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etcelsior2019-07-25 03:27 pm
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DANCING WITH MY HAPPY FEET

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?
no subject
[Damn those kids. Guzma would be all about this shit forever, all because he didn't just rush past them when they asked to talk. Big mistake. God damn it. He could go on like this forever, and playing at his game would only encourage him to say grosser things about him. He lets out such a sigh.]
What do you want, Guzma?
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[And he will indeed do just that. Anything that gets Nanu's Gogoat. If he can get under the man's skin, Guzma chalks that up to a victory. And telling by that sigh, and that question? He's definitely arrived at his destination.]
What—can't a guy be happy to see a familiar face? Been here a couple months without anyone else from Alola.
[He shrugs.]
Course the first one to arrive would be you, but that's just how this shit rolls, huh?
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I know you don't have any manners, but I've always responded better to "Hi, Nanu. How are you?" than insults. Not everyone here is one of your Team Skull goons.
[He sighs again. It is good to see Guzma alive and not having committed a crime bad enough to actually imprison him.]
You never seemed like you had much luck, but neither have I. Maybe it makes as much sense as anything else. Heard you're mostly seen around Maurtia Falls, but you're not shy about teleporting on a whim.
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[Again he shrugs, more dismissive than the last.] Don't go telling me you've grown soft on me, c'mon, ain't you a dark-type trainer?
[Not that he hasn't been detained, but that apparently only lasts a couple of days. A bit of a joke, if you ask him! Then again, it wasn't the big man prison or nothing, just them Aegis losers.]
Maurtia Falls is more my scene—like a bigger, busier Po Town. Keeps me busy maintaining my turf, but every once in a while your boy's gotta see some other sights.
Pity that you'd go and ruin that for me.
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You could have easily avoided me, you know. [Guzma just made him want to leap headfirst into all of his vices. But he was a man of more conviction than that, at least.]
Dark is my method, not my intent. Speaking of that, let's get out of this sun, hm?
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You got me there, but where's the fun in that?
[Guzma's not against getting out of the sun, though. For all he can take the heat, it doesn't change the fact he's dressed how he is, and standing in direct sunlight can make shit a little... swampy.]
Afraid you're gonna burst into flames or something? [He glances around for a moment, noticing a shop or two, there's a little café even...]
Tch, this place ain't as plentiful as Maurtia Falls with bars... got somewhere in mind?
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There’s bound to be somewhere, but they might be a little too high brow for a couple of guys like us. [not to mention that Guzma was famous here. And a wanted man in general. ]
But yeah, let’s go somewhere else. There’s too many people around. I don’t like how everyone’s got a camera on them these days. [even if he liked the influx of information that came with it. It was double edged. People had too much info on him, too, ]
Worse part of town is that way. [He gestures with his chin.]
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Guessin' you live out that way, then? I know you got a penchant for shitholes.
[But with Nanu's gesture, Guzma first looks off in that direction, keeping an eye out for any shitty teens that might be trying to steal a picture of him and Nanu, before heading in that direction.]
Though, I gotta admit... crashing some high-brow fancy bar would be hella fun. Probably not your bag, though. You might be a scuzzy cop, but I know you're a fucking killjoy.
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[Nanu looks placidly at Guzma. There no way this guy has ever had a positive interaction in a high class place.]
Also that would really make me a bad cop if I helped you do that. I’ve got an image and all that.
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[He ignores the comment about spit, because one, that's nasty, and two, he really doesn't want to think about it. Especially since it's likely true...]
Believe me, you're doing just fine upholding your image. Don't think you're fooling a single damn person about who you are.
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[And hilariously, by being seen as the lazy, useless cop, he was given a lot more leeway to do his own research and keep tabs on things that he deemed important. Like right now, he was technically on shift.]
They've got a bar at Olive Garden. [Nanu points directly ahead to a metropolitan styled Olive Garden.]
Happy hour. I'll buy.
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Enough to judge Nanu for his choice.]
...You're fuckin' with me, huh?
[But Nanu is offering to pay...]
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Can't I do something nice once in a while? [Nanu does not know what's wrong with Olive Garden.]
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I ain't—I mean, fine if you wanna buy me some grub, that's whatever. I'm more so meaning—[And then he gestures at Oliver Garden.]—really?
[He knows you're old, Nanu, but c'mon...]
