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.
Posted by Twyla Ashby on Mar 29, 2010 8:43:36 GMT -6
Beta Mutant
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May 1, 2012 13:42:06 GMT -6
Henri smiled a weak smile that faded upon contact with oxygen. Twyla's brows turned down in worry but she tried to keep a calm smile on her face. Fries? She threw fries at her date? "You're not stupid, Henri. Why would you say that? You are not stupid in any sense of the word." Maybe a little weird for throwing fries out of context but other than that the blond didn't believe that her friend was stupid--everyone had stupid moments but that didn't make them stupid. She still wasn't quite sure what the possibly stupid moment was, but it seemed like Henri would tell her.
Twyla blinked and then rocked back on her heels to plop on her butt on the chilly floor. She watched with mild concern as Henri explained that she'd made-out with the mutant boy and what his response to that was. Twyla held her tongue and waited for her to finish, anger bubbling up in her chest. Little fricker. She thought to herself as Henri ranted. After she was finished talking, Twyla pulled herself up on her knees and leaned in the space between them before wrapping her arms around the other girl in a hug.
"Oh honey..." She patted her on the back once and then rested her hands on the girl's shoulders. "You are not stupid. He's the dumba$$, obviously. If he can't appreciate you then he doesn't deserve you--you're totally going to get over him and find someone that appreciates it when you kiss them without being a jerk about it, okay? You deserve so much better than a man-sl*t. There are better people out there, people who will make you feel the same way." A thumb made its way to the girl's cheek to wipe off the tear. "You're so much better than this." Twyla's tone was strong and sure when she spoke, and the look on her face barely masked the anger the was boiling beneath the surface. I am going to have some major words with that boy.
Pulling back fully, Twyla stood up and held a hand down to the other girl. "Let's get off of this cold floor and go sit in the living room or something." She smiled again, but it didn't reach her eyes.
Posted by Twyla Ashby on Mar 28, 2010 9:22:32 GMT -6
Beta Mutant
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May 1, 2012 13:42:06 GMT -6
When her brother had been in town Twyla Ashby had used his i Tunes to download a bunch of random songs onto her Zune. He'd had a bunch of weird stuff in his i Pod and one of the more...interesting songs had been Dr.Love by Donnie Klang. At first, Twyla had been planning on deleting it, but upon listening to the track for a few too many times on repeat (she couldn't figure out how to turn it off) she decided that it was an okay song in moderation, and if she was in a dancing mood. The blond was in a dancing mood as she wandered around the Mansion, in search of food and a source of entertainment as she waited for Henrietta to come home from her big date with Evan or Ivan or whatever his name was that she kept forgetting.
Twyla was dancing down the stairs in a tank top and a pair of cut off sweat pants when she saw the Henrietta in question. The brunette was sitting near the door in the foyer, looking all slumped and not at all post-date-giddy. Come to think of it, wasn't it kinda early for her to be back in? They were going to a movie or something and then other stuff after--it was much, much too early. Something was wrong. Twyla pulled her headphones out of her ears and ran the rest of the stairs, coming to a stop in front of her best friend.
Upon closer inspection, Henri's eyes were closed and she looked broken. "Hey girl..." Twyla began in a quiet voice, as if she was talking to a wounded animal. "What's going on?" It was decided executively that she wasn't going to ask about the date, seeing as that was a likely source of the broken pieces of the brunette scattered around the foyer. Henri would tell her and then they could discuss it. Something flared in the blond as she crouched in front of the girl on the floor. If that weirdo hurt her I am so gonna kick his ass. A pause as she adjusted her weight on her knees. Or something equally painful but more verbal...or something.
