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]

[ Mentor, eh. Miles' smile turns a bit sly. ]

It's odd, then, that I hardly see you. Or heard of you before he took you on. Really, I don't know a thing about you.

[adhaerent]

[ .. just what is it that miles thinks he's figured out? jole is certain he hasn't said anything suspicious..

he blinks mildly. ] It'd be a bit stranger if you had, I think. I try not to interfere in his family time. He gets little enough as it is, and work can usually wait.

[ he hesitates, then sits up again, folding his arms loosely atop the table, head tilting faintly. ] --What would you like to know? I don't think there's anything particularly remarkable that you haven't already heard. [ he knows about the circumstances that had led to aral snapping jole up. at least, he's fairly certain miles knows. ]

[dendarii]

[ Quite frankly, Miles isn't sure either. But there's something here, and having sniffed it out he's going straight for it. Or so he thinks. ]

I've heard a few things. Da thinks you're brilliant, obviously, or else you wouldn't be wasting your time. And you were injured too, weren't you? He caught you while you were being rotated for recovery.

[adhaerent]

[ despite himself, he colours at the comment. ] I'm not so certain about brilliant, but I've done well enough. [ the rest of it earns a nod, though. ] It was quite a shock, having him notice me like that. Not where I was expecting my career to go, certainly. The rest of it's dull. I'm from a rural area, I got out of it as soon as I could, and I have a family that I've grown apart from.

[ he shrugs, lips quirking charmingly. ] That about sums me up.

[dendarii]

[ It's all very unassuming. So why did this man fall in so completely with his father without also crossing over into Miles' life? (Just because Miles is egotistical doesn't mean he's wrong, after all.) He taps at his chin, considering. ]

Do you enjoy it? Serving under my father like that.

[adhaerent]

[ his expression brightens immediately. ] Yes, absolutely. It's been a great experience. And like I said, he's been a very patient mentor; I've learned a lot.

[ in.. all aspects of life, really. ]

He's an exacting man and he demands a lot, but he's not unfair. I suppose if anyone would know that, though, it'd be you.

[dendarii]

[ That ... sparks an unexpected little flare of jealousy. Is that why Aral took to this man so readily? As a second son, one actually healthy (and handsome) and actually up to Barrayaran standards? No, that's a cruel thing to think of Aral. He knows the man too well now ... doesn't he?

Something in his posture goes a bit stiff. ]

Well - I've been away a lot. I think I got to know him best here, and he's twenty years younger than I remember.

[adhaerent]

--Younger?

[ he freezes again, just a moment, suddenly cold. twenty years younger? twenty years?

when he finds his voice again, it sounds a little strangled. ] Ah. [ he clears his throat. ] That's.. awkward. I suppose that I'll have to reintroduce myself. [ he won't know jole. he won't.. know about the two of them. three of them.

he takes a breath in through his nose, glance finding miles again and finally noting the stiff posture. immediately, his expression gentles. ] You have been away a fair amount, I suppose. He's quite proud of you, though.

[dendarii]

[ Ah, now he feels bad. His own expression softens a bit. ]

If he liked you the first time, he'll like you again. I guarantee it. [ A bit of a smile. ] He's adapted well enough to my existence.

[adhaerent]

[ he nearly laughs, bleak and tired, but he squashes the urge at the last moment, managing a small smile instead. ]

Well. Let's hope, yes? [ it's so much more complicated than that. yes, aral had liked him, but.. they'd both had to work through things to be together. aral especially had struggled, and jole's not certain he's willing to put him through that a second time.

he takes a careful breath, then shakes his head. ] .. Well. Anyway, it'll be interesting to meet him.. at this age.

[dendarii]

[ The scale of that response is all wrong. Miles can understand it in someone like, say, Koudelka, who wouldn't have had anywhere to go without having been taken in by Aral. But this guy? Tall and healthy? He doesn't really need Aral that much ...

Something else then. Miles' mind circles back to the "replacement son" theory, but again it doesn't quite stick. Not like his Da at all. So - what then? ]

... You seem extremely torn up about the thought of him not recognizing you.

[adhaerent]

[ he blinks again, seeming mildly startled, when in actuality he's still reeling. ]

I think it has more to do with his lordship being twenty years younger, honestly. Twenty years, good lord. Won't this, mm, upset the.. timeline, or..

[dendarii]

Honestly? We have no idea.

[adhaerent]

[ no idea. no idea, and the future--miles and jole's present--could be completely changed when they go back. he.. can't dedicate the attention to this right now that he needs. not with the elephant taking up so much space in the room, anyway. ]

.. Miles.. [ he hesitates, then frowns faintly, brows drawing together. ] Is this-- [ he makes a vague gesture to indicate their meeting. ] --about my proximity to your father? Do you have doubts about my abilities or my character? I understand that we've rarely spoken, but.. [ he trails off uncertainly. .. honestly, he's not certain what he'd do to prove himself. aral won't remember him, no one else jole knows is here.. he thinks. ]

[dendarii]

[ Ah, he hasn't been subtle enough, has he. Miles exhales softly in exasperation. ]

It's just odd, that's all. That you're so - so hung up on him. It has nothing to do with your worthiness, which is impeccable, as far as I can tell.

[adhaerent]

Hung up on.. [ if he sounds a little horrified, that's genuine. probably not for the reason it seems like, though. has he sounded hung up on aral? god. he's fairly certain his earlier lapse makes sense, given the news. has he acted oddly in other instances that miles noticed, then? ] He's the Prime Minister, and he's been very kind to me. [ a beat. ] Well.. in his own way.

[dendarii]

[ Look, Miles just gets fixated sometimes. And he's determined that this perfect specimen has something weird going on. ]

And that's enough reason to fawn over him?

[adhaerent]

Paying him a compliment is fawning..? [ miles.. ] Does no one ever appreciate your father in your presence, or..?

[dendarii]

[ Miles twitches a bit. ]

A genuine compliment. With no possible political motivation.

[adhaerent]

One can like one's employer without wanting something from him.

[ though god knows it's rare enough in vorbarr sultana, it's true. ]

He's a good man, he treats people fairly and doesn't care about one's lineage or lack thereof. That's more than I can say for some men I've worked for.

[dendarii]

[ Well, Miles can allow that much. He inclines his head in assent. ]

Mmm, entirely and unfortunately true, that. But you're acting more like family.

[adhaerent]

I'm acting like a good assistant, I hope. One that knows him well enough by now to make his work and his schedule easier when I can.

[ 'family'. if things were different, maybe. if jole wasn't a nobody prole lieutenant that works for aral. if there weren't several decades between their ages. if he wasn't a mere handful of years older than he and cordelia's son.

even so.. even so, it's so dangerously close to the truth that he can practically hear his heart hammering in his ears. ]

[dendarii]

[ Hrm. He still thinks there's something off about that. But fine, he'll let the poor man alone. ]

As you say. Well, I guarantee you he'll still be interested in you. You ought to meet Tex as well.

[adhaerent]

[ miles vorkosigan is like a dog with a bone, but it seems as if jole was finally blandly pleasant enough to put him off.

the mention of someone else earns a curious glance, though. ]

Tex?

[dendarii]

Tex. She's my armswoman.