Love is in the air in Cerealia -- or, well, it is in ViViD anyway. And nobody cares about your lives outside of ViViD, so that's all that matters. It's an artificial love construct, but for you sad, lonely, little people, it's probably good enough, right? CERES is on a mission to find you your other half, your soulmate, your one and only, and this is how they've decided to do it -- through technology and abuse of your private information! Welcome to your new love life, courtesy of ViViD.
For your convenience, CERES has automatically generated dating profiles to help match up the new arrivals swiftly and speed up the "get to know each other" process. Nothing like some not-entirely-agreed-to speed dating to break the ice and improve new relations! You're going to be here for awhile, so you may as well get to know each other.
For the older residents, well... you may very well find your soulmate here! You don't want to miss out on that. That would just be an unfixable tragedy. So here, use the handy-dandy profiles and find your new honey. After all, the information on these profiles is 100% accurate, certified and verified by Mosley himself.
Why would you ever doubt that?
 I've never actually been on a date before. Not that there haven't been offers but I'm just too busy a guy! I think to myself, "Mosley, me, guy who's talking to himself, why won't you go on a date with that nice lady who just asked you out?" And I reply, "Oh, you gorgeous bastard, I'm satisfied with my life as it is already! I don't need love." After all, what is love? Baby, don't hurt me. Don't hurt me. No more.
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PHASE I [ 6 00 ] Gooooood morning, new ViViD compatriots and gamers! You’re not going to get a lot of time to adjust and recover from your sudden retrieval from destroyed and sad code, really, because as soon as you arrive, fresh and new to Cerealia, you’ll be faced with a profile.
Oh, look, it’s your face! And… a quote attributed to you? And your favorite object? Hopefully those details are correct, because there’s no going back now.
You’ve become an otome love interest.
For those who aren’t brand new to ViViD, you’ll be presented the exact same profiles -- but you’ll have to pick one. You know how this works, pick the love interest you want to romance and sweep them off their feet. Better pick the right route too because, haha! You wouldn't want to end up naked and alone in a basement again! That would be crazy. Just pick some rando hottie instead, it's no big.
Or, well, that’s what they say. But then you’re dumped into a ballroom, dressed up to the nines in finery, and surrounded by other milling NPCs. You're given a moment to process the whole situation before a genteel-looking older man who seems to be running this party steps up to the microphone. Gently, he clears his throat, and welcomes everyone to the party ("Haven't been to a party this fine since I had all my teeth!"), and then he gestures to a pile of weapons in the middle of the room and finishes cheerfully, “Anyway, whoever survives can leave this room -- enjoy!”
It looks like the NPCs aren’t messing around; they’re immediately diving for the weapons, so you might want to get a move on.
Welcome to the Cerealia Dating Hunger Games.
PHASE II [ 1000 ] When you burst out of the ball room, possibly covered in the blood of your enemies (your poor dress/suit!), you’ll find yourself in what looks to be a sprawling jungle. In reality, it’s a circular arena, and if you travel far enough, you can reach the walls, though they’re electrified with no way out. If you try to get past them, you’re going to fry yourself before you accomplish anything else! Where's the fun in that?
The bigger problem is this: there are some unfortunate monsters on the prowl (don't they... look a little familiar?) in the jungle, and they are ready and willing to eat up anyone who crosses their paths. They’re drawn to the scent of blood -- and, even more so, the scent of people in love. So hey, if you're in love right now, it might be a good time to run. Otherwise, you're the top target and about to be hunted. Have fun out there, lovebirds!
Meanwhile, the NPCs (or even your fellow player characters?!) are out for blood themselves, so nowhere is truly safe.
Was that... was that a scream for help, or someone coming to get you?
PHASE III [ 1145 ] At some point, you’re going to need supplies. It starts to feel like you’ve been in here for days without any food or water (but that’s weird, wasn’t this ViViD session supposed to be just a few hours -- ) and you’re starting to feel the effects.
So, time to get in touch with your inner man vs wild. There are animals to hunt (deer, rabbit, etc.) and if you can fashion a spear or use a weapon you scooped up in the chaos, you can kill them for food. Alternatively, you can just try stealing some supplies from your fellow players. That's probably a saner option.
Which leaves you sneaking up onto their camp, full of sneakiness, and more sneakiness, and a little bit of stealth, you reach out and...
Suddenly, there are lights on you! Cameras! Cheering, adoring crowds! There's a narrator narrating every step you're taking (loudly) and there are fans hanging on your every move --
Oh, did that wake up the other player and/or bring monsters roaring down upon you? Whoops. The perils of spectator sports like the Cerealia Hunger Games, really.
PHASE IV [ 1400 ] You did it. Someone came at you, and you killed them. Their blood is on your hands, but it’s fine -- it’s just a program in a game.
Right?
