You are Ben Parker, super-powered criminal and thief extraordinaire. After being bitten by a radioactive spider, you underwent a miraculous change, and adopted the identity of "The Huntsman"! But it's not all bad! Your clone brother, Abel Parker, works to protect the city, and potentially help clean up some of your messes. <span class="mu-i">He</span> goes by the name of "Spider-Man"!
Archive:
https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Max%20Spider%20Quest Last time: The Huntsman split up with Cindy Moon as he went to investigate an attack on ESU. Little did he know, the Unstoppable Squirrel Girl was already on the scene, and she’d already found the culprit behind the Pixel Punks’ creation. After a thrilling team-up, both of them managed to subdue Ember Quade and convince her to help them take down a common enemy: Arcade.
But unfortunately for them, Doctor Doom’s hellbent on making sure that Arcade’s new invention doesn’t fall into the hands of anyone other than himself! And he’s willing to raze the city to the ground to make that happen!
Now, Ben must use every resource at his disposal to save the city. Hero, villain, and everything in between. But can he manage to avoid losing anyone precious to him in the upcoming battle?
Find out more in the latest issue of…<span class="mu-s"><span class="mu-r">MAXIMUM SPIDER QUEST!</span></span>
Rules:
Most dice rolls will be 1d100. Modifiers will be added depending on the situation or on the alien being used(Usually +10 or -10). Crit successes and crit fails apply. Crit fails can be overridden by crit successes, but crit failures cannot override crit successes.
How to Roll:
To roll dice, type “dice+1d100” in the options field without the quotations. To roll dice with positive modifiers, type “dice+1d100+modifier number” in the options field without quotations, and with an actual modifier number. To roll dice with negative modifiers, type “dice+1d100+-modifier number” in the options field without quotations, and with an actual modifier number.
Pastebins:
Character Sheet:
https://pastebin.com/1ZihFYSV Equipment and Gear:
https://pastebin.com/WAhveFAd Contacts:
https://pastebin.com/WdcFXD2s 10 Commandments of the Desperados:
https://pastebin.com/Qpr2jVPE Costumes:
https://pastebin.com/5Jie54X2 The Huntsman’s Travel Guide:
https://pastebin.com/PU6LWsip Good luck and have fun!
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Mon 23 Oct 2023 16:04:34 No. 5805159 Report Quoted By:
I'm going to recap the last few posts from the last thread so that everyone's caught up!
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Mon 23 Oct 2023 16:05:38 No. 5805160 Report Quoted By:
Flying over to the floating jumpship had been fairly easy, but you were careful to avoid the spot where Gwen had thrown up. Looking at her now, the color had more or less returned to her face, and her eyes were back to normal again. She gave you a weak glare as you landed behind her. <span class="mu-g">“I hate you so much right now.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“You know, you could’ve just refused.”</span> <span class="mu-g">“Yeah, but…”</span> <span class="mu-r">“I know. You wanted to help. And that’s why you’re the one that I asked.”</span> Gwen opened her mouth, closed it again, and then let her head fall back against the headrest with a sigh. <span class="mu-g">“I seriously hate you.”</span> You laughed at her, but you quickly composed yourself and dipped your head in apology, before crawling over so that she could see you better. Her eyes followed you. They were a bit red, but there wasn’t a hint of yellow in them now. <span class="mu-r">“Sorry, but I’m gonna need another favor from you.”</span> She gave you a suspicious look, but she let you continue. <span class="mu-r">“I need your help to defeat Doctor Doom, because your shield is just about the only thing I know of that can cancel out his magic.”</span> Gwen’s eyes went wide, and she blinked several times, almost as if she suspected that this was a dream or a hallucination. Her jaw worked wordlessly as she struggled to come up with a response. <span class="mu-g">“Can’t I just…let you borrow it?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“No, I can’t just take it away from you like that.”</span> <span class="mu-g">“No really, it’s no trouble. This thing makes it hard to lean back when I sit down. Like, right now, it's kind of digging into my back.”</span> She grunted as she squirmed in her seat to reposition herself. <span class="mu-g">“Here, let me get it for you.”</span> She reached over her shoulder to grab her shield, but before she could, you reached out to grab her arm. <span class="mu-r">“You’re right. I do need the shield. But I need you to be the one holding it. Hill trusted you to hold onto it, and so do I.”</span> Her muscular arm tensed in your grip, and you got the impression that she wouldn’t have any trouble breaking out of your grasp if she really wanted to. <span class="mu-g">“But why me? We both know that I’m not the only one who can throw this thing.”</span> She gave you a pointed look. You nodded. <span class="mu-r">“I can throw it, but I need you just as much as I need that shield. You’re smart as a whip, resourceful, and a hell of a lot more heroic than I am. And I need someone like that fighting by my side, because I know for sure that you won’t run when the going gets tough.”</span> She let out a frustrated breath and flopped back into her seat. <span class="mu-g">“I’ve only ever fought C-Listers and common thugs. I can’t fight Doctor Doom! He’d squash me.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Yeah, and you’ve never flown an alien fighter jet before either, and look at what you did just a few minutes ago.”</span> You argued. Gwen sputtered in protest. <span class="mu-g">“This and that are two entirely different things! I just…!”</span> You cut her off before she could continue.
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Mon 23 Oct 2023 16:07:02 No. 5805161 Report Quoted By:
<span class="mu-r">“When your back’s against the wall, you always come through, because you know that you have to. I believe in you, Gwen Stacy. And it’s about time you did too.”</span> She stared up at you in silence. Her breathing had visibly slowed, and she looked to be considering something during the pause in the conversation. <span class="mu-g">“I don’t know if I’m half as cool as you think I am, but…I trust you. So…I’m going to try and believe that you’re not just trying to flatter me.”</span> She smiled up at you, and you couldn’t help but feel like it was a particularly dazzling smile from someone who’d just thrown up. There must be something about super soldier serums that gave you perfect teeth. That seemed a little unfair to you. She still didn’t sound very comfortable with the idea of going up against Doom, but you could sense her determination and her faith in you. And that inspired you to want to try harder to get her through this in one piece. <span class="mu-g">“So, hero…” She let that word hang in the air. Something about the smugness in her tone and the grin on her face irritated you a bit. But if that was the way she saw you, who were you to argue? “I don’t suppose you have a plan of some kind.” Fortunately for her, you’ve been paying attention to the regular updates that Julia’s been sending to your phone. This city had plenty of strong, capable, and legally insane people who would jump at the chance to either ruin Doom’s day, or at least defend their city.>((MULTIPLE REPORTS OF A MINIATURE DRAGON ENGAGED IN COMBAT WITH DOOM’S ROBOTS)) >((A BREAK-IN AT RYKER’S ISLAND HAS BEEN REPORTED)) >((MULTIPLE REPORTS OF UNUSUAL WEATHER PHENOMENON//BEWARE OF VIOLENT DUST STORMS AND THUNDERSTORMS)) >((THE MUTANT LEADER CYCLOPS AND HIS FELLOW X-MAN, ICEMAN, HAVE BEEN SPOTTED IN TIMES SQUARE)) >((TYPHOID MARY HAS BEEN SPOTTED IN BROOKLYN)) >((RESERVE MEMBERS OF THE AVENGERS TEAM HAVE BEEN SPOTTED ALL ACROSS THE CITY))</span>
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Mon 23 Oct 2023 16:08:20 No. 5805162 Report Quoted By:
<span class="mu-r">“When your back’s against the wall, you always come through, because you know that you have to. I believe in you, Gwen Stacy. And it’s about time you did too.”</span> She stared up at you in silence. Her breathing had visibly slowed, and she looked to be considering something during the pause in the conversation. <span class="mu-g">“I don’t know if I’m half as cool as you think I am, but…I trust you. So…I’m going to try and believe that you’re not just trying to flatter me.”</span> She smiled up at you, and you couldn’t help but feel like it was a particularly dazzling smile from someone who’d just thrown up. There must be something about super soldier serums that gave you perfect teeth. That seemed a little unfair to you. She still didn’t sound very comfortable with the idea of going up against Doom, but you could sense her determination and her faith in you. And that inspired you to want to try harder to get her through this in one piece. <span class="mu-g">“So, hero…”</span> She let that word hang in the air. Something about the smugness in her tone and the grin on her face irritated you a bit. But if that was the way she saw you, who were you to argue? <span class="mu-g">“I don’t suppose you have a plan of some kind.”</span> Fortunately for her, you’ve been paying attention to the regular updates that Julia’s been sending to your phone. This city had plenty of strong, capable, and legally insane people who would jump at the chance to either ruin Doom’s day, or at least defend their city.>((MULTIPLE REPORTS OF A MINIATURE DRAGON ENGAGED IN COMBAT WITH DOOM’S ROBOTS)) >((A BREAK-IN AT RYKER’S ISLAND HAS BEEN REPORTED)) >((MULTIPLE REPORTS OF UNUSUAL WEATHER PHENOMENON//BEWARE OF VIOLENT DUST STORMS AND THUNDERSTORMS)) >((THE MUTANT LEADER CYCLOPS AND HIS FELLOW X-MAN, ICEMAN, HAVE BEEN SPOTTED IN TIMES SQUARE)) >((TYPHOID MARY HAS BEEN SPOTTED IN BROOKLYN)) >((RESERVE MEMBERS OF THE AVENGERS TEAM HAVE BEEN SPOTTED ALL ACROSS THE CITY)) (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Mon 23 Oct 2023 16:09:21 No. 5805163 Report What will you do?
>Call up Chat and have her help you locate and identify the backup Avengers members. >Follow up on the lead about that weather phenomenon. You’re pretty sure you know who’s responsible for both. >Fly on over Ryker’s and see if you can’t recruit some unsavory folk for your team. >Swing on over to Times Square to help the X-Men. It’s pretty close to Hell’s Kitchen too, so you might just run into Daredevil. >Try to find that mini-dragon from earlier. You could use some extra firepower like that on your side. >Call Julia. There’s a lot of information to parse through here, and you could really use her help to summarize all of it. >Call your sister. You need to be in a lot of places tonight, and you could really use Van’s help to cut down on travel time. >Track down Hill and see if you can’t convince her to recruit some help from her maximum security prison, otherwise known as “The Raft”. If you want any hope of defeating Doom, then you’re going to have to break out the big guns. >Call up Morbius. You have need of Terminal’s services again. >Write-in. Pastebins:
Character Sheet:
https://pastebin.com/1ZihFYSV Equipment and Gear:
https://pastebin.com/WAhveFAd Contacts:
https://pastebin.com/WdcFXD2s 10 Commandments of the Desperados:
https://pastebin.com/Qpr2jVPE Costumes:
https://pastebin.com/5Jie54X2 The Huntsman’s Travel Guide:
https://pastebin.com/PU6LWsip Anonymous
>>5805163 >Call Julia. There’s a lot of information to parse through here, and you could really use her help to summarize all of it. >Call your sister. You need to be in a lot of places tonight, and you could really use Van’s help to cut down on travel time. Repeating my vote from last thread
Anonymous
>>5805163 >Call Sam, ask where Reed Richards is. >Call Vic, have her alter ego come on out >Collect Flint, collect the Fantfourstic >make a small plan on how to deal with Doom, because he'll not be defenseless even if the shield gets his magic down. >Then go and make ourselves an enemy in Doom Anonymous
>>5805163 >Call your sister. You need to be in a lot of places tonight, and you could really use Van’s help to cut down on travel time. Even shuttling between the Morlocks, Webb’s mansion, and our place would be a benefit for picking up Desperado’s, getting status updates, and grouping up in safe places.
>Check in on the Morlocks and see who else is out in the city. Iara was tangling with the dragon earlier so they’re not all holed up. Only for this if we can get our sister to help with transport. Probably not a good idea to pull Callisto for a phone call if Doom or the Pixel Punks are in the sewers for some reason.
Backing the rest of
>>5805196 for now.
Anonymous
>>5805163 >Swing on over to Times Square to help the X-Men. It’s pretty close to Hell’s Kitchen too, so you might just run into Daredevil. >Follow up on the lead about that weather phenomenon. You’re pretty sure you know who’s responsible for both. >Call your sister. You need to be in a lot of places tonight, and you could really use Van’s help to cut down on travel time. Only if she is willing. She did seem like she wanted to lie low.
>Write-in. >Check in on Cindy. Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Tue 24 Oct 2023 03:09:15 No. 5805625 Report Quoted By:
>>5805186 >>5805196 >>5805370 >>5805398 >Call Sam, ask where Reed Richards is. >Call Vic, have her alter ego come on out >Collect Flint, collect the Fantfourstic >make a small plan on how to deal with Doom, because he'll not be defenseless even if the shield gets his magic down. >Then go and make ourselves an enemy in Doom Alright, so we're gonna do this step-by-step. Writing...
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Tue 24 Oct 2023 04:53:06 No. 5805698 Report Quoted By:
<span class="mu-r">“In fact, I do. Let me just make some calls.”</span> You weren’t sure if Gwen had any more questions or concerns, but you didn’t give her much of a chance to address them. You were already flying off and up into the air, taking a lap around the Helicarrier while you dialed Sam’s number. He should still be in the Baxter Building, so he’ll know where Reed Richards is. <span class="mu-r">“Hey, Sam. Any chance you could put me on the line with Reed Richards?”</span> <span class="mu-b">“Huntsman!? We’re a little busy right now!”</span> Sam answered. There was a shit ton of static on his end, and you could swear that you could hear a combination of laser fire and explosions happening somewhere in the background. <span class="mu-r">“Hold on, don’t hang up! I need his help to stop Doom. What’s the situation like over there?”</span> <span class="mu-b">“Doombots! Doombots everywhere! Way too many.”</span> He was breathing heavily, and he had to shout to be heard over the noise in the surrounding area. <span class="mu-b">“Reed thinks that he can cobble together a device that should emit a frequency that shorts them all out, but it’ll only work once. These things are built to adapt to scenarios like this, and Doom’s keeping the majority of his army focused on the Four.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“So even if I could get them out of there, the Doombots would follow.”</span> <span class="mu-b">“Yup. Now you see the problem.”</span> So Richards wants to take out as many as he can, all at once. He’s torn between using it at the Baxter Building to protect his family, or saving it for a better opportunity. <span class="mu-r">“Right. Thanks for the update. I’ll see what I can do.”</span> <span class="mu-b">“What’s it like out there?”</span> Sam asked. He sounded like he really needed some good news right now. <span class="mu-r">“Not much better. We’ve got the Avengers and the X-Men on the scene, but they’re scattered. I want to find a way to strike back at Doom before he does something crazy.”</span> Sam let out a sardonic laugh. <span class="mu-b">“You mean crazier than this?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Never underestimate criminal masterminds, Sam. They can <span class="mu-i">always</span> get crazier.”</span> You heard a loud crash, followed by a curse from Sam. <span class="mu-b">“Well, whatever you’re going to do, do it soon. I plan on making it home alive tonight.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Will do, buddy. Stay safe.”</span> <span class="mu-b">“You too.”</span> You hung up, and immediately dialed the only other person in this city that you considered indispensable to your plan. <span class="mu-r">“Hey, Vic? Is everything alright?”</span> <span class="mu-g">“Ben! Where are you? What’s happening out there?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Doctor Doom happened. Actually, he’s still kind of happening. I’m trying to figure out what I can do to get things under control. But in order for that to happen, I’m going to need Van’s help.”</span> <span class="mu-g">“Um…I’m actually not sure if she’d want to go out during all of this.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Probably not, but I’d like to try and convince her. I can be pretty persuasive.”</span> You tried to ignore the way that your sister scoffed at that statement. (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Tue 24 Oct 2023 04:54:35 No. 5805699 Report Quoted By:
<span class="mu-r">“How’s everyone else? Rich and Pete. Are they safe?”</span> <span class="mu-g">“They’re fine. They were both home when the attack happened, thank god. Pete’s a little spooked, though.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Then we’ve all got something in common.”</span> <span class="mu-g">“He’s worried about you, Ben.”</span> Poor kid. He was probably waiting for you to come back from Vegas this entire time. But instead of a heartwarming reunion, he gets a Latverian terrorist attack. <span class="mu-r">“Let me talk to him. I’ll see if I can calm him down.”</span> <span class="mu-g">“Okay. I’ll talk to Rich while you do that.”</span> There was a pause, and you found a nice perch to land on while you waited. You heard some shuffling and muttered exchanges over the phone, before the voice of a young boy came through on the receiver. <span class="mu-b">“Uncle Ben? Are you okay?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Hey, kiddo. I’m doing just fine. It’ll take more than this to keep me down.”</span> Peter let out a weak chuckle. <span class="mu-b">“Dad said that too. But I think he and Aunt Vicky are scared too.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“They’re always scared. Listen to me, Pete. This is the safest place for us to be right now. We’ve got the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, and a bunch of other heroes here to defend us. But more importantly, you’ve got me.”</span> <span class="mu-b">“You?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“That’s right. I’ll kick Doom’s shiny metal can if he touches a single hair on your head. I’ll walk right up to him, roll up my sleeves and teach him a lesson he’ll never forget.”</span> Despite himself, your seemingly absurd, half-imagined scenario had Peter in stitches. His innocent laughter was enough to let you forget how dire the situation had become, if only for a moment. <span class="mu-r">“And the next time he thinks about attacking New York, he’ll shake his head and go: ‘I’d better not. Ben Parker’s nephew lives there.’ And that’s what every bad guy’ll say after I get done with them.”</span> <span class="mu-b">“I think you should still let the Avengers handle it.”</span> Pete said, sounding much cheerier than he had before. <span class="mu-r">“Alright, fine. I’ll let them have this one. But next time, it’ll be my turn!”</span> There was more shuffling and muttering on the other end of the line, and you heard the phone exchange hands again. <span class="mu-b">“Hey, Ben. I hope you’re keeping your head down during all this.”</span> You were relieved to hear Richard’s voice as well. You may have had your differences in the past, but you were still family at the end of the day. <span class="mu-r">“Oh, you know me.”</span> <span class="mu-b">“I’ll take that as a no, then. Vic’s saying that you want her to go out into that mess?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“I need Van’s help. Her ability to teleport can save a lot of lives tonight.”</span> <span class="mu-b">“But that’s still our sister’s body that she’ll be using. She could get hurt, or-”</span> <span class="mu-b">“Richard. The phone please.”</span> That voice belonged to your sister, but the tone of voice that came off as cold and detached belonged to another, much older being. <span class="mu-b">“You…”</span> (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Tue 24 Oct 2023 04:55:43 No. 5805700 Report Quoted By:
<span class="mu-b">“It’s alright. Let me speak to him.”</span> There was another brief pause, after which the voice of Va Nee Gast answered the phone in your sister’s stead. <span class="mu-b">“Hello, Ben.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Hey, Van. Thanks for coming out. How much of that did you…?”</span> <span class="mu-b">“I got the general idea. You want my help to defeat someone vastly more powerful than yourself. Or at least, thwart his plans.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Well, I don’t know about ‘vastly’...”</span> Van just plowed right through, pretending as if you hadn’t said anything. <span class="mu-b">“Ben, this is an extremely public event that is taking place. If I show myself now, there is a good chance that the world will learn of my existence once more. There will be no going back after that. Are you certain that your allies can protect me from your world’s governments? Because if not, then I will have no choice but to assume another identity and go into hiding again.”</span> What would happen to Vic if she did that? Would she be erased? Could Pete handle losing his aunt? Could the Parker clan handle losing such an integral part of the family, even if it had all been an illusion from the beginning? <span class="mu-r">“I promise. I won’t let anything happen to you.”</span> For a while, Van didn’t respond. You were starting to wonder whether she had hung up on you, until she let out a long sigh. It was so unlike her that you had to wonder whether the expression had come from her or Vic. <span class="mu-b">“Very well, then. I suppose it had to happen sometime.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“I’m sure they’ll change their opinion of you when they see you saving lives out there.”</span> <span class="mu-b">“We shall see. Where would you like to meet?”</span> —------- Several minutes later, you, Gwen and Van emerged out of thin air and onto a street that you didn’t recognize. It was absolutely covered in sand, which was a good sign! It meant that Flint had been through here. And judging by the piles of scrapped Doombots, he’d been cleaning house. As if you had conjured him by thinking of his name, Flint’s sand form materialized in front of you. He was colorless and lacking in definition, but it was undeniably him. <span class="mu-g">“There you are! It’s about time you-”</span> He froze. His gaze was now firmly locked on Van. She was wearing a strange yellow jumpsuit that you’d never seen before, but it was clear to anyone who knew Vic personally that this person shared her exact facial features. The only difference being her unusual hair and skin color. She gave him a firm nod. <span class="mu-b">“Flint Marko. It is good to see you. You have my thanks for lending my alter your protection.”</span> Flint’s jaw tensed. He wore a complicated expression on his face, as if he was unsure of how to address her. Then, his eyes flitted over to you, almost as if to ask whether her being here was a good idea or not. You nodded slightly. (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Tue 24 Oct 2023 04:58:00 No. 5805701 Report He looked like he was about to say something, but a loud crackle of thunder drew everyone’s attention to the west. In one particular part of the city, the weather had gone completely haywire. Hurricane winds, torrential rain, and violent lightning storms erupted all at once. All with a lone, floating figure at its center. That must be Storm, another powerful mutant from the X-Men.
Flint shivered as he looked up at her.
<span class="mu-g">“I don’t care where we go, so long as it's away from her. She’d blow me to pieces if I went over there.”</span>
Gwen seemed to agree. She was caught somewhere between fear and awe.
<span class="mu-g">“We sure could use the firepower, though...”</span>
Just then, you got a notification from your phone warning you about an incoming call. It was the Prowler!
<span class="mu-r">“What’s up?”</span>
<span class="mu-g">“Huntsman. It’s Cindy. She’s hurt bad.”</span>
Your mind went blank for a moment, and you could feel the bottom dropping out from your stomach.
<span class="mu-r">“How bad? What happened!?”</span>
<span class="mu-g">“I think she got cornered by some Doombots. There’s another kid here. A vigilante, I think. She helped find me. She also says that Typhoid Mary saved them. Don’t know why, but I’m not gonna question it. I’m gonna give her a dose of the Horton Cells that I got from Vegas. Should help speed up her healing process.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“‘Should’?”</span>
<span class="mu-g">“The results can be a bit unpredictable sometimes, but I’m pretty sure it’ll work.”</span>
He muttered a curse under his breath.
<span class="mu-g">“I never should’ve let her go off on her own.”</span>
Gwen was giving you a concerned look, but you couldn’t find it in you to pay her any attention right now.
What will you do?
>”Tell me where you are. I’ll be right there.” >”Forget that. I know someone who fixes up vigilantes for a living. Madame Web should be able to get us in contact with her.” >”Hold on. I know a pretty good doctor in the city.” (Beat down Doctor Strange’s door until he lets you in.) >”If you’re confident that you can save her, then I’ll leave her in your capable hands. If I’m being honest, I feel more comfortable with her out of the fight.” >”Don’t beat yourself up. I should’ve checked in with her earlier.” >”Khonshu! Get your skinny ass down here and do something for once!” >Write-in. Pastebins:
Character Sheet:
https://pastebin.com/1ZihFYSV Equipment and Gear:
https://pastebin.com/WAhveFAd Contacts:
https://pastebin.com/WdcFXD2s 10 Commandments of the Desperados:
https://pastebin.com/Qpr2jVPE Costumes:
https://pastebin.com/5Jie54X2 The Huntsman’s Travel Guide:
https://pastebin.com/PU6LWsip Anonymous
Anonymous
>>5805701 >>”Forget that. I know someone who fixes up vigilantes for a living. Madame Web should be able to get us in contact with her.” Anonymous
>>5805701 >>5805718 >"How bad?!?" I agree to have the possibility to have a tiny update with prowler declaring how bad it is.
the Dad thing to do would be...
>"Put her on the phone." >to Cindy "Do you want me to come?" if it's not too bad we don't need to go. She probably will insist herself that we don't need to come.
>”Forget that. I know someone who fixes up vigilantes for a living. Madame Web should be able to get us in contact with her.” we don't need to be involved the entire time and could even go check on Cindy
so slight change of plan for the rest anyway:
>we should probably put someone to observe the Doom/Arcade situation before they are gone, if they haven't changed location already. I'd reason Van, as she doesn't want to step into the spotlight
>have most go to the Baxter Building and keep the fire off Reed while he works on his device we probably need him to face off with Doom again
also IP change, I'm that guy >>5805196 Anonymous
>>5805701 >”Tell me where you are. I’ll be right there.” >”Forget that. I know someone who fixes up vigilantes for a living. Madame Web should be able to get us in contact with her.” >"We had an entire team for the horton cells to work, and I don't want to gamble on it depending on someone already having fire powers before hand." Anonymous
>>5805701 >>”Forget that. I know someone who fixes up vigilantes for a living. Madame Web should be able to get us in contact with her.” also, where's Abe?
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>5805701 Backing
>>5805942 . If Webb can’t help then we could try Silvermane. We’re part of the family, if he knows someone then he’ll tell us. Maybe he’s not up to his neck in fighting Doombots either.
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Wed 25 Oct 2023 00:25:57 No. 5806616 Report Quoted By:
>>5805718 >>5805830 >>5805942 >>5805920 >>5806492 >"How bad?!?" >”Forget that. I know someone who fixes up vigilantes for a living. Madame Web should be able to get us in contact with her.” >"We had an entire team for the Horton Cells to work, and I don't want to gamble on it depending on someone already having fire powers before hand." Taking these. Writing...
Anonymous
>catch up on the quest again after a few months >Cindy is injured >New York is on fire >Ben is also on fire >Doctor Doom is doing as he pleases Good to be back
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Wed 25 Oct 2023 01:06:37 No. 5806679 Report Quoted By:
>>5806652 Glad to have you back, anon!
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Wed 25 Oct 2023 01:38:19 No. 5806709 Report Quoted By:
>>5806492 Abe's helping out in other places, but you can call him if you need him for anything.
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Wed 25 Oct 2023 01:53:56 No. 5806722 Report Quoted By:
<span class="mu-r">“How bad?!?”</span> <span class="mu-g">“Her right arm’s broken, and it looks like she’s lost a lot of blood. Once I can get back to my hideout and grab a sample, she should be fine.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Forget that. I know someone who fixes up vigilantes for a living. Madame Web should be able to get us in contact with her.”</span> <span class="mu-g">“The blind psychic lady? She’s not gonna peek into my head, is she?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“She very well might. But I trust her friend more than I trust those Horton Cells.”</span> <span class="mu-g">“You mean the ones that you had them pump you full of in Vegas?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Yeah, but back then we had an entire team dedicated to tailoring those Horton Cells to perfectly suit my body. Who knows what would happen if we tried it on her without testing it?”</span> <span class="mu-g">“Horton Cells were engineered to be compatible with most people, but I see your point. If you know someone else, then I’ll defer to your judgment.”</span> You heard a pained groan in the background, followed by a familiar voice that made your breath catch in your throat. <span class="mu-s">“Prowler. Let me talk…”</span> <span class="mu-g">“Hey, kid. Try not to move too much.”</span> <span class="mu-s">“I’m fine. Just need…some rest…”</span> She sounded exhausted. And judging by the night she’s had, you could sympathize with her. <span class="mu-g">“Alright. Here.”</span> Cindy mumbled a thank you and coughed before she started to speak again. <span class="mu-s">“Hey. Don’t worry about me. So long as I stay out of trouble, Khonshu will heal me. It just…takes a while.”</span> Her pained grunts made her story sound less convincing, but this also wouldn’t be the first time that you’ve seen her shrug off injuries. You just hoped her body could withstand the punishment. <span class="mu-r">“Either way, we’re gonna get you looked at. I’m going to be sending Prowler some info as soon as Julia and Web get back to me.”</span> Cindy tried to say something, but she was cut off when Prowler snatched the phone back. <span class="mu-g">“What should I do about her little sidekick? She’s still following us.”</span> <span class="mu-s">“Let her stay. It’s too dangerous…”</span> Cindy trailed off for a moment, before catching herself and continuing. <span class="mu-s">“She’s my roommate.”</span> Wait. Wanda’s with her? And she’s a vigilante? You wanted to ask more, but those were questions for another time. <span class="mu-r">“I’ll have Julia send you the Nurse’s address. Call me if anything happens, or if you need anything.”</span> <span class="mu-g">“Will do.”</span> After he hung up, you suddenly became aware of everyone staring at you. <span class="mu-g">“Is everything alright?”</span> Gwen asked. <span class="mu-r">“Not really, but there isn’t a whole lot that I can do about it at the moment. For now, we need to focus on building up a proper team.”</span> Van nodded. <span class="mu-b">“Where would you like to go?”</span> (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Wed 25 Oct 2023 01:54:56 No. 5806726 Report What will you do?
>Ryker’s Island. There are probably some criminals that can be convinced to join your cause. >Try to pin down the location of some of the Avengers that are fighting around the city. (Random) >Aid the X-Men in their fight against the Doombots. >Help Flint gather up some more sand and have him trap the Doombots in the Baxter Building, while Van teleports the Fantastic Four out of the building. >Call up Julia and have her give you specific locations on the Avengers. >Contact Squirrel Girl and Chat. They should have a decent idea of where Doom is and what he’s doing. >Write-in. Pastebins:
Character Sheet:
https://pastebin.com/1ZihFYSV Equipment and Gear:
https://pastebin.com/WAhveFAd Contacts:
https://pastebin.com/WdcFXD2s 10 Commandments of the Desperados:
https://pastebin.com/Qpr2jVPE Costumes:
https://pastebin.com/5Jie54X2 The Huntsman’s Travel Guide:
https://pastebin.com/PU6LWsip Anonymous
>>5806726 >>Help Flint gather up some more sand and have him trap the Doombots in the Baxter Building, while Van teleports the Fantastic Four out of the building. Anonymous
>>5806726 >Help Flint gather up some more sand and have him trap the Doombots in the Baxter Building, while Van teleports the Fantastic Four out of the building. Anonymous
>>5806726 >>Help Flint gather up some more sand and have him trap the Doombots in the Baxter Building, while Van teleports the Fantastic Four out of the building. What better introduction could there possibly be?
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>5806726 >>Ryker’s Island. There are probably some criminals that can be convinced to join your cause. Anonymous
>>5806726 >>Help Flint gather up some more sand and have him trap the Doombots in the Baxter Building, while Van teleports the Fantastic Four out of the building. or the other way around with Flint keeping the air clear to let Reed work on and finish his device.
step 1 Teleport with working device to Doom,
step 2 disable his bots and magic at the same time
step 3 ???
step 4 profit
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Wed 25 Oct 2023 22:00:50 No. 5807472 Report Quoted By:
>>5806734 >>5806738 >>5806741 >>5807269 >Help Flint gather up some more sand and have him trap the Doombots in the Baxter Building, while Van teleports the Fantastic Four out of the building. Taking these. Writing...
