now don't be rude

[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

Thane Krios | Mass Effect

[chancetoatone]

01
[Thane was unaccustomed to vague memories. The eidetic memory native to his people left him with the ability to sharply and accurately recall every aspect of a situation, every spoken word, every gesture, in perfect detail. The very idea of being unable to recall the mode in which he arrived to his Earth shook him to the core, but composure was a part of his training from so early an age it was second nature. Disturbed at this turn of events he may be, he would seem as calm, collected, and at ease as any other common passerby as he was lead from the sheltered light of the complex and into the Florida sun.

He'd never visited Earth in his life, his business had never taken him to that sector of the galaxy, but things were off about the architecture, the military organization, and in general, everything he laid his black eyes on. He shifted his gaze around the outer area, taking in the others ushered around by officials in alien regalia, their gazes varying expressions of shock, confusion, anger, terror. There were others brought here against their wills.

He was eager to speak with them, to see if they had any other vague impressions of travel to convey, puzzle pieces to be connected into a better image, and he left his expectant gaze shift from one to another, each in turn, sizing up the most beneficial of conversations to initialize. Surely someone remembered something.

But why didn't he?]

[02]
[Any time Thane found himself in a new locale, he made it his first priority to acclimate to the environment, to meld with its inhabitants, and to listen to its secrets. That goal seemed all but impossible in the small human town of Heropa, Florida. Even very few of the imPorts, as they were so affectionately called, looked something other than human, and it made it exceedingly difficult for a drell, with his mottled green skin, scales, and reptilian eyes, to get lost in the crowd. The locals seemed oblivious to the obvious chances at scientific study of an alien species, thank all the gods, but in the absence of suspicious experimentation, there was an outpouring of praise.

The natives of this Earth expected quite a bit from their adoptive guests, and gave them all the adoring affection of celebrities. Strange, he thought. He hadn't done anything. An even taller order to fill. All the attention made the assassin uncomfortable, as well. For several years he'd thrived in the shadows, another faceless body in the crowd.

There was no such anonymity to be found among the enraptured masses, and the drell found himself quickly out of his element. He needed to escape this busy shopping area, to get somewhere more secluded to collect himself and his thoughts.

But more than anything, he just needed to get out of the limelight for a few hours. Humans could certainly be partial to egocentricity, they were still newcomers in the scene after all, but the natives here bordered on exhibition attendees with the way they waved frantically, wanted to shake his hand.

It was suffocating, but finding an opening was proving to be difficult.]

02

[electricgirl]

[Lila blends in perfectly well with humans, although it's strange to see so many of them without any other species thrown in to make a more interesting mix. It's why Thane draws her attention, not because she wants to gape, but because she can't help but wonder if he might be from the same universe as hers, which would be a relief.

His species isn't familiar to her, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything, and after a quick look at him, she can tell he's likely uncomfortable with all the attention.

When she approaches, her smile is unlike those of the locals', less excited and more sympathetic.]

Hello. [manners!] There's a mostly empty cafe around the corner, if you're tired of all the attention.

[chancetoatone]

[After so much attention, the assassin is glad for any sort of distraction, and Lila's polite voice offers him a welcome degree of solace in the tide of attention.

He can't help sizing her up as she approaches, but she seems unarmed, her smile warm. The Drell inclines his head in greeting.]

Hello. [His voice has a strange, vibrating quality to it, along with his baritone.] You're too kind. [And either naive or cautious to trust a stranger. That or she is also a local, and secure in her small-town sensibilities.] I'll follow your lead. [He awaits her movement before falling in step beside her.] My name is Thane Krios. [And a beat.] You don't seem shocked at my appearance.

[electricgirl]

[As soon as he agrees to come with her, Lila starts towards the cafe, her pace a little quicker than usual so they can get out of the public eye sooner.]

I'm Lilavati, it's a pleasure to meet you Thane Krios. [She's always found that particular greeting an odd quirk; how can you judge if it's a pleasure when you've just met someone? But it's part of the script and it's a nice thing to say, so she does.] I don't recognize your species, but aliens are not uncommon where I'm from. Which is the future, apparently!

[It's kind of delightful. Time travel is merely theoretical, but here she is!]

[chancetoatone]

[His gait is graceful, like a dancer, as he winds his own way through the crowd, keeping easy pace with her. A tiny ghost of a smile teases at the corner of his mouth as he inclines his head slightly.] The pleasure is mine, Lilavati.

[He blinks nictitating membranes at her statement, though if she had encountered other cultures, her lack of shock at his appearance should come as no surprise.] My species are the Drell. [And if he were going to explain more, it's lost at her last statement.] How far in the future?

[electricgirl]

I'm from the year 2492.

