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.
Okay this was getting a little annoying now. Winnie knew that bar life had its ups and downs, but this time it was getting positively annoying. How could she be expected to just wait here, dressed in her 80’s best, and not be already drinking? Honestly! It was a sin against nature. However, no matter how she tried to get the bartender’s attention, nothing was coming up. For a moment there she was actually doubting her ability to attract attention, something she was never unable to do, but now it was looking like a grim possibility. Maybe she should have worn that Madonna-inspired bustier…
But just as Winnie was beginning to come to terms with her bad decisions, she was suddenly interrupted by the presence of another noise -- a loud, piercing noise. Winnie blinked in surprise and turned her attention towards another woman who had joined the group, this one seeming far more determined looking than the photographer herself was. She arched her brow, staring along with the rest of the people gathered at the impressive whistling ability of this woman. What else could those lips do?
>>”Yo! Barkeep! Lemon drop for the pretty girl. On me.”
She tilted her head, smiling sweetly as she looked over the blonde. For a second she didn’t know who this person was, dressed all in black, stepping into her like like a dreamboat. She had such a commanding and devil-may-care presence about her that the pixie-cut woman was already planning her route of flirtation (not too much since the night was young). But, just as Winnie moistened her lips to speak, she stopped -- she knew her. But...from where?
As the bartender turned to make Winnie’s drink at the rest of the barflys started to return to their own business, Winnie watched as the other woman stepped up closer. Those eyes, that cocky smile, oh yeah, she knew this woman. It took longer for her to actually grab onto the memory (mainly because she had been trying to drown it since it happened) but finally she managed to wrap her slippery mitts around it. She did know her.
>>. ”How do I know you?”
But apparently that feeling wasn’t mutual. Maybe it was because she was going the same route that Winnie had, trying to forget that horrid night, but she definitely recognized her in some respect. Though they never gave one another their real names when they left that rooftop together, they didn’t really need to. She blinked, smiling a little at the other as she couldn’t help but call her out.
”Sandy,” she said with a mysterious, and yet elated smile. ”It’s Win--err, Toxin.” She reached over, reached over, giving the other woman’s arm a gentle squeeze. ”Wow, I haven’t seen you since...you know…that night.” She tried not to bring up the thought of Halloween so she figured that vagueness was probably the best course of action. She took a step back to appraise the other, grinning from ear-to-ear. ”You look amazing. And...heh, thanks for the rescue,” she said, gesturing towards the bartender. ”Thought I was losing my touch.”
X-Gene Persuasion. When Winnie had first heard about this club, she was both ecstatic and a little scared. A bar where mutants could meet up, have some drinks and find some fun? Who would say no to that? Of course there was the tiny problem of mutants being the majority of the clientele. Winnie was a mutant but her abilities were something that she was understandably just a little sensitive about. While not everyone could hit the powers jackpot, for her it was doubly hard. She loved mutants, she loved being one, but she really wished that her powers weren’t so lame. After all, how was being a kiwi-shifter impressive?
But that was a small thing that Winnie wouldn’t let stop her from enjoying a night out, especially after the events of Halloween. Ugh, Halloween...it still occupied space in her mind. She had been wanting to forget that horrid night ever since it had happened but seem scars just ran too deep it seemed. There were still occasions where she would wake up with a fright, seeing people beating their own heads into a wall or clawing at their own skin. It was such a disturbing thing to have gone through that she couldn’t barely contain her own fear these days. But, she guessed that was what drinking was for.
It’s was “I Can’t Believe It’s the 80s” night at X-Gene, and Winnie was definitely up for that. That was the decade of some of her favorite music and cheesy action movies; mixed with alcohol, it would promise a fun evening for the short-haired photographer. So, deciding to go out solo tonight, she stepped out into the world ready to forget her problems.
Stepping into the club, Winnie had decided to dress the part of the 80s. Her usual, skin tight outfits were traded in for something a bit more in touch with the event, but still revealing. Black shorts with a rainbow of splatter colors wrapped around her tone posterior and firm legs while an off the shoulder, blue sweater covered her top. The neck of the sweater was large enough to hang off one arm and reveal the lacy black strap of her bra beneath it. Small, black, leather half boots clipped and clopped along the ground as she strolled in, tucking her clutch under her arm. She was here to have fun and fun she shall have.
