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.
Squashing heads and brains... that didn't even deserve a response and since it wasn't the most pleasant dinner conversation Jacen carefully laid it to the side. It was interesting information to keep in mind should his S.W.A.T. team ever be called out to deal with Brickson but other than that there was no reason to think or dwell on the subject.
"And with that you show just how alike the two of us actually are." Jacen said quietly after Lori had finished speaking, the look in his intensifying just a touch, "You're a ghost that doesn't know her place in the world. Sure, you put up a strong front, a good facade to prove to the world just how touch you are but at the same time you're searching for something."
And that was really the heart of the discussion as well as the reason that Jacen continually qualified everything. On the hand it he wasn't sure it was subject matter for discussing over dinner but on the other hand there was no guarantee on where Lori would be heading after this. If he was going to ask her then it was going to have to happen right now.
"I do qualify things." Jacen admitted after a moment, "I've never been one to force a lady to do anything but I do it more with you than anyone else I've met because you confused me." She was an enigma that never seemed to quite balance on the scale. She could be fun and vibrant like few women Jacen had met before but yet she could also be hard and even a touch cruel as he had seen at the tennis match the first time he met her. She didn't fit into any mold that he knew of and that confusion was yet another reason he was attracted to her. "But beyond confusing me, I think you confuse yourself. Your a ghost drifting, searching for something, but do you even know what it is you want? Sure you can spout off that you want money, sex, nice clothes, blah, blah, blah, but those are things. What is is that you really want?"
Picking up his beer, Jacen focused on taking a long sip while doing his best to keep his reaction to Lori's statement relatively neutral. He had known she was a thief but had never considered the idea that she might be that big time a thief. In fact, he could remember when the police report about that particular bank had been circulating through the precinct. The hole in the wall of the bank vault made it a hard case to forget. The bank employee in the vault had been rather unhelpful which normally meant he had something to hide. Considering that Lori was in the vault, it was no stretch of the imagination to come up with exactly what might have been going on before Brickson's grand entrance.
"Brains?" The question escaped Jacen's mouth before he could even stop it. Maybe he really didn't want know. In fact he could almost guarantee that he didn't really want to know but the word had been spoken and there was no taking it back.
"So I wasn't your first shower buddy?" Jacen asked with a slight grin as Lori finished her story, "I'm hurt. Although I'd be willing to bet Brickson was even more hurt."
Having already seen as well as felt some of the sparks that Lori produced when wet, there was really no question about the kind of experience that Brickson must have had in that shower. Shocking to say the least. Thinking of the sparking Lori did when damp did actually bring an interesting question to Jacen's mind though he wisely held his tongue. How many times had she actually been able to seduce a man all the way? Sex by its definition was normally a rather sweaty and damp experience which would mean that it must have been difficult for her although, with the persistance and brains that Lori had demonstrated at various times, Jacen had no doubt she could have come up with something to deal with the situation.
"So, if you don't mind my asking, what are your plans now? I know who are and what you really do so does that mean it's time for you to head out and find a better situation where you can once again hide your identity?" And that ladies and gentleman was truly the main question that he had been wanting to ask Lori. Leaning back comfortably in his seat, Jacen's eyes were direction though no accusing or even expecting. Whatever Lori decided it was her choice and he wasn't out to influence her. Sure he enjoyed their time together and was even beginning to care what happened to the blond, but if she decided to cut and run now it was still early enough that there would be no heart break. Heart ache possibly, but not heart break.
Jacen was silent for a moment as he tried to think of something that would be interesting for Kealey. There were several bars and clubs that he went to on occasions but most of them would probably be rather shocking to a good Catholic girl like her. What was something else that he found interesting but that wasn't a touch on the risque side?
"OK then." Jacen finally said as a slow smile appeared on his face, "Follow me."
Seizing Kealey's hand just to make sure they wouldn't get separated, Jacen led the way back to the elevators. Apparently quite a few of the college students had seen enough of the scenery as well and although they didn't manage to separate Jacen and Kealey, they did fill the elevator enough that the two of them actually found themselves pressed up against one another with almost no room to spare. In one way it was nice while in another way it was a little uncomfortable but Jacen decided it was probably best not to comment.
