Post by Bixir on Feb 17, 2023 7:00:47 GMT
”Anything that can be destroyed by truth, should be.”
Carl Sagan
General Information
Full Name:
Michael Edwards Thorpe
Codename or Alias:
Libra
Anonymity
Unknown; Michael is a public citizen, no more or less present as any other high schooler, save perhaps that he is enrolled at Xavier’s Institute for Gifted Children
Gender:
Male
Race:
Mutant
Age:
Seventeen
Place Of Birth:
Chicago, Illinois
Occupation/Status:
Xavier Student, X-Man-in-Training
Alignment:
Good
Factions:
X-Men
Canon Or Original?:
Original
Powers/Abilities:
Order Control
Michael’s X-gene pertains to being aware of and (to an extent) manipulating the forces of order in his surroundings. This can have effects that range from simplistic to profound. Passively, Michael influences or even instills order around him where there is none, such as:
Most of the time, these “correcting” incidents are minor enough that they are not cause for concern, though under moments of overdue stress or anxiety, or resistance towards these corrections, the force may become greater, or lead to increased degrees of effects (see below)
Michael’s active use of his mutant ability generally leaves discernible ripples in reality, arcane energy signatures that can be picked up by the mystically inclined, or technology that is sophisticated enough. When Michael focuses his ability, some of the potential effects can be:
Michael has only been familiar with his powers for a little over a year, and still has a lot to learn about them, never mind controlling them. Michael cannot willfully activate his abilities for prolonged periods, or he will begin to suffer increasingly worsening migraines, to the point that he will pass out from exhaustion. Under worse circumstances, Michael may lose control of his influence, causing the “ordering” to spiral out of control until either someone else with power over order takes hold, Michael regains composure, or if Michael is knocked unconscious.
Well-Read
Michael Edwards has read many books for a boy his age, and is quite well off for it. He has a greatly expanded panded vocabulary as a result, as well as a profound understanding of a variety of processes, systems, beliefs, and general ideologies. These are all gleaned from the novels and assorted literature that Michael has indulged over his short lifespan. While not nearly as whole as he might like, Michael’s library affords him an impressive degree of understanding that even most adults struggle to achieve. Still, Michael is only a teenager, unable to develop or come to understand some things without the proper experience or context for it.
Weapons/Items:
Backpack
Textbooks
(Leisure reading) books
Pocketwatch
Samsung Galaxy S-3
General school supplies like pens, notebooks, post-it notes, etc.
Brown leather wallet (contains student ID, spare bills and change, membership cards to various restaurants and electronics stores, expired coupons, and a wrinkled scrap of paper with several scrawled numbers and corresponding names)
Appearance
Image:
Physical Appearance:
Michael is a tall, narrow teenager, with little muscle or tone to his body. Though he is by no means frail, Michael is not exactly fit either, often if not always struggling to keep up with his peers in the Danger Room, be it from his asthma or his poor reflexes. His face is boyishly plain, as is how he carries himself. His body language is largely reserved, never giving off notions of hostility, though generally amicable, and certainly innocent-seeming. In all, Michael is a very approachable person, if rather awkward.
Clothing and Armor:
Formal clothing is about all Michael seems to have in his wardrobe. His common attire consists of a plain white dress shirt, a black necktie, Dockers, and polished brown shoes. Michael also owns a formal black button-up jacket and an irish cap for when he needs to look especially presentable or has to head out into weather, but other than that, that’s about it. Casual clothing is an anomaly to him entirely.
Personality
”The better organized the state, the duller its humanity.”
David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas
Sexual Orientation:
Heterosexual
General Personality:
Michael does not appear to give off much of an impression at first glance, save perhaps how cleaned up he is. He is the spitting image of a model student - freshly dressed, pleasantly odored, and eager to get to learning, with a slight smile to boot. Not overly exuberant or discouragingly disengaged, Michael hits all the right notes expected in the character of a wallflower academic, and he knows it. Michael is someone that is perfectly fine with following the rules, and lives for having direction, something that at times makes him a bit of a teacher’s pet. Even for a student at a “gifted” school Michael is ahead of most his age for his sharp aptitude and commitment to learning, in addition to becoming familiar with his abilities and how he may use them to help people. In the moments where Michael’s personality does shine through, he is exceptionally awkward and somewhat apprehensive in social situations, though it is clear that he means well enough. He holds the law in high regard and sees himself as a morally upstanding individual. If it came down to it, Michael would step in to help someone in need… probably.
As much as he doesn’t seem to show it, Michael is actually rather personable. He holds himself well enough in a conversation, even though it is clear he struggles with interests outside of his limited vocabulary. Small talk is a striking flaw for Michael, as he doesn’t know the first thing to say to help break the ice, or how to properly banter (or so he feels). Michael is little different from this while he is alone as well, though perhaps more susceptible to pondering his thoughts aloud, as it helps him focus what he is trying to articulate. It comes as little surprise that someone like Michael loves to read and write, and keeps a sizable library (as much as his limited room space can afford, anyway) to indulge his craving for knowledge. Though Michael strives to inform himself in a great many topics, literature - specifically of the 19th-century American variety - history and a dab of politics are his expertise. As fully involved in being a student and aspiring X-Man he hopes to one day become, Michael hopes that whatever career lies ahead of him leaves time for friends.
Michael does not fear enjoying the life of an X-Man, or not being able to live up to his own standards or that of his parents. His life, as far as he or anyone else can tell, is set to be productive, efficient, and well-off. What troubles Michael most are two things: A dwindling sense of self-worth culminated from living in his family’s shadow for the entirety of his life, and whether he will have anyone to enjoy his future with, or to have friends in general. If it isn’t his parents’ apparent reservations in their reactions to his school reports, it’s their by far more exuberant acknowledgement of his sisters’ frequent accomplishments. His sisters are hardly better, often expressing outright disappointment at how “distracted” he is with his hobbies when he could be doing so much more with his life. This sentiment is compounded by a sharp denial of chronic loneliness that eats away at Michael’s core, the very nature of his abilities (as far as he can tell) making it extremely difficult if not impossible to make friends, let alone keep them. Should he even have friends outside of the ones he already has? What benefits would long-term social relationships have? Can or should you quantify happiness? Isn’t happiness equated with the productivity of your quota and contribution to society? These kinds of questions plague Michael’s psyche, and threaten to turn his entire world upside-down if he’s not careful.
Anything Else
This character is largely inspired by and based on Smitty from Gunnerkrigg Court.
Character's History
Siblings:
Sarah - Midshipman, Annapolis Naval Academy (Open)
Maryanne (“Mary”) - (Associate) Chemical Engineer, S.T.A.R. Labs (Starling City) (Open)
Mother:
Renee - Paraeducator, High school (Ooen)
Father:
Adam - Contract Supervisor, Department of Defense (Open)
Other Family:
Barbara Dunham (“Barb”) - (Maternal) Grandmother
Roxanne (“Roxy”) - (Paternal) Grandmother
Erin Blake - (Paternal) Aunt, Nurse (Open)
Steven Blake - (Paternal) Uncle, Rand Accountant (Open)
Will Dunham - (Maternal) Uncle, South Carolina Police Sergeant (Open)
Logan Dunham - (Maternal) Cousin, Law Student (Open)
Hannah Dunham - (Maternal) Cousin, Swimmer (Open)
History:
”Well, make sure you stay on top of things! I’m sure you’ll do great at Xavier’s, Michael.”
Maryanne Thorpe
The Thorpe family has been one of middle- to mid-upper-class excellence. They have an academic legacy at Empire University, bearing their name on a number of plaques, from groundbreaking milestones as students or significant contributions to the university and its mission over the years. Investment and federal work have been the backbone of most Thorpes, making sure that their loved ones are taken particularly good care of in an otherwise struggling economy. Adam Thorpe was no exception, initially serving in the Air Force for a number of years before transitioning into a more lucrative career as a contract supervisor for the Department of Defense. Needless to say, as had often been the norm for Thorpes, they wanted for little.
This was the sort of family that Sarah, Maryanne, and Michael grew up in, in the heart of New York. Although given the nature of their father’s work, the children did not come to know New York as their home until Michael was beginning second grade for what felt like the third year in a row. Moving around as a military family was always difficult, least of all for Michael, who always seemed to struggle making friends for one reason or another. His siblings and parents thought little and less of it, particularly since his grades didn’t seem to suffer for it at all; all’s the better that he remain focused on his studies, then. Meanwhile, Sarah and Maryanne, by far Michael’s older sisters, took to extracurriculars throughout primary schooling with exceptional aplomb, from various sports teams to the honor roll and even the JROTC for Sarah. They were undeniably active, whereas Michael, while by no means a core student, inevitably failed to keep pace with the breathtaking valedictorian path his sisters left in their wake as he followed them through the same schools. No one in Michael’s life faulted him for it, and even thought he was an exceptional student, much more than a majority of his class; though it never quite seemed to be enough for Michael’s parents… or Michael himself, for that matter.
