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 the job was going great. The city was in a panic of mayhem and chaos and now was the absolute perfect time to pull off whatever heist you wanted to. Charles was not usually one to attempt something this big but when the visionary lady came with promises of riches and power beyond his dream, how could he refuse? Not to mention that he was led by the same vision that the rest of these guys had and it was fate. If there was one thing that Charles had learned from a variety of television shows, books, and movies, if you cannot escape your fate. If he was supposed to become a millionaire by knocking off a bank, then so be it.
Once the sensor had been turned off to save them the trouble of dealing with a failsafe shut down, Charles reverted back to his visible form. It was like droplet of liquid falling onto a piece of crumpled up paper. Slowly his body rematerialized from thin air, starting off in several spots and expanding outward until his entire body was reformed.
With a nod he steps back to allow Mittens to rip the safe open when the sound of another person pulled his attention to the door. There was someone else in the bank now. Charles looked flabbergasted. The sheer audacity and the confidence with which the other person stood there, miming some old cartoon character was…astounding. Was this one of those heroes in the city, like the X-Men? Or just some passing good citizen wanted to stem crime? Or was he wrong and they were someone who wanted in on the action.
Charles looked to Mitten and gestured to the newcomer. ”You know this guy?”
Mittens, who too had been stunned into silence, scoffed and shook his head. “Hell if I know ‘im!” Growling, Mittens stepped forward as Emerald Witch and the Driver all seemed to peek out from their hiding spots in confusion. Mittens, of course, was the loudest as he shouted. “Hey! Get outta here, runt! Or I’m chucking you through the wall!”
Charles, stepping behind a wall, reactivated his invisibility and began to circle around. He wasn’t one to really want to get into a fight and murder people, but he wanted to linger nearby just to see what this guy was about and if Mittens needed his help. It was also good to weigh his options. If this guy was some hero, it was best that Charles wasn’t around so he could make a quick get away.
There was the loud cracking of knuckles as Mittens again advanced on the new person. “You hear what I said?” He grumbled, getting angry that he had yet to scare this person off. “I said git! If you know what’s good for ya! This is our score!”
Who was he to turn down a great offer? Before coming to New York, dreams of wealth and opportunity had nestled deep into the mind of Charles Red Fish. Dreams that were only encouraged thanks to movies and television shows that promised that gumption and confident attitude were all you needed to become a success. By this point, Charles thought he was going to be famous, with a mansion, couple of side pieces, and his name in lights as the number one dancer in the Big Apple. He had the confidence and the skill so it should have been a sure thing.
The truth was far harsher.
Charles came out here on a dance scholarship. However the troop he had joined only gave him bit parts and nothing with any real stage time or importance. Refusing to be treated that way, Charles went out on his own but his “confidence” came off as arrogance and soon enough nobody wanted to work with him. Before he knew it he was blackballed in the stage community throughout New York and his options were limited to say the least.
So limited that when a gorgeous woman promised him power and fortune to cause a little mayhem, his only option was to say yes.
CRASH!!!!
Charles was jolted to the side as he felt the impact. The van that he was in was just a regular van for the most part. What made it different were the various roots and branches that were running up the walls and around the outside of the vehicle. A woman with dark hair and a pierced eyebrow, ground her teeth as she held her hands out. The roots and branches seemed to be responding to her, holding the shape around the van as a protective layer. A mystic, or so he heard, who demanded she go by the name Emerald Witch.
Next to her was a mutant. Premature baldling blond hair, muscular body, absolutely gigantic hands. Apparently had a long running criminal record here in New York. Funny that someone so strong and dangerous had the nickname ‘Mittens’.
Lastly, the driver. Driver didn't give them a name other than Driver. As for abilities, heck if Charles knew. Decked out in various sheathed blades and weaponry the man looked like a combination of a ninja and some anime character. He was the one who plowed the hardened, wood covered van into the entrance of the bank. Now he was pulling out just enough to clear the doors.
