etcelsior | WAKE UP IN THE MORNING FEELING LIKE

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WAKE UP IN THE MORNING FEELING LIKE

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?

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[There's something to be said for habits as old as time, and right now is just one of those moments. Someone falls in line behind her, watching that lady walk off and letting out a low whistle. To be honest, the bow should have been a dead giveaway for his brain to click, but being so long in this place, watching Minato, Akihiko, AND Shinjiro all disappear at once, and the fact that people seemed to bring their weapons with them on a regular basis, he's being a little less focused today.

His hands pull his hood down--his only shelter from the rain.]

Felt that sting of rejection from here. [He lets out a sigh, removing that jacket he was once wearing (very similar to the fur lined one he had back home) and holds it out.]

Never fear, Yukaricchi, I'll guide you through this damp labry--

[Wait a fuck. His hand goes rigid on that coat, dropping it in the process. Thankfully they weren't standing IN the rain.]

Yu- ...Yu-, Yu-.. Yu...

YUKARICCHI!????

[ — oh no ]

[ yukari knew the moment she heard that voice who it was, and even she couldn't deny the jolt of adrenaline it gave her, having someone she knew in a place like this.

but really?

STUPEI? ]

[ she whips around, reaching to grab him by his jacket shoulder. maybe if she's lucky, she can pull them even further out of the rain (and even further out of view of the ruffians around them). ]

Keep your voice down, I can hear you just fine!

[ wow, zero to grumpy in seconds flat. ]

[Yep. That is DEFINITELY Yukari. That same grab, that same grumpy voice that got ingrained in his head until he can hear it whispering to him whenever he's slacking off (and by whispering, he means that frustrated and yet cute little sigh of disgust.).]

Hey--hey!! Easy on the merchandise, would ya?

[He stumbles back, his noodle body completely at her whim as she pulls him out of the rain (and view).]

It's...it's really you?

Quick, smack me to make sure I'm not dreaming.

[ her expression flattens as she adjusts the way the bow sits across her chest, which then allows her to cross her arms.

she can't help it, it's just her natural reaction to being in junpei's presence. ]

I'm gonna give you one chance to take that back before I take you up on it.

[ for all the bickering she and junpei get into, she's never honestly wanted to hurt him. buuuut, if the invitation's there... ]

[MERCY OPTION ACCEPTED. He stands up straight, slouching back on his feet as he tries to keep that smile from practically splitting his face.]

Donmai, donmai!

[If he is dreaming, it's probably one of the better ones he's had here, that's for sure. And what better way to practically throw away that chance of no-violence than by pulling her into the lankiest bear hug he can muster]

I just can't believe you're here, my angel!

[He missed you a lot, okay.]

[ okay, if junpei's objective was to get her to relax a little? he's definitely succeeded with that little line: yukari bursts into laughter. it's not clear if it's derisive or something from genuine humor, but it's a laugh all the same. ]

Are youuuu... feeling okay, Junpei?

[ PLEASE. ]

Since when am I your "angel"?

[ even minato-kun never called her that, and they were a Thing. it's kinda cute though, and it's a welcome change from all the ... well, the vibe of this place. ]

[Ah, there's the Yukari he knows he can bring out if he hits just the right notes. It's better when they're both smiling, and it's only when he hears her laughter that he lets go, stepping back and making sure that no one really pays TOO much attention to them. He lived in Maurita Falls--he knew better than most what counts as suspicious.

His hands rest on her shoulders, though, letting out a quick breath of air.]

You're not gonna believe this...

but it's been five months since I've seen you.

[ oh geeze, talk about your mood whiplash. it's so sudden that it doesn't register at first in yukari's mind. sure the whole "hey you've suddenly been ported seven-ish years into the future!" thing is hard to swallow, and she really just wanted to brush it off with a nervous laugh and go on pretending like it was late january, but —

she feels her stomach lurch again, and she raises a hand to brush junpei's hands off of her shoulders. ]

That's not funny.

You know I wouldn't lie about that.

[He hates having to get too real too fast, but...well, it's either he tells her or she finds out from the government. And SEES had been gracious enough to do the former for him.]

I've been here since February. Ken's been here even longer than that.

[ ... she likes it even less. she likes it when she doesn't have to take junpei seriously, when she can brush him off with a roll of her eyes or calling him a dumb name before she carries on with her life. it's all wrapped up in that desire of hers to keep others at arms length, and with junpei it's always been easier. still, when he gets serious, she has no choice but to listen.

looking away for a moment, yukari lets her fingers twist together again and she does her best to keep her breathing even. ]

'S there somewhere we can talk about this? Somewhere not soaking wet?

[To be honest, Junpei had forgotten all about that, his eyes finally taking themselves away from the one person he'd probably missed the most during his time here. Yukari made things easier to handle. Their bickering made the big things seem so small in comparison to him trekking mud into the dorm or faking sick to skip finals (or in other cases, ACTUALLY sick.) But here...he had to take it all at ground zero, with no one at his side but Ken.]

Oh! Oh yeah, sure. My house isn't too far from here, actually.

[Yeah, you heard him. He LIVES here.

He takes off his jacket and holds it out to her wiggling its hood a bit to emphasize it.]

C'mon, you can wear this til we get to the house. I've got a hat--I'm set.

[And despite the seriousness of the issue, he does flash her a smile. To give her SOMETHING familiar to take comfort in. Even if it looks like it could fall apart at any moment.]

