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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no subject
For now though, she's actually glad to see him! Really! He's her friend after all, a teammate and trusted ally. She just can't stop herself from poking fun at him at least a little. It's just in her DNA. ]
Come on, you got a license don't you? I'm sure you could pick up all kinds of girls in that thing. [ She holds it in for a moment.. then breaks out laughing. ]
Toddlers maybe! [ And then breaks out laughing. Also, definitely not a mirage. ]
no subject
Just...not in the car. Definitely not in this car. Screw this car. ]
A motorcycle license isn't the same thing at all and you know it. [ Huff. ] Oh yeah, girls. What, six year-olds?
[ CHIE PLZ. NOT TODDLERS. ]
Oh, c'mon! Toddlers, really?
[ He ruffles his hair in a show of frustration. ]
Either way, it's too convenient to just be sitting there. There isn't even any sand built up on it or anything. It's like it just appeared.
no subject
Well, this thing has got to have less horsepower? So I'm sure you won't get pulled over.
[ She's still snickering as she walks past him to the other side of the toy car. ....To literally kick the tires. A light kick makes an empty, hollow plastic sort of noise. Not a good sign for his first car. ]
That's how things kinda work here. But I guess you really don't know much, do you? [ Chie says, having JUST learned this like a month ago, and now acting like she knows everything?! ]
no subject
Haha...you're a riot.
[ Police in the desert! Actually...that would be pretty handy right about now. Where's the highway patrol when you need them? Or do you actually have to have a highway for that?
He hears that accusatory tone and crosses his arms. ]
How things work "here"? What, in the middle of nowhere?
no subject
But she cools it with the jokes for at least a moment, reaching out to... punch Yosuke on the arm. Gently, before she gives him a hug without even thinking about it. ]
You're really Yosuke. I can't believe you're here!
[ That question apparently sealed the deal for her?! But it's not a long hug, seeing as it hasn't been that long, but she felt like she had to do it. Just don't bring it up Yosuke or she will lash out!! ]
In Cerealia! Well... I guess this is ViViD but if you're here that means you're in Cerealia.
no subject
He's feeling appropriately salty until she actually hugs him. Wait, what? What did he miss? For all his guffawing he actually doesn't mind a hug from Chie, but it definitely feels a little out of left field. ]
Uh...Chie? Of course it's me...
[ So he's left standing there visibly surprised and a little confused. ]
"Cerealia"? Where's that? Is this a new part of the TV World? I feel like I would've remembered falling in.
no subject
But hey, she's not even sure why she's hugging him, other than she'd hug anyone on their team who turns out to be here!
But she's quick to let go, awkwardly taking a few steps back... and pretending that didn't happen. ]
We're in a game! Cerealia is this planet we live on. [ No it's the city name. ] This is like some kind of virtual reality thing, we have to make it to the end to get out. It's... kinda a long story.