PHASE I [ 9 00 ] You open your eyes, and there is a chicken pecking at your face. It's not a very happy chicken, either, but if you can manage to fend it off, then it will be clear that you are in a village. It is... medieval-esque, in that video game sort of way; the details don’t seem too clear, but if you look to your left, there’s a cow! And to your right, a well! Ignore the clear evidence of modern technology in the buildings such as lights, gas, and 21st century plumbing; CERES is dedicated to authenticity.
Looks like the new ViViD level has finally been released, and everyone is invited to play, whether they want to or not.
The game (because this time, that's surely what it is) will start simple. Everyone begins in the same place and every NPC villager will say the same thing: to get out of here, you have to go through the caves. They’ll shove a stick at you (“take this, it’s dangerous to go alone”) and off you go, into the caves… !
Which are full of tiny rats and more chickens. They will try to fight you, but it’s really not very effective when they’re perfectly small and average (especially when everyone still has their typical powers and abilities -- CERES didn't mess with those at all this time). The caves are winding and circular and maze-like, and to make matters even worse, the only ones around are the other poor saps stuck in this situation.
But if you kill enough of the rats, you’ll get to hear the satisfying level up jingle. Congratulations! You are now level 2. It's probably satisfying just for a minute or so until you finally find your way out of those maze like caves and -- You're back in the village again. Great.
PHASE II [ 930 ] You’re carrying a bag. No matter what you do, you can’t take it off, either; it’s stuck with you through thick and thin. But it is awfully heavy. Maybe you should actually open it and see what’s inside?
The problem is, it’s going to take a while.
The bag has clearly tapped into its true hammerspace nature; there are items for days in there, and they’re all very, very strange. You might end up covered in hats of all sorts, buried in logs as you pull out one after another, or look like you have an odd fetish for pickaxes.
Maybe there’s 1/3rd of an evil turnip, half a piece of pie and an egg.
Geez, what in the world are you supposed to do with all of that?
PHASE III [ 1200 ] Eventually, you make it out of the caves the right way despite the harassment of the rats and chickens and the fact you'll keep perpetually getting lost. Hooray! You come out into a large, peaceful, scenic meadow, with a small river bubbling off to one side, and a house.
You'll immediately notice that there’s a bridge to cross the river, but there’s someone standing in the way of that bridge. When you approach to go past him, no matter what you try to do, you won't be able to. Asking him why he won't move will only get one thing in response -- “Bring me a fish. Cooked.”
Then he’ll shove a fishing rod at you and expect you to get to it. You can’t attack him, you can’t get past him -- looks like the only thing to do is to catch and cook that fish. Time to sit back, relax, and get to work. Or maybe you’ll team up with someone else and be the person in the house making sure that the fish gets cooked properly. For some reason, if you leave it too long it turns right into a pile of ashes.
Weirdly though, no matter how good you are at cooking or fishing usually, it’s as if you’re right back at the metaphorical level one. Any sort of seasoning or effort to cook it faster falls flat and in the end you'll only be able to place the fish in the pan and set it on the stove, whole. This may take awhile.
And if you try to cross the river itself, well... no, really, don’t try to cross the river.
At least if you get eaten, you’ll just respawn back in the village, but do have fun traveling through the caves again!
PHASE IV [ 1430 ] You made it through the caves. You made it across the river (with a slightly burnt fish). You’ve made it to the wide open world, and you can finally adventure to your heart’s content. You take a step forward on the road and --
A message pops up, bright red and in your face.
[ Restricted Area: Members Only ]
No matter what you do, you can’t go past that point. In fact, if you’re not careful and you’re going too fast, you might run face-first into it like it’s an invisible wall (which it is).
Then, just like that, you're back in the village. Again. Only this time, there's a nice, blinking message -- Pay a small subscription fee to access member's content. Oh well. No big deal, you can just start again.
Except then you see a cool sword and when you try to pick it up, you'll get that same message, and end up transported back to the village yet again. And again, with some shiny new armor. And again, with that attention-grabbing NPC over there. Looks like you're caught in an infinite loop here but no matter how much you inspect the pop up, there's no... actual way to pay the subscription fee (and why would you want to?). But at least you have company, because you can't be the only person who thought that sword was cool.
