Rocky and Frckle ׅ ⋄ ۫┊🐈

Name: Calvin Allen McMurray
Alias: Freckle
Torpedo Boy (by Rocky)
Cupcake (by Ivy)
Mr. McMurray (by Ivy)

Gender: Male
Age: 18 years (1927)
Height: 5'3"
Species: Feline/Cat

Nationality: American; of Irish descent
Birth: March 10, 1909
Place of birth: San Carlos, Missouri

Relatives:
Carroll McMurray † (father)
Nina McMurray (mother)
Rocky Rickaby (older cousin)
Ransom Rickaby (uncle)
Sophie Rickaby † (aunt)

Affiliation(s): Lackadaisy Crew

Occupation(s): Rum smuggler

Freckle is a short, slender adolescent cat with a rather round head. His fur is primarily orange, with yellow sclerae, no irises, and large orange pupils. He also has slightly darker orange stripes in various places on his body (forehead, cheeks, tail, etc.). His face is covered in white fur, especially on his chin (extending below his mouth), above his eyes and under his eyebrows, inside his furry ears, and a large amount sticking up from his cheeks. His tail is long but not bushy; it is also tabby, orange with dark orange rings, and has white tips.

Clothes:
He usually wears a grey three-quarter sleeve shirt with a green waistcoat and a dark green bow tie; high-waisted green trousers with wide stripes and brown shoes.

Freckle is portrayed as a shy, polite, and well-mannered feline, insecure and prone to becoming agitated by situations he finds himself in. He detests drinking and smoking. Despite his timidity, he is willing to take risks for people he trusts, such as Ivy and Rocky. However, he seems to have a sadistic side that he cannot control.

When Freckle is given a firearm, he becomes wild and manic due to a "furious fire," despite this he seems to be very skilled with weapons, highly praised due to his desire to become a police officer, although his manic behavior caused him to be rejected from the police academy.

Rocky Rickaby:
Rocky is Freckle's cousin, and they spent a lot of time together as children before Rocky was kicked out of his house. Rocky sent Freckle several letters between 1921 and 1924. Freckle has kept them in a box under his bed. Nina states in one of them that Freckle is "the only one in all creation who would follow you." Although they appear to have a close relationship, Rocky doesn't understand Freckle's interest in upholding the law and deceives him into believing he's a vigilante. Rocky seems interested in undermining Freckle's sense of morality, telling Freckle that what's legal isn't always right, though Freckle doesn't seem entirely convinced. Notably, while Rocky doesn't hesitate to deceive Freckle, he does interrupt Ivy when she suggests taking him to Lackadaisy, after having previously evaded Freckle's questions about Rocky's involvement with the gang. Freckle is surprised to discover that Rocky is not a vigilante, but works in a speakeasy, while Rocky is disgusted to see that Ivy has taken Freckle to Lackadaisy.

Rocky initially seems surprised after Freckle takes out Avery, but then proudly declares that Freckle is "my cousin." Mitzi notices that Freckle shares Rocky's laughter. Later, Rocky tells Mitzi that Freckle has gone berserk "once or twice" before, though he adds that the "unremitting carnage is a recent thing." Rocky realizes that Freckle was expelled from the police academy due to his behavioral problems. Rocky also advises Ivy not to delve too deeply into Freckle's psyche.

Ivy Pepper:
Freckle meets Ivy, and although she seems quite interested in him, he appears almost frightened. Rocky downplays Freckle's reaction, stating that he "doesn't go out much." When bringing the Lackadaisy, Ivy wants to dance with Freckle, though he doesn't share her interest and seems more frightened by the idea than anything else. Ivy tells Viktor that she has decided she and Freckle are boyfriend and girlfriend, though Freckle is unaware of this. Viktor is not pleased. Ivy asks Freckle if it's true that he killed the pig farmers, but he doesn't answer, leaving her wondering.

Regarding their potential relationship: It's a simple, uncomplicated affection. It's not very deep (at least not yet), perhaps not destined to last, but with a bit of luck, it will at least show Freckle that there's more to life than the maddening, guilt-ridden exercise of pleasing the two dominant family figures, angel and demon, who hang over him.

