Rouge Backhand

" ***This is a (A) and (B) conversation, so why don't you (F) off?*** " - Rouge Backhand

**Appearance:** Rouge has jet black hair, dark brown eyes and a tan complexion. Deep voice. Average, in a “Wow you look like shit, but good shit” kind of way. Noticeably missing half of his left middle finger. Wears Hawaiian shirts usually, suit pants and a keepsake necklace. Has a tiny heart tattoo on his neck. Carries himself like a slouchy panther. Always has a hip flask filled with some sort of liquid.

**Personality:** Rouge has a cocky demeanor but is usually humbled in the face of a major loss. A thrill seeker that tries everything once. He enjoys burnt toast. Wishes he could do more but never does it the correct way. Charming, a little snakey. Riddled with vices, but only the fast and fun kind. Smart in the ways of the street, thick in the head for most else. Almost exclusively robs convenience stores by saying “Trick or Treat!’. Is constantly attempting to escape the past by going fast in the present. Considers himself a land pirate (whatever that means). Will play Russian Roulette with you if tempted.

**Backstory:** Rouge grew up as a well attended to child in a well standing home until his parents got divorced. He would try to reminisce of a time before that happened but all that is relevant to him is the time after it. The house was sold shortly after and once all the assets were separated (which wasn’t much) his father disappeared from the picture. His mother tried her hardest to keep them afloat just outside the Gray Zone, within the midst of safety. While his mother was out working, Rouge found an ad in the paper to stock vending machines, which didn’t pay much but was consistent.

He started to make progress and got a raise when he was 18 and substantially their lives got better. He told his mom to work less but she never did. Rouge noticed that his mother had not left for work one day and that she was noticeably sick and lethargic, which she claimed as “getting old”. It continually became worse, and  after a month he decided he was going to get them out of the city into the nice fresh air. On his last vending machine route he emptied the collectors in each one hoping to have enough to get out of the city for a couple days, somewhere far away, but he came back home with the power off and his mother lifeless.

Unfortunately for him. The Lemon Drops owned those vending machines, which cleverly disguised drugs as lard flavored snacks and bubbly foreign drinks (no wonder why the till’s were always full).  He was followed home and had the life subsequently beat out of him by a group of crowbar swinging men. After cutting off part of his finger declaring him a thief they noticed his mother, who they recognized as an all too familiar usual buyer in the Lemon Drops territory. They left him five bucks, a bag of blow and an empty gun as a cheap form of mercy. After finding out that his mother died of not a sickness at all, but an overdose, he mourned in the humblest way possible, a three day long bender.

At 21, Rouge still had that 5 dollar bill. It also turns out it’s easy to rob an unsuspecting truck driver with an empty gun (if not it’s also a decent conversation starter). He traded his way into the shady underbelly of the Gray Zone putting up the truck as collateral in gambling on street races, card games or small shady investments. He met similar street kinds from his upbringing and slowly learned the way of stealing, gambling, robbing, and various banging in The Gray Zone. Once he had enough cash he applied for the help of **Cinder** (another victim of the Lemon Drops) because she had ties to the inside. The plan was to wire three vending machines to explode upon collection on the weekly route. This worked out way too well as it destroyed a square block including the whole Lemon Drops gang in the adjacent warehouse. From there forward he couldn’t help but grin about it.

**Current Gray Zone Status**: Rouge runs an extensive no threat casino, bar, flower and pawn shop beneath the rubble of the Lemon Drops old hideout is what he likes to believe. Cinder actually runs and manages everything while Rouge provides income to the gang through listening to various schemes and scores that are whispered within the walls of the underground hideout. He tries to keep a low profile but rarely does. Usually not one with dirty hands in his common endeavors yet still in the same pile of shit. Hopes he can find his deadbeat father and put a cap in his ass.

His mannerisms have changed a lot since the explosion. He’s picked up drinking, smoking and gambling. It’s like he’s kind of there but not there all the time. His real feelings only come through when he resonates with something truly. Otherwise it’s like talking to two different versions of him.

**The Fair Traitors (Fair Traitors Trading Company): Can be symbolized by a tattoo located on the inner left wrist.**

Does not condone the sale or purchase of drugs within the premises. Items can be held as collateral to gamble, these items are lost upon death or 30 days of possible reclaim. Flowers are grown organically in the nursery. Gambling with the owners is strictly prohibited on the premises (but doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen).

**Interaction with Hiyori Tamura:** Initial iteration of Shonen Jump Manga from the 80's that was won, right choice.

**Gray Zone Pro Wrestling:** Bet on Sasha on her first match, told her to swing low to win. She did.