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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Still, the charge did have some merit. Neji slips into his classic fighting stance- left hand out, palm forward, the guard. Right leg ahead to anticipate movement, left leg held back to act as the brace. And as Lee begins his assault, Neji's able to deftly defend against the kicks, the punches. Either taking the brunt of the blow (he'd rather not) with a layer of chakra between him and the strike or deflecting it. But if this was going to turn into a battle of speed (which he predicted it should)-- and shit that kick came close--
Neji jumps back- he needs the distance. Needs to find something to guard his back. He's against a tree in a second, all but glaring daggers at the moron ahead.] If it hadn't been me before, how could I be telling you what happened? I'm not the enemy, Lee!
[Or--] Are my eyes black?
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Neji... [Great. Now he's starting to weep again, and he shakes his head.]
Of course you are not! How... how could you ever be an enemy... when you are my eternal rival?!
[Lee dashes forward again, but this time he's trying to deliver a hug.]
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[And then the blockhead's on the move again. Neji's eyes widen in anticipation and he instinctively attempts to move back. Only he can't, obviously, because of that tree he had put himself against. Gods' sakes...
No, no, he's sorry, he can't do it. Not right now, not when his throat wants to close up and not when Lee's rushing him like a bull. Not when they're covered in charred slug guts. (Not when it'd remind him of Hinata's embrace. Which, speaking of-) No, he won't do it if he's feeling wholly unprepared.
At the last possible moment, Neji steps to one side. Turns on his heels and places a heavy hand on Lee's shoulder and gives it a rare, faint grip.] I'm here now, Lee. Don't go around making me want to doubt it. [His head was swimming in doubts. He didn't need the help.] I want to talk to you. In the trees. I don't want us just standing here, not if I can't see what's coming after us next.
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I... I will not give you doubt, Neji! I promise! Yes... Let us exchange our heartfelt words in the treetops! It will be the perfect setting!
[Without another word, Lee hops and zips right up to the top of the nearest tree.]
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Neji swiftly follows, half thinking he should warn Lee that these trees' branches weren't as strong as the ones bordering Konoha. But, seriously, the guy can figure that much out on his own. Settling, he closes his eyes for a moment and sighs.
Where to start?] You came out of the gathering unharmed? [Good a place as any.]
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No! I received several injuries during that gathering. [He states that very casually.] However, my fighting spirit still burns brightly!
Neji, what about you?!
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[Of course, he couldn't know if Lee had been fighting every. single. monster. But it was Lee, and Neji would like to err on the side of caution... forevermore, basically.
He shakes his head.] I wasn't injured. I wasn't fully prepared for it, either. There were so many people it was a relief to get out of there, though. How long has it been for you since we met in the last ViViD session? [Lookit him, using proper terms.] Less than a day, like it has been for me?
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...Erring on the side of caution definitely is the wise choice in this scenario.]
I am glad that you are well! Ah... [But he frowns as he hears that question. It reminds him of the pain that he felt after Neji's disappearance.] It - it has been longer for me...
...But not very long! D-do not worry! Neji, the important thing is that you are here now!
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Gross.
He hums, entirely lost in his own thoughts. A good thing he was here? He'd already begun to wonder.] You didn't tell me Hinata-sama was in this world as well.
[Not mad, just disappointed. He hopes she hasn't been brought into this new game.]
I can't see the world the way I used to, Lee. I've never been faced with this challenge before. You know that. I need you to define things clearly for me, at least until I can understand this better. Will you?
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...Yes. Neji, I understand. And I am very sorry, that I did not think to mention Hinata-san's presence in this world. I promise... to be absolutely promise from now on, to every last detail! Anything for you, Neji! The time has been about one whole week since the game where I last saw you!!
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Tries to make amends and attempts a small smile--
but he's sorry, he really can't.] Don't worry too much about it, Lee. She was doing well last I saw her.
[A whole week...? But no, he'd been shoved from one game into the next and into-- augh, but this wasn't the place for it. Neji remembers he's not the only one with someone treasured here.] Yuri. I met with her in that room we were put in. She got herself a sword before we were separated.
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But then he looks alarmed at the next bit of news inching forward as his heart races with concern for Yuri.]
Yuri... Is that so?! Was she alright? [A sword- she's never wielded a sword before, to his knowledge. He wonders if she can hold it well enough.]
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For some reason, being alive in a real world was unnerving. Overwhelming all over again, and so nothing to dote on now. Neji watches Lee for a moment longer than he possibly should. He wanted his friend to settle, to not be so brash
but it'd be a losing battle and besides, Neji recognized fully that his wish wasn't a need. He nods- short but self assured and every bit ready to get back to the mission at hand.] Yeah, we stayed together as long as we could. It wasn't until we were out in this jungle that we lost one another. [Neji Hyuga, admitting he'd gone and lost someone.]
She hadn't suffered any injuries up until then and she's capable of defending herself. I trust she's been alright. Though if you want to try a hand at finding her yourself- it was in this direction that I last saw her.
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I am sure that she is alright. But I would be glad to try to find her, Neji, and I will shout out to you when I do!!