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.
Jude held Rhia’s chin watching her eyes and unsure of how it was going to shake out until Zaid spoke. He’d hoped that his power would send everyone home, but some powers were just exceedingly difficult to predict. He sighed and let his forehead fall against Zaid-in-Rhia’s forehead.
”Hold on. We’ll sort it out.” He pat her on the hair and turned toward the body he’d come to know and love. Jude didn’t mind Zaid being a girl, but Zaid sure did. He’d do it for her.
Though, hearing Rhia-in-Zaid’s panic almost made it worth it all on its own.
”I’ll make you a deal, Rhia.” Being back in his own body was surprisingly nice. Jude rolled his wrist and it popped in a satisfying way. ”You help me put everyone back where they belong and don’t mess with Zaid any more. In return…” He weighed his options and settled quickly on something they both might think was fair. ”I’ll keep swapping Boots and Ranger every time the swap is up for one week.”
He offered his hand toward Zaid’s body so that Rhia could shake on it. ”Deal?”
The crowd was more tolerable than the weird numbness in her face. Noel squeezed her eyes shut and tried to put her hands over her eyes, but there was a bit of a dink the way. Thankfully Micahel slid it out of her hand.
”Help me up?” Sitting up right was enough of a chore, she wasn’t sure she could stand consistently. He prompted her to think back to their dalliance during the wedding, but there were no goose eggs beyond the one she’d just earned. And of course, Michael seemed headbutt proof.
Hehe. Butt proof. She snort-giggled.
”No. I only have th’ one bonk.” Also the word ‘bonk’ was pretty funny. More funny than the way standing up was making her feel. Her knees wanted to go toward each other. That wasn’t helpful!
”Y’ could try bonking again. Or a kiss. Kiss then bonk? F'r science?” That was the definite order of how things had gone.
To see himself giggle like that… did he giggle? Jude just wasn’t sure. But he was sure that he was taking no risks with his relationship. Yes. She pooped on that party straight away. Jude helpfully stuck her tongue out at Rhia for calling her out.
”Get someone you like and then start swapping around. See how long your party lasts.” She nodded in response to Noel doing mind things, but was no more forthcoming about it. Since it was temporary, there was no need to, really.
If Rhia didn’t like that then she could just… swap to Zaid apparently. Jude took a deep breath. He was all for mischief, but this was a bit much. Poor Zaid. He was still a bit concerned over not understanding how drinks worked… he also wasn’t having the best time with human ears. Now he was his own boyfriend? Jude would fully admit bias, here, but even so it seem like too much, too quick for someone unused to change.
”Hey! Zaid didn’t do anything to you. And if you think this is ruining your fun...” Jude initiated a swap with himself. She could, so why wouldn’t he be able to? There was a moment of lifting, a little Once he was Jude again he scooted toward Rhia’s body, where Zaid was if his mental jump math was right. Also the home of the power that started this all. ”I will show you ruined fun.”
Jude touched Rhia’s chin asking quietly if Zaid was okay in there and even more quietly for forgiveness for what he was about to do.
Every power felt like a tight bundle of cords at the core of a person. He let his power reach out, but instead of a gentle brush of his power to copy her body’s, Jude let the hand of his abilities take hold of that bundle of cords and pull. He pulled until the bundle stretched outside of Rhia’s body, not entirely sure what the fall out would be by fully cancelling Rhia’s power. He kept hold of her chin, watching to see if he could tell who was inside.
She giggled and dropped Noel’s phone. Noel rubbed his hand across his forehead. It was funny, but… borderline exasperating. That phone was important, but also she definitely had no pockets. So. Partially his own fault for having a dress with no pockets. Every girl knew she should strive for such a thing.
Noel reached down to get the phone at the same time that the Ranger in her body did which resulted in them smacking foreheads with a solid thok.
She looked up at him to tell him off and the move was enough to land Noel right on her ass, skirt flying when her legs decided to be dramatic and unhelpful.
She was… she was her. She was looking at him!?
”I’mma Noel and you have the- the- Ranger. He’s in you.” Oh! She still had a drink in her hand. Yes a little had sloshed out when she fell, but it surprised her that it was there at all. The man who she’d tried to ward off when she had been the Ranger laughed and Noel hated drinking all over again.
