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etcelsior2015-02-28 03:23 pm
maskormods) wrote in etcelsior2015-02-28 03:23 pm
owning your okayness
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 is still a haze and you might feel frustrated or anxious, or maybe the sight of an underground lab you've just been led from by an escorting soldier with dried blood splatters on the floor stirs something else in you. The soldier apologizes for everything you have to see; a recent attack has left the underground lab in Cape Canaveral in near shambles. Military personnel move past you, focused on the sorely needed reparations and clean-up. 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. 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 worse off than the base in Cape Canaveral. The streets looks as if either a hurricane passed through the city or a small recently made it their personal wrecking grounds. Asking anyone will reveal it's the latter... sort of. None of it was intended. The locals are nice, busy with cleaning up the streets and fixing their shop windows and doors. They normally would love to take pictures with you, Hero, though they are preoccupied with work. Every now and then, however, anyone who is so obviously an imPort will find a local backing away from them nervously, pulling their child back with them before closing a door.
03. De Chima, Virginia, hasn't had the same rotten luck as Heropa. Downtown has closed off some streets for repairs, with parts of the street torn out or shop windows shattered, however people in this big city carry on with their daily lives. Anyone who is quite clearly an imPort may find themselves the center of attention, particularly with young children who rush over to you on their hoverboards. Some of the adults passing through smile and wave at you. Thank you, they say, thank you for stopping that domestic terrorist group. The country owes you. They feel even safer with an elected imPort Ambassador watching over the city.
04. Maurtia Falls, Pennsylvania, has, as always, avoided any major or minor damages. Ask about the Hornets or the recent fights between imPorts and the locals will shrug. Don't get them wrong; they're glad those damn Hornets have been dealt with, but they don't want to discuss politics. Try asking the local imPort Ambassador. What's his name? Ryan? Revan? They don't offer any more information. Naturally for a big city, the people are somewhat aloof in nature. You might even notice the police are just the same, turning their heads the other way when two shady figures exchange fat wads of cash at the street corner. Did the police just drive away in their hovervehicle without bothering to observe what those two were up to? They sure did.
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?
gwen stacy ∴ marvel earth-65
[ well that sure was a thing that just happened.
Gwen likes to think that after finding out there are multiple realities with multiple versions of herself, of Peter Parker, of everything and everyone she knows, and that some group of powerful beings enjoys feeding on people with abilities like hers - nothing could really stump her. but then she's getting escorted to car after waking up in some kind of facility, with a file that knows more about her life than she can actually remember off the top of her head, and that all gets flipped on its ass. she's caught looking out the window as they drive through the city - "where are we?" "Florida." "oh. of course." "please, miss, I don't have much time to explain..." - and she has to ask if it was the Inheritors, if this reality ( sorry, this city ) was torn apart in search of someone like her ( wouldn't that be just peachy - getting brought here just to get lifeforce-sucked up by those jerks ), but the woman insists she doesn't have to worry about them here.
and that just makes this more confusing, doesn't it? the Inheritors could go anywhere, to any reality in any universe. so what the heck was this place?
too many questions, not enough answers. blah blah. she's almost getting used to that feeling. almost. she's got her mask on and her hood up by the time the car's dropping her off somewhere, and that file gets tucked in her backpack to be ignored for the rest of eternity.
it's a little weird, walking around in her costume instead of webslinging, but everyone seems either on edge, or really exhausted, or both. no need to swing around like a noseypants if she can offer some help first. which she does, little by little. lifting things and using webbing as temporary patches wherever she can. all while trying to make small talk, find out more about this place, what's going on.
it's all pretty boring until a tingle crawls up her spine, stringing her upright without a second thought. she looks up just in time to see a chunk of debris start to slide from one of the roofs up above, and she manages to rush forward and catch it in a web before it hits the ground or the people standing under it. ]
Yyyikes! Close call, huh? Don't worry, that webbing will hold up just fi-
Just stay away from us. You hear me? We don't need your help!
[ well. it's not like she's not used to that kind of treatment, but uh. wasn't the whole point that they did need her help? the guy's scooping his kid up and moving away before she can even think of a witty response, and she doesn't even try to mask her disgruntled huff. ]
Jeeze! What's that guy's problem?
[ said with an exaggerated jerk of her thumb, and to nobody in particular, but seriously. what gives? ]
05
[ on the flip side, there's this place.
which has Gwen walking around even a little more tense than how she felt after realizing that not everybody looooves the imPorts. yeah. she got that message loud and clear. but here? so far she's been offered three modeling gigs ( and she's not even wearing a mask! ), six free samples of ice cream ( "don't mind if I do!" ), and the weirdest of all?
people thanking her. just because.
yeah.
which is a little alarming because, as stated, there's no mask action going on right now, but eh! it's not like anybody's calling her Spider-Woman. secret identity is still very much intact. they just somehow know she's an imPort ( not creepy at all! ), and think she needs recognition for all the wonderful things she's done. or will be doing. who knows.
she's taking it all in as best as she can, but eventually she has to sit. she needs a break. Gwen's not exactly crowd-shy, but- ]
Ooohmygod, I can't eat anymore. [ full tummy = break time. she's got another full container of ice cream ( yes, that makes seven. chocolate marshmallow this time! ) in hand as she slumps down onto a bench, and then she turns to the person sitting next to her, doing something very un-NYCer of her, but hey. when in Nonah, do as the ...Nonahaianananians do. ] Here. Want this? I haven't even opened it yet. They went from handing out little samples with tiny spoons, to just giving me full pints of the stuff. Crazy, right?
5
I have to say, this is not much of an upgrade from offering candy from a van. At least candy doesn't melt in the sun.
aaaaaand none of my icons are appropriate for everyday snarky conversation, haha
[ totally shocked! and appaled! by that accusation! she'll even press a hand to her chest, jaw dropped, eyes wide. there's a very affronted ugh! after that, and- that's when she drops the whole act ]
Yeah, no, you're right. I guess it's kinda sketchy to offer ice cream to a stranger. I just don't want it to go to waste.
[ she pets a hand over the lid, just once, looking a little sad now ]
It's probably so delicious.
5 | hope you're ready for some AWKWARD
tiny clone.
it's the only explanation that makes sense, Ben thinks, as he finally stops zoning out the stranger beside him and actually looks and listens to her. ]
I– you—
You're.
Gwen?
i live for the awkward!!
[ uh.
Gwen's aware that the Mary Janes are, y'know, so hot right now, but she's totally not used to people just recognizing her out of nowhere. so her head tilts just so with a quirk of her brow ( because that's her thinkyface, okay? ), trying to place a name. or a face.
he sure does have a face.
but she doesn't let herself get too caught up in the face, even if something in the back of her mind is going "duh! duh! duh!", instead just pulling on a smile ]
Yep, that's me.
no subject
[ okay. nervous, hopefully reassuring smile?
he doesn't want to creep her out. or scare her. it's kind of surprising that she's not flipping out on him, when he thinks about it, like so many clones before her. ]
Although last time I saw you, you were – um. Taller.
[ And alive. ]
Aaaand... older.
no subject
Are you talking about the multiverse thing? I guess it makes sense that you could end up here, too. Huh. [ don't get lost on that train of thought!! not until you explain- ] 'Cause I'm not her. I mean I am, but I'm not. Things went differently, in my world.
[ "hence the whole not being dead thing" nah, you can't say that, Gwen. ]
Though it sounds like things might be different in your world, too. Taller and older? How much older? Do I make it to thirty, at least?
[ gwen that's not very sensitive of you either oh my god ]
no subject
now it is ben's turn to open his mouth, close it, and take a deep breath. maybe stare at the ground for a moment. because this isn't exactly the easiest thing for him to talk about. ]
No, you don't.
At least... the you that I knew.
