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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It's phantom memories-- a knife in her mouth, a rope around her neck, bones broken shoved into a box-- we all return to water. The smell of blood is dizzying and it bothers Yuri more that she's not so bothered by it.
An uneasy feeling of coldness settles in her gut as she wordlessly makes a beeline for the weapon pile. Soon, she knows, she'll have to join that bloodbath. Kill or be killed.
'Could you kill someone"' Souji had asked her once, and Yuri had shrugged. 'If I think of them as bugs, maybe... Maybe it's better not to think of them as human,' had been about her response. Monsters were one thing. Defeating the spirits that attacked her was another. This? Was something else entirely.
'I suppose I'll see when it comes to it,' she'd tried to say, and Souji had warned her that that way of thinking would get her killed. She wondered if she cared about dying. 'It's just a game,' and yet...
The second her fingers curl around the handle of a sword that's not too unlike the sword she'd been practicing with, everything seems to snap into place and the anxiety grows. Her brow furrows--I don't know if I can do this, she thinks--and glances to Neji--But I have to--and she hurries to avoid a collision with an NPC.]
Are you grabbing something too? [Her voice sounds distant to her own ears, and she watches the NPCs like a hawk-- other players like Neji and herself seem more intent on fleeing immediately, while the NPCs seem more intent on actually trying to kill each other and them.]
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Not so many dead ones. They passed a few, but most bodies were just being thrown around. Running or tripping or simply staring.
It was terrible. Having to be one of the bodies without much of a mind of its own. Having to fight down the urge to turn and look behind him at what might be coming towards his back and neck every two steps. But his focus was supposed to be on Yuri-- and his hand's drawn back as she manages to move out of an NPC's way. Not his to slay, in the end. Eyes around her rather than on her, he shakes his head once. What a dumb question to waste their time on.] I don't need one.
[Move, he means. Don't stop. Because if you stop moving-- and what was so different about her now, anyway? About the way she held herself-- nervous? Now?
anyway. They're in the midst of it. One fist comes ridiculously close to Neji's right shoulder as an NPC launches themselves at him. At them. One fluid movement back and Neji's striking the man's back, center-left. With a cough, the NPC drops.
First kill, then.
Yuri--] Same way we came in. I'll cover you. [Hell, at least now she had a sword.]
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No, that didn't bother her. Death had been a constant companion for a long time now, she couldn't start being bothered by it now. There was always worse. Briefly she thinks of watching a man burn to death, of being that man, of feeling fire on her skin and honestly if Neji had killed that man with that punch it was certainly a lot neater than she was used to.
Right. Leaving. Her eyes go to the exit, attention split evenly between the destination and what's going on around her-- she can be a little thankful she's grown used to doing that much and could rather easily divide her attention so and avoid any unnecessary confrontations. This works rather well and she stupidly allows herself a moment of feeling satisfied that they might make it out of the room without her having to actually do something drastic. So, she's thrown off when someone actively approaches her with an intent to kill right by the exit. She falters, shakes her head] Wait-- [But talking, it seems, is the furthest thing on his mind.
It's a testament to Kashuu's teaching that she can easily tell his form is faulty, the knife isn't going to do much against a sword, and he's too close to Yuri for her to think about waiting for Neji.
Kill or be killed.
She reacts and her blade sinks in and--
It's all over in seconds. Somehow, she thought it wouldn't be that easy.
The body slumps to the floor when she pulls the now-stained sword out of him and she freezes in place, staring in fascinated horror at the growing pool of blood beneath him--it, the body--
Okay.
She has to move. She can't just stand there but, but.
Yuri had seen a lot of death. She had never actively caused it. Not even when she'd been in that man's memories and killing the shrine maidens it hadn't been the same and she felt dizzy and cold. Fingers curl tighter around the handle and she looks to Neji with wide eyes. She did that, right? That really happened? They had to-- They had to--]
We have to...get out of here...
[If she repeats it out loud it'll increase the chances of her actually moving, right? It should go without saying at all, honestly, just reiterating what they already know, but her voice sounds hollow and fragile to her own ears and giving herself a command and reinstating what they're here to do helps, somehow. Gives her something to focus on other than the fact she feels strange and fractured]
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Luckily --and he narrows his eyes to curse what he didn't do rather than what Yuri had just done-- it wasn't needed. Foreign as those sorts of weapons were to Neji he could still tell the strike had been well-placed. He looks on, impassive as ever, his attention wandering from Yuri to the other living persons. Back to Yuri. She'd delivered her blow, why wasn't she still rushing forward? Was she injured or?
Oh.
Those eyes-- she may as well be a civilian, after all. Neji moves closer, gestures to the sword, nods to the exit. They were close, now. She couldn't shut down now.] We can't get out of here if you just stand there. You have to keep moving, Yuri.
If you can talk you can move, so go. I'll keep you safe.
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[It's like the play button was pressed again on the world, everything rushing back into focus. She didn't have time to focus on this hiccup (hiccup, if that how she was going to think about taking a life but this isn't the time to think on it, flies they were flies and--) when there were more important things right now. She didn't feel like she was going to cry or anything, but she definitely wanted to just sit and stare into space a while, but he was right. They wouldn't get anywhere if she was just standing around, she'd just end up getting killed herself.
