vivarium | CALHOUN HOUR

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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

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[WHY DO I KEEP MESSING UP HTML GOD DAMNIT IT I'm sorry, forgive my butterfingers.]

Snake will be fine I'm sure, and as long as you don't have any weapons at hand I imagine it won't happen again. [Keep weapons in your bag I guess is the moral of this story?? He regarded Sasuke a moment, he probably should drop it, it clearly made Sasuke a bit uncomfortable, but...]

Just um, I hope you realize it wasn't your fault, is all. [He finished lamely. Wow, win all the awards for eloquence. He shook his head.]

[He still doesn't look entirely convinced. He appreciates the attempt - really. But nevertheless...]

...Even if I didn't expect to react that way, it could have been fatal. If Snake hadn't deflected it, or I--

[His voice breaks off, and he looks away.]

...My first instinct was to aim for the throat. [He did manage to alter its course slightly, but it still certainly would have hurt if it had hit. At this point, he'd feel uncomfortable with any kind of weapon, whether it was tucked away for safety or not.]

Heiji was right. I don't know much about who I am. Until I do, I'd rather not take any chances.

[Hershel watched him, frowning quietly as he spoke. He certainly didn't understand it, how a kid Sasuke's age would have the instinct to do that, but it was still clearly an accident. Maybe Hershel was wrong but Sasuke seemed a bit down about it, like he was beating himself up a little over this new, fun information, which was pretty rough. ]

It may be for the best to stay away from weapons- to be honest I've never been comfortable with any of us having them. If you have a weapon of any sort means you need to be ready to use it, and well- [Enough people had been hurt and died.

He sighed softly.] Whatever the case, remember we're still so out of context with everything, you know? Try not to think too much about what it all means about who you are just yet, it's so easy to take our what memories and information we have and jump to bad conclusions. [He looked a little sheepish, preachy piece of shit.] Sorry just- for what it's worth if you're worried about why you have this instinct I'd try to remember a cruel person probably wouldn't be concerned at all.

Edited 2014-10-15 14:48 (UTC)

[...That's actually a pretty good point. He was terrified when it first happened - but if he was trained in that kind of thing, wouldn't killing come more naturally? But instead he'd immediately frozen up. Not a very good habit for a killer to have.

Again, it takes a while for him to reply. But there's sincere gratitude in his voice, too.]

Thanks. Sorry, I just...

[He's scared. And he's not entirely sure what else he can do about it. But those words die in his throat, leaving him shaking his head instead.]

[Hershel offered a smile, trying to be reassuring. He hesitated a moment before patting Sasuke on the arm, unsure if physical contact at all would be appreciated but hey, sometimes people just needed a good arm pat I guess?]

It's alright. If you want to talk about it, we certainly have plenty of time, it seems. [He joked kind of weakly, fucking robots.] There's enough to worry about in here without this sort of thing on top of it all, after all.

[He doesn't flinch away from it, at least.]

...Mm. I think I'll be alright. It's just hard to stop thinking about it.

[And frankly, the speculation is what's been dragging him down the most. All of those what-ifs that wouldn't be answered until he got a concrete memory about it all...]

...What about your memories? I don't think you ever told me very much about them. [A pretty forward request, especially from Sasuke of all people. But a different topic would be better, he thinks. It would give him something else to focus on.]

[Score, no flinching. Hershel wasn't too surprised about the topic change, he could imagine dwelling on all this wasn't that fun of a party. He said his piece, he just hoped it'd help just a little.

He considers the question for a moment, wasn't it weird that their memories were so small and episodic now outside of their time in the warehouse.] No, I don't think I did, let's see... I've gotten four back now, none are really as exciting as Heiji's- [dry. dry. tone.] If you haven't heard those I'd ask him.

My first was of Clive, actually. He's a reporter and he came to the small town I lived in to write an article about a boy who died recently. Honestly most of the memory is rather blurred, but I know he ended up asking me questions and we got to talking. [He frowned, it was a very unclear memory which was irritating.] I don't know for sure but I got the impression he didn't need to take the time to talk to me, and we planned on speaking again. I think we may have become friends after that, but I suppose it's hard to say.

The second was of a fencing match in a tournament when I was in school- nothing all that exciting, though my father was in the stands so it was nice to remember his face. The third was when I went to visit the college I believe I must be going to or applying for, Gressenheller in London. I was looking at the archeology program, so I assume that's what I was interested in pursuing.

[Much excitement. His face drops a bit after he finishes though, as though he was surpressing a sigh.] The fourth was... frankly I'm not sure what to think of it. Heiji was amused but he's a bit of a madman, getting thrown of ships and such.

