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.
Posted by Locke N. Tori on Dec 28, 2009 19:33:02 GMT -6
Beta Mutant
566
2
Jul 29, 2017 19:08:13 GMT -6
The tips of Locke’s ears developed a pink tinge as Henrietta began talking to him. It was bad enough that she had sat near him. Any second now he was going to say or do something incredibly stupid and or embarrassing. For some reason whenever Locke was around a pretty girl his age, his brain liked to pause and watch him make a fool out of himself. Part of his awkwardness was him being afraid of doing something stupid. He would worry himself until he said something wrong. Locke opened his mouth as if too speak and made a weird gurgle noise. It had been too long since he had to talk to anyone that his voice was unsure if it should be used. Anyone that had set next to him on the train was fortunate enough not to have a neighbor that would talk their ear off. Well, it didn’t take long for him to embarrass himself. “No, I’m not lost,” Locke said when his voice rebooted. He was surprised by it for a moment. His voice belonged to somebody’s grandpa who smoked way too much and for way too long. Even though it had settled at that two years ago it still sounded odd to Locke.
He had not lied when he said he was not lost, not exactly. One can only be lost if they care where they are going. Since the only place that Locke could think that he should be going was his aunt and uncle’s, whose name he did not even know, being lost was not much of an issue. Maybe saying that he was not lost would convince the girl that he was nothing interesting. Not that he wanted to be rude, but seriously, there were things that he had to take care of, like the cop talking with the train’s ticket master, and he really felt awkward around her. Mostly because a girl his age was paying attention to him.
“Act like you’re talking to me,” Locke muttered to Henrietta, as he leaned forwards to study the police officer closer. The ticket master stretched his neck out, looking around the crowd as if trying to find someone in the crowd, and the police officer was talking into his shoulder. By squinting Locke was able to see that there was a walkie-talkie there. He could not be sure if they were talking about him, but Kendra would have probably mentioned his loner tendencies. If this spontaneous trip was out of character, him acting like a normal teen might make him seem like someone else. For the first time Locke turned to face Henrietta. Lack of depth perceeption sucked, but being able to tell where people stood behind him was pretty sweet.
He stared at Henrietta and tilted her body towards her. From behind it probably would look like he was paying attention to her. Truth was he was more focused upon the places where the cop and the ticket master were behind him. It was not like back home where he always knew where the twins were. It was easier to tell where someone was if he was familiar with them. Everybody has a different way of balancing their weight, which means that the individual would press down on the earth differently. Every few seconds he would glance over his shoulder, checking where the cop was and trying to figure out what pressure was from him. "Actually do you know where Central Park is?" Locke asked as he felt the cop drawing closer. It was, sadly, the only place he could think of off the top of his head that was in New York City that anybody who lived there should know the location of.
Posted by Locke N. Tori on Dec 27, 2009 23:26:15 GMT -6
Beta Mutant
566
2
Jul 29, 2017 19:08:13 GMT -6
The choice to stay had been made, but Locke still was not quite happy. Not that he ever truly was. One could say that he was the type that would say that the glass is half empty, but he would argue that he was just being realistic. Locke was an intelligent sort of boy, and was aware of when things were not right in the world. So, it was all well and good to decide to stay in a city where there was always something going on, but the same thing that would keep back the silence and darkness would keep him from sleeping, at least if he stayed where he was. At this point he did not have much pride. Any place to sleep would be better then a public one. Too many people were walking about to give him any sort of peace. He could feel the crowd moving, knew where they were, even if they were outside his line of vision.
That had been the case for several months now. Locke was becoming aware of things that he had never thought people would know about. There had been an earthquake. Not catastrophic enough to split the road like he had seen in old newspapers, but it was still bad enough to shake part of the ceiling loose in his home. People said that there was no way to predict that it would happen. Maybe animals would have, but there wasn’t even a goldfish in the Tori household. Yet Locke had felt it. He had felt the plates moving, miles beneath the earth’s crust, like how you could feel your foot slip if you stepped on a patch of ice. If Kendra had suspicions before about him being a mutant, that, in combination with the thing in the flower pot, confirmed it.
