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etcelsior2014-04-25 05:34 pm
maskormods) wrote in etcelsior2014-04-25 05:34 pm
Entry tags:
throws thumbtack confetti everywhere
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 anyone's thread, either!
And remember to have fun!01. Your memory is hazy and you might feel increasingly frustrated or anxious, or maybe you're excited as soldiers march past, barely glimpsing you. One second you're somewhere underground, the next you're enveloped in blue light, and suddenly you find yourself directly under Flordia sun's bright and burning glare. A female soldier steps toward you with a wide smile on her face and directs you to a car, ready to debrief you. You realize you are not the only one, surrounded by equally confused or eager faces... and you're all sporting a digital tattoo on your wrist.
02. Welcome to Cape Canaveral, where the smell of the ocean is in the air and locals are more than pleased to see new imPorts roaming their streets. They wave, they cheer, they ask for pictures as politely as they can. The more inhuman you look, or if you're wearing a costume, the more likely locals are to approach. Hey, enjoy the moment! The popular malt shop is offering you a free drink if you need it.
03. The technology in this world is certainly something. The cars are clearly modeled after popular 50s cars, but they hover several feet above the ground as they drive down the street. There are digital jukeboxes in restaurants, motorcycles also hover through traffic, advertisements can be seen on a digital projector on the taller buildings. Even kids on skateboards appear to drift a safe ten feet off the ground while playing!
04. Wherever you are, you can hear the loud revving of an engine, distance at first before you finally see it: a hovercar bursting around the corner, going beyond the maximum speed limit and just barely making its sharp turn. It doesn't appear to be slowing down any time soon, not with two police cars trailing it... and uh oh. Those skateboarding kids don't have much time to get out of the way as the car comes speeding down the road. You've been brought here for a reason Hero — so you better act fast.
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[He doesn't trust this place. Of course he wouldn't. I don't either.
It's a little unnerving being this close to Erwin. If Armin's life weren't already chock full of completely unimaginable occurrences - today being a particular prize winner - he'd be in denial it's happening at all. He's probably below this man's notice, save for his connection to Eren and possibly Mikasa.
He admires the commander. There's an elegant straightforwardness about his plans, his ruthlessness. Sitting next to Erwin, drinking some sweet concoction and needing to take a moment not to completely collapse into a ball of nerves, he can't help but feel as if he's staring down a portrait of a sort of adult maturity he hasn't come anywhere near reaching.
Armin resolves to be even better than his best, so he might be worthy of this attention, however random it might be.]
I - I would like that, sir.
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[Erwin responded with a question, curious as to what Armin thought. He knew how he and Levi viewed this world with people who didn't live under fear, under the looming threat of extinction.
He's not surprised by Armin's answer, there are reasons the Survey Corps seems to attract a certain kinds of soldier.]
It's a true impressive sight to behold.
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[Armin stirs his drink with the straw, watching the cream melt into the frozen cream. What a curious thing to do - make a drink out of dairy, freeze it, and then place more milk on it. He's fairly sure it's making him ill, so he's leaving it alone for now, even as his tongue craves the sweetness.]
Their military has brought us here against our will for the purpose of recruitment. [Clothe it however you want, that's what they've done. 'Good guys' or not.] That is incredibly risky. It would have to have been born out of a serious belief that their way of life has been, or will be, threatened.
[Armin pauses, watching a girl close to his age perform tricks on her hovering skateboard on the sidewalk outside for some admiring friends.]
...I see people who are enjoying their day-to-day existence, speaking to each other in the way most people do, even if I don't understand all of their words. I see people who are content in imagining their existence is not fragile.
[It reminds him of Shiganshina. Armin didn't hold many people there in high opinion. But they hadn't deserved to die the way they did. Not even the children who routinely beat the shit out of him. They were only echoing what they knew. And now he is twice their age, and they are in the belly of a titan, or crushed beneath stone rubble.]
And yet that is a quality that needs to be protected.
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He didn't answer right away, listening to the sounds around them of people chattering in that carefree manner, enjoying the sunny day.]
Yes, it is and that is what we will do. Our mission to humanity remains the same here despite our new circumstances, Armin Arlert.