Posted by Twyla Ashby on Mar 27, 2010 20:19:38 GMT -6
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May 1, 2012 13:42:06 GMT -6
Some classics, like Of Mice and Men, were universal in terms of being required in school apparently. It made sense and all that to Twyla seeing as classics were usually staples in the English classroom. She nodded when the man sitting near her said it was also something he'd had to read for school. After he spoke he coughed, which lead to more throat clearing, which led to the blond wondering if the stranger was getting over a cold or if his allergies were acting up or something. Twyla had no allergies that she knew of, so she really didn't know if anything was in season yet to back up her hypothesis. She also didn't know if there were colds going around--she hadn't noticed anything at the Mansion but that didn't mean that the entire city was totally free of cold causing bacteria or other such things. Maybe he just cleared his throat a lot? Was that weird?
He hadn't finished Twyla's favorite book by Jane Austen, a pity but understandable. The small smile that quirked up the edges of his lips made him seem less weird and more shy. Shy Twyla could relate to, she had her own quiet tendencies--they just surfaced less on bright days when she was still glowing from the confidence of a good hair cut and color. "I understand, it takes a certain sort of person and all that to totally enjoy anything by Jane Austen." She shrugged. "I'm not sure what sort of person exactly, but I'm one of them." Whatever that meant. Twyla just knew what she liked, what she didn't like, and what she tolerated. The tolerated list was the longest, probably due to the fact that once the girl started something she just had to finish it.
And then she heard it.
The all-too familiar grumble and gurgle that was only made by a stomach that was empty. The man seemed embarrassed about the noise and tried to hide it with a hand over his stomach. Twyla just smiled and reached a hand down into one of the outside pockets of her purse. "Did you miss your lunch or something?" She asked as she leaned over the canvas sack, her hair falling out from behind her ears to hide her face as she searched. Finally her hand closed around a thick bar that she proceeded to pull out and hold in the space between man and girl. "I keep a granola bar in my purse, if you want it." Another smile. Actually, the girl kept several granola bars in her purse, along with a water bottle and a first aide hit that included sunscreen and pepper spray. Makeup hardly made an appearance in any of the girl's bags, and in its place Twyla kept a bunch of random things for 'just in case' situations.
Posted by Twyla Ashby on Mar 27, 2010 11:13:31 GMT -6
Beta Mutant
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May 1, 2012 13:42:06 GMT -6
Twyla jerked with the cage when it moved forward. She pulled herself up on her knees so she could get a better look at where they were headed. Soon the cart left the dark room and was outside. The first thing she noticed was that it was loud and the second thing that she noted was that Emerald was freaking out about something--it was very distracting. Her mind shuffled this away as her eyes adjusted to the light. There was a pile of firewood in what appeared to be some old-school town square. Now, normally a pile of firewood didn't make Twyla Ashby tune out everything else but normally a pile of firewood was not accompanied by an angry mob and a girl in a dirty shift that looked suspiciously like a girl named Susan. It didn't take much for the blond to deduce that they were about to witness a witch burning.
Oh, I'm wearing a dress too. The girl noted after running her hands down her sides to check. "Calm down, Emerald." Twyla's eyes didn't even look at the wolf girl, they were still transfixed on the mob and the pile. That was definitely Susan--but if this was some kind of illusion like the previous torture had been, could she get hurt? Could they really burn her alive? Her question was not answered but it was pushed from her mind by a creepily familiar voice. Twyla finally pulled her eyes away from the scene outside the cage to look at the speaker. She was a young woman, she was blond, and she was the reason that Twyla Ashby was in the cage in the first place.
The girl tensed up at the sight of the blue eyed woman but said nothing, she didn't really have to--Emmy and Gawain were throwing angry tones and insults at her. Twyla just blinked when the cold eyes leered at her. Part of her wanted to yell too but she couldn't think of anything to say--nothing would make the situation any better. She was angry and scared and worried but she kept her face blank and stared right back at the woman before half-crawling over to where Gawain was gripping the bars and putting a hand lightly on his shoulder. She wasn't sure why she did it--she just needed to be near him.
