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.
Booker couldn't help but sound excited when he spoke about his job. Really it was what the man always wanted to do. Unlike many others of his age, Booker had actually achieved his dreams; he had become a librarian in one of the most prestigious libraries in the world. It was clear from his tone and the passion in his voice that the man was very happy with hjs life. It must have sounded odd, especially since in New York everyone was usually just grumpy and pissed with the world.
In explaining his name, Booker also provided a bit more detail into how he had come to be a librarian. To him it wasn’t that interesting of a tale. The man had developed an early passion for the field and studied hard to get where he was at. His drive to achieve his dreams shined through when he explained to his new friend; it was an honest conversation. This wasn’t him overtly flirting or coming up with jokes just to make her smile. He was revealing a piece of himself to her and the reaction was more than the man could have hoped for.
It seemed that his honestly had spurred something in the young woman. The smile that she gave him was genuine and honest. The look suited her and it was infectious to behold. He himself smiled in return, just as sweet and just as honest.
>> "That... sounds really nice, actually…I'm sure you get this all the time, but... you look like you love your job. And that probably makes you good at it too."
He grinned. Booker truly did love his job and though he never tried to outwardly show this on purpose, he was happy that it was something he could convey without even trying. He nodded his head as he responded.
”I do,” he beamed sweetly. ”And, I don’t mean to brag, but I’m definitely not the worst.”
In truth, Booker was truly one of the best at his job. He was knowledgeable about books, he had a drive to help others, and the man knew how to evolve with the times. Because of that, he was very well suited for his job, a beacon for the future. He was modest, most of the time, but anyone else will tell you that if you needed a librarian’s help, Booker was your man.
>> "The first job I... studied for, it turned out to suck. It was just... not for me. And after that, it took a long time, and all kinds of temporary things, to find one that was... a better fit."
He was glad that she was opening up a little more to him. He wanted to know more about this pretty mystery woman that ended up at his gym. She seemed fiercely intelligent, witty, but there was a clear sign in her eyes that she had seen and done a lot. As she started to explain a bit more about herself, he could see that they were reaching a natural cool down in their work out. Honestly that was fine with him. As she started to remove her gloves, he did the same, pulling the Velcro strap off with his teeth and pulling the glove off one hand before doing the same with the other. As soon as his hands were free, he flexed his fingers. Felt good to have them free again.
From the sounds of her story, it seemed like Svetlana was still trying to find herself. One path didn’t work out and a variety of smaller paths seemed to do, for now, until she found what she truly wanted. He nodded his head, understandingly, as this was a tale he had heard many times before. Interns, fellow co-workers, they all had similar stories as the path to self-discovery is often long and bumpy.
A warm smile on his lips, he approached the younger woman and tilted his head. Thinking for a moment, he spoke, clearly quoting something. ”’If you don’t get lost, there’s a chance you may never be found’.” A light flared in his eyes as he smiled. ”One of my favorite quotes. Essentially, it means that the journey to self-discovery is hard but if you don’t try, you’ll never find out who you are.” He leaned against the ropes around the ring. ”Keep doing what you’re doing. You’ll find where you belong.”
Booker stopped. He tilted his head. Then he had to grin. It was acutely fairly common for him to get this reaction. Honestly he wasn't she what that was all about. Why didn't people believe he was a librarian? It went that unheard of for men to be librarians. As a matter of fact, when he was in college, there were a number of male co-students. Still, time and again, Booker would get the surprised look and the scoff of disbelief. At this point he was just used to it.
”Seriously,” Booker replied. ”At New York Public.” There was a slight puff to his chest when he said this. He was proud of his chosen occupation and place of work and he had no problem admitting that.
The two continued on with their sparring. He threw a few jabs which Svetlana dodged before responding in kind. He was quick to raise his arms to block and hopped back to evade the last in her string of punches. In doing so, he tossed her comment back to her, curious if she was in fact a model. She was pretty, fit, he could see her going far in the field.
As it would turn out, that wasn't her job at all.
>>"PR assistant, actually…But I have done a lot of odd jobs. Like, teaching Russian."
”Ah well that's awesome,” he said with a well-meaning smile. Truth be told he loved hearing about the lives of others. While that wasn't the job he envisioned she might have, it was still interesting to him. ”You like PR work and teaching?” he asked.
As he waited for her to answer, the man dropped hours arms to his hips and jag strolled around her, a small grin on his lips as he watched her. She was an interesting person, to say the least. However it was clear that something about him perplexed her, leading her to question his occupation again.
>>"So you... how did you end up being a librarian?"
Still, Booker showed no offense and instead just continued to move around her, though at a slightly slower pace. He gave the question some thought before he just smirked a little and continued with his response.
”Curse of having my name. Everyone expected it so I had no choice.” A playful smirk danced on his lips before he further explained. ”Truth is that I’ve just always loved books. I used to read a lot as a kid, read even more as an adult…” he shrugged his shoulders. ”Just became something I fell in love with.” He gave her a brilliant smile. ”So I studied, interned, and eventually worked my way up to a librarian position. Now I get to be surrounded by some of the greatest and my favorite authors: Shakespeare, Austen, Angelou, Lovecraft. All in all…I’m pretty lucky, ya know?”
There couldn’t have been a more honest look in his eyes. The man was actually happy, happy with his job and life, and those people were few and hard to find in this world of crazy and mayhem. But Booker, of course, didn’t see himself as anything special. He was just a man who liked his job; and he was good with that.
Yeah, this probably wasn’t the most dignified manner in which he could have rescued Rebecca’s outfit. Lifting her up by her butt, slinging her over his shoulder, and carrying her to a nearby cosplayer may have definitely knocked a few points off the ole dignity meter, but the man did what he had to. He knew the perils that came with cosplaying and having your costume torn or damaged while out on the field was never acceptable. Booker wasn’t about to allow her to go through that trauma. Though, grabbing her ass may have been pushing the line a bit, for the moment he was willing to overlook it.
So, with his captive over his shoulder, Booker had sought out the one cosplayer that he had hoped could help them. While Rebecca grumbled over his shoulder, he muttered a constant stream of ”I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry” over and over in his head so that he could make sure had the exact phrasing practiced out by the time that he got where he was going.
The Mirror cosplayer seemed perplexed but also more than willing to be of assistance. As he set Rebecca down and went to work on trying to unlatch his bracelets from her outfit, he couldn’t help but smirk a little when Rebecca mention to the fan that she knew the real Mirror.
>> ”Nice costume. Ah know them, actually,”
He knew that she was an X-Men, not exactly a point that she kept secret, and he thought it was awesome. To be friends with someone who actually fought crime was just…amazing. Of course he was a little jealous, he had always wanted to be a superhero, but knowing one was just as good, right? He snickered a little bit as he took a moment to peer at the cosplayer and his shocked face.
”Don’t listen to her, she gets a little too into these cosplay things. Thinks she’s a superhero or something.” He gave an impish expression as she glanced to Rebecca, and then back over her shoulder and at the reflective mirror. He always had it.
It only took a few more twists and turns but the man had finally made progress. He could see where on her costume that his bracelets had snagged and it was a doozy. In his attempts to set her down carefully, he had accidentally tangled an edge of them up so bad it looked like some masterful puzzle by the green-clad Puzzler. BUT…he finally succeeded in untying himself and releasing her from his grip.
With a sigh, Booker stepped back, his arms falling tiredly to his sides while Rebecca sighed in satisfaction and stepped back, stretching.
>> ”Finally…That was quick thinking, Atlantean. Maybe a wee bit bold, bit desperate times, richt?”
He snorted and shook his head. Really it was funny that the two of them had never hooked up. Anyone seeing them together would have assumed that they were perfect for one another. But it was just not how Booker saw the young woman. Maybe it was because he had only met her while she was dating his sister, or maybe they just got along in the same manner that siblings got along, but whatever the case, that was not in the cards for them. Still, he have to chuckle good-naturedly at her comment before shaking his head.
”I mean, if you want to spend the entire con latched onto me, it would have been easier for me to have just put you in a papoose.” he said with a grin. ”Probably would have been easier on the costume too.”
Of course Booker had to snerk at her reply to his shock at the price of healthcare. He knew the woman was just messing with him but there was no way he was going to let that comment go with just a chuckle and a laugh. Whenever Booker came across someone who had enough sass to match his own, the man had to engage; it was just his way. Years of having to do so with Nessa meant that the man had to naturally seek out likeminded individuals to engage in some verbal wordplay. The added bonus was that his comments made her smile and it was a pretty smile indeed.
She started to give him a test on the spot, making him follow movements with his eyes and answer a few questions. He knew it was all a part of the tests to make sure that he was really okay. Except for some slight discomfort, the man knew that he was fine, but he also knew that medical types had to be sure so he answered as best he could.
>> ”That’s a good sign. I probably won’t have to convince you to spend hundreds of dollars on a test that will probably tell me what I can already guess, then. Or even get a doctor’s opinion, for that matter.”
It seemed that he had passed the test, huzzah, and thankfully there wouldn’t be a need for a second opinion. The man had to give her his brilliant smile as he replied. ”You’re all heart Nurse Dizzle.”
He was about to stand when the young woman introduced himself and, of course, the man had to comment on it. Her name was Juliette! He was a librarian and he loved Shakespeare! How could he not point that out? However, for as brilliant as he felt his comment was, it earned a smile that was more practiced than anything. He could only surmise that this was something that woman had heard time and again; strike two.
>> “Different spelling, but yes. Like the play. I can’t say I really care for the play that much, though. It’s a bit too… disheartening for my taste.”
He couldn’t help but snort. ”Thank god. You’d be surprised how many people come to me, wanting to emulate that. Sorry, but murder-suicide pacts after one date are really not to be admired.” He grinned wide. These were books they were talking about now and it was clear that it was his favorite subject. ”I love the play, but more for its tragedy than anything else. Shakespeare isn’t someone you turn to for love,” he said as he started to stand. Once he straightened up, he gave her a broad grin. ”For that, I turn to my girl, Ms. Jane Austen.”
Standing up, Booker sighed and rolled his shoulders. Introducing himself, the man just had to grin, lowering his head a bit at the Jules not entirely believing that it was his name. it was something that he too had dealt with over the years. Doctors, government officials, most believed that he was putting down some pseudonym until he showed them his driver’s license. It was then that it was asked if he had purposefully changed his name to that. It took effort but he managed it all with a smile and an assurance that it was his given name.
He just shrugged his shoulders. ”My parents are morons,” he said with a chuckle. ”They had a theme and they went with it.”
Making their way down the hall, Booker knew that he wasn’t going to be getting out of here easily. The nurse was going to be thorough but at least there wasn’t going to be a bill for expensive equipment or overpaid doctors. He bumped his head – that didn’t require a CAT scan.
>> ”You would be correct. I want to take a better look at that head of yours before letting you loose into the world,”
”Let loose on the world?” He had to chuckle. ”Make me sound like I’m a plague or something.”
He still felt a little dizzy but it was getting better with every step. Passing down the hall, the man smiled as he watched children peeking out of their rooms at him or who stood in the hallway He gave them all winning smiles and waved cheerily at them. Kids were a weak spot for the man as he loved to devote his time and energy to them. He was sorry that they had to see him injured but he would make sure to make it up to them the next time he came. Hopefully he would be able to convince himself to keep the dance challenges to a minimum.
Stepping into the examination room that Juliette offered, Booker stopped and blinked as he eyed the walls. The walls were so colorful that had he not walked off most of his bad feeling, his headache probably would have intensified. However, it was perfect décor for children on some of the worst days of their lives. Still, there was humor in the fact that the occupant of this room was an over six-foot-tall man who appeared as some fairytale giant amidst all the lowered equipment.
>> ”You can go ahead and sit down there. You may not want to stretch out, though,”
He smirked. ”Um, agreed. I think I stretched out enough,” he laughed. Stepping to the smaller bed, Booker went for the step ladder but stopped himself. It would have been funny but probably none too safe for someone who already had a slight head injury. So, turning around, he said himself on the edge of the bed and awaited the nurse continue her examination. ”Thank you, by the way,” he said with a earnest smile. ”For helping me and for keeping cool with the kids. For what it’s worth, I appreciate it. Last thing I want to is add to their traumas, you know?”
She dodged his jab but she took his other hit like a champ. Damn she was good at this. It honestly felt like she was holding something back which, to be honest, he more than understood. She did manage to get a good sweep on his earlier but he had asked if they could please stick to the rules just so because it was proper. She conceded but it did seem as if she was now fighting with one hand tied behind her back. Still, Booker was appreciative of the woman’s efforts and wouldn’t call too much attention to it. Besides, if she was doing this well at less than her full ability, then he could only imagine the beast that she was when she really let loose.
Their banter was another story, though. It was extremely fun for the man because there were few people in his life who actually cared for bantering with the man. Aside from his sister and her ex-girlfriend, Booker had a small number of friends who actually appreciated his wit or possessed the ability to trade fun-barbs with him.
