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.
A vein popped in the god’s forehead as he looked up at the pair, both captor and captive. His eyes ignored the woman whose name he had already forgot. It was razor something and her wings were poisonous. She fought dirty and was a criminal, a villain! One who’d use her gifts to harm and scare rather than help and encourage. The exact opposite he had seen in Elizabeth. It was his fault she was in this position.
>>> “Not until Brazen is back on the streets!”
His bright glow caught the attention of others, cars stopped on the street and pulled out their phones others ran knowing a fight between overpowered beings when they saw it. His rage subsided for a moment and he locked eyes with Elizabeth for a moment. Offering an apology of sorts for getting into this. He didn’t have the power to put Brazen on the streets not without going against everything he believed in. Unfortunately for Hercules he couldn’t do that his will would not allow it.
His club was still flying after the summon. His hand didn’t move but he flexed it slightly causing his hand to glow more. ’Herc?!?’ the voice of his young master echoed in his mind. Hercules needed to stall till his weapon was close. ’Elizabeth is in danger! I need to free her!’ the god shifted his eyes back to Razorbeak and his body glowed brighter. ’Take my power! Save her!’
”Brazen is where he belongs. I regret not turning you in as well. It is a shame that had been weighing heavy on my shoulders ever since! You had a chance to return to a life without crime and squandered the second chance I gave you... you will not get another!” the god flexed and pushed down to the ground. ”RELEASE HER NOW!” the pavement groaned under the weight he was pushing down and he froze for a second as the pair flew off again followed by a pack of birds. Hercules looked around for a second grabbed the closest thing he could see, a rat scurrying by. In his other hand the club ‘whooshed’ into place and the god leapt causing the concrete to crack as he leapt.
”Apologies little rat, I have need of your assistance!” the rat was in a state of panic after he was scooped up and tried frantically to bite it’s way free with no luck. The glowing god of strength was surprisingly gentle in holding the creature in his massive hand. ”My date was stolen from me! We must rescue her!” the rat squeaked in terror and bite again in response. ”If the birds can’t show me where she is maybe you can!” he said zooming through the air towards the building they were on seconds ago.
The people who stopped to watch just say a massive guy pick up a rat, and shoot into the air like a glowing behemoth. ”Elizabeth! I am coming to save you!” he shouted at the rat hoping that she was listening despite being well out of reach now. The god spotted the flock of birds and charged hoping from rooftop to rooftop. On one of his jumps to the next building he launched his club in their direction making sure not to hit any flying creature. He did not want to hurt the birds or Elizabeth.
Posted by Liz Sundance on Oct 15, 2021 11:02:07 GMT -6
X-Men
Metazoa
Chartreuse
Straight
949
9
Apr 12, 2024 15:17:35 GMT -6
Zek
The winged woman who went by the name Razorbeak, sliced through the sky. She had a destination in mind, an aerie if you will. A place she could go and deposit the blonde in her grasp. Abducting people like this wasn’t her typical modus operandi, but it had been her partner’s plan. If she wanted her brother out of prison, this was what she had to do. Take someone that meant something to the man with the glowing tattoos. So far so good, based on how he yelled after her. Honestly, it was almost too easy.
Something fast flew through the air and Razorbeak barrel rolled away. She caught a brief glimpse of…a club? That’s right! The brute had attacked her with one before! And she remembered it wasn’t a regular club either. She also remembered he could jump.
The bird and her prey cut through the sky, steadily climbing higher and higher in efforts to evade pursuit.
Elizabeth had no such intentions. She had heard Hercules as well and she could’ve sworn she heard him tell her he was going to save her, but she shook that off. If he could, great. If it was just her fears playing tricks on her, or the circumstances sending her back to a state she’d known too well as a teenager, then she had to ignore it.
Think, Liz, think! She was too high off the ground to do much, even when they passed over buildings. Struggling wasn’t going to do her any good. Instead, she grabbed tightly onto the woman to prevent any chance of falling. The woman clutched her hard as well. For now, Liz was valuable. Liz was leverage. Well, a lever worked both ways.
