etcelsior | OH MY GOD YOU GUYS

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I would say that, on the whole, the majority of imPorts have no designs whatsoever towards heroism. During a wider crisis, you may see them participate, but it's far more subdued on a regular basis. There isn't really that much crime to fight.

I can't even imagine trying it in Heropa. There's hardly any crime to begin with, but you can hardly walk outside without tripping across three people in full costume. If you want crime, I'd try Maurtia Falls. Just...avoid any large, organized anti-crime initiatives there. They tend to be disastrous.

[ At least, the one she tried to organize was. Kind of puts her off the whole idea, anyway. ]

Can't really argue with less crime. This world sounds better and better.

I'm not exactly looking for bad guys to fight. We're used to things on a... larger scale. And don't worry, I already have a team. Kind of. It's complicated.

[In that some parts of the team are alternate versions of the teammates she has back home. But she can roll with it.]

Edited 2016-03-27 08:00 (UTC)

I've always thought focusing on street crime was a bit arbitrary and futile, anyway. [ On a macro level at least. She's not going to refuse to stop it when she sees it, but she won't exactly go looking for it. When she wants to fight crime, she'd rather focus on generals over soldiers. ] Larger scales are another matter entirely. As I mentioned, crises are where you get more participation, and they do happen.

But I think it's more an issue of oversaturation than exactly a dearth of crime. You could probably find it anywhere, if you're looking. None of it necessarily implies peace, anyway, not when we're hosted by a nation at war.

Crises are kind of our specialty. But hopefully there won't be too many of those.

[M'gann sobers at the mention of the war.]

I'm... glad they're not using us to fight. It wouldn't be ethical for us to get involved with that kind of thing. At least, in my opinion.

Perhaps not. I can't say I have an objective attachment to either side, beyond the emotional response to attitudes they have expressed.

But, because of those attitudes, I don't believe it will be possible for us to remain truly neutral. Our current livelihoods are dependent on one side, and the other has positioned us at the heart of the conflict.

I have no intention of being anyone's weapon. But I think that the Soviets have made that intention explicit says plenty about them.

I guess if it comes down to it, we'll have to be willing to fight to protect our home. No wonder some of the civilians aren't too fond of us. Just by existing we're putting them in danger.

[Same old superhero argument as back home.]

...Wait, what do you mean explicit? They've actually said they want to turn us into weapons?

[Things might be more dire than she thought.]

More than said. They've already tried it, twice.

[ She looks back out the alley, towards the square. No where specific, just idly considering the natives gathered there. ]

Most recently, there was an occupation here, in the four Porter cities. The instated martial law on the native, and tried to bend us to their will. [ She's not going to say brainwashing, but she means brainwashing. She imagines M'gann will hear all about it, now that she knows there's something to hear. ]

In the end, we showed them that we can't be bound, but it was a difficult road to achieve that victory. I can't blame anyone for being wary, hosting us hasn't always been kind to them.

That's.. why wasn't that included in the briefing? It's pretty important!

[And something her team will probably want to make preparations for in case something similar should happen again.]

This almost sounds like something out of a history book.

I...can't really say why they wouldn't. I mean, it was recent enough that you're sure to hear about it as soon as you walk out.

[ But then, she doesn't really recall them saying anything about the state of current events when she first arrived. The circumstances for the first round of arrivals were different, they really should have refined the process since. ]

The only thing I can think, is that they didn't want you to charge back into the Porter room in hopes they'd be able to return you.

In my experience, they aren't nearly as sinister as many imPorts want to believe they are, but... They don't always seem to quite understand how to handle the situation.

OH MY GOD YOU GUYS

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