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∎ ETRAYA MODS ∎ ([personal profile] etrayamods) wrote in [community profile] etrayamemes2025-05-30 09:20 am
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TDM 008


content warnings for this TDM include: gambling references, mild horror themes and suggestive content


⏵ arrival⏴

Arrival does not happen as Aurora usually plans for it. Newcomers generally find themselves waking up within the hospital, are given a brief overview of their situation, and sent on their way. Now? They wake up immersed in a game within The Gold Saucer. But it doesn't quite feel like a game: whether it's snowy mountains, riding a chocobo as you listened to the wind quickly pass by your ears, or in the middle of a battle with a beast, it feels utterly real.

It's only after the game concludes - either by winning or losing - that you find yourself back in the main game area. A bot, dressed as personnel in this lavish playground, approaches each arrival with an earpiece allowing them to communicate with those in their same situation. It also serves to inform them of their goal: collect enough gold saucer points (or GP) by playing the games to acquire a card fashioned to their own likeness from the game counter. Then, they must trade it for someone else's. Seems simple enough, right? Hopefully the cards aren't too expensive...


⏵ the gold saucer ⏴

The Gold Saucer is an ode to the very idea of fun. It’s huge, labyrinthine, colorful, and lively. Everywhere you look, there’s something to do. At the same time, it’s also impossible to tell what time it is. There are no windows to the outside, there are no clocks. This place is beyond such a thing.

There are games everywhere you look, ranging from the pseudo-gambling to sports to pixelated video games in cabinets. Yet no matter which boxing game, pinball machine, or skeeball machine you look at, the same creatures and themes arrive. Cactuars, chocobos, the fiercest Behemoth, the cuddliest Moogle… For those from the realms of Final Fantasy, this will feel natural- homey even. Everyone else will simply understand that there is a fairly strong central theme here about magic, machines, and monsters.

It’s hard to tell how long you spend here, and it seems to sit outside of the very concept of time. Still, there are many restaurants, lounges, and vending machines. There are shops and costume rentals. There are even little pharmacies with headache remedies if the partying gets out of hand. And when you grow tired, there is a hotel- though it is made up like a haunted house, you can count on getting some semi-restful sleep.


⏵ playtime ⏴
Interdimensional Games


At first, stepping through to play any of these games may make participants wonder if they have been teleported somewhere else entirely. But on closer inspection, all the skies above are merely well-constructed interiors with painted ceilings. After all, it always seems to be daytime during these games.

Snowboarding - Race to the bottom of the mountain, but avoid obstacles and complete as many tricks as possible!

Chocobo Racing- Race on Chocobo-back around a treacherous outdoors race track which can either be taking place in a desert, a swampy forest, or upon an island beach. Work in tandem with your rented bird and against your competition by throwing hazards in their way or utilizing buffs garnered on the track. Different colored birds will yield different advantages.

Yellow - Good All Rounder
Red - Fast, but hard to steer
Blue - Slower, but very easy to steer. Much easier to pick up items from them.
Green- Resilient against traps and sabotage

Colosseum Battle- Face off against the fiercest beasts around. Pair up with friends or rivals to Collaborate or Compete to do the most damage and deliver the final blow. These battles are synced to the comparative power of the one entering the competition.

We wouldn’t want anyone to get hurt unnecessarily, after all. And indeed, no one will get seriously, gruesomely, or permanently injured in these battles. Those without fighting capabilities can rent weapons outfitted Materia to assist them in their trial. These will allow anyone to cast spells, though not guarantee any better wielding of weapons. There are a hundred rounds, starting with fairly simple Spriggans, ranging all the way up to blood-thirsty Behemoths to challenge even the most battle-hardened hero.

Gold Saucer Games


Leap of Faith- Players are presented with an obstacle course that stretches a hundred feet into the air upon floating platforms and islands. Both are held aloft by magical crystals. Powers are entirely nerfed, though falling and hitting the ground is strangely painless. Those who collect the most silver and gold statuettes of cactuars placed at random throughout the course will be awarded proportionate GP; though there is a bonus for those that reach the very top first.

Triple Triad- Everywhere you look, people are playing this game on little 3 by 3 boards, or any surface with enough space. You will be given a loaner deck to play with. Are you clever enough to defeat your fellows.

Fashion Report- Theobold, familiar to some, stands by himself in a little booth with a dressing room and an incredibly expansive walk-in closet. He is a robot of distinguished fashion and strong opinions on those fashions. Do you dare subject yourself to his scrutiny? Come prepare in his wondrous closets to make the best outfit for the chance to win a prize. Please submit your fashion here!

