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 Cold Steel on May 6, 2024 15:00:05 GMT -6
X-Men
Team Leader of the X-Men Teacher of Self-Defense
color=48D1CC
4,381
107
Oct 30, 2024 15:27:33 GMT -6
Sam said all he needed to say to Travis, his retort wasn’t worth responding to. The man or whatever he really was did experiment on Iris; in fact he was up until this moment. That was all Sam needed to know. It didn’t matter to the icemancer how long he had been researching up until this point. Travis still wasn’t sure how it worked. The air temperature dropped another few degrees as more ice caked on the wall behind his clone ready to be called to action.
They eventually returned; under his armor the X-man's stomach was in knots. He wasn’t sure what was going to happen, he was planning for the worst. Years of training and his recent experience with Mystics screamed for him to keep Iris and Maya away. They all wanted this resolved and Travis had the most to gain if he helped.
>>>"Do it."
Another knot. His fingers twitched and he unfolded his arms. The clone mirrored across the room. Both were waiting.
>>>”Don’t worry, Iris. This won’t hurt at all.”
It was only seconds, but it felt like minutes passed. Rage filled him when he heard Travis utter Iris’s name. Sam wanted to break his jaw for starters, then there was a light. One that caused his focus to shift to Iris. His thermal sense still active dulled in response to prevent a headache.
>>>This key will only ever work on her. Melt it down if you want it destroyed.” ”Now if you will excuse me. Five minutes aren’t getting any longer.”
Sam didn’t move neither did the ice clone. It was as if they were both holding their breath in anticipation. To see if Travis lied. To see if he had to be the one to break the agreement. One he never verbally agreed to.
The horns were first. Normally that would have been a bad sign but these were Iris’s powers after all. The tail was next and then the pink skin. Normal, that was what this was. The grin on her face seemed more alive to the icemancer, he finally breathed.
>>> "He's all yours, Sam." "What? I lied. Hate the sin, not the sinner. Bye, Travis. The Veil will take good care of you."
The ice in front of the door vanished again allowing for an easy exit meant for Maya and the little imp. There was a genuine smile directed at the pair as they exited. ”So brave kid. Told you your tail would be back. ” he said encouragingly before stepping in front of the door.
>>>”I knew mutants couldn’t be trusted.”
The window was the safest route for Travis at this point, also the fastest way out of the building. It was what Sam wanted so when the mystic turned and started to run, he weakened the ice coating just enough to make it a harder surface before breaking through the glass. The impact outside the window was next. Was it a tree outside of Maya and Becca’s room or was it open? It had been a minute since Sam had last been here.
”Maya, lock down the school. Tell the teachers to tell the kids it’s a drill. Send a team after me, trackers. Not you. He’s not leaving till I say he does.” the clone jumped from the window after Travis. Sam’s approach to the window was a little slower as he could still feel Travis with his thermal sense but it was fading. Distance. He’d fix that. Shorten it. Till he had his hands on Travis.
The air outside plummeted in temperature, cold was an understatement. It was frigid. Frost and ice erupted outward from Maya’s window covering the mansion walls to prevent reentry for the mystic and prevent any onlookers. Sam didn’t want an audience for this.
Posted by Cold Steel on May 4, 2024 6:33:44 GMT -6
X-Men
Team Leader of the X-Men Teacher of Self-Defense
color=48D1CC
4,381
107
Oct 30, 2024 15:27:33 GMT -6
It took too long, he was running late. Always running late. Even when he left early, late. Today it was because of a fire mystic. Not the one he was friends with, one that thought releasing a horse made of the ‘eternal flames of Hell’ was a good idea. He smelt like burnt hair. Sam did, not the horse. The horse was gone now, started some apartment fires further down town before burning itself out. Eternal needed an asterisk apparently.
Glancing down as he opened the door to the coffee shop he saw some soot on his knuckles. Even with the ice armor he still managed to show signs he was in a fight. He hated magic. ”I’m late! I know!” Sam said walking past Lee where she found a seat and went to order himself a coffee. A strong one at that.
Pulling a few dollars from his pocket and placing it on the counter he turned and made a B-line back to the table before setting his coffee on it and then dusting off his jeans before sitting down. ”Looking good Lee! As always. How have you been? Bar? Kiddo?” Sam said fixing his lone eye on her. He was trying to gauge a response from each subject.
They had been friends for years, even when Lee started pulling they stayed in touch. He understood. The city was a lot. Heck he was thinking of a vacation for himself soon. Anywhere without magic.
Posted by Cold Steel on Apr 30, 2024 5:31:26 GMT -6
X-Men
Team Leader of the X-Men Teacher of Self-Defense
color=48D1CC
4,381
107
Oct 30, 2024 15:27:33 GMT -6
”No, I’m just tired of losing those I care about. They were only in danger because you caused me to seize. After firing randomly you left after you dropped me. Did you know I was ready to take my own life before I did lose control. Something people don’t realize about my clones.” Sam said not worried that he was revealing too much of his abilities. ”They think for me when I can’t.” that was all he was going to say about that. He had a telepath all up in his head before. He lived mind games. There was little Travis could say to mess with the icemancer.
A clone pulled itself free from the wall behind Travis and mimicked the icemancers posture. Arms folded, waiting for a signal to attack should they try to escape. ”So you had no idea what it would do to the child if she was the first one.” so he was willing to endanger her. Not surprising. Sam could only trust Travis as he could throw him.
Okay, maybe Travis was getting to him the way he talked about Iris. He was talking about her as if she was nothing more than a lab rat. It reminded him of his handler and the doctors that studied him. Beat him, experimented on him. He thought he repressed enough of it, found ways to cope but this conversation was turning him into the angry child he was decades ago.
”We said it before, it’s not a disease. It’s something she will learn to control. Something she will use to help others around her. The way I’m trying to do now. I’m sick of having these ****ing conversations. If you can’t see the good we have done and still can do I’m not going to try and explain it. While you said I’m dangerous and my power corrupted, I’m a product of my environment. People like you kidnapped me and decided I wasn’t human. I was a tool, something that can be sharpened and directed, and here I am. She on the other hand. She will grow up in a safe one. One where people like you will never get close to her again. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep that from happening even sell what’s left of my soul.” Sam said letting out a loud sigh disappointed he was still talking. He needed to find out more of what Travis knows.
It was true, they’d use the adapted they had on staff. In fact he was pretty sure Mama T would be right out in the hallway in case Iris did lose control when her powers got turned back on. It also made Sam under the impression that Travis knew more about the staff and security here in the mansion. How long had he been studying this place? Sure it was an open door policy for strays but they would have noticed random people coming and going right? He was going to have to have a talk with security again. Maybe Becca and Rex could help with more anti-magic or magic detecting wards.
Posted by Cold Steel on Apr 29, 2024 5:25:42 GMT -6
X-Men
Team Leader of the X-Men Teacher of Self-Defense
color=48D1CC
4,381
107
Oct 30, 2024 15:27:33 GMT -6
>>> "Give me a f*** break"
She said it so he wouldn’t have to. He would have done a bit more yelling and possibly more hitting. Again, Maya was the best of them which was why it was so important that Sam would be there to do anything before she might do something her or Becca would regret.
>>>"F*ck."
Indeed. ”F*ck.” Sam let out a sigh of relief that could also be described as a disappointed grunt. It was one of the last things he wanted to happen but it was for Iris, Maya and Becca. Travis wouldn’t get far even with a five minute head start. In that time he could call Carrick to watch the skies or Liz to track him down with the mansion dogs. He couldn’t change his scent right?
”You sure about this?” he asked Maya one last time before unfreezing the door behind him. The window and the rest of the room still remained coated in ice. He wasn’t going to give Travis the chance to run. ”You go and get Iris then. I’ll wait here with...” he looked to the half shifted form of Maya’s wife and whatever form Travis was going to next. He wasn’t going to let Travis get into Maya’s head anymore.
Sam stared hard at Travis, his thermal vision focused on a single movement. The ground and walls coated in ice started to form points ready to shoot outward.
”I don’t have to tell you I’m fine with making it as painful as possible if you cross us again right? You’re making me want to welcome my old life back. I spent years trying to move past it and you and people like you keep pushing me towards it attacking my loved ones.” there was a pause next. ”I have a family now. I'd do anything to keep them safe and happy.”
There was something that Sam had been wondering. He’d get the answers eventually but there was something bugging him with all of this. His lack of understanding with magic was again making this situation more difficult. Magic always cost something. They had all seen first hand when the cost couldn’t be paid. The mansion being destroyed was a direct result of it.
”If you didn’t sneak in here... what would have happened to Iris? You came back for a reason and I doubt your the type to marvel at your own work.” his gaze didn’t break. He tired to study the face before him from across the room. Either way Sam had a feeling he wasn’t going to like the answer.
Posted by Cold Steel on Apr 24, 2024 5:34:25 GMT -6
X-Men
Team Leader of the X-Men Teacher of Self-Defense
color=48D1CC
4,381
107
Oct 30, 2024 15:27:33 GMT -6
There was a reassuring nod when Maya looked to him. It was one of the few things he understood about magic is that with enough effort spells could be broken down or learned. His time fighting the demon with Rex showed him it was possible.
The icemancer was half tempted to call Rex before they agreed that it was enough for the moment. Sam didn’t care what Travis or whoever this person said. They couldn’t be trusted and they were backed into a corner with ice closing in all around them. If it wasn’t for them being in the school he would have been more aggressive.
He was, however so he wasn’t. Meaning Travis could talk his way out or at least attempt to.
>>>”And it is no danger to anyone, save myself, if it goes wild. Unlike Cold Steel here.”
”You have no idea.” the ice encasing the walls started to grow fine points as they started to extend outward towards the mystic formally known as Travis. ”Cooperating? She’s a child! She doesn’t understand what you did!” the room got colder still. He didn’t like this and from the sound of things the spell was going to fade away anyways. So what was the point of letting him go? Shouldn’t they just capture him? Put him in a mirror until they could be sure Iris was back to normal.
Sam almost missed the tail, he get when playing with her. Or when she gender shifted him. ”Maya... I’ll let you make the call. To me it sounds like he’s backed into a corner knows it. My understanding of it, he needs to put some magic into her to keep her from getting her powers back.” it was a very loose understanding. One that Sam didn’t want to gamble on. He’d seen what happened when magic ran wild. He wasn’t willing to let that happen to Iris. Which was why the icemancer was willing to listen to what Travis had to say.
Posted by Cold Steel on Feb 2, 2024 6:24:28 GMT -6
X-Men
Team Leader of the X-Men Teacher of Self-Defense
color=48D1CC
4,381
107
Oct 30, 2024 15:27:33 GMT -6
“Why do you do this to me baby? You know I hate fighting with you.” The voice was soft, gentle... it was nothing but honeyed lies. The cruelness in the voice was hard to forget, imprinted in his memories and his soul. They made him who he was today, skeptical, even paranoid. Someone he grew up with, someone he was supposed to grow old with. Well, as old as agents of T.A.T.M.A.H. could get. He probably would have been dead by now if he was still with them. If they were still around. The voice in question belonged to Amanda. His first love. One of his partners from back in the day. They knew so much about each other and now it felt like nothing at all.
“Do you want me to make you see them again? It drives me crazy you think of her when you go to your happy place but I can manage. I’d have you at least.” there was a pause in the conversation and Sam spat on the ground. The taste of blood in his mouth made him want a drink given more so given the company.
”No, as much as I’d love that we both know what happens when you send me there. We also both know you can’t do that without restraining my powers. Be nothing more than a meat shield.” a parting gift from Slate, the ability to fight back should he be placed in an illusion again. “It kills me I even have to consider it. What happened to us? We used to be inseparable.” the woman said stepping into the dim light that hung over the icemancers head.
His vision slowly started coming to. They didn’t move far from where he was picked up. Magic and adapted’s was what finally took him down. The former assassin guessed in the basement. Away from the exits. Armed guards in between and a handful of other things. He grew up with Amanda, she was twisted sure but she was smart. She knew all of his weaknesses. ”Well for starters you were fine living in a cage as an experiment. I even offered to take you with me.”
“But we lived! We had each other! We had Sydney!” she snapped back the sweetness in her voice falling to the one he was more familiar with now, cold and calculating. ”You forced me to leave early. I always wondered how they knew I was planning on leaving. I only told you. Next day I opened my door to a handful of armed soldiers. You gave me your answer then and had to live with it!”
