time to put your face on

[maskormods]

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.

The current craze sweeping the city and social media is getting people on their feet: the Camp Midnight Challenge! Based on a popular video game, the goal is to get the funkiest, silliest, most eye-catching dance sequence on video—with a twist! Successful completion of this challenge requires getting an imPort to join in a duo dance that incorporates their powers! Swarms of eager teens, tweens and would-be BlueTube stars are out and about on the sidewalk looking for newcomers to join in. If they spot you, you better come up with a good excuse or put your dancing shoes on!

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.

Today in De Chima, there's the unveiling of a brand new invention in the convention centre park! With a simple scan, it will print out your Closest Love Match of the other individuals present, along with your percentage of compatibility and a free coupon to get lunch with your new date if you match 90% or higher!

A little odd that it seems that nearly every couple has 90% or higher, isn't it? What's the probability that the scanner is broken?

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...

Local resistance to superheroes has made the city a popular gathering place for experimental engineers and scientists whose methods are misunderstood by the establishment, aka 'mad scientists.' Today, the latest creation of a former food scientist who used to work for Yell-O Desserts, is rising up in gooshy style!

From the canal that bisects the city rises a giant, gooshy, uh....thing. The blob slowly begins to ooze through town, growing larger as it consumes anything it comes across, absorbing it into its gooey depths. It's slow, but relentless, and doesn't have any obvious weak spots. Will you attempt to fight back and arrest its gelatinous progress, help the slow runners get away or make a break for it yourself? Or maybe see how good a dessert it makes?

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.

This month there's the release of a hot new movie about imPorts themselves, though in order to evade copyright, it seems that the imPorts on screen are simply amalgamations of several different imPorts through the years instead of staying faithful to one true story. They've got everything! Action! Romance! Death! Desire. It's a whole load of hooey, in other words, but it's hooey with a big budget. What this means, however, is that even the newest imPorts are being roped into this red carpet affair. Even if they're simply passing by on the street, an eager reporter may well step up to you, saying, "Oh, are you an imPort? Please, you must come in! No, I insist!"

If you succumb to their pushy ways, you'll find yourself in a gala, likely unprepared and underdressed for the flash of the cameras and an endless torrent of questions about what you want to do here as an imPort, whether or not you feel you'll find love in this place, whether or not you fear an inevitable port-out (despite the fact that you may have just gotten here!) and will be plied with food and, if you're of age, with plenty of booze.

05. Jeopardy, Nevada by all rights shouldn't exist. A glowing neon city smack in the middle of the desert, the only reason it's still here is that the central nuclear power plant has tapped half a mile down into a subterranean lake for its water supply. So though the desert around it may be barren, the occupants of this small city are happily self sufficient. Those weird figures you see out of the corner of your eyes? Don't worry too much. Probably just weird radiation after effects. Jeopardy has a lot of those.

You're in luck! You're just in time for Jeopardy's traditional Valentine's Race!

The premise of the race is simple: hogtie your lover, throw them over your shoulder (or back, if needed), and carry them from the bank of the train station (it's actually not a train station, it's a non-functioning movie set that's been turned into a museum, but it's still called "the train station.") While the tradition says "lover," as long as the person you tie up has consented to it, it's allowed!

At the end of the race, the Mayor gives a short speech about love, and movies, and tradition. She's also baked thousands of Valentine's and heart-themed desserts for all participants and audience members! They just happen to all be... shaped like the actual heart organ, rather than the symbol.

Comments

Data-Sora | Kingdom Hearts

[unglitch]

DE CHIMA

[ Everything this digital version of Sora has seen so far doesn't ring familiar to him. He knows he has some missing memories, but even so, he would feel some sort of recognizable sensation in his heart. It's not like that here.

It might not have exactly clicked with him yet that he's in the outside world now. As a real human, no longer a bunch of zeros and ones. He's expecting to hear Mickey's voice in his head or up in the sky, to assure him that he's there in spirit, that he's there to help. That voice has been absent for a long while.

Instead, the sort of voices he hears are the swarms of citizens excited by his presence. The camera flashes are disorienting. It takes him a moment before he manages to muster up a smile and wave to his new fans.

After brushing past the many citizens, he's suddenly roped into trying a new invention. Some sort of machine for scanning his Closest Love Match? He's too embarrassed to try this, but it's too late now. The printed result for him and the nearest individual is: 90%? How surprising! ]

That high of a percentage, seriously? Woah, that's pretty good... but, uh... sorry, I'm not actually looking for a date.