There are Arcade Machines and activities galore. If you can think of it, it’s probably there- Just with that Final Fantasy pastiche on it, of course.


⏵ the beehive lounge ⏴

There are other places to eat at the Gold Saucer, but the vending machines and cafés all pale in comparison to the dinners at the Beehive.

For all the rave reviews, there is a dress code at the Beehive, and this is literal. If you step inside and are not currently wearing a dress, you will be ushered into a sideroom and appropriately made over.

However, this is only for those trying to go in through the normal doors. Around the side there happens to be an employee entrance, manned by a bot. He will only allow those in who seem like they intend to work— and therefore must be wearing at least one piece of the Bunnysuit Collection to trick the guard.

Once you are made over or have snuck in, you are free to relax inside with drinks, dine on a fine meal, watch the dancers, or participate yourself if you feel brave enough. Why would anyone ever dance here? Well, that’s simple. It pays really well. So if you’re sick of games, or terrible at them— you can always come dance for a shift. Though, don't get any unseemly ideas about freeing yourself of your clothing, this isn't that kind of establishment!


⏵ haunted house ⏴

When you grow too weary or drunk from a day of games, you may be directed to somewhere a little quieter to sleep. Up the elevator, and through the doors reveals a modest walk through some woods until a quaint, victorian hotel appears. It is always nighttime here, and the stars and moon twinkle above.

The receptionist, a bot in a rather bedraggled-looking chocobo mascot costume checks you in and shows you to your room. You can sleep here, especially if you can tolerate the hokey haunted decorations strung up around the place. Though sometimes, late at night, there will come a vigorous thumping on the door to startle sleeping patrons awake- Only for the culprit to vanish and be impossible to locate.



⏵ ticket counter ⏴


The prize counter is manned by a bot and has a sign posted overhead. Most prizes will be handed over inside an appropriately sized wrapped box, as the contents are a mystery.


Sparklers & Glowsticks 10 gp
Bunny Suit 300 gp
Bunny Stockings & Heels 150 gp
Animal Ears (Random) 500 gp
Kigurumi (Random) 100 gp
Chocobo Barding (Random) 1000 gp
Classic White Mage Robes 500 gp
Classic Black Mage Robes 500 gp
Plush Toy (Random) 100 gp
Wind-Up Minion (Random) 200 gp
Chocobo Mascot Suit (Random Color) 2000 gp
Triple Triad Booster Pack 50 gp
Triple Triad Card in your Likeness 10,000 gp


⏵ NOTES ⏴


This TDM may be treated as a mini-Mission. Time will not pass inside of it in relation to the world outside - meaning, this can be happening at any time between late May into early July!

This Gold Saucer is a bit of a mix between that of FF7's and FF14's, but it also has some things that neither have as well. Any inaccuracies are entirely intentional, aimed to make this rest within a space of uncanny valley for those who are familiar. While otherwise being a bit of a chaotic fantastical funhouse for everyone else! If there is something unlisted, chances are it will exist if it is in either of the other versions of the Gold Saucer.

Characters already in game are welcome to post to the TDM, too! Please mark them as current characters in your header. Threads can be kept as game canon as long as both characters get into the game!

Please direct all questions to our mod queries comment!

FULL NAVIGATION

bluejustice: (36)

[personal profile] bluejustice 2025-06-30 02:03 am (UTC)(link)
[He might be curious enough to give it a try, but there’s no guarantee on how long his attention will actually stick to it.

He wasn't quite expecting such a defensive retort.]
Okay! Sheesh, touchy. [He quickly raised both hands in front of himself in a placating manner, though his expression remained unimpressed.] Can I at least bring some thing to help, or should I leave you to bleed out?
thelightshines: (you'll know)

[personal profile] thelightshines 2025-06-30 02:39 am (UTC)(link)
[Going to have to get used to this if you want to be friends with Shadow, Sonic. Maybe he's more willing to trust others, but Shadow isn't, for obvious reasons.]

...Fine. [Getting something though is not a problem for him.] Do you even know what to look for?
levindicated: (44)

[personal profile] levindicated 2025-06-30 02:53 am (UTC)(link)
We were just dancing. Now you’ve got the Dame’s personal lessons from her boudoir here for just anyone to see.

[He gives a dry little laugh as Clive pushes back against the asserterion that he’s old. That’s new. He always let him get away with it before.]

