PHASE I [ ?? ?? ] This time, ViViD is a deathtrap.
There is random magma everywhere, monsters will spawn at random, and at some points, the game is entirely unplayable. It’s like the dev team totally disappeared mid-constructing the level.
Oh wait, that’s exactly what happened.
Monsters may spawn on top of you, you may suddenly be standing in a poisonous bog, you may suddenly lose your powers, or your senses, or so many different things --
It’s time to get out of here, ASAP.
Thankfully, the exit is obvious. Like. Blindingly obvious. It’s got a big sign over it that says EXIT
And just like that, you’ll be out of ViViD and --
PHASE II [ 0830 ] When you wake up (and it’s strange, because you were sure that you were logging out just a second ago), it’s in a pile of bodies.
They’re cold, but not in the same sense that a dead body would be cold. While they are lifeless and look incredibly real, they don’t feel real. They feel like dolls, mannequins, empty models and nothing more. Their code doesn’t seem to be functioning right.
And what some characters may realize upon looking at this pile of bodies is that they are all of the characters who were sacrifices before. Any character that was dropped who had a high magical or spiritual affinity is there in that pile of bodies, lifeless and eyes blank and vacant. Even you might be there, staring at your own dead body -- but it isn’t real It can be touched, but it’s really nothing more than a lifeless body.
You’ll have to crawl out of that pile of bodies to get anywhere, and then you’ll realize -- you’re in the Sanctuary, a building built by the characters as a safe place from CERES. And it’s looking pretty run-down at this point. The technology in it no longer functions, there is no security on it whatsoever…
Oh, and now there’s a pile of bodies. Great.
PHASE III [ 1000 ] There’s also a robot.
It’s wandering from place to place, though it’s impossible to follow. One second it’s there, the next it’s just gone.
Also, it’s wearing this. Weird.
But even with that on its face, the robot seems focused on one thing in particular. In fact, it has a sign, and it says:
Down with CERES. Up with Robots.
That’s a happy, cheerful message. If you try to go up to it to talk to it, it will look at you before...bonking you on the head with the sign and running off. That’s incredibly rude.
Alternatively, you may be safe and sound in your home, but then the doorbell rings, and there’s the robot again. The duck mask is gone, but now instead it has a pin on his fake lapel, and then he’s shoving a pamphlet at you.
He tips his hat, and then he’s gone. Weird.
(Also, if you hold onto the pamphlet, it will lead you directly to the person whose picture is on it, and you’ll feel like you’ve known them and have loved them for years.)
PHASE IV [ 1245 ] But not all is fun and games and shenanigans. There is something...well, strange happening, and the first real realization of that will be when it starts to rain. More than just the localized rain that a few unfortunates have dealt with -- no, it’s raining completely and totally, and that’s when it might hit you.
For the first time in Cerealia, there’s weather.
It’ll rain for a few hours, and then it’ll stop and become hot and sunny. It may get humid, considering it’s a jungle planet. At night, it’ll get rather cold.
Seems like whatever was keeping Cerealia’s atmosphere stable is now gone -- which also means that characters may start to occasionally experience headaches, nausea and dizziness if they go too close to the walls. It seems safer in the center of the city, and the Residential District is still okay, but… there’s no doubt that the planet’s atmosphere is starting to encroach on the city.
BONUS [ why o'clock ] But who cares about all of that? More importantly, you are here in this… totally not shoddy city to have fun, and it’s still being advertised as a pleasure colony. Or, well, it would be if, you know, CERES was still around.
But close enough.
And as a pleasure colony, it would figure that the first robots to really get fixed are...well, the Pleasure District robots. Unfortunately, the Pleasure District is still a nice big mess, so now they’re wandering the entire colony, looking for people they can hug, massage or...try to drag into more explicit activities.
Welcome to Cerealia!
[ 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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phase iv
Hey!! Are you serious-- [ Jaune flails around as he tries to dodge the next splash. ]
C'mon--!!
[ Then he suddenly stops moving when he recognizes that face.
And those boobs. ]
No way...
