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.
Rhia realized she may have overstepped with her latest swap. In her experience when she swapped with someone there was an initial shock, but not evident panic. She felt that if she gave it a moment and let Zaid settle the three of them could have a moment they could all laugh about later… and Jude would see being a poopy pants had repercussions.
There wasn’t much time for Rhia to enjoy the Japanese speaking chaos she had created before Jude protested, saying Zaid didn’t do anything to Rhia. There was mention of ruined fun and then… Jude must have swapped back to his own body as Jude’s body finished the thought. He would show Rhia ruined fun.
Did he mean by moving around Zaid? Because Rhia watching her own body speaking Japanese was a wild trip. First time for it . Jude again looked to poop the party. He, in his own body, touched Zaid’s chin and spoke quietly to her. Rhia frowned and bounced a little on his toes while touching one of his ears.
Then… Things happened. Rhia felt the loss of the swap on Michael and Noel. It was gone, not there, like they had unswapped. He also lost the awareness of her swap from her own body to Jude! He could still feel the control of the swap that brought him into Zaid’s body.
Zaid, speaking English again, complained that he was still a she. Rhia frowned at that, She could have complained about not being in the correct body at all but instead chose to complain about being a girl. Like that was something inherently wrong. Was it so much worse than simply not being in your own body? Maybe… Rhia realized she had an odd perspective on the issue.
”What… What just happened?” Rhia was no longer bouncing and touching an ear. He looked from Jude to Zaid and back to Jude ”Did you… Turn off my power?!” There was a brief moment where Rhia felt his own panic. The only swap he felt in place was the one putting Rhia into Zaid’s body. If Rhia undid that and returned to Jude… There was no way to return to the correct body. Rhia felt trapped. ”Did you… I can’t undo all the swaps I did now! I can only go back to your body and… Zaid is trapped with mine!” Rhia worked to contain his volume. Rhia liked her body! There was nothing wrong with Zaid’s but it wasn’t her own.
The phone on the ground. Ranger didn’t want Noel’s phone to be crushed by someone stomping on it. Especially not Noel himself! Ranger looked at the phone and then knelt to pick it up. Her head collided with Noel’s head. The impact hurt more than Ranger had expected. Ranger thought that the alcohol would have numbed some of the pain from the impact. Ranger looked up, hand rubbing where their heads had collided… And saw Noel’s body flopping backwards onto her ass.
Ranger blinked a few times and looked at his own hands and then at Noel. The alcohol induced haze was completely gone from his mind. Noel must be feeling the effects of Ranger’s overconsumption. He felt sorry for that when she spoke and confirmed it. She sounded as lit as Ranger had felt.
”Yeah… It’s me in here.” Ranger said before turning to face a man laughing at them, Ranger, wearing a displeased look on his once again man face, waved the man on. The man scrunched up his face, shrugged, and went about his business.
And Noel accused Ranger of doing…”this.” From the sloshing of the drink in hand, Ranger assumed she meant being drunk.
”I… Yes. That’s my fault. The drinkin’ didn’ help so much with the lies, but it made the crowd somehow more tolerable.” Ranger reached for the drink, the last thing that they needed was Noel to keep going where Ranger had been driving her body. The drinking had beget more drinking as he had lost the ability to make the most sound of decisions. Sober Ranger in his own body on the other hand, could.
”Maybe not the best place f’r this, but… Did we hit heads at the church… While we kissed?” Ranger asked. They had swapped back when they had a mutual percussive maintenance. It didn’t make any sense that hitting heads would cause a swap nor cause a swap back… But they had and there they were… And bodys wapping itself made no sense! It was like the plot to some cheesy Disney movie
”I’ve had days where I never left the gym. I just swap and swap and swap. There is just something satisfying about the feel of lifting.” One of the reasons Rhia had taken to it like a fish to water. ”I’ve had a few times had class with someone the day after I worked out for them in their body. Some of them have tried to pay me to work through DOMs for them.” Rhia giggled remembering a boy in her Biology lab that could barely move two days after I did a workout for him… I told him no. Not sure I could trust him with my body for a couple days.”
When Zaid asked about bigger lies tasting worse, Rhia smiled and made a noncommittal noise. The nickname drew quite the reaction, Rhia smiled and looked from Zaid to Jude to judge how Jude was responding to the impersonation. Jude decided to be a stick in the mud and let Zaid know that they hand swapped bodies.
Rhia pouted and put one hand on his hip. ”Party pooper.” He said to Jude. There would need to be vengeance for this injustice! Jude killed the fun like a regular poopy pants. Rhia looked at Zaid and smiled… An idea blossoming but was waylaid as the juice Zaid has sloshed all over his face. Rhia laughed out loud. It was like she had no idea how to use a glass.
Jude let him know it would wear off, Zaid asked what. Jude knew the swaps had a time limit… But saying they were ‘temporary’ almost made them sound short lived.
Rhia smiled at Zaid and hugged him a little tighter for a moment before letting him go, ”Swaps only last forty-eight… Or until I end them. Not sure why you can’t use a glass… Does Noel do mind things?” Rhia looked to Jude.
Okay. Time to get his revenge on Jude. He took Zaid’s hand and placed his drink in it while making eye contact. ”Hold this for me.” Rhia triggered his power. He had the usual stretched out of body experience before he was suddenly staring at Jude’s body. ”Thank you.” Rhia took a sip of his drink and looked to Jude. ”This is for ruining my fun.” He smiled at Jude. the head bobbed toward Jude’s own body. The feeling of the bunny ears was odd to say the least. Rhia didn’t have experience in bodies that were human plus. He brought his hands up and felt at his ears then at his tail. It was all so weird!
Ranger’s greeting was met with a “Bless your heart.” with that plus how Zaid had tried to help with her makeup, Ranger knew exactly what she meant. Ranger weakly smiled in response. She had been drinking like she was her own male self who is used to drinking. The liver she had now was female, attached to a smaller body, and not used to drinking. Ranger had not considered the difference in tolerance when she started imbibing.
