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

[vorbarra]

[ A dog of the military, hm? Not a flattering or pleasant phrase, that. Gregor hopes none of his servicemen say that. ]

That wouldn't be an inaccurate word, though perhaps misleading. It's more of a feudal system-- I'm titled Lord Greg, for example-- but all Vor are expected to serve in the military. We consider ourselves soldiers rather than nobility, but things still inherit along familial lines.

[burningbothends]

[Though Greg hadn't given him a military rank. Doubtless a foreign military rank meant nothing here, but the omission was curious for a presumably life-long officer talking to another officer... Perhaps he'd just been here long enough to drop the habit. It would certainly take Roy a while.

A trained and armed upper class—that likely didn't bode well for the lower class, but Roy had too many problems with his own government to be casting stones. And more pressing concerns in general.]

I wouldn't mind hearing more about it later. For now, if you have any other information you'd find useful for a newcomer in this country, I'd be grateful to hear it.

[vorbarra]

[ Indicative of someone who'd served a couple years as formality, been allowed to do precisely nothing dangerous, and escaped back to his real rank of Emperor with the formality observed. Gregor would be embarrassed to claim a rank he feels he's barely earned, which would technically be something low like Lieutenant, though no one had ever quite managed to call him Lieutenant Barra as they technically should've, rather than sire.

He's more than happy to leave that topic aside for now. ] Of course. The first thing I should brief you on is the war. You've arrived in a sort of intermission period for it; a month prior we suffered an occupation by Soviet forces, but they were driven out before your batch of arrivals.

[ Gregor sounds calm, even matter of fact about this. Barrayaran sensibilities about matters of war. ]

[burningbothends]

[Roy's expression goes grim, his mouth set in a thin, unhappy line.]

So participation in the war is less optional than we've been led to believe.

[vorbarra]

[ Gregor clarifies, ] Sort of. Participation as a combatant is still entirely voluntary. Whether you can live in a nation at war and not be touched by it is, well, impossible, despite other imPorts occasionally deluding themselves otherwise.

[ His voice goes dry by the end. Gregor's gotten a little sick of that argument. ]

[burningbothends]

No-one who's lived through a war would believe that. I take it the 'Porter' isn't always conveniently pulling soldiers.

[vorbarra]

You'd be entirely correct. It isn't age discriminatory, either-- your subordinate is far from the youngest-looking I've seen. One of the things that lends credence to the story that they aren't in control of the Porter's actions.

[burningbothends]

[Of course. Worse and worse... Roy didn't know what to believe quite yet. His own country had orchestrated centuries's worth of massacres under the direction of one man. Nothing was beyond the pale, not even a country that would willfully create child soldiers (Another thing Amestris didn't take much issue with.)

He restlessly shifts Fullmetal's weight on his shoulder, wincing as it jostles his bruises. Greg can probably feel that, and the thrumming tension running through him.]

What incredibly obnoxious timing... Let me guess. Destroying the Porter is out of the question, because it's our only way home.

[vorbarra]

[ He glances over, assessing, but answers this first. ] That, and the Porter itself doesn't take kindly to interference. It has something of a sentience behind it; I'm not sure of the details. Things have been hectic since my arrival, to say the least.

[ Gregor pauses noticeably, then says frankly, ] Should you be carrying him with your injuries?

[burningbothends]

I've been dealing with this brat for years; I'm used to the weight.

[Even if Edward was a little heavier than the last time Roy saw him. And then, more practically, he adds:]

I'm not as bad off as I look, anyway.

[Yes you are Roy.]

[vorbarra]

[ Did he know him before he'd joined up, or did they really recruit that young? Horrifying thought, that.

Gregor gauges him for a moment before saying bluntly, ] You look awful, so that's reassuring. If you need some assistance I'm not a complete lightweight. It's not much farther in either case.

[burningbothends]

[WELCOME TO AMESTRIS.]

Then I'll be able to make it.

[vorbarra]

[ He'd like to go back to Barrayar now. Which is not something Gregor often thinks. ]

Far be it from me to step on your pride. [ He sounds wry, not chiding. Gregor casts his mind back to think of what other advice he could give. ] Your first major decision will be whether you register or not-- that is, accept the government's support in return for promising to aid them.

If you're dissatisfied with that, you'll have to support yourself financially.

[ He's actually going somewhere with this. Give him a second... ]

[burningbothends]

[It less a matter of pride than responsibility--and common sense. Fullmetal really would take out the first person near him whenever he came around again. Better it be Roy than Greg. But Roy doesn't bother to correct him.

