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.
Posted by Vanessa Berry on Jun 21, 2017 0:56:12 GMT -6
Haven
Member of Haven
chocolate
Hella Gay
Taken by Belladonna
351
150
Apr 26, 2023 0:39:04 GMT -6
Aly
Evidently Rebecca never filled Gina in on the intricate details of her girlfriend’s life. Considering her ex was conflicted the entire time they were together, it made sense that she might not have spent her time gushing and bragging about Vanessa. It would have been flattering, but maybe Agnes was the only one who warranted that treatment. It could be worse; if Rebecca told Gina everything about her, Vanessa would have had nothing to share on her side of the “get to know each other” conversation.
”I’m actually a ViewTuber, kinda. My brother and I have a little gaming channel, but my main job is with an online production company. Gaming videos, animated web shows, general shenanigans.” The POW Block Party was one of the best things to happen to Vanessa after her transition and emancipation. ”It’s my job to play video games and draw, so I kinda lucked out. Oh, and we have a merch line. Hence the clothes.”
Maroon was on Gina’s mind, but not because she thought it’d work for Vanessa. She specifically thought she would look pretty. That was a very specific word that made her feel a very specific way. ”Thanks,” she mumbled to herself, feeling warmth in her cheeks.
Looking over Gina, Vanessa could see pink pastels against that dappled grey skin. There was plenty of grey exposed, thanks to the blessing of cut-off jeans. The life of a physical mutant was not easy, even if they were beautiful. Vanessa knew all too well how close-minded people could be, yet Gina lived her life proudly and openly, and that could not be more admirable.
Also. Those legs. Damn.
Vanessa snapped out of her trance when Gina selected dresses for the both of them. Striding over, she grabbed the jersey dress and rubbed her thumbs against the fabric. ”I love it. Playful and cute, though you’re definitely going to have to try it. Make sure your boobs don’t pull it up so far you’re showing off that butt of yours.” That nice butt, from what she remembered of their sleepover.
Gina handed over a chiffon dress, and Vanessa appraised it. The fabric was almost sheer, and her fashion guru apparently thought the color would work with her skin. Hearing those thoughts… she could see it. Evidently, the dress would make her a walking, talking fairy princess. ”Ha, I didn’t know how much I wanted to pull off that look until right now. My dad would have flipped hearing that,” she admitted in her laughter.
Before that off-handed comment could be questioned, Vanessa linked an arm around Gina’s elbow. It was already established that personal space was not an issue between them, after all. ”Come on, it’s time to play dress-up. Your princess demands it!” She yanked her friend along toward the changing rooms in the back of the store.
Walking through the store, Gina and Vanessa were getting acclimated with what was offered on the racks and shelves. There was plenty of trendy fare to examine, but trendy was not always a bad thing. Some trends had staying power, while others were meant to wait through until they died a peaceful death.
A “pffft” caught her attention, returning her eyes to Gina, who was proudly holding up a silly pun shirt. Vanessa shook her head, but she was grinning like a fool. ”Be careful not to rip that shirt, because it’s really terrible.” Booker was rubbing off on her. ”Besides, I think I get enough silly, nerdy tees from work at this point. Nice start, though,” she joked, taking the shirt and returning it to its place on the rack.
Gina took an opportunity to look her over closely, and Vanessa was holding her breath through the whole experience. She was being assessed, and she wanted nothing about her to be out of place as those stunning eyes traveled up and down her body. There was a moment of relief when Gina complimented her matter-of-factly, but it was followed by the reminder that she had no reason to get so excited about her words. It was a common compliment from a kind, complimentary person. Her cheeks had no reason to pinken.
One problem with Gina looking her up and down was the inability to catch her eyes for any length of time. She caught “roon” on one pass-through, and “maru” on the next, so she must have been settling on something maroon. Vanessa could see herself rocking that, between her skin tone and hair color. It should have been no surprise the blossoming fashionista would have an eye for colors.
She also had the sense to realize that maroon was not easy to come across in the summer months. Vanessa was ready for some warm, summer colors anyway. As they perused the racks individually, she could not resist offhandedly saying, ”It’s a shame fall’s still so far off. I think I could see myself killing it in maroon.” Vanessa had to be careful about showing off. It was cheating to use her mind-control like that, but it was not like she disagreed with the thought. ”But I totally agree; warm colors.”
