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 Pharoah Dynasty
An ancient sorceress is on a quest to bring her long-lost warrior-king to the modern era in a bid for global domination. Can the heroes of the modern world stop her before all is lost?
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.
Svetlana could not help but think that her latest Haven invitation was a little... odd. Ever since she had been rescued from SUPER, she had multiple debriefings with both Devon and Nate, and both of them had been more than supportive in helping her get her bearings again, find a new home in Haven, and work through her PTSD issues from her latest kidnapping experience. Even though she was still a little jumpy when it come to being followed in public, she felt like she was slowly beginning to find solid ground again. And ready to do more work. She was not at Haven for charity; she was there because she owed them, and because they represented something even Sveta's somewhat jaded attitude could accept as important. Still, the invite was a little odd.
There were parts of the Haven building Sveta had never seen before. She assumed they were offices, maybe storage rooms, and such. She was also aware that Haven's leadership was more than just Tempest himself, even though he was definitely key to the whole operation. Sveta liked Devon. Even more so, she trusted him. And she definitely liked Nate.
Walking up to the door as the invitation specified, she wondered what she was walking into exactly. Last time, it had been Devon's apartments, with a pool and cocktails and Noel. This time? Heck if she knew. A secret poker party?...
*italics are spoken in Russian* Thanks to Siren for the sig and avi!
It was unfortunate Nat had to leave New York for now. Hopefully she would return, but Nat was not one to ignore opportunity’s knock. Besides, Haven could benefit from information gathered outside the city. But she was going to miss something exciting as Nate and Devon had already discussed. They had a lot to discuss actually, but most would wait for the new arrival.
Devon had arranged for some fine food and even champagne. He’d dressed in black slacks and a charcoal grey turtleneck with a black blazer that had midnight blue lining. It was a celebration as far as he was concerned and he certainly hoped Muse felt the same way. Her information was added to the system so she could take the elevator to the hall. Amanda had amended security systems while Lyle handled operations. Ranger and his team were now aware.
“We need to discuss SUPER but once the lady of the hour arrives,” Devon nodded from his seat. Empty was Nat’s plush chair the one she often pulled her feet up on as she held merlot in one hand and flipped through a dossier with the other. There were many around their coffee table with its sophisticated computer system and heads-up display. Nate had his seat still of course.
The door chimed an indication of Muse’s specific arrival; she’d need to set up a personal code next. “Ah great,” Devon smiled, standing and clicking something on the screen of his phone. The door into their lounge – their LIE – slid open. “Sveta, thanks for coming,” he grinned widely, heading over to her as the door closed behind.
“Can I get you anything to drink?” He had water at the table, but the champagne was chilling at the bar on one side of the room. Central Park sat outside the windows in full glorious display of the day.
It was crazy how one person could affect Nate’s life on multiple levels. Natalie was gone, transferred to Chicago for a new opportunity. It was good for her and he supported her, but it felt like a lot shifted in her wake. They had been slowly working through issues and getting closer to the point where their relationship might have become something real, but they were both realists. What they had was promising, but not enough to dismiss a great career opportunity.
Beyond the many personal ramifications that decision had on his personal life, Nat’s departure effected Haven in a significant way. She was still a resource from a distance, but they could not keep someone in the Inner Echelon who could not be present, especially when so much of their work focused on New York. Without her, the IE consisted of Nate and Devon. The two men were competent, but they could do with another perspective.
Fortunately, Nate had been advocating for a particular Havenite to fill the role for a while. Even before Nat’s departure, Nate thought Svetlana had the drive, the motivation, and the unique perspective on SUPER and other mutant issues they could use. With a pressing need on the table, Devon agreed with the recommendation. All that was left was to offer Svetlana the role—and quickly, since they had much to discuss.
Waiting for the new arrival, Nate stood behind his seat in charcoal grey pants and a light blue button-down shirt. He had a flute of champagne filled and waiting, but he did not sip it yet—not until the woman of the hour arrived.
