Come on, come on

[maskormods]

WHO: Uncle Sam and You!
WHERE: Heropa Convention Center
WHEN: All day the 17th
WHAT: Taxday Swear-in!
WARNINGS: Mentions of Communism and TBD




Hooray and huzzah, imPorts! Today marks the most patriotic time of the year- no, we haven’t hit another time loop and jumped to Independence Day. It’s Tax Day! That magical time of year when everyone makes sure they are paying their share to keep the American Dream alive and the wheels of the republic well greased.

Today’s event is being held in a large convention center in the fair city of Heropa, one that has survived its share of imPort-related disasters in the past and still stands proud and tastefully decorated in part due to the lovely benefits provided by your tax dollars. Among the red, white, and blue decorations and abundant (indoor safe) sparklers there is the usual spread of delicious finger foods and drinks along the edges of the banquet hall, along with some nice linen-covered tables to sit at for mingling. For the more active, there is a hardwood dance floor in the back of the room with a live band playing music inspired from the era when taxes were used to smash the axis, the big band music of the 1930s and 40s. Those who please can just snack and swing the night away and avoid any other events, but where’s the fun in that?

Two pillars of the American tax system are heavily represented here today: corporations that generate a good deal of tax dollars (remember folks, MoM is strictly pre-Reaganomics. The tax rate on the highest earners is still a sound 70%) and the government that puts it to use. And what helps corporations put more money back into the system? Why earning more, of course! So anyone that doesn’t currently have a sponsorship contract with an American company, there are auditions for an incredible range of products happening here and now! How will your superpower help sell toothpaste or jet engines? That’s up to you. But there is a stage set up to demonstrate your less destructive powers before a panel of judges and corporate sponsors to see if they can make a fit. Non-powered talents are a bonus- singing while flying can only help your score- but some creative involvement of your power is a must. If they just wanted a normally talented face they have natives for that.

Our corporate patriots aren’t the only ones looking for imPort support, though! No matter the complicated relationship between imPorts and natives, there’s no denying the power of imPort support for a particular government message. A variety of current and potentially upcoming government programs are looking for imPort spokespeople or even trying to recruit imPort candidates to run for local office (with a native of their choice serving as second in command in case of sudden porting out, of course). Sign up to join the US Army of Air Force, or just purchase one of the beautiful imPort/Native recruitment posters, featuring military associated imPorts such as pilot Poe Dameron and good old Uncle Sam, arm in arm. Support our national parks by personally pledging to put out any fires in the local ones, call for free hovering cars for all high school students by raising money for the effort, swear to stomp out poverty by signing a contract to only hire natives in your newest imPort business- there’s a near endless variety of causes clamoring for your support. And they came with swag. Get your NASA pins or FBI hats or trash collectors face painting before they run out of supplies. And don’t think we were joking about those elected positions. Campaign managers from every party imaginable- some you’re pretty sure you’d never heard of until today- will be looking for city councils members, sheriffs, city aldermen, you name it, to run on the ticket this November. Just, for the love of Uncle Sam, make sure your own tax documents are in line. Scandals like that still mean something in this America.

Not looking for a new job or to drunkenly (but bindingly, there are contracts) promise to personally recuse every kitten from every tree in De Chima? Don’t fear. There’s still events for those big and small. And we don’t just mean the room dedicated to those that forgot that, as Americans, you do need to pay taxes and will help you quickly and discreetly get those filed away so you can join the patriotic fun.

Throughout the building a massive game of Tax Dodger Manhunt is happening. Sign up in the banquet room for the ultimate game of modified hide and seek which comes with a special prize- getting to decide exactly where all your tax dollars go to! Don’t support education? Send it all to the military. Think roads are fine just the way they are? Give all of it to NASA. Or deep sea exploration. Or into the Legalize Everything Research taskforce. Take your pick(s), you can even be the jerk that systematically gives one dollar to everything. Just put your numbered armband on and don’t let it get away from you. The winner is the person that manages to collect the largest number of armbands by the end of the day from other competitors. While you can’t physically leave the convention center during this game, non-destructive powers are a go. Good hunting, imPorts.

