Noir Weekend!

[furnaceface]

We all know and love Soap Opera Weekend, so we thought we would riff on that idea, but with a twist!

Yes, on the weekend of July 12-13th, Fandom Island (and those hanging around on Ingvar, if the stolp bug menace hasn't vacated the dorms by then) will be experiencing its very first Noir Weekend!

What does Noir Weekend consist of? If you opt in to playing along, you'll get to poke at copious noir tropes, black and white/period icons, shenanigans with private dicks and speakeasies (as dirty as you want to interpret that) and plenty of dangerous dames, skirts, birds, and molls. Prohibition is going strong, which means that the bars can only legally be serving soft drinks and sarsaparilla, though there may be rumors of secret rooms where something a little harder can be bought--for a price. Monologuing runs rampant. And if there aren't antics involving tommyguns before the end of the weekend, someone is doing something wrong somewhere. But no worries, any and all damage caused will revert back to normal again on Monday morning!

Picture this! (all characters mentioned being used w/out permission just for illustrative and brainstorming purposes) Please listen to this while reading to get into the mood:

Fandom Island. A seedier hive of scum and villainy you won't find this side of NYC. The air is always hazy with fog and cigarette smoke and the streets run with rainwater, illegal booze, and sometimes even blood. At the aptly-named Devil's Nest, a man known to associates and enemies alike only as 'the Viking' runs girls, games, and gin. When it comes to having dirty hands, no one's are much dirtier than his boy, Lips, who does brisk business in records and "violin cases," if you know what we mean. Most of the cops are on the take and the ones that ain't have a hard time keeping their backs free of lead. Not that they ain't got problems of their own. The Baltimore Bay Butcher's killed seven NPC people and counting and even though times are tough, Satriale's shop has always got plenty of pork. Every heart's got a secret, every business has got a backdoor, and every one has to pay the piper in the end.

This is...Fandom Noir.

It'll be structured very much the same way Soap Opera Weekend is, with OCD neatly tucked into this very post for you to all noodle about your characters' backstories, and what's becoming of the bits of the island you all know and love.

Brainstorming and question threads are all neatly posted within for your convenience!

Comments

Character Brainstorming

[furnaceface]

Hey punk. Wanna be a private eye? The leggy dame who walks into his (or her!) office with eyes full of tears and a past full of secrets? The bartender who's seen too much and knows enough to get herself killed? A maker of bathtub whiskey? No idea at all? You can find the Noir TV Tropes page here.

Use this thread for coming up with your characters and backgrounds, making connections, and asking for suggestions.

Re: Character Brainstorming

[notaweenie.livejournal.com]

Meet Barry "The Brain" Ween. He runs the numbers racket in the warehouse district, you see? He'll cook your books, change the odds and count the cards all to make a profit, buster and don't you forget it.

Re: Character Brainstorming

[the_merriest]

Ricki's a sweet-as-pie city girl with expensive tastes and a weakness for vodka (and sometimes a little nose candy, but who's telling?) She used to be a back-up dancer at some shady establishment, but is now quite happily a kept woman courtesy of Reno, who got her an apartment and keeps her in mink stoles and fancy jewelry. He's probably in with the mob, and Ricki couldn't care less so much as he keeps the vodka-and-fancy-gifts train rolling. (Also, she carefully doesn't ask questions. Not because she doesn't want to know, but because she knows she's not supposed to. She's here to look good and smile, not ask how mobland is going.)

Anyone want to be a friend from the showgirl days, or another moll she can sip drinks with?

(Reno mentions are totally from Shannon zomg NO MODDING)

Re: Character Brainstorming

[sharp_as_knives]

All those speakeasies will need a supplier, won't they? And any mob folks will need a perfectly reputable imports-and-antiques dealer to help with...things.

Meet Hannibal "Doctor" Lecter, who can get anything pharmaceutical, if you can meet his price.

Re: Character Brainstorming

[spin_kick_snap]

Katherine's a pretty girl and seems to be one of Fandom's few innocents. Her little sister's gone missing and she's here to search for her.

Any relation to the mysterious mobster Lady Dokkaebi is purely coincidental.

