WWYCD: The Breakup

[zakueins]

(Just wondering why this hasn't happened yet...).

 

A member of the opposite sex of your character comes up to you in Hero ID and asks for help. He/she has just broken up with his current girl/boyfriend...whom is a very co-dependent superhero. Whom is not taking this break-up very well and is getting into the really creepy stalker/obessed/"you're my greatest fan" stage. So far, it's been kept out of the news, but it's only a matter of time before the hero does something that's "going too far"(turning the "other woman/man" into a frog, major property damage, etc, etc).

 

What would YOUR hero do?

[tribe]

Re: WWYCD: The Breakup

 

Depends on the power level of the jilted lover. If it's low-level stuff like 'Bug Man' or 'Hoppy The Bush Kangaroo Kid' then it'd be simple.

 

If it's Galactus-level, then there might be problems.

 

Tribe would probably hit on the woman, hook up with her and then defend her honour (in any order). He's used to being beaten up on, but having the ability to generate duplicates he can take the hits. He'd also probably seek out the jilted lover and try to talk him around, maybe even do a Benvolio thing and suggest he look elsewhere for affection. Heck, Tribe might even set up a blind date between the jilted lover and one of his team mates.

 

If it was Galactus-level, Tribe would consider doing the same thing but soon realise that it was pointless. He'd convince the girl to get back with the cosmic superhero guy for everyone's sakes.

[Zed-F]

Re: WWYCD: The Breakup

 

Soulbarb has already had to do something of this sort, only the stalker was a supervillain, not a superhero. Additionally, the villain was a Supes clone that was considerably more powerful than she (or at least seemed to be, when she first confronted him.) Fortunately, he wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, and she used this to her advantage to temporarily separate him from the object of his affection and get her to a battered women's shelter where she hoped he wouldn't be able to find her. Following that, some detective work allowed her to figure out the source of his powers. By the time she was done her investigation, however, the villain had managed to locate his ex-girlfriend once again, and had started to carry her off at speed through the city. Fortunately he was interrupted in his flight by another of the city's heros, which allowed Soulbarb to catch up and sneak in close enough to rescue the woman a second time, confront the villain when he temporarily knocked the other hero out of the combat, and trick him into giving her the device that had empowered him. She used it to depower him, and allowed the more public hero to take credit for the capture, while she slunk back into the shadows.

 

Sylph couldn't help but to put herself in the woman's shoes. The male hero's stalker-like behaviour toward the woman would freak the heck out of her, as this is exactly the sort of thing that she would have trouble handling herself. She might try to talk with the male hero about it but would probably feel overwhelmed and thus not be very convincing, especially if he's not inclined to listen to reason in the first place. Ultimately she would probably not be successful in preventing the whole thing from going public, possibly by virtue of a battle between herself and the hero in question as she tries to restrain him when he does something foolish.

[jkwleisemann]

Re: WWYCD: The Breakup

 

Well, as has been previously stated, power level influences responses. For example, Void couldn't very well smack some sense into Doctor Destroyer if it was him.

 

However, I'm going to assume reasonably comparable power level, rather than somebody who could actually make "if I can't have you, then nobody on Earth will have you - because they'll all be dead!" a reasonable threat without the GM editing the write-up.

 

Void: Would start out by tracking down Mr. (Mrs.) Ex and having a heart-to-heart with them. He's been through break ups before, and has some insight.

 

Yes, it sucks. But it sucks more when the break up is more... literal... regarding the final state of one's ex. And, coming from the perspective of somebody who is being on-and-off stalked by a mega-villainess, he can also sympathize with the normal person who broke up with the hero/ine.

 

He'd offer to help them hook up with somebody else... but he knows that, frankly, the odds aren't too good. After that, he'll keep an eye on both of them, trying to distract the ex long enough to break out of the funk s/he're in, and stop them if they're doing something... rash.

 

Sparky: Gets to play guard dog. Woof!

 

Darkchild: Hmm. Lovesick superhero. Time to get Eros on the job, I'd think.

[David Johnston]

Re: WWYCD: The Breakup

 

 

Sylph couldn't help but to put herself in the woman's shoes. The male hero's stalker-like behaviour toward the woman would freak the heck out of her,

 

Other way around. She'd be approached by a man whose super ex-girlfriend...to coin a phrase, is stalking him.

 

Well, Poet would only get involved if one of the parties was dead (and the other one was alive). Of course it's perfectly possible for that kind of situation to arise. Poet would probably just start stalking the hero and talking him to death, figuratively speaking.

 

Hellfire would just start a brawl with her.

[Lethosos]

Re: WWYCD: The Breakup

 

Khronos would just sit on the nutcase until he gets a clue. Given that he's a growth brick... that'd do nicely. He can even attempt to "persuade" him by doing a little judicious minor magic on the guy's mind, to repell him from the ex-girlfriend. (Of course, if it's a mentalist... there's not much he can do in the first place. )

[AdamLeisemann]

Re: WWYCD: The Breakup

 

Sonic Eagle has no idea how to deal with another person'r break-up, given that he has no real dating experience. However, he will work to protect her. If given permission, once this whole thing clears up, he might go about writing about the incident as a warning to normal folks who want to date supers (mainly, be careful).

 

Lab Rat never even kissed a girl. And he's only 16, so a relationship is not going to begin out of this (also consider he's a geek, so love is not going to blossom here). But he will protect her to the best of his ability.

 

Kitsune will certainly help the guy out, and might even try to get a relationship on with him. Of course, the super-ex-girlfriend may be a problem. But that's nothing a little ledgerdemain won't fix.

 

Reinard the Fox Is a married man... in another dimension. He'll help, and he might have to deal with the super she's been dating, but he will refrain from any advances because, well, he's married.

[SKJAM!]

Re: WWYCD: The Breakup

 

Mask of Justice: Take the ex-boyfriend out on the town. A little drinking, male bonding, introduce him to a few other women. He'll get over it.

 

Calculus: After making sure the woman is safe for the moment, Calculus will arrange for the ex to learn that his secret identity is in danger should he pursue the woman further. If the ex persists, the police get a note telling them what the stalker is up to and who he is. In extremis, Calculus will exert himself and ensure the capture of the fool.

 

Rock Bottom: Is surprised it isn't someone of the same sex approaching him, about their same-sex ex-partner. He presumes she came to him precisely because he isn't interested in women, and thus unlikely to pull the "you're my girlfriend now" scam. Rock will see what he can do to get the woman hidden in (for example) a battered women's shelter. Then he'll go toe to toe with the offending ex, pointing out that this behavior disgraces not only him, but all men and supers.

 

Kira Midori: Is a cop. As such, she will treat this as a police matter. Unfortunately, the options for a man fleeing a female stalker are more limited, as the system is not set up for them. Still, if he will cooperate, restraining orders can be obtained, and arrest warrants if the orders are not followed.

 

Talion: Laughs bitterly. This is obviously some kind of set-up, since no woman would trust him to protect her in such a situation. They'd be far likelier to accuse him of stalking. Once finally convinced that, no, she's serious, Talion will try the same approach Mask of Justice would, but likely less effectively.

[Sundog]

Re: WWYCD: The Breakup

 

Hmm...Terminus doesn't really have much experience at this sort of thing. He's used to having girlfriends who can take him two falls out of three on the sparring mat (and considering he's supersoldier with a Dex of 30, that's saying something).

 

He'd probably just try to talk the guy out of it. Try and get the poor guy's rationality back in charge.

[Badger]

Re: WWYCD: The Breakup

 

Frosty Bob- Hits on woman, probably gets beaten up by her in retaliation, luckily he can take it, (and probably enjoy it )

[Lord Mhoram]

Re: WWYCD: The Breakup

 

Blackcat would go talk to the ex-boyfriend, and explain things about superheroes and image. Given she is the combat trainer for the equivalent JLA her comment should have impact. There would be an implied threat about not following the advice.

 

Sift would talk to the ex-boyfriend, and tell him to lay off or he'll get a nasty curse or hex up his ... nose.

 

Smokeater would likely try not to get involved. If he did, it would be straitforward and with some sort of quip "hot around the collar eh?" while using a heat attack or somesuch.

Terminal Velocity would also try not to get involved, but try and help the girl out against the ex in small or subtle means.

 

Angelfire would go talk to the ex-boyfriend, and would likely distract him, and focus his attentions on her. Which she would deal with; she's had to deal with them before - being a daughter of a succubus tends to lead to that kind of situation.

[SKJAM!]

Re: WWYCD: The Breakup

 

Hmm, some folks still haven't caught the "opposite sex" wording....

[DataPacRat]

Re: WWYCD: The Breakup

 

Bunny already funds a line of 'Pink Bunny' branded soup kitchens and - more relevantly - battered womens' shelters. Upon meeting this 'battered guy', she'd whip out her all-purpose superpower: her Centurion credit card, to add a "battered men's shelter" to her growing charitible empire.

 

And, given the nature of the current game she's in, when the super ex-girlfriend came sniffing around, Bunny would probably have an opportunity to show off some of her cybernetic attachments that the reporters prefer not to advertise in the nightly news...

 

 

A handsome young Cyborg named Ace,

Wooed women at every base,

But once ladies glanced at

His special enhancement

They vanished with nary a trace.

 

-- Barracks Graffiti,

Sparta Command

[wylodmayer]

Re: WWYCD: The Breakup

 

Ace: Would definitely try to get some rebound action, because he's a manwh*re and milks his celebrity status for all it's worth.

 

Terminaxx: Probably wouldn't care too much. In his mind, dealing with personal problems and disappointments and even inconvenient love affairs are the sorts of things that each person has to figure out for his or her self. If someone's robbing a bank, you can call him, though. He might offer some half-hearted advice, but he's an a**hole, so it wouldn't be good advice. Then he'd go do something else.

 

Holocaust: Since she's a female character, and the question specifies someone of the opposite sex of the character under consideration, that means she'd be dealing with a stalked male. Alas, Holocaust has terrible self esteem issues, and would probably - not wholly intentionally - wind up trying to hook up with the guy. And woe betide him if he takes her up on her offer, because she's ALSO the type to get obsessive and stalkery over a guy. Not to mention she's prone to instability and mood swings on account of being a full blown paranoid schizophrenic and is only able to function "normally" due to high doses of antipsychotic drugs. It would probably result in some kind of stalker duel...

 

Captain Conifer: Would give the guy who's stalking this poor girl a stern talking to. But he's a bit of a prat and I doubt it would be very effective. He'd also give her his phone number and respond quickly and with complete propriety to any incident.

[wylodmayer]

Re: WWYCD: The Breakup

 

Huh... I just noticed that all my male characters are either jerks or dweebs (intentionally). Ace has a one track mind (and you can imagine what track); Terminaxx is petty, narcissistic, and a bully; and Captain Conifer is a clean, upstanding guy who is under the fantastic misapprehension that everyone else is just as interested in botany as he is.

 

That's funny, cos I'm usually pretty relaxed and easy to get along with. Hm.

[LunaRagno]

Re: WWYCD: The Breakup

 

(Just wondering why this hasn't happened yet...).

 

A member of the opposite sex of your character comes up to you in Hero ID and asks for help. He/she has just broken up with his current girl/boyfriend...whom is a very co-dependent superhero. Whom is not taking this break-up very well and is getting into the really creepy stalker/obessed/"you're my greatest fan" stage. So far, it's been kept out of the news, but it's only a matter of time before the hero does something that's "going too far"(turning the "other woman/man" into a frog, major property damage, etc, etc).

 

What would YOUR hero do?

 

The only character I play for whom this is at all possible is working through her own dependent/"clingy" nature. She can, thus, recommend the very best psychological assistance. She will be willing to speak to the dependent superhero; indeed, too willing to, when she should leave it to professionals to "bring up" the matter.

 

Hopefully such "missionary ferver" will not worsen the situation.

[Drhoz]

Re: WWYCD: The Breakup

 

Let's see, Zero/Truman Golightly - approached by a woman? An actual woman? who actually wants to talk to him? About romantic issues?

 

Once he stops stuttering (let's give him, say, a week) may be persuaded to mindjam the stalker. Into believing, for example, that his lover has jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge rather than be with him a moment longer. Sure, the woman would probably have to change identities, move away, etc, and the rest of The Edge would have to deal with a deluded and griefstricken super who may well blame these superheroes she's been seeing... but a girl actually talked to Zero

 

Vitus on the other hand would add it to his long list of reasons Earthly society is hopelessly demented. What's wrong with this girl? Doesn't she have a father and brothers that can demonstrate to the unwelcome suitor the more emphatic uses for a length of two-by-four? And what's wrong with arranged marriages in the first place? All this guff about choice of partner - marriages arranged thru parent and clan always worked on HIS world...

 

Once he's finished muttering about all this he'd set her up in one of the empty apartments in the Skeleton Crew tenement (no doubt anticipating complaints along the lines of "when did this place become a ****ing refuge shelter?!"), and go have a quiet world with the gentleman concerned. Pointing out that in the absence of any relatives to do the job, he'll be on hand as her protector, executor of her dowry (what is a suitable bride price on Earth, anyway?) and so on. Furthermore, he can't be considered a possible competitor for her affection since she's human, he's a gnoll, and he finds humans a deeply unattractive species, especially naked.

 

Then he'd probably have to subdue an enraged superhuman, and kick him repeatedly in the gonads to ensure that he won't be interested in any sort of mate for a long time.

 

The funny thing is Vitu doesn't consider himself a violent person... it's just that violence is usually the quickest way to get results.

[Kevin Schultz]

Re: WWYCD: The Breakup

 

For Jake the Troll, it woud probably be a Teen Champions sort of thing, so it'd probably be a girlfriend of some other teenaged superhero at the same school he goes to. At that point, he'd probably wonder why she hasn't taken it up with the administration, as such stalkery behavior is probably at least a bit illegal. If he can figure out why she hasn't or why it isn't effective (maybe the actual behavior hasn't crossed the line yet, but the gal can see the writing on the wall), he'd take her home to his parents, who would immediately turn her over to something like Social Services or Catholic Community Services.

 

For Shinji Miromoto, this would probably be the girlfriend of someone in the Outsiders; for that, it means that the situation needs to be dealt with by the group as a whole. They're a bunch of mutants living under the streets of Seattle, so something like this can very well lead to a bad situation for everyone involved.

 

As a dark psychic, Shinji is actually fairly familiar with the inner workings of the depraved mind, and is pretty knowledgeable in how NOT to handle these situations. If necessary, he could psychically destroy the 'love' the stalker has for the gal, but that would be a last resort. He'd take it to the group, and offer suggestions on how to deal with it, but would go with the will of the group as a whole unless it was really wacked-out.

 

Icon - Emma has Contacts (Uncontrollable, -1), so she's actually fairly familiar with random people trying to get ahold of her and asking her to do superhero-y stuff. She was also witness to an abusive co-dependent relationship (her parents - mother was the abuser of both her and her dad), and so would actually empathize with the guy who is trying to get away from his freaky girlfriend. She'd pass him off to the Argus City PD's Special Cases squad, who are specifically set up to deal with crimes involving uberhumans. Then, she'd work with Lt. Price (her contact on the squad) if they needed any assistance.

[SatinKitty]

Re: WWYCD: The Breakup

 

FIRESTORM and DRAGON JANE would use their contacts in the Industry to get the Lovelorn Girl on Jerry Springer. Then she could rant and rave to her heart's content and hopefully in that way exorcise her demons. If that didn't work, and the jilted girl had made credible threats, that's a crime and as an OSI Agent, DRAGON JANE could arrest her.

 

For MINDFLAIR, this is all in a day's work. She'd take care of the matter at her regular rates. If the girl had become violent, she'd skip the regular rates and do what needed to be done. Mind control is allowed if you are defending Human Life.

 

WICCA would simply remove the girl to another dimension where the guy didn't exist.

[jkwleisemann]

Re: WWYCD: The Breakup

 

Dude... raving lunatic superheroines on Jerry Springer... that brawl would put the ratings through the ROOF!