« 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

[souredsweet]

[Relief follows, since it's nice to be met with such kind reassurance. The smile present is small but pretty, and Kaoru's hand moves away, dropping that demure gesture of thought.]

Glen Baskerville? I will surely remember the name and description. Should I see him, I'll let him know that his servant is here. [The names are all foreign, and the gesture that follows is, too. Kaoru blinks at the offered hand in an owlish sort of way for a second before extending one, too. However, rather than a proper shake, Kaoru's hand rests just shy of actually touching and a somewhat embarrassed look is offered.]

Please excuse my rudeness. Customs of the West are still something that I struggle with. You would properly be referred to as... Mister Nightray, correct? [Adapting to different forms of address can certainly be a struggle too, good lord.

That said, Kaoru's own introduction comes seamlessly. A gentle bow, a softer smile, and a polite:] My name is Nagumo Kaoru. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, despite the poor circumstances. I hope that this place hasn't been treating you harshly...

[ofmisfortune]

[ Briefly, he retracts his hand with a laugh, brief and gentle. ]

No harm. I'm more commonly addressed as Master Vincent, but I would be content with whatever you should deem appropriate, Miss Nagumo. Honorifics are terribly complicated things, after all. As for my experience here, thus far, I'd say my fortune has just recently taken a turn for the better.

[ Offering his hand once more, with a faintly playful quirk of his brow. ]

I would be happy to show you, if I may.

[souredsweet]

If Master Vincent is what's most common, it would be remiss of me to select something different. [Terribly complicated, indeed... Though Kaoru doesn't have much of a preference for one set over another, ease of remembrance aside.

The offer earns Vincent a look of muted curiosity and mild surprise, though.]

...If it wouldn't be troublesome. I would hate to waste your time. [But an offer is an offer, so Kaoru's hand extends again, still uncertain and hesitant to make contact.]

[ofmisfortune]

Hardly, miss.

[ Vincent's words as dressed with amusement, as he slips his palm into Kaoru's. Nimbly turning 'her' wrist upward, so that he may bow in to softly kiss the knuckles exposed to him.

Once done, he'll regain his stature, with gloved fingers tracing lightly up the other's palm until he may fondly squeeze the more delicate digits beneath his thumb. ]

You see? Simple enough.

[souredsweet]

[It is - perhaps unsurprisingly - an unexpected and bold gesture to someone who doesn't even call people by their first name more often than not. Having expected something closer to a handshake, the surprise present is very much genuine.]

Simple indeed, but I wasn't aware that greetings outside of my country were so... ah, warm? [The polite way of saying "too familiar"... What is this. Society is complicated enough in ye olde Japan, who needs to deal with ye olde Not Actually England Or France and its ten thousand flatteries!!

Kaoru just looks vaguely flustered (and flattered accordingly) though, fingertips of the hand not in Vincent's resting against a cheek in a shy-looking gesture.]

But thank you for showing me, sir. Even though I've been here for some time, there is still much that's foreign to me... It's a little embarrassing.

[ofmisfortune]

Mm, fortunately for you, my people don't greet one another by kissing on the lips, as I understand some do.

[ With a teasing smile, his head lulls just so. ]

Ah, but don't there's no need to feel embarrassed. It isn't too late to learn - and I'm certain that you could teach me a thing or two, as well.

[ It wouldn't benefit him to overwhelm his new friend into losing their polite interest, though; he eases his grip, so that Kaoru might retract his hand, if he so wished. ]

[souredsweet]

Is that truly a custom? [Kaoru's head cants a little to the side in turn, and while the gesture is all soft curiosity, there's also the mildest note of amusement in the words that follow.] I can hardly imagine it, though such boldness seems like it would be suitable for a charming person.

[Likewise, it's with that same balance of lingering shyness and friendly warmth that Kaoru's hand is gently and carefully withdrawn. It comes to join the other, fingers weaving together and resting at waist level.]

Please keep me in your kind consideration, in that case. I'll surely do my best to learn. [A more lively-looking smile follows.] Of course, if there are things you would like to know, please don't hesitate to ask. Whether it's matters of the home or of this city, I would be pleased to pass on the knowledge that I might have.

[ofmisfortune]

Oh? If you should consider me so, tthat is something that I would indeed take into consideration for our next meeting. [ With a faint laugh under his breath, Vincent nods in a more earnest display of understanding, as he likewise folds his hands at his back.. ]

Truly, I would relish in the opportunity to have you assist me with putting my mind a bit more at ease. I couldn't count the number of questions that I've had since my arrival. We haven't a hint of this digital technology, where I've come from - and that only seems to be the start of it.

[ Chest rising and falling with a sigh, he shrugs. They we both equally clueless, on different fronts, it would seem. ]

Would you be willing to see me again this evening, perhaps? I should continue my search, and I would enjoy an opportunity to speak to you with less weighing oh my mind. [ It's then that he seems to battle a moment of vulnerability, before meeting the other's eyes once more. ] I admit, it would also be of great comfort to be in your company again. A warm presence in this largely foreign place.

[ While surprisingly true, his desire are far more basic, and less kind. A warm body to lose himself in - and, if his efforts there prove to be futile, he would at the very least obtain some information from an older resident, which would prove to be valuable enough on its own. He'd most definitely be interested to see how the other's apparent enthusiasm for actively aiding another might stretch. ]

[souredsweet]

[The acceptance of that hidden compliment is met only with a shy smile and no verbal acknowledgement, but it seems well-received nevertheless. The rest of what Vincent says also seems to go over well, and Kaoru's expression shifts to accommodate each current feature of discussion seamlessly. Understanding for being totally lost with technology, amiability for his suggestion to meet later, mild sympathy for a understandable case of wanting familiarity in a very unfamiliar situation...

By the end, Kaoru's head dips once more in a shallow but polite bow.]

It flatters me to hear such kind words, sir. If you wouldn't mind it, then I'll gladly see you when your time is free once more. [Straightening again, Kaoru's hands re-fold, smile returning to its placid amiability.]

You can use your CereVice to contact me when you've finished, or visit my place of work. [INSERT STORE NAME HERE who even knows if it has one. A mystery.] I'm afraid that I won't be of much use when it comes to the technology of this era, though I have learned some... But you may ask whatever you would like an answer to and I'll do what I can to provide one. In the meantime, I wish you the highest luck in locating the person that you search for.

[ofmisfortune]

[ Hm! That was almost too easy - but, as long as he isn't led into another witch's dungeon, he would be intrigued to know what he's gotten himself into.

Shoulders relaxing in a show of relief, he smiles just a bit wider. ]

Thank you, Miss Nagumo. Your kindness has renewed my spirits, I think. [ Humbly allowing his lashes to fall over his eyes, he bows. ] I look forward to seeing you then.

[souredsweet]

[SUSPICIOUSLY EASY... But no, luckily there will be no witch dungeon's waiting for him, probably. Probably. In the meantime it's all gentle politeness and a parting nod.]

Please take care.

[And that will be a well-bid good bye! Kaoru will be ready to greet with the same politeness later, whether Vincent calls or visits the cosmetics store.]