"13 Fulton Street." Jacen ordered politely as he and Kealey climbed into a cab a few minutes later. "Do you like history at all?" He asked as he turned his attention back to his blond friend while the cab merged in with traffic and began to make its way through the city, "Or what about old sailing ships and seafaring type stuff?"
***
South Street Seaport was away from the typical modern tourist attractions of New York City and instead helped to show the history behind New York's origin as a thriving port town. Bumpy cobblestone streets led down to the old wooden docks that made up the seaport. Several old style sailing ships were docked here and open for tours. The wooden walkways were littered with people, not only tourists, but also live bands and street performers that did their best to make sure that everyone was having a good time.
"Along with everything you can see here, right over there," Jacen pointed out as the two disembarked from their cab, "is Pier 17. It's an old pier that was converted in kind of an eclectic mall. They've got several different kinds of restaurants as well as shops ranging from high end boutiques to fun touristy shops."
Scanning the crowd quickly, Jacen's grin widened slightly as the saw a small size statue of liberty standing on the wooden walkways. "Come on. You've got to see this."
Once again grabbing Kealey's hand, Jacen made his way over toward the statue and then stopped approximately ten to fifteen feet away. For a few minutes nothing was happening as people continued to walk past the statue without giving it the slightest glance. A few of the tourists walked up to the statue to get their picture taken and finally it happened. The man that was actually dressed and painted to look like a statue moved and snatched the baseball cap off of one of the men's head. Quickly placing it on the tip of his torch he held his arm back aloft, so quickly that by the time the tourists spun around he was once again frozen in place just like a statue.
"Have you seen anything like that before?" Jacen asked softly with a slight twinkle in his eye, "Or have I managed to impress you again?"
Jacen raised an eyebrow ever so slightly as Lori said that he compromised who he really was but chose to let the comment slide for the moment. The worst part about it was that, in a manner of speaking, he knew she was right. On the one hand he knew exactly who he was but on the other hand he no longer understood how he was supposed to fit in with society. Sure he was part of the police force that he could no longer look at that as a life time career. All it would take was one on the job injury, blood work would get done, and just like that he would be on the sidelines because none of his team mates would be willing to work with a mutant. The fact that his blood results from the hospital hadn't been made public yet was a happy circumstance but how long would that last? Eventually they had to come out and at that point Jacen would have to begin to consider a future outside of the NYPD.
"I never said my mutation was a tragic mistake, just a wrench in the plans that I had for my life." Jacen responded seriously, somewhat surprised at the turn this conversation had taken, "At least 85 to 90 percent of the police force despises mutants. I know that I'll be getting a routine physical with blood work sometime next year and if I get injured on a mission that blood work will happen even sooner. Up until meeting you I had planned to be in S.W.A.T. until I was forced to retire. Maybe even be an instructor after it was all said and done. Am I upset that those plans are ruined? Not particularly, but I do have to begin to consider my options. The police force doesn't work as a life long career any more so that means I have to begin searching all over again."
Not wanting to drain his beer off to fast, Jacen reached over and picked up his glass of water. Sipping it slowly he continued to watch Lori while he tried to figure her out. She was a mystery in many ways and, beyond her sexiness, that was one of the things that drew him to her. Would he ever be able to figure her out or would she eventually walk out on him and head off to another man that understood her better.
"Are you two ready to order?" The waitress asked as she finally approached their table again.
"I'll take a Ribeye, medium rare, with a loaded baked potato and Cesar salad." He replied immediately as he picked up his menu and handed it over to the waitress.
"And for you ma'am?"
***
"If you don't mind my asking, how did it happen that you ended up inviting Brickson to your apartment?" Jacen asked with a sly grin after the waitress had walked off. This was obviously a more interesting topic of conversation for him and he was admittedly curious about it. "Were you seducing him because he had something you wanted, like you did me, or was it for a different reason?"