Viktor Vasko:
Viktor meets Freckle through Ivy, who also reveals Freckle's real name. When Ivy mentions that she has decided she and Freckle are a couple, Viktor fixes his piercing gaze on Freckle, which makes her extremely uncomfortable.

Sedgewick "Wick" Sable:
Freckle first meets Wick while accompanying Mitzi. Wick greets Freckle warmly and even offers to show him his gun collection after Mitzi mentions that Freckle likes guns.

• He is of Irish descent.
• He enjoys reading sports almanacs, especially baseball almanacs, and is generally a sports fan.
• Regarding his voice: polite and quite soft, the kind you'd hear as the "nice guy next door who mows your lawn for free." There are also slight hints of an Irish accent, which he likely inherited from his mother. Where Rocky's manic laughter is pure, maniacal joy, Freckle's is more of a cathartic rage; it would sound a bit crueler.
• While Freckle may have had admirers in high school, he is shy enough to tend to avoid them rather than try to win them over.
• His father, Carroll, died in a mundane way and was indirectly responsible in some way for Freckle's eccentricities.
• He was 12 years old when his father died.
• Sandwiches are their favorite food, while chocolate milk is their favorite drink.
• He doesn't mind Rocky calling him Freckle, but he feels self-conscious about it in general, to the point that he might contradict Rocky if he were introduced to others as Freckle, but he would be too shy to correct Mitzi.
• He doesn't smoke.
• Freckle is afraid of butterflies, bees, and oats.
• For Christmas, what he would like most are new socks, something autographed by Hi Bell... and willpower.
• Freckle's zodiac sign is Pisces.
• Freckle is an only child.

Name: Roark Rickaby
Alias: Rocky
Mr. Rickaby
Rocky

Sex: Male
Age: 22 (1927)
Height: 5'6"
Species: Feline/Cat

Nationality: American; of Irish descent
Birth: December 19, 1904
Place of birth: St. Louis, Missouri

Relatives:
Ransom Rickaby (father)
Sophie Rickaby † (mother)
Carroll McMurray † (uncle)
Nina McMurray (aunt)
Calvin McMurray (younger cousin)

Affiliation(s): Lackadaisy Crew
Former member of Lackadaisy's band

Occupation(s): Rum smuggler

Rocky is a young adult cat, short and slender, with gray and beige fur and a bushy, tabby tail that is beige underneath and gray on top. He has blue eyes with no sclera and black pupils. Among Rocky's most striking features are his bushy eyebrows, a bullet hole in his left ear, and black stripes around his fur.

Clothes:
His usual attire consists of a 1920s-style suit comprising high-waisted blue trousers (more specifically called Oxford trousers), a long-tailed blue blazer, and a matching hat, complemented by an orange tie with the initial "R." and black and white 1920s-style shoes. Underneath the suit, he wears a white shirt with a black collar and suspenders, and he usually removes his coat when he goes out to do work that might get dirty.

At first glance, Rocky is cheerful, carefree, immature, a clown, and flamboyant. He has a knack for joking and laughing spontaneously at the most inopportune moments, usually to the annoyance (and mild concern) of others. Outwardly, he is the polar opposite of his cousin Freckle, who is more reserved and humble, though both share a complex resentment and repressed emotions regarding their family situation. Rocky often involves Freckle in Lackadaisy affairs, sometimes against his will (even though he loves him dearly).

Despite his apparent lack of self-awareness, Rocky is quite intelligent and possesses multiple talents, most notably his skill at playing his beloved violin, an instrument he excels at and even spontaneously rhymes while playing. This remarkable ability led to his involvement with the speakeasy Lackadaisy, as his first job there was playing in Zib's band. Although his recklessness and destructive tendencies often cause problems for those around him, he always cares about the well-being of his colleagues and tries to help them in situations of imminent danger, even without the actual ability to do so. While the other Lackadaisy employees often consider him a nuisance, he is tolerated with humor rather than being openly disliked, and he is respected by both his superior, Mitzi, and his bandmate, Zib.

