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

[shipmaster]

Three, as far as my file claims. [They sound a little bewildered and a lot excited here.]

Apparently, I've some impressive speed, can make my lovely collection of weapons appear, should I need them, and .. well - I'm going to actual admit some apprehension to trying this one - but I've apparently the ability to open wormholes.

[dendarii]

[ Here's an expression they don't see every day: Miles looking incredibly jealous of Bel. ]

Seriously? Those are all good ... [ Though really, considering how much he loves two out of his three powers, can he complain much himself? ] And it's high time we had a teleporter in the group.

[shipmaster]

[Now that is a good look. Bel's smile turns distinctly and overtly proud.]

Well, you've always tapped me when you needed the quick getaway. So, what do you have that's not as good?

[dendarii]

Well, they're mostly not terrible. I enjoy being able to turn into a bird, for example. And I have a telepathic link with most of the Barrayarans here.

[ To put it very simply. He trust Bel enough to tell them but doesn't want to get into details just yet. ]

The last is utterly pointless. I can shrink myself and anyone I'm touching. [ An annoyed huff. ]. As if I need to be any smaller.

[shipmaster]

[A bird... telepathy... ... They'd be lying if they said they weren't picturing a psychic hummingbird right now. They'd be lying badly.]

... I don't know. I've grown rather fond of small things.

[dendarii]

[ Rude, Bel. Totally rude. ]

You're entirely biased on that. I'd prefer to be a bit taller, thank you.

[shipmaster]

Well, no accounting for taste.

[dendarii]

[ There's a prickle of warning across the link to Gregor. Annoyance and fondness for Bel, coupled with the sensation of stepping off a cliff. Miles is about to do something stupid. Harmless, but stupid. Bel is stirring up all kinds of restlessness in him today.

Physically, he gives Bel a decidedly dangerous grin and reaches out to take their hand. ]

Is it? I think it's entirely sensible. You'd agree if you were my height, I'm sure.

[shipmaster]

[Predictably, Bel's hand slips around Miles' without even thinking. Their expression is completely seized with curiosity.]

[dendarii]

[ With no further warning than that, Miles loops his power around Bel. They're not going far - Bel to Miles' current size, Miles proportionally smaller - but certainly a distinct drop. He pulls his hand back once he feels stable, sitting up as straight in his chair as he can. ]

Well? Still fond of it?

[shipmaster]

[That wasn't just weird, it's wild. Everything is strange and almost bizarrely unfamiliar from this new angle. The only thing that was similar was ... well... Miles being proportional. Gregor was well above BOTH of them.]

Admiral! [The tone is, if nothing else, gratifyingly startled.]

[dendarii]

[ That was more or less the reaction he was hoping for. Congrats, Bel, you're the first person Miles has actively trolled with this power. It's ... kind of fun. He might actually use it more often.

In other news, that grin is positively shit-eating. ]

Hmm? Is something wrong?

1/2

[shipmaster]

Warn a person first! [They huff, it's almost like you can see the fur hackle and the tail bush up... and then..]

[shipmaster]

I don't see what you're complaining about. [It wasn't that they had any interest. It's that they had a WEAK SPOT in Naismith's armor.] I mean it's a wonderful angle to view your boyfriend's ass.

[dendarii]

[ Miles goes from grinning to sputtering in a split second. Just in case Bel had any doubts about having hit Miles exactly in the right spot. Meanwhile, Gregor gets impressive surge of possessiveness over the link. ]

Excuse you. There are plenty of other people here you can throw yourself at. Including actual aliens.

[vorbarra]

[ Gregor coughs, his shy enjoyment of that possessiveness only evident via telepathy.

Pointedly, he turns so his ass is not visible anymore. ] If you're done with demonstrations, perhaps we should bring Captain Thorne up to speed on the state of the Dendarii here.

[ Please let's talk about this and not his ass. ]

[dendarii]

Fine, fine ...

[ With no small amount of effort, Miles carefully undoes the loop around both Bel and himself. It's alarmingly stuttery, but he gets them back up to normal after a moment. ]

[shipmaster]

[OH MY GOD. BOTH OF YOU ARE SO EASY. Bel is practically vibrating with glee even with the odd, stuttering return to normal height. Bel watches that with no small amount of fascination (and a little well hid unease)]

Yes, I believe I've been promised stories as well.

[dendarii]

[ He knows that particular look. He and Gregor sure are in for it now ... But other concerns first. ]

We're a security company here. Bodyguarding and odd jobs, like I said before. No definite base of operations, but we frequently meet here when we've something specific to talk about.

[ He gestures up at the café. ]

Most of our trouble thus far has been a bit more personal. This place is wildly unpredictable, even leaving out things like Lucifer and Persephone.

[shipmaster]

I'm sure it is. You either have steadfast allies or mortal enemies anywhere you go.

[There's a shift, almost the difference between changing uniforms as Bel shifts to a far more professional mode.]

Can I get physical ID and a run down on those two? And anything else that might get hot fast.

[dendarii]

[ Ah, that's a good idea. Miles takes out his comm and scrolls through the network. Lucifer is gone, of course, but it's not hard pulling up one of his posts. And Persephone is on social media perpetually, so he quickly finds a picture of her too. ]

These two. Lucifer's since left, but there's obviously the possibility of returning. He's wildly powerful. I managed to stop him from going on a killing spree during that Russian submarine adventure, and he decided that he had to have me. Marked my sternum, tried to convince me to join him. It got violent when I refused.

[ He flinches instinctively towards the still weak spot in the middle of his chest. ]

[shipmaster]

Sternum. On the bone itself or are we talking approximate areas?

[dendarii]

The actual, physical bone. Wildly painful, as you might imagine. [ A beat. ] The mark is long gone, but that spot is still much weaker than everything around it.

[ And Miles' upper bones are still made of spun glass to begin with. Lucifer's legacy is still a blade aimed directly at Miles' heart. ]

I'm trying to find a way to fix it, but progress is slow.

[shipmaster]

Right. [Bel is grim, feeling a little cold staring right at Miles' deadly frail chest.] So bodyguard is even stronger term than usual. Damn... what I wouldn't give for Sergeant Taura. [Bel is good, but doesn't have anything on her reflexes. None of them do.]

[dendarii]

[ A very fond sigh at that. ]

Same ... though Tex is an excellent armswoman. You should certainly touch base with her as well. She's been nothing short of incredible.