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
If you wait a minute, I'll go get you a towel. I saw a rack of them around the corner.
[She really doesn't want to see your ass, Yoosk. It's not that she doesn't think you're sweet, and you could look pretty alright in the proper lighting but your backside...it's got to be white as driven snow, and the last thing anyone needs is for the Riders of Rohan showing up when they see sunlight glittering off it. Gondor does not require aid this day.]
And yes, it is a game. The point of it is probably to humiliate us all though. Just a second.
[Rei slips off around the corner and starts shuffling through a few things in a supply closet before returning bearing just what the doctor ordered. A big, white beach towel covered in cartoon ducks.]
This should help.
no subject
A towel rack? [ That sure is hope in his eyes and in his voice! ] Yeah! That'd be great, oh man. Thank you.
[ Best news he's heard so far. He waits patiently, and by that we mean a little anxiously and making sure he keeps his back to the wall. Of course, when she reappears he lights up until he sees the design. ]
Ye--
[ ...Ducks? There's a pause before he gives a breathy laugh and accepts the towel. ]
Eh heh heh...Beggars can't be choosers, right? [ He wraps it carefully around himself. He'll deal with the duck skirt, much better than his ass hanging out. ] Thanks, you're a lifesaver.
no subject
The other choice was kittens. I guessed ducks would be better.
[That's all she has to say on the matter, though. She'll just smile somberly and nod her head back the way she'd come.]
I do try to help my friends. A towel is hardly a big deal, but you're quite welcome.
[Spinning half in place, she starts walking with the confidence of someone that knows where they're going. There's an odd feeling here, and she doesn't like it.]
Let's...get out of this castle. I'm having a really uncomfortable premonition, and knowing ViViD it's not a place we want to be.
no subject
They're cute, really.
[ They sure beat going bare-assed, that's for sure.
He crosses his arms, feeling more comfortable already. ]
Oh yeah, this is supposed to be a game, huh?
[ Yosuke falls into step behind her, already trying to work out what the level goal must be. ]
So...does that mean there's a boss we've gotta defeat somewhere in this castle?
no subject
[Walking, she keeps her senses peeled and starts focusing more on the source of that troubling, nagging little doubt.]
No. I don't feel an enemy. I think...maybe the goal is escape.
[And to confirm that, there's a rumbling sound deeper in the castle, sand jarring loose from the ceiling.]
...In fact, I'm certain of it. Come, quickly.
no subject
[ Thousands of different games? Does that mean that the desert from before was something different entirely? The whole sand theme isn't lost on him, but still. ]
"Don't feel an enemy"? You can sense them?
[ Like Rise? That's actually pretty handy. He knows that Rise could be around here somewhere, she had been in the desert, but...
Oh, oh yeah he felt that. ]
!
[ He looks up just in time to get some sand on his face. Yosuke shakes his head not unlike a dog before gently smacking it off of his forehead. ]
--Yeah!
[ Refocusing his gaze on Rei, he trots to catch up. ]
Can you tell what caused that?
no subject
I'm psychic. I can feel emotions and danger. And right now we are in a lot of danger.
[Yanking his hand, she starts to run, and far faster than a girl as short as her should.]
Someone may have destabilized the whole thing. We've got to hurry.
no subject
The castle's coming down?? Shit.
[ That's probably the worst thing that can happen when you're inside it. ]
There're other people in here too!
no subject
That's why I'm going to do what I can to give them a chance to escape. Or at least knows the way.
[She looks back at him with a quick smile, and a nod.]
Please don't freak out. I'm going to cast a spell.
[And that's when the magic happens. A stream of fire lashes out of Rei's extended palm, taking the shape of an arrow and darting down the halls to form a kind of beacon towards the exit.]
no subject
Except, she's not exactly setting things on fire. She's lighting the way in a very literal sense. ]
Whoa...that's pretty cool!
no subject
I thought so. It's just a little trick I learned from a friend. Now, let's get out of here. I want to be clear before it collapses.
[They're rounding a corner towards the drawbridge, light spilling into the castle.
Will they make it?!]
no subject
Must've been some friend.
[ A neat trick, regardless. The castle around them shakes again and Yosuke has to wonder just what decided to suddenly dismantle it? Bits of sand begin to crumble and break free from the ceiling. Another tremor. ]
Shit!
[ If that isn't the exit, it's a window. And they can certainly make it out a window. Of course, it couldn't be that easy. To their left, a wall suddenly explodes inwards. ]
Hino-san!
no subject
[So old, powerful, wise. A little crazy but...eh.
Rei's already reacting to the warning shout, releasing Yosuke and jumping forward. She can't roll without taking him too and she trusts he'll react quickly enough to avoid it.]
Out the window! Quick!
[She vaults out onto the window-sill, keeping her balance and waiting for him. It's not a long drop to safety, but she won't leave him behind.]
no subject