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.
Sorry that I've been absent so much lately. My family and I are relocating to another state so things have been a little hectic the past month or so and probably will continue to be hectic for another month or so. My apologies in advance!
(OOC: Sorry about taking so long... getting ready to move is taking up a lot of my time.)
Paul smiled ever so slightly to himself... first and foremost because his own observations seemed to be correct but secondly because this interesting young lady had just called him special. It wasn't every day that he found someone with a wit he could appreciate and it was even more rare for that wit to be contained in such an attractive package.
"You remind me of someone I knew quite a while ago." He commented without thinking as his thoughts trailed back to the woman that could have become his wife, "You have a sense of humor a lot like hers and she was very observant as well but in a different way. She was blind but her other senses made up for it. She could hear things and smell things that I would normally miss. She also had a sixth sense about people... maybe it was just her womanly intuition but she could always tell who was trustworthy and who wasn't."
Ashley Sullivan had been his world for two wonderful years but then she had died and the world had suddenly seemed much dimmer. Instead of the vibrant colors that Ashley had helped him see there only remained dull gray hues.
"I was out in California at the time. It's actually where I learned landscaping, my current profession, though I can only do that during the warmer months. Of course, I was so busy on land that I never learned how to surf." Paul knew that it would probably sound like he was rambling and if he really thought about it... maybe that was true. Was he feeling this open because of his present company or was it the wine talking?
"So tell me Lana... what sort of deep dark secrets are you hiding? If we're going to be working together then I should probably know at least one of them." He finished his question with a slight waggle of the eyebrows. He wanted to make it clear that he was joking but at the same time if she wanted to give him a real answer he most certainly wouldn't object.
Why did everything seem to come back to infidelity of some type? It seemed like the men that women gravitated too were also the players that couldn't be happy with just one. Those that wanted to stay loyal and take care of a woman were the ones that most females simply passed right by.
"Well, more than likely the professor is showing her just enough romance to keep her interested enough to satisfy his physical desires. He doesn't care that she's approaching exhaustion as long as he keeps getting what he wants." Paul observed quietly, the disapproval not obvious in his voice but definitely there for someone as observant as Lana to notice. Lifting his glass of wine, Paul took a sip, allowing the fruity tartness to coat his palette. If he was right he also detected just that slight hint of oakiness that was transferred from the barrels the wine had been aged in but he wasn't sure. Maybe he was just imagining it.
Turning his gaze toward the hipster man that Lana had indicated Paul did his best to notice details that she might not have yet mentioned. A slight smile came to his lips as he listened to the conversation that was suddenly happening between Lana and their waitress. She was good... really good. She had an eye for detail that was impressive. Paul didn't have the trained eye that Lana did, at least not about people. He was great at picking out security systems, safes, and safety procedures that he might be able to foil because that had been his profession for a long time. He could pick out a few details about people though his specialty was picking out those that were actually part of the police force in some way or another.
"So, the guy?"
Bringing his concentration back into focus, Paul watched the man even more carefully. The man lifted his phone excitedly as it began to vibrate and ring quietly but then lowered it without answering, a rather strange expression on his face. As the man went back to tapping away at his phone, Paul noticed he was nervously twisting the ring on his finger.
"Either his wife doesn't approve of his working on a screenplay or she doesn't know about it. He wants to prove he can be successful but something about his relationship with his wife makes him doubt his own abilities..."
Turning away, Paul went back the light meal. Picking up one of the pieces of cheese, he slowly chewed on the creamy square enjoying the earthy flavor before rinsing it down with another sip of wine.
"So, how do most of your dates react when you start profiling other people at the bar? Or do you normally only profile the person you're actually going out with?" He asked as he turned his attention back to the person he was actually interested in getting to know. Lana didn't fit his normal thoughts about someone in the police department and so she was a good case study... and of course she was pretty easy on the eyes as well.
The comment about Lana's boss throwing his weight around had been worth asking about but for the moment during the car ride Paul had remained quiet, only raising an eyebrow ever so slightly. He doubted that Lana had seen the gesture since her focus was on the road in front of them but Paul had filed away the information to possibly ask about later.
Paul and Lana were seated quickly and Paul returned Lana's smile as they slid in across from each other but then his face became questioning when a frown suddenly appeared on her face.
"Rude ghost that's sitting right next to me..." Paul said slowly as he did his best to process the information that was being given to him. It was one thing to have been accepting Lana's abilities on the theoretical level back at the coffee shop but now it was much more real. Lana launched into a conversation with the invisible ghost and Paul sat quietly, doing his best to gather as much information as he could from the one sided conversation.
"Yes, of course he knows. In invited him to work with me, kind of have to be honest. His name is Paul. But everything else isn't really any of your business. We're a little busy here so be quick about it. It's late, I want to unwind, and I'm not interested in running any spirit errands."
Lana's gaze was intense as the conversation continues with excitement beginning to appear in her expression at something that the invisible ghost was telling her.
"Are you sure? ... Okay, but it'll have to wait til morning. No sense me poking about a murder victims home this late at night. I'll look like I'm trying to steal something. ... Well at least during the day I can wear my badge and look official."
Glancing around, Paul's eyes narrowed slightly as he scanned the area. SO far it seemed like Lana's conversation was remaining private and no one else was paying any attention to her. Of course, if someone did see her they'd probably just think she was insane, not necessarily a mutant. The down side of course would be if someone her her talking like this and then also heard her comment about working for the NYPD, most citizens weren't interested in having an insane cop in their city.
"Uh, I'll ask. ... Sorry about that. Ghosts." Lana apologized as she turned her attention back to Paul which also happened to be the exact same moment a waitress dropped off the menu right in front of them. Thankfully this was New York City, weirdness central, and while the waitress kind of gave Lana a sideways look she apparently didn't dwell on it to much and simply walked off to serve other customers.
"Not a problem... I don't think anyone noticed so we're still clear for profiling." Paul responded with a slight smile before cracking open the menu and looking over what was offered. "I think I'll have the chef's choice of 6 cheeses for just a little something to eat and as for the wine... would you rather we each order our own or would you like to share a bottle? The French Cabernet's looks pretty good."
A few moments later the waitress was back to take their order. Her uniform was crisp and well pressed. Her hair was long, hanging down to about her shoulder blades and was pulled back in a simple pony tail. Her make up was quite minimal, just enough to highlight her features, with some simple lipstick and blush. When she spoke her voice was melodic with good inflection. Her smile was bright but something about it never quite reached her eyes. Her hands were capable and the nails were well manicured.
"So... the waitress..." Paul began after their order was given and the woman had walked away, "She's been in New York City for several years and learned the hard way that appearances are important. She's tried to make it as an actress or performer of some type but thus far she hasn't had her big break. She's either just worn out by life in general or something from her past still haunts her. Am I close?" It probably seemed strange for Paul to launch into their little game so quickly without even asking about the ghost's visit but he figured that if Lana wanted to tell him about it she would. For now he just wanted to enjoy some cheese and wine along with the company of this attractive young woman.
Junior high... Paul didn't really want to think about Lana being in junior high because it only made their age different all that more apparent. When she had been just a teenager being introduced to the classics in her high school English class, Paul had probably been burying himself in trying to get as much money as was possible for a man of his skills and experience. The 80's had been a little difficult for him since he had been trying to find a way to cope with Ashley's loss.
"The language barrier can be a bit confusing sometimes." Paul agreed with a chuckle as Lana shared her rather innapropriate joke, "Though I always struggled a little more with shakespeare than I did with the classics."
The fun fact about Holmes never saying 'Elementary, my dear Watson' was accepted with raised eyebrow and a mental filing. He was willing to simply accept the information as fact since he didn't have any evidence against it and it seemed as though Lana were something of an expert on Mr. Sherlock Holmes. He had read Sherlock Holmes ones or twice but obviously he hadn't poured over the material quite as much as Lana.
Their conversation shifted back and forth over a few topics and before Paul knew it they were in Lana's car and on their way to the wine bar. After buckling up he wedged himself in the corner and twisted slightly so that he could watch her while she drove. Her hands moved smoothly over the wheel and her intelligent eyes darted back and forth assessing possible dangers along their path. She continued speaking as she drove, talking first about learning to drive in the big city and then moving on to share a little about one of her cases. Apparently she was dealing with a cold blooded murderer that was trying to pull off an insanity defense and though she could see through it she was having trouble proving it.
"Do you ever have others observe your sessions?" Paul asked curiously. Surely it was recorded for further review and observed if only for Lana's safety. After all there was no way to tell when one of her patients might snap. Paul didn't really didn't want to admit it but Lana's vague comments had piqued his interest.
***
In all to short a time they were at their destination and Paul was unfolding himself from the seat. Once again outside in the cold air he stretched and then made his way around to either open the door for Lana or graciously close it behind her after she'd exited the vehicle. Manners were very important.
"They have a decent tapas menu from what I understand if you'd like a little snack." Paul commented as they walked up to the entrance. Opening the door for Lana he ushered her into the inviting warmth. Beautiful wooden floors and warm earth tone colors decorated the restaurant while multiple bar top tables filled the room. The area was about three quarters filled with patrons but there were still plenty of empty seats. "Would you like to sit anywhere in particular?"
The slight flush up her neck and cheeks was noticeable against Lana's pale skin... it was rather cute actually and accentuated her red hair. It was at that moment that Paul realized he was actually sitting across from a rather amazing woman. She was smart, witty, and quite attractive and reminded him quite a bit of two other young women he had known. For a moment a smile played at the corner of his mouth as he noticed the similarities between Lana and Lumen and Ashley but then the moment passed. She wasn't Lumen and they weren't good friends.
"I think there have to be more than two types because I don't really think I fit in either of those categories." Paul commented after a moments reflection. He didn't have a job to throw himself into and he didn't have family or friends that he could devote his attention to. What did that mean about himself? If he was honest he spent most of his time trying to run away from the memories in his past, especially the memories of Ashley who Lana reminded him of just a little to much. He was beginning to wonder if he would be battling nightmares again when he went to bed but even with that threat on the horizon he didn't want to walk away... not yet.
"Well, I do love classics. Sherlock for example."
The statement was the little nose wiggle were enough to make Paul's smile advance into a chuckle. "Why does that not surprise me... how about classics that aren't mysteries? Have you ever tried Jules Verne?"
It was amazing how quickly a conversation could change. One moment they were discussing things that were light and happy and then one serious statement could completely alter the direction. "Meditation is a matter of psychological survival for me... come to think of it so is the running." Paul responded quietly, momentarily allowing his own guard to slip, "Sometimes memories flare up in vivid nightmares and the only way to get my mind to quiet down is to run myself into sheer exhaustion. Most days I enjoy a leisurely run but other day or nights I'm running to escape, not for pleasure." He had seen the chink in Lana's armor and felt that it was only fair he expose his own but that was enough sharing for now. Besides, that comment might be enough to scare away this intrepid young woman... which might not necessarily be a bad thing.
It came right out of the blue and Paul found himself frozen with his coffee cup halfway lifted to his mouth while he look across at Lana with upraised eyebrow. Had she really just asked him to go out to get a glass of wine? He wasn't exactly used to women being quite so forward but it was kind of nice for once to be asked instead of doing the asking himself. It was part of the modern age he supposed but normally he was the one that worked up the courage first but obviously Lana had a little bit of an adventurous streak in her. "There's a place called 'The Wine Bar' over on 2nd Avenue. Would you like to go there right now or would you rather meet up a little later?" It was probably strange to accept the invitation but as the old cliched expression went, 'You only live once', unless of course you're a Phoenix.
The situation with Detective Cervantes had been... entertaining to say the least but how did he relate the story to Lana without giving away to much of what had really happened? "I was jogging in a rougher part of town and lost my ID. It was later discovered at a rather strange homicide location so Detective Cervantes had some rather interesting and pointed questions for me."
