Welcome to CERES' new dating experience -- ABOMIDate (Catchy, huh?). They've found that they're a little concerned with everyone's ability to... connect with denizens of different species, and in a place like Cerealia that is full of aliens, that's a Big Problem! After all, it's pretty clear by now that there are a lot of things about your friendly neighborhood aliens that you just know nothing about. What else do you not know? That the greeting of a Faswwg is face licking? That feathered species require mating dances to woo? That [REDACTED] needs [REDACTED] to [REDACTED]? So clearly, the way to fix this problem is...to practice dating other species!
Namely eldritch abominations! In CERES' experience, eldritch abominations really sum up the full interspecies dating way of life and provide you a variety of different species (and orifices) to enjoy.
So it's time to put on some proper music -- no, not that, that's not right. There, that's better. Anyway, time to put on some sexy background music, and woo the monster of your dreams!
 [ horrifying noises of nightmares and despair ]
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PHASE I [ 8 00 ] Welcome to the new and improved Abominable Dating, CERES’ brand new virtual dating experience! The first thing you will see will be a character select screen, because CERES wants you to get to the dating part right away. Don’t worry, there are a lot of beautiful and handsome candidates to choose from so feel free to jump right in! There’s this fellow, or this dashing lass and even a hidden character who is... not really all that hidden if they’re right there to be picked, but there you go!
You have to pick one. There’s no other option, I’m afraid.
And once you do, you’ll end up in a room with your date, dressed up in beautiful, date-like clothing. Unfortunately, everyone else who picked that date will also be in the room with you, also dressed up and prepared for dating.
This is awkward.
It gets even more awkward when your date decides that you look like a great main course. Watch out for those claws/teeth/limbs/etc! Maybe you can work together to take down your starving date, sad as that sounds.
PHASE II [ 1000 ] No dating game would be complete without stat boosting sessions. Regardless of how you feel about your current date, you’re locked into the game now (and hopefully not while covered in the blood of your date themselves, though they just come back even if you managed to kill them), and the game is picking a stat it thinks you need to work on. Either your intelligence is deplorable, your charisma is totally lacking, or your strength is at noodly-arm levels. That’s pretty bad. (It doesn’t matter what your actual intelligence, charisma or strength are, the game might be making things up at this point.)
Because of this, you’re going to be automatically tossed into a mini-game to increase those stats! This will be fun, absolutely. Nothing but Fun here in ViViD. So regardless of what the game thinks you’re lacking, it’s going to throw you into the same mini-game -- eldritch abomination make-over sessions.
You'll show up at a row of dressing rooms, each marked with a sign above the door reading NO INTELLIGENCE or NO STRENGTH or NO CHARISMA in bright red letters. Choosing the right one (embrace your shame) will reveal your initial date to you. They bat their eyelashes in greeting and growl out a very sultry, Will you help me, senpai?
Time to get to work!
You won’t be able to leave the mini-game until the monster is completely satisfied with its makeover, so it’s time to really tap in to your inner fashion sense. Of course, the fact that you’re all trying to apply makeup to the same monster might make this hard, but you can surely all get along, right?
Right?
PHASE III [ 1800 ] At first, you were on a date. Finally, you, your monster, candelight. Everything was going right until... well, you made a bad dialogue choice. They asked you what your favorite food was, you accidentally picked "Italian" (or maybe picked it on purpose which makes this even worse!) and then things went dark.
When you wake up, you'll find yourself in a cage. The room is dark and dank and there's no light other from the crack of a door somewhere up a flight of stairs. You're in a cage in a basement and there's a key glinting on the table right across the room there. Is it for your cage?
Welcome to the Yandere Route.
You might not actually be alone though. The cage isn't terribly big but there's enough room for someone else and if you shift around a little, you'll bump into them. Maybe you should share some woes of the eldritch horror dating experience. Maybe you should try and find a way out! Who knows? But there's one thing for sure:
You're both extremely naked.
Good luck!