(It was really, really cool.)
BONUS [ xxxx ] What’s that on the ground in front of you? It looks like… some bunny ears? Or maybe it’s a chicken head, or a pumpkin head. Either way, the moment you touch it, you have a strong need to put it on your head -- and once it’s on, it’s not coming off.
To make matters worse, each hat has an effect associated with it; the bunny ears will, in fact, randomly turn you into a cute fluffy bunny for anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour before you pop right back to yourself, whereas the pumpkin hat will, in a complete reversal, turn you into Cinderella for a bit -- complete with beautiful ball gown and the ability to talk to all of those cute fluffy bunnies.
Also the rats will love you, so maybe you should go back to the caves again.
Meanwhile, the chicken hat won't transform you into any odd creature, but it will inspire in the people wearing them a very real, persistent desire to build a nest. This will involve picking up twigs, trash, shiny things and whatever else catches your eye to try to build a nest out of it. You'll also try to pick up whatever food you find on the ground to eat, have the weirdest desire to lay an egg, and basically have all sorts of odd chicken-like instincts inflicted upon you.
At least you look festive!
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no subject
But since coming here, Adolf's met people who can fly, espers, mermaids— nothing seems too out of the realm of possibility in Cerealia, and he'd be a hypocrite if he said that unconventional powers were unbelievable to him. He realizes that he's just as improbably to others as he finds them.
And that's precisely why he pulls his hand back, dissuades Yuri from taking it once she tells him what it is that she can do. Not because he doesn't believe her, but because he does. ]
You wouldn't want to read me, then.
[ Stated very frankly, because, well.
Look at him. ]
no subject
[Or at least maybe not as gruesome. But what does she know? He could be from some crazy world where giant humanoid roaches routinely rip people in half or something. Crazy.
But she's used to that sort of response, so she shuts herself off accordingly (it's not his fault and she doesn't blame him for not wanting to touch her after that reveal; she's more annoyed at herself and her inability to gauge if she can control it or not) and starts pushing herself up off the ground. She uses her good leg as leverage, trying not to put any weight on her injured one. Yuri manages to get up at least, balancing precariously on one leg, with her other foot resting just enough on the ground for balance, and turns towards the house.]
Maybe there's something in there I can use. [She'll just...hop or something.] I don't want you to ruin your coat.
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[ That's concern masked under a warning, and he puts up a hand to indicate that she shouldn't push herself— what if that wound opens up more thanks to her walk-hopping!! Team mom mode activated. ]
I'll go look in the house, and come back with whatever I find.
[ Which may or may not end up being a strip of his jacket, shh. He can tell from Yuri's words, her expression and her tone, that the subject of what she's seen or can see is a sore one, a difficult one. Understatement.
So he concedes as minimally as he can, not because he wants her to see his memories— he doesn't wish that on anyone— but because it's hard, he knows. It's hard when your differences build gaps between people. ]
In any case, I'm going to have to touch you to wrap your leg. We can deal with that when the time comes.
no subject
So reluctantly she eases back down, flinching as her wound gets irritated with her constant movement and jostling around.]
...Alright. I'll be here. [It's not as though she can go anywhere ha...
She turns her attention on wringing out her clothes, silently wishing she had the purifying embers in this weird game world to instantly dry her clothes (sure they were only supposed to be used to clear herself of the tainted water, but shh). It's a casual dismissal of him; do what you want, I can't stop you, clearly.]
no subject
Upon Yuri's confirmation and affirmation, Adolf nods and moves towards to house to root around inside. He finds a lot of tools for cooking (it's like this mission was made for him, except he'd get so butthurt about his cooking efforts being really ineffectual in this shitty minigame), a spare apron, and a few other nicknacks that aren't quite what he's looking for...
...but, ah, the apron will do. He pilfers the strap and cuts a good long strip of it before venturing back towards Yuri and motioning for her to sit down again. (What is that band on her thigh for...) ]
I found some things. [ Thanks for the specificity, eel. ] It'll work as a rudimentary bandage. Once we're out of the game, you'll be fine.
no subject
Or aesthetic. Because fashion. Fuck off eel, you're one to question this logic look at what you're wearing!!
