Ryan McCarthy

[Ryan McCarthy]

The Basics

Name: Ryan McCarthy
Nicknames: None
Age: Sixteen
Orientation: Homosexual
Desired Rank/Job: Student

Powers: Ryan has the ability to shape and manipulate flowering plants and grasses, as well as parts of these plants such as leaves, seeds, fruits and flowers. He can also cause these plants to grow, move, attack or even rise from the soil and "walk". Ryan cannot however, trigger growth beyond a plants limit, rearrange DNA structures, nor revive plants from the dead. At his prime, he's capable of bringing forth a garden from simple seeds, though he's absolutely helpless if he doesn't have access to pre-existing plant life. To counter this weakness, he usually carries seeds. Additionally, high levels of emotions tend to affect plants around him. Negative emotions will usually cause plants to wilt and, if severe enough, have the potential to kill plants. Delicate and younger plants are more susceptible. Positive emotions tend to aid plant growth, and at their prime, can bring a sapling to fruition in one or two days.

Ryan has a power with great potential, but it isn't without drawbacks. Excessive use of this ability will result in fatigue and low Vitamin D levels, which itself may cause Ryan bone pain, muscle weakness, and a compromised immune system. His ability also requires him to focus on the plants under his control, or else they will become immobile.

Play By: Thomas James McDade

The Details

Hair Color: Red
Eye Color: Greyish-blue
Any Piercings? None
Any Tattoos? None
Any Scars? None

General Appearance: Ryan is a handsome boy who's Scottish ancestry is evident with a single glance. He sports medium length, curly red hair which he rarely bothers to do more than comb after getting up. His eyes are greyish-blue and deeply set, and his skin is fair, lacking the freckles his father’s family is known for. Ryan is also most often seen with facial hair, contrasting his soft personality with a rugged appearance. His lips are bright and thick, and while smiling he has a clear set of dimples. He doesn't smile frequently however, and is usually seen with a plain expression. This, combined with his sharp features, lean body and a height of 6'2” often fool others into believing he's more serious than he actually is.

Now that he's free from his parents' influence, he tries his best to be dressy. However, life in Northwestern Ontario with overprotective parents has left him with a limited fashion sense, so his clothing is most often simplistic. He's rarely without a pair of blue jeans and a button-up shirt, though he also enjoys wearing sweaters and his navy blue coat.

Personality: Ryan's appearance and reclusive personality often gives others the impression that he's stuck-up and intimidating, but this is hardly the case. He's simply an introvert who avoids unneeded conversations with strangers. Having grown up with few he could openly talk to, he's grown used to internalizing his thoughts. While he's grown to be perceptive, excellent at listening and capable of solving difficult problems because of this, he's also developed a bad habit of shouldering problems on his own, whether or not he can handle them. Though independent, he dislikes seeking help and finds it incredibly awkward.

Fortunately, if others manage to drag Ryan into a conversation, he warms up quickly. Regardless of his passive introversion, he delights at the thought of making friends. This was something he seldom did when he lived with his parents. From his lack of previous friends, he still tends to be naive, and can be said to trust too easily. However, those he does will find that he's incredibly level-headed for a teenage boy. He's also loyal to a fault to those he cares for, and willing to go to extremes to make sure they stay out of harm’s way. His lack of friends growing up has left him with an appreciation for those he has now, and he isn't one to easily give up on others. Though well-tempered, harming a loved one is a certain way to make him angry, and he's rather unforgiving in these circumstances. Additionally, he grows upset easily when he's hurt a friend, or when he feels others don't value his friendship.

Your Vices

Likes: Among the things that Ryan enjoys are cats, autumn, gardening, the outdoors, sleeping, walks, boys older than himself, languages, travel, architecture, and reading. He's also extraordinarily fond of Pokemon, but will deny it when asked.

Dislikes: Ryan dislikes winter, large crowds, arrogance, mushrooms, seafood, coffee, unnecessary conflict, religion, horses, heights and most sports. He also dislikes smoke immensely, but loves bonfires.

Strengths: Ryan is loyal and honest to those he cares for, and is will go to great lengths to protect them. He isn't to be mistaken as foolish though, as he's keen, logical, and quick to learn. He's difficult to anger and unwaveringly level-headed. It's because of his abilities that he's become a capable gardener, even without using his power.

Weaknesses: Ryan's may seem cool at first for his collected demeanor and tendency to distance himself, but he's actually fairly shy. He's terrible at expressing himself romantically, and becomes fairly nervous while around boys he deems attractive. It's perhaps for his lack of friends that he trusts too easily, and in spite of doing well academically; he'd oblivious, naive, rather gullible and terrible at telling lies. He's easily embarrassed and comfortable with troubling others, and so often shoulders large burdens by himself.

Fears: Ryan fears rejection above all else for both his powers, and sexuality.

Secret: Ryan hides his sexuality from almost everyone he knows, save close friends.

Family Ties

Father: Keith McCarthy is Ryan's father. He works as a pilot for Air Canada. He's non-powered.

Mother: Sandra McCarthy (née Ross) is Ryan's mother. She was previously a stay-at-home mom, but now works as a cashier at a local grocery store to pass time and earn spending money. She's non-powered.

Siblings: None.

Any Other Important People: Ethel McCarthy (née Wilbrant) is Ryan's deceased great grandmother, and it's though her that Ryan developed his powers. She was born as the fifth child to a poor farming family and had a difficult upbringing. After hitting puberty however, she manifested telekinetic powers. She took this as a means to escape poverty and began to use her powers for profit, hosting viewings which gained popularity among the upper-class. Ryan's family tries its best not to mention her, feeling that her gift was unholy and shames their family. Ryan knows little about her.

History

Ryan was born and raised in a small city called Thunder Bay in Ontario, Canada. His father is a pilot, and his mother is a cashier at a local grocery store. The young couple hadn't been married a year when Ryan came to be, and because both sides of his family are strict Roman Catholics, he's come to suspect that they wed because his mother was pregnant. Unlike his parents, Ryan never picked up an enthusiasm for religion, and never cared much for church. This never mattered much, though – both parents were happy enough they could get their child to go. Altogether, it can be said that Ryan's early childhood was a good one. His mother was always home for him, and his father's six-digit salary got him anything he could want. He also travelled a fair bit before coming to the Hammel Institute. His father's profession meant he and his immediate family had discounts for flying, so by thirteen, Ryan had already been to Russia, Iceland, Scotland, China, Italy, Egypt, Mexico, Peru, and Japan.

It was days after Ryan turned thirteen that odd things began happening around his house, all of which involved plants. Houseplants would grow exponentially, and die without cause days later. The vegetable garden in their backyard came to fruition days after being planted, and the lawn needed to be mowed daily. His mother soon noticed that these odd events only happened when her son was home. Ryan had also grown distant from both his parents, so his mother went through her son's phone a week after everything began happening. Though Ryan's mother found nothing explaining the houseplants, she found out exactly why her son has become so foreign around her. While browsing her son's phone, she found texts from a classmate who, like Ryan, was gay. Nothing sexual had been discussed, though Ryan clearly confessed his sexuality. Both parents confronted their son that night, and screamed that they would disown him if he continued being gay. They took many of his belongings, preached at him, and struck him if he objected. The night was far from over, though. After leaving Ryan's room, plants were found around their house uprooted and gnarled, each having crawled towards their son's room while they disciplined him. The plants had become immobile once more, but both parents were still petrified. They abhorred Ryan after this, and saw his meta-human status as something dark that undermined Christianity. Ryan was only allowed to leave his house for school after this, and was confined to his room when he was home.

Four later, a teacher came to the McCarthy household with a recruiter from the Hammel Institute. As luck would have it, Ryan's teacher had attended the Hammel Institute. She had picked up on his odd behaviour and, after driving by her student's house, came to the conclusion that he was also a meta-human. Both parents were abrasive at first, but were more than happy to send their son away when asked. This day was bittersweet for Ryan. Though he was given a chance to live a semi-normal life, it stung seeing parents he loved so deeply shun him.

It's been three years since Ryan came to the Hammel Institute. He rarely sees his parents anymore, but neither he or his parents have much desire to. He's become accustomed to his new life, though he still has trouble making friends. He's uncertain of what he'll do when he leaves Hammel, but humors the idea of open a plant nursery if he can't think of something better to do.

Roleplay Example

The buzz of conversation was loud as Ryan made his way into the Velvet-Tone Coffeehouse. It was a fair way to walk from the institute, but after today, he needed an hour or two away from school. Ryan had just completed two tests, and just received his mark from one the previous week. He'd received a respectable eighty-one percent and felt he did well today too, but that didn’t do much to re-energize him. He only needed one thing now, and that was all the Earl Grey tea he could stomach.

Luckily, the line was short. A better portion of those present were teenagers who'd likely come straight from school. He recognized a few students from the Hammel Institute, too. It was half past three now, so most a majority here had probably been here a while. They had probably thought ahead and bused it. Perhaps some even drove? It saved time, that was certain, but Ryan was content having walked. It was the first time this week it hadn't been overcast, so he was determined to get outside for a while.

“I can help you over here.” Ryan's attention snapped to the owner of the voice. When he saw who had called him however, his fair cheeks flushed. Behind the counter was a boy was just a few years older than himself, and just a smidgen taller, too. On their face was five o'clock shadow which complement their strong jaw and cheekbones; it went well with their neatly kept, black pompadour. Their complexion was fair and their eyes were a warm, brown color. What struck Ryan most through was the barista's voice. It was deep and soft, and fitted their friendly facade. At this moment, Ryan wanted to do nothing more than stare at his feet and walk the way he came. He was already here though, and running away would only add to his embarrassment.

Ryan took a gulp and a breath, and made his way to the counter as casually as he could. “Hi, could I get a large Earl Grey tea double double with milk?” He spoke as clearly as he possible could, not wanting to repeat himself unnecessarily. He already felt like an idiot!

The barista flashed a smile. “Sure thing! That'll be one sixty-one.” He handed the boy two dollars. When he got his change back, he added it and an additional dollar to a well-filled tip jar before the register. Was that a good amount? He didn't want to seem cheap, but he didn't want to seem creepy, either. His cheeks were already red – he didn't want to make his predicament any more obvious. Luckily, none of his classmates were present.

“Alright, one large Earl Grey, double double with milk.”

Ryan turned to the smiling barista and took the tea. He was about to make a bee-line to the exit, but stopped when he glimpsed white writing on his cup's dark brown lid. It was messy, and took him a moment to read. When he made his way through the sentence though, he nearly dropped his tea. Unless Ryan was mistaken, the lid read: “Friday: coffee on me?” A phone number was included below.

Ryan was silent for a moment. This couldn't be for him, could it? No; what where the chances? His face must have been as red as a tomato by this point. “Uh...” He paused. What could he say? How would he word this? “I don't think that this—”

“No,” The barista interrupted Ryan; his smile was unwavering. “It's for you.” They playfully crossed their arms on the counter and eyed Ryan playfully. “I go to Hammel, too. See you around the halls, sometimes.” He explained. They were a meta, too? Well, at the very least, he wouldn't have to explain that! “Why don't we get coffee when classes are done on Friday?” Their warm eyes met Ryan's, causing the latter to turn his head awkwardly. He would have assumed this was a prank had their voice not been so sincere.

“I, uh...” Ryan was at a loss for words. “I mean, I don't have anything planned, so sure?” Ryan was already smiling like a desperate schoolgirl.

“Alright then! It's settled!” The barista stood upright, and offered a handshake. “Name's Adam! Call me when you get off school this Friday and we'll work from there.” Their voice was still chipper. Jeez! How did they manage to keep cool like this? Had Ryan been in their shoes, he'd have probably passed out behind the counter!

Ryan took the hand and gave it a shake. “Ryan.” He chuckled. “Sounds good. I'll talk to you later.” Ryan gave a sheepish wave as he left the coffee shop and couldn't help but grin.

What About You?

Name: Real name? Michael. Tuskk works, though.
Age: Twenty-one.
Experience: Four years? Five? A little while, now.
How Did You Find Us? Google.
Ready To Play? After a nap.

[Admin!]

Almost!

Welcome to Hammel, Tuskk! We love to have new players, and Ryan is a great character. However, he does require a few edits before he can be accepted.

First is the power. Plant manipulation is a completely acceptable power; however, we prefer limited powers on Hammel, and as written, his power exceeds our limits. You need to decide what type of plants he can control: flowering plants and grasses, or trees and wood, or fungi. From how you describe it, the flowering plants and grasses would be the most fitting. Also, he could not make plants walk or move beyond their natural abilities. As for their unnatural growth, please clarify the limitations there.

Next, for his great-grandmother's power; communication with the dead and/or mediumship do not exist in Hammel canon. So, she needs a different power. Some suggestions, based on how you describe her backstory are: precognition, retrocognition, clairaudience, telepathy, remote viewing/ESP, or telekinesis. However, anything on the list, or many things outside of the list, are acceptable. Simply not communicating with the dead.

Lastly, you do a great job with his history. However, his timeline is a little ambiguous. You state that it was a few days after the traumatic incident with his parents that the recruiter arrived, but you do not say how long after his powers manifested that his parents did that to him. Remember, students must be recruited within two weeks of first manifesting their powers. Also, make sure that his powers reflect the changes you must do, and remember that newly manifested, his powers are uncontrollable and weaker than they would be now.


When you have made this change, please bump the topic and staff will take another look!

[Ryan McCarthy]

Okay, I understand. I've limited Ryan's powers to flowering plants and grasses like you suggested. Additionally, I've changed his great-grandmother's power to telekinesis.

I've edited his history to explain that it was one week after manifestation that his parents found out he was gay, plus an additional four days before a recruiter came to him. Thanks for the suggestions! I think that just about covers what you've asked for. Let me know if they need more tweaking.

[Deleted]

Accepted!

Welcome to Hammel, Tuskk! I have Hammel's gardener who's also a plant manipulator, so I shall poke you with possible ideas soon! ;D Don't forget to do your claims here and to have fun!