etcelsior | HE TOLD ME SEVERAL TIMES THAT HE DIDN'T LIKE MY KIND

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HE TOLD ME SEVERAL TIMES THAT HE DIDN'T LIKE MY KIND

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, deeply masculine 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!"

"That's just what Ronald Chump says!" Exclaims a young woman. She raises her fist in anger at the imPort-hating individual. "We're not going to tolerate bigots here!"

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. Science and technology are the lifeblood of this city, so you're likely to come across a good many locals taking your picture with the newest of devices. Be forewarned: since FanPort happened, imPort fandom is at a new height. Don't be surprised if people start following you just to see if you'll do anything TMZ-worthy.

The trick is to stay calm, and don't wig out if someone asks what you think about imPort shipping.

03. Maurtia Falls, Pennsylvania, is having a rainy day. The streets seem to be running with water, the sky can't seem to stop crying. You might want to check out some consumerism-inclined shelter, be that a smoky and dart-eyed bar full of grumbling locals, or a grimy and industrial coffee shop (full of grumbling locals). Watch your step, newly minted imPort, because if you let on that you're fresh meat then you're likely to attract a posse of two or three sharp knuckled no-good-dooers. This is the criminally exciting part of town, so beware.

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. There's a baseball game going on in one of the parks amidst all those tall buildings, and you're welcome to watch! It's not an official game in the season, it's more like a friendly skirmish between local baseball teams. Midway through the game, the umpire might take note of you new imPorts -- assuming you're standing out in the crowd. He'll welcome you to throw a pitch if you'd like! Of course, the opposing team isn't too keen on the idea. Better look for more imPorts to play ball!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Leading the herd away from the quarry," Daryl answered, frowning deeper and stepping closer so Carl didn't have to raise his voice as far and the locals couldn't overhear. "You saying you got this back home?"

Oh man. What to begin.

"I don't remember. Enid, she's a little ahead of me now, and so is Dad. What happened was Alexandria got attacked by these raiders. We killed them all, but one of them had a truck and got shot and died, but kept hitting the horn. Half of that herd got directed to Alexandria, and they got in."

Carl sighs.

"I don't remember. Dad knows more details, but the last thing I remember was Dad and I and a few others coated ourselves with walker guts and tried to hide in the herd, to get to the flares and start redirect the herd out of Alexandria."

Daryl's frown deepened further, "It ain't a walker bite is it?" Because Carl getting bit, that would destroy Rick. It would destroy Daryl. The whole reason he'd even been okay going to Alexandria was because the kids of the family, they needed a roof, shelter, warm beds, safety. The herd getting in.. raiders... none of that was supposed to happen.

"I should have turned back," it was muttered, but Daryl couldn't help but feel this turn of events was his responsibility. If he'd turned back, he could have been there to help. Maybe get the herd pulled away...

"No. It was a bullet. According to the doctors here, it looked like a bullet ricochet off my face. I still lost an eye, but according to Enid, I survived. Everyone managed to get together and wiped the walkers out of Alexandria."

Carl doesn't remember anything - though LACKEY should be thank to that, even though Carl is unaware of it - he does remember hearing screams. "You did fine, Daryl. As far as I know, everyone is fin." Except for Carl's eye. RIP, Carl's right eyeball.

Daryl didn't exactly look mollified at that. He wouldn't call loosing an eye 'fine'. But if he made it back and everyone managed to wipe the walkers out and no one died that Carl was mentioning, things were okay. It was still shit, but it could get better.

It wasn't a conversation Daryl was really comfortable with continuing because there was too much he didn't know and they were in public. So he switched topics, "I found a girl earlier, said she knew you. Said you lived in Heropa. What you doing up here?"

"Work. I work in an animal shelter in Heropa, though I'm more or less work on the PR stuff for the shelter." Not willingly - Carl is more than happy to just spend his days washing dogs and clean the pens, but he's been stuck doing interviews and shelter donation pledges. "There's a big networking push of shelters between the imPort cities, and I'm the mascot."

"You're the mascot?" Daryl's eyebrows raised and he leaned back on his heels. "Ain't mascots supposed to be animals? Beavers or some shit?"

This world was getting weirder and weirder.

"Considering I've been stuck doing interviews and panels because I'm an imPort, I might as well be a mascot. My boss is big into using me as a way to get natives who are fans of imPorts into adopting animals. It's a good cause but . . . you know, I'm not big into that PR stuff."

Carl shrugs. It's an annoyance, but he rather deal with animals than people. More so than usual. "It's better than my first job. As magazine distributor."

That sounded more like a spokesman than a mascot to Daryl, but hell, what did he know? He'd never really dealt with city living even before everything when to shit. Got most of his expectations from what he saw on the TV.

"Why don't you ask him to pick someone else? If you don't like it, you ain't gotta do it."

