The power is in your hands

[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

the twelfth doctor | doctor who

[helpline]

one
[ That sure is a grumpy older Scottish man pretty much yelling at whatever poor soldier was supposed to give him his file. The Doctor didn't like soldiers to begin with. He especially didn't like soldiers who dropped him here, away from home, without his TARDIS and didn't even give him something that passed for an explanation. Of course there was this mysterious Porter that brought them here with seemingly no explanation. Pull the other one. ]

If you really understand that this is a stressful ordeal, like your little paper sheet says, then why don't you let other people take a look at this Porter? Let me pop in, take a look, I'm sure I'll be able to figure out what your little pudding brains can't comprehend, I'll fiddle around a bit, and whoopsie daisy, we'll all be on our way and you won't need me anymore.

[ "But sir, you're brought here to help fight the Communists and save-" ]

Oh you're long overdue, you should have stopped caring about the Communists what, thirty years ago? It might be more, I tend to overshoot these things. It all ends up fine, you end up bringing the glories of capitalism and McDonalds to the good ol'USSR. Spoilers, I suppose, but I don't really care, this timeline's messed up enough as is. So again, let me look at Porter and let me go home.

[ Said poor soldier looks like she wants to be anywhere but here—alternatively, she's thinking that she's not paid enough to deal with shouty Scottish men. Somebody please save her. ]

five
[ Yeah, they didn't let him look at the Porter. As such, the Doctor's in Nonah and he's borderline sulking about the fact that they didn't let him look. What was it with humans and not accepting the fact that sometimes they weren't the smartest species in the room? Egotistical, that's what it was. He's still convinced that if they just gave him five minutes with the Porter, he'd manage to figure out whatever was wrong with it and send everybody on their merry way.

The fact that everyone keeps calling him a 'hero' only makes things worse. He's not a hero. He knows he's not a hero. He's not a hero, he's not a villain, he's not a good man, he's just an idiot in a box who travels around and makes things right. Although, now he's an idiot sans box. Which makes him an idiot. For the first time, the Doctor seriously considers changing what he identifies as.

Anyway, he's an idiot, he's sulking, and someone is attempting to convince him to advocate for children to stay in school. ] What, d'you want a soundbyte? If you drop out, you're stupid, the end. [ People skills, what people skills. As he's pressured to give a better soundbyte, the Doctor just rolls his eyes. ] I don't know what about this, [ gesturing to his outfit which kind of screams 'magician' ] would be convincing to stay in school. Why don't you ask them instead?

[ With that...the Doctor just straight up randomly points to a random imPort. Congratulations, he's trying to pass the buck. ]

five

[kicksomegrass]

[ Said random imPort happens to be a bipedal raccoon with a rifle slung across his back ]

Don't look at me. I never been to school a day in my life.

[helpline]

[ It says a lot about the Doctor that he's more comfortable with "bipedal raccoon" than "bigass rifle." Because he just skips over the fact that he's talking to a raccoon and starts going to town about the gun. ]

D'you have to have that thing? [ pointing to the rifle ] What are you gonna do, shoot some paparazzo that gets too close?

[kicksomegrass]

[ Well, it's a nice change of pace, since most people around here are fixated o the "raccoon" bit. ]

If I gotta. What's it to you, fancy man?

5

[mightthinkthat]

Perhaps you should consider someone with a lot more enthusiasm and... [He sighs.] Actual appeal to teenagers. [They're a couple of old men.

Anyway, the upside of it all was the lobbyist begrudgingly admitted there were more suitable candidates for the particular job at hand.]

You're welcome.

[helpline]

He's right, you know, [ said with a nod. ] Dad and Granddad aren't going to appeal to high schoolers. [ he gestures at himself when he said 'Dad' and at Francis when he says 'Granddad'. Sorry buddy. ]

This place is lousy with twenty-somethings, go bother one of them.

[mightthinkthat]

[Once they were on their way, he turned to him.] You're rather decrepit for a dad.

five

[vacationer]

No.

[Definitely not; this is not a buck she wants. She glares daggers at the Doctor, then turns to address the would-be interviewer.]

I dropped out at sixteen and I'm not the least bit sorry.

[helpline]

[ Oh. Well, the Doctor can't blame her for dropping out. It's not like he has a stellar track record for doing what's expected. On a dime, he changes his whole tactic, looking at the interviewer with an expression that's pure 'you should have known this already.' ]

And that's why you always pre-vet your subjects. [ He's talking like it's the interviewer's fault for not knowing that Lourdes dropped out. Gesturing for her to follow, he starts to make his way out of the nearby vicinity. ] Come along now.

[vacationer]

Did you just tell me to come along?

[It's clear she doesn't think much of that little suggestion. She immediately tries to teach him a lesson, attempting to user her powers to to make him come along instead - but surprise, surprise, they don't work. Sigh.

She ends up following him after all.]

[bindsthedead]

[Unfortunately, Sabriel, in her armor and sword, suddenly finds them focusing on her.]

I- yes, stay in school! You can learn the most amazing things there- chemistry and physics- science can be just as amazing as magic, in its own way!

[She shoots the the man an exasperated look as she follows him, though.]

What was that about? They don't mean any harm, just- play along next time!

[helpline]

[ Good job Sabriel, you succeeded at being an ample distraction. Unfortunately, you're an ample distraction that's questioning his methods. ] I'm not a role model, I don't know why they'd want me to be a role model to begin with. It would just end with angry grown-ups.

[ And then he turns towards Sabriel, giving her a confused look. ] Really though, magic? I supposed next time you'll say that maths helps you meet the tooth fairy.

