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.
The Glock was pressing firmly against the small of Jacen's back and for a brief moment he tensed, wondering just how quickly he could release the bags he was holding and draw the weapon.
"I assure you I'm not here to attack you or arrest you. I just want to talk." The strange man spoke up, apparently reading the expression on Jacen's face, "I'll be glad to carry some of the bags if you'll feel better having my hands occupied with your hands free."
Jacen's eyes narrowed before finally holding out his right hand and offering the two bags he gripped. "You've got the time it takes for me to get to the car. I'd say that's about 60 to 90 seconds. Make them count."
"You are a special man with an extraordinary gift." Mr. Larraby began without any hesitation as he followed Jacen down the hall that led to the stairs. "The term our scientists have come up with is 'Adapted'. You are a human but somehow your brain has changed, adapting in such a way that it can now nullify mutants around you."
"And let me guess. You're here to offer some sort of magic cure that will make me normal. Right?" Jacen said with a snort of derision. Obviously if he thought such an offer was at all genuine then he would jump at it but after what he'd just dealt with there was no way he would beleive something that stupid. For all he knew, Mr. Larraby was a former partner of Pulse that wanted to kill everyone like him!
"No," Mr. Larraby said with a chuckle as they took a turn and began to move down the stairs, "Nothing like that. I'm a member of the Regional Urban Preternatural Examinations and Recovery Team or R.U.P.E.R.T. for short. We're a government organization that has been formed to clean up some of the messes that mutants leave behind. We've realized that mutants themselves aren't the biggest threat to this country, but instead it is the fear of mutants that is the biggest threat. By cleaning up messes and making sure that the public never hears the real story, we can gain at least some semblance of control over the situation."
"Uhuh... and what does that have to do with me?" Jacen asked as he shoved through the last door and began to walk across the parking lot. Just a block down the street he could see the police cars and what looked like a crime scene investigator van. Obviously they were trying to find out what happened since it wasn't absolutely clear. Since Mars had temporarily disposed of the body, they couldn't be sure of the situation and so none of them really knew how to react. "In case you haven't noticed, I'm not exactly secret agent material. I'm a soldier, plain and simple."
"You sell yourself short Mr. King." The other man said quietly as Jacen popped the trunk of his car. Setting the bags inside the R.U.P.E.R.T. agent pulled a business card from his pants pocket and held it out to the other man. "Take some time and think about it. If you have any questions, give me a call."[/i][/color]
Taking the card, Jacen glanced at it briefly. It was a plain white business card with the name "Mr. Larraby" followed by a phone number. No other information was contained and most people would have actually just ignored this particular card.
"Sorry if I left you another mess to clean up. Goodbye Mr. Larraby." Jacen said, ending the discussion immediately. Climbing into his car, he started the engine and then backed out of his parking space. After turning down the street so that he was heading away from the scene of the crime, Jacen circled around several blocks before finally heading toward the parking area where he was supposed to meet up with everyone else.
***
It had probably only be 30 or 40 minutes since the group separated but Jacen had to admit he was breathing a sigh of relief as he pulled into the parking lot to see the RV parked safely and Mars standing outside. Putting the car into park Jacen climbed out and then stood by his vehicle, simply looking at the big red man. He made no move to approach the other man, choosing instead to keep his distance and allow Mars to keep his big red form.
"Is everyone OK?" He asked, voice wafting over the empty parking lot to where Mars stood, "Did we get her out in time?"
"Haven't you heard? They're starting to make gum that's resistant to shoes." Jacen replied coldly as he sent yet another shock of electricity through the wires and probes that had buries themselves in Baachus. The shots were distracting and Jacen caught himself glancing around, trying to find exactly where they had come from.
Looking back over at the former giant, his eyes were cold as he looked at the now prone body. "First time? No. Last time? I sure hope so." Jacen had to admit to himself that he'd been out for revenge from the very beginning but now things had become far more important than his own vengeance. The giant has proved himself to be a cold blooded killer. There would be no rushing those security guards to the hospital in order to make sure that they survived. What he had done could not be reversed and there would be no stepping back.
"Are you ready to go quietly or do I need to shock you into unconsciousness?" Jacen asked emotionlessly as he released and then pulled the trigger again. Off the top of his head he wasn't sure exactly how long the battery on one of these tasers would last but he'd be glad to find out if the giant didn't decide to be a good boy. "You'll get your day in court. Then you can complain about how you were mistreated as a child, and only got to eat mac & cheese instead of steak."
He was still having a difficult time actually wrestling his mind around the whole idea that Kealey was there but he also didn't have time to try and get it done. Instead he just had to accept that she was there and continue moving forward. Typical Kealey, her first direction question was whether he was OK. For him it seemed normal but a part of his mind acknowledged that it had to be strange for her to actually have to ask the question. She was so used to feeling emotions and knowing what people were going through but with Jacen that didn't work. The two of them were just like any other couple that could keep secrets if they really wanted to.
"I don't know." Jacen replied quietly and as honestly as he could. The shock of what had just happened was beginning to permeate his system and override all of the emotion he'd been dealing with. Stepping quickly away from the body, he took a whole of Kealey arm and guided her away from Pulse's still form. In a short time that body, along with the other two had disappeared leaving behind blood and brain matter.
Kealey was doing her best to be understanding about the whole situation and while Jacen appreciated it, he knew it was still going to be hard for the two of them. Impulsively he grabbed Kealey's arm, pulling her close to place a passionate kiss on her lips. "I'll be careful and I'll be there soon." He murmured quietly, "Take care of the others."
Releasing his grip, Jacen turned and jogged back toward his hotel. In a relatively short time he was inside the room, leaving the sirens to wail outside while he worked on packing everything back up. The UMP went back in its carry case and the clothes got thrown half-hazardly back in their suitcases. Heading over into the other room, Jacen stuffed the shredded papers and information into a knapsack while tossing Lee and Tarin's clothes back into their bags. He wasn't sure that their cloths went into the right bags, but at least they would only be in each others bags without any in his bags. Pausing at the door, he looked around the room for one last moment before turning to leave.
"Hello Mr. King. We need to talk." A man spoke up as soon as the door was open. He stood alone, dressed relatively casual in khaki pants, a black polo shirt, and khaki sport coat. Dark mirrored sunglasses rested in his face, completely hiding his eyes from view. "My name is Mr. Larraby. May I walk you to your vehicle?"
Shootings and killings don't happen the way that they're depicted so often in the Westerns. There is no theatrical blowing the smoke from the barrel and riding off into the sunset. It doesn't even happen as Hollywood enjoys depicting so often with the goodguy walking away from the dead body all smiles and laughs that he's finally one. All that remains after taking someone's life is the cold and somewhat sickening realization that you were the cause of someone's death. In some ways it gets easier, but in some ways its as fresh the thirties or fortieth time as it was on the first.
Jacen's face was blank and even though his eyes were still tinged with anger a new feeling of something akin to self-loathing was creeping in. This was all that he really was. He was evolutions great joke. A man born with a single purpose and power; the ability to kill mutants. Slowly lowering his gun, Jacen let his arm hang at his side as he patched the blood slowly spreading and moving into the gutter. Pulse had lived like a piece of trash and now he had died the same way. There was no reason to feel sorry for killing him but stll Jacen felt that he had been forced to take the worst option possible.
"Jacen?"
His reactions were instantaneous as he spun, gun rising to focus directly on where the voice was coming from. For the brief second it took his mind to being flashing with recognation, Jacen was prepared to kill again. It was strange to suddenly find yourself seeing the image of the woman that you dated and possibly loved framed in a gunsight but that was exactly what suddenly was happening.
"Kealey?" Jacen asked as he swiftly lowered the gun. Already the sickening realization was moving through his mind that she had just seen what he could do. She had seen him for exactly what he was. He was a trained killer and there was no getting around that fact. "How..." He began, his voice trailing off before his eyes focused on the big red man that was standing behind Kealey.
