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

[ettersberg]

( that is not a particularly decisive answer, but nightingale isn't part of the police force here, meaning he can't exactly do what he normally would in cases like this and just call a colleague. it is still the kind of matter the police should be handling: a disturbance of the peace. nightingale takes these things somewhat seriously. )

I'm sure he appreciates it. ( he notes, tone dry and glancing at heartburn as he says it. except then she continues and his blandly friendly expression slides into something more alert. )

Any particular reason you'd like me to wait?

[whathawksdo]

[ Alert he should be. Hawke doesn't always mean to be a troublemaker, but it usually can't be helped. ]

Maurtia Falls PD and I aren't exactly on friendly terms, for, ah, a number of reasons. Since one of the little downsides to remaining unregistered is it's illegal for me to actually fight idiots like this guy... [ Jerking a thumb back towards Heartburn. ] I imagine they'll use it as another excuse to try and arrest me.

[ Try is a very key word in this matter. ]

[ettersberg]

( thomas nightingale is the opposite of a troublemaker by constitution; he will sooner do what he is told than question the role assigned to him. that may well be a good thing, given the extent of his powers — especially these days with so few wizards left in the world. of course, that isn't a consideration here. there are plenty people with powers. )

So noted. I do rather think he should be brought to the police's attention.

( he almost concludes that she should take her leave, then. instead, however, a niggling voice that sounds quite a bit like his apprentice prompts him to ask: ) What made you choose not to register?

[whathawksdo]

Oh, that. [ A common enough question that she doesn't seem at all bothered by it. ] One moment.

[ But something else needs her attention first and foremost, as the field she stuffed Heartburn in has begun to flicker and fail. Hawke turns back, giving the entire mess -- spell and supervillain and all -- an annoyed look before she draws up a second spell, same as the first, and waves it back into place. Heartburn only gets a tiny chance to move before he's stuck again, along with an unbelieving 'oh, c'mon!' from him.

She leaves her hand up a few seconds longer, as if waiting to see if it's holding, then drops her arm back to her side and looks back to Thomas again. ]

Sorry. That isn't a permanent fixture. Honestly, I should really just punch him out. [ Heartburn does not look as though he agrees with that. ] And I know plenty of others will tell you it's a meaningless gesture to register, but I don't care for it. They attach a lot of extra perks to signing some pledge to be a good little American citizen and that's meaningless? I'd call it offensive. Though, I'd call most things relating to governments offensive, so take it as you will.

[ettersberg]

( her treatment of heartburn is pragmatic, and nightingale watches it largely passively, though the corners of his mouth tighten briefly in disapproval when she mentions punching him out. there is no need for violence of that sort when there are magical solutions that constrain — though admittedly, nightingale may well feel less disapproving if heartburn wasn't so obviously human. peter has forced him to examine many of his preconceptions and to discard them, but he is not yet as open-minded as peter, some of the old empire still lingering on in his mind. )

And what makes government offensive, to you?

( nightingale has worked for or with the government all his life in one way or another, with the foreign office and the army before and during the war, as a police officer after. )