The first step feels like her legs are made of lead, but the next is easier and the next until she quickly picks up the pace again to run out in the jungle. Again she falters briefly out of surprised confusion--jungle wasn't where she was expecting this to lead but alright then. Her falter doesn't stop her from deflecting another attack coming her way, however, and she cuts the other person down, it's reflexes now, muscle memory and survival instinct]
Where--? [They had to get somewhere safe, or at least away from the main fray. She'd also really like to not have blood on her anymore but beggars can't be choosers and all that.]
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It's loud, most of all. And so Neji's ultimately relieved to be out of that zoo because the jungle (why a jungle?) was the stark contrast- vast, inviting, deathly quiet.
Not empty, though. He puts on speed to stand his ground in front of Yuri where one woman rushes them-- and then decides to scurry back. Curious.
Yuri's using that sword again. Asking stupid questions again. Neji decides to lead by example- that is, to turn sharply to the left in answer, waiting where he feels Yuri can safely follow the trail on her own. Some things she'd just have to learn. He couldn't help her in everything, no matter how much he'd want to think, for Lee's sake, that he could.]
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She follows after him quickly, pushing herself to keep up. She says nothing the entire time, trying to keep her thoughts from looping over the bodies she'd caused to fall. Packing it away and pushing it off to figure out some other time, when she could actually pick it apart.
Yuri trusts the Neji knows when they can stop or whatever-- she's more than happy to leave leading to him right now. Lord knows she wasn't in any condition to be giving orders or taking charge right now.]
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He keeps moving- gaze ahead. He can't hear any nearby disturbances. Can't smell blood or sweat that isn't his own. Can't see, not past the trees, past the foliage, the jungle fog. But what good does the lament do him now? Knowing Yuri is still with him, he takes another turn left. That will leave them behind the building they came from. Because if everyone's running forward, then this would buy them both time to acclimate.
Hn. Neji stops. It's not a clearing, but he can see to his sides well enough. He extends some chakra around him, invisible and exhausting, and then draws it back to only feel what he can't see a handful of meters out. Just trees. Vines.
It was useless, honestly. Tiredly, he sighs.] I must apologize, Yuri. [So much for the '-san'. Gods, he's just not used to it.]
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When Ndji speaks, she starts in surprise and looks at him blankly. Apologizing? For what? She tries to think of something he might have done to warrant it, but eventually she just shakes her head]
For what?
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[One would think that, after so many times being bitten in the ass from his assumptions, that Neji would quit being so eager to make them. That someone would be completely, utterly wrong.]
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I've been learning. [And then, because she feels like it deserves some kind of explanation, she continues] Death doesn't bother me. [Yuri pauses again. She'd been perfectly fine and as blasé as ever up until she'd actually-- actually...
She shakes her head] I've seen people die. I've seen the worst of it. I'm no stranger to death and dying and it doesn't bother me. But... I've never... [She trails off and bites her bottom lip, brows furrowing and her grip tightens on the handle before she straightens abruptly and looks at him] I won't be a burden.
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She'd seen people die, but she'd never killed. Let him think that over for a moment- it wasn't a problem shinobi typically had. Typically showed. First kills and the nervous bouts afterwards were typical for genin-- children.
Then Yuri's facing him, determined. It really was like she was two opposites in one body.] I already said that was my fault. If I had known it would make you so uncomfortable I would have stayed closer. We would have gotten out later and I would have expended more chakra, but we would have made it out all the same. Can you do it again, Yuri?
If someone attacks you first, you're well within your right to defend yourself. [Let it all be someone else's fault, to start.]
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[Or explain more now, if Neji thinks they're safe enough. It doesn't matter to her. But how cryptic... Her thoughts again turn to Kyozo. I must kill them all
I can't stand their eyes
I must gouge them out
They have seen too much
Fun times. What could have been if that whole mess hadn't happened.
She doesn't think it's a matter or can or can't, or even will or won't. If she wants to be useful, if she wants to help and protect her friends, if she wants to get out of here alive, she has to. Right? Well, there was Neji more or less saying it would be fine for her to just rely on him, and she briefly wonders if it puts more of a burden on him to worry about her now. He was giving her an out.
Uuugghhh.
Yuri shakes her head briefly to clear it.] I can do it. It's just... taking some getting used to right now. I can do it. [Has to do it, even if she doesn't like it too much.]
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It would help as much (that is to say, not at all) to wonder what kind of job meant only watching people die and what kind of girl twisted that into it meaning the lives were unimportant. So Neji shakes off the curiosity. Focuses again on the Now. At least now he's seeming a touch more sympathetic.] I'll trust you when you say that.
[That she can and will defend herself, despite her own protests. And hoping to buy her time to regain composure, the next instant Neji's jumping to a rather low but sturdy enough tree branch.] Please wait for me here. There shouldn't be anyone nearby and I'll only take a minute at most.
[Feeling at odds with your own body's doing, Yuri? Yeah, he can sympathize. He had to get high enough to see something worthwhile, possibly quit feeling so suffocated by being bound to proximity. Still, he'll wait for a reply before scouting high.]
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She can sort of see that this might give her some time to deal with the aftermath of this insanity, and that he's probably doing it on purpose (or, at the least, that giving her time to deal with it is a side-benefit of it) and she nods.
There's no need for words there, really. She trusts that he won't just run off and abandon her, even if he did she...wouldn't really blame him, honestly. She'll take the time to clean the blood off of her sword and remind herself not to completely shut down here.]