Not the mention the fact that the woman was an absolutely knock-out to perceive. She was quite pretty and the accent and mental acuity only upped her attractiveness. However, despite his teasing and his stupid jobs, Booker was actually a gentleman in most respects so he it was not something he would voice at the moment. Knowing women like her in New York, she probably heard her fair share of clumsy pick-up lines or compliments that were taken the wrong way. He wasn’t about to be another statistic. Especially when she punched as hard as she did.
>> "So... what are your strengths? I mean, other than being... pretty…Are you a model or something?"
Booker snorted. He dropped his boxing stance for a moment, placing his gloved hands at his hips as he strolled around her but keeping a safe distance in case she tried to get brave. ”That’s quite the compliment,” he said with a chuckle. ”But no. I’m a librarian, actually.” He said this in a very proud, very matter-of-fact manner. ”Though my co-workers have suggested the option before.” He then slowly slipped back into his stance. ’What about yourself? I already surmised that you have to be a model, right?”
Okay so maybe a cheesy pick-up or two wasn’t all-together a bad thing right now. Heh.
Booker sighed. How did he get himself into these situations? Of course he would find himself with his arms stuck around a beautiful woman in an compromising position. He didn’t see Rebecca in that way, though, as she had been growing more and more like a sister to him. Still, it didn’t help that their firm bodies were jammed together and the people around them were snapping photos and wolf whistling towards them. The librarian merely shook his head, glaring in the general direction that he heard those sounds coming from and continued to try and jostle his wrists loose from the woman’s costume. This was going to be tricky.
After a few moments of being unable to get himself free, he informed Rebecca of the situation and she sighed, planting her forehead against his firm chest.
>> ”Ah actually loch thes costume…”
”Yeah…it’s a good one,” he grumbled as he continued to struggle with the damn bracelet.
The problem was that he couldn’t precisely see where the snag was. His wrists were pinned to her costume and whenever he turned his wrists, he feared that he would end up tearing the young woman’s outfit. The last thing he wanted was to embarrass her in the middle of the convention floor with a wardrobe malfunction that was created by yours truly. No, he needed to be more careful and he had to figure a way out of this.
Booker sighed as he strained his wrists a bit more but still came across the same problem over and over again. He needed to figure some at least see what he was working with as looking down over her shoulder simply wasn’t doing it.
>> ”Can ye maybe jostle it a wee bit? Ah’d loove tae keep thes from being a battle-worn cosplay.”
He snickered. ”Trust me, hon, that’s what I’m trying to do,” he sighed. Taking a second to keep from ripping her costume up, he lifted his head and peered around the floor, seeking out some means of help. When a glint of light caught his eye, he sighed in relief. He had a plan. ”Hold on. I think I might have an answer.” He paused for a second to look at her before he rolled his eyes a bit in embarrassment and just muttered a quick ”I’m sorry.”
See, his wrists were pinned down a bit lower on her back but he could move his arms somewhat through the bracelets. So, reaching down as best he could, Booker cleared his throat as he suddenly took a firm hold of both Rebecca’s firm cheeks and lifted her up. Still holding her tight to his body, Booker freed her from the ground and marched along the show floor, much to the amusement of several other cosplayers who all were snapping photos or whistling further. However, Booker had a destination in mind and ignored them.
When he reached his target, Booker stopped in front of another cosplayer, this one dressed like a young man standing in front of a large mirror that was being wheeled along next to him. In the glass there was a copy of him, but this time it was a photoshopped and life-sized print of a female version of him glued to the glass. The X on both costumes immediately gave away who this was.
Booker beamed a smile to them. ’Hey! Great costume! Mirror from the X-Men, right?” he grinned.
The guy nodded. “Thank you! Someone finally got it. Nice to meet you, Atlantean? Um…what’s going on?”
”Oh nothing much. Me and my cousin here could definitely use your superhero paraphernalia though.” He grinned. However, at the blank look on the kid’s face, Booker rolled his eyes. ”Your mirror. Jeez.” He set Rebecca down and peered over her shoulder at the mirror’s reflection to take in the image of his bracelets and the part of her costume he was snagged on. Luckily there didn’t seem to be any damage, it was just a matter of untying the threads that had been looped around his bracelets. He smiled a winning smile to Rebecca. ”I’ll get you outta…well…me in a sec.” He winked and set to work.
>> ”More sass loch ‘at an’ we can dae muir fight photos.”