She focused her mind on allies instead. <<Help me,>> she called out again, sending images of herself and the faint glimpses she had of her captor to every animal in a hundred or so feet. At their height, that wasn’t many, but New York was still chock full of pigeons and pigeons loved roosting on buildings. She peeked into some of their minds and watched herself get carried away. She snatched those images and sent them out again, en masse. <<Follow me! Chase me! Food!>> She remembered intense hunger, cravings for delicious things. She imagined hearty grains and a predator-free paradis. She summoned up happiness and safety and sent all of these things spiraling out to everything around her, attempting to trigger as many instinctive responses as possible.
As they flew, clouds of white, grey, and speckled birds began streaming into the air, caught up in a wave of rampant hunger and curiosity. No matter what they tried, they couldn’t get the thought of this person and strange bird out of their minds. And hunger! And excitement! And curious things! Did that bird have food? It was so welcoming! And warm! And interesting! Let’s go see what it is!
It was infectious. And growing. Not all the birds could keep up. Not all were interested. But within thirty seconds of flight, hundreds of birds from a couple city blocks were in the air, chasing after the birdwoman. And other birds noticed and joined in, even ones outside the psychic sirensong, because they were attracted like any herd animal would be to a flock suddenly flying in one direction as fast as possible. Other animals too, although they were far, far slower.
Razorbeak caught motion out of the corner of her eye and quickly shot a glance back. “What the --” Why were there so many birds everywhere!
The leaping god of might landed and cratered slightly into the roof. He staggered slightly trying to minimize the damage of the building. While he was a shining god of willpower he still had a job to protect others and cratering through a building would hurt others. Besides why would he want to go through the building when the winged woman and his date was above him in the sky somewhere. Hercules looked down gauged how much roof he had then to the surrounding buildings which also meant taking his eyes off the target.
The poisonous harpy needed Elizabeth, she needed Hercules to free Brazen something that he wouldn’t do. She didn’t know that. She just had to keep Elizabeth alive for three days. Which meant he had some time if they escaped. His head was racing, he tried to calm himself but failed many times. Someone was taken from him. On his first date of the era. It was supposed to be a good one. “Squeak!” his attention dropped back to the rat held in his hand. Was he squeezing too hard? No. He made sure not to harm it.
”Apologies little one! I need to find her!” he brought the rat closer to his face so he could gaze in it’s tiny beady little eyes. ”Help me please. Her name is Elizabeth and she is super kind and can talk to animals. Aid me in my search! Elizabeth I am coming!” The rat’s heartbeat raced in his hand and he loosened his grip slightly and held the rat to the sky. As if on cue some birds nearby flew upward. They were pigeons and they flew up. Not to another building.
”HA! Thank you furry friend!” the rat had nothing to do with it. Hercules was starting to wonder if all animals could talk to each other. That was a question for Elizabeth when he found her. The swarm of birds circled and the God found his brightest star in the sky. He had found Elizabeth.
Lowering to the ground in a squat he released the rat, ”I can not bring you on this rescue, for I need both hands.” he said watching the rat jump to the ground and scurry away. ”Just let her know I see her and I shall be there in a moment!” “Squeeee” ”Thank you friend! I shall return with cheese!” because that was what they liked, so said television!
The fibers of his pants groaned and started to break at the seams as the squat continued. ”Elizabeth!!!!!” the god roared as he pushed off with all his might and launched into the flock of birds. ”I said unhand her HARPY!” One hand reached out as he flew through the air, the other called his club back after launching it.
Posted by Liz Sundance on Oct 18, 2021 21:57:01 GMT -6
X-Men
Metazoa
Chartreuse
Straight
949
9
Apr 12, 2024 15:17:35 GMT -6
Zek
While being dragged through the air and doing her best to imitate a siren song, a small part of Elizabeth couldn’t help but notice the irony of the situation. She’d been all set and ready to have a nice dinner with an interesting guy, when out of nowhere an animal-themed mutant had swiped her and carried her off, threatening her life along the way. There’d been a winged person and a brawny person involved in both, although their roles of aggressor and suitor had been switched. The irony, however, was that this still didn’t rank as Elizabeth’s worst date.
