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

leon kennedy | resident evil 2 (remake) | new player + character

[tyrantbait]

ONE. ARRIVAL, colosseum aftermath

( What the fuck. That's all Leon can think as he stands there, leaning forward to put his hands on his thighs as he tries to breathe. Whatever the hell he just fought had been a nightmare, somehow more durable and dangerous than those things back at the police station. But he'd made it through. They'd made it through.

He's grateful for that much.

He straightens quickly, walking the short distance to his partner where they're sitting on the ground. Whether they'd sat down themselves or fallen over at the end of it all, he's approaching them the same way. He offers out a hand, the leather of his gloves a mess, scrapes and bruises decorating his fingers and his forearms. Some from this encounter, a lot from everything back home. )

Are you okay? ( His lips spread in a small smile, reassuring as he leans forward just the slightest. A closer look at Leon will tell you he'd been in some kind of hell before he arrived here given the injury on his shoulder, bandages dark and bloody with a mix of old and new blood, the splotches of color on his cheekbone, tiny tears in the fabric of his uniform, and to say nothing of the dirt and mess across his uniform. Even so, he doesn't seem particularly concerned about it, instead looking over his companion. )

Let's get you out of here.

( If they take his hand, he wraps his own around it to help them up and to their feet. )

TWO. WANDERING, gold saucer

( More than anything, Leon wants to take comfort in the bright colors, the buzz of people, and the sounds of voices all around him. They're all signs that this isn't Raccoon City - that they're not being overrun by monsters that turn you into mindless zombies. But it's hard. No matter how hard he tries, he can't bring himself to relax.

His nerves and senses are still on high alert, and every time he peeks around a corner or a door opens, he half-expects he's going to run into one of those things or that fedora wearing bastard. There's even a few times where someone might notice he's staring off into the distance, as if he's seeing something that's not there. And he'll even jolt a little when spoken to or if someone touches him when he does.

But at least, he tries to enjoy the games. There's a chance he stops to watch someone play one of the games, standing curious and off to the side to avoid getting into anyone's space. If someone is up to playing, he can be found at one of the skeeball machines. He motions towards it with a small grin. His voice is low, teasing: )

Wanna play? Loser gets the winner a glowstick?

THREE. HAUNTED HOUSE

( It would be his luck that as soon as he found a place to take a breather, try and relax enough to maybe get so much needed sleep, he hears that goddamn pounding on the door. Leon's quick to investigate, even if he's met with no clue or sign of the person responsible. What it does leave him with is frustration and a nervous tension he can't quite get out of his system now.

So instead of trying to sleep, he settles for taking a walk around the hotel. It's not really the style of a hotel you'd see back in Arklay county, but it has it's own charm, he supposes. Someone might run into him as he wanders the halls, following the sound of the seeming random pounding on different doors. Anyone who rounds a corner too quickly just might be met with a surprised: ) Jesus—! ( And a pair of hands that reach out to brace and balance whoever he's made impact with.

He'll wander towards the front desk at some point in search of first aid supplies for the gunshot wound on his shoulder that's already starting to bleed through his most bandage change. And for anyone who needs a breath of fresh air like he does, he can be found sitting on the steps outside the hotel. Anyone who walks past is met with a glance, a small smile, and a nod of acknowledgement. ) Hey.

WILDCARD + NOTES

( Feel free to send him a prompt if you aren't feeling anything above. Always happy to hash out details or write up a closed starter for anyone who wants one. You can message this journal or reach me at batbrain. )

— haunted house

[dulltool]

( he wasn't entirely sure if any of this was real or just some kind of fever dream he had after being gunned down by vicious. this place was strange in how modern it seemed and yet how unmodern it could be— the people had devices for communication not unfamiliar to him but when he asked around about space and what he knew about his own world, everyone seemed to be impressed the 'future' was so modern. it was nice to be complimented sure, but he wanted real answers. so in his search for some kind of familiarity to his own world, spike ended up finding himself at the hotel. he wasn't sure what kind of currency was used here [he asked about woolongs but got blank and glazed over stares] but what better place to ask for information than a focal gathering point?

that and frankly he was starting to get tired. the bright lights, sounds, and screams of the stadium were enough to tucker out even the most energetic of children. what he hadn't been expecting was for the hotel to be haunted and as cliche as it sounded, it was enough to keep him from actually being able to sleep. sure he's slept through far more questionable situations but really he was already dealing with being in a weird world.

that was when he ran into leon, digging around the front desk. he wasn't sure what the man was doing, but he sauntered about will all of his lazy energy and peaked from side to side. he was secretly hoping the man was fishing around for smokes but when he saw those bandages seeping blood through them, he stared briefly before speaking up. )

Hey you're bleeding there a bit huh?

