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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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Ah, ow. Gustave winces as the hit connects, his body remembering missed timing and absorbed hits from clubs, fists, swords. ]
Merde—
[ As the boy goes flying, he shifts between him and the creature, blocking access to the boy with his body and lifting his sword as the wickedly sharp tail curves over its back and strikes. He coils, braces himself at the impact; flings the tail back in a parry and lifts his pistol in the same motion to squeeze off a shot at its head.
He has no way of knowing whether the explosives the boy planted are run by a mechanical or electric timer, doesn't dare risk a lightning strike on the off chance it would erase the countdown and render the damn things inert, but based on the previous incendiaries, it shouldn't be long before the things go up, anyway. ]
no subject
robin waits, ensuring there's no further movement from the creature behind him before he gets his arms and legs under him, pulling himself halfway up before he's sitting back down on his knees. )
Ow.
( he says, but it's more - deadpan than anything else. less indication of actual injury, more an indication of harm to his pride. )
no subject
Still, he makes his way over to the boy after double-checking to make sure the beast is incapacitated, slowly sinking to a knee next to him. ]
You alright?
[ Yes seems to be the answer, but that hit could have cracked a rib or two, easily. ]
Those explosives were a good idea. Did you make them yourself?
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( with a scoff, because maybe the man hadn't had much of a choice, but fighting one of those things as beaten up as he looks is just ridiculous. damian pulls himself up to his feet easily enough, and doesn't seem to be too fazed if he even is at all. he's taken harder hits intentionally and weathered them just fine. now? he's taking a step closer to the man and dropping a hand down to sift through a few compartments of his utility belt. out of one comes a small suture kit, and out of another, several wads of gauze and miscellaneous other first aid tools. )
Show me the wound, and perhaps I'll tell you about them.
( he won't. but he's up on his feet while the man is down on a knee, so at least he's gotten him on more even ground. )
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[ He admits it easily enough. Pride hasn't ever really been one of his worst flaws; if it had been, Maelle would have sliced it out of him long ago with her teasing, well before she became an unimpressed teenager.
Besides, the boy is objectively correct: he's far from alright, even if whatever had brought him here had managed to fix him up just enough that he hadn't immediately collapsed upon waking up. Gustave doesn't move, aside from to lift his hand away from the wound at the middle left side of his torso. There's another, large and clean, that looks like it was struck directly through the middle of his chest. Both entry and exit wounds are neat, as if whatever speared through him cut as cleanly as a laser. ]
If you won't tell me about them, will you tell me why you're dressed that way?
[ Bright colors, a cape... a mask. He understands the importance of a uniform, but this looks more like a... costume, like something he remembers seeing in the old flyers advertising cirque productions. ]
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so he focuses on what he can do instead, which isn't much in the middle of a battleground. he rips open a piece of sterile gauze to press it up against the wound, putting pressure on it with a hand while messily shoving everything back into his belt so he can press himself in under the man's arm. )
Because I'm Robin.
( which needs no explanation, as far as he's concerned. )
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Gustave shakes his head like a dog trying to shake off an insect, focuses on simply staying upright. ]
It sounds like I'm supposed to know what that means, so I hope eventually you'll tell me. But it's nice to meet you, Robin... I'm Gustave.
[ His glance flickers over the fallen creature, then up at the arena around them. ]
And we should probably get out of here before another one of those things decides to show up.
no subject
I'm working on it. ( it's growled, irritated, as if trying to get him out of here is an inconvenience even if it's one he's taken upon himself without any input from anyone else. they're moving forward, albeit significantly slower than damian would have been able to get out had he been alone. ) It would be significantly faster if you weren't in pieces.
( idiot. )