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 are good mutants and bad mutants just like there are good humans and bad humans." Jacen replied without the slightest hesitation as he continued to drive along, "The criminal mutants need to dealt with just like criminal humans need to be dealt with."
There was really no reason for their to be any other answer. Until true scientific evidence was shown that all mutants truly did tend to become deranged lunatics, Jacen had to think that they could be good or bad just like any human. If scientific evidence was ever released then obviously they would have to begin to treat the X-Gene as a disease but Jacen had yet to see anything that was convincing. A lot of theories but no scientific evidence.
Reaching over without thinking, Jacen flipped on his police scanner as he fell silent. There really wasn't anything else to talk about and he just wanted to focus on getting Slate and the two psychos back to their school. Whoever was in charge of the school could deal with them while he went on about the rest of his day.
"This is a Code 30. Repeat this is a Code 30. Officer needs assistance. Currently in pursuit of white Chevy van on Interstate 287, Eastbound. Suspect is fleeing convenience store with two dead. Approach with caution. Repeat. Approach with caution!"
For a moment Jacen's mind ran through the possibilities. He was on I-287 heading east but he also had three civilians in the vehicle with him. It was what he trained for but could he really put three innocents in the line of fire?
"Requesting medical assistance. Car 81 is off the road and not responding. Officer down. Requesting a bus!"
That did it and without thinking Jacen bent forward, pulling out a magnetic police light from under his seat. Quickly hitting the button to roll down the window Jacen slapped the light on the roof of his truck and flipped it on.
"Hold one you three!" Jacen said grimly before reaching over and grabbing his microphone. "This is officer King, badge number 72170 responding to request for assistance. Now passing mile marker 21 and accelerating." Everyone in the vehicle could feel the truck suddenly leap forward in acceleration as he pressed down on the accelerator.
As they raced along the highway, most vehicles moved out of the way but at least a few Jacen had to maneuver around. "If I only had time to give them tickets..." He muttered to himself before his eyes finally locked on the flashing lights up ahead. There were two patrol cars and out in front of them was the white van.
"Any of you have a mutation that's working again that might help us out?" Jacen asked over the sound of the sirens, "We could use the help."
(OOC: This is an idea I had for an IC newspaper that will report on the affects that ripple out from some of our various threads. The main focus will be how New Yorkers view mutants due to recent events and things like that. So without further ado, I introduce to you the...)
New York Inquisitor
"Mysterious Traffic Problems & Damage Near Mutant School"
By Samuel Goodwin
New York City is known for its architecture, its pizza, its hot dogs, and its congested roadways. On a good way the New York City roadways can be difficult to navigate but on November 27th there was more than the normal ammount of traffic issues. Responding to an anonymous trip that reported loud noises similar to those heard in a good Hollywood battle scene, police arrived to find the road torn up, power lines down, and two of the walls on the Xavier Sister School property damaged. With no evidence around as to what could have caused the damage, road crews were called in to begin immediate repairs. Though they county workers responded much quicker than usual, traffic was still a mess for several days afterwards. Police investigated the cause of the damage but were unable to find any solid leads. The Xavier School has declined to comment or answer any questions that we or the police have put their way. Does this indicate a simple desire to remain uninvolved or does it reveal something far more sinister? I leave that to you, the reader, to decide.
(OOC: Permission received from Werecat to post out of order.)
IC: It didn't take an extremely observant person or even a close friend to realize that Lily was ticked. Jacen had only known her for a couple of weeks now but it was still quite clear that Brickson had managed to tick this little lady off and if Jacen didn't keep close to her it was quite possible she was fry the big boy's ass. There was no use in even trying to talk her out of it and Jacen knew it. Just like he knew their relationship wasn't destined to go anywhere, he knew that she was just to strongwilled to control.
Trailing behind the blond woman Jacen immediately noticed when, with a flick of her heal, she sent some of the fragrant chunks sailing toward the cat lady. "Oh this is just what we need. More people to join in the brawl." Jacen thought to himself, immediately moving to intercept Brickson's friend. Maybe he could distract her with a few questions while he tried to figure out what was really going on between Lily and the giant.
"So what's up with the big guy out there?" Jacen asked as he moved to intercept the feline that had turned to follow blondie with a slightly ticked off expression on her face. Being in the military and S.W.A.T. had taught Jacen to read people and as it was, he didn't have the slightest doubt that this woman could handle herself in a fight. Quickly intercepting here between two pool tables, Jacen effectively blocked her path unless she decided to vault over one of the tables. "Care to share why he has such a bad opinion of my friend?"
The jacket that Jacen now held in his hand reeked, as did the shirt that ahd absorbed some of the moisture before he coudl get the jacket all the way off. If he had thought about it he would have realized just how offensive this might all be to a cat's sensitive nose but unforutnately, his mind was busy on other things.
Even though Jacen was doing his level best to focus on his intelligent conversation with Slate, his thought process kept getting interupted by the pure lunacy of what Calley and Petunia were discussing.
"Hampsters? The Muffin Man?" The man spluttered in surprise and disbelief, his eyes moving to the mirror so he could stare at the two lunatics for a moment before finally shaking off what was going on between them.
"You have interesting family and friends Slate." Jacen said with a slight shake of his head as his eyes returned to the road in front of him, "I'll be checking in the paper to announcements about your revolutionary breakthroughs." He offered, going back to the question Slate had just answered, "What company name should I be looking for?"
With the flicker of flames Jacen's side of the story went up in smoke. Inwardly he was seething even though he wouldn't let any of his emotion appear on the outside. The only hope now was that the young man back in the park would remember exactly what had happened. Jacen of course had no idea about the other dead bodies that were nearby and he had no idea that even if the boy fingered him as the man that had knocked him out, he would have no trouble remembering a woman that had killed all of his friends.
"You bitch." Jacen said quietly as his muscles tensed. It would be so easy to just pull the trigger and kill the woman. She was trying to manipulate the situation and he had allowed her to do it thus far. He wasn't going to make that mistake again.
"I told you... get out of my truck." He voice as quiet and rather emotionless before he suddenly sprang into action. Pushing off of the seat with his right arm, Jacen released his gun so that it fell into his own seat before reaching out with his left hand and grabbing the young woman's arm in a firm grasp. With a strong yank he pulled her forward, hopefully throwing her off balance even as his right hand reached out and grabbed the door release.
As Jacen turned in his seat he threw the young woman out the door and to the pavement below. As she went by her flailing arms and legs managed to make contact with his chest leaving slight bruising and one kick slammed in his stomach leaving the man breathless. Steeling himself as best he could Jacen tried to regain his breath as he stared down at the woman.
"I don't know who you really are or what you're game is but if I catch you trying to hurt someone again, I won't just leave you to the other cops." Jacen's said his voice somewhat hoarse as he worked to regain his breath, "I'll take care of you myself."
Quickly Jacen slammed his truck door closed and locked it. Firing up the engine he threw it into reverse and then took off as he lifted the cell phone up to his ear.
"This is officer Jacen King, badge number 72170. The assailant has chosen to flee and is currently heading out of the east parking lot. I am driving over to the north parking lot to go check on a young man that was assaulted in the park. Be on the look out for a woman with shoulder or waist length black hair dressed in black leather pants and a black top." Jacen spoke over the 9-1-1 operator, providing all the information that would be essential as he slowly began to regain his wind, "Tell all uniforms to approach with caution. I believe she's a mutant."
Lily really wasn't that great a dancer but at the moment Jacen couldn't have cared less. They were in a club that included pole dancing which meant that the music was on the seductive side. A couple didn't have to be greatly skilled to dance together using music like this they just had to be willing to bring bedroom expressionalism to the dance floor while fully clothed. "Or in some cases, just mostly clothes." Jacen thought with a raised eyebrow as he watched one of the other couples throw their shirts to the side, leaving the man bare chested and the woman in just her brassiere.
"Why do I get the feeling you'd be more comfortable at a bar with just straight up drinking instead of all this dancing?" Jacen teased quietly, his eyes dropping to look into the woman's with as much heat as he was willing to show out in public, "Next time you pick the meeting spot."
Jacen wasn't out for anything romantic and somehow he knew that Lily felt the same way. She wouldn't be picking an expensive restaurant for a quiet dinner or anything like that. Maybe a late night ball game would be more her speed. "Check to see what sports teams are in town next weekend and how much tickets cost. That might be a better fit."
As the couple began to make a spin on the floor, Jacen felt something hard strike his right arm. Turning quickly the man's eyes narrowed, looking for an attacker but instead finding a white cue ball rolling slowly across the dance floor.
"What the..." He began to murmur before suddenly, the green giant came rushing toward them. Even after the fact, Jacen wouldn't know whether it was intentional or whether the man had simply been unable to make it all the way to the bathroom. Either way, a large quantity of vomit was suddenly hurtling toward the both of them.
Turning automatically, Jacen shielded himself with his arm and the back of his jacket, trying to protect Lily as well while knowing that more than likely it was hopeless. With the quantity of intestinal fluid coming their way it was almost guaranteed that she would get at least a little bit on her.
As the man ran off to apparently finishe elsewhere, Jacen made an expression of distaste and slowly slipped off his now stained jacket. The scent was horrible though he could remember smelling something similar in a back alleyway while doing his duties as a police officer.
“Hey a little help.” A feminine voice yelled from over near the pool tables. Glancing over Jacen saw the feline that apparently wanted her cue ball back. Glancing down the man only shook his head in obvious distaste.
"You don't want this one!" Jacen called back as he looked at the now green and yellow covered ball, "Really... you don't."
Jacen's eyes narrowed every so slightly as he listened to the woman make her counter offer. Clearly she was trying to mess with his mind or perhaps she really hadn't thought about the situation she was in. Twisted around like he was, the S.W.A.T. officer's right hand had mostly been taken out of play but as the woman spoke, he had a thought. His cell phone was still in the pouch at his waist and his right arm, though pressed up against the seat, was still in the perect position to access it. Moving his hand surepticiously he carefully unzipped his pouch and pulled the cellphone into his hand. With the seat covering most of his body movements it was doubtful that the woman would notice but of course anything was possible.
"To be quite honest, I don't want to know what happened in the park." Jacen said quietly as the fingers on his right hand ran over the keys, punching in 9-1-1 from memory, "Especially since I can probably figure it out. You werent' the victim... you were the attacker. From the way you handle weapons there's noq uestino that you're experienced which means a kid like that would have no chance of being able to stab you. You attacked him but before you could actually hurt him I showed up. You played the victim and decided to try and get me to take him out. You might have even wanted me to kill him. I don't know, and I don't care."
Jacen's lips curved upward ever so slightly into a cold smile as he continued, "But none of that is really pertinent. I've just dialed 9-1-1 and as they listen to us talking they'll find out that we're currently sitting in a truck in the east side Central Park parking lot. You will of course be more than welcome to spin some type of story for the police but the problem is, I have a badge, an eye witness, and a knife with what I would be willing to bet are your finger prints. You're more than welcome to sticka round but I would really suggest that you get out of my truck and out of my life."
"The fact you think a gun is necessary for me to pose a threat shows just how little you actually know about me." Jacen replied, apparently ignoring the rest of her comment in favor of focusing on the one issue that mattered.
The woman was yet again proving that she wasn't just some scared little girl. She was considering the problem to analytically instead of emotionally like most people would when threatened or in a panic. She had experience facing danger and if her pencil throwing and ease of handling a bow were any indication, she was quite comfortable with weaponry as well.
"Lady, I've given you the best offer you're going to get this evening. If you don't put down the bow and get out of my car, I'll be forced to deal with you which means I'll be forced to call the cops."
If she didn't want to listen to reason then perhaps it would be better if Jacen gave her a detailed explanation of the situation. He knew that bow like the back of his hand and she didn't. He could easily give her some pointers while distracting her and perhaps providing an opening for him to take her down himself unless she chose to go along with his deal.
"What you hold in your hands is a Martin Hatfield Take-Down Recurve bow. The arrow is a sixty-two inch carbon arrow with a extra sharp broadhead tip. If you release the string, the arrow will fire at approximately two hundred twenty-five feet per second. That of course means that it would make contact with my shoulder in less than a second. However, the brain processes far faster than that. The second my shoulder begins to feel pain my finger would twitch and you'll have a large hole either through your forehead or through your throat."
Now, there was no reason for Jacen to explain the two little lies he had already told. Number 1 had been when he said the bow was eighty pounds of weight. In truth it was only seventy but there was really no reason for them to quibble over ten pounds, now was there. The second had been his statement that he could shoot through the bow string. Jacen was a good shot but there was no guarantee that he could hit something so small under pressure like this. He could hit the kill zone on a person but a bow string would be pushing it, especially from this angle.
