Things were looking up. Thanks to recent events, Mary Jane was feeling very optimistic. Meeting familiar faces and making the acquaintance of new faces that were particularly cute was as much as anyone could hope for in adjusting to a new universe.

She was swinging through the city streets on patrol. On patrol for criminals of course and maybe the elusive Spider-Man she’d yet to meet.

Then, she got a tingly feel. The bad kind of tingly feeling. Those portals ALWAYS made her spider sense freak the freak out.

Some web swinging later, she found the New Arrival.

“Hey!” She started, all red and white and with an entrance just above This Guy’s head. Spinneret clung to a wall and flashed a toothy grin. “You just drop in? Welcome to a new universe!”

She’d try her best to be as good of a welcoming committee as Deadpool had been.

Before Wittman could make it to his counterpart’s office, make that HIS office, at Wittman Solutions to prepare the ID machine, he was noticed by a spider-person.  This one was female with red hair and wearing a red and white costume, but the motif made it unmistakeable that she was of the same “theme” as other spider-people from his universe. Of which Wittman now guessed he was one, different universe withstanding, as he was now technically Carnage.

“Greetings, Spider-Person. Yes, we are newly arrived.” Wittman did not see any point in trying to lie about his new arrival, especially since the woman seemed to be aware of it and treated it as a rather normal occurrence. And given that he was not currently in his civilian clothes or his former attire as The Wizard but instead draped in a blood red symbiote himself, Wittman felt he might as well introduce himself under that identity.

“We are Carnage and we were just on our way for a therapy session. No need to worry here. You may go about your web-slinging activities as normal.”

Meanwhile, the symbiote had ideas of its own. *Spider! Bring the pain! Show dominance! Crush the bug!*

Wittman was not sure that his word alone would be enough to stave off the spider-person, but it was worth the attempt. He had no desire to engage in the typical hero/villain banter and combat at this point would be counterproductive. Although his counterpart seemingly had a criminal record as did he, to his knowledge there was no reason for him to be currently detained as he was not under criminal investigation at this time.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:26, Fri 19 May 2023.

So much for passing through without any more scrutiny. It was a long shot to begin with, but now Wittman was estimating the chances at less than two percent. At least there was a good chance that this situation did not have to end in immediate combat, so Wittman continued to play along all the while trying to shut out the symbiote who was trying harder and harder to establish dominance.

“Yes, a weird aperture of energy. Most likely of the inter dimensional variety. Although I have not been able to do any further experimentation without the proper equipment.”

Wittman held up one of the identification cards. “According to this piece of evidence, my transported counterpart operates a business known as Wittman Solutions. We were headed there for our therapy session and afterwards I might be able to use the scientific equipment there to investigate the energy anomaly. We are not in need of an escort as the address is on the identification, but if you would feel more reassured, we will let you escort us there without resistance.”

It seemed this person was not familiar with the Carnage symbiote. Which meant that it did not exist in her home dimension, or this dimension, or both. Rather than provide a dramatic display by web-slinging his way toward his destination, Wittman chose to begin walking in that direction instead.

“Carnage is the name for a villain in my home dimension comprised of a homicidal maniac and an alien symbiote. The symbiote was separated from its former host and has now attached itself to me.  I have experience with ID reforming technology and my hope is that my counterpart has such technology available at his place of business. That technology would very much help me to calm the symbiote’s brainwaves.”

Perhaps it was foolish to be so forthcoming, but the truth would come out at some point, or at least some of the relevant facts, so Wittman chose to get it all out of the way. If this spider-person chose to accost him, he was certain that with the symbiote’s abilities, he could more than hold his own.

Day 2

Wittman was in luck. There was in fact a completed ID Machine located in a secret workroom at Wittman Solutions. With a little bit of mental combat and a few hours under the machine manipulating Carnage’s brainwaves to be more in sync with his own, Wittman received the results that he desired. Carnage might still lash out mentally from time to time, but the alien entity would continue to be under Wittman’s. Now the new incarnation of Carnage was free to plan his first crime to gain him both riches and fame.

Day 1

Some say that insanity is in the blood. This was true of Carnage because the symbiote had bonded with Cletus Kasady down to the blood level. And Cletus Kasady was a sociopath. But when Bentley Wittman decided to put together a new iteration of the Frightful Four, he envisioned a new pairing with the symbiote and Dr. Karl Malus. But The Carnage persona proved to be too much for Malus and Wittman himself stepped in to control the symbiote.

This left Bentley Wittman, the criminal super genius known as The Wizard, in possession of (possessed by) the vampiric alien entity known as Carnage. For all intents and purposes The Wizard had become Carnage. And while trying to fend off the entity’s sociopathically warped alien mind, Wittman was thrust through an inter dimensional portal to another world.

