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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II
Her eyes follow the trail until they land on Varric and the crossbow that's now aimed at her. Slowly she puts her hands up--her sword's been knocked away, a good couple feet away from her. She'd have to scramble to grab it and she has no illusions to the idea that he'd shoot her long before she could even touch it.
It's a good thing Yuri's always been hovering that line between choosing to live or die, because it comes in handy now. She doesn't feel particularly fearful, just sort of resigned. If he was going to kill her, well... Well. It's a good thing it's just a game. It didn't really matter.]
Not very much. [She watches him carefully, looks at her sword, and then back at him again.] I really don't feel like killing anyone. Especially not someone who just saved me-- I'm pretty sure that's rude.
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Seeing as I don't really feel like killing anyone either - well, anyone besides monsters trying to eat me - how about we call a truce? The enemy of my enemy is my friend, or maybe some other wise proverb you prefer?
[ he'll even go so far as to step out of the bushes and brush himself off a bit. not much can be done about the dried blood, but hey, he can at least try to look presentable for a young lady. he's got a little class, y'know. ]
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[She rests her hands on the ground and bows her head politely, straightening to introduce herself] I'm Kozukata Yuri-- That is, Yuri is my given name. [She kept forgetting to switch that order around whatever] Thank you for saving me.
...Ah, I'm going to get my sword now, if that's alright. [Better to inform him than to start reaching for it and get shot by an itchy trigger finger or something. She pulls herself up and goes for the sword, searching briefly for the sheath to put it away before she faces Varric again.
She can't help but start a little in surprise--he's shorter than she expected now that she's standing--but she doesn't say anything about it. And since he seems more-or-less in charge right now, she looks to him expectantly for further instructions. LEAD THE WAY, DWARF.]
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Varric Tethras, at your service. [ what's a little good humor in the midst of slaughter and chaos? that's literally how he's managed to make it this far in life. he's not about to put Bianca away lest some sort of abomination fall out of the sky (it happens), but he's no longer pointing her at Yuri. ]
If we're lucky, you won't have to use that again. I'd like to stay out of the way of crazies. [ they don't even have any coin to loot. what's the point? he's got more than enough material for the next dystopian novel to rock the literary world by now.
Slowly, he begins to pick his way back through bushes, taking careful steps to not make unnecessary noise. ]
If there's a way in, there's a way out. We just have to find where that is. [ that isn't laced with electricity, please and thanks. ]
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[AKA guess who never actually had to kill things until today!! Seeing lots of death was one thing, but causing it was another thing entirely.
Either way, Yuri follows carefully behind Varric, attempting to step when and how he steps but her attempts at being quiet aren't nearly as successful. She winces when she breaks an unsuspecting twig] Sorry-- You make this look easy.
There's a way out, sure. But probably we won't be able to use it until CERES decides it's had enough fun at our expense.
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[ ... this is probably why the job of 'nature survivalist instructor' had been suggested to him when he'd first showed up. damn. ]
It might not be the last time but if you get good at sneaking, you can cut it back. Warriors are great, sure, but that gets messy. [ just become his rogue padawan instead, little miss.
and as for that whole CERES business... why is he not shocked to hear that. great. ]
Hopefully that's sooner rather than later. [ ugh, being out in nature. he liked it better back when he thought the stuff was a myth. ]
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Two steps, pressure light... She fails the first time and makes a quiet noise of despair, but redoubles her efforts and manages to avoid a few. While Yuri doesn't really do great shows of emotion, she does smile a little and make a pleased noise] It worked...! [She keeps her voice down too, because doing all of that only to shout her joy would be ridiculous.
Wait-- What.
?? ???] I didn't know there were other options besides a warrior. [She knows nothing of this life, help her varric-won tethras you're her only hope...]
The city is a little better. It'll get easier once you're there. [Unless, you know, you like this sort of wild trek adventure bullshit]
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So there is a light at the end of the tunnel. [ at least he has a goal now. other than 'don't die', of course.
carefully, he keeps picking their way, stopping at already broken branches and going the opposite way. ]
Didn't know-? Of course there are other options. You gotta do what works for you, right? Not everyone's gonna survive for a second running in, swinging a sword. [ he glances back at her for a second before looking ahead again, ] You know yourself best.
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[Maybe. Hopefully.
She tilts her head when he looks back at her, honestly intrigued. She doesn't think this other way would mean completely taking out the 'killing people' part, but it's interesting all the same. Might drastically cut it down, at least.] Where I'm from, unless you're going into the army or police or something like that, it isn't really something you learn at all. [Well there's like. martial arts and kendo and stuff but that's kind of different and would really just muddle the point if she tried to bring it all up.] I never had to before I came here. So, there's a lot I still need to learn about this sort of... world. [Because it does seem like an entirely different world, you know, between being a non-combatant and being one.]
