etcelsior | 30 days has September

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test drive

30 days has September

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.

Everyone’s in preparation for the arrival of Autumn! A small street fair has dedicated itself to welcoming Fall with open arms. Harvest foods have practically taken over— hot pumpkin-themed drinks, warm apple pies, and butternut squash soups are everywhere. One stall in particular has a scarecrow-building class, providing with plenty of patched up clothes and straw.

If you stay late enough at the fair to see the moon rise, you’ll notice it takes on a deep orange glow— pretty normal for a harvest moon. But it’s strange… a few scarecrows also seem to share the same color glow from their eyes. Maybe it’s just a reflection…?

02. De Chima, Virginia, is a large city with a healthy economy, with large numbers of citizens waiting to be awed by your very presence. Look at you! Organic wonder! Synthetic wonder! Whatever you might be, 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.

If you let yourself get cornered, beware! Anything from personal questions about romantic chances to bedroom habits to dietary queries might be come up!

Although what really seems to be the question of the month for those hardhitting journalists is a little less of the mundane;

"So what do you think about the recent Import mission to Mars? How much did that cost the government, and what will the repercussions be?"

Maybe they're hoping for a psychic Import on these matters...

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. 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, and hostility against imPorts can spike. The emergence of locals with superpowers is hardly helping... #THANKS TONY STARK, #ya muffin.

Up ahead, it seems like there’s a traffic jam- or rather, a complete deadlock. But strangely, no one’s honking their honks or trying to zoom around other cars. Upon closer inspection, it seems like everyone is stock-still, with blank expressions upon their faces. The only figure moving in the crowd is a woman with a rather strange black and white outfit…

It seems like yet another local with superpowers has emerged from the woodwork- perhaps literally, in this case, given that she’s dressed up like a mushroom.

It seems that Feelia Fungus has taken to telepathically freezing the entire intersection with her mind control “spores” while she helps herself to robbing civilians of their belongings. It’s up to you to stop her!

Remember: September is known for being mushroom hunting season!

04. Nonah, North Carolina, is the liveliest of all cities; loud, busy and there's always some kind of energy in the air that gets everyone buzzing with excitement.

One might think that being such an industrial-based city, Nonah might might leave behind old cultural traditions. But with their motto of “Work Hard, Play Hard,” they certainly wouldn’t forget about a holiday they hold dear: Oktoberfest.  
The germanic celebration is in full force this week, complete with stalls giving away beer, and various snacks like brazen and würstl, along with various cakes. Anyone underage will be given a nice warm cider instead, and some natives may even try to convince you into wearing some classic dress- a dirndl.

For those with a more competitive streak, there’s a crossbow contest for most bull’s eyes hit!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Kylo stops short on the opposite side of the street, his already unimportant errand utterly forgotten in an instant as he feels her presence before turning his head to catch sight of her face.
Padmé..
His stomach lurches, twisting with an emotion he barely knows how to recognise let alone name– but he does know one thing. It belongs to his unlikely connection with the grandmother he had never known, the one he thought he had lost forever when she disappeared back to her inevitable death.

He pays no mind to the blaring horns and screeching brakes as he steps out into the road, flicking vehicles aside or temporarily freezing them in place as he walks a straight, determined line through all obstacles. By the time he reaches her, most of the crowd have scattered. The rest give them a wide berth. ]

Padmé.

[ His expression is taut, and as a tall, broad man who moves with an unnerving, directionless menace, he certainly could be seen as intimidating. But there's no real threat in his voice.

His brow is furrowed, though, his dark eyes searching her face. Something is wrong. He feels it. ]

Edited (aaand i accidentally a whole html) 2018-09-30 03:52 (UTC)

[ The commotion from the street catches her attention, but Padmé is too preoccupied with one particular woman who is still trying to accost her with a recorder that she only peripherally sees the man's approach. A man who seems vaguely familiar in a way she can't quite place, and who doesn't intimidate her in the slightest as he nears. She's faced a droid army and an arena full of ruthless politicians — one man is nothing compared to that.