Moving away from his own issues and on to Lana's issues made for much more interesting conversation. He could respect that she was at least somewhat private but as much information as he had given away at this particular juncture he figured it was only fair for her to provide more interesting anecdotes about herself as well.
"Dates and profiling... I would have guessed a a nice glass of red wine paired with some smooth jazz or perhaps even a little bit of classical but hey, profiling dates sounds like fun too." It sounded as though even her dates were rather official. If she was focused on profiling the men then she really wasn't letting her hair down and relaxing. Even her statement about reading mystery novels seemed to much like work. Though the idea of getting out on the ocean did seem a little more realistic considering her mutation.
"For me... I love to read. Reading an old classic is like getting reacquainted with an old friend. I meditate to try and quiet the mind and when that doesn't work... I run until my mind simple shuts down from exhaustion." Paul responded after a few moments thought. "And I do a bit of cooking and baking though not much right now since I'm still trying to get settled back into the city."
Looking back, it wasn't the wisest choice that Paul could have made. In fact most people would probably say that he had been quite foolish.
The day had started off like most typical days for Paul. After waking he had dressed in extra warm jogging clothes and headed out for his morning exercise and breakfast at a local bakery he frequented. It wasn't as nice as the one he had lived above for a year or so but it was acceptable. A light breakfast of croissant and coffee along with some relaxing as he read the morning paper was the perfect way to start the day but then it was time for the exertion that always helped clear his mind and push aside any negative thoughts that might cloud his judgement.
The temperature was in the low 40's but thankfully there was very little wind. It wasn't what most people would consider ideal running weather but most New Yorkers had adapted to work in whatever weather conditions might be thrown at them. Paul's breath was even, forming a cloud of mist in front of him as though he was some great steam engine. His legs, though beginning to tire, pushed on at a steady, relentless pace that ate away the distance without exhausting him. Running was more than an exercise, it was even more than therapy, for Paul it had become a work of art. Feeling his body fall into complete synchronization, working together like a well oiled machine to accomplish what few could understand. He wasn't the fastest by any stretch of the imagination but his stamina allowed him to cover distances that only the most accomplished runners could handle.
The run had almost come to an end and Paul was just beginning to think about the work that he needed to complete in the apartment he was remodeling when something in his peripheral vision caught his attention. Slowing his pace he turned and jogged back to look down the alley that he had just passed. Near the middle of the alley that cut through from one street to another were three men that were talking rather forcefully to another figure who was leaning up against the wall. Guessing by the build and stance Paul presumed the lone figure was female and without even realizing it he began to make his way down the alley.
"If you want us to keep taking care of you and your little 'needs' then you had better make sure you give the important ones VIP treatment just like we've told you!" The apparent leader was growling with one hand waving in a threatening manner, "Otherwise you'll find yourself a lot less attractive with no one to take care of you!"
"Back off!" The way the words suddenly snapped out of his mouth were surprising even to Paul. Apparently he had been spending to much time around 'good influences' like Maya and Lana because at any other time he would have either ignored this situation or waited even longer to assess what was going on.
As the three men suddenly wheeled around to face the intruder Paul realized one other thing that had apparently changed recently. In the past if he had decided to get involved he would have attacked without any sort of warning so that at least one of the men would have been dead before they even realized they were under attack. Now instead of facing off against two men that were already unnerved by the sudden loss of their friend, Paul was facing three men that were angry and quite confident in their own abilities.
The next few minutes were kind of hazy in Paul's memory... or maybe that was just because of blood loss, but the fight had progressed quickly. The ruthlessness of a street fighter combined with the training of a savante expert had left all three men leaning up against the wall valiantly trying to keep from puking their guts out or trying to staunch bleeding from their noses. For a moment Paul had allowed himself a slight smile and even a bit of pride at what he had accomplished but those feeling were dashed away by an icy sharp pain that suddenly cut through his back.
