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 Welldrinker Cult
A shadowy group is gaining power, drawing in people who are curious, vulnerable, or malicious, and turning them into Mystics. They are recruiting people into their ranks to spread the influence of magic in the world, but for what end goal?
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.
>> "Yeah, I'm a mirrorwalker. That's pretty much it. I can take other people through the lookin' glass too.. And Agnes here is a queen bee. Pretty awesome.”
Mirrorwalker, that was a cool name for a mutation. “So, you can go through any mirrors, and end up anywhere?” Lydia asked, intrigued. And he could take others with him? Very interesting. Lydia wondered if it would be too forward to ask him to demonstrate that part of his ability, with her. Maybe she’d hold off on that request until she’d known him for more than five minutes. Agnes seemed to think over Gawain’s words about her mutation for a moment, although the look on her face wasn’t very pleased, before giving her own response to the skin-shifter’s initial question.
>> “Yea, my…power does have to do with insects. They like to keep me safe from whoever is threatening, or irritating me.”
“That actually is…really freaking awesome.” So the girl had her own army of insects waiting to protect her whenever she wanted or needed? Talk about useful. She’d never have any problems with creepy dudes hitting on her, or insane spiked mutants attacking her, or anything else scary and annoying. She could just whip her bugs out and deal with the problem. Er, at least that’s how Dia imagined it. “What kind of bugs exactly? Or is it just any bug that’s lying around?”
She definitely never wanted to be on the receiving end of Agnes’ ire, but she wanted to see the power in action, as she’d never met an insect-controller before. That was why the teenager loved meeting fellow mutants. The diversity and variety of their mutations was just amazing. There were firemancers, speedsters, promise keepers, mirrorwalkers. It was great, most of the time.
>> “What about you, Lydia? Mutant as well?”
Lydia smirked and nodded. “Of course. I’m a shifter, sort of. I can change my skin into different textures, like glass and paper. It’s not as cool as what you guys can do, though.” She shrugged. Her mutation wasn’t that useful, save for superficial purposes, at least not compared to the girl who had bugs watching over her.
>>“Yea, my…power does have to do with insects. They like to keep me safe from whoever is threatening... or irritating me.”
Uh-oh. Was that a threat? It sounded like a threat. So, she was not only punching people now, but also using her bugs?... Nope. Gawain noted the smile, and nswered it with a grin. The girl was good. She was much different than the shy, insecure person who arrived to the Mansion a few weeks before. Lydia seemed interested in Agnes' powers. Gawain did not blame her for it.
>>“So, you can go through any mirrors, and end up anywhere?”
"Yeah, pretty much" he nodded with a smirk "Anywhere where there is another mirror, or any surface that reflects. An' I can take people with me too. And I can leave them inside."
For example, people who sic their swarm of bugs at me.
Agnes asked about Lydia's powers again; this time, she answered. Gawain wondered if it was because of who asked it, or because Agnes' question was much more direct...
>> “Of course. I’m a shifter, sort of. I can change my skin into different textures, like glass and paper. It’s not as cool as what you guys can do, though.”
"I'm not sure" he shrugged with a smile "It does sound pretty cool. Depends on how you use it, I guess. Like all mutant powers."
>> “That actually is…really freaking awesome…What kind of bugs exactly? Or is it just any bug that’s lying around?”
“Oh, there are certain ones,” she awkwardly explained. She did not want to get into where they came from him. “Sometimes they are drawn to me so those will jump in if I need help. Mainly it’s just flies, hornets and roaches…”
Agnes hid an embarrassed smirk as she looked away and pretended to just miss hearing Lydia’s comment. To be honest she was getting a lot of that these days. Ever since she became a ViewTube sensation, mutants from all over the school, upon realizing it was her, was bombarding her with questions. The majority of them thought it was cool, but there were others that wanted nothing to do with her, chastised her for allowing herself to be filmed and actually doing that to someone else. Few people really knew the circumstances of why she did that to the man…then again few people cared to find out.
