Reuben Slade

[Reuben Slade]

| ~ • ~ | Character Basics | ~ • ~ |

.:Name:. Reuben Slade

.:Nick Name:. Goes by Slade along with his title

.:Rank:. Nobleman, brother of a Duke

.:Age:. 27

| ~ • ~ | Appearance | ~ • ~ |

.:Physical Appearance:. Slade stands tall over six feet, with a slim build and broad shoulders. He has large blue eyes, pale skin, and straight brown hair which is often slicked back. He dresses in well tailored, expensive clothing that are mostly darker colors with high collars. He also often wears black gloves on his hands, avoiding any physical contact with others. He has an injury on his leg, causing him to permanently walk with a limp and as a result, requires a cane -- with a gold top in the shape of a bird's head -- to walk which he always has on his person. 

.:Height:. 6"1'

.:Portrayed by:. Freddy Carter

| ~ • ~ | Personality | ~ • ~ |

.:Personality:. Slade possess a strong and intimidating presence and yet somehow can blend in the shadows when he wants to. Where he has physical limitations, he compensates for them with the abilities of his mind. Analytical, calculating, scheming, and even conniving, Slade holds the necessary traits that has caused him to be successful in this darker path of criminal activity. He has what would now be considered as an eidetic memory, and relies on his skills to read a person's facial expressions and demeanour while attempting to discover what their next move will be. He remains unnervingly calm and stoic, being a man of few words and having little patience for frivolous conversation. A man of high intellect and one who does not like to be underestimated, Slade has strong loyalty and trust in only a handful of people. He lacks sympathy and even empathy, preying and unapologetically exploiting others where he sees fit.

He does not enjoy the ton and the way polite society portrays itself. Any events he is forced to attend -- which is only recently -- his mind seeks to find a situation where he may gain profit. He does not have a preference for women over men, but does seek to find a mother for his daughter. He is fiercely protective over his daughter, never speaking of her with the exception of those entrusted for her care. He keeps her safe from his dealings, and does have a rather close relationship with her. Slade's unconventional self with circulating rumours may not make it easy to find a wife . . . but perhaps, his abundance of wealth will.

.:Skills:. Highly intellectual, eidetic memory, leadership skills [though clearly used in a criminally productive way], strong instincts [when it comes to reading facial expressions, and a person's demeanour, though only to those who he believes will serve a purpose to him], very skilled in planning and executing said plan, meticulous and organized, using his building reputation to profit off the activities of other criminals or perhaps merely desperate men, very disciplined [for instance: refuses to partake in any form of gambling], very strong reputation and well known in the underground world of criminal activity as well as quite well connected

.:Weaknesses:. Physical limitations due to his injured leg, inclusive of basic actions like walking, running, dancing, and even horseback riding which he can only do for limited periods of time. He relies on his cane for self defense as he has no combat training, perfectionist to the point where he gets disturbed and unsettled if even one single thing does not go according to his plan or in any situation where it is not what he considers in his mind, ideal, does not like physical contact with others -- there are of course exceptions-- due to traumas from his past.

| ~ • ~ | History | ~ • ~ |

.:Birthplace:. England

.:Family:. Father is deceased, he has an older brother, an older sister, and a younger sister, he also has a daughter [Evelina, Evie or Lina for short], also has a pet goat named Gilbert [Gilly for short]

.:Occupation:. Nobleman, gang leader, underground criminal -- unbeknownst by those who's social circles would not fall among those that Slade does business with

.:History:. Slade is the embodiment of few facts and many rumours. He was always the black sheep of the family, different than his siblings, and this was something his parents were strongly aware of. He was advanced in his studies, possessing a sharp mind and perhaps was even considered to be ahead of his years. While he had what would be considered a fairly normal upbringing, his brother was praised as the eldest son and exact opposite of Slade for he was what society considered to be far more acceptable. When Slade was a young by, he was travelling with a group when they were ambushed by highwaymen. They were ones of the cruelest kind for they left no survivors. At the beginning of the attack, Slade was struck and rendered unconscious -- presumed dead. By the time he regained his consciousness, he found himself at the bottom of a pile . . . of bodies.

The highwaymen had gathered the corpses in one large pile and Slade just happened to be at the bottom of it. He would remain there for quite some time, trapped and unable to move. It was not until someone around his age -- an orphan living on the streets  -- found him, that he would be saved. This person aided Slade, pulling him out from the weight of the bodies. Slade promised them that he would one day repay this person, and Slade would bring him under his employment, becoming one of his closest friends and protectors. Slade never breathed word of this experience, though it effected him, for now he is unable to withstand physical touch, skin to skin contact with anyone. There are exceptions to those he is extremely close to and trusts, but the trauma of this experience has left him constantly wearing gloves.

When Slade was 18, his parents -- fearful of the building rumours about Slade and worried for the tarnishing of their name -- sent him to live in one of their smaller estates in another city. While there, Slade felt the freedom of no longer being under his family's watch and with this, came the start of his criminal path. It would start with simple things; attending clubs, witnessing those who gambled their wealth away and this . . . Slade seized as opportunity. 

Offering these men loans, making it sound far more desirable than going to a bank instead as he offered them discretion and avoidance of shame, Slade started on his business path, charging a great deal more money than loaned. As time went on, Slade became more strategic in these endeavors, recruiting spies to see who was in need. There were those who could pay and those who could not, and the man held no remorse in using tactics of physical intimidation. One such man, unable to pay his debts, offered his daughter for Slade to wed. With the woman wishing for a marriage that would free her of her father's home, Slade agreed to this. The marriage was fairly amicable -- though not one filled with love -- and produced a daughter that brought forth another side to Slade reserved only for her.

His wife passed after a few years, the details of her death unknown. It is also merely rumour that he even has a daughter, unconfirmed by society as Slade remains well away from the ton. He has also had an invested interest in highwaymen, making it his business to know their plans and even going as far as hunting down the ones who had attacked him, all those years ago. Over the years his wealth increased, surpassing even his brothers now the Duke of Wellington after his father's passing. Slade continues to build upon his empire, having moved beyond mere loans. He owns or partially owns several businesses (clubs, bars, hotels, etc), and has a hand in acquiring goods both legal and illegal. He makes himself aware of any activity that he could profit from. Whether it is mere highway robberies or other kinds, gambling clubs, indebted wealthy men, and the sorts. He has his own people throughout the cities to inform him of where he may benefit and gain from the situation, and has trusted few in his estate. He has gained quite a reputation in the underground world and those in similar social circles, as a leader, crime lord and one not to be trifled with.

It was only a couple years after his wife's passing that he came to the acceptance that his daughter needs a mother. With that thought in mind, he plans to re-enter society to find someone to be his daughter's mother. This of course, is no easy task as he is extremely particular about his requirements. He does not spend a great deal of time with his family apart from her, and rumours of a daughter, of his accumulation of wealth, of his wife's passing, of how he injured his leg . . . remain just as that: rumours.

| ~ • ~ | Member Info | ~ • ~ |

.:Name or Online Alias:. euphoria
.:Your Pronouns:. she/her
.:Are you 18+:. yes
.:How Did You Find Us:. it's my fifth character and I need to stop!

[The Writer]