etcelsior | [kill bill sirens]

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[kill bill sirens]

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?

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[ The sea is peaceful. Sometimes, when he needs somewhere less crowded, he'll go here; even with the people around, he always has a knack for finding secluded places.

Today, at least, he has another motive. That motive suddenly pops up besides Lapis - it's about half her height, much wider and rounder, and is currently splashing happily.

It stares at her with round eyes and seems to inflate a little-oh, here comes someone wading over. ]

You can't just -- no, stop. [ Stop. The command comes out as garbled speech, completely incomprehensible, and the creature blinks before turning away. ] My apologies. Did I disturb you?

[the sudden appearance of sea life(?) startles Lapis, but she doesn't react much beyond taking a step or two back. the thing looks relatively harmless, and it has about as much right to be here as she does.

she seems a but more bothered by the revelation that it has a humanoid looking master...but that's her own bitterness, no need to lash out. her expression isn't quite upset, settling instead into quietly stoic.

her gaze trails upwards again for a brief moment, then back down to her unexpected conversation partner. she shrugs, a little awkwardly.]

It wasn't anything important.

[ It practically leaps onto the man, squirming enthusiastically. He somehow maintains a relatively straight face even when something that huge and colorful is being affectionate at him, though he can't hide the way his expression softens a little.

Then it squirts him in the face and he just stares at it for a second before shaking his head, freeing one hand to tug the band from his hair and letting it free. Whatever, he's wet enough as it is.

He looks up at the sky, himself. It's a nice day; clear blue skies, with only a hint of cloud. ]

I see. [ He's not going to pry. ]

It's a nice day for the beach, isn't it? You picked a good time to come here. Usually it's more crowded.

[oh, that's. oh no that's really funny, her sense of humor is rising up and she doesn't have a mirror prison to hide behind now. Lapis ducks her head, pressing a delicate hand up against her mouth to stifle the giggles fighting to bubble out.]

I didn't really have a choice in the matter. They only took me today.

[her struggles with her mirth makes the comment sound a great deal lighter than it is. 'they' is a bit vague, but if this guy's been here for any stretch of time it should be obvious.]

Ah, I see. You're new. [ He's going to not call attention to Lapis' attempts to stifle her laughter; considering her expression before, she wouldn't appreciate it. ] It's disorienting, isn't it.

[ He feels more comfortable talking to someone who is, in all likelihood, not human. In a small way. ] ...But the sea is good for easing that, a little. It's always the same, no matter where you go.

[ To some extent, water is water everywhere. If he closes his eyes and listens, sometimes he's back home. It's something he holds onto.

That creature is still clambering all over him. He's just letting it. It squirts water almost down the back of his shirt and he flinches. ]

What have I done to you now? [ He's grabbing it and holding it like some kind of excitable puppy. He doesn't sound very serious. ] What did I do to deserve this from you, hmm?

This place is similar to somewhere I've been before; I was just wondering how similar.

[hence her previous skygazing, the real goal of her beachside break rather than the ocean itself. that said, it's good to know that this earth is as water-heavy as the last, in case she needs to use it for...whatever. there was some small measure of comfort in that at the very least.

she allows herself a little smile as her hand moves away from her mouth to tuck some hair behind an ear, like that was her plan the entire time. it's risky (from Lapis' view, at least) but she decides to offer up a...sort of playful response.]

He might be upset you interrupted a conversation. First impressions are hard to break.

[it ends up sounding more like a hesitant half-joke, but whatever. baby steps back to socialization.]

Something up there you're missing? [ It's only half a question; it's not hard to guess.

He huffs, a little, and holds up the virus, looking it in the eye. ] Is that it? Is that why you keep subjecting me to this?

[ It hangs there in his hands for a moment, and then squirts him full in the face. He sputters a little, shaking his head, before putting it back down. ] Maybe not. I can only hope he'll learn manners in the future, but right now I don't even think he really understands what water is.

[ It moves well enough, but it would move like that regardless of what environment it was in. From the input he's receiving, it hasn't really gotten a handle on what water is yet. ]

[this time Lapis can't help herself - she laughs, turning away a little as if somehow that's going to make him deaf all of a sudden. it's a vulnerability that she's only shared with Steven, and even then obliquely. despite the fact that she is apparently the only gem in this world and freer than ever, Lapis isn't confident that it's...safe? acceptable? to be so free with her feelings.]

