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.
"Thank you, Luke." Victoria replied, her gratitude coming through in her voice. "That would be wonderful."
It was more than just gratitude. Victoria was falling in love with her knight.
The exchange had not gone unnoticed by Candice, nor had the look in Victoria's eyes when the girl gazed up at the young man's face and she smiled. She was a business woman, shrewd and aggressive when she needed to be but she also had a heart. She liked seeing happiness in others, not least because she had not found real happiness for herself and was enough of a romantic to enjoy seeing it in others rather than wanting to destroy it.
Victoria found herself in the middle between Luke and Ms. Williamson and she favoured Luke, sitting closer to him than to Candice. It was only the third time that Victoria had ever travelled in a car and she couldn't remember the first two times, having been too young at the time. She was clearly excited, spending a little time looking at everything inside before turning her attention to what was passing outside the windows. She found her position in the centre restricted her view of anything above street height but there was enough going on at that level to capture Victoria's attention.
It was a normal drive, nothing remarkable to those used to driving in New York but to Victoria it had all the thrills and excitement of a roller coaster ride. A couple of times she squeaked in alarm as it seemed that the world was about to end and after the second incident she grabbed Luke's arm and clung to it though her fear was infused with excitement. Her eyes were shining bright with that excitement.
That too did not go unnoticed by Ms. Williamson.
"Someone is enjoying herself." Candice commented warmly, and leaped to an erroneous conclusion, "Are both you and your girlfriend new to New York, Mr. Jacobs?"
Posted by Luke Jacobs on Jan 4, 2009 7:01:19 GMT -6
Omega Mutant
1,041
0
Sept 8, 2010 9:05:47 GMT -6
The ride was a typical New York cab ride but for someone that wasn't used to traveling in a cab it had to be an exciting and scary experience. Luke had learned long ago to pull his sonar in tight while traveling in a cab and simply ignore what was going on outside. It was amazing that cabbies didn't have more accidents.
"I wonder if they're all mutants or something." He pondered idly a question that had gone through his mind many times before, "It would explain why they can drive so wildly while almost never getting in an accident."
"Someone is enjoying herself." Candice commented just moments after Victoria had latched onto Luke's arm for some sort of security, "Are both you and your girlfriend new to New York, Mr. Jacobs?"
"Girlfriend? She thinks Victoria is my girlfriend?" Luke's mind suddenly raced into high gear. Was he doing something to lead the young woman on? He couldn't think of anything he was doing that would be different than how he treated any regular female friend but he knew the female mind worked very differently than his own.
"I've been in New York for almost a year now." Luke answered smoothly after just a moment of silence, "But Victoria is new to the city so I'm doing my best to watch out for her. All the new sights and sounds can be a little overwhelming at first."
It wasn't a direction answer on the girlfriend subject but Luke felt that it was probably best. He didn't want to embarrass Victoria any more and really it didn't matter what anyone else thought as long as the two of them knew where they stood with each other. The fact that her innocence would make her think he felt more than he actually did feel never entered his mind.
Candice was a little surprised by the guarded response. "Perhaps they are not involved. She does seem a lot younger and very green. Could he be leading her on?" She shook her head in negation of her own unspoken question. He seemed much too considerate; at least too considerate to be doing it deliberately but she could see the danger signs in the young woman.
"It is good that she has someone to watch out for her." Candice commented, "She seems very young." It was hard for Candice to believe that Victoria was eighteen; if asked she would have said absolutely no older than sixteen and would not have been surprised if she was as young as fourteen.
Victoria, the subject of the brief exchange between Candice and Luke was enthralled by the ride and as a consequence quite oblivious to both the question and the response.
Having paid the fare and got out of the taxi herself she watched as Victoria clambered out, her eyes bright, shining with excitement, drinking in experiences that common place to herself, a somewhat jaded forty-something, were new and shiny, untarnished by familiarity. If she was truly as old and cynical as she sometimes like to consider herself she might have been dismissive or even jealous of Victoria's reactions but instead she found herself looking at the world around her with a fresh perspective.
