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♦ Topic: Starlight
In: Boards ► America ► East Coast ► Cape Teams ► Starlight
►Bagrat (Original Poster) (Veteran Member) (The Guy in the Know)
Here is the official thread for the new hero team in Brockton Bay, Starlight.
Current roster as of today's date June 28th, is Panacea, Glory Girl, Strider, Mouse Protector and Purity. Edit: July 9th correction, Panacea now going by the name Remedy.
Yes. That Purity.
There's been no official word from New Wave on two capes basically abandoning the team and creating their own, and no word from the PRT on Purity as of yet.
That said, the hero team is verified as an approved PRT independent affiliate with all that entails, and could not achieve that status without the PRT giving them the go ahead for all members.
Edit: As of last posting July 9th, still no official announcement from New Wave.
Link to announcement of the creation of the team here.
Link to first press conference here.
Edit: July 3rd: Link to PRTs statement in regards to Purity here.
Edit: July 5th: Online tour of Starlights headquarters, link here.
Edit: July 8th: LUNG taken down by Starlight, video here.
(Showing page 285 of 934)
►CaramelCoffee
Replied On July 3rd 2010:
Srsly, has there ever been any more milquetoast of a statement from the PRT?
Purity is a fucking NAZI! And their statements basically said nothing!!
They didn't mention her crimes, any punishment, hell they didn't even acknowledge she was/is a damn NAZI!
►XxVoid_CowboyxX
Replied On July 3rd 2010:
#CaramelCoffee, obv a conspiracy, like I don't even have to try or like get banned or anything, PRT is obv in on the whole Nazi thing.
Starlight didn't even try to rebrand the Nazi, like wtf is up with that other than orders from up top, (PRT and Empire in cahoots?)
No wonder no Empire capes ever stay in jail!
Also Pan-Pan not healing at hospitals anymore, C'mon so a Nazi/government plot!
►Kaiserbun (Verified not-a-nazi)
Replied On July 3rd 2010:
How can Panacea stand having a Nazi on the team? She's fucking gay!?
How does this even work!? Why did the PRT allow this!? Wtf is wrong with Panacea and Glory Girl?
Panacea isn't even healing properly anymore, has anyone checked she isn't being mastered?
#Brandish time to be a mom don't you think!?
!!!???
►Aurelian (Verified Cape) (Équipe nationale de grève)
Replied On July 3rd 2010:
#Kaiserbun, do not besmirch the name of Panacea, she is the light that will show us all the path to heaven, if Purity follows Panacea, all is well.
I will be joining the Church of Panacea in Brockton Bay for the grand opening on July tenth with our high priestess, Cherrie Hart, all are welcome.
Praise be to Panacea.
…
(Showing page 298 of 934)
►Tin_Mother (Moderator)
Replied On July 4th 2010:
Guys, over ten pages of heaping abuse on #Aurelian is beyond the pale, freedom of speech is still in effect, but so are the rules of this board, if it does not end right now, I will lock this thread.
When #XxVoid_CowboyxX is behaving better than everyone else, you should all be taking a look at your conduct.
►TheGreatandTerribleAisha (Temp banned)
Replied On July 4th 2010:
Burn from the great mother of tin! You all suckers suck, big surprise, but like for realz, why is a Nazi on the team #Panacea
Like I saw the presser but that was a load of bullshit!
Also #MouseProtector please autograph my butt!
►Reave (Verified PRT Agent)
Replied On July 4th 2010:
Happy Independence day to each and everyone of you, we should all be thankful yet another hero team is here to help protect and serve, that is the major thing to take away from this. Brockton Bay is safer for their inclusion into the forces of good.
►Vajayjay (Temp Banned)
Replied On July 4th 2010:
#Reave, I can't take that seriously when you're literally whitewashing a Nazi. Fuck off.
Srsly, go die.
Also Starlight is a fake hero team, ain't no hero team with a Nazi on it.
►Meadprovider (Banned)
Replied On July 4th 2010:
Purity is a fucking traitor, how can she even stand hanging around dykes, race traitors, and whatever the fuck Mouse Protector is, probably a Jew.
►Liima1 (Verified Finnish)
Replied On July 4th 2010:
Nazi's are bad mkay…
Also if Mouse Protector is autographing butts, I call dibs!
Dr.Flembo (Verified not-a-doctor)
Replied On July 4th 2010:
Whitewashing is bad mkay…
All of this is bad. Nazi's are bad, why do we still have to say it? And what's the obsession with MP anyway?
No one's autographing my butt, that's for sure…
Except Alexandria.
►Tin_Mother (Moderator)
Replied On July 4th 2010:
Putting in a 12 hour lock of this thread. This thread is about Starlight, the hero team. Not only its member Purity.
Go here to discuss Purity.
…
(Showing page 782 of 934)
►ComicForBrains (Comic Nerd)
Replied On July 5th 2010:
So, like is Panacea gonna get sued for complete cribbing the Nova corps for the headquarters and uniforms right?
I mean they look awesome! Much better than the Protectorate, but still, isn't it like copyright or something.
►Vista (Verified cape)(Wards ENE)
Replied On July 5th 2010:
The uniforms are cool, the headquarters are cool, totally unserious question, what's the benefits like?
Asking for a friend.
►Brocktonite03 (Veteran Member)
Replied On July 5th 2010:
#ComicForBrains, I really don't think Panacea is worried about some Aleph comic company suing her.
Cool uniforms tho, definitely, makes collateral damage barbie look more serious.
Still no news at all from New Wave, anyone else think that's weird? Really starting to look like they hate gay people.
Not wanting to restart the flame war, but like, Purity must have given up on Nazihood, right? Or it wouldn't work with Panacea being lesbian.
►Tin_Mother (Moderator)
Replied On July 5th 2010:
#Brocktonite03 tread very carefully, and that goes for the rest of you as well, we're not restarting this issue.
►Niraada (Verified PRT Agent)
Replied On July 5th 2010:
I'm applying for a job there as soon as they open up! So excited, whoo! Go Starlight!
Kickass heroes is a go!
►Glory Girl (Verified cape)(Starlight)
Replied On July 5th 2010:
To all the haters out there, you keep forgetting Purity was mastered, don't blame the victim, blame the Nazi bastards! Btw Purity gets along great with my sis, so obv not a Nazi.
#TheGreatandTerribleAisha, Good going, I had to sit on MP to make sure the whole team didn't get banned off PHO to prevent her from responding to what you started!
The next villain she faces is going to be pissed when their butt gets autographed with a cheese pun…
#Brocktonite03 Don't go dumping on our family, we left New Wave to find our own way, they aren't releasing any statements because there's nothing that needs to be said.
Butt out.
#Niraada Excited to see you there! Hope you get it! The job comes with autographs! Not of the butt variety.
#Vista, Little V! Benefits is whatever you want ;) [https://forums.spacebattles.com/styles/sbforums/smilies/wink.gif] I have an in with the team lead, we can hook you up!
Also, on a scale of 1-10, how pissed is the PR department for you even saying that? (jokingly I'm sure) Wink-wink!
►Blind-Monkey (Veteran Member)
Replied On July 5th 2010:
#Glory Girl That was kind of weak tbh, your defense of New Wave, it's obv something is going on there,
Tell us the truth!
I mean come on…
Also don't steal Vista! You monsters! Can't have the Wards be all Sausage no Pie!
(Showing page 889 of 934)
►Bagrat (Original Poster) (Veteran Member) (The Guy in the Know)
Replied July 8th 2010:
Just in, Starlight took down LUNG!
Fully rampaging LUNG.
Ahem, it bears saying again. L-U-N-G!!
