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.
It'd been... a while, a good long while since he'd just sat and enjoyed a storm. It -was- one of those things that almost made all the headaches his senses brought along otherwise worth it. And Quin was painting a pretty evocative picture, lightning flashing through the sky, world pulsing like a drum, heavy enough to feel it... Definitely sounded like a treat. "Dang. You must have one of the best seats in the building if it's like that." Will replied, a little hushed, a bit awed at the thought of a wild storm just outside the windows. Be a nice way to wash away the craziness in the city right now.
"Yeah, honey'd be nice." Will replied with his preference as Quin inquired. He wasn't much of a tea drinker, but lemon and honey was something he'd remembered liking. Pretty classic pairing after all.
Quin went on to comment that it he must have a lot to think about, dealing with his preternatural senses, and Will just gave a little shrug at that. "I mean, I guess?" He hadn't really actively thought about what he did to mitigate the worst parts of his mutation for years, it was all sort of habit by now, thought at points he guessed he had to come up with all the ways to make things better for himself. "Adapt some routines. Learn to avoid the worst things... At this point it's less havin' to think about things so much as... stuff just gets to be a lot, y'know?"
Quin apologized for bringing up the deaging thing, after Will apologized for having so clumsily asked about how long Quin had been living here, and he decided not to comment, just giving a nod of understanding, lest they get caught in some back and forth apology loop. They did seem to have a habit of saying sorry to one another at the drop of a hat after all. He instead used his energy to find a seat at the kitchen table while Quin was finishing up with the kettle and mugs.
Will took the offered mug from Quin as she brought over the tea, curling his hands around the ceramic. There was just something cozy about a warm mug like that. She asked him to explain more about his powers and... well, yeah. Fair. "I probably didn't. Probably barely told you what I was doin' at the time... Cagey about it. Sorry." Will said, with an apologetic smile. Though, after learning there was a team out there specifically out to target people with preternatural abilities, he felt a bit less silly about his precautions and paranoia.
"Honestly, turnin' senses up and down pretty much sums up the whole thing, far as I know." Will said, running a thumb along the rim of his mug. "Well. And my own are always cranked up to eleven... maybe an eight right about now. Presumin' normal is 5, I mean." Will had to guess a bit at that, he didn't really have a baseline for human normal anymore, save for how easy signs were to read and how loud most people listened to music. "It's complicated though. I mean, it's complicated to explain because I don't really have the words, and it's complicated to do because... Well, I don't really have the words." Will gave a flustered little giggle at that, some combination of amused and nervous and mildly frustrated coming out in a brief bit of hysterics, and he sipped at the tea gingerly to give his mouth and brain a brief break.
It was nice. Much as he probably would have gone for coffee at his own place, (and a different tiny part of him still wished they were throwing responsibility out the window), the tea was warm and soothing and just sweet enough. It he were more poetic, he'd probably have a balm joke, but all he managed was a quiet, content, "Mmm," in comment, before continuing, speaking a little more calmly.
"Lotta little things you gotta move just right, basically, give 'em just the right amount of energy." Will said, after he'd put the mug back down. "One way, dulls things, another, makes 'em sharper. Wrong way? Things get disorienting, weird. S'what I did to the guy in the cafe, and the metal jerk too. They could probably smell sounds and taste colour for a few minutes there."
Posted by Quincy Archer on Sept 10, 2024 9:21:05 GMT -6
Haven
Asset of Haven
[color=buttercup]
1,062
66
Sept 20, 2024 22:41:06 GMT -6
Jules
After handing Will his mug Quin sat, pulling her legs up into the chair, a slight twinge in her side reminding her that she probably shouldn’t do that.
As time went on she was definitely getting more sore and Quin wondered if that had more to do with the natural order of things and she was just hurting more or if Will was tired enough that what he had done was wearing off.
To that end, Will admitted that he’d been cagey about his powers in the first place and Quin shrugged. She hadn’t really thought he was being cagey, they’d been talking about things in the middle of a crisis and she’d gotten the idea.
