OH MY GOD YOU GUYS

[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. The city of Heropa is what one might expect from a small, bright and cheery place, where 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. An upset voice wonders aloud: "More of them, when we already know they can't protect us? That's just painting a bigger target on the city's back!" However, they're quickly hushed with a judgmental: "They helped save the cities, and it's the Soviets you should be angry with anyway! The imPorts are here to protect us!"

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. Many people are out and about taking care of their regular business, 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 spies. "How can we trust any of them now?"

03. Maurtia Falls, Pennsylvania, is not as friendly and its citizens tend to 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 help in overthrowing the trespassers. They don't stop to clarify what they mean, though.

04. Nonah, North Carolina, is the liveliest of all cities; 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.

Comments

[aberth]

[ He'd had the exact same reaction when he'd first arrived, and so he's not at all offended by her disbelief. ] I know, it sounds crazy. [ But it's true. There's been no way to get out. It's like a weird Stockholm Syndrome with a place, not a person, to fixate upon. ]

He's picking me up in an hour. [ It's all he can offer. ] He's at work. I could take you there? [ Seeing her little brother in his place of employment might be more of a shock than being here? Who knows??? ] Or we could wait and I could try and answer any questions you might have.

[ Try being the operative word. Adam hates this place. There's so much he doesn't understand. ]

[pawdonnemoi]

[It does and it doesn't sit well with him. Plagg said it needed to be a secret, he couldn't tell anyone, not even his Ladybug. Just as she couldn't tell him. It's rather unfair.

He nods and offers a smile before turning in the direction he saw the park. At least, he hopes it's the right direction, he still gets a little lost.]

What is your world like, if you don't mind me asking.

[pawdonnemoi]

[Friends are good to have, especially in a strange new world. Although Adrien is still pretty new at making friends.]

I didn't get to see much there seemed to be plenty or things to do to keep one's day busy.

[A bit a colour rises to his cheeks as he smiles sheepishly.] I'm a model for my father's clothing line. It makes it difficult to get around Paris without someone recognizing me from an ad.

[pawdonnemoi]

[Too close for comfort. He flips back, retracting the staff to it's smallest size and returning it to it's holder at his back. He lands smoothly on all fours, tail-like belt curling around his ankles before he stands upright.]

Do you have a name or should I just call you the Jolly Horned Giant?

Apologies for the wait. I was finishing my app phew orz

[skyhiiigh]

[How could he ever resist? Keith had an extreme soft spot for dogs, and given this one looked rather healthy and playful he couldn't imagine why someone would go on thinking it was okay just to let him be a stray!

Keith scritched gently behind dog-sam's ears and crouched low between the both of them before he allowed the two to play, feeling around in his pockets to see if he had any treats.]

What do you think, John? Do you want a brother?

[John gave what he was fairly certain was a bark indicating how pleased he was by the possibility of another dog around. That and the way he was similarly eagerly sniffing out his new friend. Evidently he's a big puppy, just like his owner. And while it was true Keith just arrived, but that didn't mean he couldn't look into adoption...His smile was wide as he laughed at how John was now mimicking his new found companion stopping into a crouch again and then running abruptly to the side, as if trying to say 'catch me if you can' and then chasing after Sam as well. Evidently this game went both ways. Dogs could be such spirited creatures, couldn't they?]

[skyhiiigh]

Eh? Y-you mean you didn't need me..?

[Sky High looked a little confused with a tilt of his head. Well, any normal person would have realized by now that she'd done it as a means of distraction but it quite obviously hadn't dawned on him that way.

He recovered however and saluted her with one arm and then the other, almost as if he'd rehearsed such movements but in truth that was usually how he posed himself even when confronting a criminal. Like he was being constantly recorded on TV, so a little more theatrical than normal. (That was, of course, only because he truly was used to being watched and recorded for HERO TV every day, which only made him seem more theatrical or goofy, really, to anyone else.)]

Ah, you're right. I apologize for worrying you, Miss. A hero shouldn't require rescuing...but I admit everyone was nice, far too nice! I couldn't keep up with their demands of me. Is it usually like that?

