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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! |
no subject
No, but certain weapons are more effective against different types. I use a claymore more like what you have when I'm facing certain Wanderers, for example.
( She sits down, pulling on a pair of gloves. They're a little large for her, but she hadn't seen different sizes, just the one box of folded pairs, so it'll be what it is. )
In high school first. ( She looks up, setting gauze patches out in a line on the tray. ) Uh, I'm not sure what schooling looks like for you, but we have three levels. Elementary for the youngest kids, secondary for kids right around their early teenage years, and high school for teenagers, up until eighteen or so.
( Honestly, she's letting herself just chatter on while waiting to get a good eye on his injuries, and mentally cataloging the changes of having fibers or dirt impacting any open lacerations. Totally not from experience. Totally. )
Then I took a course at my university — that'd be the next level of education after high school. I've also been a patient most my life since... well, the Wanderers appeared. It's a little funny, since you were talking about aether, because the kind of Protocore fragments that are in my heart are called Aether too.
( Not that it's fragmented anymore, but that's not information she's talked about casually. It also is unlikely to matter: a whole core isn't why she'd been hospitalized. The fragments were.
She pours some of the antiseptic on a gauze patch, holding it at ready to use. )
Anyway, I've been active in the field as a Hunter since I graduated, and there's been a surprising amount of firsthand experience from day one.
no subject
Formal education is generally reserved for the wealthy and nobility on my home continent, but I have had the luck to be able to work with some amazing people to create a home for those who are mistreated or abandoned by the world. There, we don't believe in keeping anyone from an education as long as they want one.
[Clive, trusting Alex to know what she is doing, watches her face instead of her hands as she works and talks. Her world sounds odd, but fascinating. She also had a way of talking that felt friendly and casual, but still a bit restrained. He wonders what she has gone through in her life for that to be her default.]
The fragments in your heart, do they hurt you?
no subject
It does make her animated to watch, an inventory of how much she thinks she needs to address any individual laceration visible between a furrowing brow, a narrowing of eyes, or a moment of pursued lips. She's thorough, and fairly quick, cataloguing as she goes. )
Mmm, everyone does deserve that chance. I'm glad there are people like that where you're from. Public education's been free for a long time back home. Knowledge and the ability to think on your own are some of the most important skills any person can have.
( At the question about her heart's fragments, she hesitates, just for a beat. The shrug that follows as she sets another dirtied gauze pad down and picks up the saline wash is easy, and her expression matches. )
When they're acting up. Don't worry, it doesn't happen often these days. My cardiologist — my heart doctor — is one of the most brilliant people I know. If he hadn't drilled it into my head how to make sure I don't overdo things, I probably wouldn't be as healthy as I am.
( She flashes Clive a smile, not letting herself wonder about details like heart disorders and Protocore Syndrome in a situation as volatile as what they're probably in. Gold Saucer aside, because this place isn't the worst. For one, there's no one trying to set off bombs or outright murder each other. Beats the N109 Zone by a long shot. )
Protocore Syndrome hits everyone differently. I'm luckier than most.
Errand boy unlocked! haha
I agree. At the very least, I think everyone should have the choice to learn how to read and write. Hopefully, in the new world we are trying to build, that can be an option.
[If they are stuck here for any extended period of time and Alex was separated from her doctor, that may cause problems. Clive makes a mental note to try and find a doctor for Alex. He can't do any healing himself, but he sure as shit can find someone. He is not going to let this woman suffer.]
Lucky or not, please continue to be careful. If there is anything I can do to make your time here easier, tell me. I will help in any way that I can.
hahaha oh no Clive
If it's what you and your people want, it will be. Not to say it'll be easy, there's a lot involved in basic education, but when people want something enough? They can make it happen.
( She sits back a little to raise her eyebrows and get a better look at his face. )
Where I'm reckless, it's usually not with my heart involved.
( ... Some stretching of the truth may be there, but she's sincere: she doesn't play around assuming her heart's fine. She can't. Recent events have made that exceedingly clear, both in the dangers and the consequences, unfathomable as they are.
Alex returns to her work, though she ends up having to walk on her knees across part of the bed to get behind him. )
But thank you for the offer. At this point, I think the most help any of us can be for each other is directly supportive, right? If we're playing some larger game than anything here in the Gold Saucer.
no subject
I have seen people do amazing things because they worked together. It is truly amazing what we can achieve. I only hope to be able to continue to create a world where people have that choice. Knowing that there are places out there that have achieved some of our goals is heartening.
