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⏴

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"All right, I do think I can do better than a mission debrief," he concedes, quirking his eyebrows. Harold doesn't spend a lot of time casually socializing, not lately and not ever, but he isn't always an awkward nerd about it. It takes a lot of out of him, but he can do it; he knows how.

He considers finding a place to sit and then assesses the probable impact of the dirty surroundings on his suit and reevaluates. It leaves him shifting his weight a bit as he puts the story together, trying to take pressure off of his spine from standing still.

"We received intelligence that two people were going to be involved in an act of violence, a man and a woman, married. Keeping in mind what I said earlier about them being either perpetrator or victim, what are some theories you have about what might be going on? Just so you can trace our thinking as we went about the investigation."

"Well, husbands kill wives. Pretty famously." He doesn't know why any straight people get married, the statistics were abysmal in the old world and even worse now.

"That is often the case, and what we assumed ourselves at first. Then we realized the husband had a professional hitman after him."

A beat of silence for dramatic effect.

"And so did she."

He tips his head, considering that. "So...you were sent to protect them? Cause as a professional killer I'd be asking why they had a hitman on their tail."

Harold knows his share of professional killers, which is why this description only earns a dour look like he thinks it isn't something anyone should be bragging about.

"It wasn't nearly so simple. I did say it was a funny story." Suddenly he rolls his eyes, exasperated just at the memory. "They each took a hit out on each other. Hers was much more competent, unsurprisingly."

Bossie promised to play nice, to be good, so he accepts the look Harold gives him and doesn't press.

Instead he laughs. "That's almost sweet. Like when you have an anniversary and you get each other the same gift."

"They were vying for control of their company and both independently concluded it was less messy to kill each other than have a divorce."

Harold is miffed at that whole line of thinking. Anyway, this is supposed to be funny, so...

"We knocked them out and locked them in a room together over a formal dinner. Tied to their chairs."

Bossie grins. "Sounds like couple's therapy to me. What'd they do? Talk it out?" He doubts it. Couples therapy doesn't work in the real world.

"They weren't inclined to at first, but I told them I'd looked into the faces of real monsters and they were a far cry from that."

He'd meant it, too. Harold does find the whole thing exasperating in the extreme, but he'd still tried to save them, whether or not they deserved it. That was a line he'd decided on a long time ago, in Nathan's memory. Making a mistake shouldn't consign someone to death, and no one is irrelevant.

"They did eventually come around, at least in terms of calling off the hitmen. Unfortunately, one was too professional and one was too spiteful to reverse course."

A flicker of emotion crosses Bossie's face. He knows what monsters are normally categorized as. Knows that he and Carver fit the old world version of that notion. They wear horror masks and murder children.

But maybe Harold doesn't know that part.

He schools his expression into something more friendly, less worried.

"Wait, spiteful? That sounds personal."

Is that what makes a monster? Harold isn't certain, but perhaps it is. What he is certain of, however, is that being a monster is a choice, and sometimes it becomes the only choice for lack of other options.

What he tries to do is offer options. To Mr. and Mrs. Drake, and to anyone else he runs across.

"The husband hired a friend who was only too happy to take the job, without pay. You'd think if he was a real friend he'd have suggested talking before jumping to murder."

"I'm a soldier and I'm...whatever else I am now. I sure as hell wouldn't kill someone for no reason," he says, and maybe that's the difference. Maybe he's not a monster.

"Did you save them?" he asks, feeling small for asking. For hoping.

That, too, is like Carver. It makes Harold smile just a little.

"I didn't think you would," he offers, less like reassurance and more like confirmation of an assumption. "And in this case, yes, we did. They rekindled their love and claimed spousal privilege -- that is, refused to testify against one another, and could not be compelled because of their marriage. So they made off without charges."

He sips his beer again, this time not grimacing. Deliberately, he goes on in a mild tone, "Your brother wanted to hear a story of someone being saved, too."

Harold finds that sad, but also very telling in a hopeful sort of way.

It makes his fingers tremble to hear that. He doesn't know why.

"He did?" Not a funny story, which could have ended up gruesome. A story where they were saved. Yeah. That's Carver.

He breathes out hard. "We're monsters. By your reasoning. Do you know that?"

The smile dissipates like mist rising from water. Harold doesn't say that he hasn't seen them do anything monstrous here, and he doesn't say that he suspects John has done equally monstrous things. That's John's story to share and not his, and for the former, he won't pretend his personal direct experience is the only one that matters.

"I don't recall saying what my reasoning was. But I'm aware by yours that you are." A pause, hesitating, as he decides what to say.

"Would you like a chance to be something else?"

He nods. Furiously. He doesn't want this.

"I'm chosen by God," he says. "Whatever I do is ordained by God. You need to know that."

That's exceedingly difficult to respond to honestly without coming off as an uncouth atheist. Which he is. Harold struggles in silence for a moment, expression blank, before he takes a breath.

"I'm more interested in you than in God," he eventually says, completely truthfully.

It's the right answer, in a situation where there are not many right answers. Bossie smiles at him.

"Does Carver ever scare you?"

Oh, thank God. (Harold is aware of the irony in thinking that, but he'd grown up in the Midwest; it's indelibly part of his vocabulary.)

He has no shame whatsoever in answering dryly, "It took months before I told Bear he could be off-duty around him, so yes."

Though not so much anymore, that's a personal enough reckoning between them that Harold won't share that story, either.

He looks at the dog and knows what that means. There were people Leah and Delaney never allowed near enough to the dogs to know their names.

"How'd you come to trust my brother so much?"

There's a way to be honest without sharing personal details that aren't his to tell -- and those personal details that are his, Harold really doesn't want to share. He's too protective of his privacy. But he committed long ago to John not to lie to him, and it's a policy he's tacitly taken on with every traumatized ragtag killer who's joined their merry little band since, to good effect. He's no reason to change that now.

"I suppose I didn't, really. Ms. Shaw asked me to give him a chance and he's done nothing to cause me to regret it."

Over time that just becomes something more than a chance; it becomes a commitment. For Harold, at least. Trust is a big word and not quite something he'd apply here, not yet.

He reads that loud and clear. And it helps, in its way, to get Bossie past the point where he'd stab all these people to death.

"Why did she trust him?"

"I don't know that she did, either," Harold allows wryly. "You'd have to ask her. I didn't ask her reasoning -- we are in the business of giving people chances, after all."

Sometimes they call off the hitmen and repair their marriage, after all.

"Trust that she got her second chance," he points out. "If it was up to me she'd just be pink chum in the middle region. To be added to other programs."

"... I have no idea what that means, but it sounds horrible."

Harold really can't decipher half of that and looks faintly disgusted, but he shakes it off a moment later.

"In any case, believe me, Ms. Shaw does not see us as her second chance." It's hard to imagine she thinks of their little outfit the same way John or Root do, who are more similar to one another in certain ways than they like to think most of the time.

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