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

Put me down and you can tell me now!

[Who cares about securing a private location after a confusing daytime soap opera level bombshell like that!?]

You can wait ten minutes, unless you want it all splashed across the morning paper!

[WELL FINE!!

Ed goes limp all at once, dropping his full weight on Roy's shoulder with a jolt. Truly a pinnacle of maturity here.]

[OW!!]

—Dammit Fullmetal!

Better hurry it up, Colonel.

I'm working on it!

[Finally we get to a SECURE LOCATION YOU HORRIBLE BRAT CHILD]

[ABOUT DAMN TIME YOU USELESS COLONEL SHIT!!

Ed slumps awkwardly into whatever seat he's dumb onto, one hand to his head while he waits for a wave of dizziness to pass.]

Now can we talk?

What's the last thing you remember?

I told you that already. The Gate opening under me after Envy died.

Right... You're only a day or so behind me. Where to even start... Amestris is safe, Father and the Homunculi all defeated except for Selim Bradley who is in the care of Mrs. Bradley now.

[Roy takes a deep breath before this next part. There is no question of keeping the information from Ed but... It feels wrong to just. Be able to say it, almost casual after the pain of the last few years.]

... Alphonse was restored to his body. And you took your arm back from the Gate.

[What. What kind of horrible joke is this? It didn't fit Roy's style at all—was this some bizarre test from the Truth?]

Come on, can't you even try to make a real effort?

[He sneers and fumbles to pull his glove off of his right hand so he can show Roy the automail. . . . And waves his hand back and forth when Roy doesn't immediately focus on it.]

[Of course Roy has no idea he's doing that.]

It's not a joke, Fullmetal. For me, the Promised Day was yesterday.

[Just to be sure . . . he flips Roy the bird, watching carefully for anything that might be a restrained reaction.]

So you're saying you time traveled?

[Nothing. He's also not moving around. No pacing, just standing.]

I don't know. One of us did, or perhaps both of us.

[ U M ]

Can you see me?

... Ah... No, I'm blind. I was forced through the Gate by Pride, after I refused to willingly perform a human transmutation.

They can do that?!

[That seems like the sort of information that people should lead with!!]

Apparently, but it cost him. Weakened him somehow.

[Oh. Oh wait.]

You said—Pride did?

[Even if he can't see the stricken look on Ed's face the emotion sure as hell carries through in his voice. The last he'd seen Pride was when he was trapped inside the massive dome of earth with Alphonse.]

Pride and Wrath, yes.

[NOPE. NO NO NOPE NO.

Ed's suddenly halfway out of his seat, hand hand braced on the wall to keep himself upright. Some small part of him knows Roy just said he was fine—but that's hard to reconcile when he has no memory of pulling him free of the gate; when the last thing he remembers is walking away from the prison Alphonse had trapped himself in with that monster.]

I left Al with that bastard! He was trapped!

Calm down. I don't know the details, but Alphonse was fine; he was able to help in the fight against Father.

[All of this sounds fake but okay.]

Okay . . . Okay. He was really there? It was— I-It had to be him if he was fighting with us . . .

It was Alphonse. You were able to see him back in his own flesh and blood body after the battle, Fullmetal.

[This is really way too much to take in. Way too much to even begin to believe. He'd done it? In the middle of some insane right? How? What had the catch been? Could he even actually trust anything Roy was saying?

He slumps in his seat again, bowing his head and clasping his hands behind it while he takes a few deep breaths.]

It's not real until I've done it with my own hands.

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