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.
Bear returned the favor, simply listening to what Calley had to say about the whole situation, his brain turning quickly, processing as much of this information as he can. Human experiments were one thing, he could ALMOST handle human experiments, but mutant experiments. Mutants experimenting on mutants, now that's just wrong. "Well, I'll make sure to keep those things in mind... And by the look on your face when I was admitting things to you... I think you understand why I'm having issues..."
Bear pauses a moment, thinking back on all of his problems in life, everything that's gone wrong to cause him to live his life in shame... And now, all the things that are basically turning him into one of the activists are the exact things that caused him to go into hiding. "I think talking to you has opened my eyes a bit Calley, and I appreciate it... But I need more information I think... I wanna hear some of this stuff from the horses mouth... I would say the same to the X's but I doubt they'll have much to say besides telling me that we should strive for peace through peace... Which makes no sense to me... Peace through war is all history tells us and that's the only thing that makes sense. I hate to say it so bluntly..." No he doesnt. "But it's the truth..."
Throughout this conversation, Bear had hoped Calley was at least intelligent enough to understand that one very simple fact. Wars always ended in a period of peace and before the war there was always some kind of turmoil. Peace, through War. It was one of those truths that you didnt want to believe because it was such a dirty and disgusting truth, but the key word there is simply that, TRUTH. But for now, onto more pressing matters, the problem of not having a place to stay and the simple possibility of that being remedied by this young man. "Well, I dont mind paying half the rent or more of the rent because you said you dont really stay here often... Right? Either way... I think your offer of being roommates is a fair and good offer, so I'd like to take you up on it, whatever the condition, you let me know and we'll work something out... I'm sure you'll be fair."
"Oh and trust me, I'm not a freeloader and I know how to cook if you dont... So you may be treated to some gourmet old fashioned cooking... Ok Gourmet and Old Fashioned dont really go together so I'll just say some good old home cooking. I'm a pretty decent cook." Bear smiles politely, leaning back on the couch and looking around. "I guess I'll have to get my stuff sooner or later... I uh... Actually left it at the sanctuary with a friend of mine... So, it may take a while for me to even get to getting my stuff which kinda sucks... Then again, I could just call her up and go get it..." (without opening a thread )
Bear got there just in time to watch the girl land firmly on the shoulder of the big man, both of them surprised in their own right but neither seeming to be hurt. Bear let out a light sigh of relief as he relaxed a bit, hoping he didnt have to try running into a brick wall or something. Said brick wall being a 7 foot red monkey man, wow, what a coincidence.
>>"Thanks"
What? Is he trying to be rude or a prick? No... Of course he isnt... It wasnt said in a snide way, he probably meant it, if only a little. "Yeah, no problem, you two are alright... Right? I mean... No broken shoulder or broken hand or anything like that?" Bear couldnt help but mention the hand after seeing the sheer size difference between the girls hand and the monkey man hand. Wait, that name, it sounded familiar, that's right, Bear had been reading up on Mutant Activities and watching the news, Abyss... Abyss... Gah he couldnt place it... WAIT! He's one of those mutant activists that doesnt.... Like.... Humans... Much... Bear blinked lightly and took a couple steps back, trying to get out of the big mans space, knowing he looked a lot like the things this man was fighting against.
"Well... Uh.... Y'know... I've read about you a bit... Dont you think the way you're handling things is wrong? I mean... You are killing humans that havent done anything yet... What's up with that? You just simply hate humans for no reason? Also, what have you acheived so far? I havent seen anything... I mean, you do all this stuff and make NO progress towards mutant rights... Heck, you're almost negating any progress that mutants have made in general with some of the blatant attacks you're making.."
Bear sits back on his stool, patiently watching all of the commotion in the bar, he shakes his head, laughing at the two young men in their drunken glory. Calley, in cat form trying to wiggle out of his clothes, the Pepper Hair Pirate having problems saying even the least diffic.... Difficu... Difficult of words.... Damnit, and all of everything else in between. Bear slowly turns back to the bartender and shakes his head, catching sight of a pretty young woman sitting on the other side of the bar where he and Meld were formerly sitting. After a few thoughts of going and trying to bring her over to the party of two drunkards and two 'parents' he shook his head no, calling it a bad idea.
"You guys are great... And Mr Pirate, I'll remember that Starlight Hotel of yours... I think I know the address... If I dont I can probably find it..." Bear laughs lightly to himself again, not really knowing how to handle the current situation at hand. "And as for you... I dont know where you get off expecting me to carry you home again... But then again... Carrying a cat versus carrying a boy... 100 lb difference at the very least... Hey thanks for turning into your cat form..." Bear smiles, kneeling down and moving his hand to help the cat out of his clothes, after doing so, he quickly picked said clothing up and rolled it into a ball before setting it on the bar, hoping not to forget the clothes when it was time to leave.
"I cant believe I just picked up your clothes... God, I am such a freaking Dad right now... Not cool..." Bear sighs lightly, looking back over at the girl, looking especially lonely... "Hey Meld, you dont like people sitting alone in bars do you?" Bear looked to his long time friend, hoping to get an answer suited to him going over and retrieving the girl. "I mean... Especially visible mutants... Then again, handling these two is already gonna be difficult as is... Let's just hope this one.." Bear helps Max to sit up straight as he starts to fall out of his stool. "Doesnt hit me in the head with that crystal club of his..."
A few days into his stay in New York City and Bear feels like he's on top of the world, he has a place to stay, a possible job in the future and a good friend in Meld and a new friend in Calley. It seemed, as Bear would have it, that this very day was a good day to go out and explore a little, take in the exhaust filled, fresh air of New York City. A deep breath, followed by heavy coughing and gagging and wheezing, bad idea to take a deep breath in the middle of the city. Somewhere where there was fresh air? "Central Park!" Bear exclaimed loudly to himself, startling the people around him. "Heh..." He looks around sheepishly before walking down the street and heading in the direction of Central Park.
After a while, Bear arrived just outside central park, he looked around slowly, seeing the many trees and a smile crept across his face. He slowly began his trench coat wearing trek into the park, a few minutes and a couple hundred feet in, Bear saw something he never expected to see... Back home... A man in a jogging suit with a freaking tail. A little closer to the rather large jogging man and Bear could tell one other defining factor, he had a tail AND WAS RED. Bear couldnt believe his eyes, laughing lightly to himself, he turns to leave and mind his own business when he hears a cracking sound off in the direction of the big red guy. No way, he must've like punched the tree or something...
Bear turns around slowly to check on the big guy, only to see him jogging in place and looking up, Bear's gaze followed his up, only to see a girl falling out of the tree. "HEY WATCH OUT!" Bear tries to run over to save the girl or the guy, whichever one needed to be saved, but with a lack of pain, Bear wasnt going to be fast enough to get there in time.
>>"And even if we’re honestly attacked, it would be easy with our powers to just disable a human. That’s what self-defense is. I mean, human black belts in martial arts are considered ‘lethal weapons’ because of their skills; if they killed someone in self-defense, they’d be charged with assault with a deadly weapon, too."
Bear sat back and listened to what Calley had to say, after a few moments he heard something that went against what he had just said and felt he needed to fix that. "Well, first of all, I'm saying that if the mutant DIDNT kill the thugs attacking them... They'd still get charged with Assault with a Deadly Weapon. You and I both know that..." Bear sighed lightly, leaning back against the couch and putting his arms out to either side, resting them on the back of the couch. After a few moments and his little war speech, Calley set in about the mansion and Sanctuary. Yeah, ok, so hypocrites on both sides and all that yadda yadda, Bear really didnt need to hear this, knowing that it was the truth.
>>"So, have you actually joined the Order yet?"
Bear's eyes shot open and he looked at the boy, had he figured out that he was in fact a mutant and not a human as the boy had assumed. Bear wasnt lying, he just wasnt telling the full truth, oh wait, there was the point where he said 'being a human and all...' But... That wasnt anything really solid against him, he did put emphasis on the word, practically bringing his fingers up for a quotation sign. Bear smiled lightly and leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees and folding his hands together, a slow gaze turned to look Calley directly in the eyes. "Nope... I havent..."