Gina mused aloud, thinking about what they could find in the store that she could try on. Vanessa caught her eye just long enough to hear a mental concern that had less to do with her wings and tail and more to do with facilitating her chest. For a moment, Vanessa accidentally caught herself staring, because they were, indeed, accommodation-worthy. She eventually realized how rude she was being and turned her head away hard enough to almost give herself whiplash.
Finding a top for Gina would be presumptuous, with the wings and… yeah. Unless she came across something perfect, maybe a skirt was the best bet. Vanessa switched to a rack where bottoms and skirts were hanging, looking through the options. Gina was such a California sunbeam, warm and flowy and free. Shuffling through bohemian skirts. Her eyes scanned through lace and silk, patterns and colors, trying to figure out what might suit her unique complexion. ”You know, shopping for you is a fun experience. You have such unique, gorgeous skin, I’m thinking in new ways just to picture what could work.” It was a casual compliment. Vanessa had no problems flirting in most situations, but with Gina, the idea made her more nervous.
Vanessa would not call herself an inherently distrustful person, but she did claim to be a realist. There was no realistic way the blonde woman on her fire escape had climbed down from a higher floor because she lost her key. For one: how did she get on the fire escape in the first place if she was unable to get into the apartment? The details did not add up, regardless of how convincing her delivery was.
The story was also hard to accept because the intruder’s eyes told a different story. She must have been a talented liar; all the good ones never shied away from eye contact. Dodging glances was a nervous tick of someone telling a lie they are not okay with telling. Her blue eyes were confidently steady, and her posh voice had the right amount of panic and apology mixed in. Liars always locked in on Vanessa’s chocolate brown eyes, negating all their well-trained wordsmithing.
Buy it. Buy it. Please let me in.
People in the right did not want people to “buy” their story. They wanted to be genuinely believed. Vanesa considered locking the window and returning to her games, but then the woman might just find another way to snoop. More than anything, Vanessa needed to know why this woman put forth such an effort to get to her window in particular.
It was a questionable decision, but Vanessa was hoping “the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t” applied to her situation as she unlatched the window for her attractive blonde devil. ”Understandable,” she replied, half-heartedly. ”Come inside, then; you’ll bake out there.” That had some truth to it, if her fair skin was expectedly weak to the early summer sun.
Vanessa backed away to give her new guest some space to come in through the open window. She kept her eyes on the woman, and the hammer was still hanging at her side. If she was there to hurt her, it would be dangerous to lower her guard. Dangerous like letting a weird stalker in through the window.
”So… do you have a name? Cute stalker chick has a nice ring to it, but I figured I’d ask.” A little harmless flirting. If the blonde had some plan, Vanessa was hoping to poke and prod her, maybe even throwing her off her groove. Unexpected flirting could be invaluable, and in Vanessa’s direct tone, it was usually unexpected.
Posted by Vanessa Berry on Jun 17, 2017 3:49:11 GMT -6
Haven
Member of Haven
chocolate
Hella Gay
Taken by Belladonna
351
150
Apr 26, 2023 0:39:04 GMT -6
Aly
Whoever this bold blonde was, it sounded like she had no apprehensions when it came to flirting, gay, straight, or otherwise. When Vanessa looked into her hazel eyes, she found the girl was thinking about… Vanessa’s eyes. It made sense, and considering how her telepathy worked, it was surprising thoughts like that were not more common. Her new drinking partner thought her eyes were lovely.
She also picked up on the subtext of Vanessa’s “independence” comment, and her thoughts made it clear she had no intention of shying away. Everything about her was unabashedly positive. Gina had been like that in her own way, but her positivity was reassuring and comforting. Whoever this newcomer was, she was exuding enthusiasm, sweetness, and possibly mischief. If she was picking up a vibe from the woman, it was that she might be the human personification of a cocktail.
Maybe the cocktail girl was right, though; she was overdue for some fun. Vanessa smiled and maintained eye contact as she offered her hand in greeting. ”Well, they always say it’s better to drink together than alone, right? I’m Vanessa,” she greeted.
Something about the unapologetic flirtiness of Vanessa’s new friend emboldened her. She took a chance on the lonely brunette, and risks deserved to be rewarded. ”And for the record? I’m like, hella gay. So good job,” she joked, as though the blonde’s gaydar had divined a path through the bar to Vanessa’s seat.
Vanessa wanted to be a good little sister to Booker. Through school, he did so much to defend her, protect her, and support her. Without him in her life, it was not a stretch to say she might not have made it to where she was. Before transitioning, she was even more awkward and socially graceless than the woman she would grow up to be, and Booker was there to keep bullies off her back. Defending her from bullies extended to their parents, who always gave the “daughter they never wanted” a hard time. She made sure not to tell him in so many words, but she owed Booker everything.
That did not mean she was going to condone his s****y decision making.
The head patting grew slower, almost cautious, as Booker drew out his explanation. He fucked up, so whatever happened was something he did. At the very least, Vanessa could rule out finding and beating up whoever made her brother sad.
He kissed someone. The patting stopped. Kissing someone was not usually a reason for Booker to be moping and lamenting, which meant…
Yep. He kissed a girl with a boyfriend. She did not shove him off, but Vanessa’s demeanor shifted noticeably from her previous empathy. ”So, clarify this for me,” she said flatly. ”You kissed a girl with a boyfriend, making you the catalyst for cheating. You then retreat home to your sister, who was just recently cheated on, mind you, looking for support?”
There was an awkward silence, but it was broken by Vanessa sighing and resuming her head patting. ”Okay. I’m here for you. This support is being provided under protest, but I’m here for you.” The way Booker was acting, she wanted to believe his actions were unplanned and as unexpected for him as anyone else. A crime of passion; her brother was quite passionate, after all.
”So who was it? She better be gorgeous for you to make a stupid move like that,” she joked. As with most of her jokes, the tone was lacking, but Booker knew her well enough to know when she was teasing, regardless of tone.
Posted by Vanessa Berry on Jun 16, 2017 22:06:02 GMT -6
Haven
Member of Haven
chocolate
Hella Gay
Taken by Belladonna
351
150
Apr 26, 2023 0:39:04 GMT -6
Aly
Gina was so understanding, it was hard to understand how Rebecca would choose not to go to her for comfort after the breakup. Then again, what reason did Rebecca have to feel bad, when she could reunite with her—
She needed to stop. Vanessa was past Rebecca and what she did, and getting mad at her now was a waste of energy and emotion. She could be a little jealous that Rebecca was hogging a friend like Gina, but the redhead never forbade the two from hanging out. The hiatus from their promising friendship was entirely self-imposed, and probably still for the best.
That was what logic told her. Logic crumbled when an arm looped around her own, sending a ripple through her like static. Keeping distance failed because Gina was not going to let it succeed. How did she not realize that they were not supposed to be friends? They met the night Vanessa’s relationship with Gina’s friend fell apart! That was the sign that they just met at the wrong time.
Still, Vanessa noticed she was not pulling away. Gina had such a positive energy. She had a talent for saying, and even thinking, the right thing to get a smile out of her. What would Rebecca think of it? Knowing Gina was becoming the kind of friend her ex-girlfriend could confide in?
And why did she care? Maybe it was finally time to start asking that question.
The pair of women walked into the store, and Gina was immediately asking questions about Vanessa’s style. A side-glance at Gina’s eyes made it clear she was looking to find something for her companion. Rolling her eyes, she answered, ”I like to experiment with different styles. At work, I am usually just wearing graphic tees, so I guess playing with clothes and styles is just fun for me. And I’m a medium in womens.”
Immediately, Vanessa winced, surprised at herself for slipping into a bad habit. Early in her transition, she would add that clarifier because her comfort was slightly less important than finding clothes that fit correctly. Now, it just sounded awkward and unnecessary. ”I wouldn’t mind seeing what you think would work on me,” she said, hoping to skim by her minor faux pas. It would be insignificant to anyone who did not know, so the best choice was to make no big deal of it.
Also, she really did want to know what Gina did when offered Vanessa’s body at her mercy.
Posted by Vanessa Berry on Jun 16, 2017 2:44:53 GMT -6
Haven
Member of Haven
chocolate
Hella Gay
Taken by Belladonna
351
150
Apr 26, 2023 0:39:04 GMT -6
Aly
“The End” felt like it provided the right amount of consequence and gravity to Vanessa’s breakup, particularly when accompanied by the sweeping hand motion accompaniment. ”Yep. ‘The End,’ with all the bells and whistles and shouting and crying.” It felt so distant, but the last night at Rebecca’s was emotionally raw. There was not a lot of shouting, but Vanessa knew she broke that decibel barrier at least once. ”She admitted to what happened with her and Agnes, and that just had to be the be all, end all for me.”
There might have been women out in the world who had the emotional fortitude and confidence to give things another chance after a cheating incident, but Vanessa was not counted among them. Not everyone earned Vanessa’s trust. Her experiences growing up left her defensive, and having someone she confided in betray her left serious damage. Once Rebecca made her choice, it was clear that neither of them could stay; the redhead had a “true love” to return to, and Vanessa needed to defend her pride and her self-worth.
Gina showed empathy, but also made it a point to remind Vanessa that her interests in the native New Yorker were not limited to breakup damage assessment. Nessa’s eyes even glimpsed a peek at Gina mentally reprimanding her for being so one-track minded. Truthfully, she did assume the checkup was purely to assess Rebecca’s wreckage. ”I’ve been… better. Good, even. Catching up on some games, and just getting back out into the social world. Kicking and screaming sometimes, but I’m working on it,” she admitted with a smile.
”I guess I realize I need to stop blocking out my friends when I get mopey.” Letting people in would always be Nessa’s first step to recovery, but Gina was different. She knew why she had not called Gina. It was the same reason why she felt apprehensive walking with the woman through the mall. It would be appropriate to cut their conversation short and part ways.
Instead, they stopped in front of a storefront. Vanessa could see selections of “hip” clothing, and appropriate mellow tones accompanying the scene within. ”Whatcha think?” she asked her fellow fashion hunter.
And thus, peace had come to pass, as Booker came inside, bringing with him an air of defeat and despair. Nessa held any comments to herself until Booker was ready, which meant she had to follow him with her eyes as he meandered across the room.
No adapted field in the world was going to make it less clear that something was upsetting Booker. Both siblings could take bad news or bad events poorly, but the styles in which they moped were distinctly different. When life was kicking Vanessa’s ass, she shut down and became a black hole of negativity, collapsing into herself.
Booker being sad was more melodramatic, maybe as a means of coping or adding whatever possible levity could be had amidst the grief. He was down, but disappointment would never change the fact that her brother was a talker and a showman. Instead of chatting someone’s ear off, that energy went toward expressing his melancholy like a Shakespearean tragic hero. When he was down, Vanessa was convinced that was the role Booker her saw himself in.
He reached the couch, looking down at her, like he was waiting for something. She started to form a, ”Hey,” when he decided to flop onto the couch, pivoting his body so he was laying across both the furniture and his kid sister.
The direction Booker chose to lay in kept his head near her, (as her legs were pinned under his broad back.) After his lament, she patted him lightly on the head. ”There, there, champ… wanna talk about it?” It was the least she could do after everything he did to pull her back from the brink.
Something was wrong, and unless she was hallucinating the faint presence of perfume, she could assume the genre of problem he was facing.
Posted by Vanessa Berry on Jun 15, 2017 23:49:36 GMT -6
Haven
Member of Haven
chocolate
Hella Gay
Taken by Belladonna
351
150
Apr 26, 2023 0:39:04 GMT -6
Aly
You look great. Gina’s thought bounced around Vanessa’s head like an echo chamber, because she loved the way it sounded. It was silly, because it was the kind of thing you told anyone you had not seen in a while. “You look great; I’m glad between our last meeting and now you didn’t contract the plague!” It was such a casual compliment.
Then again, if that was true, why did she only think it? This was the reason telepaths went insane.
When asked about her mall activities, Gina pulled out a sketchbook of her own, which prompted a sparkle in Vanessa’s eyes. God, how awesome was she? The intersection of drawing and clothing was a spot she could relate to, so it was great to be around someone who could relate. Nessa held in a laugh when Gina chastised herself for explaining her hobby, but she did choose to reply with some general, honest reassurance. ”That’s so awesome. You come here, get ideas, and make this stuff, but way more awesome. I can dig that,” she nodded, grinning.
Even when people were not meeting Vanessa’s eyes, she worked to know what she could from their gaze anyway. Gina’s gaze was definitely looking her over, which prompted a wave of goosebumps across her skin.
Then the question was asked, with helpful, but unnecessary subtextual thoughts. It would have been clear what Gina wanted to know based on her tone. Vanessa had to choose: did she play oblivious, or face things head on?
”You mean after the Becca thing,” she said knowingly, following it with a sigh. If Rebecca and Agnes really had kept their mouths shut, even to Gina, then it was on Vanessa to fill her in. It was the gamer girl who dumped the whole affair onto her new friend in the first place. ”Why don’t we walk and talk? I can accompany you on your quest for fashion espionage.” Her legs were overdue for a stretch anyway.
