etcelsior | HERE I COME

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test drive

HERE I COME

NOTE: This is the final test drive of 2019 as apps will be closed in December.

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?

The recent dimensional anomalies have disrupted people's daily business more than a little, but the latest danger is a herd of zombies shambling towards the annual Mister and Miss Corncob beauty pageant. Right in the middle of the swimsuit competition, too! Of course, who gets the crown is partially based on audience appreciation — are you going to take out some of the undead or cheer your favorite participant on to victory? Either way, you're (probably) a hero!

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!

It's nearly Halloween, and the annual city parade and costume contest are underway! You've got one, right? The locals just love it! If you don't, well, that's okay — just for imPorts, there's a special costume rummage bin at the start of the parade route. Try cobbling something together from costume shop donations and items left behind by ported-out heroes! Then strut your stuff and prepare to be cheered for!

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.

Despite the lack of gratitude that's in it for you, you may want to step in once you see a very, very sad supervillain wandering Maurtia Falls' streets. Dressed in a cape that appears to be a large swath of fabric purchased from a nearby sewing store, galaxy-themed leggings and no shirt is a man who runs right into your vicinity before striking a pose and yelling, "Everyone, stop before me and my wrath! I am Mister Mars, and provided you give me what I ask for, nobody needs to get hurt!"

At which point Mister Mars snatches an old woman's purse, loudly laughs in her face, and begins to float upwards. By the time he reaches the height of the tallest building in the area, he's beginning to look slightly panicked as he fails to really be able to move anywhere but up. Meanwhile, the old woman has begun shaking her cane at him and screaming quite an assortment of alarming expletives.

Maybe you should help one or the other out? If not, just lean back and enjoy the show.

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. To be American is to be part of a melting pot, and that there’s more money to be made by the thriving local industries hardly hurts.Natives may gather around new arrivals and ask both personal and broad questions about life as an imPort, what they are looking forward to, what their favorite article of underwear is. A few night clubs offer free entrance - just this once!

In the middle of the city's biggest park is an autumn tradition — a corn maze! Of course, it's not real corn, since there hasn't been time to grow it. But craft supplies store Mikey's is sponsoring a maze built with genuine imitation corn, and hundreds of locals have already enjoyed getting lost inside! Curiously, few of them have come out the exit, and those who venture inside will discover the maze is twistier and deeper than they ever could have anticipated. Somehow, it's bigger on the inside, thanks (no doubt) to some dastardly villain's powers. Will you try to navigate a way to the exit, forge your way through the stalks, or have a nap?

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.

Things are quiet in Jeopardy. Weirdly quiet. In fact, way, way too quiet. But if you ask any of the citizens of the city why they won't talk to you, they just raise a finger and make a shhhhing sound and then point down the street towards the church. If you try to shake them, they grit their teeth. WHY WILL NO ONE SPEAK TO YOU?

(The one who is silent the longest wins a new fridge.)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

((Note: doing prompts as both the Operator and Zephyr to give the most options possible with such an odd character. Also, for those in the know, she's coming post-Apostacy Prologue))

1. HEROPA.

Zephyr Prime

[She's actually not sure about the pageant. She has absolutely no idea what it's for, and the only thing she can think of while watching it is the Yuvan Theatre that Teshin had told her about up on the mountain.

So the warframe turns away, all six feet and two inches of solid black 'armor' with gold trims, and focuses on the shambling monsters heading that way. She pulls a pistol from her hip, white and trimmed with gold in typical Orokin fashion, and loaded it before taking several precise shots. For now, she's treating these creatures like the infested. They're the closest thing she could relate them to.]

I don't recommend you come this way.

[Is said to anyone who comes close. The voice that comes from the metal body is that of a young woman but there's an obvious mechanical kind of interference to it.]

2. DE CHIMA.

Tenno

[The teen walks along the street, standing out very much from most of the locals in her suit and with the silver somatic implants in her face and gold eyes. Not many people have ever seen her like this, and even then, they'd been fairly restrained.

Not like the people here. She's quickly cornered and being asked questions rapidfire, making it hard for her to even try answering before the next is asked.]

Sorry, what? I don't- I don't know. I never thought about romance. W-whatever fits, I guess? And I don't... really have a favorite food.

[The girl looks a but uncomfortable, shifting a bit.] Can I go?

[Oh, but they're not done. Then come the direct questions rather than anything general. Like what the metal bits in her face are, why does her earring float like that?]

I bought earring at Strata Relay, from the Void Trader. And those are somatic implants. I've had them for as long as I can remember.

[What are you doing for Halloween?]

What's Halloween..?

Zephyr Prime

[Zephyr absolutely stands out but her appearance also lends itself to the holiday that seems to be going on. Unlike earlier, she's not bothered about the holiday like she had been as the Operator. She doesn't get odd questions about her underwear either but that's mostly thanks to the fact that she's nothing but a large humanoid bit of metal.

There are a few hollered comments about her 'wicked costume' and mentions about a parade and contest but, again, she's not really familiar beyond the parade concept. She knows what contests are, of course, but... she's not really wearing one. That wouldn't be even remotely fair.]

NETWORK.

Tenno

[The message opens with a teenaged girl, about sixteen with cropped black hair and gold eyes. She seems equal parts exhausted and excited.]

So, this is Earth? I don't think I've ever seen it like this before, it's in pretty bad shape by my time and mostly abandoned. So, I'm not really used to how things work here. Normally, I'd just contact my allies but that's not an option so hopefully this will work.

I'm looking to see if anyone has seen any large metal human-looking suits of armor. Or knows about things like that, maybe I'll find someone from my time.

WILDCARD.

[I tried to go for some variety and options but I understand that something might just not click. If you have something in mind that you'd like to try, let's give it a go! Surprise me or feel free to PM me or hit me up on

lenneths_wings.]

There's a lot to find unpleasant about Earth. Trees were the most obvious one. Couldn't stand the things! Second only to that was the masses of humans bumbling around. Asking him questions. Did he like the attention? Of course! But this wasn't attention that really counted. And they'd started asking boring questions.

He'd thrown them off by teleporting away, but he still had stuff to do! He had equipment he needed to get his hands on, as he continued pulling together a temporary lab. That would be slowed down by being accosted. Or by taking out his frustrations more directly on the crowd. Too much to do, too little time to smash the deserving to pulp!

Also, he'd probably have to get through some doorways to get the stuff he needed, and he had a bad habit of bashing his head on tiny human architecture. So, regrettably, he'd changed into the awful little human body that had somehow been foisted upon him. It blended in better, and no door frame would stop him now. On into the crowd he went, leaving a trail of annoyed exclamations behind him as he pushed a direct path through. No time! He was not gonna get distracted by--

Wait, what was that about a Void Trader?

"You!" He grimaced at how wrong his voice sounded, and pushed aside the human that had just asked the question a little more forcefully than he'd planned. "You--Let me see that." He leaned in far too close to get a look at the earring. "Oh, definitely Void Trader work." And the clothes! Not a style he recognized, but it looked familiar, all the same. The traces of annoyance on his face were wiped away by a mildly unhinged grin. "Congratulations--You're the only other one. So! What did you do? Make the Lotus angry too?"

She straightened up when she heard that voice and the tone to it before she was faced with someone she didn't recognize. When he leaned in, she had to fight back to urge to lean away from the sudden invasion of personal space. The apparent familiarity with Baro and Strata helped to restrain herself.

"The Lotus?" The mention of the woman who had more-or-less been a surrogate mother made her heart suddenly ache. "I don't think I did- maybe." She did, but that was mostly through the simple sin of existing and the Old War. And that wasn't a confession that the Tenno was willing to make to this stranger.

"Are you from one of the Syndicates? New Loka or..?" In her mind, that would make sense considering the familiarity with Void Trader goods. And, despite the forceful 'introduction', he had just spared her further prying questions.

Oooh. That was a tantalizing answer. "Perfect. You're in good company, you know. Or, scratch that, maybe you don't."

He was in the wrong body, but New Loka? "Ha! No, they hate me too. ...Probably." He tapped a contemplative finger on his jaw. "Don't pay much attention to those purebred pond-spawn."

One of the crowd, meanwhile, had developed the mistaken impression that they were invited to this conversation. "Do you know each oth--"

"No! No, no no no." He rounded on the local, inches away from their face. "I'm done with you. All of you! Shoo. Shoo!" He waved a dismissive hand at them, running them off a couple paces to get them to move. They scattered, and he gave himself half a second to feel accomplished before turning back to the small human.

Small human with gold eyes. Odd. "Where are you from? Not seen that look before, n' I've seen a lot."

Good company? So, it was someone Lotus hadn't cared for but then again, she had made her disdain for several people obvious. That didn't trim the list down enough.

"Ouch, I don't think I've ever heard that one for New Loka." Maybe it was just never said around her. Nobody wanted to risk offense to a a Warframe who may or may not have been allied to the human purists. That thought took a backseat though as he shoo'd away the locals and she was able to let out a breath. Finally!

Except then he had to ask that question. Of all the questions to have been asked, it's the one that was among the hardest to answer. She was sure she didn't have eyes like this before the Zariman incident, and definitely no implants.

"A little bit of everywhere. I don't remember where, originally, if I'm honest." That, at least, wasn't a lie.

"Should be said more often," he muttered darkly. "Horrible little creatures." They were so Earth-obsessed that they rarely bothered him, but every so often, something would remind him of their existence, and he'd resent it.

No need to think about them any further, he had something else to prod at now! "Oh, one of those kinds." Not Ostron, the proportions were all wrong. One of the other ones, then. He always forgot their names, and he probably wasn't about to learn it now.

"So! What did you do to make the Lotus angry? Stuck you here on--maybe a weird colony, maybe nowhere and we're deconstructed data. Haven't figured that out yet." Which also put one or two mad cephalons in the mix as top culprits for their kidnapping, but if so, that raised more questions.

"They're not so bad. Well, not all the time, I'm sure." Okay, maybe they could be a bit overzealous but they hadn't done anything quite so bad before she'd ended up here to earn a Tenno's ire. And keeping on good terms with the syndicates came with the benefit of extra gear or mods for her weapons. How did she refuse that?

She tried not to end up on the bad side of most people, really, but it was inevitable most of the time. It just came with the job. Not surprising that she ended up on the Lotus' list eventually.

"Just existing in the wrong place at the wrong time. I didn't have any way of knowing that what I'd done affected her." She'd flown off though with Ballas' body, remaking him. And where she was now was a mystery to Tenno and cephalon alike. "I'm not sure the Lotus has power like this though."

Or Vor would never have gotten his hands on her Warframe to begin with. She'd have probably continued her naive slumber while the system died around her.

"Half of that sounds familiar," he said, in a tone that was within the same postal code as sympathy. "Lots of people existing without her permission." And oh, obviously, she was the one to make the decision about what was allowed, not anybody else, not even the Queens!

This small critter knew a surprising amount, but that doubtful statement about the Lotus earned a condescending look. "Have you ever had an administrator disintegrated on you? She does that. Never clear why. Might be teleporting them somewhere. Might be breaking them down into data. This could all be a simulation!" He gestures to the world around them, nearly smacking a local in the face as he does so.

"Don't know. Too many strange factors running around here to be sure. But whoever did it? They know things. Old things. Things that don't belong to them." His expression darkens as he speaks, building up towards a proper rant.

That question did bring something to mind, though she had never witnessed it before. She only knew someone who had gone through it, it had set everything in motion with the Tenno, Lotus, the Orokin-

"Like the Orokin?" However civilized they pretended to be, execution was still cruel and mostly unnecessary, recalling Margulis' so-called crimes. But that, in theory, meant he was right and Lotus could do that. Maybe even more, since she'd taken Margulis' likeness to protect the children, hid Lua in the Void.

"If this is all the Lotus' doing, what did you do that got you on her bad side? Wouldn't she have just sent the Tenno if you were a big enough problem?"

"Maybe. But they're not in the business of disintegrating anything these days. Or maybe--? Maybe. Was wondering what those drones were doing with all that data." Hmm. That could be complicated, if one of the Sentients followed the Tenno in.