The club itself was decorated in such a way to encapsulate the 80s, with various decor that hinted back to brighter, neon times. Even the music was spot on, with an energetic song pouring through the speakers and causing the crowd on the dance floor to move with feverish rhythm. Winnie grinned from ear to ear, nodding her head and bouncing on her two feet for a moment before she slipped away to the bar. Already she was feeling her troubles lifting away and that cursed night falling into the shadowy recesses of her mind.
Tonight would be good. Stepping away to the bar, Winnie managed to squeeze in between people and gave a flirtatious wink to the bartender who was seemingly trying to balance a number of drinks at the same time. Winnie did her best to grab his attention.
”Hey hun! Can I get a Lemon Drop?” she asked. The bartender did not seem to hear her over others asking for drinks and trying to keep orders straight in his head. Winnie rolled her eyes in annoyance and waited for him to actually have a moment to notice her. She was getting a drink tonight, goddammit.
Suddenly Winnie was feeling a little embarrassed for getting so angry over spilling a few candies. Really it wasn’t that big a deal, even if it was chocolate. At the end of the day, it was just an accident, it wasn’t as if someone had grabbed the bag from her hands and spilled the confectionary delights on purpose. It was just one of those things that happened to people at the worst of times and served as a reminder that the world wasn’t always supposed to be peaches and cream -- sometimes sh*t just happened, and that was okay.
As she started to gather the last bit that was close to her, she looked up when the other, covered and veiled woman walked up to her and handed over what she had been able to collect. A soft smile pulled at Winnie’s lips as she nodded her thanks, opening the bag for her to spill the candies into. The majority of it was gathered up now so there was no need to continue fretting. Any that managed to escape were not seen immediately and probably rolled far, far away. So long as they were out of the way, she was fine with that.
Candies collected, she tightly rolled up the open end of the bag and proceeded to tighten her grip on it. She was going to have to throw all these away now. Shame.
>>"I could buy you some more candies, if that would help make your day better,"
Winnie turned back to her new friend, smiling a bit sweetly at her. Honestly this woman didn’t seem for real. Maybe the photographer was just too cynical for this world but she was used to people...well...pretty much just acting like ***holes all the time. Sometimes the world just made you so bitter that when faced with someone with genuinely good intentions, it was actually hard to recognize. Taking a second, she just started to collect her camera back into her back and shook her head.
”That’s okay, sweetie,” she said. ”But thank you. That means a lot.” She said. She bit her lip a little, looking down watching the other, before she extended out her hand with a brilliant grin. ”My name’s Winnifred. But everyone just calls me Winnie.”
Winnie wasn’t startled by Jackie’s appearance. Rather she was intrigued by it. She had met all sorts of mutants in her life but absolutely none that looked like her new, massive friend. She was so quiet and adorable that the photographer couldn’t help but use the situation to her advantage, looking over Jackie with utmost scrutiny and taking her time as she did so. The last thing she wanted as for her friend to be uncomfortable but she was just too interesting to look upon.
And it was then, as she drew closer to the other, practically feeling the blushing radiating through her carapace, that Winnie leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. It wasn’t what she had expected. It wasn’t as rough...and yet it was. Jackiee was clearly built like a tank and had the power behind it too. When her lips pressed against the plate, she smiled a little before she broke the tender gesture and leaned back, offering the woman a kind smile. Jackie really was just too adorable.
Jackie stammered for a few seconds, seemingly unsure of what to say next. Not wanting to push her, Winnie sat back on her legs, giving the other her much needed space and kept her hands neatly upon her lap as she watched her. Was Jackie just not used to this kind of attention? If so, that was unfortunate. So she again expressed her gratitude to the mantis shrimp, utterly thankful for her life being saved. Really she had no idea how else to express herself.
>>“I had to...Anyone woulda done duh same.”
She snorted. ”In New York?” she asked with a small laugh. ”I’m sure most others would have just run away. Especially if all they saw was a stupid, tiny fat bird running away from the robot.” She breathed a sigh of relief. ”But you didn’t. And that’s all that matters to me.”
Moving off her legs, Winnie moved onto her side, on arm propped up against the back of the couch as she tilted her head, watching her rescuer. Jackie seemed unsure of what to do with herself now, especially after the tiny kiss. Partially she wondered how Jackie would have reacted if Winnie had just thrown herself at her heroine in an attempt to express her thanks. The poor thing probably would have just burst into flames.
>>“Sorry...I’n not used to… any-un 'eing so… s’riendly. You're too kind.”
Winnie just shook her head sweetly. ”Oh no, hunny, trust me, you deserve so much more for what you did tonight.” She sighed. Her stormy eyes rolled over Jackie again, scrutinizing her closely. ”You have a boyfriend, sweetie? A big, strapping gal like yourself certainly can’t still be on the market.”
It wasn’t long since the message was sent off to her bestie, but for a tiny kiwi bird, stuck out in the middle of the city, hiding in a dark, dank alley, it was an absolute eternity. Her journey out of the lying jackass’s condo had seemed like it happened eons ago and now she was cold, shivering, and hiding in an alley as her mind whipped around a hundred different scenarios. There were so many bad things that could happen to her and each and every one of them filled her with dread. Cats could attack her. Dogs. What if some transient tried to stick her on a pike and roast her over a fire! God her anxiety was simply not ceasing.
After the message was sent, Winnie tired to tuck herself into a dark crevice on the brick wall that had crumbled away due to moisture and age. In her hidey hole, she tried to keep an eye out, looking between the opening to the alley and the stolen clutch that was sitting in front of her. This was certainly not her finest moment but she had to thank whatever gods were watching over her that the drunk bimbo she stumbled across had neglected to tuck her clutch away and left her phone inside. Maybe there was some kind of higher power watching over her -- and maybe they just liked to toss her into situations to see if she could get out of them.
In her short, fat form, Winnie sighed and puffed her her tiny feathers and tucked her neck in. She tried to make herself as small and unseen as possible as she didn’t want to draw any unnecessary attention. She really and truly hoped that Nessa got her text message, otherwise she would be waiting a hell of a long time to nothing.
Just when it seemed as if she was going to have to suffer calling on one of her other friend’s, she saw the glare of headlights as it pulled up to the alley. Hopefully she stretched out her neck, peering around the corner of the crevice. She didn’t want to get too excited for rescue, as it could be anyone pulling up to the alley (even a crazed, gourmet, kiwi cook!) but she couldn’t allow herself to become completely pessimistic. It was only when a certain, familiar voice rang out did she breathe a sigh of relief.
>>”Winnie… I’m here… you still here? You… okay?”
Creeping out from the cavity in the wall a few feet down, Winnie breathed a sigh of relief. Nessa looked as if she had been sleeping before she got the call and standing there, with the can of mace in her hand, it almost made Winnie want to laugh if it weren’t for the situation. Strutting forward, slowly, as to not make sudden movements, she sighed as she stood up as tall as she could and tilted her head up towards her friend. The alley was dark so she probably wouldn’t be easily seen until she spoke. Thankfully her friend knew of Winnie’s condition or this was going to be a shock.
”Hey b***h,” she said a bit dejectedly. She grumbled as she slowly sloughed her way towards Nessa, looking completely worse for the wear. She was dirty, tired looking, and stuck as a f**king bird. Once she was directly in front of Nessa, she tilted her head up to her again. ”You’re a sight for sore eyes. I’ve had the absolute worse night.” It was so bad, she almost wanted to cry, and it definitely sounded like it in her voice. ”God, I hope I didn’t ruin yours. You look so...cozy?”
Winnie was assured that her day was going to be ruined because she had such a good session with her clients. It was almost like the universe was balancing itself out. Whenever she had a good day, the universe needed to correct itself immediately and throw some shitty luck her way. She should have been expecting it. Then again, it wasn’t as if it were all-together that bad a thing. They were just candies after all. However, for as much as Winnie wanted to believe that, she knew she could never bring herself to say those awful words. It was chocolate. CHOCOLATE! DAY. F***ING. RUINED.
With a grumble she moved onto her knees to start collecting her candies before some poor soul slipped and broke themselves on it. That was the last thing she needed. Not because she cared ALL that much, but because she didn’t want to be sued. It was pretty clear that she was the culprit and this world was full of people just waiting to screw you over.
Scooping as many close to her as she could, she grumbled as the majority of the people just walked over or past her without making any attempts to stop. Again, she was not surprised. It would have been more shocking if someone actually got off their ass to kneel down and help her pick this blasted things off the gro--
>>"Oh, I'm sorry."
Winnie jumped at the sudden voice. Looking up, she watched in complete surprised as another person, a woman who seemed draped from head to down in cloth which covered all but her eyes, crept close, helping to wrangle the wayward candies. Winnie breathed a sigh as she let the idea that someone was helping her sink in before she lifted her gaze, blushing a little for her earlier grumbling that returned to the task of scooping everything up.
”Not you’re fault, hunny,” she said with her very light, English lilt. ”But I appreciate your help nonetheless.” She said, shaking her hand and deposited what she collected back into the bag which would be promptly thrown away. ”Just my luck, though. I was having a good day. Of course something had to befall me,” she added with a cheeky grin.
Tonight was going far better than she had expected it would. When Winnie had gone out with her girlfriends, she was expecting a night out of drinking, fun, and laughter. Sure enough, the three, amazingly dressed women, had managed to achieve all their goals. They had bounced across three separate clubs, danced their butts off, and broken hearts left and right. By the end of the evening, Winnie had the phones of an extremely hot tattoo artist, a cougar who was out for a wild night, and was now in the midst of hooking up with one of the hottest Samoans she had ever seen.
The guy was massive...and extremely tall (snerk). Built like a tank, the man was muscular with long, black and blonde hair, unnatural blue eyes, and a manliest of beards. Winnie felt like absolute putty whenever she looked at him. Even when they got into the elevator to head up to his condo, she could still barely contain herself, smiling, biting her lip, and shifting between each heeled foot. Once they got halfway up the building, the sexual chemistry just engulfed them like a ball of wildfire.
The ding of the elevator rang like the bell of a prize fight. The two locked lips, Winnie hopping up into the man’s arm who easily picked her up as if she weighed absolutely nothing at all (and, given his muscles, she probably didn’t). Hefted up as soon as the elevator doors opened, Winnie was carried down the hall, a blur of lips locking, of exploring hands, and the fierce removal of clothing.
Somewhere along the line a door was opened and Winnie was carried within. Gently she was deposited down onto what had to be the softest couch. As her latest beau leaned back away from the couch, his shirt unbuttoned to reveal his chiseled and tattooed chest. She bit her lip, grinning wide as she sat up -- he still had far too many clothes on.
Winnie didn’t get that close a look at the highrise condo she was in, but from what she did see, she was absolutely impressed. The man had seemed to exude wealth when she saw him at the club and it was more than apparent given her current surroundings. But there was time to think about crystalline glassware and gold-inlaid countertops later on. Right now, being led into the bedroom, there were clearly other matters that required her utmost focus and attention.
Once the door was closed behind them, Winnie managed to disrobe rather quickly, down to just the lacy-est of her undergarments. As he leaned back in back, a wide smile on his perfect lips, Winnie advanced, a hunger in her eyes as she climbed onto his waist and locked lips with him again. All around them, the bedroom walls were lined with massive windows with the smoothest glass. The city skyline would have made an absolutely gorgeous sight to behold if she weren’t so preoccupied. But there would be time enough to look later.
However, just as his massive (yet skilled) hands managed to unhook her top and cast it aside, a strange flare could be seen streaking across the window. It took a second, especially since his lips were firmly clamped upon her neck, to notice that she was looked at a reflection -- a reflection of a bedroom door being opened and of a figure standing in the doorway.
A shrill scream followed led by a barrage of obscenities and the clatter of something being smashed…
It would be another hour before a message would be sent out, a cry for help sent across cellular waves to the last person that Winnie was expecting to see tonight. While she normally planned to go out with her bestie to paint the town red, her friend had been so ridiculously happy with her sweet and loving relationship that she didn’t want to impose. Sadly, it seemed, that even when she didn’t want to, she was going to disturb her friend’s evening. She only hoped and prayed to all the gods that she was available.
Peck, peck, peck… ”Sonnavab**** m*********ing goddamn s**tstorm of a f**king night!” Peck...peckpeck...peck… ”Ow!” Sigh. Peck...peckpeck...peck...peckpeckpeck….
