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.
Member of the X-Men Mansion Swim Teacher MRC Detective
Seablue
Heterosexual
Married to Gemma
2,231
469
Sept 9, 2024 10:46:38 GMT -6
Jorge
It was the bonus round. So far the shifter was saying all the right things, but the most important question was still yet to be asked. In Jorge’s experience, there were mutants who were just so misguided that they believed themselves capable of working alongside humans. Fools, there was no other way to describe them. Jorge had seen and experienced first had what humanity does with anyone who is different; it is a trait that has followed them throughout the eons, just under vastly different names, ranging to cover everything from skin color to religion to sexual preference. Humanity is just bred to hate anything outside of the norm, something that Jorge himself knew was never going to change.
No, humanity had run out of chances, that was why mutants came crawling out of the gene pool. Whenever a species is evolving, and the older iterations needed to die out. Normally this occurred via environmental causes, leaving only the most adaptable to continue on. In this case, when it came to humans, because they had so decimated the environment, their demise had to come from within, from the aberrations that they so hated.
That was why he needed to know where Jay stood in all this. He could be as powerful as he wanted, but if Poseidon sensed any notion that the man could possibly betray the Syndicate for the sake of humanity, then he would erase the problem while he could.
>>"I find very few humans are...deserving of respect,"
That was encouraging.
>>"Honestly, I think humanity as a whole is spoiled, entitled, and destined to be knocked off their pedestal. They tend to think they rule the world, and really....they do. But hey, everything's gotta change sometime."
Poseidon studied him, for a hard few moments. His eyes boring into the younger man’s, the crime boss didn’t let the other shrink from his gaze. A few tense moments passed, ticking away like a death row inmate waiting for that last minute reprieve from the executioner. Of course, not hangman was more terrifying than the one standing directly before the shifter. But even as those moments past, it would dawn upon him that his end wasn’t going to come from the older figure in front of him -- as a matter of fact, it wouldn’t even come this day. Jorge smiled. And smiling, usually, was a good thing.
”Hahaha! Yes. I love it!” he clapped his hands. ”Beautifully said, my boy. I do believe we have much to discuss.” He turned to Duke and gestured around them. ”Get the gas and the torches ready,” he said. Stepping away from him, Jorge placed a hand on Jay’s shoulder and turned him so that they could walk out together. ”My young friend and I here have some plans to make.”
Member of the X-Men Mansion Swim Teacher MRC Detective
Seablue
Heterosexual
Married to Gemma
2,231
469
Sept 9, 2024 10:46:38 GMT -6
Jorge
Jorge presented his case. He wanted to know if the canine-shifter wanted a job. So far he liked what he was hearing; the guy was not against spilling blood, he had passions, and his abilities seemed more than useful. However, there were things that he still had to figure out, such as his views on humanity. He wasn’t opposed to Poseidon setting up his own line for the Ambrosia drug, but that was only one of many facets of the Syndicate. They were here for money and power, yes, but also to ensure that mutantkind surpassed humanity. There were no rooms for humans in his organization and yet, somehow, they managed to get into a few prospective member’s heads.
Was the same for this man here?
>>"Well, I wasn't actively looking...But there are times when work just finds you,"
He smirked. Poseidon had always loved working with opportunists; they were predictable and often gave him a basis of understand as to the person themself. The shifter could very well be just agreeing with Jorge to save his own skin, but the watermancer had given him more than one chance to get out of here. The fact that he wasn’t, only told the crime boss that there may be some genuine interest. Still, there were layers that had to be discovered.
>>"My name's Jay...And this seems like one of those times; I'm interested in the offer, yeah,"
Jorge offered him a nod, moving onto his feet and checking to ensure that all his gear was still in place. ”Good to meet you, Jay.” He said.
Moving past the shifter he knocked on the door and called out to Duke. Moments later the ex-boxer would open the door, wiping crimson off of his hands as he stepped out. The two whispered for a moment, Duke’s silver eyes gazing at Jay before turning back to Jorge’s. With a small nod of agreement between them, Jorge stepped away and back towards Jay.
”So, seems like this place is all taken care of. Let’s say we get out of here and discuss things further?” He offered him a beaming smile. But he stopped, giving the other a more serious look. ”But let’s discuss one thing first,” he gestured around them. ”You clearly don’t like people who abuse animals, well, dogs anyway.” A slight tilt of his head and a knowing smile followed. ”Is that despise exclusive to perpetrators only? What of...say...humanity in general?”
Member of the X-Men Mansion Swim Teacher MRC Detective
Seablue
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Married to Gemma
2,231
469
Sept 9, 2024 10:46:38 GMT -6
Jorge
Jorge couldn’t get it out of his head. the idea that there was a version of him running around New York City that could be so...maniacal. Jorge often had those thoughts, in the middle of the night, wondering what would have happened to him if his life had gone another way. Reporters and eyewitnesses were everywhere, talking about the other world, about how they had met alternate versions of themselves, some of them good stories, others not so much, but never anything as crazy as what Jorge was hearing right now. What was up with that other world? Was it just made of depression?
He ground his teeth, relating everything that he could only assume to Gemma. He didn’t have any information on Poseidon, only that he looked like Jorge and had a mastery of his abilities that made the detective doubt his own skills. For the first time in a long time, Jorge feared he wasn’t up to the task of taking on an enemy; as much as he hated to admit it, his doppleganger had gotten into his head.
But it seemed that was not where the story would end. More had happened since he had been away than just Mirror confirming that they had an alternate self...
>>"That... and worse. SUPER is a government agency... they capture and tag mutants, and kidnap the most useful ones. Mirror was here earlier, he and their... doppelganger broke a kid out of a SUPER facility. Jorge... it's Chase. Except, they called him Delta Seven. The kid doesn't even have his own name..."
Jorge tilted his gaze down, listening as Gemma let him in on what had been going on. SUPER, the organization that the MRC had only heard whispers of seemed to be up to something far more sinister. They were capturing and tagging mutants, as if they were animals. The implications of that were maddening to the detective, especially with rumors circulation that they were looking to plant themselves here and offer their “services” to the governments of this world. It almost made him sick -- but not as much as what else he was told.
Gemma leaned in, hugging him close as she whispered that Mirror had broken one of those mutants out -- and it was Chase. Rather, it was an alternative version of Chase, a kid that didn’t have a name, only a handle by that of Delta Seven. Jorge gulped, turning back to face her. Two Chases...both with extremely difficult lives, but one in which he was never saved from the madness that he suffered. Jorge shook his head.
”My god…” he whispered. ”Whatever that place is…” he said softly. ”...it sounds like Hell.” A mutant supremacist Jorge, a evil mutant-tracking Gemma, and now a experimental Chase, where would he even begin? ”Is he safe? Chas--I mean...Delta Seven?” he asked. ”Does Chase know?”
Member of the X-Men Mansion Swim Teacher MRC Detective
Seablue
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Married to Gemma
2,231
469
Sept 9, 2024 10:46:38 GMT -6
Jorge
Poseidon was a careful and calculated man. He didn’t do anything without thinking it through and he considered himself a fairly good reader of people. That was how he stayed in business for so long, he knew how to anticipate what moves his opponents would make because he knew who people were when he met that. He used these same tactics with the shifter here, trying to gather what intel he could on his personality, on his motivations, and decide the best course of action from there. A bullet between the eyes would be easiest, no need to worry about letting him go and blab about what he saw here, but he hated to waste mutant blood.
So he’d offer him a chance. Jorge went into explanation as to why he was there and what he had hoped to accomplish. It wasn’t to take down a dog ring, but to crush competition for his own product. That didn’t sit well with some people and those were the ones he was most happy to wave goodbye to. But what were this mutant’s feelings on the matter?
Jorge waited, his hand drifting to his holster gun, resting there. He made no motion to pull it out, but instead just rested his hand nearby as a reminder that he was still in control of this situation. The shifter would seem to learn well from visage.
>>"Well...Honestly, it is what it is. I got nothing against a businessman stamping out competition, though looking at how this place is run...I use that word very generously"
He grinned. Again, the young man was smart and just seemed to continuously prove it as they went along.
>>"The way I see it, we were fighting two separate battles on the same battlefield. I mean I damn sure don't have a problem with you,”
Jorge watched him, reading him, getting what he could from the shifter’s posture, his body language, and the tone of his voice. He was remaining relaxed, not making any motion towards him and instead seemed like anyone else he would be simply conversing with. the shifter seemingly knew when he was speaking to an alpha and that was a sentiment that the water god could appreciate.
”So it would seem…” he said with a grin. A tense moment passed before his hand drifted away from the gun at his side, though that didn’t make him any less dangerous, the smile on his face was at least not as dangerous as it could be. ”My name’s Poseidon,” he said with a nod. ”I see some good potential in you. You looking for work?” as he asked this he reached into one of his tactical pouches and pulled out a silver case. From it he pulled out a cigar, clipped the tip, and placed it between his lips as he then reached for his lighter. ”Just so happens…” he breathed out a cloud of smoke. ”I could use someone like you on my payroll.”