Charles knew that was his and Mitten's cue. Without another word, Charles stepped out of the van after Mittens. The two made a beeline for the back offices where the vault was. Mittens worked on punching a hole through the counter and glass to give them entry, while Emerald Witch started to grow plants and thick foliage to drown out the sounds of the alarms. Driver had run off, heading to a security off to disable the system while Charles…heh.
“Ya just gonna stand there, kid?!” Mittens shouted and tossed a rubble aside from the opening he made.
”Huh? Oh! Yeah of course!” Charles then grinned, winked at Mittens and walked by.
With every step that Charles took, his body began to eat away. First his feet, legs, hands and arms. Next his torso and neck, until there was only his face left. With a final grin Charles fully turned invisible and walked straight towards the vault as Mittens followed after and towards the vault door.
“That's a creepy trick,” Mittens said. “Creepy but effectively. You sure you can turn the van invisible once we leave?”
The now invisible Charles guffawed. ”Easy as pie. Just gotta let me concentrate and make sure not to crash into anything. No one will see a thing.”
Stepping forward, he walked through the electronic eyes guarding the vault. Fail safes that would time lock the vault with no chance of opening it. Soon as he was passed them, the invisible mutant shorted out the eyes and stepped back, becoming visible again. He waved to the vault and bowed to Mittens.
Mittens, accepting the invitation, grinned and cracked his massive knuckles. “Nice job, kid. We gotta do this now often.” Stepping forward he started to grab and pull at the vault door while Charles stepped back to keep watch. Nothing could stop them now.
The quirked eyebrow. Charles had caught sight of that. He knew it could only mean one thing -- she was watching his hands because she was into him. Oh yeah, he knew that he had an in now. These cougars were all the same and so easy to get into their good graces if you knew what you were doing. Charles did. This wasn't his first time seducing a lonely old woman desperate for companionship. While 'Serena' was pretty he could see that same need for attention from a handsome young man that he had seen on the faces of many others before.
Shhhh, worry not, kitten. Be patient for Charles. It'll be worth it.
His hand wraps around the glass on the countertop. He goes to lift it to his lips but stops as he cracks a devilish grin and smile towards her. Had she seen him somewhere before? The answer was obvious.
"Maybe in your dreams?" he asked with the most shit-eating, flirtatious grin he could muster.
Oh this would be easier than finding corruption in a police force. The conman had to inwardly chuckle a bit at his luck. He expected to have to do a bit more hunting tonight before finding a good target and low and behold, he stumbled across the mother lode. Well, more like MILF lode. In any case, despite the massive ego he was now sporting, Charles slid fully into his form of seduction as he settled into his seat and fully turned to face the attractive woman.
"I'm a dancer, actually," he said with a wink. "Nothing major, yet, but I have definitely have the moves and the...uh...limberness too." A small wink followed. Not a big one, he didn't want to come off as a complete scuzbag, after all. "Aside from that, I model from time to time as well." Another grin before he nods back to her. "Yourself? Clearly a model, just trying to remember what I saw you in."
His hand drifts to the cocktail already on the counter...
All it took was a quick flick downward of the eyes and Charles found the gorgeous gemstone rings glaring up at him. Ah! Utter perfection. Just one of those could fetch him some good money but he had a feeling a woman like this probably had a lot more like them. Rings, necklaces, bracelets, maybe even piercings. Charles was fairly sure that some flattery and a few drinks would warrant him all the opportunities he needed.
"Slyvia. Just as lovely as I imagined," Charles chuckles a bit as he looks to the offered seat, then back to her. "Well, I could say that I've been waiting for you all my life..." He says with a cheesey grin. "But I have a feeling saying such will grant me another strike." Charles then bows his head graciously and slips into it with ease. "Waiting for no one. Just out looking for a bit of...harmless fun tonight, is all."
Oh yes, Charles felt like he was in the zone now. He looked good, he smelled nice, and he had landed the goofiest, most stupid pick-up line imaginable. While it seemed counter productive, in truth it afforded Charles a little self-deprecation credit in front of a prospective target. People tended to loosen up when someone spoke to them and didn't fully embody the bull**** that was so cringe to listen to. By playing it off as simply a bad pick up and tease, it helped to break the ice and lower the defenses.
As Charles could see now that the seat and drink were offered. His face maintained that well meaning smile while inside his mind he was already counting down how long till victory. She would be an easy target now. She seemed like the kind of woman who paid in credit but still had enough cash and jewelry on her to make this venture worthwhile.
Feigning injury, Charles held his hand over his heart before he leaned and "fell" into the seat offered to him. "Oh you are much too kind," he says with earnest. "I'll just have to make up for such an awful opening in other ways." He straightens up then, offers his hand formerly and nods. "Name's Charles. And I really do think you're too gorgeous to sit by yourself. And whomever was fool enough to stand you up certainly doesn't know what they are missing."
It had been a rather boring time for Charles Red Fish. How could it not be? After the fiasco at the mutant manor (he had seen it all over the internet), everything seemed just utterly dull by comparison. Yeah there were still criminals, and super-powered despots running about trying to conquer things, but nothing really felt like the same level of crisis and worldwide attention. It was especially good for Charles. That day he managed to pick so many pockets while everyone watched the news that he managed to book a week at the Plaza Hotel in one of the fanciest rooms they had. It was pure bliss.
But, like snow on a July sidewalk, it didn't last forever. Not wanting to burn that bridge, Charles left when the money ran out and paid for things in full. He really wanted to go back to that hotel in good terms. But, for now, he was on the prowl again.
Money had to be made one way or the other.
Today location was some swanky bar by the name of Le Fete (The Feet? He didn't know French), but despite the highclassed name, the place certainly ripe for targeting. Dancing, drinking, and a few lonely hearts dotted the place. Easy money for someone young and handsome like him.
So, dressed to the casual nines (designer torn jeans, leather jacket, and a slightly unbuttoned shirt), Charles made his way through the bar, eagerly looking for the perfect target. It was hard as there were just so many cherries to pick from: Professor (guy with glasses and a bad combover trying to chat with all the pretty, much younger girls), Ginger (midtown wife, maybe a teacher trying hard to not let go of her youth), but oooooh, what was this? Business Cougar? Charles eyes zeroed in on the lonely, dark-haired MILF sitting near the bar, nursing a drink. She looked disappointed, like maybe some missed meeting had occurred. Jackpot.
With the warmest smile, and a slightly arched brow, Charles casually made his way to the bar and slid into a seat nearby.
"I am so, so, SO very sorry," He says as he turns to address this mystery woman. "A beautiful woman such as yourself, sitting alone? That has to be illegal, right?"
The oldest con in the book. It robbed people of a few petty dollars but it built up over time. Catch enough gullible people on a good day and you could get yourself a few hot meals, a place to stay for the night, hell, you could even get yourself a new phone! And that’s not including if you worked with a partner, someone to plant among the crowd and slip their hands into a few pockets and purses. The take away could be that good.
And all it took was three cards and some confidence.
Charles used to play this game in school, in the lunchroom. Con his fellow students out of a few quarters, maybe their slice of cardboard pizza. That is until the teachers caught onto him. The reprimand was quick there, but that didn’t deter him. No matter how many predictions they made about a ruined future, Charles could not be dissuaded from the path of easy and simplistic. People had money. He wanted money. The path of least resistance was often the most lucrative.
The corner he found to work on was perfect. Across the street there was an old church that often ran gambling support groups on Fridays and Saturdays. Of course Charles didn’t set up when the staff could see him. He often waited until right before the sessions would start so he could catch the stragglers and would wait until just when they needed to catch those gamblers who were leaving and aching for a hit.
It was a good system and one that he was proud of. Today a session had just ended so he had about ten minutes before the organizers in the church came out and saw him. Plenty of time to catch a few folks off their guard.
His hands flew as he moved the tented cards, swapping the places of each card in a blur of movement and announcing in a stream of fast words, he made the game look both simple and easy to follow.
Today the new hooked fish was a blonde woman, business-like, clearly new to trying to be on the clean and narrow as he could see her watching the cards intently. Judging by the looks she more often than not probably engaged in online gambling. Poker. Blackjack. You could gamble from anywhere now. But the in-person games were different – far easier to manipulate.
Charles kept swapping the cards. His hands were fast so there was no way for her to see him make a hidden fourth card visible while the true card she was trying to watch, invisible. It was a trick worthy of a master. So when he set the card down, he watched with a hidden smile as she confidently tapped that card as the Queen of Hearts – and then saw her expression sour when he turned it over to reveal it was instead an Ace of Spades.
Charles winced. ”Ooof, sorry beautiful. Maybe better luck next time?” The woman huffed and stormed away as Charles accepted the crisp $20 she had left on the table.Taking the cards up, shuffling them, he made his trick card invisible again without anyone noticing, and looked up for other passing customers. ”Come on, come on! Easiest game in the world! Find the Lady of Hearts! Who can find her amongst the dashing gents?”
It really was a travesty to watch the Slut Bunny crowd “dancing” and pulling in as many victims as they could. Bouncers really needed to be more selective than that. The better dance clubs often had their bouncers unscrupulously invite in as many attractive and cool people as possible while very, very slowly filtering in the lesser quality patrons. It was a shame that this establishment didn’t have a better code of conduct. He should only be surrounded by the beautiful, right?
Well, he couldn’t very well complain. Rhia was actually very attractive and a high spirited dancer. These were qualities that mattered most to Charles, especially since he hadn’t reached that desperate part of the night yet. The evening was young and it seemed he had already hooked a beauty. Though his wandering eye and his constant need to play the odds and find the best of the bunch was hard to ignore, he was willing to for the most part right now. At least until she annoyed him and, really, he hoped she wouldn’t.
The two danced a bit closer, careful to not spill drinks and move freely to whatever atrocious song came next. The antics of the slut bunnies were behind them, for now, so they could instead focus on one another.
He watched his. Dark brown eyes looking over her form, both checking her out physically as well as watching for any sign of wealth. Most of the bratty socialites like to deck out in as much possible, using it as a sign of wealth and status. Others who only did clubbing begrudgingly wore very little, in an attempt to hide the fact that they were fact or out of fear of losing a precious bauble. The jewelry Rhia wore was nice but there wasn’t a lot of it so it was difficult to tell if these were knock-offs, deeply connected gifts, or frivolous purchases.
Oh well. Until he got more information, he would just have to enjoy watching the way her body moved next to him. Hardly a loss in his book.
After her proclamation at having a great time, Charles grinned and gave her his full focus. She asked what he was doing here, recognizing the obviously elevated level of his dancing. He smiled, acting humble in response to her words but knowing full well that she was right.
”Oh, was bored and wanted to go out and find a little fun...” he smirked. ”...and maybe someone to have it with.” He shrugged as he continued to move. ”I’m actually a trained dancer. Was in a stage show, or was about to be, before the project fell through.” Lie. He had been kicked out for stealing but he was hardly going to tell her that. He shrugged again. ”Oh well. Nature of the business, you know? When one show closes, there’s another opportunity right around the corner.” He offered her a little twirl before he met her gaze again. ”Are you a professional dancer? You have the moves...and the look. If not, you should definitely audition.”
Charles really shouldn’t be investing as much time into Illinois as he was. She already seemed pretty detached so it was unlikely he was going to get any real personal time with her. But the lure of that money he saw, yeah, that was too much to ignore. While he could easily pull cash like that from ripping off a local store or wherever he wanted, he was now too committed to the hunt to back off now. No, he needed to push it. He always had to push it. He already stole her watch from flat out under her nose. Why not see what else he could get?
With a charming smile and a breath of fresh air, he turned his phone to her, showing that their rideshare was coming. Puck M. seemed like a nice enough guy, though the bug eyes were definitely going to hard to ignore. He would make sure to sit in the back with Illinois lest he be hypnotised and his soul removed.
Juniper seemed to scoff at the picture but in her seemingly usual, nihilist matter, just shrugged her shoulders and announced that she would have to trust him. Really he didn’t know what she had to trust. Their rideshare was coming and the GPS pinged on the phone the driver’s location. There was hardly anything that needed to be trusted. But he shrugged it off. Who knows, maybe she was stood up by rideshares before.
He slipped his phone back into his pocket, held by his hand and simply kept it in place. He had already her watch deep in there, coursing with whatever energy he gifted objects that made them as invisible as he was. Even if she searched, she may feel it but never know it was there until she pulled it away from his person.
Somehow he doubted she would rifling in his pockets anytime soon.
Another buzz and he checked his phone. Their rideshare was already almost there. Seemed like Puck M. had just finished dropping someone off from around the corner and was now heading their way. His eyes glanced to near every car that passed, following them closely and only turning away when they drove past. But one particular car, black, shiny, and with tinted windows rolled up, stopping directly in front of them, he knew it was their ride.
Not because he could see the driver, but because when the windows rolled down, he could hear the unmistakable sounds of “Who Let the Dogs Out!” blasting from the speakers. Puck M. clearly owned up to who and what he was. He opened the door for Juniper and stepped back.
”Ladies first,” he said with a slight smile. Seemed some old habits died hard.
Charles didn’t read a lot of books. If he had, he may have made some vague connection between himself and this girl with the pocket full of cash to Captain Ahab and the white whale in “Moby Dick”. He could have separated away from her, wandered off and gone after a multitude of other targets. But no, he wanted her cash. He wanted that money. He wanted to steal from her. He already had her watch and spending more time around her could make its disappearance more and more likely to be noticed.
But he was arrogant. He felt like he could get away with it. It was a challenge at this point and Charles didn’t walk away from challenges. So while he had his opportunity, he didn’t budge. Rather he gave her an invitation: if she were bored, then they could go somewhere else. He knew a number of places in New York, surely one of them would be preferable to this place.
And, if not, well, he had more chances to get her alone and separate her from her money. It was as simple as that.
She agreed. They could go elsewhere if it was better than here. Casually he waved his hand off at the idea of reviews. ”Yeah, never trust the reviews. A good number of those are paid for. I wrote a couple for $50 once.” He looked up to the bartender who seemed to be fuming. Charles merely shrugged at him. ”Tell me I’m wrong.”
He did not.
Shaking his head, chuckling, he turned to head out of the bar, the young woman following behind him. Juniper, as she introduced herself, followed, feeling it appropriate since she now knew his name. She had a nice name. Original. He hadn’t met a Juniper before and wondered if they were all nihilist chicks like her. But he didn’t ask. No he had to be more charming yet not in his usual way. If he wanted her money, he definitely needed to be more subtle.
”Well, nice to have to name to go with the face, Illinois,” he smirked devilishly. He then marched off towards the door, pulling out his phone to order a rideshare for the night. ”And let’s face it, it’s hard to find a place where molecular combination is not on the menu. But, I think I know a place where it’s at least more subtle.” With a grinned he turned back around and held up his phone, showing their ride had been ordered. ”Puck M. is on his way.”
He knew that she wasn’t part of the Slut Bunny Squad. He followed them in, after all, and she was clearly not part of the group. But he asked nonetheless, just for the sheer fun of it. It seemed that the both of them were at a loss as to whatever that group of girls was doing so it would make a nice ice breaker. Plus, he wanted to know more about her, specifically if she was here with anyone so he wouldn’t be surprised.
