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

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

reincarnesiac: (hnngh)

[personal profile] reincarnesiac 2025-07-09 08:56 pm (UTC)(link)
I... am not so sure. Like the ones here are basically compete in virtual reality games, variety show games, racing games, gambling games, or fighting games. Except as yourself, and not an avatar.

( A pause. )

And if that didn't make sense, it's basically all competitive games right now. The people who can go to a city in a different place from this casino? They say they've been on other kinds of missions, but I don't have a rundown of what they are, I'm sorry.
laserguy: (ruby quartz)

[personal profile] laserguy 2025-07-09 11:29 pm (UTC)(link)
[He doesn't take offense to Shadow's words, partly because he has a feeling that he's not just referring to him. Besides, it's not like he would really disagree otherwise. Scott knows how little he's done in his life, especially compared to the other mutants.

It's like they got the wrong Scott or whatever.]


That's a good bet. Don't trust the man in charge. [But he is still going to play the heck out of these pinball machines... Scott hurries up a little, demeanor shifting to something a little more playful.]

But at least we have this.
laserguy: (watch me become co-dependent with jean)

[personal profile] laserguy 2025-07-10 12:03 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah well, if you need someone to make an entrance for you...

[Guess he's available. Don't worry, he won't charge too much. Maybe it won't help too much with their current situation, but everyone needs to blast a door down at some point, right? Sure.]

I'm just not responsible for any collateral damage.
velocityraptor: Credit recadreuse (Hawks 02)

[personal profile] velocityraptor 2025-07-10 01:11 am (UTC)(link)
I'll keep that in mind, that seems fair. I'll try to remember to ask you to make a wall where it's not load bearing.

[ There are lots of heroes that can break walls, but that's just not in his skillset. ]

Sorry I thought you were out here trying to creep me out. I still don't know what the noise was I heard and coming out here hasn't really...answered that question.
fromfire: (pleurent les violons)

[personal profile] fromfire 2025-07-10 01:15 am (UTC)(link)
An engineer, eh? Or a tinkerer?

[ His mouth widens a little at his own little joke, his own little way he teases him. ]

Yes, it is. [ He blinks. ] Where? ... ah, yeah.

[ It's an involuntary thing to ask where first, but he does nod that he came to this place and nowhere else. ]
auderes: (pic#17340915)

[personal profile] auderes 2025-07-10 03:46 am (UTC)(link)
There's a lot about this that Dick understands, from the lens of someone who's gone through some weird points with memories and lost time and someone who's just experienced a lot of weird in his life, on top of knowing Barbara almost as well as he knows himself, but even then there's still some of it that's not quite within his grasp. If it were someone else, if it wasn't their relationship in a weird limbo, he could see himself shaking his head and telling her that she's overthinking it. That may be true, he just doesn't feel like he has the right to say so when he can't know everything that she's been through, or settle any lingering, nagging doubts that she might be contending with over there.

He can wish that it was that simple.

He's close to saying so, though he shouldn't. He wants to ask what they did do, though he doesn't know that he needs that knowledge kicking around in the back of his mind. It definitely wouldn't help to hear that all of this was easier before, if it was, and that against everything he feels deep down to his soul that there's always going to be that span of time wedged between them, a crack in a foundation that he's taken for granted too many times before. He won't let himself think like that, he can't.

But that he's unsettled in obvious, he's never been good at trying to swallow back emotions. The best he can really aim for now is not stumbling into saying something that's going to end with her pulling away from him again.

"A lot of things have happened here since then, and not just between us either." When he's tipping his face back down to hers, meeting her eyes this close, there's a familiar rush of warm anticipation, he wants to kiss her but he can't. Shouldn't. "I'd be kind of surprised if it wasn't different now."