[It's okay Hershel, he's pretty sure no one's memories would quite match up to Heiji's - and he hasn't heard nearly as many as Hershel has.]

So you and Clive knew each other from before this? [Huh... He wonders if there's a reason they were both grabbed, in that case. The last part gets a slight brow raise, however.]

...Was it something bad? [He's only heard about the body falling on the cop car but even knowing that much can certainly lend itself to certain conclusions.]

[If he didn't soon maybe he could in gossiping, there's nothing like Storytime With Heiji Hattori. Hershel nodded to the question.]

Apparently, I thought it was a tad strange too, but at the very least we met that one time. [He frowned.] I doubt we all know each other, it's too strange of a group, but maybe some others do know one another.

[And he sighed.] Not bad, just... silly. Or stupid. In my fourth memory I was in some ruins with a friend, exploring I suppose. I got the impression I wasn't too keen on the whole adventure, but my friend certainly had enough enthusiasm for both of us. We were separated, I... might have dropped something into a pit with some very large spiders. [Venomous ones but he's not even going there this is too ridiculous.] I managed to retrieve it, despite being a foolish thing to attempt.

We have a few from Japan. I wonder if we used to know each other?

[Heiji, or Kuzuryuu, or... well, technically, he supposes he could have known Akiko. Wow that would be depressing.

The spiders don't sound too awful at least, but then again, large can mean different things to different people.] How large? They weren't venomous, were they?

[Don't even break my heart with knowing Akiko au, don't you do it. Hershel nodded.] It certainly is- you, Kuzuryuu and Heiji all seem about the same age too. I guess time will tell.

[He tried not to make a face.] They were, unfortunately, and just... very large. Honestly I think I might be misremembering, I'm fairly certain spiders shouldn't be that large.

Anyway, it wasn't a bad memory by any means, just a strange one. I suppose we both might get a new one after tonight, if we're lucky.

[Is that a challenge]

I don't think any of us are originally from the same place, but it's possible we might have run into each other at some point or another. [Since Heiji's clearly from Osaka and Sasuke is clearly... not. Then again, he doesn't really know Kuzuryuu enough to guess where the heck he's from, so that's still up in the air.]

...At least you made it out okay. Do you remember where you were exploring?

[It might be a little, I'm apparently a sucker for punishment.]

No, unless you're also an Osaka devotee. [Hershel sounded amused.] I suppose you and Kuzuryuu could have possibly lived closer by, I have no idea where exactly he's from though. Definitely not Osaka, I don't think.

Oh, I think the ruins were called Akbadain? I don't remember much about them besides what I saw, they were very impressive, I'll say that much. Also they seemed to be underground, or at least indoors with no windows. I wish I could remember more, even what civilization built them, but I suppose that's a memory for another time.

[Just for you Hal]

Akbadain... [That feels very unnatural on his tongue. He wonders where it must have been.] You weren't that interested in checking out the ruins? Or was it just because of the spiders?

Oh, well, from what I remember I thought the whole thing was far too dangerous, but the boy I was with convinced me for whatever reason. I won't say it wasn't fascinating, but really, going to some abandoned ruins alone...

[He shakes his head. Unacceptable, impolite behavior.] Unlike Heiji I don't think adventure is really my strong suit.

...Heiji is probably on his own level.

[Don't feel bad Hershel, he's pretty sure Heiji is to adventure like fish are to water.]

Going in by yourselves probably wasn't a good idea, though. Wouldn't that get you in trouble?

[It's true, he was a superstar, that one. Hershel smiled a bit sheepishly.]

I'm sure we did afterwards, I can't imagine getting away with it. Randall seemed to think it was worth the risk though. Whatever he was looking for must have been important.

[He glanced to the entrance, this room really wasn't so bad except. you know. arm. ] The memories are strange, aren't they? I used to worry we would change as we got them, maybe become someone we don't want to be. I'm not sure I'm still not concerned about that, but more and more it feels like they're just... filling in the blanks to who we are regardless.

[It's okay, he already chucked the arm somewhere long ago. No dead people body parts in here anymore.]

...Even though we can't remember who we are, that doesn't seem change our personalities at all. Heiji seems to remember a lot of strange events, but he still takes everything in stride.

[Horrifying life events included. Sasuke can only hope this continues to hold true for himself as well, particularly in light of. Well. Stabs.]

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CALHOUN HOUR - SURVIVOR

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but they're so amusing

apparently he had to be REALLY quiet okay

be quiet so all the robutts outside don't hear you...

where's good bots like akiko when you need them...

DEAD.

oh yeah.............. 8(

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