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

[psychofailed]

...Right.

[He has a strong feeling Gino is Not Actually Okay with it but doing one of those "can't show weakness to an Enforcer" sort of things and as much as Kogami would've really preferred a straight answer so he could figure something out, he lets it go. It's been up to Gino to set the tone of whatever relationship they have left these days, and it's no different in this new world.]

To be honest, it's a mess.

[He doesn't even need his hue powers to tell how stressed out and on edge the local population is around here, and he shudders to think how bad their Crime Coefficients are....with people able just commit muggings and the like in broad daylight, he suspects that if the Dominators were here, half the goddamn city would be dead.]

Be on your guard if you need to go out at night, and it's better to stick to the main streets in general.

[hitsujikai]

[ His eyebrows raise at that, and he turns his head to look at Kogami. Sure, the place didn't look anything like the setting he was used to, but besides the absence of environment holo and obvious architectural differences it didn't look all that bad in the brochure pictures. But then, he supposed, those pictures were intended to sell it, weren't they? But... it was bad enough to set Kogami on edge? That was... worrying. ]

I see. Thanks for the warning. [ He looks visibly uncomfortable again. ]

[psychofailed]

[Yeah, Kogami doesn't really have any better news for you, Gino. Maurtia Falls is kind of like those abandoned areas in Japan that get taken over by the homeless and form their own social structures inside. Of course, there are laws, even a police station, but for the most part people don't seem to care about that very much. Sticking to the main streets and establishments that appear more or less upscale is safe enough, but even then sometimes there's muggings and drug deals and the like right out in the public eye.]

There isn't much of a stress care industry at all, here. Access to services in general relies on having health insurance or paying out of pocket, which is a large problem in this country, from what I've been reading. Maurtia Falls seems to have it the worst of the Porter cities in that respect.

[They're reaching the housing block now, which is convenient, since they're reaching the part of the conversation he's been putting off. He digs out the keys from his pocket as they reach #006, and as he puts it in the lock and holds open the door, he takes a deep breath, exhales, and adds--]

...Speaking of all that, there's something I need to tell you.

[hitsujikai]

I noticed. [ Just walking down the street was enough to tell him that much. He didn't need a Dominator to tell him the people in this world were a mess with uncontrolled, untreated emotions that persistently got the better of them... not with his new ability at least. He'd heard them, all of them, chattering between his ears. ]

I did a few searches myself on the way over, but I wasn't sure what the facts were.

[ Rehabilitation Centres cost in their world too, of course, but it's nothing compared to the horror stories he's read. He makes his way inside when invited, giving the building a general once over as he does so. There's nothing to sniff at, really; it's a decent place to live. ]

Oh? [ He turns, mildly curious. ] What is it?

[psychofailed]

[He's a little nervous, honestly. This is something that will matter to Gino more than any of the others. And that makes Kogami debate whether or not he should even say anything, if he should hide this truth from his old friend for his own good. But...he's not sure he could look Gino in the eye and see that Hue every day without telling him. Kogami's not habitually a liar. It doesn't come naturally to him, outside of when necessary to obtain information in a case. And if Gino ever found out, he's pretty sure the other detective would see it as a betrayal much worse than having become a latent criminal. And Kogami would be inclined to agree with him.]

...You've read through your file, right? So you know how we all have "superpowers" now.

[He's stalling a little bit, but also because he wants to have this discussion in his room instead of in a common area where Yuri might overhear and leave them having to make very longass explanations that are always reacted to with horror or at least dismay and while Kogami can usually just deal with that, he feels like Gino having to on his first day would set him off badly.]

[hitsujikai]

Of course.. [ Gino settles himself with his arms folded, fixing Kogami with a stare befitting a superior, but with an ounce of consideration that almost makes the expression concerned. Gino may not be the detective that Kogami is, but even without his new power he can still read people reasonably well. Kogami looks troubled, and for a moment Gino is reminded of a much younger Kogami; a man with much less bristle, mindful of the things he said and careful with their execution. He's struggling to tell Gino something, and if Kogami isn't just barking it out then it must be serious. Is he.. concerned about him? ]

It's fine, I'll manage it. [ He says, his folded arms tightening just the smallest amount, barely noticeable. He's not used to having powers, and obviously that struggle must show on his face as clear as a telltale scent to Kogami. ]

[psychofailed]

--What?