PHASE IV [ 1830 ] You did it. You’ve gotten to the end of the game, or nearly. You’ve earned up enough affection points somehow. Maybe it was through the eldritch abomination following you around to trying to eat you or maybe it really, really, really liked your makeover. Maybe there was that thing and the cage and some weird pictures it took -- who knows! But now it’s time for the inevitable scene.
The confession scene.
Except... well, ViViD can’t do confession scenes very well. You'll find yourself there in the schoolyard, dressed in the appropriate school uniforms but...
For one thing, there’s a heavy shower of rose petals. A heavy shower. They’re everywhere. They might get in your mouth and face, they’re pooling around your knees, it's a rose petal flood and you're about to drown!
For another, the eldritch abomination you chose to romance is getting closer and... closer. And closer. And that sure is a lot of teeth, huh? Is it coming in for a kiss or to eat off your face? It’s... really hard to tell with all the rose petals, isn’t it?
To make matters even worse, you can’t move -- you’re locked into the scene until it comes to its proper conclusion. The game is stuck and you're here, suffering through it all. Well, you're suffering unless someone comes and rescues you, but who in the world would interrupt a touching scene like this to do that?!
BONUS [ why o'clock ] You know you have to get dressed up nicely for your date. It's an important one! Third date means third base, after all. So, you’re shoved into a closet, and surrounded by tons and tons of choices to pick from. You're spoiled for choice!
But, well... no matter what you put on, or even if you just elect to stay in your regular clothing, it changes as soon as you step out of the closet to meet your date.
Don’t worry, you look adorable.
It can’t be taken off, of course. So you’d better get comfy, because you’re going to be a pink dinosaur for your third date and... your fourth date. And your fifth. Hell, you might still be a pink dinosaur when it comes time to confess! How... cute.
[ Remember to apply proper warnings on threads with sensitive or inappropriate material and do let a mod know if your thread careens off into maiming or canoodling so we can lock the log. ] |
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[Which would be easier all around. She studies the signs-- no charisma, no intelligence, no strength? She supposes they have to pick one and is in the process of trying to figure out the angle and which would lead to the easiest--or at least, least embarrassing--scene, when his question registers.
Yuri stands, brushing herself off a little, and bows politely.] Kozukata Yuri. Pleased to meet you, Hyuga-san. I've been in the city for a few months now. [Which she hopes provides some more explanation of why she's so 'same old, same old' about this situation right now.
It didn't help that she was still kind of 'whatever' and on the fence about the idea of dying, so this sort of world, where a death only meant losing a 'life' and/or waking up outside of the game, death was even cheaper to her. She had, after all, never been really afraid of dying.]
You're a ninja like Lee, right? We don't have those anymore in my world. [She trails off a little, the 'so I find it all a little fascinating/interesting' going unsaid, but present in her tone.] But it's very impressive, like what you did to the monster.
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but he's not obligated to, and besides she already knew his name and supposedly knew him. A small nod would have to suffice.] It's an honor to meet one of Lee's friends. [Sometimes... but white lies were easy for them both and it's not like he was going to say meeting her was pleasant. And the conversation was moving into becoming an actual conversation, and Neji would lie if he said he didn't feel pulled towards the subject. He tilts his head to one side, defenses lowering and looking pointedly more boyish.] He is a teammate of mine. [Was? --no, 'is' is still accurate.] While I'm certain Lee's told you of his unique situation [-because he's not going to let slip a weakness-], the same doesn't hold true for me. As far as team assignments go, as genin we are grouped in ways that ultimately balance out our talents.
You mentioned earlier that chakra doesn't exist in your world. [See? He does listen.] Chakra isn't something that only resides in shinobi. It could just be your world doesn't have the means to see it. [What a sorry day it'd be if shinobi forgot how to mold their energy. If they died out, even if the world around them continued. The thought has him forging distance again. He glances at some poor suckers going into a room to try their luck at this new game.]
