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.
'That idiot.' Lori stalked into the bank wearing her finest blue silken shiburi dyed dress. She'd only just escaped that last scuffle with those loan sharks. She had some choice words reserved for her dad and his gambling habits. She had even more special words reserved those who took advantage of his stupidity. Not that she hadn't done something similar to other lesser forms of life, but dad was blood. Unfortunately that made this her problem. And so here she was striding confidently into the bank all dolled up in attempts to look her age.
She dodged the tellers, looking for larger game. Bingo. She found a young one in a suit and waltzed into his small office. She bumped his name pate with her hip as she sat down. "Tony!" She called joyously to the man who looked up at her bewildered. "Tony, it's me, Anna." Her tone made it clear that she would be ever so offended that he didn't remember her. "A-Anna. Oh, o-of course!" He smiled and stood sidling to the door. Lori smiled her grinch grin. People were malleable material. One just had to know where to apply the pressure. The blinds clanked against the door as he shut it. Whoever he thought Anna might be no longer mattered. "Tony, I-I'm in a tight spot." She was the picture of a femme fatal sitting on the edge of the private detective's desk. She was dejected and Tony had all the answers if he'd only listen.
Some time later...
He'd listened. She'd gotten lucky that Tony had access to the vault. Tony, however, didn't think it was such a lucky thing anymore. She smirked at the limp pile that was his body. He'd gotten a bit too fresh. Tony apparently had projected Anna as one of his one-nighters come back for more. Lame sauce. She'd fried the cameras, zapped Tony, and now she was happily looting the vault.
She hiked her dress up around her hips and was slipping wads of green underneath the garters she was wearing. She could easily stash enough green to cover the loan problem and maybe enough for this month's rent too. She wouldn't take so much that it'd be suspicious, but she had to take enough. This was probably the stupidest thing she'd done yet, but desperate times called for desperate measures.
Posted by Giant's Bane on Sept 27, 2008 14:55:52 GMT -6
Gamma Mutant
437
0
Feb 21, 2016 13:37:07 GMT -6
It was night and a good thing too other wise would see the now eight foot man standing outside of a bank dressed in tight black clothes and a very stretched out black Skull cap. “ This is a bonzer of a situation.” Exclaimed Bacchus as he tapped slightly on the walls of the bank trying to find a weak location that would cave if the right amount of force were placed on it.
Another minute of tapping and a slight hollow spot was heard in the wall, “Bingo…Bango.” Said the aussie as he found the sot he spent 3 minutes looking for. Not sure where it would lead Bacchus tightened his fist as it slightly expanded as it got denser. With a small grunt the fist went straight through the wall that pierced the steel wall of a bank wall. The hand spread and expanded a bit more as it gripped on the iron and with a tug the hole expanded. Bacchus repeated this step with the other hand up until there was an 8x6 hole in the wall. Time was now everything he wasn’t exactly quite when he broke threw the solid brick and iron walls of the bank.
Upon entering the bank vault Bacchus noticed he lucked out and was in the place he wanted to be. The smell was overwhelming to Bacchus, two scents one familiar the other wasn’t. Looking around Bacchus located the two different smells, one was money a smell Bacchus was quite accustomed to and enjoyed greatly the other was something he had a feeling he would enjoy even more. Bacchus let out a loud whistle gazing upon a blonde bombshell in a beautiful blue dress.
Clearing his throat Bacchus spoke in slightly burly Australian accent, “Think this is the right place…” Bacchus looked around prolonging his talk as he then looked and smiled to the blond bombshell, “Beg yours, Sheila but can I ask what your doing in a place like this?” Bacchus notice that there was a man on the floor a little ways from her and his grin widened even more.
Profile Link Here Normal/Giant Form PS:8/25 AG:6/5 Men:5/5 Stl: 0 Sen: 15/8 MS:12/7 MC:14/10 color=E6E6FA
Lori redistributed the bills so that there were no bulges under her skirt, paying no mind to the sounds coming from beyond the wall. She was safely locked inside the vault. Whatever was going on outside was no concern of hers.
tap, tap
She wrinkled her nose at the back wall and knelt next to Tony. She grabbed his cheap looking tie and started to wipe down any place where she might have left a finger print.
KNOCK, KNOCK... Lori took a step back from the vault shelves with wide eyes. No... freaking... wa-CRASH! BASH!
She jumped back tossing the tie aside and adjusting her dress to be suitable for ... whatever was coming through the wall. She reached out the the metallic shelves and considered herself as ready as she could be. Hopefully she hadn't gotten herself into something she couldn't get out of.
A large man .. no really, he had to be like 8 foot tall... stepped through the hole. She was indignant and stood, ready for a fight. The fact that he came through the wall wearing a ski mask no doubt meant he wasn't at least SWAT. The man glanced around through his ski mask and then fixed his gaze on her. 'Shit.' A whistle echoed around the relatively empty room. She knew where his mind was. 'What an idiot.' Her anger level was rising. All her care had been shot to hell with this lumbering lummox.
She could have made it through without a hitch, she was sure. No mask needed since she'd fried all the cameras for a whole city block on her way in. There was hardly even any damage to the bank - only one fried brain and assuming he woke up, he shouldn't be talking any time soon since it was his fault they were getting frisky in the vault anyway. For Lori, it should have been an easy in and an easy out. Hardly enough stolen for the bank to bother coming after her. Tony probably could have swept it under the rug to avoid embarrassment if he wanted and that made her all the more in the clear. Except that now...
“Think this is the right place…” Lori's first thought: 'He must be as dense as he looks.'
“Beg yours, Sheila but can I ask what your doing in a place like this?” She saw his head move around and his cheeks bulge underneath the mask. Oh she was pissed.
The metal shelving squealed and groaned loudly. The cash dumped itself onto the floor as the sturdy shelves pulled away from the walls and launched themselves at the large man at a ferocious rate. She didn't care about keeping her charge levels up right at this moment -- she was angry. She mostly wanted to knock the big buffoon out of the way -- any damage she could inflict was just gravy. The metal warped as it flew, twisting to potentially encircle the buffoon.
Lori was moving too. Fast and faster she ran straight at the man. The metal would impact first and she would seemingly impact second. Except that at the last second she planned to duck and dive between any opening the man presented. She hoped she could dive between the legs and get a good kick landed on her way out into the street. Assuming her shelf attack affected his balance there should have been more than enough space for her to squeeze through somewhere as he was nearly twice her size and the hole he'd made was equally huge.
It would all come down to timing and reactions. She had her cash. Let the Aussie dodo take the fall for making this into a messy situation.
Posted by Giant's Bane on Sept 27, 2008 19:27:31 GMT -6
Gamma Mutant
437
0
Feb 21, 2016 13:37:07 GMT -6
The mood in the room went from calm to angry and aggressive. Bacchus didn’t really have anything to say when he saw the shelves of metal fly at him as the blonde was following the incoming objects. However Bacchus did have a reaction to the oncoming metal, tensing his body the density in his body changed from his 8-foot tall self to the density of his 2 story tall self. The ground he was standing on gave way to his weight with a loud crack. Bracing him self from the oncoming assault Bacchus blinked and said, “Aww come on Shelia don’t be lamb-brained, I ain’t one to barney with a girl, and I am only here for some greens.” Bacchus took the hit from the shelves, they didn’t hurt to bad, and they will defiantly leave a bruise. If Bacchus didn’t make himself denser it would have ended badly.
The pieces of metal bounced off of Bacchus thick hide in different directions. Bacchus stood their ready to catch the girl as she was charging him, “What now Sheila?” He didn’t really want to fight a girl in fact he only fought with a girl once in his entire life but the women pulled a 12-inch buck knife on him when he was at a party. He wasn’t going to hit her, mainly restrain her in a giant bear hug.
Profile Link Here Normal/Giant Form PS:8/25 AG:6/5 Men:5/5 Stl: 0 Sen: 15/8 MS:12/7 MC:14/10 color=E6E6FA
The ground suddenly cracked beneath the feet of the large man as he stood his ground.
“Aww come on Shelia don’t be lamb-brained, I ain’t one to barney with a girl, and I am only here for some greens.” The shelves slammed against the man's chest and bounced back before they could twist around him. They'd bounced as if they had hit a brick wall. Lori's eyes bugged at her grave miscalculation and she desperately tried to change her direction on the slick flooring, but to no avail. She ended up slamming right into the man and bouncing back a bit before he wrapped her up in a big bear hug. She shook her head feeling a bit rattled after her jarring slam into the man. This was starting to feel like a bad King Kong impression with one marked difference: she wasn't a damsel in distress.
“What now Sheila?”
His smug tone grated against her nerves, she was already incensed at the man, why did he have to go and add fuel to the fire? She struggled futilely in his massive arms. "Now you go back on the dingy you rode in on."
She glared furiously at him as she raised her conductivity. Any place where her skin touched him would get zapped and she wasn't messing around. Her only lament was that she'd chosen a silk dress today. She couldn't zap anyone through the looser particles of the silk, but denser particles ... those were the easiest to magnetize and/or run a charge through. She was bringing enough force to bear that he'd either have to drop her like a hot potato or sizzle and pop as he fried in his own juices. She spoke her next words through her teeth. "Thanks for making a simple job into a nightmare."
Posted by Giant's Bane on Sept 27, 2008 20:51:32 GMT -6
Gamma Mutant
437
0
Feb 21, 2016 13:37:07 GMT -6
"Now you go back on the dingy you rode in on."
Bacchus didn’t say anything to her as she tried to struggle free from the vice like grip that was Bacchus’s Bear hug. He didn’t want to hurt her he was just holding her still so she could try to hurt him.
Bacchus felt a quick zap as his muscles tensed and let loosened then tightened again. Bacchus was once again surprised that someone else had so many different talents. The hairs on Bacchus’s body stood on end as he felt himself being electrocuted. If it wasn’t for the sharp pain he was getting around his body he would have minded the numbing sensation that comes along with it.
"Thanks for making a simple job into a nightmare."
Bacchus could barely hear her as he was slowly but steadily heating up. Bacchus tried to let go of the electric girl but for some reason his arms weren’t responding. Vein’s started to enlarge around Bacchus’s neck as well as around all his arms. Fighting thought the pain and burning sensation Bacchus’s started to grunt as he slowly regained control over his body. Letting go Bacchus flew a few feet back and landed on his knees now directly where the hole he made in the wall was.
Still trying to stand Bacchus let out a pain filled laugh, “Wow Sheila you got a shocking personality.” Bacchus slowly stood up now cracking the ground under his feet holding up his hands he spoke in a calm tone, “Listen Sheila I don’t want to fight, I only came for the money.” Bacchus pulled a large cloth bag from under his shirt, “See just a robber like your self, not using it for me I’m just taking it to pay off for somebody’s mistakes.” Not sure if she would care Bacchus opened up the bag and moved closer to a large pile of money on the ground.
The man didn't speak when she zapped him, again -- he just kind of took it, tensing and un-tensing he squeezed her to the point of uncomfortableness. When she was finally released she tumbled awkwardly onto her backside. He seemed to fly back the moment they parted ways. Lori groaned and rubbed her ribs as she puzzled her way to her feet. It took a lot of zap to even make this guy twitch! What was he made of? More rocks? Lori grit her teeth. That would be just her luck... to meet another rock head.
He chuckled in a way that sounded strained, “Wow Sheila you got a shocking personality.”
"Wow. That's one I haven't heard before." She spat the words the him.
“Listen Sheila I don’t want to fight, I only came for the money... See just a robber like your self, not using it for me I’m just taking it to pay off for somebody’s mistakes.” The man rather timidly pulled a bag from beneath his shirt moved toward the money that had been dumped onto the ground.
She laughed rather cruelly. "I don't care why you're here -- the problem is that you are here." She stalked back toward him, the picture of anger and power. She didn't have nearly as much zip left, but she was still angry as she knelt near the pile of money. "Did you stop to think about the consequences of your actions? You've triggered alarms I cant stop." She laughed again but it wasn't a joyous sound. She was obviously still displeased, but she was beginning to see that she wasn't going to be able to bash this one and leave him as bait for the cops.