Candice led the way into the building and through to her office. It was larger, better equipped and, most importantly, tidier than the office that had been, until thirty minutes previously that of one Mr. Eustace Jeffreys. It was not, however, ostentatious, being clearly the office of someone who did real work rather than someone who wanted to impress her visitors. Her mind was spinning through the options. She didn't have many apartments spare. In fact, on reflection, there was only one one-bedroom apartment that she considered suitable. It wasn't the largest but it had the most furniture, if a little old fashioned, a reasonable view and had one other characteristic that had assumed an importance she had not expected; it was on the same floor as her own, modest two-bedroom apartment.
"Why don't you two go up and have a look while I get the paper work together. I will be up shortly to answer any questions you might have." Candice handed over the key, making a point of giving it to Victoria.
Candice wondered if she should say something to Luke but indecision, not something she was used to in her professional life, allowed the opportunity to slip by. "Perhaps after they have looked at the apartment." she thought as she watched them leave her office.
"I can keep an eye out for her too." She whispered to herself after the office door had . It wasn't a conscious thought but there was the resonance of a feeling that she could provide the sort of support that she might have been able to give to the daughter she had never had. That had been the final factor in choosing which apartment; with Victoria on the same floor she felt she could better keep a caring eye on the young woman.
Completely oblivious to the magic her sweet innocence was working on Ms. Williamson, Victoria had taken the keys with a murmured, though obviously genuine "Thank you." and almost literally bounced out of the office.
It seemed to take an age for the lift to reach the twelfth floor and Victoria was finding it very hard to contain her excitement. Victoria checked the tag on the key and almost ran to the door. She inserted the key in the lock and with her heart pounding so loudly in her chest that she thought Luke must surely be able to hear it Victoria turned the key and pushed the door open.
The door opened onto a short corridor with a door on the left leading to the bathroom and another at the end on the right that led through to the kitchen and lounge. From the lounge another door led into the bedroom. The apartment was small and there was no room to swing a cat but it was furnished.
There was no linen and of course all the personal things had gone but there were curtains, both regular and lace at the windows, there was a two-seater sofa. a little drop leaf dinning table and two matching chairs in front of the kitchen counter.
The furniture was all tired, evidence of belonging to someone at the end of their days who had not been able or not been willing to spend money on replacing or refurbishing even those things that clearly needed it. The little drop-leaf dining table was an example. The top was stained with rings from mugs of tea or coffee and the hinges of one of the leaves, the one against the kitchen counter, were broken and unable to support any weight. The bed was clean but the mattress was clearly at the end of its life.
To Victoria, though, it was all wonderful. The quality of the furniture, when new, was much higher than her parents had been able to afford and even in its current state it was more than acceptable to her. Even the bed wasn't likely to be an issue in the short term, Victoria being small and light the weakened springs would be closer to providing the required support than they would be for a larger, heavier person.
But what caught Victoria's attention was the view. It was a cityscape, of course and other buildings crowded in across the streets but there was still a view beyond anything she had been expecting. It was at the corner of the building and that corner of the building was on the intersection of two streets. The lounge had views two ways and the bedroom and kitchen had one view each. There was more. The window in the bedroom, and the two windows in the lounge were full length and slid open, an iron railing just outside each of them providing a proper barrier. Victoria found the catch and slid one of the lounge windows open, letting in the sounds of the city below.
"What do you think Luke?" She asked, turning to her companion, breathless with excitement but whatever Luke thought it was clear that Victoria was enamoured.
Posted by Luke Jacobs on Jan 5, 2009 7:14:06 GMT -6
Omega Mutant
1,041
0
Sept 8, 2010 9:05:47 GMT -6
"It is good that she has someone to watch out for her. She seems very young." Candice observed quietly.
Luke nodded slowly in agreement as his sonar continued to monitor Victoria's actions and expressions. It was pretty obvious that she wasn't paying any attention to the conversation going on around her.
"She is young and she needs someone to watch out for her. Hopefully she can make a few more good friends that can help to watch her back because she just doesn't understand how the world works for so many people." Luke responded quietly.
***
A few minutes later after Victoria had been given the key for her possible apartment the pair took the lift upstairs to check it out. As soon as they stepped inside Luke could smell the touch of mustiness that gave him an idea on the age. Everything seemed to be in pretty good condition and as he stood there Luke could tell the place had possibilities. With a fresh coat of paint on the walls to both seal back any odors as well as freshen up the look, some new furniture, and some personal decorating touches from Miss Victoria the room definitely had possibilities.
Turning his attention back to the young woman Luke had to smile as he watched her obvious excitement. Victoria was in love with the apartment no matter what anyone else thought of it. Leaning against the door frame Luke stood silent, just watching as Victoria took everything in.
"What do you think Luke?" Victoria finally asked as she turned back toward him, her voice tinged with rather obvious excitement.
"I think it has definite possibilities." Luke replied, his smile broadening ever so slightly, "But more importantly what do you think? Would you be happy, safe, and secure here?"
Victoria's safety was probably the most important thing and Luke still intended on asking Ms. Williamson about installing a security system for the young woman's apartment. There was no guarantee that Mr. Jeffrey's would let bygones be bygones when it came to this young woman and it was doubtful she could truly protect herself if the man did come in. Sure she would go to pieces, saving herself for a few moments but she was always so tired when she pulled back together that it was rather likely she would be unable to break apart again if her attacker had any patience.
"Security system, paint, carpet, a few new pieces of furniture and she should be set." Luke thought as he made a mental list, "Maybe Ms. Williamson can help set some of that up. We'll have to see."
"I think it has definite possibilities." Luke replied, his smile broadening ever so slightly, "But more importantly what do you think? Would you be happy, safe, and secure here?"
"I like it." Victoria said, unable to mask her excitement. "It is much better than I thought it would be and much more than I thought I would be able to afford."
Victoria looked around the lounge again and then turned to Luke.
"Thank you so much for all your help, Luke." Victoria said with genuine, heartfelt warmth. "I really don't know what I would have done without you."
She wanted to wrap her arms around him and feel his around her but all of a sudden she felt shy and contented herself with giving him a kiss on the cheek and squeezing his hand.
Her excitement could not be contained for long and Victoria flew around the apartment, opening every cupboard and drawer, inspecting the kitchen appliances before dropping onto the sofa and gazing around teh room.
"It's going to be mine." she said in awed amazement. It seemed unreal. She couldn't even feel angry at Eustace Jeffreys. His fraud and lewd behaviour had been his loss and her gain.
Posted by Luke Jacobs on Jan 6, 2009 6:27:47 GMT -6
Omega Mutant
1,041
0
Sept 8, 2010 9:05:47 GMT -6
Luke laughed softly as he watched Victoria's excitement. It was, quiet honestly, like watching a kid on Christmas day. Everything had a newness and freshness to her that Luke wishes he could still experience. It wasn't that he was old and crusty or anything like that, but he had faced down the scum on the streets to many times to still have the innocence that he saw in Victoria.
"I'll do everything I can to make sure she doesn't lose that." The blind man thought to himself, "That's a precious gift that you want to have as long as possible."
"It's going to be mine." Victoria said in awe after plopping herself down on the couch.
"Yes it is." Luke replied as he walked over and carefully sat down on the arm of the couch, "What kind of vision do you have for what you want it to be? New paint? New carpet? New furniture? What is it that you see when you look around?"
He was asking about her dreams for the apartment and without realizing it he was pushing the intimacy of their relationship. While he meant it to only be friendly he still wasn't factoring in the innocence and youth that surrounded Victoria. If he had thought about it more he would have been more careful about what he said but instead he just remained the friendly person that he was known for being.
"Yes it is." Luke replied as he walked over and carefully sat down on the arm of the couch, "What kind of vision do you have for what you want it to be? New paint? New carpet? New furniture? What is it that you see when you look around?"
The question surprised Victoria. She hadn't thought about decorating and most of the furniture seemed serviceable. Only the bed looked in urgent need of replacement.
"I....." Victoria stopped, forgetting what she had been about to say. Luke's proximity was distracting her. She was getting that funny feeling again and she didn't know what to do about it. With a struggle she diverted her mind back to Luke's question.
"I think a new bed, perhaps, if I find that one too uncomfortable and I will need some linen and towels but I think I should build up a bit of a reserve before I go wild and redecorate." Unlike many girls her age, Victoria knew how to save and had a good idea of what was important and what could be deferred.
"Of course some of that will depend on how much of this furniture will be staying." With the initial excitement ebbing, the practical side of Victoria, the one that had been brought up in a severely financially restricted household, was coming out. She had seen the effect on her mother when they had had to sell something of moderate financial value but of great sentimental value to allow them to get over a rough patch and it had been more important that the boiler had worked than they had somewhere to put their few ornaments and crockery. "And there are bound to be other costs, like utilities."