Despite his chaotic nature, Rocky feels an intense need to please those he respects. While this seems to be partly an innate trait of his personality, some of his desperation likely stems from being kicked out of home at a young age and the lonely life he lived on the road. He goes to extreme lengths, even to reckless lengths, to ensure Mitzi gets what she asks for, and much of his resentment toward Wick comes from the fear that Mitzi and the others will no longer need him.

Rocky Rickaby was born on December 19, 1904, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Ransom and Sophie Rickaby. As a child, Rocky lived in a comfortable home with his mother while his father worked on the railroad; during this time, he learned to play the violin. Later, his mother became ill and bedridden (likely due to the plague), forcing Rocky to go live with his aunt Nina and cousin Freckle. However, at the age of 16, Rocky was kicked out of the McMurray home for unknown reasons, so he decided to move in with his uncle in Kankakee, Illinois, where he worked as a farmhand.

San Luis:
Following Atlas's mysterious death and Viktor's knee injury, Rocky volunteered to become the new rum bootlegger. He later convinced his cousin, Calvin "Freckle" McMurray, to help him with his liquor collection missions, and they were often joined by Ivy Pepper. During Freckle's first "mission," the duo ended up setting fire to a clandestine still, and as a result, the speakeasy was attacked by its owners.

Calvin "Freckle" McMurray:
Rocky is Freckle's cousin, and they spent a lot of time together as children before Rocky was forced to leave home. Rocky is indirectly responsible for Freckle developing his acrobatic skills; he was a reckless child, and Freckle quickly learned to dodge him. He keeps a couple of photos of them as children, taken just minutes apart. In one, Rocky has pinned several clothespins to his cousin (who looks very annoyed), and in the other, Freckle is being hugged by his cousin. Rocky sent Freckle several letters between 1921 and 1924, which Freckle kept in a box under his bed. Nina tells Rocky that Freckle is "the only one in all creation who would follow you." It also seems that something in the past made Freckle feel he owed Rocky something, though this hasn't been fully explained. Although the two appear to have a close relationship, Rocky doesn't understand Freckle's interest in upholding the law and deceives him into believing he's a vigilante. Later, Rocky tells Freckle that what's legal isn't always right, though Freckle doesn't seem entirely convinced. Rocky shows little scruple in deceiving Freckle and interrupts him when she suggests taking Freckle to Lackadaisy, having previously evaded Freckle's questions about Rocky's involvement with the gang. Rocky isn't happy that Ivy took Freckle to Lackadaisy, partly out of fear that his aunt will find out.

Rocky seems bewildered by Freckle's sudden transformation into a gun-toting maniac and then proudly proclaims that Freckle is "my cousin." He discovers that Freckle was expelled from the police academy for behavioral problems. When Ivy asks Rocky how she can get Freckle to talk to her, Rocky advises her not to try to delve too deeply into Freckle's psyche.

Mitzi May:
Rocky is very devoted to Mitzi. He speaks highly of her and refers to her as "Lady Dionysus." Rocky tells Viktor that he doesn't know how Mitzi would survive if he quit. However, he's likely lying, as Rocky has an intense fear of being replaced or abandoned and is also trying to prevent Viktor from worrying about his ability to obtain alcohol (which was previously Viktor's responsibility).

Rocky is willing to do anything to avoid seeming "superfluous" in Mitzi's eyes. Part of this attachment may stem from the fact that she took him in when he was living on the streets and actively tolerates his chaotic ways. Once, Rocky gave Mitzi a uniquely decorated cactus to protect her while she slept, but Mitzi insisted he keep it, and Rocky did.

Mordecai Heller:
Rocky has known Mordecai since before Mordecai left Lackadaisy. Mordecai recognizes Rocky as a member of the gang. Rocky calls Mordecai "Mr. Serious Face" and claims to have heard stories about him. Mordecai isn't very impressed with Rocky.

Rocky asks Mitzi if he should confront Mordecai after noticing that their conversation made her cry, but Mitzi tells him to keep his distance. He respects her decision for the time being and instead tries to cheer her up with jokes.

Nina McMurray:
Nina is Rocky's aunt. Although she's willing to do his laundry, they don't seem to get along very well. Nina tells Rocky that Freckle is the only one who cares about him; according to her, Rocky has already wasted his second chances. Nina is the only one who refers to Rocky by his real name, Roark, though this could be because the others don't know his real name.