[That's so far from what he was getting at that Kogami looks legitimately confused, but after a moment or two to put it together, it clicks. If Gino's getting defensive about it already, that must mean he's really worried about whatever he has. So that's something else to talk about, and hopefully something Tsunemori can help with; he's so incredibly unqualified to give anyone advice on this topic, and at least she is the healthiest of all them.

He shakes his head as they go up the stairs. Luckily, his room isn't too far from the landing.]

No, that's not...what I was getting at.

[He sighs. It's now or never, right? His hand hovers on the door handle for a moment before he pushes it open and lets Gino inside.

...The room smells heavily of smoke, so he turns to open a window for Gino. It'll be easier if he doesn't have to see him react, right?]

I...I can see hues.

[Window open, he sits down on the bed, lighting up a cigarette. He'd offer Gino one for this situation, honestly, if he thought the other man would even consider it.]

I don't know how accurate they are, or how it's even supposed to work without a supercomputer network, but...

[hitsujikai]

You can see...

[ Gino starts, and then pauses as the words fully hit him, and he realises why Kogami had been so apprehensive before. Kogami was well aware of how the state of Gino's hue had always weighed on his mind, and even though he hadn't talked about his recent problems in great detail there is no escaping the reality of the situation now that Kogami can see exactly how Gino's hue had been slipping even before whatever damage this world has done. The most frustrating part of it all is that Gino doesn't have a clue. He doesn't have his Hue Tracker, can't check up on his records with his therapist... Really, he should be relieved; if his hue slipped any more than it had before he left he'd be a cause for concern for the MWPSB and would probably be facing sanctioning by now... but relief is the furthest thing from what he feels.

It takes him a long moment to speak up, and when he does he says probably the last thing Kogami wants to hear, and the last thing Gino wants to say, but nevertheless it slips out. ]

What color is it?

gonna go with the color from last time!

[psychofailed]

[He expected that question, of course, but he hesitates.

It's not...terrible. But it's not good, either. This would probably be around the time Gino would be Strongly Recommended to take a leave of absence to clear things up, just in case. You know, those recommendations Kogami ignored to end up where he is now. Ha ha ha.

Gino would obviously want to know, but some part of him doesn't want to tell him. Just because he knows once he opens that floodgate, Gino is going to obsess over it. Without a Crime Coefficient, the color is going to be everything, and the slightest uptick will make him stress out even further.

He's again half tempted to lie, to pick some innocuous middle-ground color that Gino would accept as denoting stability, maybe a nice turquoise or aqua....it'd spare his feelings, wouldn't it? And if it did get really bad he could still tell him, this way...

If only the thought of it didn't make him feel so guilty. Goddamn it.]

...Royal blue.

[...]

But like I said, I'm not Sibyl. It's not absolute. Hell, I can't even see mine.

good with me! (or not, as the case may be)

[hitsujikai]

[ He exhales. Royal blue.

Even now he isn't quite sure what he'd been expecting - he hadn't felt relaxed or at ease once since he'd arrived so it was bound to be at least a little clouded, but some hopeful part of him had been certain it wouldn't be that bad. Royal blue was a problem.

He doesn't look away, and instead watches Kogami closely. He isn't as talented as the other man; he can't peek into Kogami's head by reading the way his fingers sit around his cigarette or the way in which he blinks or swallows.. but for the most part he can tell when Kogami is lying, and knows that Kogami wouldn't. Not now, not about this.

Something would have to be done. ]

How does it work? [ He asks, his voice like a bark in the silence that had fallen between them. ] Do you see it like you're holding a Dominator, or is it more like an aura?