She allowed that trickle of amusement to spread across her face even as some of the birds got in close. The woman was a fast flier, but so were pigeons. Especially hungry pigeons. And being a fast flier didn’t matter when the pigeons were coming from buildings in front of you, too. Very quickly a cloud of pigeons and songbirds and various other communal birds had formed around the women. It was when the woman’s wings started hitting them that Liz heard a hiss of displeasure.
“This is your doing, isn’t it,” the woman growled, one hand jerking Elizabeth’s head up.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Liz said with a beautific grin. A pigeon nearly smacked into the winged woman’s head.
A nearby section of birds scattered and a club came sailing by. Vicious glee surged through the zoopath. Somehow Hercules had kept up with them.
“Stop this right now!” the woman shouted, squeezing Liz hard enough to restrict her breath.
“Or else what?” Liz said, twisting as mucha s she could in the woman’s grip without causing her to be dropped. “You’ll drop me? You know, suddenly I think a little distance might be good for us!”
Liz pulled her free hand up and shoved against the woman’s chest violently, wrenching herself as far from the woman as she could.
“What are you doing!” the woman cried in shock as she grabbed even tighter to Liz. The effort made her drop a dozen feet before she caught their balance again.
“I’m making a point!” Liz snarled, using the woman’s own yank to wrap her own arms around the woman, embracing her like a python would a goat. With her hands behind the woman's back, she made a few motions and suddenly the napkin-enfolded utensils she’d snatched off the table when she’d been carried off were in her hands. A fork in one, a steak knife in the other. Liz wrapped her legs around the woman’s waist as best her dress could allow and nonchalantly stabbed the fork into the woman’s back, right where flesh met metal wings, making an anchor for herself. As the woman shrieked in sudden pain, Liz pressed the serrated edge of the knife to the woman’s throat.
“Or rather, I should say I’m making two points. What do you say we land and talk this out, hmmm? Or should we do an experiment? See which of us will hit the ground first?”
The woman was silent for a moment. “You’re crazy!” she said. “I can just kill you now!”
Liz nodded, frowning in thought for a few seconds. Then the smile returned.. “You’re probably right. On both accounts. But if you kill me, these birds will never stop following you. No matter where you go. And that guy following us? Tall, muscular, glowing tattoos? Loud voice, calling you a harpy? He never gives up. I’ve seen him rip a door off a bank vault. I wonder what he would do to you...pretty, pretty wings?”
A thought occurred to her. Several, actually. She smiled again, the way snakes are want to do before striking.
Then Hercules came hurtling through the birds.
“Your move,” Liz said, leaning in toward where the woman’s ear would be.
The woman started shouting obscenities and dodging out of the man’s warpath. “Okay, okay, I give up! Let me land!” She began a descent toward a rooftop.
Hercules flew over them and through the flock of birds as he cut through the air. At this rate he’d fly for another few seconds before Gaia and her precious gravity tried to take hold of him again. The giant frowned as he tried to redirect himself in the air having little ability to do so. Even when he was a god very few could fly even fewer were immune to gravity. Hercules however had learned something from one of the other gods, one while he was an equal in strength was still considered lesser to him.
”Club!” the club changed direction midflight as Hercules continued to ascend to the heavens. The club met his grip and he turned the thing in his hand and threw it downwards but held onto the handle speeding his descent downwards. He was falling now. As always, superior to Thor. Who only had a hammer to swing. Hercules had about two feet of reach on him meaning he was better.
Glowing green eyes found and followed his date as she two descended to the building he leapt from seconds before. They were... landing? Has the harpy finally come to her senses? Did she finally understand the futility of it all. The chiseled form of excellence would have hunted her the way Cerberus hunted an escapee from the pits of hell. Will still had a long life ahead of him. Granted shorter that they had their pact but it would still be long enough for him to capture the Harpy should some ill will befall his date.
”I SAID UNHAND HER!” Hercules shouted as he threw the club again upwards at the last second to minimize the crater he’d create in the roof. Mortals had enough to deal with than clean up his mess, even if it was considered an honor. When he landed the roof impacted a little, his stance caused his suit pants to rip along the seams giving him a wild look.
”CLUB!” he raised his hand calling his weapon again as he strode over to the two his form glowing bright green. He was angry. The harpy would not know rest until Elizabeth returned to him unharmed.
