You know what everyone needs after rampant robotic attacks and another iteration of clone wars? A vacation! That’s right everyone, you deserve this. CERES understands what you need. CERES is here for you all the time, so never doubt that this is a pleasure colony, and they are here to look after all of your needs. Kick your feet up, relax, and let CERES Recreation and Activity Necessity Keepers (Team RANK, that is) set you up with your ideal getaway.
It’s as if you can sense the incoming relaxation and luxury before you even completely finish loading. There’s the warmth encompassing your entire body as your code gets transferred into this particular ViViD Level. A cool, refreshing breeze hits you. The sounds of waves gently lapping against the coast fill you with relaxation. The sun, the sand, the surfs, it’s all there – welcome to the beach, baby!
An echoing greeting message from the ocean comes next, if you can translate it.
 OOOOOOOOOOOOHMAHH GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHD.
YOOOOOOOOOOOORRRALL SOOOOOOOOOOOOO KYOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT.
KYOOOOOOOOOOOT EEEENAAAAUUUUUUUF TOOOOOOOOOOOOO EEEEEEEEEEEEEEET.
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PHASE I [ 08 00 ] That said, isn’t that breeze a little… too strong? It feels like it’s brushing up against all of you, if you know what I mean. When you open your eyes and look down, it becomes rather clear why. It seems that you’ve found yourself in some pretty interesting attire. Everyone. No exceptions. You appear to have two options – be overcome and scream like the Victorian maiden your heart says you are, or strut like a model in this stuff. Turn some heads! Work that up do!
But don’t worry, we’re also conscious about safety here at CERES! Therefore everyone’s also been provided a pair of super high-tech safety-tested appendage protection floatation devices (STAPFD for short.)
At least everyone around you is caught in the same sort of attire – and everyone around you also appears to be stuck inside a giant sand castle. It’s entirely malleable to what you want it to be! Want to see a fancy sand bidet? Feel like adding a sand statue in your honor? Think that wall should now be a door? Well, with enough perseverance, you can make it happen!
Just uh, be careful about getting sand in your… everywhere.
PHASE II [ 1000 ] Someone broke it. Not pointing any fingers, even though you sure do seem like a prime suspect, but someone broke it.
It almost starts like an earthquake with how the castle starts to rumble, the sand shaking right beneath your feet. And then the walls right next to you start to cave in followed promptly by the ceiling right… above your head. Oh dear. The sand starts to run and fall, losing its structure and shape. The hallway behind you starts to cave in, ceiling first and then the walls follow suit. Now the sand really is getting everywhere – but not just uncomfortable places. It’s in your hair, your eyes, your nose…. this sure doesn’t seem like a pleasant way to go!
Best to start running – there’s a trusty drawbridge to get over the moat (because what’s a sandcastle without a moat?) but who knows how long until that, too, is going to give way? Best to cross over it before it starts to shake and disappear too. Or if you don’t make it, hopefully you can land some pretty impressive airtime to make it to the other side!
If not, well...there'll be the sensation of sand crushing down upon you, filling your mouth and eyes, and you won't be able to breathe at all – and then you're alive again on the beach (but possibly in yet another new, uncomfortable, skimpy swimsuit). Honestly, be more careful, would you?
PHASE III [ 1200 ] However, once you do make it to the other side, it’s all smooth sailing from there! Or is it? Hah, as they say, life sure can be a beach.
Which is what this is.
Welcome to your Beach Episode, folks. Now that you’ve made it out of the collapsing sand castle, you’ve made it to the luxurious, picturesque golden coastline. Sure, you’re coughing up fine, luxurious, sand dust right now and you’ve definitely gotten sand in all of your crevices thanks to your swimsuit, but that’s okay! Go take a soak in the ocean or something or cool off with a smoothie. There’s a smoothie shack off into the distance, complete with a long chalkboard with… well, probably a few familiar names? And some unfamiliar ingredients. Sounds appetizing right?
That said, once you do ingest some of the smoothie with the name of a newcomer, you might suddenly find yourself feeling a bit… different. You’ll be taking on some of their traits, one of the most intense parts of their personality – or you might need to take a second to sit down because you’re suddenly seeing one of their memories. Whoa. What do they actually put in this stuff?