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Thu 26 Oct 2023 00:32:49 No. 5807569 Report Quoted By:
<span class="mu-r">“We need to get to the Baxter Building.”</span> You said, pointing a finger at yourself and Gwen in turn. <span class="mu-r">“But most importantly, I’m gonna need you to get this guy to the beach.”</span> Gwen looked confused for a second, but she seemed to connect the dots after examining her surroundings. Flint just looked downright giddy. <span class="mu-g">“Now that’s a plan I can get behind.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“I thought you’d like it. Sweet and simple.”</span> <span class="mu-g">“The best plans are.”</span> Gwen glanced between the two of you. <span class="mu-g">“Alright boys, you can pat yourselves on the back after we’ve saved the Fantastic Four, and—wow, I’m just now realizing how ridiculous that sounds. Are we sure that this is gonna work?”</span> You gave her a confident smile. <span class="mu-r">“We have yet to encounter a problem that a metric fuck-ton of sand can’t solve.”</span> Flint nodded eagerly. <span class="mu-g">“Works every time.”</span> She gave you both an uncertain look, before shrugging and letting out a small sigh. <span class="mu-g">“Sure, why not? Who am I to argue with that logic?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“That’s the spirit. Beam us up, Van!”</span> Without another word, Van stepped towards you and Gwen. Before her hand even touched you, the world around you shifted, and suddenly, you were a few blocks away from the Baxter Building. Only, the sight that greeted you was far from welcoming. A literal army of Doombots were swarming the building, bombarding it with energy weapons and explosives. From the faint blue shimmer surrounding it, you assumed that there was some sort of active force field protecting it. How it was still up after all this time, you didn’t know, but you chalked it up to Reed Richards’ ingenuity and put it out of your mind for the moment. You could also see several teams of Doombots patrolling the surrounding area. Some were on the ground, but most were flying circles around the surrounding area. If Van had teleported you any closer, they might have detected you and taken your presence as an attempt to assist the First Family. <span class="mu-g">“Whoa…”</span> Gwen breathed, tightening her grip on her shield’s strap. <span class="mu-r">“Yeah. I wonder if it’d be too much to ask to get Magneto to come here. It’d make our job a hell of a lot easier.”</span> Gwen grimaced at the thought. <span class="mu-g">“Are we sure that they wouldn’t just help each other?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“You think those two would get along?”</span> You asked. Gwen just shrugged. <span class="mu-g">“Who knows? Maybe they’re in the same book club.”</span> You went to ask Van for her opinion, only to find that she’d left without a word. <span class="mu-r">“Well, that’s rude…”</span> Gwen gave you an incredulous look. <span class="mu-g">“Seriously? You insult people all the time.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“No, not you. I was talking about-”</span> You never got to finish. Van appeared right beside you a split second later, staring directly at the finger you had pointed at her face. You quickly retracted it. <span class="mu-r">“Where’s Sandman?”</span> (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Thu 26 Oct 2023 00:34:38 No. 5807571 Report Quoted By:
<span class="mu-b">“He will be here shortly. If I tried to teleport an entire beach all at once, the stress would probably kill me.”</span> <span class="mu-g">“How long is that going to take?”</span> Gwen asked. Van shrugged and shook her head. You guess that must be a universal gesture. <span class="mu-b">“I have no idea. We could be here for an hour or—oh, look. That must be him.”</span> She pointed past your head and far out into the distance, where you could faintly see a large cloud of dust rising up into the air, and moving towards you rather quickly. <span class="mu-r">“Looks like he’s traveling by air. I guess we should start getting ready.”</span> You brought out your phone and dialed one of the last numbers that you called. Sam picked up almost immediately. <span class="mu-s">“Huntsman?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Hey, Sam. You’re still doing security work for the Four, right?”</span> <span class="mu-s">“Uhh…yeah?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Then you’ve probably got a detailed map of their building, right?”</span> <span class="mu-s">“Where are you going with this?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“I need you to send me that map, along with the relative locations of you and everyone else in that building. I’m getting you guys out.”</span> <span class="mu-s">“But, the Doombots…!”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Don’t you worry about them. We’ll take care of it.”</span> <span class="mu-s">“‘We’? Who’s ‘we’?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“You’ll find out after you send me that map.”</span> <span class="mu-s">“Okay, okay. Give me one sec.”</span> A minute later, you received a new file from Sam, but it wasn’t any kind of file type that you’d seen before. <span class="mu-r">“I can’t convert this.”</span> Gwen leaned over to peek at your screen, looking interested. <span class="mu-g">“Let me see. Send it to me.”</span> You did so, and to your surprise, her phone began projecting a 3D replica of the Baxter Building above the screen. <span class="mu-r">“How’d you-?”</span> <span class="mu-g">“Shield tech. There’s some perks to the job. Now, let’s see here...”</span> At certain points in the holographic image, there were blinking red dots with names next to them. Sam was somewhere on the fourth floor with Ben Grimm and Alicia Masters, while Susan and Johnny Storm were actively moving around on the thirtieth floor. <span class="mu-s">“Reed and his kids are somewhere in the basement. He’s working on the device that I told you about.”</span> Sam explained. <span class="mu-r">“I guess it was too much to hope for you all to be in the same place.”</span> Van was staring hard at the 3D projection, committing it to memory before she made her move. A little while later, she nodded and focused her gaze on the real Baxter Building. <span class="mu-b">“Tell this ‘Sam’ that I am coming to get him.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Hold tight, Sam. I’m sending someone in to come get you. So if you happen to see a blue alien chick appear in front of you-”</span> <span class="mu-s">“OH, SHIT!”</span> Too late. A moment later, both Sam and Van appeared outside in front of you. The shock of it nearly made Sam stumble to the ground, but Gwen was quick enough to catch him by the arm. He seemed just as alarmed to see her, though. The sheer size of the girl was probably a shocking sight to the uninitiated. (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Thu 26 Oct 2023 00:38:18 No. 5807577 Report Quoted By:
<span class="mu-g">“Careful. Are you alright?”</span> <span class="mu-s">“Y-yeah, I’m good.”</span> She gave him a warm smile and patted him on the back. That was nearly enough to make Sam lose his balance. Gwen blushed a bit. She was about to apologize, when Van waved a hand to get everyone’s attention. <span class="mu-b">“I am going after Alicia Masters next.”</span> Same held out a hand to stop her. <span class="mu-s">“Hold it. Ben won’t let you take her without taking him too. And if you take him, then the Doombots are gonna react.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“So we need to get them all out at the same time.”</span> You concluded. <span class="mu-b">“Then it would be better for me to remain in the building and assemble the team until Flint arrives.”</span> Van said. You looked out into the distance and caught another glimpse of the roving dust cloud that was your best friend. <span class="mu-r">“Should be any moment now.”</span> Van nodded and disappeared once more. After that, it was only a matter of waiting. —------ When Flint arrived, he descended on the Baxter Building like a biblical swarm of angry locusts. The sandstorm darkened the sky and swallowed up every Doombot that dared to get in its way. And by the time it had touched the ground, the entire 35-story tower was obscured by the abnormal weather phenomenon. It truly was a marvelous sight to see. A few minutes later, Van returned with a few new friends. Reed Richards, Susan Storm, Ben Grimm, Johnny Storm, Alicia Masters and four children had hitched a ride with her. Interestingly, two of the children seemed to be aliens. One was a Skrull, and the other had blue skin, so you thought it safe to assume that their heritage wasn't entirely human. They looked around in confusion, but they shook off their disorientation in record time. Reed breathed out a sigh. <span class="mu-b">“Thank you…Va Nee, was it?”</span> <span class="mu-b">“That’s right. And when we have time, I would like to talk at length about what I briefly mentioned before.”</span> Sue placed a reassuring hand on Van’s shoulder. <span class="mu-s">“Of course. But for now, we’ve got a whole city to worry about.”</span> Van gave the woman a rare smile, only for it to fade slightly when she heard The Thing grinding his teeth together and letting out a low growl. <span class="mu-r">“I swear, when I get my hands on that big ugly refrigerator magnet…!”</span> He slammed a craggy fist into an open palm. Johnny seemed to agree wholeheartedly with the sentiment. <span class="mu-r">“I know! I had a date tonight. With a supermodel! And Doom picks now to invade? I swear he’s spying on me.”</span> Johnny folded his arms in a huff. Sue just rolled her eyes. <span class="mu-s">“Right. Because Doom wants nothing more than to ruin your dating life, Johnny.”</span> You, Gwen and Sam just watched as they bantered with one another. Gwen looked absolutely starstruck, and she seemed to be trying to find a good time to introduce herself. (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Thu 26 Oct 2023 00:39:18 No. 5807580 Report What will you do?
>”Hey, Reed. Long time no see. I was wearing a different suit when we first met. >”As much as I’d love to stay and chat, I think we should move this party someplace else.” (Have Van teleport the group away) >”Alright everyone, gather ‘round. This is Gwen Stacy, and she’s our key to bringing down Doom with her anti-magic shield. Take it away, Gwen! >”Feel free to save that device of yours for later, Reed. I think Flint can hold down the fort while we’re away.” >”Web your business card to The Thing’s chest. “Thank you for riding with us today. I’m the Huntsman of the Desperados, and that giant storm cloud is my buddy Sandman. Feel free to hire our services another time if you’re ever in a pickle. I don’t have the website set up yet, but we’re getting there.” >Write-in. Pastebins:
Character Sheet:
https://pastebin.com/1ZihFYSV Equipment and Gear:
https://pastebin.com/WAhveFAd Contacts:
https://pastebin.com/WdcFXD2s 10 Commandments of the Desperados:
https://pastebin.com/Qpr2jVPE Costumes:
https://pastebin.com/5Jie54X2 The Huntsman’s Travel Guide:
https://pastebin.com/PU6LWsip Anonymous
>>5807580 >”Web your business card to The Thing’s chest. “Thank you for riding with us today. I’m the Huntsman of the Desperados, and that giant storm cloud is my buddy Sandman. Feel free to hire our services another time if you’re ever in a pickle. I don’t have the website set up yet, but we’re getting there.” >”Hey, Reed. Long time no see. I was wearing a different suit when we first met. >”As much as I’d love to stay and chat, I think we should move this party someplace else.” (Have Van teleport the group away) Anonymous
>>5807580 >>”As much as I’d love to stay and chat, I think we should move this party someplace else.” (Have Van teleport the group away) Anonymous
>>5807580 >”Web your business card to The Thing’s chest. “Thank you for riding with us today. I’m the Huntsman of the Desperados, and that giant storm cloud is my buddy Sandman. Feel free to hire our services another time if you’re ever in a pickle. I don’t have the website set up yet, but we’re getting there.” >”As much as I’d love to stay and chat, I think we should move this party someplace else.” (Have Van teleport the group away) Anonymous
Anonymous
>>5807580 >>”As much as I’d love to stay and chat, I think we should move this party someplace else.” (Have Van teleport the group away) >”This is Bastion, and she’s our key to bringing down Doom with her anti-magic shield." >"Now with all the kids safe, I'd hope to first go back and allow you to finish that frequency disruptor thing Sam talked about." >"The plan is to then just teleport before Doom's nose, disable his magic, disable his bots, Sandman as a force of nature outside and defeat him as quickly as possible."
>"I hope that doesn't sound too optimistic." Anonymous
>>5807580 >>5807995 I’ll back this and add
>”We have a squirrel scout network and people managing it, plus the Helicarrier has landed but should still be functional. If there are others in S.H.I.E.L.D. or the city that can help with the disruptor then we can reach out and see if we can grab them quick.” If we teleport to the Helicarrier then the bit about it can be dropped since we’ll already be there.
Anonymous
Spider-Bros...we won.Except not really because they're just bringing back the Ultimate universe. Free my nigga 616 Pete
Anonymous
>>5808355 kill 616 peter, put him out of his misery
you know, the concept of a spiderman starting out adult is kinda like this quest isnt it
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Thu 26 Oct 2023 22:09:29 No. 5808373 Report >>5808355 >>5808358 I've been so fucking excited ever since they announced Ultimate Spider-Man coming back. Elseworlds are usually the only interesting stories in cape comics these days, because they have no status quo, and are subject to lasting changes. Shit actually matters, and the writing for the characters is actually consistent.
Mainline Spider-Man will almost always be a "down on his luck loser" that can't hold a job, can't maintain a stable relationship, and can't raise a family. Continuity and canon are completely worthless in my eyes, and I'd much rather see my heroes grow, develop, and eventually retire. I feel like the "true fans" are genuinely unhinged for wanting Peter to suffer in limbo as a 20-somthing year old for all eternity.
>>5807589 >>5807594 >>5807695 >>5807736 >>5807995 >>5808096 >”Web your business card to The Thing’s chest. “Thank you for riding with us today. I’m the Huntsman of the Desperados, and that giant storm cloud is my buddy Sandman. Feel free to hire our services another time if you’re ever in a pickle. I don’t have the website set up yet, but we’re getting there.” >”As much as I’d love to stay and chat, I think we should move this party someplace else.” (Have Van teleport the group away) >”This is Bastion, and she’s our key to bringing down Doom with her anti-magic shield." >"Now with all the kids safe, I'd hope to first go back and allow you to finish that frequency disruptor thing Sam talked about." >"The plan is to then just teleport before Doom's nose, disable his magic, disable his bots, Sandman as a force of nature outside, and defeat him as quickly as possible. >"I hope that doesn't sound too optimistic." >”We have a squirrel scout network and people managing it, plus the Helicarrier has landed but should still be functional. If there are others in S.H.I.E.L.D. or the city that can help with the disruptor then we can reach out and see if we can grab them quick.” Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Thu 26 Oct 2023 22:10:30 No. 5808378 Report Quoted By:
>>5808373 Taking these. Writing...
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Thu 26 Oct 2023 23:40:22 No. 5808442 Report Quoted By:
While the four bickered, you discreetly removed a business card from one of the pouches in your belt and webbed it onto Ben Grimm’s chest. Everyone stopped talking to stare at it. The Thing spluttered as he stared at the card in disbelief. <span class="mu-r">“What the…!”</span> Before he could get any further, though, you loudly cleared your throat and launched right into your sales pitch. <span class="mu-r">“Thank you for riding with us today. I’m the Huntsman of the Desperados, and that giant storm cloud behind us is my buddy Sandman.”</span> The Four and the rest of their extended family stared at you, and then they turned to stare at the swirling sandstorm behind them. <span class="mu-r">“Feel free to hire our services another time if you’re ever in a pickle. I don’t have the website set up yet, but we’re getting there.”</span> You gave them a wink, and in the corner of your eye, you could see Gwen shaking her head. The Thing turned to look at Johnny while pointing a thick finger in your direction. <span class="mu-r">“Is this guy serious right now?”</span> Johnny nodded, an amused grin on his face. <span class="mu-r">“I think he is. And…I <span class="mu-i">think</span> you just became his mascot. Your chest is like free advertising space. Why didn’t I see the potential before?”</span> Ben grumbled something under his breath and shook a fist at you. <span class="mu-r">“This stuff had better come off with hot water, or I’ll come and find ya later, ya hear!”</span> <span class="mu-r">“If I were you, I’d try ‘Goof Off’.”</span> Johnny whispered, without any intention of being discreet. Ben looked about ready to lash out at the hot-headed hero. <span class="mu-r">“I’LL ‘OFF’ YOU, IF YA DON’T-!”</span> <span class="mu-s">“BOYS! BOYS!”</span> It was at this point that Susan Storm stepped in. Despite her being much smaller than either of them, she somehow managed to project her voice into the domineering tone of a mother disciplining her bratty children. The actual children in the family, seemed to be greatly amused by their mother figure nagging at anyone other than themselves, and watched with great interest. <span class="mu-s">“You’re both goofs. Now, can we shut up and focus on the situation at hand? Victor’s still at large, and we’ve only just managed to take a single step outside of our home. We need a plan.”</span> The family turned to Reed expectantly, but before he could get a word in, you loudly cleared your throat once more to get everyone’s attention. <span class="mu-r">“As much as I’d love to stay and chat, I think we should move this party someplace else.”</span> You signaled Van, and she nodded. A moment later, you and everyone other than Flint shifted to an empty side street that you didn’t immediately recognize. There weren’t any Doombots in sight, thankfully. <span class="mu-r">“Would it kill ya to warn us before doing that again?”</span> Ben groused. <span class="mu-r">“That <span class="mu-i">was</span> my warning. And now that the kids are safe, I’d like to know how much progress you’ve made on that frequency disruptor that Sam told me about.”</span> Reed glanced at Sam, who gave him a helpless shrug. (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Thu 26 Oct 2023 23:41:25 No. 5808444 Report Quoted By:
<span class="mu-b">“It’s nearly finished, but I can have Valeria help me with the finishing touches.”</span> Reed gestured to the little blonde girl, who you assumed to be his daughter. He showed no shame in accepted help from someone so young, and the girl didn’t so much as blink at the implication of such a thing. In fact, the confident look in her eye led you to believe that she thought the task to be beneath her. You gave them a thumbs up. <span class="mu-r">“Great. I was thinking we could just teleport in, get the drop on Doom, disable his magic, disable his bots, have Sandman hit him, and defeat him as quickly as possible. Does that sound too optimistic?”</span> Sue seemed impressed by your willingness to try and “get the drop” on someone like Doctor Doom. Ben was looking at you as if he was trying to figure out whether you were genuinely stupid or not, and Johnny just started laughing to himself. To your surprise, the kids looked downright offended by your assertion that they would hold any of the adults back in a fight. The alien kids in particular seemed to carry themselves differently than the other two. While Valeria had confidence in her intelligence, the Skrull girl and the Kree boy gave you the vague impression that it would be a mistake to overlook them entirely if push came to shove. It was worth noting that both races had enhanced physiques, and could perform far better than any human child. Van was glancing at them every now and again with a considering expression on her face. You suspected that she was thinking something along the same lines. Reed was the first to speak up. <span class="mu-b">“I’m afraid that it won’t be that easy.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“If it means anything, we also have access to an information network made up almost entirely of squirrels.”</span> <span class="mu-b">“That won’t be enough to-”</span> Reed paused. <span class="mu-b">“I’m sorry. Did you just say that you had an information network composed almost entirely of squirrels?”</span> You nodded. <span class="mu-r">“And a few birds. There are some people managing it too, but it’s mostly the squirrels doing the heavy lifting.”</span> Gwen placed her head in her hands and whined as if you proceeded to go into detail about your squirrel connections. Strangely enough, though, Reed didn’t seem the least bit put out by your claim. If anything, he actually looked interested in hearing more. <span class="mu-b">“Fascinating…”</span> That actually took some of the fun out of it. <span class="mu-b">“How exactly are you-”</span> <span class="mu-s">“Reed, honey.”</span> Reed paused mid-sentence and glanced over at his wife. The beautiful blonde woman was giving him a sympathetic, patient smile that said: <span class="mu-s">“Honey, I love you, but you need to stop getting distracted.”</span> Mr. Fantastic read her expression perfectly and shook himself out of his earlier fascination. <span class="mu-b">“Like I was saying before, you won’t find it so easy to catch Doom off guard. He’ll likely sense us coming before we were able to close in on him.”</span> Johnny nodded his agreement. (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Thu 26 Oct 2023 23:42:26 No. 5808447 Report <span class="mu-r">“Trust us. It’s easier said than done. He may dress like an idiot, but the guy’s an evil mastermind. He wouldn’t have come here without accounting for us breaking out and coming to stop him.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“Won’t stop us from clobberin’ him, though.”</span>
Ben added. Both men bumped fists, having completely forgotten about their bad moods from earlier. It was as if the distance between them had evaporated in an instant. Or maybe there wasn’t any to begin with. In a way, you could relate. You had brothers as well.
<span class="mu-s">“And how exactly do you plan on ‘disabling’ his magic?”</span>
Sue asked.
You grinned at her and snagged Gwen’s shoulder with a webline, pulling her over to your side with a sharp tug. The girl nearly stumbled, but she caught herself quickly.
<span class="mu-r">“I’m glad you asked. This is Bastion, she’s our key to bringing Doom down with her anti-magic shield.”</span>
<span class="mu-g">“Uh, hey…”</span>
The girl smiled nervously and waved at them as you propped her other arm up to put her golden shield on display. The kids looked very interested in it. Everyone other than Valeria <span class="mu-i">ooed</span> and <span class="mu-i">aahed</span>. Even Sam had to whistle appreciatively. Much like his daughter, Reed was giving both Gwen and the shield an appraising look.
<span class="mu-r">“And if that isn’t enough,”</span>
You continued.
<span class="mu-r">“S.H.I.E.L.D.’s got a halfway functional Helicarrier, and their agents are moving into the city. If we need to, we can grab them real quick and have them help with our plan.”</span>
The Thing raised a rocky eyebrow and folded his arms over the business card stuck to his chest. In all the excitement, he seemed to have forgotten about it. Maybe you really were getting that free advertising after all.
<span class="mu-r">“Oh, yeah? Did ya have anyone in particular in mind?”</span>
What will you do?
>”Well, we’ve got two major superhero teams in the area. I’d say we’re a bit spoiled for choice. Do you have any personal recommendations?” >”Lemme consult my tech guru on that real quick.” Contact Julia and have her give you a rundown of the major superheroes present in the city and their whereabouts. >”It’s probably better if we travel light. A small group has less of a chance of getting spotted by Doom and his personal army. I think we should go after him as soon as that disruptor’s finished.” >Contact Squirrel Girl and Chat. They should have a decent idea of where Doom is and what he’s doing. >”I’ve got a decent plan, but I’m not exactly a super-genius, so I’ll let you guys take the spotlight on this one.” >Write-in. Pastebins:
Character Sheet:
https://pastebin.com/1ZihFYSV Equipment and Gear:
https://pastebin.com/WAhveFAd Contacts:
https://pastebin.com/WdcFXD2s 10 Commandments of the Desperados:
https://pastebin.com/Qpr2jVPE Costumes:
https://pastebin.com/5Jie54X2 The Huntsman’s Travel Guide:
https://pastebin.com/PU6LWsip Anonymous
>>5808447 >”Well, we’ve got two major superhero teams in the area. I’d say we’re a bit spoiled for choice. Do you have any personal recommendations?” >”I’ve got a decent plan, but I’m not exactly a super-genius, so I’ll let you guys take the spotlight on this one.” Anonymous
>>5808447 >>”Lemme consult my tech guru on that real quick.” Contact Julia and have her give you a rundown of the major superheroes present in the city and their whereabouts. >”I’ve got a decent plan, but I’m not exactly a super-genius, so I’ll let you guys take the spotlight on this one.” >"You guys ARE the authority on picking fights with Doom after all." Anonymous
>>5808447 >>”Well, we’ve got two major superhero teams in the area. I’d say we’re a bit spoiled for choice. Do you have any personal recommendations?” >Contact Squirrel Girl and Chat. They should have a decent idea of where Doom is and what he’s doing. Anonymous
>>5808447 >Pull out your phone and scroll through. “Well, Doc Connor’s more of a bio guy, Pandora’s definitely busy, I know some vampires but it’s not nighttime, I ran into Otto Octavius but moved on for our first attack on Arcade where Doom was…” >”Lemme consult my tech guru on that real quick.” Contact Julia and have her give you a rundown of the major superheroes present in the city and their whereabouts. >”I’ve got a decent plan, but I’m not exactly a super-genius, so I’ll let you guys take the spotlight on this one.” >"You guys ARE the authority on picking fights with Doom, and some of us gotta play second string or the whole orchestra falls apart.” Anonymous
>>5808488 >it’s not nighttime are you sure about that
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>5808495 I suppose I’m not! Lots of mentions of “tonight” so maybe it is late enough for vamps to come out and play.
Not sure they bring anything special to the table though, I only brought them up as a joke option.
Anonymous
>>5808488 Stop improving on my write-in banter, you're making me look bad!
Anonymous
>>5808358 >>5808373 I cannot begin to describe the sheer animosity I feel toward Zeb Wells and the Spider-Man editorial team for the last 20 or so issues. between the time skip and unexplained breakup leading to Paul and the fucking kids, Kamala dying and then coming back, the explanation finally showing up that call is just the son of a recycled throw away villain from Dan Slot’s run, the Golden Goblin mini series basically being completely invalidated now that Norman is back to being a bipolar dumbass, the evil Spider-Man showing up for all of three issues, Spider-Man getting his ass handed to him by Tombstone AND Vulture, EVEN BEING MADE TO BEG FOR HIS LIFE, TWICE, LIKE BRO, HOW CAN SOMEONE DEFEND THIS??? WHO IS PUT HERE BUYING THIS?
This whole bullshit sold more mini series and tie ins than it did mainline comics bro, and good fucking thing I say. Wells can suck a fat fucking DICK, do NOT put him as lead writer of SHIT. He’s better on the sideline, because everything he IS in charge of either SUCKS or is MID AS FUCK. Mark my words, Marvel Zombies will be a solid 70/60 on Rotten Tomatoes come next year. Fuck Zeb Wells.
Anonymous
>>5808603 >Kamala dying and then coming back Yeah when I saw she died I just went "Well, see you next week".
Also Marvel Zombies is getting crammed into the MCU machine now?
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>5808583 Look, we just gotta keep going back-and-forth until we’re sure everyone would be groaning too loud to hear the final punchline. I’m sure there’s more comedy silver to be mined at worst.
Unrelated, do you think the Carlos meme exists in the Spidey’s world or is does he supplant that meme in pop culture? If we team up with Abel can we be the Statler and Waldorf meme?
Anonymous
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Fri 27 Oct 2023 22:04:42 No. 5809276 Report Quoted By:
>>5808448 >>5808454 >>5808468 >>5808488 >>5809078 >Pull out your phone and scroll through. “Well, Doc Connor’s more of a bio guy, Pandora’s definitely busy, I know some vampires but it’s not nighttime, I ran into Otto Octavius but moved on for our first attack on Arcade where Doom was…” >”Lemme consult my tech guru on that real quick.” Contact Julia and have her give you a rundown of the major superheroes present in the city and their whereabouts. >”I’ve got a decent plan, but I’m not exactly a super-genius, so I’ll let you guys take the spotlight on this one.” >"You guys ARE the authority on picking fights with Doom, and some of us gotta play second string or the whole orchestra falls apart.” Taking these. Writing...
I'll do something about the whole "nighttime" bit. >>5808603 Spider-Man is sort of too big to fail. Even though things have gotten this bad, you have plenty of hate readers, archivists and copers buying these comics. Hell, even the comic book stores are getting strong-armed into buying these issues, because the distributors will only send them variant covers if they buy a certain amount of issues. So if they want the specialty goods that customers come to them for, then they've got to play ball.
Batman comics are more less in the same boat. Do yourselves a favor and try out more fan content and "non-canon" stories. They've usually got more soul, and a hell of a lot more respect for the subject material.
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Fri 27 Oct 2023 22:06:32 No. 5809278 Report Quoted By:
>>5808611 She barely stayed dead for two weeks. Ms. Marvel is a perfect example of a character having great potential with a strong fan base, but Marvel has absolutely no idea what they want to do with them.
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Fri 27 Oct 2023 23:53:05 No. 5809370 Report Quoted By:
You pulled out your phone and started scrolling through your contacts. <span class="mu-r">“Well, Doc Connors is more of a bio guy. Pandora’s definitely busy. I know some vampires, but I’m pretty sure they’re in hiding. I ran into Otto Octavius earlier, but I lost track of him after I went to confront Doom and Arcade.”</span> This wasn’t looking good. A lot of the powerful people that you knew were probably tied up with their own stuff. <span class="mu-b">“I had no idea that Otto was here...”</span> Reed muttered to Sue. <span class="mu-r">“Hold on. Lemme consult my tech guru real quick.”</span> You held up a finger and walked away from the group so that you could have a bit of privacy. You were starting to recognize the neighborhood a bit more. You were pretty sure that you were somewhere on the Lower East Side. <span class="mu-r">“But don’t let me stop you from collaborating with each other on this. I’ve got a decent plan, but I’m also not a super genius, so I’ll let you guys take the spotlight on this one. I mean, you guys are THE authority on picking fights with Doom, and some of us have gotta play second string, or the whole orchestra falls apart.”</span> <span class="mu-g">"Wait! Where are you going?"</span> Gwen asked. <span class="mu-r">"Don't worry! I'll be quick!"</span> Everyone watched as you edged away from the group, but they quickly decided that they didn’t have the luxury of waiting for you to come back, so they launched into another discussion. <span class="mu-r">“Hey, Jules. What’s the word?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Hey, Benji. How’d things go with Doom? Is Abe okay?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“We’re alive, so that’s something. I was wondering if you could update me on the whereabouts of the major players in the area.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Sure…”</span> You could hear her fingers rapidly typing away at her keyboard. <span class="mu-r">“Last I checked, Beta Ray Bill and Herc were fighting a huge robot in Staten Island. They’re really tearing up the neighborhood over there, but I don’t know if anyone’s gotten seriously hurt yet.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Those are some heavy hitters. We could really use their help right now.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“I don’t know. If those two got involved, you might not have much of a city left.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Good point. What else do we got?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Doc Ock and Hank Pym seem to be trying to create a field where the Doombots can’t function. I think they’re making decent progress, so I gave the cops a tip to treat those areas as safe zones for civilians.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Good. That should take some of the pressure off everybody.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Also, we’ve got Mantis and Wasp fighting Doombots and leftover Pixel Punks in Central park. And–get this–there's a giant tree and an army of killer plant monsters that’re helping them protect civilians and attack the Doombots.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Whoa. I don’t remember any of <span class="mu-i">that</span> being there on my last midnight stroll.”</span> (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Fri 27 Oct 2023 23:54:54 No. 5809371 Report <span class="mu-r">“Neither did I. But then again, I don’t get out much these days. The only other backup Avenger that I’m not sure about is Agatha Harkness. She keeps popping up in random places, and I can’t manage to pin her down.”</span>
Hank and Jan are the only core members in that group. Not a great sign, but you could work with that.
<span class="mu-r">“What about the X-Men? I’ve run into Storm already.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“Cyclops, Iceman and Wolverine are pretty much carving their way through every Doombot in sight. I have no idea where Jean Grey is, and I’m not sure if they brought anyone else. Maybe Shadowcat, but I can’t say for sure.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“Even with the squirrel information network?”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“There’s a lot going on tonight, Benji. There are places where they can’t go, and Chat only has two ears to listen to them with. This is the best that we can do right now.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“No, I know. Sorry. You’re doing great right now.”</span>
Julia snorted a laugh.
<span class="mu-r">“I’ve got a cat poster that says that exact same thing. You’re gonna have to try a little harder if you want to wow me.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“Would it impress you if I told you that I just saved the Fantastic Four?”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“That <span class="mu-i">is</span> impressive! And with them around, your chances of beating Doom are a lot higher than zero. Unfortunately for you, though, it looks like Doom and Arcade are on the move.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“What? Where are they going? What’re they doing?”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“No clue. All I know is that they’re tearing up the city. Maybe they’re looking for something.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“Or some<span class="mu-i">one</span>.”</span>
You posited.
<span class="mu-r">“Could be. Either way, this is what we’ve got to work with.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“The Four are cooking up a plan as we speak. I’m hoping that they can manage to take him down on their own, like they always do.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“Wouldn’t <span class="mu-i">that</span> be nice.”</span>
Before you could reply, a notification popped up in the corner of your vision. Prowler managed to get in contact with Black Cat. He says that she’s making deliveries. Objects that she claims to be mystical in nature.
Did she…
Did she literally <span class="mu-i">just</span> steal these?
What will you do?
>Return to the group and listen to the plan that the Four managed to come up with. You’ll support them in any way that you can. >Inform Abe of the safe zones that Otto and Hank are setting up. He can pass the message along to S.H.I.E.L.D. and Sable International. >Inform Flint of Doom’s location. You’re probably going to need him during the final battle, and he has the best chance of distracting him without being seriously injured. >Call Black Cat. If she’s giving away magic artifacts, then you have no right to turn her down. >Have Chat send out messengers to specific people or locations. (Who?/Where?) >Write-in. Equipment and Gear:
https://pastebin.com/WAhveFAd Contacts:
https://pastebin.com/WdcFXD2s Anonymous
>>5809371 >>Inform Abe of the safe zones that Otto and Hank are setting up. He can pass the message along to S.H.I.E.L.D. and Sable International. Anonymous
>>5809371 >>Inform Abe of the safe zones that Otto and Hank are setting up. He can pass the message along to S.H.I.E.L.D. and Sable International. >>Inform Flint of Doom’s location. You’re probably going to need him during the final battle, and he has the best chance of distracting him without being seriously injured. >Ask Julia when she has a free minute if she can't find the phone number of an ESU student by the name of Ember Quade. Anonymous
>>5809371 >Inform Abe of the safe zones that Otto and Hank are setting up. He can pass the message along to S.H.I.E.L.D. and Sable International. >Return to the group and listen to the plan that the Four managed to come up with. You’ll support them in any way that you can. Anonymous
>>5809371 >Pass along the list of the heroes Julia told you about and mention the safe zones so the Fantastic Four are working with a full set of info. Maybe one of them would really simplify part of their plans. > Inform Abe of the safe zones that Otto and Hank are setting up. He can pass the message along to S.H.I.E.L.D. and Sable International. >Call Black Cat. If she’s giving away magic artifacts, then you have no right to turn her down. If she’s selling them you’re still interested. >Ask Julia when she has a free minute if she can't find the phone number of an ESU student by the name of Ember Quade. >Message Pandora and see if you can borrow either of the Silvertongues. They should be able to speak squirrel to help Julia and Chat, right? That would let them expand the network for more heroes. >Pass along messages via the Squirrel Express >>Morlocks, let them know about the safe zones if they need it. Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>5809371 >>5809382 Damn, thought of one more squirrel message.
>Nature Girl, with the delivery of something to get her in touch with Julia and the squirrel network. She can definitely translate. Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sun 29 Oct 2023 18:18:51 No. 5811280 Report Quoted By:
>>5809372 >>5809374 >>5809375 >>5809382 >Inform Abe of the safe zones that Otto and Hank are setting up. He can pass the message along to S.H.I.E.L.D. and Sable International. >Ask Julia when she has a free minute if she can't find the phone number of an ESU student by the name of Ember Quade. I'll be taking these, but I probably won't be able to pump out an update before tomorrow. Getting a bit busy.
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Mon 30 Oct 2023 18:54:42 No. 5812413 Report Quoted By:
<span class="mu-r">“Thanks Jules. And if you get a minute, could you look up a phone number for me? It’s for an ESU student named Ember Quade.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“I’ll check it out. Stay safe out there.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“I’ll try my best.”</span> After ending the call, you immediately went to reach out to your clone brother. When you eventually picked up, you could hear nothing but sirens, distant gunfire, and the sound of Abe’s labored breathing. <span class="mu-r">“Hey bro, you alright?”</span> <span class="mu-b">“Yeah…just peachy. Just need a moment to catch my breath. How’re things going on your end?”</span> He must be really going at it for him to get tired at all. You’d know that better than anyone. <span class="mu-r">“Me, Flint and Van rescued the Fantastic Four, and now they’re cooking up a plan to help beat Doom. I’d rather not end up on his shitlist, so I’m letting them take the spotlight on this one.”</span> <span class="mu-b">“Smart choice. I’d rather not make an enemy of the entire country of Latveria. I think Sable’s struggling with the same problem right now.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“What do you mean?”</span> <span class="mu-b">“You know how Symkaria and Latveria are neighboring countries? I think Doom’s putting pressure on Sable so that her forces back out of the fight. If she lends her support to S.H.I.E.L.D., then it might cause an international incident.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Great. And right after I convinced Hill to get in contact with Sable. I guess we’re gonna have to hope that the Four can take him out for us.”</span> <span class="mu-b">“Well, they’ve got a great track record so far. I’d put my money on them any day.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“We’ll go gambling later. Right now, I think you should start sending people over the safe zone that Doc Ock and Hank Pym have been setting up. There’s a field that prevents Doombots from entering without shutting down.”</span> <span class="mu-b">“Thanks for the heads up. I’ll spread the word.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“No problem. I should get back to the others now. Wish me luck.”</span> —------- When you returned, the Four seemed to have formed a plan that Reed was satisfied with. He was about to start assigning roles when you gave everyone a quick summary of what Julia had told you. Upon your mention of the anti-Doombot field, you could see his eyes lighting up with interest. <span class="mu-b">“Alright, then. Valeria, I want you, Sam and Jo-Venn to bring Alicia to that safe zone the Huntsman mentioned. While you’re there, I want you to learn everything you can about that energy field.”</span> Valeria nodded, and the Kree boy walked over to stand beside Reed’s daughter. He was shorter than her <span class="mu-b">“You want me to reprogram it so that it disables Doom’s suit as well. I’ll see that it’s done.”</span> Her father gave her an approving smile. <span class="mu-b">“I know you will, Val. N’kalla,”</span> Reed continued, turning his attention on the Skrull girl. (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Mon 30 Oct 2023 18:57:12 No. 5812414 Report Quoted By:
<span class="mu-b">“I need you to turn into Sue. You and Nathanial will need to stick together. It should distract him from the fact that the <span class="mu-i">real</span> Sue will be concealing Gwen and herself from his detection.”</span> Gwen flinched slightly at the mention of her name, but Sue placed a calming hand on her shoulder. You could see the tension draining out of her as Sue’s soothing, motherly aura washed over the girl. The green-skinned girl’s form shifted, her skin crawling and twisting until she resembled a perfect copy of Susan Storm. It was almost uncanny. At the same time, Reed’s son tapped a finger to the “4” emblem on his chest, causing a series of grayish-blue armor plates to form around his body. You suspected that they were either made of some sort of liquid metal or nanomachines, because the armor seemed to flow around him until it perfectly fit his slender frame. When the suit finished forming, you couldn’t help but think that it bore a striking resemblance to one of Iron Man’s suits. Except, there was a “4” where the arc reactor would normally be. The mini Iron Lad removed a device from a compartment in his wrist and tossed it over to the Skrull. <span class="mu-s">“Take this. It should help simulate the force fields that mom creates. It’ll burn out if you use it too much, so try not to get hit too often.”</span> The Skrull rolled her eyes. <span class="mu-g">“I don’t need you to tell me that.”</span> She said in Sue’s voice, clipping the device to her wrist like a bracelet. A moment later, the bracelet disappeared before your very eyes. It must have a cloaking feature. Reed stretched an arm out to pat the Thing on the shoulder. <span class="mu-b">“In the meantime, Ben and I will set up a trap for Victor, while Johnny and the Huntsman lead him towards us. After we manage to cut him off from his army, Va Nee will gather up Valeria and Jo-Venn and bring them back to us. Hopefully by then, we’ll have managed to disrupt both his magic and suit’s functions. He’ll have no choice but to retreat at that point.”</span> Everyone nodded along. It sounded like a solid plan, without too many complex maneuvers involved. All you would have to do is distract Doom while others did their thing. You could do that. Ben was affectionately hugging his blind lover, wishing her luck and praying for her safety. Sue was doing the same to her children, much to their embarrassment. Johnny was eyeing you curiously, probably wondering whether you were competent enough to keep up with him. He was in for a shock. You were going to say as much, when a quick notification from your phone drew your attention. It was Julia. She’d managed to pinpoint Ember’s location based on her phone number. And if her calculations were correct, then it would place Doom and Arcade <span class="mu-i">dangerously</span> close to her estimated location. Did that mean that Doom was chasing her? Did he find out that she was also capable of producing the pixels? Was Squirrel Girl still with her? (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Mon 30 Oct 2023 18:58:33 No. 5812416 Report What will you do?
>Inform the Four of Ember’s capabilities. If you rescued her, she could prove to be a valuable asset during your confrontation with Doom. >Have Julia get in contact with Squirrel Girl through Chat. As strange as it is to admit, having her squirrel army on your side would make you feel much better about your chances. >Go with Reed’s plan. If everything goes right, you should be able to peel Doom off of Ember’s trail and defeat him without revealing her identity. >Try to duck out before the plan goes into motion. It genuinely sounds like they can do this without you, and you don't want to make an enemy out of Doom if you don't have to. >Write-in. Pastebins:
Character Sheet:
https://pastebin.com/1ZihFYSV Equipment and Gear:
https://pastebin.com/WAhveFAd Contacts:
https://pastebin.com/WdcFXD2s 10 Commandments of the Desperados:
https://pastebin.com/Qpr2jVPE Costumes:
https://pastebin.com/5Jie54X2 The Huntsman’s Travel Guide:
https://pastebin.com/PU6LWsip Anonymous
>>5812416 >Inform the Four of Ember’s capabilities. If you rescued her, she could prove to be a valuable asset during your confrontation with Doom. Anonymous
>>5812416 >>Have Julia get in contact with Squirrel Girl through Chat. As strange as it is to admit, having her squirrel army on your side would make you feel much better about your chances. We should tell Julia either way where the party is going to go down
>Inform the Four of Ember’s capabilities. If you rescued her, she could prove to be a valuable asset during your confrontation with Doom. >Go with Reed’s plan. If everything goes right, you should be able to peel Doom off of Ember’s trail and defeat him without revealing her identity. the plan wouldn't need to change much
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>5812416 >>Go with Reed’s plan. If everything goes right, you should be able to peel Doom off of Ember’s trail and defeat him without revealing her identity. i wanna keep Ember around and not in jail so
Anonymous
>>5812416 >Inform the Four of what Ember likely stole, and why Doom would chase her for it. It’ll give them a reason to include extracting her in the plan without revealing her abilities. Compromise vote? No idea if she actually stole it and if she did she’d likely have to give it up, but her abilities could be handwaved as related to the device and undisclosed abilities she has to let her use it. She can pass as an unnamed vigilante/hero instead.
If she doesn’t have the device then the cat’s out of the bag when they see her powers, but at least we tried throwing her a bone.
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Wed 01 Nov 2023 00:10:18 No. 5813706 Report Quoted By:
>>5812424 >>5812431 >>5812486 >Inform the Four of what Ember likely stole, and why Doom would chase her for it. It’ll give them a reason to include extracting her in the plan without revealing her abilities. Taking these. Writing...
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Wed 01 Nov 2023 04:21:03 No. 5813894 Report Quoted By:
<span class="mu-r">“There’s one more thing I should mention. The girl that helped Arcade make those Pixel Punks—I’m pretty sure she’s getting chased by Doom right now.”</span> The Thing raised a rocky eyebrow. <span class="mu-r">“The what?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“The Pixel Punks? Those gamer terrorist guys who’ve been terrorizing the city for months?”</span> Johnny looked like he had some vague idea of what you were talking about. <span class="mu-r">“Oh yeah. Those guys. Is that really why Doom came all the way over here?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“I think he either wants to take Arcade home, or take him out so that no one gets their hands on his tech.”</span> Johnny nodded, a self-satisfied smile on his face. <span class="mu-r">“Yeah, that sounds like him.”</span> His sister looked far more concerned than he did. <span class="mu-s">“You want to save this girl?”</span> You nodded. <span class="mu-r">“If Doom’s figured out what she can do, I don’t think we can afford to leave her alone.”</span> Gwen stepped forward to show her support. <span class="mu-g">“He’s right. Even if she’s committed a crime, I think it would be a mistake to let Doom get his hands on her.”</span> Reed made a thoughtful hum and stroked his slightly unkempt beard. <span class="mu-b">“Then we’ll have you rescue her while Johnny distracts Doom.”</span> Johnny shrugged, seemingly unperturbed by this change in plans. <span class="mu-r">“I’m game. So long as Susie’s able to cover for me.”</span> Sue shook her head at him. <span class="mu-r">“I don’t see how that’s any different from usual, but fine.”</span> Johnny gave her a shameless grin, and it took everyone a minute to realize that the wrong Sue had responded in her stead. Now it was N’Kalla who was wearing the shameless grin as Johnny glared at her. —--------- Reflecting back on the thoughts of your past self from 15 minutes ago, you still felt that it was worth involving yourself in this mission, just to see the look on Johnny’s face when you showed him that you were more than capable of keeping pace with him. After the initial shock wore off, he suddenly became a lot more interested in you. He even challenged you to a race, but Reed and Sue quickly intervened to get him back on track. Aside from that, you found Johnny Storm to be surprisingly good company. He had no problem carrying a conversation, and your combined radio chatter was enough to flood the private channel that the Four temporarily invited you to. Reed and Valeria very nearly created an entirely new channel for just the two of you. It was almost enough to make you forget about the fact that you were using your body as bait for a major supervillain. Almost. <span class="mu-r">“On your six!”</span> Johnny shouted, but you were already turning to allow the volley of enemy fire to fly right past you. If not for your spider sense, this would’ve been 10 times harder. The fact that Johnny was managing without it was admirable in its own way. (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Wed 01 Nov 2023 04:25:40 No. 5813899 Report You didn’t know how many Doombots were currently chasing you, but you also didn’t want to turn around to find out. They must be programmed to focus all of their attention on any member of the Four, and you were unlucky enough to be flying in his vicinity when they detected him.
<span class="mu-r">“Whose idea was this again?”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“Hey, you agreed to it. Don’t chicken out on me now.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“I’m not! It’s like how retail workers gripe about their jobs. I should be well within my rights to gripe about my job.”</span>
Johnny laughed, turned to avoid another group of laser bolts, and returned some fire of his own. The guy was shining as bright as a star in his flame form, so it was no wonder how you were spotted so quickly.
<span class="mu-r">“Well look alive, because I think I see chrome-dome up ahead.”</span>
You followed the line of where he was pointing, and your eyes widened when you caught a glimpse of Doom’s back. He was currently tearing through the city, chasing after what appeared to be a bright neon purple car that wouldn’t look out of place in a vaporwave wallpaper. Arcade floating helplessly by his side, not at all assured by his captor’s temporary protection.
<span class="mu-r">“Is that your girl over there?”</span>
Johnny asked.
<span class="mu-r">“Yeah. That’s her, I think. We should get closer.”</span>
Johnny let out an excited laugh.
<span class="mu-r">“Oh, yeah. This is where the fun begins.”</span>
You both dove down, a swarm of Doombots hot on your trail. You fully intended to fly right past the Latverian dictator before he got the chance to notice your presence, but when he turned his cold gaze on you, your heart nearly stopped.
Despite the paralyzing fear that you felt in his presence, your body maintained its momentum, and you rocketed past him to land on the hood of Ember’s car.
<span class="mu-r">“Don’t you hate when you get bugs on your windshield?”</span>
Ember cursed and swerved violently in an attempt to shake you off. But when she realized who you were, she seemed to calm down a bit. But, only a bit.
<span class="mu-r">“What took you so long!?”</span>
What will you say?
>”Come with me if you want to live.” >”I brought some friends along to help. If you want to escape, now's your chance.” >”Where’s Squirrel Girl? Wasn’t she with you?” >”Is it too much to hope that you managed to destroy that pixel machine instead of stealing it?" >"Couldn't you have made a light-cycle instead? There'd be less traffic to deal with." >"Don't worry. I'm gonna get you out here. I know a safe place where you can stay." (Where?) >Write-in. Pastebins:
Character Sheet:
https://pastebin.com/1ZihFYSV Equipment and Gear:
https://pastebin.com/WAhveFAd Contacts:
https://pastebin.com/WdcFXD2s 10 Commandments of the Desperados:
https://pastebin.com/Qpr2jVPE Costumes:
https://pastebin.com/5Jie54X2 The Huntsman’s Travel Guide:
https://pastebin.com/PU6LWsip Anonymous
>>5813899 >>"Couldn't you have made a light-cycle instead? There'd be less traffic to deal with." >"Don't worry. I'm gonna get you out here. I know a safe place where you can stay." (Pocket Dimension) Anonymous
>>5813899 >"Typical New York traffic, what can I say?" >"Don't worry. I'm gonna get you out here. I know a safe place where you can stay." (Pocket Dimension) Anonymous
>>5813899 >"Typical New York traffic, what can I say?" >"Don't worry. I'm gonna get you out here. I know a safe place where you can stay." (Pocket Dimension) >”Just remember: Don’t litter, don’t feed the animals, don’t start any forest fires.” Anonymous
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Wed 01 Nov 2023 23:35:17 No. 5814818 Report Quoted By:
>>5813917 >>5813935 >>5814111 >>5814720 >"Typical New York traffic, what can I say?" >"Don't worry. I'm gonna get you out here. I know a safe place where you can stay." (Pocket Dimension) >”Just remember: Don’t litter, don’t feed the animals, don’t start any forest fires.” Taking these. Writing...
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Wed 01 Nov 2023 23:51:27 No. 5814832 Report <span class="mu-r">“Typical New York Traffic. What can I say?”</span> Ember didn’t look quite as amused as you’d hoped, but at the very least she hadn’t tried to attack you, so that was something. Instead of replying, Ember swerved again to avoid some sort of invisible attack from Doctor Doom. He just pointed, and the ground beside Ember’s car exploded. <span class="mu-r">“Don’t worry. I’m gonna get you out of here. I know a safe place where you can stay.”</span> You pulled out your portal projector and waved it at her. She glanced between it and you. <span class="mu-r">“Uh, what the hell is that?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Your ticket out of here. It creates a portal to a pocket dimension that I own. I’m still renovating it, though.”</span> Ember gave you an incredulous look. <span class="mu-r">“And I’m just supposed to just let you cram me inside of that thing?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Well, it’s either that, or test your luck against Doctor Doom. Your choice, really.”</span> Ember bit her lip and glanced over at her rear view mirror. After a second of consideration, she groaned and slipped off her seatbelt. <span class="mu-r">“Fine. Just…pull me back out when you think it’s safe, okay?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“You got it. Just remember: Don’t litter, don’t feed the animals, and don’t start any forest fires.”</span> You said, as you leaned over to create a portal within the car. A red, swirling rift opened up beside Ember. She started sliding towards it almost immediately, and you could tell that some part of her was resisting, if only on reflex. <span class="mu-r">“Wait, there’s animals in there!?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Well, one of them is a sentient plant, but I’ve yet to confirm what else lives there. Just…try not to move around too much.”</span> Ember opened her mouth to protest, but she had already sunk so deep into the portal that no sound could escape her mouth without being distorted beyond recognition. When the portal winked out of existence, there was no one left to drive the car. But Ember’s absence didn’t seem to affect the vehicle’s functionality in the slightest. And that just left you crouched on top of the hood of a runaway vehicle that was being chased by about a thousand Doombots and Doctor Doom himself. What will you do?>Force the car to slow down, and then store it in your pocket dimension as well. You can always use it later. >Hop into the driver’s seat and steer this thing towards the location that Reed designated. If Doom still thinks that Ember is in this car, then he’ll be twice as motivated to follow you. >Stop the car and fly back up into the air. If Johnny wanted to lead Doom on a wild goose chase, he wasn’t going to do it alone. >Pick up the car, place a bunch of explosive marks on it, and throw it at Doom. It might not hurt him, but it should at least take out a decent chunk of his Doombots. >Bail out and have Johnny and Sue cover for you. You did your part. The others can take it from here. >Write-in.
Anonymous
>>5814832 >>Hop into the driver’s seat and steer this thing towards the location that Reed designated. If Doom still thinks that Ember is in this car, then he’ll be twice as motivated to follow you. DO YOU LIKE
MY CAR?
Anonymous
>>5814832 >Hop into the driver’s seat and steer this thing towards the location that Reed designated. If Doom still thinks that Ember is in this car, then he’ll be twice as motivated to follow you. Anonymous
>>5814832 >Hop into the driver’s seat and steer this thing towards the location that Reed designated. If Doom still thinks that Ember is in this car, then he’ll be twice as motivated to follow you. No way we’re actually fooling him, but how often do you get to joyride a hardlight racing car? Gotta find excuses to have fun while on the job.
Anonymous
>>5814832 >>Hop into the driver’s seat and steer this thing towards the location that Reed designated. If Doom still thinks that Ember is in this car, then he’ll be twice as motivated to follow you. Anonymous
>>5814832 >Hop into the driver’s seat and steer this thing towards the location that Reed designated. If Doom still thinks that Ember is in this car, then he’ll be twice as motivated to follow you. There has never been a better time to take a drive in NYC, let's be real. Also;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gah8FnYSypk I was trying to pick a single song but fuck it, you can never have too much Eurobeat Anonymous
>>5814832 >>Hop into the driver’s seat and steer this thing towards the location that Reed designated. If Doom still thinks that Ember is in this car, then he’ll be twice as motivated to follow you. >Coordinate where you should be leading Doom. Anonymous
>Arcade gets his shit pushed in in-quest >Bungie Studios, and Destiny by extension, seemingly dies overnight COINCIDENCE? I THINK NOT!
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Fri 03 Nov 2023 03:15:33 No. 5816219 Report Quoted By:
>>5814839 >>5814840 >>5814857 >>5814931 >>5815068 >>5815551 >Hop into the driver’s seat and steer this thing towards the location that Reed designated. If Doom still thinks that Ember is in this car, then he’ll be twice as motivated to follow you. It's unanimous! Writing...
>>5815862 I must use this newfound power responsibly...
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Fri 03 Nov 2023 03:45:49 No. 5816246 Report You eyed the steering wheel hungrily, suddenly forgetting about the fact that you were being chased by Doom and his robot army.
<span class="mu-r">“I really shouldn’t do this…”</span>
You said, even as you were slipping through the window and into the driver’s seat. You didn’t bother with the seatbelt. The adhesion of your hands and feet should protect you from flying through the windshield. But just to be safe…
You strapped a webline over your chest and attached it to the driver’s seat.
<span class="mu-r">“This is probably a terrible idea.”</span>
You gripped the steering wheel tightly with one hand and caressed the shift lever with the other. The car seemed to hum, not with the power of a combustion engine, but with the sheer power of the pixels that allowed it to move in the first place. The interior had a soft, consistent glow to it, similar to the pulsating lights on the outside. There was something inexplicably soothing and hypnotic about it, and the seat was surprisingly comfortable, despite the hard-light material that it was made of. If it weren’t for the fact that you were getting shot at right now, you might’ve been afraid to fall asleep at the wheel.
<span class="mu-r">“Oh, what the hell. When have I ever let a terrible idea stop me before?”</span>
You shifted gears, jerked the steering wheel to the left, and narrowly avoided another attack from Doom. Your spider-sense served you better in warning you of attacks than the rear-view mirror did.
<span class="mu-r">“This car handles like a dream…! I think Ember might’ve missed her calling.”</span>
Effortlessly, you used your superior reflexes to maneuver the vehicle around and between the numerous obstacles that littered the road in the form of debris, running civilians, abandoned cars, and the resulting wreckage of having a supervillain attack the city. But this being New York, the streets weren’t as conveniently empty as you would’ve hoped, and you were forced to take numerous detours in order to get to where you needed to go.
Where will your detour take you?
>Through the subway tunnels. You shouldn’t encounter any Morlocks down there, and the number of Doombots that can chase after you will be limited. >Message Hill and see if you can’t borrow Lost Boy and Tinkerbell for a little bit. Having a flying car would turn this joy ride into a thrilling dogfight! >Central Park. All those plant monsters and those two Avengers should be able to help peel these Doombots off of you. >Steer clear of any areas that might be populated. You’ll be risking your tail without having much cover, but at the very least you won’t be risking anyone else’s safety. >Write-in. Pastebins:
Character Sheet:
https://pastebin.com/1ZihFYSV Equipment and Gear:
https://pastebin.com/WAhveFAd Contacts:
https://pastebin.com/WdcFXD2s 10 Commandments of the Desperados:
https://pastebin.com/Qpr2jVPE Costumes:
https://pastebin.com/5Jie54X2 The Huntsman’s Travel Guide:
https://pastebin.com/PU6LWsip Anonymous
>>5816246 >>Through the subway tunnels. You shouldn’t encounter any Morlocks down there, and the number of Doombots that can chase after you will be limited. Anonymous
>>5816246 >>Steer clear of any areas that might be populated. You’ll be risking your tail without having much cover, but at the very least you won’t be risking anyone else’s safety. Anonymous
>>5816246 >>Central Park. All those plant monsters and those two Avengers should be able to help peel these Doombots off of you. Anonymous
>>5816246 >Central Park. All those plant monsters and those two Avengers should be able to help peel these Doombots off of you. >Does this thing have hands-free calling? Open a line to Julie and keep her informed of where you’re going. She and Chat can have heroes steer civilians out of your path. I’d keep the end destination a secret, good chance Doom can listen in on the call. Could also call Hill instead and get transferred to a S.H.I.E.L.D. coordinator.
Anonymous
>>5816246 >Message Hill and see if you can’t borrow Lost Boy and Tinkerbell for a little bit. Having a flying car would turn this joy ride into a thrilling dogfight! >Steer clear of any areas that might be populated. You’ll be risking your tail without having much cover, but at the very least you won’t be risking anyone else’s safety. Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Fri 03 Nov 2023 21:53:50 No. 5816853 Report >>5816296 >>5816466 >>5816487 >>5816492 We're currently tied between Central Park and Steering clear of populated areas! Would anyone like to change votes, or are we waiting for another one?
Anonymous
>>5816853 >>5816248 I'll change to
>>Central Park. All those plant monsters and those two Avengers should be able to help peel these Doombots off of you. Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Fri 03 Nov 2023 23:35:05 No. 5816931 Report Quoted By:
>>5816466 >>5816487 >>5816861 >Central Park. All those plant monsters and those two Avengers should be able to help peel these Doombots off of you. Taking these. Writing...
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sat 04 Nov 2023 00:35:54 No. 5816961 Report Quoted By:
You tore through the city, weaving between cars with only so much as an inch of space on either side, narrowly avoiding obstacles and giving pedestrians as much space as you possibly could. One thing that struck you immediately was the sheer speed of this vehicle. It felt like your surroundings were bleeding past you in a blur. The only reason Ember hadn’t been driving faster was because she didn’t have the reflexes to operate it with peak efficiency like you did. Of course, you had to slow down to turn every now and again, but Doom’s robots didn’t seem to have nearly as much horsepower as this baby. You could feel your heart racing, the blood draining from your hands as you gripped the steering wheel, and the weight of gravity pushing you back into your seat. You’d have to ask Ember to borrow it if you ever decided to go to Vegas again. A long stretch of uninterrupted road with minimal traffic would allow you to really cut loose and see what this thing was made of. But as much fun as it was to drive through the city, you knew that you would eventually have to steer Doom towards your true destination. But you’d need to take a little shortcut to get there. So you chose the only place you knew of that would be hard for Doom and his army to navigate through. <span class="mu-r">“Central Park, here I come!”</span> You jerked the steering wheel to the right, veering off the road and towards the monument, your foot firmly pressing the gas pedal into the floor. On the way there, you found yourself having to try harder to avoid running anyone over. This car was far too silent for its own good. It reminded you of why electric cars needed to simulate engine noises to avoid accidents. Somehow, you managed to avoid committing vehicular manslaughter on your way to the park. So long as you didn’t pay any mind to all the property damage and traffic violations, you were behaving like a model citizen. And if someone did notice, you could always blame it on Doom. As soon as you ran out of asphalt and concrete to drive on, you braced yourself for the car’s maneuverability to drastically decrease. The car was practically flying over the grass and dirt, your tires losing almost all of their traction right away. <span class="mu-r">“Well that’s not good. Maybe now would be a good time for a web-shaping exercise.”</span> You leaned your left arm out the window and fired some web-nets at both tires on that side. You repeated the same on the right side, and immediately, you could feel your tires gripping the dirt far better than it had before. For a brief instant, the dirt, grass and rocks were clinging to the webbing, but they were quickly burned away by the intense heat emanating from the tires. But your webs weren’t. They were more than up to the task of withstanding both the heat and pressure of you using them as makeshift treads. <span class="mu-r">“Oh, man. I have <span class="mu-i">got</span> to remember this next time I need to get snow tires!”</span> (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sat 04 Nov 2023 00:37:02 No. 5816964 Report Quoted By:
You refocused your attention on the road, only for your eyes to go wide when you spotted two familiar figures. A flying shark girl, and an asian girl with antlers. Iara and Nature Girl were here! When the former spotted you, her eyes grew as wide as yours. Without much effort at all, she flew up to fly beside you, easily matching your speed. <span class="mu-b">“Hey, Ben! No one told me <span class="mu-i">you</span> were coming.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“You took the words right out of my mouth. What’re you doing out here?”</span> The look she was giving you made you feel like she thought your question didn’t make any sense. <span class="mu-b">“What’s it look like? We’re helping.”</span> She pointed to Nature Girl, who was standing under a truly massive tree, whose branches seemed to stretch out in all directions to cover the entire park. She was giving orders to a group of aggressive looking plant creatures. They were mostly a bundle of teeth and plant fiber that resembled muscle. Some were literally only a pair of legs and a mouth. They looked vicious, but they were only as big as small dogs right now, so their size wasn’t very impressive. But that opinion changed when you saw a small, golden fairy-like creature flying between them, and shooting them with tiny blue projectiles. Suddenly, the affected creatures grew to several times their size and in an instant, their threat level jumped up several times in your mind. Now, they looked more like dinosaurs than dogs. The “fairy” that you spotted was most likely the Wasp. <span class="mu-r">“And those?”</span> <span class="mu-b">“Oh, those? All the noise made Ethel, that tall skinny girl, freak out, and all the plants in our greenhouse started growing like crazy! And one thing led to another and Donny became like…that.”</span> She pointed to the giant tree. You gaped at her. <span class="mu-r">“<span class="mu-s">THAT’S</span> Donny!? What happened?”</span> She gave you a slightly annoyed look. <span class="mu-b">“I literally <span class="mu-i">just</span> told you.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“No, I got that. But…how’d he get so big so quickly?”</span> Iara made a thoughtful noise. <span class="mu-b">“Nature Girl thinks it’s a combination of her and Ethel’s combined efforts, and a pinch of…’Pym Particles’? Am I saying that right?”</span> You continued to stare at the tree. A pale woman with short black hair and antennae sticking out of her forehead was riding atop one of the larger plant monsters. That was probably Mantis. There were multiple civilians, both human and mutant, scrambling around to get out of the way of your car, and the oncoming storm of Doombots. Iara’s jaw dropped when she turned to stare at them. <span class="mu-b">“Wow. That’s a lot! Are they chasing you?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Yup. That’s the plan, at least.”</span> (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sat 04 Nov 2023 00:38:03 No. 5816965 Report What will you say/do?
>”Would you mind taking a chunk out of their forces? It’d really help me out. Try to steer clear of the real one.” >Drive between the feet of the giant plant monsters. Nature Girl and Mantis should be able to help cover your escape. >Approach Wasp and ask her to give you one of those shrinking devices. It could come in handy in a pinch. >Have Wasp grow to giant size, pick up your car and toss it across the city! >Write-in. Pastebins:
Character Sheet:
https://pastebin.com/1ZihFYSV Equipment and Gear:
https://pastebin.com/WAhveFAd Contacts:
https://pastebin.com/WdcFXD2s 10 Commandments of the Desperados:
https://pastebin.com/Qpr2jVPE Costumes:
https://pastebin.com/5Jie54X2 The Huntsman’s Travel Guide:
https://pastebin.com/PU6LWsip Anonymous
>>5816965 >”Would you mind taking a chunk out of their forces? It’d really help me out. Try to steer clear of the real one.” >Drive between the feet of the giant plant monsters. Nature Girl and Mantis should be able to help cover your escape. Anonymous
>>5816965 >Drive between the feet of the giant plant monsters. Nature Girl and Mantis should be able to help cover your escape. >”Feel free to chip in weeding them out but don’t bite off more than you can chew. Stick to lasers instead.” I have fewer qualms about endangering the giant plants than I do anyone else but I’m betting Iara will want to fight so let’s settle for quipping at her instead.
Anonymous
>>5816965 >>”Would you mind taking a chunk out of their forces? It’d really help me out. Try to steer clear of the real one.” >>Drive between the feet of the giant plant monsters. Nature Girl and Mantis should be able to help cover your escape. Anonymous
>>5816965 >"How are things down in the sewers? Is Joyce running around anywhere out here?" >”Would you mind taking a chunk out of their forces? It’d really help me out. Try to steer clear of the real one.” >Drive between the feet of the giant plant monsters. Nature Girl and Mantis should be able to help cover your escape. I initially felt bad about putting this kinda thing on Ethel with no warning, but if she can't see a swarm of Doombots from this far out then I don't know what to say.
Also she has Lara and one or two Avengers backing her up. She should be fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine.
Anonymous
>>5816965 >Drive between the feet of the giant plant monsters. Nature Girl and Mantis should be able to help cover your escape. >”Feel free to chip in weeding them out but don’t bite off more than you can chew. Stick to lasers instead.” Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sun 05 Nov 2023 05:53:56 No. 5818451 Report Quoted By:
>>5816966 >>5816972 >>5816975 >>5816980 >>5817048 >”Would you mind taking a chunk out of their forces? It’d really help me out. Try to steer clear of the real one.” >Drive between the feet of the giant plant monsters. Nature Girl and Mantis should be able to help cover your escape. Taking these. Writing...
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sun 05 Nov 2023 08:52:27 No. 5818531 Report Quoted By:
<span class="mu-r">“Would you mind taking out a chunk of their forces? It’d really help me out if you could. Just…try to steer clear of the real one.”</span> She gave you a wide, toothy grin that served as a painful reminder of the woman she used to be. For her sake, you tried to match her energy. <span class="mu-b">“Leave ‘em to me! It’s way better than staying down in some dark, dingy sewer.”</span> And before you were able to get her to elaborate on that, Iara shot off towards the swarm of Doombots. A thin, blue line of light projected from her eyes carved a swathe through the cloud of killer robots, creating a cacophony of explosions that lit up the night sky in a brilliant display of fireworks. You whistled in appreciation, but you didn’t have the luxury to sit and watch the action. Instead, you turned and drove towards the stampede of giant plant monsters that were charging to join Iara in her fight. It was only because of your spider sense that you were able to evade being crushed by feet that were just as big as the vehicle you were driving. You drifted between the lumbering giants, feeling disoriented by the cloud of dirt and dust that was being kicked up in their passing. A choking cloud of the stuff infiltrated the car, forcing you to squint to avoid being blinded. A thick layer of grime was now coating the underside of the car, giving it a more dingy, time-worn appearance. Luckily, however, that was the extent of the damage to your car. If you’d been a split-second late on that last turn, then your car likely would’ve spun out of control and hit a tree. In what little of what was left of your rear view mirror, you could see Mantis, mounted atop a plant beast, glancing back at you curiously. You waved at her and scanned the area for Nature GIrl. You found her easily, standing close to Donny, nurturing some of the smaller plant creatures. <span class="mu-r">“Damn, Donny. What’re they feeding you?”</span> You muttered to yourself. A moment later, Nature Girl noticed you and started waving her arms around in an attempt to flag you down. <span class="mu-g">“Whatever you do, don’t let <span class="mu-i">him</span> anywhere near here!”</span> She pointed at a burning comet in the distance, which you quickly identified as Johnny Storm. He was following you, now relegated to a supporting role after you stole the show. He probably wouldn’t like that too much, but you didn’t particularly care at the moment. <span class="mu-r">“Trust me, I’m just passing through. Sorry for all the trouble, but you guys are really helping me out.”</span> <span class="mu-g">“It’s cool. I know you’ve got stuff to do. The squirrels have told me so many wonderful things tonight! Go save the city!”</span> She gave you an encouraging smile and pumped a fist into the air as she cheered at the retreating hard-light vehicle. —-------- (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sun 05 Nov 2023 08:54:34 No. 5818533 Report Quoted By:
To your great relief, Doctor Doom and a good chunk of his bots kept chasing you. It shouldn’t have been a very comforting thought, seeing as how he was a major supervillain that could grind you into the dust if he caught up to you, but if he was here, then he wouldn’t be able to hurt any of the others in the park. At least, you hoped that was the case. The Morlocks couldn’t afford to suffer any more losses tonight. Luckily, that little stunt you pulled allowed you to create enough distance between yourself and Doom that you were able to make it your destination without much trouble. It was an old metal refinery on the edge of town. It was unpopulated, unguarded, and otherwise unremarkable. But, Reed made it seem like this was an important factor in his plans, so you didn’t ask questions. You just drove straight into the facility, parked your car in a corner somewhere and waited. And so did Doom. He and Arcade hovered just in front of the refinery. The mad dictator seemed entirely content to allow his Doombots to tear the facility apart, rather than allowing himself to be possibly cornered. For a second, that had you worried. But only for a second. Before the Doombots got a chance to do any real damage, you saw five people appearing behind Doom. The buff blonde one with the golden shield threw her magic-canceling disk at the metal masked menace, bouncing it off the back of his head and disrupting his levitation for a brief moment. And in that brief window, Nathaniel Richards fired a beam of energy from his chest directly at Doom. Doom somehow managed to block it with his hand, but he was momentarily distracted long enough for Gwen to catch her shield and slam it down on Doom’s face. She then used her full weight to force both of them down. He struggled against her, unable to focus on keeping Arcade afloat, defending himself, and commanding his Doombots at the same time with his magic disrupted. And it only got worse when Valeria came out with N’Kalla, carrying a cube-shaped device that you thought was meant to disrupt the functions of both his suit and the surrounding Doombots. At once, both Doom and Arcade fell, while Gwen and the First Family struggled to bring down Doom. You moved quickly, abandoning the car and launching yourself with a web-slingshot and a burst of flame in order to reach Arcade before he hit the ground. You grabbed him by the back of his jacket and swung him to the side, where you set up a web net to cushion his fall. <span class="mu-r">“We regret to inform you that your account’s been suspended. If you have any complaints, please direct them to your local police department.”</span> Arcade struggled weakly against the webbing for a second, before flopping back and letting out a frustrated huff. Meanwhile, Gwen and Doom were wrestling with each other, with Gwen pushing the shield into him, and Doom attempting to push it down and away from his face. <span class="mu-r">“Don’t just stand there! Do something!”</span> (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sun 05 Nov 2023 08:55:45 No. 5818534 Report Quoted By:
Arcade shouted. And for a brief instant, Doom turned his dark glare onto the demented game developer. <span class="mu-g">“Doom. Does not. Take. Orders!”</span> With each word, Doom seemed to overpower Gwen a little more at a time. Even with his suit’s limited functionality, and without the use of his magic, he was able to push her back with sheer force of will. Gwen strained under the weight of his strength, before she was eventually batted away so that Doom could recuperate. With the distance that he managed to create between himself and the shield, Doom gained some semblance of control over his magic again. Lightning crackled on his fingertips, and he pointed a hand at Nathaniel, who was currently preparing another powerful blast from the suit’s core. But you knew that the kid wouldn’t make it in time. Your body moved on reflex, and before you knew what you were doing, a web-bolt flew from your wrist and nailed Doom right in the eye. Well, the eye of his mask at least. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to momentarily distract him long enough for Susan Storm to create a bubble of force around him. And when Doom unleashed his magical attack, the energy from it bounced right back and hit him at full force. Doom cried out in pain and outrage as he electrocuted himself. When the light show ended, Doom fell to one knee, his clothing slightly blackened and smoldering from the attack. He glared hatefully at where he thought Sue was, and he raised a hand to retaliate. Five, metal spikes flew from his fingertips, shredding the shimmering barrier as if it had never been there at all. Gwen jumped in front of deadly projectiles and deflected them with her golden shield, sending the disk back at Doom with a powerful throw. He blocked it with his forearm, but that only left him open to be shot by Nathanial from above. Both N’Kalla and Sue bombarded him with force projectiles while his attention was split, and you considered getting in there as well. But all of a sudden, everyone backed off all at once. In the blink of an eye, Van returned to the battlefield, teleporting Valeria and everyone else to a safe distance. It was then that you noticed Mister Fantastic standing above you, his elongated arms coiled around a thick metal pipe. With a show of effort, he brought it down on top of Doom, while The Thing threw large bits of metal at him, one after another. Neither of them stopped until Johnny was flying directly above him. And that’s when he finally got his chance to shine. Johnny Storm, the second Human Torch, dropped the hammer. A spear of blinding light crashed down from the heavens like an almighty display of divine retribution. It was almost painful to look at, and if it wasn’t for his sister maintaining the forcefield around it, you had a feeling that it would’ve roasted you and everyone else on the spot. (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sun 05 Nov 2023 08:56:48 No. 5818535 Report The metal burying Doom melted and pooled around him almost instantly, and his armor was nearly glowing white hot from the sheer intensity of the blast. A few seconds later, Johnny mercifully ended his attack, leaving Doom to simmer.
But before he could get a chance to retaliate, recover or escape, Reed rolled a purple cube of crackling energy at his feet. The cube immediately expanded to encompass Doom, and the molten metal at his feet reacted just as quickly. As if it was being manually manipulated, the metal rearranged itself into a complex cage-like structure that restrained all of Doom’s limbs.
Everyone other than the original four stared in disbelief, unsure of what to think about the outcome of the battle. It had all ended so quickly! Was that really it?
Nervously, Gwen glanced at Sue, and she nodded. All at once, everyone sagged in relief.
<span class="mu-r">“How much do ya wanna bet that this is another advanced Doombot?”</span>
Ben Grimm asked. You wanted to curse him for trying to jinx you like that, but Reed seemed to be considering that possibility as well.
<span class="mu-b">“It’s a strong possibility. It wouldn’t be the first time that we were attacked by one of his creations.”</span>
Gwen had a pitiful look on her face. She was likely wondering the same thing that you were. Was there another fight to be had here?
<span class="mu-g">“But…on a citywide scale…?”</span>
Sue nodded gravely.
<span class="mu-s">“You’ll get used to it.”</span>
Gwen let out a hollow laugh.
<span class="mu-g">“I don’t think I want to.”</span>
What will you do/say?
>”Does that mean that Doom probably doesn’t know about any of this? Are they all synced up like some sort of hivemind?” >”When did he make the switch? Was he always a Doombot? How does a robot even use magic in the first place?” >(Point up at Johnny) “Alright, you win. You have GOT to show me how to do that someday!” >(Look at Gwen.) Well? What did you think about your first big superhero team-up? Pretty exciting stuff, huh?” >”So, do you think you guys might be willing to hear Va Nee out after all this is done? I think she’s done more than enough to earn an appointment.” >“I don’t mean to rain on everyone’s parade, but do we have a way of cleaning up the remaining Doombots in a timely manner?” >Write-in. Pastebins:
Character Sheet:
https://pastebin.com/1ZihFYSV Equipment and Gear:
https://pastebin.com/WAhveFAd Contacts:
https://pastebin.com/WdcFXD2s 10 Commandments of the Desperados:
https://pastebin.com/Qpr2jVPE Costumes:
https://pastebin.com/5Jie54X2 The Huntsman’s Travel Guide:
https://pastebin.com/PU6LWsip Anonymous
>>5818535 >>”Does that mean that Doom probably doesn’t know about any of this? Are they all synced up like some sort of hivemind?” >(Look at Gwen.) Well? What did you think about your first big superhero team-up? Pretty exciting stuff, huh?” Anonymous
>>5818535 >Pat Gwens back "Awesome job, couldn't even tell you were nervous.” >and after the inevitable 'fuck you/i hate you' from her, but even if not: "Seriously. You had a key role in the plan and you came through. You always come through, like I told you." >(to group again) "Anyway, Doom still probably know about all of this? Aren't the bots all synced up like some sort of hivemind?” >“And I don’t mean to rain in on the parade further, but we still need to clean up the remaining ones.” Anonymous
>>5818535 >>”Does that mean that Doom probably doesn’t know about any of this? Are they all synced up like some sort of hivemind?” >(Look at Gwen.) Well? What did you think about your first big superhero team-up? Pretty exciting stuff, huh?” >”When did he make the switch? Was he always a Doombot? How does a robot even use magic in the first place?” Anonymous
>>5818535 >”So, do you think you guys might be willing to hear Va Nee out after all this is done? I think she’s done more than enough to earn an appointment.” >“I don’t mean to rain on everyone’s parade, but do we have a way of cleaning up the remaining Doombots in a timely manner?” Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Mon 06 Nov 2023 22:44:58 No. 5821063 Report Quoted By:
>>5818569 >>5818766 >>5818799 >>5818835 >”Does that mean that Doom probably doesn’t know about any of this? Are they all synced up like some sort of hivemind?” >(Look at Gwen.) Well? What did you think about your first big superhero team-up? Pretty exciting stuff, huh?” Taking these. Writing...
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Mon 06 Nov 2023 23:48:28 No. 5821159 Report <span class="mu-r">“Does that mean that Doom probably doesn’t know about any of this? Are they all synced up like some sort of hivemind?”</span> Reed shook his head. <span class="mu-b">“They don’t all share the same memories, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he has them uploaded to a server upon their destruction. So if this really is a Doombot, then the real Doom shouldn’t have any personal recollection of what transpired tonight unless he reviews the footage himself.”</span> Van frowned. <span class="mu-b">“Why would he send an inferior duplicate of himself in his place instead of resolving the issue on his own?”</span> Sue let out a weary sigh, casting a sideways glance at the bound supervillain as she did so. <span class="mu-s">“He probably felt that it was beneath him to come here personally for Arcade.”</span> Gwen just looked confused. <span class="mu-g">“But…he was doing magic, right? Can robots do that?”</span> <span class="mu-b">“They can if you inscribe powerful runes inside of them. Then, they act more like highly advanced magical constructs.”</span> Reed answered. Gwen nodded in the way that people do when they don’t truly understand something, but don’t want to admit it. You walked up and patted her on the shoulder. <span class="mu-r">“Well? What did you think about your first big superhero team-up? Pretty exciting stuff, huh?”</span> She gave you a weak smile. <span class="mu-g">“Yeah, I think I’ve had my fair share of excitement for one night, thank you very much. I’d much rather be in a lab than on the front lines.”</span> A peel of laughter came from above, and you turned to watch as Johnny landed beside Doom. <span class="mu-r">“Oh, you and Reed are gonna be the best of friends. I can already tell.”</span> Reed rolled his eyes, but his wife wasn’t afraid of having a laugh at his expense. Ben Grimm had even cracked a grin when he thought Johnny wasn’t looking. Valeria just kept fiddling with her device. Interestingly enough, Van was watching over her shoulder as she worked. <span class="mu-g">“By the way,”</span> Gwen continued. <span class="mu-g">“What ever happened to that girl that you told us about?”</span> She was probably talking about Ember. What will you say?>”She’s somewhere safe. Don’t worry.” (Pat your Portal Projector) >”I dropped her off when I cut through Central Park. She might still be there, but I wouldn’t count on it. >”I managed to save her, but she ran off while I was distracting Doom. She could be anywhere by now.” >Write-in. Also, what will you do now?>Link up with Spider-Man and Sandman. With Doom out of the way, the rest of this should be a cakewalk. >Ask Van if she wouldn't mind teleporting around the city with Valeria’s jamming device. That should turn the tide of battle drastically. >Go check on Cindy. She should still be with Prowler. >Check on Ember. You’d like to have a chat with her now that the city isn’t in immediate danger. >Volunteer to drop Arcade off to the nearest police station. You'd get to taunt him the entire way there, too. >Write-in.
Anonymous
>>5821159 >”She’s somewhere safe. Don’t worry.” (Pat your Portal Projector) >Ask Van if she wouldn't mind teleporting around the city with Valeria’s jamming device. That should turn the tide of battle drastically. >Check on Ember. You’d like to have a chat with her now that the city isn’t in immediate danger. Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>5821159 >>”I managed to save her, but she ran off while I was distracting Doom. She could be anywhere by now.” Anonymous
>>5821159 >”Van’s not the only one who can make someone vanish. I’m surprised Doom didn’t realize I was the only one in the car, but it was way fun to race him in that thing. I think I’m keeping it as a gift.” I’d like to keep quiet on the details in case the other heroes want her turned in as a criminal.
>Ask Van if she wouldn't mind teleporting around the city with Valeria’s jamming device. That should turn the tide of battle drastically. >>Suggest Gwen and Reed tag along. The three eggheads out to have plenty to talk about, and Van could use the extra rapport. Make sure Van has friends to vouch for her wherever she’s going, both now and hopefully in the future.
>Give Silvermane a quick call (text?) and let him know Arcade and Doom are beaten so the heroes are going to sweep soon. If any of his guys were taking advantage of the chaos, they’d better wrap up soon. Black Cat may not be the only one taking advantage of the chaos.
>Go check on Cindy. She should still be with Prowler. Final destination. We can say we’re done for the night.
Anonymous
>>5821159 >”She’s somewhere safe. Don’t worry.” (Pat your Portal Projector) >Go check on Cindy. She should still be with Prowler. >Check on Ember. You’d like to have a chat with her now that the city isn’t in immediate danger. >Write-in. >Ask Van what she asked the Fantastic Four about. Anonymous
>>5821159 >>”I managed to save her, but she ran off while I was distracting Doom. She could be anywhere by now.” at least we might not enter Doom's shitlist!
>Find Squirrel Girl, what happened to her? Anonymous
>>5821159 >”She’s somewhere safe. Don’t worry.” (Pat your Portal Projector) >Ask Van if she wouldn't mind teleporting around the city with Valeria’s jamming device. That should turn the tide of battle drastically. >Go check on Cindy. She should still be with Prowler. Anonymous
>>5821159 >"Relaxing on a beach somewhere." >”Same place I keep my alien starfighter. Safe. Don’t worry.” (Pat your Portal Projector) >>Check on Ember. You’d like to have a chat with her now that the city isn’t in immediate danger. first her to make sure she doesn't do anything stupid in there
>>Go check on Cindy. She should still be with Prowler. Anonymous
I just realized, with our newfound pyrokinesis, Ben no longer needs to rely on external heat sources to cook Jiffy Pop. No one man should have all that power.
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Tue 07 Nov 2023 23:26:11 No. 5822586 Report Quoted By:
>>5821163 >>5821199 >>5821200 >>5821230 >>5821903 >>5822186 >"Relaxing on a beach somewhere." >”Same place I keep my alien starfighter. Safe. Don’t worry.” (Pat your Portal Projector) >Ask Van if she wouldn't mind teleporting around the city with Valeria’s jamming device. That should turn the tide of battle drastically. >Check on Ember. You’d like to have a chat with her now that the city isn’t in immediate danger. >Go check on Cindy. She should still be with Prowler. Taking these. Writing...
>>5822571 Ben's threat level might have to be re-evaluated by S.H.I.E.L.D.
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Wed 08 Nov 2023 00:47:27 No. 5822639 Report Quoted By:
<span class="mu-r">“She’s probably relaxing on a beach somewhere.”</span> Gwen looked immediately confused, so you decided to clarify a bit. <span class="mu-r">“The same place I keep my alien starfighter. She’s safe. Don’t worry.”</span> You patted your Portal Projector. Gwen stared at it for a moment, before nodding. <span class="mu-g">“Good. I’m glad that you managed to get her out safe. What’re you gonna do with her?”</span> You glanced at the First Family. None of them were really paying attention to you right now. <span class="mu-r">“Not sure. I’m gonna check on her in a bit, so I guess I’ll find out then. What about you? What’re you gonna do?”</span> She turned her head to stare at Arcade’s defeated form, still weakly struggling in your web. A somewhat cheeky grin spread across her face. <span class="mu-g">“I’ll probably turn in Arcade and see if I get any prizes. After that, I’ll meet back up with Hill. She probably needs me for something.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Maybe Van can drop you off. Speaking of…”</span> You waved your sister over, and Van was by your side in the blink of an eye. <span class="mu-b">“What is it?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“I was wondering if you could drop Gwen off somewhere. Also, I wanted to see what you thought about helping Valeria by teleporting her around the city so that she could use her Doombot jammer to shut down the robots.”</span> Gwen looked to Van hopefully, and she gave you both an encouraging smile. <span class="mu-b">“I believe I can manage both.”</span> —------- After receiving the gratitude of the Fantastic Four, a fist-bump from Gwen, an approving nod from Van, and a scornful look from the potential Doombot in their custody, you swung away to a private location that you thought would be suitable to enter your Pocket Dimension without being disturbed. You equipped the recall watch, webbed the flashlight to a wall and activated it, causing a tear in space to form in front of you. You strode in without hesitation. Your whole body seemed to vibrate as you passed through the field, but otherwise, the transition was seamless. It didn’t take you very long to find Ember among the field purple flowers either. She was currently standing atop a hill, carefully scanning her surroundings with a hard-light rifle in her hands. <span class="mu-r">“So, what do you think?”</span> Ember whirled around and trained her rifle on you, but she quickly relaxed when she realized who you were. She let out a sigh and turned her head to catch an incoming breeze. Her ponytail fluttered in the wind, and she closed her eyes for a moment to appreciate it. <span class="mu-r">“It’s…kind of beautiful. Where are we?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“A simulated reality, I think. I don’t fully understand it, but someone managed to create all this out of some complex alien code.”</span> She turned to face you again, and this time, a burning passion blazed behind her eyes. <span class="mu-r">“Seriously? Could you show it to me? I’d love to see it.”</span> If you remembered correctly, Ember was a programmer at ESU. Maybe she could be of use to you. (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Wed 08 Nov 2023 00:48:29 No. 5822641 Report What will you say?
>”If you come work for me, I’ll let you look at whatever you want.” >”I could, but I’d like to extend a better offer. I’d like you to meet the rest of my team. I think we could do great work together.” >”Knock yourself out. I can’t make heads or tails of it, anyway.” >”We’ll worry about that later. First things first, how’re you feeling?” >”Afraid not. I’ll be dumping you back at your dorm the first chance that I get.” >Write-in. Pastebins:
Character Sheet:
https://pastebin.com/1ZihFYSV Equipment and Gear:
https://pastebin.com/WAhveFAd Contacts:
https://pastebin.com/WdcFXD2s 10 Commandments of the Desperados:
https://pastebin.com/Qpr2jVPE Costumes:
https://pastebin.com/5Jie54X2 The Huntsman’s Travel Guide:
https://pastebin.com/PU6LWsip Anonymous
>>5822641 >>”If you come work for me, I’ll let you look at whatever you want.” Anonymous
>>5822641 >”We’ll worry about that later. First things first, how’re you feeling?” >”I could, but I’d like to extend a better offer. I’d like you to meet the rest of my team. I think we could do great work together.” Anonymous
>>5822641 We could always use another tech person, but maybe we should send her to Silvermane long-term?
I’ll settle for
>”Afraid not. I’ll be dumping you back at your dorm the first cha- just fucking with you. Knock yourself out, I can’t make heads or tails of it anyway.” but I’m okay with any of the top 4 options.
Anonymous
>>5822641 >”I could, but I’d like to extend a better offer. I’d like you to meet the rest of my team. I think we could do great work together.” There's a lot she has to offer to be honest. Also I want to offer her a job as a partner, not a subordinate.
God knows how she'd feel about that after the mess with Arcade.
Anonymous
>>5822641 >>>”If you come work for me, I’ll let you look at whatever you want.” Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Wed 08 Nov 2023 22:34:47 No. 5823817 Report >>5822648 >>5822656 >>5822657 >>5822660 >>5823617 We're currently tied between these two votes:
>”If you come work for me, I’ll let you look at whatever you want.” >”I could, but I’d like to extend a better offer. I’d like you to meet the rest of my team. I think we could do great work together.” How would you guys like to proceed?
Anonymous
>>5823817 i'll swap
>>5822648 >”I could, but I’d like to extend a better offer. I’d like you to meet the rest of my team. I think we could do great work together.” Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Wed 08 Nov 2023 22:49:16 No. 5823834 Report Quoted By:
>>5822656 >>5822660 >>5823818 >”I could, but I’d like to extend a better offer. I’d like you to meet the rest of my team. I think we could do great work together.” Taking these. Writing...
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Thu 09 Nov 2023 00:41:46 No. 5823932 Report Quoted By:
<span class="mu-r">“I could, but I’d like to extend a better offer. I’d like you to meet the rest of my team. I think we could do great work together.”</span> Ember’s eyes went wide. She looked completely and utterly dumbfounded. <span class="mu-r">“Your team? You’re recruiting me?”</span> You nodded. <span class="mu-r">“That <span class="mu-i">was</span> the implication.”</span> She turned to turn her full attention to you, her gun hanging limply by her side. <span class="mu-r">“But what about the Squirrel Lady? Weren’t you working with her?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“That was more of a union born of circumstance. I needed her to help me get to my friend. What I’m offering you is a true partnership. A chance to make some real money.”</span> You rubbed your fingers together suggestively. Ember blinked for a moment, before narrowing her eyes and folding her arms over her chest. <span class="mu-r">“Oh yeah? I’ve heard that story before.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Yeah, I know. But I don’t want you to be my subordinate, or my minion, or my peon, or-”</span> Ember held a hand up to stop you. <span class="mu-r">“I get it.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“I want us to be equals. If you join us, I bet we could put your powers to good use.”</span> Ember turned and walked down the hill, staring at you the entire time. Her eyes locked with yours for a long while as she quietly considered your offer. After about a minute, her gun dematerialized, and she relaxed her posture slightly. <span class="mu-r">“You really want me on your team? You barely even know me.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“I recognize talent when I see it, and you’ve got it.”</span> Ember made the conflicted expression of someone who was pleased by a compliment, but wasn’t willing to trust it as coming from a genuine place. And when she next spoke, it was with a dour expression. <span class="mu-r">“I don’t…play well with others.”</span> She looked a little embarrassed after admitting that out loud. You laughed at her, which earned you a glare. <span class="mu-r">“Neither does Prowler, but we work together just fine.”</span> Her expression softened a bit, and you even saw the corner of lip turn up slightly. <span class="mu-r">“What do you guys do?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Ideally? We steal, sneak around, gather intel and do security work. But other times, we end up getting roped into ridiculous adventures that’ll make great stories to tell to our grandchildren.”</span> Ember made a thoughtful noise and bit her lip. <span class="mu-r">“What about Arcade?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“He’s probably in police custody by now.”</span> Ember nodded. <span class="mu-r">“Good. It’s better than he deserves, but I’ll take it. The only downside is that he’s probably gonna blab about me to the cops to make himself look better. There’s no way I can go back to ESU after all this. I’m gonna need to lay low.”</span> She gave you a hopeful look. (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Thu 09 Nov 2023 00:43:22 No. 5823935 Report What will you do?
>”You can stay at my place until I get you sorted.” >”How would you feel about having some roommates? I know two girls that are looking for an apartment too.” >”I’ll see what I can do. In the meantime, would you be alright with chilling in here for a bit? I'll bring in whatever you need.” >”I know a guy that can probably set you up with a place.” (Reach out to Silvermane later.) >Write-in. Pastebins:
Character Sheet:
https://pastebin.com/1ZihFYSV Equipment and Gear:
https://pastebin.com/WAhveFAd Contacts:
https://pastebin.com/WdcFXD2s 10 Commandments of the Desperados:
https://pastebin.com/Qpr2jVPE Costumes:
https://pastebin.com/5Jie54X2 The Huntsman’s Travel Guide:
https://pastebin.com/PU6LWsip Anonymous
>>5823935 >”How would you feel about having some roommates? I know two girls that are looking for an apartment too.” Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>5823935 >>”You can stay at my place until I get you sorted.” Anonymous
>>5823935 >”I know a guy that can probably set you up with a place.” (Reach out to Silvermane later.) If she does well with the Family she’ll be good even beyond us.
I can also back
>”How would you feel about having some roommates? I know two girls that are looking for an apartment too.” if a tie happens again.
Anonymous
>>5823935 >>”How would you feel about having some roommates? I know two girls that are looking for an apartment too.” Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Thu 09 Nov 2023 23:17:32 No. 5824764 Report Quoted By:
>>5823942 >>5823961 >>5824640 >”How would you feel about having some roommates? I know two girls that are looking for an apartment too.” Taking these. Writing...
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Fri 10 Nov 2023 00:22:59 No. 5824812 Report Quoted By:
<span class="mu-r">“How would you feel about having some roommates? I know two girls that are looking for an apartment too.”</span> For a second, you thought that she might complain about having to share an apartment, but she wisely avoided making a big deal out of it. You were the one doing her a favor, after all. <span class="mu-r">“I’ve had roommates before. It’s not always a great time, but I can play nice if I have to.”</span> And in this case, she did. <span class="mu-r">“Thanks, by the way.”</span> She added, tightly hugging her arms around herself and glancing to the side. She looked uncomfortable with the idea of genuinely thanking someone. She sort of reminded you of a mini-Callisto. <span class="mu-r">“For not turning me in, I mean. And for saving me from a supervillain. And for…giving me a place to stay, I guess. I’ll find a way to pay you back somehow.”</span> You nodded. <span class="mu-r">“Don’t mention it. Someone with your talents shouldn’t be rotting away in a cell somewhere. And you definitely shouldn’t be wasting them on some creep like Arcade. Those Pixel Punks were way overrated.”</span> Ember let out a dry chuckle at that, and her posture became slightly less guarded. <span class="mu-r">“Yeah, I thought so too. That ginger freak was obsessed with his little army of virtual trolls. I could’ve been making much cooler stuff. Like-”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Like a 64-bit dragon.”</span> You said. <span class="mu-r">“Yeah, exactly. Except it wouldn’t just…fly around randomly and eat people. I can code games into reality! I can design levels and overlay them with the city’s terrain. The possibilities are endless.”</span> Her excitement was growing by the second, her frustration and fear forgotten momentarily. <span class="mu-r">“And I’d be more than willing to give you an outlet for your creativity. So long as you’d be willing to help me out every now and again.”</span> You held out a hand, and she eyed it suspiciously, her caution returning all at once. <span class="mu-r">“Come on. Would you rather live on the run, constantly looking over your shoulder? Or do you want to show the world what you can really do?”</span> Ember didn’t waver for much longer after that. Her gaze sharpened, and she grabbed your hand and squeezed it. <span class="mu-r">“Alright…’Huntsman’, was it? You’ve piqued my interest. Plus, I was getting bored of that school anyway.”</span> You firmly shook her hand. <span class="mu-r">“You won’t be disappointed, Ember. I’m sure the others are gonna love you, too.”</span> Even if they weren’t fans of her personality, they were going to absolutely love her powers. She let out a sardonic laugh. <span class="mu-r">“That’s usually not the impression that I get from most people, but I’ll take your word for it. Lead the way.”</span> She gestured towards where you’d come from, and you turned to stare at the empty space. Did she want to meet the team right now? You were technically going to go meet up with Prowler and Cindy, but you weren’t sure if you wanted Ember present for a private conversation like that just yet. (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Fri 10 Nov 2023 00:24:01 No. 5824813 Report What will you do?
>”I’m gonna need to pay my friend a visit first. He can be the first Desperado that you meet. And if you can get his approval, then you’re golden.” >”Actually, would you mind waiting in here for a little while longer until I can assemble the whole team? In the meantime, you’re welcome to examine the code and learn what you can from it.” >”Tell me, what are your thoughts on codenames? Because you’re probably gonna need one. I don’t need it tonight, but I do expect it to be on my desk by Monday morning. Just sit on it for now.” >Write-in. Pastebins:
Character Sheet:
https://pastebin.com/1ZihFYSV Equipment and Gear:
https://pastebin.com/WAhveFAd Contacts:
https://pastebin.com/WdcFXD2s 10 Commandments of the Desperados:
https://pastebin.com/Qpr2jVPE Costumes:
https://pastebin.com/5Jie54X2 The Huntsman’s Travel Guide:
https://pastebin.com/PU6LWsip Anonymous
>>5824813 >”I’m gonna need to pay my friend a visit first. He can be the first Desperado that you meet. And if you can get his approval, then you’re golden.” >”Tell me, what are your thoughts on codenames? Because you’re probably gonna need one. I don’t need it tonight, but I do expect it to be on my desk by Monday morning. Just sit on it for now.” Anonymous
>>5824813 >>”I’m gonna need to pay my friend a visit first. He can be the first Desperado that you meet. And if you can get his approval, then you’re golden.” if we can convince Prowler that's it, the others will just fall in place
Anonymous
>>5824813 >>”I’m gonna need to pay my friend a visit first. He can be the first Desperado that you meet. And if you can get his approval, then you’re golden.” >”Tell me, what are your thoughts on codenames? Because you’re probably gonna need one. I don’t need it tonight, but I do expect it to be on my desk by Monday morning. Just sit on it for now.” Anonymous
>>5824813 >>”I’m gonna need to pay my friend a visit first. He can be the first Desperado that you meet. And if you can get his approval, then you’re golden.” Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Fri 10 Nov 2023 17:17:38 No. 5825736 Report Quoted By:
>>5824820 >>5824821 >>5824837 >>5825006 >”I’m gonna need to pay my friend a visit first. He can be the first Desperado that you meet. And if you can get his approval, then you’re golden.” >”Tell me, what are your thoughts on codenames? Because you’re probably gonna need one. I don’t need it tonight, but I do expect it to be on my desk by Monday morning. Just sit on it for now.” Taking these. Writing...
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Fri 10 Nov 2023 19:39:00 No. 5825884 Report Quoted By:
<span class="mu-r">“I’m gonna need to pay my friend a visit first. He can be the first Desperado that you meet. And if you can get his approval, then you’re golden.”</span> You both turned to walk in the same direction, your arm draped over her shoulder. She tensed at the sudden contact, and you allowed her to carefully peel herself away from you. You tried not to take it personally. <span class="mu-r">“Desperado…”</span> She said the word slowly, as if she were testing the feel of it on her tongue. She didn’t seem to hate it at least. <span class="mu-r">“Tell me, what are your thoughts on codenames? Because you’re probably going to need one. I don’t need an answer right away, but I do expect it to be on my desk by Monday morning. Just sit on it for now.”</span> Ember made a thoughtful noise. <span class="mu-r">“Do I get a costume?”</span> She asked the question with full seriousness, and that surprised you. You didn’t think she would be the type. <span class="mu-r">“Of course! But, let’s take things one step at a time for now.”</span> —-------- For the sake of convenience, you kept Ember in the pocket dimension for a while longer, until you arrived at the Night Nurse’s clinic in Chinatown. It was a hole in the wall, tucked between a strip on Orchard Street. And if you hadn’t been given proper directions, you might’ve mistaken it for one of those “happy ending” massage parlors. To say that you didn’t fit in here was an understatement. You were about as inconspicuous as a brick flying through a glass window, but you suspected that she got visitors like you all the time. You were acutely aware of the eyes that you felt on you as you crawled into the building. This <span class="mu-i">was</span> enemy territory after all. Hopefully, news of your activity here wouldn’t travel back to Mister Negative. The last thing you wanted to do was cause trouble for the Nurse. You considered knocking on the front door at first, but your impatience got the better of you, and you decided to slip in through a ventilation shaft. It was incredibly dusty, and very nearly gave yourself away by sneezing several times, but you managed to creep past the lobby and into the room where Cindy was currently resting in. Her current condition was enough to make your breath catch. Her face was covered in small scrapes and bruises, her arm was in a sling, and her leg was in a cast and being propped up above her bed. One of her eyes was slightly swollen shut, but the other one was wide open when she stared up at you as you descended from the ceiling on a webline. <span class="mu-r">“Man, you look terrible.”</span> She smiled, coughed, and then gave you a weak glare. <span class="mu-s">“Hello to you, too.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“What happened?”</span> <span class="mu-g">“She got ambushed.”</span> (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Fri 10 Nov 2023 19:40:08 No. 5825888 Report Quoted By:
You whirled around, abandoning your webline and falling into a battle-ready crouch, prepared to pounce on whoever it was that managed to get the drop on you. But you immediately relaxed when you realized that it was only the Prowler. He’d somehow managed to perfectly blend into the shadows of this room. You hadn’t even seen him. <span class="mu-r">“By who? Doombots?”</span> Prowler nodded. <span class="mu-g">“Yeah. She had to fight her way out of a corner, and from what I understand, Typhoid Mary was the one to get her out of it.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Why would she-”</span> Your question was cut off by both the Night Nurse, and a young blonde costumed individual bursting into the room. The Nurse’s eyes settled onto you, and alarm turned into recognition, but then quickly became frustration. <span class="mu-b">“Why can’t any of you learn to take the front door?”</span> She said, pushing past you and Prowler to check on Cindy’s condition. You looked away sheepishly, and your eye caught on what must’ve been the tattered remains of Cindy’s costume. It looked as if it had been cut off of her body. It was hard to imagine that she had been inside of that a few hours ago. An audible crack and a pop from Cindy’s arm caused her to wince, and all eyes fell on her again. She quickly schooled her expression, however. <span class="mu-s">“I’m okay. My bones are just…settling back into place.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“More moon magic?”</span> This question had come from the costumed blonde, who you identified as Cindy’s roommate. She wore a thick, magenta visor, a red bomber jacket and a black crop-top that exposed her stomach, and a similarly colored pair of short shorts with fishnet stockings covering her legs. All in all, it was a fairly revealing ensemble. One that provided little cover and left little to the imagination. She glanced warily at you every now and again, but most of her attention was on Cindy. The girl nodded slowly. <span class="mu-s">“Yeah. I’ll probably be walking out of here tomorrow morning. The arm might take some time, though.”</span> The Nurse gave her a disapproving scowl. <span class="mu-b">“Oh no you don’t. You’re staying right here until I say you can leave. And you’re not getting out of that bed until you’re healed and well-rested. Do you understand me, young lady?”</span> Cindy shrank beneath her covers, and nodded after gulping visibly. <span class="mu-s">“Yes, ma’am…”</span> The Nurse gave her another warning look, but her expression quickly softened into one of genuine, loving concern. She reached down to brush Cindy’s hair out of her face. <span class="mu-b">“Good. Now, I’m afraid that I’ll need the rest of you to leave for a moment.”</span> You and Prowler exchanged glances. To your surprise, he didn’t look entirely comfortable with leaving her alone. Maybe he liked her more than he cared to admit. You were the first to respond to the Nurse’s demand. <span class="mu-r">“It’s alright. We’ll be right outside.”</span> You assured Cindy and Prowler, pushing the man closer to the door. Wanda raised a hand to get the Nurse’s attention. (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Fri 10 Nov 2023 19:41:20 No. 5825893 Report Quoted By:
<span class="mu-r">“Uh, is it okay if I stay?”</span> The Nurse glanced at Cindy, who gave her a brief nod. <span class="mu-b">“Fine. You can stay.”</span> Wanda beamed at her, and you left the women to do their own thing while you and Prowler stepped out for a moment. <span class="mu-r">“Thanks for making sure she was alright. Things have been a bit crazy ever since we got back.”</span> Prowler grunted his agreement. <span class="mu-g">“Sometimes I forget that she’s just a kid. The same age as Miles, and she’s out there fighting crime and leaping from buildings.”</span> You let out a weary sigh and leaned against a nearby wall. <span class="mu-r">“I know. I can’t stop her from doing what she was raised to do, but I can at least try to prepare her as best as I can.”</span> <span class="mu-g">“Let me handle that. It’s the least I can do. I’ll make her new gear, get her a new suit, one with more protection built-in.”</span> You gave him an appreciative pat on the shoulder. <span class="mu-r">“Thanks. I appreciate it. Is everything alright with your girl and your nephew?”</span> <span class="mu-g">“Yeah. They’re fine. Neither of them were out there when things got real bad. I think the big-time heroes are out there mopping up the mess right now, anyway.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“It’s the least they can do.”</span> You said, with only a hint of bitterness in your voice. Prowler let out a cold laugh. <span class="mu-g">“Damn straight. What have you been up to, anyway?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Oh, you know. Stopping a Latverian invasion and saving the Fantastic Four. The usual.”</span> You said easily. <span class="mu-r">“Oh! And I’ve been recruiting help.”</span> As soon as you were sure that you were alone, you pulled out your portal projector and created a rift at the end of the hallway. Prowler’s eyes went wide when he saw Ember walk out of the portal and into the clinic. She glanced around warily, looking for any signs of immediate danger. <span class="mu-g">“Who the hell is that?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Prowler. I’d like you to meet Ember Quade. The original creator of Arcade’s Pixel Punks. She’s the one that helped me take him down.”</span> Prowler glared at her, and Ember waved at him awkwardly. <span class="mu-r">“Uh…hey.”</span> <span class="mu-g">“Why’d you bring her here, Huntsman?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“I want her to join us. I’m offering her a chance to become a Desperado.”</span> Prowler looked at you as if you just sprouted two more heads. <span class="mu-g">“So, let me get this straight. You found the girl who’s responsible for one of the biggest attacks on the city in months, and you want to give her a spot on the team?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“She’s got potential, Prowler. Those Pixel Punks are the least of what she can make. She codes hard-light energy constructs into reality, and she can program them herself. Show him, Ember.”</span> (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Fri 10 Nov 2023 19:42:24 No. 5825896 Report Quoted By:
You turned to her, and she nodded, looking a bit nervous. The lights in the hallway began to flicker, and you watched as a cluster of blue cubes formed between her hands. After a few seconds, the cubes shaped themselves into a pixelated bird. It leapt out of her hands and onto the ground. You all watched as it hopped around, chirping cheerily and pecking at the ground every now and again. Prowler’s eyes went from it to Ember. She cleared her throat. <span class="mu-r">“I can make bigger, more impressive stuff, but that requires more energy, and we’re in a clinic, so…”</span> Prowler held up a hand. <span class="mu-g">“You’re pretty young. You sure you’re ready for a life of crime?”</span> Ember swallowed hard, but she didn’t shy away from the Prowler’s intense glare. <span class="mu-r">“I’m just trying to survive, man. Things…haven’t really gone my way ever since I partnered up with Arcade, so I’m trying my luck with you guys. If I have to prove myself, I’ll do it. Whatever it takes.”</span> Prowler made a noise that was halfway between a thoughtful hum and a growl. <span class="mu-g">“You talk a big game, but all I see is a scared little girl who jumps ship as soon as shit gets real. You should’ve seen that Arcade was gonna use you from the beginning. You’re gonna need to be smarter than that if you want to roll with us.”</span> Ember’s cheeks went red, and from the way that her eye twitched and her jaw clenched, you could tell that she was holding back an explosive outburst. <span class="mu-r">“I was smart enough to take a good deal when I saw it.”</span> Ember replied through gritted teeth. <span class="mu-g">“Smart, or desperate? You probably didn’t have a whole lot of other options.”</span> Ember’s nostrils flared, but she demonstrated remarkable self-control for someone with her temper. <span class="mu-r">“Look, you guys are all I’ve got right now. And I’m not dumb enough to make enemies of you guys when the cops are out there looking for me.”</span> <span class="mu-g">“Right. But what about when you find a ‘better offer’? How loyal are you gonna be when someone flashes a fat stack of cash in front of your face? How do we know that you won’t screw us later, when we went through all the trouble of keeping your ass out of trouble? You’re not the only one risking your neck here.”</span> Ember nodded, her lips pressed firmly into a thin line. <span class="mu-r">“I know. I know. You’re just gonna have to trust me, I guess.”</span> <span class="mu-g">“No, I don’t. I don’t even know you, and I don’t even think the Huntsman does either.”</span> Prowler spat back. You were about to come to Ember’s aid, when Prowler continued his rant. <span class="mu-g">“But lucky for you, there’s an opening on the team’s hit squad, and you just might be able to fill it. I’m gonna be taking a backseat to the team’s normal operations for a while. And with some training and guidance, you might be able to help us out.”</span> Your eyes went wide as the meaning of Prowler’s words sank in. <span class="mu-r">“Prowler, what are you talking about?”</span> (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Fri 10 Nov 2023 19:45:37 No. 5825900 Report <span class="mu-g">“I need to be there for my family, Huntsman. Tonight reminded me of that. I’ll still help out, but I’ve got more than enough money to live comfortably for a while. If you or…anyone else needs me-”</span>
He glanced back at Cindy’s room.
