Mordecai Heller

Mordecai Heller is a bootlegger and triggerman for the Marigold Gang and a major antagonist in the series, though he previously worked for the Lackadaisy Crew.

Aliases: Elijah Metzger (Fake name), Killer Joe (by Ruby).

Male. 28 of age, acts older than he actually is. Around 5'9" to 5'10" in feet. Mordecai is of American; German / Ashkenazi Jewish descent. March 28 1899 is his date of birth, being born in New York City. He is Asexual.

Relatives: Isaac (father)(Deceased) Tzipporah (mother) Esther (younger sister) Rose (younger sister) Hannah (younger sister)(Deceased)

Occupation: Bootlegger, Triggerman for Marigold Gang.

Appearance: Mordecai has tuxedo colored fur and olive green eyes, he has short hair at the top of his head that droops down and wears golden, rounded pince-nez. He has a circular patch of white fur on his mouth area reaching under his nose. He has white fur under his eyes as well, complemented with thick white eyebrows. He commonly wears the Marigold uniform with a red tie but occasionally wears a long, black coat with a beige fedora or a white-collared shirt with suspender pants. Serafine forcibly carved a Voodoo protection glyph into Mordecai's chest when he refused to join the Maitre Carrefour cult, he has a blood stain in that area.

Biography: Mordecai was born on March 28, 1899 in New York City, New York to German-Jewish immigrants. Before starting education, Mordecai suffered from congenital myopia and was forced to wear spectacles. After his father Issac passed from a stroke, Mordecai became very protective of his family when they moved to the east side of Manhattan in terrible living conditions. He only finished his primary education. At 13, Mordecai began working as an accountant and bookie for grifters, loan sharks and gambling operations. In need of money at 17, he extorted money from someone minor in the crime world, murdering them as he replaced their role and was able to embezzle money from higher ranks, though he was later caught. In fright, Mordecai gets on a getaway train to either Chicago or Detroit while leaving all his money for his family; however, while finishing a letter to his mother explaining the situation, he notices two thugs in the traincar watching him, and realizes he is being pursued. While Mordecai is asking around for a stamp, the train enters a tunnel before Atlas appears from the shadow, coming to sit on the other side. He and Mordecai exchanged glances briefly before Atlas stood up to leave for his destination, all the while leaving a revolver inside the newspaper that he carried onto the train. Mordecai took the revolver and used it to defend himself and escape from his pursuers. Atlas helps Mordecai get out of his former troubles and Mordecai decides to join Lackadaisy as a sharpshooter. Though, after Atlas' death in 1926, Mordecai got into a fight with Viktor and eventually kneecapped him. He was later hired by Asa Sweet in early 1927 to be a triggerman for Marigold.

Personality: Mordecai was shown as reserved and professional in nature, but also neurodivergent with a compulsive attitude for cleanliness and order. He seems to have a dislike for touch which was shown when he avoided Ivy when requested to dance in the comic; he also became visibly uncomfortable when Gracie put his hand on Mordecai's shoulder in a friendly gesture. He worked to keep an intimidating persona as a triggerman albeit became awkward if it did not work as intended. Mordecai was shown as a perfectionist, wanting symmetry and having his Earl Grey tea a specific amount of time.

He's from New York, but makes a concerted effort to disguise the accent and generally sticks with a combination of proper and deadpan. The only exception would be in the midst of one of his intermittent episodes of pure vexation - some of the New Yorker might show through if enough of his composure slips.

In regards to Mordecai's reading habits, whatever he reads is, "undoubtedly thoughtful but dry - Bertrand Russell-like stuff. There probably aren't many romance novels on his shelf... or fiction of any sort for that matter.

He suffers from congenital myopia, and the glasses became necessary when he started school. Mordecai experiences sporadic double vision, and his unadjusted vision is somewhere between 20/60 and 20/80 on the Snellen chart.

Mordecai is a non-smoker.

Mordecai has a dislike of rats, pigeons, mice, roaches and other vermin...and asymmetry.

He prefers to cook his own food, "in which the major ingredients are separate or at easily identified, kosher, and containing nothing that smells suspiciously like mayonnaise."

Mordecai is generally working even when he's not officially working. There's almost always something to prepare for, and when there's not, he keeps his aim practiced, he buys and sells stocks, juggles money between accounts, sends mail, reads (for the applicable knowledge more than the enjoyment, he says), cleans, paces and sips tea. He also has a talent for math.

His weapon of choice is an M1911 (.45 caliber semi-automatic pistol manufactured by Colt).

Mordecai started keeping books for grifters, loansharks, and other varied criminals in his pre-teens.

Mordecai isn't really enjoying working for Marigold. He's not really the most socially adroit individual, and when others don't immediately buy the cold murder-man persona he wears like a stiff business suit, he doesn't really know what to do about that.

Mordecai is a neat-freak due to how unneatness/unsanitary things makes him feel uneasy and remember his past in poverty.