Her eyes went again to the scene before them when the girl skipped off towards, what Twyla assumed, was her brother. The way they looked at each other was creepy and Twyla suppressed a shudder. Once they were gone her mind went back to more pressing matters. There was no doubt in her mind that Susan was being burned at the stake--or wood pile or whatever--and they had to get out of the cage and help her, just in case the illusions really could hurt them. getting out the cage would be nice in general as well. Apparently the wolf girl felt the same because she had begun to ram herself against the bars of the cage. After she dented it a bit she fell back. "Because that's healthy for the cuts on your back." Twyla murmured as she stood up to survey the cage.
It was strange, she knew that she should be angry and upset and scared and all of that but those emotions seemed to be dull in the background. Twyla was numb and focused on the task at hand. There was no good that would come from being a puddle (although the option did cross her mind), so she had to at least attempt to make herself useful and not do anything stupid that would get her friends or Susan hurt. The voices had told her that she was pathetic--she had to at least pretend like she didn't know it was true. She could prove to herself that not everything she did ended in disaster, right? Gawain admitted that he couldn't pick locks and Twyla didn't have to say that she was in the same boat. What could she do that was useful? Well...gymnastics, but she wasn't skinny enough to twist her way through the bars. There was also dance, but she didn't see the application of any of those moves in a situation like this. She always had her mutation...
Gawain asked her if she could camouflage all three of them. The only time she'd used her powers on three people was when she had been climbing a building to hide from the cops (that was actually her first week in New York) but she'd done it. The girl nodded before replying. "Yeah, but you guys have to stay super still or you'll shake it off and mess up the edges." She didn't bother to explain herself further, she knew what she meant. "Oh, and we're all going to need to be touching." Brown eyes scanned the crowd and then she saw them, the men that were watching the cage. Finally she caught the boy's drift. They wanted a witch. Why not give them a magic show? Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the amazing disappearing girl!
"Guys, come here." She said as she stood near the front bars of the cage. Twyla's arms were out and her hands were outstretched, ready to grab onto Emmy and Gawain--they were shaking a bit as if her body hadn't gotten the memo that she was supposed to be numb. "Just don't move." She said quietly as she attempted to relax. Eventually her breathing slowed and she felt the familiar release that was her powers acting up.
(Gawain and Emmy: Feel free to cover yourselves up, just note that if you move or talk the camo won't be perfect or Twyla might lose your form altogether. It doesn't feel like anything but you have to remain in physical contact with Twyla or it drops instantly.)
Posted by Twyla Ashby on Mar 26, 2010 21:10:17 GMT -6
Beta Mutant
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May 1, 2012 13:42:06 GMT -6
With the hood pulled down the man was revealed to have what Twyla would classify as dirty blond hair that reminded her of the mess on top of Nate's head. He also had a bit of scruff going on that seemed to match the hair. Maybe that was the look he was going for? There were plenty of male celebrities who tired to gruff themselves up, maybe he was trying to look like one of them? It was weird how people with so much money pretended and tried to look like they didn't. If he was emulating that, did it make him a creeper? Twyla wasn't sure yet.
The man's voice was still raspy the second time he spoke, Twyla noted. At first she'd attributed it to the fact that he'd had to clear his throat to talk in the first place (unless that was him getting her attention) and thought nothing of it. "Oh, okay. Nice choice. I read that once for school." Twyla loathed reading assignments for class. She always ended up reading the entire book much too fast, hampering her grades. This was especially cumbersome when the quizzes and tests were based on certain sections--everything got jumbled together and she never answered the questions right.
"I know how that is." She replied to his second statement. "Having a favorite that you read over and over, I mean." The girl paused, deciding if she should continue making small talk. It all depended on that throat clearing--was it to get her attention or did the man simply have a frog in his throat? It was always so hard to tell and the girl really didn't want to bother someone who was a reader like herself. Decisions, decisions.
"Mine's Sense and Sensibility." Twyla made up her mind and threw out there. If she was being too friendly surely he'd let her know somehow--no skin off her nose in any case. It was the only book she'd brought with her when she ran away from home. On various trains and buses she'd read the book cover to cover what seemed like a hundred times and it never got old. That was the mark of a truly good book--you could always find something new to enjoy in it.