Apologizing for not remembering, for not being exactly the way she remembers him last, would be ridiculous, but he almost feels like he should.
thelightshines: (I need more time)

[personal profile] thelightshines 2025-07-10 03:55 am (UTC)(link)
...I don't know. I told you it's just what we're told. No one I've spoken with can confirm or deny the state of their world. [Definitely some he didn't feel were suitable for the task being asked. Then again, not all of the "missions" have been dangerous like when he first arrived.

He watches as her spirit deflate slightly by all this. He's...not really the greatest at this sort of thing. Not exactly being a ray of sunshine himself. But he sighs, leaning back against the wall, thinking.]
What is your name?
her_own_rules: Dick, Babs (God Tier Cuteness)

[personal profile] her_own_rules 2025-07-10 04:14 am (UTC)(link)
"No. Not that." Barbara shakes her head, a small movement when her chin rests on his chest, and then pauses—her brow knitting, because it feels impossible not to touch, doing this. "Sure, I am still thinking about that. What I can tell you and can't about the year back home, and whether that connects to the other entrance from that time, without breaking the standard rules of time travel Bruce drilled into all of us—"

And god if that's not part of why some part of her has the wherewithal to look at his eyes this close in the dark, reflective only now and then, and not blue in this inky deepness, and end up turning her head, putting her cheek back against his skin.

"—but I didn't mean that." That was ... its own box, which could sit somewhere, over there, off the bed, until morning, unless he absolutely needs to pick at it right now. "The older you, we did come in together. But he bounced up ahead of me about a month, one night, not long before he left. We went to bed one night—everything normal, or as normal as everything ever gets around here—and when I woke up to this deeply unfamiliar slightly longer hair and beard?"

"I may have decked you with a pillow." Beat.
A scrunch of her nose. "While falling off the bed."

Only realizing it was still him in the middle of that fall.

(She's diverting but only briefly. It was a little comedic after the fact.)
Edited 2025-07-10 04:17 (UTC)
thelightshines: (But listen carefully)

[personal profile] thelightshines 2025-07-10 04:37 am (UTC)(link)
[He'll catch up with Scott eventually, not quickening his steps.

...

He can just barely see the top of the pinball machine.]
Did you like to play pinball back home?
usedhuntersmark: (inkonic lovm s2e1-3 vex (26))

[personal profile] usedhuntersmark 2025-07-10 10:03 am (UTC)(link)
[It probably wouldn't help anyway, since Trinket isn't here. And that is part of the reason Vex is utterly and completely... well, vexed.

She raises an eyebrow at his whole explanation. And then reaches a hand up to the innocuous earring in her one ear.]


We have something similar. A wizard friend of ours enchanted these earrings so that everyone in our group could communicate with one another. Within a certain range, of course, but the concept isn't really unknown to me.

[She's a little amused, but this is the first time that she's mentioned Tiberius since they saw his remains in what was left of Draconia.]

You've yet to tell me your name so that I might thank you.
bonding: (Head of the student council)

[personal profile] bonding 2025-07-10 03:13 pm (UTC)(link)
..... [IN a way, he's right. If she doesn't try, she likely won't hurt anyone. But if Kris shows up-- If Kris shows up...]

Fahaha, well! I guess! I'd rather just help people, if I could. I can put people to sleep and heal too, so I'd rather focus on those.

[She sticks out her hand then, smiling a bit] I'm Noelle Holiday, by the way.
bonding: (Head of the student council)

[personal profile] bonding 2025-07-10 03:26 pm (UTC)(link)
[She looks around at the different games and people milling about, the cheers that rise up from one area of the casino itself. She'd never wanted so badly to be back in her boring little town.

She's only half-listening, though his sudden movement makes her zone back in, staring at him in surprise.
] We can... Yeah.... Yeah! That's right! We can do whatever we want! So, um, let's... [She looks around, not at all sure where to even begin with that]

...Gamble...? Or just... [She reaches out and tentatively pushes over a potted plant decoration. It doesn't even break when it hits the ground, just lays there pathetically.] Oh.
sabigoe: (⚙ 56)

[personal profile] sabigoe 2025-07-10 08:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Right.

