Oh how the gentle wind beckons through the leaves!

[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? This month has been a rocky one, and locals are beginning to eye imPorts with renewed scrutiny; if people like them can get superpowers, are imPorts really that special, after all? Some people usher their children away from anyone clearly not 'from around here,' while other natives may be brave enough to directly approach obvious imPorts and ask their thoughts on the war with Russia and what the imPort ambassadors are planning to do about it.

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 populated by a whole lot of people who are having awfully bad days. With the emergence of locals with superpowers, many seem to have latched onto their new supercharged identities with an incredible amount of gusto. As your character walks down the street, they may find themselves accosted by a large man in his mid-20s, dressed in an ill-fitting spandex suit of orange and yellow. As he thrusts his finger into an imPort's face, the spandex rides up, turning into more of a crop-top, which he duly tugs back down before shouting, "You're not the special ones anymore, imPorts! Feel the wrath of Heartburn!"

Stupid name aside, he does seem to have superpowers as he breathes a large plume of fire. His aim isn't great, though; it could hit the imPort in question, or be sent in the direction of a nearby local, or even a particularly flammable building.

What will you do, Hero?

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. This fine day, pumpkin spice seems to be in style, to the point at which you happen to be crashing an open pumpkin spice festival. From drinks to sweet treats to some other things that really, really shouldn't be pumpkin spice flavoured (pumpkin spice flavoured vodka, anyone? It tastes like regret!), everyone seems to be in the mood for the upcoming season.

Taste test a few samples and take in the hustle and bustle of the city, everyone! And hey, if just gorging yourself isn't enough, why not try your hand at the pumpkin carving contest going on? The competition is fierce!

Comments

Endou Mamorou | Inazuma Eleven

[heartofraimon]

Nonah

[Okay, so yeah, getting ripped to another world from your home and friends? Pretty jarring. It was definitely something new for Endou, however considering how much he's traveled, he's at least used to being unexpectedly uprooted for various reasons...

Granted most of those reasons were entirely based on or around Soccer, the Inazuma Caravan certainly got around, and then of course getting picked to be international representatives. This was both a completely new experience while maintaining an edge of familiarity.

Which is why he was giving himself freely to the flow of the energy. It was easier to think about the festival than it was to think about what he was doing here. Endou might also be that person who totally gets into the pumpkin spice craze. Pumpkin spice bread? Heck yeah. Ice cream? Oh you better believe it. Pumpkin spice doughnuts? He might have two currently. There's a bag under on arm full of sweets and goodies. This child is on his way to a sugar crash of epic proportions.

There is no safe space from him either. Endou has come and this pumpkin spice goodness is his new discovery.

Oh no...

God have mercy on us all he's gotten into the coffee.]

Wow! I never knew pumpkin spice got it's own festival. Why was I never told about this before?! This is amazing!

[He was going to do some pumpkin carving, but....it's taken a backseat for now. This is much more important.]

ENDOU!!!

[tacticianing]

[How to spin a ball across his heel and flip it upwards behind him. How to calculate position changes and maneuver a team into alterante formations without prior discussion. How to hold a passable English conversation. What the stock market is and a general idea of how it works. What Newton's third law is.

All these things and more, Kidou knew.

Not one item on that list ever truly included 'how to handle Endou Mamoru'.

It starts off positive. A familiar voice makes Kidou's entire body jolt to alert, visibly stiffening in surprise. One second passes.

He turns around, incredulous, his eyes roaming across the crowd behind him to try to verify...

Three seconds, and he has him. Brown spikes surrounded by orange.]

Endou?!

[Kidou's body starts moving almost on its own, getting up out of his seat and abandoning his quest to observe for ImPorts, shifting his fixation on one specific ImPort in particular. He has to chide his impulse to flat out run, forcing himself to walk steadily forward towards the boy. Endou's going nowhere. Not while Kidou has him in his sight.

... and then, the people between them pass, and Kidou sees what he missed before.

It's not just Endou. It's Endou at his most impulsive, laden down with what Endous should never, Kidou suspects, have too much of. And of course, the second this idiot gets off on his own, that's exactly what he beelines for. Everything. At once.

Of course. As much as Kidou appreciates him... sometimes, Endou, he swears...

Kidou stops against the corner, keeping a little distance between them and using his voice to get his captain's attention. Twelve seconds; that's all it took. Twelve seconds to go from incredulously thrilled to preemptively cringing.

Good to see you too, Endou...]

Afraid they'll run out of stock?

KIDOU!!!! 1/2

[heartofraimon]

[There's still half a doughnut in his mouth when he turns to look at the person addressing him. Oh hey it's Kidou.]

Yo-ff Kidou. Y'u wanff one?

[Wait..hold a moment. Rewind. Pause the video feed. A wild Kidou has appeared?]

Wait....Kidou?

[The doughnut falls away as Endou's eyes widen, first with shock, then excitement.]

