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.
>>"There's something about my rebirths that momentarily halts my age but it's not permanent."
Well what did that mean? He grew curiouser and curiouser by the minute. Lana's heart might even be racing slightly at the prospect of such a mutation. She couldn't help that ambitious side of her. It's what helped her climb the career ladder after all...
>>"I'll call you Lana as long as you call me Paul... Mr. McCoy if you want to be formal. I think you were so distracted by my ghostliness when I walked up that you missed me saying my name."
Had she? Her cheeks reddened for what felt like the 100th time since this man walked over. That wasn't like her at all. But he was right, she was acting on the impression he was a ghost. She never bothered to remember their names. So many in, so many out. "That must of been it." she murmured still watching him with curiosity. She remained silent while he continued to speak. Lana wasn't one of those types who needed to be constantly talking to feel like she was communicating. Other women (or people in general) might interject with their own contributions but Lana felt out in the real world just as in the institutionalized one, it helped to let a person speak their complete thought. Often they'd have their own epiphanies with little guidance.
>>"But who truly defines insanity? If the insane define what is insanity then the sane would be the ones defined as insane. Is insanity defined by the majority? If that is true then the definition is constantly changing."
Lana gave a lop sided grin. She had a feeling Paul was one of those types. A type like her. Used to being the smartest one in the room. Perhaps a little too used to it. "It certainly makes you wonder." she commented. Not really wanting to get into a debate. Paul was beginning to sound a bit like an anarchist. Lana could appreciate a little anarchy. But she knew the value of rules far too strongly than the average person. A simple boundary or rule could save or destroy a life. She faced those things daily.
>>"I wonder if you would actually see me during the time I was dead before I came back..." He mused quietly, finding the question to be an interesting intellectual exercise. "Perhaps one day there'll be an oportunity to test it."
"Don't tempt me." she grinned. "I'm not the murdering type but if I knew you'd come right back and I could perform a unique study I might push you off a bridge." she was teasing of course, Lana was VERY bad at making jokes... but in the back of her mind she couldn't help but wonder at how amazing it would be to study a subject like Paul. It might even help her own death phobia to study his experience in a controlled environment. Of course, she actually had very little interest in what her powers might reveal. Would she see his spirit at all or would it cycle through? That didn't titillate nearly as much as the idea of seeing him reborn with her own eyes.
"Well, Mr.McCoy...." She wondered if he was any relation to Hank McCoy and if it would be rude to ask. Hank was famous in her world after all. "You've probably deduced by now, I am not typically the impulsive type. In fact, I make it a rule to follow things in a certain... plan, I suppose you could say. But there's something about you that just sparks my interest." she dug into her purse and pulled out her consulting card, then slid it across the table to him. "I'd like you to consider something. I don't need an answer now. My number and email is on the card..." she tapped at it. "My work load is terrible, and with such a serious case on the ropes it's pertinent I get through as much of the consulting process as possible. The budget of the NYPD does not allow for two profilers, but I have stores of my own." Stores was a funny way of putting it. Through careful financial choices and planning, Lana was practically loaded. "I'd very much like to contract you as a secondary investigator. It can be on a case by case basis, or you can assume my work load with me. Your choice. Think of it as the Watson to my Holmes." she gave a playful grin. "You don't need a legal background, but you'd be required to sign a non-disclosure for confidentiality purposes. You've clearly got a keen eye. Whether that's a strong personality trait, or an effect of your life experience with your mutation doesn't matter. A gift like that should not go to waste."
She paused and took a sip of her coffee, draining the last bit of sugary delight from the bottom. "Think about it." she instructed in a very- I'm not accepting an answer from you right now- sort of way. She figured his first impulse might be to say no. Paul seemed like the type who didn't enjoy meddling in the business of others. But he also seemed like the type who could get bored and needed something stimulating. Maybe something distracting. And chances were, if he was being reborn now and again he needed some work.
He couldn't possibly be any more high maintenance than her amnesiac roommate. Lana could always use more living and breathing people around her too.
>>"I've never been married. I've had lots of acquaintances but very few close friends. Romantic relationships have been even fewer though there have been a couple of women in my life over the years. Normally I've used my death and rebirth get out of a bad situation and start over with what I hoped would be a happier chapter in my life."
