Apollo & Bucket

"We do take other forms of payment, do you value your teeth?"

- Bucket, having caught a running debtor.

"..."

- Apollo, philosophically.

Mines

Clara (Bazooka)

Bernie (Panzerfaust)

Mr. Popper 1, 2 and 3 (Mortars)

Samantha (German 88-millimetre (3.46-inch) antitank gun)

Dante Kidmen (Regular Customer / Business Partner)

ShutterBug (Business Partner)

Makuon (Business Partner)

Eileen (Karaoke Companion)

Red Eye (Helping Hand)

Kelly (Business Partner)

Ozzy (Hairdresser / Regular Customer /Good Friend)

Carrie (Fellow Weaponsmith / Friend)

Knight (Business Partner)

Azura (Business Partner)

Sasha (Self-proclaimed big sis)

Aika (Self-proclaimed small sis)

(Formerly) Soul Crushers

(Formerly) [Redacted]

(Formerly) The Bailers

(Formerly) The Silver Guard

(Formerly) The White Knights

(Formerly) [Redacted]

Esperanza

Dante Kidmen (Friend)

Ozzy (Hairdresser)

ShutterBug (Regular Customer)

Eileen ("Mecha Driver")

Jackie (Patting Target)

Azura (Business Partner)

Juli (Business Partner)

Discord:TriggerHappy226#8710

## **Gang Background**

"Esperanza" was initially created by Apollo at age 16. The gang has historically only had two human members since. Those being the founder itself and his little sister, "Bucket". The gang is currently composed of the original two and various utility robots.

Although Apollo & Bucket proclaim that “Esperanza” is no more than a shop/trade-center. The public considers them a gang due to the war potential of the members and a few past incidents involving the siblings.

The gang does not actively attempt to expand their turf or attack other gangs unless provoked. Due to this behavior, “Esperanza” is considered a *relatively* peaceful gang.

## **Appearance**

**Apollo:**

Apollo lives as a hulking presence of 2.72m (8'11ft) in height. Although he has a fit and muscular body, he slouches continually due to his constant need to crouch on account of his sheer size.

Although his clothing changes due to his love for cosplay, he usually wears camo pants and lumberjack shirts (which he often ties to his waist). At times, he carries a portable shop on his back. This is saved for events or deliveries.

Apollo rarely lets his face be seen. He prefers to cover it with boxes and objects.

**Bucket:**

Against her family's genes and age, Bucket is only 1.40m (4.5ft) tall.

Her clothing is suited for mobility and comfort. She is usually seen covered in oil, blood, or both.

## **Personality**

**Apollo:**

Apollo is a gentle, caring human. Quite a rare sight in the gray zone. His pure-hearted attitude has had him fall trap to many tricks during his stay in the gray zone. During these past few years, Bucket has served as a good fraud-tracker in this respect.

Apollo's behavior towards others is deeply affected by the covering he's wearing and his relationship with them.

**Bucket:**

Bucket is an irascible little shit. She only acts respectfully towards her brother due to his care for her. Bucket behaves coldly, aggressively, and childishly towards people around her. Her interest in mechanics since childhood made her prefer the company of machines to that of humans. Apollo is actively attempting to fix that.

## **Backstory**

### **- Before the gray zone**

-- Apollo's childhood.

Although the strongest of his generation, Apollo was always a tame child. Unlike his cousins, he didn't enjoy brawling and playing around with the rest. He preferred to accompany his mother on her daily routine; reading, sewing, tending the garden, playing with his baby sister, and cooking for the rest. Unfortunately, this bright childhood did not last long.

-- A big big family.

Apollo and Bucket come from a family of traders named the "Alma" household. This genealogy was known not only for its many products and services but for the strong physique of all its members.

This trait would have gone unused, were it not for the rapid automation of jobs in the world. A.I. driven markets took over the populace, leaving no option for third-party shops. With no jobs left, the "Alma" family of merchants was forced to find other business opportunities. Due to their physical prowess, many of them turned into mercenaries and body-guards, entering the gray zone.

With time, the entrance to the gray zone soon turned into a tradition. A custom whereupon mental maturity, the oldest child of the family would enter the gray-zone in search of wealth and respect.

This came a bit too soon for Apollo.

-- Poaching

Shortly after being known for their inborn strength, the "Alma" family begun to gain a bit of a name in and outside the gray zone. This was, however, only for the worse. Their physical attributes were perfect for physical labor, making them the target of many shortly after.

Forced manual labor, slavery, killed for exposition, and many more. Hunted like beasts, the family began to die out.

Like many others, the household's location was tracked and raided.

During this attack, everyone but Apollo and his little sister managed to escape. This was with help from their mother, who gave them the location of their uncle in the gray zone shortly before being captured. Never to be seen again.

### **- Arrival**

Apollo arrived in the Gray zone as a youngster. He walked in as an 11 y/o child with his baby sister attached to his back inside a Bucket. Thus her nickname. Following the directions given to him by his mother, he managed to find his uncle's residence.

Upon entering, Apollo found nothing but the cold rotting corpse of a junky. At this moment, he discovered that the dangers there were more complicated than simple violence.

He promised himself not to let his sister down like that, prohibiting himself from ever touching a drug in his life.

### **- Jobs**

-- A lucky find

While walking around aimlessly and starving throughout the Gray Zone, he was luckily found by the [redacted] gang. Who fed him and his sister in exchange for manual labor. Due to his strength Apollo worked by moving objects and cooking. After paying back his debt, he continued working for them as a service, intending to buy his independence at some point.

-- Hopping around

A few months after working for the [redacted] gang, Apollo's continued growth was questioned. Scared by the possibility of being hunted, he ran away and began to sell his services to another gang. As Bucket continued to grow too, and her mechanical genius began to surface, she too started creating her own services to help with her brother's efforts.

Apollo then made it a custom to change gangs every few months.

### **- Independance**

-- A complicated goal

Five years of service later, Apollo and Bucket gained enough to commence their dreams. However, something happened. At the age of 16, Apollo was now far over 2 meters (6.5ft) tall...

As Apollo and Bucket's services began to be more known around the gray zone, Apollo's physical condition brought unwanted attention.

The poachers who had once killed and enslaved their family were now conscious of their existence.

Once their location [...] Apollo was [...] current scar. Sadly, [...] was taken as a hostage. [...] to [...] give himself up. [...] plans, since they wanted both. [...] explosion in which she tried to run. [...] few fingers [...] angrily, he shocked [...] permanent back injuries. [...], feeling powerless [...] brought unparalleled anger to Apollo. [...] prime specimens [...] hunted family.

Under these circumstances, Apollo snapped.

No one person has remembers the massacre.

Witnesses report 98 dead and 342 wounded. The gang disbanded. All survivors refuse to talk. [...] no trace. [...] immsomnia. [...] he started masking his face with objects. [...] this event brought forth Esperanza's gang status.

However, they do not speak of this., and most information about this event is blurry.

### **- Current days**

Apollo and Bucket now have a place they can call home, a daily routine they can follow and a few people they can call friends. Although deviated from its primary intention, "Esperanza" now serves as their little safe haven.

A safe spot named after the person who gave them the possibily to escape, their mother, Esperanza.

## **Shop**

Apart from a portable stand on Apollo's back, they own a large three-story building with a garage in the gray zone.

While most products are sold on the first floor, mechanical repairs and large weaponry are usually taken care of in the garage. The second floor to the building harbors Apollo and Bucket's apartment. The third floor contains Apollo's greenhouse.

Apollo sells meals, clothes, basic needs, and physical goods (including plushies he sews himself).

Bucket sells weaponry, takes care of mechanical repairs, loan services, and a set of wanted posters.

(The wanted posters are mostly people who haven't paid back their loans.)

## **Abilities**

Thought by some to be due to his purity as a person. Apollo is one of the only people in the gray zone who can actively grow plants and vegetables in its toxic soil.

Titanic genes:

Coming from a family known for its strength and durability. Apollo was gifted with an overwhelming capacity to harm. His strength and durability grow with each passing day. However, he still isn't planning on harming anyone.

Phase two:

Although Apollo despises violence unless absolutely necessary, there have been a very few times when he has actually snapped. In the cases he has [...]

This ability is often brought forth if Bucket is in danger, which get more and more rare as she grows her arsenal.

After playing around with mechanical trinkets and tools since birth. Bucket taught herself almost everything there is to know in mechanical engineering, weapon development, and explosive manufacturing. She's trying her best to learn software and A.I. development.

## Relationships

### **Apollo:**

- Percy:

Apollo enjoys Percy's company. Although he doesn't understand him at times, he finds his antics incredibly funny. Being invited to various activities every now and then is quite fun. Still, they're usually cut short by Bucket who comes fetch him.

Percy also taught him how to do origami.

- Eleanor:

Eleanor is a childhood friend of Bucket.

- Alessandra:

Apollo met Alessandra while working in his greenhouse atop the shop. Every few days she levitates up and chats about herbs and rare plants. It's nice to have someone to chat with while working, and he'd like to hang out on other occasions. Bucket has no clue this is happening, but has noticed an improvement in Apollo's mood so she doesn't care.

- Tall Michael:

Apollo met Tall Michael when he saw what seemed like the sillhouette of an old man stuck atop a really long pair of streetlights. Thinking it would be for the best, Apollo tried to help him down. All he got instead was a whiny little shit insulting him for his natural born height and demanding payback for the broken stilts.

- Shutterbug:

Apollo's relationship with Shutterbug is built on a foundation of misunderstandings and lies. While they both consider each other best of buddies. However, they do so for different reasons.

On their first meeting, Apollo saw Shutterbug surrounded by strong looking gangsters. Seeing a man with a head wrapped in bandages and cornered by what seemed like cretins, Apollo mistook Shutterbug for a victim and promptly saved him.

Shutterbug, having seen twelve of his strongest underlings get obliterated in seconds, started sweating. He decided to play along. Apollo decided to bring him home, nursing him and feeding him.

Their relationship built from there. Apollo considers Shutterbug quite funny, and a genius due to a misunderstanding regarding the human mannequins. Where he thinks that they're robots made by him. On the other hand, Shutterbug enjoys the protection Apollo brings, and the home-made shrimp he cooks.

- Schützerin Mädel:

Madel is an annoyance. Coming into contact with Apollo a while ago now, she has been nothing but trouble.

- Azura:

Azura is calm and mellow compared to the horn girl. At times, when he comes purchase general good from him, he tells Apollo of tales from faraway lands. Apollo looks forward to his visits, and has taken patting him as a payback for Madel's actions a few times now. Bucket thinks that it's a wasted opportunity, but Apollo thinks otherwise.

- Carrie:

Apollo hangs out with Carrie when she comes buy stuff on the shop. She introduced him to the concept of painting naills, which she helps him with on occasions. Apollo and Bucket also go with her to find shiny objects around the gray zone. It's a mystery how she manages to find so many, but nothing compared to how she suddenly appears on top of buildings or even Apollo's shoulders to scan the surroundings.

- Cinderine:

Apollo doesn't know where Bucket found Cinderine, probably from the closest trash can. He enjoys seeing Bucket make a human friend, but is a bit worried about the girl's behaviour. Not only does she fetch food and clothes from dumpsters, but she cooks on bonfires like a hermit. Apollo has began to think that her animalistic behaviour is the cause to Bucket's acceptance.

Still, this feral behaviour moved something in Apollo's heart. A desire to protect and teach the girl how to behave...his big brother instinct was triggered. Apollo now teaches her how to cook, eat sitting well and do basic chores properly every time she comes visit.

- Misty:

Misty and Apollo once worked together. Due to an incident, he left the gang with Bucket.

Although the have received invitations to rejoin, they do not wish to.

Apollo and Sal were friends and "gym" partners once.

Well, as close to a "gym" as possible in the gray zone. They met in a junkyard known for housing acceptable sports equipment. A place known to many as a good workout center. Considering their builds, they became partners for excercises and such. From where a friendly relationship bloomed.

On one specific morning, Apollo found Sal passed out in from of the junkyard's entrance. Knowing the fate of junkies, he tried his best to help his friend. It took a while to convince Bucket to let the husk of a man in. But in the end he managed to bring him home, feed him and assure him that everything would be ok.

Apollo felt proud about helping someone he cared about, so he happily went to take care of the pants in the greenhouse. Unknown to him Sal was having a really bad trip. Fueled by pride and a drugged perception of reality, Sal surprised Apollo with a box cutter.

As he contemplated the gashing wound on his right cheek and the betrayal of a dear friend, this sad surprise left Apollo speechless.

Apollo doesn't remember anything else from that day, week and month. Only Bucket's repetitive yells, and a painful scar which has stayed with him since.

- Juli:

Juli and her squadron come often to purchase supplies. On their visits, Juli plays competitive strength games with Apollo who usually holds back so she doesn't cry. From time to time she acts arrogantly. This goes from "winning" in an arm wrestle and being incredibly hyped, to challenging Apollo to a full blown fight for the right to cheaper services and waking up three blocks away.

- Harmonica:

Apollo does not enjoy Harmonica's visits for he talks too much, too rapidly and pries into his life. Since he's a customer, he can't kick him out. So Apollo just observes him while he monologues about his life. Funnily enough he contradicts himself between visits. Displeasing Apollo even more.

Apollo doesn't know much about her. He doesn't dare to intrude, but she's a regular customer who buys unholy amounts of latex and duct tape. She sometimes comes with four gang-members to the shop. Apollo remembers selling their album back when those four were part of a band.

- Orion:

### **Bucket:**

- Percy:

Bucket absolutely hates Percy and his constant scheming. There are two reasons why she hasn't killed him yet. One, he's a business partner, and a damn good one considering his connections. Two, he is one of Apollo's best friends. Still, he's on thin fucking ice. She's trying to find an excuse to end him.

- Alessandra:

Bucket met Alessandra in a very strange way. Having demolished about half of Percy's studio in an incident, Bucket had been grounded by Apollo for two weeks. Due to work, Apollo had to leave, and he appointed Alessandra as the "sitter". Not to keep Bucket in, but to make sure she was fed correctly and slept at a normal time.

This wasn't taken well by Bucket at the beginning, who actively went against her for a while. However, after seeing how sweetly, patiently and calmly Alessandra did everything, she began to open up.

Bucket felt a nostalgic feeling those two weeks.

Now when grounded, Bucket looks forward to Alessandra's visits.

Where Bucket can experience an overwhelming emotion she thought she'd never have.

- Tall Michael:

Bucket has never seen Tall Michael before. Due to the contrast in height, she has only ever seen his stilts moving around the neighbourhood. She wonders who lives atop the stilts, and why whoever it is keeps on insulting her stature.

- Shutterbug:

Bucket met Shutterbug through Apollo. They seemed to be good friends, so she decided to accept him too without giving it much thought.

He was invited to dinner and to come visit often. To Bucket, Shutterbug seemed quite funny, he made Apollo laugh so that also brought her happiness. Bucket also started looking forward to his visits. It felt great to meet someone nice and honest in the gray zone.

Or so it seemed...

Bucket met Shutterbug in a business meeting a week later. After doing some digging she discovered more. laundering, human traficking and many others.

Bucket was livid.

She is now planning on killing him. However, Apollo must not know it was her.

Azura is smart, unlike his annoying companion, he comprehends how to respect others and their business. Bucket has had Azura pay for all the damages done by Mädel, including but not limited to, the roof of the greenhouse, the barrel of a German 88-millimetre (3.46-inch) antitank gun and two security roombas.

- Carrie:

Bucket invites Carrie into her garage to brainstorm weapon ideas from time to time, the results are often confusing but incredibly original. Carrie is quite creative...perhaps more than she should be. Her sketchbook is full of doodles which blur the line between childish ramblings and a brilliant weaponsmith. Bucket has a hard time deciphering it, perhaps due to the unholy quantities of glitter it harbours.

- Dante Kidmen:

Dante is a regular customer who often comes to buy weaponry and motorbike parts. He seems to be an adept mechanic, so Bucket has never been allowed to directly repair his vehicle.

He also has one of the highest number of completed jobs with the wanted posters.

- Kelly:

Kelly is an agent of the law, a smug little shit but an agent none-the-less. She does her job well and attempts to make a place as dark as the gray-zone better in her way. Bucket likes Kelly's work ethic, and respects her team. To a certain extent she even looks forward to her visits. However, it's partly because Madel seems to dissapear when she's there.

- Cinderine:

Having found her roaming through their trash approximately two years ago, a relationship that evolved from business partner into a friendship commenced. Bucket initially saw her as yet another empoverished hobo in the gray zone, but began to notice her fixation and determination for making money. Saving kittens at record speed, stabbing elders with no remorse? The perfect business partner by far.

As time passed, and jobs were flawlessly fullfilled, they began to hang out outside of work too.

- Misty:

Bucket used to be in Misty's gang with Apollo. However this was a few years ago. She doesn't remember much.

She does remember learning metalworking from Shaw. The gang's smith.

Bucket doesn't know much about Sal. He came over to eat a few times, invited by Apollo from the junkyard he worked out on. Although he stinked of alcohol and sweat, Apollo did nothing but praise him. Bucket did not enjoy his visits.

One day, he was brought home by Apollo who seemed worried about his friend. Bucket wasn't a fan of his but understood the situation and let him stay. Little did she know, she'd regret that decision for a very long time.

For no aparent reason, the man ran up and attacked her brother. In a fit of anger, she chased Sal away with full intention to kill. To this day, she still regrets not putting his name on the wanted posters. However, this does not matter anymore as after that day they never saw him again.

- Juli:

Juli and her platoon come buy weaponry and ammo in loads. They also take on some of the hardest wanted contracts.

- Colt Model 1871-72 Open Top revolver:

Every two weeks or so, someone comes by to drop off an antique revolver for maintenance. It's a beautiful firearm of great historical importance. Bucket really enjoys taking care of it, so much so that she hasn't noticed it's owner. She has a vague idea on who it is, but doesn't really care as long as they keep on paying. Bucket has considered making a duplicate and keeping the original. However, the owner is aparently a friend of Kelly's so she decided not to.

- Tulson:

Tulson has antagonyzed the siblings for a while. Things got sorted out after Bucket filled in paperwork, lots of paperwork...lots and lots of paperwork.

- Mint:

Having a bad first impression after being mistaken for a child, Bucket did not commence their relationship on the best of terms. However, she respects Mint's abilities and intelect in a place with such a high percentage of idiots.

Bucket is currently building her a new phone for having broken her last one.

- Red Eye:

Bucket found Red Eye walking around her favorite scrapyard once. She was about to scare him off but noticed his proficiency finding working mechanical parts and good scrap. She then started hanging out with him in order to get good materials for her work. He sometimes talks to her but there's too much sound so she doesn't bother listening.

- Eileen:

Commencing as a bet as to whether or not she'd be better at karaoke than Eileen. Bucket has found it surprisingly enjoyable to demonstrate her rapping skills with her, Jackie, Cinderine and a few others.

- Makuon:

Bucket has a professional relationship with Makuon. She acts as Makuon's bounty broker while also having a direct contract with her to track and spy on a few different people of interest. Her photographic skills and silent demeanor make her a perfect stalker. Still, at times Bucket wonders what kind of person lies behind the mask, or if it is a person at all.

- Orion:

Since the day Orion attempted to hit on her, Bucket has made it a habit to put stinkbombs under the passanger's seat on Orion's car.

This has lowered his chances of getting in a relationship even further.

## Trivia

- Apollo and Bucket were created in a delusional night as I overdosed on marshmallows as I played the game seven times in a row. I don't even know if I made them, when I woke up they just were there.

- Bucket has only prayed one time in her whole life. That being her wishing for Percy to die a horrible death.

- Apollo has a small shabby porcupine plushy made by Bucket as a poor attempt for a birthday gift.

- Bucket really likes animals, but she doesn't show it if there are people around it. She sometimes plays with animals on her way home.

- Apollo only shows his face to people he trusts. Apart from Bucket, some people who have seen his face are Percy, Ozzy, Alessandra, ShutterBug and Sal.

- Bucket's eyes shine in the dark, no one knows why.

- Apollo has chronic inmsomnia and ptsd.

- Bucket enjoys junk food and sweets, especially marshmallows. Apollo usually has to make sure that she eats healthily.

- Apollo can bend stuff that shouldn't be bendable.

- Bucket's favorite animal is the porcupine. She has a small plushy hidden under her bed.

- Apollo washes his hands very often.

- Bucket can rap professionaly, Apollo learned how to beatbox for her.