etcelsior | HOT DOG FRENCH FRIES COME ON BABY TELL ME YOUR LIES

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HOT DOG FRENCH FRIES COME ON BABY TELL ME YOUR LIES

T E S T D R I V E M E M E

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 ON THE TEST DRIVE MEME!

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. Today is even friendlier, as the Florida city is experiencing a dip in the temperature that allows it to feel more like autumn -- why, at 60 degrees Fahrenheit, people might start breaking out their winter coats soon!

With a certain spooky holiday coming up, the city's main hospital has gotten in the spirit by setting up a Happy Hallow-Vein blood drive at a local block party. Maybe you've stumbled by and had your attention captured by a bunch of phlebotomists dressed up like Dracula, or maybe you volunteered your services as a celebrity imPort, here to encourage others to donate today! Either way, consider donating and then enjoying some fried Oreos and lemonade at the street fair. Gotta top off those fluids, after all!

Oh, but if you're an imPort, you might have to fill out a few extra forms... they have to watch out for alien blood, after all, and you might just run into a couple of people wondering if they can get your powers from your blood.

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! Those words have meaning here. 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 or recently published PLoS papers. 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. Some of them MAY ask if you personally know the De Chima Ambassador, Sam Merlotte. Beware if you answer in the affirmative; anything from personal questions about romantic chances to bedroom habits to dietary queries might come up!

In this spooky month of October, special effects companies are doing a limited-time outdoors expo to really show off their stuff! You may see terribly convincing lizardpeople, zombies, monsters, elves and aliens in your midst, delighting in peeling synthetic skin off to reveal horrifying makeup beneath the masks and occasionally ducking away to perform a little last-minute costume maintenance. The kids are agog and aghast at what’s surrounding them, and if you, imPort, happen to be a little less than human, you might get children and adults alike yanking on your ears, tails, and other non-human characteristics while marveling, “Amazing! How do they make it look so real?”

The rest of the expo is spent showing off holograms of explosions, entirely too many smoke machines, demonstrations of stuntmen on bungees, and more! Guests are welcome to get their faces done up as the mythical being of their choice or, for the truly daring, to try their hand at a stunt or two themselves.

03. Maurtia Falls, Pennsylvania has carried a reputation for ups and downs ever since imPorts began reappearing again, just those few years prior. Several imPort heroes have put focused efforts into cleaning up the streets of this somewhat infamous city, while a handful of others had 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 -- but that war waging is taking a turning tide thanks to the order and regulation established by Ambassador Petyr Baelish. Locals know him best for his library and his hardline on containing the criminal element. Trustworthy guy, they'll tell you. But one man's leadership isn't enough to clean up a troubled city in a year's time; everything from the classic bank heist to brutal bloodbaths can happen around the corner. You have to keep your eyes open and your mind sharp when you live in Maurtia Falls.

Infuriated by the reappearance of some members of this old imPort team, you might run into a few gangmembers spoiling for a fight with any imPort they can get their hands on. You can see them striding angrily down the street, giving innocent people the stinkeye and glancing at everyone's wrists. Eventually, they come across a poor soul that simply has a very distinct aesthetic - look, they just like cyberpunk! - and, having mistaken them for an imPort, drag her into the shadows for what they feel is a well-deserved beat down.

What do you do, imPort? Do you save her? Do you run away to avoid capture yourself? Or, you little villain you, do you go in and beat them up so you can take her purse? It's easy to see that she's carrying an awful lot of money on her!

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. Today, much of that excitement centers around tryouts for The Sing-le Long, the hottest new singing competition/dating show to hit the airwaves! Held in the outdoor ampitheater of a local park, the lines for tryouts are somewhat disorganized, winding around into the audience area—you might come to take a look and find yourself accidentally onstage! Or maybe the tryout coordinators spotted an imPort and bumped you to the front of the line. Either way, prepare to belt out a song and list your turn-ons afterward!

Outside the park, you're still likely to attract attention. Natives may gather around new arrivals and ask both personal and broad questions about life as an imPort, what they are looking forward to, if they're looking for a sidekick. A few restaurants will offer a free appetizer (with the purchase of an entree), and you may be offered product samples from local businesses! Just be sure to speak to an agent before signing any endorsement deals.

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[Timelines was something she was still going to have to get used to. After all, Padmé was still alive. There was a lot of strange things going on in general. As he asked her about Fulcrum her head lifted.]

