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.
"Hmm," was the noncommittal reply. Neena continued to stare at the ceiling. Part of her mind considered the undertone implied by Roland's statement and voice, the recent talk of intentions still quite fresh in mind. Maybe she was simply reading too much into things....
He moved, leaning toward her, and she felt a soft, warm touch on her throat.
Well, no arguing with the intentions of those actions. Not unless he was a vampire. No sharp pains or lightheadedness ensued as the motions continued upwards, so highly doubtful in that area. Nothing but warmth, really.....
She didn't move as the caresses continued, finally halt at her ear. His breathing had heightened, she noted, and his touch warmed her shoulder.
"I don't know if I'm capable of that kind of stimulation any more," she murmured quietly, still staring ceiling-ward.
Anything was possible, she supposed. But did she want to be?
"Your observational skills are superb. I have never had to ensure that I was on my toes as often. That in itself is a reason to like you. Trust is something earned, as is respect. Of course I don't completely trust you, nor do I expect you to fully trust me."
Oddly enough, hearing Roland say that made Neena feel better. At least they partially understood each other.
"I admit I am glad to see the possibilities becoming realized, though."
While he disappeared, she leaned back and rested her head on the pillows. She wasn't as tired as she had been; she was beginning to wake up, actually. And the warmth of the fire worked to reduce the pounding in her head. Not moving much always helped as well. Plus this was her time of day. Or night rather. The time when she felt most at ease, and most aware of her surroundings.
She remained still when he returned, though had she been a cat her ear would have flicked at the movement. She did crack one eye open, and saw the food and drink. While she readily reached for the little crudites to help speed the vicadin's pain-numbing effect, she shook her head at the wine, tapping her temple. Alcohol and perscription medications were not a good mix, especially when you'd grown used to relying on your senses to survive. She moved over a bit for him to sit down, wincing as she did.
"Do tell me about these side effects. I don't mean to tax you with intrigue, though I am simultaneously proud to do so in a way."
"Heh. I'm sure you are." She sighed and leaned back again. "And I told you before, I grow bored much too easily. No adrenaline. No thrills, no surprises, very little excitement, etcetera, etcetera. Staring down the barrel of a gun has as much impact as staring down a kitten. Tonight's little jaunt was the closest thing to a rush I've had in a very long time."
She stared at the ceiling, and her voice took on a thoughtful, slightly faraway tone. "It's not that I walk around with a deathwish. Too many interesting things to be uncovered and experienced in the world for that. But.... its hard not to put yourself in harm's way, when you don't fear the harm to come."
A flash of a memory, very faint, of a long-gone smiling face passed over her eyes, followed by a flash of white teeth. She could all but hear the snap! ringing in her ears.....
She closed then opened her eyes once more, wiping away the image.
"Life tends to become dull after a time, with nothing to stimulate it."
Idly she noticed a crack in the vaulted ceiling above. Those pills worked fast; zooming in on the anomaly didn't intensify the pounding in her skull. Her optic nerves must be finally settling. Good to know.
Neena made a dramatic, 'shhh!' motion with her fingers. "Don't let him hear you, or he'll have you working on more than just bird houses!"
"Ya that's fine. By the way, my names Chris. And you are?"
"Nice to meet you Chris. You can call me Ali or Raven Fire."
"Ali is one of our heat manipulators," Neena added to the introduction, as she led the two back out into the hallway. She began scanning for empty rooms as they walked.
" I know you can go wherever you like when you like, dear. I only meant that it might be easier for you to sneak over here rather than introduce me to your family of mutants. I would be happy to meet them, though, if you liked."
She didn't reply to that. He had a lot more convincing to do before she would feel comfortable enough to risk such a meeting. Not in person, at least.
She sensed him draw nearer, and felt his arm slide around her waist. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eyes. Had it been a yawn and arm around her shoulders, she'd have started looking around for the movie screen.
" I saw you tonight. I saw you work. You are quite sneaky and quite skilled. I never had to explain a thing and I fully trusted you, even when things went a bit off. That says alot and I hope you can see that."
"Thank you. You've obviously had some practice yourself." There was something seriously wrong with taking being sneaky as a compliment, yet that's what she was doing. At the same time, however, a frown crossed her face over the loss of life.
She had all of her weight on her good leg, so when he tugged at her, she had to put her bad on down to keep from tipping over.
" I've been as clear and honest as I can be without putting myself in serious danger. All because the moment I saw you at the gates of the Mansion, something inside me was released."
<"There he goes again,"> she thought idly.
