PLAYER INFORMATION
Your Name: Hatter
OOC Journal: adoxography
Under 18? If yes, what is your age?: Over.
Email + IM:
unbirthdayhatter@gmail
butwedonot@aim
adoxography_tea@plurk
Characters Played at Ataraxion: None

CHARACTER INFORMATION
Name: Charles Francis Xavier
Canon: X-Men: First Class
Original or Alternate Universe: Original
Canon Point: Post Cuba
Number: Any number is fine.

Setting: The sixties, with strippers, mutants, Nazis and the CIA. Two dudes fight for the future of mutant kind, and then two dudes do it again.


History:
Charles’ history is not expanded on in X-Men: First Class, because of this I have filled in small gaps with comic canon. I will try to keep these things to a minimum and only use them as a basis for elaboration on his motives throughout the film when needed.

According to comic canon Charles' father Brian Xavier passed away due to an accident when he was young, and his mother Sharon Xavier developed a drinking problem and became cold and distant to Charles. It’s pointedly stated that she was a woman concerned with her status and had never set foot in their kitchen, nor had she taken it upon herself to go out of her way for her son. Charles was lacking in any real close relationships because of this, knowing only his mother and the servants who lived in the Xavier home till Raven appears in his kitchen when he's twelve. She's the first mutant he's ever encountered and he is awed by her, reacting positively to her vivid blue skin mutation rather than being frightened by it. While she is scaled, and obviously had been feared or shunned before, he is unfettered by her appearance and more so delighted by the fact that he’s found another mutant like himself. He offers her a place in his house and any food she should want, knowing that the Xavier’s had more than enough for another child, and they begin what becomes a mutually dependent relationship and his only bond for the next eighteen years.

It becomes apparent that while he is intelligent Charles is not exactly the most socially adept; making his way through higher learning on his way to obtaining a doctorate Raven voices her displeasure at her ‘true’ looks and Charles simply comments (when pressured about her real appearance rather than the blond cover she uses) that he cannot look at her like that as she is his oldest friend. To which she reminds him that she is his only friend. Charles laughs it off, obviously preoccupied with his thesis and upcoming graduation; though it’s a clear sign that perhaps he doesn’t associate to others as well as he would like people to believe or the fact that he has trouble connecting to people based upon the fact he has to lie to them about his true nature. Or, perhaps even, because he can see theirs.

It’s at his graduation party where he is approached by CIA Agent Moira MacTaggart, having somehow heard of Charles’ recent graduation and thesis about the theory of highly evolved and gifted humans (mutants). She begins to question a less than sober Charles about his studies in the field and he reads her mind, discerning her previous encounters with Emma Frost, Sebastian Shaw, Riptide and Azazel. While he doesn’t confess to her at this moment about his personal knowledge of mutations he does agree to visit the CIA offices in order to speak on her behalf about the existence of mutants and the need to stop Shaw before he manages to start World War III.

In the CIA offices it becomes apparent that Moira is looked down upon by her superiors for being a woman (as it’s later stated she’s a good officer but also collateral damage if need be). Charles attempts to persuade them with facts and when that doesn’t work he attempts a practical demonstration of his own ability and is promptly accused of being a spy. Seeing the officers quickly grow out of control Raven jumps to the defense of her brother, showing off her own shape shifting abilities by turning into Stryker and then shifting back to her normal form. The men are stunned and then promptly decide that the mutants need to be detained, at which point another Agent who had been sitting in decides to intervene. (He is not given a name and for the purposes of this history we will address him as Agent Black). Agent Black obviously has a vested interest in mutants and offers to take Charles, Raven and Moira to his compound for holding. While they agree it becomes readily apparent Charles has no intentions of listening to his plan when he communicates to Moira via telepathy and guides them all to the garage. He explains to Agent Black that there’s no time to wait for the bureaucrats and that Shaw needs to be stopped as soon as possible. Raven picks them all up and they leave the CIA building behind.

Moira enlists the help of the Coast Guard with the obtained information that Shaw is settled off the coast of Argentina. It’s on the boat that Charles has his first encounter with another telepath, Emma Frost. Her own ability to block his thoughts physically painful for him and he believes he’ll be of no use and is about to go below deck when he senses the presence of another mutant. Running back to the bow of the ship he indicates toward the large anchor spiraling into the air like a snake ready to strike and is awed at the sense of another mutant, Erik Lehnsherr, in the water. The coast guards smaller ships decimated by Riptide, Charles and the others on the larger boat can only watch in horror (and a bit of awe on Charles’ part) as Erik uses the ships own anchor to begin to tear it apart. Shaw is able to escape Erik’s destruction via an escape submarine that was hidden against the underside of the ship. Erik is unwilling to give up his dire pursuit of the man who tormented him, to the point where he’s allowing himself to be dragged under and probably drowned by attempting to stop the submarines escape. Charles, sensing this, sheds his jacket and leaps from the ship and into the icy ocean water. Wrapping himself around Erik he speaks into his mind, tells him that he understand what killing Shaw means to him but he will die if he doesn’t stop. Surfacing Erik confesses that he thought he was the only one and Charles tells him that he is not alone.

After being unable to stop Shaw the newly formed team reports to Agent Black’s CIA installation and meet the first of Charles’ future students, Hank McCoy. Charles reads his mind and unwittingly outs him as a mutant to the others. Hank is apprehensive but Charles encourages him, letting him know he is among like-minded people and safe to be himself. Hank demonstrates himself as having prehensile feet and a above average jumping ability in addition to his genius.

The first evening of their stay with Agent Black, Charles interrupts Erik who is attempting to leave in the middle of the night to continue his single-minded revenge against Shaw. Charles, having likely read this in his thoughts, interrupts the man as he goes to leave; revealing that he’s read Erik’s mind and believes he knows everything about him, and to that effect he also knows that Shaw has ‘friends’ to help him out and Erik could use some of his own. It’s left ambiguous between them if Erik will stay, as Charles refuses to force him to; but his choice is apparent when he steps in on a meeting between Charles and Agent Black while discussing Hank’s invention cerebro and it’s mutant locating abilities. Erik agrees to stay and help, but under the condition that only he and Charles are allowed to locate their fellow mutants. Charles, having previously been fine with CIA involvement digresses to Erik’s opinion and reminds Agent Black that his machine is of no use without Charles so they don’t have much of a say in the matter.

What follows is trips across the USA where Charles and Erik locate several mutants; Angel Salvadore whom has dragonfly like wings and the ability to spit acid-like fireballs, Armando Munoz whom can adapt to most any attack to survive, Alex Summers with the ability to create plasma who has given up his life to live in prison and finally Sean Cassidy who can create sonic waves of sound with his vocal chords. They also attempt to recruit Wolverine who promptly rejects them.

Hearing intel that Shaw may be going to Russia to speak to one of the influential Generals, Moira, Erik, and Charles follow the trail. It’s revealed after a few bumps in the road (easily solved by Charles’ mutation) that only Frost has arrived in Russia in place of Shaw. Moira advocates that they leave as the CIA has no place going in especially if Shaw isn’t there but Erik disregards her and assaults the compound. Charles, unable to leave Erik behind even when told to, follows Erik while attempting to soothe one of the more traumatized soldiers Erik left in his wake. In the estate they find Frost, using a projection to seduce the general who Charles shortly after puts to sleep. There’s a short confrontation where Erik binds Frost to the metal frame and forces her out of her diamond form, crossing dangerously close to out of control (in Charles’ opinion). Charles is able to read her mind while it’s down and discovers that things are worse than they had first assumed and that Shaw intends to plant missiles in Cuba and start the third World War where mutants would be the only survivors.

They return to the CIA safe-house to find it in rubble, having been attacked by Shaw, Azazel and Riptide in their absence. They’re told that Darwin has been killed and that Angel has left to join Shaw. Charles insists that perhaps they need to stop this as it’s not safe for the others whom he views as children, but they and Erik protest. Erik claims that they will need an army if they have any intention of stopping Shaw and Charles finally concedes with the insistence that they will all need to train and relocate somewhere safer. Charles takes them all to his home the Xavier Estate in Westchester, New York.

Charles takes it upon himself to train all of the mutants, with the exception of Raven who is often seen working out alone in the gym. He has Hank build Alex a vest which better helps his plasma and helps encourage his confidence and assuage his fears about hurting those close to him. They also develop a suit for Sean which enables him to fly using his ability to reach a supersonic pitch. He comforts Hank about the appearance of his mutated feet and encourages him to use the mutation to his advantage instead of hiding. He delves into Erik’s mind, reminding him that there is much more to him than just pain and anger, and that he can use that point between rage and serenity to better control his mutation. It’s a bonding moment for most of the team.

The team prepares to leave for Cuba, only discovering that the night before Hank had used an experimental serum on himself and instead of being healed of his “physical deformity” his mutation is intensified and he’s been turned into a large, blue, cat-like-anthropomorphic looking creature. Raven assures Hank that he should have always been like this, and that he’s perfect, Erik and Alex agree.

Upon arriving in Cuba Charles discovers that the American’s believe themselves to be in conflict with the Russian’s. The Russian ship carrying nuclear weapons is heading toward the dividing line laid down by the Americans just outside of the Cuban shores, unbeknownst to the two battleships that the ship about to enter the conflict zone is being navigated by Azazel who has previously killed the entire crew.

Sean is dropped from the Blackbird to locate Shaw’s submarine, and upon communicating it’s approximate location to Charles; Erik is lowered onto the extended landing gear in order to pull it from the sea. Charles reminds him to find that place inside of himself that is a good balance and allows him to unlock his true potential and Erik is able to draw the submarine from the sea. They begin to guide it toward the beach but are interrupted by Riptide and one of his tornadoes flinging the x-jet off kilter and sending them into a spiral toward a crash. Charles risks his own life to pull Erik back inside of the jet during this and Erik returns the favor by using his own magnetic abilities to pin Charles’ to the floor of the ship with his body and keep him from being flung around in the chaos. Once everything has come to a stop the others buckled in are stuck upside down and Charles assists Moira in removing her belts leaving Raven and Hank to unhook themselves.

Erik leaves to locate Shaw in the downed beached submarine and Raven attempts to assist before Charles commands her to stay. Sean and Alex are deployed to try and keep a handle on Shaw’s minions while Charles helps Erik navigate through the submarine toward Shaw. It’s during this moment that Erik locates the hidden room at the core of the submarine where Charles’ mind can’t reach and Charles’ panics at his inability to to hear what was going on. It’s moments later a crack in the block allows him to communicate to Erik after Erik’s body breaks one of the mirrored walls. This revealed Erik proceeds to yank beams down into the walls and allow Charles’ mind to flood the room-- though he’s still unable to get a hold on Shaw till Erik tricks him and removes his telepath blocking helmet with a cable from behind.

Able to access his mind Charles freezes Shaw in place, straining to hold such a powerful man still with his mind. It’s in these moments he senses Erik’s intentions, knows that he won’t allow Charles to capture Shaw and will kill him. Charles pleads with Erik not to go down that path but Erik adorns Shaw’s helmet to block him out. Erik then reveals the coin he has kept since Shaw killed his mother for his inability to move it and tells him he’s going to move it on the count of three. Charles is able to see all this from in Shaw’s mind but is helpless to stop him. If he releases Shaw he knows the man will kill Erik and so when Erik plunges the coin through Shaw’s head Charles suffers the pain of dying in order to ensure the safety of his friend.

Fearing the mutants the Americans and Russians fire on the beach and Erik stops the missiles, but much to Charles’ dismay turns them back on the ships attempting to destroy the fleet. Charles, unable to convince him verbally, tackles Erik in an attempt to get the helmet off of him so he could stop him from killing the soldiers. The fight is a bit imbalanced, Charles only after Erik’s helmet and Erik’s own fighting instincts causing him to retaliate with elbows and punches in an attempt to deter him. Charles loses the fight and Erik resumes his attempts to destroy the ships while Moira arrives pistol drawn and begins to fire upon Erik. He easily deflects the bullets, however the third ricochets off of a rock on the beach and slams into Charles’ lower spine. The sudden moment of panic causes Erik to lose his hold on the weapons and turn to his fallen friend, pulling the bullet from the back of his suit.

There is no blood on the bullet, and previously being told that their bullet proof, it seems at first as if the suits have done their job. Erik blames Moira but Charles informs him that this is in fact his own fault. Charles confesses he believes that they don’t want the same thing and at this point Erik splits from Charles. Erik requests others to join him, to become part of what will become the Brotherhood of Mutants and former Hellfire Club. Raven seems to be the only one inclined to join him, after a small moment with Charles in which he reads her mind as he had previously promised not to and confesses that he knows she truly wants to leave with Erik. It’s after this emotional moment in which the surrogate family divides that Erik departs with Raven, Azazel, Riptide and Angel.

