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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Tenten | ota
[She's still stuck in some bright green stringed disaster of a bathing suit, but the important bits are mostly covered and she'd had little issue escaping the crumbling castle so things could be worse. Probably. They could definitely be better but she's safe and the "weather's" nice and a moment to collect herself and snoop around is appreciated.
No one's going to pay the two orphan souls for the weird drink apparently named after her (she hopes, you weirdos) but the board is good for something at least- she recognizes several of the names listed and feels the first twinge of excitement she can remember since ending up in this place. People from home.
Her eyes are peeled and so are her arms, that floaty thing is dumb and quickly left behind.]
Phase IV
[She's not terribly bothered by the cramped conditions- so long as she's not getting sat on or felt up. But it's a liiiiitle claustrophobic and she's been stuck in a water prison bubble before and it is not fun so she might be trying to pop the stupid thing and take her chances running outside on top of the water instead.
It makes sense, really.
But she's not totally unreasonable, if her unwilling survival partner complains enough about her idea she'll stay in the stupid bubble and not risk drowning them. Killing someone day one is way more trouble than it's worth.
Fat lot of good it does, since they're getting eaten anyway.]
[Upon exiting she'll land sprawled out in a fountain. Screaming and cursing.
Her scrolls are getting wet :c
Help a sister out. Get her a towel. Jeez.]
Wildcard
any of the above /o/ feel free to hit me up!
Phase IV
Tenten!! It is you! I am do happy!! ...Ah, what were you just saying?
[At least the cramped space and an awareness of what they are wearing holds him back from going for the hug.]
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But there are still some miracles left in this world- she's thankful he's keeping to his side of the bubble and that neither his hands or his eyes are making a shady move.
She can't really look away from the shell cup bra herself, though.]
What are you wearing?! Don't those hurt?
[Okay, maybe her original statement had been more along the lines of a scream as a flailing green wild beast materialized over her and made the already tossed around container bounce around some more.
But she's surprised. So... she's asking stupid questions, instead of revisiting the screaming or working out an escape plan.]
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It- it is an unusual suit that the game forced me into! To be honest, ah... They do chafe very much! But it is just another burden to bear...
[They can get trapped in a loop of stupid if they're not careful.]
Are you alright, Tenten?
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His honesty is something she almost wishes she hadn't asked for (and maybe she shouldn't have tossed that floaty thing, maybe they could have cut it up and made... well. nothing better) and she can't help the sigh that escapes her, hands briefly moving up to rub at her face.
Focus! ...Not on that.]
I'm fine. ...Mostly.
[Clearly being stuck in an equally as stupid bathing suit in a giant hamster ball in a choppy ocean was not really fine but she's been in worse and she's not injured so fine will just have to do.]
I don't have my weapons though. Think you can bust this thing and get us out of here?
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His own floatation devices were likely accidentally destroyed at some point in the day's earlier adventures. It's good to hear that Tenten is alright, although it's very unusual to hear about Tenten lacking any weapons. But... that makes sense for this world, he supposes. To take away their strengths so easily... but that just makes Lee more determined to do his part.
Lee's shoulders hunch as he listens to Tenten, and his determination shines in his eyes. Then he responds to her request with a quick nod.]
Ossu! I promise... I will do my very best!
[He then tries to stand as much as he can in the cramped bubble, and with a high-pitched grunt, he punches at the side of the bubble!
...But he did not think that through. Rather than break through the bubble, his attack propels it forward, and as it rolls he's knocked off balance and falls onto his back with a grunt.]
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She had lots of sharp cutting blades! That was her thing! Her thing that would have been perfect for dicing her way to freedom! If only her scrolls hadn't apparently been traded in for a string bikini. Sigh.
Lee's effort was impressive, at least, even if it didn't do them much good and really only amounted in her yelling again as she tried to stay upright and stuck to the side of the moving bubble, hands and feet both lighting up with chakra.
Moving forward! Maybe that was a good thing, the water couldn't go on forever. ...Right?]
What is this thing made of?!?!
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Lee tried to get himself up, but it was tough while the bubble was still moving. And his own efforts to move on all fours just seemed to be pushing the bubble even more.]
I do not know, Tenten!! In a 'game' like this, it can be made of anything! [He thinks quickly as he tries to figure out a bright side to this.]
At least, by moving... Maybe we will find someone who can help!
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Phase III
It wasn't his fault that his gaze just kind of happened to linger on her and the atrocity that was her costume. It was out of fellowship. He'd already found a towel to put around his waist, but he did feel better suddenly knowing. Y'know. That he wasn't alone in his shame (never mind the number of strangers bemoaning their attire all around him; they didn't count). So whether she catches sight of it or not-- the point is, Tenten really shouldn't flatter herself, no matter how much she'd grown.
It was ridiculous, how easily he wanted to give in to the pull of familiarity. So he does. Neji walks up and follows Tenten's gaze to the board and-] Two orphan souls, huh?
[It was doable.]
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SHE CAN ALSO JUST SEAL THE OCEAN UP IF SHE SO DESIRES.]
Maybe I'll trade in you and Lee so I can try it out.