Turning around, Paul's eyes widened in amazement as yet another knife thrust struck home, this time entering his trunk and angling upwards at a devastating angle. The girl he had been trying to protect was staring at him with wide, frightened eyes and a half craze expression on her face as she pulled the knife out of his belly, allowing bright red droplets to fall down on the dirty gray snow that lay all around them.
***
"Not a wise choice at all." Paul brain struggled to continue its thought process even as everything began to shut down. Already his internal organs were beginning to cease functioning and his thoughts were getting slow and indistinct. The world was beginning to blur out of existence even as the red stain slowly grew around him. It was to bad that he had to die for someone that didn't even want saving but there was at least one bright thought that helped him accept what was happening. "At least it's not a choice that I'll never be able to recover from." And then darkness closed over him.
So his fellow immortal had to be a strict vegetarian for some reason. If he ate meat something bad happened. Did it make him turn into something like Dracula if he allowed himself to have the taste of blood and flesh? There was so much that Paul's imagination could do with Maya's simple statement but he did his best to reign it in for the moment. After all, as far as he knew he had never met Maya's husband so there was no way that he could judge the other man.
Smiling at Rowan's attempt to help Paul took the time to move the forks off of the one plate and set one beside every plate. "True, there are plenty of protein options other than meat though I have to admit it would be difficult for me to give up the occasional steak." Paul's smile was just as obvious in his voice as it was on his lips.
A few moments later Paul found himself sitting at the table with an attractive young woman and an adorable little boy. Is this what it would have been like if Ashley had lived? If cancer hadn't claimed her life would he be enjoying dinner with her and a son of his own practically every day? Could this simple domestic scene be an example of what his life could have been like?
"If you'd like to say a few words, you can, Mr. Paul. Otherwise I think we're ready to dig in."
For a moment Paul was silent but then he bowed his head. He wasn't a praying man and he had no idea if there were some great eternal being that was at the root of everything, including mutant kind, but it just seemed right in this situation.
"We give thanks in this moment for food, new friends, and the hope of a good future. We ask for help in forgetting the past that might haunt us and strength to work through our present."
Lifting his head Paul smiled and accepted the serving spoon graciously. "It looks and smells delicious. Thank you for asking me to stay." After serving his plate Paul offered the spoon back to Maya. Once she had taken it he took his first bite and nodded in appreciation. The food was absolutely delicious.
The mutants who considered Christmas a good time for them were few and far between so Masque's statement wasn't that much of a surprise. Nodding his understanding Paul took another bite of his second dog. It was disapearing far to fast for his liking though there were all of those fries that he still had to attack... none the less if this were his stand in for a Christmas feast then he might just have to place another order.
"I come back to life after dieing." Paul replied simply after he had swallowed his bite of food. There wasn't any reason to try and explain all the nuances of his powers to Masque, especially since he didn't necessarily understand every bit of it himself. "Don't know if its true immortality or not but I've been around for quite a long time."
Looking around, Paul made sure that their conversation was going to remain private. While there were other people in the restaurant there were still plenty of empty tables around them. "How long have you been in New York? This is actually my third time here over the years though I've only been back for a few months this time."
Over in the corner he could see two men conversing relatively quietly and at the bar there were two more men and one woman all eating their meals without looking at each other. Nothing seemed out of place and for the moment Paul could feel some of his normal watchfulness slipping away. He knew that as a mutant he was never completely safe but for the moment he could feel at least somewhat relaxed.
"Slice mushrooms without slicing myself... Got it." Paul nodded before rising from his seat and walking over to the sink to wash his hands. Expecting a cutting board and knife he turned around to find Maya setting a strange instrument down on the table along with the mushrooms. Racking his brain he seemed to remember that the device was called a Mandolin and he thought he had seen them used at some time but he had never used one himself. Slowly he ran a mushroom over the extremely sharp blade, raising an eyebrow in amazement at how well the device worked.
After several minutes of silent working he looked over to see how Maya was progressing. Her confidence in the kitchen was obvious and it was clear she either loved cooking or just cooked a lot. "So why do you normally cook vegetarian? Just what you prefer eating or is there another reason?"
