maskormods: (Default)
Mask or Menace | MODERATORS ([personal profile] maskormods) wrote in [community profile] etcelsior2019-03-25 02:05 pm
Entry tags:

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.
morethanasuperstar: (Delilah)

[personal profile] morethanasuperstar 2019-03-31 12:43 am (UTC)(link)
Dunno, probably? Hasn’t been that long.

You’re buying?
the_caped_crusader: (Default)

[personal profile] the_caped_crusader 2019-03-31 12:48 am (UTC)(link)
You know how time works here, Laura. I don't know how long it's been. A year back home could be weeks or months here for all I know.

[ a pause as he presses a few buttons. ]

I at least still have access to all of my bank accounts, though. So sure. My treat.
morethanasuperstar: (:T)

[personal profile] morethanasuperstar 2019-03-31 12:56 am (UTC)(link)
It’s March here, 2019.

[ Which he probably knew, but that’s all she wants to say for the moment on the subject of time passing anyway. And better to not say anything at all on recovering local assets. ]

It’s. . . Really good to see you.
Edited 2019-03-31 00:58 (UTC)
the_caped_crusader: (Default)

[personal profile] the_caped_crusader 2019-03-31 02:36 am (UTC)(link)
[ he doesn't look at her. continues driving. but feelings have never been either of their strong suits. ]

It's good to see you, too. It looks like you solved that problem of yours after all. [ you haven't melted, laura. gj. ]
morethanasuperstar: (Delilah)

[personal profile] morethanasuperstar 2019-03-31 02:49 am (UTC)(link)
I’m trying. We’re trying. Everyone who’s left, I mean. I think I have a pretty good idea how to end it, at least.

[ She huffs and runs a hand along her shaved head. ]

Feel free to say you told me so anytime.
the_caped_crusader: (Default)

[personal profile] the_caped_crusader 2019-03-31 03:07 am (UTC)(link)
No. You're all so young, it's not anything any of you should ever have had to deal with. But you can do it. I know you can.

[ a pause. ]

Besides, what's the point? You won't even remember me telling you I told you so when you go home.
morethanasuperstar: (the sense of place I had before)

[personal profile] morethanasuperstar 2019-03-31 03:25 am (UTC)(link)
[ She gives a little noise of agreement through clenched teeth. A long moment later, and she's sniffing and wiping at her face again with her sleeve. ]


Fucking nosebleeds. You don't have any Bat paper towels in here, do you?
the_caped_crusader: (Default)

[personal profile] the_caped_crusader 2019-03-31 04:53 am (UTC)(link)
[ he looks over this time, frowning, but he doesn't draw attention to it. ]

There should be some in the glove compartment.
morethanasuperstar: (:T)

[personal profile] morethanasuperstar 2019-03-31 05:34 am (UTC)(link)
[ Cool so she can lean in and rummage until her voice is more trustworthy. ]

So- uhm. How was your trip home? Fucked up and completely incomprehencible?
the_caped_crusader: (Default)

[personal profile] the_caped_crusader 2019-03-31 05:39 am (UTC)(link)
[ boy oh boy there is WAY too long a pause between her question and his answer to mean anything other than things being absolute dog shit. ]

It's been better.
morethanasuperstar: (exposition with words)

[personal profile] morethanasuperstar 2019-03-31 06:02 am (UTC)(link)
Uh hhhhhhhhuh.

[ WHY ARE WE EVEN TALKING ABOUT HOME, THIS WAS A MISTAKE. Her mind reels for any possible subject change. ]


You think mangos are in season?

[ GOOD ENOUGH!!! ]
the_caped_crusader: (Default)

[personal profile] the_caped_crusader 2019-03-31 06:16 am (UTC)(link)
[ turns his head slowly to stare at her. ]
morethanasuperstar: (exposition with words)

[personal profile] morethanasuperstar 2019-03-31 11:48 am (UTC)(link)
[ Her watery eyes meet his only briefly before she glances away. With the napkins now found, she sits back up to try and clean her face in earnest. ]

For sticky rice! Don’t even front like you don’t have encyclopedic of domestic produce, because I know you do.
Edited 2019-04-03 01:57 (UTC)
the_caped_crusader: (Default)

[personal profile] the_caped_crusader 2019-04-04 10:46 pm (UTC)(link)
[ he turns his face back to the road; if she wanted to draw attention to her tears, she would. if she wanted to elaborate on what had happened, she would. instead, he lets her deflect. it's not unlike something he might do. ]

I do. His name is Alfred.
morethanasuperstar: (Delilah)

[personal profile] morethanasuperstar 2019-04-08 05:09 pm (UTC)(link)
I guess we'll just see when we get there, then.

[ She sits back in her seat and closes her eyes. Let's the conversation lull. She'd forgotten the way that silence can be strangely comfortable, when it came to Bruce. There's the fleeting wish that she could smell the rich leather, and mechanical grease, and bleached-blood scent of his car. It had been a place of refuge, hadn't it?

When her eyes stop watering from the pain, and the bleeding of her nose finally lets up a bit, she finally breaks the silence.
]

You were right, you know. About everything.

[ huff ]

Almost everything.
Edited 2019-04-08 18:19 (UTC)