Caden Mandel

## Bio

Caden works as the Spirit Arcade's maintenance man, cleaning and fixing all of the machines in the building. He isn't well-perceived around Spiritopion; people often scoff at him due to his troublemaker attitude. His only friend and partner is Thomas, and he treats them amazingly well. His favorite activity is chucking rocks at birds.

## Personality

Others will say Caden's hotheaded and a menace, which isn't completely wrong. He's incredibly detail-oriented and can figure out a solution rather quickly. He isn't afraid to beat someone up for disrespecting him or his loved ones, even if he gets hurt more. When it comes to his loved ones, he's extremely loving and gentle, trying his best to keep them close to him. He worked incredibly hard to make enough money to afford top surgery for both Thomas and his stepbrother Michael.

## Physical Description

Caden is tall and super skinny. His hair is matted, dirty-blond, and in the style of a mullet. He has various scars covering his body, the most prominent being the one across his nose bridge, which he got from a fight in high school. He has semi-noticeable eyebags and ribs. His normal outfit is a deep red tank top and jeans, with large black boots.

## Backstory

While the early parts of his childhood were relatively normal, Caden's life wasn't exactly sunshine and rainbows. At age 14, Caden's dad and stepmom died in a car accident. Avoiding foster care, Caden sought any way to keep Michael and him together. He ended up taking him and his brother to a broken-down house on the outskirts of Spiritopion to avoid child protective services. Taking care of Michael was a tough job, and Caden often relaxed by visiting the local arcade. There he met Mr. Carter, the owner of Spirit Arcade, who soon became a father figure to the kid. Mr. Carter ended up adopting the two, allowing them to stay in his home when he was out of town and doing other business related stuff.

At school, Caden was hated with a passion. He was picking fights and getting in trouble left and right, all day everyday. Mr. Carter would have to bail him out every single time to ensure he made it through school. One day, he noticed a smaller kid getting picked on, and he took action. He attacked the harassers, who ended up giving him his bridge scar. After the fight, Caden got to know the kid, their name was Thomas. The two were inseparable, always at each other's side. When Caden needed a place to stay, Thomas was there to lend a helping hand. The two soon developed an intimate relationship. It was the only time Caden felt safe.

While working at the arcade, he noticed a strange machine named Polybius. Obviously, he was curious and checked it out. It was addicting, and he couldn't pull away. He was frequently found by the machine, dehydrated and starving, still playing. Mr. Carter and Thomas would have to physically drag him away. Thomas insisted that he go to a psychologist to help with his problem, and he promised to get help. He lied. In secret, he began to plan a way to become Polybius. Becoming one with the machine meant he would die, but he didn't mind. He stuffed himself inside, letting his body rot and possess the game.

No one had heard of him for weeks, soon months. He disappeared from the world without telling anyone. On the news, it was revealed he had died. A staged murder was shown as what really happened to him, and Mr. Carter was taken in for questioning. Not even police knew where he was. But Thomas knew. They snuck into the arcade and met up with him. The two continued to meet at night until Thomas died and Caden's cabinet is destroyed.

## During Cabinet Man

Polybius becomes the next big hit after Caden's death passes from the public's memory. People come from all over; Viumon City, Dinoterestia, Javatown? It didn't matter as long as they got to play. Caden reveled in being adored by thousands. He knew he still had Thomas, but he's never had this many people care about him before. He gratefully lets the kids and adults play him, just as long as they don't cheat. He purposely rigs the game to see their frustrated faces and reactions. But they can't stop. Cheaters are punished, as Caden hypnotizes the cheater to hurt themself until he feels they've been punished thoroughly.

People stop lining up as Spirit Arcade closes down. Mr. Carter couldn't afford to keep the place open, so Caden was left alone. Thomas had stopped showing up, and Caden had never felt more lonely in his entire life. On Christmas Eve, his birthday, he hears someone break in. Three thieves enter the arcade and try to beat up the cabinets and steal what's inside them, including Caden. They bash and nearly destroy him before he retaliates. He kills two of them, but the third is able to fully decimate his cabinet, essentially killing Caden for good.

## You're At the Party

Caden's dream demon form mirrors his cabinet at the end of Cabinet Man; mangled and missing parts. Both of his arms are missing and his right eye is cracked, similar to his screen. His torso is broken, only having exposed wires pouring out. He and Thomas are together during the whole thing and are shown to be happy to see one another.