AIN'T NOBODY FRESHER THAN MY CLIQUE

[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. The city of Heropa is what one might expect from a small, bright and cheery place, where locals are friendly enough and local shop owners might offer a free drink to welcome you to their fair city. 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.

An upset, deeply masculine voice wonders aloud: "More of them, when we already know they can't protect us? That's just painting a bigger target on the city's back!"

"That's just what Ronald Chump says!" Exclaims a young woman. She raises her fist in anger at the imPort-hating individual. "We're not going to tolerate bigots here!"

02. 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. Science and technology are the lifeblood of this city, so you're likely to come across a good many locals taking your picture with the newest of devices. Be forewarned: since FanPort happened, imPort fandom is at a new height. Don't be surprised if people start following you just to see if you'll do anything TMZ-worthy.

The trick is to stay calm, and don't wig out if someone asks what you think about imPort shipping.

03. Maurtia Falls, Pennsylvania, is having a rainy day. The streets seem to be running with water, the sky can't seem to stop crying. You might want to check out some consumerism-inclined shelter, be that a smoky and dart-eyed bar full of grumbling locals, or a grimy and industrial coffee shop (full of grumbling locals). Watch your step, newly minted imPort, because if you let on that you're fresh meat then you're likely to attract a posse of two or three sharp knuckled no-good-dooers. This is the criminally exciting part of town, so beware.

04. Nonah, North Carolina, is the liveliest of all cities; loud, busy and there's some kind of energy in the air that gets everyone buzzing with excitement. There's a baseball game going on in one of the parks amidst all those tall buildings, and you're welcome to watch! It's not an official game in the season, it's more like a friendly skirmish between local baseball teams. Midway through the game, the umpire might take note of you new imPorts -- assuming you're standing out in the crowd. He'll welcome you to throw a pitch if you'd like! Of course, the opposing team isn't too keen on the idea. Better look for more imPorts to play ball!

Comments

Frisk | Undertale

[gainedlove]

De Chima, Virginia

[Some people (most people, really) would be put off by the attention. Frisk, however, by all accounts seems delighted by it. They're smiling, waving making faces--they even walk right up to one of the bolder fans to start talking to them]

[Sadly, this was a mistake. But not for Frisk, mind; no, the mistake was when this poor young man, in all innocence, asked this small child if they thought Kotetsu and Godot made a good pair.]

[Photos and tabloid articles are everywhere. Tables have been taken over. There are spreadsheets. It has been two hours and they still aren't done schooling this poor man.]

An' here, see? These two boys--they're super great for each other! See, he's totally in love, you don't got a face like that at somebody an' don't love them!

[Frisk is pointing at a picture of Kaworu and Shinji together. Someone, for the love of god, stop them before it goes any further.]

Maurtia Falls, Pennsylvania

[While the adults are running from shelter to shelter, or hurrying along underneath umbrellas, Frisk is taking advantage of the severe lack of adult supervision to engage in the universal childhood pastime of puddle-jumping.]

[They've got galoshes and a trim little rain jacket on with the hood properly up, but their pants are already clearly soaked through as they laugh and jump from puddle to puddle trying to make the biggest splash they can manage. Frisk is considerate enough to try and keep anyone else from getting caught in their play, but accidents happen and you happen to hurry past at just the wrong moment to catch a particularly large wave of water all over your feet.]

Oh--! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get you!

Maurtia Falls

[bindsthedead]

Oh, don't worry, it's fine! [Sabriel's wearing a raincoat herself- and her current outfit is one she doesn't mind getting wet.]

You should be careful though- this city isn't the safest place.

[gainedlove]

[Frisk frowns and straightens up a little, tugging their hood a little further over their head.]

It's not? Why?

[To be fair, the kind of suburbs they've grown used to are a literal marshland.]

[bindsthedead]

Because there are many unkind people here, and the police often aren't very helpful. [Which is a polite way of saying "A lot of people here are criminals who don't like imPorts, and the police are corrupt."]

