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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[ 'VR' being 'Virtual Reality', of course. Thankfully, he doesn't seem too fazed, albeit somewhat subdued by the daunting realization of his own continuing existence. Pretty meta, huh.
He brushes that off, for now. No use thinking about it. ]
As for fighting... [ A laugh, and a knowing smile. ] Often enough.
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[Somehow she's not surprised that someone who managed to destroy a whole bunch of enemies considered it like this.]
I think your skills will come in handy then. Are you used to this kind of environment? [She gestures towards this lush(?!) looking jungle here.]
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[ Or human, or whatever— he knows what the endgoal for fighting is, and he's not about to take it lightly.
So, yeah!!! She should have confidence in him, at the very least. He's gotten out of tighter situations, usually with his limbs intact (ha ha).
Wolf is also catching up with them, being that he was left behind for a bit. ]
As for this jungle, well. I don't mind the warm. [ A little chuckle, and he swats a bit of dirt off of Vietnam's shoulder. ] Let's say you and I take a little stroll on our date, hm?
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[What the heck happened in his world? This she also wants to know, out of curiosity. But it's not the time.
She'll have confidence in him! JUST KEEP YOUR LIMBS. At least hers will grow?!
And hi wolfy!!!]
O-oh! Thank you. [As she looks at what he just did. Now she is dirt free.] If you do not mind the weather, then we will be fine. Let us continue, yes.
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I will scout ahead.
[ Bye Wolfy... Sam watches him go with what might be fondness. ]
Let's go, then. Keep your eyes peeled for anything out of the ordinary, eh?
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[She had to check.]
And alright. [Vietnam is alert as she can be as they start to move. She doesn't even know where to start. Avoiding others who ran out might be one suggestion.]
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A shrug, and he offers: ] Friend.
[ Spoken out of earshot of said friend, of course. He keeps moving. ]
So. Am I going to get the name of my date, or would that make it too personal?
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How nice! No wonder you two are so close. [He came with him after arrival after all!]
Ah, I apologise for not introducing myself earlier. My name is Vietnam, it is nice to...date you? What should I call you?
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Don't tell Wolfy that. He'll have objections.
[ He waves that thought away, though, and quirks a brow at Vietnam telling him her 'name'. ]
'Vietnam', is it? I've never been. [ taking it in stride, though— ] You can call me whatever you like, but the name is 'Sam'.
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Wolfy doesn't want to admit, ah how proud.
[Sam these aren't code names! She needs to make it a habit to introduce her human name but oops.]
You have not been to Vietnam? It is a lot nicer than here. And it is nice to meet you, Sam. I will call you that.
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But he says none of that, of course— it just doesn't hurt to be careful, that's all— and continues to make his way through the jungle like it's no big deal. ]
I've done some traveling in my time, but Vietnam? No. [ And he never will, because.... lmfao.... ] Tell me about it.
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Instead, they're just walking along, like nothing is going to kill them. Also wow that's so sad, SAM, LIVE.]
Let me think...it's famous for hot weather, beaches and rivers, and green pastures, forests and mountain sides. The cities are dense, motorcycles everywhere, and it could be noisy. But move away from that and it's rather peaceful.
[Also deep caves but are we going there.]
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Motorcycles? Sounds like my kind of place.
[ Even if his motorcycle is tacky as hell and he should be ashamed of it, smfh. He's dead though, so it's not like he can go to Vietnam and enjoy being an embarrassment in public. ]
A pity I never got to go. —Branch. [ A breezy warning, as he maneuvers Vietnam to the side and flicks some leaves out of her hair. ]
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But look, she's excited!] You like motorcycles too?
[Don't worry, she'll never find out about his tacky motorcycle.] Perhaps you can get one here. [Sure he would have to save up, but you know.]
And also perhaps you can go when you get back home--ah, thank you. [She is easily moved and patiently waits for him to remove the leaves. What a good!]
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Well. We'll see how to make the best of our borrowed time, won't we.
[ So vague... but he says all of this with a disarming sort of amiability, as if he's sharing a secret without actually saying what he intends. ]
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It's not her place to dig into such secrets when she doesn't need them. At least not yet.]
Let's. There probably would be more to do with said time once we get out of here. [She'll let it go, for now.] Ah...though, what do you like to do with your time?
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In either case, Sam raises a brow when she asks him about his hobbies. ]
Careful, miss. You might actually get to know me, at this rate. [ A laugh, because what happened to temporary, huh!! ] But, let's see... I roam, I fight. I'm a working man— busy, busy.
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She laughs.] I could say I make it my duty to know who I am going on a date with. [what dates she doesn't even go on dates? Alright seriously now--] I see, work more than play. I understand, it was the same case for myself back home. I hope you do get some time off.
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Ah, I know what we're going to have to do with you, in due time.
[ that isn't even a response to anything she just said, Sam r u ok
But no, he just thinks her earnest reply is So Funny. ]
Do you make it a habit of being so gullible? That's dangerous, you know.
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Even while talking to him.]
What do you mean? [To his first remark. What is his plan...?]
Do you think I am gullible? Perhaps so, but that depends on whether you want to continue lying to me, or allow me to trust you. [Which probably means she keeps doing this because there will be consequences if you cross her!!!!]
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[ Using her words against her as an answer, how rude. The rest of it garners another soft chuckle, one that might be strangely dismissive given that trust isn't something extended so freely nowadays, don't you know. ]
Ah, but you sound like trouble.
[ He leaves it at that before addressing Wolf, who flicks his head to the east and states, simply: ]
There is a logout point nearby. We should proceed.
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And shhh, she knows. But she would like to believe in humanity. On occasion.]
I try not to be. [Try.] I believe I may be talking to someone who is trouble, however.
[Wolfy...what a cute...he's so polite...]
Sam told me you are Wolfy. It is nice to meet you.
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[ Dial it down, Rodrigues. He turns his charm up, but lets Blade Wolf distract from his antics by letting his companion play the part of the blunter of the duo. ]
'Wolfy' is what Samuel chooses to refer to me as. It is not my official denotation.
However, I understand that it is simply easier to call me as such.
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[But do you know who is more charming? WOLFY. It's surprising he left her continue to call him that?
Samuel, though.]
I see. My name is Vietnam. But if we all here are going to use more than one name, then you can call me by my human name, Sen. Now we are even.
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Wolf similarly looks like he doesn't know What The Fuck, but then again, he doesn't have features. So it's more like a neutral headtilt. ]
...Affirmative. Sam, Sen. Follow me.
[ Wolf basically says 'fuck it' to understanding this for now, and turns to the general direction of the logout point. Sam also just shakes his head and heaves an exaggerated sigh. ]
Whatever you are [ cyborg, human, eldritch monster ], we can talk once we get out of here.
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