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.
Kyle realized his mistake long before the last of the words left his mouth. Body language was a great way of reading into a person's state of mind when their words said otherwise and for fighters like him, a way of predicting what an enemies next move might be. Kyle wasn't exactly sure what her exact reaction was to his words, but he saw a flash in her eyes, a slight tightening of her muscles. Anger perhaps? Rage? Either way, he realized he'd said something entirely stupid...and was at a loss for how to answer to his mistake.
Instead he focused on doing what he was told. The hair tie that held his hair in place in a tight ponytail behind him was tight, tugging on his hair and making his head ache from the strain. He ignored that, pushing forth his efforts to concentrate on her words. Her directions, both physical and verbal, to making his body match what she showed or told him. It gave him a way to forget his blunders...and to think of ways to correct them.
The grip was easy. Swinging it was as well, although as time wore on and the number of swings he took increased, he could feel his arms responding to the workout. He had an advantage though, in the form of his mutant power. The energy his body produced not only let him fire those painful bolts, but it gave his body a rather unique amount of stamina. Where others would be aching at this point, Kyle hardly noticed any real change to his body after the fifty swings, other then a slight tingle in both arms. Noel, off to his side, did the same exercise, her body moving fluidly and gracefully, the work of someone who'd done this hundreds of times before.
Next was strikes, varying in form and difficulty. Noel showed him how they were done, he copied them, she critiqued. Her voice was cold though, void of emotion and yet as sharp as the weapon she had held in her hands earlier. Part of him wondered how much she planned to teach him in one day; the other welcomed that she was teaching him so much.
He'd lost track of time as they pressed on, so he had no idea what time it was or how long they'd been at it when his brain finally found the words it wanted. He didn't falter from his practice to speak, merely continued on as normal while his mouth exercised itself. "Look, if I said something to offend you earlier...probably that comment about you being...well, a distraction, I'm sorry for it. If that were the reason I was here, I'd be ashamed of myself.
Your strong and that's why I asked for this. Experienced where I'm not; your appearance has nothing to do with that. I respect your strength and admire your skill. So sorry for offending that earlier, if I did. "
Swinging the sword in the complex routine she showed him, he fumbled near the end and bit back a curse as he simply repeated it over and over till he got it right. "And I'll say it; just because it doesn't have anything to do with this training doesn't mean I can't admire your appearance as well. Skill, strength, and beauty; can't go wrong with that combination." God's, he prayed that sounded sincere enough to gain a little bit of life back into that voice of hers.
Part of Kyle was ready for another barrage from Isabel. Whether or not that barrage would be verbal or physical was all that Kyle expected he was waiting to find out. His muscles beginning to acknowledge their weariness, Kyle knew that if it came to a fight, the ground was still balanced between them. Words he was not as prepared to counter, but he figured that if he'd managed it so far, he should be able to handle it once more.
Instead of a sharp tongue picking at his sanity or a sharp bone trying to pick out his heart, Isabel's reaction was one of reluctant resignation. Her body seemed to let the injuries she had accumulated, along with the fatigue that came with constant exercise, finally register and instead of a fiery determined rage, Isabel had become a tired and weary woman. In an odd way, it made her look cute. On the other hand, Kyle was learning. It would not be a good idea to mention that now.
Taking his first deep breath since their little chase and spar had begun, Kyle shook his head to clear the fog that was coming as a result of minor blood loss. Then he smiled in relief, straightened out his stiffening body and cracked a neck that had been begging for it for a while.
"That's what I've been saying from the beginning. As for working out like I wanted, well, we'll just have to wait and see. Once again, its been a pleasure to make your acquaintance. We should do that again sometime; you're quite the challenge to keep up with you know."
The wailing of the sirens was closer now and at the far end of the alley, Kyle could see the tell-tale signs of police vehicles in the form of the alternating blue and red lights. Shadows darted about those lights, signs of police setting up and preparing to take on whatever was done that alley. In all likelihood, they were coming after Isabel, but maintaining distance until they were fully aware of the situation. And be in the best position possible to counter what they obviously knew as a threat.
Stepping forward, Kyle calmly patted Isabel's shoulder gently, being careful to use as little force as possible in case she was hurt there. Then he smiled and let his energy flow into his hands, readying himself a fight on the run again.
"Oh, I have no intention of sticking around either. But I'll cover you so you can get home to heal up safely. Call it my way of apologizing for being a pain in the backside as well as thanking you for agreeing to be my friend.
And you know, because we're going to be comrades soon, seeing as I'm now part of this so-called Order of mutants."
The wounds in his shoulders burned with a fire that Kyle had no answer to quell entirely, but he had enough force of mind to willingly ignore the pain, at least for the moment. The wounds weren't deep, only scraping the outer surface of his skin and penetrating the muscle beneath to a small extent. Still, the way she'd hit him had made the wounds ragged and there was no comparison for how much pain they caused.
But now was not the time for pain. Even though his counter attack had been successful in sending Isabel torpedoing into the ground, Kyle had no doubt that her bone power would prevent her from taking any serious damage. In fact, he'd be surprised if she took any damage at all, considering the size of those bone wings. She could easily have turned those wings into a bone shell to shield her body from damage and even now be charging him to impale him on her bony fingers.
It was to his surprise that, when he landed and spun to face her, she wasn't charging to end his life. Instead, she was lying in a slowly rising heap several feet down the alley. Kyle got glances of red stained clothes and red splotches on several of her exposed skin. From what he could see, her bony wings had shielded her slightly from the impact, but the speed at which she had headed toward the ground had prevented her from altering it to something better. Her injuried state was a result of that. It was, he thought to himself, the second time they'd come to blows and ended up both hurt and bloody. That would need to change if he was even going to attempt friendship.
Managing to get to his feet and ignore the pain that stabbed through his shoulders as a result, Kyle slowly started moving towards her. He flowed energy into his hands, as a precaution, then stopped when he was just outside the range of her bony spider legs, which she had reformed to help support her injured body. Sirens were growing more prominent in the background, drowned out before by the battle and his own intense focus. Now he could hear them clearly as the droning of the sirens echoed around the area. He ignored that too; he had a task to finish.
Kyle stared at Isabel as she launched questions at him, little drips of blood falling from the injury on her chin. When she finished, Kyle was silent. Silent not because he didn't have an answer but because he was thinking of one. And to his relief, he believed he had an answer that would be enough for her. Hopefully.
"According to you, I'm insane. But to be perfectly honest, nothing is wrong with me. Maybe people you've met before haven't tried this hard, but I am. This is no game and I'm not doing this for any ulterior motive. I said I wanted to be your friend and I damn well meant it.
As for why...its because I respect who you are and what you are. You're strong. Your determined. You don't let anything or anyone stand in your way no matter what that is. I admire and respect that. Sure, your a killer. But even killers can have friends and what's different is you don't have to hide that fact, at least not from me.
Long story short since I'm likely boring you is I want to be your friend because I can't think of anything wrong with being your friend. I see no negative in it, only positive and if that makes me crazy, well then I'm crazy. But my stance remains; I would like to try being your friend. Of the woman known as Isabel, not what other people say she is."
He was standing a short distance away now, no fear in his eyes of her, only a burning fire to have his respect met with equality, of succeeding where likely others had failed. He held her gaze, unflinching, as his wounds ached, dropping blood echoed throughout the alley and sirens, loud and annoying, grew ever closer.
Despite the barrage of small bone fragments that had rained down on him constantly, Kyle had managed to avoid the worst of the barrage by being quick and clever. His bolts had cleared out any that were coming dangerously close to vital areas, his maneuvering had kept him out of the worst areas of the barrage and dumb luck had made the wounds painful but not seriously dangerous individually.
But collectively, they were taking their toll. Blood dripped from over a dozen minor cuts over his body, including a long one that had slashed across his brow. It made seeing difficult at times, but it had already stopped bleeding for the most part. But again, the collective blood loss was starting to show its effects, in both his ability to move and his stamina. He had plenty to go still, but it was only a matter of time if this kept up.
Luckily, things turned for the better, or so it seemed. The attacks he threw at Isabel succeeded, partially, in sending her winged form off balance. His first shot missed wide, but the second hit dead on, sending one side of her wings while the other was low. Pacing shortly below and behind her, Kyle would have been grinning at this fact if his mind hadn't already switched gears. His wounds were a clear indication that this chase had changed from a test of skill to a more serious kind of confrontation. If he wanted to live, let alone earn Isabel's possible respect and friendship, he had to focus.
Isabel readjusted easily enough, just in time to take the bolts he'd thrown toward her fleshy body instead of her bone attachments. Again, her form twisted left and right in an attempt to re-correct her balance in the air, her height falling every second that followed the attacks. Kyle caught a glance of her face during one of her corrections; she wasn't smiling either. Good; it meant she'd be serious about this too.
An angry cry broke the air a moment later. As it echoed throughout the alley, Isabel suddenly angled towards him instead, those white bony wings vanishing as Isabel pulled them against her to accelerate towards him. Eyes widening, Kyle skidded to a stop as the streaking bullet that was an angry woman suddenly launched her way towards him. Claws of bone were clearly forming as she whistled towards him and for a brief moment, Kyle had no answer to her attack. She had too much speed...his energy wouldn't deter her move. There was no time to dodge to the side and those claws of hers had reach; he likely wouldn't be able to evade them by going side to side. Under? No, she'd just impale him by extending them as she shot past.