Bear couldnt believe he would ask a question like that but then again, why wouldnt he... He already seemed to hate both sides equally and Bear was spouting off, basically supporting The Order, wait, he was supporting The Order... Wait, he's willing to admit being a mutant... This isnt right, what's going on? Bear, you really need to get your head on straight dont you buddy... Hmm, it must be time to come clean. "Alright... Yeah, I'm a mutant... But you can't blame me for playing along with the whole 'human' card, you basically shoved it in my face. Almost instantly assuming I was a human, despite getting up from you landing on me in your 450lb Bengal Tiger form... What human would get up from a huge tiger landing on them, much less be able to push the dang thing off of them then proceed to kick it lightly without being afraid of it? I mean really, is it my fault you assumed I was human? I dont think so... I just went with it... Heck, I didnt even go with it, I never out right said I was human until a couple minutes ago... And at that point I might as well have put quotations up in the air just to make it more obvious that I was giving myself a label that was already given to me by you without actually saying I was human."
"Y'know, I might be a mutant and I might support The Order more than I do This Mansion of yours... But it's because 'peacefully' standing around doing nothing will get you exactly what you're doing... NOTHING. At least The Order takes action and stands up for their rights as people... Yeah sure, they go about it the wrong way but you really gotta think about it Calley... Violence begets Violence... Mutants are treated poorly the moment they're revealed to the world... We're segregated away from society, forced to go to 'relocation camps' known as 'The Mansion' or 'Sanctuary' that's what those places are... They're ways to get us to stay out of society, the mutants themselves might have made these places but the Humans forced their hands and caused them to make these places. They also caused The Order to act the way they do..." Bear could feel his blood boiling now, thinking about the way he was treated all his life and the way the boy was treated and how he wasnt even the slightest bit angry with the humans.
"I spent 7 years of my life after finding out about my ability, Listening to my parents and my best friends parents cursing mutants and talking about the 'Mutant Problem', I am a 'Mutant Problem' to my own parents Calley... And I'm sure you can say the same thing and you're not angry at all? That's not right... OH! And about the stab wound I got... I got it from defending my mutant friend who got pulled into an alley and jumped just because she was a mutant..." Bear sighs lightly, he could almost kiss that interview goodbye at this very moment, there had to be something he could do to save himself.
"Look Calley, I'm not a violent person... I'm the kind of person that stands by the words of 'For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.' If someone attacks me, I'll defend myself... I probably wont sign with The Order, and I'm trying to get myself an apartment so I dont have to stay at The Sanctuary... I'm not comfortable with my own kind, I agree with you Calley, most of us are freaks..." Me included "I just want to try and live my life and be there for my friend if she needs me... And I need a job to do that... Heck, maybe your Mansion will earn itself a little trust from me because of this friend of yours one day... But who really knows what's going to happen... As I said, I just want to live my life and continue pretending to be human without actually saying I am... I have that luxury because I dont change the way I look even when my power activates... I can live in society... And that's what I want to do... So that answers your question from before more thoroughly.. "If you had a power and could hide, would you? Or would you use it?" Well, Calley, I have a power and I can hide and that's what I've been doing for 7 years..."
Bear could feel his face get heavier as he looked down, his emotions whirling inside of him, his brain racing with indecision. He didnt know what to do or what to think, he was still so easily swayed by anything and everything, especially the need to just live his life the way he wants to. Bear let out a heavy sigh, trying to calm himself down a bit before sitting back against the couch, hands still folded in his lap. He glanced over at Calley, his cocky smirk and tone gone completely from the moment he began spilling his guts. In all actuallity, Calley was older than he was, Calley has experienced more things... "Oh and what I said about 'being normal' wasnt a lie... That's what I did for the past 4 years... And 3 of those years I was just trying to keep myself a secret while going through High School."
((OOC: Wow... Bear took a big turn there didnt he...))
A long awaited Meeting- The very first thread with Bear in it only had him and Meld. He had come to New York from Canada to meet Meld/Aris after a brief re-getting to know one another, the two hit the streets before getting attacked by a group of anti-mutant activists. Shortly there after, they went to a hospital before being forced to flee when the cops showed up. The thread ends with Bear not sleeping that day and watching Meld sleep before leaving in search of a job and an apartment.
