Say Something, Anything

[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 there's only one rule in Test Drive Meme Club: 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, while others might not say anything -- but if you have something nasty to say, better not say anything at all, right? It's been a peaceful month, but memories are long in the Cold War. Some people usher their children away from anyone clearly not 'from around here,' while other natives may be brave enough to directly approach obvious imPorts and ask their thoughts on the war with Russia and what the imPort ambassadors are planning to do about it.

ImPorts are a divisive issues, even in pretty Heropa.

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 very presence. Look at you! Organic wonder! 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. The imPort craze is at an all-time high, and you may find yourself cornered by overzealous imPort fans, media wannabes and opportunists alike, shoving cameras in your face.

Their questions are likely to be fairly mundane, however; get ready for an interview about your taste in romantic partners, personal underwear choices, favourite foods, and more!

03. Maurtia Falls, Pennsylvania, is having a heat wave. Every bit of shade you can spot seems to be occupied by locals or even wildlife seeking to get out of the sun. You might want to check out some consumerism-inclined shelter from the heat that even the night doesn't seem to relieve, be that a smoky and dart-eyed bar full of grumbling locals, or a grimy and industrial coffee shop (full of grumbling locals). ImPorts aren't being welcomes with a punch to the face today, but you might find your water closer to boiling than refreshingly cool or your beer with a surprise ingredient if you walk into the wrong establishment.

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. You may find yourself in the midst of a few closed-off streets for some occasion or another - whether it be a food cart festival, no-car day, or something else! - and surrounded by the hum of people, the waft of food being served on the street, and plenty of attention

Look there -- someone's demoing a VR roller coaster! Won't you give it a shot?

Comments

Alfie Solomons | Peaky Blinders

[devoutish]

01

[Alfie's old-fashioned wardrobe and general look might brand him as an obvious imPort, and he's made no effort to update his image to something more modern. Despite this, he doesn't seem very receptive to the attention it brings him - if an autograph-seeking hopeful starts to approach his cafe table, he waves off before they can get a word out, and he seems completely unbothered by any nasty or wary looks he gets. But sometimes, someone will swoop in too quickly for him to drive them away, and those people are usually the questioners. Sir, I was wondering, what do you think of the war? How often do you talk to your city's Ambassador? What are you planning to do to fight for our country?

He always holds up a hand to cut them off.]

No comment. Yeah? I've got nothing to say. I just wanna enjoy my coffee, right, in fucking peace.

[He raises his voice a little and waves to someone passing by - another imPort, any other imPort.]

You. Yeah, you, that's right; come here. Come over here. This lovely lady would like to ask you a few questions.

[And with that, he assumes that the curious citizen has been successfully foisted off onto someone else - they can have the talk that she wants to have, or they can try to get rid of her themselves. Either way, Alfie will continue to sit, sipping his drink and reading his paper.]

02

[Getting rid of one overzealous fan is one thing, but getting rid of a mob of them? That requires different tactics. There's too many of them to ignore or pawn off on another poor unsuspecting imPort, so this time, he stops to engage them.]

Yes, hello, lovely day, innit. Oh-- what have you got there?

[There's about five cameras being furiously clicked in his direction. He zeroes in on the closest one, and plucks it right out of the owner's hands.]

Now, this is nice. They don't make them like this in my day.

[The camera's owner just sort of... freezes, unsure of what to do. Alfie turns the camera on him, taking his picture.]

This is the button, yeah? I think I've got it. There's a bit of a learning curve to using your technology, but it's not hard to pick up; there's a button for everything.

[He sounds completely conversational and innocuous, but also isn't showing any signs that he's going to give the camera back anytime soon. Other people in the crowd are drifting away, or at least tucking away their own devices in case Alfie decides to make a grab for them, too. The cameraman is clearly torn - it's an expensive camera, and he wants it back, but he doesn't know for sure that this weird imPort is trying to steal it. He's not turning and running off with it, so surely he's going to give it back eventually. Maybe?

Someone should probably help the poor guy. Or help Alfie torment him; that works, too.]

04

[And then, of course, there's the obligatory "watch as the guy from the early 20th century is introduced to 21st century technology" option. Alfie sees a few people trying out the VR roller coaster, and when he's offered a turn--]

Yeah, all right.

[Why not. He settles the goggles on his face. He stands there for a few seconds, stock still, waiting for the program to start up.

When it does, he almost falls over.]

[OOC: Appearance info here!]

01

[hostage]

[Finding himself suddenly thrust into someone else's bad PR situation, Jesse actually handles the whole thing breezily. It takes him a half-second to put together why some stranger's summoning him over before Jesse puts on a smile and turns to the fan.]

Sorry, he's new here. Those first few days are rough, you know? Porting in kinda feels like somebody took you apart and put your insides together all backwards, so you get why it's a little hard to be sociable. Anyway, I'm his healer, actually. Could you give us some privacy? Doctor-patient confidentiality and all that. Oh, and before you go - Here's my card. In case you or your loved ones ever need a healer, too. Totally free. I'm just an imPort giving back to the community. Thanks.

[He gives that speech in practically a single breath, punctuated by handing the lady his business card before shooing her along. Saul Goodman would be proud.

When Jesse turns back to Alfie, the smile falls right off his face.]

