predictably, he ends up at a wall first, but following it in the direction he thinks is correct eventually leads them to a door, and upon flashing the bracelet briefly at it the name is revealed to be...

GALLERY

Here's hoping other robots won't be attracted by the sound of the door opening. Or are waiting inside. Or any of the other terrible possibilities.]

[ema doesn't wait to find out if the gallery is filled with robots or not, she waves Sasuke towards it anyway. she tosses another few knives the opposite direction as distraction, and the moment the doorway is open wide enough to squeeze through, she does.

The gallery seems even darker than the hallways did, and mainly she presses into darker shadow, waiting for the door to close and hoping nothing else is waiting in here.]

[Once the door is shut, he retreats into the room, one hand covering the light of his watch to dim it slightly as he checks their surroundings. He also pointedly keeps it from shining on Ema - if anyone's going to be targeted, it might as well be him for insisting on checking things out.

A quick sweep proves that it is indeed empty, and once he's ascertained that, he'll click his watch off with a soft sigh. He doesn't trust himself anywhere near the paintings, so he'll lean on the other side of the divider for now.]

Are you alright?

[As her main memories of the room involve tear gas and physical assault, she doesn't attempt to go any deeper into the room either, simply sliding to the floor from her spot on the wall.]

I'm fine.

[...Which wasn't exactly true, but her voice is shaking and the more words spoken, the more obvious it'd be. Honestly, she hadn't expected to freeze up like that. The feeling, and the fact that something would shake her so is far more distressing than the stupid robots themselves, no matter how creepy they seemed with the lights out.]

Just...gimme a minute, I'll get out of your hair.

...Are you sure? It might be safer to stay together for now.

[If there are two of them, it would be harder for the robot to catch just one. It seems to only focus on a single person at a time, from what he's observed.]

...

You're too nice. You'll have better chances on your own.

That doesn't mean I want you to get caught. Besides, there are two exits - we can keep an eye on both of them this way.

...

[she can't think of a good argument for that]

...Fine. This's gotta be over soon, anyway...

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject