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.
Posted by Amp/Vibe on Jun 25, 2008 19:42:12 GMT -6
Beta Mutant
684
0
Nov 20, 2008 23:30:31 GMT -6
“Honestly I have not really thought about that. I joined the camp to support my little sister who was going to primary school and my mother who is having treatment for cancer, one month in to in all my little sister was killed in a school bus accident, and a week before the raid my mother died of a sudden heart attack,"
"Sorry to hear that." Vibe could definitely sympathize. That empty feeling was awful....
"so I literally have no place to go, and I don’t think the government will take me back. So I really don’t know. Got any ideas?”
She shrugged. "Not really. I'm not sure if our place is even standing any more. Plus our.... Landlady," she couldn't think of the right word, but this described Syn well enough, "isn't fond of humans. Especially after this mess. Aaaand.... you really don't want to cross her. Trust me."
Abruptly she sat on a nearby chair and scowled darkly. "Why would you want to go back to government stuff? What kind of government discriminates against a whole race of people these days? It's the twenty-first century, and we mutants have every bit of right to be here as you humans."
She wasn't really angry at him, even though it might have come across that way. After all, he seemed decent enough, for a human. And he had looked after Amp. That definitely counted for something.
Posted by Amp/Vibe on Jun 25, 2008 15:50:18 GMT -6
Beta Mutant
684
0
Nov 20, 2008 23:30:31 GMT -6
Waiting. Amp hated waiting. She'd been waiting for months. Waiting to go home. Waiting for revenge. Waiting to die. Waiting for her torture to end. Now she was only waiting for a simple doctor's report, but it was still waiting. She fidgeted impatiently in one of the sterile examination rooms.
She had fallen asleep in the transport from the Camp, and remained so on arrival. Apparently Vibe had conscripted someone to carry her to the Infirmary, because that's where she woke, a tad violently, from a nightmare the next day. Vibe had been by the beside, and quickly calmed her down. Once calmed though, realization set in where she was, and she promptly began crying again, happy tears this time.
She had started to give up hope that she would ever leave the camp. In fact, she had all but given up. She contented herself that she would have revenge on Grunt, but had come to the conclusion that it would cost her life to get it. She was even considering that the price was worth it. And now all of that was over. She could finally relax.
Only.... she couldn't relax. Not yet. It wasn't over yet. Not until the tests came back, and she knew.
She slipped off of the exam table and began to pace. She held her stomach as she moved; she felt sick to her stomach, but she wasn't sure if it was all in her mind. She gulped, her mouth dry.
She 'heard' footsteps long before they reached her door, so no one saw the terrified look in her eyes. By the time the doctor opened the door and peeked in, Amp was back on the table, her expression reflecting worry, but not fear.
"You're awake? Good. Amber, right?"
"Amp." The redhead had insisted her sister leave her alone for awhile. That meant her world was silent once more, forcing her to read lips.
But Amp didn't want Vibe to know what had happened to her in the Camps. Not unless....
"I have your test results." Amp held back a gulp, and simply nodded. "Your sugar levels are still unstable, even after the insulin shot. So you'll need to stay here for a few days, until we can get it under control. A few proper meals should do the trick, but we want to be sure."
"That happens when you're purposefully starved," the twin grumbled. Wisely the doctor ignored her and went on. She listed a number of other things that Amp needed treatment for, but she didn't pay attention to any of them. Bottom line was that the petite redhead was stuck in bed for a week, maybe two. Been there, done that, big deal.
Finally the medic came to the important part. Kindly, she reached out and place a hand over Amp's, on her belly. Amp stiffened.
"And the pregnancy tests came back negative."
Negative. She wasn't pregnant. She was safe. The doctor still talked, warning about other factors that were still unknown; symptoms to be aware of for various STDs and such. But all Amp registered was 'negative'. It had to be one of the sweetest words she could ever 'read'. Her stomach nausea vanished in an instant.
"Do you want me to find a counselor for you? It might help you cope with the trauma."
Amp frowned and shook her head. "No, I'm fine."
"Are you sure? Sometimes the impact from trauma doesn't manifest until much later on-"
"I'm fine."
The doctor recoiled slightly from the girl's tone. She blinked, and finally nodded. "All right then. I'll leave you be for now. You know, if you change your mind, I...." Amp glared hotly at her, and she clamped her mouth shut. She stood and headed for the door. "I'll find you sister and send her back with your food."
Amp visibly melted into the bed. She was exhausted, but relieved. It would still be a long time before she no longer felt Grunt inside of her, even when her mutation activated. But at least now she could be confident that the feeling would fade with time.
