** Updated profile with an "IC History" section and so that it reflects current employment

** Separated Future Plot profile off into its own post, 'cause I like it better there

Rupert's mutations section updated. The zealot's got drug-induced pwnage.

Rupert's power during the M drug plot:

Mutations
He has no X-gene. When under the influence of the genetics-altering street drug being turned out by a certain pharmaceutical company, however, he manifests the following ability.

Drug-induced mutation description: Mutant allergies. Having an x-gene... makes Rupert allergic to having an x-gene. As a survival measure, his x-gene constantly seeks to disguise itself in an effort to fool his body’s natural immune reaction. It takes its cues from the mutant abilities around it. In short: Rupert is a power mimic in need of a Benadryl.

Strengths: Rupert can copy another mutant’s power, if the carrier is within fifteen feet of him. He gains the same strengths, weaknesses, and power level as the power’s original holder, and temporary allergy relief. In a trade off for the short time each ability lasts in his system, Rupert’s power seems to make him a naturally quick study: he picks up on the broader points of each power’s control intuitively... minus a bit of trial and error. If he copies the same ability a few times, he might start getting the finer details, as well. He has a limited sort of mutant sensing, in that when another x-gene (natural or drug-induced) enters his range, it gives him something of a “pre-symptom”—like there’s an itch he can’t scratch, or a sneeze that just won’t come out.

Weaknesses: It starts as a rash, or a runny nose, or just feeling a bit under the weather. It gets worse from there. The longer Rupert maintains a single power, the closer he comes to putting himself into anaphylactic shock. His limit for any one power is approximately two hours and a hospital trip; allergy medication can double it to four hours and an ambulance ride. If he changes to another ability within that time frame, he can reset the effects: if
he doesn’t change, he’ll be in serious need of medical care until either the drug runs its course or he shifts.

His power is semi-involuntary: while he can choose to shift to another power, choosing not to shift can take a great force of will: his power will naturally seek to change itself as his symptoms start to peak, unless he consciously stops it.

His body only remembers (and uses) one mutant ability at a time, and naturally tries to find another to shift to before the first has made him significantly ill: to hold onto a power after about three and a half hours requires a great force of will, a sprinkling of stupidity, or the absence of a convenient mutant to copy. While Rupert can voluntarily shift to another power at any time, the only way to control what power he gets is to have only one mutant within his range when he does so. Otherwise, the process will randomly choose from the abilities around him, with preference for whoever is closest. He has no power-based way of knowing what a mutant’s ability is prior to copying it. Long term or heavy drug usage carries the risk of temporary or permanent damage to Rupert’s DNA.

Secondary mutation description: Half and half. During the time that Rupert’s power is switching from one set of genetics to another, he manifests traits from both. This is a brief window, lasting approximately ten to fifteen minutes. It can neither be prolonged nor hurried.

Strengths: Rupert gains temporary access to two sets of abilities. This allows for greater versatility than the typical mutant has access to. That’s right: be jealous, freaks.

Weaknesses: This only occurs when his x-gene is shifting—as such, the original ability wanes in power as the new ability strengthens, like lines crossing on a graph. At mid-process, Rupert has access to both powers at about half the strength they appear in their normal hosts. Rupert cannot try to change powers again until after this process has run its course: as such, the maximum number of times he can change powers per hour is 4-6, spaced out at 10-15 minute intervals.