Re: Character Brainstorming

[gunslingerpose]

Nick 'The Gorgon' Bartamian, the private dick who has a reputation for his uncanny ability to crack a stone-cold case, is going to be running his private investigations business out of what is currently his apartment at the Arms. He's also got himself a bit of a reputation for being easily swayed by a nice pair of legs, and he'll even admit himself, if a smokin' hot doll walks in, he's far more likely to aim to please. Er. More likely to take the job. Of course.

Re: Character Brainstorming

[voiceoverdue]

Gershwin is a freelance reporter, staying barely ahead of collectors while he tries for that One Big Story.

He's good at what he does.

It'll probably get him killed.

Re: Character Brainstorming

[doubleohblonde]

Maybe once upon a time Jimmy Bond had ideals, but that was a long time ago, before he made detective, before he joined vice and found out the only difference between the two sides of the law was that some pimps and hopheads had a badge.

Now he's always ready for a pay-off or a shakedown, and the only time the law gets enforces is when someone forgets to grease the right palms.

Re: Character Brainstorming

[not_a_moonie]

Alana's not exactly a bad girl, but she's not any better than she has to be, either. Her family are solid middle-class folks back in their small town, but she eloped with her high school sweetheart when she was just a kid. He left her, and now she gets by on a waitressing job and the kindness of strangers. (And if you're kind to her, she can be very kind to you.) She's had a couple boyfriends who were gangsters or bootleggers, and while she never got in deep, she's never averse to helping out and not asking too many questions.

She's got a good heart, but she's been knocked around by life enough to be wary of anybody with a sob story.

Re: Character Brainstorming

[fracknotfrak.livejournal.com]

Detective Moretti. Homicide.

It's tough enough being a dame in this city but trying to be an honest cop is next to impossible. Shunned by her corrupt colleagues in the big city, she had hoped a transfer to Fandom would give her a new chance at life.

But the stinking corruption in Fandom will undoubtedly take its toll on her.

...

Because honestly, who doesn't want their gin joint/illegal casino raided by the police?

Seriously, who does? C'mon. You know you want to press a button which flips over all the roulette and crap tables so they look like normal tables while the bartender hides all the booze!

Re: Character Brainstorming

[craftyladyparts.livejournal.com]

Okay, I actually have some free time where my brain isn't fried to think about this. AMAZING what happens when you have time like that. So let's do this.

Jessica Drew is a government agent with a secret past and an even more secret present. She's deep undercover to infiltrate organized crime, but is she maybe in too deep? Is she leading a double life, or is she increasingly lying to herself about the life she actually loves?

Re: Character Brainstorming

[willbethenight.livejournal.com]

I am literally going to have Bruce die like Charles Foster Kane right away. If anyone likes, they can obsess over the meaning of his final word: "Finger."

No, it's not dirty, but if anyone wants to assume that it is and follow up with any ex-wives, I'm cool with anyone claiming to be an ex of his.

Re: Character Brainstorming

[brainfreediet.livejournal.com]

"Flash" Thompson is a boxer whose best days are behind him. The bills are due and the sweet siren song of the bottle is beckoning. He needs one good break, and he's been asked to take a dive.

But he's recently come into a little something that could help him even up the odds. Something that could help him turn the tide in a fight. Now he has to decide if he's dirty enough to lose on purpose, or dirty enough to win with a little friend he calls "Venom."

Re: Character Brainstorming

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah Lance, P.I. On the case of the murdered canary-- a singer who sang for the New Gotham D.A., and wound up toes-up on the shores of Fandom. Nothing about the case makes sense; but nothing about the place makes sense either. Other cases that crop up like bad pennies and broken teeth only complicate the question: Who Killed the Black Canary?

Re: Character Brainstorming

[glacial_queen]

Karla and her younger sister, Elsa, were orphaned at a young age when their parents' private ship sank. "Fortunately," the girls had an uncle who was willing to step in and assume guardianship of them. Karla, the heir, grew up recalcitrant and stubborn; Elsa grew up with an aversion to being touched.

