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>May 12th, 1986, New York City
>Spider-Verse, Issue Two: Good Intentions

After the excitement of Saturday, Sunday was a day to rest and relax, and really commit to memory the events of the previous night. Or more correctly, fill in your notes and write a bit more about the outings you've done. However, you're careful to omit important information, or certain things entirely. As much as it might be thrilling to include what happened to Bruce in a story, you know full well that it'd be a massive invasion of privacy to do so without his permission.

For now, you were fine with just settling for that. Other things took up your time and energy the following day, as you began to crack open your web-shooter and paste-gun, taking a look inside of the contents for both. You were never much for chemistry, but the basics aren't beyond you, especially with your experience developing photographs in the lab. It took time, energy, and a bit of trial and error with tiny amounts of the web fluid, but you think you're well on the road towards understanding the properties behind both. It required a trip to the local library, yet at the very least if need be, you could probably make something to fill in for the web fluid. No small relief, considering how useful it's been.

Honestly, you were so involved in your work it was something of a surprise when you began to see your own hand disappear and fade away. The skin and flesh slowly but surely disappearing until there was nothing but the sight of your wooden desk, and the pencil in your hand seemingly floating in the air. To say that it was alarming was an understatement, but a cursory tensing of your hand showed that it was still there, just invisible. With a few minutes of pausing and investigation, it didn't take very long for you to notice that more or less, you could control this camouflage. The real question was why you'd developed this new ability, and whether or not anymore mutations could or would come.

>Power Gained:
>Adaptive Camouflage, Stage One: You're not entirely sure how it works, especially considering it works even when you're wearing clothing, but you've gained the ability to refract light around your body, becoming functionally invisible for as long as you can maintain the concentration. You still show up on thermal sensors, though, as well as being audible.

Then again, you'd gotten lucky so far. As it stood now, all of your powers let you still blend in among Humans, unlike some really unlucky mutants and mutated individuals. You could have always ended up looking like The Thing. Only time would tell if this would remain the case...
--------------------------
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CleverPlotDevic
/qst/ archive: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Spider-Verse%20Quest
J.J. Jameson Sheet: https://pastebin.com/uEhpJUUP
>>
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>>3204118
And then came Monday, and you were back in school. Midtown High. Compared to what you've been doing, it's remarkably difficult to keep your attention on any of your classes. Three days ago, you were beating up thugs, facing down a not so jolly green giant, and coming face to face with two small-time supervillains and coming away from it more or less intact. The humdrum mundane life, when placed against it, couldn't possibly meet the same level of excitement that your secret life held.

Still, you pretended that your head wasn't filled with webs and leaping across the rooftops of Brooklyn, or at least looked like it. Though of more concern was the fact that you hadn't quite seen Bruce at school yet. Maybe he wasn't feeling quite yet up to snuff to go to school yet? Last time you saw him, he was coming down from the effects of being the Hulk. You weren't a super scientist or a specialist in the field of gamma radiation, but you'd like to make an assumption that it took something out of the meek Banner.

Truthfully, it's somewhat of a relief as the day goes by quickly, the bell for fourth period cutting off your chemistry teacher in the middle of one of his famous anecdotes, much to the relief of the class. You're quickly joining the thronging horde of students clamoring to get out of the school, if only because you've got other plans. You needed to...

>...Find Harry. Plan your next move with him.
>...Meet up with the school journalism club. Probably to inform them that you may not be around as much, considering your new extra-curricular activities.
>...Try to use the science lab to make more web-fluid. In theory, no one should be there.
>Write-in
>>
>>3204125
>...Meet up with the school journalism club. Probably to inform them that you may not be around as much, considering your new extra-curricular activities.
BUT we will bring pictures! Pictures from the Non Menace Shutterbug!
>>
>>3204125
>...Try to use the science lab to make more web-fluid. In theory, no one should be there.
>>
>>3204125
>A Mix.
>...Find Harry. Take him to the science lab to make more web-fluid. In theory, no one should be there meaning you two can discuss in private.

Also would Bruce be at our school?
>>
>>3204125
>>...Meet up with the school journalism club. Probably to inform them that you may not be around as much, considering your new extra-curricular activities.
Get our responsibilities out of the way first, so they can't cause too many problems in future.
>>
>>3204125
>>3204176
Supporting this.
>>
>>3204142
>>3204176
>>3204176
>Harry and make webbing

>>3204131
>>3204183
>i'm off to the big leagues, kids

Writing.
>>
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>>3204185
It's not as easy as you might think, finding Harry in the crowd with that unusual hairstyle of his, but eventually you do. And judging by the look on his face, he's got the same concerns that you do.

"You seen Bruce at all?" Were the first words out of his mouth, answered by a quick shake of your head.

"Nope. But I feel like a rampaging green monster would have made the news, so I don't think he transformed again." Chances were, something else was the case.

"...That's not good. We should probably head over to see him, right?" Harry's got a good point. Seeing how much Bruce remembers, and his current condition, would be a solid option. Then again, maybe giving him space was what he needed. You're mulling over those two options as the two of you waited out the trickle of students from the building, and finally your science teacher, leaving the room woefully abandoned. Then again, you sincerely doubted that anyone was going to think that J.J. Jameson of all people was playing at super-science in the lab.

"It'd be smart to, yeah." You're setting your book-bag down onto the counter, looking around the spacious lab while you fished out the raw ingredients for this web fluid from your backpack. It basically cleaned you out of cash, and required some creative lying, but you got the chemicals without making it seem like you were trying to make drugs. Hopefully. You were in the middle of setting up as Harry propped himself against the chalkboard, watching you work with a rather worried expression on his face.

"And I don't want to worry you... But I think we might have some more bad news." You didn't like the sound of that. Not at all.

[1/2]
>>
>>3204193
>"And I don't want to worry you... But I think we might have some more bad news."
I'm pregnant.
>>
>>3204193
Slowly, you turn towards him, a frown creasing your features. "Such as...?"

"Alright, so my dad probably doesn't want this getting out, but Bruce hulked out and caused all that destruction, they had to do a total cataloguing of all of the projects inside of the research division." There's a sinking feeling in your gut, one that's only growing as the seconds ticked by and every new word spilled out of Harry's mouth. "There were some irregularities."

"...Go on." It's all you can do to keep your focus on the work, and not on the possible stress building up inside. Maybe it's not as bad as you're thinking?

"They found more than a few projects that were missing, and a few awfully scarce security personnel." The words you didn't want to hear, but knew were coming regardless. Only two of those projects was enough to create the Hulk, and give you a suite of seemingly steadily growing spider powers. You're not entirely sure what an entire lab full of them would do.

"Is there like, a roster of everything missing?

Harry shook his head as you finished up the first touches on your first real attempt at web-fluid, the chemicals in the beaker boiling up to a more condensed, black-ish gray color than your original webbing. But at the very least, you were pretty sure you could swing around now and not have to worry about running out of fluid. "I can try to find out, but I'm not too excited about traipsing around my dad's office. Last time he caught me in there I was twelve, and I'm pretty sure I pissed my pants after he was done grilling me." Knowing Norman Osborn, you couldn't entirely doubt it.

With a sigh, you began to pack up your materials, satisfied with the first mediocre but functional results of your experimentation. "That's fine. We've got bigger fish to fry right now, I think. First off, we need to..."

>"...Go check up on Bruce." You two were still a man down, and you needed Bruce's beautiful brain.
>"...Go get me a costume." You're pretty sure Harry was babbling about a costume store sometime Saturday.
>"...Go set up a deal between Shutterbug, and the Bugle." Funds were low, and would probably be low until you managed to start selling these stories.
>Write-in

[2/2]
>>
>>3204213
"...Go check up on Bruce." You two were still a man down, and you needed Bruce's beautiful brain.
>"We can grab some masks or costumes on the way there." All three of you need some way of masking your identity, even if you aren't active in the field.

>Buy some super-elastic pants for Bruce in case he changes again.
>>
>>3204213
>>"...Go get me a costume." You're pretty sure Harry was babbling about a costume store sometime Saturday.
>>
>>3204213
>>"...Go check up on Bruce." You two were still a man down, and you needed Bruce's beautiful brain.
>>
>>3204213
>>"...Go check up on Bruce." You two were still a man down, and you needed Bruce's beautiful brain.
Bros before... cash flow?
>>
>>3204213
>"...Go check up on Bruce." You two were still a man down, and you needed Bruce's beautiful brain.
>>
>>3204213
>"...Go check up on Bruce." You two were still a man down, and you needed Bruce's beautiful brain.
>>
>>3204213
>"...Go check up on Bruce." You two were still a man down, and you needed Bruce's beautiful brain.
>>
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>>3204227
>>3204228
>>3204232
>>3204235
>>3204239
>>3204240

"...Go check up on Bruce." Too many mysterious were left unsolved, and you needed to ensure that Bruce was alright, for relative terms of alright.

"My thoughts exactly." Harry grinned, slapping you on the shoulder as the two of you quickly cleaned up the mess made by the webbing fluid. In a minute or two, you were out of Midtown High and cruising down the streets in the Charger, which definitely needed a better name at this point. If the three of you were going to be riding around, doing superheroic stuff, shouldn't it be called something? Or maybe you were just overthinking that point.

On the way to Susan Banner's home, you two were quick to stop by a store and pick up a few essentials. Really just masks, seeing as while you had your scarf to more or less obscure your face and possibly some webbing in a desperate situation, Harry and Bruce didn't really have anything. Beyond that, some spandex shorts seemed to be the ideal purchase for Banner. Just in case you had another situation with the Hulk, so all of his clothing wouldn't simply rip off of him in an instant.

A few dollars later, you were in front of the Banner home and knocking on the front door, Harry looking incredibly nervous. Moments went by, but eventually you'd get an answer as the door creaked open, and Bruce stood before you. Definitely cleaner than you remember seeing him Saturday, healthier, and bereft of his glasses for the first time in what felt like forever. He was looking at the two of you with more than a little surprise in his eyes, eyebrows raised up. "Hey guys...what's up?"

>"...Nothing. Just checking up on you." Maybe it wasn't the best time to tell him about the Hulk, if he didn't immediately remember.
>"We have something to tell you. Might want to take a seat for this." Break it to him gently. You don't know how he'll react to the news.
>"Hey. Came to see if you'd turned into a giant monster again, but apparently not." Be blunt, forward, and honest. You're not really wired to be any other way.
>Write-in
>>
>>3204264
>"...Nothing. Just checking up on you.Wanted to make sure that you are fine after that whole hulk thing that happened.
>>
>>3204264
>>"Hey. Came to see if you'd turned into a giant monster again, but apparently not." Be blunt, forward, and honest. You're not really wired to be any other way.
>>
>>3204264
>>"Hey. Came to see if you'd turned into a giant monster again, but apparently not." Be blunt, forward, and honest. You're not really wired to be any other way.
J. Jonah Jameson does not pussyfoot around. Be direct and to the point.
>>
>>3204264
>"We have something to tell you. Might want to take a seat for this." Break it to him gently. You don't know how he'll react to the news.
Dammit, I missed the start!

Should we ask if Bruce's aunt is home? If Banner freaks out about the news I don't think we want the extra attention it'll bring.
>>
>>3204264
>"Hey. Came to see if you'd turned into a giant monster again, but apparently not." Be blunt, forward, and honest. You're not really wired to be any other way.

We're Jamerson after all.
>>
>>3204273
>Should we ask if Bruce's aunt is home?
Supporting this as well. Totally not for dubious intentions.
>>
>>3204264
>"...Nothing. Just checking up on you.Wanted to make sure that you are fine after that whole hulk thing that happened.
>>
>>3204268
>>3204271
>>3204276
>bitch you alright
Writing.
>>
>>3204264
>"Hey. Came to see if you'd turned into a giant monster again, but apparently not." Be blunt, forward, and honest. You're not really wired to be any other way.
>>
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>>3204286

"Hey. Came to see if you'd turned into a giant monster again, but apparently not." You're always blunt, brutal, and honest. Maybe too much for your own good, but it's not like you're wired any other way. Judging by the way Harry sighed behind you, it appeared as if he didn't much approve of your tact.

There was a brief flash of fear and shock across Bruce's face, before he stepped back, lips pursed tightly. "So...Friday did happen? It wasn't a dream?

"Which part? The part where you turned into a giant monster, or where you punched me through two walls?" You know it wasn't really his fault, and the end result was you getting superpowers, but for some reason that little tidbit of the story was just hard to let go.

"...We should probably talk about this inside." With that, Bruce moved to the side, allowing you and Harry to slip inside and close the door after the two of you. With that, he settled onto the big recliner chair, looking almost comically small for how large the chair was. "Start from the top. Slowly, please." There was that passive, clinical look on his face as he settled down, even if his hands were fidgeting in his lap. The same look Bruce usually got before he tore into a problem of some kind or another.

At his behest, you began to play out the events of the last couple of days, including his transformation, your own emergence of powers, and your rescue of him from being transformed into the Hulk. All the while he listened on, face calm even if his hands were twitching from time to time. There's absolutely no point in leaving out info, not when you were so forthcoming with Harry. You'd be a hypocrite of the highest caliber not to show Banner the same respect.

"...So functionally, what you're saying is that the gamma radiation not only radically enhanced my physical capabilities, but also split off into an entirely different entity tied to my own subconscious?"

Harry sighed, rolling his eyes at all of the babble. "English, Bruce!"

"I became big, strong, and got an alter-ego." Bruce narrowed his eyes at Harry, arms crossed in front of his chest. "Simple enough?

[1/2]
>>
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>>3204308
"Remember what happened to Dr. Connors?" That's a big elephant in the room as far as you're concerned, and probably as far as Oscorp's going to be concerned. At that question though, Bruce's face darkened slightly and his eyes darted away.

"I don't really remember much about being the Hulk. I remember...being hungry, and warm, and angry. Mostly just being angry." His voice was getting weaker as he recalled the experience, the fidgeting intensifying. "You ever get so mad you see red, J.J.? It was like that, but it just wouldn't stop."

The harsh, blunt side of you would like to point out that Banner did it to himself, but you know that's not fair. No one willingly subjected themselves to a untested super-soldier experiment unless they thought they didn't have anything to lose. At the end of the day, Bruce had a bright future in science ahead of him, friends who cared about him, and a loving aunt. On some level, you can't help but to feel that you failed him as friends. It's something you're not planning on repeating if you have anything to say about it.

"Hey, hey! It's cool man, yeah? You're here, safe, and we'll find Dr. Connors eventually. It's all cool." Harry was chiming in an instant, attempting to lighten the mood. "We're going to handle this, just the three of us. We're like, the Trifreakta or something!"