Of all the things moving only two were of any interest to Locke. The first was rather spastic, as if the source was not moving about like a normal person. After looking in the direction that the weirdness came from Locke felt significantly better about his sanity. This vacation, and that was the way he was going to justify this wild behavior, might have been out of character for him, but at least he wasn’t dancing through New York City like she should be in the Nutcracker. Don’t come near me, don’t come near me, Locke thought desperately. It was more then just not wanting to be around someone who was clearly crazy. She was a girl, about his age, and fairly attractive. He was on the other hand quiet, and a horribly disfigured. Besides which, even before the accident he was never good around the opposite sex. Of course the girl had to plop herself down next to him on the bench. As she looked at him he brushed the hair over his left eye and looked away.
Locke might not have been able to do anything about the first concern, but he was going to have to with the second. The train ticket guy was talking to a police officer. Kendra might not be that close to him. For some reason Locke could not allow himself to connect to her, not even knowing that she must miss his father as much as he did. That did not mean that his step-mother cared for him any less though. No doubt she had contacted to police as soon as he went missing. When someone who is as sound and logical as Spock decides to abandon their family and go across the country, you have to question their motives. If either Chris or Mai pulled this stunt off Locke would be chasing them down himself. It was not a matter of anger, but of love. If you love someone, you want them near you. More then anything Kendra was probably worried about his health. That did not mean he had to like her though.
Posted by Locke N. Tori on Dec 23, 2009 22:03:28 GMT -6
Beta Mutant
566
2
Jul 29, 2017 19:08:13 GMT -6
"What the hell were you thinking?" Locke asked himself, reaching across the seat to grab his backpack. His body was stiff and sore in a way that could only be rivaled by when the cast was taken off his arm and he learned to walk again. Three days straight. That was how long he had been cramped up in that unreasonably small seat. Hopping a train and heading across the country might sound like fun for some teens. In fact his best friend Eaan would think of it as a good weekend adventure. But this was Locke, the practical one, the one who washed his laundry before he ran out of clean jeans, the guy who didn't like magic shows, the guy who was rooted and in reality, not fantasy. This was major, the only thing that could possibly top this would be considered an act of terrorism. Not only did he blow most of his savings on that ticket, One way? Nice, but he didn't even have a plan of what to do next. Somewhere in New York he had an aunt and uncle, but he last saw them when he was seven at a rather forgettable birthday, and he didn't have a specific address, or even a last name. What the hell was he thinking to spend all that money to have strangers stare at him?
Locke hobbled off the train, keeping his head ducked low, because there was no way that the ticket guy, or conductor, or whatever you called the guy who worked on the train would think nothing unusual about Locke being by himself, and found a bench. They probably already were calling the City to check to see if someone had reported a missing teenager. Something told Locke there probably weren’t too many teens on that train with a dead eye. This was no time to panic, even if he was alone in one of the biggest cities in the world, with little money, little food, and a bag of dirty laundry and looking like the runaway that he was. He had taken the train for a reason. Not much of one considering the current outcome. The sound, logical thing to do would be to call Kendra, apologize for running away, and ask for money for a ticket back. Anyone who knew him even a little bit would expect him to do so.
The idea gave him a dull ache though, one that closed his throat. Going back would mean having to wake up each day to strange, knowing stares from his step-mother, painful memories of his loss which in five years still hadn't gotten better, and that silence that threatened to crush him at night once Chris and Mai were asleep. One more day had become his mantra, but it had lost some of its effectiveness as each night pushed on him harder and closer. Darkness was hunting him down and drawing near. During the day there were enough distractions to keep the silence away, getting ready for school, school, picking the twins up and making sure they got supper, homework, chores... Even if he wasn't in the same room as his little brother and sister their voices and laughs could be heard from anywhere. When they were awake, the twins were his light, the sun in the center of his universe. At night though... Locke uncurled a little from his ball to look up at the skyline, not caring that it marked him as a tourist. At night it was silent and in that silence darkness could snatch him up, toss him into its mouth just as casually as someone eating popcorn at a movie. At night silence of death and loss was a moon, drawing out the worst fears in him, like they were the ocean waves. Yes Locke liked his privacy, and yes he was thankful when he could have a quiet moment to himself, but at night silence troubled him. Funny how he hadn't noticed how dead quiet it was at night until one eye was bandaged up and he had more pain medication in him then he could count. He had to get away from that, had to keep moving. Maybe if he ran far enough the silence wouldn't catch him. "Right now you're about as far away as you can get from San Francisco without a passport," Locke continued to speak to himself. Alone, lost, and apparently insane because he refused to do the logical thing and head back, this could end up being OK for awhile. They say that New York is the city that never sleeps. Well living in an insomniac city would definitely keep the dead silence away, and a small crooked smile found its way onto Locke's lips as a car alarm went off nearby. It was, sadly, the most emotion that he’d shown on the trip, other then exhaustion, which really is more of a physical condition then an emotional one given the circumstances. Even the people who looked like this was their usual way of getting to work had bloodshot eyes that had to have pulses of their own just like his.
