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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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!
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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?
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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. ]
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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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...especially with such a bold promise to be making. keigo hesitated, his eyes lifting up a bit before glancing elsewhere. promising to never lie... that was a tall order. people lied all the time, that was just a fact of life, something keigo had come to expect. for someone to be assuring that they'd never lie to him was hard to believe, as much as he wanted to.
but! he wasn't going to insult ichigo by expressing his doubt outright. with a small smile, he nodded. ]
Thank you for saying so, Ichigo-san. I appreciate how open you're being. It's... refreshing.
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Ichigo watched his reaction with interest and he smiled back, letting his hand rest against Keigo’s face for a moment before pulling it back. He let out a little laugh to hide his slight embarrassment at the compliment.]
And you're much too kind, Asano-dono. Saying all these nice things about me...
[Yet, he didn't feel quite as awkward about it as he had earlier and it did feel quite nice to be praised. He could get used to it. No wonder his brothers liked it whenever he praised them. He smiled happily, not aware that in the past he’d forgotten he had expected to be praised and complimented. He wasn't named Tenka Hitofuri, ‘The One True Sword Under All Of Heaven’ for nothing.]
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keigo could feel his skin turning red all over again. the uncertainty was quickly being replaced by embarrassment, especially with the added bonus of ichigo's continued contact to his face. thankfully, he pulled away again, but the flushed look remained.
he gave a shallow nod, shifting his arm against ichigo, but not out of any attempt at teasing. more like out of nervousness. ]
I'm only... telling the truth.
[ he glanced back ichigo's way, his lips turned slightly upward. ]
It's the least I can do.
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And then they just kept taking turns making each other flustered...
Ichigo blinked a bit at that. That sounded familiar! Then he laughed. It was relaxed and joyful laughter. He patted Keigo’s arm lightly.]
Thank you, Asano-dono. I shall become quite spoilt if you keep this up though!
[However, being pampered and showdered with praise did feel somewhat familiar... He was his former master’s favourite sword out of all the great swords he collected. It felt nostalgic. He tried to remember why but it made his head hurt slightly, so he stopped and filed it away for another day. No need for another almost fainting spell today! Though if Keigo were looking at him at that very moment, he might have caught that fleeting moment where Ichigo seemed to space out, his gold eyes dulling for the briefest instant.]
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Sometimes people deserved to be spoiled...
[ he continued to smile, but he refrained from going further with that line of thought. whatever keigo happened to think, most of it was likely projected from a different source... and getting into deeper reasoning right then wasn't prudent.
he did happen to glance over at ichigo, however, and ... that look on his face... he hesitated. should he bring attention to it? rather than speak up, keigo just slowed his steps slightly, just in case. if ichigo was going to become lightheaded again, he wanted to be prepared! ]
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I suppose I don't really mind being spoilt by you.
[Then he turned a brighter shade of pink as soon as those words left his lips, realizing a moment too late how that sounded!]
Ah! I-I didn't mean it like that- I mean I did mean I didn't mind it but not in that way- I
[Then he fell silent as trying to explain it seemed to make it worse! And it was a good thing Keigo was close by for though he didn't feel lightheaded anymore, he was quite distracted and that caused him to stumble over a small stone in his path in his very flustered state...]
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keigo gasped softly as ichigo tripped, instinctively stopping and turning so that he could try to support him more securely. he placed his free hand on ichigo's shoulder while the other moved to press against his back.
...that probably made it worse. keigo felt his ears burn and he ... well, he started to laugh! it was a terribly nervous habit and once he started, it was difficult to stop! ]
A-ahahaha! I-it's... it's okay! I understand!
[ oh wait. his hands... ]
S-sorry! Are you okay? I didn't mean to uh...
[ why was he being so awkward?! ]
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He wasn't sure what to do. Pushing Keigo away would be rude, wouldn't it? Certainly people would misunderstand if anyone saw them in this compromising position right now! Yet, somehow he didn't really feel like moving away. Keigo’s presence was oddly comforting even when he was laughing awkwardly.
Ichigo looked up for a moment but quickly looked down again when he realized how close the other's face was to his. So he opted to rest his head lightly against Keigo’s chest instead as there didn't seem to be any other place to put it right now.]
It's alright, Asano-dono. I'm fine. I should have been looking where I was going.
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and he certainly wouldn't have blamed ichigo if he shoved away from him; even if keigo was a handsy person, he'd already gathered that ichigo himself was ... rather reserved! it was only natural he'd want to push away! and under normal circumstances, keigo himself wouldn't have really thought twice about physical contact, either. but now... ichigo placing his head against his chest like that... keigo wasn't sure what to do! he certainly wasn't anticipating it! ]
U-uh.
[ another nervous laugh found its way from his throat and keigo gingerly shifted his touch. he didn't want to make things anymore awkward, but he couldn't really say he disliked the feeling of someone near to him, either. he liked hugs, after all! it was just a little flustering... and he really didn't know what to say, either. ]
Well, th-that's okay. That's why I'm h-here! T-to support you and all.
[ since he'd been so lightheaded, of course! ]
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It's nice to have someone to rely on...
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...I hope I don't disappoint you.
[ that was really the terrifying part. there weren't many people that relied on him, so he didn't want to mess it up! ]
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I know you won't, Asano-dono. You've already done so much for me. I'm very grateful that you are here and that you found me...
[And his voice trailed off as he fell asleep!]
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what was he supposed to do now?! ]
E-eh?? I-Ichigo-san...
[ keigo's voice was gentle, his hands gingerly moving against ichigo's back and shoulder. he didn't want to wake him, since he looked so peaceful... but they were just standing there! ]
Ichigo-san... a-are you okay?
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... it's not morning yet... go away...
[But then a little voice at the back of his mind nagged at him that he wasn't back home. He opened his eyes a peek and looked up. It took a moment for his to register Keigo’s face, then his eyes widened in shock and he quickly tried to step away...!]
Ah! I'm sorry, Asano-dono! I must be more tired than I'd thought! I-
[He immediately turned his gaze back to Keigo’s chest, hoping that he hadn't drooled on him!]
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...okay, keigo couldn't help but smile a little. he even chuckled when ichigo woke up and stepped backward. ]
It's okay! All the more reason to get you to the apartments, right?
[ he stretched a bit, arms raised up over his head. ]
Seeing you fall asleep so easily just made me sleepy, too...
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He couldn't help laughing a little as well. They were both being so silly but he felt it was alright to be so when he was with Keigo.]
Yes, we should. I guess it’s way past my naptime! [He often took naps with the youngest of his brothers as they insisted on having their Ichi-nii beside them, so afternoon naps were quite the norm for him!] A nice hot bath followed by a long nap are in order!
[Then he added in a joking tone.] But don't fall asleep yet, Asano-dono! I don't think I'll be able to carry you!
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I won't, I won't... But it sounds like a plan.
[ he stepped back alongside ichigo and offered his arm. ]
If you need it...
[ he wouldn't be offended if ichigo declined, of course, but he wanted to make sure he wasn't unsteady on his feet before continuing on! ]
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Well, you did say you will support me. I guess this makes you my knight.
[Since Ichigo was basically a prince.]
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I-I'm not really... knight material, but I'll try!
[ he had to try! it wasn't every day he met such a nice person... ]
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You’ll do fine. You've been acting like one all along already, Asano-dono!
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Have I? I... didn't think I was doing anything special...
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