Booker couldn’t help but smirk at the sass that was thrown down at him. While it was indeed not an easily job hefting the young woman up, he also shouldn’t tease because it was probably most uncomfortable for her. If he made a mistake or lost his grip she would be in for an absolute world of hurt. If anyone was putting themselves on the line for the sake of their fans, it was clear that it was Rebecca here. He would have to keep his teasing to a minimum but, of course, there would be some. There had to be otherwise he wouldn’t be him.
He gave no response to her comment and instead focused on lifting and ensuring that the young woman was safe.
Now of course, this was his sister’s ex-girlfriend. She was attractive, yes, (not to mention the accent), but there were some lines that Booker wouldn’t cross. He would remain the woman’s friend but beyond that there was nothing there. That was probably for the best because where he had to place his hands to ensure that she didn’t get hurt would have made things ten times more awkward if there was a spark between them.
Holding her up, Booker had to keep one firm hand on her cheek and the other on her shoulder. It wasn’t an exact copy of the image that they were trying to replicate but it was close enough. It would have to do because anything else would require either some kind of wire rig or him actually hurling the redhead over his shoulders; as committed as she was to her fans, Booker didn’t think she would appreciate it.
So he lifted and he focused on keeping her held up. Once she was done squirming around in order to get the perfect posture, he made his war face and he could only assume that Rebecca did as well. He could exactly see how she was positioned, but judging by the way she moved, she got into position as best she could. The sounds of surprise from the audience seemed to indicate that they must have done something right because it was followed by a cacophony of phones taking photographs. As invigorating as it was to know that they were doing a good job, truth was that, his arms were getting tired.
>> ”Hoo ye holdin’ up, Atlantean?”
”Oh yeah. Just. Peachy. Hon.”
He smirked. Rebecca must as sensed his quivering arms. A glance over to the person who initially wanted the picture, he voicelessly inquired if she were done and, the second she gave him a nod and an appreciative smile, Booker sighed in relief.
”Alright. You’re coming down.” he said. Carefully he turned his sore arms so that he could start bringing her down. Holding her close to his hard chest, Booker didn’t want to just drop her so he cradled her close to make sure that she was safe the entire way down. Once her feet at set foot, he sighed in relief, his arms still wrapped around her. He held the young woman for probably a second longer than he should have, watching her mismatched eyes for a moment before he spoke. ”Sorry…” he explained. ”…arms are a little sore. And…” he tugged, causing her to jostle closer. ”I…I think my coral bracelets are caught on the back of your costume.”
The comic cover was an iconic one. It depicted one of the most exciting storylines for the Atlantean where he had been mind-controlled by some mad dictator to turn against his cousin and attempt to kill her. The dynamic image which graced the cover was enough to pull in readers of all ages, people who never thought that they would ever see these two individuals clash. It showed the Atlantean, his face a mask of rage, as he hefted the much smaller and younger superheroine above his head, ready to break her body upon the stones of the palace. It was a truly energetic cover and the sole reason as to why the sales for the Atlantean series boosted into record highs that year.
And now Booker was being asked to replicate that cover. Most would have been a little fearful of doing such a thing and, yes, he was a little scared that he could hurt Rebecca, but he was all the more willing to try it. The truth was that both Booker and Rebecca were perfect to try and copy the image because he was much larger, muscular, and possessed a pretty high level of strength. In contrast, Rebecca was much smaller than him and lithe of frame. If anyone would have been able to pull it off, it was the two of them but he hoped that nothing would go wrong.
So he asked. Of course he would never just pick up the redhead without her permission so he inquired if she was up for doing something like this. A glance at Rebecca showed that she seemed just a tad bit unsure but she was willing to do what she could for her fans. So with a nod of her head and smile, she agreed that the picture could be taken. However she clearly had to voice a concern that was one her mind.
>> ”If ye hink those muscles of yers can keep me up, then Ah’m all fur thes.”
Booker smirked. Setting his trident against a nearby wall, Booker arched his arms, flexing his biceps in a clear show of his musculature. Booker was rarely cocky but when the opportunity presented itself, he couldn’t help but show off a little.
”I think I can manage,” he said, smiling innocently and dropped his arms to his side. ”Just don’t wriggle around too much.” He then turned to the fangirl who was still blushing from the gun-show that Booker had just presented her with. ”And you, take the picture fast, okay? I don’t want to her my friend here.”
