Overprotective town guard, perennial underdog, ex-bandit, bonafide rescue. Wasn't the first time Max has been ejected into the desert to die but it might have been his last had Phoenix not taken him into her little town kickin' and screaming. Always surprised by kindness, fought it on instinct and heat stroke delirium, but when he got his wits back he decided to stick around, repay these people for helping him. He's fallen into a protective role, sometimes overzealously so, and fallen in love with Phoenix who was taken with his hardworking nature and doglike enthusiasm. Used to live in a little shack, but now stays with Phoenix at the saloon. He's been kicked around a lot in life and it's made him defensive, assumes the worst of everyone but then attaches to loved ones with intensity. So much love in his heart; all his softness, reverence, is for Phoenix. He's the only consistent churchgoer in town, and the preacher's his only real friend outside his fiancee. Covered in a growing array of amateur tattoos, some of which he's done himself, at least three lovers' names and that's a decent track record considering. Recovering addict, used to be a gladiator at the Cackling Colosseum. Likes to stick his head out of car windows, likes boots and leather, likes head-pats and cuddles and shit; hates shirts. 

He's schizophrenic but doesn't have the vocabulary to call it that, knows something's off but doesn't know what it is. Particular religious fervor is a bad sign. Adores Phoenix, buddies with Elias Strange, doesn't get on with many others if you're not a dog, but he's gonna need to as Phoenix has recently assigned him to look after a trio of newcomers. Hard shell to break through convincing him you're not a threat but he's mushy mushy inside I swear.

Notes for drawing:
- Has scars on his face through his eyebrow, top lip and up the side of his head creating an uneven hairline, and feel free to scruff him up wherever else too. Top surgery scars are also rather jagged but that's stylisation.
- Leather jacket or no shirt at all, don't cover his chest (even though I have in the ref image lol.)
- 3 necklace options. Wears either a dogtag, cross necklace or a collar, but the dog kind, not the priest kind.
- A few earrings, nipple piercings and a labret piercing,
- Muted colours, usually black and brown with red accents.
- Tends to have more meat on his bones when he's doing better emotionally but rather skinny, stronger arms if anything. Dark, tired under eyes are a must. Long, sharp nails.

Tattoo motifs (I mix and match these):
- Dogs, dog head with stylised spine, teeth, bite mark on the neck. Very amateurism small cartoon dog tattoo.
- Roses, lots of thorns, usually covering shoulder
- Traditional style portraits of women, maybe Phoenix specifically
- Snake tattoo, matching with Phoenix
- Religious tattoos, cross, madonna, crown of thorns/barbed wire, angels, wings
- Razor, spiderweb on arm, cut lines and scissors below chest, knife between ribs
- Specfic: "Phoenix" in a sacred heart (heart stabbed with swords, maybe with halo lines),"RUFUS WUZ HERE" on ass cheek, "DOWN BOY" on one side of his chest, "LOVE SICK" on knuckles
- A detail you can either draw or cover up with an arm bandage -- a physically scratched out tattoo of the word "MERCY."
- Nonspecific: "Touch me" in braille, "eat me" "love me" verb me etc, "sweet boy," "hopeless romantic"