At least he gets rid of the journalists. She's immensely grateful for that, and takes the opportunity to pull in a deep breath as she studies him in return, a hint of confusion in her expression. ]

Yes? I'm sorry, have we met? [ There's an apology in the words for not remembering if they have. For not knowing him when it seems clear that he knows her. ]

[ No.

He can't tear his eyes away- he stares down at her with an unwavering intensity even as his chest shudders with a sharp breath. He stares as if by sheer force of will he could make her remember him. As if he could demand better of the universe– of the Force– and shame it into giving him what he wants.

But he knows the truth. She has no memory of him. Nothing. His fingers curl into fists at his sides. ]

No.

[ He presses his lips together firmly. Glances skyward. ]

I know you. But you haven't met me yet.

[ Oh. Whoever he is to her, was or will be, it hurts him that she doesn't know him now. Which pains her in turn, because everything in her is made to protect and care for others. It's written into her very soul, and the disarray of timelines in this place isn't going to change that. ]

I'm so sorry. [ And she truly is, her sorrow over the matter clear in her expression. ] I wish I remembered, but I'm grateful to have the opportunity to meet you now.

[ It's an opening she hopes he'll take, for both their sakes. ]

[ He exhales slowly, forcing his fingers straight. He's always hated apologies, always. What useless, futile things they are– even when given with genuine regret. What benefit do they offer? The hurt remains unchanged, the past untouched. And in this case, all Padmé's apology does is heap pain on pain– he doesn't like to see that look on her face, knowing he is the cause.

He swallows it. ]

We should talk. Not here. Will you come with me?

[ He reminds her of Anakin in a way. It strikes her out of nowhere, and then she isn't able to shake the impression. Something about the way he holds himself, or the subtleties of his expression – whatever the cause, it bothers her. ]

Of course. Wherever you like. [ There's no hesitation whatsoever, and while there's concern written across her face, there's also trust. It's simply Padmé's way to trust others until they give her a reason not to. Besides, even if she hadn't already finished her duties for the day, it's clear that this is important to him, and so she's resolved to do whatever she can to help him. ]

[ He knows De Chima well– having lived here for almost a year there are very few streets in the city he hasn't stalked down at some point or another. But there's only one place in the immediate vicinity he can think of that suits his purposes.

He nods and begins to walk, already knowing she will fall into step with him. He finds the slightly slower pace that suits the length of Padmé's stride again easily enough– and it's almost, for a moment, as if she never left. Almost.
The silence is mildly uncomfortable, but he has no idea what to say-- ]

It isn't far.

[ And it isn't. The complex that houses Hux's office has a starkly clean and modern lobby courtyard, the surprisingly open space dominated and softened by a water feature several storeys tall. It's not the palace on Naboo, but as corporate spaces go it's pleasant enough- and more importantly, it's almost entirely deserted. They will have their privacy, at least.

Once they are through the oversized glass doors, Kylo glances over to read Padmé's expression. ]

[ The way he moves should be so much faster, but his steps are timed to match her own, his speed never taking him ahead. They've walked together before, enough for the adjustment to come easily to him. Are they—

Speculation will do her no good when it's clear that he intends to explain something once they reach their destination. And when they do...

The architecture isn't like anything on Naboo, but the cascading water calls to her in the same way the waterfalls always had growing up. Her eyes follow the water up and up, all the way to the ceiling, and she listens to the steady patter as the streams fall with gravity. The echo in the room is strange, the space as open as the palace but such a different shape that the sound traveled in a way she wasn't accustomed to. Still, it brings up a wave of bittersweet homesickness that she savors for a moment, the heartache flickering across her face before she can smooth her expression out to its usual polite calm.

Looking over to meet the gaze of her companion, she tilts her head inquisitively. ] Why did you choose this place in particular?

[ The movement of the water– the scale of it– it's soothing, in a way. Edging on hypnotic, if he allows himself to focus on it. But he's clearly more focused on Padmé, his dark eyes almost unsettlingly steady on hers as he turns to face her. He's taller than his grandfather by a few inches and broader too, but there's some kind of effort going into the way he holds himself. An awareness that he could seem threatening, standing this close.
It makes him a little stiff in the limbs, a little unnaturally still. He doesn't want her to fear him. ]

I wanted a quiet place we could talk in peace. Away from the crowds, but not secluded or secret. Open.

