lostcarnival | ⇨ POLARIS 2.0

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⇨ POLARIS 2.0

Who: Everyone!
When: Days 110 - 114
Where: Polaris
What: After a mysterious explosion shakes the station, the staff of Polaris struggle to maintain order while the test subjects fight for freedom with the aid of hidden allies. Productivity info is here.
Warnings: More graphic experimentation.

THEORY & CONCLUSION↴

At the midnight between Day 109 and Day 110, something happens. For most people, it won't be clear what - yet, they are shaken by it just the same. Violent tremors appear out of nowhere, rattling the entirety of the Polar station, violent enough to throw sleeping test subjects off their bunks. The source is unclear, but there is a sudden flurry of activity from staff as power flickers and is lost in various parts of the facility. Subjects, for the most part, will be left to their cells while they try to sort things out.

The next morning, the staff are late picking people up. It's more like 6:30AM than the usual 6AM when they arrive to take people to the farm, which is a bit of tardiness that is entirely without precedent. Any questions about the incident the previous night will be waved off with the explanation of 'technical difficulties' that have been 'resolved.'

► DELTA: The three new Deltas will be left in their cells for even longer, waiting to be picked up, instructed that they would be escorted elsewhere instead of to the farm. Around 6:45AM some unfamiliar technicians will arrive and tell them that they are here to begin their processing into Delta. They are led into a previously untouched section of the station, where they are invited into a somewhat more intimate medical room to be asked some cursory questions and given a check up. Then, their suits will be removed, and they will be provided with their new uniforms, which they can apply like normal clothes.

Delta life begins there. There will be a top level for the initial parts of their processing to be played out. Ultimately, however, they will end up being given a tour of the new Delta facilities, which amounts to a waterfront area that borders the new apartments they'll be staying in, as well a small supply shop where they can pick up an allotted amount of 'amenities' per day, based on their level of productivity and other achievements. This includes luxury items like food, pleasant smelling soaps, or other hygiene related tools. There are even small things like decorations or pictures of other places available, though they are fairly expensive.

The first day will mostly involve the processing, a tour, and some basic training regarding the new tools they will be using, such as the mandatory visors and basic computer access. The next day, observation shifts in the farm will start, as will participation in trials.

► FARMING: The Farm will continue as normal, though it seems like there are fewer staff observing it at the moment. The ones that are there seem a little bit more tense than usual. Power is still down in some places, but the Farm is thankfully still active. Sometimes the productivity turn-in scanners might be a bit glitchy, so try not to panic if it measures fewer points than you're due.

► TRIALS: Trials are continuing as projected, though with the most broad of experiments already under way, they may be more selective. If you have an idea for a trial you can be sure to share it with the staff, and they will take it under advisement! Any information you want to provide is encouraged, they will say, especially if it involves notable traits about you or your fellow test subjects - or perhaps behavioral patterns you've noticed. You might even be rewarded!

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Ha. That pulls a little smile out of Yuya as the tables are turned back right between them. And then he leans in to push their lips together.

He remembers sensations that send an unpleasant chill down his spine, when he was captured by the Fae in the hunt. And Gongenzaka's snout is a little hard to work around, but Yuya tilts his head and tries to mimick what was a little closer, a little more sweet had it only come from someone he actually wanted to kiss. There's an awkward stumble but Yuya manages to find a much better position than when he'd tried kissing Gon before.

It is extremely awkward, and kind of a mess.

Gongenzaka doesn't mind. Or at least, he can't bring himself to mind, because Yuuya is trying, and he's trying too (to help, sort of,), even if it's not really working.

And it is, at least, better than their first one somehow.

It's therefore impossible for him to not grin as he goes back to holding the other, nuzzling his cheek against Yuuya's face once the kiss breaks.

Yuya said he'd figure it out. They would, if Gongenzaka decides against letting go of his changes. Although, this one with things stuck into him... Yuya's not sure if that really will reverse itself.

But he doesn't follow that train of thought, because as soon as he creates a gap between them Gongenzaka closes it again, and then Yuya's briefly muffled an his face itches against the fur. He tilts his head sideways as his grin widens. Absently he loops his arm around Gon's shoulders.

"You're really great."

Best not to think of it. Best not to question, at least for now. Maybe when all is over they can ask the Ringmaster but for now at least they can live in the moment and briefly forget about being locked in chrome hell.

"Mnh-! You are greater than I, you know..!" comes the perhaps expected protest, his face still red even now.

"Nah," vetoed, overruled. And he could give Gongenzaka a million reasons and get a million counters. But as far as he's concerned, he couldn't be luckier than Gon chose him.

"I never really forgot it, you know? That you stayed." That he didn't just protect Yuya like many others, out of duty. Yuya has no idea what Gongenzaka say that day, but it must have been special. At least, it makes Yuya feel special when he thinks about it.

"N- N... 'Nah'??" No! He refuses this counter! No vetos!!

No!

"...Y-You would have done the same, would you not?" he protests, though somehow, it comes out quietly. Perhaps a bit bashfully, even.

"Eh?" Yuya tilts his head and opens an eye to peek at Gongenzaka, bewildered.

"I mean, I was really weak. So of course you'd protect me, but then you decided to be my friend and... you didn't have to."

Yuya wasn't taught to protect people the way Gon was, so there really isn't a question of whether he'd do the same. Yuya was fragile and a lot more alone, when he had only Yuzu. Who was wonderful, but having one friend and then the rest of your class avoiding or bullying you kind of sucks.

"Of course I'd still want to be your friend, but it's kind of different isn't it?"

"W-well....perhaps there could come a time where I, the man Gongenzaka...Auh..."

