PHASE I [ ?? ?? ] It's impossible to tell time in this place, and everything looks the same, but it won't be long before you're probably sick of the tower. Time to get down -- unless you have magical powers or can fly or something, it'll probably be pretty tough, too. You could try to climb down, but the walls look pretty slick, and -- oh god, your arm just went through the wall, what the hell.
Whatever you do, don't fall.
If you fall, you'll be stuck falling forever. And ever. And ever. Looks like they didn't put a failsafe into ViViD for falling, so now you're stuck. You might see some other people stuck in the same glitch, falling forever a la Alice in Wonderland, but honestly? You're stuck that way until your game resets itself.
PHASE II [ ???? ] Either way, you've made it to the ground (somehow). The ground looks like... a half-finished city, really. There are streets, and houses... but some of the houses are unfinished, just four walls and no roof, or only three walls, or nothing inside, and a lot of the NPCs are completely faceless, or only have one line they repeat over and over again.
It's honestly pretty unnerving, especially since there's no soundtrack at all. You can just traverse this creepy hellscape in complete and utter silence.
And then the cars start to fly away.
That's definitely normal (is there anything about this game that isn't faulty?).
PHASE III [ ???? ] It's not safe.
You could be anywhere in this level, wandering, searching -- and then suddenly, it's there. As it appears, a battle theme starts, but it's distorted, eerie and off-pitch. There's something very wrong about this enemy, that's for sure. It can't be defeated, either. Attacks can harm it, and it can be tossed aside or fought, but it just gets right back up, bloodied and beaten, as if unstopped by anything it's feeling.
Over and over and over again.
Just don't let it touch you.
Because it will start to absorb you, code bit by code bit, until there's nothing left of you. It's a cannibalistic distorted monster, wonderful.
PHASE IV [ ???? ] If it wasn't apparent already, physics is a little weird here. One second you're walking along, and the next there's basically no gravity; you could jump wherever you want, clearing buildings in a single bound like the superman you were always meant to be. One second you're your normal amount of strength, and the next you could life cars (if you so chose), for no apparent good reason.
Sometimes the world just tilts, making the ceiling the floor very suddenly, and sometimes the floor drops out from under you entirely.
Anything that could go wrong with the physics here does go wrong.
Just try not to get caught halfway through a now-solid floor. That sounds really, really uncomfortable.
BONUS [ ???? ] Of course, it wouldn't be glitch central without something weird happening to you. And it could be anything -- one second you're fine, and the next your arm is twice as long as it should be, and totally noodly. Suddenly you have a mermaid tail or animal ears, or your head has rotated upside down (how is that even happening?). You're suddenly able to walk through walls, or drag objects to you by pointing at them.
If this was a video game (it is), it would be the faultiest game to ever exist, that's for sure.
(Still, teleporting from one side of the world to the other by jumping on a single spot on a flowerbed is kind of entertaining, if nothing else.)
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Ichigo Hitofuri | Touken Ranbu
[Ichigo is still reeling from all the surreal things that have happened to him so far. The morning had started so normally too. He’d been supervising the morning rituals of the Awataguchi family as usual, and helping Midare brush his hair when suddenly he’d found himself atop a strange tower. Then before he could orient himself, he was falling down an abyss. Just when he thought he’d continue falling for the rest of eternity, he’d somehow managed to land relatively safely on the ground of what appears to be a town in ruins.
Ichigo dusts himself off and surveys his surroundings. That's when he spots someone in a distance and he hurries towards them.]
Excuse me, would you mind telling me where we are?
[Phase III]
[If there's anyone who can look regal while running away, it would be Ichigo Hitofuri. Here he comes, cape flapping in the wind, sunlight glinting off his glossy minty blue hair and the gold accents of his clothes and sword sheath. He doesn't really like the idea of retreating but he knows this is the right strategic move for now considering how the enemy appears to be basically invincible.
He's now rounding a corner at high speed. Watch out!]
[Bonus]
[Ichigo is really starting to dislike this place. He holds his sword, which is much taller than him now, tightly with both his little hands and tugs a bit at his shorts, unused to having his legs exposed. Just how do his little brothers run around so carefreely in shorts...?
Ichigo is now tinier than the Toushirou tantous and looks to be a child of around 4 or 5, but his sword self has remained the same size.
Isn't he the most adorable little tachi now though? The cute gene definitely runs in the Awataguchi family~!]
ii!
[ ichigo is certainly impossible to mistake for anyone else. tsurumaru closes much of the ground between them, stopping once he's standing in front of the other tachi. he's looking him over for injuries, first — not that being injured matters in this world, but it's concern for a fellow comrade. ]
We're in something called ViViD. Basically... it's kind of like we're inside a game?
[ ...vaguely, something of the sort. ]
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[Ichigo quickens his pace towards the other as well, much relieved to see a familiar face. Then he quickly tries to reassure his fellow tachi when he notices Tsuru checking him for injuries.]
Ah! I'm fine, Tsurumaru-dono! I didn't get hurt from the fall.
[He isn't sure how he’d managed to survive it but he feels fine and doesn't want anyone to worry about him...
