etcelsior | HE TOLD ME SEVERAL TIMES THAT HE DIDN'T LIKE MY KIND

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HE TOLD ME SEVERAL TIMES THAT HE DIDN'T LIKE MY KIND

TEST DRIVE MEME

Considering apping into MASK OR MENACE? Want to dip your toes into the setting and get a feel of whether your character will fit into it? Or maybe you're just cruising and want to play around? Then you've come to the right place!

Pick any of the following scenarios below or feel free to make up your own, but don't be afraid to throw yourself at someone else's thread, either!

And remember to have fun!

01. The city of Heropa is what one might expect from a small, bright and cheery place, where locals are friendly enough and local shop owners might offer a free drink to welcome you to their fair city. Some of the locals might thank you for always lending your service to the nation and others might not say anything. In fact, some people might back away from any imPort who quite obviously looks like they aren't from around the neighborhood. Once in a while there's a look of disdain on someone's face and hushed voices.

An upset, deeply masculine voice wonders aloud: "More of them, when we already know they can't protect us? That's just painting a bigger target on the city's back!"

"That's just what Ronald Chump says!" Exclaims a young woman. She raises her fist in anger at the imPort-hating individual. "We're not going to tolerate bigots here!"

02. De Chima, Virginia, is a large city with a healthy economy, and though it's quieter, there are just as many citizens awed at your presence. Science and technology are the lifeblood of this city, so you're likely to come across a good many locals taking your picture with the newest of devices. Be forewarned: since FanPort happened, imPort fandom is at a new height. Don't be surprised if people start following you just to see if you'll do anything TMZ-worthy.

The trick is to stay calm, and don't wig out if someone asks what you think about imPort shipping.

03. Maurtia Falls, Pennsylvania, is having a rainy day. The streets seem to be running with water, the sky can't seem to stop crying. You might want to check out some consumerism-inclined shelter, be that a smoky and dart-eyed bar full of grumbling locals, or a grimy and industrial coffee shop (full of grumbling locals). Watch your step, newly minted imPort, because if you let on that you're fresh meat then you're likely to attract a posse of two or three sharp knuckled no-good-dooers. This is the criminally exciting part of town, so beware.

04. Nonah, North Carolina, is the liveliest of all cities; loud, busy and there's some kind of energy in the air that gets everyone buzzing with excitement. There's a baseball game going on in one of the parks amidst all those tall buildings, and you're welcome to watch! It's not an official game in the season, it's more like a friendly skirmish between local baseball teams. Midway through the game, the umpire might take note of you new imPorts -- assuming you're standing out in the crowd. He'll welcome you to throw a pitch if you'd like! Of course, the opposing team isn't too keen on the idea. Better look for more imPorts to play ball!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ his ears twitch, then dip faintly, but he doesn't quite flinch, the informal response ringing too intimate, and the sentiment.. well. it would've been wildly ignorant and offensive, were this stranger a member of his court-- a member of his empire at all. thankfully, he isn't, so he can ignore any reflexive embarrassment. he simply.. doesn't know, and that's no fault of his own. ]

They would not. [ he twists his crest on his finger, grateful that the small image shows nothing below his upper arms. ] We do not.. much resemble our court. Those we seek would be quite fair-skinned and white-haired. [ not like their ugly emperor at all, in fact. ] We were.. told that it was unlikely, but we thought it best to ask, at least.

[ Certainly he's not elven or goblin. In fact that description makes him raise his eyebrows a bit. ]

I've not seen many like that, no. Certainly all of those with ears like yours have either dark or red hair.

... My name is Miles, by the way. Lord Miles Naismith Vorkosigan. And I believe you're speaking with my emperor a little higher up.

[ that earns a fascinated blink. ] Red hair..? [ it's unheard of. he catches his own involuntary reaction a moment later, though, feeling his face heat. this is not the elflands, or anywhere near, in fact. and if these strange people with their small, rounded ears are common, well.. why can some sort of elf or goblin relative not have red hair?

his earrings chime faintly as he forces himself to sit back, to relax his shoulders. it.. helps, a little, that this is someone familiar with someone maia is already speaking to. one of the barrayaran emperor's subjects, in fact. ]

We are pleased to make your acquaintance, Lord Vorkosigan. [ and he's a bit surprised to learn that he means it. this place has been so bewildering that it's good to have something even passingly familiar. ] It is good to see that he is accompanied. [ a beat, sounding a little tired despite himself: ] Such a thing would be unheard of at home. [ being unaccompanied, that is. ]

It would be utterly unheard of at home for him as well. [ Miles agrees steadily. He also straightens up a bit, taking on a more polite posture better suited to a lord. ] Fortunately, we both arrived at the same time. And every month seems to bring more and more people from home. We're up to eight now - highly unusual, I'm told.