Roy was of the inclination at the moment to tell this government to go fuck itself, but for the moment he kept that opinion to himself, too.]

And how is that usually done?

[vorbarra]

[ Gregor's already distracted with making his pitch here. He comes off casual and confident, merely a (potential) friend making an offer. ]

Well, you can get any number of jobs, though imPort hiring discrimination can run both directions, for and against, depending. I've recently started a security company with a friend of mine, actually, that you'd be welcome to apply for if you wished. Miles feels strongly about attempting to offer an alternative to registration; we have an on-staff healer to offset their medical services.

[burningbothends]

[Ah...

Is he being recruited? How surreal. It was certainly unexpected, given the state he'd arrived in.]

An alternative to registration, hm. The government doesn't seem to be taking that personally.

[Since Gregor had been asked to escort Roy... Did the officials sense that Roy would be resistant to registration? Was this 'security company' a covert government alternative meant to keep the more rebellious imPorts under greater supervision, or was it sincere? Had the details of his file and Fullmetal's been leaked to Greg, and did that account for the quickness with which he'd made his offer, or was he just trying to help?

All of this and more runs through Roy's head, but he give away anything more than affable curiosity in his tone.]

[vorbarra]

[ The state he'd arrived in, nothing. Gregor has evaluated more than a handful of officers in his life already, and been tutored in how to do so personally by Aral Vorkosigan, infamous across the galaxy for his military acumen. Showing up in the state he did and promptly prioritizing his subordinate's safety, all while acting with composure despite what must be very dire circumstances to him and a recent blindness, have impressed Gregor already.

Character is much more important to him than ability. One can be trained; the other must be lived with, or more accurately sometimes, tolerated.

He can sense this lukewarm response and merely makes a speculative noise. ] It doesn't, no. As long as we don't commit any crimes, which changes our status from Unsettled to Criminal. They also allow you to change your status at any time; I stayed as Registered for a while initially until we got our feet under us, and to test the waters.

[burningbothends]

I see. So do you make a habit of going around collecting soldiers, regardless of what sorry state they might be in?

[It's asked lightly, wryly self-deprecating. Whether Greg takes that at face value or not... Well, it doesn't matter. The answer should be telling either way.]

[vorbarra]

Not at all. You could say I have a good eye for personnel. Miles and I both do. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you try to act with integrity.

Physical injuries can be healed; defects of character, not so much.

[burningbothends]

[Not a bad answer... He was making a good first impression for sure ]

I'll give your proposal some thought.

[After he talked to Ed, after he did some digging about this company, other options, the war, this country... He had a long list. Whatever he ended up picking, getting Fullmetal back home in one piece to finish what he started and finally achieve his goals was his sole priority. ]

[vorbarra]

That's all I ask.

[ Gregor's nothing if not patient, to the point that some others can find it infuriating. But sure enough they're approaching the house now, which he announces with, ] We're turning onto your front walk. They should've given you the key?

[burningbothends]

Ah, yes.

[Same pocket as the cigarettes. Roy digs it out and hands it over.]

If you could direct me to somewhere where I can lay him down.

[vorbarra]

[ Gregor accepts it, taking his hand from him to unlock and open the door. He steps in and then widely out of the way. ]

Straight ahead six paces and to the right three is a couch.

[burningbothends]

Thank you.

[Nice, clear instructions he could follow. It wasn't much but he did feel marginally less useless.

He's careful when depositing Edward on the couch, though the teenager still flumps onto the cushions with a curious sense of heaviness for someone of his short stature. Roy can't stifle another wince as he bends and rolls the teenager off his shoulder but he doesn't immedaitly straighten, instead checking him over. Temperature, breathing, pulse... and finally, so briefly Gregor might miss it, Roy touches his lower left leg and right arm.

Which confirms for him that both limbs are still metal, not that he'd had much doubt after carrying Edward that far. Roy can feel the anger coiling in his gut on the Elric's behalf. After having finally achieved the restoration of his body and his brother's, this country had snatched that away from him for another damn war...

His shoulder stiffen incrementally, bandaged hands curling briefly into fists.]

[vorbarra]

[ It still feels unfair to be scrutinizing a blind man, but truthfully, Gregor has always been remarkably astute on picking up on signals from those around him, so he consoles himself with the fact that it's not much of a difference. He misses anything suspicious about Roy's checking-over of Edward, distracted with considering the larger circumstance of their arrival and what he knows so far.

Watching these slow signs of anger prompts him to interrupt. ]

If it's urgent, I could have a healer here immediately, [ he says quietly. ]