They were not left waiting long. The door slid open at Devon’s prompt and Svetlana was there, waiting to enter. Nate grinned from wide, excited to see a new entrant to the LIE for the first time since they began things with Haven. ”Good to see you again, Svetlana. Feel welcome to take a seat.” Knowing Svetlana, she had no clue what she was being summoned for; they talked about her desire to take a more active role with Haven, but Nate did not give her a warning or tell her she was essentially getting “promoted.” Why spoil the surprise, after all?
Sveta walked out of the elevator, and into yet another space that seemed like somehow Devon had managed to build rooms in Haven that were bigger on the inside. The view was gorgeous, obviously, and the whole place looked a lot more like the VIP lounge of some fancy hotel than a place someone would work at. But at least there was no pool. She liked both guys, but she would have felt awkward having a pool party just between the three of them.
>>“Sveta, thanks for coming. Can I get you anything to drink?”
Sveta let out a low whistle as she walked up to the guys. "Devon, you continue to amaze me. What else do you have hidden in this building? Which floor is the Amber Room?" Seriously, why did Haven even have a room like this? Other than... because it felt super cool to be invited into one? Sveta nodded at the drink offer, and quickly acquired a glass of champagne.
>> ”Good to see you again, Svetlana. Feel welcome to take a seat.”
"What are we celebrating?" Sveta ventured, taking a seat on a plush surface. She suddenly felt a little underdressed. Sure, she was wearing high heeled boots, and a skirt, which was rare these days, and a green blouse, but she was by no means dressed for a party. She looked from Nate to Devon, waiting to see what they had in mind.
*italics are spoken in Russian* Thanks to Siren for the sig and avi!
Nate was right of course. He’d been advocating for Muse for a while, and while Devon very much liked the woman he also didn’t want to elevate someone into a Haven leadership role before they were ready. Devon knew it would be hard to tell his friends no. These were all people he trusted. But Muse had already helped so much, had been brave in danger, and had ensured they moved forward on SUPER concerns. She had experience, a different perspective, and goals that aligned with Haven.
It was time. >> "Devon, you continue to amaze me. What else do you have hidden in this building? Which floor is the Amber Room?"
Devon laughed, unsure if that was a reference to the Russian art room but assuming such considering it was Sveta. Hopefully they didn’t seem too decadent here but Haven’s LIE was set up to be plush, comfortable, cutting-edge, and stylish. They wanted to set an example without indulging too much of course.
Nate had a glass of champagne ready for her, which she accepted and Devon gestured further in. She took a seat and Devon followed to his though he didn’t sit. He picked up the Champagne on the way and poured himself a glass before raising it. “As for what we’re celebrating…” he drew out the word, smiling down at the friend, confidant, peer…
“It’s you.”
Devon nodded, “We’d like you to join Nate and I in what we call the Inner Echelon. We are the leadership guiding Haven’s additional activities. While Haven itself helps govern the business of its educators, volunteers, investments in other needing groups… we guide those mutant members looking to assist in our more clandestine activities regarding information gathering, investigations, even rescues…” He smiled and stuck out his champagne glass, “We want you to be a part of that. You can help lead and we’ll do it together. This isn’t just about me, and it’s not just about what we in the IE want. It’s about what we help the group do together and as much as we’re deciphering plans and giving out tasks, we need to support those Haven members undertaking those tasks. We know you can help us do that.”
His blue eyes shifted to Nate, hoping the man would add to everything he’d said. He grinned a little, his eyebrows raised slightly.
Svetlana settled in, clearly curious about what she had walked into. Nate handed Sveta a flute of champagne, content with grinning to himself and letting Devon take the lead in explaining their purpose for the night.
It was a huge step, bringing in the first new member to the Inner Echelon. The founders had been the only members of the elite tier of Haven since its inception, and letting someone in involved a major degree of trust. They had methods to ensure secrets were kept, but nothing was foolproof, and they dealt with some classified information that did not necessarily get passed down the ladder.
