#dg character.

[devilsgatewayhq]

Name: Sullivan 'Sully' Decker Age: 35 Time living in Tonopah: Native Occupation: Foreman of the Decker Ranch Gang Affiliation: Hellraisers MC Neighborhood: Glenn Estates Face Claim: Scott Eastwood

Biography:

tw for alcoholism, addiction, parental death

The youngest of the Decker children, Sullivan never really felt as though he was destined for any kind of greatness. His father's aloof nature might have instilled some kind of insecurity in him if he hadn't seen that it wasn't personal, all his children received the same coldness. At an early age Sully decided that he wanted to be nothing like Joseph and even if it meant that he'd be deemed unsuccessful in life he'd content to settle for being the one who could make those around him happy. For most of his childhood his mission in life was to make his siblings laugh no matter the cost

What he lacked in drive and ambition he made up for in good nature, choosing not to worry about life when he was certain that things would fall into place for him. His school days were spent half paying attention in class so he could keep his grades just high enough to continue playing football. He wasn't as blissfully unaware of the struggles of his mother as he pretended to be but for the most part he was able to brush off worry in favour of living in the moment.

It was something of a surprise that Sully decided to go to college when he'd never been academically inclined but it wasn't the scholarship he was offered that sealed the deal but rather the idea that he'd get to keep playing the sport he loved for longer. With his future seemingly secured he felt the only thing he had left to do was enjoy his last summer before moving to Oregon for college. For the first few weeks that was what he did but then his carefree life took a turn while out for a ride. His horse spooked, sending him flying off and leaving him with several broken bones, including spinal fractures.

At just eighteen years he'd felt as though his future was in ruins, unable to follow through with his plans and a long road of recovery ahead of him. He was told he was lucky he was young and fit, that with the right help he'd be back to normal in no time. While he dedicated himself to his physical therapy the accident still left him with chronic pain. Having seen his mother's struggle with it Sully made every effort to hide it, not wanting his family to have to worry about yet another of their members. It was easy enough to do - just adapt the same carefree attitude he always had and ignore any of the darker emotions that threatened to cloud the bright demeanour that was expected of him.

The next decade passed in something of a blur, his hours working on the ranch interspersed with partying and whatever adrenaline rush he could find. He drank to numb the lingering pain, choosing to do it socially most of the time so that it could easily be passed off as him just having fun. It wasn't until his mother's death that he finally decided it was time to take life a little more seriously.

He found he wanted to be someone that his family could turn to and his penchant for levity at any cost didn't lend itself entirely well to it. But more than that he found himself tiring of his usual routine and looking for some other kind of meaning to his life. There was a new desire to succeed Joseph in the running of the ranch, slowly beginning to take on more responsibility to prove to everyone ( and himself ) that he was capable. Once again his eyes turn to the future, wondering how best he can secure the ranch for another generation.

Headcanons:

It took him a little while to get back in the saddle after his accident but since then he's ridden practically every day, whether for work or pleasure.

Has no real wardrobe outside of the clothes he wears on the ranch. Lives in jeans, t-shirts and flannel.

Started taking an interest in basic woodworking thinking it could help him fix things up on the ranch more easily but surprised himself with how much he enjoyed it so he's slowly been building up his skill for the past five years.

Bought a guitar on impulse as a teen and has taught himself to play. Mostly only knows how to play acoustic covers of classic rock songs he found YouTube tutorials for. But if he knows someone likes a song he's been known to try to learn it to surprise them.

Despite his love of his guitar he tends to listen to podcasts over music, preferring to use it as a chance to learn something new. Even if it tends to be useless facts or true crime instead of anything truly practical.

[devilsgatewayhq]

Name: Levi McCoy Age: 39 Time living in Tonopah: 21 Years Occupation: Co-Founder of The Village Community Center Gang Affiliation: N/A Neighborhood: Webster Village Face Claim: Jesse Lee Soffer

Biography:

From a very young age, all Levi Petroski knew was heartbreak. The only good thing his parents did for him was make sure he had a brother to look out for him. Levi barely has memory of his parents, much of his first memories being from when they were already living with their grandmother in New Orleans. And Levi was a happy child. Quiet and sweet and willing to do whatever he could to make sure he and Chase didn’t get in trouble. Despite only being two years apart, Chase was often the only real person Levi could rely on and when their grandmother passed away, Levi felt another heartbreak that only brought them closer.  The years of survival and the years of being back in foster care are memories that have never left Levi’s heart and mind and are a big reason why he does what he does today. Watching Chase do whatever he needed so they could eat or have money for school supplies, all while being insistent that Levi not fall into the same patterns, changed something deeply within him. He felt helpless and like a burden but Chase always assured him that his only job was to go to school and do well. So that’s what he did. Kept his head down, got his work done and occasionally got random jobs around town to help contribute to the care of the two of them. 

