« 019 ⇢ EVENT019.EXE »

[reparator]

Who: Everyone, new and old!
When: IC: 9/08 ; OOC: 3/04
Where: ViViD, and then Cerealia at large
What: Welcome to your ViViD Intro Experience! Everything's fine. Nothing's wrong with ViViD. Really. It's fine.
Rating/Warning: PG-13; some violence and questionable situations. Let us know if it veers into other territory so we can lock the log!

---

//event019.EXE

It's dark. Something doesn't seem quite right. ViViD seems to be taking longer than ever to boot up, and instead you are left in darkness, waiting, unable to move, as the status bar slowly loads. Wow, what's up with this software. Why is it taking 20 minutes just to load up? Is the loading bar even moving? Eventually, there's a message, and suddenly you are tossed face-first into...something a little more old-school ViViD Mode: Exploration Adventures is unable to boot up. Running safe mode. Now running ViViD Classic. Please enjoy your free and fun g▒▒▒. Pl▒▒se be a▒▒▒▒ of unf▒▒un▒▒e bu▒▒. Tha▒▒ y▒▒. Warning: ▒▒▒▒ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ ▒▒

//SCENARIOS.EXE

PHASE I [ 800 ] You’ve arrived. You’ve received your powerpoint presentation, and your head is filled to the brim with the knowledge that your world is destroyed, and that everyone you once knew and loved is dead. You are ready to handle whatever is thrown your way -- Or maybe not. You end up in a giant game of Pacman, and from the yellow spandex jumpsuit you’re now stuck in (glow-in-the-dark, even, how snazzy), you’re Pacman. Everything is a maze, all towering dark walls and corridors, and everything seems just a little...well, off. First off, the balls you’d normally collect in pacman? They’re floating there, yellow and distinct, the only source of light in the maze, but if you pick them up and touch them, you’ll experience a memory. It’ll be something warm, gentle and sweet, a memory of your home or the people you love that is something you truly treasure, a memory of a time that is so very important to you. And then the globe is gone and the world returns to its cold, stark state, and you are reminded: everyone is dead. Better go pick up another one! And, of course, there are the ghosts. They’re a little horrifying (though they come in all sorts of fun colors!) and if they grab you, all of those positive memories turn horrible. A nice memory of a picnic? It’s now a memory of losing everyone important on that day, cut down by masked figures. Of course, that’s only for the newcomers to ViViD. For anyone who enters ViViD as a veteran, well...you can watch. If you try to enter the game, there are some unfortunate consequences -- you’ll end up as one of the ghosts chasing down those poor innocents, unable to do a thing about it. Be sure to admire the scoreboard hanging over the game for everyone to see, though. PHASE II [ 1030 ] Just when you’ve gotten a handle on Pacman, now you’re stuck playing...Tetris? Everyone (newcomer and old veteran) has been dumped in the game now, and those falling blocks don’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. You'll be in an unfortunate tag-team; the person you're tossed into the game with may be a total stranger to you, but you're stuck with them now. After a few moments of dodging giant, falling blocks, it should become clear how you win this game: the blocks follow you (or your partner) in an attempt to squash you, so with some careful wrangling, you can guide those blocks into place and erase row after row of deadly blocks. Of course, if you can't work together, you're more likely to end up squished at the top of the screen, but if you should somehow manage to clear the screen, the door at the other end will open and you'll be free to go. Let's hope you're stuck with someone easy to work with. PHASE III [ 1145 ] Stumbling out of Tetris will bring you onto a rickety platform, a hangman’s noose gently wrapped around one of your very most important people. You can’t approach them, you can’t touch them, and they can’t speak, but they look at you with pleading eyes even as the talking tree they are to be hanged from tells you the rules. Guess letters, guess the word, and your friend will be freed. Guess wrong, and, well… the noose will tighten bit by bit. Time to work together to get your friends down from there. Admittedly you might see someone different up there from the person next to you, but it’s all the same in the end, isn’t it? You’ve got to save them either way. If you fail, that person will be hanged -- only to reveal that they were just a straw doll all along. Phew, what a relief! If they succeed at guessing the word, a trap door will open up underneath that person and the rope will be released, dropping them down to never be seen again. Bye! PHASE IV [ 1300 ] And then you’re dumped right out of ViViD and back into Cerealia. The city is still a little water-logged, though it is looking better than it was before; either way, you may be dumped anywhere. On a roof, in the middle of the park, on top of the scrap heap… anything could happen. And it seems that things are still a little glitchy, or maybe the glitchy ViViD experience has infected your code in some way, because for a short period of time after, there may be a few...side effects. Fingers and faces might glitch out for a moment, or your hand might phase through a wall. You may also have your In Game Title hovering over your head for all to see. That’s not weird at all. It’ll all fade away in an hour or two anyway, without any side effects to speak of. Or so it would seem. PENALTY [ xxxx ] You may have ended up here after getting eaten by a pacman (or ghost), or you may have ended up here after jumping down the trapdoor to save your friend in Hangman. Perhaps you were squashed by a tetris block. Perhaps you just fell down onto your sword (why would you do that). Either way, here you are. It’s an empty area, totally silent and void, aside from this one carnival game. Once you’re seated, you can’t stand up -- you have to win the game to leave, as the friendly game host will inform you without a single smile. You’ll be playing against the others who managed to end up here, but you’d better give it your best shot, or who knows how long you’ll end up staying here. Time to play a carnival shooter game. At least the targets are of a few familiar faces. Maybe that’ll make it more appealing? And if you win you’ll be able to exit stage right, plus you’ll have a cute Mosley plushie as a prize. Hooray! [ 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. ]

//RUN.EXE

Welcome to Cerealia's September intro log! For your convenience, we have compiled the characters' arrival experience here, and should you have any questions, feel free to ask them here! You can also check the FAQ for more general inquiries. Should this event log hit Captcha, there is an all-purpose overflow here. Thank you!

Comments

QUESTIONS

[reparator]

Re: QUESTIONS

[2cool4guardian]

"You may also have your In Game Title hovering over your head for all to see." Is this only for newbies or for everyone?

[cresthopes]

Phase I

[For the most part, Takeru and Patamon weren't exactly sure what was going on but whatever it was? It sure seemed like a lot of fun! Now that they were running down the hallways trying to grab as many weird light sources as he possibly could!

Of course, that was the plan before they happened to run into a very scary looking ghost chasing after them!]

Phase II

[And here Takeru thought playing Pac Man was bad! Now that he was stuck in this strange new game, the only thing he could do is prevent himself from getting attacked by those giant blocks! While there happened to be a flying orange thing attempting to drag it away from the blond boy, it was of no use.

Of course, after all that running around, he happened to accidentally trip and fall straight on his face. While Patamon was trying his best to fly over to his partner, he knew he couldn't get to him in time.

Come and help him out?]

Phase IV

[After successfully completing all of the levels of the game, the only thing both Takeru and Patamon could do was let out a giant scream before they found themselves on top of a tree. At first, the both of them looked around to see if they were still in the ViViD or not. However, it didn't take him long to realize that he wasn't! Although, his victory was going to be short lived.

If there was anyone nearby, they could hear the sound of a young boy screaming out...!]

P-Patamon, help! I don't want to be deleted again!!

Wildcard

[Surprise me!]

I

[meatthefuture]

Oi!

[ganks Takeru out of the way of the ghost and keeps backpedaling, dragging Takeru with him as the ghost keeps reaching for them]

Don't touch those things.

Yona the Pacman Queen

[dawnsprincess]

phase i
[If they thought this would scare her, they were sorely mistaken. Never mind that her knees are shaking — never mind that her vision is a little blurry with tears. After losing her father and being betrayed by Soo-won, she had resolved not to be ruled by her fear. The destruction of her entire world has only strengthen that conviction.

She couldn't save Hak. She couldn't save Kija. She couldn't save anyone ... but she can save these. So if you're wondering how Yona managed to get such an amazing score ... well, there's your answer.]

phase ii
[The vertigo from the abrupt shift from Pacman to Tetris sends Yona sprawling to the ground. She's going to have a much more difficult time adjusting to this.]

phase iii
[You really don't want to be stuck with Yona in this. Between the trauma and the Tetris and the nausea and the fact that knowledge of this language was artificially given to her ... she's going to have a lot of trouble with this game.]

phase iv
[She lands in a puddle, splashing her dress and scraping her palms. When the water stills, she notices words floating above her head: Princess on fire]

iv

[meatthefuture]

[he kind of saw her through the pacman thing, though briefly, wrapped up in his own thing as he was. But now definitely notices her and the words above her head. Future Pirate King is above his as he goes to crouch near her]

Yo. You were pretty good.

