etcelsior | throws thumbtack confetti everywhere

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throws thumbtack confetti everywhere

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 anyone's thread, either!

And remember to have fun!

01. Your memory is hazy and you might feel increasingly frustrated or anxious, or maybe you're excited as soldiers march past, barely glimpsing you. One second you're somewhere underground, the next you're enveloped in blue light, and suddenly you find yourself directly under Flordia sun's bright and burning glare. A female soldier steps toward you with a wide smile on her face and directs you to a car, ready to debrief you. You realize you are not the only one, surrounded by equally confused or eager faces... and you're all sporting a digital tattoo on your wrist.

02. Welcome to Cape Canaveral, where the smell of the ocean is in the air and locals are more than pleased to see new imPorts roaming their streets. They wave, they cheer, they ask for pictures as politely as they can. The more inhuman you look, or if you're wearing a costume, the more likely locals are to approach. Hey, enjoy the moment! The popular malt shop is offering you a free drink if you need it.

03. The technology in this world is certainly something. The cars are clearly modeled after popular 50s cars, but they hover several feet above the ground as they drive down the street. There are digital jukeboxes in restaurants, motorcycles also hover through traffic, advertisements can be seen on a digital projector on the taller buildings. Even kids on skateboards appear to drift a safe ten feet off the ground while playing!

04. Wherever you are, you can hear the loud revving of an engine, distance at first before you finally see it: a hovercar bursting around the corner, going beyond the maximum speed limit and just barely making its sharp turn. It doesn't appear to be slowing down any time soon, not with two police cars trailing it... and uh oh. Those skateboarding kids don't have much time to get out of the way as the car comes speeding down the road. You've been brought here for a reason Hero — so you better act fast.

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[ What was he doing here?

That was the question of the night. It'd been a slow day at work, and even though the atmosphere had improved remarkably since Godot's episode, Phoenix clocked out pretty much on the dot at 4 o'clock. He'd decided to take the scenic route, and ended up walking into a bar on his way home. Not to drink, of course, not on a week night. (It was amazing how priorities could change in so short a time.)

No, it was the billboard that was advertising auditions for a talent act. It wasn't as if he intended to audition - he had no delusions about his piano playing skills... or lack of. It was just... seeing it had made feelings of homesickness hit him in the chest like a bullet. Going to the Wonder Bar every night to watch Trucy perform had always been the highlight of his day. Ever since he arrived, it was like a little something was missing. He didn't even have any pictures but for the ones in his memories.

He could practically see her in front of him. All dressed up in her magician's outfit, top hat tilted slightly as she smiled for the audience, asking for help with her next act...

... He could see her in front of him. Blinking a few times to make sure he wasn't imagining it, Phoenix reached out to put a hand on her shoulder, a little afraid he was only going to come face to face with disappointment. ]

Trucy?

[Okay, the first person or two she'd asked had just regarded her with alarm and rushed away. Apparently "I need you to pretend to be my parent" is a bit of an odd request. She was just about to the point of frustration, glaring at the sign as though it was personally insulting her. She wanted to help, sign! If only she was a little older! Or if only her father was-

She looked up suddenly at the sound of her name, turned around and came face to face with her father. It took a moment for it to sink in, but then a smile lit up on her face and she sprang at him to put her arms around him.]

Daddy! You're here!

[ For a second, he can hardly breathe, and then right away, he's hugging her back fiercely. It knocks her hat askew, which might be on any other day, a source of exasperation, but that hardly matters now when he's been worried sick about her. ]

Where else would I be but right here with you?

[ His words come out in a rush, both concerned and relieved at the same time. She would've been safer at home, he knows it, but they're better when they're together. Both of them. Phoenix leans back (but doesn't let go just yet) and takes a good, hard look at her to reassure himself that she's really here. ]

How long have you been here? [ He's hoping she says not long at all, because knowing that she'd been at home while he was here had been frustrating enough, but knowing that she'd been here too and he hadn't even known... ]

[It doesn't take Perceive powers to tell he's very emotional. More so than if she'd just gotten home from school or something like that. It's almost as though he's desperately relieved to see her... but why? It was just this morning she'd seen him before she left for school.

