etcelsior | PRESENT TIME, IT'S A TDM

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? But, whatever the last year has brought, the holidays and the New Year has come and with it a renewed (if possibly temporary) sense of generosity towards the displaced imPorts. Part of this includes a special second ball drop in Heropa on New Year’s Eve, including festivities such as local bands performing, an ice sculpting competition, free food and hourly fireworks display over the water. Some people mutter it’s all being done to keep the imPorts away from real Americans at the Times Square ball drop, but surely that’s just a nasty rumor.

But when a small gang led by one of the new superpowered natives tries to steal this ‘imPort’ ball at 11:30pm, one has to wonder if keeping the powered community away from native crowds wasn’t a good idea. The (uncreatively) self-named ‘Ice Boy’ has ice powers and five non-powered followers trying to steal the New Year’s ball as their powered leader provides a distraction. They are going out of their way to not hurt any natives, but clearly have something to say about the government using up public funds for imPort events.

Enjoy the festivities, then stand and watch the newest native supervillain steal the ball or slip into your spandex and try and stop him. Or, if you’re the type, go and help him out. Whatever you pick, it’s going to be a New Years to remember.

02. De Chima, Virginia, is a large city with a healthy economy, and though it's quieter than Heropa, there are still large numbers of citizens to be 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 remains high here, 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, favorite foods, and more!

Given the rock star status of imPorts, it’s no surprise you’re especially big commodities around the holidays. Action figures, wrapping paper, it seems everywhere you turn there are products with imPort’s faces appearing on it. Not to mention the made for TV movie of ‘ImPorts and Santa Save Christmas.’ No one really knows why the Russians are riding pterodactyls to ruin Christmas, but does it really matter? Watch the show in a store window long enough and you just may see a (similar but legally distinct) version of someone you know riding Rudolph to help save the day.

Ah, the wonders of capitalism.

03. Maurtia Falls, Pennsylvania has had its ups and downs since imPorts started reappearing. Several imPort heroes have put focused efforts into cleaning up the streets of this somewhat infamous city, while others have swooped in to help the criminal industry thrive. More so here than the streets of any other imPort city, the battle between good and evil looks more like a war of escalation than a heroic tale. That might make the less than warm welcome imPorts are given in the city a little more understandable. The emergence of locals with superpowers is hardly helping. While some of these individuals have turned to crime, many locals seem more inclined to defend their native powered drug dealer than help the non-native hero bring them to justice. Who are you to tell them how to live?

So while that Salvation Army Santa on the corner might seem to be more serving as a look out for the shady bar behind him than collecting donations, is it really worth trying to sneak in and see what’s happening inside?

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. More so than any other city, Nonah has embraced every holiday available to celebrate this time of year. To be American is to be part of a melting pot, and that there’s more money to be made by the thriving local industries hardly hurts. Today is a large winter market place. Streets have been closed off and local merchants big and small have set up booths throughout the city to sell their holiday (and normal, who doesn’t need a new pair of wingtips for the New Year?) wares. While outdoors, there are enough heaters scattered around that you’d hardly notice it. Any imPort willing to say they bought their menorah, kinara, Saturnalia wine, or whatever else at a specific booth is in for a big discount from the managers!

Go wander and get your shopping in, folks. Any imPort willing to be interviewed about how they celebrate in December back on their home world is instantly surrounded by a small gaggle of people. Any jokesters out there should be careful to not make up too many fake holidays. The people here might just take it to heart this time next year.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I don't think appearances matter much here, much like birth.

[Isn't he the best companion to go out with? So full of life...so to speak.]

I suppose this is compensating for that. There are even small toys made to look like us. Yours even had a goblet of wine. [So they got that right at least.

Jon hands over the wrapping paper, bracing himself for whatever jests his friend might make.]

It doesn't look much like me. [It's a cartoon, Jon. It's not supposed to.]

[ You know nothing, Jon Snow. Appearances matter everywhere.

Regardless, he smirks slightly at the idea of his drunken figurine. Perhaps there ought to be another one getting its cock sucked. He's still smiling to himself when he takes the paper. ]

Oh, but it does!

[ Delighted and then some. The cartoon wolves are especially good. ]

I especially enjoy the artist's interpretation of your anatomy. So muscular! I think you ought to hang this on your wall, Jon Snow. Such talent deserves due recognition.

[It is coming from a man that happens to be prettier than most women.

Tyrion was taking all of this rather well. Certainly better than Jon who was just intent on disapproving of all of this attention in a way only a Stark can.]

If I ever meet whoever did this, I'll be sure to tell them that. Maybe they can paint you instead? [He's full on sour grapes now.] This will be going into my closet where no one will be able to see it.

[ Tyrion takes everything well, particularly when it allows him leeway to mock others. He's practically grinning outright. The more fed up Jon gets, the happier he is. Not that he doesn't like the man, far from it. He's just so dour. Tyrion is compelled to prod at it. ]

What deprivation. Fortunately — [ he runs an illistrative hand along the box full of tubes, ] It seems each design gets reproduced quite a number of times. So nobody shall go without.

[ Maybe he'll buy some Jon merch too! ]

[The more amused Tyrion is with this, the more Jon finds himself shifting uncomfortably and brooding more intensely. He's at least not fighting it or growling at Tyrion in response. That shows they are friends.

Maybe there is even a part of him that wants to find out what is so funny about this situation. Who better to show him then someone he actually likes.]

Gods. [Yes, his face pales to see the multiple tubes. He thankfully has yet to see the calendars with him shirtless.] Why would anyone want this? They don't know who we are, why mass produce such pointless things?

Of course they know who we are. We are their heroes, Jon Snow. Heroes and villains. Legends and stories. And just as a winemaker or a cobbler wishes to say he is patronized by kings and queens in order to attract the little people who deify them, so whoever puts your face on each ridiculous piece of paper is pronouncing their affiliation to whose who admire you.

[ A beat. He smiles. ]

Or admire your abdominals, at the very least.

Who would have thought there would be a time where we would be made into legends. A dwarf and a bastard? I used to want that sort of admiration when I was younger, but now it seems so small.

[That turns him red. So he'll just try to shift the conversation.]

The woman on the paper...you seem to at least recognize her.

PRESENT TIME, IT'S A TDM

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject