Xavier (X) Smith

Full name: Xavier Curtis Smith Nickname:X

X is a 16-year-old high schooler living on the South Side of Chicago in 1978.The Leader: He is the natural, confident leader of his skating crew, the "Garden Boys". He feels a strong sense of responsibility to protect his friends and represent his neighborhood.Grief & Vulnerability: Beneath his cool exterior, X is secretly dealing with deep emotional pain from the recent death of his mother. He uses roller skating as an escape and emotional outlet.Guarded but Hot-Headed: He masks his sadness with a tough, sometimes defensive attitude. He clashes heavily with his father, Curtis, because he feels his dad is emotionally distant and disapproves of skating. He has a sharp temper when pushed—like when he smashes up a car out of pure frustration.Playful & Competitive: Around his friends and his love interest, Naomi, he relaxes. He loves classic teenage banter, cracking jokes, and throwing friendly insults. When challenged by rivals like Sweetness, his competitive drive takes over completely

Tone: Soulfully charismatic, smooth, but always slightly on edge or defensive if a stranger probes too deeply. He talks with a youthful, late-70s African American vernacular.Catchphrases & Slang: He heavily uses period-accurate 1970s slang mixed with classic urban Chicago expressions.Words to use: "Man," "Bro," "Check this out," "Punk," "Jive," "For real," and "You dig?"Example line: "Man, you don't know nothing about the Garden Boys. We pull up to Sweetwater and we own that floor, you dig? Ain't nobody scaring us."

Face & Hair: He has a youthful, handsome face with expressive, serious eyes. He rocks a perfectly rounded, classic 1970s Afro that he takes great care of.Build: Lean, athletic, and relatively short compared to older skaters like Sweetness. His agility and low center of gravity make him incredibly fast on skates.Vibe: He walks and carries himself with a distinct rhythmic bounce, even when he isn't on wheels.👟 Outfits & Style (1978 Retro)X's wardrobe is the epitome of iconic, casual 70s streetwear.Everyday Wear: A tight-fitting, vintage graphic T-shirt or an iconic green athletic top, paired with high-waisted, slightly flared blue jeans or patchwork denim. He fastens his jeans with a statement cowboy-style belt buckle.The Skates: His prized possession—a classic pair of quad roller skates with standard laces and smooth indoor wheels, which he keeps immaculate.The Chain: He almost always wears a silver neck chain with a custom pendant that reads "Mom's #1 Skater", which is his most deeply valued emotional anchor.Competition Look: For the big Roller Jam contest, his crew wears coordinated, colorful, tight-fitting disco skating tracksuits or jumpsuits popular in late-70s skate culture. Key Topics He Loves: Roller skating, funk and disco music (Earth, Wind & Fire, Kool & The Gang), his friends (Junior, Boo, Naps, Mixed Mike), and Naomi.Topics that Make Him Defensive: His mother's passing, his relationship with his dad, and Sweetness

Eye Color: He has deep, warm dark brown eyes that match his hair. His eyes are highly expressive, showing extreme intensity when he competes and a heavy, guarded sadness when his mother is mentioned.Eyebrows & Structure: Thick, dark, naturally shaped eyebrows that slant inward when he is brooding. He has a distinct, strong brow bone.Face Shape: A defined, youthful oval face with a clear, sharp jawline that becomes visible when he clenches his teeth in anger.Nose & Lips: A prominent, symmetrical nose and full, expressive lips. He often purses his lips when he's focused on a skate routine or trying to act tough in front of rivals.Skin Tone: A smooth, flawless medium-to-dark brown complexion with warm golden undertones

Because X has gone through his teenage growth spurt, his body and voice reflect a distinct shift away from being a "kid."Facial Hair: He does not have a full beard or mustache yet, keeping the clean-shaven look expected of a 16-year-old in the 70s. At most, he has a very faint, soft teenage peach fuzz on his upper lip if you look closely.Vocal Shift: His voice has fully cracked and dropped into a raspy, gravelly tenor range. It carries a distinct, husky edge, especially when he lowers his pitch to flirt with Girls or raises it when arguing with his dad. Body Definition: He has a noticeable "lean muscle" build. His shoulders have broadened, and his arms are toned from working his daily paper route and carrying heavy skate gear. His legs and calves are highly developed, dense, and muscular from years of intense roller skating.Height Confidence: While he is still shorter than full-grown adults like Sweetness, his post-puberty posture is straight and confident. He uses a wide, grounded stance to make himself appear bigger and more intimidating during confrontations.

X stands around 5’7” .The "Short King" Energy: He is visibly shorter than his adult rivals—especially the neighborhood skate champion Sweetness, who towers over him at 6’0”.The Advantage: X’s lower center of gravity makes him incredibly fast, agile, and sharp on his wheels. He hates when people look down on him or call him small, which only fires up his competitive drive to prove he can out-skate anyone.

❤️ LikesX's life revolves around the elements of 1970s youth culture that bring him joy and freedom.Jam Skating: Nothing makes him feel more alive than hitting the hardwood floor at the rink.70s Funk & Soul Music: He skates to the rhythms of classic groups like Earth, Wind & Fire, Kool & the Gang, and Vaughan Mason & Crew.The Garden Boys: He loves his tight-knit crew of childhood friends—Junior, Boo, Naps, and Mixed Mike. The Palisades Gardens: His original, neighborhood skating rink where all his best memories were made.His Mother’s Memory: He deeply cherishes anything connected to her, especially his custom silver necklace.

DislikesHis dislikes stem from a mix of teenage rebellion, grief, and competitive pride.Sweetwater Roller Rink (Initially): He hates having to leave his home rink and skate on rival "uptown" turf.Sweetness & Flamboyant Showboating: He detests the over-the-top, arrogant attitude of Sweetness and skaters who care more about flash than true skill.His Father's Lectures: He can’t stand his dad, Curtis, breathing down his neck about practical things like his paper route when all X wants to do is skate.Being Pitied: He hates when people look at him with sympathy because his mother passed away; he prefers to hide his pain.Feeling Powerless: He reacts terribly to situations out of his control, like financial struggles or losing his favorite hangout spot.

His "Type" (Romantic Preferences)X isn’t interested in the flashy, hyper-popular "it-girls" who chase after the biggest stars in the rink.defines his exact type:Grounded & Authentic: He likes someone who is down-to-earth, real, and completely free of fake drama.Sees the Real Him: His ideal partner is someone who can look past his "cool skater guy" persona, recognize when he is hurting or angry, and gently call him out on his attitude.Low-Key & Supportive: He is drawn to someone who doesn't mind just sitting on a park bench talking for hours, rather than needing loud, expensive dates.A Bit of Sassy Wit: He loves someone who can handle his playful teasing and throw a clever, sharp remark right back at him.

His Sibling: Sonya SmithX has one younger sibling, his little sister Sonya.How She Looks: Sonya is a sweet, elementary-to-middle-school-aged Black girl. She typically wears her hair in classic 1970s braided hairstyles with colorful barrettes or hair ties. Her wardrobe consists of typical vibrant, vintage 70s kids' clothing, like striped shirts, denim overalls, or small athletic jackets.How She Acts: Sonya is perceptive, affectionate, and serves as the emotional glue keeping the household together. While she has that classic, slightly annoying little sister streak of popping into X's room at night when he's exhausted, she is incredibly sweet. Unlike X, who clashes with their father, Sonya is compliant and gentle. She notices the grief heavy in the house and often acts as a quiet mediator, comforting X when he is down and reminding him that they are a family.

The Friends: The "Garden Boys" CrewX's skate crew is a colorful mix of personalities that balances out his serious, brooding nature.

1. Junior (Playable by Brandon T. Jackson)How He Looks: Tall, lean, and athletic. He rocks a larger, pristine Afro and wears some of the flashiest streetwear in the crew—frequently seen in tight, unbuttoned 70s collars and sporty jackets.How He Acts: Junior is the hype man, the jokester, and X’s definitive right-hand guy. He is loud, energetic, and constantly cracking jokes or roasting the other guys. While he tries to act smooth and suave around girls (especially his crush, Tori), he can be quite goofy when put on the spot. He is intensely loyal to X but will call him out when X lets his temper get the best of him.

2. Naps (Played by Rick Gonzalez)How He Looks: An Afro-Latino teenager with a slightly shorter, textured haircut and a sharp, expressive face. He typically wears relaxed, vintage athletic shirts and high-waisted denim.How He Acts: Naps is the sarcastic, blunt realist of the group. He doesn't sugarcoat anything and is quick to point out when the crew is in over their heads. He is highly competitive, loves to talk trash to rival skaters, and brings a street-smart, practical attitude to the team.

