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[Open] It's a lovely day for a game
Who: Jack (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
decoyhero) & OPEN
When: 8/12
Where: ViViD
What: Testing out the various delightful experiences ViViD has to offer.
Rating/Warning: None yet, although I'm anticipating comic mischief, mild swearing, and possible violence. Will edit as changes occur!
[CHOOSE YOUR ADVENTURE]
decoyhero) & OPENWhen: 8/12
Where: ViViD
What: Testing out the various delightful experiences ViViD has to offer.
Rating/Warning: None yet, although I'm anticipating comic mischief, mild swearing, and possible violence. Will edit as changes occur!
[CHOOSE YOUR ADVENTURE]
SURVIVAL SIM // CO-OP
...//You are shipwrecked on a deserted island with nothing but the clothes on your back and whatever amount of wit you possess. There are plenty of resources available for the harvesting - berries, rabbits, heck, even the flowers are edible in a pinch. A deep gloom hangs over the island, however, even during daylight hours. Somehow, you get the feeling you don't want to be without a light source after the sun goes down. Can you find enough to eat, locate a suitable shelter, and gather enough resources to keep your campfire going before dark?
CO-OP: Work together to gather resources, cook dinner, and survive the night!
CO-OP: Work together to gather resources, cook dinner, and survive the night!
PLATFORMER // CO-OP
...//You find yourself the star performer in a theater filled with a myriad of intricate, maze-like death-traps. Your mission is to use your wits and acrobatic prowess to leap, climb, drop, and cartwheel to safety within the allotted time-frame. If you perform well, and collect enough of the secret tokens hidden throughout the level, you will advance to the next stage. If you perform badly, you'll have to try again. The only way out is by advancing forward, so failure is not an option!
CO-OP: Help your partner leap, climb, drop, and cartwheel to safety! The odds of beating the stage within the allotted time are much better with a friend.
CO-OP: Help your partner leap, climb, drop, and cartwheel to safety! The odds of beating the stage within the allotted time are much better with a friend.
FPS // CO-OP
...//A mystery lurks in an abandoned underwater city. The citizens are gone - fled, dead, or worse. Those who remain are mindlessly antagonistic, drug addicts whose humanity has sloughed away in the face of their addiction; they are mere shells of the people they once were, and they won't abide your trespassing. Your only option is to kill or be killed as you advance through partially flooded buildings, abandoned shopping malls, and empty city streets. There are a plethora of weapons at your disposal, from bludgeoning weapons to firearms. Ammunition is unfortunately less so, a scarce luxury in this underwater death-trap. You might use it as you find it, but it may be more wise to save it for the fight up ahead. It's probably going to be a big one.
CO-OP: Explore the watery city side-by side, watching each other's backs and murdering the heck out of anyone who tries to murder you!
CO-OP: Explore the watery city side-by side, watching each other's backs and murdering the heck out of anyone who tries to murder you!
FARMING SIM // CO-OP or PvP
It's a peaceful life in the valley. Everyone in the little village knows everyone else, and crime is something that happens in other places. Life is simple and slow-paced, and that's how the villagers like it. However, the annual autumn Harvest Festival is coming up, which means competition between friend and foe alike is at an all-time high. It's up to you to grow the biggest, bestest pumpkin and show up all the other country bumpkins on the village square floor.
CO-OP: Work together to raise the biggest pumpkin anyone has ever seen! Combat various dangers to your crops together - moles, mice, wild deer, everything that goes on four legs is keen to ruin all of your hard work, and your chance for glory!
PvP: Competition is at its most fierce between PCs, obviously. Sabotage between participants is frowned on by the village council, but only the sabotage they hear about.
CO-OP: Work together to raise the biggest pumpkin anyone has ever seen! Combat various dangers to your crops together - moles, mice, wild deer, everything that goes on four legs is keen to ruin all of your hard work, and your chance for glory!