Okay so maybe it was a little forward to just talk about Jackie’s mask the way that she did. The truth was that Winnie always believed in being herself and never allowing anyone to tell her otherwise. It was freeing once you realized that other people’s opinions didn’t matter and, all that did, was keep you from becoming the person that you wanted to be. Winnie was all about being herself and not letting anyone stand in her way; it was a message that she tried to pass one to anyone who came into her home -- even new friends.
Sitting up on her knees, she looked over Jackie, letting her know that the mask wasn’t needed here but, of course, she would understand if it made her new friend too uncomfortable to take it off. At the end of the day, she just wanted Jackie to feel comfortable in her own home. Wearing a mask like that, especially all day, couldn’t be comfortable. She remembered having to wear something similar to that in chemistry classes and only a few minutes in the inside gets all hot and sweaty. Why not lounge in comfort?
When she saw that Jackie was making moves to remove the mask, Winnie scooted back a little to give her room to move. The mutant was massive and Winnie didn’t want to crowd her too much. Still, her wide, stormy eyes watched her with extreme interest as the mask was pulled off, revealing the alien-like entity in front of her.
>>"Dere...No nask."
Winnie’s face was expressionless. She watched as Jackie’s face closely, her gaze immediately falling on the insect/alien-like mouth that was one hiding beneath it. It had some of the same rainbow coloring as the rest of the mutant’s carapace. She could imagine how some people would be terrified by the appearance but Winnie didn’t seemed completely fazed by it. It was interesting to look at, of course, but what mattered most was that Jackie was comfortable enough to remove it.
>>"It's worse when I snile,...I dunno. Suntines solks get weird."
Jackie smiled. Again, Winnie could see where some people would be turned off by it, but she didn’t twitch or shy away. Instead, staring, she just smiled a soft and gentle smile. Moving a bit closer on her knees, she leaned in, looking closely at her new friend’s mouth again before she leaned over and planted a soft kiss on what she assumed was supposed to be Jackie’s cheek.
”Some folks are stupid,” she said, her smile still there. ”Thank you, again, for saving me.”
Winnie was 100% done with this hotel. She was done with Halloween. She was done with partying. All she wanted to do was find a nice warm bed to crawl into and, if someone wanted to join her to help comfort the evil thoughts away, even better. But first that meant getting off this cold ass roof where she was just mentally f**ked with by some hormone driven psycho-b**ch. Really, it was a tough night and she would be thankful to put it behind her.
Lamenting that she needed a drink, preferably enough of them to forget the night, Winnie turned her stormy eyes back towards the scene, watching as Amazing Lady seemed to take charge of watching over the fallen hero. It almost looked as if the woman did this for a living, something that she never would have guessed. She took two steps towards her before she stopped, her eyes falling on the advances of the blonde “Sandy” whom she had met earlier in the evening.
>>”I’m with you there,...What do you say we forget about all of this somewhere else?”
Honestly that was probably the best offer she had heard all night. Mainly because it would mean she didn’t have to be here anymore, but the woman was attractive and seemingly eager to hightail it out of the hotel as well. She didn’t know where the night would take them but Winnie was certainly not going to let the uncertainly stop her from agreeing.
She nodded.
”Please, sweetie?” she said with a sigh. ”I’m in desperate need of it.”
The drink, she meant…
>>“You guys, help me roll him on his side.”
However, before Winnie could leave, Amazing Lady called out towards them. She needed help moving the hero-guy over. While Winnie didn’t like to get involved with things like this, she couldn’t just leave so cold-heartedly. The guy did save them, after all. So, with a slight sigh, she marched forward, knelt down, and grunted as she helped the Amazonian to tilted the man over onto his side, as securely as she could. Only when it was done did she stand up and roll her sore shoulder. There, her good deed for the year was done.
”I need to get out of here,” she nodded to Amazing Lady. ”Take care of him, hun. I need to leave before cops show up and start holding people for questioning. I’m way not about it right now.” She slumped her shoulders, walking back to Sandy and draping her arm around her shoulder, leaning against her tiredly. ”Come on, Sandy. You promised me a drink.” She said, steering her towards the exit to the roof and back out. This night needed to be put as far behind her as possible...