Except when you look again, it’s someone you know. The corpse of a person who’s very important to you in so many ways is lying there on the ground, blood still warm but clearly dead. They’re solid to the touch. They’re there, and they look just like that person you care about so very much. Your heart hurts.
And you’re the one who killed them.
Then, without warning, it starts to rain because ViViD is nothing if not good at sensing the mood.
PENALTY [ why o'clock ] So.
You died.
This isn't really that surprising, considering it's the Cerealia Dating Hunger Games. People die a lot in games like these. It's the price of love.
Don't worry, though! It's just ViViD, so it's not like you really died. You'll get reconstructed, good as new, and they'll toss you right back onto the battlefield. Except, well... it seems like something's a little different.
For one thing, you've got claws instead of hands.
You can't seem to speak, either; all you can manage is garbled growls and sharp noises.
And, worst of all... you're really, very intensely hungry, and you can smell blood (or people in love, that's an even better scent).
So yeah, you're one of the monsters now. Don't worry, it only happens the first time you die in this game; if someone valiantly slays you again, you'll come back good as new, a normal person in the Games. What a weird glitch. There's no way that's on purpose or anything, right? No way!
[ Remember to apply proper warnings on threads with sensitive or inappropriate material and do let a mod know if your thread careens off into maiming or canoodling so we can lock the log. ] |
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bellamy blake | ota (cw: blood, death, etc)
[Bellamy Blake has never worn a suit. He's trying to remember if he's actually even seen one before, beyond in pictures, but suffice to say it's uncomfortable and seemingly limits his maneuverability. Pass. The tie alone is tight enough to warrant him loosening it ungracefully. His apparent profile leaves much to be desired, even if he can imagine Octavia making old man jokes at his expense. There's automatic rejection towards choosing a date, not even just because he hates being told to do something, but he doesn't have time to dwell on whatever the consequences might have been.]
[Because if everyone else is going to be diving for a weapon like a switch was flipped, Bellamy is sure as hell going to make sure he gets one too. It's probably not the smartest thing to do considering he knows the dangers of a mad crowd, but he charges in along the edges, weaving around bodies in his attempt to grab - something. Any weapon is better than just his hands on this point.]
[Someone swings a knife at his face, and he grabs his tie, ripping it from his neck and transforming it into a dagger. He blocks the blow and stabs the man without hesitation in defense. The body drops, but Bellamy only takes a moment to be relieved that this particular brand of his magic works here. He doesn't need to fight for a weapon after all. Anything here can be transformed. This isn't home and this isn't the Drabwurld and his entire body is tense, twitching with the fresh memory of a dead mountain, and he just needs to get out of this room. He's so tired of being yanked around in different directions; Cerealia's barely had him for more than a half hour, and it's already on his shitlist.]
[It doesn't stop him from calling out warnings though. He's all too familiar with being taken somewhere against your will, and not everyone here looks interested in murder dating.] Hey, watch it!
( phase ii )
Jesus fucking christ.
[The jungle is familiar in a way the ballroom wasn't, but it doesn't make it any less frustrating when there are a million places he'd rather be. His suit has been bloodied and beaten, ripped in convenient places to allow him better agility. There are smears of blood on his face, only some of which is his own. The general idea is to just - keep going, get out, find someone he knows (if they're even here), but he keeps finding some roadblocks in the middle of his, admittedly aimless, plan to just keep moving.]
[Namely, beasts. Monsters, whatever the hell you want to call them. He's not sure what it is, but they keep crawling after him like he's a beacon. (It's the blood and the love both, but if anything, he'll only make the connection to the former.)]
[He has no qualms against killing them. It's easy, almost tedious, and he's already turned a downed branch into a sharp sword to go with his dagger, looking far more medieval than modern. He's used to being hunted, and at least these predators are coming at him point blank.]
[It doesn't stop him from being an idiot, even when he's not the target. Any scream has him rushing off in its direction, likely with the intention of making himself the target anyway. He saw kids back in the ballroom, and if they're out here in the jungle too - honestly, what the fuck kind of place is this?]
[Or maybe he's actually found a moment of downtime and is vaguely attempting to deal with a gash on his arm from when claws got a little too close, ripping off the cleanest part of his pants to try and staunch the bleeding. Emphasis on moment: the monsters sure like to chase him after all.]
( wildcard! )
[ insert other scenario of choice here!! ]
phase II
Baymax had picked up on Bellamy's reading from a short distance away, and now with the man in front of him he can clearly see the gash. He approaches, stopping in front of him before speaking.]
Hello, I am Baymax. It appears you have sustained a deep laceration. I advise cleaning the wound first and applying an antibiotic ointment before covering with a bandage.
[i.e. Bellamy you stupid shit don't actually use your dirty pants, let him help you.]