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I'm aware of Lee's situation, yes. He explained it to me when we were discussing chakra. [Yuri's a little impressed despite herself to learn he was paying attention--but then, she supposes it shouldn't. From the memories she'd seen, he has pretty... what's the word she wants to use here? A professional, as ninjas went? After meeting Lee and Naruto, Yuri's pretty sure Neji is the most ninja-like of them all.]
Sometimes-- [Yuri starts, hesitates, and then mentally curses herself for starting the sentence at all. The level of trust Lee had for Neji was another phantom feeling-- she didn't actually know that well, but the idea of just letting something personal slip had seemed natural up until the point of actually doing it.
It's not Neji's fault, but Yuri's expression still grows rather drawn and sullen, and she frowns at him as she studies him.
...It doesn't hurt to tell, she supposes. After all, she was planning on giving her services out freely and that would involve having to talk about it anyhow. She looks away, makes her decision, sighs, and then looks back again.]
Sorry. I'm not used to talking about it too much. It's considered 'abnormal' where I'm from, but seeing things other people can't--charka, for example... Abilities like that still exist, sometimes. I can track and locate things easily if I have something connected to the person or thing lost. The trail... I don't know if it's chakra. I'm not sure how to explain it...
[She shrugs helplessly. Though she hadn't asked, she didn't think Lee would be able to help with it; she didn't know if he'd be able to see what she saw when she used her power.] But I suppose it might be similar. Or, at least, it's the closest I might get to understanding it.
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He brings his hands up behind his neck to coax back strands of hair, and readjusts the tie so that it rests properly low on the tail.
He wouldn't push for her to continue, no matter how many more questions were taking form in his head. Turns out even that courtesy wouldn't be needed, because something had made Yuri volunteer the words anyway. He hums at her apology. It's nothing grave.
He'd made a poor show of being Lee's comrade, hadn't he?] It's not as if I've made telling me these things easy. [And really, if someone wanted innate gentleness they'd have to seek out his lady Hinata. Her image is buried as soon as it's brought up. It was Kozukata Yuri Neji was attentive to now, curious.] Superior sight isn't given to just anyone in my world, either. There are measures in place to ensure certain secrets are well protected, and the abilities stay with the people who will best use them. [And then there were the Uchiha. But anyway.]
Chakra is something very basic. Because of that, it's difficult to put into words. I suppose you could call it a life force. [But they were talking of it because he still had it, so, no that couldn't be all that it was.] We'll just have to imagine what you can see and what I can feel are similar.
At least until we can test it.
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[Yuri shrugs lightly.] ...It's not like that anymore.
[ANYWAY... She stands a little straight, curious and interested] Can we test it? It should still work in this place. If you hide something around the room and give me something connected to it, I should be able to use it and find it.
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Neji even begins to feel bad as he shakes his head. At least he doesn't frown, and tries to keep his voice from becoming a sort of reprimand.] I didn't mean right now. [Because fighting and dying in a war was exhausting enough, and on top of that he'd already had to fight off a monster. He was preparing himself to fight more. The last thing on his mind was to use the rest of his chakra for something so... inconsequential.]
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Another time then. We should figure out what this next game is supposed to be. Or just wait until it changes again.
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Like, for example, when he didn't bristle and only looked expectantly back at Yuri at her first suggestion. Hadn't he already said he had no interest in playing...?
And Lee would have to forgive him, but it seemed being entirely amiable around her was going to be a more-than-difficult task.] No, Yuri-san. [And truly, he wasn't one to bother with honorifics save for the precious few that were his duty, but again. It was for Lee's sake.] I'm not here to be played with. And if doing nothing will only put us into another game, then I'd rather not do that either. [He'd fought hard to make his life his own. Whether he had succeeded was up in the air.
But like hell he'd slump his shoulders and call it a lost cause if he was being given the opportunity to fight the Inevitable again.] I'm going to find a way out of here. A real way out. Follow me if you want. I can tell you don't want to be here any more than I do.
