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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. The small, cheery city of Heropa is finishing some downtown construction work following an attack some months ago. There are enough construction crews still around and on break to wave and raise a cup of coffee in a salute to the most obvious imPorts. You might even be thanked for playing a role in saving the city from whatever happened.

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, is a large city with a healthy economy, and though it's quieter, there are just as many citizens awed at your presence. Heavy winds have people grasping at their newspapers and constantly brushing hair out of their faces, but that doesn't distract them from crowding you in excitement if you're obviously from a different time or world, or just let it slip that you're a newcomer. Children and young teenagers are especially likely to ask for an autograph and a photo.

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, is just fine as always. Ask the residents about their opinions on the recent two-block space that burned in a fire or the imPorts mixed up in the incident, and the locals will shrug. They're just not interested in talking 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?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Here's another young girl; she's making her way through the crowd, that's stepping back. She had managed to catch sight of him being kind of the little girl, and that's reason enough to save him from the murmuring of the crowd.

She does not scare him; Lucy is fearless.]

Sir?

[She smiles a bit, the smile reaching her eyes. There's no guile in her, nothing false. She is bright as a brass button.]

I should hope to ask you, if you could please escort me? I would take you from where people are watching.

[The offer is real. She looks harmless - weaponless, certainly - and even her powers are mild and non-threatening.]

[Midnighter just stares at her for a minute, trying to figure out what this strangers angle is, or if she even had an angle. Either way, he finds himself intrigued by the manner in which she carries herself; it's certainly not typical for most people, let alone someone her age.

Handing the bear back to the little girl, he rises back up to his full height and walks over to her.]

Sure, kid. Where are you looking to go?

[She takes his arm, just like that.

Hey, Midnighter, you've been adopted by a literal storybook queen.

Her touch is very gentle - one hand curving over his arm, and she's not very tall, especially compared to him, at barely five-five - and she steers him a bit. The crowd begins to dissipate.]

I was traveling to Nonah today, on a favor for a friend, and I had hoped I would have an escort to the, ah, the porter-

[Said like maybe she's not entirely sure if she used that word correctly.]

But I was abandoned, and I saw you be so kindly to that little girl.

I'm Lucy. It's my honor to meet you.

[Well this is unexpected. It's been a while since he's come across someone so... unafraid of him. While he can freely admit that the fault is mostly his own, he can also still find the feeling... pleasant. He slouches slightly so she can get a better grip.]

Sure, I can take you there. I've been meaning to get a closer look at one of those things anyhow.

[After all, if he can't call a door of his own, he might as well look to see how they've done it here.]

The Midnighter. And the honor's all mine, Lucy.

[What a strange kid.]

[She's very confident, and well.

Once she saw him speak to that little girl, it gave her a very clear notion of the content of his character.]

I thank you, sir.

[She smiles up at him a little.]

Are you only recently an arrival, then?

[It's a shame that side of his character is almost exclusively reserved for the 12-and-under crowd.]

Yeah. How long have you been stuck here?

Near to two months, now.

It seems a very long time, but then you think back, and it has not been any time at all.

[She doesn't seem very bothered by this, though. Sure, it's been a while. But her family will hold on without her.

It's also like Lucy is an anti-suspicion charm. People around here know her, and so they don't look at Midnighter with quite as much fear as usual.]

Are you seeking the shortest route home?

Time has a funny way of doing that.

[He thinks of all the things that happened in his life, things that feel like they were forever ago, but were only yesterday, or things that felt like only yesterday, but were forever ago.]

I am, but only because home is where I can actually do this place any good. If I could get back, my team could find this place and we can get everyone back home, where they belong. There's something unnatural about this whole set-up.

Yes.

[She agrees. There is something completely unnatural about all of this.]

I do not understand how we are chosen.

Chosen makes it sound like it's an honor. Kid--Lucy--all this really is is kidnapping on a massive scale. There's nothing honorable about it.

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