play nice

[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

[bytherules]

Proceed. [and so the rings do their thing. Salaak gives up his search for Oa temporarily in this time, keeping the worry of an uncharged ring well pushed aside to stay on-task.]

I heard similar, in regards to oaths. The terms and limitations tied to it, however, are not known to me. It's something we will have to become extremely familiar with if we are to have any sort of working relationship with this planet, not only to confirm our own means of return, but to ensure they are safe as well.

It doesn't matter if this sector is beyond our current boundaries; Green Lanterns serve. [he believes in that still, somehow.] The extent to which we can, though, is something we will need to consider if we truly are alone in this space.

[solarcharge]

[Ring Shit ^TM. He resumes his former posture after the transfer is complete, though he does briefly crack his knuckles.]

My ring's at seventy-four percent-- [73 percent capacity his ring adds helpfully. He makes a face.] -- Seventy-three percent capacity, and my lantern didn't make the trip. Yours?

[bytherules]

[he shakes his head, waving away another screen. all his tasks redirect to syncing up saved audio patterns in their own little introductory spiels. multitasker that he is, he can let that run alone while he addresses his comrade.]

No. Our time is at a premium unless we can find a proper battery. It's another reason why a pulse to Oa may do us more damage than good.

[solarcharge]

[He folds his arms and studies Salaak's screens. He's not really looking at them, just using them as an excuse not to look directly at his superior.

Because at the end of the day, the Guardians don't have the best reputation when it comes to bringing people home. Ion was retrieved from the Sinestro Corps and its last host left for dead. At least they aren't in openly hostile territory.

But unlike most Lanterns, who rely on the ring's power to grant them the abilities to do what they must, he has other resources. Off the ring comes, and with it his uniform disappears as well. He's wearing (passably) street casual clothing beneath, and he puts the ring in his pocket.]

I'll record what's important, but until we figure out the power situation I can operate like this.

[bytherules]

[Salaak is hardly jealous. the prospect of having to immerse himself among the locals makes his stomach knot up, physically dreading such a thing. judging by the brief reactions he'd had street level, he is utterly convinced it'd be a small nightmare and a tremendous headache.

small blessings, then: he can let Yat do any legwork in that department. the young man has had a good reputation so far among the Guardians, certainly among the Corps as a whole...Salaak is almost willing to let himself hope things will run smoothly. almost.

screens vanish, and his ring dims.] Agreed. You will be much more successful interacting with the locals than I, so I will rely on you to reach out to those in positions to provide us with information we can use. I have already begun collecting names and some levels of hierarchy.

[solarcharge]

[He nods. He doesn't like playing diplomat, but that doesn't mean he's not capable of it. He's a punch first, ask questions later kind of Lantern, but even he has his moments of discretion.

Which leads him to another point. He's heard other people talking about timelines and the variables and variances thereof, and being on the same page to provide a united front is... important. He tucks his hands in his pockets, fingers curled around his ring. He's not afraid, he's wary. Big difference.]

What's the last thing that happened back on Oa?

[bytherules]

[Salaak gives him the best sidelong glance a slyggian can muster, considering this carefully. he knows the internal comings and goings of Oa better than most any Lantern there is, and for good reason. but he knows there's good reason to not be so transparent, even in this situation.

he can offer what he deems is reasonable to know.]

The campaign of continued cleanup of Sinestro Corps members is ongoing, as it has been since the war. [and, come to mention...] Was Lantern Arisia not with you? That only makes our extractions more critical a question.

[solarcharge]

[Oh, he knows better than to fish for classified information. But hearing that elicits a slight frown.]

She was. We were on Daxam.

[It's probably in his file that he thinks the majority of people from his homeworld are contemptible, but he tries for something a little more objective than that.]

[bytherules]

[ah, that...

there's a thoughtful pause before Salaak nods, making note to review their mission status prior to this shift in...reality, apparently.]

The consequences of our absence will need to be considered, as well. [he wasn't really thinking about it, but now he can't not think about it. what happens if he's not around?]

[solarcharge]

[Everyone who wears the ring is expendable. It's one of those hard truths they all have to face. The loss of some is more crippling than others - Sodam can't imagine a Corps trained by someone other than Kilowog - but the ring comes to them all upon someone else's death. They know. There might be a scramble to fill their respective shoes - Salaak's would be harder than his. Ion is here, and it's his most valuable role in the Corps. No one would miss someone who'd just barely gotten his badge.

Consequences.]

The Corps manages fine without Ion.

[Truthfully, all it means is fewer casualties, not a complete cessation. They'd endure.]

And I'm sure one of the others could temp for you.

[Who? He has no idea. Just as he can't see someone else doing Kilowog's job, he has a hard time envisioning anyone playing at Salaak. Maybe Arisia could. She's old guard, one of the lucky few who lived long enough to call herself a veteran, and he knows she's a damned good Lantern. Either way, it's just that. Temporary. They're getting out of here and going home. Really, it's a matter of willpower.]

[bytherules]

[how easily that is said rather rankles him. anyone replace him? the countless roles and responsibilities, the ceaseless ticking clock and scheduling...selfish though it is, for how much he's made it his life, he hopes his absence has some impact.

but, he reminds himself, now is not the time to gripe. his own ring is at 54%. the matter of Sodam Yat's mission, his status versus the special attention the Guardians requested of him...

well. he was just going to have to oversee Arisia's duties, wasn't he? as if there wasn't enough to worry about.

he sighs.]

In any case, it is time to get to work. I will remain in close range for power conservation's sake, and close enough for a quick interception should the need arise.

[solarcharge]

[Great, so he's going to have a permanent shadow. The thought doesn't exactly sit well with him, but as Salaak said. Lanterns serve. For better or worse, it's who he is now. Still, he thinks about Daxam, its burning sun, and wonders.

Then he salutes and turns aside, surveying the city with his arms folded. Time to get to work. He steps off the edge of the building, enjoying the sensation of the sun, and heads off to find a man about a government.]

[bytherules]

[yeah you have fun with that buddy. i'll be over here, resisting the temptation to app because hello darkness Salaak's old friend.]

[solarcharge]

[oh no but what if you did the thing tho!! you are fab with him, negl.]

[bytherules]

[thank u ur wonderful, it's great to play w a lantern, esp Yat <33]

[solarcharge]

[/chinhands ty also. dumb space cops hold a special place in my heart.

ANYWAY YES I would love to see you app obvs (SAYS THE ONE NOT IN THE GAME) but I know how these things go. If you do decide to, lmk? I might follow along with this lug here because I've been looking for a game for him for like a year now oop.]

[bytherules]

[oooomg ok...oK I WILL CONSIDER IT....A LOT......BC IF THAT MEANS U CAN FINALLY HAVE A HOME FOR YAT....]

[solarcharge]

[this feels a little like emotional blackmail and I'm not sure who's winning omg how did it come to this!!!]

[bytherules]

[all i can tell u is i'm the innocent party here. this is not my fault.]

[solarcharge]

[I bet you say that to all the lanterns (nottalking)]