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etcelsior2017-05-25 08:16 pm
maskormods) wrote in etcelsior2017-05-25 08:16 pm
Entry tags:
WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE
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?
Today it's not just imPorts that are making a scene. Given the relatively high approval rating imPorts still pull in here, maybe it shouldn't shock locals and imPorted arrivals alike that new native metahumans are using the city to debute their new spandex and catch phrases while they try and take their own bite out of crime. You know what they say about those darn kids these days though, too much time watching TV instead of say, oh, learning about martial arts or surveillance techniques. Or that the world doesn't actually pause when they start their dramatic entrances like it does on the small screen. There are five teenagers today, each one dressed in elaborate costumes modeled after different birds of paradise (click one of these if you really need examples). And you better believe each one has a dramatic entrance speech concerning truth, Justice, and the American Way, a dramatic pose, and a polysyllabic name to go through before they all strike a team pose and shout 'Birds Of Prey, Uncaged!'
During this time the lone criminal they had swooped down to stop has long since stared running away. Early in the morning, they did this whole production to stop a litterer. Mid-afternoon, a jay walker. Finally, in the evening, they actually try stopping a mugging. Of course the thief and the stolen goods are busy getting away during their intros, a fact the robbed citizen keeps shouting at them through the whole two minute long affair.
It's up to you, dear imPort, to catch these escaping misdemeanors or thief and bring them to actual justice (or, if you're really kind, hand them over to the birds), to stop and tell these kids to get off your darn lawn, to give them hero-ing tips or a real villain to fight against, or to just keep walking and pretend this whole mess never happened. The choice is yours.
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!
These questions are better asked inside, however, as a tornado warning has been released for the county. No, they haven't had one here since the 90s, but you can never be too careful! With the torrential downpour currently hammering the city, some enterprising business people have taken to offering storm themed sales of food, drinks, and appliances. Is there any better way to send the rainy day than on nickle shot night at the local bar, where you cannot only get dangerously intoxicated but also ride the newest in fun and games, the Freudian Mechanical Bull? Come one come all and see how long you can stay clinging on as the bull bucks you physically and emotionally, spitting out catchy psychological phrases like 'do you think this will make your father love you?' or 'riding me for five minutes will never fix what you've done.' The bull will detect which sentences seem to get the best effect and keep barring down on that path. Sensitive about your mother? Better believe the whole bar is about to hear a lot about it.
Or if you're not up for that much fun, you can aid worried citizens in securing their homes and businesses against the possible storms. Help them board up holes in roofs, cast wards on their windows, or just point them towards the nearest insurance agent. Surely you wouldn't take advantage of them and sell them devices they don't need or learn where they keep their valuables and how to reach them at a time like this would you?...would you?
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?
Today is the semi-annual (that no one can quite seem to remember ever happening before) balloon festival. From dawn until well past midnight imPorts and natives alive can pay a small fee to ride in a beautifully colorful hot air balloon solo or in pairs. There is also wonder fried food and face-painting for the whole family. If this seems all a little too innocent and family friendly, don't worry. This being the Falls, there's always a chance for the morally flexible (or horribly naive) to make a little extra money. Some balloons are offering special, 100% totally free in no way catch-possessing deluxe rides to certain 'winners.' Strangely, it appears to 'win' all one has to do is agree to ride the hot air balloon over to another city, drop off one of the 'sand bags' attached to the side at a designated place, pick up a few new 'sand bags' and fly back! Those that can pilot their own balloon rather than needing a guide will be paid extra- they mean, win an extra special prize.
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. 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. Natives may gather around new arrivals and ask both personal and broad questions about life as an imPort, what they are looking forward to, what their favorite article of underwear is. A few night clubs offer free entrance - just this once!
But you'll have to excuse the mess. See, a little while ago the city was a real zoo. Animals running everywhere, smashing store windows, eating aquariums, you know how these things can go. In fact, there are still a few stay old world monkeys jumping around, and maybe a baby gator or two in the sewer or prairie dogs in the parks. A small reward is still being offered for their rounding up.
Meetra Surik (The Exile) | Star Wars: KOTOR II
[ She rode the fracking bull. Not right away, not anywhere near the start of the night. But past midnight, after the novelty of trying to get drunk on new and exciting alcohols while being mostly resistant to poisons (spoiler alert: alcohol counted as one) wore off and some credits- money had been put on it. It was better than walking through the rain to a house full of strangers.