And Vibe would never have to know how weak her sister had become.
Posted by Amp/Vibe on Jun 25, 2008 14:09:45 GMT -6
Beta Mutant
684
0
Nov 20, 2008 23:30:31 GMT -6
Vibe listened quietly, said nothing. But her knuckles were white. And at one point her eyes started to shine, though no tears fell. She remembered that one night when she had been startled from a nightmare, with her skin crawling. It must have been at the same time all of this had happened; Twin Telepathy-type thing.
"Grunt was the one she killed?" He answered in the rest of the story. "Then I guess I owe you double thanks. For looking after her."
“I’m sorry.”
She inhaled, and let the breath out slowly. "Don't be. She's alive. It's more than I thought...." Her voice cracked a bit, but she paused to regain her composure before continuing. "We've never been separated before. I'm just glad to have her back." Another pause, then she gave him a small smile. "Thank you." It was obvious she felt uncomfortable saying the words, but she did mean them.
"So, looks like you're out of a job now. What're you gonna do?"
Posted by Amp/Vibe on Jun 24, 2008 22:29:52 GMT -6
Beta Mutant
684
0
Nov 20, 2008 23:30:31 GMT -6
“No thanks required, it was nothing really. Me? Oh I should be fine, I tend to be like the bad penny who never seems to go away, naa I’ll live.”
"That's good." Really Vibe didn't know what else to say.
“Your sister is an amazing woman, very strong. Few could have taken what she went through and still hold their head up….”
Woman? That sounded so.... old.... And the look on his face made her even more uncomfortable.
"Yes. She is. Always has been. Strong, I mean." She glanced at the doorway, and the hustle going on out in the hallway. Then, in almost a whisper she added, "How bad was it?"
Posted by Amp/Vibe on Jun 24, 2008 13:58:31 GMT -6
Beta Mutant
684
0
Nov 20, 2008 23:30:31 GMT -6
“Hi there, I’m sorry I never properly introduced myself, my name is Grit.”
The redhead shrugged. "Meh. Not like weren't preoccupied with other things. Vibe," she added, almost as an after thought.
She moved a bit further into the room, pausing at the end of the bed, to check the medical chart.
"So.... I guess I have you to thank my sister's still alive." She seemed uncomfortable with actually saying 'Thank you'; not unsual for a girl used to only thinking about herself. "Are you going to be okay?"
She also wanted to find out why Amp wouldn't tell her what had happened, without actually asking.
"So.... I get the feeling things were pretty bad in there. For everyone." That was the closest she could get to asking.
Posted by Amp/Vibe on Jun 23, 2008 21:25:24 GMT -6
Beta Mutant
684
0
Nov 20, 2008 23:30:31 GMT -6
(OOC: Sorry Sapphire, Streak. Hope you don't mind us Thread Crashing.
Vibe wandered around the Infirmary. Amp was in a separate room, and for some reason didn't want her sister there during the check up. Simply glad to have her back and alive, Vibe didn't question her, at least not aloud.
While she waited, she checked on others around. Several months ago, she wouldn't have cared how these people were doing. But a new found confidence in her own abilities spilled over into other areas of her life. Every now and then she would pause, just to see how one or another was being treated. She didn't say anything, just watched.
She paused by one room, and spotted Ruby fast asleep, with her sister Sapphire hovering over her. Vibe didn't like Sapphire; she was way too creepy. But Ruby was a cool little fox. Vibe stopped just long enough to see she was taken care of. She nodded at the older sister, then moved on.
She passed another young man she'd never seen before. Her eyebrow's rose slightly; he seemed to be made of liquid silver. The doctors and nurses were busy with him, so Vibe moved on.
Finally she came to a room not occupied by a mutant, but by the guard who had taken two shots for her sister. Curious, she walked in. For a moment she just paused, and watched him. He was awake, but she didn't say anything.
Posted by Amp/Vibe on Jun 20, 2008 22:55:21 GMT -6
Beta Mutant
684
0
Nov 20, 2008 23:30:31 GMT -6
(OOC: This may change slightly, depending on how Revenge ends, but nothing major.)
A raggedy quartet joined those making their way toward the transports. The copper-headed duo on one side resembled a 'Before and After' picture for a TV makeover show. And as they drew closer, it became quickly obvious that one of them had just about reached her limit. Still, Amp silently refused to budge until Grit was loaded in and taken care of, something that Vibe found very unusual. But she, too, remained silent.
