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.
"I suppose it's only fair to let you know I'm going to try not to do that. And I really have no way of knowing whether you're a secret collaborator, so telling you who talks to me might get them in trouble, so... I'm thinking I can probably manage to keep that a secret."
Neena chuckled. "Fair enough, I suppose."
"Besides, your friend Michael already tried to get me to not talk to anybody but him. Which, given how much effort the administration puts into keeping you all from communicating with each other, was almost funny."
"Yeah, well, paranoia tends to be contagious 'round here, as I'm sure you've noticed. It was mainly curiosity on my part, so whether you tell me or not, you can expect me to continue to ask from now on." She shrugged. "And don't worry, honey, I'm not concerned about communication. If I feel you've double-crossed me, or any of guys and gals, you'll know about it."
She was still smiling contentedly when she added, "By the way, I wouldn't go near any of James's clothes for awhile if I were you."
She pushed herself away from the wall, and sighed in satisfaction. "Well now, that's all I can think of for now. I'll leave it to you to find our next meeting place and time again. You seem to be able to handle that well enough. Unless you need anything else, I suggest you hit me and go on with your night."
She took off her glasses and dropped them on the ground, and stomped on them hard enough to crush them. Then she turned expectantly to Doug.
"Beats me. May come as a surprise to you, but I didn't get an owner's manual. All I know is, I'm supposed to help you guys. If the best thing you can think of to ask for is getting my head blown off or whatever, I guess we'll both find out together whether I can help doing it. All I can tell you is I'll try my damnedest.
"Fair enough." Neena nodded.
"Anyway - so, what do you want? Or should I go ask somebody else?"
"All right, I'll make it easy for you to start with. There's a room marked 'Miscellaneous' in the Infirmary, stacked with a bunch of labelless canisters. I want to know what's in them, and why they're kept under lock and key. I also want to know who has the key, and where it is."
She paused a bit, to let him digest it, before adding a second request. "I also want to know who you contact besides me from now on. Just to satisfy my own curiosity, naturally."
She smiled easily. It was a simple pair of requests, and would give her enough time to figure out the care package he'd dropped earlier.
"Wish I knew, sweetheart. I'd blow it off and go back to my ordinary life if I had a choice."
Neena waited patiently as Doug seemed to be considering something.
"Nope... can't do it."
She raised an eyebrow. "Can't?" she repeated. "Interesting....."
"Anyway... you want more information, or clarification, or whatever, just ask away. I'm here to help... whether I like it or not."
A conspiratal smile overtook her mouth for a split second, before being wiped into an attempt at a straight face.
"Okay then, one more clarification, before the requests. 'Wether I like it or not.' Does that mean you have to find out out anything I want to know? Even if it gets you into trouble? Dependant on Mr. Red Eyes, of course."
If the answer was yes, Doug may not have realized what he'd just gotten himself into.
"Like I said - help you guys out where I can. I brought the most useful stuff I could think of, but truth is I don't know what you need. Or, if you don't need anything, then y'could tell me so and maybe this damned compulsion that lunatic put me under will go away."
<"Compulsion? Hmmm....">
"He's one of your people, I'd suggest you ask him."
There was a few moments of silence as Neena continued her scrutiny. During that time Doug made no other move, though the confusion in his eyes was obvious. Finally he asked,
"You do this with everybody? Or am I special?"
"Just checking your windows for cracks," she remarked, referring to an old saying her grandfather often told her. She backed away, out of his space, and leaned against the wall. She crossed her arms, standing very casually this time, giving off a general air of unconcern.
"As for Mr. Red Eyes, I don't have 'people', so I don't know what you mean by that. As for what's needed, I don't trust you far enough to ask for food or medicine, unless I test it first." Something she planned to do later; she was unaware that Sara had already beaten her to it.
"What would be helpful.... is information."
It was a rather broad subject, but a, possibly, very fruitful one. Then she added,
"And clarification on your 'compulsion' would be welcome as well. Particularly what will happen when that 'compulsion' wears off."
"Not asking you to trust me... that doesn't seem too likely. I'm asking if you have any idea how we can get past your distrust enough to let me help. Doesn't do anybody any good for me to be passing you goods or info if you're gonna throw 'em out as soon as I do; if we can't work out some way past that I can't do what I'm s'pozed to."
And that is?" she prompted
"Heh. I thought you might be wondering about that. I am Doug, actually. Yeah, I know, not acting like it. Don't really know why, myself -- all I know's some crazy guy with glowin' red eyes woke me up in the middle of the night t'tell me I had to get in touch with this mutie resistance and start helping you folks out where I could, and not to tell anyone about it except for the inmates. And I started doing it. Like I said, don't ask me why."
"Glowing eyes, eh? So why'd he pick you?" She wasn't sure she bought the story, even if it was plausible.
"Guess it doesn't much matter, though. You wanna think of me as some other guy in the world's best disguise, I guess that's OK too. God knows I'm doing stuff I'd never in a million years thought I'd do... I don't hardly recognize myself."
"Stress has a funny way of doing that. Or so I've been told."
Neena removed her glasses, squinting a bit under the dim lightbulb that lit the tiny space. She examined the man before her very carefully, a possibly unnerving experience due to her lack of eye color. She leaned forward, moving into his personal space, and stared him in the eyes for several long moments, unblinking.
A tiny, cramped closet. And she had just walked into it. Behind a guard who, in all outward appearances, meant her no good. And she had done that of her own volition.
<"Lovely. Just lovely. Tomorrow's gossip chain is going to be buzzing in overdrive...."> Maybe she was a cat after all....
"So, if anyone opens that door, pretend I'm raping you. Which I guess means you can kick me in the balls or something if you want, but if it's a guard they'll probably just zap your cuffs and then try to join in the supposed fun, so it's probably best if you pretend I've got the upper hand... they'll probably just leave us alone then." She didn't say anything as Doug undid his belt, nor did she move. "I'm hoping that'll be enough for appearance's sake."
Appearances? Neena snorted. "Honey, at this point, I doubt appearances matter." No doubt the imaginations of anyone watching were already fired up well beyond appearances. Still, she kept her arms relaxed at her sides, just in case.
"Anyway," he began, "Like I said in the note, I brought stuff I thought you could probably use, but if you let me know what you need I'll do what I can. No, I can't bust you out of here or turn off the cuffs or anything actually useful like that..."
Neena let him talk. As long as that was all he did, she made no move to stop him. Especially since what he was saying piqued her already-rampant curiosity even further. So, there was a resistance building up beyond the walls. That was an interesting tidbit, and not one she was sure she should share just yet. While it might give some hope, it also might embitter others. After all, two months had passed without any sign of help. Not a good spirit lift to those who were already near breaking.
"Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself, though. You don't trust me. I don't blame you. Any idea how we can get past that?"
And the trademark eyebrow went up behind the dark glasses. "Trust? That's a pretty tall order, m'friend. But for starters, where's Doug?"
(OOC: lol That works Sorry, I'm a bit tired, so let me know if I misunderstood what Doug is doing.)
Curious as she was concerning his unusual behavior earlier that day, Neena wasn't curious enough to lower her guard completely. She was not, and would not be treated, as someone else's 'plaything'. She kept up her defiant pose as Doug approached her....
.... and passed right by. Without attempting to grope or fondle or kiss her. For that matter he didn't try to touch her at all, or even talk to her. He kept right on walking by. At the end of the hallway, he turned and grinned at her, then passed out of sight.
<".... .... Well, that wasn't what I expected.... ....">
Her mind shifted into overdrive trying to figure out how to react.
Doug was not acting like himself. That much was crystal clear to Neena now. He had been one of the few guards that seemed content to be indifferent to everyone. Now he was attempting, seemingly, to gain the Camp inmates' trust. Why? Curiosity surged like tidal wave within her mind.
Experience stared down at the tidal wave, like a giant cliff overlooking the ocean. Camp Management could easily have found out some of their supplies had gone missing, or that some of the 'ailments' going around were only affecting guards, and usually the same ones. Especially the ones known, behind the scenes, to have made life nearly unbearable for some of the prisoners. It would only be common sense to try and plant a spy among the 'rabble'. Neena didn't relish the thought of being used, or of getting the others into, possibly deadly, trouble.