That mean one thing: "You and me are bedfellows, Ozzy." She snorted and helped him dump the cash into his bag, her small arms shoveled pathetic amounts compared to what the Aussie was handling with his hands. She sighed and shook her head. She couldn't believe what this moron had inadvertently.. well, no, what he'd done on purpose. What he'd roped her into. She frowned. Why was she always getting pulled into stupid things by stupid people?
She stood tossing a last bundle of cash toward the large man's face. "I'm leaving with or without you." She started stalking toward to obnoxiously large exit the man had made, her mind desperately running through their options.
Posted by Giant's Bane on Sept 27, 2008 23:19:50 GMT -6
Gamma Mutant
437
0
Feb 21, 2016 13:37:07 GMT -6
"I don't care why you're here -- the problem is that you are here." "Did you stop to think about the consequences of your actions? You've triggered alarms I cant stop."
Bacchus analyzed the situation and listened to what she had to say he understood why she was so upset but what really made him confused was the fact that she was still here. Bacchus wasn’t to afraid of police seeing as they could get near him without getting crushed and his big appearance makes it so it would be impossible to know what he actually looks like, he even had a ski mask on, she just walked around in a skirt. Which she happened to look good in but he wasn’t going to say anything to her now about that. Not only could she leave fingerprints, she could also leave hair samples. Bacchus just didn’t understand this one. "You and me are bedfellows, Ozzy."
Once again Bacchus was confused but decided to put money in his bag anyways. He could of sworn she was trying to kill him a second ago and now she’s helping him. Thinking to himself ‘This beaut is a few kangaroos loose in the top paddock’. Bacchus grinned; everyone new back home if you were a bit loony you were the type Bacchus “No-Hoper” Brickson was interested in. "I'm leaving with or without you."
Bacchus eyed her for a second as she looked like she was trying to figure where to go. Bacchus grinned eyeing her up and down and laughed as he walked through the door with the large sack of money hanging over his back. “Well, Shelia where to? Or would you mind if I decide where we go for a bit?” several possibilities ran through his head as he was thinking that was the safest way to get away without anyone getting hurt.
“Well, Shelia where to? Or would you mind if I decide where we go for a bit?”
Lori ran her fingers over her eyebrows. This wasn't her get away. Her get away was a simple walk out of the front door. As much as she hated to admit it, she hadn't planned a back up for this. She sighed and craned her neck to look up at the man appraising him as they paused momentarily at the mouth of the vault. She'd worn ballerina type flat shoes today just in case she'd had to run. That meant she was 5'3 and there were no if's and's or but's about it. She probably just came up to this guy's belly button.
She was still there because after all the break in and metal throwing noise, a casual exit was no longer possible. He'd broken in not knowing that he'd have to break two out. Now that she looked back on the situation, she realized that she should have sweet talked the biggin from the beginning. Oh, she was still seething on the inside, but personal problems were to be put aside until they made it out smelling like roses. She was forced onto his bill now. She wasn't about to let him stick her with the ticket.
"It's your get away. By all means, Big Boy, lead the way. Only..." She stretched her legs and looked up at him again. "take small steps?"
Posted by Giant's Bane on Sept 28, 2008 11:35:59 GMT -6
Gamma Mutant
437
0
Feb 21, 2016 13:37:07 GMT -6
"It's your get away. By all means, Big Boy, lead the way. Only..." "take small steps?"
Bacchus let out a large bellowing laugh when she said this, not only was she loony but she was funny to. Bacchus’s ears picked up something, less than a mile or so there were sirens, which meant cops. Bacchus looked to the girl who seemed like a dwarf to his giant and he said, “Well Sheila looks like the laws coming.” Bacchus looked around, they were in a two-way alleyway, which actual helped Bacchus come up with, and idea. Bacchus walked over to a sewer lid and pulled it off. He looked around after that and walked over to the apartment building opposite the bank. Bacchus let out a low grunt as he clenched his fist and punched a large fist like hole through the building. The building instantly began to shake and screams could be heard from inside the building.
Bacchus grinned at his work, he didn’t make the building structural unsound, he just hit one of the support beams making it seem like the building would collapse and when the cops showed up there would be a load of people in the middle of the street, “That gives us cover and now,” Bacchus walked closer to the swear where he took off all his black clothes and the only thing that was left was a normal average looking wardrobe, it didn’t stand out and it didn’t look suspicious, he tossed all the black in the sewer and pulled the money sign off of the bag full of fresh green backs and tossed it down as well.
Now looking to the blonde Bacchus held out his arm as he shrunk to his normal height, which was still taller than the girl, but it wasn’t even close to doubling her height like it was before. “Shall we Shelia, we now can just walk away, if anyone asks you and I are going to the laundry mat.” Bacchus tightened his grip on the laundry bag full of money and then grinned. Bacchus had already thought of a way to escape before he actually broke into the bank. This one was conveniently next to an apartment building and a short walking distance from the laundry mat. Bacchus then asked with his arm still in the air for her to take, “Ready to go Shelia?”
Bacchus let out a large bellowing laugh. It echoed along the walls between the bank and the next building and even repeated faintly inside the now thoroughly looted vault. Tony was no longer going to be able to cover up this mess for her. Lori chewed her lip, watching shrewdly as the man told her about the fuzz on the way and then started formulating a plan of his own. It was hard for her to trust someone enough (especially a stranger) with the details.
He started by taking out a main support pillar for an apartment building next door. The whole building shuddered and moaned which elicited screams of panic from within. She had to smile at that. It was a nice touch, throwing all those people into chaos. Someone inside pulled the fire alarm and people started streaming like water out into the street. It was good cover for now. Lori could worry about later, later.
She next watched him flip open the heavy manhole cover like it was a pudding lid and then he pulled off his out clothes and dumped them inside. She snorted but held her tongue. Ditching evidence at the scene of the crime didn't seem like the smartest thing ever, but she wasn't about to say anything about it. Especially when he ripped the money symbol -- yes, the bag had a money symbol -- and tossed it down the open man hole. It would be so obvious when someone found it that it would almost seem like planted evidence. Well, At least he wasn't asking her to tromp through the sewers with him. She rather liked her shoes and she didn't feel like accidentally discharging all her juice and zapping all those alligator-sized rats.
Lori used her influence over ferromagnetic materials to pull the man hole closed for him as he turned and started... shrinking? She narrowed her eyes and smiled venomously. "Neat trick." He held out his arm to her. He was still over 6 foot, but much more normal sized when she slid her arm into his. There was no shock this time when they touched. Now that he had stripped his robber get up she was able to see that he was just a kid. Albeit a kinda cute, size changing kid, but Lori was starting to feel like this day wouldn't be such a bust after all.
“Shall we Shelia, we now can just walk away, if anyone asks you and I are going to the laundry mat.... Ready to go, Shelia?”
"I do have to ask - when you get bigger, does all of you get bigger?" She arched her brow so there was no mistake about what she was asking as they stepped calmly out into the chaos. Her heart was thrumming in her throat. Now this was fun. Lori had a feeling her size-changing friend could be a great advantage if she could get him to accompany her to the drop site when she went to pay off the loan sharks. Who'd try anything when you had an 8 foot boyfriend to back you up? Lori pressed herself against his arm and walked with a real bounce in her step.
"I'm Jennifer." She quipped. She smoothly supplied a misnomer to him just in case. People had to earn her real name. She unleashed the full weight of her sharp, wide blue eyes on him combined with a charming and sultry smile. "What do I call you, Big Boy?"
Posted by Giant's Bane on Sept 28, 2008 14:04:21 GMT -6
Gamma Mutant
437
0
Feb 21, 2016 13:37:07 GMT -6
"I do have to ask - when you get bigger, does all of you get bigger?" "I do have to ask - when you get bigger, does all of you get bigger?"
Bacchus let a large laugh as she locked arms and as they walked away from all the commotion. “Well, Sheila that…” Bacchus said in a matter of fact voice while trying to say a serious as possible, “is something you’ll have to figure out for your self, I ain’t one to reveal all of my secrets.” Bacchus smiled as he saw the police and a fire truck zoom bye them as they were walking to the ‘laundry mat’.
