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

[ he goes still, thoughts tumbling over one another, concern forefront in his mind as he struggles to keep his expression still. ] --He's well? [ he hesitates, glancing briefly toward the door, lips pressing thoughtfully thin. ] I need to get in contact with him, then.

[ he glances toward the other man once more. ]

How do you know me? [ most people don't pay much attention to the prime minister's military secretary, after all, unless they're trying to meet with the prime minister. ]

[ He doesn't answer that question directly. Of course he doesn't. Could you imagine? I studied murdering someone of your approximate height and weight. Instead: ]

I'm Lord Mark Vorkosigan. I'm assuming from that question that you've never met me.

[ there's a somewhat startled pause, but jole rallies himself with his usual efficiency, mouth twitching down into a small, uncertain frown. ]

No, but that does explain some things. [ and brings up a lot of questions. he straightens, making a gesture that encompasses the rest of the café-- as well as the door. ] Would you like to take a seat, Lord Mark, or step outside perhaps..? It sounds as if there's quite a bit I should get caught up on, if you'd indulge me. [ the things he's heard about this place.. it's not impossible for mark to be who he says he is, and his obvious resemblance speaks to that effect. for now, at least, it doesn't hurt to take him at face-value. ]

[ The corners of Mark's lips tug down very slightly, his prickly independent streak driving him towards just a bit of disapproval of Jole's request for his time. But that if you'd indulge me is polite enough, and this is a coworker of his father's, so his answer is only a little rude. ]

I'm on my way back to the office. You can walk with me there.

[ as it so happens, one reason aral had apparently chosen jole is for his ability to be polite and gracious even when people are being considerably more rude to him than mark is. his response, then, is only a small, grateful smile. ]

I'd be glad to. Thank you.

[ he follows him out, the smile fading into his default mild, pleasant neutrality. once they're on the sidewalk, he speaks back up again curiously. ] --The office? [ the job he was offered on his arrival? jole's was frankly insulting, though he supposes he should be grateful the government here even offered something in the first place. ]

[ Mark grunts in acknowledgment, glancing briefly at Jole and then away again. He shoves his free hand into his pocket. ]

I run an investment firm. PKE, LLC. [ He glances over at Jole and, never one to let the opportunity for a bit of a hustle pass him by: ] I don't suppose you have any funds that need investing...? We have an excellent rate of return.

[ his return glance is a little startled, but the smile makes a swift, slightly amused return. ]

Not just yet, anyway. I'll keep it in mind once I've found my feet here, though.

[ he can already tell he's going to have a number of questions for aral regarding mark. not prying ones, he hopes, but the man's existence at all is a bit of a shock, particularly given jole's relationship aral and cordelia. surely they would have mentioned another child to him by now.

his smile fades once more. ] If you've been here long enough to set up an investment firm..

[ He makes a noise of acknowledgment. ]

I came in last February. Nine months.

[ ...Has it really been nine months? That's - insane. Nearly insane. He takes a moment to think of himself last February, that first day when he realized he was free to do whatever he wanted whenever he wanted and so he ate himself sick and then had a panic attack. In some ways, he feels like he's barely progressed from that first terrified day, but in other ways...He feels like a different person entirely.

Hell, I am a different person. Lord Mark. Not the nameless clone. Lord Mark Vorkosigan... ]

Lord and Lady Vorkosigan have been here a bit longer than that. Miles, as well.

[ cordelia's here, too, and the thought makes his shoulders ease faintly, something tight and anxious slowly unfurling in his chest. it's silly, he knows, because they've both gotten on just fine without him before, and they're perfectly fine on their own without him now. it's still good to know that he can see them and know they're well, though. that's.. normal, for goodness sake, to feel that way about-- about people you love.

lord, though, the entire vorkosigan family is here, apparently, and it's.. also troubling in a way. --more importantly at this very moment, perhaps, is the way mark speaks of his.. parents? it could simply be a matter of the fact that they're in public and mark's speaking to someone that doesn't know him. miles is often formal with his father, too, after all. still, there's something about it that feels odd. ]

--So that Dendarii security company isn't simply a very odd coincidence. [ he has the phone number on him somewhere. ] Nine months, though. That's.. [ slightly horrifying. ]

[ It's the best time of my life. Ever. Bar none. That's what it is. Even the worst, most frightening and horrible moments in this place...Even those weren't that bad, comparatively. Honestly, the incident with Lucifer aside, this has been - wonderful. Beyond anything he ever dreamed of. But...That's something he'll admit to the immediate family, maybe, but Jole is an unknown quantity. He's not going to get any of this soppy sentimentality ladled out for him. ]

It's been a profitable and productive nine months. [ There. Neither self-pitying nor warm-and-fuzzy; just bluntly pragmatic. ] We're well-established financially. And the security company keeps us safe. We're doing all right.

I'm glad to hear it, [ jole admits warmly, as honest as he's wont to be. safety and security and relative quiet are good for anyone, particularly for a couple that have had more than their fair share of the opposite. ] I'm not certain if I hope that his lordship will have work for me or not. I don't enjoy being idle, but if there's any man that deserves a break..

[ he trails off, then clears his throat. ] Is there anything else I need to know in your estimation?

[ He offers a short, impartial shrug - even if he does look over with an expression slightly softened by Jole's goodwill towards his father. ]

I'm guessing you already know about the superpowers.

Ah, [ he says heavily and a little uncomfortably, ] yes, that. [ he's still not precisely certain how he feels about them, other than to think he's not precisely comfortable with having them so suddenly. ]

Do you have suggestions for the best way to.. master them?

[ A shrug. ]

That depends. What can you do?

Lies a place that few have seen.

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