PvP: Competition is at its most fierce between PCs, obviously. Sabotage between participants is frowned on by the village council, but only the sabotage they hear about.
ACTION/ADVENTURE // CO-OP or PvP
Darkness overshadows the land, and the only hope of combating it rests firmly upon your shoulders! Take up a sword and shield and stab, slice, leap, and parry your way through a land filled with menial side-quests and dangerous mini-dungeons. The only hope for restoring order and light to the world is to rescue the far-away princess, whose royal authority is the key to evil's defeat and world peace.
CO-OP: Stab, slice, leap, and parry your way through dangerous obstacles side-by side, watching each other's backs as you do so!
PvP: To the one who manages to rescue the princess first go the spoils! Probably! Stab, slice, leap and parry your way through the world's dangers, stabbing your opponent in the back somewhere along the way if you're able to do so!
CO-OP: Stab, slice, leap, and parry your way through dangerous obstacles side-by side, watching each other's backs as you do so!
PvP: To the one who manages to rescue the princess first go the spoils! Probably! Stab, slice, leap and parry your way through the world's dangers, stabbing your opponent in the back somewhere along the way if you're able to do so!
??? // CO-OP or PvP
Can't decide on a game? Use the Randomizer option, and ViViD will pick a game for you.
(AKA, if none of the above options are quite right, please feel free to write your own and toss it in!)
(AKA, if none of the above options are quite right, please feel free to write your own and toss it in!)
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He listens intently as she speaks; he does wonder why and how there was random cooked food in the middle of an abandoned theme park, but he doubts Chihiro knows, or maybe it'll come up later, or maybe it doesn't even matter, so instead of asking about it, he just prompts her gently instead.]
Worse how?
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They got turned into pigs and we got trapped — hello, ma'am? May we set stuff we want to buy here? [ After the friendly nod from the shopkeep, she continues, not quiiiite where she stopped off. ] The river flooded and I couldn't get back across it. Haku found me and made sure I didn't just disappear then.
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And that....that is some Grade-A fairy tale bullshit right there. There are some holes in her story - she's obviously distracted by their Very Important Shopping - but they're not bad enough he feels the need to ask for clarification. He's starting to get the general idea.]
Aaaaand....Haku was the dragon you mentioned?
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Hence she starts bringing up different blankets on the in game menu. Hmm... ]
Yes, he is. ... Was. Haku was a river spirit whose home was taken away. He'd lost his name when he became Yubaba-san's apprentice.
[ She tugs one blanket out that has a nice blue and silver pattern, likewise giving a speed stat bonus. It does come at a minus one to agility, but agility is what the mare has to spare, so maybe it'll be okay? ]
I remembered his name eventually, just like he'd remembered mine. I was able to give that much to him.
[ It's all in past tense, pretty telling if one wanted to guess her stance on the state of their home worlds, but right now? She's also smiling. Unfettered and purely happy that she was able to help a friend not only not die, but find his freedom for himself. He deserved it. Kind and stupid is what Zeniba called dragons, and Haku was kind, but Chihiro doesn't think his failing was stupidity so much as... trust, maybe. That he knew more about what he was doing than he did, and that Yubaba was more honest than she was. ]
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On the one hand, he doesn't want to know. If she hadn't avoided it, he doesn't want to force her to dredge up the memories, especially in light of how happy she is currently, talking about her dragon friend.
But on the other hand, if she needs help, or - well, there's not really much he can do from here, in this place, so far removed from wherever the bath house is - or if she needs support, he wants to offer what he can to her. She's been so kind to him since they were thrown together in the murder mystery funhouse, she's like a badass little sister. It's the least he can do.]
So, this, uh. Yubaba...she, like...literally stole your name? And Haku's?
[The old fantasy trope of names having power, and to take someone's name was to have power over them…
...Yeah, that's not uncomfortable to think about at all..
Eff you, Handsome Jack!!]What did, uh. What kinds of things did she have you doing? In the bath house.
