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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! |
no subject
[He offers a slight smile, a little forced if only to dispel the awe he'd been projecting a moment before.]
This place also tends to get a lot of monsters or people to duke it out with. The whole... y'know, world-saving thing. Apparently that's a solid way to determine if ours is worth keeping from total doom.
[Peter tooootally doesn't know much about beating up monsters, either. Not him. Couldn't be.
... Maybe he should just spill the beans. He was an honorary Avenger, and he trusts Thor just by virtue of being Thor. But it's all so complicated and depressing, and he's not sure he has the heart to explain his journey through losing pretty much everyone in his life in one way or another.]
no subject
Although, he's not sure why. That's what is weird to him.]
Saving the world? That sounds like a Tuesday back home. Perhaps a band of superheroes is exactly what this place needs. Though I've yet to see any of the rest of my friends here.
[Before he gets too far along in that train of thought, he looks at Peter again, curious.]
I can only assume that you know who I am, but I must admit that I find myself at a loss for your name. What are you called?
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[How to swing this right now... Total honesty? Well, dipping into honesty. Go from there. He holds out his hand for a handshake, still a touch starstruck.]
Peter Parker.
You wouldn't know me, but — I was part of the Stark Industries Internship Program, so I worked with Tony a lot. I might've... snuck around the Avengers compound a few times...
[All of this is true! Omissions are not lies!]
no subject
[Hope that spider bite helps you withstand the brunt of Thor's hand as it comes clamping down on your shoulder. It's kinda heavy.]
So, you worked for Tony. His complexes seem like good places for those who are scientifically inclined. Or Avengers. It is good to see someone from home, nonetheless.
Pick something out and I will get it for you. You don't look quite old enough to drink yet, so we must make do with other things.
no subject
[After a moment's pause to let that sink in, he points to a pack of sparklers.
Okay, so not old enough to drink.]
Um. Big fan though, for the record! Thanks for that one time where you stopped a bunch of aliens from overtaking New York City. That was mega scary. [Peter was just a kid, then. No powers involved, but definitely asthma and nearsightedness included.] Can't believe it's been 12 years.
[Time is wild.
... Okay, so he was dead for 5 of those years. Whatever.]
no subject
He lets the entity behind the counter know that he wants the sparklers and the glowsticks times five and then hands them over to the young man as soon as he has them.]
Twelve years? Then you come from my future. It has only been seven from what I understand of time on Midgard. And from the date that I saw recently here in Etraya, it appears to have been thirteen years.
[Duplicity has made him look at so much of what he thought he knew about the way the Universe works, including the fact that there are many different versions of everything. He takes a second to let that hit him and he can't help but give a slightly pained smile.]
I wonder if we will meet other versions of ourselves here. I don't know that any place could handle two of me.
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For him, anyway. Probably less so for someone who is super old (sorry Thor).]
Oh, I have definitely seen other versions of the Avengers around here. Mr. Hawkeye was here a while back, but he wasn't the one from our world. Natasha and her sister were here for a little while, though! I mean — you know. Black Widow. They were from our universe.
[They were on a first-name basis, it's totally no big deal.]
no subject
I have seen other versions of the Avengers as well. As well as some who claim to be a part of the Avengers that I have never met. Do you know of the mutants that some go by the name of X-men? That was one of the things that I enjoyed in the previous city I resided.
[And then what Peter says kicks in and he stops and just stares at the boy.]
Natasha's sister?
no subject
[... Oop. He stares for a moment, blue screening until his brain catches up.]
I mean. Yes? Yes.
She never mentioned a sister before?
[Is this not a common knowledge thing between Avengers? Like, he didn't know, but he's Spider-Man! Spider-Man doesn't get to know shit!]
no subject
[And disturbing. Stop kidnapping people he knows.]
You have met her, yes? She doesn't tell you anything she doesn't have to. So, no, I did not know about a sister.