That was the thing with snap judgments, you never really know what it is that you are judging. She could tell that Lydia really seemed to dig her power, but she was not thinking about the drawbacks. Agnes knew the drawbacks, she lived with them every day: the smell, the inability to go someplace nice, to not even be able to kiss some cute…it was all a torture and all of it was hers to bear.
A shudder and Agnes returned to the moment at hand, her attention turning back to Lydia. She had asked her what she could do? Was that like the standard greeting around mutants? “What can you do?” “What power do you have?” “Can you do something cool?” What did it matter what people could do? They were still people and even if they had the most embarrassing power, that should not make them feel like anything less. Agnes usually felt like she was less than a mutant. Her power, in her opinion, was embarrassing and as much as she was trying to live with it, it was a hard thing to do.
Agnes stayed quiet as Gawain went on to describe his own abilities. She knew a little bit of them, for instance she had met both Gawain and Maya, and she had seen him disappear through mirrors plenty of times. But she did not know s/he could take people in there as well. That would be a hell of a place to leave an enemy or something who was just plain irritating. She hoped that she would never be on the opposing end of that. The only hope she if he so much as threatened her with it was to make sure they were in a room with absolutely no mirrors or reflective surfaces at all. Fat chance in this day and age…
She shrugged as she went on with them, listening as the conversation finally switched to Lydia.
>> “Of course. I’m a shifter, sort of. I can change my skin into different textures, like glass and paper. It’s not as cool as what you guys can do, though.”
“Wow, now that is really cool,” she beamed as she thought about the possibilities of that. That was the type of power a real hero could have. She could touch a sheet of plexiglass and be bulletproof! She wished she could do something like that rather than just spew insects. “Well, welcome to the mansion. It is nice to meet you,” she announced in a genuinely friendly voice.
>> “Sometimes they are drawn to me so those will jump in if I need help. Mainly it’s just flies, hornets and roaches…” >> "Anywhere where there is another mirror, or any surface that reflects. An' I can take people with me too. And I can leave them inside."
So cool so cool so cool! Ah, Gawain and Agnes were so interesting! They had awesome mutations, were nice, helpful people, and weren’t complete goody-goodies, seeing as how the boy was cutting class, at least. Except…Agnes did not seem so fond of her mutation. The look on her face was not a happy one, and she shuddered after she explained about the bugs. Well, not everyone was pleased by their mutation. Some people, perhaps even a lot, hated the fact that they carried an active X-gene. The skin-shifter didn’t quite understand why some felt that way, but then again, she didn’t really have the most difficult or problematic power. Hers was relatively simple compared to some others. Maybe Agnes didn’t have the best control, or just plain didn’t like bugs. Now that the teenager thought of it, it would really stink to have a mutation dealing with something you didn’t like. Perhaps she shouldn’t have been so hasty with her assessment of the other girl’s ability. She still thought it was cool, of course, but she should’ve minded her feelings better.
Gawain and Agnes seemed to like and approve of Lydia's mutation, and she couldn’t help but grin a little wider. Admittedly, she was a bit proud of what she could do, even if she didn’t think it was that practical, and compliments never hurt one’s self-esteem. If anything, she was puffing her chest out a bit more from the ego inflation.
By that time the trio had made it up to the second floor and was nearing the infirmary. “Ah Agnes, you said you have to go see DocProf too, right? Gawain, do you want to just wait outside the office or join us? I’m probably going to be real quick.” She glanced at Agnes, waiting to see what she wanted to do. She had mentioned that she was going to check some results. Lyd, and maybe even Gawain, had no idea what that entailed, and therefore didn’t even have an estimate of how long that would take. Hopefully it wouldn’t take too long, and hopefully the two mansion students wouldn’t have any immediate plans afterwards. She was interested in getting to know them better, perhaps even have a bit of fun with them. School was such a drag, she was sure they wouldn’t refuse a little mischief. And since she wasn’t a student…well, it wouldn’t hurt to scope out some exits. She held her box of treats and waited for the other teenagers' responses.
>>“Wow, now that is really cool. Well, welcome to the mansion. It is nice to meet you,”
"Yup, welcome" Gawain grinned, finally remembering that he was the official Mansion greeter, or at least one of them, according to Sam. He was still not sure is Lyia was moving in, or just visiting, but she was a mutant, so she kind of belonged here anyway.
>>“Ah Agnes, you said you have to go see DocProf too, right? Gawain, do you want to just wait outside the office or join us? I’m probably going to be real quick.”
"Outside's fine" said Gawain with a smirk "He's probably better off not seeing me for a while, he always looks like he's about to have a stroke when I walk in. 'sides, I don' like the infirmary that much either. Go ahead, I'll wait for you two here..."
Leaning against a nearby wall, he folded his arms, letting the girls walk ahead. As Maya, he knew that girls needed to introduce themselves in their girl ways when guys were not around, and even though Agnes knew what s/he was, Lydia was new. And it was true what he said about the infirmary; there was no need to freak DocProf out with another 'YOU again?!' moment. So, he waited. They shouldn't be long, right?
>> “Ah Agnes, you said you have to go see DocProf too, right? Gawain, do you want to just wait outside the office or join us? I’m probably going to be real quick.”
>> "Outside's fine…He's probably better off not seeing me for a while, he always looks like he's about to have a stroke when I walk in. 'sides, I don' like the infirmary that much either. Go ahead, I'll wait for you two here..."
Agnes arched an eyebrow at Gawain, but nodded that she was going to accompany Lydia into DocProf’s office. After her incident in the museum, she had asked the man if he could run a sort of diagnostic. Just to see if everything was still running okay internally with her Swarm. After all, she had pushed her powers to the very breaking point that day. She was scared that either she had harmed herself, or the insects that lived within her. Either way, a check-up would do her good. Besides, she had a feeling that he would be the only doctor that would see her without her having to expose her scars.
She turned back to Lydia and gave her a soft smile. “Yeah, I’ll join you inside.” she said as she opened the door for Lydia. “Besides, I’m sure that if Gawain were to walk in there with two lovely young ladies such as us, he’d just give him a scowl and a shake of the head.”
Agnes did not wait for Gawain’s response and instead simply held the door open for Lydia. The second the mutant decided to walk in, Agnes followed after.
In a way, it was funny how she was reacting around the young woman. She really was beginning to open up more around people and that made her feel good. Even though the whole museum fight freaked her out, she at least felt good knowing that she could use her powers for some good…and not EVERYONE was freaked out by her “gifts”. It did the ego good to know that not everyone looked at her as if she were some monster. That at least some people could look past what she could do and see that she was just a regular teenager underneath all the bugs.
>> “Besides, I’m sure that if Gawain were to walk in there with two lovely young ladies such as us, he’d just give him a scowl and a shake of the head.”
Lydia raised an eyebrow and smirked at the comment. Agnes was pretty snarky, at least towards Gawain, and it was immensely amusing to witness. Yes, the two girls would be friends in no time. Imagine what DocProf must’ve been thinking when Andrew came in with me and Rhythm, then, she mused to herself as she walked through the doorway into the infirmary. But then again, Rhythm literally had been bleeding to death from a gunshot wound, so perhaps that wasn’t so much on the forefront of the healer’s mind.
The infirmary was as she remembered it. White walled, clean, and yet it did not quite give off a hospital-like vibe. It exuded a warmth and hospitality, and DocProf had the best bedside manner from what she had observed. And there the old man was, attending to a younger boy who looked to be about twelve or thirteen, who seemed to have hurt his arm in some way. “Now, you’ll be more careful the next time you decide to take to the skies, right?” The healer said sternly, but with a soft smile on his already gentle face. The boy nodded and DocProf began his work, pressing his hands against the injured area. A golden glow promptly began to shine from his hands, and the healing began. DocProf nodded in their direction, “I’ll be right with you girls, just a second please.”
“His mutation’s amazing, isn’t it?” Lyd asked Agnes, placing the box of cookies on a nearby table, “So what’s your reason for visiting the man, again?” The other girl had never quite explained. The skin-shifter hoped she wasn’t prying.
Agnes smirked as she walked into the infirmary with Lydia, leaving Gawain behind in the hallway. It was simply better that way. The less time she had to spend around him the second. She really did not know what it was about him but whenever she was around him all she wanted to do was punch him in the jaw. He was so arrogant and attempting to be gallant that she only wanted to harm him in whatever means that were available to her. It really did not make a lot of sense since he had done little to irritate her. All she could imagine was that he just had this aura that did not mix well with hers. Either way, it was simply better that they did not spend more time than was needed around each other.
With that she entered the infirmary and smiled at the beaming face of DocProf as he greeted them and turned his attentions back to the injured boy already in his office.
>> “I’ll be right with you girls, just a second please.”
“Take your time, professor,” Agnes said as she wandered over to the side with Lydia.
She was really going to trust the doctor/mutant. The man had been more than helpful whenever it came to her powers and he had a good ear for listening. So far he really knew nothing about her traumatic past, nor had he seen the scars all over her body, but he was a good enough sport to attempt to treat her with as minimal an amount of discomfort as he could provide. Agnes was extremely thankful to have a doctor like him treating her. Especially when it came to exploring what her powers could do.
>> “His mutation’s amazing, isn’t it?”[/i]
Agnes nodded as Lydia passed by and left a small box of cookies nearby. They seemed like the perfect, tasty treat for the skillful healer with the mirthful heart of a child. It was good to see that some people (Lydia) in this day and age knew the importance of attempting to say “thank you” for a good deed done. Sometimes those can really bring a smile to the world.
Lounging around near Lydia, looking idly at charts and diagrams of the human body, Lydia suddenly asked her another question.
>> “So what’s your reason for visiting the man, again?”[/i]
“Oh…umm…” she stumbled in her words.
To most this would seem like a rather private question and to be honest it was. It really was Agnes’ business about why she was visiting DocProf and for what test results but she did not want to make the newcomer feel bad about the faux pas. It was actually quite an innocent question. The girl was simply trying to get to know one of her guides that was showing her around the place. The least she could do was answer any questions, so long as it wasn’t what type of underwear she had. That was DEFINITELY getting too personal.
But still, there were some things she did not want to reveal. After all, the museum incident was her business and no one elses. There was no need to fill Lydia into that news, especially if she had heard nothing about it yet. One less person to notice her, the better.
She smiled warmly at Lydia.
“Oh, it’s nothing. My powers have been acting up a little lately and DocProf said he would be kind enough to run some tests and make sure that everything was still okay with me. Pretty normal stuff,” she said with a nod. A glance to Lydia and she nodded to her. “Are you considering coming here, to this school, Lydia? Place as wonderful opportunities.”
Oh shoot, Lydia thought. She had pried. She wasn’t used to pretenses, or asking for permission, or any of this sort of polite business she was engaging in. She was used to being around people who already knew her tendencies, her personality, and didn’t think of her as invasive in any way. Or at least they got used to it fairly quickly, her kind was like that. Basically, Lyd wasn’t used to being reserved, and she’d made a mistake. But Agnes quickly recovered.
>> “Oh, it’s nothing. My powers have been acting up a little lately and DocProf said he would be kind enough to run some tests and make sure that everything was still okay with me. Pretty normal stuff.”
Ah, she supposed it was normal. DocProf was a doctor, he probably did mutation-related tests and such all the time. And Agnes was smiling at her, so perhaps she hadn’t made that bad of a mistake, or maybe Agnes had just been having some sort of spacey moment or something. Lydia shook the matter out of her head and nodded in reply.
>> “Are you considering coming here, to this school, Lydia? Place as wonderful opportunities.”
