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 Erik Volkov on Mar 25, 2018 13:53:01 GMT -6
Gamma Mutant
325
38
Feb 4, 2024 7:32:55 GMT -6
Ufgad
Erik shrugged and maintained his casual smile. "I do not mind at all so long as you are not one of those people that dislike Russians just because of how both governments are handling things." It was going to be interesting enough having to deal with fears or ignorance about his motivations for being in New York being a mutant. Add the fact he was Russian into the blender on top of it all and he was pretty confident he there was at least a healthy collection of people who disliked him without even getting to know him beyond his labels. "You are right about that and I do. It is pretty predictable within a few minutes and I can tell you we should have time." Flashing a brighter smile for a moment before listening to what she had to say.
"Before I left Russia rumors were getting pretty strong about families disappearing if they or their children were suspected of being mutants. Never knew anyone that disappeared personally so it is hard to say if it was just an urban legend or not. I can tell you no one would trust a place like this back home since it would be watched or if not, run by the government. Would rather not wake up in a cell or strapped to a gurney. Just so you know where my skeptical attitude comes from. Not some sort of criticism aimed at you or this place." Erik informed her to give her some insight to what he felt was a well founded paranoia given his past situation.
"Erik, pleased to meet you Lee. The tour beforehand would be nice. I get a bit bulkier and would prefer to not have to duck through every doorway before I know my way around." He went with her to get signed in and take care of all the bureaucratic stuff. As they started walking again he looked to her. "So is this place all volunteer or do you actually get paid to do this?" Inquiring politely, but interestedly. "Seems like an interesting way to spend one's free time if it is volunteer."
Posted by Erik Volkov on Mar 25, 2018 8:21:36 GMT -6
Gamma Mutant
325
38
Feb 4, 2024 7:32:55 GMT -6
Ufgad
Erik hadn't really intended on doing the whole tourist thing, but he ended up in Central Park and found the greenery refreshing instead of being surrounded by concrete and steel. It had nothing to do with the fact Central Park was rather famous in it's own right nope, not at all. He had cruised through to see all the various landmarks before ending up the fourth in a game a frisbee with some random strangers. Which in itself would not have been a big deal until the stars aligned and decided Erik was going to make a fool of himself. Man A had a crush Female B so was just the slightest bit distracted when she appeared to flirted with Man C causing just the slightest over rotation of his wrist causing the frisbee to take a wicked hook. That in itself wasn't the most catastrophic thing that could have happened except Erik didn't really look t o see where it was going nor did anyone anticipate a dog slipping free from its owners attention in order to impromptu join the fun.
So in this particular moment when all the forces of the universe conspired against a single person in some act of unknown karmic retribution, pure happenstance turned into a carefully choreographed act of the cosmos to make on person seem foolish. Erik had caught the frisbee just shy of the fountain as he fully expected he would when the unexpected elements of today's outing kicked in full force. Just as his fingers clasped around the errant disc the dog jumped on his back to steel the frisbee in a display of its own acrobatic prowess that was about to be outshined to the nines. Using Erik as a leaping post worked out well for the dog but not so much for Erik. The transfer of energy sending him tripping over the edge of the fountain in an impressive cartwheel and a splash that would have earned him a gratuitous 3 points from the olympic judges. Erik recovered quickly and as if to give a big finger to all the forces that be hard work in attempt to turn a day sour, as soon as he stood up and slicked the wet hair from his face he laughed. Not even one of those nervous laughs when someone gave when they were trying to deflect from a nervous situation. A full on 'that was darn funny' sort of laugh.
It caught a bit short once he noticed Emma "Sorry for that I didn't get you wet or ruin your book did I?" Asking with genuine concern as he sloshed out of the fountain and threw his leg over the side to get out and stood dripping a safe distance away. Raising hand to wave off the others of the trio so they could retrieve their frisbee from the their new far more hairy fourth. He slung his backpack around to peek into his backpack and test that other then his wet hand he hadn't been under long enough to let it seep into the bag.