Then it hit him. She was going "too" fast. She couldn't correct her direction and though she could extend her bones in any direction she wanted, if Kyle could just react fast enough, she might not be able to extend them fast enough to catch him. A small grin slid across his face as he knew what he had to do; and braced himself for what he had to do.
At the last possible second, Kyle suddenly shot back, throwing his upper body back, swinging his arms to brace himself when they touched ground. Her claws dug into his shoulders as she shot into him, streaking just over his body enough so that he was staring face to face with her. No grins or chuckles or laughs came from him, his face was a solid mask of concentration. Then his knees came up. And with all the force of his flip behind them, he arched them to connect with her stomach hard. His intent? To use the momentum behind those knees to not only knock the wind out of her, but to send her flying straight on past him into what he hoped would only be a minor crash landing.
And provided everything went well, he'd land on all fours, jump forward and spin to face her. Although now he was down to one knee as he fought with his bodies blistering pain that her claws had inflicted upon him. "I may dance like a butterfly...but you sting like a scorpion."
Despite himself, Kyle couldn't help but chuckle at her initial comment. It wasn't really funny, per say, but obviously the concept of "the man makes the uniform" or in this case, the woman, had sailed right over her head. "No, not my training. An appealing distraction, but you're right. Sorry about that."
Then she completely threw him for a loop by handing over not just a sword, but a small braid as well. Kyle blinked, confused at what it was for a moment, until he saw Noel using it to tie up her long hair. He stared, his face a mixture of baffle and growing realization of what she meant by giving it to him. A realization reinforced by her following words. Turning to look back at the tie, a cough slipped from him and he offered the braid back to her.
"Well, you're either gonna have to help me do it up or let me look like a girl because honestly, I have no idea how to use this. If you could please, that is."
From that point, Kyle switched his mind to another state. Another style. One of complete focus and study, to listen, to watch and to learn. Kyle was already painfully aware of how much Noel wasn't a fan of this idea and he didn't want to give her a reason to doubt it further. No, instead, he had to give her reason to continue with it. He had to impress her. And a good student tended to have that effect.
And so as she spoke, he listened. She told him how to hold his body stance when wielding the weapon. He adjusted as she requested, the example a thankful way of describing it to him. Luckily, his run in with the mutant Sara had given him a much detailed look at a "cat" stance. Mixing hers with his, Kyle found a stance that felt right, as close to what he hoped she meant. Whatever imperfections there we in his stance, Noel adjusted for him with little taps and gestures and words.
Then she explained his weapon to him, the light saber that he now adjusted in his grip. It was light, much lighter then the few swords he'd wielded before. He tested its weight in one hand, then the other, then in both. With a slight nod to her, he weaved the blade lightly through the air, testing his control of the weapon and giving it a few practice swings to test how its weight felt when he was actually moving it. His replies to her in this state were simple nods, acknowledgements or making his actions match her words. When she had finished, he stood there, in the stance she had given him, the weapon held as he'd been told.
"How'd you know I liked...right, saw my memories. Never mind that then. I'm familiar with what makes up a sword and I know what end is pointy. I think anyway.
I understand. I take it then that any practice with these, at least at present, will be strictly direction and perhaps visual guides in how to wield it properly first?"
Still maintaining his constant pace, Kyle risked a glance back over his shoulder to see where Isabel was. He'd thought, after landing in the alley ahead of her and giving her a bit of taunting, that she'd be barreling past him with those bony legs of hers. Actually, he expected her to try and cripple or kill him instead before moving on completely while leaving his broken body behind.
Not only didn't she blow past him, Kyle's glance back showed that she wasn't aiming to take any swings at him either. Frowning, Kyle controlled his pace slightly so that his body would be able to react. The fact that she wasn't doing what he expected didn't exactly concern him. It was the fact that she wasn't doing what she would normally do, at least from his observations of her. That worried him more then if she had just tried to stab him in the back.
Everything suddenly became clear when Isabel made her move. Instead of rushing at him or throwing something his way, the bone lady suddenly shot towards the nearest building. Tension arched through Kyle's muscles at the thought that Isabel might make another dash up a building, a move that would force him to stop and switch his direction suddenly in order to follow her up. He'd lose time doing so and, if Isabel's determination was any consolation, she'd be long gone before he managed to catch up this time. Losing a fight he could take; losing this perhaps once in a life time chance to at least earn her graces was something he'd be damned before giving it up.
