« 005 ⇢ event005.exe »

[reparator]

Who: CERES & you
When: IC: 10/04 | OOC: 11/15
Where: ViViD & McCERES
What: Intro Log
Rating/Warning: PG-13 | slightly nsfw

//event005.EXE Learning is Fundamental! Let's play CERESLearn ViViD's usual worlds are unfortunately down for maintenance. While CERES' programmers work on getting it back up and running, all new entrees this round will be going through a different level than usual. Only a single world is accessible at the moment, a simple one entitled 'CERESLearn.' "What the $%@& is this?" you must be thinking. Well, it's simple! It's a study program, of course! CERES' advanced AI technology is here to make sure you learn and that you learn sexily. Whether or not you pay attention to the actual content is up to you, the player. Please enjoy it while it lasts. They're here to teach you a variety of subjects and also to make you feel vaguely uncomfortable all over. New arrivals and those logging into ViViD will first find themselves in a classroom with a new operator greeting them rather than Vidia. "Greetings and welcome to Cerealia! It's nice of you to join us at last. As you can see, we're just about to get started! Here are the instructions: ♥ Choose your subject of choice. They include things like medicine, math, CERES economics, CERES history, fun facts about Julius, engineering, and science! ♥ Choose your tutor. You can hire Astor, Hilda, or UN-Zippy ♥ They'll teach you slowly, deliberately, sensually. Then after that, they'll drill you hard and without stopping. ♥ Just when you think you've had enough, they'll quiz you all over until you're sweating and panting. ♥ For those of you who pass, you'll be welcomed well into Cerealia and be given a free voucher for a McCERES Mildly Content meal. Please enjoy!"

//SCENARIOS.EXE PHASE I [ xxxx ] Once you choose your lesson and your tutor, you will be transported to a classroom where you and a few other players who decide to choose the same lesson will sit with your tutor after school, getting knowledge taught to you by someone who seems more intent on learning what's under your clothes than filling your head with knowledge. They will be awkwardly stretching, dropping pencils by 'accident' on the floor, and bending down slowly to pick them up. Certain things might be spilling out of their clothes. Awkward things. They will breathe down your neck and make sure you are well-versed in their anatomy by the end of the lesson. Fortunately, it won't last long as their bodies start to flicker erratically. PHASE II [ xxxx ] Just as things begin to escalate, the flickering will grow intense until your tutor will start to morph before your eyes. What takes their place is something that is anything but friendly. And yes, it will continue to breathe down your neck and speak in a sweet, soft, alluring voice while reaching out with its 'hands' to try and touch you. This will be your cue to run through the halls of the school while That Thing chases you in every single direction imaginable. There will be others joining you as everyone starts bolting out of their classrooms. PHASE III [ xxxx ] Feeling tired already? Well, don't stop and rest now! For those who successfully murder their own tutor, they will get their food voucher and a lovely welcome into CERES. You've officially passed! Everyone will be allowed to mingle around the game room in the CERES Research Tower before being directed into McCERES just across the street. For those who were already in the colony, you will also receive a voucher and directions to McCERES at the end of the game in case you want to go meet up with the newcomers there or just eat some artery-killing fast food. PHASE IV [ xxxx ] For those who get eaten by That Thing or don't pass their quizzes and upset their tutors, they will be forced to endure the Price of Failure. This means being sent to the gym with the other 'failures' to endure a painfully slow and erotic striptease by UN-Zippy. Once that is over, they will then be logged out and allowed to have their complimentary McCERES voucher. BONUS [ whyo'clock ] Congratulations on surviving CERESLearn! Here's your complimentary voucher for a free Mildly Content Meal at McCERES. This month's special is also the McKnight Burger. Characters are immediately invited to take a load off and enjoy some good ol' fashion fast food of questionable origin. Those who decide to order and eat here will also get a special toy included inside their Mildly Content Meals. [ Remember to apply proper warnings on threads with trigger-y or inappropriate material and do let a mod know if your thread careens off into maiming or canoodling so we can lock the log. ]

//RUN.EXE Welcome to CEREALIA's latest intro post. For your convenience, we have compiled a post detailing everyone's usual arrival experience (which is not entirely applicable this round for reasons stated above^) and a FAQ that should explain everything in more detail. Please read them thoroughly before playing. Thank you!

Comments

[springful]

• phase i / medicine with hilda

[Sakura has absolutely no idea what's going on. Sure, she's been going back to school, but this is definitely not her school. Something if off no matter how you look at it, but she picks her subject and tutor with something akin to mild hope. It can't go that badly, right...?

But of course, it sure can. She does her best (and does it well) to ignore Hilda when she drops her pencils or stretches over, but every time she comes close to Sakura, she looks visibly and very uncomfortable. She still has no idea what's going on, but if she's supposed to be learning, why can't she be left alone to take notes in peace? When she can, she turns to whoever is nearby and whispers.]

Um, forgive me for asking, but... Are lessons supposed to be like this?

