>[ ] Stay at the orphanage while the others go pick up some supplies.
>[ ] Write in.
Ask Layla about the Daniel person who was called out when you were invisible.

>>27882159
>>[ ] Stay at the orphanage while the others go pick up some supplies.
Constant vigilance!

>>27882159
Get food, can't miss out on possible runins.

Send Kev and Noriko for some food, while you and Laura get Layla to a safe, nice scouting position. Preferably someplace up in a building, so we can show off our new ability.

From there, Laura can track Kev and Noriko should there be any trouble while we get some more info from Layla.

Ask her about this Daniel man, if she saw this face anywhere else, if there was any recent lay-off(this vampire freak might be a resentful former employee) that was widely known, if the orphanage was built over some sort of indian cemetery, you know the usual stuff.

>>27882281
Do people like this expansion of the
>[ ] Stay at the orphanage
option?

>>27882159
pastebin.com/zFvxDsKi
Crusty has said this is subject to change, but at a later time, until then this is what the powers are.

>>27882281
>>27882338
Sure i'm for it, since we have better senses and all.
Also, we should test our new adhesive touch powers.

>>27882338
>>27882375
You said our powers will end at the end of the chapter, what signifies the end of a chapter and is it near?

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>>27882338
I'm up for it.

Also
I hope know what to do with your X-points

>>27882159

>[ ] “Welp, they won’t be here till later, so I guess we can go get something to eat.”

that way just us and LAURA can come back the two stealthy people

>>27882506
Yup banking them it was siad that spreading them too much is bad.

>>27882416
When we get kidnapped by Weapon X
or something

>>27882544
>Weapon X
Sorry i on't read comics so you lost me.

>(1/2)

>[X] Stay at the orphanage while the others go pick up some supplies.
>[X] Write in

You glance at your watch. 1:55. If you recall correctly, those ‘experts’ were supposed to be arriving at three. So you have a little over an hour.

“I’d better stick around for a while. Noriko, Kev, would you guys mind picking up a few supplies? We’re running low on fuel. Food, too.”

They glance at each other and shrug.

“Yeah, I guess.” Answers Noriko.

You give them a quick-rundown of the high-energy low-effort hobo recipes you’ve picked up over the years (you’re sure they wouldn’t do much to impress that sweary British TV chef guy, but you’re pretty proud of them), and send them off with $40.

“And us?” Asks Laura.

“Well, I was just gonna keep watch.” You look down at Layla and smile. “There’s a few things I’d like to know, too, from our inside source. Come on, we don’t have to stand next to this creepy old dump.”

>(2/2)

To be fair, Sacred Tree isn’t the only creepy building on the street. It’s the only old one, but this is Queens, and on top of that it’s a hop and a skip from the long stretch of blasted ruins you’ve made a home in. When the children of Sacred Tree look out of the window at night, they see a whole cluster of barren, abandoned houses on the opposite side of the street – probably a whole heap more fuel for the whole ‘ghost’ idea. You guess nobody wants to live right next to the scar. Or maybe it’s still vaguely irradiated or something?

Jeez, you hope not.

As the three of you sidle up to one of the abandoned houses, you turn to Layla and rattle of something that’s been on your mind for a while.

“So, when I was in here, this girl kept thinking I was a Daniel. You know, whenever I moved something or whatever. Who would that be?”

Layla looks up at you with raised eyebrows.

“Daniel? Daniel’s just a kid. He’s like a year younger than me. Kind of an ass clown.”

Oh. Hah, you were kind of expecting a little more than that.

“We should ascend one of these buildings.” Laura notes. “They offer an excellent view.”

“Oh, uh, sure.”

The house in front of you is a pretty standard two-floor deal. Probably an attic too. The door is thoroughly boarded, but there’s a fire escape – a rickety, skewered fire escape that clearly sees little use.

>[ ] Try to covertly break through the door.
>[ ] Try the fire escape.
>[ ] Write in.

>>27882582
>>[ ] Try the fire escape.

>>27882416
To an extent it depends on you.

You have to overcome a certain something to progress. Also, you've been speeding up the process by buying loads of abilities. The more separate powers you buy, the less x-points you can get in a chapter.

>>27882582
>>[ ] Try the fire escape.
I know how this is going to end

>>27882582
>>[ ] Write in.
Wall climb we have the strength to do it.

>>27882582
Through the door
HULK SMASH

>>27882602
THE PHASEBOAT IS SINKING! QUICK! ALL ABOARD THE LIFEBOATS!

>>27882602
Can you give us an idea of X-points per chapter then or is that too much?

>>27882582
Try the fire exit by ourselves as it is rickety.

>>27882610
We don't know that yet, though.

We could try climbing using our claws. At level one it is only marginally harder than using adhesive touch.

>>27882633
I prefer to keep you guys blind on that, since JJ has no clue what's going on.

You can't buy many more powers, though. You're very very close to the cutoff. Once you reach that (if you reach it) I'll probably accelerate matters somewhat.

>>27882664
You heard him guys. Sorry phase-bros we're going to just stick with the powers we've got for a while.

>>27882602
>The more separate powers you buy, the less x-points you can get in a
So your saying spreading our x-points is bad for more than 1 reason huh.(Paralytic Touch,Vampiric Touch, and Light Armour before then.)i was a phase bro at the begging, but the constant begging and ridicules jabs that people said about using the power turned me off.

>>27882664
If that's the case, I guess it'd be wiser to just hoard points until we know exactly what we want to do with them

>>27882664
b-b-buh my Wampire Touch

>>27882677
To an extent. On the upside, you really made shit fluffy as fuck.

>writing

>>27882670
Yea, I think we need to buff the lightning enough to be able to kill a certain sadistic whore who is after us before dipping to phasing.

>>27882696
I'll always vote vampiric touch over phasing.

So from the sounds of it we can get 2-3 more powers before shit hits the fan.
>Pheromone Manipulation
It is pretty useless at level 1(since JJ can't control his emotions), but it has potential around level 3 and on.(this and phasing are argued to be the worse of the level 1 powers)

>Paralytic Touch
Its like a concentrated electric touch, but it doesn't harm and it is more for disabling people at longer times.(perfect for stealth)
>Vampiric Touch
It is basically a quicker healing factor that can be used for offense, and perfect for grappling.
>Light Armour
Armour that can take small arms fire and it doesn't hurt agility.(high levels increase effectiveness) Great for when stealth is compromised
So here is my top pick if we choose on buying instead of banking.

>[ ] Try the fire escape.

You approach the fire escape at an apprehensive gait. It’s rusty, it’s old, and you’re really not sure how much weight it can support. Not that you’re really demanding much of it. You’re a malnourished hobo, Layla’s a kid, and Laura is a tiny person (seriously, what is she, 5’1”?).

You give it an experimental rattle. It shifts, but stays bolted – just about – to the brickwork. Should work.

Laura bounds up in a single, fluid motion, leaving Layla to stare at you like you’ve slighted her somehow.

“I can’t reach that.”

“Yeah, I know.” Duh. “I can, though.”

She recoils slightly as you move to pick her up, and you shoot her a critical look. For all her bluster, she’s not exactly all the ass-kicking braveheart she seems to hold up as her self-image. After a moment of silence, she lets you heft her up and lift her to the ladder, grabbing hold of it.

A moment passes. And then another moment. Eventually, you speak up.

“Uh, Layla, you have to pull yourself up.”

“I am!” She responds, angrily, coming dangerously close to putting a heel in your eye. “You need to let go!”

“I have let go.” You say, bemusedly. Damn her arms are small and all but is she really that wea–

You try to pull your hands away, and are surprised to find that you can’t. Huh. You’re pretty much stuck fast to that Flanderesque sweater top of hers.

>Roll to unfuck your powers
>DC13

Rolled 16

>>27882837

Rolled 2

>>27882837

Rolled 9

>>27882837

Rolled 1

>>27882837
Dayum
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEDh9I9MvUk&hd=1

>>27882882
Well I'm certainly glad it's only the 1st 3 rolls.

>>27882882
You are one lucky motherfucker.

Rolled 3

>>27882882
>>27882837
Thank god its best of 3

>>27882837
>Hands stuck to a little girl's clothes
>Try to rip them off
>Take clothes with them
How would we explain this to the police?

>>27882903
We don't. We turn invisible

>>27882908
You would just leave a little girl naked, in Queens? You're a horrible person.

>>27882912
Eh, tell me something I don't know

Rolled 5

I can't believe i spent 30 minutes playing snake.

>>27882849
>16
>success

You can’t believe this shit. It’s happening again. Hell, is it getting faster? It seems like this stuff is just… mounting up. Like kindling. You can’t help but feel the vaguely like you’re accelerating to breakneck pace, and if you try to break, you’re gonna break real fucking hard.

You tug a little harder. Layla helps and – and you swear, she actually tried to kick you that time.

“Are you retarded? Let go!”

“I’m… I’m stuck!”

You shut your eyes. That always seems to help. You close up your senses, focusing only on your hands. You feel the cold prickling at the strange, smooth scales that smatter their way up your fingers. You feel your palms tingling, the wool tickling, body heat soothing, tiny particles of sweat trickling. Abruptly, you come unstuck.

Layla scrabbles her way up, helped by Laura, who is staring down at you were a concerned expression.

You stare at your hands. Why do you feel like there’s static darting through them? How did you…

>[ ] Go up the fire escape.
>[ ] Try wallclimbing!
>[ ] Write in.

>>27882957
>[ ] Try wallclimbing!

>>27882957
>>[ ] Go up the fire escape.

>>27882957
>>[ ] Try wallclimbing!
No time like the present to try out a new power.

>>27882957
CLIMB THAT SHIT SON

>>27882957
>>[ ] Go up the fire escape.
>>[ ] Try wallclimbing!
Wall climb, but the fire escape is near us, for precaution.

>>27882957
Fire escape, we can show them at the top.

>>27882957

>[ ] Try wallclimbing!

>>27882957
>[ ] Try wallclimbing!
Obviously!

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Spiderhobo must do what spiderhobo does.

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Rolled 14

>>27882957
>You can’t help but feel the vaguely like you’re accelerating to breakneck pace, and if you try to break, you’re gonna break real fucking hard.
>[x] Try wallclimbing!
In it for a penny

>>27882957

Just realized that this meshes really well with electrostatic touch. They both run off electricity. That's cool. I missed the voting last round so good choice guys.

>[X] Try wallclimbing!

Tentatively, you place one palm against the brickwork and concentrate. You pull away and – you don’t, your palm remains fixed in place. Hah.

You try with your other, and then attempt pulling away, alternating your fingerless grip upon the wall between hands, getting the hang of the exact feeling you have to draw out to keep yourself attached. Haha.

One palm after the other, you slowly ascend, a grin beginning to tug back your lips. After a moment you realize it works with your feet, too – even through your shoes. How the hell is that possible? Do you have, like, super long spines going through your boots (and your gloves?). You don’t think you do. What the hell, man?

Hahaha.

You soon find yourself sticking to the wall parallel Layla and Laura.

Hahahaha!

“This is great! I’m like Spider-Man or some shit!”

“Yes.” Notes Laura, still wearing an expression of muted concern. “You are.”

>[ ] Go to the roof.
>[ ] Go to the second floor.
>[ ] Just chill on the wall, talk to the poor non-sticky people ‘bout some shit (write in).
>[ ] Write in.

Heads up - next post'll be a little late.

>>27883150
>[ ] Go to the second floor.

>>27883150
>>[ ] Go to the roof.

>>27883150
Offer Layla a piggyback while we climb. Good oportunity to test the limits of our powers.

Might as well build a few happy memories before the supercancer kicks in

>>27883150
Sudden seriousness.

"Only less annoying and potentially unstable."
Go to the roof.

>>27883150
>>[ ] Just chill on the wall, talk to the poor non-sticky people ‘bout some shit (write in).
"Well, you know what they say, when you throw enough hoboes at the wall, some of them are bound to stick."
>[ ] Go to the roof.

>>27883242
That's awful, stop that.

>>27883242
HA! this!

>>27883242
i'mma go with "no"

>[X] Go to the roof.

“Only less annoying and potentially unstable.” You add.

Way to piss on your own bonfire, JJ.

You make your way up the roof. You go a little slower than you probably could – uncharted waters an’ all – and the others make it up there just a little before you. You swing over the modest eave and glance across the street, where Sacred Tree sits like a squat, ungainly shadow. Yep, you’ve got a pretty much perfect bird’s-eye of the place.

The skyline around you is shifting from the dull, cold grey of winter into the early reds. It’ll be getting dark soon enough.

Laura sits down beside you, Layla having immediately disentangled from her and shrunk down to huddle at the edge facing away from the orphanage.

You jump a little when you feel the warmth of Laura’s touch winding around your fingers, looking down at her. She seems to be studying your palms for marks or whatever. Probably a good idea.

>[ ] “Uh, anything of interest there?”
>[ ] Ask Layla if she wants to sit a little closer.
>[ ] Ask Layla about the orphanage [insert exact topic].
>[ ] Write in.

>>27883242
"Oh god you sound like him too"

>>27883464
>>[ ] “Uh, anything of interest there?”

Rolled 19

>>27883464
>>[ ] “Uh, anything of interest there?”
>>[ ] Ask Layla if she wants to sit a little closer.

>>27883464
>>[ ] Write in.
"Do you reckon I'll ever stop mutating?"

File: 1382471548355.gif-(1.39 MB, 478x360, 2lewd4me.gif)

1.39 MB GIF

>>27883464
Second time in as many days she's been caressing our hands. Jesus, you could cut the sexual tension with a knife.

>[ ] Write in.
Just enjoy it for the moment.

>>27883464
>[x] Ask Layla about the orphanage [insert exact topic].

Did the ghost ever say anything?

>>27883464
>[ ] “Uh, anything of interest there?”

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>>27883568
Even Speedwagon agrees with this.

>>27883568

Yes.

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>>27883568
Her interest is purely scientific!

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>>27883568
She's a very lewd girl.

>>27883638
Jesus, anon, I think that gif gave me a hand-holding fetish.

>>27883671
I feel like we've just reached some sort of singularity with the hand holding joke, like it's become an actual lewd thing.

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>>27883630
>>27883568

Rolled 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoQYw49saqc
>>27883464

>>27883690
Dude, have you ever had a girl just hold your hand? Not even weird massaging it like in the gif, just holding hands and sitting there all cuddled up?

Shit's nice.

>>27883585
Return the slab

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>>27883797
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHw4ncWzO1k

>[X] Write in.

You just sit there for the moment. You’re pretty certain that this is an entirely scientific kind of touch, but it’s not exactly uncomfortable.

Her fingertips leave tiny beads of warmth along your palms, tracing their way down your digits with deliberate, experimental slowness. Occasionally she presses a point somewhere – at the centre of your palm, below your thumb, under your index finger, as if searching for something.

“No spines or hooks.” She says, suddenly. Yikes, you should hope so. “No abnormal indentions or patterns either. Aside from”–

“The scales?”

She nods. You shift a little uncomfortably – you’ve always sort of wondered how your hands feel to other people. Compared to normalcy.

“Do you think I’ll ever stop mutating?”

She looks up into your eyes.

“You should.” She states, at length. “Perhaps you are simply responding to stress. Perhaps you’ve never fully activated your x-gene until now, and it is responding to the pressures of your situation. When you… left your home, what did you want more than anything else?”

You stare back into her bright greens. The answer is a dull thud in the back of your brain, a black fire, cold and searing and impossible.

“I wanted to hide, from everything.”

She sets your hand down.

>[ ] Just wait and watch Sacred Tree.
>[ ] Ask Layla if her ‘ghost’ ever said anything.
>[ ] Write in.

>>27883834
>[x] Just wait and watch Sacred Tree.
Kind of the mature thing to do, to suit the mood.
sorry Layla

>>27883834
>>[ ] Ask Layla if her ‘ghost’ ever said anything.

Rolled 2

>>27883834
>>[ ] Ask Layla if her ‘ghost’ ever said anything.
>>[ ] Write in.
Ask Laura as well of what she thinks our X-gene is exactly.

>>27883834
>[x] Just wait and watch Sacred Tree.
>[x] Ask Layla if her ‘ghost’ ever said anything.


"Have you tried returning the slab?"

jk

>>27883860
Lets go with this, i would like to know what she thinks our real power is.

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>>27883919
I admit, I'm curious as well.

>>27883919
Powers-as-plot-demands power. We Silver Age now.

>>27883919
>>27883930
>>27883937

thread 13 has Laura's theory

>“Advanced Adaptation is a documented ability.” Laura notes.

>>27883834

Right in the feels, perhaps giving a terminal case of the feels.

>Watch Sacred Heart
>"There is a clear pattern now...right...since meeting everyone. Getting stronger and faster then getting claws after spending time around you...getting a taser touch after nearly getting arc lit by Noriko. Sticking to walls after our run in with that spider. How many powers can I manifest after contact before my body decides its done? I'm scared" let that sit in the quiet for a bit.
>"So, Layla, has the face in the dark ever said anything?"

>>27883956
True, but she was able to study more now and i don't think it was ever this advanced.

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>>27883937
"I think you might be a protagonist."

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physical contact factors in I suppose

might explain in universe why we have no Kevin based powers

>>27884011
There is always envenomed, but i'm more partial to vamperic touch for working with kevin.

>>27884045
Well, vampiric touch is more related to Kevin's ability than envenoming touch anyway.

Kevin's ability withers.
Envenoming touch tries to find a chink in biology.

>>27884075
True, plus its a great close quarters combat ability.

>>27884101
True enough and if we manage to level it up enough to actually start healing, paired up with healing factor it could be fearsome.

>>27884132
>>27884101

I'd rather focus on Senses for lv5 precognition. Maybe strength and healing factor.

>[ ] Ask Layla if her ‘ghost’ ever said anything.
>[ ] Write in.

You watch the sky shift subtly overhead.

“What… uh, what do think my mutation actually is, now that you’ve had some time to observe it?”

You can’t help it. You’re curious. It’s not like you’ve ever had anyone practiced at identifying this stuff on tap.

“I think…” She pauses, looking down at your hand again. “I thought you may possess the ability to adapt to new stimuli, but such mutations are generally temporary. I’m beginning to think that your x-gene simply hasn’t… settled. It’s not uncommon for mutants to first manifest their abilities in moments of extreme stress, and nor is it uncommon for these abilities to reflect the unique pressures they have come up against.”

You’re not exactly sure you understand. Well, you get the whole… gist of it… but…

“I believe that, for some reason, your process of genetic awakening is still on-going, and refusing to resolve into a single combination.”

“…I see.”

So… her theory is that your x-gene is, what, overactive? Always switched on? Always under stress? You’re not sure you entirely like the implications of that.

“Hey, uh, Layla.” She’s been staring at you both for a while. It’s kinda awkward, actually. So you might as well bring her in and change the subject at the same time. “Did your… ghost… ever say anything?”

She rubs her arms – again – and looks down.

“I… I don’t think so. I tried not to look at it. We all did. It sort of, it kind of moved its lips… but there wasn’t any sound.” She quietens, before popping up a little, her eyes widening. “Anne said it spoke to her. But she’s such a liar.”

>[ ] “What did she say it said?”
>[ ] “I see.” Wait and watch.
>[ ] Write in.

>>27884175
>>[ ] “What did she say it said?”

>>27884175
>[x] “What did she say it said?

"I'll be the judge of that"

>>27884175
>>[ ] “What did she say it said?”

>>27884175
>>[ ] “What did she say it said?”

>>27884175
>[ ] “What did she say it said?”

"Even liars can tell the truth sometimes. Plus, any information is good in this situation."

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>[X] “What did she say it said?”

“I’ll be the judge of that.” You state. “What did she say it said?”

You think she actually blushes a little, and maybe sort of smiles. She’s still rubbing her arms, though, just very slightly.

“It’s really stupid…” She leans back against the edge, staring up that the darkening sky. “This was a while after it started doing it’s… its thing. It mostly just stared at Alex then, though kids in Saracens – those are our dorm rooms, they have these stupid names – say it was looking at Claire too…”

She shifts about a little, biting her lip.

“Um, one night Anne got up. She does this sleep walking thing sometimes. Anyway, she got up, and tried to get through the door, which woke most of us up too. So she keeps just pushing herself at the door like a total ‘tard, and then it just opens.”

She stops for a moment.

“And it was there, looking down at her. The next day she said it whispered in her air, that it said – this is really stupid – ‘magic number’.”

>[ ] Huh. Wait and watch.
>[ ] Write in.

>>27884175
>What did you elf eyes see Legolas

>>27884383
>>[ ] Huh. Wait and watch.

>>27884383
>[ ] Huh. Wait and watch.

Great pic, Crusty.

>>27884383
>[x] Write in.

and pray tell, what was said magic number?"

Shouldn't we have someone watching the back of the building?

Or ask if there are other ways to get in and out of the place?

>>27884383
>Wait and watch.

>>27884422

It only said 'magic number'. Not a magic number.

>>27884422
>and pray tell, what was said magic number?"

Tree fiddy

>>27884542
fucking lictors

>>27884542
I don't think we can take the Loch Ness monster

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>>27884697
Laura could

>[X] Huh. Wait and watch.

Magic number. Magic… magic number.

“Huh.”

You spend the rest of the hour mostly just watching the evening dwindle. There’s no activity and the front doors to the orphanage for quite some time – eventually, the hour slips by, dawdling off by ten minutes, then by twenty, by thirty… until, eventually, a low, expensive-looking pulls up nearby, disgorging a man in his late forties.

You perk up as he turns in toward the building, striding his way to the door. He’s… well, you can’t say all that much about him, really, other than that he’s old and one of those stick-like, pencil-y people that always seem a little taller than they are. Well dressed, kinda.

“Looks like we have our specialist.”

You glance at your watch. 3:39. You want to see this, but you were hoping to stick around and do a bit of digging after nightfall, when everyone is tucked away in bed. You could hop in an’ out, but you’re honestly not sure how many hours of invisibility you can safely squeeze into a day.

>[ ] Go down and check it out.
>[ ] Wait till later.
>[ ] Write in.

>>27884732
>>[ ] Go down and check it out.

>>27884732
>>[ ] Go down and check it out.
Tell Luara to keep lookout and make any noise if she sees any danger.

>>27884732
>[x] Go down and check it out.

>>27884732
>>[ ] Go down and check it out.
Where the hell are Kevin and Noriko with the food?

>>27884792
>>27884732
Yeah this is worrying.

>>27884732
>all dem dropped words

fgsfg

>There’s no activity and the front doors to the orphanage
>at the front doors

>a low, expensive-looking pulls
>expensive-looking car pulls

>>27884732
>[ ] Go down and check it out.

Just got here

>>27882571
Did we seriously send two recovering drug addicts (one a heavy user) who have been sober for less than a week off on their own with forty bucks? That's... Well, at least we'll know how much we can trust them I guess?

>>27884899
Its been an hour and those fuckers aren't back.

>>27884899
Not recovering drug addicts, recovering MUTIE drug addicts. Respect where is due, m8.

>>27884919
we sent them off to go shopping for fuel, matches, and food. And some of that food needs to be refrigerated. So shopping time + trip back to the hovel to throw food in the snow = still perfectly reasonable amount of time.

>>27884975
or they were abducted...but the real question is by whom?

>>27884975
The hovel is a block away from where we are.

>>27884989
I'm guessing we should have sent laura with them

>>27884975
Yea, I'd say 1 hour reasonable.

>>27883150
You know, I'm starting to wonder if Laura's concern about our crazy power expansion isn't some kind of hint that if we keep acquiring new powers willynilly our X-Gene might go critical and turn us into a wreathing mass of chaos...or JJ has a serious dose of Protagonist Power, guess we'll see.

>[X] Go down and check it out.

“I’m gonna get a closer look. Just in and out, hopefully.”

Laura nods.

You… well, you Spider-Man your way down the side of the building. It’s faster than braving that ridiculous fire escape and certainly quieter than busting out through the door like the fucking mutie version of the Kool Aid Man, so why not?

Once you’re down there, you head to the edge of the road, getting a good angle on the orphanage entrance. The guy’s still there – you think he just rang the bell, or knocked, or something, and it occurs to you that rather than going round the back, you could just fade out and trail right behind him.

>[ ] Go round the back, like you did earlier.
>[ ] Try to follow directly in the guy’s footsteps.
>[ ] Write in.

>>27885081
>>[ ] Try to follow directly in the guy’s footsteps.
Ok, this is too good to pass up

>>27885081
>[ ] Try to follow directly in the guy’s footsteps.

>>27885081
>[x] Go round the back, like you did earlier.

we already know the way

>>27885081
>>[ ] Try to follow directly in the guy’s footsteps.

>>27885081
>>[ ] Try to follow directly in the guy’s footsteps.
>>[ ] Write in.
But don't stay too close and we have wall crawling and senses to help pus sneak.

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>>27884899
>>27884919
>>27884966
>>27884975
>>27884989
>>27884993
>>27885004
>>27885048

Obviously they got distracted.

>>27885081
>[ ] Try to follow directly in the guy’s footsteps.
lets see how much of an expert he actually is.

>>27885139
Yeah lets use our other powers ass well since we can ease drop easily and no one will hear us if we are climbing on the ceiling.

>>27884732
>go and check it out
>take Laura if she volunteers, otherwise leave her with the emotionally vulnerable 14year old.

>>27884792
Probably high as hell at the moment and dealing with their own munchies...

Or Noriko had an incident. In all fairness she was due to have one about now.

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>>27885139
>>27885175
Fuck it this reminds me of jeepers creeper.

>>27885113
>>27885114
>>27885118
>>27885139
>>27885165

>Stealth Check
>DC15
>+3 modifier for obvious reasons

Rolled 5

>>27885242

Rolled 9 + 3

>>27885242
Rolling

Rolled 15

>>27885242

Rolled 5 + 3

>>27885242

>>27885260
oh thank goodness

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>>27885260

Yeah!

We did it!

>>27885260
Third's the charm.

>>27885260
Fuck yeah i rolled a 15
>>27885231
>Or Noriko had an incident
It was bound to happen if we sent her into a super market.

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1.18 MB GIF

>>27885232
Is in universe Justin Long in danger?

>>27885231
I wonder if the buildings lightning rod would work for her.

>>27885320
Maybe there's one around the Scar

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>>27885315
I wish there was a gif version of this.

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>>27885260
Impressive Lizardry

>>27885320
We already suggested her discharging into a grounded piece of metal. Noriko said she'd tried that and it it ended up with her melting the metal (and possibly starting a small fire, not sure about that part though).

>>27885260
>18
>great success

You fade out and sidle up behind the guy, practically taking position in his shadow.

He smells sterile and cold. Rubber, metal, air freshener. Aftershave. Age. He’s probably on the verge of crossing over into his fifties, judging by the look of him, but has retained a head of dark, neatly-trimmed air, steadily greying around the back. His suit tells you probably makes more money than most of your extended family combined (and your mother’s side was certainly not of insufficient means).

The door opens and the older woman you saw earlier smiles out at him. He smiles back, obligatorily. She probably doesn’t notice just how little of him was in that – you’ve found that the observer’s seat gives you so much more time to appreciate what people are really saying.

“Hi.” They shake hands. “You must be Doctor Ross?”

“That I am.” He confirms, his voice deep and gravelly. You pick up a hint of tobacco.

“Come in, come in. Did you have an enjoyable trip?”

They’re mostly just exchanging pleasantries for now, it seems. And it appears that the guy is a doctor, not a… whatever else you thought he might’ve been.

He steps over the threshold.

>[ ] Follow. You could do with hearing a medical opinion on what’s going on.
>[ ] Don’t bother. You’re certain what’s going on is psychical.
>[ ] Write in.

>>27885528
>>[ ] Follow. You could do with hearing a medical opinion on what’s going on.

>>27885528
>Follow. You could do with hearing a medical opinion on what’s going on.

>>27885528
>>[ ] Follow. You could do with hearing a medical opinion on what’s going on.
>>[ ] Write in.
do what these two anons suggested.
>>27885139
>>27885175

Rolled 7

>>27885528
>[ ] Follow. You could do with hearing a medical opinion on what’s going on.

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>>27885528
Follow, but just enough to determine he's a med. He could have a different kind of Doctorate.

>>27885528
>[ ] Follow. You could do with hearing a medical opinion on what’s going on.
We're here for information, to miss this would do little good.

>>27885573

Seconded.

>>27885573
Eh might as well exercise our powers.

>>27885528
>follow but stay out of arms reach of that guy, he's giving me the heebeejeebees.

>>27885528
>[x] Follow. You could do with hearing a medical opinion on what’s going on.

we couldn't identify a fucking handprint soooo...

>>27885528
>[ ] Follow. You could do with hearing a medical opinion on what’s going on.

Plus, y'know, there's more doctors than just MD's

>>27885528
>Follow, maybe he's also a Doctor of the Strange variety.

>>27885737
>maybe he's also a Doctor of the Strange variety.

Like Doctor Orpheus?

>>27885805
Dr. Spooky Exorcist.

>>27885805
or Doctor Henry Killinger and his magic murder bag

>>27885843
>Doctor Henry Killinger and his magic murder bag

Him appearing in this world would be pretty fucking cool I think.

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>>27885824
PhD in Spookology and Necroeconomics

>>27885884
>and Necroeconomics

The study of the life, entropy and death of markets?

>>27886003
Better. The resurrection of dead markets. In high demand as of late.

>>27886003
Probably the trade of souls and etc

>(1/2)

>[X] Follow.

Well, you could do with hearing a medical opinion on what’s going on. You’re pretty sure that whatever’s up has more to do with the mind than the body, but… could be, like, a neurosurgeon or something. Or the neurosurgeon equivalent for non-surgeons. Someone who knows about brains.

The step across the threshold in his shadow, ducking a little to the side as the woman – she must be the owner, or the head person, or something – shuts the door behind her guest.

They proceed up the stairs and you follow shortly behind, relying on your senses to keep you in on what they’re discussing.

“So, there are two patients now?”

“Yes, first it was Alex, two weeks ago. The hospital told us it’d just be a matter of time – that there were a number of treatments we could try…”

“And now this second one? Claire, correct?”

She nods.

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>>27885843
The best doctor around

>(2/2)

They make their way to the off-limits room that serves as the slumbering children’s sanctuary. You don’t bother following them in – you can hear just fine through the door.

“You’ve had the place looked over for material causes?”

“Yes, yes, we had some people come in and search the place for toxins as soon as Alex went under. They didn’t turn anything up. We’re… we’re at wit’s end, and our local hospital seems to barely understand what’s happening. We were told you were one of the leaders in your field, so…”

The doctor sighs throatily.

“Well, you were told right.” Jeez. “Let me take a look.”

You stand at the door for a good few minutes, listening in on a series of slight, vague sounds, often punctuated by a gravelly “hmm” or “ahhh”. Eventually, he sighs once again, and you hear his weight shift significantly.

“Full brain activity, yet unresponsive. Something like this would generally be the cause of some stress or trauma, but clearly that’s not the case. Which leaves only material causes. Miss Sinclair, I would very much advise that you have the building tested for airbornes again”–

“But we’ve already”–

“Miss Sinclair, coincidences like this do not happen. Something must have been missed. I’d schedule a check as soon as possible. Frankly, it’s a wonder that there haven’t been further incidents. Most substances capable of causing such reactions can have narcotic or even hallucinogenic effects, too.”

Huh.

----------------------------------------------------------------

>THREAD 18: END

>Congratulations! You a Spider-Man!
>Congratulations! You have a new theory about your powers!
>Congratulations! You may have just been hallucinating!
>Congratulations! Magic number!

Homeless Mutant Quest is likely to return on Thursday. Until then keep up via the twitter: https://twitter.com/CrustyJay

As usual, I’ll be around for a while to answer questions.

>>27886093
it's getting 5spooky for me in here, Crusty.

Are we going to get a special Halloween issue with the gang having some fun? Maybe some unironic trick-or-treating?

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>>27886093
hercules in the HMQ universe yes or no?

>>27886146
We're still a few years out from Cho and his' Excellent Adventures.

Should still be doing other stuff, I suppose.

>>27886129
It did occur to me that Halloween is coming up. This was a random event, but if the conclusion is the proximity of All Hallow's Eve... let's consider it a Halloween Special anyhow.

Also, hobos trick or treating, haha.

>"There you go, sonny."
>Looks in the bag.
>"Yo grandma what the fuck is up with all this candy? Where's mah protein? Where's mah chicken livers?"

>>27886186

Halloween Thread

Punisher after us.

>>27886186
I'm going to make a guess and say that this is actually a ghost and that we're going to need someone like Doc Strange to fix it.

>>27886186
>not learning that you can trade candy for food with kids
>Not looking out for drunk douches
>not knowing we can sneak in to any party with out worry

>>27886146
He's around. He hasn't met Cho yet.

I doubt you want to meet him. His legendary ways will pull your companions from your orbit. Hercules has been practicing his protagonist-fu since antiquity.

>>27886186
We can totally take Laura and Layla trick or treating.

It'll be adorable.

>>27886213
I'm thinking is an out of control mutie.

>>27886093
No x-point this time around?

>>27886186
>Halloween Thread

Deadpool in drag will come to us.

>>27886253
Nah, you didn't really flex your stuff enough.

And the more x-points you accrue, the more challenging stuff you have to do to get them (of course, by then you're better equipped to deal with more challenging shit).

I vote on spending the x point on phasing

>>27886273
It would more likely be deadpool cosplaying as femWolverine. Which might get an interesting reaction from Laura.

>>27886293
>I vote on spending the x point on phasing

What X-Point?

>>27886316
You missed the joke anon.

>>27886312
or Deadpool as Man-Fay(Lauara), which I think would be more entertaining.

>>27886312
Wolverine isn't a famous identity in this universe. He's not an Avenger or an X-Man or anybody particularly well known.

Hence why JJ didn't think "Huh, she's got Wolverine claws" when he saw Laura pop her metal.

>>27886316
They have been so desperate for that power that they have become delusional.

>>27886334
>You missed the joke anon.

Honestly, with all the Phasefaggotry going on, I thought he was serious.

>>27886368
Are we going to see anybody interesting on Halloween.

My bets on Ghost Rider, Nicalos Cage lead the way

>>27886368
Hmm, I thought Deadpool's history with Wolverine (is he going by James instead of Logan like Laura implied?) wasn't x-men dependent, but with his freaking expansion pack past I'm not going to pretend to have kept much track of that particular relationship.

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>>27886395
I wouldn't blame you, i have seen some phase guys say phasing will fix problems that are already covered by other powers.

>>27886286
So we'd get X point(s?) for fighting Callisto for leadership of the morlocks on an extended sewer fight.

...are the morlocks still a thing or has Sinister's massacre lead by Sabretooth happened? (Or something similar).

Also, does Laura smell enough like her template for us to be SUPER fucked should we meet old Victor Creed?

Also, is THE BEYONDER currently being a cosmic entity of is he chilling out as a bum on earth?

Has The Captain gotten his powers yet? Or is he still just an ugly drunk guy from Brooklyn?

Are Scarlet Witch & Quicksilver still with the Brotherhood, or have they traded in for the Avengers?

Is the Govt' sponsored X-Factor a thing?

>>27886407
Don't remind me of those movies...

As for someone interesting on Halloween? Eh, maybe.

>>27886417

Honestly, I'm all for Phasing if we get 3 X-Points.

Then it's fucking useful. But at level 1? Shit.

>>27886460
Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

I don't even know, maybe, he's the Beyonder he does whatever he fucking wants.

Hell yes and Nextwave are already a thing due to I say so. They went for like ten volumes, all written by Ellis.

Brotherhood.

No.

>>27886417
I'm still amused that one of them was arguing you could use phasing to punch a ghost. The first thing we'd ever do if we could phase into ghost space would be to grapple one then phase back to real space with it, thus concurring death the easy way. Which is why no sane dm would allow it (or not us it to trigger the end times). Neither here nor there I suppose...

Rolled 88

>>27886093
The doctor is totally in on it! He's making excuses for the ghosty!

>>27886463
>As for someone interesting on Halloween? Eh, maybe.

This guy: http://marvel.wikia.com/Jack_O%27Lantern_%28Crime-Master%27s%29_%28Earth-616%29

?

>>27886502
So am i, but you have to admit some phase guys are getting desperate.(going as far as fighting ghost, and saying we saw a psychic means we get phasing)

>>27886463
NO, NO, NOT THE BEES!

>>27886514

Will House of M happen?

>>27886514
hnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng

Totally forgot about fucking Nextwave. I am so ready.

Are they famous? Can we go as Nextwave for Halloween?

>>27886528
Eh. Maybe. All things considered, this little arc may still be running when we hit Halloween.

>>27886554
Almost certainly not.

>>27886526
He's also trying to get the rest of the kids away from this building for some reason...

>>27886585
Please, tell me Kevin and Noriko didn't mess things up for themselves.

>>27886570
They fly somewhat under the radar, completely unintentionally.

You know who Photon is, though. She lead the Avengers!

>>27886585
>Almost certainly not.

Good to hear. I like our powers.

And how was House of M received by fans? I'm trying to get into comics and I only know that it happens.

>>27886514
>Based Ellis
Crusty, I knew you were good people.

Has the Legacy Virus happened?

Has Franklin Richards been born yet?

>>27886621
This is the best universe in the world.

I can't wait until the Christmas special. You're going to give us a feels Christmas special, right, with hobo gifts and bum fires and feels, right?

>>27886629
Most people thought it was awful. Like nearly every event Marvel has tried out over the last few decades.

>>27886614
I shall tell you no such thing.

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>>27886585
If we ever meet deadpool can this scene happen?
Also when we go into the next chapter and our powers change will our core powers change as well and can we upgrade them?

>>27886502
Actually seems like a good idea right now. We're nearing the limits on our power-width, so we focus on growing our existing powers, then once we're happy with that, pour three points into Phasing in one go.

>>27886621
Yay! We can go as Photon for Halloween!

Crusty, just want to tell you I fucking love this quest. I had planned on running a superpowers game for my gaming group and I'm running it in this universe now.

>>27886646
The Legacy Virus has happened. And, yes, Kid Azathoth exists.

>>27886654
There are indeed plans for Christmas.

>>27886657
Okay, can you tell me how long it was since we lft them to their own devices

>>27886621
And she won't shit up about it.

Wait...ten volumes...do they still have the stealth enabled 51st State floating platform or have they lost/blown it up in spectacular fashion?

Is Machine Man over his sentinel hardwiring or has that been resolved?

If The Captain got into a fight with Gladiator, who would win in this continuity?

Could Elsa kill Abin Sur, he might as well be a high tech mutant mummy?

>>27886697
We need to start constantly be using our powers everyday now and to train with our hobo group if we want to earn any x-points at a reasonable rate now.

>>27886708
All glory is the hypno-Jones.

Can't wait.

>>27886708
by the way, does Squirrel Girl exist?

>>27886662
With Laura standing in for Daredevil, right?

You keep your Core Powers. Some of the powers you have with change, some will remain the same.

>>27886698
Thanks, that's awesome. Hope it goes well.

>>27886723
A little over an hour.

>>27886708
Crusty? If JJ is a really really good little hobo can you give us the gift of not running into the fucking Moonknight for Christmas?

-Anon

P.S. Love the quest so far, thanks for running!

>>27886769
>can you give us the gift of not running into the fucking Moonknight for Christmas?

All I know is that he exists and is somewhat Egyptian.

Any other reason why we shouldn't meet him?

>>27886729
They have it.

Yes.

I'm... not sure.

Apocalypse hasn't turned up in this universe yet. He could be very different.

>>27886752
Of course.

>>27886769
No way, our Christmas is going to be a 100% exact copy of Jingle all the Way. Just replace the kid with Layla.

>>27886792
Because the last issue of Moonknight I read (a long, long time ago) had him set up in NYC. And having a psychotic episode...

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>>27886810
>implying it won't be more like The Nightmare Before Christmas

JJ please.

>>27886839
j-j-j-just the tip please, sir, I can't take anymore ;n;

>>27886769
No.

You will get whatever the Santa randomly selects for you. It could be anything. It might be a monster, or some kind of weird mirror. These are just examples, it could also be something much better.

>>27886760
>Laura standing
Obviously, and good to know.

>>27886839
Does that mean Noriko is Sally, Kevin is Jack, and JJ is Oogie Boogie?

Laura is Santa

>>27886870
Does Santa exist in this universe? Is he pro or anti-union? Have the elves gone on strike and Santa called in Santa Pinkertons to break it?

Is Santa committing the worst labor abuses in history?

>>27886870
Crusty,

Charles Xavier goes about collecting mutants for his school right? what are his methods and where does he normally go?

>>27886920
Clearly this universe has Futurama Robot Santa. Because nothing can be good.

>>27886908
Creeper could probably pull off a GREAT Oogie Boogie.

>>27886958
Are there bart simpson dolls that say "eat my shorts"?

>>27886940
It was stated that the Xavier protocol, exist so don't get too friendly with that pedophile dick.

>>27886940
The X-Men are overtaxed and pretty overpopulated in this universe. They generally take on mutants with abilities that are good for fucking with The Man.

They try to help and protect them all, of course, but they simply don't have the resources to keep everyone fed, equipped, housed, etc as X-Men.

>>27886958
Well...a Santa is better than no Santa, I suppose.

We can still have feels when the sentinels come to cleanse New New York.

>>27886958
Oh, I forgot about Creeper since Layla has not met him. Oh, By the way I remember that Creeper was trying to offer Laura something, what was it?

Futrurama Santa? Does that mean Richard Nixon's head is in hiding waiting for Hydra and AIM to kill each other so he can take of the world?

>>27886988
Sure.

Oh, and thread archived, by the by.

>>27887008

Is there an Avengers Academy or similar haven for super kids?

>>27887008
So, guerrilla cells?

>>27887058
Yeah pretty much.

>>27887050
Not really. SHIELD is totally pushing for superhuman conscription, though. Right now they just have lots of commercials an' stuff that are all DO YOU HAVE POWERS? WELL DO YOUR PART! SIGN UP!

>>27887118
Man, this world is more hate filled than 616.

...can we be a shining hobo beacon for goodness and tolerance? Has a mutant run for office or is there an express ban on Mutants running for office?

Creeper is only working for Fisk in the short term, isn't he? He's got his thumbs in Fisk's and Magneto's pie, doesn't he?

Can out impromptu team stop the Juggernaut?

>>27887118
Do banked X-Points carry over from one chapter to the next?

>>27887211
You can try.

A mutant can run for office but they'll never get it.

Maybe.

Hah. Hahahaha.

>>27887211
you can't stop the juggernaut bitch
but you can not be directly in front of him, which is usually a sound tactical decision.

>>27887249
Yes.

>>27887265
What's the position of "The Rent is too Damn High" Party on Mutants. I know they're socially progressive on this Earth, being cool with both Gay and inanimate object marriage.

>>27887335
Technically they're okay with mutants, but they tend to stay away from the subject. Nobody in politics really wants to say good stuff about muties, because it could end their political viability.

'Mutie lover' is like a silver bullet if you can get at least a scrap of evidence behind it. Even if there are plenty of people in politics who are cool with mutants, outwardly beig a friend of the mutant community immediately makes you the enemy of a whole fuckton of voters.

>>27887402
Crusty, why can't we all be friends. Why the hate :(

>>27887335
I think their official position is "The Rent Is Too Damn High!"

>>27887411
because then there's no conflict

>>27887402
. . .
I'm pretty sure the rent is too damn high party would be very much for mutants...
>political viability
do... do you know what this "party" is?

>>27887411
Because that would lead to communism.

>>27887527
Crusty's not in the U.S., so I doubt he knows about a little, non-viable NYC-specific (last I checked) party.

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>>27887535
>Because that would lead to communism.

And that would be bad.

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>>27887557
>>27887527
>>27887402

Arm yourselves with Knowledge

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rent_Is_Too_Damn_High_Party

>>27887594
Yeah, that sounds exactly like what I remember a friend telling me. Though I was kind of distracted by the fact that he was punctuating every statement with "the rent is too damn high!" for that entire conversation. Didn't know they had three official members, that's three more than I thought the had on paper.

So, when's the next one gonna be?

>>27889282
See
>>27886093

>>27889282
see
>>27886093
Thursday, probably