PHASE I [ 6 00 ] You wake up, and you're in a camp ground. The graphics aren't bad here, not really, but they're definitely last gen -- not the type of quality expected out of ViViD. On top of that, every once in awhile, the scenery sort of... glitches before going right back to normal as if nothing ever happened. If you're particularly unlucky, your own body parts might glitch out for a moment too, appearing as nothing more than broken code and then back to normal. Pretty weird, right? Oh well, don't worry about it. Totally harmless.
Glitches or not, you're still in a camp ground along with everyone else. There's a fire, there's some tents, some trees. Maybe some s'mores? You got it all. You're also not wearing what you were before. No, now you're wearing some sexy shorts, or maybe you've got a whip at your side, or maybe you've got a really classy fedora. And if you're one of those lucky few who have all three at once? Good for you! Try not to blind everyone with all that sexy.
Or, you know, the game will glitch out again and you'll be stuck wearing something else. That's definitely not as sexy.
PHASE II [ 7 30 ] If you decide to finally go exploring that crazy jungle, you'll find that you have a wide range of exploring options. Seems ViViD's taking a crack at their very own open world game -- this one modeled after your run of the mill adventure game. There are rivers to swim through (complete with alligators)! There are cliffs to scale (complete with angry birds ready to peck at your face)! There are even ravines to swing across on vines (just like Tarzan)!
Actually, the game is made to allow you to do just that -- those vines are all conveniently lined up for everyone to use them to swing across. Go on, it'll be fun. If you miss, you'll just lose a life, right?
Of course, if you overshoot your goal, you might run into one of the other glitches; the white space that you'll stumble into implies that you flew right off the world map and are now in unprogrammed space. Don't worry, you'll dissolve eventually, slowly but surely, and will reappear on the cliff so you can try again. There's no other way around that ravine either. Still, it's only a little frightening watching your body disappear piece by piece, right?
PHASE III [ 9 00 ] If you manage to scale one of those cliffs or swing across that ravine or cross that river, you may find yourself a chest. It's a treasure chest, and you don't even need a key to open it! Open it right up, a cute little jingle will play, and… nothing will be there.
Or the item will be there, hovering in the air, something amazing, fantastic, incredible that you've always dreamed of having and wanting, and -- you can't touch it. No matter what you try, it hovers right out of reach, and you can't interact with it at all.
Oh, and the cute little jingle is going to follow you around now, on constant loop.
PHASE IV [ xx xx ] So you died.
No big deal. Perhaps you got eaten by a crocodile. Perhaps you fell off a cliff. Perhaps another player stabbed you (that's rude). Either way, you've only lost one life and you have two more so it's nothing. After all, this is just a video game, right? It's fine.
Except it's really not fine.
You'll find yourself in a graveyard, tombstones all around you (maybe one of them has your name on it -- hope the epitaph doesn't suck). It's nighttime, it's foggy, and you're with the other players who have also lost a life. For a while, nothing will happen. The cold and quiet of the night will start to seep into your bones -- and then a figure appears. It can't be killed, it is silent and grim, and it does not speak.
Instead, it approaches each person there, reaches out and touches them on the forehead. Even you. All you can see for a long moment is corpses around you, the dead faces of everyone who had been with you in the ViViD level, flesh rotting away and faces caught in expressions of horror --
And then you're all dropped back into the camp ground together again. It's sunny and cheery and everything is fine, and you're down to two lives. Just, you know... don't lose the rest, okay?
BONUS [ xx xx ] You have a butler now, congratulations! He's following you around everywhere. He's an NPC, and not a very well-made one; sometimes his face glitches out, and he doesn't so much walk behind you as just… appears right next to you. He's handy though because if you ask him to, he'll pull up the start menu. You can sort out your inventory there and exit the game if you wish (except no matter how many times you press the "quit" button, you... can't).
Sometimes, though, that doesn't work out so well. Not the start menu but the butler himself. He might appear next to you on a narrow cliff face, knocking you right off the edge, or appear right on top of a hornet's nest, making them angry enough to go after, well, you. Maybe he accidentally summons a bear when all you were trying to do was ask him where the next dungeon is. That's unfortunate.
You can't seem to get rid of him either, no matter what you do. How annoying. Hopefully he doesn't cause you too much trouble because that bear... well, that bear's pretty angry.
[ 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. ] |
tsurumaru kuninaga ▶ touken ranbu
[ for someone who values himself based on the kinds of accessories that he can thread onto himself, being in these simple, dark, plain clothes isn’t doing him any favors. (what he actually enjoys is how they glitch, from time to time — for a second, it’s as if those hideous clothes turn into a nebula of colorful glitches; it’s a much more preferred option.)
he’s found several bags of marshmallows, squishing them idly between his hands, amazed by how fluffy they feel beneath the plastic. the marshmallow that he’s holding out towards the fire goes straight from the roasting stick to his mouth — no chocolate, no graham crackers, and for the most part, this is how he’s spending his time at the campfire, warming his feet and eating marshmallows to his heart’s content.
what he doesn’t realize is that he’s accidentally monopolized the entire marshmallow stash, and upon being prompted, he jerks his head up. ]
Did you want some?
[ he’s not willing to part with them so freely, though. ]
▶ [ PHASE II ]
[ after departing from the camp, he finds a jungle — though, it’s not as if he’s familiar with these kinds of landscapes. but even with a thousand years under his belt, he has the heart of a child, after all, and when he sees vines lined up, practically begging to be swung with, he gives in.
taking a few steps back, he pulls the vine until it’s a good distance away from where it started from, for MAXIMUM SWINGING. a quick breath, and then he holds the vine with both hands, kicking himself off of the ground and finding himself immediately propelling in a certain direction. the wind ruffles his hair in the meanwhile, and he’s smiling—
—until he bumps into something (or someone), coming to a sudden stop. he’s disheartened, but only for a moment, as he quickly finds a reason to delight in the situation. still holding the vine with one hand, he hops off of the vine, crouching down; and he’s trying to hold back his laughter, but for the most part, he’s unsuccessful. ]
Haha, that was quite the fall, wasn’t it? Did you hear that smack? You were surprised, weren’t you?
[ A pause, and then his bright expression dulls, as if he’s disappointed in having to ask: ]
Ah, right... I forgot to ask. Are you okay?
gimmie dem mallows, homie
[ He's joking of course, because Kogitsunemaru knows that Tsurumaru can't actually fly. Marshmallows are tasty, and when they're mixed with other things, they become even better! Unfortunately, he has no chocolate or crackers with him... not even tofu. What a miserable time already.
But he laughs, sitting down next to Tsurumaru. At least he looks like he's having a good time, though those clothes make him look pretty average. ]
Hand some over or we'll see how far I can throw you.
[ SERIOUSLY THOUGH KOGI WILL NOT DO THIS BUT... well... a little threat never hurt anyone. ]
no subject
[ tsurumaru's words are spoken lightly, with laughter interwoven in his tone, but a thousand years, and he's still never been able to tell exactly when kogitsunemaru is joking and when he's not. but for caution's sake, he errs on the side of safety, and he figures that he'll have to give up a few marshmallows...
with a petulant frown, he'll turn to the sword that's now sitting next to him and give up one (1) marshmallow, and he does it reluctantly, placing it in the palm of kogitsunemaru's hand. ]
How's that?
no subject
You could at least offer more than one. Are those even yours, or did you just make them yours when you found them?
[ Even though they're probably not in danger at this camp, he's still a little on edge and some of that worry creeps into the tones of his voice. The little fox has been in enough of these little 'games' that he expects something to go awry at some point. ]
So how did you find yourself here, Tsuru-kun? Are you alright?
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
ii.
Sousei didn't want to end up in ViViD yet again. He doesn't like ViViD. It's always been bad, and now it's completely glitchy and he's trying to find a way to log out when suddenly he's smacked into by a flying sword.
Thankfully not the sharp, pointy kind, but he's met Tsurumaru before and it only takes a glance before he recognizes him again. And, you know, catches his breath.]
What do you think you're doing?
[what a buzzkill.]
no subject
[ what? no? no............. that was......... bad. ]
Anyway. [ he clears his throat. ] I'm trying to swing into the ravine over there, and I want to see how far I can travel on these vines without falling. You made me break that record, though, so now, I have to go aaaall the way back—
[ a pause, because going back where he came from isn't exactly desirable; it's a lot of walking. ] Or, I could just keep going. Yeah, that sounds good. [ and he'll nod, to convince himself.
he reaches for a nearby vine (there are a lot more in the vicinity, after all) and holds it out. ] Do you want to come with me? Maybe if we try really hard, we can land in that one weird spot I saw...
[ that's a glitch, definitely, but swords don't understand glitches entirely, not yet. ]
no subject
Sousei's expression doesn't even twitch though--not at the bad pun, not at the explanation, and certainly not at that vine that Tsurumaru is holding out and Sousei is not reaching to grab.
No way in hell.]
No.
That isn't a good idea. ViViD does not seem to be functioning properly, so I would not actively search out disaster if I was you.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
phase ii! ugh tsuru the problem child
Which is to say, that someone he bumped into was definitely Kashuu... He's just trying to figure this stupid level out! He just wants to leave!! HE HATES VIVID WHY DOES HE ALWAYS END UP HERE. He's done nothing to deserve this tomfoolery, but it comes for his ass like a haunting every time anyway.]
Ugh—!! Don't say it like it was an accomplishment!
[Tsurumaru's dumb way of wording things is so familiar that he doesn't remember to be surprised that he's back... It'll catch up with him in a second, okay.]
UGH listen you're just as much of a problem child as i am
Kashuu?
[ it's just for a moment; that smug grin finds its way back soon enough. ] But it was an accomplishment! How often have you hit someone while swinging on one of these things? It's like a life goal — I can check it off of my bucket list now.
[ and then, a bit more hesitantly: ] Well, whatever these things are, and wherever I am.
no...
I don't care about your stupid bucket list! Don't drag me into it next time!! [He's not a stepping stone to victory, okay!! Good lord.
But the hesitance seems to catch his attention, and it reflects a little in his expression.] What, the vines? [?!?] And you're in ViViD, duh.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
II
Tsurumaru-san? [Ah, he asked a question. Sayo quickly get back onto his feet.] Yes, I'm fine. But be careful if you're doing that.
no subject
Sayo, haha. Yeah, it's me! [ he'd offer to help, but sayo's already pushed himself back up to his feet; so insead, he rubs at the back of his neck, apologetically. ] Listen, I'm really, really sorry about that — please don't tell Kousetsu!
[ because there aren't many people who deserve kind things, but sayo is definitely one of them. ]
Ah, by the way — since you're here, I might as well ask. Is there a way out of here, or am I stuck in jungle hell forever?
no subject
I won't tell Kousetsu-niisama.
[He can leave out "Tsurumaru bumped into me" if he ever recounts this to his brother.]
And yes, there's a way out or... there should be. Normally, we can leave if we "log out" or complete this place's challenge.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
i!! haru's body isnt ready for ii....
so.. sorry, tsurumaru. haru looks extremely distressed, hands balled up into fists at his side, pale eyes wide and maybe just a little misty. ]
No, I don't want those. Where have you been? [ he takes a trembling breath. ] You-- [ he finally gives in, practically throwing himself at the spirit, possibly knocking them both off balance as he curls his arms around him. ] You jerk! Next time, just surprise me the normal way. The normal way! [ none of this disappearing for weeks at a time nonsense. ]
no subject
as he's successfully toppled over backwards, the bags of marshmallows go flying from his arms, and although most of them remain in their flimsy plastic wrapping, a few of them tumble out onto the campground floor. but instead of focusing on that, tsurumaru reaches up, ruffling the saniwa's hair gently, and for a sword that manages to scare the living daylights out of everyone, he's oddly good at this. ]
Haha, sorry about that!
[ still, he's smiling, laughing as he continues to soothingly pat the saniwa's head, and even as he's desperately trying to pat away his saniwa's tears, doing what he can to comfort him, there's something that makes him so happy about this moment. (a reunion, though it sure doesn't feel like one.) ]
But if I surprise you the same way every time, is it still a surprise?
no subject
he takes a shuddering breath, finally lifting his face and dashing the back of his hand over his eyes. who was crying, because it sure wasn't him. ]
You know I'm gullible. I always fall for it when you surprise me. [ it's true.. it's actually kind of embarrassing. ]
(no subject)
Phase 1!!
I would be most grateful, Tsurumaru-san.
[ Kousetsu will look back at him with a curt nod of his head. He'll also precede to watch the other intently before turning away. ]
It is better if you eat it with chocolate and these things called...graham crackers.
no subject
Here! I know I said just one, but I have five other bags with me, so this isn't too bad.
[ it's true that tsurumaru rarely listens whenever someone tells him what to do; kousetsu seems to be one of the few whose words he'll heed. at the mention of the chocolate and graham crackers, he tilts his head. ] Really? I never took you for a sweets kind of sword, you know.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
bro i know you have the monopoly on all things white but come on
Which may or may not be a trap, considering who is extending the offer. ]
I'll trade you.
[ But what? He's not about to give that away just yet. Besides, he knows Tsurumaru is more interested in tricks and games like this than the straightforward way. ]
bro... but these are tasty and i'm five in sword years
it's just like nikkari to not tell him all the details right off the bat; and tsurumaru goes along with it, his expression strangely serious, for once, as he arches an eyebrow. ]
Do you think your offer is good enough for this marshmallow?
you're truly an inspiration to us all
not nearly as inspirational as giving the world a fine view of my rear, i think
look it needed to happen
ugh i'm laughing at these nerds and this thread... i love it
will they ever not be trouble? stay tuned
HONESTLY they're just a big duo of creepy surprises together
nomnomnom
Namazuo is here for the treats, because of course he is... but he's also happy to see Tsurumaru, so he's smiling as he plops down beside the other sword.]
Tsurumaru-san! I'm glad you're here. [Namazuo lucked out with just a funny hat, which he isn't even wearing because his ahoge can't be tamed. He'll ask about the clothing in a second, because, y'know. Priorities.] Yes, if you don't mind!
NAMAZUO so cute... pulls your ahoge
Namazuo's excitement is certainly contagious, and he finds himself more willing to part with his (his, they're his now) marshmallows, removing one fluffy marshmallow from the bag and putting it into Namazuo's hands. ]
Haha, here.
[ After grabbing back inside the plastic wrapper for a second marshmallow, Tsurumaru's reaching up with it, trying to stick the second one through the wakizashi's... untamable ahoge. ] Do you think that it'll go through?
WOW what did he do to deserve this
BECAUSE... he was the fattiest dingdong
that's terrible reasoning
(no subject)
phase I
[....while tears threaten to prick at the corner of her eyes]
W-Why did it take you so long to ask? How are we supposed to make smores now?!
[EVERYTHING IS AWFUL]
no subject
I—
[ not knowing what else to do, he hurriedly shoves a bag of marshmallows into her hands, why is she crying, please stop crying, if i give you this, will you stop crying— ]
Here, here, I didn't know! I don't know what smores are, anyway — are they a human thing?
[ THIS IS AN AWFUL LOSS ]
1/2
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)