Further festivities are happening on the roof of the convention center- or something like that. Here you will find the display of the Horrors of Communism: an interactive walk of horrors where you see what happens in a nightmare world where people don’t have the innate civic sense of duty to pay their taxes but, rather, were so morally corrupt they formed a monsterous government that took charge of all their money! Now rather than the government serving the people, the people serve the government. Trade out your American fashion for itchy potato sacks, the only clothing available, and play through a nightmare, life-size version of the game of Life where your only choices are starvation and shame. Have your sense of patriotism refreshed by taking a dark walk through the alternative!

Comments

M | Forever Unsettled | OTA

[heliophilic]

[Out of all of the swear-ins he's been to over the last 2 years, this is hands down his least favorite. And he's including all of the swear-ins where things have gone terribly, horribly awry. In fact, the hope that this might go terribly, horribly awry is the only reason he bothers to stay in this this rah-rah Americafest train wreck.

For the most part, M can be found over by the catering, filling his plate again and again as a means of occupying his time, and wishing he could get drunk.

Occasionally he wanders over to the dance floor, where he props up a nearby wall and watches everyone get their groove on. The whole thing reminds him of Bucky, a long gone imPort who would have killed to find a group of people who could swing like this, and he finds himself lost in thought, thinking about the people that have come and gone since he's arrived.

A few times he's unlucky enough to be accosted by someone who clearly has no idea who he is and tries to get him to sign up for some service or another. Each time they're met with an icy glare that would stop a bear dead in its tracks. In at least one instance the person clearly isn't taking no for an answer, and if someone doesn't intervene, things might get ugly.

No matter where you find him, if he's free/paying attention he'll give a head nod in greeting if he notices you. Anyone who looks as uncomfortable as he does at being here gets a knowing smirk as he approaches, saying:]

Can you believe this crap?

[lesterzeppelin]

It's ridiculous. [ Lester laughs, glancing briefly in the direction of "Tax Dodger Manhunt." Honestly, he used to be a god and he still doesn't understand what taxes are. Maybe he should've gone back to school like the government suggested... ] They aren't even trying to be subtle with the propaganda,

[nextsymbol]

[Izuku happens to be walking by just as things are getting heated between M and whoever's trying to get him into a sponsorship deal. Normally, he probably wouldn't get involved, but things are starting to get pretty heated, and he's a lil bit Concerned.

He steps in between the two, which is hilarious, considering he's a tiny teenage boy, but he tries to sound firm, nonetheless.]

...I-I think M-san would prefer to be left alone. P-please leave.

[The representative all but ignores him with an "adults are talking" type brushoff, so he tries again, interrupting them as they try to continue their pitch.]

I said, please leave.

[marr]

[Marr has his arms folded across his chest, watching the crowd and taking mental notes when a man near him approaches with a smirk.]

I can, but I wish it were not so...

[He makes a gesture out at the entirety of the room. There are not enough words for this.]

Where I am from, something so tasteless would never have received approval.

[aviate]

[All of this only serves to remind Hal that he has no idea how to do his taxes. He barely knew how to do it on the Earth he grew up on, let alone how to file as someone who just showed up for the first time a couple of months ago.]

Y-yeah!

[He eyes the tax forms that have been set up all around the room.]

We're not expected to do them too, right?

[devoutish]

[Alfie has no plans to jump in between M and the hapless marketer, but he's perfectly happy to watch. This imPort guy looks like he could eat the salesman alive, and the salesman is just not taking the hint, and based on that alone this clash has a high chance of being at least a little funny. Unfortunately for Alfie, however, the salesman happens to take notice of him too, and practically salivates at the possibility of a double sale.]

Excuse me!

[He calls out suddenly, enthusiastically motioning Alfie over.]

Hi there! I'm Joe, with Wave of the Future, and like I was just explaining to this lovely man here, we manufacture modern, electricity-powered surfboards that--

[And here's where Alfie interrupts.]

"Lovely". This "lovely" man; that's what you said, yeah? Take a look at his face. Does he look lovely to you?

[He looks at M, raising his eyebrows.]

Do you feel very lovely talking to this man, mate?

[itssacrifice]

[While M is lost in thought gazing out at the dance floor, a certain someone comes up behind him, wrapping his arms around his waist and resting his chin on his shoulder. Surely, a life risking action for someone else, but Andrew does it without thought.]

You want to dance?

[If M gazes at the dance floor any harder he might put a dent into it.]

