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.
The thought of someone giving her a sponge bath was laughable and indeed she did enjoy a chuckle. That was how she used to bathe along with some very fashionable rubber gloves. There were better ways to bathe these days, and if Jacen thought she was leaving here without a shower he was sadly mistaken. Sex, she could skip, but shower? No. Not after this week. And CERTAINLY not after the events of last night. She needed to know that vomit was gone, burned from her skin.
She finished a triangle of toast and watched Jacen take his things to the sink. But then again, Mister boxers was the reason for said shower. Surely he deserved something for his trouble... Of course he may not want to either. Sure they had rested, but yesterday had been exhausting. "Conscious the whole time..." That had to suck.
"I need to shave and get rid of some of this scruff. After that, I'll be available to help wash some of the tangles out of your hair, but only if you're interested of course."
Oh how silly of her to think that he would forgo the opportunity. He was a man after all. "I do love a freshly shaved man." except... she could not leave dishes undone. Jacen went to his room, his shower and Lori broke out the rubber gloves from under the sink. She sure as heck wasn't going to leave the pancake glued to the front of Jacen's oven. That was just embarrassing.
She was washing off the last pan when Jacen's voice rang out above the water. "Your options are open Lily. The shower is in here or there are bags of clothes for you in the guest bedroom closet." Bags of clothes? She quirked her brow intrigued. When had he had time to do that? She went to peek in the closet, but didn't bother rummaging through the goodies. She didn't want them yet, she just wanted them close at hand if she needed a fast exit later.
She didn't bother answering either. She simply brought the bags into the bathroom and smiled at the already running shower. There wasn't a whole lot to lose here. Just a single shirt and then she was opening the shower door.
The minutes dragged on without a reply and Jacen came to the decision that Lily had decided to slip out while he was busy. It wasn't really the way he wanted things to end after their experiences the previous night but if that was her decision that was her decision. For now he'd enjoy the hot water of the shower. After squirting a bit of shampoo into his hand Jacen busied himself lathering and scrubbing his hair. Even as short as it was, after last night it was greasy and just a touch stiff from the sweat that had dried into it. Just as he was rinsing out the shampoo the shower door opened and Jacen turned to find himself looking at the blond that he thought had already left.
"You're so good at the quick getaway that I figured I better not expect to much." He said with a slight grin as he stepped to the back of the shower to give her access to the water. While not perfect, Jacen was a pretty good liar so he was able to make something that actually annoyed him sound more like a compliment.
Tilting his head to the sample soap and shampoos that were still sitting in the shower from where Lily had left them the last time he quirked an eyebrow questioningly with just a touch of suggestion in his voice. "Need help washing your back?"
She took a moment to fully appreciate what she was walking into. Her blue eyes trailed up from his toes across all that military structure and settled on that rugged facial structure. What she saw in his eyes was just the same as every other man, he even jabbed at her with a comment about the quick getaways. Maybe not in tone, but it was there behind the words.
"What am I supposed to do?" She stepped into the shower her eyes dropping to focus on his chest, a much less accusational conversation partner. "Wasn't the point of all this to drop conventional expectations and have a purely physical relationship? Staying after for cuddles is... borderline bonding." She wet her hair and tried to keep a neutral tone even though some distant piece of herself squeezed painfully.
It was engrained in everyone: the white picket fence and 2.5 children. You were supposed to grow up, find that special someone, marry them, and live happily ever after, till death do you part. Lori knew it wasn’t going to happen for her. Even if she had wanted it, it was wrong for her in so many ways. She wouldn't miss the wedding, the whole concept of spending all that money on fluff and stuff was revolting to her, but perhaps the concept of one single person being the be-all, end-all… to have someone to come home to. Heck, even having a single place to settle down and call home... that she sometimes distantly missed.
"Need help washing your back?"
Her eyes flicked up to his, still too serious despite the runnels of water streaming down her face. "Yeah." And just like that she pulled her hair aside and turned her back on any hope for normalcy.
"Cuddles are borderline bonding?" Jacen asked rather dryly as he soaped up a wash cloth, "I'll make sure to remember that." He wasn't hurt by her decision, Jacen reflected as he ran the cloth of the gentle curve of Lily's spine, replacing the scent of dried and fryed vomit with that of vanilla scented soap, "I hope the clothes I picked up will work for you. I got the right sizes but as for styles, well, I was still pretty groggy."
