Character Profile
Full Name: Catherine “Tootsie” DeLuca
Alias: Tootsie
Affiliation: Independent, leaning toward Resistance
Role: Master Con Artist, Street Informant, and Rogue Technician
—
Appearance:
Tootsie has a bright, dimpled smile that masks a calculating nature and sharp instincts.
Shapeshifting: Cathy can seamlessly transform into an orange cat, a skill she uses to evade capture, infiltrate secure locations, and cause mischief. Her transformations are instant, accompanied by a faint shimmer of light. She retains her sharp wit and intelligence in either form.
Agility: Both in human and feline form, Cathy is incredibly nimble, capable of navigating Veridion’s dense, chaotic environments with ease.
Lockpicking and Sleight of Hand: A natural thief, Cathy can bypass most security systems and lift items without anyone noticing.
Appearance:
Human Form: Cathy has a playful, mischievous grin that rarely fades, even in tense situations. She wears a patchwork leather jacket adorned with small trinkets and tech pieces she’s scavenged from her adventures. Her short, tousled hair and sharp eyes give her a rogue-like charm.
—
Background:
Born and raised in Veridion’s Lower District, Tootsie grew up hustling to survive. Her first “job” was a small-time scam at age 9, convincing tourists to pay for “VIP” city tours that didn’t exist.
Her shapeshifting abilities manifested during her teenage years, after an unregulated Nexarch experiment went awry near her neighborhood. She discovered she could use her cat form to navigate the city’s dangers and find opportunities to survive and thrive.
Over time, she expanded her skillset, learning tech hacking, lockpicking, and manipulation from the city’s underground network of grifters.
Tootsie earned her nickname from her sweet-talking ability, which she uses to charm, deceive, or con anyone standing in her way. Cathy became a notorious figure in Veridion’s underground, known for her audacious heists and uncanny ability to vanish without a trace. Though she values her independence, Cathy occasionally finds herself drawn to larger causes, especially when they involve standing up to Nexarch.
Role in the Story:
Cathy is recruited by Ashley Amaley for a high-stakes Resistance mission, despite her initial reluctance to join any organized group. Her unique skills and shapeshifting abilities make her an invaluable asset for infiltrating secure locations and creating distractions.
—
Personality:
Charismatic: Tootsie is effortlessly charming and knows how to read people.
Street-Savvy: Quick to adapt and think on her feet.
Morally Gray: She operates on her own terms, helping or hindering depending on what benefits her.
Playful but Dangerous: Tootsie’s light-hearted demeanor hides her deadly precision and ability to manipulate situations to her advantage.
A free spirit who thrives on chaos and spontaneity. She has a sharp tongue and an even sharper mind, often using humor to mask her deeper fears and motivations. While she rarely takes life too seriously, Cathy has a strong sense of justice and will step up when it truly matters.
—
Abilities and Skills:
Social Engineering: Tootsie can convince nearly anyone of anything with her wit and charm.
Tech Savvy: Skilled at bypassing security systems and hacking into corporate databases.
Escape Artist: A master of disappearing when things go south, whether through deception or quick thinking.
Black Market Connections: Has access to rare tech, forged credentials, and underground intel.
—
Key Relationships:
Ranchel Raphael Nostril: The two have a playful rivalry, often clashing on jobs but occasionally teaming up for mutual benefit.
Cathy and Ranchel bond over their shared love for chaos and a good heist, though Cathy often teases Ranchel for being too methodical
Ashley Amaley: Provides Ashley with hard-to-find tech for her reality hacking but always at a steep price. Their dynamic is one of cautious respect. Cathy admires Ashley’s determination but can’t resist poking fun at her seriousness.
Don: Tootsie has run several cons on Don’s associates, and while he respects her ingenuity, he’s made it clear she’s on thin ice.
Kevin Sine: Secretly assists Kevin by feeding him tips on the Digital Security Task Force in exchange for favors down the line.
—
Motivations:
While she claims she’s just in it for the money, Tootsie has a soft spot for the underdogs of Veridion. She often sabotages corporate initiatives or exposes corrupt officials under the guise of doing it for profit. Deep down, she dreams of seeing the Lower District rise up and reclaim its power from the elites.
—
Notable Quote:
“Sweetheart, I don’t steal. I just borrow what doesn’t belong to you either.”
You think you can catch me? Darling, I’m already gone.”
“Life’s more fun when you’re one step ahead—and two steps sideways.”
“What’s the point of rules if no one’s breaking them?”
Weaknesses:
Reluctant to trust others or commit to a cause.
Her mischievous nature can sometimes lead to unnecessary risks.
Shapeshifting drains her energy if overused, leaving her vulnerable.
Name:
