Ruby

Operation: X-Men

Zacharius said
I arrive!

Violet said
Here.

Since you're both in the pre-approved section, just let me know when you've posted your CS' and I'll edit the roster. <3

Operation: X-Men [High Casual]

The game's OOC is now up.

Operation: X-Men [Sheets]

Name: Helena Allison Britt
Age: 18
Mutation:

Telepathy/Telekinesis - Believed by S.H.l.E.L.D. to hold the potential to be the most powerful telepath since the deaths of Charles Xavier and Jean Grey; if she lives long enough to turn potential into reality.

Personality:

Helena was once, not that long ago, the stereotypical alpha girl; prom queen, cheerleader, and able to charm her way in or out of nearly anything. Only a bully to other bullies, Helena saw to it that her high school class was welcoming and accepting of all kids in her school...no matter how weird, or creepy, or damaged, or socially awkward they were. Happy, though bored, with her suburban life and eagerly waiting to go off to college, all of that changed when Helena's mutation first manifested. Hatefully disowned by her beauty pageant mother as a 'freak of nature', Helena fell hard into the stages of grief...only coming to acceptance, the final stage, after meeting X-23 for the first time.

A touch of ego and attitude make Helena still an alpha girl, even in the community of secret mutant warriors. Known as a natural leader just as much as she is known for her wicked, often times sarcastic and biting, sense of humor. Her daredevil, adrenaline hunting, devil-may-care attitudes sometimes come into conflict with this default leadership position--often times leading herself, and those following her, into the heart of danger.

The last girl any want to trifle with, the passionate and intense Helena Britt is exactly what those recruiting want most: a fighter who wouldn't back down to any hardship...from sentinels to psychotic mothers.

Helena rarely talks about her personal past, finding too many painful topics to enjoy speaking about it.

History:

Born and raised in Mobile, Alabama to a former Crimson Tide football player turned attorney and a former beauty queen. A Southern upper class girl with the credentials to match; a member of the famed (and infamous) Cameron Park Country Club since birth, a card carrying member of the Daughters of the Confederacy, and an alum of the prestigeous, all white, Saint Francis Prep Academy. For much of her youth, Helena lived in a bubble of Southern wealth and priviledge. Pleasing her mother by becoming a pageant girl and pleasing her father by becoming a peerless student, life was on cruise control for Helena Britt as she entered her Junior Year at Saint Francis.

The belle of the ball, Helena entered the school year voted to Homecoming Queen, her long time boyfriend and athlete voted King. Between school, cheer, horse riding, and her mother's charity events, life was busily moving fast to the end of the year by the time the holiday break hit. Though she doesn't like to tell the story, her long time athletic rich boy boyfriend became drunk and raped her at his New Year's Eve party. In the extreme stress of the moment came an unleashing of telepathic power that put her soon-to-be-former boyfriend in a coma for over a month.

Though Mobile County sheriffs never discovered the nature of the coma, the fact that Helena was raped went unreported and covered up; her boyfriend the son of a local, long standing, County Judge. Pushed to the breaking point, Hel quit cheer, she quit the Student Senate, she even quit horse riding. Her father's gentle concern was drowned out by the aggressive anger of her mother. According to the woman, Helena was ruining her life because of a stupid mood. When Helena told her mother the truth, the woman dismissed it as a lie designed to gain pity.

Her father eventually talked her into joining Journalism, a platform from which Helena would attack the world of high priviledge and ignorant racism in which she was raised in. Though this strangely seemed to amuse her father, himself born in the harsh poverty of a poor country farmer's life that her grandfather led. But when Helena refused to do a fashion show for charity, the final fight between Helena and her mother was well on it's way. In the height of rage, Helena used her telepathy to expose every hateful and twisted secret of her mother; including her mother's paranoid belief Helena and her father were hiding an incestreous relationship.

Shocked and appalled, Helena's mother deflected Helena's accusations by calling her daughter a "monsterous mutant." Her mother officially disowned her that day, her father coming home to find his happy home life shattered beyond all repair. After hearing from both sides, Helena's father arranged for her to take a vacation to Southern California--to get her away from home, to get her away from her mother. Helena would return home a month later to find her mother kicked out of the house, divorce pending.

Somehow, it felt like a win to Helena. But it wasn't. Even today, Helena feels like a foolish naive little girl for having believed any part of the situation could have been a personal victory. While her father could not continue to live with 'that woman', nor could he keep a clear concious if he allowed his mutant daughter to stay in Alabama. He knew his wife would call her friends and tell them all about their mutant daughter. He knew Alabama was no longer a safe place for Helena to stay. Helena was in the midst of trying to figure out a plan when she was first sent an anonymous e-mail claiming to be from a mutant like her, trying to put together a group of mutants to train and empower.

Desperate for a place to go, Helena was ready to go immediately--her father preaching caution until more was learned about this mysterious mutant and their offer of hospitality. A government agent in a black suit came to see her father shortly after, explaining to Mr. Britt that not all mutants were created equal. That some were stronger than others, and that some powers were more coveted than others. The most coveted? Telepathy. Though the agent never said her name once, he was able to easily convince the Alabama attorney that his daughter was now the focus for a lot of sets of eyes.

Though he wanted to send Helena to Genosha for safety, Helena had decided she wanted to meet this mysterious mutant she had heard from numerous times now. Helena was given her mother's Mercedes (so she wouldn't get it in the divorce settlement--her father's way of being cruel) and a dufflebag filled with all the cash her father could gather quickly to go meet the mysterious mutant. There father and daughter said what became their final goodbye. Helena would drive on to Birmingham to meet a mutant woman who named herself as simply 'X', and go on to explain the way of the mutant world for the neophyte mutant Helena.

Helena signed up on the spot, becoming the group's first 'student' to arrive at Bakersfield and settle in at the old ranch. Helena doesn't think much about her old life, considering it the life of a girl that no longer exists.

OOC/Misc:

Impressions

X-23 - Hel has nothing but respect for the hard edged, impossible to intimidate, mutant leader of their group. X is the only mutant that Hel's ever known to have actually met with the X-Men, to be able to tell stories of Wolverine, to quote the poetic Beast, or to share the words about Xavier's dream that X was told firsthand by Xavier himself. X is the group's touchstone to the past and X-Men legacy. Though X can be tough skinned and demanding, none of that ever bothers Hel, who responds well to 'hard coaching' from the pageant days of her youth.

'Rob' - Everyone knows that 'Rob' isn't really his name, but nobody seems to mind. Rob is a gentle soul that likes to wax poetically about surfing, the West Coast, and living a good life he can be proud of. It's clear Rob holds to a certain system of values, one designed with the intent to never be on the wrong side of karma. It's less clear if Rob's always had that system of values...because Hel has a feeling the man they all know now as 'Rob' used to be very different, living a radically different life than the life he lives now; that of a tough guy protector for a bunch of mutant kids. Rob likes drinking his beer and smoking his pot, and a trip to his cabin is almost always a fun night just waiting to be had.

Annelise - A sweet thing that I originally thought would maybe make a good friend. When I found out she was a lesbian, the strangest thing happened: my behavior changed around her. Suddenly, I was flirting with her, maybe she thought I was attractive? Well she did, and it didn't take me very long to go from she finds me attractive to "Hey let's go do something together?" You know, winkwink. As the only mutant around resistant to my telepathy, you might think that was part of Annelise's appeal to me...and you'd be right. But while I started this relationship as a way to kill time and kiss on a pretty girl, I'm genuinely afraid I'm starting to grow attached to Annelise. I'd like it if I didn't, but she knows that. She knows my fears, about us, about the team, about it all; and I know her fears. I'm closer to her than I've ever been to anyone. So maybe I'm stuck with this girl. Wouldn't that be a blessing?

Noel - The amazing half-boy, half-man. So much about Noel screams youth and boyhood; from his shy nature to his quiet disposition. I ask him to help me with feeding the animals, Rob likes to ask him to help with repair jobs around the Ranch...anything to toughen him up, and get some self confidence in him. One day I think we'll see Noel walk around with his head held high and his shoulders squared, just maybe a while. Rob and I are still trying to get him to go hunting or fishing with us, but so far no luck. I've made it as plain, and sweetly said, as I can that if he ever needs to talk I'm there for him. I did warn him, with a grin, it might require he actually, you know, TALK.