As Rebecca moved closer to prepare herself, Booker loosened up his arms, hopped in place, and gave her a winning smile. People were starting to gathering, knowing that something was going to be happening. Booker didn’t seem to mind as he paid them no attention, his eyes instead focused solely on Rebecca. Part of him considered that maybe he should had said “No”, but he was too willing to try. And if he had Rebecca’s permission, he didn’t want to go back on his word towards his fan. So, with a breath, he would try.
He stepped closer to Rebecca, watching as she only came up to his chest, and smirked down at her as he reached down, his hands resting on her waist. He started to count down, wordlessly, when she stopped him and gave him a scrutinizing gaze.
>> ”An’ Ah expect those hands ay yers tae stay in Comic Code Authority-approved locations.”
He snorted. ”You realize those were only created because some psychotherapist thought that kids were turning into insane killers, right?” He beamed a knowing smile. But he relented with a nod. ”I’ll keep is PG. PG-13 at most.”
Watching her face, Booker breathed a deep breath, counted down slowly to her, and once they hit thee, Booker lifted the young woman upwards. It took some effort because she wasn’t exactly a safe of feathers, but he managed far easier than most. People Oooh’d and Ahh’d at the man’s display of strength. He helped her drape across his shoulders, only wincing slightly at the added weight. Looking back at the cover, he blindly felt around to where he needed to heft Rebecca up. One hand was supposed to be on her throat and the other on her upper back but that was physically impossible without immediately dropping her. No, there would have to be some concessions.
He shifted one to one cheek of her posterior, and the other around her shoulder / back. Cautiously he called up to Rebecca since he couldn’t see her. ”You okay up there?” he asked. "Jesus...maybe I shouldn't have fed you that churro before doing this." he teased. But he got to business soon enough. ”I’m lifting you up. Get ready to pose.” Counting down in his head, Booker slowly lifted Rebecca up so as to not startle her, holding her dramatically over his head and a look of fierce, maddened anger across his face as he posed for the picture.
It was comfortable. Boxing with the young woman, having a rather fun conversation with her. Booker had only known a few mutants in his lifetime (one being his sister and another being an ex-boyfriend) but the man had always found them fascinating. Not in some kind of lab animal / freak kind of way that a lot of people saw them as. In reality, they were just like everyone else and Booker understood that. It was like race, only instead of ethnicities, some people could just fireballs from their nostrils (not that he knew anyone who could do that). And even though Booker himself had been denied the wonders of the X-Gene, he was special in his own and unique way. The world just had a way of going ‘round.
Svetlana proved to be utterly interesting. From the description of her abilities, he found himself both impressed and a little saddened for her. To have that ability over people, without even trying, must have had it a hard life for her. Not everyone could withstand a sensation like that. Booker remembered when he was in college, the number of times he pulled all-nighters, sucking down cup after cup of coffee and the heart-racing, pulse-pounding night that followed. Booker felt like his heart was going to explode. And if this was the sensation that the woman could inflict upon others, then damn, that sounded like a burden.
She somber “Yeah” could have been in agreement to his sympathetic comment, or merely answering that her powers were on all the time. Booker said nothing more on it, though, as he just continued to get swept in the little sparring match the two of them had. She dodged and weaved and struck back, Booker blocked and continued to hop. It was a good work out. However, him being him, he couldn’t help but drop a little crack at their abilities and the fact that he was the prettier of the two.
>> "You are! And you are really good at turning me off, too!"
The condescension in her voice (even though she was joking) was clear to Booker and the man couldn’t help the genuine grin that crept over his lips. The woman before him certainly had a way with her words and the man was thoroughly impressed. He couldn’t help the chuckled that passed through his lips as he tried to keep his fists up and offering a jab or two in initial response.
”Hey, a man’s gotta play up to his strengths,” he said with a small wink. A brilliant smile and suddenly Booker went in. That didn’t have the same strength behind them but he punched outward with two solid jabs.
Real talk time was not a time that Booker often participated in. It didn't mean that he was unable to provide insight, but more that Booker didn't like have real talk too often. It could be depressing and hurtful, but beyond that, his unflappable logic wasn’t the emotional balm that people were actually looking for. But that was the essence of the truth, wasn’t it? Not a lot of people wanted to hear the truth in those times. They wanted to feel heard, they wanted sympathy, but the path to healing wasn’t always that easy.
