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]

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.

[adhaerent]

Ah. Probably a good idea to meet her, yes. And anyone else I'll be working with.

[dendarii]

Oh yes. You should probably be aware of all the people Da is sleeping with.

[ A pause for effect. ]

[adhaerent]

[ that-- that stings, like a slap, and he can't help the flinch; small, wounded, and quickly masked with a small frown. ]

I.. suppose? [ it's foolish to feel hurt. aral is twenty years younger, he doesn't know jole yet, and it's not as if-- ] I'm not entirely certain it's my business, though, unless I'm to be scheduling them in for time with him.

[dendarii]

[ Huh. That was an interesting face. Jealousy, maybe...? ]

You might need to.

[adhaerent]

[ he carefully laces his fingers together, struggling with the urge to clench them, feeling cold and out-of-sorts. this is ridiculous. it's fine. he's no one to this aral or this cordelia, and it's not as if they'd ruled out the idea of other lovers. it's just..

just nothing. stop, oliver. ]

If he brings it up and needs me to do so, I'll be glad to, [ he says after a moment, off-balance and uncomfortable. had miles brought that up for a reason..? ] Otherwise, like I said-- I don't interfere in his family life. That includes he and his lady wife's, ah.. partners.

[dendarii]

[ Aha. That's the piece he's missing. Miles leans forward with a shit-eating grin. ]

But you do know about them. I never said anything about Mother, after all.

[adhaerent]

It's just common sense, Miles. [ that much is true. ] He obviously loves her a great deal, so I sincerely doubt he'd do anything that would hurt her. And she's Betan, so I'd assume she'd be at least nominally involved in any.. extramarital relationships. She'd be aware of them, at least.

[dendarii]

[ Oh no, you're not getting away that easily. ]

That's not what most Barrayarans would assume. You know her well too?

[adhaerent]

I know her well enough to know that one doesn't cross her.

[ but wait-- more importantly, in his shock he hadn't addressed the biggest question here. ]

--You seem remarkably accepting of the idea that your parents have.. partners.

[dendarii]

[ Miles makes a bit of a face, temporarily distracted from his own sleuthing. ]

Ah. Well - Mother and I had quite a long discussion about that.

[adhaerent]

I.. see. [ that's good, isn't it? surely it's a weight off her shoulders. what had aral thought of it, though? he's so private. but.. if anyone should know, shouldn't it be their son? ] Well, it's good that she did, I suppose, given your apparent tendency to interrogate.

[dendarii]

[ A faint snort. ]

Forgive me. I've known just about everyone else who's come here. You're an exception.