vivarium | ambidex voting #13

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ambidex voting #13

A M B I D E X V O T I N G

Another round, maybe this one will end better? Less blood and gore even? No? Well, here are the conditions regardless.:

For anyone who chooses Ally, well, if your opponent chooses Ally as well, then 2BP for each of you and blah blah blah, predictable. Bore him to tears why don't you.

For anyone who chooses Betray, and gets a Betray in return, everyone's BP stays the same and one of you gets fifty coins! That'd be fun, right? A cheeky little gamble. The rest get a pat on the back and that warm feeling of a vote well voted.

Last but certainly not least: for anyone who chooses Betray and their opponent chooses Ally, same deal as last time, two whole memories! Eh, eh? Come on, that's a pretty good deal, right? Take the offer! And the ally person well, they get the usual.

So, happy voting! Calhoun will see all of you later with the results.

BASIC INFO ✖ VOTES + FORMS ✖ RESULTS + REACTIONS

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

*Oh, it must have been a bad time then.* All right. *He put his arm around Heiji's waist.* You lead, I'll follow.

Heiji would find a quiet spot in the lounge where they could chat a bit and not worry too much about being overheard. For what it was worth, he didn't sound or seem injured physically.

He sat down on the sofa, pulling Snake along with him. "So... you guys went through basically the same things we did, right? What happened?"

Yes. They gave us...those things. Clive's was particularly horrible so mine really wasn't that bad in comparison. *Clive's fear was beyond cruel to inflict on him.*

Edited 2015-01-23 01:11 (UTC)

"Not that bad... but you still looked pretty out of it when you got out of there. I wanna know what happened -- what did Calhoun do to you guys? What did he do to you?"

Just... give Heiji a moment to dish on what he'd gone through.

It's...kind of silly I guess. Clive told me he understood why I'd get upset but... *Snake wrapped his arms around Heiji's waist for comfort.*

Calhoun said I had to give up my arm permanently.

Edited 2015-01-23 02:26 (UTC)

"That...!" Heiji cut himself off, but his voice sounded clearly furious. When he reached up to brush Snake's hair back from his face, however, the gesture was quite gentle. As was the arm around Snake's shoulder.

"That rat. I'm sorry. He really knows how to pick a sore spot, huh?"

Of course he does. It's what he does best. *Somehow, having Heiji there, agreeing with his sentiments made everything seem better.* I refused initially but then I thought about it. Not obeying would be like breaking the rules and we know what happens. *He sighed.* If I kept my arm to try to make some point and I died, what would the purpose have been? What would that have done to you? So I gave it up. *And it was a bit frightening at first but really, he could manage if needed. As Clive said, he'd have people to help him. And it wasn't like Heiji was going to get rid of him. Heiji already loved him.*

I got it back but it could still happen. *Snake's voice hardened.* So I think I'm tired of being afraid.

Heiji leaned in and touched his forehead to Snake's. "Yeah. I don't think I really know what it's like, bein' afraid all the time. But... I think I've seen what happens to people who are. Not just in here, but back on the outside. It's awful. It turns people against each other and twists them into something they're not.

"So don't let it eat you up inside, okay? I'll be around to make sure that doesn't happen."

Heiji...

*He was absolutely right. How had Snake let this business with the presumably toxic opinions of an ex affect him so much? True, the experience was most likely horrible but he was still himself. He couldn't change his opinions on people. If something did happen to his arm, it would be difficult but he'd manage well. The arm could certainly be replaced, if not right away. He had to stop letting other people dictate how he should view himself. He could start right now.*

Have I ever told you that you are a truly wonderful boyfriend?

"Wha -- " If Heiji's voice was any indication, it was apparently Snake's turn to take Heiji by surprise. "Where'd that come from?"

Surprised, yes, but he also sounded rather pleased. And maybe a little embarrassed. "I... thanks."

Ugh, okay, before he devolved into moe garbage here, Heiji was going to press on. "A-anyway, I guess I should tell ya about what happened in our room."

Well, Heiji, I believe I had a thought, decided to speak it and there we are. *He smiled.*

Yes, what happened in your room? Was it bad?

Snake, you really could be sweet sometimes...

Heiji looked away. "You could say that. Calhoun said somethin' about me bein' a thorn in his side, and then the face of my bracelet turned into this skull pattern. It started ticking down. Three minute timer."

