Midnight, SHRA going into effect:

"It's funny," he shrugs. "The stars look so different in K'un-Lun. From where our village sits on its heavenly plane, there are so many more than you can see here. No wonder we learned completely different constellations, too."

With a playful smirk, he rattles off a few of them: "The Wings of Shou-Lao. Yu-Ti's Crown. The Jade Tiger's Tail." He's scoffing slightly at each one, as if embarrassed to be sharing this with someone.

"Not exactly the same ones everyone learns growing up here. Before I ended up in K'un-Lun, my parents tried to teach me about stars and constellations, but I only learned a few. Orion... yeah, I remember that one..." he trails off.

After a moment, he speaks up again. "There is a star I'd call my favorite. One I could always find even in K'un-Lun, as I laid my head down at night to look up at the sky. Dreaming of a way back home."

Smiling slightly, he points up to it. "The North Star. Polaris."

At the breakfast table:


Danny ponders the question for a moment, a bit humbled to have suddenly become the focus of his teammates' attention.

"It was a hard, strict place," he replies. "We rose early, before the sun was up, and set to work on our chores. Chopping wood, hauling river water, tending to the crops. After that, it was martial arts from sun-up to sun-down."

Uncomfortably, he adds, "Well, for the men, anyway. Our ruler, the Yu-Ti, wasn't exactly known for having modern, enlightened views of women practicing kung-fu. He turned out to be an evil dictator, too. Who would have guessed?"

He takes a sip of his tea.

"It was a harsh place, but there are things I miss about it. The sense of community. Sitting down to eat breakfast with your fellowmen. Bonding through our training. Little things like that are so often forgotten in our lives here."

As an afterthought, he glances down and matter-of-factly taps the emblem of Shou-Lao the Undying burned into his chest.

"Oh, and there was a dragon," he finishes dryly.

Earlier...
Eyebrows rose at the mention of a dragon. Sally stared at Danny’s tattoo. Tattoos weren’t as ubiquitous in 1968, even in Haight-Ashbury. She broke her gaze away from the minimalist, but striking,  body art. “Are you saying that you’re like the St. George of Asia?”


After breakfast

“Don’t worry, Sue. I can stop them without hurting them. Danny, are you coming or staying? Wade, what about you?”

"I'll go stir crazy if I sit here," Wade replied. Staying in one place all night was as much inactivity as he could handle. "I'm going out.

"I might even put on pants."

In reply to Polaris (msg # 108):
Re: Polaris, earlier:
"Something like that," Danny grinned at Polaris.

Now:
"I'd better go with you. Me and the big guy--" he says, nodding to Luke-- "-- tend to stick together." He still couldn't believe his other self seemed to be sitting on the sidelines during all of this.

Venom:

"Thank you, Wade.  We need this to stay calm.  There's so many new people here."  At this, Venom gets himself a hamburger roll.  He puts a chunk of raw beef from the fridge on this and covers that in chocolate syrup.

Thankfully he takes his meal to the other room to eat it.  When he does, it's gone in one bite.

Sue replied through the Tallus:

No sweat. Some of us were up and busy already. But, Gwen...aren't you dead in this reality? That may be quite a stone in the pond, if so.

To Wade:  "Put on ripped pants. Just so no one goes into shock," she winked.  "And, you know, if they're good enough for the Hulk..."

:: In the garage, after the patrol group has departed...

With the leisure at last, Susan went to check out the bikes in the warehouse garage.

On casual viewing, it was plain the design aesthetic had changed since ‘69.   In ways that were kind of predictable --  to her eyes, there was a noticeably more futuristic look, though not in an exaggerated, gaudy way, thank goodness.   The changes seemed to be in the name of aerodynamics as well as cool factor, so it wasn’t empty style.

One of them was a heavier weight bike; not a good fit for a gal of her height and lithe physique.   Another, a lightie aimed obviously at beginners, novices -- which she was not.

And then there was ---  oh yes, baby!   The Triumph logo, at least, had not changed. She recognized that immediately.   It seemed to be a customized sport bike; with the fairing removed, and other changes that gave an overall more aggressive look.  It was candy-apple red, with a single round headlight, and comfortably positioned handlebars. Its mufflers short, lightweight, and no doubt pretty loud, as one would expect on this sort of ride.

Sue took in a smattering of other detail, then did what any red-blooded biker chick would do: she mounted up.    Ears would tell her more than eyes...

The key awaited in the ignition; so she found the fuel petcock, and turned it on.   Pulled the choke all the way, and then turned the key.   Unlike an automobile, that didn’t start a bike.

No, that was the job of the kickstarter. Her foot felt for it, and...and nothing?

“Well fuck!”     There wasn’t a kickstart.  Apparently no longer standard in the 21st century?   Kicking starting a bike’s part of the fun!  How dare they remove that, of all things? 

But there was a too conspicuous looking button.   A fucking button...a goddamn start button...on a bike! Shit!   “Fuck you, progress!” she declared summarily and emphatically.

Yep, it was a start button. She listened...then lightly revved, then listened...  then did it again...then finally with more vigor.   She let it idle.   It was idling...so-so.  Just okay, not great.

“Baby, you’re getting a tune up.”  Sue shut the motor off, then dismounted.    Sweeping her flax hair back into a ponytail, she bound it, made her way over to a nearby bench and cabinet where the garage’s tools were.

That is, you’re getting one *if* I can make heads or tails of the tools of 2006... 
This message was last edited by the player at 01:02, Thu 11 Mar 2021.

Over the Tallus:

* Maybe they need the ripple.  Harry said his dad died more than once.  And Em Jay said there were exploding clones of me.  This world is super weird.  Seeing a ghost can't be any worse than running into your duplicate self, right?

I think my being here is closing old wounds.  And helping Pete and Harry realize Norman is up to something.  Those people that are part of the Thunderbolts were real assholes in my world, but most of the names don't match with the aliases of who I know.

How are things over there?  No explosions?  Enough places to sleep?  We just had one old couch in there. *

Sue's surprise was apparent over the link.

'Exploding clones?'  Wow, that is *so* B-grade sci-fi!   Do they come from Jupiter? Seriously though, I did hear that my brother here has returned from death.  The Tallus said there was a number of ways it might happen, and that it wasn't as shocking a thing in this world.  Anyway, I'm glad you're mending wounds.   That was what I'd hoped for. And why we've tried to give you time and space.    Can't complain about the warehouse; Cap and his people are friendly, have treated us well, and it's comfortable enough.    But Gwen, there's a guy here who calls himself Venom.  And also an itchy-finger named Frank Castle.   When I spoke with Reed, he mentioned they have ugly history with Peter, and would be happy to kick him one.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:35, Thu 11 Mar 2021.

She talked to Reed?  That's surprising.


* "The clones come from someone called The Jackal - he's apparently obsessed with me even though I never had powers here.  No outer space involved - you're going to get Rocket involved if you keep that line of thought up.

Castle is a mercenary.  The rumors about WAR MACHINE Company are... pretty ugly.  I have history with him and sounds like he's not much different here.  Half of the Thunderbolts worked for him in my world, and you heard what Tallus said about them.

Venom is... that's complicated.  You know how my clothes turn into spiders when they change?

Venom is what the scientist that created them called it.  It's a hybrid symbiotic organism that gave me my powers back after they were drained by a supervillain.  She said only someone immune to the radiation from the spiders could be a host.

Bonding with the symbiote gave me my powers back and cured Harry.  It's not bad, and you shouldn't think that.  I wouldn't call it Venom anymore if it hadn't decided that was its name.  It's an animal and it needs to be taken care of.  Venom magnifies what you put in, and it's... an adjustment having something else in your head.  Took me a little bit to get back to myself.

Even now if I don't eat the right foods I get headaches, powers that stop working, mood swings.  I think you saw one when I yelled at Timebroker.  A SHIELD agent told me there were six spiders here, sounds like Venom is number four." *

OOC: I will be using different colors for Gwen's symbiote and Eddie's Symbiote.  They are different and Gwen does not know the extent of that.  All Gwen's advice thus far is about her own.

Susan caught the stray thought.    *I did talk to him, yes. And used a burner phone, supplied by Cap.  It was a gamble --  but...there was a small list of things suggesting the Reed of this world isn't such a terrible guy.   I did it because he's near to Stark. I hoped he might be able to get him to rein it in a little.  He did promise me he would try, for what that's worth. I told him what and who I was, but made it sound like I was alone.  I didn't mention the rest of you. Or the Tallus.  But...if this Norman guy has spread the word about you, then Reed - and maybe Stark through association --   will catch on that there's a number of us here.*



*I see.  Sounds like another nasty character.    I've not heard of him, nor the Thunderbolts. Though I did hear what the Tallus said.*     Susan paid careful attention as Gwen detailed the nature of her symbiote, and its origins, its ins and outs...



*Oh hell, Gwen, sounds like me during that time of the month!* she sent, tongue in cheek.  Mostly.  Somewhat..

*Seriously, I'm glad you took the time to lay that out.   You spider-folk are so central to this whole thing...it helps if the rest of us understand your nature and situation better, I think.  The part about it becoming what you feed it is kind of  comforting.   And maybe...it's not so different from we humans, in that way.   I think the Venom here may be feeding his symbiote chameleons.  Because, by god, he's got a tongue like one!  I take it Peter has powers like you used to have, and not a symbiote?    Do you have any feel for what he's going to do?   Reed did confirm that Stark will make a move, soon.   And of everything he told me, I doubt that bit not at all.*
This message was last edited by the player at 02:55, Fri 12 Mar 2021.

* "I don't think I explained it very well, but Doctor Brock isn't here to do it better.  I meant just what I put in emotionally?  The spiders are vegetarian, actually.  She told me to eat kale, spinach, cauliflower, tropical fruit...  If they doesn't get needed nutrients from what I eat, they're taken from my cells.  That's when the side effects come, and trust me it's way worse than that.  Other than that, it just manifests outside.  My body doesn't physically change - except for the isotope.  What's this about Chameleons?

Peter doesn't seem to have one - he would have been dressed for the fight this morning if he did.  And I think... I feel like they would recognize each other." *
This message was last edited by the player at 20:07, Fri 12 Mar 2021.

Tigro departs for his patrol. "I better take time to dress as much as I can if they have clothes available that will hide my skin, though I can't hide my tail well and it's uncomfortable to do it for long. He sighs aloud.

"Hey can the Tallus tune us into police frequencies?"
"Shall we get going and is anyone going with me?"

He paces a bit while thinking the best way to handle this is probably to stay off the rooftops where helicopters and fliers can see him, but he does like to move quickly so he'll stick to alleys and quiet roads if he can.

He makes sure to stick to the shadows as he moves and listens for anything he can hear that might mean being in trouble.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:30, Fri 12 Mar 2021.

Sally borrowed blue jeans, sneakers, a jean jacket, and a belly t-shirt with the iconic Rolling Stones logo from a lady friend of Luke’s. She flipped her dark hair out from under the jacket. “At least the Stones lived to see the 21st Century! I see that long, straight hair hasn’t gone out of style, either, so I should be more inconspicuous now.”

Tigro would be trickier. “Say, why don’t you borrow a hooded sweatshirt? That’ll hide your face from the Squares.” When he was dressed, she would leave with him. “Hold down the fort, Suzie Q!”

*I was being funny!  The Venom here has a gross-long tongue --  so I was joking like that was from eating chameleons. Since they've got the longest tongues of any lizard.*   

*But, I totally got you were talking about feeding them psychically, emotionally. And that's why I made the comparison to we humans. We're the same way, to a great degree, I believe.  It's plain the symbiotes are feeling creatures, like we are.   And vegetarians?  Wow.  That's a different kind of arachnid.  Better for you!  You'll benefit from a life of veggies, too.*   

*Okay...so Pete's without a plan? Good. Surely he'll keep talking, and thinking, which is perfect. Just let us know if you need anything done, outside of the tower. Most of the others are going out on patrol, with Cap and his people, but I'll be holding the fort here. Eh, with creepy Castle, and some other guy I don't think I've met.* 

She waved farewell to Sally and Tigro.

"Be careful, out there!   Love the shirt! You look great," she enthused to Sally.

Susan had also changed from what she'd arrived in;  trading the long skirt and halter top for a pair of jeans (not a cut she was familiar with, but she wasn't quibbling) and a black tank-top, with the caption 'Cowabunga!' printed in bright purple.  She'd no clue what it meant.   But would have only liked it better, had she known it was an exclamation favored by a fellow mutant...
This message was last edited by the player at 23:06, Fri 12 Mar 2021.

* Well I wish the things they needed me to eat didn't taste like cardboard.  But what can you do.  I've gotta eat for Gwen and Venom after all.  Just, try to keep this Venom well-fed and that might help.  I don't know about any of the what happened between him and Peter but maybe I can find out.

So is your brother like, a Phoenix or something?  It would fit with the setting himself on fire. *

Gwen really hopes that Johnny Storm isn't immortal in her world, the Storms are already bad enough without one of them being unstoppable.

*Cardboard?  Jeez --  when it comes to veggies, it's all in the seasoning, the saute. If we end up doing any meals together, me or Sally can for sure do you better than cardboard.    Unless you've gotta eat'em all raw? If so, I do feel for you.    Now, you sure all symbiotes are herbivores?   'Cause this Venom just slurped up chocolate milk like it's going out of style.  I'll...work on keeping him fed, if you think it'll help.*  It was a grisly task to contemplate. But, you do what you have to...

She smirked about Johnny being a Phoenix. *Well, my Johnny is more like an Achilles, than a Phoenix, if you want to get Greek about it.   A super confident hotshot, with a vulnerable spot or two. And, this 'Human Torch' thing is new to me.   In my world, the only Torch was a maniac android who served the Reich, before Sub-Mariner put him down.  But, I hear Johnny has the pyro powers here.   He's the one who came back to life. And the Tallus made it plain it was done for him, rather than by him.*

* "I have to assume SHIELD is watching me so it's probably not safe to meet up, at least not at the base.

