princeofthieves

Name: Dodge

Age: 17

Gender: Male

Type: Aspects - Fairytale

Appearance:

Dodge is a tall and lanky kind of kid, the sort that would be skinny even if he did get three square meals a day. As it is, he doesn't, but he doesn't have that overly emancipated look most starving kids get. There's a darker tone to his skin that hints at a lineage outside of the city, but it's to hard to place. His hair is best described as a mop of dark brown curls, but it's usually only seen peeking below the brim of the worn in fedora he's never without.

Dodge takes pride in his appearance, always trying to look the part of a class above what he is. His clothes are always dressy, vests, ties and jackets, but closer inspection shows they're used and worn, patched carefully, but only thrift store quality at best.

Personality:

Dodge is a cheery fellow despite what most might assume is his misfortune. In his eyes though he seems himself as the luckiest of chaps, living a life that most would envy. He's a gentleman of the lower class, and is willing to use either his mature attitude, or his young appearance to get what he needs or wants. He always seems rather easy going and laid back, able to overlook hunger pains and other downturns as if there's nothing about it.

He's a natural leader, quick to garner respect in both the ragtag group of followers he has and the grown ups he deals with on a regular basis. He's a sharp cat, quick on his feet and the type of clever and witty that keeps him out of trouble when he's nothing but.

Unlike most street children, he's literate, able to both read and write, having learned from his benefactor as a young boy.

Oh and he's a terrible flirt.

Sexuality:

straight

Constants:

Kleptomania - He takes everything. He's prone to lifting from pockets even when he doesn't need it, and he constantly keeps little treasures, photos from wallets, lockets, chains that watches came on and the like. Why pay for something when you can steal it?

Driven to fight the status quo - Who says you have to have money to be royalty? Dodge is determined to prove everyone wrong, and that all that work and no play? It's not worth it and you can be just as successful lording over the street urchins in the world as you can lording over bottom feeders in an office. Plus, they have to go to work and he just gets to relax and enjoy the good life.

Inspires followers - They may not look like much but the group of street kids that look up to Dodge are useful in a pinch. There's always someone there to say he wasn't somewhere, or someone to take the fall. Would he to the same for them? Not really just sure, but the need hasn't come up and no one's bothered to ask. For now he takes care of them, and in turn they worship him.

City History:

Dodge's direct lineage is uncertain, although he suspects his parents were gypsies who lost their son while traveling through town. For as long as he could remember he lived on the streets, struggling to survive. At age 10, a middle-aged gentleman, took him in, offering to let the boy live with him in his meager apartment provided the boy could help bring in the money they needed to survive. The man, who Dodge knew only as Patrick, taught him how best to steal whatever he needed from the streets, including all of his pickpocketing skills. As his student started to show promise, he used Dodge's charisma to bring in other young boys, letting Dodge teach them the same skills while he took on a Fagin-type role. In fact, it was Patrick who crowned him Dodge, a play on the Artful Dodger of Oliver Twist fame, the only book Patrick had read and the inspiration for his lifestyle.

As time passed Patrick and Dodge built up a powerful ring of misfits and street kids, all willing to do anything for the love of Dodge and out of fear of Patrick. They were living the good life without having to do the work that most did, and Dodge considered himself a champion of the city. He was, in his terms the "Prince of Thieves" and soon those around town know him as such, including local law enforcement. He took his role as prince seriously, lording over his subjects with a gentle hand and letting Patrick dole out punishment as necessary for those who didn't contribute their part.

One late night, after a successful day of running about with some of the older boys in their group, Dodge returned home in time to see exactly what brand of punishment that Patrick issued. Disgusted, insulted and variably scarred for life by the pedophile, Dodge took matters into his own hands, snitching on his benefactor and setting him up in the ultimate scheme, using everything the man had taught him. Patrick went to jail, where the Syndicate had contacts waiting for him, assuming that he'd been given a deal in turn for valuable information on them, even though his contact with them had been minimal at best. A few weeks after landing in the slammer he supposedly hung himself in his cell. Dodge took over caring for the misfits who stayed with him after Patrick's demise, maintaining their apartment and continuing to survive on the streets either begging or pickpocketing (or both).

For the moment he remains unconnected to any family, although the Syndicate has their eye on him, already considering him useful for helping them get rid of Patrick. The local police also want him on their side, mostly because they aren't able to catch him in an actual crime, but they helped him take one thief off the streets. There is an idea that if they can turn him before he gets too much older, he could be rehabilitated.

Dodge meanwhile is weighing the consequences of all offers that are headed is way, but he won't be able to maintain his neutral standing for much longer if he wants to continue his reign as the Prince of Thieves. Street kids still flock to him, hopeful that he'll take them in and provide for them.

Special Skills and Abilities:

Excellent pickpocket, beyond excellent.

Weaknesses:

Charges - When Patrick was arrested, Dodge was left in charge of his misfit group of boys, who although are older than when he started and have their own set of skills for survival, they rely on him for his leadership and guidance. Without him, most of them would end up in jail or worse.

Wanted - Dodge is wanted by the law, wanted by the families and wanted by just about everyone who's had their wallet stolen in the past seven years. Although he's almost a public figure, most still realize he's trouble and most still want him off the streets. And those who don't want him off the streets? They want him for something else entirely.

Paranoid - A life of crime usually leads to being a little more careful than most, but Dodge is constantly looking over his shoulder for someone coming up behind him. In addition, although he knows Patrick is dead, Dodge still feels as if the man is after him for setting him up.

Hallucinations - To further his paranoid attitude, he's plagued with hallucinations of his former benefactor, both of what he saw the night he walked in on Patrick and just Patrick lurking, waiting to come after him.

Strengths:

Leader - Dodge is a natural born leader, and his place among his misfit tag team is even more secure due to him taking out the enemy when he got Patrick arrested and killed.

Family or Connections:

none so far...but everyone wants a piece.

Residence:

a ratty apartment he shares with the higher ranking kids in his team a few blocks over from the sixth street bridge.

Career:

Prince of Thieves

PB: Skandar Keynes