✵ 001 // [open] program: joy

[adminproof]

Who: Al Saiduq/Anguished One (adminproof), Otome Yanagiya (mombastic), Hiro Kageyama(theshiningone) & the Ticos, and the star, you, Cerealians! It's like a party up in here.
When: IC: 6/8; OOC: 3/18
Where: ViViD.
What: A completely not suspicious (but fun...???) health exam of some sorts, promoted and announced via network which was handwaved, invited via personal message, hearsay, or this might just be another session in ViViD for you. Either way, please be their guinea pig. Guinea pigs will be compensated accordingly.
Rating/Warning: None so far! Just some virtual demon-whacking in ViViD for the sake of science.

► part A: DO YOU AGREE TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS?_

[ Perhaps you've received a personal message on your CereVice inviting you to come here. Perhaps you saw an advertisement or (handwaved) announcement on the network that there'd be a special event in ViViD today that pays more than normal. Or perhaps this is just another ViViD jaunt for you. No matter the reason for coming, what pops up on the level selection screen are not one, but two friendly and helpful NPC assistants, here to tell you something so very exciting! The purple-haired bunnygirl speaks up first in her incredibly peppy voice: ]

Hey-o! We're running a super special custom-designed level today! It's basically a health exam, but waaay more fun, hee-hee! All you gotta do is play our custom level, AI Challenge. Beat up some baddies, let us watch you for a lil' bit, win some credits, everyone's happy!

[ The male butler (thankfully) decides to speak up and clarify the terms. ]

In other words, your performance and vital statistics will be monitored for this gaming session. You will be compensated for your time and effort, of course. The points you accumulate in this session will be worth 1.5 times more than normal.

[ Without further ado, he gestures with his hand and brings up a screen detailing...the dreaded terms and conditions. All the specific information is there (they'll be monitored about their health, stamina, spiritual energy while playing, for the sake of collecting data on ViViD's usage), but buried within the text wall they need to scroll down, unfortunately. Curiously, they don't seem to care about whether the players actually read the entirety of the text wall or not, only that they select whether they agree or disagree to the terms they've laid out. ]

Sounds super neato, right? So whaddya say?

[ Ignoring the two (totally very helpful) AIs and selecting the "I agree" option will bring them to a difficulty selection menu but...weirdly enough, there doesn't seem to be any other modes besides BLESSED and APOCALYPTIC.

Well then. ]

► part B: PARTY FORMATION_

[ The monitoring system can run independently of the ones hosting this, after all, so why not add their own data to the mix and get some exercise/training in? Upon selecting a difficulty level and agreeing to the terms and conditions they surely read all the way through and thoroughly, characters will be presented with a choice from one of three allies just standing around right in front of them. Everyone (including you) will have skills and statistics laid out in a window floating above their heads, because what kind of RPG would it be if there wasn't some number crunching, spells, and cheesing involved?

For players who normally don't have any supernatural abilities in real life, they'll find that they can pick from a large variety of them for this session, ranging from elemental and healing spells, to outright physical moves that allow them to strike multiple enemies.

Name: Al Saiduq
Handle: ???
Age: ???

Name: Otome Yanagiya
Handle: Otome
Age: 24

Name: Hiro Kageyama
Handle: Hiro
Age: 18

( ooc: Just state in the subject header which character you want! Alternatively, this option can be skipped entirely and they can go at it solo, leading to part C.) ]

► part C: BATTLE START!_

[ Now that their party's been set up and they've signed away their souls (hopefully) learned about what they're getting into, it's time for the main event to begin! The two AI navigators from earlier will appear right in front of the party. ]

Welcome! Welcome, from the bottom of my heart.

Hi, sweetie! I'm sooo happy you're here!

You are now inside our custom level. Since you have come all the way here to grace us with your presence and agree to assist us, I wish to entertain you to the fullest extent possible. I assume for those like you, there would be no greater entertainment than the challenge, the rigor, and the excitement of combat! I have prepared a number of demons for your battling enjoyment.

The rules are simple! Last one standing is the winner! By the way, I'm like, super-duper strong. Check out the guns!

[ Blows air kisses at her (quite frankly non-existent) biceps. ]

We will try not to be a dull encounter. After all, your happiness is our happiness.

[ And with that, they teleport away, each one far away at opposite ends of the stage. The rest of the field however, will be suddenly be littered with packs of demons. Some of them will definitely look as tough as they are, while others might seem more...disarming. No matter what however, they'll certainly pack a punch and rush at you (and/or your ally) as soon as they spot you! Fortunately, their own stats and moves will be displayed above their heads in a floating box too, including any (randomized) weaknesses! ...And resistances.

Victory: Defeat Tico
Defeat: All allies are defeated. ]

Comments

B with the ultimate desu protag duo

[belfire]

Hiro's husband, that doctor person, or... oh, you.

[With these choices laid out before him, Kaz was half-tempted to go for it solo. He'd chosen the "Apocalyptic" difficulty of course (as in his mind, higher difficulty meant higher reward, right?), but he was still confident enough in his abilities. Kaz wouldn't say he was arrogant but, well, possessing Bel meant he was leagues above pretty much 95% of what ViViD churned out.

However, he remembered, he and Hiro had promised to try and get along better, and doing so in battle... well, there wasn't much room for talking there, and Hiro was supposedly capable, right? Plus, just in case this was the 5% where he might actually struggle...]

Okay, Hiro, you can be my meatshield.

[The bests of friendships were made through the fires of battle, or some poetic shit like that. But, really, yeah, Hiro could at least gain friendship points by blocking attacks with his face or whatever]

[theshiningone]

... I've got a really really bad feeling about this.

[Hiro might have had a more sassy reply to Kazuya's jerkassery, but his mind was... kind of somewhere else. Everything had screamed that this was a trap in his head. Just like the first time he practically signed his soul up for sell by making a contract with demons. This had felt no different from that... Maybe he was being paranoid right now, but it felt properly so!

The Tico were involved in this, weren't they? So where was Saiduq? It felt like he never shown up when you really wanted him around with answers. Yet when you were looking for him... There he was.]

All of this is almost too convenient. No, it's waaaay too familiar... [Last time that Hiro fought the Ticos, he had fun being the battle maniac that he was... But it was still a hard fight.] Oi, what option did you pick at the start?

[belfire]

[Kaz clucked his tongue, unhappy with Hiro's "pessimism"]

Apocalyptic, obviously. I mean, more bang for your buck that way, right? [he gestured at Hiro, a little crook of his finger to direct him forwards] C'mon, stop cowering. I thought you were some alien bigshot or whatever. Between the two of us, this should be a snap.

[He has no idea what fate awaits him, the fool]

[theshiningone]

[Ugh, it had to be the most brutal one. The more optimistic side of Hiro was hoping that it would be a different game than last time... And besides, he had the Factors along with his buffet patter of Administrative abilities. Granted, he was still getting used to those, but...]

I'm just sayin'. As strong as we are, it never hurts to be a little careful. [He'll be walking forward as he shoves his hands in his coat pockets and stick his nose in the air. Coping with his nervousness was always lightly picking on people.]

Besides... You are the last person to be talking about cowardice. I'm sure the King of Demons wouldn't had picked a partner if he weren't a little afraid of losing.

[belfire]

There's nothing wrong with a bit of caution. Arrogance is the top killer of powerful demons, y'know.

[Kaz crossed his arms, frowning at Hiro's needling. He was no coward. Well, in the way that counted, anyway. Kaz wouldn't lie and say he never ran from a fight, because he had countless of times, but when it was a fight that mattered...]

Besides, I thought this would be a good time to finish patching that bridge between us. Y'know, 'cuz, uh, we're trying to be friends now. Fighting's usually a good way to build bonds or whatever, so... [he trailed off, beginning to look embarrassed] But, whatever, fine, if you don't wanna play with me, you don't have to. I'll fight by myself.

[Hmph!]

[theshiningone]

[One of the quickest ways to warm to Hiro instantly was the F-word or the B-word (there was the other B-word too). And Kazuya ended up using both words. He could never turn down an offer of friendship! So he's just stopping to suddenly put his hands on Kaz's shoulders, Hiro is just smiling like the sun.

You could literally see sparkles popping off his face. He's practically GLOWING with passion.]

--Ohhhh! Why didn't you say so!? Of course I'll play with you for this! I didn't plan on abandoning you in the first place... But now I'm feeling 200% percent more motivated to tag along!

[It was true... A lot of his friends were forged in the heat of battles as he recalled. Not just in idle conversation when nothing was going on.]

Not only is strength in numbers is important for survival, but camaraderie is all part of it too! Friendship is a very very very important thing! [At this rate, Hiro would start going on a thirty minute lecture on how the power of friendship and bonds are the greatest thing in the universe.]

B: Select AL SAIDUQ

[reprizesal]

[Sayo's curiosity got him to check this out. If all else fails, he can try backing out. Maybe. The promise of earning more credits than normal is what convinced the financially conscious tantou to even come. Between BLESSED and APOCALYPTIC, he imagine the harder difficulty would yield higher rewards. Maybe.

Apocalyptic it is.

Look, buying troops is rather costly in his eyes.

At the ally selection, Sayo blinks when he see a familiar face and his decidedly unfamiliar name. He walks over and looks up.]

... "Al Saiduq"? Is that your name?

[adminproof]

[ He looks down at the tiny tantou. Ah, it's him. The tsukumogami. ]

Yes, that is what you may call me. Did I not tell you? I may have forgotten to do so. Haha...human norms such as introductions do not come naturally to me.

[ He brushes it off with a chuckle. ]

[reprizesal]

[He nods his head.]

Yes, you didn't tell me. Before this, I know you as the "Anguished One".

[Sayo doesn't really mind skipping human norms. He just follows them because it's easier. But now, back to the name thing...]

Which name do you prefer for me to use>

[adminproof]

Ah, I see.

[ Then it probably slipped his mind. Stuff happens. Sometimes he "forgets" to tell people things. ]

Saiduq will be fine. I think it is a better name.

[ A better one than the one foisted upon him. ]

[reprizesal]

Understood, Saiduq-san.

[Sayo's pretty sure he got the pronunciation right for a very non-Japanese name. He looks at Saiduq's statistic and skills window. As a non-JRPG player, a lot of what the stats stand for flew over his head. But Saiduq seems... strong and well rounded?]

... You wouldn't mind being my ally in this?

[JOIN SAYO SAMONJI'S PARTY? Y/N.]

B: Select OTOME YANAGIYA + C!

[geophile]

B.

[ well... that's not quite something that steven expected when he logged into ViViD today. he's been taking it easy since his revival not too long ago, but decided that today would be the day that he resumes training. death or not, he couldn't allow him or his pokémon to get rusty - they can't afford to in a place like this, not to mention that he enjoys spending time with his team through battle. it builds and strengthens bonds, after all.

another thing he doesn't expect: seeing the name of someone he knows in this shake-up. but otome's name is indeed there, and he finds himself smiling before setting some personal skills and picking her name. if there's anyone he'd trust to have as an ally here, it's her. ]

I don't suppose all of this is familiar to you?


C.

[ steven may not be from a world where demons do the battling, but he's certainly no stranger to the formula. he's got five able creatures of his own to fight on his behalf, and while they aren't summoned from a phone app, they appear in a similar manner from a ball that he takes into hand from his belt. those demons do look quite intimidating... but he keeps his demeanour calm.

whichever pokemon he chooses is up to you - when they emerge, they look as strong and prepared for battle as the demon adversaries approaching. ]

This does look like quite the challenge. [ and he'll turn to you, dear party member/passerby, offering an intrigued smile. ] Care to work together? We'll watch your back if you do the same for us.

[mombastic]

[ Otome's smiling the usual smile as she steps forward, idly adjusting the sleeves of her coat. Is she all that surprised to be picked? No, not really. And now Steven will have a pretty resilient healer and magic-user on his side, which he is... definitely going to need. ]

Yes, and no. Saiduq is a friend from home, and he came to ask me to help monitor the health and [ spiritual ] well-being of the players today.

... I didn't think that would involve joining in myself, but it does make things more interesting this way.

[geophile]

[ considering cradily is the only one in his team with self-healing capabilities (and with a catch at that), he'll definitely take solace in her powers and the demons she controls.

this is just another way to learn about one of the many worlds that have come together in the colony - namely, one of a friend. to say that he's curious would be an understatement. ]

I see. [ he still has a question or two, but he feels like they'll all be answered once they've hit the battlefield. ] Then if you'll have me, I'd be honoured to fight by your side.

[ punctuated with a shallow bow, of course. ]

[mombastic]

If you're truly prepared for this, then... [ He gets a shallow bow in return?? ]

Of course I'll lend you a hand!

[geophile]

[ heh. that gets a small chuckle out of him, but he nods. ]

I'm as prepared as I'll ever be. [ that does cause him to pause for a moment, though... even if this is ViViD, he shouldn't get overconfident. ] Though seeing as this is your element, I'll be relying on you for advice.

[ but he'll draw out a poké ball from his belt anyway, expression prepared for the challenge. ]

We'll try to keep up.

c; so late (sorry bout that)

[adminproof]

[ Saiduq, strangely enough, decided to participate in this himself for the sake of having more complete data. Truth be told, the interesting people he hopes to meet is also a motivator. Steven certainly counts already. ]

Of course. You already appear to have a capable team. They are not demons, are they?

[ He leans in a little, peering at the Pokemon he has. They're not demons, per se, but they seem to be akin to them...hopefully without the homicidal tendencies. ]

shhhh no it's ok

[geophile]

[ while he isn't familiar with the man who he finds standing next to him, his mentioning of demons leads him to believe that he's familiar with all of this. if he's someone from otome's world, it might be interesting to talk to him... but not right now. at the moment, they have a fight to partake in.

he shakes his head, but it's not without a smile. by his side stand metagross and aggron, both ready to take on the adversaries that are in front of them. ]

They aren't, but I think you'll find that they bring their own brand of power to the table.

[adminproof]

I look forward to seeing them in action, then.

[ He's tempted to call out his own demons, but he frankly doesn't trust them in a place like this, with human players around. Plus, he wouldn't want to make a bad impression on Steven already, with them.

Saiduq makes the first strike against a demon that's headed straight their way, blasting it with a Zandyne. He doesn't seem to be using a phone, however. Female Tico, spotting him, yells out: ]

We're gonna do our best against even you, 'kay?

[ He simply smiles in return. ]

I wouldn't expect any less.

[ With that, there's a couple of demons heading Steven's way, their growls and shrieks betraying any sense of surprise they might have wanted to possess (if they ever wanted to in the first place). ]

[geophile]

[ the fact that the young man isn't summoning a demon and attacking directly is interesting enough to see, but not surprising, seeing as this is ViViD. if anything, he's glad to have someone savvy with magic fighting alongside him.

when he spots tico, he chimes in as well: ]

Please, don't hold back. [ and with that, it begins. ] Aggron, Stone Edge! Metagross, Flash Cannon!

[ the assault starts with aggron slamming a fist onto the ground, triggering a row of pointed, glowing stones erupting from underneath the demons to throw them into the air. once they're up, the powerful blast of energy that metagross charges hits them, sending them flying back. ]

B: Super Hiro up here before C-ing how they fare

[moribound]

[Minato's stared at his options for a second before selecting Apocalyptic, feeling an uneasy shudder that reminds him of his battle against Elizabeth.

Was it really going to be that much of a struggle?

He takes a short breath before looking at the next set of options. Otome's the one he's least familiar out of the three and Saiduq the most, but he does recall a certain promise to Hiro months back about showing his true power and that's what leads him to select Hiro instead of the other two.]

So it's just you and me, huh? Let's do our best.

[theshiningone]

[The demons would be no issue in Hiro's book... But it was the Ticos that were the biggest worry. As nice(?) are they were, their fusion skill was no joke. Hiro pumps a fist with a little competitive smirk.

The first part would be to get rid of the those big bad demons. They should've been a nuisance to sweep out a best. And he was looking forward to seeing what Minato had in store for this ride.]

Awwwww yeaaaah! Let's get kick some ass!

[moribound]

[Minato's gathered as much from watching the Ticos and the female one especially reminds him a little of Elizabeth- definitely nothing he'd feel comfortable challenging on his own which is why he's already primed for battle, a hand placed close to his Evoker.

He surveys their surroundings calmly, inwardly glad that the demons all have their attributes listed.]

We'll have to go through those demons too...what's the best way finish them off? [He's curious to know if Hiro has any ideas besides brute force, since their strength could be drained well before meeting the Ticos otherwise.]

[theshiningone]

Ah, this feels like the chance for a tutorial! I'm gonna bring out a friend for old times' sake.

[Deciding that this would be a good time for Byakko to take a walk, Hiro takes out his COMP and summons his electric tiger to the stage with a righteous roar. The demon tiger felt like it's been a while since he's been able to stretch out and sharpen his claws. Hiro takes a moment to pet his friend as he speaks...]

Well, that depends! If you know some magic spells, then attack the demons with the opposing element! For example, Nue demons are weak against Fire! But that Abaddon over there is resistance against all spells! So in that case, it doesn't hurt to use physical attacks...!

[With that brief little lesson down, Hiro hops himself on top of Byakko and makes a welcoming gesture to a Legion. None of them are attacking yet, so he decided to give Minato have first dibs.]

Since you're a noob, I'll let you deliver the first blow. That Legion right there is weak against Fire and Electric spells.

[moribound]

Eh, you have Byakko too? Guess I should have expected that since I've seen a Jack Frost before. [Minato's already removing his Evoker from its holster as he speaks, raising it to his temple without hesitation.]

It's kind of strange, though...I've also had a Legion, but it's weak against Light spells. [But okay, if Hiro wants him to have the first blow he'll cut down on the commentary and start with the burning.]

Seth! [A blue light swirls around Minato right before he presses the trigger, and the sound of shattering glass is followed by the appearance of a large dark dragon sending a pillar of fire after Legion.

...needless to say it was completely eradicated, and Minato turns to look back at Hiro.]

That was super effective, huh.