2/2

[heartofraimon]

K-kidou!!

[That would be about the moment Kidou might notice the full tilt sprint Endou is in...

A full tilt sprint despite being five feet away from each other.

Kidou did you already forget who this was?]

1/3

[tacticianing]

[As Endou's eyes widen, Kidou's expression shifts into a smirk. Endou didn't notice his surprise, so he could act as if this whole thing was something he'd already known about. Of course, he knew Endou would be here.

It's always good to be on top of the situation, isn't it?]

2/3

[tacticianing]

[But wait. Why is he running?]

3/3

[tacticianing]

[At that moment, the answer clicks into place far too late for Kidou to sidestep. Behind tinted lenses, his eyes widen in horror as what Endou's planned path is becomes perfectly clear.

He's not going to swerve. He's not going to stop.

He's just going to run right into Kidou.

Oh, no. No, no no. No, Endou no. Don't do it!

MISTAKES WERE MADE.]

Re: 3/3

[heartofraimon]

[Yeah Kidou, he'll apologize later he's sure, but for right now you're getting a hug. Sweets are dropped as he just excitedly flings his arms around you and hugs the only way an Endou can, excitedly.

The hug will tighten briefly before Endou pulls back, grinning from ear to ear.]

Kidou, I-I wasn't sure I'd see anyone else here!

[tacticianing]

[Kidou has about half a second more to slide his foot back in some ill-planned attempt to delay or avoid the inevitable. Had he been prepared for this, he could have acted. But how could he have seen this coming?!

Ultimately, Endou is Endou, and Endou cannot be denied. He is the unstoppable force that carries Raimon forward. He is the savior of Kidou's sanity ... when he's not the bane of his existence like right now.

Kidou goes rigid as Endou's arms reach out for him, dismay already visible on his face. Like a slow motion video, it all plays out before him: momentum carries his captain forward, and to his utmost horror Kidou is trapped in a masterful maneuver. It's too late for him.

He is hugged.

This is far more Endou than he's rated for. This voids his warranty.]

Endou!

[He does not relax when Endou pulls back, still stunned. Why, Endou, why.]

[heartofraimon]

Eh?

[Man Kidou, why you trippin'? It's not like he did something weird or anything. He laughs a little awkwardly and gives Kidou back his space. At least he can recognize when he over does it a little...sometimes...]

Er, sorry, I was just excited to see you. Are you alright?

[starlinings]

[There's something about the atmosphere that day. Maybe Gran had always been able to pick up things like that. But there was something unusually energetic when he walked through the festival for Pumpkin spice. This was a big deal for people here, wasn't it? All the foods that seemed to incorporate it, from ones that entirely make sense like bread and coffee to...pumpkin spice milk.

Well, variety is the pumpkin spice of life, isn't it?

Gran's enthralled in the festivities, softly checking out one or two stands and trying the free samples (absolutely convinced that an alien needs to certainly try this!) when asked.

But that all stops when he hears a voice. One so familiar to him that it's ingrained in his very person. A voice he hadn't known long, but certainly recognized to the very core of his being.


Endou Mamoru.


His green eyes shoot open, head spinning in the direction of the sound. Maybe he was imagining it--maybe he just had his hopes too high. But his luck rings true as he looks to the source of the voice, noticing Endou scampering around with all sorts of treats tucked under his arm and looking for more to collect.


He can't help but light up. Endou was here. Endou was really here... His voice isn't overly loud, and if Endou doesn't listen closely, he may miss it as he darts right past him. Gran doesn't move an inch, hands in his pockets and eyes closed.]


Endou-kun.

[heartofraimon]

[It's easy for him to get caught up in everything. There were so many sweet smells and tasty pastries to hover over. He almost does miss the voice. It registers on some wavelength at the back of his mind and he slows down to a trot for a few steps before stopping completely.

A look left, yields no one. A look right proved the same. It's the look back over his shoulder that has him looking at Hiroto. It takes a second for recognition, before his face breaks into a large smile, jogging back over.]

Hi- [He stops part way through that sentence, Kidou's words about Hiroto's request about his name going through his mind. Slowing down once he reaches Hiroto, he beams at him. He's at least learned from previous mistakes not to charge at friends, he doesn't want to lose any more precious pastry to the perils of his personality.] G-gran! I wasn't expecting to see you here today, too.

[starlinings]

[He's about to greet back, unable to hide a soft smile as that boy scampers towards him. Just like Endou, he thought to himself, as a finger moves itself up to hide his lips behind.

Even now, having only spoken for a few seconds, Endou's as captivating as ever.]

I see Kidou-kun has talked to you.


Is that alright?


[He won't specify what, but he will be looking to Endou for approval on it. After all, he was his captain now, and the reason why he could probably ever be on a team like that.]


I would just rather protect someone very close to me in this world.

["Hiroto" being that very person.]

