maskormenace | Entries tagged with † diego hargreeves

March 2021

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WILL YOU HELP SAVE THE WORLD?

Mask or Menace is a panfandom urban 'superhero' genre DWRP game, where heroes, villains, and everyone in between seek to survive and thrive in a world loosely parallel to our own.

pidgewidgeon

Hey all, just want to drop some information I gathered last month from AtlanTech. While they were doing their experiments on some of our nanites I was working on a way to get into their systems and see if they were hiding anything.

I didn't find anything shocking or potentially world ending, for the most part it's all internal team rivalries and corporate bullshit, but there is a little that's interesting about the Lead Hardware Engineer. Mainly, up until last year she was a personal assistant and now she's working in R&D and leading teams doing experimental research. A little weird in my opinion, but I could just be paranoid.

Anyway, here's a link to what I found. Again, not a whole lot but I believe in transparency when it comes to information that affects all of us.

hatestrashcans

[ Marco's video opens on him sitting in a computer chair, which isn't unusual. What is unusual is that he's not wearing anything ridiculous (no Spiderman T-shirt here) and that he actually has a serious look on his face. ]

So since apparently we're doing this the absurdly complicated way:

If you're under 18 and want to work on this whole 'not letting the multiverse destabilize while we're living here' thing, let's coordinate.

Oh, and for all the adults who want to complain about this: I'd much rather work under the leadership of more experienced people. I think leaving us to do our own thing is stupid. But, I also know that there's a zero percent chance we're all going to stay out of it and coordinating minimizes the risk of something going wrong. Consider it harm reduction.

Or, you know, living in the real world.

irwins

[Shaun is not usually one to post things anonymously. He's always been a blogger. He's used to life in the public eye back home. But this... Well. This discussion isn't one he's quite ready to have openly. Not with Georgia around. Not with Becks also here.]

So none of us asked to be dragged to this place, right? But now that we're here, I can't be the only person who doesn't want to leave.

I know that could change. It could change fast.

How do you handle it? Living a life that could get ripped away at any minute?

I know that's always true. I know it real fucking well. But it's even more true and immediate here somehow. So how do you deal with that besides super heavy denial?

[And denial only works so well when there's a quiet voice at the back of your mind, one that hasn't been given a chance to put down deep roots or find its volume, but one that is there and waiting to whisper the worst sort of warnings and worst case scenarios.]

duelo

[ When the video comes up, a man with carefully groomed facial scruff and a set of green eyes whose uncertainty can easily be read even through a camera is sitting on his bed, wearing a gray Henley and scrubbing his chin with one hand.

His brow is creased slightly and he isn't frowning, but that's mostly because he's not sure he ought to be. This could actually be the best thing that's ever happened to him, but he's still undecided because he's still not sure what to believe.

Derek clears his throat before speaking, sounding equal parts curious and skeptical. It kind of sounds too good to be true, the part that sticks out the most for him: the part where he'd just get to be Derek out in the open without having to worry who knows what he really is. ]

Is it true that all the imPorts have special abilities? No one cares? No one—

[ He pauses for a second, as if trying to find the words that will make sense to the masses. ]

—they're not afraid of us?

mysterioisthetruth

Hello, imPorts. Today, I'm here to talk to you about the importance of being a hero.

It's right there, isn't it?

ImPort. Im-port-ance!

[He claps his hands together to punctuate the word and grins.]

You are important, here, to this world as one of its heroes. Like The Avengers or The Justice League, every one of you has or was given some special skills to make you unique and to make you a hero.

It doesn't matter if you don't believe it now. You will. You were brought here for a purpose and you must all act accordingly. It doesn't matter what you did in your past. What counts is the here and the now and moving forward!

Maybe you're already making great strides to help. Maybe you're new and lost. Either way, you are important and a hero and always keep that in mind. With evey action. With every interview. You are the public face of imPorts; all of you!

Be the best hero that you can be and together we can prevail. We will overcome any threat. Break through any boundary. Foil any nefarious scheme. Believe in yourself, and believe in the people around you.

We will win this fight; whatever fight comes our way. Maybe through negotiations. Maybe through physical force. No matter what your power or skillset, you can use it to your best advantage. Your best power is right up here.