[Ahsoka was meant to be hidden. Safe. And yet her profile here had her name all over it. They knew who she was. Fulcrum should be an alias that very few knew would be connected to her. He clearly knows her though. To be cautious, or to be upfront? That is the question.]

I might know a Fulcrum, yes. It's nice to meet you, Kanan Jarrus, and it's clear we're both from the same universe. [She didn't introduce herself yet, trying instead to stretch out with the Force to get a reading from him. Something was missing with her abilities, but he didn't read as a problem to her.]

You know me?

I do. We worked together on a few ops.

[ He's going to avoid talking - or thinking - about the last one, for now. But Fulcrum is the important point here. ]

Your contact in our cell was Hera Syndulla. I'm her co-pilot, and first mate. And a Jedi.

[ Ahsoka knew Hera before she knew anybody else in their little group, so if she recognizes Hera's name, he'll have a bit better idea of her - place in the timeline, so to speak. ]

[She pursed her lips together a moment, in consideration. She worked hard to hide who she was for years now. She had gone by several names, yet here? Here they knew who she was. And here was someone who knew her alias. And--]

[She blinked, head lifting and... a smile spread a bit more.]

Syndulla, was it? I know the name. And... you're a Jedi. [The word 'Jedi' was said on a breath, like it was almost hard to believe. It also wasn't a question. She let out a breath. Breaking protocol already.]

And everyone says the Jedi are dead and gone. Kanan Jarrus. I am Fulcrum, but you seem to know me already, so lets stick to Ahsoka.

[ He's figured out at least part of the strangeness he senses from her, now - it's that she's younger. And doesn't recognize him, obviously. Well - okay. It's weird, but not the weirdest thing he's ever experienced. ]

That's fine by me, Ahsoka. And if you need more proof, Hera's here too. She can - vouch for me, I guess. Sorry - this is a little weird.

[ He gives her a faint smile. ]

[Younger but not by much. Her form has changed as well, but he might not have much of a connection to that anyhow. She feels like her own presence in the Force has been altered, a bit, but perhaps it was because of the unfamiliar human form.]

[This entire place is... weird.]

It is a bit weird, isn't it? I've got a good feeling about you though, especially after how you handled yourself with those thugs. Have... you been here long?

Thanks. You're not too bad yourself.

[ An understatement of course, because he knows what Ahsoka is capable of. ]

Nah, I just showed up a few days ago. Seems like I'm always finding trouble.

[She chuckled about it. It's an understatement, yes, on both sides, and she was pretty sure they both knew it.]

Hopefully where ever that woman ran off to, she's safe.

[She took a few back steps, and turned to look back out of the alley, not seeing her anywhere around. After hearing that he had only showed up recently too? She might have put off a sense of relaxing a bit more.]

Ah, you too? I got here a few days ago as well. Though... I wouldn't call this trouble. More like reject stormtroopers bullying a child.

True.

[ Kanan shakes his head a little. ]

She seemed as scared of us as she was her attackers. I can still remember a time when everyone was glad to see a Jedi.

[She gave a faint hum to that.]

Not everyone was glad to see a Jedi. [Her tone a big flat if not a bit sad. There had been a lot of times when they weren't so welcome.]

Perhaps she's just not used to invisible forces throwing people around, though I'm sure we're not the first to do something like it.

Fair. I should never get too nostalgic for the "good old days".

[ That's just - a bad idea, generally. ]

I think there are people here who can do weirder things than us, though.

[She reached a hand out, to rest it at his shoulder carefully, giving a light squeeze.] There is nothing wrong with nostalgia. You're at least looking at the brighter side of it. I should take a file out of your datapad and do the same.

[It... felt good to be around another Force User though. They were so rare, if not completely untrained.]

That is the brilliance of this place, isn't it? Finding people who can do amazing things you've never seen before. Or in our case, running into someone who does know the 'good old days'.

Edited (html whyyy) 2017-10-27 02:37 (UTC)

Yeah. For a long time, I thought I might be the only Jedi still alive. Luckily, that's not the case.

[ Luckily for the galaxy. It could use a few more Jedi. ]

I know that feeling. [She wasn't going to push the 'Not a Jedi' thing right now. There was no point. She followed her own path now, but she did understand where he was coming from. She also briefly wondered if they had met before, back at the Temple. He looked to be around her age, maybe? Not that it mattered, but the thought was almost a comfort.]

Come. No sense standing in an alley. I was exploring the city here. Would you care to join me?