”You did this.” She sloshed accusingly at Michael.
Jude watched his body take Rhia’s drink from her hand and… well, this was all quite strange. She felt a low flush and ease, but not at all drunk. And Rhia in his body was now underage drinking. She just had to do a better job explaining.
Rhia seemed to have found a commercial use for her powers. Made sense. Everybody had to eat.
”All the fun, no DOMs. Nice.” And from her vantage point, Jude was able to see Zaid wandering up with juice in hand. Only, he didn’t seem to be able to use it.
> "Hey, Jude, what are Boots powers again?"
She opened her mouth to reply and Rhia cut her off. Because Rhia was Jude only without any of the Jude knowledge.
”Rhia.” Rhia’s body chided Jude’s body for hugging her man. Not at all willing to play along. ”We swapped, Zaid. And don’t worry about it. That’ll just be temporary.” The Noel power. And the swap, honestly.
Noel grabbed a drink as he passed through the melee, having a feeling that he’d need it to deal with what was on the other side. He ducked pats, glad handled a few handshakes, before he turned the corner to the bathroom hallway. He didn’t want to be proved right, but there had obviously been an attempt. Michael had tried.
Zaid, the bunboy, was there and Noel considered warning him off, but maybe by bunny instinct he knew that sticking around was not in his best favor. He abandoned her and only then did Noel see her in her full messy “Leave Brittney Alone” makeup glory. He nabbed the damp towel from her hand and replaced it with his drink, not that it helped the juggling act much. An attempt to remove some of the lips had happened. It definitely needed to continue happening. Michael picked up where Zaid had left off.
> “Howdy.”
”Oh honey. Bless your heart.” That was Texan for “you look awful.”
He glanced over his shoulder back at the group and decided that it was best to steer her further away from everything. A firm, abrasive swipe was all that was needed to clear the lipstick off fully under normal circumstances. This being the clownpocalypse, it was going to take a few more than that.
Miachel asked with eyebrows waggling if he was here to join her.
”As if I’d leave y’ alone in the state y’r in.” Her lips were mostly clear now, and Noel took a moment to refold the napkin in order to get some clean cloth to continue the facial reconstruction. Only, the glass wasn’t working for Miachel. ”Ho boy. I think you’ve had more than enough, Noel.”
He used his thumbs to guide her eyelids shut before taking a swipe at cleaning them up, indicating that she should look up afterwards so he could get under her eyes. Ugh. She looked terrible.
“What’s this?” Noel let his head fall forward for a moment, utterly defeated by the sheer number of people he’d had to ward off already. Okay. One more, sure. He could do it.
”’S called social groomin’, Jimbo. Y’see it creates an emotional and animal bond. I don’ care for the lice, but they’re a good source o’ protein.”
Oh no not him? Why not? Jude pouted. Grandpa looked like he deserved a day to be young again.
> "That old man did nothing to deserve two-dates-Magoo almost having a heart attack for him!”
Jude opened his mouth and then shut it again. He clearly hadn't thought of it from that direction. "I wanted to give him a reward. Look how happy he is." Already, Whirlwind's body was back to dancing. Whirlwind, however, was having trouble standing up.
And then the most odd sensation overcame him. Like he was lifting up or changing perspectives. It was almost dizzying. In fact, it was downright disorienting to be suddenly looking at himself as his lips said Rhia's words.
"Point taken." She pouted further until she realized that Rhia now had his power as well as her own. "Wait. You have two now! No... I just swapped. Should be okay for a minute." Her sudden alarm, and slight return of her native French accent, melted away as her brain fully caught up to the situation.
"My power is like an excited puppy. It wants new things all the time. It's why I asked for your hand, so I could point it in the right direction instead of everywhere or anywhere." In fact, Rhia could now look around the room and feel more than see an indication for every mutant. Jude could point out who did and who did not have an active x-gene. Staying where she was and having recently swapped powers, Jude knew the power would be at its most dormant instead of its usual tugging at the reigns. Every power read to him like a bundle of rubber bands. He just... sort of sometimes borrowed one.
"I... I guess you might have some experience with other mutations if you swap bodies yourself." Huh. He'd never actually met someone else with experience in handling more than their own.
Michael lost her shoes. Noel was just about done with all of everything as he stopped to scoop the shoes out of the way of the dancers at the edge of the dance floor. She could have broken someone else's ankle.
Noel thought he might break something worse when he was once again waylaid.
"She got'chu whipped." Noel couldn't identify this person. Had he ever been told his name? He wasn't even sure.
He would not deck a stranger, he would not deck a stranger, he would not deck a stranger. He absolutely would not make another scene at this wedding. Noel sighed. It was time to embrace the suck.
"Y' know, at firs' the chastity belt chafed a bit, but th' metal undies 'r reeeally startin' to grow on me. 24/7 protection and she don' even have to worry." He was tempted to offer a good hit on those bits to test it out, but did think better of that before it actually happened. He was knife poof-- Noel knew that much-- but was he kick-in-the-balls-proof?
"Dude. Blink twice if you're under duress."
Gobs were smacked. Noses were snorting. And in the befuddled amusement of the situation Noel was laughing his way through the bunch of guys. There did seem to be an inequality of genders considering all the BlacTac employees skewed heavily male.
"I mean, I guess she ran you down across the country. There's no point in trying to escape any more."
"Oh it was furth'r than 'cross country. You think I'd set foot in California unless I had to? Hah. I was on my way to space when she showed up."
A fountain of 12 year old whiskey peppered Tedward and Jude's snorting guffaw was enough for even Tedward to turn and suspect something. Jude quickly turned back to their table and snickered as he waited for Zaid to come back around.
"Magical!" Jude agreed while wiping a single tear. "I have to wonder what he said."
Eventually he got a handle on himself enough for Rhia to ask the million dollar question.
> ”What’s something all BlacTac employees have in common?”
Jude grinned and put his hand out for Rhia's. Once he had her hand in his, Jude took a moment to breathe and focus his power. It was all too happy to be let off its leash, and more than happy to lick up the information it needed to imitate what was closest. With so many mutants around, Jude wanted to be careful. Mischief took over and his smile cranked up a notch as he felt his power settle down.
Her power was subtle. Very subtle. But it felt immediately workable.
"We're mutants, Rhia." Not every single one of them, but all the big players were. "And I, for one, think your power is gloriously karmic. I'll be borrowing a copy for a bit, if you don't mind."
Jude released her hand and turned and pointed to Jonas Gerhart, aka Whirlwind. "Mister two dates, you should take a lesson from your elders." He really wasn't sure how it happened, but Jude pointed at a grandpa who was stooped at a table, holding the hand of his equally decrepit wheelchair-bound wife.
The pointing was probably unneeded, but it was best to be careful when directing new powers.
The old man jerked in his seat, looking around in absolute bewilderment. Jude craned his neck to check on gramps in Gerhart's body. He'd been dancing with one of those dates and seemed to pause momentarily.
Did it work? That meant it worked, right?
Just because he wasn't in direct line of the spray didn't mean that Noel wasn't collateral damage.
> "Uh... Party foul."
"Are y'—" "Okay" wasn't really going to cut it. And he wasn't even sure which person he meant to ask. Michael was in her body and her body did not look so hot. Noel grabbed the napkins Michael shoved their way to help mop up Tedward and himself. Noel was mostly just misted. Tedward had actual drips dripping from his nose and cheeks. Which also fell into the "not really okay" category.
"She's not- uh... She's not feelin' too well."
"Is that whiskey?" He was obviously trying not to judge while actually judging.
And that's what made it sink in for Noel. Pregnant ladies didn't drink.
"And she ain't preggo. Don' worry." Noel pat Tedward on the shoulder a bit awkwardly. Wait. Was he supposed to joke about the pregnancy thing? Noel was doing a terrible job at being Michael.
Michael turned a few colors, but Noel couldn't care less about the dress. She mostly just wanted the toasts to happen so this night could end. Michael not-so-subtly indicated that Noel should follow her to the restroom and he sighed at Tedward's cackle.
"Looks like you're in trouble. You'd better go, man."