Devon’s eyes shifted to Nate, giving him the go-ahead for his turn to say something. He might not soliloquize quite like Devon, but he had his own things to say ”It’s a big step up, but I think it’s the right fit. We want you with us, making the decisions and determining the direction of Haven. We’ll do great things together, Svetlana.” He held up his own glass and tilted it in her direction. ”Welcome to the Inner Echelon.”
Devon did not seem angry or concerned. That was a good sign, it meant he was not about to kick Sveta out of Haven, or question her about some of her recent... encounters with people that she might or might not have punched. But then, what was all the champagne for?...
>>“As for what we’re celebrating… It’s you.”
Sveta blinked, arching an eyebrow. Her? She really couldn't think of a reason to celebrate her. Sure, she had been rescued from SUPER, but that had happened a while ago, and she had been working through the aftermath ever since... her eyes darted to Nate. Was this his idea, to put her in a better mood? That would have been pitiful...
>>“We’d like you to join Nate and I in what we call the Inner Echelon. We are the leadership guiding Haven’s additional activities. While Haven itself helps govern the business of its educators, volunteers, investments in other needing groups… we guide those mutant members looking to assist in our more clandestine activities regarding information gathering, investigations, even rescues…”
Svetlana's other eyebrow joined the first one. So... Haven's inner circle? Were they inviting her into the VIP club? That... honestly surprised her. Not that she was not a useful asset to any mutant cause, but honestly, taking an active role in coordinating something like Haven... Many organizations had inner circles, and parts that were not public to everyone. Hell, she had been on an unofficial, clandestine X-men payroll before... but not quite in this capacity.
>>“We want you to be a part of that. You can help lead and we’ll do it together. This isn’t just about me, and it’s not just about what we in the IE want. It’s about what we help the group do together and as much as we’re deciphering plans and giving out tasks, we need to support those Haven members undertaking those tasks. We know you can help us do that.”
Svetala was used to taking unexpected things in stride. But in her experience, most of those were unpleasant to say the least; pleasant surprises were few and far between. As were friends. Or bosses who did not regard you as a very expensive battery. She glanced at Nate again, now that Devon's speech was done.
>>”It’s a big step up, but I think it’s the right fit. We want you with us, making the decisions and determining the direction of Haven. We’ll do great things together, Svetlana. Welcome to the Inner Echelon.”
"Well..." Sevat blinked, looking at the two of them, holding her champagne glass "... I mean, wow. I... did not expect dis." she chuckled a little "Not that I don't like the idea. It's just... I have never really been invited into any kind of inner circle before."
*italics are spoken in Russian* Thanks to Siren for the sig and avi!
Devon broadened his grin toward Nate as the man began his encouraging words for Muse. Both knew Muse, had worked with her, knew what she’d gone through, but Nate had also been there for Muse through recent events. Devon tried, but work had become a near endless hobby as well. Well, there was real work and there was Haven work. To have Muse be part of Haven’s private goals and mission was a great idea, especially where SUPER was involved.
Muse might have been a little surprise by her facial reactions but she sought affirmation in Nate. He provided it with heartfelt sincerity. You could count on him for that every time. >> ”It’s a big step up, but I think it’s the right fit. We want you with us, making the decisions and determining the direction of Haven. We’ll do great things together, Svetlana.”
Devon nodded, raising his glass. “Welcome to the Inner Echelon,” he echoed in time with his older friend.
>> "Not that I don't like the idea. It's just... I have never really been invited into any kind of inner circle before."
“And that is a mistake that we and Haven would never allow,” Devon chuckled, leaning in to clink his glass to hers and Nate’s. “I’m sorry if it feels a bit sudden but our purpose is three fold. One, your guidance is long in coming. We wanted to be sure you were ready and we didn’t rush you into such. Two, Natalie is still a member but an absentee one as she travels to Chicago. Was she not, she’d be here celebrating with us. However, since she must leave a third to assist is best for Haven’s needs now. And finally, SUPER is at the front of our agenda and we both want your perspective and insights,” he explained before taking a sip.
Devon gestured for both to sit before doing so himself. “I’ve had more than one person mention the world beyond the rift, even SUPER and not understand what they’re truly about. We need the mutant community to understand the threat they are,” he asserted with a strong tone.
Nate had an inkling of what might be going on in Svetlana’s mind. Part of what fostered their friendship was a shared identity; they were both people who spent most of their lives as the outsiders. Finding a true sense of belonging was rare, and when the opportunity to really find your place somewhere came up, it was almost hard not to doubt it.
Sveta was surprised, but Nate and Devon made no decisions lightly. Haven was too important to cut corners with. ”We wanted to give you whatever time you needed to get back to full strength,” and perhaps not to panic in the presence of teenagers walking too closely to her. ”That being said, there’s no such thing as a ‘junior’ member of the Inner Echelon, so going forward, you’re our equal and we expect you to bring your best for the sake of Haven.”
Nate took a sip of the bubbling beverage, savoring the taste before returning to business. Devon clarified Haven’s new top priority and it was a name Svetlana would be all too familiar with. ”I said you’d end up being a big part of our fight to deal with SUPER, and I meant it. We need to start working on ways to get the information out there. The threat here is substantial because SUPER works with a high degree of anonymity, keeping mutants from looking out for themselves. There are plenty of ways to go; subtle, direct, through media contacts, or we could even just throw his pretty face on a news conference.” Nate gestured to Devon. ”We just can’t let SUPER be an unknown in our world anymore.”
In her (relatively short) life so far, Sveta had gone from lost cause to runaway to hot commodity to liability. All of those left marks, even if she was doing fairly well for herself right now. She had no illusions, which was no surprise, but she also didn't really have goals. Not until Haven picked her up, that is. For the first time in her life, she actually wanted to do things that involved more than kicking bad guys in alleys where it hurt the most.
>>“I’m sorry if it feels a bit sudden but our purpose is three fold. One, your guidance is long in coming. We wanted to be sure you were ready and we didn’t rush you into such. Two, Natalie is still a member but an absentee one as she travels to Chicago. Was she not, she’d be here celebrating with us. However, since she must leave a third to assist is best for Haven’s needs now. And finally, SUPER is at the front of our agenda and we both want your perspective and insights,”
Again, no illusions. Sveta knew that her intel on SUPER was valuable to Haven. She had volunteered it before, when she was rescued - by Haven. She owed them a lot, and she believed in them, in Devon, enough to be willing to work with them. Still, she was surprised to be invited into the actual inner circle. Somewhere deep down she had just been waiting to be labeled as an asset once again, and stored for safekeeping.
Nate chimed in.
>>”We wanted to give you whatever time you needed to get back to full strength. That being said, there’s no such thing as a ‘junior’ member of the Inner Echelon, so going forward, you’re our equal and we expect you to bring your best for the sake of Haven.”
Sveta nodded slowly. She was nothing if not determined. If this whole thing was real, if they really meant it... then she would work her *ss off to prove that she was worth it. Not for her powers, or the information she harbored. But because she could do a lot more than that. And it seemed like Nate believed it. Maybe Devon did too.
>>“I’ve had more than one person mention the world beyond the rift, even SUPER and not understand what they’re truly about. We need the mutant community to understand the threat they are,”
>>”I said you’d end up being a big part of our fight to deal with SUPER, and I meant it. We need to start working on ways to get the information out there. The threat here is substantial because SUPER works with a high degree of anonymity, keeping mutants from looking out for themselves. There are plenty of ways to go; subtle, direct, through media contacts, or we could even just throw his pretty face on a news conference. We just can’t let SUPER be an unknown in our world anymore.”
