CALHOUN HOUR - CHOICE

[vivariummods]

It has been two and a half days since the end of the virus takeover. The power, lights, and heating has been turned back on. All the newer areas have been sealed, BP is once again required in certain rooms, and it appears that everything is returning back to normal. Asides from Calhoun. Whether characters have chosen to give pieces of Calhoun to Zero, to hold onto them, or to destroy them, it does not matter. There has been no indications as to when he would ever be back, so there has been a robotic mouse void within the warehouse. Zero has refused to leave any information as to the status of rebuilding Calhoun, but they have left this one message for everyone shortly after the power restoration: "While you may be left alone to your devices, do not trick yourselves into thinking that there is a way out of here, or that you can do as you please. I will always be watching." It has been two days since Zero has left these parting words before entirely disappearing. When attempting to call for them, everyone will only be responded with silence. It's clear that they're still watching over the facility though, as any kind of rule breaking or suspicious activities would automatically be rewarded with an injection of Soporil β. True to their word, Zero is somehow monitoring the behaviors without saying a single word. It is not until the morning of Day 72 does everyone hear again from them again, through the speakers throughout the warehouse. "Good morning, Subjects. Today, you will be partaking in another experiment of mine. It has come to my knowledge that my assistant has been throwing these so-called "Calhoun Hours" every three days to keep everyone stimulated between his rooms. Don't assume that I will do anything similar of the sort. This activity has far more care and thought put into it than this camping nonsense, so let us begin." "The rules are simple: every test subject will be paired up and placed against each other. The collective will then have to vote for one of the pair. The one with the fewest amount of votes will be subjective to a punishment of my choice. The one with the most amount of votes will continue their dull experimental lives until the next set of events." "Any petty attempts of rebellion will be met with serious repercussions, so I would suggest that you rethink any sort of plans." "Now, best of luck, Subjects. We will talk again soon." BASIC INFO ✖ MINGLE ✖ VOTES ✖ RESULTS

Comments

Re: RESULTS

[detectiveofthewest]

A: I'm going to refrain from making electricity puns
Heiji was looking none too pleased about the prospect of 'punishment', but at least no one was going to electrocute Alfendi or break Clive's arm or anything, so that was good.

"So? What's this p--" An intense shock of pain, originating from his bracelet.

Heiji had never been electrocuted before (that he remembered...?), but he recognized the symptoms at once. He doubled over, grabbing instinctively at his wrist, but of course there was no way he could take the bracelet off. "...!"

B: After figuring out the punishment
After figuring out what his punishment was, Heiji was going to search for a few of the others. His fellow losers, for one thing, to figure out what their punishments were. And of course he needed to track down whoever had lessened his punishment.

C: KIND OF TAKING THIS PERSONALLY, TBH
Later that evening and after a few zaps as punishment, Heiji was sitting out in the garden, maybe watching the water or lodged up in the branches of a tree. He looked distinctly unhappy, with his knees drawn up close to his chest. His was resting his chin on top of his arms.

He probably should have been counting his blessings that he hadn't gotten stabbed, but Heiji seemed to be taking this punishment personally...

B

[puzzlinglad]

Since Hershel found himself busy with Jake first he'd come and find Heiji a little while after. The lack of an obvious injury was nice, though it didn't really mean anything other than Zero was being less blunt with whatever he was doing. Enjoy this rampant concern as he came over.

"Heiji, there you are. Are you alright?" He sighed. "Stupid question, probably, but what did he try to do to you?"

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji gave Hershel a long-suffering look and touched his throat. Then he brought up both forearms and made an 'X' with them.

Can't talk, bro.

[puzzlinglad]

Hershel stared a moment, not really expecting that. Charades again, was it? Hm. "Did he hurt your throat somehow?"

And he sighed, rubbing his temple. Zero was the worst. "Here, follow me, I have a plan." He said before moving to find the stupid Calhoun ask box and it's paper for 'suggestions.' He grabbed some, rifling through his bag a moment before pulling out his book, so Heiji would have something to put the paper on to write against, and one of the pencils from Bluebell's room. He held them out to Heiji.

"Here, I don't know how long that pencil will last but at least it's something, right?" Heiji not being able to talk seemed... wrong somehow. Where were the words words words? How would they properly gossip??

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji shook his head, and pointed to the face on his bracelet. Hmm, how mysterious. He did take the extra paper, but he pulled a pen out of his pocket and pointedly clicked it at Hershel. Pencils, ha! He didn't need no stinking Calhoun pencils, he had a pen and somehow that was better idk.

What was your punishment? he wrote.

[puzzlinglad]

Hershel frowned, trying to figure that little charades out. After a moment his brow raised. "The bracelet's stopping you from talking? Did he threaten you with it if you did?" Close-ish, he's getting there.

What, Calhoun's pencil isn't good enough for you man, how rude. He put the pencil down with a pointed sort of look. "I'll leave it here in case you run out of ink- and as far as I can tell not a thing. He told me my punishment was lessened by someone then let me out, I'm going barmy trying to figure out what exactly he's playing at here."

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji nodded; close enough for government work, bro. Electrical shock.

He reached out to touch Hershel's forehead, but that wasn't really much help. Still get into the cafeteria?

[puzzlinglad]

Hershel made a face at that. "Blimey, that's a bit overkill, isn't it? Are you alright? I assume you learned the hard way."

And his temperature is fine, just a healthy British lad over here. He glanced at his bracelet again, still at 9 BP, and shrugs helplessly. "Unless my bracelet is lying, I suppose I should go check to make sure. Would you like to come?" Plenty of delicious gruel to go around.

