WAKE UP IN THE MORNING FEELING LIKE

[maskormods]

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 there's only one rule in Test Drive Meme Club: 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, while others might not say anything -- but if you have something nasty to say, better not say anything at all, right? But on closer inspection of these Silent Stanleys and Stellas, you might notice that some people actually back away from any imPort who quite obviously looks like they aren't "from around the neighborhood". Once in a while, you may hear a voice raised:

"Did you see how visible their elections have become? They're just trying to grab power! Have you seen the homes they live in?

Of course, for every claim, there's a rebuttal; you may well hear a competing voice arguing, "They deserve to have a say in things too! You know it's different for them!"

ImPorts are a divisive issues, even in pretty Heropa.

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 very presence. Look at you! Organic wonder! 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. The imPort craze is at an all-time high, and considering the ambition of many of De Chima's residents, you may find yourself cornered by overzealous imPort fans, media wannabes and opportunists alike, shoving cameras in your face.

Their questions are less politically charged than they are mundane, however; get ready for an interview about your taste in romantic partners, personal underwear choices, favourite foods, and more!

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 bound to find a few people who decide that the only proper welcome for an imPort is a nice set of knuckles to the face.

One or two more cowardly locals may hesitate before giving you such a greeting, however, with a muttered, "Wonder if the new guy in office is gonna do more than the last one."

Ouch. Look at the political savvy on this guy!

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. You may find yourself in the midst of a few closed-off streets for some occasion or another - whether it be a food cart festival, no-car day, or something else! - and surrounded by the hum of people, the waft of food being served on the street, and plenty of attention

Look there -- someone's demoing a VR roller coaster! Won't you give it a shot?

Comments

[thepalinpaladin]

Oh! That's Saint Patrick's Day. I like that one. I'm ready for a party like that. It's not a parade for me but I can always pretend.

I guess you're not a party person if you skipped it though.

[protects_the_small]

As I said, it's not a holiday I know. I didn't even know it was happening until the news showed the....leprechauns? Trying to steal things.

[thepalinpaladin]

. . .real leprechauns.

I am sorry I missed that. That would have been a great story to bring back home to everyone. And as folk lore goes that's on the end of the scale I rather be on.

[protects_the_small]

I'm certain if you stick around here for any amount of time, you'll see something like it. [A grimace]

Something odd happens at least once a month.

[thepalinpaladin]

Is that more Calendar Man? Because that sounds a bit scheduled.

[protects_the_small]

Not all the time, no. Last week half the population changed into a different version of themselves.

[thepalinpaladin]

A different what.

Like your evil twin self or something?

[protects_the_small]

Perhaps not evil, but none of the people I met were very pleasant.

[thepalinpaladin]

I wonder if my other self has an easier time growing a beard.

[protects_the_small]

[She's not laughing AT him, she's laughing WITH hi-

No, she's laughing at him a bit]

Perhaps there will be another, and you will meet him.

[thepalinpaladin]

[He doesn't seem to mind, he set himself up for that one. And if he had facial hair it'd be much harder to apply his moisturizer at night]

I don't want there to be a second me unless all my friends are here to have to put up with it. It's a waste otherwise.

[protects_the_small]

That's a very good point, I wish you the fickle luck of the Porter in gaining them.

[That's said sincerely, Kel is all for having as many familiar faces as possible]

[thepalinpaladin]

I don't know if they'd actually like it. Earth is our home and this is Earth but it's not OUR Earth. We still can't see our families again.

Hunk might cry a little.

[Probably cried a little too. A man misses his family sometimes, you know? Even cool confident Paladins.]

Or maybe a lot. He's not very good at keeping it in.

[protects_the_small]

[Kel is just a little bit stricken at that]

Ah...I hadn't thought of that. This place is nowhere near like my world, I forget that isn't true for everyone.

[thepalinpaladin]

Yeah, you look like you're from something a little different. What's your home like?

[Sounding eager to hear about it.]

I wonder if it's a planet we'll come across one day. That'd be pretty cool.

[protects_the_small]

we still use carts and horses, there's a monarchy, not a democracy, magic is normal, and women are being allowed to fight but it's slow going.

[This is rattled off with the long suffering tone of someone who has had the word 'not modern' thrown at her too often]

[thepalinpaladin]

Probably because some women will do it whether they're allowed or not.

We tried to stop Allura from that once and I thought we might die for a second.

[Huffs out a little laugh as he remembers.]

It was one of the last things that happened before I was brought here but it seems really far away now. I guess traveling around like this does that. Have you been here long?

[protects_the_small]

[That gets a quick smile]

That is part of the moving forward, yes.

[Frowning, she counts back]

February...nearly six months now.

[thepalinpaladin]

Six months? That seems like a pretty long time to be stranded in some weird world that isn't yours.

How is it after that much time?

[protects_the_small]

[Kel is quiet, taking a moment to sip more of her smoothie as she thinks that over]

As long as I don't think too much on what COULD happen back home, it's been...an adventure of sorts. Certainly I've met people and done things that simply don't exist back home.

[thepalinpaladin]

Anything you wish you could bring back or have them all see? Like some food or I dunno, maybe you got a cat or something. Or have a shop you really like or a beach you want them to all visit.

[protects_the_small]

Mostly the people I've met here. I'd love to show them some of the places back home and have them meet my friends.

[A brief pause]

And a good supply of coffee.

[thepalinpaladin]

Ah, coffee. Nature's morning helping hand. I can see how you'd want that to tag along with you.

Your world is magicky you said. What kind of magic?

[protects_the_small]

I hope it does exist and it's only a matter of finding it, yet. Hopefully in my lifetime.

[She grimaces at that question, boy has she had to plumb the shallow depths of her knowledge here...]

The most common version is the Gift, where people draw on power from inside themselves and cast spells. It's usually comes as a personal color. We have healers and such.

[thepalinpaladin]

Healers sound pretty handy. Back where I was stuck we had this person sized science pod you had to sleep in to get magic-ish healing. They're like time out chambers for the injured.

I'd have much rather just been in a bed with someone hanging out with me doing the healing.