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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! |
cw: suicidal ideations
[ The piano is a silent comfort at this point. It offers nothing but somewhere for him to sit. He can glance at the keys, remember the music, and feel a sense of calm settle over him. ]
Why would I have stopped?
cw: suicidal ideations
She will do what she must to save their world.]
And when it’s all over, you’ll rest. [Would she? She looks around and lets a series of notes soothe her. Expeditioners never expected to make it to the end. Why is this all that different? Victory over the Paintress had felt like having the freedom to give the world a chance. It had unchained something. She sighs, and idle notes turn into a song. Something to get lost in.]
cw: suicidal ideations
[ Verso finally stands -- the piano vanishes as soon as he does. He'll have to talk to his father one day about everything. This may very well be a second chance for Renoir to live, but if he knew he intends to return to oblivion, what will happen?
Perhaps, it'll be another secret, another scheme, to hide from his loved ones.
Lune will know, but -- he watches her carefully. It seems she'll have to come to terms with everything on her own. An argument on the horizon. He'll wait for it, at least, and see what he can do to manipulate things to ensure what he wants to happen will.
The real Dessendres finally have a chance to heal. I'm afraid I'll choose their happiness over others every time. Perhaps, that is the curse Maman put in my blood. ]
I hope you find some rest, too. [ A slight smile as he turns to leave the room. ]
cw: suicidal ideations
No one. She has some things to look into. But,]
Verso. You’re still one of us. [Despite all he’s decided and done, he isn’t abandoned. The music resumes. She has said all she intends to say for now.]
cw: suicidal ideations
[ It's a legitimate question. Enough for him to stop heading out the door. He pauses to glance out the entrance. His fingers drum on the threshold before he steps backwards. Grabbing onto the door, he doesn't slam it shut but gently closes it.
A pivoting turn to face Lune. ]
Feel I should put a "do not disturb" sign on the doorknob, but this will do.
[ He leans against the closed door. ] Bottling up your feelings... compartmentalizing things... isn't going to help you right now.
[ Because he's had sixty-seven years to live with the truth and moving forward felt good in the beginning, but it was all a distraction. Maybe if he screamed more; maybe if he had a "tantrum;" he would have felt better than letting it all boil inside. ]
no subject
Who in the end…] …what do you want me to say? [Her breath comes out faster. The door she has kept shut for a long time is rattling. Cracks are spreading through it like a blast wave. She looks up at him, her eyes bright with too many things to name.]
What do you want me to do, Verso? [Her voice has an edge to it. Holding it all in won’t help. Not this time. In this utterly unknown space and with the horror of the whole city vanishing before her and Maelle. Who were the last. She can’t imagine how Maelle felt to be the last one left.] I was one of the last to go.
no subject
I want you to say whatever is inside, Lune.
[ There is no more mission. Their world is gone and all that is left is ensuring the world the real Dessendres live continues. And he will do that at great personal cost. But she isn't like him. Her loyalties are not the same, and so-- ]
I was the first to go. [ A slight pause. ] I felt I should've at least been the first casualty in what was to come. [ But -- ] You don't have to do it now, but it'll get harder the longer you wait. The feelings that build up in a person when -- [ His head tips down, then, but he keeps looking at her. ]
What I want is for you to look after yourself, not the mission.
no subject
The thought splits the door in half. She faces away from him as the emotions tumble out of their hiding space. Her shoulders tense.]
It isn’t that I died that I’m upset about. I’ve been editing a journal for everyone to listen to since it was just Gustave and I.
It’s that I got to think everything would be alright. Then it was…gone. We were all gone. I could see it in their faces they had thought they would get to have a future. [Facing away from him is easier. She doesn’t want to see his expression or he see hers. She struggles to get the words out. It gets harder to see the details of the wall itself.]
Tomorrow didn’t come. Only oblivion did. [The weight of victory turned to despair and crushed hope press down on her and she sits, as if her knees just gave out.]
I couldn’t do anything to stop it.
no subject
[ His voice softens and is almost apologetic. There is nothing she could've done to prevent what happened because he wouldn't let her.
Renoir didn't speak plainly enough for them to understand, but also didn't trust the Expeditioners enough to explain what was happening. The Curator lost the ability to speak and used all the chroma given to him purely to create a weapon versus giving himself a voice. Alicia wrote a letter but left in his hands to deliver.
And Verso knew everything but wouldn't share anything. ]
Too much was against you... and that isn't your fault.