Manmirror vs. Snakeman
Make your own scenario, I'll run the Snakeman and ensuing fight if any.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:14, Sun 28 Aug 2022.

He was not good at investigation. This wasn't a surprise. If Max had any ability to deal with that sort of mental gymnastics he wouldn't have been pouring steel and cleaning molds. Even so, the least he could do is look.
Flipping the manhole cover off the sewer was easy. Climbing down into the sewer, on the other hand, was an assault on his nose. Activating the form that gave him his name, the reflective Manmirror turned on his phone's LED and began to look for clues in the sewer. Which was exactly what he was thinking, and nothing he knew how to do.

Manmirror's assaulted by the smell, it has an odd scent like that of bananas... and sewage.  He stands for a moment trying to decide which way to go, it's not as wet or nasty as he expected, and free of crawling things.

A voice from above says "Hey, you're not ssssupposssed to go in the sssewersss."  Looking up he sees the silhouette of a hoodie, then "Oh #$!), it'sss Manmirror!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:48, Tue 30 Aug 2022.

Normally neither subtle nor gregarious, Manmirror squints at the snake-person and thinks about interrogating the reptile. Two quotes run through his head, "know thyself, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories" seems to thread itself into "is this your homework, Larry?"
So, Manmirror visibly shrugs and says, "Larry! Is that you? You snake-guys all look the same. We need to talk, man."

Larry says "Oh sss^*%! how'd you know my name, bro?"

(GM doesn't remember, has no notes of and can't find reference to Larry in the threads, but it's Larry whoever that is. :) )
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:47, Tue 30 Aug 2022.

Larry on the verge of running stops to see what Manmirror is doing then follows him down the Manhole says "O.k. I get it bro, I'm weak compared to you.  You trounccced my brosss at the riot.  It ssstill hurtsss man."

After a few more feet he says "What're we doing?  Why am I following you?"

Back towards him, Manmirror says, "because we need to talk. Without Lumpy or someone around to tell us what's going on we gotta figure it out for ourselves."

"Lumpy sssaid I ssshould watch this placcce before the riot and he was taken away, make sssure no one came down here.  Lumpy got taken away. Bro, I don't even know why I'sss watching it."


"That's what I mean, man," retorts the shiny one. "There's got to be something down here worth the effort. You know, if there hadn't been a riot I wouldn't have had to pound on anyone. I got nothing against the scales and stuff."

"Hey fun fact, did you know sssnakesss only have to eat like once a month?  Really cuts down on cossst of living! "

Manmirror stops short. "Once a month! Man, that's harsh!"
"I mean, sure it's cheaper. But only getting to taste a bacon cheeseburger once a month."
"Say, is it true you guys can taste stuff from a distance? That would make it easier."

"I really think Dr. Cobra ssshould've made us like iguanasss inssstead, you know they're vegetariansss."

"That's a fair point," Manmirror concedes.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:29, Thu 01 Sept 2022.

After further walking, Manmirror turns to Larry, "you know, I haven't asked, yet. What are you going to do now that the riots over and Lumpy got taken into custody?"
"I imagine it's hard to find a stable position as a transformed human."
He watches Larry to see how the snakeman reacts, truth to tell, Manmirror is truthfully curious about what the snakes do when they're not being villainous.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:08, Fri 02 Sept 2022.

Larry says "I was a failing broadway actor before thisss, and the cancccer, maybe I could get the lead for the Hunchback of Notre Dame, or Elephant Man or sssomething?  I've been afraid to sssee anyone I knew.  I never went back to the apartment I ssshared with 3 other guys.  I don't really like being around people much anymore anyway.  But like I sssaid, low cost of living, being homelessss as a sssnake guy is fine, the scales make pavement feel like a feather bed.  Only thing I've felt like eating in the lassst week is one large rat. Yeah it sssounds grossss, but man they're delicccioussss.  SSSo no real cosssstssss.  I don't get ssso frussstrated and angry or depressssed, and don't even drink or sssmoke no more."

He shrugs. "I kinda like it. I'm real ssstrong now too, lift 10 timesss what I ussssed to without trying.  I see why Dr. Cobra and Lumpy wanted to ssshare thisss.  They did it all wrong, you ssshouldn't be changing people without asssking firssst.  Bro, who'd want to get turned into a sssnake before trying it and knowing how good it isss?  How'd I convinccce anyone?"

Though Larry sounds reasonable in some regards, there's something disturbing and sinister about the way he says it even beyond the long esses.  The way he reminisces about eating a rat, the emotionless way he says it like a killer with no remorse, like a stretched spring creaking ready to break.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:01, Thu 01 Sept 2022.

Larry shrugs "I've not ssseen any othersss sssince the riot come down the manhole.  I'm sssure Lumpy'd want me to try to take you out, ssso I'm already in trouble, and no way I'm trying anything with you, I sssaw you fight.  I don't think he's coming back from wherever the FBI took all of them, ssso no ssskin off my back.  It's kinda nice to talk to sssomeone again.
...
Hey, maybe we could get into WWE?  Could be a lot of money for a couple freaksss, and it'sss kinda like acting?"

(It seems like a little bit of humanity has crept back into Larry after talking to Manmirror for so long.

You're approaching the lab, Interface should be there shortly, depends what she's choosing to do, might be time to move to Issue #5 thread.)

(EDIT: I'm not sure how it happened, but it looks like I overwrote your last message, and I can't seem to get it back.  I had read it though and this was the response)

PS PS +55 karma for completing the solo against the snakeman.  Please update your karma in the character biography, I believe you had a ton from the riot I listed there.  I'll add the +55 there as well.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:36, Fri 02 Sept 2022.

Manmirror was beginning to see that, for some people, the snake transformation was worthwhile, possibly lifesaving. Even after he suggested that he could leave if Larry was worried Manmirror would cause him a problem, and Larry, although still edgy, was beginning to be relate to Manmirror more like a peer and less like a hazard.
"WWE? We could try. But once we got in we'd probably be too good. What they really need is a separate league just for guys like us. Shoot! You could even get celebrities to referee. Can you imagine? The amazing Whaleman squares off with Captain Caveman, special guest refereed by Mindwarper!"
"Dude, I paid fifty bucks to watch a card with Ric Flair as its only redeeming value. People would take second mortgages for a card that included a couple snake guys, a talking gorilla, and a mermaid. I know you don't need money, but it would probably be nice to have."

He starts to reply but stops holding out a scaled hand "There'sss sssomeone ahead!"

(Go to Issue #5 thread, you're approaching Interface in the sewers.)

Before he walks on, Manmirror looks at Larry and says, "Huh. Hey, let's make a deal. If those are guys hunting snakemen, 'cause you gotta figure some o' the other supers are closed-minded idiots, I'll keep 'em from attacking you. If those are guys like you, you vouch for me so I don't have to punch anyone in self-defense."
"I'm just trying to figure things out, and I can't do that and hit stuff at the same time."

He nearly whispers flicking his tongue between words "It's a human, maybe two, not cancccer sssurvivorsss... and a machine?  I ssshould ssstay back?" He stops in place very still, and looks at Manmirror as if for confirmation.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:26, Tue 06 Sept 2022.

"That's fine, Larry. I'll come back by tomorrow and we can discuss the wrestling thing, again. I think we're onto something, there."
Manmirror heads off to find out who else is in the sewer.

Larry nods at Manmirror and fades back as Manmirror continues.