vivarium | welcome our new test subjects and say goodbye to old ones...

Entry tags:

welcome our new test subjects and say goodbye to old ones...

T H E W A R E H O U S E

【 day 10 】

To all the newcomers, welcome to the 【 Warehouse 】.

Once you escape your elevator, you will find yourselves here. It's strangely empty for a warehouse. Aside from the elevators you've come out of, there's nothing else here. In fact, the longer you look around, the stranger everything looks.

Every window has been bolted shut, with no way of removing the steel coverings. The only source of illumination comes from the florescent lights above. Along the walls are numerous amounts of surveillance cameras, watching every bit of movement and listening to the sounds of everyone and everything. Every door is locked up tight, with no clear way of opening them, and there's one giant door with a 9 painted on it. It's a rather strange place, and there seems to be a lot of people here, so go introduce yourselves?

As for the "old timers", they will find that their bracelets will not display any colour or status (SOLO or PAIR). The BP will be a simple grey colour, and there will be nothing underneath it. Wonder what they means. Before anyone can ask Calhoun, he will be screeching in your ear about something else, asking everyone to gather in the warehouse. Standing on a table (in an attempt to be at the same height as a few of you), he says that there's a special surprise for everyone. So, gather around, test subjects, and listen closely because he's not going to say it again.

【 day 11 】

Everyone might wake up today to the loud sound of... sirens? What on Earth can make a sound like that? Well, if they get up and look, they'll see Calhoun with... one of these, and him attempting to put Kotetsu on the stretcher. Due to being a 3'2" sized mouse, he's clearly struggling but he's at least determined to put him on it.

ANNOUNCEMENT ✖ NEW ARRIVALS ✖ GOODBYE ✖ NEW ARRIVAL

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Some of them, I've been through three now and as far as I can tell only one had traps. [He looks pretty serious for a moment.] Akiko, we're not allowed to talk about the rooms if you haven't been in them, but please, be very careful and try not to take shortcuts. It's best to do the puzzle the way it's laid out. [Yeah, let's say sometimes not fun things happen otherwise...]

[And then he tries not to look too uneasy about the voting aspect.] The voting... so let's say your color is green, you're a solo and the other two are a pair. You go into one of those rooms you just left, the pair go into another. You'll be given the option to ally or to betray.

If you both ally you get two points each- if you bother betray you get no points. If you picked ally and they picked betray, you'd lose two points and they'd get three. Sometimes Calhoun offers other prizes, I guess, food, medical supplies, things like that... usually only for betrayal though.

[Annnnd he looks uncomfortable] Thankfully there's only been one betrayal so far. Everyone's pretty reasonable.

So we can't even give each other advice on the rooms?

[Her shoulders slump at the thought of having to go through more rooms with strange puzzles. She barely had enough time to get out of the elevator - now you're telling her that if she messes up on the puzzles from here on out, there's a chance they'll hurt her?]

And Calhoun wants us to betray each other... But that's so weird! It makes more sense for everyone to pick ally, doesn't it? That way everyone gets points and nobody gets hurt. Plus, it's way better than listening to anyone keeping us trapped here.

[The fact that there was only one betrayal seems right with her - well, as right that any betrayal could be. It means that almost everyone else saw things similarly. Although she can't help but wonder who would want to betray even in circumstances like that...]

I'm afraid not, that's another thing I should mention about the bracelets. [He glances down at his with a sigh.] They have some drugs in them, soporil and tubocurarine I believe? One is a tranquilizer, he demonstrated that one someone when we all first got here, but the other... [He hesitates, unpleasant stuff.] To put it simply it will kill you, and as far as I can tell there's no way to stop it. That's what happens when you break a rule or reach 0 BP.

[It's all fun news, right? At least that was the worst of it, it's all... vaguely uphill from here! Kind of.]

I agree, and most of the people here agree too, but- [He sighs, he'd have to tell her, she'd find out eventually.] The only betrayal was... complicated. I was in a pair with someone here named Jake, when we went into the rooms Calhoun offered other prizes for the first time- memories, food- and Jake decided Clive couldn't be trusted to pick ally with that on the table. He and I argued about it almost the whole time, and when time ran out... he was closer to the button than I was.