<span class="mu-g">“I’m only a phone-call away.”</span>
What will you say?
>”I get it. Believe me, I do. You just focus on what’s important in your life, and we’ll be here if you ever need us.” >”No one can ever take your place, man. It’ll be right here waiting for you when you decide that you’re ready to come back.” >”I appreciate it. I'd feel a lot better if someone like you was looking out for Cindy when I'm not looking." >"Maybe we can...split your time between family and business? Why be comfortable for a few years when you can be set for life?" >”Why can’t you give in your two-week’s notice like everyone else? You've really put me on the backfoot here.” >”Congratulations, Ember. I think you just got the Prowler’s blessing. It’ll only get easier from here, I promise.” >Write-in. Pastebins:
Character Sheet:
https://pastebin.com/1ZihFYSV Equipment and Gear:
https://pastebin.com/WAhveFAd Contacts:
https://pastebin.com/WdcFXD2s 10 Commandments of the Desperados:
https://pastebin.com/Qpr2jVPE Costumes:
https://pastebin.com/5Jie54X2 The Huntsman’s Travel Guide:
https://pastebin.com/PU6LWsip Anonymous
>>5825900 >”I get it. Believe me, I do. You just focus on what’s important in your life, and we’ll be here if you ever need us.” >"I'm going to miss working alongside you, man. Remember to visit sometimes alright?" Anonymous
>>5825900 >>”I appreciate it. I'd feel a lot better if someone like you was looking out for Cindy when I'm not looking." >”Congratulations, Ember. I think you just got the Prowler’s blessing. It’ll only get easier from here, I promise.” Anonymous
>>5825900 >"This isn't a 9 to 5 job, and- even though I act like the shot-caller all the time, I aint the boss of you." >”I get it. Believe me, I do. You just focus on what’s important in your life, and we’ll be here if you ever need us.” We need to get Wanda some proper gear. She's a kid, more inches of her skin need to be covered in kevlar than fishnets. We can't stop Cindy or her from going out, but they're not gonna go out unprotected.
My phrasing here makes me think that we should like getting a first sidekick is like getting a first girlfriend/boyfriend. It's cute, we're not against it, but they need to use protection.
Anonymous
>>5825900 >>”No one can ever take your place, man. It’ll be right here waiting for you when you decide that you’re ready to come back.” godspeed hobbie, you are the man
Anonymous
>>5825900 >”I get it. Believe me, I do. You just focus on what’s important in your life, and we’ll be here if you ever need us.” >Go for the dap and pull him into a hug. >"And I'm glad you said it, because I was about to. She's talented, but definitely a little rough around the edges. Who knows, maybe showing her the ropes will keep you in-shape during your leave of absence." >”Congratulations, Ember. I think you just got the Prowler’s blessing. It’ll only get easier from here, I promise.” Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Fri 10 Nov 2023 21:47:23 No. 5826076 Report Quoted By:
>>5825906 >>5825929 >>5825935 >>5825957 >>5825966 >”I get it. Believe me, I do. You just focus on what’s important in your life, and we’ll be here if you ever need us.” >”Congratulations, Ember. I think you just got the Prowler’s blessing. It’ll only get easier from here, I promise.” Taking these. I'll try and incorporate the other write-ins to the best of my ability as well. Writing...
>>5825935 I'll have to remember that for later. That's a good joke
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Fri 10 Nov 2023 22:10:43 No. 5826107 Report Quoted By:
<span class="mu-r">“I get it. Believe me, I do. You just focus on what’s important in your life, and we’ll be here if you ever need us.”</span> You put a hand on his shoulder, and Hobbie let it stay there. Even more surprising, he extended a hand towards you, his claws retracted for your safety. You firmly grasped it and gave it a firm shake. <span class="mu-g">“You’re alright, Huntsman.”</span> You sniffled. <span class="mu-r">“That might be the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me…”</span> He made a noise that was either a scoff or a dry chuckle, and you decided to believe that it was the latter. You were going to miss working alongside him, and you hoped that he felt the same about you. <span class="mu-r">“Be sure to drop by and visit every now and again, you hear? You’ll always have a place with us.”</span> <span class="mu-g">“I might. <span class="mu-i">Someone’s</span> gotta make sure that this ship’s running smoothly.”</span> Hobie said, before turning to glare at Ember. <span class="mu-g">“And you. I’ll be watching you, so you’d better make sure that you’re on top of your game.”</span> The moment was meant to be threatening, but it was somewhat undermined by the presence of Ember’s blue virtual bird landing on the Prowler’s shoulder. He reached up to crush it, but it flew away before he could. <span class="mu-r">“Congratulations, Ember. I think you just got the Prowler’s blessing. It’ll only get easier from here, I promise.”</span> Ember didn’t look terribly convinced that that was what had just happened, but she tried to remain optimistic nonetheless. <span class="mu-r">“Uh, yeah. Thanks for having me.”</span> She gave you a weak smile, but her eyes turned a bit cold whenever she regarded the Prowler. You didn’t want to say it out loud, but Hobie had made some good points during that interview. Ember was an amateur, and more than a little rough around the edges. But, even more than that, she had some talent in controlling her powers, and she showed great promise. And if you could help her to refine her technique, she could become a huge asset to the team. Now, it was time for her to meet the others. —--------- As you suspected, Flint and Cat weren’t nearly as brutal as the Prowler had been. When they arrived at the clinic, you assured them that Cindy was safe and recovering, before introducing them to Ember. Cat seemed to like her attitude—referring to her as “spicy”---and Flint felt safe in trusting your judgment on the matter. He was just talking about throwing her a welcoming party, when Hobie broke the bad news. <span class="mu-g">“Wait, you’re leaving!? Just like that?”</span> Flint said, clearly saddened by this development. You had been under the impression that they didn’t get along very well, but their relationship must’ve been more complicated than you originally assumed. The Prowler nodded. <span class="mu-g">“I think it’s best that I take a step back and appreciate what I’ve got. I’m probably not hanging up the suit for good, but I could use a normal vacation.”</span> Felicia leaned back in her chair, throwing one leg over the other. (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Fri 10 Nov 2023 22:11:45 No. 5826109 Report <span class="mu-b">“I get it. Gotta take some time to spend the money that you’ve got.”</span>
Hobie chuckled.
<span class="mu-g">“Yeah. You can’t take it with you.”</span>
The two of them shared a moment, just staring at one another with something that might have approached fondness. But, it didn’t last long.
<span class="mu-b">“I guess there really is a decent guy under that mask. With all that growling and grunting, I thought you might’ve just been a small grizzly bear this whole time.”</span>
Cat said with a teasing smile. Prowler narrowed his eyes at her, but his heart wasn’t really in it.
<span class="mu-r">“Well, I guess now we’ve gotta throw a welcome party <span class="mu-s">and</span> a farewell party.”</span>
You suggested.
Flint rubbed his hands together gleefully.
<span class="mu-g">“Alright! I’ll buy the drinks this time.”</span>
Cat nearly jumped out of her seat.
<span class="mu-b">“Oh no you don’t. I’m not drinking that rubbing alcohol that you call booze.”</span>
Flint’s face fell.
<span class="mu-g">“Oh, come on. It’s the only way I can taste it.”</span>
Flint protested.
<span class="mu-g">“How’s a big ol’ pile of sand supposed to get drunk anyway?”</span>
Hobie asked. Ember gave Flint a sympathetic look.
<span class="mu-r">“You’re literally made of sand? Oof…that’s rough, man.”</span>
You nodded sadly.
<span class="mu-r">“Yeah, it’s coarse and grainy and it gets everywhere.”</span>
You managed to dodge out of the way just in time as Flint took a swing at you.
<span class="mu-g">“Why you…!”</span>
You laughed, and for the first time since she got here, so did Ember. And so ended the long night.
—--------
What will you do tomorrow?
>Stay with Cindy while she recovers. You’d like to talk to her and her roommate about a few things. >Throw Ember a welcoming party and Hobie a farewell party. >Accompany Van to her meeting with the Fantastic Four. She’d probably appreciate your support. >Check in with Silvermane. He should know that you’re back in town, and ready to commit yourself to the cause. >Head back to Vic’s house and check on your brother and nephew. >Swing on over to Central Park and see if the mutants are still squatting there. >Call up Callisto and see if she and the others made it out okay. >Write-in. Pastebins:
Character Sheet:
https://pastebin.com/1ZihFYSV Equipment and Gear:
https://pastebin.com/WAhveFAd Contacts:
https://pastebin.com/WdcFXD2s 10 Commandments of the Desperados:
https://pastebin.com/Qpr2jVPE Costumes:
https://pastebin.com/5Jie54X2 The Huntsman’s Travel Guide:
https://pastebin.com/PU6LWsip Anonymous
>>5826109 >>Accompany Van to her meeting with the Fantastic Four. She’d probably appreciate your support. Anonymous
>>5826109 >Accompany Van to her meeting with the Fantastic Four. She’d probably appreciate your support. >Check in with Silvermane. He should know that you’re back in town, and ready to commit yourself to the cause. Surely we can squeeze a lunch with Silvio after the meeting with Richards, right?
Anonymous
>>5826109 a whole day is a long ass time
>Stay with Cindy while she recovers. You’d like to talk to her and her roommate about a few things. >Head back to Vic’s house and check on your brother and nephew. >>Accompany Van to her meeting with the Fantastic Four. She’d probably appreciate your support. probably best order of operation
Anonymous
>>5826109 >Stay with Cindy while she recovers. You’d like to talk to her and her roommate about a few things. >Accompany Van to her meeting with the Fantastic Four. She’d probably appreciate your support. Family first
Anonymous
>>5826109 >>Accompany Van to her meeting with the Fantastic Four. She’d probably appreciate your support. >Head back to Vic’s house and check on your brother and nephew. >Stay with Cindy while she recovers. You’d like to talk to her and her roommate about a few things. >Throw Ember a welcoming party and Hobie a farewell party. Anonymous
Hey Score, I got a question. Are Ben's healing factor and radioactive physiology enough to make cancer via habitual smoking and nicotine consumption a non-issue?
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sat 11 Nov 2023 19:36:54 No. 5827057 Report Quoted By:
>>5826120 >>5826124 >>5826130 >>5826160 >>5826333 >Stay with Cindy while she recovers. You’d like to talk to her and her roommate about a few things. >Accompany Van to her meeting with the Fantastic Four. She’d probably appreciate your support. Taking these. Writing...
>>5826350 Who knows! You're welcome to find out for yourself.
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sat 11 Nov 2023 20:27:09 No. 5827115 Report Quoted By:
After returning a few calls to your siblings and your parents, assuring them that you were alive and well, you spent your morning watching after Cindy while she recovered from her injuries. You just wished that you couldn’t literally <span class="mu-i">hear</span> some of her bones popping back into place. <span class="mu-r">“Can’t you like, do that any quieter?”</span> Wanda asked, wincing slightly from the sound. She was still wearing her full costume, or what little of it was actually covering her body. Cindy gave her a flat look. <span class="mu-s">“Can I unbreak my arm any quieter? Oh course. Whatever you need.”</span> Wanda squirmed in her seat uncomfortably, and then slowly slid down until she was only barely laying on it. She was very clearly getting bored of just sitting here, and she probably wasn’t comfortable enough to talk about anything personal with you around. After all, she still had no idea who you were, or what your connection to Cindy was. But, that didn’t stop her from trying to talk to you about other things. <span class="mu-r">“Hey, so like…did you really save the ‘Fantastic Four’ last night?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Yup. And I even helped stop the Helicarrier from crashing into the city. I’m sure they’ll be writing about me in the papers today.”</span> And as you leaned back to relax, Wanda shot up, her eyes gleaming with excitement. <span class="mu-s">“Maybe in the Daily Bugle. I’m sure Jonah’s gonna have some choice words for you and Spider-Man.”</span> Cindy said with an amused grin. Your good spirits fell a bit. <span class="mu-r">“Ugh. When doesn’t he?”</span> Wanda groaned and rolled her eyes. <span class="mu-r">“Ugh, I know! That guy is the worst. He hates anyone that wears a mask, even if they’re saving the city. I almost believed him when he said that you robbed a bank, but the costume was all wrong. He really should’ve printed a retraction.”</span> You and Cindy shared a look, but neither of you said anything. <span class="mu-r">“Quick question: Would you describe yourself as more of an Anti-Hero, or a Vigilante? I want to update my hero registry app later, and I’d like it to be as accurate as possible. You know what? I’m just gonna put you down for Anti-Hero. You look the type.”</span> Cindy sighed, sinking back into her pillow as Wanda rambled on. (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sat 11 Nov 2023 20:28:19 No. 5827116 Report What will you do?
>”I know you’re just starting out, but you should really think about getting a costume that offers more protection. No matter how good you are, you’re gonna get hurt eventually.” >”If both of you are going to be hitting the streets to fight crime, I think you’re going to have to be more careful going forward. Stick to stealth for as long as you can, and don’t take on anyone that you can’t handle. If you have to, call me or anyone else that you trust to help you.” >”So…do either of you have codenames yet?” >”Have you ever heard of a psychic that uses puppets to fight? I ran into someone like that earlier.” >”If you really want to update my profile, I can tell you who I’ve fought and who I’ve teamed up with so far.” >(To Cindy) ”Prowler tells me that he’s working on making you another suit and another set of gear. Just…try and take it easy for at least a week or two, alright?” >Write-in. Pastebins:
Character Sheet:
https://pastebin.com/1ZihFYSV Equipment and Gear:
https://pastebin.com/WAhveFAd Contacts:
https://pastebin.com/WdcFXD2s 10 Commandments of the Desperados:
https://pastebin.com/Qpr2jVPE Costumes:
https://pastebin.com/5Jie54X2 The Huntsman’s Travel Guide:
https://pastebin.com/PU6LWsip Anonymous
>>5827116 >>”So…do either of you have codenames yet?” >”If you really want to update my profile, I can tell you who I’ve fought and who I’ve teamed up with so far.” Anonymous
>>5827116 >”Have you ever heard of a psychic that uses puppets to fight? I ran into someone like that earlier.” >”I know you’re just starting out, but you should really think about getting a costume that offers more protection. No matter how good you are, you’re gonna get hurt eventually.” >(To Cindy) ”Prowler tells me that he’s working on making you another suit and another set of gear. Just…try and take it easy for at least a week or two, alright?” Anonymous
>>5827116 >”I know you’re just starting out, but you should really think about getting a costume that offers more protection. No matter how good you are, you’re gonna get hurt eventually.” >(To Cindy) ”Prowler tells me that he’s working on making you another suit and another set of gear. Just…try and take it easy for at least a week or two, alright?” >”So…do either of you have codenames yet? You should pick soon, or the papers do it for you. choose wisely, because you will be stuck with it. I still have that email I made when I was 14 too.” Anonymous
>>5827116 >”I know you’re just starting out, but you should really think about getting a costume that offers more protection. No matter how good you are, you’re gonna get hurt eventually.” >”Something else to know, the greatest superpower is good list of contacts. Equipment, magical know-how, info on the city, recon or muscle for a job, people to pull you out of a fire or start one for you, a safe place to shelter if things go sideways. I can’t solve every problem by webbing it to a ceiling, as much as that’d simplify things.” >”So…do either of you have codenames yet?” >”Have you ever heard of a psychic that uses puppets to fight? I ran into someone like that earlier.” (Almost) all the things!
>”If you really want to update my profile, I can tell you some of who I’ve fought and who I’ve teamed up with so far.” >”The full list is classified. By several agencies I’m sure.” I’d avoid mentioning our list of big-name or secretive players like Pandora/Maria (among heroes) or Morbius/Silvermane (among villains). No harm in filling her in on Typhoid Mary, Daredevil, Chameleon etc. though.
Tossing in “aliens” and “literal demons” to the “fought” category will be fun to skim over.
Anonymous
>>5827116 >"Cool it with the black-and-white kid. What I am is...complicated. You want a bona fide Hero, talk to Spider-Man. I'm just doing what I can when I can, like any decent person." >”I know you’re just starting out, but you should really think about getting a costume that offers more protection. No matter how good you are, you’re gonna get hurt eventually.” >(To Cindy) ”Prowler tells me that he’s working on making you another suit and another set of gear. Just…try and take it easy for at least a week or two, alright?” Anonymous
>>5827116 >>”So…do either of you have codenames yet?” Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sun 12 Nov 2023 15:42:24 No. 5828025 Report Quoted By:
>>5827123 >>5827128 >>5827145 >>5827153 >>5827155 >>5827687 >”So…do either of you have codenames yet?” >”I know you’re just starting out, but you should really think about getting a costume that offers more protection. No matter how good you are, you’re gonna get hurt eventually.” >(To Cindy) ”Prowler tells me that he’s working on making you another suit and another set of gear. Just…try and take it easy for at least a week or two, alright?” Taking these. Writing...
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sun 12 Nov 2023 18:32:48 No. 5828142 Report Quoted By:
<span class="mu-r">“So…do either of you have codenames yet?”</span> Wanda gave you a confident grin and puffed out her chest as she jumped out of her seat to stand in the middle of the room. Then, she struck a heroic pose that wouldn’t entirely be out of place in a tokusatsu series. <span class="mu-r">“You can call me: ‘Phantom Blonde’!”</span> Cindy sat up to stare at her. You politely applauded and nodded to yourself. <span class="mu-r">“Not bad. Accurate, even. What about you?”</span> Cindy pointed to herself questioningly. <span class="mu-s">“Me? My title has always been the ‘Hunter’s Moon’.”</span> Wanda made a sound of clear dissatisfaction. <span class="mu-r">“That’s a bit of a mouthful, and it doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. And…it doesn’t sound all that heroic.”</span> Cindy raised an eyebrow at her. Wanda either not sensing her friend’s incredulity, or not caring, kept going. <span class="mu-r">“How about—I was thinking with all this crazy moon god speak—we called you something else. I was thinking…’Miss Nightly’.”</span> Cindy snorted a laugh, before clutching at her ribs with a slightly pained expression. <span class="mu-s">“What? Who’s my archnemesis, then? ‘Miss Daily’?”</span> Wanda frowned at her. <span class="mu-r">“No, because that would be a terrible cliche, and we don’t need people calling us D-listers with a cheesy rogue’s gallery.”</span> <span class="mu-s">“Us?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Of course, girl. We’re a team!”</span> Wanda’s enthusiasm was entirely at odds with Cindy’s skepticism. <span class="mu-s">“This isn’t a game W-”</span> Wanda gave her a warning look. <span class="mu-s">“Phantom Blonde. This is a dangerous job, and you’re not ready for what’s out there.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Says the vigilante in the hospital bed.”</span> Wanda snapped back. <span class="mu-s">“Exactly! I trained for this my whole life, and I still get my ass handed to me sometimes. Every now and again, you either get unlucky, or you get sloppy.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Which is why you need someone watching your back. I’ve been training for this my whole life too! I was born for this.”</span> Now it was Cindy’s turn to scowl. Her frustration was reaching its peak. <span class="mu-s">“Watching superhero cartoons doesn’t make you ready to face a bad guy in real life. You’re going to get hurt, and I don’t know if I can protect you.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Then train me! Help me be better. I can do it if you just give me a chance.”</span> Wanda pleaded. Cindy’s expression had softened a bit as well. <span class="mu-s">“W—Blondie. I don’t know if I’m fit to train anybody.”</span> Wanda beamed at her. <span class="mu-r">“Let me be the judge of that. Because I’m going back out there, whether you train me or not.”</span> They stared each other down for a while, and you could practically sense the determination radiating off of Cindy’s roommate. Eventually, Cindy broke the stalemate and flopped back onto her pillow with a groan. <span class="mu-s">“Fine.”</span> Wanda was about to start cheering, but Cindy cut her off before she could really get going. (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sun 12 Nov 2023 18:34:01 No. 5828146 Report Quoted By:
<span class="mu-s">“But, I have a few conditions. First, you do everything I say. If I tell you to hang back or retreat, you do it. Don’t engage with anyone or anything that I think is too dangerous. Second, you have to follow all my exercises exactly. The moment you miss a day or fail to keep up with me, we’re done. This partnership only lasts if we’re both committed to it. Understood?”</span> Wanda forced her lips shut and just barely managed to suppress a smile. She nodded eagerly and snapped a salute to her friend. <span class="mu-r">“Aye aye, captain!”</span> Cindy shook her head and ran a hand down her face. <span class="mu-s">“God, I’m gonna regret this, aren’t I?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Hey, Blondie.”</span> Wanda froze and turned back to regard you. She’d probably forgotten that you were still sitting there after that intense back and forth. <span class="mu-r">“I know that you’re just starting out, but you should really think about getting a costume that offers more protection. No matter how good you are, you’re going to get hurt eventually.”</span> Cindy nodded her agreement. <span class="mu-s">“He’s right. No more of that party city crap. You need a <span class="mu-i">real</span> costume.”</span> Wanda inspected her costume with clear regret in her eyes. <span class="mu-r">“Aww, but it’s so cute! Can I customize my own costume?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“I know a good tailor that makes these for a decent price, but you’ll probably have to pay extra for something with sufficient protection. And speaking of…”</span> You turned to face Cindy. <span class="mu-r">“Prowler tells me that he’s working on making you another suit and a new set of gear. Just…try and take it easy for at least a week or two, alright?”</span> Cindy gave you a weak smile, looking well and truly chastised. <span class="mu-s">“Yeah. I…I’ll take it slow for a little while. Promise.”</span> Wanda stepped in between the two of you, patting Cindy’s bandaged leg. <span class="mu-r">“Don’t worry, Huntsman. She’s gonna have her hands full training <span class="mu-s">me</span>!”</span> <span class="mu-s">“You got that right…”</span> Cindy muttered under her breath. Wanda noticed and applied a bit of pressure onto her foot. Cindy let out a cry in Korean that you think might’ve been foreign curse word. As quietly as you could, you said your goodbyes and slipped out of the room. It was almost time for you and Van’s appointment with the Four, anyway. —--------- As agreed, you met your sister at the Baxter Building a half hour later. What you didn’t expect, however, was for Flint to accompany her there. <span class="mu-g">“I…brought him along for moral support, if that’s alright with you.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Of course. I couldn’t think of a better guy to fill the role.”</span> You all smiled at each other for a moment, but Vic’s was the first to slip when she returned her attention to the monument standing before you. She was undoubtedly feeling some anxiety over meeting one of the most legendary superhero teams in the world. But fortunately for her, she was going to be taking a backseat on this one. <span class="mu-g">“Alright. The stage is all yours, Van.”</span> (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sun 12 Nov 2023 18:35:16 No. 5828148 Report Quoted By:
She gasped sharply, and Flint moved in to catch her, just in case she fell again. But it didn’t happen this time. Instead, her eyes turned milky white, and her hair was starting to turn a similar color. You and Flint ushered her in through the front door before she could cause a scene. Understandably, the receptionist had taken some time off after the attack, and so had Sam. So, you were greeted in the lobby by another entity entirely. It was a blue and silver, oval-shaped robot with two antennae and a black screen that it used to emote. The three of you stared at it as it hovered in front of you, beeping, trilling and gesturing you towards the elevator. You had no reason to be suspicious of it, so you followed the little bot. It was even nice enough to press the button for you with a tiny extended digit. <span class="mu-r">“Thanks, bellhop. Do I need to tip you too?”</span> On the black screen, you saw a face depicting laughter in text speech, and it started chirping with a rhythm that led you to believe that that was exactly what it was trying to express. Then, its eyes became dollar signs. <span class="mu-r">“I’ll get you on the way out, big guy.”</span> It winked at you, and returned to humming cheerfully along with the elevator music. Somewhere on the way up, Van regained her composure and straightened to stand on her own. <span class="mu-b">“Thank you for coming. Both of you.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“I said I would help, didn’t I?”</span> She gave you a small smile. <span class="mu-b">“That you did. You have both been very kind to me, despite my earlier deception. Perhaps I underestimated the altruistic nature of humans.”</span> <span class="mu-g">“I wouldn’t go that far.”</span> Flint said. The two of them shared a moment, before Flint remembered that this wasn’t your sister, and was indeed an alien imposter wearing her as a mask. He cleared his throat unnecessarily and looked away quickly. A little while later, the elevator arrived at its destination, and you were greeted to the sight of what must be the control center for the Fantastic Four’s operations. There were monitors as large as movie screens, computers with enough processing power to simultaneously run your entire game library simultaneously, and collection of experimental and scientifically groundbreaking equipment in every corner of the room. You had no way of intuitively understanding what any of it did, but you knew that it was probably impressive. Even Van was momentarily stunned. <span class="mu-b">“Ah! You’re early.”</span> You all looked up to see Reed Richards staring down at you from a balcony. Without any effort whatsoever, he stretched his legs over the railing and stepped down to the lower floor with the same ease it would require you to skip a step on the stairs. <span class="mu-b">“I’m glad that you’re all here. Without the three of you, and the young lady with the shield, we might not have had such an easy time dispatching that Doombot last night.”</span> You let out a groan. <span class="mu-r">“So it WAS a Doombot.”</span> Reed nodded gravely. (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sun 12 Nov 2023 18:36:37 No. 5828151 Report Quoted By:
<span class="mu-b">“And a well made one at that. I’m not sure if the real Doom will consider retaliating after this failed attempt, but only time will tell.”</span> <span class="mu-b">“Let us hope that he still considers this matter to be ‘beneath him’.”</span> Flint frowned at Reed. <span class="mu-g">“How hasn’t that guy been put away already?”</span> Reed returned the expression, and his frustration was far deeper than anything that Flint could genuinely muster. <span class="mu-b">“Believe me. I wish we could, but his status as Latveria’s dictator grants him diplomatic immunity. If we were to ever seriously arrest him, then we would risk igniting another potential World War.”</span> Flint’s anger abated a bit, but he was still clearly upset about the whole thing. And you had a feeling that Reed understood that sentiment all too well. <span class="mu-b">“But enough about him. You came here to discuss the dilemma that Va Nee currently faces.”</span> Van shook her head. <span class="mu-b">“This isn’t only my problem. My father is everyone’s problem eventually, and it’s only a matter of time before he makes his way here. I would like to continue the discussion that we were having on the night of the attack.”</span> Reed nodded and gestured towards a round table in the middle of the room. <span class="mu-b">“Of course. Follow me. I want to show you something.”</span> You allowed Mister Fantastic to shepherd you towards the piece of furniture, and you quickly recognized that it was actually a piece of highly advanced tech, because of course it was. Reed tapped a button on the front of the table, and the display grid hummed to life. A second later, a holographic display of what you assumed was the entire Earth rose into the air and expanded to several times its original size. The lights dimmed automatically, and you were all left to bathe in the soft blue light emanating from the projector. <span class="mu-b">“I’ve been thinking about what you told me. About rallying support against the Grandmaster in preparation for his arrival. And I think you were right to avoid bringing this to S.H.I.E.L.D.’s attention. Their organization hasn’t been nearly as solid and airtight in Fury’s absence, and the Avengers haven’t been very…present as of late.”</span> As Reed spoke, little icons popped up all over the globe, indicating the various superhero teams and powerful government organizations currently present on the planet. You could even see Alpha Flight and Excalibur on here! <span class="mu-b">“Setting aside those that are already affiliated with their own governments, that mostly leaves the X-Men as the most powerful organization that isn’t bound by international borders, but they’re so deeply embroiled in their own politics half the time that I’m not confident they’ll be able to set aside their differences with one another to focus on the problem at hand.”</span> <span class="mu-b">“So, what are you suggesting?”</span> Van asked. Reed gave her a sly grin. <span class="mu-b">“I suggest that we go a little farther out with our recruitment drive.”</span> (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sun 12 Nov 2023 18:39:14 No. 5828153 Report Quoted By:
Slowly, the display of Earth began to pan out, until you started to see the other planets in your solar system. Van gasped, and Reed nodded. <span class="mu-b">“How would you like to continue your travels as the Voyager?”</span> Van sputtered, suddenly caught off guard by this proposition. You and Flint were similarly speechless. Is this guy seriously suggesting that your sister go into space to recruit her own team? <span class="mu-b">“But…what if my father finds me?”</span> Reed shrugged easily. <span class="mu-b">“It’s a big universe, and I think traveling around would serve you better than staying put on one of the most surveilled planets in the entire galaxy.”</span> Your head snapped to Reed. <span class="mu-r">“Wait, really? Aliens really watch us all the time like that?”</span> <span class="mu-b">“Oh, yes. They find our constant struggles to be endlessly entertaining. It’s like…”</span> <span class="mu-g">“An action-packed soap opera?”</span> Flint offered. Reed snapped his fingers and nodded approvingly. <span class="mu-b">“Yes. It’s a crude comparison, but an accurate one.”</span> <span class="mu-b">“Mister Richards, I regret to inform you that I no longer have access to my ship. It has been impounded by the organization that your people refer to as ‘S.W.O.R.D.’.”</span> Reed had clearly been prepared for this, because he immediately zoomed in on what looked to be a large freighter flying just outside of Mars’ orbit. <span class="mu-b">“Lucky for you, I’ve contacted a nearby mercenary company to escort you. I’ll cover the cost, but for all intents and purposes, you will be a member of his crew. They call themselves the Black Rabbit Brigade, and I hear that they have been gaining quite a bit of renown as a reliable company in the known systems.”</span> <span class="mu-g">“Wouldn’t her old man have an easier time tracking her down if she was running around with these guys? I mean, her looks would be a dead giveaway.”</span> Van nodded in agreement. Reed had a slightly amused grin on his face as he regarded Van. <span class="mu-b">“Ah, but I see that her skin is not nearly as blue as it was when we last met. I wouldn’t say that she’s immediately recognizable, would you?”</span> Van stared down at her hands, as if to confirm this. Reed continued speaking. <span class="mu-b">“If you cannot embark on a journey as the Voyager, then I would suggest that you try on a different name. It could be the identity that you’ve claimed during your stay on our planet, or it could be something else entirely. Either way, I feel that your chances of covertly moving around would be much higher if you were to take to the stars.”</span> Flint gave Van a worried glance, but the alien’s expression had suddenly turned contemplative. She seemed to be giving the matter some serious thought. (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sun 12 Nov 2023 18:42:08 No. 5828157 Report What will you say?
