Light Ice
A Real Bastard
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2003
- Posts
- 5,396
Setting
Atlantic City, December of 1922. The heart of the Prohibition era and rise of Organized Crime in the United States. Atlantic City, centrally located along two major roadways leading to Chicago and New York, has become a veritable bootlegger's boom town. Boats, filled with illegal liquor, run in and out of the ports on a daily basis. Trucks loaded to the gills with whiskey shuffle northward to supply the Big Apple. Money, ill-begotten and ill-gained, moves like water through everyone's fingers.Our characters, for all their differences, will live and operate out of Bug Eyed Betty's. A cathouse/gin joint operated by an unlikely pair of friends, Betty's is located in the heart of the black slums along Atlantic City's outskirts. It has a diverse stable of young women with flexible moral character who service a wide variety of patrons. These patrons, both white and black, represent the down and out amongst a city that is otherwise firmly held by established magnates. We begin, all of us, with humble origins and big aspirations.
Themes
Each character is possessed by a different motive. All characters, despite these differences, are united by two very common threads. The first is that all, despite their position, which to do better for themselves. The second is that they see this group as the easiest way to climb from where they presently stand.
The themes here will be adult and difficult. Sexism will be at the heart of this thread as women have only begun to make small, significant steps towards fair treatment. Racism will be another undercurrent here. Most characters, either consciously or unconsciously, will exhibit behaviors that involve stereotyping or flat-out bigotry. And, most important of all, morality. Women and men will explore a sudden acceptance in regards to sexuality and indulgences of all kinds.
Characters
The following roles will be played.
Black Businessman - fr33ks33k:
Pillar of his community, our hero represents a man who was born in perpetual hardship and has raised himself over every obstacle he can. He is uneducated, but cunning and possesses a strong moral compass. His primary concern is the state of his community. It is a fear of the Italian mafia families and their blatantly racist attitudes that has lead him to accept a partnership with our White Businessman. His goal is to provide opportunity and safety for the people in his community while raising his own station. He is handsome, capable, and one of our leads. A leader of men.
White Businessman - dryfter:
A morally sound entrepreneur whose personal code would not allow him to break the law, our second hero found himself suddenly outclassed by rival magnates whose wallets were abruptly bolstered by investments and participation in the illegal liquor trade. Overcome, cast out, he possesses only a fraction of his previous fortune and has invested all of it into his partnership with our Black Businessman. His goal is to create a flourishing enterprise that is vastly profitable for he, and his partner, and allows him to get some measure of revenge on the men that overcame him. He is handsome, capable, and the man with all the angles.
The Muscle (White) - Light Ice:
A former made man in a New York Family, our character finds himself alone after being sold out and betrayed over a territorial dispute. He is out for revenge of all sorts, fiscal and otherwise. The skills he brings to the table are mostly brutal - though he has a warm relationship with the black community and is skilled at judging and advising on how to handle hired help. His goal is to handle the small assortment of men, of mixed backgrounds, that make up our lead roles force. He is not traditionally handsome, strong, and capable.
The Madame (Black) - Apollo_Wilde
A young woman whose political intelligence has allowed her to rise quickly, and on her own two feet, this character represents part of the face of Betty's. Betty's is owned and operated exclusively by the two madames at its helm. This, while a great accomplishment, puts the pair in constant peril from outside sources. The agreement she's struck with our budding bootlegging heroes is a simple one. Protection for influence. She can help feed them information only a girl can learn from a man's pillow and in response keeps her business, gains protection, and gains a foothold in the profitable enterprise of bootlegging. She is beautiful, capable, and our female lead.
The Madame (White) - AmbrosiaCaress
A young woman who possesses a gentility of manner and great polish, this character represents the emotionally sensitive and aware member of our unlikely group. She cares for the stable of women who entertain at Betty's and represents a truly compassionate (albeit opportunistic) heart. This character's ability to soothe minds and hearts makes her invaluable to the team - not only as salve for the rocky relationship and unstable circumstances of the partnership at hand. But also, in a pinch, for always knowing exactly what can diffuse a bad situation and help people find the best in everything. She is sweet, she is capable, she is beautiful. She is one of our leads.
The Girl (White/Black/Asian/?) - MadMissJ
A working girl, our character represents a wild card to the game. She's keen on getting out of the cathouse and slide herself into the bootlegging operation and will eventually prove to have the metal to do so. Look for this girl to be as likely to slit a man's throat when she has his pants down than to do anything else. She's the tough girl of those stabled at Betty's and has been known to have her own way with an out of line John when the moment is right. She is fierce. She is sexy.
I am presently considering additional roles. Concepts and inquiries should be made via PM.
Note:
These character biographies are a general guidance for how the thread binds characters together. They are not restrictive and are open to the writer's to do with as they please. As such, they will most likely change some in their roles as the story progresses.
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