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.
Posted by Quincy Archer on Sept 2, 2024 6:50:47 GMT -6
Haven
Asset of Haven
[color=buttercup]
1,108
66
Nov 23, 2024 19:05:19 GMT -6
Jules
People had a tendency to react two ways when Quin told them what had happened to her. Some people couldn’t get past the fact that she was somehow simultaneously much older and much younger than they had thought. It was a weird reaction, especially considering the fact that this phenomenon was well studied and she really had somehow gone back in time. Physically speaking.
The other way people reacted…Quin really kind of hated it. The shock, the pity, the awkwardness. It was so weird for some people that they just kind of left, like they couldn’t handle looking at her.
Quin could see it all over Will’s face as he kind of stammered out the kinds of things that people always said. If she was being completely honest, Quin couldn’t blame him. She couldn’t blame anyone. If someone had told her a story like that she’d have been freaked out too.
”There’s never a good time to tell people.” she said. Wait too long and tended to think that she was hiding something. Tell them too soon and they always got the kind of shell shocked look that Will had on his face.
”I could have gone back to being a cop. The NYPD was pushing it really hard for some reason…but I’d left. There was a good reason, I’m sure, because I constantly run into people who tell me how good I was at being a cop.” she said, then scowled.
Will wasn't sure which would be worse. The situation Quin found herself in when she awoke from, or the latter slow, creeping horror that you'd just lost a decade of your life. It wasn't as though it were a chance to do things over again -- that time was gone. Both. Both was probably the answer. What would he do if he thought he was going to school the next day and woke up in a cage?
Quin went on to tell him that the NYPD really wanted her back after that, that they'd pushed and pushed for her to come back... which honestly, sounded both like odd behavior and incredibly insensitive. She'd left before then, and, well... she was 19. Will wondering what they were trying to cover up or take credit for by getting Quin back on their side. Maybe his cynicism for the NYPD was misplaced sometimes, but it felt about right to be critical here. Though, it probably wasn't the time or place to voice his full opinions on all of that.
Quin also said she kept being told how good she'd been as a cop. And added a bitter little quip to the end. It was little wonder she never seemed to take the praise he'd tried to throw her way through this terrible day. She was supposed to be some sort of super cop, at least that's what others told her -- and there was no way for her to know otherwise... probably even some media articles out there with her face on it about how she saved this person, or accomplished that thing. It made sense she'd feel she fell short when she didn't, what? Save everyone in the cafe? On the block? More? Was there a line where she'd be good enough?
It was completely senseless to think she -should- be as good as she was, regardless. She didn't have the same training, same experiences... It'd be like expecting to know everything about her degree without studying.
Will took a while to answer. Longer than he'd have liked. He wished he could think faster, or maybe just was more eloquent. What did you even say to something like that, someone who'd been through that. He was ashamed to admit, but his first inclination was to just... leave. Run away from situation. It was sort of what he was best at. Avoid trouble, not dealing with it, leave it to be someone else's problem, wait for it to blow over.
He took a drink of water. A long breath. Let it out. "We're only here because of you, y'know." Will held up a hand, one finger up, trying to ask for her to not argue that he'd done as much, or more. They'd already done that back and forth. The walk had given him time to mull over what had happened, where she'd probably been stuck thinking about how to say this. "Not sayin' I didn't do my bit, but... Even presumin' you didn't do the most of the fighting... Every time there was a decision that had to be made, you were the one that saw that, and made it."
Will's eyes briefly dropped and he lowered his hand into his lap, clutching the water bottle again. He took a breath before he made himself face Quin again. "When we ran outta time in the cafe, you made the decision to run. When we were stuck at that statue, you realized we needed a place, or help. When we didn't have help, you found a place for us to go." Will fidgeted with the bottle in his one hand, thumb running up and down the ridges in the plastic. "I ran. That's the only choice I made. I don't like..." Will paused, reframed how he wanted to say the words he was choosing, "I'm glad you're not a cop. But you did save us today."
Posted by Quincy Archer on Sept 2, 2024 10:40:19 GMT -6
Haven
Asset of Haven
[color=buttercup]
1,108
66
Nov 23, 2024 19:05:19 GMT -6
Jules
It was quiet for a while. Honestly, Quin was surprised that Will was still there. After everything that had happened that day, to get the absolute info and trauma dump that Quin had just lobbed Will’s way would have been enough for anyone to need to get up and walk it off.
