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

[maglevflash]

[She glances around the still empty cafe and hunches her shoulders a little. Forcing a deep breath, she focuses on the buzz of her power ever waiting just under her skin, the weight of magnetism in the air, and holds up her hand towards the shakers at their table.

It's hard without a rush of emotion. Hard to concentrate on the one thing and her entire arm trembles with the effort of reaching out with that power.

She misses the shaker, but the chair on the opposite side quite dramatically topples over and she jerks back, trying and failing to smother the fear in her expression.]

[incogneto]

[ Erik looks behind him and then looks at her and--

--Smiles. A huge, big grin. ]

That's amazing!

[ He's never met anyone else with his powers either. And, well, he has no idea how rare they are but certainly they're not common. And to think, two seconds ago he thought she might be scared of him, as the humans were. ]

I didn't know there were more of us.

[maglevflash]

[It's clear the compliment was the last thing she expected to hear, and it distracts her neatly before her mind could get lost in flashbacks.]

Is it? [Doubtful. A pause.]

More of us? You mean imports?

[incogneto]

No. I mean... with magnetic powers.

[ That's so incredible. He looks so excited. Maybe scary, his excited face is a little scary. ]

Are there others?

[maglevflash]

I don't know. Most people don't really advertise their abilities. I know someone with similar electricity, but not magnekinesis.

[What is even going on? Why is he excited? It's not that great. Well, okay, finding someone else who knows, who understands what it's like...

Maybe that she can see.

She looks a bit dumbstruck, but less afraid.]

[incogneto]

Do the locals resent us?

[ Not in the subtle way, or the way they try to downplay it. He means for real. The kind of thing he spends his whole life fighting. The kind of thing he thinks that she probably understands, as someone who's been here long enough and had these powers long enough to know exactly what he means. ]

[maglevflash]

You know...two months ago I probably would have said no? A lot of them seemed to worship us. Heroes.

[Bitter smile on her face as she tugs her sleeves up over her wrists.]

It depends on which city you live in. Nonah you'll hear nothing but compliments. Maurtia Falls has been having this rough patch with some vigilante group. Heropa...Heropa's been through a lot. Most Imports live there?

[A pause.]

And here? Let's just say they have a reason to not trust us anymore.

[incogneto]

[ A pause. ]

Do you want to tell me about that?

[ He's going to put his money on no, but he figured he'd ask. ]

[maglevflash]

[Definitely not. Nope. There's a moment where her gaze goes distant, but she shakes herself out of it before it can really hit her.]

You can probably find it in the news, but suffice to say some... [A guilty twitch of her lips.] imports attacked last month. A lot of natives died. Hundreds of people were injured.

[incogneto]

What was the goal?

[ Though yes, he could just read about it in the paper. But he doesn't want to. The media will flip anything to its script. ]

[maglevflash]

I don't know. Chaos?

[Crane had certainly gotten it, whatever his aim.]

[incogneto]

I never really understood to what end chaos was supposed to serve.

[maglevflash]

I don't know. I never asked.

[She doesn't want to know what would motivate a man like Crane. He calls it 'research'. It leaves a sick taste in her mouth to have anything in common with him.]

i almost typoed that as "dad"

[incogneto]

What happened to them? Are they incarcerated? Dead?

well you know...

[maglevflash]

Much as I wish that were the case? No. They're in the wind. [There's a dark tension in her voice as she clenches one fist. No clarification which one she'd prefer.]

[incogneto]

I assume you've gone to the police about it.

[maglevflash]

They were informed.

[A cop came to her, took something resembling a statement, but the whole network knew what had happened and who had done it.

...well, not her kidnapping, but the attack at the swear in.]

[incogneto]

Are they always so useful or are you lucky?

[maglevflash]

Who knows? Maybe I'm just lucky.

[A sigh.]

It's complicated. If I wanted to be fair I'd say that they didn't exactly have the opportunity to respond.

slowly backtags into infinity...

[incogneto]

Do you care to explain why?

[maglevflash]

It's all on the news.

[It's a bit rude, but it's hard enough talking about what happened with people she knows and trusts. A complete stranger just off the porter? She's not that generous.]

[incogneto]

Alright.

Whatever happened, I hope it doesn't again.

[maglevflash]

[There's a flash of rage in her that makes her clench her fists and glare at the table. Metal subtly twists in place, several utensils crumpling, chairs wobbling, before settling.]

It better not.

[incogneto]

[ He reaches out but gently, with a hand up to halt her. ]

Don't worry.

[ He remarks, about the scenery reacting. ]

Happens to me all the time.

[maglevflash]

[Surprise.]

Does it?