Member of the X-Men Mansion Swim Teacher MRC Detective
Seablue
Heterosexual
Married to Gemma
2,231
469
Sept 9, 2024 10:46:38 GMT -6
Jorge
Jorge was still having a difficult time trying to grasp everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours. The fight with Poseidon had been unexpected and the power he felt wafting off the criminal was something that he hadn’t felt in a long time. In all fairness, how was he was supposed to combat that? He had been thrown so completely off guard by all of his threats that he pretty much allowed the water maniputer to get the drop on him. Now he was he was trying to come to terms with just how firmly he had lost that battle.
But the thing that still confused him was the the face. That malevolent and yet familiar face. Jorge had had nightmares like that before, behind chased by a shadowy individual, only to turn around and see his own face. He never thought it was something that he would face in real life, but there it was. He had hoped it was a hallucination, but even as he tried to convince himself of that, he knew that it wasn’t true.
He felt a squeeze of his hand and turned his eyes to Gemma -- she knew something.
>>"You met your doppelganger...From the other side of the rift. They are... other versions of us. Mirror just told me yesterday. They met theirs. And mine."
He felt his mouth instantly dry up. Jorge had heard the reports, of familiar looking people coming from the other side of the rift but he had never thought it was something that was going to happen to him, much less anyone in his family. It seemed more like a stunt for television than anything else. But as he sat there, listening, knowing that others had already met or reported on their dopplegangers, he knew that it was true -- and that made everything all the more terrifying.
There was a double of him running around in New York; and not just any double, a f**king psychoapth...
>>"The other Gemma, on the other side, is a SUPER agent. Was... he an agent too?"
SUPER was a vaguely familiar name that was being tossed around the precinct. They were apparently some government organization that were manning things on their side of the rift. Rumor was that they were a task force, similar to the MRC but on a much larger, federally funded scale. They dealt with mutants but the finer details were not made apparently to the lowly police unit.
Still, the idea of another Gemma working for SUPER was interesting. He could almost see that happening given the authority that he witnessed his fiance being able to direct. But that was not what his double felt like. He didn’t feel like a controlled government agent, more like a rogue wave that was steadily gaining strength and getting ready to turn into a city-drowning tsunami. He shook his head.
”No. He...didn’t feel government. This was a personal attack.” More snippets were coming back. ”Gemma…” he said carefully because the implication of someone with his powers, running around with the mindset he was thinking of, was almost too terrible to conceive. ”I think he was a mutant supremacist.” he watched her closely. ”He set this up to warn me to stay out of his way. To not get between him and ‘his people’.” He shook his head. ”I think we’re dealing with something like the Order again.”
Member of the X-Men Mansion Swim Teacher MRC Detective
Seablue
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Married to Gemma
2,231
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Sept 9, 2024 10:46:38 GMT -6
Jorge
Jorge’s thoughts were jumbled. He had been so panicked about getting home and making sure that Gemma and everyone was okay that he could hardly sound coherent. Gemma was asking him what had happened and the best he could answer with were a few enigmatic statements and further questions -- hardly helpful. Still, Gemma was used to this kind of thing dealing with the students that she did, she was a paragon of patience. But, obviously, something that the detective had said had struck a chord with her -- he had been ambushed and her first inclination was the make sure he was okay.
>>"Are you hurt?"
Jorge gulped and confirmed with a nod. ”I’m...okay...for now.” He would get more into that in a second, but for now he needed to talk to her and somewhere private was probably best.
Her arms still around him, Gemma helped Jorge to get to his feet. He tried not to lean too heavily on her. She was a tall and solid woman but Jorge was just as tall and just as solidly built. The last thing he needed was for the two of them to topple over so he maintained his stance and just walked to the best of his ability.
>>"We need to talk...Everyone is okay. For now, anyway. There have been some surprises though..."
He turned to her, surprised. It seemed that more had been happening while he was away. Dammit, what was going on with the world? He could only guess that it had something to do with that damned portal in the middle of the city, but even without it, this was New York City, shit happened. He would wait to inquire further until they were in some kind of privacy. If his incident with Poseidon had proved anything, it was that nothing could be trusted.
Weakly he made his way into the room and was deposited down onto the bed. He winced, feeling his body ache as he sank into the mattress. He wanted to drop off to sleep right there, regain his strength, but he couldn’t, not until he both informed and learned what had been going on. His touch never left his fiance as she moved around to sit next to him, concern obvious on her features. God, how he managed to keep her around all these years, he would never know.
