DAD BOD MAKE WAY FOR TUXEDO BOD

[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?" These naysayers may, however, find themselves hushed with a judgmental: "Didn't you hear about that attack? They saved all those puppies! I hope you donated to ShareTheLove too."

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. On local newsstands will be headlines reading: "Maurtia Falls: Home To Vampire Infestations?", and people will be heard muttering fearfully about the vampires, though one or two can be heard saying, "But that imPort is taking care of her own, right? That pretty one, with the horns. Good on her."

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. As the New Year approaches, advertisements are abound for imPorts to make appearances at various, televised celebrations, luring them in with promises of free food, festivities, and payment. ImPort action figures and merchandise are on sale now, and every corner's coffee shop is still serving festive peppermint goods of every shape and form.

Comments

[shewashappy]

Perhaps she might hear, among the whispers, people discussing how to tell apart imPorts and natives. There were a number of the former that clearly looked inhuman and were easy to tell apart, but human imPorts, if they took off any strange clothes they brought in from their own world, could be difficult to tell apart. But, one of them says, even if that's the case some of them are still pretty easy. The colorings of their eyes and hair are just unbelievable sometimes, and they always act weird.

Like that one, he says while pointing to across the street to where a young man in white robes with bright green hair is crouched in front of a pizza place and squinting at the sign in front of it. For Ferio, that's the fifth sign he's read but failed to grasp the meaning of, and he's long since given up on trying to get information because most people simply went "it's just pizza!" but that did not exactly answer his question: What exactly is pizza?

[monster_san]

Fuu stopped short when she saw the familiar shock of green hair. For a moment she toyed with thoughts like it can't be but, obviously, it could be, as she'd learned long ago. Nevertheless, she stayed still for a moment. She had never expected, for some reason, that Ferio would be taken here.

Then she noticed what he was so transfixed by and giggled, breaking the spell. Had he never seen pizza before? Taking care to keep quiet, she drew up beside him. "Are you having trouble picking a topping?"

[shewashappy]

As far as Ferio knew, Fuu's world was the only world that was accessible but also hidden from his own; Autozam, Fahren, and Chizeta weren't difficult to connect to, but that one had always been special. And this one reminded him of that. Did that mean he was in Fuu's world? Would he be able to find her...?

He felt the presence beside him before it spoke, but even he can't hide his surprise when, almost as if on cue, he hears a very, very familiar voice. He startles, head snapping up and blinking rapidly up at her face.

"... Fuu!" he exclaims and rises to his feet. Words cannot express how relieved he actually is to see her, a light of familiarity in a strange, strange world. "Fuu, where is this? Are we in your world?"

[monster_san]

Fuu smiled, wondering how to feel. This situation was, frankly, a little terrifying, and she couldn't help but feel a huge sense of relief on having Ferio here. He was always steady and warm... it was hard not to just fling herself at him and hold tight, but she restrained herself. After all, as his question demonstrated, their positions were now reversed.

"Yes, this is Earth," she said, although certain details of recent history were decidedly out-of-sync. "We're in a country called America, though, which is across the ocean from my home."

[shewashappy]

"America." He tries out the word on his tongue, then takes another look around. Floating carriages, lit-up signs, and a town surprisingly peaceful for being in the middle of a war. Or on the brink of one. Is that what they had said? He doesn't remember Fuu saying that her country was at war, at least, so that's a relief. Whatever is going on, it doesn't sound like an immediate threat to her home. But what's she doing here then if her home is across the ocean?

"It's strange. I was just on my way to meet with Clef, but I walked into the castle's library and ended up here instead."

[monster_san]

Fuu tapped her fingers on her chin. "As a matter of fact, I was in Cephiro as well," she said. In a way, that was fortunate; it was the reason she had her armor and glove. "We must have been taken at about the same time."

She looked around, letting her apprehension show now. "To be honest, I find this situation to be a little disturbing," she said. "I had no idea a magic machine like that even existed on Earth, much less that it was being used to forcibly recruit soldiers from other worlds."

[shewashappy]

Ferio didn't know how vast Earth was, but as far as he was concerned, Fuu was a woman highly informed about the going-ons of her world, immediately in her kingdom or not. If it were some sort of confidential issue, perhaps she wouldn't know, but from what he's gathered the public knows about these 'imPorts.' The papers claiming to relate 'world news' talks about them, too, so he can only figure that this is a measure people are informed about.

Then why would Fuu not know?

He studies her face: the tap of her fingers, a crease of her brow, a curl of her lips into a frown or smile. Any change he could observe.

"I've read that sometimes, there are worlds similar to each other in almost every way except for a few details. This might not be your earth after all."