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.
ooc: always up for an open thread, hope you don't mind!
IC:
Lana was tired from the very long day she'd had. It started with a murder investigation early in the morning. A mutant had been killed and the police were worried they had a serial killer on their hands. While the MO seemed similar to other recent killings, something about it just didn't jive we Lana. At first she'd think copycat but not a lot of the other killings had been publicized. It was clear there was a connection, but she just didn't believe it was all one person. There were some striking differences. Of course, they wanted a profile and it's not something she could simply produce out of thin air. So she'd made some appointments to start having meetings and collecting data.
After that she'd spent a tiresome afternoon at the institution interviewing 3 other inmates and adding to their files. Two had been sincerely off the wall and getting any information from them was like trying to watch paint dry and enjoy it. The other had been far more interesting. A paranoid fellow. No diagnosed mutation but she had a feeling about him.
She'd come home for an hour but on the way ran into a very traumatic ghosts experience. It was able to follow her for quite a while before it dissipated and the experience had left her feeling quite jarred. She spent the rest of the time on the treadmill before heading to the FBI station to check in.
Now she was exhausted and a cold beer seemed like the right way to take the edge off. So long as she only sipped one with her meal she'd be fine to drive. She entered the bar with the jingle of the door and made a bee line for the the bar stools. She often found that people watching from that perspective was good practice, and if she wasn't in a booth or at a table then people wouldn't wander over and try to sit with her. She'd often get men hitting on her and she really had no interest in dates at the moment.
After she ordered her drink she noticed someone sitting a few seats down from her. Now, Lana always noticed people. She profiled. She did this for a living and it never really turned off. But there was really no way she couldn't have noticed this person and she was sure she wasn't the only one. He was very very white. More than something like albino skin. She wondered if he was a mutant.
She decided to watch him out of her peripheral vision. She wasn't aware- being new in NYC- if this was the type of bar that was mutant friendly. She hoped so- since he was very obviously one.
"Only a few days ago." admitted Lana. "I'm not huge on creature comforts. It usually takes me a while to...settle into a place. Truthfully I never invest too much until I'm sure I wont be, well there's no other way to say it really... haunted?" she looked at Noel questioningly to see if she would catch the drift. "So far so good here. I signed the lease anyway so if something goes bump in the night I'm still sorta stuck ahah" she laughed nervously. She pushed her red hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ears.
Laura was watching from next to Noel, and Lana tried not to pay attention to her. She had disappeared when they left the cafe but she was back now, and obviously looking Noel over. Noel wasn't an idiot and whether it was her intuition or her mutation Lana felt certain she has some sort of idea what was going on. But she still didn't want to be rude and tried to look everywhere except where her dead sister was standing.
"Some of that stuff I have already, if you could wait a couple days. My lease is up Tuesday, but my next day off is Friday. Like. This Friday."
"Friday is great!" beamed Lana. "I have to go into the precinct first thing in the morning but I'm done by noon and barring an emergency I am free after that. If you wanted I could swing by wherever you're staying now and help you get stuff loaded in. Unless you'd rather get a moving van. I don't mind making a couple trips." again she had that flitter of nervousness that she might be coming off too eager. >>"I was hoping to pick up some more winter stuff."
"I need clothes. Which takes considerably longer than just picking up some stuff. So I can do that later if you want."
"Well that's great, I read online there is a factory outlet for a lot of that gear at the mall. In regards to your clothing it's really up to you, I don't mind. All you're doing is saving me from very boring case work." she gave a lopsided grin. "Also... contract?"
Lana whirred around and dashed back into her bedroom. She came out with the lease agreement and a new bounce in her step. Noel was going to stay! Noel would be her new roomate! The deal was practically sealed! Yay! "Here it is!" she exclaimed passed it to her. "Rent is due by the 30th of each month for the following month, except in February, 28th for obvious reasons." she laughed. The superintended has tried explaining that part to her very slowly and they got embarrassed when he saw her ID badge and realized she was a doctor of sorts.
Posted by Lana on Dec 2, 2013 20:50:04 GMT -6
Lana likes this
Epsilon Mutant
57
6
May 3, 2014 19:00:29 GMT -6
Hey folks, now that Lana has heard of the mansion officially from several, she's interested in touring it. I'm looking for a few people who would be interested in being in a thread! One official adult to lead a tour would be cool and perhaps some students to pop in during the thread and say hi to demonstrate mansion living and their capabilities? Let me know and I can set something up!
>>"I was born with the echoes, so I guess I've done decently coping with them. But there is no off button, so that gets annoying. It's like having constant chatter in your head no one can hear. When I was younger people would give me a hard time about it, and my parents tried to keep it under wraps. It's gotten better after being at the Mansion though."
Lana nodded. "Mine didn't start until puberty which I guess is usual for most mutants. Though my sister was adapated so whenever she was around she cancelled it out. I had a few incidents as a child but it's hard to know what was child imagination and what could have possibly been a mutation." that was all she really wanted to say about it. She didn't feel like getting into the whole history of being misdiagnosed with schizophrenia after her sister died. It was exhausting since she had to live with the reality every day.
"You mentioned the Mansion. I keep hearing about this place. I had looked it up before coming, it's a school for mutants right? I hadn't realized until recently it was a mansion..." she trailed off thinking for a moment. "I'm interested in visiting some time, I'd really like from a bit of a clinical perspective to see how things are run, how the mutants are all interacting with each other, but I've also heard they give great resources and information to outside mutants." she smiled. "Either way I'd really love to hear more about it, maybe I could call and arrange a tour or something."
Lana giggled. "I'm glad you like it. It can be a bit noisy at night because of the street down there..." she motioned "but that apparently won't bother either of us night owls." she shrugged and opened the curtains a little more to let the light in.
She didn't have a whole lot of furniture yet. A simple black couch was against the far wall, a tall potted palm tree (Lana loved having plants around, they helped her feel calm), a treadmill stood in the corner with a pair of 10lbs free weights nestled next to it, a medium sized flat tv was on the wall... as Lana's eyes drifted around imagining how Noel was perceiving this she hoped it didn't come off the wrong way. Lana had money. You didn't work in high level psychiatry without getting money. But she didn't spend much on herself. She wore fitted suits, had a decent and reliable car, and reasonable appliances. She enjoyed buying things used if they were in good condition, and wasn't one to sporadically dump a lot of cash.
She wasn't hurting for money. Her parents were. She sent quite a bit back to keep them living in their own home. Her father was aging and was having a harder time, his mind wandered, his hip needed replacing, and he was one of those people who didn't do retirement well. Part of what Lana paid for was a nurse for in home care to visit several times a week, a molly-maid type service to help her mother keep on top of things around the house, and a young local boy who would visit to do whatever heavy lifting her father felt like assigning. The house had been paid off for years, but on two small pensions her parents couldn't afford upgrades or much of the upkeep, so Lana paid for that too. Truth be told, she was considering having a long talk with her father about installing a chair lift over the staircase until he could have hip surgery.
Having this sort of relationship with her parents helped them all stay distracted. There wasn't typically any talk about her dead sister, and nothing they spoke about went beyond the surface level of familial communication. It was just easier that way. One time a few years ago Lana's mother had cracked and asked about Laura. Laura begged her not to say anything, it was too painful. Lana knew for their mother to ask was a huge thing- she never did wrap her head around the fact that Lana was a mutant and not simply schizophrenic. (as if there was anything simple about it).
"your bathroom is over here." called Lana leading Noel down the little hall. She pointed to a small white tiled room with an old style sink and a claw foot tub. It also let it a remarkable amount of light. "The bedroom is right here."
There wasn't anything in the bedroom but it was hardwood floor, nice white paneling on the walls, good light, and chilly. "The heat is electric." said Lana when she noticed the brisk chill. "I haven't really been in here so I haven't turned it on yet, but doesn't take long to heat up." she pointed to the dial on the wall. "Because it's electric it's all included in rent, same with water. But they did want rental insurance so I went ahead and got that. Wasn't much actually. Got a deal through my insurance agent." it had only been 100$ for the year for 100,000$ in coverage. Lana didn't think she even owned 100,000$ worth of stuff yet.
She let Noel stand in the room for a moment and dashed to her own to grab her list. "Ah here we go." she said as she walked back to join her. "Just odds and ends really. A shower curtain..." that had been an enjoyable first shower when she realized she had forgotten it. "a bath mat, dish rack, spare light bulbs..." she prattled on a list of odds and ends. "I need to pick up winter boots too and some warmer mitts." she added.
"and I guess... if you wanted to we can always pick up anything you'd like... if you want to stay?" she smiled. "I can bring the stuff back here and drop you off wherever you like when we're done." she was hoping Noel would be willing to move in soon if she really was as into the place as she seemed.
I am 2 days behind, will get caught up soon. Had a CRAZY gig filled weekend and need to get some videowork done for a client, should be back to my regular plan by monday
Ooc: I'm going to skip us through driving and just take us to the apartment if that's okay, feel free to add in anything from the drive if you want.
Ic:
"Oh. Could I take your picture? For identification purposes." Lana was used to having her photo taken for all the various ID passes she needed for her work. SO it didn't catch her off guard when Noel asked, but she did think for a moment and realized with her mutation revolving around memory it was likely having a photo just helped.
"Sure!" Lana gave a cheesy grin for the camera phone. "The mall isn't may favorite place, but I think I can suffer through. Just keep me from buying anything too horrible? I have a fondness for things unloved and ugly. Fuchsia is my weakness."
"I'm not a big fan of crowds but I find them unavoidable. Even if there aren't living people around there seem to be dead ones." shrugged Lana. "But we can certainly be in and out. I have a list at the apartment."
She stood up and made sure all of her files were accounted for and in their bag. She adjusted her jacket, tossed her scarf around her neck (A few seasons of BBC's Sherlock had convinced her scarfs were pretty much the sexiest accessory ever.) and picked up her gloves. "I'm sure this will sound obnoxious with this being New York and the traffic terrible and everyone relying on public transit, but I actually have a car." She motioned to her stellar parking job that could be seen from the coffee shop window. An average sized white car was perfectly parallel parked. "With my work I often get called in for emergencies, or into crime scenes. When I'm really needed I actually get police escort and can drive as fast as I want." She wasn't intended it to sound like bragging, she simply always felt the need to explain everything. Force of habit. If she narrated all these things and people came to know her as someone who narrated her thoughts they maybe wouldn't be as freaked out if they caught her speaking to a ghost.
Lana led the way to her car - which was in pristine condition inside- and opened the door from the inside for Noel. "I'm not a neat freak or anything. I just tend to not have a lot of personal possessions in case I need to pick up and go for work. I replace most things, get used things, give things away... so there's really not much to leave in the car." She also forgot to eat pretty often because of how busy she could be, and sometimes because of anxiety. How ironic was it to be a psychologist who experienced anxiety? Most patients never realized their head doctors got into the game because they overcame a battle too and wanted to help others. It was certainly more common than most people realized.
The drive didn't take as long as Lana feared. They beat the rush hour traffic and Lana asked Noel a few questions about landmarks as they drove. She was remarkably skilled at driving in New York. It could be crazy driving, but Lana was always good in high pressure situations. She could make quick decisions. She could be calculating even though she had the habit of getting lost in her thoughts.
They arrived at the apartment which didn't look like much from the outside. Just a simply standard New York flat. Lana lead Noel up the creaky stairs and popped her key in the handle. Inside it was beautiful. Hardwood floors, new paint, and beautifully large windows that let in a lot of light. "I feel sort of guilty" she admitted. "It seems like the perfect place for a bunch of art students." She motioned with her hand. "Well, come on in. Take a look around." she gave Noel a welcoming smile.
Sounds good, so Streak just keep me posted when you want to start. Maybe we can do a few posts in a thread and then open it up to anyone who had an experience with the zodiac to come in and be interviewed?
"I don't mind about the office. I shouldn't have homework."
Lana gave a mental sigh of relief. She was worried not sharing the office or not having space for two would be a deal breaker. It was hard to know. She had lived with a guy who was super OCD about that stuff.
So far the more she spoke with Noel the more she got that familiar feeling she had around her past roommates. That this was a person who could be counted on, but also knew how to respect privacy and space. Plus, it was a real treat to actually see someone her own age.
"Is a problem that I mostly work nights? I was thinking your night terrors wouldn't bother me since I wouldn't be there, but you don't...need somebody there? Like, when that kinda stuff happens?"
Lana thought for a moment. She was caught off guard by Noel's indirect offer for help. Well, maybe not an offer, but there was a kind intention there. "I'm pretty okay honestly. It's freaky, it lasts a few seconds, but I can usually tell what's going on. I'm more anxious about freaking you out or ruining your sleep... honestly." she admitted. "I'm supposedly able to make my own schedule. I'd rather work at night but I'm not sure I get a choice unless I get slotted for the night shift at the institution."
Noel joked about sticky notes, and then Lana recognized the old familiar glow of a cell phone lighting up. Noel quickly checked it.
"I actually had one more interview I was going to go on today. But I don't think I'll need that interview. I have a couple hours before work. I don't know what your plans are like today, but do you have some time to hang?"
Lana grinned from ear to ear and then tried to reel it in. This was a great chance to get to know Noel, but also to see if she'd been right about any of her observations too. "Sure! That sounds like a lot more fun than this." she exclaimed motioning to her pile of folders. "Actually, we could swing by the apartment and I could drop this stuff off, and then what do you maybe think of heading to the mall? I need to pick up a few things for the place and then I'm sure I'll be hungry at some point." she'd had a tea and a muffin here but she knew that wouldn't last long. She hoped she didn't come off too eager. She was feeling far less awkward.
>> The General can be profiled too, but remember; he's only going to show up as a voice after the attacks are done, so you probably won't have much to work with on him. He's going to be the shadow leader until near the end; heck, he probably won't even announce himself as the General in his message.
I think it's a good challenge because when you think about the actual practical application of profiling, police have no idea who a murderer is. They use profiling as trying to find out who it is, by looking at their victims, the crimes they can tie them to etc. But I think it would make more sense for them to profile the known zodiacs and then realize someone else is pulling the strings and start to theorize about him. Profiling isn't always right or an exact science so there's totally room for getting it wrong (on purpose!).
I sort of see our idea as running in tandem with these threads. So a thread at the police station discussing everything that's been known so far etc. And then eventually probably merge into the final thread(s) if that makes any sense?
Lana nodded listening to Ty explain himself. "We all have. Contrary to popular belief: Life is anything but easy. Did you know 75% of kids experience a traumatic moment by age 10? Trauma, bad things, bad people... they happen to all of us multiple times in our life. But the media would have us believe it's a rare occurrence so nobody talks about it." she frowned. "But trust me Ty. At the risk of breaking my image here, I have seen some f*cked up shit." she gave a devious grin, having dared to curse in a public library. "I see actual psychopaths every day. People who have murdered other people. But sometimes, a person just got that way because they haven't had any help when they needed it. Not everyone is crazy, a lot of people are just pushed to their limit with no support."
She really did have to get going, so she adjusted the bag her books were now in, and plunked it on her shoulder. "Please don't hesitate to call." she waved and headed out the library doors.
>>"Yeah, I only know what my sister had told me before she moved in. Not as much as I should. I honestly haven't seen her in quite some time. I mean, I need to, but I just got caught up in things that were going on. Mostly doing one-time jobs to make a little cash, but..."
Lana frowned. "Listen Ty..." she started a little wearily. "I can tell you're a guy who has probably been through some... stuff." she paused and thought about how to word this next part, but instead dug through her purse and produced her new business cards. "If you ever need to talk to someone... give me a call okay?" she passed him the business card "...and, I mean, don't worry about payment or anything. I'd see you probono if you think you needed it. Or if you find yourself in a situation and just need... outside advice." she pressed the card into his hand and gave him a knowing smile. "I'll see you around."
>>"Yeah, I'm off of the streets; got a safe place to go and all. Thanks,"
Lana forced a smile in response. She couldn't help the twinge of worry. Ty seemed like the kind of guy who was a bit of a rebel without a cause. Maybe his mutation made him that way. She knew a lot of kids ended up on the streets because of their mutation, behaviour problems, or sexual orientation. It was a hard world out there. She would sadly see the results of that sitting across from her in a session. So many criminals wouldn't be that way if a kind adult had intervened when they were kids. She mentally hoped Ty had had some kind adults in his life. She knew she couldn't be more than 7 or 8 years older than he was, but she hoped she could at least be a kind person.
>>"I think the mansion is also a school of sorts. I know mutants go there to hone their powers. Sanctuary isn't so much a school as a shelter, and I don't think there's as many rules. Or shouldn't be, anyway. I'm sorta biased, after all," he winked, flashing a little goofy grin.
"Yes, I've heard more about the school end of things. So your sister goes there? Do you see her much?" she couldn't help fall into the psychologist mode. It was natural. The Sanctuary description gave her a twinge of nervousness. It sounded like a hole in the wall where street kids might settle. Most cities had some sort of place, usually full of drugs, alcohol, and violence, and this one would most likely be filled with mutants. She wondered if her colleges in the police, FBI, or the institution had heard about it.
>>"It's sounds nice though. Hopefully you'll enjoy it here. I've been with the museum for a few years now, it was my first job and I was relieved to have it. Frankly, I have always been a bit lacking in social skills thanks to the echoes, so any form of customer service seemed doomed to fail. They stuck me in the back in archives though where I couldn't mess things up, and that has worked well so far..."
"Yeah, seeing dead people can make meeting people hard." admitted Lana. "I can't believe I'm doing this well talking to you actually. I'm fine in my professional roles, but it's tricky out in public where any kind of ghost could be lurking." The truth was Lana really couldn't escape her power unless she was near an adapted person, and she had yet to meet one in New York. She wondered if it was easier for Evelyn back in the archives, if her echoes left her alone. She wanted to pry but thought better of it.
>>"New York is a tourist city, so there is lots to do for fun. The zoo, the museums. I really enjoy visiting Broadway as well. Even though I can't forget, I never get bored watching the Lion King. It's always a little different, and somehow always feels a little better each time..."
"I'd love to see the Lion King." she smiled. Something like that, maybe she wouldn't see any ghosts? And with that many people any spirits that were there maybe wouldn't recognize her gift. "So far I've just seen one of the places I'm working and my apartment. This is even my first trip to the park. I love having a green space like this right in the city." she bobbed her head cheerfully.
"So, I don't want to come off rude but I don't often get a chance to pick the brain of a similar mutant as I am. By all means, if it's none of my business you don't have to answer..." she paused taking a breath for courage. "How do you find coping with your echoes? Are they constantly going or do they turn off?"