”It was foolish of you Harpy to return to the ground where I have the advantage, you would have lost to me again if you continued to fly. However, it was wise of you to give up! Be grateful!” Hercules boomed as he read the woman her last rights, ”I am a benevolent god! Be lucky it was only me you crossed today! You will suffer little!” the club reached his hand with a ‘crack’ from the impact of catching the hardened weapon.
Posted by Liz Sundance on Oct 25, 2021 18:06:01 GMT -6
X-Men
Metazoa
Chartreuse
Straight
949
9
Apr 12, 2024 15:17:35 GMT -6
Zek
If Razorbeak’s balance was thrown off by Elizabeth’s ungainly hold or the fork stabbed into her back, she didn’t show it as she descended to the rooftop. Her booted feet alighted easily on the tar-covered surface, mere seconds before Hercules came in like a wrecking ball.
Liz didn’t have a good view of him, wrapped around the woman as she was, and only then did she recall that her dress was rather not designed for such things. She slid to a stand, her own feet solid on the roof, but her hands remained fixed, keeping the woman in a lethal embrace.
“Hey, hey, HEY!” Razorbeak shouted. “You said we would talk if I set you down.HEY! No club!” Her wings flapped open and in front of her, forming a serrated metal shield for her, and Liz by extension.
And then the birds descended.
One at first, then two then three than six twelve forty-three, four hundred and three, and then nobody could really distinguish the differences between one or another.
The birds covered the rooftop, landing on everything they possibly could, from the floor itself to the edge of the roof and even a wooden chair someone left up there. Many couldn’t find a place to land so they ventured out to neighboring roofs or power lines or just continued milling in the air. Theirs coos and clucks and shrieks milled together in a cacophony, which would make it excruciatingly difficult for anyone to hear anything. Or at least that’s how it started, until Liz closed her eyes and forced her will upon them all. An overwhelming sense of caution and uncertainty fell across the birds and with it, images and memories of silence. Of other pigeons being silent. And maybe that was good. Interesting. Fun. Fun to be quiet.
Ruffling, rustling feathers stopped and within seconds the birds quieted, except for those stilli flying, although even they were far less manic than before.
Liz opened her eyes and smiled at Razorbeak.
“Fine,” she said loudly to Razorbeak, so Hercules could easily hear her. “Unfold your wings and let’s talk.” The knife in her hand didn’t leave the woman’s neck.
The glowing didn’t stop when the birds descended. Hercules wouldn’t allow it he was angry now and the world should know when the god was angry. He could cry his outrage further but he just wanted to hit something. To make something feel his fury. The birds were not the cause of his anger so they would not be the ones to receive the brunt of it so he waited till they dissipated. Called off by his date. It was then clear who was in control here and it further upset the deity because it wasn’t him.
When the birds fell silent glowing green eyes locked on the harpy’s wings wrapped around them like a shield as if it was sturdy enough to hold up to his Herculean might. No shield, barrier or fortress was a match for him. He was the mighty Hercules! Prince of power! Son of Zeus! Nothing could stop him once he set his mind to something and right now his mind was focused on freeing his date and making sure the harpy would pay for wronging him.
The wings unfolded upon Liz’s request and his anger quickly subsided when he spotted the knife to her throat. ”Ha!” boomed the boisterous demi-god upon further analyzing of the situation. The Club was slammed down so the handle remained upright. Fine no club. He’d just settle for her wings as trophies. ”It seems she was no match for you Elizabeth, are you injured? Her wings are poisonous.” the god strode over ready to leap should the harpy try flying again.
”Allow me the honor of finishing her off!” Hercules said as he slowed his gait towards them. ”I think her wings would be more than sufficient to teach her a lesson.” Hercules folded his arms not wanting to step closer less he’d step on one of the many birds that still filled the rooftop with them. ”It will serve as a warning to others. Do not cross a god. Especially one who was on a his first date in over a century!”