"Well... I can't really disagree with any of dis" Sveta smiled as she took a seat, slowly getting used to her new surroundings "I mean... I really appreciate the trust. I know I'm not an easy case, with the powers I have and... my past. So, I also appreciate you taking dat risk, and I am willing to let you know about all the skeletons up front." Lord, there were a lot of them "And I do want to do the work. SUPER needs to get the hell out of our New York, and probably from the other one too."
*italics are spoken in Russian* Thanks to Siren for the sig and avi!
Devon nodded along with Nate’s words. He smiled, though his jaw was set as he kept shifting his eye contacts with his peers. In many ways they were superior to him both in experience and wisdom. The doe-eyed hopeful youngster metaphor was not lost on Devon. But he’d lived some harder moments, seen and worked with people across all backgrounds. He knew he was lucky and thankfully his grandparents had shown him to an inheritance when they heard of his good efforts, his graduation. Much of it had gone into his business and the Haven organization along with numerous other investors with keen interest in their efforts. The last was invested in their private enterprise. Devon hoped he could use another metaphor: he’d put his money where his mouth was.
That wasn’t going to change now. He was going to keep pushing for that change and that required the insight and work of a strong leadership. They were still people who needed time to grow and heal. Nate made it clear they’d given Muse that but also didn’t see her as some minor member. She was part of the Inner Echelon and that had a mission to accomplish.
>> There are plenty of ways to go; subtle, direct, through media contacts, or we could even just throw his pretty face on a news conference.” Nate gestured to Devon. ”We just can’t let SUPER be an unknown in our world anymore.”
Devon nodded with Nate’s statements until he smirked at the suggestion. That faded back to a soft smile as he made one final, firm nod.
>> "And I do want to do the work. SUPER needs to get the hell out of our New York, and probably from the other one too."
“When you get involved in the world and make your mark, it has a tendency to make its mark upon you too,” Devon said prettily. “Skeletons, yes. We can review and prepare for such, though we aren’t a public leadership. Only those you engage within Haven for missions or specific efforts will know. Nate and I can clarify whom that might entail to you. We don’t want to keep a documented list after all.”
He glanced to the slate-eyed older man, “But I’m glad you both agree that SUPER is a priority. Our methodology for attending to them is probably the more important discussion. I’m considering speaking publicly of it. I’m a known mutant who works with homeless and often struggling mutants at Sanctuary and beyond. I can speak of learning of SUPER without disclosing the names of patients who have had a run in.
“I’m also considering we take a subtle hit to their plans by announcing a series of counseling and training seminars for new or struggling mutants. I’m hoping I can even involve the mansion in this. I’ve worked with people there and I’ve brought struggling mutants to them before. I can tie this back to my personal business and then secondly to Haven for continued education, while making it clear we and Haven are tightly allied to mutants, their rights, and their development.
“However, I do think we need to make the X-Men fully aware of SUPER and what they stand for. They can take the more active fight against them, likely through some legal channels while their public face might make it difficult to challenge them in other areas like rescue missions. I expect that’s where we’d come in.”
Devon took up his champagne for a sip, allowing the others to respond.
Devon was young; that much was undeniable. Nate made it a point not to discount someone solely on the merit of their age. Devon was a smart, driven young man who had resources and a vision. Nate was not looking to be the top dog on the pile, but he did respect Devon's ideas enough to serve, more or less, as his right hand. Sveta treated Devon with the same kind of respect; his age was irrelevant if he knew what he was doing.
Svetlana was his age and had the baggage that came with over thirty years of hard life. She had divulged some of her past to them, and Nate was not beyond assuming there were still skeletons they were unaware of. They took all those things into account inviting her into the Inner Echelon. "Trust me, as a leadership team, we work best with some degree of anonymity. The public doesn't need to know a convicted conman is helping to call the shots with our organization. We're looking out for Haven and we're looking out for ourselves." He nodded his head to Devon and grinned. "Let him worry about public appearances." Last thing Svetlana needed during her recovery was the public eye analyzing her.