I think he'll learn when the waves start coming in.

[which one does, conveniently, gently lapping over the virus' head. it moves in apparent defiance of the current tides and dissipates soon after, but Lapis doesn't take ownership of it. no need to admit to being more playful than she already has.

when she's got a bit of a better handle on herself she turns back, and her next question is probably the most direct she's been this entire conversation. he seems interested in the topic, so she might as well see if she can get some answers.]

Do you know much about the star systems in this universe?

[ He can read her body language well enough; he doesn't say anything. He understands that impulse to push emotions down, not to show them.

The virus beeps in alarm as it sways with the little wave, but judging by the flood of new data he's now receiving, it's learned a little more. ] Looks like it.

I don't know too much about stars, though apparently stargazing is a relaxing recreational activity as well as something of emotional and spiritual significance. [ He sounds apologetic. ]I know some imPorts went to space a month or so ago to search some coordinates. Something like that.

But space is vast, or so I'm told. Maybe whatever you're looking for is still out there, somewhere.

[ The way he talks about stars sort of implies he's never seen them very much. ]

I'm not really sure I want it to be.

[it's easy to admit like this, when she's only half speaking in specifics to a person who doesn't know (or care, perhaps) about her background. Homeworld isn't home anymore, maybe hasn't been for thousands of years, and its existence in this world would only mean more trouble for her.

it wasn't like her return didn't already have a track record of causing problems, after all. and as much as she hated where she was now...Lapis isn't certain that she wants that to be her end goal.]

It might be nice to go up again, though...everything was so different, the last time.

Mixed feelings. I see.

Change is difficult, isn't it.

[ He knows that; it's a factual observation. It's hard to change some parts of yourself. What you really are ~~or in his case, what he believes he is.~~ ]

Maybe it will be easier, if someone comes with you. If you find it, if it's here in this world. [ It's not an offer, just an observation.

The virus splashes around, nudging his hand for petting. He rubs it, absentmindedly. ]

Especially when no one asked whether you wanted it or not.

[this is mumbled bitterly to herself, difficult to hear over the quiet lap of the sea. Lapis still has a hard time letting that one go, apparently.

she looks up at his other comment, expression stricken somewhere between discomfort and horror. oh god. bring someone back to Homeworld with her? they'd stomp all over whatever poor sap she dragged along; Lapis may not particularly care for the people of this planet, but even she wouldn't want to drag them to their certain doom.]

I...don't think that would be a good idea.

Having things forced on you is a heavy burden.

I'm sorry.

[ It's sincere as he can make it. Who wants to be just something that others force on them? Defined solely by the will of another person?

No, it's better to be free. He ties himself down, but he wants those ties, those connections to others. It's not like before. ]

Not a welcoming place. I see. [ He's not going to ask... ]

But you still want to look on it. At least once.

It must be very important to you.

[she folds her hands delicately, holding them close to her body. that was the crux of the matter, wasn't it? Homeworld could no longer be thought of as her safe refuge, but for all its problems it would be...comforting, somehow, to know that it existed here as well.

to know that she wasn't alone.]

It was home once. I guess I still haven't let go of that.

[ It's hard to be lonely. That's the truth of it; that's what he's learned. ]

Things you love are hard to let go of. Even if they've changed. Or they weren't what you thought they were.

It's difficult, but you find things to make it easier, in the end. At least, I did.

[ It's a process, long and laborious and neverending. He doesn't want to settle in fully; he wants to go home, at his core. He wants familiar things and familiar places, despite all he's done here.

But he knows that those things don't exist here, and going home is something he has no control over. He makes the best of what he has here, finding people to protect that in some small way remind him (sometimes painfully) of those he misses most. ]

I left that behind too.

[the one thing that might have made an extended (and free) stay on earth palatable wasn't here. Lapis knows this despite not having scoured more of the planet, because Steven had a way of getting to where he was needed. if she hadn't seen him yet, she wouldn't at all.

she looks out across the ocean, playfully bopping the little virus in the head with a gentle wave again.]

But...it's not like I can lose anything else from trying again. I guess.

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[kill bill sirens]

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