Posted by Liz Sundance on Oct 27, 2021 20:14:24 GMT -6
X-Men
Metazoa
Chartreuse
Straight
949
9
Apr 12, 2024 15:17:35 GMT -6
Zek
Pigeons began shuffling around slightly as Liz relaxed some of her control over them. They were now walking all over the roof or just preening or sitting in place, covering almost every inch of the roof and getting far more dense the closer they got to Liz. And because they were pigeons, specifically New York City pigeons, they didn’t care that a towering behemoth was trying to walk through them - they weren’t moving. They had heard there was maybe some food here? They weren’t leaving until they found it.
“I’m fine,” Liz said, not taking her eyes off the woman. Then she caught the other thing he said. “Wait, what about her wings?” She frowned and then flicked her gaze to said wings. Poison-covered metal wings and obviously detachable feathers? And clearly having had a past - a bad past - with a man who claimed to be Hercules? “Huh. Now isn’t that interesting. Real life really is stranger than fiction.”
A slow, sly smile had started spreading over her face, like a cat might get as it played with a mouse, but it turned to ice in the next moment. The pigeons all froze as her will whipped across them. Did Hercules just offer to...do the exact thing Liz had threatened the woman with? Oh God, she’d been bluffing! Absolutely bluffing! That’s what she got trying to play Bad Cop!
The fear didn’t touch her face but her expression sharpened. “No, that won’t be necessary,” Liz said, trying for a tone that conveyed lazy predatoriness. No need for the woman to call Liz’s bluff, yet Liz couldn’t allow Hercules to make good on his threat. What if the woman had bones in those wings? “Let’s hear her out. I promised her as much.”
The entire time Liz didn’t move. Her brain was in overdrive, racing in a dozen different directions. She kept a grip on the pigeons, she was trying to keep a general awareness of where Hercules was, she was concentrating on the woman in case she suddenly moved, and she now had to orchestrate an interrogation without it turning into a body horror show. Oh, and the woman’s wings might be poisoned so Liz had to make sure she didn’t accidentally touch any of it. And she had plenty of exposed arms and legs.
“So, Ms. Stymphalian,” Liz said. “Why don’t you tell me who you are and why you crashed my date? I was having such a lovely evening until you came along.”
Hercules frowned more the closer he got, he was too busy worry about the birds now. Sure they were tiny any easily squishable under the might of his size 22. In fact the glowering glowing god was sure he could crush several at once however, that wasn’t who he was so he started to shuffle his feet the closer he got even reaching down and ‘shooing’ a few out of the way. These birds were so rude. Obstructing justice like this.
”Are you sure? This isn’t the first time we had crossed paths. In fact last time her and her brother had kidnapped and blackmailed other mortals.” he shifted his foot slightly as a bird took to sitting on his foot. His shoes were hard to come by and he had grown used to the comfort. Last thing he wanted was a bird dropping on them. His tattered pants swayed around him occasionally revealing more glowing sigils along his legs. ”Hpmh... very well.” he’d grant that request. Hercules was a merciful god. As much as he hated to admit it sometimes.
”It... it was lovely?” he questioned looking to the blonde who was still holding a knife to the harpy. They both cried, he was told that wasn’t a good way to ‘date’ so he was questioning his ability to do so now. Then again, he was one of the strongest most well renowned heroes in history. Clearly this was something else he was good at.
Posted by Liz Sundance on Oct 30, 2021 17:31:22 GMT -6
X-Men
Metazoa
Chartreuse
Straight
949
9
Apr 12, 2024 15:17:35 GMT -6
Zek
The woman’s face was unreadable behind the motorcycle helmet, which made analyzing her expressions an exercise in futility. However, Liz was close enough to the woman to feel her tense up as Hercules mentioned a prior encounter. Elizabeth herself held her tongue, despite the numerous questions that had popped into her mind. She shoved them firmly to the side, the same way she would an animal’s errant mind of rogue spike of emotion and refused to give in. Keep it clinical, Liz, find that razor’s balance between keeping Hercules at bay and this woman from stabbing you with poisonous feathers.
A circling pigeon came down and tried to land on Hercules’s shoulder. It was so broad and shiny, it looked so inviting! Liz chose to connect more deeply to that bird, to keep a better sense of what Hercules was doing without ever turning around to look at him. “Yes, yes it was quite lovely indeed,” she said warmly, before baring her teeth at the woman. “Now talk, lady.”
