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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He doesn't expect to see Nico here of all places. There's an instant when he's grabbed that Will quickly rolls over every single thing he's been taught at camp about self-defense but then he's turning on his heel and instantly knows who it is dragging him along. He doesn't fight Nico but runs with him. Nico's been here longer and Will is just going to trust that he'll know what to do in this situation.
If only he knew what Nico was planning. Then he might of put his foot down. But, you know. All hell was breaking out so it wasn't really crossing his mind just then.)
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They step out on the other side of the building and into a jungle, and Nico doesn't waste a moment before turning around to quickly look Will over and demand:] Are you alright?
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(But his sudden complaint gets lost as the sensation of shadow-traveling welcomes him. It's horrifying and exhilarating all at the same time, a little bit like Nico himself, and then they're gone and out of it.
Will's left blinking in a mildly stunned daze. He snaps out of it the moment Nico speaks to him and shakes his head, looking down at the other boy.)
I'm fine but...
(His mouth screws up into a scowl.)
What was that about? I literally just told you no-
(He stops talking then. A few emotions flicker over his face then. Confusion, first and foremost, which is overridden by realization and then this moment of frustration followed up by the finale: smugness.
Will places his hands onto his hips and smirks down at Nico.)
So. I'm here.
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Nico lunges forward, but this time, he doesn't punch him. This time, he throws his arms around him in a tight hug. Finally, after so many months, he's not alone anymore but at the same time...] I'm sorry. I'm sorry you're stuck here now. I'm so sorry, Will.
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There's a bit of red in the tips of his ears and he's trying really, really hard to ignore that.
His arms slide up and clamp down around Nico to make this a fully satisfying hug and yeah wow this is maybe the best day ever? It's up there. Reeeeeally high up there. Focus Will.)
Hey, it's okay. Believe it or not, I'm fully capable of handling myself. I was trained as a demigod too, you know. Monsters aren't really new to me.
(He lightly strokes his hand over the middle of Nico's back before giving the smaller kid a full-bodied squeeze.)
Gotta say I prefer this sort of greeting a lot more than a punch to the face. Anyone ever tell you that for a cold little Hot Topic poster child that you give some rockin' hugs?
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[... But then he's realizing, oh, yeah, right, he's actually hugging Will, so he pulls back with a blush, heart suddenly hammering in his chest.]
We should... move away from here. Go into the jungle. Find cover. Maybe Cerberus. He might be here. Yeah. [Totally stammering, yup.]
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(His voice is surprisingly quiet for the moment. He might not know Nico as well as others but that tone felt a little different somehow.
But then just as quickly as Will begins to pay attention to it, Nico is pulling away from him and putting a bit of distance between them. Will would be completely disappointed with this change if it weren't for Nico's expression. It makes something warm twist up in his chest and he's automatically grinning.)
Yeah, probably would be a safe bet. Cerberus. Right, yeah.
(Then he seems to realize what Nico just said and his jaw drops open a bit. He can't help it, okay???)
Wait. You mean....literally Cerberus? Like. As in. The Cerberus? Your dad's guard dog?
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Wait, are you telling me that the dog of Hades has a pedigree?
(Damn it, Will. Try being properly scared by the whole Hades and son thing for once.)
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(Will rolls his eyes right back at Nico because really. He wasn't an amateur.)
Yeah, yeah. I'm not an idiot. Hold on a sec, would you?
(He pulls himself away from Nico and makes quick work of his dress coat. It's a jungle, after all, and Will is so not down to be drenched in sweat. He drops the coat completely and untucks his shirt and rolls the sleeves up. He loosens up his tie and then readjusts his bow and arrows over onto his shoulders.)
All right. Lead on.
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Nico clears his throat and pointedly does not look at Will once he's all ready to go.] Uhm, so... this way. [He randomly picks a direction and starts walking. It's probably not safe going into the forest, but it's probably not safe standing next to the doors where a mod of people with weapons might come burst out at any moment either. He'll take a single monster or two versus a mob of people right now.]
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Will follows diligently and eventually winds up walking next to Nico instead of behind him. Not that walking behind him had been all that bad. They walk a good couple of feet before Will casually clears his own throat.)
Soooo.
(He looks at Nico from the corner of his eye.)
You realize I'm gonna have to check you out later, right?
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I mean, I'm fine. Really.
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Humor me, okay? In all fairness to me, the last I saw you, you weren't looking your best.
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...Yeah, you do. But I'm still not satisfied. At least let me check the basics. Sound fair? That way I can rest easy and you can say 'I told you so'. We both win.
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[And since it can't hurt to check...]
Did anything else happen to you between when you were in that ridiculous outfit til you showed up in that ballroom just now?
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(Will's smile is probably way too ridiculous to be normal.
The question surprises him though and he winds up looking down at himself before over at Nico again.)
You mean that really awesome outfit? No.
(He points to the part of his face that Nico had punched and there was a faded bruise that wasn't all that noticeable anymore.)
You were the only thing that really happened to me between now and then. I mean other than the whole dating profile back there. Did you see my profile?
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No, I didn't see your profile. I was more focused on other things. [Like finding you and making sure you didn't get hurt or killed because you don't know what to expect here.]
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(He is totally going to keep calling you Death Boy, Nico.)
It's a gem. You should give it a look when you have a chance. (Because Will's kind of a smarmy jerk. He also thinks Nico's reaction to it would be priceless.
That is pretty thoughtful. Again, Will is extremely capable. One day Nico would admit this.)
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[Wait a minute. There is no way Will is 99. His eyes narrow as he glares at Will in suspicion. Is this some kind of prank he's pulling?] If you were 99, you're older than me, so unless you got stuck in the Lotus Casino too, you should be dead. That or you're been granted immortality and haven't told anyone. [He crosses his arms, looking very unamused. He can tell you're not immortal just by looking at you, Will; he can see your life aura and it's not one of a gods.
He's forgotten that Will no longer remembers him telling him about being stuck in the Lotus Casino or that he's not from the current century, whoops.]
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His laughter is cut off like.
Really fast though.
His head whips around and he winds up staring at Nico because yup. He sure doesn't remember any of that. At all. Like even a teensy, weensy little bit.)
....What?
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