Applicatiion for singularity_rpg
Player Information;
Your Nickname: Kiki
OOC Journal: kikibug13
Under 18? Nope
Email/IM: kikibug13 at gmail dot com / plurk: kikibug13
Characters Played at Singularity: needs_answers
Character Information;
Name: Sean Cassidy
Name of Canon: X-Men: First Class
Canon/AU/Other Game CR: Canon
Reference: X-Men: First Class Wiki and Banshee Wiki.
Canon Point: Post movie
Setting:
The world of Marvel's X-Men is parallel to the earth as we know it, with enhancements. Somewhere down the line - the First Class movie implies, before World War II - something triggered the development of people with superhuman - mutated - powers. Telepathy, mind control, control over the elements - such as metal, or the weather, ability to shoot or absorb kinetic energy, ability to turn into diamond or altogether take a different shape. Flight, survival under water or in other extreme conditions.
Most of these stayed under the radar until the early 1960s, when the children of and after the 40s were reaching adulthood, giving some justification to Shaw calling mutants 'children of the atom' (although his own mutation seems to have been developed in strength by the time of the second world war, when he was himself an adult, which would make the timing rather trickier). Then, however, the rising to some behind-the-scenes power of one Sebastian Shaw, earlier known as Schmidt, and the group of mutants controlled by him and operating from the shadows of the establishment known as the Hellfire Club, brings two mutants together. Charles Xavier, a telepath whose reasons for stopping the war that Shaw seems bent on starting seem more altruistic, or maybe patriotic, and Erik Lensherr, with the ability to control metal and a personal enmity towards Shaw born in the horrors of World War II, meet in the pursuit of Shaw and form a bond of tentative trust and friendship built on the knowledge of the change in the world that their powers signify, besides the common enemy.
They bring together and start training a team of younger mutants, including Charles's sister Raven, Hank McCoy, Alex Summers, Sean Cassidy, Angel Salvadore (later changing her loyalties to Shaw), and Armando Muñoz (later killed by Shaw, using Alex's powers). Coming to this team is Sean's first look at the greater scheme of things involving mutants, thanks to Charles and his research, the necessity to stay current in order to avert bad situations, as well as conversation among the mutants.
Together, they use their powers to avert an actual war during the Cuban crisis, which Shaw has gone to great lengths to orchestrate, but their demonstration causes fear in both US and Communist navies gathered at the island, and the two opposing forces send missiles to destroy what they perceive as major threat to humanity. This brings to a head the argument between Charles and Erik concerning the future of the mutants - with or against homo sapiens - and as a result of their fight, Xavier is left crippled to the care of Hank, Alex, and Sean, as well as the non-mutant CIA agent Moira MacTaggert, while Erik leaves with Shaw's subordinates, as well as Raven.
The reason behind Shaw's actions originally is his belief that mutants - homo sapiens superior - are the newer, superior species, and that eventually non-mutants - homo sapiens sapiens - will become aware of them and, as the species dying out, will fear mutants, which will lead to an unavoidable war. Shaw's attempt to instigate thermonuclear war is on the basis of the persuasion that it would decrease the number of non-mutants significantly, as well as increasing the frequency of mutations - because of his claim that mutations were caused by the release of the atomic energy. If war was unavoidable, he might as well put non-mutants into a much weakened position, as well as strengthen his own. So he used his resources to set that into motion, regardless of the means. One such action was breaking Erik, pushing him to the extent of his abilities.
Another was using the mutants he had recruited, who believed in his cause - Emma Frost, powerful telepath with the ability to turn herself into diamond; Azazel, teleporter with red skin, prehensile tail with a sharp end, and combat training; and Riptide, quiet man with the ability to start tornadoes at will and control them - and the set up, the Hellfire Club, an establishment for the rich and powerful men of the time, as well as Shaw's connections in the Soviet Union, to start the war.
All in all, his methods were brutal but, in their way, efficient. He would have been successful if the group led by Charles Xavier hadn't opposed him.
Charles's approach to the discrepancy between mutants and non-mutants was, and continued to be, that the two species (or sub-species) can co-exist peaceful and cooperate. To the betterment of the human race as a whole.
The mutants who trained with him did for different reasons.
