vivarium | a new arrival

T H E W A R E H O U S E

【 day 44 】

Hello newcomer, welcome to the 【 Warehouse 】.

Once you escape your elevator, you will find yourself here. It's strangely empty for a warehouse. Aside from the elevators you've come out of, there's nothing else here. In fact, the longer you look around, the stranger everything looks.

Every window has been bolted shut, with no way of removing the steel coverings. The only source of illumination comes from the florescent lights above. Along the walls are numerous amounts of surveillance cameras, watching every bit of movement and listening to the sounds of everyone and everything. Every door is locked up tight, with no clear way of opening them, and there's one giant door with a 9 painted on it. It's a rather strange place, and there seems to be a lot of people here, so go introduce yourselves?

For the "old-timers" and "newly-become-old-timers", come meet your new fellow test subject. Thankfully(?) enough, no one has disappeared for this "replacement" to appear. Lucky you, you can still be a sickeningly happy family without anyone leaving. Calhoun will just pretend to barf over here while you can have your free bath of the week.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Maybe we should try pulling him more into kendo practice to keep his mind off of things." Hershel mused. They'd all been pretty injury free for a while, that was good, kendo and such.

"True, though it's more I wonder if he'll ever use our memories so blatantly against us again." Boy he hoped Zero wouldn't pull a maybe go kill some 2.0, the ass. He paused a moment before shaking his head and standing. "Come on, you want to go to the couch, right? I'd like to check on them too, Clive's wound especially." Now that Heiji ate he GUESSES they can go cluck.

Hershel pretending he wasn't chomping at the bit to go worry over someone... but it wasn't like Heiji was about to complain or anything, since that's what he wanted as well. He left his tray on the table for Calhoun to pick up because suck it, Calhoun.

"Oh yeah, I never asked ya... what do you think of our new arrivals? You know, that new guy and you have the same last name. You don't think that's a coincidence, do you?"

He's a cool customer how dare you. Hershel paused to consider that, new people were always interesting if not depressing.

"Wirt seems like a good sort of chap, I'm worried though, he seems very young and probably shaken. I suppose that's to be expected, I just- it's hard to see younger people brought here again and again." He sighed. "I suppose we're younger people too, aren't we? What a mess."

Right, precious Alfendi. "I don't know, I think it's entirely possible we're related. We don't look much alike but we wouldn't, would we? If I was adopted into the Layton family and all that." He said with a shrug. "He's... unsettling. It seems like he isn't even vaguely bothered by what's happening, like he's empty. I'm worried about his health, to be honest." Of course he knew a few interesting things about Alfendi now but he promised not to say, and that was kind of hard because Heiji was Heiji and how was he supposed to keep this juicy shit from his gossip buddy? Pure self control apparently. Life's hard.

He regarded Heiji a moment before continuing. "I think we should keep an open mind about him, I suppose, while keeping an eye on him."

Well. To be quite honest, Alfendi was the one Heiji was the most interested in, and to hear Hershel expressly suggest not only keeping an open mind and keeping an eye on him... hmm.

"Why, you think he's sick?" Heiji looked thoughtful. "You're right about about him seemin' completely unconcerned, though. He also claimed that he'd been expecting what I told him about the game, what with the BP at all. Fishiest guy here, honestly."

Hershel frowned, how did he say all this without breaking his promise to Alfendi? Honestly he thought it'd be better for Heiji to know, Heiji was reasonable but Alfendi had no reason to trust him yet. He also kind of wanted to hear Heiji's thoughts on the matter, if he thought Alfendi was honestly suffering some strange problems with his brain or if it was some bizarre act.

Life, so tough. "He... I'm sorry I can't really explain it well, but he seems like he isn't all there. Honestly it's a gut feeling more than anything, that something's just off about him and I don't think it's because he's trying to hide something." He stayed quiet for a long moment before glancing over to Heiji again. "I think you should ask Kuzuryuu about it. He was in a room with Alfendi, he probably has a better idea."

And Kuzuryuu didn't make any promises, way to be an asshole, Hershel. Still, if Kuzuryuu thought Heiji should know Hershel trusted his judgment on the matter.

Ah. Right then, Hershel. Wink wink, say no more.

"Not all there, huh?" said Heiji, nodding to Hershel to signify that he understood. "I'll say. Guy went off on a tear about how pizza delivery was the greatest invention mankind's ever invented or somethin' because it meant ya barely had to deal with anyone. Oh, that and cafeterias."

Alfendi the friendless loser, staying at home and eating pizza...

What a subtle pair they are, they should be spies. Hershel couldn't help a smile. "Ah, yes, he's... strangely passionate about some things. I wonder if we're really related, it'd be a bit strange, wouldn't it? First Clive then Alfendi... then again, maybe Alfendi and Clive have also met. Maybe we were all together when Zero was out kidnapping us?"

He shrugged, shaking his head. "All baseless speculation. I wouldn't be surprised if his last name was similar just to give us pause." Zero sucked.

"Maybe," said Heiji. "Kind of funny how many people in here seem to be related to you, innit? Maybe you were traveling together."

Though honestly, he wasn't sure how often Alfendi left his house. "...Or Clive coulda come over to follow up on a story or pay a visit or somethin', I guess. Alfendi said he ain't think Layton was that common a name, for what it's worth."

"It's rather strange... though maybe it's more being related to one of them, assuming the know each other- or assuming Alfendi and I are related." Maybe Zero just loves Layton, maybe it's that.

"What do you think Alfendi did for a living? He has the labcoat like Ema, maybe he's a scientist too? Or a doctor?" Did doctors really stay inside all day and eat pizza??

"Consulting detective?" Heiji suggested dryly. "He's got the arrogance, lack of social skills, doesn't like explainin' himself, and he'd stay in his house and grow mushrooms if given half a chance. All he needs is a sidekick who was injured in Afghanistan."

Assuming Alfendi wasn't a shady jailbird uncle or something, who knew. "He could be a professor, maybe. One that mostly does research."

"That does seem like it would suit him... I wonder what his area of expertise would be then." Hershel mused, trying to think if Alfendi had ever shown knowledge in something in particular besides colorful insults.

"Do you think he'll continue allying? I'm glad he and Kuzuryuu managed to come to an understanding, he must at least be somewhat reasonable." Haha.

"Well, I figure you'd have some insight into that. But if he wants to get to get to 9 BP, I think it'd be better for him to cooperate for now."

Heiji looked thoughtful. "Y'know, I ain't so sure about that. I mean, I don't know about Enjolras, but Snake's a real reasonable guy. But Kuzuryuu still told both of 'em he was gonna vote Betray on 'em. When he was in a group with Piper and me, he said he woulda voted Betray if I'd tried to force one of them traps."

"I think Enjolras was really who Kuzuryuu couldn't trust, especially after he heard what happened in the theatre." Hershel sighed. "Mr. Enjolras wasn't really someone who tried to make friends either, he could be rather disagreeable..."

"Maybe he was more willing to pick ally with Alfendi because Alfendi only had three BP and Kuzuryuu had picked betray the last two rounds. I wouldn't be all that surprised if he was worried about his reputation, regardless of the circumstances surrounding those two rounds." No good being the betray forever guy. "Still, he did risk food access for this. That must mean something."

"Maybe," said Heiji. "But if he was that worried about his reputation, he'd probably rein in his tongue a little. Well, I guess the best way to find out is to ask him ourselves."

Once they reached the sofa where Snake and Clive were laid out, Heiji leaned over and rested one elbow on the sofa arm. "Wonder how long they're gonna stay like this."

a new arrival

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