etcelsior | DANCING WITH MY HAPPY FEET

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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

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.

[ Now that both hands are free, he crosses his arms across his chest, nice and tight. Murphy tries to make himself as compact as he can. ]

Good for you [ , he says wryly. ] I don't know what a closet has to do with anything. There isn't much to talk about. I jerked off a few times, that's about it. [ Lazily, Murphy shrugs his shoulders. He knows it's not what Ronan meant but ask Murphy if he cares. Ronan continues to talk and Murphy feels anxiety unfurl in his chest. There's a nagging feeling in the back of his mind, he feels like there might be something someone expects form him. ]

Yeah? Does everyone include him? [ His tilts his head, looking at Ronan with a steeled gaze. ]

[ This is so very much not the conversation Ronan wants to be having at the moment. He glares straight at the road in front of him and tries to choose his words wisely, though there's really no good way to discuss Kavinsky. ]

He's... sick. In the head. I don't know how much he'll understand about you, but you can let me fucking handle it, because you sure as shit don't need to deal with that right now.

[ Well, maybe you shouldn't have let Murphy look through your Instagram, Ronan. He wouldn't have found out he had his own and a different conversation could be happening right now. ]

Sick in the head, that's nice. [ If you asked the right people, they'd tell you that Murphy is sick in the head, too. That and he's an asshole. No one deserved Murphy's kindness, not like the universe was ever kind to him. ]

Please tell me that he doesn't share this house with you. You know that house that supposedly has my room in it. Because if he tries anything, I will find a knife to stab him with.

Did I not just say I would fucking handle it?

[ Ronan, in fact, has absolutely no idea what he's going to do about Kavinsky. ]

You won't be alone with him. I'll keep him away from your room. There's someone else in the house who can tell where he is at all times. It'll be fine.

This is for when you don't have it fucking handled [ , Murphy corrects himself. ]

What the fuck? [ Murphy jerks around, fully facing Ronan. ] So when would you have mentioned this bit if I hadn't said anything? It'll be fine? Did you not hear the words that came out of your mouth?

I would've tried a lighter fucking approach, but here we are. There's a ton of shit we still have to talk about. It's gonna take a little more than ten minutes.

[ How tempted he is to just pull over and give Murphy his memories back. But it would be unfair. And it would be too much. ]

Look, if I thought you'd be in real danger, I'd be taking you someplace else. If we get there and you hate it, you're free to goddamn leave.

[ Murphy purses his lips together and makes a soft humming sound in the back of his throat. ] Mmm, maybe you shouldn't have let me look through your Instagram. [ Ronan has to know that Murphy is going to have something to say about everything. ]

So tell me why we need to be kept apart? That's a good place to start, right? But, hey, you know what's best for me, where should you start?

Okay, first of all, you don’t need to do anything. You’re the one who’s so worried about him. But the problem I’m anticipating here is that he’s gonna have trouble figuring out if you’re real. He’s been...

[ Okay, it is definitely too soon to start explaining dreams and dreamers. ]

...looking for you. Sometimes he thinks he finds you, but obviously that hasn’t been true so far. Sometimes he thinks I’m you. Sometimes he thinks I killed you. It’s just been hard for him, alright? You were good for him and then you were gone.

[ He presses the heels of his palms into his tired eyes. This is all just getting too complicated. Murphy wants to melt into the seat. Ronan was right, Murphy isn't ready for all of whatever this is. ]

Why does he think you killed me? [ Murphy would fuck off into the car of the person who killed him in some past life. ] I find it hard to believe I was good. Good for someone.

[ Ronan scoffs at that self-depreciation. Fucking typical. ]

You’re gonna have to get used to being loved, man. Anyway, the reason he thinks I killed you is because he thinks I made you. On account of our beautiful matching visage. He thinks I made you, then I didn’t want you anymore, so I unmade you.

[ Murphy lives and breath in his self-depreciation. He'll kick himself down before anyone else has a chance to do it. And, even then, they'll kick him when's he's scrabbling to get up again. ]

You made me? How would you have made me [ , Murphy asks incredulously. His eyebrows pull up, perplexed by this. ] So, uh, he's going to flip when he sees me.

[ Ronan honestly has no idea what Kavinsky will do when he sees Murphy. He just knows he needs to be there when it happens. ]

He thinks I made you because that's what I do. I make.

[ Poor Murphy. It only gets weirder from here. But they're nearly at the Meadows, so he really should get around to explaining at least some of what Murphy will encounter there. ]

This car. Our house. Trees. Cows. Stars. People. You used to call me Mom, like as a joke, but I don't think Kavinsky ever knew for sure. Because you could have been mine.

[ As if that would make any sense to Murphy. Although, Murphy is also certain that Ronan will explain the intricacies of how he can just make things. He'll pack that away for now because that doesn't sound like a conversation you'd have during a car ride.

Actually, none of this is, but here they are. ] And why would you just make me? [ Murphy keeps himself together, not wanting to split off from what he perceives as his reality. Murphy is just as real as anything else, right?

Could have been mine. Murphy sneers, bristled by the idea of being someones. ] I guess that would fuck someone up seeing person sharing a face with - [ Murphy pauses, considering his next choice of words. ] - someone you care a lot about? Did he assume I was made specifically for him?

[ The question of Murphy's realness is one that's relatively easy to answer nowadays, though it doesn't matter to Ronan. He adores Murphy the way he adores every other creature in his care. ]

I'd like to think he knows me better than to believe I'd make a whole fucking human just for him. He might wish it went like that, though. The truth is, half the time, this shit doesn't happen on purpose.

[ Thus, Ronan has ended up with at least two accidental children. ]

[ His anxiety spikes and it needles at his skin. ] What do you mean this shit doesn't happen on purpose? You'd know if you made something, right? [ Ronan is chipping away at his reality without hesitation and it's dizzying. ]

[ Mentally, he's scrambling to keep his thoughts from venturing too far. The look on his face gives him away, especially his eyes. ]

What's your plan? How is this all going to work? You tell him that you just found me?

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