“My name’s Razorbeak,” the woman said. “Sister and second in command to Brazen.” She spoke daringly and with bravado. Liz didn’t react. The names meant absolutely nothing to her. Seeing that, the woman continued, slightly less sure of herself. “Your date got my brother thrown in prison! Over a stupid ATM! It was nothing! Do you know what they do to mutants in prisons? Especially ones as powerful as my brother? They put collars on them, like dogs! Stripping them of their dignity and humanity! It would serve them right if the flatscans were the ones in collars, everything that made them who they are taken away from them.”
Liz got the feeling that if the woman hadn’t been wearing a helmet right now, she would’ve spat in Liz’s face. The woman was starting to quiver, as if in rage. “So that stupid, musclebound idiot over there needs to pay for what he’s done to my family! If he didn’t help me break Brazen out, then I was going to take away something important to him.”
Metal rasped on metal as her bronze-like wings rustled with anger.
The vein in his head stopped throbbing at the site of his date holding a knife to an old foe. Things seemed to be calming down a bit but even still Hercules wanted in on the action. He was itching for a fight, his honor demanded something to be done about her kidnapping Elizabeth, his date. A bird landed on his broad naked shoulder and it distracted him further.
The glowing in his eyes dimmed, as he made eye contact with the bird and he exhaled as if he was holding his breath for years. Great now they women were talking. No action to be had here. Almost wanting a siren to help him blow off some steam he flexed his arms into a stretch then folded them to let everyone know the god wasn’t pleased. He ruined his suit for this fight and if there wasn’t going to be one... well... the son of Zues was okay with that.
Upon hearing her words he felt a sudden guilt, not because of her story but the fact that she got away as well. ”I trounced your brother, and Rex of the inferno bested you! I had one warning, do not let me catch you breaking the law again!” the god finally said. His glowing might have gotten brighter when he saw the wing shift. ”You were kidnapping and holding people for ransom. You went into peoples homes and collected their loved ones. Home and hearth, family... these are important to mortals and you went out of your way to destroy that. I can not allow it!”
Hercules was aware of ‘Club’ that sat off a bit lodged in the roof. It might have shifted slightly behind him and the birds. ”Your brother will sit in a cell, for the crimes he had committed. If he should escape I shall track him down and return him to his cell. You should be helping mortals! Not exploiting them!” he felt no sympathy for Brazen. Razorbeak on the other hand seemed to only want her brother freed. ”Allow Elizabeth her freedom and I will ignore this challenge.” he said muscles flexing waiting for an answer.
Posted by Liz Sundance on Nov 2, 2021 21:23:32 GMT -6
X-Men
Metazoa
Chartreuse
Straight
949
9
Apr 12, 2024 15:17:35 GMT -6
Zek
The rooftop was fairly subdued, all things considered. Despite having hundreds of pigeons and a smattering of assorted birds of various feathers, it wasn’t very loud. They hardly made more sound than an occasional coo or warble. Most of them weren’t moving, either, except for the ones still flying. Sometimes they’d twitch or wobble or shift their weight on their feet, but mostly they were still, stilent. Under a heavy weight of expectation. Even a couple of curious squirrels and a nosy rat had fallen under the effect.
Because the last thing Liz needed was the anxiety of a couple hundred pigeons.
As it was, there was already a lot to focus on, which was harder because her back was to Hercules so she couldn’t see him perfectly. Just flashes out of the reflection in Razorbeak’s helmet, when Liz’s own face wasn’t blocking the view. She had to rely on her monitoring pigeon for the rest. It suddenly gained an intense fascination with the man’s tattoos, guaranteeing it’s desire to stay on his shoulder at any cost.
As it was, Elizabeth nearly felt the woman’s heated rage intensify. “Rex, huh?” Razorbeak sneered. “So that was that pyro’s name. Good to know.”
Liz frowned. There was a much bigger story here that she was missing out on.
“We didn’t kidnap anyone,” Razorbeak said sharply. “They volunteered. Yeah, they were hostages, but they know the drill. They show up, sit around for a while, then they go home. Everyone on the job gets paid, it’s all good. At least until you showed up and ruined everything! Those people were depending on the money but now you’ve ruined their livelihoods!” Her wings flapped and the edges scraped the ground. At that, some of the pigeons actually did fly away, Elizabeth’s suppression too slack to smother the flight response.