The skin-shifter resisted snorting and merely shook her head no. School? Oh God. “Uh, I don’t think so. I mean, yeah I guess this place is alright, but I dunno…not the place for me. I’ve just met a few nice people here, hung out with them a few times. That’s how I found this place.” Okay, so she actually only knew one person at the mansion, and the two times she had spent with him could hardly count as “hang outs.” But that would just be too weird to explain.
DocProf finished on his young patient, and the boy said his thanks and began walking out of the infirmary. When he noticed Agnes his eyes widened in surprise and his mouth hung open, he gawked at her in that manner until he was out the door. Wonder what that’s about? Maybe the little guy has a crush on Agnes? The other girl certainly wasn’t unattractive, not that Lydia rolled that way, but she could appreciate good looks when she saw them. And twelve-year-olds were so susceptible to big blue eyes.
“Ah Agnes. And…Lydia, was it? It’s good to see you two again. How may I help you?”
Lyd nodded and picked up her box of treats and handed it to the healer, smiling brightly. He said his thanks and turned to Agnes.
>> “Uh, I don’t think so. I mean, yeah I guess this place is alright, but I dunno…not the place for me. I’ve just met a few nice people here, hung out with them a few times. That’s how I found this place.”[/i]
Agnes grinned and tried not to laugh at Lydia’s commentary about coming here. The runaway guessed that school was not for everyone. Some people excel, some have the need to break out. Whatever the case was for Lydia, she seemed perfectly content with her life choices, and her mutation did not seem to need much help getting under control. Agnes wished she had that much control over her own abilities. Maybe one day…hopefully…
Hearing the shuffling of feet, Agnes turned back to DocProfs rooms and immediately spied the young, bright eyed boy as he began to head out. Though, as he did, he paused and looked up at Agnes with complete and utter shock and awe. Agnes arched a brow, unsure of why the boy was staring at her like that and simply waved.
It was the voice of the kindly and good DocProf and pulled Agnes attention away from him. Looking up, she smiled and waved to him. She really did like him. She knew that she was a difficult patient but he was also so kind and willing to jump on the opportunity to help her. That made her feel good inside. It made her feel like she was not a complete and utter monster to everyone. That at least there was one person or two who were willing to look at her like she was an actual human being, rather than a walking insect hive.
>> “Ah Agnes. And…Lydia, was it? It’s good to see you two again. How may I help you?”
“Oh,” Agnes said as she snapped back to reality. “I just…I came for my lab results.”
“Ah yes, yes you did,” DocProf said with a nod. “Well then come along back here. I have some interesting results for you.” He then caught sight of Lydia, smiled appreciatively at the treats she offered, and shot her a winning smile as he nodded towards some of the chairs. “Have a seat, dear. I’ll be right with you. Thank you so much for the snack. Come along, Agnes.”
Agnes turned and waved goodbye to Lydia briefly as she turned and followed the old healer. It was only when she was gone though that the door to the office opened and the small, who had just left reentered. He peered back and forth and watched as Agnes had disappeared behind the office door. He snapped his fingers in disappointed and kicked the tiled floor briefly. He glanced over to Lydia and looked instantly a little ashamed of his behavior.
“Sorry,” he said innocent as he stuffed a notepad and pencil in his pocket. “I’ve been trying to get her autograph ever since I saw her on ViewTube but I’m always either too scared or I can’t find her!” He grumbled as he pressed himself against the wall, then turned to her with a curious expression. “Do you know her? Can you get me her autograph? Pweeeese!”
>> “Well then come along back here. I have some interesting results for you.”
Interesting results, eh? Lydia tried not to be nosy but her curiosity couldn’t help but be a little piqued. But she had already pried once, and she hardly knew Agnes. Hopefully that would change though. It was nice to meet someone her age for once. It seemed she kept meeting adults, with the exception of young Kaitlyn. She hadn’t seen the kid in a while, it was sort of sad.
DocProf told the teenager to take a seat as he whisked Agnes away to an inner room. Lyd shrugged and took a seat, hoping the other girl wouldn’t take too long. She didn’t want to leave Gawain waiting too long. As she sat in a squeaky metal chair, the boy from earlier re-entered the infirmary with a paper pad and pen in his hands. He looked longingly after Agnes, and snapped his fingers when she was fully out of sight. He noticed Lydia’s presence then and gave an adorably embarrassed look. Aww this kid must really have a crush on—
>> “Sorry. I’ve been trying to get her autograph ever since I saw her on ViewTube but I’m always either too scared or I can’t find her! Do you know her? Can you get me her autograph? Pweeeese!”
“Wait…what?” Lydia replied, a dumbstruck look on her face. Viewtube? Agnes was famous? So that’s why the kid was so interested in her. Huh, the skin-shifter didn’t have regular access to the internet ever since she moved to New York, so she was behind on such internet trends.
“Don’t tell me you’ve never seen her video! It’s so cool!” Wow, Agnes was really, really popular. At least with this tween. The boy fished his phone out of his back pocket (What the heck? The kid was like twelve? Why did he have a cell phone?) and pressed a few buttons, tapping his foot as he waited for things to load. “She was at this museum and there was this evil guy and he controlled all these bugs and attacked people but she came out of nowhere and used her own powers and totally turned them against him and— ” But suddenly he stopped his run-on sentence when the video started playing. He held up the device to Lydia’s face and her eyes widened as she watched. Wow.
It was certainly, ah, something. The way the insects were swarming the villain was…brutal. She could see the appeal to young boys, their species was interested in that sort of violent thing, but she had to admit it was a little terrifying. Agnes looked so…angry, and the way the bugs bore down on the man’s face. Ouch, a painful way to go. Yep, Lydia was never going to get on the other girl’s bad side.
“So can you get me her autograph?” The boy asked, his lips forming a pout. Something told Lyd it wouldn’t be such a good idea to comply, but he was laying it on thick. His eyes were all big and round and everything. She couldn’t resist. “Um…maybe. I don’t actually know her that well…but I have a friend waiting outside who does. Can you just wait ‘til Agnes comes out, and then I’ll ask my friend to ask her?” It was a complicated line of communication, but she didn’t want to risk upsetting Agnes. The boy nodded and gave a wide grin. At least…if she get mad she’ll be mad at Gawain.
Agnes had disappeared into the back office and took a seat in front of DocProf’s desk. She was nervous. After the museum incident, she really did not know how her body had changed due to her abilities. She had never had that many bugs listen to her commands and they actually obeyed! On top of all that, though, she was connected with each and every single one of their little minds. She knew all their wants, needs and desires, but most of all, she was a piece in each of them. Her very commands they followed out and, though some required some coaxing, she had a far greater amount of control than she had ever had.
But still, after the incident, she felt so weak, tired and unsure of her abilities. For a couple days she had stayed in her room, refusing to leave. She did not want to risk raising her heart rate and thus calling attention to the swarm that lived within her. But she knew that she couldn’t live in fear forever. As much as she tried to convince herself to stay in, she needed to see the good doctor.
That was why she was sitting in front of his desk in his back office, fiddling around with a toy truck that was situated on it. Gently she ran it back and forth on the table as the kindly old man looked over notes and his charts for her. When he was finally done, Agnes looked up to see him staring at him.
Gently she stopped playing with the toy and awkwardly smiled back.
“How are you feeling, dear?”
“Um…okay, I guess.” Agnes shrugged her shoulders. “Just…a little tired…”
“And nervous?”
Agnes blushed but nodded her head. She did not want people to know how freaked out she had gotten due to her own powers It was silly. At least that is how she thought everyone else would react to her fear. She had gotten her powers boosted from Sveta but there was so much she could not control that it terrified her. How could she knew if Sveta’s power truly had worn off? She said it did and Agnes did not feel like before, but still. She was scared.
With misty eyes she looked up at DocProf again. Meekly she nodded her head.
He smiled as he reached over and patted her hand.
