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]

[ If nothing else, living somewhere as unpredictable as this place has made him take a few extra steps. As minor as they may be. He flips through the comm again until he pulls up a picture of Persephone. ]

Here. Our feud is far less active, but you will have to be very careful. She can broadcast her powers via recordings. And her songs come with very, very unpleasant compulsions. The first gave me a panic attack. The second ... I had to shut off before I found something to harm myself with.

[shipmaster]

[Less active. After that, LESS ACTIVE. Bel outright stares at Miles, the urge to just go cut her right now themselves versus really useless attempts to get assurance that their Admiral was all right. They don't even know what they'd DO if Miles got himself killed... much less at his own hand.]

Do you want her gone?

[dendarii]

[ A moment's hesitation, but - no, Miles, doesn't really want her dead. She's on a completely different level from Lucifer, after all. Miles still doesn't think the girl intends him true harm, given her last reaction. No matter how much they may fight ... ]

No. Our arguments are ultimately petty ones, and half my fault to begin with. She just has sharper weapons to lash out with.

[ A beat. ]

And the latter incident was not an intentional assassination attempt, as far as I can tell.

[shipmaster]

Sir. [That was unhappy, but ultimately an obedient answer.] So, just be careful as hell?

[dendarii]

[ Miles nods sharply, relaxing at Bel accepting his orders. ]

Just so. We do not want another conflict on Lucifer's scale.

[shipmaster]

[They did get it. Personal fights didn't have any profit at all. Just loses.]

Yeah. I'll keep an eye out and my head down. Anything else to mind?

[dendarii]

Well ... there is the overall unpredictability of this place. It can strike at any time, and there's seemingly no warning.

[ A pause. ]

I spent a week as an eight year old. And then I've also spent a week as a Betan version of myself.

[shipmaster]

That... is impressive.

[They stare, speculatively.] Though, as far as I know, I usually know the 'Betan' version of you. It's rather good. [In fact, the weird accent Miles keeps slipping back into.. a word or phrase here or there... that slows and changes his speech patterns was more unsettling than not.] I can't imagine that being a surprise.

[dendarii]

[ How to explain this ... Miles shakes his head lightly. ]

Well - yes. That's true. But this was more of an alternate history where I'd been raised entirely on Beta Colony instead of Barrayar. I was taller and healthier, for one thing. Less ... er, inhibited. For another.

[shipmaster]

Ah.... [AND THEY MISSED IT. DAMN IT ALL.]





Is that how you two...?

[dendarii]

[ Sorry about your life, Bel. Betan Miles would have slept with them in a heartbeat.

Miles shakes his head quite firmly at that. ]

No, no. We were together before that point.

[shipmaster]

Well, that had to make things complicated.

[dendarii]

As I recall - [ He glances over at Gregor, ] - my alternate self did well enough. Left me messes in other ways, but not so much on that front.

He's the one responsible for these.

[ He says, gesturing at his earrings. ]

[shipmaster]

Good for him. Honestly, I don't know why the whole Nexus hasn't adopted them. They make things so much less complicated. [Almost a perfect echo of Cordelia, right down to the small huff at the end.]

[dendarii]

[ Miles can't help but grin at the similarity. ]

I admit the practicality of it. But I don't always want my heart on my sleeve, so to speak.

[shipmaster]

[They make a derisive noise, but whatever opinion was there was left unvoiced. A little too personal.]

Still. I do want the actual story sometime. [Their eyes slide between Gregor and Miles, making clear WHICH story they were talking about.] Consider it bragging.

[dendarii]

[ Miles flushes a bit at that. ]

It's all Gregor's story, really. He figured it out first. Wooed me before I really realized what was going on.

[vorbarra]

[ In a murmur, ] Is that the version we're going with?

[shipmaster]

Really?

[The murmur was a bit too low for Bel to catch, but that was certainly an enticing tidbit all on its own. Something in their body language shifts, softening. They lean more on one hip.

To Gregor, they ask,]

Will you let me treat you out for a night? You and whomever your third is. I would dearly love to get to meet you properly.

[vorbarra]

[ Optimally speaking, Gregor would prefer to befriend Bel rather than let any sort of senseless friction fester between them, so he agrees readily. ]

Her name is Kitty, and she'd probably move to Beta if she could, so I expect she'd love to come. Are we disinviting Miles so we can gossip about him? [ There's a teasing lilt now. ]

[dendarii]

[ Uh oh. This just got dangerous. ]

Um - I'm not sure if I like this.

[shipmaster]

[Bel just grins at that, talking right over Miles' head. Very dangerous.]

Exactly my motive. We wont have to edit any of the stories.

[vorbarra]

[ Gregor is amused but not unsympathetic to Miles's worrying. ]

I should add that he wasn't kidding about the telepathy. He'll be able to hear all of it through me if he likes.

[ Which is really a veiled offer to Miles as much as it is a warning to Bel. ]

[dendarii]

[ Miles' mental hackles go down at that. Knowing he's not truly shut out will convince him to stay out of things much better than forbidding him outright.

It's not going to stop him from complaining, though. ]

It's hardly the same. But fine, have your little gossip party.

[shipmaster]

[They're quiet at that, looking between them. It's clearly something they're okay with but... Bel has lived in close quarters all their life. From Beta Colony to ships, there's not much in space. That last piece of privacy is sacred.

Not their problem.]

Well, whatever works for you two.