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

[dendarii]

Well - it - I thought he was Lucifer trying to kill me, so of course I stabbed him.

[shipmaster]

Lucifer. The morning star. Fallen angel. Lucifer.

[Bel wasn't a GOOD theist, but there was ENOUGH of it there.]

I had seen the war propaganda too but that seems an especially... Loaded statement.

[dendarii]

I mean an entirely literal devil in this case, but yes. That Lucifer. We had a very bad feud with him, though I'm glad to say he's left. Just keep your distance if he shows up again.

[ A beat. ]

You should probably steer clear of Persephone as well.

[shipmaster]

I... [Another god? Bel didn't recognize that one. Or perhaps just a particularly nasty enemy... Whichever, Bel fell back to the Dendarii Gold Standard... When in doubt, shut up and follow orders.]

Yes, sir.

[dendarii]

[ Miles is certainly relaxing back into giving them, though he's going to need to brief Bel in more detail, probably ... preferably over wine. ]

Anyway. You didn't actually answer my question.

[shipmaster]

I didn't. You're not going to like the answer of this one.

[They take a breath and tumble on without waiting for the commentary, scathing as it was likely to be.]

I made a personal decision I thought was gold. Turned out to be shit.... Last thing I remember is combat, hot as hell and well over my head. You were coming in with the cavalry.

[dendarii]

[ Miles straightens a bit, his accent going flat and Betan. Slipping back into Naismith mode. ]

Personal decision? Not a mission?

[shipmaster]

Oh. It was a mission. But it came from your brother. [Bel strains back to think furiously. Right after Dagoola... Did Miles remember his brother or just meet him?] The personal decision was to follow orders anyway.

[dendarii]

[ He brightens a bit with recognition. ]

From Mark? Has he joined up with the Dendarii then?

[ The prospect is kind of a delightful one? ]

[shipmaster]

[Bel's mouth opens in an 'o' and ... stays there a beat. Question answered.]

You haven't met him... [They breathe. Then, in a stronger, firmer tone, Bel continues.] No. You have him on watch. He's got a treacherous tendency to dress up in greens or greys and go by your name.

[dendarii]

[ Miles, meanwhile, stares at Bel like they've gone utterly mad. ]

He's done nothing of the sort. Would not do anything of the sort to begin with. In fact, the last thing he wants is to be me, I assure you. It's hard enough convincing him to let me be an adoring older brother.

[shipmaster]

[Letting him be... adoring older brother... They make a vague choking sound at this word picture... Their voice is a little strangled.]

They haven't yet, sir. For you.

[dendarii]

[ God, more of these timeline shenanigans? Miles huffs a bit, mildly offended on Mark's behalf. ]

Yes, well, the future hasn't damn well happened for me yet. Or Mark, for that matter. He's barely been to Earth himself.

[shipmaster]

[There's a really exploitable loophole right there... ... Bel toys with it.

For now though... lets just. Get this conversation off the table too.]

Yes. I - ah - found out. I may have punched him. Sir.

[dendarii]

[ Miles' eyes instantly go wide with horror and alarm. ]

You what? Seriously?

[shipmaster]

[BACK STRAIGHT.]

In my defense, the provocation was mutual.

[dendarii]

I - god, I don't doubt that, but still -

[ He just raises a hand to his face. ]

No more punching each other. Either of you. For fuck's sake, Bel.

[shipmaster]

[They cross their arms, a certain stance harkening back to .. well staff meetings that had the misfortune of Auson and Bel getting seated too close.]

I wont punch first.

[dendarii]

[ Oh, he recognizes it very clearly. But on this one he is not going to budge. ]

No punching. None. If he starts something, get me instead.

[shipmaster]

[They take a long sip of their coffee. It was cold. Ugh.]

Fine. No punching.

[.... They had other things they could do if they needed to.]

[dendarii]

[ Oh, certainly. And Miles will keep an eye out on the situation in general, but ... that will do for now. ]

Why in god's name do you hate him so much?

[shipmaster]

He's... [They take one look at Miles and just. Swallow that set of insults. That's the wrong end of a plasma arc, right there.]

I don't. Probably. Not yet, anyway. I'm just pissed as hell.

[dendarii]

[ Miles would be a bit less than sympathetic to those, yes. ]

You still haven't really explained why. If he didn't join the Dendarii - and you clearly dislike him - then why did you take orders from him?

[shipmaster]

Because... [God, this was going to happen in a cafe. Well, at least it wasn't the whole Fleet. Their shoulders hunch.]

I didn't dislike him. I was fairly sympathetic... and the mission he came on with was a high profile rescue. A good one. A raid on Bharaputra's brain transplant operation, a whole set of kids lined up to be killed.

[They look down.] I didn't know he wasn't you until a few days in. I wanted to do it anyway, and, well, after he explained what happens to those kids... I didn't care.

[dendarii]

[ It doesn't quite sink in immediately. He has to work through the situation first - Mark coming to the Dendarii for help with the clone operation? Well, that makes sense. A cause Miles would help with if Mark came to him, surely. Hell of a risky operation but with Miles at the head ... Not so bad. What's the problem with that?

I didn't know he was you. That's the catch, isn't it. Mark fooled Bel, stole the Dendarii ... and then Bel helped him do it. There's a difference between going to Miles for help and stealing his mercenary fleet. A big fucking difference. His puzzlement fades into cold stillness as the full implications sink in. ]

You didn't stop him? Delay him? Bel, you know I would have helped--!