ViViD? Game? Ichigo considers all that for a moment.]
Did Master send us here?
[Though it wouldn't be like Master to send him off to some sort of training so abruptly, surely? He hadn't even had a chance to have his own breakfast as he was too busy making sure his brothers finished theirs. His stomach chooses that moment to speak up to remind him of that...]
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Maybe, maybe not.
[ it's rare, true, but not all of the swords think of their citadel master so fondly — and it shows in how abruptly tsurumaru moves on. ]
Anyway— you're hungry, aren't you? I only have candy on me, though, so I hope that's fine.
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He notices the change in Tsuru's demeanor and can't understand it. He wants to ask Tsurumaru what's wrong but is then distracted and very much embarrassed by his growling stomach.]
Ah! I... well, I... You see, I was just about to have breakfast but then Midare wanted me to help him brush his hair, and then one of Gokotai's tiger cubs was trying to steal his fish so... well, the truth is I haven't had a chance to eat anything yet this morning.
[And it wouldn't be the first time. Not that he's going to tell anyone how often it happens! Anyway, he falls silent for a moment, even more embarrassed by his own rambling.]
Candy would be fine.
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instead, he rummages through his pockets for a piece of strawberry candy, wrapped in translucent paper, and holds it out. ]
Here you go — this flavor fits you.
[ never let the ichigo strawberry pun die... ]
It's good to eat sweet things when you've been overworking yourself. And knowing your brothers, I'm sure you have.
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Ah, thank you, Tsuru...
[He trails off when he sees the flavour, then he looks back up at Tsuru. Seriously, Tsurumaru? After knowing you for like 300 years now, you're still going for the strawberry ichigo pun? You seriously need new material. He is about to say something but then decides against it. Not going to dignify your idea of a joke with a response. For if there's anyone who is kind of immune to your pranks, it would be him. He lets out a little sigh and eats the candy because he's so very hungry...]
I haven't been overworking myself...
[He totally has been. Plus his escalating nightmares haven't been much help. It just makes him work even harder in the vain hope that he'll be able to just black out and not have any dreams at all...]
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...bonus...
So she keeps in mind this might actually be a kid, for once!
... For once. ]
Hello?
[ She calls out, scrambling down from the uneven walkway she'd been inching across. ]
Are you okay?
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Little Ichigo, dressed like a little prince complete with side cape and tiny white gloves, hugs his sword close, trying to keep from dragging it along the ground. Then he looks up and gives a smile and a polite little bow.]
Hello, Miss! I'm fine. I'm just... it's just I've somehow been turned into a little child... Do you know how I can turn back?
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Ah, it's like that?
[ She squashes down any tiiiiny little hope that had been left over and firmly tells it, oh well. ]
No, sir, I don't know a way to make the change back here in ViViD. Unless the level does it for you. When you're out in Cerealia, you'll be the way you should. Which, um...
[ She glances at his sword, hazarding a guess: ]
... should be tall enough to handle your vessel?
[ Pieced together knowledge don't fail her now!!! ]
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[Then he tries to process all these unfamiliar terms.] ViViD? Cerealia? I'm afraid I don't quite understand. How did we get here? I was just about to have breakfast when suddenly I found myself in this place...
[He notices her glance and smiles.] Ah, you are familiar with sword spirits, Miss? Are you a saniwa?
Yes, my original self is able to easily handle my vessel. I used to be even taller but my previous master Lord Hideyoshi Toyotomi had my height adjusted to suit him so he could keep me by his side at all times. Ah, where are my manners?
[Laying his vessel gently om the ground, he crosses an arm over his chest and gives another little bow, in a very royal manner.]
I am Ichigo Hitofuri. The only tachi ever made by Yoshimitsu Awataguchi. The Toushirous are all my younger brothers. It's a pleasure to meet you.
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It's okay, all things considered. She just... isn't sure how to respond to that bow. Too royal, does not compute? She does her best by bowing again more... formally. She hopes. Does she even have all her diction right... ]
Mm, it's nice to meet you too, Ichigo Hitofuri-san. I'm Chihiro Ogino, and I'm just a normal elementary student. Not a saniwa or anything special.
[ She gives a shake of her head that has her ponytail swishing along behind her. ]
I know some of your comrades, that's all. They've been very kind to me.
[ There has been only one death threat and she also didn't think it was real (it was real). Bad decision theatre aside, she's fond of (and has faith in) all the sword spirits she's personally met. ]
I don't know how well I'll be able to explain... but I can try to tell you about this place, if you want. How much you believe is something I think you have to decide for yourself.
[ Says the human girl to the sword spirit. BELIEF. The truth is out there??? ]
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He's a bit disappointed that she isn't a saniwa though, because a saniwa would be able to help him more, maybe? But he doesn't let that show, something he's very good at doing, and just keeps smiling.]
I see, that's alright, Ogino-dono.
[What she says next does get his attention though.]
The others are here? Do you know if any of my brothers are here? They would be the swords with 'Toushirou' in their names? Or perhaps my uncle Nakigitsune?
And, yes, I would very much like to know more about this place, Ogino-dono. Any information I can get would be most useful.
