AIN'T NOBODY FRESHER THAN MY CLIQUE

[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

[pesticide]

We are not liking them?

( apparently that's settled then. not that she's impressionable or anything, but she does almost immediately dump the board off of her table. ) I can walk.

[oves]

[ She seriously didn't know what she was expecting, but getting answers from the clones Beth had asked to keep tabs on wasn't it. Then again, if the Neos weren't here...maybe it was a good thing they were all reaching out. Maybe. She's not convinced yet. ]

Thank you.

[ Her words are slow, measured. Cautious. The mask stays on. ]

I like your hair. [ A compliment for a compliment. ]

[oves]

Sarah.

[ The new information makes everything else click. Of course Sarah wouldn't know better than to tell others about her, of course. She has to wonder how they have managed to survive all this time. ]

How much do you know?

[ The tension is palpable, but Mika straightens a bit. Shes equal parts curious and cautious. ]

[coppelganger]

It's good to see you, too. [ And it is, really, because if Helena is here, at least Sarah doesn't need to worry about what she might be getting up to back home.

That hoverboard, though. ]

Yeah. Uh, maybe you should use a helmet, though, eh? [ She can't help being the Mom Friend Sestra sometimes. ]

[oves]

[ It's a good thing that Mika put the glass down before Alison touches her, but cause she all but jolts out of her seat when she feels a hand on her shoulder.

She then stares at Alison with glassy eyes, panic slowly melting away as she catches her breath. ]

Yeah, we are. [ She leans on her seat, unaware her hair has parted some more, revealing part of her burns. She has a strict policy of keeping her sisters away from her, mostly because Mika believes they are all safer when they're separated, but this is a new place. New rules? Maybe. ]

Please don't touch me without telling me. [ She mutters, looking down. She's weird, she knows. ]

[newwaver]

Not if we want to stay in one piece. Or at least keep everyone else in one piece.

[He didn't expect her to dump it quite so quickly though.]

You realise you could probably just return it though? You don't have to throw it away.

[oves]

[ Now she removes the mask, face twisted in confusion. ]

No, Ferdinand Chevalier.

[ Her voice goes thick with hatred just by saying his name, but concern takes its place quickly enough. ]

Do you not remember?

[oves]

[ She's supposed to be the one in the shadows, after all. And she didn't pick a sheep as her mask to go out and fight crime, precisely. ]

Yes, it is. [ Four clones. It reminds her of "Clone Anonymous", which is a happy and sad thought at the same time. ]

Is everyone... safe?

[subourbon]

[Thankfully she does.]

Just stay put and I'll be there to pick you up in jiffy, okay?

[Alison still doesn't like the idea of Helena alone in public, especially not here with all the imPort fanatics and media around.]

Maurtia Falls

[tactical_lalafel]

[Malms, being a very small person himself, is splashed up to the knees (his main protection against the rain being a hat that extends out past his shoulders), but he smiles reassuringly at the child.]

It's all right, don't worry about it! I can dry myself off easily enough. Would you step back a bit, please?

[When Frisk does, there's a bit of a 'woomph' and a flash of fiery light, and the black mage's clothes are dry.] See? All taken care of.

No Matter The City

[morethan084]

[Being a computer nerd herself, Daisy notices that the girl is clearly up to something.

Well, it's not like she had anything else to do right now.]

What are you trying to look for? Or who?

[oves]

[ Mika shirks away, looking at Daisy with wary eyes for a moment. When she feels no animosity coming her way, she looks again at the screen. Then at Daisy. Then at the screen.

God, she's not leaving. ]

Information. [ Just one word, but her accent is pretty obvious. ] Any kind.

[subourbon]

[Alison flinches just the smallest amount when she sees the burns, but smooths it over quickly. She's a suburbanite, she knows better than to comment on something like that unless she's actively trying to publicly embarrass someone. She nods to acknowledge this new clone's request and points at the open seat.]

May I sit down, at least?

[morethan084]

[Daisy noticed immediately that she had made her uncomfortable, sos he backs off a little bit.]

Are you new here?

[magnitudes]

Oh, Jesus H. fucking Christ on a bleeding fucking pogo stick. Fuck. Seriously?

( Somehow that all sounded really resigned, rather than venemous. Not sure how it works out that way, it's just science. )

Peachy. ( Sounds like: why this. ) I don't know what a sez... seztro? I don't know what that means. But I guess you're...

( One of the cool kids? Whatever she's just going to take the pretzels. )

[coppelganger]

[ Ah. This is why she hates all the time travel bullshit. It only confuses everyone. ]

No, but I guess this means I'll be seeing that arsehole again at some point in my future.

