vivarium | open post etc

Entry tags:

open post etc

[In the time before the puzzle room goes up and after the happy friendship party that was the last Calhoun (Zero?) Hour feel free to use this post for whatever you want. Top levels, threads with dudes, whatever, live life freely.]

[If you're interested in harassing Hershel here's what he'll be doing:

a) Asking people if they want laundry done. Not unmentionables, he's not some sort of cad here, but he's got shit all to do, can't sleep and might as well do something useful, right? Right. Feel free to find him near the stream, trying not to nod off since getting shocked in the water probably wasn't the best idea in the world. Possibly. Or trying to mend tears or something and making a mess of it. He'll never be a proper old maid at this rate.

b) Trying to play videogames maybe? And by 'play' I mean 'make faces at as they get steadily worse.' He might try a movie or two in the vain hope something will be manageable to watch but yeah. Yeah. Basically any late night lounge activity, assuming no one's already asleep in there, have at.

c) These are hard to think of, I guess trying to fencing practice in the gym with his shiny new foil, curtesy of Mr. Sasuke Sagami. Try not to get accidentally jabbed by a giant needle with a blunt bit on the end, it probably sucks.

Or whatever, do whatever you'd like. He'll basically be wandering around aimlessly mostly anyway, being completely useless to everyone because he's tired.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

If you're worried about ruining the experience by falling asleep don't be. The games will do that all on their own. [Just. Sit back and enjoy.

The first game he pops in is basically going to be the shittiest version ever of creepy watson so enjoy this upcoming amazing puzzle solver. Hershel holds out one of the controllers to Sasuke, as if condemning him to his fate.]

[He slowly takes the controller, taking a moment to figure out how it's supposed to work. The joystick at least seems pretty straightforwards; push left and the character should go...

...right???

Are reversed directional controls supposed to be a feature or a glitch??

At any rate his very first video game achievement is running straight into a wall, amazing.]

[It could be worse, he could be going up instead of left or something completely out of control. Truly this game was already a gem of the collection.

Hershel tries not to chuckle at Sasuke's misfortune over there, especially since his own character was floating one inch off the ground and had the walking animation of a toy soldier off beat. The dialogue is in a font that's nearly impossible to read, and Hershel's brow furrows as he tries to piece together this great mystery.]

I think... we need to figure out where these panels go. [He attempts walking towards what looks like one of those picture panel puzzles that form some complete image when you slide them around. The man who gave them the puzzle stands beside it, watching them with cold, soulless eyes.] Want to give it a try? [Is this generous or is he throwing Sasuke under the bus? We just don't know.]

[Hershel he's already struggling to just walk over there how do you expect he'll be able to get to the puzzle in the first place.

It takes a bit to maneuver his character over, but eventually the puzzle pops up on the screen. Okay, this... can't be too hard, he just needs to remember the controls are reversed, so let's slide this tile to the right--

Naturally, it goes left instead. Okay.]

...At least the controls for this part make more sense.

[He has infinite faith in your bad videogame abilities, Sasuke. Infinite.

Look at him go. The picture is probably some pixellated bad jpg famous painting so enjoy that coming together. Hershel watches all this curiously, as if expecting the game to just die on them, or maybe blow up.]

What do you think the plot is? I can't quite tell.

Is there supposed to be a plot?

[He's just focusing on the picture right now, man.

Also he might have screwed it up already. Hrm.]

I imagine most games would have one, wouldn't they? [He asks, stifling a yawn. It's not you or the game, Sasuke, it's the bullshit that is their lives.

Also maybe, and the guy watching them was starting to glitch out, like his eyes slowly sinking back into his head, so surely that won't distract you at all.]

[...Creepy. He just doubles his efforts to get the puzzle done.]

...Do they usually? [He supposes it'd make sense...]

I think so. I actually remember playing a game in one of my memories- some horror nonsense, very Lovecraft if I remember. [He watches as the colors on the screen go a bit wonky before going back.]

Of course the quality of this one isn't nearly up to par. [Stifling another yawn, good this sleep bullshit.] At least this one hasn't crashed yet.

[The color shifting doesn't really deter him at least. Finally, he's pretty much got it solved. Just move these tiles, and then--

Done.

There's a brief buzz as the sound dies for a second, but it all quickly returns to the normal flavor of creepy weird. Whatever significance that puzzle had on the story is unfortunately lost in the completely incomprehensible text font choice.]

