You know what everyone needs after rampant robotic attacks and another iteration of clone wars? A vacation! That’s right everyone, you deserve this. CERES understands what you need. CERES is here for you all the time, so never doubt that this is a pleasure colony, and they are here to look after all of your needs. Kick your feet up, relax, and let CERES Recreation and Activity Necessity Keepers (Team RANK, that is) set you up with your ideal getaway.
It’s as if you can sense the incoming relaxation and luxury before you even completely finish loading. There’s the warmth encompassing your entire body as your code gets transferred into this particular ViViD Level. A cool, refreshing breeze hits you. The sounds of waves gently lapping against the coast fill you with relaxation. The sun, the sand, the surfs, it’s all there – welcome to the beach, baby!
An echoing greeting message from the ocean comes next, if you can translate it.
 OOOOOOOOOOOOHMAHH GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHD.
YOOOOOOOOOOOORRRALL SOOOOOOOOOOOOO KYOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT.
KYOOOOOOOOOOOT EEEENAAAAUUUUUUUF TOOOOOOOOOOOOO EEEEEEEEEEEEEEET.
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PHASE I [ 08 00 ] That said, isn’t that breeze a little… too strong? It feels like it’s brushing up against all of you, if you know what I mean. When you open your eyes and look down, it becomes rather clear why. It seems that you’ve found yourself in some pretty interesting attire. Everyone. No exceptions. You appear to have two options – be overcome and scream like the Victorian maiden your heart says you are, or strut like a model in this stuff. Turn some heads! Work that up do!
But don’t worry, we’re also conscious about safety here at CERES! Therefore everyone’s also been provided a pair of super high-tech safety-tested appendage protection floatation devices (STAPFD for short.)
At least everyone around you is caught in the same sort of attire – and everyone around you also appears to be stuck inside a giant sand castle. It’s entirely malleable to what you want it to be! Want to see a fancy sand bidet? Feel like adding a sand statue in your honor? Think that wall should now be a door? Well, with enough perseverance, you can make it happen!
Just uh, be careful about getting sand in your… everywhere.
PHASE II [ 1000 ] Someone broke it. Not pointing any fingers, even though you sure do seem like a prime suspect, but someone broke it.
It almost starts like an earthquake with how the castle starts to rumble, the sand shaking right beneath your feet. And then the walls right next to you start to cave in followed promptly by the ceiling right… above your head. Oh dear. The sand starts to run and fall, losing its structure and shape. The hallway behind you starts to cave in, ceiling first and then the walls follow suit. Now the sand really is getting everywhere – but not just uncomfortable places. It’s in your hair, your eyes, your nose…. this sure doesn’t seem like a pleasant way to go!
Best to start running – there’s a trusty drawbridge to get over the moat (because what’s a sandcastle without a moat?) but who knows how long until that, too, is going to give way? Best to cross over it before it starts to shake and disappear too. Or if you don’t make it, hopefully you can land some pretty impressive airtime to make it to the other side!
If not, well...there'll be the sensation of sand crushing down upon you, filling your mouth and eyes, and you won't be able to breathe at all – and then you're alive again on the beach (but possibly in yet another new, uncomfortable, skimpy swimsuit). Honestly, be more careful, would you?
PHASE III [ 1200 ] However, once you do make it to the other side, it’s all smooth sailing from there! Or is it? Hah, as they say, life sure can be a beach.
Which is what this is.
Welcome to your Beach Episode, folks. Now that you’ve made it out of the collapsing sand castle, you’ve made it to the luxurious, picturesque golden coastline. Sure, you’re coughing up fine, luxurious, sand dust right now and you’ve definitely gotten sand in all of your crevices thanks to your swimsuit, but that’s okay! Go take a soak in the ocean or something or cool off with a smoothie. There’s a smoothie shack off into the distance, complete with a long chalkboard with… well, probably a few familiar names? And some unfamiliar ingredients. Sounds appetizing right?
That said, once you do ingest some of the smoothie with the name of a newcomer, you might suddenly find yourself feeling a bit… different. You’ll be taking on some of their traits, one of the most intense parts of their personality – or you might need to take a second to sit down because you’re suddenly seeing one of their memories. Whoa. What do they actually put in this stuff?
PHASE IV [ 1500 ] For the brave souls that venture out into the water, you have even more adventures waiting for you. Anyone who’s swimming around, wading in the water—hell, even looking at the water is getting scooped up and deposited in one of these giant orbs. But don’t take up too much room, because someone else is getting shoved right in there with you. Time to get cozy with your new friend, because it's only going to get worse as the waves begin to carry you out into this big, blue, virtual ocean. Hopefully the choppy waves don’t bounce you around too much or – well, you could always get really friendly with a stranger! Why not?
At least until it’s made very clear that fresh air does not make it back into these balls. That seems like a bit of a design flaw. Now what? Fight the other person who’s inhaling all your air? Suffer through it for swimsuit-clad fun? Or if you break it…. well, you sure are stranded out in the ocean. Or are you?
After enough flailing, you’ll be met by a giant, dumb-looking creature who will then eat you whole.
Everything goes dark. This is surely the end --
And then you're in Cerealia proper; it seems that was the exit to the level (but why there?) and you'll find yourself either in one of the fountains or the pond in the park. Either way, you'll be very, very well. And this time, that's not virtual. But hey, at least you'll have all of your stuff with you.
BONUS [ xxxx ] Do you hear that?
Anyone idle on the beach will hear a distant melody coming from further out into the ocean. It’s a beautiful, elegant song that automatically makes the listener stop what they’re doing and immediately wander toward the noise. It takes you a moment to recall – it takes a moment to think about anything now, really – but you remember hearing the smoothie shack owner say something about mermaids populating the beach. Could this be their song calling out to you? Whether you would normally abide by this kind of call or not, you find your feet walking further and further out into the water, the shallows lapping up to your ankles and up and up as you are drawn in by the song.
A rather classic song, though the usual instances of French are also replaced with the very enticing, enchanting nonsense promise of omelette du fromage........and then they try to drown you.
[ Remember to apply proper warnings on threads with sensitive or inappropriate material and do let a mod know if your thread careens off into maiming or canoodling so we can lock the log. ] |
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[ It's the fact she's wearing practically nothing that keeps him close to her chest. Please guard her body with yours, Lee. ]
Were you afraid I would forget? [ With a bit more force behind her feet, she'll advance out of the way of tumbling sand, raising her voice slightly due to the excitement. ] Lee-san, I could never forget you or our time spent here!
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N-never?! [It's such a powerful response! But exactly what he would expect and hope to hear from Sakura, really. So the emotion rises in his voice as he speaks.]
I should have not expected any less of you, Sakura-san!! I... I am so glad that you are back!! [If he wasn't being carried right now, he would hug her! He's so happy that he's even forgotten about his attire for the moment!]
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[ Really Lee, don't distract her too much. She's trying to save your life. ]
Simulation or not, it'll still hurt to suffocate to death on sand.
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Ah... You are correct, Sakura-san! [He actually keeps on spitting out fresh sand almost every time he opens his mouth to speak.]
I apologize! And I promise, that my excitement will be restrained for the moment.
[But as his excitement dies down, his shame returns; he remembers what he's wearing and that Sakura is seeing him in this state! He quickly turns red, makes a squeaky-sounding noise and lowers his hands to cover his shell.]
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[ Sakura stops suddenly to look down at him, confused by his reaction more than his choice in clothing. He's always worn things that kept him fully covered so it was definitely a sight to see him in way less. ]
Where's your jumpsuit?
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He practically shrinks in embarrassment as Sakura surveys him.
Definitely a sight, eh?]
I... I do not know! When I woke up in this game, I was wearing this in the game! [He whimpers.] I apologize if this makes you uncomfortable, Sakura-san!
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No, it's fine. [ It really isn't but she's having trouble finding a clear path out of the debris around her. Enough sand has gotten in her eyes to make them red and irritable, making it harder to see.
