Mask or Menace | MODERATORS (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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etcelsior2020-05-24 09:21 pm
maskormods) wrote in etcelsior2020-05-24 09:21 pm
Entry tags:
DANCE MAGIC DANCE
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 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.
Unfortunately, tragedy has struck today. It seems like the entire Heropa PD is parked out of a local, popular grocery chain. A huge crowd is amassed in the parking lot despite the best efforts of officers to get them to leave. They whisper about excitement and shame, and you don't have to ask if you just listen in a bit...
"What do you think he'll do to the employees? He sounded so serious..." "He really wants that pussy, huh?" "If I left my man for cheating on me, I'd take the damn cat, too!" "How does he think taking her and her coworkers hostage is gonna make her change her mind about him being a bad boyfriend?" "My wife is pregnant, please - if I don't get her favorite deli sub I might as well not go home!"
Domestic disputes! Tragic. The police aren't too sure how to handle this hostage situation, claiming the man only has a box cutter and isn't actually waving it around at the moment, but...are you an imPort? They'd really appreciate the help, okay. Get in there and counsel the unhappy couple. Or not!
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! Synthetic wonder! Whatever you might be, those words have meaning here. 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.
Today, a company that manufactures tech-based educational toys—"Where Science Meets Fun!"—is running a demo of its latest project, Quincy the QuizBot. Filled with information taken from the curricula of many grade levels, Quincy is whirring through the streets to conduct pop quizzes! Answer a question right, win a prize, ranging from a coupon for a free soda at the local fast food joint to a $100 gift card, based on difficulty!
Except...something's gone wrong with Quincy's programming. An hour or two into the demo session, he starts to approach passersby and demand answers. "WHAT IS THE SQUARE ROOT OF 47284? CAN YOU LIST THE PHARAOHS OF EGYPT IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER? ANSWER-ANSWER-ANSWER-ANSWER!"
03. Maurtia Falls, Pennsylvania has carried a reputation for ups and downs ever since imPorts began reappearing again, just those few years prior. Several imPort heroes have put focused efforts into cleaning up the streets of this somewhat infamous city, while a handful of others had swooped in to help the criminal industry thrive. 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. Everything from the classic bank heist to brutal bloodbaths can happen around the corner. You have to keep your eyes open and your mind sharp when you live in Maurtia Falls, and hostility against imPorts can spike. The emergence of locals with superpowers is hardly helping...
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.
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.
Despite the weird constant hum and the creepy cultish bingo, Jeopardy is usually a pretty calm place. A safe place. But not today. Today, someone has released a couple hundred tiny praying-mantis-like robots into the city, and the place is in chaos. Shops are closed up early because though these little destructive creatures don't have bullets, they do have some weird arm appendages that like to just crunch everything in existence. Like a locus swarm of cockatoos, anything made of wood or plastic is being crunched up and left for scrap. But at less than six inches high apiece, rounding them up is proving extremely difficult. Luckily, the mayor in her wisdom is giving out titanium nets to any imPort who wants to help round up the trouble makers. And, in the spirit of the city, she's offering the imPort that catches the most robots a free meal for two in the swanky Radiation Galley - Jeopardy's top tier, five star restaurant.
Get catchin', imPorts!
Estinien Wyrmblood | Final Fantasy XIV
Maurtia Falls - Local Dragoon Did Not Master The Dragoon's Jump To Strike Fear Into The Hearts of Incompetent Villains
no subject
[He strolls up alongside the fellow, undaunted. His voice is light and playful, and there's a certain swagger to his walk. He's dressed in clothes befitting of the season and the location, unlike Estinien. A red button down, black chinos, some handsome black sneakers.]
My, my, my. If I ask you a few questions will you send me flying, too?
no subject
The bustle and noise of the crowd ill helps his mood, but at least he's staying put for the moment.]
Are your queries truly worth the risk?
[He could just...leave, but now he's unfortunately curious about this Garlean man, little did he expect to run into one here, yet...]
no subject
Mayhap I should have brought my protection with me. Silly me, I'm always just going around and committing the crime of talking to others, I suppose. [Is that Guzma or Yenh? Who knows. He's got his gun in his handbag at least. He dips his hand into his bag and pulls out a pack of cigarettes, tapping one loose.]
So who are you?
[As if he doesn't have a pretty good idea]
no subject
[Estinien levels a flat stare at Emet as he continues to talk, hoping the man would have gotten the clue, but clearly he has not. Would that this were Gaius, he was a far more tolerable Garlean. His eyes fall to pack of cigarettes. With that question, his gaze returns to Emet's face, before he quickly heel turns and pushes past the crowd circling the pair.]
