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.
Javier did not really like to rely on asking favors. It came with too many awkward considerations, and it made him feel like he was being a burden on someone else's time and energy. But now he was in Booker's apartment, at Booker's invitation, so there was really no other way around managing to look halfway presentable.
>>”Not a problem at all! Can’t very well let you sit around all day in soot, can I?... If you want to get started in the shower, feel free. If you’d rather way until I get back with clothes for you then take a look around. Just...don’t pick up anything that ancient or cursed, okay?”
Javier laughed a little, and Booker hurried away to get some clothes. He decided to stay outside the bathroom and wait, to avoid the awkward dilemma of whether Booker wanted to bring the clothes in, or if he'd have to venture out for them in a towel, like some strange romantic movie. Javier sighed, shaking is head as overthinking threatened to overwhelm him again. To calm down, he filled the waiting time with going through his utility belt, making sure he still had his keys, money, ID, phone, and other important items.
He looked up when Booker returned with some clothes.
"Thanks" he smiled a little awkwardly "I'll just be a minute..."
Other people's bathrooms were dangerous territory. Once left alone, Javier made sure to take a look around, to avoid accidentally knocking things over. He carefully peeled off his clothes, put them in a small pile, then got into the shower. The hot water (once he found it) was relaxing to his sore muscles, and washed the dust and sweat away. He couldn't help but sense that the scent of the soap was familiar. Once he got out and dried off, he made sure that the shower was clean, and that he did not splash water everywhere. He only noticed the words on the shirt when he put it on. It was not a snug fit, but at least it didn't hand too awkwardly on his lighter frame. It also smelled clean, and in a way it smelled like Booker. Javier read the writing, smiled a little, and for a moment indulged in a fantasy in which the shirt-giving had been actually intentional.
Oh come on, dude. Now you're just a teenage girl.
It wasn't like Javier was afraid to admit that he had a crush on Booker. That seemed like the default thing to have. Booker was so nice and friendly to everyone, just so... likable, in many ways, that Javier was surprised he was not being followed around by fans all the time. It was only natural to have some sort of a crush on him. But that didn't mean Javier would ever be dumb enough to actually assume it was something he should act on.
He walked out of the bathroom in the shirt and the pants (the latter at least held up well enough not to cause any worries).
"A lot better" he sighed with a smile. He absent-mindedly rubbed his forearms, where the bruises and scratches were more visible now, after the shower. Things felt like they were slowly getting back to normal. "Shower's all yours, Lieutenant..."
They walked in, both taking off their boots at the entrance. Javier was feeling curious about the apartment, even though the adrenaline had left his system a while ago, and he was also beginning to feel the aftereffects of the fight. His clothes were definitely showing the damage. The utility belt was mostly intact, but the shoulder strap was gone, and there were tears in his shirt. Booker stepped closer, assessing the damage with a light touch, which made Javier grow still.
>>”Can’t take you anywhere nice, can I?”
He felt his cheeks turn red. Booker had his shield and helmet off now, and there was the usual good-natured, mischievous look in his eyes. He probably once again did not realize what his words sounded like from the outside.
Javier looked around the apartment as Booker allowed him a moment, making a joke about his costume. It was nice, definitely showing signs of two different people living there, although it was not always easy which thing belonged to which person. The nerdy stuff, that he could guess. It was endearing in a way, much like Booker himself.
>>’That’s right, you wanted to clean up, right? Bathroom is in there, feel free to use anything that isn’t decidedly female looking, those belong to my sister. If you want I can take a look and see if I have anything spare for you to wear? I’m a…little taller than you but, I’m sure I can find something that works.”
Javier cleared his throat. The idea of wearing Booker's clothes was... weird. Strangely familiar, in a way that he felt like he was definitely crossing over into some kind of personal space.
"A shirt would be nice" he nodded finally, resolving to the idea that Booker's shirt was going to look loose on him "The pants just... I just need something until they are clean. If it's not a problem to wash them?" Having worn black to the con, his cargo pants were now a mess of dust and paint chips from the falling debris. He really did not need to trek that all over the apartment.
Booker's apartment really wasn't that far from the convention center. Once they got out, managing to dodge security and the cops (which Javier felt really guilty about, but told himself he'd volunteer information later), it only took a short walk to get away from the crowd and the con madness. Apparently there were other problems going on at other parts of the convention center, so Javier was not at all disappointed to be walking away from it. Holding hands with Booker.