Will didn’t go anywhere though.
In fact, Will started speaking and actually held up a finger to forestall anything Quin might have been getting ready to say. The gesture was met with raised eyebrows, but Quin obligingly kept her mouth shut. It was probably the least she could do at the moment.
As Will continued to speak though, the same blush that had been sneaking up her cheeks in the church came back full force at everything he said. It didn’t feel accurate. Not by a long shot.
She’d done some fighting, but they’d still ended up peppered with shrapnel and running for their lives.
She’d picked the church, but they’d barely gotten inside and it had been completely subpar as a place to wait out whatever chaos was going on outside.
Quin wanted to point out that the smart thing to do would have been to immediately run as soon as the fighting had started at the coffee shop. But she still just sat there, looking over at Will as he spoke.
He was glad she wasn’t a cop?
”I’m glad too.” Quin said finally, and she was sincere about it.
Had she saved them today?
”You’re good at this…” she said with a wry little smile, ”But I still think we saved us.”
Will finished speaking and waited with baited breath. He didn't know how other people did this sort of talking, maybe they planned things better, or didn't worry so much about how the other person took the words being said. He had seen Quin's face getting redder as he'd pushed though with his argument, but he couldn't tell if she was angry, or mortified or just embarrassed at the praise.
But she listened, in spite of her raised eyebrows, in spite of her no doubt ragged and raised emotions. She listened as he pushed on and through with his words that he somehow managed to keep straight. She listened as he told her that he was glad she wasn't a cop, that part he meant on multiple levels... maybe it was going too far? She... Was? Had been? A cop. But also, she hadn't... Was it insulting? Did she still --
Quin saved him from his worries before his mind could get too far away on that tangent. She was also glad she wasn't a cop. That. That was good.
Then she went on to compliment him, and Will could feel heat rushing across his face to match Quin's own blush. What was she even complimenting? And, of course, she had to argue back that she hadn't saved them, but that they saved each other together.
”But I still think wesaved us.”
Will snorted out a chuckle at that, one that actually sounded amused, rather than forced and fragile, like the way they'd both tried to cling to humor in the cathedral. "Well, I'd argue that more, but I think you said you'd knock me one if I tried that sorta thing." Will said, smirking back at Quin as he did. "Hate t'get kicked out for bad behavior just because I can't keep my mouth shut."
Posted by Quincy Archer on Sept 2, 2024 13:59:32 GMT -6
Haven
Asset of Haven
[color=buttercup]
1,108
66
Nov 23, 2024 19:05:19 GMT -6
Jules
It was Will’s turn to blush now and Quin couldn’t help but smirk just a little bit as she returned his favor from earlier. They were quite the pair, unable to take a compliment, constantly deflecting praise.
”I said I’d knock you down if you said your powers weren’t useful again…and that was before your little trick in the church.” Quin said.
Maybe she was goading Will a little bit because he’d been so complimentary, but Quin figured that was her prerogative. He was right though, getting kicked out of here would be an absolute disaster.
Leaning back in the chair, Quin looked around. The two of them were definitely worse for the wear, but there were people much worse off.
”How’s your arm?” Quin asked, more to fill the silence than anything. They were going to be here for a while, and if Will wasn’t going to run for the hills, they might as well chat.
Quin definitely had him on the back foot with her comments, and Will found himself suddenly bereft of his usual wit and snark as she jabbed back at him with her own compliments, tied up in the earlier playful threat. It had him thoroughly flummoxed, and Will's tongue felt like it was tied into a knot as he tried to retort, and found nothing coming to mind. Being thanked for, complimented on his abilities, something that he had so badly tried to keep under wraps. Something that Will thought of at best a party trick and at the very worst considered a curse and a burden was... weird, complicated, but... nice? And Quin seemed genuine. Appreciative even.
All he could manage in response was a bashful grin, setting the bottle of water onto his lap as he cradled his injured arm in his other, letting his right arm support some of the weight. His whole left arm felt heavy, and the wound ached badly enough he could feel tendrils of tension radiating down to his elbow and creeping up his neck, making everything stiff and sore.