Bacchus then looked to the girl as she gazed upon him with the large deep pools of blue that were her eyes as she spoke, "I'm Jennifer." Jennifer? She didn’t look like a Jennifer to Bacchus, but still nodded and smiled to her as they continued walking.
"What do I call you, Big Boy?" Bacchus was about to say ‘anything but big boy do I look like I am holding a giant burger and wearing flannel overalls?’ but he held his tongue figuring what would it hurt to give Jennifer his real name, “Name’s Bacchus, but friends call me Brickson.” Bacchus just realized he had about 30 other nicknames he could use and chances are she wouldn’t understanding his first name which in Australia was the equivalence to the Greek god of drink and more importantly partying.
Bacchus then noticed that he had no idea where he was going to go from here he was lost in a strange city with an even stranger woman, “So where you headed Shei… Jennifer?” Bacchus struggled for a second using her name.
Bacchus laughed largely even though he was comparatively smaller than he'd started out that night. “Well, Sheila that… is something you’ll have to figure out for your self, I ain’t one to reveal all of my secrets.” She liked that he was able to say it matter-of-factly. She smiled all the more. It was as good as saying, 'yes.' He smiled at her when the emergency vehicles zipped by without stopping to pick them up. After all, they probably looked like some young couple out on a laundry mat date or something way lamer than making a bank robbery get away. She was starting to warm up to this adjustable size man. Not a, 'Oh I'll take you home and keep you' kind of warm up, but maybe a 'I'll think twice before calling in an anonymous tip that implicates you in the bank job if things go sour' kind of warm up.
“Name’s Bacchus, but friends call me Brickson.”
"Brickson then, as we're now good friends. They call me Jenny if that's any help." She smiled up at him: the picture of open warmth and friendship. "Though, I guess the Greek thing goes well at frat parties." She was no dummy, she was a college grad and she'd taken an elective on ancient art. That included Grecian pottery and therefore Grecian deism. Lori paused dramatically, seeming to think for a brief moment before she turned her face back up toward his.
"Say, is that really your real name or are you trying to pull the wool over my eyes? Though I guess you seem carefree enough to be Dionysus." She used Bacchus's other name, Dionysus, as she was more familiar with it. It was funny how Lori could implicate someone as a liar without a morsel of remorse that she was at times lying through her teeth. Hypocrisy or self preservation-- either way she was smooth and fluid. Her lies were seamless and there was no reason to doubt her without some solid contradicting evidence.
Brickson seemed to realize he was no longer in a place he recognized. His empty head swiveled around as he eyed the streets. “So where you headed Shei… Jennifer?”
"Oh well, actually I was rather hoping you'd accompany me." She gripped his biceps where her hand lay against his arm. "I'm in a bit of a tight spot actually." She looked around in a self-conscious manner. "That's why I was in there, see." She whispered secretively, a pointedly worried look carefully crafted on her face.
"My brother... He's no good." Her eye brows bunched. "That jerk took out a bunch of loans from a no good kind of guy. Left all the debt to my sick pop." Well, at least it was a partial truth. Her dad was in a lot of debt. "These scary guys came sniffing and threatening." Her eyes started to look rather moist, though she was making an effort to hold back the crocodile tears.
"I'm not a thief." Lie. "I don't do these kinds of things, Brickson." Lie. "But my pop... he's in trouble. If I don't get some cash to the right people by tonight they're gonna break his legs." She finally squeaked out some truth. Her throat was tight and she really was worried. She played it up just a bit to ensure the muscle would follow her. It would certainly make her feel more safe.
"I don't know what these guy will do even if I get them the cash. Sorry --that's why I was so angry when you came in... I just thought. 'oh no. I've been found out and now they're gonna break my pop's legs.' or something. I threw the shelves at you and here you are being a perfect gentleman." She wasn't sorry, but it was what she thought would do the job to get him to come along. A partially true sob story just to bring in some back up in case things went sour at the drop. Which was known to happen from time to time as the payments got larger in quantity.
