safety first

[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 as if they have been refurbished in the past few months -- something happened in here some time ago. Something big.

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 and a pamphlet. 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 city of Heropa is what one might expect from a small, bright and cheery place. The locals are friendly enough and local shop owners might offer a free drink to help cool you down in this awfully nauseating heat. Some of the locals might thank you for always lending your service to the nation and others might not say anything. In fact, some people might back away from any imPort who quite obviously looks like they aren't from around the neighborhood. Once in a while there's a look of disdain on someone's face and hushed voices. Something about "the outbreak" and "the government's gotta crack down on their medical files". "Some of them can't be right in the head" says another.

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 normally known for being a little more on the apathetic side, but there's been tension in the atmosphere lately. Nobody will outright state what it is that's rustled their jimmies, though you might find a newsstand with articles on recent and aggressive vigilante behavior within the city. "ImPorts: loyal to the cause of their own?" reads one newspaper article.

People are not as friendly in this city and go out of their way to avoid walking down the same sidewalk as the more obvious looking imPorts pass through. Local cops say nothing, but they scowl at those imPorts and utter something about "no badges" and "acting like authority figures".

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

Elle Mel Marta - Tales of Xillia 2

[elleacious]

01. Military Base/Arrival

[There's a little girl, barely eight years old, clutching her files to her chest and staring at the soldiers milling about very distrustfully. She seems afraid (but in an effort to be tough, unwilling to admit she's afraid), stepping to the side to avoid being bumped into by other confused imPorts until she's got her back against the wall. She reaches for a gold pocketwatch hanging around her neck and clutches it.

Gotta go find Ludger.

Steeling herself, Elle presses the folders she was handed against her chest and reaches for the first person who doesn't look like a soldier to grab a sleeve or jacket hem or something.]

H-hey! [Oh shit she's got their attention. She shrinks back a little, but pushes bravely onward!] Um. D'you know where- Can you help me find somebody?


02. Heropa, FL

[Elle, luckily, fits right in with the surrounding people. Her sleeves hide her tattoo until she rolls them up, but a little girl doesn't seem particularly dangerous so she manages to avoid the worst of the disdain as she walks along the boardwalk, stomach growling.

A vendor offers her a drink and she sets the folders she was given down on the ground to reach up and take it, only for a wind to pick up the papers and scatter them.]

Ah-! No! [She starts to chase them down, but isn't fast enough to catch everything.] Get back here!


05. Nonah, NC

Really, you think so? [Elle grins, fists on her hips as the well-dressed man insists yes, of course, she'd be an excellent model for girl's clothes.] I mean, I am pretty cute. But I don't wanna do all that posing stuff, unless I can do poses like- Hyah! [An obvious ranger pose from some kid's show.] Or like this, or this! [Some more cutesy poses, and then another one with her punching an invisible bad guy. Lots of punching and kicking poses.] Sunscreen Rangers, to the rescue! [The guy nods along, looking around for where her parents probably are. Maybe he looks just a touch shady, though really he's just very new and very stupid.]

1.

[localareanetto]

[Fortunately, that first person is a child like her, albeit slightly older, but still a child. Should be easier to talk to, right?

Said child is currently stuffing his face with a hotdog. And he's trying to answer her question with the food still in his mouth.]

Hm? Fuu ar noo loofun for?

[Not even the least bit intelligible.]

[elleacious]

[too easy to talk to]

Hey! You're not supposed to talk with your mouth full. Swallow that and try again. [kiddo]

[localareanetto]

[Lan waves his hands a little and then crams the little bit of remaining food in his hands into his mouth in an attempt to get it all down before trying to speak with Elle again.

Except that was a terrible idea, because he's now coughing and choking on his food. Oops.]

[elleacious]

Ah-! See! This is why- Sit down! [Elle gives him a little shove against the wall and runs off to find some water, coming back with a bottle and struggling with the cap until she untwists it and pushes it into his hands, pounding on his back.] Geez, you're not that smart, are you?

[localareanetto]

[He does as she demands, trying not to die from lack of air as he chokes on the food, and then suddenly there's pounding on his back and water in his hands. The pounding dislodges the food, and he takes a huge gulp of water. Safe! He takes a big gulp of air, and then--]

Hey, I'm plenty smart! The food was... just really good, okay??

[Also, his Netnavi's not here to prevent some of his acts of stupidity.]