But, ooooohh.... She was so curious now.....
She glanced back up the hallway, toward the direction she should be headed, with the laundry. Or even without; considering she was seemingly left without an escort, she could very easily slack of her work for the night. Consequences she could deal with tomorrow.
Then she looked in the direction Doug had taken. Consequences of that direction would probably have to be dealt with now.
Now, or later? Experience, or curiosity? Now, or.....
<"Ah, forget it, I'm no cat. Score one for the tidal wave...">
With that she turned and followed the direction Doug had taken, leaving the laundry in the halls, and imagination to whoever was spying on the security cameras.
"Heh, heh, heh... that depends on who's racin' her engine, dude. Speakin' of which, how 'bout we trade shifts? I'll take over sittin' the babe... if you know what I mean?"
Behind her sunglasses Neena rolled her eyes.
"For real? Word 'round Camps was you don't touch mutie 'tang... ol' Jimmy's been goin' around tellin' folks you're queer!"
She stifled a snicker. A few people in this crowd of earth scum act the slightest bit decent, and get labeled 'queer'. No wonder the world is upside down....
"Y'ask me, Jimmy spends way too much time thinkin' 'bout who's queer, y'know what I mean? Anyway, you gonna #!@#$ trade your $!@#! shift or not? I ain't sticking around here tonight just to look at your @#!$!@# ugly face, you know what I mean?"
At that point Neena released her burdens and turned around to face both guards, arms crossed, weight on one foot.
"Yeah, yeah, OK... that's cool. Cafeteria patrol's a pretty cushy shift." He started to walk past Doug, then paused to look at Neena.
"You know what's good for you, you come with me and don't make no trouble, hear me?"
Her reply to Doug's obvious threat? And the covert wink that went with it? One eyebrow raised and she tilted her head forward slightly, so he could see one colorless eye staring back at him over the sunglasses. Her now relieved escort snickered, and turned and walked away, throwing a last remark over his shoulder.
"Good luck dude. You're gonna need it...."
Neena tilted her head back again, hiding her eyes once more. Her facial expression was neutral, but her stance dared Doug to make a move.
(OOC: Permission given to godmod moving Neena if needed.
<"I swear from now on I'll tip the maid double, just for having taken the job at all.">
Neena promised herself that as she drug two giant loads of laundry out of the Barracks. Honestly, couldn't Management at least invested in laundry carts? And there were only fifty or so guards; where was all of this laundry coming from? She had to walk backwards and drag the bags, because they were so bulky. Were they bringing stuff from home? Somehow, it wouldn't surprise her in the slightest.
Because of her necessary mode of transportation, Neena couldn't see where she was going, and had to rely on her guard escort for guidance. Usually the guards took shifts on escort duty. As luck would have it, she managed to be stuck with the same escort as earlier that day; he derived more pleasure from watching her trip and stumble around, then from either shocking the daylights out of her for no reason, or trying to add another notch in his 'conquest belt'. While her nerves and nether regions enjoyed the respite, her already-bruised tailbone and scraped-raw knees and palms were not so happy.
<"Lovely.... Just lovely....">
Still, the stumble-bumble persona she had developed during her stay had served her well. And scrapes and bruises would eventually heal, if not prettily, and were much preferable to other 'injuries'. So she contented herself to grumble under her breath, and preoccupy her mind with planning more sabotage. By morning, either the privys or Infirmary would be very busy, depending on how shy the guards were about unknown rashes in embarrassing places.....
"Heya Doug. Gettin' ready to hit the road already? I'm jealous, man. They stuck me with babysitting duty. She's slower than tar."
<"Yeah, I'd like to show you tar. Hot tar, with some cayenne powder mixed in....">
Her back was to them, so they couldn't see her smile momentarily. She continued to haul her loads, trying to stay upright along the way.
After dinner, Neena headed for her 'night job', turning down beds in the Guards' Barracks. Apparently the government thought that keeping dangerous state criminals efficiently occupied included teaching them how to be hotel help. Minus the health benefits.
As Neena deposited her nightly laundry deliveries and turned down beds in various rooms, she again put her quick hands to use, and slipped a note between Doug's shirts.
You want to talk, find a way to make it happen.
She didn't sign it; he would figure it out himself. If not, then she would simply forget anything had happened. She was very good at forgetting on purpose.
(OOC: Just dropping in and then running back out. Feel free to ignore me; I'm just showing Neena's character a bit.)
A odd pair of individuals approached the gravesites. Actually, the first of the pair wasn't so odd; one of the many guards set to escort various Camp inmates as they went about their jobs. This particular guard was rather short compared to his comrades, but other than that he matched all of the others.
The second individual was the odd one, in several ways. At first glance, the dark-skinned woman resembled many of the other camp inmates; thinner than she should have been (ignoring the hips that never seemed to shrink, even if she wanted them to), and a bit battered and raggedy-looking. She was burdened down like a donkey; a large bundle was strapped to her back, and she carried a basket on her head, like an African water-carrier. However, as she approached, her attitude negated first impressions.
First and foremost, she was whistling. Off-key most definitely, but whistling nonetheless. And she stood straight, not hunched over under her burden. She didn't seem to be in any hurry, either, simply keeping step with her escort. A pair of flimsy, disposable sunglasses covered her eyes.
As the pair drew closer, the whistling ceased. The woman bowed her head, keeping her eyes to the ground. At the edge of the gravesite, she stopped and set the basket down besides a pile of clothes, gathered from the dead bodies, which were to be laundered and recycled for new 'arrivals'. She knelt and began gathering, lips quivering as she chanted something under her breath. Shya would recognize the final goodbyes Neena gave to the dead, as she had heard it many times before. She kept her distance, and didn't say anything to the gravediggers the entire time.
Finally the clothes were gathered, and she sighed, bowing her head a little further to the earth, before pushing herself to her feet. Halfway up, she tripped over something.
"Whoa!" she yelped and tried, unsuccessfully, from measuring her length in the dust. The load on her back pulled her off-balanced, and she fell backwards. Her glasses skittered off to one side, revealing a pair of almost-white eyes. She huffed, and made a face. "Ow...." She looked like a turtle turned over on its shell.
All of the guards, even those overseeing the digging rolled their eyes.
"Hurry up Klutzilla. You're behind schedule again." Her escort kicked her in the legs and began to move away, back toward the laundry pool.
"Aren't I always?" Neena grinned and winked, upside down, quickly at the diggers, then rolled over and pushed herself back to her feet, grunting a bit as she did. She retrieved her sunglasses, kept her head and eyes down again as she replaced the basket atop her head, and headed away. Once out of the immediate area, she straightened up, and again began to whistle cheerily.
Neena chuckled a bit at Raina's message; she would be so relieved to hear the woman's voice again, but it was a small comfort to at least see her smiling again.
When Nika walked in, she paused on her way out just long enough to return Nika's hug, and reassure herself that the catgirl was okay. She'd been awfully quiet since the booched slumber party and escape on the men's side. Once sure, she returned to work.
(OOC: And Neena's offically gone now. Bye! *waves*)
"Note to self, get a mattress installed by the door. Doesn't anybody just walk in anymore?"
He was joking? Neena paused briefly, but didn't turn around.
"Let's see what we can do about keeping these from getting knocked over again, shall we?" He placed the stack on the shelf next to her, and she allowed herself to give him a brief glance before he spoke to Raina. "Um... sorry, didn't catch your name. Call me Doug."
“She can’t speak cos of her collar.” Whether he was trying to get Raina to speak and get shocked or not, Shield cut him off very neatly. That did it. Now Neena was more than curious.
"I'd better get going before I get in trouble again." She spoked to Shield and Raina, but looked at Doug. "I've got a quota to meet before cleaning the Guard Barracks this afternoon." She turned back to Shield and winked. 'Be careful,' she mouthed silently to them. She gave Raina a warm smile, then walked out the door with the old clothes and her hidden packages.