[cpt_ressentiment]

► Phase 1
[ So guess who figured out the memory thing and is having a bit of a hard time adjusting? This kid.

He's just grabbed his first one, and the second it's faded and he's back to this place, he seems more than a little bit out of it. Eventually, with a rapid shake of his head, he starts hauling ass toward the next one! But when this one fades as well, it just... hurts again.

So for a moment, he has to stop, press the heels of his palms to his eyes and mentally berate himself to get a grip, Hanamura!

... Meaning he doesn't quite see just yet that there's a ghost on its way. Uh oh. ]


► Phase 2
Are you kidding me?!

[ Yosuke yelps loudly as he dives out of the way of a falling block, rolls with the momentum and kicks himself back up onto his feet. His gaze goes immediately back upward, looking for the next piece, hoping to God it's not one of those really long ones, because that would suck. A lot.

So! Who's the lucky person stuck with him~? ]


► Phase 4
[ Dumped anywhere, you say? Well, true to his damned gamertag, Yosuke has the incredible fortune to land... right into a trashcan.

Which falls completely over due to the impact, spilling poor Yosuke onto the ground.

Left with a handful of stars in his eyes, a ringing in his head, and a hell of a sore butt now, he at least manages to sit up, rubbing at the back of his head with one hand. ]

Come on... was that really necessary?

[ He glares up at the sky, then down at the trash can at his feet. Which he kicks. Because that's mature. ]


► ????
(( Hit me with whatever you want!! ))

2

[meatthefuture]

Hmmmm [puts his hands on his hips and looks up as if focusing on the oncoming piece which seems to be a really long one.

Nods sagely]

Yes, I see...

[could it be possible he knows a way out of here?]

[meatthefuture]

Phase I [Luffy is already not happy about not being home. He didn't pay too much attention to the slideshow either, but got enough of it to get the picture of where he is now. It also doesn't take him long to catch on to what the colored balls are... They make him feel warm and happy in this cold place and so...

He will be grabbing as many as he can. Any ghosts that get in his way he will try to furiously punch in the face, for as good or ill as that might turn out]


Phase II Mmm. [it doesn't look like this block will fit anywhere and they are kind of near the top, so]

You hold it, I'll punch it.

[broken pieces fit, don't they? He may have also suggested this more than once to mixed results]


Phase III [Whatever barrier is keeping Luffy from the tree, he will repeatedly throw himself at it in increasing frustration trying to get at them. He doesn't seem to be getting anywhere but making himself more exhausted however. Will you try to stop him or just let him have at it?]


Phase IV [Luffy is happy to be free, wandering around with his title hanging over his head and just having a good time. Though at some point he will look at any random passerby and ask]

Do you know where to go to eat?

IV

[yourotherleft]

[Zoro's just around and about as he usually is, he had heard rumors the gym was back in business but he can't find it because he's Zoro so...

Instead, he's walking through the residential district, noting that on occasion he can see words floating over certain people's heads. It's weird, but he's trying to get used to weird all over again. Until he sees a particular floating phrase above the crowd.

Future Pirate King

No way. No. Fucking. Way.

He's frozen for a moment, and then shoves his way through the people on all sides, trying to chase after those words. It can't be. It can't be! He almost doesn't want to hope but his heart is starting to hammer in his chest. He yells as soon as he gets into earshot of whoever is wearing that title over their head.]

LUFFY!

kasen kanesada - touken ranbu - ota

[liberalarts]

prompt ii

[ Falling blocks. Falling blocks.

When Kasen rolls to the side to avoid the first falling block, and unfortunately, it's reflexively away from his partner, as is the fact that his hand goes to the sword at his hip. He looks up incredulously, because he can't believe this is happening, and yet. Here he is. He feels an intense sense of irritation, but as another block lines up for his partner, Kasen stands straighter and beckons to them. The hand at his sword drifts away, since at the very least, he can see that his sword isn't going to help him. ]

Come away! The next one is heading for you!

prompt iii

[ When Kasen stumbles away from Tetris, it's with an irritated prayer in his mind that hopefully that will be the last, ridiculous game he has to play.

In a way, his wish comes true.

When Kasen steps into the game of hangman, his eyes immediately turn towards the platform with exasperated concern, but his gaze is quick to narrow. It's like a jolt goes up his spine, since he straightens so rigidly that it's like he's seen a ghost. He certainly feels that he has, because looking up at the platform, Kasen sees someone that he hadn't thought he would ever see again. It's his master, Hosokawa Tadaoki, and as soon as he recognizes such an important person, that rigid posture tenses all the more, and a vicious anger comes to Kasen's face instead. This time his sword is quickly unsheathed, and he storms towards the platform, though he quickly runs into the barrier that keeps him away. ]

Enough games! Unhand my master, and I'll cut you down properly!!

[ kasin has appeared... surely you can take the burden of calming him down right ]

prompt iv

[ When Kasen is dumped out of ViViD, he's glad for it. This has been a very trying experience, and honestly he's just angry about it!!

Of course, this is Kasen, so his difficulties are hardly over. Why would I make Kasen's life easy? That's just ridiculous.

So when the elegant sword of the liberal arts (as the title floating over his head will tell you) is dumped out of the game, it's in an extremely inelegant place. It's right into a dumpster. You may hear the crash of a body falling into the dumpster and choose to investigate, but never fear. Even if you don't hear that, you'll certainly hear what follows.

Because though Kasen struggles for a moment with a huffy sound at being so rudely, unceremoniously dumped somewhere else, it takes him a moment. He looks down and sees a banana peel on his foot, and Kasen's eyes immediately widen in horror, and all his frustration for the day is leading up to this.

If you didn't hear him falling into the dumpster, you'll certainly hear an angry, horrified yell. It's an absolutely piercing scream, because this is it. This is how Kasen Kanesada dies, or at least that's what this overdramatic moron thinks.

please help him ]

wildcard

[ Have another idea? Make something up! Kasen is being very inelegant in these prompts, and he's very unhappy about it, so I'm sure he would appreciate something more dignified. ]

IV

[aslyfox]

[ Kogitsunemaru has been cleaning out the water ruined remnants of the Kitsune Udon. He hadn't heard from his manager or some of the other waitstaff, and admittedly he was a bit worried and not paying attention to the loud crash and the yelling. The little fox's head is in the clouds and the water, so to speak--- thinking about boxes of aburaage and udon-making ingredients completely unusable. He's not even sure if the restaurant can be repaired, but he's here cleaning it out regardless.

So pardon Kogi, Kasen, as he tosses one large cardboard box of previously firm but now soaked tofu into the occupied dumpster without a thought. ]

[titled]

I.

[For a guy who's from a medieval-esque world, much, and I mean much of this is lost on Arles. Oh, certainly, he understood the concepts of the powerpoint presentation. "Your world is destroyed", "by the way there's more than one", "we saved you", "we're going to fix it", something along those lines. Hmph. How convenient, Arles thinks.

He's very much out of his element, very much displeased, and very much... currently not in his human form.

What a wonderful welcome.

a) You might be turning around a corner or what have you just to come face with a huge silver wolf, who seems like he's... glaring with those pale blue eyes (he's also draped in glowing yellow fabric because there is no escape). But nahh. Surely a wolf wouldn't be just glaring at you for no reason.

Right?

He has stopped, however... approach, don't approach, turn and run the hell away, it's up to you.

b) Or, you may witness that same wolf skidding to a stop the moment he accidentally brings his paw down on one of those balls. And, there's a low mutter, barely there, as his head twists to look over his shoulder like he just heard a voice calling to him:] ...Elvira.

[It seems as though that wolf just spoke.

You might just be going crazy, though.]


IV-a (for guillan)

[Arles is all-but-hurled into the colony proper, a low snarl rumbling in his throat as his paws catch on the as-yet-slippery grass of the park before nails fix in and he stops. He waits for a long moment, his ears twitching, nostrils flaring, waiting for any sign of danger. When there's not any, he lifts his head, pricks his ears and looks around.

A park. Not that he knows that it is, yet. He sees greenery, spaces less like what he was just in and huffs.

Vaguely more familiar territory.]

Done with the games, are we? [he mutters to no-one and stalks forward, looking back and forth. When he reaches a suitable area, he stops. And then he puts back his head and he howls.]


IV-b

[Perhaps, you heard the loud howl that echoed over the colony a little while ago-- or the second one, shortly after. Weird. There're no animals in the colony... apart from the animal people. Occasionally the weird alien animal things. If you got curious and went to its source--

Well, there's no wolf. There's a tall man walking without a clear direction but a sense of purpose around him. Oh, and he also seems to have a silvery tail that flicks just under his cape and a pair of wolves's ears turning restlessly atop his head.