[ almost immediately, she's hit with the feeling of just how wrong it is for junpei to be living in a place like this, on his own or otherwise. she doesn't like that feeling, and she doesn't like the idea of inevitably leaving him here to his devices, but it's not like she has many options at the moment. the place they gave her is small, but yukari has always been resourceful.

regardless of whether junpei wants it, yukari will figure out a way to get him out of here and someplace a little bit safer, and she tells herself it's only because she likes bossing him around.

save that for later, takeba, right now — deal with the stuff that's easier to digest. such as — ]

They trusted you with a house?

[ she scoffs just slightly as she takes the offered jacket, holding it over her head to keep off the rain. ]

[It's not unfound worry, either. Junpei wasn't someone who was really made to live in a cutthroat town like this, and he'd be lying if he said he didn't walk with his baseball bat across his back for more than just being the coach of Nonah Middle School. It's not ideal, but Mitsuru's there, and like hell he'll leave her on her own in this place.

He puts on a smile for her, though, as if the whole thing wasn't even a problem as she takes his coat, pulling his own hat down further over his eyes, like that'd really block the rain.

Her question gets his playful little laugh out of him, his opposite hand extending outward dramatically.]

Hey, I resent that! I'll have you know, I've become a full fledged adult while I've been here! I pay my taxes!

...Probably!

[ ..........

you know, at the moment, she's too preoccupied with trying to think of ways to get junpei (and mitsuru, let's be honest) out of here. where they could move to, what sort of loan she can take out.. she's been living on her own in school dorms since she was little, so she's got this whole thing down pat. maybe because of that, she doesn't really take the bait as far as a joke goes. ]

Junpei, we're minors. I'm pretty sure we don't have to worry about taxes right now.

[ probably ever, if they're on the government's payroll, or, whatever the deal is here. ]

[ she glances down the street, and then back up at junpei, kind of hating how tall he is because now she can't shove him under the jacket with her to keep him a bit dryer than his hat could. ]

Which way?

Huh? Oh, America's weird like--18 means you're an A-D-U-L-T.

[And guess who did the math and found out he was 18 technically? That's right.

Mitsuru.

His arm gestures down a street, taking off in a little scuttle to make it to the next dry spot, making sure she's still by his side.]

It's not far from here, just two streets down, and make a left. That's the government housing for Maurit--you got the stuff they gave you, right?

[ okay, that sudden disgusted look on yukari's face?

that's her realizing that junpei's suddenly older than her. that's not fair. that's not cool. that shouldn't be happening. sure, it was only a few months that separated them, but really.

she liked having having that over him! ]

[ it's gone in a flash, though, and yukari falls into step beside him, kind of hating the way the rain is weighing down her skirt. god, she needs a change of clothing — now. ]

Yeah, haven't looked through it yet. I was too weirded out by how they knew everything about me already.

[Just wait til he finds that out on his own. Just wait til he claims just an INCH of that ground you had over him. He won't let you live it down.]

It gets weirder. Just wait til you see who else they pulled here. Man, and I thought WE had it weird.

[The house is just up ahead, pretty bland from the outside, looking not too unlike the other houses across the street and down the road. A little suburban in appearance, maybe, lacking any and all friendliness that suburbs might boast.]

Look, we'll get you all dried off, and I'll explain everything. I might even have some leftover pizza.

[ goddammit, junpei, she'll break your toes!! ]

You sure you can handle that much? [ she's not trying to be mean, she's just stressed out over ... well, everything. mainly being soaked all the way down to her shoes.

and you know, the whole "being in america in a parallel universe" thing. ] But I'll pass on the pizza, I'm ... not really in the mood for junk food right now.

[NO HE TOE-TALLY NEEDS THOSE!]

Not really, but hey, not like we got much choice, right? It's sink or swim here. And they load everything on you. A job, your 'superheroing' which doesn't count as a job to them, school, and you know...everything else you're supposed to do inbetween.

[Welcome to being an adult.]

More for me, then!

[He gets to the house, looking pretty well kept together at the very least and unlocking his door to open it. Inside is...pretty okay. Not great, but about a B- for a bunch of dudes + one girl living here. Baseball bats seem to clump together against the wall on the opposite end, and it's not really entirely clear if those are for his own recreational hobby or for protection. In front of the TV is a large gaming system (probably Xbox, lets be real), controller left unraveled, and a beautiful red cat sitting in the window watching the rain fall down.

There'some takeout bins stacked by the sink, and some dishes inside it...but other than that...your average mid-20's level house. Just don't go in Junpei's room.

Speaking of.]

Let's get you into something dry. You're uh...you're free to take something of mine. [It's really the only option, too. Dipper and Stanford wouldn't exactly be of any help there, since they were never around, and Jacob he didn't expect to be a charity service. Jessica? He wasn't even sure if she still lived there...]

Towels are in my bathroom, etcetera etcetera.

[ this place just keeps sounding worse and worse, and yukari can't help the slight curl of her lip at all this new information. really, the only good thing about this place would be if it had free healthcare or something like that. or if they really didn't have to pay taxes.

god, being an adult in a weird parallel universe is gonna SUCK.

surprisingly, yukari doesn't have much to say about the state of junpei's place other than: ]

Huh, it's a lot cleaner than I expected.

[ she shakes out the jacket to get the excess water off, to keep it from dampening the carpet. her eyes slide from junpei's hips and shoulders down to her own slender frame, and she immediately pulls a face. ]

Thanks, Junpei, but I don't think anything of yours could fit me.

[ HE'S SO MUCH TALLER THAN HER... and he has bad fashion sense. ]

I'm gonna hafta go out back out there sooner than later, so... [ she shrugs, heading into the bathroom anyway to grab a towel for her hair. ] I'm fine like this, for now.

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WAKE UP IN THE MORNING FEELING LIKE

Maurtia Falls

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i'm screaming about that pun jsyk