[No matter what vows they may make to any government, Erwin's priorities haven't changed. He was pleased that Armin had that same priority and after a moment his expression seems to relax just slightly, his shoulders less tense.]
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He has many questions - like where exactly their loyalties will lie - but this is hardly a secure location to get these things answered. So he settles with the expected response.]
Yes sir.
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[Erwin nods, satisfied with the answer. He will answer further questions once they are done here but for now, he's pleased that Armin seems to be in agreement.
He would caution Armin against the malt, the dairy isn't something that has been a good idea to consume in such a way but he figures that experience is the best lesson, they all have to learn the hard way.]
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How long have you been here?
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[Erwin watched Armin poke at the malt, it was something that they never would have had behind the Walls. Even if they can enjoy the luxuries of this place, Erwin never intends to take them for granted but he's can be a bit sympathetic.]
Perhaps you will be able to finish that later. [He said as he waved a waitress over to get a cup for the remainder of the malt]
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[Armin ducks his head a little, embarrassed he hadn't thought of that - even though there's no reason he would have - he hopes it isn't too obvious. There's so much to learn about this place - is that cup made of paper? They just hand out paper to put food in? Amazing. Bewildering. Once the waitress pours his remaining malt into the cut, Armin turns it around in his hands, marveling at it, its strange lid, its little straw.]
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[Erwin is understanding this time but they all have to be prepared for anything even without the presence of the Titans. The sooner they learn to navigate this new place, the better, there is little room for error in Erwin's view.]
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Yes. We are fortunate that the public seems to think well of our... arrival here. [ At least they're not dealing with a city full of people who think of them as leeches, though it's distinctly strange to Armin. They're outsiders, complete strangers to their way of life who are taking up resources, who might not even agree to be 'heroes' as they've been recruited to be. Armin takes his milkshake, thanking the waitress then sliding off the stool carefully.
His stomach makes a pretty unfortunate noise, but Armin's face remains neutral.]
I've heard there is quite a bit of information that is freely accessible.
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For the moment at least. [Erwin agreed, but his mouth was set in a hard line. He has his own issues with being called a hero here and he was aware that the public's opinion could, and most likely be, influenced by many variables outside their control. So like back home, they could cheer or boo, it would be the same to him so long as no one interfered.]
Yes, you will find many more books containing information on history, geography, and a great deal more subjects. There seems to be little fear of consequences of possessing such books or even of voicing protest.
[But there was that 'seems to be', Erwin didn't trust that freedom.]
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I see. I'll have a lot of catching up to do, then.
[Armin neither confirms nor agrees the hinted sentiment that their freedom may not be long-lived, he too wonders at the use of a loaded term like heroes, but seeming to be resistant to their recruiters is not the way he wants to test their boundaries, or the civilians around them. He fiddles with the cup in his hands, not going for the door until Erwin has headed in that direction. He wouldn't want to seem as if he were taking the lead with him in any way, and besides, Erwin knows the area better.]
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It's beginning to get much more hot now as it's nearly midday, something which can be noticed soon after stepping out of the air conditioned shop. It's something even Erwin hasn't gotten used to.]
Yes, you will have to learn to live here, despite the difference from back home.
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[The heat and humidity hits him like an ugly wall. Armin feels his tongue stick to the roof of his mouth, forces it free. The taste of this city will take some serious adjustment, just like the crowds, the technology, the personality of it. Not to mention how the different air will affect his gear. He keeps pace with Erwin, carrying his cup with the barest touch of fingertips so as not to transfer his body heat to it. As it doesn't seem Erwin is going to order him directly, at least in this setting, Armin clears his throat, finding it sticky and phlegmy from the milkshake, which continues to fight his stomach.] Any recommendations where to start, sir?
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[Note to self, call the three year old weapons engineer for that, he'll put through a message to her later.]
Tell me, what is the last thing you recall.
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There was a face in the wall. A titan
He hasn't really had time to process any what happened in the last few hours - the worry that this time, Eren wouldn't wake up, the worry for Annie's fate, whatever it might be, traitor or not; the FEAR for the face in the wall and what the Corps would have to try and do to explain what happened in Stohess
It's all so far away here. Here and now, people drift about languidly, unconcerned.]