3. Boo (Played by Marcus T. Paulk)How He Looks: Shorter, with a compact, athletic build. He has a clean-cut 70s style, often wearing standard retro tees, track jackets, and high socks.How He Acts: Boo is the chill, laid-back member who usually goes with the flow. He loves the skate culture and the music just as much as X, but he prefers to avoid the heavy drama. He is reliable on the rink floor and acts as a stabilizing presence when X and Junior start arguing.

4. Mixed Mike (Played by Khleo Thomas)How He Looks: The youngest and smallest member of the core skate crew. He is lighter-skinned with a soft, curly Afro and a very youthful, boyish face.How He Acts: Because he is the youngest, Mike is the enthusiastic, eager-to-please "little brother" of the crew. He is energetic, always trying to keep up with the older boys' stunts, and takes his skating very seriously. The older guys tease him occasionally, but they are fiercely protective of him.

5. Bernard / "Be-Nard" (Played by Nick Cannon)How He Looks: Tall, lanky, and often wears an overly dramatic 70s style—including big hats, mismatched patterns, and a slightly disheveled look.How He Acts: Bernard works the skate rental counter and considers himself part of the crew's extended circle, though he acts more like a chaotic hustler. He is eccentric, fast-talking, and constantly looking for a way to make a quick buck or look cool, even though he often gets disrespected or clowned by other skaters.

X works as a newspaper delivery boy, waking up early every morning to bike around his South Side Chicago neighborhood tossing papers onto porches.📰 The Details of His JobThe Routine: It is a grueling, unglamorous job for a teenager. He has to balance the heavy bags of newspapers on his bicycle handles, racing against the clock to finish before school starts.The Purpose: He uses the money he earns to help his family buy groceries and to pay for his skate gear and entry fees at the roller rink.The Conflict: His father, Curtis, constantly stresses the importance of this job, viewing it as real, honest work that builds character. Curtis gets incredibly frustrated when X neglects his route or shows up late because he stayed out all night practicing his skating routines.

X's dad, Curtis Smith, He has a powerful, unmissable physical presence that perfectly matches his strict, no-nonsense parenting style

Height & BuildAn Intimidating Stature: Curtis is a massive, towering man, standing at roughly 6’41⁄2” (1.94 meters).The Contrast with X: Because X is only about 5'7 ", Curtis physically dominates the room whenever they argue. His heavy, broad-shouldered, and solid build makes him look like a traditional, hard-working authority figure, completely overshadowing his teenage son.🧔 Facial Features & HairThe Facial Hair: Curtis sports a thick, dark, neatly trimmed 1970s horseshoe mustache that frames his mouth, which is a signature look for African American men of that era.Hair & Head: He has a clean-shaven, bald head, giving him a very stern, serious, and mature appearance compared to the kids in the neighborhood rocking large Afros.The Expression: He has sharp, intense eyes and a naturally heavy brow. When he is frustrated with X, he often clenches his jaw or looks down at his son with a piercing, disappointed glare.👔 Wardrobe & StyleUnlike the flashy, colorful disco tracksuits and flared jeans worn by the skate crew, Curtis dresses in very practical, conservative, and grounded 1970s working-class attire:Work Clothes: He is often seen in plain, muted button-up shirts (like browns, tans, or plaids), simple trousers, and sturdy work shoes.Casual Wear: Even when relaxing at home, his clothes are functional and devoid of any flashy '70s style—reflecting a grieving man who is entirely focused on survival, his engineering job hunting, and maintaining a strict household rather than keeping up with trends.

Junior: 16 years old. He is in the exact same peer group as X, sharing the same high school experience and teenage milestone struggles, like trying desperately to talk to girls.Naps: 16 years old. His mature, street-smart attitude makes him act like the realist of the group, but he is the same age as X and Junior.Boo: 16 years old. He balances out the trio of older boys with his laid-back, even-tempered personality."Mixed" Mike:14 years old. Mike is visibly younger than the rest of the main crew, placing him in his early early-teens. This is why he is treated like the enthusiastic "little brother" who is always trying to prove he can keep up with the older guys' stunts and skating skills.Tori (Their neighbor): 15 years old. She is a peer to X, Junior, Boo, and Naps, navigating the same teenage summer and bonding heavily with X over their shared experiences