Posted by Twyla Ashby on Mar 26, 2010 19:51:04 GMT -6
Beta Mutant
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May 1, 2012 13:42:06 GMT -6
The girl couldn't resist any longer, she just had to get the book out. It only took a second for Twyla to fish it out of the main pocket of her purse and a few more for the girl to find her spot. She skimmed the previous page as she searched for a good place in the sun. A likely spot was found among some rocks that were thankfully devoid of much mud and that had a nice view of the rest of the park and a playground. Twyla wasn't the only person who'd liked the area, a group of art students weren't far off sketching the birds or the kids or the muddy grass or something. A moment of envy was enjoyed by Twyla, who had no drawing ability beyond a mean stick figure.
Right after she'd gotten settled, she noticed a shadow and the the noise of someone taking a spot on the smooth rocks near her. The girl barely glanced up to confirm her suspicions before attempting to immerse herself in the story once again. She was only in the second chapter, but already Twyla was addicted--that's how she got with stories though, she found something interesting and that spurred her reading speed. The girl jumped when the person who'd parked himself a few feet away from her cleared his (it had to be a he, the throat clearing sounded very dudely to the young mutant) throat. Brown eyes, looking a bit dazed, once again pried themselves away from the printed words to look at the stranger.
He was older than she was--that much was obvious. It was hard to tell whether he was older than her older brother Nate, but if she had to guess she'd put him in the 'Early 20s' category. Twyla Ashby, on principle, never guessed ages because she knew that she was terrible at it. The man didn't look too freaky, so there was a possibility that he was safe to talk to--not that Twyla was amazing at judging character based on looks either. His clothes were normal and he had a book. Books=kudos points. Creepers didn't carry books with them, did they? The girl wracked her brains for any examples of such and none immediately presented themselves.
The eyes crinkled upwards as Twyla smiled. He'd said her sentiments exactly. "Super nice." She nodded before she continued. "Perfect weather and all that." Leaning over a little bit, the girl tried to get a better look at the book in the man's hands. "What are you reading?" Twyla asked in a friendly tone that was openly curious. Maybe she'd get a better idea of his creepin'-status if she knew what title it was? Surely the wrong kind of person would have terrible taste in literature, in which case the girl would simply move or ignore him.
Posted by Twyla Ashby on Mar 25, 2010 16:42:57 GMT -6
Beta Mutant
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May 1, 2012 13:42:06 GMT -6
Hey, it's me again!
I have a Twyla thread open in Central park. Twyla got her hair done and now she's trying to find a good place to haunt and get some Spring reading in--she'd been a bit behind lately.
Posted by Twyla Ashby on Mar 25, 2010 16:38:37 GMT -6
Beta Mutant
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May 1, 2012 13:42:06 GMT -6
Earlier that morning Twyla had realized that she was in desperate need of something--a touch up. Her brown roots were starting to show through the blond and her pink highlights were steadily creeping lower and lower as her hair grew. Counting back the weeks, she realized that she was long over due for a basic haircut as well. Thankfully, these things were easily remedied in a large city such as New York and after only two phone calls the girl got herself in at a salon in Manhattan that wasn't ridiculously overpriced.
The salon itself had been nice enough and the woman who cut and dyed her hair had herself bright blue hair that matched the lip ring and nail polish she was wearing. They'd gotten along great and Twyla was very happy with the result. She took another quick peek at herself in the mirror behind the front desk on her way out the door. Nothing could compare to the feeling that the (redone) blond got from a good hair cut and the way that fresh bubble gum pink highlights looked in the mirror. As she stepped out into the bright Spring sunshine the girl was smiling.
That smile remained on her face as she walked down the street. Unlike her first dye job, Twyla didn't stop and examine herself in the reflection of the windows that she passed--she was confident that her hair looked good and didn't need to reassure herself. There was something almost cocky in the girl's stride as she confidently planted the steps in her worn camo high tops. Her shoulders were erect and the good feelings inside her just showed, as if her mutation had been reversed and she was making herself noticeable rather than hidden. Not that she was probably getting noticed walking down a crowded street next to beautiful women in designer outfits and fashionable men in their perfectly-cut jackets with their perfect sunglasses and practiced smirks--but she felt on top of the world and her body language, for those who noticed it, was projecting that feeling.
The clothes that Twyla was wearing were clean and well taken care of but still slightly worn. She had on a pair of jeans that had holes in the knees and that rested low on her hips while the top half of her body was covered in a gray tank top underneath a pastel yellow sweater that revealed a thin band of skin where jeans and shirts did not quite match up. The bag slung over her shoulder was utilitarian and plain canvas with many pockets. It wasn't filled with much beyond the necessities and a book. The book in question was War for the Oaks by Emma Bull and Twyla was borrowing it from the Mansion's extensive library. The book was the reason that the girl was headed for the park rather than back to school. She quite liked reading outside, and it was starting to get to be the kind of Spring weather that is very conducive to such habits.
Central Park was begging to recover from its holiday season and with Spring coming in the sight of the newly planted trees didn't make Twyla cringe. She looked for a good place to sit as she walked the paths, her fingers itching to pull out the small paper back and settle back into the story that she'd started the night before.
Posted by Twyla Ashby on Mar 24, 2010 13:10:38 GMT -6
Beta Mutant
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May 1, 2012 13:42:06 GMT -6
"What are they feeding you girl? You're wasting away."
Her older brother Nate had picked her up as easily as he used to when he was still in high school but Twyla highly doubted she was wasting away. As she stared at her bare stomach in the locker room mirror she silently wondered if she looked the same as she had her sophomore year. Back when dancing and gymnastics and chores kept her appetite light and her figure similar. Now all she got was her jogging, whatever Jujitsu she could fit in with Shin, and the random trips to the local YMCA with Henrietta after class and on the weekends when they had spare moments. "How far the mighty have fallen." Twyla muttered to her frowning reflection as she held her shirt up with her left hand and inspected the lose skin of her belly with her right. She had been mighty--decently mighty at least. What happened to the medalist that was unafraid of anything so long as her hands re-grasped the bar? To the girl who, even though she was a freshman, competed with her dance team at competition? She was gone--replaced by a sniveling, chubby, nobody with frizzy hair and rapidly deteriorating muscles.
Well, the frizzy hair was probably due to the fact that Twyla had yet to shower that morning, and her muscle mass wasn't as rapidly deteriorating as she thought it was, but still. Where did the shy but strong girl go? When did she get replaced? Twyla had narrowed it down to two events: the day she was born (assuming the girl never existed in the first place) and the day she found out that she was a mutant. Fear. Incredible fear and panic like she'd never felt before had overwhelmed the girl that night at the party. Apparently that fear hadn't abated--no matter how 'comfortable' she was with herself or how much support she was getting from the people around her. It was fear that was holding her back. Fear of a million things that distracted her from what she wanted and who she wanted to be.
She had to get rid of that fear.
A hard look at the girl in the mirror followed Twyla smoothing her tank top down. A deep breath. She was the only person in the locker room of the YMCA and it was eerily quiet in the basement room. "I am not afraid." The words were hesitant, nothing near the strong proclamation she'd imagined in her mind. Let's try that again. "I am not afraid." It was a little better in the volume department but the look on her face was not believable. Decidedly not believable. Screwing her face up into something angrier she started laughing at herself. Maybe not... A cockier grin spread her lips apart and made her eyes squint slightly. It was the look that always found its way onto her face before any kind of competition. She nodded to herself. "I'm not afraid." That looked much better. Turning from the mirror, the girl walked out of the locker room.
It wasn't a cure, but it was a start.
---
The gymnastics room was eerily quiet as well--the class of little girls that usually occupied the space in the mornings wasn't meeting until later that day so Twyla had the equipment to herself for a few hours. Her bare feet hardly made any noise as the padded across the matted floor. Stretching was mindless and calming and it took a few minutes to get her body as loose as she wanted it. The light pouring into the long windows added to Twyla's sense of inner peace. This was a calm place and what she was going to do would be done in a calm matter. Matter of fact. She'd done these moves millions of time before. Old hat. Calm.
Deep breaths. Prep. Run. Spring. Arms out and a simple round-off can make the world seem right. Fear? What fear? There was nothing but the push of her arms, legs, and the tightness of her core and she ran through a series of moves in a drill familiar to old practice sessions back in her local studio or high school gym. Nothing but the sweat that slowly formed on the girl's brow as she forced her body into more complicated sequences. Even as she flipped and tumbled across the mat the girl hardly made a sound, her breathing was the loudest noise her body made.
Floor skills were Twyla's favorite. Her best event was the uneven bars but it felt so good to use her entire body--hands and feet and everything on a solid surface. Not that the uneven bars weren't challenging for her entire body but there was something in floor skills that the girl connected with on a different level. Maybe she just didn't want to fly? Bars was more about weightlessness but there was something very solid with working on mats or a sprung floor.
The girl suddenly wished she had a sprung floor. Even if she didn't always enjoy swinging around in space she loved the weightless feeling gotten from launching herself in the air for a few moments. Those moments that lasted for a too short eternity as she prepped herself to fall back to earth were worth hours of practice--they were worth blood, sweat, tears, and long nights spent making up homework. If only she could recreate those moments in her normal life--then Twyla would never be afraid of anything again. When she thought about it, it didn't really make any sense--
How could someone be afraid of what she was but not be afraid of flying off a bar or launching herself into a move that could break her neck?
Maybe Twyla Ashby just needed to sort out her priorities...Well, she definitely needed some sorting.
Posted by Twyla Ashby on Mar 23, 2010 17:50:06 GMT -6
Beta Mutant
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May 1, 2012 13:42:06 GMT -6
Twyla nodded at Henri. They were running late and the earlier they got to the Y the more time they could devote to running or (cue an internal shudder from Twyla) to practice hurdles. She was getting better at them but still...who decided it was a good idea to put a bunch of metal benches around a track and then to order people to jump over them instead of running around them?
It seemed that the fox girl also had things she needed as much time as possible for. This made the blond feel better about meeting her and then having to leave her. "Painting robot...?" She mumbled quietly, not aware she'd said anything out loud. Before she could make sense of everything there was a pressure around her middle and she was hugged by the girl who thanked her, told her how glad she was that Twyla and Henri had met her sister Emerald, and then said how nice it was to meet them. Twyla barely managed to pat the girl once on the back before she was on to hugging the brunette around the middle. "Nice to meet you too, Ruby."
Twyla blinked twice after the fox girl left the room. It had been an interesting little meeting, and the half dazed look on her face said as much. "Well...We should probably head out, huh?" Twyla stood up and stretched her arms behind her. She was a bit more awake than she'd been and it showed in her movements. "Interesting stuff..." The girl trailed off as she swished her hips to get the kinks from sitting out. "Shall we?" She walked towards the door and then stopped and waited for her friend to follow.
Posted by Twyla Ashby on Mar 22, 2010 19:27:54 GMT -6
Beta Mutant
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May 1, 2012 13:42:06 GMT -6
It was super-duper clear that Carrick related with his gryphon form even when he was in a more human form. He was worried about only have one 'mate' for the rest of his life? That wasn't something Twyla herself had thought about much--which made sense seeing as her concerns were (so far) in decidedly the humanoid mutant column. Sure, she wanted to get married (hopefully to one person) and be with her spouse for forever but she also wanted the ability to walk out on something that wasn't working quite right (and then get someone better for her). There was no proof that what that book said hadn't been total bull or that the winged boy didn't follow all the mythological 'norms', but still...the idea that he could only ever have one mate EVER was intense for Twyla to think about. She could only image what must have been going through his mind.
Before the blond could organize herself enough to find something to say that was helpful or comforting she watched the boy's face light up in a sudden smile. This was soon replaced by a sigh. She still had no idea what he was thinking and more confusion twisted her features.
"Well, obviously you haven't come across this idea before...so maybe...maybe this dude had no idea what he was talking about." She grasped for more fodder for her argument. Flipping the book closed she opened the inside cover. "I mean this was first printed in like, 1934--what did they know about gryphons anyway at that time?" As if answering her own question, the girl shrugged. A hesitant hand bridged half of the gap between them, as if it were trying to send comforting vibes through its fingertips. "And besides, I'm pretty sure that your mutation puts you in a unique category--at this point there's no limit to what's real and what's mythological." Maybe that didn't help much.
The bell rang, halting Twyla's words for a moment. She hadn't gotten that stupid reading done and she needed to get to class and ask someone else about it before the quiz. What are you doing? Go to class. Part of her brain urged. The rest of it remained calm and focused on the situation at hand.
"And even if it is true, it couldn't be that bad--I'm sure that if your brain or body or soul or whatever wants to be with just the one person then it'll be pretty picky about who she is, right? When you finally find that chick that's 'the one' she'll have to be totally awesome and perfect for you and all that. She'll be like, the shit." Decidedly not the most romantic terms ever used, but Twyla was working on instinct at this point and not eloquence. Her last statement was said in a bright, matter-of-fact tone--she'd read about stuff like that in books and if he was planning on taking some as truth she could used them to back up her attempt at a comforting argument.
Time was ticking away to get to class but the blond remained where she was, a small smile fixed on her face as she looked at the boy. Class could wait until she was sure that he wasn't totally messed up and still functioning properly after his bout of research. If it were her, she'd want him to stay so that is what she did.
((OOC: Hope you don't mind me making up a publishing date! ))
Posted by Twyla Ashby on Mar 21, 2010 19:55:23 GMT -6
Beta Mutant
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May 1, 2012 13:42:06 GMT -6
He chuckled and Twyla didn't. "Yeah? I only saw you a few times. I was occupied too..." She trailed off and willed her mind to stop the barrage of self hate it was sending her way. You shouldn't have been there in the first place and you took Henri down with you. What if she had gotten hurt worse than she did? What if Gawain... Her mind didn't even finish the thought, just pushed the issue from her mind and back to the happenings at the table.
The mood in their section of the library changed when the winged boy started to get fidgety. What's with him? It must have been something he read. She tried to lean over to surreptitiously glance at the passage but her quick skim didn't enlighten her at all. He said something but Twyla couldn't quite make sense of it. "No, I'd think not..." Confusion crinkled her brow and worry found its way into the girl's brown eyes as they bore into the boy, trying to figure out what had made him so agitated.
After he started fidgeting, Carrick looked out the window and told her in a distracted tone that it was a nice day for flying. Was it something she'd said? Twyla highly doubted it after quick close re-examination of their conversation thus far. The only other thing that had gotten such emotional response was her slightly rude question about transformations and that had been a few minutes ago--it didn't make sense that those feelings would resurface now.
His next question pulled some of the puzzle pieces together.
He stood up abruptly after asking the blond if she thought books were always accurate. Standing up slowly as well she replied in a calm and slightly cheery tone. "No, books are subject to human imperfection and emotion. They're always biased and can present misinformation in a very persuasive way. I usually try to take everything I read with a grain of salt--sometimes you have to do research to prove something..." Now the confusion wormed its way into her tone. "Why do you ask?"
There were a lot of things one could read that could freak one out. What had this boy so spooked?
Posted by Twyla Ashby on Mar 19, 2010 19:11:59 GMT -6
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May 1, 2012 13:42:06 GMT -6
The book they were looking at was pushed closer to Twyla and she took a keener look at the picture. It was funny how all of the books at the table had different pictures in them. She mentally compared a few pictures before bringing her brown eyes up to face his narrowed gray and blue ones. Apparently she had been unintentionally rude or strange or something.
Maybe she hadn't noticed since she was so focused on her curiosity? She had that tendency sometimes.
Her suspicions were confirmed when the boy said 'guilty'. The wings behind him spread and she could hear his tail as it swished about. The girl seriously hoped she hadn't crossed some line and upset the boy. Twyla tried to read the answer in his face but she couldn't find it or wasn't looking for the right thing because she still couldn't tell if she'd been a jerk for asking. He asked her where she'd seen him in his other form and then looked in her eyes before looking down on yet another book from one of the piles on the table.
Onward, to the subject she'd been trying to avoid.
"I didn't see you very closely, if it was you I mean. Christmas Eve, in Central Park...?" It was more of a question than an answer and there was hesitance etched in the girl's features. "I was there." Doing stupid sh*t while simultaneously dragging one of my best friends down with me. Her mind added, but thankfully locked her lips before she ended up finishing the statement. Twyla really didn't need to go into detail about all of her screw-ups that night with someone she barely knew--she didn't go into them with anyone, not even the almost splattered best friend in question.
Posted by Twyla Ashby on Mar 18, 2010 19:06:25 GMT -6
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May 1, 2012 13:42:06 GMT -6
"Oh sure, that'd probably make front page in the paper." Twyla could about imagine the headlines... STRANGE FIGURE LURKS IN PIOUS WOMAN'S MIRROR IS IT THE DEVIL OR A CITY KID? And then there'd be a picture of Maya/Gawain next to Twyla's school picture and some embarrassing caption. She could just about imagine what those bored women would do with such a phenomenon.
Nate smiled at Henri again before replying: "Same to you." in a bright tone.
He then shook the boy's hand, grinning conspiratorially as he did so. "For sure, for sure." A wink and a final hand squeeze and Nathan Ashby was ready to roll.
"I'll see you later, Henri." Twyla hugged the other girl's shoulders and whispered in her ear. "I can tell he likes you, thanks for making this easy...five bucks says Nate's getting that beer thing straightened out." She stole a glance at her brother and her...something. "Hence the wink. Anyway," another squeeze. "See you later." The blond crossed the room to where her brother and Gawain were still standing. It seemed weird to hug him or something, she kinda wanted to...but at the same time...Awkward...Twyla settled on a small wave. "Bye, Gawain."
---
"See you cats later." Nate started walking down the hall, his younger, shorter, shyer, sister not far behind.
Posted by Twyla Ashby on Mar 18, 2010 18:49:45 GMT -6
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May 1, 2012 13:42:06 GMT -6
Twyla nodded at the boy as vigorously as someone as tired as she was could. "I know exactly what you mean--there's a ton of things like that to make you wonder..." The girl trailed off, mentally cataloging all of the creatures: vampires, witches, faeries, that were present in more than one type of folklore. Cross over was so interesting in mythology.
"Nice to meet you too, Carrick." They shook hands. "People get lost in the shuffle around here, it's just so much to take in." It was especially easy not to meet many people when you spent all of your time doing something like homework in the library, gymnastics at the Y, and failing at sleeping in your room. Twyla knew she needed to get more socialized but some of her other priorities were getting in the way of her just sitting down and meeting people. There was just too much to do and not enough time to do it in.
Like, for example, History assignments...
The winged boy, Carrick, looked back to his book and then found an interesting passage. She leaned across the table to look at the picture of the three creatures. "He's just a little guy." Twyla exclaimed softly before mentally hushing herself to listen to the story that went along with the drawing. Pulling her eyes away from the page, she watched the boy's face and body language. Obviously he was enjoying the story and she couldn't help but smile at the excitement in his voice as he read on.
"Touché." The girl grinned appreciatively when it became apparent that the smaller griffin dominated the other creatures. "That's some vindication, right?" And because she was curious and because she just had to know if Carrick was the student she'd seen in the park she asked another question right away. "If it's not rude to ask, do you transform into one of those--" A long finger pointed to another picture of the winged beast. "a gryphon, I mean...?" If he didn't feel comfortable answering, that was fine. Twyla was just curious and didn't want to flat out ask him if he'd ever hung out in a park that was being ravaged by a giant clay monster. Now that would have been rude.
((OOC: Sure, it might be helpful and it sounds interesting. ))
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