You know what everyone needs after rampant robotic attacks and another iteration of clone wars? A vacation! That’s right everyone, you deserve this. CERES understands what you need. CERES is here for you all the time, so never doubt that this is a pleasure colony, and they are here to look after all of your needs. Kick your feet up, relax, and let CERES Recreation and Activity Necessity Keepers (Team RANK, that is) set you up with your ideal getaway.
It’s as if you can sense the incoming relaxation and luxury before you even completely finish loading. There’s the warmth encompassing your entire body as your code gets transferred into this particular ViViD Level. A cool, refreshing breeze hits you. The sounds of waves gently lapping against the coast fill you with relaxation. The sun, the sand, the surfs, it’s all there – welcome to the beach, baby!
An echoing greeting message from the ocean comes next, if you can translate it.
 OOOOOOOOOOOOHMAHH GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHD.
YOOOOOOOOOOOORRRALL SOOOOOOOOOOOOO KYOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT.
KYOOOOOOOOOOOT EEEENAAAAUUUUUUUF TOOOOOOOOOOOOO EEEEEEEEEEEEEEET.
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PHASE I [ 08 00 ] That said, isn’t that breeze a little… too strong? It feels like it’s brushing up against all of you, if you know what I mean. When you open your eyes and look down, it becomes rather clear why. It seems that you’ve found yourself in some pretty interesting attire. Everyone. No exceptions. You appear to have two options – be overcome and scream like the Victorian maiden your heart says you are, or strut like a model in this stuff. Turn some heads! Work that up do!
But don’t worry, we’re also conscious about safety here at CERES! Therefore everyone’s also been provided a pair of super high-tech safety-tested appendage protection floatation devices (STAPFD for short.)
At least everyone around you is caught in the same sort of attire – and everyone around you also appears to be stuck inside a giant sand castle. It’s entirely malleable to what you want it to be! Want to see a fancy sand bidet? Feel like adding a sand statue in your honor? Think that wall should now be a door? Well, with enough perseverance, you can make it happen!
Just uh, be careful about getting sand in your… everywhere.
PHASE II [ 1000 ] Someone broke it. Not pointing any fingers, even though you sure do seem like a prime suspect, but someone broke it.
It almost starts like an earthquake with how the castle starts to rumble, the sand shaking right beneath your feet. And then the walls right next to you start to cave in followed promptly by the ceiling right… above your head. Oh dear. The sand starts to run and fall, losing its structure and shape. The hallway behind you starts to cave in, ceiling first and then the walls follow suit. Now the sand really is getting everywhere – but not just uncomfortable places. It’s in your hair, your eyes, your nose…. this sure doesn’t seem like a pleasant way to go!
Best to start running – there’s a trusty drawbridge to get over the moat (because what’s a sandcastle without a moat?) but who knows how long until that, too, is going to give way? Best to cross over it before it starts to shake and disappear too. Or if you don’t make it, hopefully you can land some pretty impressive airtime to make it to the other side!
If not, well...there'll be the sensation of sand crushing down upon you, filling your mouth and eyes, and you won't be able to breathe at all – and then you're alive again on the beach (but possibly in yet another new, uncomfortable, skimpy swimsuit). Honestly, be more careful, would you?
PHASE III [ 1200 ] However, once you do make it to the other side, it’s all smooth sailing from there! Or is it? Hah, as they say, life sure can be a beach.
Which is what this is.
Welcome to your Beach Episode, folks. Now that you’ve made it out of the collapsing sand castle, you’ve made it to the luxurious, picturesque golden coastline. Sure, you’re coughing up fine, luxurious, sand dust right now and you’ve definitely gotten sand in all of your crevices thanks to your swimsuit, but that’s okay! Go take a soak in the ocean or something or cool off with a smoothie. There’s a smoothie shack off into the distance, complete with a long chalkboard with… well, probably a few familiar names? And some unfamiliar ingredients. Sounds appetizing right?
That said, once you do ingest some of the smoothie with the name of a newcomer, you might suddenly find yourself feeling a bit… different. You’ll be taking on some of their traits, one of the most intense parts of their personality – or you might need to take a second to sit down because you’re suddenly seeing one of their memories. Whoa. What do they actually put in this stuff?
PHASE IV [ 1500 ] For the brave souls that venture out into the water, you have even more adventures waiting for you. Anyone who’s swimming around, wading in the water—hell, even looking at the water is getting scooped up and deposited in one of these giant orbs. But don’t take up too much room, because someone else is getting shoved right in there with you. Time to get cozy with your new friend, because it's only going to get worse as the waves begin to carry you out into this big, blue, virtual ocean. Hopefully the choppy waves don’t bounce you around too much or – well, you could always get really friendly with a stranger! Why not?
At least until it’s made very clear that fresh air does not make it back into these balls. That seems like a bit of a design flaw. Now what? Fight the other person who’s inhaling all your air? Suffer through it for swimsuit-clad fun? Or if you break it…. well, you sure are stranded out in the ocean. Or are you?