Will could turn senses up and down, and his own were pretty much constantly turned up. He had said that he didn’t really think about managing his surroundings anymore, but Quin had to think that it was because he just did it subconsciously. Like avoiding peppermint tea.
Taking a sip from her cup, Quin sighed, tea was so good. ”So it gets better if you use your powers?” she asked curiously, then frowned a bit thoughtfully, ”But you said in the church it had been years since you’d really used them.”
Quin could absolutely empathize with how hard it was to explain something that you could just do. It was like that for her with the plastic. Quin couldn’t explain why or how she could change it and mold it with her hands. Just that it worked.
Will was honestly doing a pretty good job of explaining though. It was like he could tell each sense apart and then push or pull them. Or jumble them together.
Tasting colors or smelling sounds? Quin had to laugh, actually laugh, at the thought. ”I wonder what purple tastes like.” she said idly, shaking her head a bit and taking a drink.
”And they deserved much worse if that’s all you did.”
She thought for a moment, ”I still can’t believe that what you did earlier is still working after all this time…” she paused a beat, ”You’re probably tired though…you don’t have to keep helping. I doubt I’m going to be running again any time soon.”
Willl fidgeted with the mug in his hands, drumming his fingers against the ceramic as the conversation went back and forth. He seemed to be getting the gist of what he could do across, or at least Quin didn't ask too many clarifying questions -- about what he could do at least. She did ask about some of the ways using them affected him, and that he'd said he hadn't really used them in years.
"Well... I hadn't done any of the fine tuning type stuff for years, at least." Will admitted, giving a little guilty smile. "Couple times between then and now where it was use 'em or wind up with a busted nose, or worse." Running around late at night was great for burning off calories and energy without people around, but sometimes meant that the company he -did- end up with wasn't the most savory. "Exercise helps too. Running myself ragged, at least. Doesn't seem to get as bad if I'm sick, or if I'm barely sleepin'." Will took another sip of tea. Yeah, this was the right call for drinks right now. He'd have to figure out where Quin had gotten it. Nice to have another thing added to the list of things he could drink safely.
"And don't worry. Neither of 'em had a good time. Pretty they'd have rather have one of those flash bangs Michael was totin' around go off inside their head, rather than what I did." Will gave a little smirk at that. He probably shouldn't be happy about causing someone that sort of discomfort, but neither of the two garnered much sympathy from him after what each of them had done. Not like Knives was going to be sore for the next couple weeks, anyway. Jerk got the better part of the exchange for sure.
Quin mentioned she was surprised what he did was still working and Will just gave a confused little shrug and shake of his head. Was it weird he could hold something that long? Guess that was the downside to hiding away, you didn't get the viewpoints of others when it came to these sorts of things. Will almost protested, saying he was fine, before realizing he actually was feeling a strain at keeping the link with Quin up. Normally, something like that wouldn't have been much bother, even been welcome, like allowing a clenched muscle to relax. As it was now though, he could feel it tug persistently at a part of his brain, and he had to keep consciously tightening his grip on it.
It wasn't surprising, once he thought about it, the day itself had been exhausting, his body was battered, and using his powers to inundate people was a lot more draining that he'd remembered. Then again, he'd never had to use it twice in day before. "Like I said, it doesn't take much... But I think it is startin' to catch up with me." Will extended a hand, laying it palm up on the table. "Here. I can cut the link without contact, but everything'll snap back like a rubber band all at once that way."
Posted by Quincy Archer on Sept 10, 2024 11:12:07 GMT -6
Haven
Asset of Haven
[color=buttercup]
1,062
66
Sept 20, 2024 22:41:06 GMT -6
Jules
Quin nodded when Will clarified the part about how often he’d used his powers over the last few years, and why he liked to run.
That explained why he’d been going so hard on such a hot day when they’d met. It helped make things more tolerable. Suddenly, Quin felt bad about teasing him that day, ”Not that running is bad…but why don’t you just use your powers more if it helps bring things down a notch?” she asked, curiosity evident in her voice. Quin knew that if she’d been in the same boat, she’d have done that exact thing.
