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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III!
But lord... Everything that was in ViViD earlier was just a Bad Time. Hijikata isn't going to get certain images out of his head for several days honestly. BUT... He won't let that get in the way for now because--
Someone is turning the corner right into him!?
OOOOooo... Kanesada why do ya gotta be boo boo the fool... ]
Tch-- Hey!
[ Of course, Hijikata recoils, taking a step back... At least he got a good look at the other guy before he immediately brands the other as an enemy! ]
. . . Seriously... [ but... A familiar face. So he just sighs. ] You should be staying more alert.
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Ah, yeah.
[Kind of dismissive?? Geez, Kanesada.]
Tch, where did it go...
[It's like that robot just vanished into thin air, which is simply preposterous. But everything else today is turning out the same way, so Kanesada shouldn't be surprised.
...This is kind of awkward, though. He knows this is Hijikata...from somewhere. And this place isn't home, but do the same rules apply? Is he allowed to really interact with this Hijikata? Will something change for the worst if he introduces himself?
Aaahhh, this is so confusing. Where is Aruji when he needs hiiiiim.]
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Also the awkward air is just... Really apparent, though Mikazuki has talked to Hijikata about the concept of corruption and whatnot. So maybe it's something like that.
WELL... ]
If you're looking for something, it's probably best to let it go.
Unless it's actually important.
[ Because you know, maybe it was important BUT!!! ] If you're new here, which I'm presuming you are, I suppose I should tell you this place likes to be an asshole to newcomers. Dicking around with them, and stuff like that.
[ not even gonna censor himself here... he's semi salty? ]
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...Thank goodness you didn't see it happen, though, that would have been traumatizing.
So he stands up straighter and crosses his arms over his chest. No time for pouting, no time for tears!
(Not that he was going to cry over this, oh no, that'd be silly.
He'll cry over Hijikata later when he's all alone)]If you think I'm going to let that get to me, you've got it all wrong. I'm made of stronger stuff.
[His pr i d e!!]
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Surprisingly stubborn though... But it's not like Hijikata can really do anything about that because he's just as stubborn as well. Pride is important!
But also Hijikata at least knows when to call it quits - especially in Cerealia. ]
I know that.
[ Izumi is his sword..! One of his most prized swords he earned by supporting and bringing up the Shinsengumi's fame for years! Of course, he's strong. ]
Though, this place is going to force you to chase around useless things forever until you give up. Might as well not waste the time and effort, there are better things to be doing. I think it's time to shift your focus on something else, just saying.
[ who cares about the dumb robot!! ]
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It's almost personal, intimate.
Like he knows exactly who Kanesada is.]
I don't like giving up. It feels wrong.
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Oh, those were the days!
Seeing that stubbornness is almost nostalgic and endearing, he can't help but look like he's about to laugh even in the slightest. Though, he stifles it. ]
Even if the outcome is surely going to make a fool out of you? Come on, stop being hasty and think for a few moments.
[ Mostly because he obviously knows Cerealia enough by now, they're just trying to lead Izumi on a wild goose chase and make a fool out of him. Though, while his tone is meant to be admonishing it also has a hint of teasing to it.
WELL... Hm... Maybe he should just bite the bullet and just say it. ]
However, I should let you know that your comrades are here, by the way. I think it's better to check up on them first instead of chasing something that's a waste of your time. [ That's what a vice commander does, right! ]
Don't worry about anything either, your "rules" don't apply where you are now so you don't have to hide anything.
[ Since Mikazuki did explain the concept of corruption and keeping true to history to him a few weeks ago, he can see why Izumi is trying to keep things a secret... But after being around the swords so much it's pretty safe to say that stuff like such doesn't apply here. ]
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...But Hijikata is right. Sometimes he needs to slow down first.
He frowns. Ughhhhh, now he looks like an idiot in front of Hijikata! A Hijikata who, apparently, knows who he is and what he is, as well as their situation. He feels chastised and it's embarrassing, so he turns away to gather himself up.
It's embarrassing and a lot to take in. Because Kanesada is hiding more than just the fact that he's Hijikata's sword. There are things that he can't tell Hijikata, even if this place nullifies a lot of his secrecy. He can be honest, but only up to a point.
