You've seen the flyer. Or maybe you haven't. Whatever your reasons may be, you've decided to log onto ViViD today at around 6 PM. At first, all seems normal as the game loads, and you prepare to start on what should be an average adventure. Maybe you'll do a little fighting, or some exploring, or even a little platforming. Either way, there shouldn't be anything unusual about this.
Right?
You couldn't have been more wrong. The moment you log in, something goes strange. The game glitches around you, whatever world that started to load seizing up and freezing with static, warping with strange colors. And then a different setting loads smoothly like nothing ever happened. The first thing you notice is that it's sprawling and beautiful, if not a little ostentatious. Should your curiosity draw you from the courtyard you've arrived in through the great double doors, you'll arrive in...
... a ballroom. Welcome to prom. |
PHASE I [ 6 00 ] There are tables scattered around the periphery of the room, and a DJ, somewhat out of place in this beautiful setting, is stationed at the back, spinning out tunes to help you get settled into the start of the night. On the scattered tables are... punch bowls? They look tantalizing, and they come in quite a rainbow of colors. Should you be brave enough to take a sip, you'll find interesting things will happen. Drink the red punch, and you'll end up in rococo fashion. Drink the pale champagne-colored punch, and you'll find yourself sporting elegant regency attire. How about that cool blue punch? You'll step right into the roaring 20's. What about that dayglo orange punch over there? How about some far out 80's, man? That futuristic purple punch will suit you up in Tron style. And then there's one last punch bowl on a lonely table in the corner. No one can quite identify that color. Is that ... brown? Brave this punch bowl and you'll be, uh ... richly rewarded with modern-day fashions. Will you step up and test these refreshments, for science? Or will you be the first onto the dance floor, or to make an insane request of the DJ?
Last but not least, certain Cerealians who glitch into the level may find they have a specific corsage attached that they cannot remove! If they stick around long enough, they'll find one other lucky soul with a matching corsage. This is your ViViD assigned date! No one is going to force you two to dance... but you might find that the longer you put off dancing, the tighter that corsage gets around your wrist, or the more it begins to prick your chest, depending on its location. Might want to rethink your position...
Dates: - Shijima Kurookano & Himeko Inaba
- Trucy Wright & Enomoto "Ene" Takane
- Adelina & Rock Lee
- Byakuya Togami & Lailah
- Archer & Touka Kirishima
- Sakuya Le Bel Shirogane & Maya Fey
- Leon Kuwata & Alisha Diphda
PHASE II [ 730 ] So you're here. Whether out of curiosity or you've resigned yourself to the strange festivities, you're in. Maybe you've been wallflowering it up for a while, even with the cool kickin music playing. Whatever the case may be, the DJ announces themselves (DJ Slim Shaydee, not to be confused with that knock off from Earth). You're welcomed in an enthusiastic manner. Also hey, if you're near a table, see those cute placards? Yeah the ones in the center pieces mixed in with the bowl of candy and flowers. You'll notice they have a neatly typed out list— DJ Slim Shaydee says whoever fulfills the criteria on the list will be crowned Prom Royalty. Who doesn't want that???
- Successfully complete a slow dance
- Do the cha cha slide OR do the electric slide without messing up the turn
- Make out in the rose garden out back
- Have a dramatic fight with a close friend and storm out (you may come back after)
- Comfort a crying friend in the bathroom
- If you're a minor, accidentally get drunk
- Successfully spike every punch bowl within a 20 minute time limit
- Confess romantic feelings to the object of your affections
To truly kick it off or maybe give those ambitious types a head start, DJ Slim is gonna play you (yes all of you) a group dance! Hope you know the moves to the Cha Cha Slide. If not, don't worry, the song will tell you every step.
Oh and one more thing — anyone who fulfills an item on the list will get a confetti surprise. What does this mean? It means a golden, multi-faceted little ball will spontaneously appear over your head out of nowhere soon after you fulfill a condition, hovering for a moment before it explodes into a shower of confetti. Enjoy!
