estoria | //EVENT033.EXE

//EVENT033.EXE

//event033.EXE

What new and wonderful and exciting ViViD level awaits you today? What fun time will you have in ViViD this time? Surely it will be a work of art that CERES has been working on for months and months --

Actually, wait, CERES isn't even around, are they?

Uh oh.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzt.

Error: Files Not Found

//SCENARIOS.EXE

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. ]

//RUN.EXE

Welcome to Cerealia's September intro log! For your convenience, we have compiled the characters' arrival experience here, and should you have any questions, feel free to ask them here! You can also check the FAQ for more general inquiries. Should this event log hit Captcha, there is an all-purpose overflow here. Thank you!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Ichigo smiled and nodded.] Of course. You are an important person to me. [By that he meant saviour and friend.]

[ regardless of the reason, it was still humbling to hear. keigo looked away, reaching up to skim his palm along the back of his neck nervously. ]

...W-well. Thank you.

[ ichigo needed to stop embarrassing him, gosh!! ]

[He's just being honest!

He smiles.] It's the least I can do for you. Now, are we near the apartments yet?

[ ah! right... the whole reason they'd been walking in the first place! keigo laughed softly, looking around at their surroundings. ]

It shouldn't be too far now... I'm trying to remember where everything is, but I'm pretty sure I'm on the right path!

[ all he had to do was follow reiatsu signatures, right? ]

[Ichigo laughs as well. You are adorable, Keigo!]

I see. That's good. I can't wait to get there. I could really use a nice long bath!

[He knows nothing about reiatsu signatures but he trusts Keigo knows what he's doing!]

[ he is not adorable he is manly and tough!! or something... still, it's nice to see ichigo smiling and not upset! ]

Ah, that sounds nice... After all that nonsense, I could use one, too...

[ he couldn't help but feel a little gross from all those... bodies... ]

We could both have one together then!

[And he says this most innocently! Sorry, he's too used to bathing with his brothers.]

[ oh... well. that was certainly a Thing he just said. keigo blinked, hesitation clear on his face. it wasn't entirely strange, he supposed, but it wasn't like it was a public bath they were headed to, either!! this time around, at least he wasn't flustered to the point of blushing... ]

Are you uh, sure about that?

[Ichigo nodded. Not seeing anything wrong with what he’d just suggested.]

Of course. I bathe with my brothers all the time back home.

[And he kind of sees Keigo as a younger brother!]

Edited 2016-09-26 09:07 (UTC)

Ah.

[ well, naturally... that made sense. though keigo didn't have any brothers... ]

M-maybe. I can't actually remember the last time I bathed with anyone.

[But then most of his brothers are little kids so it wasn't quite the same...]

Oh, it's not a common thing then where you're from?

[ rather than getting embarrassed, keigo was actually a little amused. ]

Well, yeah, I mean... public baths are a thing, but...

[ he trailed off a little, thinking on how to phrase it... ]

I don't have any brothers so it's not like bathing with siblings is a thing I've ever done. The last time it happened was probably when I was very little.

Oh, I see! [And then it strikes him how his invitation must have sounded and now he feels quite embarrassed.] ... I hadn't thought of that ... I'm sorry if it made you uncomfortable.

[ oh, that's adorable... keigo actually chuckled, shifting his arm against ichigo gently. ]

Aah, don't worry about it. I don't think you're weird for it.

[ which was... actually fairly amazing, considering how judgmental keigo typically was. ]

[Ichi-nii is a very pure sword! And it might have something to do with how he's always surrounded by cute innocent children back home. The chuckling makes him look away quite bashfully, and his fingers, which were resting lightly on Keigo's arm, tighten just the tiniest bit as he attempts to laugh it off.}

I'm glad you don't, Asano-dono...

[ this was actually kind of entertaining, really... any time keigo could revel in not being embarrassed was good in his book. teasing was an easy thing to fall into, as well. sorry, ichigo... ]

It just tells me how caring you are, Ichigo-san. You're the type to think of other people first, right?

[ ...okay, he was teasing a little, but most of that was genuine, evidenced by the bright smile he flashed. ]

[Bad Keigo!

That makes Ichigo look up, rather surprised at the praise and his cheeks turn a brighter pink.]

Eh? I... Well, I suppose so...? Maybe...

[He's not used to people telling him all that. After all, it is only natural to put others first, isn't it?

[ oh no, this is adorable. keigo couldn't stop himself from grinning further! ]

Eeehh? What's thaaaat?

[ now he was definitely teasing. right down to another playful little shift of his arm against ichigo as they walked along. ]

You don't sound so sure, Ichigo-san!

I... [And he looks away, he can't quite look at Keigo right now.] It's wrong to boast about such things, Asano-dono... [It's very important to be humble, Keigo!]

[ sorry, ichigo... keigo was finding this all too entertaining. ]

Don't be so bashful! It's not boasting to talk positively of yourself!

[ he even leaned to one side, trying to catch ichigo's gaze as he looked away from him. ]

Though, I guess that just tells me you're a modest person, too... I'm learning a lot about you, Ichigo-san!

[Don't make him hit you! Ichi-nii can have quite a temper... There's a reason his brothers are surprisingly well-behaved even though there are so many.]

But...

[And please don't be putting your face so close to his, Keigo! He tries to turn his head away. His grip on Keigo's arm tightening more.]

That's a good thing, I guess?

[ ah, but being hit would be normal for keigo... he was rather used to getting smacked for being an annoying brat... but, he also wasn't entirely oblivious! the way ichigo turned further, along with the tightening of his fingers, prompted keigo to return to his spot, standing up straight. maybe he went a little too far with the teasing... hm. ]

It is a good thing.

[ how could he put it... ]

I have a lot of friends back home, but I can't really say that I know them especially well. So, when I meet new people...

[ he glanced back at ichigo, still smiling, though softer. ]

...I like to learn about them!

[Ichigo relaxed a bit when Keigo finally decided to back away. He might be a sword but he wasn't fond of having to resort to violence away from the battlefield. He preferred to rely on reason.

Ichigo eventually looked back over at Keigo and replied rather softly, still recovering from the teasing.]

You did not have to do so quite so... eagerly though...

[He was silent for a moment before he asked out of curiosity.] They do not like to talk about themselves then, your friends back home?

[ sorry, ichigo, but keigo could get a bit excited and carried away... at least he looked apologetic! ]

Sorry, I got a little too excited...

[ but at any rate, his expression turned somber at the question posed to him. he usually tried not to be so candid with strangers, but— ]

Not really. They're all very secretive. They lie to me a lot, too.

[ he probably looked hurt, despite the way he fought to keep up a somewhat neutral expression. ]

I know why they do it, I understand their logic behind it: I'm not strong like they are. I'm more of a burden than an asset, so telling me certain things isn't a good idea, I guess. They don't want me to worry or get involved, but it's not like I don't end up finding out about it, anyway...

[ ...he was being pretty vague, but that was more out of a stream of consciousness than anything deliberate. ]

[Like an excitable puppy! Ichigo smiled and shook his head a bit.]

It's fine. But please try not to do that again. I'm not used to people being quite... so forward... [He's an old-fashioned kind of sword. Kind of expected when one was over 900 years old.]

[Ichigo listening quietly as Keigo confided in him. He was glad that the other was telling him all this. It showed that Keigo trusted him. So he reached out to lightly touch his cheek with a soft smile.]

You are not a burden nor are you weak, Asano-dono. Don't worry, I promise I'll never lie to you.

[And it was true, Ichigo was a rather honest sword. He tried his best to be as truthful as he could at all times.]

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