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

[not_that_sasuke]

[He falls silent for a moment right then. He hadn't expected Hershel to ask so directly, or at least not right away.]

...Deal? What did he tell you?

[puzzlinglad]

He said someone made some sort of sacrifice or payment so my punishment wouldn't be as severe. [Being blunt was kind of weird for him, but by god he'd give it a try. He doubted either of them had the energy for beating too much around the bush.]

This state you're in, you weren't so tired before all this. Something happened, didn't it?

[not_that_sasuke]

...

[He would be much more convincing if he could actually look Hershel in the eye. Instead, he opts to put a hand to his head wearily as an excuse not to.]

It's not that. I just had a hard time sleeping, that's all.

[puzzlinglad]

[The inability to look at him is a little suspicious, dude, but just how tired Sasuke looks makes his tone soften. He's pretty convinced at this point.]

Was it for Heiji? [Nailed it. Got it. 100% detective sleuth.] I'm not trying to make accusations or anything, I might wish you hadn't put yourself in this position if you did but- it was a kind thing to do. You're a good friend, I'm sure he appreciates it.

[not_that_sasuke]

I didn't make a deal for Heiji, either.

[Considering how he voted, calling him a kind friend is a bit of a stretch. Still, this line of questioning needs to stop.]

...It was a bad dream. That's all.

[So please stop asking.]

[puzzlinglad]

[Apparently his AcestarDetective skills need work. Way too lazy to add that symbol star, enjoy. Hershel regards him for a moment before letting out a soft sigh, but relenting.]

Alright, if you're sure. [He didn't sound sure but he wasn't built to push topics, doormat genes and all.] Oh, I just remembered, you got a memory back, didn't you?

[not_that_sasuke]

[He's not cool enough to get the star symbol. But wow Hershel, you really know how to pick the topics. He lowers his hand at least, but his gaze is still elsewhere.]

Yes, I did.

[puzzlinglad]

[He's just hitting homeruns everywhere. His face falls a bit, he was really hoping this memory would be a nice one but Sasuke didn't seem super thrilled. Maybe it was just his usually passive Sasuke face and not tragedy.]

Not a pleasant one then?

[not_that_sasuke]

[It's admittedly kind of difficult to tell with how expressionless he tends to be.]

...It's just a memory from when I was little. I got in trouble with my father.

[puzzlinglad]

Oh, did you disobey him? [Clearly it wasn't his father being a piece of shit.] Children will be children and all.

[not_that_sasuke]

Mm. I think I wanted to see the nearby town, so I left the house with Yuusuke.

[So it's perfectly reasonable that his father would be upset, yes.]

[puzzlinglad]

[I'm gonna punch Sasuke's dad.]

I see, must have gave him a bit of a fright. Do you remember him much better now? What's he like, if I may ask?

[not_that_sasuke]

Probably... I don't think it was the first time I did it.

[And this is why he kept getting locked in the friggin' storage room apparently.]

...He's stern.

[...Yep. That's it.]

[puzzlinglad]

So you and your brother enjoyed the occasional adventure, I take it? [He smiles a bit because CLEARLY Yuusuke is a good brother and this memory is just mild kids getting in trouble and nothing is wrong here. Nothing.]

[not_that_sasuke]

...Something like that. But I don't think Yuusuke wanted to go as badly as I did.

[Which is why he didn't get stuck in the storage room, too. Lucky him.]

[puzzlinglad]

[Little shit that he is.]

Why did you want to go so badly? Boredom, I assume?

[not_that_sasuke]

...I'm not sure. All I remember is wanting to go see it. Maybe it's because we were so isolated...?

[He never did seem to have firsthand experience with cities the way Heiji did.]

[puzzlinglad]

You lived far away from people? That must have been lonely for a kid. Good thing you had your brother at least.

[Ha. ha.]

[not_that_sasuke]

[On a scale of 1 to 10 how much will Hershel regret those words when he finds out?]

Probably...? If they caught me before I could make it to the town it had to be a ways, at least.

[puzzlinglad]

[10,000 probably.]

What was your home like? [And a pause.] Sorry, I'm probably prying a bit, aren't I?

[not_that_sasuke]

No, it's fine.

[He can avoid all of the messier details pretty easily anyway, so.]

It was... big, from what I remember. A traditional one... there was even a detached storage room, too.

[puzzlinglad]

[Surely a detached storage room used only for normal storage and nothing else.] Traditional, with those sliding doors and such? [Such Japanese knowledge. Wow.]

I admit, when I heard Tokyo I thought you'd be living in one of those skyscrapers.

[not_that_sasuke]

[Definitely, why would little kids be in there? This isn't Mushishi.]

Right. [Wow Hershel you are so worldly, he is very impressed.]

I'm probably from around the Kanto region, but I don't think I'm actually from Tokyo.

[puzzlinglad]

[Thank goodness it isn't, wouldn't want Sasuke to get caught in a world of endless darkness as is the norm there.]

Sounds more peaceful. [Yup, so worldly.] How many memories is that now for you? At least things are starting to come together.

[The sad story os Sasuke's rude family Hershel doesn't realize yet...]

[not_that_sasuke]

[Well, technically that's a thing in his world and definitely almost happened but hey good thing this is AU.]

Six now... I think...

[Ah, there's the sudden exhaustion. Not so much the weariness that plagues him all the time, but the sensation on being on the verge of falling asleep right then and there.

...

...

Yep, he's out. For a little while, at least.]