The desert. It's hot. It's sandy. It's filled with creepy monsters and things. But mostly it's hot and sandy and there's a whole lot of nothing. You appear and wonder "why am I here? What is there to do here? Is that a cow skull? Do cows live out here in this desert? How can cows live in the desert? Maybe it's a horse?" These are all very complicated questions with equally complicated answers but there's no one to provide them no matter where you look. Instead, you're given the option of walking. Forwards, backwards, to your right, to your left, any direction is yours to take. Try not to die from dehydration or something, that would be a sad ViViD death and the cow-horse skull might start laughing at you. I mean, you'll just start over from the beginning anyway but still.
Welcome to ViViD's new line of Vacation Spotlights: Desert Edition.
Moo-Neigh.
 One wish, that's all you get.
Make it snappy, I don't have all day.
Actually, I have eternity but I just don't want to spend it with you.
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PHASE I [ 6 00 ] So.
There's sand.
In fact, there's so much sand that there's probably already sand in your shoes and your shorts and all sorts of other places that aren't fun to have sand in. It stretches for miles and miles, in large dunes and deep dips, and above it all there are three suns that beat down upon everyone's backs. Why three? Because why not, that's why. Enjoy the sunshine and try not to get sunburnt.
You've got a long ways to travel before you find anything but sand, but thankfully you're not alone -- there are a bunch of unfortunate stragglers who are out with you, so it's time to make some friends as you travel. You've got pleeeeenty of time. No water though. Or food. Or... anything but human interaction.
Thankfully, it's only a matter of time before you stumble across your hot new ride. Thankfully, it seats two, so you and your new friend can enjoy a cramped road trip. You, this relative stranger, and the great... sandy... unknown! Good luck!
PHASE II [ 645 ] If you prefer to not take your ride, you're going to wish that you did soon enough. Every desert level has to have desert monsters, after all. You're walking through the sand, trying to make it to somewhere that isn't sand, and then suddenly, the sand worms appear.
Or.
Well.
They try.
Unfortunately, they're little more than 5 or 6 inches tall apiece, and they'll mostly try to eat your shoes and socks. How scary.
Alternatively, if you have actually taken that sweet ride of yours on an adventure through the desert, you're going to hit something at one point. It makes a rather pitiful scream and there's a small bump underneath your tire before your car comes to a stop. You just ran over a sand worm.
Anyone who is intrepid enough to kill a sand worm though will find one interesting thing about them. They're filled with water, and you are very, very thirsty. Ew.
PHASE III [ 1000 ] It sure is hot.
And unless you've devoured one of those poor, sad, screaming sand worms, there's no water to be found. It feels as though you've been wandering in circles for ages, so perhaps it's really no surprise that the heat starts to get to you. First come the headaches, and the thirst. Then the dizziness and vertigo.
And finally, the mirages.
What you see is a waterfall cascading into a crystal pool, beautiful and pristine and painfully cool. It's just begging for you to come enjoy it, and -- wait, there's one more thing. Standing in front of that pool is either someone you care about immensely or someone you hate immensely.
And either way, the things they say or do will be the same. First they reach for you, beckoning, and they they start to detail all of the things they'd like to do to you. NSFW, SFW, loving or cruel or so many things in between, all that's honestly consistent is that it's pretty shocking.
Oh, and awkwardly, it seems as though anyone with you can see and hear that hallucination too. That's embarrassing.
PHASE IV [ 1215 ] Eventually, though, you'll find your destination. Or... at least, it seems like it should be the destination. The tiny temple is at least a change from the endless sand, and in the middle of it, there's a lamp. That sure looks familiar.
If you rub the lamp, of course, you'll release the genie, and he'll glance at you, and inspect his fingernails as though you're hardly worth his time, and offer you one, single wish.
As soon as you make it, well... You'll get the opposite of what you wish for with a sudden apology note in your hand. The card will read "Sorry, this level isn't entirely finished yet - Mosley" before immediately disappearing. Your wish will only apply in ViViD, of course, but hopefully you didn't wish for anything too crazy, or you might have made the level Much Harder for everyone around you.
BONUS [ why o'clock ] One second you're walking along the desert sand, enjoying the eternally same view, and the next there's a sudden pinch on your ankle, and a scorpion monster scuttles away quickly. Whoops, looks like you've been stung.
But it's not poison, it would seem. Aside from feeling a little odd and having a mild fever, you're fine.
More importantly, you've now found yourself in possession of some... new powers (a la Spider-man), and they're...
Well, they're useless.
Maybe you can summon water now, but... only sulfur water. Perhaps you can now make pretty light shows and that's about all. You can see the future but only the next three seconds. The possibilities are endless, but what's for certain is that they're all completely and utterly useless to you.
What the fuck, ViViD.
[ 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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Caramia | Ozmafia!!
[ It's so hot. He's going to die, seriously, he's going to die with everything he's wearing. He cant stand it sweating so much having his hair stick to him like that it makes him feel so... uncomfortable! If this was karma for something wrong he'd recently done, he was so, so sorry. ]
"Who's idea was it to come here.."
[ Caramia seriously hated the current conditions, not only was he hot, but he was thirsty and super hungry too he could eat a horse at this point.
Cue his incessant stomach growling. It was loud, like a lions roar and....everyone could hear it. How embarrassing.
As bad as he was feeling though, it seems there was someone else who had it worse. Among the crowd of people he noticed someone collapse that was bad. Among all these people they could get stepped on if they didn't get up soon.
His protective sense kicked in. He approached the collapsed person and knelt before them. They were still breathing it seems, at least! ]
[ Caramia extended a hand towards them. ] "Ah, getting some rest is good and all Signor(ina), but if you lie there for any longer you're going to get trampled. Are you able to stand? If you aren't I could carry you."
Phase III.
[ It feels like he's been walking for ages. With the abundance of the same scenery it almost feels as if he's just been walking in place this whole time.
He's begun to shake off the dizziness, however the hallucinations have begun.
Not far he spotted a familiar face. It was his consigliere, Kyrie.
For once it was, relieving to see the scarecrow.
Being beckoned over Caramia picked up his pace till he met face with his Consigliere. ]
"Kyrie! Am I glad to see you we've been wandering out here for so lon-"
[ Caramia was interrupted by Kyrie who was handing him some..list? ]
Kyrie: "Ah, there you are. See I needed to have you take care of these errands, you can't refuse you know."
"what?"
Kyrie: "Are you listening? Idiot lion? I'd go with you but i'd rather not get a headache from the boring conversation, on the topic of headaches your cooking last time was so incredibly awful I wouldn't even be able to call that slop food. I could just shoot you three times for making me eat that.
Please make something edible next time, you stupid lion. Oh also--"
[ Kyrie just went on and on clobbering Caramia with insult after insult.
Eventually, Caramia just, snapped! ]
"AAH Enough! Okay okay I understand! Though if you hate my food that much why can't you just cook for yourself. I'm this famiglias boss and I'm treated as the local striking dummy...I can't catch a break even out here."
[ He was exhausted as he let out an irritated sigh almost forgetting the person who was with him. Ah, they had seen all that hadn't they. Great. ]
Wildcard
[If you have other prompts you'd like to try I'd be happy to!]
i
before he knows it, his knees are bending beneath him, legs no longer able to carry his weight.
ugh, how embarrassing. but if he takes a nap here, at least nobody should notice, right? people passing by sure aren't paying attention to him. ... well, sans one. ]
Huh? I... I'm perfectly able to stand, I'm just choosing not to. [ obviously!!! ] Tsk, if you touch me, I'll kill you. [ he huffs, stubbornly.
carry, he says! ]
what are you gretel
"Woah, is that any way to speak to someone who's lending you a hand? Geez, You sound like an annoying brat I know."
[ Given the situation, he wouldve gladly left him there to die, but it would have just annoyed him later, so. ]
"Can't you threaten to kill me after you're able to stand without looking like a baby deer and out of harms way? Come on." [ Well if chuuya was going to be stubborn he had no choice, but to also be stubborn. With that he pulled the small man up rather effortlessly.]
excuse you
it's only when caramia pulls him up does he open his eyes, hissing like a fussy cat -- isn't it like, illegal to touch people without their permission??? (asked a mafia member.) ]
Hey! I told you to just leave me there! Are you deaf, or something?! [ he'd use his ability, but... he's way too tired for that. generally, when his body gives out, it gives out completely -- a side-effect of corruption, most likely.
still, he's got no choice but to hang onto the taller man, carrying him off... god knows where? ] Do you even have a plan, you idiot?
well......is it wrong tho,
"No— actually it'd be hard not to hear you, considering you're yelling in my ear and all." [ Ow, by the way. He wished he wasn't so fussy towards someone helping him, but it couldn't be helped. ]
"Well...sort of, I've been hearing something about a car? I figure if we find it, you can just rest there, without you know— being trampled...sounds better, doesn't it?"
i!
Maybe he can stand but he's not about to turn this down either! He'll take Caramia's offered hand with a smile and a nod, at least sitting up and dusting himself off as much as he's able...there is sand Everywhere. ] I'd very much like to be carried, aha. Although, don't strain yourself too much! You look as if you're wearing as many layers as I am.
no subject
[ With a grin. ] "Aah— You don't need to worry yourself, it may be hot, but my strength is still at its peak!"
[ So he knelt and..... up! Caramia carried the sword bridal style, rather easily.]
"You're pretty light, huh?" [ He said this with a swing as proof. He'd have no troubles carrying Mikazuki for a while.] "Then, if this is alright, lets get going?" [ Hopefully that barbie dream car would show up soon.]
no subject
Your name, mysterious rescuer? I'm Mikazuki Munechika but please don't be too formal with me. You are carrying me like this after all, aha. [ He'll give Caramia's chest a pat, pat now. ] By the way, do tell me if you get tired and I'll be happy to return the favor of carrying. [ He's much stronger than he looks! ]