Mentally Jacen made note to ask Lori about the "nothing important" comment, but for now he let it slip by. He hadn't noticed anything missing from his apartment but that didn't mean that something wasn't. After all, everyone had junk that they thought was vitally important but in actuality rarely entered the mind. If she had helped him get rid of some of that particular junk then more power to her.
"Off the record?"
"If I wanted to turn you in I would have done it with that wallet I just mentioned." Jacen replied as he reached over to grab his beer once more, "Of course off the record."
Taking a long sip of the cold liquid, he listened carefully to Lori's story as he set the mug back down. There were some interesting tidbits of information that he hadn't heard before, such as the fact that Brickson had been in Lori's apartment.
"Well hopefully it won't tarnish my badge to badly if I say that I'm glad you took that particular bag." Jacen admitted just a touch hesitantly, "Actually you could say it's been kind of an eye opening experience for me as well. If someone had told me a year ago that I'd be spending time with a self declared thief and enjoying myself I would have laughed in their face. Of course that was before I found out that I was a mutant. That really throws a wrench in whatever plans I may have had for my life."
Leaning back in his chair and making himself as comfortable as possible, Jacen glanced around the restaurant for a moment before turning his gaze back to Lori. "I was surprised at how well you handled my statement about being part of S.W.A.T." It was a honest enough statement because plenty of non-criminals were a little freaked out by the special group that normally ran around in all black including face masks. The normal person was grateful that such well trained individuals existed but it creeped out a lot of people. "I was expecting something a little more... explosive to be honest."
Jacen had to smile as he turned his gaze back over to the city that stretched out below them. Even after all that she'd gone through with trying to enjoy an experience like this she still thought it was worth it. It was a strange feeling knowing that his ability was both a help and a detriment to somone but at lease for Kealey she was able to see the positive instead of the negative side of things.
"I guess I hadn't really thought about how you must feel until we got separated at the elevators. Then it suddenly hit home that you were going from silence to being in the middle of a crowd of people with emotions that must be all over the spectrum." Jacen admitted after a moments thought, "I mean my ability doesn't even affect my life so there are times I just don't realize what other people have to deal with when facing their own situations."
It was amazing just how easy it was to thing for granted. Just because he had an easy time of things didn't mean that other mutants had the same easy time and they deserved some consideration for what they had to go through. Sure there were freaks out there that were out to kill as many people as they could, but mutants like Lily and Kealey were different. They tried to meld with society at least somewhat which meant that they were forced to try and controlt heir abilities in a way that Jacen never had. He still didn't know if it was even possible to control his abilities but every time he met someone like Kealey or Lily he had to wonder.
"So where else can we go that you would normally avoid?" Jacen finally asked with a grin as he tried to lighten the mood once again, "Anything in particular you want to try while we're hanging out?"
Jacen didn't go for the fancy cuts of meat that so many people seemed to favor. The one or two times he had tried filet or New York Strip he had found them tender, sure, but relatively flavorless. No, if a man wanted to go with a bold, flavorful cut of meat then the Ribeye was always a great choice. Add to that a loaded baked potato and ceasar salad and you got a meal fit for a king.
"More indifferent than anything." Jacen said with a smirk as he glanced down at his menu, "I didn't know you were lieing about your name but I did know about your being a thief so at least you weren't pulling the wool completely over my eyes."
"Two waters, a Heineken for the lady," The waitress said as she walked up and set down two glasses of water, followed by a bottle for Lori, "and a tap for the gentleman." She finished as she set the beer mug down in front of Jacen. "Are you two ready or do you need another couple minutes?"
"A couple of minutes, thanks." Jacen said without the slightest hesitation. Sure he knew exactly what he wanted to order but he was going to get his money's worth out of this meal and that included the dinner conversation.
"I hope you don't mind if I take it as a compliment," He spoke again with an obvious grin on his face after the waitress had walked away, "that apparently my... humping as you put it so well, was enough to throw you off your game and make you forget a wallet with the ID of the woman who actually owned your tennis outfit."