Unsurprisingly, Devon had plans to do just as Nate suggested, making a public statement against SUPER. Nate liked the plan; they had been slow about making Haven a clearly mutant-friendly organization. They had mutant outreach, but they did not want to jump right away to being under the banner of the mutant cause for the sake of avoiding the suspicion that came from being a "pro-mutant group."
Nate nodded, sipping at his champagne. "I think you're right. This is the time to really take ownership of the mutant cause. This will put us on SUPER's radar, so I hope we're ready to take on additional security we'll need going forward. As for the X-Men... it's amazing what you can overhear as a shadow on the wall..."
The LIE was a secure space, but even still, it was hard not to be a little wary when talking about sensitive information, so Nate instinctively looked around the room. "They're generally careful about talking shop in the classrooms, but I've overheard them name-dropping SUPER. They know about the threat. I'm sure they're working on things in the background, but I can't confirm anything. So I think you're right; maybe it's time we touch base with our friends at the Mansion..."
Opposition research. Was that the official term? Looking into what parts of your past might come back to bite you in the *ss. The more Sveta thought about it, the more she felt like that was all of her past. She was definitely not cut out to be a public figure; too many vulnerable spots, too many questionable details. She was not exactly a likable poster-girl, pretty blondness or not.
>>“When you get involved in the world and make your mark, it has a tendency to make its mark upon you too. Skeletons, yes. We can review and prepare for such, though we aren’t a public leadership. Only those you engage within Haven for missions or specific efforts will know. Nate and I can clarify whom that might entail to you. We don’t want to keep a documented list after all.”
>> "Trust me, as a leadership team, we work best with some degree of anonymity. The public doesn't need to know a convicted conman is helping to call the shots with our organization. We're looking out for Haven and we're looking out for ourselves. Let him worry about public appearances."
"He's good at it isn't he" Sveta grinned back at Nate. Devon was good at many things, but public appearance was definitely one of them. He was handsome, likable, and generally the kind of person people wanted to look up to (or at... anyway). He was younger, but that was not necessarily a problem. And Sveta was more than happy to stay out of the public eye, and do actual work without having to worry about how it made her look. SUPER was more important than that, and ultimately, that was why they brought her in.
>>“But I’m glad you both agree that SUPER is a priority. Our methodology for attending to them is probably the more important discussion. I’m considering speaking publicly of it. I’m a known mutant who works with homeless and often struggling mutants at Sanctuary and beyond. I can speak of learning of SUPER without disclosing the names of patients who have had a run in."
"SUPER keeps tabs on everything and everyone they come in contact with." Sveta noted "We need to be careful in how we reference our sources. We have to be credible, but not identifiable." Getting people like Zelda into trouble... she could not allow that to happen.
>>“I’m also considering we take a subtle hit to their plans by announcing a series of counseling and training seminars for new or struggling mutants. I’m hoping I can even involve the mansion in this. I’ve worked with people there and I’ve brought struggling mutants to them before. I can tie this back to my personal business and then secondly to Haven for continued education, while making it clear we and Haven are tightly allied to mutants, their rights, and their development..."
"That'll make us a target for sure" Sveta smirked. She had no doubt that SUPER had an eye for all organizations that worked openly for mutant rights. It was a solid idea, though. Not ending up with fanatics, or people unwittingly blackmailed into SUPER work, began with awareness and education... hell, SUPER already sounded like a disease...
>>"However, I do think we need to make the X-Men fully aware of SUPER and what they stand for. They can take the more active fight against them, likely through some legal channels while their public face might make it difficult to challenge them in other areas like rescue missions. I expect that’s where we’d come in.”
>>"I think you're right. This is the time to really take ownership of the mutant cause. This will put us on SUPER's radar, so I hope we're ready to take on additional security we'll need going forward. As for the X-Men... it's amazing what you can overhear as a shadow on the wall..."