Lana nodded as he explained. "So do you age slower? You obviously don't look to be in your 90s if I could make such a verbal observation." she smiled. It always seemed that the ones who could cheat death also cheated age. That would be something. Slow down aging or stop it all together. Lana was more preoccupied with avoiding death, but eternal youth didn't sound half bad either. Somewhere in a lab for cosmetics she was sure scientists were working away trying to figure out what made certain mutants ageless so they could apply it to their products. Now that would make a bunch of money.
>>"Well 'Red' This is my third time in New York City. I was here first in 1960, again two years ago, and now I've returned. I hoped to find someone that I had left behind but things happened while I was gone and they had to move on."
"It's Lana." she mumbled. "Or Dr. Than." she added even quieter. Still no name from the mystery phoenix. What was she supposed to resort to calling him? Grey? >>"What about you? Were your born and raised here in New York City and if not what brought you here?"
"Well, if you've been away a while you might not know that someone is out there murdering and attempting to murder mutants. The FBI and NYPD have a joint operation to try and keep hysteria and panic down, and I'm here to do the profiling and assist. My main job is at the New York Institution for the criminally insane. I specialize in determining the difference between insanity, and really bad mutation effects. Though of course, the two often go hand in hand." explained Lana. Let him chew on that for a little bit. Her field tended to intimidate most men, as did her skills. Then again, this guy seemed like he wasn't most men.
As much as she wanted to hate him for his attitude and presumptuousness, she kind of liked this guy who still very much looked like a ghost. "It's very distracting you know." she admitted. "Seeing spiritual energy encircle you. If you could see what I see you'd know why I thought you were a spirit." she added. She had other questions she wanted to ask him. It would be amazing to include him in some sort of clinical study but that wasn't the sort of thing you up and asked a question. Hello, can I poke inside your head? Fancy a therapist? Do you consider yourself a psychopath? Those didn't seem to go over well...
>>"Well normally forgetting my manners only happens when I meet someone that thinks I'm a ghost.And it's nice to meet you Dr. Than. Excuse me just one moment."
She watched as he got up and walked to get a new coffee. She wasn't sure if he was being cocky, arrogant, or just distracted. He came back and sat at the table again with a fresh coffee. Lana wasn't sure if she liked this. She felt like she was on the wrong end of the interrogation table.
>>"Doctor... and you work for the NYPD. I would guess that means you're either some sort of forensics analyst, psychologist, or profiler. As for me I define myself as a Phoenix. The mythical story of the bird that dies and is reborn in flame and ash is true in my life."
"A little of all three." she replied, determined to be vague. Who was this guy and what was his deal? Was she encountering a mutant psychopath? They did tend to have the very odd mutations. The more she thought about it, the more she realized he'd fit in quite well at the institution.
>>"And you are an overachiever that pushes herself to hard to accomplish her goals. You struggle to make meaningful connections with people for some reason, probably due to your mutation, and you've just picked up a new room mate. You make your cases extremely personal probably because you often get to know the victims even though they've already passed on. Sound about right?"
"Not bad." replied Lana slipping into her mask and her role. As soon as she decided to adopt this situation as if he were a patient, she felt better and in control. He was clearly trying to challenge her a bit. "I assume you experience similar feelings. Past lives, constantly reliving faded memories of a dozen lifetimes. Lost family, lost loves. How does one have a relationship when he will continually outlive his partner?" she stared him down now. She wasn't aggressive, her tone was still light. But if he wanted her to bring it, she would. "You look to be about in your 40's, but of course there's no way of knowing. Maybe you don't even know your own age. You've lost count. I supposed even when you surround yourselves with friends you can feel very lonely. After all, they'll eventually die. Or you will. The difference is you come back." she took a sip of her coffee. He still hadn't introduced himself by name. "You aren't surprised by much. You've seen a lot. You'd obviously make a strong profiler. Not easily affected by what you see." she smiled then, genuinely.
Despite herself, Lana was getting off on this. Not in a sexual way. But in an intellectual way. She would never call another person stupid, but because of her skills and insight she often felt a bit above her peers on that scale. Having to dumb what she does down to make the smaller minds understand the significance. It was refreshing to meet a similar mind. A similar mutation. Well maybe not similar but relate-able. It was nice to feel the brush of challenge and interest.
"So why has a phoenix landed in New York?" she asked, brushing her hair out of her face.
I started a thread for Streak and Lana to meet and chat about what's been going on. Anyone who has fought with Zodiac and would like to be interviewed (so we can build a profile)send me a PM and I'll invite you to the thread when it makes sense!
Posted by Lana on Dec 8, 2013 17:22:12 GMT -6
Lana likes this
Epsilon Mutant
57
6
May 3, 2014 19:00:29 GMT -6
Lana shuffled the files on the temporary desk that was her home for the time being at the prescient. She'd been hired to come up with a profile of the individual attacking mutants, but she was convinced it was more than an individual despite the same MOs. Today she was meeting with an officer who had experience with the attacks, and she'd heard through the grape vine that she'd get a chance to interview some of the victims.
Lana really believed that profiling could be the key in this case. It would allow officers to preemptively strike against whoever was attacking mutants, and be prepared without causing a media frenzy. But she could only provide an accurate profile with more information. So far, going by what was in the papers wasn't giving Lana much headway.
She drummed her fingers on the desk as she watched for the officer she'd be speaking with. She had no idea what he looked like but was told his name was Shawn. She didn't even have a last name. That's how crazy things had been lately. No time for even last names.
>>"Most people are so used to the little white lies that they don't even notice them, I don't think."
Lana nodded. She wasn't sure if she told little white lies. She remembered back to when she and Noel met that she'd said she was talking to a friend when that friend was really her sister. Was that how Noel figured out she could see a dead person so quickly? She felt guilty, because she hadn't thought twice about the lie, and considered herself an honest person. Then again, how does one come out and say they see dead people?
>>"You're in luck. I happen to have some yellow right here."
Lana laughed. Yellow was clearly significant. But there may be room for an inside joke here.
>>"I can respect an NDA. Some contractors insist on 'em."
That made Lana feel relieved. She didn't like having to go into all the details, it made her feel defensive. But Noel clearly had experience before with this sort of thing. So it certainly took the weight off Lana's shoulders. She didn't like keeping secrets... she just had to sometimes.
>>"Ah-I dunno about family, but I do know that I don't really date all that well." Friends? Noel checked her arm.
Lana cracked a grin. "Does any mutant?" she laughed sarcastically. "As if dating wasn't hard enough, we get to throw funky powers into the mix!"
"Eh. Probably no visitors for a bit either. I don't really know anybody on my list, but my phone says both Kyle and Ty are still in town."
She'd met a Ty. In a huge city like New York, what were the chances of it being the same one? Probably pretty unlikely. So Lana decided to not sound crazy and bring it up. She'd fall into the Canadian stereotype of "do you know Steve from Canada?"
"I've debated marking out the names of people I know that moved or haven't talked to me in a long while, but... well, what if they call?"
"That sounds reasonable." commented Lana. "I mean, even if they aren't around, who knows when circumstances might bring them back into your life. You'll want to know you can trust them."
>>"What about you? Got any family hanging around? You seem too busy for boys, no offense."
"My parents... are back home in Toronto. That's who I've been skyping with. Starting to get elderly... needing a lot of help. That sort of deal. I don't have any other family besides my sister..." now she'd done it, eluded to her sister in the present tense. So she took a breath of nail-polish air which made her slightly dizzy and decided to soldier on through anyway. "...she's the ghost I keep seeing. Died when she was a teenager. But she's still here you know, so it's not like she's gone." Lana fumbled through an explanation. It was quiet for a moment before she jumped back in. "I date for educational purposes." she laughed. "I mean, dating in general is pretty damn hard with my mutation. But I do go on dates and I have to admit I practice my profiling skills. My sister and I usually bet on how long each date will last and when the guy will take off running. I guess it's evil of me to admit it's terribly fun."
Lana's eyed widened and instantly her mind went into panic. What did he mean? Was he like Laura? She studied his face. She couldn't place him. Had he been a cop? Someone who died from the institution? A doctor? How could she end up with yet another ghost following her around! This was a nightmare. Laura was more than enough but at least she knew Laura. She must have met this guy briefly and he attached to her because of her mutation. She stared daggers at him while her mind processed it all. Profiling him. Trying to figure out who he was based on the slightest detail in his clothing, hair style, expression on his face even. But she was drawing a blank. Usually she was so good in high pressured situations.
The next thing she knew the ghost reached out and grabbed her coffee and her phone, taking a drink of the coffee, and clearly tapping through her history. Lana's mind didn't exactly jump to the conclusion that he was alive. For a few seconds she pondered the possibility of a spirit of a dead mutant still having some powers. She'd also met spirits who could move certain objects slightly- perhaps he'd mastered it? Of course he could be alive... in which case she'd feel severely embarrassed in about 2 minutes. But that didn't explain the haze surrounding him. Her clinical mind was kicking back in.
>>"Wow... would you like some coffee with your cream and sugar there red?"
Lana narrowed her eyes at him. "You shouldn't take what isn't yours." she spat, snatching her coffee back, spilling a few droplets on his sleeve. Okay, so maybe that wouldn't happen with a ghost either. Her cheeks reddened.
"I've died from carbon dioxide poisoning, breaking my neck, and being burned at the stake along with quite a few others though I'm not dead at this moment though there must be someone here that is because you were not just talking on your phone. Last call was at least an hour or two ago not 2 or 3 minutes."
She stared at him. Did he just out-profile her?! Granted, Lana would never resort to an illegal measure such as snatching someone's personal phone and looking at it. Well. She usually wouldn't do something like that. Had this been some sort of contest he most certainly would have been cheating. And then, it suddenly dawned on her exactly what he must be.
"Resurgence. I've read about it. In papers. When they tried to study Wolverine and other well known mutants who could cheat death." Lana said falling comfortably back into the role of the psychologist. He'd caught her off guard, gotten her off her game. A trick the psychopaths often tried to do at the institution but always failed. She was angry she was the one to fail this time. All she could do was blame her distraction on her sister and her work. She was usually much better than this. She needed to be. It could make the difference in life or death. "So you're a mutant. And you know I'm one too. Not something I typically use to introduce myself." she studied him wearily.
Lately all she'd been meeting were mutants in New York. There had certainly been many in L.A. but she'd at least met many humans first. Aside from the people she worked with Lana wasn't sure she'd met a single human yet. To think this man could cheat death time and time again.... while she lived in constant fear of it. Her fear of death woke her up every night. Regardless of whatever baggage came with his mutation- and she knew there would be some there always was- she couldn't help but think she'd trade mutations with him in a second to escape her phobia.
"I'm Dr. Lana Than." she said professionally, reaching over and taking her phone back. "I see dead people, and to avoid looking crazy in public I pretend to talk on my phone. I thought you were dead. You look like someone who is dead. Er... no offence" she'd been so close. So close to sounding perfectly professional and perfectly normal, until the awkwardness crept in and she lost it at the end. "...and you are... a mutant with the power to cheat death? be reborn? resurgence? Maybe one who'd forgotten his manners about meeting people?" a twinkle in her eye suggested she was annoyed, but maybe not all together offended, and maybe just slightly amused.
She looked around at the confidential files she had piled on the table, and reached across quickly stacking them into a neat pile and putting them into a bag. It was always risky to take files into the public, but she'd had a stellar record of being accountable. There was no way she could stay on her case load without taking things home with her. But that wasn't to say she wasn't breaking a few rules by having them out. If a file got lost, fell into the hands of the media, or someone worse... Lana would be permanently out of any job.
"Adapteds have been sort of a good news bad news thing for me. They shut off the echoes so that's nice, but they sort of send the playbacks into shock if I sleep in one of their fields. That's an experiment I won't try again." She said with a shake of her head.
Lana nodded. "My mutation affects my sleep frequently. In the past I've sought out adapted roommates so I could sleep better." she admitted. Even though she and Evelyn had different mutations it was interesting to see how much they had in common. "You know, I follow so much of the genetics of mutations, for my work and research. With everything we have that is similar despite having different mutations, I have to wonder if we have some common gene history." What was it about them that made their mutations play out the way they did? It was a curious thing for sure. Whenever Lana had lulls in her work she enjoyed reading the latest scientific journals and articles on the topics. She liked staying up to date.
"The Mansion is pretty nice. It's a school for mutants, and some people live there, others just take classes and stuff. You might find it interesting. I never really expected to settle in there but it grew on me. If you ever want a tour they're more than happy to show you around. I'm not really that great at tours, admittedly." She chuckled slightly.
"I think I will look into it." she agreed. "I keep hearing so many positive things. I did see on their website you can sign up for a tour. I just wasnt sure if that applied to non-students." she admitted. "Crazy to think of everything Charles Xavier has done for mutants. I know this is a sister school of his original one. The history is so interesting." she mused.
"If you get the time though it's worth checking out. Even if you just want to meet some of the other mutants in the area."
"Thanks Evelyn. I really appreciate that." it was then that Lana's watch beeped signalling 5 minutes until her lunch break was over. She was surprised the time went by so quickly. She'd hardly eaten anything because she'd been so interested in chatting. "Well, that's my alarm." she explained. "I've got to get back to the grind." she reached in her purse and dug out a business card. "I'd love to hear from you again and keep in touch." Lana gave her best smile. "I don't know many people yet, mutant or not." she handed Evelyn the card."I really appreciate you stopping to chat"
>>"I'm not so bad that I'd need a video every morning. Actually a side effect of my grace is... well, I know when people are lying. But only people.TV, telephone, written word... none of that registers as false. Just when I'm talking to people face to face."
Lana nodded, still feeling a bit embarrassed at her suggestions. She noted what Noel had said about lying. Lana was not in the habit of lying. "I want you to know then, even without that trait I wouldn't intentionally lie to you. But there may be instances because of the sensitive nature of my work in which I won't be able to discuss things or must withhold information." Best to get that out of the way right away. Some people didn't understand that she signed non-disclosures for all her jobs. She could be legally held liable or it could corrupt a case if she were to release details to someone of the everyday public. One previous roommate had taken it a bit personally. Lana was surprised she hadn't said this to Noel sooner, but she'd been so distracted by the moving process.
>>"Can I paint your nails? Will the cops care? I can only paint my toenails. Keeping stuff on my hands like rings, tattoos, or nail polish is against uniform regulations."
Lana gave a musical laugh. "Sure. I'm just a consultant or in some cases a contractor, I make most of my own rules for liability." she examined the colours lined up and cracked a grin. "I think yellow is nice!"
While Noel set to work with nail polish Lana set to work trying to get to know her better without prying. "So do you have any family around here? Anyone you're dating? Any close friends I can expect will drop in for a visit?" she thought about the tattoos and wondered if anyone on that list might show up. "I've only met a handful of people so far." she added thinking of Evelyn, Ty, and her boss.
Lana saw the ghostly man walking toward her though, she was trying to look like she was working. She mentally cursed. Okay Lana, just ignore him, you can't see ghosts. You can't see him. No reasons why he should talk to you. When he gets closer he'll realize you're normal and keep going. They always get so excited when they think they've found someone.
Lana did her best to appear busy and distracted while still monitoring the situation. How did the man die? Had it been an accident getting his coffee? Had he had a heart attack in this very cafe or something of the sort? (like what she was expecting for the burly man behind her). Spirits often got stuck in locations of significance, in her experience at least. Maybe he was a habitual coffee drinker and came here every day?
Suddenly he approached, stopped in front of her, and was now asking to sit down. Spirits didn't usually ask first. Maybe the poor sap barely realized he was dead. She felt a pang of guilt.
"Look buddy..." she started. "I can't help you. All I can do is see and hear you. I'm not some medium." she kept her voice low and her face down as to not draw attention to herself. It seemed to be working, no one noticed she was speaking to a person who wasn't there. "I feel for you, I'm sorry you died. But you gotta understand how much this happens to me. I just can't go out running every errand every ghosts sends me on. If you wanna cross over or whatever, you're going to have to figure out what it is that's keeping you here." she looked up at him then. He seemed more tangible but still had the haze around him. Perhaps he didn't die a terribly awful traumatic death. Was there any other kind? Lana usually found the more unhinged the death- the more unhinged the spirit. If he had died from natural causes that would explain his apparent clarity. As opposed to someone who had been murdered or in an accident.
"There's really nothing else I can do. Have you figured out yet if you're tied to this spot or can you leave?" if he was tied to a person, he might be showing up at the coffee place out of habit.
It was always hard to know what stage of acceptance a spirit was in- if at all. But the more balanced ones always came across like this, and they always seemed to understand they were dead and had to achieve something to move on. Some didn't want to move on, at least not yet. They enjoyed people watching. Especially if they were like Laura and tied to a person they could follow around.
>>"Okay, we've got Unicornado, the follow up to Sharknado, robots that change into cars, and aliens that... fall in love... erm, with dolphins...It's good, un-complicated fun that's totally unbelievable and pretty much nightmare proof."
"Dolphinently Dolphins then." grinned Lana trying, and failing, at making a joke. More cookie dough!
Noel popped in a disk, and dashed out of the room returning with nail polish. Lana looked down at her own nails. She was lucky enough that her nails grew quite long and strong on their own. But she never really knew how to take care of them. No big sister to show her how, grieving mother had no time for girly things. She examined her own nails and wondered if she dared even try...
>>"I'm a little surprised that I didn't think of tattoos before, honestly. According to my phone, most of this stuff is quite recent. Almost like my life started fresh from some point this year."
Lana raised an eyebrow. Not in a rude way, just in a "I'm listening" sort of way. It sounded like Noel's memory had restarted quite recently. In a way, Noel reminded her of the spirits she often dealt with. So many of them couldn't remember anything outside of their death. It made her shutter for a moment. She stole a glance at Noel sincerely hoping this was all real and she hadn't invited a ghost to live with her. Sometimes it was hard to know. She mentally chastised herself. If Noel was a spirit Laura would have told her.
>>"Look, I did the moping thing for a while and it just wasn't for me. This works, the tattoos and the phone. I know I'd be screwed if one of those links broke, but I've got the phone insured and auto-backed-up. As far as I know, you have to pay a fortune to remove a tattoo." Noel shrugged at Lana as the opening previews rolled by. "I just have to live in the now."
"Hmmm..." thought Lana. She had a few ideas for Noel but she knew first hand herself how frustrating it could be when people were 'well meaning' but ignorant. Always with the best intentions, but somehow screwing things up. She decided to use movies as a talking point since Noel seemed to enjoy them. "Have you ever seen the movie 50 First Dates? Drew Barrymore's character has short term memory loss. Yada yada guy likes her she loves him can't remember him the next day, eventually when they get together and get married he makes her tapes to watch each morning that catch her up on her life. Obviously he updates them once in a while. Have you ever thought of something like that? I mean, for her it was her husband making tapes and I guess if you don't remember people, you might not remember to trust them. But if you made the tapes yourself you'd maybe trust yourself." She instantly regretted the suggestion. She had no idea how often Noel lost her memories or what was involved. She had just tried to water Noel's life down into a movie. She frowned. Sometimes she wish she thought a little harder before talking to every day people. It was so much easier with psychopaths.
>>"That's weird. Yellow's not even my favorite color."
Lana looked down at the bottles and noticed the colour, but her mind was still wondering about Noel's memory. What if Noel forgot her?
>>"Yeah, I think your car's totally empty. If you find anything that fell through the cracks, well... you know where I live."
"Right on!" Lana gave a thumbs up, happy the moving process was finally over for both of them. It wasn't that it was stressful- just that Lana was eager to get into a routine.
>>Noel slid the plant across the counter top and it stopped pitifully short of Lana's hand, but the message was clear. The plant was for Lana. "It's a gift." Noel flicked her long braid over her shoulder and cleared her throat. "Y'know. To celebrate moving day. This too." Noel waggled the cookie dough at Lana. "Cook it or just get spoons?"
Lana beamed. She liked how much Noel made her genuinely smile. She felt like she had a real chance at friendship here. She felt like a little kid when things like this happened. Not entirely sure of the social protocols by expressing the joy nonetheless. "Wow thank you!" she excitedly took the fern and hugged the pot to her chest. "I love plants. I know some people have a hard time keeping them but to me they're company that wont haunt or talk back." she laughed. "They brighten up a space and the air." she placed the plant on the table already deciding already that she'd pick up a ceiling hook and hang the plant in front of the window tomorrow.
She answered the question about the cookie dough by skipping to the kitchen and pulling two spoons out of the drawer. She handed one to Noel with a grin. Lana was in comfy clothes too from all the moving and office work. Tomorrow she'd be back to tailored suits. Dress to impress and all that.