When Karla was 16 and Elsa only 9, Hobart realized that with only 2 years left before Karla took the throne that neither sister was particularly keen on keeping him around for very long. So he arranged another "accident," but they were rescued by their cousin Morton who spirited them away to a ship on it's way to America where they'd be safe with some contacts he'd made. (Elsa was panicked the whole trip. It was a very trying time.)

Unfortunately, their safe contact ended up floating in a river and they were snatched up by someone who thought to young princesses would be an excellent investment to ransom back to their uncle. A slightly-accidental fire later and they were on the run. Stolen money and their own jewelry let them get by for a few years, always moving around to keep out of sight, but eventually, they ended up broke and Karla started singing for a jazz club. Elsa, her perpetual shadow, also started singing, when she was overheard practicing Karla's songs. Karla's a damn fine singer. Elsa is phenomenal.

Everything might have gone well for the girls after that, except about six weeks ago someone at the club couldn't keep his hands to himself. Elsa cold-cocked the guy who'd grabbed her, Karla dove in to help and, well, there was another fire, oops. Look, maybe if people would just leave Karla's little sister alone, these unfortunate arsons wouldn't have to keep happening.

Extra unfortunate, because the business happened to be owned by one Mr. Warren "Angel-Face" Worthington III, as a nice, fully legal side-business to launder money through. Expecting betrayal, he made his way up to DC where the girls were being held by one of his 'associates.' He sees them, hears them sing, and decides that they'll work off the debt in another little place he owns: The Magic Box.

There are all these intriguing rumors about them, you see...

Re: Character Brainstorming

[shippedtomaine]

Emma "Princess Charming" Swan is a foundling turned small time grifter (it was a life of petty crime or the church, you think she was gonna pick the nuns?). She ain't crazy, so she stays out of the big boys and girls' game, but watch your wallet when she's around.

Re: Character Brainstorming

[doesdoctorstuff.livejournal.com]

Felicia DeLuca once had it all. An adventuress, she circled the globe looking for the plot of her next novel, part of the wildly popular Adventures of a Lady Doctor, the semi-autobiographical (though much more fantasical) depictions of her travels. She had it all: fame, fortune, a loving husband named Ivan, and the respect of women's groups around the world. She was a gifted doctor, a cunning linguist, and staunch teetotaler.

Everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked she and Ivan were visiting an old Transylvanian village called Varnova. One night, there was a vicious attack that slaughtered the entire village. Navaan was left for dead, clutching Ivan's hand.

In the morning, she managed to stitch herself back together. The morphine started as a way to dull the pain while she hiked to the next town. But even after she healed up physically, she couldn't kick the habit--and added new ones instead.

Leaving her old identity for dead and taking the name of a minor character in the first book, Navaan met up with Lady Dokkaebi back when she was still the spoiled princess of a Korean kingpin in Los Angeles. Other than her insatiable appetite for any mind-altering substance she could find, Navaan made an excellent bodyguard for the girl, who paid her in the opium her family smuggled and sold. After wiping out a rival gang, the Seventeens, in a bloody turf war, Lady Dokkaebi decided to expand her family's operations out East. Navaan went with her and they started recruiting her.

Now, Navaan watched over the store they're using as a front and the opium den where the real money comes in. She's not allowed to partake when she's on duty, but any other time she's always looking for her next fix. Drugs and mindless sex (or violence!) have became the only way to deal with the memories and the new hunger she found herself with after that night...

Re: Character Brainstorming

[icecoldfrost]

Emma Grace Frost is not one of Lady Dokkaebi's "Girls." Let's make that clear right up front.

She is, however, a premier information broker, whom Dokkaebi has on retainer. But if your price is right, the Ice Queen of Fandom might just know what you need. Information is her main trade, but she knows a lot of things. Things people need to know, things that they want to know, and things they want.

Oh, does she know the things they want.

And her 'private parties' are possibly to die for. You won't know the location unless you've been invited, but it's always a good time for everyone. Especially for Emma... because she has photos of that thing you did that one time, with the underage girl from the mainland...

Town Brainstorming

[furnaceface]

Two elements are needed for a good Noir setting. The first is darkness. Dark clouds, constant rain, no daylight--all necessary for those distinctive chiaroscuro shadows. Somehow for this event, it will never be daylight. Like Sin City, it's just somehow always nighttime. Nighttime and raining. This doesn't strike anyone as strange or weird, it's just How Things Are--unless, of course, your character remains untouched by Fandom whimsy. Then they can feel free to be as confused by the omnipresent darkness as you'd like!

The second is the city. Streetlamps to illuminate our anti-heroes as they walk in the rain. Alleys for our anti-heroes to be dragged down. Bars and speakeasies, warehouses, seedy offices, gambling casinos, all of these and more are backdrops for whatever our characters are going to get up to. As such, Fandom Town will be undergoing some changes, too.

Folks who currently own or manage a business can ping in here and decide what changes, if any, are going to affect their shops. They may end up becoming something completely different, staying the same, or keeping up a similar front for all kinds of nefarious activities. NPC stores are moddable as usual, though any active PC employees should have the final say. A list of businesses can be found at ft_directory.

Re: Town Brainstorming

[wrongkindofsith]

We need some kind of classy joint what our femmes et hommes fatale can work at, all respectable like, what with the torch songs and the big bands.

Re: Town Brainstorming

[locointhecoco]

Luke's is a classy joint, serving food and offering a nightly show, the kinda place that won't let you through the door without a dinner jacket and a tie. It's home to the well-to-dos and the want-to-dos alike, where the piano's always playing and the (non-alcoholic, of course officer!) drinks are always flowing, and all watched over by Grande Dame Pinkamena. She knows just what you like, and she and her girls will know just how to get it for you.

And, yes, Pinkamena will be shocked -- SHOCKED -- to find gambling in this establishment.

(Pinkie will totes be a pony -- this is just the noir-liest icon I have so far.)

General Noodlings

[furnaceface]

Ideas, thoughts, plans, suggestions? Maybe you think there should be a raid on the secret gin distillery in one of the warehouses or that there should be rival gangsters fighting for Fandom's … diamond mines. (Okay, sometimes these things are a constant on genre-themed event weekends.) Whatever your ideas, put them here for all to share!

Re: General Noodlings

[justlurkinghere]

Of course this is also the weekend of the full moon. Which is not only atmospheric, but makes supernatural hijinks available.

Classified Ads

[furnaceface]

Have a background that needs a hitman but no hitman chosen yet? Or are you a hitman who's been killing for years but needs a boss to report to or a body to lug? Are you a private dick (probably not dirty, but who knows with Noir) looking for some clients? If you're in need, you can ping in here and see if there's anyone else with the skills or resources you need to complete your Noir weekend experience.

Re: Classified Ads

[vdistinctive]

It would be an absolute violation of the ever-increasing-angst principle of character development for Eliot not to be a gun toting hitman for this. Preferably with the most despicable boss he can find.

So if anyone wants to get offed (the more the merrier!), or have an NPC'd loved one get offed (past or present), or have a particularly vicious and violent hitman on your books, let me know.

Questions

[furnaceface]

Have we missed something? Is something unclear? Here's the place to poke us with those burning questions you might have!
Question 1: What about the supernatural? I'm a witch/mage/mutant/alien/whatever! How will this affect my character?
Answer: However you want! While the stereotypical Noir movie doesn't have any supernatural elements in it, there's no hard or fast rule against it (and some excellent stories that combine the two). We're leaving powers and the like up to your discretion. Whatever you think works best for your character is A-okay.

Question 2: Is there a deadline to get our characters in/sign up?
Answer: No way! This stuff here is to help you come up with ideas and whatnot. If you know what you want to do (or are even just have a few nebulous thoughts), this is a good place to expand and solidify. But it's just here to be helpful. Participation is, as always, voluntary and on your own terms.

Anything else? Ask us here!

Re: Questions

[throughaphase]

Since there's only one person posting the bar over the weekends, I should probably ask: is the "bars are only allowed to sell non-alcoholic drinks" thing an absolute definite? Like would Caritas automatically be changed over as plot necessity?

Basically I've already done Caritas as a speakeasy IG so I'd like to know what the options are so I'm not just rehashing old material.

OOC

[furnaceface]

Re: OOC

[fewer_explosions]

Getting flashbacks to my 48 Hour Film project already...