safety first

[maskormods]

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 someone else's thread, either!

And remember to have fun!

01. Your memory might be a haze still and you might even feel frustrated or anxious by the sudden news that you are no longer in your own world and that the Porter scientists and military cannot send you back. You don't get a chance to linger long in the underground Porter lab, but something is clearly amiss; light patches on the floor indicate something else used to sit in that spot in the room. Parts of the wall, floor and the tables look as if they have been refurbished in the past few months -- something happened in here some time ago. Something big.

You're ushered out quickly and then suddenly, you're enveloped in a faint blue blue light before you find yourself under the bright Floridian sun. Another soldier steps toward you with a smile, directing your attention to a car near a large gate. She mentions she'll be debriefing you soon, handing out a brown folder and a pamphlet. You don't see the digital tattoo on your wrist, but it's quickly explained on your way over to the car as you realize there are other confused faces nearby, all holding files of their own.

02. The city of Heropa is what one might expect from a small, bright and cheery place. The locals are friendly enough and local shop owners might offer a free drink to help cool you down in this awfully nauseating heat. Some of the locals might thank you for always lending your service to the nation and others might not say anything. In fact, some people might back away from any imPort who quite obviously looks like they aren't from around the neighborhood. Once in a while there's a look of disdain on someone's face and hushed voices. Something about "the outbreak" and "the government's gotta crack down on their medical files". "Some of them can't be right in the head" says another.

03. De Chima, Virginia, is a large city with a healthy economy, and though it's quieter, there are just as many citizens awed at your presence. Heavy winds have people grasping at their newspapers and constantly brushing hair out of their faces, but that doesn't distract them from crowding you in excitement if you're obviously from a different time or world, or just let it slip that you're a newcomer. Children and young teenagers are especially likely to ask for an autograph and a photo.

Some locals seem less enthused to see you. They never make an approach, but they can be overheard scoffing and muttering something about cameras. "Who do they think they are?" or "I don't like it... it reminds me of the government corruption back in the eighties." What could they be talking about?

04. Maurtia Falls, Pennsylvania, is normally known for being a little more on the apathetic side, but there's been tension in the atmosphere lately. Nobody will outright state what it is that's rustled their jimmies, though you might find a newsstand with articles on recent and aggressive vigilante behavior within the city. "ImPorts: loyal to the cause of their own?" reads one newspaper article.

People are not as friendly in this city and go out of their way to avoid walking down the same sidewalk as the more obvious looking imPorts pass through. Local cops say nothing, but they scowl at those imPorts and utter something about "no badges" and "acting like authority figures".

05. Nonah, North Carolina, is the liveliest of all cities. It's loud, busy and there's some kind of energy in the air that gets everyone buzzing with excitement. Anyone who they come to determine an imPort is bombarded with all sorts of offers; job offers, advertising gigs, spokesperson for advocating children stay in school, etc. Anything and everything! You name it. Shops offer discounts for food and clothing, whatever they need. People flock in droves with questions, but they all say the same thing. Thank you for your service to this country, Hero. You saved a lot of lives. Wow, feels great to be a hero, doesn't it?

Comments

Kaneda Shotaro | Akira (movie)

[rassera]

01.

[Out of all the people arriving, some are handling this situation with grace, accepting their pamphlets and newfound body art with the finesse of a professional. Listening to the advice of the people just trying to help them. Kaneda is not one of these people--with the pamphlet now crushed firmly between his fingers, he's marching around and doing what he does best: demanding answers.]

Hey, YOU there! Is anyone gonna tell me just what the hell is going on? Hey I'm -talking- to you!

[He trails someone for a few steps before they walk away, his own pacing slowing to a stop. DAMN IT. Angry 16-year-olds are pretty intense, okay.]

All I want is my freakin' bike!!

[Bro he did not just live through Neo Tokyo crumbling to bits to be dealing with this shit.]


02.

[With no one giving him an answer (or one he particularly likes), Kaneda has taken to the streets (on foot, unfortunately), attempting to adjust to the Florida heat. It's much different than in Japan, and that orange jacket of his eventually slides off and is slung over his shoulder. Speaking of things unlike home, this place was everything Neo Tokyo wasn't. Cheerful, full of life...and not just a beat horse of a city thriving on crime and political corruption.

In some ways, this could be nice. If he'd been invited instead of forcefully taken from his friends. He'd just survived that mess...riding with Kai and Kei through the abandoned city. And now...

Suddenly in a new one.

His ears pick up on the people talking around him, brow raising. It was almost too familiar--too fresh in his mind from what he'd experienced. 'Can't be right in the head'. Hmph.]

Ah, bite me. [A loud--definitely audible whisper as he tucks his head back down, continuing to march down the street.


He's a really nice guy, HONEST...]

1 ) bawoop woop im sure he needs more crazy murderous teens in his life, right?

[dreamshades]

[ Wow, you're an angry one aren't you, Kaneda? Peter Pan just watches the boy's outburst of anger from a bit aways. So much rage in this one. A fire that seemed to not be doused.

