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 smiled. Javi was being too hard on himself, as per normal. he didn’t need to “feel dumb” for trying to keep his work with the X-Men a secret. In all honesty, he understood why he would do that. If it got out that they worked with a regular tailor, it could easily mean bad news for him. So Booker was thankful he wanted to be as careful as all that. Hell, maybe he should have pretended that it was a bigger deal just to make Javi feel better. After all, he took a leap telling him. Who was Booker to make light of it?
He smiled. After being gifted with a kiss, Booker wrapped his arms around Javi to hold him as they spoke. Javi was explaining a bit more about his role, that he was working with some upgraded designs. Yeah, that was super secret stuff.
”Then you shouldn’t feel dumb. You gotta do what you gotta do,” he said with a firm nod. ”I’m sorry if I made it sound like it wasn’t a big deal. That’s super amazing, really,” he said with an encouraging nod. ”And next time, if you really feel like you need it to be a secret, you don’t have to tell me anything! We’ll use a codeword! Yeah! Like, when I ask you how your day was going, you can say...umm...ugh...oh! You can say,” he made his voice deeper and planted his hands at his waist in a faux-superhero-like pose. ”’Sorry handsome boyfriend! But it was an X kind of day!’ So that way I know you’re talking about X stuff!”
It was a silly idea but one that he couldn’t help but encourage. He liked Javier. He liked him alot. He respected his work and the librarian wanted to make sure that he was supporting him whenever he needed it. Especially since he knew how Javier’s emotions could cause his powers to react. At the end of the day, Booker would always be there for his boyfriend, in whatever way that looked.
Admittedly Booker was impressed with the kid’s dancing. His skill was obviously unrivaled and that was even with his mutation kicked off. Not that Booker could really decipher what his mutation was. He saw the floppy rabbit ears but nothing else. Still, it seemed to him that he wouldn’t have brought up the adapted thing if he didn’t lose more than just a set of rigid ears.
He had to issue a hearty chuckle at the mention of his hi-scores being knocked off some of the machines. Admittedly he didn’t ear high ranks on all of them, but a majority of them were definitely his domain. He would have to check to ensure that his scores weren’t completely removed, but even then, he wouldn’t have cared all that much. He shrugged his shoulders in response.
”Hey, just means I have a proper challenge to overcome,” he smiled proudly. ”So don’t get too comfy if you happen to luck out and get first place.”
Gamer trash talk. It was more innocent and fun than what it has evolved into. With online games it has become a lot more angry and aggressive. Sure there were those people who didn’t take a loss well in the old days, but space and distance from the cabinets made it easier to get over. Not so true anymore. Still, Booker held no ill-will. He wasn’t the time to engage in it like that. He just smirked and shook it off like water from a feather.
Booker knew he wasn’t the best but he was fairly confident in his ability. That was until Zaid pointed a thumb at the dance machine. Ugh. Okay so his hand-eye dexterity was very good, but his feet were...didn’t share that comradery. He memorized moves and he loved to dance when it was unfiltered and free, but in the confines of a game? Yeah, he knew that his lumbering stature would be his downfall.
He winced, gently shaking his head. ”Probably not the best idea,” he chuckled. ”I would hate to topple over on top of you and squish you to oblivion.” He chuckled. ”Then I’d definitely be enemy numero uno for crushing a cute bunny.”
Booker was all smiles as he watched the younger guy dance. He was a damn good dancer! There seemed to be a slight stumble or miscalculation but it didn’t take him long to pick up the pace again. Now the librarian watched him dance his little heart out and he certainly made a show of it, ending the routine strong with a new high score. Wow. Booker wished he could move like that but while he had some rhythm, he was a bit too tall and too wide to be an effective dancer, at least not like that.
He had been all ready to turn and walk away, maybe find a game or two to play before heading home with his findings. However, before he would even turn away, the young man with the floppy bunny ears immediately caught his look and approached him.
He surmised something about Booker that the librarian wasn’t expecting. Picking up one of his flopped ears, he showed it to him before letting it once again fall flat against his face. It would have been comical if it weren’t the accusation that followed it.
”Umm…” he started to say. This could go one of many ways. The most likely being upset at having his powers taken away. It wasn’t the first time that Booker’s presence disrupted another’s life like that. But the other wore a smile...then shrugged off the incident as a minor problem. A sigh of relief passed his lips before he smiled and responded. ”...I guess...guilty as charged?” he said with an innocent shrug.