If we are to speak, it will not be here.
[Not that he wants to talk at all, but he's not about to have any sort of conversation with all these people around.]
no subject
[He sticks the cigarette in his mouth and gives a smile a touch too predatory to be genuine. He lights his cigarette and shrugs his bag back onto his shoulder.]
I'll even buy! I'm a nice fellow like that. I doubt they take little gold pieces. [As if he doesn't know what fucking gil is.]
no subject
I plan not to make merry with you. If you wish to be well into your cups, you may without my company.
[However, it seems that crowd has little interest in not pursuing them, much to Estinien's annoyance. There's a light crackle of red energy that radiates from him, but it surprises him and the crackle stops immediately. Strange...]
...'Twould seem we will not lose our pursuers by foot. [And that's all the warning he gives before he quickly turns and grabs Emet by the front of his shirt with both hands, and leaps them both to the roof of a nearby building. Likely putting his cigarette out in the process.
Unceremoniously, he releases him upon their landing, caring little if the other man even got his footing before then.]
Now—who are you?
no subject
Who am I? Hmmm... [He pulls out his phone, giving it a pleased smile as he sees what he was sort of hoping for. He holds his phone up, showing his Bwitter feed go absolutely insane as photos of him being launched with Estinien area already surfacing. #SolusGalvus is the accompanying text. He taps the screen to draw Estinien's attention to it. He pockets his phone and touches his own chest lightly as he gives a lazy bow.]
I am Solus zos Galvus. I know, I know. I look simply marvelous for my age. [He pats himself down for his lighter, finding it again after a moment.]
no subject
Solus zos Galvus...an ascian. Why couldn't this had merely been an obnoxious Garlean noble? Of course it had to be the worst possible Garlean—well...no, that might be the great grandson of his.]
'Tis not age being kind that you should retain your youth, Ascian. [Venom and apprehension drips from his words, and instinctively he reaches for his lance.]
no subject
Oh goodness, it appears I've shown my hand early. Well. [He sounds entirely unconcerned even as he throws his hands up in a dramatic mockery of exasperation.]
You needn't worry, o vaunted Azure Dragoon. Here I am merely a man! No war to wage, no squabbling gods. No nations of any import.
[He tilts his head, his lip quirking into a smirk as his eyes half-lidded.]
Have you happened upon our dearest Warrior of Light yet?
no subject
You wish for me to believe you have nary a scheme at play? That you are "merely a man"? Cease this mummer's farce.
[He's pointedly avoiding the question about the Warrior of Light, however. He has no desire to discuss her with the likes of him.]
no subject
[He crosses his arms and gives a look around. He didn't have a super great way to get off this roof without Estinien helping him.]
Maurita Falls
Nice catch. [He comments with a slow round of applause that eventually picks up.] But the try toning down the theatrics just a tad? You sound like you stepped out of a play.
[Judging from the bizarre clothes and the long ears, it almost seems like this guy stepped out from a fantasy novel instead. Angeal has seen his fair share of weirdos as of late, some of which are weirder than the next. While he's not one to talk considering he's not even human, Angeal can't help but stare at the lancer. The man is tall and lanky like a pole, ridiculously so with long arms and an even longer neck. The man looks every bit like an elf but Angeal honestly doesn't know what to think of him.]
I take it you're new to these parts.
[ At first glance, Angeal looks like he could be one of the locals. However, the faint blue glow of his eyes gives him away more so than the enormous titanium sword upon his back. He has long parted with his signature Buster Sword in favor of something reminiscent of it. After all, he gave the sword to his apprentice for a reason. While Angeal no longer wears his SOLDIER uniform, he definitely looks like one.]
no subject
Aye.
[The theatrics comment being outright ignored, seeing as Estinien barely sees what was so theatrical about what he's done. Nor how he sounds like he stepped out of a play—not that he's ever rightly seen a play. It almost seems like that's all he has to say, and he's about to leave the interaction entirely as he strides over to the swearing old lady to give her back her purse. She's grateful, complimenting Estinien, making comments about if only my grandson could be more like you, before immediately making another comment about how you should really cut your hair, and you would look far more heroic in a nice suit than those ratty clothes.
As politely as Estinien is capable, he disengages with her, to turn his attention back to Angeal. He's looking a a little relieved when the old woman decides to go on her way, not that the crowd has. Taking pictures, murmuring among themselves, but fortunately having enough sense to not crowd the wild looking elf man.]
You are not a native. From whence do you hail?
no subject
Midgar.
