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

[thefatherssins]

[Kou isn't your version of meditation usually hitting punching bags while shirtless? You are not the most natural choice for this job.]

Hmm, that's a good benefit. [He chuckles a bit.] Haven't had to think about that for a long time.

[psychofailed]

[Or smoking like a chimney, which he definitely shouldn't be passing on to the Impressionable Youth.]

...Damn, it must be close to twenty years for you, right?

[It's only been three for him and the idea of having options is incredible and overwhelming already.

Of course, that line of thinking leads him right back to the uncomfortable place of wondering how Masaoka feels about...everything here.]

Do you...do you think you'll go back? To law enforcement.

[thefatherssins]

[In an odd way, he hasn't even thought about it. He's thought about other things, luxuriated in walking down the street to choose a restaurant. Dreamed about setting himself up to sketch or even paint en plein air once he can get supplies.

But his job? Law enforcement had dictated his entire life. Wanting to be a detective, becoming a detective, sinking into the life of an Enforcer. Even when he hand't been sure what he was doing the job for, he'd given himself over to it. It was molded into him. Telling him he could have a new job was like telling him he could have a new body. Maybe it would be for the better, but to him the change was too enormous to contemplate.

What other use was there for a latent criminal, anyway? The Sybil System may not be here, but they must have ways of judging imPorts. And controlling them.

He stretches his left arm out in front of himself, vacantly watching the light shift across the metal.]

I don't know.

[And then, because this is Kou, and Kou will understand-] I don't know what else I could do. [He smiles wryly, like it's a joke.]

[psychofailed]

[He understands better than most, in a way, but he also doesn't entirely understand, because unlike Masaoka, Kogami never managed to find the peace the elder Enforcer did; settled into acceptance of his new lot in life, sure, but where Masaoka was able confront his demons to stabilize his Hue, the source of Kogami's decline is still out there.

It's what keeps him from allowing himself to see this world as anything other than a forced hiatus, an unwilling pit stop. It's why he hasn't been able to bring himself to give up his terrible job and find something he was better suited to.]

...There's always keeping whatever they gave you. Getting money just for showing up isn't a bad deal.

[--is what he says, but of course, he wouldn't have asked if it was as simple of that. Some part of him is burning to know, more than if Masaoka would go back to law enforcement, if he wants to go back to this kind of law enforcement, if he's tempted at all by the thought.

It's different with the others--Kagari, who had never known life outside a cage at all before this world, or Tsunemori, who'd never seen the inside with them (and he hopes she never does). Masaoka, though, he'd been through it all. Been a regular detective, been an Inspector, and finally an Enforcer. He has enough experiences under his belt to make an informed comparison.

and Kogami, of course, is torn on the knife's edge of that--does he want to know, or is it safer to stay in the dark, to protect himself from any unacceptable directions Masaoka's answer could send his thoughts in?]