[There, it's out, he's asked. Now he can find out if he was freaking out for no reason, or for a horrible yet appropriate one.]
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Chihiro might well have glimpsed some of it without knowing what she was seeing, but three days, on the firmly cleaning side of things, spared her too many sudden realisations.
YOU SOLD YOUR OWN NAME, TIMOTHY, THIS IS YOUR BED TO LIE IN!!!]Mm, right off the paper. She renamed me Sen.
[ Ah, but she turns to look at him, expression pleased. ]
Haku's full name is — [ not past tense this time, too pleased that she can share this and have one more person Know even while in the middle of a unicorn racing breeding game ] — Nigihayami Kohakunushi. I fell into his river when I was three.
[ See, it makes total sense! ]
My mother used to tell me about it, but I didn't remember. Not until I'd met Haku again. He saved me.
[ So three year old Chihiro didn't end up a sad story on the news and in her parent's home shrine with a small framed picture and a stick of burning incense IT'S A GOOD STORY ]
I worked under Lin-san learning how to take care of things and attend to the customers in the baths.
[ Just the one actual application happened, really, and thank goodness; that'd been such a big job. ]
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AND TRUST HIM, HE KNOWS THAT AND HE HATES HIMSELF FOR IT]...That's a. That's a pretty impressive name.
[Such Japan. Very tongue-twister. Wow.
And...okay. It sounds like crummy work, but not like...extra special SUPREME crummy work. He relaxes a fraction or two on her behalf...And picks out a purple blanket dotted in black and white stars for the stallion that'll give him another boost to speed.]
So, you were able to save your parents? And go home?
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(They get a free bridle thrown in. It's neon orange, but gives a boost for endurance. Called the Dattebayo! or something of the kind.) ]
Mm, I did, and we were, only on the way back to the human world, I ended up here.
[ So... ]
... We better head back to the barn now.
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[He's sympathetic, but bad at expressing sympathy, so that's what you get, Chihiro, sorry.
Also, unrelated to Chihiro's story, he's side-eyeing that orange bridle pretty hard. He's not sure why, but for some reason the color or the name or maybe some weird combination of the two make him want to punch something? It's very strange.]
Uh, yeah. And then go meet the trainer.
[They'll have time to check out the other shops - the feed store, the seed store, etc - later on, when they actually have enough in-game money to buy something. Hopefully the first training session won't cost too much, or it'll be free; that's usually how things work in this kind of game, anyway.
He heads back to the shop door, and holds it open for her to go through.]
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The mare tries to steal the alfalfa. The stallion tries to butt the cowboy out of the way. ]
You the two newcomers around these parts? You've got some halfway decent horns to start with. What're you aiming for? Showing or racing?
[ Chihiro approaches the fenceline to pull herself up, resting her arms on the top. ]
Racing. Right, Jack-san?
[ Tossing a glance back at him, she waits for confirmation. So does the cowboy, who is watching Jack with how own degree of interest. ]
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What sort of anime weaboo hell have they descended into i mean--Wow all the NPCs in this game sure do look. Like something. Yup. They sure are something.
He walks up to stand just behind Chihiro, avoiding the fence and tucking his hands into the pockets of his jeans, keeping a nice safe distance between himself, the unicorns, and the trainer.]
Uh, yeah. Racing. You still wanna learn how to ride, right?
[That question is for Chihiro, obviously.]
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YOU ARE LETTING ME PICK IMAGE REFS plus the first dozen results for cowboys in general were kind of ridicChihiro ISN'T SO SURE ANYMORE but she nods anyway, striding forward and coming to a stop near the trainer holding on to the stallion's bridle. He shoots her a lazy smile, tipping his head toward the unicorn. ]
It's easy. All you need to do is keep the timing in mind. Lean forward to make the unicorn go faster, and lean back to slow down. Lean to the side you want to turn to ask them to turn with you.