[Answering questions comes before asking her own, though she is curious to hear more about the Drell, since the name turns up nothing in her memory banks. She already misses having access to her internet, not the version here which might as well be empty.

And speaking of empty, once they reach the coffee shop Lila opens the door for Thane, taking a quick peek inside to make sure it hasn't randomly filled up in the past five or so minutes, but the only other person inside is a barista. Hopefully they don't gawk too much.]

Are you comfortable eating and drink human food?

[If he is, she'll buy them both something so they aren't just loitering.]

02.

[biotically]

[ There weren't that many aliens in Heropa, Florida. Certainly not ones he'd recognize offhand. Drell weren't common, at least not to Kaidan. He'd seen a few, sure, talked with a few -- particularly during his hospital stay at Huerta Memorial, but he hadn't had much opportunity to meet too many. They were quiet sorts, who didn't seem to really try ant catch other people's attention.

But this one -- this particular Drell was familiar. He remembered talking to him, back in the hospital, and he approached at a jog. At least he was feeling better than the last time they talked, thank god for small miracles. Especially ones that meant that he wasn't strapped to a hospital bed anymore. ]

Hey, I think -- haven't we talked before?

[ And that was probably rude, to someone who definitely had just arrived, if his face was any indication. ]

Sorry, you look -- did you just show up?

[chancetoatone]

[Many had approached him on this busy street, but none had addressed him with another other than awe. It caught the Drell's attention and he looked to the approaching human, attempting to recall who he was. Familiarity blossomed in his mind and when he spoke, it was words he couldn't control.]

Sunset over Horizon. Deathly silent, over half the colonists already taken. We were too late. "Commander Shepard. The Hero of the Citadel, and a Ghost." "Kaidan".

[He blinked and offered the major a gentle shake of his head.]

Forgive me. We've only met once, on Horizon. [But he offered the Alliance soldier a hand to shake.] The Porter's brought you here as well. [It wasn't a question, but a statement of fact.] We weren't properly introduced, but emotions were high. [A moment of hesitation. Should he give the man his true name? What point was there in hiding? A true name or an alias, he was still the only Drell.] My name is Thane.

[biotically]

[ He paused, his hand stopped, after reaching out to try and shake. A slight hesitation took on his face, a smile that had been in place was forced.

Bad memories. Horizon wasn't something he was proud of, by any stretch of the imagination, but he didn't think himself wholly in the wrong for it, either. Even now. Maybe a bit quick to anger, and a bit out of line, but... ]

Thane. [ He shook his head. ] You already know my name, but we spoke...

[ A pause. ] One other time, but that might be your future. It's hard to tell, with this place.

[chancetoatone]

Future? [That's something that hadn't occurred to him, though now that it had, it seemed perfectly believable. If there was a device capable of pulling individuals, seemingly at random, from entirely different universes, why not also from different timelines within that same universe?

The gods truly did work in mysterious ways.] Intriguing. What other time have we met?

[biotically]

I was...in the hospital? [ That sounded so bad. ] We talked a time or two, while I was there, and after I was released, we kept talking.

[ Until they got separated, and thankfully, Thane had called Shepard to the Citadel. Although it could have gone a lot worse, couldn't it? ] It's complicated, this place.

01.

[sassguard]

[ It wasn't as if the Porter operated on a schedule, but it was hard to miss when a flood of new arrivals came in: the activity around the Porter kicked up, there were confused posts on the Network, and the police are generally alerted to keep an eye out for trouble. Most fresh imPorts are too disoriented to start anything, but there's always the chance of getting a less than docile new arrival, and just in case, Shepard's on standby.

It was a good excuse to get a sense of the new people, anyway. Brash attitude aside, and though most might laugh off the idea of Commander Shepard being the quiet type, he enjoyed watching people. For him, it was what practically counted as relaxing, and he'd staked out a quiet corner that offered the least traffic and the best view. It was interesting to see the reactions of the new arrivals -- or lack thereof, and his gaze slipped from one unfamiliar face to another almost lazily.

Until it fell on one that wasn't so unfamiliar, and blue eyes narrowed, straightening up from the slouch he'd been in. Not so many imPorts came through looking so obviously alien... and even less were members of his squad, or former ones. He didn't move to intercept just yet, still watching, and idly wondering if Thane would even recognize him, if he picked him out of the shadows.

Not that it was going to be hard. The police uniform didn't actually count as camouflage. ]

No one cares about tenses. Mine are always terrible.

[chancetoatone]

[Thane's eyes were evolved to deal with brighter light, being of a desert people, so their adjustment didn't take long. His alert gaze shifted from one unfamiliar human face to the next until it settled on what must pass as law enforcement in these parts and a very familiar face amid the sea of strangers.

