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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[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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He's changed a lot in the last few months...this is all second nature now. It doesn't hurt that Baymax would probably bug him to do so.]
Wouldn't have offered if it wasn't. [No seriously, he wouldn't have. But he can't help but lift an eyebrow at that.] What is it?
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[Yes, she could definitely use someone looking out for her. That shows in the way she shifts in place, hesitating despite how simple the question is. But then again, she's never really had cause to ask it before, has she?]
... What's your name? [The way she speaks, you'd think she was half concerned he might not want to give it, and she goes on to explain,] It might be hard to find you again if I don't know who I'm looking for.
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Heh...yeah, that would make it complicated huh? My name's Hiro...Hamada. There's another Hiro in the colony, Hiro Kageyama? He's been here even longer than me but he's also older than me so...not him. Does...that help?
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Mm. I wouldn't know who to ask for, even if I did find your shop. [Until she has a name to go with the face, that is, which she shortly thereafter does. Brightening, she nods.] Yes, very much. In that case-- it was nice to meet you, Hiro. [Turning, she gives his robot companion a warm smile, too.] And you, Baymax. You've both been very kind.
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It was good meeting you, too. [Hiro. Think.] I get a name in exchange, right? Just so I know who might be looking for me next time.
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[Her eyes move back to Hiro when he speaks, that upturn still at the corners of her mouth - up until it shapes into an 'o' when she realizes she's forgotten the same thing he did. Despite herself, she lets out a brief gasp of something like a laugh, shoulders coming up in her own version of embarrassment.] Ah-- that's right. It's only fair...! [Gathering herself, she straightens, hands folded together.] My name is Naminé. I'll - try not to cause too much trouble, if I do come looking.
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[This will be the last he sees of her for a few days at least, but it's nice to know he has a way to find her again and she can find him, too.]
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You might be surprised. [But he's right; the portal is, in fact, waiting, and she turns toward it so that she can make her exit. Before she leaves, though, she twists back to give them one last smile over her shoulder and a little wave with her,]
Until next time, then.
[And then she moves to depart - much safer and much happier than when they found her, ready to face the world outside and, for once, with some things to look forward to. Escort mission complete, job well done.]