[Was that too mean? Maybe, but his approach and the sound of his voice catches her off guard when it rightly shouldn't (you should be more aware Tenten, pay attention Tenten, I'm still undead Tenten)- and unlike their reactionary teammate she knows he will probably only respond with a scoff of (un)amusement at the terrible things she says. Or feign offense and encourage her to take Sasuke, instead.
If he'd brought her a towel too instead of using his time to fashion a new manskirt she'd almost be inclined to consider him a real pal.]
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[So he was predictable, and now they're even on the "that was probably inappropriate" front and it's just like the old days. And speaking of old days, it'd be entirely too easy to chide her for being so easy to startle (don't try to convince him otherwise), but he holds his tongue-- because that would be crossing a line, apparently.
He only skims through the rest of the names- the stupid puns are making everything hard to read.
So.] You don't have your scrolls with you. [Should that have been a question? He didn't get that good of a look at her, alright. He did try not to stare. How polite.]
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She'd almost wish she did, except that he still has annoying things to say and Tenten ends up the first to huff out a breath.]
Does it look like I have anywhere to store them?
[That's a stupid question- her bracelets for one would have been fine regardless of her state of dress and the others she would have found a way to carry no matter how difficult this place tried to make it.
At this point she would have been content painting seals over the expanse of bared skin she'd been gifted if it meant she could have her stuff back.]
I had them before I ended up in here.
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Neji's not a shy one, honest.] How would I know? [With all the bored inflection she really should have braced for.
If the refreshment stand had been a honest-to-goodness bar, or if CERES were actually halfway competent in anything that they do, now would have been the time he'd have reached for a pretzel or somesuch. Alas. Neji Hyuga's stuck with nothing to fall back on but silence.
He should... try to help.
Gods help him, he almost started saying "when I first got here"--] You'll get them back when you get to the city.
[Because he won't help by giving her his towel; that's stupid.]
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But she just sort of... hums in reply instead, a distracted mhm as she watches his continued attempt to cover himself (neither of her teammates were exactly difficult on the eyes but it's mostly curiosity at the fact he's going out of his way to hide that's keeping her attention).]
Since when are you such a blushing maiden, I've seen you in less.
[Humor was a fantastic way to deal with what she assumes is actually his attempt to cover the scars from the shish kabobing she'd last seen him go through. And maybe that's for the best, Tenten doubted she'd be able to stop herself from staring, to stop an outward reaction at the sight.
But it's way more distracting watching him try to disappear in front of her.]
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Phase IV
Ten-ten-san?
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[She's happy to see him (well, not so much of him, but that couldn't really be helped)- but she'd be a hell of a lot happier if he'd had his supplies with him instead of having his scrolls taken like hers had been.
An ink bird would have been really nice, right about then.]
Any ideas on how to get out of here?
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Where do you want to go?
[ Now that they were in Cerealia proper and not in the virtual world, all his belongings had been returned to him so really, wherever she wants to go, Sai can point the way or fly her there since he remembers the layout of the place from his previous stay. ]
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[What little she could claim as her own in this place was now soaked- but not ruined, at least, as she knew her seals could withstand a little dip in a fountain.
Didn't mean she found any of it pleasant but it could probably be worse.]
Have you seen Lee? He was with me and we got eaten by a whale. Then I ended up here.
[She'd almost laugh at how ridiculous that sounded if she wasn't so busy sighing and crawling her way out of the shallow water.
Should have packed some extra clothes in her scrolls. Regret.]
1/2
[ He answers, though pauses blinking in surprise at that last line. Lee was eaten by a whale? ]
2/2
No. I haven't seen him.
[ A blunt answer. ]
Maybe the whale threw him up. [ He looks at her. ] Where did you last see him?
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[She quiets down for a bit after that, lifting up the hem of her skirt and wringing it out between her hands.
She's wearing shorts. Don't be weird.]
ViViD. I figured he would have been with me when I got out of there.
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phase iii
At least things seem to have settled for a moment with this whole bar thing going on here. The drinks look weird, so he's not touching them - and that's saying something - but he does spot Tenten standing there, staring at the board as if her eyeballs might drop out any moment now.
The least he can do is speak up, he guesses.. ]
Hey, kid. You okay?
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Maybe the bathing suits. Those were pretty bad.
But Tenten was struggling to grasp what this situation meant, what this place, and being here, meant for home. Whether she was actually alive or actually here or would ever even see home again.
She's okay. She's not okay. Ask again later.]
I know some of the people on this list. Does that mean they're here too?
[One thing at a time.]
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[ He glances up at the list, studying the names for a moment as well. He can see some he recognizes-- he did fish Heisuke out of the water earlier, after all. So he turns back to her, giving her a small nod. ]
Can't say it for sure, but some of the names here are definitely people that're here for sure. [ At least it's some hope, right? Shinpachi likes to see the glass half full. At least a little bit. ]
Looking for your friends?
Phase III
Not those buns you pervsAnd with that, Tenten gets a gentle but hesitant tap on the shoulder. Hinata had hesitated at first, not wanting to take her by surprise, but she imagines that one more familiar face could be accepted in such a case.]Tenten...?
[She was glad to see her and she knew Neji and Lee would be as well.]