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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no subject
(Because yeah that really doesn't sound cool, Roman. Not cool at all.)
Pretty much anything you might know from Greek 'mythology'. There's all sorts out there. Hydras, cyclops, gorgons, hellhounds, harpies, dragons, furies. I mean, there's stuff like pegasi too. The list goes on and on.
(That and he really doesn't like the idea of saying some of the monsters. Like the Minotaur. Since that was generally pretty dangerous though he's not so sure if the Minotaur would be here or not.)
Oh.
(He frowns a bit in sympathy. It was never easy not knowing a lot about yourself like that.)
Well, hey. New place, new resources. If I've never heard of an upir and you've never heard of a demigod maybe there's someone here who knows that kind of stuff. Maybe....
(Maybe Nico would even know. That sort of seemed right up his ally.)
no subject
[ Pryce's experiment works but that's not an option right now. Roman listens to the list of various monsters and finds himself wondering if they're all just plain evil, or if they've got free will too. He's a monster, after all, and he doesn't want to kill people. That's part of his problem... maybe they don't have a choice? Maybe the demigods didn't have a choice... he can just ask, probably, Will seems pretty open. ]
Why do you have to take each other out?
[ New place, new resources... but really he just wants to go home and finish the experiments so he can be human. He had a solution. He had a solution and now it's out of reach. ]
Maybe..? I guess there could be someone.
no subject
(Since he was technically only half human. He raises his arm up and looks at it curiously. Only to lower it a moment later when the question is asked. It's a pretty good question, honestly.)
Well, we don't have to. And we don't always want to. It's not that black and white, you know? Not every monster wants to kill demigods and we don't want to take out all monsters. Like hellhounds, for example. Those things got a pretty bad rep being from the Underworld and all and in the wrong hands, they can be really awful. But in the right hands, they're as sweet as any normal dog.
(He smiles a little fondly then. Miss O'Leary comes to mind but also Nico. Nico who was surrounded by all sorts of creatures people traditionally associated with evil.)
The same goes for a lot of monsters out there. But then there's some monsters who actively want to take out demigods because of stuff that's happened in the past. Like the- the Minotaur. He's a single monster and has a problem with demigods in general. See, monsters don't really die. They get turned to dust in my world and then just kind of exist and then eventually reform. That's the thing. Monsters don't die. But we do.
(He has no idea if he's even making sense right then. He's not the best person to explain this stuff. Not as smart as Annabeth or as eloquent but he's doing his best.)
You never know. Someone or even something? We're supposed to be in a video game right now. That's some advanced technology if it's true- so maybe the resources here are in abundance?
no subject
I don't know. It might be fine... but I'm not going to bite you.
[ That's all he's got. That and memories of ripping into people's flesh and the warmth and satisfaction and-- nope. Nope. He breathes slowly and tears his gaze away from Will's arm, back to his face.
Not all monsters want to take people out. Good. Of course not. ]
So it's like an old grudge? You've been fighting how long, centuries?
[ Right, a video game. Sure. Roman touches the bandage on his arm and raises an eyebrow. ]
It doesn't feel like a game. It feels like we got taken from our worlds and dropped into a fucking hellhole and I don't know how they did it but I need to get back.
[ Him and Peter. Not just for themselves but for Nadia. She needs him. Hopefully she's alright with Miranda, with them gone, but. ]
no subject
Are you...sure? I mean, if it won't kill me and it'll save you then I don't really mind. I just don't want to accidentally hurt you.
(He means that too. Will just wasn't the sort of person who really wished ill will on anyone. Ha.
He snorts a little bit and even rolls his eyes.)
Gods, you've no idea. It's the Greek gods so everything is a grudge. Monsters and demigods are their tools to get back at each other all of the time. You have a god who curses some mortal that becomes a monster and suddenly that monster wants to take out every demigod of that god to get back at them and the god sends demigods in to try and kill the monster they made and blahblahblah. It's this vicious dumb cycle, honestly. The gods make mistakes like people do- just theirs tend to stick around for a whole lot longer. Centuries is...about right. Me personally? I'm only fifteen. Demigods are sturdy but...we're not immortal.
(Yeah Will doesn't really get that either. He shrugs at Roman and shakes his head.)
No, it really doesn't. I think we're in a new world but right now at this very second we're in a video game. Or something.
(He scratches at the side of his head, frowning. His eyes move over to Roman and he frowns deeper and looks down into his own lap. He needed to go back too but at the same time....