Charles, after a few instances that he move by Hank, realizes that he can no longer feel his legs.

Personality:
Charles is above all else an optimist, he believes in the best of man and mutants alike. That, despite the experiences life has brought about, you can master your own destiny and become the man you desire (with help from those around you). He believes that a kind voice and a caring hand can alter the world if given time. He also believes that if you do good it will be done unto you and most of all that some day mankind and mutantkind can coexist peacefully. Charles wants to work to build a future where mutants are accepted as a natural step in evolution rather than a threat, where humans and mutants could-- with their vast abilities-- work together to make a better future for all. Charles believes that together society could evolve exponentially with these new abilities and peace can be reached. This is visible in the fact that, with the exception of dire circumstances or to protect himself, Charles finds that violence is never the answer and he abhors killing. His optimistic nature makes it evident that he believes in rehabilitation as opposed to simple punishment; he attempts to stop Erik from killing Shaw because those kind of actions do damage to not only the killed but the killer. Even if the man could not be rehabilitated, Charles finds they have no right to pass judgement themselves.

That is not to say Charles is without his faults; he’s arrogant and at times naive. It would be amiss to say he was innocent, as any man who can see into the dark corners of other men’s minds is anything but. These traits are exemplified in several of his encounters with Erik, where it’s clear he can see Erik’s suffering in his mind and can sympathies with his pain, it’s obvious (from some of his actions and words, ala the uttering of “they were just following orders” in Cuba) that he doesn’t entirely grasp what he’s been allowed to see. Raised a (comparatively) sheltered life he can empathize with the pain however he cannot always understand the conflicting notions and lasting scars that come with it.

His insufferable belief in his ideals and the optimistic-like nature it gives him often leaves him vulnerable because of his expectation that given the chance most men, if not all men, can be good or will do the right things. Set in his ideals he often butts heads with people close to him (namely Erik or Raven), situations in which he rarely sees fit to concede any ground. Charles frequently believes that his assumptions and theories are correct because of his mutation; with the ability to see into the minds of many he feels the right to an authoritative stance on human nature and behavior. He assumes most people can learn to fall in line with his ideals and if he begins the school for mutants that he can mold their future into the peaceful one he desires.

In addition to this Charles is very driven; he has several degrees (most recently his doctorate from Oxford) and when given the opportunity to work with the CIA he jumps right in even though he had just graduated the day before. Charles is obviously highly intelligent, as evidenced by his degree, manner of speech and mutation. Charles uses this knowledge to his advantage when helping both the CIA and his students. It’s apparent in the way he assists in finding new ways and uses for their abilities that can only be built from a base understanding of how they work and what is or isn’t theoretically possible.

Charles’ ability to see the thoughts of others often provides him a one-up on most; knowing what they want or need from him even before they ask. This also leads him to be a bit selfish; he likes to be in control of things, lead the way and will use his ability to see to that. While he doesn't take over anyone physically with his telepathy or alter their thoughts and ideas, he does use the knowledge he gains from their minds in order to nudge them in what he thinks is the 'right' direction. He has trouble abiding by the rules of someone else if he deems that they are unfair or incorrect and won’t hesitate to voice his opinion even when things are better left unsaid.

For as educated and gifted as he is, Charles’ world was relatively small before he encountered Moira MacTaggart and subsequently many of his future students. He’s known loneliness and pain, but nothing quite as considerable as many of the mutants he comes across. His inherent good nature also makes him prey to those who would use it against him. It also leads to him saying things he shouldn't, because he doesn't consider how the words will impact people based on their experiences. It provides him a great deal of trouble with Raven, as he had promised to stay out of her head. Because of this Charles often doesn't catch the implications of his actions or words when it comes to her. The kitchen scene for example; Raven enters, in her true blue form with no clothing on and Charles is startled. Since he doesn't see her in the same way, thinking of her more as a sister than a potential partner he's unnerved by her being in the nude, but she believes it's because he's seeing her in her natural blue form and no longer cares for her because of it. There is no distinction of difference to her, as she first met him nude, but to him she is now a woman and the nudity is inappropriate especially considering their familial bond. She gets upset and leaves, and he doesn't even realize the impact of the conversation till far later when Raven decides to leave him in favor of going with Erik.

Despite the fact that Charles wants people to perceive him as much older than he is he still has youthful digressions; the most prominent being that he quite enjoys his drinking and chasing skirts. Charles, especially in his days at Oxford, was known to go out to the local pub, get mildly smashed and then attempt to pick up coeds with amusing lines about genetic mutations and the evolution of man. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t. Truth be told he still succumbed to the follies of youth and had many things to learn though he did best to hide that fact.

Abilities, Weaknesses and Power Limitations:
Charles (during this time line) is the most powerful telepath to be discovered. He is able to perceive the thoughts of others and project his own thoughts for quite some distance.

He can warp a person’s perceptions; allowing himself (or others) to look different or seem invisible, he can create illusions, erase memories, induce pain and cause temporary paralysis. If the range is within a mile or so he can manipulate multiple minds at once, however if he is attempting to take full control he can only do so with one individual. He can alter or impede the body’s natural senses; causing the subject to lose control of their sight, hearing, smell, taste, powers (if mutant) and more. With this he can also cause unconsciousness or even death.

He can, by picking up the brainwaves of other beings, identify who they are and in some cases where they’re located.

Weaknesses: Charles, for all his intelligence, is not much of a fighter. Having a short stature of five-foot-seven and a thin build he’s built more for leading and organizing than he is for actual combat.

His single minded nature is a large flaw; so focused on his goals and arrogant (if not somewhat correct) belief that he could help change the course of man and mutantkind, his personal relationships often suffer. He tends to take may of his close relationships for granted, as he did with Raven, and only realizes after something has gone awry that he’s done wrong.

Nerf: Obviously this falls within the overpowered category and thus must be brought down into a more reasonable level. In order to make him more applicable to the game I was thinking perhaps Charles would only be able to use his ability to control and manipulate as far as the room he's in and perhaps sense people a room or two over at most, which is far more reasonable.

Inventory:
One heavy jacket
One wooden chess set
One bottle of scotch
Two sets of gloves
Appearance:
Charles is 5'7", about 145 pounds, with thick chocolate brown ear length hair and bright blue eyes. He's not out of shape, however he is a bit soft looking, a small bit of extra weight visible when he's in his flight suit.
Age:
30 years of age

AU Clarification:

SAMPLES
Log Sample:
Charles can feel the waking world seeping back into his consciousness, a slow awareness that he's somewhere unfamiliar. The sensation of being smothered, clasped amongst some sort of cloying liquid jars him as his teeth clamp against the breathing tube and suddenly he feels the sensation of being suffocated. He isn't, as it's clearly providing him with oxygen but the obstruction still causes his mind to reel. He can feel his body lowering, the drains nearly silent against his clogged ears at the tube begins to withdraw and he has to force his jaw not to clench or risk breaking any of his teeth. For a moment he struggles to find his footing, remember where he was last-- till he's being moved. Shoved forward he's got nothing to balance on, no movement or ability in his legs-- no longer able to connect the signals from his brain to his lower body, he his the floor hard. Dazed from the realization he only blearily notes the numbers in his skin, far too concerned with the puddle of what reminded him horrifically of embalming liquid puddling around him and the complete lack of a wheelchair.

He waits in the silence, begs to a silent part of his mind for this to be some sort of morphine induced dream at the hospital but finds no such reprieve. It's then he realizes no one is here to help him, and he must help himself. Pushing up onto his hands he tries to harden his resolve, to ignore the tremors in his breath as he begins to drag his legs across the floor. He needs to find a chair at the least, needs to find out where he is-- needs to find out what happened.

Comms Sample:

[ Having situated himself at a desk the screen flickers and crackles as Charles attempts to adjust the camera to the angle he assumes will best capture his upper torso. He looks worn and a bit ill, lips bitten bright red and rings around his eyes nearly matching in color. However, when he speaks he retains that posh accent and formal nature he was known for. ]

I've seen a few others on here lately, so I've taken the assumption that this communicator is able to broadcast to others, at least locally. [ He clears his throat, nervously pushing a hand through his hair and turning his attention back to the screen. ] I hate to be a bother but I am in need of some assistance. I'm curious if there is anyone who might be able to assist me in finding a wheelchair; it seems mine hasn't quite made the trip.

[ A beat, ] Thank you. [ And with a hesitant pause Charles cuts the feed. ]