A giggle escaped at Noel’s reply. Noel leaving her alone in her current ‘state’ wasn’t what she had meant. She tried to contain the giggle as Noel worked to clean up the makeup mess that was Ranger’s face. Amidst it all Noel even commented on Ranger’s trying to drink the glass. WHich was going less well than planned. Ranger screwed up her face and let out air in a ”Psssh.” Then realized Noel had called her Noel. Which reminded her that she was supposed to be pretending to be Noel… Getting drunk and putting on clown makeup was not the best way to accomplish that. Eyes wide she replied,”I… Didn’ set out t’ be...This… … Mich- ...ael.” Drunk? Racoon faced? Ranger just gestured to herself. Her movement likely not making Noel’s job any easier and worked unusually hard to keep names straight. She was Noel and he was Michael. At least for that swapped moment.
Noel guided Ranger though what she needed him to do. Shut the eyes, look up and so on. Then in the middle of it all someone decided to show up and ask what was going on. Noel, as both the drunk one and the one playing the part of Ranger, spoke to the interloper. Except… Had Noel said that she had lice? Ranger’s brain was churning through the much of alcohol.
”Lice? Y’… I have...Wait… heh… I get it.” Ranger said sounding as drunk as she possibly could before both taking a sip and trying to remedy the hand overburdening. Ranger slid her phone into a pocket. Only… There wasn’t a pocket! The phone just dragged against the dress for a moment and then fell to the floor. Ranger only noticed when she heard the sound of the phone striking the floor. This prompted a yell from Ranger, ”And I have no pockets!” What kind of tomfoolery was that!
Rhia could understand wanting to reward the old man. The old man was clearly having a great time making use of his newfound youth. On the other hand, two-dates was likely going to break the old man’s hip for him! If the old man got hurt Rhia would have to come up with some way to punish Jude. Not a hip for a hip, Rhia wasn’t Hammurabi… Maybe Swapurabi. She wasn’t about to break Jude’s hip and swap back though. That would just be too far.
Also… It would really hurt!
Luckily for Rhia Jude took his point. When Jude admitted it, Rhia nodded with a satisfied smile on his face. ”Good.” His voice still carried some of the harsh fire from before.
He was about to end the swap on the men when Jude broke in talking about… Him having two? Saying she just swapped? Well, duh. She had just swapped with Jude. Rhia looked at her funny because she was well aware of the swapping. He had done it. Did Jude have memory issues? That and an accent change. She sounded good with a French accent.
”I think… You’re cut off.” Rhia reached over and took hold of the glass Jude was holding. He sipped the vodka and redbull. It didn’t taste quite the same. Close but not exactly as he knew it to taste. Such was using someone else’s taste buds.
Jude went on to clarify that she was talking about her power, the power Rhia now had. That made the comment about the swapping make more sense and Rhia looked at his drink. He wasn’t about to give it back to Jude though. Instead he looked back at Jude and pondered the power. A power that copies powers that always wants new things. ”I… Think I can feel what you mean.” The sensations he had from other people in the venue. The power indicating who among them were mutants. It was odd.
”I have had my fair share of powers. Not as many as you might think. I haven’t swapped with many people who had powers. Mostly it is just with people who want me to go to the gym for them.” Rhia shrugged. It was a nice way to make some extra cash. ”Good money… But sometimes I swap back to find myself in… Interesting places…” And sometimes in interesting clothes. Some people were just perverts. ”They break the rules... I take more money from them and nix them as a client.” Rhia took a self satisfied sip of his drink.
”What fun powers have you…” Rhia stopped. Zaid had returned and Rhia smiled at Jude before turning to face Zaid. Rhia had planned to try and mess with Zaid… but Zaid went straight in with a question Rhia didn’t know. Well he knew something about it. ”She… Tastes lies…?” His voice went up at the end as he questioned his answer. Not the best way to play at being Jude. Oh well. The fact that there was the muted Texas accent might also give Rhia away.
”Why do you ask, my little bunnyman?” Rhia put his arms around Zaid. Man snug the bun!
Ranger kept trying her best. This was clearly too much of a bad sight for Zaid. He grabbed her hand and stopped her. Jude’s boyfriend was going to think Noel couldn’t manage makeup... Ranger was not doing Noel any favors. She would have to apologize later. At that point though, she did as Zaid said and stood there… Not applying lipstick. ”Uh… Okay.”
Zaid ran off to a table. Ranger stood there with lipstick in hand. Zaid came back with a wet napkin. Zaid must be planning to help Ranger fix the mess she made trying to fix her makeup in the first place. Which was incredibly nice. Ranger followed Zaid’s instructions and looked at him. Which was a mistake.
Ranger met Zaid’s eyes… And her eyes began bouncing. They moved in a nystagmus and her vision condensed to a tunnel. She had been thinking about needing to forget about drinking. She knew she was getting drunk and alcohol didn’t seem to want to help out enough with the lie tasting. When the moment ended, Ranger blinked and looked away from Zaid. She immediately knew what she had just done but didn’t know what she had made them forget.
Ranger looked anywhere but Zaid’s face as he spoke. Noel was on his way. Ranger took the wet napkin and said, ”I… Uh, sure… ... Why d’ y’ think… He’d know?” It was already too late. Zaid had used the pause to scamper off as Noel approached.
Noel, who was bringing a drink. Ranger had been thinking about a drink. She knew she shouldn't have more… but even if it didn't help much with the tasting it gave her a better taste at least after.
