DANCING WITH MY HAPPY FEET

[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, 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. Some of the locals might thank you for always lending your service to the nation, while others might not say anything -- but if you have something nasty to say, better not say anything at all, right?

They are, however, in the middle of some awfully hot weather, so some good samaritans have gained the approval of the government to close off a few of the streets for some good old-fashioned fun. They've equipped everyone who steps in with water guns of varying quality, and there's also access to water balloons, a slip n' slide, and more! Why don't you grab an ice cream cone, watch the festivities, and cool off? But you'd better be careful - there's always a munchkin or two here to spray any unsuspecting onlookers they may find.

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! 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. Their questions are likely to be fairly mundane, however; get ready for an interview about your taste in romantic partners, personal underwear choices, favorite foods, and more!

On this lazy summer day, the biggest buzz comes from a group of teens and tweens who are all taking part in a massive scavenger hunt spread via social media! What are they gathering? You! ImPorts are likely to be targeted and asked to pose for pictures in which they demonstrate their powers, video clips in which they share fun facts and secrets about their home worlds, and much more! If you're not interested, you better hurry home -- they're persistent!

03. Maurtia Falls, Pennsylvania has had its ups and downs since imPorts started disappearing. The city's political core now gutted with its mayor and supreme ambassador exported out, the streets have returned to the hands of the local people -- and incidental, the local criminal element. 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.

As your character walks down the street, they may find themselves thrust within what appears to be an organized protest and a smaller counter-protest. There's shouting, there are chants. You pick up rhythmic beats of THE END IS NEAR, GET THEM OUT OF HERE clashing against the clumsier counter-chants of IMPORTS ARE PART OF US. You probably don't know why, but there are sects of people who believe your kind is bringing about the end of the universe. You'll probably learn why, in due time. But given the scorching tension of the situation you have found yourself in, it's probably a good idea NOT to use your powers.

But even keeping your powers on the down low, you're of keen eye, or at least today you are, as fate would have it. You see a boring looking man, perhaps in his mid-20s, with a cluster of boring looking companions (three or four at most) wearing backpacks as they all uniformly step back and don black masks. The protests are crossing the street ahead of First National Bank. These men beeline towards the bank.

They are going to rob it, and people are going to get hurt, you're sure of that. They're probably armed, given their backpacks. What do you do?

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. You may find yourself in the midst of a few closed-off streets for some occasion or another - whether it be a food cart festival, no-car day, or something else! - and surrounded by the hum of people, the waft of food being served on the street, and plenty of attention

Today there's a big lemonade stand on one busy sidewalk, staffed by a group of industrious kids. Aww, isn't it sweet? Wait...is that a cookie stand a little ways down, also run by elementary-to-middle schoolers? Heck, the entire block is full of kid-run mini-businesses — a gathering of pint-sized entrepreneurs! And they have their eyes on you, hero, because as a celebrity imPort, your pockets are full of $$$, right?

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.

What's that sound? Why, the Church of the Ancient Web Mistress's choir is putting on a performance! A sizable contingent of the congregation's musically-minded members has gathered downtown, attempting to forge a spiritual connection through the power of song. Sure, these hymns sound a little spooky to your ears, but the sincerity is what matters, right? And the churchgoers, who are also handing out lyric sheets to interested participants, are sincerely interested in getting some imPorts to join in as temporary members of the choir. Never hurts to get a little more press and tithes, right?

Comments

Carol Danvers | MCU

[usaf]

01. Heropa

[ Carol is sticking to the sidelines for the most part, sipping on a root beer float someone had handed her for free, dressed in a way she thinks is inconspicuous, with her leather Air Force jacket on over a Nirvana t-shirt and jeans, with a flannel wrapped around her hips and a local sports team hat pulled over her blond curls.

The whole water fight strikes her as something Monica would really get a kick out of, but that Maria would hate due to the frivolity and the mess. That thought puts a dumb, reminiscent smile on Carol's face, and she isn't quite paying attention to where she's walking, allowing some conniving participant to hit her square in the chest with a jet from a super soaker.