[ maia forces his fingers to unlace, his hands to rest lightly on the arms of the chair. this is.. not as bad as he'd feared. all that practice he's had recently had helped, no doubt, though he still feels a little dull and tongue-tied in conversation.

he can't help the slightly puzzled glance, though. eight. ] And are his nohecharei among them? [ though he supposes the others all have an obligation to protect their emperor, maia knows his own courtiers would be entirely scandalized by being required to. ]

[ Miles blinks a bit at that. Must be important if this elf has used the word twice already, but he still can't guess it from context. ]

Nohecharei? I'm not familiar with the term.

[ perhaps these people use a different term. the device certainly doesn't know what to make of it. ]

His.. [ a ringed hand lifts, a knuckle brushing his mouth. it's an unfitting gesture, but he finds he can't quite help it. ] His guards. The guard of the body, the guard of the mind.

[ he feels strangely naked without his own now, vulnerable and discomforted. ]

[ Miles brightens instantly in recognition. ]

Armsmen. Yes, it's very strange being without them here. But Gregor has me, at least.

Armsmen. [ no, not quite. but the concept doesn't seem to translate well, so perhaps it doesn't exist the way maia is familiar with it.

and lord vorkosigan's cheerful acceptance of a role that would leave many of maia's courtiers offended is enough to earn a startled blink. his ears flick up, then back slightly. ]

.. Is it common, then, for lords to guard their emperor in Barrayar?

Well - I'm no armsman, no. And I would consider Gregor and I to be particularly close. But ... it is how we are suppose to function. Owing our allegiance to him, ultimately being sworn to protect him.

Not that that prevents civil wars completely.

[ close enough to call his emperor by his given name, which is startling. but then, hadn't gregor said that those here were members of his family? he turns the oath-ring on his thumb in silent thought for several moments, glance drawn briefly to the plain iron ring. ]

Your faith and loyalty do him great credit, we are certain.

[ gods, if he could but say the same of even half his court. he is, at least, unlikely to have to deal with civil war anytime soon. ]

I should hope so. We've known each other all our lives. Foster brothers, of a sort.

[ And lovers, he almost follows up with, but - wow, those two terms shouldn't be in too close a proximity. Nevermind that Miles is very far down the family tree indeed. ]

[ he doesn't quite smile, but his lips quirk faintly. for a moment, he looks tired and drawn. ]

A lifelong association is not always.. a good thing. [ as certainly evidenced by his cousin setheris. but he can hardly compare his relationship with his cousin to all similar situations. he knows very well that his cousin's treatment of him was.. not usual. ]

We are glad to see otherwise in Emperor Vorbarra's case. What luck, for him to have arrived with someone devoted to his well-being. [ he knows better than to assume that's true, despite what this lord says, but.. he hopes that it is. ] He seems.. content here. Adjusted, at least.

Well ... no, not always. Sometimes a very complicated thing.

[ He's considering his grandfather here, and how much he loves the man - and yet, he's beginning to see more about him that he doesn't agree with. Even Bohari, as utterly loyal and protective as he was, would count as complicated. ]

But I hope that my relationship with him has been nothing but positive. I'd hate to think if it wasn't.

... Are you concerned about adjusting too?

[ his ears lower faintly before he catches them, forcing them to straighten again. ]

We are not.. accustomed to places like this. [ he hopes he doesn't sound as lost as he certainly feels. ] Nor are we accustomed to-- to being alone. [ even in edonomee, he hadn't truly been alone. his cousin had been there, little comfort though he'd been, and the servants. it had been very different from being dropped in this place without so much as a by-your-leave, surrounded by complete strangers. ]

... Would you like to stay with us, then? With Gregor, my family and I.

[ he actually looks kind of stunned at that, gray eyes widening, ears flattening back against his head. ]

I-- [ he's apparently been surprised right out of formal speech, at least for the moment. ] You-- You don't even know me. Why would you--

You remind me of Gregor, a little. And I think you could use some friendly faces that understand your kind of system better than most. Most here are democrats.

[ his face is hot, and he's very glad that his blush doesn't show on skin like his. ]

You-- [ he has to take a moment to gather his composure again, struggling not to look flustered or shy. ] That is.. very kind of you. [ uncertainly: ] We would not.. wish to impose, though.

As long as Gregor doesn't mind, I can't see how it would be.

[ there's a brief pause, clearly considering the offer seriously, before his mouth quirks up very faintly in a small, fragile smile. ]

We.. would be glad to accept, so long as the rest of your household should agree.

[ Oh. Right. He should actually clarify that, shouldn't he. For now, though he waves a hand. ]

I'm sure there'll be no trouble at all. Do you know the cities well enough to get to the De Chima porter?

[ he hesitates, then shakes his head once. ]

We fear we've only been here a very short time. [ more like hours than days. he pauses, touching his mouth thoughtfully. ] Would it be difficult to find..?

Not terribly. The maps they gave you ought to be clear enough. De Chima is trickier, but I can walk you from there.

[ he takes a deep breath, then nods once, firmly. ]

Very well. We shall see you shortly, Lord Vorkosigan.

LORD BLESS i will do my damnedest

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