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[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. 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?

Comments

[hsalf]

Oh yes of course, I'm well aware. [He nods, with a small wave of his hand.] There have been reports of costumed heroes in my world, disguising their identities from the public, and I think it's a wise move. You never know who might want to take advantage of that kind of knowledge, as unfortunate as that is.

[The likes of General Eiling and Simon Stagg come to mind, people willing to cause pain and hurt as a first option to get what they want. He wouldn't be surprised if there are similar types here, though the government is well aware of identities from what he grasps.]

My name is Harrison Wells. I'm a physicist specializing in "meta-human" research - at least I was back home.

[aviate]

[The name elicits no reaction from Hal. He's more familiar with Thawne or Zoom and on one memorable occasion as the man who pretended to be Barry Allen and fooled him and the Garricks.]

Considering the government already knows I don't know why we bother sometimes. I wouldn't, but it's not just me at stake.

[He's starting to list off to one side, but a simple thought fixes that.]

But on the plus side, you've got a lot of research material here. How's a physicist specialise in this sort of thing anyway? I thought it'd fit a biologist better.

[hsalf]

Hm. [He crosses his arms and turns his head to the side, thinking how best to illustrate the idea to someone who clearly doesn't seem to be into the sciences.] Well, a biologst would look at the phenomenom from the inside of a person. They look into the body, into the cells that make up a person, and ask "how is this happening to these people?"

[He turns his head back and waves an index finger in thought.]

A physicist, in my own experience, looks it at it from the perspective of the environment around a person. Into the way the phenomena was born to begin with, on an atomic level, and the means it came to be. Asking the question "why is this happening to these people?"

That difference between 'how' and 'why', along with going from inside and outside, is what's important. [He pauses for a brief moment and unfolds his arms and clasps them together loosely by the bottom of his stomach.] I hope that wasn't too much of a ramble.

[aviate]

No, it's really interesting to hear. [It doesn't apply to him at all considering his ring does all the heavy lifting and therefore he'd need an engineer... which he technically is.]

I always thought of it as just because he's an alien or getting splashed with chemicals let's you tap into an energy source to run fast. You know, who they are.

[He laughs self-deprecatingly.] But that explains why I'm not a scientist.

[hsalf]

[That comment about the chemical splash makes him immediately suspicious, but he'll keep it to himself for now. There's no reason to mention his affiliation to Flash if this man doesn't recognize his name in relation to the speedster.]

Well, sometimes it is just a biological issue or reaction caused by a catalyst. There's a lot still not known about how the impossible comes to be. [He shrugs gently.] Your power for instance - comes from that ring. How the technology of it functions is another question someone in my field of research looks to answer. [A thought occurs and he smiles, stifling back a laugh.] I have a friend I work with who would probably badger you just to get a hold of it for examination. Mechanical engineer.