*New world! Bring the pain!* Carnage’s mind screamed inside Wittman’s own. “You will not bring the pain,” Wittman commanded in defiance. “You will submit to my superior intellect!”

*Kasady always says to bring the pain!* The symbiote resisted and for a moment there was a psychedelic effect inside Wittman’s own brain but fortunately for the master of science, he had dealt with similar effects before and was able to push his way beyond it by sheer temerity. “Submit!” Wittman commanded again and this time the symbiote fell silent.

Wittman needed time to inspect his new surroundings. It was clear that some form of energy anomaly had opened an inter dimensional rift and deposited him and his new alien partner onto an alternate world, but there was more to it than that. Wittman had an innate sense that he somehow belonged to this world. That he had now fully taken the place of his alternate self in this reality. There was even a set of identification cards bearing his likeness. One of which seemed to be a security key card to an office operated by his alternate self under the name Wittman Solutions. Perhaps there he could find the technological components needed to create a new ID machine and place the symbiote under subjection once and for all. And with all that power under his command, Bentley Wittman, let this world call him Carnage, would be unstoppable.

Day 2

Wittman was in luck. There was in fact a completed ID Machine located in a secret workroom at Wittman Solutions. With a little bit of mental combat and a few hours under the machine manipulating Carnage’s brainwaves to be more in sync with his own, Wittman received the results that he desired. Carnage might still lash out mentally from time to time, but the alien entity would continue to be under Wittman’s. Now the new incarnation of Carnage was free to plan his first crime to gain him both riches and fame.

Day 3

Starbucks, Icon of a new generation, even in this alternate universe. After today, they would be the second biggest name in coffee. The biggest name would be Carnage!

There are over 350 Starbucks locations in New York City with $5000 in minimum sales each. That would equal a take of $1,750,000 for Carnage and 700 free coffees!

“I’ll take 2 Venti Starbucks® Blonde Vanilla Lattes with Mocha Drizzle and all the cash you have on site. Your location is surrounded by high tech weaponized drones and I am the supervillain known as Carnage. Yes, the one that eats people. So make it snappy.”

As he spoke, the drones were already moving into action. At the location Carnage had chosen physically, and via remote control at all of the other locations simultaneously. Thanks to incorporating micro droplets from the symbiote, Wittman could control them all with just a thought.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:40, Fri 09 June 2023.

You must identify the problem before you can provide the solution. The problem was that Bentley Wittman was an under-appreciated genius. But Wittman was aware that there were two ways to obtain celebrity in this world. One was to become famous. The other was to become infamous.

The world was too busy celebrating the likes of Tony Stark and Reed Richards to recognize the true genius of someone like Bentley. That was why he had to choose the path of infamy instead. His stint as the Wizard had gotten off to a good start, but again he was too easily overshadowed by heroes like the Fantastic Four and Spider-Man. That was why gaining possession of the alien symbiote and taking in the persona of Carnage was like a wish come true.

Now he had not only a powerful persona to project to the world, but one that was practically custom built to media attention. No longer was Dr. Doom the primary headliner, no now it was Carnage. It had been for months. And other celebrities were elbowing each other to get a photo opportunity with him to keep their own star visible. Bill Bates. Jefferey Bejezos. Lark Fuckerberg. The top echelon.

Yes, his wish had finally come true. That is, until the cretins blatantly got his name wrong.

“I’ve got a blonde vanilla roast with extra syrup for…Marsha, does this say Brantley?”
“I think it says Ben Kingsley.”
“Blonde vanilla roast for Ben Kingsley!”

Peter Parker nudged the man daydreaming in Starbucks ahead of him in line.
“Hey, Brantley, I think they mean you.”
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:14, Fri 23 June 2023.

Carnage

Day 1

Some say that insanity is in the blood. This was true of Carnage because the symbiote had bonded with Cletus Kasady down to the blood level. And Cletus Kasady was a sociopath. But when Bentley Wittman decided to put together a new iteration of the Frightful Four, he envisioned a new pairing with the symbiote and Dr. Karl Malus. But The Carnage persona proved to be too much for Malus and Wittman himself stepped in to control the symbiote.

This left Bentley Wittman, the criminal super genius known as The Wizard, in possession of (possessed by) the vampiric alien entity known as Carnage. For all intents and purposes The Wizard had become Carnage. And while trying to fend off the entity’s sociopathically warped alien mind, Wittman was thrust through an inter dimensional portal to another world.

*New world! Bring the pain!* Carnage’s mind screamed inside Wittman’s own. “You will not bring the pain,” Wittman commanded in defiance. “You will submit to my superior intellect!”

