etrayamemes | TDM 008

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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⏴

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Mhmm. Maybe I'm just that badass. Maybe I'll even give you the corner piece."

They need a break, Carver thinks. Somewhere quieter, somewhere away from all this noise and bullshit he can barely understand himself, let alone explain to someone else. He'll take Bossie down to the subway hideout and cook for him, let them both breathe and accept the new status quo. The new mission. They have some time before they deploy again and Carver will have to raise the fact that he has allies here, and that Bossie will need them too.

"It's gonna be okay," Carver adds, softer. He cups a hand to the back of Bossie's head, trying to coax him to rest his head on Carver's shoulder. "Yeah? I got you."

Bossie goes willingly, almost boneless, against Carver. He feels so safe with this man, and he hasn't felt safe in a long time. The sensation of touch is so heady it has to be a sin.

He doesn't pull away though. Can't bear to. "I got you too, Carve. You know that, right? I don't leave anyone behind."

You never did, Carver thinks silently. You never will. Bossie carried Turner ten miles back home, even though Turner probably died soon after he was hit. Those aren't injuries anyone comes back from, even with a full medical team. Maybe, if they'd gotten him to a corpsman right away -

But there were no corpsman left. Just their prayers, and their love, and in the end that wasn't enough. He feels Bossie sag against him and holds him tight, steadying his own breathing. There's a new mission now.

"I do," he agrees softly. "We're about ready for a shift change. You up for it? I haven't slept in a while."

He wasn't planning on sleeping at all until he got back, but he thinks Bossie could use the responsibility. That it'll do them both good.

He anticipates Carver pushing him away. Or maybe yelling at him to straighten up, soldier. Stop crying. Stop clinging.

But Carver doesn't. He holds Bossie instead, and he all but falls apart in seeking to hold onto this moment.

"Sleep," he says. "I won't let anything happen to you, Carve."

Good man. Carver allows himself to hope that maybe the worst has passed. That they can establish a new balance here. It'll be hard without the rest of them, without Pope and Leah to shape the world, but they're used to hard things.

And if Pope's not here, then Pope can't burn them, either.

He clears his throat. "Wash your face, okay? The water's clean here. You'll feel better. And then I'll lie down."

"You make it sound like my face is so dirty," Bossie retorts, but he goes and obeys because he feels plenty dirty. It feels good to wash the sweat and grime off his face.

He pads back into the room and takes a seat on the bed. Pats the space next to him.

"Gotta take your sleep, brother," he teases.

"Yeah, yeah," he teases, taking the moment to scrub a hand through his hair. To center himself as best he can.

There's work to be done, he knows. A lot he has to explain and justify and set up. He'll need to make sure Bossie's fed and occupied, that he's safe enough to sleep. And then he's going to have to do the hard thing and make sure Bossie doesn't kill their allies.

Carver sighs and sits down next to Bossie, tugging his boots off. He sets his gun on the nightstand, within reach but not on hand. Just in case. "I'm getting there," he murmurs. "Don't rush me. I got a routine. You think this hair just happens?"

There's no routine tonight. He's going to curl up in a ball and try his best to sleep. It might not happen.

Bossie chuckles. "You got sexy hair, sir." If Carver takes nothing else away he should take that.

And then he settles in, keeping watch while Carver sleeps. He'll give Carver a whole seven and a half hours, even.

Carver huffs as he lies down, curling into himself. "Flattery will not get you out of PT," he murmurs.

He'll feed Bossie up and get him settled, but they need routine, too. PT will continue until the heat death of the universe, as God and the sergeants intended.

But he lies down. He closes his eyes, pulling an arm over his face, and slows his breathing down. It's a restless sleep, but he manages a few hours.

Tomorrow, there'll be more work to do.

Bossie only wakes him when he can barely function anymore. He doesn't think he could hold a knife anymore, so he reaches out, shaking Carver's shoulder.

"Carve, I have to sleep or I'm going to lose my mind."

