Lies a place that few have seen.

[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!

Also, as the Halloween craze is reaching a fevered pitched, more and more children are running around in costumes of their favorite imPorts! Do you recognize any of these masks? Perhaps one of these costumes mimics YOU!?

...

Isn't that kinda creepy?

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 still 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

[adhaerent]

[ his expression softens at the gesture. ] .. He wouldn't thank me to tell you, but during the Hegen Hub mess.. well.. just-- you and the emperor try not to worry him when you can avoid it, hm? [ a beat. ] I'm glad the two of you have had the chance to spend more time together here.

[dendarii]

[ Miles' head jolts up at that. Jole would know, wouldn't he? Miles shouldn't ask, but ... his expression is terribly hungry. ]

He was worried?

[ Of course he was, dumbass. ]

[adhaerent]

[ his expression goes flat for a moment, but then he rolls his eyes slightly. ]

Good heavens, Miles, for all that you're brilliant, you're occasionally also an idiot. Pardon my saying. Aral was a wreck. I--

[ he sits back up again, glancing down at his hands. ]

He was barely holding together, he wouldn't eat. Holding him was like-- [ he bites off anything else he was going to say, glancing back up once more. when he speaks again, his voice is firm. ] Your father loves you, and loves Gregor. You are his sons, and you are not simply an obligation to him.

[dendarii]

[ How pathetic is this? Seeking confirmation that his father had been worried about him and Gregor, when Miles already has all the proof he'll ever need? His cheeks burn with the shame of it.

But - it's different hearing it come from a relative stranger's mouth. Someone close enough to Aral to see him properly, to confirm what Miles has come to know as well here. Not just some fluke of time-space displacement. Even back home, his father cares very deeply ...

(Of course he does. Miles never truly doubted. But - what a thing to know for sure.) ]

I - I know that. Of course I do.

[adhaerent]

[ a little savagely: ] Good. [ he takes a breath. ] I don't want to have to see him like that again. Not if it can be avoided.

[ it had turned out well enough in the end, of course, but if he thinks about it for more than a few moments, he can still feel aral's shoulders shaking beneath his palms. the vorkosigan, the immovable pillar of barrayar, with tears wetting his face from the sheer relief. ]

.. Anyway. I'm not trying to scold you. I just-- I'm a bit unreasonable about the two of them, I suppose.

[small_reservations]

[Yeah, he's got a great arm. Maybe he'll get into baseball, but it's probably against the rules to have an imPort playing in the Major Leagues.]

I dunno, tech is weird here. If they're learning from other universes...

[They could theoretically be infinitely advanced, in those labs they're never allowed back in. It doesn't really require saying.]

[dendarii]

[ Miles huffs a bit at that, the red in his cheeks dying back down. ]

You're very fond of them. I can see that.

[ A pause. ]

I've settled down here anyway. No more haring off on wild adventures, for the most part.

[redigere]

They are.

[She's important to others now. Naminé won't let anyone ever convince her otherwise, ever again.]

Sora makes me laugh, Riku takes care of me, Kagami wants me to be happy, and Xion trusts me. They're all my real friends, and I won't let you hurt them or anyone else in this world.

[resipiscent]

[You'd think so, but with the way imPorts can pretty well have any job, it might be more possible than would be initially apparent. Riku frowns at the idea, though, drumming his fingers on the arm of his chair.]

Well, the thing with that is -- even if they can send observational technology into other universes, how do they get it back? They can't send us back on purpose -- that much is clear, since, again, they'd get rid of troublemakers if they could -- so how would they be able to relay information?

[He shakes his head, tugging at a chunk of his hair.]

I try not to think on this sort of thing too hard. I don't know enough about how this stuff works, so speculation gets frustrating.

[adhaerent]

I am. [ and doesn't it feel strange to be able to say that out loud to someone else. he's never resented the privacy they have to conduct their relationship in--he has no desire to tarnish their reputations--but sometimes it does weigh on him a bit. ] But even if I wasn't.. [ he trails off a moment, then forges on. ] Even if things between us weren't as they are, I'd still respect them a great deal. It wasn't simply some bizarre sort of euphemism when I said that Aral has mentored me. Our personal and our professional lives are strictly separate.

[ well, mostly separate. when jole nags aral to take care of himself, it weighs a bit heavier than it would coming from someone else. and there have been.. times.. but if he thinks about that, he'll be scarlet before long. ]

I should hope you have. You have his majesty to think about now, after all.

[dendarii]

[ Miles still doesn't believe that, but he shrugs a bit and lets it drop anyway. ]

As you say.

[ Besides, he's distracted by a blush of his own. ]

I - er, that' what fueled it. Yes. Hence running for Ambassador as well.

[adhaerent]

[ despite himself, he finds he's smiling again faintly. .. ah. ]

You'll need the practice, I'm certain. You're bound to a political life now.

[dendarii]

[ He looks a bit queasy at that. ]

I'm well aware. It's a new thought.

[adhaerent]

You'll get used to it. And you'll have help.

[ a brief pause, then with some amusement: ] If Aral can spare me here, I don't mind lending myself as your secretary if you can use me.

[dendarii]

[ Miles just stares at this man for a moment at that. ]

My secretary?

[adhaerent]

Here, yes. You'll need a good one if you're going into politics here, particularly as you've never exactly been involved in them before. And I am, as it so happens, an excellent exec.

[ he settles back in his chair once more, crossing a leg neatly over the other and curling his hands loosely in his lap. ]

I doubt Aral will mind especially, but of course I'd rather discuss it with him first. Unless you already have someone in mind?

[dendarii]

[ Congrats, Jole, you've left Miles completely speechless. He just works his empty mouth for a moment as the words refuse to come. ]

No. No, I hadn't - it hadn't occurred to me. At all.

[adhaerent]

[ his brows lift. ]

You're lucky I came along, I suppose.

[dendarii]

... Yes. Exceedingly. I'd be a fool to turn you down.

[ He's still quite dazed. ]

[adhaerent]

You would be, [ he agrees mildly. he's aware of what his strengths are, after all. (strengths aral had seen and encouraged.) ] Thankfully, you're not. I'll need some time to settle in and familiarize myself, but-- I think I should have time. I expect there'll be some sort of transitional period, and you'll have to be sworn into office somehow, unless that's already happened.

[dendarii]

You know, I'm not sure. I need to do a little more research myself.

[adhaerent]

[ his brows climb higher. ] .. Miles. [ good lord. he flags down a server for a pen and sheet of paper, then starts making a goddamn list of things he needs to find out...

he glances up a few moments later, tapping the end of the pen against the table. ] --You'll be based here? In this city?

[dendarii]

[ Look. Sometimes Miles only remembers to look where he's leaping once he's halfway down the cliff. ]

No, this is Heropa. The Residence is in De Chima and I have an apartment in Nonah, which is the city I'm representing.

[adhaerent]

Mm. [ he's writing again, frowning thoughtfully. ] And when did the election conclude? [ he assumes it was by election, anyway, given the system of government this country is based on. ]

[dendarii]

Er, a week ago? Maybe two at most.

[ He leans his head over to glance at Jole's notes. ]