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

01

[superposition]

[Qubit was already stressed enough without someone jamming a stick into his foot, thank you. That's just the icing on the cake. He hisses loudly.] Watch it, you clumsy-

[- aaaaand then stops short when he realizes he is yelling at someone walking with a crutch. Good job, Qubit, you are the asshole here.]

I - sorry. I'm sorry.

[mathemagier]

[Hermann raises his head from where he's searching for that nagging feeling, and takes in a man with the most ridiculous haircut he's ever seen. It makes Newton's look downright tame in comparison. He glances down to ensure his crutch is no longer impaling the man's foot and gives a short, sharp nod]

Quite. [He means to move on, but now that he's paused to contemplate the crowd before him, he realizes he's moved in a bit far, and he might be chasing a ghost. But it still feels like there's something there, buzzing and waiting for him, and it's a difficult feeling to shake. A side-effect, perhaps..?

His gaze cuts to the man he'd trodden over in sudden indecision. He'll sound insane asking, but if this is indeed another world, he might not be alone in experiencing it. Though to think it might be normal sounds maddening]

This will sound strange, but I don't suppose you happen to feel a sort of pull toward something?

[superposition]

[Hermann if you think Qubit's hair is ridiculous... well, you're right, but wait until you see the Yu-gi-oh characters. ANYWAY. He gives the question serious consideration, at least, only answering after taking a moment to "listen". You never can tell with these pesky parallel universes.]

... No, I don't think so. Why, do you?

[mathemagier]

[To think people might have anything to say about his own, normal-looking hair.

His mouth purses into a thin line, and he spares a look to the file he has yet to open. He should read it, although there's nowhere comfortable to do so at the moment, but it might answer a few questions.

He sighs, adjusting his crutch, and decides he'll just forge through until he's escaped the crowd, whether or not he finds whatever it is]

It's terribly distracting, but all the same, it could also be dangerous. [He's musing aloud now, preoccupied by the thought of his drift with the Kaiju. He desperately hopes there's no leftover connection to them here.]

I appreciate your time.

[superposition]

[Qubit doesn't miss the glance at the file, though, and it gets him thinking. He's already read through his own copy at least once. Is the cause something that's listed inside? Unlikely to be the nanites, since only one of them is feeling the effect, which leaves the one other option. Sorry if Hermann was trying to taper off the conversation there or anything, but Qubit's curious now.]

Out of curiosity, what did the file say about your powers?

[mathemagier]

[Powers. The word rolls down his spine like a chill. To think he might have been... alienated to any degree. So much for his escape. He stands a little straighter]

I've yet to read it. Once I've found a place to sit, I will do so, but I must confess I'm rather skeptical about all of this. Such things don't- or should not exist.

[superposition]

[Qubit takes one of his lapels in hand. Being one of the first supers to use his powers publicly, at least in his own world, he's dealt with his share of skepticism ... or fear of the unknown, for that matter. This much, at least, is familiar ground.]

Whether they should or not, I assure you they do. [Then his gaze shifts past Hermann, briefly, and he indicates with his other hand-] Looks like there's a bench free over there, if that suits.

[mathemagier]

[Hermann doesn't lose his skeptical look, but he twists around to see the bench so helpfully pointed out to him]

Wonderful.

[The word's muttered under his breath, relief tinged with sarcasm, and he only spares a brief glance backward before he's pushing through to it. Whether or not he's followed is of little concern, because now that he's seen it, he's desperate to reach it more than he's worried about the pull. He's been running solely on adrenaline for hours now and a rest (not to mention answers) sounds heavenly.]

[superposition]

[He does follow, a bit surprised at how quickly he has to move to keep up. In spite of the limp, this guy can really scoot. Why is he so interested? Well, it's a welcome distraction from his own problems, that's more than enough. And who knows, maybe there's some way he can help.]

I didn't get your name, by the way?

[mathemagier]

[Hermann levers himself onto the bench with a tired sigh and props his crutch within easy reach. Hands free, he finally flips the file open and fumbles for the glasses he prays are still hanging around his neck.

He pauses to glance up at his shadow.]

Dr. Gottlieb. You are?

[superposition]

Qubit. [After the quantum computing term, not the archaic unit of length. He doesn't bother sitting down, but stands nearby with his hands in his pockets.] Doctor of what?

[mathemagier]

[He's prepared to brush the man's name off immediately and get to his file, but it gives him considerable pause. Who would name a child..? Not to mention, he doesn't automatically assume he means medical doctor. Suddenly this man has potential to be worth his interest]

Applied Science in Computer Science and Mathematics. Do you perhaps have some background in physics or computing, Mr. Qubit?