Michael’s life was relatively straightforward all the same, though things changed by and large when the boy began to notice several very unordinary things happening in his plainly ordinary life. Whether it was simply a realization of what had always been the case, or a more immediate development, Michael was unable to make a distinction, it being all he could not to panic outright from what was happening. He dared not tell his parents what was happening, lest they either not believe him to begin with or think something wrong with him; neither of which were things that he needed. The boy went on through life, the manifestations becoming less within his flimsy boundary of control that he tried to improve, with futile results. He hadn’t the first idea what was happening to him, or what he could do about it.
This continued until a little over a year ago, in which Michael’s abilities became too great for him to meaningfully hide from those around him. He was quickly found by the X-Man Bobby Drake, who, after some hard convincing, got Michael to come out to his parents about being a mutant, and of even greater importance, the opportunity to attend Xavier’s School for Gifted Children. They were certainly surprised, though to Michael’s relief, they didn’t seem to take it too negatively, or at least at the outset. Arrangements were made for his current schooling - as this had happened partway through the school year - and Michael transferred to North Salem, where he has continued to stay. Though he visited home the previous summer, he has come to call Xavier’s his home, however problematic or reassuring that may be for a mutant continuing to grow and develop. Michael still has a great deal to learn, about himself and what he is capable of, as a person and as a mutant, though he has become comfortable enough that he believes that Professor Charles Xavier and the faculty at his school can help him achieve that potential.
Role Play Sample:
N/A.
Carl Sagan
General Information
Full Name:
Michael Edwards Thorpe
Codename or Alias:
Libra
Anonymity
Unknown; Michael is a public citizen, no more or less present as any other high schooler, save perhaps that he is enrolled at Xavier’s Institute for Gifted Children
Gender:
Male
Race:
Mutant
Age:
Seventeen
Place Of Birth:
Chicago, Illinois
Occupation/Status:
Xavier Student, X-Man-in-Training
Alignment:
Good
Factions:
X-Men
Canon Or Original?:
Original
Powers/Abilities:
Order Control
Michael’s X-gene pertains to being aware of and (to an extent) manipulating the forces of order in his surroundings. This can have effects that range from simplistic to profound. Passively, Michael influences or even instills order around him where there is none, such as:
- Sorting a deck of cards into the proper order1
- Correcting a watch or clock, whether it’s an analog or a digital, to telling the exact time, down to the second
- Subconsciously sending a mental suggestion to someone not to lie
- Becoming aware when a law (of any kind) is being broken; usually by a slight tingling in his brain or a bitter taste in his mouth, the degree of which depends on the severity of the incident
Most of the time, these “correcting” incidents are minor enough that they are not cause for concern, though under moments of overdue stress or anxiety, or resistance towards these corrections, the force may become greater, or lead to increased degrees of effects (see below)
Michael’s active use of his mutant ability generally leaves discernible ripples in reality, arcane energy signatures that can be picked up by the mystically inclined, or technology that is sophisticated enough. When Michael focuses his ability, some of the potential effects can be:
- Generating a “zone of truth” around him, forcing those within it to tell the complete and unabated truth. Those that attempt to resist or lie (including white lies) will suffer extreme mental stress, leading to and including becoming faint or passing out.
- Seeing through any illusion, however great or complex. This is not limited to magical illusions, and include phenomena like holograms, disguises, and distorted voices. However, if Michael cannot see the person speaking, he must know them in order to “decrypt” their voice.
- Detecting the presence of chaotic energies and exceptionally chaotic beings. While certainly not on the level of a Lord of Order, Michael can know a person’s “alignment” and what their general intentions and demeanor are (provided that their own defenses aren't overly strong).
- With proper application, Michael can “restore to order” a given object, person, or situation. This has long-reaching applicability, such as repairing a broken machine or application, mending broken bones, calming a person’s mind(or under extreme circumstances/skill, repair psychic damage or delusions), destroy an “affront to truth” (such as a lasting illusion or something unnatural to the world, like a lab abomination), or correct (nonmajor) distortions in the space-time continuum.
Michael has only been familiar with his powers for a little over a year, and still has a lot to learn about them, never mind controlling them. Michael cannot willfully activate his abilities for prolonged periods, or he will begin to suffer increasingly worsening migraines, to the point that he will pass out from exhaustion. Under worse circumstances, Michael may lose control of his influence, causing the “ordering” to spiral out of control until either someone else with power over order takes hold, Michael regains composure, or if Michael is knocked unconscious.
Well-Read
Michael Edwards has read many books for a boy his age, and is quite well off for it. He has a greatly expanded panded vocabulary as a result, as well as a profound understanding of a variety of processes, systems, beliefs, and general ideologies. These are all gleaned from the novels and assorted literature that Michael has indulged over his short lifespan. While not nearly as whole as he might like, Michael’s library affords him an impressive degree of understanding that even most adults struggle to achieve. Still, Michael is only a teenager, unable to develop or come to understand some things without the proper experience or context for it.
Weapons/Items:
Backpack
Textbooks
(Leisure reading) books
Pocketwatch
Samsung Galaxy S-3
General school supplies like pens, notebooks, post-it notes, etc.
Brown leather wallet (contains student ID, spare bills and change, membership cards to various restaurants and electronics stores, expired coupons, and a wrinkled scrap of paper with several scrawled numbers and corresponding names)
Appearance
Image:
Physical Appearance:
Michael is a tall, narrow teenager, with little muscle or tone to his body. Though he is by no means frail, Michael is not exactly fit either, often if not always struggling to keep up with his peers in the Danger Room, be it from his asthma or his poor reflexes. His face is boyishly plain, as is how he carries himself. His body language is largely reserved, never giving off notions of hostility, though generally amicable, and certainly innocent-seeming. In all, Michael is a very approachable person, if rather awkward.
Clothing and Armor:
Formal clothing is about all Michael seems to have in his wardrobe. His common attire consists of a plain white dress shirt, a black necktie, Dockers, and polished brown shoes. Michael also owns a formal black button-up jacket and an irish cap for when he needs to look especially presentable or has to head out into weather, but other than that, that’s about it. Casual clothing is an anomaly to him entirely.
Personality
”The better organized the state, the duller its humanity.”
David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas
Sexual Orientation:
Heterosexual
General Personality:
- Michael is considered to be mildly autistic, diagnosed with a moderate case of aspergers. He has difficulty maintaining eye contact, and struggles to speak at length without rambling.
- Infrequently checks his pocketwatch for no discernible reason
- If Michael sees a fluffy/furry pet, you can be sure he'll try his darndest to pet the thing. He especially loves dogs.
- Hates to fight. Bug murder is okay, though.
- Car rides seem to make him uncomfortable
- Terrified of bees, wasps, and anything with a stinger.
- Sunburns easily; additionally, has a fear of being burned
- Crushes a little easily, particularly on those in positions of authority
Michael does not appear to give off much of an impression at first glance, save perhaps how cleaned up he is. He is the spitting image of a model student - freshly dressed, pleasantly odored, and eager to get to learning, with a slight smile to boot. Not overly exuberant or discouragingly disengaged, Michael hits all the right notes expected in the character of a wallflower academic, and he knows it. Michael is someone that is perfectly fine with following the rules, and lives for having direction, something that at times makes him a bit of a teacher’s pet. Even for a student at a “gifted” school Michael is ahead of most his age for his sharp aptitude and commitment to learning, in addition to becoming familiar with his abilities and how he may use them to help people. In the moments where Michael’s personality does shine through, he is exceptionally awkward and somewhat apprehensive in social situations, though it is clear that he means well enough. He holds the law in high regard and sees himself as a morally upstanding individual. If it came down to it, Michael would step in to help someone in need… probably.
As much as he doesn’t seem to show it, Michael is actually rather personable. He holds himself well enough in a conversation, even though it is clear he struggles with interests outside of his limited vocabulary. Small talk is a striking flaw for Michael, as he doesn’t know the first thing to say to help break the ice, or how to properly banter (or so he feels). Michael is little different from this while he is alone as well, though perhaps more susceptible to pondering his thoughts aloud, as it helps him focus what he is trying to articulate. It comes as little surprise that someone like Michael loves to read and write, and keeps a sizable library (as much as his limited room space can afford, anyway) to indulge his craving for knowledge. Though Michael strives to inform himself in a great many topics, literature - specifically of the 19th-century American variety - history and a dab of politics are his expertise. As fully involved in being a student and aspiring X-Man he hopes to one day become, Michael hopes that whatever career lies ahead of him leaves time for friends.
Michael does not fear enjoying the life of an X-Man, or not being able to live up to his own standards or that of his parents. His life, as far as he or anyone else can tell, is set to be productive, efficient, and well-off. What troubles Michael most are two things: A dwindling sense of self-worth culminated from living in his family’s shadow for the entirety of his life, and whether he will have anyone to enjoy his future with, or to have friends in general. If it isn’t his parents’ apparent reservations in their reactions to his school reports, it’s their by far more exuberant acknowledgement of his sisters’ frequent accomplishments. His sisters are hardly better, often expressing outright disappointment at how “distracted” he is with his hobbies when he could be doing so much more with his life. This sentiment is compounded by a sharp denial of chronic loneliness that eats away at Michael’s core, the very nature of his abilities (as far as he can tell) making it extremely difficult if not impossible to make friends, let alone keep them. Should he even have friends outside of the ones he already has? What benefits would long-term social relationships have? Can or should you quantify happiness? Isn’t happiness equated with the productivity of your quota and contribution to society? These kinds of questions plague Michael’s psyche, and threaten to turn his entire world upside-down if he’s not careful.
Anything Else
This character is largely inspired by and based on Smitty from Gunnerkrigg Court.
Character's History
Siblings:
Sarah - Midshipman, Annapolis Naval Academy (Open)
Maryanne (“Mary”) - (Associate) Chemical Engineer, S.T.A.R. Labs (Starling City) (Open)
Mother:
Renee - Paraeducator, High school (Ooen)
Father:
Adam - Contract Supervisor, Department of Defense (Open)
Other Family:
Barbara Dunham (“Barb”) - (Maternal) Grandmother
Roxanne (“Roxy”) - (Paternal) Grandmother
Erin Blake - (Paternal) Aunt, Nurse (Open)
Steven Blake - (Paternal) Uncle, Rand Accountant (Open)
Will Dunham - (Maternal) Uncle, South Carolina Police Sergeant (Open)
Logan Dunham - (Maternal) Cousin, Law Student (Open)
Hannah Dunham - (Maternal) Cousin, Swimmer (Open)
History:
”Well, make sure you stay on top of things! I’m sure you’ll do great at Xavier’s, Michael.”
Maryanne Thorpe
The Thorpe family has been one of middle- to mid-upper-class excellence. They have an academic legacy at Empire University, bearing their name on a number of plaques, from groundbreaking milestones as students or significant contributions to the university and its mission over the years. Investment and federal work have been the backbone of most Thorpes, making sure that their loved ones are taken particularly good care of in an otherwise struggling economy. Adam Thorpe was no exception, initially serving in the Air Force for a number of years before transitioning into a more lucrative career as a contract supervisor for the Department of Defense. Needless to say, as had often been the norm for Thorpes, they wanted for little.
This was the sort of family that Sarah, Maryanne, and Michael grew up in, in the heart of New York. Although given the nature of their father’s work, the children did not come to know New York as their home until Michael was beginning second grade for what felt like the third year in a row. Moving around as a military family was always difficult, least of all for Michael, who always seemed to struggle making friends for one reason or another. His siblings and parents thought little and less of it, particularly since his grades didn’t seem to suffer for it at all; all’s the better that he remain focused on his studies, then. Meanwhile, Sarah and Maryanne, by far Michael’s older sisters, took to extracurriculars throughout primary schooling with exceptional aplomb, from various sports teams to the honor roll and even the JROTC for Sarah. They were undeniably active, whereas Michael, while by no means a core student, inevitably failed to keep pace with the breathtaking valedictorian path his sisters left in their wake as he followed them through the same schools. No one in Michael’s life faulted him for it, and even thought he was an exceptional student, much more than a majority of his class; though it never quite seemed to be enough for Michael’s parents… or Michael himself, for that matter.
Michael’s life was relatively straightforward all the same, though things changed by and large when the boy began to notice several very unordinary things happening in his plainly ordinary life. Whether it was simply a realization of what had always been the case, or a more immediate development, Michael was unable to make a distinction, it being all he could not to panic outright from what was happening. He dared not tell his parents what was happening, lest they either not believe him to begin with or think something wrong with him; neither of which were things that he needed. The boy went on through life, the manifestations becoming less within his flimsy boundary of control that he tried to improve, with futile results. He hadn’t the first idea what was happening to him, or what he could do about it.
This continued until a little over a year ago, in which Michael’s abilities became too great for him to meaningfully hide from those around him. He was quickly found by the X-Man Bobby Drake, who, after some hard convincing, got Michael to come out to his parents about being a mutant, and of even greater importance, the opportunity to attend Xavier’s School for Gifted Children. They were certainly surprised, though to Michael’s relief, they didn’t seem to take it too negatively, or at least at the outset. Arrangements were made for his current schooling - as this had happened partway through the school year - and Michael transferred to North Salem, where he has continued to stay. Though he visited home the previous summer, he has come to call Xavier’s his home, however problematic or reassuring that may be for a mutant continuing to grow and develop. Michael still has a great deal to learn, about himself and what he is capable of, as a person and as a mutant, though he has become comfortable enough that he believes that Professor Charles Xavier and the faculty at his school can help him achieve that potential.
Role Play Sample:
N/A.