There was a flash of movement and Amanda’s hand reached out and slapped Sam across the cheek. It stung, he’d live. ”Mmmmmm... if you cared so much about Sydney you would have kept him from looking like you when the X-men showed and freed me. You knew what I was going to do when I woke up.”
There was another jerk of a hand and Sam felt the other cheek start to sting from the impact followed by footsteps, heels clicking with each step as they moved further and further away until a loud metal groaning echoed the room. ”I hit a nerve?” the door slammed shut and he started to chuckle as he started to understand his current holding area.
Twelve steps to the door on his left. Metal no doubt reinforced. It was to his back. He still couldn’t use his powers, there was no collar though. Was it magic? Or an adapted? ”You know what happens to the people she has working for her?” Sam
Posted by Cold Steel on Dec 15, 2023 6:22:08 GMT -6
X-Men
Team Leader of the X-Men Teacher of Self-Defense
color=48D1CC
4,381
107
Oct 30, 2024 15:27:33 GMT -6
>”I am amused you assume you even know the real me. You misconstrued my motivations, you fail to see the danger you put everyone around you in as you casually use power you clearly barely control… “
”I know enough. I know you built a life as Travis and now it is being destroyed. You ran into a friend of mine. He found your hideout and your notes. While I don’t understand it you bet when Becca and the other magic users we know get a hold of the notes they will have a way of getting Iris back to normal.” it was something Sam hadn’t discussed with Maya yet. Mainly because he didn’t want to give them false hope. Now however he was using it against Travis.
A bit of ice encircled Travis on the ground below him. Or them... he didn’t know who he was before Travis, just that Travis was the one who broke into the school and de-powered Iris. Meaning whatever face they put on or history they had before the attack didn’t matter. The person was on the icemancers **** list for life and that was already a pretty long list.
It wasn’t the change he wanted, but it was a better look than forever ruining the celebrity they looked like seconds ago. The red veins were troublesome. It reminded Sam of the mystic who destroyed the mansion. What they say it was... the result of wild magic? Stressing the body too far or not being able to control it?
Sam reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone sending a text to the head of security. ‘Find Iris, call Becca.’ he also gave the location they were at to lock down the hallway and rooms. Just in case the magic decided to do some damage before killing Travis.
The heat from the key was snuffed out as soon as it started to burn a hole where it landed. Another beam of blue erupted from Sam’s direction. ”It will do for now. Don’t do anything stupid now.” Sam said reluctantly before looking back to Maya who looked ready to snap at a moments notice. It was... understandable.
Posted by Cold Steel on Dec 11, 2023 15:58:23 GMT -6
X-Men
Team Leader of the X-Men Teacher of Self-Defense
color=48D1CC
4,381
107
Oct 30, 2024 15:27:33 GMT -6
The cold aura grew to encompass the rest of the room. Snowflakes appeared on the windowpane and cascaded outwards until the natural light took on a dimmer blue hue. The pair’s body heat lit up the area he could see better now. Less likely for Travis to pull a fast one on them.
Maya removed two more knives and threw them aside. Two blast of blue erupted from his hand pinning them both to the floor where they lay as an added precaution. He wasn’t getting away this time. Sam was still pissed but he was more worried about what Maya was going to do. His attention was on them as much as Travis.
The keys were next. Two of them. Sam knew about as much as Maya and Sveta however when the face changed to one of the X-man's celebrity crushes he almost gasped. There was no way Travis was the same person as... no. ”No. No, I am not. Change it again Travis.” it wasn’t a request. He wasn’t about to let this guy ruin her or her upbeat music. Something the he didn’t advertise listening to.
Sam took a few steps forward after clearing his throat. Ice already started to coat the hinges and doorknob making them shut in with no easy exits, other than mirror walking.
”Put on your normal face Travis. We know who you are and you aren’t escaping. Maya... you good?” knowing there was never an easy answer to that question.
Posted by Cold Steel on Dec 11, 2023 6:22:13 GMT -6
X-Men
Team Leader of the X-Men Teacher of Self-Defense
color=48D1CC
4,381
107
Oct 30, 2024 15:27:33 GMT -6
The icemancer was surprised he had to say it. He lost a fight, got brought down hard and almost put a group of civilians in danger not to mention his friend Svetlana... where they still friends? She had been working with Travis some time before... he pushed those thoughts away for now. He needed something he could focus on. Something that made sense.
