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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ota!
[ That's nice... The first thing Shion wanted to do was question basically all of this because one: he's not that old! two: souvenir hats... aren't his favouite thing? and three: ...that quote.
This is all wrong.
To be fair he shouldn't be worrying about that now because he's stuck in a room and people are - rushing for weapons!? It's happening all too fast and Shion doesn't know where to begin! He looks around, finding the location of the weapons and then the exit... Okay, he can do this- maybe? But it looks like he's not the only one kind of standing around (possibly) semi-confused so he reaches out for the stranger and places a hand on their shoulder. ]
We should get going, it looks like it'll get messy in here.
Phase III
[ Now, sneaking up and stealing wasn't his idea because he would never do such a thing. Though, deep down... A part of Shion thought maybe anyone would be kind enough to help him? Going into a random stranger's territory is definitely a big risk, but he has to try.
He managed to swipe a small pistol which is currently tucked into his pocket. If he's attacked he'll surely run, but it's there for last resort.
...Then lights, camera and action!? Shion's preeetty sure he heard someone stir. So, he lifts his hands up instead to show he's harmless! ]
Ah... This looks pretty bad doesn't it? [ Duh... Shion only lets out a nervous laugh. ] But trust me, I just wanted to ask for help.
Phase IV
[ It all happened in a blur, and not even Shion realized what he had really done.
He opens his eyes to only see that familiar shape on the ground. Then the realization dawns on him and he immediately rushes over to the body on the ground. ] Nezumi--!!
[ Shion crouches down, and rolls the body over. He begins searching for any signs of life - a pulse, just anything, almost desperately too. There's too much blood and no way he could've survived. He knows that, but yet... It's obviously too late, he's giving into his own emotions, and he can't find himself thinking too rationally. He grips the body's shoulders and try to give it a good shake. ]
We can't meet like this... Open your eyes.
phase iv.
he doesn't even know who these two people are, but he feels for shion. he feels for nezumi who's now killed. he doesn't know that this is all fake. and now that they're caught in the rain and that their clothes are wet, all he can offer is a soft: ]
Hey. We need to get out of here.
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We have to help him, I think I can still save him...
[ he knows he can't. he wishes he can though... he really does. ]
We can't just leave...
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W- Well... when people die here, they come back to life. It's fine.
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iii!
...
Though Kaoru's reflexes are also incredibly sharp, so raising the blade up - ready and poised for a strike - is about as far as this punk gets before realizing it's a totally nonthreatening fool and not something that actually needs to die.]
Ah... [Just gonna. Slowly lowering the blade. Nothing to see here...] ...Help with what?
[Kaoru's posture is still tense though, because what's all this camera bullshit! Where do these cheering fans keep coming from!!]
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Wow... Your reflexes are amazing.
[ You don't compliment people who were about to kill you, Shion. Although, since Kaoru is now looking less stabby, Shion can lower his hands - although, he uses a hand to cover his eyes from the blinding lights. ]
Supplies, I suppose. I don't have any - ah, geez... I wonder where all these people came from?
[ This is too distracting..!!! ]
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Definitely glancing up toward the floodlights, though. What is this...]
...It sounds like a crowd of some sort? [Why are they a spectator sport, this is the wrong genre!! But more importantly--]
What supplies were you looking for? I'm afraid I don't have many.
phase i.
Because Leon's immediately whirling, sword raised, though he has enough control to be able to stop before he actually swings said sword. His brows draw together then, and he huffs out a short, irritated breath.]
Do you have a death wish?
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Naturally, Shion takes a step back in preparation of maybe being stabbed... However, there isn't any fear in his eyes! There's actually this visible sparkle... of amazement. ]
Woah... Your movements were very smooth, and graceful! It's amazing. Is this your sword...? It doesn't seem to be from that pile? You must have many years of training with it.
[ So cool!!! What death wish??? Did Leon say something??? ]
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The enthusiasm gets Leon to step back automatically, grimacing at that. Th...anks........]
Naturally this is my sword.
[Keep your grubby hands away.]
And naturally I have trained extensively with Chaltier. [...Wait, no, Leon, focus.] There must be something wrong with you.
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iv
Lili's been venturing through the forest, trying to find her way out or to determine what type of goal must be accomplished in order for them to be released from this game, but then there's.... this guy. There's this guy who is openly distraught about a body and she'd heard his yell and she's rushing over now because he doesn't look like a bad person.
This is the worst possible time to let down her defenses-]
H-Hey...! There are still dangerous people here....
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but obviously, Shion's focus about the dangerous people is out the window and he's focused on this limp body. He wipes the tears away from his face (or rain water? he can't really tell) and shakes his head. ]
I have to help him. There has to be a way to save him, there might still be a chance... A pulse.
[ Except there's no pulse, he checked the same areas frantically several times - nothing. ]
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But she's just going to steel herself and shake her head then, reaching out to the stranger and tentatively putting a hand on his shoulder. Even though she doesn't recognize the person in front of her, she's not sure if she's seeing the same thing that he is or something else entirely....]
He'll be sad if you don't save yourself too and--
And there's no guarantee that this isn't a trick...!
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phase i ...
[ Not having a weapon is kind of a bummer, but Saburo is willing to make that sacrifice. He looks over to the white-haired boy and squints as he tries to read the name on the profile (look yellow on white is hard to read). ]
Sh -.. Shion. [ Turning towards the doors. ] Ready to leave?
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Forcing everyone to fight for weapons, then fight each other... Isn't that wrong..?
[ Shion wouldn't even hurt a fly! Killing people is wrong, so he wants to avoid as much death as possible, naturally.
He has a profile too... Squiiiint. ]
Oh..! I am - Nobunaga? [ Seems.. right. ] Thank you for helping me, ah... But do you think there's no way to stop all of this-?
[ dreaming a bit too big there, Shion. ]
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Probably not. And I think if we get caught up in that - [ Pointing towards the crowd of people fighting for particularly large swords. ] we would be dead in no time. It's not like I don't want to stop what's going on.
But there is no sense in putting ourselves in danger either.
[ a pause. ]
But if you got an idea, I will hear it out.
phase iv
For a moment he watches Shion, a pang running through him at the obvious grief.
He darts over quickly, reaching out to set a hand gently on the stranger's shoulder.] Whoever you think that is, it's a trick. CERES likes to toy with us this way. This entire place is fake, nothing but a game. You can't stay here; that's what they want.
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He stares down at the body, listening to Quatre's words... They almost went through one ear and out the other, however he does pick up a few important parts: a trick... fake? a game? So he looks up. ]
How do you know this? He's... Barely alive... He's right here - is it really fake?
[ It all seems too real... Especially since he's holding the body of someone most dear to him in his arms right now. ]
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[He's still got a hand on his shoulder.] You wouldn't have done this to this person you care about, right? It wasn't them, but then it suddenly was.
[An anxious glance around.] It really isn't safe to stay.
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iii
so being on the opposite end of theft is interesting. ]
Really?
[ he doesn't sound like he's buying that, at all. ]
Come on, you can think of a better excuse than that.
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[ uh. about that...
also yeesh, where did all these lights and cameras come from? they're starting to hurt Shion's eyes. well, on the bright side (haha), it's obvious that there's not even a slightest hint of guilt in his expression or words. mostly, just confusion. ]
If you think I was going to hurt you or something, [ that's a funny joke. he's as weak as a stick. ] you're wrong.
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Unless you just like creeping up on people's camps.
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III!
It's a good thing his instincts are right; he looks Shion up and down, one hand on his sword, but he made no move to pull it out. ] What sort of help?
iii
[ marco's been having difficulty sleeping since arrival (it feels impossible, given adrenaline and caffeine and the probability of being killed), so shion catches him just as he allows his eyes to drift shut. ah, and suddenly having glaring lights shined your way, the raucous cheers of a crowd... well, it's no football game. he's tired enough that it doesn't rudely jolt him awake, but it does get his heartbeat to quicken.
resting against the trunk of a tree, a shield near to the crook of his elbow, his gaze searches the intruder up and down. upon first glance, as told by his physique, marco would think him harmless. but he knows better than too assume that now. he shifts his arm to lie it against once of the spears of the shield, fingers curling. ]
With what, exactly?
[ he'll give him the chance to explain himself, at least. ]
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I just need some help.
[ a simple explanation. there's no guilt on his face whats-so-ever despite being "caught". he wasn't trying to steal in the first place, so... ]
I... don't know where I am, exactly - I suppose. I was wondering if you did? I don't mean any harm, I swear it.