Winnie had to admit that the mask intrigued her. Not to be rude or anything but considering Jackie’s size and stature, what use was there for a tiny mask across the mouth? It almost seemed a little unnecessary considering it all. If she wanted to hide her identity, surely there were better ways, right? But rather than spend all night thinking about it, Winnie decided to just be upfront and ask -- what was with the mask? If it was a sore subject, of course she wouldn’t pursue, but she wouldn’t know if it was sore or not if she didn’t ask.
>>"Ny... nouth... is weird...Like a crustacean. S-reaks 'eo'le out, so I try to kee' it co'ered when I'n outside. Not sick, just... nod-est."
She tilted her head, curious, watching Jackie as she explained. It sounded like her mutation affected her face greatly, making it seem like a crustacean’s, something which apparently made other people uncomfortable.
Winnie found this curious. She tried to imagine what it could look like. Did crabs even have mouths? She tried to see it in her mind but the only image that popped up were overly cartoony creatures with big smiling faces and bulbous eyes. She really needed to watch more nature documentaries, but she tended to avoid those since they just reminded her of her mutation.
>>"I sink uzz it like... glasses...Hel' nee interat wiss duh world a little easier."
A second of silence as Winnie narrowed her eyes up at her new friend. Moving her head off of her arm, Winnie moved onto her knees to look more closely at her, peering at her face. After a bit more scrutiny, she gave Jackie a soft smile, sighed and straightened up a bit.
”You know...you’re not outside...right? And me? I don’t freak out easy.” She said this as she kept her hands on her knees, watching Jackie’s lovely eyes. ”If you want to take it off...you can. I don’t bite. Promise.”
Winnie had to admit that she was most often jealous of other mutants. The majority that she met or heard about had so many awesome and great abilities that she would rather have that than just turning into a useless little bird. Really, what good was she? Sure she was absolutely adorable but that would only carry her so far in life. Sometimes it was just better to not admit she was a mutant and just live her life as quietly as possible. But it seemed that even the quiet life was wrought with difficulties.
Who would have expected what happened tonight to actually happen? She wasn’t a threat to anyone. Clearly the METAbot was completely haywire, but it definitely served as a reminder that nothing in this world was safe. Perfect.
>>"At least you're cute, I nean- as a kiwi-! Kiwis are cute. Dough dat's not to say dat your hyu-nan sel-s isn't alo cute..."
Winnie lifted her head off Jackie’s shoulder and looked up at her. She started into her eyes for a moment before a grin hooked the corners of her lips. Really it was the sweetest of compliments, even as the other tried to backtrack from her initial comments. Winnie tilted her head, looking her up and down briefly before she snorted a little bit and just sighed.
”You’re a sweetheart, Jackie, truly,”. It was then that Winnie decided to rest her head upon her new friend’s shoulder -- if she would allow it, that is. Some people had a thing about personal space, not something that Winnie had ever let stop her in the past, but it would have been rude to act in such a way with her rescuer.
>>"Hun, I'n not duh 'est 'illow...I'n all co'ered in s'ines and ridges, and all..."
Winnie just shrugged her shoulders as she carefully nestled against the other woman’s arm. She wasn’t moving so she took that as the invitation to continue. Jackie was right, there were little spines and ridges and hardness under the cloth of the hoodie but Winnie was mindful and waited until she found exactly the spot that felt comfortable.
”You feel pretty comfy to me,” she said with a yawn. She persisted in keeping the ice on Jackie’s sore arm. ”Just for a second anyways.” Winnie sighed, easing her new friend’s arm, staring at her empty apartment. Slowly her eyes drifted up, following the path of Jackie’s hoodie until she found the other mutant’s eyes. She watched her for a second until her curiosity got the better of her. Eyeing the surgical mask she wore, Winnie nodded to it. ”Jackie...what’s with the mask, love? You sick or trying to avoid getting sick?”
Okay, so that happened. Winnie could scarcely remember everything that occurred. She vaguely remembered looking up and watching the sky split open and denizens from some dark dimensions fell from the sky like so much rain. It was enough to make her want to rip her own little eyes out. In a panic she ran, bolting from side to side, away from Amazing Lady and trying to stay as far away from the terrifying schoolgirl with the demonic eyes. She wanted nothing more than to just throw herself into a dark hole and pull it in after her, but it seemed she would have to face to her fears.
