Mask or Menace | MODERATORS (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
maskormods) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
etcelsior2020-07-25 05:52 pm
maskormods) wrote in etcelsior2020-07-25 05:52 pm
Entry tags:
ON MY WAY
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.
WOOF WOOF! This Friday is National Take Your Dog to Work Day, and everyone seems to be out with their pooch, enjoying the summer sun! (At least until they start to sweat and have to make a beeline for someplace with air conditioning.) However, the thing about superheroes is that their work can take them anywhere, and with the Top ImPort contest leading the news, EVERY imPort is a hero in the minds of the public!
Got a costume on? Here's a corgi. In line for an iced coffee? Come kiss this old lady's schnauzer. Allergic to dogs? Have a Claritin...and then brace yourself as this Great Dane tries to sit on you. And be sure to smile! Can you imagine how many likes a pic of the coolest new imPort cuddling man's best friend will get?
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.
Welcome, everyone, to the sugar fueled festivity that is National Hot Fudge Sundae Day. The celebration is taking place on two closed down city blocks, with a market in between them selling all the pun filled souvenir shirts and stuffed ice cream cone toys, fudge bottle body pillows, and every kind of craft fair knickknack in between, that you can imagine. The powers that be in Nonah have clearly tried to divide the celebrations up into the ice cream and ‘normal’ food sides, but this is America. They can’t tell you what to do. Go try those meat and potato ‘fudge sundae’ monstrosities or cover your ice cream in wine from an adult beverage cart. Dip your deep-fried cheese in hot fudge. Disgusting food choices are in the constitution (somewhere).
But on the pure ice cream side, there are certainly enough choices to make ‘real’ food not super necessary. In addition to your normal food flavors that range from the tame you’d see in any ice cream parlor, or the slightly more hipster flavors like ‘lavender’ or ‘bacon maple,’ there are existential flavors. Yes, inspired by some previous imPorts, these flavors induce a specific emotion in the person while they eat it, which lasts up to about 10 minutes after the dessert has been consumed. These range all over, from ‘full cell phone battery’ to ‘the bitter-sweet satisfaction of vengeance against your sworn enemy.’ Maybe try a ‘puppy love’ and ‘first day of autumn’ twist covered in fudge for a true moment of contentment. It’s all in your hands. Careful though, things like ‘moment you first realized your parents were only human’ or ‘pain of failure’ are also available, though obviously not as popular. Hopefully, you don’t create an emotionally devastating mix out of curiosity (or a prank on another imPort).
In addition to ice cream, there are all kinds of family fun activities to pick from. Traditional carnival themed games have been set up, with the normal employees yelling at the crowd to attract attention. Throw a ball in a milk can, get a goldfish in a an (empty glass) ice cream cup! Pop balloons with dulled darts, get a sprinkles themed pair of sunglasses. This is Nonah, though, which means hard work deserves a reward. The bigger prizes for big point getters are a little insane: genetically modified fish that can breathe air, stuffed animals the size of a minivan, a free years worth of ice cream (to be taken home all at once now). There are also some bounce houses and slides that kids and adults alike can enjoy, just no ice cream allowed inside the rides
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.
Welcome to the Church of the Ancient Webmistress' annual cookie sale! To raise money for a variety of community organizations, card tables line the street where the church is located, and boy, do these baked goods look delicious! Cookies, brownies, pies and more are all for sale for very reasonable prices--and to help out such a good cause, you're definitely going to buy some. Right, hero? The watching crowds certainly expect you to set a good example (when they're not busy purchasing tasty treats themselves.)
It seems there's been a mistake, though--mixed in with the cookies frosted to look like spiders are, er, a tray of someone's special brownies. Edibles, as it were (though everything here is edible--and delicious!) Just try to keep it together, okay? After all, there are kids here, and you're a role model! Or possibly not, but if you end up feeling the need to stare at your own hand for an hour, maybe find a side street. Or at least purchase some extra munchies to support any number of charities.
no subject
Still, he can tell that this dog is a smart one regardless. That nod is...definitely just her shaking her head, surely, as Kirishima shakes his own with a laugh to himself before he disappears inside.