Posted by Erik Volkov on Mar 24, 2018 21:15:42 GMT -6
Gamma Mutant
325
38
Feb 4, 2024 7:32:55 GMT -6
Ufgad
At least the woman who was going to answer his questions was easy on the eyes. Though perhaps he was being just the slightest bit too forward with his questions. He offered Lee and smile and a nod at the morsel of information. It wasn't until he noticed the slight look the woman held he chuckled and apologized. "Sorry, I just got into town so I am trying to make sure I don't wander into any, 'bad neighborhoods' for mutants." even doing the finger quotes when he said it. "No nothing in particular at the moment. Will probably need a place to change. I uh sort of transform and would rather not do it in public if I can help it." He adjusted the backpack on his shoulder a bit.
"Plus I heard from this place from another mutant and wanted to see what it was like here. Make sure it wasn't one of those too good to be true type scenarios."
Posted by Erik Volkov on Mar 24, 2018 1:48:37 GMT -6
Gamma Mutant
325
38
Feb 4, 2024 7:32:55 GMT -6
Ufgad
While it shouldn't have been his first stop in his outing to New York he felt he had to stop in and check in on Sanctuary for a variety of reasons. His benefactor had a hand in the place as much as the little resort he was staying at, they helped mutants and he might need their help in the fure, and almsot as important he could get a feel for what the perception of mutants was for real from the people most desperate and mistreated. Back home any sort of street knowledge was inavaluable. In a city as big as New York he figured it might even save some him from some harsh lessons in reality he did not want to encounter personally if he could help it. Not that he doubted anyone would fault him for focusing on survival first and altruism second.
So after a few minutes of staring at the odd golden doors and indulging in his paranoia of looking around the area to see if anyone was watching the place, he finally went in. His dark brown eyes looking around in an appraising manner to soak up as much of his surroundings as he could as he let his hood down. There seemed to be something of a secretary he could talk to if he wished, but a part of him wanted to sneak off down one of the hallways to peak in and talk with some of the people who resided there. He stood there glancing between the desk and the rest of the building as he tried to make up his mind. As his luck would have it he spotted someone heading his way and he moved to meet the woman.
"Hello Ma`am. I just got here and was wondering if you could tell me a bit about this place?" his words tinged slightly with the softest bit of a Russian accent. "And the attitude of the city in general towards mutants?" he could have probably asked someone back on Hadden's, but he wouldn't have been sure if it was just some lip service to make him feel better about his new situation.
Posted by Erik Volkov on Mar 24, 2018 0:14:10 GMT -6
Gamma Mutant
325
38
Feb 4, 2024 7:32:55 GMT -6
Ufgad
It was probably for the upwards of a thousand times now Erik wondered why he had been bestowed his particular set of abilities by the 'powers that be'. No it couldn't be something far easier to master like shooting laser beams out your eyes, bending electricity to your will, or even something simple like changing the color of ones skin. Instead it was his penance for kicking puppies in his last life or something equally as terrible that deigned he turned into a big fumbling brute of a man. As well as wondering if he hadn't had such a respectable amount of control in his normal form if this wouldn't seem as hard. Sure some other's who might have what some would deem as 'super' strength might concern themselves with trying to pulverize concrete blocks with their head or trying to crush cars in the bare hands, (which he was sure he would attempt out of sure principle to see if he could at some point). He himself was concerned with control. Namely the sort of control that would allow him to interact with others in both forms and not accidently crush or maim any innocents. Instead of partaking in whatever techno-wizardry the training area underneath Hadden's Haven no doubt had like invincible dummies or holographic targets he sat in the corner like a huge nearly 9' tall toddler stacking appropriately sized hollow ceramic cubes. His own self appointed task to stack them like a pyramid without shattering or cracking them. The fact he had only the bottom row attested to his current results. That and the pulverized remains of the last cube that dared cracked and the fine powder on his right hand for one that had dared to do so, obviously being the cube's fault.