It was also incredibly satisfying to hear that the two bad guys that Will had put the whammy on had had a decidedly terrible time. Quin knew that if the hammer handed guy hadn’t managed to get that plastic off his face he’d have had an even worse time than a flash bang going off in his head. Had the face wrap been loose enough or thin enough for the hammer hand guy to even breathe? Quin hadn’t had the luxury of time to finesse what she was doing so she didn’t know. She supposed it was one of those, ‘play stupid games’ situations, but still shuddered a bit at the potential implications.
Will seemed confused when Quin pointed out that she was impressed that he was still able to help her, but maybe it was just one of those things about powers. She was about to speak, when Will amended that it was probably starting to catch up with him a bit and extended his hand. The alternative did not sound pleasant in the least, so Quin set down her mug and reached out to place her hand in Will’s. ”I wasn’t saying it was strange by the way…” she said, ”I was impressed. I can’t really hold on to things very long, especially if they’re heavy.”
Will made a bit of a face when Quin asked why he didn't use his powers more if it helped him deal with his senses being overly sensitive. It was an easy enough thing to answer, but he hated admitting that it basically boiled down to 'because I'm scared'. "I... don't really make it a habit of telling people." Will said at first, trying to brush it off. He paused, mentally scolding himself. She'd been honest and upfront with him about everything he'd asked, and it wasn't like there was anything let to hide. Half-truths were hardly fair.
It could wait, just a minute though. Will instead turning his attention to Quin as she laid her hand in his and he gingerly wrapped his fingers around hers. "Well, it's not like I move anythin' doing what I do... And zapping folks takes a lot more outta me than I remember." Will admitted, taking a slow breath in as he tapped into his powers, seeing Quin's sensory threads once again spread over his mind's eye. It was a little easier to undo the work he'd done initially, the strands that had been moved out of place jumped out to him, and it was blatant to him where his powers were holding them off where they 'should' be.
Will talked as he worked, staring down at their joined hands without really seeing. "Well, for starters, I can use 'em on myself, so I'd need a volunteer." He sounded a little distracted, voice a bit low. But it was easier to not have to think too hard when talking about something he was sort of embarrassed about. "And... I can probably count on one hand the amount of people that actually know. And that's includin' you and Michael. Maybe two hands, if the people I've zapped remember what happened."
While talking, Will nudged Quin's sense of touch gradually back to where it belonged, undoing the mental stitches that held them off their usual map and slowly bringing her back to baseline, for better or worse. "Things were tense for mutants when I was in high school, when I sorta found out I, y'know, was one. Targets on their back. Lotta ugly things said out loud. Kids. Parents. On the TV and in the streets."
That was probably good? Seemed like most of the changes he'd done were changed back. Will cut the link, feeling the little tug vanish as any changes left to Quin's senses snapped back to normal. He imagined it might be like feeling your ears pop and the world sounding proper again, but for your skin.
"And... I never really stopped hearin' folks mutter those same things under their breath." Will finished, looking up from the table to meet Quin's gaze. "Just been tryin' to stay outta sight, outta mind."
Posted by Quincy Archer on Sept 10, 2024 13:43:02 GMT -6
Haven
Asset of Haven
[color=buttercup]
1,062
66
Sept 20, 2024 22:41:06 GMT -6
Jules
Will didn’t make it a habit to tell people that he was a mutant. Quin understood, a lot of people did that. Sometimes it was just easier to blend if you could.
It also wasn’t like she ran around proudly proclaiming her genetic status to anyone and everyone. The difference was that she definitely didn’t go out of her way to keep it under wraps, and anyone who paid attention would have been able to pick up on it really easily.
Again, she was going to speak, but Will continued on and Quin subconsciously tensed just a bit as his hand closed around hers and he presumably began to undo what he had done earlier. Quin didn’t know how bad she was going to hurt, but by all expectations it would be more than she did right now so it was probably better to be prepared.