[ Lightly scratching the side of his cheek with his finger, he lets out an awkward laugh. Perhaps there is a digital somebody already for him in digital Destiny Islands for his little data heart?!? ]

Hey! We can still have lunch together. That's what friends do too, right?

MAURTIA FALLS

[ The gelatinous creature grows bigger and bigger as it devours everything in its path. There have been far worse monsters that Sora has gone up against (which he unfortunately doesn't clearly remember most of them from his previous datascape adventures.) But some people are in trouble and someone has to do something. As slow as it is, the citizens can't have the giant blob sticking around forever.

Immediately, he jumps into action by summoning his keyblade and advances, rushing in the opposite direction of the fleeing crowd. Swinging his keyblade at the blob doesn't do much at all. Regardless, he keeps trying.

Jumping at the creature while trying to strike it is a bad idea, because now he finds himself landing about two-feet deep in goo. His legs are trapped. ]

Ugh! I'm stuck!

WILDCARD

[ I'm open for any other prompt ideas if you have any! ]

maurtia faaaaaaalls!!

[heartslight]

[ Kairi spots the blob, too, and is sure that she needs to do something about it. Even if it's only a little. She may not have any Keyblade training under her belt yet, but she's going to try!!

So she summons her Keyblade and rushes to do something, before she's ... stopped in her tracks seeing a small boy jump at it and get his legs stuck. And it does not take her long at all to recognize who he is. At least, sort of who he is. Because. What. ]

... Sora?

[ Well ... this is new. But it's not like she can just ignore his predicament. ]

H-Hold on, I'll get you out!

[ If she ... can ... ]

[unglitch]

Kairi!

[ Without much thought, he calls out her name. It doesn't take long for him to pause shortly after, taking a moment to gawk. Kairi is both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. But he knows this is Kairi, for certain. ]

Hold on a second... Kairi?

[ Why do you seem a little older and taller than how he remembers back in Destiny Islands? ...That's not fair. Besides that, he has a lot of questions and now's not the time to be asking them.

He turns back towards the monster, helplessly swiping his keyblade at the blob. Hardly effective except for sending bits of goo flying all over the place. Gross. ]

Careful! You might get stuck too!

[heartslight]

[ Looks like they both have reason to be confused. But they can deal with this once he's safe.

Which is going to be a lot harder than either of them bargained. Because she's not very strong, and so her Keyblade slashes at the blob only serve to knock bits of goo off, but not slow it down or do any real damage. ]

Don't worry! I'll be careful! But my hits aren't working ... [ Winding up and hitting it as hard as she can muster ... and still, next to nothing happens. ]

I might have to pull you out somehow ...!

[ Why did you have to leap at it and get stuck up on top?! She's going to have to find somewhere higher up to even be able to reach him ... ]

[unglitch]

[ Neither are his attacks working. So, he withdraws his weapon for now, keyblade disappearing in a white light. First, he needs to get himself free and even he begins realize how high up he is. They'll need to work together.

He wiggles his legs and surprisingly one leg pops loose, at the cost of one of his shoes. Grinning, he thinks he's almost out of this mess.

Then he moves his second foot free. There goes his other shoe. RIP shoes. ]

Hang on, I'm jumping down!

[ Jump down from the top he does... only to get himself stuck again in a second, smaller bubble of goop protruding from the larger blob's side.

WELL THEN. At least he's not so high up this time? ]

Aw, man. Uh...

[ He waves his arms. ]

Can you reach me from here?!

[heartslight]

[ Oh gosh, he's definitely Sora. Who else would be able to screw up this badly and sacrifice their shoes in the process??

She watches his little ... stunt, hoping and believing he'll make it out, and then is somehow not surprised when that's not what happens. But he's gotten himself down closer to her, and she thinks she can handle this now. ]

I ... think so!

[ Reaching out to him annnnnddd ... grabbing his hand!! ]

I got you!

[ And she'll start yanking on him ... ]

[unglitch]

[ Well, he's just doing what he does best. Be himself. Even weird stunts such as that one. It felt like the right thing to do!

It isn't without just a bit of effort on Sora's end, wiggling his legs as much as he possibly can while it's submerged in goo. ]

Almost... there!

[ Most of the effort comes from Kairi as she yanks at him. It's beginning to feel like he's slipping his way to freedom. For real, this time. Hopefully. ]

[heartslight]

[ She may be a little older than the Kairi he knows, but she's still about the same amount of ... weak. They haven't done much for her training yet here, okay.