"I have turned it over and over in my mind, trying my best to rationalize it. There's no point though. I feel something for you, Nehanda. Every moment I spend near you only makes it stronger. If we are going to continue to reveal things to one another, let's do it inside, where it is warmer."
"You don't need to keep trying to reassure me, Roland" she remarked quite calmly. "If I ever view you as a threat again, you'll know it."
Warm was good. Warm was very good. But.... she'd have to have been truly naive to not see the way this conversation could easily turn. And.... she wasn't quite sure about her feelings on that possible turn yet....
"I'm sorry if I come across as harsh, Roland," she said as they headed back inside. "I pride myself on my observational skills, but you've made it quite clear that I've grown trusting over the years. I'm not sure whether that's a good or a bad thing. Its a bit frustrating on my part."
She slid into a seat, again close to the fire. "Yet, at the same time, I can't force myself not to be intrigued. Which is also a bit exasperating. Its a side effect of my mutation, unfortunately. Along with other things."
" Well, if you look off over to the hills there, you'll see some high tension power lines. They move along the hills and then go over. I saw the same lines from the other side, perhaps a mile away from the Mansion."
Ah! That's why they looked familiar. She'd passed this estate numerous times in her travels, but had no reason to investigate past the front green.
"So even if you had to meet me secretly, it would only require a three mile jog through the land, half of the distance being on my property."
Neena couldn't help but shake her head and chuckle. He made it sound like some kind of Romeo and Juliet nonsense. Yes, she routinely snuck around, but out of habit, not necessity.
" Also, as my initial tour of the grounds was under false pretenses, as we have learned, I might as well also tell you that I left a monitoring device there."
She glanced sharply at him, then in the same movement searched her memory of his actions during the tour.
"However, it has not been activated. I won't activate it either. It also doubles as a phone, with a direct link to me. You may have noticed that I put it in the Library. It is in the vent in the ceiling above it."
So that's why he'd been so interested in the Library.
"I want to come as clean as possible with you so that anything that occurs between us has the best possible chance of success."
"And here I thought I was the sneaky one," she grumbled. The library would be her first stop when she returned, that was for sure. He must have been at this thief business as long, if not longer than she had.
She sighed, and rubbed the back of her neck with one hand, while holding the robe closed with the other. It was chilly and breezy on the balcony, and she did not like the cold. It simply increased the throb.
Neena noted the pause before the woman replied to her question. "Yes, actually i have been infected."
She thought she detected a hint of distaste in Cailyn's voice.
"I guess i will find this infirmary if i get the job then."
She nodded. "That will be fine. I'd offer to show it to you now, but its not part of the tour. For obvious reasons. You understand." She turned a smile in the blond's direction.
Streak had been quite quiet during their entire conversation, with the exception of pointing out the various areas they passed. She wondered what he was thinking of, and what impression he'd formed of their guest. Personally, Neena like the woman. Yes, she was secretive, but it could be chalked up to job interview jitters.
"Are you married, m'friend?" she asked. Then, before the seemingly abrupt question caused too much surprise, added, "Most of our residents live on campus. Not that you have to, mind you. But the rooms are available if so needed."
She turned to Streak. "Can we go show Cailyn what they look like?" Then back to Cailyn, "this way you'll also get an idea of how the students live."
"Thank you very much. You don't know how much this means to me."
Neena waved away the gratitude as unnecessary. "No worries, m'friend, its a pleasure. We'll talk later, after you have a chance to rest up a bit. In the meantime, though...."
She turned the folder to the first page.
"When you get a chance if you could fill this out, and I'll get it later. The information is confidential, so you don't have to worry." Since he'd already given her a power demonstration, albeit a short one, she didn't point out the questions of 'What is your power?' and 'Is it dangerous to others?'
When they reached the top of the stairs, however, she did pause and ask aloud, "How old are ya, Fungus?"
" There's no reason to sit there on the floor with that leg wound."
She leaned back a bit and craned her neck to look up as he stood, and offered a hand up.
"Why don't you join me outside on the terrace for a moment. I have something I'd like to show you. I want to put your mind at ease a bit further and also offer some gifts of knowledge that may help to better indicate my intentions with you."
Well, she couldn't go so far as to say she trusted him, nor that he should really be trusting her. It seemed that they were both thieves at heart, which could prove problematic in the future. But, for the moment, no benefit would come from continuing to question the issue. May as well go with the flow, as she did with everything else.
She clasped his wrist, and let him help her up, noticing he had a solid grip in the process. She followed him out onto the balcony, and glanced around at the grounds.
"And I'm looking for....?"
Come to think of it, the area looked familiar. But she couldn't place it from this angle.