Momo Yaoyorozu | Registering | ota

[recommendations]

[ Momo's first task upon arriving is to hit the swear in table and register. She was told imPorts can only do Pro Hero work if they register, so registration it is. She still doesn't fully understand the laws here and the full implications of what being registered means, but for now she registers just to get it out of the way.

After that, she roams the hall, browsing at the various booths and spectacles. A representative of one of the companies tries to pull her in for a sponsorship deal, wanting to capitalize on her fresh, youthful look. ]

Ah--! [ She replies, flustered, ] I'm still just a student; I'm not with an agency or anything. Are you sure that's okay?

[ The sales rep assures her it's more than okay, and she is whisked away to audition for a sponsorship deal. When tasked with showing the judges a creative use of her powers, Momo gets a little nervous, but in the end, she knocks it out of the park by unbuttoning her shirt, revealing a simple black bra, then concentrating for a moment as, with a shower of brightly colored sparkles, a full size bicycle appears out of her stomach. She re-buttons her shirt, gets on the bicycle and rides around in circles for a bit as streamers appear out of her arms, trailing behind her. Then when that's done, she dismounts from the bike, lifts it up (with some difficulty) and places it begins her head. The bike disappears into her long, bushy ponytail, leaving no trace behind! Satisfied with her performance, Momo bows politely.

Later on that evening, she can be found loading up a plate of hors d'oeuvres wearing a pin that reads, "ASK ME ABOUT BRILLIANSE SHAMPOO!" ]

@ the bike show

[marriedmedium]

[Wow, Sadie has seen some amazing things while incredibly drunk, usually because she's incredibly drunk, but a self-produced bicycle is a new one. Intending to just pass on by, she finds herself transfixed, and breaks out into thunderous applause (or however thunderous one person can be) when the girl finishes.]

Wonderful, wonderful! Such excellent sleight of hand! Where did the bicycle go? Ooh, that must be a magician's secret!

[ghoulking]

[ ask her about shampoo....... so someone has been getting busy with deals and sponsorship. New imPorts always get roped into that sort of thing, and Kaneki can't help but to feel a bit sorry for them since most don't even know what they are getting into.

He smiles a little at her ]

Should I really ask about the shampoo?

[explosivo]

[ wow... he'd rather not ask about the shampoo. he'd accept a hors d'oeuvre however because why the hell not, free food. ]

My question is you don't mind they're just using you as product placement? [ it's selling out...! ]

Izuku Midoriya | Registered | OTA

[nextsymbol]

i. camera-shy

[Izuku had mostly just come here to officially Register so he could legally work as a Hero in America, but what he hadn't expected was getting mobbed by corporate representatives, campaign managers, and various lobbyists all trying to get as many imPorts on board with whatever their interests are. Is this what All Might has to deal with all the time? Izuku has no idea how he does it.

He's just more or less flapping his hands wildly at whoever comes his way, all but trying to hunch himself into a ball and sink through the floor. He was not prepared for literally any of this.]

N-no, sorry, I'm not interested in sponsoring any products right n--run for city council?! [brb screaming internally] No--no thank you! I-I'd rather not! I'm sorry!

[Someone please save him.]

ii. manhunt time

[Now this seems more Izuku's speed. Honestly, he doesn't even care about the reward for winning, but the game reminds him of the "cavalry race" back at the Sports Festival, and he had a lot of fun with that. It also helps that he doesn't have a ten million point armband that everyone's gonna be chasing after??

Anyway, once he's all signed up and put on his armband, he powers up One For All's Full Cowl, and starts zipping around the building, looking for anyone else who's got an armband and might not be paying attention. He's not too fast to follow with the eyes, but he is pretty dang fast.

Better look sharp! A hand's juuust about closing in on your personal space right about now.]

iii. small talk & finger food

[Sometime after the game, Izuku settles in to one of the tables with a small plate of food. Should someone come over, looking for a place to sit, Izuku will smile at them, scooting over to make room.]

Are these events always like this?