Being an adapted was a secret to him. He didn’t want to go around, blabbing to everyone that he could just turn off mutant powers. It was bound to get some bad attention. But when he came across something as chill and relaxed about it as this guy, well, his sweet nature shone through.
”Booker,” he beamed and added a small wave. ”Every once and awhile,” he said, gesturing about. ”If only to maintain my high score on a few of the games.” he then gestured to the dance game. ”You had some good moves out there. Glad I didn’t throw you off.”
Booker loved video games. There was no mistaking that. When he was a kid he used to love to spend his allowance in the local arcade, plugging in quarters on his Saturday until he had nearly drained his pockets. It wasn’t the most financially sound decision but, as a kid, it was something that he was willing to live with. After all, there was no greater achievement than reaching a high score, grinning in satisfaction, and selecting your initials for all to see: BBB (sometimes ASS when he wanted to be sassy).
Of course, as time went on, the time spent in arcades diminished. Not because he didn’t like them anymore but because that world had evolved to entire his own home. Gaming consoles, gaming computers, they made it possible for him to enjoy some amazing games in the safety of his own home. How could he refuse? Especially when school got harder and he had to focus on his studies.
Now that he was an adult, Booker still loved arcades. Now it was “retro” and “cool” to pump in a few quarters into these machines and it was decidedly less creepy for someone of his age to partake again. Arcades were now full of a mixture of youth being ironic and adults desperately seeking nostalgia. However, Booker wasn’t on the hunt for a nostalgia fix; today he was here on business.
With his sister back in town, he was asked if he wanted to partake in a few of her upcoming videos for her gaming channel on ViewTube. He had guest starred a number of times in the past, usually for prank shows or just PvP games with his sister and crew. Some people recognized him, but not as much as Nessa was. Which was fine. He didn’t often care for fame, but he could easily ignore it when he wanted.
No, while quarters would be spent today, that wasn’t his sole purpose for being here. He and Nessa were supposed to be filming a challenge on location and right now he was scouting for a good arcade. This one was decidingly proving to be one of the best and was high up on the list. But before returning to her with his findings, he wanted to explore it just a little further.
Just off of his shift for the day, the towering librarian looked every bit out of place. His beige shirt, his dark brown slacks, and his nice shows. He looked more like a fast food manager than anything else. But the one thing that helped to ground him to his setting was the Intruders bowtie he wore, inspired by one of his favorite, old time arcade cabinets. As he milled about, quarters in his pocket, he heard shouting and cheers and immediately went to investigate.
Dance Mania. He knew this game. There was a craze of dance games a few years ago but while most of those died off, this one managed to maintain itself. It was nice to see that there were still so many people interested in it. And hey, the guy in the spotlight was doing an amazing job! Booker had to stand there, watching his arms crossed over his chest and smirking as he nodded his head in beat with the song.
”Awesome…” he said to himself. However he stopped when he noted the long, floppy ears that were now hanging by the sides of his head. Oh! That wasn’t an accessory, was it? He winced, looking a little uncomfortable. He really hoped that he wouldn’t ruin his run. But, upon seeing his hi score and completion, Booker clapped with everyone self. ”Nice!” He was a fan already.
Booker was all smiles as Mal talked about the next costume idea. He didn’t say it in so many words, but Booker knew what he was talking about. He wanted to be a Car-Mo-Bot, from that old cartoon series about sentient robots that could transform into cars. That idea sounded so totally awesome! Booker had seen some pretty amazing costumes but the transformation aspects could be difficult to capture in cosplay. Still, it was a worthwhile endeavor.
”That sounds so completely awesome!” Booker announced. ”You know the hardest part of a costume like that is the joints. If you can rig up a good joint system, you’ll be good. A tip...get yourself a 3D printer. Solves loads of costume issues.” He beamed bright.
Booker had more than enough experience when it came to putting these costumes together. A lifesaver had been purchasing a 3D printer. Of course not a lot of people saw the practicality of it. But for someone who made their own costumes and dice sets, it was definitely a necessity.
Mal certainly seemed like a very nice man. He was offering Booker badges to join his entourage in the convention circle and he wasn’t even a close friend of his! Like who just hands things out like that? Well, besides Booker. He did almost just give away his ticket to what was supposed to be one of the most spectacular movies of the decade. And given what Mal said about how one person wasted all those badges, it certainly seemed to...suck. Those badges could have gone to people who really couldn’t afford to go and would get the thrill of a lifetime!
Hrm...but Javi or Nessa? Both were great candidates. Ah well, he would figure that part out later. He would have to. There was a surge of movement as the lines began to form up and move. Eeep!! It was time for the show!!
”Oh you got it!” Booker announced. He paused for a second before he reached into his utility pouch and pulled out a wallet (a struggle with his paw-like hands). After some grumbling he produced a business card and handed it to Mal:
BOOKER B. BOOKMAN Librarian New York Public Library
”Shoot me an email whenever you like.” He then eyes his costume and chuckled. ”Try a couple. You know you guys can’t hit the broadside of a moisture ranch with an automatic pulse rifle.”
Grinning he slipped his mask back on for the brief trudge to his seat and slipped back into line. He was ready for this movie, and he made a new friend in the process. Talk about a good night! [/i][/i]
This was his favorite part of meeting a new friend -- the fanboying. Not all of Booker’s friends were as interested in geek culture as he was, but when he came across that combination of traits in an actual, living, breathing person, it was hard to not go to pieces. Booker quickly became lost in conversation with Mal, little caring about the argument that just happened with the two liars and instead shifted over firmly to start chatting about anything and everything that hopped into his energetic, nerd brain.
They traded cosplay war stories and chuckled the whole way. It wasn’t an easy life. Booker knew that. He often spent more time than was really worth it working on costumes that he was going to wear for maybe one whole day. But whenever he tried to talk himself out of doing them, he couldn’t muster the strength to pull that trigger. Despite everything, when a costume came together, he absolutely loved it. That alone was enough to keep him going.
It was especially good now that his boyfriend was a tailor!
His mouth gaped as Mal spoke of his last costume attempt. ”Oh wow! That sounds awful! But at least that costume sounds awesome! You know, if you ever wanted to attempt it again, I can give you some tips,” he nodded enthusiastically. ”Trust me, I’ve done it long enough, I’ve turned my hair all sorts of colors before I finally learned the right way to do things!”
He preened a bit when Mal complimented him on his costume. Booker admitted that this was certainly one of his better ones. He had spent a lot of time researching the right kind of synthetic hair to use and exactly how he could make the costume and ensure he didn’t die of heatstroke. Admittedly he got some odd looks taking public transportation to the theater but the second he showed, the cameras came out. He was used to this, having faced the lens many times at conventions, even one or two modeling gigs.
Still, the idea made him blush a bit awkwardly. At the least the mask would go a long way to keeping him from having to show his face. But only until the movie started! Then the sucker was coming off so he could enjoy it!
”Thanks! I’m glad that people think so much of it,” he said, opening his arms to show the full, intricate work he did. ”It was a labor of love. And yours is just as awesome! I could have sworn you walked out of the screen”
His mouth opened. Honestly he was scared that he was flexing by saying that he had met such an amazing actor. But once Mal set in on how much he did for the convention circuit AND was popular enough to just pass out free badges, he wanted to faint. Booker was somewhat recognized that’s to being on his sister’s gaming channel on ViewTube, and for his cosplay work on Speedigraph, but he was nowhere near the celebrity of getting invitations or free passes!
”Wow! A-Are you serious?” Booker asked. Like, who would he even bring? Of course he’d want to share such an experience with his boyfriend, but his sister was well into the gaming world too! ”T-That would be awesome! Though I’m afraid I may have to pit my sister and my boyfriend against one another to see who gets the other ticket!” he chuckled heartily. ”But that’s so awesome and generous of you! And you don’t even know me!”
Booker was floored. This was really the guy. He had loved his writings, especially when he was out in the field, chatting it up with mutants. He never thought he would ever find someone who liked mutants as much as he did, but here the man was. They occupied many of the same mutant forums and Booker followed him on social media just for the awesome videos. The guy was an absolute legend! And his humbleness only made this interaction all the more awesome.
He could see it. Mal was smiling but he was also not an arrogant guy. It confirmed a lot of what he believed when he saw his video posts. He was a good guy who just happened to be a talented uber fan of mutants. It was hard not to be a fan of his.
”Your writing is definitely worth it,” he confirmed. ”Going to have to get you to sign something later. If you’re willing that is. I’ll add it to my collection! Right next to Yathan Gillian! One of my favorite actors.”
Yeah, he had a bit of a restraining order from the actor but, really, it wasn’t entirely his fault. Apparently Yathan was a mutant who could exude copious amounts of charm. Being in Booker’s field when he got in line for an autograph suddenly turned Yathan into an uncultured, belching, snorting, crass person. Booker could see, somehow, how the restraining order was necessary. But at least he had the signature!
Booker nodded. He had been at the last premiere too! And judging by the description that Mal gave, he knew that they were at the same one. What were the odds!! He remembered that mutant with the changing hair. They were on the other side of the theater, far away from Booker’s adapted field, so it was a treat to watch it change throughout the movie.
”I remember them! God that was so cool!” he said with a smile. ”I tried cosplaying as that character once but I couldn’t get the hair color right, no matter what dyes I tried. But they knocked it out of the park! That’s an amazing abilitiy right there!”
Booker was deep into the world of nerd. Obvious if one just looked hard enough at his costume. No one puts this much work into it and not expect him to be an uber nerd. Therefore it came as no surprise that he eventually put two and two together and realized who Mal was. It was the social media posting that did it, he was one of the many “celebrity” accounts that he followed. Initially he had been suspicious but he recognized the person and, to be honest, he didn’t seem all that bad.
A bit nosy, but really, not all that bad.
Plus, the writings were something to marvel at. Being a librarian, Booker loved books, all kinds of books. Though he had a preference towards loving the physical copies, he knew that ebooks had their own place in the world. Webnovels like Mal’s were quickly becoming a staple in his own digital library and the fact that he was talking to such an author was...a thrill.
”Shouldn’t be so surprised! It’s a great piece of writing,” Booker said with a bright smile.
Though he was thrilled to be a writer, he was actually also extremely thankful for his intervention. Booker would have been fine giving up his ticket if it meant that someone who was legitimately missing out could see the show. But thanks to Mal, some liars were exposed and he had a chance to see his favorite movie AND meet a favorite author!
”Oh yes!” he said with a nod. ”I love books. I’m a librarian at New York Public Library. I’m always reading. Usually I prefer the classic, but I also love comics and a lot of the newer series! Perry Hotter, Mercy Johnson and the Olympians, The Halfling, all personal favorites.” He smiled as he held out his hand to him in actual greeting. ”Name’s Booker...nice to meet you.”
It seemed that the situation was going to resolve itself...for the most part. The two morons certainly seemed like they had been caught red-handed thanks to Mal’s intervention. And to think, he almost gave away his own ticket! Honestly while it would have sucked, Booker would have been more than willing if it meant keeping the peace or making someone’s day. But the fact that these people purposefully did this for free passes was...deplorable. He was glad it was over.
At least he hoped it was over. Things could always end up far worse than how they started but that was a chance he was willing to take. While management and the two liars were locked again in debate, Booker turned to look his odd comrade thus far.
Okay, maybe the guy wasn’t working for SUPER but he just seemed to be so...observant. Like scarily so. He couldn’t be just some average journalist. But the longer Booker thought about it, the more and more familiar it sounded. Then, he watched as he took a selfie and he had to pause. Crap, that was it wasn’t it? Mal...nerd stuff...social media posts...writer...how could he not have guessed before?
”Wait a second...Mal?” he cautioned. ”The Mal? AUTHOR Mal?” There was no questioning it. This was the webnovelist! Mutant fan extraordinaire! ”Dude, I recognize you now! It’s nice to meetcha! Thanks for saving my ticket,” he chuckled.
Booker felt bad. He didn’t know these two guys but it was clear that they were upset at having to miss out on the movie of the century. Even though they could come another day, another time, there was just something about seeing movies like this on their opening day. Booker was willing to take that hit, however, if it meant keeping the peace. He knew that there were more important things than movies and fandoms, and sometimes you just needed to sacrifice for the greater good.
A lifetime of ready comics will give you that kind of mentality. But, as it would appear, he didn’t have to make any such sacrifice. The truth of the matter was far more disheartening than he could have ever imagined.
According to Mal, the new comrade at his side, it wasn’t just that these guys were lying, it was that this was a scam they had pulled multiple times before. If they had just done it once out of genuinely missing a movie, fine, but the fact that they had done it across several fandoms, cheating good people out of seats just so they could get a free show? That was something he certainly couldn’t abide by.
He frowned, looking between the giant Boda and the hornless Dark Mail. Silently he shook his head as the crowd all gasped and booed at the duo. The evidence was there and hard to deny. Quickly he tucked his ticket back into his pocket and nodded his head firmly.