[ And that MK will be running off, again, when it happens. ]

mautrita falls

[morethan084]

[Apparently this is what she gets for just offering an umbrella to a stranger. Daisy was quick to respond by twisting her arm and bringing her elbow down to release the woman's grip on her wrist.]

Shit!

I was just going to offer you an umbrella.

Malms Vovokosi | FF14 OC

[tactical_lalafel]

02

[Sitting at a table outside a cafe, nursing what the waitress called 'Dr. Pepper' and working his way through a sandwich the size of his head, Malms tries not to flinch too obviously when people point some strange piece of magi- no, they call it 'technology' here, at him. Just because everything Allag and Garlemand build seems designed to destroy something doesn't mean that's the case here.

He eyes a group of children, clustered outside the cafe's fenced patio, trying (and failing) to look inconspicuous as they stare at the tiny imPort. Smiling, he waves to them.]

Hello! You don't need to hide, unless you think the waitress is going to kick you out.

03

[Malms sits perched on a phone book balanced on one of the stools in a bar that reminded him uncomfortably of the Coffer & Coffin the night after the Sultana's poisoning, wondering how to get out of the situation without having to light someone on fire.

He'd come in here to get out of the rain, and had almost been kicked right back out before the bouncer had seen the glow of the imPort mark on his wrist. Now, the barkeep was pointedly ignoring him after overcharging him for a frankly mediocre beer, and the group around the pool table was whispering in that way groups of people did when working their way up to something stupid. Sighing inwardly, he lets his hand rest on Stardust, its anima flaring to life as aether flows between them.]

Please don't. Fire magic is tricky in the rain, and the conjurers tell me steam burns are hard to heal.

[He wishes he could make his voice sound more menacing, but back home he hadn't really needed to anymore...]

04

[tactical_lalafel]

[Malms, standing three feet tall on his tiptoes, looks up (and up) at the man offering him a club almost as long as he is tall.]

...you're kidding, right?

Re: Numbuh Four | Codename Kids Next Door

[tactical_lalafel]

[As the gang advances on Numbuh 4, there's a wave of power, a sparkly sort of sound, and suddenly all five of the men are slumping to the ground as a tiny person in a green coat comes running up.]

Come on, the spell won't last long, and they'll probably be angry when they wake up. Let's go!

Maurtia Falls

[notsheepish]

Uh...

[Ruby freezes, looking surprised but not particularly intimidated to be honest. There's a pause wherein she is likely reconsidering the suggestion she once received to move to another city because of the crime rates in this one though.]

Look, if you're trying to rob me, I've only got like 4 bucks and a coupon for an ice cream cone on me.

[pejoratives]

( The thing is that she's gotten used to liars. She's gotten used to the people she put all the faith she had into turning out to be liars. Terminus turned out to be a pack of cannibals. Eugene turned out not to be a doctor, let alone some super scientist with a way to fix the world. Even the honest people wound up being made liars - Michonne said Maggie's sister (Beth, her mind supplies) was alive, but she was dead by the time Rosita made her acquaintance.

People lie. In her world, the results are never safe. Never survivable. ) I said walk, not wallet.

( Punctuated with a jerk of her head— scram.

The woman's clean. She doesn't look like she's starving, and she's not concerned, and all of those things suggest that she is very dangerous, or has the potenetial to be. Rosita's still in the shirt that she's been living in since they left Georgia, and even if the storm beat out a lot of the sweat and the dirt, it can't wash away it all, and it can't change the feralness in how Rosita holds herself or the fear that knots in her gut even though she keeps it firmly in check. The next comes bitten out, crisp, for all that there's a gentle desperation in it because every second spent with someone from outside the group is a reminder that she is, for the first time in forever, alone. ) I mean it.

[notsheepish]

I don't know. I thought maybe that was step two.

[She makes a couple slow steps backward, hands held out to her sides, careful not to make any sudden movements. Ruby recognizes that kind of desperation, even if she doesn't know exactly where it's coming from.]

Are you... What's all this about? This isn't really the best place to be waving a gun around.

[oves]

I don't understand.

[ She knows about time travel, but it's fiction, right? ]

The future...?

[oves]

[ She needs a moment to calm down. The last time she touched a clone... well, Beth did a number on her. Mika nods faintly, letting her know she's welcome to sit. ]

I'm sorry, I'm- I'm not good with people. [ She then notices her uncovered face and hastly moves the hair back into place, eyes avoiding Alison all the while. ]

I wasn't expecting... you.