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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SHHH shhhh no worries. ;3;/ Things happen!
I-- [She can't see much through the leaves, either, but she can see them moving, and with some reluctance (due to the awkwardness of her balance) stretches out the one arm she can spare to help push a small branch out of the way, trying to peer through just as much as Hiro is trying to peer in.] I hope there is. [Because she definitely can't stay where she is; every second feels like a second too long, and already she's picturing the place she's sitting on giving way beneath her at any moment. It's not quite that pressing, but her luck should probably not be pushed any further.] I'm sorry, I should have-- [There's a half frustrated, half distressed catch in her breath and she amends to,] -- known better.
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Disney protagsuperhero, it seems. The movement is enough that Hiro can see her now, this small almost frail girl who's doing a pretty okay job keeping her balance and obvious just in the wrong place at the wrong time.He doesn't waste time in reaching out for her to take his hand so he can pull her onto Baymax's back.]
It is all right. [The robot is concerned about her levels of distress.] We are here to help.
I don't really know if there's anything to know better in this place. The games that push through all of the new arrivals are always so different. We've never been in an arena like this one before. [That branch creaks again and he shakes his head.] Can you jump? We should move.
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[Her eyes flick toward Baymax at the words. He's a peculiar looking fellow, isn't he? Distressed she may be, but she holds together well; almost gently, she offers the robot the barest hint of a smile, as if she might thereby comfort him. Her intention to thank him - both of them - is put on hold in favor of turning at Hiro's words. So is her inclination to ask, 'what is it usually like here, then?' because he's much more right than she'd like about what they should be doing. Moving sounds like a great idea.]
[Jumping, however, does not. She makes the mistake of looking down - automatic, but foolish - and her stomach turns, cheeks paling slightly. Her head snaps back up, lips pressing together.]
I don't-- [want to, but,] ... I don't have much choice, do I? [She forces her grip on the limb of the tree that she's still holding to relax, mentally preparing herself - only she probably ought to ask before she leaps, right?] Should-- do you want to... count? [Or something? She'd really prefer to be sure they're ready to catch her rather than jumping blindly, holding onto Hiro's hand or not.]
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It's okay. We'll do it together, all right? Jump on the count of three and we'll catch you. Baymax, you ready?
[The robot can appreciate the fact that she's trying to be brave, though he only responds to Hiro.] I am ready. One.
[Oh. Okay, Baymax is counting, too.] Two...three! [And hopefully on three, Naminé will be jumping because Hiro's pulling on her hand and Baymax surges up just enough to give her a wide landing pad on his back.]
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All right.
[Is the only thing she says in response, because she doesn't trust her tongue at the moment; all her attention is going into being prepared - which is all the more nerve-wracking because there's no countdown for the countdown, and she's not willing to stop it once it starts. (But they're awfully reassuring, for strangers. They certainly seem to mean well, anyway, and if nothing else she feels fairly confident that it isn't some ploy to get her to jump to her death.)]
[And she does jump exactly when the time comes, held breath puffing out in a rush as she lands after what feels like both an eternity and no time at all. Heart pounding in her ears, her free hand automatically seeks purchase on this new surface, reflexively searching for something to hold onto.]
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Not so bad, right? Here, put your hands here and here to dig into the grooves in Baymax's armor. I designed it to allow for some movement and extra space.
I will not move until you are comfortable. [Baymax sounds almost pleased with the fact that they're helping her.] You have sustained no injuries from the jump.
SHRIEKS AT TOP OF LUNGS, I NEVER GOT AN E-MAIL NOTIF FOR THIS!!!! HRHRHRGGHG I'm so sorry!!
[Eyes flickering over to Hiro, she catches that grin, unable to help a tiny curl at the corners of her own mouth in response. Careful, she places her hands as directed, fingers sliding into place far more gently than perhaps they need to, given that it's armor. Then she lifts her attention again to her companions to offer them each in turn a brighter, gladder sort of smile.]