Once they were old enough to leave New Orleans, Levi hopped on the back of Chase’s bike and they went west until they ended up in Tonopah Valley where Levi would finish out his last two years of high school under a new last name: McCoy. Levi McCoy, unlike Levi Petroski, was more outgoing. Still flying under the radar but a little less afraid to have fun, now that there was distance between him and his past life. He came out of his shell a bit, made friends and actually enjoyed his last two years of high school before heading off to college. Levi had wanted to stay closer to Tonopah but Chase had insisted that he go for the best opportunity. Which is how he ended up at USC pursuing a degree in English while his brother only got more deeply embedded into cartel life.  It was during his time in California that he first met Georgie Banks. It was a shock to him to find that a star on the rise such as her could give him the time of day but it was clear to both of them that they had a connection that was deeper than just some summer fling. And so Levi fell in love for the first time, feeling so far removed from the scared kid he had used to be. But heartbreak found him again as graduation came closer and his main goal was to get back home to his brother. And Georgie was Georgie, a star in high demand who couldn’t just settle down with some guy in Tonopah Valley. So they let each other go, with the hope that maybe one day their paths would cross again. 

And Levi came home, eventually pursuing his Masters in business administration while trying to make sure Chase stayed out of prison. Upon his return he also reconnected with his best friend SIlas Decker and after many days of talking, they decided to bring their dream to life. And so The Village Community Center was born. Originally intended to serve at risk youth, the center has grown to be even more and serves people all over Tonopah but still sits in the heart of Webster Village where Levi still lives to this day.  The years Chase was in prison was especially hard on him and though he went to visit him every week, it took a toll on him. Chase’s release date was one of the happiest of Levi’s life, always feeling more steady when the two of them were side by side. And he’s been hoping since that his brother can get back on track and find a job that won’t put him in danger, though that doesn’t seem to be the case with the deal he cut with Valentina Ricci. 

These are the things that keep him up at night in partnership with all the daily worries that come up at the center. But there’s no doubt that Tonopah Valley is his home. He has a solid house in Webster Village, his brother is a relatively free man, he has a healthy and sweet relationship with Freya Hudson, his girlfriend for the past year and he’s happy. Even when he’s worried, he’s happy.  But that doesn’t mean heartbreak isn’t around the corner. 

Headcanons:

Coaches the center's grade school basketball and soccer teams for boys and girls. Truly a passion of his and he definitely takes the coach title very seriously. 

The center has definitely become his life since he lives close and has poured all his heart and time into it. But he does try his best to have a life outside of it. When he’s not working he can often be found hanging out downtown. With Chase’s tattoo shop, Freya’s flower shop, a bookstore and good food around, it’s one of his favorite places to be.

Very much does not like the gangs and has focused much of his work on helping youth stay out of them so he’s had his fair share of scuffles protecting his young people but he’s been generally successful, just not with his own brother. 

Definitely a community man, happy to talk to anyone and help them out and has deep love for Webster Village and kind of a bit of resentment towards Glenn Estates. 

Doesn’t mind driving but he also rides his bicycle most places and focuses a lot of time on making sure his bike is taken care of even if the kids clown him for it.

[devilsgatewayhq]

Name: Silas Joseph Decker Age: 39 Time living in Tonopah: Native Occupation: Co-Founder of The Village Community Center Gang Affiliation: N/A Neighborhood: Has an apartment downtown, but his and his wife's home is in Springate Crossings Face Claim: Colin O'Donoghue

Biography:

Being the first-born son in a family with a reputation to maintain meant Silas started life with the weight of high expectations on his shoulders. Joseph and Lainey Decker were a power couple in the equine industry, Joseph running the largest horse ranch in Nevada and Lainey a professional competitive horse rider, so Silas had a strong work ethic drilled into him starting at a young age. Practically as soon as he was able to walk, he was mucking stalls, taking care of horses, and becoming acquainted with the hundreds of acres the family owned. Within the next few years, he was joined by twins Sawyer and Samson and their youngest brother, Sullivan, rounding out the next generation of Deckers. Joseph was a distant, no-nonsense man who fathered multiple children with strong personalities, which made growing up within the Decker household difficult at times. As the oldest, Silas was given the additional responsibility of looking after his siblings, and their successes and failures inevitably reflected back onto him, however unfair that felt to him growing up. How was he meant to ensure his siblings stayed out of trouble, especially when they were all so strong-willed? Although he would never openly admit to it, the pressure of his parents' expectations weighed heavily on him, and pushed him further and further from wanting to do anything with the ranch. He started volunteering his time around town -- since he didn't need the money, he didn't want to take employment away from someone who would actually need it -- and joined as many after-school clubs as he could so he'd have a reason to be out of the house and free from his family's watchful eyes.

That was how he met who would become his future wife. They had both been paired together while volunteering to pick up garbage and plant vegetation in Webster Village. Soon after that was when he met his best friend. Levi McCoy had only recently moved to town, and Silas had taken it upon himself to introduce the newcomer to his hometown. The two hit it off immediately, becoming inseparable, and the three were rarely seen without each other. Although they attended different universities, Silas made it a point to visit his best friends when he could, which is when his relationship with his future wife shifted into something more. They all found their way back to Tonopah Valley, and Silas got married not too long afterward, around the same time that he and Levi decided to take the leap and open up their own nonprofit organization targeted towards serving the community that had brought them all together. The Village Community Center started in a rented building and has since grown into a campus with multiple buildings, each offering different ways to serve the community and provide somewhere for youth to go so they wouldn't end up dragged into gang violence.

With its growth, though, came far more hours away from home, and Silas found he was missing more moments in the lives of his wife and two children than he was a part of. His passion for helping fortify Webster Village had taken him away from his family, and then the loss of his mother even more so. While his wife stayed with him as he processed the grief, when Silas began to throw himself more into his work as a result, she could no longer stand by and allow him to treat their family as less of a priority. The two agreed to separate three years ago, but neither of them has made the move to file for divorce. Silas has been stepping up in that time, and the love for his family -- and especially his wife -- has only gotten stronger, but he knows he has a long way to go before they can reconcile their relationship. The last thing he wants is to turn into his father.

Headcanons:

Silas has sunken a good portion of his trust fund into The Village over the years

He has a habit of jumping into things headfirst and giving them his all, which he believes is both a blessing and a curse

He loves his siblings, but he'd also sell them for one corn chip

He has no idea about the ranch's affiliation with the Hellraisers

[devilsgatewayhq]

Name: Samson Decker Age: 37 Time living in Tonopah: Native Occupation: Pediatrician at Tonopah Valley Medical Center Gang Affiliation: Hellraisers MC Neighborhood: Glenn Estates Face Claim: Richard Madden

Biography (TW: mentions of addiction, parental death, mental health):

Samson "Sammy" Decker is the second youngest son of Joseph and Lainey Decker, a pivotal figure in the Decker family legacy and the sprawling Decker Ranch, known as the largest horse ranch in Nevada. With younger brother Sullivan, twin sister Sawyer (who is just four minutes older), and older brother, Silas, Sammy's childhood was defined by an insatiable yet ultimately unfilling need for approval, even at the expense of his own psyche.

Joseph Decker was a no-nonsense, emotionally distant man whose relentless pursuit of greatness left little room for warmth or encouragement. As the eldest of his siblings, Joseph managed the ranch, ingraining a sense of duty into his children. Sammy idolized his father, desperately seeking his praise, yet felt the crushing disappointment of feeling like he’d never quite measured up. This pursuit of perfection became increasingly troubling as Sammy grappled with feelings of inadequacy, exacerbated by the fact that he just felt different. Like, half of a whole, like there was something wrong with him that he couldn’t quite put his finger on. For years, he refused to admit to himself that this internal struggle was due to the fact that he wasn’t attracted to women: he was gay. If he couldn’t accept that about himself, how could the world? How could his father? So, his solution was to bury that part of himself deep down inside and focus solely on what was important to him; his studies, his dedication to his family. And it worked out for him, at least for a little while. 

In pursuit of a brighter future, Sammy enrolled at the University of Nevada, where he committed himself to a medical degree with the goal of returning to Tonopah Valley as a pediatrician while helping manage the family ranch. However, whilst in the midst of his schooling, the Decker Ranch began to harbor dark secrets. During the 2008 financial crisis, the family faced financial ruin, leading them to an unlikely alliance with the Hellraisers Motorcycle Club. This partnership, orchestrated by the club's leader, Leon Best, involved transporting and hiding illegal weapons in exchange for financial support. Though reluctant to step into the criminal underworld, Sammy embraced this pact, willing to do whatever was necessary to keep his family afloat.

After graduating from medical school, Sammy began working at the Tonopah Valley Medical Center, where his days were filled with caring for children and their families. He was a good doctor – he had a bit of an edge, sure, a bluntness that could be disarming for people expecting a physician with a softer touch, but his intellect and knack for the craft more than made up for it. After hours, he transformed into an on-call medic for the Hellraisers, setting up shop in one of the barns and stitching up members when going to the hospital wasn’t the wisest choice. Though skillful, reliable, the pressure he put on himself was immense and as the years went by, Sammy found himself increasingly burdened with his own inner demons. By the age of 30, he was still hiding his sexuality, leading him to make questionable decisions and spiral into self-destructive behavior, which is when he finally decided to come out to his siblings and a few close friends. It was merely a start, but with part of that weight off his shoulders, he felt that he could breathe a little bit better.

Everything  became more complicated when Lainey, once a championship rider and the heart of the Decker Ranch, approached him for help with her own pain management. In an effort to ease her suffering, Sammy began writing her prescriptions – only one or two at first – but it was enough to unwittingly enable her descent back into addiction.He tried to help her, to get her into a program and help wean her off, but by the time he’d understood the gravity of his actions, she was too far gone The guilt gnawed at him as he watched her struggle, and yet he kept this dark secret locked away, even from his siblings. Two years later, she passed away from an overdose, something he’s never fully gotten over..

After the death of his mother, Sammy’s conscience became too heavy, and he realized that something had to give, put his own self-inflicted fears of living his life truly and fully to himself aside and come clean to his father. Not long after the funeral, the youngest Decker male found the courage to eventually come out to Joseph – and, to his mild surprise, was accepted. It wasn’t a grand show of emotion, no, and still there wasn’t an ‘I love you’ in earshot, but it was something. From then on, Sammy stopped hiding and began living. 

In the years since, things have been relatively the same with the exception of his aunt and sister coming back to town to help out with the ranch, glad to have them back by his side. The years have been kinder to him, his self-destructive tendencies lessening as he navigates life in this space, but just because things are better doesn’t mean that they are perfect. Deep down, Sammy knows that it can only be a matter of time until the past catches up with him, until he succumbs to that pressure once more, and until the Deckers’ good fortune begins to run out.

Headcanons:

Has a hard time getting out of his own way when it comes to dating. Vulnerability is still very difficult to him, and often times he'll deflect it with an attitude and a razer sharp tongue.

Usually ends the night with a beer and a cigarette. He already knows he's a hypocrite, being a doctor and all, but he doesn't give a damn.

Four minutes younger than Sawyer and she never lets him forget it.

Has a keen sense of style. Very into the whole 'quiet luxury' fashion trend. 

Got into a few physical fights as a young teen but has calmed down a lot since. There was only one instance as an adult where he started a fight with a guy at a bar for reasons he can't remember, prompting the police to be called. Sawyer came and talked to the arrested office, getting him out of trouble before he could be dragged to jail. Later that night is when he finally came out to her.

Most people are surprised to learn that he works with children given how rough his bedside manner can be, but he gets results and for the most part parents like him -- and if they don't? Well, as he likes to say, "I’m here to treat your kid, not win Miss Congeniality."

[devilsgatewayhq]

Name: Ava Best Age: 35 Time living in Tonopah: Native, birth to 18 & returned recently Occupation: Lawyer at Decker & Associates, specialises in family law Gang Affiliation: Neutral but leans strongly towards the Hellraisers Neighborhood: Glenn Estates Face Claim: Laura Harrier

Biography (TW: age gap/power imbalance relationship; parental loss; emotional + mental abuse & depression):

Leon Best and Grace Boone were high school sweethearts who had a shotgun wedding after falling pregnant. But for all the swiftness of the match, there was no doubt in their mind that they would be together forever. Both began to work for the Best family business, the Blue Moon Motel, with Leon's family supporting the young pair as best they could. But with his parents' health beginning to fail the burden of the business began to rest more heavily on his shoulders. With one young child another on the way Leon looked for support and security. He found it in the Hellraisers, becoming one of their prospects. By the time Ava was born eighteen months later he was a fully fledged member and she grew up surrounded by the club, the tightness of the bonds only increasing when Leon was voted president later.

Growing up in such a busy environment it seemed only natural that she would develop a love of people. Whether she was sociable and outgoing by nature or nurture it hardly mattered, making friends with ease throughout her time at school. Though hectic and chaotic at times her family life was a happy one, filled with love and support despite conflicting schedules. It was her family's unerring faith in her that saw her work hard both at school and in between her shifts at the Blue Moon to keep her grades high enough that college was a real option for her. With her eyes eventually set on pre-law, they all rallied behind her to ensure that she got to where she wanted to be. It seemed inevitable that she would with such support and the whole family celebrated when she graduated with an offer from the college of her choice. Ava set off for New York excited for what the future would bring, looking for every opportunity she could find along the way, eventually securing an internship.

When she met one of the partners, Richard Mitchell, on the second day of the internship, Ava felt as though she’d fallen in love at first sight. He was older but it didn’t feel as though he lorded it over her, instead he listened to every word she as though it had real value. Never once was she made to feel naïve or ignorant despite it feeling obvious to her that he knew so much more. She couldn’t help but hang on every word he said and after his offer of help once her internship came to an end she couldn’t resist turning to him for help and input. He offered to take on the role of her mentor to guide her through she agreed, too enamoured to look too closely at the fine print of such a deal or even hesitate. It had felt too good come true with everything just falling into place, the two of them starting up a romantic relationship within weeks of her agreeing to keep in touch.

The first few months of their relationship were blissful, a true honeymoon period when all she wanted to do was spend every moment of her time with him and it felt like he thought the same. Even when they weren’t together she received a constant reminder that he wanted to be with her, endless texts and voicenotes. They worked together throughout her gaining her degree, him her first port of call over her professors whenever she needed help. His influence seeping into every part of her life deeply enough that when he asked her to move in with him saying yes felt like the most natural thing in the world. The dream continued and she found herself ignoring any warnings from friends and family that threatened to give her a wake up call. Any of the logistics that might have stood in their way were handled by Richard, the rest of her rental contract paid off and possessions moved. He even persuaded her to quit the job she had barely started, convincing her that he would be happy to support her so she could focus solely on her studies. From there she had expected it to be a continuation of their relationship so far but instead his interest in her seemed to wane. Leaving her to wonder about how he felt about her as well as his life, feeling as though whenever he came home she almost had to beg for him to tell her what he had done that day. Whenever they were in public it felt like it had at the start, she could bask in the warmth of his attention and affection, making her feel as though she was just imagining the chillier conditions at home.

But as the months wore on she could no longer make excuses for him and begun to feel increasingly isolated when none of their friends saw anything wrong with their relationship - if anything they saw it as something to be aimed for. Eventually she confided in a friend about their change in dynamic but her concerns were brushed off, leaving her feeling as though she had been overreacting. After that she could never bring her self to mention it again and just did her best to adjust to what seemed to be her new life. She learned to smile when he smiled, started waxing lyrical about their relationship again and played at being the perfect girlfriend the way he had tried to craft her to be. They had reached power couple status and her career went from strength to strength with Richard claiming all the credit for her achievements, making sure that everyone knew they were all thanks to his connections and shrewd advice. She got a job at his practice, throwing herself into her work to fill the void of her home life. Months turned into years and Tonopah was all but forgotten when she was unwilling to grant anyone an insight into the state of her relationship and just how much of her success could be traced back to Richard.

Despite becoming increasingly unhappy, there didn't seem to be a way out when Richard was in control of her living situation, her social group, her client base and her career. The realisation of this weighed down on her and pushed her towards depression but by this point she had already gotten so good at hiding her feelings and emotions that it was barely a struggle to conceal this too. She just continued going through the motions, managing to convince herself as well as everyone around her that she was fine. It wasn’t until she heard about her mother’s illness that she was pulled back to reality after drifting through life for so long. Knowing that the condition sounded serious she dropped everything, taking a break to return home, despite Richards’s protests. The time spent back in Tonopah as her mother’s health declined reminded her that she still had somewhere to call home, despite how she had felt so isolated from everything in New York. Even though the last few months of Grace’s life were tinged with grief, they were also happy. A bittersweetness to them that renewed her love for life as well as her faith and confidence in herself. Her mother’s death didn’t cripple her with grief instead it gave her the clarity that she needed to leave Richard and the motivation that she needed to begin to reclaim her life, knowing it’s what Grace would have wanted for her.

On her return to New York she tried to end relationship as cleanly as possible, hoping that the pair of them could come to some sort of arrangement that suited them both. But the break up was messy. Harsh and hateful words were exchanged and as someone who knew her so well, Richard knew exactly what to say to hurt her the most. Despite calling her cousin to come help her move her things, hoping an audience might make her now ex boyfriend hold his verbal punches but the damage was already done. She’d never had a problem trusting or believing in herself but he succeeded in planting seeds of doubt and she was left wondering how much of her success was down to her talent and how much of it was down to his influence. So despite a large part of her wanting to return home to Tonopah, she didn't want to have to admit to her own failures and instead took a job in San Francisco.

The move allowed her to be closer to her father, weekends spent in Tonopah still somewhat rare but more frequent than they had ever been when she'd been in New York. After two years of keeping her head down and trying to rebuild some faith in herself while dodging the job advertisements her father none too subtly sent, Ava decided that it was time to stop delaying the inevitable. When Leon sent her an opportunity at Decker & Co was quick to apply and after finding out she'd been successful in getting the job she made arrangements to move home. It was only once she was settled in that she found out Leon's true motivation for wanting her close again - he had a diagnosis of his own and his days were limited. The news is something she's still adjusting too, filling her time as much as possible to distract herself from the painful reality. Her is either spent in Webster Village or at the Motel, most importantly spending as much time with her father as possible, while working on plans to do more pro bono work for women in need. 

Headcanons: 

She can’t cook much past the basics and even then her skills are nothing to write home about. Her time with Richard was mostly spent eating out and since living on her own she’s relied mostly on takeout.

Her morning and night skin care routines are lengthy and despite having moved away from expensive products for the most part since leaving New York, she still uses only the best.

Music was a huge part of her home life growing up, her mother almost always having something playing. Before she went away to college Grace gifted her a few of her records and Ava has been slowly building her own collection ever since.

She’s had a fondness for action films ( the more loose or practically non-existent the plot the better ) since evenings spent with her father and siblings watching whatever film they could find after scrolling through the channels.

[devilsgatewayhq]

Name: Genevieve Young Age: 35 Time living in Tonopah: 29 years Occupation: Horse Trainer at Decker Ranch Gang Affiliation: Hellraisers Neighborhood: Downtown Face Claim: Jamie Chung

Biography (TW: death):

Genevieve Young doesn't remember being anyone but Genevieve Young -- but once upon a time, she was Genevieve Han. The youngest of two from South Korea, with parents who only ever strove to give their children the life they deserved. And they were on track to do just that, embarking on a new life in America shortly after Eve turned six.

However, their dreams of a brighter future were cut short when a devastating car accident claimed their lives, leaving Genevieve and her older brother, Roman, as the sole survivors. Was it a miracle? Of course it was, but it also meant that the Han siblings were forced to navigate this new world alone. Alone and apart, as they were quickly separated by the state and placed in foster care.

Not for long in Eve's case, however. The young girl found herself embraced by the Youngs, a compassionate elderly couple in their sixties who strove to give the little girl some light at the end of this seemingly never-ending, dark tunnel. She was welcomed into their home in Tonopah Valley, experiencing the warmth and care she needed -- and life was good. Eve was a well-behaved little girl, smart and funny and desperate to prove that she deserved the love she was so freely given.

However, once school began, struggled to fit in socially, always unsure of her place and where she belonged in the world. It didn't help that she was unrelentingly curious about her biological family, about the older brother that she vaguely remembered having. Of course, the adoption was closed, so not even her adoptive parents could give her the answers she desired, so after years of research and wondering and hoping the answers might come to her, she gave up. Eve resigned herself to thinking that perhaps he had died, too, along with their parents. Although she is still unable to recall the memory in detail, it continues to haunt her dreams, her actions.

Eve’s adoptive parents nurtured her through a variety of interests, encouraging her to explore different passions. She danced, played chess, and learned the piano, but it was horse riding that captured her heart. From the first time she mounted a horse, Eve discovered a profound sense of freedom and belonging. Her weekends and after-school hours were spent at local ranches. It was the one place she felt she could thrive, felt she belonged.

As she entered adulthood, Eve decided to choose a more practical path, studying Biomedical Engineering at a local university. She landed a stable job at a hospital, settling into a life that seemed secure and predictable, hoping that it would bring her a sense of inner peace she so desperately desired. However, her world was once again shaken when she lost her adoptive parents in quick succession—her father to cancer and her mother to the weight of grief and old age. The pain of their loss was compounded by the actions of a much older adoptive sibling, her parents only biological child, who ensured that Eve received practically nothing but a modest inheritance, leaving her with a small trust fund and a sense of profound isolation.

Determined to find her own path and make the most of her life, Eve decided to leave her engineering job and follow her true passion. She transitioned to a career as a horse trainer, a role that allowed her to reconnect with the joy she had found in her youth. Not long into the job she discovered the ranch's ties to the Hellraisers, but for one reason or another it didn't phase her -- after all, what more did she have to lose? She used the little money she got from her parents to put a down payment on house -- a fixer upper, no less -- in an attempt to move forward with her life.

Though mostly content, there's storm constantly brewing within Eve, one that remains alone, unsatisfied, that years for the family she never got to have. Alas, she can't allow herself to wish, to hold on to hope. After all these years, Eve isn't sure if she can handle the disappointment, one that would force her to face the facts once more: that aside from her friends, she's truly all she has left in this world.

Headcanons: 

For her thirtieth birthday, Eve purchased a horse of her own named Honey from Decker Ranch, one that she'd trained as a young foal. She often uses her for lessons, and loves being able to spend so much time by her side during the work day.

One of Eve's duties on the ranch is to oversee shipments that come in for the Hellraisers, essentially making sure everything is accounted for and where it needs to be safely tucked away in one of the barns. Though she's fully aware of the type of cargo being brought in and shipped out, she keeps a pretty 'don't ask, don't tell' attitude so that she can have as much plausible deniability as possible.

The condo she purchased is a TRUE fixer-upper. Like, she purchased it over six years ago and it still needs a lot of work, much of it she does herself. A true DIY queen, she'll work at something to death and then some before she even thinks about calling in the experts. Which, admittedly, she should do more often.

She's kind, but she can be very pessimistic, a bit prickly. A lot of that is born out of her own insecurities, though, and she's not too hard to befriend if people are patient. Also a huge know it all and not always in the charming way!

Eve has tried to quit smoking 6 times and will constantly tell everyone she's quitting but it never happens so

[devilsgatewayhq]

Name: Rosalie Hsu Age: 32 Time living in Tonopah: Native Occupation: Teacher at Tonopah Valley Elementary School & nanny Gang Affiliation: None Neighborhood: Webster Village Face Claim: Kelsey Asbille

Biography (TW: cancer, death):

Rosalie remembers watching her mom smoking a marlboro red down to the filter, before she'd pick up another one and do the same, despite claiming she had quit. She remembers hearing her father come in late at night, claiming he had pulled a double, but smelling like the casino. From a young age, she had learned that people often say one thing but do another. The Hsu family seemed to live in a state of grey. Neither of her parents were truly doing anything wrong, neither were directly involved in the any one of the seedy organizations that seemed to loom over Tonopah Valley, but she knew they weren't quite on the straight and narrow either. Her father tried his hand at professional gambling, losing more often than he won, frequenting fast cash businesses and taking money from men he shouldn't have. While her mother went through long stretches of unemployment, having a tendency to last only a few weeks before there'd be some reason she'd get fired, never seeing how she was the common denominator. Despite all this, they always managed to maintain a small but well-kept house in Springate Crossings. She'd learn from a young age that keeping up the image was important. Years later, she'd find out that her mother came from wealth, but had been almost entirely cut off upon falling pregnant with their first child. A classic tale of parents thinking someone wasn't good enough for their child and punishing them for it. Her grandparents that she never met sent a small monthly allowance that just barely covered the mortgage of the house. Despite, or, perhaps because of, her parents' choices in their lives, they expected greatness out of their three children. In moments of teen angst, Rosalie wondered if it was out of a selfish desire to be taken care of by their children. But now she understands it was probably all in an attempt to gain the favor of her mother's parents back, by showing off some shiny, well-behaved grandchildren. And perhaps the pressures they put on their children were a bit much and unorthodox, it couldn't be said it didn't work. But it only got worse after her father left. He had spiraled after what felt like a never-ending losing streak, and it seemed like he could no longer bear those very same pressures of keeping up a maintained family.

Her mother became even more over-bearing then, knowing their survival depended on the favor of her parents. She pushed her children endlessly. Rosalie's elder siblings went on to get into impressive colleges and find even more impressive jobs. But perhaps her mother should have realized her victory was empty, as neither of her siblings have returned to Tonopah to visit once since they graduated. --- But that was never what Rosalie had wanted for herself, and she knew when her mother found out that she had not applied to any of the schools they had spoken about, and instead had applied for a state school with every intention of majoring in childhood education, there would be hell to pay. Her mother didn't speak to Rosalie until her junior year in college, when she called and tearfully told her that she hadn't been feeling well and was needing to have some tests done and was afraid to be alone. ---- It was the first time her mother had ever said please, ever shown any type of vulnerability, so of course she agreed. It ended up being breast cancer. The next years of Rosalie's life would be spent dedicated to her mother's health, obsessing even, guilt eating at her. It was a brutal decade. Even without the cancer, the time spent together was often in arguments, with her mother making it known how disappointed she was in how Rosalie's life had turned out, disregarding that her youngest was the only one helping her in her health struggles, while her eldest, the ones she was so proud of, called Her mother would go into remission, just for it to show up again in her next scan. Eventually it did metastasize, and the battle was over, by then it had just turned into a waiting game. A horrible, macabre, painful waiting game. Stephanie Hsu passed 7 months ago, and in the time since Rosalie has not even gotten a moment to unwind her complicated ball of grief, too focused on paying the next bill, the next loan payment. It was all becoming too much, even after taking on nannying gigs after teaching children all day, even after selling her parents' house in Springate Crossing and moving into a rental in Webster Village. With the inability to sell any more items or take on any more jobs, Rosalie has turned to more unsavory ways to aid in paying off her debt.

Headcanons:

Rosalie has never left Nevada, and she knows if she does, it won't be to travel to some far-off country.  She's subbed out her dreams of travel with something more practical: she's attempting to try food from every single country.  She rarely has food to eat out, but when she does, she'll take a long drive just to find a restaurant that serves a country she hasn't 'visited' yet.

She'd rather listen to podcasts over music any day, a fact that many of her friends have protested greatly, jokingly calling her a psychopath for this habit.  It's not that she doesn't enjoy music, she just finds herself gravitating to the podcast app on her phone rather than the music one.

Rosalie's entire adult life has been spent being flat broke and she's gotten pretty good at making food on a budget, the dollar store actually having pretty good deals on food.  But as of late, her budget has been even tighter than usual, and honestly, with all the spam and rice she's eating, she's slightly worried she might be at risk of scurvy.

[devilsgatewayhq]

Name: Lupe Valdez Age: 35 Time living in Tonopah: 5 Years Occupation: Partner at Decker & Associates Gang Affiliation: Los Santos Neighborhood: Downtown Face Claim: Emeraude Toubia

Biography:

Unlike her uncles and cousins, Lupe grew up further removed from the violence that often plagued the lives of anyone with their last name. Protected by the men in her family and nurtured by the women, she was enabled to always explore her sense of self and place in the world. Though often during her upbringing, she worried if she was almost too sheltered and often wanted to see and know more. Endlessly curious, Lupe was always getting herself into situations she shouldn’t have been but always had the wit and cleverness to talk her way out of it.  It amused her family as much as it annoyed them and her biggest champion has always been her cousin, Hernando. Much more like an Uncle to her, Nando always encouraged her to reach beyond her limits and try everything that she dreamed of. Because of him, she grew close to her second cousin, Mikayla and thought she had siblings of her own, Mikki has always been like her sister and best friend much more than her cousin. 

It has been this abundance of love that has guided her for so much of her life. Although she was born in Tonopah, she was raised partially in Mexico and Texas due to her father’s obligation to travel a lot for work. Both his day job and his job with Los Santos. Lupe has always been an extrovert despite being someone who takes her studies seriously. She’s the true embodiment of work hard play hard. And that rang true in high school with a long list of extracurriculars and even some sports. Though her true hobby was anything that would involve her in a car going at top speed. It started as a curiosity after one night of riding along with one of her cousins to watch a street race and grew into something so much more. She hadn’t been someone to get her hands dirty before but she learned over time and as soon as she had her license, she became even more of a worry to her family but that was hard to argue when she still remained such a good student. 

She graduated top of her class in her high school in Texas and went on new adventures for college. She completed her bachelors degree at New York University to be closer to Mikki and her Aunt Penny and then went on to get her law degree at Yale so she would still be relatively close to the city. During her summer though, she’d always find a way to spend a bit of time in Tonopah Valley to check in with family and her Uncle Nando. 

It was during those summers that she got a bit closer to more of the members of Los Santos, including a few that her uncle would probably scold her about if he knew the truth. But she’s always been a woman who knows what she wants and tries to go for it the best she can. It was also a chance for her to improve upon her racing and get a few wins whenever she could convince her cousins to go with her to Vegas or anywhere in the middle of the desert.

The death of her great uncle along with Mikki and Hernando’s move to Tonopah Valley made it an obvious pick to follow along, though it took her a little longer to get her affairs in order. She became a partner at the law firm of her old college friend and mentor, Sawyer Decker and lived with her cousin for a brief time until she found a place of her own. She became Los Santos unofficial lawyer but when her Uncle killed Alejandra, she spent the past few months brokering a deal for him and found a way to get him and his girlfriend to safety. Now she’s back to deal with the aftermath and to make sure her family’s legacy not only stays intact but that they all actually remain alive. 

Headcanons: 

An extrovert in every sense of the word though she’s becoming better at drawing boundaries around her own time. But she’s definitely the friend to ask if you want someone to join you on a night out. 

Keeps her racing life pretty private but it’s slowly becoming as important to her as her day job. When she’s not working, she’s usually out in some random parking lot practicing her turns or scanning her social media to find new opportunities. It makes her feel like she has a double life which kind of excites her overall. 

Despite the dismantling of Los Santos in Tonopah Valley, Lupe is still determined to look out for everyone who was associated with the cartel that’s left in town. Both out of loyalty to her Uncle and because she still considers them all her family.