throws thumbtack confetti everywhere

[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 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.

Comments

[gottaswing]

That makes no sense. [Seriously, who'd pick them out of all the people they knew? ...alright, maybe Chad could see a point with picking himself, but Ryan? Hardly superhero material.]

You can do that thing with your voice and... whatever, turn your body into jelly? Is that it?

[choreographics]

Trust me, the last person I want to see is you, too. [The tone's a little clipped, a little annoyed and stressed but he's trying not to let it seep through.]

...elastic. Um. Elasticity. And it's not just my voice.

[gottaswing]

Hey, man, I didn't say that. [Normally he'd have added 'second to last', but he did catch on to that weirdness in Ryan's voice and the bottom line is that, really, even seeing the lesser of two evils is better than no one from home.]

Yeah? What else can you do?

[choreographics]

Well I did. [The words roll off of his tongue without a lot of thought behind it. He might apologize later, but for the most part he's not even thinking about Chad's feelings or anything. Chad can take care of himself.]

I'm not sure. I haven't really tried anything else yet. [He's been a little preoccupied exploring the city and also trying to find Sharpay.]

[gottaswing]

[Chad just shrugs it off, literally, because his feelings aren't really invested in what Ryan Evans thinks of him, even if he's the only person he knows from back home. In fact, given he's an Evans, anything other but snide comments would be more confusing.]

Yeah, me neither. I just did that accidentally. Kinda. The second time was on purpose. And the other thing I can apparently do, I've no idea what that's even supposed to mean. Sounds like some yoga bullshit.

[choreographics]

[...you had him at yoga and lost him at bullshit, Danforth.]

Okay first? Yoga is not bullshit. Also what does that even mean?

[gottaswing]

Not saying it is, dude. Just, this sounds like bullshit and reminds me of yoga. My mom does yoga, it's all cool.

[Touchy, touchy. Not surprising, but this is still the longest conversation he's ever had with Ryan. By far.]

It said 'Energy Manipulation' in the file.

[choreographics]

[He just raises an eyebrow, staring at Chad for a moment with a look that definitely says 'You are such an idiot.' But he just takes a deep breath, leaning against the wall and folding his arms over his chest as he looks to the sky.]

...you're dating Taylor McKessie and you're telling me you can't figure out what that means?

[gottaswing]

It's dating. She doesn't make you take a test for it.

[Much. He's actually hurt for a moment, because that is going after insecurities he'd rather not have dragged to the surface, but then he reminds himself that this is Ryan Evans, nothing but a jerk from the drama department and he pushes it aside.]

I can figure out what it means, just not how do to anything with it yet.

[choreographics]

Because you'd fail, or...? [He watches him carefully, not entirely sure what to make of the slightly defensive answer but also not putting a lot of stock into it. It's not his problem. Whatever.

Maybe he's being mean. He knows he's being mean and it's not nice, but he's not too happy right now.]

Have you tried anything or are you just saying that?

[gottaswing]

Man, I'm glad I ran into you before you found a puppy you could kick to get rid of your tension.

[Seriously. The first jab kind of hurt, but now he thinks he's on to what Ryan is doing. Doesn't make him like it any more.]

Of course I've tried. [Not much and he's not sure how to even begin, but he's not going to disclose that after this.]

[choreographics]

What? I'd never kick a puppy, I love puppies. ...and I'm not tense. [Which is half a lie, but he doesn't need to tell Chad anything else.]

And...what happened? [He's genuinely curious actually.]

[gottaswing]

Could've fooled me. About being tense, I don't doubt that you love puppies. Everyone does.

And nothing happened. [He stretches out his hand and stares at it, then shrugs.] Not even sure where to start, to be honest.

[choreographics]

Most people, not everyone. Our housekeepers hate cleaning up after Boi. [There's a flicker of a smile though. Even if Boi is Sharpay's dog he still likes the little guy.]

So you're doing it wrong. [He just looks at Chad's hands, frowning as he thinks for a moment.] You have to focus on centering yourself.

[gottaswing]

That's really great advice, man. Not vague at all. [That's a lot of sarcasm right there. He does feel like there is something he's just not getting right and he has no idea what. Centering himself. Like what?]

[choreographics]

[He takes a deep breath, trying to decide if he wants to bother trying to coach Chad or not with what he's talking about.]

Fine, figure it out yourself. Good luck.

[gottaswing]

I will. I guess... [He's not exactly expecting any decent advice from Ryan, at any rate. It's not as if Ryan is any more used to this.]

What exactly can you do with your voice? Kinda creepy, but cool.

[choreographics]

[He gives him another unreadable look, just thinking for a moment.]

...you might wanna step back.

[gottaswing]

[He opens his mouth as if to question that at first, but then he just gives a nod and does take a step back, keeping his eyes on Ryan the entire time.]

Alright.

[choreographics]

[He doesn't look too nervous. In fact, he looks like he's setting himself up to go on stage. He locks his eyes with Chad for a moment, giving him a slight nod.]

...say something. I don't care what it is, just say it.

[gottaswing]

[Meanwhile, Chad suddenly feels very awkward and nervous, so at first he says nothing at all, just looking at Ryan. But then he clears his throat and wonders when his mind became so blank]

I've no idea what to say.

[choreographics]

[But it's just enough because suddenly Ryan's focusing, Ryan's concentrating and suddenly Chad's voice seems to echo around him and whirl past his head, bouncing before there's a crack in the wall toward his left. A small blast leaves a dent in the brick of the alleyway and Ryan just looks at him.]

[gottaswing]

Woah...

[That's impressive. That's most definitely impressive. He looks at the dent, eyes wide, finally whistling under his breath.]

Remind me not to shout at you, man.

[choreographics]

[He looks mildly impressed with himself, too. That wasn't entirely what he meant to do but it'll work for his point.]

The file said it's sound manipulation. I guess I'm still trying to figure out what that really means.

[gottaswing]

Apparently it means being really damn cool. [All he's done so far is run really fast and failed at even understanding what energy manipulation is supposed to mean, so... Yeah, that is really damn impressive.]

Good for you! Not that it explains anything about why we're here.