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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cannonades) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
estoria2016-01-04 07:52 pm
ugh they can only delay the inevitable!!
[Was that....a compliment??????
Nah, of course not. Not with that huge scowl on Doutanuki's face. There's no way he'd ever be nice, right?]
But why do I have to show off if you're just going to find something else for me to wear? Can't I just wear that now?
[WHY ALL THESE MIDDLE STEPS? He seriously does not understand why things have to be so complicated. Just give him a jersey and let him leave, Kashuu.]
STOP WISHING THE CURSE OF THE ELDERLY UPON HIM
...Well, duh! [Huffs and puffs...] But some things look better than good, and some things just look good.
[Also, there always has to be like 50 unnecessary steps involved with Kashuu. He waves that complaint off!!]
Nope! I'll be doing you a favor by helping you out, so you can do me a favor by like, humoring me, okay?
[AND WITH THAT, they're probably already on the dance floor. Doutanuki will have to sandpaper the bottom of his shoes to escape now!!]
Let people look at you for once! Even if you're weird and grungy, you can still show off a little, right? Especially when you look nice for a change.
IT'S HIS ONLY COURSE OF REVENGE
Also, he feels like he's gotten the short end of the stick with this deal, but he can't get out of these clothes without help. Kashuu has effectively trapped him.]
I don't care how I look, but don't call me weird. [Or grungy!!!
But now he realizes he's in the middle of the dance floor and the tips of his ears feel like they're on fire. Why the hell did he left Death Grip McGee pull him here...] So? What are you going to make me do so I can get out of these clothes?
JUST USE THE WEIGHTS AGAIN gosh donut
You're a little weird, but that's okay. It's not like you're the only one.
[All of Kashuu's closest comrades are a little weird! But he himself is clearly exempt... Clearly.
Anyway, now that they've entered the final ring of hell, Kashuu shifts so he's holding his hands out properly in a position that screams it's time to dance. Which is, quite naturally, exactly what his plan is!]
You can dance without stepping on my toes, right?
But Kashuu is already expecting that!!!!!!
If I'm weird, so are you.
[Which those hand positions clearly indicate. What the hell do you want him to do, Kashuu? Is this some sort of dance floor scuffle? Are you trying to wrestle him? Did you forget that he's never been allowed in a formal setting before?]
................................................
[He just stares for a long moment, first at Kashuu's face and then at his hands.
Then back to his face.]
...
[Nope, this still makes no sense.]
What do you mean, 'dance'?
he's probably already dropped his guard!!
Good thing(???) he's stuck with Kashuu, who doesn't get discouraged at all! NOPE. If anything, he's only fueled by the fact that poor Doutanuki clearly has no idea what to do here. That means he's the one with the most experience, after all! That's practically like being in charge!!
So he'll just, you know. Reach forward and nab Donut's hands.]
I mean exactly what I said! We're gonna dance. Only one song, so it won't be that bad, and I'll even lead. That's okay, right?
[He says, like he's giving this poor fool any choice in the matter.]
you're just saying that to get out of further punishment!!
But with no recourse other than to let Kashuu do what he wants so Doutanuki can get out of these dumb clothes, he acquiesces with the largest, loudest sigh known to swordkind.]
Fine, but this better not be a trick to embarrass me.
this is a possibility...
[So clearly if Doutanuki fails, it's all on his own shoulders!!
Anyway, since he's not being thrown across the room in a judo move, he'll just start the dance up like a punk. DONUT'S HAD ENOUGH WARNING. On the plus side, he really is a good lead! He's danced with people who have two left feet before too, so he'll do his best to ensure that his reluctant dance partner doesn't A) trip, B) step on his feet or C) otherwise humiliate himself, get frustrated and storm off the dancefloor or something.
Tanuki's hard life.]
ugh it's fine i'll get my revenge
[UGH WHY ARE YOU YOU, KASHUU?
And good lead or no, with someone who has only seen dancing starting today, this whole experience is really weird and awkward. The first steps are entirely off balance. He isn't sure if he's supposed to step back or forward or to the side or jump kick someone in the head or what. Those first few steps seem like he's contemplating going with the D) All of the Above option until he starts staring at Kashuu's feet, and realizes what the hell he's supposed to do.
His life is very hard and Kashuu the Terrible makes it worse.
As he's staring at Kashuu's feet, he's getting the hang of it.]
Why'd you want to do this anyway? Is this fun for you?
NOT ON HIS WATCH PUNK
[HE CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH--
But really, Doutanuki isn't doing bad at all for a first dance. Kashuu sticks with the theory that swords are generally apt at anything that requires a certain amount of finesse and physical movement, but he's especially adamant that there are a lot of natural similarities between dancing and fighting.
With some styles, anyway.]
Mmhm! I like dancing, and I like it when everyone else can watch me. It's fun to show other people off too, though! I mean, it's not as bad as you thought it'd be, right?
SEE? THIS IS WHY THERE IS NO TRUST
Social skills, he aced them.]
It's about as bad as I thought it would be. [He's grumbling, but he hasn't stormed off yet, so that's...something? He's also back to staring at Kashuu's feet to keep track of what he needs to do. This is nothing like the fighting he's used to.]
Why do you care so much that people watch you anyway? Is it really that important?
WOW so rude trust your comrades donut
But then, turning his attention back!]
