Mask or Menace | MODERATORS (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
maskormods) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
etcelsior2016-01-23 06:21 pm
maskormods) wrote in etcelsior2016-01-23 06:21 pm
Entry tags:
MOM CAN YOU DROP ME OFF? (IN RUSSIA?)
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! If you'd like, take a look at our ATP post!
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. 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 welcome you to their fair city. 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? Why if they weren't around, I bet the Soviets--" These naysayers may, however, find themselves hushed with a judgmental: "You couldn't do what they do even if you had powers. They don't have to help us, you know!"
02. 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?"
03. Maurtia Falls, Pennsylvania, is normally known for being a little more on the apathetic side, but there's been tension in the atmosphere lately, contrasted by headlines broadcasting petty, unimportant local news and no worldly news.
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 thank them for their hard work. They don't stop to clarify what they mean, though.
04. 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. Advertisements are abound for imPorts to make appearances at various, televised celebrations, luring them in with promises of free food, merchandise, 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.
no subject
Mm. She has an incredible amount of control. In order to get the picture of the kidnappers face she did a memory scoop, and even then her Psycho-Pass never peaked too high. [ Oooh, is that a hint of jealousy???? Probably. Ginoza, despite following orders and talking with his father about the issue, hasn't yet landed on a concrete and effective technique to regulate his hue and what with the unsettled nature of their environment... He's dubious that it will do him any good. ] She's as stable as she's ever been.
no subject
She really is one of a kind, isn't she.
[There's a pause after that. Don't think he didn't notice that trace of jealousy.]
...Gino.
[His lips press together as if in debate with himself. A few more moments later, he continues.]
...If you want to know, I should be able to tell you what your Hue is if you come by in person. [...] Can't say how accurate they are, but for some reason I've been able to see them.
no subject
He's already done his homework and back in that room he'd tried his best to read the scans for any sign of his hue, his Crime Coefficient, his mental state... He'd found nothing. How could they let him go without knowing, how could they be sure of what they were releasing? .... and if they'd done it for him, what other dangers might they have let loose into the world?
He doesn't answer right away, instead he busies himself by shifting where he stands, weighing out his options. He could save Kogami the worry, save himself the shame, and refuse... but if what Kogami says is accurate, then as soon as they meet in person he'll probably find out anyway. Sooner or later, he'll have to face it head on. ]
Alright.
no subject
Gino doesn't expect a clear Psycho-Pass result. That's something he's not entirely sure what to feel about. They were best friends, once, a lifetime ago. But then Kogami became an Enforcer, and he lost the right to that relationship, along with most other things in the world. It's something he's just quietly accepted, something he's lived with without complaint because he had to, pushing it to the back of his mind as something he could deal with after he got justice for Sasayama.
But just because Kogami has a damn good poker face doesn't mean he doesn't care. His brows knit further, and though his overall expression doesn't change, there's definitely a spark of concern there. Just how badly has Gino been doing, lately? How close is he to ending up like both himself and his father?
The latter question, of course, Kogami won't have an answer to, when he sees him. And it's only fair to warn him of that, beforehand--in case he's depending on the Enforcer to make sense of a world without the order he's always known for him.]
It doesn't come with the number, for the record. Just the color.
[He opens his mouth like he's going to say something more, then closes it again, settling for texting Gino the address of Cape Canaveral General Hospital.]
--> action
[ And isn't that just a laugh, because they might aswell not be though they are different classifications. Ginoza understands, however, that regardless of whether or not the number is present, the Hue will be enough to tell these seasoned members of the MWPSB what state the Inspector's mind is in. The fact that Gino is doubting himself at all doesn't bode well.
He shuts off the feed without another word, leaving that degrading shut down hanging in the air.
Arriving a short while later Gino takes a moment to check the address and ward number he's double and triple checked enough times to recite from memory - a show of a routine while he steadies his nerves and straightens his tie. Then, he pushes open the door and enters. ]
You look worse in person. [ He comments dryly, and his eyes habitually glance at the notes deposited at the end of Kogami's bed. ]
do they still have bandaids in fantasy future japan who knows who knows
[It's said airily, with that same cheeky grin he was wearing when he first responded to Gino's post, but it's true--in person, it does look a bit more worn, tired. Probably because of that certain glaze in the eyes when you're in pain that can never quite be hidden. He grunts, pushing himself up a little straighter.
When he reopens his eyes, he focuses on the Hue he can now see, and...his eyebrows furrow. That was...worse than he'd thought. He wonders if he should lie, if he should offer some neutral color like yellow or a lighter green that isn't so clear as to make Gino suspicious, but isn't the shade he actually sees. He doesn't want Gino to start isolating himself, out of some misguided notion of public safety when Kogami doesn't even know if these Hues are accurate. Both the man who brought him here and the one who'd brought the cigarettes had clouded hues, but maybe that was just some kind of error. This "power" of his, it could be clouded by his own latent criminal status, his own perceptions. Ironically, the only Hue he can't see is his own, after all.
But he's also known Gino for entirely too long for such a lie to be entirely convincing. He knows his tells are already there, lying in wait at the corners of his eyes and mouth as he considers it.
Ultimately, he decides, it's best to just rip off the metaphorical bandaid.]
...Royal blue.
FUTURE BANDAIDS, now actually waterproof
But thinking about it doesn't sit well in Ginoza's mind, so he looks at the notes again, picks them up and rifles (hahaha) through them. ]
How long till you're able to leave?
yessss pls
[He'll go stir-crazy if it's any longer than that.
Might have to threaten to set fire to the room.He rubs at the place on his side that the bandages are covering up, the gaping wounds left behind once the bullets were removed closed up with stitches.]
Guess they're not a fan of repeat customers.
[Despite the dryness of his tone, though, he noticed how the Inspector didn't say anything about the Hue he'd told him, didn't even seem to question it. One might say Gino was taking the news surprisingly well, but really, he suspects its just the opposite.]
Gino, don't...
[He trails off uncertainly, unsure how he intended to finish that sentence. Don't punish yourself? Don't be upset? Don't be afraid? Angry? None of those seems to feel right to say, and what's more he doesn't feel right saying them. He'd...given up his relationship to Gino three years ago, and he was supposed to have accepted that. At home, it was simple--working on cases, Inspector and Enforcer...the lines were clear. But here everything is thrown into chaos, and he feels a twinge of something in his chest; protectiveness for his old friend, maybe. Or concern. Guilt?]
...It's probably not even right.
[Who was he, to think he could function like a part of the Sybil System, after all? There's no Dominators or scanners to corroborate what he sees. It could all be meaningless, even random. This country wasn't equipped to tell him either way.]
I'm not sure how any of this even works. Don't...take it as irrefutable.
no subject
He swallows. His knuckles have gone white with how they're clutching the clipboard. ]
Don't, Kogami. [ He doesn't trail off with his response. It's a warning, a command. His eyes are daggers when he looks up at the other man over the clipboard. ] I don't need to hear it from you.
[ He aches every time he's like this, but it's a self-inflicted pain that is necessary to ensure he doesn't suffer anything worse. Kogami has hurt him before. He's so quick to lash out at others instead of accepting his fear both of this new world and of his own deteriorating Hue that he doesn't really take in Kogami's reassurance at all. ]
no subject
He takes the shutdown without complaint, without arguing back, and for a few moments, a heavy silence lingers between them. Kogami stares out the window, tendrils of smoke snaking out from his mouth as he exhales. He supposes he should've expected it the moment he revealed his "power" to Gino. Despite the absurdity of it, the impossibility of confirmation, he's probably taken that color straight to heart, and will likely continue to struggle with it on his own. Maybe he shouldn't have told him, after all.]
...Right. [It's a firm reminder, that whatever relationship they once had is forfeit. So where does that leave them, here?]
So, which city did they house you in?
no subject
He should really take their situation into deeper consideration and weigh out the productiveness of conforming to a system that is staggeringly absent in this new world they've found themselves in, but some part - perhaps a selfish part - of him can't bring himself to do even that much. It's been all he's known for so long, a firm ruleset to turn to in moments of weakness.. but now that it's gone he feels unsupported and lost without those guidelines to follow. He wonders, what would a person with a stable hue do in a situation like this? What would Tsunemori do?
--Ah, right. Housing. He deposits Kogami's notes back in their place at the foot of his bed and glances to his own file once more. He'd been so wrapped up in the notes about his person and the lack of any mention about his Crime Coefficient or Hue that he'd completely forgone checking where he had been assigned to live. Priorities. ]
Nonah. [ He finally reads, then looks up. ] You?
no subject
He blows out another puff of smoke before responding--]
Same here.
no subject
His frown twitches. ]
Which house number?
no subject
Sure, it's a little awkward, but he has no objections if Gino doesn't. Honestly, he'd kind of prefer it to the company of strangers. The last three years of social isolation have changed him enough that he's not fully sure how to interact with people outside the MWPSB anymore. He knows how to be a good detective, a good Enforcer...but the personal side of things has fallen to the wayside for quite some time.
With a little grunt of effort, he pulls himself more fully upright and reaches for the file on his bedside table, reading the number out to his former partner.]
You?
no subject
The same. [ He answers eventually, forcing himself to settle with the idea since it's just something he'll have to deal with for the time being. At least he can rely on Kogami's new found power for some sense of stability. ]
no subject
There is a long. pause. Because he is pretty fine with this arrangement, honestly, but he's also not super into the idea of making Gino uncomfortable in his own house when his Hue seems already to be doing poorly, if what he sees can be believed.]
...If you want, I can ask to get reassigned. It'll probably go through before I'm released.
no subject
I'm accustomed to you being my responsibility. The fact that you aren't considered a latent criminal here doesn't mean that you don't at least still require supervision.
[ In other words, no, you can't abandon him again. Though his face is strict, the way his hands turn to fists in his lap and the way he's pointedly looking off-side as if insulted probably tells Kogami a lot more about his real feelings than his stern response did. ]
no subject
Maybe if he makes himself scarce for the most part, they can mutually avoid the discomfort. He takes another drag from his cigarette, not meeting Gino's shifted gaze because this is such uncharted territory, here, and there's no one like Tsunemori or Kagari here to ease the tension.]
...Right. That makes sense.
[He's actually wondered if that's something the government knew when they did it. His status isn't listed in his file, but his employment history with the MWPSB was. Do they know the significance, of Inspectors and Enforcers?
Of course, his quiet acquiescence isn't about their respective statuses. It's more about not trampling on Gino's pride as he retracts his offer. This encounter has made it patently clear to Kogami that Gino doesn't want his concern as a friend, so he has to frame his agreement in practical, professional terms. It's not something he minds; Gino's grudge is something he's accepted a long time ago.]
So, you gonna be the one picking up my discharge papers for me next week?
[There. A lil bit of sass to lighten the mood.]
no subject
No, no I'm sorry. I shouldn't- [ Shouldn't what? Remind Kogami of his place, or flip-flop so defiantly that Kogami doesn't know where he stands? He clears his throat to rephrase. ] I'm just a little short tempered. The officials are more than happy to answer questions about this world to the best of their knowledge, but they hardly know anything about the world they've happily plucked us from. [ It's infuriating, to have the system he's been living with almost his whole life waved away by dismissive strangers. ] Everything feels so - [ Wrong. ] - muddled.
[ He sighs again. ] I'll pick them up, but put that cigarette out. [ He shifts his glasses better on his nose, his voice much lighter now despite the command.] As you are my responsibility, I refuse to take the blame for that.
no subject
...It's weird for me, too.
[Even though it means he's not a latent criminal anymore. Even though it means he's free. He's not jumping at the opportunity as might seem logical for someone in his position. The Sibyl System has been all he's known since he was seven years old, after all.
Despite all that honest sincerity, however, he does give Gino a particularly sour 'do I have to tho' face before he extinguishes the cigarette against the ashtray the man named Duncan had provided him.]
no subject
Kogami knows him well enough to have estimated the effect of his honesty correctly, as at his admonision Gino seems to relax like his strings had been cut. Facing the challenges of this new world alone from the position of a superior that he'd masochistically forced on himself - the hierarchy of their homeworld meant nothing here, after all - would stress anyone out, but with that tentative sentence Kogami had shared the weight and Gino actually doesn't have words for the relief he feels. ]
I'm sure things will straighten out eventually, or at least become a little less overwhelming. [ He gives that sour face a flat look, but it's not as sharp as some of his expressions have been this afternoon. He wafts a hand at the room, at Kogami, at his notes. ] Do me a favour and don't make this a habit, though.
no subject
I'm not sure what it'll say about us when alternate universes and time travel stop being overwhelming.
[And the lack of the Sybil System, but he definitely doesn't say that one. He smirks faintly at that last comment of Gino's, though.]
Can't say it was a lot of fun the first time around, so, done.