But for Sora, she'd do anything, so she's pulling with all her strength and she's glad it feels like he's slipping and helping a little, as best he can. And eventually, after a few moments of pulling, she feels him slip free, but the momentum from her pulling him ...

She falls back immediately, pulling him down with her. Sorry. ]

Maurtia Falls

[pullsheavendown]

[What the fuck.

...is something he'd normally never think, and definitely never say because it's pretty strong language, but Magnus has been teaching Roxas some new words lately, and it's the only one he can think to adequately express himself. He isn't a hero, not even close, but he was in the neighborhood and he can't just walk away from someone in trouble, can he? It's just he didn't expect the crowd to part and reveal him. But something's weird.]

Sora? [...] Why are you so small?

[unglitch]

It's you again! [ He never learned his name... but he does have the hurt that he felt while in Castle Oblivion. ] Wait a minute, that can't be right.

[ If the data version had joined with him, then who's this? He'd seen his face again when he looked into the hidden truths. Then is this...? ]

You must be...

[ Before he can finish his words and piece together a conclusion, he puffs out his lower lip into a childish pout. Roxas just had to remind him how much he's still a half-pint with that question. He was always this height last he met the other Roxas. Here he was expecting him to say something weird and cryptic. ]

Hey! What kinda question is that? Someday, I'm gonna be taller than you!

[ Taller than you. Taller than Riku. Spoiler: he's going to be disappointed. ]

[pullsheavendown]

Me again?

[Well, they have met before, a couple of times now. But it strikes him as an odd way of putting it. And there's still no getting over the fact that he's shorter, with a babier face, and that makes no sense.]

I really doubt that. [If anything, they'll be the exact same size.] Do you...need a hand?

[Well, obviously.]

[unglitch]

[ Stopped short from making a snappy retort. The monster is ever so slowly encroaching over his little pipsqueak self, globs of pudding dripping onto his back acting as another reminder that he's still stuck.

He shudders. Huff. ]

Ugh, gross! [ He wiggles his legs helplessly. Seeing him doesn't make sense either, unless it's who he think it is. He has questions to confirm his suspicions, but first... ] ...Yeah. A little help would be great.

[pullsheavendown]

[Okay, that's not good. Roxas kind of wishes he'd never gone out today, but he can't just leave tiny Sora here.]

Come on, then!

[He offers both hands to grasp, ready to tug and heave as soon as he can.]

[unglitch]

[ For now, he dismisses his Keyblade, then reaches to grasp Roxas' hands. Although his legs are deeply submerged in the goo, he makes an effort to speed up the process. He kicks his feet as much as he possibly can to help free himself.

And with the help of tugging from Roxas, tiny Data-Sora will pop loose from the blob, tumbling in his direction. ]

Woah!

[pullsheavendown]

Hey!

[He's knocked back, but not knocked over—being the taller one helps. For once. Roxas wasn't to bombard Sora with questions immediately, but a look at the goo tells him that's not the best idea.]

Come on, let's get out of here.

de chima!!!!

[dreamprotector]

[Riku really should know better than to go into any mall in De Chima by now… but here he is, getting dragged into yet another ridiculous scheme by the locals.

Great.

At least he hasn't been recognized as one of the latest teen starlets just yet, and maybe if he keeps his sweater's hood up, it will stay that way. He wants to quickly apologize to the person that got dragged out of the crowd as well… except… except that that person is unbelievably familiar.]

Sora?! No way…

[No way, indeed, because Sora should be back in Maurtia Falls, and definitely be older and taller than this. He makes a grab for the other boy, to drag him away from the spotlight and into the quietest hallway he can find in this mall, before throwing back his hood and frowning down at him.]

Who are you, really?

[Because he knows, this definitely isn't Sora.]

[unglitch]

Woah, hey! Riku?

[ Sora's face lights up, hearing the voice. Although startled, he doesn't struggle and allows himself to be strung away into the hallway. It's Riku. Not the Riku from the datascape, but still Riku. Something stirs in his heart, a familiar sensation whenever he ran into certain people. He recognizes him as his friend, much like how the real one feels.

His expression falters when he isn't met with the same enthusiasm. He balls his hands into small fists, indignant. ]

What— who am I? I'm Sora, you know that!

[ Believe it or not, he's just as real as the real Sora. At this point, he put the pieces together after meeting Kairi. Somewhat sidetracked, giving him the rest of the details in one go slips his mind. ]

You look different too...