He had known people that thought animals were sacred or other things but he was curious about Maya. It was strange but he felt protective of her for some strange reason. He didn't want to romance her but he did want to keep her safe. He almost felt fatherly toward her... what was bringing that response on? Not really knowing how to classify his feelings Paul simply took the plates when they were offered and began to set the table.
The silent stretched out for a few moments as the individual in front of him smiled and then reached into his jacket for something. For a brief moment Paul wondered if he was going to be attacked for sitting down at this person's table but when their hand came out empty it left him feeling just the slightest bit confused. Why was he just smiling without saying anything?
As words began to appear on his skin, Paul found himself smiling in amusement. "Well met Masque. Unconventional communication is fine by me since I've had my own share of unconventional moments through my life."
Lifting his glass, Paul took another swallow as he tried to decide what course he should guide their conversation along. He didn't want to offend his new acquaintance by asking about their voice or mutation in general but surely there was some sort of safe topic they could discuss.
"So what brings you out on Christmas day? Are you new to the city so you don't really have any friends yet or were you just looking to try and escape today's festivities?" He asked before taking a bite of his hot dog and chewing thoughtfully, "I guess for myself Christmas has to many memories associated with it so its better to just make myself scarce."
A dinner invitation? She was inviting him to have dinner with herself and her young son? It seemed a little strange that she would be inviting someone that was almost a complete stranger to continue hanging out in her home but the fact that they were both mutants helped to bridge quite a few issues. It gave them a connection that most people couldn't understand.
"Vegetarian would be fine... I like most types of cuisine."
Turning to the young man, Paul returned his gaze just as seriously. The little boy was definitely cute and would be enough to make most people melt but Paul was used to trying to keep his emotions on the inside so he didn't even crack a smile as he slowly nodded. "Your mama... I understand. I won't try to steal her away from you." Paul had never understood the people that would talk to their children in baby talk, changing their voices to be more high pitches simply because they were talking to children. In Paul's experience children wanted to be taken seriously and they wanted to know that you treated them in a similar manner to how you treated other adults. Even at his young age he figured that Rowan probably wanted the same sort of treatment.
Once he was sure that Rowan had understood him as much as possible, he turned his gaze back over to the only female in the room. "Is there anything I can do to help with dinner?"
The 'Coney Hot Dog' was a culinary work of art covered with bacon and nacho cheese. There had originally been two on the plate, along with a generous portion of sweet potato fries, but one of them was already half gone. Chewing thoughtfully, Paul glanced up when he heard the door swing open and yet another person make their way into the restaurant. At first glance there seemed to be nothing unusual and so Paul went back to his food but as he ate something seemed to be tickling at the back of his mind. Swallowing the last bite of his first hot dog, Paul lifted his eyes and focused his gaze on the new arrival with a little more interest. Over his long life he had learned to trust his instincts and something wasn't quite right. From the slight distance it wasn't immediately obviously but slowly it began to come into focus. The colors and pigmentation of the skin weren't quite right and the eyebrows seemed to be more of a paint than actual hair.
Taking a swallow of his beverage, Paul continued to study the person over the rim of his cup. Either this was an extremely strange looking human that enjoyed to much makeup or it was a mutant and since the individual was alone on Christmas Day just like himself Paul would have been willing to put money on the latter. Well Christmas wasn't a good time to be alone if it could at all be helped, and right here was an opportunity for both of them though only one of them had realized it.
Picking up his plate and his half filled glass, Paul stood and made his way over to the other person's table. He was having difficulty deciding whether the person was male or female though certain movements and the shape of the face made him lean toward the person being on the masculine side. "Hello... I'm Paul McCoy." He introduced himself with a smile as he sat down without any invitation. When you weren't sure exactly how to act, boldness was often the right choice. "I think we might both have a similar genome if you know what I mean. So, do you just enjoy hot dogs or is it that you don't have anyone else to spend Christmas with?"