It was instinct at first, as they walked out of the lecture room; he held on so that they wouldn't lose each other in the crowd. Then he just kind of followed along, still reeling from all they had been through, and then by the time he realized they were walking hand in hand, Javier immediately began stressing about whether or not he should break contact, or if that would come off as rude, or keeping it could be seen as a sign, or whether Booker was just holding on out of politeness. Yeah, the anxiety was still there.
Eventually, arriving to the building gave Javier the opportunity to let go (and the admission that, had he not had so many doubts and worries, he would have enjoyed holding hands), and he followed Booker inside the apartment. So far, so good. Privacy, and quiet, and possibly some cleanup. Javier glanced around in the same awkward way he usually did when vising people's personal spaces. Was he expected to take his shoes off? He did, just to be safe. He was kind of curious to see where Booker lived, but really did not want to intrude.
"I think my shirt is toast" he noted with a sigh, taking stock of the damage that needed to clean up "Wasn't planning on actually... you know, getting in a fight..." he added with a small smile "Yours definitely fared better."
It was hard to admit sometimes that one needed to quit. Javier was not proud of it, but it was something that went with his GAD; when things got overwhelming, it was better to get out than to try to power his way through it. And besides, as much as he wanted to stay at the con, a lot of it now was going to be cleanup and police investigation. He was not sure he was ready for that.
>>”Yeah, of course. Don’t worry about. There’s always another con. And even some where murderous mutants are running amok, promise.”
Javier nodded with a small smile. Of course Booker understood. He was a very empathic guy. Javier knew that this fight at the con was an exception to the rule; maybe another con, another time, they could just spend a day looking at merchandise and taking pictures.
>>”Umm, if you want you can always come back to my place. I don’t live far from here and it’s the closest I can think of for you to clean up. Trust me, after a con, I tend to need a shower too.”
Well that was... going to people's places generally made Javier anxious about a lot of things, from tracking mud in all the way to seeing things he was not supposed to see. But he was not sure he would make it all the way back home alone, and going somewhere quiet and private to clean up just sounded to good to pass up. Plus, it was Booker. He had a way of putting Javi at ease.
"Yes, that sounds good... if it's not too much trouble." he nodded, standing up. He was a little unsure on his feet, but he was sure he could make it as far as the apartment, at least.
As they walked back out of the room and towards the exit, they could see that the cleanup had already started, and MRC was all over the place. Javier would not have been surprised if the X-men showed up too.
"This is going to be all over the news..." he sighed, thinking of the people taking videos of the whole thing. "Should we, like... talk to them?" He really did not feel the strength to, but Javier liked to follow the rules, and as a witness...
They settled in for the time being, in an exchange of apologies, blushes, and a whole lot of things to think through and not say out loud. Javier sat back, enjoying the closeness. Of course he could not really feel it, physically, but the idea of being inside Booker's aura was very comforting. He wondered why he had not trusted the librarian sooner with telling him about his powers.
>>”You don’t have to apologize for that, it...wasn’t my business to know...at least until you wanted to tell me.”
Oh, he wanted to. Being a mutant was a part of him... but somehow it never felt like the right time. It wasn't the fact that he was genetically atypical; more of the fact that there was no easy way to explain, or demonstrate, strength that sometimes was there and sometimes wasn't, and cut in and out without any reasonable explanation.
>>”They may be unreliable...but...they kicked in at the right time, I’d say. You’re alive, aren’t you? And that… ...I’m very happy about.”
Booker's hand found his, and Javier froze, a wave of warmth rushing through him as he looked into the librarian's eyes. There was something in the way he looked at him, something that was just... mesmerizing. Javier knew that the moment was bound to be awkward soon, but he was also not strong enough to break it. So he just sat there in quiet, enjoying the soft touch and the look. Was this... a moment? Did he feel something for Booker?... The warmth was definitely a yes. But the implications were too much to handle. He felt a little dizzy, as if he was going to fall forward any minute. Like Booker had some kind of magnetic field, instead of an aura.
"Can we... go somewhere else?" he said finally, in a small voice, knowing full well that he was being pathetic "I'm sorry, I wanted to spend the day at the con, but I feel like..." he glanced down at his outfit, dirtied by the debris and torn in a couple of places "I feel like I need to clean up." he sighed. Physically and mentally. The bruises were starting to hurt.
They were both slowly relaxing into their seats as the excitement of the fight wore off. The lecture hall was dark and refreshingly quiet, and being inside Booker's aura somehow made Javier relax even more. Now he did not need to wonder why his powers worked or did not work. The fatigue from using them was still present, but for the time being, he did not have to go anywhere. He left his hand on Booker's arm. It was nice to have some reassuring physical contact, after what they had just been through.
>>”Kind of. My aura is kind of...always on. I can’t control it but it has a pretty wide radius. Soooo… I guess that...I didn’t really have to stand in front of you...that was just...kind of…instinct...I guess.”
Now it was Javier's turn to blush, and get a fluttery feeling in his stomach, vastly different from the cold fear before. For someone to stand in the way of a laser blast on instinct, to protect him, even if he knew he wouldn't be hurt... it was... something no one had done for him before. It was... movie level heroic stuff. And it kind of just came naturally to Booker. Like so many other amazing things. Sure, Javier had shielded him too, early in the fight - but it didn't exactly go as well as planned, due to his powers not kicking in. Which made a lot more sense now, in retrospect.
"Well... I really appreciate it." he said finally "The instinct, I mean, it's just... I don't know how many people would have done that."
Booker really did not need to wear the costume for the whole superhero thing. Javier would have said more, but he did not want to make the whole thing awkward by implying that it was somehow... personal.
"And I'm sorry I didn't tell you either. About my powers I mean. I don't... use them all that much. I mean, it's just strength... and it's pretty unreliable."
There was a clear look of relief in Booker's face, which made Javier feel a little less guilty about having a laughing fit. The librarian must have really worried about hurting his feelings with... canceling his powers, or at least not telling him that he had that ability. Bless him. They both laughed like teenage girls, and the presenter at the front of the room gave them a disapproving look. Javier blushed, and sank deeper into his seat. Really, none of this was Booker's fault.
>>”Yeah...I guess not… I guess it’s just easier to apologize for nothing than to say nothing for everything? My sister always says I’m a glutton for punishment. Maybe she’s right.”
"Yeah, my brother says the same" Javier chuckled. Really, he was no stranger to unnecessary apologies.
>>”You sure you’re okay? That nutjob didn’t hurt you, did he? I...I’m not sure what I would have done if he actually hurt you.”
The look in Javier's eyes softened. There was genuine concern in Booker's voice. It was probably because he had lured him out to the con, and felt responsible for the things that had gone wrong... but Javier did not really blame him for any of it. Especially after being saved by Booker.
"No, he didn't hurt me. Thanks to you." he put a hand on Booker's arm. He ha taken a hit by the falling debris, but survived thanks to his powers; but that would have been all for naught if the laser eyes had hit him. "So, when you stood in front of me... you were using your... aura, to protect me? Is that how that works?..."
Javier was still not sure what happened, back in the vendor hall. Neither of them were really hurt (although he could feel he was going to have bruises), and definitely not dead, which was a win, but there was no explanation for it, other than, somehow, Booker managed to stand up to Above Average Man (or a very life-like replica of him), and win. He took the power bar when it was offered, but did not open it yet.
>>”I’m an...adapted. I’m not a mutant...I’m...something else. There aren’t a lot of us but, essentially, we give off this…...aura that can turn off mutants powers and their effects. So when Above Average tried to shoot you with his heat vision, my aura just...cancelled it out.”
Javier's eyes widened as he took in the information. Booker was not a mutant, but... he was... something. Adapted? With an aura that...?
>>”I...I should have said something. I’m sorry. I always make it a point to tell mutants when I meet them because I never know how my powers will effect them. Some don’t notice anything, for others it can...hurt them. I’m sorry, Javi. I should have been more honest.”
Javier just stared for a long moment, processing several levels of information: The adapted thing, Booker's guilty look and confession, that he should have... ... and then he laughed.
It was quiet at first, with a slow smile appearing on Javier's face, and then his shoulders started to shake, and after that, it was unstoppable. He covered his mouth with his hand in order to stifle it (there was still a lecture droning on, after all), but it was laughter nonetheless, and he felt tears appear in his eyes from the mixture of surprise and relief and just sheer amusement in hindsight of all that happened to them. It took him several minutes to catch his breath.
Oh god, he must be thinking I snapped.
"That was you!" he gasped finally, trying to keep his voice down "That's why my powers didn't work around you!" he laughed, shaking his head, trying to pull himself together "And I was thinking I'm such a dork..." he snorted, then covered his mouth again "I'm sorry... But... Booker, you didn't know I was a mutant either... it's not like you had a reason to tell..."
The few times Javier ha really gone over the top with using his powers, the aftermath had always been awful. He was already feeling dizzy, and the strength was definitely gone. If they had been attacked again, he knew he would be useless. Even Booker must have been able to tell, because his face was a clear look of concern.
Steadied by his friend, Javier walked out of the devastated hallway, and through a door into a darker, quieter room. Booker guided him to a seat in the back; the few people actually attending the lecture were towards the front, to no one even really looked up when they walked in. Also, somehow they missed the ruckus outside. Or they thought it was normal. Javier sighed as he sank into a chair.
>>”Are you okay?”
"Just drained" Javier nodded, focusing on his breathing. It would have been really embarrassing to pass out now that everything was done. "Are you okay?" He turned to take a closer look. Booker's costume was wrinkled, but it was not torn or even singed. The blast really never reached him, somehow, but Javier wanted to reassure himself by checking anyway. "How did you...?"
The heat vision was definitely going to hurt. Javier knew that he had nothing in his power set that would block that, and not enough time to get out of Above Average's line of sight in literally a blink of an eye. The best he could do was brace for impact... and then the red glow was blocked by something moving in front of him.
"B..."
For a moment, he assumed the worst. Then the moment dragged on, it turned into several moments, and there was a confusing lack of... anything. No cry of pain, or fire, or... actual pain. Javier was still registering the fact that Booker was standing in front of him, shielding him, from what should have been a lethal blast. Except, it kinda... fizzled?
>>”It’s time to put away the costume, fanboy!”
Javier shifted to look around Booker (the librarian was taller than him), and saw his own confused expression mirrored in Above Average's face. The shield flew, cutting across he distance... and then clattered harmlessly to the ground.
>>’That was completely uncool,”
"You two are both freaks!" Above Average spat, beginning to make his way to the nearest exit "Totally unrealistic! The both of you! Screw you... freaks!"
Javier drew a deep breath, and actually felt it. Was this what it felt like to survive a fight? He looked up at Booker, who was still mourning the loss of a perfectly good shield throwing opportunity. Adrenaline was ebbing away, and it made him dizzy.
"I think... I'd like to... go to one of those not crowded places now, please?"
There was dust and fire in the hall now, and people were beginning to get the idea that it was about time to clear out. Javier was gasping for breath too; his powers saved his life, but he knew they were not unlimited, and he was not sure how long he could hold on to them this time. He kept an eye on Above Average, who was still unsure in his next step.
Booker. He was alive, and still there, despite how bad things were going. Javier sighed at the question. This was... definitely not how he wanted to break the news to his friend.
"Yeah. Sorry, I should have told you earlier, it was just never... I don't usually..."
"DUDE!" Above Average was slowly catching up "That was freakin' EPIC!"
Javier stared at the guy, bewildered. What the hell was his problem?... He just almost killed a man, and he was impressed with what, Javier's powers?...
"You... really need to shut up." Javier sighed, suddenly feeling drained.
"Oh come ON! What else can you brush off?" Above Avergae, completely out of character, was excited about the prospect of the new fight.
Some people laughed as Above Average crashed into the pile of debris. Others protested about someone in a no-name costume messing up the epic canon showdown. As far as Javier was concerned, both were annoying. He really hated being in the spotlight, and he did not care for the canon. But Booker was in trouble, and he really needed to... not be in trouble.
Javier saw Booker struggle with Flying Fox only briefly, before his own opponent gathered his wits and got up, with the most dignity he could muster after being thrown by the cape.
"You!... Who the hell are you?"
Javier turned back towards Above Average, and it dawned on him that now he had the so-called superhero's full attention. He really... did not think this far ahead.
"I'm no one." he said, keeping a wary eye on the man. He had no focus to make up a more elegant response "But you really need to stop fighting. People are getting hurt!"
"That's the idea, idiot!"
Javier's eyes narrowed. That answer in itself was infuriating, but the way the man said it even more so. Above Average stepped towards him.
"Collateral damage. That's the idea. Superhero fights don't go down without casualties."
Javier could feel his stomach turn into a ball of ice as he realized that he was, in fact, in a superpowered fight. And no idea how to get out of it.
