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.
As she moved to strip him of his weapons, he let go... and moved with the kick, to lessen its impact. When he did that, he dropped his shoulder and bumped it into her. That knocked her back, slightly. Out of reaction, she sliced at him with a knife as she fell back.
It had not been intentional. She had not meant to try and cut Sam. All the same, old instincts die hard. Luckily, the blade clipped off something hard as it struck. Ice...?
She caught herself before she fell on her ass, or something that would have been equally embarrassing. As she moved forward, shifting her weight from back to front, something flew at her. She caught it out of the corner of her eye.
Color flooded the world for her. She dodged by instinct, rather than by conscious thought. The ice shard had served its purpose though, as it had distracted Lenna. Color receded, replaces by her usual orange vision.
Sam had regained a sword. As he slashed at her, he commented “Skilled.”
She was already moving as he struck down at her. Lenna dove to one side, in a dodge roll maneuver. The blade hit empty air. As heavy a slash as it was, he likely wouldn’t have been able to shift mid-swing to gain an attack of opportunity on her back.
”Talk,” She grunted. ”Too much.”
She was already on the ground. Lenna swept out with a knife at ankle level, in an attempt to “hamstring” him. Her other blade, she held above her body in case he struck down at her while she was grounded.
Sword fighting. Always, sword fighting. Her weakest skill.
Warm? Movies? Well. Some people liked different things. Lenna would not judge. Seemed strange. But she would not judge.
The girl looked different. Maybe her mutation desired heat? It pressed, Lenna would not have been able to tell her anything about what she thought said mutation WAS. Her natural sciences knowledge was minimal. But there HAD to be something there, which she was missing.
She simply nodded, and furrowed her brow in concentration.
The girl apologized some more. About interrupting the focus thing and stuff. Really demeaned herself doing it, too. Like she could be quiet or she could go, she was sorry she was even there... made Lenna frown. Broke her usual poker face. Hmmm.
Made her contemplate how to react. Her mouth twitched into a pout for a second, and then—
”Nope.” Lenna said. ”Nope. You are not going anywhere. Except out from back there, if you would like. You are NEW! YOU are interesting. More better than me reading stupid text books. I like you. Will you not come out and talk with me?” She asked.
Lenna waiter patiently, and tried not to seem threatening. She even tried to smile. It may not have been truly convincing. Perhaps, even forced. She was not used to smiling in awkward situations. Or situations...
>> ”If this keeps up, me and whomever is behind this will be having words.” The boy said.
Words? Lenna laughed darkly.
”I prefer fists.” She said.
Fists? Yes. Feet? Yes. Knives and other things... yes. But maybe not for something as annoying (but innocent) as this.
She clenched one fist, for the emphasis.
The boy looked off in thought, clearly assessing the situation. Calculating. Telling her— she was cute.
He said some other stuff, and held out his hand. Lenna suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. The hand he held out, unfortunately got left hanging.
”Nice to meet you, William.” She said, Colombian accent making her words come off clipped. ”Please forgive me for not shaking your hand. I already apparently let one strange boy use his powers upon me because I let down my guard. Need not go two-for-two. Thank you for the compliment. For the moment, let us keep our mind on getting out of this maze. Focus, William.”
She gestured at the maze.”Shall we cheat?” Lenna smiled at him. It was not a flirty smile. More dangerous than anything.
Oh. So she had also learned about the plot. Lenna did not immediately sag in disappointment, but it was a close thing. Her smile merely slipped a little. She had been so excited to share the unknown. But it had been known. She bobbed her head once in acknowledgement, and reeled in her focus.
Yes. Megan could know what she already knew. But perhaps, there were things Megan was unaware of... which Lenna already knew. Perhaps, she could still be a help. And even if not, they were still friends. It would simply be a funny experience. Lenna was all too familiar with jokes where a person was the target of the humor. In Colombia at the school, that was what they did. One needed to grow thick skin, and a sense of humor. Or else, one was lost.
Megan seemed excited, at least. Even if she knew some of what Lenna knew. She did not dismiss it as worthless. Which was good. Lenna appreciated that.
So, many teachers present had experienced the deaging. Well. Okay. Was it weird?
"Yes." Lenna agreed. "And I have seen many weird things. Kind of an expert." Her Colombian accent made the statement sound extra wry.
A boy had helped her... by showing her images and things from when she had been older... it could not be. Could it? Lenna began to have the sinking feeling. In the pit of her belly. She kept smiling, though. Supportively. For the girls ramblings.
Quite the character. Huh.
"That is great!" Lenna nodded. And kept smiling. "It is good that people knew you when you were older. My boyfriend... apparently knew me. But not before we met. Again. And it feels like it might have been... a different me. Because like you, I am quite the character."
How could she explain, how could she explain?
"He knew a Me that worked with him years ago. He showed me a Lenna who seemed different than that Lenna. A Lenna changed her entire appearance, and became a pretty blonde woman... who followed... You? Into the bar. And then, there was a woman and a needle and a grenade and we became Us. Do you know someone named... Ty?" She asked, thoughtfully. Her mind held a great many thoughts. Lot O Plot.
No, the place hadn't really seemed safe to her either. It didn't take much convincing to get Lenna to follow the woman to another location. As for what she was saying... she attracted attention? What, was she a wanted criminal? Was this how that worked? Lenna saved that little bit of information for later.
How much did she know about the past of the city, events. Plot.
"I know nothing." Lenna confessed. Or, next to nothing. Her information was minimal. Despite her feeling that she had known much in the past, more and more she realized how little she knew. Maybe the woman could help with this, yes?
The woman did not immediately tell her what she did not know. First, they had to move to a nearby alley.
Lenna hoped this was not simply some ploy to kill her. She did not know this woman, but the woman knew her. This Aura. Lenna followed.
They did not go too far into the alley. This left them both with a path of escape. Perhaps that was as much for Aura's sake as it was for her own? The cover was good. Some people were crazy in this city. While Lenna did not think the Burger King employees would do anything, this Aura had a noteworthy face... others might take note.
Aura checked to see she was there, and when she noted that Lenna was, she continued. She poke of linked earths and another Lenna. Lenna... tilted her head.
"No. This thing is not something I have heard of. Strange... but no stranger than someone making me young again. And it may explain some things. Are you saying I was from this world, and the others were from the other world? Or are you saying I am from another Earth...?"
This did not freak her out. It intrigued her. Every bit of body language she gave was telling the other woman she was interested, and wanted to know more. She was not holding back, or cautious. There was no disbelief behind a mask. Or plainly visible. It was not that Lenna was gullible. It was simply that she was open to the strange, since... the strange had been open to her. It was not as if she had learned anything less odd than this lately.
And because it had to be asked, Lenna said it. "Did we... my older self. Did I date you? I am simply curious. Please, take no offense."
The mystery woman had followed her. Okay. Now was the part where the lady told her why.
She did not look like the Lady who had deaged both her and Megan. The one Ty had shown her in a vision. So that was good. If she had, Lenna would probably have been more on defense than she actually was.
The lady was not from SUPER either because they were a bit more stupid and cloak and dagger than this. They opted to jump you rather than talking like civilized folk.
She could have been one of Lenna’s enemies but if she was, she was enemies with someone who no longer existed. Which sucked for her. Sucked for Lenna, too. Because try explaining that.
What she actually was, beyond all the theories Lenna had rattling around in her head, was Aura. Now, what was an Aura?
Was an Aura a person? Was that her name? Should she know an Aura? She felt a little bad that she would have to let this woman down because it sounded like they were friends. Had been friends. What with all the ‘f bombs’ she was dropping. The friend bombs.
The fact this Aura has shared a dance with her put all sorts of questions in her mind. The kids at the mansion might have said ‘puts question marks over me head.’ Or at least one might have. A really dumb one. What did that even mean? But she did have them, the question marks. Up there.
She had shared a dance with the woman. And she was so beautiful as she had moved. Wait. Was other Lenna into women?
The woman talked of dancing, and Lenna said ”Okay.” Not in a pissy way, or a patronizing way. Like where they draw the word out to insult you. Nope. Just an ok ‘okay.’