“Agnes, you’re absolutely fine. You’re tired, but you’re fine. No damage has been done to your body, no alterations to your abilities. You just need to unwind a bit.” His smile wrinkled the corner of his eyes briefly. “Have you been testing your abilities? Seen if there are any changes?”
“I’ve been too scared to,” Agnes mumbled as she picked absentmindedly at the fabric of her jeans. “I don’t want to lose control again. I…I really hurt that man.”
“But you saved many others,” the kindly man said with a twinkle in his eye. “You were very brave. But the only way you can beat the fear of your abilities is to practice with them. Keep at it. You’ll get there. Okay? We clear?”
Agnes smiled as she nodded her head. “Yes sir.”
She grinned as she got up and turned to go. Quickly she was followed behind by DocProf since he still had to properly thank Lydia for bringing the treats.
****
>> “So can you get me her autograph?”
He was eager. He so wanted that autograph of the pretty bug girl, but he had been too shy to ask. Maybe if this, also pretty, girl would help him, he could finally have it in his possession.
>> “Um…maybe. I don’t actually know her that well…but I have a friend waiting outside who does. Can you just wait ‘til Agnes comes out, and then I’ll ask my friend to ask her?”
“Oh my gawd, seriously?! Of course!” He beamed as he pressed himself back against the wall, completely and utterly excited now. His foot tapped impatiently, almost annoyingly a he waited.
Then there was the sound of talking as the pair of them appeared in the waiting area. Agnes looked significantly relieved as looked about. She spied the boy from earlier who now pushed himself off the wall and looked at her with gawking eyes. Her smile slowly faded into a slight smirk as she walked over and gave him a quick nod. Her attention then turned back to DocProf.
“Thank you again Doc!”
“No problem, dear. You just do as I say and you’ll be fine.” He then turned his attention to Lydia. “And you, young lady, thank you very much for baked goods. I merely wanted you to stay long enough so I could give you a proper thank you. You did not need to do that, but I appreciate when I’m bribed with sweets.” He chuckled. He then turned and spied that the boy had returned. “Is there something wrong, son?”
The boy, wide eyed and staring at an obviously uncomfortable Agnes, meekly pointed over to Lydia. Lydia would explain the whole situation…at least he hoped so. He was too busy staring to look away.
>> “And you, young lady, thank you very much for baked goods. I merely wanted you to stay long enough so I could give you a proper thank you. You did not need to do that, but I appreciate when I’m bribed with sweets.”
“Doc, I was just repaying you for last time. I don’t know what would’ve happened to Rhythm if you didn’t help her,” Lydia replied, smiling sincerely. It seemed she was developing somewhat of a conscience, and she had felt some strange urge to thank the healer in some way. She wasn’t one for crafts or baking, but she did have money, and the location of a fairly nice bakery. It was the least she could do, really.
>> “Is there something wrong, son?”
The kid hung her out to dry. He just pointed at Lydia instead as answer to DocProf’s question. She opened her mouth, hoping words would magically tumble out of it, but none did, and she just looked like an idiot. She was a fish on land, gasping for water. Or something like that. In any case, she needed to come up with something, and fast. God, why did she have to be so susceptible to little boy charms? “Uh…well, er, about that. Why don’t we, uh, talk about this while we go out. I’m sure Gawain’s been waiting long enough.”
Smooth. She promptly got up, gave a nod to DocProf, and scurried out of the infirmary, the boy following at her heels like a lost puppy. “Gawain,” she hissed as soon as she saw his face, “This kid wants Agnes’ autograph and I’m kind of too scared to ask.” The young boy looked up hopefully at Gawain, his eyes wide. “Please mister? Can you please help me?”
Whatever on earth was taking them so long? Gawain leaned back against the wall, torn between sheer boredom and the idea of Doc giving him the evil eye just by walking into the infirmary. Nope, he'd rather stay outside and wait, however boring it was. He saw the boy wander in, and he mused about what on earth the kid would want from Doc. Kids usually did not go to see the man unless they were bleeding to death. Then, the kid appeared again, following Lydia like a duckling.
