Chapter 4: This Whacky World
A Gamer's Rise in Marvel
Beta'd by the Mighty Quinn.
Disclaimer: I don't own Marvel or any other work of fiction.
Chapter 4: This Whacky World
Waking up as the first rays of light enter my room, I slowly open my eyes. Oh god, my back.
This mattress sucks. You know this whole apartment sucks.
Should we look for a new one? You did just get paid, after all.
Speaking of which, this turned up while you were sleeping.
Quest Complete
For delivering five letters at the behest of the Kingpin's right-hand
You have been awarded 1000 XP
Level Up x2
Status, please.
Jeanne Dark
Class: Magus (Thaumaturgy)
Race: Human
Title: None
Level: 5 (0/1600 XP)
HP: 4000 (LV x VIT x 100)
MP: 8000 (LV x INT x 100)
HPr: 40/m (LV x VIT)
MPr: 800/m (LV x INT x 10)
Stats (25)
Strength: 1
Vitality: 8
Dexterity: 6
Wisdom: 13
Intelligence: 16
Charm: 11
Luck: 2
So, the XP requirements double with every level up. That seems a bit harsh.
It is. However, experience requirements will reset after a class is maxed out.
You will also retain all Stats and Abilities of a maxed Class.
So, there is at least some silver lining. By the way, what's with the numbers next to the stats?
Oh, those are your Stat Points.
So why am I only getting them now?
Quest complete:
For completing the tutorial and reaching level 5,
You have been awarded the ability to assign stat points, and the title "Lucky Gamer" increases luck by 30 when equipped.
SYSTEM... there was no tutorial.
You just forgot, didn't you?
Yes, I'm sorry.
Well, at least I got something good out of it. Equip "Lucky Gamer"
Jeanne Dark
Class: Magus (Thaumaturgy)
Race: Human
Title: Lucky Gamer LUC +30
Level: 5 (0/1600 XP)
HP: 4000 (LV x VIT x 100)
MP: 8000 (LV x INT x 100)
HPr: 40/m (LV x VIT)
MPr: 800/m (LV x INT x 10)
Stats (25)
Strength: 1
Vitality: 8
Dexterity: 6
Wisdom: 13
Intelligence: 16
Charm: 11
Luck: 32
Well, that's sorted out for now. From here on, I will try to save my stat points for higher levels when training no longer works. By the way, show me my skills and perks.
Skills:
Gamer's body LV=max
Gamer's mind LV=max
Observe LV=56
Skill merge LV=max
ID create LV=1
ID escape LV=1
Sin of Gluttony(devour) LV 1
Programming LV=62
Hacking LV=36
Cooking LV=2
Sprinting LV=28
Manipulation LV=71
Damage resistance LV1
Perks:
Favourite Patron
Orphan
Now, concerning my apartment… you know what, let's keep it. If housing is as expensive as I heard in New York, I should consider myself lucky that I even got this place. Not to mention that it's well-positioned right here in Hell's Kitchen. We can just fix it up instead, starting with a bed.
So you're going shopping today?
Not just that. I also need to research this world and how the World of Wildcards messed with my meta-knowledge. Once we're done with that, I'm gonna go start my first dungeon run.
After that, if I have the time, I'll visit Colleen for training.
It looks like you're fully booked today. Well, I won't keep you.
30 minutes later
After eating a huge breakfast (damn you, Gluttony!) and using my Map to find the nearest department store, I go through my meagre belongings finding a neat stack of cash hidden beneath the floorboards. I don't need that anymore, as I have my glorious Inventory for safekeeping.
I'm rather giddy seeing the new number of $71,503 floating on my HUD.
Locking my door and making my way to the street level, I ask SYSTEM for the next batch of memories she can provide. I want to view them on the way.
Can do. These will show your introduction to the criminal World. They're also the last large package I can give you, as the rest of your memories can't really be categorised.
Once again, my brain is assaulted by a myriad of memories, making me almost keel over.
Damage resistance levelled up to 2
NO SHIT!
Jeez, you'd think it gets better with the second time—my poor head.
Making my way through the streets (and not running like a madwoman) gives me enough time and focus to weed through my new memories.