"Boots is... special. She’s a mutant, but through her mouth. It means she's less than discriminating about who gets kisses." Some powers were just no fun. Jude clung to his bunny and nodded along at his comment about weirdness. And heels… well, Jude knew she sometimes forgot how to walk at all. So he was a teensy bit more forgiving there. Still willing to snicker at the baby giraffe comment, but also more understanding.
Maybe it was karma for the display in church. Or, maybe it was Rhia.
Jude laser focused on the giggling girl. He’d known she was a mutant, but… a body swapper…
"Oh my god.” And suddenly so many things fell into place. Both of them having accents, Boots saying y’all, Ranger not getting the joke… that hadn’t been Ranger at all. "That’s brilliant! How does that work? Oh! No! How long does it last? Did Boots keep her abilities? I’m guessing not. Her body was making faces. So… oh. Ranger got the full experience.” Jude had to let go of Zaid in order to devolve into laughter then, offering a sloppy high five to Rhia from where he doubled over.
”Zaid! Zaid, I double dog dare you to walk past them and lie. Like, the biggest lie you can. It doesn’t even have to be in English, but it needs to be unholy fiction.”
And, if Jude were to swap someone… who would he swap? The Frenchman surveyed the melange with new eyes. One of Whirlwind’s dates was still at the bar. She could be a good target for someone who was deserving. In fact… where was Whirlwind?
”Hey, Rhia. You know what’s something all BlacTac employees have in common?” He grinned with every bit of mischief in his body, more than happy to wait to spill the beans for dramatic effect.
Noel’s drink was replaced by Michael’s empty. And Michael was well on her way to getting a little bit sloppy.
”Hey now. Y’ cain’t chug that fast or y’ won’ walk that straight.” Case in point, her ankles were strong, but… that was concerning. Noel steered them to a table and parked Michael there. ”How long’re we needed here, really?” Michael was suffering, clearly. And Noel was suffering in an entirely different way.
”I heard a little rumor about the two of you.” A man previously identified by Ranger as ‘Tedward’ came in to shake Noel’s hand. It was a man-to-man shake. There were eyebrows involved and head tilts toward Michael. Was he…? Congratulating him?
Jude shared a look with Zaid and they both lost it. Fortunately, or unfortunately, the Ranger seemed to not get the joke. That, honestly, made it even funnier. Boots could glare all she wanted. THere was no getting out of this one.
Noel thought that the horse joke seemed like one that Michael would have leaned into, but for the life of him, he couldn't figure out how Michael would have done it. Noel shrugged because he'd never learned to ride a horse… had Michael? Pretending to be someone else was turning out to be more difficult than expected.
Because now Noel was the butt of the joke. He shut his mouth and tried to think through what he knew, but his memory wasn’t indexed like he was used to. He couldn’t just zip to relevant memories on command. He had to try to figure out how to recall them… Ripped pants were objectively funny, sure. But not that funny. The Fordasaurus was big. But that was... also funny?
Noel’s eye got big as the joke finally landed. It was a challenge to his manhood. Which, he’d never actually seen…?
Was he supposed to defend that?
"W’dyou believe my other car’s a teensy clown car? No?” He shrugged at Micahel who he noticed was grimacing every few moments, Noel was doubly confused until he realized that he'd been talking with the intent to deceive. And the girl’s snide remarks must have been too.
He facepalmed. This night was turning into an absolute disaster. Like high school levels of point and laugh disaster.
His hands were tied. Noel didn’t want to besmirch the Ranger’s good reputation by throttling people simply because he was confused. Noel rolled his wrist to pop it while easing into a forced smile. That was less of a threat in this body, but he couldn’t keep up with the social repartee.
"Well I’d best just quit while I’m behind. I’ll see you at work—?” Noel glanced to Michael for that hint of confirmation before continuing. ”—Jude. Zaid ‘n Rhia, it was a time meeting you. Y’all enjoy your ev'nin'."
Jude caught the Ranger’s hand for one last shake before letting him escape. It was odd… he wasn’t quite himself. Again, it was all too easy to blame Boots.
”Did you see her face? I don’t think Noel likes us.” He said it almost as a badge of pride. Jude and Noel had never really seen eye-to-eye. Still… something was off, for sure. The problem was… would it be something he had to clean up later?
The Ranger drove a very, very large truck. The delight in Jude’s eyes when Rhia brought up the enhancement had him trying and very nearly failing at keeping the glee inside. Which was only a little awkward when the person in question came over to chat, girlfriend in tow.
Jude was a natural flirt. Zaid turning pink was all the more reason to both push the line and reign it in with the girl, amusing as she might be. He didn’t want to actually start trouble or make Zaid feel insecure. He just found that spark of devilishness hard to ignore when his own mischievous streak was so pronounced.
Ranger’s howdy was sarcastic..? Or strained? The handshake was pretty normal. It wasn’t a Ranger handshake if you didn’t at least fracture something. But still… Something was off right away. Jude could tell because he forgot Zaid’s name already. Micahel was a lot of things, but being forgetful of names wasn’t really one of them.
Jude shot a dirty look at Noel, the most likely reason for such a flub. He was sorely tempted to take her power away for a bit. Put her in time out. But that might end up as more work for him and more a reward for her. Nah. She should have to live with her mistakes. Besides, he wasn’t that practiced with that aspect of his power just yet. There weren’t a lot of people willing to help him test it out.
Noel introduced herself as awkward and stunted as usual. In a way, Jude pitied her. He watched the exchanges with Rhia curiously. Rhia seemed… something. Antagonistic? Sardonic? Jude supposed they’d made a scene. They were a near constant scene, apparently, if Noel had somehow hit Rhia with a high heel.
Cringe did not cover how Noel was feeling about meeting people. He took a sip of his drink, the manly and disappointing one. This did not improve his disposition. At least the question Rhia fired at him was easily answered. The Ranger had no qualms about sharing where he was from. They’d practically camped out in his backyard, as far as Texans were concerned.
”Bryan.” Her accent was less than his own, Noel noticed. He hadn’t realized he’d been sporting an accent at all until that moment when he offered his hand to shake. ”Y’r a long way from y’r home country, Rhia. Always nice t’ see ‘nother Texan in these parts.”
”We were just chatting about your truck.” Jude, ever the gentleman, rescued Zaid with an arm around his shoulder. ”It’s a very big truck. Does it have a lift kit, too, or did you pick out the biggest one on purpose?” Innocent questions posed not-so-innocently considering the other topic they’d bandied about.
”Please. Call her by her name, Jude. She’s th’ Fordasaurus.” And that was about the extent of Noel’s knowledge of trucks. She scrambled to sound like she knew what she was talking about working from what little knowledge she had. ”She’s big enough that it ripped my pants when liftin’ her. Prolly made bigg’r by all the kitted out extr— what?”
Jude turned his face into Zaid’s neck to snicker. The truck made him rip his pants.
Yeah. Fantastic was right. "Oh I tried plenty starting off tame and getting wilder. Spa weekend, vegas trip, vegas trip to marry Boots, Curtrona Virus quarantine, bail jumping, split town in a panic because he knocked up Boots, Boots hunting him down for myriad reasons, running for president since everyone else was, recovering from an enhancement surgery of a more sensitive nature." Jude smiled apologetically to Zaid. Maaaaybe he'd gotten a tad carried away. But when you're asked all day every day about a man's whereabouts, there's plenty of opportunity to make stuff up.
"No, I don't normally chase boys up trees. Sorry to ruin my reputation."
Rhia's compliments of their couple-ness made Jude puff up with delight. "Since before Christmas, right?" Not exactly a super long term situation... yet. But they were making inroads to something at least a little stable. And stable was not exactly the word he would use to describe Boots with a drink in her hand. Jude tried to get Michael's attention. He had promised to introduce Zaid, but the man seemed content to look anywhere but at Jude.
> ”Would it be nut to butt or six to nine when stacked?”
Her grin said she knew what she was doing. Jude spared a glance for Zaid before trying to fit his own foot in his mouth.
"Cheek to cheek, but I won't tell you which ones." Jude waggled a single eyebrow at Rhia. She had her own conclusions to jump to anyway. He’d meant it innocently enough and now he was a little afraid to see if steam and worry was shooting out of Zaid’s ears. Was he melting down from embarrassment? Rhia was almost sure they should be stacking 6-9-wise, anyway. He reached out to catch Zaid’s sleeve and give it a tug and explain.