His only explanation was Shepard must have also been pulled to this alternate Earth, but why was he dressed as a native? Was he under cover? If so, the Drell would take extra care not to uncover his friend, but a newcomer approaching an official wasn't out of the ordinary. He made his way casually if not purposefully and nodded when he was within speaking distance.]

Shepard. [And he chose the next phrase carefully.] They've given you a position in local law enforcement?

[sassguard]

[ He was expecting to be picked out, and he wasn't disappointed, when Thane moved over to join him. When the question came, he couldn't help the wry twist of his lips. ]

Apparently, they thought I'd be a good fit for the job. [ He shrugged, lightly. It was a relief to be recognized -- took some of the uncertainty out of the situation, meant figuring out the approach was easier. ]

You find out what they give you yet? [ No hellos, no how are yous, but then again, he and Thane were never ones to stand on ceremony. ]

[chancetoatone]

[He blinks, his head tilting to the side.] Good cop or bad cop? [There may be the very slightest of smirks there, but it's very slight.]

No. Not yet. I was told I would be debriefed in the car.

02

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Word travels fast in small-town Florida, and Jacob's ears were always open to word of new ImPorts- especially aliens who might have arrived from his own version of the Galaxy. When the rumour mill at the mall filled with word of a new 'hero' clearly not of this Earth, Jacob headed over to the Cape to check it out.

He expected what he saw: locals crowding around and treating a new, confused abductee like they were visiting royalty rather than a victim of an uncontrolled machine. He didn't expect who he saw. Jacob had gotten over most of his anti-assassin issues with Thane long ago, accepting him as a devoted father trying to make the best of his dwindling time, but he did frown for a moment before pushing forward through the crowd.]

All right everyone, give him some space! The tattoo says 'Hero', not 'sideshow freak.'

[The people closest to Thane backed off for a moment, allowing Jacob to focus his attention on greetings.]

Thane Krios. Gotta say, I wasn't expecting you to show up.

[chancetoatone]

[Thane was grateful for the rescue if not surprised at his rescuer. Jacob Taylor had never been a fan, though he'd softened somewhat as their impending mission had approached. Still, he would not have expected Jacob to aid him so readily. Maybe he'd come to his senses, at least in terms of rudeness.

The Drell nodded his thanks to the man as the people cleared out, allowing him a bit of breathing room.]

Jacob Taylor. Our universe seems to be popular, though on its human residents, it seems.

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Yeah. Practically got half the crew here, at this point.

[As the 'fan club' backed off, Jacob folded his arms and leaned back on one foot, one of his preferred conversation stances. Ordinarily he would have been trying to reassure a new ImPort and fill them in on the situation, but knowing Thane, he was probably already calm, in control, and aware of every sniper's perch in the area.]

Welcome to Earth, I guess. I don't know if you've ever been before, but a lot's different here.

[chancetoatone]

Thank you. [He looked around, evenly distributing his weight between his feet and clasping his hands behind his back. Not only was he aware of every sniper's perch in the area, but he'd noted two manhole covers and the drop point of every fire escape.

Not that that particularly mattered at the moment.] I never had the opportunity. My work took me to other star systems. [He tilts his head in curiosity.] Earth is no longer so...picturesque, then?

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

If you ask me, it's looking a lot better in our time.

[Jacob frowns, allowing some of his frustration with these antique surroundings to creep into his voice.]

In the 21st century, humanity was still getting its shit together. Pollution, climate change, civil wars... a lot's different in this universe, but the problems aren't. I'll take the future over the past any day.

02

[fuhgottaboutit]

[Being completely human, it's not difficult for Osaka to escape notice in favor of weirder-looking people. In fact, she has wound up among the gawkers herself, though she's kind of hanging out at the edge of the group since she doesn't know anyone. So sue her, she's never seen an alien before, much less a drell.

Whenever Thane's path happens to lead him past her, she suddenly decides she wants to ask him a question, and she puts her hand up like she thinks she's in school or something.]

Hey, uh, mister? Excuse me!

[chancetoatone]

[What Thane found most peculiar about the girl was her manner of getting his attention. Her hand raised in polite question, her eagerness.

His black gaze shifted to her, though his expression was gentle.]

Yes, child?

[fuhgottaboutit]

[Oh! He actually answered.]

Umm... [oh yeah.] Are... are you a Kamen Rider?!

[yes, she's serious.]

[chancetoatone]

[His brow ridges gather is slight confusion.]

I don't know what that is, child. Forgive me.

[fuhgottaboutit]

Ohh. Well, then you're prob'ly not one.

[beat]

Unless you have amnesia.