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[ he's not surprised that she'd never really learned anything; plenty of people in kirkwall didn't know how to fight. just regular people. farmers. merchants. it just helps to know a thing or two extra. when he reaches another point he stops and points, ]
Which way do you think we should go? Based on what we're looking at.
[ to the left the branches and bushes are thick and undisturbed, while to the right there are a few broken, with a shred of cloth caught on a thorn. ]
And why?
[ like they aren't in the middle of a bloodbath. sidequests are important, okay. always time for sidequests. ]
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Well... If we went left and broke the branches and things ourselves, it'd be easy for someone to tell we went that way and follow us, right...? But someone's obviously passed to the right, and probably not too long ago [if the cloth is still hanging around, she means] and we might run into them too. [But there's two of them, possibly only one of the other person. It comes down to, in her mind, whether they want a potential confrontation now or later.
She suddenly looks a little embarrassed] Or am I overthinking this?
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[ he pauses, ] I could think of about seven more things but you get the idea. A warrior wouldn't waste their time with this but they wouldn't really have to, if they've got the strength to back up their bravado.
This way, you get to choose. Advantage is a weapon.
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I don't really want to fight anyone if I can help it, but going to the left might make too much noise and attract more unwanted attention. So going right and keeping to the path already laid out might be better. [And more people to fight if they go left and get monsters and NPCs rushing them. A lot vs. just one, she'd take the just one.]
You know a lot about these sorts of things, Tethras-san. Did you do these sorts of things often where you're from? [She's curious, so sue her.]
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And... what did you call me? Just 'Varric' is fine. [ the frick frack is a 'san'? similar to 'ser'? but in the totally wrong direction.
On the thought of directions -- he does as she suggests, keeping right and following in the path that's already been made. why not let her call a few of the shots? not like one way is obviously better than the other, in his opinion. he's got the feeling they'd probably attract unwanted attention anyway. ]
Watch your step. [ there's a dead body right here ]
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[There's your language lesson for the day, Varric.] ... But we're not in my country, so I suppose it doesn't matter. I'll call you Varric if it's what you want. It's just a habit I haven't broken yet.
[The dead body barely gets a glance, Yuri regarding it absently before she makes another noise. Idea!!] Hold on a moment, please.
[Honestly she hates using this part of her powers, but it might be helpful for the both of them. She moves towards he body and crouches down carefully, before taking a deep breath and reaching out to touch her fingertips against the body's shoulder. There's no outward sign of change to Yuri, but after a few seconds she stands abruptly and grimaces, fingertips pressing against her side in the area where the body had been cut into by someone else.]
...The person who killed him went a different direction from us, so unless he doubles back we'll be alright. [Yuri glances to Varric and then away, as if embarrassed for sharing the knowledge. Fun times.]
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some kind of magic? could have been. it's not like he's the most attuned to that kind of thing. ]
... That's a useful trick. How'd you do that?
[ come now, how could he not ask? though her quick look away does show that maybe she's not terribly proud of it. as long as it's not blood magic, though, he can't imagine what it'd be that would require some kind of shame along with it. ]
Not exactly something you see every day.
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It's... Where I lived, there were priestesses that lived on the mountain who had this ability. After a tragedy caused them to scatter, the ability spread through their descendants... Part of it is that if I touch a spirit or a body, I can [how does she put this] relive the person's last moments and see their last memories.
[She runs a hand through her hair self-consciously] It's not something common where I'm from. Here, it doesn't really matter-- people can do much more impressive things, but I'm still not very used to doing it openly or talking about it. At least, not this aspect of it.
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[ he'd say she might be better off where he's from, but... no. mages are treated like crap. if she's free on her mountain or wherever, she's better off, even if she might find kindred spirits in Thedas. ]
Thanks for telling me, then. If you're not used to talking about it. [ he's not going to look a gift in the mouth. ] If it makes you feel better, I won't tell anybody. I'm not too bad at keeping my mouth shut.
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[She's strangely touched by it, especially considering they're more or less strangers to each other.]
But, it's alright. The other part of my abilities include being able to locate anything or anyone, so long as I have something connected to them-- I've been offering the service to people who need help finding things--or people-- so... I have to get used to talking about it.
--That said, if you ever lose something or someone, let me know. I'll find it for you. [There's no need to add a "if I can" or something because, well, if it/they exist in the city, she will find it.] I don't charge, so...
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What do you mean by 'something connected to them'-? Would a dirty sock work? [ a little crude, but hey, maybe all you have is a dirty sock. it's not like his friends are likely to have clean socks. aside from Aveline, probably, but... she's scary. he doesn't think about what she does with her socks. ]
... As an example.
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I don't really have any limitations, but... If the token--the connection--is too old, it gets a little harder to track. And if the person isn't in this world I won't be able to find them. But... if they're dead, or a spirit, I can still find that too... It's just a little more dangerous.
[And then, quickly, she adds] But it's alright. I can handle that sort of thing well enough.