CALHOUN HOUR - REINTRODUCTION

[vivariummods]

Back on the morning of Day 90, the original group has been given access to a new location, The Library, only after seeing this note: library is open go use it or whatever don't trash it or else!!!!! (♯｀∧´) i got my eye on you!!! brb later ~ ᘛᕐᐷ An Ambidex Round was planned for this day, but instead, Calhoun was nowhere to be seen. He completely disappeared and left the test subjects to do whatever they pleased. It's not until the early afternoon that his lovely voice rings throughout the speakers: "Ahem, aaaaahem!! Okay, so! I'm sure that you illiterate bunch have seen my note on the floor earlier today, which tells you to all go to the library. If you're not there already, then get in there, because I'm going to tell you about a seeeeecret ennnnntranceeee, ohhhhhhh." There's a few more seconds of 'ohhh's and 'ahhhh's before Calhoun moves on. "Normally, I'd have you play Moonlight Sonata on the piano to open up the hidden doorway, but that's too much work, so just get over to the furthest bookshelf in the back and give it a biiiiig pull. I've unlocked it for you already, so it'll just swing right open like a door! Go through it and I'll see you losers soon." The intercom goes silent, but true to his word, should someone pull back the extremely heavy bookcase, a long and dark hallway is presented to them. It certainly hasn't seen much use, as evidenced by the dust and cobwebs, but once everyone reaches the end of the hall, an identical first floor lobby greets them. Every single window bolted shut, and only florescent lights illuminate the room. The security cameras line up in the exact same locations, a row of Ambidex Rooms lined up against the wall, and there's even an identical Number 9 door. It's an exact replica, asides from a "few" details... A large blinking sign hangs up high on the centre of the back wall. It reads "CALHOUN'S PLEASURE PARADISE" and features a large photo of Calhoun with a large wad of flaming cash in one hand, which he holds underneath a cigar super glued to his gas mask. It's unique, to say the least, and there are rows and rows of slot machines line up in the centre. Tables with games such as blackjack and poker take up the sides, and there's even a pool table nearby. One end has a small mini-bar, with all the crab legs you can eat, and loud music blares throughout the entire room. Unfortunately(?), a good number of the machines and tables are being run by your favourite robotic friends, complete with damaged synthetic skin. They don't answer or seem responsive, other than playing on the slots or dishing out cards, and they each have a cigar or two stuck in their mouths, which Calhoun must have shoved in there. Speaking of the rodent, Calhoun sits at a large table with a deck of cards, dressed in a long white dress shirt and a red vest. The cigar glued to his mask, as shown in the sign, still remains, and he adjusts his bow tie at the sight of everyone. "Happy anniversary, test subjects! What's a better way to celebrate this disgustingly heart crushing moment but to go all out with a taste of Las Vegas!" He shouts, but then places a paw to his chin. "Or was it Los Plagas... It was Las or Los something. It's way too hard to keep track of the million places." He looks back up and waves it off. "Whatever, anyway! Go ahead and gamble, drink to your heart's content, I don't care, just do something useful while you're here, all right? And because I know that some of you don't have any coins because you're bad with money management or just really dumb or something, and also because I'm such a kind mouse, I left you all a little baggie gift at the bar." "I better see you gambling those off though! What fun would it be if you don't try to test your luck?"

Comments

[puzzlinglad]

[Shockingly Hershel isn't really big on the horrible sin of gambling or whatever do british people think gambling is ungentlemanly?? Probably right? I don't know he's 17 give him a break.

The point is he looks pretty lost on how to even deal with this event, and decides that bugging Jake is an age old pasttime that needs to be upheld. Just heading up to the Jake pool scene.] You're not gambling? [He sounds a little surprised because he could somehow imagine Jake going nuts for this sort of unwholesome thing. What a friend.] ... why do you have that look on your face?

[Where's the trust Hershel.]

[fairsfair]

[ Gambling isn't one of the seven deadly sins, okay, calm down there, Hersh. ]

What, you think I'd actually want to gamble? Might as well throw away my coins down the drain. [ He talks while just casually chalking the end of his pool cue. He looks so smug, it's great. ] And what look? Can't a guy just be happy to see a pool table around here?

[puzzlinglad]

[Never, fight him about this. And probably win.]

I suppose you have a point, it's just rather sensible for you. [~friendship~] Well, I guess... [Wait.] Oh, didn't you play pool when you were younger? What did you call it... sharking?

[Close. Sort of.]

[fairsfair]

[ I hope that one day, they will have a physical fight and it ends up with Jake just sitting on Hershel. ]

Didn't think you'd remember, but something like that. Let's just say that I got a little talent with this game. [ He also probably has some talent in using a pool cue as a weapon. ] You up for a round?

[puzzlinglad]

[He'd just end up on top of the elevators again.]

It was a rather alarming story, Jake. [Stay in school young Jake Muller. He considers that question for a moment, then shrugs.] Alright, I don't really know the rules so you'll have to teach me as we go along. [Poor idiot is about to lose his coins.]

[fairsfair]

[ We better have a thread soon where Hershel gets put onto an elevator again. ]

Nothing alarming about making money. [ It's completely NOT alarming when you're like 14 and pool sharking already. School are for chumps, but Jake tosses him the pool cue in his hands and grabs another one. ] It's simple enough to play. You might actually have a chance of winning, unlike those slot machines.

[puzzlinglad]

[Oh we're making it happen.]

You should have been in- [He is cut off by trying to catch the pool cue and barely doing so. Smooth.] You have a point there.

[Just going around the table with a furrowed brow.] So... I hit the white ball, yes?

[fairsfair]

[ We better or I'll coup. ]

Maybe we should bet a few coins while we're at it. [ Heheh, at least with this, Jake is confident that he can make a few coins back, but he knows that Hershel is absolutely shit with money, so he probably won't take too much. ]

But hitting the cue ball is only part of it. We'll keep it simple and do a round of eight-ball. [ He nudges his head over to the rack of 15 pool balls on the table. ] There're seven striped balls and seven solids, then the black number 8. Pick a group, either stripes or solids, and pocket each of them in. Once you're done all seven, then you can try to sink the 8 ball. First one to sink it wins, but if you try to sink it before you're finished, then you automatically lose. The same thing if you have it fly off the table.

Got it?

[puzzlinglad]

[And then I'd have to coup your coup and no one wants that.]

Bet? [Ehhhhh, he's not too sure about that, gambling and all, but. on the other hand. He did want to pay Jake back for that food a while ago and since Jake was so stubborn about accepting money and there was literally zero chance Hershel would win...] Alright, I suppose... How much?

Alright. [He nodded to that explanation- pocket? Probably meant going in those holes? Probably.] It's rather math based, isn't it? Angles and what not. Who goes first?

[fairsfair]

[ What are you talking about, everyone would want that. Who doesn't want a coup?? ]

Let's just make it five coins, keep it low. [ Part of the reason for this is because he knows that Hershel does not have a lot of coins and because of character development and ~*~friendship~*~, he doesn't exactly want to be a jerk and take it. The other part is that he might have a plan in mind... ]

And sure, math-based, if you want to get all nerdy about it. [ Yeah, he just called you a nerd. You book-lover. ] I'll take solids, and you can start us off. Let's see what you got.