PHASE I [ ?? ?? ] This time, ViViD is a deathtrap.
There is random magma everywhere, monsters will spawn at random, and at some points, the game is entirely unplayable. It’s like the dev team totally disappeared mid-constructing the level.
Oh wait, that’s exactly what happened.
Monsters may spawn on top of you, you may suddenly be standing in a poisonous bog, you may suddenly lose your powers, or your senses, or so many different things --
It’s time to get out of here, ASAP.
Thankfully, the exit is obvious. Like. Blindingly obvious. It’s got a big sign over it that says EXIT
And just like that, you’ll be out of ViViD and --
PHASE II [ 0830 ] When you wake up (and it’s strange, because you were sure that you were logging out just a second ago), it’s in a pile of bodies.
They’re cold, but not in the same sense that a dead body would be cold. While they are lifeless and look incredibly real, they don’t feel real. They feel like dolls, mannequins, empty models and nothing more. Their code doesn’t seem to be functioning right.
And what some characters may realize upon looking at this pile of bodies is that they are all of the characters who were sacrifices before. Any character that was dropped who had a high magical or spiritual affinity is there in that pile of bodies, lifeless and eyes blank and vacant. Even you might be there, staring at your own dead body -- but it isn’t real It can be touched, but it’s really nothing more than a lifeless body.
You’ll have to crawl out of that pile of bodies to get anywhere, and then you’ll realize -- you’re in the Sanctuary, a building built by the characters as a safe place from CERES. And it’s looking pretty run-down at this point. The technology in it no longer functions, there is no security on it whatsoever…
Oh, and now there’s a pile of bodies. Great.
PHASE III [ 1000 ] There’s also a robot.
It’s wandering from place to place, though it’s impossible to follow. One second it’s there, the next it’s just gone.
Also, it’s wearing this. Weird.
But even with that on its face, the robot seems focused on one thing in particular. In fact, it has a sign, and it says:
Down with CERES. Up with Robots.
That’s a happy, cheerful message. If you try to go up to it to talk to it, it will look at you before...bonking you on the head with the sign and running off. That’s incredibly rude.
Alternatively, you may be safe and sound in your home, but then the doorbell rings, and there’s the robot again. The duck mask is gone, but now instead it has a pin on his fake lapel, and then he’s shoving a pamphlet at you.
He tips his hat, and then he’s gone. Weird.
(Also, if you hold onto the pamphlet, it will lead you directly to the person whose picture is on it, and you’ll feel like you’ve known them and have loved them for years.)
PHASE IV [ 1245 ] But not all is fun and games and shenanigans. There is something...well, strange happening, and the first real realization of that will be when it starts to rain. More than just the localized rain that a few unfortunates have dealt with -- no, it’s raining completely and totally, and that’s when it might hit you.
For the first time in Cerealia, there’s weather.
It’ll rain for a few hours, and then it’ll stop and become hot and sunny. It may get humid, considering it’s a jungle planet. At night, it’ll get rather cold.
Seems like whatever was keeping Cerealia’s atmosphere stable is now gone -- which also means that characters may start to occasionally experience headaches, nausea and dizziness if they go too close to the walls. It seems safer in the center of the city, and the Residential District is still okay, but… there’s no doubt that the planet’s atmosphere is starting to encroach on the city.
BONUS [ why o'clock ] But who cares about all of that? More importantly, you are here in this… totally not shoddy city to have fun, and it’s still being advertised as a pleasure colony. Or, well, it would be if, you know, CERES was still around.
But close enough.
And as a pleasure colony, it would figure that the first robots to really get fixed are...well, the Pleasure District robots. Unfortunately, the Pleasure District is still a nice big mess, so now they’re wandering the entire colony, looking for people they can hug, massage or...try to drag into more explicit activities.
Welcome to Cerealia!
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no subject
But Kashuu is pretty accommodating so as long as Enishi isn't dripping on him, he doesn't mind scooting over a little to give him some room to dry off. Hair like that looks like it'd be a pain to get soaked in rainwater, anyway...]
Nah, but he should be easy to find. There aren't really a lot of animals around here. [Especially after The Great Cybuddy Mass Death.] ...I guess I could help you look, if you want.
[He guesses. But he doesn't want a dog to be wandering around in this torrential downpour either... What if it catches a dog cold??]
no subject
Huh, really? This place is really big... I think I almost got lost. Hahhh~... This is soo much trouble. Especially in all this rain.
[ More whining, of course. Also, Enishi may or may not be actually lost too. Where did you come from, where did you go... Where did you from, cotton eyed Koro... ]
That'd be great! Do you know this place better than me? If anything, I can totally repay you back later, or something.
[ With what? That's the mystery to find out... After. ]
no subject
Usually it doesn't rain around here, but you showed up at a weird time. ["Everything's going to shit welcome to the city new friend" and other stories.]
I've been here for over a year, so I can help, but I'll be keeping you to that! You better not forget, okay? I won't let you.
[What happened to helping strangers out of the kindness of one's heart??]
...But first I wanna dry off a little more. If I stay out in the rain, I'm gonna rust.
no subject
Oh, uh... Sure. Mhm. I won't forget!
[ He sounds so... True to himself. Kashuu is in for a big surprise because repaying someone is basically maybe dragging them to a bar...
Do you think Enishi can push the tab onto Kashuu like he does with Sakyou? An important question, honestly. ]
Well, I don't exactly know about rusting... [ what a weird way to say something. ] But unless you have an umbrella you're going to get wet no matter what?
[ Silently hoping that Kashuu will be like "hey, I DO have an umbrella!" because Enishi is tired of rain... But Koro? Gotta find the dog. ]
no subject
Good!