[someone tell this jackass he'd taking a dating sim way too seriously jfc]
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This isn't... It's not like any of this matters. It's a game-- People log in to play games. We just happened to get stuck in this game for a little bit. [She's not sure what his problem is with this, but she can't help but feel bewildered-- like she missed some important conversation cue or something and is now floundering along with half the explanation she needs.
But she tilts her head, considering.] Ah... I probably seem very callous or something, don't I? Because I don't really care. [About the situation or the apparent inevitable-ness of it all. At least she's honest on that point.] It's just a game; once we get out of here, we can go about our lives like normal, so being stuck here right now is just a minor annoyance. [She crosses her arms over her chest and shifts her weight as well, looking towards the curtains and the people trying to fulfill the ridiculous requirements of the game. She figures he'll learn, once he's been here a while, and not take it so seriously, but for now she understands, a little.
Yuri isn't fond of looking like an idiot though, so she looks back at him, expression openly curious at just what he expects he's going to do here. She won't play the game if it'll mean being humiliated.]
I'll follow you. Lee trusts you, so I will too.
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Whether it mattered in the end or not. It's the principle of the thing, to not jump every time someone above them told them to, not if that someone wasn't working for the good of his village and his world.] Other people might not mind this and I don't care if they don't. But I don't remember being asked if I wanted to take part in this. [Because consent is a hell of a drug. And Neji thinks, fleetingly, that he's thinking entirely too much of 'hell'. Should stop that. He'd wish Yuri would stop looking at him as if he'd sprouted two heads all of a sudden, too. But Yuri was right on one count: sometimes what they had no control over was after all just a minor annoyance. So he ignores her. Stares at the bold red signs. No Intelligence. No Strength. No Charisma. Option D, then: All of the above. It they were supposed to find the one that best fit the pair.
A monster calls shrilly from the other side of some curtain. He takes the cue to begin to walk away. To where...? It's not the first time Neji had no clue of what he was supposed to do next, but that's never stopped him before.] How did you first meet Lee?
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The question makes her go quiet a moment, thinking. It feels like forever ago, but she remembers with a soft 'ha' of amusement.]
When I arrived, we were all stuck in a different game. I was dropped on a roof and couldn't figure out how to get own, but he helped me. He jumped from the ground right to the rooftop, and I was so surprised I almost fell-- When I asked him how he did that, he just said, 'I am a ninja, and I am here to save you.' [Yuri makes another soft, amused noise the corner of her mouth tilting up in a smile despite herself.] He hasn't really left me alone since. Our personalities couldn't be more different, but it doesn't seem to scare him away...
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He thinks he would have preferred to find himself stuck on top of a roof too.] Hm. [--that's amusement, by the way. Not at Lee, but directed towards Yuri.] That's because Lee's fearless. [A good trait for a ninja? Who knew, but definitely a flattering one for the freak. Neji refused to let fondness bleed into his words, though he does seem to move around more easily.
There were the clothes-things people would sometimes dart out of the curtains to go fetch, and Neji thought following someone into an extra room stocked with costumes and make-up and All Things Dress Up was the next logical step so he goes ahead and does just that.] He's absolutely overwhelming. [Not 'overwhelmingly ______'. No. Just 'overwhelming'.] It'll take more than just differences in personalities to deter him, if that's what you want.
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It takes a few moments for what he means to register with her, as she's browsing some of the clothes on the rack with a dry amusement (did anyone think these clothes would help the monsters any...??) When it does hit her, her head whips around to look at him, mouth turned down in a puzzled frown.] What? No. I don't want to get rid of him.
[Her tone is mildly baffled, but she does realize that it might be a legit concern for some-- Yuri herself doesn't have much room to talk there, since in the beginning all she wanted was for him to leave her alone (though, to be fair, she had wanted everyone to leave her alone). So she shakes her head and continues] I like Lee. He's kind, and considerate-- and a little too quick to praise me, but I don't have any problems with him.