>>"What happened to you? Do you need to see DocProf?"
He sighed, running his fingers through his hair as he tried to gather everything that happened in the last twenty-four hours. Being dispersed like that had jumbled up his thoughts but if he focused he could get the whole sequence of events pieced back together. As much as he didn’t want to upset the woman, he wasn’t the type to keep her in the dark “for her own good’. He had seen what that has done to families in the past and he wasn’t going to do it to them.
A deep breath and he went into it. ”The other night I got a call just as I was getting ready to leave the precinct. An anonymous tip about some supposed anti-mutant safehouse in the industrial district. I went to just check in and didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. But as I was checking the building out, I...came across...someone.” He looked down to his hands. ”He was waiting for me.” He paused. ”Gemma...he could move water...just like me...but…” he closed his eyes. ”...he was stronger. So much stronger.” He lifted his gaze to her finally. ”He dispersed me...ripped me apart into droplets all across the room. That’s why I was gone...I was...trying to pull myself together.”
God it was a horrible feeling. It immediately reminded him of the time he was drifting in the ocean all those years ago. It was maddening, terrifying, and monstrous all at the same time. Even now, after so many years, he could hardly recall what it was like, or at least that was how it used to be. The last twenty-four hours had been a stark reminder of time of his life, a time he simply didn’t want to remember. But he pushed past that discomfort and looked to Gemma.
”He threatened you, Chase, and Marisol,” he said. ”He knew everything about us. But...not only did he have my powers, Gemma…” He struggled whether or not he should say this part, but he couldn’t justify keeping her in the dark. ”...he had my face.”
Member of the X-Men Mansion Swim Teacher MRC Detective
Seablue
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Married to Gemma
2,231
469
Sept 9, 2024 10:46:38 GMT -6
Jorge
Jorge could feel it. He could feel himself unwinding like some comical mummy trying to stay stitched up together with bandages. He could feel those seams splitting apart, the water pouring from his form. Rest and peace was what he needed, just to recharge, but he couldn’t afford to let himself recharge, not yet, not until he knew that Gemma was safe. Poseidon, whoever he was, had threatened absolutely everyone he cared about and until he knew they were safe, he was going to be an old guard dog set to protect them. Though, of course, one would argue on his ability to protect them when he could hardly keep himself together, but those were just semantics.
Feeling like a character in a Tennessee Williams play, Jorge shouted for his fiance, leaning against a pedestal and trying to keep himself pieced together. Thankfully it was quiet enough in the mansion that his voice carried far and wide. He heard the sound of the door bursting open before he even saw her -- she was safe...she had to be.
Rushed feet moved down the stairs and Jorge tilted his head up to see the familiar, worried face of Gemma Taylor as she rushed down to meet him. This was no figment of the imagination as he heard every foot fall, and felt the weight of her body as she suddenly moved in, wrapping her arms around his waist to help him up. Not only was she keeping him from toppling over, but her adapted field worked wonders when he was like this.
He felt everything just snap into place, like a thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle set all popping perfectly into place in a single breath of a moment. His eyes widened, the water stopped dripping, and all that was left was sheer exhaustion -- tinged with relief.
>>"Jorge! What happened? Are you okay?"
His arms wrapped around her. Wordlessly he buried his face into her hair, catching the scent of the shampoo that she regularly used and the familiar sensation of her skin against his. She tried to ask him what was wrong but he could scarcely spare the time to answer as he squeezed her close before leaning back, his hands touching her face, almost as if he wanted to make sure she was real.
Finally, when he felt focused enough, he tried to answer. ”I’m...not…” he admitted. ”Something is going on, Gemma. I...went out to answer an anonymous tip and something...just handed me my ass,” Given Jorge’s years as a cop and the fine skill he possessed with his abilities, that hardly seemed true. But the look on his face proved he was not lying. ”Gemma, are you okay? Have you see anyone around here that shouldn’t be? Is Chase alright? Have you heard from Marisol?”
Member of the X-Men Mansion Swim Teacher MRC Detective
Seablue
Heterosexual
Married to Gemma
2,231
469
Sept 9, 2024 10:46:38 GMT -6
Jorge
It was all very interesting but for as useful as the guy’s powers were, he needed to know more about the reason why he was here. If he was here just to make some quick cash or because he willingly tosses himself at these people’s feet, then he needed to know. Jorge didn’t like to waste mutant blood but he saw nothing wrong with disposing of what wasn’t of use to him. He didn’t like to leave loose ends, after all. So, calmly, he crossed his arms over his chest and inquired, why was he here. His answer would determine how this would continue…
>>"My business here was dismantling a dog-fighting ring. Seemed like a shoddy operation, so I figured I could take it down myself,"
Jorge nodded. It was true. The was a shanty operation, one that was built pretty much overnight by survivors of his M facility raids. They were scrambling like bugs trying to form a new hive before they were utterly decimated but decimation came either way. If he was going to push Ambrosia on these streets, then he needed to ensure that there wasn’t any cheap knock-offs like these.
But the shifter was here for a different reason. He wasn’t looking to stop the drugs, but merely to halt the dog fighting that was happening behind closed doors. How noble. Jorge gestured for him to continue, his face an unreadable mask as he observed.
>>"Well, a few weeks ago, I was doing my routine run as a golden retriever, and picked up wind of a dog fighting ring. Those...don't set well with me, so I spent the next couple of weeks casing out the joint, each time as an...undesirable...dog. Too sweet to fight, but too big to be bait. Not that I've seen them use those, but can't be too careful."
The guy was smart. Using undesirable forms to keep a close eye on the operation and find his way in. Still, there was that danger of being used pretty much as bait or target practice before he was ready but it seemed to work out.
>>"Anyway....today's the day I made my move. I stashed some clothes nearby, even managed to slip into the warehouse and stash an outfit I'd need. This morning, I shifted into a boxer. They put me in a crate. I shifted back, escaped, and changed into my clothes, blending into the crowd. Once the timing felt right, I slipped back into the shadows, shifted into a wolf, and proceeded to put this place out of business. Little did I know, you seemed to have a similar idea frontside, and we just met in the middle."
Jorge arched his brow. He digested everything that the man had said, letting them all mix together in his head. It all sounded pretty plausible and, judging by the atrocities he saw in that room before Duke entered, Jorge could see that he certainly did a number on those gamblers and the staff who were residing inside. It could definitely be the earmarks of someone who was trying to dismantle an operation rather than someone just trying to save their own skin.
The crime boss shrugged his shoulders, offering the smallest of grins. ”I didn’t come to break up some illegal dog fighting,” he cleared up. He then nodded to the crates around them. ”I came here to put a stop to that.” The crates, one which was open and nearby, held lab equipment. ”They were producing M here. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not some crusader for justice,” a devilish smile. ”I’m quite the opposite. I came here to stamp out the competition so that my own...unique product can flow freely.” He then gestured to the room they had just left. Duke still wasn’t done but the pathetic pleading was starting to die down from within. ”We just so happened to be in the same neighborhood.” His hand, casually, drifted down, hovering near his holstered weapon. He eyed the other man closer, a daring smile on his lips. ”Opinions?”
Member of the X-Men Mansion Swim Teacher MRC Detective
Seablue
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Married to Gemma
2,231
469
Sept 9, 2024 10:46:38 GMT -6
Jorge
Jorge was beyond pissed off, as was evident by his mad driving through the streets. His black Chevy Impala tore through the streets of New York, narrowly making the lights and passing through intersections. Luck was on his side as no police seemed to be around to catch him so early in the morning, but, even if they had been, it wasn’t as if he was going to let them stop him. Instead the detective would have just been so focused on returning to his home that he could scarcely allow anything to prevent him from doing so. He had to know, he had to make sure that Gemma was okay.
It had been over twenty-four hours since the incident in that goddamn warehouse. He had gone there to investigate an anonymous call and it turned out to be an ambush. But it wasn’t by some rival gang or someone with a price on his head, it turned out to be something altogether more confusing. He still couldn’t accurately remember what it was he saw there once he had been split apart, but he knew everything that had led up to it. He felt the malevolence wafting off that mercenary in waves and Jorge knew he met every word of his threat to his family.
But the face. God he had a hard time believing that. Right before Jorge blacked out he had tried to bumrush the bastard, shifting into his most powerful form in order to do so -- and the guy tore him apart like he was a piece of wet paper. The pain had shot into every fiber of Jorge’s being, to be forcefully dispersed like that, he had never felt it before; nor would he want to feel it again. That was why he couldn’t trust what he thought he saw. The face was seen by hundreds of drifting particles and it didn’t make sense that he saw his own face smirking down at him.
It didn’t make sense.
What did, however, was the very real threat that he had laid at Jorge’s feet. He threatened to hurt not only himself, but Gemma, Chase, and Marisol, the only people he truly cared about. He did his best to reform but found the event had strained him far more than he was anticipating. Still, every second was agony until, finally, he lashed together all his molecules and managed to snap them into place like puzzle pieces. Waking up on the floor of the warehouse, exhausted, Jorge found his clothes and weakly made his way back up top and towards his car. He knew he needed to get to Gemma.