[skyhiiigh]

[For better or worse, even if Hughes was new he seemed to be rather familiar with this kind of behavior.]

Mmm, I see. Did they not ask for us to volunteer to do it, however? I have heard that it might be because not everyone has the best intentions when they arrive...

[Some who were ImPorts as they referred to them as were supposedly villainous! But that made it all the more important then that they stick together to bring anyone evil to justice.]

It seems I don't fully understand the entire situation regarding their government. You seem...experienced in this matter, Mister Hughes.

[The government. Right. Keith in truth was accustomed to working for someone else. For him it was the sponsors and HERO TV, but he saw it all as a means to an end. He simply wanted to protect people. They counted on him.]

Then we have no choice but to change their mind, and show them we want to help!

[He's a firm believer in great justice, after all. But of course he knows what Hughes said was true, he's simply an optimist that would go to any lengths to show everyone what it meant to be a true Hero.]

[foreshadower]

Oh, there's this and that.

It's been very nearly four years, now. [ He shrugged. ] Other than missing my Opal, it hasn't been unpleasant. Like an extended vacation.

[ That was always the advantage with being immortal, wasn't it? Being bothered by spending so much time doing other things wasn't much of a concern. He'd live long enough to see his Opal again. Time was already something that was going to pass, and he'd be the same no matter where he was. ]

Have they told you where you're staying, yet?

[glowsferatu]

[ Giving a lecture on the mechanics of interdimensional travel to someone only just dumped into it was Kanaya's mistake. At that point, no one really wants to hear it.

She should have led with coffee from the start. ]

It's a warm, bitter beverage, regularly consumed for its strong flavor, welcoming aroma, and mildly stimulating effects. There's a shop around the corner, we can go determine whether you'll enjoy it or not. On me, of course.

[ She catches herself, realizing there's something she's still forgotten to do. Yes, she absolutely has been informative over friendly in this exchange. She really ought to work on that, especially with new arrivals. ]

I'm Kanaya, by the way. And this, [ Gesturing to the bored grub in her basket. ] is Ashiah.

[glowsferatu]

[ She holds a hand against her chest. ] Kanaya.

[ Pointing down to the basket, where her daughter is clicking her legs against her carapace, the closest she'll probably get to clapping. ] Ashiah.

[ And then she gestures back to him, with a sort of flourish. ] And you are our new cat in black, then.

Well, welcome to Heropa, Chat Noir. I hope it will be kind to you.

[annihiliner]

[Yeah, not everybody has exactly the same level of experience with alternate universe shenanigans. For example, some people don't even know what an "alternate universe" is, and other people have CRAFTED THEM FROM SCRATCH. It's whatever though. Easy mistake to make.]

...Lexa.

[There is a small, stiff nod of some sort of acknowledgement.]

And a beverage would be welcome.

[monster_san]

[Fuu giggles a little, but not meanly. The salute is an unusual one. Given that and the epaulets, she wonders if he might be a military man from some rather earnest world.]

Don't worry about it! It can be quite overwhelming, particularly in Nonah. They do admire the imPorts here, and that's rather nice in some ways, but I think sometimes they see us as a commodity.

[although that's preferable to being called a weapon tbh.]

My name is Fuu Hououji. [She bows politely.] May I ask--is Sky High your real name?

[misseinstein]

[Well, making someone laugh is a good start! Though, she looks surprised when he mentions the city.]

Are you really from Paris? That's incredible - my school is in Paris! It's not near any of the interesting tourist spots, but...

[Funny, though, how she doesn't make to fawn over him.]

Cutest song ever

[skyhiiigh]

[Ah, whatever was that sound? It was almost...sweet in its serenade, in how it seemed to attract even the park animals. Was this what the man in his strangely decorative attire and with his foreign accent meant before?

There was a distant bark and whine from over in the distance, and Keith turned his head towards the sound. Could it be...?

Before long, however, the whimpering meant the end of the leash was broken from someone's hand or perhaps where ever he'd been tied up. It seemed a good Samaritan had taken up John's leash after all!