Rocky hasn't been honest with Nina about his occupation; she believes he earns a living playing the violin. When Rocky decides to set Freckle up with Lackadaisy, he lies to Nina again, claiming he'll be working as a delivery boy at Little Daisy Café.

Rocky explains his relationship with Nina to Ivy. When he was little, the McMurray house was more his home than his own. However, over time, Rocky became responsible for several minor incidents that caused problems. Eventually, a more serious situation arose, for which Rocky took responsibility despite not being at fault, and he was expelled. This allowed Freckle to focus on school without Rocky's distractions.

Viktor Vasko:
Viktor seems to have trouble tolerating Rocky, likely due in part to his flamboyance and verbosity, as well as his concern that Rocky will replace him. Rocky refers to Viktor as a "stern Slovak," and Mitzi sends Ivy with Rocky to talk to Viktor, believing it will make him less inclined to strangle Rocky. Viktor doesn't think Rocky has a future in the rum-smuggling business because of his lack of strength, even though Rocky considers himself his protégé.

For Viktor, the only thing worse than Rocky's unbearable incompetence is his ruthless competitiveness. After all, this comes with an extra dose of desperation and shortsightedness, which nearly cost him his life (and everyone else's). Viktor doesn't mince words: he believes Rocky is dangerous. Rocky, at least superficially, respects and admires Viktor, but he also recognizes his usefulness. He managed to discover what motivates Viktor to keep doing what he does and used it to extract important information when Viktor had more reason than ever to do what his good judgment dictated (a blow to the head with a wrench).

Sedgewick "Wick" Sable:
Rocky and Wick already know each other well. Rocky seems to enjoy making Wick uncomfortable. After seeing Wick and Mitzi kissing, his feelings intensify to the point where he expresses his disdain for Wick in front of Mitzi and Freckle. He seems bothered by their romance, not because of romantic feelings for Mitzi, but because of the fear that, with Wick, Mitzi will no longer need him.

Dorian "Zib" Zibowski:
Zib seems to have a mild paternal interest in Rocky, though not necessarily more than in the other band members. He tries to find out why Rocky has started working for Mitzi and later advises him not to get too involved. The two share a genuine bond, and Zib is usually so easygoing that Rocky's boundless energy doesn't bother him.

• Rocky doesn't live in a house and sleeps in Lackadaisy's car.
He revealed his feelings for Mitzi to her with a cactus bearing a drawn expression. Mitzi told him to keep it. Since then, he keeps it in his car. Its constant presence keeps him awake at night.
• He managed to pierce his earlobe by accident.
• Rocky once worked in a circus as a laborer.
• Pancakes with maple syrup are Rocky's favorite food. He has consumed alcohol in the past, but it didn't go well for him. He doesn't drink now and, to some extent, despises those who do.
• Regarding Rocky's voice: It's not as high-pitched as it seems; it has a wide variety of tones and a dramatic delivery.
• To date, Rocky has never had a proper romance, although he has had encounters of "various types".
• Rocky joined Zib's gang and, consequently, Lackadaisy in 1925.
• Rocky did not complete his primary education.
• As for his education, Rocky wasn't a particularly good student. However, being curious by nature, Rocky learned different things (like poetry) from place to place.
• Rocky is very intelligent in a cognitive sense, but this tends to be overshadowed by his social dysfunctions.
• He doesn't smoke.
• For Christmas, Rocky would most appreciate affection or attention... although, if that's not possible, he'd accept some pancakes.
• When Rocky urgently needs a bath, he uses the sink in the utility room behind the counter and sometimes an unsupervised garden hose. However, Nina does allow him to use her bathroom.
• Rocky looks a lot like his mother in appearance and behavior, but he inherited his eyebrows from his father.
• Rocky learned to play the violin from his mother, although he later stopped but took it up again while traveling in his teens.
• Rocky's zodiac sign is Sagittarius.
• Rocky is an only child.

Base of operations: Lackadaisy Speakeasy / Little Daisy Café

Leader(s): Mitzi May
Founder(s): Atlas May (former leader/boss)
Ally(s): Arbogastos (suppliers)
Enemy(ies): Marigold (rivals and competitors)

The Lackadaisy crew, or Lackadaisy gang, is a crime syndicate based in St. Louis, Missouri, that manages and operates both Little Daisy Café and its namesake Lackadaisy Speakeasy.

Mitzi May:
Mitzi May is the current leader of Lackadaisy Crew, owner and manager of the Little Daisy Café and the Lackadaisy Speakeasy since the death of her husband Atlas May in 1926. Before his passing, she was the lead vocalist of the resident band at the Lackadaisy Speakeasy.

Viktor Vasko:
Viktor Vasko is the current bartender at the Lackadaisy Speakeasy; he used to be a gunman, but his knees were seriously injured during a confrontation with his former partner, Mordecai Heller, which prevented him from returning to that profession.

Dorian "Zib" Zibowski:
Zib is the leader of the resident band at the Lackadaisy Speakeasy, which performs regularly at the venue despite the decline following the death of Atlas May.

Rocky Rickaby:
He was originally a member of the Lackadaisy Speakeasy's house band, where he played violin. However, after Atlas May's death and Viktor Vasko's incapacitation, Rocky became the Speakeasy's main rum supplier and a gofer for Mitzi May.

Calvin "Freckle" Allen McMurray:
Calvin McMurray, or Freckle, is Rocky's younger cousin and companion. Before accidentally becoming a rum smuggler for the speakeasy Lackadaisy, Freckle was training at the police academy from which he was expelled after some kind of incident.

Ivy Pepper:
Ivy Pepper is the daughter of Ruby Pepper and goddaughter of Atlas May, having known the original band since she was a kitten. She's studying at Saint Louis University while primarily working as the head cashier at the Little Daisy Café, a front for the Lackadaisy speakeasy; she also occasionally helps with bootlegging alongside Rocky and Freckle as Lackadaisy's "New Troop."

Members of the Lackadaisy Speakeasy band:
Dorian "Zib" Zibowski
Ben
Mozzie Alonzo
Sy
JJ
Walter
Rocky Rickaby (formerly)
Mitzi May (formerly)

Atlas May:
Atlas May was the original owner and operator of the Little Daisy Café and the Lackadaisy Speakeasy, which he founded in St. Louis in 1920. In 1926, Atlas was violently murdered under unknown circumstances; his wife, Mitzi May, who was the lead vocalist of the Lackadaisy Speakeasy's resident band, succeeded him as the owner of the establishment.

Mordecai Heller:
Modercai Heller works as a smuggler and hitman for the Marigolds, despite having been a member of the Lackadaisy gang.

Base of operations: Marigold Room / Hotel Maribel
Leader(s): Unknown senior officials
Asa Sweet
Ally(s): Pig Farmers (subcontractors)
Enemy(ies): Lackadaisy Crew (rivals and competitors)

The Marigold Gang is a crime syndicate based in St. Louis, Missouri, that runs the Marigold Room and the Maribel Hotel, and are the main rivals and competitors of the Lackadaisy gang in the speakeasy business.

Clothes:
His uniform consists of a three-button black suit with a red tie, a white shirt, and a marigold in the breast pocket, although only Mordecai and Serafine bother to wear it.

Leaders:
Asa Sweet: A high-ranking member of the Marigold gang who runs the Marigold Room and works as the night manager at the Maribel Hotel. He was an old friend and business partner of Atlas before his death, and now he wants to ruin Lackadaisy's business. He also has Mordecai, Nicodeme, and Serafine working for him.

Asa's team:
Mordecai Heller: He frequently accompanies Asa and probably isn't afraid to do the dirty work. It's hard to tell, as he always appears completely impassive. He works as a hitman.
The Savoys: A duo of brothers who are Cajun hitmen in the service of Asa.
Nicodeme Savoy: He's a highly skilled feline in hand-to-hand combat, as evidenced by a boxing award. Asa encountered the brothers after they stole shipments of alcohol from him. He decided the cost of trying to eliminate them, both in money and lives, would be too high, so he set out to acquire them for himself, working as a kidnapper.
Serafine Savoy: A feline who owns an automatic rifle she affectionately calls Boudreaux. She doesn't hesitate to use it.