Dude, what the hell? Learn to handle your own shit.

aaaaa I played Pennsatucky here a while ago and I missed your Jesse

[devoutish]

[Alfie doesn't even bat an eye at the explanation, though he's definitely listening. And when Jesse turns back to him, he barely looks up from his paper.]

I don't think it mattered to her who she spoke to.

aaaaaaaaaaa welcome back and thank you for bringing Alfie!!!!!!!

[hostage]

Obviously, but why'd you drag me into it? Just tell her to fuck off if you want her to fuck off.

[And a "thanks" would be nice, but Jesse's not holding his breath.]

[devoutish]

It wasn't gonna work on her. She was persistent.

[He nods across the cafe, to where she's already chatting up another imPort.]

Your story was a good enough explanation to send her running off, yeah? But "fuck off" wouldn't've done it.

[hostage]

So tell her your own story. Tell her you shit yourself, for all I care. Great way to get people to leave you alone.

[devoutish]

If I had known you were gonna be such a bother about this, I would've picked someone else.

[But now that he's here...]

You're a healer, are you? How does that work?

[hostage]

[Good. Jesse was hoping to be a bother. He folds his arms across his chest.]

It works like one second you're hurt or sick or whatever, and the next second you're not. Why? Something wrong with you?

[devoutish]

I'm fit as a fiddle.

[He says, even though there's a cane on the ground next to his chair.]

What's the worst injury you can fix?

[hostage]

Anything. Everything. I can bring people back to life, if I feel like it.

[Or rather, if Jesse feels like killing someone else to pay for it.]

[devoutish]

So can the government here. Do you work for them?

[hostage]

I'm Registered, if that's what you're asking. But I work for myself.

[devoutish]

If you're registered, I'm not sure that you do.

You don't bring back all the dead by yourself, do you? There's others like you?

01 I apologize in advance

[anxiogenic]

[Jonathan Crane has a fascination for the antique; a love of timelessness. Of the fact so much lies hidden underneath the surface of the human mind and all it can accomplish. He loves old things, there's no doubt about that.

Anyone could guess what he's thinking.

Now there's a man who looks like he's from a bygone age.

And he's trapped in a world of propaganda and PR. Poor thing. It's with a mild sense of humor that he strolls over, tilts his head, cat-like, and studies his fascinating subject from the front.]

Are you sure? I believe she's done for today.

[There's the briefest flicker of oh shit I'm not doing this today on the reporter's face as she considers whether to move away. Either Crane here knows how to intimidate people, or she's just despairing at the dim weather outside.]

bring it

[devoutish]

[Well. That's an interesting reaction, and it's definitely not one that's going unnoticed by Alfie. He looks at the woman, he looks at Crane, and then he finally says:]

Ask him your questions or move along. Fucking hell, we're busy imPorts; we don't have all day.

[anxiogenic]

[Language. How medieval.

But despite the sourness put into his thoughts, Crane keeps his cool; he meets this man's eyes, and then the woman's. His gaze stays on her longer than it should.

She hesitates again as he licks his lips. Maybe he should just go BOO to frighten her off?]

Why don't I ring you later?

[Same thing, really. He then addresses his new friend.]

We're busy, are we not?

[devoutish]

Yeah, we are. Goodbye, then.

[He wiggles his fingers at the woman, then looks away from her, completely ready to ignore her for as long as he needs to. She gets the message, and with one last glance back, wanders off.

Alfie gives a little scoff, and shoots Crane a disbelieving look.]

Fucking hell. Is it always like this?

[anxiogenic]

Only on Wednesdays.

[He pretends to give a small smile. To say that he enjoyed reporters sniffing around would be an exaggeration. Though if they were sniffing a particular compound, however...

So many things he could do with that.]

I suppose it's something in the air.

[Wink wink.]

[devoutish]

Must be, yeah.

[Though the little joke there goes completely over his head. He hasn't been around long enough to have heard about the infamous Jonathan Crane.]

She was a pushy one. More than most. Looking for something to put on her-- what did they call them here, "wee-blogs"?

[anxiogenic]

[He murmurs contemplatively. This man really is new to most things, isn't he? He hadn't been. There is some interesting pscyhological difference in that. Their behaviors, responses...]

Weblogs. Electronic journals. In actuality, more interesting than she makes them sound, honesty. They hold copious amounts of information people are willing to expunge about themselves. [He shrugs. If people are foolish, it's their own loss.] And perhaps too much nonsense. Yes.

[devoutish]

Yeah, on the internet.

[He's picking up a few things.]

Yesterday, a man approached me, right. He wanted to make a weblog, a website, whatever you wanna call it, all about me and my adventures in adjusting to new technology.

[His tone is a little exasperated, which might be a hint as to what his response to that idea had been.]

[anxiogenic]

[Crane sighs tiredly. An exasperated hands out, cards on the table response to that matching tone. Not that men of this one's day and age went for tea and sympathy.

Good thing he's not a sympathiser at heart, isn't it?]

You prefer to run something rather more daring, I take it?

[devoutish]

[He raises his eyebrows.]

That is an interesting question, mate.

[anxiogenic]

[Despite that reaction, he keeps his tone calm.]

Well, I don't blog. [Obviously.] I personally feel it's not a joyful hobby. Rather drab, actually.

[devoutish]

And what is it that you do, then?