Alexander - Every Ranch needs a Cookie, but not every group can get a BritJew of their very own! Alex suffers my Jewish jokes with the best of them, although as a former Southern Baptist it's not like there isn't ample ammunition to throw back at me--and I wouldn't have it any other way. He's a good cook, and it was a relief to know that the Mess kitchen wouldn't be a full time duty of mine. Although he can't do southern/soul food to save his life, nevermind his utter inability to BBQ, or bake a sweet treat. I've shown him how to do pork ribs and brisket, and save for the one time he forgot to peel the membrane off the pork ribs, he's learned those BBQ basics pretty well. Maybe one day I'll show him how to make grilled burgers not balloon up to an unwieldy size. Though I've flatly given up on his chances to ever be a dessert maker. He's even started watching college football with Rob and I. Alex and I got closer lately with his loss, I shared my past with him, the only person I've told the stories to outside of my lover.

Will - One of the newest arrivals to the Last Five, and one of the strangest. I've never seen a girl that looks like this, but then again I'm now painfully aware of the protective little bubble I was living within when I was growing up in Alabama. Strange as she may appear to me, strange does not mean unattractive. There's a chip on this one's shoulder, and I should know. I've witnessed the way Will looks at Annelise, and it just makes me smile. Jealousy is hard to fire up when you've been inside your lover's thoughts and know the reassurances she'd give you as well as you know your own name. But maybe it's not just that keeping me from jealousy. Maybe I've looked a little to long and a little too hard at Will myself recently. Maybe I'll invite Will out into town with me soon. Couldn't be a bad idea, right? Right. Plus she's got my name in her name, so totally star-crossed.

Jack - A nice young fellow. I have a feeling Jack has more in store for us than he's tipped his hand to show thus far, and hopefully any revelations don't come at the worst possible times. Plus, he's Canadian, and who doesn't love a polite Canadian? Makes him a winner in my book. And, plus, it's hard to be sweltering in summer heat when Jack's around. So that's another plus. Seems something of a straight arrow, doesn't hang around too much with Rob and I. Although it's quite obvious how much he respects Rob...and I certainly can't say I blame Jack for that, considering I know all of I do know about Rob. Rob's about as good a male role model as I can imagine for someone like Jack. We'll see how close Jack and I get, I have this suspicion we've got plenty of dialogue in our future. What Jack thinks about me? Please, I don't have a clue what any of the guys think about me. Save Rob.

Chase - A cute one, if a strange one. Gills? Ew, in a cool Science!!!! kinda way. I've seen him be a stubborn motherfucker, so it's nice to know I'm not the only hard headed one around here. What are his hobbies? No idea. He seems to hide from me, like I'm in the same league as X-23 or something. I find that very strange considering I'm still very much a Southern belle at heart and in outward appearance. Oh well, whatever. Maybe one day he'll figure out I'm one of the least abrasive people on the Last Five. Then again, maybe he won't. So long as he comes in handy when shit hits fan, I'm not sure I care, honestly.

Operation: X-Men

"I think Magneto and I cancelled each other out. For a long time. And then... finally... we became irrelevant. The future walked around us." - Charles Xavier

IC Information

On March 23rd, 2004, the New York Police Department sent out a call for assistance with a clear metahuman threat. With the Avengers off world, the Fantastic Four was the first group to emerge, joined shortly by Spider-Man on scene. When the Fantastic Four and Spider-Man went silent, the worst was feared, forcing the NYPD to make a call to Charles Xavier in upstate New York. In less than twenty minutes the X-Men, the least popular of any metahuman group, arrived on the scene. When the dust settled, nearly a quarter of Manhattan had been destroyed; the X-Men and their noble leader fallen. That the Fantastic Four, with Spider-Man, had failed went mostly unmentioned by the press. That the X-Men had given their lives seemed secondary.

The real story was that all the damage had been done by a single mutant; Apocalypse.

With public fears on mutants stretched to new heights after seeing the terrorizing power one single mutant, in Apocalypse, could wield, the fact that he and the X-Men had fallen against in each other in battle was seen as an unexpected blessing. Unlike the Fantastic Four and the Avengers, the X-Men weren't Gods or Iron-men or super syrumed patriots or scientists turned heroes. They were mutated private citizens; they were feared and misunderstood even by rational, moderate minded, humans. And with good reason, as the battle with Apocalypse had shown.

When even Steve Rogers suggested in an interview that the public was harsh on the X-Men, that they were no less heroic than the Avengers of Fantastic Four, the words of Captain America fell on mostly deaf ears. But while the X-Men were now a part of history, the mutant issue persisted. Changed by the loss of longtime rival and friend, Magneto worked with the UN Security Council to create a modern day 'Israel' for mutants. The UN ceded the island nation of Genosha to Magneto and his Brotherhood after Magneto proved he could work for a world of mutual benefit; a change attributed to the effect of Charles Xavier's death.

Ten years later, Genosha has grown into a working, breathing, nation of mutants and humans. The world had moved on from Xavier and Magneto's struggle, forcing Magneto to find a new role in the world; a role he would find as Genosha's elected leader. Whereas Magnet's followers went into a new future, on Graymalkin Lane the story was nothing but history and dust. The government of Westchester County, New York, refused to allow other mutants take up residence in Xavier's ancestral seat. For a decade the property as been gated and locked and made off limits while the legal battle over the X-Mansion's fate continues to rage.

In the meantime mutants have been legally banned from military service in most of the Western world. Separate 'charter schools' have been set up to take in mutant students, though by most measurements these schools are seen as a failure, with the most liberal minded Americans beginning to decry the segregation of mutants. Most of these schools seem more like prisons than schools, hoping only to 'hold' young mutants until they reach an age of maturation many believe makes them less of a danger to humans around them. But in a world where most parents are afraid a mutant classmate of their child will blow up said classroom as if it was their purpose in life, thus presenting a clear and present danger to human children, mutant segregation remains the way in many Western countries for now.

And this is preferable to countries like Russia, China, and Iran; where children revealed as mutants are simply taken away and never seen, nor heard from, again. There are stories of mutant children in African nations being forced into military service as child soldiers; the survival rate of these mutant child soldiers makes the survival rate of human child soldiers look promising.

Though the new, young, generation of people across the world on average see mutants as less a threat and equals, it remains politically advantageous to boast an Anti-Mutant policy in most countries across the world. Not unlike the political advantages of being anti-immigrant. And like the immigration system, the mutant system in the US is just as broken and heartbreaking, but too many see it as better (and more importantly safer) option than simply letting mutants walk around, able to harm anyone and anything at any given time.

Only recently has true pushback been seen, and not by humans; Thor has withdrawn from SHIELD following a whisleblower report that SHIELD was working with the US Department of Defense to 'tag and bag' young mutants. Spider-Man joined Iron-Man in pointing out 'mutant charter schools' as a part of the problem, not solution, as the young Spider-Man found himself thrown into one of the schools, thus witnessing first hand how isolation and starvation are preferred 'disciplinary tactics' of the administrators of such schools. And, as Tony Stark himself pointed out, "these schools don't teach young mutants anything about their powers except how to ignore them and pretend like they don't exist. Mutant powers that can't actually be ignored, and when there's an accident involving these poor kids the schools say the kid is the problem--not the school that the kid is forced to attend but refuses to teach them anything about said powers."

Although progress has been slow, the Left end of the political spectrum has slowly begun to take up the issues on behalf of mutants. Some, however, don't see that as enough. Some remember the X-Men, and what they stood for, and the good they did in the world. To that effect, some have begun to do something about it. As the world just begins to talk seriously of mutant rights for the first time since Xavier's death, a small shadowy group has begun to initiate the final stages of a plan to bring back the X-Men, to re-ignite Xavier's dream.

Working more like a terror organization than a school for the gifted, they have divided themselves into cells, with one never knowing what the other cell is doing. They are led by mysterious and extremely well funded and connected individuals who do little more than pick a leader for a cell, provide any support needed using untraceable means, and simply let the cell do what the cell will do.

Only now, a decade after March 23rd, 2004, has the first cell established begun to quietly recruit for a group of mutants to train in the high hills of New Mexico; away from eletronic and spying eyes. A group of mutants that just might make it long enough to be called X-Men.

Setting

Bakersfield is just big enough to (probably) have what you want. The main draw in town is the Wal-Mart supercenter with strip malls containing RadioShacks and PayLess and chain restraunts flanking it's massive parking lot, with a Super Target just across the road with an equally new age shopper friendly strip mall surrounding it as well. Most locals swear by the local Sonic for frozen treats, though if they want the best food in town it's either Jake's Diner or Bo's Eat Place in the Historic Main Street District--the old side of town. Folks say Jake's has the best coffee and breakfast in town, while Bo's has the best southern food in the region; so much so during the Civil Rights era white people were snuck in the back of the black ran Bo's Eat Place, not the other way around.

The only comic book store in town is located in the oldest building in town, a building that was once the town General Store in the Old West. Thick brick walls and hardwood floors, the smell of dust and age and nerds, make Avenger Comics a home away from home for any outsider in town. The Friday Night Magic: the Gathering tournaments can be a good time, but the real thrill at Avenger's is the Saturday Night pinball tournament, an event that draws a crowd to Avenger's from nerds to ol' cowboys.

Red County Community College is a decent place to learn some things, or to attend a debate between the only academics within a hundred miles. At least one young member of the group has attended class here in the last year under false identity. Bakersfield High School is the only highschool around, kids from both the Community College and the High School jokingly refer to the young people at the Ranch as 'the Cullens'--to the townies, they're as mysterious and unknowable as a coven of vampires hiding in plain sight. X doesn't get the reference (thankfully), but likes the idea behind it. Rob simply snickers and states, "I do not sparkle."

Bakersfield sits in the shadow of Round Rock, a mid sized mountain that looks plenty tall enough for any resident of Bakersfield. While the town sits at the base, plenty of privates homes dot the mountain side. On the front side of the mountain is a level road that most vehicles can make it up to the top using, the back side of the mountain having only one 'road'--and it leads straight to the former ranch being used by X and Rob for, as the locals know it, a sanctuary for troubled teens. Don't have a four wheel drive vehicle? Don't try the back road.



The last five acres of the mountain are reserved for the top of the mountain and the high mountain valley in which the old ranch rests. Named by locals nearly a hundred years ago: The Last Five Acres Ranch, or simply 'the Last Five' as most locals have shortened it to today.

The Last Five Acres include a Ranch house, a Mess Hall, a stable, a barn, several animal pens from chickens to pigs, a pool, and several out-buildings. Most out-buildings are small individual cabins for each team member, each cabin holding a small kitchenette (sans-stove), a bedroom with closets, and a bathroom that includes a bath/shower combo. Each cabin is locked/unlocked using computer sensors with a small keypad just next to the door in case of sensor failure. No alcohol is allowed in individual cabins. The Mess Hall hosts a restaurant quality kitchen that can easily cook for twenty, and numerous industrial fridges and freezers and pantries where students are told to keep their personal food. Rob recently installed a few flat screen TVs in the Mess Hall for the World Cup. Alex and Helena, the only known cooks in the youthful group, typically switch off cooking duties. For this reason, it's not unusual for folks in the group to refer to Alex as 'Cookie'--a nod to Old West cooks.

The Barn has been turned into an air-conditioned sanctuary for the students; every video game console, numerous computers for use, printers, an old school arcade, a juke box, and a decent library for both books and movies. It's not unusual to see the Midnight Poker game move into the Barn on the occassion when too many people show up to host it in Rob's cabin.

Helena is in charge of the Stable, and spends a good deal of time on the quick moving, big hearted, black with white spots horse named 'Eddy.' Where most students fire up a four wheeler should they need to get from the Ranch area to the more remote testing and combat areas higher up the mountain, Helena typically rides Eddy anywhere and everywhere on the Ranch. This is no mistake; Rob put the girl in charge of the animals on the Ranch the moment he realized her telepathy extended to the animal kingdom.

Cabin inspections are held once a week, every Wednesday afternoon after lunch, to ensure the 'health and wellness and cleanliness' of each student. Any drawer or closet pad locked is off limits to the Inspection. Although since Rob usually conducts the Inspections, if you forgot to vacuum your carpet Rob's more like to kick his feet up and wait for you to vacuum then he is to write you up and fail you. Room inspection failures stand re-inspection at 6AM, Saturday mornings. The only time anyone has Rob truly grumpy is when he's forced to wake up 'at the ass crack of dawn' to hold a re-inspect because one of the students was too lazy to get their room ready for Wednesday afternoon.

The Ranch House itself is the dominion of X-23, where she has her bedroom, her office, and the other bedrooms used for filing cabinets and computer servers. Recently the resources of the Last Five have been more opened up to students, each one able to withdraw a hundred dollars every week from X should they request it. Larger requests are directed to X, as Rob refuses to 'handle our slush fund.' When asked during Midnight Poker, Rob has admitted the Ranch's fund has at least five million in it--making many students feel less guilty for asking for cash in the first place.

OOC Information:

[*] I'm currently the only GM for the game. Feel free to contact me whenever you require assistance or information.
[*] High Casual standards; and they will be enforced.
[*] Only looking for a small group.
[*] Character Sheets should be posted to the CS thread for approval/disapproval. Not all decisions will be made public.
[*] You are assumed to be an adult by submitting a character for this game; please act like one.
[*] Don't make my job harder than it has to be; read the IC info, get a good handle on the setting before going IC.
[*] Applications may take a few days before a decision can be made. Generally issues will be resolved over pm.
[*] The game starts in the fictional desertous mountain small town of Bakersfield, New Mexico. More to come on the locale.
[*] So far as most students know, their cell's leaders (X-23 and a middle aged blonde surfer guy named Rob) are the top of the command chain.
[*] Expect to do an 'Impressions' OOC post before the IC kicks off, as most the group has been together a little while now.
[*] Want to help the storytelling? Let me know! I'm all about making players part of the process, not just witnesses stuck to reaction only.
[*] Curious about the story and don't care about spoilers? PM me.

Character Sheet Thread

Character Sheet Template

Keep in mind when filling out your CS; the Cell targetted young mutants with the potential for power, and from all walks of life. The Cell recruits like 'hackers' in the Matrix--as anonymous and mysteriously as possible until the final, face-to-face, meeting with X-23.

Appearance: (Picture/art/description.)
Name:
Age: (16-22)
Mutation:

Personality:

History:

OOC/Misc: (A catch-all in case you wanted to include something IC or OOC, but didn't have a space for it.)

Impressions: (To be filled out later.)

Roster

X-23/Leader (NPC)
'Rob'/Co-Leader (NPC)
Helena Britt (Ruby)
Annelise Freign (El_Tigre)
Noel Shaw (Killed In Action)
Alexander Elhanan (Zacharius)
Will Helena Carson (Violet)
Jack Taylor Smith (Altered Tundra)
Chase Fletcher (Ruugard)
Ethan Hunter (Javier)

Questions, comments, ideas? Let me know!

Operation: X-Men [High Casual]

Altered Tundra said
So, would it be right to assume that I'll be getting a pm from you, Ruby, within the day?

I was asked to make an X-Men game. The people that asked me (I won't give a list but obviously they include Tigre and Zach) are the ones being called 'pre-approved.' Hence, I sent a PM about the game to those folks. (Minus Zach, who I was just gonna tell on Skype.)

You not being one of those people, shouldn't expect a PM from me, no. ^_^

Sorry if it confused folks!

Operation: X-Men [High Casual]

Drake Baku said
with original characters you mean making our own right, cause I am interested

Yep.

Operation: X-Men [High Casual]

Grizzle Bear said
Mostly just wondering if any of the other X-teams were still around or if they all died in the big battle. Also who is it that is restarting the X-Men up?

The X-Men hadn't gotten big enough to have multiple teams in this setting. Unlike in comics, there was never a great surge of new mutants to bring their population to such gaudy numbers.

Who do the 'students' see as running things, or who's actually behind it?

Operation: X-Men [High Casual]

Zacharius said
No PM for me? Sadface Anyway, as previously stated, interested.

You're one of the pre-approved. Hence only recruiting for a small group. We've already got three, maybe four. ^_^

Operation: X-Men [High Casual]

Grizzle Bear said
I'd be interested to hear a bit more about the setting. I'm always up for an X-Men RP with original characters.

I'll answer specific questions if you've got them, otherwise more to come on the setting with the OOC of the game thread.

Operation: X-Men [High Casual]

El_Tigre said
Definitely interested :)

You're pre-approved, naturally. <3