Watching the powerful Thor take on the lady, rattling the entire roof with powers that she didn’t know he possessed, the tiny kiwi ran and tried to make herself as small and unseen as possible. As she fled, she jumped, slashing her talons at invisible enemies, snapping her beak, fighting with anything and everything she had while her tiny heart pumped impossibly fast in her chest. Death or victory, she didn’t care anymore, she just wanted to be out of here.
And then, everything went still. First Amazing Lady, gripped with terror and screaming like a banshee marched over to the fallen girl, slamming her heel into the woman’s leg and peppering spraying her until she about puked. Lastly, Thor intervened, delivering a powerful punch to the side of the young girl’s head and effectively knocking her unconscious.
After that, it was a miracle. The fear that enveloped her mind seemed to lessen and lessen. It was as if the heavy weight of her fears had suddenly sprung a leak and were pouring out of her, spilling onto the ground. She grew lighter and lighter until, finally, all her fears just evaporated, leaving the kiwi standing on the ground, looking utterly confused. Her eyes swept over the scene, her fear growing less and less, her body untensing, until, finally…
POP!!
A tiny burst of sound and, standing where there was a once a kiwi bird, Winnie now stood, still in her tight-fitting Toxin costume. She gulped, looking down at her hands, relief washing over her at the fact that she was not going to be stuck in that stupid fat bird form any longer than she had to. Her hands falling her to sides, she turned, her gaze sweeping across the rooftop and everyone gathered. Really, this was not how she had expected her night to go. Already the sounds of sirens advancing on the hotel struck her ears and she sighed -- too little, too late.
Glancing to the nearest person, she scoffed, briefly running her hands through her crop of pixie-cut hair. ”Well...I...I’m definitely ready to drink enough to kill every brain cell that tries to remember even a second of tonight.”
Every photographer has their favorite subject. For some, they love landscapes, for others they enjoy a nice still life; for Winnifred Ann Wickham, surprisingly it was engagement photos. She didn’t know why they appealed to her, she had dealt with some real bridezillas in her life, but for some reason the majority of the couples that she worked with tended to be so, so sweet. There was so much hope in their eyes, plans that they couldn’t wait to make for the future. Even though Winnie had no plans of ever being married (an idea which could possibly change down the line), she still found herself smiling so brightly whenever she worked with these couples in love.
Today’s photoshoot was of two lovely women. Both were gorgeous, both in cute dresses and with smiles that could light up a room. Winnie herself was dressed in trousers, with white shirt, loose tie, and jacket with the sleeves rolled up. Upon her head sat a soft, brown fedora, which she kept having to tilt back in order to keep her professional camera up to her eye. Still, the two women were adorable, accommodating, and picked an absolutely beautiful venue.
The Grand Central Terminal in New York was one of the business train stations in the world. It could be a real pain to get good pictures here, especially which how busy the station was. People milled about, traveling from one end of the terminal to the other, rushing through her shots, or stopping and looking extremely irritated by it. Still, as much as Winnie wanted to raise her voice to these people, she bit her tongue; she had to be professional, after all.
In the end, against the picturesque scenery, Winnie managed to take some absolutely amazing photographs. With her two brides happy with the previews that she offered, the photographer waved them both away with promises that they would be sent to them by the end of tomorrow. They still needed to be downloaded, cropped, and touched up, but they would be perfect -- she would ensure that they were.
Returning to a bench, Winnie side as she planted herself down and casually crossed one leg over the other. She pulled her camera bag onto her lap as she turned around her camera to once again go through the previews that she had shot. It was quick work to delete the ones that were not the best and flag those that she had every intention of fixing up and sending to the two women. As she was working though, Winnie pulled a plastic baggie from her pack, a snack that she had been saving for herself -- M&Ms.
Now, Winnie rarely indulged herself in chocolate but she liked to treat herself after a good photoshoot. However, what she didn’t realize was that her baggie had a tear at the bottom. Once she had lifted the bag up, there was a sound of cascading chocolates that spilled across her lap and down across the smooth, marbled floor. Watching the rainbow of chocolate roll away from her, Winnie squeaked as she tried to catch a few but only proceeded to send them spraying outward and further away.
