etcelsior | The power is in your hands

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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

You didn't do anything.

[She sits down at the booth, still completely calm.]

You weren't even an accomplice.

[He slides into the both, opposite of her, and leans forward with his elbows on the top.]

I don't think that's the point! I'm guilty by association now. [Or at least he would be; thank god he had cash to cover it.] You do that kind of thing a lot where you're from?

[With how casual she's being, he's guessing the answer is yes.]

Sure.

[She sips her milkshake.]

I do whatever I want.

[He runs a hand through his hair.]

That might have worked out for you back home, but I dunno how well it'll fly here.

No one's doing anything to me now.

But what happens when you end up stealing from the wrong person? Or... controlling the wrong person? You wanted to know more about this place, right? Then one important thing to remember is that not all the imPorts brought here are very forgiving people.

Do you think what I do is limited to getting milkshakes?

If somebody gets angry and tries to hurt or punish me, I'll make them stop.

[Marty of course highly doubts she limits her abilities to milkshakes. That's why he's showing uncertainty in the first place.]

There were a lot of powerful people here the last time; it's probably the same this time around. What if you find someone who's way out of your league, power-wise?

Nobody is out of my league powers-wise.

But how do you know?

I just do.

[This is a lie; she's already met people who are immune to her powers. She's just confident that there will be enough who aren't, and that she'll be able to use that to her advantage if she's confronted by someone who is.]

Maybe I'll try a chocolate milkshake next.

[And not pay for that one, either.]

Uh, okay Miss Five-Finger-Discount, if you want a chocolate milkshake, I'll just buy you one. No stealing food while I'm around; consider it my treat this time, okay?

[It's not like they're robbing a bank or anything, but her powers still make Marty a liiiittle uncomfortable.]

I still gotta order, anyway. [He says, as if that's final, and begins to get up as if to accentuate this.]

Hey, wait!

[She gets up to follow him.]

I don't want you to buy me one.

[He stops briefly, just to look at her.]

Why not?

Because it's stupid. If you're so afraid of getting in trouble, stand on the other side of the room while I do it.

What, you can't let a guy buy you a shake? It's not that big of a deal. I'm getting my own food anyway, so then we can sit down and I'll answer your questions about this place.

I'd like it better if I was making you.

[Sorry Marty, she's kind of messed up.]

Fine. Just... do it.

I'd rather you not, if it isn't too much to ask. [He gives her an uncertain look, pausing. But at her acquiescing, he nods.]

Give me a sec, and I'll be right back. Might as well take a seat and enjoy your vanilla shake for now.

[And he'll go order; it'll only be a minute or two before he returns.]

[She sits there, sulking, looking uncharacteristically irritated for someone who has one milkshake and is about to have a second.]

Why aren't you more scared of me?

[He sits down across from her, his order completed.]

Should I be?

[A pause.]

That wasn't a challenge, by the way. It's a legitimate question.

[Sure, she seems like she has a few... issues. But so far he hasn't been given a reason to go running the other way. Her mind-control abilities, or whatever they were, were kind of unsettling... but he's been through lots of unsettling things in the past, and he's been here once before. He's seen strange powers, and he half expects to run into people who have them.]

You found out I can do anything I want, to anyone I want. Including you.

[She's not actually positive of that - not here - but he doesn't know that.]

Most people would be terrified. Most people are terrified.

[Marty pauses again, and in-between that pause a waitress brings her her extra chocolate shake.]

I guess I should be. But for now, I'm just gonna have a little trust that you're not going to do anything to hurt me today. Opinion subject to change if you do something crazy. Sound fair to you?

[She drinks from one milkshake, then the other. Then she puts both straws in her mouth and drinks from both at once.]

You shouldn't trust me. I mean, really.

[It's a little difficult to take her statement seriously (even though he knows she's being very serious about it) when she's drinking her shakes that way.

He clears his throat.]

Noted. If things go sideways, then it's just my fault.

So... you wanted to know more about this world?

Yeah.

[She pauses, wiping her mouth.]

I want to know everything.

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