
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 [ 10 00 ] 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 [ 12 00 ] 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 [ 15 00 ] 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 [ xx xx ] 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.
[ 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. ] |
Kaguya | OTA!
[The good news is that the Dead or Alive ninja girls exist in Kaguya's world, so honestly skimpy clothing and bikinis aren't really anything that phase her. However, the fact that she's wearing one is totally different. She does spend a good amount of time quietly freaking out about this-- Who does this game think she is?? Da Ji!?--before deciding that helping people escape the crumbling sandcastle is a bigger priority.
Lucky for you all, Kaguya can teleport!
Which is exactly what happens when she suddenly grabs your character's hand] I will get you to safety. [There's a shimmering golden light, and then suddenly the two of you are safe and sound and relatively sand-free on the other side of the...moat thing. She sighs in relief.]
Are you unharmed?
[Phase III]
Krazy...Kaguya Sunrise?
[Kaguya studies the menu and lets out a delighted little laugh, covering her mouth politely.] Is this a human invention? I have never had a... 'smoothie' before. I will never tie of the ingenious nature of humans.
It is too bad I do not have navy ships with which to buy it with...
[She reads the rest of the menu, occasionally laughing out loud at a particularly clever or ridiculous one.] What is 'crystal meth'...?
[Phase IV: A]
[Well alright then. After being dumped rather unceremoniously into one of those ball things, she flails and immediately drops to her knees and just sort of. Sits there. Because getting up and moving around is clearly not the answer here and she frowns gently. Despite the weird bathing suit, she's the picture of a demure royal, back straight and hands folded neatly in her lap.
Kaguya looks to whoever the unfortunate second party is here and clears her throat a little to get their attention] I am sorry you were also brought into this. Shall I try to get us out?
[It's 100% likely that her attempts to teleport them to safety, however, will just be met with landing in the ocean. Still, it's a good offer, right?]
[Phase IV: B]
[The good news is, she's back in her regular modest clothing. The bad news is she totally landed in the pond and that's 12 layers of fabric she has to fight through now.
She struggles to the shore, putting on the grass three round mirrors and her sakaki wand. She's glad to have them, but they're very damp now. But... her robes are really heavy soaked like this, she can hardly pull herself up. She looks around desperately.]
Excuse me? Please-- I am terribly sorry to be a bother, but could you please help me? [She looks rather miserable and embarrassed] My sincerest apologies for causing such trouble...
phase iii
[ And here's someone who's managed to overhear the conversation in its entirety, but opts to be somewhat helpful by answering the question in the kindest of voices, although her expression is somewhat serious. ]
I wouldn't drink anything with that in it, if I were you.
[ Then again, she's skeptical of anything CERES offers here, to be honest. Especially when she's looking at that list of smoothies. . . ] I mean, unless you're a fan of getting high, then I won't stop you.
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Thank you for warning me, my lady. It seems there is still much I have to learn here... [Kaguya turns and smiles a little, bowing low in both greeting and thanks.] I am Kaguya, my lady. May I have your name?
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IV B
...Lady Kaguya?!
[rushing right to the rescue - of all the people to get dumped here, she deserves much better than to be soaking wet and struggling through the reeds! Cao Pi is fortunately not in his armor, so it's easy to whip off his surcoat and lay it over her shoulders, as if that's going to help ward off any chill. Maybe it'll help with modesty?]
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Lord Cao Pi! [She's delighted to see him despite the circumstances--finally, a familiar face! With his help she's able to pull herself out of the water. She won't say no to the surcoat either, smiling despite the slight chill]
I am so glad to see you are unharmed. This place is... the city...? [She looks around, a bit confused. Sure she got that opening powerpoint business and all, but it's still a little overwhelming. And for someone whose life is made out of time hopping and such, that's saying something.]
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IV - B
But, no, he will try to help as much as possible. It wouldn't do to have her get sick either. ]
Are you okay?! What happened?
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I...believe I fell? I was at a beach with many other newcomers, and then-- [She pauses, realizing that saying "I got eaten by a whale" out loud sounds positively insane and looks embarrassed] ...Either way, I was suddenly dropped into this pond.
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II
For suddenly he feels himself get grabbed and then he's immediately...outside?
...Okay. No complaints there.
Hearing the question he nods, then looks over to his companion, realizing two things. First, it's a girl.]
How 'bout you -
[Secondly, that face is familiar, though not immediately. Sano doesn't remember all the details of his stay in Zelien, but he can remember some faces even if they're not accompanied by normal clothing.]
Kaguya?
[Also don't mind the fact that he's like 90% naked
but who would lbr.]no subject
On the other hand, it also means she doesn't know if he's comfortable in these weird "clothes" or not. This sin't really a good first impression.]
You know of me? [Fortunately though, she's pretty used to the whole time traveling thing and people knowing her when she doesn't know them. After all, it's perfectly reasonable to assume she's met with them in some other timeline or something.]
I am Kaguya, yes, though I am afraid you are not familiar to me yet, my lord.
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III
[This woman is not laughing. She's been frowning at it, looking disappointed. Perhaps she's the namesake of that one?]
And they didn't say what is in it. How are we supposed to know what we'll get?
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Perhaps it is just this 'crystal meth'? [She looks over curiously] I suppose it might be for people who like surprises? Though, if their pattern of surprises continues, I would not be so quick to volunteer to try...
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iv: b!
How exactly did you find yourself in such a situation, lovely lady? You seem much to elegant the type to suddenly take a dip in the local pond, ahaha.
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Thank you for your assistance, my lord. I am in your debt. [The question, however, has her wincing slightly and she glances to the sky as if there might be some visual tell of where she came from.] I... Believe it was a place known as 'ViViD'? I was there, and the next thing I knew I was being dropped into the water. Is that... a normal occurrence?
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iv b
You needn't apologize, it's truly no trouble. I can hardly imagine you anticipated this turn of events.
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Is this... the colony they mentioned? [She looks around, trying to make sense of her surroundings]
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iv a!
But at least Kaguya gives him something to focus on! Escape.]
We can just, like— roll back to shore! Like, if we both walk in the same direction, that's definitely gotta work!
[Okay but does it really gotta work.]
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phase iv b
[Her breath is slightly wheezy, as she is still in the process of recovering, but at the sound of Kaguya's voice, she looks over. Standing as immediately as possible,]
Of course. [She's a little unsteady, but she manages something of a fast walk, only slowing into a pause as she draws near, her hands hovering at her sides. Goodness, that's a lot of cloth.] How do you want me to-- um. [Help, that is - but she figures after a moment that maybe she can just offer a hand instead and see if they can't between the two of them manage to get Kaguya on her feet, so that's exactly what she does.] ... Here.
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Phase II 1/2
So far so good!
It was only when Kaguya spoke when Honey opens her eyes and turns around to meet her savior.]
Yeah! I'm fine! I just have sand everywhere, but I'm great!
2/2
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( phase iv: b. )
m'lady—more seriously, he speaks respectfully, gently proffering his hand as his knees bend a little instinctually. ) Not at all. It would be a sin to simply leave someone as lovely as yourself in your current state. ( there's a formal quality to his tone. as usual, he's verbose, not shying away in his speech in the least. how accustomed he is to conversing... palpable in his poise.
but, before she can truly take a grasp of his hand, however, he pulls back. this time, reaching... to touch the edge of his mouth. ) My, how rude of me.
A lady such as yourself is certainly looking for something a bit more bare, am I wrong?
( um.... this is him asking if she wants his gloved hand or bare one, i guess??? i'm sorry?? )
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IV B
She smooths down the front of her miko's overcoat and dips her head with a smile.]
It's no trouble at all. How can I help you?
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IV:B
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iii
[ Well, Kaguchin. Hakata wouldn't be able to tell you even if he knew what "crystal meth" was.
Still, he can tell she's not a human lady. And she could probably tell he's a sword tsukumogami. He lightly sighs, shaking his head. ]
I don't think it's something "we" should concern ourselves with. Some human things are better left unknown.
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Phase IV a
Well his posture is, his face not so much. It's carefully blank because there are way too many things to focus on. And hey, at least he's got a towel around his waist and another around his shoulders that might help obscure some scars but.
He frowns. Why the apology--?] If you think you can. [Because he can get them out too, for the freakin' record, but-] Can you swim? [In case.]
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IV: B
[ His clothes are noticeably damp as well (don't mention the beach episode he's scrubbing that from his memory right about now), so it doesn't take him long to put two and two together. Just another unfortunate victim of ViViD and not a crazy lady fountain-diving, okay. ]
Just take off those layers then, if you're having such a hard time.
[ ever so gallant, that okita souji ]
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iv a
What - already? We just got here, don't you wanna try it out at least a little?
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