vivarium | one post for the price of four

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

【 day 16 - 4:00AM 】

For all "old-timers" and "somewhat-old-timers", it'll be another typical night sleeping on the warehouse floor. It's not great, but perhaps you're getting used to it now. Maybe you're just making due. Maybe some of you are in a deep sleep because you've adapted. Whatever it is, you will be rudely waken up by... the sound of sirens?

A sense of deja-vu might run through you as you wake up and look at what's going on. Right in the middle of the warehouse, Calhoun is wearing a bike helmet on top of his gas mask, and standing next to one of these.

Well, standing isn't exactly the right word for it. Struggling to pick up Kariya and onto the stretcher is more accurate...

【 day 17 】

To the newcomer, welcome to the 【 Warehouse 】.

Once you escape your elevator, you will find yourself 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?

For the "old-timers" and "somewhat-old-timers", come meet your new fellow test subject and, oh, look! You can take another bath with that elevator open! Isn't Calhoun such a nice mouse, letting you bathe?

【 day 18 】

A M B I D E X R O U N D

After those two busy days, it'll be nice to sleep in, right? Well, too bad you're all test subjects, it's time to wake up! Itttttt's time for another Ambidexxxxxxx Round!!

Oh, but where is it going to take place this time? Not on this floor, that's for sure. Everyone, head out to the hallway, line up in front of the elevator! We're heading up to the second floor of our warehouse! Amazing, right? Who would have thought you would stick around long enough to see the second floor, huh?

The elevator, that was once non-functioning, turns on and allows everyone to head to the second floor. How many floors are there? It's unknown, as all the buttons are hidden under a single large metal sheet, asides from 'L2'. Well, don't worry about that, welcome to the next level. It looks identically to the first floor, asides from a few differences:

There are no Ambidex Rooms on this floor, nor is there Calhoun's shop in the corner. However, to make up for that, there seems to be four coloured doors, rather than three: Red, Blue, Green, and Grey. Yes, that's right, Calhoun has decided to add a fourth Ambidex Door, just to accommodate the new number of people. So, look down at your bracelets, you'll see what teams you're in.

The rules are the same: Go in, solve the puzzles, come out, vote! It's as simple as that, so line up in front of your doors, he doesn't have all day.

Oh, speaking of days... Before everyone enters, Calhoun will start to snicker uncontrollably. He hopes you haven't forgotten what today is?

It's the last day to give him a proper "show".

So far, all we've gotten were two lousy attempts at a show:

Some fake drama, hosted by the Blind-And-Dumb Test Subject (Snake) and Should-Probably-Drug-Again Test Subject (Ema)? Talk about yawn. You two get a 1/10. Half a point for getting two dumb teenagers all riled up about it, and another half a point for some form of effort.

The other was some sword fight by the Needs-A-Haircut Test Subject (Hershel) and Probably-Hiding-A-Bald-Spot (Heiji) in the lounge. Not as boring, but sheesh! Do you really think just something like that will entertain him? You didn't go in there with the proper intent of hurting each other, just some practise! Most of all, you've destroy Charlie, Calhoun's pot plant, so you only get a 4/10. Better than the other show, but not good enough!

And that's it, only two dumb shows. It looks like you guys really don't care about your secrets or memories. Maybe he should just end the contest here early and get this over with. He'll just reveal your secrets, destroy your memories, and get this over with. You clearly aren't bothered by it, so why keep this up any longer?

But you know what, Calhoun's a nice mouse. He believes in second chances, so he'll give you all until tomorrow morning, 6AM, to come up with something, or you can all say goodbye to everything!

Chao!

GOODBYE ✖ NEW ARRIVAL ✖ MINGLE
BASIC INFO ✖ TEAMS + ROOMS ✖ ESCAPE

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Weird... Kariya was taken away just the day before, and now there's already a new person. Just what is going on here...?

Still, she probably ought to focus on helping out this newcomer as much as she can. Even if she doesn't know as much as the others, she's gone through her share of puzzles by now, too - she has to help support this woman just like the others supported her when she first got out.

