vivarium | CALHOUN HOUR

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CALHOUN HOUR - BINGO II

Early in the morning of Day 84, an announcement booms from the warehouse speakers:

"All test subjects report to the first floor lobby immediately for your next experiment."

Zero's unmistakable garbled voice goes silent afterwards. Once everyone gathers downstairs, they'll be treated to an unexpected sight: Zero standing in front of them in the flesh. Standing tall (at 5'4"...), they're donned in the same piece of clothing everyone remembers them in: a black raincoat (large and long enough that it covers their entire body, leaving no distinguishable features), a full facial gas mask, and matching black gloves. It seems as if Zero really dislikes showing skin...

"Today, you will be participating in a game of, what you may call, 'Bingo'. I believe most of you have participated in this before. The rules and explanations are on the back of the cards." An arm is raised to motion towards the paper cards scattered on the nearby table, then it falls again.

"Due to some... unfortunate events, I will monitor you in person. However, do not underestimate what will happen to you should you decide to cheat, escape, attack, or do anything that will break my rules. Your bracelets are still very functional and my cameras will continue to record every move you take, so I suggest that you refrain from doing anything foolish."

"Now begin."

BASIC INFO ✖ LET'S PLAY BINGO ✖ TURN-IN ✖ POST-EVENT

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"Well, really... mad? I was angry at those guys, and I was mad 'cause Kazuha oughtta been able to figure out they were up to no good..." Heiji was turning faintly red by this point.

"I don't know if we were, um... dating or not. But!" he was quick to add, "It coulda just been a slip-up. I mean, in Japanese, it's only one syllable off from callin' the guy a jerk instead."

"I see..." Hershel answered thoughtfully, hand going to his chin. Knowing how tsun Heiji was who knew, the possibilities were endless. "It was a tense situation, it'd be fairly easy to slip up."

He regarded Heiji curiously. "What will you do if you were dating? It's... a complicated situation, that's for certain." He paused. "You don't have to answer, of course."

"Either way, I guess it don't really change anything. I'd just have to apologize to her when I got out." After all, he certainly couldn't just toss Snake aside.

"Why, what would you do?"

Hershel nodded, he expected as much. Heiji didn't seem like the type to change everything over the possibility of something like this.

"I was just wondering if it'd change anything for you, I suppose." Huh, what would he do. He ended up shrugging. "I have no idea, really. I don't think we're exactly the same people since we don't have our memories, but when we get them all back... It's complicated, isn't it?" And a pause. "Have you told Snake about all this?" Probably, if he was telling Hershel.

"'Course I told him," said Heiji. SHAME ON YOU, HERSHEL LAYTON. "What do I look like, some kinda cad?"

"Anyhow, I been thinkin' about it, and I don't think it's all as complicated as that. It don't matter how many memories ya get back, you're still gonna be Hershel. Maybe at the end of this, you'll be even more Hershel than ya were before."

Hey, he figured!! He was just making sure... "Of course not- I was just curious about what he felt. Snake's a logical bloke and all."

"Maybe..." He hesitated before shaking his head. "Whatever the case you're definitely always you, Heiji, you always seem to know what you should do- even if sometimes it's mental things like chasing after drug dealers."

"Oh... well, he was all logical about it, as usual."

He frowned a little, looking at Hershel. "Well, I can kinda see what you're sayin', but... does that mean you don't know what to do? 'Cause confused or not, I think you're doing pretty well."

Hershel smiled. "That's Snake alright. I wonder if Zero gave that memory to try to stir things up between you." Sounds like what that asshole would do.

And he looked a little amused as he answered. "Not the way you do, or others here, but I think I'm getting by. Oh, I think I might have interrupted you, I'm sorry. Was there any more in your memory?"

He waved a hand. "Nah, nothin' really. Like I said, I rushed a bunch of those guys and I don't remember anything after that. It was broad daylight, so I don't think it woulda turned out too bad."

"Still, it ain't exactly the same as you guys got. So maybe you're right..."

"I certainly hope it didn't." Then again Heiji seemed to get shot sometimes. "You live a strange and dangerous life, Heiji."

He shrugged. "Given what I've heard and seen of that room I imagine it must be, Zero clearly enjoys shaking everyone up in any way he can. I'm glad a lot of people seemed to have recovered well enough from it at least." Like the repression squad, doing so great.

Heiji laughed. "Yeah, I guess. You forgot 'exciting', though!" Heh heh heh. Yes. Exciting.