[ Somewhere she would feel safe, he realises he means. Somewhere with plenty of escapes. ]

--and I remembered the water. It seemed right. Padmé--

[ That hyperfocus adds yet another element that reminds Padmé startlingly of Anakin, though it doesn't disturb her in the slightest. Nor does the way he stands, despite how easily his height and sheer size could be perceived as threatening. To her, it's clear as day that he's trying to counter that impression, perhaps because he's all too aware of how to use it in other circumstances. But here, now, he doesn't seem to want it to come between them. He cares what she thinks of him, a revelation that softens her expression and relaxes her in his presence. ]

What should I call you?

[ It's a gentle interruption designed to give him a direction to follow, should he choose. He hasn't yet told her his name, and that's always a good place to start when approaching difficult conversations such as this. ]

[ He seizes hold of the prompt immediately. ]

Kylo.

[ Strange, how the name means something different, here. It's just a word, a sound, as weightless as any other. It isn't, he reminds himself, tied to a monster. Not for anyone else. Not here. He exhales– slow, measured, careful. But it isn't enough to dampen the urgency that bleeds into his voice. ]

You see it, don't you? When you look at me. I know you don't remember. But you see it. Something of it.
What we are.

[ The name Kylo means absolutely nothing to her. It's that urgency in his voice that tugs at her heart, tightens her throat, and makes it difficult to breathe. No, she doesn't remember any of it, but she knows — she'd have to be blind not to recognize it.

Taking a deep breath, she studies his face one last time before giving voice to her conclusion. ]

We're family.

[ Family.

The word pierces him through all over again, the relief almost painful– but there's no uncertainty in Padmé's voice. It's a statement, rather than a question. And while he knows she lacks the knowledge to make an informed choice, something in the way she searches his face before speaking makes it feel like a decision.

He wets his lips. Reaffirms his own. ]

Yes. We are.

[ It is a decision. She could have played dumb, refusing to admit any notice of the connection between them and insisting he explain it himself. Instead, she'd made the choice to acknowledge it and plainly state what had to be true.

Hearing his confirmation? Like a weight lifting from her chest. ]

How are we related?

[ He takes a measured breath. There is no way to answer the question without inviting others to follow it- and while his relationship to his grandparents is unsullied by his experiences in the galaxy they belong to, the same cannot be said of his tempestuous connection to both Luke and Leia. ]

Those who are brought here by the Porter belong to different worlds, different... realities, and even ImPorts who share a common point of origin don't always come from the same time in its history.

I'm from your future, Padmé.

[ His gaze slides to the steady cascading water. Strange, to see something as wild as a waterfall stripped down into a controlled and contained symbol of itself. ]

We aren't meant to know the future.

And yet here we are. [ He can say all he wants to try to convince her that it's best not to know, but she's certain her stubbornness will be more than a match for him. ]

Anakin is from my future as well, but he's promised to tell me... everything, once I'm ready to hear it. Kylo, you can choose to keep your secrets if that's what you truly want, but tell me this: Did I know when I was here before? Were we a part of each other's lives?

[ He turns his attention back to Padmé's face, studying it for a moment that seems to stretch out in silence forever. There are so, so few things that offer relief, even temporarily– and he can remember the discovery of his forgotten grandmother so clearly as he looks at her. He remembers, he knows what he stands to gain by opening himself to her.
But he has nothing to offer but suffering. ]

I told you everything.

[ He swallows down the surge of anger at the unfairness of having lost that connection before it can truly burst out into his voice, taking another brief pause to crush it before continuing. ]

More than I told any of the others. And I will tell you again. Anything you want to know, if you want the weight of it.
But it isn't... necessary. You don't need to carry it.
You can know me, here and now, as I am.

And I intend to.

[ She knows nothing of the person she was here, those memories washed away like sand on a beach. There is no connection in her to that person, no claim to the decisions she'd made or actions taken. It isn't the same as the hints of darkness in Anakin's life, but she can't help feeling that they should be treated the same. ]

Kylo, it doesn't matter to me what may lie in your past. Light or darkness, I don't care — what matters to me is the life you lead here, the decision you make and the person you choose to be. You don't have to ask me for a clean slate because I've already given it to you.

