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.
Good. Action Hero had things under control. Will thought to himself as Ranger caught the bat swung at him like it was was made of paper. Though the whistle that the metal club make as it arced through the air and the meaty thud when it was caught proved it was anything but. Will watched as Ranger's boot introduced itself to Metal's face and the resulting greeting nearly buried the back of the man's head in the ground.
Ah. So he was the Clydesdale.
It took most of Will's remaining willpower and self control to not gape openly as Ranger grab the new source of trouble and start to lift with a single hand. Metal was hardly small, and looked wrapped in enough metal to make budging him even with both hands look like an unreasonable task. So of course Ranger started lifting him with only a single hand grabbing the guy's shirt. Watching Ranger's form suddenly swell and increase in size was a baffling thing and distracted Will enough he didn't so much see as hear the second bat as it shrieked through the air.
When it connected with Ranger's head, Will was certain that should have been it for the Action Hero looking man, the sound the weapon made through the air was simply a club moving at lethal speed. So when the Ranger only staggered, rather than dropping like a marionette who's strings had been cut, Will's jaw dropped as he ran entirely out of the resources he'd been using to hide his reactions.
Thankfully, someone else had been managing to do more than gawk at the fight as it progressed and when Quin hurled the hefty disc of plastic towards Metal, Will just reacted as the movement caught his eye. Action Hero was stunned, or down. Metal here was swinging at least as hard as Hammer had been. Armored. Took an absurd hit or two. At least. And he was still getting up. Who knew what other tricks he had? Before he had time to think better of it, Will was already chasing the plastic projectile like a dog racing after a Frizbee, hoping to capitalize on the opening Quin made as the plastic solidified about the man's head and arms.
Will dove, avoiding a blind kick, and grabbed Metal around the neck and shoulders, swinging bodily around to the man's back, Will's wounded arm telling him he was -definitely- not listening to his doctor's advice. He'd wished trouble had taken a bit longer to get here so the painkillers would have had time to kick in. Will clung to Metal with his good arm, slapping his hand down on Metal's arm. Plastic. He reached lower. Plastic. Lower still. Metal. &%$#!
"Gotta be kidding me!" Will hissed in frustration as he struggled to keep on his feet and close to the metal (and now plastic) clad mutant, dodging the violent kicks thrown back at him. "Hey! Big Guy!" Will yelled out towards Ranger. "Make an openin' in his tin can and I can put him down for a minute!" Will hoped that the mutant that had knocked their mutual metallic enemy into the tent was still able to fight. Or think. That had been a heck of a wallop.
Even with sharper than human senses, it didn't mean Will was always aware of the world around him. Between the ebbing worry from the phone call, focusing on the call itself and the general chaos and unknown noise all around him, he barely noticed the squeal of brakes and commotion at the front of the hospital, it was just more noise added to the trouble all around them. Therefore, Will was surprised when Quin grabbed him, pulling him away from the direction of the noise before he was faintly able to hear an impact. It sounded like... Well it sounded roughly like a Clydesdale kicking a refrigerator through the air?
Will half-stumbled and was half dragged by Quin as she was quicker to respond. He couldn't find a reply to Quin's exasperated words and instead tried to track the sound of something as it hurtled through the air. Quickly. And towards them. As the metal man crashed through the tent and landing in a heap roughly where they been situated, it all made a little more sense. Mister Metal here had been what who had been hit. But what had hit him that hard?
"Yeah, this might be stretching the truth on safe, huh?" Will muttered back to Quin as he heard her comment, only responding with a small nod as she told him to keep his powers ready to go, just in case. Will could see the metal-clad mutant starting to stir and felt a knot of concern in his gut, even as he raised his one good arm and took a half step forward, tentatively. Will needed pretty much direct contact to affect someone, even a shirt made things difficult. Was the metal on this guy's skin his skin or something else? Armor? Will didn't relish the idea of trying to find a bare patch on the guy while fighting for his life, but if he started getting up, they didn't have much of a choice.
Before he could worry further, or voice his concern to Quin, she'd called him off. Will had already heard footsteps approaching, but with what had just happened and the police presence in the staging area, he'd been expecting as much. He had expected to see scrubs or a police uniform. What he hadn't expected was to see someone who was dressed like they'd walked off the set of an action film just after all the pyrotechnic budget had been spent.
Quin seemed to recognize him, called him by name at least, and told Will to stay out of his way. Scratch that, -completely- out of his way.