Carol gasps at the blast of cold water, but her gaping mouth soon turns into a smile, as she drops her now ruined float in a nearby garbage can and picks up a huge tub of waiting water balloons. ]

Oh, now it's on!

[ Hope you're prepared to be bombed from above, because Carol is grabbing the bucket and taking to the skies, raining down balloons on whoever seems like they would make a good target below. ]

02. Network

I've apparently missed two and a half decades, between what year it was for me yesterday and what year it is, here and now. And to be honest, I wasn't exactly around for a half dozen years before that.

Point is, I need to play catchup. Can anyone tell me what sort of TV and music I've missed out on? Is No Doubt still a thing? What about Nirvana? Anyone got any recommendations for movies I should rent from Blockbuster?

03. Jeopardy

Carol isn't much of a singer. She appreciates music, sure, but typically starts away from making any herself. It's just never been one of her talents, or something she felt passionate enough about to try to learn.

Still, she finds a spontaneous group choral sing-along interesting enough to catch her attention, as she stands on the edge of the crowd with her arms crossed over her chest. "Is it just me," she asks the person standing next to her, "or are you expecting them to break out into the Monster Mash next?"

04. Wildcard!

[ Carol can be found posing for pictures in De Chima, patronizing lemonade stands in Nonah, or foiling robberies in Maurtia Falls. Or just flying between the cities, a bright point of light rocketing through the sky. Want a specific starter? HMU @ objectpermanence! ]

02

[made_up_names]

what's blockbuster?

[usaf]

Video rental store?
Do people not watch movies anymore?

[made_up_names]

sure we do
i watch way more movies than i probably should
but, like, through the internet, like a normal person

[usaf]

You watch movies over the internet?
I don't know if I'd have that kind of patience, waiting for the movie to load...

network

[irwins]

Dude.

Where to even begin. There's so much. Buckle in.

Wait. Did they have seatbelts yet where you're from?

[Shaun knows they had seatbelts he's just being an ass because 2019 to him is still the paaaaast, never mind twenty five years even earlier. Basically ancient history.]

[usaf]

Ha-ha.

I'm not from THAT far back.

[irwins]

Just checking.

But yeah, uh... so. Blockbusters are basically extinct. I think there's like one in Alaska? In my world that means it's exclusively a zombie flick place, but here it's just a real long trip.

We've got the internet instead though. Instant gratification. Have Netflix will travel.

[usaf]

I used the internet once, back in my universe. It wasn't all that impressive, compared to other worlds' tech. You're saying it's gotten better?

Heropa

[thepowerofthor]

Have at thee, Captain

[Thor looms out of the crowd, a supersoaker canon in each hand. His grin is warm, welcoming, and challenging. It had been a weird month since he arrived, but he is very happy to see Carol. Gor has anyway begun the slow process of recovering from the past five years, and it shows.]

Welcome to the game.

FYI Carol's canon point is from the end of Captain Marvel, still in the 90s!

[usaf]

[ Okay... Big, burly dude addressing her by her rank. Something's weird here, but Carol's not about to forget the water gun fight setting entirely. She levels her super soaker at him and lines up a shot. ]

Who are you, besides a big old target? And how do you know me?

Aha! Cool! Do you want to avoid other spoilers? As I cowtow to you in apology!

[thepowerofthor]

[ At her words, Thor's smile falters, and he sighs. He could hate this place sometimes. He holds his guns crossed then lowers them, taking a moment to look at her closer. ]

I am Thor, god of thunder, and I know you from your future... or possibly a different version of you form another world, either of which is a longer tale.

[ He eyes her, waterguns still ready, but not currently trained on her. He is not entirely sure what to expect. Is she the one he knows, from his past? Is she an alternate, like some have turned out to be here? And if she is from the past, what does that even mean? Thor grumbles. Time travel gives him headaches. ]

Battle or conversation first, Captain?

I've seen endgame! Just wanted to warn you that Carol won't know Thor

[usaf]

[ She isn't sure what she was expecting but... It wasn't that. ]

The... Norse god of thunder. Knows me, in the future?