>>“This kid wants Agnes’ autograph and I’m kind of too scared to ask.”
Oh. That made perfect sense.
"I'll take it from here" Gawain nodded, taking the kid gently by the scruff of his neck and pulling him aside. He knelt down to look him in the eye.
"Look, kid. Ya saw Agnes on ViewTube and it looked awesome. But let me tell you something. When your mutation, whatever it is, runs away with you, it only looks cool from the outside. From the inside, when you have no control over who yu will hurt and how bady you will hurt them, it is just scary. So no matter how it looked on the video, for Agnes it was not a pleasent experience, not a victory, not anything that deserves an autograph, and frankly, the last thing she needs is being reminded of all that. Learning to control a mutation is hard, and a long process, and there is nothing shiny and heroic about it. Is that clear?"
The boy nodded, eyes wide. Gawain smirked.
"All right. I knew you were a smart kid. Now, scoot."
>> “Doc, I was just repaying you for last time. I don’t know what would’ve happened to Rhythm if you didn’t help her…Uh…well, er, about that. Why don’t we, uh, talk about this while we go out. I’m sure Gawain’s been waiting long enough.”
Agnes arched a brow as she watched Lydia leave with the little boy who had kept staring at her. Her cheeks had turned a fresh shade of crimson because she really did not know why she was being stared at. Did she have a booger on her nose? Was her hair flipped weird? Was there a bug on her she that could not feel? Whatever the case was, she did not like to be stared it. It was rude and really just made her more self-conscious than she already felt about herself. If there was one thing that the runaway didn’t need was to feel more self-conscious.
Sighing, she watched the closed door momentarily before she reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Another shy glance to DocProf and she nodded to him.
“Thank you, again,” she said and made ready to leave.
“It’s not your fault, Agnes.” The doctor suddenly said.
The words struck Agnes’ ears and immediately it locked her legs up. Her head lowered, biting her lip a bit in frustration, she didn’t know how to react. Slowly though, she turned to look at him and immediately saw that look of compassion and sadness in his eyes. One shuddering breath followed another and the runaway instantly knew what he was referring to.
“W-Who told…?” she started to ask, fighting more tears that wanted to well up.
“No one,” he responded gently as he took a step towards her. “After museum incident, when I healed you, I…I saw everything. Your body keeps memories, little fragments, bulletpoints of our histories. Yours…it simply had so much to say.” He sighed as he reached out to touch her arm. Agnes quickly recoiled. “It’s not your fault. What they did to you, it was wrong. You don’t need to carry that around for the rest of your life.”
Agnes sniffled as she tried to keep herself under control. She knew, someplace deep down, that her parents had been wrong. She knew it all along. She wasn’t a monster, she wasn’t demon possessed, but still…she carried those marks. Those etchings on her skin, the scars, that told her story, though, were constant reminders of her parents’ beliefs. Even if she ever accepted that they were 100% wrong, she would still carry them the rest of her life.
Meekly she looked to DocProf’s kind face and made towards the door. “D-Don’t tell anyone?”
DocProf sighed, as if being forced to sign a document he had no belief in. In the end, though, he nodded his head. “Of course. Patient-Doctor confidentiality. But…you need to face this eventually. You need to trust that you can turn to people. Please remember that.”
Another sniffle and Agnes watched the man turn and walk away from her. She still could not believe that he knew, but at least he would keep it quiet. At least she prayed he would.
Grabbing the door handle, Agnes wiped away the few threatening tears she had left and exited the room where she found both Gawain and Lydia waiting for her. Down the hall, the small boy from before was running off, glancing back in awe at both herself and Gawain. She really had no idea what was going on, but as much as she wanted to know, she wouldn’t ask. It wasn’t her place.
“So,” she said with a small smile. “I’m fit as a fiddle. And I definitely want some cheesecake. Anyone care to join?” she asked as glanced between them. Gawain wouldn’t have any, she’d make sure of that, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t be nice to Lydia.