Take that, your Face- Bear's second day in New York and the first official time he introduces himself to someone as Bear. Thread started out with a falling tiger and continued on to the apartment of said Cat-Boy-Tiger. The two, Calley and Bear, ended up making friends and the thread ended with Calley getting a new roommate that could cook.
Celebration?- Two drunken underage guys, Meld, Bear and Kasumi are in a bar together and a bar fight has broken out. Said bar is called "Evolution". The fight ends and the group make their ways home after a rough time and some blood being spilled.
frog, monkey, bear- Bear's second thread with Kasumi, he meets Abyss for the first time. Only to get backhanded by the big red monster, getting up after the smash to the (hopeful) surprise of Abyss.
Turmoil of the Inner Kind- A good thread for inner turmoil between Meld and Bear, meeting deep in central park. Before the meet, Bear has a nightmare and awakes to himself being normal and Meld there comforting him. The thread continues on with both characters not knowing what to do with their current situation before finally deciding more information is needed.
Meld's Room- Not far enough in for any kind of description as of this moment.
Reliving a Past; Discovering a Future- Bear goes to the library and finds some information about something Calley had told him. He then proceeds to his destination, King Pharmaceuticals, where he bumps into a fellow mutant who is in search of answers of his own.
"Ok... I think I'm gonna stop drinking now..." Bear looked at his glass of whiskey and placed it down on the bar, sliding it away from himself as he looked on at the two youngsters who couldnt hold their liquor. "This is by far the weirdest time I've ever spent in a bar or with a drink in my hand... And I think you two have convinced me to stop drinking.." Bear laughs lightly as he sits down next to Calley, thinking about the night before and all the questions he was asked... And about getting backed into a corner.
"So... My Pirate guy with the Cat-Boy-Tiger-Parrot thing... Man I dont even know what to do with you two... Maybe I should have the bartender cut you off..." Bear laughs again looking at all of the empty shot glasses the boys had gone through. "Sanctuary? I thought you spent half of last night talking about how the Sanctuary was just a front for The Order or something like that and how all they do is kill... Why would you want to go there?" Bear realized what he had just said and quickly placed a hand on Meld's shoulder, making sure she didnt act too harshly towards the two drunken boys.
"Maybe we should get em home Meld... What do you think? Gah, how long have we been here? Not that long has it been?" Bear looks to his wrist for a watch and finds none, he then looks around the bar for a clock and sees nothing but neon signs for different Beer companies. He lets out a light sigh, feeling defeated before realizing he has a cell phone, which he proceeds to pull from his pocket and look to the time. "Hmm... Only a bit I guess.... But what do you consider a bit?" Bear grins lightly before sliding his cell back into his pocket and ordering a soda from the bartender.
Bear sat back on the couch, thinking to himself about all of the possibilities of being a Cat-Boy-Tiger when he heard a question shot at him.
>>“Hey, what was your first job? Was it fast food? How much did you make? Were you still in high school?”
"Well... My first job was at a Gas Station back home... I started working there right out of High School and continued working there, stupidly, for the past 4 years until I dropped everything and moved out here.. I didnt make enough... But I was smart with my money and saved it up, which is probably the only reason I havent starved yet out here in New York... Got quite a bit saved up... But not enough, none of it ever is enough..." Bear thought about all of the boring days he spent working for that jerk. "Brothers and Sisters? Nah... Just my best friend back when I was a kid, it was me and her... And as for my High School graduation, my friend was there, she was so Happy... And I was there for hers... Man I was proud of her for graduating... She did pretty good too, better than I did in High School, I'll tell you that much..."
Bear continued to listen to the boy answer his questions then ask questions of his own, it was a rather interesting conversation to have, he was a mutant who lived a normal life and Calley was a mutant who couldnt live a normal life, or didnt... Hiding wasn't too hard when you just basically forgot you even had abilities aside from the occasional stray thought or question from Aris.
>>"If you were a mutant, what would you choose? I mean, if you didn’t have any physical mutations. Would you try to pass as human, or would you try to use your abilities? Because once you pick the ‘use my abilities’, there’s no going back. Trust me.”
If you were a mutant, oh how much he didnt know... "If I were a mutant huh? And I could hide in plain site? I dunno... I guess I'd probably hide... But then again, why wouldnt you use your abilities?" Maybe because you think you're a freak for having abilities. Yeah that's a good reason not to use em, but of course you wont tell Calley that. "That is a tough question to answer Calley... I really couldnt say unless I was put in that position..." Which I am. And decided long ago...
>>“Yeah, I could. But, I mean... I’m not a good person. But I’ve never really gone out of my way to be bad, either. If you had a mutation, would you use it for bad things, just because you had the power to? Or would you just be who you are now, except with powers?”
"Well, again Calley, I couldnt answer truthfully unless I were in that position." Which I am... "But... If I had to choose one... I think I'd just try to be me, except with powers.." Which I have... "But... It'd be quite interesting to know what you could do and to see people afraid of you for a reason for once instead of just looking at you, finding out you're a mutant then running away... Err... Well, I just assume that's what happens... I mean that's what I've seen happen a lot..."
>>"What do you think of us?”
What do I think of us? Well, I think we're freaks too... Doing rotten stuff... But then again, last night was very interesting... Makes me wonder if it's really the mutants that are the freaks and not the humans. "Well... The interesting part about that Calley is, who really is the freak? The people defending themselves and trying to stick up for their rights as people... Or the ones spitting on people because they're different? I mean, I've seen some pretty bad things happen... People walking down the street, visible mutants, they get pulled into a dark alley and assaulted... But what happens? The mutants defend themselves and then get charged with assault with a deadly weapon or something like that... Where's the justice Calley? Who's going to stick up for the mutants if they dont or cant do it themselves..." What was he saying? He could feel himself turning into a mutant already and he's only been around his kind for 2 days. It was weird, Bear didnt know what to do with himself and he didnt know how to handle the situation. All he knew was he was having problems and needed to find a way to deal with them the best way he could.
"A girl in a bow huh? Sounds interesting, what does she do? And why run especially if there are cops? Is she an especially dangerous mutant? Or does she just take pleasure in dismantling cops or humans in general?" Bear continued listening to Calley talk about the mansion and their ideals, a peaceful world where both could live happily. Yeah, like that was going to happen, what self respecting mutant would ever believe a bunch of horse hockey like that, it was ridiculous. "So, you're on the side of peace for both then I take it? Havent you ever heard of peace through war? I mean I dont like saying that, being a human and all... But that's the way of the world... If you want peace, there usually needs to be a battle of some sort to find out who's going to come out on top... And if that's the case, I think that we as humans are out of luck in that department... I mean, sure, we have guns... But you've got people that might as well be guns... People that can tear a gun apart with a thought... What're guns going to do against mutants? Maybe a few will die... But how many humans will die in that war? Most of 'em probably..."
>>“Where’d you get the cult idea? Is that the latest swing the papers are using?”
"Oh... It's just what I think about when I hear about places that are "Great" or sayings like "All roads lead to the mansion..." It just makes me wonder who's really behind places like that... Y'know it's like thinking about the "Bright 'n Shinnies" living there... That's all... Buncha crazies.. But I guess it isnt is it? It's just a normal place for mutants to stay and feel safe and feel like they're part of a family..." Bear laughed inwardly, still thinking about it as being a cult... He didnt really know what to think about this little faction war going on... He kinda felt this Sanctuary had things better off for themselves than that Mansion place. But who knows... Maybe the Mansion is better funded?"
"Alright alright, Meld..." Bear laughed lightly at her name even though it fit. "Let's go over there... He looks sloshed..." Bear slowly stood up from his stool and walked around the bar to the other side where Max and Calley were sitting. With a slight smile, Bear looked to Calley and pointed, "Meld, this is Calley, that guy I told you about... And this..." Bear turned to the other young man. "I dont know him..." With a laugh Bear opened his hand and extended it to the other rather young looking bar patron.
"Hey there, call me Bear... How're you doing this fine evening?" Bear smiled politely waiting for an answer before turning back to Calley. "Hey, dont you know guys your age cant hold their liquor very well? Oh wait... I think you know that by now..." Bear laughed lightly, patting Calley on the back, probably a big mistake but who doesnt make mistakes in a bar scene. "Sir, another drink please... And one for the lady if she needs one..." Bear lifts his empty glass into the air, signaling what he wants as he pulls out a bit more money and slides it onto the bar.
"Mind if we join you fellas?" Bear smiles lightly, pointing to the bar stools next to them. "My friend and I are celebrating my good fortune in meeting you Calley... Your helping to get me a job and all that... Really a good deed there..." Bear smiles lightly, thinking back to the conversations they had at Calley's apartment, remembering the way he was there and realizing why he was at the bar sloshed out of his gourd almost. "I bet if you tried to stand up, you'd fall flat on your face bud..." Bear looked over the young man calmly, agreeing in his head with the statement he made.
Nick laughed lightly, patting the arm of his friend as she hugged him from behind, he then turned to look at her and his jaw dropped. A few moments passed before he was able to gather his composure and be able to talk. "Wow, you look great tonight Aris..." He felt his cheeks flush slightly with warmth and quickly took a drink from his whiskey before turning back to Aris. "Well, interesting story actually... I was out job hunting yesterday, as I said before I left Sanctuary... And at the end of the day, having no luck thus far, I was on my way back to Sanctuary to see you again... THEN! Out of nowhere this freaking TIGER falls on me... I couldnt believe it... A TIGER in New York city... So, after the falling with the tiger, I pushed up off the ground and got myself out from under it and kicked it... I know right, stupid move, kicking a tiger.... Only to find out the dang thing could talk and was actually a mutant... A uh... Cat-Boy-Tiger thing... It's hard to explain but you get the point..."
Nick paused a moment, taking another drink from his whiskey as the bartender brought over Aris' drink, "Put it on my tab... Anyways... So this Cat-Boy-Tiger thing eventually takes me back to his place here in the City where I ended up spending the night... And on the way he told me he might be able to help me get a job at this 'Human Friendly Book Store' I kinda laughed on the inside... Didnt want him to know too much about me... Told him my name was Bear even." Nick laughs lightly, taking another drink from his whiskey. "So... Yeah... We woke up... Then he called the person I was supposed to meet with and we set up an interview, without me even having to turn in an application... Kinda weird huh? He was being all nice to me and didnt even know me... I think it was cuz of this 'Mansion' he kept talking about... Every time I thought about that place I pictured walking in there with a bunch of people fake smiles on with trays of cookies greeting me... And somewhere in a corner was a pitcher of 'Red Kool-Aid'. It was weird..." Bear smiles and shakes his head thinking about that 'Mansion' and its Kool-Aid again.
Another swig of his whiskey and the corner of his eye catches the boy that he was just talking about. "Oh god.. I hope he didnt hear me... Hmm.. Sounds a little drunk, he probably didnt hear me..." Bear laughs nervously a moment before turning back to Aris and smiling nicely. "Maybe we should go over and say hi eh?"
A familiar face? A familiar look? A familiar phone? Yes to all three, Bear found himself walking down a New York City street the night after staying with Calley, the Cat-Boy-Tiger thing. He felt he had a job lined up that would be pretty solid and was in the midst of negotiating for an apartment to call his own. Man, what an adventure he's had since getting to New York, his first night in New York, he met up with his childhood friend, Aris, at a Starbucks. The two moved through the streets of New York before getting jumped, defending themselves, going to the hospital, demolishing a wing of the hospital, running from the cops and then finally getting to Sanctuary for a little rest.
The next day he went job hunting and ended it with a tiger landing on him as he was heading back to Sanctuary. This tiger turned out to be a mutant who let him stay at his place then helped him to possibly find a job. And now on his third night in New York City, Bear has found a 'Mutant Friendly' establishment that serves refreshing alcohol beverages and decided he wanted to share his accomplishment with his best friend, hence the cell phone. Familiar numbers punched in with familiar tones and ringing from the phone after pressing the 'Send' button. Bear brings the phone to the side of his head with a smile, "Hey Aris, guess what... I might have me a job... You should come celebrate with me... Yeah... I found this place in downtown that's a 'Mutant Friendly' Bar, it's called 'Evolution'.... I dont know the address, you know my memory.. Just look it up in the phonebook or something... You cant miss it."
Bear smiles lightly, "Yeah... Great, I'll see you there..." He folds the phone closed as he continues walking down the sidewalk towards his intended destination. After a while, he sees a large building with 'Evolution' in Neon colors on top. His smile grows moreso and he continues on and into the bar, upon entering he sees a wide variety of people, from obvious mutants to people that could pass for human or were in fact human and just wanted to go to a place to drink and didnt care about mutants.
With a nod to a few of the patrons, for some reason Bear seemed to be in a really good mood, Bear moved across the room to sit down at a stool at the Bar. A man walks up, so cliched, with a beer glass in one hand and a towel in the other, shoved into the glass, cleaning it out or something. Bear smirks to himself having seen this in so many movies, before smiling at the bartender. "Yeah I'll have a... Whiskey... Straight up... On the rocks.." The bartender obliges and scuttles off to make Bear his drink, after a few minutes, the bartender comes back, drink in hand and slides it onto the bar in front of Bear who slides a $20 to him. "That should cover me for a couple drinks at least eh?"
"Yep, that'll do..." The bartender pulls the bill down under the bar and walks off to serve other patrons as Bear sits on his stool, drinking carefully from his whiskey, enjoying the brisk burn of the alcohol as it slithers down his gullet.
Nick followed Aris quietly into the Sanctuary, not saying a word and nodding politely to Lisa, and continuing further into the Sanctuary, following Aris to her room. Nick smiled and looked around the quaint room as Aris pointed things out to him. "Ha, those good ol' sleepovers. I remember that, we used to stay up all night just talking and laughing and teasing each other and making fun of people..." After Aris went into the bathroom and changed out of her clothes, Nick slowly went in, after she came out, and took off his shirt and jacket.
Lifting up his left arm, to reveal the wound on his side, Nick turned on the water and reached into his duffel bag, pulling out the already bloody shirt. Nick proceeds to run the shirt under the water in the sink and dab at his wound, cringing lightly with the stinging pain as he cleans out his stab wound. He then searches through his duffel bag and finds a small first aid kit (luckily as all hell), he splashes some hydrogen peroxide on his wound and holds back a howl of pain. After getting the wound good and clean, Nick grabs a gauze and presses it to his wound before pulling out a roll of medical tape and securing it to his flesh. Nick smiles at a job well done before putting his shirt back on, he puts his clothes and supplies back into his duffel bag and grabs his jacket before walking out of the bathroom and setting his jacket and duffel bag on the chair by the desk.
Nick lays down on the bed next to Meld and scoots back so his back is against the wall as he sits there and watches Meld sleep. After a few hours, Meld finally wakes up and looks up at Nick with a slight smile, Nick returns the smile and shifts on the bed, pulling his wallet out. "Aris, I remember you mentioning something about not having much money... And I know you wont want to accept this..." Nick pauses, sifting through his wallet before pulling out a few bills, totaling $200. "But you're going to accept it because I'm your friend and you need the money. Spend it on whatever you need and if you need more, I can help you out with more... Hopefully I can get a job soon though... I'm actually gonna go out lookin for one now..." Nick smiles, placing the $200 on the bed next to Aris before getting up off of the bed and grabbing his jacket.
"You mind if I leave my stuff with you?" Nick pulls his jacket on and looks at Aris for an answer before smiling and turning to leave. "Oh and if you need anything from my bag, feel free..." Nick adjusts his jacket quickly before opening the door and walking out to go and try to find a job.
The cabbie obliged the request of the two, driving off in the direction of The Sanctuary. "Well, we're doing alright now arent we Aris?" Nick smiled lightly, hoping to help her feel a little better. After a couple minutes in the cab, the driver stops and tells them the toll, and without a thought, Nick pulls out his wallet and hands the man the money plus a little tip, Nick always was a tipper. After paying the man, Nick opened the door to the cab and climbed out, after getting out, the trunk popped open and Nick waited for Aris to climb out as well, holding the door for her and offering his hand should she need it.
"So... Where is this place we're going to.." Nick made sure not to mention the name just in case the cabbie could still hear him as he moved around behind the cab and pulled his bags out of the trunk before closing it up. The cab took off down the street as Nick hoisted his suitcase back to his back and grabbed the handles of the duffel bag, getting ready to move again. "Now, what have you done all these years without me around?" Nick grinned lightly, glancing over at Aris, hoping to lighten the mood a little with a small joke.
"Now hopefully you'll remember that when Nick says everything will be alright, he means everything will be alright... If you smell... What the Nick is cooking..." After that last wrestling joke Nick couldnt hold it in any longer, laughing stupidly at his joke. "Let's get moving... It's probably too late to try and get any sleep though..."
Nick smiled quietly to himself as he watched Aris rifle through his belongings before pulling out a pair of socks and slipping them on. He couldn't help but laugh once more after he had gathered everything he owned into his duffel bag and suitcase and saw her holding the door open for him. Nick walked calmly over to the roof exit and down the steps, easily carrying all of his belongings with him the entire 6 floors down. As he stepped down the last step, he turned around and looked up at Aris, "if anyone asks, we're a couple getting ready to go on a trip.... The hospital think's we're siblings so that's the description the cops will be looking for..." Nick took a breath before pushing open the door and walking out, holding it open for Aris, after she walked out he quickened up to get next to her and smiled at the various faces as they were leaving the apartment complex.
Again Nick holds the door open for Aris and the two leave the apartments, Nick smiles to a cop who's walking by and continues walking with Aris. "Let's get a cab..." He quickly whispered to her before stepping up to the curb and waving his hand in the air and letting out a whistle when he saw a cab coming near. The cop paused in his walk and turned around to the two, Nicks heart stopping for a few seconds.
"Hey buddy..." The cop put a hand up, looking at Nick.
"Get in the car..." Nick whispered to Aris quickly, opening the door as the cab came up. The trunk popped open and the cop walked up as Nick tried to ignore him.
"Hey buddy..." The cop walked straight up to Nick and touched his shoulder, Nick jumped a bit at the tap.
"Oh sorry officer, you startled me... I'm a little hard of hearing sometimes... Is there something I can do for you?" Nick tried his best to play it cool.
The cop grinned lightly at startling Nick before grabbing his bags and hoisting them up into the trunk of the cab for him. "Just wanted to thank you for giving me a smile... Not too many people are nice to us anymore these days..."
'He wanted to thank me?! That's all... Jesus...' Nick smiles politely and shakes the cops hand before climbing into the cab next to Aris. "Well, thank you for helping me with my bags officer, have a good night..." Nick let out a breath of relief before turning to the cabbie and telling him to take them wherever Aris wanted. "Let's get out of here..."
Nick grunted and groaned, forcing himself to a standing position yet again after listening to his long lost friend still feeling bad. "No, you cant protect me... Cuz it's my turn to try and protect you again." He laughs lightly, jabbing her once more. "Cmon, you know you can hit harder than not at all..." Nick laughs before turning and looking down at the cops, he then looks around at the things around him, realizing the only ways down are the fire escape or going through the building, either way will probably get them going past the cops.
"Hold on a sec..." Nick walked over to his duffel bag and kneeled down with a slight cringe before unzipping it and pulling out a sweatshirt and a clean T-Shirt. "Alright, you put this on over your jacket and tuck your hand into the pockets... And uh... I'll change my shirt so the cops dont see the bloody mess of a shirt I have on... Is there anything else you'll need?" Nick waits for Aris to start pulling the sweatshirt on before he drops his trench coat quickly and tears his shirt off and pulls the other shirt on as fast as he can, making sure to have his uninjured side facing her so she couldnt see the wound in his side and feel worse than she does.
"There, I almost look like a new person... Hmmm..." He searches through his duffel again and pulls out two baseball hats and puts one on, offering Aris the other. "I think this is the only way to get out of here... They'll be looking for us, you in particular... I know you dont like hiding who you are but to get away from the cops, that's a necessity if they know what to look for, despite being human OR mutant." Nick smiles lightly, hoping he made the situation a little easier on Aris to handle. He likes to be resourceful, using anything he can to his advantage to get over any struggle he has to pass.
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