[HE'LL REMEMBER. He also won't pick up the tab because unlike Sakyou, there is not a single polite bone in this shitpunk's fake body.]
Anyway, I'd definitely rust! And I don't have any umbrellas 'cause it's never rained here and I'm not one of Maris's. [Which probably makes no sense BUT HE ALSO DOESN'T EXPLAIN.] Maybe we can just take one.
no subject
Now it's a challenge. It's time to put Try To Get Free Booze plan number 1 into action... After they find Koro, of course. ]
That's like saying you're going to melt! You're not even making sense.
[ AAAAAAAAA Kashuu stop saying weird things? Kashuu you're not made of sugar, you won't melt in the rain???
HE SIGHS... Oh, well. ]
I just hope Koro isn't getting into trouble... Making me do all this work, [ another... Dramatic sigh because Enishi is Like That. ] I wonder what got into him...
no subject
WOW THOUGH... Wow!! Let him rest?! His wallet isn't big enough to sustain them both!]
I didn't say melt, I said rust. Big difference! You can't be that rough with metal, you know?
[Don't just go shoving it into the rain all willy-nilly, gosh.]
Anyway, he might just be confused 'cause this place is smelly and weird and awful. [It sure confuses him sometimes. ANYWAY--] Help me look for a tarp or a blanket or something that we can use while we're walking in the rain, 'kay?
no subject
Also it's too late... The plan is in Action. Well, maybe at least? Either way, Kashuu has dug himself a grave with one mistake: Enishi. ]
Yeah, yeah I heard you. That still doesn't make any sense, who rusts in the rain?
[ Unless Kashuu is talking about his sword, like of course he noticed that but... Kashuu is speaking in a weird first person then?
Well, whatever! WHATEVER!!! But ugh, work. Enishi looks really unmotivated to look for this trap or blanket. You can see it, in his eyes... in his face...
He's already soaked, what's the point of even trying to cover yourself now! ]
Are we really going to find something like that lying around?
no subject
He's regretting his Enishi mistake already, though... Even if honestly none of this is Enishi's fault?! It's not his fault it's raining or that Kashuu offered to help look for his dog! It's not his fault he doesn't understand weird sword lingo! Kashuu's just salty.]
A sword tsukumogami does, duh.
[A HUFF... Why is he like this.
But apparently he just thinks that's good enough, since he moves right along and starts skirting along the edge of the building to look for any of the said items.]
Prooobably! At least a tarp, anyway. I mean, shops throw those things over their tables sometimes after closing for the night, right?
no subject
Also consider this. SO ANYWAY!!!! ]
Eh, what? Tsukumogami?
[ Mmhm... Yep. That sure is a thing.
Hmm... ... ... Okay. ]
Okay, alright. [ Yeah. Have fun rusting Kashuu. ] Let's see, I think while I was walking I passed by some booths. Just a bit down there, yeah?
[ Motioning a bit down the road. Good enough directions, right? ]
no subject
ALSO, RUDE.
And that's rude too. He can tell when he's just being humored for the sake of being humored! He mumbles something under his breath and it's probably also rude, but--]
Okay, let's check there first. Maybe your dog was smart and ran for better shelter, anyway.
no subject
Koro is a super smart dog, he's usually good at listening but...
[ He can only guess so many possibilities why that dog ran off? Oh, well. Hopefully, Koro is staying in shelter at one place and not running around continuously. That would make their search much more difficult. ]
There it is, there it is! This is what you wanted to use, right? Hmm... [ So there's a little booth that indeed has a tarp over it... Enishi does grab it and lifts it just a bit to inspect it.
He almost feels bad taking it because it's someone's store?? At least, it's the most likely guess that it is. Surely, he can just bring it back but.. Well, hopefully this won't bite them in the ass later! Enishi picks it up and holds it over his head. ]
Mhmm... Mhm. Now, with this, you won't rust. Right?
[ He probably sounds like he's teasing Kashuu for saying he's a sword that'll rust in the rain, but maybe he's being really genuine about his rusting worry? That's up for Kashuu to decide. ]
no subject
ANYWAY. Enishi has now redeemed himself in Kashuu's eyes. He'll move to huddle up under the tarp too, grateful for the break from the Eternal Rain that's been coming down pretty much non-stop. When will they be free...]
Now I won't rust!
[Apparently he's taking that concern at face value too, looking very reassured about his... not rusting.]
Let's move that way first, 'kay? And if we don't find your dog, we'll just double back and check the alleys on the other side.
[ONWARD MARCH.]
no subject
BUT HEY, Kashuu thought he was being genuine (APPARENTLY?!) so that's a first! ]
Okay, okay~
[ AND SO THEY MARCH. Enishi keeps an eye out for anything that moves, anything that is also dog-like! Though, so far, there isn't really much. ]
Hmm... How difficult. There's not that many people out and Koro is such a peoples person. Haa... I wonder when this awful weather will let up.
no subject
I dunno about that, honestly. We've, like... never actually had rain here before. Pretty much ever.
[Isn't that good news!! Enishi's presence just brought the rain down upon their heads, clearly. Good work, Enishi.]
Is he one of those dogs that hates water? Maybe he's hiding out under a cart or maybe he got into a shop somewhere.
no subject
Ohh.. I see. Hmm! You know what they say, a man looks so good the water drips right off of him! Hahaha--
[ Yes, Kashuu totally walked into that one. ]
Aha... Oh, but Koro loves water! He doesn't mind getting down and dirty when he has to, but after running for awhile he will settle down and sleep.
no subject
Uh. I've never actually heard that before. Did you just make it up right now?
[Giving him a look that might be mildly judgmental just because Enishi, why.]
But if that's the case, maybe he's already tired so he wouldn't hear you calling for him.