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
[He laughs again, mostly joking, but her movement brings his attention to the tail he's only just noticed. He was too busy splashing around before, but it's impossible to miss now.]
You know, when you said you were a fish person, I didn't think you literally had fins or anything.
[He looks back up at her face, grinning like he's found something great and is about to rub it in someone's face.]
That's really cool. But didn't you have legs before?
no subject
[She splashes at him a little with her tail and sits up a little straighter; she's really proud of her tail, okay?] Did have legs, yes! Can remove tail and put it back, as needed. But, it does not do to have tail much in the city. Can not walk through the city with tail.
[Oona sighs deeply and runs a hand down the scales with a pout] It is a shame, really.
no subject
Hey, don't get mad about it! I've just never seen one before, okay? The closest thing I can think of is my sister, and even she still had legs...
[Oh, ugh, splashing again. He puts up a hand to keep it out of his eyes, but the smile stays steady.]
And it's not like you can swim through the streets here. Not unless they build canals through the whole town, just for you. Too bad, though; it'd be way more interesting if you could.
no subject
Ahh, they should, they should! Rivers through everything! Before, a while ago, the whole city was flooded. It was so great! Now it is boring and dry again.
[Wait hold on rewind he said something interesting. She tilts her head.] Your sister? Why would your sister be the closest thing?
no subject
[Look at what you've done, Kouha. You've probably made the monster worse. (Because like hell did he create her, she was already bad.)
At her question, he blinks a bit, trying to think of how to explain it without using too many terms unique to his world.]
Yeah, she can grow fins here and on her legs.
[He gestures to his forearms, where short and durable fins might grow, if that were his djinn's inclination. Lucky him, he just becomes a gemstone magical girl instead of a fish.]
She can control water, fly, that kinda thing. It's magic, you know? But she's totally human.
no subject
[She looks intrigued at least.] Magic? Yes, know of magic, of course, but that is not magic I know of, exactly. [it's probably not too far-fetched though, but she looks rather pleased.] Even if human ,she has good taste in magic then!
[because obviously the fins and water manipulation means she's the better of the siblings Oona is now aware of.] And what can you do? [because clearly there must be something]
no subject
It's not exactly her magic. It's like... she has a partner, and the partner's kinda like a mermaid and gives her those powers? And I can do it, too, but it's got a kinda different result...
[He runs a hand through his hair, groaning to himself. Explaining it this way is so annoying. There has to be a better way.]
Ugh, it's too hard to explain simply! You want me to just show you mine, instead?
no subject
Oona just squints at him, his explanation not really making sense to her. Why would a mermaid partner with a human and give her a bunch of power?? None of this makes sense!!
So his offer has her perking up with interest and she nods enthusiastically] Yes, yes! Show! I want to see! [She scoots closer and leans in, eyes wide with excitement}
no subject
Who could say no to such a captive audience? Kouha sure won't, so he shoots her another smile as he gets to his feet and takes a step backwards.]
Don't get to close, alright? Things are gonna get a little...
[He searches for the word as he grabs for the sword he'd left on the beach after Oona yanked him down.]
Sharper in a minute. Leraje!
[He skips the usual chanting, because he generally doesn't need it, and gets right to the point. Crystals start growing out of his skin at a rabid rate, and with a flash of light and some sparkles, a new Kouha appears, complete with wings and a scythe. Impressed yet, Oona?]
Like I thought, it's way easier just to show you. You get the idea now?
no subject
[She practically descends upon him the minute the light disappears, running her hands against his arms and the gems, touching and poking at him.] So pretty... It does not hurt? Ah, I want this! No fair!
[But she's smiling as she says it, utterly delighted by this New and Improved Kouha(TM)] I want to be this pretty and, ehh... sparkly!
no subject
Nah, it doesn't hurt at all, as long as you aren't yanking parts off or anything.
[Which wouldn't be an easy thing to do, given how hard the crystals are to hold onto and how deeply embedded they are. He flexes his shoulders, moving the wings a bit to prove his point.]
Too bad, though. I can't share it like that! It only works for one person.
no subject
Why not? Is hardly fair. So selfish, stingy! [Her fingers rub over a gem on his arm and she sighs heavily, before leaning in slightly to examine his face as well.]
Hmm~ You are more good-looking like this as well. Should always stay like this.
no subject
Doesn't work that way! Leraje only does it for me. You'd have to get your own djinn back in my world.
[He's not going to get into the Household Vessel thing, because it's complicated and unlikely to happen for her this early. He'll save that for later, if she asks.]
It'd be pretty cool to stay this powerful for as long as you want, right? But it's got a time limit, so I'll go back to normal in a little while.
[His grin widens, and he shoots her a wink.]
I'll take that as a compliment, though~!