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.
For all of those characters that don't have a lot of family and friends to get together with on Christmas Day, how about bumping into some other characters while wandering Coney Island on Christmas Day?
For all the business and people that came to Coney Island during the season it was just as dead during the winter. Standing on the boardwalk, Paul looked out over the surf that rolled in to crash white capped against the beach. It was cold out... extremely cold if he had to be honest but with his leather jacket and a black knit cap Paul felt relatively warm. It still wasn't an ideal situation but since he hadn't had anywhere else to be for Christmas he had decided to explore the city. For most people this was a special day of celebration with family and friends so most of the city was shut down which left everything with a quietness and emptiness that was a little unnerving.
Turning, Paul began to walk down the lonely stretch of boardwalk. His thoughts were turned inward to memories of Christmas' past but his steps remained steady and strong. He was a man used to memories and he had already begun to learn how to keep them from affecting him. He was relatively young on the 'immortal' scale, especially compared to the two he had met several years before, but that didn't mean he hadn't already learned some of the same basic lessons.
Leaving the boardwalk his smooth confident stride carried him down the sidewalk until he paused as a tempting scent wafted through his nostrils. Turning he found himself standing in front of a place called "Peggy Oneills". "Well... even if its Christmas I still gotta eat." He murmured with a slight smile before walking through the door and into the restaurant.
A waxed wood floor, nice wooden tables and chairs, and typical Irish decorations were all around the space. It was obviously influenced as an Irish Pub in some ways but with several posters about their hot dogs it was clear they marked to a different crowd as well.
"Just have a seat anywhere you'd like." A server said from behind the bar, "Would you like a bottled or draft beer while you look at the menu?"
"You pick what your most popular draft is... I'll try that." He said after a moment thought before turning and walking over to one of the many empty four-top tables in the middle. There were a few other people in the restaurant but not to many... as expected most were at home for Christmas. "Merry Christmas." Paul murmured when the chilled glass was set down in front of him. Taking a sip he set the glass back down and smile wryly to himself, "Merry Christmas indeed."
She was a rule breaker though not quite on Paul's level and she was willing to allow the end to justify the means up to a point. She was passionate about what she did and a workaholic in some respects though her particular mutation did give her a good excuse. All her talk about work made him wonder what she did to relax and burn off steam. It was question that he let simmer in the back of his mind, turning over and over while he tried to come up with sort of theory.
"I'll get back to you on working with you on a regular basis but I can go ahead and offer occasional help if you need it. In one of my past... incarnations I pulled a few burglary jobs that have given me some expertise that may prove helpful." Paul's offer was put forth in a rather neutral tone though there was the slightest hint of a smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. He wondered exactly what her reaction to this particular revelation might be though he wasn't to concerned just yet. He doubted a few burglaries in his past would phase her that much though he was pretty sure that some of his more recent activities might be a little harder to accept. The battle he had taken part in with Lori that had left several men dead, a couple by his own hand, might turn her off just a tad. "I will warn you though, I did have a run in with a Detective Cervantes about a year or so ago that might make the NYPD in general and him in particular a tad suspicious if you happen to bring me in on a case."
"But here's a question for you." Paul continued, his curiosity getting the best of him and leaking into the tone of his voice, "With all the work what do you do for fun?" Looking at her he thought it was possible she might be into some sort of music paired with a nice glass of wine or some such thing. More than likely her idea of relaxing was a time away from other people so that way she didn't have any chance of accidentally bumping into any ghosts.
Raising an eyebrow toward the young woman Paul lifted his cup and took a sip of the tea. It seemed like she spoke about immortality like a person that had dealt with it and lived with it before. Perhaps some of those friends she had mentioned were immortals?
"Did you ever have a wife, Paul?"
Immediately Paul's mind flashed back to the beautiful blond Ashley Sullivan that had captured his heart back in the 1970's. Those had been two wonderful years but the pain of her passing had been more than he could stand at that moment.
"I had a love... we were never married but we were as good as." Paul answered softly with just a touch of wistfulness in his voice. "I'd never felt such despair and for one hour... one blissful hour I was able to escape."
And moments later her own story was pouring out. A thousand year old husband that had left her behind. She had mentioned earlier that she had only a few years left ahead of her and her husband wasn't willing to give her that much time? He wasn't willing to give up 5 or so years of his immortal life to care for this woman?
"Do I need to be concerned about fire, mister Phoenix?"
Paul had to chuckle slightly at the question. He could understand her concern after hearing his story but knowing his own ability he knew that it wasn't even an issue. "I don't know how or why but the flames never spread from around my body. Everything within two feet or so of me when I die is burned but the flames never spread any further. If there's a fire it won't be because of me."
Paul was quiet as he listened to Maya relate her story. She wasn't giving that many details but in her halting way she was telling a sad story that did not have a happy end to look forward to. It sounded as though a lot of her friends had moved on and left her behind to fend for herself. Paul couldn't say that this made them bad friends but he also had to wonder what could be more important than a young woman like this that was fighting to try and make things better?
"But your friends... they're still out trying to save the world." Paul commented quietly, not even feeling that he needed confirmation to know that he was right. It was the part of the story that finally him to see what might have happened. Maya's priorities had changed or shifted while her friends' had not. She had changed her focus to her children while her friends continued to try to save the world but who would save her?
"Please, just call me Paul." He said quietly before taking a sip of his tea. His own story was just as convoluted if not more so and he was needed a moment to decide exactly how much he should share. "I can't remember if I had told you that I'm a mutant as well... I was born in 1919. I have the strange ability of coming back to life after death. Like the Phoenix of legend a fire consumes my body and I rise from the ashes. It doesn't completely halt the aging process but it does slow it."
Taking another sip of his tea he looked down into the brownish liquid still left in his cup. "I've had to leave people behind over and over. Sometimes I was forced to leave and start over because of my own stupidity and sometimes I left because those around me had died. Ninety-four years doesn't seem like a long time in some ways but yet in other ways it's far to long. I endure while others that probably deserve to live are forced to pass on. It's..." For once words failed him and so Paul simply lifted his cup to drain the last of his tea. Unfair wasn't a word that did the situation justice especially after the revelation that Maya had just given him. Here was yet another instance where he would outlive someone... maybe unfair was the perfect word after all.
Part of the situation didn't feel right... making Maya wait to be able to rent her other apartment while Paul was trying to fix up the other one but at the same time he understood her argument. Deciding that it was best to allow her to win this battle he finally smiled and nodded his agreement. "Deal... I'll stay in the finished one until I've made the other apartment liveable but not necessarily until I've finished in there."
Since that matter was settled Paul fell into step behind Maya and the young boy. In a matter of just a few minutes he was seated comfortably at the kitchen table. "Tea will be fine, thank you."
It was nice being in a family setting for even just a short time. He hadn't really been in this sort of environment since his own childhood some 80 years before and now it brought back memories that he hadn't dwelt on for many many years. Rowan's settled straight into his chair and took a long draw on his sippy cup making it very clear that this was his home environment and where he was most comfortable.
Apple slices crunched pleasantly between his teeth while he read over the lease agreement. It was a very standard agreement and the monthly rate was more than fair. "How about we deduct the cost of materials and whatever you feel a fair addition for time might be. I've got a pretty free schedule through the winter months so I should be able to give it a lot of time and have it wrapped up pretty quickly." Unless he happened to pick up one of his less than legal jobs, the winter was a very quiet time for a landscaper like himself. Once spring rolled around he could pick up a few landscape jobs to plump up his bank account but he had enough to survive comfortably. It helped that he was a man of simple tastes without a lot of extravagance as well as someone used to surviving under all sorts of conditions.
Setting the papers down, Paul took a sip of his tea. Normally he was more of a coffee drinker but growing up in a cold climate he had an appreciation for all hot beverages and he could drink a nice cup of tea now and then. "So do your friends still come to the book store a lot? You mentioned earlier that you had a lot of people helping you when you first started out."
Paul was so invested in his book that he almost missed Maya's comment about coming right back. Lifting a hand he waved in acknowledgement though he remained absorbed in what he was reading. Buck was an amazing canine and his first experience with 'the law of the club' was yet another thought provoking moment. What was the club in Paul's life? What was the one thing that allowed another being to have control over him? While there was no physical object that could affect him that way he always wondered whether there might be an emotional club that he had not yet considered.
