vivarium | ambidex voting #7

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ambidex voting #7

A M B I D E X V O T I N G

Chop chop, everyone downstairs to the first floor! You're all done the puzzle rooms, so you know what to do. Well, most of you, but it's pretty basic, just enter any Ambidex Room you like (they're not elevators, you ignorant test subjects) then vote! How does voting work? Very simple! Pick Ally or Betray, and that's it! But with every round, there's always some prizes, depending on what you vote, so here's this rounds:

For anyone who chooses Ally, well, if your opponent chooses Ally as well, then 2BP for each of you. You get all that friendship, blah blah, whatever.

For anyone who chooses Betray, and gets a Betray in return, your BP doesn't change at all, but you do get two cans of food and 15 coins for each person, what, you have a problem with it being the same as last time? We're busy over here, quit your bellyaching.

Now, the best part: for anyone who chooses Betray and their opponent chooses Ally, Calhoun will be very generous with his prizes, again! You'll get two cans of food and a memory! We're switching it up a bit. Also, as usual, those who pick Betray get 3BP instead of just 2.

But if you're the poor sap that chose Ally and got stabbed in the back, well, sorry, you lose 2 BP. At least you got stabbed for the greater good, right? And plus, you might get a little something. He'll talk to you later about it.

But anyway, happy voting! Calhoun will see all of you later with the results.

BASIC INFO ✖ VOTES + FORMS ✖ RESULTS + REACTIONS

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[she angles her head to wrinkle her nose in his general direction]

You never let me do anything. Why don't you believe in fun?

I'm British, Ema, mostly we just sip our tea and find new ways to be disappointed in your country. [he leans over a bit, just seeing if he can get a better look at wherever she hit her head, maybe brushing some of her hair out of the way to do so sorry dude.]

What a blasted mess, no pun intended... You really need medical supplies.

[she hunches up a little when he starts getting near the wound on her scalp, but he is free to look. It is pretty gross because headwound, but it doesn't seem to be getting any worse.]

I've got bandages up the wazoo. I really need a nap. How are you feeling?

[he makes a face even though he knows headwounds pretty much always look bad.]

You really took a hit... and it's more than bandages. I spoke to Calhoun, he explained how the supplies worked. Apparently you tell him who the supplies are for and for fifteen BP you get whatever the person really needs. He even said he'd let us look at the supplies first and decide if it was worth it.

[And he offers a dry smile.] I'm quite well, all things considered. I'll feel better when you and Jake aren't digging me into an early grave with worry, though.

That Jake is a loose cannon. A Maverick like that'll never not get Goose killed.

...What do you mean, really need? Like to not be here?

...are you quoting something at me or is it the concussion again? [who watches movies and shows]

[he shakes his head.] If only it were so simple. He told me for Jake there'd be items like twine for stitching, painkillers, disinfectant, bandaging- he didn't say what would be in the supplies for you but I imagine much of the same. [And his tone goes a bit softer.] He said we can split the cost of the supplies too, if people wanted. We really need to get you these, Ema, you're... you really seem to need it, and soon.

[she frowns; while the cost was high, the ability to be fully stocked for health in one fell swoop seemed too good to be true]

BP are what you need to get out of here. Fifteen BP...it's like the past month never happened. And I couldn't...

[He says nothing for a moment before answering quietly.] Ema... do you honestly think Zero is going to let us leave when we get 63 BP?

[she--sags, head sinking and palms dropping limply to her lap.] But...

[there isn't much else to say. even she won't blow off the need at this point. it's just so much though. The thought that these weeks of cold rooms and rotten puzzles and being periodically gassed and assaulted by various dolls--the pain and the hunger and the grime and the waiting, all of that had been for nothing...] It's intentional, the cost. They just want us here, stuck forever...

[Hershel nodded, it was pretty damn clear this was just a ploy to drain BP. He doubted Calhoun would be so incredibly cooperative about this otherwise.]

We're an investment, even if they're willing to sacrifice us, that's what we are to them. There's no gain in letting us go that I can see, it'd only be dangerous for them. [He's quiet for another moment before putting a hand on Ema's arm gently.] Your health is more important than BP, or any of this. If you and I split the cost we could get you the supplies without losing access to the cafeteria. I was hoping to convince Jake to accept some supplies, honestly, but at this point I doubt he'd take anything I gave him and spent BP on.

I can't...

--I don't need your charity, Hershel, this isn't your problem.

