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etcelsior2017-08-25 07:25 pm
maskormods) wrote in etcelsior2017-08-25 07:25 pm
Entry tags:
KEMOSABE, JUMP ON IT!
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?
No matter how you feel about imPorts, there is one thing the community all must suffer through together: the weather. And time. Two, two things the community must suffer through together. However many things there are, today is celebrating the Dog Days of Summer. Literally. There is an adoption fair for every kind of dog you can imagine, and a few that really take imagination to call them ‘a dog.’ Like cats that have had doggy ear-shaped hats placed on their unwilling heads, or fish with decorative dog art painted on their bowl. Or that baby alligator on a leash with fur (glued? It looks glued) on its back. So while it’s a fine day to come and meet a new friend- or drop one off and run, hoping someone else will take it- it may also be a good day to stop the smaller animals and some wandering children from getting eaten by some of the more carnivorous creatures a few of the local eccentrics have decided to try to pawn off on the public. Or grab a snack from the fried food and ice cream stands and watch the madness. Whatever your choice, welcome to Florida, heroes.
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!
Wasn’t the forgiveness day festival wonderful? What, you weren’t in this world yet to attend? Well, never mind that! There’s still time for those willing to part with a few dollars to show your love for this new world and sympathy for the natives and imPorts alike that have been harmed in it. How? Why with a flower festival, of course! An entire block has been closed off for the seemingly endless sale of flowers of every shape and color. Technically, all the flowers have meanings and a few wandering guides are more than happy to help you pick out the bunch that may speak your true feelings to your intended target. It has all the potential to be a nice, sweet smelling day where you can express your love or eternal hatred or total ambivalence with living flora.
Of course, this is the science city. It can’t be something as simple as only normal, natural flowers. Some of the stands are nice enough to keep their technological wonders neatly labeled and separate from the rest of the foliage. Others aren’t so nice. The best way to get people to try a new thing is to spring it on an unsuspecting public, right? Right! Also for sale are roses that, if you prick your finger on the (oddly able to pierce through even superhuman strong, unbreakable skin) thorns you are compelled to spend the rest of the day with the first person you lay your eyes on. Never seen them before or hate their guts, it doesn’t matter. You simply feel awful when more than three feet away from them. To the point you will pass out if you’re away from them for more than five minutes. Hope you’re good at making quick bathroom runs.
There are also lilies that make birds flock to you and snap dragonsthat offer you supportive messages given in a squeaky voice every time you smell it. For those liking slightly more visibly engineered flowers, a multicolored daisy turns you into a Technicolor wonder, your clothes, hair, eyes, and skin changing rapidly from color to color without any apparent rhyme or reason (or respect for clashing). Putting the flower down will stop the changes, but you’re stuck in whatever random pattern it landed on until an hour passes and the effect wears off. Good luck with the festival!
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?
To say all is not right in the streets of Maurtia Falls is to more or less state the obvious, but this time, the criminal nature of this foe is a little... sillier than usual. One gentleman gifted with the powers of superspeed seems not to have grasped the true potential of his powers and instead of spending his time robbing banks or big businesses, he's decided to be the world's most efficient pickpocket. He zips through the street, pushing people over at superspeed and picking their pockets and snatching their pockets, leaving only a brown blur in his wake, evidently having lost the memo that primary colours are all the rage for costumed heroes and villains.The more heroically minded among you may want to go after this villain or save a grandma or two that have been unintentionally pushed straight into traffic... but the guy has to stop to rest sometime, and he's really begging for a beatdown with this kind of behaviour.
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!
Today the word on everyone’s lips is branding. It’s not enough to slap on some spandex or hand stitch a mask these days. That’s so 80s. Now is the time not only to get your hero/villain costume professionally made, it’s time for sponsorship! Why should natives be limited to just having some registered imPorts actually working at their place of business? A cape is basically a big, open banner just waiting for a logo. Or ten. Now, they can’t really promise money up front for anyone agreeing to wear their logo and work their slogan into a witty quip during an arrest, but they can do one better: free products. Get all the free socks you can wear by only fighting crime in Jane’s Honey of the Earth socks, underwear, and bras. Or negotiate for free dinners for life if you wear the logo and agree to only appear on dates eating at Overweigh burger shack.
Of course, there’s nothing like an unlikely team up to really get the media spotlight on an imPort (and the brand they now represent). If you fall for the hype or even just get herded over to an audition station (if you are walking down the road today, chances are you’re going to get unwillingly pulled in at least once), get ready to meet your new partner: this random stranger! The company will give you 10 minutes to get to know each other, then it’s time to grin, bear it, and think of the free merchandise as they ask you to perform at least one heroic feat as a team for their cameras. What that is, exactly, is up to you.
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wait, let's examine some stuff. like the way magnus sometimes gets a little weird around him. at first, he'd thought it was because of the genderfluidity thing, but magnus had proven that wrong almost immediately. he's understanding of pretty much everything about alex, which is unusual and was honestly kind of unexpected. so the weird isn't because of that. and come to think of it, hadn't he been a little tongue-tied over the wedding dress thing? was it just the dress or?
oh gods. stop, alex, you're reading too much into this and it's getting uncomfortable.
he probably looks a little disturbed when magnus returns with their food, mismatched glance lifting to find the other teen. a moment later, the expression smooths away and he blinks. ] .. You occasionally surprise me with an extra layer I didn't realize was there, you know.