His eyebrow perked as he heard someone enter. The large.. crab, lobster, seacreature? inspired person he had seen elsewhere as his smaller self. He raised a big meathook in a wave and attempted a hello that came out as a deep voiced "ell-oh" taking far more effort then he really wished it had.
Posted by Erik Volkov on Mar 22, 2018 18:36:37 GMT -6
Gamma Mutant
325
38
Feb 4, 2024 7:32:55 GMT -6
Ufgad
Erik had moved to the side and stopped assuming someone had wanted to pass quickly with the excuse me before he heard his name. As he turned his head with a raised eyebrow and a quizzical look on his face he affirmed Devon's suspicions. "Yes, I am Erik." he uttered with a nod and only a hint of his Russian origins showing through. Something that must have taken dedicated time from the young man or instructors who cared deeply and were slave drivers. All of the above being equally true of course. He had the faintest feeling of deja vu until THE Devon introduced himself. "Hmm? OH! Mr. Hadden it is a pleasure to meet you. Or would that be Dr. Hadden?" Having heard the man might be a psychologist, but unsure if he had earned the title. "Of course you can join me, but only if you buy." he joked with a warm grin before peering over at Svetlana. "And would the gorgeous woman accompanying you be Mrs. Hadden?" Awaiting the introductions before resuming his walk towards the cafeteria.
"I am more then happy at the arrangements. 24/7 good food. Great views. My own room. The whole package it seems. The lack of city noise is taking some getting used to." he admitted to the latter with a bit of a head bob. "Just one thing I could use some help with. You see when I get big the clothes do not. Now while I am rather comfortable with both my bodies natural form I can see how some with a less liberal shall we say... views... might be uncomfortable with a free show. Ideally some underclothes that can get big or shrink as needed would be nice. As well as some uh.. 10XL shirts? Would be very much appreciated." Erik couldn't help but smirk a bit despite his very patient to doctor style tone. Not seeming the least bit embarrassed at the situation like some might and Devon had asked afterall. His concerns put out in the open he shrugged "It is a very nice place here. I will try to get a handle on my strength as quick as I can so someone more deserving can take my spot."
Posted by Erik Volkov on Mar 21, 2018 21:28:55 GMT -6
Gamma Mutant
325
38
Feb 4, 2024 7:32:55 GMT -6
Ufgad
Whomever took the time to watch the teenager would quickly discover that the book he was looking at was little more than a pretense to stare at something while his brain churned over the last day. It would have no doubt been a more convincing ruse if he ever bothered to turn a page on the book. Instead he was content to be apart of the general murmur and hubbub in between drifting thoughts like a man with one toe in the pool to check the water. 'One day Russia and the next America.' Was the current prevailing thought in his mind and how fortune's changed quickly. Whatever bell his family had struck in the darkness in pursuit of help for their wayward family member hit a chord somewhere with someone. It had taken him all of five minutes of conversation with the team of people to decide he was leaving. The goodbye's had been much harder to swallow and took well into an hour despite the clock they knew was always ticking with Erik. Especially with his Uncle Yosef. While his Uncle had his own family to deal with now Erik himself had always considered the man his father figure if he had to pick anyone of the numerous family members in their clan.
The beeping of his watch broke him out of his recurring thoughts to remind him of another hour passed and he practically growled at himself as he finally closed the book and set it on a table near him. His eyes travelling around the place as he looked around with an appraising eye. It was a nice enough place if he was being honest with himself which he wasn't. There were the little touches here and there that spoke to the fact a psychologist had a hand in designing the place. Thankfully the only motivational poster he had seen was in one of the staff's offices. Judging from some of the faces he had seen when exploring about there were some individuals who looked harrowed by their experiences or what they had done and in some cases like himself what they became. There was no doubt the opportunity for camaraderie of some kind with at least a few of the other residents, but today he was just going to concentrate on himself per his newly assigned psychologists orders. He pulled himself out of the chair he had been residing in and paused as he tried to remember which way the cafeteria was a moment before starting his leisurely way there. If he was going to get to anyone by name first it was going to be the ones feeding him every couple of hours.
Hair color and style: Light brown, usually swept back, medium length.
Skin Tone: Fair
Eye Color: Dark brown
Height:5 '10"
Build: Muscled Athletic
Visible mutation: Increasingly anomalous movements of skin as time progresses while in human form. Very visible when he changes.
Scars/ Tattoos/ Piercings: N/A
Other features: N/A
Everyday clothing style: Nothing too fancy such as blue jeans and long sleeves to hide any of his mutant tells.
Uniform: N/A
Sleepwear: Boxers, prefers knit style in plaid patterns.
Miscellaneous clothing: Typically seen wearing gloves of some kind for the same reason as the long sleeves.
Character
Personality: One thing Erik's mother always tried to instill in him was that of Pride. Pride in one's work whatever it may be. Pride in one's appearance and bearing. The ability to hold one's head up high even when doing the lowest of jobs. To make his family proud. Erik may not have always succeeded in maintaining his mother's high standards, but that didn't stop him from trying. The real world was often rough on the noblest of intentions. So he tries to be an extension of his familial will. Despite himself he often tries to joke or make light of uncomfortable situations or when he is the center of attention. Otherwise he watches carefully in other's social interactions to see how everything is playing out before interjecting himself into a social situation. The only area he never jokes about is in his own physical fitness and training as he takes both very seriously.
Hobbies/ Interests: Fast cars, reading, and movies when he isn't working out or training.
Job or part time job and description: Used to underground fight and run odd jobs for criminal organizations. Currently nothing.
Fears/ phobias/ concerns: Getting stuck in his alternate form. Fire. His mother and family health and safety.
Special talents: Lockpicking, hotwiring, thieving.
Morality
Good/ bad/ neutral/ other: Erik would consider himself a good person. He doesn't go out of his way to hurt someone or be a jerk if he doesn't have to. However, when it comes to a job or family he won't let anyone or anything get in his way of protecting them.
Mutations
Mutation description: Healing factor and biological strength surge.
Erik has the ability to survive mortal wounds, regrow/reattach limbs, shirk off contaminants and disease and force his strength to higher levels due to his regenerative biology.
Healing Factor: Erik's wounds heal at an incredible rate and he can survive wounds that would kill a normal person. Simple wounds like cuts and stabs take a few seconds to heal. Bullets and the like take around 12 seconds due to having to expel the bullets. Regrowing a full limb takes six minutes whereas reattaching one takes a few seconds. A full regrowth would take 15 minutes from a head or torso piece, 20 from a hand. If for some reason he were to get quartered his bits would reach out with fleshy tendrils to pull himself back together if within 10ft. Will always regrow from the biggest portion with the most complex and quantifiable amount of organs if unable to do so. A torso full of organs would take precedence over a brain, but not an intact spinal structure and brain (Nor does it allow multiple Erik's to grow. There can only be one). As a side effect of these abilities Erik also ages much slower then normal human and has superhuman level of endurance.
Personality Persistence: Erik's memory and personality are backed up in some unknown manner. Damage, destruction, or loss of his brain will at best temporarily take away his ‘self’ and he will be back to normal in 1 to 7 days (damage dependent). Loss of sensory organs will cause him to lose ‘awareness’ until repaired. His consciousness inhabits the greatest portion of his body as determined by regrowth rules. Loses consciousness at 50% torso and head destruction or greater. Consciousness returns after sufficient healing. His ‘self’ will return after a period of readjustment and until it returns his state would be amnesiac.
Biosurge: By pushing his body past it's 'natural' limits Erik can change and force his body to accomplish superhuman physical feats, at the expense of his regenerative ability. Currently he can surge his strength such that lifting a car over his head would be considered easy. To do so his muscles bulge his skin to the point it takes on a dark red color and his bones increase in strength and warp to support his frame His dimensions increase 50% and his weight triples due to the increased size and density. The bulking of muscles and bones in his spine forces him into a slightly hunched over posture which also reduces flexibility and mobility at the expense of the increased durability. Forced activation of this ability lasts 4 hours and is undismissable with healing rate halved. Erik can also voluntarily activate this ability 3 times a day lasting up to 30 minutes per surge decreasing healing rate by 1/2, 1/4 and 0x healing factor while surged respectively. These uses return after next forced surge is complete.
Strengths: In short Erik possesses the amazing ability to heal from traumatic wounds by either getting himself new bits or pulling the old ones back together. This ability also extends to protect him from more mundane threats such as poison, disease, toxins, and infections or getting tired.
Very strong healing factor, near immortality: Body can heal, pull itself back together and regrow needed parts.
Pathogen Burn: Immune to diseases and foreign bodies.
Decentralized Consciousness: Destroying his brain does not destroy Erik.
Slower Aging: Erik ages slower as a result of his healing factor.
Super Endurance: Normal humans wonder if he can even get tired.
Sleepless: Healing factor, endurance, and forced surge time remove this need.
Biosurge: Gets big, red and strong. Increases strength to the point lifting cars is easy..
Weaknesses and Limitations:
Increased Caloric Need: Due to his rapid healing Erik needs more calories than most people just to maintain his body profile. He requires a minimum of 4,000 calories a day. Surging beyond his forced surge requires a day’s worth of calories each time. Extensive healing or physical exertion also increases this by an appropriate amount to replenish his internal storage of energy.
Healing Never Turns Off: Four hours after his last surge Erik starts to suffer from arthritis, his skin and muscles begin to move and twitch oddly as tumors begin to form. Additionally his skin starts to turn darker and darker red as blood cells begin to replicate uncontrollably and engorge his muscles. A hard limit of two hours after this begins Erik is forced to surge due to the pain becoming too great as well as being unable to hold it back any longer. Erik can willingly succumb to his surge anytime after these symptoms begin up to the hard limit to satisfy the requirements of his forced surge.
Forced Surge: As per the above weakness Erik is forced to surge around every four to six hours after his last surge. This causes the initial benefits of the surge and the associated drawbacks of surging. Erik is required to stay in this form for a minimum of four hours after which it dismisses itself.
Still Feels: Every action is still connected to Erik and as such feels everything. Surging comes with appropriate amount of pain for someone who triples his mass in seconds. As does taking bullets, getting cut apart, blow apart, ect. The pain goes away much faster than a normal human, but he still has to experience this trauma.
Runs Hot: Erik to a normal person would be considered as having a feverish temperature. As one would expect this also extends to people who touch him or get close to him as well as more sophisticated detection methods such as heat vision.
Still Ages: Despite the fact he ages more slowly eventually Erik will die of old age. As well as the intrinsic annoyances of appearing younger than you really are. Societal misperception about maturity levels, getting jobs, dates, getting carded in the future, ect.
Hard Limits: Only one Erik can exist at a time. Regrows/heals from the rules stated in healing factor. Tendrils reach maximum 10ft from Alpha/consciousness included piece.
Physical Abilities
General Physical Capabilities: (Strength/Speed/Reflexes/<wbr>Stamina/Flexibility) Strong, Average Speed, Average Reflexes, Superhuman Stamina, Gymnast flexibility.
Fighting Style:Proficient in Krav Maga and Street Fighting.
Fighting Style Pros/Cons:Effective at disabling opponents in various stages of broken. Not the greatest at ground fighting.
History Of Your Character
Born to a single mother as the result of a business trip fling and raise by his extended family Erik had the same typical childhood as anyone. He made friends and enemies. had crushes, went to school. All the awesome adventures of adolescent imagination. Erik was also different from most kids. He never seemed to get sick despite when the inevitable seasonal colds and flus went around or even when there was that scare of tainted food from the grocery. Fevers sure, but they always went away. It wasn't till he was eight and was out playing with his Uncle Yosef when anyone suspected just how different he was from everyone else. After swinging high and jumping out of a swing-set he landed wrong and broke his leg. By the time they had made it to the doctor it was all healed up and the doctor gave them a stern talking to for wasting his time. In that moment he went from just a normal family kid to a family secret. His mother pulled him from public school and the family began homeschooling him. Erik also quickly found out his mother, uncles and cousins were far stricter than his teachers ever had been and was pushed hard to learn. Especially when it came to learning English and learning to fight defend himself. His ex-military uncle having a hand in both fields.
At 12 his mother fell sick and lost her job forcing everyone to spend more of their time working instead of teaching and Erik regained some free time. Unable to just sit by and do nothing he found what odd jobs and work he could do as a kid both legal and not so much. By 16 he had earned a small reputation as someone who could get things done without huss or fuss. Never wanting to turn to a life of crime he saw little ways to make the cash needed to pay for his mother's increasingly declining health and keep the rest of the family above water. Between the rest of the family and his underground fights and other illicit activities they were managing to get by. Of course just when things seemed to go ok they always fall apart. One night on the way home from one of his fights a group of guys who lost money by betting on the other guy jumped him. He managed to take apart the first one quickly with his bare hands before getting stabbed by the second. In one agonizing moment he was stabbed and the next he was nine feet tall and destroying the other two in a fit of mauling that would make a bear proud. The lightning was out of the bottle. On the way home he smashed his way into a butcher shop and ate his fill before finding somewhere abandoned to hide out.
The next morning he made his way home to tell his family of the frightening events. Disturbed on more then one level they worked together to keep his secret despite the new added strain of his appetite even as they attempted to reach out to someone who might be sympathetic. His mother's death came as a bittersweet relief for the family and another footnote of his sad history. Through it he learned he had a half-brother and his mother had been receiving payments monthly to keep things quiet. The family then turned their efforts on America and who could help Erik there. Eventually they discovered various outreach programs to help people in their situation and took them, fearful of the growing unrest in their own country surrounding mutants.
Roleplay
What’s your OOC alias?: Ufgad
Where did you learn about this site?: Googlefu, Black Belt Level
Do you have any other characters on MRO, if so who: No.
Sample RP:
The cool evening air felt good against his body and Erik closed his eyes against it. Relishing in the moment despite his pain as it caressed his bare chest. 'No point in shredding perfectly good clothes.' He had thought to himself at the time before the sunset had dipped low. The morning time turning or midday ones were always harder then the ones at night. This way he could prowl around and sate himself on some livestock if he had to. The work of some animal attack he thought to himself with a harsh laugh before it was caught in a hiss of pain as stomach contorted and rippled oddly. He raised his bare hands in the dim light and would have wretched if he wasn't accustomed to the sight. Misshapen lumps dotted his hands and dimpled the rest of his body if he bothered to look. Teeth clenching hard as the skin of his arm wiggled like a worm. For the hundredth time he wondered why he was so persistent in fighting the change and as ever came up with the same answers. The pure simple fact was he didn't want to become a monster. Even if the surge of adrenaline after all the hurt passed away was better than any drug he had even ever heard of. That sheer feeling of invincibility. "Stop." He growled to himself to cut off that line of thinking. His body betraying its own desires by constricting his back in enough pain to bring himself to his knees. "Just a little longer. You can do better than this Erik. Your mother would want better than this." Erik repeated it to himself over and over. He managed another 22 minutes before a scream peeled apart the quiet of the night as he finally gave in.