Jack Harmony "Blackjack"
Note- This bio does contain mentions of him having known Wolverine and Xavier fairly well earlier in his life. He does know many of the other X-men but their relationships are not mentionned here. I do realize that the players of Xavier and Wolverine will have to okay this and if they don't find it satisfactory than they can just let me know and I'll change it.
Name: Jack Harmony
Nickname: Harmony, Musicman, Har, Gambler
Code Name: Blackjack
Affiliation: X-men (Current), Formerly none
Gender: Male
Age: Late 40's. He doesn't say for sure very often.
Hair: originally brown but now greying
Eyes: bright blue
Mother: Laura Harmony (deceased)
Father: Neil Harmony (deceased)
Powers: Persuasion
Jack’s power is that of a persuasive touch. Just one touch and Jack can persuade that one person of anything he wants. Heck he could tell them the sky was green and they’d believe him…for awhile anyway. Jack’s power does have it’s noticeable disadvantages and advantages like any other power.
Firstly his power works best if physical contact is held during the time that a person is persuaded but a simple touch will do. The persusion will not work as well though with only brief physical contact. The persuasion will fade only after the person has done whatever they are being persuaded to do, after Jack revokes his persuasion or with time. Usually the persuasion fades between 1 and 5 hours later depending on the person’s suseptability.
Naturally his power also depends on the victim. It’s doubtful that Jack could persuade Charles Xavier of anything and if it were something it would have to be a small thing for him to believe it. Jack’s power works best on those who are weak of mind and can be fought off by those who have great mental abilities.
History:
Jack was born to parents Laura and Neil and had a happy enough home life. He got average grades but excelled in sports and had luck in his love life early on. Upon looking back it seems likely that Jack’s power was his since birth and that it was partially this persuasiveness that helped him out in love.
Jack’s tough time came in High School though when a sports injury prevented him from becoming a professional baseball player, which had always been his dream. Jack began hanging out with the wrong crowd and, despite warnings from his parents, ended up in trouble when he began gambling on school sports games since he couldn't play. The gambling grew though and by the time Jack had (barely) managed to finish high school and be of legal age he was gambling every night.
Although Jack’s powers could have helped him immensely he chose the honourable route for he was still a good guy even if he had made wrong choices. Jack never cheated in his gambling and preferred to take his chances. Still his power grew,despite not being used, due to his poker face and ability to naturally persuade people. Unfortunently not cheating left Jack in serious debt and he found work as an agent who would go where the money was and work for wherever he was highest paid. Even while gaining money at other jobs he continued to gamble, his favourite game being Blackjack. He was given the nickname Blackjack and it stuck, becoming the name he now uses.
Jack would work for money but he wouldn’t go against his conscience. Mainly he worked for larger companies, occationally with lawyers but never with the Brotherhood or the X-men.
Jack met Xavier while in his early-thirties and respected the older man greatly. He still had problems though and was over his head, not to mention the fact that he knew he wasn’t ready to teach just yet. Jack turned down Xavier’s offer for a job and did more work for big companies.
Over the next few years he and Xavier bumped heads often and Jack met up with Wolverine who became both friend and foe.
Finally Jack recognized his problem and got help, joining a group to help him quit gambling. He took Xavier’s offer for a job up, loving the idea of working with kids and believing he was ready. Jack took up the task quite well and seemed well adjusted. For 3 years Jack taught the next generation and was happy doing it. Things changed though when he got word that an old friend and mentor had been killed. Jack went back to his usual route of coping with bad news and took up gambling again. Although the other X-men helped him back on the right track after finding out about his problem things just weren't the same and a year later, at around age 40, Jack announced that he needed some time to cope.
Jack headed up North and bought a cottage by a northern lake. He spent just over five years here, recovering emotionally away from people. He kept in touch with Xavier the entire time but showed no signs of being ready to come back, in fact he seemed quite happy in his cottage and didn't seem to want to leave.
Now Jack has decided of his own free will to return to teaching and has unknowingly picked a time of great chaos in some ways. Some may still be suspcious, claim that he hasn't changed while others may welcome him. How he’ll be received and how he’ll feel about teaching and being an official member of the X-men once more at this time remains to be seen
Personality:
Jack has always been stubborn and hard to get along with, perhaps one of the reasons why he took so long to get around to joining the X-men. He's arrogant, cocky and some what of a smart alek, certainly not the comforting best friend but Jack does have some soft spots. Jack has always had a fondness for kids and would make a great father if he wasn't a sworn bachelor. He likes girls and dating but occationally shies away from committment and his bad habits drive girls away. He is kind and helpful to those who earn his trust but distrusts some at first. (I'll have to check with his player on this one but...) Because of his personality he and Wolverine are so similar that they entirely clash or agree completely and can be at eachother's throats or loyal teammates. He has many bad qualities(in fact a whole list of them) but also has a true heart and a drive like no other. He's incredibly loyal and will always do the job and do it right, even if he does complain about it alot on the way.
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