This time as he worked, Will spoke, explaining that it wasn’t particularly heavy lifting for him to use his powers, but that the more intensive use earlier in the day had taken quite a bit out of him.
That made sense, Quin supposed, as did the fact that in order to be able to use his powers he’d have to have people around who knew he had powers…and there just weren’t very many of those.
Things were changing now, and Quin could feel the dull, almost disconnected ache that had been present since Will had used his powers in the church growing in intensity. She tried not to think about it, instead focusing on what Will was explaining.
General sentiment had been rough when Will had been in school and despite the fact that he wasn’t looking at her, Quin gave a nod of sympathy. High school was rough in the best circumstances, throwing in powers and living in New York would definitely have complicated things.
Where she’d been and when she’d been, Quin had been something of a novelty. It had helped that she had already run with a highly accepting crowd and spent most of her summers traveling and with hippies.
The ache in her side was definitely worse now, and Quin had to hope that Will was almost done putting things back the way they should be. Suddenly though she realized that she felt…different? Normal? Quin could remember Will saying that she’d be a little numb as long as his powers were working on her and now that they weren’t…interesting.
Will looked up now and Quin looked back as he spoke and she nodded. “That makes sense.” she said, ”I didn’t grow up here, and people mostly just thought I was a bit of a novelty.”
She paused for a second then smiled, ”Also, now you’ve got at least one person you don’t have to be careful around.” That was better than nobody right? ”And I’m clearly easily bribed if you’re ever having a rough time.”
Will was halfway though talking before he realized he was answering a pretty simple question with something that had turned into a ramble, but it seemed like he was blessed with a good friend in Quin, as she listened attentively regardless of how much he went on. Eventually, he did get to the end of it all, and Quin replied, saying that she understood, that his choices made sense.
Will smiled awkwardly as Quin said the now he had someone he didn't have to be careful around. That... was a weird feeling. Good, but not something he was used to, and he was grateful as she joked about being easily bribed, while also giving an implied offer of help if he was ever having a bad time of things. Joking would keep him from making a fool of himself, blushing or crying, or at least he hoped it would. "Yeah, just need to getcha a drink, bring some takeout and save your life once or twice. Easy as anything." Will smirked, and then realizing he was still clutching her hand, let go and pulled away, bringing his hands back around the mug of half drank tea.
"Thanks, though." Will said, quieter, and he kept his eyes on the mug. Being genuine didn't come easy to him, allowing himself to be vulnerable less so. Looking up, he found his voice again and a small smile as he gestured to Quin. "You should be good there. Or back t'normal, anyway."
Will went back to what Quin had said, that she hadn't grown up here in New York. "Was only since high school for me here. Canada before that, like I said back in the park. Just happened to get here at a real bad time." Will hesitated at speaking on exactly what it was that made it such a bad time, it could be complicated bringing up the riots when Quin had been a cop. Except, she hadn't. The 'Quin-that-was', had been a cop.
Archer. He decided, giving the name the cop had called her back in the church to the 'other Quin' (sure, it was just her last name, but...) to keep everything straight in his head.
"Twenty-twelve riots." Will explained simply, idly wondering if Quin would even have memories of that year. 2019, minus a decade... Probably not then? Might have been something brought up somewhere in her law courses though? Would there be specifics on mutant law and things of that sort? Why not ask then, self? "Anything about 'em come up in your studies? Or the Mutant Registration stuff? Guess I never really did catch exactly what sorta law you're gettin' into."
Posted by Quincy Archer on Sept 10, 2024 16:25:42 GMT -6
Haven
Asset of Haven
[color=buttercup]
1,062
66
Sept 20, 2024 22:41:06 GMT -6
Jules
“See you get it.” Quin said with the same grin, keeping pace with the joke and picking up her cup once Will had released her hand. Will had said he didn’t have many people, and lord knew that Quin needed more friends. Who better to be friends with than someone who had already gone out of their way to help you more than once. Will had also, Quin noticed, admitted his part in the heroics earlier in the day.
