As the name indicates...this RPG will revolve around Crossroads and New Beginnings.CrossroadsWe would like to see characters come to a 'crossroads' in their lives where important and life changing decisions have to be made. These events can be very personal...i.e. a relationship beginning, ending or changing, or they can be moral or spiritual. Whatever is decided, they should show 'growth' for your character.New BeginningsThis can be any number of items as well and most likely will relate back to the 'crossroads' in your character(s)' life or lives and/or career. They may be starting a new career as teacher or student at Xavier's School for the Gifted or may have been selected to train for the upcoming X-Men team(s). Their 'new beginning' once again may be as simple as establishing a new relationship or changes in an old one.
The X-Men and all likenesses are the property of Marvel Comics, 20th Century FOX, and ALL the creative minds therein. X-Men Crossroads is a non-profit RPG board. We here participate for the pure enjoyment and satisfaction writing in the X-Men Universe brings.Most of the Bio information is courtersy of Marvel Directory
Re: Open Tags Smiling at Logan, Jonathan waved a hand indicating his comfortably decorated but uncluttered home, "I feel more at home here than I have anywhere in many years. Too much time traveling really to make a 'home'." Jonathan sipped his tea.
Logan noticed the sweeping gesture and nodded as he took one last look around. "Yeh, it's nice," he acknowledged.
"Would you care to see the Mews?"
"Sure," Logan replied, sliding his hands into his jeans pockets. The newcomer seemed quite relaxed and at ease, which subconsciously put his own instincts at ease. He didn't give off any signals that he was hiding anything or nervous, he didn't put out an attitude of arrogance nor contempt and he gave no indication of an intent to challenge. These were things that Logan took note of without giving conscious thought to it, it was just instinctive.
He took a couple slow intakes of the air; noting the different scents inside the space, sorting them out and putting them to memory as he waited for Chase to lead the way to the Mews.
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Jonathan set his tea cup aside and stood, leading the way through the kitchen to the sun room beyond, stopping long enough to indicate to Storm that Gryphon needed to be caged while they were out of the apartment.
"Just hold your arm out and tell him to 'Go Home'." Jonathan instructed and watched carefully.
As soon as the parrot heard the order to 'Go Home', he launched himself from the outstretched arm and landed on the perch affixed to the interior of the open cage door.
Jonathan shut the door, fastening it carefully, then turned and led his two companions to a wrought iron spiral staircase inset in the corner of the spacious sunroom. This opened into the main habitat area of the Mews.
The Brit stepped aside at the bottom, switched on the lights and waited for Logan and Ororo to catch up. His feathered companions had had time to settle and each stared curiously from the safety of their habitat...except for Archimedes who had yet to emerge from the hollow in his tree.
While you are welcome to join in the thread in a reasonable manner, such as knocking on the door to the Mews or on Jonathan's apartment door, it was established early on that the Mews are secured against entry to protect valuable and rare birds of prey. There would be no getting access "Somehow".
In addition, I own 9 parrots and can state categorically that their 'voices' range in clarity same as the crows I have heard that have actually learned Human speech. Even individual birds have some phrases and words that they utter clearly while they garble ones they are not as familiar with.
Again, tags are open and if you want to join in the thread in a realistic manner, you are most welcome. I will, however, be deleting your last post as it contravenes established guidelines in this thread.
Re: Open Tags
As Logan descended the stairs and came to settle beside Dr. Chase he looked around the Mews, at all the large birds housing there.
"Okay........ this is just a bit unnerving," he mentioned, not feeling wholely comfortable standing in a large "cage" full of raptors and other various large, sharp-beaked birds. His eyes slowly rose to eye the ones perched high above them.
Re: Open Tags
Jonathan followed the direction of Logan’s gaze and smiled reassuringly. Stepping forward, he rapped on the ‘window’ behind which the giant Sea Eagle rested as his ease on a perch high above the floor of his habitat.
“Each habitat is enclosed with solid sheets of Plexiglas, reinforced and virtually unbreakable. The dark screening behind it is to give each bird a ‘visual’ so that the birds do not mistakenly fly into the wall of their enclosure. In turn, each habitat has its own air cooling, heating, and filtration system.” Jonathan stepped closer to the habitat and called out softly. Cymbrogi ‘chirped’ back from his vantage point but beyond looking curiously at Logan and Storm, he did not move, taking his cue from Jonathan’s relaxed manner.
Jonathan turned back to his guests, “Currently, I only have the four birds that I am licensed to keep. Periodically, I have others being rehabilitated for release back into the wild. I utilize my ‘tame’ birds to teach the rehabs skills they need for survival. My current predicament involves securing a suitable mate for Cymbrogi and hoping they can successfully raise a clutch for release back in their native Scotland.”
He paused in his narrative to glance at his visitors, trying to gauge how bored they were. Not seeing anything that indicated they were falling asleep, he continued. “The four birds I keep cannot be released back into the wild. While they can maintain flight for short periods and I have flown them for hunting, they each have impairments that prevent their survival in the wild long-term.”
Making a quick decision on which bird would be the least threatening to his guests, he turned to the Gyrfalcon’s habitat. Taking the glove that hung on the peg by her door, he slipped it on and whistled, following his accurate imitation of her call with a soft but firm command, “Mariah, step up.” Jonathan held his gloved arm in clear sight of the bird.
Mariah called back, making verbal contact, before descending in a graceful, controlled swoop and landing expertly on the gloved hand. Rather than greet the bird with a food treat, Jonathan whistled to her softly in her own language and ran his free hand down her back and gently under her feathers in a gentle caress.
Jonathan turned and approached Logan and Storm, keeping enough distance so as not to make them uncomfortable thus alarming both his guests and Mariah. “This is Mariah. She is a three-year old Gyrfalcon (pronounced jur-fall-con). Mariah came into my care after being shot with a pellet gun by teenagers out for sport. Her resulting crash landing in some brush and barbed wire damaged her left eye. She has healed enough to fly and for limited and guided hunting but not enough to return to the wild. Female Gyrfalcons, as with most bird of prey species, are considerably larger than the males within their own group. Mariah, due to good nutrition and care is almost a perfect specimen for length, weight, and wingspan. She is almost 2 feet in length, the maximum for the species. Last weighed in at 4.5 pounds and has a wingspan of 4 feet.”
Jonathan concluded his narrative with a soft command, holding the bird out and high over his head, “Display.” Obligingly, Mariah extended her wings out and up, spreading them to their full span.
“Down.” Jonathan said softly and the bird folded her wings as he pulled his arm down and back close to his chest becoming the bird’s sheltering ‘tree’.
“Either of you care to hold her?” Jonathan asked, always ready to teach and promote the interaction between people and animals. He found, in general, that if someone could be exposed to an animal, handle it, and learn about it, fear and distrust usually automatically resolved themselves into mutual admiration and respect.
Re: Open Tags
Logan listened intently to all the information Chase was giving them about the birds in his care. As the doctor brought out one of the raptors he was alert and quiet. His eyes widened a bit as the bird displayed it's impressive wing span and he noted how beautiful it was... as are all of nature's creatures.
"Why don't YOU hold him, Logan?" Storm challenged with a smile.
"Me? Oh.. I don't need to hold it," he replied, trying to sound casual but his voice held a bit of nervousness. Then he caught Dr. Chase's gaze and reconsidered it as he eyed the raptor warily. "Well...... yeh, okay... I can do that," he said and took a step hesitantly forward then stopped, deciding to wait for direction from Chase. Although a predator himself by nature, wrangling with a bird of prey was something that sent chills down his spine... the hooked beak and large sharp talons were something even the greatest of land bound predators saw best to keep clear of.
Re: Open Tags
"Me? Oh.. I don't need to hold it," he replied, trying to sound casual but his voice held a bit of nervousness. Then he (Logan) caught Dr. Chase's gaze and reconsidered it as he eyed the raptor warily. "Well...... yeh, okay... I can do that," he said and took a step hesitantly forward then stopped, deciding to wait for direction from Chase. Although a predator himself by nature, wrangling with a bird of prey was something that sent chills down his spine... the hooked beak and large sharp talons were something even the greatest of land bound predators saw best to keep clear of.
Jonathan’s smile was warm and encouraging as well as full of confidence in the training and manners of his winged ‘ambassadors’. This was part of his ‘job’. Teaching and sharing with others the glorious connection with the animal world. He did not consider, even for a moment, chastising Logan on his hesitancy. The man would have to establish his own connection and parameters with the bird. Jonathan could not do that for him and advising him to display confidence he might not be feeling would be ill considered for all concerned. He preferred to teach by example.
Stepping to a well-organized cabinet, Jonathan pulled out another glove and handed it to Logan. “Put the glove on, and when you are ready, hold your arm out so that Mariah has a clear view of where to go. You won’t need to hold your arm at an angle, just out and at a level that is comfortable for you. Mariah will do the rest. She’ll grasp your hand tightly for a moment while she gets her balance but the glove will protect you. She’s been trained to lighten her grip as soon as she feels confident.”
Jonathan ruffled the raptor’s feathers gently and spoke to her. Mariah turned her sharp gaze on Logan, already anticipating what she needed to do. The blond man smiled and spoke softly to the bird then looked at Logan, “When you’re ready, the command is a simple, ‘Here, Mariah.’ She doesn’t expect a food treat for obeying the command. However, once she is settled, bring your arm closer to your body so she’ll feel protected by the ‘tree’. Stroke her wings and praise her. That’s her reward…safety and being assured she has done well.”
Stepping to a well-organized cabinet, Jonathan pulled out another glove and handed it to Logan. “Put the glove on, and when you are ready, hold your arm out so that Mariah has a clear view of where to go."
Logan took the thick glove from the doctor, glancing at the large bird as he listened to the rest of the instructions.
"You won’t need to hold your arm at an angle, just out and at a level that is comfortable for you. Mariah will do the rest. She’ll grasp your hand tightly for a moment while she gets her balance but the glove will protect you. She’s been trained to lighten her grip as soon as she feels confident.”
Jonathan ruffled the raptor’s feathers gently and spoke to her. Mariah turned her sharp gaze on Logan, already anticipating what she needed to do.
Logan pulled the glove on, nodding quietly that he understood. As he flexed his fingers inside it, he looked up and saw the bird giving him the eye. Furrowing his brow slightly, wondering what she had in mind, he swallowed and looked to the doctor.
The blond man smiled and spoke softly to the bird then looked at Logan, “When you’re ready, the command is a simple, ‘Here, Mariah.’ She doesn’t expect a food treat for obeying the command. However, once she is settled, bring your arm closer to your body so she’ll feel protected by the ‘tree’. Stroke her wings and praise her. That’s her reward…safety and being assured she has done well.”
Logan's face was tense, as he scowled in uncertainty. He'd always had a connection with the animal world and understood most of them about as much as he understood himself. But raptors were another story; he'd never had reason to get this close to one and normally they kept their distance from him as well. It seemed to be the way both preferred it.
Checking the fit of the glove one more time, he smacked his fist into the palm lightly, stalling. Then looked at the man with the bird. "Kay... ready," he said then slowly raised his arm straight out to his side, his hand slightly higher than parallel to the floor. Then in his loud gruff voice, he commanded, "Here, Mariah."
As the bird stretched out her wings in preparation for flight, leaning forward slightly as she pushed off, Logan's eyes flashed wide for a brief second. Before he knew it the bird had crossed the distance and was flaring her wings and tail for landing.
Logan ducked his head and cringed, still holding his arm out as the bird's weight settled on his arm. Once she was settled he lifted his head and peeked out the corner of his eye at her, still leaning away from her. That sharp beak only two feet away from his eyes was not particularly comforting.
He didn't draw his arm in toward him as he'd been told, as a matter of fact his mind went blank at that moment; looking at the large dark eyes, hooked beak and sharp talons digging into the thick gauntlet. "Okay, okay, you can take her back now," Logan requested quickly.
Re: Open Tags
Not one to press an issue, Jonathan merely smiled reassuringly and opened the wide door to Mariah's habitat. "Go home, Mariah."
The raptor gave an almost reproachful look but carefully launched herself off Logan's arm and returned to her 'home'. Banking sharply, she landed neatly on a branch, high in the tree. Calling softly, she fluffed her feathers out and relaxed.
Jonathan shut her door, listening for the lock to click into place. "Perhaps we should return to my apartment?" He swept his arm back toward the winding staircase that led back to his private domain.
Re: Open Tags
Removing the glove, Logan handed it back to Dr. Chase feeling uneasy, he nodded at the offer to go back upstairs. "Sorry about that," he offered, "maybe next time."
Re: Open Tags
Jonathan smiled warmly, "No worries. It takes time."
He turned and led the way back to his apartment, nodding as Storm mentioned needing to do some things at the mansion and excused herself.
Jonathan waved toward the living area, "Please, make yourself at home. Beer?" Without waiting for an answer, Jonathan pulled two bottles out of the fridge and returned to take a seat.
"Perhaps, handling the birds would be more comfortable for you in the open? I'm going riding tomorrow and will probably take one of the raptors. Perhaps you'd care to join me?"
Edited by: JeanEGreyMD at: 2/8/06 5:24 pm
Re: Open TagsJonathan waved toward the living area, "Please, make yourself at home. Beer?" Without waiting for an answer, Jonathan pulled two bottles out of the fridge and returned to take a seat.
"Always," Logan replied automatically as he entered the living area, looking around. He chose a chair off to the side and took a seat.
"Perhaps, handling the birds would be more comfortable for you in the open? I'm going riding tomorrow and will probably take one of the raptors. Perhaps you'd care to join me?"
"That sounds great actually. I'd like to try that again, just too close o' quarters downstairs."
Background: Many, many years ago, Charles Francis Xavier established Xavier's School for the Gifted. Also, seeing other Mutants misusing and abusing their powers, he created the first generation of the X-Men.This original team was trained and lead by an old friend of his...Logan, aka Wolverine. Logan's co-leader was a young woman and student named Ororo Munroe, aka Storm. Once the team was trained and fielded on active missions, they took on the additional responsibility of teaching and helping new Mutants deal with their powers.On one horrible night, the X-Men were fielded to stop a particularly powerful Mutant and his 'gang'. The 'intelligence' received on this Mutant and his cohorts was sketchy and actually turned out to be a set-up to entrap the X-Men and take them captive. In the ensuing melee', 'things' happened and a number of the team were killed outright or severely injured.After making sure his remaining team-mates were going to be okay, Logan left. Xavier has not, to current time, explained his absence or even whether or not he survived.Current Time/Game Time: Almost seven years later, as Human/Mutant incidents are on the rise, Xavier once again sees a need for a Mutant 'police force'. He sees this new X-Men team as a force for good and a way to help peacefully integrate the rapidly emerging Mutant society with the established Human society. To this end, he has contacted Logan and asked him to 'come home' and train his 'new' team.
Logan has reluctantly agreed.Can shadows from their past be put aside for the good of the new X-Men? How will the surviving members of the original team react and what will they do as 'truths' are learned about that disastrous night?Note: We want the new X-Men to include younger versions of the old familiar characters such as Scott, Jean, Beast etc...as well as many of the OCC’s and other Canon characters that are available.Please ask the Staff BEFORE stating or establishing that your character was one of the old, now disbanded, original X-Men.
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