...People can be cruel to him, can't they. [Her tone is disapproving, and it's not quite a question. She knows human nature, she who can see into peoples' hearts, and she knows between his looks and her lac of ability to mold chakra he's of course been the target of bullying. People, as a whole, don't particularly like things that go against the grain. Yuri sighs, mildly frustrated-- not at Neji, but the fact that if people were being mean to Lee back in his world, there's hardly anything she could do about it now.]
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He couldn't use any of this. He's walking away to dig through some garish costumes that are obscuring (lo and behold) an entirely blank wall. Half-expecting the shout of 'Dynamic Entry' and for the wall to suddenly sport a decent-sized hole in it, he stands still for a moment. Then he places his palm flat against it, shoulders tensing... and sighs, letting his hand drop again before stepping back to face Yuri with a quirked brow.] It's obvious. [It's out before he can help himself, and then Neji allows himself to think he'd said nothing wrong anyway so why worry about timing.
But why bring the case up at all, is what's got him staring at her again.] You have to admit he doesn't make it difficult. [No longer a surprised little outburst. He'd admit the boy was an idiot to anyone willing to listen, too. He'd admit the same of his sensei. Facts were just that. So he waits and just watches.]
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She pauses a moment and then sighs, turning away to stare at the garments in front of her, eyebrows furrowed in a mix of aggravation and confusion.] Why am I getting so angry...? [It's said more to herself than to him, and Yuri sighs again, tucking her hair behind her ear.] It's not as though he needs me to defend him. I suppose I just sympathize.
[Though Yuri hadn't been outright bullied, the systematic alienation had been enough-- though part of that had been self-inflicted. It was hard, knowing what the people around you really thought and having no way to call them out on it without making yourself seem more crazy. She can't really compare her situation to Lee's much either. Lee, at least, had found someone to believe in him.
Yuri had found a cliff.]
...Even if you're friends, I won't tolerate people bullying him, even from you. [Her tone is cool again, because this had been her original point all along here. It didn't matter that she was, essentially, powerless against him; he was a fucking ninja and her powers didn't really work well against the living, so any kind of fight would be hilarious tipped in his favor. She'd still be more than willing to fight him if it came to Lee.
...Which is rather hilariously hypocritical of her, considering she'd been telling Lee not to fight people on her behalf even if they disliked her or anything. Oops.]
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He was aware he'd outright invited the lashing. There's a tiny surge of satisfaction in knowing he's now found one of her triggers to spring her into life, and that such a trigger just happened to be his friend. Either that or Yuri was an exceptional actor. He doubted that.
Because she was practically broadcasting her anger, every obvious part of her easily playing the part of battling an affront. It was too much, really, after being previously in the company of a rock. And Neji's own stony expression cracks just enough for him to boyishly crinkle his nose in mild confusion- and if it's laced in irritation, well, that's not entirely his fault, is it?] You're right that Lee doesn't need you defending him. Nor does he let something so trivial get in his way. [Something so trivial as cruelty, yes. Neji was well aware of how that sounded, too. But it wasn't his fault if she wouldn't understand. And anyway, he moves to amend. Etch this into memory, though- he gives a small bow. Small, in shinobi terms, means practically nonexistent. But it's there. And it's sincere.] Your concern for him is appreciated. It is, however, misplaced, Yuri-san. I've said earlier I am his teammate. What that means to you is obviously different than what it means to me. I will not ignore his faults. He will not ignore mine. We know these things of each other and build each other up because of it. An observation is only that. You shouldn't get so carried away because of it. [He can read that FIGHT ME like a neon sign, is what he means.]
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It was sort of relieving to know that she could still react, that that shell could break away, and that it didn't have to be something so traumatic and terrifying to elicit it. It was nice to feel a little normal.