He was glad then, when Quin asked how his arm was doing. It was a lot better than sitting in awkward silence and just -feeling- how his arm was doing. He wasn't sure if she was asking because saw him favoring his one arm or is she was giving him a break from struggling to find something to say. While he had a hard time talking about what he'd done, how he felt was pretty straightforward. "I'd tell you it's holdin' up just fine but..." Will started, giving Quin an almost guilty looking grin, as though he were letting her in on a secret that he wasn't supposed to be telling. "You've been real honest, so..." Will lifted the injured arm a test, lifting it a bare inch with a wince before letting it fall back into his other hand. "Hurts like hell."
Will gave a quiet little laugh and shook his head. "Adrenaline's a heck of a thing, 'til you run out. I barely noticed when it happen. Looks like I was pretty lucky though, seein' the state of things here..."
Posted by Quincy Archer on Sept 2, 2024 19:26:28 GMT -6
Haven
Asset of Haven
[color=buttercup]
1,108
66
Nov 23, 2024 19:05:19 GMT -6
Jules
Quin could tell that Will was massively uncomfortable with compliments about his power and his use of them. She knew that her experience with her powers was different than what a lot of mutants grew up with, but it just wansn’t the sort of thing you asked people about. Not even when you’d just verbally vomited your baggage into their lap.
Will was willing to talk about his arm, and Quin could tell by the way he was holding it and how little he was attempting to move it that it hurt. He confirmed the fact a few moments later in response to Quin’s inquiry and she shook her head, glancing around to see if there was any progress.
There were some medical professionals, probably interns or residents moving around in their tent, tending to the less serious injuries, but nobody seemed to be heading their way yet.
Quin nodded in sympathy, ”I’ve never been stabbed…at least that I remember, but I can’t imagine it feels good. I’m sure someone will get over here soon.”
Will had mentioned that they were lucky though, and Quin couldn’t help but nodd, surprised again at how similar their lines of thinking seemed to be again.
Casting around for another topic to discuss, hoping that maybe a distraction would help with the pain in Will’s arm, Quin spoke, ”So when you’re not running, and you’re not working, what do you like to do?” She thought for a moment, trying to remember back to when they’d met in the park, ”You’re a Leo, right? Do you like the arts? Performing? Writing? Being outside when the sun isn’t trying to personally victimize you?” people always thought her fascination with astrology was silly, surely it’d be an apt topic for distraction.
She'd never been stabbed, 'at least that she could remember'. How many times did she have to append that little qualifier to things when she said something, even if it was only in her head? That would drive him absolutely batty. It was weird to think about, and he both had a hundred questions and wanted to avoid the topic all together. As the professionals moved around, ushering people this way and that, there were still distant sounds of move people being brought in. The immediate situation might have been under control but there was no telling how long this sort of thing would take to clean up, to damage to the people and the city would take an exhausting amount of work to fix.
"Can't recommend it. 2/10." Will joked back to Quin, glad she was trying to keep his mind off of things. "I liked this shirt too..." Will grumbled, more for effect and to roll with the joke than anything else -- but it really had been one that he had routinely found himself wearing.
Quin went on, keeping him from stewing in his head about the things that had just happened or the ache in his arm (and frankly a lot of other places, Rocky's parting shot had left a lot of cuts and bruises.), asking what he did, what he liked... Joked about the day they met. She even remembered he was a Leo, from their first meeting. He barely remembered he was a Leo. She was pretty good at this sorta thing herself. Will gave her a little smile as he thought about the questions -- he wasn't quite so used to thinking about his day to day.
"Sightseeing, sometimes. Lots of pretty places to see in NYC." Will started simply, even if it might have been a bit embarrassing to be into something that could be so 'touristy', "And yeah, a Leo, end of July." Will tried to remember what the supposed traits of a Leo were supposed to be. Confidence or bravery, he thought was one? And they were supposed to be leaders, or at least attention-seekers, according to one thing he'd read... Didn't exactly feel like it all fit, but, he'd also only read a website or two on his break. "Don't mind checking out the arts. Music and stuff, yeah? But I'm not much of a creative."
Will paused, then realized she had him at a bit of a disadvantage. At least he was pretty sure Quin had never divulged what zodiac she was labeled with. Honestly, with the hair he'd have guessed Leo, but, that was hardly a way to go about assigning starsigns. "How 'bout yourself? Never did catch which constellation you're paired up with... And what do you for fun when you're not studying law or wrecking cafes?"
Posted by Quincy Archer on Sept 2, 2024 21:18:46 GMT -6
Haven
Asset of Haven
[color=buttercup]
1,108
66
Nov 23, 2024 19:05:19 GMT -6
Jules
”The 2 is for the cool scar you’re probably going to have, isn’t it?” Quin said, smiling a bit more easily now as Will bemoaned the state of his shirt. The smile faded at that and the redhead winced a bit in sympathy, there was probably no coming back for that shirt…she looked down, or her jeans, ”I know distressed is in…but this is all probably a bit excessive.”
Will liked to sightsee and Quin nodded. He’d been in the city longer than she had, but she was still finding out new things about New York all the time. She probably would be for the rest of her life. New York was one of those places where the moment you thought you knew everything about a place, there was something new to discover. ”Have you ever been to the Morgan Library?” she asked. Chances were that he had, but it was somewhere that Quin had just discovered…or rediscovered recently. She’d been blown away by the architecture, the books, the displays of old texts…
Will didn’t think he was much of a creative, and Quin didn’t argue with him because she figured she’d done enough of that today, but he’d been awfully creative and quick with the drinks this morning. She’d been impressed with his ability to remember so much off the top of his head, and whether he wanted to admit it or not, he’d definitely taken the lead a few times. It was starting to make sense. Music though. Music was definitely good.
Will turned the question over to Quin and she smiled, ”The universe likes its jokes with me. I’m a Sagittarius.” she said. ”The Archer.”
As for what she liked to do…”I like music too…dancing.” as long as there weren’t clowns, ”I like to be outside…and I dabble in astrology, just a bit. I practice aikido, have since I was a kid…”
"Well, you said you were hopin' for one yourself. Can you blame me for wantin' a souvenir?" Will chuckled back as Quin poked fun at his choice of words, implying he was hoping to wind up with a 'cool scar' from the injury. Well, she wasn't 100% off the mark -- but given the choice, he'd skip the scars in the future if he could help it. "No kidding... Hope you weren't wearin' anything designer when you came out to study today." Will replied in turn as Quin lamented the state of her own clothes. They really did look like they stepped out of a warzone, now that he actually was looking at the state of them.
"The Morgan Library?" Will echoed, carefully letting his injured arm rest in his lap a moment as he used his other hand to grab his bottle of water, taking a drink as he tried to remember. Swallowing, his nodded gesturing with the bottle. "Mmm, yeah. Class trip. History, I think? Maybe English." The memories he had were pretty blurry, mostly just a guided tour where the teachers and aides were trying to keep a gaggle of bored students in line. "Never really got a chance to check it out though. Worth a proper look, you think?" Will asked, raising an eyebrow at Quin as he stuck the bottle back between his legs and he gingerly touched his wounded arm over the makeshift bandage with his good hand, trying to gauge better how bad it was. It hurt when he poked at it, was all he really learned.
Will did though, give a short laugh as Quin explained her sign, helpfully pointing out -why- it was funny as well which the astrologically unaware Will greatly appreciated. "Dang, that really is a bit of a cosmic humor, huh? Suppose it's good your folks didn't pour on the archery puns." Will made a mental note to check about what Sagittarius signs were suppose to be like when he got the chance -- if that tea and tidal waves outing happened, hopefully sans the waves, they could bond over how much their signs did or didn't fit them. He doubled down on that note as Quin mentioned she was into astrology, at least a bit. Explained why she asked then, it hadn't just been an ice breaker.
"Akido? Explains what you did to Bat boy back there. Hear 'em run up and the next thing I knew he was pancaked on the cafe floor. Cool as heck, by the way." Will grinned, but quickly moved the conversation past the fight in the cafe. "Music and dancing can be a good time -- some places are a bit much, with the noise and lights and all of that. Drinks help sometimes, make it worse other times..."
"Outside though. I can definitely appreciate being outside -- at least the days I haven't angered the sun." Will chuckled a bit at that, looking up as he did. "Gettin' away from all the bustle of the city and outside of walls hemming you in, it's nice, even if it's just the Park. Calming. I uh... Get overwhelmed pretty easy. Senses, y'know?" Will said, voice dropping a bit in volume as he did, as though worried someone would overhear.