“Stop that,” the blonde said sternly, pulling the fork tighter into the woman’s back. The wings settled down.
Then Razorbeak unexpectedly laughed.
“You think I’m the one stopping her?” she mocked Hercules. “Are you blind as well as ugly? You can see the knife at my throat, right? If it wasn’t for the fork in my back I might’ve asked her out myself.”
Liz fought to keep her face neutral. That was definitely not the reaction she’d expected but she definitely wasn’t going to blush! Not when a bad gal tried to kidnap her and then….flirt with her? She suppressed a shudder. Still wasn’t her worst date though.
Now she had to think fast.
“Well, at least someone appreciates what I can do,” Liz drawled, “But flattered as I am, you’re not exactly my type. I’m not really into hostage takers, thieves, or thugs. Nevertheless, my arm is starting to get tired and I’d rather not let the knife slip. Be a pity to get blood all over this new dress of mine.”
She flashed Razorbeak a dazzling smile. “But Hercules here makes a good point. Clearly the two of you have unfinished business. Normally I’d suggest we work this out, but honestly, I just want to go back to my date, which you have so thoroughly interrupted. I’m sure my lamb is quite cold by now, if it isn’t all over the floor. So here is what you are going to do. You are going to fly away from us. You will not involve anyone else in your bird-brained revenge plots. If you have an issue with Herc, that’s between the two of you and nobody else - you may discuss it with him later, when it’s not cutting into my evening. ”
“If you do kidnap anyone else, if you do threaten anyone else to get to Hercules, or even this Inferno person, I will find you,” Liz said, her voice softening, like cyanide. Images flashed from her mind to the sea of animals around her. They swiveled their heads to stare at Razorbeak, rapt with hunger and curiosity. “I have friends everywhere, you see. They can fly, too. And slither. And climb. And crawl.”
Her smile deepened and her voice lowered. “I can fill your mouth with spiders as you sleep. Maggots will squirm under your eyelids. Roaches will nibble at your ears. And in a few months, you’ll spawn tapeworms. And that’s just the beginning of what I will do, if you cross that line. I think that’s reasonable enough, don’t you?”
Razorbeak’s helmet shifted to the side. “God, you are insane! You both are!” she gasped. “Fine, fine, it’s a deal!”
“Perfect!” Liz said brightly. “Are you satisfied, Hercules?”
The vein popped back up on the god’s large forehead in irritation pointing a muscular finger at the harpy. ”You will stay away from Rex of the Inferno! He is more powerful than he let on when he last fought and if it wasn’t for me you’d be burn to ash!” he bluffed. Rex of the inferno was far from evil but Hercules had to bluff to protect his ally. The last thing the god wanted was to bring the man more attention. For some reason he preferred to slink in the shadows instead of shouting to the world that ‘I am here!’.
Folding his arms the god scoffed, ”There are other methods of making money without robbery or hostages!” he claimed knowing Elizabeth was the reason he didn’t rob a bank. That was their first meeting after all and she was... fierce. The god knew she was important then and there standing up to a diety such as he. No doubt she was intimidated.
”Indeed.” Hercules boomed after Elizabeth had warned the harpy. Before looking down at his form. Ugly? He who was chiseled from marble sculpted by the gods himself. Maybe she didn’t like tattoo’s? Hercules had never been called ugly before.... maybe there was something wrong with the harpies eyes? He ignored the comment for now. ”She’s already on a date and to ask her out now would be considered rude. No?” he asked Elizabeth for conformation. The slayer of monsters still wasn’t sure on proper dating etiquette in this era.
Flexing behind Elizabeth he agreed that that would be a favorable turn of events. Hercules was more than willing to best the harpy again. However if she hurt someone else.... he couldn’t guarantee her safety. It was sad to the god she’d rather inflict pain and suffering instead of helping other mortals with her talents.
After the threat the shining god boomed with laughter. ”Ha! I agree! It is most favorable!” he said in now awe at the idea of her commanding an army of spiders. He hated spiders. Too many legs, they were... messy. ”Flee now Harpy less one of us changes our minds!” the god offering up a hand to summon his club which whipped through the air before it connected with his hand. Hefting the large bludgeoning tool on his bird free shoulder he posed for added intimidation while his tattoo’s still continued to glow.
