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

[seiyaaa]

[ Huh. It's the first time he's noticed her accent. Well, she did call herself Osaka, after all. Is that her name? ]

No, don't be so down on yourself. After all, we put a lot thought into this! We've got to give it a real shot.

[ ... Uh, actually. ] Why were you trying to transform with this in the first place? [ He holds up the device. ] There must have been a good reason, right? [ HE BELIEEEEEEVES ]

[fuhgottaboutit]

Huh? [She looks blankly at him for a second, then down at her own phone thing. Why was she trying to transform with it?]

... Oh! Uh, 'cause my superpowers weren't workin'.

[No they work fine, she just has no idea what they mean or how to use them. The phone is an innocent bystander in all this.]

[seiyaaa]

[ ...? Well, it was more of an ideological question, but hey, experimentation is fine too. He thinks he has a good grasp of their current situation, but he's not sure where she's coming from, exactly. Time to be nosy. :) ]

I see... So you thought you could make them work by using this. [ Brandishes his phone! ] Is that how your powers work back where you come from? By transforming?

[fuhgottaboutit]

[She shakes her head softly, smiling. If he's being nosy, she doesn't seem to mind.]

Nope, not at all. I never had any powers back home. Least, as far as I know I didn't. [Maybe the power was dormant inside her all along! Only no, it wasn't.] But we're s'posed to get some here, right? That's what the paper said.

[seiyaaa]

[ Yup, he'd read it too. Although he'd sort of skimmed over that part; seeing as how he'd come with his belt and medals tucked safely in his underwear, he's pretty sure that the vast majority of the section didn't apply to him. ]

There was a part that said that some people had to wait up to a week to use their powers, right? When did you get here?

[fuhgottaboutit]

Ehh? A week?? [She missed that part.] But I just got here yesterday!

[seiyaaa]

[ Seems pretty cut and dry to Eiji... but he tries to soften the blow a little? ]

Well, that means it's been a day already! Just six more days to wait - less if your powers decide to come early.

[fuhgottaboutit]

[That... kind of works? She's still a little disappointed, though.]

Aw... In that case, it better be somethin' cool. Like... what if after all that, my power was just to turn into a million bugs? How gross would that be???

[seiyaaa]

[ EW WHAT THE FUCK OSAKA ]

Don't tell me that that's what you had in your file... Wait, did you get a file? [ He starts moving back to where he had laid his traveling stick - on a bench, just a few yards away. ]

[fuhgottaboutit]

...... Oh, yeah, I did. [She doesn't have it with her, but...] But I forget what it said.

[seiyaaa]

[ If Eiji were a weaker man he'd facepalm right here. He's made of better stuff though. ]

I'd check it once I got back to where I was staying! [ because home =/= government housing :/ He's not exactly anti-establishment (wait he's a kamen rider of course he is) but he's also not opposed to just camping out under a bridge until he figures out exactly what's going on. He's figuring she's staying in government housing right now though. ] It'll save you a shock later, right? And then you'll know whether to expect bugs or not.

[ Yup, and there's his file where he left it. he opens it up and starts flipping through it really quickly - yes, it does look like that besides the healing factor from the nanites (REALLY CREEPY BY THE WAY), he's got the powers he's used to. it's all good over here :) ]

[fuhgottaboutit]

[He is correct about the government housing! Osaka's never gone apartment-hunting even in Japan, she hasn't the slightest idea how it would work in America. She nods.]

Good idea. I'll do that.

[...... and now she is curious.] What kinda power did you get?

[seiyaaa]

[ ... IT'S WEIRD TALKING ABOUT HIS POWERS. That he. Technically shouldn't even have anymore? And how he got them back was weird and.

Well, Eiji is an excellent liar, but he can't help but shift a little uncomfortably when he shuts his file. There really isn't anything to lie about, after all. Nothing to be nervous about, right? ]

Well, ah... It's not turning into bugs? Or snakes. Man, I'd really hate turning into snakes. [ He laughs, sincerely. Boy, are snakes gross! ] I guess something like eels would be okay though. Or octopi?

[fuhgottaboutit]

[Isn't it funny how the one time you really want Osaka to get sidetracked, that's when she stays on topic?]

... Oh, so you can turn into sea creatures?

[seiyaaa]

Ah. [ He's about to say no. But she's technically on the right track? So in between trying not to lie and also trying not go into detail either, Osaka is treated to a big, fat buffer of indecision.

... EIJI IT'S NOT THAT BIG A DEAL Sure you were sort of being cagey back when you were trying to help her transform but that's not a big deal!! Don't think about it too hard!!