"Works for me." Will muttered, scurrying backwards away from the fallen man, giving the new source of trouble a wide berth. (Sources? Action Man there didn't exactly give off vibes of peace and tranquility, but at least he was on their side, presumably.) Nonetheless, he kept his muscles tensed and eyes on the metallic mutant as Ranger approached and Quin did her thing. Between plastic and metal, the guy was about 2/3rds of the way to being the whole set of recycling.
Will scoffed good-naturedly as Quin told him she'd already changed the contact in her phone as they bantered back and forth about their names, of all things. Worst still, she had his -full- first name. But at least she'd been decent enough not to use it. She had -better- not have him in there as William. "Yeah, yeah, I'm sure." Will grumbled through a grin and a barely restrained chuckle, grateful to be back in a seat where he wasn't getting his arm jabbed at, and back around a familiar face... even if it was a bit odd thinking of Quin as 'familiar' considering the time they'd spent together. Seems chaos was a good bonding exercise.
Will nodded in agreement and understanding as Quin answered a few of his questions and provided a bit more information. That she thought she was pretty much rock bottom on the triage list - no nasty cuts or anything that seemed life threatening after all. That she didn't have much additional input on protocol on this sort of thing, though she suspected things would calm sooner or later. That they'd be able to get home after that -- Jeez, a walk through the city after this was going to be nerve wracking.
Quin commented on her parents living outside the city, in Chicago -- hopefully having a much less eventful day than New York City was having. She suggested that he should call his folks and Will made a bit of a face, the sort where you've been advice you know is good but that you didn't really want to follow. "Yeah... Probably." Will sighed, patting his pockets to figure out where he'd put his phone. "Dad'll be at work, and short of the entire building crumbing to splinters around him, he won't be budged, but I can try to call my Mom." Will dug his phone out from his left-hand pocket, half expecting the thing to be impaled with a spike of rock, but by some miracle was relatively unscathed. Though may have been sporting a new scratch or two along the metal back of the device.
Will scrolled through his contacts, selecting one labeled "Mom Cell" and called, turning half away from Quin as he raised the phone to his ear and hear it ring. And ring. And ring. Voicemail. It wasn't unusual for him to get voicemail trying to call his parents, especially this time of day, but considering the events of the day, Will couldn't help but feel a little needle of anxiety stab into him. He waited for the automated (seriously, she still hadn't changed that?) voicemail message to finish and spoke up. "Hey, it's Will. You'll probably see some crazy stuff in the news, but I'm safe. Gimme a text or call when you get this. Love you." With that, he ended the call, turning back to Quin and giving a little shrug and a small smile. "She's part of like half a dozen clubs and volunteer groups. Probably has her-" Will's phone buzzed in his hand as he was speaking, a text coming in from the number he'd just called -- an automated response, "I have Don't Disturb on. I'll call you when I can".
"Yeah. Like I thought. Probably has her hands full." Will said, feeling better after that, now only dreading the follow up call once his parents saw that the place he worked was right near where some of this was happening. He did have to wonder how far spread all this was, though.
"Sang a certain kind praises for sure when he was patching me up." Will smirked, his arm feeling both better and worse for the treatment. It certainly hurt more, after being wash and prodded and squeezed, but in an oddly reassuring way, like poking at a bruise. More than that though, the itchy, skin crawling feeling of the little bits of dust and rock being -inside- it was gone... Now he just had to keep his mind off the -other- bits of ceramic and rock he could feel in his back. "Won't repeat 'em in polite company though."
As Quin addressed him by his full name, or at least his first and last, he rolled his eyes as he worked open his water bottle with one hand. "Yeah, yeah... Guess I don't have you at a disadvantage anymore, do I, Quin Archer?" Will shot back before he popped the provided pair of painkillers into his mouth, washing the pills down with the last mouthful of water in his bottle. He screwed the cap back on tapping the empty bottle idly against his knee as he let out the rest of his breath in a sigh. "Sorry to interrupt your nap there." Will said gently, joking, but only just. It was pretty tempting to try and curl up on the floor of the tent at this point and crash, regardless of the time of day. Amazing how exhausting a day could be when it involved running for your life.
"What's the protocol on something like this? Does city wide emergency law come up on your syllabus?" Will asked, trying to approach the situation with a bit of a light-hearted tone. "How long do you figure we'll be stuck here..?" Will genuinely didn't know. Even if the situation outside the staging area had been brought under control, (and he really hoped that it had), was there follow up with them? Would they want to question them? Or was that going to be something handled later, getting a call in a few days time to come down to some police station to give his story? He'd given a bunch of information coming in.. maybe that was what it was?
"Ah jeez..." Will suddenly grumbled, as a thought crossed his mind. "This is gonna be all over the news... My folks are gonna be freaking out."
"Don't start up with who's owing who what. Be here all night with that." Will protested with a laugh, shaking his head as he tried to dismiss Quin's thanks. "Besides, I could come up empty handed just as easy." Will would have continued trying to fight off Quin's thanks, fighting a losing battle, but the whole thing was interrupted as it looked like they were starting to be seen to. Quin even give him a little nod to tell him to go first. Will was both savvy enough to realize Quin wasn't about to take no for an answer on that one, and sore enough he didn't feel like arguing anyway.
Will gave his name, answered some questions about the who, what, where. What hurt, anything they should know... A minute or two of rapid-fire questions later and he was pushing himself out of his seat, leaving the mostly empty water bottle where he'd been. Oof. Now that he'd been sitting for so long he realized how much he'd put his legs through today. Hopefully he wasn't running his lungs out the third time he met up with Quin, or he was going to have to seriously start questioning things. "Hang tight, I'm sure you'll be up soon." Will gave Quin a little smile and a wave as he followed the medical professional. Will wasn't going to worry too much about the title or designation, so long as they knew how to put his arm back together.
Will was led through the staging area, weaving through people and equipment laid out in a what looked to him like chaos, but seemed to have some kind of order or pattern that he couldn't discern. Will thought at first he'd be led to the hospital proper, but was instead brought to another tent. Made some amount of sense -- the hospital proper was probably full to overflowing, and they'd be taking the critical patients there and would need every room and scrap of space they could get. Will allowed the... medic? Medic sounded appropriately emergency response. Will allowed the medic to take a pair of scissors to his t-shirt with only a small frown of disappointment. Not like there'd been any saving it, and this would help make sure the wound didn't have a filthy shirt sleeve rubbing against it.
Will had been prepared for poking, prodding, stitches, the whole works. What he hadn't counted on was needing the wound to be cleaned. The mutant let out a few colourful curses, less under his breath than he would have liked, biting the inside of his cheeks to try to keep himself from swearing at the medic directly, and to try to ignore the nausea rising in his stomach at the flash of pain. Luckily, flushing out the wound and disinfecting it was by far the worst part. Cleaning the area around it was gentle in comparison. The cut wasn't -too- deep, and time was of the essence for the medical staff, so rather than getting stitched up, the medic applied some kind of medical adhesive, basically gluing the cut shut. Will knew the medic was making small talk with him through the whole thing, but the whole thing passed in a blur.
By the time Will's head had cleared and his stomach stopped trying to crawl up his throat, the medic was wrapping up the mutant's arm with sterile gauze and some medical tape. To keep it clean, keep pressure on the adhesive to help it hold and to act as a bandage if the cut re-opened, the medic explained. That, a pat on the back and a few over-the-counter painkillers were what Will got before he was pointed back in the direction he'd come from, once it was determined he'd be able to make it under his own power.
Between the chaos of the staging area and the distraction of the treatment, he wasn't sure if it was 5 minutes or 50 by the time he'd stuck his head back into the tent he'd come from where he'd left Quin. Catching her with her eyes closed, he waited a few seconds, listening to hear her breathing calmly and regularly... she was either asleep or a phenomenal actress. Stepping as quietly as his sore legs would allow, he slipped back to his own chair, trying to give her a chance to rest.
"Is that what it is? Universe is cranky that a tea drinker's been slumming it with a coffee slinger?" Will joked back, giving a chuckle and a smirk as Quin joked about tea, coffee and the universe being out to get her in response. "Would explain why there's trouble whenever you show up." Jokes or no, Will couldn't help but be quite pleased that Quin gave her approval of the idea, schedule pending of course. It was again, more complicated feelings than he was used to -- someone who knew about him, but also someone he could actually talk to. Plus, they'd just saved each others lives? That probably had an impact... Will was good at running, at distancing himself, at skirting around issues, but everything today, Quin included, had barreled into him like... Well he'd say like a truck, but that led to some unfavorable comparisons to the alley.
Will didn't miss the shock that flashed through Quin as he explained about his reluctance to use his powers. Hard to, when she stopped kneading her makeshift fidget toy as he talked about it. Will had been expecting a reaction like that, but it still made him feel tense, seeing someone respond like that. Will had after all, on nearly every account, had a pretty mundane upbringing, powers aside. Really, he knew on some level he was clinging too hard to the atmosphere that had suffused his school when he was younger, the ugliness that had come from the riots in 2012. But it was hard to let go. Harder still when even now, with things better, he could still hear the things the worst sorts of people muttered under their breath wherever he went, and somehow those whispers stuck louder in his mind than any other voice.
Part of him wanted to talk about it, now that he'd opened a little it was like a trying to hold back a wave with duct tape and prayer... But he was also emotionally exhausted -- and maybe they should take turns sharing their long held secrets. Quin said that she was grateful to him, that he'd been willing to make an exception, and Will gave her a sheepish smile and small shake of his head, trying to brush off the regards. "You'd used yours, savin' our butts in the cafe. Couldn't not help." Will explained, trying to make it sound as though it was a choice out of his hands. Really, it'd been strange, very strange to realize that it was only because of his powers that they were as okay as they were. That he'd been able to help someone and keep himself and Quin safe because of them, and not in spite of them. Plus, they hadn't been attacked or targeted because they were mutants... at least he was pretty sure... There were way too many people here, anyway, for whatever happening to be solely going after mutants.
Confusing. Complicated. Almost like making a decision 12 years ago and stubbornly clinging to it wasn't always a healthy choice.
"Chances on your stuff bein' there?" Will though and gave what attempted to be a reassuring smile, but was pretty unconvincing. "Welllll~" He dragged out the word as he tried to think about the best case scenario. "The place was pretty wrecked. Possible it got buried under all the boxes and stuff? Plus they didn't seem the type to be there for literature... And your laptop..?" Will just trailed off at that, even if the thugs who'd been there didn't take it, and even if it wasn't damaged in the scuffle, it could be snatched up by anyone who spied it in the dust of the cafe. It might still be there? "Well, look... I'll text the owner, let 'em know a friend of mine left stuff there. I'm sure they'll have to be there as soon as things calm down."
As Will started to bring up another topic, Quin was giving him a nod as another person was there, asking their names, or -- he supposed, his name. "Will." He stated, before correcting himself. "Er, William. Christensen." He guessed it was probably supposed to be proper full names, matching IDs and all that sort of stuff in a situation like this. Though plenty of folks probably didn't have ID right now? Still, make things easier for whoever got stuck with the paperwork at the end of all this.
So the library was not just worth another look, but definitely another look. Murals and rare books and all kinds of exhibitions? It -did- sound like the sort of refuge he'd like, losing himself in place that was quiet and still, peeking at all the old art that was so painstakingly preserved and cared for. Plus, from Quin's own description, it was like a fairy tale castle -- hadn't she said that she was a fan of those, back when they'd met in the park? Maybe that was also why the cathedral had sprung to mind for her so quickly as well when they were seeking refuge, or maybe why it caught her eye at least. "No kidding?" Will said in response, raising an eyebrow, taking a revisit into heavy consideration. "Well. Maybe we check it out when you take me out for tea then. Squeeze it in between the drinks and the disaster." Will chuckled, giving his injured arm a gentle tap with his other hand. "Between this an' the way the shop was left, feel like I'll have some days off to fill."
Will just nodded in simple agreement when Quin stated that New York was overwhelming on a good day. She seemed to catch on and empathize pretty quickly to his meaning, and, well it wasn't as though New York was a bastion of tranquility even to the average person. Still, it was nice knowing someone understood. As Quin started to squish and play with the water bottle in her hands, Will expected the usual distinctive plastic crunching, and was briefly baffled as the sound never came, and he watched for a second or two with curiosity and surprise as Quin manipulated the bottle like it was a piece of clay, a bemused smile crossing his face. Neat. He'd only gotten a glimpse at what she'd done before, and watching the rules of what he -thought- should be just blatantly being broken so casually was immensely fun to watch. It was also a little strange, seeing someone else blatantly and casually use their powers. It wasn't as though that was something he -hadn't- seen, but with his own hang-ups...
Forcing himself to stop staring at the putty-like plastic, he heard Quin say she still felt good. What he'd done was holding up -- though she did feel a bit weird, a bit numb... Which was to be expected, he knew. And again, at her thanks, at her praise, there was a complex mix of pride and concern and worry that he didn't really know how to fully deal with, but he stuffed the most of it down, giving Quin a small smile. "Yeah, I don't use 'em much." Will admitted, hesitating half a second before continuing. "First time in years, if I'm bein' honest. Don't tend to tell people." That was a bit of an understatement. Besides one other chance encounter with another mutant, who really didn't have anyway of tracking him down at this point, Will hadn't told -anyone- about his abilities... though it was possible some of his old friends and classmates had suspicions.
"So..." Will continued, trying to keep the conversation alive, glancing over his shoulder briefly at the ongoings within the staging area, watching as more people trickled in and were moved about. It was too hard to tell how serious things were, but most people being led in seemed to be walking under their own power. "You think your professors will give you a couple extra days on your papers? I'll vouch for you if you need a witness." Will chuckled as he turned back to face Quin with a crooked smirk.
"Well, you said you were hopin' for one yourself. Can you blame me for wantin' a souvenir?" Will chuckled back as Quin poked fun at his choice of words, implying he was hoping to wind up with a 'cool scar' from the injury. Well, she wasn't 100% off the mark -- but given the choice, he'd skip the scars in the future if he could help it. "No kidding... Hope you weren't wearin' anything designer when you came out to study today." Will replied in turn as Quin lamented the state of her own clothes. They really did look like they stepped out of a warzone, now that he actually was looking at the state of them.
"The Morgan Library?" Will echoed, carefully letting his injured arm rest in his lap a moment as he used his other hand to grab his bottle of water, taking a drink as he tried to remember. Swallowing, his nodded gesturing with the bottle. "Mmm, yeah. Class trip. History, I think? Maybe English." The memories he had were pretty blurry, mostly just a guided tour where the teachers and aides were trying to keep a gaggle of bored students in line. "Never really got a chance to check it out though. Worth a proper look, you think?" Will asked, raising an eyebrow at Quin as he stuck the bottle back between his legs and he gingerly touched his wounded arm over the makeshift bandage with his good hand, trying to gauge better how bad it was. It hurt when he poked at it, was all he really learned.
Will did though, give a short laugh as Quin explained her sign, helpfully pointing out -why- it was funny as well which the astrologically unaware Will greatly appreciated. "Dang, that really is a bit of a cosmic humor, huh? Suppose it's good your folks didn't pour on the archery puns." Will made a mental note to check about what Sagittarius signs were suppose to be like when he got the chance -- if that tea and tidal waves outing happened, hopefully sans the waves, they could bond over how much their signs did or didn't fit them. He doubled down on that note as Quin mentioned she was into astrology, at least a bit. Explained why she asked then, it hadn't just been an ice breaker.
"Akido? Explains what you did to Bat boy back there. Hear 'em run up and the next thing I knew he was pancaked on the cafe floor. Cool as heck, by the way." Will grinned, but quickly moved the conversation past the fight in the cafe. "Music and dancing can be a good time -- some places are a bit much, with the noise and lights and all of that. Drinks help sometimes, make it worse other times..."
"Outside though. I can definitely appreciate being outside -- at least the days I haven't angered the sun." Will chuckled a bit at that, looking up as he did. "Gettin' away from all the bustle of the city and outside of walls hemming you in, it's nice, even if it's just the Park. Calming. I uh... Get overwhelmed pretty easy. Senses, y'know?" Will said, voice dropping a bit in volume as he did, as though worried someone would overhear.
"Speaking of." Will continued, leaning in a bit towards Quin, keeping his voice low. "You still doin' okay? It's been... a while, since I did that sorta thing."
She'd never been stabbed, 'at least that she could remember'. How many times did she have to append that little qualifier to things when she said something, even if it was only in her head? That would drive him absolutely batty. It was weird to think about, and he both had a hundred questions and wanted to avoid the topic all together. As the professionals moved around, ushering people this way and that, there were still distant sounds of move people being brought in. The immediate situation might have been under control but there was no telling how long this sort of thing would take to clean up, to damage to the people and the city would take an exhausting amount of work to fix.
"Can't recommend it. 2/10." Will joked back to Quin, glad she was trying to keep his mind off of things. "I liked this shirt too..." Will grumbled, more for effect and to roll with the joke than anything else -- but it really had been one that he had routinely found himself wearing.
Quin went on, keeping him from stewing in his head about the things that had just happened or the ache in his arm (and frankly a lot of other places, Rocky's parting shot had left a lot of cuts and bruises.), asking what he did, what he liked... Joked about the day they met. She even remembered he was a Leo, from their first meeting. He barely remembered he was a Leo. She was pretty good at this sorta thing herself. Will gave her a little smile as he thought about the questions -- he wasn't quite so used to thinking about his day to day.
"Sightseeing, sometimes. Lots of pretty places to see in NYC." Will started simply, even if it might have been a bit embarrassing to be into something that could be so 'touristy', "And yeah, a Leo, end of July." Will tried to remember what the supposed traits of a Leo were supposed to be. Confidence or bravery, he thought was one? And they were supposed to be leaders, or at least attention-seekers, according to one thing he'd read... Didn't exactly feel like it all fit, but, he'd also only read a website or two on his break. "Don't mind checking out the arts. Music and stuff, yeah? But I'm not much of a creative."
Will paused, then realized she had him at a bit of a disadvantage. At least he was pretty sure Quin had never divulged what zodiac she was labeled with. Honestly, with the hair he'd have guessed Leo, but, that was hardly a way to go about assigning starsigns. "How 'bout yourself? Never did catch which constellation you're paired up with... And what do you for fun when you're not studying law or wrecking cafes?"
Quin definitely had him on the back foot with her comments, and Will found himself suddenly bereft of his usual wit and snark as she jabbed back at him with her own compliments, tied up in the earlier playful threat. It had him thoroughly flummoxed, and Will's tongue felt like it was tied into a knot as he tried to retort, and found nothing coming to mind. Being thanked for, complimented on his abilities, something that he had so badly tried to keep under wraps. Something that Will thought of at best a party trick and at the very worst considered a curse and a burden was... weird, complicated, but... nice? And Quin seemed genuine. Appreciative even.
All he could manage in response was a bashful grin, setting the bottle of water onto his lap as he cradled his injured arm in his other, letting his right arm support some of the weight. His whole left arm felt heavy, and the wound ached badly enough he could feel tendrils of tension radiating down to his elbow and creeping up his neck, making everything stiff and sore.
He was glad then, when Quin asked how his arm was doing. It was a lot better than sitting in awkward silence and just -feeling- how his arm was doing. He wasn't sure if she was asking because saw him favoring his one arm or is she was giving him a break from struggling to find something to say. While he had a hard time talking about what he'd done, how he felt was pretty straightforward. "I'd tell you it's holdin' up just fine but..." Will started, giving Quin an almost guilty looking grin, as though he were letting her in on a secret that he wasn't supposed to be telling. "You've been real honest, so..." Will lifted the injured arm a test, lifting it a bare inch with a wince before letting it fall back into his other hand. "Hurts like hell."
Will gave a quiet little laugh and shook his head. "Adrenaline's a heck of a thing, 'til you run out. I barely noticed when it happen. Looks like I was pretty lucky though, seein' the state of things here..."
Will finished speaking and waited with baited breath. He didn't know how other people did this sort of talking, maybe they planned things better, or didn't worry so much about how the other person took the words being said. He had seen Quin's face getting redder as he'd pushed though with his argument, but he couldn't tell if she was angry, or mortified or just embarrassed at the praise.
But she listened, in spite of her raised eyebrows, in spite of her no doubt ragged and raised emotions. She listened as he pushed on and through with his words that he somehow managed to keep straight. She listened as he told her that he was glad she wasn't a cop, that part he meant on multiple levels... maybe it was going too far? She... Was? Had been? A cop. But also, she hadn't... Was it insulting? Did she still --
Quin saved him from his worries before his mind could get too far away on that tangent. She was also glad she wasn't a cop. That. That was good.
Then she went on to compliment him, and Will could feel heat rushing across his face to match Quin's own blush. What was she even complimenting? And, of course, she had to argue back that she hadn't saved them, but that they saved each other together.
”But I still think wesaved us.”
Will snorted out a chuckle at that, one that actually sounded amused, rather than forced and fragile, like the way they'd both tried to cling to humor in the cathedral. "Well, I'd argue that more, but I think you said you'd knock me one if I tried that sorta thing." Will said, smirking back at Quin as he did. "Hate t'get kicked out for bad behavior just because I can't keep my mouth shut."
Will wasn't sure which would be worse. The situation Quin found herself in when she awoke from, or the latter slow, creeping horror that you'd just lost a decade of your life. It wasn't as though it were a chance to do things over again -- that time was gone. Both. Both was probably the answer. What would he do if he thought he was going to school the next day and woke up in a cage?
Quin went on to tell him that the NYPD really wanted her back after that, that they'd pushed and pushed for her to come back... which honestly, sounded both like odd behavior and incredibly insensitive. She'd left before then, and, well... she was 19. Will wondering what they were trying to cover up or take credit for by getting Quin back on their side. Maybe his cynicism for the NYPD was misplaced sometimes, but it felt about right to be critical here. Though, it probably wasn't the time or place to voice his full opinions on all of that.
Quin also said she kept being told how good she'd been as a cop. And added a bitter little quip to the end. It was little wonder she never seemed to take the praise he'd tried to throw her way through this terrible day. She was supposed to be some sort of super cop, at least that's what others told her -- and there was no way for her to know otherwise... probably even some media articles out there with her face on it about how she saved this person, or accomplished that thing. It made sense she'd feel she fell short when she didn't, what? Save everyone in the cafe? On the block? More? Was there a line where she'd be good enough?
