etcelsior | we begin with an airing of grievances

TEST DRIVE MEME

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 anyone's thread, either!

And remember to have fun!

01. Your memory is hazy and you might feel increasingly frustrated or anxious, or maybe you're excited as soldiers march past, barely glimpsing you. One second you're somewhere underground, the next you're enveloped in blue light, and suddenly you find yourself directly under Flordia sun's bright and burning glare. A female soldier steps toward you with a wide smile on her face and directs you to a car, ready to debrief you. You realize you are not the only one, surrounded by equally confused or eager faces... and you're all sporting a digital tattoo on your wrist.

02. Welcome to Cape Canaveral, where the smell of the ocean is in the air and locals are more than pleased to see new imPorts roaming their streets. They wave, they cheer, they ask for pictures as politely as they can. The more inhuman you look, or if you're wearing a costume, the more likely locals are to approach. Hey, enjoy the moment! The popular malt shop is offering you a free drink if you need it.

03. The technology in this world is certainly something. The cars are clearly modeled after popular 50s cars, but they hover several feet above the ground as they drive down the street. There are digital jukeboxes in restaurants, motorcycles also hover through traffic, advertisements can be seen on a digital projector on the taller buildings. Even kids on skateboards appear to drift a safe ten feet off the ground while playing!

04. Wherever you are, you can hear the loud revving of an engine, distance at first before you finally see it: a hovercar bursting around the corner, going beyond the maximum speed limit and just barely making its sharp turn. It doesn't appear to be slowing down any time soon, not with two police cars trailing it... and uh oh. Those skateboarding kids don't have much time to get out of the way as the car comes speeding down the road. You've been brought here for a reason Hero — so you better act fast.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Well, really, who wants to sit down and read their file? Admittedly, Giorno did it, because he's that sort of person. And admittedly he'd probably look oddly at anyone who didn't... which is why he's looking oddly at Josuke now.]

[It's the exuberance with which the fellow (about his age but, annoyingly, much taller) makes his attempts with that hoverboard that give him away. No native looks that enthralled by what is, to them, an absolutely routine piece of technology. And, given that Giorno has never seen this person around, either in person or on the network, it's not hard to discern that he must be Very New.]

[So, the question is... how new?]

If you try it that way, it's going to turn over.

[His voice is a bit bland, and so is his expression.]

You're new, I assume?

[By the time Giorno approaches, it must be Josuke's third or fourth attempt to balance upon the hoverboard, but for all that it's not going so well, he doesn't look the least bit discouraged. Whether it's because the kids who loaned him the board look amused or because he's just that determined, though...it's hard to say.]

It's not going to—

[—it turns over.

But Josuke's quick, and while the spinning of the board in the air might land an ordinary person flat on their ass on the sidewalk, he's steady on both feet and frowning down rather hard at the machine as it settles.]

Huh. It did flip.

[Surprise, surprise.

Josuke looks up, frown fading, a look of curiosity replacing it. He's not sure he likes that this guy's automatically assuming he's new, assumptions are kind of rude most of the time, but to be fair...he supposes his excitement over the hoverboard is rather telling. Not to mention his inability to get a handle on it yet.

He was this close, though. He knows it! If he disperses his weight just a little more... He's a big guy, after all.]

Uh, is it that obvious?

[Giorno shrugs, and sips his passionfruit smoothie, which is great by the way.]

Native residents are as likely to get excited over that kind of thing as over an ordinary telephone. And long-time residents tend to become jaded, as well, as is human nature.

Besides, you don't carry yourself like a native in general [the clothes. the hair is actually not that out of place, jfc.] and I've never seen you before.

[...wow.

Josuke makes a face.]

Did it ever occur to you that you could have just said yes?

And anyway, what do you mean you haven't seen me before? This place is huge, there's probably a ton of people you've never seen around here!

[Geez, way to be immature, aren't you older than him? Giorno makes a bland face, as per usual.]

I thought it would be more polite to explain my reasoning.

And the number if imPorts is limited. It's not difficult to stay familiarized with who is and isn't here, at least in vague terms. It's better to be aware, after all.

[Age schmage. Have you met his father?]

...you thought that was more polite?

[How is pointing out the obvious polite even?! It makes Josuke feel like an idiot. But...this guy, if that was his intention, he seems the sort to be more direct about it. So Josuke shrugs it off.]

Whatever, whatever...thanks, I guess. Yeah, I'm new around here. And I'm gonna take your whole spiel to mean you're not.

[Gosh, way to be sensitive now, too. Giorno shrugs off the question and leaves it uncommented on, but as for his own length of stay here...]

I arrived in mid-November.

[SO, NOT VERY LONG. But long enough to have gotten over the hoverboards.]

[Mid...November......and acting like he should know everybody on sight?]

So that makes you some kind of expert.

[It's not really delivered as a question. Josuke heaves a sigh and shoves one hand into his pocket, the other planting the nose of the hoverboard on the ground so he can lean on it.]

Got a name, kid?

[WELL YOU'RE SHORTER...]

I don't remember saying anything like that.

[Gosh so tetchy, why. Giorno shrugs.]

I do have a name. The question is, will I share it?

I should be the one asking you that.

[And he's wondering if he should bother when he decides, to hell with it, and thrusts his hand out between them.]

I'm Josuke. And thanks, by the way. If it wasn't for your warning, I'd probably have wound up on my ass.

[A guy with hair as cool as yours can't be too bad.]

[OKAY BETTER, Giorno looks at the hand for a second, and then gives it a shake!]

Giorno Giovanna. And it's a pleasure. I would hate to see anyone's ass touch the pavement without due warning.

[...]

Or free choice, I suppose. But really, why?

Heh. [Points for trying, Giorno. Or something. Josuke seems amused, at any rate.] Someone really lazy might drop and take a seat. Not my thing.

[After drawing his hand back, he shrugs.]

So... [Looks at that outfit. Smirks a little.] You on duty or something?

[Because they're meant to be heroes now, and Giorno looks like he's in costume, see?]

On duty in what sense?

[Sorry, he just always dresses like this, Alas.]

I'm not in law enforcement.

[HARDLY.]

So they really don't enforce doing hero stuff, then? We can just kind of...do whatever we want?

So far so good. I've heard there are occasional missions, but I've yet to receive one.

Hm...that's not such a bad deal. Looks like there's tons of stuff around to check out in the meantime. Don't suppose you've got any recommendations?

[Giorno frowns a bit, and taps his cheek with his index finger.]

Hm.

I'm afraid I'm not the most recreational of people...

That's a surprise.

[He snickers.]

Well, I am. And it probably won't kill you to lighten up a bit, so what say you we...do something? I don't know, like...find an arcade?

...I don't play video games.

[and honestly, what was that comment about surprises meant to imply, exactly.]

[That you seem kind of stiff!]

Well, it was just a thought. [Ask questions and have fun doing it, that kind of thing.] Sounded better than standing around doing nothing.

[Which he's really not inclined to keep doing. So he's just...going to look around some. Maybe find an arcade on his own or someplace not the sidewalk to sit down for a bit. Couldn't hurt to grab a paper and read up on some news. This place has an awful lot going on...]

we begin with an airing of grievances

hello bro

sup amico

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