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]

As far as distractions go, this was a good one. Carver grins at him, nodding. "Pretty cool, right?"

It's chaotic and strange here, but some of it is wondrous.

[nottheboss]

"Like astronauts?" He's practically vibrating with excitement, like he had the first time he parachuted out of a plane. "What do we have to wear?"

[fortitudosalutis]

"Nothing," he admits. "It's not that kinda trip."

It's almost disappointingly mundane, on balance.

"But we'll be somewhere else. Somewhere quieter. And I'll make you enchiladas, and we'll figure it out."

Whatever the next steps are.

[nottheboss]

What kind of trip is it then, he wonders?

"Do I get to see the stars and the vastness of space or nah?"

[fortitudosalutis]

"Not this time," Carver replies, with some regret. "But you'll see some shit on the next mission. It's usually kinda cool, at first. Except for the one where we had to go to summer camp. That kinda sucked."

[nottheboss]

"Summer camp?" He looks at Carver. "That couldn't have sucked that bad. It sounds like boot camp without the drill sergeants."

[fortitudosalutis]

"Too many people," Carver replies, a little defensively. He knows Bossie's right, though. On balance, it was nothing. It shouldn't have thrown him the way that it did. Shouldn't have been the thing that made him lose his shit.

And yet.

"Anyway, the next one will probably have some action. Be good to have you at my side."

[nottheboss]

There's a sharpness to Carver's tone he didn't anticipate and he looks at him, wondering.

"You got me," he promises. "...Was summer camp bad?"

[fortitudosalutis]

Carver looks away. Don't be childish, he tells himself. You know better than that.

"Too many people," he repeats. Bossie doesn't need to know about the bad moment he had. "The noise bothers me more than it used to."

[nottheboss]

There's a lot being unsaid that needs unpacking, but he won't make Carver do it.

"I feel like...after the work we've been doing," killing everyone in sight. "Any people is going to be too many."

[fortitudosalutis]

Carver puffs out a breath, feeling nothing but tired. He hasn't been sleeping much. He hadn't planned on sleeping at all last night, loath to spend more time in this place than necessary, but Bossie needed it. They hadn't been sleeping much in Meridian, either. There wasn't much time between their patrol schedules, training and PT, all the time Pope sent them out hunting. They all ended up with a lot of sleep debt.

"It was hard at the beginning," he admits softly. "It's still hard."

[nottheboss]

"How'd you do it?" He looks up at him. "How'd you make friends? You and Leah--I don't know how you do it."

Leah with Dixon, and Carver with his allies here. There's some forgotten magic in it.

[fortitudosalutis]

That stills him.

"I don't know," Carver admits. "Not killing people's a start, though."

He doesn't know if there's a specific tactic or trick. Maybe Leah had one.

[nottheboss]

"Wish Austin was here. He still likes people." He's tried, more than anyone, to befriend Daryl. He made it look easy, natural, sharing food and cigarettes.

"I'll be good to your people, Carver. I promise." He'll dig up the old parts of him that didn't cut people down on sight.

"Now how do we get off world?"

i'm gonna hand wave them getting back

[fortitudosalutis]

Quietly, Carver shifts to brush his shoulder against Bossie's. It's probably a sin to show affection like this out in the open, but he needs to make sure that Bossie's real. That this isn't a dream or a ghost that's following him around. "We're almost there. I love you, little brother."

Somehow, they'll make this work.

Sounds good!

[nottheboss]

Bossie looks up at him when Carver says that. Feels, at the barest contact, how touch starved he is. Pope wouldn't approve, he thinks. But he leans on Carver anyway.

"I love you, too," he says softly. Maybe Carver won't hurt him.

He stays close the whole trip back to the subway station.

[fortitudosalutis]

The trip back is at least quiet. No one lunges for them or even tries to engage them in personality. And once they’re back on the ground, Carver takes the time to point out landmarks, a few spots where he’s hidden supplies, blind corners, shit Bossie needs to know. And then he takes them down into the subway, which looks more or less like a regular one from home minus any sign of corpses or bodies. He leads Bossie to the vending machine and shows him the code and then where he placed the traps on the stairs.

Below, it opens up into what’s essentially a bunker.

“Harold’s people used this as a hideout back in their world,” Carver explains. “I stay here now. No kitchen but there’s electricity and a hot plate. And I’m badass so I can improvise.”

[nottheboss]

"You don't have to convince me, I know what a fucking king you are," Bossie teases. He paces around, inspecting.

"Where do the others stay now?"

[fortitudosalutis]

Carver leans back, watching Bossie with a quiet sort of fondness. It’ll be easier down here where it’s quiet, where they aren’t there constantly on edge. “Everyone here gets an apartment. Real fancy shit. You’ll get one, too. I use mine to store gear. But I was sleeping out in the woods, so they let me stay in here.”

The apartments are too easy to track. Here, he can secure the area.

[nottheboss]

The Reapers always stay together. He and Turner especially stayed together, flopped together like puppies in a basket, the only soft touch he had in the new world.

Bossie looks at Carver and hopes that being together hasn't changed. The thought of sleeping alone makes his chest go tight.

"We can use mine for storage too," he offers. "Can I stay here...?"

[fortitudosalutis]

“Yeah,” Carver agrees. There hadn’t been any question about that. The Reapers always slept in barracks, close together. It was safer. And Bossie has bad dreams. “I’ll show you where they’ve got cots. You wanna crash for a bit while I cook?”

[nottheboss]

He nods, thinking that would be nice, to fall asleep to the sounds of Carver cooking enchiladas for him. Beef. Real fucking beef.

"I can help," he offers, because he should help, should be useful, it's a sin to be a burden. But he's so tired.

[fortitudosalutis]

"Sleep. It's tight quarters anywhere. We'd be tripping over each other."

And Bossie looks dead on his feet. Going forward on momentum alone. Carver shows him to the cots in the back, ignoring the little storage closet where he's been curling up. It feels safer to have walls and a door, tight quarters.

"Grab a water bottle if you want one," he adds. "Get some rest."

[nottheboss]

He grabs a water bottle, sips from it. "Fuck that's good," he groans. "Water that's not from a well." No silt in this water.

He lays down, boots on in case he has to jump up in a hurry, knife on the floor in easy reach. He pulls the cot around so he can see what Carver's doing; not because he's worried but because it soothes him.

He lays down and it's better than the bed in the hotel had been. It's familiar in how uncomfortable it is.

[fortitudosalutis]

"We're living like kings," Carver teases, tugging his gloves off so he can go wash his hands. Then he starts gathering up ingredients, getting everything ready so he can cook up a good meal. He does his best to stay in Bossie's line of sight, hoping the kid can get some actual rest without all the noise and confusion of the hotel.

He settles into the cooking. It's always calmed him down and it doesn't fail now.