But after the bull made its first you deserved to be cast out comment it was suddenly out of order, dying a quite death between her thighs. Weird, that. At least to anyone that had never seen a force user disable a droid before.
She jumped off with a shrug. ]
Cheap hunk of junk.
03, Maurtia Falls
[They were trying to get her to smuggle something. Apparently being 'unregistered' made her more trustworthy somehow. Meetra's eyebrows crept closer and closer towards her hair line, but she didn't interrupt the man as he made his pitch. Though a former Jedi, she had, until a few days ago, been captaining a smuggling ship. The idea wasn't exactly new. And while she had no intention of simply dropping off unknown substances with unknown people, she was curious enough to accept the offer in order to further investigate. Maybe she could turn a few of them over to the local officials.
She had just climbed into the balloon when the smuggler informed her she'd have a partner for this trip. Some other random imPort that had signed on. That could be trouble. Still, she met the stranger with a smile, trying to size them up.]
Welcome aboard.
WILDCARD
[ Put a time and place and there she'll be. ]
maurtia falls
And then the guy had to come back and tell him that all the balloons were full and would he be amenable to riding with another imPort? They'd pay him more! Okay, he had actually said special reward money for riding with a partner, but Han knows what it actually means. The things he does to get a little more money.
So when he meets the imPort he'll be riding with, he gives her a smile that's just as tight, eyeing her with a smuggler's wary look.]
Thanks. [He taps his fingers against the edges of the basket they're in.] You new to this? [This meaning: flying a balloon, smuggling, this crazy world.]
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[She still new enough she hasn't fully caught on not everyone gets the lingo she's used to. Normal citizens, sure. Meetra could accept that, most people in the Jedi temple had no idea what a swoop race was. But that the underworld here ran by different rules isn't something she'd had time to tap into. And from the look this guy was giving her? This man was definitely in the underworld. It was enough to make her acutely miss Atton.]
Don't answer that. I'm Meetra. I'll take it you're my pilot.
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[Pretty sure it doesn't, he's about to say. But the next moment she asks him not to answer that, so he cuts off that response. Instead he looks up at the burner. All right, so this balloon is definitely operating on different principles from the ships Han is more used to, but Han's a quick learner, and he still knows where he is at all times, thank you stupid but occasionally useful abilities.]
I'm Han, and yeah. [He plucks idly at a rope.] I'm the pilot. Bit new to piloting balloons, but I can manage.
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Chances this ends with us in a smoldering heap?
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He shrugs. To the naked eye, he looks like a calm, hardened smuggler, casual and carefree. In truth he's quietly calculating the odds himself, and they aren't good. But he's not going to think about them right now—there's other matters calling his attention.]
Don't think about the odds and just focus. [A roguish smirk.] Before you know it, we'll be walking home with our payment—I mean, prize money.
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Well, at least we'll both die looking at something pretty.
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[So he says, staring up and out at the sky. There's something almost yearning in his tone, like he knows he could go higher than this. Like he has. Like he misses the hull under his feet and the hum of a starship's engines in his ears.
Then the moment passes, and Han's back out of his reverie. By now they're lifting up off the ground, and Han casts a glance up at the burner.]
But we're not gonna die, long as we're real careful about this.
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Oi. Who're you, then?
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[Her voice takes on a very sarcastic edge at the end as she rather obviously barely resists rolling her eyes. In one universe the Exchange, in this new one the...huh, she didn't catch their name. But yet another crime ring looking to hook her in.]
Nice to meet you.
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[But it's too late - they're cut loose and the balloon is taking off. Alfie gives their pilot a long look:]
We'll talk when we land. Eh?
[His voice is deceptively calm, but there's a dangerous undertone that says it isn't going to be a very nice talk. The pilot rubs the back of his neck nervously as Alfie turns back to Meetra.]
Yeah. But our problem here is that I don't know a thing about you.
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[Dangerous people looking dangerously at her? Ah, finally. Familiarity. She took a relaxed pose against the edge of the basket. Or as much of one as she could, considering there there three people in what had to be a, at max, five person area. But the message was clear: not worried about you, big boy.]
I'll answer you if you answer me.
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[She gets an easy nod of agreement. He's not looking displeased with her like he is with the pilot - at least, not yet.]