He was just shuffling his direction when Isabel caught him completely off guard with her "actual" move. She had climbed about a third of the way up the wall, but instead of continuing on, she switched direction mid climb...and jumped. Not up the wall, like Kyle might have suspected, but in his direction. As her body no longer met with solid ground of any sort, her bone legs shifted, shuffling in form even as she moved, to be replaced with what Kyle could only describe as big wings. Not bird wings, they were too awkward shaped for that.
Bat wings. Or as close as possible to them. Fitting.
And then she was gliding towards him. Over him. Shooting his head up to watch her soar past, Kyle regarded her for a moment, a mixture of awe and frustration mixing in a lovely expression on his face. Then he gritted his teeth and spoke loud enough for her to hear. "Damn, tricked!"
Then he saw her second plan coming and his eyes widened with the realization. The first of her bone rain sliced a cut down his cheek, another clipping his shoulder as it passed down to the ground. By then he was running forward after her at full tilt, doing his best to stick to one side of her rather then directly under. The bone rain still came though, some of it nicking him as he ran, some missing entirely, while others he deflected with quick and fast snaps of his fingers, his bolts of energy killing their momentum and leaving them on the ground in his wake.
"Well if that's how this game is played..." Darting to the side suddenly, Kyle swung his arm back and flung a small orb of his energy her way; not at her body, but at one of her bone wings. Then he flung another, this one at the opposite wing. Then, whether or not those achieved victory in their tasks, Kyle flicked a small barrage towards her main body, one for each finger. And then he sped up to be ready when, if, she was forced to come down, to be past her or to catch her from getting seriously hurt. The game, after all, wasn't fun if one party couldn't play.
And in the distance, drowned out by their little battle and the surrounding buildings, was the sound of sirens. Many sirens. Getting closer by the minute.
Kyle had to give it to Isabel; she was really putting her all into getting away from him. For a moment, his advanced skill allowed him to scale to her position on the wall in little time at all, though not for lack of trying on her part. What was more impressive was what Isabel had sprouted in order to scale the wall; bone legs. Long and powerful looking, they reached far and stuck into the wall as she made her way up with them. They gave her a much longer stride and only his speed and quick thinking allowed Kyle to gain a momentary advantage on her.
Until she picked up the pace that was. Kyle barely cleared the way to the roof before she barreled up behind him, her long boney legs giving her an almost spiderlike appearance. Amusingly, Kyle noted that despite the fact that she was the furthest in term of appearance from a hairy, ugly spider, her aura made her just as frightening as one. It was both exciting and terrifying at the same time; he found that interesting. And intoxicating.
The open space of the roofs granted the advantage of speed to Isabel at this point, her long bone legs allowing her to quickly gather speed and dart over most low lying obstacles. While she was able to traverse over or around them with her spider form, Kyle had to opt for a more practical and direct approach. In this case, rolling, sliding, jumping or diving over anything that got in his way. He didn't go around, didn't waste time trying to find an alternate route past obstacles. He charged straight towards them and used whichever move would allow him to bypass the problem while retaining his base momentum.
It wasn't perfect, but his skill at knowing which to use allowed him to keep up an amazing pace, enough so that Isabel was never too far ahead. As long as he kept her in full view, that would work for now. Even when she took the path that had objects that could block her path, Kyle was quick on her heels, having to dart around a few now and then or otherwise dancing his way past it. She was gaining ahead on him a little, but considering her advantage, he wasn't doing bad. And he wasn't even sweating hard yet.
The hardest part was leaping the building's, but as luck had it for most of them, the gap's were never too large to jump. Some he had to quickly scramble up after making the leap, but the others he cleared with a flying jump into a roll back to his feet. One unlucky building made forced him to flip in midair so that his hands landed on the edge of the building; he'd had to bounce off the wall before heaving himself up quickly to continue the chase.
He was just clearing a building's power generator when he saw Isabel standing on the edge the building. For a moment, she shot him a glance. Then she slid off the roof.
Kyle eye's widened in shock, but the sound of something scraping against rock told him what had really happened. Skidding to a halt at the building's edge, he glanced over it, just in time to see Isabel hit the ground. Luckily, he'd managed to see the very end of her journey, which allowed him to pierce together her plan; using two legs to slow her fall down the side, she'd used the remaining bone limbs to save herself when she impacted on the ground. It was flawless, genius...and showed just how serious she was about this.
Kyle frowned for a moment as she took off again. His first thought was to follow her down...but then he realized she'd gain much ground like that. Instead, he chose a different route. Turning his head, he shot off again, running along the building's edge to keep an eye on Isabel. He darted and danced like before, running parallel to her for a short while before he managed to gain just a little bit of an advantage on her. Then his eyes flicked to a building that she'd have to come across ahead...and it was perfectly spaced from the building next to it. Taking a breath, glancing down to where Isabel was, he suddenly disappeared from her view.