When the large canine came bounding over and jumped towards Keith and Manolo with glee however, it was clear without a doubt that this was the dog that Keith had lost. Evidently he was overcome with joy because he was hugging his dog and letting him lick his face while rubbing at the golden retriever's ears.]

John! JOHN! Where did you go? I was so worried! ...Oh, thank you and thank you again! Your beautiful music brought him back to me.

[So suddenly, just like that! Manolo was very talented, indeed, with his guitar. And John seemed rather content to sit between Keith's feet as he listened to that tune of the man's music. What sort of power was this that could draw animals so effortlessly?]

How may I repay you for such kindness? I'm Keith Goodman! Pleased and pleased again to meet you!

[skyhiiigh]

[It wasn't exactly a traditional salute, given he'd just lifted an arm up at an angle and then the other, but alas that was his way. True, he's a little strange probably by anyone else's standards who'd never encountered him before!

Her laughter at least seems to go over his head. Maybe she was just a very happy person!]

It's alright. I'm somewhat used to it from back home, I just have never seen someone so eager before to ask me to be a spokesman of jeans for them!

[Although she can't see his face, he's at least smiling beneath his helmet. He appreciates her politeness, and of course he'd bow in return to her even if it wasn't his normal custom. It only seemed polite! It was more stiff than hers, but only because his posture was normally like that. Maybe in part due to the multi-layered costume he adorns.]

Miss Fuu it is a pleasure to meet you and a pleasure once more!

[Of course, he can't help but pause at the question as he straightened, his hand going to the back of his helmet sheepishly. He can't lie of course, as it would be against his nature to do so.]

Sky High is my Hero name. I haven't revealed my name to the public. What matters most to me is that I am here to serve and protect the citizens who need me.

[While recognition and praise was rewarding too in its own right, in truth he didn't care for ranking or points so much as he did for saving and protecting. Thus, it was better to keep an alias if one could do so. Somehow, it didn't feel right to operate under his own name.]

[kagemusha]

[Such praise felt hardly worthy of him. Origami gawked for a moment, glad his helmet hid any signs that he might be on the verge of breaking down from sheer embarrassment. His geta-soled boots clacked on the concrete as he was let down and he took a bit of a staggered step back, allowing Sky High's form to fully melt away from himself and flash back to his own rather ornate costume.

Now out of the fray and with someone he was at least somewhat familiar with, Origami felt a little more at ease with this sudden situation they were thrown into. While he understood his briefing and had a knack for conformity, he was still reeling from it all. Sky High, however, seemed ready and willing to just leap into the fray, no questions asked.]

I agree, I feel unsteady as it is, but...

[Though draped in his guise and usually shuffling about with all the enthusiasm of a Noh play performer, Origami felt he could at least drop his 'gimmick' when things needed to get serious. He removed his helmet, the wind of the skyscraper lashing his pale hair in his sweat-tinged face as he looked up to his older colleague, hoping for answers.]

Sky High-san, do you think it's wise we be so accepting of what we've been briefed on about this place?

:D!!

[matadorable]

[He was almost anxious it wouldn't work, but the moment a dog that matched the description from earlier came running toward them, Manolo's face lit up. The reunion was a touching one, to be sure, and Manolo was perfectly content to continue playing in the background. But then the stranger introduced himself, and his fingers grew still.]

The pleasure was all mine! [He gave a small bow.] Manolo Sanchez, at your service. There's no need to repay me. That you listened to my music at all is more than enough for this guitarrista.

[glowsferatu]

[ gosh it wasn't from scratch there were weeks of bullshit frog eugenics involved, gosh gosh

Still, the gulf in experience is worth keeping in mind. Their positions might be reversed if it were about post-apocalyptic tribal politics. But here they are, and Kanaya's gotta up her game. ]

Very well, Lexa. Good to properly meet you. Let's see if we can't put an at least slightly more positive spin on your first impression of this situation.

[annihiliner]

[At least they'll be on a similar page if the conversation ever gets around to weird prophetic dream stuff? Or rare blood colors maybe?

