you don't scare me, huge ackman!

[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

Qubit | Irredeemable

[superposition]

01-A

[New imPorts, of course, have a variety of reactions upon arrival; Qubit is the one who wastes no time making a scene. Specifically, he's refusing to leave the lab.]

Maybe I didn't make myself clear, Captain. I am not going anywhere with you people until I hear a decent explanation for this. [Here he points with his thumb at the Porter, accusatory.] Who are you? Where did you get this technology?

"Sir, please calm down. Everything will be explained in your debriefing-"

Debriefing? I'm sorry, is there something I signed my name to in the last five minutes that I should be aware of? No, you listen. I want to talk to your CO immediately.

[Someone may want to step in before he gets forcibly removed from the premises...]

01-B

[... or after. You know, whichever. He grudgingly lets himself be escorted outside (albeit a bit roughly) once the Tasers come out. (By that point it was either cooperate and get thrown out, or get Tased and then thrown out anyway. Christ, his life is just one no-win situation after another these days.) That said, he's still very upset about the whole thing... and a little fearful besides, but not for the same reason. The fear isn't for himself. The fear is because of something that's no longer in his head.

If you need him, he can be found standing barely out of the way, doing something on a tablet-like device that is decidedly not the stock communicator. (Don't be fooled by the thick chassis, though, it's only big because it's absurdly powerful for a handheld.) Also, muttering to himself.]

... would be shielded. If I could just get a bead on the signal ...

[Yeah so he might or might not be trying to hijack the teleporters already. Good luck with that, bro.]

WILDCARD

[Hit me! Qubit can be anywhere. Interests include but are not limited to SCIENCE, and/or standard superhero shenanigans.]

[stealwithit]

Neat.

[ Congrats, bro, you have earned the piqued curiosity of (1) hooded space thief, who is also extremely liable to stealing the shit out of this device in his hands. Not right now, because that would just be rude and sloppy, but you know. Sometime. In the future.

Sadly, her "piqued curiosity" manifests itself by way of suddenly popping out of thin air just behind him, with her head peeking around his shoulder. Around because look, she's petite, okay? Looking over people's shoulders tends to be a little more difficult. ]

What is that?

[superposition]

[She'd certainly have good reason to, if by "good reason" we mean "Qubit's tech is worth a goddamn fortune on the black market where he's from." And really, what better reason do you need? But I digress.

Qubit jumps, startled, but then steps sideways so the screen on his device is out of her line of sight. (The glimpse she'd have gotten was mostly math gobbledegook, but there was at least one wormhole-looking diagram as well.) Rude, Kasumi, don't sneak up on high-strung people!]

Angry Birds, obviously. [Aka none of your beeswax.]

[stealwithit]

[ She does what she wants, okay! In any case, she doesn't make a move when he flinches away, except to tilt her head and fold her arms. ]

Funny, I recall there being actual birds in Angry Birds.

[superposition]

[Man, he does not have the patience to play the cagey banter game right now.] Is there something you want? I'm busy.

[stealwithit]

[ Boo. Cagey banter is the best. ]

Is there something you want? Because if you're trying to fiddle with the Porter, you'd better find somewhere comfortable to sit while you do that.

[ She's looked into it a bit, herself, but mostly it was the wormhole diagram that clued her in. ]

[superposition]

[Whoops busted. It was the diagram, wasn't it? He really needs to polarize the screen on this thing. Well, not the end of the world... Somehow, she doesn't seem like the type to report him. Call that a hunch. He continues running numbers as he talks.]

For the record, if you mean the big one, I can't access it from here. Probably buried under a mile of lead and EMF shielding. Maybe a polar ice cap, too, for all I know.

[He squints at the screen, dissatisfied, and taps it a few times to delete something. What he wants is to find out where the little porter originates, a.k.a. precise coordinates for the main Porter lab. But what do you know, apparently the USMil both anticipated that and encrypted the hell out of it.]

[grouchinleather]

[Steps out of the shadows (no he wasn't hiding there, with the whole dressed in all black thing it just sort of happens) towards Qubit.]

You know what they say about curiosity, don't you?

[superposition]

[What is it with all these people trying to sneak up on him today? At least this time the guy only figuratively comes out of nowhere. Qubit spares an eyebrow for the cowl, but isn't really fazed by it.]

Naturally, but only if the cat's observed. [Speaking of which, he sets a program running in the background and switches off the screen for the moment. No observation for you, sir.] Something I can help you with?

[grouchinleather]

You've clearly never seen the troubles cats can get into all by themselves.

[Pfft like he'd be able to understand what it said anyway. That was Angie's thing, not his.

Midnighter shrugs.]

I just want a front row seat when they come after you.

[superposition]

[It was a Schrödinger's Cat joke gosh. The cat is both alive and - oh, forget it.]

"They." The government? [Wouldn't be the first time. Is that a threat, or...?]

[grouchinleather]

[Yeah whatever don't care.]

Technically speaking. I meant more specifically the people in there [Points his thumb at the compound.] you're undoubtedly pissing off by trying to hack them.

[And seriously? Does he look like he works for the government?]

[superposition]

[He's seen weirder things okay!! The government where he's from literally put a demon from hell on their payroll that one time, a shady guy in black leather wouldn't be all that farfetched.

Qubit tchs through his teeth.] Trust me, if I'm right, that ought to be the least of their concerns right now.

[grouchinleather]

Oh yeah? And what should they be worried about instead?

[superposition]

[He opens his mouth to answer - then closes it. He doesn't even know you, man, and he's not sure he wants this information getting out just yet.]

First I'd like to know what makes it any of your business.

[grouchinleather]

Because I'm stuck here talking to you when I'd rather be back home fucking my husband. That's what makes it my business, poindexter.

1/2 MY ICONS ARE INSUFFICIENT

[superposition]

2/2

[superposition]

[Wow. Just wow, Midnighter, that was more information than he needed. Clearly you are the classiest motherfucker around. No one can hope to beat you in a classy-off.]

Well, far be it from me to keep you here! [He makes a sweeping gesture toward where they're offering people rides to housing.] The car park's right there, off you go.

[He. may be making the assumption that your husband lives in this dimension too, whoops.]

[grouchinleather]

[He's not sure if he wants to facepalm or punch this idiot in the face.]

I'd love to, but it's a bit tough considering he ain't here.

[superposition]

[Don't worry, he gets that a lot. Punched in the face, that is.

Aaand yeah the sarcastic smile vanishes pretty quickly. Haha, whoops, you're the asshole again, Qubit! We're two for three!]

- I'm sorry. If it's any consolation, I happen to be the expert in interdimensional transport. Once this particular mess is cleaned up, I'm going to do everything in my power to reverse the Porter's effects and get everyone home. That's a promise.

[grouchinleather]

[Midnighter doesn't even have to wonder why he'd be punched in the face a lot after talking to him for four seconds.]

Big talk, get in line with all the other geniuses who think the same thing.

[Good, he's thrown the guy off his high horse with his little statement of fact, and now he's hoping he can goad the guy into being a bit more forthcoming with the information.]

[superposition]

[Yeah no, challenging his intelligence is the quickest way to get him back on that horse. Dunno if you heard him, bro, he's the expert.]

They may think. I know. I've done this before, and with far poorer resources than you have here. If anyone can get you home to your husband, it's me.

[Especially once he recovers Modeus. The guy may be an absolute monster, but he's useful. Well, his intellect is. The rest of him can go to hell.]

[grouchinleather]

Oh yeah? I've heard that one before.

[superposition]

You don't have to believe me. Just don't pretend you did all along when the time comes. I can't stand that. [He fires up his tablet again, looking dissatisfied at the output as he goes on.] Now is there anything else, or can I get back to neutralizing this supervillain?

[grouchinleather]

Don't worry, I'll act properly surprised, just for you.

[Rolls his eyes. What an insufferable jackass (and coming from Midnighter that's saying something).]

Just one more question: since when's the government "a supervillain"?

[Mind you, he's not against that line of thought...]