*Kasady always says to bring the pain!* The symbiote resisted and for a moment there was a psychedelic effect inside Wittman’s own brain but fortunately for the master of science, he had dealt with similar effects before and was able to push his way beyond it by sheer temerity. “Submit!” Wittman commanded again and this time the symbiote fell silent.

Wittman needed time to inspect his new surroundings. It was clear that some form of energy anomaly had opened an inter dimensional rift and deposited him and his new alien partner onto an alternate world, but there was more to it than that. Wittman had an innate sense that he somehow belonged to this world. That he had now fully taken the place of his alternate self in this reality. There was even a set of identification cards bearing his likeness. One of which seemed to be a security key card to an office operated by his alternate self under the name Wittman Solutions. Perhaps there he could find the technological components needed to create a new ID machine and place the symbiote under subjection once and for all. And with all that power under his command, Bentley Wittman, let this world call him Carnage, would be unstoppable.

Day 2

Wittman was in luck. There was in fact a completed ID Machine located in a secret workroom at Wittman Solutions. With a little bit of mental combat and a few hours under the machine manipulating Carnage’s brainwaves to be more in sync with his own, Wittman received the results that he desired. Carnage might still lash out mentally from time to time, but the alien entity would continue to be under Wittman’s. Now the new incarnation of Carnage was free to plan his first crime to gain him both riches and fame.

Day 3

Starbucks, Icon of a new generation, even in this alternate universe. After today, they would be the second biggest name in coffee. The biggest name would be Carnage!

There are over 350 Starbucks locations in New York City with $5000 in minimum sales each. That would equal a take of $1,750,000 for Carnage and 700 free coffees!

“I’ll take 2 Venti Starbucks® Blonde Vanilla Lattes with Mocha Drizzle and all the cash you have on site. Your location is surrounded by high tech weaponized drones and I am the supervillain known as Carnage. Yes, the one that eats people. So make it snappy.”

As he spoke, the drones were already moving into action. At the location Carnage had chosen physically, and via remote control at all of the other locations simultaneously. Thanks to incorporating micro droplets from the symbiote, Wittman could control them all with just a thought.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:13, Tue 27 June 2023.

Peter Parker

His hearing was very, very good. So while he was at the back of the line and twiddling with his phone, his ears picked up the threat and at just about the same time, every hair on his body stood on its end. *Danger*. Where? Everywhere. All the places.

His suit was in the bottom of his backpack, never far from him just in case of instances like this.

But how was he going to get it *on*?

The lady behind the man calling himself *Carnage* solved the riddle for him, having heard his threat and quickly turning to run for the exit with a short scream. Everyone startled and a few more made a rush for the door, not having heard the interaction but assuming the lady had a reasonably good reason to do that.

Peter went with them, hoping to duck into any little alcove and make the switch without anyone getting blasted by drones.

Carnage

The poor young barista  was busy asking, “How do you spell that? Carnage?” Before the rest of what the villain had said sunk into her brain. It was actually more the people running away screaming that triggered either the depths of her mind or her flight mechanism because she looked to the left and to the right for a place to bolt. Unfortunately, drones were moving in on either side to pin her in place.

For Carnage’s part, it seemed that Wittman had underestimated the mental fortitude needed to be in simultaneous psychic communication with so many micro-symbiotes at once. So he too stood dazed for a moment before regaining his composure.

He had anticipated something of a breakdown on the part of the baristas and had ordered the drones to move in and acquire as much cash as possible by themselves. “It looks like my friends are able to work the register. I just need you to focus on my drink order and then I will quickly be on my way. That’s 2 Venti Starbucks® Blonde Vanilla Lattes with Mocha Drizzle and I am kind of in a hurry.”

Spider-Man

"You don't have to *say* Starbucks when you're *in* a Starbucks," he complained from the pastry case.

He'd been able to slip away and change, and had just finished *strolling* back in. "It's just kind of a given. They work at Starbucks. They're not gonna slip you some local beans, dude."

He shot a heavy splurt of web at the drone digging into the register.

Carnage

”Spider-Man!” Wittman blurted out like a lesser minded cretin. “How could you have possibly gotten here so fast?” Wittman focused on sending more drones to the register while creating a prehensile tail to swipe at the hero. “Begone wall-crawler or you make things more difficult for everyone!”

Spider-Man

"Hup! Ohp!" he vocalized as he dodged the tail, jumping from the ceiling to the top of the espresso machine. "Difficult? You're shaking down a *Starbucks*. How much petty cash do you think a coffee shop has?"

He webbed a stack of paper cups and whipped it at Carnage's face.

