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!
[ Remember to apply proper warnings on threads with sensitive or inappropriate material and do let a mod know if your thread careens off into maiming or canoodling so we can lock the log. ] |
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no subject
None of us did.
[But why is he snapping his fingers in his face? He can hear it really close, and kind of feel Kane's hand in front of his nose to swat at it, but...
Oh. Oh, right, it must be weird for him that he's not looking at him. And now for the first time Yamato regrets not being able to see anything, because he's certain the reaction will be priceless when he does actually open his eyes without warning.
You asked for it?]
What do you want, Izuminokami Kanesada? Why are you snapping at me?
[Normal questions.]
no subject
The current conversation is cut very short, however, when Kanesada's actions have their desired effect. Well, desired isn't exactly the best word in hindsight because what the hell is going on.
Yasusada opens his eyes, but...but there's nothing there.
They're just empty sockets.
Kanesada inhales sharply, eyes widening, and he takes an unsteady step back. Look, after waking up in a mountain of dead not!bodies and seeing part of your own in said mountain, this shouldn't be too much of a surprise, but it's still really unsettling. Even more so because Yasusada is a comrade and this sort of thing just should not be happening.]
What...Your eyes...
no subject
But Yamato gives Kanesan just enough time to react and let it really sink in before shutting his eyes again (dust and air make them itchy and dry and that's no good...), ready to respond, and sounding bored with it, like he's made the same explanation multiple times by now.]
What about them? I took them out, and our saniwa hasn't been around to give me repairs yet. [Like that's... normal...?]
wow check out that fabulous html fail
Unlike Yams' self-surgery story. His explanation doesn't make Kanesada feel any better, nor does it really explain anything, and he's left standing there still unsettled and still very unsure.
He takes a moment more to recover, and while he gathers up some semblance of his usual speech, his voice is quieter.]
You can't just take them out, you need those.
[Too late for those words of wisdom, oopsies.]
...i didnt even notice at the time oops
That said, that's exactly the explanation he'll be getting - more or less - in exchange for such poignant words of wisdom.]
I know I do, but weird things were happening and it fixed it for me.
[Never mind it would have fixed itself, he still doesn't know that.]
.....i said nothing you saw nothing
...Where's Aruji?
[Please return from the hiatus war and sAVE THEM]
nope no take backsies, Ive seen aaaaaall now
No one knows. He should be at home, but he isn't.
[When will Haru return from the hiatus war... the real questions...]
noooooooooo I've made a horrible mistake
Then where is -
[No, crap, now he's talking in circles. This is stupid, this is all stupid, and nothing makes sense, and Yasusada has no eyeballs, and why is this so weird.
He rubs his hands down his faaace.]
kukuku
Dunno.
[Gosh, Kane, weren't you paying attention? Jeez. Does he have to hold your hand or something?
...Actually, that's probably a good idea, what with the while not-seeing thing. Not that he'll suggest anything like that.]
What were you doing before you got here?
[Just gonna. Change the subject to home. NBD.]
no subject
We were out on sortie.
[You know, nothing out of the norm.]
Why'd you take your eyes out?
[Because that's still such a bad idea what the hell]
no subject
And ugh don't! Change the subject back! Jeez, not fair.]
Because, Izuminokami Kanesada, this place put machines in them that were making everything... strange. So I had to take them out.
[No?? It was the best idea???]
...They're probably in yours, too, if you need help...
no subject
No?!
[Why is thiiiis]
I like my eyes where they are just fine, thanks.
no subject
Okay, but you should probably know that whoever brought us here can spy on us through the things they put in there.
[An emphatic nod!]
And they can control our bodies, and how they function... do you want that, Izuminokami Kanesada?
no subject
Which, of course, becomes a mistake, because now he just feels gross and his skin starts to crawl and it's like he's been violated and he can't escape and -
No, no, no...!
He rubs his hands up and down his arms, as if that will dispel all the bad vibes, ugh YAMS YOU'RE THE WORST??]
Stop, stop, stop!
no subject
It's not a mistake. He should feel gross and skin-crawly and violated and like he can't escape because that's exactly the truth.
All of it.]
Ahh? Why, Izuminokami Kanesada? They're watching you be super uncool right now, you know. They'll see every uncool moment. And they'll record it. They'll show Aruji if they want to.
no subject
IMPLY
THAT'S HE'S UNCOOL don't betray him like this
Have some hands on your shoulders, Yams. Have some hands on your shoulders suddenly turning you in the opposite direction and giving you a little shove.]
Go away. Shoo.
[Don't mind that slight tremor in his voice. He's totally not concerned by what you've just said, absolutely not, nuh uh.]
no subject
Gonna imply he's uncool.
Gonna mash that betray button like there's no tomorrow like the punk he is.
But wow that spin around was kind of disorienting, thanks Kanesan, so there's a little stumble in his step after the shove but... He definitely turns right back around to keep being a terror.]
They could even show you being super uncool to Hijikata Toshizou if they wanted.
[Because there's at least one there. Spoilers?]