[ Just as she's given one to Anakin. As she hopes they both might afford her. ]

[ She means it, of course. He can feel it– the sheer strength of her will in the declaration an irrefutable fact. It isn't an offer.
But another irrefutable fact is that he absolutely does not deserve it. He is not so easily untangled from his crimes, and while the past and the future lie crystalised and immutable in the world he has left behind, what he is now has been shaped by both.

She doesn't know the scope or scale of what she promises not to count against him.
The knowledge squirms in his heart. ]

Then what would you like to know?

[ Of course she means it. Padme is not one to make promises she doesn't intend to keep, but rather the type to do everything in her power to ensure that they're fulfilled.

There are undoubtedly many here who will not understand the stance she has decided to take with people here. There may even be occasions when she's unable to stick to her own guidelines. But now that she's becoming more aware of their situation, understanding what can and can't be changed... The future is fixed and she has no hope of changing it, so why should she judge others by their pasts?

She breathes out a deep sigh and smiles gently at him in relief and gratitude. Another thread of tension leaves her and she feels lighter in both heart and mind. Her answer comes easily after that. ]

What would you like to tell me? About anything, any part of your life.

[ It isn't a question he knows how to answer immediately– being trapped here has pulled most of the things he defined himself by out of reach, and he's still struggling to understand what he is without the weight of all that drive and purpose, without the reinforcement of Snoke's guidance.

His lies, he reminds himself, his lips pressing firmly together. Snoke's lies. Luke's lies.
He isn't certain what he is, any more, though he knows what he is not.

Padmé is smiling at him, gentle and welcoming. He swallows. What does he want her to see? What is there within him-- ]

I have a job, here. They give one to all imPorts on arrival.

[ There is definitely an awkward, uncertain attempt at a smile tugging at his lips, his cheeks a little hot. ]

I write. Poetry. It's published, but sometimes I perform my work.
You could come. If you wanted.

[ Her smile grows immediately at the pseudo invitation, a font of joy rising up in her at the prospect of seeing this part of his life. It might be no more than as assigned job, the way she's been given something she'd never done before, but it's still an element of his life here. To her, that makes it incredibly important. ]

I would love to. I've always enjoyed the arts, poetry included. Please, let me know when you have your next performance.

[ She's already making a mental note to research what one wears to a poetry reading in this society. And she wonders fleetingly what Anakin thinks of poetry... ]

[ He doesn't need the Force to read her reaction– Padmé's delight spills out onto her face so startlingly clearly, open and free, and Kylo finds himself left left speechless for a moment by how good it feels, seeing that joy blossom within her and knowing he is its cause.

He offers a slightly less tentative smile. ]

I will. And once you have settled, I will take you to my favourite art museum.

[ Our favourite, he doesn't say. Briefly, he wonders if he should tell her that it was Padmé who introduced him to it– but, like many things, he decides that can wait. ]

[ Having plans for the future, even for things like visits to museums or poetry readings, helps her feel more settled. There's no telling how long she will be here, look at how long Anakin has lived in this world, and without her work, she's already begun feeling a bit lost. But this, the prospect of spending time connecting with a family she'd never expected to have—

It means more to her than she could ever express. As does the smile he wears. ]

I'll be looking forward to it immensely.

[ He nods, sucking in a slow, slightly shaky breath. This– no matter what else happens now, this belongs to him. He made things better for her.
But he can't erase everything else he is, either, and he doesn't want her to ever think of him as a liar. So he will... warn her. It's the closest to telling her he can manage while she looks at him like that. ]

Padmé– you will hear things about me. Things that will be difficult to hear. I can't stop it. And I won't, because they will be true. I did it all. Everything they will tell you.
People will tell you I'm dangerous. And I am, Padmé. I am. But not to you. Never to you.

hi grandma, remember me, your trashfire grandson? no?? (I am so sorry)

hi grandson, let her love you... once she knows who you are

tbh he is significantly harder to love once u know who he is but i mean u do u

look who she's married to, come on now

yeah how did that work out again? everything was ok right??

oh yeah, it was totally fine. she got a grandkid out of it!

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