( thank you spike for the obvious observation. he's just gonna point at leon's shoulder when he does finally turn to acknowledge him. )

[tyrantbait]

( A part of Leon registers that someone is nearby, but given their silence and lack of interaction, his focus fixates completely on the way he's currently searching for a first aid kit. He thinks he might have found something, is in the middle of nudging a few things carefully out of the way when he hears that voice.

It probably shouldn't startle him as much as he does, but he flinches, hands jerking, knocking over a few things on the desk in the process. ) Jesus— ( He curses, hands fumbling in his haste to stop anything from actually falling over or tipping over the edge of the desk. He's mostly successful, catching a few pens before they roll over the edge, but a couple other things on the desk clattering and slide across the desk.

His hands still, and he forces himself to take a breath to try and calm the sudden uptick of his heartbeat. It takes a few, long seconds and even more breathes before he feels grounded enough to turn and look over his shoulder at the other man. And when he does, Spike is pinned with a look that says Leon's not exactly grateful for the observation. )

Yeah. ( With another breath, he carefully reaches to stand up a small container, neatly depositing the rescued pins back into it. And then he takes a step back, lets himself turn to look fully at Spike. ) Yeah, just a little bit. ( As he says it, his hand moves, lightly brushing his fingertips against the edge of the bandages. )

I was hoping there might be a first aid kit around here somewhere.

[dulltool]

( given how unbothered spike was about most things, he stood back and simply watched the chaos unfold before him. he wasn't quite sure why this injured man was so hellbent on keeping things organized and from scattering about, but he remained silent for now. a slack-jawed and rather lazy glance is all leon will be getting from spike as he grounds himself and stares down the other for his oh so helpful observation.

after a few brief moments of silence, spike reached over towards one end of the hotel reception desk fingers gripping a small box screwed into the underside of it before he ripped it out and pulled forth a small first aid kit. all the struggling and stress leon was going through seemed needless to spike, really and after a moment of deliberation, he finally spoke out in that smug and callous voice of his— )

There ya go, though I doubt anything in here will be good enough for whatever it is you got going on. I can sew your wound if you need me to, buddy of mine back in my world was a trained cop you know? Taught me a few things.

( instead of moving to help leon though, he remained sauntering about, leaning against the counter as he watched the other. if he wasn't bending over and passing out from the pain, spike wasn't going to move until told he could get to sewing on this stranger. )

Wanna clean out the wound first? Think I saw a bathroom around here or something.

[tyrantbait]

( Even if Spike doesn't see the purpose of keeping things neat, Leon doesn't want to leave a mess of someone else's things. It's not like he's back in Raccoon City where everything has gone to hell anyway. The least he can do if he's going to rummage through their stuff is clean up after himself.

He finally seems satisfied that he's gotten everything (mostly) back to the way it was before he straightens, turns back to the other man in preparation to say something. But the words die on his touch as he watches the way he leans over the desk and finds the first aid kit without any issue. His expression falls slightly, a long sigh leaving him. If he'd just... )

Something is better than nothing. ( He replies with a small sigh, but the offer has his attention immediately. )

Yeah, that'd be— ( He nods, letting out another sigh, relieved. ) —that'd be great, if you don't mind. I could use another set of hands.

( The nonchalance and lack of any real hurry to help is strange to Leon when he'd be moving quickly to get someone else tended to. But it's not worth thinking on too long. Instead, he nods again. )

I should, yeah. There's a bathroom nearby.

( He lifts his hand, motioning towards one of the nearby doors. And then he steps away, motioning for Spike to follow before he heads towards the bathroom himself. )

[dulltool]

( once he got the verbal go ahead, he picked up the items and began to hustle [finally] towards the bathroom. his once lazy swagger and demeanor was now turning into something more urgent, but not quite fully concerned about the man behind him. he was at least polite enough to hold the bathroom door open for him once the reached it, and turning on the faucet of water as he began to fish around in the first aid kit. )

So how'd you get banged up anyways?

