vivarium | the garden

T H E G A R D E N

Early in the morning, yet again, the test subjects get to wake up to Calhoun’s dulcet tones. Through a megaphone.

“Hey! Lazy test subjects, get your human rears up!”

Once everyone is moderately awake and gathered, Calhoun will continue.

“You all did such a great job last round, and everyone’s been so pathetic lately, that I, your glorious, merciful host, decided to open a room for you! Remember, rooms are a privilege, not a right! That means!”

He takes a deep breath to scream out the next parts:

“Don’t. Break. My. Stuff!!”

He eyes at a few people in the crowd before leading everyone up to the second floor, where a new door will now be openable. Once inside there is a surprisingly refreshing breeze and bright light flooding from the ceiling.

Welcome to the Garden!

The roof of the garden is made up of what appears to be grids with screens depicting a blue sky during daylight hours and a starry night during the evening (they must be sunlamps because the light from the ceiling feels warm and, yes, finally some vitamin D for you sad test subjects). It appears to be more of a dome than anything else, but the grass is green, there’s a few trees around, some flowers, a bench here and there, and even a little waterfall that creates a small creek around the garden!

Sure, there aren’t any edible plants, fruits, or vegetables around, the water is freezing, everything feels almost artificial, but this is a lot better than the cold, monochrome, and bleak look of the warehouse so far, so unless everyone else wanted to stay in the boring lobby instead of here, there wasn’t much to complain about.

Well, have fun! Enjoy your new surroundings.

basic info ✖ mingle

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[it pokes, pretty easily even! scientifically speaking, seems as though she washed it properly for once, it smells faintly of apples. and now, flowers and leaf bits. she wrinkles her nose a little but this does not seem to be enough to wake her up, points for you]

[yes!!! he was the best at this game that could cost him his life depending on ema's mood. Just going to kneel and stick some more leaves in there carefully, wondering if he should feel bad about this.

nah.]

[she shifts, mumbles something--

--then settles, not exactly snoring, but lying on her back with her mouth open and air does come out audibly. still safe for now!]

[ now entering shitlord jake, to join shitlord hershel. ]

... What are you even doing?

[ Approaching quietly from behind, as usual ]

[Going to be starting a little before making the universal shuush sign and whispering:]

Just... nothing bad.

[He holds up a flower for Jake to see then careeeefully puts it in Ema's hair, turning with a 'you see?' sort of look.]

[ Oho, that's something Jake can get behind, so sitting down on the other side of Ema and taking a few of those flowers. ]

Seems like you have nothing better to do.

[ Also whispering while deciding to put those flowers in Ema's hair. ]

[Hershel seems pleased Jake's behind this excellent form of entertainment rather than telling him it's stupid. It's creative application of their surroundings, that's all.

Have all the flowers and twigs and leaves you want, dude. Also still whispering] Well, it's not like I can go swimming or climb the trees, and if I have to read through one of those bloody science books again...

[Another few flowers. Poor Ema's head probably looked like a third grader's art project.] I can't believe she hasn't woken yet, she must be very tired. [mild fretting even as he puts a leaf on her head like a jackass.]

[for her part, Ema continues to be the canvas for My Backyard By Hershel Layton & Jake Muller, Age 7, sleeping like someone who hasn't slept properly in a few weeks. Of course, even especially tired people will start to flinch when unexpected things start to brush over their skin, like this strange collection of sticks and leaves is beginning to do. She shifts, batting lightly at her head...what do]

[ Jake was going to say something, but then Ema starts to move, so he closes his mouth and pulls back his hand. He puts a finger up to his mouth, telling Hershel to be quiet, and to just watch if Ema wakes up or not. ]

[ Please don't wake up please don't wake up ]

[He nods, nervously watching to see if ema was going to wake up and probably murder them.

They lived a good life, really. It was worth it.]

[prayers or no, consciousness is slowly making its way back whether anyone wants it or not. she doesn't, particularly, because things are sore and prickly in the land of the living. her eyes flutter open anyway; it is oddly bright and unless they ran away, she can blurrily make out Hershel and Jake's silhouettes over her (they are pretty distinctive, after all)]

.........Did I die?

[ ... well, shit, that's not great, but Jake hasn't run off. He's just sitting here and looks up at Hershel, as in a quiet 'what the fuck do we do?' then back down. ]

Yeah, welcome to hell. You might want to catch some more shuteye before they turn on the fire.

[ Go back to sleep, Ema, so they can put more junk in your hair. ]

[Hershel gives Jake a 'maybe she won't notice?' before offering ema a nervous smile.]

You fell asleep in the grass and yelled something about protecting science.

[and now you had arts and crafts for a head decoration, that's all]

Oh, okay. That's important.

[Both of their statements sound sensical and trustworthy, so she lets her eyes fall shut again.]

... Did she really fall asleep again? [is she lying in wait?? clever move, ema]

[ ... Just staring. ]

Let's see.

[ Going to be brave and attempting to stick another flower in her dumb hair bun. WILL IT BE OKAY?? ]

[gonna kind of shift behind you a bit jake you're bigger and a better shield okay, ema was god damn scary.

and he whispers:] Do you think she'll kill us when she wakes up?

[wow maybe she really trusts you

or maybe she just really trusts she can get her revenge

either way, while she doesn't seem any more asleep she doesn't seem any less asleep, it is probably time to go for the gold

ps: jake don't be jealous of people with hair okay, maybe if you're nice, hershel will lend some of his for christmas]

[ excuse you, he's not jealous of hair, he likes his buzzcut, thank you ]

Looks like we're good to go.

[ Holding out some leaves for Hershel, so your turn, go for it, while Jake decides to see if there's any bit of mud around... No reason why he's looking. ]

[Hershel nods and kneels down, very dedicated to his mission. he's in the middle of sticking a bunch of leaves in Ema's hair like crown when he glances back to see what the heck Jake was up to.]

[whispering of course] What are you looking for over there?

[ Jake checks out the creek and-- aha! Here we go, a bit of mud. He'll take off his gloves so he can get a bit in a hand then make his way back. ]

This. Watch.

[ Time to put this on Ema's hand. Let's see if the old whipped cream prank works with mud and if we try to tickle your nose with a leaf. Go on, slam your hand into your face, Ema, do it. ]

[... oh my god]

J-Jake! That's a bit much don't you think? [whispering by his side, poor ema.....]

[ Whispering back while clearly not regretting this choice. ]

Are you kidding? Mud's good for her face, and she needs the help.

[ Totally joking around here, not really said with any hate. ]

the garden

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