[ She resists letting her smile slip. Sometimes it feels as though her motivation is waning, even after being in Etraya for a short few months. Especially with the lack of proof that their worlds are safe. As long as she's together with others though, she might be able to keep going. ]

This is... all new to me. I've never had any games like these back home. [ As a way to get to know him better... ] Do you have a favorite?

[ If this weren't considered a mission and the exit wasn't too difficult to navigate, she might have tried to leave. She mostly enjoys quieter activities, like reading and drawing. With a friend, she might be able to enjoy herself. ]
sabigoe: (⚙ 83)

[personal profile] sabigoe 2025-07-10 08:29 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Watching him take a moment to answer, she's beginning to realize that she might be asking about too much. Just as she's about to slip into a worried frown, her lips twitch into a smile as he pokes her nose. ]

It must be something super important, huh. [ She figures there's more to it, but she doesn't question any further. ] I'm sorry if I asked a difficult question...
ornithologist: (071)

[personal profile] ornithologist 2025-07-10 08:36 pm (UTC)(link)
That almost makes him laugh at the mental image. John is more than smart enough to be a scientist, but also possibly physically incapable of sitting in one place for more than an hour unless he's actively waiting to shoot someone. Harold had been trying to be coy about what he reveals about John's personal background, but he decides John wouldn't mind some basic facts.

"No, I'm sorry, I've misled you -- we call the people we helped the numbers because we received only their social security number. Mr. Reese is former military, like yourself, in addition to being a former intelligence operative. It was just the two of us initially."
quibblingfunctionary: made by dethruki (intensity)

[personal profile] quibblingfunctionary 2025-07-10 11:16 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Something about the way Clive says that makes Sleipnir wonder if the man before him doesn't have the confidence to enjoy himself... He's curious and wonders how this could be, but will let it go for the time being.

When Mythos uses his name for the second time it registers much closer to the foreground of his mind. He likes the way it sounds. Well, of course Sleipnir does, he already admitted to enjoying his voice, so of course his name would- Hm. Still, it's cute, and he's a glad to have done something for him others had not. Sleipnir raises his glass to Clive's appreciation and takes a sip.

The reverie of Barnabas is a bittersweet one which both kisses and stings Sleipnir's core. Upon blinking he mentally emerges from it, eyes raising up to meet Clive's. Pain. Suffering. What he has spoken is reflected in his savior's eyes and not for the first time Sleipnir wonders what dances beneath the other's skin. What secrets lie buried beneath blood and bone.

The pain is there again- or is it still?- when Clive's eyes snap back during Sleipnir's stumbling monologue. The alcohol drives a strange urge to hold the man cupped in his hands, shelter him from the wind like a guttering candle. Weird indeed, because Lord Rosfield is not four inches tall and thusly would not fit as such.

His mind lingers on the thought, aided by the man having tilted away from him and Sleipnir feels the candle's warmth being taken with it. The metaphor trips a little when he thinks about how the man seems to be dousing the fire in alcohol- wouldn't that stoke the flame?- when he finally finishes his shot, denies the bartender, and rejoins with Sleipnir once more.

Instinctually Sleipnir thought to respond with how the other is Mythos, their savior, and how of course he deserves it by virtue of this alone... But the man asks what he has done to deserve it. Which is a very different thing. So, instead Sleipnir leans back, body still facing him, and runs his eyes over Clive's face, studying him quietly a moment.

Sleipnir's expression is very concentrated and absent-mindedly he runs his tongue over his teeth while his mouth is closed, contemplating the other, weighing thoughts and directions to take this. He slides his glass of wine to the side and drums his fingers once, twice on the bar top while maintaining eye contact.

