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etrayamemes2025-05-30 09:20 am
etrayamods) wrote in 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 ⏴ 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. 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.
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! |
arrival
especially so... when the slope police will be surfing their way down to surround hawks, shaking their heads.
"no, sir, if you're going to take part, you need to be with a partner!"
that's the luxury of this game, there can be one or two people, but two means more chances for a winner as they accumulate points down the multiple hills. the two people will have to trust each other to take on different portions of the slope while the other waits, or sometimes they'll both have to take part to get pass.
but this one, the starter zone is for two, and it doesn't seem like hawks is with anyone.
"get down on your feet and snowboard, sir!!"
shadow's ears twitch, an annoyed groan at the sight of the "slope police" already in the way, which is partially holding up this first portion of the event. some people move on ahead in pairs of two, but shadow is still close by only and has no partner.
mostly he's trying to stay out of the way. ]
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And then there's that rule. He had no idea.
Okay, time to locate someone who looks available. Looks like Shadow is the lucky winner. ]
Hey! [ Hawks exclaims in a friendly way, offering a smile. ] Want to pair up?
[ He is...not going to be a help here. ]
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[ he doesn't want to! which also catches the slope police's attention as well as they pull out a sheet of paper to read the name.
"shadow the hedgehog, you applied and had no partner either. you know, that's against the rules."
it's like he's been ratted out, but he stares with a dry expression as he waits for them to shut up and leave.
"you'll be with..." they point a pencil at hawks, "name please, so we can put you on the list with him!"
oh, brother. ]
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I'm Hawks.
[ He's good at flying, he's never done snowboarding, so that's...a new experience. ]
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as for shadow. ]
You don't have to do as they say.
[ not that breaking the rules is good, but they must have different goals here. ]
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[ He's not even prepared for winter and here he is on the slopes. There's a chill in the air. He can feel his energy leaving him. ]
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Do you know how to use it?
[ the hedgehog questions by glancing at the other's snowboard. ]
Getting disqualified will allow you to leave quickly.
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[ Hawks gestures at other people. One would be surprised by what he can pick up just by observing.
He'll push through, but the cold really makes him want to take a long nap. ]
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[ then he'll do fine, it's where the hedgehog holds his own snowboard, throwing it on the ground as he begins to attach it to his own shoes. ]
Then get to work.
[ the wings are new, but they will prove useful to the other. ]
As long as you use the snowboard, your wings can be an advantage.
[ even shadow has his own way of getting through here without using too much energy, but he's already looking at the other's shoes to make sure he's strapped in properly. ]
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He tries to strap his feet in, at least, by intuition, but he winds up watching someone doing it and adjusting accordingly. He's a smart cookie, if nothing else. ]
I mean from what I can tell you just go down the hill. Can't be that hard.
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[ it's simple, but there's challenges, some that places them in danger and others that's for the love of the game. however, looking hawks over one last time, there's something about him that stands out. ]
You're not a native here.
[ obvious, but should be said, because there's people who are, and then there's some who can't fit in. ]
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[ That's definitely a joke - there's no part of Fukuoka he hasn't been. That's his home turf. ]
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If you're like the rest, you'll want to take part.
[ shadow's already shifting his board forward, causing it to slide him to where everyone else is gathering. it seems to be on countdown, and various people are getting into position. ]
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What do you mean?
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the crowd chants now: five, four...
crimson eyes look to the other. ]
Have you already met the person who brought you here?
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No?
[ Unfortunately for Hawks, he's just been dropped into this winter wonderland without preamble.
Two...one...
And with the end of the countdown and people moving, Hawks stumbles a bit but realizes he has to do the same. For better or worse. ]
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at once, people are already pushing off the slope, and shadow goes as well without following up on the other's confusion. all he offers is a quick glance stating he should come along, they are "partners" in this anyway. with the amount of people already going down, snow is smacked towards those behind so he better get to moving if he doesn't want wings full of snow. ]
...
[ whenever hawk does manage to come close to shadow, the hedgehog points towards their first upcoming hurdle, there's a few holds in the ground, small ones at that, but there seems to be sharp pieces of ice that shoot up from underneath to try and cut through different people's snowboards.
the issue while it is visible, there seems to be the occasional holes that appear out of nowhere as a surprise despite not being there before. ]
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What the-?!
[ What kind of a course tries to break your board? At least he has good reflexes, they just might be enough to survive the first obstacle. ]
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the same can be said of shadow as he jumps over the spikes onto the other side, his board smacking snow into the face of another participant.
glancing around, he searches for the person he was with not too long ago in the mass of people coming down the slop and attempting to avoid damaging their boards. ]
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His board remains on the snow so it should be fine, he thinks.
He's completely lost track of Shadow though, which is not really typical for him. ]