After leaving the orphanage, I briefly lived on the streets. I spent some time sleeping behind dumpsters and stealing wallets and food from the markets. This went on for a few weeks until a member of the Black Dahlias found me. They were a female gang which was founded to protect women and girls from abusers and traffickers. I got my connection to Josie's bar from them and did occasional jobs as compensation, mainly because I didn't like owing favours and being too prideful to accept handouts.
After letting me stay with them for a while and having earned quite a bit of money smuggling all kinds of contraband, I was introduced to a friend of theirs who owned the apartment complex I was now living in. I'd declined to join the Dahlias and became a freelance smuggler who dabbled in theft and distraction. It was a good thing, too, since about a year after meeting them, the Hammerheads, Maggia, and Ranskahov gangs systematically wiped out the Black Dahlias. According to the memories, I'd developed quite the desire for vengeance.
What was I to do with this? Revenge is a good motivator but can easily cloud one's judgment. I think I'm going to go for a laid-back approach. Should the opportunity present itself, I will take it. I won't actively seek it out. I can't change the past (at least not yet), so I'll have to look towards the future.
Reaching the store, I quickly select a bed and try to check out before being asked where my parents are; using my dearest Manipulation, I not only get the bed delivered later but also get a 30% discount. Everyone loves a story about a sad orphan trying to make it in the world.
With that done, I needed to find info on the world. Initially wanting to go to an internet cafe, I stop and consider my options. Considering my questions and probable searches, there's a good chance I might end up on SHIELD or some other shady agency's watchlist.
The public library it is. Heading to a reasonably large library in Midtown, I'm stopped by a newsstand, specifically the headline on the daily bugle.
The Weapons Division of Stark Industries is in talks to reopen. 19. 04. 2008
After Tony Starks disastrous Press conference following his rescue from Captivity in Afghanistan, people were uncertain where these events would be heading. Before this could escalate further, Obadiah Stane convinced Mr Stark to take time off and recover out of the spotlight with the aid of his wife. It has been three weeks since then, and it has been confirmed that Stane and the SI Board have been in multiple talks with the Starks, which may now come to a close.
Experts believe that the SI weapons division will likely reopen, though the possibility that weapon exports to our foreign efforts will be tightly regulated.
This is a serious problem. I was in 2008, and Iron Man 1 has been derailed. Judging by the article, the only difference I can spot at first is the fact that he's somehow married. Could Obadiah have planted her to manipulate Stark's actions? Dammit, what should I do!.
I don't really see the problem.
Don't you get it? Iron Man was the start of the MCU, the Avengers and all that. If he doesn't become Iron Man, then the whole timeline changes. All my knowledge will be Useless if that happens!
Gamers mind activated
Not a second too soon. Maybe you should look at this a bit more calmly
CALM! Why would I be CAL-
Gamers mind activated
OK. I get it... I'm calm now...
There you go. I'm no expert on this universe, but you should be able to salvage this situation somehow.
You know, SYSTEM. You are absolutely right. I don't know how, but I'm going to fix this mess. If the universe wants to fuck its continuity, then I will fuck right back!
A bit crude, but I get your point.
Where do we start?
With the biggest change so far. The fact that Stark has a goddamn wife for one. For Christ's sake, he was known for being a playboy; hell, it was the first word of his character description. The fact that he's somehow married means something went really wrong somewhere.
How do you mean that?
His character development is thrown for a loop. An integral part of Iron Man's Identity is that he was a terrible person who was forced to see the consequences of his actions. This led to him growing as a person and bettering himself, not helping himself but helping others. If he's married, then one of his core traits is missing.
You're pretty serious about this. Aren't you a pretty selfish person?
It just doesn't make sense that you care so much about this.
I don't care, you dummy. The problem is that if Stark doesn't get his redemption arc, then I can't abuse the future for my gain. Any plans I make now would be ruined. So I have to make sure it happens.
Stane has to be exposed, the weapons division has to be shut down, and Iron Man must be born!
With newly filled resolve, I head towards the library to get my answers. Screw info gathering. I need to know about what's going on now. Good thing modern libraries have internet connections. Booting the computer using Windows 7, I open a browser window and search.
I immediately find a Picture of Stark and his supposed wife. To my surprise, it isn't Peper Potts but someone I don't recognise at all. Damn, I guess I know what Stark saw in this one. A gorgeous blonde bombshell with blue eyes, a body to die for, curves in all the right places, and an ample chest made my suspicions of manipulation grow. Dammit, how did this happen?
Finally, I found an article about their marriage. Looking through it, I finally find my answer, which only confuses me more.
The power couple of the Decade
Anthony Stark and Stephanie Rogers Finally married.
Wait a second. Stephanie...ROGERS?! WHAT!?
Typing in her name, I see the first real change made by World of Wildcards.
Apparently, the great Captain America, the symbol of Freedom and Patriotism, is a woman.
I continue reading about this Worlds World War 2 and see how this came about. The American super-soldier tests were causing volatile and aggressive reactions in males, such as burning skin and Organ failures. Therefore, Dr Erskine decided that genetic aspects may be responsible and added volunteering females to the test.
Lo and behold, Captain America is born. The rest is
Pretty much the same as the original Universe, all the way to her taking a dirt nap in the ice.
Now it gets interesting. Apparently, Howard Stark found her in the ocean far earlier in this timeline than in the original MCU. Specifically when Tony had just finished college. And then, they fell in love somewhere along the line and married fifteen years ago.
Oh, la di da... damn, I need to calm down. The only universe which was similar to this mess, to my recollection, was one where Tony was female instead. Their marriage was integral to preventing that universe's civil war. Wasn't Reed Richards somehow involved with that universe's discovery? Caring a little for anonymity, I google the rest of my questions.
It seems like this world is mainly a mixture of the comics and MCU. The Fantastic Four exist but aren't superpowered yet. Mutants have existed since the 60s, and Xavier's and Emma Frost's academies are a thing. No mention of Hydra, which means they're the covert ones hidden in Shield. And we do sadly have Dr Doom in control of Latveria. Foes for the future. Or maybe even friends.
After deleting my search history and turning off the PC, I make my way to the library's exit. My main priority, for now, is to repair the timeline a reasonable amount and create Iron Man.
Quest added
Ensure the creation of Iron Man
Rewards: Necromancy Grimoire, 80000 Xp
Failure: Death
Death?! Where did that come from?
Shit, I'm gonna need a proper plan for this. Fixing the timeline is gonna need work. More importantly, I need to be way stronger.
Heading towards the exit, deep in thought, I fail to notice another person exiting.
Crashing violently from my ignorance, I fall on the floor with another body toppling on top of me.
Oh my...someone's got their hands on my chest. I may be twelve, but I have started growing in the right places. This means our new friend does get a good handful...
What an absolute cliché of a situation. Hah, I'm gonna tease the shit out of this guy.
"A bit handsy, aren't we, huh?" I giggle at the ma- no boy laying on top of me. Interestingly, he seems to be my age.
"Oh G-G-God, I'm so s-s-sorry," the boy quickly stutters, rushing to get off me. Oh my, he really seems to be panicking. Red as a tomato and everything. My, how fun.
"Hah, don't worry, it was an accident after all,"
"Are you sure? You're not hurt or anything?" the boy says. He's rather cute. Actually, he's got that nerdy look going; a bit scrawny, though.
"Don't worry, I'm fine. Besides, besides, I wasn't paying attention. If anything, it was my fault." I tried assuring him in response.
"That's good, yes? I'm also really sorry about the whole-" he gestured slightly at me, "-you know." It was kinda stunning just how awkward how he could be.
"Like I said, it's fine. Besides, if you'd like, you could make it up to me. I'm Jeanne, by the way."
"Yes, I'd like that; I mean, uh..." he mumbled, retreating in on himself. God, his reactions were just delightful.
"Now, now, I told you my name, so it's only fair you tell me yours." I prompted, injecting a little tease into my tone
"Yes, of course. Sorry...I'm Peter. Peter Parker"
It looks like my increased luck is already paying off, because I just found a real jackpot. Nothing is as moldable as a naive little child, especially when that means the great Spider-Man will be under my thumb one day.