Reaching over Jacen picked up his mug and took a good sip, his eyes never leaving Lori's face. It felt kind of good to know that this expert conwoman wasn't perfect and maybe, just maye he'd been able to get under her skin at least a little bit. This was deffinately a strange beginning to any relationship. Sure Jacen cared about what happened to this little blond but there were a lot of issues to be dealt with before they could ever become anything more than casual lovers.
"So how long have you been living like that?" The missing person's report had been filed quite a while ago and Jacen was willing to be that was right around the time she had chosen this particular lifestyle. "And why did you get into stealing? The thrill of the moment?"
"You deffinately don't need to worry about changing." Jacen replied as he gave her figure an appreciative glance. Even in more casual clothes there was no disguising the pretty woman hidden behind the denim, plus the fact that she was exposing a little skin around her midriff didn't hurt at all. "But if you don't mind I think I will go ahead and change at the apartment. I'm not particularly fond of wearing this uniform unless absolutely necessary."
Leading Lori out to his truck in the employee parking lot, Jacen held the door open for her to climb in before walking around and getting on on the driver's side. There was a lot that they needed to talk about but now wasn't the time. Heck, dinner might not be the time but at least they'd be getting some in their stomachs before the next thing happened.
The drive from station house to apartment was relatively quick and in a very short time Jacen and Lori were walking back into Jacen's apartment. "There are drinks in the fridge if you want something while you wait." Jacen called over his shoulder as he walked into the bedroom while already unbuttoning his shirt. Opening the closet doors Jacen slipped off his shoes and stuffed them in a corner where they would hopefully stay for quite some time. S.W.A.T. was a much better gig than regular patrols. After stripping down to his boxers Jacen pulled out a pair of denim jeans, a brilliant orange polo, white socks, and a pair of cowboy boots. It wasn't often he got a chance to wear them and since he was planning on a steak house for dinner they would fit in nicely.
Turning back around Jacen was a touch startled to see Lori leaning up against the door frame with a grin on her face. Obviously she had decided that watching him undress was far more interesting than getting a drink. "Can't a guy get any prviacy?" Jacen asked with a good natured laugh before quickly pulling on his clothing. His police issue side arm had been locked in his locker at the station but Jacen was still tempted to grab one of his personal weapons and take it with him. For tonight though he decided against it, figuring that carrying a weapon might seem a little strange to Lori for their first official date.
Suddenly getting a teasing grin on his face Jacen reached into the closet and grabbed out a rather beat up looking cowboy hat which he promptly plopped directly on Lori's head. "Ready to go?"
***
Steakhouse were easy. Nice enough to have a good dinner but still casual enough that you could go in with jeans and a t-shirt and feel right at home. For Jacen, his favorite place had to be Outback Steakhouse. They had some of the best cuts of beef around and other than the fact that they used a tad to much pepper, he really had never been able to find anything to complain about.
"What can I get you two to drink?" The female waitress asked after the two of them had been seated.
"Beer and water for me." Jacen replied after a moment's hesitation. After getting Lori's order the waitress walked off, leaving the two of them alone.
"If you don't mind my asking, why didn't you ever tell me your real name was Lori? I understand a single woman not registering with her real name at the tennis match but why not ever share it with me?" Jacen asked curiously. It was obvious from his tone of voice that any hurt that might have previously been there had been dealt with. All that was left was pure curiosity.
As Kealey mader her decision, Jacen also made his. If she still wanted to see the view from the Empire State Building then by golly they were going to see it! Dropping his hands from Kealey's arms Jacen reached out and grabbed one of her hands, holding it gently but firmly. "This is part of who you are, true, but all of us need a break from who we are on occasion." Jacen said quietly as he took a step toward the door that led out to the observation deck while tugging gently on Kealey's hand, "And I am not letting you get away this time."
***
As the two made their way out onto the observation deck Jacen purposely steered away from the areas where the most people had gathered. Sure they might have been looking off at some of the most popular sights in the city but there was plenty to see from every part of the observation deck.