[He taps the side of his head.]

Your mind. Your will. Your belief in yourself and in others.

Keep hold of that and you will succeed.

[He looks pleased, pausing a moment before adding.]

Now I am open to any questions you may have. The floor is yours.

adultwonder

[Dick gives a half smile and a little wave to the camera. To those who know him well, he looks a little flustered. But this has been a weird week]

Hey, everyone. Dick Grayson, here, I'm a new guy. And I've got a question. Is there any way to practice or tamp down a power that’s… kind of passive?

[There’s a light growling sound, Dick turns and raises a hand.]

Just a minute! [He looks back at the camera.] This is just getting a little--

[Before he can finish his sentence, there’s another growl and a blur of sandy colored fur tackles Dick. A very large blur of sandy colored fur. It is, in fact, a lion. But he’s not trying to hurt Dick. He’s just licking his face and looking very happy with himself. Dick laughs and rubs the lion’s face, then looks upside-down at the camera.]

This is the second time Chewie’s escaped from the zoo and followed me home. I’m pretty sure the neighbors are gonna start complaining soon. So, any thoughts?

[Sorry residents of Nonah #004, this is happening in your living room.]

irwins

[The video feed turns on, and here is Shaun. For anyone who knows Shaun, the face he’s making at the camera isn’t his usual. The typical easy-going grin, the tendency to seem to always be in motion even when he’s sitting still, that’s gone. He’s downright stoic as he addresses the network.]

So. We have a problem.

[And just in case it’s not already clear what that problem is, let him present Exhibit A: He adjust the angle of the video feed enough that he’s now sharing the screen with his sister.]

It’s not that big a deal, Shaun. Come on!

[Georgia tugs the camera closer towards herself, giving the camera a grin from beneath her sunglasses and a wave.]

Hi, Shaun’s being a big grump because we’ve gotten ourselves a little bit emotionally manipulated by rocks. But it’s fine! It’s fun.

[Shaun, who has never been all that good at long-suffering looks, manages a professional level long-suffering look, takes a breath and continues.]

Jury is out on how big a deal it is. But yeah. Rocks. Is anyone else running into personality changes? Other effects? Does anyone know how long they last?

[Because they have been out of contact with the crystal for a short bit, and yet here they are.] Is it permanent? [Please. Please let it not be permanent. He’s exhausted.]

And where can we find the other colors? Because if these made our personalities change, it’ll be interesting to see what those do. [George glances over at Shaun and tugs on his arm cheerfully.] It’ll be an adventure!

[Shaun’s expression displays only a flicker of the horror he feels.] Georgia. No.

frankensteinian

A recent conversation made me aware of the fact that while there is a large community of people here with powers of some sort, that some of us had them already before we arrived here and therefore know how to use them, and that others only got their powers when they arrived here. [Which makes them humans with powers, not mutants, but that's not a distinction he's going to get into right now.]

Which got me to thinking. Perhaps those of us who know how to use our powers could help those who don't learn how. Figure out the specifics, that sort of thing. Or does that happen already?

[People embracing their powers is important to him.]

goldtoxicity

Hey, so... kind of just thought of something.

How many of us here were-slash-are teen superheroes? And, like, why is that a thing that's even allowed. Like, you're not old enough to drink but you're definitely old enough to stop a bank robbery. That's messed up, right?

Second question - because the answer to that is definitely because being a superhero looks cooler than it actually is and obligation and blah blah - how many of you actually know how to do first-aid on yourselves? Because anyone who doesn't should touch base with me, like, ASAP.

bookshopped

[The angel is not used to mobiles. He's spent a great deal of time resisting the modern world in many ways -- though back home, in his lovely little bookshop, he does have a clever little computer that has not counted as modern for a decade or two at least -- but he's been left little choice now. The mobile phone was part of his welcome packet. And these other imPorts, of which he apparently is one, are all connected this way. So what better way to reach out?

That said, he's fidgeting with the phone and the image is a far-too-close-up shot of his face before he adjusts.]

Ah. There. Yes, good. Hello.

[A smile, warm and genuine if a bit frazzled at the moment. His voice is soft, accent distinctly British, distinctly proper. He is at least one of those two things.] Clever little devices aren't they? I expect it'll take some getting used to, but it's likely high time I surrendered and wound up with a mobile anyway.