>”Are you seriously suggesting that she go up into space when there’s probably people looking for her? That sounds like a terrible idea.” >"I hate to say it, but I think he's got a point. We've got more intelligence agencies than I can count, and there's no telling who might let something slip to the Grandmaster." >"If she's going up there, then there's now way she's going alone." (Suggest someone go with her.) >"This is a big decision to make in one meeting. Can you give us some time to think about it?" >"I'd like to meet with this mercenary company before we make any hasty decisions." >”I think we should let Vic out to discuss this as well. Is there any way for you to open up some sort of conference call between all of us?” >”I’ve got some decent relations with the X-Men. I think they’d be willing to help us if we explained how important this was.” >”I don’t suppose you have any contacts in space that could help us? Maybe a list of potential recruits for this cause.” >Write-in. Pastebins:
Character Sheet:
https://pastebin.com/1ZihFYSV Equipment and Gear:
https://pastebin.com/WAhveFAd Contacts:
https://pastebin.com/WdcFXD2s 10 Commandments of the Desperados:
https://pastebin.com/Qpr2jVPE Costumes:
https://pastebin.com/5Jie54X2 The Huntsman’s Travel Guide:
https://pastebin.com/PU6LWsip Anonymous
>>5828157 >"I'd like to meet with this mercenary company before we make any hasty decisions." >”I think we should let Vic out to discuss this as well. Is there any way for you to open up some sort of conference call between all of us?” >”I don’t suppose you have any contacts in space that could help us? Maybe a list of potential recruits for this cause.” >"If she can't be Voyager why she doesn't go with Enterprise? Sorry, I couldn't resist." Anonymous
>>5828157 >>"I hate to say it, but I think he's got a point. We've got more intelligence agencies than I can count, and there's no telling who might let something slip to the Grandmaster." >"I'd like to meet with this mercenary company before we make any hasty decisions." >”I’ve got some decent relations with the X-Men. I think they’d be willing to help us if we explained how important this was.” >”I don’t suppose you have any contacts in space that could help us? Maybe a list of potential recruits for this cause.” Anonymous
>>5828157 >"So the solution to Earth's protection is kicking the can down the road and have it be someone elses planets problem- but still Van's problem too? Really not what I wanted to hear." >"The way you said 'a nearby mercenary company', doesn't instill much trust either. They could sell the information of her wherabouts the moment they take off." >"She just needs to be seen at other places in irregular intervals. And not being seen again here on Earth." anyone up for a SWORD heist? Anonymous
>>5828185 we are supposed to play nice with the alphabet orgs, tho I think sword and shield don't get along that well. still more problem than its worth
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>5828228 hey, if we make Hill reevaluate our threat level, we make her fucking reevaluate our threat level
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Tue 14 Nov 2023 22:47:14 No. 5830315 Report Quoted By:
>>5828158 >>5828181 >>5828185 >"I'd like to meet with this mercenary company before we make any hasty decisions." >”I don’t suppose you have any contacts in space that could help us? Maybe a list of potential recruits for this cause.” Taking these.
>"If she can't be Voyager why she doesn't go with Enterprise? Sorry, I couldn't resist." And this because I think it's funny. I'll start writing as soon as I can.
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Wed 15 Nov 2023 02:01:14 No. 5830583 Report Quoted By:
<span class="mu-r">“If she can’t be the Voyager, why don’t we let her go with ‘Enterprise’.”</span> Flint and Van were giving you confused looks, but you managed to get a snort out of Reed. <span class="mu-r">“Sorry, I couldn’t resist. But in all seriousness, I’d like to meet with this mercenary company before we make any hasty decisions.”</span> <span class="mu-b">“Yes. I would like to meet them as well.”</span> Van added. <span class="mu-g">“Me three.”</span> Flint chimed in. Reed nodded and shoved his hands into the pockets of his lab coat. <span class="mu-b">“In that case, I should be able to get them down here sometime within the next two or three days. I’m sure they’d love to have someone on their crew with Va Nee’s ‘talents’.”</span> Oh, yeah. Having someone who can teleport cargo back and forth would probably be a huge help for any shipping company. <span class="mu-r">“One more thing. I don’t suppose you have any other contacts in space that could help us? Maybe a potential list of recruits for this cause.”</span> You suggested. Reed replied by punching another command into the table’s console. The view of the solar system suddenly expanded, zooming out so that it portrayed your galaxy as a swirling spiral of star-stuff. Another group of icons popped up, depicting the various individuals and organizations that you’d come to associate with power and authority up there in the stars. The Nova Corps, the Guardians of the Galaxy(of course), and a group called the Starjammers that you vaguely recall hearing about from somewhere. But the rest were mostly unknown to you. <span class="mu-b">“We’ve got good relations with The Guardians and the Nova Corps, but having them help us would be counter-productive. They attract too much attention. I have, however, managed to compile a list of potential recruits.”</span> As he said that, new icons began popping up. One was of a giant fuzzy, anthropomorphic feline alien with an unnaturally adorable face. Another was of a pale, smiling man with unnaturally smooth facial features and long tendrils on either side of his head. Neither looked very threatening, but Reed seemed to think otherwise, because both their threat ratings were considerably higher than you expected. According to these readings, this "Gorr" guy must be pretty strong. Reed opened his mouth to continue speaking, but a persistent pinging sound cut him off before he could get started again. <span class="mu-b">“Ah! We’re in luck. That must be the captain now.”</span> Reed stretched his arm back over towards the console and input a command to answer the call. A second later, the display of the galaxy was replaced by a wide, rectangular screen that portrayed the captain of the Black Bunny Brigade. Or…that’s what was supposed to be on the screen, but all you saw was a shiny red lens peering into the camera. <span class="mu-b">“Hello? This thing on?”</span> (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Wed 15 Nov 2023 02:02:26 No. 5830586 Report The captain leaned back, and you got a much better look at him. Unsurprisingly, he was a walking, talking rabbit. He had blue scraggly fur, big buck teeth, a pair of long twitchy ears, a dark blue nose, and a gray metal helmet covering the top half of his face.
<span class="mu-b">“Greetings, captain. Everyone, I’d like you to meet Blackjack O’Hare.”</span>
Blackjack squinted at Reed, his face uncomfortably close to the screen.
<span class="mu-b">“Are you the guy who called us about a prospective new crew member? ‘Mister Terrific’, was it?”</span>
Reed frowned slightly, but he quickly recovered and kept talking as if nothing had happened.
<span class="mu-b">“You can call me Reed. And, yes, I was the one who contacted you. This person here is the one that I was telling you about.”</span>
He gestured at Van, and Blackjack focused his attention on her.
What will you do?
>Suggest that Van introduce herself as Victoria Parker. >Insist that Blackjack come down to meet you in person. You’re not entrusting your sister’s safety to a complete stranger. >Help Van create a new identity for herself. (Write-in.) >Leave the room so Van and Blackjack can talk. In the meantime, you’ll pull Reed aside and talk to him about Flint’s dilemma. >Write-in. Pastebins:
Character Sheet:
https://pastebin.com/1ZihFYSV Equipment and Gear:
https://pastebin.com/WAhveFAd Contacts:
https://pastebin.com/WdcFXD2s 10 Commandments of the Desperados:
https://pastebin.com/Qpr2jVPE Costumes:
https://pastebin.com/5Jie54X2 The Huntsman’s Travel Guide:
https://pastebin.com/PU6LWsip Anonymous
>>5830586 >>Suggest that Van introduce herself as Victoria Parker. Anonymous
>>5830586 >Insist that Blackjack come down to meet you in person. You’re not entrusting your sister’s safety to a complete stranger. >Leave the room so Van and Blackjack can talk. In the meantime, you’ll pull Reed aside and talk to him about Flint’s dilemma. Anonymous
>>5830586 >Suggest that Van introduce herself as Victoria Parker. >Insist that Blackjack come down to meet you in person. You’re not entrusting your sister’s safety to a complete stranger. >"We'll do this like professionals and hash things out over a nice brunch. I know this café, they serve some killer carrot cake. My treat." Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Thu 16 Nov 2023 05:01:06 No. 5831936 Report >>5830602 >>5830617 >>5830642 >Suggest that Van introduce herself as Victoria Parker. >Insist that Blackjack come down to meet you in person. You’re not entrusting your sister’s safety to a complete stranger. >"We'll do this like professionals and hash things out over a nice brunch. I know this café, they serve some killer carrot cake. My treat." I'll be taking these, but I won't be able to post the update until tomorrow after work. Once again, I apologize for the delays.
Anonymous
>>5831936 maybe not say "Parker"?
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Fri 17 Nov 2023 01:52:38 No. 5832759 Report Quoted By:
>>5832234 Noted. Almost done with the update!
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Fri 17 Nov 2023 03:11:46 No. 5832811 Report Quoted By:
You nudged Van and leaned close to whisper into her ear. <span class="mu-r">“Why don’t you introduce yourself as your ‘alter’?”</span> Van nodded and stepped forward so Blackjack could see her clearly. <span class="mu-b">“Greetings, Captain Blackjack. My name is Victoria, but you may call me ‘Vic’. That is what my close friends and family call me.”</span> You and Flint shared a look. It was becoming obvious why she felt the need to create “Victoria” in the first place. Van couldn’t act to save her life. Blackjack raised an eyebrow and titled his head to the side slightly. Or maybe he was tilting the entire camera? <span class="mu-b">“Well, ‘Vic’, I’m glad to hear that you think so highly of me. I can’t say that I share the sentiment, but we can always work on that later. Have you got any experience serving on a ship? Have you got your ‘space-legs’ yet?”</span> <span class="mu-b">“Yes. I’ve spent a decent chunk of my life aboard my own ship. I am very familiar with the layout of freighters such as yours.”</span> Blackjack scoffed. <span class="mu-b">“Are you now? I’ll have you know that my baby is custom made. She’s an original. So whatever you think you know, go ahead and throw it out the airlock. Banish it from your mind!”</span> Van narrowed her eyes slightly, but she quickly schooled her expression and stood up straighter. <span class="mu-b">“...Yes, Captain.”</span> Blackjack grinned and nodded approvingly. <span class="mu-b">“Hmm, good. You know how to take orders, at least. It remains to be seen if you’re worth keeping around, though. How’s about we do a trial run? I let you run with my crew for a month, and we’ll see how you feel afterwards.”</span> Before Van could come up with an answer, you stepped forward and waved at Blackjack to get his attention. <span class="mu-r">“How about this? We’ll do things like professionals and hash things out over a nice brunch. I know this café; they serve some killer carrot cake. It’ll be my treat.”</span> Flint fought back a snicker, and Blackjack snorted so hard that he fogged up the screen on his camera. <span class="mu-b">“Carrot cake!? How dare you! That is a gross stereotype, and I’ll have you know that my enjoyment of carrot cake is entirely unrelated to my appearance.”</span> You glanced at Flint and pointed back at the projection. <span class="mu-r">“I think that’s a yes.”</span> <span class="mu-b">“Hold on. Once we’re done loading up the cargo, we’ll be down in a flash.”</span> <span class="mu-b">“Wait. When should we be expecting-”</span> The transmission was terminated before Reed could finish his sentence, and the room was momentarily plunged into darkness. A moment later, the lights cut back on, and you were all left staring at each other. Flint, in particular, was paying more attention to the room you were in. <span class="mu-g">“You guys cleaned up pretty fast after last night. Me and those tin cans tore through this place, and I don’t even see a single grain of me left behind.”</span> Reed chuckled and stuck his hands back into his lab coat. (Cont.)
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Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Fri 17 Nov 2023 03:16:12 No. 5832817 Report Quoted By:
<span class="mu-b">“Our cleaning robots work around the clock, and they’re incredibly efficient. That, and a hive of intelligent nanomachines dedicated to keeping the Baxter Building in excellent shape.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Is that ethical? Because it kind of sounds like-”</span> Reed cut you off with a raised hand. <span class="mu-b">“I know how it sounds, but they treat this place like their temple. It's holy ground for them.”</span> <span class="mu-g">“So you’re saying that they worship you.”</span> Flint said. <span class="mu-b">“Like a god? Did you <span class="mu-i">include</span> a religious structure into their programming when you built them?”</span> Van asked. Reed raised a finger, opened his mouth, closed it, and then let out a sigh. <span class="mu-b">“Look, it makes a lot more sense if I just show you. We can watch them work while we wait for Captain Blackjack.”</span> You all exchanged glances, and then shrugged as one. <span class="mu-r">“Sure.”</span> <span class="mu-g">“Why not.”</span> <span class="mu-b">“Very well.”</span> Reed smiled and nodded. <span class="mu-b">“Excellent. Follow me.”</span> —--------- Just as Reed said, his explanation of the nanomachines’ thought process was both enlightening and interesting. Not bad as far as time wasters went. You should’ve recorded it to show to Pete later. By this point, almost an hour had passed since Blackjack terminated the transmission. You were beginning to wonder how long the captain was going to make you wait, when Reed received a call from Johnny telling him that a strange junker of a ship was headed towards the Baxter Building. <span class="mu-r">“I was wondering where that wascally wabbit went.”</span> You said, earning a chuckle from Flint. Van looked like she wanted to hear more about the nanomachines, but she forced herself to follow Reed towards the Baxter Building’s landing pad. Upon arriving there, you were all greeted to the sight of said junker. Despite not being an expert on spaceships, even you could tell that this vessel was cobbled together from spare parts, and given a fresh coat of paint. Well…it wasn’t <span class="mu-i">fresh</span>, and there were a few blotches of yellow metal that looked more natural than the cheap black paint, along with a few gray spots where the ship had taken damage. But the majority of your attention was reserved for the little Blue Bunny that was stepping out of his ship. He had slender, bionic legs that clanked against the metal of his dock’s ramp. Trailing behind him, you saw a feline female alien with a slender build and tan fur. She was sporting similar colors to Blackjack, and the way that the other crew members–who were also alien rabbits–-regarded her led you to believe that she was someone important. Possibly his second in command. <span class="mu-b">“Man, I sometimes forget how much of a backwater dump your planet is. Er, no offense.”</span> In contrast, the feline alien eyed the city appreciatively. <span class="mu-r">“I don’t know. I like the way their buildings reflect the light from their sun.”</span> Blackjack just shrugged. (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Fri 17 Nov 2023 03:18:05 No. 5832819 Report Quoted By:
<span class="mu-b">“Eh. I’ve seen better. Now, where’s this raw recruit that I’ve heard so much about.”</span> Van stepped forward until she was standing directly in front of the ship’s ramp. Blackjack gave her another assessing look. <span class="mu-b">“Tell me, private. Do you know how to fire, let alone hold a gun?”</span> <span class="mu-b">“I do. I take pride in my aim.”</span> Blackjack made a thoughtful hum and grinned. A moment later, he pulled out a small gray blaster and tossed it towards Van. She caught it easily, but her eyes had widened a bit at the sight of it. While she was inspecting it, Blackjack reached into his pocket and brandished three metal orbs. He tossed them over his shoulder, and a second later, they stopped in mid-air, expanded until they could comfortably fit in the palm of your hand, and began to dart around in an erratic, seemingly random pattern. <span class="mu-b">“Then you shouldn’t have any problem shooting those down.”</span> Blackjack stared down at Van with a smug expression, but she continued inspecting the gun he had given her, testing its weight, ejecting the energy pack and checking the alignment of the iron sights. Once she was satisfied, she glanced up at the orbs, took careful aim, and fired three shots in quick succession. All three orbs disappeared in a burst of golden sparks. Blackjack’s jaw dropped, and Van graced him with a rare cocky grin. The cat girl whistled. She was clearly amused by this development. Even Flint was impressed by Van’s display of skill. <span class="mu-b">“This energy pack has been overloaded. Is that an intended feature?”</span> Van asked. The cat girl laughed. <span class="mu-r">“Nah. That was his ‘other’ test. I think it’s safe to say that you passed.”</span> Blackjack grumbled and stomped his way down the stairs. You struggled to suppress a grin the entire time. <span class="mu-b">“Alright, so you’re not as soft as you look. Maybe I should have you shoot that thing out of the air next.”</span> He pointed at Johnny’s flaming form, flying a circuit around the city. That was when Reed decided to cut in. <span class="mu-b">“Alright, I think that’s enough target practice for one day. Who wants that carrot cake?”</span> The cat girl gladly raised her hand, and Blackjack did so grudgingly. Behind them, you could see the crew of the Black Bunny Brigade struggling to resist running down the ramp to join their captain. Reed noticed and gestured for the rest of them to come in. <span class="mu-b">“There’s enough for everybody.”</span> A swarm of beady red eyes turned to stare down at Blackjack. He tilted his head towards the cat girl. <span class="mu-b">“Lynx, get them to form a line behind me. No one eats before me.”</span> The girl named Lynx snapped a lazy salute. <span class="mu-r">“Aye aye, cap’n.”</span> Then, with a single wave of her hand, the whole lot of them came rushing down the ramp. —--------- (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Fri 17 Nov 2023 03:21:34 No. 5832825 Report Over the next couple minutes, Blackjack quickly realized that his new recruit was very clearly overqualified for the job. He kept coming up with tests and inane questions to throw at her, only to be foiled at every turn. For Lynx–who Blackjack later formally introduced as his second in command—it was endlessly amusing to see her captain so disgruntled. This continued until everyone reached the cafeteria, which quickly became filled by rabbits, and the excited chatter of rabbits.
You glanced from left to right at your table. On either side of you was a field of colorful rabbits in black, baggy clothing.
<span class="mu-r">“I played a game on the Wii with this exact premise, I think.”</span>
You said.
Meanwhile, Blackjack was struggling to come up with another test for Van.
<span class="mu-b">“Don’t you go getting a big head just because you know a thing or two about…”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“Everything?”</span>
Lynx finished for him. Blackjack glared at her.
<span class="mu-b">“She can’t know <span class="mu-i">everything</span>.”</span>
Flint just shook his head at him.
<span class="mu-g">“You are one angry little rabbit, do you know that? Ever heard of the Napoleon complex?”</span>
<span class="mu-b">“No, but I’m sure you’re gonna tell me.”</span>
Everyone was still waiting on their orders. According to Reed, there was a system in place where you could order whatever you want, and eat whatever you want. You weren’t sure of the specifics, but you were sure that it was something truly groundbreaking that most normal people wouldn’t have access to.
Predictably, almost everyone was ordering the carrot cake. You were still thinking about what you would be having, but until your food arrived, all there was to do was wait and talk.
What will you do?
>Put in an order. (Write-in.) >(Lean over to talk to Blackjack) “I hope you’re not this tough on all your new recruits. Don’t expect everyone to be this patient with you.” >”Hey Flint, do you think Reed’s chef might be able to whip up something that you can actually taste?” >”So, Blackjack, got any exciting tales of your past adventures that you’d like to share?” >”So what exactly does the Black Bunny Brigade actually do?” >Take some pictures with the rabbit aliens and send them to your friends. >Sneak off and do some "exploring" of your own. >Write-in. Pastebins:
Character Sheet:
https://pastebin.com/1ZihFYSV Equipment and Gear:
https://pastebin.com/WAhveFAd Contacts:
https://pastebin.com/WdcFXD2s 10 Commandments of the Desperados:
https://pastebin.com/Qpr2jVPE Costumes:
https://pastebin.com/5Jie54X2 The Huntsman’s Travel Guide:
https://pastebin.com/PU6LWsip Anonymous
>>5832825 >”Hey Flint, do you think Reed’s chef might be able to whip up something that you can actually taste?” >”So, Blackjack, got any exciting tales of your past adventures that you’d like to share?” >Take some pictures with the rabbit aliens and send them to your friends. Anonymous
>>5832825 >>Put in an order. (Spinach Lasagna) >>(Lean over to talk to Blackjack) “I hope you’re not this tough on all your new recruits. Don’t expect everyone to be this patient with you.” Anonymous
>>5832825 >An Irish Coffee and a slice of carrot cake on the side. There's gonna be plenty of it, might as well dig in. >(Lean over to talk to Blackjack) “I hope you’re not this tough on all your new recruits. Don’t expect everyone to be this patient with you.” >”So what exactly does the Black Bunny Brigade actually do?” Anonymous
>>5832825 >Put in an order for something alien. You’ve been dealing with a lot of them recently, may as well eat them next. >(Lean over to Blackjack) “Try getting her to do a tongue twister. That might throw her off her game.” >”So what exactly does the Black Bunny Brigade actually do?” >”Hey Flint, do you think Reed’s chef might be able to whip up something that you can actually taste?” Something that reacts to sand would be the best bet. Whether it “tastes” good is up in the air.
Anonymous
>>5832825 >(to Reed) "What's the market looking like for long range communicators. I'd like to keep in touch." >”So, Blackjack, got any exciting tales of your past adventures that you’d like to share?" >>”Hey Flint, do you think Reed’s chef might be able to whip up something that you can actually taste?” Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sat 18 Nov 2023 23:10:30 No. 5834956 Report Quoted By:
Rolled 3 (1d3) >>5832832 >>5832846 >>5832865 >>5832926 >>5833032 >Put in an order. (Rolling for result) >”Hey Flint, do you think Reed’s chef might be able to whip up something that you can actually taste?” >(Lean over to talk to Blackjack) “I hope you’re not this tough on all your new recruits. Don’t expect everyone to be this patient with you.” >”So, Blackjack, got any exciting tales of your past adventures that you’d like to share?” >”So what exactly does the Black Bunny Brigade actually do?” Taking these. Writing...
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Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sun 19 Nov 2023 00:20:50 No. 5835014 Report Quoted By:
Feeling a little adventurous, you asked the server drone to cook you up something entirely foreign to this planet. It was strikingly similar to the one that assisted you in the elevator, and you were left wondering whether it was the exact same one, or at least the same model. It gave you an affirmative nod, which was really just the robot tilting its entire body up and then down again with a smile on its display. It probably wouldn’t serve you something that would kill you or give you horrible indigestion. Surely. <span class="mu-r">“Hey Flint, do you think Reed’s chef might be able to whip you up something that you can actually taste?”</span> Your buddy leaned over to stare at you from across the table. <span class="mu-g">“Hey, I’m down for anything so long as it doesn’t turn my mouth to mush. ‘Taste’ is an afterthought at this point, my friend.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Fair enough. I’m trying my luck with some alien cuisine. I told my server to surprise me.”</span> Flint winced in sympathy, and Van took his place as she leaned over to stare at you with her ghost-like eyes. <span class="mu-b">“What a coincidence. I did the same. This should be an uplifting experience for ‘both’ of us.”</span> She was probably talking about the “real” Vic. It would be interesting to hear her reaction to eating alien food for the first time after this. Blackjack laughed mockingly. <span class="mu-b">“It remains to be seen whether you have the stomach for it, recruit. I look forward to seeing you puke your guts out.”</span> You turned your attention to the immature captain. <span class="mu-r">“I hope you’re not this tough on all your new recruits. Don’t expect anyone to be this patient with you.”</span> Lynx nodded along to your words. <span class="mu-r">“That’s what I always tell him. He’s big on tough love when it comes to fresh meat.”</span> <span class="mu-b">“You’re damn right. Fresh meat needs to be properly tenderized until it's nice and chewy and compliant.”</span> Lynx scoffed. <span class="mu-r">“If you really believed that, you would’ve never made me your second. What you want is someone who bites back.”</span> Blackjack made a dismissive sound and waved her off. Van didn’t look bothered in the slightest. If anything, she seemed amused to be surrounded by all these overly excited alien rabbits. <span class="mu-r">“So, Blackjack, got any exciting tales of your past adventures that you’d like to share?”</span> You asked. The rabbit captain’s ears shot up at that. He gave you a wide, manic grin. <span class="mu-b">“Why, yes. Yes I do. Hey, Lynx, remember that time we accidentally got stuck on Mojoworld?”</span> Flint gave him a curious look. <span class="mu-g">“What’s that?”</span> (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sun 19 Nov 2023 00:23:05 No. 5835017 Report Quoted By:
<span class="mu-b">“Oh, it's absolutely disgusting, but in a fascinating way. Whole planet full of spineless, fat, lazy slug-people. Like, they literally don’t have spines. All their work is done by genetically engineered slaves. And their leader, Mojo, is the fattest and most disgusting sentient on the planet. He holds these major, gladiatorial matches for the general public’s viewing pleasure. Day in and day out, slaves are getting their brains bashed in and their limbs ripped off, and the crowd just goes nuts over it. They eat that shit up. Records say the big fat slugs got a taste for bloodsport after they intercepted human television and radio transmissions a while back. Thanks for that, by the way.”</span> Well now, you didn’t think that was entirely fair. Van seemed to grow visibly upset at the mention of Mojo’s name, but she said nothing on the topic. Blackjack either didn’t notice or didn’t care. He continued his story. <span class="mu-b">“One day, we had a nasty run-in with the Starjammers during a smuggling run. They boarded our ship and were about to fight their way to the bridge, when—get this—our entire ship gets pulled into a wormhole!”</span> The other rabbits were leaning in to listen now. They were whispering among one another, recounting their own experiences during the captain’s story. <span class="mu-b">“So we’re tossing and turning, right? It was a struggle to keep the whole damn ship from being pulled apart-”</span> Lynx leaned over to interrupt him. <span class="mu-r">“But thanks to my piloting-”</span> Blackjack leaned over even further to interrupt her. <span class="mu-b">“And my flawless command and guidance-”</span> Lynx glared at him, but she remained silent this time. <span class="mu-b">“We somehow managed to make it out on the other end. Except, we’re in a whole other fucking dimension! The ‘Mojoverse’ he calls it. Complete dystopian shitshow of a society that’s entirely centered on toxic consumerism.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“I’m the one who taught him those words, by the way.”</span> Lynx added. Now it was Blackjack’s turn to glare at her. <span class="mu-b">“Are you the one telling the story, or am I?”</span> Lynx put her hands up in a placating gesture and leaned away from him, but there was no mistaking the playful smile on her lips. She clearly enjoyed getting a rise out of her boss. <span class="mu-b">“Now, where was I? Oh yeah! So, anyway, our ship breaks down on re-entry and we had to make an emergency landing. Then, we get boarded by Mojo’s bots and his lackeys. One was some blonde pretty boy named Longshot, and the other was this six-armed babe called Spiral. Man, that woman had a rocking body. I would’ve let her put all those arms to good use, if you know what I mean.”</span> (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sun 19 Nov 2023 00:25:09 No. 5835019 Report He nudged Van good-naturedly, but the only response she gave him was a blank stare. Lynx didn't seem very impressed with her captain either. Blackjack just shrugged and continued on with his story, telling the thrilling events of how he and the Starjammers had to fight their way out of the Mojoverse. Some parts were clearly embellished, such as the captain’s supernatural tenacity in combat, as well as the apparent helplessness of the Starjammers’ captain, but it was an entertaining way for you to kill time while you waited for your food to arrive. At some point, Reed’s kids wandered in and began listening in as well. However, Valeria quickly lost interest and moved on to do other things. Several minutes later, the first round of carrot cake came floating out of the kitchen, and everyone’s focus shifted as their excitement got kicked up another notch. Even Blackjack shut up momentarily. As expected, Blackjack ordered the carrot cake like the rest of his crew, but his slice was noticeably bigger than theirs. That must have been a personal request from the captain himself. Lynx, on the other hand, opted for something that vaguely resembled an alien fowl of some sort. Except, its flesh was stark white. Its flesh looked bumpy and uncooked, but when she cut into it, you could see that that wasn’t the case. Two seats down, Van was happily slurping a slimy substance from a dark purple conch shell. A bit of it was slowly dribbling down her chin, and she quickly wiped at it with a slightly embarrassed expression. You pretended not to see and glanced at Flint. He was staring down at a bowl of colorful crystals that reminded you of rock candy. He frowned, grabbed his spoon and shoveled a few into his mouth. After a moment, his eyes flew wide open and he started to chew carefully. An amused smile spread across his face. You weren’t sure what he was experiencing, but he seemed to be enjoying himself at the very least. That made you happier than Reed could ever know. Feeling a lot better about the chef’s judgment, you looked down to regard your own dish. It was a deep red lotus flower. When you poked it with your spoon, the flower bloomed, unfurled its petals and released a peculiar odor into the air that smelled overly sweet. The closer that your utensil was to the plant, the more the plant fibers in the middle seemed to shudder. Whether that was in fear, anger or anticipation, you weren’t sure. Maybe it was a just a physical reflex, like the twitching of a dead insect. Except, that comparison was quickly chipping away at your appetite. What will you do?>Request Van’s help in properly eating this alien food. >Just feel your way through and try your best. It worked when you were sixteen, and it should work now. >”Excuse me, waiter. I think my food is still alive.” >”Can I get this to go?” >Discreetly shove the food into your pocket dimension when no one is looking. >Push the plate away. You’re suddenly not all that hungry. >Write-in.
Anonymous
>>5835019 >>Request Van’s help in properly eating this alien food. Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>5835019 >Just feel your way through and try your best. It worked when you were sixteen, and it should work now. Ben, stop playing with your food and eat.
Anonymous
>>5835019 >>Request Van’s help in properly eating this alien food. Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>5835019 >>Just feel your way through and try your best. It worked when you were sixteen, and it should work now. We knew we'd be in for a new experience, also it's fun to discover these things.
>Tell Blackjack that Wrestling is fake Anonymous
>>5835019 >Request Van’s help in properly eating this alien food. >”How’d yours turn out?” Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Tue 21 Nov 2023 13:26:57 No. 5838141 Report Quoted By:
>>5835042 >>5835208 >>5835947 >Request Van’s help in properly eating this alien food. >”How’d yours turn out?” Taking these. I'll post an update as soon as I'm able.
>”So what exactly does the Black Bunny Brigade actually do?” Will also be including this, since there wasn't any room for it in the last update.