Daryl shifted his body to put his back to someone he saw coming up in his peripheral who looked like they were trying to angle and get Carl's attention. A glare tossed over his shoulder had the person backing up and shutting their mouth, swallowing whatever they were planning on saying a second ago. Attention back on Carl, he gestured for the kid to lead the way and lead them some place a little less public maybe. All this attention was getting on his nerves.

Carl follows Daryl to a more secluded corner of the street, further away from the crowds.

"She. And I dunno. She's just trying to keep the shelter afloat. If there's an imPort with a growing fanbase and he's working in a shelter that runs a very high risk of being overrun and be forced to put down animals faster than people can adopt them . . ."

Carl shrugs. "I do wish she puts other people in the spotlight for once and let me wash some old dog, but I do get it. It's just tiring, that's all." Mainly because, despite the kitten sweaters and the sweet temperament his boss has, Carl can tell its a cynical move on her part - to use imPort's current favorability to help shelters abroad.

"She," he corrected himself, though after the explanation, Daryl could sympathize a little with her reasoning and why Carl wasn't objecting. Didn't make it right, but he certainly understood it. World here wasn't like how it was in their world. Animals weren't largely left to roam freely and become feral again. Those few left around Alexandria were valued and loved and Daryl couldn't blame anyone for wanting that semblance of normalcy. But here, it was just like it used to be, in the world that was. Humans occupying too much space and killing anything that didn't fit in with them.

"Maybe we should find a place for the family with a big yard, some woods, and just take 'em all there," Daryl suggested. And no, he wasn't joking. "Always wanted a dog."

"Sounds like fun. I already adopted a puppy, although an apartment is not going to be big enough for very long. Dad and I been saving up money for a place of our own." Hunting dogs need a yard to run around in. And Dad's not particularly happy about that puppy either. But Dad needs a dog, considering what has happened in these past few months.

Daryl's face lit up at the confession, though he tried pretty desperately to hide his excitement. The family already had a dog at home? Hell yeah.

"It got a name already?"

"Yeah. Enid named him Tommy, since I named her cat Timid Timmy. If you get to see her cat, you'll get to see why it's such a good name."

Carl can see his face being lit up. Daryl might like Tommy, being a English Springer Spaniel. There's a saying that dogs take up their owner's appearance, and it goes doubly for Tommy and Carl. He wonders what kind of dog Daryl likes to get, when he eventually settles down.

Jokes on Carl, Daryl would get all the dogs. Especially the bedraggled, so-called ugly ones. He'd just fill up the house with dogs and let them have free reign. ~~Do not let Daryl get any dogs, Carl.~~

"You got a cat running around the house, too? Must drive your daddy crazy."

~~Daryl we got one dog-napper already don't give him competition~~"Oh, no. We live in Xavier's, and they got these dormitories. Enid's got her own, Dad and I live in one of the bigger ones. But we live on the same floor. The school's a big place."

An idea strikes Carl.

"I can see you being a teacher there. You can teach Survival 101. Best class to take."

~~It ain't napping if he brings strays in off the streets. That's called 'rescuing.'~~

Daryl pulls back, smile turning upside down in 0 seconds flat. He's sure that's got to be a joke. After a long moment of eyeing Carl, Daryl's shoulders relaxed and he ducked his head, turning away even as he flicked his eyes over nervously and scoffed, "Stop."

Just because he was smiling didn't mean he was in the mood to be messed with and the idea that Carl could be serious was ludicrous. It just left him feeling more than a little flustered and he hated feeling that way.

Carl's half-joking, half serious. While Carl has no doubts that Daryl would probably not be the best material for teaching anyone anything, it's surely better than the crappy job that Daryl would be placed in where he will be miserable. And eventually he will deal with a moment where he will be tempted to reach for a knife who even looks at him wrong. Carl knows the struggle all too well. It's a miracle Carl hasn't stabbed someone during his time as a magazine distributor.

"Joking aside, if you don't feel comfortable with the job you've been assigned, then you don't have to take it. The government won't throw a fit if you do, and if you Registered, you'll have an easier time to get another one. That teaching idea - well, if you work at Xavier's, you don't have to deal with the natives crowding around you during work hours, and you'll probably have a better chance of adjusting when with us - " Meaning Enid, Carl, and Rick. " - around. It doesn't even have to be teaching either."

Is Carl pushing Daryl to stay close them? Why yes. Carl didn't push as hard with Enid because, well, it's Enid. Daryl, on the other hand - he's been with Carl since the beginning of the end. And Carl doesn't want Daryl to endure what Carl endured in his first months - relearning how to live in civilization, afraid, and uncomfortable with the curious crowds around him. "It will get rough in the first few months. I know. Dad struggled. I know Enid did but she'll never admit it."

