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.
Dress code? Janelle shrugged her shoulders, most of the places she went regularly had done away with the black tie requirements a long time ago. ”As long as you don’t show up in a tank top and cargo shorts they probably wouldn’t say anything.” Things were much more relaxed these days, after all. Collars and jackets at dinner were a thing of the past...at least that's what her parents tended to say wistfully whenever they started to reminisce about the past.
Driving had never really been much of an obstacle to getting where she wanted to go. When she was younger there had always been a driver to take her places and now she took public transport or used one of the ride-sharing services that were so very popular around the city.
Erik pointed out that he could teach her to drive in his, ‘creepy stalker van’ if she was interested and that he had learned quickly by running from law enforcement. Janelle had to shake her head and chuckle, she knew that her upbringing was charmed...especially for a mutant. Janelle also knew that most others were nowhere near as lucky as she had been growing up.
”I’m glad you haven’t had to do that since you’ve been here…” she said, then grinned, ”I may have to take you up on the offer to teach me...cars have always seemed very interesting to me.” Did that make her sound weird?
They moved on to plants and Janelle visibly brightened and she nodded her head enthusiastically, ”One of the teachers maintains a beautiful greenhouse. I help out in there a lot when I’m not in class or working. I used to get to help a lot more...but school takes up a lot of time.”
Erik seemed to approve of the sugo and Janelle grinned as she copied his fold and eat method with her own slice of pizza...it wasn’t anything but practical to eat pizza this way in New York, unless you were a heathen who used a knife and fork.
”Mmmmm” the redhead breathed, leaning her head back in the booth and chewing her food for a slow moment. There was just something about hot pizza, it was so good.
The conversation didn’t lull long and Janelle paused between bites to consider the most recent question. Music.
”That’s actually a more interesting question than you know...I...don’t really know that I have a favorite...I just kind of listen to what’s on the radio. I grew up listening to a lot of classical music and old slow stuff, so I’m really just learning my way around. I’d love to know some of your favorites so I can check them out.”
Feeling compelled to continue the line of questioning, Janelle fired back, ”What about movies? I love movies. Dramas and action especially....and nature documentaries.”
A heart-attack with a side of spuds...Erik may not have originally been from the United States, but his use of colloquialisms made him sound right at home. That type of food also sounded really good.
”It’s a date then. An official one.” they could exchange numbers and the like later. Something else about the comment had struck the redhead though and she grinned widely, ”Then the next time, I’ll treat at a french place. I know the perfect one.” It was a genuine offer, simply made without any artifice of snobbery. This was simply an opportunity to share something she enjoyed with good company. Janelle hoped said company would take it that way.
They had now ordered and Janelle couldn’t help but notice the raised eyebrow across from her, ”I didn’t know what it was either the first time...it’s sauce, but it’s kind of sweeter, you’ll have to try it.” she said by way of explanation.
Erik had a motorcycle. Erik had a motorcycle that he liked to drive fast. That was very exciting. ”You have a motorcycle?” she said, impressed. ”I don’t even know how to drive a car.”
Hobbies...hobbies...hobbies. There were the obvious ones, ”I love to garden and grow things, arrange flowers, pretty much anything with flowers. Plants are kind of my thing. I also like to read though...spend as much time in the sun as possible…”
Since most of the pizzas were already made and they’d ordered fairly generic slices, the food arrived quickly and Janelle actually rubbed her hands together in anticipation, nodding at the garlic knots and sugo.
Erik didn't realize how true his words were. Once you'd been inside one mansion you'd been inside them all. Mansions were all the same, huge buildings full of things and people...expensive things and people. In fact, it was crazy how a place that was so full of people and things could feel so empty sometimes. It was another thing they all had in common...they were lifeless.
The Mansion didn't feel that way though. The Mansion smelled like wood polish and old books, it had cold spots and warms spots (and Janelle had heard rumors that there were tunnels underneath that extended for hundreds, if not thousands, of feet.) It was..home...not that her life had been anything short of wonderful growing up. Despite their standing in "society" Janelle's parents had taken a very hands-on approach to parenting and she'd basked in the warm glow of their approval for pretty much everything she'd done...she was also daydreaming and missing what Erik was saying.