>>"I was kinda hoping you might have some time tonight to veg in front of the TV. I have a couple movies.We could paint nails, you know... do the girl thing."
That caught Lana a little off guard. Truth be known, she had a lot of work to do. She knew with the recent cases of mutant murder and attacks on mutants she'd be kept very busy through the FBI and NYPD. Plus there was her caseload at the institution. Her mind tried to talk some sense into her, about trying to get ahead in the work load so she wouldn't be stressed later... but Lana knew... sooner or later she'd have a sleepless night and need the distraction of work to keep the demons at bay. So she stood considering all of this for only a few seconds before nodding enthusiastically. "I'd love that." she exclaimed.
It wasn't long before Lana was sitting on the couch cross legged eating cookie dough with her spoon. She'd poured herself and Noel some mugs of cocoa- a selection of Noel's movies in front of them to choose from, and the apartment was feeling like a home. She hadn't seen Laura and was reminded of their earlier spat. It was probable that Laura was trying to give Lana her space. But of course, it always made her a bit nervous. She'd been so busy she'd even neglected to write very detailed notes in her notebook about how many times she'd seen Laura. But she did have a reminder on her phone tomorrow to catch up. It's was ritualistic but it helped her feel sane.
"You know, I did notice your tattoos when we were moving." said Lana. "I profile people even when I don't mean to, it's sort of a trait I can't turn off." she admitted. "I imagine it must be very frustrating dealing with your mutation like that. I don't know the significance of the names but I can take a wild guess." she spooned some more cookie dough into her mouth. "I don't want to make you uncomfortable and get all heavy about it. but you can always talk to me. I'd like to be your friend. But as a psychologist I'm also really good at listening." she teased. "I'll try to keep the medical mumbo jumbo at bay." a wink for added effect. Noel reminded Lana of the character in Memento, suffering from amnesia, tattooing himself to try and remember things.
ooc: think I accidentally stole your text colour, I'll try to do mine a little different so we don't confuse people!
ic:
Lana hadn't noticed the man standing off to the side with his new coffee. Normally, she would register every single person who walked into the place as a way to practice her observation skills. but right now she was engaged in a conversation with her dead sister, and doing her best to fake having a muffled phone conversation with a living sister. She always despised people who chatted for long periods of time on their cell phones in public. A short call here or there couldn't be avoided. But keep those long conversations away from public ears! It was something she couldn't avoid with Laura though. If she acknowledges her dead sister without any thought, she'd live up to that reputation of schizophrenia very easily.
"I just don't see how it's any of your business." replied Lana, feeling her cheeks turn a little red at the argument. Laura had interrupted her latest case- which was currently sprawled in the usual fashion all over the table. "I've got my patients to worry about, and now the NYPD are talking about handling that mutant killer case off to the FBI because it's looking bigger and bigger. I need to get that profile done and I'm convinced it's multiple perps and if I don't make my case soon the window for it will close." she explained in hushed tones. "You know how hard it is for me to convince prescient to pony up the money for my services and take them seriously. I've never been wrong, but I need to get through this and you lecturing me about my new roommate isn't helping!"
Lana stared daggers across the table at her sister who was invisible to everyone else. "Well like I said, I think she's nice but you already had 3 night terrors. Either make use of her mutation or get an adapted roommate!" said Laura exasperated.
"That's not your decision. Sometimes we give up those comforts for...." stammered Lana.
"For what...?" probed Laura.
"For friendship." sighed Lana. "You know friendships don't come easily to me. I have a lot of baggage with my mutation and well... you. Noel wasn't scared off by any of that. I need a friend, Laura. You know this." she was growing sadder talking to Laura about this, because she knew deep down Laura's concern was that she wouldn't be able to see or speak with Lana as much if she had a new friend. Laura died as a teenager. Ghosts didn't age. She still had the mentality of a teenager. It didn't annoy Lana. It made her sad.
"You can have a friend and not be there roommate." quipped Laura.
"This discussion is over." said Lana with a wave of her hand. "I need to get this work done, and you know it. Now fly off. Maybe be of some help." she pretended to turn the phone off to signal to her sister she was done acknowledging her. In earlier years Laura would protest and try everything she could to distract her sister, but truthfully, Laura knew the work her sister was doing was important. So she dissipated.
Lana sat stunned for a moment, staring at the documents in front of her. She was convinced it was multiple perps now, even if they had the same M.O. She just had to prove it. And on top of that she needed to make recommendations for the latest intake of patients at the institution. A high profiled murderer would be brought in in another week, and she wasn't prepared in the slightest. A media frenzy would happen and she needed to be on her toes.
Despite it all, Lana was tired and weary. She was usually filled with resolve when it came to her work but the argument with her sister had left her drained. So her eyes scanned the room for people to profile. She'd already profiled a few people. The waitress had barely said two sentences to her but Lana's keen skills had already deduced that she had been a teen mom and now in her twenties had a pre-teen son. She'd been at this coffee shop for a number of years, but was also trying to get an education. Lana would bet money it was in the trades field based on the amount of cuts and scrapes on her hands. You didn't get those working in a coffee shop and they were in various stages of healing.
The man behind her was most certainly cheating on his wife, working a white collar job, and whether he knew it or not was probably due for a heart attack sometime soon. The woman having an awkward conversation with a young man at one of the smaller tables at the back was obviously gay and wondering how to let the guy down who'd been so eager in pursuing her.
Lana's skills had nothing to do with her mutation. It was just good psychology work and keen instincts that had been honed for her skill.
Her eyes fell on the man looking a bit lost with his cup. Possibly mid-late 40's but it was hard to tell. He could very well be in his 30s but simply worn down from either some recent trauma or an awful lot of baggage. On second glance, something seemed a bit off. It was almost like she could see a hazy aura around him. Was he dead? As long as she didn't draw any attention to herself, if he was dead he shouldn't have any reason to come bother her.
Lana was caught off guard when the stranger obviously caught her staring, and responded with a smile. Her heart jumped into her throat. Lana was socially awkward. She did not know what was appropriate in these situations. Her eyes went a little wide, and she forced a very weird smile. "Great. Good going crazy lady." she told herself mentally. "Look like a lunatic to the smiling mutant." she spun her drink in her hands and watched the condensation on the glass. She'd been trying to profile this guy discretely- for practice purposes- and he'd caught her. Some profiler she was. Now what? Might as well just bite the bullet. She'd met more mutants in New York than she had humans, and so far everyone single one of them seemed really cool. Most of them knew a thing or two about that mansion she was interested in as well.
"Hey there!" she said pulling up a chair next to him. "My name is Lana? Mind if I join?" she wasn't trying to be rude, she was just awkward, and didn't really give him a chance to say no. She simply plopped herself down with her beer, and brushed her red locks out of her face. This time she gave him a genuine smile.
Lana had been in her office with headphones on when Noel arrived. She'd been expecting her, but unfortunately couldn't reschedule the Skype call with her parents. "I'll be out in just a minute!" she called from the computer screen, adjusting the angle of the laptop screen to better see her dad.
"That's the new roommate, Noel. She just got here." explained Lana.
"That sounds good. You've sure had a lot of roommates Lana Banana". Her dad Remarked, calling her by his petname for her.
"Well Dad, I've had to move around a lot for work." she replied, instantly regretting it. Her Dad always pried about her work.
"I don't like that." he said, for the millionth time. "You have so much talented you don't have to spend it on criminals." he added.
"Someone has to. We've had this discussion before Dad, and now I've got to go see Noel." she replied trying to keep her tone positive. "Please tell mom I love her, maybe she'll see me next time." fat chance. Her mother would never Skype. Something about having no choice but to talk to Lana face to face really intimidated her. She preferred indirect communication. Even in person, her mother didn't look right at her very much. Lana suspected she reminded her too much of her sister. "Love you daddy." she said ending the call, aware of how childlike she sounded. But it made her father smile to be called daddy, so she'd keep doing it.
Lana stood up and stretched, and padded out into the hallway to see Noel with a few things in her hands. "You get everything out and back in alright?" she asked referring to the last items Noel had moved. "Your room was looking good last I checked." she smiled. She hadn't been snooping, their rooms were directly across from each other and Lana had been helping bring boxes in. "Almost feels like home eh?" she grinned.