Aura moved on.
And Aura got the feeling Lenna did not know her. Now what had given her that hint, aside from all the hints she had dropped? The woman looked concerned.
”I am sorry, Aura.” Lenna shook her head.
The woman clued in on the angle, right away. Said she looked younger.
Lenna nodded.
”I am. I was deAged by a Lady. A mysterious one. Cowboy and I are still trying to find her... I am interested in hearing about what you know about me, though... we are trying to learn about our old selves as well. And it seems I have too many to count.”
Lenna held up her hands, and counted. She got to four, and then stopped and felt dumb. ”There is one who came before, then one who came after. She turned blonde for a time. And then... Me. Four. Which did you know?”
She glanced over her shoulder, to make sure nobody was moving in on them both. They were terribly exposed.
Lenna very purposefully did not ask about the lesbian angle. Not that she was biased against women who liked women. Dios mio, no. When one grew up in an all girls school prepping young women for war and covert operations, the options for romance are quite limited, barring the people who snuck out to break the rules. And find men. No, she just avoided the angle because it distracted from her true interests. Learning more about herself. Her other self. Although, if her other self was interested in women that was one thing of note. She was uncertain whether her Cowboy would be horrified, jealous, or the type to lament about having not witnessed the thing in question.
Her Colombian accent came on strong as she turned towards the sudden, unfamiliar face. The unexpected, unfamiliar voice. The strange, smiling woman, that used words such as ‘elusive’ and ‘venues’ in casual conversation.
”Who, are you?”
Part of her had desired to throw a hell in there. Maybe a few other choice words, like damn and F***. But she was mastering herself after her little slip up. There was absolutely zero reason to cause a scene.
The woman was right, even if she had no possible clue who she was. There were better places and better times to use her skills.
Lenna looked to the fast food workers. ”Apologies. I take it I did not get the job?”
The two workers nodded dully.
”Okay. Yes. Fine. I will look elsewhere. This is stupid.” Face not giving away the frustration she felt, Lenna turned to go. But not before snatching up a freaking cardboard crown for her troubles.
As she went, she called back over her shoulder at the woman in the hood who had addressed her. ”Please follow me. I would like to talk.”
The world was orange again, to Lenna and her funky power of the mind. She had only focused on the hat for a moment. Still, her focus was not divided to the point of missing interesting things that happened to be there right in front of her.
This woman seemed to know her, and people that knew her were fascinating. Very fascinating. Anything she and Ty could piece together about their past lives was one more thing others could not use against them. One thing that Old Lenna had, which was still present in New Lenna was this: She was willing to make use of those who offered up aid.
Lenna walked out of the restaurant. As she walked, she unfolded and created the cardboard crown. She pushed open the doors, and stepped out. The crown, she settled on her head.
If the woman followed, good. If not, then not. Lenna did not glance back to check her progress. She only stopped once she was outside the restaurant and out of view of the jerk idiot fools within. After she had crossed the parking lot to stand beneath an unlit street light near the street. It was still the middle of the day. Plenty of time left to inquire at other restaurants. And perhaps this next time, she would look up on the internet how to proceed. But first.
Lenna turned, to see if the mystery woman had followed her out.
That bastard. That rat bastard. SUPER Kyle had done it. He'd finally done it. He'd locked his credit card. The monster. The absolute degenerate. He owed her more than this. He owed her money. Owed her funds. For making it so she was wary of going back to her own place. For making her need to figure out alternate ways to get pocket money, now. The jerk.
As far as pocket money went, there were a few ways she could go about gaining it. She could steal it. No. She could borrow it. No. She could earn it. Maybe.
Lenna had asked around about ways one could go about earning some money. She had never had a job. Her only line of work ever had been for Cortez, as part of his private army. She always felt so stupid for not having any marketable skills. But at least, some of the people at the mansion could help her with that.
One boy had suggested she just get a job at a fast food place.
"What, like the Burger King?" Lenna had asked.
"Yes," he had said dryly. "Exactly like that."
She had not liked his tone. He had sounded vaguely annoyed.
The Burger King. Yes. She could potentially do that. She asked if they hired people with absolutely no idea how to make hamburgers, and he told her "That is pretty much the only kinds of people they do hire."
That had settled that. She had found time to ride the bus, in order to approach this Burger King job place about getting one of those jobs. In her best orange hoodie and blue jeans, Lenna had arrived at the restaurant and requested a job.
The person had no clue what to do with that. They'd looked over their shoulder, uncommfortably. Maybe looking for someone with more job time than them? Someone who knew what they were doing, and could help her?
"We don't really... just hand out interviews for walk-ins. I think." The young girl had said. She was around Lenna's age, with blonde hair and blue eyes. A little overweight, but that is okay. Not everyone trains like a ninja to stay fit. Perhaps, if they worked together Lenna could give her aid. Make her the strongest Burger King employee ever. Other than herself.
Lenna had queried, if they didn't hand out interviews how did one go about gaining a job?
"Application," the person had said.
"Very well, then!" Lenna had nodded sagely. "One application, please!"
"Errr...." Again, she had looked over her shoulder. A coworker approached.
"What do you need, Susan?" He asked. He was fitter, with dark brown hair and freckles. Not as cute as Ty's freckles, to be sure. But this Susan girl seemed to think he was rather cute, judging by the way she acted, with her smile and her body language. Lenna could tell. She knew how to read people. She read that they both seemed uncomfortable, and that was stupid. Why?
They'd exchanged a quick conversation, in whispers. Lenna had caught bits and pieces. 'This girl... application.'
Lenna had stopped listening, to run her eyes around the restaurant. There was now a line behind her. She felt as if this was all her fault.
"Listen," She cut in on the two Burger King workers' conversation. "If you just give me a paper copy of this job application thing, I can get out of your way... and you can help all of these nice people."
"Yeah." The girl said. "Kind of your fault they're waiting. Huh."
Lenna arched one eyebrow at the girl. Had that been... lip? An insult? She knew people who had ended others for less. Even if... and this was embarassing... it probably was her fault. At least, a little. Lenna did not blush. But she knew some others might have done so. She felt a little annoyed. Annoyed enough to make a little bitty scene.
"Yes. OKAY! Okay. The application, now? You do NOT need to be rude about it. How else does one become the one true Burger Queen, if they cannot receive a &*&^ing application?" She felt a little exasperated now, and had drawn a crowd. What she really wanted was a crown. A cardboard crown. Like the one she had worn for Megan. They were right there, too. But she was not going to simply walk over to the dispenser and grab one.
"Our website is--" The boy stepped in, and rattled off a website.
Lenna thrust up her hands in frustration. "Really!" And as she did so, the paper hat on the fast food worker's head became her sole focus, and... it flew off into the distance, on her right. Not by Lenna's will. No. Not entirely. She... entirely had not meant to do that. It had not even threatened her, as most things her power "targeted" would normally do. She had simply been mad.
Hmph. Only use his powers to counter hers? Lenna said not a word. If he wanted to be stupid, let him be stupid. Had she not just stated she was unable to USE her powers reliably? And could not stop them from happening? How, then, would he even know?
Well, Lenna decided. If the effect were noticeable, he would likely know. For instance, if he kept missing her by the barest fraction of distance. Felt his blade shifted of a hair. Or, if by some miracle, something more notable happened. Unlikely, but who knows?
Anything is possible.
He approached.
Slowly, then not slowly. Lenna was prepared. Her stance was wide. He tried to go low. With one blade, she caught the sweeping strike.
A loud clang resounded off the walls. The sound of clashing steel. Was it cold, though? That was the question.
With her body at an angle to catch the low sweep, she didn’t counter it with a strike of her own just yet. So his guarding blade got to stay useless, for the moment.
Because she had not followed his initial strike with one of her own, she was able to perceive the follow up. Lenna knocked the lower blade away with a quick upward snap, and took a step back while guarding her front with her other weapon.
As the blade came down, her world shifted colors. Again. It happened again. With zero control. She had wanted it out of the equation, damned thing. To her vision, the orange surged into a single point as color flooded out at all angles. The single point? Sam’s blade.
Perhaps, Sam might have noticed it. Perhaps not. But as his blade came up, there was a slight... the only word for it would have been ‘resistance’... in the air. A low pressure that nudged the blade slightly off course, and robbed it of a tiny fraction of its force. Enough that, despite his strength and weight advantages, Lenna was able to block the upward blow with a horizontal parry.
The orange surged back out to encompass her world.
A split-second later, Lenna brought up the second blade. The one that had blocked before. And tried to move it so it was alongside her other blade, in a sort of blade trapping maneuver. Lenna attempted to twist the blades in order to disarm Sam. For good measure, she simultaneously threw a low kick at his right leg by way of distraction.
So it was a two-fer. She fell on her butt. Megan fell on her but. What a painful way to get two birds with one stone. So why was she happy?
Oh right. Megan was a friend. The other girl was just as excited to see her. Because this is how friends react when they see you, yes? Yes.
Megan offered her a hand up. Lenna beamed. Then, she took the air and rose to her feet. Dusted herself off. And took Megan in.
There had been a style change since last they had met. Less of one thing, more of another. Lenna was uncertain what one would have called the old style. Grungy? But this was more... doll-like? Though the foot wear was unchanged. She liked the new look.
”I am good!” She replied. ”I am well.” Because Megan asked the same question twice, she felt justified in answering it twice. ”And it has. Been forever.” A low chuckle escaped her. ”Last time we were together, we both had many questions. And no place to stay. Seems we figured that one out. And my boyfriend helped me understand some of this plot that has been going around, with all of those questions we had. Megan. I know things. About the plot.”
Lenna met Megan’s eye, most seriously. Yes. She knew a great many things. Things that would most certainly would be of interest to Megan. She began with a slow pitch.
Her head bobbed twice in confirmation. Yes, the maze did alter itself according to her sources of information. But how and why were but two of the many many questions she had, without answer.
He had no answers, either. The boy did not know what manips were, but he had a good guess about what was happening... a boy altering the maze. More than the usual amount. Reasonable, but then that begged the question “Why?” He had an answer for the question of why, too.
Lenna frowned at the suggestion.
”With... me? Obsessed with... me? But this makes no sense. Why would anyone be obsessed with me? I do not really know anyone. And even if I did... why would they do something such as—“
Before she could finish speaking the thought, the maze began to shift once more. This time, the hedge moved inwards to push a wall in between them. The goal seemed clear: it was made to separate them.
Quickly, Lenna stepped through the gap between hedge and wall before it could fully close.
”That.” She concluded her sentence. Lenna turned her head to gaze back at the hedge wall. It was completely closed, now. Locking them into where they were. Though, maybe the maze behind them had changed once more, too?
Her hair bounced against her shoulders as Lenna shook her head. ”I am not impressed.”
Posted by Lenna on May 1, 2020 13:35:11 GMT -6
Ranger likes this
X-Men
X-Trainee
Darkorange
1,492
19
Nov 29, 2024 9:38:28 GMT -6
Mugen
The black limousine jerked to a halt about half a block from the building Haven was using to host the event. It halted not because it had arrived, but rather because it had encountered an unexpected obstacle in its path. A young adult in a black leather jacket and jeans. The brakes squealed.
The woman in the back of the vehicle lurched forward in her seat, clutching at the console beside her for stability with one hand, and steadying her glass of white wine with the other. From her vantage, she did not see the young woman. She only felt the sudden stop, and the moment of momentous silence afterwards. Then. She rolled the dividing window between her and the driver down.
“Pierce,” the woman asked. Her voice quavered slightly. She was in her 50s or 60s, with a short bob of brown and gray hair and a face that had smile lines at the mouth and eyes. A beautiful diamond necklace hung at her throat. “What happened?” She asked.
The driver was about the same age, with neatly cut black hair and a riding cap. He looked back at her nervously, brown eyes flicking toward her, and towards the street ahead.
“Miss. There was a young girl. She darted in front of me as I began to pull up, and—“
“Oh my god. Is she hurt? You hit her?” The woman asked, panicked.
“That is the thing,” he said, and his French accent slipped into the statement, adding flare. “The way she moved. It was almost like... well, almost like she jumped. Or flew. Rolling over the hood, like it was some sort of dance. Controlled. And then—“ He gulped.
There was a knock on the back passenger side door of the limousine. The woman in back pressed a button and rolled the window down.
”So, you hit me.” The young brunette said mildly. Her voice had an almost Spanish-sounding tone to it as she spoke. ”But I am alright. I noticed in time. Do not worry. I am not even going to be late to the party. You should tell your driver to be more careful though. He could really have hurt someone.”
The woman stared at the young girl. The accent was wrong, but the face... there was something about the face. Like seeing a ghost. Her own face paled slightly. Who was this girl...?
—
Lenna blinked at the woman. She was going to reply, yes? No. It seemed as if she was simply going to sit there looking fearful, and... pensive was maybe the word? Uncertain?
”Hello?” Lenna said. ”Are you going to apologize so we can move on with our night? The party... the people at the mansion said I just had to go. You are probably going too.”
She had wanted her Cowboy to come but he had been tied up. Or else, maybe she had forgotten to tell him. This having a boyfriend thing was still new! up. ”If you are just planning to sit there and say nothing,”She continued. ”So we cannot be done here, maybe I actually will contact—“ Part of her really wanted to say policia. But people thought her using that word was weird. So after a moment of hesitation, Lenna finished with “The police.”
If the woman was unrepentant, maybe this “running people over” thing was less an accident and more a wild game. Was she worth ten points? Twenty? For her, at least, she believed the value needed to be much much higher than 20. Perhaps, 50 points? Due to the difficulty of actually being hit. Part of that was her luck. Part of that had been her skill at knowing how to take a hit, and roll with it.
“No. No. Sorry. I just— you looked familiar and—“
”Oh.” Lenna’s face fell. “Yes. I have heard that.” She had not. But she knew her face had gotten around! Both her face from before, her other face, and the third face from yet another version of her. Memory was foggy about every one of them, but— it was weird. And... she kind of wished to keep that old life (lives?) separate from this one. Or at least, her Cowboy had wanted that. And she felt similar. So—
“What is your name?” The woman asked.
Her brow furrowed. “Um. Lenna.”
“Lenna...” the woman repeated.
What? Did she want her last name? Or... what was her last name again? She had known it when she was little, but she had only been five. The extra ID she had located at the apartment had said “Kadick?”
The other ID had said Ivy Vanderhees, but that had been a blonde woman. Not her. Why did this woman want her name again?
“Oh. Alright. Well.”
“Good night then!” Lenna turned and walked hurriedly away. So strange. Better to run away from strangeness. Before it lead her somewhere she really did not wish to go! She ran the rest of the way from where her ride had dropped her off, to the building where the party was at. Then, she flashed her identification, went inside, and changed. Never knowing she’d just been struck by the past. Not HER past, mind you. But a past.
—
The swimsuit she had picked was a one piece bathing suit. To her, it had looked stripy and orange. In reality, it was more a lime green striped with tans and yellows. Hey, it was not simple determining colors when one was functionally color blind due to one’s mutation. Short of asking someone, she was so out of luck. Thanks, Kyle. If anyone was tracking the SUPER agent’s credit card, it would not be hard to find her. And honestly, by now she was sort of counting on it. Daring SUPER to come and see her again. It had been too long, with no contact. How rude. The SUPER cellphone wouldn’t interfere with them tracking her movements, either.
She stashed her other clothes and things in a locker. Kyle’s cell, included. Then, entered the party. Her hair was down and over one shoulder. Brown, and getting longer. The sun she had been getting had made it a slightly lighter shade, but still. Brown.
Lenna looked around. People, people everywhere. So much orange. How many of these kind folks were actually wearing orange, she wondered. And then, she wandered.
As she passed a group of hot tubs, she noticed a face. A younger face than the one she had seen in the vision Ty had shared with her, of a memory. But a familiar face, all the same. A hand went up to shield the side of her face as she tactfully shied away from him and his date. No need for that tonight. Ugh. And right away?
The next tub she passed had... Sam. Lenna continued to shield her face and walk away. Nope. She wanted people she had not met.
She walked past an Asian woman in a black and white striped bikini, nearly bumped into a woman with snakes for hair a minute later, and eyed a man in a loud Hawaiian t-shirt speaking to a woman who seemed far out of his league.
She approached the bar, and ordered up a whiskey. Got a hard look, instead. Explained her age, and the ID. Got another hard look.
“No whiskey.” The bartender said harshly. “Wine.”
”I am not much of a whiner...” Lenna stated.
He eyed her, and poured her a glass of red. Lenna blinked at it for a second, then accepted the drink. She thanked them.
Lenna stepped away from the bar, and paused next to a dark- haired woman in a strapping black bikini.
”That bartender is kind of an ass,” She muttered, Columbia’s accent flavoring her words. ”Did he give you a hard time as well?”
”When I was trained,” Lenna said soberly. ”I had no powers. I am just more used to fighting with no powers. But either way is fine .” She held a knife in each hand as she raised palms up in a shrug that said ‘what can you
Sam stepped into the ring. He gave her the general warming, blunted blades can still hurt. Dull blades can still draw blood. And do on. Dull blades honestly could be more dangerous, she knew.
He told her first to ten. First up ten strikes? First to ten drops of blood spilled? What? First to ten, counting between fingers and toes. It was most likely he meant first to ten strikes.
Lenna nodded, and stepped into the ring after him. ”Yes. First to ten hits on their opponent wins. Also. I am used to fighting mutants too... if you wish to utilize your mutation, do feel free. I will not judge.” Smiling through clenched teeth, Lenna added ”I apologize if I use mine. I have no control over it, and can not turn it off.”
Blades held point down in each fist, and at a diagonal angle to the ground, Lenna dropped into a wide defensive stance. She did not immediately rush at Sam. Clearly, she left it to him to make the first attack of their engagement.
Lenna blinked. Yes, that sounded like a girl’s voice. A little girl. Not a big scaly man, not a big hairy woman. A little girl.
”Why... are you behind the television? Are you... are you hiding from someone? Why are you sorry?” Lenna said. Her tone was easy, not concerned. As if hiding with someone were very natural and not something one might worry about.
If it was someone mean, they would handle it. She could handle mean people. They pretty much went down the same as nice people. And she knew a whole lot about dealing with nice people. At least, as far as martial arts takedown moves went. When people are too nice... and it is unnatural... martial arts takedown moves go out the window. And that was largely all she knew.
Was she being too nice? Who cared? Her studies bored her and this person who had barely said a handful of words to her was far more interesting. What even did she look like?
Lenna bent to try and look behind the television at the girl.
>> “It’s with me. It’s going to be cool at least!” He grinned.
Lenna did not say anything. She did not roll her eyes. She merely let him pat his own back, and followed it, too. He was getting her into an exclusive training room. He could have his fun. It hurt no one... and she kind of admired his self confidence. Kind of.
They headed downstairs, and towards the basement levels of the mansion. The hallways grew long, and different. She eyed everything, and made a mental note to explore later.
He opened the doors, and Lenna followed after. The room was large, and seemingly empty. He spoke, and commanded the room to do something. Blade training 101.
She looked around as lighting altered and things changed. Training dummies appeared, as well as various weapons. Mainly blades. A wall full of them. And now, they were in the center of a sparring ring.
”Hmmm,” Lenna noted, as if unimpressed. ”It has tricks. That is nice.”
It actually was impressive, but Lenna would not tell him he had impressed her. Or rather, the room. Was not even his room.
She walked over to the wall, and ran her hand over the various weapons. They felt solid. ”I will not ask how they are solid,” She regarded him. Picked up two long, flat-bladed knives. ”I do not desire the headache. Do you wish me to throw at the targets... or to come at you with a blade? Please tell me you aren’t going to form one out of ice. She teased him. And smiled thinly, rolling the blades in her hands, over fingers.
Dexterity with knives did not equal skill, but it was a nice trick. Nice trick for nice trick room. She idly flipped and caught one blade.