[Everything here is So Much]

[spacerhyme]

[ While the Doctor had dropped in simply to see what the event would be like (and maybe make off with some swag), he hadn't been prepared to deal with lobbyists of any sort. Nor campaign managers, several of whom seemed to have zeroed in on one of the oldest white male imPorts as a particularly attractive potential candidate, for some reason. Unfortunately for them, the Doctor's active interest in his political career began and ended with that fancy private presidential aircraft he had once. After expressing how little he cares to a handful, he grows bored of simply telling them off, and decides to switch tack. ]

Sorry, can't talk, [ he glances around, spots Izuku nearby looking like he's trying to melt through the floor, and realizes he can solve two problems at once here, ] my... student is about to be sick all over pal there.

[ He steps away, puts a hand on Izuku's shoulder and gently shoves him. ]

Come on, you need fresh air.

[ Maybe he does or doesn't, but he's not really going to push him towards the exit, anyway. ]

ii;

[itssacrifice]

[Andrew is relaxing against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, as he gazes out at the rest of the party. His armband is pinned to one sleeve and he's not looking in Izuku's direction, so it's easy to see why he would appear to be an easy target. Especially for someone with speed on their side.

Unfortunately for the young hero, Andrew has plenty speed himself, and right before Izuku's hand can brush against his armband, he's reaching out and grabbing his wrist in a firm hold.

He grins down at the boy he's caught.]

Nice try, kid. Better luck next time.

iii

[h2no]

[he wasn't really looking for a place to sit, but probably looks like a charity case with a paper plate balanced awkwardly on his wrist cast. archie isn't adverse to chatting happily with izuku anyway, sliding the almost empty plate down onto the table and flopping his ass down.]

Yyeeep. Somethin' usually goes wrong, but I think today is fine. It's been long enough, anyway. [he shrugs.] The, uh. America theme is in all of 'em. America doesn't even exist where I'm from, so. It's just as weird.

iii

[codeofiron]

[Brandon isn't really looking to sit. He's been wandering the perimeter, watching for anything suspicious. Nothing has happened at a swear-in so far in his time here, but he's heard about it happening in the past, and imPorts are definitely a target these days. He does have a small plate of food himself, though. No reason to go hungry.

He appears to consider Izuku's question seriously for a moment.]

There are different themes.

i

[explosivo]

[ here comes a daring rescue from... this asshole right here.

bakugou grabs deku by the back of his shirt and literally drags him away from the mob of media. ] Oi, Deku. Get your ass over here, let's get registered already. [ he's not saving him, he's just... passing by and picking up deku on the way just because. y e p. ]

If you can't even handle small fry reporters like this how are you gonna handle being a pro?

Darin Altway | Original Character | OTA

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Just Call Him An Iron Patriot
[Darin had been adjusting relatively well to this new life. Honestly, it suited him. He'd spent so many months on the run that being ported into a new world and forcing to adapt to a culture several thousand years ahead of his own almost seemed like a welcome distraction. He had a job, he didn't necessarily have to hide his powers (though he certainly felt more comfortable doing so) and, hell, he actually felt kind of at ease.]

[But this? This display? This was way beyond what he was expecting. Not that Darin didn't understand pledging loyalties. As much as he hated royalty in general, he did swear loyalty to the Kingdom of Alvale and their royal family. He'd even done routine work outfitting the elite guard. Darin didn't exactly understand the patriotism on display, but that didn't stop him from mingling. He was a salesman at heart, after all. Which is why he's introducing himself to a number of military personnel and making sure to sell himself in only the way he can.]

Now, I know what you're thinking: "What can this guy, from the age of sword and sorcery, offer our military in the way of weapons and armor?" And you'd be right to think that! But you know, as a Master Blacksmith, not only do I jump at the chance to work outside my comfort zone, but I can promise you unparalleled body armor using whatever resources you give me access to. I can personally outfit your troops in high quality gear, personally tailored, and at a fraction of the cost of a big-name manufacturer. Trust me, the only thing that matches the quality of my goods is the quality of my work ethic!

[He turns to address people passing by.]

Hey there, Hero-In-The-Making, you'd want some top quality gear before you face down the forces of evil, am I right? Then you came to the right guy!

Band Together
[He'd taken his time to get his name out to anyone who would listen, Darin is enjoying a bit of a stiff drink. He's leaning against a wall, listening to the big band play, tapping his foot. He doesn't have a dance partner, nor does he seem to be looking for one. Doesn't mean he won't accept an offer. But his gaze keeps wandering over to the many booths where people are showing off their powers. He has a rather wistful look as he watches people freely exhibit their talents.]

They sure make it look easy.

[It's unclear whether he's talking about showcasing powers or dancing. Maybe both?]

sup roomie! First prompt c:

[granddevil]

[ Satan has shape-shifting powers and usually hangs around in two forms: naked angel, or 17 year old guy with a resting bitch face. You can guess which one you are getting - spoiler alert: there are no wings involved.

So what we have is a young man, who doesn't smile a lot, wearing shades, and walking around like he hates the place because he sort of does. Darin might have seen him around their house even since they do actually live together and this is the form Satan chooses when mingling with mortals - but he is also kind of an asshole and probably never bothered to talk to Darin.

When he hears the man calling him, "Ryo Asuka" stops on his tracks and looks towards him. He recognizes him too ("Oh, that's one of the people I'm forced to live with" crosses his mind) and with a roll of eyes, Ryo crosses his arms ]

Are you seriously selling yourself to the military? [ he sure is super friendly ]

[minorgod]

[ Yato's caught a little of Darin's sales pitch and ambled over after hearing one phrase in particular. ]

Master Blacksmith, huh?

Darth Marr | Registering | OTA

[marr]

1. A spilled drink
The party is sickeningly patriotic in a way that's an exotic mockery of similar events in the Sith Empire. Parties and parades where Marr was hailed as a hero for defending Imperial worlds and citizens. But this... the colors are so bright and cheery, and the people too pushy and obnoxious. More than once Marr resorted to a very unhappy, blatantly malicious tone.

He can't even make threats like he once would, a threat to cut out the man's tongue doesn't carry the same weight here. He certainly can't follow through on it without causing an excessive amount of trouble for himself.

Instead he uses a passerby to deal with his problem. A movement of his wrist disguised as a slight stretch of both hands, a pull in the Force catches someone's leg as they walk past with a drink. Just enough to unbalance them and either knock them into the man or make them spill their food or drink on him. Either way, it gets Marr out of the conversation.

[Feel free to either be the person used as a distraction or to just call him out on it.]

2. People watching

Once he has extricated himself from enough people to grow tired of being among the crowd, Marr retreats to a wall to stand by himself and observe. How people interact with one another, who speaks to whom, mentally taking note of people who make pledges or deals with government interests or who demonstrate their powers in pursuit of a corporate sponsorship. The last is particularly interesting to watch, as are the people using their powers to chase armbands for this little meaningless game.

In his hand he's holding a half empty drink. How did it get that way when he's wearing his full armor and helmet? The only way to find out is to watch to see if he drinks again or to just ask.

1

[bespin]

Lando is lucky enough to just be a witness to the poor sod tripping over nothing and spilling his drink all over that woman. And while he's got as much Force ability as a piece of thick durasteel, he knows mystical interference when he sees it. Looking around, the only recognizable Force user in the vicinity is one of those helmeted new arrivals he'd seen on the network.

Great, he thinks. Which Sith is this? The one interested in the timeline? Or The one I'd yelled at in a fit of drunken anger?

Either way, he approaches.

"Fine evening," he starts, charming, tension-diffusing smile on his face from the get go. "Even if the decorations are a bit gaudy for my tastes."

Eddison "Dolorous Edd" Tollett | Game of Thrones

[secondplacescrow]

(( Like most other people, Edd can be found at catering to fill up as he normally would. Except he's feeling a little morose than usual. Jon's gone, along with most of Westeros. Except Sam and maybe the Baelish fellow.

Just think about them made Edd even more depressed, so he took up more barbecue onto his plate. He sighed. Maybe he should just go back home and get yelled at by Hux again. It seems more fun than celebrating taxes. His raven, on the other hand, is enjoying swooping down and stealing morsels out of people's plats. It almost bring a smile to poor Edd's face, except Edd will be put to the blame of it. ))

[onlydoubts]

[ Not sitting too far away is Bodhi, his own plate of food on his lap, absently watching people go about, occasionally scanning the crowd for a familiar face. He doesn't notice that the bird is making away with one of his cookies until it's flown off, back to the surly looking man, sitting on his own.

Picking up his plate, he approaches --

-- and holds out another piece of bread to the bird. ]

If he'd have waited around, I probably would've offered.