Locke yawned. New York City might never sleep but for a teenager who just spent three days, traveling through as many time zones sleep was inevitable. He checked his watch, still set to Pacific time. It was seven back home. On a normal night this would mean he’d be giving Chris and Mai their baths. If it was a spicy day at work, like finding someone making mature content out of Telletubbies, Kendra would just be getting back and eating whatever was left in the fridge from his earlier meal. Afterwards he’d would have probably been in his room with music playing as he tried to start on his homework. Occasionally heading out to break up arguments between Chris and Mai. Here in New York it was what? Ten? If he was going to find a place to sleep that did not include pigeons as roommates, then he'd have to start hoofing it. No way in hell did he want to go back so soon. And he would have to go back to a house where the only noise came from the heater occasionally kicking in during the night, and it was all to easy to remember that feeling of dread that the last thing he'd see would be strange shadows on the wall. Strange how the thought of being blind was more of a worry to Locke then being a mutant.
The small smile grew as he stood back up, cold still making him want to hide in his jacket. Mutant. There wasn't any other explanation for the weird stuff that had been going on over the last couple of months. It was the first time he could really think of himself as one, the time he made that little... thing included. In a city of thousands of people Locke was alone and could think these things freely. It was just too uncomfortable back in San Fran to mention it around Kendra, even though they both knew what he was. Her walking in on him made Locke loose control over the little thing.
Posted by Locke N. Tori on Dec 19, 2009 23:56:33 GMT -6
Beta Mutant
566
2
Jul 29, 2017 19:08:13 GMT -6
I would like to start posting with Locke, but I think I read somewhere about joining any side being a process, that it can't be just a whoop, I'm an X-Men. Which is perfectly fine with me.
So I'm looking for someone or someplace that I can post with Locke. Ideally I'd like to have it be something where he's heading to his ultimate destination, or maybe even just arriving. A position in which he is in an unfamiliar setting or situation. Anyone have any suggestions of where I could jump in, or would like to post with me?
Posted by Locke N. Tori on Dec 19, 2009 18:43:59 GMT -6
Beta Mutant
566
2
Jul 29, 2017 19:08:13 GMT -6
Character's full name: Locke Nicodemus Tori Alias/ Nickname/ Code name: Earthwalker Gender: Male Age: 20 Birthday: August 29, 1993 Nationality/ Ethnicity: Caucasian (mutt of the world) Birthplace/ Home/ Place of origin: San Francisco, California
Appearance
Hair colour and style: Locke's hair is a dark redish-brown, kept in a longish manner. Frequently he brushes his hair over his left eye. Eyes: His right eye is a dark blue, the left is white and dead. Height: Six foot two inches Build: Locke is in reasonably good shape. He doesn't have an athlete's build, but he is not scrawny nor overweight. All in all pretty average. Visible mutation: None, though he tends to attract dirt Scars/ Tattoos/ Piercings: Locke's left eye is dead due to a car accident that gave him a x-shaped scar over it. Scar on right leg Other features:
Everyday clothing style:Locke is always cold, and therefor wears multiple layers. His shoe of choice is a pair of high tops with worn out soles. Jeans of course must be worn, and though he washes them on a regular basis, usually there is some dirt on them somewhere. The first shirt layer is usually a long-john top, with a t-shirt, then a button up t-shirt over that. Locke will wear something until he out-grows it or it falls apart. Uniform: At the moment none Sleepwear: Flannel plaid pajama pants in shades of grey and red, whatever t-shirt he wore that night, and a yellow and black checker print bathrobe. Miscellaneous clothing:
Character
Personality: Locke is a very secluded teenager. Mostly though it's because he's shy or frightened, (the scar over his left eye, combined with the dead eye itself has a tendency to scare others, and this has made him very self conscious). He is a very grounded teenager, due to having to keep his best friend (known for dying half his head blue when bored) from being too wild, and responsibilities that come from being in charge of his younger siblings when Kendra is busy at work. Locke does not seem to take joy in wild antics, and would rather spend his time writing or working on his powers then to go to a party or watch a movie, though he can't resist a good psychological thriller, and is addicted to the Saw movies, (Kendra hates them). Also Locke has the bad habit of keeping emotions bottled up inside, and even as a child, his temper was something to be feared. To him it is hard to express how he feels on subjects, and it always has been. Most of the time Locke keeps to himself and doesn't like people asking too many questions about his eye or scar. If you get him to talk, chances are that he views you as a friend, or at least not an enemy, and if you can get him to keep from brushing hair over his dead eye, then you have become an important figure in his life.
Locke is not immune to teenage hormones, but even if his eye wasn't a frightful thing to look at, Locke would still feel some intimidation from females. He's only had a girlfriend once, being set up by his best friend, and that was a total disaster. She was too clinging for the teen who prized his personal space, and demanded attention more frequently then his younger siblings. Two weeks was much too long for that relationship to have lasted. Hobbies/ Interests: Locke enjoys psychological thriller or horror movies, in part because they annoy his step-mother, and partially because he finds the situations so horribly fake that there is nothing to fear. He writes a lot on his laptop, and knows a few tricks to get around some parental blocks on computers and video games thanks to his father. Baseball is his favorite sport, and prior to the accident he played it, watched it, and even dreamed of it. His best friend somehow managed to convince him to pick up a music instrument, and Locke chose the bass guitar because he likes feeling it in his chest. Locke likes cats, though usually only strays. The poofy white cats in commercials make him think of snooty old ladies. Job or part time job and description: Locke more or less fulfills the role of father to his younger siblings, picking them up from school and watching them at night. He is attending college for something to do with childhood development. Fears/ phobias/ concerns: Since the car crash Locke has been hesitant about several forms of transportation. Cars for obvious reasons, but planes as well since he figures that if people die more often in car crashes then airplane crashes, his odds aren't that good. Trains are tolerable, since they are on a set track, but he prefers to hoof it or take the subway. Something about being surrounded by the earth soothes him. Boats are only a concern because he gets seasick. He has a very low self esteem when it comes to body image, making him feel uncomfortable in many social situations. Locke is frightened of silence at night. It makes him feel as if darkness is closing in on him, and doctors have put into his mind the idea that he may suddenly go blind. He hates feeling lost, and the longer he is left confused about his location, the more panicked he becomes. This comes from when he was very young and got caught upside-down in a garden maze's bush. Special talents: As part of his rehabilitation, and possible preparation for the future Locke had to learn the Braille alphabet, and can read it if words are spelled out rather then using contractions.
Morality
Good/ bad/ neutral/ other: Good, though Locke may take the path that is the most logical to him. He isn't going to go killing humans, nor does he have a prejudice against them. His main concern is what will make things safest and best for his younger siblings.
Mutations
Mutation description: Locke mentally alters the vibrations and frequency of soil and rocks to manipulate them into a golem. Provided that the majority of the substance used to create the golem is a type of rock or a kind of soil he is able to use it. Two examples of soil based substances would be mud and glass. As long as the dirt is the majority of the mud, it will respond to him. Glass is made almost entirely of sand or quartz. It responds, but is too brittle to take new shapes without heat. Strengths: A golem is generally stronger then Locke himself is, depending upon the substance that he uses. The harder the material, the harder it hits Can control multiple golems simultainously (2-3 depending upon size of initial golem)
A partially formed golem, such as a hand, could be used for restraining purposes, either for holding someone or pulling them partially into the ground. Sand golems can be made by sliding some under doors and serve as a handy distraction. Failed golems, or ones that he looses results in gopher holes, useful for tripping up opponents, or will cause uneven terrain due to the displacement of earth from the golem. Can make golems of different sizes (current max ten foot) to adjust for materials available (make a smaller golem when there is less materials) Golems also increase the radius that Locke is able to sense things through the earth.