[He's rambling and circling the point rather than making it though, and he does realize this.]

Right. Yes. What I wanted to ask, and I do apologize if this seems a bit odd as questions go, but does anyone out there have any experience with the Apocalypse? Or, well, an apocalypse, I suppose? Armageddon? End of the world?

[That's what he's opening with. Who gave him network access? It's just, he's starting to wonder if his landing here has to do with the recently aborted Armageddon back home. Only a theory. And theories exist to be tested.]

Oh! And if anyone knows of a good sushi restaurant locally, I'd be delighted to hear of it.

[The angel's priorities are in order.]

restingstitchface

When I studied behavioural psychology, certain disordered individuals displayed a clear and pervasive need to gain compliance and control over others. Antisocial patients with a grandiose sense of self manipulated others into following their wishes. Hysterical inmates who needed the spotlight enthralled timid personalities to use and abuse.

Back home I had excellent resources to correct their deviancy. Well, now I'm away from home, and all I want is to get my hands on some new medicine. Because right now, they're tied when it comes to correcting the behaviour of individuals who currently suffer nothing more than a slight to their reputation.

But enough. What is my question, you ask?

It's simple.

How might we as a community ethically encourage our worst people to do good things?

gigue

[Vanya is so woefully anti-social media it's laughable. She has no idea how Instagram or Twitter works, and she deleted her Facebook years ago, after a failed attempt to reconnect with people she went to school with. It's okay; they didn't really notice. Friendship is a thing she struggles with even in person, and when you add the interpretation fogginess of the internet, well...point is, why make a bad situation worse, right?

She doesn't really have a choice, here, and hey, she hates it. Holding her communicator in hand and trying to prepare some kind of message, knowing that it's likely to go entirely unanswered makes her want to just throw the whole thing in the trash.

There's nothing to do for it but hold her nose and dive in; V would rather be swimming, and she hates swimming.]

Does any--

[No, that's dumb. And it's already recording. Shit. She exhales, tries to smile; it doesn't really reach her eyes, and doesn't linger long.] I guess...I'm trying to figure out how jobs work, here. [So much of what they told her fell on deaf ears - and she is trying really hard not to think about the irony of that, or she will start crying right now - and now she's starting to feel the panic of living someplace brand new, with very few resources.]

I got assigned to the-- [She pauses, struggling to remember before it comes to her:] Make It Rain Casino? But I can't - I can't perform.

[I lost my violin, she wants to say, or I think I killed a lot of people, I can't ever play again, but both of those thoughts make her want to delete this whole thing.] I guess if anyone has any openings, anywhere, or can point me at a...a job board or something...

[Well, this has been a hideous part of her day. She tries and fails to smile again, and decides to just leave it alone.]

sexual

[ While Selina still hasn't decided whether or not to go in front of the camera just yet, using voice and text functions in her correspondence on the network, so when the video feed opens viewers are treated not to treated to her face but that of one of her new friends -- a gorgeous Bengal Tiger named Freyja. A proud, regal creature, normally, but a bit more like a big ol' kitty cat at the moment.

A hand reaches out, scratching the cat behind her ear as Freyja chuffling happily in response. ]

Aren't you something? Pretty girl.

[ She's already done this government asset bullshit and she's not normally the 9-to-5 kind of girl, but she's still settling into her new home. Marking her territory, so to speak. Seeing just what this place has to offer. Might as well take advantage of some of the perks, right? The camera stays on the cat as she throws herself down onto the ground and rolls onto her back, submissive and offering herself up for some belly rubs, to which Selina is happy to oblige. ]

As I sit here enjoying a lovely lunch with a new friend, I find myself curious, fellow... ImPorts, about these employment assignments. Did you or, I suppose, have you settled into your newfound careers, or did you strike out on your own? Do you enjoy what you do? I can't say that I'm fond of the hours, but I always did enjoy working with animals. Can't exactly complain there.

