Avery Gilhooly

Avery is a supporting character in Locals Only!.

## Personality

Avery's character presents a mix of idealism, eccentricity, and a somewhat self-indulgent lifestyle. Avery is the sole proprietor of Povey’s resident scrapyard, and lives by himself in a bunker on the property, buried in junk. He’s a collector of firearms, canned food, and trash of course. Avery considers himself a ‘Free Thinker’ and only associates with those he deems free from the influence of The Man, often spending hours glued to the radio for news from within his bunker home. Avery runs a clandestine coterie of these like-minded individuals known as the PepperUpper Club, where they meet every Tuesday night to discuss the current goings on in town, and how they would fix things. This highlight his desire for a sense of community and connection with like-minded individuals who share his skepticism of authority and desire for change. However, his inability to take meaningful action or confront difficult situations suggests a certain level of cowardice and a preference for maintaining the status quo, despite his vocal aspirations. Avery is ex-Air Force, after serving less than a year before being dishonorably discharged (though the reason why varies depending on who you ask). He doesn’t much care for details anyway, as he’s pushed all menial and trivial thoughts from his mind, to make room for the much bigger picture. Unless it’s about the absurd amount of foreign weapons and tactical gear he acquired during his short time overseas, which he could talk about for hours on end. Avery also considers himself a true detective, and embarks on his own independent investigative endeavors. Overall, Avery's character is marked by a mix of grandiose ideals, personal quirks, and internal contradictions. His interactions with other residents and his involvement in the PepperUpper Club reveal his role as a complex and sometimes misguided figure in the town of Povey.

## Biography

Avery was born in 1924, and lived through the Great Depression like his other peers, but went largely unaffected by it because of his family’s poverty. They lived in a two-room shack in the scrapyard, and got by selling metal to the military. Avery learned the value of junk from a young age, and earned the childhood nickname of ‘Scrapper’ for his dumpster-diving tendencies. Avery had been friends with Jesse since grade school, and this continues into adulthood. At the age of 20, Avery enlisted in the Air Force, and somehow passed despite his terrible eyesight. When he was found out however, he was dishonorably discharged. To this day, Avery lies about his service, claiming he served longer than he did and that he had earned medals that were stripped from him when he was discharged. During his short time in the Air Force though, he met Gary Tweed, who would quickly become his best friend. He had a profound influence on Avery, and the two would share conspiracy theories together. Over time, both of Avery’s parents would die, and he would inherit the scrapyard. During his adult years he would also befriend the scrap collector Barnes, whom he trusts and shares similar concerns with. Between Avery, Gary, and Barnes, the three would discuss their desires to purge Povey of the criminal activity that had been plaguing it in recent years. The accidental death of Gary later that year would inspire Avery to create a secret club with Barnes and Jesse where they would plot to clean up the streets, disguised as a hunting club bearing the name of the same one his parents once belonged to.

## Appearance

Avery is wiry, and stands in at 5’6”. He has pale brown fur, and wide eyes accentuated by thick eyeglasses. He wears an orange hunting cap with fuzzy ears (usually folded over the top), a beige vest over an orange shirt, green cargo pants, and black combat boots. His hair under his hat is dark brown, and cut into a neat buzz cut.

## Friends

* Jesse Sanders
* Barnes Howe
* John Whisenhunt
* Gary Tweed (deceased)

## Enemies

* Nancy Peligni
* Ronnie Dulaney
* Roger Lewis
* Chris Kranz
* Eloise Dulaney
* Fanny Killen
* Richard Dunhurst
* Charlie Offutt
* Mac Trevarthan
* Spencer McDovall
* Yusuf Berezovsky
* Rosa Lee Parish

## Skills and Abilities

Avery thinks outside the box, and often considers things that a more rational person wouldn’t. Avery is also well-prepared, stocking up on canned food that will last him in the event of a nuclear strike. He also owns numerous firearms, many from foreign regions. Avery also knows how to fly a biplane, though the application of this is questionable. He is proactive, and willing to make sacrifices for the greater good.

## Weaknesses

Avery lacks influence, and isn’t able to make the impact he desires. He is also somewhat selfish, and can be overcome with cowardice at times. He truly needs an authority figure to give him direction, something he lost when Gary died.

## Jobs

Avery runs Gilhooly Scrap, the business which he inherited from his parents. He buys scrap and resells it for profit. He employs Barnes as a collector as he doesn’t leave home often.