"What do you say, Brickson? Will you help me out? Just tag along to make sure I don't get jumped in a dark alley way?" She swallowed, real concern on her face.
Posted by Giant's Bane on Sept 29, 2008 13:18:45 GMT -6
Gamma Mutant
437
0
Feb 21, 2016 13:37:07 GMT -6
"Say, is that really your real name or are you trying to pull the wool over my eyes? Though I guess you seem carefree enough to be Dionysus."
Bacchus just smiled with out saying anything as he thought that she was one of the first people in America to know what his name meant he was impressed with her knowledge. “Yeah it’s my first name, Dad loved to drink.” Bacchus then laughed again, “I do have a rep back home as the king of parties.” He smiled suddenly thinking of home and how much he missed his makeshift family. Bacchus was then silent till she spoke again. "Oh well, actually I was rather hoping you'd accompany me." "I'm in a bit of a tight spot actually." "That's why I was in there, see."
Bacchus grinned he had a feeling this would come up, who else as better protection that a giant? Not Saying anything Bacchus thought about the situation, and then the money. It could be so easy to run off with the cash right now, from what he saw she couldn’t do much to stop him unless she was touching him. But something about this girl intrigued him he was almost enthralled by Jenny, he couldn’t place it but he had to know more. "My brother... He's no good." "That jerk took out a bunch of loans from a no good kind of guy. Left all the debt to my sick pop." "These scary guys came sniffing and threatening."
Once again Bacchus just listened to her and took notice of all her facial expressions. With out saying anything Bacchus’s smile on his face turned into a frown as he thought how he was in a similar situation, the only difference was he didn’t have a sick dad just a stupid drunk and the only reason he was here in America was so he could get some cash and get home. "I'm not a thief." "I don't do these kinds of things, Brickson." "But my pop... he's in trouble. If I don't get some cash to the right people by tonight they're gonna break his legs."
Something in the back of his mind was made him a little suspicious of jenny, the sick dad, the stupid brother and the fake tears. Bacchus also took into account on how aggressive she was when they first met. As soon as he heard breaking of the legs he thought how calm and reserved the loan sharks were here, back home you didn’t have the money you usually get shot in a easily fixable place or a bit of torturing, some times that would involve a dingo or a croc pit. They wouldn’t kill you right away but you wouldn’t want to meet with them again cause usually the second time is the last time. "I don't know what these guy will do even if I get them the cash. Sorry --that's why I was so angry when you came in... I just thought. 'oh no. I've been found out and now they're gonna break my pop's legs.' or something. I threw the shelves at you and here you are being a perfect gentleman."
Still deep in thought about the situation Bacchus was quite thinking about a few possible scenarios. If he went he was sure she wouldn’t be hurt hell if any of them came to close to her they would be squashed like a fly getting crushed with a rolled up newspaper.
"What do you say, Brickson? Will you help me out? Just tag along to make sure I don't get jumped in a dark alley way?"
Bacchus came to a conclusion and smiled stepping away from her and then leaning down towards her so he was eyelevel with her. He gazed upon her sad face with those hypnotic blue eyes and said, “Listen Jenny, regardless if you rob banks on a regular basis, I’ll still help you out. We’re in a same boat you and me, so I’ll help you out Sheila.” Bacchus then paused for a second and tease fully said as he started to walk, “to think the first girl I meet in this country only wants to use me for my muscle.” Then he flashed a small grin away from her mumbling “I’m always a gentleman.”
He remained silent throughout her little story. She had to blab on and on until finally the guy said something. Well, she respected him in that at least. He seemed to be enough of a thinker that he stopped to mull things over before speaking. She just hoped she hadn't twisted things too much.
He stepped away and for a brief moment she thought he was going to try something, but he only leveled his eyes with her, a great feat for such a tall one. She cringed slightly, but kept eye contact. She could see the clarity in his eyes and wondered if he could see right through her act. She was starting to expect him to land a blow at any moment. Instead, he spoke. “Listen Jenny, regardless if you rob banks on a regular basis, I’ll still help you out. We’re in a same boat you and me, so I’ll help you out Sheila.”