Call out to the insane #LictorMagnus for getting video of the fight, staying behind to film it all for our viewing pleasure, with no regard for life and limb.
Seriously, that's insane, but good for us.
Link to video here.
►Leeland
Replied On July 8th 2010:
What did I smoke tonight that I'm dreaming up this? What!?
WHAT!?
►Brocktonite03 (Veteran Member)
Replied On July 8th 2010:
What!?
►DiscoStu (Veteran Member)
Replied On July 8th 2010:
What the fuck!?
►Vista (Verified cape)(Wards ENE)
Replied On July 8th 2010:
At the risk of console duty and PR refresher courses #Starlight kickass job, supes jealous, #Glory Girl, Big V I'll text you uniform sizes, for…
Totally unrelated reasons.
►Irtzval (Verified, just Verified)
Replied On July 8th 2010:
Makes sense, entire Protectorate can't touch him, but Panacea can apparently fucking SOLO him, just nice enough to give the rest of the team a few minutes first.
Did you guys SEE that shit!?
Healer, my beautiful ass!!
►Crackalacking (Veteran Member)
Replied On July 8th 2010:
Shit, can't bitch about Purity now, she helped take down Lung. That's real deal hero shit.
Also, what the fuck was #New Wave doing? Panacea is gone from them for like a few weeks and she's taking down Lung!
Good riddance to that old team of haters if Pan-Pan can do that on her own!
►Leyse (Verified Badass)
Replied On July 8th 2010:
Oh boy, oh boy, ABB is screwed and basically gone without Lung, now we got Starlight the Protectorate and New Wave on the side of the heroes, how's those lederhosen feeling E88?
Getting brown yet?
►JollyHippo (Veteran Member) (Secret Overlord)
Replied On July 8th 2010:
Seems like Church of Panacea is speeding up their opening, seeing lots of activity,
Funnily enough just opposite from Starlights headquarters, someone has a sense of humor!
Taking down Lung isn't exactly going to make all those nutjobs calm down either…
Toppling Dragons seems like something that's going to end up on a stone slab in Brockton Bay somewhere.
#Panacea, look out your window, haha!
End of Page. 1, 2, 3, 4 ... 890, 891, 892, 893
…
Amy accidentally crushed the mouse as she clenched her hand too hard, cursing loudly as she got up from browsing PHO, and all the headaches that induced - and walked over to the window, peering out across the street. At something liable to give her many more headaches going forward.
Sure enough, there was a hive of activity, and the banner that had apparently been put up while she was sleeping, had already been corrected to the Church of Remedy, to her chagrin. Fucking Aurelian, that French weirdo cape was preaching outside the building, in full costume and everything.
Why the fuck are they settling down right across from me? She thought, taking a deep breath to soother her growing anger. Just what she needed, religious fanatics she couldn't beat up - bothering her day and night. Pretty fucking flexible religion too, changing their name so quickly. She'd hoped to avoid all the bullshit by rebranding to Remedy.
Maybe she could get a restraining order.
Against Aurelian at least, major creep factor there…
Well, she'd planned to spend some time cooking up some viruses and such, why not some aggressive mold that would limit itself to their building, and give them all the runs. Hah, I might actually do that. Fuck them.
Or perhaps Poison Ivy would accidentally destroy the building, and then accident them each time they tried to rebuild. Just normal cape on cape action, nothing to see there. It was Brockton Bay after all… Things happened.
Just ask any native.
She debated going back online to check out the hubbub about Poison Ivy and the change to the city, and immediately winced at the idea. No thank you, not right now…
It had been a mistake to go online at all, if there weren't comments on how she looked (pervs) or how Vicky looked, (megapervs) there were even nastier comments about it all that made her want brain bleach. And of course the backlash for Purity was everywhere, which she had very much underestimated and not even noticed until now.
Like seriously she couldn't believe how much she'd underestimated it. She needed to talk to more people who she hadn't subtly changed to agree with her, because this was pretty bad on her part.
She'd thought her story would have at least bought her some sympathy and belief on Purity's behalf. But either no one believed the story she'd concocted about Purity being mastered, or they just didn't care.
Since Brockton Bay was the Nazi capital of America, it's likely that the degree of antipathy from all the non-whites in the city just wouldn't accept the concept of an ex-Nazi.
Once a Nazi always a Nazi or something. Which, fair enough, Purity had killed a lot of people, but dammit, Amy wanted a heavy hitter on her side. She was slightly soiled and stained with racism, but they'd just have to make do. She rubbed her forehead tiredly, maybe the slight positive tint Purity got from helping take down Lung would help…
It shouldn't make it worse at least.
Although now she knew they could expect Empire retaliation at some point, Kaiser took enough of a beating at being humiliated by Amy coming out on top of his video praising her, now that she'd also stolen his top cape - he'd be forced to make a move.
Purity could definitely improve her reputation by taking down some Empire capes, attacking the ABB didn't exactly clear her reputation. Even if taking down a villain must have helped somewhat.
Vicky should have just done what Amy had, and stayed out of posting, she winced at the reactions her jumping in had led to on some of the pages. Her attempted defense of New Wave hadn't exactly convinced anyone, although she'd managed to sway some of her own fans on the Purity issue.
But most of Glory Girls fans would literally follow her if she joined the Slaughterhouse Nine, they were that kind of fanatics.
She wondered briefly what was going on with New Wave, not making any statements at all was weird. She'd have expected them to at least cover their asses…
Vicky really should stop panicking the PRT too, playing games with Vista like that she thought, still staring out angrily at the crowd of church nutjobs. Although good on the littlest Ward to use their possible poaching to get more of a say in her uniform and loadout. Smart, she always knew the girl was the only useful Ward.
At least that's what she assumed it was about. She knew it was a usual complaint of the girl, and this was the perfect opportunity to push slightly.
Amy looked at the time, making a protesting noise, there should be rules about this kind of thing…
No one should have to go to school the day after beating up a Dragon…
She hurriedly finished dressing, throwing a light green jacket over her simple jeans and T-shirt combo, rushing down the stairs from the living quarters to the public areas of HQ.
She met Vicky at the entrance to Starlight headquarters, already this early in the morning she was signing autographs, people recognizing her easily even when in civilian clothes. Living above the headquarters was going to make this a common thing, wasn't it?
Oh no… People aren't going to start recognizing me in civvies are they? She thought apprehensively, eyeing the crowd, and especially the gathered nutjobs across the street, where Aurelian was practically orgasming on his pedestal staring at her.
Gross.
Shouldn't have saved that one's life…
"Ames!" Vicky shouted, breaking off, jogging forward to meet her, giggling as she curtsied extravagantly once she got an arm's length away, "Miss Dragonslayer." She said with quirked lips and a blindingly proud look.
Amy gave her a deadpan look, "So it's going to be like that, huh?"
Ugh, her being proud of me shouldn't make me feel so… Feelings.
Vicky smirked, tossing her head towards the budding Church across the street, "Why not? or mayyyybe you prefer, my goddess?" She said, adding a sultry tone to the last bit that made Amy flush.
Oh, god, imagine if they overheard that!
"Knock it off, it's embarrassing, people are watching!" She hissed, wishing she wore robes still so she could hide her face.
Vicky glanced over her shoulder at the many many photographers, smirking evilly, "Let them ship it!" She chirped, bounding forward to hug Amy, kissing her cheek sloppily, before she scooped her up in her arms, taking off into the air.
"You're in a good mood." Amy couldn't help but note, as they took off towards Arcadia, face still flushed from Vicky messing with her.