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[And it's - well, it's certainly a robot that shows up and it's a little cutesy for a robot. Clearly not a threat, but Bellamy doesn't lower his weapon yet.]
[In fact, he does a double take when it speaks, because it's a very familiar name.] Did you say Baymax?
[Ok yeah, observations about the wound. He'll get back to that. It's hardly the worst injury he's sustained, and there are more important things to consider here. Like Baymax. Baymax, the name given by Hiro about a robot best friend - it can't be a coincidence.]
[HIS DIRTY PANTS WOULD BE FINE COMPARED TO NOTHING AT ALL.]
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Yes. I am Baymax. [The robot tilts his head.] Have you experienced a fall to your head? A sign of a concussion is confusion. I will scan you now.
[Bellamy apparently gets no say in the matter as a light blue light flashes over him while Baymax scans.] You appear to be experiencing a great deal of emotional distress. Often times, one needs reassurance to alleviate this distress in the form of: a hug.
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[It's not entirely what he'd been picturing, but looking at Baymax, Bellamy can see Hiro all over him. If the robot is here - is Hiro? Or is Baymax alone?]
[The scan sets him back on guard though, frowning once the analysis goes off. He lets out a humorless laugh. Emotional distress, yeah, ok. He doesn't mean to be dismissive, but he doesn't really see how it'll help.] Yeah, a hug's not gonna do it. What d'you got for bleeding?
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I do not have any record of meeting before. My apologies.
[But while he's ready to diagnose Bellamy all over again and treat him, they'll probably hear running footsteps over dead tree branches and loose earth, followed by a boy's voice.
"Baymax! Where'd you go?"
You'd think Hiro would use his helmet to contact the robot but it's not like Baymax wandered that far.]
Hiro? [And Baymax turns to scan the area for his partner. He refuses to abandon Bellamy while he's hurt, but he also has to be aware of the wayward teenager who doesn't take long to burst onto the scene, skidding to a halt behind Baymax and staring up at him.]
What happened to scouting and coming back? [It's then he spots Bellamy. He tenses up, locking his eyes with the older guy for a moment and there's a brief flicker of uncertainty across his features. He's younger than the last time Bellamy saw him, that confidence that came from war just starting to grow and a few inches shorter, too. But, strangely, he's not afraid.]
...that's a whole lot of blood, dude.
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2
He's caught between scrabbling at the ground to put distance between that gaping asshole mouth and scrabbling for his gun, for the ax he dropped out there, anything!]
Man, fuck this battle cry stuff SOMEBODY HELP MEEEEE! HEY, HELP!
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[It'd be easier if he could throw his weapon, a quicker kill, but ties would be better suited for strangled not slicing. Instead he just hopes the guy's yelling is distracting enough for him to get behind the monster, because he'd really rather avoid the claws himself.]
[But that ax looks useful. He grabs it from the ground as he's running and throws it hard at he monster's back, embedding it near enough to the spine to slow it down, but it doesn't insta-kill.]
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It roars and reels some more, lashes out with claws that have him ducking and screaming.]
Do something! [he screams at the guy he just realizes came to his rescue]
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Because I wasn't going to till you said something. [Doesn't stop him from grumbling a response anyway, even as he's already moving again.]
[He's up close and personal sooner than he'd like, and the monster seems to realize Bellamy is behind it, but not before he impales the sword through the back and out the stomach-mouth.]
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[this is halfway sincere, mind.
The teeth don't get a chance to clutch around the sword, to save itself-- it goes down, down, down to its knees. Shudders once.
Kaneda doesn't dare move.]
...That it?
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i!
... except there's no alcohol here.
so instead, she uses humor! it's the best way to alleviate the aggravation. she's stuck in a really dumb dress and a pair of boots (and blood on her nose though, always) and hasn't bothered to fight for a weapon yet. her plan is to use her fists now, kill someone later, steal a weapon from them. she's hawke -- no one's going to get the drop on her.
instead, she watches. takes into account any new people showing up, their various reactions to the insanity. bellamy's is interesting. did he just make a weapon? maker. when he bites out at her, as if she's some sort of threat, she rolls her eyes. ]
Are you prone to overreaction or is this just a Tuesday for you?
[ she gestures to the guy he just killed, looking a little judgmental here. that was a bit ott, friend. ]
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[Dryly:] More like a Wednesday.
[There's a cursory glance around them, but at least no one else seems to find him an appropriate target in this moment.] They always drop people in under kill or be killed duress? Or is date or die more of the ongoing theme?
[He feels a little defensive, like she's judging him, and maybe he shouldn't have killed the guy but - it wasn't like Bellamy himself started it.]
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instead, she moves on with humor. she opens her mouth to retort when a body falls to the ground next to her and she frowns down at it. she toes it with her boot, sighing. ]
Oh, there's usually a threat. Some sort of wild beast or ghost or rabid friend. You'll always get attacked. It's just the whole "not real" part of it that gets pretty tedious.