"And you are no one." echoed Above Average mockingly "Therefore, you are part of the collateral."
The laser eyes shot upwards and out, and a chunk of the ceiling and the wall gave way, falling in. Javier moved, but too late; for a moment, everything was dust and concrete, and then Javier stood up, too angry to worry about whether or not he should have been dead.
"You. Need. To stop!" he snapped, tossing a slab of concrete aside. Above Average Man blinked in surprise.
Javier tried to summon up his strength, and failed again. He was no stronger than an average human right now, and therefore the only thing he could do was what any average human could: Try to help, to the best of his limited abilities. There would be time to be frustrated about his own failure later.
>>”Don’t worry. We got this,”
Booker and Javier lifted a piece of concrete together, and freed the person trapped under it. At least they were helping. Security was still overwhelmed with the fight happening between the two crazy movie enthusiasts.
>>”LIEUTENANT U.S.A.!!! You don’t belong here!!”
Javier jumped as Booker turned, the name of his cosplay alterego being called by Flying Fox. Javier's stomach sank. Why were they getting dragged into this idiotic fight?...
>>”Guys! It was just a movie! You’re taking this too far! People are going to die!”
>>”Good!! They’re probably fans of your stupid movie, Union Combat!!”
Javier felt like he was frozen, and probably about to be sick. The urge to flee was getting stronger. People were going to die? And they were okay with that? The reality of the situation was beginning to sink in. These people were insane. And dangerous. And the next moment, Booker was being dragged away.
"Booker!" Javier yelled, grabbing after him, but the librarian was pulled out of his reach, and yanked across the hall towards Flying Fox. Above Average Man paused in his path of destruction to watch the developments.
"Yeah!" he agreed "You think you guys are so much better than us? We can take you without breaking a sweat!"
Javier could only see Above Average's back and rolling cape, but the telltale red glow told him exactly what was about to happen. They were not going to stop, and they were not going to pull any punches.
Above Average lunged towards Booker, eyes burning a path into the floor... and then came to a sudden halt, followed by a surprised cry as he was yanked back by his cape, and thrown clear across the hall, landing on top of a pile of debris with a crash. Javier, both relieved and stunned at his own actions, stood where he had been a moment ago.
Javier could already feel a headache coming on as he looked around at the chaos. Hist first instinct was to run. Get out, get away. It was a very normal instinct to have, and yet he felt even more of a failure now that his powers didn't even kick in for a minute.
>>”Yeah. Alive and breathing. You?”
"I'm okay." He wasn't, but there was really no time for self-pity right now.
>>”We are your defenders of justice!”
>>”And we need to settle this! Unlike that stupid movie!!!”
"They are really doing this because of a movie?" Javier winced as another laser blast went off. People scattered, but some things were falling over now, blocking parts of the hallway, and trapping people in.
>>”Someone has to help them… ...I have to.”
Of course he did. Not because he was dressed as a superhero, but because he was Booker, and Javier would have really been surprised if his friend had run the other way. And because he didn't, neither was Javier. Maybe his powers would kick in, eventually?
They hurried over to the debris that had some people trapped. Some pieces of the wall fell off, and tables piled up, and... there was just a whole lot of chaos. Javier moved to shift some pieces off the pile. It was not impossible to do with normal human strength, but if there had even been a time where he could have really used his powers... "Why the hell is it not working?!" he muttered, feeling ashamed, even though no one really expected him to do anything out of the ordinary. Well, at least he could help Booker do the hero thing.
Javier opened his eyes and blinked. The perspective... was off. Was he... on the ground? He groaned, turning his head, trying to her his bearings. Above him, he could see Booker's face. He looked... scared.
Right. The fight.
"Ow." Javier sat up, dizzy from the impact, reacquainting himself with directions. He must have landed on Booker, because he did not feel any sharp pain from the fall... except on his arms, where he had braced to stop the flying table. Half-table. Obvious that didn't work out.
"Dammit." Javier looked at his arms, where already bruises were forming. What a time for his useless powers to completely crap out. It was the smallest thing any mutant with enhanced strength could do, he had done a lot worse before... and yet, this time, he totally failed. And managed to fall on Booker in the process. "Dammit. Are you okay?..."
Flying Fox and Above Average Man were still going at it. People were yelling now, and the chaos was mounting every moment. Above Average got another missed hit, and his punch rattled the walls of the hallway. The security people were focusing on getting people away from the scene.