”You really have to ask?” he landed on his feet and stretched his neck. There was a few knots in there but he’d deal with them later. Doc could and would only do so much when it came to healing the icemancer. Otherwise he’d never learn.
”I just got my *** handed to me by someone who broke into the mansion. Someone we know little to nothing about. What we do know is that they can cause seizures and depower us. They carry a few knives and a handgun both can be enchanted. They had professional training. He was a cop. I’m going to the danger room before my memory gets foggy on what happened. I’m going to make sure we know how to drop him before he can escape or hurt anyone else again.”
It was slow at first, tense but his stride soon led him to the infirmary exit. ”Let’s go hit something.”
It took the icemancer far longer to realize what was going on. Maybe he was getting old? Or the fact that that one of the snow balls he just made smacked the top of his head with a loud squeal of joy. “Again!” Iris cheered as Sam turned on his foot to make sure the wall was in between them and Maya and not Becca. Iris was the main concern followed by Maya and then Bec-Travis.
Travis could change his face as well? Sam really hated magic. That's something Svetlana didn’t tell him. Did she know? …. no she would have told him especially after the guy dropped the X-man. A snowman formed pulling itself from the ice that covered the walls and reached up to Iris. It looked like Olaf, minus the carrot nose. This one had an icicle. “Play?” it asked hopping up and down getting Iris hyped up. She practically threw herself off Sam. He caught her mid dive and set her down next to the snowman. “Play?” it asked again.
Iris clapped a few times and screamed, “Yes!” and grabbed it’s frozen hand with her mittened one and the snowman guided her down the hallway.
Once she was safe Sam stepped back into the room coated in ice. He closed the door after he entered. ”if that is him, good. Saves me the trouble of having to track him back down... can’t believe someone is that dumb... or that cocky.”
The hallway was empty. Perfect. Sam tensed up as he lifted his arm and tried to work out a knot he was still dealing with since the seizure which was dumb because it had a month. He was too proud to talk to Doc about it. He didn't’ need another lecture about he was rushing to an early grave.
’Crack’
”Oh thank god.” he grunted feeling the pain lessen. It was something that was a long time coming. After a moment he recovered. Another long day. The mansion was still being repaired in some spots and Sam was busy making sure security was back up and better before. Sigils included and wards included. He didn’t know exactly what they meant but he knew he trusted Becca and the other mystics that helped them all survive.
>>>Mimi has a guest and she said a bad word
”What now? Mimi has a guest and she said a bad word?” the icemancer said melting when Iris ran into and up to him. He still felt responsible, for letting the piece of garbage get away.
”Oooooo maybe we should go see why they are in a bad mood? Maybe we can cheer them up?” Sam asked pulling a small pair of mittens out of his back pocket. Something he had on him often in case Iris wanted to play with some ice sculptures. ”Here ya go kiddo.” he said scooping her and placing her on his shoulders.
“I want to throw a snow ball!” Iris said sitting atop Sam’s shoulders. ”Do you now? Well it’s a good thing I’m good at making them!” a ball of snow formed in his hand and he handed it up to the gloved hand.
“Can you do Elsa?”
”..... Just don’t tell anyone about it.” he said as ice transformed the hallway around them.
----
It didn’t take long, Iris knew the way and the chill in the air announced their arrival along with giant snow flakes cascading the walls reflecting the lights in hues of dark blue and light blue. It was the best he could do on short notice but Sam slowed and stopped singing the song when the figures came into his thermal range.
>>> “instructions to undo the spell. Everybody wins.”
When he approached he looked at his friend and their wife. The voice however seemed off for both of them. ”Not in that position.” there was a knife. ”I’m sure couples counseling could help. Is this about Afoie? She asking about me again?” Sam asked trying to figure the situation out.
The air got colder. Wondering if he had to split them up which he hoped he didn’t. They were his favorite mansion couple.
Posted by Cold Steel on Nov 8, 2023 6:31:36 GMT -6
X-Men
Team Leader of the X-Men Teacher of Self-Defense
color=48D1CC
4,381
107
Oct 30, 2024 15:27:33 GMT -6
”I know.” he said pushing himself upwards more so he could lock his eye on Gawain to see the emotions he was feeling. Sam wasn’t good at this but he was good at reading people. He knew the toll it was taking on his friend.