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iii!
At least he's elegant enough to collide and fall back with grace. If anyone could make bumping into each other majestic looking, it'd be Mikazuki. ] Ichigo Hitofuri? [ Of all comrades he might have found, he wouldn't have expected one so familiar with him.
The sight of him actually leaves him a little speechless??? ] Ichigo...you...? [ ?!?!?! ]
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I'm so sorry! I didn't ... [That voice!] Mika.. zuki-dono? Mikazuki-dono!
[And with a swish of his cape, he's kneeling by Jiji's side, checking him all over for injuries.]
Are you hurt? Are you alright? I'm so sorry! Please forgive me!
[He wouldn't be able to live with himself if he'd damaged one of the Five Great Swords in any way! Though there's perhaps something more to his concern but he's unaware of it and can't remember. He just knows Mikazuki is very important.]
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There's no need to apologize, it was an accident. [ Just to doubly reassure him, Mikazuki will ever so delicately pat Ichigo's hand. There, there. ] I'm quite alright, you're not hurt?
Ah! That begs the question...what were you running from? [ He has to know whether or not that monster he heard was attacking Ichigo or not -- ]
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I'm glad you're alright. Here let me help you up. And I'm fine! Please don't worry about me, Mikazuki-dono.
[Being around Jiji just makes him feel quite flustered somehow... though he can't understand why... He'll just put it to the fact that it's because he's the great and most beautiful Mikazuki Munechika.]
Ah, I...
[And that just makes him feel more embarrassed! A part of him doesn't want Mikazuki of all people and swords to know he'd run away from a battle, but... but he can't lie! That's just not him! And he especially can't lie to Jiji.]
There was this creature. I'm not sure what it was but there was something very wrong with it. I knew I was overpowered so I... retreated...
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Ahaha, you say that as if it's easy not to worry.
[ He'll smile his usual smile to reassure Ichigo that retreating isn't anything shameful! Especially not when dealing with things in ViViD...Mikazuki knows all too well how strange things can be but even this is beyond what he's seen. It's almost a relieved sigh that escapes him,it would have been much more complicated had he turned the corner to find the tachi in mid-battle. ]
You were right to do so, Ichigo. We all work better in a full team, no? To take a beast on alone would have been...dangerous.
[ Speaking of which! ] Perhaps we should continue the retreat? At least until we've made a good distance between us and the enemy.
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Ichigo understands how hard it is not to worry, being the big brother of twelve (so far), but the thought of Mikazuki worrying about him just... he shakes his head to clear it. Then attempts a smile and a little laugh.]
That is true. Even though I know my brothers are more than capable of handling themselves in battle, I can't help but worry about their safety.
[Then it strikes him! Maybe that's it! Maybe these strange feelings he's having is because Mikazuki is like family! Sort of? Kind of?
He's much relieved by Jiji's reassurance that he'd made the right tactical decision and he smiles brightly at that, feeling much better!]
Yes, we should do that, Mikazuki-dono.
[And he'll do anything to protect you if they should meet that creature again!]
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SLIDES IN HERE iii!
Unfortunately, it's because he's being pursued by some really persistent glitchy NPCs which are kind of starting to freak him out with their whole no-face thing. Not as bad as the glitchboss chasing Ichigo, but still. He doubletakes once he spots that familiar Regal Figure™ running his way, both grateful for the familiar face and the distraction.]
Eh— Ichigo? You, too?!
[What he means is "you're back too??", but "you're also being chased by weird shit??" works just as well...]
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Pardon me, Kashuu-dono. [With that, he pulls Kashuu behind himself and draws his sword in one swift and, of course, graceful motion and slices those NPCs in half. Then he sheathes his sword and turns back to him.] Are you alright, Kashuu-dono?
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He ducks as the NPC... halves... tumble, and gives Ichigo a grateful look.]
Quick like always, huh? Thanks, though. Those guys are a reeeal pain. [TO SAY THE LEAST. He glances back just to make sure the NPC isn't re-forming or anything weird, which is when he spots the glitch boss.]
—Oh, ew! That thing again!
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He smiles.] There's no need- [Then he catches sight of what Kashuu has seen and quickly scoops him into his arms princess-style to retreat! Nope! Not this time, Kashuu, maybe next time. Ichigo takes hold of Kashuu's hand and starts running again.] Time to retreat, Kashuu-dono! [Because 'retreat' sounds so much more dignified than 'run away'...]
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One day his prince will come, but for now, a Dependable Sword™ leading the way from danger is good enough. At least he can run in heels with zero problem...]
Right, right— Don't let that thing touch you either, no matter what! It's definitely one of those weird glitch-y monsters.
[Which he has way too much experience with. The creature behind them seems to be having a little difficulty keeping up with them, at least!]
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Anyway, this amnesiac prince is kind of, sort of, taken, maybe? But the princess he has forgotten appears to be remarrying soon?? Even though they're still technically married maybe? Who knew swords could have such K-drama-worthy love lives!
Ichigo will elegantly lead you away from danger, Kashuu! He glances over.]
Weird glitchy monsters? What happens if it touches us?
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