Vicky laughed, doing a little pirouette in the air that made Amy almost lose her breakfast. "Why shouldn't I be? We're literally the coolest heroes on the east coast, we took down LUNG!" She got a soft warm look in her eyes, as she leaned down and kissed Amy softly on the lips, lips lingering for just for a second, "And I have the cutest girl in my arms…" She purred.
Amy was lost for words, still feeling the touch on her lips and the taste of peach lip gloss. She'd… She hadn't done that. She hadn't made Vicky feel like that… She'd just… She'd just made her aroused now and then to mess with her… Which she hadn't even been doing lately. What?
How, why, what? Her brain was short circuiting.
Plus… Feelings. She couldn't deal with that.
Vicky took her dumbfounded silence in stride, smiling softly as they flew across town, eventually setting down near the entranceway of Arcadia.
As Amy stood unsteadily, mind still scrambled from the soft, very not sisterly kiss, a chant began around them, the kids of Arcadia all standing around chanting, "Dragonslayer! DRAGONSLAYER! Make way for the DRAGONSLAYER!"
Vicky grinned widely, eyes sparkling as she raised a confused Amy's hand into the air, to the roar of their peers.
All Amy could think was, If Lung escapes, he's really not going to take this well…
----------------------------------------
PRT headquarters, Brockton Bay.
It was an all hands on deck kind of meeting, Director Piggot and Deputy Director Renick both attending, as well as the Chief Director on conference call.
Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
They held the meeting at the PRT headquarters, because having the entire team on the Rig was just asking for trouble if Lung blew up suddenly. Which was always a possibility no matter what defenses they put in place. Especially as they'd forced Panacea to remove whatever biological compound she'd used to make him unable to use his power, as they couldn't have that unknown situation follow Lung into custody, so the dragon was once again awake and aware. Dauntless was holding down the fort for now while the rest of them met and discussed the recent situation.
At least he might have a shot in putting Lung down together with all the confoam sprayers if he began to escalate.
Anger would come easy to the dragon in the situation he was in. Hopefully just anger wouldn't be enough to prevent their countermeasures.
Lung was secondary right now, the one big issue on their mind something different.
Their newest issue that in one swoop had taken over a nice chunk of the city, and turned it all into a forest, the giant tree overshadowing all of Brockton Bay, giving it all a kind of fantasy land look from a distance, but the flex of that kind of power was worrying a lot of people.
It said a lot about the Mayor and the state of the city, that his immediate beef with the situation wasn't the Parahuman taking over parts of the city, but the extra cost in the municipal budget for removing the likely constant detritus of a city encompassing tree, Ethan thought, as he idly paid attention to anything but the report.
The meeting had already been going for a while, but Ethan hadn't paid much attention, since it was just Armsy speaking. A quick elbow to the ribs from his lovely wife, and he once again made an concerted effort to appear attentive, catching the tailend of the report.
" - Dragon has assisted me in measuring from a distance, and the phenomenon does not appear to be growing any further than its current boundaries." Armsmaster finished his report, sounding even more detached than usual.
Then again, none of them had much sleep with Lung rampaging and being taken down, and a forest taking over large swaths of the city. That kind of thing necessitated an all hands on deck scenario that meant no one got to sleep properly. Ethan hadn't ever thought he'd be in a situation where Lung being taken down and taken into custody was the smaller piece of news in the media cycle.
He didn't envy the Director or Armsy, both who'd had to deal with the press while trying to find a diplomatic and PR positive spin to the words - we know nothing!
"So at least it's not spreading, that was a concern that had Brockton Bay at risk of immediate quarantine." The Chief Director said bluntly, which made Ethan sit up and pay a bit more attention.
Quarantine was not something anyone liked to hear. That's what they did to Simurgh cities, surely they weren't that bad off?
They just had some extra park space, and the city hadn't even had to pay for it, the whole thing was almost community service, if one ignored the villain involved.
Director Piggot looked like she'd not only eaten a lemon, but also had them delivered as a suppository, in bulk. "Is a quarantine off the table now then? Could we get more resources to deal with this… Poison Ivy…" She ground the name out, face blotchy with a mix of anger and fear, if Ethan were to guess.
Ellisburg was not exactly openly spoken about, but they all knew about it, partly why even Ethan accepted some of the Directors paranoia and attitude in regards to parahumans.
She had ample reasons to feel that way, and it's not like she was ineffective in her job. Just not very people minded. Made worse by the fact the Protectorates two lead capes was Armsmaster who had never met a social cue he couldn't run over with his bike - and Miss Militia, who although nice enough, would also follow orders to a degree anyone else would be uncomfortable with, and therefore not trustworthy by any metric for someone serving under her.
Ethan couldn't help but critique the villain for simply cribbing the name from a comic book from Aleph though, no matter how apropos her power seemed to be, that was just so lame - not even Uber and L33T had taken names from comic books and they were ultra geeks.
To their own consternation, they hadn't actually known literally anything about her really, until she'd outed herself on PHO as being behind the great greening, fabulous forestation?
He'd find a good name for it, or PHO would, it certainly wouldn't come from the PRT. For an organization overseeing heroes, they ironically lacked imagination.
If it weren't for New York reporting a run in with her, they'd literally have nothing other than her own PHO thread still and some reports from arrested Merchants. Escaping Legend himself didn't exactly paint their new villain as a weakling - neither did the whole growing a tree the size of a small mountain thing.
"No, it isn't off the table." The Chief Director said firmly, referencing the possibility of quarantine, giving them all a gimlet look, "Until we can be certain this metal eating plague does not spread, you will be one phone call away from immediate containment." Several of the heroes reacted with displeasure at that, Ethan included, but the Chief Director stared them down without an ounce of remorse, "If it were to spread, the United States of America could cease to exist. Your personal feelings in this do not matter." She hammered home, before she addressed Director Piggot again, "You'll get Legend for a day or two to confront this villain, but that's all, I can't waste resources that might just end up in containment."
Director Piggot looked even sourer, but not at all surprised. Neither was anyone at the table, it's not like they'd ever gotten reinforcements before, so why now…
Legend of course, would be able to fly away long before the containment walls went up if it came to that. Non metal containment walls to boot, Ethan knew, from the pre-meeting. The national guard was already setting up outside Brockton Bay, ready to go into action to dome them up.
Funny how quickly they could get around to contain a city, but when it came to beating down villains you needed forty forms filled out in triplicate to maybe get assistance next year.
Ethan thought they were all kidding themselves anyway, if this chick could create metal eating plants, surely she could defeat whatever material the dome would consist of. It's why he was very much against Piggots - beat it with a stick avenue of diplomacy.
Legend was definitely preferable and let him breathe a little easier at the idea negotiations would be handled by a reasonable man.
"And if this villain, this… Ivy… Is amenable to negotiation?" Miss Militia asked, her power flickering between weapons, one of the only ways to tell just how stressed she was.
Other then perhaps a flamethrower or nuke, she didn't exactly have a lot of weapons that worked on plants.
Director Piggot scoffed, "She's obviously a biotinker, no better than Nilbog or Bonesaw, we should be sending the triumvirate at her, not sending Legend to negotiate." Her tone only grew more disgusted the longer she spoke.
She'd been arguing for a kill order or an immediate Triumvirate response from the beginning. Miss Militia and Armsmaster backing her, because of course they had.
Ethan liked Hannah, he really did. But he couldn't help but feel that she'd blow up the city if that was the order. She'd feel bad about it, but she'd do it. And Armsy… He'd been better lately, but he was still more interested in taking down a bad guy, then wondering if he should.
Like right now.
The Chief Director gave Director Piggot a chilled look, "And that is why Legend will perform the negotiation, you are too biased in the matter, Emily. We can not afford to make her into an S class enemy, if she wants to hold on to a useless train yard and a dead dock, you'll give it to her and leave her alone."