Nico was here. Nico had been here alone for a really, really long time. His hands squeeze together in fists and he takes a slow breath. He would find Nico again soon. He needed to. To shove it in his face that he was still here but also...just to be there. For Nico.)
Not so sure it's gonna be that simple getting back. There's a boy from my world here...He's apparently been here for...a long time.
no subject
[ It would only hurt Will, if he bit. And he doesn't think either of them need to have blood loss right now, what with the being chased around by freak monsters and everything. He thinks it over, as he listens to the story of gods and demigods and monsters. ]
Sounds like a mess. They expect you to fight as kids? That's fucked up. Why can't they just take care of it themselves, they're the gods. They've gotta be more powerful.
[ Roman sighs. Nothing is ever simple. Being taken to a different world sure couldn't be, and he doesn't expect getting back to be easy but maybe there's someone he could convince, whoever brought them here. All of this is just reminding him that he needs to find Peter -- what if he's running around in the jungle somewhere right now, alone? Roman looks towards the opening of the cave. It's stupid to go out blindly searching for Peter, just like it would be stupid to aimlessly search for an exit to this fucking place, but. Well. He never claimed to be smart, especially not when it came to Peter. ]
You know someone here? Do you know what he's tried so far?
no subject
(Maybe it wasn't a great idea but if it worked then that was something to keep in mind for the future, right? Will looks over at Roman and he's a bit surprised by his words. Sure, he's kind of heard something like it before but...Never so bluntly.)
...Yeah. Well. Monsters don't care. Kids get attacked by monsters pretty young because they're demigods. We don't have much choice. Gods....They're not ditching us cause they're jerks. Not always anyway. They're still gods. Got a lot of stuff to deal with. They are powerful but it's not like all of them can just bend time to have endless amounts of it.
(Maybe it's an excuse. He doesn't know. The gods aren't perfect but...But he tries to hope for the best from them. His dad seemed to try and want to help. So did some of the others- even when it was against the rules.)
It's just. Complicated.
(Always has been and probably always would be. Will wouldn't really blame Roman. He had similar urges to find Nico. He had done stupid things for and around that boy before and he'd do them again in the future. As many times as he needed to, really.)
No but knowing him, it's probably been everything he can think of. He's a lot more powerful than I am or ever will be. If anyone could figure it out, it'd be him. He's a genius and ridiculously capable. And he hates being caged up here.
(Will sighs faintly, playing a bit with one of the arrow heads, idly turning the arrow around against his palm.)
Maybe we could find him. Maybe...
no subject
[ He folds his arms over his stomach and tries not to think about the hunger, or about the razor he has in his pocket. Tries not to think about the people he has hurt, because the guilt there borders on overwhelming. He can't do it again. He just tries not to think about his own shit, so he thinks about Will's shit. Gods and monsters; things bigger than him. ]
If you say so I believe you, but no matter how much I had to deal with I'd protect my kids. Especially if I knew I could.
[ It's none of his business really. But Will can probably tell that he's genuine.
Roman recognizes the way Will talks about his friend. They have something in common, he thinks, that Will would do next to anything for this guy. Even if it was stupid. ]
Right now? He might not be in here.
Maybe we should just keep hiding, wait for the game to end. It has to end sometime, right? They can't just keep us in here forever.
[ Hopefully it ends before Peter gets hurt, if he's out there. Maybe he's found help, too. ]
no subject
(Will moves himself around so that he was properly facing Roman. He settles his hands into his lap and straightens his shoulders out. Of all the demigods, Apollo kids are physically in peak shape. Naturally athletic, great health. The works. He's not worried about himself.
He hesitantly holds up his arm, not sure at all how this is supposed to work.)
I...think my dad tries to protect me and my siblings as best as he can. I think they all do. But they can only involve themselves so much. Half the time, it's not really them that messes things up but the top dog.
(He's still conditioned not to really say certain names. Apollo was his father, it was okay, but talking non-kindly about Zeus? Not the best idea.
But Will finds that despite it all, he admires Roman for his honesty. He can tell that he's being genuine too and for that, he has to smile a little bit. It only makes him want to help Roman more.)
I would too- if I had kids. But right now, I'll do what I can to keep you safe instead. So. Here.
(Again, he holds up his arm.
Roman's a smart guy then noticing that. Observant, Will's come to notice. Actively listens too. They're good traits. Will gets along with people pretty easily but he decides that he wouldn't mind actually being this guy's friend.)
