etcelsior | Oh how the gentle wind beckons through the leaves!

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test drive

Oh how the gentle wind beckons through the leaves!

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Kidou waits until Endou gets close, then holds the box up for a bit, just long enough to speak before Endou's hands get all over every last cookie in there. Ah.. and here's the inevitable catch.]

You can have them, but I'm holding onto this.

[... while their reunion initially was derailed into awkward horror, Kidou missed this freak more than he could really say. Maybe he just did this to see his eyes light up.

At least there's someone happy here, for a little while.

On that note, he'd be lying if he claimed he didn't have a deeper ulterior motive here. Endou is here, and realistically, he's going to need to be debriefed about what he's truly in for. No one better to do it than Kidou, of course. But it's also not going to be fun for him to hear, no matter how much Kidou edits down the version he tells his friend. So far, food greed kept Endou from being suspicious, but that probably was a matter of time, right?

Eh, it's Endou.

He'll probably just have to spell it out eventually.]

Ah, heheh, yeah that's probably for the best.

[Yeah he didn't want another accident like with the first batch. Still now that he has the cookies, his face is lit up again. The broken cookies forgotten, his world fixed. Yes...now if only they could get a soccer game going. Things would be perfect.]

Thanks for the food!

[After taking one he pauses for a moment, only a moment before finishing his second.]

Don't you want any, Kidou?

You can have them. But first...

[And... now that that's over, it's time to get to ruining part of Endou's life all over again. He can't put this off.]

Follow me. I have things to discuss with you.

[With that, he jerks his head to the side before closing the box and heading off. Follow these cookies, Endou. You know you want them. He's certainly not keeping the box open while he's walking.

He's banking on that.

He won't lead Endou too long, though; he's headed for a more secluded bench where there isn't anyone around. It's too far away from the ubiquitous pumpkin spice for the general populace. Besides, Endou has waaaay more than enough.]

Huh? Oh, sure okay.

[Endou is confused, but he follows those cookies...OH and Kidou. Yeah Kidou is there too. Holding the cookies.

He probably just wants to talk soccer strategy, right? That's so Kidou. He's cool with it though. It's been like...hours since he talked soccer with someone...wait that's a bench...

That's a bench and that's Kidou sitting down on the bench. This doesn't bode well. Kidou uses benches like 90's dads would use chairs. There's a speech coming...and it's not an inspirational one is it?]

[The box opens back up again, letting the tempting aroma of soccer cookies waft through the air again. And Kidou still doesn't even seem remotely tempted by one.

He doesn't usually eat that many sweets, but... normally he'd have been at least curious enough to try one. Endou is right. This is serious.]

Endou.

[It's never a good sign when Kidou has to stop and itemize his thoughts again. He starts broad. Determine just what gaps he needs to fill in.]

What do you know about this place?

[Endou stares at Kidou for a long time...then the cookies....then Kidou. He takes a cookie and chews it thoughtfully.]

U-um, well you know...that is...

[That is to say he has paid about as much attention to things as usual. It didn't have anything to do with Soccer or his friends...or soccer related events....how can you ask him this with all seriousness Kidou?]

I know we're ImPorts?

[Whatever that is. There was a file, but he didn't really...look at it too hard.]

And that this isn't our world?

[A confirming nod.]

That's important to remember.

[That last one.]

I watched some games and joined a team before I knew for sure. Hissatsu doesn't exist in this world. Only we would have it.

What?

[How do they even play soccer here then? How do these people LIVE?!]

What's their soccer like here then? I mean a lot of us go for a long time without having a real hissatsu......

[He thinks hard for a second...]

None?

[He looks so solemn, shaking his head slowly.]

Not even the professionals.

[That's...weird. They're weird. This world is weird.]

They...at least still have competitions?

Sort of, yeah.

[How is he going to explain the whole apparent tradition of blatant, unrepentant cheating?]

[Oh, it's a world where Kageyama's style of playing won...]