Once inside the crowded vehicle themselves, the Twins settled into a corner. Amp leaned against the wall, staring straight ahead, all of the fire drained from her near-neon eyes. Vibe leaned next to her.
Neither of them spoke, either aloud or otherwise, until they felt the vehicle start up, and begin moving out. Then, Vibe reached over and laced her fingers together with her sister's, and gave them a soft squeeze. A tear slowly trickled down from the corner of Amp's dulled eyes, followed by another, another, and another. Vibe reached her free arm around her sister's shoulders, and pulled Amp's head into her chest. Amp curled up, and silently wept. Vibe held her tight, and rocked back and and forth. She began humming a soft tune that, while meant to comfort Amp, vibrated through the entire vehicle, and projected a sense of peace and tranquility to everyone else in the transport.
Posted by Amp/Vibe on Jun 17, 2008 22:44:36 GMT -6
Beta Mutant
684
0
Nov 20, 2008 23:30:31 GMT -6
"I know. And yours is Vibe. Nicknames are fun, though. I pretty much nickname everyone I see. Abyss is Santa Claus, Michael is General Shield, Isabel is Win..."
Vibe snorted. "Childish. And Santa doesn't have a tail."
"I guess I could actually use your real names, if you want."
"Whatever." She flicked a finger in the water, making a larger ripple.
"Umm, this is probably a stupid question, but didn't you used to not... talk? I mean, you were using that computer-thing at the Resistance meeting."
Vibe's frown deepened. Her hand automatically went to her throat, and the gold pendant hanging there. What would Amp have thought? She had her own voice now. Even if it was an electronic voice. But yet, she still didn't feel whole....
"Doc J gave me a new voice." She spoke this time without moving her lips. "Not sure how. But it works." She paused, then added softly, "It's not the same though."
Posted by Amp/Vibe on Jun 16, 2008 22:30:04 GMT -6
Beta Mutant
684
0
Nov 20, 2008 23:30:31 GMT -6
"Nice meeting you."
Vibe didn't say anything as Katran left. She didn't care. Why should she care? No one cared about her sister. No one except Vibe, and she couldn't do anything.
She pulled one knee up, and rested her forehead on it. She became extremely interested in the ripples caused by the droplets falling from her hair. And her eyes.
The water magnified the paws padding toward her, and the whufff! of someone plopping down nearby. Nearby the water rippled just a bit; someone dipped their hand into the water. "Umm, sorry. That was out of line. Pretty much all of what I said. Sorry."
Or paw, apparently.
Stupid tiger..... oughtta bust his eardrums. Or dunk him in the pool again..... giant scaredy-cat.... it'd serve him right....
"Nevermind," she muttered.
She continued messing with the ripples. The steady drip, drip echoed off of the walls, at least for her.
"Her name's Amp." Her voice was barely audible. "Where'd you come up with those stupid nicknames, anyway?"
Posted by Amp/Vibe on Jun 12, 2008 15:13:26 GMT -6
Beta Mutant
684
0
Nov 20, 2008 23:30:31 GMT -6
Vibe immediately tensed as someone else entered the room. But it was just the other boy, the one on their side. He knelt next to them.
"Come on. We'd best get out of here. Come on big feller. We're not done yet. Up you get, we got to get out of here."
"Careful! He's hurt pretty badly," Vibe warned, still holding the rag to the gunshot wounds.
“I’m…no.. not a mutant, I am unfortunately hu..hu..human and human only, I have honoured my promise, yet I have rebelled against the authority, you must go back to..to..to your family… and me to mine…. But I know a short cut to get you out of here, hel..help me up.”
While Vibe expected her sister to make some snide remark, she was surprised when Amp simply moved to his other side, to help support him. She put her hand over the rag and wound and took up the pressure, letting Vibe move aside so they could walk.
>I've got some questions for you once we get back...< she silently told her sister. Amp simply nodded.
Posted by Amp/Vibe on Jun 10, 2008 20:34:44 GMT -6
Beta Mutant
684
0
Nov 20, 2008 23:30:31 GMT -6
(OOC: Permission given to finish this up.)
Amp wriggled like an eel for a few moment, but abruptly stopped as Grunt's attacks both made her see stars and gasp for breath. When he let her go she collapsed in a coughing fit, and blinked furiously to clear her vision.
"Amp! Aaiiee!!" Vibe made a motion to help her sister, but it turned to a squeal-accompanied retreat when Grunt leapt at her. He caught her by the arm and pulled her toward him, leering.