He won't keep her waiting for long, though she'll probably have time to doze for a little bit since he gets caught up again by people shopping inside. It's a little hard for a hero to get around when they're not explicitly incognito, but he doesn't mind. He finally re-emerges with something wrapped in paper in each hand, moving to crouch next to a lightpole near where Ammy laid down.]
Here, this one's for you. It's not Taiyaki, but it's close enough.
[It's a donut...probably not the healthiest thing she could be eating, but it's not the healthiest thing HE could be eating, either. It's jelly filled too, which is nice.]
no subject
Twitching her ear in Kirishima's general direction, Ammy raises her head and stretches her back, yawning sleepily before he presents the wonderful smelling object to her - which instantly wakes the wolf up completely. Her eyes go wide, nostrils flaring as she takes in that delectably sweet smell. So long as there's no chocolate on it, she will make a loud whining sound and stands up on her back legs (careful she doesn't bowl you over, Kirishima, a wolf can stand about five feet and then some on its hind legs) to try and get a monch.
GIB SNACC.]
no subject
Haha, hang on! Lemme sit down!
[Because Ammy you are LARGE and he's already been bowled over by a big dog once today. Once he's sitting though he'll hold the donut out in reach so she can take it from him in her mouth.]
No guesses as to who's probably gonna finish theirs first, huh?
no subject
It's, uh...rather barbaric, all things considered, especially as globs of jelly hang from her jaws and whiskers, tongue swiping over her snout to grab even the tiniest hint of leftover crumb. Her tail wags behind her with a force that shakes her entire backside, and Ammy licks at the ground, nosing the pavement for anything she may have accidentally dropped.
That donut lasted maybe ten seconds. Fifteen if one is being generous.]
no subject
Woah! Okay, yeah, I definitely would'a won that bet.
[He's glad she seems to happy though, finally starting to eat himself. It's like, not the healthiest thing, but heroes can treat themselves every now and then too!]
I'd say it's been a while since you had a meal, but you look pretty healthy to me. Maybe you just really like donuts, and I mean...who doesn't?
no subject
Hrrnh?
[Ammy blinks, looking down at herself and her figure. She is lean, yes, but not skinny or emaciated in any regards. In fact, she's probably in exceptional health - long and muscular legs, a glossy and very fluffy coat, bright eyes, a wagging tail...and while her teeth are now stained with jelly, they're strong and powerful. It's just that she is a wild animal...so she smells musty, and her teeth brushing isn't really a thing canines can do without human intervention. Even the godly canines.]
no subject
He offers her a lopsided smirk, reaching out to pet the top of her head.]
So what's your story, huh? Did the Porter think you'd make a good hero too?
no subject
The question does make her pull away a moment, though, head tilted to one side as her ears twitch, a thoughtful sound in her head. Right...she was taken here herself, and given the whole spiel as well. One she fell asleep midway through, before she was kicked out because, well...wolf. At least they gave up trying to leash her after a while, and one of the nicer folks set her on her way with a tasty biscuit. She liked that one.
Still...didn't answer the reason why she was brought here. Hero, huh? Hm...she's not sure how fitting that is to a god, it seems like she's doing it less because it's her duty and her honor as a god, and more because...she wants to simply for the glory. For the legacy. Amy making a whining sound in her throat, shaking her head. Nah, let the heroes be heroes...though she does have a bit of a story about herself, under a different moniker, but...eh. That then, was her duty as a god and a protector.
But, if he wants to see what she can do, well. Who is Ammy to deny anyone a good show? Besides, this stretch of road could use a bit of sprucing up. Moving away from Kirishima a bit, Amy stretches her back and shakes off her fur, as if getting ready for something. She takes in the long strip of road and walkway before them, lined with trees that are green, but...not necessarily healthy. Dirty paths and cracks in the sidewalk, graffiti covering walls and buildings...]
Awwwrrrooou!!