Also, enjoy this skeptical look.]

Sure.

the master ( doctor who | ota | gentle voicetesting. )

[tappings]

❚❚❚❚❚ a.

[ Subtlety was never something he had possessed naturally. Charisma, showmanship, madness, whatever you liked to call it. That had been more exciting, more him. And while he could easily have slunk away, found some hole to hold up in, some little space to plot and plan, it would have been utterly boring.

So here he is in Nonah, gaily taking pictures ( selfies, a gap-toothed teenage girl squeaks at him ) with any interested party. He looks like he's someone, sharp suit and politician's smile attracting attention everywhere he goes. Every so often he throws up a peace sign, his grin more and more bright, more welcoming. It's fun, watching these human beings trip over themselves to meet him, eagerly accepting him into their ranks.

It's going to be so much more getting to crush them.

But eventually he peels away, waving childishly at the adoring crowd as he goes. ] Now remember kids, vote Saxon! [ He offers his trademark thumbs up and turns to head away. It's only when he's alone that the smile drops from his face, his expression morphing into something more deadly, more unhinged. Unbuttoning his blazer, he looks down to where there is a dark red stain on his shirt. A parting gift from his idiot wife. He'll have to find something new to wear and quickly.

He has a lot of work to do. ]

❚❚❚❚❚ b.

[ Of course, the problem with being mad is that it's distracting. The Master ends up outside of one of Nonah's more imPort interested bars, staring blankly at the range of posters on the walls. They're fan-made and ridiculous, but that's not what's stopped him. Oh no, it's two little words under a portrait of a very severe old man. ]

Hello, Doctor.

[ Because of course, of course he's here. He can feel it in his bones, in his matter. It's like an irritating tightness around his ribs warning him, calling to him. Hasn't he done enough to escape that blasted fool? He died. He literally died while the Doctor had been snivelling and snotting all over his corpse. It had been embarrassing. So why does he have to suffer him even more?

With an irritated sigh, the Master pulls a pen from inside of his suit and leans forward. He focuses on the task at hand, humming a jaunty song under his breath as he does so. ( Toxic, Britney Spears, what a classic! ) When he pulls away from the window, the poster now sports a twirling mustache and horns. The smile he reflects in the glass is vicious. ] See you soon.

❚❚❚❚❚ c.

[ It doesn't take long to catch up to him.

Not even a full day, and the Master is sitting in some half-empty little café, a cooling cup of coffee in front of him. His fingers are restless beside it, drilling an endless beat. taptaptaptap - taptaptaptap. His own gaze is vacant, far away. Faster and faster go his fingers until they're thudding heavily against the cheap and sticky wood.

And then he stops, and in one fluid motion he is on his feet, the coffee cup hurled across the room to crack against the wall in coffee splattered glory. His chest heaves with his breathing and when he notices the frightened faces of the other customers his smile slides snakelike back on to his face. ] No sugar. I asked for sugar.

❚❚❚❚❚ d.

[ Wildcard! Meet him anywhere you'd like. Just expect he's being very crazy. ]

/slams into. also, door c

[helpline]

[ He could feel the presence of the other Time Lord as well, a sort of pulling sensation. The problem though, is that he's not entirely sure which one and from what time. If it's anyone close to his present, he just does not want to deal with that pesky little fact about how he coaxed the Time Lords to yank Clara from her timeline, especially because she's here and slightly dead. Add to that another problem: he had four cities to look through.

So course, this coffee shop is the last place he visits and of course he walks in just in time to see the coffee cup hurled across the room, cracking on the wall just a few feet to the right of him.

That's a familiar face, but the Doctor knows that familiar faces don't mean anything. But the familiar face, the tingling sensation in his brain and the fact that he just saw this man throw a coffee cup across the room added it all up to form the Master. And not even his Master, at that! Well, at least he can dodge the 'why's Clara dead' bullet for a little while longer.