Yuri, who's been putting some pressure on the wound to help slow the flow of blood, pulls her now-bloodied hands away with a mild grimace (the blood reminds her too much of Fuyuhi and a cut throat and the screaming...) to let Adolf work.
Her expression is neutral as she watches him, finally fully looking at him for probably the first time. There's a peculiar look in her eyes, a resignation and acceptance teetering on the edge of the choice between living and dying. Which probably comes out even more in her next words:]
If it's a game, can't we die and log out that way? Once you use up your 'lives,' you usually get a 'game over' and go to the menu screen, or you're given an option to quit. Couldn't we just... [She trails off with the implication of LET'S JUST JUMP OFF A CLIFF OR SOMETHING.]
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And man, talk about a downer. He supposes that her logic isn't entirely flawed, because certain videogames have that "out" available to them, right? Just go back to the Start Menu. Quit the game.
But he's not exactly keen on the idea, and his expression becomes incrementally more stern as he kneels down by the injured leg. ]
There's no guarantee that we'll be given that option. If there's a way to leave this place alive, then that's the option you should be considering.
[ Which is more than he could've said for his situation back on Mars, so. And after a warning glance, he reaches out and puts his hand on her leg, to bandage that gash up.
Hopefully she doesn't catch glimpses of anything too unpleasant, but. Let's be real, the possibility's pretty high... smh. ]
blanket warning for suicide mentions for anyone reading this thread aayy
But suddenly he's moving and that glance really wasn't enough to prepare her because she lets out a sharp:] Wait-- [But it's too late.
She doesn't catch a whole scene, just glimpses and shocks (ha) of pain. Wires in skin, the sound of bubbles. The crackle of electricity. A girl's laugh. An aquarium tank. A young Adolf pulling his scarf up over his mouth in embarrassment as he talks to a pretty girl, a name on Yuri's tongue ("Rosa").
A phone call.
Ich liebe dich.
Some of it flows back as she clamps down on it, so he might get some flashes of his own. A girl's back to Yuri. Fuyuhi? The girl turns, a knife in her hands and stares at Yuri with lifeless eyes. The knife in her hand flashes and goes across her throat in a quick movement, blood sprays and Yuri makes a choked noise of shock that mirrors the gurgling of the other girl's as she drops in a pool of blood.
A woman hanging herself.
A woman falling from a cliff, her kimono sleeves fluttering like a butterflies wings behind her.
Another girl, terrified, chased by something unseen and right off a cliff with a scream the echoes horribly until the abrupt cut off.
And it ends just as abruptly and they're both back in the present, Yuri's eyes shut tight in a grimace as the power settles itself.]
...It should be okay now. [She says it rather lamely, feeling like there needs to be something said here, and she awkwardly avoids his eyes.] It's under control.
...I'm sorry.
no subject
Death is a fact of life to Adolf, both the ones he's seen and the ones he's heard of; people as numbers. He had one, too— S1042.
So he thinks he'd be ready for whatever he may or may not see. That he won't flinch, that he can push through. The fact of the matter is that he can, and he does, even with the images of cut throats and falling bodies searing into the back of his mind and threatening his fingers to pull the cloth being wrapped around Yuri's leg just a little too tightly.
He manages, but that doesn't stop him from falling silent, for his expression to darken under the safety of his collar. He wipes the blood on his fingers on grass, furrows his brows, and then remembers to breathe. ]
Don't be. I did this voluntarily. [ A brief shuttering of green eyes. They open again to make sure that everything is in place. ] ...Did this help?
[ 'Understand how to keep her powers in check', he means. ]
no subject
A brief nod.] Yeah. [Eloquent. She's never been good at talking to people and again she wishes Hisoka was here to smooth things over.]
I think it's just... Being overwhelmed. I was still learning how to control it and everything was happening so fast, I... [She trails off with a shrug, shaking her head.] I guess it's just an excuse. But it'll be alright now. [That much is said with some confidence; Yuri's got a grip on it now, so unless she consciously makes the effort, there should be no more slip-ups.]
Thank you. For helping me, I mean. And... not freaking out.
no subject
[ He states all of this matter-of-factly, his inflection flat and without much emotion; it's almost methodical, automatic, if it weren't for the fact that his hands are frighteningly gentle as he ties up the loose ends of the bandage around Yuri's leg.