[ He knows Ahsoka doesn't necessarily consider herself a Jedi, and why. Still, he counts her as one. Anyway, if they're splitting hairs, he's not really one, either, considering he was never formally knighted. ]

That sounds like a good idea. And you never know - maybe somebody else will need help.

[ The old Kanan would've laughed so hard at him - derisively. That the new, improved Kanan Jarrus might actively seek out people to help, just for the fun of it. He likes the new Kanan better than the old, anyway. ]

[Neither of them were ever formally knighted. It's something they had in common. Though she at least made the choice to walk away...]

[The idea of walking around to not only explore but to help people? That sat well with Ahsoka. She always hated the 'stand back and don't get involved' thing of her past.]

From what I'm hearing this, ah, port? City? What ever it is they call it has some crime issues. I'm sure we'll find something. I get the feeling that we're the unofficial law enforcement around here.

Yeah, well, I guess we fit that role pretty easily.

[ What are Jedi if not peacekeepers? ]

It's kinda nice actually, a place the Empire hasn't reached. It almost feels like a vacation.

[She actually chuckled at that, walking along with the other down the street, eyes looking around for where they were and anything interesting.]

Do you mean peacekeepers or rebels, because those aren't normally one in the same. [Though wouldn't it be nice if they didn't have to be Rebels?]

It is rather nice not to have to worry too much about the Empire right now, though I feel like this is just going to leave more work to do back home.

They might not be for most people.

[ He smiles a little. ]

But I think Jedi take whatever role is required of us, to find balance. No matter where we are. So, maybe here, we're peacekeepers.

[There was a faint smile at that. It was true. They took on the role of what was required. She wanted to say, still, that she's no Jedi, but the point would have been the same.]

I like that. [She could agree to that.] So, Kanan... you studied at the temple as well?

[ Kanan doesn't always feel the role of Jedi fits him perfectly - even with Ezra it's not always a comfortable fit, but somehow, he makes it work. And he just - he understands so much more now than he ever did, even as a padawan. He heard it all, committed it to memory even, but it's really only been since Ezra came into his life that he's gained that deeper understanding.

Ahsoka's question brings him back to the present, and he nods. ]

I did, though I had a different name back then. Caleb Dume. I was Depa Billaba's padawan.

[In truth, it took her leaving the order to understand things a bit better herself. She doesn't regret leaving, though she has regrets on how she did.]

[When he mentioned his name and Master however, she almost stopped walking, though she stayed in step with him, brows raised and staring at him. Almost for too long. The surprise washed away into a smile however, her hand reaching up to push through strands of hair (a motion that must just come naturally for haired beings, she thought).]

I... didn't realize Master Billaba had a Padawan. Caleb Dume... [She said the name carefully, as if considering it. The thing with the temple was that there were enough younglings to never know all of them, still...] I feel like we trained with lightsabers before, when we were both much younger. Though I could be mistaken.

It was... close to the end of the war. I don't think she expected to take a padawan then, either. Not after she lost most of her battalion to Grievous.

[ It's a little weird to be talking about these people and events with someone who knows them as intimately as he did. More often, he's explaining them to someone like Ezra, who was born with the Empire and had no firsthand experience in the Clone Wars. ]

But she did. We fought together in the third battle of Mygeeto.

[ And then he smiles a little again. ]

I think we did. Of course, you were pretty memorable. Everyone knew you, and your master.

Grievous... [She whispered it more to herself, in disgust. Glad to know he was taken down (and she'll so not be pleased to hear he might be kicking around). Shaking her head]

Mygeeto. I... didn't hear about the battle there until after I left. It's amazing how much you can miss when you're not connected to something.

[There was a flat little huffed laugh at that last part though.] Not everyone knew me. [Mildly modest, she did have to smile.] But I suppose I got lucky that Master Yoda dumped me off on Skywalker.

Everyone knew you. [ He laughs a little. General Skywalker's - and by association Ahsoka's - exploits during the war were legendary among the younglings at the temple on Coruscant. ]

But I know what you mean - about being... disconnected. I was like that for a while, after... well.

[ Order 66. ]

[She actually laughed, just for a moment. It... was nice to talk to someone who knew, wasn't it? Knew about the temple in more personal ways than stories or wore yet, myths. She held back comments that most people knew her, in the end, for her trial. That wasn't really true or a good point. She was over that, after all. Yes.]

[More importantly was what he just said...]

How did you handle it? That disconnection. After... everything happened, I reached out for others but all I found was silence. [A grave topic, but it wasn't everyday she could talk to someone who had been in a similar situation as she had.]

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