etcelsior | Lies a place that few have seen.

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Lies a place that few have seen.

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Sharp grey eyes seem to pin Jole in place, looking him over with a sudden, intense scrutiny.

It says a lot about Aral's stay and how much he's acclimated, that 'from another time period' is the simplest, easiest and first answer. Rather than some madness of fantasy or shoddy plot. The man in front of him was handsome, certainly, could have walked right out of the recruiting posters, without all of the makeup and effects wizardry that went into it. But that aborted first address...

Perhaps not. 'Are' is hardly exclusive when it comes to cut short questions. Reasonable, but it didn't quite quell the gut instinct that there's quite a bit here. He needs data.]

Jole. [He straightens a little and indicates the lightly abused paper cup.] Let me replace that for you.

[ no questions, no immediate suspicion-- jole's not much of a liar, of course, but it says something, he thinks, that aral simply accepts the explanation. at least, for the moment. how long has he been here--? are there others? he still has so much data he needs to go over, and he's barely begun to scratch the surface of the local network.

he straightens a little at the offer, and wry humor finally curls over his expressive mouth, eyes warming despite himself. ]

I should be buying you one, given the state of your coat. [ he doesn't protest otherwise, though, moving to toss the spoiled cup in a trash receptacle. he tucks the book in his arm away in his bag, cleaning his hands on a napkin, glance flicking over the room and then toward the door. ]

If you've no objection, perhaps we could take a walk after? I think there's a fair amount we should both know, Sir.

[Oh there were questions, all right. At the judicious suggestion, Aral inclined his head in agreement.]

I'm of a like mind.

[The lines were short enough that the coffee was easy enough to replace, a second cup brewed and claimed for Vorkosigan himself. If nothing else, the coffee here was worlds above the synth crap they have in the service. And a moment taken to mitigate the damage with a wade of napkins, perfunctorily. Well, he'd see it to cleaning, later.

It's not long until they're back out into the crisp Virginia winter air. It's a few blocks, the crowds ebbing from business to residential, before Aral quirks a look to the young - and taller (always taller) - man at his side.]

First, I'd like to know what the hell happened with Koudelka that needed a replacement.

[ he's grateful for the familiarity of aral's presence, and it's honestly fascinating to see how like he is to the older version of himself. how unlike, as well, because there's something more.. expressive about him. but then, he's still relatively young at this point, isn't he?

he pops the lid off his coffee as they walk, blowing across the top carefully. the demand earns a small, private smile. ] Nothing, Sir, only it's been quite some time since he moved on to broaden his career. [ he hesitates, pushing the lid back on, lips thinning thoughtfully. ] If I had to guess, I'd say there's about two decades between the two of us right now. Give or take a few years. You're in your mid-sixties as I know you.

[ god, this is.. hard. harder than he expected it to be, given what their relationship has been like. he was afraid he'd never see he and cordelia again, and now here's aral, but..

his brows pinch together, and he has to force his expression to smooth again. ] Emperor Gregor succeeded the throne. You're Prime Minister now.

[Mid sixties... Lieutenant Jole slotted neatly into Miles' era, then. There's a softening of his expression, a subtle note of approval, as the news of Koudelka's upward career was given.]

A good estimate. I'm 45 now. [Early Regency, the last cuts of the Pretendership made, and the blood cleaned from the executioner's square.]

The rest - I am aware. You're not the first from that generation here. Gregor, himself, among them.

[ that bit of news makes him nearly choke on his coffee, and he has to swallow hastily to prevent himself from coughing. the emperor here. at least aral is tracking on it, though, and given his lack of alarm, things must be under control. but then, even at the worst, aral has always had things under control-- at least as far as outsiders are concerned. and unfortunately, that's.. what jole is right now, isn't he? an outsider. ]

.. Sir, I.. [ no, jole. keep your damned mouth shut. he rubs the back of his hand over his brow, a hollow ache taking up residence right beneath his ribs. it's not necessary information, and he's not certain how he'd even broach the topic. considering the dancing they'd done around one another the first time..

no. this is for the best. ] Well. [ a breath in through his nose, and he finds his smile again, lips quirking up ruefully. ] Hopefully I can be of some use here, even if.. not quite the same use. The emperor is well? Who else is here?

[There is at least, going for him, the fact that if Jole is who he says, he was put in a position of great trust. It wouldn't take long to find out, a simple thought, actually. He takes a moment to ask... and is answered via the family's connections, before giving a list of particularly classified personage.]

Well, safe, and currently adamantly attempting a prole life. To a degree. [There's a particularly dry tone there, but he carried on perfunctorily.] I've the good fortune to have Cordelia, Miles and Mark. As odd as it has been to meet the last two now. Illyan as well. I expect he'll wish to debrief you.

[ he pauses, giving the older man a slightly odd sideways glance. emperor gregor pretending to be one of the commons. .. well. at least he's had some practice, given that mess with his disappearance.

cordelia, though. despite himself, he finds tension easing in his shoulders at the mention of her. the two most important people--to him personally, that is--in the nexus, and they're right here with him, after all. safe and sound, it seems, even if he is a stranger.

and.. maybe he can speak to her about this. she's the one who'd sorted he and aral out in the first place, and surely she'll be able to give him some insight into what he should do. ]

I expect he will, [ he agrees, frowning thoughtfully. ] Mark, though.. the name isn't familiar. [ he gives him a curious glance, brows lifting. ] A.. family member? [ he'd thought he knew aral's entire family at this point, but.. well, given the context of the comment.. ]

[There's another good show of where Jole is from, also another play of honesty, had Aral needed it. No attempt to pretend to know who Mark was.]