It's all you can do to keep your laughs down, while Banner isn't nearly as good, sniffling and giggling at the same time. "Really? the Trifreakta? You don't even have any powers, Osborn!"

"Nah, I'm an honorary freak. Diversity quotas and all that." You definitely crack a grin at his joking though, rolling your eyes at his jokes. Leave it to Harry to make something into a silver lining.

"So...what now? I'm not sure I'd be a reliable field asset, but I'll support the two of you anyway I can. It's the very least I can do." You're not entirely sure you want to unleash the Hulk again anytime soon, either. It's more of an explosive, last ditch option in your mind than anything else.

>"Costumes. God, we need costumes. Even you, Harry." It's about time Harry took you to meet this costume guy.
>"Money. We need like, an honest to god cash flow." You're not intending on mooching off Harry forever, and crawling to S.H.I.E.L.D. for aid didn't sound enticing.
>"We need to get our names out there. Or like, Shutterbug's at least." Best way to do that? Go stop some crimes and save people.
>Write-in

[2/2]
>>
>>3204351
>"Costumes. God, we need costumes. Even you, Harry." It's about time Harry took you to meet this costume guy.
We can't be respectable freaks without some clothing to complement the craziness.
>>
>>3204351
>>"Costumes. God, we need costumes. Even you, Harry." It's about time Harry took you to meet this costume guy.
>>
>>3204351
>"Costumes. God, we need costumes. Even you, Harry." It's about time Harry took you to meet this costume guy.
>>
>>3204351
>>"Costumes. God, we need costumes. Even you, Harry." It's about time Harry took you to meet this costume guy.
>>
>>3204351
>Costumes
If we’re gonna be doing the whole Superhero schtick, might as well not half ass it
>>
>>3204351
>"Costumes. God, we need costumes. Even you, Harry." It's about time Harry took you to meet this costume guy.
>>
>>3204351
>"Money. We need like, an honest to god cash flow. Then we can get some damn costumes and get out there."
>Put Banner and Harry on R&D, Bruce designs the tech and Harry checks if it's financially viable.
>>
>>3204351
>"Money. We need like, an honest to god cash flow." You're not intending on mooching off Harry forever, and crawling to S.H.I.E.L.D. for aid didn't sound enticing.
>>
>>3204362
>>3204380
>>3204382
>>3204383
>>3204384
>>3204386
>trifeakta assemble

>>3204387
>>3204389
>god we need money

Writing.
>>
>It's about time Harry took you to meet this costume guy.
I fucking hope its Ronnie.
>>
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>>3204393

"Costumes. God, we need costumes. Even you, Harry." It's about time Harry took you to meet this costume guy, because the three of you needed different outfits. It wouldn't do just to just be running around in little more than dollar store balaclavas and tracksuits. You were a higher class of heroes, or you hoped to be at least.

"Also, money, but that comes afterwards. Got your checkbook on you, Harry?" You turned towards Harry, wearing an utterly smug grin on your face. He was less amused, but nodded.

"Yeah. Melvin Potter doesn't come cheap, but he does top quality work. I heard all the heroes in the city go to Spotlight for their suits." With a glowing recommendation like that, how can you not be excited?

With a little bit of coaxing, Bruce was following after you and Harry as the three of you piled up inside of his car, heading down the streets. For a little while at least, music blaring through the radio and Harry going on about some absurd story, it's like life before everything changed. Normal. Though nowadays, normal was a little relative. Bruce could turn into a giant Hulk, you had spider-powers, and Osborn...was filthy rich. Well, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

"Gadgets should probably be the next thing on our list of objectives. I'm getting decent with this web-fluid, but I'm not you, Bruce." It's another topic you were meaning to bring up actually, as the car came to a rolling stop in front of a shop.

"Possible, but expensive. The Osborn research division had millions of dollars and the top minds in the country working on that technology, J.J."

"We've got you. Sounds about even to me." Looking at Bruce's little smile, you seemed to have won him over. Best way to gain his favor was to tickle his ego a little.

>Also...
>Give Harry the Paste-gun. You don't need it as much anymore, as useful as it was. It's better you started collecting gear for him.
>Keep the paste-gun. You'd need it in the future, and hopefully find something even better for Harry.
>>
>>3204453
>Give Harry the Paste-gun. You don't need it as much anymore, as useful as it was. It's better you started collecting gear for him.
>>
>>3204453
>Give Harry the Paste-gun. You don't need it as much anymore, as useful as it was. It's better you started collecting gear for him.
>>
>>3204453
>Give Bruce the Paste-gun so he can reverse-engineer the stuff. Then we can make more.
>>
>>3204458
we'd better keep on the backend those ideas because bruce can't do shit unless we have a source of income that (preferably) doesn't come from Harry.
>>
>>3204461
Fair enough. We'd better tell Harry to save one shot. We can't waste this stuff.
>>
>>3204453
>>Give Harry the Paste-gun. You don't need it as much anymore, as useful as it was. It's better you started collecting gear for him.
>>
>>3204461
I will say, just for a future reference, looting all your enemies for the gear, or just to take it apart for assembly into other projects or money is a viable option.
>>
>>3204456
>>3204465
support
>>
>>3204469
God I'm glad I suggested taking the Paste-gun. We'll be stealing the Octo-tentacles next.
>>
>>3204475
"I love these new tentacles, but they keep urging me to build an unstable fusion reactor in a highly populated area."
>>
>>3204469
Fuck yeah. not only we will take them out of commission in the short term, but we will also cripple them in the long run because they will have to start from zero again.
>>
>>3204474
>>3204466
>>3204458
>>3204457
>>3204456
Writing.
>>
>>3204486
>>3204484
We need to set up an insulated room and some kind of bag that block signals passing through. We wouldn't want a smart villain following us with a hidden tracking device on their gear.
>>
>>3204493
an aluminum lined bag should do the trick
>>
>>3204514
>"Whoever this Shutterbug is, he has access to great technology if he can beat my trackers."

>"Ma! We need more aluminum foil!"
>>
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>>3204487
"Hey, Harry?" You begin to reach into your pockets as he turned towards you, obviously curious. His eyes would widen as you began to pull the paste-gun out, offering it towards him. "I think you need this a little more than I do."

"Really? You're giving it to me?" He sounded a little surprised, but excited nonetheless.

"Figured I owed you one for handing me the web-shooter. Besides, you don't have powers, and we need to get you some gear if you're going to keep up with us." Well, mostly just you, since Banner wasn't ready to take to the field anytime soon. Not that you could blame him. There was a little concern as to where you'd get all this gear, but it was soothed by the fact that New York was filled to the brim with costumed maniacs and super scientists. Some of them wouldn't miss their loot, and thus it could be put to better use in your hands.

With a gleeful look, the paste-gun was shoved into his own pockets as the three of you walked inside, only to find a massive, muscular bald man at the front register, working away at a piece of fabric and gently beginning to sow. It looked awfully at odds with the violence that he seemed able to inflict, and also with the different costume designs hanging on mannequins around the room. However, he'd look up and greet the three of you with a smile, stopping his work in an instant.

"Afternoon, gents. You all comin' in to look at the costumes? With a smile on your face, you shook your head, taking a step forward.

"Not quite. In fact, we were looking to get some costumes commissioned." There's a sudden dawning realization on his face at that, bringing himself up to his full height, entirely focused on you and your friends.

"Is that so? Well, come over and I'll get you guys started. Not easy designing a costume, and even harder making one that looks good and fits the customer's satisfaction." As the three of you came to the front counter, the man hit a switch under the desk, and there was a clicking sound at the front door. "Takes awhile, beating out all the hard issues and designs.

"Let's get started, huh?"

>Mix and match options at your leisure.
>You want something that's dark, though with your new camouflage abilities it's not the biggest priority in your preferred design.
>Something armored. You don't quite know how tough you are yet, but you want to be able to take punishment and keep going.
>A suit designed around a gadget or a gimmick. Potter's gotta have something in the back you could use, right?
>Write-in

I have to go eat, and vibe out, and I get the feeling this is gonna be a subject of long discussion, so I'll come back in a bit.
>>
>>3204543
>A suit designed around a gadget or a gimmick. Potter's gotta have something in the back you could use, right?
>Pockets. Lots of pockets.
>Something that can easily be mistaken for regular clothing - Fast changing.
>>
>>3204543
>Something armored but that can still pass as streetwear and has pockets for stuff.
>>
>>3204543
>A suit designed around a gadget or a gimmick. Potter's gotta have something in the back you could use, right?
>Pockets. Lots of pockets.
>Something that can easily be mistaken for regular clothing - Fast changing.
>>
>>3204548
Oh,
>A big pocket which we can store a camera in.
>>
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>>3204548
Ditto
>>
Maybe we could get a spy camera?
>>
>>3205116
something hidden inside our goggles would be nice.
>>
>>3204893
I really like this costume and I think it should have the emblem that is shown in the story post image on the back of both the jacket and shirt.
>>
>>3205241
What if instead of having the logo in the back of the jacket(which would defeat the purpose of looking like civvie clothing) or on our shirt, we have presentation cards with it?
>>
>>3205257
>presentation cards
>Swings in to prevent an armed robbery.
"Who're you?" Demands a thug, pointing his barrel towards your chest.
"Just your friendly neighborhood paparazzi." You reply, pulling out your credentials along with a business card.
>>
>>3204543
Kinda supporting this >>3204548

Bascially this one >>3204893 with some padding or hidden armor panels, but not so much it'd hinder our movement. Also metal studs on knuckles, elbows and knees.
>>
>>3205646
Oh also with the logo on the back. Don't thinknit makes sense trying to use our costume as street clothes, that's just begging to get exposed.
>>
What should we call the incident at Oscorp? The 7th of May incident? The Triggering?

Additionally what should we name the individuals who gained powers'n'tech during the confusion?.. Technically Bruce is Patient Zero. The epicenter. The catalyst that caused the incident while we're Patient Numero Uno.
>>
>>3205701
"The Oscorp Fiasco, its Beneficiaries and Victims"
>>
>>3205701
I'm pretty sure the editor at whatever publication we submit the story to is gonna pick the headline.
>>
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"A suit with a gimmick could be cool, right? Like a gadget of some kind?" It's the first thing that comes to mind for you, and Potter has to have something in the back that you could use in your suit, doesn't he? It'd only make sense, him being some big-time costume designer. "Like, one of those tiny spy cameras from the movies?" You're fond of your Polaroid, but it's big, and doesn't have the fidelity of even a professional grade camera.

At your question, Melvin scratched his chin, one hand set on the counter as he leaned forward. "I might have some goggles like that, yeah. The real bitch is going to be figuring out how to reliably photograph onto film, I think. Might have to call in a few favors, and it'd be a little pricey, but it's doable."

"What about something you could pretend was regular civilian wear?" Harry points out, obviously excited by the prospect. This time, the idea was shot down by Bruce.

"Too risky. It'd only take someone smart enough to piece together that outfit and the Shutterbug. In an instant, you're exposed." He's pretty correct, even if it deflates Harry a little. "Something easily donned and doffed is probably better, when it comes to getting to the scene of a crime quickly."

"Some armor would be great, but just a little bit. Over the vitals." You can't really afford to be covered in tons of armor, if only because it'd not only slow you down, but it would also inhibit your sticking ability. "Oh! Pockets too. As many as you can fit that are functional, and makes the costume look good. Dark colors as well."

The whole time you all have been talking, Melvin has been furiously sketching onto a piece of paper, brow knit in concentration, biting his tongue slightly. It seemed like he was really only barely hearing you at this point. Eventually though, the bald man turned to you in order to show you the sketch proper. "Something like this?" Needless to say, his artistic talent is impressive if he could whip up an example that quickly. Then again, he did design superhero costumes on the daily, and likely with requests far crazier than your own.

>Shutterbug Costume, Mk. 1
>Simplicity and elegance rolled into one, the costume consists of a jacket designed to resist conventional gravity forces, lined with a number of easy to reach pockets. With boots created from a durable, but suitably thin synthetic leather weave, and gloves from the same material, it shouldn't inhibit your movement either. As far as you're concerned, the only downsides are the general lack of universal armor, as it's only around the most vital of areas like your abdomen and face.
>Price: $5,000

>Purchase y/n?
>>
>>3206025
y
>>
>>3206025
Y

How much capital have we got QM?
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>>3206119
I mean, at the moment Harry is bankrolling you, but it's not sustainable. He can buy this, but that and the other costumes will probably clean him out for awhile.
>>
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>>3206046
>>3206119
>Y

As it stood, you didn't really have the money yourself, so of course you were looking back at Harry. With a sigh, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his checkbook. "Thank god I'm rich, or you two would be up shit's creek..." Truer words have never been spoken as far as you're concerned.

Signing it with the agreed upon amount, he slid it across the counter to Melvin, who inspected it briefly before tucking it away. "I'll get started on this design right away. It'll probably take about a week to build, though. Anything else you boys were planning on picking up today?"

"Shorts that are incredibly durable, and expand if the person wearing them was to grow." Melvin looked incredibly confused by the specifications of your request, but shrugged anyway.

"That's relatively easy, if a little weird. I'm not the one to judge, though. What color?"

"Royal purple." Bruce spoke, choosing the shade in an instant. Melvin nodded, writing down the color of the desired shorts and the requirements of them. "That it?"

"I'll probably be back on my own, later. I've got some...designs I want to run by you." Harry stated, a broad smile on his face as he spoke. Melvin nodded, even while your own curiosity was rising. What exactly did he have in mind for his own costume...? A question for later you suppose. At the moment, your business is more or less concluded here.

Saying goodbye to the congenial man, the three of you quickly exited the shop and headed back to Harry's car. The quicker the better, as far as you're concerned. A well-known shop for selling costumes might have been frequented by the curious bystander, but you didn't want to attract the attention of anyone a little smarter than that. As soon as the three of you were settled into the car, Bruce was the first to speak.

"Where to now?" A good question.

>You needed to get this money problem out of the way. To the Daily Bugle!
>You really needed to find a new story to sink your teeth into. Time to investigate happenings and rumors around the city.
>Write-in
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>>3206198
>Find a story that you can bring to the bugle
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>>3206207
You do have a few stories and pictures, just for reference.
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>>3206198
>>You needed to get this money problem out of the way. To the Daily Bugle!
>>
>>3206198
>You needed to get this money problem out of the way. To the Daily Bugle!
>>
>>3206198
>You needed to get this money problem out of the way. To the Daily Bugle!
Wait, who is gonna be the editor in chief then?
Parker?
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>>3206210
Then go straight to the bugle, get some bucks as the newest hero SHUTTERBUG
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>>3206219
>>3206219
>>3206260
>>3206265
>>3206270
>bugle bucks
Writing.
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>>3206277

The only thing that was really on your mind was the fact that you needed to get a good source of revenue, and quick. Relying on Harry was a stop-gap solution at best, because even with the incredibly Oscorp fortunes, he couldn't pay for all of the group's expenses. Not without his father beginning to get a little curious about where and when his son was spending all this money. No, the time had come for you to approach the Daily Bugle as the Shutterbug.

"Head for the Daily Bugle. It's time to get these stories published." You had at least two whopping tales that you could begin to pitch their way, and the newspaper held an entire section just for superheroic news. The Pulse, specifically. Hopefully, the Editor-in-Chief could see the appeal in having a superpowered reporter on the payroll, even if they had to hide their identity from the public. Then again, plenty of writers wrote under a pseudonym. Was wearing a mask any different?

Harry parked far enough away, in a dark enough alley, to allow you to get changed into your tracksuit, cap, and scarf. The get-up felt silly compared to the more expertly designed costume you had coming your way, but it was the first outfit you'd ever really fought crime in. In a weird way, you're pretty sure that you're going to miss it.

"You really think they're going to just pay you for the stories, J.J.? You're not exactly a journalism major in that get-up, y'know." Harry pipes up, outside of the car and sitting on the hood.

"Of course they will. As far as I know, the Bugle doesn't even have a single consultant from the hero community in New York on staff. They'd kill to hear from the other side for once." It's true, as far as you know. Newspaper columns never really described things from the perspective of the people in the thick of the action. Everyone was just a bystander if they didn't have powers in order to get into the muck themselves. And now you did, so you could write about what was really going on beyond the pale.

>Head in through the front door and request an interview. Best to be forthright.
>Climb up to the Editor's office. You'd rather just get straight to business if you had a choice.
>Write-in
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>>3206321
>Head in through the front door and request an interview. Best to be forthright.
>>
>>3206321
>>Climb up to the Editor's office. You'd rather just get straight to business if you had a choice.
>>
>>3206321
Straight through the front door
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>>3206321
>>Head in through the front door and request an interview. Best to be forthright.
>>
>>3206321
>Head in through the front door and request an interview. Best to be forthright.
>>
>>3206321
>>Head in through the front door and request an interview. Best to be forthright.
>>
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>>3206324
>>3206328
>>3206336
>>3206344
>>3206359

After a little deliberation among the trio, you decide to simply walking in through the front door is the best line of action. Even if it might not be the most classy, you're here for a job interview at the end of the day. You're not cutting in line or using your powers for an unfair advantage if you don't have to. Fair and square is the way your mother raised you, and that's how you're going to play this. Even if Bruce and Harry didn't seem to agree, the two of them were a little more used to getting their ways, so you couldn't much blame them.

You on the other hand, have the patience of a man from a lower middle class income bracket. Waiting is nothing new to you. That's what you keep in mind as you stepped past the threshold of the building, and into the lobby proper. It was a pretty plain building, but compared to everyone around you, your outfit stuck out like a sore thumb. Regardless, you began to approach the front desk, ignoring all of the eyes on you in an instant.

"Good afternoon. I'd like to see your Editor-in-chief? Or, whoever's in charge of The Pulse." Your blunt, straightforward approach more or less shocked the woman at the front desk, even if she seemed a little confused by your outfit. Hardly the custom-tailored monkey suits you saw the Avengers running around in, but you were working on it.

"Um..." She looked you up and down, the gears visibly turning in her head. "Can I ask who I'm supposed to be sending up to Mister Parker?"

"Tell him... The Shutterbug wants to make a deal with him." Oh man, you didn't intend for that to sound ominous. Did that sound ominous? She's looking at you with a look that resembles a mixture of fear, surprise, and confusion.

"If you wouldn't mind taking a seat, I'll handle it right away, sir." She gestured to one of the seats in the waiting area, and you saw no reason not to oblige. Plopping down next to a very uncomfortable fellow in a suit, it was just a matter of waiting till Parker was ready to see you. You didn't actually know very much about him, but to the best of your knowledge he'd been the Editor for awhile, and gained a reputation for being supportive of heroes, while also criticizing the flaws in their philosophies and ideals. If anything, that was enough to gain your respect.

[1/2]
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>>3206398
Holy shit, a peter parker that can hold a job for more than a few months! that's a shocker.
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>>3206398
It felt like an eternity, just waiting there in your costume, worrying whether or not they'd believe you or call you a nut. Then again, in New York City if someone was wearing a costume, they usually had some level of power to back up their words. It was something of a relief when a man walked up to you, rather unassuming in his glasses and dark gray hair, definitely getting up there in the years from what you could see.

"I'm going to take it you're Shutterbug, seeing as you're the only man in a get-up?" He asked, offering a hand your way. "Ben Urich. Investigative journalist."

It's hard to play it cool in front of one of your actual heroes. Sure, Captain America saves the world, but sometimes the world needed somebody to expose the rights and wrongs of the day, and they went on as unsung heroes. Ben Urich was one of these people. Hell, the man was a legend in the journalism community, having exposed men like Crime-Master and Silvermane and lived to tell the tale. Not jumping to shake his hand was probably the hardest thing you'd done so far in your career.

"I'm uh...well aware who you are. Big fan, actually." That was enough to make him grin, eyebrows raising.

"A superhero fan? Guess I've lived long enough to see a little bit of everything..." He nodded towards the elevator, leading you along. "C'mon. Parker wants to see what you're made of." You follow along, more or less the closest you'll ever be to being starstruck as the two of you entered the elevator, on a quiet ride that was more or less punctuated by your own nervousness and the elevator music. Hopefully they couldn't see you sweat in that tracksuit...

Eventually, it opened up into a busy office, filed with typing and ringing phones, some of it dying down as Ben led you through the maze of desks to a singular office in the back, opening the door and allowing you to step inside. "For what it's worth, good luck. I heard about what you did at the Alchemax building a few days back. Could have gone a lot worse if you hadn't been there."

Oh, you might just pass out. You didn't really get a chance to say anything as the door closed behind you, and your attention was brought towards the man at the desk. Peter Parker. Editor-in-chief of the Daily Bugle. He looked up from his typing, face passive, even if his eyes were keen and sharp.

"...Heard you wanted to have a chat with me. Well, you've got five minutes. Make it count."

>"I want to work for The Pulse, sir. I've got the perfect story to tell." You've got information about the Oscorp break-in. After all, you were there.
>"Gimme a job sir, because I've got some stories the city needs to hear." Like a potential crime-war brewing between the shadowy Kingpin and the Maggia.
>"Got photos, eyewitness accounts, and my own account, of the Alchemax attack. If I've got a place in the Bugle." The Kangaroo and Looter were about to be famous.
>Write-in
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>>3206436
>>"Gimme a job sir, because I've got some stories the city needs to hear." Like a potential crime-war brewing between the shadowy Kingpin and the Maggia.
>>"Got photos, eyewitness accounts, and my own account, of the Alchemax attack. If I've got a place in the Bugle." The Kangaroo and Looter were about to be famous.
>>
>>3206436
>"Got photos, eyewitness accounts, and my own account, of the Alchemax attack. If I've got a place in the Bugle." The Kangaroo and Looter were about to be famous.
This is a good one to lead-in with. The other ones are leads, but not full stories yet, after all. Plus, it proves we can get on-the-record statements from villains and scene-of-crime photos in a way unique to us. The others might be bigger stories - but the Alchemax building proves our chops as an actual journalist.
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>>3206436
>>"Got photos, eyewitness accounts, and my own account, of the Alchemax attack. If I've got a place in the Bugle." The Kangaroo and Looter were about to be famous.
>>
>>3206436
>>"I want to work for The Pulse, sir. I've got the perfect story to tell." You've got information about the Oscorp break-in. After all, you were there.
>>
>>3206436
>"Got photos, eyewitness accounts, and my own account, of the Alchemax attack. If I've got a place in the Bugle." The Kangaroo and Looter were about to be famous.
>>
>>3206436
>"Got photos, eyewitness accounts, and my own account, of the Alchemax attack. If I've got a place in the Bugle." The Kangaroo and Looter were about to be famous.
>>
>>3206436
>"Got photos, eyewitness accounts, and my own account, of the Alchemax attack. If I've got a place in the Bugle." The Kangaroo and Looter were about to be famous.
>>
I got caught up in studying for a fairly important test this weekend, but I'm planning on picking this back up tomorrow after I get home from work. I'll keep people posted.
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>>3211391
Good to hear you're not dead
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>>3211391
All praise the QM for being alive.
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>>3206447
>>3206469
>>3206471
>>3206501
>>3206519
>>3206958

"Got photos, eyewitness accounts, and my own account, of the Alchemax attack. If I've got a place in the Bugle." It's fresh enough that it would still have been a pretty decent scoop all things considered, and you got pictures and accounts of things none of the other journalists would have been able to get. Sometimes, there was a benefit to being in the thick of the action, and this was one of those times.

The man's eyes narrowed at you, scrutinizing your every word, even if his face was gently curling into a smile. You were worried for a moment or two that you'd been too forward, daring, until it suddenly dawned on you that the editor-in-chief was well and truly amused.

"You've got spunk, I'll tell you that much..." Parker stated, leaning back in his chair reaching into the dominating desk in front of you. It didn't take long before he pulled out a massive cigar, large enough where you've got to start to wonder whether or not he's compensating for something. Who could even smoke one of those things and keep a straight face while they did it? Little thoughts that ran through your head as Peter lit cut off the end of the cigar, lighting it up in front of you.

"Got the story on you?" He asked, and you were more than happy to oblige, reaching into your backpack and pulling out what you've written, along with the pictures taken of the scene. You regret not having a better quality camera in order to have actual film, but you work with what you've got on a budget. Quickly, Parker's eyes were scanning over your words, occasionally taking puffs of his cigar or tapping the ashes into a nearby tray. Quiet, critical, and speedy were the only words that could come to mind as he dug into the story. When he finally looked back up to to you, there was a more passive expression on his face.

"Your style is...interesting. Very criticizing, but not without reason. Wry, dry humor. But still with room to grow, trust me. Judging by the sound of your voice, I'm going to guess you're...what, seventeen? Sixteen?" He got it right the first guess, but it doesn't seem smart to confirm your age in front of a trained journalist. "Regardless, it's impressive writing for someone that young. Shows promise."

[1/2]
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>>3213642

With a long, drawn out sigh, the man rested his cigar on the ashtray, leaning in forward with both elbows on the table. "I can't just come out and give you front page space. But, I can start to pay you for these stories. The more investigated, the more photos, the bigger the scope, the higher the payout." In an instant, your hopes were swelling, a hidden grin wrapping across your face. "We'll see how the city likes you, and go from there."

"For this first one... How does $100 sound?" That was a lot of money. Definitely more than you would have made just being an intern, or flipping burgers at some fast food place. And so much more entertaining as well. "This is on the lower end of things, but I figure if you bring me good stuff we can talk about raising prices." With that, Peter offered his hand across the desk.

"We got a deal?"

>This is literally everything you've ever wanted. Of course you're going to agree.
>You're not entirely sure about this. Maybe you should think on it.

[2/2]
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>>3213650
>This is literally everything you've ever wanted. Of course you're going to agree.
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>>3213650
>This is literally everything you've ever wanted. Of course you're going to agree.
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>>3213650
>>This is literally everything you've ever wanted. Of course you're going to agree.
>>
>>3213650
>This is literally everything you've ever wanted. Of course you're going to agree.
We are young and stupid, of course we will accept.
Also, i'm pretty sure that 100 dllrs were some pretty good cash in that day. Specially for someone starting out.
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>>3213661
>>3213664
>>3213667
>>3213680

It was more money than you'd ever made in your life, and for less work than you've ever done in your life. Well, your definition of work was probably a little different than someone else's. The common individual likely would find facing down a pair of supervillains that easy, even if one of them was just a aussie who knew how to jump good. Regardless, the choice in your mind was nothing short of child's play. You reached out and grabbed his hand firmly, shaking quickly.

"You've got yourself a deal, sir."

That was enough to make Peter smile, genuinely this time around. "Good to have you on the team then. I expect pictures on my desk in the next few days, or I might start to wonder whether or not you're taking this seriously." The intention was to likely light a fire under your ass, and the sentiment was going to work. If you wanted to keep this position, you needed to consistently put out good material.

"Of course. Your local Shutterbug never rests." Slowly, your eyes drift towards the open window, just wide enough for you to crawl through. The inkling of a cheeky idea was beginning to form in your brain, as you asked one last question. "Any leads?"

"A few, here and there. Dangerous stories for normal people, but maybe you're the type to crack a tougher nut." The promise of a challenge had you interested, as you meandered over to the window you spied earlier. "There's a new drug coming out of Chinatown. Called 'Kick' by the kids on the street. Apparently, overdrives powers, or temporarily gives people the durability to go toe to toe with superhumans. Then, there's been rumors of all sorts of crazy stuff living underneath the city for ages, but we've had more than a few reports of mutants in the sewers. I haven't had anyone actually able to check it out...till now."

Both of those leads sounded awfully interesting, and you added it to the mental list of trails to follow in your head. "Then I'll get cracking on them."

"Need Ben to lead you back down to the ground floor, or...?"

"No thanks. I've got an shortcut." Wrenching the window the rest of the way open, it was worth it to see the somewhat befuddled look on Peter's face as you leapt out of the window, falling towards the city below. Wind rushing past your face, as you fell towards the busy streets beneath you, it took a gentle flick of your wrist to send a string of webbing to the nearest building, and you were off, zipping from rooftop to rooftop.

Yeah. This was never going to get old.

[1/2]
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>>3213800

Eventually, you round back to Harry and Bruce, being careful not to be seen. Then again, there's only so much to do as you leave black webbing all over the place. Either way, it's not hard to see the two of them chatting as you walked up, the sun off in the distance beginning to set. Bruce was the first to turn towards you, looking expectant. "How'd it go?"

Your response was to whip out the hundred dollar bill, much to the meek figure's surprise. Harry's response was very subdued in comparison. "That's it...?"

"Hey, not all our dads are the heads of multi-million dollar corporations!" That only managed to get a shrug from Harry, looking entirely free of guilt from the statement.

"Whatever. What's our next move? You guys probably won't need as much direct money support, right?" That's true. You'd like to get more sources of cash, but for now you'll have to settle for this.

>"We're calling it for the day. Got cash, costumes on the way, and it's getting late." You guys have probably done enough for the day.
>"No offense, but you two should head home. I should patrol a bit." Getting your name out there was for the best, and some experience. Harry and Bruce didn't really have the equipment or powers to help in the field yet.
>"We should cruise around and see what trouble we can get into. Like old times." Trifreakta, assemble!
>Write-in

[2/2]
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>>3213826
>>"No offense, but you two should head home. I should patrol a bit." Getting your name out there was for the best, and some experience. Harry and Bruce didn't really have the equipment or powers to help in the field yet.
>>
>>3213826
>Cruise around as the TriFreakta
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>>3213826
>"We're calling it for the day. Got cash, costumes on the way, and it's getting late." You guys have probably done enough for the day.
Can't be out late TOO often, or the folks back home will grow suspicious.

...Speaking of, I'm not sure if we should bring that wad of cash home, either of J.J's parent's finds it and there will be uncomfortable questions.
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>>3213826
>"We're calling it for the day. Got cash, costumes on the way, and it's getting late." You guys have probably done enough for the day.
Play it safe till we get our costumes.

Banner should have gotten a stretchable lucha mask too
>>
>"We're calling it for the day. Got cash, costumes on the way, and it's getting late." You guys have probably done enough for the day.
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>>3213826
>"We're calling it for the day. Got cash, costumes on the way, and it's getting late." You guys have probably done enough for the day.
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>>3213680
100$ is about 1000$ in the fifties.
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>>3213826
>"We're calling it for the day. Got cash, costumes on the way, and it's getting late." You guys have probably done enough for the day.


>>3213838
>Can't be out late TOO often
We should invent up an excuse. Like a three person after school club or something.

We could always bag up our cash and web it someplace.
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>>3214843
It's the 80's, 86 to be exact
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>>3215015
>We could always bag up our cash and web it someplace.
I like this idea, but we don't know how long that black/grayish web solution we're currently using lasts once it's fired - we should put either Bruce or Harry to run some tests with it. We wouldn't want whatever items we web up around the city to fall out of the web, after all.
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>>3215135
Yeah, let's test some of our limits soon
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>>3213826
>"We're calling it for the day. Got cash, costumes on the way, and it's getting late." You guys have probably done enough for the day.
Go home and start assembling an investigation web-board for Kingpin, Oscorp, and Kick. Those are our current three stories/cases. Remember, Shutterbug is a detective/journalist/investigative journalist.
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>>3215378
I've always loved the red twine and polaroids look
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>>3215396
It's perfect for something that JJ is hiding in his closet in the 80s too.
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>>3215403
>Inb4 we become the marvel equivalent for The Question as Shutterbug
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>>3215403
We should go buy a map of new York along with maps of all the boroughs, and a map of all the subways (hopefully we can find an old abandoned stop and turn it into our Web)
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>>3213838
>>3213851
>>3213855
>>3213861
>>3215015
>>3215378

It's not really hard to think of what to do, when the light was beginning to fade off in the distance. Between meeting up, explaining what had happened in the last couple days to Bruce, designing costumes, and heading to the Bugle, you'd been busy over the hours since school had let out. "We're calling it for the day. Got costumes, cash, and it's getting late." Besides, the last thing you needed was Susan Banner getting worried about Bruce.

The other two agreed, with Harry even yawning, probably tired from all of this driving. Out of all of you, at the end of the day, he was the only one that was still more or less entirely, one hundred percent human. Understandable if he didn't have your or Bruce's stamina.

Eventually, the three of you were packed back inside of the car, dropping off Banner first, before Harry was bringing you back to your family's brownstone. The lights were on, though, a little different from usual. Likely that meant your father was home, yet even with your powers, you didn't really want to deal with the old man. Your powers may have set you a step above the rest, but your father was probably worse than any supervillain you'd ever fight. Why someone could choose purposefully to be cruel would boggle your mind for ages.

With a farewell and a wave off to the Osborn, you watched him turn around the corner before slipping inside your home. And immediately, what welcomed you was the sound of rumbling, deep yelling. Not audible enough to be heard from outside, but definitely loud enough inside of the home. It almost made you wish you'd stayed outside for awhile longer.

"I slave away to keep a roof over your ungrateful heads, and the very least you could do, the least I ask of you, isn't done?" Your father. David Jameson. Decorated war hero, and dedicated asshole. This time, the source of the admonishment seems to be coming from the kitchen.

>Listen to the conversation and see what he's on about before you just rush in.
>Cut him off. You don't have to listen to his tripe ever again, and you're keen to show him that.
>Walk in casually to interrupt. Now isn't the time to confront your father.
>Write-in
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>>3215656
>>Listen to the conversation and see what he's on about before you just rush in.
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>>3215656
>Listen to the conversation and see what he's on about before you just rush in.
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>>3215662
Ditto
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>>3215656
>Listen to the conversation and see what he's on about before you just rush in.
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>>3215656
>>Listen to the conversation and see what he's on about before you just rush in.
>>
>>3215656
>Listen to the conversation and see what he's on about before you just rush in.
We can definitely kick DJ's ass, but that won't improve anything for our mom.
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>>3215662
>>3215665
>>3215699
>>3215714
>>3215825
>>3215847

It feels cowardly, stalking by the entrance to the kitchen instead of entering in proper yourself. Unlike Shutterbug persona, unlike the last couple of days, it's back to being J.J. Jameson. Outspoken critic, yet too weak to stop what's been going on in your own home for years.

"I-I'm sorry, David! I forgot to pick them up at the store, please!" Your mother's voice sends your heart wrenching in a million ways, weak and soft and undeserved of the treatment that your father doled out on the two of you almost daily. Doesn't take long before your father is raging once more, his voice bellowing out.

"Oh? So you just happened to forget the beer, huh?" You don't really notice when your hands curl up into fists, trembling anger boiled up inside of you, dangerous and potent. "Do you think I'm honestly that stupid?!" Maybe once upon a time David Jameson was a good man, one worthy of your mother's love, but that person had long since vanished and been replaced by someone tainted by their own vitriol.

"Please, stop!" Betty cried out as the sound of shuffling was audible around the corner, along with the resulting smack that echoed through the house. Was this what Banner felt before he turned into the Hulk? Being filled with impotence and rage at his life, at his circumstances? For the first time, your mind was beginning to wrap around how that must have felt. How much rage a man had to hold inside of himself before they reached a point where you just couldn't bottle it up anymore.

You're pretty sure you're near that point.

>Intervene. This has been going on for years, but no longer.
>Pay him back. You're stronger now. Faster. Preternaturally able to avoid danger. The perfect person to teach your father what it was like to be abused, battered, and beaten.
>Leave. You couldn't intervene. Not yet. There had to be another way.
>Write-in
>>
>>3215855
>Intervene. This has been going on for years, but no longer.
Don't kick his ass. Don't become him. But he will not lay a hand on our mother when we're around; that's the hard line. No retribution, no payback - but he will stop.

This isn't about the rage.
>>
>>3215855
>Intervene. This has been going on for years, but no longer.
>>
>>3215868
Throw no punches but physically shield our mom with our body.
We can take it
>>
>>3215855
>>Intervene. This has been going on for years, but no longer.
Make him break his own hand on the wall when we dodge one of his punches.
>>
>>3215855
>Intervene
JJJ don't take shit from nobody
>>
>>3215855
>Intervene. This has been going on for years, but no longer.
Probably the hardest thing we will do in a long time.
>>
>Inb4 our dad's Carnage and wrecks our shit
>>
>>3215855
>Intervene. This has been going on for years, but no longer.
>>
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>>3215868
>>3215877
>>3215889
>>3215893
>>3215914
>>3215916

This can't go on any longer. It's something that comes to you in an instant, a more terrifying realization than any other you'd had. Fighting the Hulk, fighting supervillains, leaping off buildings? Those were child's play compared to facing a man that had been the most scary fixture in your life for more than a decade. But for your sake, and the sake of your mother, it needed to be done. Otherwise, nothing would really change and this would go on in forever.

There's a lump in your throat when you turn the corner, moving quicker than either adults in the room could likely follow. Your father, a man of graying hair and worn skin, is not someone time has been kind to. He's still powerfully built though, even in his age. Yet nowadays, you were packing a little bit more in the strength department. The sincere, brief look of shock on his face as your hand snatched his wrist in the air was satisfying to some deep, primal part of you. Exactly the same part that wanted to render unto him as much suffering as he caused the both of you.

Instead, you just stopped him from hitting your mother again. Betty was nursing a fresh black eye, on the ground, formerly cowering before your father. "J.J....? Who the hell do you think-" Your father was about to launch into one of his tirades, his endless bellowing anger filled speeches. The smell of alcohol on his breath was almost unbearable, with how close you are. But this time, you cut him off to beat him at his own game. After all, you've had a lot of time to practice this in your own head.

"Stop." Your grip on his wrist tightened just a smidgen, and you had to forcibly keep yourself from squeezing any harder. Just enough to make him wince and struggle in your grip, but not break his bones. "Because if another goddamn drunken word comes out of your mouth, I might lose it."

"You fought for truth, justice, and the American way, and maybe you were a good man, once. But right now, you're a menace. To me, to my mother, and probably everyone you come in contact with. A toxic sinkhole, dragging us down. Lemme tell you somethin', and you better listen close." Leaning in nearer to your father, it's something of an afterthought when you realize that you were actually taller than him at this point, and probably far more physically intimidating. "If you ever so much as consider raising another hand to this saint of a wife you have, I'm not gonna stop with a threat, you hear me?"

There was the faintest glimpse of fear beginning to blossom in his vision, but it was mixed with rage and confusion at the same time. "W-Who do you think you're talking to, boy? I put a roof over your head, and this good for nothing wife, and this is what I get?"

[1/2]
>>
>>3215960

It took all of a few milliseconds for the hair on the back of your neck to spring up as David swung a fist through the air at you, from his free hand. All you really had to do was bob effortlessly to the side, and allow his hand to smash into the wall uselessly, his cry of pain echoing through the home. At the same time, that familiar throb of gratification shot through you. Telling you how easy it would be to beat him down and make him really experience what you went through. Those weren't the feelings of a hero, or an honest man though. Just a bully, plain and simple.

"Like I said... If I ever catch you hitting my mother, or if you try coming after me, this conversation is going to be very different." You were giving him a chance, plain and simple. More than he ever gave you and your mother.

The look on his face was still angry, but with a newfound fear, like a wounded animal reevaluating it's choices. Looking from you, to Betty, and to his hand, the man said nothing. Tension hung heavy in the air until inevitably, he snarled, and rushed past you, out of the kitchen. A few moments later, you could hear the sound of the front door opening, and slamming shut just as quickly. That was when you gauged it safe enough to attend to your mother.

"J.J...." She was looking up at you with...something, in her eyes. Something wet, and an emotion you couldn't put your finger on. "You shouldn't have done that. H-He'll come back, even angrier and...and..."

"And if he comes back ready for round two, I'll be here. Maybe he shouldn't have paid for my boxing lessons, eh?" Your little attempt at humor garnered a small smile from your mother, even if the situation didn't need it. With that in mind, you began to help your mother clean up and get settled back in her room. It was enough excitement for one night, and after you were satisfied that she was more or less okay, you retired to your own room. There'd be a time to talk about what happened, but it wasn't tonight. Not when she needed rest. Instead, you...

>...Go to sleep. You were exhausted, especially considering everything that happened.
>...Get working on your stories. Too many tangled threads for your liking. Probably was going to need a board at this rate.
>...Want to develop alternate web-shots. You feel as if it's possible, just requires a bit of time and energy.
>>
>>3215983

>...Get working on your stories. Too many tangled threads for your liking. Probably was going to need a board at this rate.
>>
>>3215983
>...Get working on your stories. Too many tangled threads for your liking. Probably was going to need a board at this rate.
>>
>>3215983
>>...Get working on your stories. Too many tangled threads for your liking. Probably was going to need a board at this rate.
>>
>>3215983
>...Get working on your stories. Too many tangled threads for your liking. Probably was going to need a board at this rate.
>>
>>3216052
Ditto
>>
>>3215983
>>...Get working on your stories. Too many tangled threads for your liking. Probably was going to need a board at this rate.
>>
>>3215983
>...Get working on your stories. Too many tangled threads for your liking. Probably was going to need a board at this rate.
>>
>>3215983
>>...Get working on your stories. Too many tangled threads for your liking. Probably was going to need a board at this rate.

>The threads on the board end up making a star of David
>"Holy shit, My racist uncle was right!"
>>
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>>3216300
>Inb4 every time we stumble upon a new case we're actually searching for evidence of a massive Jewish conspiracy
>Inb4 somehow we manage to stop crimes while being completely and utterly wrong about the motive
>Pic related
>>
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>>3215991
>>3215999
>>3216038
>>3216052
>>3216155
>>3216263
>>3216296
>>3216300

You can't sleep. Not when you're wired to the nines, not when you've got your mind worried on your mother, how your father might retaliate if he's dumb or drunk enough, and all the other little loose ends you've got lying about. Thankfully, you've been clearing out the back of your closet, and that meant it was time to get started on your research board. You hesitate to call it a display of your paranoia, or a conspiracy board, because you lived in a world where there were no less than three different clandestine organizations working to topple democratic governments the world over. Paranoia paid off.

>The insight board is a new mechanic, chiefly designed to gauge the level of research and information you have on different topics. Occasionally, you can gain flat boosts to a given track through raw information, other times you've got to sift through your new information and cross-reference with existing data, which takes time. The results can be anything from sudden realizations, new story threads to look into, or even additional skills, story information, equipment, or even additional advances on top of those gained through regular story development. Currently, J.J. has these threads on his wall:

>Pick one:
>The Kingpin [0/?]: New York's shadowy crime boss, even more reclusive than the maggia, and by spades considerably more dangerous. He's got fingers in a lot of pies if the word on the street is to be believed, and rumors fly about his base of power being centered in Hell's Kitchen.

>Web-Shot Design(Cascade)[0/1]: In theory, you think the possibility of creating a new web-shot is relatively easy. It's more of a matter of redesigning your web-shooter to project shots in a direct web, greatly improving your capture capabilities. The trade-off being that you loose the ability to shoot strings when loaded with this ammo type.

>Web-Shooter Ammo Capacity Mk. 1 [0/2]: During normal navigation of the city running out of fluid is no longer an issue. However, during fights and other stressful situations, that's less true. This bumps up how much fluid you're able to conserve and store in one single container.

>Mutants Underground [0/?]: Much like alligators, the rumors of mutants in the sewers of New York have existed forever. With a bit of digging, though, you're pretty sure there's something to be explored there.

>Turf War [1/3]: According to Turk Barret, more than a few elements of the Maggia have been ramping for a potential war with The Kingpin. You've even got some names to get started, like The Owl and Hammerhead.
>>
>>3215983
>...Get working on your stories. Too many tangled threads for your liking. Probably was going to need a board at this rate.
>>
>>3217776
>Turf war
This can cascade into information on each crime boss
>>
>>3217776
>>Turf War [1/3]: According to Turk Barret, more than a few elements of the Maggia have been ramping for a potential war with The Kingpin. You've even got some names to get started, like The Owl and Hammerhead.
>>
>>3217776
>Turf War [1/3]: According to Turk Barret, more than a few elements of the Maggia have been ramping for a potential war with The Kingpin. You've even got some names to get started, like The Owl and Hammerhead.
>>
>>3217776

>Turf War [1/3]: According to Turk Barret, more than a few elements of the Maggia have been ramping for a potential war with The Kingpin. You've even got some names to get started, like The Owl and Hammerhead.
>>
>>3217776
>Turf War [1/3]: According to Turk Barret, more than a few elements of the Maggia have been ramping for a potential war with The Kingpin. You've even got some names to get started, like The Owl and Hammerhead.
We've already got a definitive lead on this one. With any luck, we might find some collateral leads on The Kingpin - or more, even - by pursuing the lead we actually do have.
>>
>>3217776
I'd like to go for
>Web-Shot Design(Cascade)[0/1]: In theory, you think the possibility of creating a new web-shot is relatively easy. It's more of a matter of redesigning your web-shooter to project shots in a direct web, greatly improving your capture capabilities. The trade-off being that you loose the ability to shoot strings when loaded with this ammo type.
since it´s the quickest one the board and gives us a direct upgrade before facing stronger enemies, but I guess I'm ok with Turf War.
>>
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>>3217816
>>3217831
>>3217838
>>3217840
>>3217906

As it stands, you feel as if your best option to begin looking into the turf war. Investigating the Kingpin was going to be an operation that took time and resources that maybe you didn't have right now, and likely require the aid of allies. Harry and Bruce was good, but they didn't have the finesse or reach you needed quite yet. Instead, it's better to focus on something that might lead into more clues on the Kingpin front, while also keeping your local neighborhood safe.

It's no secret that the biggest mafia families in New York eventually quit fighting each other, and instead turned to more mutually exclusive business arrangements, divvying up territory instead of squabbling over it. Not everyone adheres to this policy, but for the most part if manages to keep criminal interests from clashing over the roughly 2.6 million people they prey upon. Hammerhead, The Owl, and Crime-Master are big names, but you're fully aware there's other fish in the sea. Smaller fish, more easier to target.

Big Man is nominally working under Crime-Master, but largely runs a gun-running operation with the aid of his Enforcers. None of them are enhanced as far as the rumors go, but all of them are more or less at the height of human capabilities and deadly in their own ways.

Mister Negative is a newcomer to the scene, and you don't really have a whole lot of information on him, other than he's trucking goods of some kind in and out of Chinatown, and has fiercely loyal followers. Even the cops aren't able to wring many details out of the arrested goons, making things very difficult when it comes to researching him. You'd have to look into this more, and pound the pavement.

Sin-Eater is a hitman, all around thug, and generally some sort of killer with a religious motif. For the Maggia, they find his costumed persona useful. He's said to frequent some bar for costumed personalities, though. Provided Shutterbug didn't get known too quickly, you could track it down and stake it out.

Even with all these options, it's growing late, and for the night you choose to pull yourself out of your work and back to bed. The time for more research would come later.

[1/2]
>>
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>>3218171

Morning came and went as you checked on your mother, with your father thankfully absent from the house. Grabbing some cereal for a quick breakfast, you were out of the door and off to Midtown High for the day. As annoying as it was, you were a Junior in High School and had to maintain appearances, at least for the moment. J.J. Jameson wouldn't have been the first teen to drop out of school in New York, but you couldn't break your mother's heart like that. Not when she had such high hopes for you.

Classes come and go, but it's easier to pass the time when you've got Harry or Bruce in a class with you, joking with the former and copying answers off the latter. Generally, the flow of the day was pretty normal, right up until the final bell rang, and everyone cleared out to go collect their items from their lockers. You did the same, yet you found that a very familiar face was standing beside your own. One blonde, pretty, angry face.

Gwen Stacy was another member of the journalism club. She was also one of the cutest girls in the school, though there were definitely a few that could give her a run for her money for the title. "To what do I owe the pleasure...?" You greet coyly, even if you're willing to bet the cause.

"Don't try to charm me, smartass! What happened to that report for the newsletter? Do you know how annoying it's been to have Mr. Hofstadter chirping on about when it's going to get done?" Yep, as you suspected, your general lack of interest in the more mundane journalism has come back to bite you.

>"Hey, hey. I'll write it tonight, I promise." You had a responsibility to finish that paper, even if it's paling in comparison to your nightly activities.
>"Would you believe me if I said I got busy? Like...a job at the bugle?" You're not really going to go into the specifics, but it's something to distract her and deflect away some of that anger.
>"Sounds like you're just unlucky. Dunno if I'll have time for the club, anymore. Got personal stuff going on." Crime-fighting stuff.
>Write-in

[2/2]
>>
>>3218199
>"Would you believe me if I said I got busy? Like...a job at the bugle?" You're not really going to go into the specifics, but it's something to distract her and deflect away some of that anger.
>>
>>3218199
>>"Sounds like you're just unlucky. Dunno if I'll have time for the club, anymore. Got personal stuff going on." Crime-fighting stuff.
>>
>>3218199
>>"Would you believe me if I said I got busy? Like...a job at the bugle?" You're not really going to go into the specifics, but it's something to distract her and deflect away some of that anger.
We should get it done anyway, but letting her know why - at least in part - could help mitigate the problem in future.
>>
>>3218218
switching to
>>3218219
>>
>>3218199
Think we could combine the first and third options? No sense leaving this club on bad terms.

Yeah we're not blabbing about the Bugle job - we didn't get it as J.J after all.
>>
>>3218199
>>"Hey, hey. I'll write it tonight, I promise." You had a responsibility to finish that paper, even if it's paling in comparison to your nightly activities.
J.J. should not bail on work he said he would do.
>>
>"Hey, hey. I'll write it tonight, I promise." You had a responsibility to finish that paper, even if it's paling in comparison to your nightly activities.
>>
>>3218199
>"Hey, hey. I'll write it tonight, I promise." You had a responsibility to finish that paper, even if it's paling in comparison to your nightly activities.
>>
>>3218943
Ditto
I wonder what kind of guys Gwen is into?
>>
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>>3218199
>"Hey, hey. I'll write it tonight, I promise." You had a responsibility to finish that paper, even if it's paling in comparison to your nightly activities.
Our super-reporting as Shutterbug is great and important. But JJ doesn't want to have to have an entire career behind a mask. He's going to be able to put J. Jonah Jameson on a byline someday.

Also, remember, don't try to nail Gwen Stacy, because Bruce's hot cousin Jennifer is the real catch. That, and it's grossly unprofessional to get involved with someone else working on the same publication.
>>
>>3218199
>Write-In
> I promise I'll finish it tonight, but I don't think I'll have a lot of time for the club anymore. Got a lot going on right now.
>>
>>3219385
Plus, we might need the legal help someday. For instance, if our version of civil war happens
>>
>>3218199
>"Hey, hey. I'll write it tonight, I promise." You had a responsibility to finish that paper, even if it's paling in comparison to your nightly activities.
>>
>>3218199
>"Hey, hey. I'll write it tonight, I promise." You had a responsibility to finish that paper, even if it's paling in comparison to your nightly activities.
>>
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>>3218218
>>3218313
>Got a new job, toots

>>3218505
>>3218554
>>3218943
>>3219385
>>3219623
>>3220110
>>3220484
>Hey, I'll write that shit, chill

In the end, you've got no one to blame but yourself. You did somewhat bring this upon yourself. The balance between being Shutterbug and being J.J. Jameson was a tiresome one, but a worthwhile endeavor. Sometimes there were little pleasures that you couldn't take as your superheroic identity that were only available in your not-so-mild mannered civilian life.

"Hey, hey! Cool off, will ya'? I'll write it tonight, scout's honor." You raise your hands up in a placating gesture, offering a hangdog smile in exchange, especially considering the next bit of news you've got to offer. "Might have to consider dropping out of the club, though. Got some...personal stuff. Might take up all my time." It's a gross understatement, to say the least, but you're pretty sure it's not smart to mention anymore than that.

"More important than the journalism club? Coming from you?" She sounds and looks intensely suspicious and curious, but doesn't pry any deeper. "Might as well tell me. Think I can't pry it out of Harry or Bruce?"

The thought of that brought a smile to your face. No, this time you're pretty sure Harry and Bruce wouldn't give you up. Not when they were complicit in this business now, for better or worse. "Try and tell me how that goes, yeah?" You reach past her into your locker, pulling out your backpack and slinging it on your shoulders. "But Gwen...?"

"Yeah?"

>"How about dinner, Friday night? My treat?" It's just dinner between two friends. Nothing emotionally charged behind it, no sir.
>"Keep up on your writing. I'll still be reading the newsletter." It's better you guys just really remain friends. At a distance.
>Write-in
>>
>>3220635
>"Keep up on your writing. I'll still be reading the newsletter." It's better you guys just really remain friends. At a distance.
>>
>>3220635
>"How about dinner, Friday night? My treat?" It's just dinner between two friends. Nothing emotionally charged behind it, no sir.
You know what? this is also a mission. A mission to find out if Officer Stacy is her dad.
>>
>>3220635
>"How about dinner, Friday night? My treat?" It's just dinner between two friends. Nothing emotionally charged behind it, no sir.
Even if she finds out, if she's a good friend then she can help with out alibis.
>>
>>3220635
>>"Keep up on your writing. I'll still be reading the newsletter." It's better you guys just really remain friends. At a distance.
>>
>>3220635
>>"How about dinner, Friday night? My treat?" It's just dinner between two friends. Nothing emotionally charged behind it, no sir.

Maybe take her to a nice $100 range place that just so happens to be related to anything we're investigating. I think Italian would be a good bet.
>>
>>3220635
>"Keep up on your writing. I'll still be reading the newsletter." It's better you guys just really remain friends. At a distance.

Nuh-uh, not risking Gwen's neck getting the Peter Parker Spider-Man fate.
>>
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>>3220935
implying we would do the same shit as parker. we probably might do something like pic related.
>>
>>3220635
>"How about dinner, Friday night? My treat?" It's just dinner between two friends. Nothing emotionally charged behind it, no sir.
>>
>>3220635
>"Keep up on your writing. I'll still be reading the newsletter." It's better you guys just really remain friends. At a distance.
We've made early friends with Detective Stacy. Don't fuck that up by fucking his daughter.

Eyes on the She-Hulk prize.
>>
>"Keep up on your writing. I'll still be reading the newsletter." It's better you guys just really remain friends. At a distance.
>>
>>3220635
>"How about dinner, Friday night? My treat?" It's just dinner between two friends. Nothing emotionally charged behind it, no sir.
>>
>>3220635
>Dinner
>>
>>3221540
>Eyes on the She-Hulk prize.
Calm down anon. We've only met two females so far.

This is just a reconnaissance mission, to see what Mr. Stacy really thinks of us.
>>
>>3220635
Dinner
>>
>>3220635
>>"Keep up on your writing. I'll still be reading the newsletter." It's better you guys just really remain friends. At a distance.
>>
>>3220635
>"How about dinner, Friday night? My treat?" It's just dinner between two friends. Nothing emotionally charged behind it, no sir.
>>
>>3221540
But what if gwen becomes she hulk. or better yet, gwen becomes spider woman because we have to teansfuse her blood
>>
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>>3220658
>>3220664
>>3220799
>>3221213
>>3222267
>>3222301
>>3223132
>it's just dinner

>>3220655
>>3220709
>>3220935
>>3221540
>>3221854
>>3222676
>Keep righting, bruh

Dinner wins out by the most narrow of margins.

>3 rolls of 1d100, best of the first three rolls is taken.
DC: 50
>>
Rolled 99 (1d100)

>>3223367
Fine, it's not like we have more important shit to do anyways...
>>
Rolled 30 (1d100)

>>3223367
>>
Rolled 95 (1d100)

>>3223367
>>3223381
Damn.
>>
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>>3223381
Smooth. As. Fuck.
Pic related is Gwen.
>>
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>>3223381
Well then. Writing.
>>
>>3223440

>99
>Spectacular Success

It's difficult to tell whether or not it's a result of your newfound nightly persona, or just some unknown side-effect of your spider-powers, but you're brimming with confidence. Especially when it comes to the words that spilled out of your mouth, likely the smoothest you'd ever spoken within memory. "Instead, how about dinner, Friday night? My treat?" It was just dinner between two friends. Absolutely no other intentions, nope.

In a moment, you were treated to the rather surprised expression that came over Gwen's face, her cheeks flushing red and her mouth opening and closing quickly as she sputtered for words. It was one of those instances you desperately wished you had your camera within reach to capture her reaction, but you'd have to settle for locking it down within memory. "I-I, um... Well, I'd have to c-check my schedule, and-"

"Is that a no?" You ask, cutting her off and raising an eyebrow at the blonde.

"N-No! Uh...!" There was a panicked look on her face for a few seconds as she reached into the pockets of her coat, pulling out a scrap of paper before furiously scribbling on it and pushing it into your hands. "My number. And address. Call tonight and we'll work out the details...or something..." You tuck away the piece of paper in your pocket, wearing a toothy grin.

"Guess I'll call you tonight, huh?" The only answer the red-faced girl could get out was a quick nod, before squeaking out a goodbye and turning on her heel, retreating away as soon as possible. It leaves you to revel in your victory, before managing to meet up with Harry and Bruce at the former's car in the lot. It's tough to keep the smugness off of your face, yet somehow it's managed. Somewhat.

"What's got you beaming, J.J.?" Harry asked, sitting on the hood as he watched you approach.

"...Tell ya' later, Harry." You three had more important things on the agenda. Like...

>Start looking into this turf war. It's shaping up to be a potentially big ruckus, and you'd prefer to nip this in the bud.
>You three needed a hideout. Like, a proper place to set up shop as the Trifreakta. Time to look around town.
>Mutants underneath the city. Did they exist? Nobody knows! Let's find out.
>This China-town lead had merit. Power boosting drugs? Sounded dangerous to say the least.
>Write-in
>>
>>3223609
Mother fuckin J.J. Smoothest amateur reporter alive.

>While we scour out the China-town lead, Bruce and Harry can search for a base of opperations.
>>
>>3223609
>>Mutants underneath the city. Did they exist? Nobody knows! Let's find out.
Sounds fun and it may not take too much time.
>>
>>3223609
>>You three needed a hideout. Like, a proper place to set up shop as the Trifreakta. Time to look around town.
>>
>>3223609
>>Start looking into this turf war. It's shaping up to be a potentially big ruckus, and you'd prefer to nip this in the bud.
We need a hideout at some point for storing suits, gadgets, and paranoid insight boards. But first, let's run down that lead that we've actually got. If we can assemble a story for the Bugle, give Officer Stacy another win, and maybe scare up some leads on related stories like Kingpin or Chinatown? That'd be a solid foundation to move forward on. So far we've averted a disaster before it even began and dipped our toes briefly into super-journalism, but we could be a one-hit wonder if we don't start getting to work.
>>
>>3223609
>You three needed a hideout. Like, a proper place to set up shop as the Trifreakta. Time to look around town.
>>
>>3223609
>Start looking into this turf war. It's shaping up to be a potentially big ruckus, and you'd prefer to nip this in the bud.
>>
>>3223609
>>Mutants underneath the city. Did they exist? Nobody knows! Let's find out.
>>
>>3223609
>Start looking into this turf war. It's shaping up to be a potentially big ruckus, and you'd prefer to nip this in the bud.
>>
>>3223821
>>3223952
>>3223987
>look into it

Writing.
>>
>>3223609
>Start looking into this turf war. It's shaping up to be a potentially big ruckus, and you'd prefer to nip this in the bud.
>>
>>3224039

Out of all of your options, the turf war seems the most inherently promising. Mutants in the sewers were just rumors, super-powered drugs affected a very small percentage of the population, but a lot of New Yorkers would be getting hurt if the Maggia carried over this potential fighting into the streets. Your people. The idea of that hardly appealed to your sensibilities, and in a moment your decision was set.

"We're looking into this turf war, guys. This is our city, and I'll be damned if some two-bit gangsters are gonna roll in and claim it." It's a bold mission, but one you're proud of following.

"The three of us? Against one of the most bloodthirsty, violent criminal organizations on the planet?" Bruce sounded skeptical at the very least, pushing his glasses up and eyeing you curiously.

"Guess the odds are even then." Harry's confidence is as infectious as usual, quelling any doubts you may have had on the subject.

"I guess... At the very least, many of their operatives are noted to be wielding gadgets and equipment we could loot, and it'd be a good way to get Shutterbug's name out there." As always, Bruce's insight is proving as invaluable as ever.

"Who's the first bozo on our little list, then?" Harry asked, heading around to the driver's side door of his car.

>Big Man. None of them are powered, but they run a drug ring and they've got connections to Crime-Master, another shadowy member of the Maggia. Even if they didn't give up information, their hideout could be wrung for details.
>Mister Negative. He's running some sort of hustle in Chinatown, even if it's apparently causing trouble with the Tongs there. He's powerful enough to hold his own in those skirmishes, though.
>Sin-Eater. This thug is a killer, and vermin of the highest order. Apparently, he frequents some place called The Bar With No Name. Shutterbug isn't known enough as a hero yet, so there's the chance you could slip in incognito and stake it out.
>>
>>3224141
>>Big Man. None of them are powered, but they run a drug ring and they've got connections to Crime-Master, another shadowy member of the Maggia. Even if they didn't give up information, their hideout could be wrung for details.
>>
>>3224141
>Mister Negative. He's running some sort of hustle in Chinatown, even if it's apparently causing trouble with the Tongs there. He's powerful enough to hold his own in those skirmishes, though.
Since he's running in Chinatown, we might pick up some info on that super-drug while we're there.
>>
>>3224141
>Big Man. None of them are powered, but they run a drug ring and they've got connections to Crime-Master, another shadowy member of the Maggia. Even if they didn't give up information, their hideout could be wrung for details.
>>
>>3224141
>Sin-Eater. This thug is a killer, and vermin of the highest order. Apparently, he frequents some place called The Bar With No Name. Shutterbug isn't known enough as a hero yet, so there's the chance you could slip in incognito and stake it out.
>>
>>3224141
>>Sin-Eater. This thug is a killer, and vermin of the highest order. Apparently, he frequents some place called The Bar With No Name. Shutterbug isn't known enough as a hero yet, so there's the chance you could slip in incognito and stake it out.
There's an adventage for doing it first and we might find good ol' Matt Murdock in the way.
>>
>>3224141
>Sin-Eater. This thug is a killer, and vermin of the highest order. Apparently, he frequents some place called The Bar With No Name. Shutterbug isn't known enough as a hero yet, so there's the chance you could slip in incognito and stake it out.
>>
>>3224141
>Sin-Eater
He sounds like a rip-off Bond villain
>>
>>3224191
>>3224196
>>3224235
>>3224314
>barflies

Writing
>>
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>>3224345

You can barely bring yourself to speak your target's name with a straight face, even if his victims were very real. "We're going after a guy named Sin-Eater. Got it on good authority he haunts a bar known for associating with the costumed types." The other two can already see where your mind is going but it was Harry that gave their thoughts a voice first.

"You're not going in there in costume, are you? That's crazy, right? Surrounded by villains on all sides... You'll get wrecked if things go sideways, J.J." He's speaking logic, but surprisingly it's Bruce that chimes in to disagree.

"Not necessarily. While this is a foolhardy plan, Shutterbug has only really foiled one crime, and is a pretty unknown name in the city so far. It's not so far fetched that provided he plays by the rules, he'll walk out more or less unharmed." The smaller figure was heading towards the back seat of the car, leaving you to slide into the passenger side.

"See? Now this is the kind of vote of confidence I'm expecting, Harry."

"Don't misunderstand, the chances of this going wrong are...spectacular, to say the least." Bruce, ever playing devil's advocate. Then again, if he wasn't being critical and raising logical points, you'd be a little afraid of what was happening to the small guy.

"Everyone's a critic..." You slump back into your seat, reaching into your backpack and beginning to fish out the disparate elements of your costume. "Besides, we just need to follow Sin-Eater out and take him down." Maybe following him back to his hideout or apartment, if you really wanted to get good info. Otherwise, it'd be a solid collar regardless.

>"You two could always come inside. Play my henchmen?" In your eyes it's a perfectly solid plan. With their masks on, they could easily play the part.
>"Stay in the car and stake out the street. Honk if there's any trouble outside." They're not quite ready to jump into the fray with you yet.
>>
>>3224401
>"Stay in the car and stake out the street. Honk if there's any trouble outside." They're not quite ready to jump into the fray with you yet.
>>
>>3224401
>"You two could always come inside. Play my henchmen?" In your eyes it's a perfectly solid plan. With their masks on, they could easily play the part.
>>
>>3224401
>>"Stay in the car and stake out the street. Honk if there's any trouble outside." They're not quite ready to jump into the fray with you yet.
>>
>>3224401
>"Stay in the car and stake out the street. Honk if there's any trouble outside." They're not quite ready to jump into the fray with you yet.
>>
>>3224401
>stay in the car, get ready to rock and roll
We need to make sure they don’t feel like they’re getting sidelined and go full “former best-friend turned arch-enemy “
>>
>>3224445
switching to>>3224447
>>
>>3224447
>>3224401
>stay in the car, get ready to rock and roll
Remember, we're kitting everyone out ASAP too. Tech guns, gadgets, even just kevlar vests would be great to give to Harry and, to a lesser extent, Bruce. They're no different from JJ; JJ just has a gadget running through his veins.
>>
>>3224401
This:
>>3224447
>>
>>3224505
Outfitting our teammates is a great idea, I wonder if teaching Bruce teaches Hulk stuff too
>>
>>3224805
At the current point, the Hulk has no control, and we don't even know if Bruce can turn back into him. Until we figure more out, Banner's a gadget hero like Harry.
>>
>>3224982
Yes, but does muscle memory transfer over? Hulk obviously knows what’s going on in Bruce’s life/thoughts
>>
>>3225115
From what incredibly little JJ knows, Bruce sounds like he remembers what happened as Hulk as if it was a dream, and with huge blank spaces in the middle. He mostly remembered the beginning and end with nothing in between, and even that vaguely.

That was the impression I got, anyway.
>>
>>3224412
>>3224426
>>3224445
>>3224447
>>3224505
>>3224547
>ride-along

Writing.
>>
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>>3225947

"You two should stay in the car. Stake out the street and honk a bunch if you happen to hear any trouble." As much as you'd like to get them into the fray beside you as soon as possible, Harry only had the paste-gun and Bruce was potentially packing a few hundred pounds of angry, green, uncontrollable muscle. "If we're lucky, he might have some neat gizmos we can snatch off of him."

Harry looked downcast, to say the least, whereas Bruce didn't seem too cut up about not being thrown into danger. "Fine, fine... For now, I guess we'll have to just settle for being the lookouts. Try not to have too much fun without us, eh?"

"Pfft, c'mon. You guys know the second the shit really begins to hit the fan, I want you in the thick of it. Just lay low for a bit." It's important to keep the two of them from feeling like they were getting sidelined, though you distinctly feel as if Bruce would have been just as happy sitting in a lab and working on his research. The big-brained teen was always a little happier staying out of the direct action, but rather playing a hand behind the scenes.

"I'm gonna hold you to that, J.J.!" Harry commented, starting up the car and beginning to pull out of the Midtown High parking lot, while Bruce opened up his backpack and pulled out a notepad, beginning to write.

"I should mention that I've taken the liberty of potentially finding a location for us to claim as a...hideout, if you would." Bruce piped in, looking up from his work. "The Freedom tunnel system is more or less a haven for the homeless population of New York as I understand it, as well as other undesirables. With a bit of work on a chamber or two, we could likely create a base of operations." Leave it to Bruce to make some contingency plan for the future while the rest of you were only looking at the present.

"Down in the subway system?" You hadn't ever really considered the idea, but beyond swinging around New York, the subway system was probably the fastest other way to move around. "There really that much unoccupied space down there?"

"Enough for a clandestine lab and base of operations. New York has a lot of buried secrets, J.J." Honestly, you can't argue with that string of logic.

[1/2]
>>
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>>3225982

The Bar With No Name was a sort of infamous place in the New York nightlife, among the circles that actually cared to dig into the muck. Somehow, from it's backing or just the immense amount of crooks gathered there at one time, the place had managed to stay open. It drew costumed thugs and wannabes from all around, sometimes even from overseas, and if you needed to get some powered muscle it was largely known as the place to do it. Harry had been smart to park a ways down the street from the actual bar. The last thing you needed was some nosy villain trying to figure out what the two teenagers in the car were trying to do.

"You're really heading in there, J.J.? It looks...shady, to say the least." Harry asked, squinting his eyes at the bar suspiciously. You were already changed into your tracksuit, cap, and scarf, web-shooter hidden underneath a sleeve and ready to be shot at a moment's notice.

"Best lead we got of trying to find this bozo. Besides, just think of the story I can write!" In the middle of a bar of supervillains. You're willing to bet not a lot of journalists are willing to risk their necks that much for a scoop. Then again, not a lot of journalists could pick up cars and stick to ceilings.

Hopping out, you began to approach the front door of the bar, trying to swagger much as you might assume some maladjusted criminal might. It's a little harder than you imagined. The tact you were trying to take with this infiltration was simple, though.

>Walk in and try to find a nice, dark corner to stake out in immediately. You didn't want to associate with these freaks anymore than you needed to.
>Draw attention to yourself. You wanted everyone to see you, and know you were there. Best way to wring information out of people.
>Write-in

[2/2]
>>
>>3225994
>Just go up to the bar and sit down
>>
>>3226080
>>Just go up to the bar and sit down
>>
>>3226080
>>3225994
Thirding.
>>
>>3226080
Fourth. Plain sight is actually less suspicious than dark corner, and it makes for easier listening until we get a super-senses mutation.
>>
>>3226080
Fifth
>>
>>3225994
>>Just go up to the bar and sit down
>>
>>3225994
>Just go up to the bar and sit down
>>
>>3226080
>>3226126
>>3226202
>>3226214
>>3226339
>>3226370
>>3226738

Walking into the bar was something a tense moment for you, even if the collection of costumed creeps and weirdos didn't pay you a second thought. Some looked up from their conversations or drinks, a few snickered, others shot you more glowering looks, but not a soul stood up to block your path or approach you. You were in the belly of the beast, because for better or worse, you were almost positive that any number of these thugs would pounce on you for your superheroic inclinations.

Thus, it was better to act normal. Well, as normal as could be expected when you were in a get-up like the rest of these clowns. You went straight up to the bar, sitting between two figures in the only open spot. To your left was an African-american man with an afro that looked like it belonged back a decade, a guitar slung over his shoulder, and a fashion style that could be generously called 'retro'. On your right was a man dressed up in a more sleek outfit than you've seen before, all bike leathers and wearing a fully obscuring helmet.

The bartender, a balding man easily in his forties, approach you as he polished a glass in his hands. "Welcome, stranger. Can't say I've ever seen you around here, but I'm not one to turn down the business." His personality was entirely at odds with the bar of killers and thieves that moved around you, but you weren't here to judge. Just to find Sin-Eater.

"New on the scene. Still trying to make a name in the life, I guess." You're trying to avoid having to out yourself, or make up a new name on the spot. Vague is better, and the criminal types would probably agree.

>"What's the rumors around town, boss? You heard anything about this shake-up with the maggia?" You might as well pump these chumps for information on the potential turf war.
>"Who's the up and comers in the city, guy? Gotta know who to approach." You want to get info on any new movers and shakers you can, whether they be heroes or villains. No such thing as bad intel.
>"Hear anything about that Oscorp break-in?" According to Harry, security operatives made off with a bit of the research projects, probably to sell. Maybe they resurfaced to sell the goods?
>"Who's the man to talk to about getting some gadgets? I'm in the market." They may be criminals, but they got all this stuff somehow, didn't they?
>Buy a drink. You need to blend in, after all.
>>
>>3226881
>>Buy a drink. You need to blend in, after all.
>>
>>3226881
>get a drink
>who’s the best boss in this city?
Let’s try to blend in as a super-for-hire
>>
>>3226931
support
>>
>>3226881
>>Buy a drink. You need to blend in, after all.
Nurse that drink and take the time to just listen and soak in the atmosphere. We can start asking questions once we've got a better feel for the place.

Considering what a shitbag JJ's dad is, I'm betting that he's got a hereditary alcohol tolerance and a dislike of actually getting drunk.
>>
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>>3226895
>>3226931
>>3227225
>>3227254

"What's on the draft tonight?" You asked, more than a little curious. Alcohol wasn't your favorite form of recreational intoxication, but it was certainly one of the more entertaining ones. It always left a bitter taste in your mouth the morning after, though, or if you thought about your father. Hopefully the drink wouldn't claim you as thoroughly as it did him.

"Beer."

"...Anything specific?" You ask, a little confused by the vagueness of his answer.

"Beer that fell off the back of a truck. You want some or not, kid?" For a brief moment you were a little worried whether or not he knew you were a teenager, but came to the sudden realization that the bartender either didn't care, or was just calling you a kid because you were younger than him. Either way, all you could do was nod in response as he began to pull at a handle and fill you a glass. It's a little awkward trying to maintain your identity with your scarf and lift it up to drink intermittently, but eventually you manage an equilibrium between the two actions.

It's bitter and heady, and you're only really taking slow sips. It's a Tuesday night after all, you still had school in the morning. "What can you tell me about the bosses in this city? Who's the best to work under?" You inquire, setting the glass down on the bar.

"The best...?" The bartender rubbed at his face, looking pensive. "I'd say best is a relative word here. Least likely to kill you is probably Crime-Master. Guy spends a lot of time nursing his investments, so I don't think he likes offin' em' willy nilly if he doesn't have to."

That's when the helmeted man next to you chirps up, looking over your way. "You ever done work for Black Mariah? She treats her crew like family, honest truth. Sat us down for Sunday dinner after one heist. Best sweet potatoes I'd ever had..."

On the other side of you, the man with the guitar chimed in, scoffing. "Better than Jack O' Lantern's gigs. He'll pay you right to act as a distraction, but man, he draws waaaaay too much heat for my liking."

"Jack O' Lantern?" That's a name you haven't heard before, not in your research.

"Maggia spook. High level guy they call in to clean up problems when they get too close to the families for their liking. Not the sort of fellow you want to run into in a dark alley." The guitar man explains, looking relatively spooked by some past memory. "He's got the craziest laugh, too... You'll have to remember to keep that name in your memory.

[1/2]
>>
>>3227475

It's tough knowing when to butt into the conversation with your own burning questions, not when you're in the midst of a few villains that seem to have some form of knowledge about the criminal community at large. There's a difference between being inside of the bubble and being an observer looking in. A little thing you're beginning to learn the longer you listen to the three men talk among themselves. "What about other Maggia muscle? I heard a few of them frequent this joint."

"Mostly the henchmen! The top men got better things to do than come here." The bartender answered, grinning cheekily "Why? You trying to join up with them, kid? Don't got enough excitement in your life as is?"

That's something of an understatement if you've ever heard one. "Just out here trying to make it rich, buddy. What's your excuse?"

That brought forth a bout of laughter from the bartender and the two men at your sides, leaving the man behind the bar smiling. "Fair, fair... I'm pretty sure Sin-Eater said he was planning on stopping by here tonight. Actually...speak of the devil." Your attention was brought towards the door, and the new costumed face coming through. A familiar one, carrying a duffel bag of some kind at his side.

It appeared as if your target had arrived, looking around lazily. If he was alerted to anything weird he wasn't showing it. You were going to approach this...

>Cautiously. No need to approach him. Just observe.
>Gather information from the patrons. Surely they know a bit about him, right?
>Deceitfully. Pretending like you were interested in work was a good way to get close potentially.
>Write-in

[2/]
>>
>>3227601
>Cautiously. No need to approach him. Just observe.
>>
>>3227611
Ditto, but also gather more info from people
>>
>>3227601
>Cautiously. No need to approach him. Just observe.
>>
>>3227611
support
>>
>>3227601
>>Cautiously. No need to approach him. Just observe.
>>Gather information from the patrons. Surely they know a bit about him, right?
Some combination of these. Show a non-suspicious amount of interest to the folks JJ was already chatting up, but otherwise observe like a good journalist.
>>
>>3227601
>Cautiously. No need to approach him. Just observe.
Ask the others about him under the guise of being nervous about approaching him, like "He won't beat me up if he doesn't want me, right?"
>>
if they ask us for a villan name can it please be "the (menacing) spider-man"?
>>
>>3227611
>>3227638
>>3227771
>>3227840
>>3228642
>>3229391

You're going to take a more cautious stance with this situation. Going up to him might spook him, and you're not really sure enough of your ability to play the part of a ruthless killer. Instead, you turned back to the bartender, deciding to pump him for more information. "That's Sin-Eater? Looks pretty...normal, I guess? Normal for one of us." Your target was relaxed, sitting down at a table alone and flagging a passing waitress for a drink.

"Heard he's a pretty alright guy when you're not on the job. Just a bit...different, when he's got a target." The helmeted figure speaks, shuddering at something.

"Different is an understatement, Overdrive. He's a stone cold killer when he's on the hunt. Kind of like that big game hunter, Kraven, but not as entertaining to watch." The balding man behind the bar explains, gesturing over to Sin-Eater.

"He won't like, kneecap me or beat me up if he turned down my offer of working for him, would he?" You try your best to sound nervous, not the hardest considering the situation.

"Nah. He's not that cold, kid. Didn't peg you for a wetwork, type, though..."

"What people don't know about me could fill a book, sir." Or maybe a really small novelette. You nurse the drink in front of you, somewhere around halfway down the glass. Maybe you should slow down a little, before you get really buzzed...

"Hey, kid, what's your name anyway?" Overdrive asks, looking you up and down. This was a question you hadn't put a whole lot of thought into, so your answer was more or less stream of consciousness.

"Uh... The menacing Spider-man?" Perfect.

"Hey! You should hook up with this dude, the Beetle! You two can be thug themed!" Apparently, it was good enough for Overdrive.

The conversation between the three of you continues for awhile yet, where you learn that the man on your left goes by the name Hypno-Hustler, and the man on your right, Overdrive, is some sort of getaway driver. The bartender just goes by Tim. Occasionally you look back over to Sin-Eater, just to make sure he's still drinking and sitting, chatting with the odd other patron that walked by or sat at his table. Eventually though, the man got up and walked towards the exit. Thankfully, Overdrive and Hypno-Hustler were a little too drunk to notice you quietly excusing yourself to the restroom.

In reality, you're following him out the door, keeping your head down and acting as casually as possible. For this type of stealth, you're favoring...

>Moving from rooftop to rooftop. It'll separate you from Bruce and Harry, but it's stealthy.
>Stalk him from ground level. Being a trained assassin, he might be one of the few people that actually look up.
>Trail him from a good distance in the car. You'll have to hope that Harry can quietly stalk him from a ways off.
>Write-in
>>
>>3230084
>The menacing Spider-man?
Using Spider-man as an undercover villain persona for investigative journalism every now and then, and then switching back to Shutterbug for all the real heroism, would be totally on-theme for JJ.

"Spider-man is a menace!"

Could even have Harry don the Spider-man outfit when he needs to be in two places at once. Just make sure to act like Spider-man has no powers, so that Spider-man and Shutterbug don't have suspiciously similar powers.

Anyway, tangent aside:
>Stalk him from ground level. Being a trained assassin, he might be one of the few people that actually look up.
If he spots JJ, just admit we were following him straight-up, tell him we're the Menacing Spider-Man, and just try to get him to turn us down for some work. Establish a reputation as a slightly over-eager wannabe henchman, for future investigative work.
>>
>>3230084
>>Stalk him from ground level. Being a trained assassin, he might be one of the few people that actually look up.
Good thing we can turn invisible.
>>
>>3230153
>Stalk him from ground level. Being a trained assassin, he might be one of the few people that actually look up.

>>3230243
>Good thing we can turn invisible
I think we should keep our ability to turn invisible a secret. Make sure we have a trump card just in case something goes wrong at any point. It'll help with spying if people don't know we can disappear.

>>3230153
>Could even have Harry don the Spider-man outfit when he needs to be in two places at once. Just make sure to act like Spider-man has no powers, so that Spider-man and Shutterbug don't have suspiciously similar powers.
Supporting this as well. For similar reasons as above.
>>
>>3230153
Ditto on every count
>>
>>3230153
support
>>
>>3230153
>>3230243
>>3230408
>>3230440
>>3230569

Stalking the Sin-Eater wins.

>3 rolls of 1d100, best of the first three wins.
DC: 65
>>
Rolled 10 (1d100)

>>3230586
>>
Rolled 46 (1d100)

>>3230586
>>
Rolled 54 (1d100)

>>3230586
>>
>>3230596

>54
>Average Failure

Chances are if this guy is a trained assassin for the Maggia like everyone says he is, taking to the rooftops might not be the best idea. Normal people rarely looked up, even in a city with as much superhuman activity as New York, but someone in the community might not have that same weakness. You didn't plan on inviting Harry or Bruce along either. Whatever Sin-Eater was carrying in that bag of his, you were pretty sure it wasn't food for the homeless. No, this would require a different tact.

You follow him on foot, ducking behind corners and dumpsters, thankful for the secluded nature of this part of town. Not a whole lot of people walking the streets around The Bar With No Name, for likely fairly obvious reasons. No one wanted to be around a bunch of costumed freaks and lunatics and their criminal interests. And as you follow him, he takes winding paths around the city blocks, moving slowly but with a purpose. Just by observing him, it was not immediately obvious where he was going.

Then, in an instant, he turned a corner. You moved swiftly to peek around it, but only caught a hint of his purple costume heading into an alley. There was a little bit of panic as you rushed forward again, trying not to lose him and having wasted your entire time. Instead, rounding the corner, you came face to face with arguably the largest double-barreled shotgun you've ever seen. At a certain point, you're pretty sure it was just compensating for something.

Sin-Eater stood there, eyes narrowed at you, both hands gripping the gun tight as he held it braced against his hip. The weapon was a bit odd-looking as far as guns went, but that could be chocked up to unusual super-science that had gone into it's design. Seemed like everyone was carrying around special toys these days. "Evening, stranger. Don't suppose you're willing to tell me why you're following after me?" His voice was cool, calm, and collected. To be fair, though, he did have a shotgun dead to rights trained on you. Probably the biggest jump anyone had ever gotten on you so far.

The hair on the back of your neck was standing up like crazy, danger sense throbbing but not spiking as Sin-Eater fingered the trigger. "...I'm the menacing Spider-man. I was a little interested in asking for a job, but I figure we've gone a little past that, huh?"

"Why didn't you approach me back at the bar? No reason you couldn't have."

"I..."

>"...Was shy. Me, a small time crook trying to play with the big boys? Didn't want to get laughed out of there." Play the part of a crook, for now.
>"...don't really want to play this game." You weren't catering to the whims of a killer. Try to web the gun out of his hands.
>Write-in
>>
>>3230741
>"...Was shy. Me, a small time crook trying to play with the big boys? Didn't want to get laughed out of there." Play the part of a crook, for now.
It'll be good to establish Spider-man - complete with his own costume - as an undercover-viable alternate identity to Shutterbug. The advantage of being a masked journalist.
>>
>>3230741
>"...Was shy. Me, a small time crook trying to play with the big boys? Didn't want to get laughed out of there." Play the part of a crook, for now.
>>
>>3230752
>I was shy
>>
>>3230741
>>"...don't really want to play this game." You weren't catering to the whims of a killer. Try to web the gun out of his hands.
We should have just used invisibility.
>>
>>3230833
>We should have just used invisibility.
Nah, then Spider-man might be known to have invisibility. Never used powers when in the Spider-man persona.
>>
>>3230844
The thing about invisiblity is that, y'know, they can't see you so they can't know you are invisible. And this whole third persona is overcomplicated and stupid.
>>
>>3230861
>The thing about invisiblity is that, y'know, they can't see you so they can't know you are invisible.
Unless you make a sound or otherwise get detected anyway. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think our invisibility is the type that can be maintained through a fight or a high-speed chase yet.

>And this whole third persona is overcomplicated and stupid.
That's just, like, your opinion.
>>
>>3230741
>"...Was shy. Me, a small time crook trying to play with the big boys? Didn't want to get laughed out of there." Play the part of a crook, for now.

>>3230861
>And this whole third persona is overcomplicated and stupid.
That's just like, you know, your opinion or whatever.
>>
>>3230918
>Unless you make a sound or otherwise get detected anyway. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think our invisibility is the type that can be maintained through a fight or a high-speed chase yet.
The solution is simple, you knock them out while invisible and they won't connect "Invisibility" to your Spider Man persona. I'm only said the invisibility thing because I guess we could have gotten an easier dc on the roll, don't quote me on that tho.
>That's just, like, your opinion.
There are good arguments backing it. A very simple one that you might have overlooked is that we can't have stories we get on your third persona published for obvious reasons.
>>
>>3230741
>"...don't really want to play this game." You weren't catering to the whims of a killer. Try to web the gun out of his hands.
>>
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>>3230752
>>3230759
>>3230798

"I was shy, alright? Just a small time crook trying to run with the big boys. Hard to approach a man famed for his wetwork right in the open, yeah?" You're not really sure what you're doing here. Even if you were going to establish an identity, it might have made a touch more sense to run with people that didn't outwardly kill people. You were a lot of things, but J.J. Jameson wasn't a killer. It was just a matter of seeing how long you could keep up the facade without it collapsing in on itself.

"Lemme get this straight. You want to work under a trained killer, but you were a little gun-shy...?" There's a certain humor in his words that you're not very quick to point out, lest you accidentally set off something. These villain types always had a few screws loose.

"...Didn't say it made sense."

There's a sigh that rolls out of him, like a man trying and failing to educate a sigh. The gun was still trained you, but as he took his finger off the trigger your danger sense quieted down. Somewhat. "Kid, you're in over your head. You don't want this life, trust me. No one with any sense chooses it." It was a little odd to be hearing such solid advice from a mob goon, but you weren't one to throw stones in glass houses considering how you were dressed at the moment, and where you'd spent the majority of your afternoon.

>"Are you really in a position to be giving life lessons? I wanna get in the life, man. Make the good money." Maybe if you press your luck, you might wear him down through sheer charisma. Not the most likely, but there's always a chance it might work.
>"...This is dumb, I'm a little buzzed, and you're dressed in pajamas." Shoot his gun with webs and pull it from his grasp. You wanted to get this over with and stop trying to pretend like you're not in the presence of a trained mob killer. It's disgusting.
>Write-in
>>
>>3230965
>>"...This is dumb, I'm a little buzzed, and you're dressed in pajamas." Shoot his gun with webs and pull it from his grasp. You wanted to get this over with and stop trying to pretend like you're not in the presence of a trained mob killer. It's disgusting.
>>
>>3230965

>"Are you really in a position to be giving life lessons? I wanna get in the life, man. Make the good money." Maybe if you press your luck, you might wear him down through sheer charisma. Not the most likely, but there's always a chance it might work.
>>
>>3230979
Ditto
>>
>>3230979
Tritto
>>
>>3230979
This.
>>
>>3230965
>>"...This is dumb, I'm a little buzzed, and you're dressed in pajamas." Shoot his gun with webs and pull it from his grasp. You wanted to get this over with and stop trying to pretend like you're not in the presence of a trained mob killer. It's disgusting.
>>
>>3231119
>>3231101
>>3231003
>>3230979

Well, this won't be easy.

>3 rolls of 1d100, best of three is taken.
DC: 80
>>
Rolled 36 (1d100)

>>3232377
>>
Rolled 54 (1d100)

>>3232377
>>
Rolled 65 (1d100)

>>3232377
>>
>>3232392
>>3232380
>>3232391
Well... fuck.
>>
>>3232392

>65
>Average Failure

"Are you really in a position to be giving out life lessons? I wanna get into the life, man. Make the good money." So far that day, your charisma had been more or less on point. You were hoping that it just might have been possible to wear him down through sheer persistence. Unfortunately, it didn't appear as if that would be the case this time around, judging by the way Sin-Eater's eyes narrowed at your words.

"Oh really? You think I want some two-bit thug, swaggering around with something to prove?" There's a scoff underneath his mask as he gestured away with his gun. "Get the hell out of here before I start thinking twice about kneecapping you for following me. Capiche?"

It was pretty clear that your usual brand of diplomacy wasn't going to work here, and he was looking at you expectantly, likely awaiting your departure before he turned his back on you. Say what you like about the assassin, but so far he'd been cautious and smart enough not to give you a chance to ambush him or persuade him with words. Unlike everyone else you'd dealt with so far, this time you wouldn't have the measure of surprise if you wished to get into a fight.

Which was why you were going to...

>Leave. Give him the distance to think he's safe, and just turn invisible and follow him. Much easier, theoretically, if time consuming.
>Shoot a web strand at his gun. You'd prefer to turn the tables in this situation if you had the choice. A fair fight might have been the thing for some people, but it wasn't for you.
>Turn invisible and rush him. Chances were he'd be cautious of you taking away his gun, but who expects a guy to turn invisible out of nowhere?
>Write-in
>>
>>3233308
>Leave. Give him the distance to think he's safe, and just turn invisible and follow him. Much easier, theoretically, if time consuming.
Eh. We dun goofed up.
>>
>>3233308
>Leave. Give him the distance to think he's safe, and just turn invisible and follow him. Much easier, theoretically, if time consuming.
Blegh. Gotta know when to fold 'em I suppose.
>>
>>3233308
>>Leave. Give him the distance to think he's safe, and just turn invisible and follow him. Much easier, theoretically, if time consuming.
>>
>>3233308
>Leave. Give him the distance to think he's safe, and just turn invisible and follow him. Much easier, theoretically, if time consuming.
>>
>>3233321
>>3233362
>>3233617
>>3233630

"Alright, alright. The Menacing Spider-Man knows when he isn't wanted." You could already tell that juggling all these identities was going to be a pain, but you raise your hands up in defeat all the same.

"Good to see you got the message. Hate for an apsiring youngster like you to walk with a limp for the rest of your career." You've got similar feelings on that front. You're not entirely sure how durable you are, seeing as you've never taken a direct blow of any kind since you've gotten powers, but the notion of getting slugged anywhere with that monster of a shotgun Sin-Eater was carrying didn't sound attractive.

At the urging of the barrel of a shotgun, you began to backpedal quickly from the man before turning around and walking off entirely. You can hear him following behind slowly, a ways off likely just to make sure you're not coming after him again. No, this time you're not trying to play nice or just follow him in the more conventional means. You had an entire suite of powers at your disposal. It was time to start acting like it.

On a reflex your adaptive camouflage began to kick in, slowly beginning to turn you invisible, even your clothing. That was the part that didn't make an awful lot of sense to you, but then again it was probably better to let eggheads like Bruce figure out the whys of this stuff. You were just happy to use it as you webbed up the side of a building, noticing that your black webbing wasn't apparently subject to the same laws of invisibility that the rest of your body was. Something to keep in mind for the future, maybe.

From the rooftops, without much worry of being spotted by errant bystanders or your target, you're free to cut loose a little. Sprinting and jumping from building to building, swinging through the air silently, it takes a bit of work to find Sin-Eater again. This time around he's definitely being a lot more cautious, looping around and backtracking just to make sure he's thrown people off of his trail. He even looks up a few times, but there was no sign of him recognizing your presence. Already you're far better off than the last time you tried this.

Eventually though, Sin-Eater stopped at a sedan with tinted windows, hopping inside and peeling out of the parking lot as you rushed to keep up with the car. But this time, you weren't gimped trying to pretend like you were an average joe.

>3 Rolls of 1d100, best of three accepted.
DC: 55
>>
Rolled 73 (1d100)

>>3233701
>DC: 55
>>
Rolled 21 (1d100)

>>3233701
>>
Rolled 92 (1d100)

>>3233701
>DC: 55
>>
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>>3233716

>92
>Spectacular Success

This time, you're pretty sure no one sees you. You're a silent ghost swinging over the city, and you basically keep pace with Sin-Eater's car the entire time. Compared to the almost disastrous and laughable first attempt you made at stalking him through the night, it's a complete 180. It's a little painful to go so far off the beaten path and not be able to tell Bruce and Harry what you're doing, though. You guys seriously needed some communicators, like other groups had.

Swinging from building to building, you're relieve when Sin-Eater's car began to slow down, and he exited his sedan quickly wearing a thicker coat and apparently having tucked away his gun inside of his duffel bag once more. He's even wearing his mask, and looks even...normal, without it. Like any other guy you'd see on the street, minding his own business. It's a little odd to wonder how many people you've ever passed that were superheroes or villains in disguise, going about their days out of costume.

Eventually, he headed inside of the building. Obviously this was about as much as you could do just staying above him, so you dropped down to the street level, still careful to maintain your concentration on your invisibility. At the moment, you weren't really sure if you were strong enough to hold it during a real fight or a stressful situation, but for now it was easy to follow him inside carefully, peaking around corners inside of the surprisingly average building. Either being paid by the mob didn't give as much cash as you thought, or he was just a frugal man. Either way, you followed him up the stairs to the third floor, padding silently all the while.

In the end, the last you saw of Sin-Eater was him heading inside of his apartment. It was time to figure out what you were going to do now.

>Find a payphone and call George Stacy. You had a collar for him, potentially.
>Knock on the door and sucker-punch him when he opens. The best fight was an unfair fight.
>Try to leave the building and find a window into his apartment. Ambushes were a boy's best friend.
>Write-in
>>
>>3233784
>>Try to leave the building and find a window into his apartment. Ambushes were a boy's best friend.
>>
>>3233784
>Write-in
Come on, we're a journalist. Stake the guy's place out, find his address, find a good vantage point where you could spy where invisible, and then call it a day. We can spend the next few days spying on him, compiling incriminating evidence, getting pictures for our eventual story. THEN we can get Stacy in on this, once we actually know what's up.

Head back to the rest of the Trifreakta to let them know what's up once we've got the place staked out, just figuring out where he live and what he looks like without that mask was a good first step.
>>
>>3233805
>Come on, we're a journalist. Stake the guy's place out, find his address, find a good vantage point where you could spy where invisible, and then call it a day. We can spend the next few days spying on him, compiling incriminating evidence, getting pictures for our eventual story. THEN we can get Stacy in on this, once we actually know what's up.
>Head back to the rest of the Trifreakta to let them know what's up once we've got the place staked out, just figuring out where he live and what he looks like without that mask was a good first step.

Supporting this.
>>
>>3233805
support
>>
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8 KB
8 KB JPG
>>3233805
>>3233884
>>3233932

It occurs to you that at this very moment, there's absolutely no reason for you to engage Sin-Eater. Well, there's plenty of reason why you should take down a wanted assassin, but provided he didn't kill anymore victims in the interim, you knew that you could reasonably observe him for a day or two. Get incriminating information, gathering pictures for your eventual story, and then you could call George Stacy. The cop would probably appreciate the collar, honestly. Who wouldn't mind bringing in a name like that?

Heading outside of the building, careful not to make any obvious disturbances while invisible, you scaled the apartment complex up to the third story. It took a little bit of searching, but eventually you managed to find your target's room from the outside, and the windows facing in. With your brand of camera, it would be a little difficult to properly get the pictures far away, though. You'd need to get up close and personal to get the snapshots that would make this story...

Tomorrow. You'd get those pictures tomorrow. As it was, it was already late and you needed to be making your way back to the Trifreakta for a proper explanation of where you'd been. In time, Sin-Eater would pay his just dues. He just happened to get a stay of execution for the moment. With that in mind, you'd leap off the building and begin to make your way back to Harry and Bruce.

The two of them were still waiting in the car, both looking incredibly bored. When you finally came into sight again, Harry was the one that perked up, looking all excited. "Hey man! You were gone forever. Really had us worried when you didn't come back after leaving."

You shook your head, sliding into the passenger seat. "Couldn't. Had to keep trailing Sin-Eater."

"Oh? So you took him down already?" You grimaced as Harry started up the car, shaking your head again.

"Not...quite. I followed him back to his apartment. I'm planning on stalking him for the next day or so, maybe get into his apartment so I can get the information I need for my story. Then I'll take him down." It sounded logical in your own head, if a little risky.

"Wait... You're putting lives at risk for a story? On the off chance that he won't punch someone's ticket between now, and when you decide to take him down?" Harry's expression was...surprised, to say the least. And maybe a little disappointed. "J.J... I can't really say I'm entirely cool with this, man." That's when Bruce decided to pipe in.

"There's risks to be sure, but just imagine what we could do with the information, Harry. Hideouts, locations of higher-ups on the Maggia totem pole, valuable intel all around." He paused, pushing up his glasses as the three of you pulled off into the night. "Surely you could see the benefit?"

[1/2]
>>
>>3234025
>"Wait... You're putting lives at risk for a story? On the off chance that he won't punch someone's ticket between now, and when you decide to take him down?" Harry's expression was...surprised, to say the least. And maybe a little disappointed. "J.J... I can't really say I'm entirely cool with this, man." That's when Bruce decided to pipe in.
>"There's risks to be sure, but just imagine what we could do with the information, Harry. Hideouts, locations of higher-ups on the Maggia totem pole, valuable intel all around." He paused, pushing up his glasses as the three of you pulled off into the night. "Surely you could see the benefit?"
Oh no... It's begun. We dun goofed up now.
>>
>>3234025

"At the risk of someone's life? That's coldblooded, Bruce." You feel inclined to note that Bruce did in fact have the DNA of a saltwater crocodile inside of him, but it didn't feel appropriate to bring it up. "Look, if you guys think this is the right step, I'll go along with you two. But for the record, I don't approve of this."

With his complaints evident, it was quiet in the car once again as the three of you made your individual stops. Like usual, Bruce was the first be dropped off, and then you were second, though you'd find Harry looking over at you with a worrying look. In the end, you were really the first one to break that uncomfortable silence that the two of you were held in.

"Dude, why are you staring at me like that?"

"Cause' I don't want to get people killed, J.J.! I'm not like you, alright? I'm trying to save lives, not get a story." He sighed, slumping back against his seat and looking off elsewhere into the night. "I trust you guys, really. Just worried."

You can't blame Harry for being so upset, not when there's so many ifs and whens in your plan. The end result goal was the same, but the amount of bodies that had to be paid for it were wildly different. "We'll handle this, Harry. You doubting the power of the Trifreakta?" Setting him at ease won't be easy, but you know it's just something that'll pass. Hopefully.

"...It's in your hands, J.J. At the end of the day, I can't take these clowns on, not yet. In the end, it'll be your choice." He's right, even if you don't like admitting it. As you hopped out of the car, there were no more words exchanged between you. There wasn't really anything else to say. Just silence as you padded inside your home. Your mother was in the living room, and after a quick greeting you headed to the kitchen to settle your grumbling stomach.

Half an hour later, you've eaten, showered, and you're settling in your bedroom for the night. You've got a little bit of time before you've got to crash, though.

>Work on that story for Gwen. You really owe it to her, and to be frank it's refreshing to have your mind on something normal.
>Work on your clues. You've got time in the rest of the week to get to Gwen's story.
>Write-in
>>
>>3234080
>Work on your clues. You've got time in the rest of the week to get to Gwen's story.
>>
>>3234080
>Work on that story for Gwen. You really owe it to her, and to be frank it's refreshing to have your mind on something normal.
>>
>>3234080
>Work on that story for Gwen. You really owe it to her, and to be frank it's refreshing to have your mind on something normal.
Quick and easy. In future need to figure out some method so Harry is contempt with waiting out and scoping the enemy.
>>
>>3234080
>>Work on your clues. You've got time in the rest of the week to get to Gwen's story.
>>
>>3234080
>>Work on that story for Gwen. You really owe it to her, and to be frank it's refreshing to have your mind on something normal.

Also keep in mind that Sin-Eater would have a better chance at staying in jail with actual evidence against him and a lawful arrest. Just kicking his ass and throwing him into a police station tied up could give his lawyer more room to get him out.
>>
>>3234101
>>3234110
>>3234164
Working on Gwen's story wins. Writing.
>>
>>3234304

As much as working on your notes sounds alluring, after the conversation you just had with Harry you need a break from the Shutterbug persona. No, instead you're pretty sure you'll settle for finally writing that paper you owe Gwen for the journalism club. Possibly the last thing you'll write for them, but you're pretty sure you'll still remain in contact with Gwen. Especially if you don't entirely screw up on your date Friday.

It's relaxing somewhat, taking your eyes away from the more dreary topics of gang violence and drug related homicides to things more mundane. Enough that by the time you're finished, you're barely keeping your eyes open, even if somewhere in the back of your mind you're worrying about Harry. Something you'll deal with tomorrow, as your face hit your pillow and exhaustion hit you almost immediately.

Those were problems for another day. For now, sleeping was your only priority.

>Spider-Verse Quest Issue Two: Good Intentions, End
>You have gained one Advance. Spend now y/n?
>>
>>3234328
no
>>
>>3234328
Y
>>
>>3234328
Nah
>>
>>3234328
Bank the point.
>>
>>3234335
>>3234382
>>3234384

Banking it is. The thread is archived here, so don't forget to vote, and thanks for playing!

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Spider-Verse%20Quest
>>
>>3234418
Thanks, next thread when
>>
>>3234897
>Thanks, next thread when
>>
>>3234328
>y
PHASING!
>>
>>3234897
I'll probably run it next weekend for the next thread.

>>3235137
Don't you Homeless Mutant Quest me, mister.



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