Speaking of his least favorite subject these days. "No, no," his voice is slow, deliberately conversational, but edged with something dark and displeased. "She didn't send them. Not at first. Seems like they'll do work for any stinking bit of flotsam out there."

The subject of disintegrating and the Orokin and the Lotus were lost for the moment because that?

She took in a sharp breath and swallowed hard, trying not to let it bother her. Oh, but it did. Before she could stop herself, the instinctive impulse to defend herself and her fellow Tenno took a flying leap from her mouth.

"No, they don't!" And then, immediately, she stared at the ground and let out a huff. "The Tenno are honorable, they help the weak. Protect them." Who else would if the Tenno didn't? Once in awhile, she might grudgingly admit, they'd act as little more then mercenaries, but only if it was necessary!

Where'd that come from? He gave the little thing a skeptical tilt of the head in response, and a matching sneer for good measure. "Lotus messes with the whole system, kicks you down, and you think her lizards are any better? They helped Ruk take Mars, stomp that jellyfish, Alad, always trying to get his clammy tendrils on a warframe or two. That made sense. Then they turn 'round and work for him! That was a nasty shock." Yes, that was cycles ago now, but he was not. Over. It. And he was going to drag everybody else down with him into feeling angry about it.

"They don't love you, just like they don't love each other, just like she doesn't love them. Must be awful."

If that was a surprise than the look as if she were a kicked kubrow pup was bound to shock him. Not that the Tenno could help herself, he'd hit exactly where it still hurt without knowing. And who knew how long that would sting.

"How would you know? What Tenno do you know to know what they feel?" No consideration towards his comment about the Lotus. In the back of her mind, it felt familiar but more important was this moment.

And how wrong he obviously was.

"And they had their reasons, I'm sure. Just because the rest of us can't see them doesn't mean there isn't a reason."

Wow. "Why so defensive? You can't count on any of them. Bribe them with a few shiny things and they'll do some sick things. No wonder they get along with the Corpus." And, you know, Ruk as well. But Sargas Ruk was a walking disaster with a stupid flashlight face, so he didn't count.

"They ever come after you? Obviously not. Trust the expert. They're not worth the love."

Why was she getting so defensive? It went without saying that some people wouldn't like the Tenno but she worked hard! She tried to be fair and protect everyone she could! And she knew that, even if he didn't or didn't believe it.

"It's because you're wrong, obviously! I'm not some dumb kubrow, y'know! If people need help, the Tenno will always be there." It was what she promised herself. "It doesn't take something 'shiny' and we're not sick."

Assassinations could maybe be considered sick but sometimes, it was just necessary. Sabotage missions maybe, depending on how they sabotaged the systems.

He wasn't known for talking backtalk especially well. Best one could usually hope for was a cutting remark, rather than anything else. And he was winding up for a real rant now, seething with the heat from thousands of ruined tubes, of history denied, of humiliation.

But that last bit? He went oddly calm all of a sudden. This place, real or not? It was weird. He'd gotten a good faceful of that, right from the start. When he got dumped into this ugly Human body.

"You said something interesting just there." That experience he'd had made him wonder:

"What do you mean, 'we'?"

Oh, that sudden calm. That was enough to make the hairs on the back of her neck stand up, as if warning her to shut her mouth. It was too late now, of course. The words were out and she wasn't sure of how to turn that around to her benefit.

"I mean-" The Tenno paused, thought for a moment, and then shook her head. Might as well own up, she had basically confessed. All she was missing was transferring back into her Warframe.

"I mean, you're insulting me to my face. I go out around the Origin System to help people who need it. You make it sound like we're sowing chaos.

"No, that's not how I remember it, Tenno." He drew himself up, deep, careful breathing, but there's a vein or two starting to stand out on his skin anyway.

"You break in, put your dirty, sticky paws on everything that's not yours, poison everything before it's grown. Break it all, leave me with the sick and twisted pieces." He was slowly becoming more animated, more wild-eyed, full of manic energy.

"Then you come back to break some more! Do I call that chaos? The worst kind."

He takes a step forward, talking only just barely winning out over pummeling, just for now. "Because you, lizard, you destroyed my work. My science. All for your honor, and your Lotus." But wait--oh, what was that about the Lotus, that really set them off? He needed to find that blade again and twist it.