If you're a human (appear human, smell human, you get the drift), expect to get a long, measured look... seemingly for no reason. And a short hm from Arles. If you're (obviously) not, you're probably not going to get the same measured look (unless you're a CAT or someone else he'd recognise), but you'll get the same question either way:] Pardon me. Does the name Weblin mean anything to you?

[Or maybe you can ask him what "Wolf King" means. It is floating right above his head and Arles is either ignoring it (likely) or hasn't noticed it (unlikely).]

iv-b!

[adornmental]

[WHAT'S UP WITH THAT LOOK PUNK!! He shoots one right back, almost challenging. Actually, there's no "almost" about it - he's definitely conveying the you wanna fight message without actually opening his mouth...

But the question is innocuous enough, taking some of the wind out of his fisticuff sails and leaving him looking a little confused.]

Weblin? Nah. S'that a place or a person or something else?

Mikazuki Munechika | Touken Ranbu (OTA)

[meniscus]

PHASE II

[ They really shouldn't be dumping an old man like him just all over the place. Mikazuki swears he felt his back crack at least three times but he's not anything if not resilient. -- More or less.

He's managed to hop up in time and avoid being crushed to death by a jagged line of purple blocks. There's not a moment's reprieve however as he notices another set of blocks coming right for him. Mikazuki is mostly just moving from left to right and not really trying to cohesively stack the blocks all that well, at least not until he notices someone else has been there the entire time. -- If they've been trying to get his attention, they've failed but hey, not all is lost!

Or at least not if this mysterious partner of his can make sense and fix what Mikazuki has already made a mess of. ]

We're supposed to group them by color, aren't we?

[ If you're unlucky enough to be his partner in this tetris death match, hopefully you're light on your feet! ]

PHASE III

[ Who he sees doesn't seem to matter. Mikazuki stares at the noose for a long time, longer than necessary before he sighs and hides his hands in his kimono sleeves. He's surprisingly still, contemplative, for someone who has a supposed loved one at death's door but he's not exactly bothered by it. ]

Hm...it's a word game this time? [ Deep down, he's a little glad that he doesn't have to do so much running and jumping anymore. You spend over a thousand years being an ornamental sword, you're not used to all the sudden physical activity. At least his time in the Saniwa's army helped prepare him somewhat for this. As calm as ever, he manages a little smile and turns to his companion, stuck in this unfortunate scenario as well. ] Would you like to go first?

PHASE IV

Oof --! [ Mikazuki landed with a heavy THUD somewhere in Cerealia. He's not sure where as he hasn't really explored all of it yet but it looks reminiscent of the pleasure district. He's dusting himself off and adjusting the ornamental trinket on his head as he looks around, otherwise no worse for wear.

Staying in the same place doesn't seem productive so he heads to what he remembers best -- the teahouse where he works. He's made it to as far as the entrance with no big problems but it all ends right then and there. The second that he tries to push open the door, his entire hand glitches and phases right through and Mikazuki not so gracefully tumbles into the front of the teahouse. He's more than a little startled, sitting up and looking at his hand, only to find it still glitching out terribly.

If it had not been for his grand entrance just now, he would have tried to hide the awful glitching but it seems much too little, much too late to hide the oddity from anyone. ]

PENTALY

[ A sword is going to be naturally bad at games, or at least one as old as he is.

It's no surprise that Mikazuki ended up here and is now forced to use this toy gun to shoot targets for his escape. Honestly, he'd be a little more surprised if things were easier or less creepy than they are but they're not and here he is. ] I don't suppose using this is that easy... [ He's mumbling to himself since he's never used a gun before, he's not Mutsu. Mikazuki is tinkering with the gun actually, fiddling so much with it that he accidentally shoots it right into the booth with such force that his seat jars back kind of suddenly! ] Oh! Haha, I should probably avoid doing that again.

penalty...

[adornmental]

[He may not be as bad at games as grandpa here, but his bad luck makes up for that... SO SURPRISE, Kashuu's definitely stuck in penaltyland, too! He hasn't bothered trying to shoot at the targets yet, scoping out familiar faces instead.

Unfortunately, before he actually has a chance to talk to this one in particular, he fires off a round like a dang dingus. GRANDPA, LEARN CARNIVAL GUN SAFETY.]

...I mean, at least you were kinda pointing it in the right direction?

Shinya Kogami | Psycho-Pass

[abhors]

phase 1
[ On the bright side, he has a fairly good grasp of the situation despite the absurdity of the PowerPoint presentation. On the other hand, why are these games insistent on giving him these ridiculous clothes? At least he comes with a shirt this time.

Still, this isn't the worst part of his predicament. There are things trying to kill him yet again - or at least he assumes that's their intention, since he's doing all he can to avoid being grabbed by any of them. And while the glowing balls present him with cozy memories of his days as an Inspector, he knows that it's fake and would much rather face reality. This dark world, it's one he's gotten used to by now... but he's not the only person here, is he? There are civilians here, some in need of dire help, while others far stronger and useful to work together with. That Dipper or Yona person could be a real killing machine here.

He walks calmy, slowly... scanning his surroundings as his eyes adjust to the dark, but also alert just in case a ghost decides to pop up! ]


phase 2
[ Hey, he's back in his custom tailored suit, that's good! You know what's not good? Tetris blocks trying to crush you. He's analytical enough to optimise the placement of the blocks to clear rows, but it's a different story when you're co-op!

When you find yourself in a game with him, you'll either see him dodging an L-shape closely or he'll be shouting at you to move your feet. ]


phase 4
[ Finally, out in the real world! He finds himself on top of a building as he lights a cigarette and looks down, trying to find his bearings.

So this is Cerealia...

First order of business is making contact with some important people from his past, if they're still even here?

In the meantime, catch a cab with Kogami as he familiarises himself with his new city, perhaps show him around, or find him at the store buying a new pack of smokes (priorities), or smoking said goods in a park as he takes a break... or waiting for somebody to meet him, who knows! Is this man even trustworthy? I mean, "Criminal Mind" isn't exactly the most inviting game title. ]


penalty
[ You win some, you lose some. Right now, Kogami feels a lot like a loser... but at least he's not alone. Wanna make friends with Ko as you're playing this mundane game? At least there's nothing trying to kill you this time, right? ]

...This is the penalty game?

phase iv;

[condoner]

[ the cab kogami is riding might pass by somebody familiar, on her communicator, talking to someone. on one hand is a cigarette, and her other hand is on her hip. it doesn't look like she's pleased with whom she's talking with, but whatever, right?

a familiar face. ]

woof woof wats for lunch lol

[hijiwanwan]

Phase II

[ Hey, why? Why are there falling blocks, what is even going on, what is this black magic someone please help him? It doesn't help that they seem to be following Hijikata as he tries to move around, avoiding them... Which fails. ] What the hell, I don't have time for this-

[ Last minute Hijikata manages to escape the fate of possible death by moving out of the way when the block makes a final 'thump' against the ground. Phew... Although, when he looks at the new block that appears above his partner and himself... Oh, shit. It's going after his partner instead?! ] Hey, are you paying attention?! Move out the way!

[ And with that he tackles them out of the way. Sorry, not sorry. ]

Phase III

[ Damn... This stuff is giving him the worst headache. So what's this... A tree and... Oh, fuck. No- No? He must be dreaming? Of course, out of all people that would be a part of this twisted game of hangman is none other than Kondo-san. Surprise is evident in Hijikata's expression, and he was already about to jump into action: with a sword in his grip but he comes to a halt when the game is explained to him. ]

Guess words? Letters? [ He stares at this... Talking tree, utterly furious with his brows furrowed. Ugh... No, it's time to calm down. It's not like he could try to cut Kondo-san down anyway. Alright, alright. Fine. Oh... He has a new partner does he? ]

Don't just stand there. Come on already. [ Ah, yes. Bossy bossy. ]

Phase IV

[ Well, for the most part Hijikata is completely relieved that he's out of ViViD but... He feels so played? Played... Like a video game (he doesn't even know what those are. What the fuck). Outside of ViViD his title: 3.14159265359 is over his head, which is also confusing to the point he doesn't know whether to question or not. So, overall, his relief is going to last for a brief moment because when he's out of ViViD and dumped into Cerealia...

He falls right on top of a passerby.

Oops. ]

iv!

[adornmental]

[At least his title is better than "thirsty", okay. NOT THAT KASHUU KNOWS WHAT THAT MEANS EITHER, so they can both be the confused elderly together.

After Hijikata's done falling out of the sky on poor sweet innocent swords, anyway. Look, Kashuu's not that tall and he's not that sturdy and he's definitely not that well-equipped for dealing with people getting dumped out of ViViD right above him, so of course he gets flattened. On the plus side, he deals with it really gracefully!]

UWAAAH—!! GET OFF, YOU'RE HEAVY!

riku | kingdom hearts| ota

[undauntingdawn]

phase i.

[ending up in a tunnel in a yellow track suit... thing. yeah, what a nice welcome to this place. dark and creepy and far less 'safe' feeling than that voice earlier suggested. what's up with the floating magical orbs, too? riku frowns at one, stopping directly in front of it. dare he touch it? considering the cozy atmosphere, it could be a trap. then again, this IS supposedly safe mode.

all right, why not? it's not like any better option about what to do exists. with that thought, he reaches out and grabs the orb. the memory it causes, the one of sora in that stupid party hat with those dorky glasses, brings out a small, but happy smile. this sort of 'trap' he doesn't mind. touching a few others results in equally pleasant memories. not bad. almost by chance, his gaze turns upwards and that smile vanishes. the name.... okay, he likes the name more than he'd ever admit, but those points!! what is this, opposite day? he is NOT sora!]

Wait, what? Come on, my score has to be higher than that!

[now effectively distracted by grumping about scores and how they're tallied means that little attention gets paid to nearby jumpsuit wearers... or nearby ghosts.]

phase ii

[out of the frying pan and into the oven. first the whole mess with xehanort, then the pacman game and now messed up tetris. what a day. maybe expecting a second game to be better might've been naive, but riku certainly didn't expect worse. unfortunately, it doesn't get much worse than giant bricks falling straight toward you. not fun. not fun AT ALL. whoever created these games needs consider a new career choice or risk killing all their consumers.

rather than pondering who made this or how it counts as a SAFE mode, riku focuses his attention on not getting squished. good plan. stepping off to the side results in the block following. other movements result in the same. great. they say imitation is the greatest form of flattery, but not in a situation like this. a last minute dodge saves him from becoming a riku pancake. for now. more blocks follow quickly behind the first. to make matters worse, player two enters the game. rather than focus on who it is, his eyes remain on the blocks. moving to the right causes the block to do the same.]

Be careful! Those things are targeting us!

phase iii

[third time's the charm, right? wrong, so very wrong. riku finds this life lesson out the hard way. already sick and tired of the safe mode and its horribly misguided definition of safe, one annoyed riku finds himself on a platform with some other people. his eyes narrow and dart around the area. another gam--

annoyance at this whole thing gets shoved to the side immediately upon catching sight of someone with a noose around their neck, someone very familiar. his eyes widen.]

Sora!

[he grits his teeth, angry beyond belief. being told the rules only causes the anger to grow. maybe that is sora, maybe it's some sort of a game, but that doesn't matter. whoever uses his friend like this after already putting riku through so much will pay. a hateful leer gets sent over at the talking tree. good thing looks can't kill or that tree would be as good as firewood.]

Fine, I guess I'm stuck playing this one, too. Let's go with H!

phase iv

[just when he THOUGHT the worst was over, more bad stuff happens. vivid ejects him right into a giant pile of garbage. face first. nothing makes a great day so much greater than literally eating trash. he coughs and hacks, staggering away from the pile only to lean against a nearby lamp post. what a trashy first impression to make on a guy.

suddenly, glitching happens and his once solid body magically phases through the pole. riku's eyes widen as he finds himself falling forward. first garbage, now pavement: what a painful and disgusting meal. please let him pass on whatever dessert this place has in store. ugh, what a day.]

ii;

[bropane]

[ player two - tadashi botman - enters the fray! he has his nerd gear with him, so he's wearing a grey hoodie, some brown pants (he has no sense of style), but what's more distinguishable are his black and white gloves that can shoo electromagnetic balls... well, that's not important. what's important is he enters in midair, and he immediately activates his rocket powered boots to keep him afloat. ]

What the— Tetris?!

[ and he manages to evade a block that was about to fall on him, and he notices riku on the ground. ]

Move the blocks so they form a horizontal line!

[faradize]

phase i

[ Lightning had been in the circuit for about an hour, and she was already beyond done with it. Her and Serah playing as children, Hope's face beaming with a genuine smile, finally opening up to Snow after a year of admonishment — all the memories of her friends were tainted, and she wasn't sure how or why, but she was mad.

so here Lightning is, clad in her yellow jumpsuit, dashing between yellow orb to yellow orb without a pause to ponder the memories that flooded from them. she only hoped that by doing this she'd be taken to the one responsible, because it sure seemed like a giant waste of time. ]

phase ii

[ well that was a bust.

Lightning reorients herself after nearly being crushed, getting into a groove of dodging block after block and largely ignoring the person she'd been thrust into the game with, not really acknowledging that they were supposed to be on a 'team'.

after about five minutes of that, she's starting to get a little tired of sidestepping, so she turns to the stranger, panting. ]

Any bright ideas yet?

phase iv

[ Lightning was wet and pissed. so not that different from usual, really, except that her feet were missing and a placard claiming she "hates birthdays" was floating a few inches above her head. it had freaked her out at first, waking up alone outside of some sort of arcade — everything before was ridiculous enough to be from some bizarre dream, but the cold, artificial floor was enough to drive everything home, so she's a ball of conflicted feelings. if she were the nervous type, she'd have no fingernails left.

instead, she's the angry type, and is stomping towards — anything, really. the sounds of loud footsteps can still be heard despite her feet not being rendered.

right now, she just wanted answers, and also to break something. ]

Phase ii

[abhors]

[ It would have been great if Lightning had asked that before she started fucking up the rows! At least she's athletic and determined, it seems. Perhaps there was still a way for them to fix this mess. Kogami takes a moment to make sense of this game before the next block tres to squish them. ]

This is a game, just like the other one. I can't say for sure if we're being tested, but simply surviving isn't the goal here.

[ He studies the next block that's descending upon them, ready to move when the time comes. ]

We have to win.

Draco Malfoy | OTA

[dragonbadfaith]

Phase I

[SO DRACO IS JUST...completely and utterly displeased. One minute he's hanging around on some backwater, ocean-covered planet that lacks proper plumbing (it's a long story, don't ask), and the next he's supposed to be going home but instead he's HERE.

Wherever here is.

He is, unfortunately, somewhat used to the whole "stolen from your own world and tossed somewhere else" thing, but this place... With that bloody Muggle...whosamawhatsit...presentation thing telling him his bloody world is bloody GONE now...

Is that why he didn't get sent back there? Why he's somewhere else entirely now? Again?

Cripes, give him his pirate ship back, at least he'd gotten used to all that rubbish.

Because this unsightly yellow outfit he's been shoved into is not okay. What is he, a Hufflepuff? And the ghosts are weird, and he keeps bumping into those glowing orbs which seem nice at first until he's overcome with an almost painful surge of homesickness. He's managed to avoid any of the ghosts actually touching him just yet -- years of practice dodging the Hogwarts ghosts and all -- but he's pretty sure he's running around uselessly in circles.

He's noticed the scoreboard hanging there above them, of course, but it's awhile before he actually bothers to look at it. And when he does, he stops right in his tracks to gape at it.]

Ferret boy?? How did -- wait, why am I almost in last place?! [Harrumphs.] Rude.


Phase II

[Somehow he gets out of that nightmare of a...whatever it was...only to find himself tumbling into some other arena where there are giant, massive blocks trying to crush him.

Brilliant.

He's already tried his wand (a multitude of times) and nothing he does seems to stop the blocks from falling. Hell, his magic doesn't seem to be working at all right now, which is only mildly worrying.

...Or extremely.

It's extremely worrying.

In any case, he tries scrambling up the blocks after noticing they're following him, but since building upwards in Tetris is generally a bad idea, he probably needs some help figuring this out.

Else he'll be squashed against the ceiling.

So, uh. Help??]


Phase IV

[And then he's unceremoniously dumped into a puddle on the sidewalk beside a busy street in the middle of the city. A quick glance around shows nothing familiar at all. For a second, he'd thought perhaps he was suddenly in London...

But the buildings shooting up into the sky around him don't look like the ones he's used to. It's loud, there are people bustling everywhere, flashing lights, video screens -- it's all a bit much, and Draco shoves himself to his feet and quickly finds an alley to duck into. His heart is pounding, he's breathing rapidly, he can't stop thinking that he might very well not be at Hogwarts right now because there's no Hogwarts to go back to, and—

It's possible he's having a bit of a panic attack.

He does manage to hold it together enough to give his wand a few swish and flicks, and thank god, it appears his magic is working again. ...But apologies to whoever might've just gotten hit with a Jelly-Legs Jinx.