[gainedlove]

[If Sabriel is paying attention, she might notice something--or someone--hovering near Frisk. Their appearance is nearly identical to the child, save for what little of their paler coloration that can be seen and a sharper cast to their features. Where Frisk looks innocent and trusting, this child is sullen and wary. Their image is laid almost perfectly over Frisk's own, and their eyes narrow before they speak--only to Frisk, or so they think.]

[* I told you hanging around here was a bad idea.]

[If Frisk responds to the spirit, it's only in a way that they can hear, and they roll their eyes when Frisk speaks.]

Really? No one's been mean to me...an' if they are, I can just run.

[bindsthedead]

[Oh, Sabriel notices- and frowns, focusing her senses, trying to determine exactly what is going on and if she needs to intervene.]

Even if there are many of them? A lot of people here don't like imPorts.

[gainedlove]

[It's strange at first glance--for all that the second child is clearly there, there's no extra soul actually hanging around, only Frisk's very living one. But a closer look shows just what is wrong; the spirit has no soul of their own, but instead their essence and mind have become entwined with Frisk's own in a rather complicated looking mess. Whatever happened there was far from under any sort of conscious control.]

[Frisk shrugs, but the other child looks concerned.] Monsters didn't like me all that much at first, and there were lots of them. But I got along okay.

[Now the child looks annoyed. Come on Frisk, seriously?!]

[bindsthedead]

Unfortunately, people can be even worse. [Is he serious about monsters? Sabriel's heard about enough different worlds to wonder.]

[gainedlove]

[Frisk pouts and kicks their foot, sending a little ripple through the puddle they're standing in.]

Mmm...I know, but...

[* Frisk, let's just go, okay? Your feet are already soaked anyway. Not like this is the last rain we'll see or anything.]

[Frisk frowns, and pouts a moment longer before they relent, and the spirit looks at least a little more relaxed.] Oh, fine. Um, where're you goin' to?

Maurtia Falls (I cannot believe you talked me into this)

[paintomime]

[Maurtia Falls is not the kind of place that kids play in puddles very often--not in the middle of the street, not like Frisk is.

Valerie, too, is taking shelter from the downpour--he and rain have not been on speaking terms since he started to wear makeup. He's protected by an umbrella no one else can see, an umbrella of the imagination--a pantomime parasol, if you will. Every bit as illusory and tangible as he can make it. But even with that, he's still got a quick pace, because every stray raindrop, every splash by a passing car is a threat. He can seal his facepaint, but he can't waterproof it.

But this splash...

....comes from another kid.

For a second, Valerie stops, and Frisk is face to face with...

... a four foot tall, eight year old boy in black and white face paint, holding an invisible umbrella.

What--you've never seen a mime before?]

[gainedlove]

[Frisk blinks in surprise, staring at the boy for a few moments before the step a little closer, tilting their head curiously. They never met a mime that could make the rain go around them before!]

How're you doin' that?

[paintomime]

[Frisk, that is literally Valerie's favourite question.

His smile is immediate, but instead of answering, he sticks his hand out from under his invisibrella, as though checking to see if the downpour is still happening.

Which he didn't need to stick his hand out to confirm, because it definitely still is.

But the move is part of the act, and he looks at his wet hand with mock dismay before gesturing rapidly with his now-wet hand for Frisk to follow him. Then he turns and runs towards a nearby alley, covered by metal sheeting, glancing behind him as he does to make sure they're following.

Come on, Frisk, hurry up!]

[gainedlove]

[Frisk watches, a charmed little smile gracing their face at the act (Chara is groaning), and when Valerie heads off for some cover Frisk readily follows with a laugh.]

I'm coming, I'm coming!

Not having dialogue makes the bracket format so pointless lol

[paintomime]

[Valerie sincerely cannot tell if this kid is a boy or a girl, but it doesn't matter, because they're following him!

Good.

The alley itself isn't that bad, honestly. The metal sheetroof over it gives it a gloomy air, but it's not filled with garbage or anything. Just some broken concrete and brick underfoot, now dark and slick with rainwater.

He waits, rocking back on his heels, until Frisk is nearly there. Then he lowers his umbrella, going through the motions of closing it with exaggerated flair before shaking the rainwater out and resting it--invisibly--against the near wall.]

we chose this life

[gainedlove]

[Gender is for squares, man.]

[Frisk pulls off their hood and shakes out their hair once they're under the awning, and watches Valerie continue the little act. The shaken out water earns a little yelp and laugh as Frisk shields their face, and they grin widely waiting for whatever he's going to do next.]

GEE I WONDER WHICH ONE

[lastnerv]

[Shinji is a perfect example of someone who can't deal with imPort attention. A whole bunch of strangers staring at him is basically a nightmare scenario. Who wants to be popular? He didn't even want friends until a couple of years ago.

He's in such a hurry to push past everyone that he almost misses the in-process shipping classroom taking place. Curiosity beats out his natural desire to just leave and go home, and with all the perfect timing that comes with being Shinji Ikari he arrives just in time to see this small child talk about him.]

H-hey! [Shinji hurries over, face blue, quickly putting his hand over the picture of him and Kaworu.] Stop talking about people like that, okay?! You don't know what you're saying!

I SHOULD BE SORRY BUT I'M REALLY NOT

[gainedlove]

[Oh, sorry, Shinji, were they talking about you?]

[Both man and child turn and blink in surprise, seeing the blue-tinted teen appear as if summoned tot he spot. Is that a new superpower they have now? The young man hasn't recovered quite yet, but Frisk bounds right back into it.]

A' 'course I do! I got lots of people to start kissin' when they didn't wanna say they wanted!

[* I don't think it counts when it's the same couple over and over.]

[You hush, Chara.]

[lastnerv]

[Who is letting this kid matchmake for people?! is Shinji's first thought, but he's got bigger things in his mind. Like confiscating that photo.]

Great for them, but this is a totally different situation! We're not great for each other. [Neither of them are great for anyone as far as Shinji's concerned.] So, sorry, but you're wrong this time.

[gainedlove]

[No one, technically, but that's just details.]

Why don't'cha think so? It looks like he likes you a whole whole lot.

[Our poor bystander finally pipes up as well, looking maybe a little more eager than a person really should after being confronted about RPF.]

Do you mean there's someone else you've got your eye on?

[lastnerv]

It's-it's one-sided, okay? He's never had feelings for anyone before, so he doesn't- [He stops himself. That's not fair to Kaworu, to just assume he doesn't actually get what love is. Shinji berates himself for even thinking about that.] It's more complicated than just looks. There's a lot of backstory.

[Shinji glances at the third wheel in the conversation out of the corner of his eye. If looks could kill this dude's head would be plopping into a pool of LCL.]

Don't you have someplace better you could be right now?

[gainedlove]

[The poor guy stutters for a few moments, clearly having just realized how far his foot is stuck down his throat right now.]

Um--I--wow, look at the time, I have, a, uh, a thing, so I'll just--

[In record time a majority of the photos and papers are hastily crammed into the man's backpack, and he flees the scene as fast as he can manage.]

[Frisk watches this all, somewhat confused, then turns to Shinji with a stern frown.]

That was really rude. He's just askin' a question!

[lastnerv]

A really, really personal question that was none of his business. Even if I did... [He waves his hands around in a vague motion, because forget using actual words.] Like someone like that, I wouldn't be telling some stranger who just wants to gawk at me because I'm an imPort. I'm not here to entertain people. I just want to live my life.

[That's the moment when he realizes he's basically been yelling at someone who is likely younger than him over something that isn't actually important.]

...Sorry. Maybe I did overreact.

Maurtia Falls

[tactical_lalafel]

[Malms, being a very small person himself, is splashed up to the knees (his main protection against the rain being a hat that extends out past his shoulders), but he smiles reassuringly at the child.]

It's all right, don't worry about it! I can dry myself off easily enough. Would you step back a bit, please?

[When Frisk does, there's a bit of a 'woomph' and a flash of fiery light, and the black mage's clothes are dry.] See? All taken care of.

[gainedlove]

[Frisk makes a small squeak of surprise at the flash of fire, but they grin widely and clap their hands excitedly.]

That's so cool! I never saw fire magic get used like that!

[tactical_lalafel]

When you've spent as much time in the cold and wet as I have, you get motivated to learn.

[ He looks the child over, noting that they have an imPort's mask as well.]

So, are you here by yourself, then?