Logically she knows she can't understand their version of 'teammates,' though it's becoming clear to her it's more than just the surface explanation of the word. The term 'brothers in arms' comes to mind, and Yuri continues to study him, eyes probing. She doesn't need to touch him to learn his words are true enough, and while she's sure she can't hide even the smallest reactions from him, it's gratifying to know she still has some footing (she wouldn't even call it equal footing, but footing nonetheless) in this.
She refuses to feel embarrassed about being called out on this or anything though, and instead just nods slightly in acknowledgement. And despite the fact that she knows Lee doesn't need her protecting him or anything, she's not sorry in the slightest.
Instead Yuri takes a deep breath and slowly exhales, looking away and collecting herself.] I won't apologize. [Which is rather bold for her, considering generally she'll apologize even if she doesn't mean it if it'll mean getting out a situation but. Whatever. She presses a hand to her forehead and closes her eyes a moment, mildly aggravated at her own emotions.
But the moment passes too and she drops her hand to her side, glancing to Neji] I don't know you. It feels like I do, at times, because of Lee and his feelings towards you. [She glances down at her hands, fingers curling into her palms lightly-- out of context her words don't make much sense and she realizes, belatedly, she should probably explain before Lee makes an attempt to. Would he try to? Yuri isn't sure and she sighs a little. Anyway.] I know you and Lee are very close and that he thinks highly of you, but I'm not used to talking with people or making friends or things like that-- It will take me a little while longer. Please have patience.
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Still, for all their dancing around each other and all their attempts to size one and the other up... no, Neji couldn't feel like he should drop his guard entirely, or even the way he does (did?) around simple acquaintances for the sake of politeness. It was confusing him, too, so he fleetingly hoped the girl would be willing to revisit the opportunity at (what? mending fences?)-- some time after his head quit pounding with war cries. He hated being addressed but not looked at, not if there wasn't anything else to attend to. He wasn't simply painted on the walls, you know, wasn't someone to just look past.] I never asked you to. [Apologize. He never expected it. He didn't want it.
And -wait for it- there it was, another mention of Rock Lee paired with some turmoil, followed by another. And some more. Neji snorts. It's not meant to be dismissive. How much had Lee really told her about him, if she hadn't known he was dead? He shakes his head. Turns back to search through racks of clothing that only show him the wall in front of him.] That makes two of us. I'll ask the same thing of you. It's clear we're not understanding each other, despite our efforts. Please have patience with me as well. [If you want to call those half-assed attempts efforts. But Neji knows how to make good of an offer, and Yuri had just slipped him one. His words come out rushed again, genuine instead of calculated, urgent again.] I never expected to be able to see my friend again - I never expected any of this. And here you are telling me that I can find him here, and are telling me about him. So please help me get out of this game. I'd really like to see Lee once more. [Would like to verify, snap himself out of this haze of what-ifs.]
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She turns to face him fully and bows low] I'm sorry. [She straightens and she looks as apologetic as she feels] I'm not making w very good first impression. All of this must be very confusing and strange to you, and I haven't been helping matters any by treating you so poorly. I'm truly sorry.
Please, let's start over. [She bows her head a little again, intending to do just that] I'm Kozukata Yuri, I'm a friend of Lee's, and I'll make sure you get to see him again.
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Again, he has to stop what he's doing to turn to her. He nods his head. He's already bowed to her once, anyway.] Hyuga Neji. [It's-- weird. More times than not, that was enough to say about himself.] Jonin. Assigned to the Second Division. [Leading the clan Hyuga to victory through the front lines. So much for that... but no, he wasn't in a battlefield now. He was in a large, absurd closet introducing himself to a girl who knew him instead of painting lipstick onto a mutated spider.] Loyal to the village of Konoha first. [Naturally. And if Yuri couldn't see that that meant his friends, he wasn't sure what else he could do for her. No 'pleasure to meet you' or 'honor is all mine'. Because that was a lie. He looks behind him and... up. To the ceiling. They could now get on with this, then.] Do you remember there being another room connected to this wall? [The left one. As far a Neji recalled, the answer was 'no'.]