Jacen had stared death in the face before so there was no reason to be emotional. If this woman wanted to play chicken with their lives then that was fine by him but he was going to win. He couldn't let himself lose. He had only been able to enjoy Lily's company twice and he sure wasn't going to die before he got to enjoy it a few more times!
Jacen's eyes didn't mellow and neither did his gun hand waver in the slightest as he watched the young woman.
"In the middle-east people would dress up in civilian clothes in order to make themselves look innocent and defenseless." He spoke conversationally as he waited to see what kind of move the young woman would choose to make. His brain was still working overtime, analyzing every move that Lust had made since he met her. Particularly the agressive moves she had made since getting into his truck. "And if it hadn't been for the fact that you handle a bow like a professional and can throw things with your feet, I might jsut believe you."
His lips curved into a slight smile, though there was no friendliness in the expression. He knew there was something dangerous in this young woman now that he had gotten to know her and it would take a miracle for him to change his mind once it was made up. "So now how about I offer a solution... you put the bow down and get out of my truck and I refrain from putting a bullet right between your pretty eyes. Otherwise I put my first bullet through the arrow string so you can't shoot and the second one between your eyes. Any questions?"
Was Jacen surprised when Lust suddenly moved to attack? No.
Was he surprised that a pencil was suddenly flying toward his body? Somewhat.
Was he shocked by her diving for the rear of the truck and suddenly snatching up his bow with an arrow? Most deffinately.
***
Everything seemed to have moved in slow motion. At the same point that Jacen's right hand was busy starting the car, Lust suddenly moved her foot in such a way that it sent a pencil flying toward the general rea of his face. In that split second he really couldn't tell whether it would hit anything important or miss completely so reactions completely took over. Releasing his key Jacen's arm swung around, knocking aside the pencil even as his left hand dipped down to pull the Glock out of its holster.
Pivoting in his seat as far around as he could Jacen brought his weapon up to bear, his eyes flickering surprise ever so slightly before becoming simply cold and icy. This woman was no different than the terrorists he had faced in both Afghanistan and Iraq. If the moment opened up for him to take her out without it costing him his own life there would be no hesitation. A line had been drawn in the sand and Lust was no longer facing a New York City police officer trained to use violence as a last resort. Sitting before her was an Army Ranger, trained to kill the enemy before they could kill him.
"This is what you would call a Mexican Standoff." Jacen spoke quietly, his voice almost emotionless, "You release the arrow and I blow a hole in your head. I shoot first and you release the arrow. The only issue is that I doubt you're going to be able to hold the pull of an eighty pound recurve bow for much longer than perhaps ten or fifteen minutes."
Tilting his head to the side ever so slightly, Jacen looked at the woman quite frankly. The bright broadhead tip reflected from the street lights outside and seemed to be just asking to be released. "So what now? What's the next move in your brilliant plan?"
Jacen nodded slightly, his curving up into a slight smile directed toward the blond woman before he glanced back after the giant and his feline friend. "You have a point there." He admitted before tossing back his drink, "I'm impressed you had the presence of mind to think up a false name so quickly under pressure."
He knew there was more to the story. Maybe it was just instinct or maybe it was little signs he had been picking up from both Lily and the big guy but either way it didn't matter. He had promised himself that there would be no getting attached to the blond and that was how he was going to proceed. Of course, that didn't mean he wouldn't protect her if she were to get in trouble, but it did mean he wouldn't let his heart enter the proceedings to much. "She's a good fling... enjoy it while it lasts."
Nodding in the direction of the small dance floor a little ways away from the professional dancer and her pole Jacen gave Lily his most winning smile. "Up for that dance now?" There were only a few couples out on the floor but they all were twisting and making certain movements that went along with the music that was playing for the professional dancer. It wasn't the type of dancing that Jacen had ever done before but he was more than willing to try with Lily looking as good as she did. "Unless you'd rather play a game of pool or darts."
The woman had stayed on the other side of the truck instead of following him around... perfect. As Jacen opened his door and hit the button that would unlock Lust's door, he was already noting the exact position where his holstered Glock .45 was sitting between the driver's seat and the driver's door. It was set so that he could draw it with one quick movement and that was exactly what he wanted.
"Anyone that's smart has both back-up and escape plans always standing by in case they're needed." Jacen said as he slid into the driver seat, mentally running through a list of what he knew he had in the truck. His hunting gear was stowed in back with his recurve bow and quiver of broadhead arrows hanging off of a gun rack in the rear window. His hunting knife was in a locked box under the rear seat and the knife he'd pulled out of Lust was carefully laid on the floor near where his gun was hidden. Thankfully the glove box was locked since a pair of handcuffs as well as a back up Glock 26 - 9 millimeter pistol were contained within it. There were a few pens resting in the cup holder between the seats but none of them were particularly lethel.
"What about you? You came to the city without any money or any friends. What's your back up plan?" Jacen asked as he started the truck and waited for the woman to get buckled up. The sooner he got her to the hotel the sooner he would be feeling more comfortable with the situation. Ever since she had made a crack about his being mutant he could feel the way his muscles were tensed, just waiting for something to happen.
"Don’t you need the money when you will be fired for being a mutant?"
"Last time I checked it was perfectly legal to be a mutant." Jacen responded quietly, not really answering her question but not really ignoring it either. Already his mind was beginning to ask question about the woman in his arms that seemed to know so much more than she should. Something was off but he still couldn't quite put his finger on it.
"You know, people like you are being rounded up over all the country for being dangerous. I have even heard they torture people like you."
"The only way someone could know I was a mutant was if they were mutants." Jacen thought as his eyes narrowed ever so slightly. Lust was trying to talk as though he were the only one different but yet the very fact she recognized him as a mutant proved that she must be a mutant as well.
"If I were you I would flee out of the country while you still could and leave your girlfriend or whatever you are comrades with behind and get away as quick as possible. They will torture you until they know your name."
"They wouldn't have to torture me to long." Jacen replied immediately as he began to mentally replay what he had seen back in the darkened tree cover. Had this been an anti-mutant hate crime instead of a simple mugging or attack? Or had Lust perhaps done something to provoke the other man? "My name's Jacen King. I work, pay my taxes, and go to the bar one or twice a week. Pretty much a boring life really."
Finally as they approached the truck Jacen set Lust back down on her own feet right next to the passenger side door. "Let me walk around so I can unlock this." He said easily as he walked around the front of the truck toward the driver's side door. Something didn't add up with this woman and Jacen was beginning to have more questions than he was comfortable with. A lot more.
This young woman had no place to go? That really wasn't as surprising as some might think. Being on the police force Jacen had met more than his share of run-aways or young women that came to New York thinking they would make a career in modeling. They would come with almost nothing but the clothes on their backs and unless they were extremely fortunate they would either end up going home or they would end up on the streets.
Now the real question was what Jacen should do. Even though things had happened with Lily, he really wasn't in the habit of taking strange women back to his apartment. And while a shelter would be the cheepest option, they could sometimes be just as dangerous as being out on the street.
"There are some week long rental hotels not to far away." Jacen finally spoke up after several minutes of silence. The pair had finally exited the tree cover on the path and he could make out his truck as it sat in the parking lot, "I'd be glad to pay for you to stay there a week. It won't take care of all your problems but at least it'll give you a place to stay while you look for work and stuff."
Jacen was surprised to say the least. It seemed that shock had finally gotten to the young woman as she collapsed to the ground in a fit of hysterical laughter. It was amazing how closely maniacal and hysterical sounded and if Jacen had even had the slightest inkling that she was actually behind her own attack then he might have noticed the difference. However with the current situation he simply thought that she had finally given in to the stress and shock that flooded her system.
"It's going to be OK... Lust." Jacen said quietly, trying to be comforting as he crouched down beside her, "You didn't do anything to 'cause the attack. Creeps like that just pick out helpless victims for no reason. Whether he was out or rape or murder you have to remember that it wasn't your fault."
Slipping one arm behind her back and one under her knees, Jacen slowly rose back to his feet, lifting the young woman rather effortlessly into his arms. "Let's get you home to an environment you're familiar with." Jacen said quietly as he began to move at a fast walk, his long strides eating up the distance as he moved toward his truck, "Where do you live?"