I'm just used to a very different kind of work...

crypdick

[ The Outsider is out back behind a restaurant in Jeopardy, sitting on the ground, leaning against the wall. And there are flies. Lots of flies. Flies buzz around the area and around his head, and he doesn't twitch or blink his deep, pitch black eyes. ]

If this world ends, will you regret what you have done here? If it doesn't, will you have to live with what you've done? Or perhaps, you will live with what you didn't do. Do you sit on the sidelines, assuming this world has nothing to do with you since it's not your own? Or do you use this as an opportunity to build a new life while you can?

( getting a bit more grim from here on )

innerdragon

[The video opens to one man with very red and ridiculously spiked hair. He doesn't look like he's in the best of moods, exasperated and tired even. Not just because he's found himself in an entirely new world even, one painfully lacking in Pokemon.]

I think it's every trainer's dream to be able to talk to their Pokemon.

[And yet he sounds so... weary?]

But psychic powers are not what I had in mind.

[Pun not intended. He's not a psychic trainer! He's not Sabrina! Take it back!]

I can hear what they're thinking. ALL the time. Does anyone know how to make it stop? I can't even sleep without their voices in my head.

[You would want it to end too with the voice of a walking palm tree singing 'I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts' on a constant loop.]

problematical

[ River's voice is slightly wandering, but thoughtful. ]

A hero is an imperfect idea, full of good intentions and bad decisions, too many questions and not enough answers. Good people, bad people, it only depends on what side you're on. But I can tell which is which, I've always been able to. There are people here that aren't as good as they say they are, but also those who aren't as bad at they think.

No one really knows who they are. No one wants to.

[ There's a pause. ]

This place seems good for finding out who they are. Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.

darkpants_warmfeeling

What does justice mean to you?

You can't just say something easy like 'giving people what they deserve' or 'doing what's right.' Nothing's that simple. Somebody has to decide what's 'right' and who 'deserves' what. Either you or someone you think gets to make those calls.

And trust me, having people looking at you to decide those questions isn't always an easy spot to be in.

Say something happened where a lot of people got hurt. Something that could destroy everything, everyone, the whole world. And it wasn't really anyone's fault. Someone just got fucked over while trying to do something good. And maybe the only way anyone knows to stop it is killing that person while they're helpless. Someone who did nothing wrong.

And then it gets done. Everything gets saved. Now everyone has to live with the consequences. Decide what comes next. It gets better, too: even if someone gets punished for what happened, all they can expect from the law is months of probation. And no one died permanently anyway. So maybe it's all pointless.

Maybe you can see where I'm going with this. What do you do with something like that?

What the hell is justice here?

numberthree

[ Allison's message that goes out includes text and video because it should for all the rest of her siblings sake, even though her words appear the way they have for weeks, as text at the bottom of the video of herself sitting in front of her communicator. ]

After all of what happened last week, and how far apart we all were during it, while everything was changing in the cities at the speed of every person's thoughts, I think we should all consider relocating somewhere closer:

[ After the word closer a file pops up on all their devices:

Attachment

The file contains photos, a lay out, mockup documents, and a location: Nonah. ]

deadlycurves

[Diego is not a fan of... well, a lot of things, but in this particular case, this whole idea of being kidnapped to another universe or version of Earth or whatthefuckever this place even actually is, and demanded to hero at the world. Sure, it was familiar, and even a choice of a certain kind by the end--although he'd argue to the death that his vigilantism is entirely different than what his father set out for--but he was doing things in his own way back home, before the rest of...the Apocalypse situation exploded (literally).

Being shoved under someone's thumb, and told to toe their line was not sitting well with him, right out of the gate.

However, he can deal with red tape when he absolutely has to, and for now, he's pushing all of that aside in favor of something much more important:]

If you know someone else with the last name of Hargreeves, I'm gonna need you to tell me which one and where to find them.

[A beat passes.

He adds, with a sharp edge in his voice and harsh, narrowed glare into the camera to match his demand:] Now.

MASK OR MENACE

NETWORK COMMUNITY

Entries tagged with † diego hargreeves | the kraken

March 2021

Links

WILL YOU HELP SAVE THE WORLD?

Text; UN: Green Paladin

Video | Phase One

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ANONYMOUS TEXT

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video } where it's covered in all the colored lights where the runaways are runnin' the night

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text. id: jonathan crane

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two. video. id: the Outsider, cw talk of death

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14th Mission // Text

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