Calling her was out of the question as, during the scuffle, his phone had been damaged. Now the man was snarling to himself, honking the horn, and weaving in and out of traffic as he made a beeline directly for Xavier’s Mansion. There would be time to process the report for this later; for now, he had to be sure his family was safe.
When he finally saw the sprawling greens and the building in the distance, he could feel his body begin to tense up. He was almost fearful of what he would find. But, drawing closer, he didn’t didn’t see emergency vehicles, nor did he see any signs of an attack. For the most part it looked like the same mansion he saw every day he drove home. He hoped and prayed that was a good sign, right up to the point when he pulled up to the front gate.
Without removing the keys from the ignition, Jorge climbed out of his car, ignored the security guard and marched directly for the front doors. Pushing them open he momentarily felt a wave of lightheadedness. He had been liquid for twenty-four hours and he could feel the strain on his body again. Water began to drip from his fingertips but the man pushed on, keeping himself pieced together as he stumbled in, leaning onto a piece of furniture for support.
”Gemma!!” he shouted at the top of his lungs. Everything looked okay, nothing look damaged, but he wouldn’t relax until he saw her. ”GEMMA!” he shouted again, doubling over and leaning on a pedestal. More water dripped but the man held himself together, saying that he wouldn’t let go until he saw her -- not until then.
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Sept 9, 2024 10:46:38 GMT -6
Jorge
Jorge liked to be honest and straightforward. He saw little reason in beating around the bush and that was especially true when it came to recruitment. He knew what he wanted when he saw it and seeing the bloodthirsty little wolf-shifter was certainly something that he wanted running around the Syndicate -- assuming that the mutant was actually a mutant and not a human trying to live to see the next day. No, for as much as his caution wanted to prepare him for that, he knew that it wasn’t true. Still, he would keep the line dangling -- just in case.
He went on to inquire about the man’s powers. Could he only shift into a wolf? Was there more to it that he was just hesitant to reveal? Again, Jorge was blunt and just flat out asked -- what could the kid do?
>>"I'm what you'd call a canine shifter. I've got the wolf, a couple of foxes, an African Wild dog, and quite a few domesticated breeds, from a chihuahua to a golden retriever to a boxer. I'm set to go back to the zoo soon, so I may be able to pick up a couple more...Wolf just seemed to be the best fit for what the task at hand called for today.
Jorge listened closely, making a mental note of everything that the young man was saying. Canine shifter, the ability to shift into a number of, essentially, dogs. That could actually be very useful. Even the chihuahua, while humorous, could serve a purpose in the right circumstances. Again, he loved shifters just for how versatile they cane be.
”Interesting…” he said with a nod. He then gestured to the room that they were just in. Through the closed doors there were a few sounds of whimpering and pleading, but those were quickly followed by the sound of something that sounded like a hammer being struck against a slab of meat. ”If I may ask, what was your business in there? Trying to make some quick cash dog fighting for these M-heads or is there another reason you started ripping people’s throats out?”
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In all fairness, both Duke and River hated it when Poseidon was this chatty with new mutants that he came across. They had reached a sudden influx of new members, people who had never even heard of the Syndicate were being asked to join. Of course they were just trying to protect their boss but Jorge had never been one to take a risk without the ramifications fully thought out. Not that he wanted to be arrogant about it (he was) Poseidon never made a decision that didn’t look over a thousand times in his head.
In this instance, the crime lord saw possible new talent. How could he resist wanting to inquire more of the young man? If there was one thing that Jorge always appreciated and sought for in his circle, it was shifters. They were a wily bunch and tended to provide him with a variety of useful skills. That was why, seeing that he was dealing with a wolf-shifter (if there were more in his arsenal, even better), Jorge was going to be quick to try and snatch him up.
But, he had to be sure. Leaning back against a railing on the dock, his gun holstered, watermancer merely observed Wolfie as he wandered being a container and then popped back out as a human being. Interesting. So he started off this little “interview” with the most obvious question: was he a mutant or just a human taking M. He could be blunt.
>>"I'm a mutant to the core...Shifted for the first time when I was thirteen...from there, the rest was history,"
He grinned. It could have been a bull**** story, sure, but it seemed unlikely. Besides, there was nothing Wolfie could do to him even if he was a filthy M-user trying to sneak out of a bad situation. The second he tried to shift and clamp jaws on him, the water god could simply snap his fingers and drown him in a water dish. But he would take the man’s words at face value and give him the benefit of the doubt -- until proven otherwise.