"If you're ready?" The young woman's voice broke pleasantly through his reverie. Lifting his gaze Paul had to smile and he quickly rose to his feet.
"Absolutely... and it's nice to meet you Rowan."
Pausing on the way to the door, Paul paid for his purchase and then followed Maya out the door. The weather seemed to have warmed slightly over the past few hours, but not much. Maya didn't seem to be bothered by the cold though she did make sure that her young son was bundled up quite well against the weather.
"It was no problem waiting though I am sorry I won't get to see Jude again. Please tell him that I said hello whenever you happen to speak with him."
The walk was actually quite enjoyable and it didn't take long at all to cover the distance to the apartment building. Walking inside, Paul looked around and could see that while everything was quite clean and tidy it was also in need of some basic maintenance. The stairs were still holding together but it sounded like they could use some new braces as well as a little bit of oil.
"I can respect people's privacy... especially since I like my own." Paul responded with a smile, "If I move in here I'll do my best not to bother anyone."
The first apartment she showed was nice enough with only minor damage that would need to be fixed. Some basic drywall repair and painting combined with a few planks on the wood floor. It was maybe one days work, pretty minor. The second apartment needed a lot more work with a complete floor replacement and a lot of drywall replacement as well. From the evidence of water damage it was likely that some of the studs would need replaced as well. It would probably take a week or two of solid work if Paul were trying to get it done all by himself.
"I'd actually rather take this apartment." Paul said after a few moments, knowing that this decision might actually surprise Maya, "I can take care of all the repairs on the first apartments and most of them in this one. If there are any electrical or plumbing issues then I'll have to get a professional but all the main work I can do. It'll probably take a few weeks but I'd be able to customize this one with the paint colors and such I might like, at least if that would be acceptable with you. It'll allow you to rent the other apartment to whomever might want it so that you can have both apartments rented out instead of only one."
"After your shift would be great if it isn't a problem." Paul said with a rueful smile, "The long term hotel I'm in isn't exactly the homiest place I've ever stayed."
Waving slightly as Maya was called away to run her business, Paul turned and made his way to the most comfortable chair he could find. He would definitely be buying this fine copy of "Call of the Wild" but for now he was quite happy to just settle in and get lost within the story as he had in previous years.
The fantastic story of an animal ripped away from its home and familiar surroundings was captivating and always made him stop and consider his own background. His mutation had ripped him away from a normal life and led him down an unfamiliar path but in the end that path led him home. It was amazing how that worked.
Dec 12, 2013 8:22:33 GMT -6
Phoenix: (OOC: Typos from trying to post from my mobile phone... ugh.)
Maya's story was a simple yet charming one. A story of a person looking to bring about change and willing to work to accomplish it in her own small ways. The story of a store founded on certain ideals with the support of friends and family. It was almost like something from a fairy tale. "Very nice." Paul responded with a nod and smile, "This place seems to fit you... or maybe you fit with it."
Other customers called her attention and so Paul went to browse through a shelf full of classics while the young woman took care of refreshing the hot beverages. Though he hadn't intended to eavesdrop, he couldn't help but hear something about empty apartments... with ears suddenly perked in interest Paul's mind suddenly focused completely on the conversation behind him while he stared blankly at the book in front of him. A few minutes later the conversation ended and he heard Maya walking back toward him.
Turning back toward her, he lowered the copy of "Call of the Wild" that he had been looking over and once again gave her a warm smile. "It seems like we might both have our share of dumb luck. Though I didn't mean to intrude I overheard your conversation about apartments and I happen to be in the market for one. I'm also rather handy so depending on what sorts of repairs need done I just might be able to pitch in and help them get done... at least if you don't mind considering me as a possible tenant."
For some reason Paul seemed to keep embarrassing the young woman. Once again he could see the flush rising in her cheeks and while part of him did find it quite entertaining the other larger part was beginning to feel sorry for her. Maybe he shouldn't be picking on her quite so much. They had just met after all and for all he knew they might never see each other again. He wasn't exactly being a model gentleman in this situation.
"I don't come 'right back'... there is a time delay." Paul corrected gently, still keeping his information vague while he offered a slight smile at her morbid attempt at humor. Thankfully he and death were old friends so there was no fear that came coursing up at her comment. Others might have been more bothered by her comments but for Paul they were hardly worth noting.