PHASE III [ 900 ] Whew. All these fast paced songs sure have you tired out, right? Maybe take a sip from the many punch bowls around the room if you haven't tested them out yet. Or try your hand at fulfilling another portion of that list from earlier—by spiking the punch. Better work fast though, the bowls themselves refresh fairly quickly once they sense contamination. See how many you can get in one go! Or if you're not a dirty prankster, see how many people you can catch spiking those dang bowls.
While you're doing that, the DJ seems to want to wind down the energy in the room. That means, you guessed it: time for that coveted slow dance. As the first chords of the song play, the doors to the garden veranda and hedge maze open. How romantic.
PHASE IV [ 1000 ] It's the end of the night, and maybe you've been trying your best to satisfy all those win conditions. Or maybe you haven't! Either way, it's clear from the mood in the air that the time is drawing near for the announcement of the Prom Royalty. The DJ brings the lights low, and spotlights hit his stand. He brings a mic to his mouth, and announces grimly that there will be no Prom Royalty. Apparently, no one satisfied enough of the win conditions! How can that be? Surely someone tried! Well, whatever happened, the DJ isn't happy, and the lights in the room will come back up. The DJ will mess with some of the equipment at his station, and all across the room, small panels will open up near the ceiling. Pouring out will come ... balloons? And not just any balloons - they're water balloons, and not only are they somehow floating, they're coming straight for you. How are they flying? We just don't know. If they come in contact with you, they'll frizz your perfect prom hair. Worse, if you apply even the mildest force to them, they'll immediately pop and drench you in freezing cold water, leaving you drenched.
The ballroom quickly fills with these angry little balloons, threatening to flood the room completely if too many of them pop. Will you flee and save yourself? Try to save your friends? Try to reason with the DJ and stop the balloon menace? No matter what you do, you'd better work fast. The floor is already getting dangerously wet...
BONUS [ hour ??? ] Remember that garden maze? From a certain point of the evening on, prom guests have been free to wander through as they please. They're beautiful, a rose maze by day that looks even more breathtaking at night with fairy lights glittering and winking in between all the flowers and leaves. Maybe you wandered out there to get away from the craziness in the party. Perhaps you want to be a true wallflower. But should you explore this maze with another at your side, you'll find it a pleasant enough trip, and if you manage to make it all the way to the center of the maze, you'll discover a secluded little gazebo that seems like it was placed there just for you.
Go in alone, though, and the maze seems like a completely different place. The fairy lights will be dimmer, less pleasant. You'll hear a rustling too loud to just be the wind. What was that sound? Turn around, and nothing is there. Too late you'll realize that the maze itself is alive, and has been watching you this entire time. It doesn't like lone wanderers. Better run fast or find a way to get out of the plant's clutches before you really become veggie.
However, if you get caught, you'll be trapped by the sentient vines that shoot out from the walls and bound to the side of the maze until another lone explorer finds you. At this point the vines will reach out and snap up that unlucky soul, too, wrapping you both up in a not-so-tender embrace. You'll both be stuck there until you can do whatever it is the maze wants that will convince it to set you free. What is that? Well, it does seem to be fond of lovers... and public displays of affection.
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estoria2016-01-04 07:52 pm
SHRIEKS
He's about to warn his friend to turn the hell around or at least that the maze is alive, but it's too late. The seraph sighs. Why this? He'd thought this place was safe enough, as he'd seen couples go inside without being harassed like this.]
That happened. [His tone is deadpan and may remind him of Edna.] I don't think the vines are going to let us go just by ordering them. Honestly, I didn't think the maze would be like this when I'd seen couples go through here unharmed.
[Couples...hm. That's getting the gears in his mind turning, especially since the plants practically have the both of them glued together and aren't letting go until something happens. Mikleo's just not quite sure what they want from the pair.]
SHRIEKS WITH U
This is rather uncomfortable, though. Not only can he not move, but he's being shoved up against his best friend? W-Weird.