[ she glances away from the body, to bellamy. ]
Have you seen the power point yet?
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[He jerks a little when the second body falls, but overall doesn't look much like he's outwardly affected by it. What's one body compared to hundreds, amirite??] Some of us haven't had time to adjust to what's real or not.
[He frowns.] Yeah. Shitty way to acclimate people, all things considered.
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[ she nods, agreeing with his sentiment. perhaps that was a bit flippant of her to approach that way? she thinks so but it's -- awkward. it's awkward of her to admit that so instead she carries on, light as a feather and ignoring any uncomfortable feelings along with it. ]
I suppose the murder medley doesn't help with any of it, hah! Stabs away, as they say.
[ a... wince, that was a terrible joke? was that even a joke? goodness, she's off her game today. she's going to keep moving on anyway because that's what hawke does. maker, help her. ]
A very suitable welcome from CERES. Most of it is lies but I imagine most people are smart enough not to believe anything. For instance, Flamines? All lies. Just met them. Probably paid off by CERES. Very... ah, what's the term for it, I know it. Big something. Big... something. [ she snaps her fingers a few times, thinking. ] Big Brother! There it is. That, that's the term. CERES is a big brother.
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phase 1.
[the voice comes from behind him, warm and friendly and happier than anyone really had a right to be, but if there was something to be happy about, it was someone familiar in the chaos. sure, she saw so many she didn't know, but Bellamy is someone she does, and the sensation of seeing someone you cared for and trusted in the battlefield...words fail.
a wave of force magic throws back the people who'd come within a few meters of him, and she laughs for the pure joy of it.]
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[It's Grell. Laughing. He spares a moment to be worried that it isn't his Grell, but he knows her well enough to recognize she wouldn't be reacting like this to him if she considered him a stranger.]
[Bellamy lets out his own short laugh, face breaking into the smallest of smiles despite the blood on his cheeks, and he's moving to close the distance between them.] You're a sight for sore eyes. Caught your attention, I probably don't have to worry about being any louder.
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someone might be in their death throes just over there, but she can't mind - in this bizarre, strange world, the sheer relief of not being alone cuts through being worried about dying.]
I don't know, if you wanted to let out a good war cry just for effect, you might need to try for it.
[hey, if it worked for ancient troops, it certainly can't hurt their chances of morale.]
How long have you been in here?
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[He snorts.] I've been told I've got the motivational speech part down.
[Does that count as a war cry?? Who knows. But he is all about the Caesar comparisons.]
Not long. Time's - fuzzy, since all this started, but it can't be more than a few hours since they yanked me in.
[Everything about the last twenty-four hours has been a very off passage of time.] What about you?
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[a pause, as she kicks away some reckless fool who thought they could take advantage of the conversation to injure one of them.]
You don't believe that crock of lies they're trying to scare us into thinking must be the case, do you?
[worlds destroyed and all that. it simply couldn't be true - it was only some scare tactic for compliance. the "videos" were illusions. clever ones, but illusions all the same.]
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ii
Yu can't decide if the quiet should make him feel uneasy or not.
It's been too easy to lose track of his friends in here. He knows Rise is in the level; she would have come to search for Chie, too, but he hasn't been able to track anyone down, and without her abilities, all he's got left to him is to hunt blindly through the jungle. It makes him tense, and he doesn't like it, but there really is nothing for it.
His own fancy suit - once white, show shades of frothy pink and red, how about that - has become torn and dirt streaked from running and fighting, and he carries a katana in one hand as he pushes his way through the jungle. He seems calm enough; you wouldn't know how on edge he feels just to look at him. When he spots Bellamy, he pauses, slowing to a stop, and then plants the tip of his sword in the ground. His way of showing he means no harm. ]
Need a hand with that? [ Nodding at the injury. ]
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[But the tip of the sword goes down, and the guy speaks up, seemingly not interested in a fight. Bellamy doesn't respond right away, taking in the full appearance and body language alongside the offer.]
You a medic?
[Even with a bleeding arm, it's still more important to figure out more of the guy's angle before he agrees or disagrees, apparently.]
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No. But I know how to heal, and I can help you.
[ He stays where he is, for now. He saw Bellamy start, and knows the look of someone dangerous when he sees it. The last thing he wants is a fight from a fellow colonist when he knows they all aren't really meant to be a threat to each other. He's been through this song and dance plenty of times by now, and though his own entrance level was brutal in its own way, this is one of his least favorites for pitting everyone against each other. ]
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[There's another few long seconds before he gives a nod, quick and slight, a sign that it's okay to move closer to start. There's no point in keeping the status quo; even if it goes for the worst, it's better to know.]
Magic healing or the good old fashioned kind?
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