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

[small_reservations]

Whoa! Hey, easy there, sport!

[He manages to deflect the first few balls, and redirect (if not extinguish, thanks dark magic) a few more with his fire manipulation abilities, but takes one to the shoulder pretty early on, and it just gets worse from there. The barrage is enough to push him back to the edge.]

You really want me dead, huh? Well, fine!

[And with that, he... jumps off the roof. However, first, while he's talking to Kagami to distract him, he opens a dark corridor just below the edge.]

[darkimitation]

[He's got this feeling something isn't right and looks over the edge of the roof after Axel jumps to see the dark corridor. Of course he's even more pissed off.]

I knew that was too easy. Come on out you coward!

[small_reservations]

[The sound of laughter echoes from the next roof over. If and when Kagami looks over, Axel waves at him.]

You're just asking to see how your maker died, you know that? Let me indulge you.

[Axel snaps his fingers, and Kagami'd best be moving, because a fireburst will explode out where he was just standing.]

[darkimitation]

[Seeing what Axel is planning, Kagami does the smart thing and jumps backwards before the explosion hits him too hard. Thankfully he only gets some minor burns on his clothes then glares up at the other roof. He's very angry at this point.]

I don't care about what happened to Vexen! I only care about getting my revenge!

[small_reservations]

Not what I meant!

[Regardless, Axel's in trouble if he doesn't end this soon. He leaps forward, hopping nimbly back to the first roof, before dusting himself off and pointing at Kagami with a hand still clutching a chakram.]

Is that really all you care about?

[darkimitation]

[He clutches his Soul Eater tightly in his hand and stares down Axel with the coldest of glares. He'll be nice and give him what he wants this time.]

... Keeping you away from Naminé. After what you and the others in Castle Oblivion did to her, I'll make sure to protect her from you.

[small_reservations]

Oh. What we did. Like, I dunno, freeing her?

[He did do that much.

He doesn't let down his guard, though, still keeping his chakrams ready. He knows he's not the most trustworthy sort, especially to Kagami.]

If you don't believe me, you can just ask her. Who let her out of that room, in the end?

[darkimitation]

[The more Axel is trying to stop him, the more it's becoming some type of weird amusement for the replica. So he's making the decision to play nice and perhaps turn this moment into a game.]

You know, hearing you say all of this is making me feel a bit generous. So instead of killing you, I'll give you my thanks and a choice of either you letting me break your arms or legs. That's easier and less messy than death, don't you agree?

[small_reservations]

[Well, that didn't work like he'd hoped. Ah well, that's life, he supposes. Axel has his chakrams ready, but he doesn't swing just yet. Doesn't want to provoke Kagami any further.]

Wow, that's some sadism. Where'd you learn that? Well, whatever. You know me well enough to know I'm not the most cooperative guy. Plus, if I don't have my arms or legs, how am I supposed to do this?

[With that, he throws a fire-enveloped chakram at Kagami, a simple distraction as he opens another dark corridor down to the ground and backs through. With his hair color, blending into the crowd's not an option, but the dark corridor attracts enough attention that he's immediately surrounded by people interested in exPorts, exactly as intended. If you want to break him, there WILL be collateral damage, a trick he learned from Marluxia. Of course, this only works if Kagami cares more about innocent lives than Axel generally does.]