With an aggravated little sigh, the Doctor just walked right over to the Master and pulled out a chair, sitting down at the table in front of him and just giving the Master a pure 'really???' look. ] I know they can be incompetent but throwing things? We're more dignified than that.

[tappings]

[ The door opens and the sound in his head get louder. The Master's awful smile and sharp gaze drags itself from the surrounding natives and lifts itself to his favourite arch-nemesis. Even if he hadn't seen the little fanzine portraits, there would be no mistaking the man in front of him and so he doesn't pretend to be shocked. Instead he reacts to his voice. ]

Scottish? [ He's still standing even as the Doctor sits, eyes slitted as he watches him. He's regenerated, and he does not know how many times. That prickles at something inside of him. Honestly, people should just stop killing him. That's his job. ] Ew. It sounds like we've both left our standards behind.

[ And then he's dragging his chair back into place, taking the spot across from the other Time Lord. The tension inside the little cafe had been growing since he stood up but now it's more wary. Nobody runs though, which is great because it means they haven't got a lot of self-preservation. He'll definitely use that.

Merrily, the Master waves over the waitress and crosses one leg over the other. ] Remember the sugar this time. [ To the Doctor. ] I'd have liked tea, but they're American. Cocking it up is like a competition.

[helpline]

Joke's on you, I actually like being Scottish. You can be angrier that way. [ Really, his whole entire face is great for being angry, but the point still stands.

The Doctor notices the fact that nobody's running either. Come on stupid humans, this guy threw a coffee cup at the wall, maybe that's a sign enough to leave? But, then again, he can't help but muse that some of the stupid humans he was fond of would stick around to see what happened if someone threw a coffee cup at a wall. Self-preservation instinct of a lemming, a trait annoyingly common to the human race.

And, well...he can't fight on the tea bit. ] Have you ever tried sweet tea? I once travelled with an American, back in the 1980s, she introduced me to it. It's cold, served with ice, and just drowned in sugar. Absolutely revolting so of course, they've got it in this world.

[ Maybe if he just keeps having casual conversation with the Master, they'll be able to reach something like the Doctor had with Missy. Of course, the Doctor knows that's just a dream (circumstances there tended towards the enemy of my enemy blah blah blah) but a Time Lord can hope. It'd be nice not to be as alone as he could be. ]

[tappings]

[ The Master pulls a face like so: >:C ] Has the childish spirit finally run out? I was wondering when that would happen. Tell me it's my fault. [ He says it far too happily, like someone might say tell me you love me only different because he is completely evil. He cups his chin in his hands and regards his old friend with an assessing look. ] Did Handsome Jack and Martha Jones leave you all alone to go senile? Or is this -- [ Waving a hand at his face. ] -- all later? You know I can never keep up. You make dying out to be a game.

[ So does he, more often than not. But the Master is always trying to outrun his limitations. He has his plans, his tricks, his schemes. He'll never truly stop.

Sadly, there's no such thing as a casual conversation with this one. Even now his fingers are moving restlessly against the tabletop again. ] About that. Strange place, this. Funny. Porters and politics and powers, oh my! They say we're trapped. [ He bares his teeth on the last word, viper like. ] What'd they do? Clamp the TARDIS?

[ Note to self: steal it at first opportunity. ]

[helpline]

This, [ said as he points to his face, ] is all later. About two point five bodies later, if you want to get technical.

[ Don't ask about the point five, thanks Metacrisis Doctor. And oh, the Doctor can't help but suppress a small smile at the idea of the government putting a clamp on the TARDIS. ] If they clamped her, do you really think I'd still be on Earth? [ wait ] No, scratch that, do you really think I'd still be in America?

[ Because he wouldn't. He wouldn't at all, and the Doctor's giving the Master an expression that's pure 'oh come on, you know this about me.' ] We're trapped because they didn't bring over the TARDIS in the first place. I've been trying to work on a signal relay to bring the old girl over here, but transporting across dimensions is harder than I thought.

[ Not impossible. Nothing's impossible, if something's impossible that just means the Doctor hasn't poked at it enough yet. It's annoying, aggravating, and harder than he thought but certainly not impossible. ]