"Can you feel the building moving under your feet?" Jacen asked as he flashed a quick smile at Kealey, "They had to make the building so that it could sway in the breeze otherwise the top would just break off. That's probably one of the reasons I haven't come up here often. I prefer solid ground instead of something that I can feel moving."
Walking over to one corner of the observation deck, Jacen leaned up against the safety fencing and just stared out over the city. His hand had never released Kealey's and, until he knew she was over her shock and there was no thread of their being separated, he had no intention of doing so.
"Is it worse for you after being around me?" Jacen finally asked after just looking at the city for a few minutes, "Is it harder to go back after the silence?"
This was a nightmare and Jacen could only imagine what Kealey had to be going through. As his elevator stopped at floor after floor he could only hope that she was surviving. Maybe she'd even been able to get off at the top floor already and sit off in a corner until he got there. Yeah... that was it. She was already safe and sound while waiting for him to arrive so they could continue their afternoon.
"Hey! Stop shoving!" One of the jocks complained as Jacen shoved his way through the crowd as soon as the doors opened up on the top floor. She was here somewhere and he had to find her! It didn't take a genius to figure out what kind of thougths she may have been subjected to with that many college guys around her. If Kealey hadn't been carrying around bad feelings about men before this point, she was almost certainly carrying them now!
Frantically searching the area his eyes fell on the blond woman over in the corner. Even from this distance he could see that she was shaking and it made him want to be sick. He had been the one that suggested coming here. He had been the one that had tempted fate by putting Kealey near a large group of people. It was his fault that she had been forced to deal with the situation.
"Kealey!" Jacen barked as he rushed over, getting to her in record time and blanketing her in the aura he knew surrounded his body. Without even thinking about it Jacen slipped his arms around the young woman and pulled her into a hug. "I'm so sorry!" He murmured loud enough that she could hear but quiet enough that none of the others nearby would hear their conversation, "This is all my fault! I can't believe I let us get separated!"
Even as he was apologizing a part of Jacen's mind began to notice that he was currently holding a very attractive woman in his arm. Obviously she wasn't Lily but she was still beautiful and she had that innocent quality that most any man would find desirable. Suddenly realizing where his thoughts were headed, Jacen tried to reclaim control of his mind. Taking a small step back he released her from the hug and instead stood back just a little with his arms reaching out to gently grip her biceps. "Do we need to get out of here? Are you going to be OK?"
Jagger was dead weight... damp dead weight. As he lifted the man up onto his shoulder, much like a sack of potatoes, and then carried him in Jacen once again found himself wishing that he could have some other power than the one that mutation had apparently given him. Super strength to make this lifting easier or maybe the ability to shut down his nose so that he didn't have to smell his partner. Apparently the lords of the universe had decided that regular B.O. wasn't bad enough and so they graced him with a partner that couldn't control himself when electrocuted. Great... just great.
"He shot himself with his own stun gun." Jacen offered by way of explanation as he carried his partner in and laid him on the examination table in the medic's office, "Perp got away while I was busy checking on his sorry ass."
It was a perfectly acceptable story once the medic and other officers saw that Jacen was referring to a certain 'Officer Jagger'. Yep, that one was the laughing stock of the precinct. A good man at heart but how in the world he had made it through examination without tripping over his own feet was beyond any of their comprehension.
Leaving Jagger under the watchful eye of the on call medic, Jacen moved on to handle the bane of a police officer's existance. Reports. On most days it was difficult to concentrate on these kinds of things but today it was even worse. Lori was in the other room, giving her statement, and apparently sharing all kinds of intimate details that had the whole watch room buzzing. That pretty little thing had been captured and ravaged by the giant police killer? And then she'd escaped? It was an amazing story especially when she shared the kind of details that most witnesses tried to carefully avoid. Yep, this woman would be the ultimate witness of they could just catch this Brickson and then prosecute him. Slam dunk case for the DA if they could just catch him.
***
Jacen was going home early and he didn't care who knew it. Even the watch commander had been sympathetic when he learned about how the officer had been forced to carry a damp Jagger in to the medic. Maybe he'd even suggest that Jacen get hazard pay for this particular duty rotation. Honestly he didn't really care. He just wanted to slip out, find Lori, and get the hell away from the police station. Maybe he needed to start thinking about a new career choice because as soon as something slipped and the officers figured out he was a mutant, it would be all over.
Walking out into the main hallway of the station Jacen quickly scanned the room before his eyes fell on the beautiful blond he was looking for. She was sitting right next to some perp that was currently waiting for his court appointed attorney to show up and tell him just how hopeless his case really was. It was kind of sad really but more than likely he'd accept a plea deal, serve a few months to a year, and then be right back out on the streets without ever really changing.
"Hi." Jacen said with a slight smile as he walked over to the blond, "I hear you were waiting for me."
Lori's comment about her dad was really to be expected so Jacen didn't bother to press for more information. If she ever wanted to share more information about her family or her childhood he would be glad to listen but he wasn't going to push for anything. They were still just... well, whatever they were. Not exactly friends but not just aquaintances either. "Why does everything about this woman have to be so difficult?"
And then, as the skies parted and a heavenly chorus began to sing, things took a turn for the better. Lori was willing to have dinner... with him. It had taken a moment for that final part of the sentence to come out but she had still said it. She actually wanted to have dinner with him! If he hadn't been driving a police car while wearing his uniform he might have actually pumped his fist in victory.
As the squad car pulled into the apropriate parking spot Lori finally asked a question that made Jacen want to squirm at least a little bit. It would have been so much easier if she had refrained from asking anything like that until dinner but, since she had been realtively frank with him she deserved the same honest responses in return.
"Actually he's not my normal partner because this isn't my normal squad car." Jacen replied slowly as he put the vehicle in park but temporarily left the engine running, "See, I don't normally go out on patrol. The only reason I'm doing patrol work right now is because of the injuries I got in the fight the other night." Turning his head around so that he could look directly at his blond girlfriend Jacen only had one option. Tell the truth. "I'm a member of S.W.A.T. and patrolling isn't really in our line of work."
The line to access one of the four elevators moved along slowly but steadily. Other than the one express elevator off to the far left both of the others were normal elevators that stopped at various floors. Obviously it was the dream of everyone that wanted to get to the roof access to have an opportunity to use the express elevator but that rarely happened.
"It's like being on the top of New York City." Jacen replied with a smile to his blond friend, "On a clear day like this you'll be able to see almost all of the city just by walking around the observation deck. When you look up it's almost as if you could just reach out and touch the clouds."
They were probably two cars away from being able to get on the elevator when Jacen felt a firm jostle right in the middle of his back. Taking a quick step forward to keep from falling he looked back to see what in the world was going on. Apparently a college tour grip had just joined the que line. A very rowdy college tour group from the looks of it. In the middle of the croup was huddled a smaller group of people that appeared to be the brainiacs but all of the others looked like your typical athletes. Not necessarily dumb but a lot more given to rowdiness than their scholastically excelling classmates.
"Just stick close." Jacen said as he took a step closed to Kealey, "I wouldn't want to lose you in the crowd."
As soon as the words left Jacen's mouth the worst thing possible suddenly happened. All of the elevator doors, except for the express elevator opened at the same time. After the few people on those elevators made their way off the floodgates suddenly burst as the whole que line surged forward to board the cars.
He did his best... as the two were swept along in the surge Jacen tried to stay close to Kealey but it was a lost 'cause as the college group wedged themselves in any space they could find. "Kealey!" Jacen yelled as he was pushed into one elevator and she was pushed into the one right beside it, "Kealey!"
"Well I haven't exactly done a whole lot better than you at getting to the top of that particular building." Jacen said with a chuckle as Kealey shared her own experience with attempting to scale the Empire State Building, "I went up there one time but it's been a while."