PHASE IV [ 1500 ] For the brave souls that venture out into the water, you have even more adventures waiting for you. Anyone who’s swimming around, wading in the water—hell, even looking at the water is getting scooped up and deposited in one of these giant orbs. But don’t take up too much room, because someone else is getting shoved right in there with you. Time to get cozy with your new friend, because it's only going to get worse as the waves begin to carry you out into this big, blue, virtual ocean. Hopefully the choppy waves don’t bounce you around too much or – well, you could always get really friendly with a stranger! Why not?
At least until it’s made very clear that fresh air does not make it back into these balls. That seems like a bit of a design flaw. Now what? Fight the other person who’s inhaling all your air? Suffer through it for swimsuit-clad fun? Or if you break it…. well, you sure are stranded out in the ocean. Or are you?
After enough flailing, you’ll be met by a giant, dumb-looking creature who will then eat you whole.
Everything goes dark. This is surely the end --
And then you're in Cerealia proper; it seems that was the exit to the level (but why there?) and you'll find yourself either in one of the fountains or the pond in the park. Either way, you'll be very, very well. And this time, that's not virtual. But hey, at least you'll have all of your stuff with you.
BONUS [ xxxx ] Do you hear that?
Anyone idle on the beach will hear a distant melody coming from further out into the ocean. It’s a beautiful, elegant song that automatically makes the listener stop what they’re doing and immediately wander toward the noise. It takes you a moment to recall – it takes a moment to think about anything now, really – but you remember hearing the smoothie shack owner say something about mermaids populating the beach. Could this be their song calling out to you? Whether you would normally abide by this kind of call or not, you find your feet walking further and further out into the water, the shallows lapping up to your ankles and up and up as you are drawn in by the song.
A rather classic song, though the usual instances of French are also replaced with the very enticing, enchanting nonsense promise of omelette du fromage........and then they try to drown you.
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hakata toushirou | ota!
The fact that he now looks like walking pinecone is a small price to pay really. And some old-fashioned Japanese might mistake him for a different kind of spirit when they see him walking along the beach but that's just as fine!! With this, no one goes to jail. ]
Uuugh, I can still feel the breeze ... !
[ It's fine. ]
Phase III: and how do you pay in childhood anyway
Hey, that's my name!
[ The outburst is sudden and loud, but Hakata - still wearing the leaves - doesn't seem to mind the stares as he dashes towards the chalkboard and takes a closer look at the menu. Hakata(matata) Toushirou. Mix of talent and insecurity? And price is - ]
Your childhood? [ That's not currency! But putting aside how and why though ... ] How am I supposed to buy one if I didn't have a childhood?
[ ... He didn't say he wasn't going to try it. ]
Phase IV: at least the water's nice
Hold on. [ The small boy raises his hand shakily, looking very nervous. ] Before we begin, I need to tell you something ...
[ He sounds just as nervous, if not more. ]
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i!
Once he can see those famous red glasses, his hand FLIES to his chest again. Ichigo would have had a heart attack seeing one of his brothers like this and well since he's not here, Mikazuki has it in place of him. More or less. He hurries to secure a towel from...well, anywhere and swaddle the tantou up into it. ] Hakata-kun! The palm leaves were innovative, nicely done. However -- let's use this for now, yes?
1/2
He's honestly amazed that it appeared out of nowhere. Surely the game couldn't be this nice. No way. Then he notices the arms and looks up to see their owner. ]
Ah.
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[ Well, he certainly wasn't expecting to see one of the oldest swords here of all places! He accepts the towel gratefully now, knowing fully well that it was given to him with good intentions. ]
Y-Yeah, a towel is much better ... ! Thank you so much. [ beaming! ]
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Did you just get here, Hakata-kun? [ He'll dust a bit of sand off of the tantou while he's at it...good thing it didn't look like he was crushed under that sand castle from earlier -- ]
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i!
Except no okay, Kashuu will just - pause in his collection of towels for the moment (because he also needs to cover up and he needs OVER TWENTY TOWELS TO DO IT RIGHT), because that little koropokkuru sure leaves behind a familiar feeling.]
—Hey! Hey, wait a second!
[COME BACK SMALL GNOME, Kashuu's speed stat has taken a hit since he's wrapped up in so many towels but he'll pursue anyway.]
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[ Luckily, Hakata heard Kashuu and stopped in his tracks to check what all this noise is about. Unluckily, Kashuu looks like a pile of towels with legs, and Hakata immediately assumes the defensive stance (aka please I don't have any lunch money).
Huh? But this feeling ... ]
E-Excuse me, is somebody in there?
[ It feels very familiar! ]
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Except no, he'll stop nyooming at poor Hakata like a menace long enough to take the towel around his head off, leaving it draping across his shoulders like a shitty scarf instead.]
It's me, it's me! [HUFFS.] Geez... I could barely even recognize you back there. Here—
[Taking one of his Many Towels and throwing it Hakata's way.]
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IV
At least, Yamato had to think, he wasn't stuck here with a stranger. Even if the situation was dire.
Actually, probably because the situation was dire. But Hakata seemed far more nervous than he did, so he looked inquisitively over at him when he spoke.]
What is it, Hakata Toushirou?
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[ The tantou isn't sure if the taller sword would have a favorable answer, but he does have more worldly experience than him. Perhaps he might know. ]
Can you swim?
[ Because Hakata sure can't. ]
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[Well, if he knew that he thought he had more worldly experience and was therefore cool and smart, he might have taken the question better, but...]
Who do you think I am? Some river sword?
[He'll just cast shade on Kashuu instead. Because he sure as hell can't swim either.]
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III
[There's a Sayo approaching Hakata, looking up at the chalkboard. He looks both confused and intrigued by the menu. Yes, he's wary as well. But some of the drinks do sound interesting.]
And I don't know how someone can give their childhood away as payment.
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[ Hakata greets his friend with a little sigh. Since they're both perpetually young and probably remain that way, they would naturally ask that kind of questions. Ah, the human ways. ]
I know. It's really confusing. Although - [ Hakata pauses, resting his chin on his hand. ] I guess you can pay in "childhood" by sharing stories from it.
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[Does Sayo have to retell his bloody tale of revenge to someone...]
iii
Perhaps they want some sort of physical representation of a childhood?
[Thank you fox.]
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Wah, Uncle - ... I mean, Nakigitsune! So you are here too!
[ But his initial surprise is quickly replaced with joy. They might be not be the closest pair in Awataguchi school, but Hakata glad to see him nonetheless! ]
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Yes! We're glad to find a fellow Awataguchi here, after so long. [Despite the situation, that is...Not that they're all that bothered by it, in comparison with some other swords, but!]
Good to see you.
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i
[Thankfully, in his own opinion, Naoki's moved past the horribly embarrassed phase and into the weary of life phase. He also found a towel to wrap around his hips so there you go. Champion right here. Less pineconey champion, at least.]
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But yes, Hakata is starting to feel that weary of life phase coming on too. ]
Yeah, you're right ... Maybe I should think about the good points instead.
[ He's drawing blank at the moment but give him a second. ]
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1!!
It's only when he sees the smaller child wandering about that he'll give pause. He can sense that the other is a spirit but he's from a period before Hakata's introduction. ] You are...a spirit, correct?
[ Kousetsu doesn't know he's a sword yet but he'll always offer a helping hand to a fellow spirit in need! ]
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Oh, you're Sayo's big brother, Kousetsu-san, right?
[ When Sayo mentioned that some of their comrades were also in Cerealia, he didn't know what he expected, but he certainly wasn't expecting to see Kousetsu. There is something odd about imagining the quiet man strolling the beach with a towel around his hips. About the question though ... ]
Geez! What are you saying. Of course I'm a spirit. I'm one of Toushirous, remember?
[ What an strange thing to ask. ]
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ii
[ Hey small businessman, it's another tantou. The small menace tengu to be more specific, wrapped in a towel (because he'd rather not get people in trouble either) and sitting with a drink. They don't have Ima-garita-notsurugis though, so what does he have in his hands?
Well, it's very brightly colored in shades of golden orange and red, with some blue decorations. Oh, and its topped with a flag bearing a familiar crest... Hakata musing on how to get this particular drink with that "currency" probably makes for quite a few questions on how Ima got one. But here he is, holding it out for his fellow tantou. ]
These drink servings are quite plentiful, do you want to try some?
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I-Imanotsurugi!
[ He is happy to see his tantou friend, he really is. But the drink he is holding ... there is no doubt it's the one with his name. He points at it, bewildered. ]
I would love to, but how did you ... ?
[ He couldn't have bought it, right? ]
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phase iii
Instead he just eyes Hakata when the other speaks up like that. Seems like a new person if they're still freaking out so much about this stuff, huh? He figures he can at least reassure them a little that they don't have to give up their childhood, even if the last part of that statement is.. weird... ]
You really want to buy one that bad?
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Well, I wouldn't risk my life savings, but ...
[ Look, he doesn't have many things with his name on it okay. Not specifically him anyway. ]
Isn't it natural to be curious about something with your name on it?
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