[His shoulders slump a bit- he was still pretty crazy unhappy about that whole deal. Drama is fun.] If you're in a pair just... be careful. Calhoun likes to make it as difficult as possible with his deals and last minute additions.

Huh-?!

So... but wait, then if you betray someone else, you really could kill them!

[It also explains what that mouse was talking about earlier.] That's even more reason not to betray though! How could you risk someone dying like that-?

Even if it's for food or memories... Risking someone else's life can't be worth it!

[She's definitely making a mental note to look out for this Jake fellow, you can be certain of that. How could anyone act so selfishly...?]

[He feels you there, man, and nods.] I know... No one has gotten to one BP, thankfully, but there's other problems with having low BP. Three points gives you access to water, nine gives you access to the cafeteria- you can see where losing these can make things... complicated.

[Yeah precious Jake... being an idiot Hershel adds:] In Jake's defense I really don't think he was trying for the extra prizes so much as he couldn't bring himself to trust Clive. He's um... Jake's very- [He struggles with a way to explain this superstar.] -well, distrusting. And to the point. He picked ally as a solo last round at least.

[Wait what.]

They don't even let you eat unless you have enough points?

[What is she going to do? She has enough for water, but she'll need food at some point, too. The thought of starving to death trapped in this cold, dark building crosses her mind, and it's hard to immediately dispel.

Another shiver. This one can't be blamed entirely on the cold.]

S-so... he's allying now too. So things should be okay from now on?

[He holds up a hand and adds hastily-] Oh, don't worry too much, Calhoun gave us some canned food when we first came in, I can't imagine he won't do the same for you as well. I wish I could offer you something, I ran out of canned food last round. If for whatever reason he doesn't I'm sure someone has some left. [Maybe Jake, actually, and it wasn't like Jake needed it now that he had 10 BP... Hershel would have to go ask him about that later, that would be fun.]

[And boy, what a question. Hershel doesn't want to lie to her so he offers a sort of tired smile.] I hope so. You seem like a very nice girl, Akiko, I'm sure you won't have many problems asking people to ally.

[That does bring her some relief, but she's still clearly pretty anxious about all of this. Will she be able to earn enough points in time to be okay...?

It's faint, but she gives another nod at the last part.] ...Asking is all I can do. I'd never betray anyone, so if they're guaranteed to get two points, that's a good deal, right? And then all of us can just keep building up our points so we can get out together.

[Thank goodness for you, Akiko, Hershel is a hundred percent behind this line of thinking and boy is it nice to hear someone else say it.] It's the best way without a doubt, and I think everyone is starting to realize that, if they didn't already.

So um, don't worry too much right now, alright? Focus on drying off and getting to meet the people around- I know this all must be pretty tiring and confusing, it's a lot to take in after what you just went through.

Okay. I'll try to talk to everyone and... Introduce, I guess? [Seems a little odd to focus on all things considered, but...

First, though, she finally takes her hat off and shifts it away from Hershel before attempting to wring it out. Someone didn't get the hatch open until it was decently submerged, it seems.]

...No good. It's totally soaked through.

[She'll have to wait until it dries out. And a real shame, since it's such a cute hat!]

It's probably for the best, seeing as you'll probably be up against a few of them soon. [Though he wasn't really sure what was going on with these grey bracelets and weird break and new people.]

[He offers a sympathetic look for that, frankly he was cold just looking at her.]

Be sure to be careful with those, as far as I've seen Calhoun isn't really interested in giving us new clothes anytime soon. [It's this so fun??] If you'd like I can show you around, maybe moving will help you dry off faster.

[Well, she'll need to figure out what this place looks like sooner or later...]

...Yeah, that's a good idea! And who knows, maybe there's some space where I can hang them up to dry faster or something.

[Maybe? She can hope?]