Some general stats for a human sized golem Sand golem- Physical Strength- 2 Speed- 15
Dirt- Physical Strength- 6.5-7 depending upon moisture of dirt Speed- 7-8 depending upon moisture of dirt, six if dirt is frozen
Concrete- Physical Strength- 11 Speed- 5
Weaknesses: Locke has to deal with the difficulties involved with the different types of earth. Sand for example is easy to work with, but shifts constantly and adds the challenge of replenishing the golem with each movement. Glass responds, but he needs someone to add heat for it to make a new shape. A harder substance, such as say feldspar, or anything higher then a 2 on the Mohs scale, becomes stiffer and harder to move. Stubborn as Locke would call it In order to create a golem, Locke needs to be in contact with the earth, the more the better, but afterwords needs only to keep his mind focused upon the golem. He can only make a golem within a five foot radius of his body, but again, once it is made, Locke needs only to keep the focus. Each additional golem must be smaller then the one before Each additional golem makes it more difficult to control The larger the golem the more mentally and physically exhausting it is to Locke to maintain and manipulate. Afterward he becomes confused directionally and suffers a unique mix of vertigo and vection that somehow does not bother the contents of his stomach. When controlling a golem, Locke can sort of see what is going on outside of what he is doing, but he doesn't respond, thus making him vulnerable to attack. Should he be hit, or otherwise distracted from the golem, Locke will loose his focus, and therefore the golem. Can only make a golem of materials at hand Golems must stay in contact with the ground in some way. Softer materials, such as sand or dirt, for reasons of replenishing what the golem sheds with movement, harder materials because it is more difficult to work with. If no contact is made, Locke will loose the golem Softer material golems tend to disolve in water, thus causing him to loose the golem The material from a lost golem cannot be moved unless it is within the starting distance to make a new golem, or if an existing golem is near it to recycle the resources
Secondary mutation description: A subtle secondary mutation which works as a part of the primary (it is more or less impossible to make a functioning eye, so he would be totally blind controlling the golem otherwise), and also serves to make up for his lack of depth perception and decreased vision, is an awareness through earth vibrations, though only ones caused by nature Strengths: Allows for a way to see while controlling a golem and helps to fill in for the dead eye. Alerts him to natural shifts in the earth. Weaknesses: Locke is “tuned” to movements that are natural, such as was the case with the earthquake, where he is aware of a change in vibrations, and additional pressures on the surface of the earth within the immediate vicinity of him, i.e. his little siblings standing behind or to his left. Artificial methods of vibrating the earth, such as a jackhammer, are changes that he isn’t in “tune” with. Sort of like how people can hear a cello, but not a dog whistle. This is not echolocation such as a bat would possess, for he does not get a 3D visual, or even a 2-D. It is like seeing a footprint in the sand. You do not see what made it, nor what is beneath it. Must have some contact with a material he can work with in order to sense
Fighting Style
Explanation: Locke is more likely to use his powers in a fight, even subconsciously. He might let a golem drop before it can form to trip up an opponent, or he might restrain them with an earthen hand. Depending upon how dangerous the situation is, he might bring up a golem to fight for him, as the golem feels no pain and generally hits harder then he could Pros for fighting style: Smaller things, such as gopher holes from failed golems and hands help to keep distance. Golems do more damage, are more frightening, and do not feel pain. Cons for fighting style: Small things only buy some time, while a golem can leave him exposed to physical damage
Faction Allegiance: Unaffiliated
History Of Your Character: Locke's mother died or left him when he was young. Locke didn't much care, and hardly ever thought about it, so he never pressed his dad for information. He does have some vague memories of her, just faint notions what her voice sounded like, and he knows that he inherited some of her looks. For a long time it was just him and his dad Hugo, and of course his dad became the center of his universe. But when he was nine his father remarried. Locke wasn't too fond of who he chose, but said nothing. Part of his displeasure was that now he was going to have to give up something that he had clung to for so long, but he also wondered why his dad wanted this, when he still referred to his first wife as his "angel". Hugo was well familiar with the signs that Locke was holding back opinions and emotions, and knew that a bit of coaxing could help him to express them in a healthy way. At the time Locke was very much into baseball, and was planning to play on the middle school team. The two decided to go to a baseball game, just the two of them as Kendra was expecting. On the way there was a car accident. Locke was lucky to live through it. He was blinded in his left eye, had his right leg broken so badly that it required some minor surgery, and had a gash in his arm that required twenty stitches, not to mention some internal injuries. His father wasn't so lucky.
