etcelsior | 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

3. Maurtia Falls

Any normal person would have ducked out of the rain quickly and found a place to wait out the downpour. Kaworu Nagisa is not a normal person. He knows he's not supposed to stand around in the rain, of course, but rather than just finding a place and waiting, his answer is to pop his head into the nearest sketchy commercial business with an OPEN sign, grey-white hair shedding water in torrents, and ask

"Do you sell umbrellas?"

...Kaworu, this place is probably a bar.

4. Nonah

There's a lot of Lilim culture Kaworu has no experience with, so it's probably no surprise he's got no idea what baseball is. Competitive spots in general are a mystery to him--a fascinating one. He can tell there are rules to the game, but it's impossible for him to figure out what they are--it's like watching a play written and performed in another language.

Unfortunately--or fortunately, if you're so inclined to be that way--he stands out as an imPort pretty clearly.

Which is how he ends up holding a baseball in one hand, regarding the opposing batter intently with bright red eyes.

"So I just throw this at him?"

Shinji finally looks up, removing his face from his hands. He thought taking Kaworu to the game would be a good exposure to things like "crowds" and "obnoxious sports fans" for him. He didn't expect the umpire to actually invite the Angel over to be involved. Now the embarrassment has started, and it's not going to stop. Ever.

"Yes!" Shinji stands and yells from his "spot of honor" in the dugout. He didn't get to pitch. Of course not. instead he was gifted with a front row seat to the incoming horror. "I mean, not directly at him! Don't hit him with it! Just...toss it in his general area!" He stops coaching as he notices the team and the crowd all staring at him at once, slowly sinking back onto the bench and trying to curl into as much of a ball as he can possibly get away with.

"Please just don't hit him with it." He mumbles

Shinji's bravery in the dugout is one of those mundane acts of heroism that will go overlooked by the common man. Which is to say, he might have sacrificed some of his dignity for it, but his outburst just now (or at least his familiarity with Kaworu Nagisa) has definitely saved the unsuspecting batter from receiving a baseball directly to the face.

And that's got to be worth something, right?

Well, maybe not.

"--what?" Kaworu looks at the ball again, a little more uncertain. "... but where should I throw it, then?" There aren't a lot of other options, Shinji.

He wants to do this right. He really wants to do this right. But things are quickly becoming too confusing. No--he's just going to get rid of this ball and be done with it.

Which is why he pitches--well, not for the face, at least.

Whether or not the five-ounce ball sails dramatically over the head of the batter and out of sight is another matter entirely.

There it goes. Shinji's expression brightens once he realizes the ball isn't going to murder this batter in front of a live crowd, and then falls once he sees that it's. Still going.

And going.

And gone.

His eyes follow it over the edge of the stadium wall, his mouth hanging agape until his brain processes what's happening. All eyes are on Kaworu now, for better or for worse. No, definitely worse.

Shinji's jaw clamps shut as his head falls into his hands. He mumbles under his breath. "Well, now we can never go out in public ever again."

Kaworu watches the ball sail out of the park with the same sort of interest most people would reserve for, say, seeing a car of unusual colour zip past.

But if he even notices any part of the response to what he's done... well, it has very, very little impact on his handling of it. He only glances at Shinji for a moment, blinks, and then looks back at the umpire.

Smiling.

"...you might need a new ball."

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

Kaworu Nagisa | Neon Genesis Evangelion

4.

Pchooooooooooo I'm so tired this is probably too silly lol

there is no "too silly" there is only perfection

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