Grunting, as he tries to reach for his sword fruitlessly. ]
Gah, if I could just reach my sword — I could cut us free —
[ It may be a ceremonial sword, but it can at least cut through some vines. Unfortunately, however, the arm closest to it is glued to his side a la vine. So that's not really an option. But Mikleo can enjoy all his struggling againt him to try and reach the sword. ]
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The water seraph lightly kicks his friend's shin to get his attention.]
Sorey, that's not going to work. The vines probably want us to do something before they release us.
[Mikleo sighs and doesn't say anything for a beat. Then, he looks away, embarrassed. This place is dealing with couples. So. Maybe they have to do something only couples do. But therein lies the rub. While Mikleo has no doubts that what the both of them is mutual in every respect, he's...also fairly sure that it's something that maybe they should talk about. Perhaps especially now that they both have the time for such discussions.]
There's...something we should probably talk about. Since we're stuck until we can figure this out. [This shouldn't be so damn embarrassing, dear sweet Amenoch.] Inaba sent me a message yesterday. She mentioned that she had a discussion with you about our relationship?
[That's. A good opening. Right????]
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They want them to do something ...? Like what? He's not really connecting any dots here just yet (thanks, purity), but he'll put thinking about that on hold to give Mikleo his full attention when he says there's something they should talk about. Uhhh ... ]
She did? [ Think think ... ] Oh, you mean when she called you my boyfriend?
[ That's all he can really come up with. Though he's not sure if he'd call that a discussion and more him being confused as to what was going on. ]
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Why aren't his hands free so that he can rub his face? Lords.]
Yeah. That.
[SOMEONE SAVE HIM FROM HAVING THIS CONVERSATION. PLEASE.]
Well. She asked me about whether that was the case, since you said you didn't know. And. Well. She's not the only one who's asked me about the nature of our relationship.
[Not. Looking. At. Sorey. Holy crap. Mikleo wants to abandon this conversation right the hell now. They can just not have this and be perfectly fine in the maze until the time runs out on this game. Right? Right.
He shakes his head. Yeah, maybe he should retract his statements. He's probably not making much sense anyway!]
I'm not questioning it myself. Don't get me wrong. It's just. [SIGHS....] Never mind. This is getting confusing and stupid.
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Hey, I know you're not. [ He believes him on that. He doesn't think their relationship is something they ever need to question. If Mikleo were, though, he'd help him out with it, but ... if he's not, then he's not. ] I think what happened back then was some sort of misunderstanding. I mean, I knew we weren't dating, but then I sort of got confused, so ... [ Ah. ] It's hard to explain.
[ You had to be there. Look, it's not his fault he went along with it so easily and she ended up turning it into that. Okay, maybe it is a little his fault, but. Gah. Suddenly he can feel the vines pushing them together a little harder, only for a moment, and he grunts before speaking a little strained. ]
... But are more people really asking you about it?
[ That's news to him. He didn't think their relationship was strange or out of the ordinary for friends. Or really something that needed to be questioned at all. And he lets out a breath when the vines stop pushing. ]
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Yeah. After you'd disappeared.
[Ugggghhhhh.]
From what I've been told, some of the things we do together, like sleeping in the same bed, are more...couple things than. Friend things. Especially when neither of us would think to do those same things with or to other friends we know.
[UGGGGGHHHHHH. There. He got it out. Other than his conclusion that they may, in fact, be right.]
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But we've always been this way and it's never been strange before.
[ Sure, their friends have joked about them being attached at the hip, but that's not really something that means they're a couple. They're just really close! ... Right? He doesn't think they've been dating this whole time ... Mikleo would've said something. ]
... You don't think it's strange, do you?
[ He's just ... checking. Have the things other's have been saying about their relationship made him think like that? Look, if Mikleo's concerned about something here, he does want to help him through it. ]
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No! [Hang on, he's getting control over himself. Lords. He's losing his mind.] No, I don't think it's strange and I never have or will.
[Their relationship, whatever the hell it might be, has always felt right. There's a completion with Sorey that Mikleo knows he'll never get with anyone else.]
I'm not questioning it, don't get me wrong. It's just that maybe it needs to be redefined.