He wakes with a grunt, stiffening and reaching for a weapon. Only holding back when he recognizes Bossie's voice. Little brother waking him in the dark.

"Okay," Carver agrees, still muzzy from sleep. He pulls himself up, leaning back against the headboard. "My turn. Lie down, I'll be right here. I promise."

"You okay?" he wonders, crawling onto the bed, flopping as hard as any puppy does after a hard day. He isn't in the old world. He doesn't know what that means for them.

He leans against the headboard. He has his knife in hand. "Get some sleep, Carve."

"Just rest."

They'll figure this out, Carver tells himself. One way or another. And the simple truth is they have to, so they will, like all the times before.

"It's my turn anyway." He gives Bossie a tired smile. "I'll make you a good meal tomorrow, promise. But you gotta rest first."

He gives him a worried look, but shrinks down onto the bed. He cradles his knife but he lets himself relax.

"You really think we can do this, Carver?"

"Course we can. We're Reapers."

Doubt is a sin. A grave one in a leader. Carver never made it to sergeant and he'll never be commander, not even in the worst of his dreams, but he holds true to the line that was laid. Bossie is his responsibility until the end of days. He made a mistake before. Things got out of hand.

They won't here. He won't let them.

"Close your eyes," Carver orders softly. "Try and sleep. I have you."

Tomorrow will come the complicated bits.

He takes a deep breath and hands over his knife. He wouldn't forgive himself if he hurt Carver in the night.

He closes his eyes then, shifting closer to Carver, craving contact and not allowing himself to really have it.

Don't be a bitch, he tells himself. Just sleep. Maybe there won't be any dreams.

He takes the knife, a solemn, silent ritual between them, and leans back against the headboard for his watch. He doesn’t touch Bossie but he listens to the kid’s breathing, alert for any sign of pain or distress.

These things happen, Carver tells himself. Tomorrow will be better, even with all the complicated truths he has to share.

“Sleep,” he repeats softly. “I have you.”

He does his best to empty his mind. But he's only been asleep a little while before he starts twitching and whimpering.

It's not long before Pope is looming over him in his dream, hand rough in Bossie's hair, forcing him down to Hell.

Time passes. Not much, though. Not much at all.

It’s going to be one of those nights, then.

Carver scrubs at his face. “Bossie,” he says, patting the mattress with his hand. Ready to dodge out of the way. “Kid, you’re okay. You’re having a bad dream.”

The movement beside him jerks him out of sleep, sends him flailing and almost rolling off the bed. He grasps for a knife at the bedside table but it isn't there; panicked he reaches for one at his hip but there isn't one there either.

Okay, Carver thinks, sitting up and getting ready to either dodge or grab Bossie before he throws himself off the mattress and accidentally brains himself against the nightstand. “Bossie! Eyes on me!”

He reaches up, clinging to Carver the way he'd tried to grab for help in the fire-

The fire that never happened. Didn't fucking happen.

"I'm good," he gasps, holding bruisingly hard onto Carver. "It was just- I'm good-"

Okay, Carver thinks, okay, and exhales slow. He cups a hand to the back of Bossie’s skull, trying to steady him. It hurts but he ignores that; he’s gotten good at ignoring that sort of thing. Bruises are nothing.

“Breathe,” he orders, calm and clear. All things will flow from this. “Count for four, hold for four. Do it now.”

For the second time in one night he's fighting his own breathing.

"I'm sorry," he murmurs. "It won't happen again." Carver has a hand at the back of his head and he crushes his face against Carver's chest.

"It was Pope," he mumbles. "I have to make things right with him, Carve."

It’s probably a sin to hold a subordinate like this. Certainly Pope would have frowned on it, told them to stand up straight and cut that shit out. But what else is there to do? Carver rests his head back against the headboard and holds Bossie, wondering what the fuck he’s supposed to do now. What Leah would do.

Something better than this, he’s pretty sure.

“Put it out of your mind,” he murmurs. “We need to focus on what’s in front of us.”

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