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

Luke Castellan | Percy Jackson and the Olympians

[timeshares]

1

[All things told, Luke Castellan was having a pretty great day. He wasn't dead and in some new world, if he understood correctly. There was no all-powerful, immortal entity in control of his body. And most of all, most importantly of all, he couldn't feel any of the gods. Nervous? Anxious? Elated is more like it.

There was just one ... small... problem.

He flashes a smile at the nearest person waiting for their turn to get escorted to gods know where.]

So, this pamphlet looks really informative. I don't suppose you could give me a quick rundown.

Turns out I'm [Half a beat] terribly far-sighted and didn't pack my glasses. Any help here?


((OOC: Trolls are very welcome, of course.))


2

[Heropa was nice enough. The ancient Greek armor and empty scabbard had gotten him an uncomfortable amount of attention... The idea of being called a hero didn't set well, but a free soft drink and some directions was a fair enough trade off.

It just didn't really change the fact he had no mortal money with him and food was going to be an issue. So he might have been looking and listening a little extra carefully around for a good mark: a wallet just a little too big for a pocket, a storefront not particularly well attended. It made it much easier to pick up the baleful stares and not-so-subtle comments.

Nevermind the extra challenge of GETTING anything while he was this noticeable... what was being said was a little more concerning.]


Outbreak....


Are we talking zombie apocalypse sort of thing? Should I be looking for a chainsaw and an conveniently abandoned storehouse?

[microbrobotics]

[ When Hiro's not at work in De Chima or helping his aunt set up her new cafe in Heropa, Hiro sometimes likes to come out to this little cafe to work. Mostly because they have free wifi, and definitely because they don't mind him taking an entire table to himself to spread out his robot parts. He has a small robot skeleton with all kinds of fiddly modules around it, plus several concept sketches. And other junk, everywhere. No apparent wallet, though, and nothing of immediate value among the robot parts either.

He glances up when he sees the Greek armor. Wow, that's new. He's not sure he's ever seen someone come up wearing that style before. ]

Zombies, yeah. But we took care of it. Shoulda seen the dragon we took down.

[timeshares]

[Luke takes both of those as a possibility in stride. Any thoughts of the kid as a mark vanish when he sees the collection of ... a lot of mechanical things. He's dealt with enough children of Hephaestus to know their value as an enemy and as an ally.

He crosses his arms, giving a dry smile at that.]

Dragons. Great, my favorite.

At the same time or didn't have the luxury of shambling snacks for all those heads?

[microbrobotics]

[ They have a way of making massive, immediate pains of themselves, that's for sure. And who knows what other tricks the kid might have up his sleeve. ]

Same time. Infected zombie dragon trying to burn down the whole city.

You don't sound super surprised.

[timeshares]

[The infected bit actually seems to get quite a bit of his attention. Usually monsters didn't really HAVE undead counterparts... Normally he'd ask what someone did to piss of Hades THAT much but... well. Not like that's here.]

It wouldn't be the first time I've fought either of them, though it's sounding like things work by different rules...

Hey, mind if I grab a seat?

[microbrobotics]

Little bit, yeah. Way different from where I come.

[ He's well past the point where he has much to say on that specific point; it's hard to get by in a place like this without adjusting. As for that second question, he nods cheerfully enough and sweeps his hand over the parts. They realign himself neatly to only take up half of the table, all without him having to touch anything. ]

[timeshares]

[That's impressive, actually. A half smile tugs at his face, watching that a moment, before he grabs the seat opposite Hiro.]

Name's Luke.

... So where you're from, zombies and dragons are out, but magically controlling robots is a norm?

[microbrobotics]

Hiro Hamada. Nice to meet you.

[ He grins a little more at that comment. He's never one to resist showing off a bit, especially to someone obviously brand new like this guy ... ]

Nah, that part's new too ... or at least, doing it without a neuro-cranial transmitter is. Because we have those. I invented them.

[timeshares]

[He really can't help reaching out and poking at one of the bots.]

So. Telekenesis. You invented a super power.

[microbrobotics]

More or less, yeah.

[ With more limitations, but the theory is roughly the same. He sure does love being able just have a superpower instead though. ]

You sound like magic's more the norm where you come from.

[timeshares]

Eh. I wouldn't exactly call it a norm.

...

Though automatons aren't exactly unknown either. Knew a few kids who could just put their hands on a machine and know everything about it. Make, model, how to work it. [Mimics Hiro's earlier gesture. Of course, nothing happens.] Pretty impressive stuff.

[microbrobotics]

Automatons? What, robots?

[ Even he can't just put his hands on something and know everything about it here ... That's what his brother's for. So he looks sufficiently awed by Luke's description. ]

And - what, no poking around? Just touching? C'mon, they've gotta at least take it apart.

[timeshares]

I'm not even lying. Though you can hardly keep one of them from taking it apart anyway to improve it.

Usually with extra fire.

And traps to keep people from playing with it. That part's fun, anyway.

2

[vacationer]

I haven't seen anything like that so far. I'm not sure, though.

[She looks way too chill for someone who isn't sure there's a zombie apocalypse going on.]

[timeshares]

[Is this an every day thing? No big on the scale of problems?]

Nothing to worry about, right?

[vacationer]

I'm not really the worrying type.

[timeshares]

I'm gonna take it that you're not local either, huh.

[vacationer]

I'm an "imPort".

[Finger-quotes.]

[timeshares]

Yeahhhh, I've heard that word a couple of times so far.

Let me guess, it's not something that's got you worried either.

[vacationer]

Why would it?

Are you worried?

[timeshares]

[He gives a grin and a half shrug.]

I've heard paranoia's in season. Just staying fashionable.

[vacationer]

That's cute.

[She thinks she's ~*above*~ paranoia by this point.]

What if there is an apocalypse coming? Would you want to know?

[timeshares]

Good question. Do you think it's better to live blissfully unaware?

[vacationer]

It makes most people happier.

[timeshares]

[That gets something of a longer look from him, considering her a little more carefully...]



To answer your question: Yeah, I'd want to know it's coming. I'd have a hard time letting myself enjoy that kind of happiness. Fatal flaw, I guess.