etcelsior | what are we here for again?

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test drive

what are we here for again?

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, Florida 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. Heropa isn't right on the beach, but who cares? A local community center and pool complex is hosting a sand sculpture contest with loads of shipped-in sand, water and all the sculpting tools any beach artiste could want. Are you interested in winning a free season pass and a gift certificate for dinner for two at a top nearby restaurant? Then step right up and build your best beach castle!

Of course, with many imPorts nearby as inspiration, entries include sandy versions of many of them, new or old. Do you recognize your face, or that of a friend? Take a selfie with it, and maybe sign an autograph for the star-struck sculptor. Food and drink kiosks are scattered around for those who just want to tour the sculptures, making this a lovely day out for anyone who comes by.

...at least, at first. About halfway through the day, a would-be supervillain named The Shrinker bursts onto the scene out of nowhere, blasting people left and right with his powerful shrink ray. His aim isn't so great, so only about half the attendees are struck, but if you're one of them, those small-but-fancy sand castles now look like mighty fortresses. If you're not, then you better watch out—accidentally stomping on another imPort is a terrible way to make friends.

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! 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. 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!

On this crisp Spring day, crowds are out in droves as researchers, inventors and musicians are out showing off what's new and great in music technology innovation. Out on the tables displaying their wares, imPorts and natives alike are welcome to test out what's in store for what they swear up and down is the future of America's music industry. From warbling guitars plugged into synths meant to recreate the approximate sound of every other instrument they can think of (who needs an electric piano when you can do it on a guitar?) to rows of theremins to bagpipe-accordion amalgamations to electric dulcimers, it seems as though some of these won't necessarily be catching on anytime soon.

Up on the provided stage, any intrepid musicians are welcome to go up and take these instruments (and perfectly ordinary instruments) for a whirl, though do take care to keep an eye out for any side effects - the people developing this are natural showmen who really want to create the next big thing, whether that's through extravagant light shows, guitars that spit sparks out of their necks, horns that shoot bubbles and flowers and so much more.

Once evening falls and everyone's had their fill of the various musical themed food items for sale (boy, this world really loves their puns, don't they?), the tables and food trucks are cleared and mats are put out for a swing dancing competition! A blessedly professional band begins to play, a far cry from the chaos of unpracticed musicians trying their hand at experimental instruments this afternoon, and dancers trot onto the dance floor to strut their stuff. Why not go out there and show them what you can do?

And hey - enough of this swing dancing stuff, right? Why not see if you can scandalize a soul or two?

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?

It's not quite spring yet, but already flowers are popping up—in the form of seven-foot sentient musclebound daisies! A local criminal known as Flower Power has set them on the city, and they're going on a rampage, but a number of citizens have taken advantage. Do you go after the bushwhacking blossoms or the local looters?

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.

Baseball season is now open! And what's more American than America's favorite pastime? For new imPorts and registered imPorts, you can get in to watch the game for free! (If you aren't registered, sorry bucko, no freebies for you.) Take a seat, order some peanuts or a hot dog, and enjoy the game! Or, ask the citizen next to you what the heck is going on, if you have no idea what baseball is.

Midway through the game, the umpire might take note of you new imPorts -- assuming you're standing out in the crowd. He'll welcome you to throw a pitch if you'd like! Of course, the opposing team isn't too keen on the idea.

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.

Today, the annual Jeopardy Pet Show has locals in fine spirits. Whether they own a cat, dog, lizard or ant farm, resident pet owners are encouraged to groom their pet pals to look their best and show how great they are in a blocked-off section of main street. The event kicks off at 11 a.m. with the pet parade, which is followed by a pet fashion show (how did the ant farm owners manage to sew such tiny outfits?) and a talent contest. Attending imPorts are encouraged to evaluate each pet and share their thoughts as guest celebrity judges.

One contestant of note is Paul the African Grey parrot, owned by an engineer at the power plant. Not only is Paul a chatty fellow, he's liable to provide unsolicited advice and criticism to any person who happens to pass by his table at the show. On the plus side? He's right about his fashion advice--Paul has impeccable taste.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Maurtia Falls.

And over here, right in downtown, there's a figure in a hoodie making her way down the sidewalk, slightly hunched in on herself. Everything about her body language says they want to be left alone, but there are still a number of locals dogging her heels none-the-less.