You're right though. Hiding is probably our best bet. Take it easy for a while. Yeah, I'd think so. Most things do end.
no subject
[ No one's perfect; he'll take the explanation. From what he remembers of mythology, the gods aren't supposed to be messing around with humans anyway.
... And now Will has his arm up again. ]
Okay. We hide out here, and if you're sure...
[ If they keep hiding it's probably alright for him to have just a little blood, too, right? This'll be okay?
He shifts to get the razor out of his pocket -- he's not going to bite, he's certain that'll hurt, and leave a mark, and he doesn't want to be that violent right now. If they're going to do this isn't going to be as safe as he can manage and that means no ripping into Will's flesh. Just a cut should do. Right? Fuck, he has no idea how anything works either.
Gently, Roman takes Will's arm and flicks the razor open. His hands are steady (he was sure they'd be shaking) but he looks up at Will again just to make sure he's certain that he wants to do this. ]
no subject
(His voice is soft when he says that, sincere enough. It was their world too. Gods really weren't supposed to meddle. That was the demigods jobs.
He nods his head at Roman because yeah, he's sure.
He doesn't expect the boy to pull out a razor blade. The sight is a bit startling but it doesn't make Will pull his arm back. Roman was the creature who needed blood here. He would know better, probably.
Will takes in a steady breath and looks up at Roman. He gives the boy a genuine smile and nods.)
Go ahead. Do what you have to do.
(He wasn't squeamish in the slightest. Being a combat medic kind of ensured that sort of thing. As for being cut? With a razor wasn't too bad at all. Better than teeth, he thinks.)
cw: vampire feeding
But he's also being extremely careful right now. With a flick of his wrist he makes a quick, shallow cut halfway up Will's forearm, and his mouth is on it almost before the blood wells up. He loses himself in the taste for a moment, teeth scraping as he forgets to be gentle, but after the first few mouthfuls the hunger pangs subside and he's less urgent. His sucking on the wound softens and Will gets tongue encouraging the blood to flow instead of teeth. It probably still stings but not as much.
Roman lifts his head after another moment, breathing hard, blood around his mouth. The cut is still bleeding and he hurriedly rips his sleeve and presses it to the wound, trying to keep Will from losing more than he took. He's not sure how much he took -- it's hard to measure this way but it must have been about what a donation draws. ]
Are you alright?
cw: vampire feeding
It definitely felt about the same as donating blood. Will's done that enough times to relate and he only feels a little light headed by the time Roman pulls off of his arm and has some cloth pushing down against it.
He snaps out of the slight funk he'd slipped into and nods.)
Yeah. Fine. That actually really wasn't that bad. Are you doing okay?
(He goes to where Roman was holding the cloth and gently pushes his hand out of the way. He could do that so Roman didn't have to hold it for so long.)
Did it taste okay? Bothering your stomach?
(Tell him everything, Roman.)
no subject
I'm good. Great, actually. Better than anything I've fed on before.
...thank you.
[ Nobody's ever offered to feed him before. The gratitude is in his voice and his eyes; he won't hurt anyone now, at least won't have to worry about it for awhile. And who knows, maybe demigod blood is stronger than regular. He glances back at the cut, ready to tear off more of his shirt to make a bandage. ]
Can you heal yourself too?
no subject
Yeah? I'm glad to hear that.
(The funny thing is that Will actually means it. Maybe it should unsettle him that his blood is apparently great tasting but it just doesn't.
His expression softens considerably and he nods.)
Of course, Roman. If you ever need something like that again in the future, let me know, okay? It didn't hurt or anything.
(Not beyond a mild discomfort anyway. He saw it as just another kind of blood transfusion. It felt like the same. And what was the difference anyway between him giving blood to someone who lost some and giving blood to someone who needed it for substance?
It definitely could be true. Demigods weren't immortal but they were far more durable than their human half. He looks down at his arm and lifts up the cloth. It was a clean cut and since they acted so quick, it was already clotting well.)
Yeah. You made a really precise cut so it should be even faster.
(He rubs out a bit of the blood before slicking on some of his paste. Normally he wouldn't bother with it but out in a monster-infested forest, he didn't want to take any risks. He sings a quiet, short hymn to his father during the process of it all, working in the paste, and then he wraps up the but with another clean bandage he rips off his own shirt.)
There. That's better. See? Told you it'd be all right.
no subject
I'll let you know. Hopefully it'll be awhile?