After a moment, he lets his head thunk backwards against the wall behind him and lets out a noisy breath.]

Merlin's tits, where the fuck am I now?


Wildcard

[Hit me! You got something? I'll roll with it! 8Db]

ii

[meatthefuture]

[have a faint]

hey!

[from below.

A hand slaps onto the block you're standing on and not too long after the rest of the rubber kid follows to stand on the block just above with a scrape of sandal on tile. Then he crouches down to grin at you]

Hey, Draco! You made it! shishishi

[sommevesle]

「 ✤ phase i 」

[ Leticia leaves the powerpoint session confused rather than informed. All inquiries and requests she has to elaborate go ignored, of course— and when she thinks she has time to contemplate on her circumstance, she really doesn't. So, she immediately gets to work on what she can, for now.

… Except, she's not quite sure what there even is to work on. Going with the assumption that everyone would be more or less as receptive as the employees from before, a.) she'll be glancing around, and will eventually hone in on someone— you— and suddenly you'll have one (1) fancily dressed lady keenly watching your every move. Is that a judging look? Maybe. Fortunately, she doesn't seem like she'll be sticking around for long, until you might realise, that she's actually right behind you or beside you, whispering into your ear. ]

Excuse me. [ She doesn't know that there are ghosts yet … ]

[ Then b.) when she finally grasps the general concept of the game: the first orb leaves her a little startled at first, admittedly. The feeling barely has time to set in before she notices another presence though, then … an incoming ghost? Not quite certain what the repercussions of getting caught by one might be, she figures that it's better safe than sorry; after all, her encounters with them back at home had never been anything anything close to pleasant. Plus, she couldn't exactly leave whoever their victim was alone. So she snaps back to attention almost immediately, and forms a glowing sword in her hand. ]

Behind you!

[ … That's a blade of light being thrust past your head. ]

「 ✤ phase ii 」

[ The first area hadn't required too much high-speed movement, so it had been fine. This one, however, was proving to be more trouble than it was worth to run around in a long dress. The first few blocks she simply dodges; when it's clear that they weren't stopping any time soon, between them she'll start cutting at her dress. If her status didn't matter here, why not? ]

Hmph … I should've done this from the start. [ Distracted by the action itself and the falling blocks, hopefully you have good enough reflexes not to have a mouth full of cloth for lunch. ] …? Pardon me, I hadn't seen you.

[ It's just fabric, no big deal, right? Then, a beat, as she comes to a realisation: ] Oh! Would you happen to know what our aim is, here?

「 ✤ phase iv 」

[ After everything is said and done, Leticia is … exhausted, and looks the furthest she's ever been as a princess. It's not that she particularly minds (in fact, it's refreshing change of pace), but it is a discomforting state to be in for a prolonged period of time. And … it would help not to be deposited right into a fountain. When she comes to, she's part in disbelief and part tempted to just start laughing at herself, at everything. But, there's a time and place for everything and she'll start accessing herself for any damage either from the fall or earlier game rounds. ]

Are we finally done…? [ It's a convenient time for her arm to start glitching out. Nice. Slowly, she'll set it back into the water … ] … Guess not.

[ She sighs, and any trace of her earlier amusement is pretty much gone. Just. Casually gives up on life. . .

But, in a couple of minutes or so she'll be able to muster motivation from somewhere. Hopefully you're not anywhere around the fountain when she does, because there'll be a splash when she rushes to get up in a single motion. ]

「 ✤ wildcard 」

( hit me with whatever! alternatively, i can supply another prompt if you'd like. ♥ )

iv.

[zitteraal]

[ It's the initial splash that takes Adolf by surprise— he's had enough of water to last a lifetime, what with the recent Noah's Arc levels of flooding that happened here, but it just seems like the electric eel is destined to experience Splash Mountain for the rest of his life anyway.

He's...drenched. White jacket wilting from his high collar, moisture pooling down and settling into his shirt. That's uncomfortable, yeah, but what's slightly more inconveniencing is the fact that the Cybuddy cat that he'd been paying attention to— a finicky tuxedo cat that took roost on his lap— has seen fit to yowl and run away, thanks to this disturbance. What a tragedy.

He watches the cat hiss at him from a few meters away, then slowly turns his head to face the newcomer. ]

Define 'done'.

[ Hello to you too, Mr. Reinhardt. ]

[popsometags]

phase I

[ So, Rinne's not that great at this. There's a nice, warm feeling coming from those pellets that he's been tasked with picking up, and yes, he wanted to collect them. It filled him with a wonderful feeling, that of remembering all the times he shared with a certain twin-braided girl he met. And then, the cold realization that she was gone. It was a tough pill to swallow.

Of course, the other problem was: he probably shouldn't be chasing after the ghosts without a power pellet. Please stop him. ]

phase II

[ Now that that nightmare was over, he could-- you know, get squished by falling blocks. He deftly avoided them, trying to arrange the ones he could. It became apparent what the goal of the game was, but when you're working with someone else, it was a little bit harder. ]

Hey, watch out! [ A box shaped tetromino was falling fast, and it wasn't going to fit in that narrow hole he was making. When was the straight line coming? ]

phase IV

[ With the fun and games over, Rinne Rokudo falls, splat onto a bench in the park. It had been a long day, a lot to take in, and not enough time to actually rest and get adjusted. The "Broke Shinigami " tag above his head probably didn't inspire much in the way of dignity on his end. With his haori glitching out at the moment, he felt cold.

Someone. Please take pity upon this poor young man. ]

What did I do to deserve this...?

obligatory wildcard option

[[need another prompt? wanna rp with rinne doing literally anything else? hit me up! ]]

ii

[dawnsprincess]

[Yona doesn't know what happened to her former partner, the one who saved her when she first fell into this game. She hopes he's all right. Right now she's just running like her life depends on it because she's being chased by a straight line. (How is this life?)

She looks up when a boy shouts, and just manages to slide and avoid knocking her head on the falling box. Then she has to roll to avoid being completely crushed — and she falls off the edge. She just barely manages to get a handhold.]

Help!

[hasklutz]

P1.

[ Corazon can't say he's fond of the yellow spandex. Call it a design flaw. (He certainly will be.) Not that his usual taste in shirts can say much about fashion.

This organization doesn't like to waste any time, is mostly what he's picking up on with this sudden relocation. That suits his goals well enough, at least. Whether or not he can say he totally believes what he's been told, he's not going to deny that it might be the truth-- and if it might be the truth, especially for a lack of other personal options, then he'll play the games and work to save his world. A second chance to build his life on protecting innocent people from chaos and destruction. It's not every day a man gets that.

The benefit of starting with this Pacman level (not that he finds the setup familiar in the slightest) is that it makes the objective very clear. Get the lights. Don't get taken. Warmth and happiness between bursts of dark, unfamiliar cold. That's incentive, both to continue playing and to strengthen his long-term resolve. A benefit to being himself in this situation is that he's not unfamiliar with warmth and happiness taking sudden cruel turns.

Not that it makes it any easier to play through. Even knowing that it's not how those memories truly went, or that it's seemingly pointless to drive home the deaths of the already-destroyed, sets a vein throbbing in his forehead. He moves in silence the vast majority of his time on this level: occasionally after touching one of the lights, he'll be distracted enough by his thoughts to flat-out trip. This is not a ghost-free let's play. ]

P3.

[ Now this is how to catch Rosinante in a moment of sheer, unguarded panic. It may very well be that no one is seeing the same little boy on the platform that he's seeing-- it takes him longer than it might normally to figure that out, for the sheer unexpected image-- it may even be that it's some part of a game objective.

It's simply another one of those aspects of this new world and this system that he can't afford to take risks with. It's likely he's not really seeing Law there. It's just as likely that he is. It's just as likely that some innocent bystander drew a bad straw and got selected for this part of the game. Maybe he's dead and this is hell. Who knows? If he didn't try to put in as much effort as possible, however, he might as well not do anything as long as he's here. Corazon listens through the rules with gritted teeth. He sounds nothing if not deathly serious. ]

I understand. [ And to the person in the noose- Law for him, whoever else it might be for the people around him: ] It's alright! Don't be afraid. We're definitely... going to save you!

[ HAHA WELCOME TO THE TEAM WHOEVER HE JUST PULLED IN TO BE ON HIS TEAM. ]

P4.

[ What a dump...

Nothing personal, Cerealia. It's the natural opinion a man is inclined to form when he enters a city from a dumpster. Once he's actually out and walking around- idly trying to learn to understand the device he was given, looking at his job suggestions, the usual bit- he takes back that original assessment. It isn't not worse for wear, but it's certainly intriguing, and that's enough for him.