Nessa had clearly felt a little hurt that Booker didn't continue to take her side. However, as he would point out, that wasn't exactly true. He agreed it was a sh***y thing, he agreed that she had every right to feel hurt, and he agreed to be there for her; but Booker was allowed his own friends and his opinions. He would respectfully not mention Rebecca in her presence, unless asked, and vice versa. It was the best compromise the siblings could commit to trying.
He could understand why Rebecca would ask. It was clear that this whole mess was never her intention, it was just something that snowballed out of control. So he would listen and he would be there for both his sister and his friend at the very best of his ability. So long as it didn't take him away from his lovely churros for too long.
He told Rebecca what he had told his sister, that they were simply not meant to be. He agreed on a number of points, including the fact that what Rebecca did was crappy, but added that at least she didn't drag it on. That seemed to quell the redhead’s fears a tiny bit, at least enough to address his last comment about kicking hours butt.
>>“Book. Yer sweet and, aye, very brawny. Ah woods kick yer a**...An’ Ah wouldnae want tae show up mah king,”
He smiled briefly but he had to arch his eyebrow, slipping back into character. ”Best watch your tongue, sea welp,” he teased. He then tried to look fierce. ”You would be a fool to challenge your king.” he could only maintain his look for a few more seconds before a grin cracked his features and he couldn't help but snort and look away.
They would be alright.
>>“ ”Thenks fur talkin’ me through mah crazy. We need tae finish up these treats an’ set off oan th’ royal hunt fer sweet merch!”
He shrugged as if it were nothing. ”Crazy talk is where I excel,” he winked.
He returned to the last remaining bites of his churro and continued his love affair with it. It was so insanely good that the man only existed as a series of sighs and Mmm’s that swirled around each bite. The nutella dip was worth every calorie. After a few moments, when their sugary treats were finally at an end, it was time to continue the hunt. Rebecca was ready to get some good merchandise and Booker was eager for the same. They had plenty of time before the panels they wanted to attend. It was time for swag!
Dusting sugar off of himself, Booker stood and grinned at Rebecca as she joined him. Together they stepped into their nerd world, ready to rule.
They made quite the site walking in. There were plenty of impressive costumes already in attendance and Booker and Rebecca were already part of those ranks. The librarian grinned and agreed whenever someone wanted his photograph. He would pose, flex, and cause many a blush on a young woman or man’s face, but Booker loved every second. His favorite would occur when a rather delicate young woman shyly came up to them, a fan of both Becca and Booker’s Viewtube channels with a comic in hand depicting both the Atlantean and Atlantis Lass locked in heated combat. She wanted to know if they could re-enact the scene on the cover since their costumes were so spot on and it would make for a great pic.
Booker grinned. He wanted to do it, even if it meant having to hold Rebecca in some…awkward positions….but it was a sacrifice he would make for a comic love. Of course, he would only do so with Rebecca’s position so he tilted his head to her. ”What do you think?”
As much as the two of them didn’t want their time together tainted, in reality it was hard to avoid the subject of his sister and the relationship that Rebecca and Nessa had. It was a rough thing to have bore witness to. Booker remembered when Nessa got home and the look of combined devastation and unbridled anger on her face. Booker knew without her having said anything what the problem was. She knew that her relationship had ended because it was a look that he had somewhat seen before. However, this time, it seemed to bear so much weight to it. Hearing the story that followed was both saddening and tragic. It really was a shame because of how much he liked Rebecca.
Still, if there was one thing about Booker B. Bookman, it was that he was a hopeless romantic. In the corner of his mind (he didn’t tell this to his sister) but he was actually moved by what Rebecca and her ex-girlfriend did. It was very similar to many of his favorite books and stories, about a romance that cannot be quelled by the passage of time or the leagues of distance thrown up between them. It was inspiring, to say the least, but it was sad that his own sister had been caught in the line of fire. For the next several days Booker nodded his head and agreed with everything that Nessa said on her rants against the redhead, but Booker was his own person and he had to his own opinion.
For awhile Booker didn’t bring up the convention or the fact that he had yet to break plans with Rebecca. He was certain that Nessa must have figured that he had done it the second he heard the two of them broke up. Truth was that Booker really wanted to go to this convention, but at the same time really did feel like Rebecca was a good person who was just caught up in a sh***y situation. At the end of the day, people make mistakes and Booker couldn’t begrudge anyone that.
He informed the redhead that his sister was fine, a question that wasn’t outwardly asked. He vaguely wondered if that would be enough to quell the woman’s curiosity but would soon be proven wrong. Of course it wasn’t enough. They were in a relationship that both Booker and Nessa thought would last; in her shoes, Booker would probably have wanted to know the same.
