Henry McCoy
This character is currently unplayed, but is open for applications. If you are interested in applying for this character, you can contact the mods at x_moderators @ googlegroups . com and you can find the application form here.
This page is about the Phase 2 incarnation of the character. For other uses, see Henry McCoy (disambiguation).
| Henry McCoy | |
|---|---|
 Portrayed by Nicholas Hoult | |
| Codename: | Beast |
| Affiliations: | Generation X |
| Birthdate: | September 4, 1997 |
| Journal: | xp_beast |
| Player: | Available for Applications |
Knowledge is always dangerous, but then so too is ignorance.
A new arrival to the mansion, Hank came to terms with his mutation and being in a place that accepted him for him. He is currently working and studying in France.
Contents
Details
Character Journal: xp_beast
Real Name: Henry 'Hank' McCoy
Codename: Beast
First Appearance: September 16, 2015
Date of Birth: September 4, 1997
Place of Birth: Dundee Illinois
Citizenship: American
Relatives: Edna and Norton McCoy
Education: High School GED, BSc in progress
Relationship Status: Single
Occupation: Researcher
Team Affiliation:
Biography
Childhood
Edna McCoy called her son her 'miracle baby', born to her long after doctors had thought it possible that she and her husband Norton might ever have children. After decades of longing the bouncing baby boy was the answer to all his parents' wishes, even if they were mistaken for his grandparents whenever they would take him out in public. Indeed, they thought at first that it was their age that had caused the boy to be a bit 'funny', but as he grew it became clear that he was merely incredibly clever, so much so that he skipped a grade without even noticing it in elementary school and ended up in high school a year early. Perhaps this was a blessing in disguise for it allowed him at least one 'normal' year of high school before things went wrong.
Hank hit puberty just as he was entering his sophomore year. Growing like a weed and a changing voice were bad enough, but parts of him didn't stop when the rest did and he ended up worse than gangly, with overlong arms and legs and oversized hands and feet that quickly earned him the nickname 'Apeman', among other less flattering appellations. Already a sensitive and self-conscious young man because of his intellect, Hank begged his parents to homeschool him so as not to have to go through the daily gamut of microaggressions his odd looks earned him at school. Once they agreed he all but taught himself and he earned his diploma at sixteen.
Even then he was unable to face going back to school (despite craving the mental stimulation of classes and the desire for social interaction) and so he took a job as a wash-up technician in a lab on the outskirts of Chicago. It wasn't long before his obvious brilliance was recognised - thanks to a little after-hours tinkering with the equipment that led to a surge in successful experiments - and he was given a place at a bench and a box of XXL gloves. While working at the lab it became apparent that there was a distinct desire for a pharmaceutical solution to the 'mutant problem' and so Hank, with his interest in genetics and metabolism, took it upon himself to explore whether it would be possible to create a serum that could counter the effects of mutations, or even block them from manifesting altogether.
Even for an intellect of his stature this was a towering challenge; he didn't really have the resources or support to work on it properly and so it took over a year to synthesise something that he thought might be a viable product. Of course, tests on flatworms and mice could only prove so much: they needed a human subject. Development stalled as it was debated whether to take it into further testing; meanwhile, Hank loaded up a syringe and injected himself late one night, willing to put up with any number of side effects if it meant being normal again.
Nothing happened. His physique remained outsized and stare-worthy and worse yet, the work he had dedicated a year of his life to had been a flop. Hank fell into a deep depression, barely bothering to quit his job before wallowing in his misery at his parent's house. It was only seeing his mother, now almost seventy, cleaning up after him and doing his laundry that shook him out of his funk. If he couldn't beat them, clearly, he'd have to join them.
Living At The X-Mansion
It took some time after his arrival at Xavier's as a grad student in September 2015 for Hank to feel comfortable enough to interact with his fellow residents in any way. His normal shyness was exacerbated by the strangeness of the location and he focused on his studies as a familiar way to deal. The fact his presence unnerved a number of the Phase 1 residents who remembered 'him' from a previous time added to his awkwardness, although he was unaware of the reason for the strange looks he sometimes got. He found himself in demand as a tutor, both in academics and powers and as a lab assistant, and found comradeship in equally-awkward Reed Richards who arrived later, and Reed's definitely-not-awkward but also science-savvy friend Susan Storm, and slowly began to reach out. He even accepted an invitation from Hope Abbott to a science dinner, which she was attending on behalf of her employer, Keller Industries. The event was equal parts heaven and torture for Hank, who enjoyed the talks by prominent scientists but who shrank from the social small talk and Hope's teasing banter. At some point he and Reed had a heart-to-heart about their mutual lack of dating history and resolved to study the matter scientifically and improve their social skills.
Hank managed to avoid most of the drama of the mansion, but did come to the fore when a mission required a scientific solution, such as a Faraday cage adaptation to restrain a teleporter; studying SHIELD technology following an X-Men clash with the Avengers; identifying and finding a containment for an emerald deadly to mutants; and accompanying the X-Men to an island of giant monsters for research purposes. He also struck up an unlikely friendship with the abrasive and extroverted Quentin Quire which lead to him experiencing a far wider social range than he'd been used to and an invitation to a family wedding which turned into a murder investigation... and sleeping with Quentin.
Eventually Hank achieved the confidence in himself and his mutation to take on a dream job - research in Paris alongside his friend and mentor, Reed Richards, leaving the mansion in May 2019.
Physical Characteristics
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 175lbs
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Brown
Other Features: Longer than average arms and legs, oversized hands and feet. Wears glasses, though it's unclear whether they're prescription or merely an affectation.
Powers
Hank's mutation gives him increased strength, speed, reflexes, agility, flexibility, coordination, balance and endurance - not superhuman levels, but certainly peak of human condition. He is more suited towards acrobatics and gymnastics than long-distance running; indeed, he moves faster on four limbs than two. His feet are also extremely dexterous and when barefoot he can climb nearly any surface with hand/footholds available.
In terms of hard and fast limits, he can lift up to 500kg in a clean and jerk, though sustained lifting tires him quickly and he can probably only support about 200-300kg for any length of time. As stated, he's more of a sprinter and an acrobat than a distance runner, so he can maintain bursts of speed of about thirty miles per hour for short periods on all fours. One area that he really excels in is leaping - he can leap over five feet vertically and thirty feet horizontally with a running start.
Equipment
His brain.
Trivia
Has an occasional tendency to use archaic slang.
External Links
Plots
2015
Roadside Assistance - event
2016
2017
2018
Meta
Player: Available for applications
E-mail:
Player Icon Base: Nicholas Hoult
Meta Trivia
The Phase 2 version of Hank was apped by Erin in 2015 and played until life interrupted in May 2019.