”and I’m sorry I put you there without asking. There are enough of us that will do what needs to be done. I don’t want you turning out like me. Becca, Iris. They need you.” the icemancer knew the battle for the mansion was hard on everyone. Most of the masnionites weren’t prepared for war. Gawain was trained yes, but not for that.... never for that. Sam had made sure of it when he started training him.
Sam sighed and turned his neck to the side to give it a crack. It was louder than expected it also hurt more than expected. ‘Shake it off’ the icemancer told himself looking back to Gawain recounting his own events.
Things got blurry when the seizing started but he had enough sense as to what happened. ”I was angry and underestimated my target.” he said honestly. ”Teen me would have been laughing.” this Sam wasn’t.
”I let my guard down for a second and a tip of knife broke through my armor. It was all he needed to lay me out. With my powers boosted I’m sure Sveta had her hands full. I blacked out, the clones cleared the area and he got away. It was fast too from my understanding of it. Like vanished, so either he can go invisible too, along with turning powers off and making someone have a seizure.” Sam pushed himself up with a grunt.
Posted by Cold Steel on Nov 7, 2023 6:19:47 GMT -6
X-Men
Team Leader of the X-Men Teacher of Self-Defense
color=48D1CC
4,381
107
Oct 30, 2024 15:27:33 GMT -6
The sound of the chair made him wince as he rose up a bit from his laying position. Doc said give it some time and rest but he was tempted to walk out. Little good it do him. Odds are Gawain would just trail him asking the same question. A question that the icemancer had to chew on for a moment. The question made him wish he wasn’t there. He wasn’t good at this stuff.
”She had the power up. Didn't do much good though when I started to seize. Ice clones mitigated most of the danger.” there was a pause and finally Sam laid his eye on his longtime friend. ”Cause you’re too close to it.” he said finally.
”Your kid he did it to, you think I’m going to let you go and make one of the biggest mistakes of your life? Worse than hunting Afoie?” another situation where he let them down. Sam felt like a **** friend.
”You’re the best of us Gawain. I’m scared what you’d do to him. What I could do after. It’s a slippery slope I’d rather not go back down again.”
The doors opened and it was one of the last two people he wanted to see right now. The icemancer didn’t look up nor opened his eye but just groaned in frustration. ”Sometimes I wish the mansion was bigger. When did you find out I was in here?” Sam asked trying to change the subject. His eye opened but he refused to meet Gawain’s gaze.
Sam felt awful, not because he was stabbed. That part was fine. It wasn’t even the fact he ended up seizing or that he had to knock himself out with an ice clone. No he felt awful because he let someone who hurt his friend so much get away. He had all the power to stop him and Sam let him slip away.
”.... It was...” he said honestly. His gaze hit the ceiling and he continued, ”I wasn’t as prepared as I thought I was. I even had a boost from Muse and he still got away.” he said recounting the events. ”Should have cleared the area from civilians first. He started firing hip shots. Was worried someone was going to get hit. I should have just laid him out without trying to get him to surrender peacefully.”
The flashes of history, the future, the life not actually lived. He failed them. He wouldn't fail those here. He was here for Iris, for Gawain/Maya, for Becca. This man hurt his family. he wouldn't get another chance. if he wasn't coming willingly the icemancer was willing to break him. To show all what happens when someone comes after someone he cares about. 'Fight it!' he thought to himself. His thoughts jumbled; his body ached but he was alive he had to fight it.
Teeth clenched. His eye focused. A low grunt exited as the clone got off him and moved back slowly. Bladed hand still at the ready if he couldn’t regain control. More spikes of ice erupted around him though instead of a steep angle ready to puncture anything around him they started to aim upwards. His hand flailed then turned into a fist. His whole body tensed as he fought the effects of the magic that was causing this. Magic... he hated it so much.
The spikes started to slow as they shot out of the ground, they started to shrink in size as they protruded from the ground. He was still fighting it when the clone moved closer, it’s bladed hand now a now a fist. Sam had enough sense to recognize the intent. They both knew he was fighting it. Trying to beat it. He didn’t think he could. ”Do it!” he said through clenched teeth. His muscles tense relaxed after the clone punched Sam right in the forehead knocking the icemancer out.
The clone stood at the ready looking around while the second clone was still pushing people away still saying, “Run!”