[ Of course. Obviously more time has passed for those in the world outside of the journal. Kairi looked different, Riku too. And taller? Or you're just KH1 short, Sora. He can't help gawk a little. He hopes his other self gained a few inches. ]

[dreamprotector]

[Meeting Replicas never has Riku all that enthusiastic – the life of a Replica, the Replica that he knew, was short and tragic – and well, why would he think this Sora is anything but a replication made by the Organization, at this point? That would be the perfect way to get their thirteenth after all…]

The real Sora is already here – and I know you aren't him. [The smell of his Heart is off, just a little. For all that it's as bright as Sora's ever was… there is a smell of… for the lack of a better word newness to it that Sora's Heart doesn't have.] So, don't make me ask again.

[Riku isn't in a playful mood, not where his best friend's identity – or in this case stolen identity – is concerned, and the tight grip he keeps on the "imposter" probably shows as much.]

[unglitch]

[ The implication that he's some kind of fake stirs a familiar, painful feeling. Someone else must have said something similar in the past, before his data was reset. It stings. Especially when those words are coming from a person that he recognizes as a friend. He purses his lips, before speaking out again with conviction. ]

Fine. Then I'll say this again. I'm Sora— not the one from the outside world, but the data from Jiminy's journal. That doesn't make me any less real than the other me.

[ He tugs his arm lightly, more that he can't help moving due to the discomfort than attempting to break free. While he can put up a fight, he doesn't want to fight Riku. He sighs. ]

Hasn't Mickey told you guys?

[dreamprotector]

[Riku might feel a little sorry about them later on, but for now? For now he's certain that he's justified in his suspicion. He does have his friends to worry about after all.

He lets the other go when he shifts though, even if he doesn't look entirely convinced.]

…The data of Jiminy's Journal?

[Sorry, Sora junior… he hasn't heard the story of that just yet.]

Hasn't Mickey told us what exactly?

[unglitch]

[ Hey, don't call him Sora junior! Even if that's accurate in this situation.

He steps back, idly rubbing the side of his arm. If it's about his friends, Sora can forgive him for his suspicions. ]

You... don't know?

[ Shoulders slumping, the disappointment can be heard in his voice. Then again, he was just seeing Mickey's way out after thanking Naminé right before the Porter brought him in. Maybe His Majesty hadn't the chance. ]

I was made to fix some bugs in the journal. [ Well, he has no recollection of that first half of his adventure, but he at least knows it happened. ] We found a mysterious message and Mickey sent me to investigate it.

The hidden truths we discovered— the memories locked away in Sora... you really don't know about that?

de chima!!

[springful]

[Sakura really doesn't appreciate the swarm of people or the cameras being shoved into her face, but this couple matching device might be the most uncomfortable experience yet. She's not good with strangers in general, let alone strangers insinuating she should date someone!! Besides:]

I'm fairly certain this calculation is incorrect. [Sorry guys, but she is TAKEN. At least the person beside her seems to be taking it in stride... Honestly, she's just thinking more about how it'd be wasteful not to use the coupon after getting it, but then she hears "friend." She blinks, quickly looking over at Sora.] I suppose so, but... Are we friends?

[Her social situation is sad, okay.]

[unglitch]

[ Sora's heart is likely already taken by a crush. Besides, he might be a little on the young side for her. And while he might not know this person, he's not adverse to making a new friend! No matter how little they've spoken. He looks up at the woman, grinning widely. He'll light up her social situation!

And free food? Sounds great. He's getting hungry. ]

Sure!

[ They just met. Quick to realize they don't even know each other's names, he lets out a sheepish chuckle. ]

Uh... well, we can be! I'm Sora.

[ Does that make them friends now? It's progress. ]

[springful]

[DOES IT??? She wouldn't know, okay...... But if he says they can be, well. Then that's that, it seems.]

Oh, okay... We're friends then. [Despite being older, she's still a bit taken aback by this situation. Who knew you could make friends so easily!! But his easygoing attitude helps her relax a bit, and she gives a polite smile in return.] My name is Sakura. It's nice to meet you, Sora.

[unglitch]

Yeah! Nice to meet you too, Sakura.

[ He gives a wide toothy smile in return. He sounds confident about this sudden friendship. It's settled then! ]

Let's see here... [ Sora starts to walk, expecting Sakura to follow along. Looking down at the free coupon and back up. ] This is going to be tough. How do we decide where to eat in a big city like this?

[ Not that being in a big city is a problem or anything! He feels very cool and metropolitan. ]