Reaching out, Paul picked up the card and slowly read it over before tucking it into his jacket pocket. He wasn't quite sure that he was cut out to be 'Watson' to anyone but who knew, stranger things had happened in his life. He had committed various crimes in the past so why not try to stop others from committing far worse ones? While it was true that he had even killed a couple of times he had never been a serial killer and hadn't he always done his best to leave murder as the very last course of action?
"I'll make sure to take it under advisement." He spoke with a smile but from his tone of voice it was obvious that he was taking the matter quite seriously.
"But tell me Lana... I'm curious. Obviously you must have very clear lines of morality that you follow or you wouldn't have ended up with the NYPD. Would stealing ever be an acceptable course of action? What about killing? " Paul asked quietly, his blue eyes boring directly in her brown ones, "Can your actions ever be justified because of the results they bring about?" It was a question that would definitely help his decision on whether working with her would be the right choice or not. It was a question that he had to wrestle with and come to grips with most every day and while his answer had evolved somewhat over time he still had a very clear idea of where he stood on the issue.
"And it's a pleasure to meet you again Maya." Paul answered with a smile as he reached out and gave her hand a gentle but firm handshake. "The young Frenchman handled himself quite pleasantly and he was very protective of you I believe."
Nodding to the young woman he turned and wandered through the store for the next several minutes simply enjoying the quiet of browsing the wide selection. He didn't see a single cheap paperback or low quality book on any of the shelves. It seemed that Maya had decided to only stock quality hardback volumes that would stand up to lots of wear and tear and lots of reading. It was a sentiment that Paul could appreciate in a world that was slowly tossing aside paper volumes in favor of the blossoming digital age.
"So you're a small business owner." Paul observed when he wandered across Maya sweeping, "What made you decide to have a book store? Was it simply that you wanted a small business or was it a love of literature that inspired you?"
Obviously there was more depth to this wisp like young woman than what was readily apparent on the forefront. The appreciation for art and more than likely literature were somewhat apparently but to run your own business took a steely resolve that obviously was hidden below the surface. There was also the fact that Paul had met a son but never heard a mention of a father... was Maya also a single mother as well?
Though she probably didn't realize it, Lana was beginning to ask for a little bit to much detail about Paul's mutation. He was not the least bit ashamed of being a mutant but he had learned quickly that it was best not to share every bit of information about his abilities. To give out that much information would allow a person to have power over him that he didn't want to give out. With Lumen he had begun to share some of that information and while she had never done anything to betray him she had moved on which meant that there was yet one more person wandering the world with information that could allow someone to control him or overcome him in some way.
"There's something about my rebirths that momentarily halts my age but it's not permanent." Paul said responded vaguely. There was no reason to try and explain that he had to age up to the age his body appeared before the aging process began again, that was information for him to keep private. The secret of his powers activating in the middle of fire, not just upon his death, was also something he planned on keeping to himself.
The young woman's reaction to being called 'Red' was enough to make him smile but Paul graciously accepted the correction that he knew was well deserved. "I'll call you Lana as long as you call me Paul... Mr. McCoy if you want to be formal. I think you were so distracted by my ghostliness when I walked up that you missed me saying my name."
Lana's comments about someone trying to murder mutants rolled over him without having to much affect. Death was a part of life and while Paul would try to help a friend and even the occasional stranger if he happened to be there he didn't see a whole lot of reason to get up in arms about the situation. People like Lana were paid to deal with these sorts of situations and there were plenty of other wanna be heroes in the world that would be glad to jump in.
"But who truly defines insanity? If the insane define what is insanity then the sane would be the ones defined as insane. Is insanity defined by the majority? If that is true then the definition is constantly changing."
Taking another sip of his coffee Paul smiled at her description of what he looked like. He had seen strange glimpses of glowing lights one or twice during his various deaths but nothing that stood out to him as anything special. Maybe he had been wrong and the lights were actually something special.
"I wonder if you would actually see me during the time I was dead before I came back..." He mused quietly, finding the question to be an interesting intellectual exercise. "Perhaps one day there'll be an oportunity to test it."