[ He's never been fed like this before so it's going to be a waiting game. And hopefully he'll be out of here quickly and won't have to worry about the hunger. But for now he listens to Will's song again, even more curious about it this time. ]
What are you singing when you do that?
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(Will leans over to glance at his device to see if it has the date on it.)
Maybe then we can try and figure out how your body works a little smoother. Stabilize it into a healthier routine so you don't get hungry.
(Because it really did seem like most of this was guess work to Roman. It felt like a good idea to maybe try and solidify some facts for the guy. Roman did look better though. A lot better and for that, Will could care less about the pinch of that blade. It was well worth it.)
Oh, that? It's a Greek hymn I'm singing to my father. Apollo's the god of the sun but he's also the god of healing, poetry, prophecy, and also music. All my powers kinda have to do with that. When I heal people, I send him prayers. Helps move things along.
(Usually, anyway.)
no subject
[ He fiddles with the end of his cut sleeve. It sounds stupid that he doesn't know anything but it's not like his mother ever told him about any of this, and he's certainly not talking to her now. Pryce's solutions have been the only ones he's had and yes he doesn't want to be upir but maybe it isn't such a curse? Maybe he can hack it in this place, with Will, until he gets home to resume treatments. He's as afraid of himself as he is the monsters that were chasing them earlier but he stopped and he didn't bite and maybe if he doesn't get hungry too often it'll be okay.
It's the most hopeful he's felt in awhile. ]
It's really beautiful. Your singing.
no subject
(For some reason, the idea of fighting what you are? It kind of sounds...Sad. Really, really sad. Roman, in some small way, reminds him of Nico. It makes him a little bit angry with the world for ever making people like Roman, like Nico, feel bad about being who they are.)
What you are is fine, Roman. I don't know you but you could have killed me if you wanted to. You didn't need to say thank you. You listen when I talk. You're good. That's you. I think you'd be that way whether you were a human, an upir, demigod, or whatever else there is. Whatever you are? That's just something you can't help. It's neutral. I don't believe anyone is good or evil because of the creature they are or where their blood comes from.
(Will doesn't think it sounds stupid at all. There was a time in his life that he had no idea what he was either. He thought he was stupid because he couldn't read, couldn't focus on anything at all. Thought he was a little crazy because he thought that the next door neighbor had a giant eye smack dab in the middle of her forehead and liked to chew on bones when everyone else just saw a friendly old lady.
He gets it. He really does get it.)
Maybe you just gotta learn to be in control of it. That's okay. There's nothing wrong with that either.
(Will shrugs and no, maybe it isn't as simple as it sounds but he'd be willing to help out if he could.
Then Roman compliments his singing and Will blinks at him, looking a bit surprised. Sure his siblings sing to the camp all of the time during camp fires and stuff but he can't remember anyone ever directly complimenting him.)
Really?
(He's a little red in the ears and clears his throat, feeling strangely elated.)
Thank you.
no subject
Still, maybe it's true that what you are is neutral and you can swing either way, to good or evil. Maybe evil's not in his nature just because he's his mother's son. Just because he's not human. Humans can be evil, after all, he knows that. He just never applied it to himself. It's hard to when you've got bloodlust. ]
I've never been great at self control. I'm trying now, I have to.
[ Because he wants to be good. He wants what Will's saying to be true, though he doesn't think saying thank you and not ripping someone's throat out makes you a good person. ]
Really.
When did you learn to do all of this? Use your powers, I mean. Sing to your father... all of that.
no subject
After what had just went down between the two of them though, Will thinks there's some hope for Roman after all.)
Trying is a whole lot better than giving up and not bothering at all.
(Hey you'd be surprised, buddy. He's just got a good feeling about Roman being a good person. He's going to listen to that.
He smiles wider when Roman insists and he'll remember that. He really will. Then he's asked a question and Will pauses. His eyes roll up in thought and he hums in consideration.)
Couple years ago. See, there's this camp for demigods that kids like me go to during the summer- or year round depending- and we learn how to fight monsters, go on quests, and use our abilities. There's this centaur, Chiron, and he's great at helping teach us about all kinds of stuff. And some kids have been around for way longer than others so they help too. It's- it's really nice.
(And he knows he's going to miss it. It was practically his home. But he was here now and that was that. This might not be an official quest but he might as well treat it like one. Nico needed him and from the looks of it, Roman could do with a friend as well.)