etcelsior | DANCING WITH MY HAPPY FEET

Entry tags:

test drive

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?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ It took approximately four minutes of Murphy wandering the streets of De Chima before Ronan's various neglected forms of social media began blowing up with notifications. All of these were about John Murphy, but none of them seemed to be from John Murphy, which was perhaps the first hint of something gone amiss.

It took another three minutes for Ronan to get dressed and throw himself into the driver's seat of his BMW. An additional fifteen to race into town and park said BMW. And then under a second for Ronan to flicker away and reappear right at Murphy's side, like some hallucination forming out of the periphery. ]

If you stab me again, Murphy, I swear to fucking Christ.

[ Yes, here he is: a six-foot-two punk wearing the twenty-year-old version of Murphy's face. ]

[ He drops back onto the ground the moment he lays eyes on...himself. His heart has lept up, lodging itself right into his throat. It makes it hard to breathe, chest clenched tight.

Murphy's eyes are wide and wild, ticking around the features of Ronan's face. It looks like him, almost like him. A near copy but something is off, it's minuscule but Murphy notices it. The man in front of him, he looked older. He was looking at an older version of himself.

And a few inches taller. ] I don't know what the hell is going on here or what the hell you are but back the fuck up.

[ That answers that. Murphy definitely doesn't remember him. He'll examine that on an emotional level at a later time, because the priority here is convincing the terrified kid to go home with his identical stranger.

Ronan puts his hands up in a show of peace, though nothing else about him seems to imply he's a pacifistic sort of guy. ]

You don't remember me. That's okay, man. Quit freaking and chill the fuck out for a second.

[ He could absolutely pick Murphy up, sling him over one shoulder, and carry him to the car. But he's not going to do that. ]

We're family. That's why my face looks like this.

[ People were still around them, though they've gotten quieter. Some anyway, there are a good handful that shouts in the background. Oh, this is just too rich for him. Murphy's face screws tight in disgust. He laughs, empty and flat. ]

I don't have a family! [ Murphy may not of had a knife on him but that didn't stop him from spitting in Ronan's face. ] You're screwing with me. This whole fucking place is!

[ Plastered on every social media: Big falling out!!! Attached were pictures and videos of the altercation second-by-second. A lot were doing a live feed, to get their likes and subscription numbers to skyrocket. ]

[ Ronan doesn't give a shit about the crowd or the fact that they're now the top trending topic on bwitter. He didn't care about managing his image even when it was his job. Besides, he's not giving back any of what Murphy's dishing out. When the spit hits his face, all he does is tug up the hem of his shirt and wipe it away. ]

Okay, Murphy. What's more likely: The whole world conspired to screw with you specifically? Or maybe you just don't know everything?

Not to be dramatic but I would not be surprised if the world did conspire to screw me. [ At least this has him talking, stringing thoughts together. ] I was being screwed over before I got here. And - oh! - [ His arms flap from the sides of his body, he twists around at his hips. ] - Look! Being screwed over in this place, too. You're right. I don't know everything. I don't know why you look almost exactly like me. Maybe you're the one getting screwed over, sharing my face.

[ The crowd is becoming white noise, not completely disregarded but most of Murphy's attention is on his older duplicate. ] And I don't know why everyone seems to know who the hell I am.

[ Wow, Ronan happens to like his face, thanks. ]

Because we used to be on a dumb TV show together. Congratulations, you're fucking famous. Anyway, you obviously forgot you were ever here, but before you decide this place is screwing you over so much, did you stop to consider how no one here's trying to kill you?

[ Listen, it's a very pretty face but Murphy hates himself and hates the fact he is talking and looking at himself. It's just too much.

That tickles him, it has the edges of his lips curling into a contemptuous smile. ] Oh? We were in a dumb TV show together? [ His voice hikes up nearly an octave. ] I bet we were hilarious. [ However, his double is right, no one has outright tried to kill him. Murphy should consider that as some kind of a win, he needs to be considering a lot of things right now. ] Not yet [ , Murphy corrects him. ] Why do you look like me? And don't say that shit about being family.

We are family. Believe it or don't. I don't give a shit.

[ He's not about to go denying it just because Murphy went and forgot all about him. ]

My name's Ronan Lynch. You lived in my house. Your room's exactly how you left it. I'm not gonna force you to come home, but you should at least know you fucking have one.

[ Murphy continues with his scrutinizing gaze, paying particularly close to the expression on Ronan's face. He is quiet for a moment to contemplate what has happened so far. The crowd affords a glance, sidelong. They've quieted down also, waiting for a reaction.