Her sigh of relief was entirely real. Walking had recharged her a minimal amount. This wasn't Lori's first dealing with these guys and they had tried stuff before. She'd managed to diffuse the situation without using her gift last time, but she wasn't sure it would go as smoothly this time. Especially since this payment was supposedly already late. Lori dabbed daintily at her eyes so that she wouldn't mess up her makeup. It wasn't her fault they moved up the due date whenever they felt like it. She wasn't kidding about them being violent either. These were probably the lowest forms of life possible. Lower than pond scum. They looked up to such fictional characters as Don Vito Corleone and Tony Soprano, but didn't has the guts or brains for that kind of life so they puttered around as gophers and cruel bill collectors.
“To think the first girl I meet in this country only wants to use me for my muscle.” He teased before turning and walking forward again.
"I'll make it up to you somehow." She mumbled a bit glumly. She seemed to regain some amount of composure as she had to take several fast steps to catch up to Brickson. She hesitantly slid her hand around his arm again. If she could hold on to him, he'd at least realize when he was leaving her in the dust. "Hey! Take small steps, remember? I got short legs!"
“I’m always a gentleman.”
"I'm starting to suspect that, myself." 'Jenny' led Brickson on foot. It wasn't an incredibly far walk, though it wasn't near by. He seemed fit enough to make it. Besides, she was wanting to avoid the M-line and various other cameras associated with public transportation. Eventually, they were walking into worse and worse arts of town, but 'Jenny' didn't even seem to notice. "Uhm, I'd also appreciate it if you didn't uhh... grow or whatever? I don't want to turn this into a mutant lynching... just wanna pay off his tab, you know?" She chewed her lower lip, hoping she hadn't offended him.
'Jenny' began to slow as they rounded the corner of a large warehouse. There was a pathetic looking playground, rusted and fully exposed to the streets around it. She was beginning to be glad that she hadn't set up the meeting at her dad's trailer park. She'd hate for Brickson to see that part of her life, even if they were still strangers who may never see each other again.
A sharp whistled cat call made Lori freeze in her tracks. So they were already here.
"Well, well, well! Look who the cat dragged in." An appropriately oily looking man slithered from the shadow of the warehouse and circled around Lori and Bacchus in a predatory manor. "You're late, but I'm willing to over look it 'cause that dress is divine, doll. So I'm guessing you're taking up our alternative payment option then?" He seemed to have eyes only for the small girl. As if the large muscled man on her arm was just an oversized purse. The only man visible was this slick and oily creature, though the shadows nearby were far too dark and convenient to only be empty.
"I got your cash, dipstick. Interest and everything." Lori hesitated. She'd meant to run home and change first, but she hadn't been expecting an escort or that they'd have to walk. She'd also wanted to have the cash in hand when she'd met up with the man. As it was she was going to have to either reach into a bag full of money, exposing just how MUCH money they'd come into or root around in her undergarments for the dough. She rolled her eyes and slid her hand free of Brickson's arm. She may as well make a show out of it.
"Alternative payment option, indeed." She snorted and took an angry step forward. The man was there to put a hand on her upper chest at the base of her neck. "What's in the bag?" He asked quickly his fingers edging up her throat.
Lori brought her leg up suddenly around the man, one arm on his chest to steady herself and the other sliding the hem of her dress up her leg to expose her garter which was stashed full of bills. His hand had fully wrapped around her throat and begun to squeeze with her quick movement, but at the sight of the money he loosened his grip. Lori swallowed to get her voice under control. "I told you, I had the cash. No alternative payments, no questions about my bags, no more bothering my pop." She growled, clearly uncomfortable in this situation.
The man used his free hand to snatch up the bills. He then released her throat fully and used both of his hands to count it twice, stash the bills into his breast pocket, and then feel around her body for more. "It's not enough, doll."
Lori slapped him hard enough to make him stagger back, both 'Jenny' and the man looking more and more angry as she bent over to re-adjusted her dress and pull out what she had stashed on her other leg. The man eyed Lori hungrily and nodded here and there to the shadows where four meat-heads stalked into view. All were almost or just as tall and muscled as Baucchus. Lori wasn't looking, she was still busy pulling bills from her garter.