I feel old. [He manages to stay upright and on beat.] And drunk. But we saw that coming.

[Its nearly as intoxicating as the other man’s touch. They had to hold it down as long as they could though.]

[His grip on Clive’s waist tightens.]

How are you holding together? Shall we take another shot?
bubblegumheart: (pic#17072356)

[personal profile] bubblegumheart 2025-06-30 02:55 am (UTC)(link)
That's an excellent question. If it were me, I probably wouldn't have gone quite so big right off the bat.
fromfire: (down in west hollywood)

[personal profile] fromfire 2025-06-30 03:03 am (UTC)(link)
Then... we'll get a card and trade with one another, how's that?

[ Because guess who has been throwing himself in arenas? It is this man. It seems like the easiest way to earn the currency and also ignore lingering issues by trying to "stay alive." ]

It'd mean a lot to have your card. Means that it's the first step to our friendship, no?

[ She doesn't sound too excited about it, but he tries to make some excitement. Right - it probably is more important to get that card than other gifts. If he has any other points left, perhaps, he'll try to get her a stuffed animal. Who doesn't like one of those? Especially how she sees her eyes wander over the options and seems to settle on what he just humored getting her. ]

Oh -- [ He holds his arms out to the side as he looks down at himself. ] You're quite right. I should. I actually have a room, so -- let's stop there and I'll have you wait outside while I get less -- this. [ He smiles wide and amused.

A small tip of his head as he starts to head toward the hotel. ]
It looks a bit like a haunted manor. You're staying there, too, right? It seems more like fun than scary... but I will admit sometimes I do get a little scared. [ A segway to check and ask if she's been feeling scared in the space they have to rest. ]
bluejustice: (54)

[personal profile] bluejustice 2025-06-30 03:35 am (UTC)(link)
[He'll learn to pick up on his tells, just give him time.]

Yeah, this might come as shocking, but I actually do. [It comes with having a vet mom who cares too much and everything. And it's a mild external wound, while he might not know how to do stitches, it's still not a liver transplant.]

Just wait here. [Not like it looks like you could move anytime soon, but yeah you get it. Okay he knows he saw a Pharmacy somewhere around when he explores the place earlier. Hopefully he won't lose too many point buying stuff.]
fromfire: (and all its words)

[personal profile] fromfire 2025-06-30 03:51 am (UTC)(link)
[ It certainly is nice to win after winning.

But he does get a little lost in the fun of it all. How could he not? Each time, there is a brilliant smile and distracting presence that shares in his victories. He can't help but laugh and enjoy each win that comes their way.

He salutes in an apologetic way when they do finally leave. Lightly holding onto her hand, he laughs along with the offer of toasting like they hadn't been drinking and celebrating the whole time already. ]
It's not sudden. It's because I have a wonderful charm on my arm.

[ Another wider, brighter smile but they do make it to the bar. He uses his free hand to pull the stool out a little for her. ] For you, my lady luck.
fromfire: (your awful heart into song)

[personal profile] fromfire 2025-06-30 04:07 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, yes, of course. How shocking a revelation.

[ A casual reply in response with a small smile tossed back in return.

He opens his mouth like he might explain more -- why he feels like she would live forever. But those are complicated thoughts tangled in complicated feelings. Not all those feelings are even his.

But he often feels much of what he feels isn't him. It is as he told Renoir before: he's trapped in the shadow of a dead man. However, that is not her fault; that's not his fault. So why make it theirs to correct?

It's already been corrected and he simply needs to keep protecting the world Clea lives. Then he'll be allowed to returned to oblivion. Perhaps, that is the greatest reward that awaits him. Perhaps...

He bounces his shoulders in a shrug at how he can't make appointments. ]


Time's hard.

[ It is his joke back --

-- but he pauses and looks at her. ]


You don't have to call me that, Clea. [ She doesn't have to refer to him as "Verso." It's what he decides he should say first before they return to lightly joking with one another. ]

Although, I do intend to go by that name... you don't have to call me that...

[ But his tone shifts to its playful tone once more; he's said his peace and hopefully given her a sense of it as well: ] And if it makes you feel better, I did almost go bald once. That Gestral assistant just wasn't that good with hair products, but thankfully, you know... being able to control one's healing is quite useful at times.
fromfire: (you put your emptiness into melody)

[personal profile] fromfire 2025-06-30 04:29 am (UTC)(link)
Hm? Oh, no.