No-- I suppose it wasn't, [she says finally. Her heart rate has already begun to calm, even if she still feels a bit shaky from the adrenaline.] But only because I had help. Thank you, both of you.
[Which, of course, leads naturally into the next thought - and though she still smiles, she tucks her head slightly, cautious not to actually make contact with the armor again.]
I suppose I should be apologizing, too. We've only just met, and already I'm causing you trouble.
[Not to mention she feels a little guilty about the whole, 'being scared enough of them to portal to another tree without looking first like an idiot' thing, whether that's something they're aware of or not.]
um how dare you??? (no it's totally okay, sorry for the delay!)
It's kind of our job to help out. We're trained for this...kinda. [He lifts a hand up to rub at the back of his neck sheepishly, glove bumping into his helmet a bit.] And anyway Baymax has bailed me out of bigger problems back home. This is probably more his speed.
It is no trouble. There is no need to be ashamed.
[Thanks, Baymax.] We should probably go before more trouble shows up though.
;A:/!!!! it was an accident I swear, don't hate meeeeeeee (C': many thanks and np)
[Funny, how she feels a little more ashamed when she's told she needn't be - maybe because of how thoroughly considerate they're being about all this. Again she feels a spike of regret for having tried so hard to avoid them, and her cheeks warm slightly but do not properly color. She uses the opportunity to recover when Hiro speaks again.]
Yes-- that seems like a good idea.
[Speaking of which, though, she hesitates, eyes flicking once between them before her curiosity finally gets the better of her.]
... What did you mean, you were 'trained for this'?
['Kinda' or otherwise. Surely they've no connection to the Keyblade - there are all sorts of other groups out there who try to help people, she's certain - but it pays to look into those sorts of things. Presently, however, she seems to realize that there wasn't exactly a good segue into that question, and belatedly - much too long after the actual request for information - tacks on a careful,]
By the way.
[That's what people say, isn't it? Even if they... usually do it the other way around.]
forgiven...but just this once!! (<3)
It means what it sounds like. [He gives her a funny little grin. He recognizes the curiosity, but he's trying to think of how to really explain something like this. If it was awkwardly presented, he doesn't seem to mind.] Baymax and I rescue people and help out around here all the time...it's our job back home. We keep people safe. You'll find there's a lot of people in the colony that kind of want to do the same thing.
orz you are too kind (<3333!)
[Without thinking about it, Naminé smiles back. It could hardly be called a grin, since it's such a small thing, but it grows slightly at the rest of Hiro's explanation.] So you're... heroes, then?
[It'd be more bittersweet a revelation if she weren't in the process of being hero-ed at the moment; she'd overthink it, surely, given her history with heroic types and her own perception of her lack of such qualities, but at the moment, she's entirely too relieved to put nearly as much concentration into it as she otherwise would.]
I didn't realize. I thought, with the way so many people were acting-- [That it was less common than he seems to be claiming for people to be... considerate. She's quick to pick out her own folly, though, and blinks, already turning her analysis inward. No, she thinks, that was an unfair concern to have, especially after the help she has received. It's clear from the outside that she's come to some conclusion, though what that is she apparently isn't inclined to state, other than,] ... But I should have known better.
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[With Baymax concentrating on flying and getting them to an exit, the robot doesn't comment much beyond that and leaves Hiro to answer questions.]
If you mean the NPCs you can't really trust those. But things always go a little crazy in the ViViD game the new arrivals show up in. People try to help where they can but sometimes things get a little too hard to focus. This game's definitely one of the more...interesting ones I've seen for a while. Does that mean you've already met some people in some of the other levels?
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Oh...! You must be very brave, then. [A little quieter,] I'm surprised I was so lucky.
[She does spare a brief glance in the direction of Baymax's face as they fly, just to see if he's doing alright, since he's the one carrying them around. He doesn't look overly burdened, so she turns her attention back to Hiro.]
En... pee seas? [There's a lot about that statement that she needs a moment to process, although she probably does better at understanding most of it than some people would given her secondhand experiences in her own world(s), and of course it helps that she's already had a little friendly advice from a couple of others unfortunate enough to be stuck in this purported 'game'. In response to his choice of words regarding it,] This... doesn't seem like much fun, for a game.
[The question, however, is much easier to answer than it is for her to speculate on the implications of his other words, and she hastens to do so.] Yes, I-- think so? There are a few people who have been kind enough to help me, that is. Is that what you mean?
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She's safe. That's what counts and he can't help but give her another curious look.]
I mean I guess so...but what do you mean you're surprised? I get that not everybody has the whole rescue thing happen to them but. [He just sort of waves a hand vaguely. Baymax is perfectly fine carrying the two kids and he's fully aware of their next location thanks to his GPS. They'll be there in no time.] And yeah, non-playable characters. They're the people and monsters inside the game that fight us or show up as background people without actually being real. Most of the games the new arrivals get pushed through aren't that fun, but ViViD itself isn't always terrible. But yeah, that's what I mean. Baymax and I booked it out of the first level really fast so we didn't stick around to see who else was there.
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He might get his chance later, when she's not so busy trying to figure out those goshdang acronyms.]Well-- [Mouth open, she hesitates briefly before finishing that hardly started sentence with,] ... I'm not used to it, I guess. Being lucky, that is. [Because, you know, even if her being able to exist at all is nothing short of a miracle, she really drew the short straw with the contents of said existence.] I've had people help me before, but... never so many.
[As for the playability-impaired, she can't help a perplexed frown. (That's a bit complicated to wrap her head around when she's fully aware of several data-based entities who are Pretty Much Real People as far as the touchy feely types in her worlds are concerned.)] They're not real? So they're... illusions, or-- data? [Since she's gathered so far that this is supposedly in a computer, or some such.] I see. [She shifts slightly, as though uncomfortable.] Do they--... they don't have feelings, do they?
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Data mostly. But like…not data that can grow and change? They don't really have feelings beyond what they're programmed with as far as I can tell. It's not like some of the other things in the colony or even like Baymax himself, you know? Why do you ask?
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[Unless they're a bunch of goody-two-shoes, which she's beginning to suspect they might be, if his claims are to be believed. She's seen no evidence to the contrary, if one doesn't count NPCs. It's still peculiar to her, all the same - but maybe she's spent too much time with the Organization.]
[Blinking at him, she tilts her head. (Baymax, data - that's tucked away for later.)] Why wouldn't I ask? [The way she says it, though, makes it clear that she knows it isn't necessarily the first question that would come to the average person's mind.] I just... don't want them to suffer, that's all. Not if they're capable of it. [Which means she was on the right track before, trying to avoid getting into fights with the NPCs. Maybe they don't grow, but... even programmed feelings are more than someone like her is able to manage, aren't they?]
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[But he shakes his head.] Sorry, there's...a lot that goes on here. [He dislodges his hand from one of the magnets to point down at a monster running rampant through the forest below them.] Does that look like suffering to you? I think they'll be totally fine. You're probably the first person I've met who's even thought about it.
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[Her eyes follow his gesture, and though her stomach turns briefly when she sees the ground which her feet are not currently touching, she regards the monster in question with a grim expression. Tilting her head, she pauses. Then, she looks back up at Hiro and says, candidly,]
Yes.
[It does. But her bias is there, again, because what he cannot know is that she almost was a monster not unlike that one. Weaker Nobodies, their minds fragmented and their bodies twisted - she's always been grateful that she didn't end up like them, despite how easily she could have. Looking down at the monster again, though, she offers an obliging,]
But maybe it doesn't mind. [Who is she to say? Just because she'd hate it--] I guess... there isn't much choice, in the end. [Can't expect people not to defend themselves, after all, or blame them for it. She offers a hint of a smile when she raises her eyes again, something just a little bit sad.] You're probably right. I'm sorry - I suppose that was a strange thing to think.