• phase ii

[As if the entire "lesson" wasn't weird and uncomfortable, the minute Hilda starts looking like a monster bug, Sakura was out of there. She's really had enough of monster bugs in her life, okay, and she really didn't want to deal with any kind of them ever again!! Of course just escaping out of the classroom doesn't take care of the problem, and soon enough she's running for her life through the halls. At least she's actually fairly fit, but she's not the sort of person who can keep up running like this forever.]

Someone, please—! [Not for the first time in her life, she curses how weak and powerless she is. Didn't she swear to herself that she would change, to not be so helpless anymore? But she hadn't had the opportunity to learn anything yet, and she knows she can't take care of this thing on her own. As much as she hates her own uselessness, it's better than getting caught.] Please help!

• bonus

[Somehow after making it out through the awful mess that was CERESLearn, Sakura takes her voucher and heads towards the establishment. It's suspiciously similar-sounding to a certain fast food chain, but at this point she figures that she might as well get some kind of food and nourishment after everything. Even if it's... fast food... When you cook homemade meals all the time, something like this is kind of strange, alright!!

Actually yeah, despite her plans to at least get something to eat, once she sees the menu she can't help but make a face. She's kind of exhausted, and finding a way to get ingredients and a place to cook sounds like a bit too much, but she... doesn't really want to eat this either...]

I wonder if there's anywhere else we can eat...? [Not that she's sure she has this place's currency either, but. Surely she can find a way, right?!]

bonus

[sunshade]

And I wonder in what world someone deems it acceptable to award hours of fighting and possible terror with a coupon for a highly unhealthy restaurant.

[ says the witch looking down at the hamburger in her hands with disdain. but she's hungry so she's probably going to eat it anyway lbr ]

[springful]

It's certainly something of a letdown... [Granted, this entire situation is what you could call a letdown, and that would be the understatement of the year. She looks at the burger in the girl's hands curiously though.]

Have you tried it yet?

[sunshade]

No, but I may as well.

[ gonna. take a bite and

make a very displeased face ]

Ah, yes, I can feel my own arteries clogging up.

phase ii

[projections]

[That plea for help is very familiar to Shirou. He's so angry because Sakura's in trouble. She's been through so much hardship in her life and there's still more waiting for her. This legitimately annoys Shirou so much to the point where he grits his teeth together to deal with it. ]

Sakura!!!! Come here!

[Naturally Shirou rushes out to help Sakura and grabs her hand. He promised he'd be Sakura's superhero. They need to go somewhere safe. Lord help them.]

[springful]

Senpai!

[In a way, she's not surprised to see Shirou. After everything that'd happened, it was just impossible not to imagine him nearby. Still, relief floods her immediately as soon as she hears him, and she grips his hand back easily. If they have each other, they'll be okay no matter what, right? They have to be.

So... off they go running together?! From a freaky monster bug still, but she's not gonna let herself drag him behind just because she's been running for a while. She's beyond happy to see him, but it's still a dangerous situation.]

Do you know what's going on here? [Like... anything seriously, not a single bit of this has made sense.]

[projections]

No, I don't. [He won't even pretend he knows. ] All I can tell is the monster's strength is abnormal.

Sakura, tell me when you get tired. [Shirou's trying his best to sound calm despite everything. He can lift Sakura easily because of how much he exercises. ]

I'll carry you. [They'll have a better chance of escaping together this way.]

ii.

[deontology]

[He wasn't intending to go into the virtual game. It's...not something he enjoys, but upon realizing that there are newcomers in trouble in it, he has to at least see what's happening.

Bugs chasing little girls through hallways is not what he was expecting, but at least it doesn't take him any time at all to react.

He steps forward, drawing his sword, and sidesteps the bug in an easy movement. It's not hard--it's still intent on Sakura, and then quite neatly, his sword shears through the skin keeping its head attached to its body. He knows this is all virtual, but...well, he'll never quite understand how it can feel so real...

Regardless, he turns then, stepping away from the bug (it's still moving, which is disgusting, but not enough to be a threat).]

Are you unharmed?

[springful]

[As soon as the bug drops to the floor, she lets out a sigh of relief. It's still pretty gross honestly, but it doesn't look like it'll be coming after her again. Turning to the stranger who came to her aid, she bows slightly in gratitude.]

Yes, I'm fine. Thank you for helping me, sir.

[deontology]

[Ah... well, she's polite. Especially after such a startling show as that. Sousei just turns away from the insect (he highly doubts it's getting back up), answering her with a nod.]

There's no need to thank me. It is not your fault that you've been put in this situation.

[He is glad that she's safe, though.]

It is probably not safe to remain in this place, though.

phase i

[allweather]

[This lesson is a shambles, that's for sure. Reim is uncomfortable with Hilda's... teaching style, himself, but he keeps his discomfort to disapproving looks and pointedly looking the other way when she tries to hike a leg up and perch on the edge of his desk. How inappropriate.