Symbiotes don't really come with a manual other than 'you're the only host it won't irradiate' - we only figured this out from what they ate on their own and what I was missing.  Does chocolate milk have collagen and fiber?" *

OOC: it does not but Gwen may not know that
This message was last edited by the player at 23:13, Sat 13 Mar 2021.

*Nada, nope, no fiber, or collagen.  Collagen's found in connective tissues.  I'm not familiar with this SHIELD, we only have SPEAR in my world, a cartel of techno-terrorists.   But Reed did mention if I wanted to learn who within SHIELD was gunning for Peter, I might talk to myself.   The Sue of this world, I mean.  Apparently she has connections, or knows the organization well.  I confess...the idea of talking to some other version of me is disquieting.  Especially since she's got to be on edge, with her Johnny in critical condition.  But, it's on my to-do list.*   

"Thank you, Sally, that's a start at least." Tigro says looking for something to cover his body so he doesn't stand out as much. If it weren't for this strange law, no one would care unless he threatened them, he'd be another strange superhuman.

Some days he remembers the day-to-day of humanity and contemplates how it moved from that to this, in this odd world. He nods inwardly superheroes can be scary, but they do the good work. A mental sigh and shrug. Maybe we've not done enough here? Is a question that lingers in his thoughts. What tragedy did we not stop, that our good will is lost?
This message was last edited by the player at 23:38, Mon 15 Mar 2021.

* Signs all point to Norman as that person - if that changes I'll let you know.  No need to talk to your double if you don't have to. *

If flower girl meets another Sue Storm, will she like what she sees?  Pete says she's a hero here but... who actually knows.

“Not that I think that you should have to hide your face,” Sally said with a quick stroke of Tigro’s fur. “I think you look groovy, but the people here don’t seem open-minded. Not if they’re aspiring to Third Reich policy for us super-types.”

((Some undefined, appropriate amount of time later -- still out in the garage))

I'd be safe and warm (I'd be safe and warm)
If I was in L.A. (If I was in L.A.)...

The lush, four part harmony issued from the speakers of the radio -- the radio like thing --  that sat atop the garage's tool bench.

California dreamin' (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day...   

Not only did it have AM and FM, but XM as well. She'd no clue what the hell XM was.    But it had sounded intriguing, and mysterious --  so why not?   She'd hit upon a channel that had now served up three songs in a row that she knew.

Well, I got down on my knees (Got down on my knees)
And I pretend to pray (I pretend to pray)...   

Susan turned from the bench, to face the garage's only other occupant.

"Okay, baby -- it's just you and me  -- we're all alone."

The Triumph future-bike didn't reply;  but that didn't matter.  She liked the lean and agile type. And he'd be talkin' up a storm, once she was done, what with those lightweight mufflers.    She'd managed to rummage up gloves, the bike's shop manual (from which she'd learned it was a 2003 model) and most of what would be needed for a tune up.   So she hoped.

All the leaves are brown (All the leaves are brown)
And the sky is grey (And the sky is grey)...

Having moved her supplies over, she began with checking the fluid levels.  Glad to have something to do, that made her feel a little nearer to the life she knew.   Though it didn't make her forget she was alone here now with Frank Fucking Castle, and some other guy she hadn't yet seen, let alone met.

Well, I fucking hope he's an attorney!  'Cause I'd love to sue whoever thought it was a great idea to start making bikes without a kickstarter!
This message was last edited by the player at 03:54, Thu 22 July 2021.

While Sue listens to the radio, someone in the next room is flipping through TV stations all broadcasting news.  Some of the sound comes through.


"been Spider-Man since I was fifteen years old."

* Click *

"Johnny Storm still reported in critical condition this morning at"

* Click *

"Minor explosion at Stark tower 'No cause of concern' according to Stark rep"

* Click *

"My name is Peter Ben"

* Click *

"Relatively quiet overnight as the Superhuman Registration Act came into effect, with sporadic protests but no wide outbreaks of violence as some feared."

* Click *

"Outside the childhood home of Spider-man hoping to get a word with his Aunt but across the street we can see a reminder of the dangers"

* Click *

"And we can trust that the Thunderbolts and other Powered entities who have done the right thing will keep this country safe from"

* Click *

"We're here with J. Jonah Jameson."  "I felt so bad for the Parker kid when his fiancée was killed due to Spider-man's  NEGLIGENCE but now it turns out that he was RESPONSIBLE.  That poor innocent girl... Georgia or something was killed because"

* Click *

"Released a new Most Wanted list this morning with Captain America in the top position"

* Click *

* Explosion *  "Meep Meep"  * Looney Tunes theme *

Listening, Susan suddenly paused in what she was doing.   It did occur to her that anyone who stopped at Looney Tunes likely wasn't Castle.

I really hope not; it would only make him more scary!

Curious, she set down the oil can, then walked from the garage to the other room, in order to have a look.