"It's been my experience that villains are never satisfied with what they have." Armsmaster said carefully, using his - I'm speaking to my superior voice, mark 3. "Negotiation will only give her time to settle in and become unassailable."
Ethan couldn't help but give his two cents at that, leaning casually over the table, immediately receiving a warning look from Director Piggot, it was like she didn't trust him or something! "At the risk of ruining this echo chamber thing we've got going on, but what if she isn't that bad?"
Battery slumped in her chair, a hand going to her face as if to hide it, "Assault…" She murmured painfully.
He'd probably pay for it later.
But that was its own kind of fun.
Director Piggot rose up, nostrils flaring as she glared daggers at him, "I assume you are attempting levity, Assault. If I thought you were serious I might have to enact M/S screening." Her eyes narrowed in thought, "You were only a few blocks away from the boat graveyard during the incident, correct?"
The Chief Director waved a hand dismissively on the monitor, "Leave it Emily, Assault, get on with it." Her eyes flickered to something off screen, "I do have other matters to attend to, you aren't the only possible S class situation going on."
Ethan bet the Chief Director would make an awesome dominatrix with that kind of stern firm voice and no nonsense attitude. But he figured it wasn't worth his life to point it out, so he made his case, "Look, no one even got injured in this whole thing, she cleaned up the boat graveyard and then stopped, yeah we found out she killed Skidmark awhile ago when we looked into it, but honestly… Is anyone even upset? It's a net positive for the city, and to be honest, if we don't piss her off, this whole thing could actually work out for us." He took a deep breath, knowing he'd likely get no second chance at forwarding his point. "She hasn't actually fought us, she might actually be open to cooperation, which would be a hell of a lot more than we have with the other gangs."
Armsmaster shook his head, speaking stiffly, not even looking at Ethan. "Murder is murder, whether the city is better or not is immaterial, Skidmark did not have a kill order, as heroes we do not pick and choose who lives or dies."
The Chief Director nodded, "Armsmaster is of course correct." She allowed the silence to stretch for a moment, before she continued, "So is Assault. If Poison Ivy can be confirmed as not continuing an expansion… And of course be warned about the possibility of receiving an immediate kill order if she does expand, or if she makes self replicable constructs - no further action will be taken. She could be immensely useful in case of an Endbringer attack on Brockton Bay, even better if she will agree to help out elsewhere."
Director Piggot looked apoplectic, "Ma'am," She began, only to be shut down immediately.
"No, this is final, Legend will be there tomorrow, to begin negotiations." The Chief Director said, before unceremoniously disconnecting.
They hadn't even gotten a chance to discuss Lung. Again, it was just odd how low priority he was.
Ethan had been freaked out when the forest had begun taking over, if he was honest with himself - but the results, he felt, spoke for themselves. Poison Ivy hadn't actually hurt anyone. She also stopped before reaching the actually inhabited areas of town. It wasn't the actions of a mad woman. The PRT worked with the Elite, Toybox, Accord, and plenty others, even if they hated to admit it.
Why not Poison Ivy?
This could be good, if Legend could deliver, and if anyone could, it was him. Women always seemed to be fascinated with the pretty man, despite his lack of interest.
Between Nazis and the ABB and her, Ethan would take a plant mistress anyday, as long as she kept them to herself, of course.
And that was the rub wasn't it?
"Assault" "Assault." Both Director Piggot and Armsmaster spoke up at the same time, both with a similar disapproving tone. Although there was more heat present in the Director's voice.
He held his hands up, "Hey now, don't shoot the messenger, it's good to view all the options here, and I'm not wrong, I for one don't want to fight someone that can drop Yggdrasil on me."
What the hell was most of them supposed to do if Poison Ivy grew a skyscraper sized tree under their asses?
Director Piggot glared at him almost hatefully, shaking off Deputy Director Renicks weak attempt to pull her back. "You ever try to defend a monster capable of wiping out Brockton Bay in front of me again Assault, there will be consequences!"
He didn't take it personally, knowing her buttons and PTSD were pressed pretty heavily at the moment, so he just nodded, keeping his mouth shut.
Armsmaster jumped in right behind her, "It is important when facing the upper echelons to be on the same page, your comment only served to make us look divided." The disapproving tone did nothing to change his mind. "Defending a villain is a wasted effort."
Ethan nodded his head genially, not saying he agreed with their views, but also not further digging himself down either, he wasn't stupid. Fighting a lost battle wasn't worth it, he'd made his point to the Chief Director, that was enough.
Then Velocity of all people spoke up, "Technically… Armsmaster and Miss Militia could also lay waste to the city, if they truly tried, it's all about if they would. And Assault might have a point, we just don't know yet."
"Look at what you've done!" Battery hissed at him, Ethan just grinned, feeling pleased to have received backup, even if his lovely wifey didn't agree.
Ethan would love to say that was the end of the meeting and they all went and got some much needed sleep.
But Piggot kept them for another two hours.
Bureaucracy was a bitch!
----------------------------------------
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♦ Topic: New Villain Offers Sanctuary!
In: Boards ► America ► East Coast ► Brockton Bay ► Capes ► Poison Ivy
►Poison Ivy (Original Poster) (Verified Cape)
Hello all the lovely people of Brockton Bay, I figured I might as well introduce myself before the big bad PR(t) machine paints me out as a slobbering madwoman.
I am the villain responsible for the beautification of the parts of Brockton Bay no one was taking care of. My lovely territory (the former train yards and boat graveyard) is now a haven, gangs and the PRT are not welcome - the forest will repel invaders…
You have been warned!
Although I am no hero, the haven I control, under the leaves of my own world tree, aptly named Sanctuary - will offer succor to those of you who want to escape homelessness and addiction, or just want safety from the rampant gangs and their evil.
Food, homes, warmth, healing - it's all on offer within, as long as you come with no thought of harm towards the forest and its inhabitants. To offset any questions on potential mastering or such disgusting comparisons to Heartbreaker - I will be offering a substantial sum to have Panacea independently verify that I do not have that capability - and that the people entering my forest are not under any control. I do plants, not people.
Like I said, I'm no hero. So in return for offering those of you who wish safety from the gangs succor, I will demand tribute, a favor, a task in my name - something to prove your sincerity.
This can be as simple as helping harvest the food my forest is growing for all the homeless.
I might be a villain by PR(t) standards, but I am in no way evil.
Come find me, and find out.
(Showing page 1 of 248)
►Kolerog
Replied On July 9th 2010:
#Poison Ivy "I do plants"
Tell me more…
Link to picture of Poison Ivy here taken by a merchant few weeks ago.
Yum.
►XxVoid_CowboyxX
Replied On July 9th 2010:
Wait, villains can be verified capes here?
How come I haven't seen that before! Is PHO in on the conspiracy too! Are there elves hidden in the forest cuz world tree? #Poison Ivy do you have poisonous lips just like in the comics?
Did the forest eat Hookwolf? Is the PRT covering it up because they're secretly Nazi's?
►Liima1 (Verified Finnish)
Replied On July 9th 2010:
#XxVoid_CowboyxX can't believe I'm asking this, but poisonous lips… Uh, which ones? Just in case, you know.
It's good to have all the info…
Also more pics when?
►BringerOfFarts
Replied On July 9th 2010:
#Liima1 sure, sure, just scientific curiosity right?
Perv.
#XxVoid_CowboyxX
Also, pretty sure this is still America, last I checked being a bad guy (or girl) or even being in jail, doesn't stop you from having the right of free speech.
