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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i'm not sure if i should be destined for such things
Okay. [ It seems as though the NPCs that have been successful thus far are making their way, limping really, towards those who have managed to escape the attention of their warpath thus far. Something Giorno notes quietly as he walks a little faster towards the exit. ]
It would be best if we left anyway.
no subject
at least it's much quieter outside, and it doesn't take much effort for them to find a quiet area in a thicket of trees. kakyoin takes a few moments to catch his breath as they come to a stop. ]
... may I ask exactly how you can heal injuries?
[ said a little warily as he starts unbuttoning his jacket. while giorno doesn't seem like the type to use the opportunity to attack him, he can't help being a little wary. ]
no subject
The wound of course, he'll be keeping an eye on as he half-heartedly watches Kakyoin remove his jacket. If the damage had been substantial instead of superficial then he could always pull off more than a mere button and use it to mend the flesh.
So he'll settle for a middle ground— ]
I have the ability to give life to anything I touch.
no subject
... that sounds like quite the versatile ability.
[ he does sound a little impressed, but that edge of caution hasn't faded; such a vague ability is a little hard to accept so quickly, and kakyoin gives a tense sigh as he finally finishes unbuttoning his jacket and shirt.
there's the axe wound, of course; though it's still seeping slightly with red, it's not too bad. but other than that fresh wound, there's also a smattering of older, half-healed injuries, and kakyoin grimaces as he pulls open his shirtfront. between the round punctures from wheel of fortune's gasoline bullets, the jagged burns from the sun's lasers, and the fresher cut high priestess had slashed into his throat, he can't help feeling a little self-conscious as he looks at giorno. ]
You can ignore the others. They're healing.
no subject
It is, and remember I said that this would hurt. It wasn't designed for healing initially.
[ That said, Giorno will give the button in his hand a little squeeze before he places it over the axe wound and presses the palm of his hand against the wound. The buttons slowly transforming into flesh and binding with the damaged tissues as it mends itself in real time. It's at this time that Giorno doesn't stop Gold Experience for showing itself as he treats Kakyoin's wounds.
...all of them. He decided this after he took it all in.
He couldn't look at all of these and not want to do anything about it. How was he supposed to leave him like this? Hands withdrawn to allow the process he started to finish taking place, he pulls yet another button from his coat with all intentions to treat the the laser burns. The bullet wounds... There's something he needs to know first. ]
Do you have exit wounds for the bullet holes?
[ Yes, of course he should have gotten permission first but he really couldn't have left it like that. ]
no subject
interesting. it seems giorno can 'change things into organic matter,' rather than just 'give life to things.' staring intensely at the healing wound, kakyoin doesn't even notice at first that giorno's prepared another button until he looks up. ]
... I just said you could ignore the others. [ it's said dryly, but kakyoin sounds resigned. judging by his expression, giorno doesn't seem like the type to yield easily, and if it's this quick and easy, there's no reason to argue over the matter. kakyoin shakes his head briefly. ] They're not exactly bullet holes, so there aren't any exit wounds.
[ pulling aside the folds of his shirt so giorno can take care of those injuries more easily, kakyoin's silent for a moment before speaking up again. ]
You're also a Stand user, aren't you?
[ that sort of humanoid figure is pretty unmistakable. ]
no subject
Compared to his last patient, Kakyoin's quiet hiss is nothing to the squirming and loud complaining his had to deal with. He had warn him ahead of time and it wasn't as if he hadn't done anything that wasn't wanted.
And despite his words, Kakyoin is being an agreeable patient. He'll continue gently pressing his hands over the wounds and repairing the damage that is being done. Of course, all while removing more and more buttons. (He eventually had to start pulling ones from his own shirt to make due, which was fine, having a shirt buttoned all the way to the top was stuffy anyway.)
It makes him wonder maybe he should start carrying around useless objects around to use in these sort of situations. ]
Yes, I call mine Gold Experience.
[ He'll take a step back and pull forth the entirety of his stand for Kakyoin to see. The Stand caging itself around Giorno, as it typically does. ] Do you have a name for your's as well?
no subject
Hierophant Green.
[ his own stand flickers into view behind him, its legs unraveled into those long ribbons that drape over his shoulder. hierophant itself seems to be silently regarding gold experience, as if assessing him. ]
I have to confess it's almost relieving to meet someone else with a Stand. There are other people here who can see Stands, but don't have Stands of their own and can't recognize them as Stands. It came as a bit of a shock to see something so contrary to what I know of Stands, so ... a little familiarity is welcome.
[ giving a quiet exhale, almost like a short, muffled laugh as he also looks to gold experience. ]
no subject
It sounds as if you know a lot about Stands. [ Giorno had been given a very brief talk about some of the semantics of Stands and how some of them work but honestly, he was still in the dark about a lot of them. It was strange to have people here who could see Stands but have none themselves but then again there were also people here who could do extraordinary things themselves.
But then again, that was probably the nature of this place to begin with. There was always going to be some strange overlap that he could never account for. Shifting only a little bit where he stood, he takes a look at Heirophant Green. It's eyes vaguely reminded Giorno of his own Gold Experience. ]
I wish I could say the same when it came to my own knowledge. These abilities and what he can do are still new to me.
no subject
... I see.
[ he has to work a little to keep the neutral tone of his voice; it's definitely something he wants to ask about in a less hectic situation, and he can't help sounding a little intrigued. ]
I can't claim to know everything, either. It's just that I was born with my Stand. [ appropriately, hierophant seems to lean on kakyoin's shoulder; there's a quiet familiarity between them that goes without saying. ] And I had the chance to speak to someone who knows a great deal about Stands. But knowledge like that doesn't matter as much as one's own adaptability, I think. The strongest Stand user I know had only had his for about a month.
no subject
I've only had Gold Experience for a month myself, but I've managed to figure out a lot about him so far. [ There was a lot of truth in adaptability but there was so much to Gold Experience that Giorno can't help but wonder he could tap into properly. ]
Do you know a lot of Stand users then?
[ Honestly it kind of sounds like he knew a lot more of them than he did. Here Giorno thought they were a rare breed only found within the members of Passione. ]
no subject