"Howdy." Ranger said to Noel, Reaching out to take the glass away from him. She was juggling wet cloth, lipstick, phone, and glass. Mostly free kept it all in one hand and the glass in the other. ”What, ‘re y’ here t’ join me?” Ranger waggled her eyebrows at Noel and moved the glass toward her face. She pressed the middle of the glass into her mouth for a moment before realizing she wasn’t sure what she was doing. She tried pressing it into her mouth again like food. That didn’t work. ”I… Um… Don’t remember how t’ use this.” She said before leaning her head down and trying to put her mouth around the whole top of the glass.
In answer to Rhia’s question, Jude held out his hand. Rhia cocked her head to the side and looked at it. Thinking that Jude simply had a flair for the dramatic, she set her hand in his. She looked at Jude’s face with a look that both questioned while showing anticipation. When he gave his answer… SHe didn’t understand why he would want her hand.
Until she did.
Her eyebrows shot up and her mouth made an O. Jude had copied her power! She had never heard of another mutant doing that! Her surprise resolved back to an open mouthed smile. ”Well that is certainly something interesting.” She was going to ask why Jude had copied her power but Jude had already released her hand and was pointing to the man who had both of his girlfriends show up.
Jude was getting into Rhia’s own brand of karmic justice. She laughed as she watched Jude try to use her power. Only when he said ‘elder’ did she realize that he was pointing at an old man. ”Oh no! Not him!” It was too late though.
The old man jerked and then looked around in confusion. Rhia looked from the old man to mister two dates. He was standing on the dance floor looking around completely befuddled. Rhia then turned her eyes to Jude. He jovial attitude evaporated.
”Hey! You can’t just do that!” Rhia worked to keep her voice down but her ,just on the mad side of the irritated angry county line, displeasure came through. ”You can’t just swap around the elderly! That old man did nothing to deserve two-dates-Magoo almost having a heart attack for him!” Rhia set her drink down and put her hands on her hips. Rhia locked eyes with jude and in an instant decided that if he wanted to have her power he needed to know how it worked. ”Look. If you want to play around with my power you need to understand it and be careful”
As soon as she finished speaking her power triggered and she had a familiar feeling. In the instant that her power took to work Rhia felt her consciousness exit her body and float toward Jude’s. It felt like it took several seconds to cross the distance to his body, but she knew that it was effectively instantaneous.
Now staring at herself, Rhia continued, ”It can be jarring the first time it happens and I don’t know what would happen if someone had a heart attack and died while swapped.” Rhia’s anger began to fade. The old man was fine for then and Rhia had exacted a form of education vengeance on Jude.
Ranger walked to the bathroom barefoot. Halfway across the floor she realized that she was not wearing heels anymore. She spun around, mistake, looking to see where she had lost them. She didn’t see them. She stumbled back to walking forward. Maybe they were at the table? She didn’t remember taking them off… or launching them into anyone.
It didn’t matter though. She could deal with that later. At that moment she had two things to deal with. One, the whiskey on the dress. Two, she had to pee!
Stumbling into the bathroom Ranger made her way to a urinal. While it may have been a busy party, there was no line. In fact other than someone in a stall she was alone in the bathroom. Standing at the urinal she reached to undo a belt before remembering she wasn’t wearing one. So she hiked up the dress… And realized she was in the mens room! Not that being in the mens room was abnormal for Ranger, but normally Ranger was differently equipped. She stepped away from the urinal. Okay. She could wait to pee. She looked to the sinks… No paper towels, just the useless air dryers. She resisted the urge to groan in frustration and went to a stall. There was toilet paper. That would work… After she did her business.
Ranger walked out of the bathroom with toilet paper in hand and was wiping at the whiskey on the dress. It was fairly dry by then, just the spots that received the largest drops still wet.
Ranger snapped her head up from her own chest when she heard Zaid exclaiming about the lint being left on the dress. Moving the clearly incorrect tool for the job away from her chest, Ranger wide eyed stared at Zaid. Jude’s boyfriend who had just seen Noel come out of a mens room wiping her dress with toilet paper. Not the best look. And to top it all off… It was leaving a mess on the dress. Oh! And her makeup was a mess.
”Yeah… I brought...” Ranger opened the small purse she had on her wrist. ID, phone, credit card, and ”...lipstick.” Ranger pulled the lipstick and phone from her purse. ”Thank y’ f’r lettin’ me know.” Ranger phone up to use as a mirror and had the lipstick uncapped and ready to use. It couldn’t be that hard right? Just like chapstick… but with a little more precision required. She touched the lipstick to her lips and tried to follow where he thought the lipstick should go… It went. Not super well though. Ranger’s eyes narrowed as she tried to focus but only seemed to slide the lipstick further off course. The odd clown makeup Ranger was making almost fit with the… everything else being wrong appearance that her face had.
Rhia’s revelation was well received. So well, in fact, that Jude had doubled over in laughter and offered a high five. It was from an awkward position but Rhia was able to bend her knees and lean over a little bit to slap Jude’s hand. His laughter was setting off more of her laughter. It was as if the pair had kicked each other in the giggle dick. And Zaid had joined in too! Jude’s laughter most likely came from knowing the swap victims. For Zaid to laugh wither the laughter was too infectious or the idea of them being swapped was just good comedy... ¿Por que no los dos?
”It lasts for two days unless I end it early,” Rhia set to answering Jude’s questions, ”Michael has Boot’s powers… Or.. I’m guessing he’s Ranger? Y’all have fancy codenames like you’re the X-Dudes or something?” The switch to calling Michael Ranger tripped Rhia up for a moment, ”What… Is her power? I didn’t see ‘Michael’ kissing anyone, just making faces at… Lies?!”
WHat was happening clicked in Rhia’s head. The faces Michael kept making. They were when someone, most often herself or Noel, were lying!
Jude was Johnny on the spot and was asking Zaid to go lie around Michael. No, not just a lie, a monster of a lie. “Unholy fiction”. Had there not been a drink in Rhia’s hand she would have been clapping. She wanted to see this. And Zaid accepted the challenge. Rhia’s eyes grew wide with excitement. ”Good luck~” Rhia sang.
”Oooh. Y’all are just too much fun.” Rhia watched Zaid wander off toward where Michael had been parked by Noel. There was someone else who had walked over and was shaking Noel’s hand. Michael was going for a sip and… There it was! A spit take! All over the man who had approached. ”That. Was. Magical.”
Jude spoke and Rhia looked back to him, he had a mischievous grin to rival Rhia’s own plastered across his wonderfully brilliant face. ”What’s something all BlacTac employees have in common?” Rhia asked, her curiosity piqued. Jude had just earned all points… Even if they don’t matter.
The not in any way subtle walking in heels mistake Ranger made was not missed by Noel. He was cautioning her to slow down her drinking or she wouldn’t be able to walk straight. Too late for that it seemed. Noel parked Ranger at a table. She sat down in a chair, thankful to be off her feet for a moment.
”We aren’t needed… But we should at least stay f’r the toasts.” Ranger said. She didn’t know what the itinerary for the evening was, only that leaving too early would likely be seen by Winny as another slight. And if she didn’t notice, someone might mention to Sideshow about them skipping out early and he might come asking questions when he came back to work.
Tedward approached and spoke to Noel while shaking his hand. He had heard a rumor? Which rumor? Ranger sipped at her whisky while trying to remember if she had piled onto a rumor with Tedward. Triplets? Getting married in Vegas? Ranger looked at her hand, well no ring so that one is less believable. Ranger had responded to that rumor that they had a lovely ceremony with the king officiating, while they were dressed in matching Elvis suits. Noel had managed a glorious pompadour with her hair. Nevada might one day recover from the great hair spray shortage.
Hair… Ranger had opened her mouth to ask which rumor when she found some of her hair had hitched a ride with her drink. She hooked it with a finger and drew out the offending strands. Not too off put by having to pull hair out of her mouth, Ranger went for another sip while Noel carried on with Tedward.
The glass had only just left her face when a taste most foul broke into her mouth like the Kool-Aid man. It settled onto her tongue and Ranger could not help but react to it. A little too violently. The whisky erupted from Ranger’s mouth and sprayed all over Tedward.
To his credit, Tedward didn’t erupt with anger. He just stared at Ranger for a moment before wiping whisky off his face. ”Uh… Party foul.”
”Oh… I am so sorry.” Ranger apologized and grabbed napkins on the table to push Tedward’s way.
”Might want one for yourself.” Tedward directed with his forehead, not with his eyes, and Ranger looked down to see some of the spray had wound up on the dress she was wearing.
”Oh! Thanks.” Turning a shade closer to the dress, Ranger took one napkin and wiped at the dress. ”Uh… Excuse me.” Ranger stood up, napkin in hand but no longer wiping at the dress. She looked to Noel and mouthed, ’bathroom.’ before setting off. Walking right out of her heels as she started toward the restrooms.
Rhia was practically bouncing when Michael and Noel left. She had to bark out a very quick ”Bye.” to contain her laughter. She understood why there was the awkwardness and could see the looks between them for what they were while ‘Michael’ was talking.
Jude seemed to take pride in Noel not liking them.Rhia bit her tongue and took a drink. ’Oh, but that isn’t Noel who was making that face.’ Zaid asked the question that was on her mind. About Jude and Noel not getting along. Rhia had to guess it was because Noel was the kind of person to behave like… Like a person who just makes out at a wedding!
Zaid continued, asking if the pair had seemed off. Rhia looked to Jude, this would be fun to know. Other than being ushed by Michael and watching them make out, Rhia didn’t know the pair as they normally were. ”Yeah, Michael didn’t seem to catch on to the joke as fast as I would have thought. Given the rumors you said he had leaned into.”
What finally did Rhia in… What finally made her the giddiest of all schoolgirls, was Zaid describing ‘Noel’s’ walking in heels as a baby giraffe learning to walk. Literal tears welled up at the corners of her eyes as she contained laughter, her arms shaking with joy. ”Maybe… It’s part of some cosmic punishment… for their makeout session… In the church.” Rhia was grinning ear to ear.
Jude seemed to have a big enough beef with his boss and an even bigger one with Noel. Maybe it was the alcohol talking, but Rhia decided that maybe she should let Jude and Zaid in on the fun. If the pair were going to try and play at being each other, than the more people who could mess with them the better.
Rhia touched her tongue to the bottom of her top teeth before asking, ”How would you like… To have some fun at their expense? I… May have… Oh, screw being coy. I can swap people’s bodies.” A pause for a beat, ”I swapped them while they made out during the wedding. My own little punishment.” [/i]
The tastes just kept on lying, the lying kept on tasting, and Ranger was out of peach cosmo to try and wash it out of her mouth with. When it was clear that Noel was wrapping up the conversation she gladly gave a small nod to the question. She hoped Jude didn’t notice. Making it through until she nad Noel swapped back without that information making its way back to BlacTac was ideal.
Ranger waved to the group as Noel shook Jude’s hand, ”Bye, yall.”
When the pair extracted themselves from the group, Ranger stepped toward the bar. Her drink was empty. After a few more steps she reached for the whisky Noel held and held out the empty glass she had on hand. ”Here. Trade y’ back.” Then Ranger would have a drink and only Noel would need to get one.
Paying attention to drink swapping took attention away from heel walking. There was a moment where Ranger felt an ankle doing not right things. An unstead tilt for a moment before Ranger got the damn things under control. ”Why… Do women wear these things?” Ranger asked and looked down to indicate the heels. ”I wear lif’s daily… but thiss is…This is somethin’ else entirely.”
There was a slight slur to her speech. Nothing too pronounced but enough to be noticed.
”I’m gunna have t’ get Jude back f’r that. Wavin’ us over jus’ t’ make jokes... “ Never mind that Ranger had done that exact thing before to Jude.
Boots, or Noel as it turned out her name was, made a face when Michael said he was from Bryan. It was like she had bitten into something foul but was trying to keep a polite smile on so the host who made the food didn’t realize that you thought that you had been served the poo poo platter instead of the pu pu platter. A generous helping of cosmo even followed.
Home country? Rhia had a moment where she looked at Michael with a puzzled look on her face before she realized what he was saying, ”Oh! Yes.” Rhia said, remembering how in school there had been a few that had joked about the Republic of Texas still being a thing. ”Do you have trouble finding places to hitch your horse too? I just leave mine at my dorm. Too much trouble.” Again, Noel was making a face.
Jude chimed in, bringing up the truck. Rhia’s eyes went wide and a smile creeped across her face. This ought to be good. Michael set off innocently into an answer not knowing that he was playing right into a joke. How much did Michael need the surgery? Clearly very, very bad. Rhia had to put her hand over her mouth to contain her laughter. Her eyes pinched at the sides showing her feelings. She was worried she might cry from laughter. His pants had been ripped! Michael must have noticed the laughter from the group as he cut himself off.
”Oh… I’m... so sorry… to hear about… your… pants.” Rhia said, her cadence broken and her voice a half octave higher as she fought back hysterical laughter. ”The Fordasaurus... sounds very... big.” She snorted and a few giggles escaped. Her giggle dick might be bigger than Michael's... Well, bigger than Michael's 'truck' and Noel-Michael had smashed it.
Noel seemed to catch on to what was being said. Her eyes narrowed at the jokes and for a moment it looked like she was about to speak up and defend Michael. Rhia wondered what she would say. How would Noel defend her man without admitting that she was the man. Well, normally. That or publicly discussing bedroom activity… Or at least making it sound that way. Instead she just downed her drink and said, "very funny," her eye twitching as soon as she finished speaking. Rhia grinned the largest of Cheshire grins at her response.
"I thought so."
What a shame it was, had Noel not known before of the... inadequacy… she certainly would know now. Honestly, there was no need for large trucks in the city unless you truly were compensating for something. It made Rhia wonder, did Michael use steroids too? Get a small set to go with the small one.
Jude listed off stories he told about his boss. As he went along, Rhia’s eyebrows climbed up and she bit down on her lips to stop from laughing when he mentioned the enhancement surgery. She even had to look away, her eyes widely opened before having to make two attempts to respond. ”How big of a truck does he drive? Just need to know how much he needed the surgery.”
The pair had only been together since a week before Christmas. That wasn’t all that long. ”Gross. Working over Christmas? That sounds like the absolute worst!”
At Rhia’s question, Zaid began to change colors. Jude only helped compound. He suggested cheek to cheek. ”Ohhh, a man of refinement I see.” She said through giggles. She was imagining the options. Butt to butt, face to face, and face to butt. All classy options for how to be bench pressed by someone as a pair.
Perhaps because he noticed Zaid had turned every shade between his normal coloration and red, Jude explained himself to Zaid. How he has no shame thanks to who he works with. Then to punctuate his point said that Michael’s response to the rumor of him running for office was to say the other guy’s hat was bigger. Rhia froze bringing her drink to her lips. How? What? Why? Rhia had questions.”You work for a crazy person, Jude… I want to hear more about your job!” She said as she saw Jude trying to flag down Michael and Boots. ”Oh! Or meet him, that sounds like a good time.” She couldn’t help but smile an evil smile so she again tried to mask it by going for a drink.
Rhia had wanted to toy with her victims. What better way to watch them squirm than to have someone they work with there to help her along!
Noel passed the girly drink to Ranger. Ranger passed whisky to Noel. Ranger took a tentative sip. It was sweet, but not too sweet with a little bit of tart. A world of difference from the fire of whisky. Ranger took another sip. The flavor was certainly more obvious about itself than whisky. Well, more obvious than the whisky Ranger ordered. Macallan was a smooth whisky that didn’t have peatiness or an overabundance of fire to it. It was much easier whisky to sit and enjoy the subtle flavors in it.
There was a moment where Ranger was trying to decide which drink she wanted. She preferred whisky, but maybe the peach cosmo with its strong flavor would help with the tastes that kept invading her mouth when people spoke. Noel asking what she thought pushed Ranger to a decision, ”It’s… Better than I expected.” As for Ranger taking both drinks… Likely a good call. Noel would need his wits about him to play at being Ranger. ”That… Is a good call. Hold ont’ it though. People don’ try t’ hand drinks t’ someone already carryin’ one.” Ranger could foresee someone from BlacTac handing beer after beer to Noel if he didn’t have something in hand.
Ranger sipped at the peach cosmo one last time before heading off with Noel to where Jude, his boyfriend… Zaid that was it, and green dress were standing. Drinking and walking was out of the question. Ranger could already feel a buzz and she had to focus on walking. Leading with her hips she set off with Noel.
When they reached the group, Noel gave a very Ranger greeting… If you ignored how the ‘howdy’ started. Jude’s hand destroyed, Noel turned to Zaid and… didn’t know his name. Which was a bad look, but Ranger had only been told the name by Jude. It was only a little bit of a bad look for Noel to not know Zaid’s name. Thankfully Zaid filled in with his name so the pleasantry could continue.
”Howdy, Zaid. I’m M-Noel.” She held out a hand to shake Zaid’s hand, an eye twitching at the sour taste she gave herself. She heard a titter from the green dress woman. Turning to her she said, ”Oh, hi. I’m sorry about the heel earlier.”
The woman waved off the apology and said, ”Oh don’t worry about it. It just happens sometimes to us girls.” She held out her hand and introduced herself, ”Nice to meet you, m’Noel. I’m Rhia.” Rhia had said Noel with a very slight ‘m’ sound at the front. Less pronounced than the flub Ranger had made but still there.
After Ranger shook Rhia’s hand, she offered it to Noel. ”He’owdy.” She said. ”Nice to meet a fellow Texan this far up North.” She smiled at Noel. Jude must have been talking about them. That or between the accent and the boots she put it together. ”Where’s home for you, Michael? I’m From West Lake.”
The groom’s side had all served together. That made a lot of sense to Rhia. Veterans seemed to be a more eccentric lot and when a bunch of them are together they tend to be rowdier than most other gatherings by half. It also likely explained why two of the men on the groom’s side were drawing her ire. Jude had made a point to separate himself from the rest of them when he mentioned serving. He did look a little young to have served and gotten out already.
At Rhia’s alarm, Jude walked back his comment about his boss skipping bail. Rhia found it amusing as a way to get revenge on her boss. Spread stories about him while he is away. ”I love that idea! Though, it sounds like you really need something fantastic to use to embarrass him.” She cast her eyes over to her victims. She wondered if she should tell Jude about what she had done to her boss. ”Other than bail skipping, what did you come up with? Tell me the best one!”
Zaid mentioned that it was the bears that Michael and Boots had left behind that was what brought them together. The names were not as good as Red Dress and the Usher, but they were actual names. Except Boots… That was an odd name. Nickname maybe? Rhia wondered how often a joke was made about ‘knocking boots’ was made? Maybe not often considering the man she was with. Unless he made the jokes? He seemed the type.
”How long have y’all been together?” Which was also a way to ask how long was Michael away, skipping bail or making out at other weddings. ”Y’all make a really cute couple.”
Rhia snorted when Jude mentioned Rhia being able to bench press Jude and Zaid stacked on top of each other. She then covered her face with one hand. Zaid seemed embarrassed by the comment and mentioned how Jude already showed that he was not hard to lift. Rhia took her hand away from her face and waved it as she laughingly said, ”That is the weirdest way I think I’ve received a compliment.” Then with a naughty grin on her face added, ”Would it be nut to butt or six to nine when stacked?” She mimed like she was balancing a bar with her hands in front of her. ”Maybe sixty-nine. For balance.”
”I could take you lifting sometime. It’s… One of the most exhilarating things and it pays dividends .” Rhia casually directed her fingers toward her butt while her arms were at full extension by her side. ”I’m loving the city. I’m still getting used to how cramped everything is. I’m from Texas, near Austin and… There is just more room.”
The names from Ranger were a tad much to give all at once, especially when indicating people from across a reception. It would be easier if Noel could just kiss for the information. Which had Ranger seen him start to try. If only Noel’s power had a way to send memories to someone else, not just take memories. ”I can cover f’r y’.” Ranger said before thanking the bartender who handed her a glass of whisky.
Then Noel ordered and Ranger put her hand over her face. Noel was asking for peach vodka. Ranger didn’t know exactly what he was about to order, but it was likely something that Ranger would be teased relentlessly over. When the bartender confirmed they did have peach vodka, Noel ordered a peach cosmo. Ranger resigned herself to be teased about this for a long time… After the swap ended.
The resignation didn’t stop Ranger from giving Noel a face that said, ’Really?’.
“What?” Noel asked before taking a sip. Ranger just shook her head in response and sipped her whisky while looking over the crowd. Even while Noel, Ranger’s habitual state of situational awareness kept him scanning.
"I'll trade you if y'r jealous."
Ranger looked at the drink. Fruity and sugary wasn’t exactly her cup of tea. She bobbed her head left and right for a moment before saying, ”I’ll try it first.” She had never had a cosmo before. Beer, whiskies, and straight vodka had dominated her orders at bars.
From the corner of her eye, Ranger caught jude motioning. He was looking toward Noel and it looked like he was beckoning him over. ”Jude is waving y’ over.” Ranger indicated where Jude stood, with two others, with her head. One of the other two was the green dressed woman she hand sent a heel hurtling toward at mach Jesus. The other was a man with bunny ears.
”Groom side all know each other?” Rhia asked. Jude had correctly guessed that she was on the bride's side. She didn’t know a soul on the bride's side… And the groom's side seemed almost like a fraternity reunion.
From Jude’s description, the pair Rhia had swapped were awful people. That made her feel even better about having them take a vacation as each other. She couldn’t stop a mischievous smile from crawling across her face at Jude’s description. ”Someone should put them in their place. Teach them that they can’t just make scenes anywhere they please.” She tried to quell a rising giddiness. More of her drink! Covering her smirk and stopping her own speaking with alcohol was the answer.
Jude’s face when he saw Mr. Bunny Ears was adorable and… Oh! Jude lifted Mr. Bunny Ears off his heels. Rhia let out a quiet, N’awww.” When the embrace was over Jude introduced Mr. Bunny Ears to Rhia. He was Jude’s boyfriend, clearly, Zaid Wylde. Jude caught Zaid up on the topic of conversation. THey were talking about Jude’s boss… Who has dogs that ate Zaid’s hat… and were giant bears? What kind of dogs did the Usher in Red Dress’s body have?
”I would cry if my dog chewed up one of my boots, if I was wearing boots like that.” Rhia had caught sight of the boots the Usher was wearing. Black Crocodile boots from Lucchese. They only cost a couple grand
”Your boss skipped bail?!” Rhia looked between the swapped pair and Jude. ”I… Think you need to find a new boss.”
Zaid brought the conversation back around to Rhia. ”Oh, no. I’m a student at NYU. Winny, the bride, got me to apply up here. They gave me a powerlifting scholarship and couldn’t turn that down.”
The slapping knocked the glass free from Noel’s hand. He dove to catch it which left Ranger standing there watching her old body dive for the glass. She chuckled at the site of her own body diving to save the small glass. Saving them from the embarrassment of a party foul. When Noel had recovered the glass and answered Lumberjack… Ranger grimmaced at the lie he told.
”I… Can’t blame you for that.” Lumberjack cast a glance to Ranger and then nodded as he looked back to Noel. Clearly he thought that he might have the same struggle were he in Noel’s Ranger boots. ”Yeah. Tonight… And maybe the rest of the weekend. Winny will get her pound of flesh though. You stole the spotlight from her… On her wedding day.” Looking at Ranger, Lumberjack said with a smile, ”After Renfield kills Hunter, wanna get lunch? There’s a great place near my apartment… Okay, it’s good… I like it, okay.” The amendments to Lumberjack’s statements came as Ranger made faces as the puffery landed on her tongue.
Lumberjack cast a look to the side, ”I’ll see y’all later. Gerhart looks like he’s about to cause more trouble… By… Well, you know Gerhart.” With that he walked off to help police his fellow Alpha Team member who was already talking up a pair of women.
”That sounds like an excellent idea.” Ranger said before running her tongue against her top teeth to try and scrape bad taste off. ”That was Charles Montgomery. He’s a member of the Alpha team at BlacTac.” Ranger looked around and pointed to Alpha Team members as she saw them. ”That’s Jonas Gerhart that he’s walkin’ to… That’s Jonathan Wahl an’ his wife Norma an’ she might think y’ f’rgot how t’ walk ‘r somethin’ now… That’s Demore Williams an’ he’s talkin’ t’ Tedward. Tedward’s not Alpha Team. Funny guy though, works vanilla security.” When they stopped at the bar Ranger said to the bartender, ”Whiskey.”
The walk to the reception had been a struggle for Rhia. A struggle to contain herself and not break into giggle fits. Her victim, who found himself a herself, had to struggle to walk to the reception. She was able to steal a few looks at the trouble they were having as she walked. The heel striking her back was enough to put a lid on the giggles for a while though. The later embarrassment they visibly felt when an older woman handed her victim a purse they had forgotten… Well, it didn’t make up for it, but it did bring back the smile to her face.
At the reception, Rhia didn’t know anyone. She knew her cousin, Winny, but that was about it. She would have to make some friends for the night.
For the second time in one wedding, Rhia saw an opportunity to help teach someone a lesson. The first was with the couple who couldn’t keep it in their pants while the bride was walking down the aisle. The second was a cat fight that erupted over a man accidentally bringing both his girlfriends together at the same wedding. While the man needed to be taught a lesson, the two women needed to stop fighting needed to learn that it isn’t okay to fight at Winny’s wedding!
Alas, she could only swap the one set of other people. As the biggest offenders, Red Dress and the Usher would stay swapped.
Rhia found herself at the bar, and with a quick flash of her fake ID, had secured one vodka and redbull. She smiled to herself as she turned to watch the crowd. A quick scan showed Red Dress running over to the Usher. Rhia smiled evilly to herself as she started toward the couple. She wanted to mess with them some. See if she couldn’t make them squirm. She didn’t walk with any level of determination. She moved with the opposite of purpose. She didn’t want them to know she had sought them out. To that end she kept her eyes on the rest of the crowd and…
A dark haired man, about Rhia’s age stopped her. She recognized the man as one of the other ushers. There was a moment where she hesitated, wanting to continue on to her victims, but blowing past this other usher who could behave himself was a step too far.
Rhia smiled at the man who was asking if she had seen a handsome man with bunny ears before he trailed off. Rhia shook her head in the negative and the man carried on, introducing himself.
”I’m Rhiannon, or Rhia for short.” Rhia took Jude’s offered hand. ”You work for…” Rhia followed where jude was indicating. The Usher and Red Dress! Rhia quickly covered her surprised face with a neutral one. Taking a sip of her drink helped to cover the transition. ”Oh. The guy who couldn’t help but make out with his girl while my cousin was walking down the aisle?” Rhia watched the couple and crossed her arms. She didn’t have to act annoyed at the couple, she was. She only had to hide that she knew what they were dealing with at that very moment as the Usher’s body was taking the glass of whiskey away from Red Dress’s body.
It looked like the Usher was using alcohol to deal with the swap. That was a new one to Rhia.
Rhia looked back at Jude and asked, ”Do those two always make scenes?”
Someone came up to Rhia and Jude. Handsome, man, bunny ears. That must be who Jude was looking for. Rhia smiled at Mr. Bunny Ears and said, ”With a suit like that, how could we resist.” Rhia held out her hand to Mr. Bunny Ears to introduce herself. ”Howdy, I’m Rhia.”
Noel slid his arm around Ranger and stole her glass of whiskey. It was likely a good move, Ranger had already downed an entire glass and had made a significant dent in that one already. Noel told Ranger to slow down. Ranger looked from the stolen glass, to Noel, ”I haven’t had that much…” Ranger said, thinking that she likely had been drinking a little fast for Noel’s body. The statement did not taste of truth and Ranger scrunched her face a little at it. Noel, quickly looked away. Knowing exactly why Noel would be looking away, Ranger cast her gaze down at her old chin.
From just outside of her focal point, Ranger could see Noel pointing to the inner corner of Ranger’s body’s eye. She shifted her gaze to the spot indicated. Noel then kissed Ranger on the temple. It was weird. Ranger could feel the very faint beginnings of stubble growth. Not enough to give five o’clock shadow, just enough to scratch a little.
"Thanks" Ranger smiled despite herself.
It was a nice moment, all things considered. Had they not been in each other’s bodies, Ranger would have thought it a fantastic time. Instead Ranger was Noel, Noel was Ranger, and Lumberjack was slapping Noel on the shoulder and saying, ”You’re a braver man than I Hunter. As Winny was starting down the aisle.” He shook his head, ”She might have Renfield kill you in your sleep.” Then to Ranger, he added, ”Don’t worry, Noel. I helped explain how it’s all Hunter’s fault.” Again he slapped Ranger on the shoulder, ”And you look fantastic by the way.” Lumberjack turned to Noel and mouthed ’lucky dog.
Ranger simply gave a half smile and nodded at the compliment.
Mr. Devil caught Rhia as she stumbled back into him. She let him support her with his arms for a moment as she let her legs rest. She let out a small giggle at his pleasantry after she had literally fallen into his arms. She took a moment before she put her legs back under herself. Mr. Devil helped her up and then took her completely by surprise.
Rhia’s mind was occupied by considering what exercises she could add to the current workout now that Vlad was there to spot her. The gears in her brain stopped spinning at his question. Coffee? How about coffee? Rhia looked at Vlad, her eyes a little wide. ”I... uh…” Mr. Devil was cute. Well...More than just cute. She could always come back to work out later. Her surprised face gave way to a smile, ”I would love some coffee.” Getting coffee while all sweaty wasn’t her preference, but he was asking then and there.
A look at the weight on the ground. Rhia tucked some hair behind her ear. ”Now...or… after a... “ One more set? Putting the weights up? ”Should I change first?” She asked. It was brisk outside and she was dressed for being her own heater in a climate controlled building. She had left a change of clothes in the women’s locker room.
Yes, lucky him. And also, lucky Rhia. She smiled. ”Yes. Lucky you.”
Rhia didn’t honestly wonder if Charles was with the Slut Bunnies, but they were the easy group to accuse someone of being with. And the question elicited a lovely response. He loudly snorted. That alone had Rhia giggling. Based on what the Slut Bunnies were doing to the man unfortunate enough to find himself encircled, Charles was most likely right in guessing what his fate would have been had he been with them.
”Well. I for one am glad you’re not being devoured by them.” Rhia said with a wink. ”It would be a waste of dancing talent.”
Rhia watched the ‘dancing’ with Charles. The man the Slut Bunnies had trapped was being bludgeoned by the very things that had likely attracted him to them in the first place. Their breasts and acting like they had enough alcohol to be an easy lay.
The poor man finally made his escape.
The whole sight was amusing and caught Rhia’s attention like a wreck on the highway. She shouldn’t be watching it while there were more important things to do, but she couldn’t look away. Charles speaking brought her attention back to him. ”Yes. It is an assault on the institution of dance.”
Charles answered the question she hadn’t asked but was what she really wanted to know. He was there alone. She smiled at that. She wouldn’t have to compete with someone else, not that she would lose. And while it was it’s own pleasure to steal a man away from someone, she could keep her attention on Charles.
Rhia’s was pleasantly surprised when Charles took her hand and gave her a twirl. She let out a “Woo!” as she twirled. Not many men she had run into on a dance floor playing club music knew what they were doing with twirls. Charles knew how to indicate what he wanted with his hand on hers. She giggled after the twirl as Charles asked if she was having a good time. ”Oh. I’m having a wonderful time.” Rhia bit her lip before bringing her drink to her mouth to drink more. She could feel the alcohol and red bull hitting. It was a wonderful feeling.
”What brought you here? Your dancing seems a little high class for this place?” Rhia asked before making a few chaines turns away from Charles. ”Not that I’m complaining.” she chainesed back to Charles. Stopping pressed up against him.
Winny was her cousin and the reason Rhia was going to NYU. Winny had moved to New York City years ago. Had she not been in NYC, Rhia would not have even applied to NYU. They weren’t the closest of cousins, but Rhia was close enough to Winny to not duck the wedding.
She wore a nice open back tea length green dress that showed off her arms. She put her hair up and all around made herself up real nice. Weddings were often great places to meet people and show off.
When she arrived at the wedding she could tell that it was a meeting of two worlds. The groom’s world of large boisterous men and their women. The bride’s world of civilized people. Groom’s side looked like it might be a little more fun if it wasn’t for the feeling that most of them were running in a state of hyperawareness like the priest might turn into a giant squid man and attack everyone.
An usher approached her and in a shockingly thick accent that made her feel back at home, asked if she was there for the bride or the groom.
”Bride’s family.” she said and the man nodded and led her to her row. ”Thank you.” she said before she slid down the pew to take her seat. Other than the parents of the bride she was the only member of the bride’s family in attendance. Texas was just far enough away that much of the family couldn’t make the trip.
Rhia heard they tried to make up for it with more wedding gifts.
She did not have a date with her so while waiting for the wedding to start, Rhia texted and looked at memes. When the processional music started she quickly stowed her phone away in her purse. She watched the first usher, the man who had walked her to her row, take the first of the grandparents to their seat before sitting next to a brunette in a brick red dress. The procession continued.
Rhia could excuse a little chatter. Maybe the lovers hadn’t had much of a chance to talk since they got to the wedding. One of them was an usher after all. But she could have sworn she heard the word ‘fetuses’ and it set the row ahead of her to giggles. She glanced over to them and it seemed that might have been the end of it. The volume went down. The procession continued.
And then the music changed and the bride started down the aisle. Winny looked magnificent in her wedding dress. She promised herself she wouldn’t cry…
Keeping that promise to herself looked like it would be easier than she thought, and not for a good reason. There was a quiet murmur in the crowd as the bride walked down the aisle. A few people had turned to look… at the usher and his woman in red. They were going to town like high schoolers in the back seat on prom night!
Rhia’s jaw dropped when she saw the display. They were at a wedding… and the freaking bride was walking down the aisle! Rhia seethed for a moment before she decided that if no one was going to say anything to stop them - it looked more like there was juvenile cheering of it on the groom side - she would do something about it. If they were so into each other, maybe they would like to spend a weekend as each other.
She had to move in front of a couple people to get to the end of the pew but she didn’t care. SHe was a woman on a mission. A mission to teach the children who couldn’t keep it in their pants long enough for her cousin to get married a lesson. They were just barely in range of her power, she had to lean into the aisle a little for her power to find purchase in them. With a small effort she swapped them. While they were making out with each other.
While it might be another disturbance to the wedding, it sure would be fun to watch the moment they realize it happened. "Have fun, kids." Rhia said quietly to herself as she grinned evilly.
