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You weren’t sure what to expect when you finally linked up with Glass in Central Park, but you were pretty sure you were looking at the makings of a protest. There weren’t any picket signs or blaring megaphones yet, but from the way the agitated city goers were complaining to the police, you were convinced that it was only a matter of time until things escalated to that level.

Mutant resentment was still high after the Stamford Incident, after all. Though over the years, the topic had become significantly less raw. The number of openly hateful anti-Mutant groups had more or less dissolved or faded into obscurity, and the police were no longer conducting raids to wrongfully detain and imprison people like Callisto.

You never properly understood any of the irrational mutant hate in the first place. Sure, people like Magneto and Apocalypse were undoubtedly a danger to each and every human on the planet. They, and a few others like them were walking genocides waiting to happen. But so were many other Mutates that lived in this very city.

For some reason, the absence of the X-Gene made people feel so much safer around those with enough power to crush cities, and even whole entire civilizations. Despite all this, however, the Morlocks never claimed to be superior to every other human being like Magneto did. Their apparent oppression didn’t become their entire personality. It was just another thing they lived with, and they tried their very hardest to stay out of everyone else’s way, and instead built an entire underground community that went mostly undetected until recently. They, more than anyone else, probably thought of their mutations as nothing more than a curse or a burden.

But now, thanks to the influence of Glass and Iara, a decent chunk of the Morlock community had crawled out of the shadows and into the light where everyone could see. And just as Callisto had expected, there weren’t a whole lot of people that were happy with that. Especially when said Mutant community had built their new home on public property.

You weren’t especially worried about the Morlocks’ immediate safety, though. The general atmosphere was slowly growing unstable, but none of the officers in the area seemed willing to approach the park with all the giant plant monsters roaming the grounds.

With the help of Donny, Esther, Nature Girl and Mantis, these gargantuan creatures were created to protect the Morlocks from Doom’s robot army. And it would seem that they proved an equally effective deterrent from trespassers and cops.

The overgrown weeds weren’t doing anything overtly threatening, but no one wanted to go near them.

(Cont.)

What will you do?

>Fly down to the cops and try to convince them to disperse the crowd.
>Say a few words to calm this agitated mob.
>Swing on over to Glass and the other topsiders. Maybe you can get them to tell the plant monsters to stand down.
>Walk over to the plant monsters and show everyone that they aren’t dangerous to anyone that they don’t deem a threat.
>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

>>5949187
>>Say a few words to calm this agitated mob.

>>5949187
>>Fly down to the cops and try to convince them to disperse the crowd.
>Say a few words to calm this agitated mob.

>>5949187
>Fly down to the cops and try to convince them to disperse the crowd.
>Say a few words to calm this agitated mob.
Hey, anyone worried about crime can stick close to the magic beanstalks. Who’s going to try anything here when the plants can just stomp on them?

>>5949192
>>5949211
>>5949254
>Fly down to the cops and try to convince them to disperse the crowd.
>Say a few words to calm this agitated mob.

Taking these. Writing...

The entire affair was interrupted by you suddenly dropping out of the sky, drawing every eye in the crowd. Several officers reached for their guns, but they froze when they noticed you weren't making any sudden moves after your arrival.

Not that you were worried. These guys couldn't hit you even if you gave them pointers.

“Awful early to be raising this much of a fuss, isn't it? And I haven't even had my morning coffee yet.”

“And who the hell are you supposed to be?” asked a bald, pudgy man in front.

“I think that's that Spider-Guy from the news.” another man beside him suggested.

“I can never tell. These capes are always changing outfits and identities.” the bald man groused.

“Close, but no cigar. He's my evil twin.” you boldly declared.

“I guess the Bugle was telling the truth after all...” someone said with a gasp.

“Wait a minute. Didn't you rob a bank with White Rabbit a while back?” one of the cops asked, narrowing their eyes at you in suspicion.

“I can see how you might come to that conclusion. But keep in mind that I also helped the Fantastic Four save the city from Doom and Arcade, so maybe cut me some slack?”

That didn't seem to make them any less suspicious, but you would take “on edge” over “outright hostile” any day of the week.

“You're all angry about the Mutants, right?” you asked, turning to address the crowd.

All at once, they started to complain, openly, and in some cases, very, very loudly.

“They can’t just decide to start living in the park and call it their home. That park belongs to everyone!” an older man said.

The others echoed their agreement.

“How're we supposed to feel safe with those monsters roaming around in the open?” another woman asked.

What will you say?

>”I'll tell them to do something about the plant monsters, but they're only there to protect them. I'm sure they can be persuaded to protect you all too, so long as you behave yourselves.”
>”The only reason they're squatting in the park is because they're all homeless. This city's been neglecting them, and now you're trying to treat them like garbage that needs to be cleaned up.”
>”The Mutants can't leave. That giant tree up there is alive, and they're not about to abandon it.”
>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

>>5949426
>>”The only reason they're squatting in the park is because they're all homeless. This city's been neglecting them, and now you're trying to treat them like garbage that needs to be cleaned up.”

>>5949426
>“I suppose they are pretty scary if you’re a Doombot. None of you are Doombots, right? Just… want to make sure.”
>“So has anyone tried talking to them yet? They’re not exactly stopping anyone from doing it after all.”

>>5949426
>”The only reason they're squatting in the park is because they're all homeless. This city's been neglecting them, and now you're trying to treat them like garbage that needs to be cleaned up.”
>"And those monsters are only here in case somebody decides to roll up and start threatening them...which you're kinda doing right now. Seriously, some of you guys need to leave and cool off."

I’m thinking after speaking with the Crowd and Glass/Iara we call Anna and ask here how much she has in stock for the next few days, buy all of it, and tell her to start handing out free meals to everyone… with her truck parked firmly in Central Park newr the mutants. If she knows any other vendors well she can bring a couple in for the same deal on later days.

Basically everyone likes free food, and it’ll lead to people interacting with mutants instead of fearmongering from a distance.

Bonus points if the mutants can make tables (plant-based chairs and tables?) and anyone who wants the free food has to sit at them and place an order like an outdoor cafe. Limit the number of tables so most people have to sit with others they don’t know and more people will start talking while waiting for food.

>>5949442
>>5949532
>>5949601
>“I suppose they are pretty scary if you’re a Doombot. None of you are Doombots, right? Just… want to make sure.”
>”The only reason they're squatting in the park is because they're all homeless. This city's been neglecting them, and now you're trying to treat them like garbage that needs to be cleaned up.”

Taking these. Writing...

>>5949788
An interesting idea!

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1.82 MB JPG

“I suppose they are pretty scary if you’re a Doombot. None of you are Doombots, right?”

Everyone just stared blankly at you, and then around at each other.

“Just wanted to make sure. Anyway, the only reason they’re squatting in the park is because they’re all homeless. This city’s been neglecting them, and now you’re trying to treat them like garbage that needs to be cleaned up.”

Some of the people there had the decency to look mildly ashamed, but most of them didn't appear to display any signs of guilt.

“The DHS handles that. We have no control over whether anyone in there holds down a job or owns a home.” said a cop that stepped forward to address you. “And since there aren’t a whole lot of shelters that’ll take them in, I think we would do better to contact the X-Men about this.”

“Yeah, let them handle this.” another woman chorused.

This conversation wasn’t going anywhere productive. And seeing as how the cops weren't doing anything to disperse the crowd…

Just as you thought that, the crowd suddenly parted to allow a towering blonde woman with a golden shield to walk to the forefront. She froze when she saw you.

“Huntsman? What're you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing, ‘Bastion’.”

Right about now, Gwen Stacy was a sight for sore eyes. Especially when she was wearing her custom tailored, form-fitting S.H.I.E.L.D. uniform. Her impressive musculature and enviable figure was on full display for everyone to see. And from the way she was fidgeting, you suspected that she wasn’t entirely used to wearing it.

“I asked my dad to meet me here. I heard that W was sleeping outside in Central Park, and I wanted the two of them to meet.”

“Her name’s Joyce now.” you corrected her.

A slight smile crept onto Gwen’s face.

“‘Joyce’. That’s a nice name.”

“A friend of ours picked it out.” you said, trying not to let your thoughts drift back to Iara.

“What’s S.H.I.E.L.D. doing poking their noses around here?” asked a man with short dark hair and a nose that looked to be twice-broken.

“That’s for Captain Stacy to know. He’ll be here shortly.” Gwen answered coolly.

“Wait…aren’t you his daughter?” said a female cop, her eyes widening with the sudden realization. “Gwen, right? I barely recognized you for a second there. You’ve really grown up.”

“Hey there, Officer Dean. Long time no see.”

“Damn, kid. What’s George been feeding you?” said the cop who’d approached you before.

“A regular diet of tough love and proverbial old-man wisdom.” Gwen said with a smirk.

That earned a laugh from the others. Gwen didn’t seem terribly bothered that her cover had been blown, but then again, she never chose to wear a mask.

(Cont.)

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After a few more seconds of light banter, Gwen seemed to remember where she was, and turned to address the crowd. They were all staring at her.

“Excuse me! I need you all to clear out of here. We’re here on official S.H.I.E.L.D. business.” she declared in a booming, authoritative voice. To your surprise, she included you when she gestured to the entire group.

“If you have any complaints, I’d suggest that you file them through the proper channels.” she advised.

“And what would that be?” the bald man asked.

“I don’t know, man. Go home and google it or something.” Gwen said dismissively, shooing him away with her hands.

The man visibly chafed at that, but no one seemed to want to openly argue with her on the topic. Slowly, the crowd dispersed and broke off into little groups, still grumbling and discussing the issue amongst themselves as they did so.

The cops gave Gwen a grateful look.

“Look at you. Taking charge and flaunting your rank.” you said, nudging her in the ribs.

“I’m not even sure what my rank is. But, everyone more or less respects the uniform.”

“I’d like to know just how you earned that uniform.” Officer Dean said.

Gwen cleared her throat

“It’s…kind of a long story. And I don’t know if I have enough time to really get into it before my da–’Captain Stacy’ gets here.”

She gave you a meaningful look at that.

>”What? Is there something on my face? Is my mask on backwards?”
>”You’re probably gonna want some privacy when your dad gets here. I bet that’s gonna be a real awkward conversation. (Stay right where you are.)
>”Do you like my new suit? I’m digging yours too, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t hoping that you’d come up with something a little more…unique.”
>”How much does the Captain know about the situation? Do you think he’ll take it well?”
>"Ooh! Can I tell it? I weave a pretty good yarn if I do say so myself."
>”Say no more. I’ll go tell the others that you and your dad will be dropping by.” (Swing on into Central Park to find the Morlocks.)
>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

>>5950454
>"glad to hear you're talking to your dad again. Last I knew was you still keeping it a secret, but I haven't had much of a chance to pry into your private life, so I don't know how outdated that Intel was."
>"How's that going for you?"
>”but you'll probably want some privacy. I’ll go tell the others that you and your dad will be dropping by.”
>"I'll give Joyce the heads up too."

>>5950454
>>”Say no more. I’ll go tell the others that you and your dad will be dropping by.” (Swing on into Central Park to find the Morlocks.)

>>5950454
>”I think there’s an automatic promotion clause in all S.H.I.E.L.D. contracts if you were ever key to beating Doctor Doom’s face. But yeah, the full story could easily be a TV or comic series.”
>”Gwen, have you given any thought to what happens if Joyce wants to stay here? The Morlocks didn’t need a reason to look after her even though she’s not a mutant. After hearing the crowd she knows how unfair it all is.”
>”I’ll head on in and talk with everyone. If Joyce hasn’t heard everything yet I’ll let her know so she doesn’t give you a knee-jerk reaction.”

Pretty sure Gwen is going to see if her dad will take in Joyce. I’m sure she’s thought a lot about how to convince her dad about that since she knows him, but I’m less sure she’s thought a lot about how to convince Joyce that leaving the Morlocks so easily isn’t somehow betraying them.

She doesn’t have an X-gene, so they could have been assholes and kept her out. They didn’t, yet none of them will have the option of getting to be “normal” anytime soon.

>>5950454
>”How much does the Captain know about the situation? Do you think he’ll take it well?”
>"Do you want me here? For moral support I mean."

>>5950454
>>5950706
I’ll support this as well. If she wants us to keep serious and support her then I’d ditch the “talk to Joyce” part of my vote since we wouldn’t leave yet, but if she refuses then what I voted for is still valid.

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“How much does the Captain know about the situation? Do you think he’ll take it well?”

Gwen inhaled deeply before answering.

“I explained it as best as I could without the two of them meeting in person. I don’t know how much he understands exactly, but what I do know is that Professor Warren shouldn’t show his face anywhere near my dad for a while. Pandora should keep a close eye on him.”

“Do you want me here? For moral support, I mean.”

Gwen gave you a warm smile and shook her head.

“No. I appreciate it, but…you should prepare Joyce for what’s about to happen. Meeting your biological dad is kind of a big deal.”

You gave her a slow nod and patted her on the shoulder. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw the cops giving you strange looks.

“Alright. I’ll go warn the Morlocks. Sit tight.”

You stepped back a few feet, and flew up into the air, a shroud of emerald flame wrapping around your body and propelling you towards Central Park. The roaming plant monsters glanced up at you as you passed over them. The dog-like ones didn’t give chase, but you weren’t paying them any mind at the moment.

The sight of Central Park in its current incarnation took your breath away. Donny had grown so large that he could easily be seen from outside the park. He towered over the other trees, and he had various sloping branches and a network of sturdy vines running all throughout the park.

And in the distance, you thought you could see a familiar, antlered figure using her powers to create a rather impressive treehouse.

“Hi Ben!”

Your head whipped around as you felt for your spider-sense, and you immediately calmed down when you realized it was only Iara flying up behind you. She flashed her teeth in a dazzling smile and waved at you.

“Sorry. Did I scare you?”

“Of course not. Who would be afraid of seeing a flying shark lady coming at them from behind? Not me. Nope.”

Iara cackled at that.

“Relax, old chum! I don’t take a bite out of my friends.” she proudly declared.

“‘Old chum’? Was that a fish pun? Are you making fish puns now?”

“That one might not have been particularly fresh, but I’ve got more.”

“We might have to lock those jokes in a chest and send them back down to the murky depths from which they came.”

“Glass thinks they’re funny.” she claimed.

You were pretty sure that he was just being nice, but you didn’t have the heart to tell her.

“I’m glad you two found each other, then. Are you a member of the welcoming committee?”

Iara chuckled.

“No, silly. I came here to warn you about the flying murder birds. I also REALLY wanted to see you!”

“Wait, go back a bit. What was that about the murder birds?” you asked, scanning the area with a bit more urgency now.

(Cont.)

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Iara just pointed at a spot beside Donny where a group of flying creatures were turning to follow you. They had three sets of wings. The two larger ones were made of palm leaves, while the smaller set were made of densely packed, smaller leaves. Their beaks were brown and fuzzy, like coconut shells, and their teeth were dull and shiny, like polished rocks. But what really alarmed you was the sheer amount of limbs they had. They looked like sharp, gnarled branches, and they twitched periodically like the legs of a squashed insect.

“I’m glad you’re the one that found me first. You guys are really diversifying the ecosystem around here.”

“I know! Isn’t it great? It’s so much better than living in the sewers!” Iara said, performing an open-armed barrel roll that nearly caused her to bump into you.

But, you couldn’t deny that she had a point. Out here, the Morlocks looked so happy and free. With Nature Girl’s influence, the plants on the outer ring of the park had grown thick to the point where it obscured much of what happened on the inside. It wasn’t impossible to cross over to the other side, but an uninvited guest would find themselves hard pressed to enter the property without alerting Nature Girl or one of her many attack dogs.

There haven't been any incidents so far, but that could quickly change if someone tried to do something stupid. You would have to talk to Nature Girl before that happened.

“It looks amazing. I’d love to get a tour later, but I’m in a bit of a hurry right now. Do you know where Joyce is?”

Iara nodded.

“Sure do. Follow me!”

In an instant, Iara accelerated to the point of becoming a blur in your eyes. Which was saying something, because you prided yourself in your kinetic vision. You gave yourself a little boost with your flames, but you were careful to extinguish them before you got too close to the trees.

You went into freefall until you were low enough to latch onto a tree with a webline. Then, you swung down and up, launching yourself towards Iara as she effortlessly wove between the trees leading up to a grove of gossamer. On the opposite end of the park, the trees had all turned white, and you quickly realized that this had all been Joyce’s doing.

There were dozens of tiny little spiders crawling in and around the trees, their multitude of unblinking eyes regarding you silently.

“I think the arachnophobes are gonna have to find a different park to play in. We should probably put up a sign.” you muttered.

Then, without warning, Iara opened her mouth wide and started screaming at the top of her lungs.

“HEY JOYCE! COME OUT COME OUT WHEREVER YOU—oh, you’re right here.”

You turned to find Joyce hanging upside down in a web of her own making, spiders crawling all over her.

“Look who it is!” Iara said, gesturing at you as you massaged your ringing ears.

(Cont.)

Joyce’s spiders went completely still when her eyes shot open, and she flipped over until her bare hands and feet were resting atop her web.

“Ben!”

“It’s Ben!” Iara agreed.

“Hey, Joyce. How’s everyth-”

You were cut off by Joyce pouncing on you. Your hand slipped from where it had been adhering to a nearby tree, and the two of you tumbled to the ground. Joyce’s smiling face was looming over yours, her other limbs pinning you to the ground. There wasn’t any real weight or strength behind it, though. You could throw her off if you really wanted to.

What will you say?

>”You’re a lot more friendly than I remember you being when we first met.”
>”Is this supposed to be your territory? I like what you’ve done with the place. Very minimalist.”
>”Hey, Joy. Your dad’s coming to see you. Your biological dad. Would you like to meet him?”
>”Okay, I don’t want you to freak out, but I think Gwen’s going to ask you to come live with her dad. But something tells me you don’t want to do that. If you want, I can help explain the situation to him.”
>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

>>5951165
>"Good to see you too Joy."
>”Is this supposed to be your territory? I like what you’ve done with the place. Very minimalist.”
>"So uh, who are your eight legged friends? Any Do's and Don'ts around them?"
>”Your dad’s coming to see you. Your biological dad. Would you like to meet him?”

>>5951165
>"I've seen enough Lion King where this is going."
>"Good to see you too Joy."
pause her, feels like she has something to tell us?
>"Just as a heads up. Gwen's dad, her biological dad is coming to see you. I don't know he thinks you are to him, or what you think he is to you, but he raised Gwen and she turned out to be a good person, so I'd think he's a good one too."

>>5951165
I like both write-ins, so I’ll shamelessly steal both in my own.
>"I've seen enough Lion King where this is going."
>"Good to see you too Joy."
Let her respond talk a bit on whatever she wants if she has something, then
>”Iara, there’s going to be a couple other visitors soon, one of them being Gwen. Can you or Glass intercept and sidetrack them for a bit? I want to tell Joy about why they’re coming and give her time to think on it.”
Pretty sure Glass or Iara can hold them up by talking about rules in the camp and give some background on who they are and why they’re here. We’ll want the time.
>”Is this supposed to be your territory? I like what you’ve done with the place. Very minimalist.”
>"So uh, who are your eight legged friends? Any Do's and Don'ts around them?"
>”I ran into Gwen on the way over here and talked with her a bit. She heard you were living out here in Central Park and was worried about you, so she’s having her dad swing by to talk with you. Your dad too, even if that’s weird to think.”
>”Seemed like a good idea to swing ahead of them, let you connect the dots, and see what your first, second, and third feelings on it are. Without anyone else to fill in how they think you should feel.”
I don’t want her blindsided on why they’re visiting, but I also don’t want to imply a “correct” course of action for how to approach it. Just feel her thoughts out and be a sounding board if needed.

>>5951192
>>5951308
Is this a good enough compromise for all three of us?

>>5951308
>pause her
i meant to write "here"

>>5951446
I actually specifically don't want to call captain Stacy her dad.

>>5951455
I’d be willing to drop that part if the part about him still being Gwen’s dad remains so she can try and piece the potential argument on it together herself. I’m guessing we’re on the same page that whether Joyce really considers him a “dad” is entirely up to her?

I brought it up since I don’t see it as a big deal if she tries to bite our head off for implying she doesn’t already have a dad in Warren. We won’t push the issue, but Gwen or her dad might. God forbid one of them tries to suggest Gwen’s dad will be better than Warren was. That wouldn’t end well if Joyce is already off-balance from the revelation.

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>>5951192
>>5951308
>>5951446
>>5951462
>"I've seen enough Lion King where this is going."
>"Good to see you too Joy."
pause
>”Is this supposed to be your territory? I like what you’ve done with the place. Very minimalist.”
>"So uh, who are your eight legged friends? Any Do's and Don'ts around them?"
pause
>”Iara, there’s going to be a couple other visitors soon, one of them being Gwen. Can you or Glass intercept and sidetrack them for a bit? I want to tell Joy about why they’re coming and give her time to think on it.”
pause
>”I ran into Gwen on the way over here and talked with her a bit. She heard you were living out here in Central Park and was worried about you, so she’s having someone close to her swing by to talk with you.”
>”Seemed like a good idea to swing ahead of them, let you connect the dots, and see what your first, second, and third feelings on it were. Without anyone else to tell you how they think you should feel, I mean.”

Nice write-ins today, guys. Writing...

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“I’ve seen enough of The Lion King to know where this is going.”

Joyce, not understanding the reference, blinked at you in confusion.

“Which king is that? Is this another history lesson?” she asked.

“And now I know what movie we’re watching next time. It’s good to see you too, Joy.”

Noticing your discomfort, she crawled off of you and offered you a hand up. You took it, knowing full well that her superhuman strength made her more than capable of lifting your weight with one hand.

“You okay?”

“Are you kidding? Compared to the hits I took last night, that barely registered.” you said with a groan.

“Did you come to hang? We can hang together.” Joy said, pointing up at the web she just jumped out of. “The wind feels nice up here, and it smells better.”

Currently, the wind was catching in her webbed trees, filling them like sails as they blew through the spider infested web sacs.

“Is this supposed to be your territory? I like what you've done with the place. Very minimalist.”

Joyce gave you a proud smile.

“Really? Because everyone other than Nature Girl thinks it's suuuper gross!” Iara put in.

Joyce's smile slipped, and to your surprise, she flipped Iara off. You were unsure of whether you should be concerned or not, considering how Joy was a grown woman in the physical sense. Iara, on the other hand, seemed delighted by her friend's reaction.

“Uh-oh! Someone's been spending too much time with Callisto.” Iara said, cackling to herself.

It was during times like this that she really resembled her old self.

“So, uh…who are your eight legged friends? Are there any Dos and Don’ts that I should know about while I’m around them?” you asked, gesturing at a particularly hairy one that was crawling near your foot.

”Don’t step on them. Don’t squash them. Don’t squeeze them too hard.” Joyce said, listing the rules off on her fingers.

“‘Don’t squeeze them’? Like, when I hold them in my hands, you mean?”

Joyce shook her head.

“No. When you hug and pet them.” she explained, wrapping her arms around herself.

You stared at her, but she was absolutely serious. Behind her, Iara made a gagging gesture. And despite having her back to her, Joyce seemed to notice what she was doing. A moment later, a large hairy spider fell right on top of Iara’s head.

The shark girl yelped and reached up to grab the pest.

“C'mon, Joy! Not in my hair!”

Interestingly, she was very careful not to crush the spider when she swatted it away.

“I'll try to watch where I step.” you promised. “But if you can, try to keep them away from my feet.”

Joy nodded. Almost immediately, the spider near your feet suddenly lost interest and crawled towards a nearby tree.

(Cont.)

“Thanks. Iara, there's going to be a couple of other visitors, one of them being Gwen. Can you or Glass intercept and sidetrack them for a bit? I want to tell Joy why they’re coming and give her some time to think about it.”

Iara stopped running her fingers through her hair and turned to stare at you.

“Fine. I was getting bored of staying here anyway.” she claimed, before floating up and out of the trees. A few moments later, you heard what you thought was a minor sonic boom.

After you were sure that she was gone, you returned your attention to Joy. She, and a spider on her shoulder were giving you concerned looks.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“I ran into Gwen on the way over and talked with her for a bit. She heard you were living out here in Central Park and she got worried. So, she asked someone close to her to come out and talk to you.” you explained. “Seemed like a good idea to swing ahead of them, let you connect the dots, and see what your first, second and third feelings on it were. Without anyone else telling you how they think you should feel, I mean.”

Joyce frowned at that.

“Say what you mean. You’re not making any sense.”

What will you say/do?

>”I think Gwen wants to make sure that you have a roof over your head. She just wants you to stay safe.”
>”Gwen’s bringing her father to talk to you. And since he’s her biological parent and you share her DNA, that sort of makes you his daughter too. Having two dads can be kind of fun, if you’re open to the idea.”
>”It’s better if you find out for yourself. No matter what happens, though, I only ask that you listen to what they have to say before you respond.”
>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

>>5951777
>”It’s better if you find out for yourself. No matter what happens, though, I only ask that you listen to what they have to say before you respond.”

>>5951777
>”I think Gwen wants to make sure that you have a roof over your head, and is reaching out to her family to make that happen. Just listen to what they have to say and be patient responding to them.”

>>5951777
>>”Gwen’s bringing her father to talk to you. And since he’s her biological parent and you share her DNA, that sort of makes you his daughter too. Having two dads can be kind of fun, if you’re open to the idea.”

>>5951853
>>>”Gwen’s bringing her father to talk to you. And since he’s her biological parent and you share her DNA, that sort of makes you, genetically, his daughter too.”
>”I think Gwen and her father want to make sure that you have a roof over your head."

>>5951817
>>5951853
>>5952097
>”I think Gwen and her father want to make sure that you have a roof over your head."
>”Gwen’s bringing her father to talk to you. And since he’s her biological parent and you share her DNA, that sort of makes you, genetically, his daughter too.”

Taking these. I'll post an update as soon as I get an opportunity.

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“Gwen’s bringing her father to talk to you. And since he’s her biological parent and you share her DNA, that sort of makes you, genetically, his daughter too.”

Joyce took a moment to digest that. She didn’t gasp or make any other kind of shocked expression. She simply lowered her gaze and fell silent. After she hadn’t spoken for an entire minute, you considered asking if she was alright. But she spoke before you even got a chance.

“What does he want?”

“I think Gwen and her father want to make sure that you have a roof over your head.” you said.

“Nature Girl does that already. She and Donny are making treehouses for us.” she argued.

She wasn’t exactly wrong.

“I think they’d be able to explain things better, but I wanted to give you a moment to collect your thoughts before we went. That’s why I sent Iara ahead to intercept them.”

Joy closed her eyes and placed a gray spider on her shoulder.

“She’s talking to them now. Glass is somewhere else talking to a woman. I don’t know her. She doesn’t look like a Morlock, though.”

Someone who wasn’t a Morlock? How’d they make it past the plant monsters?

“He looks old.”

“Huh?”

“Gwen’s father.”

“I wouldn’t recommend saying that to his face.” you advised.

Joy’s eyebrows drew together, her eyes still closed.

“I can’t hear anything from here. I need to get closer. Do you think he’d notice if I snuck a spider onto him?”

“I wouldn’t try it. Your little friend might get squished.”

That seemed to trouble Joy, and she opened her eyes once more.

“Fine. Let’s go talk to him.”

“Are you sure you don’t need a moment?”

Joy shook her head.

“I don’t think it’ll get any easier if I wait. I’ll just keep worrying about it.”

“If that’s how you feel…”

“It is.” she said plainly, walking off in the direction of Gwen and her dad.

You hoped she retained her even temperament throughout this entire encounter, but even you knew that would be asking for too much.

—-------

Several minutes later, you and Joy swung over to where Iara was flying circles around the Stacy’s. Both of them looked rather confused by the presence of the flying shark girl, but they all stopped and stared when they noticed you approaching.

“Oh, thank god…” the man muttered.

Just as Joy had described, George Stacy appeared to be an aged man at first glance. His hair was graying, but it wasn’t thinning. Nor was his hairline receding. But since you didn’t know exactly how old he really was, you couldn’t say whether he was in good shape or not. But he did cut a decent figure in that navy blue suit.

As you examined him, you caught him scrutinizing you in return. There was more than a little suspicion in his gaze, but you assumed that Gwen informed him of your deeds before they entered the park.

(Cont.)

File: 5713753-stacy.jpg (52 KB, 354x622)

52 KB JPG

“Are you Joyce?” he asked, ignoring you in favor of his daughter’s clone.

She nodded.

George let out an incredulous laugh and ran a hand through his hair.

“My god. You really do look alike. She’s got your eyes, Gwen. You could be twins.” he said, shaking his head in disbelief.

Joyce just stared back at him.

“Yeah, that’s how clones work, dad.” Gwen said, walking up to stand beside her dad.

“Joy, this is my dad, George Stacy. I brought him here because…well, he’s sort of your dad too. You deserve a chance to get to know your dad, even if you don’t have any memories of him.”

Joyce frowned at that.

“I already have a dad.” she murmured.

Now it was George’s turn to frown. Gwen gave him a warning look.

“You mean that ‘Miles Warren’ fella? The guy who…’created’ you, right?”

Joyce nodded.

“That man may have created you, Joyce, but he is not your father. He created you without any memories, spliced your DNA with a damn spider. Who in their right mind would do that to their own daughter?”

Her frown transformed into a full-on scowl. At this point, Iara, who had been hovering nearby in the background, was slowly and silently floating further and further away.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about. He cares about me. He loves me.”

“Then where is he? Why isn’t he here while you’re living in a park without any shoes?” George asked, gesturing at her bare feet.

You cleared your throat to attract George’s attention.

“That’s more a choice than a necessity, actually. She doesn’t like shoes very much.”

He opened his mouth to respond, but Joyce just about jumped down his throat before anyone could say anything else.

“And where were you!? I don’t even know you!”

George blinked in surprise, not expecting such a heated response from the woman.

“I…I’m sorry, kid. If I’d known-”

“Warren and Abe taught me pretty much everything I know. And the Morlocks have been taking good care of me. I’ve been getting along just fine without you. I don’t need another dad.”

George seemed to be at a loss for words, so Gwen stepped in this time.

“Joy. Professor Warren may have fed you, clothed you and taught you, but he’s deprived you of literally every good memory we’ve ever had. You were born into this world with nothing, and you deserved so much more than Warren was capable of giving you.”

Joyce’s expression softened a bit when she spoke to Gwen, but only a bit.

“I don’t need anything else. I’m fine.” she proclaimed.

“You talk to spiders, Joyce!” Gwen said in a hushed tone. “You literally didn’t have a childhood, you don’t have any history, and you’re not even a year old yet.”

Joyce averted her gaze, her fingers digging into her palms as she clenched her fists tightly.

“Hey, ease up on her.” you warned.

(Cont.)

Both Stacy’s had the decency to look ashamed. Gwen took a deep breath before continuing, but Joyce didn’t look like she was willing to let go of her anger and frustration just yet.

“We’re sorry, Joy. We were out of line. My feelings on…your dad are still a little complicated.” Gwen admitted.

What will you do/say?

>”You and Joyce are different people, Gwen. I understand that you want to help her, but you have to consider her feelings too.”
>”You'd better apologize too, George. Unless you want an army of spiders crawling into that expensive suit of yours."
>”Why don’t we take this conversation somewhere else. I know a good stress-free environment where we can all talk and unwind.”(Write-in.)
>Remain silent and let them talk.
>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

>>5953496
>”Why don’t we take this conversation somewhere else. I know a good stress-free environment where we can all talk and unwind.”(Write-in.)
>"We could take a walk down to Wagner's Cove. Wonderful view of the lake, and it should be empty right now."

>”Gwen and Joyce are different people. I understand that you want to help her, but you have to consider her feelings too.”
>"I think you started off on the wrong foot here. Joyce already has a support network of people she trusts, and if you want to get in you kinda can't demean the people who are already in it."
>”Why don’t we take this conversation somewhere else. I know a good stress-free environment where we can all talk and unwind.”(Write-in.)
>"We could take a walk down to Wagner's Cove. Wonderful view of the lake, and it should be empty right now."

>>5953496
>>5953642
Supporting. On the way over I’d ask something like
>”So how many people do you know with experience raising powered kids? Personally, that is. Seems like you’d be wanting their advice.”
I’d love to mention later we know some people they can talk with if they admit they don’t, and laugh when we lead them back to the Morlocks afterward and start making introductions.

They ARE the most experienced group we know…

>>5953520
>>5953642
>>5953963
>”Gwen and Joyce are different people. I understand that you want to help her, but you have to consider her feelings too.”
>"I think you started off on the wrong foot here. Joyce already has a support network of people she trusts, and if you want to get in you kinda can't demean the people who are already in it."
>”Why don’t we take this conversation somewhere else. I know a good stress-free environment where we can all talk and unwind.”(Write-in.)
>"We could take a walk down to Wagner's Cove. Wonderful view of the lake, and it should be empty right now."
>”So how many people do you know with experience raising powered kids? Personally, that is. Seems like you’d be wanting their advice.”

Taking these. Writing...

File: Wagner-Cove-Central-Park-(...).jpg (5.52 MB, 2400x1600)

5.52 MB JPG

“Gwen and Joyce are different people. I understand that you want to help her, but you have to consider her feelings too.” you said, stepping up to stand beside Joy.

Both Stacy’s turned to regard you.

“You’re the ‘Huntsman’, right? According to my daughter, you’ve helped her out more than a few times.” George said, but it felt more like a question.

You nodded.

“Yes, sir. I assure you that my intentions with your daughter are entirely wholesome. We’re just friends.” you said, giving him a thumbs up and a wink.

George narrowed his eyes at you, while Gwen was shaking her head.

“I should hope so. I also hope that the rumors and reports of your past associations and exploits are greatly exaggerated.”

You were about to tell him that they probably weren’t, but Gwen cut in before you could get into your checkered past.

“I’m sorry, but can we save this for later and get back on topic? This is about Joy.”

George folded his arms, giving you a mistrustful look. But he said nothing more and allowed you to continue.

“Right. Well, I think you started off on the wrong foot here. Joyce already has a support network of people she trusts. And if you want to be one of those people, then you probably shouldn’t demean the people who are.” you said, gesturing at the mutants who were milling about in the area.

Joyce nodded, her resentful gaze still fixed on Gwen’s dad. Both Stacy’s took this opportunity to properly take in their surroundings. They weren’t exactly surrounded, but they could see the mutants casting suspicious glances their way. Not only that, but the plant mutants seemed to be stalking them from the shadows.

It was less that they were non-mutants, and more so that they were recognizable authority figures. A police officer and a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. And they didn’t exactly do a good job of blending in.

At least you were a familiar face, so no one would bat an eye if you swung into their territory and started making a fool of yourself.

“Why don’t we take this conversation somewhere else?” you suggested. “I know a good stress-free environment where we can all talk and unwind. We could take a walk down to Wagner’s Cove. It’s got a wonderful view of the lake, and it should be empty now.”

“Sure. That sounds nice.” Gwen said, sounding hopeful.

Joy just shrugged, while George made a non-committal grunt. And since neither gave you an outright refusal, you decided to lead them to the cove before either one of them changed their minds.

On the way over, a few mutants tried to walk up and talk to you and Joyce. You politely let them know that you were a little busy at the moment, and sent them on their way. You felt particularly bad about shrugging off Ester, and you made a mental note to make it up to her later.


(Cont.)

Thankfully, you were correct in assuming that Wagner’s Cove would be quiet at this time of day. Some part of you was worried that the surface-dwelling Morlocks would be using the rowboats, but you supposed that it was still fairly early in the day.

The path was paved with flat, slate gray stones, and the nearby trees were still in the process of changing color. Fallen leaves crunched underfoot as you walked the path leading towards the wooden shelter, and the dark clouds that had been hanging over everyone’s heads momentarily cleared up when the lake came into view.

The way the morning light danced off of its slightly mossy, rippling surface. It was a truly beautiful sight. It was no wonder that this became a popular spot for wedding venues.

You only hoped that it was as good at uniting families as it was for young couples.

What will you do?

>Sit down on the wooden benches and let the Stacy’s talk things out.
>Invite them to go out on the rowboats. They only seat two, so the other two will be stuck with each other. (Joyce/Gwen/George)
>Help Joy create a nest around this part of the park. Maybe it'll make her feel more comfortable.
>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

>>5955805
>Sit down on the wooden benches and let the Stacy’s talk things out.

>>5955805
>Help Joy create a nest around this part of the park. Maybe it'll make her feel more comfortable.
Have her talk out her thoughts on what she’s looking for when she builds a nest (so Gwen’s dad can hear more about Joy thinks through things), and we’ll make sure we consider how “normal” people may use it too. Spider silk hammocks sound cozy and way more comfy than benches.

The Stacy family can take some more time to plan their attack as well.

>>5955805
>Help Joy create a nest around this part of the park. Maybe it'll make her feel more comfortable.
>Make it a point to ask Joyce what she looks for in a nest, meanwhile trying to add some touches for the less Spectacular individuals present.
Changing to this, seems to fun not to.

>>5955834
I’m hoping for hammocks, some elegant chairs, and a small dining table perfect for lunches with a pair of people or to serve tea to spiders in top hats.

I’m not sure if Joy’s web can harden enough to support those additions but ours certainly can.

>>5955840
Oh yeah, when this little pow-wow is over with, we should probably let Joyce (and Abe) in on our Super Web Diet.
That and we talk to her about our new Trapdoor Spider Style too. Seems like something she would have a unique insight on given her innately god-like Spider Senses.

>>5955805
>Help Joy create a nest around this part of the park. Maybe it'll make her feel more comfortable.
>"Joy, you know I trusted Warren with Iara's life, and I'd trust him with my own too. His expertise is outstanding."
>"However, besides the practical problems he gave me in associating with the Chameleon, I will never like him."
>"So, while I made them see your point, I also want you to understand where they are coming from."
>"Even at face value, cloning an adult woman you know without her memories so you can have her as your daughter... that's not normal behavior."
>"While being a clone puts no blame on you. Making a clone of somebody against their will or knowledge is an invasion of privacy and massive breach of trust."
>"And I said erlier I'd trust him with my life, right? Well, I don't trust him to respect my or your boundaries."
>"Abel wanted to get back into his genetical family, probably mostly because he had his memories. He can even call, you know... his 'template', as his brother. But that doesn't have to be your goal."
>"Whether or not you see them as such, they see you as family. Doesn't hurt to at least get to know them, right?"

I know I'm way to preachy, and probably don't get voted on, but I wanted to get my thoughts out

>>5955828
>>5955834
>Help Joy create a nest around this part of the park. Maybe it'll make her feel more comfortable.
>Make it a point to ask Joyce what she looks for in a nest, meanwhile trying to add some touches for the less Spectacular individuals present.

Taking these. Writing...

>>5956139
You make some very good points, though. Joyce is still relatively young and naive, so she hasn't devoted much time to critical thinking when it comes to her relationship with Warren.

File: Dxo6DDhUUAAFvqb.jpg (95 KB, 856x1300)

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You gestured at the wooden benches before you.

“Make yourselves comfortable. Me and Joy have got some work to do.”

Everyone gave you confused looks, even Joy. But her mood quickly turned when you leaned in to whisper your idea in her ear. She gave you a broad smile, then.

“What’re you-?”

Gwen never got to finish her sentence. You and Joy were already leaping into the trees, weaving a large, intricate web in record time. While Joy was more focused on making it as structurally sound as possible, you devoted your web-shaping talents to creating a set of fancy furniture.

You made a bunch of comfy hammocks, a couple of elegant-looking chairs, and even a big circular table for dinner parties. Ironically, the table gave you more trouble than the chairs. You never considered yourself to be much of a designer, but the ability to shape and harden your webs gave you the perfect opportunity to experiment with your craft in new and creative ways.

“What is this?” George asked, staring down at the chair you’d just made.

“It’s a chair, Captain Stacy. You use it for sitting.” you explained, not wanting to take your eyes off of the web-candelabra that you were in the process of making.

“It looks kind of stiff.” Gwen observed.

“Yeah, I didn’t get to add any padding yet.” you said, abandoning your current project and adding a couple dozen layers of soft silk that shouldn’t stick to their clothes.

Gwen was the first to break in the freshly made chair, not expressing nearly as much caution as you would’ve expected from her. George didn’t seem terribly pleased by her nonchalant attitude about the whole thing.

“Ooh! It’s kind of comfy.” Gwen said, leaning back a bit when she noticed you staring into her eyes from your upside down position.

“Thanks. I’m thinking of making a couple more when I get home. Maybe a web-beanbag or something? I’ll draw up some schematics later.”

George gave you a warning look, and you decided that that was enough teasing for now. By the time you returned to help Joyce, you found that she was already halfway finished, even without your help. Red, yellow, orange, brown and green leaves were carefully strewn about at an elevated angle, so that the sunlight filtering through would shine through the leaves and the gaps in the web strands. The improvised art-piece created a kaleidoscope of fall colors that left even Captain Stacy momentarily speechless.

That is, until Joy’s spiders descended to dangle above everyone’s heads. Gwen looked immediately sick, and George seemed to want nothing more than to squash them if they risked getting too close to him. Joy barely noticed, though. She was too caught up in her web-weaving, having temporarily forgotten her frustration at the Stacy’s.

(Cont.)

What will you do?

>”They’re not too bad once you get to know them. Try petting one. I’d suggest this especially hairy one over here.”
>”You guys should join us up here in the nest when we’re done. It’s sort of like a velcro wall, but with spider webs.”
>”Anyone got any requests? I can make balloon animals too.”
>Climb up to Joyce and have a word with her in private.
>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

>>5956740
>>Climb up to Joyce and have a word with her in private.
I'd push what I said here >>5956139 as always you're free to make changes to fit better
maybe I have luck getting it voted on earlier in the voting cycle

>>5956740
>”Anyone got any requests? I can make balloon animals too.”
>”You guys should join us up here in the nest when we’re done. It’s sort of like a velcro wall, but with spider webs.”
>"And really, don't mind the locals. They're just curious is all...right Joyce?"

Ugh. I think I’m well enough to think about write-ins.
>>5956139
>>5956997
I like the points. I want to take some different tacks that she’d hopefully understand better, but I’ll shoot for the same sentiment in my Joyce write-in.

>>5956740
>”Joyce learned Spiderese at some point. Her rules are to not step on or squash them and don’t hug them too hard. Kinda like cats. Spidercats?”
>*Mumble something about a marketing idea*
>"But really, don't mind the locals. They're just curious is all...right Joyce?"
>”Think of exterior decorating ideas while I help Joy finish up.”
>Climb up to Joyce and have a word with her in private.
>”Alright, I’ve chewed them out for not thinking things through when they’ve had plenty of time to learn better. I know they mean well though, and they don’t know you well enough to say some things right so I’m going to help them a bit.”
>”There should be consent between two people who have a kid. It’s not normal for people to feel nothing towards someone directly related to them, and raising kids takes a lot of time and attention and care so one parent shouldn’t be shouldering that.”
>”What your dad Warren did to have you isn’t different enough from that to skip the consent part or really justify trying to raise you by himself, but he did it anyway. Abel could at least support himself if needed, but even then I was never told I’d be having my own twin brother who lived my life for decades.”
>“I’ve seen how much he cares for you, and he’s treated me well enough besides the Abel thing that I trust his judgement on many things, but Gwen? She never suspected he cared about her beyond being a professor, let alone making and raising a kid out of her. She may never forgive him for that breach in trust, and I can’t say that’s wrong because you’re her kid now too.”
>”There’s nothing you can do to make her or her dad feel like you’re not family and that they owe you a chance at a good life like you’re a kid. For them, the fact you came from Gwen is enough and that piece can’t change. Kinda like you growing up with Abel makes you my kid sister. Somehow. Even if my head hurts when I really think about how that would look in a family tree.”
>”What you think of them in return is up to you and not them. They didn’t help raise you when you were at your most formative. Part of that is Warren never telling them, part of it is my fault for sending you to the Morlocks instead of pushing you towards Gwen. I don’t think I made the wrong call there, but even I can be tarred as part of the reason this meeting took so long.”
>”What the three of you think about Warren, me, and the Morlocks on all this is more mutable. Just don’t let them change how you act around us if it doesn’t make sense, and don’t expect them to change because your reasons matter more than theirs.”
>”Though if they do talk too much shit about the Morlocks, let me know. Callisto’s a smelly sewer angel for taking you in, and I’ll help you beat up anyone who says otherwise.”

Char limits bleh. I’m not good enough to filter further right now.

>>5957104
>>5956997
>>5957318
>”Joyce learned Spiderese at some point. Her rules are to not step on or squash them and don’t hug them too hard. Kinda like cats. Spidercats?”
>*Mumble something about a marketing idea*
>"But really, don't mind the locals. They're just curious is all...right Joyce?"
>”Think of exterior decorating ideas while I help Joy finish up.”
>Climb up to Joyce and have a word with her in private.
>”Alright, I’ve chewed them out for not thinking things through when they’ve had plenty of time to learn better. I know they mean well though, and they don’t know you well enough to say some things right so I’m going to help them a bit.”
>”There should be consent between two people who have a kid. It’s not normal for people to feel nothing towards someone directly related to them, and raising kids takes a lot of time and attention and care so one parent shouldn’t be shouldering that.”
>”What your dad Warren did to have you isn’t different enough from that to skip the consent part or really justify trying to raise you by himself, but he did it anyway. Abel could at least support himself if needed, but even then I was never told I’d be having my own twin brother who lived my life for decades.”
>“I’ve seen how much he cares for you, and he’s treated me well enough besides the Abel thing that I trust his judgement on many things, but Gwen? She never suspected he cared about her beyond being a professor, let alone making and raising a kid out of her. She may never forgive him for that breach in trust, and I can’t say that’s wrong because you’re her kid now too.”
>”There’s nothing you can do to make her or her dad feel like you’re not family and that they owe you a chance at a good life like you’re a kid. For them, the fact you came from Gwen is enough and that piece can’t change. Kinda like you growing up with Abel makes you my kid sister. Somehow. Even if my head hurts when I really think about how that would look in a family tree.”
>”What you think of them in return is up to you and not them. They didn’t help raise you when you were at your most formative. Part of that is Warren never telling them, part of it is my fault for sending you to the Morlocks instead of pushing you towards Gwen. I don’t think I made the wrong call there, but even I can be tarred as part of the reason this meeting took so long.”
>”What the three of you think about Warren, me, and the Morlocks on all this is more mutable. Just don’t let them change how you act around us if it doesn’t make sense, and don’t expect them to change because your reasons matter more than theirs.”
>”Though if they do talk too much shit about the Morlocks, let me know. Callisto’s a smelly sewer angel for taking you in, and I’ll help you beat up anyone who says otherwise.”

Gonna try my bet to adapt these write-ins! Writing...

>>5958135
I thought for a moment both this post and the last were yours and you’d already done a partial merge of the write-ins, and I felt so bad for not cutting mine down further.

Now I see it’s just a repeat of my chonker that tried merging the other anon’s into how I thought. I still feel bad, but slightly less so.

>>5958163
I'll try to merge the posts to the best of my ability, but it might take a while to finish cooking.

File: clean (16).jpg (639 KB, 750x1139)

639 KB JPG

“What’s wrong?” you asked, feigning ignorance as you craned your neck to gaze up at the spiders. ”Oh, right. Them. Well, Joyce learned ‘Spiderese’ at some point. She explicitly asked me and anyone else not to step on, squash or squeeze them too hard. Kind of like cats. Spidercats?”

You paused what you were doing and reflected on how marketable that idea might be. There could be some serious money in that. Maybe you can use these new web-shaping powers of yours to create a new line of plushies.

When you realized you’d been muttering yourself for a little too long, you shook your head and finished the web-candelabra. Webdelabra?

No. You weren’t getting stuck in this loop again.

“But really, don’t mind the locals.” you continued. “They’re just curious is all, right Joyce?”

“Mhmm.” she mumbled, swinging from tree to tree with her webs trailing behind her like streamers. You and the Stacy’s watched her for a while as she happily constructed her nest.

“I’m guessing that’s a side effect of splicing her DNA with a spider.” George muttered, unable to stop a healthy dose of resentment from creeping into his voice.

Now felt like as good a time as any to have a word with Joy.

“Hey! Why don’t you two come up with some exterior decorating ideas while I help Joy finish up?”

Gwen was quick to answer, seemingly picking up on what you were trying to accomplish.

“Right. Of course. Me and da–Captain Stacy are gonna see what we can come up with.”

Captain Stacy gave her an odd look.

“I think there are more important things to worry about than-”

Gwen placed a heavy hand on his shoulder, fixing him with a meaningful look. And whether it was the strength behind that hand, or the knowing look she gave him, Captain Stacy quickly stopped talking.

You nodded and flipped onto a nearby tree, climbing up to the top until you were at eye level with Joy.

“Alright, I’ve chewed them out for not thinking things through when they’ve had plenty of time to learn better. But I know they mean well, and they don’t know you well enough to express their feelings in a way that you’ll understand. So, I’m gonna help them out.”

Joy turned to face you, looking much less angry and frustrated than she had before.

“You see, there needs to be consent between two people who have a kid. It’s not normal for people to feel nothing towards someone directly related to them. And raising kids takes a lot of time, attention and care. One parent shouldn’t be shouldering that alone. There are checks and balances put into place to ensure that no child is mistreated or neglected in any way, but Warren circumvented the whole system.”

Joyce stared at you, but it wasn’t a vacant stare, absent of understanding. From the look on her face, you could tell that she was listening intently and closely.

(Cont.)

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“What your dad Warren did to have you isn’t different enough for him to skip the consent part, or really to justify trying to raise you himself, but he did it anyway. Abel is at least capable of supporting himself, but even then, Warren never told me that he was cloning a twin brother for me with almost all of my memories. Him doing that without our knowledge is a serious invasion of me and Gwen’s privacy, and a breach of our trust.”

Joyce’s expression grew thoughtful as her hands moved to weave her web. And since it didn’t seem like she was going to interrupt you anytime soon, you kept talking.

“I’ve seen how much he cares for you, and he’s treated me well enough. Aside from the Abel thing, I mean.” you quickly corrected. “But Gwen? She never knew that he cared for her like that. She had no idea that he loved her enough to clone her and raise that clone as his daughter. She may never forgive him for that breach in trust, and I honestly can’t say that I blame her, because now you’re her responsibility too.”

Joy scoffed at that.

“They don’t have to feel responsible for me.” she muttered.

You shook your head.

“There’s nothing you can do to make her or her dad feel like you’re not family. You share their blood, and they want to make sure that you at least have a decent chance at a good life. You and Gwen are practically sisters. Even more so because you share the same DNA. Sort of how you and Abel growing up together sort of makes you my baby sister. My head hurts just thinking about how we’d have to remap the family tree with you two and Vic.” you said, clutching your head with both hands and allowing yourself to remain crouched on the vertical surface of the tree.

Some of Joy’s anger subsided, and she moved past you to climb onto a higher branch. You followed her, helping her reinforce the nest wherever you felt it was necessary. And since she never told you to stop, you continued doing so, crouching beside her while hanging upside down from the thick tree limb.

“I can’t tell you how to feel. That’s entirely up to you. They didn’t help raise you when you were going through the more formative stages of your life, but part of that is due to Warren not telling them about you, and part of it is my fault for sending you to the Morlocks instead of pushing you to stay with Gwen and her dad. I don’t think I made the wrong call there, but I also didn’t do anything to make this meeting happen sooner.”

Joyce immediately stopped what she was doing and placed a gentle hand on your arm.

“Stop. I’m not mad at you. The Morlocks are good people. They’ve been good to me. I’m happy here.”

You placed a hand over hers.

(Cont.)

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“And you don’t have to leave if you don’t want to. You don’t have to change who you are or act a certain way if it doesn’t feel natural. Whatever you want to do, we’ll all support you in whatever way we can.” you said, radiating sincerity as you did. “Although, if they decide to talk shit about the Morlocks a little too often, be sure to let me know. Callisto’s a smelly sewer angel for taking you in, and I’ll help you beat up anyone who says otherwise.”

A broad grin stretched across Joy’s face, then, and she extended a hand.

“Deal!”

You grasped her hand and shook it. But right after you let go, Joyce slowly unlatched herself from the tree, falling down towards the Stacy’s. George nearly jumped out of his chair as he tried to catch her, but his efforts were in vain.

Joy smoothly snagged the branch that you were crouched under with a webline and used it to swing down towards the ground. When she was at the lowest part of her arc, she released the webline and bounced off of a stray webline that she’d laid beforehand. With a flawless somersault, she landed directly in front of the table that Gwen and George were standing around.

She glanced at both of them before nodding to herself.

“Okay. Let’s talk.”

Both Stacy’s exchanged relieved looks, and Gwen even looked up to wave at you from where she stood. A moment later, a large gray spider landed on her shoulder, and she mustered every ounce of her willpower to prevent herself from squashing it or harming it in any way. Her smile looked a lot more strained from where you were standing, but that was just your personal opinion.

“We’d…we’d like that a lot.” George said.

Well, it looked like things would proceed a lot more smoothly after that little counseling session.

What will you do?

>Track down Glass. You have a few things to discuss with him.
>Try to find Nature Girl. From what you could tell, she was responsible for the majority of the changes being made to Central Park.
>Call up Iara. It’s been a while since you’ve gotten a chance to catch up with her.
>Stay here and oversee the family discussion between the Stacy’s. If another fight breaks out, you may need to intervene again. Plus, you’re a sucker for drama.
>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

>>5958247
>>Call up Iara. It’s been a while since you’ve gotten a chance to catch up with her.
Flying shark adventures

>>5958247
>Track down Glass. You have a few things to discuss with him.

>>5958247
>Track down Glass. You have a few things to discuss with him.
We can talk with Esther after we hash things out with Glass. I get the distinct feeling the longer they stay in Central Park specifically, the higher the chances of a riot occurring get.

>>5958247
>Track down Glass. You have a few things to discuss with him.

>Write-in.
>Track down Ester. We did shrug her off.

>>5958247
I’ll thank the other anon for their write-in since I think I’d have gone done a completely different, lesser path with mine otherwise.

>>5958355
Supporting. We can intercept her along the way hopefully.

>>5958355
+1

>>5958313
we should take her and our spacecraft out to space once
Cindy'd probably like to see Earth from space too once, and our subdimension... in which one could make the worlds best obstacle course

>>5958328
>>5958352
>>5958355
>>5958623
>>5958748
>Track down Glass. You have a few things to discuss with him.
>Track down Ester. We did shrug her off.

Taking these. Writing...

I just altered the information on the Character Sheet doc to be a little more accurate. I've abandoned the point system in favor of detailed descriptions of how Ben and The Huntsman are viewed by the world.

Character Sheet:
https://pastebin.com/1ZihFYSV

Name: Ben Parker
Gender: Male
Age Group: Adult
Lifestyle: Criminal
Background: Shifty
Mutations: Wrath of Kaine, Weaponized Webbing
Talents: Built Different, Sticky Fingers
Responsibility: [[Reckless]] - You aren't known for your responsible behavior, and it wouldn't be entirely uncommon for you to endanger the life of another as a result of your selfish actions. You are a thrill-seeker at heart, and you consider the city to be both your home and your personal playground.
Accountability: [[Reliable]] - Despite your lack of responsibility, you have shown that you are capable of both cleaning up your own messes and helping others in need. Those whom you have a good relationship with know that they can come to you when they need a problem solved.
Savings: [[Filthy Rich]] - You are ridiculously wealthy for a man with little to no work experience on your resume. You've made enough to live comfortably for the remainder of your life, if you were to exclude any lavish gifts, luxuries or unforeseen expenses.
Alibi: [[Good Ol' Benny]] - Your identity is known to multiple people within your circle of trust, and none of them have betrayed that trust. You secret identity remains a mystery to the general public and most authorities, but anyone who scrutinizes you closely might notice some inconsistencies and coincidences that could paint you in a suspicious light.
Funds: $16,673,852

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Seeing as how you weren’t needed here anymore, you made the executive decision to slip away while they weren’t paying any attention to you. It wouldn’t make much of a difference even if they did notice. Joy was the only one capable of catching you, and she didn’t seem terribly interested in doing so at the moment.

At the very least, your conversation with her gave her a few things to think about. And while she probably hadn’t forgiven the Stacy’s completely for everything they said, she was interested enough to hear them out. That was all that mattered at the end of the day. You got their foot in the door, and all you could do was hope for the best.

Only, you didn’t know what the best outcome for Joy would look like. Would that mean leaving the Morlocks and living with Gwen’s dad? Would she ask them both to visit her here in Central Park as often as they could? Would she try and patch things up between Warren and the Stacy’s? You truly had no idea.

Whatever it was, though, you would have to be sure to support them if there were any hitches along the way. You contemplated this whilst swinging through the park, keeping an eye out for the Morlock, Glass. Instead, you found someone else entirely.

Little Ester, an outrageously tall mutant girl with long black hair and a patchwork dress made to suit her unusual build, was currently kneeling in the middle of a patch of flowers that looked to be out of season for this time of year. The bright orange flowers seemed to grow from her presence alone. At the same time, her hair and nails grew slightly longer, a penalty of her inability to properly control her powers.

You couldn’t tell from a glance, but Ester was actually about nine years old.

Well…she would insist that she was “nine and three quarters”, and implying otherwise might risk upsetting her. And that was the last thing you wanted to do.

Doing so might result in one walking away with slightly longer hair, longer fingernails and toenails, or, god forbid, a couple days shaved off of your lifespan.

But there were benefits to being around her as well. Some Morlocks have attested to having improved eyesight after interacting with her. The older ones stopped complaining about muscle pain and creaky old bones, claiming that they felt their youth coming back to them. Others who were missing one or more teeth, ended up regrowing healthy ones, even when their mutations had no enhanced regenerative qualities.

There were some cases when secondary mutations developed during times of great stress, but that didn’t seem to be the case for these people. And there was this one time, you swear to god, you came home after spending the day playing with her, and you’d become a bit more muscular. It was a minimal change, but you’d noticed it.

Hanging out with Ester was a mixed bag, but the side effects weren’t normally that pronounced, so long as she didn’t grow emotionally unstable at any point during your interaction.

(Cont.)

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This was part of the reason why she was treated with the utmost care at all times. The other reason was because she was cute as a button, and no one other than Callisto could bear to say no to her.

Despite the speed of your approach, Ester seemed to be too absorbed in tending to the flowers to notice your presence. Feeling a little mischievous, you latched onto a nearby tree and silently descended on a webline beside her. Then, you carefully snatched up a few flowers, wrapped them up in a delicate bundle of webbing and presented them to her, all while dangling upside down from your webline.

Ester turned and jumped a bit in surprise. You couldn’t help but wonder whether that had stricken a few days off of your life.

“Here. Beautiful flowers for the lovely lady.”

Ester’s panicked expression quickly changed into one of pleasant surprise. You even thought you could spot a bit of a blush through that curtain of hair covering her face.

The Morlock girl tentatively took the flowers, careful not to scratch you with her long nails as she did so. She then let out a giggle that could be called creepy, but anyone who said that within earshot of you or the other mutant would sincerely regret it.

“Sorry for leaving you hanging like that earlier.” you said, slowly rotating on your webline to make her laugh. “I had something to take care of with Joyce. The buff blonde is actually kind of her sister, and the old guy is sort of her dad.”

Ester’s eyes went wide, her head briefly turning in the direction she’d seen you and the others walk in to reach Wagner’s Cove.

“What about her mom?” she asked, her voice faint and timid.

“I don’t think their mom’s around anymore. It’s just them.”

“Oh...”

Ester wilted slightly. As did the flowers she was holding.

“Don’t worry. She’ll be fine. Joy’s a strong girl like her sister.” you assured her. “I’ll go back to check on her after I find Glass. You wouldn’t happen to know where he is, would you?”

Ester nodded, pointing towards a path through two slightly gnarled trees.

“Great. Could you show me the way?”

“Can we swing there?” she asked, quickly rising to her full height to tower over you.

You glanced to the side and rubbed the back of your neck.

“I’d love to, kid. But you’re a little too big for me to carry you around. And I wouldn’t want you to get hurt-”

You stopped dead in your tracks when you caught sight of Ester again. Somehow, in that little time you’d been looking away, Ester had shrunk! She was less than half her original size, with proportions more fitting for a girl her age. Although, her hair and ridiculously long dress had remained the same length.

“How about now?!” she asked, taking an unsteady step forward.

Her foot caught on the fabric of her dress and she nearly fell on her face before you reached out to catch her.

“Whoa. How’d you-?”

(Cont.)

Ester's innocent eyes peered up at you through that little slit in her curtain of hair. Had she honestly done that by accident? If so, you would have to let Glass and Callisto know.

“You know what? Forget it. Why don’t we go find Glass?”

Ester smiled up at you, and you returned the gesture with a warm smile of your own. But that dress of hers was going to be a problem if she wanted to walk around and swing through the trees with you. You didn’t want to rip the fabric, so you ended up weaving her an entirely new dress to wear using your web-shaping skills.

“Before we go, would you mind going behind that tree and changing into this?”

Ester grabbed the offered dress with an excited gasp. Considering how all her clothes were hand-me-downs and patchwork cloth, a dress of this quality was rare for her to behold.

“Whoa! How’d you do that?”

“Spider powers…!” you said in an ominous voice whilst wiggling your fingers. “Oh, and don’t worry about it dissolving on you. I made this one out of sturdier stuff, so you’re free to keep it.”

Her mouth hung open as she ran her hands along the silky smooth fabric. You made a mental note to make practice making more clothes for this kid in the future.

—------

What will you do during your journey to find Glass?

>Ask Ester how life here in Central Park is for her and the others.
>Tell Ester a story. (Write-in)
>Take the scenic route. You’re prioritizing her enjoyment over any kind of time constraints. Your business with Glass isn’t terribly urgent.
>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

>>5958928
>>Take the scenic route. You’re prioritizing her enjoyment over any kind of time constraints. Your business with Glass isn’t terribly urgent.

>>5958928
>Tell Ester a story. (Write-in)
>”Have you heard the story about the Basement Princess? It’s a newer one from what I’ve been told.”
>”Once there was a Princess, living in a basement. Her parents kept her there, hidden away for her safety. For their realm was a sinister one, and if others knew of her then they’d hunt her down! She needed training first to ensure she’d survive…”
Recap a children’s story version of some of our adventures with Cindy. Her meeting us (“And on a very important night, as she snuck away yet again, she chanced upon one of the ne’er-do-wells her parents warned her of”), hanging out with Callisto (“For the Under Queen recognized fellow royalty, and allowed her shelter within her domain”), the killer croc attack where she met the ne’er-do-well who wasn’t actually that bad again, flying up to a castle in the sky, etc. etc.

We won’t get too far into the story, but that’s probably for the better when we’re just winging it.

>>5958975
Supporting. I like the idea of pulling from our own experiences for a children's story. Reminds me of Tolkien in a way.
Also sidenote, how does our improved webbing hold up to ballistics and edged weapons?

>>5958928
>Take the scenic route. You’re prioritizing her enjoyment over any kind of time constraints. Your business with Glass isn’t terribly urgent.

>>5958939
>>5958975
>>5959036
>>5960010
>Take the scenic route. You’re prioritizing her enjoyment over any kind of time constraints. Your business with Glass isn’t terribly urgent.
>Tell Ester a story. (Write-in)
>”Have you heard the story about the Basement Princess? It’s a newer one from what I’ve been told.”
>”Once there was a Princess, living in a basement. Her parents kept her there, hidden away for her safety. For their realm was a sinister one, and if others knew of her then they’d hunt her down! She needed training first to ensure she’d survive…”

Sorry for the delay! Been spending time with friends these past few days.

Writing...

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Since you weren’t in any particular hurry, you decided to take the scenic route. It would give Ester more time to appreciate her very first swinging experience, and it would give you a chance to tour the new Central Park.

But before then, you really had to do something about all that hair. It would fly everywhere if left uncontained. Luckily, it wasn’t that hard for you to make a couple of hair ties and clips to hold her hair in a neat bun in the back of her head. That left about half of her face exposed, but that didn’t seem to bother Ester too much. She was too busy admiring her new dress and accessories.

You smiled and scooped her up without warning.

“Let’s do a quick flight check before we take off. Hair secure?”

“Mhmm!”

“Seatbelts?”

Ester gave you a confused look, until she noticed you weaving a band of webbing around yourself and her.

“Ch-check!” she excitedly confirmed.

You gave her a firm pat on the head.

“Gotcha. With all that squared away, it's time we prepare for take-off!” you said, firing a pair of weblines at two evenly spaced trees.

You took several steps back, pulling your weblines taut and digging your heels into the ground.

“Gimme a countdown, E.”

The girl nodded and started counting down from ten, as if you were a NASA space shuttle. And it was for that very reason, that when you allowed the weblines to fling you forward, you made sure to expel green jets of flame from your feet as you soared through the air.

“We have lift-off!” you shouted, wrapping your arm around Ester and using the other to snag a nearby tree with a webline. You pulled on it, reeling yourself in and swinging down and around the open clearing with such speed that you’d already wrapped around the tree and flung yourselves further into the air.

You rose feet first, spinning and twisting to add a little flair to your performance. You would have to be careful not to shake Ester around too much. Wouldn’t want to make her sick.

But to your relief, she was laughing when you glanced down to check on her. To her, this was little more than a super-powered theme park ride.

“Is this cool, or what?”

“Haha! S–s-so cool!”

“Hold on. You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.”

You dove back down into the trees, snagged a distant tree and swung through the park backwards with Ester squirming so that she could glance over your shoulder. You spun back around a moment later, releasing your webline and sliding across the grass to slow yourself down.

Not wanting to lose too much momentum, you jumped off a nearby tree trunk, flipped over and off an adjacent branch and started leaping from tree to tree. All the while, mutants pointed up at you from down below, some of them recognizing you as the Huntsman, and others confusing you for another one of Nature Girl’s plant monsters.

“Hey, wanna hear a story?” you asked in between leaps.

(Cont.)

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“Y-yeah!” Ester managed between shouting and giggling.

“Have you ever heard the story of the Basement Princess? It’s a newer one from what I’ve been told.”

Ester shook her head, looking curious.

“Oh, it’s a good one! Here, switch to my back. We’re going back to swinging.”

You flipped the girl onto your back and told her to keep a firm grip around your neck and shoulders. Then, you fell into a comfortable swinging rhythm and prepared your best narrator voice.

“Once, there was a princess, living in a basement.” you began, sounding as dramatic as you could manage. “Her parents kept her there, hidden away for safety. For their realm was a sinister one, and if others knew of her they would surely hunt her down! She needed training to ensure she’d survive…”

“W-why was she being hunted?” Ester asked. Her usual timid voice was making it hard for you to tell whether she was genuinely worried for the princess, or if she was just being inquisitive.

“Because the princess was special. She was born under the watchful eye of a dubious god, and even before she could walk, it was decided that she would be the one to beat back the sinister forces that ravaged the land.”

“Like what?”

“Vampires, werewolves, ghosts and ghouls. You name it. Anything that went bump in the night.”

Ester nodded, seemingly satisfied by your answer.

“As I was saying,” you continued. “The girl trained, day in and day out. Her parents taught her everything she knew. Math, science, literature, history. From the comfort of her own basement, she learned all of these things. And at night, her parents taught her how to fight.”

Ester gasped at that.

“Was she strong?”

You nodded.

“Oh yeah. She spent her whole life learning to fight. She learned how to use every weapon, honed her mind and body so that she could take out anything that got in her way. Her parents raised her to be a living weapon. A monster hunter that would undoubtedly rise to legendary heights! But…”

“But?”

“The princess wasn’t satisfied with living her life in seclusion. Her curiosity and ambition outgrew her relatively small living space. She wanted to explore the outside world for herself, but her parents would always tell her that it was too dangerous to venture outside alone. The princess tried to distract herself by taking up hobbies such as drawing and painting, but her heart ached for a chance to see the night sky. And on those nights when she could no longer bear to be locked away in her basement, the princess would sneak out.”

“And then what happened?” Ester asked.

“Nothing at first. She would explore the city, interact with her fellow townsfolk, and sneak back into her home before her parents would realize anything was wrong. But one night, she met someone.”

“Who?”

(Cont.)

File: bkfcd5jnx0ab1.jpg (1.27 MB, 4169x5906)

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“A thief. A ne’er-do-well who was well versed in the kingdom’s criminal underworld. The exact type of person that her parents had warned her of, many times before.”

“Did they hurt her?”

You laughed, turning to swing towards an unoccupied carousel.

“No. Quite the opposite, actually.”

Ester gave you a confused look, but it quickly turned into one of excitement when she realized where you were headed.

“The Princess and the Thief met at a truly strange time. The Thief had just gotten into a fight and was recovering from his injuries, when the Princess happened upon him. But rather than being wary of him, the Princess judged him to be trustworthy. His charm and wit appealed to her, but more than that, his kindness towards her stood out. They sat together and spoke for a while, but her parents eventually found her.” you explained, removing Ester from your back and lowering her onto the saddle of a plastic white pony.

“Were they mad?” she asked.

“They were mad, but mostly relieved. They quickly dragged the Princess away from the Thief, saying that she shouldn’t associate with such folk. But the Princess didn’t listen. Something about the Thief had piqued her curiosity, and she snuck out to see him again. Only to find him besieged by a looming of vultures after one of his daring escapades.”

“Vultures?”

You nodded, using your webs to manipulate the carousel controls and get it started.

“That’s right. Vultures. Big, angry birds that stole from the other thieves. This time, though, the Thief had stolen from them. For that, they followed the Thief back to his hideout and ambushed him. And if not for the Princess being there, he might not have made it out.”

Ester smiled, partly because the ride had started, and partly because she was getting invested in the story.

“She saved him?”

“She did. Right when the Vultures were preparing to strike, the Princess provided a smokescreen that allowed the Thief to slip away.”

Now, this part was just you providing a likely theoretical scenario, because you were never able to confirm whether it was Cindy who threw the Moonrang that night. But since you had no connection to Moon Knight prior to this, you thought it was safe to assume that Cindy had secretly saved you during the Vulture ambush.

“But that wasn’t the end of it.” you said, flipping onto a nearby inanimate gray cat with a fish in its mouth. “Enraged by this ploy, the Vultures destroyed the Thief’s hideout and continued to pursue him. The Thief knew that he could not outpace the Vultures forever, so he fled into the tunnels beneath the city. But little did he know, he was trespassing on the Under Queen’s domain...”

“Who’s she?”

(Cont.)

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“The Under Queen is the ruler of the Unseen Empire. She rules the underground tunnel network and protects her subjects from those that would seek to harm them. She is deadlier than even the Basement Princess herself…”

“What did she do to the Thief?”

“She very nearly killed him.” you said, eliciting a gasp from Ester. She was such a good listener.

“While the Thief hid, the Under Queen crept up behind him and pressed a blade to his neck. She suspected that he was here to harm her subjects or expose her kingdom, but the Thief knew nothing of either. He pleaded with her to allow him safe passage, and to his surprise, the Under Queen allowed it.”

“She sounds a lot like Callisto.” Ester observed.

You arched an eyebrow at her, dangling upside down from a webline attached to the ceiling.

“Hmm. Now that you mention it...she does, doesn’t she?”

Ester gave you a knowing smile, but didn’t inquire any further.

“What happened next?” she asked.

“Well…after the Under Queen sheltered the Thief, they exchanged brief pleasantries, and the Queen offered to let him use her magic artifact to call for help. She gifted him with a token and instructed him on its use, allowing him to contact a relative that would hide him from the Vultures’ wrath. But before he left, he gifted the Queen with a portion of his ill-gotten gains. Through this, the Thief and the Under Queen an…acquaintanceship.”

“And the Princess? Did the Vultures chase her too?”

You shook your head.

“If they did, then they never caught her. She was too fast, too agile, and too cunning by far for any of those bird-brained fools to capture her.”

Ester giggled at that.

“The Basement Princess returned home after that, hoping to retire to her sanctuary and greet her parents. She knew they would be angry, but she didn’t care. For she had had a night of excitement and adventure. But little did our little Princess know, there was something far more sinister waiting for her to return.”

Ester’s face fell, and you carefully picked her up and swung away from the active carousel.

“Somehow, a group of evil and powerful vampires caught wind of the Princess’ existence, and sought to eliminate her before she could become a threat to their rule. Her parents gave their lives to protect her, and she managed to escape by using the route she’d used to sneak out numerous times before. But she didn’t get away unscathed.”

“Was she hurt?”

“She was, but that was the least of her concerns. Before she escaped, the Princess was cornered by a wicked witch that put a terrible curse on her. The witch stole her voice, forbidding her from speaking of the atrocities she had seen take place in that house. Then, using the Princess’ melodious voice, she let out an evil cackle that echoed throughout the night.”

(Cont.)

“What did she do then?” Ester asked, looking properly concerned again.

“She ran and hid. The Basement Princess lost her home, her paintings, her family, her voice, and everything that she held dear. It was only her knowledge of the sinister realm’s terrain that prevented her from being caught. The vampires pursued her for days afterwards, and the girl’s body grew tired. Eventually, she stumbled into the Under Queen’s domain, the same way the Thief had.”

“Did the Under Queen fight the vampires for her?” Ester asked, throwing a few punches herself.

“Ha! No, the vampires didn’t pursue the Princess into the tunnels. The girl had used her cunning to throw them off of her trail. But the Princess encountered a much more pressing issue. You see, the witch’s curse had stripped her of her voice, and she was unable to communicate her plight to the Under Queen. And the Queen…well, she cut a terrifying figure!”

“Did the two of them have to fight?”

“Fortunately not. For, the Under Queen was far more understanding and sentimental than anyone suspected. She saw a young girl in need of assistance, and offered to shelter her in her kingdom. The Princess was so relieved that she nearly collapsed. But, unbeknownst to both of them, a hideous, ferocious beast had wandered into the Under Queen’s domain as well...”

The look on Ester's face was priceless. She likely suspected that the Under Queen was inspired by Callisto, but she probably hadn’t been told the whole story behind her and Cindy’s first meeting. Now that you were telling it, you felt that you couldn’t just leave it here. You would have to adapt the rest of Cindy’s story to the best of your ability.

Where should you bring Ester in the meantime?

>Children’s Zoo. She can pet the goats and bunnies.
>Strawberry Fields. It’s got that iconic mosaic, and there are probably a decent amount of mutants walking around there.
>Heckscher Playground. You should give her an opportunity to move around a bit while you tell the story.
>Take her to see the Angel Fountain. It’s got some nice scenery. Everyone should see it at least 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

>>5960973
>>Take her to see the Angel Fountain. It’s got some nice scenery. Everyone should see it at least once.
She IS a New Yorker after all, might as well let her see it while she has the chance.

>>5960973
>Take her to see the Angel Fountain. It’s got some nice scenery. Everyone should see it at least once.

>>5960973
>Children’s Zoo. She can pet the goats and bunnies.
Though really my vote is
>Wherever the mutants in Central Park are least likely to take her
since we’re providing cover for her in the form of a non-mutant chaperone. She’ll get a little less grief with us wherever she goes.

I’m glad you’re having fun with the story.

>>5960973
>>Take her to see the Angel Fountain. It’s got some nice scenery. Everyone should see it at least once.

>>5961166
>>5961195
>>5961424
>Take her to see the Angel Fountain. It’s got some nice scenery. Everyone should see it at least once.

Taking these. Writing...

>>5961201
There may or may not be a Maximum 1602-esque dimension with roughly the same premise out there somewhere...

File: inhyuk-lee-1.jpg (528 KB, 900x1367)

528 KB JPG

After about a minute of aimless wandering, you start to swing in the direction of Bethesda Terrace. If Ester hasn't spent too much time exploring the topside of the city, then she probably hasn't seen one of its most iconic attractions. And that simply wouldn't do.

“What kind of monster was it?” Ester asked.

“Aside from hideous and ferocious? Well, it was big, scaly, and its breath stank of rotten meat.”

Ester made a disgusted noise. You laughed and continued telling the story, content to take your time on your way to the fountain.

“It had eight eyes and nine limbs. Four of them reptilian, four of them insectoid, and one thick tail that could fell a tree with a single swipe.”

“Whoa…”

“‘Whoa’ is right.” you confirmed. “Not only was the Beast powerful, but it was capable of healing from any wound that was inflicted upon it. It was because of this that the Beast overwhelmed both the Princess and the Under Queen.”

“What did they do?”

“The Under Queen called for help. And who do you think she called?” you asked.

“The…Thief?” she cautiously answered.

“That's right! The Thief answered her call, despite owing her no loyalty after repaying his debt. Despite his truest friend, the Sandman, being gravely injured after his final encounter with the Vultures, the Thief rushed to the Under Queen's aid. And together, they managed to triumph over the Beast!”

“But how’d they do it?” Ester inquired.

“I’m afraid that part’s a little too graphic for a girl your age.”

Ester pouted, and you patted her on the head consolingly.

“Alright, alright. I can’t go into too much detail, but…I can give you a general outline.”

Ester grinned as she silently celebrated her victory. You let her have her moment.

“The Basement Princess was well aware that she could not go into battle against such a creature empty-handed. So, she requested to use the Under Queen’s trusty spear.” you explained. “The Queen was wary at first, but she quickly changed her tune when the Princess demonstrated her prowess with the weapon. The Queen realized that she had underestimated the Princess, for one as fair and well-trained as she must surely be of noble birth. The Queen recognized her status and acknowledged the Princess as being one worthy of wielding the spear.”

“And what did the Queen use to fight? Wouldn’t she need her spear?”

“The Queen had other methods of fighting. Her spear was mighty indeed, but it was far from the only weapon that she was adept at using. For beneath her enchanted cloak, the Under Queen could unleash a storm of daggers upon her enemies.”

“What about the Thief?”

“The Thief had weapons of his own. He brought two daggers and a bag of tricks.”

“What kinds of tricks?”

(Cont.)

File: BethesdaFountain_001_Squa(...).jpg (231 KB, 1200x1200)

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“All sorts! He made bombs filled with glue, he built tiny metal spiders that could tell him the location of anything he stuck them to, and most important to the battle at hand, he was capable of producing a potent explosive material that he could smear onto other objects. For it was this invention that turned the tide of battle!”

You proceeded to tell the tale of the Under Queen firing a storm of explosive knives at the Beast while the Princess kept it distracted, and the Thief delivered the killing blow. Except, the Beast wasn’t truly dead!

“The Beast was a person!?” Ester exclaimed.

You nodded.

“Yes. As it turned out, the Beast had been a scientist that was experimenting on himself. And after a freak accident, he was transformed into a horrible, hideous creature! The Thief recognized him as someone he’d robbed before. And against his baser instincts, he chose not to execute the man-turned-Beast. Instead, he chose to contact Lady Maria of The Hill.”

“Ooh! Who’s she?”

You grinned at her and slowed down so you wouldn’t reach the terrace before finishing this part of the story.

“Lady Maria was the owner of a floating castle in the sky known only as ‘The Hill’. There, she contained all manner of ill-mannered folk and dangerous criminals. And they were guarded by an order of royal knights. They rode winged steeds and commanded steel chariots that carved through the very heavens above.”

Ester's eyes went wide as she tried to imagine the wondrous image that you were painting for her. It wasn't all that impossible, considering the fucked up world you lived in, but to someone who's spent a good chunk of their life underground, it was purely a fantasy.

Maybe someday she'd get to see it for real. Although, after the damages incurred to the Helicarrier on the night of Doom’s attack, that might be a while.

Ester was broken out of her reverie by the sight of the bronze angel statue with flowing robes, and a pair of raised wings sprouting out of her back, delicately stepping on a stone with water flowing out of it. Said water flowed down into a bowl, which overflowed into a larger pool at the bottom.

There weren't any other Morlocks here at the moment, and as a result, the place looked to be absolutely deserted, which was something you had never seen during any of your visits to the park.

But it was because of this that Ester found it entirely appropriate to dive into the fountain as soon as she got close enough.

“Careful! It's shallow.” you warned.

Thankfully, the girl was uninjured, but she was now grabbing handfuls of coins and tossing them into the air.

“You know, that's not the cleanest water in the world…” you said, right before catching a face full of water from the fountain.

Ester let out an shameless chuckle at your expense.

“Alright, you asked for it!”

(Cont.)

Without further hesitation, you leapt over the fountain wall and initiated a splash fight with Ester. This lasted for about three minutes before she got tired, and you lifted her out. She clung close to you, appreciating the waves of heat that your body was giving off.

And while you sat, you explained a little more about the story. How the Under Queen declared the Basement Princess and the Thief to be her guests the next time they wished to visit her kingdom. And how the Knights of the Hill escorted them and the monster to their castle in the sky.

“Wait.” Ester blurted out.

“Hm?”

“Wouldn't the Thief get arrested by the Knights as soon as he got there?”

You grinned at her.

“Normally yes, but the Thief was also a master of disguise, and he had lied about his identity ever since he had first arrived to The Hill. But Lady Maria was clever, and she wasn't as easily fooled as her other subjects. So she decided to look into the Thief's identity herself.”

Ester gasped, clinging closer to you in order to sap more of your warmth.

“But before that investigation could yield any results, the Thief surrendered the Beast to the Order of the Shield, and claimed the Princess as his ward. For the two shared a rare bond, despite them being such an odd pair. He sympathized with her plight, and she saw the good in him that he himself wasn’t aware of.”

“And then? What happened next? The story can’t just end there.”

What will you say?

>”Indeed it doesn’t. I never even mentioned the Fortune Teller and the Alchemist that the Thief recruited to help the Princess to get her voice back from the evil witch!”
>”This is a good place to stop. I’ll tell you the rest some other time. Don’t worry, I’ve got tons of other tales to tell.”
>”Why don’t I offer to take you outside the park one of these days instead? I don’t want to toot my own horn, but I think I’d make a pretty amazing tour guide.”
>”Why don't you finish the story? How do you think it should end?"
>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

>>5961559
Having just looked up 1602 I can see what you mean.

>>5961659
>”Indeed it doesn’t. I never even mentioned the Fortune Teller and the Alchemist that the Thief recruited to help the Princess to get her voice back from the evil witch!…”
>”But this is a good place to stop. I’ll tell you the rest some other time. A good storyteller knows not to finish every story they start in one sitting or there’s no reason to invite them back!”
I’ll back any additional ideas anons have, but I don’t want to promise guided tours in case we get too busy with the gang war and its aftermath.

>>5961659
>>”Why don't you finish the story? How do you think it should end?"

You know, looking back on it, I feel like I could have written some things about this fairytale better. Like making Khonshu into the literal moon instead of a god, or changing up the way that the Thief and the Princess interacted at the end there. I remember doing some research on how to write a proper fairytale a while back, because I was curious as to how fairytale logic was decided in most popular cases. Maybe one day I'll try my hand at writing a fairytale-esque quest at some point in the future.

>>5962300
We can wave it away as Ben making it up as he goes along at least.

I have not studied fairy tales, but I’m guessing it involves playing up an otherwise mundane element to have a touch of something fantastical? The Under Queen having uncanny features that unnerve some to show the prejudice mutants face compared to normal metas, the sewers being a vast cave system under the realm, Khonshu being the moon and sharing a blessing with his “chosen” to take the form of moonlight when not observed (ie. she’s sneaky), the thief having been partly transformed and using his new appendage/form to do what was previously impossible. Stuff like that?

Maria of the Hill being an actual hill upon which an ever-shifting castle rests, stubborn and obstinate as both a sentient piece of earth and because if she relaxes too much the castle may shift and collapse with no support under it?

A fairy tale quest sounds pretty neat given the combination of dream logic and realism that would be needed for it.

>>5962370
Yeah, something like that. Maybe Ben can publish a book at some point.

I remember how the mutants are referred to as "Witchbreed" in 1602. I could implement something similar, but that would be a lot of padding and explanation for a story that was thought up on the fly.

I imagine that a fairytale quest would need to contain some form of allegory. It would be ridiculous and impossible, but still clos enough to normal sensibilities to be relatable. Like, I'm talking wild scenarios like children chopping down giant trees, shoving witches into ovens, or cutting open a wolf's stomach and stuffing it full of rocks.

The world would be somewhere between wonderful and cruel, I think. I'm interested in researching the kind of logic that would be needed for a quest like that.

>>5962528
>Yeah, something like that. Maybe Ben can publish a book at some point.
I can ikmagine he'd do that actually. Just having dozens of side-hustles going at any given time.

Sorry for the recent lack of updates, folks! Been a bit busy these past few days. I'll try my best to crank one out by tomorrow sometime in the evening. If there are no new votes, then I'll just combine what we've got and proceed from there!

>>5961659
put off voting as I don't know what to say.
the retelling was nice though.

>”Why don't you finish the story? How do you think it should end?"

>>5961659
>”Indeed it doesn’t. I never even mentioned the Fortune Teller and the Alchemist that the Thief recruited to help the Princess to get her voice back from the evil witch!”
>”Why don’t I offer to take you outside the park one of these days instead? I don’t want to toot my own horn, but I think I’d make a pretty amazing tour guide.”

>>5961829
>>5961716
>>5964913
>>5964955
>”Indeed it doesn’t. I never even mentioned the Fortune Teller and the Alchemist that the Thief recruited to help the Princess to get her voice back from the evil witch!”
>”Why don't you finish the story? How do you think it should end?"

Taking these. Writing...

File: Bethesda-Fountainmedium.2(...).jpg (146 KB, 959x641)

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“Indeed it doesn’t. I never even mentioned the Fortune Teller and the Alchemist that the Thief recruited to help the Princess to get her voice back from the evil witch!”

“Aww, now I wanna hear it even more!” Ester whined.

That just made you laugh.

“Well…why don’t you finish the story? How do you think it should end?”

Ester made a thoughtful noise before nodding to herself.

“I think that after the Thief gets the Princess her voice back, he becomes her Knight!” she concluded.

“Already? I feel like you’re skipping a few steps there.” you observed. “I mean, it couldn’t have been easy to get the Princess’ voice back. I imagine that it must have been a long and emotionally distressing experience. Just saying.”

“Not if the Thief steals it back from the Witch!” Ester posited. “Like, he challenges her to a contest and outsmarts her somehow.”

“That sounds convenient, but it fits the character, so I’ll allow it.”

“And after the Princess gets her voice back, she thanks everyone that’s helped her along her journey, including the Thief.”

“Oh yeah? Is that when she makes him her knight?”

“Not yet. He tries to leave at first, and that’s when Lady Maria and her Knights burst in to arrest him!”

“Oh, that’s good.”

“The Princess tries to fight them, but the Thief surrenders himself so that she doesn’t get hurt. This surprises Lady Maria. Her knights go to bring him in, and the Princess tries to use her voice to tell everyone that he’s innocent, but her voice isn’t strong enough. And that’s when the Moon comes down to defend the Thief!”

“The Moon? The one that the Basement Princess prays to, right?”

Ester nods enthusiastically.

“The Moon is always watching, and it tells Lady Maria of the Thief’s deeds. It helps her see how the Thief has changed his ways. But Lady Maria isn’t convinced. She wants the Thief to pay for everything he’s done. And that’s when the Thief offers to return everything he’s ever stolen.”

“Wow. The Thief’s really turned his life around.”

“Uh-huh. He gives it all away, and only then is Lady Maria satisfied. She lets him go, and he promises never to steal again.”

“And then she makes him her Knight.” you added.

“Yup. And then they get married~!”

“Uhhhhh…”

“They have their wedding under a full moon with all their other friends.”

Maybe you should have told her about the age gap between the two characters. Then again, it was never specified how old the two of them were exactly. And it was only a work of fiction where the characters were inspired by people from your life. That only made it a little weird, rather than downright criminal behavior.

(Cont.)

File: spiderman.gif (683 KB, 498x364)

683 KB GIF

“But then,” Ester continued. “Right as they’re about to say their vows…the vampires that killed the Princess’ parents show up again!”

“Whoa! I forgot about them. And then what happened?”

—--------

Ester wove her wondrous tale, putting her own unique spin on it, and even managing to surprise you with her creativity. She might make a decent writer or storyteller one day.

Shortly afterwards, you spot Glass in the distance, exchanging a silver box with another Morlock. You eyed their retreating back, as well as the container in their hands. Before you can get a better look, though, Glass notices you and waves you over.

“Ben. It’s good to see you, man. You too, Ester.”

He says this with a genuine, dazzling smile. But that might have only been because the sun’s rays were being refracted through his crystalline body.

“H-hey, Glass.” Ester greeted.

“You turned tiny today. And you did your hair. And is that a new dress? It looks great on you.” Glass said easily.

Ester blushed and pulled her hair down to cover her face. Glass inclined his head and gave her an apologetic smile.

“Sorry. Personal space. I forgot.”

You were pretty sure that it was a little more complicated than that. She hadn’t reacted like that with you.

Glass turned his attention back to you.

“I hear you’ve seen Joy and Iara already. They’ve been wanting to hang out for a while, but, you know. No phones.”

What will you see?

>”Hey, Glass. I'd say its great to see you, but you're pretty hard to look at right now. The glare coming off of you is blinding."
>How're you enjoying life in Central Park so far? I know you're not too used to sitting in one place, but at least this place has got some nice scenery."
>"How's being a leader treating you? Personally, I'd recommend upgrading your wardrobe so that you look the role."
>"What was that all about?" (Point towards the Morlock carrying the box.)
>"You've got hear the story that me and Ester have been making up. It's got so many twists and turns!"
>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

>>5965375
>"Let's take this under some shade, you are quite literally burning my retinas out."
>"How's being a leader treating you? Personally, I'd recommend upgrading your wardrobe so that you look the role."
>"What was that all about?" (Point towards the Morlock carrying the box.)

>>5965375
>"Let's take this under some shade, you are quite literally burning my retinas out."
>"How's being a leader treating you? Personally, I'd recommend upgrading your wardrobe so that you look the role."
>"What was that all about?" (Point towards the Morlock carrying the box.)

>>5965375
>>5965395
>>5965413
+1

>>5965375
>"How's being a leader treating you? Personally, I'd recommend upgrading your wardrobe so that you look the role."

>>5965375
>”I thought I could fly into the sun with my new powers, but I stand corrected. Let's take this under some shade, you are quite literally burning my retinas out."
>”Wouldn’t be a bad idea to fix the phone issue sooner rather than later. Easiest way for everyone to keep in touch once they start roaming further than Central Park.”
> "How's being a leader treating you? Personally, I'd recommend upgrading your wardrobe so that you look the role."
>"What was that all about?" (Point towards the Morlock carrying the box.)

I’ll put a reminder out here to talk about setting up basketball courts, running the outdoor cafe/restaurant idea by Glass, and inviting calling in the food truck at some point. The latter won’t make a dent in our funds.

Having some legal income would be good, and I assume we can get him help in setting up a business with the city so it’s all on the up-and-up. Mutant basketball competitions were also a fun idea we had in an earlier thread, may as well bring it up.

>"Let's take this under some shade, you are quite literally burning my retinas out."
>"How's being a leader treating you? Personally, I'd recommend upgrading your wardrobe so that you look the role."
>"What was that all about?" (Point towards the Morlock carrying the box.)

Taking these. Writing...

>>5966093
Feel free to bring it up in upcoming votes! They're solid suggestions.

>>5965395
>>5965413
>>5965780
>>5965776
>>5967462
Didn't realize that I didn't ping these correctly in that last post!

File: Amazing_Spider-Man_Vol_5_(...).jpg (805 KB, 777x1200)

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You shielded your eyes with your hand, squinting to see Glass through the glare that was coming off of him. Belatedly, you wondered whether Ester had covered her face out of embarrassment, or if she was hoping to avoid being blinded.

“Let’s have this conversation under some shade, huh? You’re literally burning out my retinas.”

“Oh, sorry. How about we talk under that tree over there?”

“Fine by me.” you quickly replied, following him towards the indicated tree.

“So, how’s being a leader treating you?” you asked. “Personally I’d recommend upgrading your wardrobe so that you look the part.”

Glass tugged at his torn, fraying hoodie. One of his little transparent fingers was poking through a sizable hole near his stomach.

“That’s…kinda hard to do when you’ve got powers like mine. The best I can do is wear sleeveless shirts and tank tops. Everything else just gets ripped when I use my powers. Or when I get into a fight. Wearing expensive clothes would be kind of a waste.”

“Didn't you have a super suit when you were still with the X-Men?” you said, finally able to see him now that your eyes weren't being blasted by the full force of the sun's rays.

Glass shook his head, his stiff seafoam green hair shifting a bit as he did.

“Oh, that? I gave it back after I left. I didn't want anyone getting the wrong idea. I don't represent Xavier's school anymore, so I can't go around wearing it whenever I want.”

“I'm pretty sure they would've let you keep it if you asked.” you offered.

“Hm. Maybe.” Glass said, leaning up against the tree. “But it's really not that much of a big deal. The suits barely offer any protection, and it wouldn't matter much for someone with my powers. They're more like…uniforms. A show of solidarity.”

You nodded. It wasn't a very hard concept to grasp, after all. Seeing an X-Men uniform on a mutant sent a powerful message. It meant that they weren't alone. And any harm that was inflicted on them could be avenged tenfold.

You reaffirmed your grip on Ester, who had suddenly fallen mysteriously silent, and turned to stare at the retreating form of the mutant that Glass had passed the silver box to. He had coarse, dark purple skin that could almost pass for black, and spikes that protruded from his head and shoulders.

“What was that all about?”

Glass followed your gaze and grimaced.

“A woman came here earlier to give me something. A drug dealer, I think.”

Both you and Ester turned to stare at him in shock.

“A drug dealer. In Mutant-controlled Central Park? How’d she get past security?” you asked.

Glass didn't bother asking what you meant by “security”.

“No idea. She walked right up to me and asked if I was in charge. Then, she made some pitch about protecting ourselves from danger and gave me that box.”

(Cont.)

File: Ey7r5lYWgAYH6mR.jpg (843 KB, 2250x2462)

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“D-did you look inside?” Ester inquired.

Glass lowered his opaque eyelids as he turned to glance at Ester.

“She gave me a sample of Kick. It's a mutant power booster that's been popping up on the street again. It's super addictive, though. I've seen people who abuse it, and it isn't pretty.”

He actually looked a bit angry, which was rare for him. But as soon as he noticed Ester's look of concern, he quickly schooled his expression.

“Then why'd you decide to hold onto it?” you asked.

“Because I need Callisto to track down the people who made it. If someone's producing Kick again, then we've gotta put a stop to it.”

“Why not follow the dealer? That’s a pretty solid lead.”

“That’s Plan B. I still have to talk to Callisto about it before I do anything else.”

You put Ester down and folded your arms over your chest.

“That can wait. Don’t think I didn’t notice how you deflected my question earlier. What’s on your mind?”

Glass looked at you, and then craned his neck up to stare at the leaves hanging over his head. The back of his head thumped against the tree trunk, and he let out a quiet sigh.

“I don't know how to be a leader, Ben. I was a half-decent field commander when I was in the X-Force, but that's about all the experience that I have.” he confessed.

“People are counting on me to make things work. To make sure that this place doesn't get raided by cops and human supremacists. I need to guide and protect them, but I don’t think I can do that when we're this exposed.”

Ester's frown deepened, and Glass reached out to pat her head.

“Sorry, E. That's probably not what you wanted to hear. I just want to make sure that I'm doing right by you all. You're all so important to me. You're my only family.”

What will you say?

>”The Morlocks follow you because they know that you've got their best interests in mind. They trust you to make the best decision for all of them.”
>”Being a leader isn't about being the smartest or most experienced. You just have to be able to make the hard decisions, and live with them at the end of the day.”
>”That’s what Callisto is for. She'll support you in whatever you want to do. If you want, I can help you set up a phone-line here to contact her in the sewers.”
>”Just be honest with them like you are with me and Ester. If you don't know what to do, then consult the people that you trust and make an informed decision based on that.”
>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

Man, I have GOT to commission or AI generate some decent art for Glass one of these days.

>>5967637
>>”Being a leader isn't about being the smartest or most experienced. You just have to be able to make the hard decisions, and live with them at the end of the day.”

>>5967637
>”Being a leader isn't about being the smartest or most experienced. You just have to be able to make the hard decisions, and live with them at the end of the day.”
>"I could try to see if I find a 'How to lead a commune for dummys' book for you if you want."


>>5967640
>AI generate
say "april fools" right now

>>5967903
I think AI art is perfectly fine for the purpose of showing them to artists as examples of what you want them to do for the finished product. It could speed up the process a bit.

>>5967932
I agree, but that's not what you said
let's not get into AI, this is not the place to get off topic

>>5967637
>”Just be honest with them like you are with me and Ester. If you don't know what to do, then consult the people that you trust and make an informed decision based on that.”
>”A key thing to do as a leader is connecting themself and others with people who can fill those knowledge gaps. A hero and police captain are visiting Joy today. A former X-men commander can deal with them professionally on public safety and narcotics. Use that as an in to ask about protecting communities from mundane and super threats. Someone who grows food can connect with someone who cooks and sells it for a living. A weaver might learn from a designer who knows how to showcase their work to the public. Even if you can’t retain everything, you can keep in touch with experts in other fields.”
>”Keep in mind you shouldn’t solve all your problems in-house anymore. The mutants here want to be part of the wider world. That means reaching out into it for help.”
>”Don’t forget Callisto. I’m sure there’s an annoying green gremlin in your head saying if you lean on her too much you’ll be pulling her into something she couldn’t lead in the first place. She does want you to succeed though, and she’ll have plenty to say on mundane things like settling disputes and assigning responsibilities fairly. She wouldn’t mind the advice either, I’m sure. If you need a phone here to the sewers, I can make it happen.”
>”You, uh, know how to set up a bank account? Probably need one for any businesses you end up running here so you can pay taxes. Might get you on some councilman’s good side for being responsible citizens.”

The last bit is a tangent, but I’m laughing internally at the idea that Glass is super worried about extremists and ordinary police when the city government could be more upset at the idea of tax dodgers setting up in Central Park. How dare they sell goods and services without giving the government a cut, do they know how expensive it is to rebuild the city every few months?!

>>5967640
I'm looking online right now and I'm fairly certain there's almost no images of Glass online. I didn't realize it was this dire.

>>5968050
That's because he's an OC that I made for the Morlocks. Ester is an OC as well. I've sprinkled a few throughout the story

>>5968240
I see. Well you did a good then, because I hadn't even questioned his status as a member of the Marvel Universe. Esther too given how long-lived the narrative idea of the Morlocks is.

>>5968242
Thanks! They could very easily fit in with the Morlocks in a real comic. Glass is one of the rare ones that isn't nearly as antisocial and spiteful as the rest. He remains hopeful for the future of mutant-kind, despite the prejudice he's experienced from interacting with humans. He's been with both the X-Men and the Morlocks, and has decided that he doesn't quite agree with either of their ideologies. The Central Park situation is a good chance for him to try something different.

>>5968264
One might consider him wholly transparent with his good intentions, a shining beacon for his fellow mutants to follow. Really just a bright example of what any mutant can become with a little spit and polish.
He is a shiny man made of glass and I find that funny.

>>5968270
He’s a clear-cut guy. Even after all this time in the rough, he still sparkles like a diamond.
I miss the old Carlos memes.

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>>5968270
>>5968298
Exactly! You guys get it.

>>5967672
>>5967999
>>5967903
Also, I probably won't have much time to update today, so I'll leave the vote open for a little while longer. I'm going to be heading down to visit family this weekend, so I won't be able to update consistently for about a week. If I can find the time, I'll try to post an update from mobile.

>>5969067
>>5967672
>>5967999
>>5967903
>”Being a leader isn't about being the smartest or most experienced. You just have to be able to make the hard decisions, and live with them at the end of the day.”

On second thought, this is a pretty easy one to write out before I transition into the next vote. Writing...

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“Being a leader isn’t about being the smartest or the most experienced. You just have to be able to make the hard decisions, and live with them at the end of the day.” you said.

Glass gave you a bitter smile.

“That sounds like something Callisto would say.”

“I could close one eye and fold my arms too if that would help you feel better.” you offered, doing exactly that.

That made Ester giggle.

“You forgot to brood. Can’t forget about the brooding.” Glass mentioned.

“I won’t be able to do it any justice, but I’ll give it my best shot.” you said, giving them your best one-eyed scowl.

That seemed to cheer Glass up a little bit. He might not have much confidence in himself as a leader, but you’ve personally seen how bold he can be. And even if he does mess up, you and his other friends will be there to pick up the pieces.

But that’s not the only thing you came here to talk about.

What will you say?

>”Out of curiosity, how do you feel about introducing some extracurricular activities to the Morlock community? The exercise would be good, and we could even get some people to watch your games.”
>”I know this goes without saying, but you should consider talking to Nature Girl about opening up the park again. It’d be wrong to try and keep them out. We’re all supposed to share this space.”
>”How’re you guys on food and water? Nature Girl can probably grow fruits and veggies, but I doubt she’d be willing to provide any burgers or hot dogs.”
>”If I were you, I’d be worried about the state sending someone to stop you from setting up shop here in the park. They don’t take too kindly to non-taxpayers.”
>”Just as a heads up, I brought a Shield Agent and a Police Captain in here to speak with Joy. They're kind of her biological family, but she hasn't really had a whole lot of contact with them. Although, having the daughter of a cop living here might end up benefitting you guys."
>"Are you still up for meeting with Sable about the whole 'bounty hunting' thing?"
>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

>>5969193
>”Out of curiosity, how do you feel about introducing some extracurricular activities to the Morlock community? The exercise would be good, and we could even get some people to watch your games.”
>”I know this goes without saying, but you should consider talking to Nature Girl about opening up the park again. It’d be wrong to try and keep them out. We’re all supposed to share this space.”
>”If I were you, I’d be worried about the state sending someone to stop you from setting up shop here in the park. They don’t take too kindly to non-taxpayers.”
>"Are you still up for meeting with Sable about the whole 'bounty hunting' thing?"

>>5969193
>>”Out of curiosity, how do you feel about introducing some extracurricular activities to the Morlock community? The exercise would be good, and we could even get some people to watch your games.”
>”Just as a heads up, I brought a Shield Agent and a Police Captain in here to speak with Joy. They're kind of her biological family, but she hasn't really had a whole lot of contact with them. Although, having the daughter of a cop living here might end up benefitting you guys."
>"Are you still up for meeting with Sable about the whole 'bounty hunting' thing?"

>>5969193
>”Say, got anything you need to work on today? You can start heading towards it while I talk you deaf. Consider it payback for blinding me earlier.”
Then do all of the listed options. We can afford to spend time in the park chatting with Glass and others.
>”You can’t chase me out for being nosy or annoying, Glass. Have you seen how well I stick to things?

I keep wanting to think that Ben’s got other things he’ll need to do today… but he’s filthy rich and has no day job to occupy his time. We actually could spend a day in Central Park BS’ing with everyone we come across, mutant or otherwise, handing out autographs and cracking jokes with few repercussions, couldn’t we?

>>5969228
We really should get a to-do-list and calendar of upcoming events together. Would help us get organized and prepare properly.

>>5969228
That's true! Ben has a lot of free time on his hands whenever there isn't an impending crisis to handle.

>>5969283
Would you like me to make a pastebin for that?

>>5969914
>Would you like me to make a pastebin for that?
Up to you, but I wouldn't say no if you did.

>>5969199
>>5969193
>Support

>Bring up the fact we can buy some property. A nice ranch outside New York would be pretty nice. And you guys could do all kinds of cool stuff without worrying about cops and all that. Have nature girl grow some crops, hard wood, breed animals? Well trained K9s sell for 20k+ a pop. You're happy to just be a "silent investor" plus you doubt the government will ignore your take over of central Park forever.

>>5971177
getting their business started on dubiously acquired money is not a good look.
But we can ask around for them to get a proper loan for some land that's regarded as infertile and have some work their powers.

>>5971178
Surely we could wash the money through bitcoin. Or a laundromat... or several shell companies from overseas. Not that hard we have a Uber hacker in our team.

>>5971177
>>5971178
Moving outside of NY feels like it’s defeating the purpose of heading topside. They want to be free to participate in the outside world and show other mutants they can do it. Moving somewhere to set up a true mutant commune isn’t doing that.

But I agree about them legally acquiring land. A loan would be standard, but we could connect him with Julia and Madame Webb to find a location that’s the right fit for them and seek less tainted funds. Madame Webb would have her own conditions, but the more philanthropic nature of her jobs make it easier to be seen associated with her.

Any connections to us may backfire on people once the Gang War arc starts.

Does
>Bring up legally acquiring land through a combination of loans, bounty jobs, and Madame Webb. Offer to make introductions to the last one - Glass and his crew would be good additions to the Order of the Web anyway, and Webb and Julia may have ideas on good property to acquire.
>Discuss ways of leveraging mutant powers to keep a legal income stream coming in, like farming, breeding, and growing hardwood.
work instead?

I’d like more ideas for revenue streams that don’t involve bounty work or piling everything on Nature Girl, but I suppose that’s part of Glass’ job too. I’d bet Joy and Robbie could do good work with stone or metal artwork at least. Good fine control over her hands and the strength/endurance to make it easy, while Robbie could mold metal himself if he can get hot enough. Throw in some decoration with the webbing and dyes and they’d likely do well enough to support themselves while kicking back to the community.

>>5971287
Sure.

I think we should still figure out a way to wash our money though. Have ourselves, our brother get a loan start a laundromat. Wash thr money through that. Even a car wash works. I still think we should ask ember if she can wash money through her hacking skills. It would be easy for her to hack databases and create a legit shell company to push our money through. Putting our money in virgin islands banks sort of thing.

We could always procure materials for SHIELD. Have them pay us.

Like we under bid a job. We want 6 million in x stuff. Cool we'll do it for 5 million. Now we get paid legally.

Best idea is to start a church. (Tax exempt) donate millions through that. Now it's all clean money. And we can spend it on things like real estate or vehicles.

>>5971314
Cleaning our own money makes sense. Using our money to fund the Central Park Morlocks runs the risk of too much untraceable money going through them giving someone a reason to kick things around and see what they find. That could quickly get out of hand if they defend themselves and suddenly have a dozen assault charges on their members. Part of getting a loan is to establish that paper trail so they fit in better as well.

We don’t have mutant hate to worry about!

We could ask Hobie how he did it. He’s clearly cleaned his well enough to retire and live comfortably without drawing undue scrutiny. His method may be a slow-burn to avoid any red flags, but that’s fine by me. We’re on the radar of enough agencies that they may connect the dots if we rush things.

Even if they can’t legally do anything to us about past crimes, they could always use that info to hunt us down for future ones.

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I'm finally back! Sorry for the long wait!

>>5969199
>>5971177
>>5969205
>>5971287
>>5971314
>”Out of curiosity, how do you feel about introducing some extracurricular activities to the Morlock community? The exercise would be good, and we could even get some people to watch your games.”
>”I know this goes without saying, but you should consider talking to Nature Girl about opening up the park again. It’d be wrong to try and keep them out. We’re all supposed to share this space.”
>”If I were you, I’d be worried about the state sending someone to stop you from setting up shop here in the park. They don’t take too kindly to non-taxpayers.”
>"Are you still up for meeting with Sable about the whole 'bounty hunting' thing?"
>Bring up legally acquiring land through a combination of loans, bounty jobs, and Madame Webb. Offer to make introductions to the last one - Glass and his crew would be good additions to the Order of the Web anyway, and Webb and Julia may have ideas on good property to acquire.
>Discuss ways of leveraging mutant powers to keep a legal income stream coming in, like farming, breeding, and growing hardwood.

Taking these. Writing...

Also, I made a small pastebin about the biggest upcoming events that you'll have to prepare for.

Upcoming Events in the Maximum Universe: https://pastebin.com/DceSEjiR

I can also make a to-do list, but that's entirely based on what you guys see as being important enough to pursue. So for anyone who's interested, feel free to skim through the equipment pastebin, as well as other resources like the archive, and let me know whether you found something that's worth pursuing.

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“Out of curiosity, how do you feel about introducing some extracurricular activities to the Morlock community? The exercise would be good, and we could get some people to watch your games.”

“Robbie actually suggested the same thing a little while ago. He thinks soccer or basketball would be a hit with the others.” Glass said.

“Where is Robbie, anyway? I haven’t seen him at all today. You’d think a guy with a flaming skeleton would be easy to find.”

Glass pointed down at the ground.

“He’s been going back and forth between here and The Alley. He likes the fresh air of the park, and the collection of video games and movies you’ve been bringing us.”

“That’s fair. I’d rather you guys feel like you can travel back and forth instead of splitting into separate factions.” you said.

“I feel the same. Maybe having a bit of friendly competition will give the others a reason to interact with the guys down by the Alley.”

“And I might be able to bait Callisto out by making a tennis team. She’s got a mean serve, and I’m sure we can convince her to coach the others.”

Glass raised a crystalline eyebrow at that.

“You sound like you’ve got first-hand experience. You’ve played with her before?”

You nodded.

“Yup. It wasn’t one of my proudest moments, but she seemed to be enjoying herself.”

Glass grinned.

“Now that’s something you don’t see everyday. It’d be nice if she and everyone else can pick up a hobby or a sport. I might have to warm them up to the idea of having people spectate our games, though.”

“Can I play too?” Ester asked, her expression betraying the mix of excitement and nervousness she felt towards the idea.

Glass chuckled, his dazzling smile on full display. That only made Ester retreat further into her curtain of hair.

“Of course you can. It’d be nice if we knew some more kids for you to play with, though.”

Just then, a stray thought popped into your head.

“What about the Lost Boys? Maybe they’d be willing to play.” you suggested.

Now there was a group that you hadn’t thought about in a while. The junior mutants that you rescued from Neverland were supposedly still staying at Xavier’s school after Glass brought them there. They were all the way in Westchester, but that didn’t mean you couldn’t find a way to get the kids together every now and then.

Glass made a thoughtful noise.

“I’d have to contact the X-Men and ask them first, but that’s not a bad idea. It’ll be nice to see them again.”

Ester’s excitement clearly won out, then. Absently, you wondered whether it would be a good idea to introduce Peter to the Morlock kids someday.

“For sure. And I’ll ask Gwen to make sure that Peter Pan doesn’t come anywhere near this park.”

(Cont.)

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An uncomfortable silence stretched between you and Glass. He picked up your meaning, and for a moment, that cheerful glint left his eyes. Ester was looking between the two of you with a concerned expression.

“Don’t worry. I’ve got Iara on air defense. She can swat down anyone that tries to sneak up on us from above.”

You gave him a thumbs up.

“Good. And speaking of keeping people out, I think we should speak with Nature Girl about reopening the park.” you proposed.

“It’d be wrong to keep everyone else out. We’re supposed to share this space.”

Glass nodded.

“I know. I’m gonna talk to her about it later today. She’s just worried that the others will ruin the park.”

“If I were you, I’d be worried about the state sending someone to stop you from setting up shop here in the park. They don’t take too kindly to non-taxpayers.”

This had been your chief concern ever since you found out that the Morlocks were going to start living in Central Park. And from the look on Glass’ face, it had been bothering him as well.

“Believe me. I know better than anyone what it's like to be run out of somewhere by the cops. So long as we can find a way to contribute to the city’s development, then they might be willing to let us stay.”

“There are a few ways we can accomplish that, I think. Are you and the others still willing to meet up with Sable about the whole ‘bounty hunting’ thing?” you asked.

“Iara and Robbie want to, but I think that’s only because they think it’ll be fun. Callisto might be up for it too, so long as she isn’t away from the Alley for too long. The same goes for me, too.” Glass said.

“Why? Do you think they’ll let us stay if we work for Sable?”

You shook your head.

“Probably not. Sable’s interests and the interests of the state won’t always coincide, and she doesn’t have enough influence to strongarm any government officials into letting you guys stay here for as long as you want.”

“So…what are our options?”

“Well…we can try and see if we can’t legally acquire a plot of land for you guys. If we take out a few loans, save up money from bounty hunting jobs, and speak to the right people, then we might be able to swing it. Lucky for you guys, I can introduce you to someone who might be interested in helping you.”

“Of course you do.” Glass said with a good-natured sigh.

“Her name’s Cassandra Webb, and she’s something of a philanthropist. She works with other heroes sometimes, so I’m sure she wouldn’t have a problem working with mutants. She and her tech genie should be able to help you acquire some property for you and the other Morlocks.”

That, and the Morlocks would make great additions to the Order of The Web. But that was a conversation that was better left for after introductions were made.

Glass paused to contemplate the issue.

(Cont.)

“If you think she’d be willing to help us, then I don’t see a reason for why we shouldn’t meet her.”

“Great. I’ll call ahead and set up a meeting.” you decided.

“In the meantime, we should hash out a few ideas to keep a constant stream of legal income flowing in. Have you thought about things that you guys can do to help? Farming? Animal breeding? Growing hardwood?”

“Those all sound like things that Nature Girl and Ester would be better suited for.” Glass noted.

“True, but that doesn’t mean the rest of you can’t put your talents to good use. For example, you could make art out of glass constructs. Or Robbie could entertain people by turning into a giant flaming dinosaur skeleton. And Iara could fly people around for money or smash apart buildings for demolition experts.”

“I’m sure she’d like that last one.” Glass said with a grin. “But I get what you mean. I’ll talk to the others and see if they have any other good ideas.”

—-----

What will you do?

>Accompany Glass in talking to the other Morlocks about making money.
>Call Julia and see if you can’t set up an appointment with Madame Webb either today or tomorrow.
>Get in touch with Sable and inform her that the Morlocks are ready for their audition.
>Hang out with the Morlocks in Central Park for the rest of the day. It’s not like you had anything else going on.
>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

Upcoming Events in the Maximum Universe:
https://pastebin.com/DceSEjiR

>>5977132
>Find a way to clean our money so we can buy things legally.

>Accompany Glass in talking to the other Morlocks about making money.
>Call Julia and see if you can’t set up an appointment with Madame Webb either today or tomorrow.
>Get in touch with Sable and inform her that the Morlocks are ready for their audition.
>Hang out with the Morlocks in Central Park for the rest of the day. It’s not like you had anything else going on.

>>5977132
>>Accompany Glass in talking to the other Morlocks about making money.
>>Call Julia and see if you can’t set up an appointment with Madame Webb either today or tomorrow.
>>Get in touch with Sable and inform her that the Morlocks are ready for their audition.
>>Hang out with the Morlocks in Central Park for the rest of the day. It’s not like you had anything else going on.
Honestly, these are all good option. The first 3 shouldn't take more than an hour combined anyways.

>>5977132
>Text Cindy and see if she and Wanda want to hang out in the park sometime today when they’re done training.
>See what you can call in for food delivery. You don’t feel like cooking tonight, and neither should anyone else here.

>Accompany Glass in talking to the other Morlocks about making money.
>Call Julia and see if you can’t set up an appointment with Madame Webb either today or tomorrow.
>Get in touch with Sable and inform her that the Morlocks are ready for their audition.
>Hang out with the Morlocks in Central Park for the rest of the day. It’s not like you had anything else going on.

The last option gives us time to do the others. We’ll probably be busy over the next few days if we’re going to accompany them to the various auditions though and see through some of the ideas we had though.

>>5977149
I can’t see us working out ways to clean our money while hanging out with the Morlocks, but I’d support reaching out to Hobie for how he went legit in the next week or so.

>>5977132
>all of the above

>>5977149
>>5977574
>>5977157
>>5977765
>Accompany Glass in talking to the other Morlocks about making money.
>Call Julia and see if you can’t set up an appointment with Madame Webb either today or tomorrow.
>Get in touch with Sable and inform her that the Morlocks are ready for their audition.
>Hang out with the Morlocks in Central Park for the rest of the day. It’s not like you had anything else going on.

Taking these. Writing...

>Find a way to clean our money so we can buy things legally.

Since there are a lot of ways to accomplish this, we can discuss your preferred methods here. I'll answer any questions you have to the best of my ability.

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Seeing as how you didn’t have anything else lined up for today, you spent some more time hashing out ideas with Glass. Ester would pipe up occasionally, but she seemed to be pretty much talked out after she told you about her rendition of the Basement Princess.

After a while, the two of you decided that it would be best to gather the Morlocks up and discuss the matter with them in a group.

While you waited for him and Ester to round up the gang, you sent out messages to both Sable and Julia. The latter was first to reply, and she sounded curious to hear what the mutants had to say.

“I heard about those guys setting up shop in Central Park. It’s all over the news!”

“I know. Glass is probably the only one they can’t get a clear shot of, though. The guy’s like a walking lens flare this early in the day.”

“Who?”

“He’s, uh, a mutant with see-through crystal skin. Real nice guy. You’d love him.”

“Oh, wow! Is he seriously made of glass?”

“I don’t think so? He doesn’t really know what it is, but he says that the X-Men classified it as an ‘unidentified mineral’. Personally, I think ‘Glass’ rolls off the tongue better than ‘Unidentified Mineral-Man’.”

“Point taken. You said he needs a place to stay, right?”

“Yeah. I don’t think they’re gonna be able to stay in this park forever. I was hoping you and Webb could find them a nice place for them to settle down.”

“That sounds easy enough. I’m no real estate mogul, but Cassie’s always had good judgment when it comes to stuff like that. Probably has something to do with her being able to see the future.” she said.

“I’ll do some digging on my end. Was there anything else you needed?”

“I wanted to see if Madame Webb would be willing to meet with some of the Morlocks. I think they’d be a good addition to the Order of The Web.” you explained.

“Ah, you want them to join your little superhero club. Is Glass boy up to the challenge?”

“He’s one of the best fighters I know. Plus, I don’t think I have to tell you how awful it is getting a face full of glass shards in the middle of a fight.”

Julia hissed as she imagined how utterly painful that must be.

“No, you do not.”

“I’m bringing a flying shark girl too. She can throw cars and shoot lasers from her eyes.” you added.

“Of course. No super-team is complete without that thing you just said.”

“Exactly. I’m glad you understand.”

“Well, I’m glad that you’re going out of your way to help these mutants. You and Abe have really been racking up those good-boy points, Benji.”

“I’d expect nothing less from my evil twin. He does a good job of covering his tracks.”

Julia chuckled at that.

“Funny. He says the same thing about you.”

(Cont.)

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You felt a strange swell of pride upon learning that your baby bro was doing his part to keep the running gag alive.

“Oh. Webb’s telling me that she’d be available for a meeting tomorrow morning at 8. Do you think your guys can meet us at that time?” Julia said.

“I think so. I’ll text you beforehand if something comes up.”

“Please and thank you.”

She ended the call a moment later, and you went back to see if Sable sent you something without you noticing.

------

She hadn’t, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t get back to you eventually. You weren’t in any particular rush today. She’s probably out fighting crime or handling something at the Symkarian Embassy. Or maybe she just had to take a quick bathroom break. Could be anything, really.

“Huntsman.”

You turned to regard Glass. He was waving his arms around like you couldn’t see his bright and shiny ass from a mile away. You muttered a curse under your breath and shaded your eyes.

“We’re all meeting up by Cherry Hill. You coming?”

You opened your mouth to respond, but your words were blown away by Iara flashing past you.

“Race you there!” she shouted back at you.

“Oh, you’re on!” you replied, leaping into the air and bursting into a ball of fire.

You quickly caught up with her, and she met you with a toothy grin. Behind her, a blonde girl with a blue jacket and a yellow shirt was easily skating across the field. And on your right, you saw a pale girl with long, rainbow colored hair running alongside you. Her name was “Tommy” if you recall correctly.

She wasn’t particularly fast, but you knew her powers had nothing to do with speed. After a few seconds, she seemed to turn completely flat, becoming entirely two-dimensional. Her body contorted and folded as she hung in the air, until she was pressed into the shape of a paper airplane.

None of them were as fast as you or Iara, but the two of you slowed down to keep pace with them. And to your surprise, Glass was actually able to keep up decently well. His feet shifted into cleats when he was running across dirt, and back into skates when he encountered a paved walkway.

“Where’s Ester?” you asked.

“She went on ahead to get the others. She’ll probably be there before us.” Glass answered, even as he flipped over a bench.

Iara’s shoulders sagged.

“Aww, that means she’s gonna beat us! Where’s the fun in that?”

“There’s still second and third place to worry about.” you put in.

“It’s not like it matters anyway.” said the blonde girl that was skating around in the shimmering bubble of force energy.

“You’re way faster than all of us, Shark. I’m pretty sure I heard you breaking the sound barrier earlier.”

Iara shrugged.

“Obviously. That’s why I’m giving myself a handicap, Skids. I’m going at like 30 or 35% right now. Anymore and it’d be unfair.”

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“And that’s why no one wants to race you anymore.” Glass said.

“It’s not my fault that I’m so awesome.” Iara protested.

“And humble too.” you commented.

That got a laugh out of everyone, Shark included. And by the time you reached your destination, Ester was already there waiting for you, cementing her title as the fastest mutant in Central Park.

—-------

“Alright everybody, we need ideas.” Glass declared.

He and the others managed to round up pretty much every mutant in Central Park. Even Nature Girl showed up, but she was very clearly distracted by a pair of squirrels quarreling in the background.

“We’ve already suggested that Nature Girl and Ester focus on raising livestock, growing food and other goods that we can trade for.” Glass continued.

“I’m not raising animals to be slaughtered if that’s what you’re thinking.” Nature Girl snapped, giving Glass the side eye.

“You won’t have to. That’s what this meeting is for.” Glass clarified.

“We know what you’re all about, Lin.”

This voice came from a tall, skinny boy with bird-like features. His name was Barnell, but everyone called him “Beak”.

Lin frowned slightly, but she inclined her head in place of an apology. Glass went on.

“To be clear-”

Some people in the audience chuckled at that.

“We’re not moving forward with anything if you’re not comfortable with it.”

With those words, the tension in the audience dissipated a bit.

“With that being said, I want all of your opinions on ways that we can make a decent living.”

“What about the fairy flowers?” Nature Girl asked.

Glass shook his head.

“That can’t be our only source of income. We can’t stay in this park forever, and we’ll probably have to start paying rent or taxes when we find our forever home.”

“Mutants don’t have a ‘forever home’.” said the one called “Skids”.

Everyone turned to look at her.

File: 8925260-skids.jpg (793 KB, 1297x1920)

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“What? It’s true. You guys watch the news. Anytime a ‘Mutant Utopia’ gets founded, it gets blown up. The X-Mansion, Genosha…it always comes crashing down. Mutants have to stick and move. Things always blow up in our faces when we stay in one place for too long.”

There were murmurs of agreement among the gathered Morlocks. Everyone, even non-mutants, could agree that the Mutant Massacre on Genosha was one of the most horrific events in recent history. It had absolutely nothing to do with you or any of the people you personally knew, but the resulting carnage and wanton destruction made you sick to your stomach everytime you thought about it. The fact that Sentintels could just decide to carpet bomb an entire city just because there were mutants there was a scary thought. And it's part of the reason that Sentinel production has seen a major decrease in recent years.

“Why do we need to move? This place is perfect, and I’m already in the process of putting a roof over our heads. Plus, Donny’s not exactly in the best position to pick up and leave right now.” Nature Girl protested.

“We’ll figure something out. But we seriously need to consider moving once we find something better. The city’s going to force us to move eventually, so I’d like to get ahead of the issue. The Huntsman’s already made an appointment with someone who’d like to help us, and I’m prepared to take the offer.”

Glass gestured towards you, and everyone turned to stare in your direction.

What will you say?

>”He’s right. You can’t legally live in a public park, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use this as an opportunity to change the public perception of mutants.”
>”Trust me, the lady that’s offering to help is a philanthropist. She loves helping people. She once paid me good money to break up a fight.”
>”I get that the world hasn’t been fair to you, but you’ve got to remember why you came here in the first place. You shouldn’t have to live in fear just because the world fears you. You deserve better, and so does every other mutant who’s been forced to go into hiding.”
>"Let's use this as an opportunity to open up a dialogue. What kind of place would you guys like to live in?
>Wave at them, remain silent and let Glass speak. He’s not doing a bad job so far.
>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

Upcoming Events in the Maximum Universe:
https://pastebin.com/DceSEjiR

>>5978642
>”I get that the world hasn’t been fair to you, but you’ve got to remember why you came here in the first place. You shouldn’t have to live in fear just because the world fears you. You deserve better, and so does every other mutant who’s been forced to go into hiding.”
>”I may be the good twin among the spider-themed family, but even I admit the lady I’m introducing him held the spider crown for ‘best person’.”
>”She doesn’t own it anymore, of course. One of these days we’ll get my evil twin to give up its location!”
If we ain’t cracking jokes we ain’t Benny. Open fire cause it’s an imposter.

>>5978642
>”He’s right. You can’t legally live in a public park, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use this as an opportunity to change the public perception of mutants.”
>”Trust me, the lady that’s offering to help is a philanthropist. She loves helping people. She once paid me good money to break up a fight.”
Did you know Webb is a Mutant too? Not something that comes up often. She's basically Charles Xavier if he was an actually good person. Another fun fact, Typhoid Mary is Mutant too, of all people.

>>5978762
>Did you know Webb is a Mutant too?
I don't know about that one chief. Yes, her powers may be symptoms of a hereditary condition, but Mutants only claim people with the X-Gene. Jury's still out on whether or not Webb has that.
Typhoid Mary is definitely a proper Mutant though, I'll admit that.
>>5978642
>”He’s right. You can’t legally live in a public park, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use this as an opportunity to change the public perception of mutants.”
>”Trust me, the lady that’s offering to help is a philanthropist. She loves helping people. She once paid me good money to break up a fight.”
>"We do this right, you'll all have the law on your side for once. I know that may not mean much now, but trust me, it'll give any would-be Mutant bashers something to think about in the future."

>>5978642
>”Ok, let me tell you the bad news first. Glass' right. You can’t legally live in a public park, the bad guys will use it as an excuse to force you out, and the good guys wouldn't even be able to argue against it."
>"And- 'Skid was it?' He's right too. Mutant's homes got blown up in the past. And maybe the next one will too."
>"But it's a trail that needs blazing... You all left the Alley because you have the hope for things to get better. You don't want to live in hiding, you deserve better, and so does every other mutant who’s been forced to go into hiding as well."
>"We do this right, you'll all have the law on your side for once. I know that may not mean much now, but trust me, it'll give any would-be Mutant bashers something to think about in the future."
>”The woman I want to introduce you to, Madame Webb, she's a philanthropist. She's helped people before, and even paid me good money to break up a fight once.”

>>5979860
I'd also like to point out that this IS New York. Between the constant supervillain attacks, magical plagues, demonic summonings, and alien invasions, EVERYBODY in the city has been through it at some point. Baseline Human or card carrying Mutant, it doesn't matter.
You can't really constantly worry about that sorta thing happening though, otherwise you'd be a nervous wreck as long as you lived in NYC.

>>5979892
yeah, I realize that but didn't want to mention it because those houses getting blown up is more collateral damage than /whoever/ seeking out to make enemies with a specific mutant faction

>>5978657
>>5978762
>>5978794
>>5979860

>”Ok, let me tell you the bad news first. Glass' right. You can’t legally live in a public park, the bad guys will use it as an excuse to force you out, and the good guys wouldn't even be able to argue against it."
>"And- 'Skids was it?' She's right too. Mutant's homes got blown up in the past. And maybe the next one will too."
>"But it's a trail that needs blazing... You all left the Alley because you have the hope for things to get better. You don't want to live in hiding, you deserve better, and so does every other mutant who’s been forced to go into hiding as well."
>"We do this right, you'll all have the law on your side for once. I know that may not mean much now, but trust me, it'll give any would-be Mutant bashers something to think about in the future."
>”The woman I want to introduce you to, Madame Webb, she's a philanthropist. She's helped people before, and even paid me good money to break up a fight once.”

Sorry for the delay. I was going to post the update last night, but I wasn't entirely satisfied with it yet. Also, nice write-ins!

>>5978762
>>5978794
Typhoid Mary is indeed a mutant! It's a little-known fact, but I've already got plans to do something interesting with that concept in the future.

File: 5730011-img_1374.jpg (1.36 MB, 1252x1920)

1.36 MB JPG

“He’s right. You can’t legally live in a public park. The bad guys will use it as an excuse to force you out, and the good guys wouldn't even be able to argue against it. But, that doesn't mean you can't use this as an opportunity to change the public perception of mutants.”

The less optimistic of the bunch exchanged skeptical glances. Beak was the first to speak up.

“No offense, dude, but how’s a bunch of mutants hanging around in a park supposed to change things? Are we shooting a PSA here?”

“The idea is that everyone will get to interact with us and judge for themselves whether we deserve to be treated equally.” Glass explained.

Skids scoffed.

“What is this a petting zoo?”

Ester started to point towards the actual petting zoo, but Tommy gently lowered her hand.

“You don’t have to do anything that makes you uncomfortable, but we’re going to have to reopen this park. We don’t own it. This is supposed to be a shared space.” Glass said.

“They’ve never really been good at sharing.” said a boy with purple skin and dark hair.

No one asked who “they” were. It was pretty obvious.

“Then we’ll set the standard.” Glass replied.

“If we can’t handle standing next to a non-mutant, then how can we expect to live among them?”

The purple guy was quick to snap back.

“Hey man, I’m not the one with the problem. They-”

And Glass was even quicker to cut him off.

“The worst of their people doesn't represent their entire species. The same way that Magneto's actions don't reflect our beliefs. If we want them to see our best qualities, then we need to start looking too. People are people, no matter where you go.”

“That's easy for you to say. Not everyone regenerates, Glass. What are we supposed to do if one of them attacks us, or if their cops start tear gassing us to make us leave?” the purple boy asked.

The park went silent. There were no whispers or murmurs to be heard amongst the crowd. Everyone was waiting to hear how Glass would react.

The transparent man's expression grew firm, but he didn't look angry.

“If it comes to that, then we'll defend ourselves. But more importantly, we need to stop pretending that humans are our only threat. Yes, they made Sentinels, and yes they hunt and persecute us. But I've also seen cruelty at the hands of other mutants.”

The silence stretched on. No one else spoke, and you didn't dare open your mouth during his big speech. Iara clenched and unclenched her fists over and over, but she didn't seem entirely sure of why her body was reacting this way.

(Cont.)

File: EPDJDDMX4Ao8Aon.png (431 KB, 465x638)

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“Monsters come in all shapes and sizes. Human, mutant…they're all people. And people are capable of doing horrible things to each other. There are people that hate us and hate our message, and we might never be able to change the way they think. But we can never stop trying. What we're doing is risky, true. But without making sacrifices–without making ourselves at least a little bit vulnerable so that we can meet them in the middle…”

Glass pointed back the way you all came. Towards the police barricade.

“Then we'll never accomplish anything. I need you all to be brave. We need to be brave enough to let someone who hates us get close enough so that they can get a good look at us. And we need to be strong, because these people are going to say and do things that will hurt us. But as long as we stay together, we can handle anything they throw at us.”

He had said it without a hint of sarcasm or embarrassment. He wholeheartedly believed the words that he was saying, and that made the other doubters look away. It was hard to tell whether it was out of shame, or the light was hitting Glass at a bad angle again, but you were confident that it was the former.

Now THAT was going to be a hard speech to follow up on.

“Man. How does he give speeches like that with a straight face? I feel like I'm in a movie, or something.” Beak said.

“All we need is a flag waving behind him.” Iara put in.

“Don't forget to throw in a heroic pose for good measure.” you added.

That earned a chuckle from the others. Most of them, at least.

“Right, so...do we have any idea how we're supposed to find a place for all of us to live?” Tommy asked.

“That's where I come in.” you answered.

“I want to start off by saying that–’Skids’ was it?”

The blonde girl nodded hesitantly, staring at the finger you were pointing in her direction.

“She’s right too. More than a few mutant homes got blown up in the past. And maybe the next one will too. Who knows.”

The purple guy from before opened his mouth to say something, but Glass raised a hand to halt his response. You went on to elaborate on your point.

“But it’s a trail that needs blazing. You all left the Alley because you believe that things can get better for you. None of you want to live in the shadows for the rest of your lives. You deserve better, and so does every other mutant who’s been forced to go into hiding.”

Nature Girl gave you an approving nod, finally devoting her full attention to the conversation at hand. There were murmurs of agreement circulating through the group again. That was a good start.

“We do this right, and you’ll have the law on your side for once. I know that may not mean much now, but trust me, it’ll give any would-be Mutant bashers something to think about in the future.”

(Cont.)

File: 8ff10a0bc035a69bd72caf8fc(...).jpg (134 KB, 535x930)

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That idea seemed to spark some interest in the others. If the mutants could take advantage of the city’s established laws to protect themselves, then they would possess the same rights as everyone else.

“The woman I want to introduce you to–Madame Webb–she’s a philanthropist. She’s helped people before, and even paid me good money to break up a fight once.”

“If you trust her, then that's enough for me. You've done right by us ever since we've known you, so I'm glad to have your help on this.” Glass said.

No one argued that point. Everyone here knew by now that you were here to help. There were still a few skeptics among the Morlock community, but that could more or less be chalked up to non-mutant prejudice.

“Glad enough to bust out another one of your rousing speeches?” you teased.

“What? Are they really that bad?”

Skids gave him a flat look. And off in the corner, Ester was making googly eyes at him.

“My bad. I guess I got a little carried away.” Glass said, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Don't sweat it.” you said in a reassuring tone.

“All you need to worry about is getting that tailored suit we talked about.”

“Unless you want me to rip that thing full of holes, it's not happening.”

“Oh, come on. Is it because you don't know how to tie a tie? Look, it's real easy. I’ll show you.” you said, creating a strip of webbing and wrapping it around his neck.

“You see? Over, then under…”

“Hey! Quit it!”

The conversation was briefly derailed by you trying to force a tie around Glass’ neck. But it wasn't as if anyone made any real effort to try and stop you.

—----

Afterwards, the conversation drifted back towards the matter of making money. And for once, the Morlocks were actually excited about the prospect of interacting with other people.

Beak suggested gathering some of his other mutant friends and playing musical performances. He also jokingly mentioned getting in touch with Dazzler for a live performance, which, honestly, wasn't a bad idea.

Tommy proposed the idea of making and selling art. Glass neglected to mention that you'd already pitched that idea before, since he was probably hoping that she wouldn't come to the same conclusion as you. He didn't look very eager to start pumping out art pieces for rich snobs.

And when it came to Iara's turn, someone blurted out that she'd be perfect for construction. Specifically, in the field of demolition.

She opened her mouth to utter a biting retort, but something suddenly caught her attention.

She turned her head and craned her neck to stare at a pink and white creature rustling in the trees. The others turned to look as well. And it wasn't until she got closer that you recognized her.

(Cont.)

File: 8214535-screwballw_logo.png (1.75 MB, 1118x1920)

1.75 MB PNG

It was Screwball, the criminal streamer. She was pointing a camera at the group of mutants and smiling while talking to herself. Or maybe she was just talking to her viewers.

“Are you seeing this, chat!? There really are mutants living in Central Park!” she said in a hushed tone that really wasn't all that quiet.

Either way, the Morlocks were noticeably alarmed by this sudden appearance, and Ester was growing increasingly uncomfortable.

“Oh, shit! I think they see me…!”

“Hey! We can see you! Your outfit doesn't really camouflage you that well.” you shouted.

Iara narrowed her eyes and shot off towards Screwball. She was hovering in front of the silly little crook a moment later, and the shock of seeing someone of her stature immediately appear out of thin nearly made Screwball fall off of her hoverboard.

“Is she a friend of yours?” Glass asked.

What will you do?

>”Nope. Just an annoying little influencer with a penchant for crime. If we ignore her she might go away.”
>”Her name's Screwball. She's a nutjob that livestreams her robberies. She must’ve come here looking to farm clout by snagging a few pics of you guys.”
>”Let’s just let Shark handle her. She's more than capable of showing her out.”
>”We should let the police know she's here. I love when she gets arrested on stream.”
>”Hold up. I'm gonna go over and figure out what's going on.”
>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

Upcoming Events in the Maximum Universe:
https://pastebin.com/DceSEjiR

>>5980075
>>”Her name's Screwball. She's a nutjob that livestreams her robberies. She must’ve come here looking to farm clout by snagging a few pics of you guys.”
>>”Let’s just let Shark handle her. She's more than capable of showing her out.”

>>5980075
>”Hold up. I'm gonna go over and figure out what's going on.”

>>5980075
>”Let’s just let Shark handle her. She's more than capable of showing her out.”
>"Go easy on her Lara! She's got cameras going!"
It's kind of a shame Screwball is...Screwball. Having a popular live streamer around Central Park would generate a ton of attention for the Morlocks here, and that would probably go a long way towards helping them rehabilitate their public image.

>>5980075
I first read Screwball’s description as “criminal streaker”. I can’t say if that would have been better or worse to deal with.

>”Her name's Screwball. She's a nutjob that livestreams her robberies. She must’ve come here looking to farm clout by snagging a few pics of you guys.”
>”Really, I get the robberies and I get livestreaming, but mixing the two is just unprofessional!”
>”I’d say you can toss her, but being carried out by a flying shark would only give her more viewers and encourage her to return.”
>”Hold up. I'm gonna go over and figure out what's going on.”

Sure, I’ll bite. Let’s see what she was planning to do once she confirmed the mutants were real.

What’s her audience like btw? Any chance we could meme for them to get them to help with cleaning the park up or something, or is it likely to blow back on us because, well, they’re streamers watching a serial robber.