After enough flailing, you’ll be met by a giant, dumb-looking creature who will then eat you whole.
Everything goes dark. This is surely the end --
And then you're in Cerealia proper; it seems that was the exit to the level (but why there?) and you'll find yourself either in one of the fountains or the pond in the park. Either way, you'll be very, very well. And this time, that's not virtual. But hey, at least you'll have all of your stuff with you.
BONUS [ xxxx ] Do you hear that?
Anyone idle on the beach will hear a distant melody coming from further out into the ocean. It’s a beautiful, elegant song that automatically makes the listener stop what they’re doing and immediately wander toward the noise. It takes you a moment to recall – it takes a moment to think about anything now, really – but you remember hearing the smoothie shack owner say something about mermaids populating the beach. Could this be their song calling out to you? Whether you would normally abide by this kind of call or not, you find your feet walking further and further out into the water, the shallows lapping up to your ankles and up and up as you are drawn in by the song.
A rather classic song, though the usual instances of French are also replaced with the very enticing, enchanting nonsense promise of omelette du fromage........and then they try to drown you.
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Hajime
( That is the best option now that sharing a drink is going to have wait until later to do it properly. Soleil leaps from her seat and takes Hajime's hand again. )
Now I'm excited. C'mon, let's hurry.
no subject
So are you a good swimmer?
no subject
( She is so excited that she may be practically jogging towards the water. )
no subject
[And Hajime is jogging right along with her, only this questionable swimsuit keeping her from going any faster]
A swim race is probably out of the question with these on though, huh?
no subject
Yeah, yours isn't...exactly what I'd call practical for...um, uh...
( And she keeps staring. She really should be watching where she is going, but now that she is looking, she can't stop. The expected happens and Soleil trips over someone's sandcastle and faceplants into the sand. )
no subject
Well, we can just - ah, look out!
[She slows to a stop beside the fallen warrior, leaning over her in concern]
Are you okay?
no subject
( Embarassment may be rare for her, but making a spectacle of herself while ogling someone will do it. She shakes her head and spits out some sand. She rolls onto her back and looks up at Hajime. Her face is covered in sand. )
...You look amazing. Did I say that yet? I feel like I must have. But it demands repeating two or three or a hundred more times.
( So, you see, it isn't her fault. She can make this tumble work in her favor. )
no subject
Heehee... stunning enough to trip over a sandcastle? Maybe these swimsuits are good for something after all.
[Straightening back up and looking down at the sling bikini, she runs her thumbs along the insides of those ridiculous lines - which honestly, she probably shouldn't do and it's a miracle nothing pops out when she does.]
Though I'm pretty sure if I'd been the one who fell, that would have been it for it! [Good thing Soleil's is slightly less absurd]
no subject
Oh...that would have been a tragedy...
( Soleil shakes her head and wipes the sand from her face. )
I need a dip in some cold water more now than ever.
no subject
Well, let's get going then - and try to watch out for sandcastles this time!
no subject
( Soleil can only hope and dream. She takes Hajime's hand and gets up. This time, she is going to exercise some restraint now so that they can get to the water without any additional incidents. She is going to run right into the water with Hajime in tow. )
no subject
Eek, it's cold! [She's giggling though and running right in, not even trying not to splash everywhere]
no subject
Heh heh. A little cold never hurt anyone.
( She takes a big swing and sends a splash in Hajime's direction. )
no subject
Hey! Ooh, now you've done it!
[HONEYMOON'S OVER Hajime pulls away her hand so she can use both to fling water up at the other girl, laughing]
no subject
Whoa, watch it!
( She sends several more splashes over in Hajime's direction and after a few minutes asks. )
You can surrender any time.
no subject
And what do I get if I surrender, huh?
[She sends one more splash Soleil's way to let her know she hasn't given up quite yet though]
no subject
( It's usually the victor that gets things, but Soleil doesn't want to split hairs. She sends another gentle splash in Hajime's direction. )
A hug should solidify your surrender and be a good start towards peace.
no subject
[Giggling, Hajime wades on over and almost tackles Soleil with a big, solid squeeze]
no subject
( Soleil hugs her tight and lifts her up. She is going to take a moment to enjoy this before revealing her master plan. )
Aha! Accepting your surrender was only a ploy. Now I have you right where I want you.
( She giggles and spins around. )
no subject
[Soleil isn't the only one making delighted squeals as Hajime enjoys that hug and being lifted - she's on the short side, after all. She gives an actual squeal of surprise as she's spun around, though she doesn't seem to be enjoying it any less]
Whoa! I've been betrayed!
no subject
( After a few moments more of spinning and then a few more of just hugging, Soleil reluctantly puts Hajime down. )
Well. That was fun.
no subject
[She's still giggling when Soleil finally lets her go, and she wobbles momentarily before she recovers]
Yeah! I hope the rest of this level is like this... and no surprise monsters or anything. The last two times were pretty crazy!