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

[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.]

[ Kitty smiles again, more than 'not unkindly.' This expression is kind and gentler too. ]

How about coffee and a walk around the place? I'd bet we can find more than a little something useful. I'm quite good at that. Finding things.

[ She's also holding back a comment that's probably better reserved for a conversation other than the first.

Sherlock Holmes could probably find werewolves... ]

You are, huh?

[Hopefully he would be able to find one! Especially if it were standing right in front of him.]

Edited 2016-03-29 17:09 (UTC)

[ He might have an alternative way to explain things if that were the case. He's pretty adamant that supernatural phenomena have a logical explanation. One wonders what he'd be like with superpowers... ]

I hope so. I'm training to be a detective and my mentor would be disappointed if I weren't.

[ It sounds like she very much doesn't want to disappoint him. ]

[Maybe his power would be super skepticism? Disbelieving the supernatural so hard that it doesn't work around him.]

Huh. That's pretty neat.

[ That could actually be very useful. And a little terrifying. Not that he's not already a little of that... ]

It's not easy work. But it's worth it.

[Clearly, he and Ruby's granny should never meet then. Too scary.]

Yeah. I gave it a shot once actually, a while back.

[ Okay, that thought is terrifying. ]

Really? [ Okay, curiosity is piqued. Even though she has already had the opportunity to make some observations that might lead one to that conclusion, it's interesting to hear Ruby mention it herself. ]

Mmhmm.

[She cringes a bit.]

I'm pretty good at finding stuff too, but I guess I found some things I wasn't ready for back then and had to step back from it.

[Ah, the innocent days of youth. How long ago they were...]

[ Kitty's expression shifts and she nods slowly. ]

When you don't know what you'll find, it's hard to be prepared for some of the things you might discover.

[ She knows this all too well. ] I kept going, but I had a lot of help, too. I'm lucky.

Yeah, maybe things would've gone differently if I'd been a bit older. Known some of the things I do now.

[Remembered some of the much worse things she'd already seen but forgotten until later.]

Do you think you'll try again?

[ She's not trying to pry, but she's curious. Wants to know. ]

I don't know. Maybe?

[She shrugs and sort of looks away with a hint of nervousness.]

Maybe I already have, in a way. The reason I've been travelling so much recently is because I'm looking for some people.

You don't have to talk about it if you'd rather not.

[ She's definitely not going to push it. ] But if you want, I'll listen. Gotten a bit good at that too.

It's fine. Just a little awkward.

[She runs a hand through her hair, possibly something of a nervous tic.]

I've been looking for my--

[Quick! Something other than "pack."]

My mother's family? I haven't seen them since she died, and I don't really know where they are anymore.

Edited 2016-03-31 00:53 (UTC)

I'm sorry for your loss. [ She cocks her head to one side, brow slightly furrowed. Apparently she's not ready to charge ahead with further commentary before saying that. ]

[Wow, she is so not sure what to say to that, especially given the, ahem, unusual circumstances of that day.]

I didn't really know her, to be honest. We only met once. But...

Thanks.

[ Kitty offers a somewhat apologetic smile. Shy, maybe? ]

I hope you can find them. You have a good place to start? [ Definitely a question. ]

[Ruby is trying to stay smiling, like this isn't a big deal, but there's definitely some strain to it.]

Not really? I know one place they used to live, but that was decades ago now.

[ Kind of toeing a line here. Her instinct is to solve puzzles and fit clues together, but if this is tough to talk about... ]

Follow me? [ She jerks her head back, as if to indicate something over her shoulder. ] There's a diner nearby. For coffee. If you like, that is.

We can talk more, if you want.

...sure, why not?

Fair warning, I may not actually drink the coffee. [ She shoves her hands in the pockets of her jacket, turning so she can fall into step next to Ruby if possible. ] Might have to ask for tea.

[ She's kidding around a little. Perhaps the wrong time for it, but maybe... ]

[Okay, so maybe she chuckles a little.]

You're in America now, you know. Or an America at least. At some point you'll have to start acting like it.

(no subject)

alsogood - 2016-04-01 20:03 (UTC) - Expand

notsheepish - 2016-04-01 21:09 (UTC) - Expand