There was Alex Summers, who did because of the hope to be able to control the damage he could - and had - caused. There was Raven, Charles's adopted sister, who loved and supported him despite differences in the way they viewed the issues which had accumulated with time. There was Hank, who was given the opportunity to extend to his full abilities without having to hide what he was. There was Sean, who did believe this was the right thing - and found the whole thing with the powers incredibly cool, and learning to actually use his for something useful a good thing.
And there was Erik. Who was a part of the work because he wanted to destroy Sebastian Shaw for what Shaw had done to him. He had no argument with Shaw's take on the present and the future. And once Shaw was gone, he took over the drive to establish mutants as the superior species by any means necessary. Preparing - and leading - a war that he saw as inevitable. The reaction of both US and Soviet military to the demonstration that the conflict made at the Cuban beach was only in support of his insistence.
Because despite the fact that the mutants had just saved the world from a nuclear war, the two fleets were ordered to destroy the new, unknown threat, the collateral damage of Moira MacTaggert, human and CIA agent, disregarded.
Charles, and the mutants who stayed with him saw it as an overreaction based on fear. Erik saw it as something inevitable and impossible to change, regardless of the effort and patience applied. Raven and Angel, who had had to deal with rejection of how they looked (including, in a way, Raven fro Charles himself), were certain that normal-looking humans would never accept them, either, and they followed Erik. On the other hand Hank, who had concealed his mutation from his original employers in order to protect himself, and had only recently acquired his blue appearance, stayed with Charles, indicating his hope that things might change. He was the only not-'normal'-looking mutant who stayed with Xavier.
While the aftermath of the action at the Cuban beach was that the whole world learned about the existence of mutants and the extent which their powers could take, Charles ensured a first line of defense to all mutants - on both sides - by making sure they remained anonymous for at least the time being. The fear the whole situation had inflicted, as well as the threat of superpowered beings that all who knew the events of the crisis head, remain to play out in the future of the world Sean comes from.
Personality:
Sean is seen in the film as a rather chill redhead teenager, the kind who will sit and munch on oreos and drink soda and enjoy the party, without shying away from being the center of attention when he's called to it. He isn't alllll that successful in his hitting to the one girl he is shown to be trying for, but he doesn't push his luck further than acceptable. As he is in the higher range of adolescence, at least trying to be on good terms with the pretty ladies is definitely a thing with him.
Other than being (understandably) skeptical about some aspects of his training (like being told he can fly), he takes to what he gets to learn rather good-naturedly. That's excluding Erik's pushing him out of a height. He would have jumped on his own anyway!
Sean is one of the mutants who doesn't seem to be fighting against his ability. He doesn't really demonstrate it or show it off, directly, but he isn't afraid or ashamed of it. While he doesn't quite buy that his sonic screams will work up to the expectations Charles and Hank seem to have of them, he doesn't dig his heels up and refuse to try what he's told. He likes the results even better. Especially flying. Even more so when it turns out he can carry somebody else. It's awesomely cool.
He is a good team player, doing his best to protect his friends in the fight which happens when they have started to gain control over their powers. His fight in that battle is with Angel, as they are the two mutants who can fly, and while he does his best to disable her, he's not aiming for trying to kill her (while at the same time trying to make sure Alex is brought to safety).
And he is one of the few who manages to get a smile out of Alex. Those are rare things.
In the end, he stays with Charles, opting for trying to find a peaceful solution to conflict between humans and mutants.
The rest of the personality section is based on information about the comic-canon Banshee, adjusted to fit the movie-shown character.
Sean is Irish-born, and Catholic. The latter is not up to fanatical levels, especially in view of his special abilities and the Catholic prejudices against witches, nor is he aggressive or overly demonstrative about it, but Catholic raising formed a lot of his values in life. He does believe in a higher power and in predestination, as well as ultimate judgment of one's deeds. It leads to striving to do good as he sees it. War and destruction are not good. Love thy neighbor. Regardless if she or he can do the things you can or not, or where she or he came from. Regardless of how she or he looks, even. (Well. He's also a teenager, looks do matter to him. At least initially. But he's surprised - but not disgusted or pushed away - when Hank appears in his new blue form, nor at any of the displays when the youngsters bond, while Charles, Erik, and Moira are away discussing grown-up things what the political situation is and what they will be doing next.) That is not to say he is entirely peaceful or non-violent, but aggression without the possibility to avoid it doesn't sit well with him, as does taking things out on those who are weaker and defenseless. As is taking things out personally, rather than bringing them to justice.
