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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

Whoa, hey.

[Ruby takes a quick step backwards, eyebrows raised and hands slowly lifting as well in a placating sort of way. She certainly seems surprised, but not particularly concerned about any potential whackings, oddly enough.]

Sorry. We are close enough right here. Message received, loud and clear.

[ Kitty remains very still for a moment, eyes traveling up and down in assessment of her would-be "attacker." Cautiously, she takes a half-step back, though she does not lower the baton immediately. ] You weren't following me.

[ It's not a question. It's an observation. Now, she lowers the baton. ]

It's on me to apologize. I'm sorry. I guess I'm a bit-- [ She purses her lips for a split second. ] jumpy.

[As she lowers her hands and slips them into her back pockets, Ruby laughs the whole thing off, but the sound is wry and more an attempt at laughing with her than at her.]

It's fine. I think maybe this place brings that sort of thing out in people.

[There's a pause as she raises an eyebrow and glances around briefly.]

Unless you think somebody is actually following you? Does that sort of thing happen around here often?

[ Kitty remains still another short moment, then, with a flick of her wrist, she collapses the baton and it disappears into her bag again. Her body language does not noticeably relax. However, she does offer a cursory sort of smile. ]

Tailing someone is a good way to get information about them. [ She lets her eye follow the path Ruby's took. ] I wouldn't expect it to be exclusive to here.

[ Something about the way she says 'here' implies a definite 'there.' ] I don't think, per se, but I try to always be open to the possibility.

[ Yes, says everyone, that explains the baton. ]

[She may have only spent about five minutes as a detective, but Ruby has years of experience as a tracker. In contrast to her casual demeanor, there's something keen in the way she looks around and which details her gaze pauses on briefly... at least to those with the eye for such things.]

Yeah, I guess. It's not hard to get used to looking over your shoulder.

[She shrugs, moving past that particular memory lane.]

But stuff like that is less necessary in some places than others, and I'm still trying to figure out what kind of place this one is. Especially with an entrance like that one, right?

[ Kitty's mentor would've noticed that right away. Kitty has the benefit of his training and superpowers, but both are relatively new to her, so it'll take longer for her to put any relevant pieces together. She has her hands on her bag again, apparently at the ready for anything else that causes... jumpiness. ]

No, it's not. [ She is decidedly open to the idea of not lingering there either. ]

You've not been here long? [ That one is a question. But it's also another observation, too. Kitty tugs on her bag, looking around again. ] It's a lot to take in.

It definitely is.

[She takes in a deep breath, then shakes her head as she slowly lets it out.]

To be honest, this is the biggest city I've ever been in. Like, in my whole life. Is that embarrassing?

[ Kitty's brows rise slightly, but then relax again shortly afterward. ]

Not embarrassing, no. A little unusual, maybe. I can imagine that'd have the potential to be rather disorienting.

[ A beat, then she raises a hand and taps her chest. ] Kitty. Kitty Winter.

Ruby. But my friends call me Red.

[She's grinning now, one eyebrow cocked teasingly.]

And I saw that. You're totally judging me for my small-town-girl-ness. That's not very nice, you know.

A pleasure. [ Her smile grows fractionally, more good-natured than not. ]

I'm from London, living in New York. I could easily be judged for just the opposite: big-city-girl-ness, as it were. [ Now her smile has been brightened up a notch, her physical demeanor shifts downward incrementally. Somewhat more relaxed, but still alert. ]

[Well, it's enough for Ruby to feel pretty pleased with herself!]

Nice. I always wanted to go there someday. I mean, I've done a bit of travelling, but not as much as I'd hoped, and never to any big cities like that.

Lucky then, that it's pretty easy to travel here? [ She gestures vaguely with her forefinger, though her hand is still holding onto her bag. The gesture seems to indicate the larger world around them, rather than the immediate boundaries of the city they're currently in. ]

Once you find your feet, might not be a bad thought.

[She laughs.]

Yeah, maybe. Might need a guide though if I hit up a big city like New York. Somebody who knows the place pretty well?

From what I've heard, it's more fun to see the sights with a friend.

[ Her version of sightseeing, as has been somewhat established, may consist more of surveillance than anything else.

Possibly. ]

Well, maybe we can test that theory.

[ Okay, at that she actually does laugh. Not unkindly! ]

I don't know if I'd be a very good tour guide, but if you wanted to see some less-frequented sights...

[She perks up at the comment... Or the laugh. Or maybe both? Something like that!]

I'm always up for an adventure.

Adventure. Sounds ambitious. What do you think of being here in the first place?

[ 'Being here' implies more than 'existing in this physical space, in this specific moment.' ]

It's...

[She stops and frowns a little as she really thinks about it.]

I don't appreciate the way I was brought here obviously, and I have a friend I hope I'll hear made the trip with me, but honestly we were in the middle of some of that travelling I was talking about before, so I guess I don't really have anything pressing to get back to.

[ Kitty listens, nodding intermittently. Her smile slides off her face in favor of a more contemplative expression. ]

Well, that seems fair. I feel much the same. [ Except she does have something pressing to address at home, but never mind that. ] Don't suppose it helps at all to say, 'at least we're all in this together?'

Not a whole lot. But the thought's appreciated.

If I can think of a better aphorism for the situation, I'll let you know.

[ Finally, she drops her hands from the bag, tapping one at the side of her leg. ] How much exploring have you done since you got here?

[Ruby shrugs, looking around vaguely.]

Not much yet, honestly. I've mostly just been trying to get my bearings straight.

Anything we could find for you that'd help with that?

[ She tilts her head a bit, looking at Ruby cautiously. Or is that carefully? ]

Besides a drink?

[She smirks, giving the joke a beat before going on.]

I wish I knew.

[Well, there IS one thing, but she's not really interested in scaring off a potential new friend by talking about her big quest to find some werewolves JUST yet.]

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