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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no subject
[ For him, it's sometimes better when some things are spread around more freely. Important information, potential,
(possibly) the ability to summon demons...Things might've turned a bit philosophical here, but he does that. He does that a lot. ]
For me...I find a certain value in being able to influence the masses.
[ Although he'd like to do it in a more subtle manner than Nero's...everything, really. ]
no subject
( ok but will nero get to summon demons? hello!! we can pass that around! but for now, she turns away from the gentleman as she looks back at the board. ) It can't be only that to influence the masses, you must do many things to catch their eye. Even as a drink, a price is one thing but there are various other routes that can be taken for one to even want it.
( besides, she'd know best about this! she is a politician and also an emperor. )
But either way, are you trying to flatter me by stating this price is fitting for me? Or do you have your own goals in mind.
no subject
He listens to her intently though, and lets out a light chuckle at the question. ]
Hm? It was not my original intention, but you are certainly free to take it as such.
[ He...noticeably dodges/avoids the question of whether he has his own goals in mind. ...Honestly, he doesn't, really. He's just here to comment on things and look at all the...interesting...smoothies they've cooked up. ]
no subject
aside from that, he's not fooling anyone. being a heroic spirit, she gives him a glance over before not pushing the matter at all. it has nothing to do with her but his words will not bring her into deep thought, she is a hard cookie to deal with. it seems her new visitor is too busy reading up on the smoothies. )
Which one is your own or will you purchase, if so, I do believe you should hurry. ( and why is that? it seems someone close by has a death wish and wants to order many on the menu. )
no subject
One Nero Claudius-hake, then.
[ He smiles to himself a little as he finishes paying for it (what a nice $2.50), like he just told a joke that nobody but himself will get. With that, he'll hover (yes, hover) a few feet out of the way once his order is taken, allowing the next person to go. ]
no subject
Your act of flight seems obnoxious, either float or walk. There should be no in between. ( and yet, there is but if saiduq looks next to saber, there is a seat that he can sit in to wait for his beverage. )
There was a cheaper drink for you to purchase. ( she has a feeling this man is mocking her, she knows. )
no subject
His expression falls upon hearing that. Is he not likable enough???? Did he do something inappropriate?????? But he quickly tries to regain his earlier composure, polite smile and all, as he floats over to the seat next to her to take a third option, so to speak. He doesn't like dealing in absolutes; they can always be changed. ]
There were several, yes, but consider the purchase of that particular one to be a gesture of me trying to understand you. Haha...
[ It's not mockery!...He simply can't help it that his default facial expression is a sly, suspicious as fuck smile.......... :( ]
no subject
That is much more preferable. ( him sitting down and now not floating or walking, this is ideal! she likes this better. ) Trying to understand me, what ever could you mean by that? I doubt you could and I will not allow you to do so.
( listen!! she has no time for this!! but she will not allow him to play her like this. it's only annoying because he knows of the drinks name and many people can put two and two together, figuring whose name is what or perhaps, the name she has is but an coincidence. )
At most, I believe you're wanting to toy with me.
( turn that :( upside down :) )
no subject
[ Granted, he is also a complete stranger, and a suspicious one at that. He isn't the most trustworthy-looking person. ]