"Speaking of." Will continued, leaning in a bit towards Quin, keeping his voice low. "You still doin' okay? It's been... a while, since I did that sorta thing."
Posted by Quincy Archer on Sept 3, 2024 9:02:29 GMT -6
Haven
Asset of Haven
[color=buttercup]
1,108
66
Nov 23, 2024 19:05:19 GMT -6
Jules
Quin couldn’t help but think that this was so much better than the heavy topics of a few minutes before. Sure, those topics had been kind of necessary, but the day had already been awful enough and God she did not want to get any more mired down in a bunch of discussion about things she didn’t really know.
Designer? Quin did actually laugh then, ’I’m in law school, not a lawyer. My parents were teachers. Definitely not designer.”
Will had been to the Morgan Library, as Quin had expected, but it had been some kind of school field trip. Those weren’t always ideal for exploring a place because they generally had a specific goal in mind. ”Definitely worth a closer look. It’s like one of those fairy tale castle libraries. Murals on the ceiling, rare book collections. They do all sorts of exhibitions too.” .
The aikido was cool? Quin had to smile, it was pretty cool when it worked. The guy with the bat had helpfully come right at her and couldn’t have been more textbook with the attack he attempted. ”It definitely comes in handy.”
Will went on to talk about music and clubs and Quin nodded in sympathy as he explained that sometimes the noise and chaos of dancing and music were a lot. He liked to be outside (angry sun notwithstanding) and that he got easily overwhelmed sometimes.
Man, that would be a lot, Quin decided, once again thankful for her rather benign powers. ”New York is overwhelming on a good day,” she said, thinking that if Will’s rather calm general demeanor was any indication he handled things incredibly well. Finishing off her water bottle, Quin took to fiddling with the plastic, mostly to keep her hands occupied. Pushing it, pulling it, squishing it, almost like it was thinking putty or play doh.
How was she doing? The way Will leaned towards her and lowered his voice, it was like it was a secret that he’d used his powers to help her out. ”Honestly…really good.” Quin said, looking around to see if anyone had been eavesdropping that she missed. ”If this is you out of practice, you must be aces when you’ve been practicing.” Quin took a breath and while there was a bit of a sore pull, the pain from earlier was still not front and center. ”It’s just like you said, kinda weird and numb…but way better. Thanks again.”
So the library was not just worth another look, but definitely another look. Murals and rare books and all kinds of exhibitions? It -did- sound like the sort of refuge he'd like, losing himself in place that was quiet and still, peeking at all the old art that was so painstakingly preserved and cared for. Plus, from Quin's own description, it was like a fairy tale castle -- hadn't she said that she was a fan of those, back when they'd met in the park? Maybe that was also why the cathedral had sprung to mind for her so quickly as well when they were seeking refuge, or maybe why it caught her eye at least. "No kidding?" Will said in response, raising an eyebrow, taking a revisit into heavy consideration. "Well. Maybe we check it out when you take me out for tea then. Squeeze it in between the drinks and the disaster." Will chuckled, giving his injured arm a gentle tap with his other hand. "Between this an' the way the shop was left, feel like I'll have some days off to fill."
Will just nodded in simple agreement when Quin stated that New York was overwhelming on a good day. She seemed to catch on and empathize pretty quickly to his meaning, and, well it wasn't as though New York was a bastion of tranquility even to the average person. Still, it was nice knowing someone understood. As Quin started to squish and play with the water bottle in her hands, Will expected the usual distinctive plastic crunching, and was briefly baffled as the sound never came, and he watched for a second or two with curiosity and surprise as Quin manipulated the bottle like it was a piece of clay, a bemused smile crossing his face. Neat. He'd only gotten a glimpse at what she'd done before, and watching the rules of what he -thought- should be just blatantly being broken so casually was immensely fun to watch. It was also a little strange, seeing someone else blatantly and casually use their powers. It wasn't as though that was something he -hadn't- seen, but with his own hang-ups...
Forcing himself to stop staring at the putty-like plastic, he heard Quin say she still felt good. What he'd done was holding up -- though she did feel a bit weird, a bit numb... Which was to be expected, he knew. And again, at her thanks, at her praise, there was a complex mix of pride and concern and worry that he didn't really know how to fully deal with, but he stuffed the most of it down, giving Quin a small smile. "Yeah, I don't use 'em much." Will admitted, hesitating half a second before continuing. "First time in years, if I'm bein' honest. Don't tend to tell people." That was a bit of an understatement. Besides one other chance encounter with another mutant, who really didn't have anyway of tracking him down at this point, Will hadn't told -anyone- about his abilities... though it was possible some of his old friends and classmates had suspicions.
"So..." Will continued, trying to keep the conversation alive, glancing over his shoulder briefly at the ongoings within the staging area, watching as more people trickled in and were moved about. It was too hard to tell how serious things were, but most people being led in seemed to be walking under their own power. "You think your professors will give you a couple extra days on your papers? I'll vouch for you if you need a witness." Will chuckled as he turned back to face Quin with a crooked smirk.
Posted by Quincy Archer on Sept 3, 2024 11:59:40 GMT -6
Haven
Asset of Haven
[color=buttercup]
1,108
66
Nov 23, 2024 19:05:19 GMT -6
Jules
Will seemed to like the idea of the Morgan Library and even suggested checking it out when they got tea. That was a good idea, the two places were actually relatively close together. They were both at least in midtown.
Assuming they could avoid disaster.
”Surely after enough destruction, the Universe will understand my desperate need for caffeinated beverages. Maybe it just took offense to the fact that I slummed it with coffee today.” she teased, ”But yeah, I’d like that…assuming the Senator doesn’t have us working dusk ‘til dawn once the dust settles.”
Will would likely have some time off, if the condition of the shop when they’d left it was any indication of how things had continued to go. That was a bummer, the place had been really nice.
The more they talked, the more squished the bottle. It was something to do with her hands while they waited and helped relieve some of the nervous tension that was still built up inside of her. Will spoke after a moment though, and Quin looked up at him and tilted her head slightly. He didn’t use his powers much? Hadn’t in years? He didn’t tell people?
That was a bit of a shock and for a minute, Quin’s hands stopped molding the plastic. So far, everything about Will had suggested that things for him had been far more normal than they had been for her. But maybe that was because he’d kept a low profile over the years. Quin wanted to ask more about that, but maybe that’d be better over tea rather than in the middle of a triage tent during a city-wide emergency.
”Well, I’m grateful you made an exception.” she settled on saying, and really she was. If he was that uncomfortable and he’d still offered to help her feel better, that was just really nice.
At the mention of her classes and schoolwork, Quin audibly groaned, everything she had was still at the coffee shop. ”What are the chances that any of it is still there? Those books cost a fortune.” Contrary to popular belief, Senatorial internships did not pay well and while she didn’t exactly pay rent or utilities for her apartment…ugh.
”I think the literal apocalypse could be happening and my contract law professor would still be sitting at her laptop at 11:59 PM ready to close the assignment and cackle as people failed to submit.”
As Quin spoke a young’ish looking man in scrubs approached, “Name” he said, and Quin nodded to Will. He was in much worse shape. Maybe once someone with actual medical training had looked at is arm it would hurt less.
"Is that what it is? Universe is cranky that a tea drinker's been slumming it with a coffee slinger?" Will joked back, giving a chuckle and a smirk as Quin joked about tea, coffee and the universe being out to get her in response. "Would explain why there's trouble whenever you show up." Jokes or no, Will couldn't help but be quite pleased that Quin gave her approval of the idea, schedule pending of course. It was again, more complicated feelings than he was used to -- someone who knew about him, but also someone he could actually talk to. Plus, they'd just saved each others lives? That probably had an impact... Will was good at running, at distancing himself, at skirting around issues, but everything today, Quin included, had barreled into him like... Well he'd say like a truck, but that led to some unfavorable comparisons to the alley.
Will didn't miss the shock that flashed through Quin as he explained about his reluctance to use his powers. Hard to, when she stopped kneading her makeshift fidget toy as he talked about it. Will had been expecting a reaction like that, but it still made him feel tense, seeing someone respond like that. Will had after all, on nearly every account, had a pretty mundane upbringing, powers aside. Really, he knew on some level he was clinging too hard to the atmosphere that had suffused his school when he was younger, the ugliness that had come from the riots in 2012. But it was hard to let go. Harder still when even now, with things better, he could still hear the things the worst sorts of people muttered under their breath wherever he went, and somehow those whispers stuck louder in his mind than any other voice.
