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

[deaddy]

[SUDDENLY, A PAPER THING AGAINST ROY'S FACE. Like, right smack in his face.]

It's like having a portable photo album wherever I go now!

[burningbothends]

[LAUGHS?? MIGHT BE CRYING MORE??? Definitely crying more.]

Stop that! I can't even see it right now.

[deaddy]

[It's okay to cry on this one. it was a picture with a thumb in the way of family's cute faces anyway. He does pull it back and away, nonetheless.]

Yeah, you're gonna have to explain that one, Mustang.

[IF YOU DID THE THING, YOU ARE IN SUCH TROUBLE, MISTER.]

[burningbothends]

It's not what you're thinking—not how you're thinking it. I refused, so they forced me through the Gate—the Homunculi—Fuhrer Bradley was one of them! So was Seylum Bradley. Wrath and Pride...

[deaddy]

Seven Deadly Sins, huh. How original.

And somehow, I wish I were more surprised about Bradley, but it sure makes his random visit to Ed's room that day make a lot more sense.

[burningbothends]

You'd think someone calling himself 'Father' would name is 'children' with a little more affection.

—He did what? Tch. Yes, just checking in on a 'precious sacrifice', I imagine.

[deaddy]

I'm guessing the "precious sacrifice" wasn't me.

But he stopped in right after Ed told me and Major Armstrong about the Fifth Laboratory. Saw Ed's drawings and whatnot. So he probably was the one who gave the order because, let's be honest, Major Armstrong's a good man but he's not the one to put obscure facts together and he probably knew how close we are.

... and the fact that there's apparently a "Father" figure I didn't even know about. I'm actually kind of pissed I got taken out of the action so early. Then again... probably a smart move on their part, tactically speaking.

[And suddenly, the bigger picture is a lot more horrifying that what he'd even begun to suspect before he was taken out. But he shakes his head, putting a hand on Roy's shoulder.]

Anyway, you can tell me more about it after we get you some proper clothes. Just who let you dress yourself in the dark, anyway?

[burningbothends]

[Roy's hand curls tightly against Maes's jacket as he speaks, jaw tightening.]

Of course. You figured it out long before the rest of us, and even that was a lot of dumb luck.

[He drags his other hand over his face again, grimacing with a faint blush as he wipes at his own ear tracks. Grumbles a little.]

You're hilarious! I was pulled right out of the hospital; I had to scare one of the Americans into giving me some decent shoes,

[deaddy]

Again, I see you still have the same attitude. What kind of thuggish behavior is that? You don't have to scare people into helping you, jeez.

[He's gonna lead Roy off somewhere, keeping a grasp on him to keep him steady. At the very least, his friend needs to sit down to recover from all the sudden shock of reunion and whatnot.]

And excuse you, that was all skill. Intelligence is my field, so of course I figured it out. That and someone talking about all the different skirmishes that were going on at the time combined with the fact that Amestris has always expanded in a circular kind of pattern...

Anyway, intelligence is also how I know what's what in this place while you're mugging Americans for their boots.

[burningbothends]

I wasn't—He tried to protest on the grounds that it was against regulation. Obviously I asked first!

No, I meant our dumb luck... Of course you're good at intelligence, you've always been incredibly nosy.

[HE'S FINE, HE'S DOING FINE. He's bitching at Hughes for having terrible personality. Because Hughes is alive, or he's dreaming with so much vividness it might as well be real... He feels a little light-headed. He keeps reaching out to touch Hughes, grasping at his uniform in fleeting touches. makes himself let go just to end up doing it again a few minutes later. Hughes is alive and he's suddenly got absolutely no more patience for being blind. He can't believe this is real until he sees him. God, but it's like he never left, popping up right when Roy needs him most.]

Go ahead and brief me. We need to get out bearing as soon as possible. Fullmetal's here, and so his his mechanic—Miss Rockbell.

[deaddy]

I'll have to say hi to the kids later. I'm sure that'll be a trip.

And maybe if you weren't busy mugging people, they would have taken the time to brief you then, you know.