His dancing slowed. He didn’t need to show off his moves quite as much and instead just kept pace with her so that they could continue talking. She seemed pleased to have his full attention and he just smirked. So long as he stayed on her food side, he could ride this out and see exactly how far things would go.
So she wasn’t part of the group. She was supposed to be here with friends but it seemed that they had a falling out before the evening started. He would have said that was a shame but it wouldn’t be true. No, rather it made his evening just that much easier. So long as she was by herself, there was a greater chance that he could get what he wanted from her.
He grinned in a charming way, leaning in as he whispered. ”Lucky me. I get you all to myself.”
After leaning back, he still wore his dashing smile. He was well practiced in this. Flattery, a few choice phrases, and a dashing look could honestly get you everywhere in this world.
With a loud snort, he shook his head. ”No, definitely not with them. I’d probably be devoured by now if I was. They are way too thirsty,” he turned, watching them as they danced with one another.
There was one man that they managed to trap between the three of them. They began to chest bump with him, knocking him back and forth between them. Poor guy spilled most of his drink, the girls laughing hysterically, until he found an exit to scamper out from.
Charles arched his brow, looking back to Rhia, then began to laugh. ”That...I-I’m pretty sure is a misdemeanor.” Shaking his head, he gave his partner his full against again. ”No I came out alone tonight. Felt like dancing and...having a good time.” He took her hand in his, giving her a little twirl. ”Are you having a good time?”
Charles was all smiles as he returned to Rhia’s side, drink in hand. He didn’t really come out tonight looking for a hook-up. He was more interested in focusing on getting a few extra funds to hold him over until the end of the week. But on the other hand, he wasn’t going to complain either. She was a bit more firmly cut than he was used to but what the hell? She seemed down for some fun. And that was something that Charles could always get behind.
The music had changed and, honestly, he was just getting used to it now. He really was having a hard time understanding this place so it was easier to just lay back and let it happen to him. Sounded wrong but, honestly, what else could he do? It wasn’t hard for him to find the beat as this place was built around dancing so he simply grinning and started a sway to the song, keeping in line with Rhia’s movements.
He was more and more intrigued by her. Normally Charles would have easily just swiped something from her purse or wallet or even jewelry and then been on his way. It wouldn’t have been a hard move either. She was not unlike many of the other young men and women who came out to these clubs, more focused on a good time and living their youth, not realizing they needed to be more mindful.
But there was something about her boldness that was keeping him around. Certainly he was going to steal from her, but he was going to play this as long as he could and achieve whatever rewards he could get his hands on.
He stayed close to her, dancing in rhythm but being careful enough to not spill his drink either. Catching her eye, he grinned his charming grin and spoke loud enough to be over the...strange music, but low enough so that only she could hear.
”So, Rhia,” he began. ”What’s a vision such as yourself doing out here by yourself?” He asked, peering around. ”Unless I’m stealing your attention away from another. In which case, lucky me.” He then paused, hearing another squee (third one tonight) from the gaggle of short-dressed women he followed in. ”Not with the Slut Bunny squad, are you?”
He knew she wasn’t. But it brought a smirk to his face calling them that. After all, they said it loud and often enough that it was hard to miss them.
It was always too easy. He felt the watch slip into his hand and immediately slipped it into his pocket with a subtle movement. All he had left to do was reach her wallet and this evening would be a total success! But something odd had happened. Charles knew that he had a light touch. A very light touch. He was able to slip a badge off an officer’s uniform without so much as a glance. But there was something odd about this time. When he reached for the pocket that he was sure was there...he felt nothing.
Charles had experience. He lifted wallets all of the time. Far easier than the likes of the watch he just took off of her. But in the dim lights of the darkness of the club, especially while down on his knee, something was off. When he glanced he could see the pocket there. But as his fingers casually slipped through, he could feel nothing. It felt as it he was grasping at air.
That was certainly unexpected. He wanted to try for a bit longer, at first wondering if maybe he had just mistakenly seen the wallet. But no. As he mopped up the drink, waving off her insistence that everything was okay, he glanced again and saw it. It was there. But he just couldn’t touch it? Even as his invisible hand moved closer to it, his finger grazing where the edge of the wallet should be, there was nothing. Just empty air as it finger passed through it.
What in the world?
It was confusing. This should have been an easy mark but for some reason he couldn’t lift the wallet from her. Before he lingered too long, he retracted his hand, making it visible again just out of her line of sight as he straightened up and crumpled the soiled napkins that were now soaked through with the drink.
He handed them off to the bartender who seemingly tried to not be offended by the woman’s words. She wasn’t going to stay, at least not for very much longer as this place wasn’t her type of joint.
He smirked and pulled a few bills from his own wallet and set them on the counter. A small price for the watch he had been able to get. ”I may seem like that type of scoundrel, but I wasn’t going to leave you with the bill.” He slid the bills over to the bartender and gave him a grin.
The bartender blushed and slipped away.
With that, Charles turned back to the blonde and smirked. ”You know, if you really don’t want to stay here, I get it. I...happen to know some of the better clubs around the city,” he flashed her his winning smile. ”Who knows, maybe I’ll have a chance at a different one?”
It was a joke, though he did mean it in more ways than one. He still wondered about that wallet and he wasn’t quite willing to give up that prize just yet. Maybe if they continued on together he could discover that secret. He was a fast learner, after all.
It was a different tactic. Things were not going initially as planned but she wasn’t flat out ignoring him either. He guessed that that was progress of some kind. After all, if she were to completely ignore him then this whole endeavour could be far more difficult. No she at least engaged somewhat in communicating with him and that was good enough to allow for some distraction. But he knew better than to push his luck. She was onto most of his more charming tricks, it was better to cut his losses and take what he could.
So he bowed out. His comment didn’t seem to faze her. Instead she merely passed it off like everything else he was saving, with a conversative chuckle. It grew a little more honest every time but by the time he got her where he really wanted her, it would probably wouldn’t be worth it. A handshake and a well-wish of good luck. That was big of him, wasn’t it?
Her hand snaked out, offered to him. Graciously he took it and offered her a warm smile, his eyes darting to the watch that she wore for only the briefest, imperceptible of moments before meeting her eyes again.
”Oh I’m certainly up for the challenge,” he smiled. ”But maybe another night when I haven’t spent all afternoon dancing for change.” Shake. Shake. Shake (plus subtle unlatching). ”Whether you believe me or not, it was an absolute pleasure meeting you.” As soon as the watch was in his hand, he quickly made it invisible, making the strap wind around his fingers so it couldn’t be seen without his permission. ”My name is Charles, by the way. Charles the Danc--” THUD!!
Charles moved in an attempt to add a bit of a flourish to his step and bow. However, in doing so he nudged the bar pretty hard with his foot, causing it to quiver just enough to cause the remains of his drink to tip over and spill the contents down the length of the bar. Charles, deeply apologetic, quickly snagged up so napkins and knelt down in front of her.
”Shit! Sorry. I’m normally better aware of my space than that…” he said.
He mimed his two shots having a slight effect on him and shook his head. Charles grumbled, offering her a wad of napkins while he tried to clean up whatever was on the ground. Standing, his hand, which was invisible, very subtle moved to the front pocket of her sweater. He had seen the wallet in there, the same one he saw her flash before when she dropped money into his hat. Luckily it was an easy mark.
His unseen hand slipped towards her pocket, still trying to mop up the mess and shouting at the bartender to bring her another drink as an apology. He could get it. He knew he could. And once he did, he would make a quick exit and vanish into the crowd. Literally. Others would say he should be happy with just the watch, but no. What was one more prize for the evening?