" Well, I suppose that's the nature of trust , isn't it? I don't know that you won't go and turn me in once you have left. I don't know that you won't have your mutants come back and give me a stern warning as to my boundaries. I really don't know much of anything."
Neena considered that. She wouldn't involve the school in this situation in any way, no more than she involved them during her other nighttime excursions. But would she turn him in? She should. He had killed a person to preserve his mask. On the other hand, she owed him for keeping her alive. Though she had a feeling some on her Team would argue vehemently with that. It was a difficult position.
"I do know that I feel something when I look at you."
She blinked a couple of times, realizing her gaze had wandered while she debated with herself. She pulled her eyes back to hold his.
"I am not sure what it is. I also know that I have spent what seems like multiple lifetimes running from people and things. I don't wish to any longer. So, as foolish as it may or may not be, I have resigned to simply trusting you. If it is an error of judgment on my part, than I shall surely deal with the consequences of it."
She grunted softly, attempting not to show amusement with a statement she repeated to herself daily. She wondered if this situation was a set of those consequences coming back to bite her finally.
"Since you are still here and speaking to me about it, I must assume there is at least a glimmer of hope, though. Am I wrong?"
Well, there was no hiding the amusement at his question, though she did try by turning to look at the fire. He was persistent, she'd give him that.
"It's definitely been one of the most interesting nights I've had in long time," she admitted, a bit begrudgingly. "Though I'd rather not repeat all of it for awhile."
She winced slightly, and attempted to find a more comfortable position that wouldn't pull at her wounds. She wondered how she was going to explain those to Tricity. Not to mention her new acquaintance....
" Well, I suppose that is up to you. You are welcome to stay the night and leave in the morning, of course. As I stated before at Katharine's, no harm will befall you from me regarding your knowledge of my identity. I will simply trust you as I hope you are beginning to trust me. I can understand if you do not, as I did lie. Though my initial facade was due to my wanting to investigate the Mansion and the mutants there. I had no idea that I would meet you. I had even less of an idea that I would be so taken with you."
She blinked, and remained quiet for the moment. She reached up to set the remainder of the water on side table. He seemed almost as confused as she was.
"Beyond that, it is strictly up to you, Nehanda. I freely and honestly admit I would like to see more of you. I enjoyed our time together tonight and had it not been under false pretenses, could have been even better. Since I am the one who must prove myself though, I will simply leave the ball in your court. I will respect whatever decision you decide to make."
She pushed her glasses up into her hair, and regarded him with a slight frown. Her pinkie nail slid in between her teeth in tell-tale symptom of her thought process working overtime.
"You've known me a cumulative perioid of half a day. Maybe less," she finally stated, momentarily setting aside his first admission for further consideration in a moment. "You obviously know more about me than I do about you, but still very little. How can you possibly be so sure that you can trust me?"
It was a valid question, given her own lack of forthcoming in their first conversation.
" There's a bottle of Hydrocodone tablets in the left pocket of the robe for you."
"That'll work." That would be more than enough, actually. With her tolerance level, it wouldn't eliminate the pain, but at least reign it in to 'deal with' range.
"The prescription is under a dead man's name, so feel free to take them with you." She peeked out from under the glasses at the label.
"Anyone I may or may not know?" Rhetorical question borne of fatigue.
"You have been here for four hours. It's actually around three A.M. I wanted to ensure you had your bearings before I went to bed myself."
" I hope you don't mind me undressing you, but I felt a need to get you out of the constrictive suit so I could clean and dress your wounds properly. I hope you like my handiwork in that department. Your suit is out in the garage. I gave it a good spraying down to get the blood off of it. Other than the bulletholes, everything is in order. I didn't go through your pockets or anything like that."
"I appreciate that."
She watched him retrieve a drink, and when he sat, she did the same, wrapping the garment around herself snuggly. Instead of choosing a chair, though, she sat on the floor near the fire. For her warmth proved more of a comfort than anything.
"May I have some water for these?" She indicated the pills.
Once she had that, and had washed down a tablet, she eyed Roland once more, her lack of expresion being her version of caution.
"So. What now?" She realized she was in a rather precarious position, both on unfamiliar ground, and in possesstion of precarious information.
"Yes, it does feel quite odd. Now, I'm not so sure about useful, it depends on what you're talking about.."
"Well," Neena replied, "I don't know how much you've explored what you can do, but I'd venture to guess that, if you could make my muscle twitch like that, you could probably get the same effect from your own. Right? So that could give you increased reflexes, maybe increase your speed a bit. Or," she continued, "if not, another possibility would be deriving an energy boost."
