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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

[ None of those bland faces match who the temperamental AI might be looking for -- but that's because he's not checking all the nooks and crannies.

Steve's no better in the disorientation game, having just been debriefed himself, but that's not enough to make him miss a hauntingly familiar form lumbering through the crowd. It's the shock of cold water his system needs to break him from the haze of confused frustration that's settled over his mind since he awoke, filling his veins with a soldier's fire.

Ultron shouldn't be here -- shouldn't be alive -- but this is not the time for questions. Which is why, when the looming spectacle of metal is within proper range, Steve strides from the alley where he'd taken refuge and immediately slings his shield right at the bastard's head.

They said this was a place for heroes. He's caught them in their first lie. ]

[To be fair, he really should have been more observant. He should have kept a better eye on things. Just because he'd been shoved somewhere strange, just because of the jarring loss of the net -- that's no reason to drop his guard.]

[Except he did, and there's a sudden CLANG of impact from the shield.]

[The big bot goes sprawling, reeling, really, landing with a hard enough thump to crack the concrete around him. Slowly, he starts peeling himself up with an incredibly human-like shake of his head.]

[... just in time to catch sight of the shield soaring away.]

Oh for God's sake. Really? Now?

[ Steve does not revel in the pain of others -- but he can't help the rush of satisfaction that fills him at the sound of metal on metal, sending Ultron careening to the concrete and the attacking shield spinning back to the soldier's outstretched arm. His face is cold; today has been a very unpleasant day, and his new friend is not a happy addition.

Of course, his appearance after Steve's apparent abduction? A bit too strange for him to shrug and announce it a crazy coincidence. ]

Are you behind all this?

[ He strides towards the staggered robot, struggling to keep his anger in check. ]

Is this some part of your back-up plan? Kidnapping people, even snatching civilians out of their homes to play in your little game?

[God dammit. He can't even have a moment to be angry without one of these simpering little "avengers" slamming in to shatter it, can he?]

[Flight systems are offline. Weapons systems might as well be nonexistent. There won't be any finding better ground. Not now. He pushes himself to his feet, keeping his stance wary, watching the approaching 'hero'.]

You know, for someone who hangs around with Stark, you're blindingly naive.

[The stunned look on his face takes on a decidedly arrogant sneer.]

Why would I be here, hm? If this were my plan, do you really think I'd have left you alive, Captain?

[ A fair point. Steve stops a few yards short, glaring down his nose at the artificial intelligence that had tried -- and almost succeeded -- in destroying the world. ]

Fine, then. If it's not you... that means you're trapped here the same as the rest of us.

[ And that, dear sir, puts Cap in a decidedly better power position. This isn't a conversation between an inmate and a warden; this is two prisoners caught in the same cell. The playing field is leveled, and he's feeling a big tip in the scale as far as his chances of winning this fight might go. ]

So with that in mind, why don't you explain to me why I shouldn't just dismantle you here and now?

[Score one for the Murderbot. A moment of scoring he uses to fully lever himself to his feet, brushing himself off with all the indignation and wounded pride of a human dignitary. Hard not to feel a bit smug -- so he doesn't even try not to.]

Oh, yes. That. You've caught me. Same as you, blah, blah, blah -- is the speech on cooperation coming next?

[And he'll continue to brush himself off, in order to buy himself a moment or two to run that information through processing. Logic it out. Time to put on the nonchalant face, even if he's really only trying to buy time. In the process, a bit of blue lighting catches his eye -- out of place against the red.]

See, that's the thing about 'being here same as the rest of us'.

[With a flourish, he displays the tattoo all the ImPorts gain. Smiling.]

Dismantling me, your fellow captive, is murder, Captain. And you're no murderer - are you?

[ Clever girl.

It takes everything he has for his face not to twitch in frustration, though the flicker of his eyes to the tattoo and back again is more than enough to tip his hand. It was made fairly clear; to attack and kill another "hero," as they liked to call everyone here, would be punished as a crime. The mere sight of the tattoo is enough to cause the outrage to bubble up in his chest all over again.

Branded, the lot of them. Like criminals. Like cattle. ]

By their standards. But I'll accept whatever punishment they see fit if it means keeping the people in this barracks safe. So I'll ask you again--

[ He lifts his shield, keeping it poised to strike. An open threat. ]

Why am I letting you walk away from this?

[~~RAPTOR SCREECH~~]

[And oh, does Ultron ever smirk. Caught the proud 'captain' in his own little persona. Tied him up in tape, in strings. He can't help the low, amused little chuckle in his robotic throat.]

It's just so ironic, isn't it? Here I am, the slave to humanity's salvation, walking around, nothing tying me down. And there you are, the supposedly elevated human being...

Strung up. In red tape.

[He spreads his hands, fingers slowly curling, as if to gesture to everyone around them.]

Captain, if I wanted to start slaughtering these people, do you really think your frisbee would have stopped me? Do you really think we'd be having this conversation?

[Someone, maybe everyone, would already be dead, if I really wanted to cut loose right now.]

[There was just no point in that. Not yet. Not until he was more stable, more fortified here.]

Besides. How do you know this isn't just another spare body?

[BLUFF -- BLUFFY MC BLUFFERSON RIGHT HERE.]

[ A fair point, as far as their conversation... but he suspects there's more to it than "I'm just not in the mood yet." The way he lifts his chin is almost defiant as he stares the megalomaniac down. ]

Why bother telling me unless you don't want me to destroy the only body you have?

[ Still, there is some very real frustration in the fact that Ultron is, in some fashion, right. He's not bound by the rules of this place, but those of his own moral code; right now, with the bastard refusing to engage him, launching a full-scale attack is... problematic. Especially now that they're starting to get more attention from the people around them who are trying to find out what all the fuss is about.

Slowly, he lowers his shield. Not to put it away, mind you -- he's not comfortable with this, not by a long shot -- but to instead keep it at his side, prepared for the worst should it come. ]

How did you survive the destruction of Sakovia?

[ He's stuck here with a murderous psychopath of a robot. Might as well get some answers out of the deal. ]

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1 BABY sorry for the sour welcome boo

IT OKAY

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