"That reminds me, I should ask Snake what his was. Didn't seem like it affected him all that much, though. And I'm sure he woulda said something if it was major..."

"How could I forget exciting..." A little dry there. Well, it was exciting, let's be real.

He looked a little surprised. "He didn't tell you? I know Jake didn't seem all that shaken by it, but Jake's probably one of the more unflappable people here, so it's not really much of an indicator. I'm sure if it was really bad he would say something to you, Snake that is."

Heiji shook his head. "Nah. I'm sure he would if I asked, but... I kinda got distracted. I can tell if something's bothering him, though. So yeah, it probably wasn't that bad."

Yes, distracted by... things. "Hey Hershel? Are you interested in guys?"

"You should ask him next time you see him, then." Hershel said with a smile. "It'll probably be good for him to have someone to talk it over with, even if it isn't that bad. Getting a secondhand memory is rather strange."

Heiji. Hershel looked confused a moment before he realized what Heiji was asking and, shockingly, he turned a little red. "I- I don't know? Honestly I never thought about it much." Who has time for romance when you're British?? Or something. "I um, I suppose if they were someone I could fall in love with then yes. Why do you ask?"

"Well... I never thought about it, either. I just figured I liked girls, and that was it." That's how they got you, man. That's how they got you.

"But how would ya know if you liked them or if ya like liked them?" He turned to Hershel, clearly he had all the answers here, clearly he was some kind of British Dr. Love.

Apparently. Hershel just looked completely bamboozled, why was anyone asking him about this he's literally the worst person in the world for this sort of advice. He struggled for a moment with what to even say, what is love, etc. "Uh..."

"I don't really know if I could answer that, even if I had any idea how I felt. It's probably something you need to figure out yourself- you know, different for everyone." He paused. "I think... whatever the case is, you care about Snake so even if he's the only man in the world you could feel that way about it's as simple as that, you know?"

"Hmm..." Would Heiji accept this explanation. Would he find it compelling and filled with the truth of all relationships. Would he stop asking Hershel terrible questions.

"So if there was some pushy redheaded fella in here who was your age, you think you'd like to smooch him?"

...No.

Just see his icon. Why.

"Sometimes I regret telling you that..." At least he never told him Randall was a redhead, can you imagine. Unsurprisingly he looked distinctly uncomfortable. "I- Not right away, no, maybe if I developed feelings for him... I don't really see the point in kissing someone you don't care about."

... "Though how often Zero and Calhoun seem to make that happen..." Sigh.

"Don't worry," said Heiji, beaming at him. "Your secret's safe with me! Haven't told a single soul."

How reassuring...

"...You think they'd have to make the first move, though?"

"Well at least there's that..." He couldn't live with the shame, Jake and Alfendi would ruin his life.

He wondered if maybe the world would be merciful and Heiji would start talking about the weather, but instead the world is cruel and Hershel turns a little more red. "What? I- maybe?" The answer is yes, absolutely and it's pretty obvious. "I mean if- not that it'd be completely-"

Oh my god. "I never thought about it, that's what I mean. I suppose it would be nice not to be the one to take the leap there, though it isn't exactly fair to expect."

Heiji watched him a moment, a look of faint alarm on his face. "Hershel," he said. "You might be able to get a guy to do that, but you can't ask a girl to ask ya out. You gotta take her to a real nice place and tell her how ya feel."

Oh my god, can he get more red. Probably, give it time.

"Not every girl, and besides, I didn't say I wouldn't do it! Just..." He probably wouldn't do it. Thank god for strong willed cute girls like Claire Foley. He huffed a sigh. "It hardly matters, I'm fairly certain there's no one I feel that way about anyway."

Slowly... shaking his head. "Well, not right now. But what about when ya go off to university with all them cute college girls? Plus there's parties and school trips..."

So many opportunities for a date with destiny, Hershel Layton. SO MANY. "And then if you become a professor, I bet you could meet someone out in the field!"

Shockingly he looked flustered still. "Maybe I'll be busy with schoolwork!" Wow, that was weak. He sighed. "Honestly Heiji, I don't know how you do it- be as bold as you are, I mean."

Not that Heiji was screaming love confessions from rooftops but still... At least he did things??

"I ain't particularly... bold..." Except for maybe the recent spate of collecting scarlet letters. Heiji looked away, turning a little red himself.

"It's just normal, wanting to do stuff with someone ya like!"

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CALHOUN HOUR - BINGO II

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