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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! |
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... She narrows her eyes after he leans in, and then she leans in also, poking at his shoulder. )
Do that, and I'm slapping you in those fuzzy handcuffs over there, marching you to the ticket counter, and buying your face card for you. Then having you carry all the pastries you're buying both of us and anyone else who even has a hint of sad puppy eyes until we get out of this place.
( She leans back, smiling brightly. )
Ball's in your court.
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He crosses his arms as he looks down at his companion. His eyebrows raise as he has to admit that is a very good threat that she's giving. A thoughtful frown crosses his face as he rolls his eyes up, seeming to truly think it through. ]
But you'd forgive me.
[ He decides to point that out first before letting his arms drop. ]
And you'd have to catch me first.
[ Reaching out, he attempts to poke and lightly apply pressure to flatten her nose to push her back. ]
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Verso. I'm presently unemployed. Don't threaten me with an interesting time.
( She doesn't comment about forgiveness. It's more complicated then that, on the level of implications of trust: sure, she'd forgive him. He wouldn't be worth the effort of being invested in enough to be disappointed or angry beyond the extended moment they'd be in.
Forgiveness is only hard when it's personal betrayals. Everything else is water under the bridge. )
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[ "Interesting," "good," or otherwise.
Verso notes that she doesn't say anything about forgiveness, but doesn't press her on that point. It's just acquiring a card for someone. In the grand scheme of his schemes, it's little more than a drop of water in the ocean -- if it could even be considered to be that much. ]
But -- [ He is back to walking and wagging his index finger to his side. ] -- we shouldn't get too distracted from our current task which is -- [ And he makes a flourishing gesture to his clothes. ] -- getting some new attire.
[ A beat and "innocently" asked: ] Thoughts on leg slits in dresses?
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She raises her eyebrows at the not so innocent question, mostly amused. )
Acceptable up the side of the thigh toward the hip, horrible past the knee up the front. Except for ease of movement reasons or when layered.
no subject
[ Maybe it is his sensibilities, but he thinks a little excess in design makes for a lovelier image. But sometimes simple is best. Like a nice cut suit. But the place they are going, it seems like it enjoys excess more than not. So -- ]
Let's go with past the knee cut with a layered dress. [ Another flash of a smile. He feels like he's starting to understand her. ] You look like the kind of girl where any color would look radiant on you, actually. [ He reaches out to rest one hand on her shoulder as he turns himself to look at her complexion and face. ]
But you probably have a favorite color?
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It changes depending on my mood. Today? I'm feeling... purples.
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[ Like before he steps towards her direction to lightly nudge her shoulder. His smile brightens the rest of his face as laughter creeps into his eyes.
It feels normal; it feels natural. He tells himself that regardless of what he knows nothing has changed. It's no different than before and as painful and heart-wrenching as that is, nothing's changed. Perhaps, most people would feel a sense of madness take them, but Verso has had nothing but time to soak in these feelings.
So, it goes and so it will go. Tomorrow will come regardless. ]
No shades of white today?
no subject
Mm, white's fine, gold too. Or those rich shades of orange.
( The Beehive looms before them, and she nods to the entrance. )
Might as well see what we have to work with, no?
no subject
[ Hands on his hips, he tilts his head as he admires the entrance. Shifting, he offers her a half-glance before it seems like they're headed in.
It's more anticipation than hesitation that stops him. This place just seems to thrive on fun. A small nod follows before he -- shifts around and holds his arms open for her to enter first. ]
no subject
Meanwhile, conversing about a new employee, and where he might get the proper uniform, only to be shown to the back section, with a neat, ordered set of racks and... )
Heels, huh?
( Alex says, poking her head into the area. )
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So, he steps out in a new outfit rather than the ragged piece of attire he had before. It's much more flashier than before. A white flower adorned on the corner of the suit, sashes and frills seem to be the cornerstone of the suit. Or perhaps it's all to enhance the ears and tail he wears. Like a proper butler rabbit. ]
How's your outfit coming along?
[ So he calls as he flicks an index finger to push an ear out of his face. ]
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She is, however, definitely wearing the same boots as earlier. )
Good enough for me. It's not that I mind heels, either, but none of the ones in my size fit right.
( This is a whole style, and she's perfectly willing to sell it. )
You're looking like a dignified rabbit, Sir Verso.
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[ Verso nods along that he does look like a very dignified rabbit. But his eyebrows abruptly shoot up as he glances around the immediate area. His back straightens before he steps forward.
Abruptly, his tone turns quite serious: ]
Can I ask you to promise me something, Alex? If you happen to meet a man named Renoir, could you be sure he never finds out about this? [ A small wave of his hand to his attire and makes a half-circle around the bunny ears. ]
no subject
( Delivered with a grin, though she's entirely serious.
When he steps forward, sliding into something serious in his own turn, Alex raises her eyebrows and fixes him with a considering stare. She has the better nature which leads to her being accepting of requests out of the blue like this. Alex has no particular love affair with gossip, though she'll listen to it, ruminate over it, for people she feels close to. A mysterious person named Renoir, and the slightly less mysterious person that is Verso, don't quite rate that level of interest.
At least not yet.
Still... recent lessons taught back home have drilled it into her. Nothing is exchanged for free. Not without consequences, even if she doesn't feel like kindness should have any. )
Hmm? ( She steps forward in turn, regarding Verso's face with slightly more probing intensity than she has in their lighter banter. It's more similar to how she looked at him when evaluating in the arena. ) If I do, what are you going to promise me in turn?
( Voice light, eyes light, shoulders relaxed: she means it, but not aggressively so. Annoyingly, in the back of her mind, she can almost hear a familiar voice saying, Keep asking, kitten. )
no subject
[ But he does sound attentive, accepting the answer not like he wouldn't have if the reason had been different.
His eyebrow raises at her thoughtful hum. ] Here I thought you'd agree without question. [ He pauses to adjust how the bunny ears band is resting behind his ears. There seems to be too much lean forward and he needs to make sure that the tips of those ears don't smack him in the face constantly. ]
But oh, a promise? How about a dance?
[ As they're entering the club, he gestures towards the stage. There seems to be quite a few animal-related folks dancing for the people. Of course, it does seem like he said before. More burlesque than strip show. Good for both of them, he thinks. ]
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Three.
( Alex says with a smile, reaching up to nudge one flopped bunny ear slightly out of the way. )
And I'm only collecting one tonight.
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[ Just to be sure - or is she giving her dances away to others? Hm. ]
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Even if it's for dances. )
Or days, whatever ends up working out.
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[ Well, it's not like he can turn down the offer. He's already all dressed up, anyway. Sure, he intends to work at the establishment just like he intends to throw himself in the arena. It's all just for fun, so whatever. Verso thinks that he could come up with hundreds and hundreds of excuses of Renoir actually finds out, but --
-- it's also a hassle so. ]
And if that person happens to find out, what will I get as payment back?
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( She says, lifting her hands, palm up. )
But since I'm feeling nice, how about a pat on the back and an offer to buy you a drink.
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[ He hums in return. ]
I'll accept those terms since I don't think I can weasel anything else out of you.
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( But she picks up her skirts and gives him something of a curtsy, nodding her head toward the inside of the club-slash-eatery-slash-subsection-of-the-casino. )
Lead the way, Mr. Bunny Verso.
wrap?
[ A bright smile to her but he holds his arm out for her to take. Even if he is leading the way, he should, at least, lead her in while doing so, no? ]
ties us the prettiest bow
( She settles her hand into the crook of his elbow, and they are off! )