She tries her best to smile, even if it isn't as bright as it could be.]

My name is Akiko! I was in the group that woke up in the elevators before you. I think it was probably the second one? [Based on what Hershel and the others had said-- they'd seemed surprised to see the four newcomers at the time, that's for sure.] Anyway, it's... sorta a long story, so first things first! Are you okay?

So you're another player in the Nonary Game? [It's been explained to her that it's as much an experiment as a game, but she might as well refer to it by its title. She isn't the type to resort to dismissive namecalling for events. Usually.

Not that she actually knows that about herself, she just suspects.

She runs her palm over her other hand's bloodied knuckles. No one else here is in a prison uniform. What does that mean for her? Was she dressed up or was she always wearing this?

She looks over at Akiko and smiles weakly.]

Yeah, I'm okay. I even got out with only my knees wet. Could be worse.

Yeah, that's right. Everyone here is a player.

[She has to look at Piper a bit admiringly, seeing that indeed, she doesn't seem to be all that soaked.] You're already doing better than I was! I got totally drenched. I guess I just wasn't fast enough!

[Ahahaha... oops?]

So are the only people keeping us in here computer holograms? That seems like a pretty faulty security system.

[Piper does preen a little bit.] Well, I'm just good at puzzles, I guess.

[Which is a good thing to know about herself, especially if she knows nothing else.]

[...That's actually a pretty good question!]

Um, Calhoun seems to have... robot-y parts? But I don't think anyone's ever seen the real Zero. Mostly, it's the door that keeps us stuck.

[She casts a glance at the heavy 9 door before turning to Piper again.]

That's really good, though! After this, there's even more puzzle rooms. You have to solve them to escape, but you get to do them in groups. If you're good at solving them, they should be a piece of cake for you! [And... hopefully that meant Piper would be more useful to have around than Akiko, haa...]

Someone here has to know about opening doors, right? Aren't there any, I don't know, city contractors around here or something? [Piper actually has no idea what sort of job would lend itself to being able to get these Warehouse doors open, but she could probably pull some statistic out of her ass for why a city contractor could do it.]

[A little more preening.] Well, you know, if we're in a group together then I can help you along. I'm not a professional puzzle-solver or anything, but I have a natural sort of knack.

[Ummm...]

I don't think so? I mean, it's sorta hard to say, since nobody really remembers. But nobody here looks like a city contractor or anything.

[Then again it's hard to say she knows exactly what a city contractor looks like to begin with, but...]

That's good, though! I don't know when it'll happen, but I'm sure we'll end up in a team sooner or later. I look forwards to working with you!

I guess I'm glad I'm not the only one with no clue who I am. [Granted, she is - unfortunately - the only one she's seen so far wearing any sort of uniform, and this isn't one that speaks very highly of her. Maybe she was a spy going undercover in a prison...?]

You too.

Oh, yeah! Everyone forgot everything besides their name and seeing that... Zero guy. I don't even remember my last name, but I don't think that's exactly normal.

[You know. As far as normal memory loss goes.]

You don't remember your last name? That's... [Unsettling? What about this isn't unsettling?]

Maybe you're someone who has the same first name as surname. Or...maybe you're a pop star whose first name speaks for itself. Like Madonna or Robyn.

[She gives a short, pleased giggle.]

Heheheh, yeah, maybe! Like, what if I'm actually a super famous idol or something?

[She kinda doubts it, but it's a fun idea at least.]

An idol?

[Piper blinks.]

Ohhh, is that what they call pop stars in- is that another term for them?

...I guess so? That's how I usually call them... I think.

[Hmmm...]

Maybe it's just a Japanese thing? At least, I'm pretty sure that's where I'm from...

You look like you could be, but I try not to make assumptions. You know what they say about what happens when you assume.

[Piper mouths "'ass' out of 'u' and 'me'".]

[It takes her a moment, but once she gets it she begins to laugh.]

Then I'll try not to assume anything about you, either!

[...Though really, the blonde hair has her thinking American or English... but she won't say as much, at least.]

one post for the price of four

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