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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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But that which is pleasant can never last.
It's becoming harder and harder to enjoy the view. Not because of the man - she stands by her assessment that he's quite pleasing to look at - but because of the state he's in. He looks like an expeditioner who just got chewed on by one of her Nevrons. He shouldn't be going anywhere. But he is, of course, a man. So instead he's pretending he's fine. Verso was always fine with those masks of his, and Renoir would never admit to acting because of himself instead of Aline.
Clea tilts her head as she looks up at him. Sighing as though he's burdened her in some way, she rifles through her pockets and divests them of a truly staggering amount of the little statues, letting them fall around her on the floor before she stands in a single, fluid gesture. Walking around him, she makes frequent 'hmm' noises under her breath, assessing his condition.
And he's just...standing there. ]
You're not going anywhere. You'll fall over in a stiff breeze, and then my afternoon fantasies will be ruined.
[ How is she supposed to contemplate what a sculpture of him would look like if he falls over and dies? She can't admire the beauty of a dead man. Well. Not in that particular way.]
Can you sit? Or should I examine you standing?
[ Not that she's any manner of physician, but she hasn't seen one here, and she might be able to stem some of the bleeding. Or go find one. ]
If you collapse, you are going to ruin everyone's amusements. Nobody will remember the competition, only the beautiful man collapsing.
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He turns his head to watch her as she circles him, uncertain, flushing slightly at her observations. The very last thing he feels like right now is the stuff of afternoon fantasies. ]
Are you... do you know what you're doing?
[ Keeping to his feet for the moment, less out of stubbornness than wariness. She says examine him but what could that possibly entail, set as they are on this strange platform so high above the ground? He still has the little statue in his hand as he shuffles in a circle, turning as she moves around him. ]
Are you actually a healer, or just an interested party?
[ What she is, he thinks, is someone unused to hearing the word no... or maybe someone who simply does as she will, regardless of petty stumbling blocks like etiquette or the fact that they are perfect strangers.
Maelle would like her, he thinks, a shadow of a smile touching the corner of his lips. She's just as stubborn, if less grown into it. ]
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[ Why are men so stupid? He needs to stay still, but instead he's swiveling to keep her in his line of sight. As though she were dangerous. ]
If I wanted to hurt you, I would have pushed you off the platform.
[ A cold, logical reminder that if Clea were hostile, she wouldn't have needed to hide it. As for said wounds...the word that comes to Clea's mind is how? Inside of a Canvas, this would not have been surprising - he looks like he's been stabbed straight through and healed, but injuries in the real world can't be healed like that. Then again, most of this place is unfamiliar. Clea's never seen lights like these, or platforms.
Maybe here, such things were possible. ]
I can assess your wounds, but I will not be able to fix them.
[ The only severe wounds Clea has attended to outside of a Canvas were Alicia's burns. She is not foolish enough to think that makes her any manner of physician or to risk the man's wellbeing trying anyway. There is confidence and there is foolishness. ]
I intend to help you off these platforms, get somewhere safe, and then find you appropriate medical help. Understanding your condition will help me convey to the physician what is wrong and ensure he brings the supplies necessary to assist.
[ She won't be able to move him herself, but it's unwise for him to remain so high in the air. If he does lose consciousness or fall, he could severely hurt himself and tear his wounds open again. Judging from their locations, this would lead to death by blood loss fairly quickly.
As for whether she's an interested party... Clea fixes him with an unamused look. ]
So you think I should leave you? Is that what you would do, monsieur, if you were in my shoes and I were standing there threatening to bleed all over a healthy competition? Leave me to my business?
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[ He's surprised into a laugh; a real one, though it's a little breathless. His chest is sore; the pressure hurts, but he only winces slightly, that metal hand pressing a little more firmly against his side. ]
I don't think you want to hurt me.
[ She's impatient with him, focused, and he's reminded abruptly of Lune with a sharp pang that has nothing to do with his wounds. Lune, waving aside his prevarications, Lune cutting through his stumbling words, Lune practical and determined, keeping them on track, but always with that kind heart that she keeps tucked prudently away so she can focus, so she can help them complete the mission, so they'll succeed.
She's not Lune. But nothing she's said or done just yet has made him think she's a threat. She could be, it's clear. No one who managed that course that easily could be anything but, if they decided to turn aggressive, and he has no idea of her other capabilities, if she has any weapons, if she might be trying to lull him into a false sense of security for some reason.
But he doesn't think so. On the strength of the delight in her smile when she'd landed so gracefully, pleased with herself and her performance; on the way she'd turned, that complex shadow in her eyes — he doesn't think she's a threat. Not now, anyway.
Gustave leans just a little to look over the edge of the platform, where other competitors have fallen and simply walked away as though it was nothing more than a short hop down. ]
And anyway, if you did, I'm not actually sure the fall would do anything to me. So I'm probably all right, for the moment. Aside from the, you know.
[ A gesture at himself, the wounds she wants to examine. He considers her for another moment — she's not a healer or a doctor, but she is right that he wouldn't be able to leave someone in his condition, either — then carefully lowers himself to sitting. It doesn't feel good, crunching himself up like this, but he leans back a little, trying to keep the pressure off his torso. ]
You make a compelling argument, mademoiselle. And I'm not exactly in any kind of shape to refuse whatever help someone might offer.
Clea should have paid more attention to the people of Lumiere oops
[ At least he gives up on his idiocy easily enough. Clea had been prepared for longer, lengthier argument wherein he tried to save his sense of masculinity by acting like an utter moron. Somewhat. He leans over the side of the platform and Clea wishes she had a newspaper to slap him with. Although she's not certain it would help as apparently 'avoiding pain' doesn't seem to be particularly motivating for him. ]
You don't know that. Even if the fall itself is designed not to hurt -
[ Her mind wonders how. That's magic that belongs in a Canvas, but this is not a Canvas. Clea knows that fact as deeply as she knows the position of her own limbs. ]
There's no guarantee that it won't rip your wounds open as you land. Injured people shouldn't be on this course, it may not have been created to handle your situation.
[ Clea fixes him with A Look. You should not be up here, Monsieur. How had he gotten up there to begin with? And why does he look somewhat familiar? She looks at him again, more closely. There's something... and she can't put her finger on it, which is odd in and of itself. As an artist, Clea does pride herself on remembering faces and details.
Hm.
Leaning forward, Clea moves to support Gustave as he sits, a firm arm supporting his back (but carefully avoiding touching his wounds) while a hand presses to the front of his shoulder so that he can use her as support for the motion. Taking note of how he winces, she considers what the best move would be. Standing is risky. Lying on his back on the floor might irritate the wounds on his back. Sitting isn't advisable for clear reasons.
Perhaps lying on his side? With some support.
Sitting back down behind him, Clea reaches her hands out to support him, offering to let him lean back without falling.]
Does this help?
[ Leaning back.
One of her hands moves and she presses her palm to Gustave's forehead. Not feverish. That's a good sign. ]
All of my arguments are compelling. Now, are you injured elsewhere?