[She sure can hope...] Let's go to the lounge first, you may be able to put them on the couch there- no one uses it anyway.

[He gestures towards one of the doors, ladies first he's English ok.]

There's a lounge?

[She begins walking in the direction he indicates, brightening ever so slightly.] So... is it just a place to relax, or...?

[He seriously considers that for a moment. Is the lounge really what anyone would call 'relaxing'...] It's... I suppose so, more than any other place we have around here.

The seating is about as uncomfortable as the floor and the 'entertainment' is questionable, but in a lot of ways it's better than nothing. [He follows, opening the door to the lounge for her when they get there because English again.]

There's a television and game system and some magazines. Most of them are... well, terrible. [To put it as bluntly as possible.Ever seen The Room? He has. He vaguely regrets it.]

[She did watch the Room once, but she cannot remember the experience. It might just be a memory she’s better off without.

The lounge is fairly disappointing, but indeed, it’s better than nothing. She wanders over to the couch to test it out and—yeah, no, this has to be the most uncomfortable sofa she has ever had the experience of sitting on. She doesn’t even need her memories to be certain of that. Attempting to bounce on it does absolutely nothing, and she quickly gives up on it.]

Even the games are bad? I’m almost too scared to ask…

[Just how terrible could they be?]

[You poor, poor girl, Akiko.]

[Hershel glances around- ah the majestic lounge, truly a beautiful, esteemed place to be. He glances over to Akiko when she speaks, offering a one armed shrug.]

I've only tried one and it's... well, calling it playable is a bit of an overstatement. [Think the worst xbox live arcade games possible.] There's not much to do between puzzle rooms, it's either something in here or pacing the halls.

[It was supposed to be for kicks and giggles but turned out to be a little too painful for even good fun.]

...What counts as playable?

[Having something to do has to be better than nothing at all... right?]

[It's truly an emotional roller coaster and a magnificent piece of cinema, ok.]

[Hershel regards her a moment before smiling a bit to himself and turning towards the game system. He picks up one of the controllers, holding it out to her with a raised brow.]

Honestly, you need to see it for yourself to appreciate it.

[Do you dare, Akiko?]

[She stares at the controller for all of a second before breaking into the most sincere grin she's had all this time.

Hell yes let's do this.]

You're on!

[Eye of the Tiger plays triumphantly in the background.

Hershel takes a controller too and turns on the system, taking a seat on the floor, back against the couch because the floor was actually more comfortable what the hell, Zero. He shoots Akiko a bemused look as the screen loads.]

Make sure you're prepared for the sheer quality you're about to experience.

[And the game that loads is something called Alpha Chimp, a game where a very, very poorly modeled monkey throws rocks? Something round? at other poorly modeled monkeys in a poorly modeled world. I'm assuming some two player on this because what's more fun than a bad game with bad controls? One with bad co-op controls too.]

[This is going to be amazing she can feel it in her soul. And being that she's already seated on the couch, she'll just continue to sit there cross-legged, but she's totally back to bouncing in her seat - this time out of excitement.]

I'm so ready. Let's do this!

[...And then the actual game loads up and she goes completely silent. That... that's a monkey? And the round things are-- what?

Wait why is her character stumbling over to the side that is not where she wanted it to go.

What is happening.

Why this.]

[...Yeah she may need a little help over here. Unless getting stuck climbing her way into the sky was secretly the point of the game all along.

Though she certainly does seem to be more than amused at it all, judging by how she's curling up and giggling into her controller from the sheer absurdity of it all.]

[Hershel tried really hard not to laugh at her monkey- not that he's doing much better his monkey looks like it's trying to dance it's way out out of a mafia style gang beat down with only feeble attempts at beating his attackers with... coconuts? He still wasn't sure.

It really doesn't take long before he can't help but start laughing, probably more honestly amused than he felt since... well, as long as he can remember.]

Akiko where... where exactly is your monkey trying to go? [Apparently the fuck out of this game and he has to cover his mouth with his hand because jesus what a stellar, perfect game.]

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

1/3

2/3

3/3

no subject