Victoria looked around the apartment again, seeing it afresh and it was someone else's apartment and she knew she had very little, one smallish suitcase of clothing, a tiny laptop and a flute to make it hers.
"Of course it would be nice to do something that makes it mine rather than the previous occupant's." Victoria said wistfully. She did have the advance on her wages she could use but some of that would have to go on food and at least one set of sheets and a duvet for the bed. A nice duvet cover would help to start the personalisation of the bedroom.
Posted by Luke Jacobs on Jan 7, 2009 6:38:07 GMT -6
Omega Mutant
1,041
0
Sept 8, 2010 9:05:47 GMT -6
"You may want to ask Miss Williamson about a fresh coat of paint or carpets." Luke suggested, "If I remember correctly apartment owners are required to put down new carpets and fresh paint when they rent out to a new tenant. Maybe for a small charge she would let you pick out the colors."
Luke knew that would probably work for the paint but of course the carpet was another story. Normally a landlord would go with something inexpensive, decent quality, and neutral for the carpet. Of course, a neutral carpet would probably be fine since it would blend with most anything that Victoria chose. If she could just pick out the wall colors, even if it was for a slight charge, it would help make it hers.
"And... after you hear what furniture stays and what goes, then how about I buy you one piece as a house warming gift. If it's the mattress then I can purchase that, or if you want to take care of that yourself than you can pick out one other thing." Luke offered with a smile, "After all, that's what friends do."
"That's too much, Luke." Victoria exclaimed, embarrassed by his generosity. "A plant in a pot or a vase.....You've done so much for me already."
If Victoria was older and more cynical she might have wondered if his offer of a new mattress for the bed was a hint of what he was seeking as a reward for such generosity but Victoria was very young and the thought didn't even cross her mind.
"As for the carpet, it doesn't look too bad. And I would like to get a feel for the apartment before I go changing the colour scheme." Victoria wanted to see a bit of New York before she started tying up her weekends with decorating.
She would have said more but at that moment there was a knock on the door. Victoria got up from the sofa and went through to the hall. The door was open as they had left it and she was surprised to see Candice standing there, having expected her to just walk in.
"Hi." Victoria said shyly, and then remembering her manners she added, "Come in." Victoria felt she should say more but she couldn't come up with anything reasonable and so just turned and led the way back into the lounge, feeling a little foolish.
"So what do you think of the apartment, Victoria?" Candice asked as they entered the lounge.
"I like it." Victoria replied enthusiastically, "I think it is very nice."
"Good." Candice smiled warmly, "I like it too."
Candice held out a manila folder with the lease documents. "Have a look at those and get Luke to look at them.... oh. "
She stopped and it was her turn to feel embarrassed and a little foolish but she recovered quickly, "Discuss them with Luke and while you do that I will go to my apartment and put the kettle on. What would you like? Tea, coffee?"
"You live here?" Victoria was surprised, forgetting to answer Candice's question.
"I do. My apartment is down the other end of the hall." Candice smiled, "And was that tea or coffee?"
Posted by Luke Jacobs on Jan 9, 2009 7:54:41 GMT -6
Omega Mutant
1,041
0
Sept 8, 2010 9:05:47 GMT -6
"I'm fine, but thank you for the offer Ms. Williamson." Luke replied graciously, "I'll probably need to be going in a little while, once I'm sure that Victoria is all set."
After Candice had left to go fix both Victoria and herself their beverages the blind man turned his attention back to the young woman. "Anything look strange on the lease or is there anything you have questions about?" He asked with a smile, "I'm no legal expert but I know at least a little bit about that kind of thing."
In part, it still felt strange to be helping a young woman but Luke could feel that it was becoming more natural. As long as he continued to think of her as a little sister or something along those lines there was nothing strange about their situation. She needed help and he had set out to protect her and help her. What more could be asked for?
"Thank you, Luke." She smiled at her friend, the smile infusing her tone.
Victoria sat down at the table so that she spread the papers out a bit. She started reading and then wriggled a bit, trying to get comfortable.
"Some cushions on these dining chairs might be nice." She observed absently as she started reading the tenancy agreement.
There were some bits that she was unsure of but even just the exercise of reading some of them out to Luke for his assessment was enough for her to make sense of them. For the others, there was nothing that taxed Luke's understanding and over all the contract seemed very fair and reasonable. Heating was a shared system and the cost was prorated based on the size of the apartment. Electricity was metered individually and there were a fixed phone line and a cable TV connection, both currently electronically disconnected so Victoria could have a phone, broadband and cable TV if she chose.
Victoria was not looking for the catches, she wasn't sufficiently worldly wise to do so, but in this instance it wasn't necessary. It was almost enough to make one wonder how Candice Williamson stayed in business. Perhaps it was that reasonable behaviour on her part as a landlord attracted reasonable tenants. Or perhaps the contract had been altered in this case for some reason best known only to Candice. Only comparing the agreement with those of other tenants could say for certain.
By the time the woman in question returned with the tea, Victoria was in the process of signing the two copies of the agreement having already counted out the $360 that covered the additional two weeks of the four-week rent-in-advance clause of the contract not already covered by the amount fraudulently gouged by Eustace Jeffreys.
She looked up at her new landlady with a smile on her face and the delight there was obvious.
"I have signed them."
"I hope you will be very happy here." Candice was genuinely pleased and it carried through into her voice. It was a surprise to her, having thought herself devoid of maternal instincts. "If you need anything, my apartment is just down the hall.....oh, and one more thing.
"You can consider the contents of the apartment to be yours to use or dispose of as you see fit. I have to get going so I'll leave you with your tea and the keys."
"Thank very much." Was all Victoria managed to get out before Candice was gone.
Lost for words Victoria picked up the mug of tea, not really noticing that it had milk in it and sat down on the sofa again, sipping slowly at her tea. Her thoughts turned to her parents, wishing they could see her. She knew Luke would say they would be proud of her and she felt, at that moment, that they would.
She looked at Luke her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "Thank you. I really do appreciate your kindness. I really don't know how I would have managed without you today."
It seemed unreasonable to Victoria that she should be happy when her parents lay in their grave. The thought that they would never get to see their little girl growing up into a woman and standing on her own two feet was to much and again she burst into tears. She knew she was being silly but Victoria was powerless to stop it. She collapsed against Luke her body shaking with sobs.
Posted by Luke Jacobs on Jan 11, 2009 6:55:55 GMT -6
Omega Mutant
1,041
0
Sept 8, 2010 9:05:47 GMT -6
For the most part Luke had stayed quiet as Victoria read the lease out loud. When she seemed to be confused or unsure he would make a comment but for the most part he let the young woman be self-sufficient. She was growing up and she would have to handle more and more things like this over the years. When she made her final decision and set about signing the paper Luke had to smile just a little. The lease had sounded quite straight forward and he could tell that Victoria was exciting.
Rising from the kitchen table chair where he had been sitting Luke made his way over to the couch and took a seat, getting as comfortable as possible on the old cushions. He wasn't going to be staying a whole lot longer but he didn't want to just run out on Victoria either.
After accepting her tea from Candice and handing over the lease papers, Victoria made her way over to the couch and sat down beside Luke as she sipped at her tea.
"Thank you. I really do appreciate your kindness. I really don't know how I would have managed without you today." Victoria said, her voice thankful but Luke could hear a slight quaver in her voice as well.
"It's my pleasure." Luke replied with a smile before the young woman suddenly broke down again, falling over toward him and burying her face in his chest.
Even though Luke had expected something like this might happen he was still frozen for just a moment in shock. While it was true he had never had much experience with teenager girls he just couldn't imagine that all girls broke down this easily. Slowly and gently Luke slipped his arm around her shoulder and gave her a slight squeeze as he just let her cry. Victoria had been through a lot today and maybe it was best if she released some of the emotion.
A few minutes later when her sobs began to quiet ever so slightly Luke gave the young woman's shoulders another squeeze. "You did well today Victoria... you're becoming an independent young woman." Moving his hand down from her shoulder Luke gently rubbed the young woman's back, instinctively knowing that it was a comforting gesture that often helped people that were distraught. "You've been through a lot... there's no shame in crying."