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[the tray he puts between them is heavy with udon noodles, yakisoba, some veggie dishes, even some different kinds of sushi and sashimi. there's a joke to be made about Kitty Alex here, but he doesn't make it, instead breaking his chopsticks and starting to dig in. Magnus can always eat. idly, along those lines;]
Do you ever think about how we're going to have teenage appetites literally forever?
[it's a casual ask, but it's more to move the conversation away from what they were talking about before. he's just not getting into why Alex being a boy or girl in a living situation with him doesn't particularly matter (whatever gender Alex is, Magnus continues to be overly aware of him -- or her -- like knives, like a lighthouse lantern. it's something he's going to learn to live with, now, he supposes, and says goodbye to his last remaining nerves)]
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[ because occasionally alex still wants to strangle him, but mostly he's happy to have him around and wants him to be around for a very long time, thanks.
he breaks his own chopsticks, brows arching at the subject change. ] I know what you're doing, I just want you to know, and I'm going to allow you to do it because I'm a good and merciful person. [ there is so much food on this tray, where is he even gonna start.. (with the sushi, of course.) ] And speak for yourself, I like to think my appetite is reasonable for my age.
[ it's still pretty up there, you know, but compared to magnus's.. ]
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[there's a sort of easy shrug, at Alex calling him out, but acquiescing to his wanting to move on. sure sounds like Alex, asserting himself even at the same time he backs down. Magnus wonders, at that kind of non-stop fierceness and energy, more than often enough. he's glad it's back in his afterlife]
I've been working three jobs, so I've got plenty saved. We can keep some of it socked away, use the rest on getting set up. I think I know a safe place to camp while the craziness is going on.
[Alex doesn't know about the craziness, he realises]
-- That is, there's been sort of some shit going down, lately. Civil unrest between citizens and imPorts, sparked by some "Day of Forgiveness" or whatever. I'm trying to keep clear, unless there's been some damage that needs fixing.
[he was nothing if not sympathetic, to people being made to feel unsafe]
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[ he shifts uneasily in the booth, free hand lifting to push a few green strands of hair out of his eyes, tucking them behind an ear. ] I got a list of imPort-run businesses, so I'll start looking into those tomorrow. I'd really rather stay as clear of the natives as I can. [ if there's already tension, he doesn't want to have anything to do with it. he knows better than most how quickly people can turn on you when they think you don't belong there.
.. and really, magnus does, too. ]
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I don't have a pathological need to help people. I told you, I didn't think of a tent, apartment down payments are no joke...
[Sam's not the only one who denies parts of herself; at least Magnus' denial is much weaker, obviously incorrect. he stubbornly died helping people, after all, it's clearly a very unfortunate part of his personality]
[the thought of Alex mixing it up with all the hate going on makes his stomach turn, a bit, which is a shame, because this pork dish is fucking delicious]
-- I could help you look. If you wanted. Since I'm obviously the superior employee, with my three jobs. Stick with me, kid.
[no, he does not realise the irony of offering to help .3 seconds after denying he's a Helpful Hufflepuff]
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See? This is what I'm talking about, you literally can't help yourself. [ he holds up a hand to pause him. ] And no, you don't get to argue, like, well, Alex, you're a friend, of course I'm going to help you, because you'd do it if I was some rando on the street, too.
[ he shoves some chicken in his mouth and chews, brows lifting as if daring magnus to argue with him about this. magnus might know alex pretty well by now--better than anyone else, anyway--but alex likes to think he's pretty dang familiar with magnus too. ]
--Anyway, I've got this, it'll be fine. I'm sure I have a skill somewhere that's useful to someone. If not, I'm an einherji, I can pick up heavy things with the best of them. [ funny how it took dying for him to start mattering enough for adults to want to help, but that's how it is for homeless kids, he supposes. no one thinks of them until they find them dead on a street somewhere.
idly, he wonders if there was anyone at his funeral. knowing his father, probably not. ]
So where do you work, anyway?
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[but Alex can take care of himself, doesn't like it any more than Magnus does, when people hover after him. he might not like it remotely, but Alex is going to need to learn to survive here, just as he is. he'll probably do it even better, anyway, just like Valhalla]
[even knowing all this, practically, here's the sour face on Magnus (to match the sweet one, on Alex's). he chews at some beef on a stick before replying dryly;]
I'm an einherji, I can pick up heavy things with the best of them, so I work for a moving company. Also a garage, as basically a secretary and extra pair of hands to hold something greasy since I don't know shit about cars. And I also help another dead guy shoot a reality show. Strictly behind the camera, so no fame and fortune for me.
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he has a feeling this ties in with the rest of All That, but he's not quite sure how just yet.
he tucks the thought away to examine later, instead focusing on magnus's jobs. ] A moving company sounds promising. [ boring as hell, but what the heck, it's work. and he'd probably startle some people, with the way he looks. hel, magnus probably startles some people, too. he's not exactly hercules. ] .. Sounds like you managed to charm some people. [ or they were desperate, hiring a teenager with no family and no references and probably no experience. ]
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You know me, constantly getting by on my charm and affability.
