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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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Please remain calm. We will provide assistance momentarily.
There are footsteps as Shadow is already starting to move away. She can follow or not. He's already saved her, so she doesn't need to stick around anymore. He doesn't want to leave the area, still focus on trying to get inside the longue area somehow. Going around the perimeter, he finds a narrow hall. Seem like a space only employees would walk through. He waits, seeing if anyone or anything will enter or leave. It remains empty, so he proceeds down into the hall. ]
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Moving to follow him, she watches their backs, remaining silent until they've entered the hall, but keeping her voice down when she does speak up. Where they're going exactly, she's not sure, but she gets the feeling they're probably not meant to be here.
Story of her life. It doesn't bother her as much as it should.]
So why were they after you?
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There's no need for you to follow me. [She's out of danger now and can go where she likes. There are doors along this hall, and he'll try all of them until he gets to one that looks like it could get them inside the Beehive. The first simply open to a closet, the second though, there was muffled music playing through it. Problem, the moment he opens that door, the backside of someone in a bunny suit is blocking their way. They turn when they hear the door, staring, at least that's what it felt like they were doing without saying a word. The voice that eventually comes out, was yet another bot.
Are you here to work?
Shadow frowns, glaring up at them, trying to figure out how to proceed. The head of the bunnysuit tilts slightly.
Hedgehog is not the appropriate attire for work. You must meet dresscode in order to start working.
It gestures at one of the other doors they hadn't tried yet. Opening it will lead them to the break room, where one could find bunny outfits if they choose to take that route.]
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Though she does tense at the sight of another bot standing over them, she relaxes a bit when it directs them to... change clothes? She peers into the indicated room and stares at the outfits.
Quietly, to her companion:] ... Are these work uniforms?
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Must be. [The bots were wearing the same thing. Maybe they can just wear them to get pass the guard and won't have to keep them on afterwards? With a quiet sigh, he comes over and grabs a head of the bunny suit. They had one with a chocolate colored one apparently. Maybe he could get away with just wearing the head?
He'll go ahead and put it on to try. Their head proportions to the rest of their body was already silly enough, and now it's more ridiculous with the mismatch bunny head. The robot will turn around when he approaches this time, staring at him for a long while, presumably to scan him.
There was a beep, a light flashing green on bot's head.
You may proceed.]
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It is.
Promptly slipping the bunny head over her own, she does the same. They've passed the bots' test; they're now official employees. They pass through another door together.]
Their security protocols might need some work.
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Moving along the facade, they'll eventually come into a main lobby type area. Music is playing somewhere nearby and the people here are certainly, well one could say they might feel underdressed amongst the more lavish folks here. There's nothing here that really stands out to-
"Pardon me, another glass of your finest wine, if you would."
A wine glass is suddenly plopped in his hands as a fancily dressed women walks pass him.] ... [He's putting that glass on the nearest table and continuing to walk through the lounge.]
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Only this time, she's almost a hundred percent certain nobody will recognize her, with or without the disguise. Not that it really matters; just as they do in Robotropolis, anyone seen as "the help" barely gets a glance.
Sonia separates from him for a short while as they make their way across the grand space, discreetly winding a path through the tables to meet up with him again on the other side. She's reasonably confident no one's taking an interest in them... yet.]
See anything? Besides a lot of empty glasses.
no subject
At some point, he had removed the rabbit head. He was getting tired being asked to bring more food, or clean the tables and whatever else. He eventually ends up leaning against a wall, some distance away from all the patrons and workers. His ears turning slightly as he picks up on the various conversations being had here. He lifts his head when Sonia rejoins him after her own investigation.]
Nothing. Just...people with a lot of money to throw. [Is this place closed off because there are shady dealings going on in here? Eitherway, he didn't feel there was any information that could really help with their situation.] I thought there might have been something being kept here.