Difference between revisions of "Billy Kaplan"

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{{PCInfobox
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{{One Year Retirement}}
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| name    = William "Billy" Kaplan
+
 
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| image  = Wiccan.png
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''This page is about the [[:Category: Phase 2|Phase 2]] incarnation of the character. For other uses, see [[Billy Kaplan (disambiguation)]].''
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| pb = Darren Criss
+
 
 +
{{Phase2}}
 +
{{CharacterBox
 +
| name    = Billy Kaplan
 +
| image  = BillyP2.png
 +
| pb = [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darren_Criss Darren Criss]
 
| codename = Wiccan
 
| codename = Wiccan
−
| teams  = [[New Mutants]]
+
| teams  = TBD
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| birthdate = December 21, 1996
+
| birthdate = December 21, 1993
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| journal =  [http://x-asgardian.livejournal.com x_asgardian]
+
| journal =  [https://xp-wiccan.dreamwidth.org/profile xp_wiccan]
 
| player = [[Matt (player)]]
 
| player = [[Matt (player)]]
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
Billy Kaplan was just your typical teenager, until a chance encounter and a small kindness by a complete stranger changed his life forever.
 
  
 +
''"Billy. Or Asgardian. Though based on the rumors I'm hearing, that name may have to change soon." ''
 +
 +
A former vigilante, Billy Kaplan has come to the mansion to learn more about his magic.
  
 
__TOC__
 
__TOC__
Line 18: Line 25:
 
== '''Details''' ==
 
== '''Details''' ==
  
−
'''Character Journal:''' [http://x-asgardian.livejournal.com x_asgardian]
+
'''Character Journal:''' [https://xp-wiccan.dreamwidth.org/profile xp_wiccan]
  
 
'''Real Name''': William "Billy" Kaplan
 
'''Real Name''': William "Billy" Kaplan
Line 24: Line 31:
 
'''Codename''': Wiccan
 
'''Codename''': Wiccan
  
−
'''Aliases''': Billy
+
'''Aliases''': Asgardian
  
−
'''First Appearance''': [http://x-logs.livejournal.com/3365021.html June 20, 2012]
+
'''First Appearance''': [https://xp-logs.dreamwidth.org/3639179.html February 6, 2015]
  
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'''Date of Birth''': December 21, 1996
+
'''Date of Birth''': December 21, 1993
  
−
'''Place of Birth''': New York, NY
+
'''Place of Birth''': Bulgaria
  
−
'''Citizenship''': American
+
'''Citizenship''': Bulgaria and USA
  
−
'''Relatives''':<br>  
+
'''Relatives''': <br>
−
Jeff Kaplan, Father, cardiologist at Mt. Sinai Medical Center<br>
+
-- Jeff Kaplan, adoptive father, cardiologist at Mt. Sinai Medical Center<br>
−
Rebecca Kaplan, Mother, psychologist at Columbia University<br>
+
-- Rebecca Kaplan, adoptive mother, psychologist at Columbia University
−
Kid brother 1: Jacob, 8<br>
 
−
Kid brother 2: Esau, 7
 
  
−
'''Education''': Sophomore in high school
+
'''Education''': Currently enrolled at Columbia
  
−
'''Relationship Status''': single
+
'''Relationship Status''': Single
  
−
'''Occupation''': Student
+
'''Occupation''': College Student
  
−
'''Team Affiliation''': [[New Mutants]]
+
'''Team Affiliation''': TBD
  
 
== '''Biography''' ==
 
== '''Biography''' ==
Line 52: Line 57:
 
=== '''Childhood''' ===
 
=== '''Childhood''' ===
  
−
Billy’s parents are the type that truly believe they are the ultimate enlightened couple, and only their kids realize that, in their own way, they’re just as crazy as every other family.  With his father firmly grounded in demonstrable scientific fact and his mother always interpreting every action in light of the available psychological theory, Billy’s every action was carefully scrutinized throughout childhood and judged as “normal” or “unique” from typical childhood development.  Being an “only child” for the first eight years of his life added additional complexity, and many of Billy’s eccentricities were  waved off as either only-child syndrome or the shift from only-child to older brother.
+
Billy Kaplan has only a handful of fragmented memories of his earliest childhood in a small village orphanage in Bulgaria. He was only four when his adoptive parents Jeffrey and Rebecca Kaplan came into his life. The New York couple had fallen in love with the country during a Doctors Without Borders project. On their return to the States, the childless couple decided to adopt an orphan from one of their stops on their trip, and after the legalities were complete, young Viliam found himself on a transoceanic flight that would forever change his life.
−
 
 
−
Billy was a rambunctious kid, and with any other parents, he would have probably been put in Ritalin for ADD.  Given his parents’ background, though, they decided not to go the medication route, and instead drove him into very regular activities, a mixture of structured and unstructured, to keep him occupied without any need to act out. As he’s grown up, that’s something he’s come to both love and hate.  While he has a decent sense of discipline, he wants to rebel against that, like most teens.  He also tends to get bored easily when nothing he considers “exciting” is happening.
 
−
 
 
−
=== '''Day Zero''' ===
 
−
As with with most things, Billy’s parents were prepared with a disaster plan, and though they didn’t know the what was going on, shortly after the morning explosion, his parents were already in action mode, his mother packing up some basic supplies, and his father waking up Billy and his younger brothers, and within an hour, they were already out the door. Rather than trying the George Washington, they opted for the smaller Henry Hudson Bridge, headed across on foot and continuing north until they finally met up with friends in Tarrytown, where they stayed until it was safe to return to the city.  As an 11-year old, Billy understood what was going on much better than his 3 and 4 year old brothers, but it was still a frightening experience for him. It was also the first time he clearly saw his parents prejudice against mutants.  Today, Billy believes his parents hate mutants, but while they don’t necessarily look on them kindly, their views aren’t as harsh as he thinks.  A lot of this disconnect comes from the stressful and frightening memories of being woken up early, walking the several miles north, being displaced from his home, but not really being told all the details why.  The whole of the memory made the side comments his parents made about mutants seem much more powerful, and he’s since come to equate that with his parents hating mutants and that being an off-subject topic.  So while he’s fascinated and eager to explore this entirely new world that’s opened up, he’s also going to have to deal with that family baggage at the same time.
 
  
−
=== '''Summer 2012''' ===
+
Although his parents were always open about his adoption, Billy grew up as a typical New York child.  His parents, being highly-educated themselves, took an active role in Billy’s education, making sure he had the best schooling and extracurricular activities. They traveled frequently during the summer, often on humanitarian trips similar to the one that led them to Billy, so he has seen far more of the world than your typical college-aged student, including many of the world’s injustices. Although he still doesn't have a clear idea what he wants to do after college, in that sense, he follows in his parents’ footsteps, and is currently pursuing a Human Rights degree at Columbia University, (complimentary tuition courtesy of his mother’s professorship).
−
Billy adjusted to high school fairly well, with decent grades (at least by his teachers' standards, if not always by his parents), a number of after-school activities like band (his parents' choice) and soccer (his choice), and a growing circle of friends, his freshman year went by without incident. The parental lectures on choosing his friends carefully or planning for the future were frequent, but even at home, for the most part, life was good for Billy Kaplan.
 
  
−
One June afternoon, when the teasing of one of the unpopular team members took a dangerous turn, Billy stood up for the guy, earning himself a bloody nose and scrapes and bruises for his efforts.  That act, though, would change his life forever. Wanda stopped to help him, and her subtle use of chaos unknowingly triggered Billy's latent magical abilities and the events of [[A Kind of Magic]], eventually leading him to Xavier's for his sophomore year.
+
==='''Vigilante Life'''===
 +
Billy turned to defending the streets of New York in his spare time, and soon discovered he wasn't alone in his quest, meeting the Spider Men and Daredevil. He was soon tracked down and nearly apprehended by SWORD agent [[Clinton Barton]], but Clint let him escape at the last minute, seeing nothing wrong with what Billy was doing. He and Clint stayed in touch and overtime formed something of a friendship. Eventually Clint dragged Billy to [[The Mansion|the mansion]], where he met [[Amanda Sefton]] and agreed to be her teaching assistant for her magic lessons.
  
−
=== '''Living At The X-Mansion''' ===
+
==='''Mansion Life'''===
 +
Billy settled easily into mansion life, making friends and finding out quickly he wasn't immune to the strange happenings of the mansion. In August, Clint recruited him to help examine [[It’s Greek To Me| a mysterious object]] and ended up having to fight fish people when Namor accidentally activated the object. He got through a few months before he found himself being grabbed by [[Topaz]] to help save [[Something Slender This Way Comes | a bunch of wayward students in way over her head]]. It wasn't a bad life all around, however.
  
−
Billy's first semester at Xavier's was all about adjustment, but his uncertainty about being a mutant quickly began to fade as he made friends with his classmates, most notably, his roommate [[Clinton Barton]] and their co-conspirator [[Madelyne Pryor]].  His grasp of magic remained unpredictable at best, with spells [http://x-asgardian.livejournal.com/1660.html going haywire] as often as not, feeding an unspoken fear of the magic getting out of control as it had the past summer.  While trapped in Slenderworld, he was forced to [http://x-logs.livejournal.com/3437458.html face that fear], and seeing a glimpse of his magic's potential both encouraged him and inspired him to throw himself back into his magical studies.
+
==='''2017-18'''===
  
 +
The year brought with it more interest, starting with a bad magical interaction that [[Honey, I Shrunk the Magic Class | led to the entire magical contingency shrinking down to microscopic size.]] Thankfully, they were able to fix it. Not long after, he, along with the rest of the magic people, discovered a strange black and white pebble that turned out to be the calling card for the Winding Way. In October, [[Dark Dimension Homecoming | he helped rescue Clea and Topaz]], who had been kidnapped by a mysterious force to another dimension. 2018 was similarly quiet.
  
 
== '''Physical Characteristics''' ==
 
== '''Physical Characteristics''' ==
Line 74: Line 76:
 
'''Height''': 5'8"
 
'''Height''': 5'8"
  
−
'''Weight''': 155 lbs
+
'''Weight''': 155
  
−
'''Eyes''': Brown
+
'''Eyes''': Blue
  
 
'''Hair''': Black
 
'''Hair''': Black
  
−
'''Other Features''': A fairly attractive teen, but on the shorter end of average height, neither slender nor muscular, for the most part, Billy’s physical appearance would be considered “average.”  His hair, however, is Black!black, not just the dark brown many refer to as black, and it always carries a “just out of bed, I don’t care about my hair” look.  Few people know, though, how much attention he actually gives to maintaining that look, since he recognizes it’s one of his most striking features.
+
 
  
 
== '''Powers''' ==
 
== '''Powers''' ==
−
Billy’s mutation can convert chaos into magical energy that allows him to make limited changes to reality around him.  Rather than traditional “spells,” his power works through a combination of desire and clear mental imagery, along with a sufficient source of chaos, which ultimately determines the strength of the spell.
 
  
−
Although still in its infancy, it would seem that Billy’s power is limited primarily by his imagination and understanding of what he wants to accomplish.  Since he must be able to visualize what he wants to happen, if he can’t picture it clearly, the results can be unpredictable. Particularly as an untrained teenager, he is extremely prone to distraction, and an interrupted spell can often result in dangerous effects.
+
Billy’s mutation allows him to absorb chaotic energy around him, and by channeling that energy, he can make limited changes to reality. Like Chaos, it’s difficult to provide strict boundaries or definitions on his abilities, but two principles seem consistent.
  
−
In his current untrained capacity, Billy can only reach the necessary mental clarity by chanting a mantra of “I want...suchandsuchtohappen” over and over until he can finally picture the results and the spell takes effect.  The complexity of the spell typically determines how long this can take.
+
1) The strength and duration of his powers is proportionate to the ambient chaos around him. The more chaotic the situation, the more energy that is available for conversion, and the larger the potential warping of reality.
  
−
Once his spells activate, Billy has little control over their duration.  Unless he actively tries to reverse the effects, they run their natural course based on his initial intent and the available power. For many spells, the effect is immediate and fades shortly after. One of his early powerful spells, however, still allows him to summon lightning at will without speaking.
+
2) The accuracy and complexity of the outcome are highly influenced by his concentration and clear mental imagery.
 +
 +
These two principles are intertwined. Since chaotic surroundings are not conducive to concentration, the larger the attempted magic, the more likelihood it has of going wrong, either stronger or weaker than intended, or failing entirely.  The fickle nature of chaos also seems to play a role, and sometimes, even under ideal circumstances, the outcome may be entirely different from what he intended.
 +
 +
Billy has known about his powers for several years and through self-training, has gained rough control over a few applications, including conjuring lightning, summoning objects, levitation, and teleportation.  While these are reasonably reliable, his typical approach is point, “shoot,” and hope for the best, with little attention to precision or finesse. Over time, he has developed a concentration technique of chanting “I-want-such-and-such-to-happen.” Although not strictly required for spells to work, it has become a much-needed tool that helps him focus his powers and achieve the most reliable results.
  
 
== '''Equipment''' ==
 
== '''Equipment''' ==
  
−
A black Asgardian staff.  Despite its unique origin, it is a perfectly ordinary staff.
+
None
  
 
== '''Trivia''' ==
 
== '''Trivia''' ==
  
−
A clarinet case can occasionally be seen peeking out from underneath his bed.
+
He is a vocal supporter of minority rights, and can often be found participating in volunteer work, awareness campaigns, and (mostly) peaceful demonstrations.
 +
 
 +
When he's not moonlighting as his super alter-ego, he often moonlights as a musician/singer/songwriter at local bars and clubs.
 +
 
 +
=='''External Links'''==
 +
 
 +
[https://xp-communication.dreamwidth.org/tag/c:+billy+kaplan xp_communication posts]
 +
 
 +
[https://xp-journal.dreamwidth.org/tag/c:+billy+kaplan xp_journal posts]
 +
 
 +
[https://xp-logs.dreamwidth.org/tag/c:+billy+kaplan xp_logs posts]
  
−
As the son of an MD and a PhD, Billy knows a LOT of random things most teenagers his age wouldn't. They tend to come up in conversation, and although he doesn't mean it as such, he can sometimes come across as a bit of a know-it-all.
+
[https://xp-newscast.dreamwidth.org/tag/c:+billy+kaplan xp_newscast posts]
  
 
== '''Plots''' ==
 
== '''Plots''' ==
  
−
===2012===
+
===2015===
 +
 
 +
[[It’s Greek To Me]]
 +
 
 +
===2016===
  
−
[[A Kind of Magic]]
+
[[Something Slender This Way Comes]]
  
−
===2013===
+
===2017===
  
−
[[Something Slender (and Awful)]]
+
[[Honey, I Shrunk the Magic Class]]
  
−
[[She Sells Sea Shells]]
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[[Dark Dimension Homecoming]]
  
−
[[Age of Apocalypse]]
+
===2018===
  
−
[[Blessed Are The Pure Of Heart]]
+
[[Family Reunion]]
  
 
== Meta ==
 
== Meta ==
Line 123: Line 142:
 
'''E-mail''': [[File:Mattemail.png]]
 
'''E-mail''': [[File:Mattemail.png]]
  
−
'''AIM''': wordsofbane
+
'''Meta Trivia'''
−
 
 
−
'''Player Icon Base''':  [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2023050/ Darren Criss]
 
  
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'''Meta Trivia'''
+
[[Billy Kaplan - Phase 1 | Billy Kaplan]] was retired during the Dark Phoenix Saga and reintroduced as an older, debatably "wiser" Phase 2 character.
−
Introduced to the game by Matt in [[June 2012]].
 
  
  
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[[Category: Characters]]
+
[[Category: 2015]]
−
[[Category:2012]]
 
−
[[Category:New Mutants]]
 
 
[[Category: Magic Users]]
 
[[Category: Magic Users]]

Latest revision as of 17:10, 18 January 2024

By request of the previous player and with mod agreement, this character is not available for applications for a period of one year. If you have questions, check the XPP post on the 2021 retirement amnesty, or feel free to contact the mods at x_moderators @ googlegroups . com.


This page is about the Phase 2 incarnation of the character. For other uses, see Billy Kaplan (disambiguation).

PHASE 2
Billy Kaplan
BillyP2.png
Portrayed by Darren Criss
Codename: Wiccan
Affiliations: TBD
Birthdate: December 21, 1993
Journal: xp_wiccan
Player: Matt (player)


"Billy. Or Asgardian. Though based on the rumors I'm hearing, that name may have to change soon."

A former vigilante, Billy Kaplan has come to the mansion to learn more about his magic.


Details

Character Journal: xp_wiccan

Real Name: William "Billy" Kaplan

Codename: Wiccan

Aliases: Asgardian

First Appearance: February 6, 2015

Date of Birth: December 21, 1993

Place of Birth: Bulgaria

Citizenship: Bulgaria and USA

Relatives:
-- Jeff Kaplan, adoptive father, cardiologist at Mt. Sinai Medical Center
-- Rebecca Kaplan, adoptive mother, psychologist at Columbia University

Education: Currently enrolled at Columbia

Relationship Status: Single

Occupation: College Student

Team Affiliation: TBD

Biography

Childhood

Billy Kaplan has only a handful of fragmented memories of his earliest childhood in a small village orphanage in Bulgaria. He was only four when his adoptive parents Jeffrey and Rebecca Kaplan came into his life. The New York couple had fallen in love with the country during a Doctors Without Borders project. On their return to the States, the childless couple decided to adopt an orphan from one of their stops on their trip, and after the legalities were complete, young Viliam found himself on a transoceanic flight that would forever change his life.

Although his parents were always open about his adoption, Billy grew up as a typical New York child. His parents, being highly-educated themselves, took an active role in Billy’s education, making sure he had the best schooling and extracurricular activities. They traveled frequently during the summer, often on humanitarian trips similar to the one that led them to Billy, so he has seen far more of the world than your typical college-aged student, including many of the world’s injustices. Although he still doesn't have a clear idea what he wants to do after college, in that sense, he follows in his parents’ footsteps, and is currently pursuing a Human Rights degree at Columbia University, (complimentary tuition courtesy of his mother’s professorship).

Vigilante Life

Billy turned to defending the streets of New York in his spare time, and soon discovered he wasn't alone in his quest, meeting the Spider Men and Daredevil. He was soon tracked down and nearly apprehended by SWORD agent Clinton Barton, but Clint let him escape at the last minute, seeing nothing wrong with what Billy was doing. He and Clint stayed in touch and overtime formed something of a friendship. Eventually Clint dragged Billy to the mansion, where he met Amanda Sefton and agreed to be her teaching assistant for her magic lessons.

Mansion Life

Billy settled easily into mansion life, making friends and finding out quickly he wasn't immune to the strange happenings of the mansion. In August, Clint recruited him to help examine a mysterious object and ended up having to fight fish people when Namor accidentally activated the object. He got through a few months before he found himself being grabbed by Topaz to help save a bunch of wayward students in way over her head. It wasn't a bad life all around, however.

2017-18

The year brought with it more interest, starting with a bad magical interaction that led to the entire magical contingency shrinking down to microscopic size. Thankfully, they were able to fix it. Not long after, he, along with the rest of the magic people, discovered a strange black and white pebble that turned out to be the calling card for the Winding Way. In October, he helped rescue Clea and Topaz, who had been kidnapped by a mysterious force to another dimension. 2018 was similarly quiet.

Physical Characteristics

Height: 5'8"

Weight: 155

Eyes: Blue

Hair: Black


Powers

Billy’s mutation allows him to absorb chaotic energy around him, and by channeling that energy, he can make limited changes to reality. Like Chaos, it’s difficult to provide strict boundaries or definitions on his abilities, but two principles seem consistent.

1) The strength and duration of his powers is proportionate to the ambient chaos around him. The more chaotic the situation, the more energy that is available for conversion, and the larger the potential warping of reality.

2) The accuracy and complexity of the outcome are highly influenced by his concentration and clear mental imagery.

These two principles are intertwined. Since chaotic surroundings are not conducive to concentration, the larger the attempted magic, the more likelihood it has of going wrong, either stronger or weaker than intended, or failing entirely. The fickle nature of chaos also seems to play a role, and sometimes, even under ideal circumstances, the outcome may be entirely different from what he intended.

Billy has known about his powers for several years and through self-training, has gained rough control over a few applications, including conjuring lightning, summoning objects, levitation, and teleportation. While these are reasonably reliable, his typical approach is point, “shoot,” and hope for the best, with little attention to precision or finesse. Over time, he has developed a concentration technique of chanting “I-want-such-and-such-to-happen.” Although not strictly required for spells to work, it has become a much-needed tool that helps him focus his powers and achieve the most reliable results.

Equipment

None

Trivia

He is a vocal supporter of minority rights, and can often be found participating in volunteer work, awareness campaigns, and (mostly) peaceful demonstrations.

When he's not moonlighting as his super alter-ego, he often moonlights as a musician/singer/songwriter at local bars and clubs.

External Links

xp_communication posts

xp_journal posts

xp_logs posts

xp_newscast posts

Plots

2015

It’s Greek To Me

2016

Something Slender This Way Comes

2017

Honey, I Shrunk the Magic Class

Dark Dimension Homecoming

2018

Family Reunion

Meta

Player: Matt (player)

E-mail: Mattemail.png

Meta Trivia

Billy Kaplan was retired during the Dark Phoenix Saga and reintroduced as an older, debatably "wiser" Phase 2 character.

Retrieved from "http://www.x-journal.net/Wiki/index.php?title=Billy_Kaplan&oldid=101103"