[Letting loose a deep, throaty, loud howl, the ground under the wolf glows a gentle pink, then bursts forth like a wave, or a ripple, and each half-dead tree is lush with beautiful flowers, fresh mulch and green grass around it. The sidewalk is clean, spotless even, and the cracks are all repaired. Hell, even parts of buildings and parked cars look to have been completely rejuvenated and fixed. Finally, a cascade of gentle rays of sunlight, filtering through the sweet-smelling flowers.
A Great Divine Intervention, spanning some maybe 300 feet down, though Ammy looks exhausted after, panting hard and sagging a little. It's not so easy doing that without a Guardian Sapling as a catalyst...but she looks happy, nonetheless.]
no subject
...But that thought can wait, because what happens next nearly causes him to drop the last half of his donut. Nearly, but not quite.]
W-woah-!!
[LIKE. HE WAS MAKING CONVERSATION (with a canine), HE DIDN'T EXPECT SOMETHING TO HAPPEN...so when it does, Kirishima is left marveling at the beautiful display left behind once she's finished, not just the trees revived, but...the entire area surrounding them.
Stunned, for lack of a better word, Kirishima turns his attention back to the tired wolf. He's been made a believer of, that's for damn sure.]
Okay- okay. So they gave the animals powers too...
[That isn't quite correct, but he'll figure it out eventually.
For her efforts, though? Ammy's getting offered a piece of Kirishima's donut, even though she already had her own.]
But hey, if you know how to use 'em, who am I to judge? That was cool as hell!!
gotta love when your paid dies a day before pay day 8|
[Alas, no floor donut for Ammy.
She still looks a little worn, the usual sheen of her fur dulling a bit. It'll take a while for her to get back to full power - that took nearly all her stores of ink to do - but at the least she managed to keep herself from going completely without her godly form. Using up her all her ink is never a good idea, even in a more casual setting. It takes a while to restore, and she always feels so heavy and fatigued after. Nothing a nap won't cure, but she's betting it'll be harder to find a quiet spot in this noisy place...
Wagging her tail, happy with his praise, she chews the offered piece of donut with a lot less fervor than before. She simply doesn't have the energy to inhale it this time around, but his comment does make her pause a bit, tilting her head to one side with a curious noise in her throat. What does he mean by that? Most powerful entities that she knows of are all animals... The thirteen Brush Gods in particular, as well as the Sea Dragon, Orca the envoy of the Dragonians...and of course the demons...like Ninetails, Orochi, and the Twin Devils based off the clockwork owls...
To be perfectly frank, less humans had powers in Nippon than the spirits of animals - even objects had their own sort of power.]
Hrrn? [She nudges Kirishima's hand curiously, pawing at his arm. Does...that mean he has some sort of power, then? She was kidding about the red oni thing, but...]
the worst!!
[His manners today, seriously!
Kirishima pops the last of the donut in his mouth so his hands are free, letting Ammy keep her paw against his arm so she can feel the way it turns craggy- like it's suddenly turned to stone- as he activates his Quirk.]
S'called Hardening! I can make any part of my body tough like this. Blocks basically everything, even bullets.
[Not forever though, but it is definitely handy against Villains who are fond of using weapons.]
no subject
...Though now, Ammy's canine instinct takes over, she moves to lightly gnaw on his hand. She can't help it - she wants to test this power of his, and maybe get a better feel of just...what exactly it derives from. Certainly not anything of ill-will, but she can't feel a divine or otherworldly air about him, either. It's like it's just a part of him. How very odd.
Then again, she's seen others with stranger powers yet, just earlier this morning. This world as a whole is strange. Iron buildings, those noisy boxes that blow foul-smelling smoke...the very clothes people wear, everything. This world is so different than hers, and while she doesn't hate it, it's different, and will take time to get used to.]
no subject
I used to really hate it when I was little, yaknow. [He explains, just...talking to her now as if she can understand him (which she very much can!)] It manifested one morning right as I was rubbing at one of my eyes, and I ended up cutting myself. Right here.
[He points with his unhardened hand to a small scar above his right eye.]
Didn't want anything to do with it...until I decided I wanted to be a hero. Obviously I had to eventually come around.