Then he looks away as he reaches out to pry the shot glass from under Clive's hand, motions for the bartender to fill it for him instead, and downs it. Then he tosses back a second one and slides the glass back to the bartender. Through all of this Sleipnir has kept his body tilted facing Clive and now his gaze returns there as well. He licks his lips, presses them together, then speaks. ]


... One does not need to do something to earn being cared for, Clive Rosfield. It is something that should be given freely. [ Sleipnir waits a beat for this to sink in, then continues before Clive can interject. ] That people in your life have denied you such for so long... I find myself rather angry with them over it.
laserguy: (new day)

[personal profile] laserguy 2025-07-10 11:52 pm (UTC)(link)
...Kind of.

[Nothing good, at least not at first. Fueled by his own anger, his own feelings of feel ostracized, and blaming it all on this other version of him that the other mutants have complicated feelings about. He's past that initial window of rage, but Scott can't say that he's jumping at the thought of seeing this 'other him' still.

He buries his hands in his pockets, trying to remain unaffected.]


Maybe call him an asshole. [...Maybe learn more about him?? Does he want to know that much? He isn't sure. It's complicated thinking about-- so maybe Sonic has some advice on that.] How about you?
fromfire: (or honey hope)

[personal profile] fromfire 2025-07-11 12:25 am (UTC)(link)
It's all right. I'll answer any question you have for me, Fio.

[ He wonders if she knows how rare it is that he's willing to do that much for her. Of course, even though he'll answer any question, he already knows he'll omit pieces he thinks she doesn't need to know. He did so just know.

He pauses before he reaches out to ruffle her hair. ]


Okay. Shall we go get and trade some cards?
bluejustice: (118)

[personal profile] bluejustice 2025-07-11 12:55 am (UTC)(link)
[And wasn't that the million-dollar question. Truth to be told, he had been avoiding thinking too much about it, still unsure of how he felt. But he supposed he would've to face them eventually, he could at least try to acknowledge the issue and try to organize his thoughts. And yeah, talking about stuff, emotional stuff, is never easy, but he guesses he could throw it all there and then figure out the rest. He knows he'll feel better afterwards, somehow.]

Well... I haven't heard much about this other me. I mean, I sure do hope he's not some kind of jerk, that would suck. [He smiles a little bit, trying to put humor into it.] From the way some were excited to approach me, I guess he's great at making friends, so I think that's cool! Well, except from Other!Shadow, though you could think he was a little excited to kick my butt, if that counts. I am, kinda curious about meeting him? From the way Sonia talked about her world, there seems to be a lot of exciting differences in our lives, so I wouldn't mind asking him about what kind of adventures he's had, share stories, jokes, stuff like that... But, at the same, I can't help but feel a little intimidated...? [He can't help but remember the look of disappointment the Other!Shadow gave him. Like he had expected more. Not whatever he saw in him. It shouldn't matter, but it just had stuck with him.] Does that make any sense?
bluejustice: (25)

[personal profile] bluejustice 2025-07-11 01:22 am (UTC)(link)
[They get to the door, and he waits-- ah! There it is! That same noise!]

Okay, ready? One, twothree!

[He quickly opens the door, ready for a dramatic reveal-- but there's nothing on the other side! Just a regular, old, hotel room.]

What? It was definitely here!
herofhopeless: (Dark tone serious convo)

[personal profile] herofhopeless 2025-07-11 01:44 am (UTC)(link)
[Admittedly, Clive does not expect the conversation to last much longer after all of this. He debates fully turning away from Sleipnir. Contemplates the merits of another shot or another glass of wine. Thinks about how he is going to get back to his room at the end of the night if he gets too drunk, thinks about how he doesn’t really want to have a hangover tomorrow morning. Anything to stop himself from thinking about how Sleipnir described Barnabas.

Clive blinks and follows the stolen glass’s trajectory and watches as Sleipnir slams two shots in a row. He almost asks him if he is okay then remembers the sheer amount of offense that the other man took when last he asked. The fact that this conversation was determinedly focused on himself was a little difficult to handle.