"...Anyway, I guess it's pretty obvious what I thought. Before the room, Sasuke told me and Hershel this story about a room he ran into during the maze. He and Jake stumbled into a hallway, and their bracelets did the same thing. They had to make a dash for the exit. The walls had bloodstains on 'em, the same way the cafeteria did when Akiko died."

*He tried, really, he did.*

*Snake listened to Heiji's story and squeezed him around his waist.* So he made you think that you were about to die?

*He frowned at the rest of the description.* They found a room where the same thing happened? I don't remember finding that room at all.

Edited 2015-01-24 02:02 (UTC)

"Yeah. I didn't run into that one, either. But... by that time, Alfendi was already tied up. I told Hershel to stay with him and hauled myself over to the other side of the room. I knew it might've been a bluff, but I couldn't take that chance. I remember feeling scared, but... not panicked.

"Alfendi was yelling at me not to give up and to try and saw the bracelet off, but I knew there was no way it was gonna happen in three minutes. I just didn't want to give 'em the satisfaction of seeing me try." Which was honestly kind of weird in itself, an eighteen year old keeping that cool while faced with the threat of death.

"I guess I was mostly thinkin' about what would happen to you guys. Especially you."

I think...I think if you died, Heiji, a little part of me would too. At the same time, I would do my best to keep surviving in this place. *Trying to imagine Heiji not around anymore was a frightening thought. He touched his forehead against Heiji's, a familiar action that had kind of sprung up between the two of them.*

Heiji wasn't sure whether to feel happy or upset by that. "That's good... I think? I wouldn't want ya to give up or anything. ...But I'm not goin' anywhere, so you don't have to worry."

He pulled out the charm that he'd gotten from the room: a small cloth bag attached to a cord. "...Anyway, this is what I got for 'participating'. It's a good luck charm. I know it's mine, but I don't remember who made it for me. There's a little chain link inside."

Edited 2015-01-25 04:42 (UTC)

May I touch it? *Since it would involve getting fingerprints all over your stuff, Heiji.*

In exchange you can examine this. *Snake reached into an inner pocket of his jacket and offered a bookmark, but one that appeared to be laminated by hand and pressed with a genuine four leaf clover.*

"Sure." Heiji took the charm from around his neck and pressed it into Snake's hand, trading it for the bookmark.

"You think your sister gave this to you?"

Or it was something that I made for her. *Snake touched the cloth bag and the cord, even touching the tiny link inside the bag.* I wonder what significance the link has. And...*Snake touched the outside of the bag, feeling a tiny square strip.*...why does this feel different?

"I don't know, but I'm pretty sure it's from a set of police handcuffs. Weird, ain't it?" He touched Snake's fingers with his own.

"Oh, there's a little label stitched onto the front. It says 'omamori' in Japanese. That's what these things are called. They have different types, like for wishing for good grades or to protect your family. But I think this one's just for general good luck. Protect you from accidents and danger, that kinda thing. Anyway, I guess it don't matter that much. Stuff like that's just superstition."

Still, any little thing that helps to survive here... *He ran a quick thumb over Heiji's knuckles before handing over the charm and taking his bookmark.*

Can I ask you something? Is there something wrong with Hershel?

"You mean aside from not bein' able to eat for about a week?" Stupid Hershel, you needed to stop worrying Heiji.

"He's probably got a lot on his mind. I think it really bothers him when Alfendi goes into that weird state of his. Plus, because he couldn't solve that puzzle in time, Alfendi and I got hit with a penalty. And he's worryin' about everyone else in the warehouse, as usual..."

So basically there could be many, many things worrying at Hershel.

*Wait, woah, woah, STOP. In a few simple sentences, Heiji gave him a whole lot of information Snake had no idea about. If he looked surprised, that was probably why.*

Why wouldn't Hershel be able to eat? And a weird state in Alfendi? And a penalty? What are you talking about, Heiji?

"Oh. Right." Heiji ran his fingers through his hair with a sigh, then shifted a bit on the couch so he could lean up against Snake.

"This might take a little while to explain. So... whatcha might not know about Alfendi is that he seems to have two personalities. One is that blank, polite one he showed up with. The other one is... well, he's like a really excitable terrier, maybe? A loud one. Lately we've seen mostly the second one, and I think that's the one Hershel likes better."

Let me guess. Is the excitable personality the one that told you all about second base? *Because hoo boy, that was fun trying to really explain that to Heiji.*

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