But now Murphy is curious, more so than he was before. They share a face albeit Ronan's looks older, rougher. He could go. Murphy can go see what this room looked like. Maybe Ronan could shed more light when people weren't breathing down their necks.

Murphy can protect himself even without a physical weapon at his disposal anyway. ]

Alright, I'll fold. You cut out the family shit and I'll go with you.

Don't ask a question if you don't want the answer.

[ Ronan Lynch tells no lies, which Murphy will re-learn about him soon enough. Satisfied enough with that reply, however, he turns to address the gathered crowd: ]

Back the fuck up, assholes. Showtime's over. Anybody who follows us is gonna get a broken kneecap for a souvenir.

[ Fans of his, especially, know that Ronan's exactly the sort of person who would throw down and curbstomp a leg, so the crowd parts immediately to allow the twins passage. Ronan turns, beckoning Murphy with a wave of his arm. ]

I'm parked down the block.

If you're worried about hurting my feelings, don't worry because it's a reoccurring theme in my life [ , Murphy mutters loud enough for Ronan to hear. The truth hurts, he knows that and he probably knows it more than anyone else. It doesn't deter him from wanting to know the answers to his questions. ]

Yeah, fuck off. [ He swipes his hand at the nearest cellphone in his face. Luckily, for its owner, Murphy misses. Another reoccurring them in his life, missing. When the crowd allows them breathing room, thanks to Ronan's heavy threat, Murphy follows behind Ronan. He's a step or two behind, close enough to not lose him but far enough to be just out of reach. ]

Right [ , Murphy says, his tone is flat. He doesn't know what to expect, hasn't the faintest clue. He just knows that he's not completely alone and that there is someone here who seems to care about him. ]

If I was here before, why don't I remember?

[ Ronan takes no offense to the distance Murphy's sure to keep between them. He's got the kind of personality that takes up a lot of space, he knows. But though these fists look ready to smash into the face of the next person who steps in front of him, none of that latent fury is directed at Murphy. It's not his fault that he's forgotten. ]

Fuck if I know. I'm the third or fourth me who ever showed up here, and I don't remember the other times. It just happens. A lotta shit just happens here.

[ They come to a stop beside the highly expensive, reverently-maintained BMW that Ronan loves more than his own life. He throws open the passenger door for Murphy, then crosses to the other side to take his place behind the wheel. ]

[ Ronan walks differently than Murphy does. He walks with a purpose, self-assured most likely. Meanwhile, Murphy struggles to keep himself afloat.

He hasn't a lot of trust in anyone, even if Ronan seems nice enough. Bellamy was nice enough at one point, too. Everyone is nice enough until they don't need you anymore. He silently vowed never to trust anyone the moment he felt the heavy weight of a noose around his neck. ]

How long was I here for before, what, I just was gone?

[ Murphy continues to walk when Ronan slowed to a stop in front of his car. It looks too nice, too sleek, Ronan surely wouldn't own that car.

But.

He clicks his tongue on the side of his mouth approvingly. ] Nice car [ , Murphy says, sliding into the passenger's seat. He closes the door, stronger than he probably shoulder have and Murphy winces. ]

[ Ronan himself has slammed too many car doors to cast aspersions, but he does give Murphy a glance. ]

I guess this is your first time riding in one.

[ He starts the engine with a roar that shakes the entire vehicle, followed immediately by the thunderous bass of the stereo before he reaches over to turn it down - not off, but low enough for conversation. ]

You were here for about two years. Disappeared for a while. Came back older. Now you're tiny and adorable again.

[ The car whips out into the street, tires screeching, barely sliding into the gap of oncoming traffic. Ronan handles it with all the ease of a street-racing adrenaline junkie, which he is. ]

Only thing I've ridden was a dropship. [ And Murphy sure as hell was not a fan when Earth's gravity ripped them through the sky. He tenses when the car comes to life, engine rumbling. But it's the deep bass that nearly has his soul ejecting from his body. ] Jesus Christ! What the fuck was that? [ Murphy twists around to look into the back seat. ]

Older? [ Murphy leans back in his seat. ] Did I look like you?

[ Tiny and adorable? Did he hear correctly? Murphy hadn't been called tiny or cute since he was - well - tiny and adorable. ] I'm not --! [ His thought gets cut off when the car peels out. ] Can you just not do that? [ He tries to sound even and neutral, even if he was white-knuckling the door's handle. ]

[ As far as Ronan's concerned, this is a trial by fire for Murphy. He's just going to have to adjust to the way life is around here, because they haven't even touched on the real weird shit yet. ]

Relax. There's a seatbelt if you want it.

[ No one would blame him for being alarmed by Ronan's taste in music, though. It does sound rather like bagpipes being murdered by a drum machine. ]

And you... Here, I'll show you.