While Locke was undergoing rehab and dealing with the death of his father, his step-mother was in essence useless as emotional support, thanks to the birth of two healthy babies, Christian and Mai, which only added to his distaste for her. Doctors spoke in hushed voices about the possibility of him loosing his vision in his other eye. Apparently eyes are sympathetic, and if one goes, the other might as well. With nobody wanting to be fully honest with him, Locke started to fear darkness and quiet late at night.
Also after the crash Locke seemed to grow extremely aware of when someone was about to run into him. Everyone said it was the other senses kicking in, to make up for his decreased depth perception and lessened vision, but to Locke it felt more like the ground beneath his feet was warning him. He became more and more aloof.
One night when they were five, his brother and sister managed to drag him downstairs to watch a movie with them. Half-way through the film he shoved them under a door frame. There was an earthquake that shook the house and the spot that the twins had been sitting in was hidden by a large pile of plaster from the ceiling. Everyone was shocked more that he knew that the tremor was coming than the fact that there was an earthquake.
Locke slowly began realizing what he could do through small circumstances. Potted plants falling over, clay sticking to his body from art class for the rest of the day. The biggest discovery came when one night, doing his best to endure the silence that fell once his little brother and sister were asleep he found himself moving dirt about in the old Easter Lilly until a small thing was trying to pin the flower.
Roleplay Where did you learn about this site?: Google Do you have any other characters on MRO, if so who: N/A Sample RP: When he was four, Locke threw a temper tantrum so bad that he broke a lamp that had been sitting on a shelf up and out of his way. Hugo had gotten use by then to his son's eruptions that happened when there was no other way for Locke to say all the things that was going on emotionally, and with the patience of a saint simply placed Locke in a cool shaded room to shout and cry. Broken lamps could be replaced, and he did not own any expensive books. The advantages of being a bachelor. Afterwords Hugo sat Locke down and taught him how to focus on his breathing, and how to let himself fall away one piece at a time. Breathe in for three, hold for three, breathe out for three, over and over and over.
Now as Locke pulled the blanket up over Chris, who's cheeks still plump with early childhood were flattened against a pillow, and wore one of Locke's old t-shirts to bed (Mai did as well, but it was a nightgown for her) he felt that same sense of calmness creep into him, without having to count his breathing. They might only be his half siblings, but to him they meant the world. Locke needed Chris and Mai, just the way that they would need him when they got older. Someone would have to tell them who their dad had been, and Locke saw it clearly in the twins. Satisfied that they were truly asleep this time, not about to jump up and run around once he left the room, Locke creeped out into the hallway and looked at his watch.
Nine-thirty, and he had work to do still.
"Locke have you finished your homework?" Kendra asked as she walked past with a basket of laundry. She didn't look him in the face, and he didn't blame her at all for it. Things had become weird since that last quake, when he knew that the house was going to shake before it did. He responded to people before they called to him from behind, potted plants tilted over when he walked past. One day he hobbled back from school, clay from art class still stuck to his arms and face, not wanting to come off even with a shower and vigorous scrubbing. He hadn't told her how earlier today someone was about to run right into him in a dash to class, only to trip over a mysterious hole in the ground that had not been there before.
"I'll get it done after I finish the laundry," he mumbled. Puberty had finally settled down and his voice settled into something much too old sounding. It was like someone's grandpa who had been a smoker for too many years, gravelly, slightly garbled, and resonating in his chest. That was the extent of their conversation for the day. Overall it was an improvement. Yesterday had been just a shrug of his shoulder's and a "Yeah" when he was asked if he'd do the dishes.
For the last two months he had been doing his clothes as a separate load, after Kendra and the twin's clothes had been washed. The dirt and dust that settled on his jeans would clog up the filter if combined with the lint from everyone else. Kendra had asked where it had come from, but he did not answer. He did not need to. She noticed him making little things, people like things, with the spilled dirt from the potted plants, and how he wore those high tops that had the pebbles embedded in the thin soles even inside the house. That was the way that their relationship now had to work, and Locke accepted it as he grabbed one of his long sleeved shirts and tossed it into his hamper. But it didn't mean he was happy with it.
Laundry going now, Locke found it hard to focus on the English assignment in front of him. He did not want to be sitting in that awkward silence that followed him around once the twins were put to bed. As useless as his left eye was, Locke closed it as he tried to convince himself to stay just one more day before running and leaving San Fransisco and the painful memories behind.