( he asked, and while he was working on precuring a needle and thread suitable for the kind of hap-hazard surgery he was going to perform, his tone of voice still came across as very casual—

almost as if they were two buddies at the bar and not two strangers about to perform informal surgery in a dingy, dark hotel bathroom that could also possibly be haunted as well. )

Rather strange they'd bring in someone injured, did you get that by messing around here?

colosseum aftermath

[shoplifter]

[Laura is not... quite a new arrival, but instead one of the Etrayans who had come to this place to work a 'mission'. It reminds her of the colosseum that they'd all been forced to endure not so long ago on another mission, but... well. At least this time it wasn't quite so life and death.

Leon may not expect a child to be in the arena, but here she is — and completely uninjured from her own skirmish with the creatures, it seems. The only signs of blood appear to be smears on her knuckles, noticeable as she calmly takes his hand and stands up. The 12-year-old frowns a little more deeply as she looks him over, her nose full of the stench of blood that rolls off his injuries.]

You are very hurt.

[For a normal person, anyway.]

[tyrantbait]

( It dawns on Leon quickly just how young his partner is. It makes something twist uncomfortably in his gut with the realization that she shouldn't have been caught up in something like this. That she could have been seriously hurt. In the chaos of everything, it had been easy to assume she was someone older given how she'd handled herself. But turns out he'd been wrong.

He frowns thoughtfully as he pulls her up and to her feet, reaching with his free hand to carefully put it on her back to make sure she's fully upright and stable before he slowly lets his hands fall away. At least, she doesn't look like she's hurt, though the blood on her knuckles doesn't go unnoticed. That's where his gaze lingers for a few, long seconds before his attention goes back up and to her face. )

Hurt?

( Leon echoes, before he glances over to his shoulder and lifts a hand towards it. He doesn't touch it, only lets himself process that, yeah, he's still hurt. Still in the same condition he'd been in before he'd arrived here but with a few new bumps and bruises after everything. ) Uh, yeah. Things were a little crazy before I got here. ( Not that this is any less crazy, but...

He shakes his head, though, a way of saying he's not worried about it for the moment. It barely hurts, but he figures that's not going to last. Once he comes down from the feeling of all this, he's sure it's going to be a bad day. But the more important thing is her, this kid.

One hand is stretched towards her again, palm up. )

Can I see your hand? Or hands, I guess.

( The other comes up, palm up, to wait for her hands. )

[shoplifter]

[Laura blinks, a little baffled. After all, he's the one who should be getting looked over. It doesn't bother her to offer her hands and let him look at what is only just traces of blood; the rest of her looks more or less the same, albeit rumpled.]

I'm fine. I don't stay hurt, and I'm very good at fighting. [Once he's done, she thinks it's only fair that she turn his hands over and look at his. Scraped up and bruised — not shocking. With a furrow of her brow and a skeptical frown, she looks up at him.] You need to worry more about yourself; You can't help other people if you do not help yourself.

[Leon S. Kennedy, lectured by child.

Welcome to Etraya!]

[tyrantbait]

( His own hands are gentle, careful, as he closes his fingers around her hands. Slowly, his eyes travel over the smears of blood, brows furrowing slowly at the lack of any injuries. Is this... all from that thing? Or something else? Leon has a thought, briefly, that he feels like he's missing something entirely here. Though her words - I don't stay hurt - make one piece click into place even if it leaves him with more questions.

He's slow to pull his hands away, lifting his attention back to her face with a small, tired smile. ) Yeah, I'd say you're pretty good. ( She'd really held her own out there, and as much as he has feelings about a kid being put in danger like that, he's grateful for the help. And that she's okay. )

What do you mean, you don't stay hurt?

( Ah, and then she's turning that look up at him. Being... told to worry about himself? He does look visibly caught off guard, and his lips part like he's about to say something. Insist that he's fine, but he knows that's a lie. What he manages instead is a soft little huff as he shakes his head, reaching up to rub a hand across the back of his neck. )

Yeah. I should probably be more careful.

( But as he looks down at her, he has the thought that it feels weird. Being scolded by a little girl. )

[shoplifter]

[Laura has gotten very used to the confusion and questions. And thankfully, she doesn't leave him in the dark too terribly.]

It is a power I have. I heal very fast.

[So that means you don't have to worry at all, as far as she's concerned. She knows the adults usually worry anyway, but it's good to at least let them know she's... a particular case.]