Taking strides alongside the shorter woman, Vanessa made sure to walk close enough to talk, but far enough to avoid stray touching. The sleepover was a one-time thing, and it was on Vanessa to behave herself now that there were rules. ”So…” How to begin? Well, with the most burning logical question. ”Rebecca and I are over. Have been over. Since… well, the day after the party.” She looked away from Gina; as curious as she was, it would be respectful to let her process that news privately.
Plus, it was hard to make full-on eye contact while walking. But the respect reason was definitely mixed in there, too.
In the grand scheme of introverts, Vanessa could be a lot worse. She put herself into social situations willingly (on occasion,) and her distaste for crowds did not stop her from enjoying a night of dancing. It was all about creating intimate situations amidst the group settings. Finding close friends at a party to gravitate toward or a reliable partner on the dance floor was a must to keep from overexerting herself and interacting with a bevy of new people. On any given night, Vanessa could add one or two people to her friend circle, at maximum. The last time she was at a bar, it was April. The last time she was dancing… it was Gina.
Most of Vanessa’s time after her breakup was spent sulking and thinking about Rebecca. It was a pathetic, depressing time that she was already lamenting. Letting her life get swept away in sadness was unproductive. Rebecca was a cool, cute girl, but she was a cheater. At least, she cheated on Vanessa, so that’s what she would be to the mind-reader going forward. It was tragic, but not worth all the pain or the tears. They were never meant to be; she could see that now, even if it still stung anyway.
The further her mind was allowed to drift from Rebecca, the more a new figure occasionally crossed her thoughts. Gina was sweet, and unlike certain redheaded vixens, she seemed sincere and honest. She saved Vanessa by just being there for her the night of the party. The next morning, she worried her thoughts of Gina were motivated by a frayed emotional state and a need for intimacy and affection the grey girl was willing to fulfill.
Over a month later, though, Gina was still flying through her mind. Sure, she was not obsessing over Gina, but she would occasionally wonder how the college girl was spending her days and nights. She considered calling Gina, because seeing her again sounded enjoyable, and she could use some more enjoyment in her life. Any time she considered making the call, (or even knocking on the Co-op door,) she remembered why she was keeping to herself.
Gina was Rebecca’s friend. Vanessa had her own friend circle, however small, and it could be inappropriate in the wake of a breakup to add a friend she met through Rebecca. When they were in bed, Gina did seem sympathetic to Vanessa’s situation, but they knew each other for all of one night. It seemed pointless to build a friendship from such a complicated experience. What was she going to do? Tell Rebecca, “We’re over. Also, I’m taking custody of Gina.” Messy.
Vanessa was just going to move on with her life. The thoughts of dappled stone-colored skin and sweet, amber-flecked eyes were growing fewer and farther between. Gina could become an occasional, happy memory she kept from a less-than-happy time in her life.
In an effort to break out of her shell, Vanessa was moving more of her personal activities out into the open. Drawing and sketching always ended up being different based on where she was and what could inspire her. Sitting cross-legged on a mall bench, people passed by around her, leaving her be as their chatter became the comfortable white noise in her ears as she drew in the pages of her sketchbook. She was wearing hip-hugging jeans, (not that they had much to hug,) and a cropped tee that exposed just enough of her midriff to inspire curiosity.
She had been looking at a mannequin in an open-backed dress standing across from her in a window display. Her original intention was probably to add angelic wings to her creation, but as her mind drifted off, the wings she apparently settled on were more bat-like… familiar.
Familiar like the wings that belonged to the evil woman who had snuck up behind Vanessa to give a surprise critique. Vanessa’s butt cleared the seat as she bounced up on the bench, her sketchbook snapping shut.
Vanessa turned to face Gina, and had to face the facts: she was not just a figment of her imagination crafted to cope with the bad Becca news. Gina was real, and she was cute as ever in her tie-dye tank top, living up to her hippy west coast persona. ”Gina! I’ve been meaning to call you,” she lied. ”It’s been too long and I missed your face.” That part was true, both as a turn of phrase, and a literal statement.
It was such a lovely face.
”What are you doing here?” She asked, ignoring how dumb the question was in a mall.