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It's fine if you don't like "Italian". [It's not real Italian, but what he means is that he doesn't know the geography here very well. He says it like he's heard it a couple times and just trying to say it right.] I've had it before, it's good enough. [Overwhelmed with choice and culture shock, he just went to wherever the tv commercials told him to eat. Also endless breadsticks... It was cheap.]
[Daddy]
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"Italian"? Oh, is that like that, uh... "Chinese"? [He's heard of that one before, and a few others. It's still a little weird learning the regions of this world, and he's not really put forth the effort to remember them all.] Look, I ain't saying I don't like it, I'll eat about anything. But! You've seen it's nothing but geezers and brats, right?
Y'really wanna bring someone like me there?
[Of course Guzma has no issue disrupting the atmosphere with his presence, that's not the issue. It's just not really his scene. But he also isn't too surprised that Nanu wouldn't be wanting to hit the bars with him.]
no subject
[Nanu was a creature of habit, and did not like his routines, no matter how depressing, being destroyed as he was forced to be here.]
Part of society is dealing with people you don't want to. And I don't intend to go back there, so as long as you don't burn the damn place down...
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[Of course, it's entirely possible that Nanu's just speaking from the general busy times restaurants seem to have, but look. Look. Does Guzma seem the type to sit down at restaurants? No, he's the kind to eat bar food and get wasted.]
Look, whatever, it don't matter. Food is food, and if they got booze, then I'm down.
[And seeing as they've been talking this whole time, while making their way, they are... at the dumb doors. So, Guzma will just walk in, not even holding the door for Nanu. A born and raised gentleman, that one.]
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[Nanu catches the door because he absolutely did not expect Guzma to hold it. And while it would be best if he were the one to talk to the hostess, by a little bit, he definitely isn't moving that fast.]
[They certainly get looks as they make their way to the bar. The person writing this has only been to Olive Garden once so I am sorry if what comes next is not authentic enough. I didn't want to google Olive Garden first person playthrough no commentary. They get bread sticks. ]
I'll have a shot of whiskey and whatever's on tap. [He looks to Guzma and gestures for him to order whatever he's having.]
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Look, Guzma doesn't even talk to the hostess, he just walks past her and goes to the bar after a little looking around and using what little common sense he has to figure out where the bar would be. The poor girl doesn't seem to want to argue with Guzma just breezing past, but who would?
My Olive Garden RP experience has been ruined because I cannot feel the authentic experience with this meta bullshit clouding my immersion you absolute bastard!]Whiskey, huh?
[He doesn't seem bothered, just a little surprised. Though, maybe he shouldn't be. However, as much as he loves liquor, he's definitely feeling in the mood for some trashy fucking beer.
To the bar tender:]
I'll take a Natty Boh.
[Mmmm swill in a fucking can for the fucking garbage man!]
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It's a habit. They make great whiskey in Unova. [he tosses back the shot, chasing it with a sip of frothy beer.]
Good alcohol tends to follow around successful criminals. [He says this with a small grin. He doesn't need to know about regional beer to know that Guzma just ordered absolute dog piss in a can.
Love ya natty boh]Some menus, thanks. [Nanu skims it and orders something safe. He made the mistake of getting seafood last time. Even if they were close to the ocean here, that did not guarantee fresh fish. Catch me dunk on large chain seafood options all night folks.]
So... You said you wanted a change of scenery. Getting tired of your neighborhood?
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Yeah? Whiskey worth a trip there? [he says like he'd ever have the chance to leave Alola... Well, with how things are going for him and Lusamine from his canon point, that's an entirely real possibility from his perspective!]
Is that why you became a Tepig? Tailing criminals and sucking up the good booze left in their wake? [Of course Guzma has no idea the type of cop Nanu used to be. His success and skill as an Interpol agent. All he knows is the tired, depressed, apathetic officer that would take a known criminal out to Olive Garden and even pay for his meal.
Guzma thumbs through the menu, ordering himself some appetizers—after all, Nanu's paying! So he gets himself some garlic mussels marinara, but also some mozzy sticks. Just wait till you see what he has planned for them. Other than that, he orders himself a Tuscan sirloin. Nanu wants to pay, then Guzma isn't gonna shy from it!]
Nah, ain't getting tired of Maurtia Falls. Like I said, it's like Po Town.
[So then what're you doing here, Guzma???]
I guess you wouldn't know nothing about wanting to get out every once in a while, huh?
[Fucking rude.]