[Making digs at Roy's predicament is what he's there for, but mostly, it's a distraction while he gets them some place to sit, probably some cafe or something, just because in addition to mugging people and running into trees, Maes is pretty sure Roy probably hasn't been eating much since he's arrived. Mostly due to the blindness. And it's the blindness combined with the knowledge that it must have been some while since Roy last saw him, considering how the other man keeps checking to make sure he's even there, that makes him worry quite a bit about his friend...]

For starters, there may be a way to cure your lack of vision problem. If they can bring back the dead here, they probably have some method to cure ailments like that--even ones that aren't natural. Probably especially those.

[burningbothends]

[Roy's stiff and heavy settling into a chair. He has to stop himself from blindly reaching out across the table to touch Hughes again, stalling himself into curling his hands on the table. His heart keeps pounding anxiously in the lull between Hughes's words like he might actually just. Disappear. And when he doesn't Roy laughs weakly in relief and because he missed that practical, snarky voice of his so fucking much.]

Yes. I'm already investigating possibilities. I have a contact, I'll need you to check him out. What else did you find out?

[deaddy]

We've once again jumped out of one fire and straight into another, apparently?

As far as I can tell, there's a global crisis going on--Americans versus Soviets, I think were the main parties, for the most part. And we've apparently been dragged into it to help out. I've been around to at least three other cities, and it's a mixed bag of opinions regarding us who were brought in.

--speaking of, were you given a folder with documents? Those should have information about your current status and also what abilities you could've been given. Not to mention your job assignment and living quarters.

[burningbothends]

Of course we have.


—Ah, yes. I've got mine and Fullmetal's. [He unzips his jacket enough to pull them out and hand them over to Hughes.] I haven't read them yet. Obviously.

[deaddy]

[He takes them, putting Ed's aside for the moment to open up Roy's, glancing over it.]

—so let me guess... the signs of impalement in your side—the lady with the Ouroboros tattoo, huh? And you cauterized the wound. Kinda wish I could've pulled that trick when she got me in the shoulder.

[This is what happens when you give a motherhen your medical files.]

Hands probably aren't from the same instance, though... fresh wounds?

[burningbothends]

[STOP CASUALLY MENTIONING DYING GAWD.

Ugh he wishes that information was not... there... Roy sighs a little.]

Yes... That was 'Lust'. She got Havoc, too. Paralyzed him, but he's on the mend now. [OR SO HE HEARD!!! Since he didn't actually get to see anything!] She didn't survive long after that; I destroyed her.

No, these are from when Pride forced me through the Gate. Wrath—King Bradley—pinned me with his swords.

[The file should also note the extensive contusions to his arms, torso, and shoulder. Some minor rib fractures.]

[deaddy]

[Look, being casual about it is the only way he feels like he can even remotely approach this next question.]

Lust, huh.

... so which was that other one?

[burningbothends]

... Envy. Also dead now. All of them are, except for Selim Bradley who is... no longer a threat.

[deaddy]

. . . well, that sure makes sense.

[OBVIOUSLY, THEY WERE BOTH MAD THAT HE WAS A MARRIED MAN WITH A BEAUTIFUL WIFE AND DAUGHTER. CLEARLY.]

[burningbothends]

What...

[Roy's pretty sure it doesn't make any fucking sense at all.]

[deaddy]

They were both jealous of my marital status.

[burningbothends]

...



[THIS MAN IS UNBELIEVABLE.]

You know that's wrong!

[deaddy]

Says the guy who destroyed Lust and was double-teamed by Wrath and Pride.

—actually, that's kind of funny when you put it like that.

[CONTINUES TO SIFT THROUGH THE PAPERWORK.]

[burningbothends]

[What is even going on in my life anymore. Unbelievable.]

There's nothing funny about any of this.

[deaddy]

[Made you smile. Albeit, incredulously bemused.]

What else am I supposed to with the fact that the enemy was named for the Seven Deadly Sins?

Anyway, looks like they made note of your sight in here as well.

[He flips pages to look at information more relevant for this place they're in currently.]