He thought about opening his mouth to bid the other man a goodnight when Sleipnir spoke again. Every thought he had came to a screeching halt. It was like every stack of little things in his mind that Clive had been carefully treading around were kicked over all at once, scattering and distorting everything. He turns again, staring rather dumbly at Sleipnir, and the only thing he can manage to whisper out is:]


You used my name.

[The rest of it… Clive was wondering if he was too drunk to have that conversation right now. It felt like a sober conversation. Would Sleipnir have even brought any of this up if they were sober? Would he have entertained this? Clive sighs.]

Emphasis on ‘should be’. And the people in my life now care for me without me having to ask.

[As well as they can without Clive being open about it, anyway.]
Edited (word choice change) 2025-07-11 02:31 (UTC)
fourthwalled: (unmasked: lazing around)

[personal profile] fourthwalled 2025-07-11 02:08 am (UTC)(link)
I wasn't implying anything. I only say random words, and I shouldn't be held responsible for what they are.

[Give him a break, Renoir! He holds up his hands, but does lean down to look at the ring.]

She locked you down, huh? Lucky woman.
limiterrings: (pic#17684734)

[personal profile] limiterrings 2025-07-11 03:50 am (UTC)(link)
You may return.

[ as if he needed shadow's approval, at least the older hedgehog knows where the other is going. this place though where the portal ejected them is making him curious, why this... location specifically?

he doesn't pay attention to the other staring as he focuses on this... newfound information. ]
thelightshines: (in the deepest darkness)

[personal profile] thelightshines 2025-07-11 05:44 am (UTC)(link)
[The other seemed focused on something else since they exited the portal. While he is curious...he chooses not to press. Maybe after he comes back from the apartment, he'll ask then. After he's given himself some time to gather himself together.

He had his fair share of experiences while in the Gold Saucer. Encountering Sonic being one of them. And not from the other's world, his own. It was almost a relief to see a familiar face, validation that his universe does exist. It's already in the past, and he knows he is who he is, but the other made him self conscious of his own existence. How they thought he was some imposter upon first meeting. It's not like he had proper proof at the time, only his word.

...And there's a chance Sonic may not even stay. Once the mission is complete at the Gold Saucer, will he be able to come to Etraya? Or disappear like Maria did? Surely, Sonic is the one Echo actually wants to prove their worth, right? ...Why does it sadden him at the thought of the other hedgehog leaving?

There's a clicking of a door as Shadow finally arrives back to the apartment he has been calling...something of a base? He still hasn't quite settle here, can't quite call it home. It would mean he was getting too accustomed to this place if he started to call it that. So it was a base of operations to him.

As the door shuts behind him, his feet drags him in the direction of the bedroom he had claimed for himself. Still nearly spotless, like it's been hardly lived in. All except for the missing pillows and blankets on the bed. They can be found inside the closet now, where Shadow goes. He had made himself something of a nest there, and it's here that he settles in. Despite given the privacy of his own room, it was just too much open space for his liking. The small space inside the closet was far more suitable for his needs.

...

The small space being surrounded by pillows and blankets like this, also reminded him of the pillow fort he and Maria had built together. A place of comfort and happier memories. He grabs one of the pillows, hugging it. His eye stare at a pair of rollerskates sitting in the corner, no longer pristine after taking a dip in the lake. He will not sleep, only taking this time to rest, think. For he knows what waits him should he close his eyes.]
ornitiers: (You have)

[personal profile] ornitiers 2025-07-11 07:55 am (UTC)(link)
Eh? Ah, here, too? I did race on one when I first showed up here. I guess that was something familiar at least.

[He nods, his eyes smiling as the other recognizes the chocobo. It is at least something familiar that he is used to. He just needs to figure out this place more. But the other is there with him, for now. That he wasn't alone. Not entirely. Even if there might not be anyone else from home specifically. There were some similarities between him and Dion, their homes. That's something.]