[elleacious]

Really good enough to die? It was a dumb hot dog. [Elle slides down to sit against the wall beside him, arms around her knees.] Are you okay now?

2 / FLYING TACKLE AT TOP SPEED

[chromatose]

[Ludger's turning the corner as the papers flutter by, very nearly leaving them alone until he hears the voice shouting after them. Instinctively he kicks a foot out to trap one page beneath it, leaning forward to grab another out of the air. Thank goodness for fast reflexes.

There's no time for him to realize that the voice was familiar, that his body moved automatically more because of that than any sense of neighbourly helpfulness. Before he can give it another moment's thought, he glances over in the direction of the voice, page lifted to offer it out, and stops short.

No. No way. That couldn't possibly be her.]

/SLAMS FACE INTO

[elleacious]

[There's another woman who'd leaped to help her too, a native, gathering up the pages and handing them off before realizing she was an imPort and quickly withdrawing, but Elle doesn't even notice. Elle doesn't even care.

The folder is dropped again and the pages flutter back into the street as Elle breaks into a run, chest heaving with the wet breaths that come just before a sob. She stumbles and almost falls, but flings herself at Ludger and buries her face against his stomach, hiccuping. Her arms can't go all the way around him so she makes fists in the back of his shirt and he's warm and smells like garlic and pesto, like bread, and that's when the tears come though Elle does her best to hold back the sound of them.

He's here. He's here. This could be some kind of fractured version of him somehow but he recognized her, she saw it in his face. -she did see it, right? No- now she has to make sure.

Elle pulls back, two damp spots on his shirt from where she'd pressed her face and looks up at him.] L-Ludger?

[Please, please recognize her. Please recognize her.]

jesus christ

[chromatose]

[It is. Oh god, it is. He's honestly stunned, staggering a little as she runs at him, not only because it is her but because of how upset she is. When's the last time he's seen her cry? She's always been so strong and stubborn about not being treated like a kid, so crying seemed out of the question. It's a little frightening, actually, and he feels a surge of protective anger at whatever upset her so.

He pulls her back just enough to let himself kneel in front of her, hands on her shoulders as he looks her up and down, searching for any sign of injury.]

Elle... what happened? Has someone hurt you? How did you get here...?

[elleacious]

[He knows her. He really does. For one second Elle thinks she might be able to resist crying, but then her arms go around Ludger's neck and nope, she's crying, she's definitely crying very loudly right in his ear, and people are starting to stare. At least she's crying while hugging him instead of crying and running away from him. At least people don't think he's a creep.]

I- You-! [She can't talk like this but she's gonna try, though maybe if she didn't yell into his neck he might have an easier time understanding her. Geez, she's really going to worry him and he's gonna think she's a total baby if she doesn't hurry up and pull herself together. And she promised, she promised herself that she'd be strong and happy for him-!

Okay. ...okay.] I'm n- Nobody hurt me, [she sniffles, pulling back far enough to rub at her eyes with a wrist.]

[chromatose]

[He doesn't hesitate, immediately winding his arms around her to return the hug as long as she needs it, stroking her hair and doing his best to console her. He glances down at the crumpled paper still clutched between his fingers, the other pages scattered around them, and it clicks- she'd just arrived alone in a whole new world. No wonder she's scared.

When she draws back, he offers her a gentle smile, hand lifting to pat her head. Maybe some familiarity will give her extra comfort while she sorts herself out.]

You just got here, huh? I know, it's a lot to take in... but I'm glad you're okay.

[elleacious]

[Uh oh.

Elle's lip quivers and the tears well up again, right after she'd gotten the stupid things to stop, and she reaches up to wind her arms around Ludger's neck and hold on. She has no idea how this is possible, but she's not going to question it. She'll take it. She'll take this one good thing.]

I'm glad you're okay... [she cries quietly, hiding her face against his shoulder.]

1

[bindsthedead]

Looking for these? [It probably counts as 'showing off' but Sabriel gathers the scattered papers into her arms with a gestured spell. It didn't put them back in the proper order, but what could you do?]

I take it you're new? [So young... Better make sure someone's looking out for her] Have you met anyone from your world yet?

[elleacious]

[WIDE EYES]

Whoaaa...how'd you do that? [Because obviously her little magic trick is much more important than whether or not Elle's got a guardian at the moment.]

[bindsthedead]

Magic- I'm a mage, among other things. [Said with a grin, as Sabriel bends down to look Elle in the eye.]