And so, he simmered down again, but the look hadn't left his eyes. "And now she's gotten rid of you. Put you in a tender little body and left you here. Cruel of her."

"Poison?" She glared, straightening up slightly but that didn't make much of an impact. Outside of her warframe, her height was woefully average and, physically, she was nothing impressive. Whether that was how she always was or thanks to centuries of cryosleep, who knew. The Lotus certainly hadn't left any notes.

When he took that step forward though, instinct had her step back and wish Zephyr was close enough to jump into. Even if it wasn't a perfect solution, her Warframe has always left her feeling a bit safer.

"Don't-" Science? Lizard? Gold eyes narrowed slightly. "Tyl Regor?" And her gaze hardened, fists clenching uselessly.

"You were dangerous! You and your research!" Especially his research. It was hard to keep the frustration handled and part of her wished the Lotus was there. Or Ordis. Between that and his words? "You- This wasn't Lotus. You have no idea what you're talking about."

So there!

"You were dangerous!" He still hasn't lost his talent for extremely terrible, mocking impressions. "Of course! Can't let you hold us down. Not you, not the Lotus, not anyone."

"And I am still dangerous, little lizard. Or do you think I've forgotten what you did to my tubemen."

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notyuvan - 2019-10-29 02:53 (UTC) - Expand

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biochemastery - 2019-10-29 03:19 (UTC) - Expand

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notyuvan - 2019-10-29 03:52 (UTC) - Expand

[As it turns out, there’s more than one Tenno wandering the streets of De Chima this afternoon. Initially, the Operator is drawn by the crowd; they haven’t found much excitement on this strange not-Earth yet and they’re curious what could have attracted so much attention. As they draw closer, though, they hear familiar words drifting above the clamor—words like “relay” and “Void Trader” and “somatic implants.”

Their heartbeat skips. Someone else from their world? Perhaps even another Tenno? They aren’t very strong outside their Warframes but they still elbow and push their way through the crowd with an urgency that seems to surprise the natives. When they make it to the front, they find themself face-to-face with another teenager, eyes gold like theirs with similar somatic implants marking her ears and face.

Another Tenno. Another Operator. Their face splits into a grin and without warning, they lunge forward for a hug.

Prompting, of course, another wave of bewildered questions from their onlookers.]

[What's this? The instant arms wrap around her, she tenses, but it's brief as her mind quickly registers this isn't just something or someone trying to hold her in place. And then their appearance actually registers and she smiles, arms wrapping around in turn.

This is my family She can't help but think.]

I can't believe it..! [It's said as she breathes out, still surprised.]

I didn't think I'd see any other Tenno.

Me, too! [the Operator says, leaning back from the hug just enough to look the other Tenno in the eye.] I haven’t heard from anybody since I woke up here—not Ordis, not the Lotus... [Their brow creases in obvious distress. They can’t recall ever being that alone, not in centuries. It’s a massive relief to have found another Tenno, but still, they worry.]

What about you? [they ask, tone growing hopeful.] Have you heard anything from them? They must be searching for us...

[Oh no. The mention of the Lotus is like a punch in the gut and she can't bring herself to mention what had happened. Instead, she shakes her head and gives them a sad smile.]

Nobody. You're the first person I've recognized. All I've seen otherwise was one of my 'frames. Everyone on this world seems to love it whenever it's moving around.

[The Operator doesn’t seem surprised by their comrade’s change in expression. They understand. Just talking about being apart from the others is upsetting.]

It’s okay, [they say, attempting a reassuring smile.] The Lotus will find us. We just have to be patient.

[They do their best to take their own words to heart. The fact that they’d found one of their family at all means they’re not totally isolated. And that means it’s only a matter of time before the Lotus tracks them down.

It’s at this point that the reporters find their voices again and one of them interjects: ”Uh, what’s the Lotus?”]

It’s none of your business! [the Operator snaps, breaking the embrace to round on the assembled humans.] Stop bothering her!

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HERE I COME

Tenno/Zephyr {Nara} | Warframe

#2. LIZARD!!!!

AHHHH <3

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de chima, up to you whether she recognizes the operator or not!

OMG 8D

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