[superposition]

[Haha yeah it's definitely not the name his parents gave him. Now, Qubit may not have the highest opinion of conventional academia, but he can spare some respect for a fellow devotee of numbers, at least. He smiles widely.]

Both, as a matter of fact. Quantum especially, but I'm not picky.

[mathemagier]

[Hermann secures his glasses with an appraising look. He still can't imagine why anyone would have such a name (or choose to introduce themselves as such) but that's a detail for later]

Interesting. And you mentioned having some experience with these situations?

[superposition]

Which? The power bestowal, or the extradimensional marooning? ... Well, the answer's yes either way. The former in the context of my own powers, mainly, and the latter in that I invented the technology. So while I'm dying to find out how these people got their hands on it, I'm more than familiar with the concepts, yes.

[He, uh. might be subconsciously trying to establish intellectual superiority, a little. I apologize for him.]

[mathemagier]

[Closing his file, Hermann decides this discussion sounds slightly more important. The man's adopted name makes slightly more sense (even if it's still fairly arrogant), and the idea that someone invented inter-dimensional technology sounds dangerously like where his own research could have headed if such a thing wouldn't be an open invitation for the Kaiju (or anything else for that matter) to enter their world again.

He's under no illusion that he could've invented such a thing in his lifetime, but perhaps he should withhold the details of the majority of his research on the Breach to stave off similar lines of thought for a few more decades..

Nevermind that all of it sounds like something out of Newton's science fiction films, but the Kaiju had certainly brought into question their perception of reality. This situation is little different]

So you may in some way be responsible for this, if they're operating on your technology. I must say I dearly hope you know how to reverse the effects. Now, if you could explain what you mean by powers..

[superposition]

[Ohhh no, don't you try and pin this on him. The accusation hits kind of close to home, and Qubit goes from smug to defensive in half a second flat. A lot of things are his fault, true, but this is not one of them.]

They're not operating on my technology, just using the same principles. If it were one of mine, believe me, I'd have already shut it down.

[He can get to the powers thing in a second, once they're perfectly clear on that point.]

[mathemagier]

[Popping bubbles is Hermann's specialty. I also apologize. It might not really be Qubit's fault, but it's successfully brought the man down a few pegs. He is curious though]

Would you be able to? In my experience, closing inter-dimensional rifts takes more than willpower.

[superposition]

Of course I would. [His hands are up on his lapels again, when did this happen.] Creating a stable portal in the first place, that's the hard part. Comparatively, collapsing one is simple. [Especially if, you know, you have direct access to the thing stabilizing it.]

[... Wait a second.] What do you mean, "in your experience"?

[mathemagier]

I see.

[He doesn't, but it's clear to some degree that the Kaiju 'portal' and this man's technology differ. Unsurprising, but it was an avenue worth exploring. Hermann leans back with a wry twist of his lips]

In my 'dimension', a rift formed at the bottom of the Mariana Trench. The monstrous species that emerged raged war on the world for twelve years. I studied what we called the 'Breach', charted it and predicted attacks, spent years studying its structure so that we might understand how to close it. And in the end, the only way to access it was with the genetic code of those monsters. Not quite the definition of a simple endeavour.

[superposition]

... Interesting. [What Qubit's envisioning is more like a literal portal to hell, but he gets the general idea.] A genetic lockout... clever, that's very clever. And the depth must have made it virtually inaccessible.

[mathemagier]

[Disturbingly clever, for an alien species]

Difficult to locate for quite some time, yes. Getting there wasn't as much of an issue. We built great machines.. But I'm getting off topic. Powers?

[superposition]

[Aww, but great machines are his jam! A little reluctantly, he wrests his attention back to the subject.]

Right. Powers. That one might be better served by examples. [He points generally to Hermann's file, twin to the one in his own hand.] Apparently, everyone they drag through their portal gains supernatural abilities in the process, if they didn't have them already. Should be on the second or third page with the rest of the dubiously obtained personal information.

[mathemagier]

[You don't want to ask him about the Jaegers. He will literally never shut up.

Hermann glances back to his file, strangely hesitant because part of him doesn't want to see any sort of additional proof of how he's been altered. So it's time for a delay tactic]

And this is normal where you're from?

[Another dimensional Earth if the man is familiar with the trench. Confusing, to say the least]

[superposition]

I wouldn't call it normal, per se, but it's become a well-known phenomenon in the last few years. I'm guessing that's not the case with your Earth, though.

[The hesitance isn't lost on him. He can understand it to a degree; for the uninitiated, this must be a lot to accept at once. But you seem like a smart guy, Dr. Gottlieb, surely you can handle it.]

Go ahead and open it. Can't hurt to get it over with.