Safe to say, as a 10ft man wearing makeup and prone to accidentally catching on fire... Rosinante is not as inconspicuous as he'd like to be while multitasking. It could be that he just tripped over someone. He may be awkwardly seated on an average park bench, considering his life choices and listening in on nearby conversations. If someone drops something of theirs without noticing, he'll probably be stalking after them really quickly??? He'd hunt purse-snatchers but who has those in this day and age?

And he might, as explained above, accidentally set himself on fire somehow. All it takes is one stray candle or distracted attempt to light a cigarette. Speaking of--

What he's really on the hunt for is a nicotine fix. He's got five left and one is already in his mouth.

A lot of other things become secondary in light of it. If he's got a big CORAZON label over his head or glitches his foot into a building, he'll clearly just have to learn to deal. ]

- WILDCARD.

[ More or less as described. Anything plausible that might not necessarily fit into above categories, all welcome. ]

P3

[meatthefuture]

Yeah. YEAH! [Most of his nakama are looking pretty worried! Even Zoro looks kind of concerned and he never does]

What do we do, old guy?!

[help him out here]

yamatonokami yasusada | touken ranbu | ota

[yasusada]

→ PHASE II.

[ During his time here, Yamato has successfully made it up about two blocks that have connected with one another. Looking down from such a staggering height, he holds a smile on his face as he wonders how much farther he has to go. It won't take that long to get to the top will it? He's seen so many of these colorful blocks fall and move from left to right, he even had to take a double-look at where they may fall. As he decides to jump to another platform that has just fell down with a shake, he notices that someone else is here as well and what makes it worse is the block that's slowly making it's way down. Looking up and then back towards the unsuspecting victim who's on the same platform as him, he finds it risky that they decided to go the other way when where he believes that he's going is much safer.

Rushing over to them, what he does is he pushes them directly off of the blue platform to one of the lower ones under them. Of course, that'll mess up where they were trying to go (as if they knew where they were going in the first place), but he finds this much more efficient than being squished by gigantic blocks. He raises his head to see that the distance between him and the falling platform is almost close, he jumps down with a loud thump on top of the other person.

He's so sorry, he really is? When the blocks make a connection, it shakes the room and well, it seems they have to make their way back up all over again. Their shortcut taken away from them but at least Yamato saved a life? ]

You're not hurt are you? [ Getting up off of them as he looks both left and right, trying to find where they can go. ] I hope I wasn't too heavy.. where you were going didn't look so safe.. If you don't mind, will you allow me to guide us?! I don't have a plan but.. It was pretty weird that the block followed you like that.. I wonder why there wasn't one when I was moving.. Huh..

---

→ PHASE III.

[ What's next? Dusting himself off just a bit, he's a little confused when seeing such a morbid tree in his view, he shouldn't be so surprised after witnessing falling blocks. Sadly, the moment where he turns his head to take notice of the body on the noose, it makes the male's eyes widen and take a small step back. Ah, to see someone like his mirror, Kashuu Kiyomitsu, hanging from a noose and with such a face — it's unbelievable. Part of him doesn't want to believe it. So for a moment he has to rub his eyes, looking around to see that someone is also staring at the noose that he believes his mirror to be.

It takes a lot out of Yamato since for one, he lost Kashuu once already and followed right after was his master — he doesn't know if he can cope with losing the same person twice. Even though the person on the noose cannot speak and the tree makes up for that with a small but dark chuckle, Yamato turns to the person nearby. ]

Excuse me, the rules of the game.. you understand it? Don't you?

[ Maybe his voice is too calm for this situation if it's someone important to him who's about to die but Yamato has always not been the sanest person within the Citadel. Anyway, he has to keep a level-head if he wants to make sure this goes fine. ]

Do you think we could figure this out?

---

→ PHASE IV.

[ The crash isn't the best one, not at all. Falling right into puddle not too far away from a set of trashcans is where various cats find that Yamato is some soft of salvation for him. Jumping onto his body and covering him in fur or just trying to use him as a stepping stool to get across the puddle in their way. He has a small headache, a hand raised to rub against his forehead and not too aware of the ❝ Yandere ❞, hovering above his head, he looks at the cats that don't seem too enthused about moving away from him. If he tries to count them, all in all he gets about ten or twelve in number or maybe some just keep glitching out or perhaps, the same cat keeps passing by more than once. He doesn't know, he isn't too sure but when he tries to get up, all the cats seem to want to keep him down.

Reaching out to move one, they all evade from his touch, meowing and scratching at his hands if he tries to do anything. He's tired, why is this happening to him. As they all crowd in his lap and he hates the feeling of wet clothes on his body, he sees that they're trying their best not to get wet. A hum leaves from Yamato's mouth as he looks at the felines that are around him, trying to grab at least one (in order to make them jump away from his person) and he can successfully get up. The back of his hakama and haori both wet, scarf dirty at the ends, he frowns just a bit at this but looks towards the cats that cry out to him.

How is he supposed to help them if they move away when he tries to grab them? A thought comes to mind as he calls someone over, a smile on his features as he proposes something to them. ]

Hello, hello! Will you help me obtain all these cats? They don't want to stay out here and I'm sure we could find them a home?

→ WILDCARD.

[ i'm open to anything! hmu with a prompt of your own, hear me out, yamato may be yandere but, ]

phase iv!

[adornmental]

[ugh guess who that someone is JUST GUESS--

Of course it's Kashuu, because Yamato's life can't be easy and neither can his. His babysitting days were over for a little while there, you know!! He was almost home free! But as soon as he hears that voice (and the stupid question it asks), he's spinning on his heel to find its source. Ah... there. Soaking wet and surrounded by a bunch of CyBuddies.]

—Are you seriously out here trying to grab a bunch of cats? Seriously? You wake up in a weird place and the first thing you wanna do is find a home for a buncha robots? [Why... why is this happening.]

Minato Arisato | Persona 3 FES | Open!

[moribound]

[Phase I]
[Minato's honestly unsure if he's just having an extremely weird dream, having hazily stumbled through the round before this and the Powerpoint presentation with the vague and yet deeply disturbing understanding that his world had been destroyed with everyone on it.

...not that he has much time to actually reflect on it though, since he's suddenly wearing a yellow jumpsuit and the ghosts coming at him register a lot quicker than the balls of light illuminating the dark maze, reminiscent of the days when he had led his friends through Tartarus quietly while avoiding the Reaper.

At least that gets Minato's attention long enough for him to snap out of his stupor as pure instinct takes over and he begins to make a run for it, the brief flashes of positive memories being pushed aside unhappily in favor of getting out of this place- much as he'd love to just sit down, he's going to have to save himself first if it's true that he's the only hope of saving his world again! As such your character may encounter a blue-haired boy rushing right at them and asking them one question:]

Sorry! Do you know if there's any way out of this maze?

[Phase II]

...I'm tired.

[Minato's a lot more awake now thanks to his impromptu debut as a popular game figure like everyone else, but he's definitely less than impressed with everything judging by how he's staring flatly at the falling blocks while deftly stepping out of their way- still, this can't go on forever and there must be some reason why he has a partner in this particular game. He turns to look at his partner during a brief respite:]

I think we're supposed to use ourselves as bait and get away before we're crushed. ...Ready? [Someone sure sounds enthusiastic about this.]

[Phase IV]

[And as luck or a lack of would have it, Minato finally finds himself unceremoniously dumped onto some patch of grass at the park! His eyelids droop as soon as he realizes that the games are over and he yawns, exhaustion taking over once again; there's also a faint recollection of certain individuals met during that game- what was it, Boom Raider? He wants to check if they're here too, but he's simply too tired to do anything else after two hectic rounds of games and collapses on the grass almost immediately, lying on his side while dreaming of happy things like winning Jack Frost dolls for a side quest.

Unfortunately Minato doesn't quite realize that his in-game title is hovering above him while he sleeps, and with a title like 'Deathbound' that's just like asking for people to come see if CERES has goofed and brought in an actually dead person due to the current problems...]

[Wild card]

[As it says on the tin, feel free to suggest something else!]

[OOC: The people mentioned in phase IV are Takeru, Katsura, Rinne and Ket!]

ii;

[adminproof]

[Saiduq nods, putting a hand in his pocket as he just stands there. Someone's not in a hurry. Of course, he's Cheaty McCheaterson and he could, technically, just whisk the both of them away and teleport them for every move, but he's not a fan of handing people the solutions to everything on a silver platter.

...But he wouldn't let his partner simply get crushed either. That'd mean that he'd get crushed too, after all, and since Minato's his partner, he bears some responsibility in this. Disappointing people isn't something he's fond of.]

Yes. You seem to be more knowledgeable about this game than I am, so I will trust in your abilities.