[ His eyebrows lift at the questions. Holding his chin, he's mildly surprised to be asked. He supposes that shouldn't be a surprise since he saw the teenager take out a crystal and stare at it intently without understanding what that was about -- but anyway. ]

It's Pictos. [ Another brief pause. ] I've -- [ Holding out his arm towards Gorgug as they walk, he flexes his fingers as he searches for the word. ] -- engraved magic into my body. It lets me do a wide variety of things, but the more mundane of them is that it grants me a storage space for items.
borrowers: (pic#17834931)

[personal profile] borrowers 2025-06-30 07:17 am (UTC)(link)
[Then... all the beans were taken from their homes too? Was there something out there that was strong enough to force them somewhere against their wills? She couldn't imagine such a thing. Not unless it was humans doing it to other humans.

At the question, she feels... conflicted.

Probably because Sho's face sprung into her mind immediately.]


Not all humans... but a lot of them try to harm or capture borrowers like me, so... we have to live in secret from them. For our own safety. We only take what won't be missed, and we keep to ourselves.
stresstokens: (pic#17104555)

[personal profile] stresstokens 2025-06-30 07:51 am (UTC)(link)
I guess you're from a world where guys like me aren't around, [ Riz says with a crooked, familiar smile, like he'd been expecting a double-take more exaggerated than a bit of stammering. ] Most people around here are.

[ From worlds where there are humans, and only humans. Or humans and mutants, which turns out to be a word for someone who looks an awful lot like a human, but has special powers. Tomato, tomato. For the most part, all he feels for her is empathy; he had panicked in a way he's not proud of the moment he had arrived here, and had set out to make it everyone's problem.

If he woke up in a place like this, he thinks he probably would have fainted. ]


I don't know about you, but my dreams are never this creative. Or this long.
ornitiers: (Given to me)

[personal profile] ornitiers 2025-06-30 09:40 am (UTC)(link)
You can.....sense them?

[Huh. He guesses that would definitely be useful. It's not something Vivi himself has experience with, but he could see how that could be handy. To know if others were around or not. Still, he glances around when the other mentions card games, his hat shifting slightly along with his staff.]

Cards? I guess that wouldn't be too complicated? I could maybe try?
stylebythemile: (083)

[personal profile] stylebythemile 2025-06-30 10:34 am (UTC)(link)
[Sonia can follow this thread of logic easily enough. Any place that has guards posted to it where she's from is usually hiding something from resistance eyes. In this case, it's probably something some authority here is trying to cover up. It's why she ignores the suggestion to leave him to it; now she's curious too, and despite what happened back there, she knows a thing or two about busting through bots.

Though she does tense at the sight of another bot standing over them, she relaxes a bit when it directs them to... change clothes? She peers into the indicated room and stares at the outfits.

Quietly, to her companion:]
... Are these work uniforms?
stylebythemile: (045)

[personal profile] stylebythemile 2025-06-30 11:06 am (UTC)(link)
[The woman appears to ignore them, busying herself with other tasks. The tickets might be a lost cause, then. Sonia turns her proper attention on to the other hedgehog now, because he's suddenly chosen to give her unsolicited--but not unwelcome--advice. It doesn't immediately relate to the search for her brothers, but there's nothing to be done about that. Either he's seen them or he hasn't, and clearly, he hasn't.]

Thank you. [A nod.] I will.

[A pause.]

Well. Since we've been signed up for scares, maybe we should check it out.

[She offers a smile and a light shrug.]
betenoir: (Focused)

[personal profile] betenoir 2025-06-30 11:16 am (UTC)(link)
[Renoir sits with some slight discomfort, being accustomed to a life spent with nobody but loved ones. The expeditioners he had commanded. Those people had been associates, companions who came together for a common cause, but they had not been family.

He rests his cane against the bench, then raises his free hand. I'm fine, he says. Thank you. But I don't need anything. How can he face her should she arrive and find him weak?

But her last comment? It almost makes him smile.]


Perhaps we've earned such a reward simply by offering our support.

[He thinks purposefully, lips drawing together.]

But I am not rushing to demand their presence here. We all deserved to make that choice, no?

[They had had no choice to come here. He would not impose that on them. Much as he truly would because then he can keep them safe.]
auderes: (pic#17357281)

[personal profile] auderes 2025-06-30 12:45 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He's not about to get into an argument over who's the favorite son, that's not one he could win no matter what he says, so he focuses on the second part instead, not quite moving to chase Jason down, but insisting— ]

I do. And if these nightmares are that bad then I doubt they're going to just go away if you ignore them.
restingstitchface: (Detached)

[personal profile] restingstitchface 2025-06-30 01:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Beauty is subjective and that makes beauty itself a philosophical concept. Unlike medicine, it is hardly based on objective, universal standards.