Kanesada smooths his hands over his hair, suddenly self-conscious, and looks down at some of the locks that have draped themselves over his shoulder.
They're tangled. Great. He looks like a mess, on top of everything.]
No...this isn't how I wanted to meet you...
[Too late for that now, though! He sets his jaw and turns to face Hijikata again.]
Forgive me...Hijikata Toshizou.
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Hm. If it makes you feel any better, I met Horikawa by having some kind of hot air balloon crash on the both of us. We probably both looked like idiots as I struggled through the fabric, fell into a puddle, and Horikawa got caught up in a tangle of ropes. Then I thought he took my sword... Sort of.
[ Well, "my" sword, "his" sword. Something like that. It was honestly kind of amusing when that happened, he never thought he'd meet one of his precious swords that way! You know, Cerealia does things like that.
Though, those were... Really good memories! He kind of missed them, and Horikawa was definitely a good sword. He really misses that boy. He can definitely see how these two are alike in some ways. ]
So . . . There's no need to be formal, tt's fine. Izuminokami- I can call you that, right?
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And, of course, it's funny to imagine Kunihiro in a less-than-spectacular situation, especially because compared to his own, Kanesada's probably got the better end of the deal.
He can't help but smile a little bit.]
No, I bet you still managed to look cool, somehow.
[Because it's Hijikata, of course! As for his name, well. He shrugs, trying to appear unaffected, but really he's so happy that any Hijikta would acknowledge him at all. Even if it is still weird to think the rules don't apply here.]
You can call me whatever you want. I was your sword, after all.
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Still, he was a good kid once they got to know each other more. ]
I hope so. It'd be embarrassing to look uncool in front of my own sword, right?
[ Slight sarcasm!
But boy! That's out of the way, he's kind of glad Izumi stopped acting so awkward around him. It was almost kind of weird to an extent!? Though, it's understandable if he's new and confused, basically.
But a gesture to his hip. Look his own Izuminokami and Horikawa is right there! ]
Still am, at least for a little while I hope. I'm not dead yet. [ He's not even aware he's going to die at Hakodate in a couple of years, but you know. He's Hijikata, he's a samurai, so he already is aware he's going to die sometime in the future. ]
Ah but... Horikawa did talk a lot about you, he clearly loved you a lot. So, it's really nice to finally meet the real thing. I still wish they gave us a better place for us to meet, but once again. This place likes to dick around with the new people that come around every so often, so... Well, the city is a bit better I think for what you get.
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Whatever! Toshi-san is still cool enough.
[And one of those lines comes up when Hijikata jokes about not being dead in 3...2...1...
Yikes, to be honest. But Kanesada does his best not to react to that little detail. He straightens up and focuses instead on the Kunihiro subject.
he clearly loved you a lot
...Ah. The wakizashi's absence is weighing more and more heavily over him the longer he sticks around this place. It's so strange to not have that shadow or hear his voice. It's kind of...wrong. Incomplete.]
Mn. Kunihiro is pretty helpful to have around.
[Except when it comes to chores. How that guy manages to push all the work onto Kanesada is a mystery and a terrifying one at that.]
I'm getting the idea that this city is just...bad news all around, though. Maybe it was more comfortable once, but it's definitley not like that anymore.
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[ That's... A nostalgic way to be referred to. He was almost caught off guard, but he likes it! He kind of misses Kondou-san when he thinks about him.
... He misses him a lot. He honestly wonders how all his comrades are fairing, you know. Things to think about. He had Souji and Heisuke pass by at least once, but they came and then went. It only offered some reassurance for a few weeks at the most. ]
He works hard, I couldn't agree more.
[ Even Horikawa did Hijikata's laundry and helped him make food sometimes. There were even a lot of nights where he made Hijikata go to bed on time... Because he was worrying about his health! Well... He's still really bad at self-care but sshh.. ]
. . . Yeah, it was better before but it's started to become a mess. A lot of us are still managing to live just fine, but I suggest being careful. I think... Kiyomitsu out of everyone can tell you more, I'm aware he's been here the longest out of your comrades.
But if you run into any troubles, I don't mind lending a hand, if you need it.