Posted by Liz Sundance on Nov 3, 2021 19:26:01 GMT -6
X-Men
Metazoa
Chartreuse
Straight
949
9
Apr 12, 2024 15:17:35 GMT -6
Zek
Elizabeth suppressed a wince. She didn’t know this Rex person and she didn’t have a clue what had happened when the three of them had met, but just based on logic and reasoning, it sounded like Hercules was lying through his teeth. If anything, Liz suspected this Rex was even less powerful. Hercules...well, what he lacked in tact he made up for with charm.
She barely suppressed an eye roll only moments later. Really, Hercules was chastising Razorbeak for stealing? “At least she didn’t try to rob a bank,” was dancing on the top of her tongue but she refused to break character, to lower her guard. Razorbeak could move quick and Liz didn’t want to lose any tenuous advantage or heads-up she had.
“Indeed it is rude,” Liz confirmed. “But I’ll let it slide this time. After all, we’ve gotten so close lately.” She resisted the urge to twist the fork.
And Hercules agreed to the terms she’d dictated. Good. Time to get Razorbeak out of here so the whole stand-off could end. “Excellent,” Liz nodded. “Then this is what’s going to happen. Hercules, keep that club handy, just in case, but do not throw it unless Razorbeak makes a single move against me. Razorbeak? I’m going to walk back to Hercules. You will not move until I reach him. Only then will you fly away, as fast as you can. Understood?”
The helmet nodded. “Yeah,” the woman said.
“Perfect.” Liz smiled once more and finally pulled the frok straight out of the woman’s back. It was a vaguely sickening feeling, but Liz squashed that under an influx of curiosity gleaned from the birds. She did not lower the knife but inside smoothly stepped backwards, never once taking her eyes off the woman. As she walked, she relaxed her grip on the birds and they began moving and warbling and cooing. They flowed out of her way and through glimpses from the shoulder bird, she tracked her movements, to avoid any missteps.
Once she was within arm’s reach of Hercules, she stepped to the side, out of any throwing lines. She nodded at Razorbeak. “Get.”
The woman didn’t hesitate. Her wings flapped down hard, scattering several pigeons, she crouched, and then leaped into the air, her metal wings beating hard for several seconds before she gained altitude. Then she zipped off into the evening sky.
A rumble of understanding exited the gods burly hairy chest as he nodded. The club was adjusted only after he realized he couldn’t slam the thing into the roof top. Birds still littered the roof and surrounded him blocking his movement. Could he charge? Yes but, he didn’t know what sort of connection they had to Elizabeth and he’d like to see no harm come to her especially if he could help it. She had the old god’s favor. ”Aye!” he boomed smiling the glowing intensified as they prepared for them to depart. It would be foolish to try anything.
Hercules watched in awe as the birds skittered out of the way, the blonde he was so fond off didn’t take her eyes off of her prey as she approached she was... a lioness. Hercules couldn’t stop feeling in awe. The glowing sentinel wouldn’t be surprised if she was a descendent of an Amazon the way she handled herself and the situation.
When she approached Hercules saw his opportunity and stepped in between the two just enough to easily block any and all projectiles from the harpy. He had seen her throw her feathers before, while they were like steel they were easily predictable. Elizabeth was his only concern and he could easily protect her with his wall of muscles.
Once the harpy departed and was out of eye sight Hercules roared with laughter. ”What a fortuitous evening! Here I was willing to protect you, little did I know you were more than capable of protecting yourself. You truly are a most impressive mortal! Some would argue one of my favorites! Ha!” the god turned and dropped to one knee grabbing Elizabeth’s hand. ”If you were capable of magic I’d pledge myself to you! The strength you demonstrated...” he kissed her hand then stood revealing his tattered clothes and glowing body.
”How are you feeling?” he asked curiously. ”Lesser mortals would have collapsed from the shock of everything!” looking down still holding one of her hands he set the club down gently avoiding then took her other hand. ”Apologies my heroics led someone to attack us on our date.”