”I have no shame left anymore. I have learned from the best. Do you know what Michael said about the rumor of him running for office? The other guy’s hat was bigger.” Because… that made sense? ”You’ve met some of them, but they were on their best behavior.” Jude tried again to get Ranger’s attention and only succeeded in getting Boots’. Ah well.
Noel took a second to orient on the guy that Michael pointed out as Jude. Michael said that he could cover him not knowing, but he didn’t know a lot. It was worse than not just knowing names. It was knowing nothing. He was new in town as far as he was concerned.
”Guess w’re goin’ in.”
He passed the girly drink to Michael and allowed a sip as he politely waited with Michael's paint-thinner in hand. Actually, it didn’t smell too bad and after a timid sip he realized that there was a difference in the first drink and this one. He still didn’t like it. But this was far, far more tolerable.
”What’d ya think? If I’m gonna be you, you might want both.” He was reluctant to leave the safety of the bar, but there were expectant eyes. He supposed Michael had people to schmoose and he was the man to do it.
”Hee---owdy, Jude.” Yes. Howdy was the one. Noel stuffed his hand into Jude’s and squeezed the everloving bones out of it, asserting her man dominance like men did. ”And this mus’ be-” Oh. Oh god. Why did he start that sentence? Noel offered his man hand to Zaid and just sorta hoped for the best.
"Most of us work together on the grooms' side. Most of them served together." Which explained most of the comradery despite being buttfaces to each other, really. Jude was not born of that same fire, but he'd been adopted into the culture well enough.
Zaid chimed in and was really far too nice. It'd been a huge imposition on Jude, as well Zaid knew. Someone should teach them a lesson. One arm Jude looped around Zaid, the other he tried to clear the air of misconceptions. The Ranger was bad, but he was more ridiculous and irresponsible bad so far as Jude knew.
"He didn't really jump bail." Jude knew that much, he'd have to deal with the paperwork if that was the case, he was sure. "That's my petty revenge. Once he was gone for longer than expected, I started making up stories so if-and-when he did come back, he'd have plenty of explaining to do. See, I'm the guy who covers all the bases and makes the trains run on time when he's gone. And he's been gone plenty, but this was just the longest.
Only, he's so ridiculous Michael just sorta leaned into the rumors and now it's a company-wide sport. They're all trying to get him embarrassed since he won't explain himself."
Jude tried, and probably failed at not goggling at Rhia's arms as she explained her scholarship situation. Powerlifting. He looked at Zaid, then. "I think she could bench press us stacked on top of eachother." He... wasn't sure how to feel about that. He needed to get more swol, probably. Especially if he wanted to earn a place on Bravo team. Now was not the time to be asking for pointers, though... unless she was cheating her way through with her mutation...
It wasn't that the man wasn't attractive or giant or intimidating. It was that Noel would have to guess his name and there was almost zero chance that guess would be close. To have a complete stranger give her body that look? Noel cleared his throat and that was largely ignored. Which was fine because there was a bar to get to. He had to give his lady body an assessing look because... well, was it always like that? She didn't remember ever getting hit on so... directly.
"I was standin' right there." He grumbled. But there was a crash course in people he should know going on. He started to lean down, to take a taste and just get all that information directly from the source, but had to stop.
He didn't do that right now. He wasn't bothered by the crowds, but he also wouldn't get the benefits.
Noel tapped the empty whiskey glass down at the bar. It was ferried away in the blink of an eye. Bartender magic.
"I'm not gonna remember all that." She had an eye for detail, but it was a lot of detail. Instead, he kept his eyes on Michael. They just had to get through tonight. And possibly an assassination attempt later. "At least you still know 'em." And when it was her turn to order, she threw Michael's preference and reputation to the wind.
"Do y' have peach vodka?" Noel wasn't a drinker at all, but she'd picked up a few sorority memories and there was a fondness she wanted to explore. When the bartender checked and affirmed the peach vodka's existence, she ordered. "Think y' could cook up a peach cosmo?" There was a little back and forth about Liqueur, and in the end he was handed a peach raspberry cosmo with some fruit in the bottom of the glass and pink sugar on the rim.
"What?" He took a sip and it was sweet. Way sweeter than she "remembered." "I'll trade you if y'r jealous."