Sadly, to claim there would ever be a time where he was too weak to handle something would go absolutely against his sheer determination to never let that happen. So his tongue only twists over the words as he sputters. "Mnh...! ...E-Even if it were somehow different Yuuya, your heart is still of impressive strength, you should know..! Your ability to care, and act for others..that in itself, is incredible!"

He could speak of all the times where that was especially the case, but then they would be here for a lot longer than they have to even sleep.

Yeah, Yuya wouldn't even believe Gon's intentions was for Yuya to protect him one day anyway. He was a crybaby.

"That sounds like what I'd say about you, Gongenzaka." Which isn't a surprise for Yuya, because Gongenzaka has been someone he's wanted to strive for, to be as strong as, to make proud. Did he make it? He's not really sure.

"I just picked up some things from everyone amazing around me... like you." He shifts sideways a little, pulling his arm back. "Anyway, I was just saying that I'm really glad you stayed. everything you've done means a lot to me."

"Mnh..." No, stop that, that's too many compliments,

...He can't really argue with Yuuya. He simply lays back on the bunk, arms still somewhat around or over the other as he stares at him- perhaps to commit the moment to memory, in case it really is (but he refuses, he can't let it) the last time he has this sort of time with the other.

And...

"...I, the man Gongenzaka....feel that the same can be said for you, Yuuya." In his own way, Yuuya's actions mean everything to him as well.

Yuya looks at Gongenzaka with faint amusement, taking a deep breath.

"Then I guess we're at a standstill." Because Gongenzaka can't take a compliment, and turns them back around, which only encourages Yuya to compliment him more. Anyone with more ego could use that to their advantage. Yuya wonders how much of dating is going to be like this. He kind of looks forward to it, if they could only...

"Oh, Lambert knows we're dating," he admits, seemingly appropriate to nothing. "When we save him, he'll probably tease you too."

When they save him. Yuya's clinging to that empty assurance so as not to believe he's really gone. That anybody here will really be lost.

For a moment, he can only chuckle weakly at Yuuya's remark. A standstill indeed, after all, and-

"G-OAUH-!" ...And what's that about Lambert..!? Gongenzaka's thoughts race, until he finally recalls that fleeting few moments his 'darker' half spent with the other. "AUH-!! He- He told you about that time, then!?"

NOOOOOooOOOoOOO- ...Well he supposes Yuuya saw his darker half at their lowest, actually...

"He asked if we figured out the kissing thing," Yuya says, raising an eyebrow. The implication is probably obvious that Yuya admitted yes, they did figure out the kissing thing. But at least Gongenzaka's dignity about how confused and indecisive he was is a little more preserved.

Just that Lambert only knew to ask because of Gongenzaka.

"A- AUH.... K-Kissing was not something we discussed..!"

...AT LEAST AS FAR AS HE COULD RECALL....

(Naturally, he's not considered that 'can I kiss you' was the exact phrase which caused him to split in the first place, and therefore what he had told Lambert.)

Edited 2018-10-19 06:41 (UTC)

"... It wasn't? Then how did he know?" Yuya sure wasn't the one who told him about any desire to kiss his best friend! "That was when you were split, right?"

Maybe he did just forget what exactly they talked about. Being in two and then one again was probably disorienting.

...Ah.

"Auh-" Hmm. "...It was, yes... ...I, the man Gongenzaka, do at least recall explaining how I had come to split apart..."

He frowns. "...Repeating the phrase which caused it is not the same as discussion, however..."

Now he's just being pedantic. Yuya wrinkles his nose. "I don't think Lambert needed more than that to get it."

After all, he's kinda been in that place too. In love. Perhaps nervous about how your feelings would be returned. "And we did figure it out."

It's Gongenzaka, Yuuya. "It- It is still not enough to be teasing about!!" he protests, huffing.

"...Even if we did!"

Buddy.

"It's Lambert." He's kind of a huge bully, he doesn't need much to start teasing. But Yuya probably knows him better--he also knows about his marshallowly soft core, and he doesn't entirely mean to be mean about it.

At least, it's not teasing because he disapproves of it. "I wasn't being that serious... would it bother you?"

Yes.

It does. ...But...

He sighs. "Mnh... ...I, the man Gongenzaka, shall put up with what comes..."

He will deal.

"He won't mean it in a bad way." And Yuya's certain about this because he knows his relationship with Childermass, and he's seen the more private parts of that (not those parts). And Yuya hasn't thought about running around telling people, because it's just not the most important thing. But, well, focusing on that little moment of normalcy is a little anchoring, in that maybe he can use it to convince himself they'll definitely save Lambert.

To that, Gongenzaka simply sighs. "If you say so, Yuuya..."

Maybe they should just sleep while they're still in this (relatively) good mood.

Yuya starts to say something in response, but that's when their hour is up and in an instant the lights within the cell shut off. Yuya's spots continue to glow, and unfortunately he can't turn those off. But with the magic mental encouragement... it shouldn't disrupt them too much anyway.

He shifts a little closer and rests his head against Gongenzaka's collarbone, absently considering how this has changed between them. Gongenzaka's suffocating, overly enthusiastic hugs feel more distant as the natural space between them has closed up (at least, until Gon delivers another one and Yuya has to fear for his spine). There's probably more, that was so gradual Yuya didn't even notice it was happening. He doesn't really want this to be how it ends.

Everyone else probably feels the same way, so Yuya holds onto that thought for what resolve he needs to push forward. He's not really looking forward to what's going to haunt him in his sleep, but there's something important he needs to do. He needs to remember it.

"Good night, Gongenzaka," he mumbles, closing his eyes.

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⇨ POLARIS 2.0

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