Your name?
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[It's a simple easy one to start off with, and will make everything else so much easier. If she has to go through another job being called 'Jedi' or 'you' she might have to throw someone out of the balloon. Possibly herself.]
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2
[Guess who has seen a Force user disable a droid before, Meetra? This tall old man in a cape who's currently raising a knowing eyebrow at you. And whose presence in the Force feels an awful lot like a Sith Lord: dark, cold, and calculating.]
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But in contrast to his cool presence, Meetra is a jagged hole of rippling pain in the Force, a wound unhealed.]
That cape has gotta be agony in the rain.
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On the contrary. It is warm and quite waterproof, and a great comfort in a downpour.
[It even has a hood on the back! But Dooku is less interested in fashion then in this woman's representation in the Force. He has never felt anything like this before, and Dooku has encountered a great many things in his long career, both as Jedi and Sith. Yet even in his old age, the universe finds way to surprise him, with... Whatever this wound is.]
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Ah, so that's the recruiting point, huh? Fall to the Dark Side for the power, stay for the fashion.
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That is hardly the only reason. Although I will say that it was refreshing to finally be free of those drab brown robes the Jedi constantly wear.
[Give him expensive, aristocratic solid black clothing any day. Much more classy.]
Perhaps you know what I am referring to. An Order filled with nothing but the same colour, the same texture...
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[ But she was suddenly concerned if there were Jedi on this planet. While she'd learned a good deal in her travels, the idea of Sith wandering the galaxy without a counter-weight of the Jedi was enough to turn her stomach cold. ]
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1, so long as it's ok!
And as usual, he crosses the threshold from torrential downpour to smokey shelter without drawing much of any attention to himself, pausing just long enough to get a look around as he shook some of the water free from his robe.
Until a moment ago he'd been near by, assisting in the relief efforts... until he'd felt it. A strange, yet familiar pulse in the Force. It had only been a momentary feeling, but it was enough to point him in the right direction.
Hood still drawn up, he makes his way around the circumference of the bar, eagle shape eyes scanning the crowd. The bull, still sparking, catches his eye first. But before he can fully extrapolate the technique used to make it inoperable, he sees her.
Across the ring, she wasn't in jedi kit, but it was unmistakably his old friend. Before he knows what he's doing he finds himself beside her. But when he opens his mouth to speak... the thousand and one things he wants to say catch in his throat.]
so okay!
Revan.
It wasn't a retreat, it wasn't. But this reunion couldn't happen here, in a crowded slum of a cantina surrounded by innocent and ignorant civilians. He had returned to the light, so they said. Returned and then vanished again. There was no telling what he was now. So she ducked out the back door into an empty alley way. Then waited. The torrential rain was a far more appropriate setting for this particular reunion.]
[[ooc: as a heads up, she's from fairly early in KOTOR II, so doesn't know much of what's going on yet!]]
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And so he follows, following her course as she slips out the back. And just as he steps back out into the rain he immediately slows. She wasn't running after all, but the change of scene was a bit curious. He paused enough to look at the high walls on either side of them before non-threateningly taking a few steps towards his friend.]
Sort of a clandestine place to meet. You're not planning on fighting me, I hope. [He had to raise his voice to be heard over the downpour, but he hoped that his jovial tone would translate through it.]
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[The comeback is more automatic than anything, any warmth or real humor that once would have been there quenched in the rain. But it was calming out here, in the middle of the storm. No people to watch and listen and judge. Something she'd had far too little of in the past few weeks. And no one to be hurt because of them.
Meetra's hair and jacket were already matted to her, the hard-line of her duel bladed lightsaber at her belt now clear.]
Hello Revan.
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Got me there.
[There's a smile, but it's tempered when he sees the weapon at her side.
Revan doubts it'll come to that, there was no reason for violence. But this could all be some kind of trick. He didn't want to believe it could be so, but he was cautious enough not to take any further steps to close the gap between them.]
Hello Meetra. It's a bit late, but I welcome you to this new universe. I hope you're adapting well.
[His tone was formal, and his exterior was the picture of professional, but inside he was roiling with the barely contained desire to rush up and embrace her. To tell her all the things he couldn't before she... sacrificed everything for him. Again.
It was already proving tiresome to put on airs. But he just... couldn't be hurt again.]