”Splendid,” he said. ”Fifteen for me.” he smirked. He then gestured to the young man. ”So I take it you are a shifter? Wolf your only form?”
It was certainly sounding like a job interview now.
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>>”It has been a productive evening, Mr. Hollop. You had best get home before that lovely wife of yours gets worried. And don’t forget, just keep an open mind, there is no reason to think Eric is guilty. Just make sure he is acquitted and we can all put this behind us.”
Poseidon was impressed. Watching the lawyer work was like watching an artist paint. There was a passion behind his words, whether he knew it or not. He could simply be trying to earn his paycheck, but what lawyer was stupid enough to expose themselves like this simply for a paycheck. No, for as competitive as Mr. Faraday seemed, it was highly unlikely that he was simply in it to see a bunch of zeros at the end of his pay. Besides, if Jorge had gotten that sense from him, he would have simply walked away and disappeared into the blackness. Lawyers he could afford by the dozen, what he needed were people who wanted a path.
From reading transcripts, especially from notes he gleaned from his counterpart, it seemed that Faraday almost went out of his way to defend mutants. Some were clearly guilty but that didn’t mean that the man wasn’t trying every legal loophole to dig them out; and, judging from this current display, every illegal one too.
But what was the point in hiding? As Jorge watched the terrified juror scurry away, the crime boss could only chuckle as he lit himself a cigar and clapped his hands at the impressive display. His voice immediately drew the attention of the hooded lawyer. Jorge couldn’t see his face from here but judging from the body language the man was clearly not prepared to show off for an audience -- shame as it was a hell of a trick.
>>”Independent study...We were always encouraged to find innovative solutions to problems...To whom do I owe the pleasure?”
Jorge could appreciate the man’s attitude. He was cool under pressure. He didn’t know who it was that was speaking to him from the shadows and still he wasn’t some whiny baby trying to keep from being exposed, nor was he a hot head trying to bury all witnesses like some rabid dog; Poseidon liked him, a lot. So, he took a few careful steps forward, keeping his gait slow and calm until he was illuminated by a nearby alleyway light. His features cast in shadows, the man reached up, taking a drag from his cigar before he removed it from his mouth and snorted out a stream of smoke. It whirled about him, giving him all the appearance of a dragon coiling around a precious treasure hoard.
”Oh, no, Mr. Faraday,” he grinned. ”The pleasure is absolutely all mine.” Another drag, another stream of smoke. ”You already know this lovely face,” he said, gesturing to himself. ”As well as the name...but I can assure you that you’ve never met the likes of me before.” A chuckle. ”And believe me when I say, I’m not lying. If I were, may the good lord strike me down.” He paused, looked up to the sky for a beat, then snorted and replaced the cigar between his lips. ”P****,” he mocked with a blasphemous tone.
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Jorge knew talent when he saw it. As a matter of fact, he prided himself on his ability to separate the wheat from the chaff. It paid in his organization to know who was going to be useful, who waste, and when an opportunity was present. When he first saw the wolf in the back room, he immediately figured it for some wild, trafficked animal that these bozos were too stupid maintain. Poseidon hadn’t decided what to do with it, but he wasn’t going to let such a beautiful creature run loose throughout the city. However, once the puzzle pieces connected and spelled out “MUTANT”, he knew there was something special here -- especially considering that they were apparently on the same side.
That alone deserved a talk.
Jorge stepped aside, gesturing for the wolf to follow him out into the rest of the facility. Those drug mules, chemists, and gamblers still huddled in a corner, wild eyes looking for any route of escape; one that would never come. With a confirmation from his boss, Duke cracked his metallic knuckles, rolled his shoulders and stepped into the room, eyeing the cowering people. Once Jorge and the wolf had cleared, Duke kicked his foot backwards, knocking the door shut with an audible clang.
As much as Poseidon enjoyed seeing the ex-boxer work, there were other matters to attend to. Walking across the wet concrete, Jorge released the coil of water from around his wrist, allowing it splash down around his feet. He watched as the wolf trotted off around some containers before reappearing moments later as a man, fully dressed. There was a slight pause of suspicion in Jorge’s eyes, watching the other approach. He had no doubt that the wolf was a mutant but, in all fairness, it’s easier to accept watching it with your own two eyes.
Still, he didn’t want to be rude and just gun down the guy without cause; still, he made sure to note the weight of the gun in its holster and calculated how long it would take to pull it out if he needed it.