Carnage

Carnage did a backflip to avoid the cup projectile. The symbiote enhanced not only his strength, but his agility as well. Mentally, Wittman focused on the remote drones. Even if he failed here, the drones could still bring home a lofty prize

“Amazing logic, hero!” Carnage laughed. “Why don’t you just walk away then and no one has to be hurt? I’ll even leave the cash right where it lies.”

Spider-Man

"If you're going to leave the cash--" He shot at two more drones, big heavy splurts meant to knock them away from the register. Really, he was just buying time for the baristas and customers to quietly flee the small space. "Then why don't *you* walk away?"

Carnage

Carnage couldn’t believe it was that easy. Could Spider-Man really fight down his impulse to bring in a costumed criminal. No. He was bluffing.

“You think I am that stupid? The moment I turn to leave you will try to web me down and incarcerate me. Since the nature of this universe is off kilter at best, let me ask you something Spider-Man. Do you think that you know who I am?”

Spider-Man

"Iiiii know," he said, slowly. "That I definitely don't know who you are. Carnage, right? Sick name. A little 1980s hair metal, but, you know, like. It's creative. I like it! Costume could be a little more themed, I think, to the name. It's a very disjointed brand I'm looking at, here." He gestured at him, head to toe.

Carnage

Hah! If the wall-crawler didn’t know who he was, it was going to be a lot easier than he thought to re-create himself in this new universe. Wittman had toyed with the idea of presenting himself as a hero at first. Maybe there was still time to work that angle.

“The guy who had the suit before me created the name.” Wittman explained. “I am not him. He was a known criminal in my universe. I felt like I had no other choice. I need money for hospital bills. I always wanted to be a good guy instead,”

Even if it didn’t pan out, the ruse could pay off even more than this whole heist could be worth. Wittman was willing to gamble. Now, how kind hearted was this hero, really?

Spider-Man

"It's really hard to believe that,  when you're pointing armed drones at everyone and extorting really bad coffees. Blonde Vanilla Lattes? Bro."

He shot another approaching drone, and then flipped onto the ceiling to zip some webbing at Carnage. "In any case, you can explain your full sob story once we get you all ready for the party."

Carnage

Enough was enough. The other drones would have all they time they needed to be successful by now. The goody-goody ruse would clearly not work. This was the part where combat was engaged.

In frustration, Carnage dodged the webbing and ripped out the cash register and threw it at Spider-Man.

The wall-crawler’s famous quips wouldn’t work on Wittman. Surely he knew the high caffeine content of the selected drinks. And vanilla made dopamine receptors dance with joy.

Spider-Man

"Ah!" he yelped, because although he'd dodge the register, it barrelled into the espresso machine with an impressively loud *clang*. He touched a hand to his ear, which was faintly ringing, and crawled quickly to the wall. "What, you don't still want to chat?"

He hated fighting in close quarters like this. He shot some web *past* Wittman, plucking up an easy chair and yanking it at the man's back.

Carnage

Despite the enhanced abilities provided by the Carnage symbiote, Wittman still felt the pain caused by the chair and it was all that he could do not to lose his balance to it tangling him up.

But tangling gave him an idea and he ordered the symbiotic micro-droplets from the drones to begin to converge on Spider-Man’s body. In addition, he shot more of the symbiote against the wall-crawler like webbing.

While Spider-Man was busy getting free, Carnage could make his escape.

Spider-Man

A few things stuck him to the wall, and he ripped them off. They were wriggling, like-- ugh, living *goo*. Gross! "What the hell," he yelped as another pinned his leg to the same wall.

He wrestled it off, but not before more got him. He wasn't getting stuck, but he was fully preoccupied fighting the little strings.

Carnage

The “webbing” tactic seemed to be working. Bentley really did not want to escalate to full blown violence although that was still the preferred way to deal with things for the Carnage entity. Oh, he would fight as much as he needed to achieve his goals, but his goals were to be recognized for his genius and to enrich himself while doing so.

This would not play out as a win against Spider-Man in the media, but there was still the chance of success across most if not all of the Starbucks robberies. This world would take note of Carnage and that was exactly what Wittman desired.

“Have a little bit more of your own medicine!” Carnage taunted as he separated even more strands of the symbiote from himself to entangle the wall-crawler. With his adversary fully occupied, Carnage made a run for the exit. Once outside, he could attach himself to the drones and fly away. If no other do-gooders interfered, his mission would be considered a success and he could bask in the rewards of his greatness.

Spider-Man

“No! Damn it,” he realized as Carnage ran out. Without the man feeding more of the symbiote to him, he was able to slowly dispatch what was holding him down.

Too slowly. He heard the drones take off, and swore as he ripped up what was almost the last of it all.

He wondered if he’d made the drones… or bought them.

He’d have to pay Mysterio a visit and make sure. With a growl, he freed himself and rushed outside, but Carnage was long gone.