[inquisiteur]

ii.
[ nothing about this day has made any sense. to his understanding, this is some realm other than the fade, the waking world and everyone in it is gone, he'd just played some kind of game that involved his memories and spirits (and this really isn't the fade..?), and now he's.. ducking strange blocks falling from some kind of black field and sky.

he thinks he almost has the hang of it by the time someone just sort of fuzzes into being next to him-- right beneath another of those strange blocks. ]

Ah, watch out--! [ he grabs his new partner by the wrist, trying to yank them out of the way (with greater or lesser success, given his small size). if he's successful, he'll clamber up onto some of the blocks that have already fallen, urging them up with him. ] I must admit, I have no idea what we're meant to be doing here.


iii.
[ another so-called 'game'? for a moment, mahanon's ready to be really annoyed-- right up until he glances up to the platform and sees a very familiar figure. his blood runs cold, amber eyes going wide and shocked in his face. ]

D-Dorian..? [ no. no, it's not possible, is it? why would he be here like this? why would anyone do that to him--?

but something is strange, isn't it? even in such a situation, would dorian really be looking at him like that? he's so proud, flippant and dismissive even in the face of certain death. such a pleading look seems.. unlike him.

still, can he really risk it? --realizing belatedly that the tree is talking, he listens with distracted attention, hands curling into white-knuckled fists at his sides. ]


iv.
[ and just as unceremoniously as he was dropped into that place, he falls out of it. right into.. is this a brothel? is he seriously in a brothel? yelping, face horribly, obviously red (curse his complexion), he scrambles to his feet, hastily apologizing to the poor human he'd fallen on (gods save him, just the kind of first impression he needs to be making with the humans here) and then rushing outside. from his understanding, brothels aren't great places for most elves to be, and he has no intention of giving anyone the wrong idea about him, either.

not.. that there's anything wrong with brothels or with the people who enjoy them. they just aren't for him, and anyway, he's involved already.

still a little flustered--and embarrassed with himself over such a dramatic reaction--he glances up, mostly accidentally making eye-contact with someone else on the street. ]

Oh. [ ugh, he's still blushing. how unprofessional. still, he straightens to his full (if unimpressive) height, smoothing down his clothes and offering a small smile. ] Hello. Do you know the way out of this.. part of the city..?


wildcard.
[ hit me with your own scenario! ]

IV

[thatched]

[Thatch is minding his own business, strolling along and wondering what the hell is happening in the city now when he notices the slighter man (well who isn't really?) making eye contact with him.

Forgive the little laugh he makes at the question. It's obvious that you are quite the spring chicken in this part of town and a red one at that]

Aye, I do. [a gesture] Want me to show you the way?

[theoreitical]

I.
[He's less of a stranger to video games than he'll admit, or is personally comfortable with (thanks to friends who have discovered his weakness for pleas and cajoling in the name of friendship; he is a weak, weak boy). The mechanics end of this whole disaster, in some form of cruel silver lining, at least makes sense. Touch a ball, experience a pleasant wave of nostalgia, only to have it crash like a sugar high, repeat ad infinitum.

Improbable, but ultimately still fairly cut-and-dry.

The situation, on the other hand, makes none. Rationale or no, you don't stick that kind of explanation in a powerpoint presentation and expect that to make it easier to swallow. (...Even if he might. Maybe. Have a weakness of powerpoints.)

That has left him a little lost, hesitant around the game mechanic, even if he understands now how it works, and worst of all, far more unobservant behind those tears that are certainly not there. The nostalgia balls help. They're warm, pleasant, and the memories are more comfortable than they ought to be. (It's not enough.)

Literal emotional blindsiding is rough. Let's make it worse.]

IV.
[It's moments like that that were Rei more genre savvy, and less hardline tunnel-visioned about making everything in the world around him make sense, he might begin to understand the irony that's falling straight into the pool. There hadn't been one anywhere near him only 30 seconds ago, after he'd lost terribly at Hangman (when logic had, once again, completely failed; formulas, when it comes to language, really only work when one has a far more intimate knowledge of it), and yet suddenly, there it is. Like he'd fallen off the bed while dreaming, or somehow woken up mid-dive, and he's flopping into the water fully clothed and without warning.

Chin-up, Rei. At least this is sort of familiar? (For once, the idea of a speedo is oddly more agreeable.)]

???
[In a nutshell, Rei is going to handle none of this with grace. None of it. Hit me up with anything else you want/think is appropriate/whatever.]

IV

[notsolomon]

[Having fallen out of the game some time ago, William is fairly dry now, as dry as one can be when the city is water logged, when a boy about his age appears out of thin air and falls into a puddle right next to him. That splash is unnecessarily large. So much for being dry.

Shivering William looked at the newcomer, frowning.]

That looked like it hurt. Are you even alive?

link / legend of zelda: majora's mask

[72hr]

I.

[This blip brought to mind images of home. A Kokiri, yanking on a stone to get to the bugs underneath. The sound of crickets in Hyrule Field. The cluck of far-off Cuccos, gently muffled by the sound of running water.

The next one, even more. Zelda's daring smile. Anju's grateful gaze. Navi keeping him on task; Tatl nagging him so.

What exactly is the point of this? If the information from earlier is to believed, both Hyrule and Termina are gone right now. That hardly phases him - it may sound cynical, but it's just another day in his life. Save the world. Okay, got it. Same as usual.

He doesn't really need convincing, if that's what this is. He reaches out to take the next glowing orb, and he can smell Clock Town's bread again. He stops and smiles...

allowing, for just a moment, a Ghost to close the distance behind him.]

penalty

[Well, this is sort of odd.

Link was expecting a heavy blow when the Ghost got him. While this is a lot less painful, it's sort of worse, in a way - where the heck is he? Is he supposed to recognize whomever these dummy targets are? What's to happen to all the others here?

Being able to win the game is a given. He's played these kinds of games so many times before - as literal games, and as figurative ones. Games of life or death. So if you've got to win to get out, that isn't really a problem.

But everyone else...

Maybe he can help. Looking around at the others, he moseys over to the nearest hopeless-looking person.]

... Hello. [there's one way to start.] Not the best at target practice?

???.

(open to anything and everything else!)

i!!!!!!

[yasusada]

[ The balls that are lined up are something that Yamato decides to avoid, he has no idea why they glow in such a manner but it's already annoying that this plugsuit that he's wearing (it reminds him of his comrade Kasen's and that's enough to make him tired) continues to light up. Pulling at the fabric and a small huff leaves from his lips, he shakes his head as he decides to move forward. His light resources are helpful at any rate, making it easy for him to guess what may be and the end of every path. Every so often, he finds a dead end or he just falls a long narrow path that seems to take him back to the same place - everything just looks the same.

The third narrow path he decides to take, he notices someone touching at the orbs as reliving some sort of soothing moment from the way that the kid smiles upon connecting with the bright light. Yamato believes that he should leave him to what the child must be doing (his best) but it's the fact that a monster nearby slowly begins to creep up towards the child. ]

Huh? ..

[ Maybe that isn't suppose to happen.. .. Anyway, what Yamato decides to do is stay close to the wall but keep his movements ahead of the creature. Breaking away from the wall, he quickly makes himself over to the young boy and picks him up like so, casually and as if nothing bad is happening. ]

You should come with me, I don't think where you were standing is a good idea. [ Tell that light ball goodbye.. ]

tsurumaru kuninaga ► touken ranbu ► ota

[gravesite]

► phase ii

[ ow.

the first thing that tsurumaru learns, mid-tetris: falling blocks actually hurt, tsukumogami body or not. he catches the first block that falls in his arms, large and cube-like, although he’s knocked down with it. he’s quick to get back on his feet, though, holding the yellow block out towards you. and when you accept it, he’s already pointing towards a place that he wants you to put it.

if you notice, it’s not exactly in the most optimal place. rather… if you had to come up with a theory, it seems as if he’s trying to construct a block tower on half of the board. (what’ll happen if it hits the ceiling, anyway?) ]

So, I know we’re supposed to get to the door, but hear me out…


► phase iii

[ whether the tower plan had succeeded or not, he finds himself in some kind of hangman’s game, next — literally. it’s literally hangman, with someone a little too familiar hanging from a noose. but they’ll remain nameless for now, because he’s tsurumaru kuninaga, and he’s not known for being too sensitive when it comes to these kinds of things — even if it involves playing with the life of that person that he supposedly loves so much.

turning to the person next to him, his next words are spoken in an overly cheerful manner, his expression bright, in such a bleak situation: ]

Let’s see if we can totally hang this guy. Wanna guess first?