Posted by Vanessa Berry on Jun 14, 2017 23:19:50 GMT -6
Haven
Member of Haven
chocolate
Hella Gay
Taken by Belladonna
351
150
Apr 26, 2023 0:39:04 GMT -6
Aly
The moment Svetlana was out of sight, Booker was preparing to stop Vanessa’s inquisitive interrogation, but it was futile. He knew as well as she did that her role as a little sister required her to be a pest in all situations where he was caught with his pants around his ankles (or on his bedroom floor.) He only made it worse by subjecting her to a haunting look at the fuzzy patch leading down to that-which-must-not-be-named. (Though, being the dork he was, he probably had named it. The thought made her shudder.)
He pointed out that Svetlana could probably hear her, but that only made Nessa grin. ”I could always repeat myself,” she said with some sass, watching as he retreated to grab himself a robe. Vanessa did have a habit of following in her brother’s footsteps, particularly when it came to women. Of course, she had no actual intentions of charming Booker’s conquest.
She also saw no harm in dropping a hint of what team she played for. Juuust in case.
Booker returned, hiding some of his shame, just in time for Vanessa to prod at him with her question about coffee. There was nothing wrong with not knowing the woman’s coffee preferences, just as there was nothing wrong with an unexpected hookup. As she grabbed her mug and reloaded the Keurig for Svetlana’s coffee, Vanessa beamed at her brother. He was trying too hard to justify something he did not have to. ”Book, you can shut up. You’re an adult. It’s cool. I just wouldn’t be your brat sister if I didn’t mess with you.”
She was not even going to dignify his “plans changing” comment with a response. “Next time you want to sleep with a hot Russian model, shoot me a text,” came to mind, but she held her tongue. She had just done so well un-shaming him, it would be rude to undo that. Also, Svetlana was emerging from the bathroom, and Vanessa did have some tact.
Vanessa turned away when she bit her lip, because once again: tact. She looks better in my robe than I do, Vanessa thought to herself, unsure if she was more annoyed or impressed. ”It’s totally fine. Be comfortable. Do you drink coffee? You two must be tired, right?” She looked from Svetlana to Booker, then back, before realizing what she might sound like she was implying. ”Because it’s still early. Not because of… other… nighttime activity things.”
Where did she put that tact again? It was not in the sugar jar she had shifted her attention to immediately.
Booker put a stop to Vanessa’s inappropriate fantasy crafting, which was for the best. Without reminders of what is and is not socially acceptable, Vanessa was at high risk of saying the wrong thing in front of the wrong people. Her lack of a filter was a constant problem she had to live with, taking life one dangerous social interaction at a time.
Questioning the power of Katy Perry was enough to warrant the judgment of Booker B. Bookman, who would not take such a slight quietly. (Booker never did anything quietly, to be fair.) Protests aside, there was still a plan B, she discovered, as the ukulele was set aside in favor of digging through pockets.
Vanessa squealed, which was not a common act from her. The sound was a mixture of humor and disgust. Sock puppets were weird, so naturally, Booker loved them. The way they moved, with their googly eyes rattling and the “mouths” flapping was so unsettling!
It was also goofy, and Booker was great at goofy. The gratuitous Austrian accent put her into a laughing fit as she pulled away from the “doctor” coming closer. ”Oh, Professor. Don’t ever change. Well, except for the outdated psychological beliefs based mostly on your weird desire to bang your mom. Besides that, don’t change.”
This was why Booker would always have a place at Nessa’s apartment whenever he needed it. When the chips were down, he would do the things no one else could think of to make her feel better. Girlfriends and boyfriends would come and go, but the Bookman siblings would always be there for one another.
Life did get easier. Time passed, and Vanessa was not thinking of Rebecca every minute or even every hour. The redhead still crossed her mind, and the pang of hurt was still there, but those thoughts were no longer ruining her day or sapping her energy. In steps, she found the energy to play video games, which became the energy to leave the house, which had now transformed into actual productive energy.
Nessa was sitting on the couch with her legs folded, resting a sketchpad on her calves. Sun was beaming through the window, and the apartment was calm. Tranquil. Peaceful.
Huh. Where did that ominous feeling in the back of Nessa’s mind come from?
Gina did not question Vanessa. She did not defend Rebecca or even her sister, Agnes; as someone who knew them both so well, maybe it did not sound so farfetched. Whatever the reason, Vanessa appreciated her for it. Fighting about how she knew or whether she could be wrong would be emotionally exhausting, and she was already so tired and taxed by what she knew. Gina could wonder about the details the next day, but until morning, all the mind-reader wanted was someone to support her.