And reappeared a moment later as he jumped from the building he was on to the building across from him. For a moment, it looked like he wouldn't make it there...and he didn't. Which was part of his plan. Extending his arm and leg, he hit the other wall with his right arm and leg and skidded down. Then he pushed off the wall and landed the same way on the other wall, expect with the opposite limbs. And again. And again.
Then, as he neared the ground, he aimed his hands down and smiled as purple energy burst forth when he was about five feet from hitting concrete. The energy beam, true to its form, hit the ground...and slowed him enough so that he was able to land in a crouch roll. His shoulder made a fun sound when he hit, but as he came back up, it didn't feel broken or anything that indicated it was damaged. So he kept running, glancing back just in time to see Isabel coming up on him.
"If this is what you do on a regular basis, I'll need to come hang out with you more often. This is amazing!
And aren't I supposed to be chasing you?" He said with a smile, not an insult or a mock, but a challenge to her. A playful challenge that she had started and that he was now thoroughly enjoying.
"Hey, just because you like killing people doesn't mean you'd like to create chaos at the same time. I admit it though; that was exciting."
Keeping up with her wasn't hard at all. Whether by design or just the limit of Isabel's athleticism, she wasn't going at a pace that exceeded his own. If it was the former, he was partially glad that she wasn't trying to outrun him. It meant, even int he tiniest form, that she was trying to see what he was made of, to possibly see if he was worth the the time of day. If it was the latter, well...she made up for it in other areas.
Kyle smiled inwardly at the thought of her suddenly running faster to try and lose him. He had no doubt actually that she would try something if she could, but the trick was on her. Not only could he run faster then he was currently going, his power also made his stamina much longer lasting then it should have been. If Isabel wanted to try and outrun him, she'd find that she'd run out of steam long before he did. Kyle partially hoped she would try; it would make this random act much more fun.
The sound of sirens in the distance prompted him to glance over his shoulder. The sirens were close but as of yet, the source of them wasn't in sight yet. Which was good, because it gave them time to hopefully get out of plain sight before trouble came riding up their backsides. Of course, Kyle doubted Isabel wanted to avoid that kind of trouble. Heck, she had pretty much thrown that information into his face on multiple occasion. This was likely another part of her "test".
Speaking of her "test", it appeared the next phase was coming into play. Watching her run slightly ahead of him, he was suddenly aware that her shirt was flapping open, held in place by only the top two buttons of her outfit. Kyle's eyes rose questionably, averting his gaze to focus on her face, but the reason for her half-strip became clear a moment later, when she slid into a narrow alley between two buildings.
Then she started climbing. Not especially fast, but steadily, in complete control of what she was doing. And her words...as soon as they had left her mouth, Kyle couldn't help but grin from ear to ear as a small laugh managed its way through his mouth.
"Climb? Isabel, you've just mentioned one of my favorite things to do." With that said, his eyes darted to the buildings on either side of him, assessing them both equally and studying their layout. In his spare time, Kyle had the pleasure of practicing the art of parkour; an art that allowed him to traverse across obstacles quickly and with least possible effort. As such, locating the fastest way to overcome on obstacle standing in his way had become almost second nature to him. Smiling, Kyle moved to the wall, noting that Isabel was already halfway up. With a deep breath, Kyle cracked his fingers.
Then he started scaling the wall with frightening speed, slowing only when the next step was not obvious to him. But he made good time; he would arrive either at the same time as Isabel or a step or two ahead of her. This was his area of expertise. And there was no way he was letting this sudden and amazingly enjoyable day end that easily.
Isabel was stubborn, Kyle had to give her that. Thinking back over his life, Kyle couldn't even recall anyone that gave him as much trouble as she was...save perhaps Ariel. Ariel, the one person he could call his friend over the last few years. Ariel, the one he could say understood him and he her. Ariel, who had become much more then a friend...and then stolen away from him. When Ariel set her mind to something, nothing could change her stance short of an act of congress. She eventually opened up enough to start being movable on certain matters but she was still as tough as they come when it came to her opinion.
Isabel was staring to reach that level of stubborn. The sad thing? Kyle had no doubt she wasn't even trying at this point. And that just made trying to earn her respect even more worthwhile.
He had to be making some progress, because for once, she didn't string off a series of reasons why he shouldn't even bother with her or spit her disdain in his face. In fact, looking into her eyes, he saw that while her gaze was no less as intimidating and hostile as before, it was also lit with something else. Curiosity perhaps? Maybe she was actually considering at least seeing what he had before she completely shot him down again. It was a step, a small, painful step. But the longest journey begins with one step and Kyle was glad he was daring to take that journey.