"It's done... there's nothing else." Jacen finally said as he reached behind his back to slip the Glock back into its holster. Off in the distance he could hear approachign sirens and as much as a part of him screamed that he had to stay and talk to the cops, another part knew that it was no use. He couldn't make this worse for Lori, Tarin, Lee, Kealey, and even Big Red. For a moment he was lost as to what to do but then a game plan of some type came into his mind. The first and most important item was that they get away from the crime scene.
"Look, there's a man in the RV there. His name's Tarin. Tell him to start driving. You ride with him and try to keep everyone in there calm. Uh... you," He started off talking looking directly at Kealey before his gaze swiveled to focus on the big red man, "Travel with them. Make sure they don't get bothered. About three or four miles north of here is a big building that's under construction. The parking lot should be vacant. Wait there for me. I'm gonna get the rental car, clean out our rooms, and I'll be right behind all of you. Ok?"
The scream of profanities coming from Pulse's direction was more than enough to show that Jacen's attack had done its work. Cradling the weapon to his chest the man began to slowly scoot his way along the ground in order to get out from under the RV. Off on the other side of the road he could see the other man scrambling for what looked like a miniature satellite dish. In a relatively short time he was holding it and had it pointed directly at Jacen.
The pain was immediate but nowhere near as intense as it had been moments before. Akin to something slightly less than a migraine, it was painful but not debilitating. "For that, you get to suffer." Jacen muttered under his breath before finally escaping from under the RV. Rising to his feet, he felt instant relief as he escaped the beam once again. As he walked, he slid the UMP back around so that rest at his back, hidden from the world by the light jacket he was wearing.
As he walked, Pulse scrambled to try and keep the dish trained on him but with the obvious blood loss all that was happening was a slightly wavering beam that made Jacen angrier with each step. Suddenly speeding up, he closed in and with one powerful kick sent the dish clattering away from the other man. When this whole thing began there had been thoughts of interrogating this man to find out more information about what had happened to his parents and those other families but those thoughts were gone. In their place were images of papers marked with red ink, Lori's damaged form, and the pain that filled Jacen's head only minutes before.
His face was dispassionate even though his eyes burned with inner fire as he drew his Glock and fired two quick shots into either of Pulse's knee caps. The screams and curses were immediate as he just continued to look down at the bloody form that had apparently terrorized so many people for so long.
"You like giving people a rush... do you feel one now?" Jacen asked coldly as he raised his gun and pointed it right between Pulse's eyes.
"Damn you! Damn you and all the Adapteds! No matter what you do, more of us will come! You'll never be safe!"
The pounding was beginning to settle down and Jacen suddenly found himself able to think once again. A quick glance back showed that Lori still seemed to be unconscious on the sidewalk while Tarin and Lee were apparently facing off against some of the goons they had met earlier. Turning his head back around, Jacen focused in the direction that Pulse's voice had been coming from earlier. Thanks to the RV above him he couldn't see the whole man but he could deffinately make out the pair of feet that currently stood on the sidewalk across from him.
"I may not know exactly what the hell an adapted is or who he's talking about," Jacen muttered to himself as he slowly rotated the sub machine gun that had settled on his back so that in a few moments that straps now held it on his ches, "But I do know how to remove a terrorist."
With only the room available under the RV, it would have been almost impossible for Jacen to get the weapons sling off of his body which meant that aiming with this shot would be difficult. At the moment though, he really didn't care. The UMP had the capability of full automatic fire and it had a full clip. What more could he ask for?
Pointing the weapon in the direction of those dastardly feet, Jacen couldn't help but smile ever so slightly as he pulled the trigger. A slight sweep back and forth with his hands sent a wave of bullets flying toward their target. The sound of the gunfire was so loud in the confined space under the RV that Jacen was momentarily deafened but he saw with satisfaction as small bursts of blood appeared the second the metal objects hit his target.
Tarin's words made sense but just for at least this brief moment Jacen wanted to be petty. Lori had hurt him more than any woman he'd ever met and then had the audacity to come down to Florida and open up a can of worms that he thoughts was completely sealed. Maybe he had been stupid to even come down and help her but he knew that his conscience would have torn him up if he hadn't come. No, instead he would just have to be ticked at her forcing him to come.
Unfortunately, Jacen's moment of pettiness was over in a matter of seconds when Lori stepped into his field and then collapsed from a complete lack of energy. Taking a step or two toward her, Jacen's head suddenly exploded in pain that sent him collapsing to the ground right next to Lori. Before he could even realize what had happened the pain was gone, only to reappear seconds later as Pulse turned the dish, waving the beam across the area yet again. The pain was so intense that there wasn't even time to cry out in protest. All he could do was feel his muscles tense and spasm before relaxing as the pain disappeared.
If there had been enough time between waves Jacen would have been cursing. Yes, he would have been cursing up a storm if Pulse would just give him some sort of rest. Thanks to the RV that was blocking him from sight the mutant was never able to focus the beam directly on Jacen but the frequent waves back and forth were more than enough to keep him out of commission for the time being.
His eyes were getting blurry as yet another wave of pain slammed into his mind and all thought was lost. How was he supposed to come up with a plan when he could even think? He had at most two or three seconds between headaches and that wasn't going to be nearly enough... was it? The ability to formulate intricate plans was lost, but basic survival instincts would definitely fully functional. Rolling across the ground, Jacen finally let out a groan as pain rocked his brain once more but he continued moving. Rolling off the curb, onto the street, and under the RV. He didn't know if it was far enough away that Lori would get her strength back, he didn't know if it was putting him at an angle where Pulse could see him, he didn't even know if his aura would now be protecting Lee & Tarin. All he knew was that he had to do something and until he had a little bit of a longer respite... this was all he could manage.
IC: Jacen accelerated out of the parking lot, pushing the RV to its limits. To be honest, he hadn't known that it was possible for a vehicle of this size to go up on two wheels and then settle back down correctly but yet somehow he'd pulled it off. At any other time he might have admired his own driving skill but that sort of self appreciation would have to come later. For now he had to be focused on getting to Lori and Tarin before it was to late. Of course, there was that whole issue of traffic safety. Locking the brakes, the tired screached and left a trail of rubber on the cement as the vehicle came to a sudden stop at the traffic light.
"Damn, damn, damn, damn!" Jacen cursed over and over under his breath as he waited for the light to finally go green. Of all the times for him to be without his siren and lights it had to be today. Even though technically it would have been illegal for him to bring his mobile lights and siren down to Florida, he was really wishing he had gone ahead and done it. There was no reason why he should have to abide by normal traffic laws. Not in a situation like this!
His eyes were focused on the glowing beacons up above the road, food tensed on the brake pedal as it waited to spring into action on the accelerator. Tarin and Lori were out there somewhere and if they didn't arrive in time, who knew what the hell was goign to happen.
Finally some of his automatic actions kicked in, and Jacen found himself glancing in the mirrors to make sure everything was clear around him. He didn't want to injure any innocents on his way to save others after all. Lifting his gaze back up to the red light Jacen suddenly paused.
"What the..." He muttered as he glanced back over into his right, side view mirror. Was that? Could it really be? Was he sure? "Tell your friend to check her connection. I think they're closer than we thought!" Jacen called back to Lee as he put the RV in reverse and slammed on the accelerator. Slowly at first but with ever increasing speed the vehicle moved backward before he hit the brakes, stopping right in front of the pair he was sure had to be who they were looking for.
Faster than Jacen would have thought possible the vehicle was put into park and he was over the center console and out the passenger side door. Freezing as soon as his feet touched sidewalk, Jacen stood silently as he gave both Tarin and Lori and quick once over.
Jacen paused, waiting to be sure that Lee was well clear of the room before he followed her out. Making sure to stay clear of her he walked quickly and then broke into a jog in order to keep up with the much more energetic woman. Apparently the energy from earlier at the club was still stored up, which made sense since she'd spent every moment since then around him and his negation aura.
It was amazing, but by some miracle the RV was unlocked. Whether it was by carelessness or a misplaced trust in mankind, Jacen didn't care. What mattered was that he and Lee had open access to the vehicle. Climbing into the cab, Jacen paused for a moment in the seat. He had been planning on attempting a hotwire but with people this trusting was it possible there might be another option available?
"Are you and your friend comfortable back there?" Jacen called as he ran his hands under the seat and then up into the drivers sunvisor. Everything was empty, but when he reached over to the passenger side his face lit up in a grim smile.
"Jackpot." He muttered as he hands pulled out what was obviously an ignition key. More than likely this was some retiree's vehicle and while Jacen did feel bad for taking it, he also understood it was necessary. "We're requisitioning it... I'm not gonna keep it. It'll be returned." He thought to himself as he placed the key in the ignition and started the vehicle. Obviously this was a well kept RV because as soon as he turned the ignition the engine fired right up.
"Where to?" He called, glancing over his shoulder at Lee and the ghostly apparition, "And how fast do I need to push this thing?"
With those simple words all of Jacen's carefully laid plans for thrown completely out of whack. "well, damn." He muttered as he walked back over to the window, not really seeing what he was staring at for several minutes. Here it was, the opportunity to rescue Tarin and Lori had finall come, but now they found themselves trapped because of Jacen's stupid ability. With him close by they couldn't watch the spirit so she couldn't direct him on where to go but since Lee couldn't drive there was no way for them to be separated.
Mentally he was cussing up a storm even as he began to admit defeat. Lori and Tarin would both be dead long before they could get to them. They had no clues except for a spirit that couldn't exist near Jacen and unless she'd paid attention to street signs and could tell them how to get there before they left, there was really no other option.
But something was nagging at the back of his mind and as Jacen's eyes refocused, noting what was in the parking lot, his subconscious finally got threw. It was a crazy idea, probably the craziest he'd ever come up with but...
"There's an RV out there we can borrow. I can drive and, as much as I hate to say it, you two ladies can be my back seat drivers. Way on back, back seat drivers." Jacen said somewhat triumphantly as he spun back around to face Lee and her ghostly aquaintance, "Any problems with that idea?"
A voice had come out of nowhere and before Jacen could slow down or react in any way Lee was already yelling at him to back off. Quickly backing into the far corner of the room, Jacen's eyes widened as the spirit once again came into view. Living in New York he had seen his fair share of freaky things but seeing a a woman suddenly pop into view without any preamble was pretty freaky. Especially when he realized that this had to be one of the spirits that Tarin talked about.
"Ah, hell." Jacen muttered, as he watched the two women converse. Could this really get any stranger? On one side was the married woman concerned about her husband and on the other side was the dead woman that the married woman's husband could temporarily solidify into the natural realm.
Suddenly the conversation was over and Lee was looking over at Jacen with obvious concern on her face. Lee's was the million dollar question and now Jacen's mind kicked into high gear. Vaulting the bed so that he stayed away from the two of them as best he could, Jacen walked over to the window and pulled back the blinds enough for him to peak out. A couple of his friends in the Rangers had taught him a few less than legal tricks that might come in handy in this particular situation. It wasn't something he liked doing but for a worthy cause he was willing to try and remember certain skills.
"Vette, Cavalier, Caddy, Oldsmobile, Motorcycle. Perfect." Jacen muttered, ticking off the vehicle he could see until his eyes finally settled on what he'd been looking for. Fishing the keys out of his pocket he turned and tossed them over to Lee. "You drive the car. I'll follow behind."
It was a safe plan but there was something else that Jacen needed if it came down to it. Just the Glock wasn't going to be enough in this situation and thankfully his UMP had a great shoulder strap that would take only a few seconds to attach. Moving quickly, Jacen completed the task and then slung the weapon over his body before pulling on a light wind breaker to at least somewhat hide what he was now wielding.
"Whenever you and your guide are ready Lee."
Things were beginning to get a lot more comfortable for Jacen as he could now see action looming on the horizon. He didn't know exactly how many he would be facing but at least he knew he was trained and ready for whatever come. If he died, then he died, but he would make damn sure that a lot went with him!
Jacen's sudden burst of anger had apparently surprised Lee almost as much as it did himself. Normally he wasn't one to let emotion gain control but in this situation he was finding himself at a loss. How in the world was he supposed to find both Tarin and Lori and save them from these sickos that were actually targeting Jacen and those like him?
"I don't know." Jacen gritted out, glancing back at the paper with obvious frustration before standing to his feet and beginning to pace back and forth. Sure, he had been the one to ask Tarin and Lee to help but that didn't mean he was perfect. He had never expected Tarin to offer himself up in trade like he'd done. He'd never expected Pulse to catch on to Lee so quickly. Hell, he'd never expected Lori to come down to Florida and start stirring up trouble.
"I can't find a single clue on where to start! There are no addresses, no phone numbers, no contact information of any kind! I'll I'm seeing are more lists of names and some sort of science medical reports. I flunked out of science for crying out loud!" Jacen ranted as he pivoted on his heel and strode back across the bedroom. At the moment the only thing comforting about this situation was the Glock that pressed against the small of his back and the UMP .45 that currently resided in a closed but unlocked case right near the bed. He wanted action, no, he needed action. He couldn't take being cooped up in this hotel room any more! "Where the hell do you want me to start Lee? Shall we just pick a section of town and start driving around? Maybe we can find a scientist that won't report us to the cops and get him to translate some of this gobbly gook, or better yet why don't you stand outside and pray that one of Tarin's spirits shows up!"
It was completely out of line but Jacen had to vent some of his emotion somewhere and unfortunately Lee was the closest person. It didn't matter that they were both hurting all that mattered was that he needed some sort of relief before he went completely out of his mind!
For a brief moment, Jacen felt a twing of annoyance surge through his body but it quickly dissapeared when Kealey explained that she cared whether he was OK or not. They had never really expressed any sort of deep emotional atachment to each other, even though they both knew it was there, but now she was admitting at least some of the feeling. It was touching, and while he wasn't sure that he was quite ready to say the words, he was more than willing to show it in his actions.
Leaning closer, Jacen gently pressed his lips against Kealey's. The touch was electric and immediately he found himself fully awake and fully aware of the woman that was laying next to him. She was special, caring, funny, with just the right mixture of spitfire and minx hiding beneath the surface. With his mind suddenly filled with images of their time together at different opportunities, he pulled her close and began to tug at her shirt.
Piece by piece, the dirty, rumpled clothes fell to the floor, gathering in a pile that was soon forgotten by the pair in the bed. No thoughts were given to tangled hair or bruised and scratched skin. All that mattered was that they had survived and that they were together. Everything else could momentarily be shut out and forgotten for some other time.
Dreamless sleep was deffinately one of the most condusive to real rest and that was exactly what Jacen was enjoying when suddenly someone was touching him and shaking him. Rising through a fog of haziness he went through that brief moment of not knowing where he was or who in the world was talking with him.
Then everything came back with amazing clarity and Jacen fell back against the pillows. "I'm awake Kealey... I'm awake."
His brain felt like it was moving through mud as he tried to come up with some sort of explanation as to why Kealey would have woken him up. Glancing over at the clock he found himself to tired to do the math and figure out how long he'd been sleeping but he did know it was still the same day as when he'd fallen asleep which meant he hadn't slept nearly long enough.
"Do you need something, beautiful?" Jacen asked with a yawn, rolling over to look at his blond bedmate, "Starting to get hungry?"
She had to need something, absolutely had to, otherwise there was no good reason for her to wake him. Maybe she was hungry, maybe she was still a little scared, maybe she'd even had a scary dream. Heck, maybe she even wanted to finish what they'd been starting back at the pool. "Have I mentioned lately how nice you look?"