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Wed 22 Nov 2023 04:22:38 No. 5838856 Report Quoted By:
Feeling unsure of what proper etiquette in this situation would remotely look like, you leaned over and signaled Van to get her attention. <span class="mu-r">“Psst! Vic! How am I supposed to eat this?”</span> You whispered. At first, Van didn’t seem to realize that you were talking to her, and she kept merrily slurping some viscous liquid from her shell. After a few more seconds of desperate signaling, she finally turned her head to regard you. You glanced between her and the plant, trying not to draw too much attention to yourself in the process. She seemed to understand your predicament, because she placed her shell on the table and gave you a discreet nod. Then, she sat back in her chair and closed her eyes. You frowned at her. What was she- —------ A field of semi-crystalline flower-like structures surrounds you from all sides, looming over you so as to provide you with shade while you consume their local delicacy. And while the flowers didn’t have faces, you got the distinct impression that they were staring down at you expectantly, waiting to hear what you had to say about it. This was their way of expressing their gratitude for your help in diverting that cosmic storm from stripping away their atmosphere. You weren’t really expecting a reward, but this planet’s native species wouldn’t take no for an answer. Plus, you couldn’t exactly fly off while the Voyager was conducting self-repairs. Without your assistance, it would be back in flying shape in about three or four hours. Until then, you had no other options that didn’t involve stranding yourself or leaving your ship behind, and that was unacceptable. You stared down at the hefty crimson flower in your lap. Its petals were slowly unfurling, and it sounded like several slabs of hard plastic sheets scraping against each other. It even felt like you were holding a jug of water, rather than something that was supposedly edible. You gave the flowers around you a skeptical look, and their shape changed to reflect their insistence. On their leaves, there were tiny holes opening up that created a variety of whistling sounds when the wind blew through them. You assumed that this was their version of speech, but it was so obscure and unlike anything you’d ever heard that your auto-translator implant was being stretched to its limit. But true understanding only came when you reached into their minds and re-lived their memories from their perspective. This was a dish that they only offered to travelers, as it was about the only thing they knew how to make that was both edible and palatable to travelers. The way that they perceived the world was truly alien to you, and the difference between their thought process and your own was so different that it nearly gave you a splitting headache. You pulled back as soon as you found what you were looking for. (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Wed 22 Nov 2023 04:23:59 No. 5838857 Report Quoted By:
As if it was second nature, you peeled back the sticky petals and breathed in the sweet scent that the flower released. You raised your hands to the pink stamens that rose up from the pistil, allowing the squishy appendages to coil around and between your blue fingers. Then, you lowered them towards the liquid pooling at the bottom, and an immediate reaction occurred as soon as the tip of your finger touched the surface. The liquid began to glow a soft, rose pink color, and the squishy seeds that rested at the bottom of the ovule started to detach and rise up to the surface. In the simmering light of the sugary soup, the seeds shone like jewels. At that point, you didn’t need much convincing to plunge your hands into the soup, scoop up a handful of seeds, and bring them up to your mouth. —------------ You blinked several times, staring around in confusion for a minute. You were…yourself, right? For a moment there, you felt like you were someone else. Were those…Van’s memories? Did she just share them with you? You stared at her, but she was currently getting ribbed by Blackjack about having “fallen asleep” at the table. Still feeling a bit shaken, you repeated what you had seen during your vision and brought a cluster of seeds up to your mouth. To your surprise, you found that the seeds tasted like a mix between a pomegranate seed, a sour grape, and a kiwi. It was actually sort of delicious. Somehow, the act of scooping cold, syrup covered, fruit-flavored seeds into your face was surprisingly calming. Before you knew it, you had run out of seeds to chew through, and you were considering upending the plant bowl and slurping up the contents when you remembered that there were other people in the room. You returned your attention to Van, only to find her watching you with an amused twinkle in her otherwise empty eyes. <span class="mu-b">“Did you enjoy your meal?”</span> You nodded, wiped your mouth and pulled your mask back over your face. <span class="mu-r">“It was actually kind of nice. How’d yours turn out?”</span> <span class="mu-b">“I very much enjoyed it. I’m surprised that our chef was capable of replicating the dish to such an extent.”</span> <span class="mu-b">“Yeah, it was alright.”</span> Blackjack added, leaning back in his chair. Lynx elbowed him hard in the ribs. It looked like it hurt, but the rabbit barely let it show on his face. <span class="mu-r">“Don’t be rude. They’ve given us hospitality by feeding our entire crew, and they’re not charging us docking fees.”</span> Blackjack panned his gaze around the room, taking in the sight of his crew eating to their heart’s content, and laughing merrily. A small smile crept its way onto his face, and he let out a satisfied hum. <span class="mu-b">“Not too bad for a random pit stop, eh?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Quick question: What exactly does the Black Bunny Brigade do?”</span> You asked. Blackjack focused his red lenses on you, his smile fading slightly. (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Wed 22 Nov 2023 04:30:43 No. 5838863 Report <span class="mu-b">“We do mercenary work mostly, and a bit of smuggling on the side. Our job opportunities are pretty broad, so it really all boils down to what looks the most interesting, and how much the job pays.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“What he means to say is that he goes after whatever looks the most interesting.”</span>
Lynx corrected. Blackjack ignored her and sat forward in his seat. He leaning over the table to grin at Van, his head propped up on his hand.
<span class="mu-b">“Well, what do you say, Vic? Do you think you can picture yourself bouncing around the galaxy with the B.B.B.?”</span>
She blinked in surprise. This was the first time that he’d ever expressed interest in taking Van on as a member of his crew. Even Lynx looked caught off guard.
Some of the other rabbits were glancing over at the two of them with interest.
<span class="mu-b">“I…I will need some time to decide? I hope that is acceptable.”</span>
Flint looked relieved by her answer, and he was doing a bad job of hiding it. Lynx gave her a friendly smile.
<span class="mu-r">“Oh, sure thing. Take all the time you need. We’ll be hanging around the system for a little while, so be sure to let us know as soon as you’ve got your affairs in order.”</span>
Van returned the smile.
<span class="mu-b">“Thank you. I’ll be sure to contact you once I’ve made my decision.”</span>
Blackjack shook his head in disgust and slumped back into his chair.
<span class="mu-b">“Why does everything you say sound so soft?”</span>
—-----------
A little while later, you, Flint and Victoria were walking out of the Baxter Building. Your sister had a lot to digest after her close encounter of the third kind, and you weren't just talking about carrot cake.
<span class="mu-g">“I’m going to space. I’m…am I seriously going to space? What’ll I do about the house? What about my job, and Pete? And Dad…”</span>
She trailed off, her mind racing as her worries piled up in countless imagined scenarios. Flint looked worried, for more reasons than he was likely aware of. If Vic left on a huge space adventure, he might miss his chance to ask her out on a date.
What will you do/say?
>”Don’t worry about all that. Me and Rich can hold down the fort while you’re gone.” >”I think it’d be a great opportunity for you. You’ve been talking about breaking out of your shell and going on an adventure for a while now. Now’s your chance!” >”You don’t have to go if you don’t want to. We can find another way.” >”You don’t have to go alone, you know. (Volunteer to go with her//Suggest someone else go with her) >”Man, I really wish there was someone solid and trustworthy that I could count on to protect my sister in space.” (Glance at Flint.) >”We'll have to come up with a way to come up with something so mom and dad don't ask too many questions." >Write-in. Pastebins:
Character Sheet:
https://pastebin.com/1ZihFYSV Equipment and Gear:
https://pastebin.com/WAhveFAd Contacts:
https://pastebin.com/WdcFXD2s The Huntsman’s Travel Guide:
https://pastebin.com/PU6LWsip Anonymous
>>5838863 >”Man, I really wish there was someone solid and trustworthy that I could count on to protect my sister in space.” (Glance at Flint.) >”We'll have to come up with a way to come up with something so mom and dad don't ask too many questions." It'll be quite the blow to lose out on Flint's abilities in our operations, but I can't bring myself to get in the way of his pursuit of happiness.
Anonymous
>>5838863 >>”Man, I really wish there was someone solid and trustworthy that I could count on to protect my sister in space.” (Glance at Flint.) >>”We'll have to come up with a way to come up with something so mom and dad don't ask too many questions." Anonymous
>>5838863 >”Man, I really wish there was someone solid and trustworthy that I could count on to protect my sister in space.” (Glance at Flint.) >”We'll have to come up with a way to come up with something so mom and dad don't ask too many questions." Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Thu 23 Nov 2023 18:51:36 No. 5840317 Report Quoted By:
>>5838867 >>5838895 >>5839200 >”Man, I really wish there was someone solid and trustworthy that I could count on to protect my sister in space.” (Glance at Flint.) >”We'll have to come up with a way to come up with something so mom and dad don't ask too many questions." Taking these. Also, Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Thu 23 Nov 2023 19:09:19 No. 5840331 Report Quoted By:
<span class="mu-r">“Man, I really wish there was someone solid and trustworthy that I could count on to protect my sister in space.”</span> You said, looking pointedly at Flint. His eyes goggled at you, and he nearly tripped. Vic didn’t respond at all, so you just assumed that she was too deep in thought to have heard you. <span class="mu-g">“Me? But…I can’t leave now. Not with Prowler leaving and the…Silvermane thing.”</span> He risked a cautious glance in your sister’s direction. <span class="mu-g">“You need someone watching your back.”</span> You patted your friend on the back and winked at him. <span class="mu-r">“You of all people should know how well connected I am. I’ve got other people who can watch my back for me.”</span> Flint didn’t look very amused, so you decided to drop the lighthearted tone. <span class="mu-r">“Seriously though, I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me. I’m more than capable of taking care of myself.”</span> Flint opened his mouth to protest, but you just rolled right over him and kept talking. <span class="mu-r">“Buddy, you’ve been there for me since the beginning of this wild ride; every step of the way. Even when you had every reason to hate me. Even when your whole life got turned on its ass, you never stopped being my best bro. Hell, you’ve been more of a brother to me than my own flesh and blood these past few years, and you never ask for anything in return. So, for once, I’m begging you—put your own happiness first. If you want something, you should just…go and get it.”</span> You gestured toward Vic’s back. <span class="mu-r">“Now, I know how much you’ll enjoy watching her back, but do me a favor and try to save it for <span class="mu-i">after</span> I’ve already left the room.”</span> Flint stared between you and your sister, his mouth working wordlessly for a few seconds. He let out a shaky laugh that didn’t suit him. <span class="mu-g">“You really think a guy like me’s got a chance with a girl like her? With a mug like mine?”</span> You gently punched his shoulder. <span class="mu-r">“Flint, buddy, don’t sell yourself short. You’re a real catch. Any woman would be lucky to have someone as loyal as you. If I were you, I’d be worried about her alien house-guest trying to get in on the action.”</span> Flint chuckled, but then his expression suddenly grew worried. <span class="mu-g">“You, uh…you don’t think that’ll cause problems, do you?”</span> You just shrugged and pushed him forwards. <span class="mu-r">“How should I know? But, there’s only one way to find out. I’m sure you’ll be able to feel your way through. Good luck.”</span> He looked like he wanted to ask more, but his attention was suddenly drawn to the webline that you shot past him at Vic’s shoulder. With a light tug, you spun your sister around to face the flustered Flint. You must’ve caught her mid-thought, because her eyes were as wide as his when they nearly bumped into each other. (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Thu 23 Nov 2023 19:11:39 No. 5840334 Report She peered past him to yell at you, but you were already starting to swing away. The last thing you heard was your sister complaining about your behavior, and your best friend telling her that he had something important to ask her.
You’ve given your friend enough of a push. Now all that was left was to come up with a believable lie for your mom and dad if your sister really did decide to go to space.
—---------
When you got home, you had vague memories of shuffling through the living room, giving a brief greeting to Araña and Benga, and flopping down in your bed with your suit still on. It was all you could do to peel your mask off your face. The weariness from last night was catching up with you all at once. The chairs in Night Nurse’s clinic weren’t comfy enough for you to get any proper rest, and you didn’t feel right about sleeping while Cindy was injured and in pain. But now that you were in your own bed, not even the smell from the pizza that the girls had brought home was enough to get you back on your feet.
The city was safe(for now), and as far as you knew, your services weren’t required for the rest of the day. You smiled to yourself as your last thoughts before losing consciousness were about you shamelessly sleeping the day away, waking up late and binging a trashy drama with Flint while your two new employees slept. Or maybe they’d want to watch with you. Would you have to keep the mask on the entire time?
Eh. You’d cross that bridge when you got to it. For now…sleep…
—--------
What will you do tomorrow?
>Throw Ember a welcoming party and Hobie a farewell party. >Check in with Silvermane. He should know that you’re back in town, and ready to commit yourself to the cause. >Head back to Vic’s house and check on your brother and nephew. >Swing on over to Central Park and see if the mutants are still squatting there. >Call up Callisto and see if she and the others made it out okay. >Set up another meeting with Thomas Edison. A spot just opened up on your team for a new techie. >Time skip: ((HALLOWEEN!)) >Write-in. Pastebins:
Character Sheet:
https://pastebin.com/1ZihFYSV Equipment and Gear:
https://pastebin.com/WAhveFAd Contacts:
https://pastebin.com/WdcFXD2s 10 Commandments of the Desperados:
https://pastebin.com/Qpr2jVPE Costumes:
https://pastebin.com/5Jie54X2 The Huntsman’s Travel Guide:
https://pastebin.com/PU6LWsip Anonymous
>>5840334 >Call up Callisto and see if she and the others made it out okay. >Head back to Vic’s house and check on your brother and nephew. Check on family and friends
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>5840334 >>Check in with Silvermane. He should know that you’re back in town, and ready to commit yourself to the cause. Anonymous
>>5840334 >Call up Callisto and see if she and the others made it out okay. >Head back to Vic’s house and check on your brother and nephew. Nobody ever checks up on the Morlocks after attacks like these. Who knows how many of them were injured in the fighting.
Also we should probably let our family know we're not buried under a pile of rubble curtesy of Doom.
Anonymous
Anonymous
>>5840334 >>Call up Callisto and see if she and the others made it out okay. Maybe Iara is interested in some space travel, now that she could potentially do it unassisted to, and if the Morlocks don't quite feel like home still.
I'd also like to take our starfighter for a test drive and also show Cindy the fiew of earth from space since we have the opportunity.
Anonymous
>>5840334 >>Throw Ember a welcoming party and Hobie a farewell party. >Call up Callisto and see if she and the others made it out okay. >>Check in with Silvermane. He should know that you’re back in town, and ready to commit yourself to the cause. Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Fri 24 Nov 2023 15:24:28 No. 5841286 Report Quoted By:
>>5840335 >>5840349 >>5840356 >>5840412 >>5840513 >Call up Callisto and see if she and the others made it out okay. >Head back to Vic’s house and check on your brother and nephew. Taking these. Writing...
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Fri 24 Nov 2023 16:21:44 No. 5841344 Report Quoted By:
By the time morning rolled around, you were already 2 seasons deep into the trashy drama that you picked out last night. The girls had stopped by to see what you were doing mid-season, but they eventually got tired and left. You must’ve passed out at some point too, because you woke to the sound and smell of something cooking in the kitchen. To your delight, Flint was back, and he was making breakfast for everyone. <span class="mu-r">“Hey. How’d it go?”</span> A satisfied grin spread across the big man’s face. <span class="mu-g">“Vic’s still thinking about it, but…she said that if she ended up going, she’d feel a lot better with me there too.”</span> You clapped your hands together and rubbed them together as if a long-term master plan had finally paid off. <span class="mu-r">“You see? I told you she’d be happy about it. Now all that’s left is to convince Blackjack to fly around the galaxy with several dozen tons of sand onboard at all times.”</span> Flint pointed his spatula at you. <span class="mu-g">“So long as we don’t keep stealing it from the beach. Those eco freaks have been having a fit these past few days. Especially since we did it twice.”</span> You just shrugged. <span class="mu-r">“Hey, if it ain’t broke…”</span> You sat down in front of a plate of bacon and eggs that Flint had prepared for you. A little while later, the girls came out to see what all the fuss was about. <span class="mu-r">“Something smells good.”</span> Araña said, reaching under her shirt to scratch her stomach. Unsurprisingly, Benga was close behind. Both girls sat down at the table, and Flint served them without complaint. He really <span class="mu-i">was</span> in a good mood. Araña had a contemplative look on her face as she ate. <span class="mu-r">“You know, you should really consider hiring a professional chef at some point. I mean, this is good and all, but wouldn’t you rather be eating at a 5-star restaurant from the comfort of your own home?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“I’ve been taking cooking classes with my adopted kid, if that counts.”</span> Araña gave you an amused grin. <span class="mu-r">“That’s not <span class="mu-i">exactly</span> the level of expertise that I was looking for…”</span> <span class="mu-g">“It’s nice. Spending time with your kid, I mean.”</span> Benga muttered in between bites. Araña gave her an astonished look. <span class="mu-r">“A little early for you to be stretching those vocal chords, isn’t it B? Looks like Sandy isn’t the only one in a decent mood today.”</span> The quiet girl ignored her and continued eating. Meanwhile, Flint set down a plate of hash brown and a bottle of ketchup. <span class="mu-r">“Since the two of you are here, I thought I’d pitch an idea your way.”</span> Both girls turned to regard you. <span class="mu-r">“What’s on your mind, boss?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Well, I found a potential recruit the other day, and she really needs a place to stay. So I was wondering what you guys thought about having another roommate.”</span> They exchanged a look. Benga didn’t seem too thrilled about the idea, and Araña was drumming her fingers on the table as she hummed thoughtfully. (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Fri 24 Nov 2023 16:22:52 No. 5841346 Report Quoted By:
<span class="mu-r">“Hmm, I’m not…entirely against it, but me and Benga still need our space. Plus, we don’t know anything about this chick. And our answer is probably gonna to depend on whether she’ll be sleeping in the same room as us, or if she’s just gonna be our next door neighbor. Do you have an idea of where we’ll be living, by the way?”</span> Benga looked up hopefully. You shook your head. <span class="mu-r">“Sorry, I’m still working on it. Things have been a bit crazy since we got back.”</span> Flint blew out a breath that he didn’t need and puffed out his cheeks as he placed a plate of maple syrup sausages on the table. <span class="mu-g">“Ain’t that the understatement of the year…”</span> Benga gave him a puzzled look, but Araña simply nodded her understanding. <span class="mu-r">“Fair. Your city did sort of get blown the fuck up the other night. I still don’t know how you people can live like this. We might need a doomsday bunker instead of an apartment at this rate.”</span> You laughed through a mouth full of scrambled eggs. <span class="mu-r">“Don’t worry. It’ll start to feel like home after maybe the third or fourth city-wide attack.”</span> Araña frowned at that. <span class="mu-r">“I swear to god, that rent better be <span class="mu-s">stupid</span> low.”</span> <span class="mu-g">“We’ll need decent parking, too.”</span> Benga added. <span class="mu-r">“Oh, right. I forgot you two could drive.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“What, did you expect us to deliver the goods on our bikes?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“That'll probably start to look like a better option once you see how bad the traffic is around these parts.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Maybe I’ll finally be able to get that motorcycle I’ve always wanted. An electric one with reduced engine noise. I’d be flying through these streets if I had a good pair of wheels again.”</span> She said, staring dreamily into space. <span class="mu-g">“Or we could fly for real in the Huntsman’s spaceship.”</span> Benga suggested. <span class="mu-r">“I think that just might be a teensy bit too conspicuous.”</span> Her shoulders slumped, and breakfast continued peacefully. You got a concerned text from Ember, asking how long she’d need to lay low until you recruited her in earnest, and you replied with a reassuring text that said you were working on it. She could wait. You still had a few people to check on. —--------- <span class="mu-g">“Huntsman.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Hey, Callisto. How’d you know it was me? Last I checked, the sewer phone didn’t have caller-ID.</span> <span class="mu-g">“You’re pretty much the only one who calls here, so it isn’t that much of a surprise anymore.”</span> She replied flatly. <span class="mu-r">“I guess that’s fair.”</span> A brief, awkward silence stretched between the two of you before you said anything else. <span class="mu-r">“So…how’s everyone doing down there?”</span> Callisto sighed. <span class="mu-g">“We’ve got a few that were injured during the attack, but that’s mostly because they were already out scavenging when it happened. Some of us got hurt after deciding that they could play hero. A few of those ‘someones’ are still up there with Nature Girl and Iara.”</span> (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Fri 24 Nov 2023 16:24:44 No. 5841351 Report <span class="mu-r">“Yeah, I noticed. Ran into them before. Iara didn’t sound too keen on staying in the Alley with you and the others.”</span>
Callisto scoffed.
<span class="mu-g">“Yeah, she’s decided that she’s too good to slum it down here with us. Rallied a decent chunk of other, younger Morlocks and went with Nature Girl to ‘build a home in the city’. From what I’ve heard, they settled down in Central Park. It’s only a matter of time before someone tries to push them out and they come running back.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“How exactly are you keeping tabs on them?”</span>
<span class="mu-g">“Joyce is my man on the inside. She goes back and forth, and reports back to me when she gets a chance. She’s honestly the best person to keep an eye on our resident Shark Girl while she tries to ‘find herself’.”</span>
From your perch, you stared down at the street below and kicked your feet idly. You could’ve gone down to visit Callisto personally, but you were in desperate need of fresh air, and the Alley wasn’t exactly the best place to get it.
<span class="mu-g">“In the meantime,”</span>
Callisto continued.
<span class="mu-g">“I’ve gotta deal with the thick roots that Donnie left when he outgrew his pot. Some of them are growing into the pipes and pathways down here, and I think there’s gonna be some people coming down to investigate. There’s a non-zero chance that they might stumble upon our humble abode.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“You think they’re gonna try and flush you out?”</span>
You managed to drag a dry chuckle out of Callisto with that one.
<span class="mu-g">“I don’t know if they could, but I still don’t like all the attention we’ve been getting. Nothing good ever happens when a mutant is on the news.”</span>
What will you say?
>”What do you want to do about those roots? We can’t exactly ask Donnie to move, and I don’t think Nature Girl would take kindly to us cutting his roots. Plus, I don’t want to hurt him.” >”Maybe we can find a way to relieve the pressure from the blocked pipes somehow.” >”Do you want me to try and talk to Iara about this? I did tell her to try making some decisions on her own, but it wouldn’t hurt to give her some advice every now and again.” >"Just try and lay low for a while. The Prowler developed some half-decent cloaking tech that should protect you." >”Maybe it's time to ditch the sewers and relocate for a little while. I’ve been thinking about investing in an apartment building, and I could use some new tenants.” >”Hey…are you mad about the whole ‘Iara thing’? Because if you are, I’d just like to try and clear the air.” >Write-in. Pastebins:
Character Sheet:
https://pastebin.com/1ZihFYSV Equipment and Gear:
https://pastebin.com/WAhveFAd Contacts:
https://pastebin.com/WdcFXD2s 10 Commandments of the Desperados:
https://pastebin.com/Qpr2jVPE Costumes:
https://pastebin.com/5Jie54X2 The Huntsman’s Travel Guide:
https://pastebin.com/PU6LWsip Anonymous
>>5841351 >>”What do you want to do about those roots? We can’t exactly ask Donnie to move, and I don’t think Nature Girl would take kindly to us cutting his roots. Plus, I don’t want to hurt him.” Anonymous
>>5841351 >”What do you want to do about those roots? We can’t exactly ask Donnie to move, and I don’t think Nature Girl would take kindly to us cutting his roots. Plus, I don’t want to hurt him.” >”Hey…are you mad about the whole ‘Iara thing’? Because if you are, I’d just like to try and clear the air.” >”Do you want me to try and talk to Iara about this? I did tell her to try making some decisions on her own, but it wouldn’t hurt to give her some advice every now and again.” Anonymous
>>5841351 >>”Hey…are you mad about the whole ‘Iara thing’? Because if you are, I’d just like to try and clear the air.” Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>5841351 >”It’ll be the city government sending people down to investigate the blockages. Knowing their salaries it shouldn’t be hard to keep them quiet if they come down, and getting their input on relieving the blocked pipes won’t be hard.” >”Still, have you thought of setting up another base? Never bad to have options. I’ve been thinking about an apartment building and could use some tenants.” If we do talk about the Iara thing I’d rather make it an in-person talk.
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sun 26 Nov 2023 16:16:50 No. 5844077 Report Quoted By:
>>5841362 >>5841374 >>5841474 >”What do you want to do about those roots? We can’t exactly ask Donnie to move, and I don’t think Nature Girl would take kindly to us cutting his roots. Plus, I don’t want to hurt him.” >”Hey…are you mad about the whole ‘Iara thing’? Because if you are, I’d just like to try and clear the air.” Taking these. Writing...
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sun 26 Nov 2023 16:33:03 No. 5844102 Report Quoted By:
<span class="mu-r">“What do you want to do about these roots? We can’t exactly ask Donnie to move, and I don’t think Nature Girl would take too kindly to us cutting his roots. Plus, I don't want to hurt him.”</span> Callisto made a thoughtful sound. <span class="mu-g">“Well, I can always see if Polaris is available. I’ll have to try and reach her through the X-Men, but it shouldn’t be impossible.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Who’s that?”</span> <span class="mu-g">“She’s a mutant that can manipulate metal. With some luck, she might be able to reshape the pipes to flow around the roots.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Oh. Sort of like Magneto.”</span> <span class="mu-g">“Yup. Except she doesn’t have a taste for genocide, or superheroing in general. She loves her civilian life way more than anything the X-Men can give her, but she helps out every now and again.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Then I hope her desire to help is stronger than her sense of smell.”</span> <span class="mu-g">“Can’t be much stronger than mine.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“I still can’t wrap my head around that one. Sounds more like a curse than a superpower.”</span> <span class="mu-g">“Oh, it can be. How else do you think I manage to stay in such a good mood all the time?”</span> She was joking, of course, but you were genuinely curious as to how she could stand to live down there. But more than anything, there was one question that burned in the back of your mind. <span class="mu-r">“Hey…are you mad about the whole ‘Iara thing’? Because if you are. I’d like to try and clear the air.”</span> Callisto fell silent for a while, and you were about to continue speaking until you heard a long, heavy sigh on the other end of the line. <span class="mu-g">“Look, I know what happened, alright? Joyce told me that you stopped her from going out in a blaze of glory, and Glass told me about the weird surgery that made her into…whatever she is now.”</span> You remained quiet, waiting for her to finish speaking. <span class="mu-g">“Am I mad? Sure, I’m pretty fucking frustrated at the situation right now. And part of me wants to fucking scream at you for bringing her down there with you. But more than anything I’m…”</span> You heard a loud thump, which you assumed was Callisto slamming her fist into the phone booth’s wall. <span class="mu-g">“I should’ve been there. If I can’t protect my people then what fucking good am I?”</span> That question left you momentarily speechless. This was probably the most vulnerable you’ve ever seen Callisto. (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sun 26 Nov 2023 16:34:04 No. 5844104 Report What will you say?
>”We’re not psychic, Callisto. You can’t be held responsible every time someone gets hurt. Sometimes shit just happens.” >”I know how you feel. This was the second time in my life that I thought I’d be losing a friend. I know what it's like to feel helpless, but you can’t beat yourself about things that are out of your control.” >”You’re not alone in this. I might not be a mutant, but I’d never let anything happen to you guys if I could do something to prevent it. You know that, right?” >”Do you want to grab a bite to eat? It’ll be my treat. We don’t have to talk if you don’t want to, but I’m here to listen if you want to get something off of your chest.” >Nothing. Just let her vent until she’s gotten it out of her system. >Write-in. Pastebins:
Character Sheet:
https://pastebin.com/1ZihFYSV Equipment and Gear:
https://pastebin.com/WAhveFAd Contacts:
https://pastebin.com/WdcFXD2s 10 Commandments of the Desperados:
https://pastebin.com/Qpr2jVPE Costumes:
https://pastebin.com/5Jie54X2 The Huntsman’s Travel Guide:
https://pastebin.com/PU6LWsip Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>5844104 >Nothing. Just let her vent until she’s gotten it out of her system. >”I know how you feel. This was the second time in my life that I thought I’d be losing a friend. I know what it's like to feel helpless, but you can’t beat yourself about things that are out of your control.” Let her talk then say something comforting
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>5844104 >>”We’re not psychic, Callisto. You can’t be held responsible every time someone gets hurt. Sometimes shit just happens.” except this is kinda the third time we get a friend almost killed and permanently transformed by proxy so maybe we are the lowest common denominator
Anonymous
>>5844104 >”Do you want to grab a bite to eat? It’ll be my treat. We don’t have to talk if you don’t want to, but I’m here to listen if you want to get something off of your chest.” If it would come up we can mention that Cindy got hurt yesterday too. And her parents kept her safe by locking her in a vault. That's the only way to be sure, but we obviously can't do that.
Anonymous
>>5844104 >”There’s enough places mutants can get protection in exchange for mistreatment. You’ve built one of the few communities that cares enough to simply give it. Don’t lose sight of that.” >”Do you want to grab a bite to eat? It’ll be my treat. We don’t have to talk if you don’t want to, but I’m here to listen if you want to get something off of your chest.” Still not thinking a phone call is the best way to have this conversation. It’ll be better if she can vent and see we’re paying attention.
If she’s not up to going somewhere for food we could always swing by a food joint, pick up some to-go food, and meet her near one of the entrances in a quiet place.
Anonymous
>>5844104 >>”Do you want to grab a bite to eat? It’ll be my treat. We don’t have to talk if you don’t want to, but I’m here to listen if you want to get something off of your chest.” Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Wed 29 Nov 2023 02:02:42 No. 5847369 Report Quoted By:
>>5844165 >>5844183 >>5844718 >”Do you want to grab a bite to eat? It’ll be my treat. We don’t have to talk if you don’t want to, but I’m here to listen if you want to get something off of your chest.” Taking these. Writing...
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Wed 29 Nov 2023 02:41:36 No. 5847417 Report <span class="mu-r">“Do you want to grab a bite to eat? It’ll be my treat. We don’t have to talk if you don’t want to, but I’m here to listen if you want to get something off your chest.”</span> You weren’t sure if it was the right thing to say, but you doubted that Callisto would be into the idea of spilling her guts out over the phone. It wasn’t until a minute later that Callisto responded to you at all. <span class="mu-g">“Yeah…sure, yeah. I could use a burger. I know a good place.”</span> —-------- A little while later, you and Callisto met at a local eatery that you hadn’t even known existed. The owner was clearly flustered when a masked man and a rough looking woman with an eyepatch walked into his establishment, but he still served you all the same. For the sake of privacy, you decided to take your meal to go, and set up a pair of web hammocks under a bridge. Callisto didn’t seem to mind the mild inconvenience, at least. In fact, her ability to split her arms into a cluster of tentacles made her far more dexterous than you had any hope of being, even with the use of your webs. While you had to set up separate weblines to hold your drink, fries, sauce packets and burger, she could hold all of them at once. You were slightly jealous of that. For a while, neither of you broached the topic of what you’d talked about on the phone. You only made small talk and gave your opinion on what you thought of your meal. And when you weren’t speaking, you were people watching, or simply enjoying the scenery. As much as one could under a bridge, at least. After about an hour, Callisto finally started to open up a bit. <span class="mu-g">“Thanks. I needed this.”</span> She was laying on her side in the hammock, her left leg dangling slightly. <span class="mu-r">“Hey, we all need a break sometimes. In your case, you just need to remember to come up for some fresh air every now and again.”</span> Callisto closed her one remaining eye, inhaled deeply through her nose and exhaled through her mouth. <span class="mu-g">“Eh, it doesn’t smell much better on the surface if I'm being honest. That’s what the food is for.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“You bought a burger just to smell it?”</span> She cracked an eye open to peer at you, a coy smile on her lips. <span class="mu-g">“You taste with your nose as much as you do with your tongue. If you can’t smell, then you’re not tasting anything.”</span> She stuck her tongue out and pointed to it for emphasis. <span class="mu-r">“You sound like a picky eater.”</span> <span class="mu-g">“I used to be. Back when I lived in a big house with rich parents that gave me whatever I wanted.”</span> Your eyes widened at the thought of Callisto being some rich, bratty teen. <span class="mu-r">“I didn’t know you used to be rich.”</span> She just shrugged. <span class="mu-g">“It was another life. I’m over it already. I do miss using the tennis courts, though. Maybe we can build one down in the Alley.”</span> (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Wed 29 Nov 2023 02:42:40 No. 5847418 Report What will you say?
>”Why don’t we just swing on over to one that’s already built. I wouldn’t mind playing a few rounds with you.” >”If you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to hear more about your old life.” >”How’s a pampered princess end up slumming it in the sewers?” >”How does Glass feel about everything that’s been happening?” >Just chill out and engage in small-talk until the sun goes down. >Write-in. Pastebins:
Character Sheet:
https://pastebin.com/1ZihFYSV Equipment and Gear:
https://pastebin.com/WAhveFAd Contacts:
https://pastebin.com/WdcFXD2s 10 Commandments of the Desperados:
https://pastebin.com/Qpr2jVPE Costumes:
https://pastebin.com/5Jie54X2 The Huntsman’s Travel Guide:
https://pastebin.com/PU6LWsip Anonymous
>>5847418 >”Why don’t we just swing on over to one that’s already built. I wouldn’t mind playing a few rounds with you.” Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>5847418 >“Pretty sure I can string up a good racket for anyone who wants it. If Nature Girl wouldn’t mind growing some strong wood they might even hold up to a good swing! What would you use for a better ball though?” Put some serious thought into inventing tennis 2.0 for people with enhanced strength. Why not?
>”If you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to hear more about your old life.” When we’re done with the silly, we can move onto the serious.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>5847418 >>”How’s a pampered princess end up slumming it in the sewers?” Anonymous
>>5847417 >"Maybe we should have invested in some sports facilities before a multimedia station. So... since I already forced some of my hobbies on you-" >”Why don’t we just swing on over to one that’s already built. I wouldn’t mind playing a few rounds with you.” Anonymous
>>5847883 Supporting, also we shoulda went the Callisto route bros
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>5848521 just you wait for the green goblin arc
i'm more of a gwenfag though
Anonymous
>>5847883 Supporting
>>5848521 Please this is a Spider-Man quest, by the law of Marvel eventually an overly convoluted event will break them up
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Thu 30 Nov 2023 01:02:25 No. 5848576 Report Quoted By:
>>5847423 >>5847883 >>5848521 >>5848536 >"Maybe we should have invested in some sports facilities before a multimedia station. So... since I already forced some of my hobbies on you-" >”Why don’t we just swing on over to one that’s already built. I wouldn’t mind playing a few rounds with you.” Taking these. Writing...
>>5848536 That's (almost) entirely dependent on your choices in upcoming events! Some of your relationships will be tested.