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Ah, right. If there's anyone who'd actually have acknowledged her absence... Jeez, hadn't they been having a discussion on losing people here before, just before she'd gone and left? For her it doesn't seem that long ago at all.]
Jaune. [She greets him, watching him quietly.] ...It has been a little while, yes?
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[ Indeed, she did become another name on his long list of people on the church wall, which is why Jaune lunges forward and traps Oona in a big hug. He's probably lifting her off her feet given their size difference. ]
I thought you were gone, I can't believe it! Are you okay?
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Of course am okay! What could take me down so easily? Nothing! [That said, however...] But, was gone, suppose... I think I went home? I am not sure. It was lie one day I was here, and then next thing it was month or more that had passed.
Everything looks terrible! What has happened!?
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[ Jaune sets Oona down and begins to take off his hoodie, revealing a singlet underneath with an embarrassing bunny rabbit logo. Ignore that. ]
I-I mean, not the... not the destruction part. That can happen sometimes, too, b-but not as frequently. Would be nice if it was never, though! But, y'know, the random disappearing act I mean... well, I guess you know how that goes, you've been here longer than me.
It's like one day you're here, and the next day you're just--
[ Jaune casually slips his hoodie over Oona, once again censoring the amount of fanservice in this thread. It's standard procedure for him now, he's not even freaking out anymore.
Could be related to losing one's virginity but scientists are still testing this theory.]--gone.
[ He smiles a little, because sometimes, on days like these, the people also return. ]
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He stumbles over his words and rambles, and Oona smiles and reaches out to place her hands on his arms. A light squeeze, to show she's solid, real.]
Jaune. Am here now, am back. And will not leave so easily next time! [of course, that's not something she can actually promise, but--] And I do not tell lies, ever, so of course it will work like I say!
[--That's not how that work but whatever.]
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[ He believes that she means it, but he's not as naive to believe she has any control over it. He's lost so much over the past year that he knows better by now. ]
So, you have no memories of where you've been before you came back?
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(In...more ways than one??)
She rubs the side of her head and then shakes it with a shrug.] No, not really. Suppose I was home? Thought I was home. I remember the forest again, but it did not feel like I was there long. But I... did not remember this place.
[She frowns, looking uncomfortable.] I forgot what I was like before here. I do not like it. [She doesn't like the person she used to be, not at all.]
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...Can I ask you something, Oona? What were you like... y'know... before all of this?
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[She laces her fingers together and stares down at them] I was not too much different. When I was with my family, before the humans captured me, I was very different. I was smiling and happy. Curious. Sweet. [She laughs] Hard to imagine sometimes, suppose, yes? But was very kind. I liked to play. [Most of those traits are still there even now, but tinged with malice or aggression]
After the humans... Before I came to this city, I was...angry. Always angry. I wanted to kill so much, and I did. I killed everyone and would again. [She's never backed down on that aspect.] I do not regret that, but... I hated so much. So much anger and hate and hurt. I hurt, so I wanted to hurt everyone too. I was living only for revenge that I knew--that I know--deep down, I would not get.
[She shrugs and shakes her head] Getting my scale back to get my tail... Useless. Humans would know of the existence of my people regardless, so, could not go back home; am traitor now. Likely could not get my tail back to begin with anyhow. It is, ehh... suicide mission, suppose. Suppose, thought... Might as well go and take out as many humans as I could on way to getting scale. Likely they would kill me if I could even get inside, but that was fine.
...If we go home, and I do not have any memory of this place, I will die. That is my only end. [You know, as far as she can see. Real optimistic here. Oona laughs, a tad sheepish, and scratches the back of her head] You are lucky you did not meet me when I first arrived. Likely, we would not be friends now. But I am glad I met people like you, am glad I made friends. I do not hate as much anymore. I can be... happy.
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Oona... I don't want you to die... [ But he understands that neither of them can stop that from happening if they ever restore the status quo. He's going through a similar dilemma with his partner lately. ]
Maybe... maybe we'll find a way to fix everything-- a way to keep our memories, or... or change things in our worlds. A way to undo all that misery...
[ Wouldn't that be nice. ]