bakerstreet | (no subject)

The Gold Saucer Meme

You're at Gold Saucer. Gold Saucer! One of the most famous amusement parks ever, filled with games and adventure and party members and secrets just waiting to be discovered! This is going to be awesome!

"But what can you do here?" you might be asking. Well, let's check out the map...

Alright.

1. You can chill at Wonder Square. That's where you'd find the bulk of the arcade games, get silly prizes...like, if there's a stuffed chocobo plushie you're trying to win, you'll probably win it there. It's also a good place to meet new people and/or get your fortune told. You know, it's one of those good meeting places.

2. Or you could go to Battle Square. For the low, low, low price of 10 GP you get to enjoy an intense and really realistic fighting game, in which you go through subsequent rounds of fighting with escalating difficulty and arbitrary status effects being dropped on your party for no particular reason. For the more active types.

3. Or you could go race chocobos. Are you a jockey or otherwise involved in racing chocobos, like a chocobo stablehand, or are you more of a spectator? Either way, it's cutthroat and there's rumors that less savory people are racing in a bid to win their freedom, but that's obvious nonsense. But it's still very competitive.

4. Or you could go to the Event Square. Generally speaking, nothing's going on, but through a wacky set of circumstances we know as meme magic you'll find that your arrival timed perfectly and you'll be asked to participate in a silly play. The default is Princess Rosa being kidnapped by the Evil Dragon King Valvados, and the hero Alfred is sent to rescue her. But...well, that's just the default option. Go with whatever sort of play makes you happy.

5. If you're tired there's also Ghost Square, aka the haunted house/obligatory hotel. Yes, it's a haunted house hotel. Ill fated phasmophobiacs beware. You will not sleep.

6. But hey. If you're unable to sleep there's always Round Square, with gondolas, scenic fireworks, a pristine view of Gold Saucer in all of its glittering glory, maybe some...kissing?

7. There's also Speed Square, which consists of a roller coaster shooter that's basically what you get if you mix a roller coaster with laser tag. Good times!

8. And finally, there's dodging security because you pissed them off just that much. Had problems with the exchange rate? Screwed up the play at Event Square that much? Took Battle Square too seriously and accidentally assaulted an employee? Whatever the case may be...run. Run!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

They are beyond screwed. Zack stops in his tracks, nearly white against his hair and the purples of his uniform. He knew they'd have to face Angeal eventually, and they couldn't escape this, but...this quick? Oh boy.

Like a cowed puppy, Zack hunches back. This is gonna be great, isn't it? He laughs nervously, weight shifting from foot to foot.

"You did? Guess they like you more than us."

No point or use in denying the truth at this point in time. They gotta face the music, even if the look on Angeal's face grows sterner with each passing second. He isn't going to buy puppy dog looks and sheepish behavior this time. He got the whole story, from the looks of things. Great.

So much for sleeping.

For all that Zack's the one people constantly tease about acting like a puppy, Kunsel isn't doing much better, shrinking down and hunching his shoulders with a wince in the face of the storm on Angeal's face.

"This isn't a joke, Zack. You damaged property, disrupted business, wasted the time of a number of men who should have been spending their time keeping the other patrons safe, and even assaulted an employee!"

"But-" Kunsel tries to cut in, but Angeal cuts him off.

"And you, Kunsel," he says sharply. "You did nothing to stop him. You may not have landed the blow, or broken anything yourself, but what you did was hardly honorable SOLDIER behavior. I'm disappointed in you both."

"Hey!"

Zack's reaction is immediate; no longer cowed, no longer a puppy being told no, he steps forward and throws an arm out, as if to bodily block Kunsel from sight or reach. He's frowning right back at Angeal now, bright eyes a little darker than usual. He's probably sticking his boot even further down his throat, but...

"Don't take it out on him--it was all me. He just didn't abandon me, and that's honorable SOLDIER behavior!" His frown deepens, clearly remembering the lectures he's heard on the topic over the past year or so. "Leave no man behind, right? He didn't! Don't punish him for my choice!"

Zack's behavior may be like a puppy, but that includes his loyalty to his friends. He won't let Kunsel get punished for his stupid temper and what came after. There's a storm on Angeal's face, but thunder's starting to brew across Zack's features as well. Punish him all you want, Angeal, says that expression. But don't hurt his friend.

Something changes in the expression on Angeal's face, but Kunsel can't read what it is. The look he pins Zack with is still hard, though. "He had choices, too, Zack. Whether you like it or not, his choices have consequences, just as yours do."

"It's alright, Zack." Kunsel takes a breath and lifts his chin, even as he reaches to put a hand on Zack's shoulder, trying to reassure his friend. "I knew what I was doing, and Angeal's right. Just because I was following you doesn't mean I'm blameless here."

Again, there's a subtle shift in Angeal's eyes, a hint of approval at Kunsel's words. Even so, he levels a finger at them both. "If you don't have enough discipline to keep from causing that kind of a ruckus, you both clearly need more training under your belt. Five laps around Corel, starting now, and then we'll go from there. Zack, I'm going to put you back in strength control exercises." Because he knows how much his student loves those.

Well, so much for the rest of their leave.

They would have gotten bored just sleeping anyway. Zack's steady frown morphs into a pout--Ifrit he hates control exercises--but he lowers his arm anyway. It's hardly that Angeal's a threat, all things considered, but...

"Yes, sir."

But Zack is still fifteen, and the SOLDIER discipline hasn't taken all his teenager behavior out of him. Starting now, huh? Alright, fine, he'll start now. Without another word, he trots off, slowly picking up the pace. Whatever good mood lingered from the chase is long gone now, but he'll get the laps done.

He's stubborn enough for that, too.

Kunsel lets his shoulders sag briefly before he straightens up and jogs after Zack. Man, this is not how he'd wanted to spend his leave - but at least it's not as bad as it could be. Angeal could have easily piled on a worse punishment than this.

Of course, he could be waiting until they get back to drop the other shoe. Hopefully not. Hopefully it's just laps and strength control.

Oh well, whatever happens, he's in it with Zack, and that's enough right there to make him feel a little better.

Zack's always been in it with him.