Here it came... The anger sure did seem to know everyone. Except maybe just this once. Jude looked over and... yeah. That had happened. He snorted in delight.
"Ah-yyyyyyyeah. That'd be the one." Her cousin? "You're a bride-side girl. That makes total sense. I would have recognized you if you were of the Renfields." Because, aside from a small smattering of relatives, all the Renfield side was taken up by BlacTac employees. Jude's paperwork come to life.
> ”Do those two always make scenes?”
"Trouble like you wouldn't believe." Jude was more than ready to agree. "And inconveniences. Totally selfish human beings with, like, a tiny streak of humanity somewhere. Sometimes. But, yeah. Mostly they make scenes."
> "Sorry to interrupt..."
Jude's face lit up as soon as he heard Zaid's voice. He turned and scooped up Zaid in a hug that would have turned into a full swinging circle he there not been a Bride-side Rhia that he'd engaged in conversation previously. As it was, he at least lifted his bunny boy off his heels. It was only after Rhia asserted that the suit was a good one that Jude even noticed that he was wearing one. He more noticed the lack of hat and full stack of ears.
"You made it! I'm glad you made it. I didn't want to be stuck with only work peeps."
> ”Howdy, I’m Rhia.”
"Yes. This is Rhia from the bride's side. Rhia, this is my boyfriend Zaid Wylde. Zaid, we were just dunking on my boss. You know, the one who's dogs ate your hat." And now they were all on the same page in the same conversation. Hmm. Should he introduce Zaid to the Ranger? Jude stole a glance, but Ranger seemed occupied enough for now. "So I guess Boots didn't kill him after she chased his ass across the country for jumping bail. That's a bonus."
"Y'll get used t' it. An' get a headache in th' meantime." Even Noel hadn't yet found a cure for crowds. "So're we-" But he didn't have a chance to ask if they were pretending to be each other or spilling the beans on the swap. The man who'd been seated in front of them in the pews clapped his shoulder.
> ”You’re a braver man than I, Hunter."
Noel was slapped hard enough that he dropped the whiskey glass, mercifully empty, and had to let go of Noel to dive and catch it before it hit the ground. All in all, it was a small mercy because he was just a skosh alarmed at what came out of his friend's mouth. Looking down and away gave him time to get his thoughts in a little bit more order first.
"I saw an' oppr'tunity an' had t' take it." A lie. He felt a tiny bit bad about that. That was a thing people said about mauling their girlfriends in public, right? Noel was swimming WELL outside of her comfort zone. Driving outside her lane? TOTALLY MAKING IT UP. "An I doubt Renfield'll do much. He's boun' t' be occupied for at least tonight." Tomorrow, they'd be back in their own bodies and he'd let the anger smooth over tensions properly. At least, that was the plan.
The Ranger got slapped this time, and Noel was glad he hadn't passed the cup back to her for safe keeping as he'd planned. Noel smiled at the absurdity of the situation. She didn't even know the man's name. Or any of the guys in the wedding or... anyone, really. He laughed and shook his head as the man walked away.
"Y'r gonna have t' start introducing me around. I have no idea what jus' happened." He laughed again and steered them toward the bar. "But first, maybe another drink."
Posted by Jude on Mar 4, 2020 14:31:52 GMT -6
Ranger and Threads like this
Omega Mutant
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Mar 3, 2021 17:12:08 GMT -6
Ghost
Jude stretched his arms above his head to re-seat his coat and shake out the tension he'd been holding for photos. Smiling and being still wasn't too much of a chore, but worrying that his hair was escaping its careful combing and that me might be smiling with too much of gums showing... those more mundane worries had stacked up. At least he wasn't in most of the photos and got dismissed early.
And at the reception, his plus 1 was supposed to be arriving or just arrived. Jude fished out his phone to coordinate with Zaid and nearly walked right into a wall of Whirlwind's girlfriends. Somehow he was wrangled into helping keep the ladies from slapping one another, but... oh no... his hand slipped when he was supposed to keep one from slapping Whirlwind.
After that, he was much more diligent in escorting Ms. Second Date over to the bar...
"It's not like it was true love, y'know?"
"I know." He pat her awkwardly on the shoulder and passed her off to someone far more ready to mingle. Where was Zaid?
