estoria | « 005 ⇢ event005.exe »

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ AH YES, the brother no one wanted to see (hint: it's not Vincent), trawling the general perimeter with a decidedly pensive scowl plastered over his features.

Either he's currently undergoing a shitload of emotional constipation (thanks Oz, you're a real pal) or so out of it that he doesn't immediately retract his arm when it's wrenched out, blinking down at it like he could induce insentience into someone else's limb by just not — moving. But if his last encounter in a game of metaphysical Russian Roulette with various relatives and (begrudged) friends as the cartridges taught him anything, he couldn't merely dismiss them as hallucinations contrived under an inordinate amount of stress. ]

... No, I haven't.

[ SURE SOUNDS FAMILIAR ... but in true Elliot fashion, he internally glosses over that particular aspect to finally raise his gaze, withholding the insatiable urge to go bolting off at the slightest provocation, or maybe just sweat uncomfortably because what the hell, Vincent. ]

When did you become someone else's lapdog? [ Clearly the more important issue here ... ]

[ Truthfully, this particular head of spiky ashen hair caught his attention because it reminded him of a certain brother - what he didn't expect was to come face-to-face that very same boy. What had begun as intrigue quickly sent his mind reeling.

Vincent's smile slacks, as he falls to silence, and looks the other over, from head to toe. Looking perfectly well, and acting it, too... But then, he'd been told that he'd died, himself. It shouldn't surprise him so. ]

I can see how it might surprise you. [ His lips regain that pleasant little curve, as he exhales a chuckle. ] Ah, but someone had to look after your friend, don't you think?

[ Well, he'd gotten the long and short of it elsewhere, so with time to acclimatize to recent developments, the implications of seeing Vincent in the flesh doesn't hit dead-center on emotional rebounds as much it does reduce him to flat-out staring (probably in a manner akin to a drowning cat because they hadn't exactly parted on the best terms, what with dying and all).

Still — he does get a bit choked-up, and that's enough incentive for Elliot to retract his gaze, hastily rubbing at the nape of his neck. ] I didn't think I'd ever see you again. I'm glad you're ... well.

[ Understatement of the century, but nerds from a bygone quasi-Victorian era could do worse. ]

Friend? [ Nevermind that an image of Oz Vessalius and his hamfisted attempts at camaraderie spring to mind, which he quashes with sudden relish. His mouth quirks in a minute frown, voice angled toward dubiety. ... Wait, what. ] You serve Leo now?

[ Oh, Elliot. The sentiment is shared - perhaps doubly so, after seeing the boy he'd come to admire so much fall as a result of greed and neglect. He had grieved the only way that he could fathom (revenge) - but, most importantly, it was that grief in wake of his death which enabled him to serve at Leo's side.

While he's looking down, Vincent will reach out to take his shoulders, and if the boy doesn't lash out, he'll find himself taken into an embrace. ]

Mm. Surely, you figured out that something was different about him.

[ He mutters, as though in secret, while fondly ruffling his fingers over the back of Elliot's head. ]

[ NOT EVERYBODY FALLS BACK ON REVENGE TO ASSUAGE THE EMPTY HOLE IN THEIR HEARTS .............

It's all a little too nostalgic for this doofus to be completely complacent with Vincent's apparent lack of — ... vengeance toward him. Anything resembling hatred that curdles in admission, any paltry anger that he could possibly brace himself against — it's practically nonexistent. He'd expected aversion in spades, disgust so palpable he'd sooner flinch back than stand with a spine ramrod-straight against every sin he ever committed — but there's only arms enfolding him, and sheepishness that could shake a mountain from its foundations notwithstanding, his voice is awfully small. ]

Because he isn't like anyone else I've ever met, but — [ And like the prelude to some bombshell revelation (even if it's just him raises his gaze until it levels, half-consumed with the knee-jerk instinct to maintain some distance): ]

... Why, Vincent?

[ Knowing Elliot to value his personal space - and how his own presence left his family weary, at best - Vincent slips away to hold the younger at at arm's length. ]

Why? [ He repeats with a curious cant of his head. ] I believe Master Leo would be better suited for explaining the situation, as he sees fit.

[ SUSPICIOUS .........

Most of the insinuation flies straight over his head, but he just can't casually accept a sudden shift in hierarchy at face-value (not that he'd ever viewed valet as anything less than an equal, but he couldn't imagine his brother, of all people, would be actively jumping at a chance to depreciate himself before Leo). ]

If you're able to explain, then I don't see why you shouldn't. [ And then, more firmly, prepossessed with a wanton flare of discontent: ] You aren't hiding anything from me, are you?

[ Ah, so zealous! Vincent's eyes close with a chuckle. ]

Much has happened since you passed, Elliot, and you'll discover that he'd been left with an incredible weight to carry. That's something that he alone can explain; from my lips, it would be meaningless.

[ ....... what kind of backasswards logic is this, isn't vincent just avoiding the point ....... ]

Not entirely, but that's not my decision to make. You're talking like he'll be able to explain this to me himself somewhere down the time.

[ whoops, little did he know .......... ]

I'm not asking for reassurances. I just need an answer from my brother. It's alright to expect this much, isn't it?

[ Oh, he's totally dodging the point, but he's also trying to do right by Leo, so goddamnit, why does Elliot have to play the Brother Card!! ]

Ah. Yes, of course. I'm afraid it would be my lack of creditability as such that's to be questioned.

[ NO, ANSWER HIS QUESTIONS REGARDLESS OF WHAT LEO THINKS ........ it's his best friend, he'll totally understand and this won't end up later backfiring in some macabre, satirical display of underhanded betrayal. ]

If you're that disinclined to answer, Vincent, all you need to do is say so. I won't force you if that's how you see things. ... I'm glad to see you're well.

[ And with an indignant huff, there goes Elliot, crossly stomping off because his brother won't do him a solid and give him the deets he needs. Oh, well. He could try a second jab at Oz, but who knows where that hyperactive dork's ran off now ... ]

[ Oh Elliot... YOU'RE SO CUTE.

Vincent will just watch him go, raising a curled hand to his mouth to stifle an endeared snicker. He'll make it up to him somehow! ]

« 005 ⇢ event005.exe »

iii!

sorry this is so late hhh!!!

nah it's cool!! sorry this is really belated though sfkljs

we're kinda awesome at this

i'm sorry, you deserve better!! for real .....

no, i'm pretty sure that applies to you--!

HOLDS MY HEAD ..... this is late as heck, don't feel pressured to reply back

it's ok i'll wait forever for you '3'

HIGH-FIVES YOU on your way down to delayed victorian hell

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