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.
|
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. ] |
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
... alright.
[ and while he furrows his brows when he sees vietnam pick up the rock, kakyoin does knuckle down; the green tendrils coil tighter, snaking forward to try and muzzle the monster to keep it from biting her.
he can't be sure she doesn't have incredibly super-strength, so might as well see what she does ... ]
no subject
There are just so many different powers in Cerealia that she's not even questioning it.
Vietnam's strength isn't anywhere as close to America's, but it is enough for her to lift this rock with ease. With Kakyoin having a firm hold on the creature, she doesn't throw the rock. Rather, she slams it against its head and away from the teeth, making sure to bludgeon (violently and repeatedly) until it's winded enough. Then she drops this make-shift weapon.]
Let's go!
no subject
the first heavy blow is more than enough to startle him, but the repeated thunks of that rock against hard monster noggin are enough to shock him into silence, and by the time vietnam drops the rock, kakyoin's staring wide-eyed at her. ]
-- right. Of course.
[ said a little stiffly as he slides off onto the ground. the long, green ribbons of his stand flicker out of view as he checks on the monster -- it's definitely comatose, if not dead. ]
I ... can see now, why you said you need any help.
[ he sounds equal parts curious and wary as he follows after vietnam. she certainly doesn't look like she has that sort of super strength, but looks are so often deceiving, aren't they. ]
no subject
The monster is not moving, so he doesn't have to hurry. But she would like him too, if only because of caution. Once his feet touches the ground, she moves over to his side so they can start running (walking), heading towards a denser part of the area. These trees should help cover them for now. And seeing as he leapt out from one, he might need them!]
A-ah, I apologise if I surprised you! [Seeing his expression, she wondered if she did too much.] I just had to find a way to make sure you had an escape route. You went out of your way to distract it for me.
no subject
at least he picks up the pace soon enough once he's satisfied the monster isn't coming after them; he keeps up beside vietnam, and though he still looks a little curious, he tries to wipe the surprise off his face. ]
There's no need for apology. I was just taken off-guard, it was actually quite impressive. [ said with a faint smile. he's not saying that just as empty flattery, even if it's strange feeling being outdone by such a petite girl in the strength department. ] And -- I appreciate your concern.
no subject
She looks up, he still looks a tiny bit frazzled. Not his fault, really, he just bravely held down a monster for her while witnessing her be so uncouth.]
I tried my best. I am glad it paid off. It was the least I can do. [She didn't want to think about what they would've have had to do if she failed.] But you were very impressive, surprising us all by leaping out from the trees. It was valiant! There were...green vines coming from your arms?
no subject
it's definitely going to take him some time to get used to how many people here can see his stand. ]
They're not quite vintes, but -- [ it's hard explaining it in a way that's easy to understand, without giving him the discomforting feeling that he's making himself too vulnerable, and kakyoin visibly struggles with his words for a moment before continuing. ] They're a sort of mental projection, in essence. Where I'm from, only those with similar abilities are able to see them. Which means -- I assume that strength isn't your only weapon.
no subject
At least Kakyoin doesn't have to feel lonely now?]
Mental projection? Something only others with that power sees...[She crosses her arms to think about this deeply, because it's nothing she cam across before.] I don't have that kind of power, but you are right to assume that I can do other things. My body also regenerates; as long as the wound is not fatal, I will heal faster than the average human, depending on severity. This includes limbs. I am not quite human, but a spirit of a country. What about you? What is this mental projection?
[You ask him that after dropping that bombshell?!]
no subject
-- or at least, that's what he's thinking until she drops that bombshell. ]
I'm sorry, you're -- the spirit of a country? [ he sounds appropriately incredulous as he repeats after her, brows furrowed. surely, she doesn't mean that literally. ] I think I may have misunderstood what you meant by that. I suppose I can understand it if you're able to recover from injuries quicker than most, but that's very different from ... what you said.
no subject
Y-yes, when a country has an identity. Like a history, people, then one of us exist. [She's still not entirely sure how, but since they appear as children.] It is how I am stronger than the average human, and also able to regenerate. I was once immortal. Not here, but yes.
no subject
You ... you're saying you're the personification of a country. So, a distillation of its population and identity.
[ it's too abstract. ]
What country, maybe I ask?
no subject
Just as you said. It ends up being a lot simpler only because we behave and have needs just like humans though. I must eat, for example.
[She bows her head politely.] I am Vietnam. You can call me that, or you can call me Sen. [She's giving him the option since he might explode.] What should I call you?
no subject
[ okay, no. he gives up. for now, at least. he really doesn't want to think that she's lying to him (for what reason?), but he also can't wrap his head around this, and surely there are better times to be struggling with this sort of dilemma. shaking his head briefly, kakyoin addresses her question. ]
I'm Kakyoin. It's a pleasure to meet you, despite the circumstances.
[ said with a certain level of stiff formality, though it's not exactly unfriendly. ]
no subject
But as long as he's not completely lost, because they need to find a way out.] You can just call me Sen. [No need for Miss!]
It is nice to meet you too, Kakyoin. I apologise if I confused you.
no subject