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]

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--!

[shipmaster]

No. I didn't know. [Bel bites their lip before continuing.] He - doesn't trust you. That him doesn't trust you. [Bel clarifies.] I figured he would have up and ghosted the moment he thought I had cottoned on. And without him, you'd have never gone in and finished the mission. Too risky, no payout ... and you know how we left it last- There would be a damn bidding war for anyone caught between the Barons.

And I thought- He came on like you did sometimes. In that slump where you just sort of shut down for a while. [They make a vague 'you know' gesture.] But you always come out of it tearing and brilliant right when we need you.

I thought.. if I handled the usual he could pull together the rest. He seemed to think he could pull together the rest - the inside operation.

[They had thought about - and almost did - call it off right at the 11th hour, when it was clear that ... Mark wasn't going to pull out. That's where they usually lived, not the other way around. But they were both in too deep at that point.

There's a moment here, where they consider explaining... and just decides to skip the excuse portion.]

Every point where we needed command, it all just.. crumbled. Every possible way it could have fallen apart it did. One of the kids called in security with positions, numbers and we were just fucked afterwards.

We were holding under heavy fire... and last I knew, you were coming in hot to extract.


... I thought you knew.

[dendarii]

[ Is that true? Miles wouldn't have helped? He opens his mouth to protest - then snaps it shut again, thinking instead. It would be high risk with little payout, other than the lives of those children. Important, very much so, but no long term solution. And doing all that on Jackson's Whole ... Any one of them would be fodder. A bidding war of the bloodiest order.

(He still has trouble believing Mark would just disappear. But then again Mark is reluctant enough to accept Miles' help here. Clearly things didn't go any better back home.)

It doesn't help the barbed spike of betrayal that goes through him. He has to swallow, thickly, and marshal his thoughts. ]

No. It hasn't even happened yet. And - I was planning on retiring.

[shipmaster]

[NOW Bel looks struck, brows furrowed, and at a loss. Naismith couldn't even be 30. Not even close if the whole... future thing was in place.]

Retiring?

[dendarii]

It's - that's complicated and recent too. [ His gaze flicks over to Gregor briefly. ] We're trying to go back and change things.

[shipmaster]

... How changed is changed, sir?

[They didn't mean that to sound plaintive. It just happened. Came out in the sudden vision of the Oserian Fleet remaining until Oser finally made their retirement and cashed out. Endless years with Auson shoving their contract down their throat - life without the Dendarii and everything that came with it.]

[dendarii]

[ Miles doesn't know all of the thoughts going through Bel's head just now, but he can guess at the shape of them. He needs the Dendarii too. ]

Just from this point on. My point, I mean. Like hell I'd skip on forming the Dendarii and rescuing Taura.

[shipmaster]

[That... is a relief. That's amazing eight years... well. Five, properly. That's hard to argue with.

... Though what they just went through wasn't going to happen. Couldn't happen. They weren't actually sure how they felt about that.]

It... was a pleasure serving with you, then, Admiral.

Have you decided who is getting that promotion?

[dendarii]

[ That is a much easier question to answer. Entirely devoid of that creeping hollow sensation in his stomach from even discussing stepping down from this life. He's sure, he's absolutely sure, but it still aches ... ]

Quinn, of course. Who else?

[shipmaster]

[Bel's lips quirk in a wry half smile.]

Of course. You pick the one it's going to be hardest to slide in a better deal on financing. [There's a talent Bel has for teasing and sounding grudgingly approving at the same time.]

[dendarii]

[ Miles just grins back at Bel for that. Easily sliding back into their old banter patterns. ]

I could manage a few other promotions before I go as well.

[shipmaster]

I'll take Auson's ship. He's not using it right anyway.

[dendarii]

I might be able to manage that. Depending on how things go here.

Did I mention I want you and Mark to at least pretend to get along?

[shipmaster]

[THAT....................................................





















............

Is when you know you're getting played and you can't help but sing along anyway, dammit.]

Might? In writing, Miles dear.

[dendarii]

Hmm, well. Make an effort and we'll see.

[ He says liltingly, relaxing back into his usual confident admiral posture. God, he hadn't realized how much he'd missed this. Stepping into his Naismith persona is like taking a long, deep breath. ]

[shipmaster]

Well~ I'll consider an effort. You know, see how it goes.

[RIGHT BACK AT HIM. Though he glances, covertly back to the goddamn emperor of Barrayar again and then to Naismith.]

Have you considered both just absconding? No one out here is going to give half as much of a damn. Save you a world of money on bodyguards.

[dendarii]

[ Ah. Miles glances back towards Gregor, his expression warming into utter fondness. ]

No. We couldn't possibly. Both of us love Barrayar too much to ever flee it.