You'll fit in with the others here, though. They're not always so careful... What did you get hurt by?

[She can smell gunpowder with her sensitive nose, but she'd just assumed it was his own weapon giving off the scent.]

gold saucer

[triptos]

[ When Norman first heard that they were being sent out on a mission, he was expecting some high-stakes scenario. You know? The usual. A missing person of interest. Investigate this high-classified file. He didn’t expect to be smack dab in the middle of a carnival with the sole expectation of racking of up a high score like some real life video game. Sure. This looks like a fun place. But it felt like he was missing something? Like a trick question or something. He can’t seem to put his finger on it. All this overthinking made the FBI profiler to clam up and shut himself in his head.

Norman fidgets with his fingers, unsure what to do with this pent up energy. He didn’t realize his mind wandered off while the others were playing skeeball in front of him. So when the other guy asks if he wants to play, his mouth stumbles into a decision. ]

I — uh … Ah, yeah. Sure.

[ There. It’s settled. ]

Been a while since I’ve played.

[tyrantbait]

( The way the other man stumbles over his words doesn't go unnoticed, but Leon waits without a word or judgement. And the acceptance of the little challenge is met with a small, encouraging grin. )

Guess I'll have to go easy on you, then.

( His words are light, laced with a small hint of playfulness. It feels strange to be able to stand here and do something as normal as play some arcade game when only a few hours ago, he'd been dealing with everything back home. That damn tyrant, all the monsters, Ada's betrayal. Those are thoughts he quickly forces down, though, as he glances towards the pair of lanes next to them. He has to breathe, to tell himself not to get caught up on those thoughts.

But after a moment, he finally seems to get himself focused on what the little challenge he'd made. And, after a few seconds more of considering, he offers his hand out in greeting. )

I'm Leon.

[triptos]

[ If Norman had to put a word for what he’s feeling, it would have to be disoriented. This was all very disorienting. Hours ago, he was racing the clock to find Ethan Mars’ son. Even going so far to almost being pulverized by a car crusher. And now, colorful neon lights and sticky sugary snacks bombard his senses.

And call it a hunch, but maybe he ain’t the only guy here who feels the same.

Regardless, it was nice to have company around. Especially when said company isn’t calling you a fucking asshole from the jump. Norman extends his hand to shake Leon’s, meeting him in the eyes. ]

Norman. Pleased to meet you.

[ His Bostonian accent being a notch thicker than normal. Chalk it up to nerves. ]

This a regular thing for you?

[tyrantbait]

( Yeah, it's nice to have company. That's a sentiment Leon can understand. There's plenty of people around here, which feels overwhelming in and of itself, but having just one person to focus on is better. Easier. A lot better than being alone in the darkness of the NEST or the overrun police station.

He meets the other man's gaze, nodding easily as his lips curve into a small smile. Warm and friendly but a little guarded all the same. )

Nice to meet you.

( His grip is firm enough to be polite, and he doesn't let the contact linger long. The question prompts another glance towards the lanes, and he shakes his head. )

No, but it seemed like a safer bet than facing off with another monster.

( There's a sort of wry edge to his voice, like he's not just talking about this place but something else. And given the long exhale and weight of his shoulders, it's surely the case. But he doesn't leave a lot of time to focus on that. Instead, he's stepping towards one of the machines, eyeing the little console to get ready to get started. )

What about you?

[triptos]

[ The corner of Norman’s mouth quirks up. Maybe it was too early to tell, but there was definitely a charm to Leon. In Norman’s line of work, he’s usually surrounded by the disgruntled old-heads with a sizeable chip on their should and a pension that can afford them a comfortable life in Great Neck, New York. That or he’s in the middle of a crime scene and you’ve got forensics getting belligerent over sediment samples.

So it is a little curious when Leon casually mentions ‘another monster’. Did he mean that literally or metaphorically? Of course, he’s got to mean metaphorically. And another? That would imply that there’s a first.

But Norman doesn’t have too much time to mince over the details when Leon shoots the question right back at him. He’s standing of feet away from Leon, arms crossed over his chest. ]

No way.

[ He dryly responds. As if that’s the ‘correct’ response to have. ]

Don’t get me wrong. This is great and all. Haven’t done this sort of thing since college. But if Quantico got word I was slack-assin’ here? I wouldn’t hear the end of it.