Somehow, he still manages to be obvious, even when he's trying not to be. ]
So this wasn't anything you had to apologize or thank me for. If it helped, that's the best outcome.
[ Slowly, his hands go back in his pockets as he straightens up. ]
no subject
[Thanks?? Maybe???] But still, you can't pretend we didn't see what we saw. So, I'm still sorry-- that I saw what I did, and that you...saw those things too. [Especially considering what he got was so much worse than what he gave.
Story of his life, eh?Anyway.] I didn't get your name.
no subject
The issue of his own memories can be gently put aside, because, while not too suspect, it's something he'd rather not touch upon at this juncture.
Or ever... ugly laughter. ]
My name. —Adolf Reinhardt. [ THIS TIME he actually gives his name on the first try!! It's taken him about three whole months in Cerealia to get to this point, even if he still says his own name like it's a fucking chore. ] If you're worried about me telling others about what I saw, I won't.
[ He should probably ask for her name in return, huh... but he doesn't, why is he still such a shit about this. ]
no subject
I'm Yuri. Yuri Kozukata. [She says it in a fairly similar way, like she's not expecting him to really care or remember it, but social niceties require she give it since she asked for his.
His concern over others knowing makes her eyebrows go up in an expression of surprise--no one's really said something like that to her before, and she shakes her head.]
Oh, uh... No, it's okay. It's not really a secret. We ran a business... [That doesn't really make sense on its own so she redirects and tries again] Finding missing people and things. So people knew about it. It doesn't... bother me, even if you did tell. [Okay so it does, a little, but it's helping people so she won't complain.]
And as for the actual content...That sort of thing [She gestures vaguely at nothing to try and indicate she means 'witnessing suicides'] was common. [WOW THAT SOUNDS AWFUL.
Not that she expects him to go blabbing about it to everyone or anything either. But Yuri shrugs and then focuses her attention on her leg] Should I walk on it soon? [Or is she going to have to be carried somewhere... Actually what she'd really like is to get warm and dry because fuck that fishing mini game right now]
no subject
[ Good thing he's used to being tight-lipped, and that especially goes for private information about sad girls who apparently see dead people on the regular. It makes him think of a classic movie from the late 1900s that was something like this— he's never seen it (it's 600 years old), but it's oft-talked about. It sounds horrifying, if anything.
His instinct is to offer a hand, but he wonders if that'd trigger something again. ]
If you need to take a breather, rest here. I can do the fishing.
[ And the cooking... except he's going to get assmad about that in a few minutes, probably. ]
It shouldn't be difficult.
no subject
Uh. [It's not really a noise of protest, more bafflement because she's really not used to people outside of Hisoka trying to look after her well-being. She's not actually sure how to handle it and as a result just goes quiet, trying to puzzle it out.
In the end she just frowns at him and asks:] Why?
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But, ah. He's being asked why he's doing something, and so he levels with her for a second, tilts his head just slightly to the side in quiet questioning of her question. ]
So we can both get out sooner than later.
[ Short and sweet. ]
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I see. [That's... surprisingly acceptable and reasonable. Her shoulders relax, Yuri feeling comfortable by having a reason behind it all and feeling a little bad that she felt the need to demand for an explanation to begin with.]
...Sorry. I'm really-- [She cuts herself off and runs a hand through her hair with a sigh.] I'm not very good at talking to people.
[She gestures towards the river.] If you need help, let me know, please. I'd feel bad if I was just sitting here watching you the whole time.
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You and me both.
[ But he's already making his way to the river, back turned, one hand reaching inside his pocket for his throwing knives. ]
And I won't need help. It'll only take a second.
[ And it really only does take him a few beats to feel the fish under the water, to trace the movements of the ones nearest to the surface using his natural radar— he doesn't even need to transform to do it, thank god. That's one less thing he'll have to freak this poor girl out over...
Twin splashes, and two fish rise to the surface, a knife embedded in each one. Piece of cake. ]
no subject
Oh.
Okay. Well then.]
Ah! [A small noise of surprise and she even jumps, unable to keep the baffled/impressed expression off her face.] That... That was impressive.
[To say the least?? Holy shit is he a ninja.] Where did you learn to do that?