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

[ Sarah stares after the guy as he walks away, sniffs disgusted, and flips him off. Even if he doesn't see her do it, it makes her feel better about the fact that he pissed off before she could kick his ass for saying what he did. ]

Very.

[ After she watches the asshole turn the corner and disappear, she turns back to Suzanne, dropping her hands to her sides. ]

You okay?

[ Suzanne blinks a couple times, but she's a bit calmer already since the guy left so quickly. Things had no opportunity to escalate, and her moods are the sort that flare then fade, rather than simmer. She nods her head, wiping some of the water from her face and briefly sucking it off her finger, since she'd missed out on actually getting to ingest her drink.

She quotes: ]

"Be less curious about people and more curious about ideas." [ With two fingers she points to her eyes, then to Sarah, then uses both hands to gesture outwardly. ] People like that just don't deserve our attention.

And yet they come up to us on the street and say shit like that, the bastards.

[ She takes a deep, calming breath and sticks both hands in her pockets. All the better to not wind up punching someone who may or may not deserve it. ]

You know what helps? Think of them as little flies buzzing around your head. [ She nods once, with an outward flip of her wrist. ] 'Cause flies can't empathize.

[ Suzanne wishes she had another drink to offer this woman, since it seems like she could stand to cool off, also. She's a little ashamed that she got upset so quickly, she aims to be on her best behavior -- but, really, it's hard not to get emotional when so much is going on that still hasn't sunk in yet.

She tries to return the favor, anyway, reaching forward as if to put her hand on Sarah's shoulder, but then she withdraws it and crosses her arms over her chest so she's holding each elbow. ]

Are you okay?

Yeah. I'm fine. Just hate when people say shit like that guy did.

[ Something about Suzanne reminds Sarah of Helena, though she can't put her finger on what, exactly. Whatever it is, it makes her want to go find the guy who started this and teach him a lesson. But she won't do that. She's trying to be better about that kind of behavior, at least for now. So she forces a smile onto her face instead. ]

You're new, yeah?

[ She nods again -- slower, more thoughtful nods. To her, commentary like that is complicated. It isn't though she isn't used to hearing things like that, but it did freak her out a little, hearing her stability called into question so soon by complete strangers. When it's people she knows, that's one thing; here, it makes her wonder if she's already done something for people to judge her by.

But she smiles back when Sarah smiles, briefly. ]

Uh huh. [ She points to the folder and brochure she's holding, then looks around them at the city itself. Then back at Sarah, still pointing at the papers in her hand. ] So... is all of this for serious? They were offerin' free stuff back there.

It's legit. I mean, as far as I know. I've only been here like a month.

Yeah. No -- no... that's cool. Just had to make sure, 'cause shit. Is. wild. But still not as strange as fiction. [ Then she pauses, snaps her fingers and makes an amendment: ] Yet.

... Hey. Do you think when we show up, we're replacing different versions of ourselves that are meant to be here? So while we're here, they're wherever we're supposed to be?

[ Despite it being a theory she just now made up out of the blue, she feels sorry for Other Her in the event that is in fact the case. ]

[ This idea has never occurred to her, and as soon as it does, she starts to look just a little bit freaked out. ]

No. No, that's not—no.

No...?

[ Suzanne's eyes widen to match Sarah's look of unease, her eyebrows also raising. Did she say something wrong, or just stupid? She shakes her head, slapping the side of it with her open palm. ]

Um. Okay. Well -- you're probably right. If that was true it make the universe collapse or something, I think that's how that works. And if not I'd still feel real bad about it.

Hey, you don't need to hit yourself.

But... [ She lowers her hand, squinting in Sarah's direction with mild concern. ] I thought I might have said something stupid, your face was like--

[ Suzanne recreates the expression to the best of her memory, maybe exaggerating slightly the degree of alarm, but only because her eyes go so wide. ]

Whoa.

You kinda surprised me is all. Never heard that theory before.

Ohhhh. It was just-- [ She gestures loosely, shaking her head. ] I just made it up, I don't know how any of this works. Any of it. I had some other ideas too but... they're probably also wrong.

[ She shakes her head again, crossing her arms over her chest. ]

Bein' out here I didn't know what else to think about.

safety first

heropa

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject