The X-men run missions and work together with the NYPD, striving to maintain a peaceful balance between humans and mutants. When it comes to a fight, they won't back down from protecting those who need their help.
Haven presents itself as a humanitarian organization for activists, leaders, and high society, yet mutants are the secret leaders working to protect and serve their kind. Behind the scenes they bring their goals into reality.
From the time when mutants became known to the world, SUPER was founded as a black-ops division of the CIA in an attempt to classify, observe, and learn more about this new and rising threat.
The Syndicate works to help bring mutantkind to the forefront of the world. They work from the shadows, a beacon of hope for mutants, but a bane to mankind. With their guiding hand, humanity will finally find extinction.
Since the existence of mutants was first revealed in the nineties, the world has become a changed place. Whether they're genetic misfits or the next stage in humanity's evolution, there's no denying their growing numbers, especially in hubs like New York City. The NYPD has a division devoted to mutant related crimes. Super-powered vigilantes help to maintain the peace. Those who style themselves as Homo Superior work to tear society apart for rebuilding in their own image.
MRO is an intermediate to advanced writing level original character, original plot X-Men RPG. We've been open and active since October of 2005. You can play as a mutant, human, or Adapted— one of the rare humans who nullify mutant powers by their very existence. Goodies, baddies, and neutrals are all welcome.
Short Term Plots:Are They Coming for You?
There have been whispers on the streets lately of a boogeyman... mutant and humans, young and old, all have been targets of trafficking.
The Fountain of Youth
A chemical serum has been released that's shaving a few years off of the population. In some cases, found to be temporary, and in others...?
MRO MOVES WITH CURRENT TIME: What month and year it is now in real life, it's the same for MRO, too.
Fuegogrande: "Fuegogrande" player of The Ranger, Ion, Rhia, and Null
Neopolitan: "Aly" player of Rebecca Grey, Stephanie Graves, Marisol Cervantes, Vanessa Bookman, Chrysanthemum Van Hart, Sabine Sang, Eupraxia
Ongoing Plots
Magic and Mystics
After the events of the 2020 Harvest Moon and the following Winter Solstice, magic has started manifesting in the MROvere! With the efforts of the Welldrinker Cult, people are being converted into Mystics, a species of people genetically disposed to be great conduits for magical energy.
The Welldrinker Cult
A shadowy group is gaining power, drawing in people who are curious, vulnerable, or malicious, and turning them into Mystics. They are recruiting people into their ranks to spread the influence of magic in the world, but for what end goal?
Are They Coming for You?
There have been whispers on the streets lately of a boogeyman... mutant and humans, young and old, all have been targets of trafficking.
Adapteds
What if the human race began to adapt to the mutant threat? What if the human race changed ever so subtly... without the x-gene.
Atlanteans
The lost city of Atlantis has been found! Refugees from this undersea mutant dystopia have started to filter in to New York as citizens and businessfolk. You may make one as a player character of run into one on the street.
Got a plot in mind?
MRO plots are player-created the Mods facilitate and organize the big ones, but we get the ideas from you. Do you have a plot in mind, and want to know whether it needs Mod approval? Check out our plot guidelines.
Posted by falsodeus on Jul 14, 2011 11:38:20 GMT -6
Guest
Old habits die hard.
It was not unnusual for Enzo's parents to stay entire days away from home. In fact, between his mom's photoshoots in some random place accross the globe, and his father's all nighters working for some big client such as MUMA, both Enzo and his brother Andre would often find themselves alone in their apartment. In Venice, they usually had cooked food from one of their parents in wait, and soon Enzo learned how to make some stuff. Then, both he and his brother would hang out a bit around town. In NY, only one thing has actually changed, except that his brother usually likes to stay at home, and he as started to make food for himself. Enzo, however, still likes to walk around in town late at night, usually accompanied by his friends.
However, that night, due to the discoveries made the previous day, Enzo decided he wanted to walk alone. It was a bit uncommon for him to do that, specially since he was such a social person, but he really needed some space for himself. He didn't really carry any money with him (except for credit card), and his cellphone was really cheap, so he wasn't too afraid of thugs.Besides, he was a mutant, and althought he had only a vague idea about what he can do, and none of how he can do it, Enzo felt that it somehow gave him some sort of renewed physical authority.
Of course such thinking was, at the very best, foolish.
As he walked a particularly abandoned street only one block away from his house, Enzo noticed a pair of steroid-high thugs on the other side. This didn't actually concern him - even before becoming a mutant, he seldomly had any trouble with this kind of people. The tactic was simple: gaze at the horizon decisively and ignore them if they call you just as if you weren't paying attention. The boy had to scratch his right eye because it itched a bit, but that was the only movement he made besides keeping a steady pace.
One of the guys started calling out to him from the other side of the street "Hey you, hey man! Got a smoke?" Enzo paid him no heed, barely registering it was a short caucasian duded whose arms were thicker than the Italian boy's thighs. Basically, a gorilla in the shape of a man.
"Hey, I'm talking to you dude!" the guy called, a bit offended. Whenever it came to this, Enzo knew the best way to do things was to distractedly answer the people, but otherwise keep their pace. His face turned towards the two thugs (the other one was freakishly tall, specially when you compared both men) and he quickly flashed them a "I don't smoke".
"Woah, you freak, what the hell is that on your eye, som' lenses? You blind or someth'n?" the taller guy asked, his words smothering Enzo's. He reduced his pace, frowning. What was the man talking about?
However, Enzo soon realized the "itch" on his right eye could only mean something: his power had activated there for some reason. He did not really know what color it had become, all he knew was that he was potentially exhibiting some freakshow to two thugs, and difference was never the best thing to show at night.
"Hum, it's a thing I have" he said, loosing his cockyness. However, the two men were crossing the street, as if to take a better look. Enzo's expression hardened, even as his heart started pumping twice as fast.
"Woul' ya look a' that!" one of the guys said "It's purple!"
"Damn" Enzo thought "How the hell do I justify a purple eye anyway?"
"Will you look at that, Giant?" the small guy asked "I think we found ourselves a mutie in the middle of the night, all alone. Little guy, what were you thinking?"
Agnes knew better than this. Or at least she thought she did. Here she was, fearing that her parents would find her any day now that the police were on their case and now she was getting more brazen as she took to the streets. Agnes really did not know what was coming over her. Maybe it was all her years of repression, or the fact that when she lived on the streets her focus was solely on survive…she really didn’t know the case of it. But what was important was the fact that she was beginning to go out more often all on her own. Strolling the streets, checking her old haunts and alleys just for the sheer reminisce of doing it.
Despite the hard life living in alleys can be, she did love the cool nights. Even now she loved it…
Walking down the sidewalk, dressed in a pair of jeans and a comfy looking, forest green turtleneck sweater, the runaway strolled with her hands stuffed into her pockets. She eyed the dark corners, glanced between the open alleys and watched the passing people. Agnes had apprehension about people she didn’t know, but she was not outright fearing them anymore. At least she was growing calmer, maybe even a little more trusting.
But as she rounded the corner, she purchased an ice cream cone from a street vendor and continued on until she spied something that really made her blood cold. Down the street, she had seen a innocent looking boy, someone who had looked just slightly familiar, actually, being harassed. Normally, Agnes would have ignored the situation, choosing to not get involved, but the more she watched him, the more she realized that she recognized him. He was at the mansion the other day, so that would only mean he was a mutant as well.
Casually, ice cream still in hand, she made her way down the sidewalk, sticking the shadows so that she would not be immediately seen. As she got closer, she heard a snippet from the conversation…
>> "Woul' ya look a' that! It's purple!"
>> "Will you look at that, Giant? I think we found ourselves a mutie in the middle of the night, all alone. Little guy, what were you thinking?"
Her teeth bared, Agnes attempted to calm herself. She hated it when mutants were harassed, having been on that end of the yard stick before. The painful memory still in her mind, Agnes tried to calm and eat her ice cream, but as she approached them, the buzzing that emanated from her chest was nearly deafening to her. The swarm was getting agitated.
As she choked them back she boldly walked up to the pair of muscled up thugs, said her prayers, and called out.
“Hey!” she said with as much authority as she could muster (though it didn’t help that she had an ice cream cone with pink sprinkles all over it. “There a problem here?”
Posted by falsodeus on Jul 14, 2011 13:54:00 GMT -6
Guest
Enzo's mind was running twice as fast. Dialogue was probably is best option out of that situation, perhaps he could intimidate them by claiming to have some really dangerous power. He remembered when he had hugged Alexander and the guy told him some mutants were dangerous on contact. This all occurred to him just as the other guy spoke, the trio oblivious to the approaching girl with the ice cream. Just as he prepared his menacing retort, however, the half Italian half American boy was interruped by a new voice. It belonged to a female who seemingly appeared out of the darkness itself.
"There a problem here?" she had asked, her voice a lot stronger than both her phisique and the icecream hinted. Enzo's surprise quickly turned into worry just as the two thugs looked at the female menacingly; what on earth was she doing, getting into a situation like that?
"Well lookie here, giant, we got ourselves a lady for the night" the short man said. Enzo frowned, desperate to get their attention away from the newcomer, and perhaps all the while trying to solve this problem once and for all.
"I don't know who you are, miss, but you'd best leave". Giant chuckled "And you two, big guys, I'm warning you: I'm a mutant, my body carries some.." he lost his speech for just a little while, but immeadiately recovered as some videogames he used to play came to mind "deadly toxins that I can pass via contact. I'm like a living toxic toad. Touch me at your own peril."
He moved forward as if to strengthen his position, never blinking even though his heart was pulsating to the point of explosion. He could feel a new tingle somewhere on his shoulder, and hoped the new color change was visible; it might actually help his point. However, Giant was only affected to the point he thought it was best for him to get his knife out of his pocket.
"I guess you and the lady didn't understand our point, mutant scum." he growled "And I don't need to touch you, really."
>> "Well lookie here, giant, we got ourselves a lady for the night"
Agnes arched a brow. She definitely did not like the sound of that. That could only mean that they were just as perverse that those psychos she used to run into back when she was homeless. This was differently not a good situation for a young woman…
…it’s a good thing Agnes had a little more up her sleeves.
>> "I don't know who you are, miss, but you'd best leave…And you two, big guys, I'm warning you: I'm a mutant, my body carries some…deadly toxins that I can pass via contact. I'm like a living toxic toad. Touch me at your own peril."
Agnes was not going to go anywhere. As much as her sense of survival was screaming at her to run, she simply could not leave this boy behind. He was clearly outnumbered and even though he was a mutant, she did not entirely believe the mutation he threatened with, she was not going to simply leave him behind. If there was one lesson that she had picked up from all her experiences thus far is that you never leave one of your own behind. Many people were beginning to regard her as a friend and fellow mutant and she knew they would never abandon her. Therefore…she really could not do the same…
Her fist clenched, her ice cream slightly melting in her hand as she switched gazes between the thugs who were threatening the other mutant. She knew there was no way that they were going to back down. As much as she disliked having to get physical with someone, what they needed was a good crowbar to the back of their heads. Unfortunately she didn’t have one on her.
Then, just as she figured, they were not going to take the bait...
>> "I guess you and the lady didn't understand our point, mutant scum…And I don't need to touch you, really."
There was a flash of silver in the pale moonlight. It glimmered and though it looked pretty in the darkness that surrounded them, it could not have been a more deadly object. On seeing the point, she could already feel the prickle in her skin and the inadvertent sensation of it slicing her skin. She had been on the other end of blades before and knew exactly how they felt as they ran across skin and cut deep to draw blood. She knew most of the different manners it could have been used and her body shuddered at the remembrance.
That night…what her parents did to her…she was not going to allow this mutant to feel that…
Taking a step forward, dropping her ice cream onto the ground, Agnes boldly glared at the terrifyingly muscular man and began to twitch. That deafening buzzing had grown into such a castrophony that it was sure to chill the hearts of anyone nearby. Agnes clenched her fists, the buzzing coming from her chest as she slowly locked eyes with the knife-wielding man…
“And I don’t really need to touch you…”
As soon as the last word fell from her lips, Agnes opened her mouth and a thick, black swarm buzzed from her mouth. A mass of black flies and hornets all buzzed around her head angrily, hovering in air as they readied to attack the first person to make a move towards her. But on top of that, several other black shapes fell and began to crawl out of her mouth. The bugs glistened in the dim light as they crawled down her body before forming a protective circle around her feet. It took only a moments to notice that they were roaches.
Her lip twitching into a bold sneer, she glared at the knife-man again through the protective flying insects that buzzed around her head…
Posted by falsodeus on Jul 15, 2011 0:04:01 GMT -6
Guest
The situation had turned really nasty inside Enzo's head; he had always felt great disgust towards thugs like those two, picking on people just because they were high on testosterone and felt safe due to either size or some other form of protection. Nonetheless, as much as he would thrive in attempting to punch the two male's faces into the back of their skulls, the boy was fully aware of his huge disadvantage. This, of course only got him more frustrated and angry.
But events took a new turn when the girl - who had clearly ignored Enzo's indications - dropped her ice cream and approached the trio. Enzo panicked for her once again, believing she had either not seen the knife and had some sort of strange sense of timing, or she simply had a death wish. Before any of them could say or do anything, however, a most disturbing noise started echoing throughout the street, coming from the girl in front of them. It was some sort of loud, angry buzzing as if a furious tribal god was possessing her body, ready to iniciate it's long-waited judgment.
"And I don't really need to touch you..." she proclaimed. Each time her mouth had opened, the sound of buzzing would propagate, almost making her sound like more than one person. The true surprise, though - and a horror show for the three males - came when entire swarms of insects started flowing from her mouth. As she spoke again, there was an incredibly terrible and menacing quality about her, provided not only by the insects around her, but by her posture as well. There was also a fitting beauty surrounding this mysterious girl, as if the dim-lit street with its deep shadows was as much a part of her almost as the swarm.
Truth was, Enzo had been as unprepared for such a demonstration as the two thugs, and he felt the same amounts of fear and respect for the entity before them. His bravado and the notion that he had uncharted powers had been eclipsed. Enzo's left foot retreated, an action he considered to stop only once he got home. Simultaneously, the two thugs had taken quite a few steps back themselves, Giant apparently forgetting he had a weapon and the little one cowering beside him. They looked ridiculous, like a troll and it's halfling master.
"W-what is this?" the small one asked, drenched in confusion and fear. He had no idea what else she might be able to do, of course. How much terrifying was that? "Are you a mutie too, you little beast?" he added, clearly trying to show courage and spite with that little sentence.
Enzo's head resonated with that word. Of course, she must be! His thoughts racing, he decided to use this mutant girl's entrance in their favor, "Of course she is, man, she's my friend. And you haven't met the Wolf yet, but the three of us were supposed to meet here." he added, trying to sound as convincing as possible. Hopefully, he would not fail just as he did when he pretended to have deathtouch powers.
The two thugs frowned at his words, conceding their defeat; they did not know if what Enzo spoke was true or not, but risking discovery did not sound good at all. With some final graceless words, they left the two of them alone, half-running half-walking away from the street. Enzo's eyes - brown and purple - observed them attentively, trying to make sure they wouldn't bring more trouble. Then, with the buzzing sound reminding him of the girl's presence, he felt some sort of heat rushing to his head: he was embarrassed by the whole deal. And he had been rescued by a very unlikely person. He turned at her, trying not to give away his uncertainty.
"Thanks there, for a moment I thought we were done for.."
>> "W-what is this? Are you a mutie too, you little beast?"
>> "Of course she is, man, she's my friend. And you haven't met the Wolf yet, but the three of us were supposed to meet here."
Agnes mentally shrugged and decided to go with it. After all, she was pretty sure that the only thing they really had going for them was the fact that they were mutants. She knew that she was not strong enough or skilled enough to take on two guys at once, especially when one of them was armed. But her mutation was terrifying to those who were not prepared to see it. Everyone, no matter who they were, had issues with bugs. And watching them crawl and fly out of a girl’s mouth should have been enough to send anyone on edge. Even a pair of thugs who were looking to beat down a couple of innocent teens.
At least she hoped this kid was innocent. He seemed to be pretty scared, as if he really had no idea what was going on. He claimed Agnes as his friend, even announced that there was another mutant arriving with an even more terrifying ability. He was desperate. But Agnes didn’t mind. Whatever they could do to ensure their survival was more than appreciated.
“Wolf’s hungry tonight too,” Agnes tossed in as she glared at the taller of the pair of thugs. “You two brought the salt and pepper didn’t you?”
Whether it was the addition of her words or simply the look of determination on both her’s and the new mutant’s face, she didn’t know, but their point seemed to come across. The two thugs took their words and immediately beat a hasty retreat.
Agnes locked eyes on them, not moving until they were finally gone. The whole while her swarm buzzed protectively around her head and circled her feet. Their small, multi-legged bodies latched onto her protectively until her heart rate began to slow. As it did, they all knew that the great danger had passed. Their skittered, their small bodies glistening as they made their way back towards her mouth. Agnes opened and allowed them all access back to their warm, nestled homes within her body. She was getting used to the action now and did not feel as thoroughly creeped out as usual. It was only when it was all over did she finally reacknowledge the teen’s presence…
>> "Thanks there, for a moment I thought we were done for.."
Agnes cracked a smile, her crystal blue eyes searching and finding the sincerity of his words. It was obvious that he was a little embarrassed by what had just happened. She was only glad that they pair of them had survived without having to receiving any new puncture wounds. A small, steady sigh of relief and Agnes raised her hand to eat her ice cream before she remembered that she had dropped it during her scare tactic.
Aw man! That was a good one too…
She sighed, lamenting the loss of her ice cream before she turned back to Enzo and smiled softly, tucking a strand of loose hair behind her ear. “It’s no problem. Just glad I could help out.” she paused she slipped her hands back into her pockets. “You were at the Xavier mansion the other day, weren’t you? I saw you walking around that day.” She quickly stuck out her hand to him. “My name’s Agnes.”
Posted by falsodeus on Jul 15, 2011 10:30:43 GMT -6
Guest
It was a very good thing that Enzo did not actually see the swarm twisting and creeping back into the place they came from, some of it probably climbing Agnes' body like in a horror movie. It would've been a sight few are prepared to deal with, as the simple idea of letting insects of any kind enter your mouth and descending inside your body is not very appealing to the general population. This permitted a less creeped out dialog from the Italian boy - even, if the sudden disappearance of the insects left him wondering what had happened to them. Perhaps she was some sort of illusionist mutant? Either way, it was not hard for him to decide how he prefered to see her.
Besides, there was something amusing about the contrast between the girl standing in front of him now - kind, pretty and with a sort of fragility about her - and the terrible avatar of anger she had been just a few minutes ago. It also triggered a sense of wonder: how mutants could vary, how it was all so new even with the reading and the intense hunting for mutant news during the last two days. Reality has nothing on reports and bad footage.
The girl let out a short sigh, which sort of broke the ice for him. "It’s no problem. Just glad I could help out. You were at the Xavier mansion the other day, weren’t you? I saw you walking around that day. My name's Agnes"
A gentle smile raised the corner of his lips. His social persona started kicking in. "Oh, you were at the mansion that day?" he asked, taking a few steps closer to her. It was only natural to him, although many Americans would not approach people as he did. But he was raised in Southern Europe, where people talked a bit closer to each other, it left them more comfortable. "I'm sorry, I don't think I remember you.. I was very distracted then." he shrugged "Name's Enzo" again, his accent exposing his name and origins for him "And I wanted to thank you for your help against those two brutes and for tagging along with the Wolf thing, ragazza." his smile increased with the sheer happiness of having come out of that trouble the way they did "I'm sorry you had to loose your ice cream, but we can get another if you'd like!"
Lively energy coming from his body while he spoke, with the occasional unconscious gesture here and there. It was typical of him; one would think they had just been giving directions to a couple of tourists! Yet, it would be pointless to waste time pointing out how lucky they had been and what could've gone wrong. To him, that sort of trivial happy conversation was like a celebration; besides, meeting people was always something he treasured.
Enzo's hand had, of course, traveled the distance that separated his right thigh from his right temporarily purple eye, and he scratched it. Comprehension struck at him: like DocProf said, it was not an itch, he felt; it was a prickling new sensation, something he could not yet identify.
Agnes nodded and grinned a little. “Yeah, I live there. I only saw you for a second but, well, you know the only reason that people really go to that mansion is because they’re mutants. I figured that’s what the case was today.”
>> "I'm sorry, I don't think I remember you…I was very distracted then….Name's Enzo…And I wanted to thank you for your help against those two brutes and for tagging along with the Wolf thing, ragazza."
He had a nice smile and a very friendly attitude. For New York that could be a dangerous thing. How did he not know that she was merely out to attack him after “saving” him? There were scams worse than that always running rampant around New York. But, at least he got lucky this time. She was not here to rob him or leave his lifeless corpse in the gutter. Instead she offered him a friendly smile and shook his hand firmly. If there was one thing she was beginning to appreciate these days was the need to have friends.
“Well, it’s very nice to meet you,” she responded warmly. Her overly thin frame took a more relaxed posture as she began to calm. The thugs were done and the day was saved. But…why…oh why did her ice cream have to suffer?
Casualty of war…
>> "I'm sorry you had to loose your ice cream, but we can get another if you'd like!"
Agnes immediately perked up and smirked. She was beginning to like this guy. Not only was he nice but he had some of the greatest ideas. Gently Agnes nodded her head and pointed off down the street towards the corner she had just came from.
“There’s a vendor there, he sells some of the best ice cream in town.” She said as she began to walk that way and waved for him to follow her. “And hey, since you were the one attacked, I’ll even treat you.”
This was a far cry from the normal Agnes. The poor runaway had gone through hell for the past year, having her mutation start up while everyone around her in school died, being exorcized by her parents, running away from home and living on the streets for months and months. It had all just left her irritated and bitter towards the world. Now though…she was beginning to find some semblance of happiness. She was beginning to feel almost content with the world.
A glance to Enzo as they walked and Agnes nodded to him.
“So…can you like…really become poisonous to the touch? Like a cane toad? Or were you bluffing?” she asked bluntly.
Posted by falsodeus on Jul 15, 2011 15:46:29 GMT -6
Guest
Despite the fact a life struggle had taken place less then five minutes ago, the night was turning out to be very promising and bright. Dinner had been great - home cooked pizzas made by Italian hands hardly failed - the lone trip had been very relaxing and perfect for digestion, and now there was this girl - Agnes - whose mood was just right. There was also the mutant factor about her, and like any other person whose identity somehow points them out from the rest of society, Enzo needed an encounter such as this. Alexander had been a great find, but anxiety smothered the chance to actually meet him. Now here she was, kin, and possibly a great conversation.
“There’s a vendor there, he sells some of the best ice cream in town. And hey, since you were the one attacked, I’ll even treat you.”
"Aha" Enzo let out a small chuckle, beaming "Thanks, donna mia, but I think saviors get the prize" he said, winking "Besides, it's only fair, since it's my fault you lost your first ice cream anyway"
They started walking, Agnes directing them towards said vendor. Enzo didn't really know this man; being used to amazing treats from their hometown, the Cox usually would first scan the area for the best places to get the best things, and pretty much ignore the rest. It might sound a bit snobbish of them, yet one must realize treats such as ice creams were usually very high quality in Italy, and lowering their expectations made as much sense as stop making homemade pizzas and start buying frozen ones.
"So…can you like…really become poisonous to the touch? Like a cane toad? Or were you bluffing?"
Blood rushed to his face again, and that itchy-ish sensation on his chest warned him that something probably changed there (how strange, it was getting more frequent..)Trying to cover his embarrassment, Enzo's eyes found Agnes' "It's pretty much like the Wolf story.. You're right, I went into the mansion because of the mutant thing. I didn't know if I was one at the time, even if it's pretty obvious now" his hand pointed at the purple eye "Thing is, I have pretty much no idea what I can do. In fact, I don't even know how to do it, my skin's just be randomly changing color."
Then he realized: "Dio, I can't go home like this! If Andre - my brother - sees my eye, I don't think he'll buy the "lens" thing. And I don't think the vendor should look at my eye either.."
Suddenly, being a mutant didn't sound altogether that cool. Happiness and thoughts on how bright the night had turned out sunk like a paper boat in the Atlantic; brief ideas of changing the world or having a gift that set him apart from the rest of Humanity also paled in comparison to the invisibility being "normal" had granted him. Plus, he did not really want to live with people like the X Men; from what he read, there was loads of pro mutant activism going there - although not the extremist kind - and Enzo wasn't ready to make a stand for something he did not quite comprehend.
His left pocket came alive for a brief moment; someone had texted him. Whatever.
So he wanted to do the valiant thing and pay for her ice cream? Whatever. She guessed she could accept that. She really did not mind treating him, but if this was his way of saying thank you, she could go for that. It really was a nice gesture on his part, even though she had never asked him. Agnes usually hated taking gifts or anything from people because it usually meant that she would have to owe them later. But these days she was slowly beginning to accept that not everyone had an ulterior motive. Sometimes…people just wanted to say thank you.
With a nod, she led him towards the vendor as he went on to explain more about himself…
>> "It's pretty much like the Wolf story.. You're right, I went into the mansion because of the mutant thing. I didn't know if I was one at the time, even if it's pretty obvious now…Thing is, I have pretty much no idea what I can do. In fact, I don't even know how to do it, my skin's just be randomly changing color."
Agnes arches her thin eyebrows in surprise and awe. He could change his skin color, or at least that was what he was assuming. That must be difficult, she thought, that he was having such a hard time figure out what his mutation was. For the longest time Agnes shared that same belief. After her gift first emerged, she could not make heads or tails of it. Why was she suddenly having insects crawling around her insides? It was disgusting and weird but with time and practice she finally started to gain some type of control. Tonight was a perfect example. As agitated as she was, her swarm should have been attacking everyone, even Enzo! But with her practice, she was able to hold them at bay.
Maybe that’s all Enzo needed. A little practice.
“Don’t worry, I’m sure you’re going to figure it out,” she said encouragingly. “Trust me, my mutation isn’t pretty and I had just as hard a time figuring out what was going on when it first started. It’ll come in time. You just need to keep calm and let it appear when its ready.”
As they were ready to round the corner, a strange attitude seemed to seize Enzo. Agnes watched as the boy, still flushed red began to grow slightly despondent about his mutation.
>> "Dio, I can't go home like this! If Andre - my brother - sees my eye, I don't think he'll buy the "lens" thing. And I don't think the vendor should look at my eye either.."
It was rare for Agnes to need to be the one to do the voice of reason, but she would do her best. The thin runaway sighed as she grabbed Enzo’s arm and very gently patted his hand. Her blue eyes locked onto his as she spoke…
“Enzo, you need to relax. Just take one thing at a time, okay?” she nodded over to the vendor who was now within sight, helping a young girl. “First, I think you need ice cream. You see that vendor there?” she asked as she nodded to him. “He does not discriminate. I’ve seen him help a little boy with tentacles for arms nearly every day with a big smile on his face. I think he can handle your purple eye there. He’ll prolly just think you’re some raver or something.” She let go of his hand as she stepped back. “And as for going home…just cross that bridge when you get there. Panicking about it now is not going to help, hell, it might even make it worse. Trust me,” she said with a nod. “I have firsthand experience of my mutation going crazy because I’m upset. You need to breathe and just relax. Don’t be so uptight.”
Arms crossed over her chest, Agnes tilted her head as she watched Enzo closely. She would let him have his freak out for now, but having been on the far worse spectrum of it, she was not going to coddle it either. She did believe Enzo would be okay, and whatever his mutation was, he would figure it out. But freaking out and panicking were not going to help. She only hoped her words got through to him. With breath, she waited for him to look calmer before she smiled small and nodded off to the side.
“Now your hero demands ice cream. You did promise…”
Posted by falsodeus on Jul 15, 2011 19:27:56 GMT -6
Guest
Each word hit him heavier than it was supposed to. It was obviously impossible not to be jolly around Agnes, at least the Agnes that he was meeting. Yet, just as they were bright, the words carried a truth he had to recognize: Enzo's power, and the courage that it was demanding from him, currently seemed shallow and empty when compared to Agnes' or the kid with the tentacle arms she spoke of. Hell, it probably was a joke if you thought about the larger scale of mutants - what their powers were, how they had appeared to them, how they might've completely ruptured their lives forever - and this was just the small tip of the iceberg of worldwide discrimination. This didn't mean he should ignore his anxiety; it was a matter of perspective.
So, in response to her cheering up, Enzo simply beamed again - even more because she did have the gift to make him feel a bit embarrassed - and he nodded, as if trying show that he understood just how superficial his fears were. "Ice cream indeed, donna. I guess I should pay you two" the boy added.
It was obvious the both of them were about the same age, so one would expect Enzo to let out his usual "ragazza". Thing was, the last few minutes had earned him a lot of respect for this bright little girl, as well as some friendly affection. It felt right to greet her with a title of maturity: "donna" He was glad she did not question this.
As they approached the vendor, Enzo greeted him with a slightly nervous "Good evening!". The man's face beamed as if he was happy with Enzo's respectful greeting, which had not been the typical empty word many a people gave him during entire days. Feeling encouraged (and scratching his chest), Enzo tried to measure the ice cream's quality just by looking at it. He didn't do it with a snobbish expression - nor did he feel like it - but more like he was simply choosing his flavour. Deeming it worthy, he decided to go for stracciatella, his favourite less elaborate flavour. The man's hands worked with the speed of experience, generously topping the cone with a large scoop. It was a very pleasing sight indeed. Enzo accepted it with a "Grazie!" and a smile.
Pleased, he turned to Agnes and asked "What will you be having, donna?" The itchy-ish sensation in the eye had vanished.
>> "Ice cream indeed, donna. I guess I should pay you two"
Agnes grinned brightly and nodded. He seemed to relax a bit more, though there would always be that apprehension. She was not surprised. When someone discovered they were a mutant was not an easy thing to get over. The majority of the time they spent was them in denial, trying to imagine that it was something far different. But genetics were genetics, one could not simply ignore that and hope it was going to go away. Agnes knew that very well.
In the end, it always fell down to how you were going to handle it. Either own up to the fact that you were different, or slink away into a dark hole. The runaway was just these days beginning to accept who and what she was. For the longest time she didn’t. After all, how many people would simply just sit back and accept that they had insects in them?
She had experience on both sides of the fence. So if there was anyone who knew what they were talking about, it was her. Hopefully Enzo would listen.
Making their way to vendor, Agnes simply stood back and watched Enzo interact. He was nervous looking, but luckily she knew the vendor well enough. He was a nice, older man that made a simple living just selling ice cream. He didn’t care who he sold to, so long as they were nice and did not try to runaway without paying him. Selling in a neighborhood like this, and he had plenty of experiences like that. But, ask him about his mutant clientele and he’ll be the first one to say that they are all wonderful people that enjoy their ice cream as much as anyone. Human, mutant, it didn’t matter…ice cream was the great leveler of mankind.
Agnes saw this in the vendor’s eyes as he happily aided Enzo in his choice. He really was a nice man and Agnes knew that Enzo would be in good hands. As hard as it was to believe that not everyone in the world was out to get out, she knew that one person at a time, she would be able to convince him of such. She only hoped that his parents would be more understanding than hers had been.
>> "What will you be having, donna?"
As she was shaken from her thoughts, Agnes turned her attention back to Enzo and smiled at him briefly before she turned back to face the ice cream vendor. He chuckled when he saw her.
“Already ready for another one, Miss?”
“Unfortunately it was a victim of some unforeseen circumstances,” she grinned. “Same as before?”
“Of course, dear.” The old man chuckled as he began to remake Agnes fallen ice cream.
As he did so, Agnes sighed a bit contently and stuffed her hands in her pockets as she awaited. Turning her attention back to Enzo she nodded to his own frozen treat. “Good?”
Posted by falsodeus on Jul 17, 2011 9:24:20 GMT -6
Guest
Lips parted, allowing an opening for the ice cream to get to. Soft and creamy - with just the right amount of milk - the chocolate bits setting a pleasant contrast. It was a surprise, and a good one at that. If the cone was half as nice, Enzo would be content to add that vendor to his mental list of people who maded quality food. His friends - especially Johanna - would probably mock him for this sudden new inclusion, but it was part of the fun of it, really.
"Good?" Agnes had asked him. He smiled, believing she had already sort of half-guessed his answer.
"It's very good, do you want some? The flavor's just right" he offered, smiling from her to the vendor "Thanks for sharing him with me" he added as his worries melted with his stracciatella goodness. And, incidently, so did some of the itchy-ish sensations around his body. Perhaps it was some sort of reverse adolescense trigger: as an adolescent, one's mood was always jumping; his mutation, on the other hand, might be activated by mood jumps? If so, he was at the right age to exhibit a fun variety of exquisite colors all over his body.
Still, he figured there was some sort of healing quality to a good ice cream; somehow, it just seemed to tell you "savor me, relax". How could anyone enjoy theirs if they were stressed anyway? You'd just swallow the whole thing without actually perceiving the flavor (and probably hurting your teeth in the process). Somehow, ice cream seemed to summon one's inner child, relaxing the muscles and soothing the head. Such precious effects demanded the inclusion of ice cream in therapy sessions and discussion groups.
Once the nice old man handed Agnes her new ice cream (which Enzo was tempted to try, although he would probably ask later), the teenager swiftly retrieved his wallet and paid what was due. He gazed at their surroundings swiftly, feeling indecisive; home really didn't call out for his heart just yet, and he was enjoying the girl's company anyway. His eyes searched for her face "Do you have anything you ought to be doing, donna? I was just thinking I don't feel like going home just yet. There's a child's park near this place where I sometimes go with my friends, we could talk a bit more there if you want" he paused, then added with a smile "It's well illuminated and safe from unpleasant gorillas"
He felt like there was a lot to this girl that deserved to be met. Of course once you meet an European-born person as social as Enzo, you realize that they will always try talking to everyone, but the difference was that, contrary to common belief, he wanted to know who he was talking to. Shallow encounters did nothing for him, and questions like "how are you?", which usually were empty, disgusted him. Knowing Agnes was even more relevant when you consider the fact that she is the first mutant he was actually given the time to meet.
>> "It's very good, do you want some? The flavor's just right…Thanks for sharing him with me"
Agnes raised her hand, shook her head, and chuckled. “Thank you, but no. I would hate to steal any of that from you. I’ll take your word for it and order that next time.”
It was a bit of a culture shock talking to this boy. He seemed so open, so willing to share and be friendly that Agnes was temporarily thrown by the idea. Too many times, living in the alleys, she had come across the adverse affects of being too friendly. The scum of this city, that shadows that make the dark corners shiver, love to prey on those who were too willing to trust others. That was sad because in the end, it caused people to close up. It made them eye their neighbor suspiciously and believe the absolute worst about them without any proof. But, as sad as it was, it was the hard, cold truth about life.
Still, as Agnes was beginning to learn, that did not mean you had to shut yourself off to the world for the rest of your living days. That was impossible.
Running her soft tongue over the ice cream, the cool treat immediately began to melt in her mouth. The once frozen cream began to slacken, loosing its bonds to itself as it rolled in mouth and activated every taste but. Agnes moaned and little happily and nodded her head. The few sprinkles that made it into that bite also began to dissolve, adding to the sugarish taste that she was greatly enjoying. Agnes had not been kidding when she said this vendor had some of the best ice cream.
And judging by Enzo’s expression, he was beginning to agree.
Once their ice cream was paid for, Agnes took a few steps away when the Italian kid began to speak again…
>> "Do you have anything you ought to be doing, donna? I was just thinking I don't feel like going home just yet. There's a child's park near this place where I sometimes go with my friends, we could talk a bit more there if you want…It's well illuminated and safe from unpleasant gorillas"
“That will be great,” Agnes said with a wide green and nodded. “I don’t have any other plans for the night.”
Agnes stepped back and decided to let Enzo lead the way. When she was homeless, Agnes gained a fairly good amount of knowledge about the city. You had to learn or you died, it was as simple as that. You needed to know where you could run, where you could hide, where would could score the best trashcans for food. You had to know your environment, Agnes knew that. So she had a pretty good idea where Enzo wanted to take her, but she would let him lead the way, just in case she was wrong.
Another bite of her ice cream and the runaway grinned over at Enzo as he seemed to become lost with his own cone. It was obvious that he was going to want to talk more about being a mutant, especially since he was just barely discovering that he was one. She hoped that she would be able to help Enzo with any questions..
Posted by falsodeus on Jul 19, 2011 20:03:45 GMT -6
Guest
The two teenagers began their new short voyage through the deserted cityscape. Streetlamps predictably placed along the streets provided both light and color, sparks of dust glistening under shining spotlights. Their shadows would stretch and shrink, multiply and blend, an endless visual game Enzo appreciated as they walked, ice cream in hand. Worries were past, now, replaced by simple curiosity.
Mere moments after they departed from the vendor - it is important to mention this didn't influence Enzo's decision to light a conversation, it simply happened - the teenager began speaking with his usual light tone: "You know, when I went to the mansion I didn't even know if I was really a mutant or not. The way things happened, it was all very confusing." he looked sideways at Agnes, before his eyes got trapped by the light in the streets "I know the whole "I don't know what I do" thing might sound dumb because I basically change colors, but DocProf told me way it happens is important. His supposed to help me find out." he sighed. He didn't exhibit any sadness, though, since he didn't feel it. However, change can disturb one's world, disrupting familiar footholds.
It felt ok to tell these things to Agnes. Many Americans thought he got personal really quick. It was a one-sided feeling, though: what mattered were the details, small feelings and thoughts that would remain locked away from the light of speech unless a true friend comes his way. It was only right.
"I met a guy there, Alexander. He can manipulate the weather, you know him? Spanish, oriental looking?" "Funny how that sounds" he thought. But then again, in Italy loads of people would ask him if he wasn't from Northern Europe, and if at first he would elaborate his answer, later he realized it wasn't worth it.
Another nibble at the ice cream. It was really good, reaching it's doom far more quickly than necessary. He had pretty much devoured it. Looking at Agnes', he stifled the idea of asking to taste a bit of hers; somehow, her refusal had that hint he got whenever he did something the "Mediterranean way". If there was anything he had learned from the years he spent in America was how to distinguish some of the hints people provided whenever he acted too nicely or with excessive warmth. Ignoring it was not always the wiser option.
Dead still, roped to a metal bar lay the silhouettes of a pair of swings. The metallic surface glistened even at that distance. They were mere seconds away from it.