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji smiled a little ruefully. Boy, it was weird, not hearing him talk at all...

But in any case, he took a few steps toward the cafeteria and then paused, looking over his shoulder at Hershel. Of course he'd like to come, apparently being electrocuted made you hungry.

Who lessened your punishment?

[puzzlinglad]

It was extremely weird. "This is bloody bizarre." Apparently Hershel agreed as he followed. The silence was kind of unnerving. "Do you know how long this will be?"

He shook his head. "I can see any of the three doing it, really. I think Ema's the most likely, if she didn't do it for Jake. I don't know if his was lessened or not though." It sure didn't look like it had, that shit sucked.

When they reach the cafeteria he took a breath and tried walking in, glancing at his bracelet and... nothing. No big drama, no skull, no explosions. He turned to Heiji and shrugged, almost disappointed. At this point he just wanted to know. "Oh well, might as well get something to eat while we're here."

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji nodded and got a tray for himself, sitting down at one of the tables. His mouth opened like he was about to say something before he caught himself, looking frustrated.

Worried about the others, he wrote. Clive and Sasuke and Snake and even that loser Jake I guess.

[puzzlinglad]

Who's Jake. "Me too." Hershel answered, sitting down with his own tray. His nerves didn't make for much of an appetite but you sort of learned to have an appetite with this cuisine. "I haven't seen many people yet, besides Jake. He was hit pretty hard, looks like something similar to pepperspray or the like. I don't think it will clear out of his eyes for a while."

"Then there's the people who did this 'lessening' business, I don't know what to expect from that." He mixed his gruel around, staring down into it's lumpy depths. "I suppose it wasn't as bad as it could have been, all things considered, but still... after those rooms and all that nonsense with Calhoun a break would have been nice."

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji nodded; he'd seen how Jake looked earlier. Heiji listened to Hershel speak for a little while, slowly looking more and more unhappy. His shoulders tensed visibly until he struck the surface of the table with the bottom of one fist.

It was one thing to go after him and tear gas Jake. What he was most unhappy about, though, was seeing Snake like that -- pale with pain, unable to properly use his remaining arm while Heiji couldn't even speak to him and reassure him.

And who knew what was going to happen to Hershel?

C

[blind_badass]

*Much later, as Snake's had time to move about and figure out everyone else's punishments, he wandered back to the garden to find Heiji. While it was quite unfortunate that Heiji couldn't talk (Snake thought Heiji had a pleasant speaking voice), it didn't mean they couldn't communicate.*

Heiji, are you around? I think I might have come up with a solution to our temporary problem.

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji looked up at the sound of Snake's voice. He reached out and rapped once on the wooden walkway.

He was happy to see Snake, even if it was upsetting not to be able to talk to him.

[blind_badass]

Oh there you are. *Using his left arm for balance, Snake sat down carefully next to him.*

I know it's not much but let me know what you think of this plan. Obviously you can't tell me anything in detail, but you can tell me simple answers. *He canted his head toward Heiji.* How about this? If I ask you something, you can touch a finger to my cheek in response. One for "yes", two for "no" and three for "I'm not sure" and possibly four for "you're being a moron, Snake." What do you think, hmm?

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji blinked for a second in surprise, then laughed. It was a warm sound, the first time he'd laughed since this nonsense with the punishments had first started. And from it, Snake could probably tell that his voice was still usable, even if he wasn't allowed to talk.

He leaned over and tapped Snake's cheek just once. It turned into Heiji tracing the line of Snake's jaw in a clear gesture of affection.

[blind_badass]

*Oh, a nice side benefit to their temporary form of communication. Snake leaned into the touch.*

Good, I'm glad you think my plan is satisfactory. Now then. Have you seen Clive anywhere? He's become more silent than Sasuke. *Did he abandon his chair somewhere?*

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji tapped Snake's cheek once more. Then he covered Snake's ears for some reason. Hmm...

As if deciding that perhaps this was a bit obscure, Heiji took out a piece of paper and began carefully pushing a series of braille letters into it.

Deafened, it read. As for where Clive was at the moment, he wasn't sure himself.

[blind_badass]

*Snake read the note quickly because braille in regular paper didn't last forever.* He lost his hearing? Oh wonderful. Hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil and apparently touch no evil. Bravo, Zero. *The sarcasm is quite evident in his voice.*

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji sighed. No kidding; the theme hadn't escaped him, either.

He took two fingers and walked them over Snake's shoulder, then quickly swept them away. He didn't know where Clive was now, in other words, even though he'd run into him before.

[blind_badass]

So you don't know where he is now. Hmmm. He might be laying low somewhere since he can't hear. *What else could he talk with Heiji about?* Do you want me to stay here with you until I get tired enough to sleep?

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji tapped once for yes, then carefully set to creating another short message in Braille.

Can take off your arm at night.

Surely it had to be a pain, trying to navigate the straps and such with one recently dislocated arm. Heiji would gladly help Snake with that.

[blind_badass]

That would be nice. *After finding out his arm would occasionally refuse to work, clearly he needed to rest it. He didn't want to tell Heiji that as his boyfriend had bigger problems at the moment.*

I miss having a ready supply of aspirin. Don't you?

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji smiled against Snake's collarbone; the slight upward curve of his lips was distinguishable against Snake's bare skin. He touched this tips of his fingers to Snake's lips, then audibly tapped himself on the chest with one hand.

Was he asking Snake to talk to him or kiss him? Hmm....