”Yeah, he’s right,” he said. ”You don’t deserve this ticket...or any others you don’t buy on your own.” Looked between the two cosplayers before finished with a venom soaked whisper. ”And your costumes look store bought!”
Booker had no idea what was going on. Well, he did, but his curiosity was getting the best of him. It seemed that someone was losing their shit because the theater had oversold seats for the nice. While that was a dastardly thing for any theater to do, he knew that it was also no reason to cause such a big ruckus. So he continued to inch closer, moving through the crowd with his newfound friend, Mal, to try and assess what was going on.
It seems that a couple of the guys already in line were being told that the theater was oversold -- and they weren’t taking it well. Management was doing what they could to appease them, but they had backed themselves into a corner. Now the irate customers seemed ready to pulverize the management.
Next to him Mal seemed up to something. He quickly pulled out his phone, tapped a few buttons, and then started to talk...rather loudly. Booker arched a brow and then looked back to the angry pair of people. It seemed that they were not fully appeased and were searching the crowd for whomever it was that was talking.
Feeling back for the duo, Booker sighed as he stepped forward, his mask still tucked under his arm. He gave the two a big, friendly, understanding smile. He then held out the ticket that he had in hand, offering it to the both of them.
”Hey guys, I get it. It’s a sucky situation. But there’s not need to take it out on the people just trying to do their job,” he held out one ticket for them. ”I only have the one, but either of you are welcome to it. If the oversolds don’t show, I’ll grab one of those. If not,” he shrugged and beamed brightly. ”I’ll catch it another time. Let’s just all stay calm, okay?”
Booker didn’t know how this person was. While normally he was a very open and chatty individual when it came to meeting new people, in this instance he couldn’t help but be the slightest bit suspicious. Not a lot of people knew what he was, let alone the terminology of it. That instantly put him at alert, especially since both he and his sister had been kidnapped by a splinter group of secret agents hoping to convert him.
Needless to say, he had to be more careful than normal.
But this guy didn’t seem all that malicious. If anything just a bit nosy. And once he revealed that he was a writer, that notion was justified. Yep, nosy. The more he spoke, the more Booker found himself somewhat intrigued. A fan of mutants? That was exactly what Booker was. Vaguely he began to wonder if they had occupied the same local forums online but was interrupted by sudden shouting.
He nearly dropped his mask but kept it tucked under his arm. His head snapped towards the front of the ticket office line where someone was currently throwing up a tantrum. The crashing sound didn’t natural either. He exchanged looks with the new guy, shrugged his shoulder and began to edge closer to the scene.
”I wonder what is going on?” he vaguely asked both himself and Mal. After exchanging a look with him, he shook his head. ”We totally shouldn’t investgate that. Nope.”
And yet he was still trying to edge closer to the scene. Concerned citizen and all.
Booker didn’t know who this guy was but he certainly seemed frantic for a conversation. Booker eyed him warily, certain that he was mistaken and ready to move on when the man confirmed that it was him he was looking for. Did he know him? Was he a fan of the gaming channel he was on with his sister on ViewTube? It was possible, he had met a few fans like that. But maybe not? It was hard to be a bead on him.
They compared costumes and Booker chuckled warily from within. ”Yeah, I outfitted it with ventilation where I could, but still pretty warm.” Where was he going with this?
In all honesty, Booker couldn’t have anticipated those were the words that would come next. The truth was, he knew he had an adverse effect on mutants but it was actually kind of hard to pin it on him. It wasn’t as if he were glowing or shooting off sparks whenever he was near one. Mutants just...lost their powers around him. Turned off like a lightswitch. The chances of someone noticing it was him, without looking for him, were...astronomical.
At least judging from his subtle side-to-side, Mal seemed like someone who knew how to try and keep a secret. Though, if he really was trying to be secretive, approaching your subject in the middle of a crowded premiere probably wasn’t the best idea.
Still...Booker was suspicious. He didn’t sense and maliciousness in Mal, but that didn’t mean he trusted him off the bat. Booker was only glad that Javier wasn’t here. He had to work late on some rush orders so he couldn’t come. If he had run into this guy with him, Javier could possibly be having a full on panic attack by now. But Booker? He was intrigued.
Reaching up, he he found the hidden straps for his mask and unclipped them. He pulled the helmet off and tucked it under his arm.
