etcelsior | safety first

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?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Sorry, sorry!

[He laughs a bit as he releases Lan. He doesn't let go completely (it's been five months HE HAS SOME SERIOUS BARNACLE-ING TO DO) but he eases up on his grip enough that he can move. Well, turn around. Attempting to move forward or to the side will just reinstate the clinging. Sorry bb bro that's the price you gotta pay for having Megaman in the real world.

That reaction doesn't go unnoticed, though. It's not too hard to guess where Lan probably got brought in from, and it's something they'll definitely have to address. Not now, though, at least not yet. He wants to keep this reunion a happy one for as long as he can.

Which really isn't that hard. Not even that brief foray into Upsetting Thoughts can wipe the smile off his face. Seriously, this is the best day ever.]

[Finally! He turns around to face his Netnavi, his twin brother. Someone he thought he'd never see again. He almost can't believe it, so he raises his hand to grip one of Megaman's arms. He's real. He's here.

....he's here?]

Hey, wait a minute. How come you're here?? I mean, in the real world?

[It sure took a while for Lan to realize this is an impossible event what the hell is going on]

[By the time Lan gets his hand on Megaman's arm he's already moving to hug him again. Just gonna latch onto you and never let go, don't mind him.]

It's the Porter's fault. Stupid thing gave me a body and couldn't even do it right.

[He's all set to start listing off silly only-half-serious complaints about how Human Bodies Are Weird And Dumb when the full meaning of what Lan just said catches up to him; Lan will probably feel the moment that realization hits, because Megaman just goes stiff. He and Lan are here. In the real world. Together.

And then he just buries his face in Lan's shoulder the best he can and starts laughing, the really broken upsetting kind of laughter where it's obvious that the person's trying not to cry because it just clicked.

He's hugging his brother. He is hugging his brother.]

[Yeah, he catches that weird intonation in his laughter and yeah, that's not like Megaman.]

Hey, Megaman, are you okay?? You're acting really weird...

I'm fine, it's just...

[He sounds like he's on the verge of crying when he talks, too. It's the good kind of crying, really, he just. Really doesn't want to burst into tears right now. Deep breaths, one two three.]

I'm hugging you.

Yeeaaaah, 'cause you're here somehow.

[Which is totally weird, but he's not complaining. But he gets what Megaman-- no, what Hub, his twin brother, is trying to say, and he smiles and hugs him back.]

I missed you, Hub.

[He has to take another deep breath when Lan hugs him back. How long had he spent wishing for this to happen, even just once?]

I missed you too. [He hugs just a fraction tighter.] ...always wanted to do this...

[He laughs a little. He's wished for this too, ever since he learned that Megaman was actually his twin brother. It was cool that he was his Navi and all, but sometimes... just sometimes...

Well, that was then, and this is now. There were so many things he could do with Megaman now that he was here. Like... eat food together!

....they could eat curry together.

He pulls away abruptly, clearly excited about something.]

Hey, hey Megaman! You can eat now, right?

[Blink blink suddenly Lan is pulling away from him noooo he's not done hugging yet get back here.]

Well, yeah, I kind of have to to-- really, Lan? You're doing this now? [HE KNOWS YOU LITTLE BRO HE KNOWS HOW YOUR BRAIN WORKS. Goddammit Lan this is not the time.]

[His grin widens.]

Come on, you have to try out curry! It's amazing!

[He has his priorities straight okay.]

[He's not gonna deny that he actually would like to try it, now that Lan's here to try it with, but there are more important things to worry about first. Responsible Older Brother powers GO!]

How about after we get you settled in. Have you even been to your assigned housing yet?

Uh... we have assigned housing?

[He didn't read his files. Maybe skim, but he sure missed the memo about housing.]

Yes, we do.

[He should've known. Megaman sighs, reaching up to rub the bridge of his nose. He can feel the migraine coming on.]

Lan, please tell me you still have your files.

Yeah, I kept it! I was gonna read it later... [Read: when he was actually bored enough to do so. But he fishes out the files from his backpack and opens it up.]

....oh, cool, we get superpowers??

[Of course that's the part Lan notices first. He's never gonna get him to actually pay attention to the rest of it now.]

Yeah. ...well, you do. I just got a body and the ability to go back to normal. [That's not all, but it's clearly the most salient information so it's all that's worth mentioning.]

[Yep, his eyes are all twinkly now because superpowers.]

Hey, it says I can become data as one of my super powers. [He points at the particular phrase indicating his ability to become a Navi.] Does this mean...?

[Leaning in to take a good, close look at that phrase.] ...that looks like what my paperwork said.

[Does this mean his brother can enter the cyber world? ...OH GOD HIS BROTHER CAN ENTER THE CYBER WORLD. *WHY*.]

safety first

pets gently

Re: pets gently

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woe my lack of good icons

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