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

[vivariummods]

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

Comments

[friendofeve]

[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?]

[puzzlinglad]

[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.

[friendofeve]

[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?]

[puzzlinglad]

[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?]

[friendofeve]

[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!

[puzzlinglad]

[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.]

1/3

[friendofeve]

[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!

2/3

[friendofeve]

[...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.]

3/3

[friendofeve]

[...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.]

[puzzlinglad]

[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.]

[friendofeve]

He's on a journey to banana paradise to meet the true monkey god.

[She somehow manages to stop laughing long enough to say it completely matter-of-fact.]

[puzzlinglad]

[How dare you say that matter of fact, Hershel shakes his head, trying to contain his mirth here.] Ah, I see. I think that may just be the secret objective of the entire game.

[Meanwhile Hershel's monkey is getting jumped into a gang over here and he has to give up because ten monkeys beating on your weird, dancing one just isn't a fair fight. Player 2 dies, Player 1 wins!] Congratulations, that was a true show of skill I must say.

[friendofeve]

[Another bounce as she enthusiastically pumps a fist in the air.]

I don't know what you're talking about, Hershel! That was super fun!

[puzzlinglad]

[He laughs softly, leaning back against the couch a bit.]

I have to say, it's a tad more fun when you have someone breaking the game right next to you. Maybe the rest of these games are salvable too.

[friendofeve]

Let's try them, then! What else is there?

[puzzlinglad]

Let's see... [He scooted over, looking through the games. Baby Maker Extreme? That... sounded a bit much for his delicate sensibilities, thank you. He'll go with something called Bioerosion, popping the disc in and sitting back.

Boy is it... a game... Upon pressing start have the clunkiest guy in the world with the weirdest music in the background, fighting what looks like ???? I have no idea, purple teeth balls with legs and maybe a tail? Are they dinosaurs??? ?????

Hershel just. takes a moment to appreciate this.] It's um... it's trying. [Why was his gun overheating every two seconds? What was attacking them??]

[friendofeve]

[...]

No matter what direction I go I'm running exactly the same way.

[It looks kinda weird-- OW OW OW ARMY OF BARNEYS(?) AT TEN O'CLOCK]

[puzzlinglad]

I'm not even sure my character is running... [What a mysterious game.]

[Oh no, Akiko! He'll help ok-] Ok, I got it- [And he manages to shoot the building, a flying red ball???, Akiko's character and the ground. It's unclear if friendly fire is even a thing because everything is awful and nothing makes sense.] Ah, um, sorry about that... I think.

[He'll really do it this time!! Wait his gun is overheated, well...] I think those... purple things? They may be invincible.

[friendofeve]

[SHE HONESTLY CAN'T TELL RIGHT NOW she's being shot by so many things it's hard to say if Hershel's attempt to help did anything.

It is easy to see that she appears to have died, though.]

Ahahaha... Whoops?

[The fate of the people rests solely on your shoulders, Hershel.]

[puzzlinglad]

[NO not his teammate, Akiko... Hershel will have to press on in the face of adversity against this threat??? of some sort??? He's not entirely sure what these Barney teeth globes are doing besides walking around an abandoned city but it's probably a bad thing, right?

It sure would help if he could SHOOT THEM he's pretty sure he's shot his own character more than he's shot them. He does manage to kill one, looking shocked.] Did it die?

[And then like thirty come slowly barreling towards him as his character tries to moonwalk away.] ... this is a grim situation. I'm not sure your sacrifice won't be in vain...

[friendofeve]

[Having dropped her controller onto her lap, she decides to make the best of things by cheering loudly (and perhaps a mite obnoxiously) for Hershel!]

You can do it! I believe in you! You can't give up-! For my sake...!

[There's certainly a lot more drama in her voice than probably necessary, but she seems to be having fun with it.]

1/2

[puzzlinglad]

[Thank you Akiko, your words from across the great beyond give him hope...]

[He furrows his brow, no, Akiko's sacrifice cannot be in vain, not after everything they've been through fighting these things for about a minute and a half.] We can still win. [So serious, they're both complete idiots and should be ashamed.]

[But hey, he does manage to kill about three more in a dramatic run before he's swarmed and eaten by toothy grapes with legs. He glances over at Akiko solemnly for a moment-]

2/2

[puzzlinglad]

[- before his stupidity is blown and he can't help but crack a smile.]

Well, hopefully they'll be telling tales of our bravery.

[friendofeve]

[She's practically cackling in her seat.]

We'll be heralded as tragic heroes for ages to come! ...Um, if anyone survives without us, I guess. But there has to be better soldiers out there than that.

[puzzlinglad]

It's unclear if those um... creatures? If they were even attacking a city with people in it. Unless they were all watching our sacrifice from the windows.

[Rude of them.] I think we can safely say we've paved the way for defeating the enemy.