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

[vacationer]

Your monsters couldn't have been as bad as mine.

[timeshares]

Well then. Educate me.

[vacationer]

... I can't.

[Just the thought of talking about them makes her chest hurt and her throat close up.]

[timeshares]

[He doesn't look at her, just watching the bakery across the way. People browsing the wares, haggling over yesterday's bread.. just normal life passing through.

It's several long moments before he answers:]

... Good luck, when it comes time for it. I wouldn't blame you, either way.

[vacationer]

[It's already time. It's already too late. They won, and I'm helping them. Everybody is going to die, and then I'm going to die too.

But she doesn't say any of those things out loud. She just leans on the fence and stares blankly down at the ground. She won't let this guy make her care. Caring means hurt and fear and guilt.]

1/2

[timeshares]

[Eventually, she might be able to hear Luke exhale even over the murmur of the crowd.

He shakes his head at something that wasn't out loud at all, and glances back over to her.]

So, there's a lady a block over giving out free sodas. We should grab a couple before she changes her mind.

[timeshares]

Or the zombie apocalypse. You know, whichever comes first.

[vacationer]

[She doesn't laugh this time, or respond verbally in any way. But she does push off from the fence and follow him to those sodas.

When they're about halfway there, she finally speaks up.]

You really shouldn't have said you wouldn't blame me.

[timeshares]

[He slips out of the way of an elderly couple and glances back at her.]

Why?

[vacationer]

You don't really know what I've done.

[timeshares]

I didn't offer forgiveness.

Just said I wont blame you.

[vacationer]

That's still stupid. What if I deserve to be blamed?

[timeshares]

[Then it should probably be by someone who has a right to cast any blame. He doesn't say it out loud. Instead, he just asks, quietly as they walk.]

What happened to you?

[vacationer]

[She shakes her head.]

I can't.

i can't talk about it; I just can't.

[Not because she's under a gag order - the angels are so powerful that she doubts they'd care about someone else knowing. They could just kill him if he presented a problem - or, more likely, make Lourdes kill him. But for all the horrible things she's done, she's also had horrible things done to her, and she can't imagine talking about any of it. She can't bear it.

So she turns the question around.]

What happened to you?

[timeshares]

I wont ask again, then.

[He slows to a stop outside of another small storefront. The woman staffing the concession cart in front of it is fawning over a few of the new imPorts, talking about their dedication and service.]

What do you want to drink?

[vacationer]

[She doesn't say thank you, but she's grateful.]

A Coke, I guess.

[The woman hands her a can, and she takes it, reflecting on how weird it feels for someone to purposefully give her something for free.

She steps back so Luke can get what he wants.]

Do you want me to not ask again too?

[That, if nothing else, would be something she could understand.]

[timeshares]

Yeah.

[He takes a little longer, stopping to exchange a bit of small talk to the shopkeeper. It's obviously not the first drink he's gotten today by the short, if familiar conversation.

He drifts back to Lourdes, cracking his own can of Coke and taking a few generous gulps.]

I swear this stuff is better than ambrosia. Especially in this kind of heat.

[vacationer]

Don't tell me you didn't drink soda before you came here.

[timeshares]

Nah, it was just hard to come by honestly. The real stuff, anyway - magic just never gets it right.

[vacationer]

Magic Coke.

Why would you bother?

[timeshares]

[He grins at that.]

Who knows? Probably because if we had to pick, the Pepsi versus Coke debate could have sparked off a real war.

[vacationer]

Pepsi isn't bad, but it doesn't have the same taste.

If I have the choice--

[And she always does.]

-- I take both.

[timeshares]

I'm not going to argue with that either.

Might as well enjoy it all, right?

[vacationer]

Right. There's no reason not to indulge as much as possible.

[Even though she can't really enjoy it anymore, she still believes that.]

[timeshares]

[He lifts his can in a toast to that.]

We'll get along just fine.