She wondered if Doug would pick up on her hint. It would be interesting to see how he reacted.
(OOC: Sorry, rushed, I'll explain later. lol I'm out for now. )
Neena shook her head as Raina joined the tumble-bumble group that seemed to be the women in this room. It was undignified, but compared to getting hit or felt up, Neena considered herself and the others to be on the winning team.
She smiled as Raina tackled Shield. It was the happiest she'd seen her, and was good to see. However her smile and glasses also hid a secret agenda. It was nearly impossible to tell who she was looking at behind the dark glasses, so she used the momentary distraction to observe Doug a bit closer.
There was definitely something 'off' about him, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. He looked and sounded the same. And he acted the same. Same height, same mustache, same eyes. On all outwards appearances, Doug was Doug.
But something was just.... 'off'.....
Neena turned to finish up her chore, before her escort finally decided to come in and pull her back to the Laundry. Her smile faded as she turned, becoming a slight frown. Her observation skills had kept her alive, and she was very proud of them. Even without her vision, she prided herself to be able to spot the little details. All growing up she'd loved the I SPY and Where's Waldo type books, and the pictures where you have two side by side, and you find 'what's wrong with this picture'.
So why couldn't she figure out what was wrong with this picture??
She took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes. Maybe it was the lack of sleep. Maybe another trip to Isolation was in order. As soon as she got back and introduced that habanero powder to Bloodfang's boxers, as well as a few other guards she had in mind, a visit to Solitary could be arranged.
Her smile returned at the thought, and she began humming a bit.
(OOC: I hope this sounds plausible. Believe it or not, I actually acted this out to see if it would work, lol Yay for shapeless dresses! )
Neena smiled at Ruby. The girl was holding up better than she'd originally given her credit for.
“I’ll be sending her warm fuzzy thoughts,” She took the clothes and added it in with another box of clothes she was gathering for washing in the corner, careful to keep it's contents wrapped against accidental shuffling.
Sara's stomach growled. "Sorry."
Neena bent to pick up another unfolded garment, to hide a smile. When she stood, she rubbed her eyes, which were hurting a bit, and put on her disposable sunglasses. Her vision crisped up almost immediately. The room was silent for a few moments, except for Ruby and Shield rummaging through the boxes.
"Oh, for #!@$!@'s sake kid, your way takes too $!@# long! We could $!@#! die of old age in here while you make up your mind what to do. Help 'reason number 9' out here, will you? Laundry can wait."
A pile of items was shoved at Neena including, she saw, whatever it was that Doug had dropped in Shield's box. Her reaction was only partially faked. Sara came over to help her, and she took a step back. Like the klutz she was, her foot twisted and caught on the floor, knocking her off balance, and she stumbled back against the chair. She reached out with one hand to stop her fall.....
..... and the rolling chair decided not to stop her fall, but rather help it along. And that left Neena going one way, and her load going the other, scattering across the floor. With a little hiss of pain, she rolled over to her hands and knees, one hand clutching at her ribs, facing away from the door.
However the little package had disappeared from sight.
The door opened, and Neena's escort glanced in to see what was going on. Seeing her on the floor, and the mess, he snickered.
"Don't even need to shock that one to get a laugh," he remarked to Doug, then went back out for a third cigarette, closing the door behind him. While he enjoyed watching the mutants' stumble over themselves, he enjoyed his breaks more, so he wasn't in any rush to get her back to the Laundry. Besides, he could get more entertainment later, when she hadn't reached her daily quota.
Neena grumbled under her breath in Swahili, but retrieved her glasses and got to her feet, and began cleaning up. She limped a bit, as the fall had actually twisted her ankle a bit, but it would go away after a few minutes. She kept her arm tight to her side, where about a week ago Infirmary records stated she'd been treated for bruised ribs. The white bandaging could be barely seen under her arm, through the arm holes.
The Infirmary records didn't say that the wound wasn't serious and would heal within a few days.
<"Well, now. Who says baggy dresses are a bad thing? Especially to an ex-thief?"
)
Sorry, I'm a bit tired, so let me know if I misunderstood what Doug is doing.)
Bye! *waves*)
)