It was hard to look back and remember a conversation you hadn't taken part in, but she'd been looking at Erik the whole time he'd been talking and had caught bits and pieces of what he'd said. Involuntarily her cheeks flushed again in embarrassment of the rudeness she was showing in spite of the fact she was having a lovely time.
What kind of other food did she like? Janelle caught the thread of conversation back up and tried to gloss over the rest. "I like pretty much everything...but there's something about authentic French cooking that makes eating a meal an experience. All of the forks and plates, all of the courses...it makes you almost giddy to sit down at the table and play the game. Beyond that though? I love burgers and fries...especially from places where you can dress up the fries with cheese and bacon and all that good stuff. Maybe that'll be your challenge for next time...finding one of those burger joints."
He was worried he would mangle things? He wasn't the one comparing mansions and their pros and cons.
The waitress was there and taking orders now and Janelle ordered a slice of pepperoni pizza (they were BIG) and a couple of garlic knots with the house sugo. It was good.
More interested in the company than the place. Janelle chuckled and shook her head, ”You’ve obviously never seen the inside of The Mansion.” she said lightly, though her cheeks colored at the obvious compliment she was being paid.
Still, Eric’s description of the Sanctuary was far more nice...and far more pracical than the descriptions she’d heard from other residents of the Mansion. Often the place was couched in scandal and dark mystery...as if it were the antithesis of The Mansion and what it stood for. If there were people like Eric there though...maybe it wasn’t so bad.
”Maybe we can trade tours sometime. I have to admit to more than a passing curiosity about the place.”
As for the restaurant.
”I made it a goal to find as many authentic New York restaurants as possible when I decided that I was going to stay here.” she said, thinking back to the days when she’d only eating at restaurants with her parents that you didn’t walk into off the street. Places where you couldn’t even make reservations, you simply called people to ‘get a table.
”My parents would absolutely hate this place.” she said with a smile that indicated that her eating here wasn’t an act of rebellion, simply something they wouldn’t understand.
Then there was the most important question. What kind of pizza did she like? Janelle shrugged her shoulders, ”It really depends on the time and place. I like all the fancy vegetable pizzas, I like the ones that combine bacon and ranch or buffalo chicken sometimes...but from a place like this you can’t beat a simple pepperoni slice. It’s just too good to mess up. What about you?”
As she waited for a reply, Janelle watched her companion. He was more reserved than she was and the tiny quirk at the edges of his mouth almost looked unpracticed. It was too bad, he had a nice smile.
Ah, Janelle thought as they rounded the corner and approached the restaurant. They were birds of a different colored feather, it would seem. Always enthusiastic at meeting someone else who shared her genetic make-up Janelle restrained herself from asking about Erik’s gifts. Some people were more reserved than she was and found it rude to simply inquire about a person’s powers. It was better to get to know the person first, than to lead with what could be invasive questioning.
Still, there was much more to unwrap in that answer than simply the fact that she and Erik shared an X-gene. ” Well” she said, ”You certainly win the interesting backstory competition…” Now she had a moment to digest as they neared their destination.
Someone was leaving the pizza parlour as they approached and saved Janelle that awkward moment where she had to decide if it was okay to open the door herself or if she need to wait to have it opened for her. The person leaving simply stalled for a second so the two could make their way in.
It was a simple, counter shop with a few worn-out booths and tables and stereotypical red and white tiles coating the walls. It smelled amazing Janelle realized the silence had stretched a bit as they entered and cast a smile in Erik’s direction.
”And it wasn’t too much, not at all. I asked, and I always think that honesty is the best policy...as cliche as that sounds. I’m sorry things were so difficult for you though, and I’m sorry about your Mom..” She really was...Janelle knew how lucky she was coming from a complete home...coming from everywhere she’d come from, actually.
There were places and names she recognized, and a few things had stuck out to her as Erik spoke. Leading the way towards one of the booths that was away from the bustle of the register, she spoke again, ”If you want to see the inside of the school, maybe you can visit sometime. I still live there in one of the adult dorms. I’m still working on some things and it’s easier to be close to where the tutors are.” It was the gentle way of saying that she still didn’t have any fine control over her powers and travelling from the city was too inconvenient on a regular day. As for the Sanctuary…it was impossible to live in the Mansion without hearing about that place. ”What’s the Sanctuary actually like? I have to admit that I’ve not heard a lot of good things about it at the Mansion…”
As the two began to make their way towards the pizza shop around the corner, Erik asked a couple of questions and Janelle nodded by way of acknowledgement as she thought about how to answer.
Having never been much of one to sugar coat things or deny who she was, she answered truthfully. Better to do so now than ruin a meal if her origins were distasteful to her dinner date.
”Relatively new…” she conceded, ”I’ve been coming to the city with my parents since I was little, but I didn’t live here until my junior year of high school” she paused for a moment, wondering if it would just be easier to pass it off as boarding school…
”You see, I finished high school at Xavier’s School for the Gifted. My parents thought it was best once they found out I was a mutant.” the term still made Janelle want to wrinkle her nose a bit. Slowly but surely they were, ‘taking the word back’ as so many had done with malign labels, but there was still a stigma and it all seemed rather funny.
”I grew up in the suburbs upstate…” That she would be cagey about...she still felt her parents had more money than sense and it didn’t do well to flaunt the fact. ”And I didn’t leave the Mansion much until after I started at NYU...the job was advertised as a way to give back…and I felt like I owed at least a little for broadening my horizons.” There...that was acceptable.
”What about you?” she said, ”Where were you before?”
Whelp...she’d gone and done it again. Janelle nearly rolled her eyes at herself as she overwhelmed Erik with a deluge of career options. He’d come here for information, not life planning! He spoke, and Janelle nodded her head, eager for a seguey out of that particular topic of conversation...she had a terrible tendency to be a know-it-all sometimes and it was something she simply had to work on.
Erik seemed to be amenable to grabbing pizza around the corner after she was finished here, but he was a little concerned about the walk. Janelle did laugh at that comment and looked conspicuously down at the practical, but somewhat pinchy, pumps she’d donned for the occasion. ”It’s literally right around the corner from the hotel. It’s not fancy, but it’s really good.I haven’t been in the city long enough to skew my sense of distance.”
That all established, Erik excused himself to wait outside, being so kind as to even offer the redhead an escape route if she changed her mind about the impromptu dinner invitation. She chuckled lightly at the suggestion an shook her head, she wouldn’t have agreed if she hadn’t wanted to .
Janelle checked her watch, noting that she only had about 25 more minutes until her shift at the event was over. It was a decent amount of time to try out some of the suggestions Erik had given and she wandered over to some parents and a child who looked more uncomfortable than skeptical of the event.
25 minutes later, Janelle made her way outside into the brisk New York air. It was always a little amazing to Janelle how it could ever be cold in a space with so many cars, buildings, and people in such a small area, but the city managed. Erik was nearby, as promised, and Janelle made her way over to him, shoving her hands into her pockets for warmth.
”I tried you suggestions…” she said by way of greeting as she approached, ”There was couple and their son who live in Queens, this was actually their first college visit because he’d been reluctant to pick somewhere out of state. They seemed receptive to my overenthusiasm...you may be onto something.”
Was this, "off the books Janelle"? The redhead tilted her head slightly to the side, pondering the question as Erik continued to talk about his potential plans for school, how it would work for him. Why else would a person do something like going to college? College seemed like one of those things that a person should only do if they really had their heart in the idea. For most people it meant debt, and a time commitment unlike anything they'd experienced before. It would practically be a waste of time to do it if your heart weren't in it.
An Associates Degree, he said, Janelle nodded her head, eyes narrowing slightly in concentration as she tried to remember something from one of the seminars she'd attended to learn about NYU before joining the student outreach program. "There are lots of science and medicine jobs that you can do with an Associates Degree, lab techs in a lot of places need associates degrees, some nurses and surgical assistants...all good options." as for the rest of the statement, wanting to dig deeper into her comment about the plants and their happiness, she just smiled and shrugged obtusely.
And then Janelle got asked to dinner.
Well. That was an interesting turn of events, and not at all what she had expected from tonight's activities. For the first time, Janelle really studied the young man in front of her.
If she had to guess, they were close in age...but sometimes it was hard to tell. He was taller than her, but didn't tower like a giant and so far he seemed like the kind of person that it might be nice to get to know better. She considered for a moment and then gave a quick, decisive nod and a small smile, "I think I'd like that." she said.
"There's a good pizza place around the corner from here that's always got hot slices. I'm done here in a little while, if that works?"
In Janelle’s experience there was a large disparity between the things a person should do an the things that a person was going to do.
This was a tough situation and it bordered on making her feel pessimistic about the entire college admissions experience. It was too much like sales. Erik was right...and she told him so.
”I guess it’s easy to follow the crowd when you’re surrounded by other people who think it makes perfect sense.” the redhead admitted guilelessly. ”Plus, a lot of these kids are way less interested in being here than their parents. It couldn’t hurt though…” Janelle mused, almost itching to try it out. Everything seemed so simple now, and it was almost embarrassing that she hadn’t thought of it herself when being genuine tended to work out so well.
Erik, it seemed, was also in the, ‘scientifically minded’ club...if somewhat more reserved about his interest in the medical field. ”Ugh...people.” she said with an exaggerated scowl. ”I’ve heard stories though…of people who got through med school with kids and jobs and all the things that go with them...live the dream!”
Microbiology was something the redhead could get more behind. In fact, she’d had to take a number of courses as part of her major, ”The science department here is great...but I do know you have to take some of the lab courses on campus. The good news is that the commute isn’t really too awful from anywhere around town.”
As for what she wanted to do? The question made her smile a little. It was something people always wanted to know...GMO’s were a popular thing to hate.
Janelle just shrugged, ”As long as the plants are happy, I’m happy.” It was a multi-layered statement, whether Erik knew it or not. As for what she wanted to do? Janelle did elaborate, because she didn’t know...working wasn’t something that a lot of people in her family really did. It was uncharted territory.
Ahhh, we had a smooth operator here. Janelle shook her head and laughed a little. A model? Yeah right. No model was this short...or had muddy red hair that never seemed to do what it was supposed to do. The sentiment was sweet though, and Janelle had to reflect on the fact that the people she interacted with almost universally commented on her sunny disposition. It had to be a compliment...that sort of thing was a positive personality trait, right?
As far as her spiel was concerned..."The speech isn't for me though." she said, taking a chance to glance around the room, "It's for all of them...though I do have to admit it sounds far too much like a sales pitch to me." The redhead frowned for just a moment at that, "School shouldn't be about that."
It was always said that you could tell a lot about someone by their hand shake and Erik's was firm and warm. That was a delightful change from the crushing, clammy, and/or weak ones she'd been experiencing all night from the others in the room.
Erik wanted to know about her major and suddenly Janelle was all smiles again, "Botony!" she chirped happily. As for the why...it simply wasn't polite to parade ones powers around like a business card, so she had to settle for the more simple and mundane explanation that tended to get her through in situations such as these, "I couldn't imagine doing anything else. I spent my Junior and Senior year of high school at a private school in the city and I didn't want to leave. NYU was the perfect choice." and it was, Janelle could still live in her sweet little room in the mansion and attend classes with little fuss.
"What about you? What kinds of classes would you take?"
Janelle nodded as the prospective student explained his situation and his interests in NYU. It was all very reasonable, and Janelle couldn't help but think that these were the kinds of students that the school should be putting their focus on attracting. Sure, some of the kids in this room were great, but they were probably already going to get in and this was just the kind of networking overkill that the overly ambitious loved. As for the rest...they didn't want to be in college anymore than they wanted to be at this event, they were just appeasing their parents. Janelle knew their type...they'd spend a few years wasting time, money, and space until they either grew up enough to take school seriously...or found something "better" to do with their time.
The redhead didn't know what it was like to try and juggle work and school. It was just something she'd never had to do. It didn't mean she couldn't nod her head and be an empathetic ear though. This was someone who already had a way of supporting themselves and wanted to do even more. It was downright commendable! "That's fantastic!" she said with a grin, "I haven't personally taken any online classes, but I know there are a lot available."
At the young man's last comment, the redhead couldn't help but chuckle, light brows raising in mild consternation, "Someone like me?" she said, noting that while the statement was a little off-color, the sentiment was true...so she shrugged, "NYU honestly has been really really good for me in a lot of ways." she said directly. "The people in admissions did a good job of selling this as an opportunity to let others have the same kind of experience. I'm not the type to quit once I have my teeth into something...so here I am!"
Janelle held out her hand, "I'm Janelle." she said, deciding this conversation was much more worthy than the others she could have been having. "Is any of that any good?"
The food looked...alright which was really pretty good as far as these things had been concerned. Janelle tried really hard not to be a snob, but food was one of those places where she just couldn't resist splurging. If she was going to waste precious caloric intake, the food needed to be worth it. Crusty finger food that had been left over a steno for too long generally wasn't worth it.
Apparently she was being a snob though, because the food was starting to look pretty picked over. Then again...that definitely could have been because the only person in the room without parents book-ending their elbows seemed to be trying to eat it all himself. Janelle tilted her head to the side and studied the young man as he made his way through the pans of finger food.
The first thing the redhead noticed was the lack of trying-too-hard that was evident in almost every other attendee. In fact, if anything, he wasn't trying at all. Janelle was definitely intrigued. She approached.
"Thinking about applying to NYU?" she said, in her best student liaison voice, eyes glittering with barely suppressed mirth. "The food in the student union is nearly this good."
The title had had a nice ring to it when Janelle had seen the little flyer posted on the bulletin board on campus one day as she ate her lunch. It had even had those little strip thingies with a QR code, a tinyurl, and a snap code that led to an application site. The site had sold itself very well with phrases that suggested that a student outreach liaison could change peoples' lives by helping them make the decision to come to NYU...by convincing them that this was the place for them!
College had been good for Janelle, who had previously been happy...if a bit sheltered by her previous upbringing in upstate New York. Actually living in the city had its perks, and the redhead thought that it could do the same for lots of other people...
Until she found out what a student outreach liaison actually did.
And it involved cheap hotel conference rooms. (Well...cheap by her standards anyway...)
And cheap catered buffets. (Again...cheap was a relative term...)
And lots of uninterested kids being drug around by parents who cared more about their college choice than they did themselves.
Ugh. This was the third one of these, "recruitment events" she'd found herself at, and Janelle was getting more and more disillusioned by the second. The billboard smile plastered across her face was convincing enough, and as she recited the script she'd been fed by the recruitment officials in the admissions office, she could see they were riveted. Their daughter? Not so much...could eyes actually get lost in the back of someone's head if they rolled far enough back? The smile got brighter and the parents got even more interested as the redhead launched into a list of honors bestowed upon NYU in just the last couple of years. It was definitely the place to go if you wanted a head start on the rest of your life!
After what seemed like an eternity, the parents led their daughter away and Janelle made her way towards the buffet to see if there was actually anything edible. The clothing for these events left something to be desired as well, it was all very business casual and buttoned up...not the kind of thing that lent itself well to buffets.
Janelle smiled as the older woman placed a hand on her shoulder, nerves beginning to abate as the other woman strove to put her at ease. The greenhouse really was a beautiful place. The caretaker knew her charges well and took good care of them.
"I'm happy to help with anything you need." Janelle said, "Though I couldn't accept pay. I'd just love to be around and watch what you do." she added, moving to start collecting the things that she'd instructed to gather for the greenhouse pets.
"I didn't transfer in here until the end of my Junior year, and I graduated early, so I'd already finished all of my science requirements. I never even got to meet you..." the little redhead paused as she brought the gathered fruits and vegetables to where the animals were kept. "Or get your name..."
The occupant of the greenhouse...wasn't exactly what Janelle had expected. Honestly, Janelle didn't know what she'd expected, but it wasn't the particularly lovely woman who made herself known at Janelle's calls.
Could she help?
Janelle smiled a bit nervously and moved forward, hands clasped in front of herself and uncertainty positively oozing from her very being.
"Um, I'm hoping you can help." she said, voice more steady than the little redhead had worried it would be. "I live here at the Mansion, and I heard that your abilities deal with plants."
Janelle hoped she wasn't being too forward. Talk of powers and abilities had been such a foreign concept until recently, "I never got to have a chance to have a class with you...but my abilities deal with flowers too."
There was more, all she had to do was get through all of it. Hoping everything came out as well as she had rehearsed it in her head, Janelle plunged forward.
"I went to enough of the tutoring sessions to learn how to control what I can do, for the most part, but recently I've been thinking that I might want to do a bit more than just control it. I want to do things, and I was wondering if you could help."
There. She'd said her piece. Janelle smiled hopefully as she waited for the other woman to digest her words.