Come on, it's not that bad. [One, two! One, two! The beat's not hard to keep up with, if nothing else, and Kashuu makes sure to keep his steps simple.
As for that:] It is. [Of course it is. But can he really answer why?] It just is! [Nailed it.]
how can he, look at this mess cashew got them into
You don't know how bad I thought it would be.
[Which is true! Maybe he just thought it would be awkward like a middle school prom or something. Or maybe he thought it'd be like getting his head chopped off. Donut's mind is a mighty mystery!]
And that's not an answer. If you already know you're good, why do you care if they know it?
[He takes a chance and glances at the people who have now given them a bit of a wide berth what with the combined powers of Ice Queen Kashuu and his rabid pet tanuki.]
It's not like you really know any of them.
its just a dance PUNK...
You probably thought it was gonna be super awful! [Or maybe he didn't WHO KNOWS. Donut is indeed a mystery and Kashuu doesn't even know where to begin puzzling his weird grungy ass out.]
Mmm... [That said, it's not like this punk doesn't have a point. But it takes a second for Kashuu to put his words together in a way that he's semi-satisfied with... He's never actually had to verbally explain this before, okay! No one's ever asked.] Yeah, but it's nice to be acknowledged for the things you're good at, right? Being a good sword or a good dancer or good at figuring things out or good at picking out nice clothes... Even if you don't know who's saying "good job!", it's still nice.
E X A C T L Y - a mess!!
But you're already a good sword. What else do you need?
[That's the part he doesn't get. Kashuu is a good sword? He worked hard, he did what he was meant to do? So why get bothered about all the things that don't matter to a sword? Like dancing and clothes and manicures and...stuff. Human stuff?
He's so concentrated on the dance moves despite how simple they are, that he isn't watching his language and is actually being nice (?!?) for once.]
puts donut back under the cupboard tbh
BUT LORD-- Wow, was that a compliment?? A compliment from the gruff, grungy wild tanuki? Kashuu blinks, a little surprised - not because it's surprising Doutanuki thinks he's a good sword (they all know that every sword in the army is good), but because he's said it out loud.]
...I dunno. I just wanna be good at other things, too.
[He says "I dunno" but he sure does know. It's because a sword that can't be a good sword is entirely useless, but if he can gain value in other areas, he might still be kept around even if he can't be used in battle anymore.
But that's not pleasant to think about, so he just shrugs his shoulders. He's vain and he's always after attention, surely that's a good enough reason!!]
UGH why the cupboard, he can't fit there, let him out!
His attention is focused squarely on Kashuu's feet, so he remains silent as he puzzles out what the other sword is saying. He wants to be good at other things, too. Like Shokudaikiri, who was good at cooking? Or Hasebe, who was really good at following orders? Or someone else?
Maybe it has to do with the fact that they all just want to be kept and be used. They're all tools in the end, and a tool is only kept as long as it's useful. His brow knits together as he tries to imagine what it must be like to be treasured. Kashuu had been treasured for awhile, but then he'd broken, hadn't he? Doutanuki isn't sure, so he'll have to look it up later.]
Is that why you're learning all that other stuff?
[Like fashion and this dance thing and manicures and beauty and whatnot??]
Seems like a waste to me. Puttin' all that energy into something that isn't going to help you be a better sword. Why not learn another skill like, I dunno, catapults or strategy? Or uh - [Crap, almost made a misstep.] - Hnngh.
no, no freedom for tanuki...
No okay, it's not... Also congrats Doutanuki, you've just come closer to understanding why Kashuu does all his inane beauty shit than anyone else. Or at least come the closest to saying it out loud... Even closer than Kashuu himself.
Anyway, since Kashuu's a punkass, he'll just casually trod on Doutanuki's toes after that near-misstep. It's a purposeful step; he's not even pretending it was an accident...]
Focus more on where you need to put your feet, or you're gonna trip!
fine he'll eat your shoes
Also WOW??? Getting stepped on in heels is not a fun experience and Doutanuki's yelp turns into a snarl as he realizes that the step was intentional.]
I'll focus on where to put my fist if you do that again.
why is he so feral
[The important part there is the "almost", but apparently Kashuu doesn't care about that...!!]
because???????? honestly can you imagine him tame? it'd be awful
[But hey, anger is actually making him look up from the movements and he's not messing it up(???)!
Not that he cares any longer.]
with his hair slicked back.... LMFAO
Almost! You almost stepped on me! Your shoes are really heavy, you know - it would have hurt a lot!
wearing a real shirt. it'd be horrible
Yeah and how do you think my foot hurts now that you actually stepped on it?!
time to clean up, donut...
...Are you saying I'm heavy enough to make it hurt really bad?
[Toeing a dangerous line here, Donut...]
no don't do it, he'll eat everything you hold dear
You and your stupid shoes!
this is why he needs to be put into a tailored suit.. so he cant move
if by tailored suit you mean dog collar, sure
he can always go to hijikata for that...
well they already fought each other once so...
DONUT WHY...
because he's strong?????
he needs a timeout
no he refuses
banishes him to the shadowrealm...
wow let me get my blue eyes then jeez
get exodia instead gosh!!!
NO, that shit's too hard and I'm lazy
YOU CANT WIN WITH JUST BLUE EYES who are you
i'm the guy who doesn't know how to play but who will kick your butt based on plot devices!!
UGH THE PLOT DEVICE GUY i thought they got rid of u
wherever there's plot, there i will be