In any case, I suppose I could purchase a ticket. But where is beauty in an emotion freely given? I prefer the elegance of taking what I need.


[He is not someone who meekly waits and asks to be told what to think. And by medicine he means drugs.]
copsormasks: (091)

[personal profile] copsormasks 2025-06-30 01:29 pm (UTC)(link)
[Jason pockets his hands and continues to walk. He's not going to re-hash this conversation with what appears to be an older version of Dick.]

Yeah? Says who, Freud.

[Excuse him while he tries to put distance between himself and this older Dick.]

See you never.
auderes: (pic#17470243)

[personal profile] auderes 2025-06-30 01:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Mind if I join you?

[ Honestly Dick would have been there even sooner if it wasn't the Beehive, he didnt want to get scooped up and forced to make a change of clothes, he would rather stick with what he's got, thanks, even if it's not fully up to the level of sophistication that they're going for here. But it could be worse, he could have been relegated to his pajamas or an entirely different kind of suit.

He also considered sidling up to the bar to talk his way into getting a drink without anyone worrying about what he is or isn't wearing, just to give him a minute to scope out the situation that elicited a text like that, but once he sees who Barbara's talking to he decides against that in favor of a much more direct approach.

It's hard to miss Bruce. He would stand out in a crowd even if he wasn't tall and broad, he just has that kind of presence. Until he decides that he doesn't want to be noticed, of course. ]
thelightshines: (The sun that spills)

[personal profile] thelightshines 2025-06-30 01:34 pm (UTC)(link)
[That must be where the borrower name came from. He definitely knows what it's like to be hunted and held captive by the humans. But he can fight them if it comes down to it. He has doubts borrowers can do the same so easily.]

...You might be forced to work with them. We're all here to prove our world is worth saving, apparently. [The apparently is there, because he has his doubts that's the real reason they're here.]
repaintress: by betenoir (Thinking)

[personal profile] repaintress 2025-06-30 01:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Why would beauty's subjective nature impact its value? Much that is valuable about the world is subjective. Medicine is less objective than physicians were prefer.

It is a pleasure you warn me in advance not to keep your company unless I am armed.
stylebythemile: (067)

[personal profile] stylebythemile 2025-06-30 01:41 pm (UTC)(link)
I think 'tame' is the name of the game for the time being.

[If she can help it, of course; she's not above going further if it helps her find her brothers. Knowing them, they've already landed themselves in trouble.]
thelightshines: (hold them tight)

[personal profile] thelightshines 2025-06-30 01:56 pm (UTC)(link)
[He looks to where the bot indicates, seeing the bunny suits as his brows furrow.]

Must be. [The bots were wearing the same thing. Maybe they can just wear them to get pass the guard and won't have to keep them on afterwards? With a quiet sigh, he comes over and grabs a head of the bunny suit. They had one with a chocolate colored one apparently. Maybe he could get away with just wearing the head?

He'll go ahead and put it on to try. Their head proportions to the rest of their body was already silly enough, and now it's more ridiculous with the mismatch bunny head. The robot will turn around when he approaches this time, staring at him for a long while, presumably to scan him.

There was a beep, a light flashing green on bot's head.


You may proceed.]
brat: (17446045)

[personal profile] brat 2025-06-30 02:02 pm (UTC)(link)
( he lands on the ground, painfully but not nearly as bad as it could have been because it's not as if it's a tumble that signifies losing; no, it's the opposite. robin hits the ground, but it only takes moments after the pistol has gone off for the explosives to blow off it's collar and thus, it's head straight off of it's body.

robin waits, ensuring there's no further movement from the creature behind him before he gets his arms and legs under him, pulling himself halfway up before he's sitting back down on his knees. )


Ow.

( he says, but it's more - deadpan than anything else. less indication of actual injury, more an indication of harm to his pride. )
restingstitchface: (Erudite)

[personal profile] restingstitchface 2025-06-30 02:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, the value would be impacted because beauty is admired differently between different people. What I consider beautiful you might not - and given your stident behaviour I imagine you've had a fair few disagreements over your preferences.

Oh, you also misunderstand me. I don't value sexual relationships all that highly.