So in the end he laughs a little, sheepishly. ]

Well, uh. You're not wrong? It's a lot to explain though.

[fuhgottaboutit]

That's okay, I don't mind.

[She's genuinely interested! He seems like a pretty nice guy.]

[seiyaaa]

[ What a cute kid. how old is she like twelve EITHER WAY it doesn't matter, he'd spare her the details anyway. He can afford to tell her about the neat stuff though.

So he picks up his stick and starts unraveling his underwear from the end and - yeah, he's going to lay it out on the bench. Say hi to Eiji's ridiculous technicolored boxer shorts, Osaka! i'm so sorry.

Anyway, once his underpants are flat on the bench, there are a bunch of multicolored, jewel-like medals in a small pile in the middle. He picks three of them up - red, yellow, green. ]

So, to start, I should probably tell you that I had my powers before I left Japan.

[fuhgottaboutit]

[She's 17 GOSH. Although she does know a 12-year-old who's way smarter than her but shhhh

The shape of that bindle cloth is a little suspicious, as he unfolds it. It kinda looks like... is that... no way, it can't be. Can it? She's never seen underpants that ridiculous. Not that she's seen a lot of underpants in her day, but still. She doesn't have time to ask, though; nor, upon further consideration, does she really want to know.]

For real?

[seiyaaa]

[ He is ridiculously proud of those underpants. Do not regard the underpants. Do not even mention them. Try and avoid eye contact. He'll never stop talking about them. Never

Anyway, he straightens up and nods, a smile tugging at his face as he takes a strange device from out of his (kind of voluminous) back pocket. HE HAS DIMPLES ]

Yeah. It was sort of a huge coincidence too... Barely knew what I was doing the first day. [ He's being incredibly modest! He adapted pretty quick for a guy being attacked by a GIGANTIC PRAYING MANTIS MADE OF ARMS

Anyway, he slaps the device against his stomach, where it automatically unsheathes a belt that hooks right around his waist. He takes the three medals and sticks them in the slots down the front...]

You might want to take a step back. This part is kind of dangerous.

[fuhgottaboutit]

[Wh- is that a traffic light??? That sure is a traffic light belt buckle what- well okay she will wait and see what he does with it. She's still not sure what to expect from this, really, but her brain is still tuned to the tokusatsu channel a little so she's beginning to get an idea.

Osaka nods and steps back, watching with intense concentration.] Is this good?

[ 1/2 ]

[seiyaaa]

[ Yes, indeed. It is indeed a traffic light. To this day he still wonders about it.

He nods. ]

That's great. Just stand clear until the music ends.

[ Yes. Until the music ends.

Anyway... He puts his hands on the driver and twists it until it makes a satisfying chunking noise, the little device now off kilter on the belt. He takes a disc off the side of the belt and holds it at the ready. Here we go! ]

Transform!

[

"HAWK!"

"TIGER!"

"GRASSHOPPER!"

"TA"

"TO"

"BA"

"TATOBA
TA
TO
BA!!!" ]

[ 2/2 ]

[seiyaaa]

[ After that light show he stands at ready, as though he's about to head to battle, but then relaxes immediately, waving. All of the spare leaves and debris around them have kicked up and flown away in the aftermath of the transformation sequence; if she'd gotten any closer, those light sigils would have given her a pummeling. She did good though :D ]

That's the first part.

[fuhgottaboutit]

[:O!!! This is the first time she's seen - well, really any superpower type thing in person, but this kind of transformation, in particular! So she is already completely blown away by this amazingness!

(Even if it is a little silly.)]

Whoa! You were an actual sentai guy all along?!

[seiyaaa]

[ It's amazingly silly. He had so many questions about the song. For days.


He scratches the back of his helmeted head sheepishly. ]

Yeah, sort of. [ He's never personally met any sentai, unfortunately, but he's acquainted with a few, since you don't get to be a Rider and not team up with some skittle soldiers at some point. They're pretty interesting. ] I thought you needed some help getting along in your transformation, and Riders always help each other out. [ ... He holds up a peace sign though! ] But hey, this might be you in a few days! That'd be cool, right?

[fuhgottaboutit]

[... It would. THANKS FOR GETTING HER HOPES UP, BRO.]

Me, a Rider...! Yeah, that'd be awesome!

[Her gaze goes skywards as she imagines the possibilities. Fightin' bad guys, doin' cool poses, havin' her own theme song... Yes! She clenches her fist and grins, determined.]

All right! From now on, that's my goal!