It's amusing and it's enough to catch Pan's interest.

And suddenly, Pan just silently materializes behind the boy only a few steps away. No shine, no shimmer, just quick and simple. ]

Completely hopeless, aren't they? Can't even answer a simple question.

oh definitely! he's a magnet for crazies!

[rassera]

[You don't understand Peter, he literally watched his best friend become a microwaved marshmallow peep. And now his bike's gone too!

Although having someone suddenly standing behind you just after you tell the authorities exactly how you feel can surprise anyone, and he takes a minute to flail around to face him.

Regaining composure in 3...2...]

Oh, heard that, did you?

[Everyone heard you, Kaneda. He'll just quickly shove his hands in his pockets.]

To tell you the truth, it's not all that different back home. Not sure if that's good or bad for me, you know?

don't worry, he's less showy about the crazy.

[dreamshades]

[ If and when Kaneda takes a good look at Peter, the lithe looking teen is wearing this. Obviously, he stands out far more than others in the crowd.

Peter smiles still, looking completely unbothered by the outburst. He gestures to the people around them. ]

I don't think it's different anywhere. Grown ups always seem to have some sort of excuse to ignore the rest of us who just want answers to easy questions.

[ Still, there is honest curiosity in his more malicious intents. ]

I have to ask though what is a motorcycle?

[ While he may have scoured the lands for a special little boy he didn't take much notice or time to analyze every aspect of non-magical lands. Horseless carriages are still something new to him. ]

well that's a small victory, if anything

[rassera]

[Oh, yeah...definitely going to take notice of that outfit. There's even a step back as his eyes travel down, noticing how...odd (yeah let's go with odd) of a style he's sporting. Questions he'll ask in a few minutes.]

Tell me about it. Man, if I just got one simple explanation--something--...stupid idiots.

[He huffs a sigh, rolling his shoulders to try and get that bad mood out. Despite being a little rage bucket about losing his bike, he's not one to really one to let stuff go to his head for too long. Besides, SOMEONE was being good company.

And that question's enough to get his mind off of being geographically displaced. At least for the time being.]

What, you get bonked on the head or something? You know--a bike.

[His hands go out, as if gripping the handles of it and turning one to rev.]

Two wheels, engine...

now come and be a lost boy, it'll be great fun.

[dreamshades]

[ He's been use to this look so far, but, to Peter? Everyone else is dressed strangely. All those clothes look so restricting and uncomfortable. The surprised look earns nothing more from Peter with a neutral like smile. ]

That's how they are. They don't tend to care about boys like us. We're like specks of dust to them.

[ He definitely pegged it. This boy had fire and a lot of it. Something Peter could profit on for later.

The obvious surprise to Peter's lack of knowledge regarding automobiles earns something of a small laugh. ]

Sorry, I'm afraid we didn't have those in my land. This is all rather a new experience to me.

sorry bro he'll let you finish but the capsules are the best gang of all time

[rassera]

[You say that now but you'll be thankful when you're eating pavement. ...They probably don't have pavement where you come from, do they.]

Heh, got that right.

[Although it's not his lack of knowledge that surprises him next, but the reason behind said lack of knowledge. He could wrap his head around maybe hearing about them but not understanding...but...]

You listening to yourself? It's kind of crazy talk--I mean...what land did you come from where there's no bikes?

[Probably America.]

They're machines you can ride--like a horse on wheels. And it just so happens -I've- got the best one. Customized it myself.

[Showing off? Maybe a little.]

well, i'll just have to murder them or brainwash them whichever works

[dreamshades]

[ No, no they don't and Pan never fails...okay there was like two instances where he did but every other time? Flawless victories.

The comments on being called crazy earns a bit of an eyebrow raise. ]

I could say the same about you, being able to ride on such things that don't require horses or magic.

If you have to ask though, I come from a place called Neverland. You might have heard of it.

[ Because you people in the Land without Magic tend to have stories about him and he questions how much the person was drinking when they wrote him as a good guy. ]

Really? And yet it's not here.

[ Still, he's intrigued. ]

Do you have a picture of it?

too late asshole they're dead save for the gang's preppy midget

[rassera]

Magic? Jeez, you really -did- get your head bonked, didn't you? Neverland, magic, horses? Sounds like you're from a storybook.

[Well speak of the devil--]

Here, I'll show you what it looks like.

[Finally, a use for that pamphlet. I mean, it's not like people READ that or anything. He pulls a pen out (that somehow survived the world blowing up) and puts it to a building wall, doodling a rather crude picture of a bike]

HA at least mine aren't they just betrayed me instead.

[dreamshades]

[ Peter's suppressing a smirk. A non-believer. Clearly, someone he doesn't need around, but, the godlike boy has always had a way with words. It might even be easy to make the other believe in magic and in him.

But, where would the fun be if it was completely easy?

When the drawing is done, Peter steps over to take it from Kaneda. The boy steps around the other, circling him and making a low humming noise of thought. ]

You mean something like this one?

[ With his words follow a gesture of his hand, there's a ringing noise that hits the air and as if by MAGIC a bike appears off to Kaneda's right. Peter looks like he doesn't notice, pretending his focus is on the pamphlet than what just appeared.]

[bindsthedead]

What? [Sabriel is suprisingly tall for a teenage girl- and her tone is irate. She's two years older than him at most, and not happy with what she sees- even if her expression softens as she spots the pamphlet.]

Listen, if you're an imPort too- it's rare for any of our belongings to come with us, aside from what we're carrying. You'll have to save up an buy another one here.

[rassera]

[It takes a moment for him to get over his little fit and look at her, eyes widening as she relays the information. Because there's two things wrong with that statement:

1.) saving up.

2.) another bike.]

I can't just buy another one. It's my bike. There's nothing else like it.

[bindsthedead]

That's unfortunate, but it really doesn't change anything. They can't get it back, and unless you've gained the power to- I don't know, conjure it, you won't be getting it back.

So if you want one, you'll need to get a replacement- I hope you're used to ones that hover.

[rassera]

Conjure it? What...like magic?

[God you don't have to patronize him Sabriel he knows magic isn't real. Gosh.]

Damnit...

[Although, he has had experience (hands on) with flying bike-like machines. It was just more panic-enducing than he'd care to admit.]

I can handle anything.

[bindsthedead]

Or something. Not everyone draws their power from the supernatural. Have you read the pamphlet, or anything else they gave you?

[Who do you think you're talking to Kaneda?]

Good. Then you won't have to do as much adjusting as I did.

[rassera]

...

[His eyes dart away a minute, thinking about the 'not everyone' part, his mind partially elsewhere for the moment.]

Uh--not really.

[You're giving this kid too much credit. He slowly unclenches his fist from the pamphlet and delicately tries to make it straight again.]

You mean this? I uh...no. Things were kind of emotional when I got here and all. A guy's got to have his priorities.

[Why yes, he put his bike above his location and 'what the hell is going on'.]

[bindsthedead]

Trust me, what's written on those papers matters far more than your bike. [Sabriel's expression twists into a wry grin at that.] I- and many others- are in the same situation as you. It'll be easier to explain if you've read the pamphlet, but... we've been brought here from many different places, we can't go back, and all of us have some kind of power- if you didn't before, you have one now. [Obviously, there's more to it, but that's the barest of bare bones.]

[rassera]

[His eyes span the pamphlet as she explains, vigorously reading (don't tell his teacher that--he might start expecting things from him) before realizing something.]

This pamphlet. It's...English. But I can read it.

[He rereads over another sentence. Of course, the thought of 'hey I'm speaking it too' doesn't come to mind, but little steps.]

Different places. Somehow I get the feeling you don't just mean countries....you're talking crazy things like dimensions.

2

[rideme]

Careful. Some guys here might want to take you up on it.

[Says the mountain of Qunari pausing in the doorway to a hardware store. Because you have to replace your home weapon system every so often. Meaning there's a sledgehammer slung over one beefy shoulder.]

[He looks amiable enough, despite what he says, casually leaning against the doorframe enough to let the kid pass, before heading onto the sidewalk himself.]

Hi.

[rassera]

[He doesn't notice at first, too busy wrapped up in his own teenage boy problems, at least until Bull hails him. His footsteps stop, gaze slowly turning from the pavement to the door of the hardware store...up...and up.]

!! What the--

[HE'S HUGE! Probably about the size of the head of the Clowns, or even higher. Play it cool, Kaneda. You're good at talking.]

What's with the getup, huh?

[His finger taps his forehead, right where the horns are on Bull.]

Entering a bullfight?

[rideme]

[Bull just drops a lopsided grin, rolling those huge shoulders like he hasn't noticed anything odd at all.]

What, this?

[As he. Casually. Swings the sledge hammer around in one hand.]

Just a little home improvement.

[rassera]

[Size never really scared Kaneda. While he wasn't exactly the tallest or largest guy around (he's still growing, okay), bravado and doing what no one else would dare to do earns you respect on the streets. Call it impulsive behavior, or stupidity. He's got a little bit of both.

And both work for him.]

Question is, yours or someone else's?

[Yeah, he'll just...play along for now. Those horns are definitely gonna be mentioned later.]

[rideme]

[He's sort of glad he hasn't had to deal with the whole "YOU'RE HUGE WHAT ARE YOU" question yet. So, honestly, Bull doesn't mind. Kids are like this.]

Ours. Roommates have some security problems.

[There's an eyebrow waggle.]

I'm solving them.

[rassera]

[Not the weirdest he's seen, believe him.]

Something tells me you're not planning on tearing down walls with that thing.

[A pause.]

Not the most subtle choice in dealing with robberies, but effective.

[rideme]

Not unless I've got to.

[He just chuckles at that last statement, shaking his head.]

There isn't much about me that is subtle.