At this rate she may need to let go of him and start breaking down walls herself. ] I wasn't looking, I promise!
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It's actually hard for Lee to feel shame in many instances, but Sakura's presence does make it easier for him to feel embarrassed. His blush dies down a little at least as he tries to reassure her.]
It is alright! I did not think that you were trying to!! I... I am just sorry that you had to meet me in this attire!
[He feels too helpless, so he speaks up.]
Sakura-san, you can set me down if you like. I am starting to see more clearly, and I want to help! [He hates feeling like a burden, on top of feeling naked. It's an unusual combination.]
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Alright, let's do this together. [ She feels she has to say that in order to make up for how long it's been. While she doesn't know the amount of time, his reaction gave away that she was gone long enough.
Now they need to work on rebuilding their strengths side by side. ]
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As Lee is lowered onto his feet, he quickly assumes a fighting pose. Sakura's presence and her words embolden him as he prepares to take on the sands.]
Yes! Sakura-san, it will be an honor to fight by your side once more! I can see clearly again, so I will not let you down!
[As he says that, he makes the mistake of glancing towards Sakura... and finally he manages to see what she's wearing. He freezes in place for a moment, his face quickly turning red again, and is that some blood trickling from his nose?]
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[ WHAT ARE YOU DOING, LEE. ]
... you're looking at me, aren't you? [ It's her forehead, isn't it? She's just going to raise a hand to cover that instead of her chest because clearly that's the problem here. It's always been the problem!!! ]
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Y-yes... I apologize, Sakura-san!! [With that, Lee's noble side wins out and he tears his eyes away, turning to face the rushing sand instead.
Ashamed of himself, Lee bolts on ahead recklessly to try punching through more of the sand barriers.]
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[ Mostly to herself before she rushes up to join him, ready to punch apart a chunk of sand. Swinging into it, her hit isn't as effective as she thought it might be as her arm sinks into the sand. ]
Oh come on!
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Lee tries to focus on the sand that he's punching through, but he does manage to catch Sakura's predicament out of the corner of his eyes.]
Sakura-san, are you alright?! [He's nervous about being near her right now, but he's ready to put that aside if she needs help!]
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Not that she's going to allow that to come up. Not now. There's too much to focus on other than her emotions so she forces them aside in order to focus on the chakra flowing within her. Right there.
The sand blasts away from her fist and frees her arm completely. ] We need to get out of here quickly. I, I won't allow it to hurt you again!
[ Again. Again. Because that's what he needed reminding of in this situation. ]
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Well done, Sakura-san! But do not worry about me. I will be fine! And I will always look after you-
[He's cut off by a sudden tidal wave of sand that erupts through a hole that he punched. It sweeps him off his feet and starts to carry him away while he flails in an attempt to free himself.]
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Not as if she'll allow it to remain that way for long. Someone's making her way through the sand, kicking it away as she pursues her companion. ]
No one place should have this much sand. Ever!
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I apologize for my blunder!!
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[ She's better equipped to handle a medical emergency now than she was a few years ago but she rather not be pushed to her limit. Not here.
It's as if she's forgotten for the moment that it's not real. It just had to be sand, didn't it? ]
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Lee practically releases a dust cloud as he gives an apologetic bow.]
I promise that I will be! Let us overcome this trial together, Sakura-san! [Being careful to keep his eyes fixed on hers, he pumps a fist in determination.]
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Right! [ Raising a fist with less enthusiasm (for obvious reasons), she holds her own in the air. ]
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Now he allows himself to smirk confidently again, and he replaces the fist with a thumbs up.]
I will not run ahead this time! Let us proceed! [Back to trying to punch through sand walls!]
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Want to make a contest of it, Lee-san? [ This isn't the time but they're half naked.
They really need a distraction. ]
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Lee perks up at the mention of a contest.]
A- a contest?! Ah... I would be honored! Do you have any conditions in mind, Sakura-san?!