Kyle couldn't keep the confusion from his face when Isabel mentioned keeping up, his mouth gaping slightly in a long "uhhhhhh", trying to pierce together what she could possibly mean.
He didn't have to wait long for an answer. And despite every possible thought he had about what she meant by her words, what she actually did blew all those thoughts right out the window. Just as it blew his mind.
What looked like a harmless gesture are first proved to be anything but. Kyle saw the tiny pieces of bone streak clear from her arm as she swung it towards the cafe. Watched with widened eyes as those tiny pieces of bone made mincemeat of the glass window that covered the cafe's front. The screams of surprise and pain broke through any sound outside, the sound of glass shattering on the ground giving way quickly to those shrills and panicked shouts. Kyle's eyes shot back to Isabel, who was smiling. Smiling! If Kyle thought she was crazy before...well, actually, that hadn't changed.
Then, with only a moment to watch her own work, Isabel turned and ran. Kyle turned his head and spun slightly to watch her run for a moment, then glanced back to the cafe, then back to her and the cafe again. Now what she had said made sense. The sounds of people pointing in her direction...his direction, made him glance one more time at the cafe and the people. And then he ran. Full speed for a moment to catch up with and pace Isabel, then balancing out to fall a step behind her to keep her in sight.
"Interesting way to suggest a run. Do you normally do random acts of destruction for fun?...because that's got to be the most ingenious way to have fun I've ever seen."
By all that was good and bad in the world, Isabel sure knew how to make someone feel stupid. And confused. And stumped. And angry. And frustrated. All at the same time. But even with all those, the fact that she constantly deflected everything he offered or said only made him want to push on. To find a way to at least get her to acknowledge him. He didn't know why he wanted that so bad, but he did and be damned if he didn't keep trying.
Now if only that wasn't so mind-blowingly frustrating.
Sighing, Kyle shrugged his shoulders and ran a hand through his hair. It wasn't prepared special in any way, considering the helmet would have dealt with that like nothing and still left him with helmet hair, but at least he could smooth it out. "I'm not trying to bother you. At least, not intentionally."
Rubbing his eyes with his index finger and thumb, he took a moment to catch his breath and think. His every attempt was being deflected as if she was solid ice and he was a plastic hammer. He flapped against her ridgid shell with all his might, but it was never enough to crack through. He needed to upgrade to a steel hammer that would eventually crack the icy shell to find the heat within.
"Look, I know you're not my friend. I would like to try and be yours though. Ask me why, I don't have a clue. I just do. And you want something perfectly honest? I don't care one bit that you're a cold blooded killer. I've killed people and not had second thoughts about it. But that doesn't mean that describes you." He sighed, waited to let her either tear into him again or glare, then respectfully continued after a moment.
"Honestly, I'm out of ideas. I'm here because I want to be, talking to you because its interesting and enjoyable and wanting to know about you is because you pique my curiosity. Sure, you're a killer. But I want to know the Isabel when she isn't killing. I'm not saying that makes you a good person, hell, be as evil as in itself.
I can't expect you to say yes, but I'm asking, respectfully, for the chance to prove myself honest in what I'm saying."
Kyle had intended for the request to grab a drink to be the signal for them to move to the cafe; obviously his message either didn't get across or she was choosing to ignore it. No matter really; trying to force her to do anything would likely end badly for him. Cause really, she'd been a inch from killing him last time and as much as he didn't want to admit it, she scared him on some level. Not enough to have him hightailing for the hills, but enough to be cautious around her. Ready. Tense. He didn't let it show really, but it was there, lurking just beneath his skin.
Her shift in stance made him flinch inside, but it was nothing more then a shift of weight from one leg to the other. Then came her words and as Kyle listened, a smile crept its way across his face. Not because what she was saying was funny, although it was amusing in its own right. No no, it was because he had expected this kind of response from her. Expected and planned for it. She didn't know it, but she'd given him avenues to use for conversation.
Now if only he could keep his diarrhea of the mouth under control. Maybe pausing in between words would be a good start.
"Then maybe we can chat over a meal? No, I don't think you'd like that either, even if I said I'd cook up something that would put restaurants to shame." Pausing to give her a chance to reply, he continued after a moment. " Well, we don't have to sit either. We can stand or walk or run too. As for dragging your ass down, well, that's the furthest thing from my mind if the cops show up. If people run, let them run. Means less noise really."
He shifted and folded his arms across his chest, making sure that his hands were visible for her to see. A way of saying "I saw you looking before, so here, look at them good and know you've got the opening should you want it." Then he waited again before finishing up, targeting the bit of her conversation that made him truly smile.