It's even more inappropriate to be bothering young people, so he's glad to look sideways at Sakura and distract them both from their absurd "teacher."]

No— not any I've ever encountered... [A beat, before he slides his notebook over to the edge of the desk nearest her, so she can see.] Here- do your best to ignore her carrying on.

[springful]

That's what I thought...

[Really, she doesn't know how anything like this could be called a lesson. But when he slides his notes over, she can't help but give a small smile in gratitude.]

Thank you. This won't distract you from taking your own notes, will it? [She doesn't want to be bother to someone helping her!! Then again, how long are they going to be in this class for...]

[allweather]

[Not long enough to take great notes, which is the real tragedy... Reim shakes his head quickly, regardless.]

No, no, it's quite alright! I'll catch up easily, as soon as we have a minute without harassment...

[He says as he frowns in Hilda's direction, mercifully while her back is turned and she isn't inspired to come back and do a split in front of them or something.]

II

[flaredo]

[ Did a fair maiden call for help?

Or did Yang just happen to pick now to turn the corner and see a girl go sprinting by, followed by a bug?

The world may never know, but the fact remains that she's skidding in front of the bug and sending it flying back with a sharp jab to the... general vicinity of its abdomen. ]

Relax, I've got you!

[springful]

Ah—! Thank you... [It's not like Sakura's a stranger to seeing impressive feats of strength, but it's not everyday she sees one from a girl who looks around her age, and with her fists at that.]

[flaredo]

Don't thank me yet! Honestly, I'd keep running. [ At least she's all smiles. ]

i.

[encompassment]

No. [ Off-handedly, while his focus is completely on Hilda at the front of the class, and his hand scribbling random letters on a piece of paper. It sounds like an automatic reaction, like a spontaneous answer when a surprise question is directed when one's daydreaming. But then, almost immediately it's followed by: ]

By this point, it's clear that these classes are only used as a bait for these educators to acquire something off of their... pupils, judging from how insistent they are in their appalling attempt at seducing us.

[ When he does turn his head toward Sakura, his scribbling stops abruptly -- like a bad habit he just remembered he needs to stop doing. ]

I imagine it must be uncomfortable for you, but a lack of reaction would be a good plan for now until we think of something better.

[springful]

[His mannerisms are a bit strange, but she nods at his advice. While it's bit ironic that not having any sort of reaction will probably help here when she's been trying to improve in expressing herself, good advice is good advice.]

Yes, you're probably right. [letting out a breath as she calms herself] What do you think they could want from us though?

[encompassment]

It's difficult to tell, this might be only the beginning phase of their plan.

[ There's a pause as he considers his own words, gaze flicking between Hilda and Sakura, but not exactly examining as opposed to just a quick study. ]

Perhaps knowledge, since they don't seem to be very keen on sharing what they do know, in contrary to what their job should be.

[ He tilts his head to the side, leans himself forward slightly and has his hands meet halfway on the desk. A smile would've been good to accompany this attempt to make himself smaller and approachable, but, one thing at a time. ] Are you a medical student?

phase 1

[sunshrouded]

[Congratulations, Sakura, you've asked completely the wrong person.

Coming from a totally different era, Tenka's been uncomfortable this entire time. He thought at first that maybe their tutor was just friendly! And a little clumsy. Now he's rigid on the edge of his seat, not because he's particularly unhappy about the lesson, but rather because-]

I really hope not!!

[- he's got brothers in the school system! He has to protect their innocence!! What on earth are they being taught?!]

[springful]

[If only she knew...! Although she has a bit of an inkling as seeing him take this even worse than her makes her feel kind of bad. She's not really any good at comforting people, but maybe she can try?!]

A-Ah, well, it's definitely not like this in most schools! I can assure you of that much. This place is just... a very strange school. [To put it lightly. Then again, EVERYTHING about this situation is strange to begin with.]

[sunshrouded]

[Sakura, you're way too nice. At least Tenka's distress mildly fades away at that, turning into more of a mix of confusion and exasperation.]

Strange school.... yeah, that sounds about right. [SIGH.] Everything that this place cooks up is strange.

[cue their teacher dropping her pencil again and Tenka blinks.]

You would think that someone who teaches for a living would be more coordinated.

[............. he just thinks she's clumsy]

[sagemodes]

[ Did someone call for help? Well, at the very least someone is answering Sakura's call, even if it's...

A blonde triplet(?) trio just bowling over the creature, yelling and punching the crap out of it. Actually, make that a quadruplet (???) as another identical blonde guy rounded the corner in a frantic pace. ]

Hey! You alright?

[springful]

Yes, I'm alright... [She's grateful of course, but wow, it's kind of strange seeing quadruplets come flying in. Still, she bows slightly in gratitude.] Thank you all for your help.

[sagemodes]

Hey, no problem!

[ The three other guys are still busy with the monster as the one talking to Sakura just gives a relieved smile. ]

Though, do you know what exactly is going on here?

[ Because god everything's been a confusing mess so far. ]