► phase iv

[ finally out of ViViD’s system, there are many places that he could have landed — in someone’s backyard, in the middle of a store, even in the center of a park. but instead, tsurumaru finds himself crash-landing into an outdoor, birthday-like party. with the large, bouncy jump house, it’s clear that this is either a celebration for children, or for overgrown adults (like him, but this isn’t his party).

he’s built thinly, but the collision still causes all of the npc children in the bouncy house to go flying into the air, and when he manages to sit up, he watches them slowly ascend into the sky…….. but they don’t come back down, not immediately.

one, two, three, four.
update: they still haven’t come back down.

this isn’t looking too good for the npc children.

(or, who knows? maybe one of your children was playing with the npc children. those who weren't in the bouncy house at the time are probably still around, and he only has a few seconds before he needs to be hidden from all of those angry parents— ]

Oops. Haha, did you know any of those children? I’m sure they’ll come back down eventually…. eventually.

Say, what’s the best place to hide around here?

II

[aslyfox]

[ When he sees Tsurumaru take a hit from the big yellow cube, he winces. It definitely didn't look like a fun time, and given that this is one big weird game with geometry (what even is geometry to a sword), Kogitsunemaru is a little confused.

Nevertheless, he takes it from Tsuru when he hands it over and stares at it. ]

... what are you planning, Tsurumaru? We need to find a way to open that door, and I don't want to find out what happens if we cannot clear these blocks.

Hercules | Marvel 616 | Newbie and come at me!

[theincredibleherc]

I

[Well this isn't good. This isn't good at all! Herc's pretty much figured out the whole ghost thing after a round of attempting to get up and punch the first ghost. It didn't work, and that whole fuzzy memory of an afternoon spent with Hebe and Hermes in Thebes. It'd been nice. And then it'd all turned to mud in his head, with Hermes and Hebe both dying before his eyes. A ridiculous thought, but no less disturbing. So, now he's redoubling his efforts, literally flying along the dark corridors as fast as he can go.

It doesn't help though, when two ghosts come right at him, one from each side. He wheels, trying to squeeze under one...and manages it, barely. Of course, that's when he comes barreling into you, fellow newbie! Hope you don't mind three hundred pounds of yellow-spandex clad Olympian crashing into you!]


II

[TETRIS though, Herc can do! Oh this is just fun. He charges right on out to the center of the game board. He's not even bothering to move, he just catches whatever blocks he can and tries to move them physically. Is he crazy? Maybe! But it looks like he's got at least two stacked up.]

Quickly friend! Direct me on where to place these! I feel a third incoming, and by Zeus' Mighty Beard I'd rather not try and catch one with another!


III

[Well this is unfortunate. Hercules stands there, perplexed, watching the tree with his arms folded across his broad chest. The score board says that he's guessed some right, and some wrong. It reads at the moment CH_C_E_ and he's got a puzzled look on his face. The letters A, M, S, and T are all crossed out]

Thor, my friend? You may have to hold your breath. Or just break free. That would be best. I know not why you persist in this farce...but I would rather you didn't.


IV

[And finally, it all comes to a close with Hercules dropped clear into the city. In the middle of one of the lakes in the park. A great splash goes up, sending water everywhere, including onto the onlookers since that's a LOT of Herc to go down into the water. And an instant after it settles down? There's another rush of water as a huge, soaking wet, and nearly naked man flies out of the water. He's got a weird aura around him, and a title that reads The Prince of Prattling.]

ZOUNDS! What manner of nonsense is this?! You there! Where am I? And why are you soaking wet?!

Wild Card:

[Want Hercules in a different scenario? Hit me!]

II

[meatthefuture]

Put them wherever you want! [don!]

[Luffy, meanwhile, is starting to generate his own stack of blocks.

Clearly this is going to end well]

[ashesofrevenge]

Phase III

[The platform isn't the problem. He's never been one thrown off by footing, and all things considered, he's faced far worse in the balance department even without the added benefit of chakra. And he would like to saw he's stood before far worse situations as well, only. . .

Anger is flaring bright in his eyes, mollified only by the touch of fear behind it. His heart is thudding, heavy trembling beats. He wants to say something, but has the game already started? A word blurted - wrong, and the noose slips snug against throat.

Itachi would tell him to let him go. He's a dead man already, has been for awhile, but there's something in him that can't let him dissipate into nothing more than memory once again. Sasuke swallows, fingers curling to fists at his side, and drops his gaze below.

What was that about saving any of them?]


Phase IV

[There's still a knot in his chest, bound hard and fast around his heart. He imagines there are words somewhere inside for the screaming after that last horrific run through (no matter where he exists, his brother's life is a thing already spent), but nothing concrete shows itself for the offering.

Silence then.

The world around him is different than the others. A little more solid in its making, less hard angles and questionable incentives and more along the lines of living life. Only, where does on begin? There's a sense of damp clinging to this place, of a world railroaded and stitched back together. Too quiet. A fine spot for the dead, but maybe he simply can't shake the idea from his mind.

Too many ghosts running rampant.

A glance down the path, first left then right. A shift of his weight; the dirt beneath oozes water. The idea of a threat - it could take him under. With a twist of his lips, vaguely disgusted, Sasuke steps out of the small garden patch and onto solid walkway. Fingertips brush light against Kusanagi's hilt, the flicker of something above draws his gaze though he can't quite make out what's floating above.

Eyes narrow, flash red briefly but as the Sharingan offers him no further insight it's pointless to keep engaged. He let's it all go with a soft click of his tongue and starts walking.]

Phase III

[niceguypose]

[Rock Lee finds himself backflipping right onto that platform next to Sasuke. But, oddly enough, he doesn't notice the former comrade just yet. No, his attention focuses on the hanging man... who appears to be one Neji Hyuuga.

The calm composure Lee has been feeling this month shatters and he tears up.]

No!! We have to do something!

[He tries reaching forward in vain, but he can't move any closer. And... it seems that Lee's outburst counted as a failed gasp, as the noose tightens a little more, and Lee gasps.]

Iwatooshi ∘ Touken Ranbu (ota)

[notsmall]

phase i

[If you're in Iwatooshi's general vicinity during the course of this game, you may want to keep your senses about you. Much like in his previous experience in ViViD, he's going for broke- how could he have so little points? That simply would not do. He helped his former master kill way more real-life dudes than that, so having such a small amount of pretendy-points was unacceptable.

After a moment of confusion and test swings, he's able to discern that the glowy orbs are solid enough to strike with his blade, knocking down a few at a time instead of going one-by-one. And they're... warm; each one gives him a little flash in his mind that makes him smile. Of course, that means he has to collect them just that much quicker.

You might want to look out around that corner before stepping forward, especially if you hear some really loud, obnoxious cackling coming towards you. Has he even noticed the ghosts yet?? Someone might want to warn him about those.]

phase ii

[Congratulations, partner! You've been gifted the most obedient sword for this game of Tetris. Not that Iwatooshi knows what Tetris is, but he sure is good at taking orders! Tell him to move right, he'll move right. Ask him to jump, he'll ask how high- all that jazz. He may be rather big and cumbersome to work around, but he'll definitely be helpful. At the moment, he's looking up towards the source of the blocks, evaluating the situation.]

So they need to be matched up, right? [He asks you, as he's strafing on his feet to lure a red block onto a matching one, going so far as to thrust his blade out in order to direct it from a range away. He chuckles proudly when the blocks blip away.]

That's not hard at all!!

phase iv

[Truth be told, Iwatooshi is not quite sure where he landed. It was dusky, yes, and the street was wet, a perfect place for him to fall flat on his back. He squeezes his eyes shut with the impact, but quickly opens them and stares upwards.. all while little giggles come erupting from his chest. Soon enough, you'll be able to hear full-fledged laughter coming from the naginata, still prone on his back and catching his breath between snorts and the random crackling of code glitching on him. He doesn't seem to notice, even as one of his eyes spikes into Matrix-y letters and numbers and... is his naginata on top of his chest, or jutting through it?!

ViViD is a lot more interesting than he thought it was. He's spiked with a weird sort of adrenaline, and it feels nice just to lay here and laugh for a little. Maybe someone should help him up? Feel free to ask just why his title is "Big Teeth & Bigger Tits."]

iv

[meatthefuture]

[hmm well this guy kind of looks like he's hurt a lot with the blade through his chest and his eye all weird but he's laughing and doesn't seem to be panicking at all so Luffy isn't too worried.

He approaches the guy and looks down at him a second before offering a hand to help him up]

Are you okay? Did you lose your boobs somewhere? [because he sees the teeth but not the tits. He figures that they must be a crossdresser or something and that they must have fallen off or gotten lost or maybe they'd met someone like Ivankov]