The thanks Will offered was quieter though and Quin shrugged, “It’s really nothing.”
Good was an interesting choice of word for how Quin was feeling now that Will had dropped the buffer his powers had been providing between her injuries and her perception of the pain.
”Definitely back to normal…I’d forgotten what you said about being a little numb and now that I’m not it’s…interesting.” she said.
Will reminded Quin that he wasn’t actually from New York and she nodded at the little detail. He’d apparently moved here during the trouble.
The riots? He’d moved here during the riots. Talk about culture shock. Quin didn’t know anything about any of it first hand. Surely she’d been around or involved with it all as a cop, but it was just a big blank space in her mind. Had anything about it come up in her classes? ”Yeah, “ she said, ”It actually comes up a lot.” she said with a slight frown, ”Hell of an introduction to New York.” she said, lacking context for much else.
”I remember the camps being a thing.” They’d happened around the time that Quin had graduated from high school, something that felt far more recent than it actually was. ”But they didn’t make the news a lot back home. I didn’t realize how awful it all was until Law School though.”
What kind of law was she studying? ”Criminal defense.” she said, ”Though contract law is tempting. It seems boring and pays like crazy…”
At that moment, the timer on Quin’s phone went off to indicate that the pizza was done.
Up Quin got, maybe a little too quickly for all her reupped aches and pains and hissed through her teeth a bit at just how sore those ribs were. The bruise had looked pretty gnarly when she’d taken her shower.
Still though, she made her way to the kitchen and managed to get the pizza out without offending any of her injuries, got the pizza out, and set about cutting it.
”Come and get it.” she said, ”The frozen food aisle’s finest.” And to be honest, it didn’t look bad at all.
”You didn’t get mixed up in any of the actual riot stuff, did you?” Quin asked. She’d seen videos and read articles, that whole thing had been really ugly.
"Only really learned about the camps and everything myself because of the riots." Will admitted, after Quin brought up that she'd remembered the Mutant Registration camps being a thing. Apparently they hadn't made headlines where she lived. It was much the same for him, though admittedly he wasn't sure if that was because the idea hadn't spread past the border, or if it was just young enough for it to have slipped his attention at the time.
"And I didn't move, like, during during the riots... Couple months after I got here, but... Still pretty much the welcome wagon though." Will clarified after she'd stated that it made for a heck of an introduction to New York. It had, but he'd managed to keep his head free and clear of the most of it.
So Quin was studying criminal defense. Had she mentioned that? Maybe..? Even if she had, he felt like he had a pretty good excuse with the way the day had gone to forget the minutia of her degree. Even if he was likely to have forgotten it regardless. "Criminal defense sounds like a tough gig." Will left it at that, though he had a few thoughts on the matter. What if she had to defend the sort of people who'd attacked them today? Or what if there were less than savory types on the law's side, twisting the story or pinning the blame on the wrong person? Seemed like things could get complicated, even outside the difficulty of the job itself, real fast.
Will pushed himself up to his feet, following Quin to the countertop as she pulled the pizza out of the oven, giving a sympathetic wince as he heard her hiss at the movement. Not surprising. Part of him was kind of astounded she was even up and about. Either tougher or more stubborn than he'd expect of most people. Well, definitely the second, from what he'd seen so far, and there wasn't much reason to doubt the first either.
"NYC might have a heckuva pizza culture, but I'm guessin' the little frozen circles like we got here fuels more of the city than anyone would like to admit." Will said as he watched Quin start sectioning the pizza into portioned slices. "And, no. It was everyone was talking about for a bit... and I could probably playback the audio of that one video from memory, how often kids were showin' each other in school." Will shook his head to emphasis his next point, "But, like I said, no. I kept my head low. Good eyes and ears, right? Helps to keep me outta trouble." Will gave a little snort of laughter, "Most days, anyway. When it doesn't come find me."