[five]

[hands4healing]

[Oh, look, the young woman you point at could be Romana II's daughter/clone. Big blue eyes, wheat blond hair. Put her in a boating costume or a pink greatcoat, she might be a dead ringer, except for the bangs. She blinks at you, and the someone who wants a soundbite for staying in school.]

I dropped out. But I did take the test that shows I graduated?

[helpline]

[ The Doctor simply shrugs off the fact that Winry dropped out because yeah, he's mostly just doing this to try and shut people up. ] She counts, by the way. Taking that test counts.

[ And then, because he doesn't remember it, he turns to Winry, a small little frown on his face. ] They've got a test now? Good for Earth!

1

[dreamshades]

[ Peter Pan just tuts at the display of this old man. If that's how people got with age, all cranky, back in my day like attitude he's glad to be permanently stuck as a teenager. The display is amusing, but it loses it's charm about a minute in and Peter just decides to come to the rescue to shut the chatterbox up. Sorry, he's only saving himself from listening to this for another second, the girl just benefits.

Clearly, Pan looks like a boy out of time, like he stepped right out of a fantasy book. and he's gesturing to the girl and then to the older looking man. ]

Careful before you break a hip or something, chap. All that finger waggling may jostle something loose.

[helpline]

[ Youths. The Doctor likes children (normally)(it depends) but the ones who reach the age where they default to snotty? No thank you, no way, not at all. The fact that this child's attire looks like straight out of something Hans Christian Anderson only makes him a little bit annoyed. He's already been wrong about Robin Hood, he really doesn't also want to be wrong about...Hansel and Gretel or something like that. ]

I'm more fit than you realize, Mowgli. [ he knows this kid isn't Mowgli. but if he calls him by the wrong name, maybe he'll end up telling him his actual name. Maybe. ] This body's built like a tank, I won't be taken out just by falling over or jostling something funny.

One

[loyalrebel]

[There's an equally grumpy young man being hustled along by an equally exasperated soldier not far off, though instead of being dressed like someone's eccentric grandfather he looks like he was dragged out of the middle ages. Which isn't wrong. He peels off from her, coming towards the Doctor.]

You say you can send us home? Back when we are from?

[helpline]

[ Middle ages! Hello there person out of time, you're the Doctor's new friend. Mostly because you're letting him show off, which is always great in the Doctor's mind. ]

Of course! If these IDIOTS just let me take a look at their Porter, I'll have us all back home like that- [ accompanied with a snap of his fingers. ]

5

[lifepreserver]

[He would be lying if he had said that he wasn't kinda sorta eavesdropping. The man making the fuss about sound-bytes and such made it hard not to, and Marty can't help but stop and stare for a brief moment.

That moment is all it takes, and suddenly there's a finger. Pointed at him.

Marty doesn't quite look like a deer in headlights; he's amply less graceful and eloquent.]

I, uh--

[He wasn't expecting to be put on the spot, and after muttering a few words that don't quite form complete sentences, he manages:]

Stay in... school, kids?

[Complete with awkward inflection that does, indeed, make it sound more like question than a statement.]

[helpline]

[ Good enough for the Doctor. ]

There! You've got your statement, great job, bye-bye, now go. [ Thankfully, the pitchman manages to leave the two alone, as the Doctor turns around to look at Marty. ]

I think that went smoothly. [ that did not go smoothly. ]

one!

[superposition]

[Haha that... that sure is kind of exactly the same reaction Qubit had when he first got here. He's standing some little distance away, hands in his pockets, but he doesn't interrupt; instead he'll wait until the Doctor finishes up there and passes by him.]

You're wasting your time. They wouldn't let me back in, either.

[What is he doing back at Cape Canaveral in the first place? Who knows, meme logic I guess]

[helpline]

[ They are going to either be best friends or drive each other up the wall. Still, as Qubit adds in his two cents, the Doctor can't help but sigh, obviously annoyed. ]

It's ridiculous. They have no idea what they're doing, I've got a better idea of what they're doing, so logically I should go in there and fix this. [ Logically. Never mind the fact that his credentials are in a different universe. ]

5!!! who can pass up twelve, really

[smudgedlife]

O-oh. [the poor teen you just pointed to startles as if he very much thought he was literally invisible, and he's been caught in the act of existing. His eyes helplessly dart between them both, and for a moment, his lips do a very good job of mimicking a fish] I haven't gone to class for seven years, so I don't think I'm the best pick.

[says the kid wearing a tailored school uniform. But honestly, this over-laundered, rumpled boy with a smudge under his eye--a bruise, maybe? But something is off--is probably not the best image choice, either]

he'll grump and shout at everything until it gets done

[helpline]

Seven years? So what, that'd mean you stopped going to school when you were three? [ Ages were never the Doctor's strongest suit. Still, that is obviously a school uniform which obviously fits him now, so that just opens up more questions than it answers.

Sorry Noah. You're getting pestered. ]

5

[crapbearer]

[ Max freezes when the Doctor points to him, halfway into a bite of double cheeseburger as he glances between the old Scottish imPort and the nearby education advocate with the camera in hand.

There's a brief pause before Max quickly swallows his bite (doesn't even chew, gross) and turns on the charisma, and suddenly he goes from sloppy to savvy like flipping a switch. ]

Well, you know, seeing as I am kind of the demographic here -- I love learning. Learning is great. Personally, I want to know everything there is to know about history, geography, science, and all of that --

[ He pauses to wink at the reporter's camera, aiming a finger-gun right at the lens because of course he does ]

And I for one refuse to let something like school get in my way.