"Vibe!!" Amp struggled to get herself together to help her sister. However, unlike her, Vibe had spent the last few months developing her mutation. Rather than fully panic, she acted. An soft, almost haunting melody filled the air. Grunt blinked. The nasty look on his face faded to a dull, blank stare. A one-sided smirk graced Vibe's face.
"Let go of me," she ordered simply. He obeyed without question. "Now step back two steps." He did so.
Amp got to her feet, an amazed look in her eyes. "Vibe! You didn't use the tuning forks! And you're- you're talking!"
Vibe grinned. "A lot's been happening. But we'll catch up later, sis. What should we do with him?"
"Just make sure he doesn't move. Let him scream all he wants, but do not let him move...." Vibe recoiled a bit from the malice in her sister's voice. But she nodded, repeated the order and moved aside.
Amp simply stared at Grunt for a few moments. She had dreamed of repaying all of the torture he put her through; the thought had sustained her over the last month or so. Now was her chance, and she was going to take it. A rumble shook the ground, and she began another barrage of shrapnel bullets. But this time he couldn't dodge. Bits of rock and metal shredded his clothes and skin, leaving bloody trails all over his body. He winced and flinched, but obediently didn't move. He didn't say anything either, which told Vibe that he was used to pain.
Dissatisfied with the reaction, Amp sent a screeching shriek directly through his skull. That met with more reaction, in the form of a stagger backwards. Amp's grin returned; she'd forgotten all that she could do with her mutation. With a sadistic grin, she ran around behind him, and jumped on his back, wrapping her legs around his waist. She put her hands on both sides of his head, careful to leave his ears free to hear Vibe's melody.
Then she began pumping vibrations into him, mixed with undulating shrieks. The noise was centered on him, so only a faint buzz could be hear outloud. She started slow, increasing the pressure a bit at a time. Eventually the pain started, and Grunt groaned. He tried to move, but Vibe ordered him to stay. As the vibrations increased, as did the pain, his moans turned to cries, then to staggered screams. Amp enjoyed every minute of slowly, and literally, shaking his body apart.
Vibe looked away as her sister 'played'. She returned to Grit's side, to check his vitals. He was breathing, albeit shallowly. He was going to need some help if he was going to survive.
"Is he okay?"
Vibe glanced up at her sister, then back at what remained of the guard. It wasn't pretty.
"Not really. If you want to help him, we need to get him out of here." She turned back. "Any suggestions?"
(OOC: There will be, once she gets her wits together again. lol Sorry it's short.)
Grunt may have been much bigger, but Amp was on an adrenaline high now. She clawed, bit, squirmed and yowled as if she were a cat trying to avoid a bath. In the end, it didn't matter much; his size and strength were superior.
Soon she found herslef pinned against one of the walls she'd created.
-------------------------
Vibe watched her sister fight with mixed emotions. She was so unbelievably happy just to find Amp alive, words could not describe. But her appearance, and they way she fought.... It was scary....
She could sense the hatred Amp felt toward Grunt, but couldn't pin down why. Whatever had happened, it had changed her sister, and Vibe didn't think it was for the better.
She continued to send out vibrations, even though it seemed Amp wasn't using them like usual.
“A…re you guys o…o..ok?” The man may have been talking to Amp, but Vibe was the one who heard him. She winced at the gunshot wound. “keep her safe get her out of here! Tell…tell…tell Hades that Grit… d…died well”
So, he had been looking after Amp? Vibe nodded just slightly. "Thank you." He may not have heard her; he was in bad shape. She looked around for something to stem the blood flow, and spotted a pile of rags in the corner. She tied off the leg wound; that one could be dealth with later. If there was a later. The chest wound didn't bode well....
She had many questions, first and foremorest being, 'what had happened to make him take those shots for them anyway?'
---------------
Meanwhile, Amp had crossed over into frenzy mode. Being deprived of the use of her mutation so long had nearly driven her crazy. Having it back in full force was threatening to do the same thing. Grunt evaded her attacks, rolling around like some military commando. But she kept them up, increasing speed and using anything she could get ahold of for ammunition.
Finally the non-manic bit of her brain got the message through that the attacks were not working. She couldn't hit him, because he was always moving. So she needed to keep him from moving.
She paused the barrage, and slammed both fists, and two separate shockwaves, into the ground on either side of Grunt. The ground split and heaved up, forming mini walls on either side of him. The canyon wasn't very high, about waist high, and easily escapable, if he could climb fast enough.
And she didn't intend to let him move that fast. With an almost feral shriek, she leapt forward, grabbing at him.
Posted by Amp/Vibe on May 29, 2008 16:55:23 GMT -6
Beta Mutant
684
0
Nov 20, 2008 23:30:31 GMT -6
"Ohmygosh!Ohmygosh!!Ohmygosh!!"
"You'realive!!Iknewit!Iknewit!!Iknewit!!!"
"Yougotaway!IthoughtI'dneverseeyouagain!!"
"Ican'tbelieveyou'reokay!!"
The two twins babbled on, so glad to simply be together again, Amp didn't even realize her sister was speaking aloud. In fact, very little penetrated their little bubble of exstaticness.
"Noooo!!"
Vibe's head snapped sideways, abruptly coming back to the present. Amp reacted a split second later to her sister's signal, and the feeling of an immediate presence. Reflexively Amp pulled back, bumping her sister, and both stumbled back further as someone barreled into them.
Two things registered in her mind: Grit on the floor next to them, and Grunt nearby with a pistol aimed at them.
After being separated for so long, Amp didn't need to ask Vibe to give her ammo. Just being together was like a power boost; both girls could feel the hum in their bones, a steady throb of energy. A piercing screech shot through the air, directed at Grunt, high and sharp enough to make him see stars. The ground shook, and several shards of concrete and wood bounced into the air. Amp thrust her palm forward, sending a shock wave of sound waves at the debris, which in turn shot them at Grunt. One pierced his gun hand, while another grazed the side of his neck near the shoulders.
A downright evil grin spread across Amp's features. The shaking increased, and pieces of debris began popping into the air, like popcorn in a popcorn machine. Concrete, wood, metal shrapnel; each bit that jumped up was sent at Grunt in rapid fire, a sonic machine gun.
At the same time Vibe began to pick two things up from her sister, Hatred, and confusion. The first, obviously, centered on the man under fire. The second, seemed to center around the wounded man on the floor. She knelt by his side to see just how badly he was hurt.
Posted by Amp/Vibe on May 27, 2008 19:56:32 GMT -6
Beta Mutant
684
0
Nov 20, 2008 23:30:31 GMT -6
(OOC: Sorry for the length; gotta have a teary reunion, ya know? )
Amp froze as someone tackled and dragged her away. For a few seconds she relived the day of the rape, and her nightmares. She saw Grunt's face leering at her, felt his touch. Something snapped, and she began squirming and clawing to be let loose, and hissing like the Stalkers again. In a far reach of her mind, she realized that the shock collar no longer worked. But other, more pressing concerns took precedence. With the sedatives out of her system, and adrenaline backing it up, she had much more energy than that day. But whoever it was let her go. She scurried out his reach, breathing heavily and with wide eyes.
But that wasn't Grunt closing the door this time, or looking at her. That was the other man. The one who helped her. Grit.
Even though she was looking right at him, she had to concentrate on calming herself down, and missed most of what he was saying.
".... out find a mutant called Hades and tell him that I went down fighting."
>Hades? What kind of name is Hades?< She frowned.
"Now go, Go! If you want to see you sister and live get out of here now!”
>Sister? Vibe?<
That warmth she'd felt earlier..... was it still there?
She didn't move at first, simply stared back at Grit. A mix of emotions flicked across her face. She wasn't used to being grateful to anyone except Vibe. Once in the camps, even that vestige of hope had been snatched from her. She'd never really gotten close to anyone in the camps, never connected. After the day with the guard, she'd felt totally alone. But somewhere deep inside, she knew things could have been even worse if the man she was looking at hadn't helped. And she wasn't sure how to react. She wanted to go, and at the same time.... didn't.
Her fingers tingled, drawing her confusion elsewhere. That warmth again....
Tunnel vision overtook Amp again, and she pressed the side of her face up against the wall. On a sub-level she felt the door open, and was aware of the sounds of a fight, but her senses were totally focused outside. Her eyes practically glowed as a smile washed over her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vibe followed the warmth tingling through her body, totally shutting off the world around her. It led her through the camps. Out of one corner of her eye, she saw two men through a doorway, fighting. Her senses led her around the other side, to the back wall. She put her hands against it.
>Amp?<
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Vibe!"
It felt like walking out of a dark room, into the sunshine, for both of them. The room and ground began to shake, and an ear-piercing whine split the air. About the time Shield and Shahliel tumbled outside, the roof literally blew up and off. Bits of debris showered the rooms occupants; nothing dangerous, more like a dusty rain. Once the cloud cleared, a pair of petite redheads could be seen in the middle; dirty, dusty, one considerably more ragged-looking than the other, and both crying like babies.
)