The pleasant voice moved Paul's attention away from the bookstore as a whole and firmly focused it on the young woman standing behind the counter. Petite with friend pale brown eyes, her skin was extremely pale but what stood out most was the white that was mixed in with her brown hair... or maybe it was brown mixed in with her white hair.
"Can I help you find anything?"
As he looked at her, the memory of an almost forgotten meeting bubbled to the surface. A fabulous art exhibit that he had eventually broken up for his own gain though she had no way of knowing that. He had been quite careful to make sure noone knew he had stolen that particular painting but before that less than legal bit of business he had enjoyed quite a pleasant conversation with this particular young woman and a young man that modeled himself her protector. What had the young man called her?
"ma Ghost..." Paul murmured, his voice just above a whisper before he shook his head to bring himself back to the present. "Sorry, about that. I don't believe I need any help, I just stumbled upon the store and as I love books it seemed like a great place to stop in. I'm Paul McCoy though I think we might have met before. A year or so ago at an art exhibit. You were with a young man... your son I believe?"
Racking his brain, Paul tried to remember the name that had been paired with this striking young woman. Their conversation had been quite enjoyable but since they had only met once he was having definite trouble remembering exactly what her name might be. Well, today was a good day for renewing old acquaintances.
Paul could see the moment that the emotional mask slipped into place. It was a look he was familiar with having worn it many times over the years himself, a way to try and keep from feeling anything while most importantly not letting anyone know exactly how much their words were affecting you.
"Not bad." Paul nodded every so slightly, accepting the extremely modest praise before she began to tell him all about himself. It was immediately apparent that her main focus had to be profiling and psychology though she said she dabbled in forensic analysis as well. Whatever she might say she was first and foremost a psychologist and a darn good one.
"Ninety-four." Paul responded softly. He probably would lose count eventually but for the moment that was one of the things that helped keep him grounded. "1919."
Falling silent, Paul finished listening to what Lana was saying. He did his best to keep his expressions open and honest, allowing her to see his reactions to her comments though she was doing her best to hide her own reactions from him.
"I've never been married. I've had lots of acquaintances but very few close friends. Romantic relationships have been even fewer though there have been a couple of women in my life over the years. Normally I've used my death and rebirth to get out of a bad situation and start over with what I hoped would be a happier chapter in my life." Paul spoke slowly and quietly, allowing his mind to drift back over the memories that stood out over the years. It was rare he allowed himself these melancholy moments but right now it seemed appropriate. Lifting his cup he took a sip of his own black brew, finally washing away the last of the fattiness and sweetness that had lingered in his mouth. Taking another sip, Paul savored the real flavor of what good strong coffee was supposed to taste like and then turned his attention back to Lana and the latest question she had shared.
"Well 'Red'," Paul responded, using a nickname that he had momentarily decided to bestow on her, "This is my third time in New York City. I was here first in 1960, again two years ago, and now I've returned. I hoped to find someone that I had left behind but things happened while I was gone and they had to move on." Taking another sip of his coffee Paul focused his gaze on the woman across from him. "What about you? Were your born and raised here in New York City and if not what brought you here?"
Paul had been out wandering the streets of new York once again with no particular destination in mind. There had been no rhyme or reason to his wandering, simply a desire to get out and see the city he had been away from for so long. The leather jacket that seemed to be his constant companion in this type of weather blocked out the cold wind from his upper body though his face still felt its icy touch. As he glanced around the street his eyes fell on a sign that triggered a memory he couldn't quite place.
"Full circle book store..." He murmured to himself as he paused to look at the revolving door that led into the shop. "Why does that sound so familiar?"
For a few moments Paul stood there, trying to figure out why he was making this strange connection. Finally he decided that the only way he was going to figure things out was if he got more information so he turned and walked resolutely through the door and into the bookstore.
The blast of warmth was welcoming indeed and immediately Paul unzipped his coat and felt himself beginning to thaw out. The shelves were fully stocked, stacked high with all sorts of books that could transport the reader to all sorts of interesting places both real and fictional. It was a haven to relax in and it was just the sort of place Paul had been looking for. He had yet to find a good apartment and so he was staying in one of those long term hotels which wasn't really the best place to relax and unwind but this location had definite possibilities. "Nice... very nice."