She enjoyed speculating about the possibilities of the various mutations she encountered. There were so many interesting potential growths a mutant could go through in the course of their life, and Neena found the spectrum captivating.
"Now, if you don't mind, I feel like I could fall into a bed right now and sleep for a year."
She quelled her curiosity in view of Fungus's depression. Whatever memory or other problem had brought grief to his face, it was enough, a bit of sleep might very well prove beneficially distracting.
"Of course, m'friend. It'll take me a bit to find something synthetic for you to use, though. In the meantime, let's see if we can get a room set up for ya."
By that time they'd reached the front door. Once inside, Neena picked up a New Resident folder, and opened it up to the map in the back.
"This is where we're headed," she said, pointing out the second floor dorms, even as they began up the stairs. Since his earlier touch hadn't caused any damage to her skin, she assumed that his gloves kept his mutation quelled, so she extended the folder toward him to hold.
Calley stared at her hand like some people would stare at a snake, or a spider. He didn't pull away, though. Or lash out. In fact, his reply put her in the mind of blow-up scarecrow prop; slowly collapsing in on itself as the air slowly seeped out.
"I don't want your apology. I don't want you to be angry with the Sanctuary--I want you to be angry with me."
That actually managed to baffle Neena, and it might have shown in her eyes and facial expression. Possibly because her mind didn't work like most, 'anger' just didn't seem appropriate for this situation. As far as Calley was concerned; grumpy, annoyed, irritated, a bit disappointed, a bit more exasperated and more than a bit confused.... any of those applied to how she felt toward him personally at that moment. But not anger.
"Anger, and hatred, only apply to enemies...." she commented, though her soft words might have been lost to his next ones.
"Or maybe just, if I say something like 'I'm glad to see you', you could say 'I'm glad to see you, too'--or 'Welcome home'."
She sighed. He had her there. She'd been too preoccupied with other matters to voice that simple of a truth.
"Would you like to see my cat form? My first one. It's my favorite, of everything I can be."
Even in the dark, there was no mistaking the genuineness of her smile, and she nodded. "Yes, I would like that that. If-" and she removed her hand from his knee enough to hold up a restraining finger, "-it won't push you too far. Living through a death match deserves time to heal."
If it hadn't been for her photographic memory, Neena would have been experiencing a wave of deja vu. The style of the hallway she'd just entered mirrored the one she'd been chasing Roland down....
.... How long ago? How long had she been out?
She turned in a circle, but didn't see a clock of any sort. Not even a grandfather, though it would definitely fit in with the classic decor. The air was clean, but not completely fresh, as if the building had been closed up for a time.
Her stealth instincts kicked in. She winced slightly as she activated her infrared, and began scanning for lifeforms. They would be the immediate threat. She need to find some painkillers as well, and soon.
The sounds she'd heard came from the direction of the stairs. Quietly she padded in that direction, keeping close to the wall. She paused, just out of sight of the top of the stairs. There were two large heat signatures coming from below, one without shape and sending out quite a bit of residual, the other person-shaped. And.... music?
She paused for a moment, debating whether or not to risk her xray for a view of the lower floor, or to simply take what came.
Without the protection of her suit, the latter option she deemed foolish. Better to deal with momentary pain than risk more permanent damage. Steeling herself, she switched one eye to xray, penetrating the walls and floor to the next floor.
"Gah!" She saw enough not to worry about keeping quiet, and quickly deactivated her vision as pain swiftly coursed through her head. She descended the stairs slowly and favoring her leg, one hand on the banister and the other covering her eye beneath the glasses, grumbling irritably.
"Got any painkillers?" she asked Roland when she reached the landing. "And how long have I been out?"
"A room would be wonderfull, but the bed and sheets would have to be synthetic. You know..."
Neena scratched her head, considering that necessity.
"Not nosy at all. My touch can rot all organic things. Wood, cotten, flowers, meat. Human."
"Ah! I see. I guess that would present a problem, wouldn't it?"
The expression of pain returned, and remained this time. Obviously the use of his abilities sparked something inside, possibly a bad memory. That would explain his description of his 'curse'.
"I absorb the energy generated in the rotting process, and.."
She didn't move when he reached out to touch her shoulder, didn't flinch at all. Not until his hand made contact, that is. In that instant, she felt her muscle twitch involuntarily. She tilted her head, and scratched at her shoulder curiously.
"Now that felt odd." Sticking the apple in her mouth once more, she reached her arm into the air, and rotated it a few times. She didn't feel any numbness, or anything else for that matter.
"That felt almost like a static shock," she remarked, and her grin returned. "That has potential to be useful as well, ya know?"