[If only he could tell Cid. He wants to see the look on Jill and Joshua's faces when he tells them. Anyone from home, really. He tries to ignore the pang in his chest at the thought of being without them, all of them, again.]
I don't know why the powers that be would bring us here just for... whatever this is. There has to be a deeper motivation. These earpieces -
[Clive shifts to give Alex better access to his back.]
I think they have more information, but I don't know how to use it. It's not like anything I have seen before.
no subject
Oh, right, the earpiece. Do you want a few pointers?
( She smiles, mostly to make sure her tone of voice is appropriately lightened: )
It's similar to some technologies we have back home, if a little outdated. I've been trying to find any network archives... uh, something like a library, only on the earpiece? Mine seems to be blocked, but yours might be working!
( Has this been a frustration to her? Sure, but being annoyed about it only gets her so far, and talking to people when she can find anyone who knows about "missions" and something about Aurora is a lot more productive.
Alex shifts back, sliding off the bed and starting to collect all the used supplies into a pile, half wanting to change gloves before getting the wrapped bandages and clean gauze on him. )
We should get you bandaged up, then you're as good to go as I can make you for the moment.
... Have they introduced themselves yet?
[It is no small relief that he has found someone who has a better understanding of the device and, it seems, how to navigate this strange setting. The lights alone are startling. Not fire and not crystal. He supposes they could have crystals encased in them, but the distribution seems too uniform.[
Being able to find any kind of information would be helpful, and if, for whatever reason, my device has access and yours doesn't, then I am more than happy to share.
[Clive looks around the room, trusting that Alex knows what to look for. He looks down at his discarded shirt and picks it up, brow furrowing.]
I should also try to at least rinse my shirt.
... A quick search proves that they have not managed to actually exchange names yet hahaha
( So the search for the rubbish bin is on, and located about a minute later, tucked under the desk of what probably is the main healthcare provider's desk (what kind of provider, Alex doesn't attempt to guess).
She stops by the sink to wash her hands before looking back his way: )
Not sure if there's salt in this room, but there might be at the stores around here? A good soaking in salted water helps with the blood.
( Drying her hands, she reaches up to the earpiece, turning her head to show him where she means to touch. )
You know this is on because we understand each other, but to bring up the interface, you can touch right here, if you haven't figured that out already. It's not the most intuitive.
( She taps the button, and a soft blue HUD displays roughly in front of her face, far enough away that she's not having it obstruct her field of view. )
You can move where it is by pressing in this corner, holding "down," and moving your hand to where you want to see the screen. Mine's blue because I changed the color, yours is probably going to be green.
Oopsie!
[Clive wonders about bandages as Alex bustles around. He may need some for some of the deeper wounds, but he knows that the smaller ones will likely be mostly healed by morning. One of the benefits of being a Dominant.
Clive stands carefully and goes to one of the shelves that has what look like gauze rolled up in little packages made of some sort of resistant film. He takes one of them and picks at the paper on top. He almost peels it open when he hears Alex talk and turns around to focus on her.]
That is -
[Clive moves to where Alex stands and reaches out to try and touch the interface and smiles a bit as his finger passes through the corner.]
-Amazing.
[He mimicks Alex's motions and is borderline delighted when his does the same. He tries 'tapping' something on the screen and watches in keen interest as it brings up a different display. This was like a library, but so much more compact. He'll have to dedicate time to exploring. Clive tests repeating the action that he took to turn the display on and is satisfied when it turns off.]
You know, I don't think I ever introduced myself.
[Clive nods his head in a small bow.]
My name is Clive. What's yours?
no subject
This area here opens up the list of names — the people who use this to send messages to each other. Aurora's name is first, and I haven't been able to open any of the individuals here yet, but maybe you can.
( What had been niggling in the back of her mind springs forth again, just as he introduces himself. Alex smiles, nodding her head to him in turn. )
Alexandra, but I go by Alex. And here, I think I saw something that could help...!
( She spins away and pulls out the lower tub on one of the shelves, plucking out a large t-shirt from behind and shaking it out. She turns it around so Clive can see the bright yellow, red, and green chocobos plastered across it, with the text emblazoned above and below: Just One Of The Chocobros. )
Should be loose enough for you to wear until your real shirt's clean?