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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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[And with the most dry enthusiasm she answers:]

A telekinetic twisted my arm to the point where it had to be cut off and replaced with a new one.

The new arm also had to get cut off due to other circumstances so now I'm on my second one.

[A beat.]

I'm taking better care of it.

[Uh.

O...kay.]

That's... horrible. How can you talk about it so casually?

Hey, you asked, I answered.

[She shrugs and eats another scoop of ice cream.]

And it happened a long while ago. I'm past being traumatized.

[Not that she really was traumatized both of those times.]

Yes, but if you're uncomfortable talking about something--

[Which, then again, she doesn't seem uncomfortable at all. What a strange girl.]

--Ah, never mind.

Oh, you'll know.

[And she actually smiles?? It would be pleasant if it weren't for the fact that it looks teasing instead.]

Are you a squeamish type of person, Yagami?

[He raises a brow, both at the smile and at the question.]

Squeamish? No. But doesn't mean I like to see or envision violent, bloody acts.

Ah. That's pretty normal.

[And she doesn't push the point any further, surprisingly.]

Say, I told you about my arm. What power did you get or already have?

[...Fair enough, he supposes.]

I was given the power of persuasion. I didn't have any powers before I arrived here.

Huh. Talk about a useful addition.

You could be an effective lawyer or something equally questionable Yagami.

Edited 2014-07-02 01:27 (UTC)

[He isn't sure if he should take offense to that or not. A beat.]

I don't plan on being anything questionable at all, Ryougi. I would like to go into law enforcement, but I don't want to have to rely on my powers to be successful. In fact, I haven't used them even once.

[She's quiet for a second and a small realization dawns upon her.]

... You could have persuaded me to tell you more about my abilities. That's pretty good self-restraint.

[It's an indirect, "thanks." It's the best she's gonna give.]

[He leans back in his seat and crosses his arms across his chest; he isn't indignant, but the way he speaks is level and clear -- as if that isn't something she needs to indirectly thank him for.]

I wouldn't do something like that. It isn't right to force people to do something against their will, barring only very extreme circumstances. Even then, it presents a moral dilemma. To be honest with you I've been uncomfortable with it from the start.

[She glances at him resting her hands in her jacket pockets.]

You don't even know the extent of your persuasion then? Did it say anything about it in your file?

That would require testing it, and how many people do you think would be willing to offer themselves up for experimental mind control? And yes, it was listed in my file, but gave only a vague sort of description. No step-by-step manual if that's what you're asking.

[Hey, you don't have to ask anyone to be experimented on.]

Hm. So, that's that then?

[Light does, okay!! ...Not that he hasn't considered it before, but. You know.]

...Were you expecting a tale of dramatic experimentation that tested my moral boundaries?

It'd be interesting, but the fact that you haven't done anything is kind of dramatic in itself.

To be fair, I don't think I had any specific expectations.

It isn't dramatic. Any normal person would have reservations about testing that kind of power out. Wouldn't you?

[No. Well she's never been normal so, eh, mileage may vary.]

Hm. I think I can understand how dubious someone would be if I could make them do anything I wanted through persuasion. I wouldn't have any struggle to get what I want.

Yeah. It's definitely no good.

[While she understands the morality part he's bringing up, she's far less concerned with that.]

Edited 2014-07-02 02:12 (UTC)

Your words make it sound like you agree, but I'm getting the impression it isn't so straightforward. Care to elaborate?

[He's able to catch that much from her tone, at least.]

No. I think my answer's straightforward enough.

So then you agree.

[Yeah, sure why not.]

You're never gonna use your powers because you don't think it's right. Got it.

That was my opinion. I was attempting to garner yours. But if that's all you have to say about it, then I guess there's nothing to add.

My opinion would probably only matter if it matched up with yours. Then you'd be satisfied, is that it?

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