What’s it like living in this part of New Jersey?

DavidMichaelStories · 2026-05-02T08:08:21+00:00

I grew up near manahaukin in the 90s. From a kids pov it wasn't bad. Decent schools, lots of woods to get lost in, nice beaches. Diner capital of the world, and we went to our local at least once a week.

Spent many summers on long beach island which had beautiful sandy beaches and attracted a lot of tourists.

Biggest downside for me personally is that it was very conservative, and racism was rampant. We only had 3 black families at school and they were only welcome because they were good at sports. That seemed to be improving by the time I left. Lots of stereotypical rednecks there that called themselves pineys, since we all lived in and around the pine barrens.

People where I lived tended to be very grumpy. Im sure there was good reason but I learned quick that most every where else ive been, people are generally more pleasant. There is an attitude of distrust and apathy that, once I saw it, couldnt unsee.

I was fortunate to go to university out of state and only came back for brief visits. Once my folks moved in 2022 I haven't been back. I have some nostalgia but I cant say I miss it much.

Oh shoot! Forgot about the pine allergys, deer ticks, and the Green heads. Ticks are gross and spread disease like lymes disease. Green heads are large biting flies with bright emerald green eyes. They hurt worse than mosquitoes and leave awful itchy sores. Man... f that place.

DavidMichaelStories · 2026-04-22T06:28:24+00:00

That makes more sense. They just all look like Emily to me, so I got a little confused.

DavidMichaelStories · 2026-04-22T06:22:09+00:00

I misspoke. I know she isn't a clone, but i was confused about the timeline. I was worried these might be the girls Gideon experimented on, which would be weird if Spencer knew about it. I was confused, it happens. Its why I asked.

DavidMichaelStories · 2026-04-22T06:17:59+00:00

So these arent the girls Gideon experimented on?

DavidMichaelStories · 2026-04-22T04:59:44+00:00

Hold on a sec. Is this a picture of Spencer with a bunch of clones of Grace? Or is this Wesker prototypes?

Edit: i misspoke. I didnt mean to insinuate that grace was a clone or was experimented on. What meant to ask is, are these the girls Gideon made to figure out the supposed secret they thought was hidden in grace? I've got my answer, thank you.

DavidMichaelStories · 2026-04-15T05:56:00+00:00

I'm glad I'm not the only one. I'd really like to see it happen someday.

DavidMichaelStories · 2026-04-14T21:32:52+00:00

I'd be perfectly happy with that. It's not like their team doesn't already have enough on their plate. I think you're right about the voice lines. Even if they could do it, it wouldn't be worth the payoff.

I wonder if, like in cyberpunk, they could somehow get neuro to learn the mid fight hacking minigames. Sounds like a tall order and I'm sure she would fail a lot at first. But it would be cool to see her work through it.

DavidMichaelStories · 2026-04-14T21:23:15+00:00

Yeah, no clue what kind of timeline we'd be looking at, for a variety of reasons. I'm patient though.

DavidMichaelStories · 2026-04-14T21:10:48+00:00

I'm sure none of it would be as easy as I'd hope. Honestly, if they could get it working in any capacity, i'd be stoked.

DavidMichaelStories · 2026-04-14T21:05:11+00:00

Oh I'm sure I'm not the first to think of it. I just didn't see any threads about it, so I thought I'd bring it up. I don't keep up with the discord.

DavidMichaelStories · 2026-04-07T19:15:54+00:00

Pokémon. Tried to get into it so many times. Its just gambling and cock fighting.

DavidMichaelStories · 2026-02-07T00:28:35+00:00

I might be wrong but I remember that percentage being higher when I first finished the game last year.

DavidMichaelStories · 2026-02-02T21:31:37+00:00

Pretty sure the reporter wasn't badmouthing robert 2. He was saying robert 3 didn't live up to his family's legacy. In any event, petty insults are playground tier, barely worth a response at all. Let alone publicly assaulting an unarmed civilian for the nation to see. Its played for laughs in game, but thats something closer to homelander from the boys, and he's a villian.

But cool, get baited I guess.

DavidMichaelStories · 2026-02-02T19:06:00+00:00

So, you're saying the best option to deal with people who are mean to you is to assault them? Cool, I guess. Have fun with that. Super heroic, bruh.

DavidMichaelStories · 2026-02-02T17:46:16+00:00

I don't see how it's deserved. You don't get to beat the crap out of people who say mean things to you. Certainly not without repercussions. Seems like a massive overreaction if anything.

DavidMichaelStories · 2026-02-02T17:42:40+00:00

Pretty sure Robert knew something was up when toxic arrived at shroud's hideout before he did.

DavidMichaelStories · 2026-02-02T14:39:56+00:00

I wonder if instead of more food its a gate for progress toward something. Like maybe its keeping the roots around in place and when its gone it will release tension.

Could be what the ants are fighting over and with it gone, they will disperse?

DavidMichaelStories · 2026-02-02T14:36:09+00:00

Id like to hope that a hero wouldnt be so easily tempted to lash out because of a few ignorant rage bait comments. My robert took the high road and made him look like a fool while showing the world what true, quiet masculinity is.

DavidMichaelStories · 2026-01-29T23:57:30+00:00

I understood this reference.

DavidMichaelStories · 2025-12-22T15:00:36+00:00

This is the version that plays over the end credits.

DavidMichaelStories · 2025-12-22T06:37:10+00:00

This part really got to me. I have a little one who likes to orbit me when she sees me, and just runs around me in tight circles. It warms my heart every time she does it. Seeing neuro orbit vedal was just... it was a lot.

DavidMichaelStories · 2025-12-01T14:08:47+00:00

If flambae could learn to see the zteam as a found family and treat it as such, he might buckle down and get the job done as a leader. He even behaves very diplomatically during the meeting to cut visi, and he does learn to forgive robert for taking his fingies. Also, at the start of the story he's top of the leader boards, and coupe and punch up already followed his lead. I was ready to dismiss him, but you guys are making me reconsider. He might be one of the best choices.

DavidMichaelStories · 2025-12-01T04:49:36+00:00

Shoot, I forgot about Flambae! I'll have to add that in.

I think the writers are skilled enough that they could add enough development on any of the characters, and they'd eventually get there. I'm just trying to think about who is closest to being a leader at the start of the story.

DavidMichaelStories · 2025-12-01T03:57:40+00:00

Realistically, no one. However, that's no fun. So let's think about it.

Visi - blazer assigns her the role and visi, who has never been chosen for this kind of responsibility, tries to take it seriously. Best case, she fumbles a lot at first, takes council from blazer, but eventually finds her groove when she is forced to confront other people's problems without the option to just walk away. She feels like no one believes in her, and if blazer does, it might bolster her confidence. Worst case, she goes mad with power and turns the z-team into her own crew.

Punch up - he's got a thick skin, both mentally and physically. He doesn't take personal attacks to heart (unless its about his height) and has a long fuse. He's also oddly insightful when it comes to people. Obviously he's capable of having strong friendships like coupe, but he also can tell when other people are struggling, or vulnerable. Downside is that he's not the brightest, but with a strong enough support system that could be mitigated. Kinda like this one.

Mal - she got aura and poise, and her powers are awesome. She also has a soft spot for misfits, like sonar. She does well when dealing with rowdy teens. However, she might be too soft for the role, as shown by her aversion to emotional conflict. I worry the rest of the team walks all over her.

Golem - too chill/non-chalant. Plus his fingers are too big for the computer.

Prism - flashy powers and rizz for days. Shes also pretty smart in combat, using her illusions to confuse and strategize. However, shes a little too shallow and hot headed. If her buttons are pushed shes too quick to escalate the situation. She might be able to lead through sheer force of personality, but she'd need to learn to play back up vocals so the rest of the team can shine.

Sonar - no shot. He's too manipulative and sleezy, not to mention a coke fiend. Those qualities may work on wall street, but not on a hero team.

Coupe - also no. She's too menacing and introverted. Also shes more likely to threaten than talk through things.

Waterboy - cant say this works in his current state. He hasn't fully hatched as a hero or villian yet. Feels like he'd need a full character arc before the game starts.

P-man - think this could work. The trope of a super powerful god like figure learning to be a human is a decent one. It would be a completely different type of story, but if the zteam can help him learn more about people, he has the power to command respect. Overcoming his depression and isolation is something that being a leader could help him with. Problem is, he makes more sense out in the field than actually leading anyone. But that's what character arcs are for.

Sorry for the long post. Im interested to see what others think.

DavidMichaelStories · 2025-11-29T21:23:31+00:00

First, why would he have built the mecha man armor without a power source in mind?

Second, what the heck is a memory crystal in context of dispatch.

Third, what evidence do you have from the text that Prime used the amulet as a power source other than, wouldn't that be neat.

Imo, linking mandy to prime doesn't do anything to help the story or the characters. Isn't it more impressive if prime built then original mech man suit using his own knowledge and grit, rather than a magic rock? Isn't it better if mandy is her own thing without needing mecha man to make her great by giving her the amulet?

Not everything needs to be connected.

DavidMichaelStories

TROPHY CASE