At first, it felt like Gina was going to get up from the bed, which worried Vanessa—she wanted her close, to give her something to hold onto. When the winged woman returned with a box of tissues, the sweet gesture actually made her laugh. ”Thank you,” she muttered, taking one and blotting her face with it. The sheer number of tears made the act useless, but it made her feel better.
Gina encouraged her to sleep and deal with the problem in the morning, which sounded wonderful if Vanessa could manage to sleep while thoughts of Rebecca and Agnes swirled in her head. She tried to focus on the hand in her own. Even with the talons and the stony complexion of the gargoyle girl, her hand was still surprisingly soft.
The lips pressed against her forehead were also soft. For a moment, Vanessa just blinked rapidly, surprised by the sudden act of affection. Her body warmed. Gina immediately apologized, but Vanessa wished she did not feel the need. It was such a sweet gesture, and if she was looking to console the brunette, she was doing a good job. It was a reminder that someone cared about her, even if Rebecca did not. This breakup would not be the end of the world, and she had to remember that.
Woah. It was a breakup. That was what would come next, no matter what. If there was life beyond this, it was not going to be spent with Rebecca. The Scot was not a terrible person, but she had been a bad girlfriend, and Nessa deserved better. Better was out there. Better might be in the bed with her, but that was not going to happen. As wonderful as Gina was, she was still Rebecca’s friend, and it was a line she thought inappropriate to cross.
But Gina was still apologizing, and Vanessa wanted her to stop. In the morning, they would go their separate ways. But if it was just tonight…
Vanessa leaned in and pressed her lips against Gina’s cheek. She would not go further than that, but she wanted Gina to understand how much she appreciated her. How much she saved her that night. The darkness obscured Vanessa’s aim, and the corner of her lips might have even brushed against the corner of Gina’s, which she would tell herself was unintentional.
”Don’t be sorry,” she finally said after pulling back. ”Thank you, Gina. Really.” She was still crying, but she was going to live.
Sleep was the right choice, but if she was going to sleep, she needed to stay tethered to Gina and the rest of the world. She did not want to be alone for the night. She pressed her head into the space between Gina’s neck and shoulder. ”I’m sorry,” she apologized preemptively, knowing she could be breaching the other woman’s personal space. ”Do… do you mind?”
It was important, as a mind reader, to remember to keep a straight face when using her telepathy. People’s thoughts could be surprising, particularly when Vanessa was meeting a person for the first time. Sveta quickly jumped to the conclusion that Vanessa might be Booker’s girlfriend and that Booker might be the mysterious Darren. The impulse to snort and say, “Absolutely not,” was strong, but all Vanessa could do was hold her tongue.
Fortunately, Booker must have heard the interaction, because he and his aura burst forth from his room, cutting off any additional thoughts in Svetlana’s eyes. Unfortunately, to make such good time, Booker only had the opportunity to grab a pair of boxers on his way out of the room. Growing up as siblings, and now living together, it was a sight Vanessa was used to, but it did not make him look less ridiculous as he explained himself.
Vanessa tried not to smirk as Booker introduced the women to each other and asked his sister why she was even home. ”Plans changed,” she explained bluntly. Why explain her drunken day of work when she was not the one on the spot?
Knowing Vanessa was not a rival for Booker’s attention, Svetlana’s tension seemed to ease and she greeted her kindly, despite her towel-clad state. ”Certainly a pleasure, Svetlana,” she replied with a smile. ”The bathroom is the first door to your left.”
Waiting until Svetlana retreated into the bathroom, Vanessa turned her focus to her brother. ”First of all: very nice job.” Her voice was not particularly quiet, and Svetlana might have been able to hear her through the bathroom door, but it was too early in the morning for Vanessa to be anything other than shameless. She had not just been caught in her skivvies after all. ”Good to see you bouncing back.” Vanessa was the most recent Bookman sibling to deal with a painful breakup, but Booker was still in the final stages of recovering from his ex-boyfriend.
”Does Svetlana like coffee?” Vanessa asked, walking toward the Keurig. ”Do you know?” The last question was more accusatory. Booker had never brought up a pretty Russian blonde, (and if she had been around, he would not have been able to resist,) so the smart bet was that this was an unexpected hookup.