[and getting his ass kicked through all the nine worlds for his mouth. he shrugs, reaches accidentally for the wrong dumb pink bubble tea]
Nah. The garage guy who hired me's a bleeding heart for Lost Boys, and the dead guy I think is just like... not all there? Lugging shit around is basically the only thing I'm qualified for.
[it's rare that Magnus initiates physical contact, for whatever reason that is, but he nudges Alex's knee with the bottom of his heel]
Don't waste your time on moving companies. I bet you could do something cool.
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he unfolds his legs at the touch of the other teen's foot, stretching them out so his feet are in the opposite seat next to magnus's hip. ] --Dead guy? How many dead people are here? I figured we'd be in the minority. [ well, obviously they're still in the minority, but you know what he means.
anyway, the assertion that he's better than a moving company leaves him feeling weirdly flustered. sure, alex crows about himself, but that's kind of a survival tactic. he's still not really accustomed to other people thinking so well of him, especially with the sort of focus that magnus gives him. with magnus, it's not just a generic admiration, and that's.. kind of scary in a weird way. ]
I make pots, [ he says after a moment, glance flicking away from the blond, self-conscious despite himself. ] That's not exactly a skill that's highly sought after. [ he sets his chopsticks atop the demolished bowl of noodles, drawing himself up and waving a dismissive hand. ] Anyway, I'm sure I'll figure something out. My sharp wit and deadly beauty have to be worth something here.
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S-so, you're gonna be a sexy spy-assassin or droll double agent. Cool, just like I said. Glad we figured that out. Looking forward to your first paycheck, Double-Oh.
[he looks down at Alex's shoe choice for the day. it feels like they're back in the lounge, bullshitting around lunch. he likes that it feels familiar, he likes that they're close (but not too close)]
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the description makes his lips curl, though, in the sly smile he inherited from his mother, mismatched eyes glittering a little wickedly in his face. ] So you think I'm sexy, huh? [ he's honestly just fucking with him, but he has a feeling he's kind of on the right track, too. better to strike first and embarrass magnus than put too much thought into it and embarrass himself.
he taps his foot against the blond's hip, smug and self-assured. ] .. Good to know.
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Th-that's -- not what I said -- that's the trope, in, spy movies -- deadly and alluring, or, you know.
[he's making it worse by not shutting up. why is he always making it worse by not shutting up? maybe Alex has something, with his whole "choking the life out of him" schtick]
[(this situation, too, is painfully familiar)]
Anyway, you could teach people. Not, how to be -- [HE JUST STOPS HIMSELF, for once] -- uh, to make pots. Art teachers are a thing everywhere.
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Uh, yeah, I guess so. [ about the trope, because now he just wants to drop it. maybe he'll examine this later, once he's had some time to get over how it backfired on him.
he clears his throat, glancing back again at magnus once he feels as if he's probably no longer flushed. ] .. Magnus, no one wants a sixteen year old pottery teacher.
congratulations............ u played urself
[thankfully, Alex spares him. let it never be said that Alex can't spot a mercy kill from a mile away. as soon as Alex's mismatched eyes meet his again, though, he drops them, focusing intently on selecting a piece of sashimi with his chopsticks]
There's, um, more work than you'd expect for imPort teenagers, especially from other imPorts. It's not like we're like everybody else -- plus, once they see your stuff, they'll know you're not some kid throwing play-doh around, you know what you're doing.
[Magnus thinks Alex's pottery is amazing, which is something he hasn't really articulated to him before. he doesn't seem to have noticed he's done it now, either, finally selecting a fat slab of mackerel]
I definitely know at least one guy that might be a lead for the kind of work you're more than qualified for, dead and sixteen or not.
https://www.sadtrombone.com/
.. Thanks, [ he says at last, surprisingly subdued for alex, and finds his lips twitching back up into a more genuine smile. he wipes it off his face a moment later, though, instead focusing on the work issue. ] Really? [ a beat. ] Magnus Chase, the man with connections.
[ it can't hurt to take magnus's advice, he supposes. especially since it seems to make him happy to feel useful, and it's a harmless way to indulge his kink for helping people. ] Put us in contact, then.
stop kinkshaming him
Understood, Double-Oh.
[he chuckles a little, short and quiet; he doesn't mind being the man with connections, if it's Alex he's connecting. Alex has got him pegged, certainly, because he seems more relaxed, that they have a plan and Alex isn't going to waste his valuable talents or mix it up with assholes]
Go to the local bar on Tuesday night. Ask for Johnny Two-Eyes, get the keys to warehouse. Drive the truck in the warehouse to the docks at midnight. At 12:47, a man in a trenchcoat'll give you an envelope. Follow the instructions from there to reach your contact. God speed and good luck, agent.
[this is a dumb joke and he's dumb for saying it, but he feels about five times lighter than he did this morning, with Alex sitting across from him again]
-- You almost done?