Nikolai | Hero | OTA

[namesaquestion]

Mingling
[After re-registering as a Hero (again) Nikolai can be found at a table, glaring daggers at everything an everyone. It seems he has a chip, or ten, on his shoulder, and since the target of his ire (a certain dragon tamer) isn't here, he has to make do.

Sometimes a blue-white ball is on the table, Niko rocking it side to side. At least when that's out, his ire seems to be focused on it.

Anyone approaching him is met with: Some loud music (that may or may not get louder), a cold stare as the greatball's clipped back to the belt, and harsh, biting words.] What are you staring at?

[Or, if it's someone he knows-] Hmph. Oh. It's you. What do you want?


Food
[Most likely in line for various foods, or, because he is Very Rude, walking around said area with whatever he's eating.

Which is something that passes for Japanese, such as dango, yakisoba, or sushi rolls.] How hard is to find decent wasabi?

[That may or may not have been said around a mouthful of food.]


Manhunt
[Now this much more fun, and Niko doesn't care if he was 'supposed to play fair, or, well, or fair as fair can be with superpowers.

Visibly, he's only got one of his four pokemon out, that being his golbat, which pretty much commands the airspace directly above Nikolai, who soaks up the attention, any attention, the giant bat gets him.] Of course it's mine.

[It's only out to detract from Niko's real goal: adding more armbands to the handful he already has, curtsey of the invisible haunter stealing what armbands it can and returning them to Nikolai, and the astute may catch a brief glance to the side occasionally. This isn't to say Nikolai's not stolen a few himself, and if he thinks he can get away with grabbing an armband himself, he will.] Heh, wanna see it do something cool?

[It being the golbat, of course.]


Wildcard
((Got something in mind? Wanna do something other than the prompts? hit me up! I can be found at dark_fenix if you need to plot.))

manhunt

[h2no]

[it's a good strategy niko is deploying, all things considered. it's obviously working. too bad it's about to completely wrecked.

large purple bat (crobat) had been soaring easily through the building, looking around it for a place to shack up and have a nap. the sight of golbat, however, immediately detracts it as it is unbelievably delighted to see another of its evolutionary line. crobat doesn't even click that golbat is one it knew previously. it shrieks in delight, divebombing the golbat in midair to whap its wings over the (slightly) smaller bat. archie follows crobat - as he has been, with nothing better to do, wanting to avoid whatever is going on - and... stops. takes a long pull off his bottle of genuine american brand beer. feels several emotions that wildly conflict.

should he leave? he's not sure if he can handle this right now, but... niko coming back might mean maxie and matt, right? he can't just leave someone from their world, crazy timelines or not.

glancing up at crobat accosing niko's poor golbat, he raises a hand casually in greeting. keeping it neutral in case niko doesn't remember.]

Yo!

Hans Gruber | Probably NOT blowing anything up

[exceptionalthief]

[All in all, Hans Gruber is not a big fan of the United States government. He hadn't been one before coming here and nine months later, his opinion hasn't improved at all. While he's not openly engaging in terrorist acts to the extent he had been while with the West German Volksfrei Movement (which had hated all imperialist governments by extension), he has actually returned to his roots lately to a small degree, via his porter-induced power of bomb transmutation, which enables him to turn any small harmless thing into a not-so-harmless explosive.

With a few exceptions, the power had been mostly confined to the stockroom at the Christmas store, but he'd been attempting to branch out of late, with his most notable success being to turn one of his roommate Gemini's stuffed toys into a bomb, succeeding in blowing up her bedroom... which unfortunately hadn't killed her, oh well. Better luck next time.

Whether or not he can get the power to work at the swear-in, he doesn't know, but trying is really his only reason for attending such a disgustingly pro-American government event and he can be found just walking around in general, occasionally (somewhat inexplicably) placing his hand on something small and innocuous before frowning slightly in exasperation and moving on.]

[slightlyoffchilt]

Some might confuse that -- [said Chilton, his hand gesticulating in a circular motion to encapsulate the general area of Hans Gruber's hand and an innocuous object.] With a type of compulsion. But I might hazard your behavior is something different altogether.

[He preferred to make appearances at these endeavors, at least he tried to do so once in awhile. Networking and publicity became an ouroboros in constant consumption of its own tail.

Exhausting, smiling, and hungry.]

There is usually more alcohol at these events.