Handing the soapy rag over to Lily, Jacen took a step back, a slight smirk on his face as he just appreciated the view. One serious positive with his mutant ability was standing right in front of him. He'd of course slept with a few women over the years but it was extremely rare to share a shower with them. For this particular blond, the shower was the most important part of their arangement which meant that he got to enjoy something he had never really had the opportunity to enjoy before.
Moving close Jacen ducked his head, genlty nipping at a patch of bare skin on her neck as he reached past her to retrieve the shampoo. In their relationship talking was obviously over rated so for now he would do his best to set aside any thoughts about how to read Lily's actions. Theirs was a purely physical relationship and that's all that would come of it. "Let's see about getting that hair cleaned up."
Lori searched his face. His body was happy, but his mood was a bit more serious this time. She should have expected that, but Jacen was supposed to be her cheerful lay. The sex, at least, was supposed to be uncomplicated.
He made her second guess... everything, everything about herself that she liked or decided. he was so wrong. But it was always the things that were worst for her that she most wanted. Jacen's eyes held that dark light of knowledge. It had nothing to do with mutation and everything to do with a man looking at a naked women he has f***ed. That sure-we'll-get-to-do-it-again look that held no amount of love and all kinds of possessiveness.
She just couldn't help herself. He nibbled at her skin and she made a girly squeal holding him close for the moments he needed to get the shampoo.
There comes a point where you like someone. Not because they’re good, or bad, or anything really. You just like them. It doesn’t mean you’ll be together forever. It doesn’t mean you won’t hurt each other. It just means you like them. Sometimes in spite of who they are, and sometimes because of who they are. And she wanted him to like her... maybe even love her, sometimes because of who she was, and sometimes in spite of it.
She'd give him anything just to be able to come back for another shower and she hated herself for it. She tried her hardest to keep people from having things like that, things they could use to manipulate her. And here she'd handed it to him on a silver platter.
Shampoo be damned. She offered Jacen lips and a gentle, breathless kiss that tasted of her hammering pulse.
With a slight clatter the small container of shampoo dropped to the floor of the tub as their lips met. Even though Jacen knew it wasn't really happening, he felt like an electric charge was passing between them every time they kissed. Here was an outlet where Jacen could release all of his pent of emotion, his own 'electric charge' as it were. There was no thinking, just responding as he wrapped his arms around Lily waist, pulling her close so that their bodies molded to one another. Turning slightly he pushed her firmly back against the wall, making it quite clear that he was the one in control. He couldn't make her want anything more than a 'friends with benefits' relationship but he could make sure that she would miss him whenever their little get togethers wrapped up for the final time.
Deepening the kiss Jacen pushed, taking her in further as his hands slowly moved over her water slicked skin. Focusing on every sensitive spot and ticklish spot that he could remember from their previous encounters he did his best to drive her wild. Sure a part of him wanted to throw her on the bed and focus purely on his needs but another part wanted to make her regret not wanting more. This was the outlet where he could get rid of all of his frustration and pent of emotion without her realizing just how close she had actually gotten to making him want more than just... this.
He liked her... damn the woman but he liked her! He could care less about whether she was a thief. In fact, as long as she wasn't a murder he could probably come up with some excuse for her but she didn't want that. All she wanted was showers and cheep thrills.
***
Steam masked the bodies within the shower as it continued to completely fill the bathroom. Spreading out into the bedroom it even began to mist over the bags that held the clothes Lily would wear when she finally made her departure. Next door, Jacen's elderly neighbors temporarily turned off their hearing aids to get some relief from the sounds of a frenzied man and woman doing things that they hadn't dreamed off for some time. That was the problem with young couples... sometimes they were worse than bunny rabbits!
He took control in a way she'd never imagined he would. It was pleasure yes, but also just this side of pain. And that made anything and everything tinged with the thrill of almost danger. He was almost dangerous, almost brutal, almost just perfect.
Comparatively, last time was polite fun, but this... this was raw and needy and real enough that Lori was glad that they started in the shower. He would never see the difference between tears and the falling droplets of shower water. The expressions of pleasure and pain were too close to decipher. Everything worked differently now that it meant something. It was that much better and that much worse.
****
She was done catching her breath and now was typically the time to run, but Lori was too busy borderline bonding.
A yawn punctuated her snuggle and squeezed out a saline star that rolled across the round of her cheek. The horrors of last week, the terror of yesterday: he'd washed all the streets from her skin and she came out smelling of vanilla, Jacen, and the salty sweet tang of blood. She hoped that she hadn't hurt him too badly, but she certainly had teeth and nail marks of her own to cherish. She hurt, but the abuse was a reminder of what she'd done and what she certainly wanted to do again some day.
And she didn't want to let go.
It was funny, this... whatever they had. They'd started out with practical loathing, progressed to mutual law dodgers, found a mutually beneficial carnality, fought together, got caught together, and now she didn't want to let him go. From disgust to... passion in a matter of weeks. She never would have guessed she would end up in so compromising a situation. She never thought it'd happen, but with or without her best intentions: She'd made love 'cause she was in it.
His chest rose and fell slowly in deep even breaths as he lay in a tangle of sheets with a certain blonde haired woman's head resting comfortably on his shoulder. The previous... however long had been like nothing he had ever experienced before. Even though Jacen had for the most part remained in control through the entire exercise, a small part of him had simply let go. Never before he had danced the line between pleasure and pain and never could he have imagined a partner that could tango as well. It had felt good but even as the two of them lay there Jacen had to admit that at least a part of him hurt. The fact that Lily had absolutely no interest in seeing if what they had could go further was like a small ache down deep but he would do his best to ignore it and not let that fact color his actions. This was an arrangement that most men would kill for and he was not going to screw it up just because a touch of the heart got involved.
Tearing his mind away from thought of anything more than pure, unbridled lust, Jacen focused on his breathing and the fact that there was a beautiful naked woman laying right beside him. Idly his left arm trailed finger along her bare skin, following the curve of the spine from shoulder level down to where the spine change into a small crevice that was barely concealed by the covers that were twined around them. Back up the curve and back down, he played over the smooth supple skin. A part of him wanted to tell Lily he had never done something that intense with a person before. A part of him wanted to let her know that no matter what happened, she was special, even if nothing developed between them. But even as those parts tried to fight for control, an older wiser part kept them silent. He wouldn't make the first move in that direction. He couldn't. She had made it quite clear what she wanted and there was no way Jacen would ever force his affections upon a woman that didn't want them.
"I think we drained the hot water heater." Jacen said, picking a safe topic that really held no interest but at least provided a way to break the comfortable silence that had been lasted for however long, "If this continues I might need to invest in a larger one. Don't want anything getting interupted by the shock of cold water."
Lori lay for a long still moment after Jacen spoke. She dissected the words for meaning he may have inadvertently attached to the phrases.
If this continues meant that he wanted it to continue, but was uncertain about the stability of such a situation. She was doubtful too, in fact, she was making plans to keep herself far, far away from Jacen for a while. She needed to know if his field of negation made her crazy.. er.
that fact that he considered investing in a new and larger hot water heater meant that he was definitely open to repeating the experience. That was good to know. She would hate to walk away and be uncertain if she'd ever be welcome here again. Although, after a performance like that...
He had said I, not we. That wasn't too bad, though. It wasn't like she was going to chip in for a larger water heater... "I'd be willing to chip in if you feel the need to upgrade." ...that was one way to invest in a relationship. She was used to money being tight, but she could afford to spend a little. The money from the retainer salary from the Order (for doing nothing but cause them trouble) was finally going to good use. Or perhaps she'd have to find some of the cash that wasn't blood spattered to give to Jacen. She couldn't think of anything better to spend it on.
Lori sighed and snaked her arm around Jacen's middle in a partial hug. Her gut was telling her that it was time to leave, but her body remained horizontal. Just a while longer. She would count to 10 and maybe then get up...
"If you think it'll happen often enough to warrant the investment, I won't turn down the help." Jacen replied somewhat lazily as he continued to lay there with his eyes closed. He was not going to read anything into her statement. He refused to let himself read anything into her comments. The fact she was willing to invest in their time together meant nothing! At least that was what he kept trying to tell himself.
