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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i'm hype ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
the sudden weight against his back was startling, especially since that was how he woke up: with something pressing against his back. but this was different. it felt... familiar. not quite enough to jar him out of his swaying, but enough for him to at least feel at ease with the prospect of fainting...
his eyes started to droop, but then he was turned around and... barely, just barely, he could focus on the face of the kind soul who was keeping him upright. ]
Aah... y-you...
[ keigo squinted and brought a hand up to his head, pressing his palm to his temple. he wanted to react, but pulling focus was difficult. he knew that face!! but his vision was tunneling... ]
Y-you're here...
I THOUGHT I RESPONDED AAAAH
( He gives Keigo a light shake, trying to get him to snap out of his daze and focus properly. )
Ya know me from the first time ya got here, remember?
( He feels like he's losing Keigo, though, and while he doesn't want to yell (and he certainly tries not to) he says loudly and sharply, )
Look at me. Ya're gonna be okay but ya gotta pull it together. Ya've been here before and ya know how things work here.
( They're all tricks. Messed up tricks because everything is messed up. )
IT'S ALL GOOD
but that niggling sensation at the back of his eyes made it difficult to drift off. yes, he knew him... he knew who he was. mutsu's aggressive voice certainly helped and keigo sucked in a sharp breath in an attempt to regain more clarity.
it helped a little. his vision was slowly trickling back to normal, the tunneling tapering off. he lifted his head and obeyed the command, staring directly at mutsu until his face was clear in his eyes. ]
You're... Mutsunokami-san... You're still here...
[ a small, relieved smile curled at his lips. at least it was someone (somewhat) familiar. ]
no subject
( He nods, and begins to lessen his hold on Keigo. It's just enough for him to stand on his own but close enough he can grab onto him quickly if he has to. )
Long time no see, right, Keigo-kun?
( And he gives Keigo a smile, )
We gotta stop meeting like this. Can't ya get into trouble at a ramen shop instead?
no subject
still. the mental image lingered. keigo shook his head, rubbing his face with his palms. ]
Y-yeah, hahaha... I didn't think I'd ever see you again.
[ at least, not in this place. with a puff of a laugh, he tried his best to smile. even if he was a little shaken up still, having someone friendly helped. ]
I think that'd be too cliche for me.
no subject
( But now that it looks like Keigo is recovering properly, )
Let's get outta here.
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Well, no. Honestly, I'm relieved to see you.
[ a familiar face was always welcome! well, unless it was someone who was rude to him, that is. ]
Where should we go, anyway?
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Outta here for starters.
( And he's just going to start leading the way out of the Sanctuary. It's incredibly hot and humid outside-- sun burning down on them as soon as they step out. What's up, Keigo, did you know Cerealia has weather now? )
no subject
I don't... remember it being this hot last time...