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Redefined?
[ But whoops, vines are getting impatient again and squeezing them together. What a wonderful place to have this talk, Mikleo. Good idea. ]
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It's hard to talk when the vines are crushing then together like this. At least Mikleo's got an idea of what the stupid plants want from them.]
This is utterly asinine. [His voice is a little strained.] I've got an idea to get us out. And. Then we can resume this topic.
[The water seraph is blushing, embarrassed at what he's about to do. He swears if this doesn't work, then he's going to freeze the whole place.
Mikleo steadies his nerves and then brings his head up to kiss Sorey.]
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There is an immediate "mmnph!" of shock as he freezes up a bit, because holy crap. Despite the circumstances, he really wasn't expecting that. Especially not out of no where. But it takes only a second for things to click together — he mentioned couples being able to come in here just fine earlier, so maybe that has something to do with all this conversation and the ... kiss? Are they supposed to be convincing the vines that they're a couple? But all that talk a moment ago didn't seem like just an act, so that had to be real, but ... Wait, is this real too? Is it not?
Augh. Okay they can continue the conversation after they're free.
But once his mind's done clicking all that together, he comes back into ~the moment~ and it really clicks what they're doing, and maybe he ... blushes ... a little. Not as bad as Mikleo, but it's certainly there. And Mikleo will probably feel Sorey ... kiss back. You know. Because they're convincing the vines. And he needs to reciprocate it.
At least, after that, he can start to feel them loosen a little enough for him to breathe easier. ]
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Mikleo's going to die and it's all this maze's fault, with partial blame for Sorey kissing back. The kiss is nice, yes, sure, fine, he'll admit that. It's nice and it feels right and he's going to burn these vines if they don't let go soon.
This is stupid. Everything is stupid. He's so embarrassed and flustered by all of this that the situation has almost intolerably stupid to him. Crap. Craaaaap.
Mikleo would hide his face in his hands, but they're currently bound to his sides. So. He breaks the kiss and uses the next best thing, which is to bury his face against Sorey's neck. He regrets everything holy shit. Although. Maybe not the kiss so much.
Although, the vines are loosening a little more, so maybe this is okay, too??? The seraph has no freaking idea, but, then, he's feeling pretty frazzled, so. That's only natural.]
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But the vines continue to loosen, enough for him to struggle a little and slip one of his arms out to place a hand on Mikleo's head, patting it a bit. Shh, shh, buddy. ]
I think it's working.
[ The ... plan. Thing. To get the vines to accept them as a couple, or something. That's good, see? ]
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[That's all he can say to that comment.
Still, once the vines have let them go enough, Mikleo's going to grab Sorey's other hand. He shoots a poisonous glare at the now-cheerful fairy lights and greenery. Honestly, this is not how a first kiss should go. Maybe they can just not count it since they were pressured into it by vines.]
...Well. Let's see what's in the maze. I don't think the vines will bother us again.
[Unless they stop being couple-y for the plants' taste.]
Also, if it's all the same to you, I'd rather not count that as a first kiss.
[Let's be real, here, it can be a hell of a lot better than being pushed to it by vines threatening to crush them if they don't.]
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But he nods at that first bit.
And then ... ]
Uh, okay. [ A beat. ] Does that mean you wanna try again later?
[ JUST CLEARING THIS UP. Even though he doesn't think it was all that bad, honestly ... ]
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...I don't know? ...Maybe?
[Mikleo really doesn't know. This is so embarrassing.
Either way, he tugs Sorey along through the maze. He's quiet, trying to recompose himself after...all of that so that they can have this discussion. Eventually, the pair comes upon the secluded gazebo. Mikleo stares at it for a moment before shaking his head, sighing softly, and leading Sorey over there.
At least they'll be alone while they talk. That's a rare good thing to happen. He thinks.
Still, once they're there, Mikleo takes his hand away so that he can lean against the guardrail with his arms crossed over the beam, looking out at the maze. Fortunately, now the seraph doesn't feel as flustered, so he glances over at Sorey.]