>> ”Ah… Ah’m sorry, Book. Nessa’s great, an’ Ah was really s****y tae ‘er. Ah cannae e’en imagine whit she main hae said when ye left today.”
He smiled a bit sadly. His mind drifted back to this morning when he last night he was getting his things together for dressing in his costume today. Nessa had found him in his room and the look of shock on her face was a bit heartbreaking. The two of them had progressed into a shouting match that wasn’t actually shouting, until Nessa was red in the face. By the end, Booker had gotten so tired of defending his point of view that ended the conversation the only way he knew how – with unflappable logic.
Turning to Rebecca, he sighed as he lowered his churro. It was clearly a tough decision for the man because he abso-F***ING-lutely loved this churro, and Rebecca better damn realize the gesture he as making. Setting down on a napkin on the bench, Booker turned to her and gave her an encouraging smile. He leaned down, nudged her chin up with his finger until he caught the look in her mismatched eyes.
”Listen, love, I’m going to tell you what I told her last night,” he said gently. ”In the end, no matter how you acted, not matter how she’s taking it, the world will go on. You two simply weren’t meant to be and, you know what, that…is…oh…kay.” A warming look. ”Was it sh***y? DEF-initely. Is Nessa hurt? Who wouldn’t be? Are you going to eventually pay me back for that churro because Bookman pride? Maybe…I haven’t decided yet.” He giggled, but his look turned more sincerely as he tilted his gaze to her. ”But in the end, the decision is made. I’m just glad that you didn’t string her along into marriage and beyond carrying an affair.” His brow arched. ”Then I probably would have had to have kicked your ***. Got me?”
Booker couldn’t hold back his chuckled when he watched Rebecca bite into her jam filled churro. It was hot, sweet, and there was probably some crack mixed into the dough because they were damn near impossible to not have. The second that the sugar-crusted doughy item was plopped into her hand, she bit into it and mumbled a garbled “thank you” in appreciation of Booker’s good nature for purchasing it to her. In all fairness Booker hadn’t even thought twice about it, especially when it was thanks to Rebecca that he was here. The least he could do was offer a few snacks in return.
With their items in hand, both the denizens of Atlantis made their way to a nearby, unoccupied bench and took seats. Most of the panels that he wanted to see seemed to coincide with Rebecca’s interests so it seemed that they would be joined at the hip for most of the day. There were worse fates though it truly would have been better if she were still in Nessa’s good graces. That wasn’t the case, unfortunately, but they would make it work. So long as nothing awkward was said to bring the discussion to his sister, he knew that they would be fine.
Biting into his own churro, the man sighed with satisfaction at the taste of the sugar crusted dough rolling on his tongue. Sounds of “Mmm” and “Oh my god” slipped from his lips as he chewed and swallowed. It really had to be one of the best things of the day and it wasn’t even comic related! What was that about? Whatever! The day was still young.
But, for as much as the man didn’t want to bring the conversation back to his sister and the failed relationship, it was hard not to address the extra-large, fat, elephant in the room that promptly sat upon their heads. Maybe it was just better to get it over with as soon as possible so that they could clear the air and move one from it? So…he asked – in as subtle a way as he could.
>> ”Ah’m… good. Happy, aye. It’s… nae perfect.”
He gave her a supportive smile. He was glad that he didn’t have to spell out what he was referring to. Rebecca had always been a smart girl, one of the smartest that his sister had ever dated. It was sad that things didn’t work out but he still liked the redhead and he was glad to hear that she was happy. Given the circumstances, though, he would have been shocked if the relationship was absolutely perfect. He was rooting for it to be but it didn’t mean anything. So the man gave her a soft shrug as he took another bite of his churro.
”Relationships rarely are.” he said with a small smile. Booker had more than his experiences with failed relationships. As a matter of fact his most recent one had been rather brutal. Some would wonder if Booker was even over Chris yet. He sighed a bit longingly before he leaned over and nudged her with his elbow, his eyes disappearing behind a smile. ”But at least you’re happy.” He gave her a beaming smile.
>>”Hoo is… ur things… ye know, guid? Oan yer end?”
Another smirk and he nodded his head as he took a bite of his churro again. ”I’m fine. Good, even.” he said. He then leaned in and whispered, almost as if telling a secret. ”And so’s she…” He grinned knowingly, lips covered in sugar. He had always been a smart one.
