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

[small_reservations]

[Maybe it'd take Namine's help to fix this, because no matter how hard Axel strains, the memories are vague at best. A third person, a girl, the name Xion. Even looking right at her, it's hard to realize that she's the same person he once knew. The face is familiar, the voice is familiar, and he can connect them to the person he remembers, but...]

Right.

[The 14th organization member. He remembers that, too. But he can't be so disconnected from a friend, even if he kind of betrayed her. Twice. He vaguely remembers that, as well. Bringing her back when she tried to escape, that was a bit of a dick move.]

I remember Roxas, and Saix, and you were there, I know that, but...

[It's so hard. He's wracking his brain. It's just like taking a test and knowing you know something; it's on the tip of his tongue, but it's just not reaching. He's going to get a killer and headache, at this rate.]

[hightiderising]

[It's how he trails off that tips Xion off that there's something wrong. Axel's a chatty guy. Sometimes it's hard to get him to shut up. Maybe she shouldn't be forcing this along so fast. If the memories have already started to fade, who knows what she could mess up by forcing them back right away?]

Hey... It's okay. Leave it alone for right now.

[Before he hurts himself or something.]

C'mon, we can... [She looks around off the edge of the building, left and right, quickly and finds what she's looking for. A convenience store.] We can get some ice cream. Maybe that'll work better to jog your memory.

[small_reservations]

Sounds like a plan.

[Her suggestions's good, and it brings his smile back, too, even if said smile is a little troubled. He hates feeling like he's missing something, feeling like he's not in control of his own life. Sure, he's been a follower before, but that was at least his choice. This is not.]

Do they have sea salt here, or am I going to have to adapt?

[He'll make other small talk as they continue - how long have you been here, what've you been doing, how's the experience of being something like a hero publically for once. Stuff like that.]

[hightiderising]

Riku knows where to get some. Not around here, though. We're gonna have to settle for something else.

[And so she leads them off through a corridor back to the ground, all the while answering his questions. She's only been here a month, she goes to school now (Can he believe it? Real school like a real kid? It's weird.), she's friends with Riku and Namine and even a few new people. (That last part is said with a bit of boasting. She was excited to make new friends.)

Once they reach the convenience store, though, she figures it's about time to spill the beans on something.]

But, Axel, just so you know... Roxas isn't here yet. But... Maybe he will be soon? If you're here, he can't be that far behind, right?

[small_reservations]

[He's pleased enough with her life developments, even though his heart twinges with jealousy when she mentions other friends (she's not replacing him, he has to tell himself), but his smile falters for just a second at the last note.]

Ah... Well, that sucks. And I mean that. But you're right, he can't be that far behind. He'll show up one of these days and be hopelessly confused again.

[He honestly can't remember if she was there for that. It takes him a second to piece together that she probably wouldn't have been.]

When he first joined the organization, he was flat. You'd get more out of talking to a wall. But he warmed up. He'll be fine.

[Is he telling her that... or himself?]