etcelsior | Lies a place that few have seen.

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Simon tips his head lightly, curious.]

Oh...?

We all have our own pet interests. Hermaphrodites, as a group, were started up as a socially-minded bit a genetic tinkering where I come from. [It's breezy, carefully careless. They take another sip, considering the man over the rim of the mug.] I don't think I've gotten your name yet.

[Bel first tip that something might not get as expected is Simon's utter lack of reaction to 'hermaphrodite'.

The other may not get so obvious. Simon's a subtle bastard; the change in his mannerism can't be neatly pinned to any particular change in his comportment. He inclines his head in acknowledgment and all of a sudden he seems to take command of their small space.]

My name is Simon Illyan. [If what Lady Tej had said was true, that would be enough. No titles, no affiliations, just the name.]

Its good to meet you, Captain Bel Thorne of the Ariel.

Edited 2016-11-04 15:20 (UTC)

[For some mercy, Bel was not drinking when that name dropped. They still feel choked, all the same, and the mug comes down on the table with a startled crack of sound.]

Ah.

[They never wanted to meet this one. Frankly, ANYONE from Miles' nightmarish world (no offense, dear Admiral), but ssitting across from any head of any intelligence agency is. General a bad day. Usually a short day.

There's a moment that anyone does, faced with authority, that they go back over everything they've done that's prosecutible or ... well... disappearable in the eyes of that particular world, network or Empire.

And good lord is there a lot.

They briefly fantasize about just putting down the bill, cheerfully saying how nice the conversation was and bolting. They didn't think it would work.]

I expected someone older. [Nailed it.]

[Simon takes a sip of his beer and reflects on how deeply satisfying that was.]

I don't want you to be concerned, Captain. This isn't a formal interview.

[Both of the things he just said are lies.]

[For their part, Bel puts down the drink as if it might be poisoned, or worse, laced.]

That's wonderful. Well! I really should get going.

[Simon leans on his hypnosis just a little, locking eyes.]

You should stay.

I'm curious as to why you're so nervous.

Edited 2016-11-04 16:55 (UTC)

[It's weird, they think, how hard it is to look away right now. A bit like facing down the bell of a nerve disruptor. The hypnosis is barely needed for Bel to get the feeling that leaving now would be a terrible idea.]

You're kidding?

I'm not aware of the Dendarii doing anything to cross Barrayar. [a beat, and Simon leans a little into the hypnosis again. ]

Should I be?

No. [That was immediate and emphatic. Whatever 'crossing' Bel had done, they don't think of it as Barrayar. They think of it as Naismith himself.] We're not. We just follow our contracts.

Then relax, Captain.

[He doesn't use hypnosis for that, mostly because he doesn't actually want Bel to relax. But he does use it for the next question:]

Tell me what you've been doing lately. The last few weeks you remember from home, broadly. Your most recent contract.

[There's a moment, where it clearly dawns on Bel's face that something is going on. They don't know exactly how, they suspect the drink. But what they SAY is nowhere near the sass they DAMN WELL MEANT TO SAY.]

I broke off from holding orbit on Escobar, waiting Miles, to help Mark lead a rescue raid on House Bharaputra

[It is immediately obvious that Simon understands what a fucking insane idea that is, and also exactly why Mark's name is in the mix here, and also exactly who they were rescuing.]

Oh, hell. What's the timeline on that? How old is Miles?

I don't know. [His age was another one of those classified things. They could guess, and have. But hell if they're volunteering information right now.]

Edited 2016-11-07 18:39 (UTC)

[Oh, of course.

He leans on the hypnosis again.]

How long has he been with the Dendarii?

Eleven years. [Bel forces the tension out of their shoulders and flattens their hands on the table. The trouble with not having had them relax is they are so very very aware for this. In a tone of false sweetness, anger giving them bravery,] Do you mind me asking how you're doing this?

[Simon quirks an eyebrow. His expression says it all: really?]

Relax, Captain. [That is the command.] Miles is my charge, and so is Mark. Tell me, does is it usual for Mark to be running ops with the Dendarii?

[The sour, angry expression that Simon fetched in return simply dissolves under the pull of that hypnosis. Their whole posture sinks from that catlike hyperalert to a more placid awareness, and the sharp bite leaves their tone...]

Oh, no. The orders were to capture him alive and uninjured on sight.

[Simon sighs. A private noise. Sounds like Mark was not a controlled element, which meant he was a disaster waiting to happen.]

Mm. Tell me how you find Miles as a commander.

[This, at least, was not as curt as the rest. In fact, THIS topic takes no push to get that certain bright eyed worship all of the Dendarii have.]

Exceptional. I've never had better in 25 years of service. Stickler for a tight run ship, but still manages to pull the wildest missions out of a hat. You actually feel good about doing your job, you know.

[It might sound familiar to what Simon heard in Aral's wake.]

Edited 2016-11-12 03:14 (UTC)

[It's so familiar that Simon feels his mouth twist wryly, a private, fons expression of amusement.

It's gone quickly enough.]

Thank you, Captain. There should be no need for you to remember most of this conversation. When you come back to yourself in ten seconds, that last you'll remember is when I introduced myself.

[Under the soft fuzz of the hypnosis, Bel manages to at least furrow their brow.]

You goddamn bastard, [It's amiably said, in this state.] don't think that I w... [And as the last second clicks over, Bel blinks, tension running right back through their spine.]

Well! I really should be going! [There's a flicker of confusion as they go to let go of the drink they ... weren't holding. It was dismissed as an oddity without much thought to it.]

Lies a place that few have seen.

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