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etcelsior2015-03-28 02:02 pm
maskormods) wrote in etcelsior2015-03-28 02:02 pm
Entry tags:
#squadgoals
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 recently refurbished -- something happened in here not too long ago.
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. According to the soldiers, a domestic terrorist attack is the reason why the cheery and small city of Heropa is still under some major reconstruction. For a small city, the amount of outside help called in for reconstruction and repairs has made it livelier than it normally is. Construction workers on coffee breaks wave to the most obvious looking imPorts, some will even salute you. "We couldn'a done away with those bastards if it weren't for good folk like you," they say.
Wherever you go, locals are pleasant and courteous enough, sometimes stepping forward to ask for a quick photo or autograph. 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, while it suffered some damage to its downtown area, never slowed down for a second. For a large city with a bustling population and booming economy, it's quieter than one would expect for it to be, too. If you're trying to avoid the awestruck crowds, you might be able to thanks to everyone ducking under umbrellas and buildings due to heavy rainfall today, provided you aren't letting it slip you're a newcomer to this world. If you're not exactly human-looking or wearing clothes that very much scream medieval ages (or distant future), sorry. There's a high chance the kids are going to crowd you in excitement.
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, 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?
my thoughts exactly
No, it's fine. I don't think I need a doctor, just some rest. [ Completely unwilling to be examined or tested on, no matter how much Tara would reassure her.] I'm sure I'll be back to my old self soon.
[ If Bela were anyone else, she would feel bad about duping Tara and taking advantage of her kindness and compassion. But Bela wasn't. ]
He's not? [She feigns disappointment, picking it up that Glenn was important to Maggie in a different way to the others. ] Well, there's always the hope that he'll end up here. Like you said. Everyone else as well.
[ The ruse might be broken whenever Bela encounters the other two people that Tara mentioned so she had a few things to think about. ]
I got your back too. Should we go?
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( Tara tilts her head towards her apartment block - when she said it was nearby, she wasn't exaggerating. ) It's that place over there. C'mon.
( She knows losing Glenn when they pretty much just went through so much to find each other, that's gonna be a hard blow. Probably good to get "Maggie" someplace where she can rest and take all of this in. As she walks her brain is running overtime, trying to work out solutions and things that'll help - is there really a solution to the kind of problems they have? She probably needs to try and break the news to her that, sometimes, people who are dead can come back, too. People the group might've lost before she met them, people who they both saw die. It would be kinda amazing if Hershel turned up, for Maggie's own sake. )
It's weird having... power and all this stuff back, right? ( That's another reason Maggie could be behaving a little off, aside from potential injury. ) Word of caution: no matter how much you wanna eat everything in sight, don't do it.
( She totally did that and felt sick for a while after. Worth it, though, for that burger. )
no subject
Hm? [ Tara's question draws Bela out of her thoughts. ] Oh, yeah, yeah. Really weird to see all of...this around after everything we've been through. [ Yep, absolutely winging it at the moment. ]
Gotcha. I won't eat too much. Not really in the mood for getting sick.
Do we have to pay for things?
[ She asks, even though she would absolutely steal if necessary. ]
no subject
Yeah. Seriously, though, how over-priced food is almost makes me miss scavenging. I mean, easily, best thing about the end of the world? Nobody could judge you for being a shitty cook. Now living off instant ramen suddenly means I'm kinda failing hard at being an adult.
( Self mockery is always her way of trying to raise a smile, to get some moment of amusement. She's aware that might be a little unrealistic, all things considered. With how confusing a day Maggie must be having, though, she figures trying to make her laugh maybe isn't such a bad thing. )
Your file has info on a job they've assigned you, and stuff. You can get different work, just makes getting yourself set up a little easier, I guess.
( As they reach the top of the stairs to the apartment building, Tara pulls the door open and holds it for "Maggie." The potential chivalry is maybe just a little marred by how she's slouching against the door. )
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[ Upon realising that Tara was being self-deprecating, Bela does laugh a little and shakes her head. She doesn't know if it was something that Maggie would do but she could tell that her and Tara had a good relationship. ]
Least I have some kinda job- means I can help you all out as well. Combine our income and get something else other than ramen to live on. [ Bela tries for some humour, hoping that it doesn't fail in its delivery. ]
So this is the apartment, huh? [ She comments as she walks up the stairs, nodding in thanks to Tara for holding the door open for her. Bela doesn't venture too far inside, looking over her shoulder at Tara. ] Been a while since I've seen something in a decent condition.
Can't wait to see the rest of it.
no subject
( In reality her kitchen is a little more varied than ramen and hot dogs, but... there's a lot of ramen, with some canned spaghetti and beef jerky mixed in. She has an emergency stockpile of canned and dried food in case shit goes south again, big tubs of water. If she was in California she could pass it off as emergency earthquake supplies, except for the massive collection of ammunition.