***
Jacen wasn't sure exactly how much time passed and to be honest he didn't care. Whether Lily had enjoyed their 'bonding' experience or not he knew that he had. Most guys were really snugglers but any man that was honest would say that there was something special about just laying in bed with a woman that you had recently been intimate with. Whether feelings were involved or not, the pleasure of skin on skin contact was something that most enjoyed. But eventually the time had to come to an end.
He wasn't sure who stirred first but almost as if by silent agreement Lily and Jacen finally sat up and began to move away from the bed. Every fiber screamed for Jacen to watch the blond woman get dressed but he had to wonder whether that would be considered to intimate a gesture. Instead, as Lily went to look through her bags of clothing he focused on getting himself dressed. After all, when she left he had to head over to the station to file the police report he had talked about doing last night.
The bandage on Jacen's arm was stained with dried blood that had begun to flow again amid their activities from earlier but he didn't worry about it. It was dry and no longer flowing so there was no reason to be bothered by it. After pulling on a pair of black boxers, Jacen grabbed out a pair of loose fitting khaki pants followed soon after by a long sleeve burgundy and white striped dress shirt. Leaving the shirt untucked, Jacen took the time to roll the sleeves of his shirt up to his elbows before turning back around to look at his um-friend.
"I'd ask you to lunch but I'm due at the police station. I told them I wasn't coming in to work but that I'd show up to file an assault report about last night. Can I assume you'd rather be left out of the official paperwork?" Jacen asked casually, doing his best to make sure that not even a sliver of anything deeper than a basic friendship might would show on his face. "Since I don't know your last name that should actually be pretty easy."
A lot of it was skinship. A gentle caress along the spine, a subtle kiss against the chest, nothing that would start anything really and certainly nothing that screamed 'I love you.' It was entirely too soon for that. Like, a lifetime too soon. And then Lily sighed, Jacen sighed and without even so much as glancing at each other they parted ways. Apparently they'd both filled up with enough cuddle and now it was time to peel their skin apart and get back to the real world.
And now was the time that Lori typically pretended that she was so busy and caught up in getting her clothes on that she couldn't find the time to make eye contact. Nope. There were white jeans and nudie colored undergarments to get on. Oh and a black tee... and... the most hideous sandals she had ever seen. Hmm... would kitchen shears help these? She wasn't sure. In fact, she felt a little silly, the clothes were stiff from being on the shelves, and she wasn't sure, but the black over white -- it just felt like an unbalanced fraction: top heavy.
"I'd ask you to lunch but I'm due at the police station. I told them I wasn't coming in to work but that I'd show up to file an assault report about last night. Can I assume you'd rather be left out of the official paperwork?"[/color] His voice made her jump. Why? It wasn't like she was doing anything wrong, just... thinking about cutting up those ugly shoes. "Since I don't know your last name that should actually be pretty easy."[/color]
She hesitated. It was for the best, of course. "Do what you have to do. As much as I'd love to slap a suit on Brickson, I'd rather not go downtown... not if I don't have to." And he understood that right? Right. They were all pals here. Yep.
"Well, I uh- I'll call." Maybe sometime in the next year, but not any time soon. She looked around realizing she didn't have anything here, she certainly didn't want the peptobismol scrubs so she headed for the door. Simple as that.
Jacen quietly followed Lily to the door, not saying anything. This was his opportunity if he wanted to go for broke and try to change what was going on between them but with no encouragement from the blond woman he carefully pushed those thoughts to the side.
"You know the number." Jacen observed quietly, "So take care of yourself."
This was stupid. Not it was crazy. What guy in their right mind let a beautiful woman like this just walk away from their apartment without getting either her last name or her phone number? "What kind of idiot am I?" Jacen wondered as he leaned up against the doorway, taking a moment or two to watch Lily walking down the hallway that led to the stairs and elevators. "The kind of idiot that doesn't want to get hurt." He finally decided rather grimly as he forced himself to turn away and slowly close the door.
His day with Lily was over but that didn't mean he was just going to forget about the woman. First he had to go to the station and file a police report but after that he was going to take the time to investigate the information in that wallet he'd stowed in the bathroom.
"So now, who are you Rebeccah J. Noonan." He asked quietly as he pulled out the wallet and looked at the ID inside, "And when did you meet Lily?"