"I'm sorry, Luke." Victoria apologised when she had regained her composure. "I just wish my parents could see me here. A job. An apartment. New friends."
Victoria felt so safe with Luke's arm around her. She didn't want to ever leave that protection though she knew she would have to fairly soon.
"I'm making your chest soggy. I hope it won't go rusty." She said it earnestly though there was a little twinkle in her eye as she gazed up into his face. There was something else that she wished too. That Luke could see her face. She wished that he could stay forever, that he could be hers forever but at the back of her mind she knew she was being a silly girl.
'Could he really love someone who bursts into tears or goes to pieces at the drop of a pin?' He probably thinks of you as a little sister. Her mind shied away from that last thought, not wanting to contemplate the possibility let alone believe it.
Victoria had regained her composure but she couldn't bring herself to move away and instead remained cuddled up against Luke.
Posted by Luke Jacobs on Jan 12, 2009 8:11:08 GMT -6
Omega Mutant
1,041
0
Sept 8, 2010 9:05:47 GMT -6
Victoria's crying had lessened but the slight quiver in her voice when she spoke betrayed the fact that she wasn't fully recovered. "I can assure you that your parents would be extremely proud of you." Luke said softly, his voice as soothing as he could manage, "They would be amazed at how much you've grown up in just a short time."
As Victoria turned her face up toward his, Luke could see the slightest smile tugging at the corner of her lips as she made a comment about his chest being rusty. If this were another woman... someone he hadn't set out to protect this would be the perfect moments to steel a kiss but there was no way he could ever lead this young woman on. Victoria deserved to meet someone that would give himself over to her completely and that wasn't Luke. Perhaps he had just seen to much of the world but he felt that if he were to move in that direction he would be spoiling Victoria's innocence.
"Are you saying that I'm heartless?" Luke asked teasingly as he tilted his head so this his eyes would be looking toward the young woman, "I'm no tin man you know... maybe a cowardly lion, but I'm definitely not a tin man."
Luke needed to be going soon but he knew that if he moved it would startle Victoria. She had a fight or flight tendency that was amazing and in many ways reminded Luke of the deer he had seen out in the forest or in different preserves. Innocent... jumpy... but still a touch curious.
There was a moment when, if Victoria had been more forward, she would have kissed him. She was not and the moment passed. Later that night she would think about the missed opportunity and berate herself and then change her mind and use it as evidence that he didn't feel for her in that way and then decide that perhaps he would feel for her if she showed her feelings. Round and round it would go, the usual jumble of thoughts of a teenager trying to find her feet in all aspects of her life.
But that was for later.
Luke's unspoken assessment, Innocent, Jumpy, Curious, summed her up so well. As did an analogy, if analogies were to be used, of a kitten. By turns cute and naughty, timid and curious, reserved and playful. Perhaps Victoria hadn't shown the naughty but it was there along with the rest though it was the naughtiness of a kitten, not the wickedness of a cat.
The conventional wisdom is that Curiosity killed the cat, but Curiosity was framed, it was Inexperience that was the guilty party. It was the big danger for Victoria, that her naivete and inexperience would lead her into a situation from which she couldn't escape.
"Are you saying that I'm heartless? " Luke asked teasingly as he tilted his head so this his eyes would be looking toward the young woman, "I'm no tin man you know... maybe a cowardly lion, but I'm definitely not a tin man."
Victoria looked into his face again and for a few heartbeats she was lost in contemplation of that face and wondering what it would be like to be kissed by him. Then suddenly the child in her interrupted and without thinking, Victoria gently poked Luke's chest with her finger. "You are right, definitely not tin unless it is well padded, the way you have been helping me, you definitely have a heart and the way you sorted Mr. Jeffreys out you are no cowardly lion either."
Victoria smiled at Luke and her expression, if it had been deliberate would have been coquettish but it was innocent and thus cute instead. "A lion, most definitely, but not a cowardly one." It was a young voice, high and light, a reflection of the youth of the girl.
That funny feeling was back and she wasn't sure what to do about it but other than the funny feeling she was relaxed now, enjoying Luke's company and his physical presence. She was also enjoying wearing his jacket which somehow she still hadn't relinquished.
"I could stay here forever." Victoria said wistfully after several silent minutes.
"I suppose I should really get myself organised." She added, making no attempt to move.