His drink of choice is Earl Grey tea, steeped for 4 minutes and not a moment longer.

Relationships: Atlas May: A quiet man with an expressive brow, Atlas possesses the life experience to recognize a young man in need of assistance and skill to offer it without a word. With just a glance, a heartbeat, and a firearm left within a discarded newspaper, Atlas May provided Mordecai with the tool needed to break free of fate and seize control of his destiny. There's little information regarding the four years between their first interaction on a train in 1916 and the Lackadaisy Speakeasy opening. Before becoming an entrepreneur of illicit substances, Atlas is known as a restaurateur, already owning the Little Daisy Cafe above the caves that would eventually disguise the true nature of his business when prohibition law came into full force in 1920. Given his affinity for bookkeeping, it's feasible Mordecai was kept on to manage the accounts at the Little Daisy Cafe, though his history with embezzlement and bookkeepers lends itself to illicit trading. Mordecai was hardly recruited on the traditional way either, which could imply that there was some illegal activity going on before prohibition, which would serve to increase the incentive to participate in illicit activities. Regardless of the goods involved or seemingly the job required, Mordecai was devoted to his service until Atlas' untimely death in 1926. To Mordecai, a young man in a new city and emancipated from his family for their protection, Atlas May became a veritable anchor. Mordecai may have even modeled his disinterested, flat tone and permanent scowl off of Atlas' own business appearance. It is also possible that Atlas became a surrogate father figure to Mordecai, whose own father passed away when he was just a kitten. Additionally, potentially no contact with his family since he fled New York places those at the Lackadaisy not only as the young man's found family, but Atlas as his role model, especially as he's newly introduced to the St. Louis underworld. An additional piece of evidence is Mitzi describing Mordecai as Atlas’, “wayward golden boy,” showing a connection that was equally deep on Atlas' side. There are limited resources in regard to both his personal and professional relationship with Atlas May, but what can be heavily inferred is a deep respect extending beyond simple loyalty. It's suggested Atlas helped Mordecai deal with some of his past pursuers, potentially indebting his life to the entrepreneur once more. Even after abandoning Lackadaisy for greener pastures, Mordecai actively conducts private inquiries while working for Maribel Hotel, going so far as to conceal an intended target of Asa Sweet to question him further. While conducting these inquiries, Mordecai is seen in his least composed state; he lacks his waistcoat and suit jacket, his shirt is stained with blood where his chest still bleeds and he looks generally disheveled. This divergence from his usual appearance could speak to a desperation to uncover the truth of Atlas' death - He is even willing to let his target go in exchange for information, implying that he values his investigation into Atlas' death more than loyalty to his new organization. Additionally, He agrees with the notion his new position may consist of tying up the loose ends of Atlas' death, and it evidently troubles Mordecai greatly this could be true.

Mitzi May: Mordecai seems to feel little beyond contempt for Mitzi. He states that he considers her partially responsible for Atlas's death, and goes on to state that she brought her current problems on herself, and can bring nothing but disgrace to Lackadaisy. Mordecai and Mitzi both have information about Atlas' death that they have not shared with others. Additionally, there is a flashback that shows them exchanging a gun, though it is unclear whether this is related to Atlas' death.

Nico & Serafine Savoy: Mordecai current works with Nico and Serafine. They appear to enjoy taking advantage of his difficulties with humor. He asks Asa how he found the siblings, noting that he has trouble understanding them but wishes to know more about them if he is to continue working with them.

Roark "Rocky" Rickaby: Mordecai has known Rocky since before he left Lackadaisy. Due to Rocky's immature and childish personality, Mordecai seems to have some level of distance from him currently. Rocky offers Mordecai a respectful handshake by calling him "Ol'Serious Face". In response, Mordecai calls Rocky ridiculous. Rocky asks Mitzi whether he should confront Mordecai after he notices that her conversation with him has brought her to tears but Mitzi tells him to keep his distance.

Viktor Vasko: Before separation from Lackadaisy, the two worked together as Atlas' triggermen. Fighting effectively together, eliminating opposition, and disposing of bodies. On the job, the two engage in mild (if slightly one-sided) banter, and in less serious situations were capable of casual small talk. There seemed to be a respect between the two. However, it has evidently gone extremely sour as they parted ways, Mordecai having knee-capped Viktor. The two have not interacted since. Mordecai kneecapped Viktor as part of an attempt to convince Viktor to retire, shortly before he left Lackadaisy.

Certain actions: Will not hesitate to stab or hurt someone if they touch him. Get's easily pissed off from asymmetric things. Can talk quite a bunch about symmetrical things. Freaks out if anything is dirty. Keeps his appearance in "perfect" condition. Acts serious, overly serious. Not one for jokes, at all. Unaware how to flirt, nor dance. Does not wish to learn. If has an insect on him, he jumps and freaks out, trying to kill it. Hopelessly terrified of rats. Can be very sassy. Smiles rarely, mostly at memories of his siblings back in New York.