Brad Lee/Character Arc

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Brad arrived back in San Andreas on June 27th, 2024. On his first day back, he suffered head trauma from a BMX accident at the Vespucci Beach skate parkClip: medical for Brad which resulted in his voice changing from a more typical surfer bro to a goofier dialect and a decline in of some of his sharper cognitive functions. He had to wear a helmet for several days while the fracture in his skull healed, prompting numerous comparisons to Gabby Golfcart †.
On June 29th, Brad attended a Pride event in Paleto Bay where he met Petey Pacino and, consequently, was introduced to the Up-n-Atom crew within a few days' time.
His first grapple with grief began on July 12th, 2024 when Brad got the news that his childhood best friend Dan had been missing for several months, presumed dead with no records of him leaving the state. He wore all-black and was uncharacteristically sadClip: sad Brad, concerning his friends and resulting in several tender heart-to-hearts. He began writing poetry with Lobo Esquire and planning a funeral at the suggestion of Sunny Smith as part of his mourning process, and got good advice on honoring Dan's memory from Toporov Fyodorovich.
On July 12th, Brad was struck and thrown across the street by a police car which was on a high-speed pursuit while waiting patiently and legally on his BMX at a stop light. None of the cops in the chase stopped, apologized, or even acknowledged his existence, and 911 rang out, causing Brad to begin to dislike/distrust cops. This perspective was reinforced in early September when Brad was nearly struck by another officer on the highway who claimed they were distracted by the stars and, instead of owning up to their culpability, criticised Brad for not wearing a helmet over his fresh skull stitches.
Formed a family unit together with Veronica Horningstone and adopted the ally cats near the Up-n-Atom on July 23rd, 2024.
Was shot for the first time on August 4th, 2024 - 2 bullet wounds to his shoulder/chest and 1 graze on the skin of his forearm after being shot with a hunting rifle. He kept the slugs in a sample jar and jangles them around whenever the topic arises.
On August 6th, Brad showed up at the Atom extremely drunk after a trip to the beach with Petey. He was dressed in all black: long jeans, a leather jacket, dark sunglasses, and sneakers. The boy claimed that his name was 'Bad Lee' and would ask "who the hell is that" when addressed as Brad. His friends were concerned about his antics, scolding him for swearing and committing minor crimes like jaywalking.
Having built relationships with the group for over a month, Brad was finally adopted into the Esquire Family on August 7th, 2024. Both Lobo and Brad initially struggled to pin down their dynamic, fluctuating between brothers and parent/child, but eventually settled on a father-son relationship after a day out at the beach where Brad bonded and competed with Lobo's kids Dylan Rider and Charlie Evergreen as siblings.
After meeting as colleagues at the Atom only a week or two earlier and bonding during quiet nights punctuated by flirty jokes, Brad started dating Alexander Miller on August 30th, 2024. Both men were new to romance, having never been in a relationship before. Each insisted they were taking it slow, but with every milestone jumped further and further into the unknown together. They said they loved each other for the first time, mostly by accident, on September 9th when a misinterpreted comment led to confirmation. Brad later gave Alex a carefully written poem in an act of intimacy he could barely handle experiencing. Alex read it aloud in its entirety, prompting Brad to face away and turn a hot shade of crimson.
Brad's Poem for Alex
One meets another in a place of heat and grease
Anticipating nothin but surprised by warmth and ease
Crackin silly jokes and playin up the tease
Not considering any real possibilities
Two then meet in secret to carry out a plan
Expected some resistance, yet claimed the upper hand
None but them in foreign place equipped with pot and pan
A flawless prank executed like no other can
Three shifts worked together, more flirtations start to flow
Slipped one's tongue so easily, but he would not yet know
How they would be received and set the other's heart aglow
And put him on a course to call this counterpart his beau
Four seconds' silence follow one man's curiosity
The other later looked within, reckonin with paucity
Stunning him, he found a crush that bloomed with some ferocity
Soon sentiments shared candidly joined each in reciprocity
Five minutes stretch into a night spent side by side
Setting sun illuminates what both no longer hide
Frozen kisses punctuate the moment they collide
New intimacy born of two men's intrigue satisfied
Six hundred dollars for a gift to prove intent
Worth its weight in gold like the chain around my neck
Couldn't care less, the amount of money spent
Makin you feel special is a price I don't lament
Was named temporary Co-Manager of the Up-n-Atom, alongside his sister Veronica, by Peggy on September 16th for the duration of her absence during Burger Con.
Told his boyfriend he loved him for the first time on September 29th, 2024 after a friend of his, James Ardoson, lost his daughter. At the same time, Brad gave Alex an $800 watch that shows the position of the sun so he'll always know when it's sunset, as they have good timing and it always happens to be dusk when they have a private moment to talk.
==Dan's Disappearance==
After learning of the presumed death of his childhood best friend in early July, Brad became increasingly reactive and was more sensitive to criticism, rejection, and jokes at his expense. He would swear uncharacteristically or blurt out rude comments in response to perceived slights and immediately apologise, as he recognised he wasn't upset at them but struggling with his grief and feeling like he wasn't able to fully handle it amongst the chaos of his workplace. Brad also found himself becoming an easy target for petty crime and harassment, having been robbed or kidnapped on more than one occasion. However, his circle of friends at the Atom had his back and protected his innocence with a ferocity somewhat unknown to him.
Brad's grief is an enduring presence in his life, an unresolved weight on his shoulders and a reminder of his duty to be a better friend this time around. This spectre nests in the back of his mind, reminding Brad that he hasn't yet honored Dan's memory or introduced him to important people in his life - he's still avoiding it, in one way or another, and repeatedly failing to face his mistakes. Brad searches for a path through this struggle, hoping to find support in those around him, but often not managing to ask for it urgently enough to make progress.
==Freist==
Fry Heist – July 25th, 2024
Accompanied by code-named coworkers Charlie Evergreen ('Bubblegum Ducktail'), Veronica Horningstone ('Rebecca Black'), Rina P. Anic ('Lily Singh'), and Tammy Maynard ('Darkfin'), Brad ('Shark') set out on a mission to acquire fries from the Cluckin' Bell by means of stealth. The group dressed in all-black and covered their faces and hands - ninja style, according to Charlie - and creeped towards the restaurant, pressing against walls and keeping to the shadows. Sensing no danger, they snuck inside.
Chaos was thrust upon them when a gunshot rang out while Brad was shoving fistfuls of fries into a Cluckin' Bell to-go box, prompting the crew to scatter and attempt to run away. They were intercepted by police at the doors and told to line up against the wall outside, where another two or three bullets narrowly missed two of their number. Cops scrambled in response, and the group questioned whether or not to take the opportunity to flee but ended up back inside the building, confused and freaking out. Brad took the opportunity to return the fries, saying he didn't want them any more and that "they can't prove anything". Panicked phone calls were madeStreamable, via Twitch DontKillJustChill: Brad's Freist distress call to Lobo, and eventually hung up on when police reapproached. Each member of the company was tested for gunshot residue and asked to provide identification before being free to leave.
Each of them couldn't believe what had happened, and felt lucky to be both unharmed and not in prison. Upon returning to the Up-n-Atom, they were able to complete Freist 2 thanks to the presence of Peggy and the Up-n-Atom ToGo food truck. Petey Pacino, whose ID Brad had accidentally flashed at the cops instead of his own, expressed pride in his buddy. Brad felt a mix of fear, exhilaration, and shame in having unintentionally become a "dirty little crime boy" in his venture to execute what he perceived as a fun prank.
==Drako==
Hatchet vs Bat – August 22nd, 2024
Following a fairly suspicious first few interactions, Brad's newfound acquaintence with one Drake "Drako" Lamont culminated in a dramatic test of strength when the latter attempted to rob him at his place of work. Working alone at the time, Brad was asked whether or not a cash transaction would be possible and if he had change. In response to clarifying the amount of change needed, Drako drew a hatchet and responded, "all of it." Brad armed himself with his baseball bat the moment he saw movement and intended to de-escalate with words, but didn't get the chance before he was hit with a heavy blow in the meat of his left shoulder. Responding in kind, he knocked his assailant over the head and beat him until he was surely incapacitatedClip: Brad beats a man's ass. Angered and in shock, he stood over his would-be robber and firmly told him to "never try that shit again."
Prompted by a failed call to 911 and a thwarted escape plan by the crawling and desperate Drako, Brad carried his attacker over his right shoulder as blood poured from the other, saying they needed to "have a talk." As they slowly made their way to Mt. Zonah Medical Center, the more capable of the two seemed to barely notice his injuries, fueled by adrenaline. Brad's living luggage spoke pitifully about his woes and apologised, insisting he wouldn't come near the Atom and that he was afraid, only having made such a drastic move in an effort to address ≈$140,000 in unpaid fines. After receiving treatment at the hospital, Brad promised not to make a police report so long as Drako agreed to stop hurting people and find more peaceful ways of making money, even tipping him off about ATM robberies and encouraging him to ask around about how to accomplish his goals. However, he soon learned that this promise was broken almost as soon as it was made, hearing that the criminal had robbed his taxi driver and kidnapped somebody afterwards.
Brad warned his network of colleagues and loved ones to be on the lookout for this dangerous individual and spent the next couple of days nursing his wound which was healing extremely well. The man was left with the distinct impression that he was both more capable and more strong than he'd thought, gaining some confidence in his abilities and marking his first experience with real violence. He felt strangely assured and honored by Drako's apparent fear, conveying a sense of respect and 'being taken seriously' that he hadn't often known. This milestone marked a key point in his journey, signposting the moment of eclipse in a pair of conflicting mindsets: goofy chill Brad vs serious confident 'Bad'.
==Dirty Little Crime Boy==
Baby's First Arrest – August 15th, 2024
On one particularly chaotic afternoon, Brad was charged with one count of Unauthorized Practice of Law - a crime committed mostly unknowingly. Having had a concerning phone call with friend Dex Locke, Brad showed up to Del Perro Police Department to provide support to his buddy. When asked about whether or not he had a license to practice law, he responded "uhhhh, sure?" having not understood the question and being the type to struggle with saying no. Sgt. Edward Maddox put the confused Up-n-Atom employee in handcuffs and sent poor Brad up to Bolingbroke Penitentiary for 9 months alongside Dex.
Incident #24263: 'Brad Lee'
August 15, 2024 - 04:10 AM
Primary Officer: Sgt. Edward Maddox (6-B-10 Motor 1)
Location: Del Perro Police Department
Narrative Debrief:
* BRAD WALKED IN AN and DEX SAID "OH THAT MY LAWYER"
* SUSPECT SAID "THATS MY GUY IM HERE FOR HIM"
* MADDOX SEARCHED THE LAWYER AND THE SUSPECT GAVE THIER NAME
* MADDOX ASKED IF THEY WERE A REGISTERED LAWYER TO WHICH THEY REPLIED "SURE!"
* MADDOX THEN CHECKED MDW AND GOT HIM IN CUFFS
Suspect: Brad Lee
Charge: 1x Unauthorized Practice of Law
Plea: Not Guilty
Jail Time: 9 months
Fine: $400
Upon his release, members of the Esquire family were waiting for him and expressed their pride, much to Brad's confusion.
The charge was later dropped by Deputy District Attorney Katie St. Clair who reasoned that it was "stupid" and refunded the fine Brad had paid in full. She cautioned the naive Brad to not make such a silly mistake next time and avoid saying yes to questions he doesn't understand.
==References==