[ He's a reckless driver, but he does stop at red lights. Once there's a moment, he pulls out his phone, opens up his instagram, and hands it off to Murphy. ]

Guess who's who. Here's a hint: I'm the one with abs.

I am really sick of people telling me to relax today. The hell am I supposed to be relaxed about? You were about to sideswipe all those cars back there. [ Murphy jerks his thumb behind him. ] But it looks like you got the grace of God on your side.

[ He shuts up long enough to find the seatbelt and buckles himself up. Now, if they crashed, he wouldn't fly through the windshield. Ronan tosses his phone and it lands onto Murphy's lap. He picks it up and quickly figures out that by sliding your finger a certain way it scrolls through the pictures. ]

Of course you're the one with abs. [ Murphy rolls his tired eyes. He tries not to think about how god damn exhausted he is. ] It's not like I am seeing you with your shirt off in any of these photos [ , Murphy murmurs. He notices that he has his own Instagram and taps his finger on it. Silently, he scrolls through his own Instagram he doesn't remember making. ]

[ Ronan smirks. The more Murphy complains, the more he's enjoying himself. It's a nice distraction from the agony of being forgotten by one of his favorite people.

The light turns green and Ronan heads for the highway. Once they're on it, he goes about twice the speed limit. Naturally. But at least it's a straight road.

That also gives him the opportunity to glance over now and then, catching glimpses of Murphy catching glimpses of his former life. ]

The show sucks but I can find you the episodes, if you feel like watching it. I dunno. It doesn't really help the fucked-up feeling. Just... At least you know what everyone's losing their shit about every time they see you.

[ Murphy tries to be sneaky when he peeks over at Ronan, looking at his profile. At his defined nose and high cheekbones. He doesn't look so bad, Ronan somehow manages to look better than himself. Maybe it's because he's older and more -- what's the word Murphy is looking for -- refined?

When Ronan glances over, Murphy shoots at look back down to the cellphone. ] Maybe. I don't know if I want to watch myself. [ Murphy's more interested in something else. ] Who are these people in my - uh - what's this called? Instagram?

[ The word Murphy's searching for is rich, probably. Everything about Ronan is artfully-damaged designer punk, from the careless drape of his mohawk to the razor-cut wear of his skinny jeans to the $900 tattoo clawing its way up the back of his neck. He could pass for a Gareth Pugh runway model if not for the very real scars running down his arms from wrist to elbow - the faded hints of a despair not so manufactured after all. ]

I don't think you're ready for that answer yet.

[ And by "that answer" Ronan means Kavinsky. ]

[ Yeah, rich, that's the word. Murphy's younger and his appearance is untidy. A rebel without a cause, a punk kid who grew up in the bad part of town. ] And you'll know when I'm ready, huh [ , Murphy asks in a flat tone. His attention drifts away from the pictures, rest his mind for a moment because it's starting to swim in nausea. Car sickness, who knew. ]

But you can tell me about a stupid show we were on? [ He shifts, turns his body a little to look at Ronan better. ] And that I'm ready to see my room in your house?

Yeah, I'm pretty sure you can handle chilling in your own bedroom and watching dumbass prank videos, but you're not super eager to jump into a heavy discussion about your blossoming sexuality with your long-lost twin that you just met fifteen minutes ago.

[ Ronan flashes a shitty smile in Murphy's direction. ]

Am I wrong?

[ Blossoming sexuality -

Murphy's jaw visibly tenses. Does Ronan know about his stupid crush on Bellamy? That would be embarrassing. He is his lapdog, followed him around like the lost puppy that he is. Does as he is told just for some kind of validation that he is someone. That he isn't just the boy who got his father floated. That's he's not the boy with no family. ]

I'm eighteen and horny, I don't know what you expect [ , Murphy buffers, playing it off. God, he hopes that Ronan doesn't know that he is still a virgin. As he continues to look through his Instagram, something finally sinks into his head. Did he have a crush on the guy in his Instagram? He feels his heart sink down to his stomach. ] Here. [ Murphy decides he has seen enough for now and jerks Ronan's cellphone back to him. ]

[ Ronan chucks the thing into the pocket of the door. He does not have nearly as much reverence for his cell phone as he does his car. ]

Okay, let's just get this outta the way: I'm gay. Full homo. Closet demolished. I doubt it's your number one priority right now, but if you wanna talk about it, that's fine.

[ Listen, Murphy, he absolutely knows you're a virgin. They've been on this journey. ]

I can tell you about him, too. But I don't want you to feel like everyone expects you to just drop back in and pick up where you left off.

De Chima

Re: De Chima

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject