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

[use_everything]

[The combination is overt enough that it .. does draw another longer look, puzzling, but seems to be dismissed as well. Whatever impropriety Aral is imagining, Aral decides, it wasn't what the reality of it was. He'd blame Cordelia's influence, but she'd just laugh brightly and take it as a compliment. (and then start with uncomfortable questions. Aral is never ready for those.)]

Just so. I've the government assigned work out in Heropa, but most of my time is here.

[adhaerent]

[ no one is ever ready for the cordeliaquisition, even if they expect it. ]

Oh, [ he murmurs, thoughtful. ] That's right. Our government jobs. [ his glance then is curious, a little wary. ] You still work it even with everything else going on..?

[use_everything]

It leaves me in a good position to oversee Gregor's safety. [Also. He may actually really like it at this point. Good luck getting him to admit that.]

[adhaerent]

.. Ah. [ the emperor of barrayar working some dead-end prole job here. will wonders never cease. ] What is it, precisely, that the two of you do, then?

[ he's practically waiting with bated breath, because frankly he can't begin to imagine what job the government gave aral of all people, either. ]

[use_everything]

[He straightens a little. It's subtle, the somewhat delicate pride hidden under the droll look, and the ironic delivery.]

A coffeeshop. Gregor's quite keen about it.

[adhaerent]

A co-- [ a beat. ] A coffeeshop? [ that's.. actually quite charming, and he's alarmed to find that he's smiling a little. ] I'm glad, then. If he's happy and you're content with the arrangement, I could hardly find a complaint.

[use_everything]

It passes the time. [Which is about as close as anyone is going to get.]

And yourself?

shrugs

[adhaerent]

[ mm-hm. he carefully doesn't allow anything knowing to pass into his eyes or onto his expression, instead clearing his throat and glancing out down the sidewalk instead.

.. ah. ] Er, model, [ he says with an embarrassed quirk of his lips. ] Something about recruitment ads and posters. That sort of thing.

No, holy shit, it's wonderful

[use_everything]

... I can see the reason for the selection. [Aral mused, taking the opportunity afforded to actually look the young man over. He'd certainly either cause recruitment numbers to rise, or jealousy.]

Seems a waste of actual talent, though.

[adhaerent]

[ he glances aside at the older man at the comment, quirking a finger over his smile again. ] I've been told that I have my pleasant aesthetic points. I don't think the government here puts a great deal of thought into our employment, though, Sir.

[ since they're certainly wasting aral's talent. ]

[use_everything]

Or is conspiring to to keep us diverted properly. Frankly, I see the merit of the action, the incompetence or carelessness of placement is blamed on the bureaucracy, and without Registration, it makes finding a more suited job difficult. Minimizes the impact, so to speak.

[adhaerent]

[ he inclines his head, smile fading thoughtfully. ]

True enough. I've done a little research into the aspects of registration, but.. [ well, he just hasn't had the time yet, and it had been a lot to take in at once. ] ImPorts seem to be treated very like legal citizens here. I have to admit that I'm curious about where the revenue comes from, though.. housing us, providing work and an initial income.. And our community keeps growing. It's doesn't seem sustainable under normal circumstances.

[use_everything]

[Aral's eyebrows raise. That was a point that he hadn't considered: the financials.] They're either running a deficit out of petty funds or pulling something clever. Commercializing rights or something like that.

[It was downright Jacksonian. Which is entirely why it seemed plausible.] All in all, it's small change. Depending on how the laws are written, they may have simply seized the properties at base land value. The jobs themselves likely petition the government for placement, and our salaries come from the individual employer. A deficit, certainly, but they probably leak more in petty peculation every year.

[adhaerent]

Jacksonian, [ he echoes the thought, sounding a little distracted as he glances down the sidewalk again. fingers tap the outside of his thigh as they walk, restless despite himself. ] I have a busy week ahead of me, it seems. [ he doesn't like not knowing so much, especially in such uncertain circumstances, at the mercy of a foreign government and with no way to leave. ]

--You've kept your registration?

[use_everything]

No. I've little interest in pledging my word to another government. Barrayar is enough to drain any man.

[adhaerent]

[ .. yes, that's what he expected to hear.

he glances toward him again, brows knitting faintly. ] .. You've given more than most. [ he's given most of his life in some form or another. ]

[use_everything]

It's what's needed. [There's a wry quirk of the lips.]

I'd be a happier man today if I trusted anyone else to do it. [There's a long pause here, something about to be said and then aborted.] This timeline mess... I was about to brag to you, that you should meet them - what's come of it. Gregor and Miles. But you'd know them quite commonly, wouldn't you?

[adhaerent]

[ .. ah. hm. how to word this.. ]

Mostly through you, [ he admits after a moment, a little cautiously. ] I've met Miles a few times, though we haven't spoken much. Most of what I personally know of he and the emperor has come from what you and Lady Vorkosigan have told me.

[ he laces his fingers together around the strap of the bag. ] I do know that they're good men, though, and Miles is brilliant.

[use_everything]

[There is something off on the tempo of that. The cadence, really. Political? Some incident? Damn if he knew, though.

Still, a chance to brag about his son. Sons, honestly.]

It should be no surprise. That would be all his mother's side.

[adhaerent]

He has a fair amount of you in him, too, from what I can tell. [ a thoughtful pause, then with warm, dry amusement: ] Though he does seem to be very like his mother in personality.

[ he glances toward him with a small smile. ] I have to admit that I was rather amazed at his Admiral Naismith role.

[use_everything]

Were you onboard for that mess? I'd dearly love to hear the straight story of it.

[adhaerent]

[ the amusement fades, his fingers tightening around the strap. ] I was, yes. I'd be glad to tell you anything that you'd like to know. You're right that it was quite a mess, though.

[use_everything]

I only know that he'd managed to pull it off and clear her name in time.