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

Really. Get that done today. You look like a mop used to clean a chimney propped upsidedown.

Yes, well. I'll get right on that. Maybe look more like a regular mop instead.

[ Gregor likes it longer. Had liked it longer. Dammit. He eyes the child in front of him, his gaze having gone a bit dull. That had felt good, but now the rush of the moment is wearing off. He gently signals Aral over the link. ]

I think I've made my point well enough.

[A simple Come see me later. filters back quietly. Miles' father's gaze is particularly keen, but he sets the child down, releasing the hold on his powers a moment after.

He doesn't pull back just yet. Just in case there's unwise retaliation.]

[There's a joyous WHOOP! from the spirit as he feels his essence shake free of all of that weight and delicate systems of operation. Instantly, a bird is shooting up into the air, hovering quite a ways up.]

Sure! Point made! Bully like the rest!

[ Aral didn't miss the undercurrents of that encounter, did he. Miles agrees to the request meekly enough. "Later" is not going to be "immediately" by any stretch of the imagination, but ... he will go. ]

Yes, harmlessly showing you why you probably shouldn't murder me is bullying. Wonderful logic.

[The bird settles on a lamppost.]

Sure is. What with all of the murdering going on.

Telling me that no one would miss me if I disappeared - and then conjuring up that illusion - how is that not a threat?

Hey, you asked for a demonstration, mate.

That was the generally non fatal kind, as you might have noticed. Right kind of me, if I do say so myself.

[ He had gotten himself into it, but like hell he's going to say as much. ]

Non-fatal in turn. Are we both clear, then?

Oh, lets talk clarity. Mr. I Have No Idea What I'm Doing.

You think that was safe? I'm made of magic. Nothing else. No hard and solid bits at all.

I don't know why it didn't kill me.

[ Oh. That - hmm. The alarm in his eyes shows that it wasn't his intent, poor comfort though that may be. He looks up at Bartimaeus with a slightly worried expression. ]

Well - I've never heard of it killing anyone.

[ The bird fluffs up, feathers bristling everywhere. ]

Oh, that's comforting. A human hasn't heard of a magical effect.

Have a lot of them where you come from, Bite Size?

[ He's back to flinching slightly at the insults; they echo faintly over the link. ]

None whatsoever. Magic does not exist.

[The bird hops back and forth on the post, wings ruffling, some avian version of pacing.]

Good! May you never figure it out.

[ There's a pause... Miles is abruptly coming to a conclusion here. ]

Are you afraid of me?

Who? Me?

[Yes, as a practice. It's just a good idea. In actuality, he's more scared of the hulking human with the terrifying hands, but as they go together, why not.]

[ Miles misses the part about Aral - though he would if he weren't so befuddled by the thought of being scary himself. ]

Yes, you are. Or perhaps the better word is wary.

See, you're exactly the type to be wary about. [It hops to the edge of the post and leans down. Wings aren't exactly meant to point accusingly, but it gives a damn good imitation.]

I'm going to bet you're exactly the type to go trouncing off, after some emotion driven ideal, thinking oh so little of all the people you bugger on the way, so long as the 'greater good' is served in the end.

[To wit: a perfect magician. If the last five minutes didn't serve as proof of it, Bartimaeus wouldn't know what did.]

That makes you a right terror, kid.

[ That's so spot on it's painful. He flinches again but meets the comment with ... well, that exact dangerous determination that Bartimaeus had just called him out on. ]

I don't trample on people. Yes, they get dragged in my wake sometimes, but I am careful.

[ Sometimes. Maybe. ]

[Even with the bird's weak eyes, Bartimaeus can see the flinch from there. Satisfying. There's an exposed nerve there, that should be examined carefully and soothed. It needs a gentle touch.]

Of the ones you care about.

[Or a wild stab at it. You know, whichever.]

[ Fucking rude, bird. That warning pitch is getting louder across the link as Miles tenses. ]

I am careful in general. Moreso of those I care about, yes. Aren't you the same?

I think we've been over the whole friend thing, right?

I'm sure you've got an admirable goal here in trying for me. That being all "Oh, Miles! You're soooo good to play so nice with my friends~~ Here! I'll validate your fragile emotions more and reaffirm that I like you despite all of these reasons not to!" [The last is alarmingly in Kitty's voice. If it weren't for the fact that the words and tones would have the woman herself throwing a shoe at the bird.]

[ Ow. That hit the mark all right. Saying it in Kitty's voice is even worse, even if he knows that isn't her in the slightest. Not the tones, not even the validation. ]

Like hell. She'd yell at me for using her to feel better about myself. I'm trying to just do better by her friends period.

Oh, so you've gotten yelled at already for it? That-

[The bird opens its mouth for another volley, when a low voice interrupts. Bartimaeus shuts up immediately, scruffing down warily.]

I think we've had enough of this for one day.

[One way or another, this was hurdling towards something out of hand. And without the element of surprise, Aral was not as willing to test it. (Or watch his son try on this self destructive path.)]

We're leaving.

(no subject)

dendarii - 2016-12-28 20:37 (UTC) - Expand

lapwing - 2016-12-28 20:42 (UTC) - Expand