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Baymax isn't far from the exit to the level now, but it's just enough time for Hiro to make a surprised sort of sound at her answer.]
...you wouldn't be the first to think a strange thing, but that's its own brand of strange. There are a ton of other games you can play after you log out of ViViD the first time. Maybe you can try to talk to them and see what they think. [Just please don't get killed, Namine, that would be bad. Still, they begin their descent now and Baymax lands softly and expertly on the forest floor in front of what looks like a hollow tree.]
Last stop. [There's a small quizzical grin.] There's probably at least one more level after this you've gotta get through before you can log out. Will you be okay?
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[There's a brief uncertainty on her face, like she's not quite certain how to take his response, but presently she finds that sad little smile has come back, tinged almost apologetic. It ebbs away again as he mentions the other games, as her immediate reaction is to assume that they wouldn't be her kind of thing right up until he suggests she talk to them, and that... doesn't seem like it would by necessity be productive, but if the opportunity arises, wouldn't she still be inclined to try it? Her response waits until they've landed, as the process thereof makes her clam up until they're on solid ground and she can stop holding her breath to steel herself against the strange feeling of descending.] I'll... keep that in mind. I don't know if there are any games I'd like to play, [if they're even remotely like this one, although she doesn't expect that he'd suggest it if they were too bad,] ... but I'll see what happens.
[He's not the only one quizzical. At first she isn't certain why they've landed, but it quickly becomes clear. Despite any trepidation she might feel, she pulls together a more solid sort of smile to offer him.] I think so. Besides, I've imposed on you enough. [The way she says it, however, is devoid of any overly significant amount of self-deprecation.] I'm sure there are plenty of other people around who could use some well-trained superheroes right about now.
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[The landing comes and he looks vaguely proud of himself at the usage of the word "superhero" coming from someone else.] I wouldn't call this imposing, but we should get going to make sure everybody else is okay. When you log out and get out to the colony you should get a device that kinda looks like a smartphone and a rundown of how things work. And from there you can check if you have any friends from home here. Not everybody does, but a lot of us do.
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[Not soon, granted, because she'll probably have had about as much ViViD as she can take once she gets out of this mess.]
[And she seems content to listen to whatever information he happens to have about this 'colony', nodding her understanding, thoroughly unperturbed - right up until he says the word 'friends' and she blinks, a subtle hint of that odd guilt of hers leaking back into her expression and the set of her shoulders. She busies her eyes with the ground, to make sure that she has secure footing available to her. She looks longer than strictly necessary, and when her eyes come back up, there's an uncomfortable little raise at the corners of her mouth that appears out of place.] I--... don't think that'll be a problem. [Needing to check, that is. Doesn't she already know the answer? After all, when one has no friends--] I'm not expecting anyone. But, thank you - that's good advice.
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[He reads that look more as surprise than guilt and for a moment he's unsure of how to recover from the fumble. Most people had friends right? (He had very few when he first arrived but still.) So instead he settles on a small, awkward shrug.] Then...I hope you settle in okay out there. If you need anything you can probably drop by the tech and auto shop in the shopping district. I work there most of the time.
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[And this time it is surprise that she looks at him with, as if she honestly thinks she must have heard him wrong. But no, she realizes in the strange pause that follows as she stares at him in open but fading confusion, when she's mentally backtracking to check - he really did just offer to help her out again. Quite the heroes, this fellow and his friend.]
... Oh, [she says, late and in the form of a breath. Common decency has never been so common, for her, so perhaps the fact that she needs a moment to adjust is understandable. Finally, she appears to recover enough to add,] If... you're sure that's alright. I'll remember to watch for it.
[Once she figures out where this 'shopping district' happens to be, that is. Not that she intends to need his help again if she can do anything to avoid it, truthfully, but that doesn't mean she's going to ignore that avenue entirely. He would be a good-- ally to have, she thinks, because she can't quite excuse the word 'friend' even in her own head. To that end, falteringly,]
Before you go--... do you mind if I ask you something?
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