"See, I would do that, but there's something the papers can't do. They can't tell me the whole story because they refuse to show the whole story. They can't tell me what the person was feeling at the time, which would help me understand you a whole lot better then some tabloid calling you a crazy homicidal mutant. Besides...there's more to you then what's in the paper.
And that is why I want to talk to you like this. So I can learn about the real Isabel from Isabel."
"MacMillan huh? Sounds like the guy out of that war game, Call of Duty."
Kyle took the small piece of time he was granted while Noel looked over something on the wall to study the place in more detail. The lights illuminated what he had already managed to make out, the ring, the punching bags, the weight machines. The lights helped to give Kyle a better understanding of how large the room was and exploring it slightly, he noticed that there was more just around a corner, including a closet and a staircase. Again, he remarked to himself, not a bad place to have to train in.
He turned his attention back to Noel, who had started answering his earlier questions, the one's he asked before they left the church. It was all logical when she spoke it, Kyle merely nodding his head in response as he waited for her to finish. Indeed, one look at Sebastian had told Kyle that no matter how good Noel was, he was ten times better, and Kyle had barely managed to handle her. Sebastian would have destroyed him and likely not have broken a sweat doing so. He owed her his life...he'd have to find a way to repay her for that.
Perhaps by being a good little student would be a good first step.
Kyle didn't get a chance to reply yet, however, as Noel removed her jacket and indicated a place where he could change before taking off around a corner. The sound of her shoes on stairs told him where she was going. Chuckling to himself, he silently grinned in his mind about the way she looked in a tank top, then he made his way towards the bathroom.
It didn't take him long to get changed really. The outfit he wore, while it was tight to his skin, was also extremely flexible and stretchy. Getting out of it amounted to no more then stretching the neck part and then sliding it down his body. He wore a black muscle shirt underneath it, as well as thin leg warmers to cover his lower body. He didn't need the leg warmers anymore, so he quickly removed them and slipped into a pair of jeans. Seeing as he was already sweating and that he would likely be sweating more, he opted against throwing on a shirt and exited the bathroom the way he was.
He was coming out just as Noel was coming around the corner. Smiling at her, Kyle tossed his duffel into a corner and swung his arms back and forth the stretch them, eying the swords Noel had brought with her. Nothing fancy from the look of it, but Kyle had no fault with that. He barely knew how to handle a sword, minus the odd time he'd played with one or seen someone use them. Fancy could come AFTER he knew what the heck he was doing.
"How do you manage to look so fierce when your clothes say anything but? Must be because of your aura and body language. Or maybe its because I know that you are fierce and that I'm gonna be hurting by the end of today.
Anyway, nice set of swords you got there. Nice place too. Shall we get to my butt-kicking then?" He didn't approach her, instead waiting for her to come to him so he didn't look impatient. Which, oddly enough, he wasn't.
Kyle had to avoid bursting out into laughter at Isabel's comeback, especially since he was tempted to ask what the punishment's were if everything was a crime. The only thing that kept him from doing so at the moment was the piercing death glare the woman as giving him. Obviously, she didn't think he was being serious. Oh, this was going to take some work.
Shaking his head, Kyle turned and placed his helmet onto the handlebars of his bike, then adjusted the collar of his jacket so that he could open it without getting the zipper caught. He hated when that happened. Moving his hand slowly so that she hopefully wouldn't think he was going to attack, he did just that, unzipping it down to the base and shaking it open.
"To fight? Well, we could certainly still do that, if its what you want. Personally though, my intention wasn't to come here to fight.
I know you're thinking I must be crazy to be even considering the thought of just meeting up with you for meeting up sakes, but hey, you called me crazy for wanting to fight you. So if I have to be considered absolutely out of his mind to be thinking it, doing it, then get me the straitjacket on order. But that's what my intention is today; to meet with you and simply see how things go.
So come on, let's get something to drink and talk, shall we? I don't know if you have any, but if any question is pouncing around your mind, feel free to ask it. You won't get lies from me, only honesty. Strange I'm sure, but lies only make things worse so what's the point. And if I'm going to get along with you, lying is definitely not the path I want to take."
After watching Lori and Sebastian depart to undertake their own business, Kyle had followed Noel as she exited the church to the main street. At his own offering, Noel was taking him to a location she was apparently more familiar with, a place she knew quite well. Some abandoned gym, she had said, not far from where they were. Kyle had no qualms about that, especially considering it was at his suggestion.
Before they left, however, Kyle ran to the back of Lori's hummer to retrieve his bike. Rolling the vehicle out, he moved it down a block and set it up there instead, knowing that Noel had said they'd be walking there. Fine by him honestly, but there was something he wanted to grab from his bike. A duffel secured to the back end contained two things he needed; a medical kit and several spare sets of clothes. As much fun as it would have been walking down the street in his shiny outfit, it would have drawn more attention then he would have liked.