Then again, they have teleported across the country to a mysterious alternate version of Florida, so Trucy supposes that gives him a little extra worrying room.

Still, she can't help but try to smile at him reassuringly as he holds her at arm's length and looks over her.]

About... five hours. They just dropped us off from the limousines. You must have been in a different car than me.

[ Relief settles in, and suddenly the month he's spent here doesn't seem as long as it did. There'll be time later to explain that, but right now, Phoenix just reaches up to fix her hat before letting his arm fall back down to his side. ]

Five hours in, and already getting back into business. That's my girl.

[ He may not have liked the idea of her working in a bar when she'd first proposed the idea, but it was undeniable that it was when she was up on the stage, performing her magic, that she shined brightest. And as far as bars went, he's certainly seen worse. ]

[She holds still and lets him fix her hat, since he at least knows the right way to tilt it by now.]

Of course! A girl's gotta eat somehow, even in a weird future Florida. Spaghettios don't grow on trees.

[Though now that her dad's here, they can supplement that with, uh... piano playing, she supposes.

And that reminds her!]

Oh! Right! Good timing, Daddy, I'm going to need your help. The other four bars all kicked me out because I'm underaged. So I need you to chaperone me in for this job inquiry.

The other four bars don't know what they're missing.

[ He smiles, because like there was any chance he was going to say no. ]

You know it. What do you need me to do?

[ So far he's managed to keep piano-free here, but if it was really necessary... He can afford some loss of dignity. ]

That's Wright they don't. [She looks awfully proud of that one.]

Okay. I need you to come inside with me, say you're my father, and that you think it's okay for me to perform here.

[A pause.]

So... the truth, basically.

[ That pun gets a slightly proud smile from him, too. One that turns slightly amused. ]

Ah. Well, I might be a little rusty, but I'll do my best.

[ He'll happily accompany her inside, all of that day's lethargy completely forgotten in the dust now. ]

Got your act together? [ It'd be a ridiculous question to ask at any other time (because of course she would), but some concessions should be made for the 'weird future Florida' part of the equation. ]

Well, you've got on a suit jacket. So chin up, Daddy! You'll knock 'em dead in there!

[Her only response to the question of her preparedness is a grin, and with a sudden whoosh of her cloak, a familiar friend makes his appearance.]

"Wood" she ever forget? Ha ha ha ha!

[ Years and years of experience have made it so his only reaction to Mr. Hat popping out is a chuckle. (He even missed seeing him popping up everywhere, truth be told.) ]

Nah. They'll be too busy watching you to pay attention to little old me. [ Hopefully. ]

[He's tucked away quickly after the punchline, so as to avoid spoiling the trick in case anyone from inside is watching.

She smiles and takes Phoenix by the hand, leaning in to speak in a conspiratory whisper.]

Don't worry, Daddy. We'll avoid the piano if at all possible.

[ Thank god.

He gives her hand a gentle squeeze. ]

That might be best. Although, if you really need background music, my rendition of 'Chopsticks' has actually improved. [ Somewhat. ] I can play it without wearing earplugs now.

[Oh, Daddy, so predictable.]

See, practice makes perfect!

I think I'll be all right, though. I can't be too reliant on music. I'll just really wow the guy before he even needs to hear it.

[ More like 'practice makes not-deafening'. ]

It'll be just like magic. [ May or may not be grinning because dad jokes, yeah. ]

So give him the truth, and then... do you need me for your act, or shall I just be your enchanted audience for tonight?

Ugh, Daddy... [Yeah. Dad jokes. She's more endeared than she is rolling her eyes, though, really.

It seems she's already decided the next part.]

He'll think it's rigged if I do all my tricks on you, so I'll use you as a volunteer, and then switch over to him.

[ Who doesn't love dad jokes?

She has his full attention when she talks, and Phoenix just nods when she's done. Playing the role of her magical assistant is nothing new, and he's still got all the old tricks memorized, fortunately. ]

Gotcha. [ He looks toward the stage where the manager is standing. ] Target sighted.

[ And then offers her his arm with a smile that's somewhere between fond and proud. ] Shall we, Miss Trucy?

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throws thumbtack confetti everywhere

I DO WHAT I WANT... like brackets

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DAUGHTER

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