Sean is a teenager, and as such, he wants to fit in. So he sometimes suppresses, rather than expresses, the things he would be rejected for. His concealing his abilities is not as strongly emphasized as Hank's, but he is still not boasting or demonstrating them visibly until after he knows that his audience have them, too. His accent isn't strong, but instead faintly British (which is possibly because he has spent time in the USA, where a thick Irish accent would be mocked, so he has adjusted accordingly). He is also still very trusting, and when that trust is betrayed, he is unhappy: when Angel decided to go with Shaw, after his initial outburst of disbelief, he won't even look at her.
All in all, he can be summed up as a good kid, but still a kid. He is trying to do the right thing and to do as his conscience prompts him to, he stands up for his friends and is grateful when they return the loyalty. He's stubborn, and enthusiastic, and sometimes overreacts a bit, but he does his best. At this point - at this age - Sean is a follower and is all right with that. He is also looking for things to be more black and white and less grayscale than they actually are.
Abilities, Weaknesses, and Power Limitation Suggestions:
Abilities and power limitations: Sean's abilities, in their full strength, are:
* Superhuman hearing
* Sonic screams
* Flight
* Concussive blasts
* Sonic energy lances
* Ability to cause nausea, disorientation, or unconsciousness
However, those are limited by the fact that he's barely started to learn their full potential. His control and the strength of his powers, especially the ones involving his voice, as opposed to his hearing, are still still weak. He can cause damage, but he cannot - or will not - kill. He has learned to use his powers for flight, though.
Weaknesses: He is a teenager guy who can be influenced by words and ideas - and other methods of manipulation. Also any damage to his throat/vocal chords will incapacitate his sonic screams/powers until he recovers.
Inventory: His X-men suit. Because he was out flying. Practicing. And a pack of oreos stashed in his pocket.
Appearance: Caleb Landry Jones - tallish, slim redhead in his late teens.
Age: 18
OC/AU Justification ;
If AU, How is Your Version Different From Canon, and How Will That Come Across? N/A
If OC, Did You Run Your Character Through a Mary-Sue Litmus Test? N/A
And What Did You Score? N/A
Samples ;
Log Sample:
The fighting was over. They were going home. Charles was being brought in by a flurry of medics directed by Moira, and the three of them were almost forgotten in the middle of it all. They'd probably get to him in a bit. He couldn't care about that just now.
Him, and Alex, and Hank. Sean looked at the faces of his friends - Alex, bedraggled but focused, Hank... alien and strange, yet at the same time familiar. The blue thing was really throwing Sean off in reading him, not that he was ever that good at reading anybody, and yet there was enough familiar in the smart guy's body position and expression to connect.
That's who was left. Darwin, gone. Erik and Angel and Raven. Moira had been with them, but she wasn't one of them the way they belonged together. Or at least... the way they'd thought they belonged together.
Sean tried to think through, again, the point about war being unavoidable. And, again, he couldn't see it. Even with the demonstration just now, with Erik having to stop the missiles and everything. Yes, people were afraid of them. But he had been afraid of what he could do at first, too. Didn't mean that he hadn't learned to accept - heck, to enjoy - what he could do. People always were afraid of what they didn't know. what they didn't get. The fact that they were on the other side of the fence wasn't going to change that.
Time and knowledge would. For some.
And who knew better what people were capable of accepting than somebody like Charles, with his mind reading? Yeah, so things weren't sweetness and light. They never were.
Plus, the thought of just declaring quiet war on his family back home? Not cool.
So there was just him and Alex and Hank, and Charles when he got better, whatever better meant. That didn't matter. He couldn't go do something he didn't believe in, all right? He just. Couldn't.
Network Sample:
[Video picks up in a rather close-up of the freckled face of a perplexed teenager.]
Right. Hank, if this is your idea of a joke or something, blue or not, I'll find a way to make you sorry for it!
[Small pause, as the video wavers as he is poking at the controls.]
I must admit the thing is rather nifty, though.
Your Nickname: Kiki
OOC Journal: kikibug13
Under 18? Nope
Email/IM: kikibug13 at gmail dot com / plurk: kikibug13
Characters Played at Singularity: needs_answers
Character Information;
Name: Sean Cassidy
Name of Canon: X-Men: First Class
Canon/AU/Other Game CR: Canon
Reference: X-Men: First Class Wiki and Banshee Wiki.
Canon Point: Post movie
Setting:
The world of Marvel's X-Men is parallel to the earth as we know it, with enhancements. Somewhere down the line - the First Class movie implies, before World War II - something triggered the development of people with superhuman - mutated - powers. Telepathy, mind control, control over the elements - such as metal, or the weather, ability to shoot or absorb kinetic energy, ability to turn into diamond or altogether take a different shape. Flight, survival under water or in other extreme conditions.
Most of these stayed under the radar until the early 1960s, when the children of and after the 40s were reaching adulthood, giving some justification to Shaw calling mutants 'children of the atom' (although his own mutation seems to have been developed in strength by the time of the second world war, when he was himself an adult, which would make the timing rather trickier). Then, however, the rising to some behind-the-scenes power of one Sebastian Shaw, earlier known as Schmidt, and the group of mutants controlled by him and operating from the shadows of the establishment known as the Hellfire Club, brings two mutants together. Charles Xavier, a telepath whose reasons for stopping the war that Shaw seems bent on starting seem more altruistic, or maybe patriotic, and Erik Lensherr, with the ability to control metal and a personal enmity towards Shaw born in the horrors of World War II, meet in the pursuit of Shaw and form a bond of tentative trust and friendship built on the knowledge of the change in the world that their powers signify, besides the common enemy.
They bring together and start training a team of younger mutants, including Charles's sister Raven, Hank McCoy, Alex Summers, Sean Cassidy, Angel Salvadore (later changing her loyalties to Shaw), and Armando Muñoz (later killed by Shaw, using Alex's powers). Coming to this team is Sean's first look at the greater scheme of things involving mutants, thanks to Charles and his research, the necessity to stay current in order to avert bad situations, as well as conversation among the mutants.
Together, they use their powers to avert an actual war during the Cuban crisis, which Shaw has gone to great lengths to orchestrate, but their demonstration causes fear in both US and Communist navies gathered at the island, and the two opposing forces send missiles to destroy what they perceive as major threat to humanity. This brings to a head the argument between Charles and Erik concerning the future of the mutants - with or against homo sapiens - and as a result of their fight, Xavier is left crippled to the care of Hank, Alex, and Sean, as well as the non-mutant CIA agent Moira MacTaggert, while Erik leaves with Shaw's subordinates, as well as Raven.
The reason behind Shaw's actions originally is his belief that mutants - homo sapiens superior - are the newer, superior species, and that eventually non-mutants - homo sapiens sapiens - will become aware of them and, as the species dying out, will fear mutants, which will lead to an unavoidable war. Shaw's attempt to instigate thermonuclear war is on the basis of the persuasion that it would decrease the number of non-mutants significantly, as well as increasing the frequency of mutations - because of his claim that mutations were caused by the release of the atomic energy. If war was unavoidable, he might as well put non-mutants into a much weakened position, as well as strengthen his own. So he used his resources to set that into motion, regardless of the means. One such action was breaking Erik, pushing him to the extent of his abilities.
Another was using the mutants he had recruited, who believed in his cause - Emma Frost, powerful telepath with the ability to turn herself into diamond; Azazel, teleporter with red skin, prehensile tail with a sharp end, and combat training; and Riptide, quiet man with the ability to start tornadoes at will and control them - and the set up, the Hellfire Club, an establishment for the rich and powerful men of the time, as well as Shaw's connections in the Soviet Union, to start the war.
All in all, his methods were brutal but, in their way, efficient. He would have been successful if the group led by Charles Xavier hadn't opposed him.
Charles's approach to the discrepancy between mutants and non-mutants was, and continued to be, that the two species (or sub-species) can co-exist peaceful and cooperate. To the betterment of the human race as a whole.
The mutants who trained with him did for different reasons.
There was Alex Summers, who did because of the hope to be able to control the damage he could - and had - caused. There was Raven, Charles's adopted sister, who loved and supported him despite differences in the way they viewed the issues which had accumulated with time. There was Hank, who was given the opportunity to extend to his full abilities without having to hide what he was. There was Sean, who did believe this was the right thing - and found the whole thing with the powers incredibly cool, and learning to actually use his for something useful a good thing.
And there was Erik. Who was a part of the work because he wanted to destroy Sebastian Shaw for what Shaw had done to him. He had no argument with Shaw's take on the present and the future. And once Shaw was gone, he took over the drive to establish mutants as the superior species by any means necessary. Preparing - and leading - a war that he saw as inevitable. The reaction of both US and Soviet military to the demonstration that the conflict made at the Cuban beach was only in support of his insistence.
Because despite the fact that the mutants had just saved the world from a nuclear war, the two fleets were ordered to destroy the new, unknown threat, the collateral damage of Moira MacTaggert, human and CIA agent, disregarded.
Charles, and the mutants who stayed with him saw it as an overreaction based on fear. Erik saw it as something inevitable and impossible to change, regardless of the effort and patience applied. Raven and Angel, who had had to deal with rejection of how they looked (including, in a way, Raven fro Charles himself), were certain that normal-looking humans would never accept them, either, and they followed Erik. On the other hand Hank, who had concealed his mutation from his original employers in order to protect himself, and had only recently acquired his blue appearance, stayed with Charles, indicating his hope that things might change. He was the only not-'normal'-looking mutant who stayed with Xavier.
While the aftermath of the action at the Cuban beach was that the whole world learned about the existence of mutants and the extent which their powers could take, Charles ensured a first line of defense to all mutants - on both sides - by making sure they remained anonymous for at least the time being. The fear the whole situation had inflicted, as well as the threat of superpowered beings that all who knew the events of the crisis head, remain to play out in the future of the world Sean comes from.
Personality:
Sean is seen in the film as a rather chill redhead teenager, the kind who will sit and munch on oreos and drink soda and enjoy the party, without shying away from being the center of attention when he's called to it. He isn't alllll that successful in his hitting to the one girl he is shown to be trying for, but he doesn't push his luck further than acceptable. As he is in the higher range of adolescence, at least trying to be on good terms with the pretty ladies is definitely a thing with him.
Other than being (understandably) skeptical about some aspects of his training (like being told he can fly), he takes to what he gets to learn rather good-naturedly. That's excluding Erik's pushing him out of a height. He would have jumped on his own anyway!
Sean is one of the mutants who doesn't seem to be fighting against his ability. He doesn't really demonstrate it or show it off, directly, but he isn't afraid or ashamed of it. While he doesn't quite buy that his sonic screams will work up to the expectations Charles and Hank seem to have of them, he doesn't dig his heels up and refuse to try what he's told. He likes the results even better. Especially flying. Even more so when it turns out he can carry somebody else. It's awesomely cool.
He is a good team player, doing his best to protect his friends in the fight which happens when they have started to gain control over their powers. His fight in that battle is with Angel, as they are the two mutants who can fly, and while he does his best to disable her, he's not aiming for trying to kill her (while at the same time trying to make sure Alex is brought to safety).
And he is one of the few who manages to get a smile out of Alex. Those are rare things.
In the end, he stays with Charles, opting for trying to find a peaceful solution to conflict between humans and mutants.
The rest of the personality section is based on information about the comic-canon Banshee, adjusted to fit the movie-shown character.
Sean is Irish-born, and Catholic. The latter is not up to fanatical levels, especially in view of his special abilities and the Catholic prejudices against witches, nor is he aggressive or overly demonstrative about it, but Catholic raising formed a lot of his values in life. He does believe in a higher power and in predestination, as well as ultimate judgment of one's deeds. It leads to striving to do good as he sees it. War and destruction are not good. Love thy neighbor. Regardless if she or he can do the things you can or not, or where she or he came from. Regardless of how she or he looks, even. (Well. He's also a teenager, looks do matter to him. At least initially. But he's surprised - but not disgusted or pushed away - when Hank appears in his new blue form, nor at any of the displays when the youngsters bond, while Charles, Erik, and Moira are away discussing grown-up things what the political situation is and what they will be doing next.) That is not to say he is entirely peaceful or non-violent, but aggression without the possibility to avoid it doesn't sit well with him, as does taking things out on those who are weaker and defenseless. As is taking things out personally, rather than bringing them to justice.
Sean is a teenager, and as such, he wants to fit in. So he sometimes suppresses, rather than expresses, the things he would be rejected for. His concealing his abilities is not as strongly emphasized as Hank's, but he is still not boasting or demonstrating them visibly until after he knows that his audience have them, too. His accent isn't strong, but instead faintly British (which is possibly because he has spent time in the USA, where a thick Irish accent would be mocked, so he has adjusted accordingly). He is also still very trusting, and when that trust is betrayed, he is unhappy: when Angel decided to go with Shaw, after his initial outburst of disbelief, he won't even look at her.
All in all, he can be summed up as a good kid, but still a kid. He is trying to do the right thing and to do as his conscience prompts him to, he stands up for his friends and is grateful when they return the loyalty. He's stubborn, and enthusiastic, and sometimes overreacts a bit, but he does his best. At this point - at this age - Sean is a follower and is all right with that. He is also looking for things to be more black and white and less grayscale than they actually are.
Abilities, Weaknesses, and Power Limitation Suggestions:
Abilities and power limitations: Sean's abilities, in their full strength, are:
* Superhuman hearing
* Sonic screams
* Flight
* Concussive blasts
* Sonic energy lances
* Ability to cause nausea, disorientation, or unconsciousness
However, those are limited by the fact that he's barely started to learn their full potential. His control and the strength of his powers, especially the ones involving his voice, as opposed to his hearing, are still still weak. He can cause damage, but he cannot - or will not - kill. He has learned to use his powers for flight, though.
Weaknesses: He is a teenager guy who can be influenced by words and ideas - and other methods of manipulation. Also any damage to his throat/vocal chords will incapacitate his sonic screams/powers until he recovers.
Inventory: His X-men suit. Because he was out flying. Practicing. And a pack of oreos stashed in his pocket.
Appearance: Caleb Landry Jones - tallish, slim redhead in his late teens.
Age: 18
OC/AU Justification ;
If AU, How is Your Version Different From Canon, and How Will That Come Across? N/A
If OC, Did You Run Your Character Through a Mary-Sue Litmus Test? N/A
And What Did You Score? N/A
Samples ;
Log Sample:
The fighting was over. They were going home. Charles was being brought in by a flurry of medics directed by Moira, and the three of them were almost forgotten in the middle of it all. They'd probably get to him in a bit. He couldn't care about that just now.
Him, and Alex, and Hank. Sean looked at the faces of his friends - Alex, bedraggled but focused, Hank... alien and strange, yet at the same time familiar. The blue thing was really throwing Sean off in reading him, not that he was ever that good at reading anybody, and yet there was enough familiar in the smart guy's body position and expression to connect.
That's who was left. Darwin, gone. Erik and Angel and Raven. Moira had been with them, but she wasn't one of them the way they belonged together. Or at least... the way they'd thought they belonged together.
Sean tried to think through, again, the point about war being unavoidable. And, again, he couldn't see it. Even with the demonstration just now, with Erik having to stop the missiles and everything. Yes, people were afraid of them. But he had been afraid of what he could do at first, too. Didn't mean that he hadn't learned to accept - heck, to enjoy - what he could do. People always were afraid of what they didn't know. what they didn't get. The fact that they were on the other side of the fence wasn't going to change that.
Time and knowledge would. For some.
And who knew better what people were capable of accepting than somebody like Charles, with his mind reading? Yeah, so things weren't sweetness and light. They never were.
Plus, the thought of just declaring quiet war on his family back home? Not cool.
So there was just him and Alex and Hank, and Charles when he got better, whatever better meant. That didn't matter. He couldn't go do something he didn't believe in, all right? He just. Couldn't.
Network Sample:
[Video picks up in a rather close-up of the freckled face of a perplexed teenager.]
Right. Hank, if this is your idea of a joke or something, blue or not, I'll find a way to make you sorry for it!
[Small pause, as the video wavers as he is poking at the controls.]
I must admit the thing is rather nifty, though.