[ Her life has taken some pretty wild turns, but this blows them all out of the water. But then, she's heard other Kree tell stories about Asgardians before, so maybe not as farfetched as it seems.

After a long pause, she lowers her weapon. ] Conversation. This is a story I want to hear.

02

[spaceforged]

I can't help you there. Everything here is hundreds of years in the past to me. But, we could just check the top lists in music and what hits are in the box office?

Hold on. What happened to the half dozen years before you missed that chunk of time?

Re: 02

[usaf]

Wow, you're even further removed than I am. Not sure whether it's weirder to be in the future or in the past, but either way, it's a hell of a trip.

I was in space, with amnesia. Long story.

[spaceforged]

I think it's equally weird either way. At least everything is new...oldish new again.

Okay, that makes sense. Until we got here, I've been in space too. Long story.

03

[goodtobebad]

"The Monster Mash isn't nearly funereal enough for this lot," Crowley says casually. He's just standing around, his usual sunglasses on his face, arms crossed over his chest. Maybe not exactly lurking, but giving off that general vibe. But cooler.

"I hate cults," he adds, wrinkling his nose a bit.

[usaf]

"A Gregorian chant version of it, maybe? The theme song from the Addams Family?" Which she proceeds to hum. Da-da-da-dun (snap snap).

It's clear she's not taking the promise of a cult very seriously. Maybe she should, but as far as she can tell it's just a bunch of creepy weirdos singing about spiders. Creepy, but not threatening.

"Deal with a lot of cults where you come from?"

[goodtobebad]

"Nothing at all creepy about the Addams Family," Crowley says with a sniff.

And then he shrugs vaguely. "A few. Satanists sometimes break off into sects for individual demons, hasn't happened in a long time though."

wildcard in the sky with diamonds

[solarcharged]

[ Apollo's usual lazy loops of the east coast, taking him from Heropa to Maurtia Falls and back again, are a stretch of the legs (metaphorically speaking) in the morning sunshine that make up an almost daily regimen for the solarpowered superhero. But for the first time in ever Apollo discovers he's not the only bright point of light rocketing through the sky. He spots her - it's definitely a her, he can tell even at what must be over a hundred miles distant - and changes course, blazing a fiery path of sunlight through the clouds as he zooms closer, and idly wonders what this new hero will do in response to a large golden man hurtling her way. ]

[usaf]

[ Carol's first priority upon arrival had been to fly to Louisiana to try to find Maria. She wasn't there. Neither was Monica. She tried finding Fury, too, with the same results. So here she is, flying aimlessly, feeling restless and unsettled, more than just on her new tattoo. She doesn't quite feel like returning to the apartment she's been assigned to live in, so she just does laps up and down the East Coast, looking for-- what, she doesn't know.

What she finds-- or rather, what finds her-- isn't something she expected. She had kind of thought she was the only glowing, flying person on Earth. But, she supposes, a different universe comes with different people. Maybe it's some other, gender swapped (because he's way too bulky to be a woman) version of her.

She alters her course to intercept, not slowing down until they come within a few yards of each other, at which point she stops abruptly, hovering in front of the stranger, peering at him through her mask. ]

...Hi. Nice weather we're having, isn't it? ...Up above the clouds.

[solarcharged]

[ He takes his cue from the newcomer, slamming on his own metaphorical breaks in mid-air as she pulls up abruptly. Hanging in the sky, thousands of feet above the ground, Apollo appraises her with a curious eye; the uniform, the mask, the hair. The sheer power she'd projected, cutting through the clouds. Not something to be taken lightly.

Still. Lightly is how he's going to approach this. His tone is light, his smile is sunny, his body language - suspended here among the clouds - is open and curious. ]

Sure, the upper atmosphere's great this time of year. [ Yeah, he can do small talk. He jerks his chin, his eyes crinkling in a smile. ] Nice mask. I always wondered if I should have gone down the mask route.

( text | un: assimilator )

[emperysse]

( now this is very curious, someone else from out of their time too )

How did you miss so many years?

[usaf]

To make a long story short... An interstellar kidnapping.

[emperysse]

( that got interesting quickly )

Who kidnapped you?