It was completely senseless to think she -should- be as good as she was, regardless. She didn't have the same training, same experiences... It'd be like expecting to know everything about her degree without studying.
Will took a while to answer. Longer than he'd have liked. He wished he could think faster, or maybe just was more eloquent. What did you even say to something like that, someone who'd been through that. He was ashamed to admit, but his first inclination was to just... leave. Run away from situation. It was sort of what he was best at. Avoid trouble, not dealing with it, leave it to be someone else's problem, wait for it to blow over.
He took a drink of water. A long breath. Let it out. "We're only here because of you, y'know." Will held up a hand, one finger up, trying to ask for her to not argue that he'd done as much, or more. They'd already done that back and forth. The walk had given him time to mull over what had happened, where she'd probably been stuck thinking about how to say this. "Not sayin' I didn't do my bit, but... Even presumin' you didn't do the most of the fighting... Every time there was a decision that had to be made, you were the one that saw that, and made it."
Will's eyes briefly dropped and he lowered his hand into his lap, clutching the water bottle again. He took a breath before he made himself face Quin again. "When we ran outta time in the cafe, you made the decision to run. When we were stuck at that statue, you realized we needed a place, or help. When we didn't have help, you found a place for us to go." Will fidgeted with the bottle in his one hand, thumb running up and down the ridges in the plastic. "I ran. That's the only choice I made. I don't like..." Will paused, reframed how he wanted to say the words he was choosing, "I'm glad you're not a cop. But you did save us today."
Will waited on pins and needles, not sure if he wanted Quin to speak her piece or not. She'd been almost as tightly wound since the cop addressed her as 'Archer' as she had been when she was dealing with the full brunt of her cracked ribs. With a story like he'd overheard, at least the barest fragments, he guessed he couldn't blame her, but... Suddenly, it was too late to wonder if he wanted to hear the story or not, Quin was talking, and with his hearing, even covering his ears wasn't about to stop him from her tale.
She was had been a detective with NYPD. Will had already gotten that much from Officer Gossip back in the cathedral. But even when she was... had been... Before all the trouble started, but after she was an officer, she stopped being a cop and joined up with some sort of Mutant Outreach group, using the same skills.
That at least eased some of the tension that had been gripping at his lungs. If she'd made that choice, she wouldn't be the kind of person that would have stood idly by in the riots back in 2012. Wouldn't be the type to use the badge and the power it provided to take advantage of other people... not that she'd seemed that way, but... Will didn't have a chance to continue that line of thinking, as Quin kept talking and he wanted to pay attention.
Quin talked about an event he'd mostly forgotten about. People vanishing, some claiming that they were 2, 5, 10 years younger. Will hadn't known anyone that had been affected, but hearing Quin talk about it, he did recall the news stories about people being snatched up, and the general atmosphere of fear that had been about while it had happened. And then Quin kept going, describing what had happened to her. She looked away, and Will couldn't remember her looking away for any of the bits of the conversation they'd had earlier today, after escaping death by the skin of their teeth.
Quin described how she woke up, what must have been the first parts of this whole experienced that she actually knew and weren't just explained to her. Will's ears were sharp enough to pick up on the emotion in her voice. The words sounded raw, worse somehow than when she'd been near tears in the cathedral. Part of him wanted to tell her to stop, but his throat felt like it'd been glued shut.
She'd been put in a cage. With others. Lost and scared. Covered in blood. Missing a decade, maybe more... Suppose she only had other people's word to go on for how much was lost. The way she said 'The perfect age' made him feel like he'd been punched, the meaning clear.
Will's own hands were twisted tight around the bottle of water in his own hands, deforming the soft, disposable plastic container. He loosened his grip, taking a cue from Quin and unscrewing the cap of his own to take a drink, more for the act of something to do than to slake his thirst... though he -was- more parched than he realized. Seems running for your life is a bit dehydrating.
"I..." Will started, faltered, tried to find words again. What did you even -say- to something like that? Joking was right out. There's no way he could even pretend to understand, or say he empathized... who else had been through something like that where they could put themselves into her shoes? "I'm sorry..." Will said quietly, only having empty sympathy to offer, not knowing what else to say, what else to do. "That's... That's awful." A decade, just gone? And to wake up like that... And now today? Did she ever manage to catch a break?
The walk had done him some good. While it hurt, his legs hated every step he took, and there was still distant noise echoing down the streets from who knows where that put him on edge, it let him know that things here seemed more under control. The walk itself also gave him time to process some of the things he'd been putting off. Largely just letting himself actually think about some of the consequences of what the events of today meant. Still had to call his boss, if they hadn't called -him- already. Assuming his phone was even still working -- might have taken a hit from Rocky. He might be out of a job... Was probably off work for a bit anyway, with the shape his arm was in. Could he afford the hospital bill for his arm? Was there something special that happened for people in events like this that the city, or the state did for that sort of thing? Should he call his folks?
Throughout all the worrying, that marble of bizarre knowledge from the cops kept butting in. It sounded implausible. Impossible even. But Will was pretty good at telling truth from lies -- the one cop had believed what he was saying. That didn't make it true, exactly, but Quin had also said that the way the cop had greeted her was all tied into that 'long story' she'd hinted at before.
With as much as he had on his mind, the check-in process happened in a blur. He gave his name, at some point he was pretty sure he had to pull out his ID (oh dang, his wallet was fine.). Checked and was found to not have life threatening wounds. (Good to know, but no kidding.) And when his overwhelmed brain finally caught up with the what-ifs and should he would he and everything else, Will had both hands wrapped around a bottle of water that he didn't recall being handed. Shock was a funny thing.
Even so, he could feel the tension between them. He'd been checked out, purposefully finding reasons to avoid talking to her during the walk... The company would have made it awkward anyway, but... hm. Will still couldn't find the words or the gumption to break the ice, twisting the plastic bottle in his hands like a fidget toy instead.
Quin spoke, breaking the silence, asking if he remembered her saying that this wasn't the worst she'd been through. Will's grip tightened around the bottle in his hands in a crinkle of plastic, but he found enough courage to meet her gaze. "Yeah...?" He answered simply, the single word gently urging her to continue as he tried to ignore the anxiety twisting in his guts.
One of the cops had clearly recognized Quin. Called her 'Archer'. Last name, probably? But... Will's mind scrabbled for reasons why that could make sense that didn't put a wall between him and his new friend. She was involved in law for school, maybe there was something there? Her folks could -- no, she said they were hippies through and through. Uncle, or sibling in law enforcement maybe?
As the two cops stepped aside, they started speaking in hushed voices. One might think they were talking about the situation, sitrep, that sort of thing. Maybe just getting chatting, saying how relieved they were they didn't run into trouble. Could be they were radioing in their situation. Just about anyone else would have to wonder what they were talking about.
Will, for better or worse, didn't.
It might have been eavesdropping, but it wasn't as though there was anything he could do to stop it. The two talked about Quin, the one officer who hadn't recognized her briefly looking over to them before the other told him not too. Will didn't get all the details, enhanced hearing or not, the two were still trying to keep things quiet. It was still plenty. A story, more gossip really, about Quin. No -- Detective Archer. Apparently she was of some renown when she'd been in the force. Hadn't been with them for years now. There was trouble. She was dealing with some human trafficking ring, things went bad, and weird. Something they did, the people in the ring... Some drug, or whatever it was they were doing. Well when they'd found Detective Archer, she was a kid -- or teenager, rather.
Will only realized he was spacing out as he listened to what they had to say, as Quin's voice cut in.”This is part of the long story…”
Will lowered his hand slowly, nodding to Quin in understanding, both about being able to lower his hand and her comment on the officer recognizing her being part of the 'long story' she'd said in passing before. Back at the park, right? It felt like a lifetime... Will couldn't though, hide the perplexed look on his face and was incredibly glad when the officers came over, keeping him from having to try and make conversation with Quin as he tried to absorb what he'd just heard. Suppose he'd have a bit of a heads up on her story, if she ever wanted to tell it.
A staging area. The hospital. Will guessed that meant that things were calmer outside. With the door open, he still couldn't hear the noises he'd heard before, so... At least the immediate area was clear. The hospital was probably smart though, he didn't think a coffee stained apron was the best thing to fix a stab wound, and if they were being offered somewhere to go, it meant that they could actually relax instead of just hope that they wouldn't be found.
Will pretended like he didn't notice the other cop looking over at Quin like some kind of curiosity. He pretended like he didn't see the expression on the other's face (pity? humor? Whatever it was, it irked him). He pretended like he didn't hear the conversation, but it didn't fit in the bucket and just rattled around his head like an angry marble. "Let's go. We're both good to walk still, I think." [/span]Will commented, pushing himself stiffly to his feet.
He pretended like he could meet Quin's gaze, but found himself staring at the floor.
