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

[rebelarrow]

Where I'm from--and from what I've seen here--humans have very thin, or non-existent, mental shields. Yours is the best I've ever seen.

[Sascha would love to see such craftsmanship.]

Some humans where I'm from do have natural shields, but it's luck of the genetic lottery... and still looks different on the psychic plane than yours.

[perfectlyhuman]

[ He thinks...mental shields? Natural shields? Psychic plane?

All he thinks to ask is ]

Is that like auras?

[rebelarrow]

[It's hard to anticipate what to explain to someone when everything is so elementary where he came from. He's trying his best.]

Auras, at least where I'm from, are more... mysticism than reality. But similar. Rather than around the body, it's around the mind. Psy can build mental shields to keep other Psy out of their heads.

[perfectlyhuman]

My friend told me about auras. That she could see them on people and learn about them.

[ But not his, for some reason. It's an art and not a skill, she said then.

But he thinks about what Judd is saying. ]

They get to get in each other's heads?

[rebelarrow]

The unscrupulous ones do.

[He doesn't lie to children.]

But even if they aren't trying to on purpose, most Psy are some level of tp on the gradient. Some thoughts slip through shields and broadcast outwards, especially from young minds. Those that are improperly shielded would hear every stray thought.

[...And even then, for some, shields degrade over time, and they hear it all anyway. Like his sister.]

[perfectlyhuman]

Huh. [ He doesn't quite understand it all, no, but some parts of it make sense. Some parts even feel familiar, strangely, but only barely. ]

So everyone can hear everyone? Or almost, I guess.

[rebelarrow]

If they grant permission. Much like entering someone's home, it's polite to knock before starting a conversation telepathically.

[perfectlyhuman]

Oh. That makes sense. [ Does it? But it does to the boy, at least.]

I wouldn't want people just hearing my thoughts and stuff.

[ To be fair, if anyone managed, it might probablt ruin their day. Or worse. Or much, much worse.]

[rebelarrow]

No one does. And no reputable Psy would ever betray someone like that.

[Key word being reputable.]

[perfectlyhuman]

You said some do. What happens then?

[rebelarrow]

It depends on the Psy and their level of ability.

Some simply rip through flimsy shields and take whatever information they can find. Some go a step further and wipe the information they stole from the original person's mind.

Some trap others inside their own shields and wear them down until they get what they want.

Some slip into shields undetected and leave nasty mental viruses.

Some, who have a significant amount of time and energy on their hands--[And he means that literally.]--will use mind control, typically for short periods of time. Any longer and they--the Psy, not the victim--might die.

[perfectlyhuman]

[ The boy listens quietly, about these things he doesn't quite understand, but at least he gets how severe it sounds.]

... Does that happen a lot? Are people just fighting each other in their heads?

[rebelarrow]

No, because people are careful to make really strong shields. Most of the time, they fight by going after someone's money, or influence people's opinions about them.

Like a typical bully.

[perfectlyhuman]

[ That makes him frown, mostly because, even with all of those cool powers, the bad things people do really aren’t too different. Bullies will be bullies.]

That’s really bad. Does someone try to stop them?

[rebelarrow]

For a long time, those who tried got hurt, until people were mostly afraid to try. The biggest bullies of all were members of the Psy Council, the leaders that were supposed to look out for the Psy.

But recently people did fight back. [People like him, Kaleb, and Xavier, and the combined forces of SnowDancer and DarkRiver.] Thanks to that, the old Psy Council is gone, and... civic-minded Psy have formed the Psy Coalition to try and make things better. They aren't bullies, and they won't take too kindly to anyone trying.

[perfectlyhuman]

[ Adam listens carefully, curious and interested. It’s all somewhat surreal to hear about, and it reminds him so much of the kinds of stories he likes to read, and the games he and his friends play. But his life has also become something a bit surreal to begin with, so its hard to tell where reality does lie, even more so now that he’s here.]

So it’s all good now, then? With them watching over people and keeping them safe?

[rebelarrow]

Judd wishes that it was the case. That with Trinity and the Coalition, that everything was [better. Instead, he shakes his head.]

No. Things are improving, but there's still a lot of work to be done. Damage cannot be healed overnight.

But they are trying, and that's what's important.

[perfectlyhuman]

[ Weirdly enough, that makes absolute sense to him in a semi-familiar manner.

Things don't just get better. There needs to be an effort to make them better, and it won't work right away.

He's kind of serious. ]

I bet they'll get there. Even if more bad guys show up.

haaa pretend I didn't completely screw up that formatting

[rebelarrow]

Between you and me.... [He leans in a bit, like he's sharing a secret.] I think so too. Two of the members of the Coalition are my friends, and a third is married to a friend of mine.

[It feels strange to say--that anyone is a friend of his. To acknowledge Kaleb, Aden, and Vasic as friends. But the world has changed, and he has to change with it, just like everyone else in his race.]

Do you know what else I think?

sssh no one has to know

[perfectlyhuman]

[ Adam looks up at him, curious. ]

What?

[rebelarrow]

I think I know who hit me with those balloons.

[With that, several water balloons above Adam's head burst.]

[perfectlyhuman]

[ And, with that, Adam yells out when the water crashes down on him. Startled, Dog hops and yips and growls.

Drenched, Adam looks at Judd and then down at his clothes and just...laughs. ]

That's not fair!

[rebelarrow]

[Judd merely gives what could be considered a smirk.]

Neither is hitting an opponent from behind.

Or enlisting them to take out the rest of their competition.

[perfectlyhuman]

[ He has to push his his away from his eyes, but he sure doesn't look too upset for someone whose plan ultimately failed. He shakes some of the water ff is sleeves. ]

You knew this whole time? [ The boy grins, but if course he did.

Waiting after a whole conversation to strike is just despicable, however, and entirely deserving of the utmost respect.]

[rebelarrow]

I... suspected.

[He knew this whole time.]

I wanted to see how far you were willing to take your lie.