[ He arranges the reins over the unicorn's neck, bending down and picking Chihiro up to set her on the stallion's back without so much as a warning. He smiles the same lazy smile, bringing the reins to her hands. ]
Keep the reins in your hands at all times. They help with the steering. You don't have to worry about falling off hurtin'. It's a dull sort of thump. Yauh!
[ Thus he slaps the rump of the stallion and CHIHIRO GOES TROTTING AWAY CLINGING ON FOR DEAR LIFE but she's not sliding off even if her feet are totally not in any stirrups. ]
Aaaaaah?!
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The image refs you are picking are glorious and beautiful and I would not have you change themMeanwhile Jack's still over here on the other side of the fence - the safe side - being completely useless
like always]You're doing good, Chihiro!
[Have some cautious encouragement??]
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She figures out some of the steering once she pushes up to lean back, dropping the stallion into an ambling walk. Jack has the dubious pleasure of seeing Chihiro suss out what she expects from her mount, leaning forward to pick up speed, bouncing along like potatoes at a trot, then leaning forward again so that she's cantering.
There's a speed lock that doesn't let her gallop right now.
The unicorn's AI is decent enough it mostly sticks to the track, but in a way that shows it's doing as it pleases instead of as she directs. While Chihiro is on the far side of the track and coming back around toward them, Jack...
Gets to deal with their trainer. ]
She your daughter?
[ welcome to the exciting life of NPC conversations, Jack. there's a whole menu that appears before you for selecting an option to answer this quest, as apparently it changes some setting in the game. (an innocuous one, but regardless...) ]
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Well, he feels it's inappropriate, anyway.]
What? No! Do I look old enough to be--
[He cuts himself off before he can finish. He doesn't want to hear the answer to that question, even from a computer program, because he knows he does look old enough to be her father. Handsome Jack is significantly older than he is, and his face currently looks like Jack's, not his own, so.
Technically, he is old enough. People make all sorts of stupid mistakes at 15.
Not that he had any cute girls (or heck, any girls at all) to make mistakes with at age 15, but. Details.
He eyes the menu that pops up to accompany the trainer's quest initiation with a sort of sour taste in his mouth. If he has to put a label on his and Chihiro's friendship other than simple "friendship", he'd place them firmly in the "sibling" category, well away from the "parent and child" category. He hasn't known her very long but she's already like a little sister to him. It's a bit of a strange feeling, but comfortable, too.]
She's my little sister.
[Okay, game. Show him what you've got. :T]
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As it is, the trainer nods, lips curling up into a sideways grin. Two settings have been established: siblings means a different set of invitations from the locals, and it also means Jack registers on the "to be hit on" scale without the added complication of "a single father." Congratulations, Jack. You're now one of the eligible bachelors around town. Be prepared to be hit on. Often. ]
No point invitin' you both to the parent-child dance happening tomorrow, then. You're welcome to stop by either way, but we've got more family oriented things comin' up with the fair next week. They have a series of amateur races. Still have openings for signin' up.
[ He looks toward Chihiro, who has finally found the stirrups and seems to be sticking to the canter fairly well. The stallion is responding to her direction on the reins: this may explain why she keeps subtly directing him side to side. ]
Go ahead and bring him up the middle, then give him his head and ask him to go, Girlie!
[ She transfers the reins to one hand, waving and calling out. ]
Okay!
[ Following his instructions, she guides the stallion to the center of the track, leaning forward and activating the tutorial's first dive into top speed galloping. Her expression is pretty intensely focused when she gallops by, leaning and turning with the stallion as they come toward the large, forgiving curve of the track. ]
'S a little natural, looks like.
[ Suggestive eyebrow raise to Jack: think you're ready to enter into the races? Amateur earned little other than points toward a higher score and breeding statistical financial investments, which a menu next to the trainer's head explains. ]
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This is what he gets for not reading the fine print.]
Uh. Yeah. Okay. We'll have a look at those, then. Cool.
[Once Chihiro gets off the unicorn and he can confirm that's something she's willing to try, of course.
He turns his attention back to Chihiro when the trainer does, and watches her ease the unicorn into a gallop feeling equal parts worry and pride. She really does look like she's getting the hang of it.
Then that darn trainer is talking to him again. Gosh!!
He looks back and observes the menu next to the trainer's head. He reads it over quickly, then shrugs.]
Might as well sign up, since it's what we're here for.
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Give her a leg down? We'll want to see about a mounting block here. I'm going to give you a set of tasks to work on with both the mare and stallion for the next week. Each time you reach one of the goals, it'll get more difficult. Don't push them past what they can endure, and remember to walk and feed them the good stuff.
[ Chihiro tries getting out of the saddle on her own, ending up draped over it with her legs dangling in the air because the unicorn is way taller than she was, er, handling easily. She's about to give up and slide off to fall on her rear any moment now. ]
Uh, right —
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The stallion definitely doesn't like that, and it tries to toss its head and sidle around to tell Jack exactly what it thinks of his gross breach of personal space, but lucky for Jack and unlucky for the stallion, the trainer has excellent control of the beast's head, so he is saved from being gored in his attempt to save Chihiro from falling.]
Woah! Mmph--!
[The good news is, he got there in time to cushion Chihiro's landing.
The bad news is, she basically landed on his face.
This isn't awkward at all.]
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Jack-san! Are you okay?
[ PAIN SUCKS EVEN IF IT'S ONLY VIRTUALLY REAL ]
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[Wow he sure is glad there isn't a bomb implanted in his face the way he spent the first year or so of his contract as Handsome Jack's body double thinking. Because that would have sucked.]
That was quite the impressive spill, there, partner. Either of you two need a hand up?
[Meanwhile, the trainer - perhaps sensing the unicorn's animosity towards Jack - has dismissed the digital beast and is standing over them both with an amused expression on his dumb digital face.
To his credit, though, he offers his hand to Chihiro, first.]
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[ Chihiro accepted the hand up, dusting herself off once she was standing. The trainer offered the same to Jack, clearly amused at their collective expense, but without ill will. She wonders if the whole of this particular game is so good natured. ]
I recommend lettin' the little lady keep training while you work on getting the rest of this place up and runnin'.
[ The menu for calling on their unicorns manifests near Chihiro, the trainer turning her way to explain it in simple terms. She followed the instructions to call on the mare, finding the toggle for saddle and bridle and blanket. All of it is pretty straight forward, and they're done with that part of the tutorial before long. ]
You can give me a ring anytime you want me to come down and time y'all or give you pointers. Otherwise I may head on out for the day. Any last questions?
[ Why did that sound like any last requests? ]
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Uh. Yeah. That sounds like a good plan. Thanks.
[He retreats quietly to the other side of the fence with the shredded remains of his dignity and watches the trainer finish guiding Chihiro through the tack management menus. At the man's prompting for any last
requestsquestions, he shakes his head.]Nah, I'm good. Chihiro?
[Any last questions?]
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Thank you!
[ She says, almost by reflex, tapping at the interface and looking into options that stopped making sense to her before long. Looks like there are all kinds of available upgrades for those really into tricking things out for their unicorns.
Once their trainer waves and heads on his way, she turns to Jack, tipping her head to the side in consideration. ]
How fast does time pass in here? I don't want to be playing for weeks. That's way too long to be in a game.
[ HELP HOW DOES RACING UNICORNS MOON WORK ]
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[He pulls up the game's main menu, and pokes and prods around for a moment searching for an in-game clock. After a moment, he finds it, aaaaaand...!]
It, uh, looks like we've been playing for just over fifteen minutes. The tutorial's basically over, and we can start racing whenever, so...
[He pauses to do some quick calculating in his head]
We should be able to make good headway and be out of here in a few hours, I think.
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