Basics

Personality

hard shell, soft inside • smart • introverted • kind-hearted

grumpy • easily irritated • socially awkward • all bark, no bite • mean to establish dominance

Description

Spades was born 2 minutes before his three siblings and is thus technically the first born child of the godfather (gang leader). With that, he's been put into the position of his father's heir before he could even walk. Other people always had large expectations of him and made him feel like he was better than everyone else. This artificial confidence made him do exactly what his relatives wanted of him; He became a con artist and prepared himself to follow his father's footsteps. Not once did he let himself question whether he actually wanted this or whether it was something he'd be even good at. Spades just kept going, kept hurting people like he was told, kept distancing himself from his own feelings and thoughts.
Then one night his father was murdered in cold blood and suddenly his world tumbled. He felt safe in the dire hope that his father would make it long enough so that a different successor would take his place; But now there he was, having to pledge loyalty so soon. Very quickly he learned that a leader position like this just wasn't something for him. He's too much of a coward, too unexperienced with ruthlessness and generally too empathic to have to be this cruel. His mother stands by him and works the business from behind the scenes while his uncle Amir begrudgingly takes care of the dirty work, leaving him with representative duty and rarely decision making. And yet, he continues to be uncomfortable with his situation and himself.
Spades has a loving, understanding husband and two delightful children that he'd hate to see being forced to suffer from the same fate he's suffering from now. Especially seeing how the family treats his child Trey, who looks quite similar to himself and thus is considered the next heir, pains him. He wants to get himself and his small family out of there, but he simply feels like he can't. He's pledged loyalty and they'd be after his head if he'd try to flee. He can't even mention his struggles to anyone in the fear of his uncle Amir finding out; A man without empathy who would metaphorically eat Spades (and his two children) for dinner to claim his place if he was given the permission to.
So Spades is trapped in his own misery, upholding the facade of a powerful leader in a dire attempt to protect his loved ones.