Pulling on the baggy pants and long sleeved shirt to cover most of his outfit, he tossed the metal guards into the bag and tied on a pair of sneakers quickly. His jacket covered what his shirt didn't and; sliding the bag's strap over his shoulders, he caught up to Noel quickly. He had a more suitable change of clothes in the bag but really, no one would honestly thing he would strip down in the middle of the street to do that right? He'd change when they arrived at their destination, provided Noel didn't mind.
The trip, as it were, was actually quiet and uneventful. Noel seemed to want her space at the moment, her aura and body language telling Kyle that she wasn't exactly in a talking mood at the moment. He didn't blame her, but nor was he going to invade the fragile peace that had been made between the two of them. If she wanted her space for a while, Kyle was more then content with observing his surroundings, the people walking down the street...and her. Call him whatever you like, but Kyle was still a man. Last time he checked anyway, something about five seconds ago. And not only was Noel worth the time of day to look at, she was everything else as well. Strong, both in body and will, someone he could respect. But he couldn't let his mind wander to that; for now, he was pleased just getting the chance to train with her.
These thoughts filled the time it took for them to reach their destination. Glancing away from a pair of idiots doing crazy stunts on a skateboard(which one of them just critically wounded his chances for children), Kyle let his gaze fall on the building before him. Located just under the highway, the place looked like it had seen better days. Much better days. The entire thing looked like it had met with the ugly side of grandfather time...and lost horribly. Still, the place was standing, decently sized and wouldn't likely get any visitors anytime soon. Perfect.
The inside looked a bit better at least, a large open space complete with a square circle and various kinds of equipment laying around. Not a lot, mind you, but enough to cover enough necessities to keep one in shape. All in all, it was better then some places he'd seen. And a heck of a lot better then a church to conduct things like fighting. Whistling for a moment, Kyle placed his bag near the door, then turned to look at Noel.
"Well, it's not a four star hotel...and that makes it all the better. At least if your not looking for comfort and insanely high prices. Is it yours?"
If there was any doubt that Noel and the horned man were connected in any way, the announcing of his name by both of them almost in turn buried it away for good. Kyle's only possible reaction to that was to raise his eyebrow, look at them both in turn, then shrug his shoulders and bow his head slightly to Sebastian.
"Well, that's better then calling you Mr Horn. Obviously, the honor is mine then, Mr Sebastian."
At Sebastian's words, Kyle grinned slightly, the corner of his mouth creasing upwards at having his request accepted. However, he knew that getting the approval of the older man was only half the battle. Sure, having the teacher's approval of such a pairing was always good, but it wasn't Sebastian's approval he was seeking. It was Noel's. If she didn't want to do it, then Kyle honestly wouldn't force her.
Course, that didn't mean he'd let it go so easily. Kyle could see that training with her would be good for him, even if none of them saw it yet. He just had to hope she'd see it the same way or at least not be completely against the idea. Besides, who wanted a teacher that didn't want to teach?
Before Kyle could say anything else to Sebastian, the man turned his attention to Lori instead. Titling his head in that direction, Kyle gave a slight shift of his head, then mouthed a thank you towards Lori. Whether this had been her plan or not, or even if she'd brought him here to prove something or simply have him killed for whatever reason, it mattered not at this point. It had helped him come to his senses; it was enough to overlook details this one time. Overlook, that is, but not forget. Smiling, he turned back to Noel, picking up his helmet on the way. Her sword was still embedded within it, a detail he quickly corrected by shifting the weapon slightly and carefully pulling it free.
He gave a quick glance over his helmet, inspecting the full extent of the damage to it before sighing and replacing it under his arm. Coming to stand before Noel, Kyle offered the hilt of the weapon to her, a peace offering in a way.
"Not a bad weapon. If my helmet wasn't as thick as my head, it might have ended poorly for me. Plus, I should say thanks as well. Don't know why you did it honestly, but you stopped him from attacking me when I likely wouldn't have been able to fight back; for that I owe you my thanks.
Now, while its all well and good that he said it was okay, I wasn't exactly looking for his permission. Its yours I'm interested in. And to be perfectly honest, I'm not exactly a gun user or a sword wielder; I wouldn't mind learning how to use a sword though and simply sparing with you would probably work for me in terms of teaching.
But I don't think we should linger around here much longer. No doubt my foolishness prompted someone that left to call the police and seeing as how your escort and mine seem to have plans of their own, shall we go someplace else to talk this over? Someplace you'd be more comfortable perhaps?" Motioning with his head, he moved aside to offer her the way to the door, though of course he knew she might reject the matter outright.
