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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! |
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[Joshua watches as Clive considers the question. Fervently, he hopes his brother will choose not to know the final outcome of their journey. Not that he intends to tell it anyway, but he doesn't want to have to disappoint Clive - and potentially spur him to go and ask Dion instead.
He can see the searching in Clive's face when their eyes meet again. Searching for what precisely, he can't be certain...but given the way things appear to Joshua to have gone after he surrendered the power of the Phoenix to his brother, he can make a pretty good guess. He returns that stare with a steady, serious gaze, remembering the raw emotion, the roughness in Clive's voice when he learned what Joshua had done with Ultima to keep him from claiming his 'vessel' - what Joshua was willing to do. He's no less willing now to do whatever it may take to ensure Clive's success, freedom, and survival once again, which perhaps is why he can hold his gaze, unwavering and without regret.]
There is, in fact. When we reached Stonhyrr, Ultima drew you and me into a rift of his own creation, where he explained his history and his plans, and tried once again to take you from us - in vain, I assure you. [He squeezes Clive's hand gently again, an emphasis on the reassurance that Joshua would never allow Ultima to separate them ever again.]
What we learned there showed that while Ultima may be our creator, he is far from all-powerful or all-knowing. He is shortsighted, petty, and full of deceit. Willing to manipulate even his own champion with lies and false promises. I believe the powers that brought us here to be no more omnipotent than he, and whether they are any more honest remains to be seen - but just as we repelled Ultima then, we can repel these forces now, if we must. Not only that...
[A certain anticipation, or perhaps determination, flashes in Joshua's eyes.]
But if we could, somehow, convince Barnabas that all he worked for, all he lived for was a lie, that his god wanted only to use him and then discard him like the rest of us...perhaps we might yet see the Warden of Darkness no longer a foe, but an ally.
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[Because that is what they feel like. Little pockets of in-between where existence doesn’t feel quite real. It feels more like when you wake from a dream and can’t quite shake the dregs.
[Clive has to remind himself to breathe while he waits for Joshua to decide what is appropriate to tell him. He trusts that, whatever he hears, it will be the truth. For better or worse, he also knows that Joshua will shield him from anything that might be too much. Clive feels a small pang. Oh how he wished he could have witnessed Joshua growing into the man he is today.]
Ultima made us.
[The thought turns Clive’s stomach, but the reassuring squeeze from Joshua’s hand chases away some of the dark. Were the situation not so serious, Clive might smile at Joshua’s reassuring squeeze. As if sensing his thoughts, Clive speaks:]
Ultima will never separate us again. Not if I can help it.
[Hearing about Ultima’s deceit and lies is unsurprising. How very human for Ultima to keep questing for more power at the expense of others. Hearing that even a so-called god was full of flaws gives Clive more confidence in their ability to succeed both here and at home.]
[But just as his mind is getting used to the idea of what they are working for, Joshua’s last comments fully register. Reflexively, his hand tightens around the one in his own.]
Why… How…
[Clive stops and takes a slow, deep breath.]
Even if that were true, Barnabas doesn’t listen. Who's to say he would even believe us if we told him his god and everything he learned and believed in is a lie?
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[It's the grim truth, but there's a silver lining--]
But he failed to anticipate that we would learn to break free of the shackles of his will to develop our own. He - and thus, Barnabas - considers our volition and our ability to form bonds with each other aberrations to be corrected. And that is our greatest advantage.
[Perhaps, if Joshua can impress upon Clive the crucial importance of working together now, then their history might change such that he never needs to punch his brother in the face to make the point.
Clive is awfully stubborn, though.]
Not if we can help it.
[Case in point.
Joshua nods, making a mental note to slow down a bit and allow Clive some time to process all this.]
Oh, I'm certain he won't. It will take much more than words to get through to him. But if anyone can do it, Clive, it's you. After your last clash with him, you told me that at the very end, he finally dared to question the path he chose.
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He was arrogant and that will be his downfall.
[Joshua’s insistence pushes dark thoughts farther away. Clive looks back at his brother and smiles.]
Yeah, not if we can help it.
[Your faith in him is flattering, Joshua. In this case, he isn’t sure if it is misguided. But hey, if his brother believes in him, he may as well try. Clive takes a deep breath and lets it out.]
I’ll try. I can’t make any promises, but I’ll try.
[There is going to be blood over this, he just knows it. Barnabs would never back down and if Clive has to beat this information into him, he’ll do it.]