Tara has a spring in her step as she moves towards the elevator, hitting the button and moving inside as she waits for "Maggie" to join her before hitting the button for her floor. )
Right? Hot showers, air conditioning. Having keys to make a place secure, instead of barricading yourself with furniture?
( Ah, the luxuries of life. ) I mean-- odds are they've allocated you somewhere to live. I dunno if it'll be by yourself, like mine is, or if you're gonna have roommates or whatever. You're welcome to crash with me as long as you like.
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[When she enters the elevator, Bela stands close to Tara but leaves a comfortable distance between them. Oh, how crushed the girl was going to be whenever she realised that Bela wasn't Maggie. As long as Tara didn't try to kill her of course. Bela may have to be prepared for that.]
You had me at hot showers. I'm not gonna ask for much more than that really. But I like that we can have more security than before.
[Just what kind of place did Tara come from? It sounded dreadful.]
Until I'm more settled, I'd rather be with people I know. So thanks for the offer. I'll stay with you for a little bit and then we'll see where I've been placed. I don't wanna crowd you if you want to have your own space. Besides, if Glenn does come along one day, we'd probably get somewhere together.
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( Because this kid loves Easy Mac, and all kinds of mac. Fancy microwave mac and cheese might find a way to win her heart, though, there are so many possibilities.
The problem with Tara was that she empathised. Abraham would've probably killed Eugene if the rest of them hadn't separated them, though it was Tara who said she understood why he did it: survival. Finding out this wasn't Maggie, that'd tear shreds off her. At the end of the day, though, how could she say that Bela wasn't surviving? Strange place, strange people, and then some nutjob throws herself at her and starts calling her Maggie? Hell, she could've panicked, easy. And then how do you explain that? Why wouldn't she be terrified? Yeah, Tara would be devastated, but if any of the others - any of them - tried to give her a hard time or take some kinda vengeance, they'd have to go through Tara. She understands what it is to make a bad choice, to be scared. Call her an idiot, but she'd protect her no matter what, whether or not she's Maggie. )
Yeah.
( There's a shadow of guilt that passes over her face, still. Maggie and Glenn, all of them had plenty of security before Tara backed the Governor's play, before she and the others supported him in his campaign to take the prison. She tries to cover it with a smile, keeping her gaze locked on the light indicating as they climb levels, until they hit her floor. The elevator pings, and Tara steps out, drawing her keys out of her pocket. )
Honestly, not being around the family's been kinda weird, so you can stay as long as you want. ( Carl hasn't exactly been keen to hang with her, what with the whole... not really having met her yet thing. Oops. )
I mean, there are some cool people here, kinda folks that would've been good to us back home, y'know? This kid Kitty, I reckon you'll like her. ( A beat. ) Thank Christ you're here, there's so many teenagers.
( Tara's social circle is mostly teenagers, people she is trying to get to train her, and that one potential booty call. But never mind all that, she's opening up the door to her apartment and pushing it open. It's nothing huge or fancy, pretty basic, but there's no broken furniture or blood stains. It's like a Christmas miracle. )
apologies for the delay and the shorter response. i feel bad because your tag is epic!
I wonder if there's a reason why there are a lot of teenagers. [Not that Bela had anything against them in particular...she didn't really like the majority of people, unless they had something she needed.] Guess it don't matter none as I've got you and the others around.
[A big, friendly smile. Okay, a fake smile but Bela can sell it perfectly. She's still mindful of how long her ruse will last for and the possible fallout from that. Bela feels she'll be able to dust herself off and get on with her life without much trouble - it's not the first time she had to do it.
Upon entering the apartment she takes a good look around it, mentally comparing to her own back in New York. Hers was much more spacious and while it had some expensive art, it was minimalist in style. Oh, and she also had a Ouija board on the wall.]
Nice place. Can't wait until you give me a proper tour.
[Probably won't be a very long tour.]
What are your neighbours like?
pshaawwww nonsense, your tags are delightful ;u;
( Bad habit of hers, resorting to flat humour and gentle (or not so gentle) sarcasm. She shrugs, wandering further into the place and setting her stuff down on the kitchen counter. )
Prepare for a whirlwind adventure. This is the kitchen, fridge and everything. You're enjoying the scenic views of the hallway.
( Moving back to join "Maggie," Tara points to a room further along, door open-- actually, she jogs a couple of steps, so she can scoop up a couple of pieces of laundry and chuck them in the basket. ) You can crash in here.
( "Here" is the bedroom. Tara plans on taking the sofa. ) Um. If you want I can grab you some towels, if you wanted a shower.