etcelsior | 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

Whales? Huh! I wonder why those ones. Shouldn't it be all or nothing? [He rubs the back of his head, frowning in hard concentration as he tries to think what such animals might have in common.]

I mean, I guess I've never met anyone who could talk to rats at all, so I wouldn't know. Or maybe I did, but they never told me about it.

Edited 2019-04-11 15:03 (UTC)

Lonely leviathans of the deep, powerful yet drifting in the great abyss of a near-empty ocean. In all truth, they are attuned to my power far more than the others.

[ He folds his hands behind his back, regarding Carter with a keen eye. ]

Regardless of animal, where I was before it would be called witchcraft. Heresy of the highest order. Have you never encountered witchcraft, my new friend?

Nope! I saw a magician show once, but he didn't talk to whales, just did some tricks with cards and sawed a box in half. [And this is so much cooler. Carter's practically bouncing on the balls of his feet, giddy.]

[ There's something fascinating about the man's apparent complete inability to be anything but relentlessly cheerful, despite several of the things that had already come up in conversation. It was amusing. He doesn't attempt to correct him. ]

What would the purpose of sawing a box in half be?

Oh! See, there's a young woman inside the box, but when he saws it apart he doesn't saw through her. So that's the trick. [He drops his voice, as if confiding a secret.] It's not real magic, there's secret compartments and mirrors and things, but it's fun to watch anyway. I don't know how it's done at all.

Yes, I see. The spectacle of violence, but done without harm. That's fascinating. Slight of hand and illusions, those tricks to make things seem as they aren't.

What do you think they could do with such skills, if they weren't putting on a show?

[ Imagine, the trickery one could use in pursuit of their goals. ]

I dunno. Rob a bank, maybe? I bet they'd make great spies. [He grins and gives a little wink, as if he knows something the other man doesn't. Which he does. He's just real bad at hiding it. How did this man become a spy again?]

But how'd you learn to start talking to rats? What else do they say?

[ That answer surprises him - in a good way. He almost even smiles. Either one of those options could be entertaining. ]

They're hungry. They're always hungry.

As for how -- there are certain creatures that have an affinity with what I once was. This smidgeon of power is a fraction of what I could do.

[Carter makes a 'yep that checks out' nod in response. That did sound like rats. They loved food, the little imps.]

What were you before? An animal trainer?

Not all all. But from a certain perspective, I'm sure some would describe what I did as such.

[ He wonders if any of his chosen would be rankled at being likened to animals; and he doesn't care. ]

But why don't you tell me about yourself, my new friend?

[Right! So like a zookeeper. Got it.]

Oh, I don't have much animal training experience. I've had a few pets - even kept a chimpanzee for a week or two until we had to give it back to the zoo. Some of my relatives do farming, too. I'm from North Dakota. [He says, as if that explains much.]

[ He didn't mean about animals, but he likes the unexpected so he'll take it. One part confuses him though, as his world is not like this one. ]

What is this "North Dakota"?

It's a state. [Pause.] In the United States of America. [More pause.] Uh. Do they have a United States where and when you're from? Do you know what America is?

The United States of America is the name of the nation we currently occupy. I do understand where I currently am.

[ He hasn't been here long enough to memorize all the states, though. He has other priorities. ]

But no, this fledgling federation is as foreign to me as I am to it.

It's, um...north. [Carter looks up and tries to gauge what direction north is, and how much north is north. America's a huge place when you think about it too hard. Eventually he's forced to give up with a weak shrug.]

Where are you from, then?

[ He considers his answer, tilting his head slightly, and folding his arms behind his back.

Where he lived, originally, when he still lived as a human, thousands of years ago, but had long since faded from history and memory. He felt no attachment to it, either. He could claim to be from the Isles - play on the idea that he is a mere animal tamer for a while longer, but the idea galls him.

Therefore, the answer is clear. ]

I am and I am from the Void.

[For all the reaction that revelation offers, the Outsider might as well have said he was from Brazil. Carter gives him the curt nod people give when they pretend they have any idea what's just been said to them.]

Huh! Never been there. Is it in Europe? ['Thevoyd' sounds a little German, or maybe Belgian.]

No.

[ He likes sharp, intelligent, willful people, which doesn't seem to be an accurate description of this man, but regardless, he's amused by Carter's complete inability to get it. It's entertaining, and the Outsider likes being entertained. ]

It doesn't exist in this world, or if it has, I have not been able to find it. Not that I'm in any particular rush to return now that I've escaped.

[None of those things are, except maybe willful, and even then only when he's in a strong mood. Carter frowns, sympathetic to such a sad plight.]

I'm sorry, though. Sucks not to be able to know where home is.

what are we here for again?

also i love your username

thank you !! C:

Re: thank you !! C:

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he's not the sharpest crayon in the box

i adore him

Re: i adore him