SPOOKY SCARY SKELETONS

[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. A snippy voice wonders aloud: "My taxes are going to their parties and other expenses? When are they going to do something for us for a change?"

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 and an incident involving gas. "Biological warfare... we sure some of them haven't defected?"

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 mutter under their breaths resentfully about "vigilantes". However, not all locals turn the other way seeing imPorts; some of them will offer a polite enough smile and compliment them for quick thinking at the last Swear-In. They don't stop to clarify what they mean, though.

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. With Halloween fast on the approach, many of them are offering pumpkin-flavored foods and beverages, and others are trying to get the more obvious looking imPorts to consider allowing local businesses to sell costumes of them.

Comments

[insinerate]

[How long before Dorian realizes his plan won't have its intended results? After all, he can't stay talking with Yuri forever, but the longer that he does, the more Yuri begins to wonder about the nature of Dorian's motivations. What could possibly be compelling him to stay?

Not for the first time the idea that Dorian may have genuinely missed him occurs to Yuri, but it is not a notion he entertains for very long, not when it means acknowledging his own conflicted feelings.

It's much easier to be cold, to pretend that he is uncaring.]

You know what that means, I suppose?

[Yuri glances back at Dorian over his shoulder, expression unreadable.]

We'll be seeing one another again, and probably quite soon. Is that really what you want, Dorian?

[brushoff]

[ Just as easily as Yuri slips into his role of cold and uncaring, Dorian slips into his of caring too much. He can't help it. There's always going to be that little part of him that loved Yuri, before he figured out who the other man was, before his secret was revealed, before it all went to hell and back.

In response to Yuri's unreadable expression, Dorian offers a small, dark smirk of his own. ]

Of course we'll be seeing each other again. As I said, I won't leave you alone.

[ He'll bother Yuri because he loves the man. He'll bother Yuri because he hates him. Because no matter what, it'll be attention and attention focused on him, away from others, and most importantly away from Toby. ]

[insinerate]

That's right, you did say something to that effect. I should be so candid.

[What follows is undoubtedly the fault of Yuri's own ego, of not wanting to let Dorian Gray walk away from this encounter with that smirk of his intact.

Spinning back around, Yuri faces the other man and dares to take a step closer to him. The idea of closing the distance, the thought of feeling upon him the same hands that had been wrapped so tightly around his throat they had squeezed the life out of him...fills him with a bitter fear and loathing. But none of that compares to how wretched he would feel if he allowed Dorian to walk away from this moment with peace of mind.]

I've had a change of heart. I think I would like to hear all about the things I've missed while I was gone. We can start with your favorite topic: you.

[Withdrawing from his suit pocket a small pen and notebook, Yuri flips open the cover. He records his number and Nonah address on a clean page before tearing it loose and holding it out to Dorian.]

If you're going to be around, I'm going to want to know everything there is to know.

[brushoff]

[ wait what. That's...an unexpected answer. An answer that Dorian's happy about (being with Yuri again!) but also is mega worried about (being with Yuri again) and all in all certainly one he didn't see coming. So Dorian Gray just is a deer in the headlights for a brief second before flickering back to reality, back to Yuri's statement. That deer in the headlights look is quickly replaced by a small frown.

It's going to be fun discussing himself without mentioning Toby at all.

Taking the phone number and address, Dorian folded it up and carefully put the piece of paper back in his pocket. This was gonna go terribly, he was going to drink sooooo much afterwards. ]

Everything, hmm? I don't normally kiss and tell but you might be the exception. [ There's a teasing tone in his voice but inwardly Dorian's just thinking 'okay, not gonna mention Toby, not gonna mention Elsa, kind of have to mention Abduxel but thank god he's not here, I'll try and keep the super creepy bits on the down-low, Kate is fair game, I can bring up Billy if needed, you've got this, Dorian.' ]

Just how deep do you want me to go? In details, of course. [ said with the biggest smirk on his face because he is just 1000% aware of that blatant, blatant innuendo ]

[insinerate]

[The exception? Yuri could laugh, for even if he knew Dorian only half as well as he does, he would just as easily recognize the insincerity behind those words. No, the truth, the whole unadulterated version, would need to be wrestled from Dorian. The other man would not simply hand it over. Not without a price attached.]

Do you need to ask? Is the meaning of the word everything not implicit enough for you?

[With the slip of paper taken from his hand, Yuri busies his fingers with straightening the tie around his neck. Dorian's audacity makes the blasted thing feel tighter than it is, though he makes no attempt to loosen it. Wouldn't give Dorian the satisfaction.]

Very well.

[His hands grow still and he stares evenly at the other man.]

What I want is for you to lay yourself bare.

[brushoff]

[ Doooooon't say it, don't say it, don't say it, don't say it, Yuri's gotta know what he means by that statement, AND YET.... ]

I didn't know you were nostalgic for that part of our relationship! What shall it be this time, laying myself bare on the desk or on your bed?

[ please forgive him, Toby. ]

[insinerate]

[Of course Yuri knew what Dorian meant. He'd also known that Dorian, being who Dorian is, would be completely unable to help himself if just the right turn of phrase were used...]

Why not the floor?

[Yuri waits just a moment before he continues, taking careful note of the subtle and not-so-subtle nuances in Dorian's expression.]

I seem to recall the last time being rather illuminating. After all, I was finally introduced to the real you.

[brushoff]

[ The most blatant of his not-so-subtle nuances are the fact that Dorian's gone from cagey to absolutely enjoying himself, relishing in the innuendo, trying his hardest to see if he could get a rise out of Yuri, just because he could. ]

Careful, you're starting to sound nostalgic. One might think you actually missed me.

[insinerate]

[Not quite the reaction he'd hoped for, though perhaps Dorian had misinterpreted the meaning behind Yuri's words? The judge had been referring to the night when he'd made Dorian answer for his sins, a time when Dorian had been on his knees pleading for his miserable life...

Well, no matter. This reunion, if one can call it that, has been drawn out long enough. Sticking around will only further encourage such remarks as the one to have just rolled off Dorian's tongue...and the last thing Dorian Gray needs is encouragement.]

You flatter yourself.

[With a flippant hand wave in the direction of the notepaper he'd handed over, Yuri turns and actually starts away this time.]

You know how to reach me. Until then.

[brushoff]

[ sorry Yuri, Dorian's mind is still 100% on seeeeeex. As such, he misses that meaning completely.

As Yuri starts away, Dorian can't help but give him a short little catty wave as the other man leaves. This is going to end up terribly. So, so terribly. Visions of what could go wrong are dancing in Dorian's head. But hey, if it keeps Yuri away from Toby, then it's totally worth it. ]

Until then.