etcelsior | The power is in your hands

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

[Touka, on the other hand, is completely okay with not drawing any sort of attention to herself whatsoever. Not exactly good to have a high profile when you literally steal bodies out of morgues on a monthly basis. Or, you know. The whole "being a ghoul" thing too. Which is why she avoids this damned place like the plague.

But every once in a while, she'll have to visit for some reason or another. And when she does- avoiding eye contact and ignoring anyone who tries to stop her usually sends the message of "don't bother me". And it USUALLY works. Except on the occasional guy who doesn't get the hint.

She's already annoyed that someone's following her, but his question actually draws out a short, scoffing laugh. An autograph? Is this guy serious?]

Will you quit following me if I say yes? [She's not going to say yes. She doesn't want it.]

[ The "don't bother me" vibe has never meant so much to Jinseok. He's found from experience that the "don't bother me" girls are just girls who have been bothered one too many times by the wrong skeezy guy, but that guy is definitely not Jinseok.

He is definitely skeezy, but he prefers to use the words "charming", and "irresistible". ]

No, you will just have my autograph while I do it.

[Oh, what a surprise. The guy wandering around offering his autograph out to strangers doesn't want to leave. How big of an ego do you have to have to act like that?

It's not like she needed an excuse to say no before, but at least this makes things simpler.]

Or you could not give it to me, and I could get on with my life.

[The "don't bother me" vibe is escalating to "go the hell away" with the glare she throws him. Coupled by the fact that she turns away pretty brusquely, and continues on down the street without a second look.

Can't get any more blatant than that, can you?]

[ Blatant? No, this is all subtext. She's so pretty Jinseok can't bear to leave her alone, and he's so handsome that she must just be playing hard to get. That's fine with him; he likes that game.

He quickly follows after her, and starts walking backwards when he catches up, just so he can keep watching her face while she tries to flee from him. ]

How about we both get on with your life together?

[Oh god, if there's one thing Touka can't stand (there're a lot of things), it's guys who won't take no for an answer. Scenes like this've happened to her more or less since the dawn of time, almost word for word. And she already lost any little patience she MIGHT'VE had for dealing with them a long time ago.

The dumb pickup line makes her roll her eyes, but she stops in her tracks once he's in front of her.

IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT? TO MAKE HER CRANKIER? FINE.]

Let me spell it out for you. Nice and slow, okay? [Folding her arms, she leans over- the glare intensifying now.]

No. [In case that wasn't already obvious??] That word in your vocabulary? [Probably not.]

[ The reason guys like Jinseok won't take no for an answer is because no isn't an answer. No is just a stall that comes before the yes, you just have to wear it down until they're too tired to keep saying it.

He seems pretty pleased that she's actually stopped for him, and he doesn't do anything to stop it from showing on his face, even though she's essentially just insulting him. ]

You are so pretty when you're mad.

[Yeah, forget vocabulary- "No" isn't even on this guy's radar. Talking is getting her nowhere fast, and that pleased look on his face is pissing her off even more.

Which is why Touka decides to march straight forward and literally shove him out of her way.] Take a hint! [She doesn't look back to check, but with any luck he'll hit one of the garbage cans nearby.]

Dipshit. [GO BOTHER SOMEONE ELSE]

Hints are only taken by people who don't know what they want!

[ Said over the clatter of garbage cans as he stumbles into them, using them to quickly regain his balance and start after her again. He isn't giving up that easily! A little garbage has never stopped him from pursuing a pretty face before. ]

You should come home with me.

[Woah. okay. That just about DOES IT.

Touka whirls around suddenly and grabs the collar of Jinseok's shirt. From the way things've been going, he's probably going to like that anyway, but she's too pissed to care.

It's not like there aren't other girls out there? Why is he SO fixated on someone he's never met before? She figures it's probably a game to him- going after people who turn him down.]

Well I know what I want. And it's not you. [Her hand balls into a fist against his shirt.]

Don't follow me again. Or I'll knock your teeth in.

[ Being manhandled has never been something he's loved, but Jinseok can make an exception for someone as pretty as Touka. Granted, it still makes him a little wary, but he's still a boy who doesn't know when to say die, and he grins back at her still looking moderately satisfied with himself; at least he got her full attention. ]

Maybe it isn't me yet, but it will be. Look at my face.

[ Artful finger framing. ]

Remember it, and remember it when it shows up in your dreams tonight.

[Giving this guy her full attention for a minute so she never has to again sounds like a fine trade-off.]

Your face? [Touka actually smirks at him, but there's nothing friendly about it. Which should be obvious by the next few words-]

What's so great about it? I can make it black-and-blue just as easily as anyone else's.

The power is in your hands

(05) Alright let's see how long it takes for him to get punched

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