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

[perfectlyhuman]

[ He watches, very much interested, saying nothing until the light is gone. Not quite as surprised as perhaps a normal child should be, but still.

He stares up at her and thinks for a moment. ]

Aren't witches supposed to be bad?

[sathan]

( she still smiles, finding the question innocent )

Stories. Intended to scare children.

( just like the stories that were told about her )

[perfectlyhuman]

[ There's a lot of 'weird' and 'odd' and 'unnatural' going on with this kid, but he's still a child. A weird little child. Who may say weird little childish things.]

What's the truth, then?

[sathan]

Witches have power, yes, but it is the individual witch who chooses what to do with it.

( she'd chosen to try and make the world different, doing lucifer's bidding over the years but also aiming to empower women how she could. even if that meant killing men )

Some have good hearts.

[perfectlyhuman]

[ He's quiet, considering her words. He's heard that witches are bad, about how they got burned for being witches. He thought someone he met was one, but she turned out to just be an occultist. He doesn't know how, but they're different.]

So there's good witches and bad witches. [ ...makes sense.] How can you tell when someone's a good witch?

[sathan]

By what they do.

( such a black and white definition didn't really work but it's where she'd start, broadening later )

Whether they help or harm.

[perfectlyhuman]

[ Don't worry, he's already learned that part by experience.]

Oh.

I guess that makes sense. [ More sense than witches just being bad. Most people aren't just bad. He thinks.]

[sathan]

( she offers a smile )

Have you met any witches before?

[perfectlyhuman]

Yeah. Well, I thought I did. But she said she wasn't a witch, she's an occultist.

[ Which, to him, makes perfect sense.]

[sathan]

Witches often hide their powers. A way to protect themselves.

( there was a lot of history behind it which she'd dip into if he asked. he seemed like a bright child, someone that may understand the reasoning for the deception )

Though she may not have been a witch.

[perfectlyhuman]

[ He thinks he's got a pretty good grasp on how witches and witch hunting works. He does not, but he's a child, so it's all the same to him.]

Well, she did say she wasn't. I think people were just making stuff up.

[sathan]

Unfortunately, that's often what happens. At least it did during the witch trials.

( though this was not the same time. but rumours were still heavily prevalent in modern society. less about witches but it was possible )

Would you like to know more?

[perfectlyhuman]

[ Oh, that clearly sparks his attention.]

Do you know stuff about witches and the Spanish Inquisition?

[sathan]

( she smiles, offering a hand to lead him somewhere less public )

The Basque Witch Trials. Perhaps we should find somewhere quiet to sit? It could be a long conversation.

[perfectlyhuman]

Yeah. [ He answers, clearly excited, moving along where she gestures.] So it's true?

[sathan]

Witches have been around for millennia.

( considering the one he's talking to-- )

And have been persecuted for as long. There are many cases of witch trials throughout history.

[perfectlyhuman]

Because they thought they were bad.

[ Quite an interesting conversation to be overheard by strangers.]

Were they?

[sathan]

Not all.

( some most certainly would have been, some did 'bad' things in retaliation but others wanted to quietly live )

Witch hunters, or sometimes Witchfinders were afraid of their magic, blaming witches for problems that they hadn't caused -- disease, death of crops. Many women that were killed weren't actually witches but only suspected of it.

[perfectlyhuman]

[ He listens carefully now. This isn't nearly as whimsical as the theorizing he'd done with his friends.]

But why would they kill them if they didn't even know they were witches for sure? Didn't they have to check first?

[ He has a game with his friends, where one of them pretends to be a witch. And they take turns 'torturing' the 'witch' - read: swinging them around in a tire swing until they admit to their real identity - until they can dispose of them. Then someone else has a turn. Then they all go for ice cream.]

[sathan]

That's what they called it.

( but there's a certain note in her tone that sounds a little unhappy with it )

But a witch would never show their power as it would mean death. ( but many innocents died because the tests were barbaric ) Some tests included drowning a witch -- an innocent person would sink and a witch would float.

( she'll let him guess whether or not it's accurate. it sounds ridiculous )

[perfectlyhuman]

[ Yeah, definitely not as whimsical. He'd only learned about the burning, but he just thought witches were bad. ]

That's awful. [ Which sounds very genuine, for a child. ] How were they supposed to know, then?

[sathan]

Centuries ago they acted more on suspicion than any real truth. The fear of a witch made them act. Truthfully there is little way to know if someone is a witch.

( there is but she's not about to start handing out her weaknesses )

[perfectlyhuman]

So they hurt innocent people? [ In little under a month, he's really been learning some bad stuff about the world...the veracity of it all being debatable, but, still. ]

[sathan]

Yes.

( he may be a child but there is a maturity and sensibility to him that surpasses his age, a curiosity to learn and have it be fact. just because the fact wasn't nice doesn't mean he shouldn't know it )

Fear is a big motivator.

[perfectlyhuman]

[ There's a lot about him that goes way beyond what a child like him should think or worry about. Unfortunately, he didn't quite have a saying in it, and he's still very early in the process of...processing things.

He frowns.]

That's awful.

[ Something at the back of his head, almost like whispers, tries to make itself heard. He ignores it.]