Taking a bite of his burger Jacen once again savored the flavor as the conversation turned back to food. It made sense that Kealey's emotions would seem heightened since they were normally drowned out by those around her. Things that he took for granted, like knowing exactly how he felt about certain foods or certian situations, was something that Kealey was still learning. She wore her emotions on her sleeve, just like a child, whenever she was around Jacen and obviously that meant he would know what she was feeling and thinking almost before she did.
"The flavors of food can overwhelm even those of us that are used to dealing with just one set of emotions at a time." He responded after he finished chewing the two bites he had taken during her comments, "Things that may seem simple, like a hambruger or hotdog can often transport you back to a memory from an happier time in your past. It makes sense that you'd experience it even stronger since you're used to your emotions being kind of drowned out."
Settling into a comfortable silence Jacen focused on finishing up the last of his burger and fries. There were things left to do through the course of the day so obviously that meant there was no reason to waste time just sitting around a restaurant. Sure the food was good but you could only savor it so long before you had eaten everything in front of you.
"Can I get you two anything else?" The waitress asked politely as she walked over and set their bill down on the table.
"That'll do it for me, thanks." Jacen replied with a quick smile. Reaching into his back pocket he fished out his wallet and then pulled out the apropriate amount of bills to cover both the food as well as tip. It wasn't his style to 'go dutch' with a woman but before he could even say anything Kealey had already pulled out money and was laying it down on the table.
"Well, then I guess we're set to head off. I didn't drive with all the traffic so we'll have to take the subway and then walk over to the tower. Sound good?" Jacen asked as he gave the blond a quick smile while grabbing his jacket and then sliding out of the booth. Standing to his feet he shrugged on the jacket and then waited for Kealey to be ready.
***
The trip over to the Empire State building was uneventful, just the way Jacen and Kealey both wanted it. There were actually seats on the subway so that the two of them could sit together making it a sure thing that they wouldn't get separated on the crowded car. At the apropriate stop the two were able to slip through the crowd and then walk to the Empire State Building without even the slightest hassle. Things were going very smoothly and all Jacen could do was hope that it would continue.
The line that would give them to the express elevator up to the observation deck was a little bit shorter than usual , which was strange for a Sunday, but Jacen didn't really think about it as he and Kealey took their places in line.
"Excited?" Jacen asked with a grin as he looked over at his blond friend.
"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you Lori." Jacen said with a slight smile at the woman that was currently sitting on his lap and still keeping him pinned to the ground, "Unfortunately, as much as I would love for us to just stay in this position, I'm still working so... mind letting me up? I promise note to chase down your father today."
He really hated the fact that one day's proteciton for Lori's father was really all he could offer. The man had a rap sheet and it wouldn't take long before he got into trouble that woudl bring the police force down on him once again. For now he would get off but it wasn't in Jacen's power to shield that creepo even if he did happen to have sired such a lovely daughter.
"My shift wraps up at 5:00." He spoke again after the two of them had climbed back up to their feet. "Any chance I can get the story on you and your father while we grab a bite to eat?" If she said yes it would be the first step toward a more normal relationship. If she said no then things would either remain as they were or the two of them would completely cut off contact. "You don't have to if you don't want to or if you've got other plans." Jacen offered as a way of escape as he began to walk over to the squad car and check on his still unconscious partner. He could already tell that the ride back to the station was not going to be a pleasant once since the front of Jagger's panters were slightly shinier and more damp looking than they were supposed to be. That was just wrong on so many levels.
There were a lot of things that needed to be explained between the two of them. Now that Lori knew he really was a cop she had to be wondering about his car theft from several nights before. In fact, her seeing him in this way realy just opened up all kinds of doors that Jacen wasn't completely sure he was ready to face. The fact he didn't want any of his fellow cops to know that he was a mutant was deffinately right near the top of his lift. Inside, Jacen knew that he was no different than he had been a year ago when he joiend the force but if everyone found out that he was 'special', they'd refuse to work with him. For at least eighty or ninety percent of the department, each and every mutant was continued scum.
"Since my partner's out cold you're welcome to ride in the front seat." Jacen said with a slight grunt as he hefted up his partner and then laid him down on the bench seat in the back of the squad car, "You ready to go?"