Sorry.
[ he's not even sure why he's apologizing. she's not the one who died because he wasn't smarter, faster, anything but a guy who can't apologize to the woman he really wants to ]
no subject
[ but now she's kind of watching him a little closer, just to make sure he's not about to have some kind of meltdown or something ( please don't ). and maybe it's his profile, the curve of his nose or his eyebrow, something, but something clicks and- ]
Look at me for a second?
5
Yeah they can do that sometimes. You just gotta politely decline and then walk away fast.
Why not bring it home for later?
[...Why does she look familiar?]
no subject
[ she looks back down at the pint, head tilting. what is she going to do with you, free deliciousness? ]
I could, but I don't plan on leaving yet. I'm sure they'll pass another pint my way before the end of the day.
no subject
[Pats his stomach.]
It doesn't bother you? Taking all of this stuff?
no subject
-- Still sounding homeless, aren't I.
[ she laughs, and it's 500% at herself, yes ]
But nah, maybe once I'm here for longer than a week I'll be bothered by it, but right now it still feels pretty novel. Nobody's singing my praises back home, I can tell you that much. This is kind of a nice change of pace.
no subject
[He tries to give her a reassuring smile.]
That must be a nice feeling. [Alas, his reputation's already taken a bit of a hit here due to sharing a name with his grandfather.] I'm going to guess you weren't popular back home, Miss...?
no subject
[ there's another laugh, this time she's ducking her head ]
Me, personally? I'm doing alright. I'm not exactly Miss Popular, but y'know. It's once I put on the mask that everybody starts throwing shade my way. [ a beat, a huff, then she's looking back up again ] I'm Gwen, Gwen Stacy.
no subject
The moment she says her name, Normie immediately starts choking on air. That's why she looked familiar. He prays this is another alternate reality thing, and that she isn't his universe's Gwen. She didn't call him Harry, or comment on how similar they looked, so it was a real possibility. Okay, calm down, and...
Try to figure out a good excuse as to why you just reacted like that.]
Sorry, uh, I, uh... dated a girl named Gwen Stacy in high school. You don't look anything alike, so I was surprised to hear that name. ...It... Kind of ended badly.
no subject
By "ended badly", do you mean she took a long walk off a short --bridge? [ sometimes Gwen has tact, sometimes Gwen is very candid about her alternate reality self's death. it's a toss-up. ] Because I'm not her. I mean, I'm her, but I'm not her. [ a beat ] And you're not another Peter Parker, as far as I can tell, so I'm wondering how things went down in your world. ... But maybe not, if it's gonna freak you out.
no subject
He rubs the back of his neck.]
....No, I'm not. Sorry, I lied when I said I dated a Gwen Stacy... She was actually a friend of my father's. Harry Osborn.
I just... I didn't think it would be my place to tell you what happened to her.
no subject
[ Peter was friends with Harry, she thinks.
ooc: unless it was different in earth-65 who knows ehh i'm gonna say yes because reasonshe wasn't really part of her friend circle, but she knew him. who didn't? ... not that that's the important part of the story here ]It's fine. Let's just say the Peter Parker I knew had- just died [ hesitation there because wow that still sucks to say. it still sucks so bad. it still sucks more than anything else in the whole world right now. ] - and not too long after I was being sucked up into this portal thing and was thrown into some version of Central Park with dozens of other Spider-Women. Uh, well, mostly Spider-Men, which is weird. But I found out that in some worlds he was the one that got bit by a spider, and I ended up getting killed.
So this is fine. You didn't just dump a weird truth bomb or anything. [ a beat ] Except that you're Harry's son, which is a little brain-breaky, since he's my age.
no subject
Yeah that seems to be the common consensus here: either he's still a kid, or I am, depending on the world it seems.
[And then the rest of what she says registers. About all of the different Spiders.]
When you saw all those other Spider people... Was one of those Spider-Women a Spider-Girl, by any chance? Same large spider design on the chest and back?