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

[violentmotion]

[He DRAWS HIMSELF UP TO HIS NOT AT ALL ACTUALLY IMPRESSIVE HEIGHT, looking down at the kid on the ground. Like a proper Big Brother Type Prank (Ikki Technique Against Ume's Evil Plans #4673) he has a foot (lightly) on Hiro's chest almost immediately. Hiro may note that this annoying bullying punk is wearing a certain, physics defying pair of skates.]

What's that? Come up here and say it!

[microbrobotics]

[ Ikki ain't tall, but Hiro is shorter. If only barely. He kind of blinks at Ikki's foot, like "really?" Normally this would be uncomfortably reminiscent of some bad school encounters, but he's much better equipped now ...

More importantly, those are A-T. He can feel that kind of complexity from a mile away. His eyes widen a moment as he's instantly distracted. ]

-- whoa! Where'd you get those?

1/2

[violentmotion]

[He's still for a long moment, at war with himself. He was already in punk mode. HAPPY IN PUNK MODE. It was the mode he put himself in. AND YET. AND YET.]

[violentmotion]

[And yet his current wheels are REALLY COOL. He lifts his foot to point to a part on the wheel base, around the cushioning system.]

You can tell how amazing they are, can't you? I did the design of the reduction system myself and the struts along the far wall are totally reinforced Marashi 300s.

[Of course, it was Kururu who made it so that redesign Ikki did stopped exploding... Not that he NEEDED the help, the Pledge Queen just happened to stumble upon Ikki the last time his brilliant readjustments scattered themselves across the canal.

And there's something deep and powerful in all of the machinery itself. Complex beyond any normal pair of A-T, silent but somehow conscious. It seems to turn to Hiro, a curious pressure in it.]

[microbrobotics]

[ Oh yes, he can hear it. It's deeply compelling, making him want to tune out the background noise of the rest of the world just to get a clearer feel for that glorious pressure. What is it? Is he dealing with actual AI sentience here? ]

I don't know what a Marashi is but -- that's a good design. And what is in the core?

[ His fingers twitch slightly. By now, he's polite enough not to dismantle other people's tech without permission, but holy shit he wants to so bad. ]

[violentmotion]

[The entire air around Ikki changes. He doesn't recoil, but he gives Hiro a serious, appraising look. THAT part wasn't visible.. which means.]

Oi. You a tuner?

[microbrobotics]

[ Oops. Did he mess up? Oh well. ]

A what? Uh - I'm an engineer. Robotics mostly.

[violentmotion]

Same difference. You can hear it, right?

[microbrobotics]

Yeah? What's that got to do with it?

[violentmotion]

Just about everything, fool!

[BUT INSTEAD OF ACTUALLY EXPLAINING... Ikki swaps conversation tracks entirely.]

What's in there is the Storm Regalia, a machine fitting for the Sky King.

[microbrobotics]

[ This guy's a lunatic. 100% ridiculous lunatic. ]

Uh - wait, is that like how Akito's the Fang King?

[violentmotion]

Ah, you know the baby sharks? 'Xactly like that.

I am their great king and emperor, Minami Ikki.

[microbrobotics]

[ Hiro looks Ikki up and down. Considers what he knows about Akito/Agito ... especially Agito. ]

Bullshit.

[violentmotion]

You can gaze upon me and still doubt?

[microbrobotics]

Um, yes? Completely? You're, like, barely bigger than me.

[violentmotion]

Don't let that fool you. I'm the ruler of this entire universe, there's nothing alive that isn't my servant. That includes upstart little sharklings.

[microbrobotics]

Whatever, if you all are into that then have fun. Nobody rules me.

[violentmotion]

[Clearly that means no one has been worthy YET.]

I accept your support and praises as due to me.

[microbrobotics]

You're about accept a kick to the shin, dude.

[violentmotion]

[Instead of answering, again, Ikki just derails the whole conversation by kneeling to unlace his A-T.

He tosses them at Hiro.]

Listen all you like.

[microbrobotics]

[ All this mood whiplash is confusing and mildly alarming. But the A-T absolutely get his attention again. Making a bit of a face, Hiro reaches out with one hand. The A-T carefully float up to him as he cocks his head, focusing only on that pressure from before. ]

[violentmotion]

[Hiro might, for a moment, catch Ikki's surprised sound as the SHOES FLY THEMSELVES TO HIRO!!!

But the rest is washed away by the sound of it. It's the roar of a hurricane, churning up the sea and thundering over land. It's the scream of tornadoes just as much as it is the gentle, soothing feel of a cool breeze on a hot day. And just when the cacophony of its sound might seem to be too much it... settles, organizes itself into a symphony.

There are powerful notes around it... her deep love of her team, the kindness and support... of him, its master, a deep, pure noted, selfless love... notes of a wide open, endless sky... notes of a driving, unsatisfied need to go higher, longer, FASTER.

It's less a creature as a set of urges, pushing back along Hiro's mind, longing for only the sky, the purity of flight along wings of circuitry and gears, the impulse to be just a little better than you were a few seconds ago.

It's no AI as much as a contained force of nature within it, aware and waiting to be unleashed.]

[microbrobotics]

[ Everything else disappears as Hiro loses himself for a moment, listening. It's like nothing he's ever heard before. More than just the sounds he usually gets, a force of nature - is this what full technopathy feel like? It could be maddening, if he listened too long.

After what feels like an hour (but is really just a few minutes) Hiro blinks, gasping a little. ]

Wh ... what is that? I know what you said, but - it feels huge. How did anyone even make something like that?

[violentmotion]

There's someone who is that kind of amazing.

[He holds a hand out for them again.]

[microbrobotics]

[ Reluctantly, Hiro floats them back into Ikki's hands. All without touching them. ]

Man, I wanna meet them...