"Plates?" Will asked, scanning the kitchen area with his eyes, glancing over at Quin for directions. Might as well turn many hands into light work. Plus if it was overhead, be rough to reach with ribs like that... though he supposed he'd have to do with just the one arm. "And speakin' of trouble, how do you think Michael's doing? How'd you end up meeting them?"
Posted by Quincy Archer on Sept 10, 2024 19:58:59 GMT -6
Haven
Asset of Haven
[color=buttercup]
1,062
66
Sept 20, 2024 22:41:06 GMT -6
Jules
Even being adjacent to the riots had to have been pretty intense, Quin thought, especially being a teenager and a mutant with newly realized powers. The articles had all made it sound like the initiating event had been bad, but the way things had blown up after had been even worse. Mutant vs Cops, Cops vs Mutants, people vs each other on both sides. Generalized chaos similar to what they’d experienced today.
Criminal defense sounded like a tough gig? Quin shrugged her shoulders, ”It can be. Everyone deserves their day in court. One of the things that Haven does is provide legal support for mutants who are wrongly accused or discriminated against. I thought that I might like to get into doing something like that eventually.” she said, ”Probably going to have to do at least a few years of public defense or interning somewhere before they’ll hire me on though.”
The pizza actually looked and smelled really good and Will even agreed. Realistically speaking he was probably right too…New York‘s pizza culture was wild, but the frozen section at the store wouldn’t have been nearly as big as it was if the pies there weren’t popular.
Will elaborated on his experience with the riots and Quin figured she knew exactly what video he was talking about. His sharper than usually senses had kept him out of trouble though, and he’d never really gone back. At least until today.
As for plates? “That cabinet over there…” Quin said nodding to one over her shoulder. The help would be nice, Quin admitted, all of this bending and twisting made it clear that reaching was going to be against the rules for at least a day or two.
Will asked about Michael then and Quin leaned against the counter as she waited for the plates, ”It’s like I said. Michael was teaching a self defense class a few months ago and recognized me. We haven’t talked much about how I knew them before but Michael basically told me I had been a garbage fighter back then too and that I needed to diversify. That was the first time someone who knew me had said anything other than super nice things so I instantly asked if they’d train me.” Quin shrugged, ”Michael is a harsh teacher, but I’ve learned quite a bit…and now they’ve started farming me out as a punching dummy to others.
Quin paused there for a moment and frowned, ”I knew about Black-Tac, but not the extent that they were embedded here…and I had absolutely no idea about their involvement with SUPER.” she said quietly.
Will didn't exactly have a glowing image of just about anyone in or around law, for the most part. Formative years showing how easily the system would protect it's own and find a group to make lesser or outsiders will do that. But... Quin's explanation of what she planned to do with her degree sounded like the sort of thing he could get behind. Sounded noble, even. It wasn't like you could fight the system without people -in- the system to make those changes, to protect people from the worst parts of what that sort of system could create.
Not without tearing everything down, anyway, but he wasn't quite as radicalized as that.
"Big goals." Will said in response as he followed Quin's directions to where the plates were stashed. Least he had the one working arm, and thankfully he was right handed to boot. "Sounds a long and tough road, too." He said, a little distracted as he fished a pair of plates from the cabinet, stacking them together and carrying them back to where the pizza was sitting. "Well, if y'ever need someone to test you with some flash cards or somethin' you just bribe me with that view and I'll scurry over." Will gave a nod towards the bank of windows that took up the one wall of Quin's apartment as he handed her one of the plates.
As Quin talked about Michael and the pizza got dished up, Will listened closely. He hadn't been about to blatantly ask about if Quin knew Michael was involved with SUPER. Be a bit of a rough thing to ask. ("Hey, how long has your buddy been an anti-mutant cop, anyway? Did you know?") But he was glad that it got brought up. More so when she clarified that she had no idea that Michael, and/or Black-Tac had any involvement with the group.
The rest was good to know as well, though tangled up with the weirdness that Quin seemed to have wrapped all around her like a ball of twine. He was getting far too used to just nodding when she said something incredibly bizarre when it came to the way she knew people or places, or people knew her. They'd knew each other before Quin had been de-aged, Michael told her she'd been a terrible fighter... And apparently Quin had been getting a lot of practice in fixing that -- and from the sound of it, also her rear neatly wrapped up and handed to her.
Jeez. If Quin was considered a lousy fighter, he'd hate to see the results on his score sheet.
"Yeah, the whole SUPER thing is..." Will trailed off, leaning back against the countertop with his plate in hand. "I mean, I guess I get it. The whole Akh thing, and people like that metal dude, but..." Will again didn't know where to go with that thought. It was tricky. And he wanted to avoid speaking badly of Michael, as well. Will had nothing against the Action Hero, but the idea of a group of behind the scenes mutants and mystics (right, magic was a thing, apparently), making sure all things preternatural were kept under control felt... sketchy.
Posted by Quincy Archer on Sept 10, 2024 22:01:04 GMT -6
Haven
Asset of Haven
[color=buttercup]
1,062
66
Sept 20, 2024 22:41:06 GMT -6
Jules
They were big goals and it was going to take a ton of hard work to obtain them.
”I know what it’s like to feel completely helpless against something that feels too big to fight. I didn’t have anyone to help me…so I just figured maybe I can help keep other people from feeling that way. ”
Will offered to help her study and Quin had to smile again, he was really impressed with the view.
”Be careful what you offer…” she said, ”You’ll feel like you’ve taken on a second job and I doubt any view is worth that.”
Will offered a plate and Quin took it, then set about getting herself a piece of pizza as Will commented on SUPER.
“Rubs me the wrong way too.” she admitted, moving to the side so that Will could get to the pizza.
”I don’t like the government being involved in anything like that. They’re the same ones who thought putting mutants in camps with shock collars was a great idea.”
Sure, that had been a long time ago, but still…Quin shook her head and took a bite of the pizza. It was piping hot and tasted a little bit like heaven. Holding the pizza up and gesturing with it a bit, Quin smiled, ”This, on the other hand, really was a good idea…”
Will snagged a piece of pizza for himself as Quin talked. She seemed aware that her goals were lofty, but was undeterred. And, yeah, like had crossed his mind, her reasons for doing it sounded awfully noble. Didn't want anyone else up against something too big to fight. Didn't want anyone else feeling helpless, since she knew how that felt. Will couldn't help but be impressed by the way she laid it all out like that. Modern day knight in shining armor. Or whatever she wound up wearing to the courtroom, anyway.
"Well, considerin' I don't have a first job at the moment..." Will said, giving Quin a little smirk. Not until the cafe was fixed up at least. -If- it got fixed up, he supposed. He was gonna have to figure all that out at some point. "Keep me from jus' moping around at least. Plus, I think you underestimate the view you got. Only shame is bein' so into the city, the lights'll make for poor stargazing."
The conversation went onto less pleasant things as they touched on SUPER. At least there was a small comfort in that they both seemed to be on the same page about the group. Neither of them much liked the idea. Maybe not so much the idea of people out there being ready to fight against preternatural things, but, rather who's thumb they were under. "Yeah... Just takes one domino to set things off. From a group ready to respond, to trackin' folks with special ablilties 'just in case' and then suddenly we're right back..."
Will shook his head. Not really polite dinner conversation was it? The idea of being collared was a horrifying thought. What a barbaric way to go about it too, that had been an intentional choice. And much as he bemoaned his enhanced senses, he'd feel blind and deaf if he suddenly didn't have them. Scary thought.
Will took a bite of his own slice, tentative, making sure not to scorch the roof of his mouth. Oh yeah, Quin was right. Pizza was -definitely- a very good idea right about now. Almost better that it was some grocery store, out of the box frozen thing. It was familiar it a way some fancy place wouldn't be. A bit of normality. Mundane in a good way, bringing things back away from all the weirdness of the day, fighting for their lives and sorceresses and time shenanigans.