Why do you say charity like it's such a terrible thing? Everyone needs help sometimes, and you're my friend, Ema. Please, this is your life we're talking about, if you lose access to food just for medical supplies you're in as bad a position as you were before.

It's...

It's just...some number of days. You're going to need them for later, you know you will, don't waste them.

[he stares at her for a very long moment. obviously something she said surprised him.] Do you really think spending them on maybe saving your life is a waste? That's- Ema, it could never be a waste.

...

[she turns away, shifts awkwardly a few times.]

...I just want you to----be smart, not nice.

I can be both, you know. [sort of teasing but yeah this is a bit too serious for that, he takes a moment to collect his thoughts before saying:]

I know I must come off as naive but I do think about what I'm doing. If we both gave seven or eight BP we'd be down to eleven and ten respectively. It's a loss, of course, but it's not below nine and frankly my only concern would be leaving Jake without someone to get medical supplies for him should his injuries get worse.

... I don't want to make this about owing you, though I really do. You really are my friend, Ema, losing you to some... some infection or illness, that's- [he glances down] Maybe I'm just selfish and don't want to have to rib that prat Jake alone, or stop hearing about ridiculous things like prison wine or new and steadily more ridiculous ways I should change my fashion sense.

[he never shuts up. he glances up to her almost nervously.] Just once, accept my help here?

[Approximately 0 of the things Hershel said should've come as any sort of surprise, but they kind of feel that way nonetheless. Ema ducks her head further, hiding her face in her crooked knees so perhaps only the red tips of her ears can be seen. She means to say something along the lines of 'please don't make these kinds of statements when I am emotionally compromised,' but her voice cracks on the first syllable and she forgets the rest anyway because it doesn't matter.

look at this, this disease known as feelings, hershel this is all your fault]

[Oh gosh oh no he can't tell if this is an i'm way too stressed for your bullshit give it a rest reaction or an I'm having feelings I need to deal with and well, here they are reaction. Feelings are so complicated, hideous disease, etc.

He hesitantly puts a hand on her arm and says nothing, because either way he's pretty much said what he's needed to say, besides maybe some 'you're getting these supplies even if i have to spend 15 bp and shove them at you,' which was really very last resort pushy rude so avoiding that, no need to be a jerk about it. So yes, take your time with those feelings, Ema, there's no escape.]

[there honestly is nothing to be done for it, she knows, and it leaves a warmth in her chest and a guilty lump she can't swallow around and a weight shifts that starts her breath hitching, and of course it's all downhill from there.

nevertheless, she takes his hand and clutches it tightly, not letting him escape, not yet.]

[Oh no, he's having so many feelings now too god damnit. If he could hug her he totally would, but kind of awkward positioning so he just squeezes her arm, placing his other hand on her back - carefully, he remembers the stupid shrapnel bandage shit - and trying to dredge up a smile for when she's ready to look up again.

He debates saying something, because maybe he should, but he's not really sure that'd help all that much. In a way he wants to say it'll be alright but even he's not that gd naive, shit sucked and it was only going to suck harder.]

[awkward or no, she leans against him, holds tightly anyway. She doesn't allow herself to say any of the terribly soppy blubbering that comes to mind--ending the night by dying of embarrassment really isn't on her to-do list--but it still takes a while to let go, sniffling and wiping violently at her face]

S-sorry...sorry. E-erratic emotions're--normal, in these cases...

[Then you're getting the best hug he can manage, patting her back soothingly and what not. As much as he wished she didn't have such a shitty life that breakdowns like this happened he was kind of happy she was letting it out. Emotions and repressing and tough guy attitudes being unhealthy, blah blah, etc.

His tone is soft and just a touch wry when he speaks.] It's the concussion, of course. Makes it very hard to think clearly, from what I understand.

[repression? don't be silly, if that was happening there wouldn't be a need to cry--er, have her eyes water all over his vest, must be made of pepper or something]

...You being illogical makes it hard to think clearly.

[she follows up with something else, but it is murmured too low to hear]

[well good, one worry off the list, less repression, more completely stubborn forever about feelings

he tsks] Well, sometimes being a little illogical is best, don't you think?

[Didn't hear that though, surely he just didn't catch it and ema isn't saying something she doesn't want him to hear???] Did you say something?

[she huffs in return, not serious, though]

Only when it's logical to do so.

[and then she shakes her head and straightens a bit, not exactly ignoring his question, but-- well either way, doing a better job of drying her face]

Anyway... Anyway, should get this over with, right?

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