Now, what have people told you about this place?

[elleacious]

Holllld on, we can talk about that later. [She pats Sabriel's shoulder like she's the lost child here. Table that discussion.

Look. You just mentioned magic. Which is not like artes, because it is magic.] You mean you can do real magic? Magician magic? [that's not real magic sweetie]

[bindsthedead]

Yes- Charter magic, mage magic. I've always been able to use it. [Hopefully Elle won't find out that Sabriel can teach said magic to other imPorts...]

[elleacious]

I never heard about magic called that stuff before. Can you pull rabbits out of hats? Oh-! And make flowers and scarves and stuff? What else can you do? [entertain me i am eight] Can you saw people in half?!

5; I HOPE THIS IS OK I LOVE ELLE

[maime]

[Regardless of what the man's actual intentions may be, he certainly looks suspect and anyone who spots an unsupervised child and tries to hire them rather than asking something like "Are you lost?" can't be up to anything good. Maine had been watching the exchange from nearby while waiting for some probably questionable street cart food. He doesn't trust this man's intentions and he's certainly not going to ignore such s cute little girl in possible need of rescue.

His solution of going over and grabbing the girl by her jacket to scoop her under one arm is probably not the best solution. But he's got a chilli dog in his other hand that he refuses to give up. Luckily when you're 6'4" and surly you can just glare at the normal people and do whatever you want. Even more so when you're 6'8" and in full body armor but sadly Maine isn't wearing his today.

So all he has to do is glare at the pushy local for them to back off. What he may not have accounted for is a spirited rebuttal this little girl may offer at what could easily be construed as an attempted kidnapping. Good job Maine.]

OF COURSE IT IS

[elleacious]

[It takes Elle a few seconds to react because she's just kind of shocked that this is actually happening. She's cried wolf on kidnappings a couple times because hey, it's good for a distraction and it gets the job done. Nothing rallies adults to a child's defense like a cry for help.

...but she's totally being carried like a football and she's stunned, just hanging there in this huge dude's grip like what is going on here? What's happening?

Holy shit. She's for real being kidnapped.]

HELP! I'm being kidnapped, HELP! [Elle starts shrieking and kicking and punching at Maine's ribs before biting the nearest thing she can reach, which just so happens to be his side. She maybe growls like a monster while she does it. YOU AIN'T TAKING HER WITHOUT A FIGHT YOU STRANGELY MUSCULAR GIRAFFE]

HELLA

[maime]

[Maine's instinctive reaction to being hit is to growl (right back at her) in an agitated manner, which surely doesn't help his case. Especially since unlike Elle he actually sounds like a horrible monster when he does it. Regardless, it certainly scares off the native who'd been chatting Elle up, so that's an accomplishment, isn't it? Probably.

On the other hand, this struggling is distracting him from the fact that the danger has passed and he could probably put the girl down now. So instead he's going to just fight to keep her in his grasp.]

Trying to help you!
[That voice would probably be more reassuring if it wasn't incredibly deep and spoken inside her head.]

[elleacious]

[Well her screaming is definitely attracting stares and that voice in her head MIRACULOUSLY does not help her to calm down. In fact she doesn't even realize it was in her head at first, still punching her little fists determinedly into Maine's side.]

You're definitely-! Not helping me! Who would call-! This helping someone?! PUT ME DOWN!

[maime]

[Well at this point Maine is concerned that if he sets her down he will be attacked by a tiny girl and/or arrested due to this OBVIOUS MISUNDERSTANDING, especially with all the attention it's drawing from bystanders, even though no one is daring to jump in. Yet, anyway. So he certainly can't let her go, but he doesn't much care for being punched in the side, so he's going to try to shift into a princess carry because maybe she will complain less if she's held in a more dignified manner???]

Talking to suspicious strangers, don't you have anyone looking after you?

Stop yelling and I'll put you down.
[This is what he gets for sticking his neck out, huh?]

[elleacious]

[Elle's face goes red like she's not going to listen and is instead going to scream until maybe she spontaneously combusts, but he is holding her like a princess instead of a sack of potatoes now and the punching and biting thing was not working. Maybe cooperation until she can kick him in the shin and run away will work.

...............wait a minute]

-uh, your mouth isn't moving. Are you- doing that puppet thing? The weirdo thing where you don't move your lips but make a puppet talk?