Ah. [Aral takes a cautious sip of coffee. Still scalding, but the little attempts weren't bad.] Simultaneously by blood and adoption. There's a hell of a story. Miles has a clone, who was originally developed as an assassin. He's been brought over.

[ jole's stare into the distance is the stare of a man who no longer even questions the ridiculous shit that happens around the vorkosigan family. for a few moments, he's silent.. but then he simply shakes his head. ]

Naturally. Lord Mark, then?

[ it'll be interesting to meet him, jole's certain. ] Countess Vorkosigan must have been delighted. [ to bring him into the family, that is. ]

Edited 2016-11-28 00:59 (UTC)

Just so. [Aral's expression is that vague, stuffed look of a Barrayaran doing their level best for God and Gregor alike not to laugh right now. It's no small matter in any respect, but damn if it's not occasionally amazing to see that no, no it is crazy. It looks like that. It... stifles into the smallest of flinches at Countess.]

Still Lady. [The correction is amiable, however.] And yes, she went to all ends for him, as one might expect. [It had been one of their more bitter fights.]

[ if this were the aral he knows, he'd give him a decidedly aggrieved look at the attempt to keep from laughing. instead, he sighs. this.. this is his life. fare thee well, oliver jole, because there's no getting out of it now. you're in far too deep.

the correction earns an apologetic glance, though. ] --Of course. I-- It's taking a little more effort than I'd like to.. adjust. [ that's so, uncomfortably true. ] .. That does sound like her, though. I'm glad things have worked out. [ cordelia, jole learned very quickly, almost always gets her way. usually, her way is even the best way. ]

You're familiar with her? She's still swearing off politics and politicking right now.

[ yes, that sounds familiar, doesn't it? ]

I've worked with you long enough to be familiar with your lady wife now.

[ very, very familiar, as it were. ]

Fair.

[VERY familiar. None the wiser, though, this Aral merely continues their fairly aimless path. Time to turn things around.]

You seem young, all the same. How did you come to fill that position?

Edited 2016-11-28 04:10 (UTC)

[ the smile he offers is mild, a little embarrassed at the edges. ]

I was injured, ah, in an orbital accident. Saving some men. [ his face colors, and he glances away. ] Honestly, I still don't remember much about it, but you read the report and seemed to like me, so you.. picked me up while I was recovering.

That's nothing to be embarrassed on. Hell of a commendation to you. [He cracks a wry half smile.] We don't exactly breed initiative in the military.

Things are better, [ he protests lightly, struggling to keep his flush from darkening at the familiar smile. ] Getting better, rather. .. I'm very lucky to have caught your eye. It's been.. [ he trails off, suddenly not sure how he can even put it into words. anything he says, aral won't really understand, will he? not the way he's meant to. ] It's been an incredibly valuable experience. Not just for my career, I mean.

It must have been something. [Aral says, giving the young man a shrewd look. There's no sign of whatever injury had laid the man out.] Most men see being taken from ship duty to hours bent over a desk as a demotion.

[ his lips quirk. ] Yes, well, most men don't get to work for-- [ you ] --the Prime Minister when they're taken off ship-duty.

[ he drops his empty cup into a trash receptacle, tucking his hands into the back pockets of his jeans to keep them from foolishness. ]

.. Don't misunderstand, please, because I occasionally also want to tear my hair out, but it happens less often now that I'm comfortable with the job.

Then it's just when the job itself does. [At least there's some good possibility that Prime Minster is less of a hairy, violent mess than Regent is.

Aral is still taking his time with his own coffee, perhaps more enjoying the warmth on his joints in the mild winter chill.]

You'll be welcome at the Residence. [And would give Aral more time to figure out this young man. Besides, being surrounded by good staff was a hell of a benefit.] We've been gathering those from our world there.

[ it sounds like a sort of torment, really, living alongside aral and cordelia, far away from the barrayaran public eye, and still not allowed to be with them. but.. still, at least he can be beside them. at least he can--perhaps--make himself of some use here. and maybe..

he shakes himself of any further thought in that direction, the corner of his mouth quirking up. ]

It's a hell of a surprise, Sir, I have to admit. Having not just others from home here, but others I actually know..

[ he makes a small, thoughtful noise. ] What is it that we.. do here?

I've been told to see it as a vacation. [Often, from multiple sources. He hadn't listened. The off handed, "can you believe that" tone in how he presents it, clearly frames how he considers that suggestion.] So far, we've a beginning hand in the politics and economy of the world, thanks to Mark and Miles. We've been running a small security company, and expanding our own base.

A rather small operation in comparison. But I could certainly use a man to keep the whole beast organized and in the same direction.

[ he nearly laughs at the comment, and has to lift a hand, crooking a finger across his smile. ] .. A vacation. [ aral vorkosigan taking a vacation. he's seen the man relaxed, but that's not the same thing, now is it? he can hardly imagine. ] Well, if anyone deserves one, I suppose..

[ he leaves that subject, though, sobering thoughtfully. a 'small operation' doesn't necessarily mean to the vorkosigan family what it means to average people, but thankfully for jole, he's accustomed to vorkosigans now. ]

That shouldn't be a problem, I should think. And it'll be good to keep busy.

Edited 2016-11-28 15:28 (UTC)

[Aral's eyes linger at the gesture. It wasn't a poor look on the other man at all.]

Well, lieutenant, you've been summarily rehired. Busy is a wish I can accommodate in abundance.

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