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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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I'm getting us through it. Be ready! [There's a loud rumbling as the tsunami is finally let go, heading in the direction of the two hedgehogs. If Sonic wanted to protest, Shadow is going to ignore it. As orange and golden sparks spread from his body, even his red highlights flare up. They start to speed towards the massive wave until....the world suddenly begins to stop.
It almost felt like when Sonic went super fast and the world would slow down, but this was different. It felt more like time had stopped, all the sounds became muffled and the colors of the world were washed out. There's a sensation of being tugged somewhere, down a tunnel. To the unexperienced, all of one's senses comes into question as gravity doesn't work right, a sense of vertigo as up becomes down.
It all will eventually stop, the world coming back together and revealing they've passed through the tidal wave. The serpent was there to greet them, still frozen in time.] Go! [He tosses Sonic skywards with all of his remaining strength, as the world gradually starting to move once more. The serpent will only see the black hedgehog as time starts again. Light sparking from his right hand, creating one last spear. Intentionally, he stays on the side of it's good eye, keeping the creature's attention on him.]
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What--?! [Oh yeah. He remembers the feeling, having gone through that twice before. He's a little less ill-prepared for what happens, at least, even if it's still disorienting, and the vertigo still hits him. He can't say he's a fan of it, but he's less of a fan of drowning, so he'll take it.] Fingers crossed all my guts are still where I left ‘em.
[He doesn't have enough time to recharge a hit like the one he did before, but as he's thrown, instincts kick in, and he coils into a spiky ball to charge and hit the leviathan's head with a well-aimed spin dash.]
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The serpent starts to glitch violently until it's head starts to digitize, going down through the rest of it's body. The water starts to calm and digitize as well, the rain finally coming to a stop as the stormy clouds start to clear. All Shadow cares about, is that it's finally over. Stray sparks still come his body as his spear fizzles out. He's starting to fall. He knows he'll survive it, so it didn't matter. The arena is returning to normal, a sign there's nothing left to fight. That's all he needs to know.]
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He turned to watch Shadow fall beside him, they weren't too far apart. He looked just a worn as Sonic felt, and he was sure he wasn't completely imagining the blood trailing faintly in the air. The sight stirred something sharp in his chest.
The arena was too flooded for it to drain on time, but maybe that was a good thing, at least they wouldn't hit hard concrete-- although the impact against the surface of water at this distance was no joke either. Without thinking, instinct overriding fatigue, Sonic surged toward him, arms outstretched. He caught Shadow mid-fall, pulling him close in a firm grip, determined to shield him from the impact below. He took a deep breath.
They plunged into the water, back first on Sonic's part, the hit knocking some of the air he had been holding out of him. And he sunk. Oh yeah, he still couldn't swim. Hopefully, it wouldn’t take long for the arena to reset, before he ran out of air.]
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The water flows through his fur, but it doesn't feel wet. If Sonic wasn't holding his breath, he'd realize they can breath in it now. The only thing that makes it resemble water is the weightlessness that one can still feel. His vision slowly comes into focus, seeing the light above, the surface of this "water" being digtized. They are sinking, he could feel the other hedgehog's arm holding onto him.
His hand grips onto their arm, kicking his feet in a way to get them atleast back upright. Just as the water completely reaches them and dissapates below, the jets from his shoes come to life, keeping them from falling the last few feet. There's the sound of a bell and a grand fanfare. Confetti and even fireworks start to go off, celebrating these two warriors that managed to clear all one hundred rounds.
Shadow wince at the sudden noise. He didn't care for it. All this does was make it difficult for him to focus. So it ends up being a rough landing, Shadow falling over and threatening to just hit the floor if not caught. But it's still a far better landing than what could have been a moment ago.]
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He manages to save the landing by reacting fast, and also moving quickly to catch you before you fall.] Shadow, are you okay?
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Fine. [He can't hide how heavily he breaths, how blood still drips from his left arm. He hates all the noise erupting in the arena. But he is alive. They cleared the gauntlet and given plenty of points to practically get the best prize from this place if they wanted to. That's all that matters.]
What about yourself? [Something...didn't feel right while they were in the "water". How the other behaved while he was trying to right themselves. He's aware of this, but he's too exhausted to do more than focus on standing and not pass out.]
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Virtual bouquet of flowers start fall onto the arena. Shadow glances to other other hedgehog. His posture straightening as he slowly extend the hand from his uninjured arm to them.]
Let's just get out of here. [They'll figure things out once they're somewhere less mind numbing.]
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They won't go far, remembering a quiet space near the waiting area of the colosseum lobby. It's here he'll drop them both, dropping onto the floor himself once they reappear and letting go of the other's hand. Blue and yellow sparks dimly dance around his body. He's spent.]
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Didn’t mean he wouldn’t complain about it, though.]
Dude, you gotta warn a guy first whenever you want to try anything new like that.
[He groans as the room does spin a little after the whole thing's done. He wobbles, barely managing to stay upright. Probably in a better state it wouldn't have been noticeable, but he was close to running on fumes before. He still looks at his hand curiously after, though. He had to admit that was something he didn't know he could do.
His attention was drawn back from that as he noticed Shadow on the floor.] Crap, wait, I'll ask for help. [He could still mostly walk after all.]
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No! [Sonic barely finishes what he says when Shadow growls a quick retort. He manages to move into a sitting position, putting his back against the wall, hand gripping over the wound. He must be too drained for it to heal properly.]
Don't...bring anyone. [He says between breaths. He needs a moment to rest, recover and he'll be fine enough to move again. He doesn't need help from a complete stranger.]
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He wasn't quite expecting such a defensive retort.] Okay! Sheesh, touchy. [He quickly raised both hands in front of himself in a placating manner, though his expression remained unimpressed.] Can I at least bring some thing to help, or should I leave you to bleed out?
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...Fine. [Getting something though is not a problem for him.] Do you even know what to look for?
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Yeah, this might come as shocking, but I actually do. [It comes with having a vet mom who cares too much and everything. And it's a mild external wound, while he might not know how to do stitches, it's still not a liver transplant.]
Just wait here. [Not like it looks like you could move anytime soon, but yeah you get it. Okay he knows he saw a Pharmacy somewhere around when he explores the place earlier. Hopefully he won't lose too many point buying stuff.]