Post by theresanarc on Oct 13, 2008 11:56:23 GMT -5
Full Name: Samuel Zachery Guthrie
Code Name: Cannonball
Affiliation: X-Men
Age: 14
Place of Birth: Cumberland, Kentucky
Detailed Description of Mutation: Cannonball has the ability to generate thermochemical energy. This energy, when released downwards from his legs, propels him through the air, almost like a rocket (which, with all the flame, is also what he looks like), letting him fly at great speeds.
The thermochemical energy Sam releases while flying also has a second function: it covers his body and anything he's in physical contact with, creating a thin, but nearly impenetrable force field that makes him nearly indestructible while flying. It also protects him while he's landing, as the force field lingers on for about 30 seconds after the propulsion has stopped.
When he first discovered his power, he had very little control over where he flew, and didn't stop flying until he ran out of energy. Now, he has good control, although he still works on it, and can pretty well stop whenever he wants. With more practice, it's thought that he will be able to form the force field even while not in flight.
Played by: Dylan Patton
Personality (at least two good paragraphs): Sam grew up in a close-knit, loving family, and playing a big part in taking care of said family - very few things in life came to him freely. As a result, Sam is a responsible, hard-working, honest young man who is almost unwaveringly loyal to his family and friends, and tries his best to do what he thinks is right. He thinks of others, makes friends easily, and trusts others quickly.
Unfortunately, he sometimes trusts others a little too easily - he's gullible, easily manipulated, and more than a little naïve. He's also a terrible liar, and doesn't perform well when he's forced to omit the truth.
Although he's far from serious, he sometimes has a hard time with simply letting go and being a kid, instead of trying to be the "responsible adult" all the time - something he got used to in Kentucky, taking care of his family. However, this has become less of a problem since he's gotten to the Mansion, as his life has gotten easier in a number of ways. He has more freedom. Sam also doesn't like fighting whatsoever, and he tends to get a little clumsy and awkward around any girls he happens to like.
Overall History:
Samuel Zachery Guthrie was the first of ten children born to Thomas and Lucinda Guthrie in Cumberland, Kentucky. The large family never had much money, but they were very close. When Sam was thirteen, his father, a coal miner, died after years of working the in mines and inhaling too much coal dust.
The Guthrie family had already had it tough, but now without the money his father provided, Sam, who was already a newspaper delivery boy, felt he had to do something more to take care of his family. He went to his father's old boss, a family friend, and asked for some kind of temporary work around the very mine that had killed his father. The friend, knowing how much the Guthries needed the money, reluctantly agreed. Sam would run odd jobs around site and around town for him, and would rarely be allowed underground in the actual mine. It was no place for kids. Less than three weeks later, however, Sam was sent down underground to deliver a message to one of the miners. Once Sam found him, a cave-in trapped the two underground. As they tried frantically to get out, a rock fell towards the pair. Sam grabbed the man and dove aside, in an attempt to get them both out of the boulder's way. He expected at worst to be crushed anyway, and at best be lying on the ground, still trapped. Instead, however, he found himself blasting through the rock above them to safety.
Not long afterward, he was contacted by Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, the timing luckily coinciding with a break his mother got in finding a great job that would allow her to support her family. Sam still felt he should stay with the family, but his mother insisted that he take advantage of the opportunity, and he eventually agreed to go to New York and attend Professor Xavier's school. He misses his family, but as a result, finds it fairly easy to live with and get along with the other students at Xavier's School. After all, in a way, they're his family, as well.
Writing Sample: "Dang it!" Sam pulled himself up from his crouching position and waved a hand in front of his face, trying to clear away the cloud of dust that surrounded him. Seconds earlier, he'd landed with a resounding "thud," on one of the sprawling lawns of the mansion. Some students were lounging around, and one of the older ones shot him a look. Sam looked down and surveyed the damage he'd caused. There was now a fairly large crater where there used to be a patch of freshly mowed grass. Which was something, as Sam hadn't even flown from one end of the school's grounds to the other. And he'd stayed fairly low. He looked back at the older student sheepishly. "Ah... I'm sorry?" The older boy glared at him and went back to the book he'd been reading.