Oh! Well...at least there's there, we can still compete.

[Just keep thinking positive, Endou.]

[You see his problem?]

A few problems. One. I mentioned I'm on a team already, but they're -

[Kidou keeps expecting normal average humans to perform at the same general tier hyper mega shounen sakka kids do back home. Incidentally, he keeps being disappointed.

By his perfectionist standards, all but a few of them outright suck. But he tries hard to groom them into at least sucking less severely.]

- not at that tier yet.

[That 'yet' is out of politeness only. He has doubts.]

Eh? What do you mean?

[He isn't sure what you mean by that. I mean...yeah sure, they're no Zeus or Aliea...but c'mon even low tier players can be surprising...right?]

Apparently, a bicycle kick is an advanced move rarely, if ever, seen at our age bracket.

[You know, that standard move in the soccer arsenal they get BEFORE hissatsu?]

This team... only the three ImPort members could do that much.

[this is the best way he can put this. It really is.]

[There are kids back home who can do more than that...and he means the actual children.

Don't mind him, he's just a little...shocked by this right now.]

W-what? But....what?!

Kidou, this is serious!

[He's getting all fired up now, see what you've done Kidou?]

Kidou....we have to show them the real way to play soccer.

Hm.

[This is serious. Not even Endou can restore his usual conviction.]

[He folded his arms and took another cookie...the box is getting a bit light there isn't it?]

Yeah, we'll just have to show them what soccer means to us, maybe if we can do that, we'll be able to teach them a whole new way of playing.

Yeah! That's it! We just gotta show them what our soccer is so they can find their own.

[Man he's so smart. Of course this is also the genius that said in order to break down an iron wall defense...they just had to kick diamonds at it.]

... about that.

What?

They're not holding back.

[You know what he means, Endou. There's no hidden reservoir of talent that he's trying to mine for. No ultimate goal, no extra bursts of potential that he can see waiting in their future. They're not simply not motivated sufficiently, or arranged properly.

This is what they have. That's what they can do.

He's played with them. He's watched their strength, in playing around and in practice.

Even Kidou can't see their soccer.]

[His bubble is burst...and he's left staring at Kidou.]

W-what?!

[He's reading Kidou's face, trying to find the "ha-ha just kidding you should see the look on your face" moment. YES HE KNOW'S IT'S KIDOU!

He doesn't want to believe it though.]

Th-that can't be right, Kidou, c'mon. Everyone can get stronger. Look at us. Everything we did, against Zeus, against Aliea...we found a way...right?

[Don't tell him they can't Kidou.]

[Kidou doesn't answer. He can't. The words stick in his throat when he takes a breath in. And in that moment he sees ....

He never had that optimism last this long. Once he watched them, once he knew, even staring out into the field with Gran on the first training day, Kidou had held back. He only entered play once coaxed, and it was with an odd, gnawing feeling that grew inside him until he could confirm that only Gran's soccer had the feeling behind it he needed.

No one else's.

He could pass to Gran all he wanted, but.. it wasn't the same. It wasn't right.

And as Endou continues to try to plead with him to amend his statement, all Kidou can do is look at him with genuine sympathy. He knows. He's wanted this to be different, too. He's worked so far with the others, and they've come farther, but it's only in technique, not in strength. All they can do is hone what they already have.

Unlike Endou, Kidou can't last on wishes alone. He's too grounded in facts, and he's built to face them.

He won't tell Endou, but his face betrays his answer anyway.]

[Well, shit Kidou....leave him hanging why don't you? Make him figure this shit out himself.

His shoulders sink...and he takes another cookie. They had cooled a bit by now, but they were still soft at least...

He chews quietly for a moment before looking at the cookie. He had Hir-...Gran...and Kidou. He could play with them. They could still try. He didn't like this, but he also didn't know when to give up.

That's what got him this far at least. Farther still to go, but he knew they could all do it together maybe? He stares at his half eaten cookie for a second...]

...you think these would taste better dipped in milk?

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