I didn't think you'd be into horror games.

I can't tell if this is even in English- or whatever nonsense language we apparently know now. [The mysteries of rp mechanics. He sounds amused when he continues.]

I don't think I am- it was Halloween and my friend Randall insisted on trying to frighten ourselves. I suspect I made him compromise on a game rather than going off and doing something foolish.

[Oh, this seems like a good topic. He'll try to keep it going as he begins walking around the rest of the area, occasionally forgetting again that yes, reversed directions, that's a thing.]

Randall... do you remember much about him?

A fair bit, I've had a few memories with him in them. He's one of my friends back home, he's... a handful, I suppose is one way to put it. Very strongwilled, used to getting his way, lots of energy- bit of a pighead, really. [Despite this glowing review he sounds pretty fond when he says it.]

I'm worried about the sort of trouble he's getting into as we speak. [This time he does yawn rather than stifling it, how rude. It must be the majesty of this game just being as obtuse as possible.] Though I suspect everyone we know is worrying the same about us.

...So he gets into trouble a lot?

[Maybe it isn't so surprising Hershel is close to Heiji after all. And... no comment on that last part.]

[There are similarities. And Hershel laughs quietly, leaning back into the couch a bit, unaware this would ultimately lead to them both getting shocked, the fool.]

Yes. One of the memories I got back some time ago was Randall making us galavant through some ruins and I almost fell into a spiderpit. Now that I think of it he reminds me a bit of Heiji, someone who always has something happening around them.

[Definitely starting to nod off, at least he makes a valiant effort to stare pointedly at the screen.]

[It probably doesn't help that Sasuke's just sort of wandering around lost, where is he even supposed to go next here...]

Maybe you just naturally get along with energetic types like that.

Maybe, I think Heiji gets along with everyone though. [Social butterfly Heiji Hattori, really.

And Hershel keeps watching the screen, finding his eyes starting to droop. At this point he should really be slapping himself or something, but he's a little too tired and comfortable right now to process that yes, this was about to suck. When his eyes do close he slumps over a little, shoulder and arm bumping against Sasuke.

That's when his bracelet decides to be a brat, coming to life with a painful zap. He yelps, the undignified gentleman that he is, almost falling off the couch as he started. Of course the arm that was touching Sasuke was the one with the bracelet, so enjoy a very painful zap yourself, buddy.]

[Ow.

He flinches, but doesn't make a sound otherwise, curling inward slightly as he takes a moment to cope with the pain. He manages to shake off the worst of it with surprising speed, turning to look over to Hershel with concern. That had to be...]

Are you alright?

[That icon is depressing. It takes Hershel a moment, he's clearly pretty disoriented and trying to piece together what just happened through the fog of being part of Team Exhausted Doormats over here. It takes him a moment too long to answer as he grasps at his arm.]

Fine, I- [And that's when it clicks that Sasuke had looked kind of in pain too a moment ago, hadn't he? His expression flashes with guilt.] Did that- I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking, I shouldn't have sat so close.

[Are you going to be ok Hal]

It's okay. [He's still a bit jittery after that, but he's doing a good job of keeping himself steady.] Maybe we should do something else...?

[I'm never okay because of sad ninjas, Dani.]

Maybe... [He's so sorry for ruining this ABSOLUTELY FUN game. He sighs softly.] Are you sure you don't want to try sleeping? Maybe it'll take.

[I am so glad to have ruined your life with sad characters]

Trying to sleep doesn't really help. [Nor does the sleep itself, to be perfectly honest.] I might as well stay up with you as long as I can.

[Does he feel bad that Hershel's still got a pretty crappy punishment? Yeah...]

[Let's not even go into sad robot characters, my heart can't take it.]

You don't have to. [He offers a smile anyway though, releasing his wrist. God damn bracelets man.] I appreciate it regardless, though.

[And he pauses.] Have I ever shown you the mint plant Heiji found? [A walk to the garden was always good, probably.]

[Emotional suppression coding.]

Mint...? Where did he find it?

[They... had stuff like that in here...?]

[I'm going to punch Akiko's owner in his smug face coding you mean.]

It was in that room with Bluebell, I think I remember passing it but we were a little preoccupied at the time. I suppose Heiji had a better time of it, he'd always been good at that sort of nonsense.

open post etc

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)