BOOM BOOM POW

[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:

"Can you believe they have the nerve to show their faces? I heard they were responsible for the monsters that caused earthquakes in Philadelphia!"

Of course, for every claim, there's a rebuttal; you may well hear a competing voice arguing, "No way, they fought those things! It wasn't their fault!"

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 you may find yourself cornered by overzealous imPort fans, media wannabes and opportunists alike, shoving cameras in your face.

Their questions are likely to be fairly 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.

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

cobyyyyy

[santouryuu]

[All that politeness, combined with the fact that no alcohol was in fact lost here, kind of takes the wind out of Zoro's pissiness sails. So there's no bite in it when he crosses his arms and grumps--]

Tch, no. But be more careful next time.

[...Wait, isn't this kid kind of familiar-looking? He squints.]

Oi, kid, what's your name?

marimooo

[soru]

[ he has to fight with himself a little, a small and violent inner scuffle between Captain Coby and fat little Coward Coby on the topic of whether or not now is the best time to get the heck out of dodge. the additional questioning line of this guy lends some weight to Captain Coby's argument, which inevitably wins out. ]

It's Coby. Why--?

[ the matter settled, he turns just enough to look down at the offended party in question and nearly chokes on his next breath of air.

of course it's you ]

[santouryuu]

[At that, Zoro's vaguely disgruntled expression transforms into a huge smirk.]

Hah! So it is you! The little wannabe Marine from way back then....but you've toughened yourself up, haven't you?

[All decked out in a ranking officer uniform, even. Who woulda thought you had it in you, kid.]

Been a while.

[Zoro, of course, has no idea how true that is, due to the whole Time Shenanigans issue. But shhh.]

[soru]

[ it's only natural that zoro would lose his way on the timeline in the same manner he loses himself every other day. this should come as no surprise to anyone at all. ]

I said I would, didn't I?

[ it's okay, coby. just take it in steps. first step: get the pleasantries out of the way. check. give it a big smile too, as if it weren't already creeping over his face. ]

It's been quite a while, actually. I haven't seen you in nearly two years, but you look just the same as I remember.

[ step two: subtly bring up the obvious differences present. unless eyes could somehow grow back, there was definitely something off here. ]

[santouryuu]

[...And that makes his eyebrows go way up.]

You're pullin' my leg, right? It's barely been a few months since we left you with the Navy on that island.

[soru]

Zoro-san, how quickly do you think people grow?

[ did the moss accumulate in the space between your ears, is that it ]

[santouryuu]

Ehh? How would I know that?

[He's a swordsman, not a scientist or a doctor ok!!! Also: failing to see the issue here, tbh.]

[soru]

A person doesn't sprout nearly a foot in height in a matter of months. It's years, it has definitely been years.

[ actually considering how to phrase it in sword-ese. maybe that'll help. ]

[santouryuu]

[Zoro seems to consider that for about three seconds, then shrugs.]

I dunno, you were a little squirt before, you coulda had a growth spurt or somethin'.

[Look his sense of direction might be terrible but he's pretty good on time tyvm!!!!!]

If it'd been years we woulda gotten to the Grand Line by now.

[So yeah, about those weird differences........]

1/3

[soru]

You see? You coulda-- could have been to the--

[ hold up a moment ]

[soru]

[ hold up a cotton-picking moment there bucko ]

[soru]

You haven't even gotten there yet!?

[ HOLY DANG ]

[santouryuu]

[dflkjlkadfgh don't sound so surprised!]

--Look, we had a lot of shitty interruptions, okay??

[What a nice way to talk about gathering your crewmates. Tell us how you really feel, Zoro.]

[soru]

[ way to be savage, marimo, gosh. ]

The last time we met, you were in the Grand Line. That was two years ago. But to you, we parted only a short time ago.

There is definitely some kind of time discrepancy here. For one, you look-- [ bigger ] different now than the last report the navy received.

[ he'll realize his folly soon enough. reasoning with sealife just doesn't work. why bother.]

[santouryuu]

Time...discrepancy?

[Zoro tilts his head at that, wearing the blank look of a third grader who's being told they are in fact allowed to divide by zero.

Finally, he decides he doesn't really care, and shrugs.]

Whatever. So, what do you know about this place, anyway?

[Cause ur a marine, right, obvs those military types at that base would've told you stuff. You know, the stuff Zoro didn't pay attention to when they told him. Haha. Ha.]