There was a slight glow of perspiration on his forehead, but all-in-all, he didn’t look much worse for the wear. Actually he looked warm and fuzzy to hug. His light, honeyed hair ruffled with the cool breeze outside. Jade eyes looked upon the man with cautious curiosity while his glove hand scratched at the stubble he still wore upon his chin and jawline. Still, despite his wariness, he smiled as he looked upon the other.
”That really depends on who’s asking, Mal...” he started. ”And why?”
Star Battles: The Ascent of Spacehiker. Booker couldn’t believe that it was finally here! Ever since the first trailer stropped and he heard that diabolical cackle of Czar Pumpernickel, he knew that this was going to be the movie to end all movies. Toted as the end of the Spacehiker saga, it was no wonder that the writers and producers were pulling out all the stops. And the same could be said for Booker, who, of course, was going to show up on opening night.
He had been working hard on his costume. While he didn’t relish how warm it would be, he knew that he couldn’t attend this premiere not dressed as his favorite character, Crispboba, the towering, furry bounty hunter with the space age crossbow! He was one of the few characters that made it into every single film and he was going to rock his costume tonight.
Though he didn’t fully appreciate the snickering in his rideshare over, he had to admit that the looks of appreciation seemed to grow the closer he got to the theater. When he finally marched into the center, the lines brimming with excitement, he couldn’t help the wide smile underneath his mask. Practically everyone was in costume and, when they turned to see him, there was a roar of acceptance from his peers.
Lovely.
Sauntering forward, Booker was nothing more than a mass of black fur with tanned highlights. The bandelero he wore across his chest was accurate, as as the matte-painted crossbow that was slung over his shoulder. Around his neck sat a single medal that gleamed like gold (just plastic, but real-looking enough) and his mask was intricately made with long, tresses of hair. Oh the costume was on point but, sure enough, it was pretty warm. Still, he would manage it until he got into the theater. After all, he couldn’t watch the movie with the mask on.
He could, but he would only see what was dead center. His periphery would be an issue and he wanted the whole experience.
Smiling, he waved at a few people he recognized, some of them knowing he was coming out dressed like this. But when another began to approach, Booker merely glanced to him out of the corner of his eye before looking forward again, awaiting the opening of the doors. At first he assumed the man was looking for someone else, but when he approached him and began to introduce himself, Booker was surprised.
”Who? Me?” He asked. He then shook his head, his voice muffled from behind his mask as he spoke up. ”Everything okay?” he asked. ”Don’t think I the person you think I am.”
A few years ago, Booker probably would have been worried about secrecy. After all, the X-Men were a staple of not only the city, but the world! And if comic books taught him anything, they struggled with that line between secrecy and duty! Between honor and humble! But then he saw Alchemist in movies and realized that things probably weren’t as strict as all that. Plus he knew Becky, who used to go by the name Lodestone. She dated his sister! Secrecy was something clearly thrown out the window.
Of course that didn’t mean he was going to run to the nearest newspaper and reveal all their secrets. But if he knew someone as well as Javier, who was essentially in their employ, he figured there was nothing wrong with sharing. After all, they did live together. And so long as Javier wasn’t running around rooftops in spandex without him, he was fairly certain the secrets would stay between them.
So he inquired. He didn’t recognize which X-Man that uniform would go to, so he asked for more details.
It seemed that Javier had been a busy boy and was designing for the whole team. Booker was shocked but absolutely pleased. After setting his bag in the correct spot and hanging up his coat he immediately went back to his boyfriend and clapped him on the shoulders.
”Dude! That’s awesome!” he beamed. ”What a great opportunity for you! I mean, personally I’ve only met about two of them, but they always seem so nice!” He turned and made way for the kitchen. ”Nessa dated one you know? Lodestone. Super bubbly, nice girl. Went with me to a Comic Con once. You know, before she cheated on me sis-TAH-Ow!” He hoped, holding his shin. ”Ugh, stupid sister landmine junk,” he kicked a leftover packing box of his sister’s to someplace less hazardous.
Really, he was going to have words with her. He was exceedingly sad that she was gone, but it was taking way too long for her to have the last of her stuff sent over. He had her address. He was probably just going to do it himself in the next couple days. Meanwhile, his attention turned back to the lovely Javi.
”This calls for a celebration!” he announced. ”What would you like for dinner? I can make tacos, casserole, or we can order out?” He smiled sweetly.