"Are you sure we've never met?" one asks, "You look awfully familiar."

He puts a hand on her shoulder, trying to turn her around. She does stop walking then, but doesn't turn. Over her shoulder she says something to them. It's impossible to make out the words, but whatever it was, it makes the locals stop. The hand drops from her shoulder limply, and the men all stand, apparently dumbfounded as she shoves past one to continue on her way. As soon as she rounds a corner, the men seem to blink back to awareness, and are loudly confused by her sudden disappearance.

Around the corner, the girl presses her back against a wall, and wraps her arms tightly around herself.

Jeopardy.

Laura's a little less reserved in a city where she's far less recognized. Though why the hell she is here, she has no idea. It's definitely not to be a celebrity judge. The pets are cute and all, she supposes, but she's just here as an observer, that's all.

So she slowly meanders she show floor, arms crossed, and lips pressed together tightly. She looks uncomfortable in that way people look when they're in a place they don't particularly enjoy, but they have nowhere else to be.

So, a little less reserved. Not much.

Cassandra tends to keep to the edges of people's sight when she tries to go outside; takes back entrances, flies behind buildings. She's doing the latter today when she spots the commotion, and initially barely contemplates it until the men stop cold. It's not really familiar, but it is odd. A new imPort, maybe. Curious, she moves down a bit near the building, trying to stay out of sight, and-

It couldn't be.

And in fact, she doesn't think it is. Her gait is too different, and Persephone wouldn't be that invisible, would she? But she follows as Persephone walks away, coming down to the ground. "Hey-"

And when Laura hides and stops, Cassandra's even more unsure. It looks like it could be her, but the hood's covering her face, and...

"Hey. Hold up a second."

It's not her. Right?

At first when Cassandra calls out to her, she tenses up as if ready to bolt again. But of course it doesn't take long for Laura to recognize that accent, and the Norn to which it belongs. She turns towards Cassandra and lifts her head enough that her face (and head, and lack of hair, and understated makeup) is visible, but she leaves the hood up.

She looks tired. She looks mortal. Her lips quirk into something that only vaguely resembles a smile, but she doesn't have any trouble looking Cass in the eyes, at least.

"Uhm. Hi."

Edited 2019-03-27 00:30 (UTC)

"Wh- what the fuck."

For once, Cassandra stands still for a moment. The look on Laura's face reminds her of a younger girl, not Persephone- but it's different, too. Tired. Like it's a look from a time Cassandra hasn't gotten to.

And once she takes the second to process that- well.

"Don't fucking tell me you're ahead of me now. I don't- I can't handle this shit right now. Fuck!"

She punctuates that by throwing her hands in the air and then running them through the sides of her hair. "Are you- what the fuck is going on? Did you just get back? Christ. Okay."

OK. Well. Paradoxically, Cassandra's exasperation puts her at ease. At least Cassandra is still Cassandra. There's no double-memory to reconcile, or terrible secrets to disclose. Her lips quirk again, and this time it's a little closer to a real smile.

"Uh huh." she almost leaves it at that, but then corrects herself "I mean, yeah by a couple weeks, I think? It's complicated but I'll fill you in, aaand yeah like half an hour ago."

Being seen with another Pantheon member is the opposite of helping her attempts at stealth. They're already attracting attention again.

"Can you get us out of here?"

"Oh, of course it's complicated. All this fucking bullshit likes to be fucking complicated!"

But once Cassandra looks around and sees Laura's point- there are at least three people already taking pictures- she activates her powers, enveloping Laura in a black-and-white glow and picking them both up into the air.

"Well- we'll- go to my house. I guess. Unless you...want us in Hades."

They'd be allowed, she's sure. But it's been a long time.

For a moment she seems to relax a bit- there's just no time that Laura Wilson will say no to flying. But then Cassandra mentions that place.

"Not Hades," it comes out far more emphatic and quickly than she intended. Frankly, she looks almost queasy at the suggestion. "Your place. Your place is fine."

Laura Wilson | The Wicked + The Divine

MF

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Jepordy

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mf, brackets bc im a menace

you fkucing rebel

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Jeopardy

Re: Jeopardy

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