Post by METTLE on Oct 19, 2021 2:01:59 GMT
The Bronx
The Bronx is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the U.S. state of New York. It is south of Westchester County; north and east of the New York City borough of Manhattan, across the Harlem River; and north of the New York City borough of Queens, across the East River. The Bronx has a land area of 42 square miles (109 km2) and a population of 1,472,654 in the 2020 census. If each borough were ranked as a city, the Bronx would rank as the ninth-most-populous in the U.S. Of the five boroughs, it has the fourth-largest area, fourth-highest population, and third-highest population density. It is the only borough of New York City not primarily on an island. With a population that is 54.8% Hispanic as of 2020, it is the only majority-Hispanic county in the Northeastern United States and the fourth-most-populous nationwide.
New York City has always been a metahuman hotspot, second only to Millennium City in terms of attracting beings with amazing powers. Interestingly enough, the metahuman aspect of each borough of NYC frequently matches the atmosphere they originate in: The Financial District attracts wealthy billionaire heroes, Manhattan the towering icons, and the Bronx, scrappier sorts. The Bronx has long been home to Goon's bar, a beacon to various super-crooks who spend their lives on the other side of the law. But only recently has the character of the Bronx changed again.
The one behind this trend is METTLE, whose command of now-dead hero Total Experience's powers has made him a figure of influence in his home borough. Given that anyone who might challenge him might find themselves catapulted out of the city - or worse - it didn't take long for him to begin a one-man reign over the sprawling streets. But he wasn't working alone. Over the last two years, Leiter has built up a metahuman network around himself, mostly composed of other delinquents whose superhuman powers make them a force to be reckoned with.
The aim is control, not terror. In fact, under the Mettle Gang's watch, the Bronx has become much safer to brave at night. While the true extent of their influence is unknown, there's a rumor that nothing criminal goes down in the Bronx without Leiter's say-so. When it comes to a section of the city with over a million people housed in it, that's almost impossible - but still, his iron grip can be felt just about anywhere. In a time when most people feel that the police can't protect them from chaotic metas - supervillains - the Mettle Gang is welcome security. They might not be clean, but they're the next best thing.
Of course, they don't take kindly to superheroes, either. They tend to be troublemakers. But it ain't shoot on sight; surely there's a deal to be worked out. These guys aren't about to trash their own neighborhood in a meta-brawl, for starters. Plus, it's good business to keep the various storefronts open and not obliterated. The quality of life in the Bronx is slowly rising compared to the relative metahuman anarchy from before - after all, with a population in the six figures, even with .1 per cent being metahuman, you're going to have a thousand chaotic elements operating at any given time throughout the whole borough.
Where law and order fails, The Boys step in. Or, the Boys step in, and law and order fails. Who knows what the order is, at the end of the day, or if it even matters.
They'll defend the Boss' territory 'till they collapse.
Notable Locations
Goon's - historic bar in the heart of the Bronx. Usual clientele: metahuman lawbreakers.
Burnout Auto Body - Just an ordinary garage that hides one of the Bronx's biggest secrets.
Heroes' Trail - A walkable monument south of the Botanical Gardens that commemorates fallen superheroes; recently expanded and renovated for the first time in decades.
The Speedblitz Club - An underground fighting arena for metahumans. Win prize money, bragging rights...and maybe an audience with the Boss.