The Huntley-Brinkley Report, November 2nd, 1963
SCREEN: [A portly man with neatly combed hair and thick-rimmed glasses, wearing a grey suit, is standing in front of a black backdrop.]
MAN: Good evening, I'm Chet Huntley.
SCREEN: [The camera pans to a second man to the right, with slicked back hair and potruding ears, wearing a darker grey suit]
SECOND MAN: And I'm David Brinkley, for NBC News Washington.
SCREEN: [The camera cuts to a crude, two part graphic with the words NBC NEWS written on two grey squares on a black backdrop]
HUNTLEY: And this is NBC News, the Huntley-Brinkley Report, assembled for television every weekday night by the worlds largest and most comprehensive news organisation, the news department of the National Broadcasting Company!
SCREEN: [Huntley is standing behind a desk, with a graphic reading "Nightmare In Greenwich Village" hanging on the backdrop behind him]
HUNTLEY: It's been less than 48 hours since the horrific events that transpired in the Manhattan neighborhood of Greenwich Village, which have resulted in two confirmed fatalities, and several hundred injured, with several of the injured in serious condition. Though authorities have not yet released any official statements on the disaster, eyewitnesses interviewed by NBC have described widespread rioting, outbreaks of violence, and several cases of self-mutilation.
SCREEN: [Brinkley is standing in front of a backdrop containing a large photograph of a city street, which is showing several signs of destruction, such as broken windows and burn damage to the buildings]
BRINKLEY: The mysterious outbreak of violence is estimated to have begun roughly 9:30 PM East Coast time, with uninjured survivors describing what appears to have been some bizarre form of mass hysteria breaking out simultaneously across the Village area, with several witnesses describing having suffered from hallucinations. Deputy Inspector Seymour Pine of the NYPD is currently leading the investigation into the riots.
SCREEN: [A severe looking man with thinning hair, wearing an NYPD police uniform, is standing on the sidewalk in front of a shop where a car has crashed through the main window. Behind him, several other officers are busy looking over the scene. Underneath him, the text INSP. PINE, NYPD can be seen. ]
PINE: The NYPD is currently investigating all availible leads in this matter, but determining the exact cause of this mass hysteria will take time, forensic testing is currently being done on both local water supplies and air quality. We're also interviewing several persons of interest who may have a connection to this outbreak.
REPORTER: And what of reports that members of The Avengers were seen in the area shortly after the riots ended?
PINE: We have no official word on their presence, but our own reports indicate that atleast two members of the group appeared to have taken it upon themselves to try and quell the riots. However, the NYPD does not approve of vigilante action in any form, and will repeat our request that they stay out of police matters.
SCREEN: [The camera cuts back to Huntley in the studio]
HUNTLEY: While no confirmation was given by the NYPD, witnesses have identified the two Avengers present at the scene as Thor, as well as the controversial Mr. Sunshine, both of whom were described as having been slightly injured during the course of the nights events. There are as of yet no reports on what their exact actions during the riots were...
....
ABC Evening News With Ron Cochran, November 2nd, 1963
ANNOUNCER: Don't miss the ABC Sunday Night Movie, The Misfits, a gritty drama starring Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe! The Misfits, 9 O Clock Central Time, only on ABC! We now return you to the Evening News, already in progress...
SCREEN: [An older, heavyset man with combed back hair, dressed in a black suit, is standing in front of a grey backdrop]
COCHRAN: This is Ron Cochran for ABC News, with late-breaking development in the story regarding the events in Greenwich Village on Halloween Night. The NYPD has released a statement that they've identified a suspect believed to be involved in the mass hysteria reported to have broken out in the area. The suspect has been identified as Ebenezer Laughton, though he's been known to use the alias Scarecrow, previously wanted for several cases of grand larceny, assault, and industrial espionage. He's also a personal of interest in two cases of murder. While the NYPD has confirmed they have the suspect in custody, they have not yet released any further information on his apprehension, nor the exact circumstances around his involvement in the riots. Several sources speculate that Laughton may have been apprehended by Avenger members Thor and Mr. Sunshine, who's presence in the area have been confirmed. We will continue to bring you updates as the story develops...
.....
"Christ, I wasn't expecting a parade or anything, but after nearly getting my eyes pecked out by Satan crows, it would have been nice for the NYPD to atleast give me SOME credit" I say, as Janet switches off the TV set. The rest of the Avengers are gathered together in the living room of the mansion, with Bruce and Donald in their civilian forms, as we've been watching the news trying to make sense of the shitstorm that went down the other night. Donald Blake is standing behind my chair, checking on the stitches he put in my neck.
"Well, if it makes you feel any better, the crows didn't get very deep, so even with the stitches, you won't have to worry about any scarring. Honestly, I'm a bit more concerned about the long-term effects of whatever the Scarecrow did to you..."
I wave him off "What, that fear mumbo jumbo? Pfft, no biggie, I only woke up screaming twice last night, I'll get over it."
"I still think you two should have given a statement to the police" Pym says, tapping his fingers nervously against his knee "Of course they won't trust us if you just dump a suspect on their front step like that, you should atleast have explained what happened!"
"And tell them what, exactly? That Laughton used friggin MAGIC CROWS that made everyone see their worst fears? And that he used a magic medallion to do it?! I watched him do it, and I still think it sounds ridiculous! And even if they didn't try to cart me off to the Happy Hotel in a straight jacket if I tried telling them any of this, I did break the only evidence when I hit Laughton with it! It's the NYPD, they'll come up with some bullshit reason to pin the crime on him."
Stark chuckes "And I thought I was cynical..."
"Hey, it's not like he didn't do it" I shrug, before wincing in pain as the movement tugs at one of my stitches "Ow! Fuck! ...they'll just have to come up with some other excuse for it, like tainted water or something. God knows there's enough crap in New Yorks water that it wouldn't take much to turn the whole mess into a neurotoxin anyway."
Pym doesn't look happy that we're not going the truth route, but Janet looks intrigued "To be fair, I still have a hard time believing magic is real, and I'm on the same team as a Norse god! It's crazy!"
"You can also shrink yourself down to a tiny insect girl, I think the lines between magic and science are getting pretty blurry"
"Hey, there's nothing magical about our powers" Pym adds, looking almost offended at the thought "I studied for DECADES to develop the Pym Particles, it has nothing to do with... with...parlor tricks!"
Before Pym can rant any further on the subject, Bruce cuts in "What worries me is this... presence you mentioned Laughton talking to through his medallion. From what you've told us, it sounds like whoever, or whatever it was, it was the source of Laughtons powers."
"Yeah, I ran into Laughton once before" Stark says "and he was basically just a creep in a cheap costume then, he certainly didn't have any of the crazy powers he unleashed on you guys. God only knows where he picked any of that up. I think we need..." He sighs "I never thought I'd be saying these words, but I think we need to find some sort of expert on magic, someone we can atleast consult if we run into something like this again. And I think we all agree, considering our track record so far, this is almost certainly not the last time we go up against something like this."
Starks gets up from the couch he'd been sitting in next to Bruce and walks over to the small bar over by the windows, pouring himself some scotch from a crystal bottle "I wouldn't even know where to START though, it's not like you can just look this up in the phonebook! Blake, any suggestions?"
Blake shakes his head "Sorry Tony, Thor isn't the magic type, and even if he was, that would be Asgardian magic, not Earth magic, I doubt he knows any more than the rest of us do."
Welp, time to lie my ass off again... "Well, guys, I do have one suggestion. He's supposed to be pretty reclusive, but I've heard rumors about this guy living in Greenwich Village. Might be nothing, but any of you ever hear of Stephen Strange?"593