”Ugh! Goddamn m**********g piece of **** *** ******* candies!!” she growled with her patented sailor’s mouth. Shoving her camera back into her bag and zipping it up, she grumbled as she moved onto her knees to collect everything. As much she wanted to leave this for someone else to fix, the last thing she needed was to be banned from this place for leaving a mess.
Winnie was no stranger to having guests over. Friends, callers, clients, Winnie had a veritable hodgepodge of people arriving at her door, being led in to sit, chat, or make-out. Because of this, the young woman was fairly comfortable having another person in her living space. Of course, when it came to Jackie, that was an entirely different story. While Winnie had no qualms about having mutants over, she wondered if Jackie were at all comfortable here. So many knick-knacks were littered about, things that could easily be knocked over by Jackie and her bulk as she just moved about normally. Really, maybe the meeting should have just ended at the doorstep.
But, Winnie was not one to allow such discomforts to keep her from showing her thanks. The giant prawn mutant had risked her life to save hers, the least she could do was ice down her arm until it felt better. Besides, it would give the two of them some more time to chat, something for which Winnie was eager for with her new friend. So many questions and all that...
>>"Any-un woulda done dat...Us nyu-tants gotta look out sore each udder..."
Winnie nodded. ”Agreed,” she said. ”Too many bad things already happening out there for us to not look out for one another.” She shrugged, chewing her lip sadly. ”Even those of us with really, really lame powers.”
Her powers were the one thing that she really didn’t care for about herself. Everything else she loved or could live with (no one was perfect, after all) but her abilities were, for the most part, utterly useless. Really, she saw no use in them and tonight was the perfect example. She could have been killed and, the whole time, she wouldn’t have been able to do a damn thing about it. That alone was pretty depressing.
She sighed, not really wanting to get into it, but instead changed hands as the ice was getting a bit too cold to hold with one.
>>"I can hold duh ice...Is you want."
A kindly smile and she just shook her head. Leaning back against the couch, she closed her eyes, holding the ice against Jackie’s arm and resting her head against her shoulder. ”Oh, it’s no trouble, sweetie. I really just want to sit down after all that.” She yawned again, nestling her cheek against her friend’s shoulder. ”You don’t mind, right? I’m just so wiped after all that.”
Winnie was officially exhausted. On top of that, she could still feel the fear surging through her body. She wanted nothing more than to crawl into a little puff and just disappear from the world, will herself back into her warm bed so she could curl up and just sleep the night away. She didn’t even care if she were still in her kiwi-form, or if she were risking being stuck in it the rest of her life, she just wanted to be home, in bed, safe under her covers and shut off from the rest of the world.
But no. She had to move. As much as the fear was creeping in, she knew that she needed to keep moving, or she was definitely going to end up dead. Some insane driven man or woman was going to step on her, kick her, mistake her for coconut and try to crack her open, she knew something along those lines was going to happen. So, pushing herself as best she could, Winnie tried to ascend the stairs one gigantic step at a time. However, it was useless.
She was too small and she didn’t have the ability to make those climbs easily. It would be doomsday before she made it to the top. So, flopping on her butt, she shook her head, angrily, her pulse pounding in her head. She just wanted to go hooooooome!!
”What in the bloody f**king hell is happening?!” she squirmed and shook.
There it was. She was scooped up, rather unceremoniously, and was being dangled by her two legs. Winnie flailed and snapped her beak, trying to get a good look at the villain who could do this.
>>“Sorry.”
Amazing Lady. Well, for as much as her heart about pounding, at least she knew it was going towards a good cause. The other had picked her up in an attempt to carry her out of the dangerous hallway and up to the roof where the hero had gone. Though she understood she was being rescued, that didn’t stop of her letting of a litany of swears and curses at the indignity of it all. When, finally, they made it to the roof...Winnie realized she did not feel any better.
It was insanity up here. Standing there, in the midst of the smoke, she looked up and watched as the sky itself was split. The horrors within, well, they reminded her why she never experimented with drugs. Ugh! It was...it was just so absolutely horrible! Up ahead, though, she could see through the smoke, the source of this disturbance, a teenage girl with smoke flowing out from around her like a river -- including the terrible beast that now claimed a spot between her and the hero from earlier.
This was not good. A glance and she spied Sandy, though not in costume anymore. Odd, how did she change so quickly?