It didn't hurt either, that he was hungrier than he'd realized. "No kiddin'." Will agreed with Quin simply, talking around a half finished bite.
Posted by Quincy Archer on Sept 11, 2024 11:50:57 GMT -6
Haven
Asset of Haven
[color=buttercup]
1,062
66
Sept 20, 2024 22:41:06 GMT -6
Jules
Will pointed out that at least for the time being he didn’t have a first job and that significantly freed up his schedule. That was really rough, presumably he needed a job. ”Maybe things weren’t as bad as they seemed, or maybe they’ll want help getting everything customer ready again?” Quin offered in what she hoped was a helpful way.
Still, it seemed like Quin had a study buddy if she wanted, and it was always a lot easier when there was someone else to hold you accountable for actually doing the studying…
“Yeah…not much for stars.” Quin confirmed with a little sigh, it seemed like forever since she’d seen the actual night sky. ”You should see it when it snows though…” Maybe she was underestimating the view a bit…like she’d gotten used to it over the past few years and wasn’t appreciating it like she should…
She and Will were absolutely on the same page as far as SUPER was concerned. Sure, Michael seemed like a decent enough person, but Will’s point was absolutely valid. All it took was the right government official deciding that a more “proactive” stance was necessary.
Quin tried to think about what that would be like, having to worry about your powers all the time under the threat of having an actual collar snapped around your neck. Sure, the official government line had been that only dangerous mutants had been put into the camps…but there had been children there.
It was a lot to think about after everything that had already happened, and when Will echoed her sentiment about the pizza, Quin happily took the opportunity to change the subject. “There really is something about the oven stuff…” she said with a little laugh, then snagged a second piece and made her way back to the table.
“So… Quin said, casting around for something else to say that wasn’t related to past lives or the trauma of the day, they could go back to that after they’d eaten if they really wanted, but food conversation deserved to be lighter. “What’s your favorite actual pizza place though…?” she asked. Surely Will had one, it was a well debated topic in the city and most people had an answer ready.
"Not too worried, honestly." Will commented on Quin's concerns about his current rocky employment situation. "I'd be off for a few with my arm like this anyway. And, well... With the city like it is, if what Michael said is happening. Probably better to keep safe for now." Will took another bite, using the time chewing to think, before continuing, a little more cheerily, "Besides, I'm sure there's some kinda workman's comp for bein' assaulted at work an' the place getting wrecked. And worse comes to worse, my folks can help out." It felt like forever ago he'd tried to get in contact with his parents, trying to reassure them he was safe. Well, at least that part was true now.
Will held the mostly eaten slice between his teeth before grabbing a second of his own, carrying his plate back to the table as he followed Quin. "First storms, now snow. Keep braggin' about the view and you're gonna have me knockin' on the door every other day." It wasn't really about the view, he knew, and presumed Quin did too. Not that it wasn't great. But having someone he could actually talk to... And who'd been through the same scrapheap of a day that he'd been through.
Getting settled back into his seat, and taking a sip of the near empty mug of tea, he raised an eyebrow at Quin as she asked him what his favorite pizza place in the city way. Dangerous question, some folks took New York pizza very seriously. Will -did- feel a little safer answering though, since neither of them were New York native. Less likely Quin would take any answer as 'wrong' in that case... and he could fall back on his ignorance of being from north of the border when he was growing up. "Scary question. Make or break a friendship in New York answerin' wrong." Will teased, smirking as he drummed his fingers on the table in thought.
"Probably Joe's Pizza?" Will answered after thinking about it a moment. He grinned and shook his head. "Don't even remember which one exactly, but it was the first 'Real New York Pie' I had." Will said, making air quotes with one hand. "Business buddy of my dad's insisted we go. Probably half nostalgia as anything, but it's good." He picked up his second slice, gesturing with it as he turned the question back to Quin. "And you? 'less you're gonna say something crazy like you know a better regional pizza or somethin'."