TDM 008

[etrayamods]

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⏴

Comments

[fortitudosalutis]

"I can handle awkward. Dealing with bodies puts us at risk."

He tilts his head toward Bossie.

"Nobody stays dead here. We don't need that, okay?"

[nottheboss]

"You can't be serious," he says, pleading a little for Carver to let him in on whatever weird joke he's making. "How many have you killed here?"

[fortitudosalutis]

"None," he replies flatly. It still feels dreamlike to admit that out loud. He's been bloodied, he's won fights, but he's taken no lives.

Pope would've been so disappointed to hear that.

"Adapt or fail. I don't plan on failing our brothers."

[nottheboss]

"Then how do you know people come back?" He's still waiting for this to be a prank. He feels stupid even asking, so he laughs. "I mean- come on. I stick my knife in that guy's head," nodding at another guest, "and he'll just wake up tomorrow?"

[fortitudosalutis]

"People get killed on missions."

He tilts his head toward Bossie, eyes narrowed.

"You end that one, he'll die, and then he'll be back. And we'll have a mess to deal with so you better have a good goddamn reason for pulling that shit. Understand?"

His voice is calm and clear, borrowing the tone Leah taught him. The sergeant's voice that books no argument.

[nottheboss]

It's not that Bossie likes killing. But it's what he was made for, what God decreed he do with his life. He's not sure how to do anything else anymore.

"Okay," he says, holding up his hands to show them empty. "I can adapt. Just...let me stay with you. Okay?"

[fortitudosalutis]

Carver gives him a narrow look, jaw tight. There has to be discipline. There have to be rules or else the world just doesn’t make sense.

Then he exhales and nods.

“You’ll stay with me,” Carver agrees. Quietly, he’s afraid to let Bossie out of his sight. “I got you, little brother.”

He won’t let Pope burn him again. This time, Carver won’t freeze. He’ll get between them, he’ll run interference like he should’ve from the start.

[nottheboss]

"I don't know why I'm so off today," he says, apologizing. "It's a lot to take in."

He scrubs a hand through his hair. "I won't let you down."

[fortitudosalutis]

“It’s a lot,” Carver agrees softly. “I know. And you’ve never let me down, little brother. Never.”

He says it quietly, but with a great solemnity.

[nottheboss]

Coming from Carver, who trained Bossie up from the very beginning, that means everything. He looks at Carver, smiling. "Yeah? Well I'm not about to change that. So tell me about your people."

[fortitudosalutis]

This is easier. He knows how to give intelligence briefings and Bossie knows how to accept them. Their roles are clear.

Carver hums, considering how to play this.

“They don’t like rank,” he says slowly. This part was hard for him. “But Finch is the one they listen to. He’s older. Glasses, cane. White guy. Looks like a librarian. He’s smart, though. Notices patterns, sees the big picture. Reese is his second. Former operator. He’s calm. Focused. Doesn’t startle. Shaw’s an ex Marine but don’t hold it against her. She’s good in a fight. They’re coordinated, well trained.”

[nottheboss]

His mouth twists into a smirk at the mention of a Marine, but good. This all sounds good, reasonable people to hitch your star to if there are no Reapers around.

"They all know each other before this place?"

[fortitudosalutis]

“They worked together.”

Carver tilts his head.

“They helped people. I don’t think they’re lying about that.”

[nottheboss]

Helping people is a tricky concept. There are so many ways that gets manipulated and abused.

"Helped how?" Bossie asks, skeptical but curious. "Like we 'helped' in Afghanistan?"

[fortitudosalutis]

“No,” Carver replies simply. His gaze is focused elsewhere as they move. “For real, I think. You should ask them about it.”

Truthfully, he’s not certain how the specifics worked. But he believes the others when they tell him. It’s a strange thing to sit with. The Reapers only ever helped themselves, and not always well.

[nottheboss]

He wonders what that would feel like. He can't even picture it. The last person he helped was Turner and...well.

"That's what I wanted to do when I joined up," he says softly. "Not sure I believe people can help in any way that really matters, anymore. The world's not really built for anything to last."

[fortitudosalutis]

“Maybe not our world.”

Maybe not them, even. But there was a time when Carver believed there could be good in it, and in them. When Matthew was small and they talked around the campfire about giving him everything they’d never had.

It didn’t work out. He knows that. But maybe—

Maybe.

“We have a chance here. We—“ he exhales. “We’re gonna do right by our people.”

[nottheboss]

Yes. For them, Bossie would do anything, give everything.

He feels a boot on his chest and counts breaths for a moment.

"You swear to God people come back from the dead here? Not as rotters."

[fortitudosalutis]

"Yes."

Like before, there's no hesitation. No room for error. The sergeant's voice, Leah's voice.

"I swear to God," Carver promises.

[nottheboss]

"Then..." This is just a thought experiment. Carver can't be right about this. But what if he is?

"If we bring Turner and Matthew here, and Delaney and Smith, we could have them back?"

[fortitudosalutis]

That stills him for a moment. Not for long. Just a hitch in his step. Because it's something that Carver's wondered himself, in the dark hours of the early morning when he can't sleep and the insomnia makes him feel like a ghost.

"I think so," Carver admits, very softly. He doesn't look at Bossie.

It feels dangerous to hope.

[nottheboss]

He rushes out in front, turns, stops Carver with a hand to his chest.

"You can't fuck with me like this," he pleads. "We could get them back?"

[fortitudosalutis]

Oh, God. Carver stills, uneasy. There's still so much he doesn't understand about this place, that he thinks maybe no one does. Even when he has answers, they don't often make sense.

His fingers twitch. He stills them.

"I think so," Carver repeats softly. He doesn't pull away from Bossie's hand. "But I don't know. Not for sure. I came back, didn't I?"

He remembers dying. That much is clear.

[nottheboss]

"What are you talking about?" Bossie asks softly, looking at him, afraid now. "You didn't die. What happened?"

[fortitudosalutis]

"I told you. Blade through my chest."

He glances down to where Bossie's hand presses almost over the wound, or where the wound was, in another world. He remembers the pain. And then he remembers the part where the pain just stopped.

"I don't want to talk about that, kid. Let's just go. I'll make you something to eat, okay?"