[kill bill sirens]

[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 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?

Comments

[nakatsu]

Nakatsu laughs, because that's a hilarious joke. Chakra and super powers in real life. That's like something out of a crazy ninja manga or something.

He notices Gaara is not laughing. Oh. "Man, I go to high school. I'm supposed to learn how to do algebra and all the dates of the Meijin Revolution or else I'll get detention. If they taught super powers, I'd be the best student in school."

[eyelineronpoint]

"We have schools also." ARE YOU IMPLYING THEY'RE JUST DUMB NINJAS???? ...okay so some of them are dumb ninjas. We aren't naming names, but it's the protagonist. "Not everyone has these abilities, just shinobi. There are plenty of people who learn their craft or trade and live as civilians."

[nakatsu]

"How do you know if someone can do... all that?" He sets his hands on his hips, determined. "Is there like a test? Do I have to get a tattoo?" He points to his forehead, in the same place Gaara has one.

[eyelineronpoint]

Okay now he's rolling his eyes. "Most people enter into the academy at a young age. It's either tradition in their clans, or something they decide as children." Mostly a clan thing, though.

[nakatsu]

"Does that mean I can't have a cool power like yours?" A small pout forms on his face. That is so unfair. If only his parents had been cooler and sent him to train in a village when he was a kid.



Wait, but then he wouldn't have been able to play soccer.

[eyelineronpoint]

"Didn't the device that brought us here give you powers?" Because he heard some weirdo crap about that, and as unhappy as he is this kid seems genuinely depressed at the idea at not having any. Ok.

[nakatsu]

"It said it did." He pulls a crumpled piece of paper from his back pocket. Nakatsu is the epitome of organised.

Smoothing out the relevant part he reads, "Right here - pyrotechnic capabilities - but I haven't figured out how to get it to work. It could just have been a dud, right?"

[eyelineronpoint]

kid
kiddo did you really just shove that highly sensitive document into yo back pocket like that

Gaara gives the guy almost a pitying look as he takes the paper and tries to press it flat. CIVILIANS. He's going to have to look out for you, isn't he? "Very unlikely. You probably just need proper training."

[nakatsu]

who're you calling kiddo, brat?

He's apparently happy enough handing over vital documents to complete strangers with crazy sand gourds as well. "Really? I've already got soccer training three times a week. They want me to go to some kind of American school, too."

[eyelineronpoint]

WHO'RE YOU CALLING BRAT, PUNK

"Then forget about mastering your powers." Gaara hands the paper back. Same amount of information as they have on him...technically. The guy only has has a list of sports stats.

[nakatsu]

WHO'RE YOU CALLING PUNK, JERK?!

"EH? You think so?" The paper goes back into his pocket. Firmly, so it doesn't fall out. Nakatsu knows it's important.

But he kind of understands where this guy's coming from. You don't get anywhere without a lot of work. He shrugs easily. "How long did it take you to learn that sand stuff?"

[eyelineronpoint]

"My situation is dissimilar to yours. I was born like this." Does it sound like he's bragging because he's really, really isn't.

"But if you want to continue school and....soccer," is that the right word," then you'll have very little time to train. You won't make much progress."

Besides, you're a civilian. Don't become a soldier if you're happy like this, those kinds of stories are always sad.

[nakatsu]

"Yeah, I guess you're right." There was no chance he was giving up soccer, after all. Not even for magic powers (or whatever this was).

He's quiet for a moment, thinking. "What did you mean, 'you were born like this'?"

[eyelineronpoint]

"I was born into these powers and the life of a soldier. It's what I know, but if it's not something you were raised into I wouldn't recommend it." Gaara nods out to the field where Nakatsu had been playing. "Your life has its own purpose without learning how to fight. If it's not something you need to do, you shouldn't do it."

[nakatsu]

Wherever this eyeliner kid was from, it sounded intense. Nakatsu had never known war, real war, not the fun kind they had between the dormitories. He'd never thought about himself in a situation where he might have to be a soldier. This kid clearly had, so he wasn't about to argue with him on that front.

But... not learning to do things if you didn't need to do them. That wasn't always right.

"Hey, have you ever played?"

[eyelineronpoint]

This kid also manages to say everything like it's the absolute truth, whether or not it is. Having ultimate authority really convinces somebody of how right they must be, how strange.

"No." He doesn't even ask 'played what' because the answer is the same no matter what game Nakatsu is talking about. -Okay well, he should probably amend that. "I've participated in training games with the smaller children at our training academy recently, but it was more of a teaching experience than anything."

[nakatsu]

"You want to try?"

No wonder the guy had popped his soccer ball, Nakatsu decided. He'd obviously never played soccer in his life. Poor, deprived eyeliner guy.

[eyelineronpoint]

"Now's not the time." wow rude

Also he destroyed your ball so like how did you plan on playing? "Didn't you just get here? Why are you wasting your time?"

[nakatsu]

such rude

"What else am I supposed to be doing?" Defensively, he crossed his arms. He knew no one in this world, he sure as hell wasn't going to go looking for any bad guys to beat up, or whatever it was they were supposed to be doing.

[eyelineronpoint]

Well...he has a point. If he's not going to be using his powers, what else should he be doing? "Panicking." Gaara folds his arms too, just because he does that. He's not giving off confrontational vibes at least. "I'm surprised you aren't. Most people not trained to adapt to adverse situations would be." Says the guy who locked himself in a bathroom for an hour while he tried to figure out WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON. This hypocrite.

[nakatsu]

"What's panicking gonna do?" He shrugged, not exactly wanting to talk about his own emotional state regarding things. That was one reason he was playing soccer. Even if he was in a crazy world with super powers, and he might never get home again, at least soccer was the same.

"It's stupid to say that untrained people would do something stupid. People don't know how they'll react in a situation until they get there. Even with training." He scuffed his shoe into the dirt. "I'll bet even you weren't trained for something like this, yeah?"

[eyelineronpoint]

Personally Gaara doesn't think panicking is stupid so much as it is a natural reaction, but it's not worth the potential confrontation to disagree. "I wasn't," he admits. "But our standard training regiments include emotional conditioning."

He shrugs a shoulder. Gaara doesn't have much experience talking to people his age who aren't also ninja. Or at least know who he is. Maybe Nakatsu doesn't want to talk about this. "Anyway. I'm sorry about your ball. I'll replace it." Gaara turns to go.

[nakatsu]

Nakatsu makes no move to stop him, but neither does he stop talking. "Hey, don't worry about it. When you're free, I can show you how to catch one without breaking it."

[eyelineronpoint]

yeah no

Sorry dude but never gonna happen. Bye nice to meet you, soccer kid.

[nakatsu]

... The cool effect of you leaving is rather spoiled by Nakatsu shouting after you.

"Oi! Sand kid! What's your name?"