you don't scare me, huge ackman!

[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

[superposition]

[Florida is Hell, that's the secret. Yeeeah no this guy is not fine. Whose blood is that? Did he just come from a fight? Maybe not just, the stains aren't fresh and he doesn't appear to be injured, but combined with the frantic way he's acting, Qubit's on alert. Getting attacked in the street is not on his agenda for today.]

Slow down, slow down. Let's get out of the way here.

[They're not really in the way, as the sidewalk is pretty wide here and people are giving them kind of a wide berth anyway, but better not to take chances. He takes George by the upper arm, firmly but not painfully, to steer him out of the way and under the shadow of the parking garage they happen to be in front of.]

Now. Who is it you're looking for?

[puppydoctor]

[George lets himself be steered, his feet shuffling over the pavement as he goes. He's horribly overdressed for the warm weather, but there's still a shake to his shoulders and his jaw. Steady, steady, steady, goddammit O'Malley.]

My friend, Izzie Stevens. I think-

[He can picture it still - the doctors around him fading to black, except not black. Silver. The gunmetal of elevator doors, and his best friend waiting for him in an evening gown.]

I think she's dead, too.

[Because he is dead, he knows that. There's no other explanation for this.]

[superposition]

[Too? More than one victim? This is sounding more and more like something the local police should be handling, Qubit doesn't really do the whole detective thing.]

Where and when did this happen? Have you spoken with the police?

[puppydoctor]

[George just. Stares.]

What?

[His confusion level has about maxed out, and he just freezes there in the shade of the garage, looking more like an upset puppy than ever.]

We were in Seattle. She has cancer, w-why would I tell the...

[But his words lock up, and he raises a hand to wipe at his sunken eyes. If he could just lie down on the sidewalk and wish this all away, he would.]

[superposition]

What? [For a moment there he has Qubit confused, too, but then in the shade he notices the faint blue glow from the man's wrist, just like his own. From there, the pieces start falling into place.]

You're an imPort.

[puppydoctor]

According to the folder, yeah.

[George starts to lift it up to demonstrate, but realizes quickly that he must have left it in the car. It was useless, anyway. All the words kept swimming together from the sheer panic of this whole clusterfuck.]

But none of it makes sense. Is this where everyone goes? I mean... after?

[superposition]

[After - oh. His expression softens, sympathetic.]

No. No, I'm afraid it's not. This is just a parallel universe.

... It's not impossible, but I doubt your friend is here.

[puppydoctor]

[A parallel universe. Like in comics. George almost feels like laughing, because that is just enough.]

No. No, that's not-

[Possible? Acceptable? He feels a pulsing anger in his stomach, but he doesn't know who it's directed at.]

I died, and I saw whatever's on the other... She was there, but now I'm-

[In alternate Florida. Which doesn't even sound like a thing. He can't even die right.]

... You're not dead, then?

[superposition]

[Shakes his head] Not the last time I checked.

[It's an interesting case, from a scientific standpoint. The blurb about the nanites claims they can bring the dead back to life, but he hadn't considered the possibility of someone being brought through the Porter as a DOA and subsequently resurrected. Is that even possible? Was he actually dead to begin with? How does it work?

Not that he can ask all these questions right now, though, it's pretty obvious the poor guy would have no earthly idea.]

Given that you're walking and talking, I'd be more worried if you were dead. But apparently the nanites they've pumped us full of have remarkable restorative capabilities. That'd be my guess. [An oversimplification, but still.]

[puppydoctor]

[George doesn't even answer at first. He opens his mouth, then closes it - then opens it again, only to shake his head and look down at his hands. He starts to reach for his cell phone, but finds that his pockets are both empty.]

Crap.

[This just keeps getting better.]

Is there a parallel Seattle here?

[superposition]

[Qubit frowns. He has an idea what George might be thinking of.]

What are you planning to do?

[puppydoctor]

[George just shakes his head though, looking around at the Heropa streets.]

Nothing, I just thought maybe...

[But they'd be different, if they even existed here. That's how parallel universes always work in the comic books, right?

He lets out a frustrated sigh and leans against the concrete wall.]

This is officially the worst day of my life, I'm calling it.

[superposition]

[A wry smile.] Well, by that logic, it can only get better from here.

[Seriously, dude, if your definition of a bad day is yourself and your best friend dying and then getting stranded in an alternate universe with no way home........... you're a reasonable human being. Qubit is probably not one of those, but then again he's had far worse days.]

Have you been by Housing yet? You might want to, ah... [he gestures at George's shirt] get cleaned up a bit.

[puppydoctor]

... Housing.

[He pauses, staring at the concrete like it might explain something to him.]

The parallel universe has housing. Like at college.

[superposition]

That's ... actually a fairly apt comparison. [He's been here a day or two at this point, long enough to know he'd rather be staying someplace else.] Nothing luxurious, but it's a roof and four walls, at least.

[puppydoctor]

Believe me, I'm practically allergic to luxury by now. I've been living on student loans for eleven years.

[Aw see, he just made light of something. He's adjusting.]

[superposition]

[Rolling with the joke] My condolences.

[puppydoctor]

On the bright side, now I don't have to pay them back.

[Pure sarcasm. There is no bright side.]

[superposition]

[Ahh, gallows humor. Now there's a man after Qubit's own heart. He claps him on the shoulder.]

There you go. Now, you think you're all right to find your way back? [... to Housing, not to your home dimension.]

[puppydoctor]

Back where? [If only he could read your brackets.] Seattle? Or Cape Canaveral?

[superposition]

No, I mean - wherever they have you staying. I can give you a lift if you need, if you don't want to draw any more undue attention.

[Yes because portals don't attract any of that.]

[puppydoctor]

[George goes over it in his mind, but eventually shakes his head. His puppy dog eyes look about as serious as they ever do - which is, surprisingly, quite piercingly serious.]

No. No, I can't do that. Just moving in like that... it would feel like giving up.

[superposition]

... I know. [Man, does he know. It's hard to remember to sleep.] I know. But think rationally about it a moment. Realistically, what's your next move?

[puppydoctor]

[He's used to questions like this, and for a moment his mind goes into med student mode.]

Damage control. Put the big picture aside, and fix what you can.

[superposition]

[Qubit nods. Pretty close to what he would have said.]

And what can you fix right now?