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

[buttonedup]

( Cassandra has unfortunately spent far too much time around Varric to not recognise him on sight, although his attire, too, causes her to do a double-take as he approaches.

Of course. Of course. Of course she has been chewed up and spat out into a foreign world by the designs of some magical artefact, but still cannot be rid of the dwarf. For the better or the worse, it seems that their fates are irrevocably entertwined. Maker take her, she should have never taken him to Haven with her.

She sighs. For a moment there, she had almost forgotten just how angry she is with him. Ignoring everything he's said about pumpkins and harvests, Cassandra instead snaps: )

Of course I would find you here. It is just my luck.

[authorised]

You wound me, Seeker.

[He says, sounding not at all wounded and in fact taking another nonchalant sip of his latte.]

Whatever would you do with all that peace and quiet if I weren't around?

[buttonedup]

( The problem is that Varric actually has a point, though she's certainly not going to tell him that. His ego is already large enough, she feels. )

Perhaps I would finally have a chance to relax.

( Her lips quirk slightly as she says it because, all-in-all, it is a jest. Relax? Cassandra simply wouldn't know how. Not without some of her favourite novels, at least.

Eyes narrowing in suspicion, she continues: ) How do I know you're not somehow involved in -- in all of this?

It feels like something so outlandish it could only happen in your books.

[authorised]

[He chuckles, but lets her have it without further remark. Until, that is, she tries to pin it on him.]

Sure, I might be able to imagine something like this, but this is some shit that requires probably more magic than I could even fathom.

It has been giving me a few ideas, though. I'm no engineer, but carriages that run on combustion? My usual readers would think I'd gone crazy!

[buttonedup]

Maker preserve us. ( The words are accompanied by a roll of her eyes, a glance towards the sky. )

As though you needed more ideas.

( Not that she's really complaining, mind. Nor does she actually think Varric has anything to do with this. He is more a convenient outlet for her frustration, as always.

She's not even going to touch the topic of combusting carriages for now, her gaze instead dropping to the drink Varric is holding in his hand. )

What is it you're drinking?

[authorised]

You know you love my ideas, Seeker.

[And he knows it too, so there's no denying.

When she glances at the paper cup in his hand, he looks at it and then back up at her.]

Try it. [He offers up the cup for her to take.] I bet you'll like it.

[buttonedup]

( She frowns, staring down at the cup. )

You haven't even told me what is is.

( Nonetheless, she takes it off his hands and takes a perfunctory sip. )

Ugh. What is in this? It certainly doesn't taste anything like pumpkins.