Part of him wanted to talk about it, now that he'd opened a little it was like a trying to hold back a wave with duct tape and prayer... But he was also emotionally exhausted -- and maybe they should take turns sharing their long held secrets. Quin said that she was grateful to him, that he'd been willing to make an exception, and Will gave her a sheepish smile and small shake of his head, trying to brush off the regards. "You'd used yours, savin' our butts in the cafe. Couldn't not help." Will explained, trying to make it sound as though it was a choice out of his hands. Really, it'd been strange, very strange to realize that it was only because of his powers that they were as okay as they were. That he'd been able to help someone and keep himself and Quin safe because of them, and not in spite of them. Plus, they hadn't been attacked or targeted because they were mutants... at least he was pretty sure... There were way too many people here, anyway, for whatever happening to be solely going after mutants.
Confusing. Complicated. Almost like making a decision 12 years ago and stubbornly clinging to it wasn't always a healthy choice.
"Chances on your stuff bein' there?" Will though and gave what attempted to be a reassuring smile, but was pretty unconvincing. "Welllll~" He dragged out the word as he tried to think about the best case scenario. "The place was pretty wrecked. Possible it got buried under all the boxes and stuff? Plus they didn't seem the type to be there for literature... And your laptop..?" Will just trailed off at that, even if the thugs who'd been there didn't take it, and even if it wasn't damaged in the scuffle, it could be snatched up by anyone who spied it in the dust of the cafe. It might still be there? "Well, look... I'll text the owner, let 'em know a friend of mine left stuff there. I'm sure they'll have to be there as soon as things calm down."
As Will started to bring up another topic, Quin was giving him a nod as another person was there, asking their names, or -- he supposed, his name. "Will." He stated, before correcting himself. "Er, William. Christensen." He guessed it was probably supposed to be proper full names, matching IDs and all that sort of stuff in a situation like this. Though plenty of folks probably didn't have ID right now? Still, make things easier for whoever got stuck with the paperwork at the end of all this.
Posted by Quincy Archer on Sept 3, 2024 20:19:56 GMT -6
Haven
Asset of Haven
[color=buttercup]
1,108
66
Nov 23, 2024 19:05:19 GMT -6
Jules
”The universe is a fickle mistress…” Quin said, ”There’s no telling what she will and won’t take exception to.”
As for there being trouble anywhere she showed up, Quin scoffed good naturedly. ”I am a magnet for adventure. Never a dull moment in my company.” Quin was massively overselling herself there, in the five or so years since everything had happened she’d had exactly two wild days and they’d both happened in the last couple of months.
Quin could tell that Will had noticed her attention when he spoke about how locked down he’d kept his powers and his status as a mutant. It wasn’t that Quin didn’t understand. For lots of people it was just much easier to avoid the drama. He seemed to relax a bit when she thanked him for his exception though and that was kind of that…at least for now.
The news got a little worse from there, and even though Quin had expected Will’s answer to echo the thoughts that were bouncing around in her head, hearing the words out loud made her sigh. A new laptop was not going to be cheap and hadn’t really been in the budget for this month. Maybe there was still a chance. Her books had better odds, unless a looter had needed something to prop up the leg of a dresser or wanted to try drug-free remedies for insomnia.
Still, Will offered to reach out to the owners and see if they could find anything. ”By the time we’re done with all of this, I’m going to owe you more favors than you know what to do with…”
The doctor? Resident? Intern? Asked for Will’s name and he gave it, then amended it to his full name. Quin couldn’t help but smirk, “Will Coffee” was getting an updated in her contacts as soon as she had the chance.
The doctor asked Will a lot of the same questions that they’d been asked in triage and then said, “If you’ll come with me, we’ll get that arm cleaned up. Shouldn’t take long.”
Well, if that wasn’t promising news, Quin didn’t know what was. With Will gone though, it was really quiet in the tent and she had too much time to be introspective. Introspection led to the exhaustion that had been at the edges of her consciousness to creep steadily in. Maybe she’d just close her eyes and rest for a few minutes….