"Haven't decided if I'm gonna register or not," he shrugged, keeping his voice low. Daryl made no comment on the whole living with Carl and Rick thing because as far as he was concerned, there wasn't any question that he would. He saw no reason not to keep the house the government assigned, him however. It would made a good place to hoard supplies in case anything like what happened in their world happened in this one. To the point that things couldn't be bounced back from.

"Doesn't seem like a bad deal, though," he went on, tone questioning. He'd never really trusted cops back before, but that didn't mean he hadn't had trust in the government over all. It was what kept the country running and kept a lot of folks out of his family's business or looking the other way. The laws and what they could exploit of them.

"Yeah. It's up to you, obviously." Carl nods. "I registered because I didn't have anyone at the time and I needed the extra cash. Dad hasn't registered, but that means he can't use the Porter without some extra scrutiny, but I can hop between cities when I need to."

There are good reasons to register and good reasons not to register, but in the end, it's something the government rigged up into making some separation between imPorts.

"You think I should?" This time he asked outright since Carl hadn't quite answered his question. He wasn't really looking for a 'make up your own damn mind on it', but rather an firm yes or no. Rick not registering didn't mean Daryl wouldn't as well, but he trusted Rick. He also trusted Carl and Carl had been there longer. A week to figure out if it was worth signing his life away to some pencil pushers wasn't much time, after all.

"You're automatically registered for now until the next Swear-In, so it's not like you need to make your choice right on the dot. A lot of imPorts like me registered mostly for the perks and extra cash, but others don't registered because they are afraid we'll just be drafted into their military and fight for the government against our will. With what happened with Russia recently, that's a good enough reason not to do it. " Carl will still fight Russia either way, as he finds Russia to be more dangerous than the Americans. He doesn't forgive the kidnapping and imprisonment, and later attempts at brainwashing and torture.

But then again, these past few months have made Carl a list of things he doesn't forgive.

"Anyway, a lot of people registered for a while and then unregister later. No harm in changing your mind."

So far, anyway.

Russia again. That prick earlier had mentioned it.

"What happened in Russia?" Not with, in. "You and that asshole, Lucifer. Ran into him earlier and he wouldn't tell me where to find you."

Carl's expression darkens. "Don't go near him. He's the literal Devil. Don't give him anything, and don't take any deals from him."

He looks around, as if worrying Lucifer will swoop in. "The Russians made a computer that managed to kidnap over fifty imPorts. Me and him included. They took us inside a prison cell, fifty people cramped. Everyone's powers were nullified, so not even the Devil can escape. Me and a friend made shivs -" - out of human bone - "in getting ready for a prison riot.

"Lucifer and I worked together to escape. But don't make any mistake - if I refused to work with him, he would've made things a whole lot worst."

Carl looks at Daryl, his expression dark. With the loss of his eye, his expression grim, Carl doesn't look quite the same. Not with the bitterness and anger lacing his voice. While still angry at the Russians, he's actually more angry at his fellow imPorts for what they did to Dad. "Not that it matters in the end. The whole kidnapping thing, it was all a big distraction. While everyone and the American military were out to find and rescue us, the Russians used their own moles to make a coup. Overthrew all the imPort cities, and strapped us down in chairs to watch videos. Trying to brainwash us into being their perfect little killing machines."

Carl scoffs and folds his arms. "They failed. They paid the price for going after us, and more."

The tone of his voice bellies the implication there is more than that. But Carl is not sure if he can tell Daryl on his first day on how Dad was murdered by one of Carl's friends.

Well that made Daryl feel more validated in his instant dislike of the man. He'd make sure to avoid the fucker, and if he couldn't, be as short as possible with him.

He could tell there was a lot of details missing from what Carl was saying. It was beyond obvious and not just because of how long he'd known the kid. But the group had a way about them. If one of them didn't give certain details, prying it out of them would be pointless. It was better to take what they said at face value in the moment and let them come out with the rest in their own time. It would if it needed to. And if it didn't, there were better times and places to try and push for more.

"That's what the people in Heropa were getting themselves worked up over," Daryl decided to go with instead of more direct probing. The weird hushed conversations about the imPorts not being able to protect them and the disgruntled looks. As if it were their obligation just because they got unlucky - or lucky - enough to be dropped in this world's collective laps.

"You did good," he said after another moment. "You made them pay, you got them out, even if you dealt with that asshole" - who he in no way believed was the 'real' Devil because hell, that meant there had to be a God, didn't it? And they'd been through too much for him to believe that line of crap anymore, even if Maggie and a few others still did - "you did good. Did what you had to."

And then, just a little quieter, because it was the read he was getting, "You ain't gotta be ashamed of it. If you are."

HE TOLD ME SEVERAL TIMES THAT HE DIDN'T LIKE MY KIND

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