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

[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, 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!

Comments

[ghemnotgem]

( she raises one eyebrow and a hand to stop him. )

Are you prepared to give information worth those answers?

[dendarii]

Er - yes? I suppose that's fair.

[ghemnotgem]

A vase, because that's what Ivan Xav brought to have shipped to Barrayar when I was working on Komarr. He wanted to meet me, and a friend of his set it up. Not for the reason you're thinking.

( they'll start small, and work up to the more valuable, more important information. )

[dendarii]

... I admit I made some assumptions just now, yes. What other reason could there be?

[ghemnotgem]

( not so fast, miles. that ties into her other answers and it's her turn now. )

Why bother adopting a Betan accent, if neither Barrayar nor Beta Colony have been founded yet?

[dendarii]

[ Right, right. He doesn't mind answering questions, truly; he's just so damn curious. ]

Because Barrayaran sounds similar to Russian, and Russia is a country that the United States is currently at war with. And besides, it was part of my cover.

[ghemnotgem]

Because that friend of Ivan Xav's told him to, in order to get myself out of my apartment so his local hired cappers would find an empty residence.

( her fingers drum on the back of her phone thoughtfully. )

Cover?

[dendarii]

[ Miles holds up a hand to that one. Even with it busted ... It's a valuable piece of information for a Jacksonian. He doesn't want Admiral Naismith sold to the highest bidder. Or Cetaganda. ]

That is worth far more than mere curiosity, I'm afraid. ... And I'm not sure I know what a capper is.

[ghemnotgem]

A hired killer. ( she can respect that, and nods her head slightly in his direction. ) Then you'll have to accept the fact that I cannot, and will not, tell you the whole story of how I married Ivan Xav.

( because that information is worth -- if not her life -- then more than this simple exchange. )

[dendarii]

Ah, an assassin. Duly noted.

[ Dammit, he really wants that story now ... Is it really worth telling a Jacksonian about Admiral Naismith? Will it really matter in the end? Surely any remotely intelligent Cetagandan could piece it together from the network... ]

All right, then that'll be our trade. I'll tell you about my alternate self in exchange for that unabridged story. Agreed?

[ghemnotgem]

Agreed.

( tej contemplates this, trying to figure out where to start. )

House Cordonah has, very recently, experienced a change in leadership. My sister and I, fearing for our lives, fled and found ourselves stranded on Komarr as we attempted to make our way to Escobar in hopes of hearing news about our brother and the rest of our family. Byerly Vorrutyer had ( hm. his secret is not her's to give away, even in this, so tej gives miles a small, apologetic look. ) some idea that we were in trouble, and sent Ivan Xav to intercept in the hopes he could-- well, I'm not sure what exactly he was hoping for.

( that's still kind of a blur, but tej nods. the first half of her story, in exchange for however much miles is willing to give of his before she finishes. )

[dendarii]

[ He will, he will, he swears . But he can't listen to a tale like that without asking a few questions. ]

Wait - Ivan was on Komarr?

[ghemnotgem]

Oh yes, he's attached to a General for some sort of review, I think? Not of him -- he's just a Captain, you know.

( very middling. but somehow tej finds that appealing; it's nice to be around someone who doesn't reek of competitiveness like her siblings and the rest of jackson's whole. )

[dendarii]

[ Now he's definitely jealous. Married and a captain, what the hell is this world coming to. ]

Just a captain. Of course. I'm going to have his head for not telling me.

[ghemnotgem]

( there's something about the way he says that, that grabs tej's interest. her face blossoms with fresh hope. )

Is he here? And Byerly?

( she might not be able to have her family here, if she's the only jacksonian, but-- ivan xav and byerly. not that she trusts the smaller man, but what was it that ivan xav had said? that his loyalty to the imperium was trustworthy. it would do, and he knew her secret and she his. )

[dendarii]

Byerly, no. Thank god for that. But Ivan is here for sure - I'd be happy to take you to him afterwards.

[ After they both finish getting the info they want, anyway. Miles is still wildly curious. ]

[ghemnotgem]

Thank you. ( a small nod of her head. ) And your part of the Deal?

( she prompts, not as curious as miles is about her but definitely interested. )

[dendarii]

Right, right ... I don't suppose you've ever heard of Admiral Naismith? Of the Dendarii Free Mercenary Fleet?

[ghemnotgem]

There was that business with Barons Fell and Ryoval, and the Cetagadans had quite a substantial amount of money on a hit for the Admiral.

( that's what he was asking after, wasn't it? )

[dendarii]

[ Uh. Well. Sort of. He just stares for a moment, kind of impressed with himself. ]

The Cetagandans had a bounty on my head? Well, after Vervain ...

[ghemnotgem]

As I understand it, it was a response to several successful operations to halt their expansion attempts-- your head?

( that certainly wasn't in his file )

[dendarii]

[ Now he's definitely awed. And delighted? And terrified. Some mix of all of the above. ]

Dear god ... I only know about the one so far. [ And then, to answer her question: ] Yes, my head. I am Admiral Naismith.

[ghemnotgem]

( she can smell the fear, the small rush of excitement. how very different he is from ivan xav, her middling temporary husband. )

They called the hit off-- five? Six years ago.

( so he's safe now, should anyone find out. but satisfied with his half, tej continues. )

My sister is valuable to the House that took us over; you'd understand if you could see her. They would display her as a sign of their victory. I am just a loose end, likely to end up dead as soon as I returned home. ( her life is valuable to the right buyer, like his. he has enough to condemn her without her name: her description, the fact she's a jacksonian running for her life. he doesn't need her full name to sell her out if he wanted to. ) Ivan Xav had hidden us in his apartment after the first break in of our place, in the hopes it would keep us safe. But through -- circumstances out of our control ( as a result of byerly's first scheme, among others ) the local police thought Ivan Xav had kidnapped us, and Komarran Immigration Services were onto us. We were running out of options. Rish and I had decided to throw ourselves off the balcony of his apartment to prevent them from taking us and eventually ending up in the hands of the people we were trying to flee.

( tej decides to leave out the kiss she'd given ivan xav as an apology. )

Anyway, Ivan Xav realized that marrying him would give me protection from Immigration, and he said that it would put ImpSec on our side as well. ( though he hadn't explained how or why. ) He hired Rish to give her protection as well, and we could get a divorce as soon as we got to Barrayar. So-- ( she gestures, palm out in a sweeping gesture. )

That's how I became Lady Tej Vorpatril.

[dendarii]

[ There are two things to react to here, and - dear god he's not sure how to respond to the first, so he tries the latter instead. ]

Temporarily so. Well. Ivan would be crazy to let you go if he had the opportunity, but I'm assuming that you have much better prospects than him.

[ And now ... circling back to the first one: ]

How old is he?

[ghemnotgem]

Oh yes. ( her head falls, fingers suddenly becoming very interesting indeed. her marriage prospects -- rish would want her to go with someone who had better connections than ivan xav. any surviving member of her family would want her to marry someone who had money, something they could use. it was so tiring after a while. it's with a sigh that she answers: ) Better prospects are required.

( but that question is easier to answer. )

Mid-thirties, I think.