[heartofraimon]

Mm, yeah, I saw him earlier and he filled me in a little.

[Endou has to think about the meaning on that one for a moment, before he nods.]

Kidou said you had your reasons, and I trust your judgement and his. If it's to protect someone, then you can count on me to help protect them too...Gran.

[He beams again. It's hard not to call him by his name, especially since even when they were fighting each other, he still called him Hiroto. He'll try though, because he asked it of them.]

[starlinings]

If it's just you and me...and Kidou-kun, then you don't have to.

[Because he will always be Hiroto. There was nothing doubting that now. But in a strange world, sometimes wearing a mask is preserving a soul still trying to adjust to a big world he has yet to find a true place in.]


I somehow knew you'd show up here, Endou-kun.

[heartofraimon]

[Endou nods and gives an affirmative sound. That second part has him a little curious though.]

You knew I'd be at the festival today?

[He looks around and laughs a little.]

W-well, I can't say I could help myself, the smell was so good...though I wish they had some more games going on...Ah! Gran have you had any of the food? It's amazing! I have some cookies left over if you want one!

[To no surprise he pulls a box from his bag of treats and opens it up to reveal that last three cookies...the surprise is that they're soccer themed. How he found these? He doesn't know. He managed to though.]

[inuko]

[ Shino feels like he's underprepared compared to this kid, considering he just has one doughnut in hand, and is more craving pumpkin spice steamed buns (which no one seems to have so far, thanks, Nonah) than anything of the rest. He has to finish swallowing the last bite he'd taken before he answers the enthusiasm of the kid passing by, since it wasn't a question. ]

Is pumpkin spice really all that important? I hadn't heard about it before today.

[ Which isn't saying much. There was a lot he hadn't heard about before today, and while it's a little funny to be part of a group on another world known for the fact they have powers, it's also absolutely not funny when Sosuke and Hamaji both are nowhere to be found. That, and where's the meat in all of this? Something more filling than just sugar would be nice. He sighs, shooting the other kid a grin. ]

Any chance you've heard of someone selling Pumpkin Spice Buns around here?

[ He makes a flippant gesture to the bag of goodies Kidou's hauling around. With that kind of haul, maybe...? ]

[heartofraimon]

[His response is a bit sheepish, though the enthusiasm returns quickly enough.]

Eh? Um, actually, I hadn't either to be honest, but it is great isn't it? It's so sweet with that little hint of spice that makes it so delicious.

[Endou can't help but stare at slice of pumpkin spice bread he had in his hand still, biting into it eagerly. He chews it over thoughtfully, trying to think if he had found a stall for those.]

Mmm...sorry, I haven't had any luck either. B-but there's a stall sellin' pumpkin spice loaves! It's not the same, but they're still really tasty.

[inuko]

Pumpkin spice loaves?

[ He perks right on up at that, all of looking... possibly even younger than thirteen (being short is terrible) and exactly as excited as any kid hearing about something potentially delicious being in easy reach. ]

Were they giving out samples?

[ ... potentially cheap delicious things being in easy reach. ]

[heartofraimon]

[Well at least he's in the company of his....physical peers? The real fourteen-year-old nods eagerly and with as much excitement as the other was showing.]

Oh yeah! There were lots of free samples over that way! I can show you where if you'd like.

The loaf was one of my favorites, but they also have some mini-cupcakes they were giving away with pumpkin spice icing.

[He can still feel his taste buds tingling from those. It shouldn't be possible for his smile to get wider, but he manages it somehow.]

Just thinking about it makes me want another one, they're so good~

[monge]

[You know who else got into the horrible craze that is pumpkin spice? This dog. Holding a cone of pumpkin spice soft serve in each paw, Komasan licks between both treats back and forth before he finally decides he's going to address this stranger who probably isn't even talking to him.

But that's okay, pumpkin brings everyone together.]

I think it's just a US thing, zura.

[heartofraimon]

Ahh, that's too bad, no wonder they don't have steam bu-

[That's about the time he turns to look at the person talking to him...."person" rather. Is that a dog eating icecream? Is that a...mascot?]

U-um...did...you just talk?

[monge]

Oh... I hope so, zura...

[He stops licking for a second as he tries to think of what it would mean if he wasn't just talking.

Maybe...]

...Unless I just learned how to talk with my mind, zura!!

[He knows people who actually do that, maybe it rubbed off on him! Oh man, maybe now he can talk to people from inside different rooms!]

[heartofraimon]

I....I don't think you're talking with your mind.

[That is...indeed a talking dog.]

Are you the mascot for the festival?

[No seriously, what are you? He's never seen something like you, and you're just that kind of weirdness that would exist for a festival like this....wait....did America even do things like that?

He's very confused right now.]

[monge]

No, I'm a youkai, zura...

[Said in a sort of "duh" manner.

Komasan doesn't understand why people can't just get that, like it should be obvious. Why else would a talking dog be on fire?]