Additional security. Haven was not naive. They would have to watch their backs; the other side was not playing fair, and Haven wasn't the X-men. Talking about - Sveta knew where this was going, but she arched an eyebrow at Nate anyway.
>>"They're generally careful about talking shop in the classrooms, but I've overheard them name-dropping SUPER. They know about the threat. I'm sure they're working on things in the background, but I can't confirm anything. So I think you're right; maybe it's time we touch base with our friends at the Mansion..."
"The X-men are generally up to more than you'd think." Sveta smirked, sipping her champagne "Here's a skeleton for you: Before I went full freelance vigilante, I was on their payroll for a while. They have a public profile, sure... but Sam's not an idiot. And they needed people to do things that definitely did not go well with the public profile. So... that was me. It was an as-needed thing, so I don't know if there are any others. But with SUPER on this side of the rip, I bet they have some safety measures in motion."
*italics are spoken in Russian* Thanks to Siren for the sig and avi!
>> "Trust me, as a leadership team, we work best with some degree of anonymity. The public doesn't need to know a convicted conman is helping to call the shots with our organization. We're looking out for Haven and we're looking out for ourselves."
Devon gave an affirmative nod at that.
>> "Let him worry about public appearances." >> "He's good at it isn't he" Sveta grinned back at Nate.
Devon laughed and nodded again, “Thanks. That’s how the public C-level execs feel too so that makes this simple.”
He went to explain his plan with Nate and Sveta agreeing. Of course, the reliable leaders they were they had information to add and suggestions to make. They both knew it would put Haven on SUPER’s radar, but that was likely inevitable. It would also make it clear to the mutant public that they were helping mutants with their rights and to control their abilities. That was important; Devon’s business would do that more publicly now as well.
That the X-Men were name dropping SUPER even if accidentally was important. They weren’t fools and Sveta reminded them of that too. They had some clandestine operatives and Devon certainly hoped that would put Haven as their ally – if a bit estranged – when the day came they discovered the truth.
“It sounds like I will need to speak with someone with the X-Men as an official representative of the Haven organization and my own business,” Devon said, tapping away on the keyboard HUD of the table they sat around. It was not by any accident the rounded sofa-chairs for the Inner Echelon surrounded a round table. Knights they may not be, but equal?
Yes.
“It’ll be to discuss Haven’s plan, which our C-level executives already support including some primary donors and politicians,” Devon smiled. “I check carefully. They’re aware of military enforcement against mutants on the other side of the rip, beyond our already malfunctioning metabots. When preparing my speech, they’ll learn the name before I speak. This will be a business and charitable purpose for Haven and my business, but a shadow move for us as well.
“I want to go back to your concern about sources, Sveta,” he turned to the newest member here in the LIE. “You have a good point. How would you suggest I make a credible declaration without identifying?”
The rapport between Nate, Devon, and Svetlana was reassuring. Svetlana fit right into the conversational flow the two men usually carried. She was not Natalie; she had her own unique voice that fit the Inner Echelon in a different way. Nate was going to miss Natalie, but he was interested to see how the group dynamic fair when the dials for bickering and sexual tension were turned way down.
They would figure out the details of Svetlana's business role during business hours, but all three knew SUPER was the topic of the night. Nate was able to utilize his position and skillset to give them information. Svetlana had knowledge and insight into the program few on their side of the rift had. They gave Devon the tools to make things happen, and the young man had a long-standing record of making things happen.
And make things happen, Devon did. He was going to drum up political support for their bold move before ever taking the stage. Influence was going to be important, because they were always going to be working from a disadvantage. They could get some politicians on their side, but fear of mutants had a way of bringing the parties closer together. Of course, that may have been tinted by Nate's feelings toward most politicians.
There was also the matter of protecting sources. Protecting Haven would be harder, since Devon's plan was to take center stage, but they could not put people in the cross-hairs who had already helped them. He had some thoughts on the matter, but Svetlana had a better idea of how SUPER operated and he genuinely wanted to know what she thought might be best.