owning your okayness

[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 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?

Comments

[eastdetective]

[In some situations, Conan was very predictable.

He gives her a few moments, than follows after just barely within sight. ]

[secretmakesawoman]

[After a minute or so, Vermouth glances behind her out of the corner of her eye and is pleased to see the small detective following. Vermouth wonders if she should warn him sometime of being so predictable, but right now it serves her purposes quite nicely.

She continues down the street until there are fewer people around. Then she stops and takes out her communicator, making a show of checking it. She looks around and then, pretending as through she hasn't noticed anyone suspicious following, ducks into an empty side street.

She hopes he'll take the bait.]

[eastdetective]

[He takes a moment to debate the risks before following. But in the end he decides that not knowing what she was up to was more dangerous than following her into an obvious trap.

He carefully moves into the side street, trying to stay out of sight without looking suspicious.]

[secretmakesawoman]

[Such a risk taker. Then again, he would have to be if he was going to take down the Organization.

Vermouth stands to the side of the street, waiting for someone... specifically Conan. Now that there are no onlookers, they can finally talk. However, revealing her identity too quickly might scare Conan away, so Vermouth opts for a little act. Looking his way, she makes a surprised face (whether it's over being discovered or a child alone she'll let him stew over) and speaks in her best concerned voice.]

Are you lost, boy?

[eastdetective]

[Great. Caught. His options had just narrowed down considerably. ]

A little! I think I took a wrong turn.

[secretmakesawoman]

[Caught indeed. Now Vermouth had to make sure he didn't run away before she could get any information out of him. She smiles a kindly, almost motherly smile.]

Would you like me to help you?

[eastdetective]

That's okay! I think it should be alright if I just go back to the last turn.

[And he turns to go. This was not somewhere he wanted to stay in the open any longer. ]

[secretmakesawoman]

[She's not letting him get away so easily. She steps towards him and moves to place a hand on his shoulder. The touch is light but could easily grab him if he tries to bolt for it.]

Are you sure? A young boy shouldn't be alone in this sort of place. [Her smile turns a bit darker.] Or a young detective.

[eastdetective]

[He tenses and fights the urge to bolt. Doing that now would only confirm any suspicions. Instead his free hand reaches towards his watch.]

[secretmakesawoman]

[Oh no, he doesn't. Vermouth is quick to grab his wrist with her other hand, aiming the watch at himself should he try anything.]

Let's not try that again. I would hate to put you to sleep before we even make proper greetings.

[eastdetective]

[Conan was still certain that there was only one of them that knew what his watch meant. She'd used it against him before, after all.

Fortunately, it was also the one Organization member who he knew had no intention of hurting him. Yet. Even if he still didn't fully understand all her motivations.

He doesn't struggle against her grip, but gives her an annoyed look.]

Isn't it already too late for proper greetings, Vermouth?

[secretmakesawoman]

[No one fully understands her motivations, not even her other team members. Vermouth prefers it that way. It keeps her alive and in the Boss's good graces.

Chuckling, Vermouth drops the disguise, her long blonde hair cascading down where the false hair was before. She also loosens her grip enough that he could step away if he wished, fairly certain that he won't run now. She'll be keeping an eye on that watch though.]

Well we could hardly greet each other properly out in the open, now could we, Cool Guy?

[eastdetective]

[ He wastes no time in stepping away. There was a difference between being mostly certain that she would not hurt him and staying within easy arm's reach. ]

Was the rest of that really necessary?

[secretmakesawoman]

[She straightens up, crossing her arms in a casual fashion. Her smile grows more playful, though on Vermouth's face it's hard to distinguish from her usual threatening smirk.]

Oh, that? That was just teasing.

[One of the things "Sharon" shared with her friend Yukiko was her strange sense of humor. Of course, Vermouth had also been testing Conan as well, but she'll keep that a secret.]

[eastdetective]

[Sometimes Vermouth was far too much like his mother for Conan's comfort. ]

I can't say I'm a fan of your sense of humor. What do you want?

[secretmakesawoman]

You handle it better than Gin does.

[That guy has no sense of humor at all and a nasty temper.]

What I want is information. Specifically on the people who brought us here.

[eastdetective]

What, no luck finding it out yourself?

[secretmakesawoman]

[Vermouth is not about to tell the detective that she only just arrived. It would put her at a disadvantage, assuming he hadn't already deduced it himself.]

It can't be helped. My usual source of information seems unresponsive.

[Which is a subtle hint that he won't have to worry about any other Organization members (at least for now). Her mouth quirks into a more playful grin.]

Besides, asking you would be quicker. Or have the culprits stumped the Great Detective?

[eastdetective]

[He doesn't let his relief at the hint show. Things were complicated enough without another one of them here.]

Hardly. [He was offended at the very idea.

He had information. ...He just hadn't figured out how it all fit together yet.]

But this is a more complicated case than most. [Mostly because he was trying to investigate at least six different potentially linked cases at the moment. ]

[secretmakesawoman]

[Vermouth would be inclined to agree. Without them around, she doesn't have to keep up as many masks and secrets as usual.

She folds her arms casually.]

I have time to spare. [Don't hold out on her now, Silver Bullet.]

[eastdetective]

In short? The government here had some kind of device responsible for bringing heroes from other worlds. They lost control of it. Some people here believe that the AI that controlled it went rogue.

Whether you believe any of that is up to you.

[secretmakesawoman]

[It does seem a little outlandish, but the idea is at least within the realm of possibility. There's at least one instance of a rogue AI she's heard of back home. Not that she was involved, but news gets around. Besides, Vermouth has deal with stranger things in the organization. The superpowers were the most unbelievable part of this place, and they had already been proven true with her test.

Vermouth shrugs her shoulders with a smile.]

Do you?

[eastdetective]

Of course not.

[There might be some truth of it, but it seemed like far too simple of an explanation. ]

[secretmakesawoman]

Then what makes you think I would?

[It's not really an answer, hiding her real meaning behind vague questions. But that's Vermouth for you.]