Sam sighed. He'd been working on his landings all day, and, judging by that last landing, he was getting a mite tired. He had meant to land a little farther from the mansion - there was an area that was pretty much left alone by whoever took care of the grounds. It was far from grassy and considered "alright" to wreak havoc and destroy the landscape. Sam was starting to wonder if he could really do anything about his landings at all. He worked and worked, trying to not take out a chunk of the ground when he landed, but it didn't seem to be getting any better. Maybe it would always be an unfortunate side-effect of his power.
He decided to call it quits for the day, and started back towards the mansion. He kept an eye out for teachers along the way, feeling he oughta let someone know he'd accidentally left another crater in the lawn, so they could take care of it. As he walked through the halls, however, he couldn't seem to find one. Just as was about to head for his room instead, he heard the telltale whir of Professor Xavier's wheelchair. He winced before he turned around. It wasn't that he didn't like and trust the Professor, it was just that Sam didn't exactly want to have to directly tell the Professor that he still couldn't land properly, and had destroyed another piece of ground on his lawn. Even if he knew the good ol' Professor wouldn't get mad.
"Hello, Professor."
The professor smiled. "Hello, Sam. How did the landing practice go today?"
"You knew I was a practicing, sir?" Sam was surprised, but then realized that maybe he shouldn't be. The Professor was an intelligent man, and his power was, well, powerful. There was hardly anything that went on in the mansion that he didn't know about. Still, though. It seemed strange that Xavier pay much attention to the little things like Sam practicing his landings.
"That's right." He nodded.
"Then I guess you already know that I, ah..."
"Broke part of my lawn? Yes, I know, Sam." Professor Xavier was still smiling, looking quite amused, and, to Sam's relief, anything but angry.
"Ah. Well, I'm sorry, Professor. I just was gettin' worn out, and sorta lost control a little bit." He truly meant it, too. He appreciated everything Xavier did for him and the other students. "If you don't mind me askin', sir, how'd you know? Didja read my mind or something?"
Professor Xavier chuckled. "No, Sam. I didn't read your mind." He paused as Sam looked at him, puzzled. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I really must get going. Have a good day, Sam."
Sam, still confused, replied with a "You too, sir," and then called out to the retreating Professor. "Then how'd you know, sir?"
"They're called windows, my boy," the Professor called over his shoulder, "I know I may be a busy man, but I do have them in my office, and have been known to look through them once in a while..."
Did you read the rules?: -admint edit-
Code Name: Cannonball
Affiliation: X-Men
Age: 14
Place of Birth: Cumberland, Kentucky
Detailed Description of Mutation: Cannonball has the ability to generate thermochemical energy. This energy, when released downwards from his legs, propels him through the air, almost like a rocket (which, with all the flame, is also what he looks like), letting him fly at great speeds.
The thermochemical energy Sam releases while flying also has a second function: it covers his body and anything he's in physical contact with, creating a thin, but nearly impenetrable force field that makes him nearly indestructible while flying. It also protects him while he's landing, as the force field lingers on for about 30 seconds after the propulsion has stopped.
When he first discovered his power, he had very little control over where he flew, and didn't stop flying until he ran out of energy. Now, he has good control, although he still works on it, and can pretty well stop whenever he wants. With more practice, it's thought that he will be able to form the force field even while not in flight.
Played by: Dylan Patton
Personality (at least two good paragraphs): Sam grew up in a close-knit, loving family, and playing a big part in taking care of said family - very few things in life came to him freely. As a result, Sam is a responsible, hard-working, honest young man who is almost unwaveringly loyal to his family and friends, and tries his best to do what he thinks is right. He thinks of others, makes friends easily, and trusts others quickly.
Unfortunately, he sometimes trusts others a little too easily - he's gullible, easily manipulated, and more than a little naïve. He's also a terrible liar, and doesn't perform well when he's forced to omit the truth.
Although he's far from serious, he sometimes has a hard time with simply letting go and being a kid, instead of trying to be the "responsible adult" all the time - something he got used to in Kentucky, taking care of his family. However, this has become less of a problem since he's gotten to the Mansion, as his life has gotten easier in a number of ways. He has more freedom. Sam also doesn't like fighting whatsoever, and he tends to get a little clumsy and awkward around any girls he happens to like.
Overall History:
Samuel Zachery Guthrie was the first of ten children born to Thomas and Lucinda Guthrie in Cumberland, Kentucky. The large family never had much money, but they were very close. When Sam was thirteen, his father, a coal miner, died after years of working the in mines and inhaling too much coal dust.
The Guthrie family had already had it tough, but now without the money his father provided, Sam, who was already a newspaper delivery boy, felt he had to do something more to take care of his family. He went to his father's old boss, a family friend, and asked for some kind of temporary work around the very mine that had killed his father. The friend, knowing how much the Guthries needed the money, reluctantly agreed. Sam would run odd jobs around site and around town for him, and would rarely be allowed underground in the actual mine. It was no place for kids. Less than three weeks later, however, Sam was sent down underground to deliver a message to one of the miners. Once Sam found him, a cave-in trapped the two underground. As they tried frantically to get out, a rock fell towards the pair. Sam grabbed the man and dove aside, in an attempt to get them both out of the boulder's way. He expected at worst to be crushed anyway, and at best be lying on the ground, still trapped. Instead, however, he found himself blasting through the rock above them to safety.
Not long afterward, he was contacted by Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, the timing luckily coinciding with a break his mother got in finding a great job that would allow her to support her family. Sam still felt he should stay with the family, but his mother insisted that he take advantage of the opportunity, and he eventually agreed to go to New York and attend Professor Xavier's school. He misses his family, but as a result, finds it fairly easy to live with and get along with the other students at Xavier's School. After all, in a way, they're his family, as well.
Writing Sample: "Dang it!" Sam pulled himself up from his crouching position and waved a hand in front of his face, trying to clear away the cloud of dust that surrounded him. Seconds earlier, he'd landed with a resounding "thud," on one of the sprawling lawns of the mansion. Some students were lounging around, and one of the older ones shot him a look. Sam looked down and surveyed the damage he'd caused. There was now a fairly large crater where there used to be a patch of freshly mowed grass. Which was something, as Sam hadn't even flown from one end of the school's grounds to the other. And he'd stayed fairly low. He looked back at the older student sheepishly. "Ah... I'm sorry?" The older boy glared at him and went back to the book he'd been reading.
Sam sighed. He'd been working on his landings all day, and, judging by that last landing, he was getting a mite tired. He had meant to land a little farther from the mansion - there was an area that was pretty much left alone by whoever took care of the grounds. It was far from grassy and considered "alright" to wreak havoc and destroy the landscape. Sam was starting to wonder if he could really do anything about his landings at all. He worked and worked, trying to not take out a chunk of the ground when he landed, but it didn't seem to be getting any better. Maybe it would always be an unfortunate side-effect of his power.
He decided to call it quits for the day, and started back towards the mansion. He kept an eye out for teachers along the way, feeling he oughta let someone know he'd accidentally left another crater in the lawn, so they could take care of it. As he walked through the halls, however, he couldn't seem to find one. Just as was about to head for his room instead, he heard the telltale whir of Professor Xavier's wheelchair. He winced before he turned around. It wasn't that he didn't like and trust the Professor, it was just that Sam didn't exactly want to have to directly tell the Professor that he still couldn't land properly, and had destroyed another piece of ground on his lawn. Even if he knew the good ol' Professor wouldn't get mad.
"Hello, Professor."
The professor smiled. "Hello, Sam. How did the landing practice go today?"
"You knew I was a practicing, sir?" Sam was surprised, but then realized that maybe he shouldn't be. The Professor was an intelligent man, and his power was, well, powerful. There was hardly anything that went on in the mansion that he didn't know about. Still, though. It seemed strange that Xavier pay much attention to the little things like Sam practicing his landings.
"That's right." He nodded.
"Then I guess you already know that I, ah..."
"Broke part of my lawn? Yes, I know, Sam." Professor Xavier was still smiling, looking quite amused, and, to Sam's relief, anything but angry.
"Ah. Well, I'm sorry, Professor. I just was gettin' worn out, and sorta lost control a little bit." He truly meant it, too. He appreciated everything Xavier did for him and the other students. "If you don't mind me askin', sir, how'd you know? Didja read my mind or something?"
Professor Xavier chuckled. "No, Sam. I didn't read your mind." He paused as Sam looked at him, puzzled. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I really must get going. Have a good day, Sam."
Sam, still confused, replied with a "You too, sir," and then called out to the retreating Professor. "Then how'd you know, sir?"
"They're called windows, my boy," the Professor called over his shoulder, "I know I may be a busy man, but I do have them in my office, and have been known to look through them once in a while..."
Did you read the rules?: -admint edit-
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