I guess except the Birdcage. Cuz fuck those guys.
Pretty sure as long as she doesn't like calling for a violent takeover of the city, she'll be fine. Uber and L33T are both on PHO you know, so not like she's the first.
Also, welcome to our new overlady, I will never again forget to water my plants, please do not do plant things to me!
►Monarch (Verified Cape) (Elite)
Replied On July 9th 2010:
Please do plant things to me!
►Whack-A-Mole (Veteran Member) (Girl in the know)
Replied On July 9th 2010:
You know… Managed to get a hold of a report on an encounter in New York, Poison Ivy battled the villain Ravager, she got chased off by Legend.
But let's forget those inconsequential tidbits, and focus on the important things.
Poison Ivy can do tentacles. Tied up Ravager real good.
I ship it.
►Soupguy
Replied On July 9th 2010:
#Whack-A-Mole, there's a lot of Asians in Brockton Bay…
Not saying anything else.
That is all.
Just saying.
►BadDragon (Temp Banned)
Replied On July 9th 2010:
Plants, come on... As if. Lung will be out soon enough again, and then she'll be a goner, you hear that you stupid plant bitch?
Whatcha gonna do against FIRE!
►DockItHard
Replied On July 9th 2010:
I mean free food, healing and a place to stay? It's way better than any of the gangs or the actual government is offering. This is fucking Brockton, not really an abundance of safety or prosperity around, you know what I'm saying?
We're already all being bent over by the gangs and the PRT, so it seems like this would just be the same thing for a better offer.
If you're already bent over, why does it matter if this time it's by plants?
Plants prob gentler than Hookwolf or Oni Lee, all I'm saying.
►GstringGirl
Replied On July 9th 2010:
The important thing is no one got hurt, and the plants and trees look really pretty, especially the plant boats in the harbor, it all looks really nice, doesn't it?
►NotKeanuReeves (Temp Banned)
Replied On July 9th 2010:
So… the plants are all man eaters, right? No way some villain is going - I'll take all your poor and sick routine - without something evil behind it.
Nevermind, just saw the picture, where do I sign up? I always wanted to take up henching.
I'll work behind or under her anyday!
I don't even care if you peg me with plant tentacles, I accept my new plant overlady.
►Tin_Mother (Moderator)
Replied On July 9th 2010:
This thread is under heavy watch, as is all villain involved threads as a matter of procedure.
I'm putting a stop to the way this thread is already derailing, there will be no more mentions of tentacles, or anything of the sort, there will be no inciting or attempting to draw out the original poster.
No one's getting a Darwin award today, people.
Keep it clean, keep it to powers or general discussions, or I will lock it.
►JollyHippo (Veteran Member) (Secret Overlord.)
Replied On July 9th 2010:
Only in Brockton Bay…
Parts of the city get overtaken by a magic forest, it seems like it would be the talk of the town, right?
But no, it's all about things that should not be spoken about instead, or actual idiots wanting to go there.
You gonna trust her word on it!?
I fucking hate this city…
►BigKahuna
Replied On July 9th 2010:
Am I the only one scared Void hasn't been banned yet?
That's the real horror of the last few weeks.
What's going on there!?
End of Page. 2, 3, 4 ... 245, 246, 247, 248
…
Well… That was pointless, Ivy thought, having gone on PHO since Amy had the thought of wanting to check on it, not having to worry about school, she had more free time to browse.
She'd forgotten that the internet was in fact populated by 98 percent perverts.
Some porn was probably cleaner then the comments online. People thought villains were sick?
Most of them couldn't compete with the perversions in a regular person on the Internet's mind.
Hopefully the news of her Sanctuary would still spread, the homeless didn't exactly surf PHO, so it would have to trickle down to them. She couldn't exactly go recruiting, she had to keep things to her territory for now, to not set off the PRT worse than it already no doubt was.
Emily Piggot wasn't exactly known as reasonable, and that was before she pressed the big red Ellisburg button by transforming part of her city.
She was already prepared in case the response was extermination, and they'd regret it if it was, because her return would be swift, and she wouldn't be playing nice anymore.
With her power, if she really let loose, there wouldn't be any stopping her. So if they decided to play hardball, it would only benefit her in the end. Amy would swoop in to save the day, and then the two of them could play both sides until they were the only ones left.
She wouldn't have to worry about crafting her little slice of Brockton Bay into a proper gang territory, the people would come to her and build it up for her. The homeless, she could heal into perfect health, twist their loyalty, because of course she wasn't a master of any sorts or bioshaper.
It's all just plants doing it.
Panacea said so.
She couldn't help but snort at that. She'd give herself a pass, and most people would leave off with just that, such was Panacea's reputation. Or Remedy now, but the name hadn't had enough time to circulate to be known.
She was currently in one of the labs Strider had managed to purchase and outfit, the location finished just before she reformed the entire territory, obviously she did not eat up her precious lab - that would have been counterproductive, so it was one of the few actual proper buildings in the area, even if most of it was underground.
With Coil probably not getting killed anytime soon - using Fortress construction for the expansion of the building was suddenly a bit of an issue for Panacea. Luckily this lab was in Ivy's territory, and not even Coil would be stupid enough to poke through here after the first few timelines of failure.
She almost hoped he'd send Tattletale in.
With her own territory, she didn't need to play too carefully, and the bitch would make a good minion.
Maybe.
Even her work could probably only fix so much smugness and bitchiness.
Ivy got off the computer, there was no point in browsing anymore of PHO, it was obvious it was just going to continue in the same vein, nothing she needed to see. If she wanted filth, she could just go back to Skidmarks house.
Sherrel ambled in, followed by a filthy old man covered in rags, "Boss, already got one dude that is willing to make a deal." She announced cheerfully.
Ivy gave her a pained look, "My personal lab was not where I remember telling you to take them Hot Wheels…" She chided.
Sherrel shrugged, scratching her left tit casually, "Eh, but you were here, so figure quicker, yeah?"
The homeless man hadn't even looked at Ivy yet, too busy staring at Sherrel, Ivy wondered if he was really here for the deal or if he'd just followed Sherrel after seeing her in the underbrush.
It was unlikely he'd even heard of it, the homeless didn't exactly spend much time online.
Ivy looked at her in defeat and just accepted it with a tired sigh, Sherrel is not going to change, not without more brain scrambling than I'm comfortable with, speaking of… "Sherrel… You realize that although I jokingly called this the Garden of Eden, we don't actually go around naked, right?"
"Huh, my bad then." Sherrel said, while making absolutely no effort to cover up. What's with her and clothes? Ivy thought with annoyance, but she switched her focus to the man she'd lured in.
She wouldn't be caught staring at Sherrel, she had self control.
"I offer you healing, bringing your body up to its best and healthiest it could be, do you accept?" Ivy offered flippantly.
She didn't bother listing the services required in payment for utilizing her sanctuary, because those were for the people that didn't stay permanently. The ones that left her territory and therefore couldn't show up acting differently without ruining her reputation.
This was a homeless man, alone in her territory, there would be no deal, he'd be loyal, she'd make sure of it.
Oh, no full out slavish mastering, because she didn't need the heat yet if he got caught somehow by the heroes. But for a man about to have a much better life, a slow growing sense of loyalty wouldn't be too weird.
"I figure it's either that or die in the winter, so why not?" The older man said gruffly, scratching his dirty beard. He looked at least in his sixties, and like a man that had led a hard life.
Being homeless wasn't easy to begin with. Being homeless in Brockton Bay was like the hunger games.
Murdered by the Empire during an initiation? Drug off by the Merchants, the ABB having some fun while bored, an independent villain needing test subjects, you never knew, but it was never good. Brockton Bay was its own kind of hell for the homeless.
Amy had used them as well for test subjects, just proving the point, they'd all flock to her soon enough.
Luckily, she had lots of biomass around, healing and shaping requiring it, unlike most of her plant shaping - so she gestured for him to sit down in one of the chairs nearby, making a point even for this soon to be loyal man - to call up her plants, making vines grow around the man, flowers blooming and spraying him with their perfume
Mostly all theater, to make him believe the plants were healing him and changing him, as his eyes grew a little slack, from the slight sedative the flowers had exuded. Ivy stepping up and laying a hand on him, wrinkling her nose slightly at the absolute filth on his skin, the smell wasn't all that either.
Since this man would be hers, she went a little above and beyond. She healed him of course, curing many ailments, from arthritis, to a failing liver, to the onset of Alzheimer's she noticed in his brain. She even rebuilt his body to a slightly younger age, his ID might say sixty something now, but his body would look and feel like forty at the most. As he would be one of her henchmen, she also strengthened his bones, his musculature and his immune system amongst other things.
Nothing that would make him truly super human, but it would all in all make him more durable, less likely to die on her and waste a resource. An army of Brutes could wait until she had a firmer hand on Brockton Bay and didn't risk the whole city being firebombed out of existence.
She finally let go, stretching languidly, turning to Sherrel, unable to stop her eyes from roaming as Sherrel stood proudly naked in front of her. Damn…
"He'll be unconscious for a few hours, then you can take him and explain what tasks need to be done and introduce him to Sandman." She said idly, looking away quickly when Sherrel gave her a knowing look, winking exaggeratedly.
"Sure thing boss lady, whatcha working on anyway?" Sherrel asked, strolling up, laying a companionble arm around Ivy's shoulder.
Ivy tried to ignore the feel of Sherrels breast pushing into her side, focus on the work, yes, the work. She thought, clearing her throat, "I'm working on shaping different plants into products I can use to force the city to accept my presence no matter what, until I'm ready to take it over." She explained.
Sherrel hummed in interest, "Like what? Veggie burgers that don't taste like horse shit?" She chuckled at her own joke, drawing an amused smile from Ivy.
"Maybe next time." She said, quirking a half grin at the thought of going into the food business. The amount of people who would screech Soylent green… Heh, almost worth doing it just for that. Except I'm trying to get good PR… For now.
She looked over to where she was testing different synthesized drugs from the different plants she'd played with all night and morning so far. "What I'm working on right now… Is cures for various diseases, ones entirely dependant on only my plants."
Sherrel whistled, looking impressed, "If that works, they can't touch you." She said with admiration, before laughing with pure glee, "We'll be the biggest most kickass gang ever, and the government will have to bend over for us to buy their drugs! Talk about taking over the drug trade!" She whooped.
Ivy smirked, "That's the idea, take over the illegal drug trade, and the legal drug trade, and no one will be able to mess with us." Not that easy, but it certainly will make it difficult to remove me… And of course, Amy will be the governments only hope to 'recreate' the drugs outside of villain hands… Heh.
"We should celebrate…" Sherrel purred, running a hand down Ivy's front, drawing a shocked gasp and a wide eyed stare from her.
Sherrel chuckled, removing her hand, "Boss lady, you're such a virgin." She chided, before backing off, "But I can take a clue, not this time, but eh, think about it okay?"
Ivy watched her leave, a complicated expression on her face.
Perhaps I should.
I exist in this body to have fun after all.
And maybe it will take my mind of Vicky and the complications there…
Not today… She thought, looking towards her experiments.
But tomorrow?
Tomorrow was another matter.
----------------------------------------
Arcadia had been exhausting today. Normally Amy didn't have to worry about being the center of attention, not with Vicky around.
She'd thought she'd be fine, after all, the announcement of leaving New Wave and creating Starlight hadn't gotten her mobbed, so surely nothing would change.
Things had changed. A lot.
She'd really underestimated how much of a pall Lung and the ABB had cast over the city, even somewhere fairly prosperous like Arcadia High.
If people weren't begging her for autographs, they were shooting questions about the fight, or trying to touch her, at least those last ones Vicky got rid off quickly enough for her. The teachers tried to stamp down on it, but there was only so much they could do outside of class without kicking the entire school out for the day.
Because of the commotion, she'd literally had no time to try and get a minute alone to speak with Vicky, to figure out what was going on. She hadn't expected a reversal of the canon situation between the two of them, even with all the teasing and messing with her that she'd done. She'd made her loyal, because she was a selfish person inherently, and she didn't want Vicky to ever abandon her - but that didn't mean feelings, right?
And how did she feel about her? She hadn't really thought too deeply on it, not with everything going on, and not wanting to go down that canon rabbit hole. With the crazy school day of uncomfortableness - she hadn't had a chance to even probe her own feelings on the matter.
The fact such a small inconsequential kiss had thrown all the butterflies around inside her, wasn't a good sign…
She was doing everything she could to ensure canon never happened, for this city in particular, since someone else already took care of the golden morning issue. Her and Vicky was kind of canon if you squinted at it, especially if she had those feelings.
Could she even do that? She was aware she was kind of a sociopath, considering she had no real issues with killing or becoming a villain set to control an entire city, the drug trade, the works. No one could really argue the point… So could she even feel like that for someone?
She needed time to think! And she couldn't even use Ivy's brain for it because she was in the middle of finicky shaping, important work for their plans going forward that she couldn't just drop, not with an incoming PRT response - whenever they got off their asses and picked a way to tackle Ivy.
The school day finally finished, and Amy trudged outside with Vicky, who was still looking all too comfortable and serene for Amy's liking. If she was going to be all neurotic about everything it wasn't fair that Vicky was perfectly chill about everything.
Fucking Glory Girl and her non neurotic ass! She though mullishly, but that only got her to look at her ass… Her jeans were so tight they could be classified body paint and no one would be surprised.
Which didn't help with the situation right now.
Before they could take off, someone called out to them.
"Amy, Vicky!"
Amy glanced towards the parking lot, and her heart sank, so much for time to think, she snarked silently to herself.
In the parking lot was Lady Photon, or as she was in her civvies, Aunt Sarah.
Vicky the traitor of course flew over immediately, even if she kept her face fairly neutral, due to how their last meeting went.
Amy was left with no choice but to begrudgingly trudge over to see what Aunt Sarah wanted.
Infamy is looking a lot better than fame, if his is what fame gets me… She thought irritably, having been harassed all day, without a moment to think. She just wanted an hour to herself and a few minutes alone with Vicky, was that too much to ask?
"Aunt Sarah." She stated with a chilled tone, as she came to stand next to Vicky, her sister immediately laying an arm around her shoulder in support. She immediately felt some tension bleed out, and stiffened right after as she realized just how easily Vicky could make her feel better. That's just sister stuff, nothing more!
Their Aunt visibly winced, even as she gave the both of them a wistful smile, "It good to see you girls, I know we haven't exactly done right by you, but we'd like to talk, at our house, if possible." She hurriedly added, "Carol and Mark won't be there."
"You should have called and made an appointment." Amy said coldly, not giving a fuck. Carol and Mark were the main offenders, but the rest of New Wave had hardly stood up and defended her. Just like they didn't for original Amy.
The whole team was to blame for half her issues.
The other half… Well, Amy wasn't innocent either.
Aunt Sarah sagged slightly, "Fair, I… We really failed you two, didn't listen, didn't pay attention, let Carol run rampant without treating her mental hangups, it's on us, and you should hate us for it. But please… Just let us talk, we'll leave you alone after if you want, I promise." She sounded so painfully earnest that it was hard for Amy to find anything rude to say to wave her off.
Then Vicky turned her big blue eyes on her, face open and honest, "Ames…" She said softly, and Amy closed her eyes, "Fine." She muttered out, not looking at either of them.
"You girls okay to fly? Or want to take my car?" Aunt Sarah asked softly, looking relieved.
Vicky answered that easily enough, scooping up Amy in a bridal carry, "Race you there." She said casually, taking off into the air.
It didn't take them too long too arrive, Vicky and Amy waiting by the door for Aunt Sarah, who flew in shortly after them, setting down on the ground lightly, "Let's head in then, girls, and thank you." She said sincerely, "For giving us a chance to talk."
Vicky smiled brilliantly, "Of course Aunt Sarah." And then reached over and hugged the woman, drawing a quiet sniffle out of her.
Amy watched it all feeling uncomfortable, not offering any words or hugs herself. She was focusing more on her Ivy part of herself, doing actual work, to avoid thinking too heavily about this whole fucked up family situation.
They entered after Aunt Sarah, going to the livingroom, where the rest of the Pelhams were waiting for them. Uncle Neil, Eric and Crystal. Or Manpower, Shielder and Laserdream if they were in uniform.
They exchanged some quick greeting, Amy standing back, refusing to get huggy with the people who hadn't defended her from Carol. No matter that the end result was something she'd engineered and wanted. She had expected at least a token defense, some sign they cared.
She hadn't gotten it. So she wasn't interested now, weeks later.
As soon as Vicky floated back to Amy's side, Aunt Sarah began, running a hand through her hair tiredly, "Look, I don't know how to even make this right, but it has to begin with an apology." She looked at Amy, "I am so sorry for not reacting, responding, hell, for not doing anything, even punching my sister for what she said - anything would have been better than nothing. I should have made sure you knew you were loved, Amy." There was real pain in her voice, and a hitch to it that showed she was a holding back stronger emotions.
Amy shifted uncomfortably, averting her eyes.
Uncle Neil took over, clasping one large hand onto Aunt Sarah's shoulder, "What she said, we behaved terribly, Amy, we should have stood up for you immediately. I can only blame the shock, but it is no excuse. I am sorry. We're all sorry, sweetheart. For you too Vicky, we should have been as vehement as you were, you were the best of us in that moment."
Amy's mouth was slightly open as she listened to the unabashedly complete apology, with no attempts to talk around the issue or blame anyone else. "Thank…You…" She managed to get out, feeling a degree of warmth she didn't think she could still feel towards them.
Crystal and Eric both rushed forward in that moment, almost knocking Amy over in their haste to hug her, Vicky joining in with a teary eyed laugh.
"I'm so sorry Amy!" "I can't believe I didn't stand up and do anything, and I will never forgive myself, I'm so sorry Amy!" Eric and Crystal cried out at the same time, knocking their heads together with Amy's as they crushed themselves against her. If she wasn't brute rated now, that would have probably hurt.
"It's alright… You couldn't go against all the adults." Amy said softly, not as angry with the two, not everyone could be like her, perfectly willing to set out mostly on her own.
Didn't mean she forgave any of them, because she didn't. But she could slightly accept them a bit easier.
"It's not alright." Crystal insisted, smooshing Amy's cheeks together insistently, eyes wet, "We hurt you, and that will never be okay."
"Give her her cheeks back, Cryz!" Vicky laughed, pulling Amy back out of the group with one quick yoink, "Amy is going to combust if everyone keeps hugging her, she's a grouchy teddy bear, remember?"
Crystal and Eric both backed off immediately, although with small chuckles, Amy giving Vicky a pouty glare for bringing back childhood stupidity like the grouchy bear remark.
Aunt Sarah looked happier, as she grabbed Crystal and Eric around the shoulders, just standing there watching Amy and Vicky bicker for a moment, Uncle Neil laughing quietly.
Amy rubbed her red cheeks, giving them all a tired look, it had already been a long day, "I'm not over it, but I don't hate you either." She grumbled, pushing away Vicky as she tried to ruffle her hair. "If that's all, we really got to go, hero business and all that…"
The Pelham family exchanged a loaded look, before Uncle Neil stepped forward, looking unusually serious, "About that… Starlight looking for any recruits?" He asked, gesturing to himself and the rest of the Pelhams.
Amy's jaw fell open.
What!?
No seriously, what!?
A suspicious part of her mind couldn't help but wonder at the same time…
New Wave probably lost most of their sponsors and donors, and it did take them until Starlight was established with the defeat of Lung to apologize…
Is this real?
Or was it all fake?
And more importantly…
Yes
Or
No?
----------------------------------------
The Meathook was a special kind of bar,
It wasn't open to the public for one, and it looked more like a man cave than a bar to boot. The only signs to the outside that it was anything but another run down house, was the bloody Meathook sign in one window.
And of course the people hanging around willing to kill you if you looked at the place wrong. As far as the cops were aware, the place didn't exist. Especially if they were aware - then it didn't exist even harder.
Furs covered the walls and substituted for table cloths on the tables, drinking horns were used instead of mugs or glasses, and there was an abundance of trophies on the wall, of the more disturbing kind, not to even mention the Meathooks dangling from the ceiling with dolls of heroes pierced right through - New Wave in particular featured heavily.
Panacea in particular was a solid third of the effigies pierced through.
Jonathan was having trouble keeping his excitement in, it wouldn't do to grin like a fool and all but call out how new he was to the wolfpack.
Everyone knew of course, but it wouldn't do to call attention to it. All the men and the few women who were attending Hookwolf's bar tonight, had some sort of wolf tattoo somewhere. Jonathan had just gotten his the other day, prominently displayed on both shoulders, one wolf head each.
He'd finally gotten in fully after their run in with the ABB for the initiation to Hookwolf's pack. He'd lost some people, but he was alive, and he was in, and that was all that mattered.
For a Nazi run establishment, there were very few swastikas or paraphernalia around, which made him feel slightly self conscious about the one on his neck. Hookwolf was much more concerned with one's ability to fight and take some punishment - than keeping up appearances. They were all Empire, but these people were a different breed.
There were no wait staff, you wanted a beer, you went and you got a fucking beer, no one in the wolfpack paid at Hookwolf's place - no one not part of the wolfpack entered if they wanted to live. Including Empire 88 capes that weren't suborned to Hookwolf.
If you weren't part of Hookwolf's crew, he'd murder you if you stepped past the threshold. As one hapless new trigger recruited to the Empire 88 last year had found out.
From what Jonathan had heard down the grapevine, Kaiser had been thrilled to finally get a tinker for the Empire - until the man had gotten cocky with how 'special' he was, and had entered the Meathook.
Kaiser had received his tinker in a dozen pieces. Appropriately attached to meat hooks of course, to really hammer in the point. Kaiser and Hookwolf had disappeared for a day, both returning beaten up and angry, but the matter settled.
It was one of the many stories that was part of Hookwolf's and the wolf packs legend. Part of why Jonathan was so excited to finally be here. He'd joined an exclusive club, one where you were in it for life, where every member would die for you, and you'd die for them. Everything he'd ever wanted since he joined the Empire.
He grabbed a drinking horn off the wall and went behind the bar to pour himself a beer, having to struggle to remain unaffected as he rounded the counter, one of the wolfpack women on all fours being railed by one of the older guys. Both seemingly had just dropped their pants and went at it, with no concern for their location.
At least the sounds of the bare chested men fighting in the sand pit in the middle of the bar, and the cheering and betting surrounding it - was loud enough to cover the sound of the two fucking. Jonathan hurriedly poured his beer and stepped away to watch the fight, he didn't know what the etiquette was here, was he supposed to fuck her too? Watch?
It's not like they posted rules.
He drank heavily from his drinking horn, savoring the taste, trying to not think about it too much, as he watched two senior members beat the fuck out of each other to raucous cheers.
As the fight finished with one of the men giving in with a bloody grin as his nose got broken, the room quickly fell to silence, Hookwolf getting off his throne at the back of the bar managing to immediately draw every eye in the room.
"That right there, that's what we're here for, on this earth." He rumbled, stepping into the sandy miniature arena, chest bare, and his metal mask covering the bottom of his face. "To BATTLE!" He roared, "To BLEED!" The people around Jonathan all screamed, howling to the air, Jonathan following along, feeling his blood pumping wildly, he'd never felt more alive, the air was electric as the men and women shouted out their agreement to Hookwolf's code.
"To WIN or to DIE! A Warrior's life!" Hookwolf laughed, "That's what it means to belong to the wolfpack!"
Of course death was more metaphorical in such a simple spar, because they didn't kill each other. But when it came to enemies. There was no leaving someone alive, you killed or you got killed. Capes had different rules, but they were a special sort.
"It's about respect to those ideals, the craving for battle, for proving yourself, for always finding new challenges without giving a FUCK about what anyone thinks about it!" Hookwolf had begun pacing in the sand, a low growl to his voice as he glared out at them. The cheering growing quiet as the pack all realized that Hookwolf was angry.
"Someone here…" Hookwolf growled out, sniffing the air like he smelt something foul, "Has betrayed the pack!"
Cries of dismay immediately rang out, Jonathan amongst them. How could anyone betray this? This brotherhood, I've only just joined and I can't imagine ever leaving!
Hookwolf grumbled, pacing, kicking up sand as he moved faster, parts of him turning metal, hooks and blades forming and deforming with his rising anger. "Come forward now, and I'll make it quick, for your smidgeon of bravery, traitor."
No one moved, everyone watching each other with hard eyes, watching to see who'd done it, who'd betrayed them. No one stepped forward, a murmur of anger going through the crowd as they realized one of them was a coward. Jonathan could emphasize, looking around in disgust - being a coward was almost worse than being a traitor.
At the very least, betraying someone like Hookwolf took guts. Not being man enough to own up to it when called out however… Cowardice.
They should have faced their death with some balls, he thought.
Hookwolf shook his head, greasy hair falling into his face as his eyes darkened. "I'm disappointed, Cole." He bit out, glaring into the crowd, eyes finding a buff seven foot tall white man, wolf and swastika tattoos visible on his bare chest. As the pack all turn in shock and hate towards their target, Cole pushed those next to him aside, and made a run for the door.
Jonathan made to tackle the man, when Hookwolf barked out, "Leave him!" Holding one fist up in the air. Everyone stopped in their place, as Cole rushed outside, such gravitas there was in Hookwolf's words.
No one would gainsay Hookwolf.
Hookwolf laughed, his eyes wild as he began transforming, "The hunt is on!" He barked, "Resume the festivities, I'll bring back the guest of honor…"
Everyone saluted with a fist to their heart, as Hookwolf bounded off after their running traitor. They all knew there would be no need to assist. The wolfpack would get their chance when their master returned with his prey.
Conversation immediately started up, the bloody man from the previous fight, spitting a great glob or blood and mucus into the sand, "Fucking Kaiser again, I bet, always wants an in to the pack."
"We're all Empire, he just needs to trust Hookwolf." One of the others mutters with distaste. "It's a fucking waste is what it is."
Jonathan muttered under his breath, not able to help himself, "Not too much of a waste, guy was a coward."
"Hah, the newbie has it right!" The winner of the previous fight bellowed, putting a large calloused hand on Jonathan's shoulder, "You got spirit boy, wanna go for a round?"
Jonathan looked up at the giant of a man, and could only see defeat in his future. Still, he grinned sharply, eyes flashing with battle lust, "You're on, old man!" He said challengingly.
"Heh, yeah, you'll do alright." He said approvingly, "Welcome to the pack, cub."
…
Hours later, Jonathan was nursing another beer, his head almost done ringing now.
Hookwolf had already returned with a broken Cole, allowing the pack to exact the rest of their retribution. They were all Empire 88, but the wolfpack did not tolerate anyone spying on what they were doing, no matter for who.
Hookwolf called for silence, putting one foot on the broken mess that used to be a person, "Alright, we all know the fucking dyke from New Wave managed to embarrass Kaiser, which normally I wouldn't give two fucks about, but she embarrassed all of the Empire, ain't a chance I'll allow it. The fucking pack is getting called out for loving dykes and homos, and we ain't fucking accepting that are we!?"
Jonathan joined the others as they roared out a resounding, "NO!"
Hookwolf pointed at Jonathan, "New blood here has a brother at Arcadia, he got us a list of all the little friends the dyke and her sister has…"
There were many pats on the back for that, as Jonathan grinned, accepting the fresh beer shoved into his hand, and blushing at the woman who slid into his lap all of a sudden, especially as she slid her hand down his jeans, to cheers from those nearby.
Jonathan didn't know exactly how to react to Hookwolf still addressing him while someone was fondling him, it was a very new experience, scaroused probably applied as a description.
"Hell yeah, show new blood some love!" Hookwolf called out, cackling, "He's set us up to finally get back at the fuckers who dared make fun of us! Hiding behind their fucking pretty walls, led by a healer." He huffed with disgust. "Fucking cheated to take down that dragon too, couldn't face him like a man…"
Hookwolf shrugged, "Good riddance to the subhuman garbage anyway, pity though, at least he was worth a fight." Hookwolf looked pensive for a moment, before shaking his head, roaring out, "Now we gotta deal with the uppity dyke that thinks she's untouchable!"
"Ain't the wards at Arcadia?" One of the men questioned, "You've been telling us to not gut the babies, is all I'm saying." He said when he received dirty looks all around.
Hookwolf nodded, "Yeah, but we figured that out already, with Stalker being a nigger, and Vista being a baby, only possible wards around the dyke are guys, so to save us the headache of PRT involvement, we'll just kill the chicks."
One of the men began going around with lists for the others in the pack.
Hookwolf looked on with approval, and with vicious anticipation, "Tonight, ten girls that made the mistake of befriending Glory Girl… Are going to die, with their families, for choosing the wrong people to follow." He laughed darkly, "Woulda been the dykes' friends, except she doesn't have any!"
Laughter erupted at that, Jonathan joining in, of course she doesn't, who'd want to befriend that disgusting thing?
"You all got your assignments, kill the fuckers, burn their homes, I want Glory Girl and Panacea to wake up in the morning and see what they've done!" Hookwolf barked, gesturing with his arm, groups breaking up and heading for the exit.
Jonathan had been slightly distracted, and just now realized he hadn't been given an assignment, Hookwolf sidling up to the bar right next to him, chuckling at Jonathan's open mouth, "Boy, your assignment is easy." He called out.
The woman sitting in his lap, bit his ear hard enough to draw blood, grinding into him, Jonathan desperately trying to keep a respectful mien towards Hookwolf during all of it.
I have a hard on in front of Hookwolf, he though with mortification.
"Your assignment is to survive this bitch, she's always hungry for new blood." He laughed, sauntering off, heading out for his own target no doubt.
"Don't break him too badly!" Was the last Jonathan heard before Hookwolf left, leaving them alone.
The blonde older woman laughed, looking at Jonathan with an appraising look, "That's up to you…" She purred.
Jonathan really didn't regret joining the Wolfpack, the benefits were great!
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