I suppose I started thinking more about it after I was asked if I had the same feelings for my other friends or if they're just something solely for you. And I was also asked if it was more painful losing you than if it was someone else I was friends with.
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He's glad when they reach the gazebo, and he places his arms on the rail as well, standing to the side of his friend. This almost feels like ... that one night, to him. Their night in Lastonbell. Except this time, it's sort of reversed — Mikleo's the one who has important things to say to Sorey. Or at least he thinks he does. Either way, he likes the peacefulness of talking to his friend at night like this.
But he listens, before responding rather casually. ]
... And is it?
[ He has a feeling he might know the answer to that question anyway. ]
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I'd be hurt if I lost Lailah and the others, but it wouldn't come close to what it'd feel like if I lost you.
[Mikleo knows that it'll feel like he's only half a person. As irreplaceable as the others are, the hole Sorey will leave is bigger and more consuming. The seraph shakes his head gently.]
When you went missing, it was like...suddenly, the other half of myself was gone with you. I didn't know where you went or if you were even okay, and all I wanted to do was not rest until I found you.
ok this has zestiria spoilers in it now
But first, he feels the need to say this again: ] ... Sorry you went through that. [ And that you will in the future, for a much longer period of time.
And he gives a short, breathy laugh, as he looks over at him. ] I think I would've felt the same way. [ And then he switches his gaze to the garden. ] Back when we split up in Ladylake, things weren't the same without you. It wasn't as fun. Even Lailah could tell how I felt. [ Not to mention, he "suddenly" got better with his Shepherd powers when he got Mikleo back with him. He just ... doesn't function at his best without him, apparently. ] If you disappeared from here like I did, they'd probably have to lock me in my room to keep me from looking for you. [ Hahah ... He'd have been scolded a lot if it were Mikleo who disappeared instead, that's for sure.
So he does share the same feelings Mikleo does on this matter. ]
Let's just say Zesty spoilers from here on out, jic
He blinks a little at the admission, glancing over at his companion. Then, Mikleo gets a small smile on his face when Sorey says he might have been locked in his room in order to prevent him from wearing himself out looking for the seraph.]
Seems we're at our most hypocritical when it concerns the other, huh? I would've told you to stay and rest, but...I hardly did any of that myself while you were gone for three days. At the same time, I know that it's because it's you. I wouldn't have been like that if it was Lailah or Edna. I would've been more composed about it.
[The seraph shakes his head.]
I don't think anything between us will change, but I'm also not sure that 'best friend' or even 'close friend' is quite strong enough to describe it.
yeye
But he quietly listens to Mikleo talk, considering all of it. And then he nods. ]
I don't think anything needs to change. [ Between them. He knows if anything ever does change, it'll be because they both wanted it to and it happened on its own, not because others told them how they think their relationship should be. He trusts in his relationship with Mikleo, and feels plenty comfortable with it. They never really have to think about it — it is what it is. And if what it is should be described a different way, then there's nothing wrong with that. ] But if you want to change its name, that can't hurt, right?
[ He's assuming this has been leading up to using the term "boyfriend" or "dating" to describe them, huh? ]
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He looks up at his friend, now. The seraph tilts his head slightly.]
That's not something that should be my decision alone. [He smiles a little.] But I'm also not sure what to describe it as, either.
["Dating" and "boyfriend" are certainly terms that can be used, but...Mikleo isn't sure that those are strong enough, either. At the same time, he's not the only one in this relationship. This is something the both of them should decide on together, just like with everything else.]
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How about "boyfriend"? I mean, we've already been called that.
[ So it must be a good word to describe them if others are thinking it ... He's trying to rack his brain for anything else, but that's really all that comes to mind in this moment, so that's all he can suggest so far. Well, besides "husband" but ... they're not actually married, so that doesn't work. ]
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That's true enough. Although, it sounds a little juvenile.
[He guesses it's cute, though? Maybe? The seraph thinks about it a bit longer before offering his own suggestion.]
'Partner,' perhaps?
[That seems too close to 'friend,' though. Hrrrrm....]
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