>>"Alright...I know this might not be the preferred form, but....well it's the only way I can talk,"
Poseidon smirked. He still eyed the man carefully, keeping distance, but wasn’t completely wary of him either. ”By all means,” he said with a gesture. ”Take whatever form you are most comfortable with.” He leaned back, sitting against a railing, his hands folded in front of him as he continued to eye the young man. ”That’s impressive what you did back there, but, if you don’t mind, I do have some questions.” he grinned. ”You a really one of the brotherhood of mutants?” he asked poetically. ”Or are you just some M-head who lost control of his abilities back there and turned on your people in a moment of weakness? Think carefully before you answer,” he said with a sweet smile. ”I do have ways of finding out and not all of them are pretty.”
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This world was...interesting. As much as Poseidon could see the similarities between these two dimensions, it wasn’t hard to notice the differences too. One of the biggest, he could see, was the way that mutants were handled. Mutants didn’t have that firm a place in this world either, but they were completely subjugated the way that they were in his own world either. In his world, mutants lived in constant fear of the organization created to bring the human populace piece of mind -- S.U.P.E.R. He was happy to see that the monsters didn’t exist here but it was only a matter of time. Eventually SUPER would realize that there was a world that they didn’t have roots in mutants were actually living free; something they couldn’t allow.
Poseidon needed to ensure that that didn’t happen, but the only way to do that was to watch and recruit. The Syndicate was not organization belonging to one world either. He couldn’t sit back and watch mutants be discriminated against and, if there was threat of SUPER chasing them across the rift, then it was up to the Syndicate to do something about it.
But where to start? The good news was that Jorge had already begun. There were already a number of operatives under his sway who were starting to push into this world, as well as new recruits from this universe. It seemed that were was a bit of a vacuum left behind from the last of these groups who tried to place mutants at the top of the food chain. All that meant that it was the perfect opportunity for him to step in and give these individuals a purpose.
However, he needed more than muscle, he needed brains, especially those in the legal world. He had representation back in his own universe, but now he needed it here. One name that kept cropping up during his data digging when River and Duke broke into one of the Mutant Related Crimes unit here in this world, was the name of a lawyer by the name of William Faraday.
Faraday, a name linked with many, many mutant accused mutants and a perchance for getting most of them off. It was truly an inspiring sight but there was curiosity as to whether this guy was a mutant himself or just a human tapping into the mutant money pool. Either way, Jorge was excited to find out, especially after he set out a few people to track and keep tabs on the man.
It seemed that these days he was defending a suspected mutant bank robber. All the evidence was pointed at him as the criminal and, really, it looked like a clear cut case. Still, from transcripts he read, secret videos being recorded, Jorge had to admit that he was impressed with Faraday’s ability to command a courtroom. But just how far would he go to get the results he wanted? That was most important here.
It was one of his informants who clued Jorge in on what Faraday was up to; he was apparently tracking down a difficult juror. Eager to see where this went, Poseidon was quick to follow the man, setting up in an alley as he watched Faraday stalk his victim. When the juror was grabbed and shoved into an alley, the criminal merely grinned to himself, watching from the darkness.
>>“What the hell! Let go of me!”
>>”Good evening, Mr. Hollop. I need just a moment of your time...Please, Mr. Hollop it’ll only be a moment and it is preferable to the alternative.”
Jorge couldn’t miss it. The whiff of ozone, the stark blue of sparks erupting threatening around the cowering human. Yes, Faraday was certainly a mutant and seemingly one after Jorge’s heart. Still hanging back, he merely let the man work as he prepared to offer the juror the deal of a lifetime.
>>”Let’s talk about Eric Tanner and how Stephanie would really appreciate him not being convicted.
Jorge didn’t say anything. Leaning against the brick wall in silence, unseen, he merely listened as Faraday spoke to the juror. It seemed that he wanted him to have a change of attitude, to keep an open mind as to the fact that the criminal on trial was innocent. He was the only one holding up a not-guilty verdict and it was his duty to look at all the facts, including, what was most healthy for the man’s own wife. Jorge smirked devilishly at that, lowering his head and nodding. Yeah, he was already liking this guy. But it was only after the juror was sent scuttling away that the crimeboss and sighed and firmly clapped his hands.
At the moment he was merely a silhouette, a shadow standing at the end of an alley, the glow of a cigar shiny red from his lips. He continued to clap until he got the lawyer’s attention and chuckled. ”Beautiful. Simply beautiful. I didn’t realize they taught ‘Shaking Down Jurors’ in law school. But you must have been top of your class.”