"Excuse me," Jude stopped a girl in a green dress who was clearly scoping out the crowd. "Have you seen a handsome man with bunny ears. And..." He blinked as he realized that his power was tugging at its leash indicating that this young, hella swol woman, was a mutant. Of course that didn't mean anything on its own... it was mostly just distracting. He pivoted and offered his hand for the shaking, instead. "I'm sorry, do I know you? I'm Jude. Along with the groom, I work for that asshole right over there."
--
Over there, Noel was sidling up to her own body and sliding one arm around her waist while scooping away the whiskey in his other. She already smelled like whiseky so he was betting this wasn't even her first. "Slow down, y' have all night." When she looked up at him, Noel knew to look away. Lord, this was going to be a long night. He knocked back the rest of the glass and cringed. Nope. Even swapping bodies, some things were still just not good.
"Be careful where y' point y'r eyes when y'r drinkin'." Noel pointed to the inner corner of her eye, a place she knew to be safe and where she'd practiced looking plenty of times. "Tha's where y'r gonna wan' t' look to give th' illusion y'r makin' eye contact withou' actually wiping anyone. And howdy t' you too." He leaned over and planted a kiss at her temple. Because Michael's body had no compunctions about doing such a thing.
"I mean, I think you'd get hell taking the subway alone. And unless your doorman knows you, maybe there too. It's not easy to move around freely as a kid. For most kids, that's fine. For the rest of us..." He and Evelyn were not most kids. That felt like a thing that required a fistbump so he offered his first out for the bumping. Someone needed to make holo-parents for kids to walk around more freely. No way that idea could go wrong.
"I'll text you some intake paperwork. And then, when you come in, I'll show you what to do with it on the admin side of things. When do you think you'll uh-" Want to start work? Plan your next shenanigan? Hm. This was a complicated question all of sudden. "When do you think you'll make it in?"
Her offers of organization had Jude chuckling. "Careful. That's dangerous talk at BlacTac. Paperwork is a four letter word." He did get his phone out to make sure the paperwork got sent now, before he forgot. Her phone chimed with a message from it's only preset contact.
"Also there's my boss to deal with. He owes me big enough that I don't think it'll be a problem. Just… I guess hang tight if you sense sparks."
And that was officially everything he'd come to say, now.
She was quiet a long time, but that didn't mean she wasn't processing, watching, touching, and learning. She was gentle with him, at least. She also looked to the doctor with a question in her eyes. Either he understood her intent easier or he’d just not cared to help Jude any.
Why didn’t she just ask Jude?
Unless she still thought of him as a liar… Jude frowned up at Celeste as the doctor explained that he was alright. Her questions were always so… elementary? So many more steps backward than he thought she might be asking.
She smiled, eyes roving over his features before she declared him pretty.
”A pale imitation, I assure you.” But she did offer her hand in peace. Jude took her hand, but did his best to not actually use it. His legs held, though he didn’t feel the most stable. Even so, on his feet was a more comfortable place to be.
Jude pointed to the melty spot on the floor. ”And dangerous? I don’t know what you can do.”
”I suggest you take it outside rather than melting more of my office?” A gentle, if timely reminder.
The only thing Jude knew about karma was that it was supposed to be not nice, and a she.
”Fair game, huh?” There were some nose hairs Jude could see that he thought all of Chirpr and Speedigraph might also enjoy… instead he went for the verbal jab and got a lovely little reaction.
”I’ve never read a manga so I’ll have to take your word for it.” But now he was interested. Especially since Erik had. ”It’s not the first time I’ve seen a guy fall out of a tree, just the most entertaining instance.” Jude beamed up with his newfound knowledge. Alcohol was all it took? And then it struck him.
”Oh damn. We are still under age. Huh.” This was exactly the kind of thing Jude tended to forget. He squeaked and jerked away from a cat who suddenly stuck a chilly nose in his ear and decided he’d lounged in Zaid’s lap long enough. Only, getting up was a delicate thing when there was a cat hooked into his shirt who wanted to battle more than it wanted to be dislodged.
”When’s your birthday? Mine’s July. That’s when I’ll finally, actually be legal.” Like getting out of jail, that seemed worth celebrating.