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Thu 30 Nov 2023 02:16:37 No. 5848652 Report Quoted By:
<span class="mu-r">“Maybe we should have invested in some sports facilities before a multimedia station. So…since I already forced some of my hobbies on you…”</span> Callisto snorted. <span class="mu-g">“Right. Because playing video games and sitting on the couch and watching movies is exclusive to you.”</span> You chose to ignore that. <span class="mu-r">“Why don’t we just swing on over to a tennis court that’s already built? I wouldn’t mind playing a few rounds with you.”</span> She gave you a surprised look as she struggled to sit up in her hammock. <span class="mu-g">“Play tennis? With you?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“That <span class="mu-i">was</span> the implication. Why, you got other places to be?”</span> She stared at you for a while, her brain ticking over as she studied your masked face. Eventually, she extended a hand towards you. <span class="mu-g">“Sure. Why the hell not. Just don’t complain when you get beat by a girl.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“I believe in equal opportunity, so I don’t discriminate when it comes to trashing people in the virtual world, and the real one.”</span> You grabbed her by the arm and pulled her closer until your chests were pressed against one another. You quickly wrapped an arm around Callisto’s waist, and you heard a small gasp escape her lips as you leaned forwards to fall off of the hammock. <span class="mu-r">“Try to keep your eye open for this one. You won’t get a better view of the city when you ride with Huntsman Airlines.”</span> You swung down and up, flying from the bridge and over the park that you were having lunch in. Callisto was squinting as the wind and leaves battered her face, but there was a shadow of a smile playing across her lips as you wove between the trees and launched yourself through the air. It wasn’t long before you were flying over a constant stream of cars from oncoming traffic. Callisto wasn’t saying anything, but it was clear that she was enjoying herself. At the very least, she seemed to enjoy the feeling of the wind blowing through her short black hair. <span class="mu-g">“Is this seriously how you get around?”</span> She shouted. <span class="mu-r">“Oh yeah! Sometimes I even do tricks. Wanna see one?”</span> <span class="mu-g">“Not unless you want to see my lunch again.”</span> You laughed, and then proceeded to do a flip, much to Callisto’s chagrin. And after she made an extremely convincing threat to throttle you with all eight of her tentacles, you didn’t attempt any more. Maybe you’d do a few on the return trip, after her she had a chance to digest her food a bit. —------- Finding a nearby public tennis court wasn’t terribly hard. And it was even easier to convince the people there to give you a turn. All you had to do was agree to take a picture with them. You were pretty sure they’d confused you with your clone brother, but you weren’t about to correct them. The only question was, how hard should you try for this? (Cont.)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Thu 30 Nov 2023 02:17:38 No. 5848655 Report What will you do?
>Go all out! You and Callisto are about to have the most extreme tennis match of all time! >Restrict yourself to not using webs. Your reflexes should be enough to carry you through this match. Besides, you want to put her skills to the test. >Have a light-hearted match where Callisto can coach you on the fundamentals. You’re genuinely interested in having her help you to become a better player. >Write-in. Pastebins:
Character Sheet:
https://pastebin.com/1ZihFYSV Equipment and Gear:
https://pastebin.com/WAhveFAd Contacts:
https://pastebin.com/WdcFXD2s 10 Commandments of the Desperados:
https://pastebin.com/Qpr2jVPE Costumes:
https://pastebin.com/5Jie54X2 The Huntsman’s Travel Guide:
https://pastebin.com/PU6LWsip Anonymous
>>5848655 >>Restrict yourself to not using webs. Your reflexes should be enough to carry you through this match. Besides, you want to put her skills to the test. Anonymous
>>5848655 >Restrict yourself to not using webs. Your reflexes should be enough to carry you through this match. Besides, you want to put her skills to the test. I don't want her to have to play mutant mentor all the time. A fairly regular tennis match might do her a world of good as far as stress is concerned.
Anonymous
>>5848655 >>Restrict yourself to not using webs. Your reflexes should be enough to carry you through this match. Besides, you want to put her skills to the test. Anonymous
>>5848655 >Restrict yourself to not using webs. Your reflexes should be enough to carry you through this match. Besides, you want to put her skills to the test. also to try and not break the equipment at
Anonymous
>>5848655 >>5848806 Supporting. Pretty obvious we can’t go all-out with public equipment (or are we borrowing what some people were using?) and I can buy the “mutant mentor” reasoning.
Just remember to have fun in the meantime.
>”Love all, even the annoying kids” >”Fore!” >”Damn, good line placement there. 1st and 10 again.” >”C’mon, that was a beautiful shot from behind the baseline! It should totally be a three-pointer.” >”Foot fault, runner advances to first automatically.” Don’t know hockey well enough to make a pun there. Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Thu 30 Nov 2023 22:31:48 No. 5849659 Report >>5848664 >>5848806 >>5849119 >>5848841 >>5848992 >Restrict yourself to not using webs. Your reflexes should be enough to carry you through this match. Besides, you want to put her skills to the test. Roll 1d100, bo3!
Anonymous
Rolled 1 (1d100) >>5849659 AYYYYYYYYYYY BATTA BATTA BATTA!
Anonymous
Rolled 3 (1d100) >>5849659 dude
Anonymous
Rolled 76 (1d100) >>5849659 Surely this dice will save us from looking dumb in front of our cool sewer friend.
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Fri 01 Dec 2023 00:44:53 No. 5849865 Report Quoted By:
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Fri 01 Dec 2023 04:22:13 No. 5850037 Report Quoted By:
>1 At first, you considered using every skill and ability you had at your disposal in this friendly little match, but a big part of you was curious about how good she actually was. So, you decided to keep the match as fair as possible between the both of you. You wouldn’t use webs, and she wouldn’t use her tentacles. That should’ve put you on fairly even ground, as you were confident in the reflexes and spatial awareness that you’ve been cultivating during your career as the Huntsman. You were supremely confident, in fact. Because what was another projectile to the dozens of bullets that you’ve had to dodge at any given time in the countless firefights that you’ve been in throughout the year, and even before then. But all that changed when you saw Callisto transform into another person on the court. There was a sudden intensity to her that had absolutely nothing to do with her rugged exterior, or the various bladed weapons that she had stashed away on her person. It was as if the mutant sewer queen you’d known all this time had only been a convincing facade, and she was only just now slipping back into her old shoes. She twirled the racket in her hands, testing the weight with one hand as she bounced the tennis ball against the ground with the other. And when Callisto glanced up at you with her solitary eye, you felt an immense amount of focus crystallizing to a point at the center of her sharp gaze. That caused a shudder to run through you. She had never looked at you like that. And it took you a few seconds to realize that she was measuring you up. <span class="mu-g">“You ready to get beat?”</span> Her question should’ve sounded like a playful taunt, but you got the impression that she had every intention of following through on that provocation. And true to your nature, you replied with something equally as antagonistic. You struck a batter’s pose, gripping your racket with both hands and twirling it around as you took a few practice swings. <span class="mu-r">“HEYYYYYY BATTA BATTA! HEYYYYY BATTA BATTA, SWING!”</span> Callisto smirked and tossed the tennis ball into the air. A moment later, she hopped lightly into the air, smacked it with her racket and— The ball smacked into the corner of the service box on your side of the court. You blinked in surprise. When had she– <span class="mu-g">“15 Love!”</span> You stared at Callisto, and then back at the ball. You had been pretty sure that your eye was on the ball the entire time, so you were a bit confused on where you had lost track of it. You’d have to look more closely next time. <span class="mu-r">“Lucky shot.”</span> You said, waving a hand dismissively at her. Callisto nodded, a challenging look in her eye. <span class="mu-g">“Whatever you have to tell yourself to protect that fragile ego of yours.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Hey! It’s not <span class="mu-i">that</span> fragile.”</span> You retorted, taking a lower, more appropriate stance. You were very aware of the fact that other people were watching this match, so you had to at least make a decent showing. (Cont)
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Fri 01 Dec 2023 04:24:21 No. 5850038 Report Quoted By:
<span class="mu-g">“Can I get the ball back at least?”</span> Callisto asked, pointing past you. <span class="mu-r">“Huh? Oh, right.”</span> You snagged the ball with a webline and swung it back over to her side. Callisto caught it easily. <span class="mu-g">“Here it comes.”</span> She tossed it up and served the ball exactly the same as she had before. Your eyes were laser focused on it as it slowly rose into the air, but when her racket made contact with it, it was as if it had evaporated. The ball shot forward with surprising speed. You rushed forward to catch it, successfully managing to swat it back over the net. But to your surprise, Callisto was already there and waiting for your returning serve. She lightly extended her racket, gently tapping the ball back over to your side. You dove for it, but you fell just short and instead slid into the net. <span class="mu-g">“30 Love!”</span> <span class="mu-r">“You know, for a person with only one eye, you’ve got an uncanny amount of depth perception.”</span> You grumbled as you picked yourself up. Callisto shrugged and twirled her racket in her hand. <span class="mu-g">“Call it my superpower.”</span> She was holding a new ball in her hand, and without warning, she tossed it up and prepared to serve. But her racket stopped just short of actually hitting the ball. You stared in confusion as it fell back down to the ground. And in that one instant, Callisto’s racket <span class="mu-i">blurred</span>. There was a second ball dropping towards the racket, and you barely got yours up in time to intercept it. There was a brief back and forth, which ended in you overextending on a fake-out from Callisto, which ultimately ended up with her having 3 points to your nothing. <span class="mu-g">“40 Love!”</span> <span class="mu-r">“You’re using trick serves now? What do you call that one?”</span> “‘Ghost serve’. Believe it or not, they actually allow trick shots in pro matches.” <span class="mu-r">“And I’m sure you’d love to show me the rest.”</span> Callisto’s only response was a devious grin. <span class="mu-g">“If you wanted to get schooled, then you came to the right place. How about this? I’ll serve this one to you slowly.”</span> She raised another ball to indicate it, looking less intense than she had a moment ago. You weren’t fooled for a second, but you had no choice but to play along. As promised, the serve was slow, and you batted it back with gusto. Callisto was close to the net, and she returned it with a light tap that barely made it over the net. You tried to back up a bit, but you were instead forced to move closer to catch the ball. And in no time at all, you became caught up in Callisto’s pace. The two of you were practically standing face-to-face, batting the ball back and forth at blinding speeds. You had no trouble keeping up with her, but Callisto’s experience won out in the end. She had far more control, and was able to vary the speed, intensity and angle of her hits. So eventually, you got tripped up and the ball went flying past you. <span class="mu-g">“Match point. Do you need some time to warm up, or…?”</span>
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Fri 01 Dec 2023 04:28:51 No. 5850042 Report You shook your arms out and bounced on your toes a couple of times in preparation for the next set.
<span class="mu-r">“Oh, I’m just getting started. Now it’s <span class="mu-i">my</span> turn to serve.”</span>
Callisto made an exaggerated expression of worry, and you could feel your motivation surging at the sight of her smug assurance.
Unfortunately for you, however, Callisto wasn’t any worse at defending. Despite your speed and coordination, she was always wherever she needed to be, whenever she needed to be there. It was as if she was always two steps ahead of you. Before you even finished hitting the ball, Callisto was already moving to receive it.
It was an absolute blow-out on her end, and you started to notice a new sensation that had been mostly foreign to you after your fateful mutation. It was less a sense of danger, and more of a pervasive feeling of uncertainty that tainted your every movement and judgment. Callisto’s movements were so refined, so effortless, that you started to lose confidence in your own abilities. It became harder to perform at your peak ability, and if it wasn't for your innate physical talents, you suspected that this game would’ve been absolutely hopeless.
The more you played, the more you started to realize how wide the gap between you truly was. And no amount of tenacity or gumption could prevent you from losing without the use of your full skill-set. That shouldn’t have hurt as much as it did, but it was hard not to get frustrated in the face of what currently seemed like an insurmountable wall.
By the end of it, you were sweating, your breathing slightly labored as you glanced up at your opponent. She was no longer a grumpy, one-eyed sewer queen, but was instead a fiercely competitive tennis ace.
Callisto ran a hand over her sweaty forehead and through her dark disheveled hair, looking both revitalized and reborn. There was a wild, hungry look in her eye, like she was still searching for a competitor that could measure up to her expectations.
By this point, your match had attracted a decently-sized audience. There were a lot of people marveling at Callisto’s prowess on the court, and a few of them were pointing at you as well. You didn’t want to know what they were saying about you.
What will you say?
>”Why’re you living in the sewers when you could be dominating the tennis world!?” >”I’m surprised you don’t come here more often. You seem to be enjoying yourself.” >”What’s the score again? I kind of lost track a while back.” >”...Double or nothing?” (Try to make a decent showing in your last few sets.) >"I know when I'm beat. Why don't you turn and give the crowd a bow?" >Write-in. Pastebins:
Character Sheet:
https://pastebin.com/1ZihFYSV Equipment and Gear:
https://pastebin.com/WAhveFAd Contacts:
https://pastebin.com/WdcFXD2s 10 Commandments of the Desperados:
https://pastebin.com/Qpr2jVPE Costumes:
https://pastebin.com/5Jie54X2 The Huntsman’s Travel Guide:
https://pastebin.com/PU6LWsip Anonymous
>>5850042 >”I’m surprised you don’t come here more often. You seem to be enjoying yourself.” >”...Double or nothing?” (Try to make a decent showing in your last few sets.) Hey as long as Callisto's having fun we should at least try to provide a challenge right?
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>5850042 >>"I know when I'm beat. Why don't you turn and give the crowd a bow?" Anonymous
>>5850042 >”I’m surprised you don’t come here more often. You seem to be enjoying yourself.” >”...Double or nothing?” (Try to make a decent showing in your last few sets.) What
>>5850069 said. At least we can volley some so it’s not like we’re a dead fish to her.
>”I wonder if I could get Abba to sing the song ‘Tennis Queen’ in your honor?” Anonymous
>>5850042 >>”...Double or nothing?” (Try to make a decent showing in your last few sets.) Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Fri 01 Dec 2023 22:50:56 No. 5850739 Report >>5850069 >>5850344 >>5850422 >”I’m surprised you don’t come here more often. You seem to be enjoying yourself.” >”...Double or nothing?” (Try to make a decent showing in your last few sets.) Roll 1d100, bo3!
Anonymous
Rolled 34 (1d100) >>5850739 Surely this won't be a one
Anonymous
Rolled 47 (1d100) >>5850739 come on guys, where's the weighted dies
Anonymous
Rolled 10 (1d100) >>5850739 Anonymous
At least we are putting up a better showing against best girl
Anonymous
>>5850776 Failing at a sport could be more embarassing
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>5850780 Simply show we aren't a sore loser and can be humble
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sat 02 Dec 2023 02:26:43 No. 5850841 Report Quoted By:
>>5850752 >>5850754 >>5850771 >47 Taking these. Writing...
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Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sat 02 Dec 2023 02:57:13 No. 5850872 Report >47 <span class="mu-r">“I’m surprised that you don’t come here more often. You seem to be enjoying yourself.”</span> Callisto blinked in surprise upon hearing your statement. She gave you a somewhat awkward shrug and turned her head so that you could only see the side of her face where she wore her eyepatch. <span class="mu-g">“I dunno. I guess I just didn’t want to think about it too much. The things I had to leave behind after my X-Gene activated, I mean. It puts me in a weird mood sometimes.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Do you ever miss it?”</span> You asked. Callisto turned to stare at you with a single blue eye, her lips pressed into a thin line. <span class="mu-g">“Sometimes.”</span> Her answer was quiet, barely audible over the noise of the city. <span class="mu-g">“Not everything, though. It’s a…’freedom vs. security’ kind of thing, you know? There’s a bit of good, and a bit of bad to both sides.”</span> You nodded. <span class="mu-r">“No one’s ever 100% happy with the way their life turned out. You’ve just gotta keep trying to improve your situation.”</span> Callisto bit her lip and turned her head to stare into the distance. Incidentally, it was in the same direction where all of her adoring fans were cheering her on. She almost looked surprised to find them there. <span class="mu-g">“Yeah. I guess you’re right.”</span> The two of you stood there in silence for about half a minute, until you snagged a nearby tennis ball and tossed it at her. Callisto caught it easily. <span class="mu-r">“...Double or nothing?”</span> Callisto chuckled, smiling despite herself. <span class="mu-g">“It’s your funeral, Huntsman.”</span> And so you played. Back and forth you hit the ball in a seemingly hypnotic rhythm. You were still losing, of course, but at least now you didn’t look like a <span class="mu-i">total</span> dork. The important thing here was not coming off as a sore loser. You even thought you could hear a few people marveling at your physical prowess, despite your apparent lack of talent when it came to actual tennis. And slowly, you could see a change taking place in your friend. When she was on the court, duking it out with you, she wasn’t simply the Sewer Queen of NYC, or the leader of the Morlocks. For this one, brief moment…she was someone else. Someone that didn’t carry the responsibility of a woman of her station. She was just a woman who loved tennis. One who was in a much better mood than when you found her. —------- At the end of your last set, you suddenly became aware of how late it was getting. You’ve been playing for at least 2 hours or more, and the people watching you looked eager to play as well. Especially the kids. What will you do?>Wrap it up and take Callisto back home. >Suggest that the two of you go for a walk before ending the day. >Ask Callisto if she’d be willing to play doubles with some of these people. >See if Callisto wouldn’t mind giving you some pointers on correcting your form. >Offer to come back and play with her whenever the mood strikes her. Maybe this could become a hobby for the two of you. >Write-in.
Anonymous
>>5850872 >Suggest that the two of you go for a walk before ending the day. >Offer to come back and play with her whenever the mood strikes her. Maybe this could become a hobby for the two of you. Maybe we could get those pointers some other time, but we should probably let the kids have a turn
Anonymous
>>5850872 >>Wrap it up and take Callisto back home. >Offer to come back and play with her whenever the mood strikes her. Maybe this could become a hobby for the two of you. Anonymous
Anonymous
>>5850872 >>5850897 Supporting. If she played with strangers they’d inevitably say something to ruin her mood. End on a high note.
Anonymous
Quoted By:
Goddamn somebody's shooting up all the Vegas Morlocks
Anonymous
>>5850872 >>Offer to come back and play with her whenever the mood strikes her. Maybe this could become a hobby for the two of you. until we made our own tennis court though
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Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sat 02 Dec 2023 21:17:52 No. 5851641 Report Quoted By:
>>5850897 >>5850997 >>5851248 >>5850987 >>5851410 >Suggest that the two of you go for a walk before ending the day. >Offer to come back and play with her whenever the mood strikes her. Maybe this could become a hobby for the two of you. Taking these. Writing...
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Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sat 02 Dec 2023 23:04:56 No. 5851765 Report Quoted By:
<span class="mu-r">“I think we’ve hogged the court long enough. Why don’t we let everyone else take a turn.”</span> you said, using the back of your hand to wipe your forehead through your mask. <span class="mu-r">“Let me just gather these up real quick.”</span> You tossed your racket aside and started casually collecting the spare tennis balls with weblines, and dropped them into a bag that you created using the same material. This went on for a few seconds, until Callisto spoke up. <span class="mu-g">“Here. Let me help you.”</span> You looked over at her, surprised by her declaration. But nothing compared to the shock, awe and disgust that her admirers expressed when her once human arms unraveled to form six, slimy green tentacles. They stretched out in multiple directions, latching onto the balls on her side of the court while you worked on your side. Once you were done, you poured them all into your web sack and set it down where it wouldn’t trip anyone. Then, both you and Callisto handed your rackets off to anyone who would take them. In Callisto’s case, it was a young girl wearing a pink shirt. She smiled upon receiving the racket, revealing the gap where her missing tooth should be. <span class="mu-b">“Thanks, Octopus Lady.”</span> Callisto smiled and waved at her as the two of you walked away. The girl had been one of the only ones that didn’t look fearful or wary when they saw Callisto leaving. <span class="mu-r">“We should come back here sometime”</span> you said, drawing a surprised look from Callisto. <span class="mu-r">“We can play whenever the mood strikes you. This could be our thing.”</span> Callisto gave you a lopsided grin and shook her head. <span class="mu-g">“‘Our thing’? Since when do we need a ‘thing’?”</span> <span class="mu-r">“It’s just a suggestion. You can always wait until we get one installed down in the Alley. My webs have been lasting a lot longer since I changed up my diet. I just have to find a way to stop the balls, or anything else, from sticking to them.”</span> you admitted. <span class="mu-g">“Does that mean you’re gonna charge me a maintenance cost whenever you’ve gotta come down to fix it?”</span> she asked. You gave her a puzzled look. <span class="mu-r">“Are you telling me that there isn’t a single one of you that can’t repair a measly little tennis net? I always thought mutant powers were supposed to be cooler than this.”</span> you complained. <span class="mu-g">“They’re mostly inconvenient, but I see your point. I’m sure we can figure something out. Until then…I guess I wouldn’t mind coming out to stretch my legs a little bit.”</span> You gave her a cheeky grin. <span class="mu-r">“Is that a yes?”</span> Callisto raised a finger to halt your enthusiasm, but it was far more contagious than even she expected. <span class="mu-g">“It’s a maybe. If neither of us has anything better to do, then I might be willing to come back out and brush up on my skills. I’ve gotten a bit rusty.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Oh, sure. Rub it in, why don’t you?”</span> (Cont.)
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Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sat 02 Dec 2023 23:07:47 No. 5851766 Report Quoted By:
Callisto laughed, and the two of you continued walking through the neighborhood and chatting like the odd pair of friends that you were. You haven’t known her for very long, but it didn’t feel that way. Somewhere along the way, your partnership turned into an acquaintanceship, and then evolved into what you could only describe as a budding friendship. At least, that’s what you liked to think. You didn’t know what kind of answer you would get if you asked Callisto what kind of relationship you had. Neither of you mentioned going home or cutting this little hangout short, so you kept walking with her, appreciating her company and her reactions to the city above her home. You didn’t know how long it had been since she just took the time to appreciate her surroundings and clear her mind, but you thought it was safe to assume that it had been too long. A few times, people called out to you thinking that you were Spider-Man. Sometimes you would correct them, and other times you wouldn’t. Callisto just seemed glad that you were drawing attention away from her. It was a bit annoying at times, but you felt that it was a small price to pay for the juicy gossip that Callisto’s keen senses have picked up during her time spent under the city. <span class="mu-r">“Is that seriously what Marty puts in his Stromboli?”</span> <span class="mu-g">“Yup.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Every time?”</span> Callisto nodded, her amusement clear on her face. <span class="mu-g">“Every time.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Wow. I’m not sure if I should be impressed or disturbed.”</span> <span class="mu-g">“I warned you. People almost never want to eat their food when they know exactly what’s in it.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Huh. Then is it true what they say about S.H.I.E.L.D. putting mind-altering chemicals in our water?”</span> you asked. Callisto’s expression shifted into a grave stare that could have halted the Juggernaut in his tracks. <span class="mu-g">“I could tell you…but I’d have to kill you.”</span> Your eyes widened for a moment, but you couldn’t maintain the facade for very long. And neither could she for that matter, because you both started chortling after only a few seconds of tense silence. <span class="mu-r">“I already died of embarrassment earlier, so I don’t think there’s much more that you can do to me.”</span> Callisto shoved her hands in her pockets and turned her gaze forward once more, a bit of that good humor from earlier still lingering on her lips. <span class="mu-g">“I’m a pretty creative person. I’ll figure something out.”</span> <span class="mu-r">"Whatever you say, Octopus Lady"</span> She punched your shoulder, and you tried to pretend that your wince was exaggerated for comical purposes. The two of you walked in silence for a while after that. And to your surprise, she was the one to break it this time. <span class="mu-g">“I think Glass agrees with Iara.” She blurted out. “Not on everything, but they both think that we shouldn’t be hiding anymore. They think that…’seclusion’ isn’t the answer. Whether it’s in a sewer or a big fancy mansion.”</span> (Cont.)
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Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sat 02 Dec 2023 23:08:48 No. 5851768 Report <span class="mu-r">“And what do you think?”</span>
Callisto let out a long, weary sigh.
<span class="mu-g">“I’m not sure. I spent all this time trying to build a shelter, trying to keep everyone safe. But Glass tells me that a shelter or a refuge isn’t the same as having a home; that it isn’t enough to run and hide.”</span>
She paused, glancing at you out of the corner of her eye. You made sure to walk on the side that didn’t have the eyepatch. Was she expecting you to weigh in on the issue?
What will you say?
>”I’m not sure if the opinion of an outsider would mean much. I barely know anything about the Mutant struggle.” >”I think they’re right too. Keeping your people safe is one thing, but building a future for them is just as important.” >”You’re their leader. So long as you look like you know what you’re doing, I think they’ll follow you anywhere. You just have to ask yourself whether what you’re doing is benefiting the people under your care.” >”I think you should ask the other Morlocks about it. Really open a dialogue and let everyone share their thoughts on the matter.” >Write-in. Pastebins:
Character Sheet:
https://pastebin.com/1ZihFYSV Equipment and Gear:
https://pastebin.com/WAhveFAd Contacts:
https://pastebin.com/WdcFXD2s 10 Commandments of the Desperados:
https://pastebin.com/Qpr2jVPE Costumes:
https://pastebin.com/5Jie54X2 The Huntsman’s Travel Guide:
https://pastebin.com/PU6LWsip Anonymous
>>5851768 >”They’re not wrong. That should be an option for everyone. Some people are more comfortable with the whole “wizard in a tower” schtick though, and that’s before the mutant hate makes things worse.” >”If Glass really feels that way, why not have him run the Central Park community while you keep the sewers open? You’re a good leader, Callisto, but that doesn’t mean you need to force yourself to be everything for everyone. Let others forge their own paths and make sure they have a place with you when they need it.” Iara may have been the energy behind the move, but I’m sure Glass would have a much better head for running a community. Callisto doesn’t need to try and bring everyone out into the open against her instincts either, the open community deserves a leader who really believes in it to guide it properly.
They could also use the extra connections that a public face for the Morlocks would provide, but I don’t like shoving that in unless Callisto touches on it.
Anonymous
Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>5851768 >>”I’m not sure if the opinion of an outsider would mean much. I barely know anything about the Mutant struggle.” Anonymous
Quoted By:
>>5851768 >Write-in. "There's a lot going on, and so many problem with it, but I guess he's not wrong... They can't just take a whole section of the Park to live in and there will be people from the city wanting them to get out for legal reasons, and not to mention the anti-mutant people on the city or the country when the news breaks out, and asking help for Xavier isn't much of an option if he really wants an army of child soldiers, while your people wants a normal life like before... Then there's the whole public persona, you're covered because the underground Murlocks aren't known yet, and any kind of deals we make won't have the idiots on blue or any other agency looking around to fuck you over."
>"If they wanna do it, there's a shit ton of logistic, paperwork, PR and marketing that needs to be done, and not to mention an actual place where they can all live comfortably in a somewhat legal matter" >"A bunch of stuff going on, for just them wanting to get out of the sewers just because that same day the shit smell got a little too strong... If being mutants it's already a disadvantage, what they're doing is just a mess if they don't have enough help and opportunities to carry it out. We really need to talk this, either now or tomorrow, because it's just a matter of time" Anonymous
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Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sun 03 Dec 2023 20:59:35 No. 5853046 Report Quoted By:
>>5851832 >>5851845 >>5852849 >”They’re not wrong. That should be an option for everyone. Some people are more comfortable with the whole “wizard in a tower” schtick though, and that’s before the mutant hate makes things worse.” >”If Glass really feels that way, why not have him run the Central Park community while you keep the sewers open? You’re a good leader, Callisto, but that doesn’t mean you need to force yourself to be everything for everyone. Let others forge their own paths and make sure they have a place with you when they need it.” Taking these. Writing...
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Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sun 03 Dec 2023 21:23:59 No. 5853069 Report Quoted By:
<span class="mu-r">“They’re not wrong. That should be an option for everyone. Some people are more comfortable with the whole ‘wizard in a tower’ schtick though, and that’s before the mutant hate makes things worse.”</span> you began. Callisto remained silent, so you kept going. <span class="mu-r">“If Glass really feels that way, why not have him run the Central Park community while you keep the sewers open? You’re a good leader, Callisto, but that doesn’t mean you need to force yourself to be everything for everyone. Let others forge their own paths and make sure they have a place with you when they need it.”</span> Callisto’s single blue eye widened slightly, before returning her gaze forward. She stopped in the middle of the sidewalk to examine her surroundings. The city was in decent shape, but there was still visible damage from Doom’s attack that hadn’t been repaired yet. It wasn’t in total disarray, as there was an entire organization funded by S.H.I.E.L.D. that operated with the sole purpose of rebuilding the city after every massive event. By the looks of it, things should be back up and running in another two weeks. <span class="mu-g">“That’s actually not a bad idea. I trust Glass more than I do most people, and he’s got a way about him. I reckon he’d make a better leader than Xavier, in fact.”</span> Callisto let out a hollow laugh and shook her head. <span class="mu-g">“You know, I think I was starting to fall into the same trap that Xavier and Magneto did. About how two people with different ideas of how to accomplish the same goal go to war with each other. I’m like one of those shitty parents that gets in the way of their kid’s happiness.”</span> You walked up and patted her on the shoulder. Callisto stared at your hand, and then up at you. <span class="mu-r">“Don’t be so hard on yourself. You can’t help that you’re a little menacing and overbearing at times. It’s kind fo your thing.”</span> Callisto whirled around and shook off your hand in a single, smooth movement, walking backward while facing you. <span class="mu-g">“I think I put a little too much effort into being the scary one. I wanted to protect people from, well…other people. This city and the people that live in it are dangerous, and I needed to be more dangerous to make sure that nobody ever hurt the people that I cared about.”</span> You chuckled at that. <span class="mu-r">“You remind me of someone else that I know. Except you’re more fun to be around.”</span> Callisto gave you a wry smirk. <span class="mu-g">“I guess I wasn’t as scary as I thought I was, then.”</span> Her smile faded, and she stopped once more to regard the city around her. <span class="mu-g">“I’ll talk to Glass when I get back. I think he’d like it if we all played nice and tried to get along. It’s about time that I let the baby birds stretch their wings a bit.”</span> (Cont.)
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Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sun 03 Dec 2023 21:25:00 No. 5853072 Report Quoted By:
<span class="mu-r">“It’s never easy to let the baby birds leave the nest, but at least they’ll know that they can always come back when things get too hard. You’ve still got a role to play in all this. And it’s a really important one. Glass isn’t the only one that they have to look up to.”</span> Callisto gave you a thoughtful look. <span class="mu-g">“Someone to look up to, huh? I don’t know if I’ve ever tried to be a role model. I don’t think I’d be very good at it. I’m not all bright, clean and shiny like Glass is, and I’m not a looker like Summers.”</span> <span class="mu-r">“Do you have a crush on Cyclops?”</span> Callisto folded her arms and raised an eyebrow at you. <span class="mu-g">“Are you serious? I don’t particularly like the guy, but you can’t deny that he’s hot. Seriously, he claims to be some Mutant outcast, while looking like a model fresh out of a photoshoot for Time Magazine.”</span> You guess she had a point. A lot of the premiere X-Men are drop-dead gorgeous. <span class="mu-r">“Never mind that. I think more people look up to you than you might think. And I think you’d have more Mutants on your side if you just gave them the chance to get to know you. You’re more than just a scary Octopus Lady that spends all her time in the sewers.”</span> Callisto’s smile was more genuine this time. There was a noticeable crack in her tough, intimidating exterior, and it really felt like you were starting to get to know the softer, mushier side of the Sewer Queen. <span class="mu-g">“That might be the nicest thing I’ve heard all week. I’m sure Glass will manage to say something even cheesier when I talk this over with him, though, so try not to get too attached to that particular achievement.”</span> You nodded. <span class="mu-r">“No, that’s fair. If I was in an ‘altruistic monologuing’ contest and my opponent was Glass, I think I’d bow out.”</span> —---- As the day came to a close, you and Callisto took the long way back to the closest sewer entrance relative to the Alley’s location. And along the way, the two of you spoke lightly about events and concepts that were far heavier than anyone around you could have known. You spoke of what it meant to be a leader, and a role model. And while neither of you thought that you were doing particularly well in that department, you both knew what it meant for others to rely on you. Speaking of, you remembered that you’d promised to visit your brother and nephew after this. You should bring a gift on the way back to Vic’s house. Rich was probably going to be cranky about something involving your recent activities, as usual, but you were certain that Peter was going to be thrilled to see you again. And as long as they were all safe and happy, that was all that mattered. (To be continued…)
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Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Sun 03 Dec 2023 21:30:29 No. 5853082 Report And that'll be it for now! We're starting to get to some of the story beats that I've been eagerly anticipating for some time now, and I'm excited to see how the Huntsman confronts some of the changes that have been slowly taking place throughout the city. I can't say much more without spoiling my plans, but I can answer some of your questions, so long as it doesn't veer too far into spoiler territory. Are there any things that you guys would like to see? Is there anything about the way that story is developing that you don't particularly like? Anything you do like? Let me know while this thread is still up, because I'll be archiving it by tomorrow. The next thread should be up by Wednesday evening. Until then, I hope you all enjoy the rest of your day! Thanks for playing, and I'll see you soon!
Anonymous
>>5853082 I’m glad Callisto made the Magneto/Xavier connection. I didn’t in spite of how appropriate it was.
I am wondering how the community split will blow up in their faces. Both groups at least have leaders who like each other and believe in their respective visions, which is better than what Callisto and Glass/Iara were proposing initially. Though you can’t answer that without spoilers so I’ll have to wait.
For what I’ve liked, I’ve always had a soft spot for Morlock shenanigans and the stress wasn’t as bad as the Silvertongue arc due to more space between issues. Though what happened to Iara is (I think) the biggest “failure” we’ve had.
I would like to get back involved with more crime though. We’ve been putting off Silvermane for a while now and the crises we’ve been facing have made us end up going almost straight-hero. I think that’s more on us anons than you though.
Next arc or the one after for potential Cindy vs. Huntsman shenanigans? Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Mon 04 Dec 2023 19:50:47 No. 5854055 Report Quoted By:
>>5853201 I will admit, Ben's gotten more invested in Mutant politics than I ever could've expected when I first introduced Callisto. He's been making more friends and acquaintances than enemies as of late.
You anons are welcome to be as good, evil or morally ambiguous as you want. But don't be surprised if the people who you've befriended don't like what you've been up to. They will only forgive so much.
Depending on your actions, there's a good chance that something might happen in the next, next arc. Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky
Scorekeeper !!urZ1qzDpXky ID:CH+EQXQ4 Mon 04 Dec 2023 19:55:13 No. 5854062 Report Quoted By: