"Operatives may recquisition a theoretically unlimited amount of clothing, provided that it is not sufficient to damage the timeline and is not employed to damage the timeline. All textiles are composed of unstable molecular fabric for maximum utility; all fittings and fixtures are composed of exotic nanopolymers."

The Tallus chirps again.

“Unstable molecules,” said Sally in thoughtful awe. “The Reed Richards of my world invented them. They’re quite remarkable, really. They’re these groovy threads that adapt to your body, even your powers. So, like, if you shapeshift, your clothes would change with you.”

"Did he?  He was only theorizing about it, in my own.   I thought it was his second most unworkable idea - right under the privately funded space flight.  I mean really, can you imagine?  And he used to come down on me for being high!"

Okay:

- We've got mission parameters - such as they are.  (Now I get why Rocket was so depressed.  Here I thought that was just some nice philosophical orientation.)

- Though of us that look human have clothes.   I don't remember how Rocket ,or now Cable, is supposed to blend in?  There was something in the Tell Us thread about it, but looks like it was deleted?

- I think we're more or less ready to move out of the alley...maybe?   

The old man is a human among a group of mostly such, but their differing attire might as well mean they're each from a different world. His combat togs would not allow him to fit in with this environment unless around the corner is a war-zone, but he hesitates to change into the manufactured clothes until seeing what the group does. And assuming he's meant to be a part of them.

The front page of the discarded newspaper blows up to stick against his shin. He picks it up and turns it over, to see the image of Captain America. He pauses a moment to stare at the picture and his face grows dark. "No," he mutters, more to the picture than to Spider-Woman. "I am definitely not Captain America. It's the one thing I'm sure of." He folds the paper and inserts it behind the iconic shield on his arm.

He looks up and out, over the heads of the gathered group. His guard is up, knowing that now would be the perfect time for an attack by an enemy, perhaps whatever brought them here or could sense they have arrived and have an investment in taking care of this aberrance of nature, that they are here and still alive. This, he knows, would be the perfect time for an ambush, but the action could be what might bring this group together as a team.

To Cable: "Well, you're carrying the shield, so it's decided you're worthy."  Some people say that the whole only the worthy can lift it thing is bullshit and it just weighs like 300 pounds, but it sure does feel comforting to think that when you pick it up.  "That said, it might be the most looked for item in the world right now, so maybe - under your jacket or something?  Until we get a little intel?  We're all new in this world."

Gwen is still holding back on someone else putting up a theory before she goes on about silk threads being webs and spiders being weavers.

"Rocket, do you want to ride in my backpack when we move out?"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:28, Wed 03 Feb 2021.

"I don't think that's how that works," Wade said of Spider-Woman's assessment of the shield. "That's how Thor's hammer works... aaaand you wouldn't know an Asgardian if you tripped over one, so why get into it? Different worlds, different rules, probably different Captain Americas.

"Captains America? That can't be right. Anyway, I'd pay good money to see Buster Bunny here carried around in your backpack like a Cabbage Patch Kid. But maybe we can ask the Tallus if it can supply something called an 'image inducer'? Make Tigro and Bun-Bun look like humans?"

Sally folded the newspaper she held and tucked it underneath her arm. She made a face and stuck out her tongue at the bland gray suit. “Yuck! Can you conjure me an outfit, too? Maybe a peasant blouse, jeans, and sandals?”

Wade’s question reminded her that not everyone in the group would fit in seamlessly. She remembered the youngest member of their commune, a girl barely in her teens with an enlarged skull and enormous, black eyes. “I know what you mean, Wade. We could always say that Tigro is a mutant, but...have feelings about us improved or are mutants worse off in 2006?

The mutants who couldn’t pass as regular humans always have the hardest time. Like Maggie. She was only nine when her own neighborhood tried to lynch her.”

Rocket quickly gathers up any unclaimed wallets, and quickly paws through them until anyone stops him.  He'll talk as he does this.  If anything, he pauses a brief moment longer on the family photos, as if expecting to know people in them... before finally getting to his own last.  He stuffs one of the credit cards into his own wallet, and quickly drags the picture of himself and Groot happy together into the same pocket as the twig.  The picture of the full Guardians team gets to stay, though.

"What is with all the bread references when referring to me?  Last I was here, the only people who tried to stop me from walking around were the Avengers, and that was trespassing.  Besides, we all got 'valid' IDs now, and we're obviously part of a circus."

He tosses the borrowed (unclaimed) wallets at their respective owners.  Afterwards, he starts putting on the business suit over his jumpsuit, and it does fit.  Again, talking while acting.

"Getting Comms between us is a great idea.  I'll just buy what I need from a nearby electronics store with the Tallus money, and we'll meet back here in an hour?"

Assuming no-one tries to stop him, Rocket will start making his way out into the wider New York, assuming anyone who wants to follow him will do so.  He'll be very quick to ask people for directions, and make careful note of how to get back as he does so.

((That said, if anyone DOES try to stop him, he does stop.  He's very used to acting on half-formed plans.))
This message was last edited by the player at 21:30, Wed 03 Feb 2021.

"Yeah," Sue remarked as to Sally's anecdote about 'Maggie,' "I've seen that sort of scene play out too often back home.  I'd like to believe things are much different in 2006.  But I know how slowly the human race tends to work in terms of fixing social issues. And I doubt that varies by reality."   

"Tallus -  can you supply device known as 'image inducer,' per suggestion of teammate Wade?" This would be an interesting test...

"Somebody needs to accompany Twig Daddy," Susan gestured toward Rocket. "I don't want him going off alone.  I'd go, but I need to stay with the group, bearing the Tallus.  Will somebody please volunteer?"   

Susan will comply with Sally's request for clothing -  as well as anyone else.  I think for expediency, assume you've now got what you want.  Anything unusual, clear it with the GM.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:08, Wed 03 Feb 2021.

No image inducers. You're just going to have to risk it. No comms, no electronics, nothing made of metal. Rocket and 'Nomad' are always more than 50% charged... for reasons.

You can't reach Gwen's warehouse from the alley you're in, so you're going to have to brave the city streets.

Or... Times Square. On every side of you, there are brightly-lit, moving advertisements for businesses of all kinds. Street performers compete for tips on every corner; music, shouting hawkers, rumbling motors, and "private" conversations contribute to a cacophanous swell that makes those with sensitive ears (or symbiotes) wince.


Spider-Woman stops dead in the middle of the street, fixated on something in the distance. An enormous television airing... a commercial? A commercial for some Prime-Time TV drama.

As you're trying to figure out what caught her attention, the Bugle News Network cuts back to Tony Stark at a press conference being held at Stark Tower. The news ticker reads: captain america escapes shield custody | superhuman registration act takes effect at midnight tonight est | daniel rand of rand enterprises files class-action suit against shield on behalf of karate schools: 'martial arts is not a superpower'

Stark speaks: "Thank you, Mr. Brock; I hope our new Fifty States Initiative can count on your support. And now, for a very special announcement from my fellow Avenger and dear friend: New York's own Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man!"

Spider-Man walks out on stage in-costume, He mugs for the crowd, posing and waving, mimicking the action of his web-shooters. When the applause dies down, he says "Thank you, Tony. I'm here because I have an announcement to make. Being a superhero is dangerous, and not just to those who wear the mask. Because of the danger to my family, I've hidden my secret identity not just from my enemies, but from my friends. But because superheroes are finally getting official recognition and cooperation from SHIELD and other law enforcement, I'm finally ready to tell the world-- " He takes his mask off.

"My name is Peter Benjamin Parker, and I have been Spider-Man since I was fifteen years old."

The press conference collapses into bedlam. The BNN news ticker reads: spider-man identity revealed: queens ny native peter parker | peter parker has been married to celebrity mary-jane watson since 1995 | bugle founder j jonah jameson: 'no comment'
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:26, Wed 03 Feb 2021.

"Hey, that's MJ on that show.  She's a supermodel here?  And a famous musician!"

Fuck yeah, we made it big.

"How is she that old?"

Gwen is pretty caught up in this and when it switches to the news, doesn't pay much attention until the very end.  Then Spider-Man takes off his mask and she sees the face of her old best friend.  Her greatest failure.

"Peter?"  All color and emotion drains from her face, and she seems unable to move.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:53, Wed 03 Feb 2021.

The clamor of Times Square evoked dueling feelings of delight and irritation in Sally. The freewheeling nature of street life provided a spectacle that reminded her of Greenwich Village, and that famous arch where the artists hung out. “I’m digging the wildness here,” Sally mused, then caught sight of the rampant materialism and commercials. “But all the money-grubbing and anger remind me why I’m a West Coast chick.”

When she spotted the news clip about Danny, Sally looked for the terse Iron Fist. “Hey. Isn’t that you...?” The digital ads, handheld phones, and sleeker cars drove home how much the world had changed since 1968. The realization flooded over Sally like a Zeitgiest tsunami.

Then, the Spider-Man of this world shocked the world right before their very eyes. Even Sally realized the significance of the moment. The secret identity of Spider-Man had been the subject of intensive speculation and debate even in her timeline.

She noticed Gwen, and welcomed the distraction for some good-natured teasing when this MJ’s age came up. “Hmm. It looks like you’re old enough to be a mother here,” Sally said in a playful aside to Gwen. A look at Gwen’s shocked face told her the timing for such a joke totally flopped. “Hey, Gwenny. You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Are you okay, kid?”
This message was last edited by the player at 23:52, Mon 27 Sept 2021.

As Rocket waded out into the sea of humanity, she was less than happy. She was sure he was well used to watching his back, at least.  He would have had too much experience with too many species and cultures, to be in any way naieve.  And so she exited the alley with the others.

In her world, the sole part of New York Sue had visited was Rochester.   She'd never been to the Big Apple, just read and heard about it.    The full-out sensory assault of Times Square was more or less what she'd imagined, regardless of the difference in decades.  It was a far cry from the parts of SoCal she'd lived in and preferred.  She was reminded of Hollywood, more than anything.   No complement, in her book...

The enormous size of the screen fixed her attention initially; she gazed at the dark haired, mustached man in recognition and wonder:

"Anthony Stark-?  He's our president's son...but, he hasn't looked human in years. Not since that power armor experiment went awry, and he became the Iron Thing."   

The next figure was super easy to identify. Just like back home.  "That's him!" she said to Gwen, excitedly. "That's exactly like my world's Spider-Man!" 

The big face reveal, for all its impact and significance, was meaningless to Sue.  She was quite sure she'd never seen Peter Benjamin Parker before.

But there was no doubt that Gwen had.   As Sally said, it was the kind of look usually reserved for seeing someone who should be dead...

Rocket knew it was painfully noisy before he even got close to the crowds.  He folded his ears as best he could, trudged into the crowds, and began asking for directions within a very short distance of the starting alley.  He didn't make time to watch the news broadcast.  He had places to go, things to do.  He couldn't help but overhear it though, along with a handful of other things as he asked around for directions to somewhere that sells electronics and/or phones.

((22:31, Today: Rocket rolled 2,1,5,5,3 using d4,d8,d6,d6,d6 with rolls of 2,1,5,5,3.  Putting the clues together.
Trigger Happy Hare d4 + Unlikely Allies d8 + Duty d6 vs Doom Pool 2d6
7 vs 8, he fails.  Rolled a one on top of it. If this were a legit (prompted) roll, he'd earn 2PP.))

Rocket will pause after getting some vague non-helpful directions to laugh at the news.  "If that spider idiot works practially solo in this city like my new spider friend, he just painted a giant bulls eye on his family.  I hope he didn't have too many enemies."  Rocket will get his train of thought interrupted by somebody 'not seeing him' bowling into him.  A quick pocket check said his stuff was in the clear for now.  _{"Krutack.  Already behind schedule."}

((Those Enhanced Senses are a pain, right SW? :3  ...That said, had a whole fun chain of connect-the-dots planned, but Rocket isn't trusting the Talus to be helpful yet, given that being the 1 he rolled.))

Having noted the earlier arrival of Cable, Iron Fist follows the new team through the city streets, rolling up the sleeves of the gray business suit conjured up for him by the Tallus. It's certainly a far cry from the trademark gi he's so used to, or the bare threads he's worn more recently as a fugitive from K'un-Lun's agents, and the feel of it brings back memories of simpler times. Thankfully, quite a few of those "simpler times" involved fighting Hand ninjas and HYDRA agents inside the Rand Enterprises building in NYC, and for that reason he's quite accustomed to navigating tactical situations in business attire.

The breast pocket of the suit now holds perhaps the only items of value he has in this strange new timeline. A photo in his wallet shows he and Luke at the grand opening of the first "Heroes for Hire" office, flanked by a few other super-types who had bothered to attend. You couldn't quite say the two founders had "humble beginnings" when one was a billionaire, after all, but they had still faced their share of challenges in getting the operation running. Danny still felt a touch of pride at seeing their handiwork-- the lights on the illuminated sign above the entrance, the polish on the office windows, and the official business license clutched in Luke's big hand.

Another photo was of him and Misty at his 32nd birthday celebration, exactly one year before things between them had gotten... complicated. And then there was one more picture of Danny as a child with both his parents, before the plane crash that took them along with so much else. He could live without the money or other material things the Tallus had afforded him, but these memories were truly precious. (Really, the $200.00 is what the CEO of Rand Enterprises might have spent on flowers for Misty on a typical date night, if he was trying to be frugal.)

Turning back to his surroundings, he nods at Polaris' mention of the headline bearing his name:

"Damn well I would," he says. "Let them come after us. When it comes to legal jiu-jitsu, I was trained by the best."

He gives Sally a quick wink, perhaps the first sign of warmth he's shown anyone thus far.

Rocket, it takes you a few tries to get anyone to answer the damn question instead of trying to pick you up our pat your head, but eventually a tourist tells you he thinks he saw one a few blocks away.

A few blocks later, you realize he told you the wrong side of the street.

But you eventually find an electronics store. It takes you less time to buy everything you need to make some truly pitiful communications devices than it took you to find the store-- you're not sure how much money $2,314.87 is, but Rocket Rabbit's LibertyPointe Platinum MasterCard covers it without a complaint.

Rocket will need a safe workspace and several hours' uninterrupted work to complete them, however.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:13, Thu 04 Feb 2021.

When an enemy doesn't take advantage of a ripe opportunity to attack, the old man drops his guard, but only slightly. When the rest of the group ventures from the alley, he brings up the rear, still keeping an eye out. He doesn't react to the blinding stimulation of Times Square, but squints slightly while looking around. He fixates on the news story about Captain America for as long as it is on the screen, then considers the shield he's carrying. Even if the shield could be hidden on his back after he changes clothes, the side of his face covered in bionic metal would be a tougher sell, and cybernetics don't match anybody else in this vicinity. His effort to hide is staying in the back of the group, still in the alley. As he straightens to full height, he appears to be recovering his guard.

In a rare moment, Wade had nothing to say as the mission seemed to unfold ahead of them. This was obviously a historic moment for this world, and that couldn't be a coincidence. The mission had something to do with webs, and so Spider-Man's revelation to the world had to be at the core of it. But the others were all talking (except Rocket, who'd rabbited), and Wade still wasn't sure he trusted the old cyborg with the shield, so he kept his mouth shut and his reflexes set to High Alert.

Besides, finding out that Spider-Man was really Peter Parker was a bit of valuable information he might be able to make use of, if he ever made it home.

While he pondered the implications, he finally changed into his suit. He'd picked a bad day to go commando, but what could a guy do now?

Gwen hears Rocket's ramblings and Sally's questions but she's too shocked to react for a moment.  Finally she shakes a little bit out of it.

"The Spider's Kin."  Gwen has already changed Weaver to Spider in her brain.



"I need to go to Stark Tower."  That was live.

She turns to Wade and Tigro (guy taking his pants off in Times Square is unfortunately not an unusual enough occurance to comment on - the trick is not to look down.) and says "Check on his Aunt and Uncle?"*  Wade has a motorcycle and Tigro might know New York.  She hands the wallet to whichever one reacts first and says "There's an address in Queens on the id.  The Parkers are across the street.".

Then she starts running towards the nearest alley, whether it's the one they came out of or not.  If she sees Rocket on the way, (an occurrence that seems unlikely) she'll pick him up in the process.

If anyone wants to come along, they'll need to do it quick, as the moment she's relatively out of view she'll be running up the wall.

* Ben Parker is alive in Gwen's world.  Peter Parker is not.

09:33, Today: Spider-Woman rolled 8,3,4,5,4 using d8,d8,d8,d6,d6.  home d8,mpdms d8,enh sense d8,2d6 doom pool.  11 vs 9
This message was last edited by the player at 15:05, Thu 04 Feb 2021.

"Parkers. Right." Wade took the address and memorized it. He hadn't spent much time in New York before Reed Richards had obliterated half of it, but Funnybone never got lost.

"Better take a step or two back, Grampa America," he told Cable. "Things ae about to get a little toasty."

With a *whoomf* of flame, he transformed back into Funnybone, and summoned his hell-bike.

"Coming, Tigger?" he asked as he got on the motorcycle and revved the engine. "It's time to bounce."

Sue bit her lip, hazarding rapidly on what to do.    She asked the Tallus:

"Tallus, are you able to locate team members, if we disperse over physical distance?  Any capacity to facilitate communication between us, across distances?"

"He might have copped the shield, but the T-800 over there is no Captain America," replies Iron Fist to Funnybone's comment. Turning to the newcomer, he looks him over. Judging by the cybernetic soldier's weary appearance, Danny can't help but feel that Nathan Summers-- if that's indeed who he is-- looks like he's been through a war. (Even more than usual.)

"You're Cable, right?"

Sue decided not to wait for the Tallus to answer, she'd hear it along the way --  and screw the clothes - it was irrelevant.  She tossed them aside.

"He's placed his family at risk with that reveal!" as much to herself, as anyone nearby.

As much as Tigro seemed like a good guy, he was a little loosey-goosey.  And though her distrust of Funnybone was waning, she still didn't consider a demon-fused man the safest or most ideal of protectors.

Sue abruptly vanished from sight.   And then rose up into the air, atop and within her expanding force field --  and began following in the wake of Funnybone's hell-fire bike. With enough elevation she wouldn't lose sight.

Unseen rolled 2,4,6,5,8 using d12,d6,d10,d8,d8.  Invisibility + flight dice pool.
Invisibility + Flight + Safety + Outta Sight Protectoress + Covert Expert; -1 step for two powers at once;   Total = 14, effect die = d10 (reduced from d12) 
This message was last edited by the player at 18:16, Thu 04 Feb 2021.

That is clever. Well played.

Stark Tower isn't far. And you're fast, whether or not you're carrying Rocket.


There's a crowd of protesters and counter-protesters here, and they are angry. They're clearly split into two camps, with one side carrying signs that say things like JUSTICE FOR STAMFORD and NO MORE VIGILANTES, and the other side carrying signs that say WE STAND WITH CAP or have an image of Captain America's shield with the slogan THE ONLY SHIELD WE NEED.

There are uniformed SHIELD agents keeping the crowds separated from each other, and keeping them from hurling more than harsh language.

Sitting on top of what is obviously a government surveillance van, with a toothpick in his mouth, is Bullseye-- he's out of costume, but someone has helpfully branded his bullseye insignia into his forehead for you. He's watching the crowd, and occasionally lifting his left hand to his ear.

He's working for Stark.

And he's guarding the front doors.



It's a lot farther to get to Queens from Times Square. But you're a lot faster.

You find the address from Gwen's driver's license. It's a quaint two-story home with a wooden plaque proclaiming that The Stacy's (sic) live there. Some of the windows are boarded up, there are no cars in the driveway, and even the FOR SALE sign has fallen into disrepair.

The Stacys have not lived there for awhile now.

Across the street, the house appears to be in much better condition. There's no plaque, but the mailbox out front reads PARKER.



"Affirmative." Sue is momentarily aware of the absolute direction and distance of each of her teammates, plus their current vector.

"The Tallus is capable of facilitating long-distance communications upon request."

It's still a long way from Times Square to Queens. And you may be taking the direct route... but you're not as fast as Hell.

'Superb!'    Though there was no one to see or hear, gone was the hippie lingo that marked her casual conversation and banter:

Tallus: "Can long distance communication be maintained as a perpetual link?   If it can, then initiate with all team members.   Are you able to pinpoint location of individuals other than the team, if given enough description or information?"   

"Unless initiation is going to hurt!" she added hastily, remembering her arm. "Do not do anything that will shock, burn, or give teammates migraines, without warning me first!"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:25, Thu 04 Feb 2021.