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.
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II
Not this.
Rolling her eyes, Rei Hino started down the sand-dune towards the prostrate boy. Her boot lashes out, kicking the worm aside with casual grace. It yowls as it flies off, bouncing and rolling in the dirt while the girl offers a hand.]
Get up, Yosuke-kun.
no subject
Thanks...
[ He takes her offered and and let's her help him up out of the hole. It's a little awkward as he's in an equally awkward position, but they manage. When he's up, he offers her a lopsided smile. ]
I was gonna say it's a helluva way to make a first impression, but...uh, how'd you know my name?
[ Or do all the cute girls in his dream just know who he is? He's not sure if that's a good thing or not. ]
no subject
You don't remember. Of course you don't.
[Stepping back, she dips her head, folding her arms across her stomach and looking up into his eyes.]
We were friends before. I'm sorry to be the bearer of confusing and uncomfortable news, but you've been in Cerealia before even if you don't remember it.
no subject
[ He squints a little at that. What exactly is he supposed to be remembering? "Cerealia"? What kind of place sounds like a breakfast cereal?
Yosuke glances to the side as if checking for the hidden cameras. ]
Ah, yeah... [ No, no he doesn't remember that. He rubs the back of his neck and kind of mumbles to himself. ] Figures that I'd even start disappointing the girls in my dreams...
[ But! He pops right back out of it. ]
Cerealia! Yeah, sure. Sounds...vaguely familiar?
[ No it doesn't. ]
no subject
Her back goes straighter, because she knows he's lying. She doesn't know why, but he is.]
Please don't lie. It's unbecoming.
[Dipping her head, she breathes out through her nose.]
I can tell you don't remember. It's alright to be confused, everyone is when they first arrive. I don't want to be cryptic, or anything.
[Another breath, her voice becoming more businesslike.]
I'm Rei. Rei Hino. And you aren't dreaming, Yosuke-kun. This is all very real.
[Looking up at him she lifts her chin.]
You're not hurt, are you?
no subject
Uh...
[ Saw right through him, didn't she? His surprise melts into an uneasy smile as he rubs his nose, looking away for a moment. She's definitely got this aura around her that just makes you feel like you should be listening. So he definitely feels a little like he's been caught right off the bat. ]
...Yeah, you're right. None of that rings a bell. This has already been one crazy trip.
[ Is he getting shamed by a dream girl? How unfortunate. ]
Hino-san? I'd say it's nice to meet you, but you've already got that part covered. I'll admit that this is all pretty detailed, but...
[ ...Wait. He looks up, around. No, it doesn't look much like the TV World, but...if she said "real"... ]
Huh? Oh, I'm fine. I've crawled out of worse things. Which...is something I probably shouldn't have shared. Anyway--are you okay? We're kind of out in the middle of nowhere, here.
no subject
She does smile though, a little bit meekly, but a smile all the same.]
Just Rei is fine, Yosuke-kun. I know this is confusing and strange. I guess it's best to just say we were friends, even if you don't remember me. I'm an ally, and I won't put expectations on you if I can help it. I'm just glad to see you.
[She stifles a little giggle, remembering him falling into things and generally being clumsy.]
I'm just fine, though. A little tired, but this simulation isn't too terrible.