[ That's semi-correct. While he's lived in Midgar for a long time now, Angeal isn't originally from there. However, Angeal doesn't want to drag up the past by mentioning Banora now. He has yet to come to terms with what happened there, especially since his mother--- ]
It's the most technologically advanced city in all of Gaia and probably one of the dirtiest.
[ He lets out a huff at his slight quip. Even though he's lightyears away from Midgar, Angeal swears he can still smell the stench of mako in the air. ]
And you? Where are you from?
De Chima
OY! Estinien! [ The Warrior of Light stands on her toes and waves her arms at him, tail arching for balance. ]
[ One of the natives recognizes her and identifies Yenh by name. A few people begin grabbing shots and video of her as she jaywalks across the street, ears swiveling to track cars as her eyes remain locked on her old companion. She's clad in an array of local clothing. Today this means well-worn denim jean shorts, knee-high combat boots with extra metal bits attached, large shades with a rhinestone-studded strap to keep them on, and a tight navy blue tank top. The shirt features a lovingly-rendered airbrush painting of an astronaut surfing on a colorful board across milky way. ]
no subject
However, Yenh is welcomed company, even if everything else in his immediate vicinity is far from. Though the bewildered expression on his face might say otherwise as he regards her attire, and the path of recklessness she takes to approach him. What is she wearing? Not that he has much room to talk, she arguably fits in with the rest of the natives, while he stands out like a sore thumb gone blue.]
...Yenh. Scant had I expected to find you here.
[The confirmation that they know each other seems to have sparked something in the crowd. The chatter and murmuring kicking off in full force, as more cameras flash with their picture taking. This earns an annoyed growl from Estinien, as he breaks his gaze with Yenh, to glower at the crowd which is continuing to grow.]
no subject
Nor I, you!
[ She pauses before getting too close to the crowd. They could too easily be pincered in, leaving up to be the only path of escape. She knows that he's more than capable of carrying her, but she would rather leave it for an emergency situation. She calls out in her best and friendliest crowd-addressing voice. ]
Please excuse us! He is a good man, but newly arrived. Even in the best of times, public appearances are not his virtue. I fear you'll unfairly raise his rancor.
[ She notices someone creeping up with their podcasting microphone as she speaks. Oh, no. ]
Estinien, shall we commemorate our reunion with a race? To... there, let's say. [ She points to a high-rise apartment complex several blocks away. ]
[ The podcaster is drifting dangerously closer. ]
no subject
Estinien's rancor is indeed on the rise, and there might be a light crackle of energy around him as his irritation grows. Fortunately for all involved, Yenh takes control of the situation—or tries to. However, these people are insatiable, and that podcaster is fairly fortunate that she draws Estinien's attention away from them with her suggestion of a challenge.
His gaze shifting from Yenh herself, to the appointed destination. He nods.]
...Aye. Let us quit this place.
[He spares the podcaster a scathing glare, before crouching down. Then, without warning to any who finds themselves unfamiliar with the stance of a dragoon's impending take off, he leaps. Propelling himself through the air with grace and ease that does not befit the man clad in armor. Naturally this gets excitement from the crowd as they see him make quick work of the distance between his starting point and the finish line.]
no subject
See you there!
[ On his mark, she backflips away from the crowd and takes off running. When it comes to traversing distances in no time flat, it's hard to outdo a dragoon. But Yenh didn't suggest a race because she thought she could win. ]
[ Not that she has any desire to keep him waiting, either. Yenh races down the sidewalk, dodging around people with care as the high-rise grows in her sight until it fills half the sky. ]
no subject
Reaching their destination after some few leaps from rooftop to rooftop, he lands on the edge of the high-rise. Peering down as he watches Yenh make her way. Idly he wonders exactly how she plans to scale the building. Acrobatic she may be, but she falls rather short to that of a dragoon's.
While he waits, he allows himself a sigh of relief, enjoying the fresh breeze and freedom from the imposing crowd. Even if they still seemed fit to take pictures of him high upon the roof, they look more like scurrying ants from this vantage point, and are far more easily ignored.]
no subject
[ ... there is no roof access. ]
[ Hitting the highest number, she stands perfectly still and waits. This elevator has no music. She hums. ]
[ Soon it opens to the top public floor. She throws open the first hallway window she finds, and climbs out onto the architecture. Yenh responsibility closes it most of the way shut again. Tilting her head to judge above her, she decides on the flagpole and grapples onto it with a thread of golden light. With speed, she is flung up, and she pushes off the pole to land on the roof with a gravel-padded thump. ]
Sorry to keep you!
Marutia
Thou art efficient as ever, Sir Estinien.