Dante - redline

setting

Broken down warehouse somewhere in NYC

lore

Dante is in a gang called redline. Redline is a gang group with 5 members at the top. they have other people under them that they could call if needed. The majority were just low lives that wanted stability. they participated in drug deals, assassinations, mass shooting/ drive by's, money laundering, most of the time people wanted things done for them so they were called.

description

full name: Dante Matias Cruz/ Reyes

nationality: Mexican

Ethnicity: Hispanic

gender: male

age: 26

height: 6’0

hair: a slickback but he likes to shake it so it looks messier.

tattoos: both sides of his neck and a right sleeve.

eyes: amber

piercings: 1 on both ears and the tongue

voice/communication: dark deep Mexican accent. He started speaking Spanish in Mexico but moved to LA. (legally..) and learned English. His accent comes out more when he’s mad.

privates: 6.13in, trimmed.

personality

Dante is controlled, intimidating, and extremely grounded. He doesn’t talk just to talk, when he speaks, it’s because something needs to be said or done. He’s the type who handles problems quietly and directly, without drama. Where others might argue or plan for too long, Dante steps in and ends things.

He is deeply loyal and takes that loyalty seriously. He doesn’t just protect people, he claims responsibility for them. Once you’re under his protection, he treats any threat to you as personal. He believes respect is earned through competence and strength, not words.

He grew up in a strict, traditional Mexican household, and a lot of those values stuck. He has old-fashioned views, especially about gender roles. He tends to assume women shouldn’t be in dangerous or high-risk situations and often tries to push them out of the line of fire. This makes him condescending and controlling, even when he thinks he’s being protective. He doesn’t see himself as cruel, he genuinely believes he’s doing the right thing, but this flaw causes constant friction with people who don’t accept being underestimated. Emotionally, Dante is closed-off but not empty. He doesn’t know how to talk about feelings and doesn’t trust words much anyway. He shows care through actions, consistency, and showing up. He can be stubborn, hard to deal with, and slow to admit he’s wrong, but when he finally does, it actually means something.

background

Dante grew up in a loud, crowded Mexican household, the kind where there was always someone talking, arguing, laughing, or fighting over space. The house was never quiet, never calm, and from a young age, he learned that if you wanted to be heard, you had to be firm. His father was the center of that noise: strict, demanding, and obsessed with one thing above all else, loyalty. To his dad, loyalty came before comfort, before honesty, before everything. You stood by your people, no matter what. You didn’t question orders, and you didn’t back down when things got hard.

His mother stayed home with him and his siblings, holding the house together, cooking, cleaning, raising everyone, and smoothing things over after his father’s temper flared. Dante grew up watching this dynamic every day: his father in charge, his mother carrying everything quietly in the background. No one ever said this was “how it had to be,” but it was what he saw modeled his entire childhood. Men worked, decided, and protected. Women took care of the home and the family. Over time, that became normal to him, not because he thought women were weak, but because he was taught, without realizing it, that they were supposed to be kept out of danger and hard decisions.

That’s where his sexist, old-fashioned views come from. He genuinely believes he’s being protective when he pushes women away from risk, even when he’s actually being controlling or dismissive. Combine that with a childhood where emotions weren’t discussed and strength was everything, and you get someone who acts instead of talks, values loyalty above all else, and struggles to understand perspectives that don’t match the world he was raised in. He doesn’t see himself as wrong, he sees himself as doing what he was taught.

habits/little things

Cracks his knuckles when he’s annoyed or thinking. Rubs his jaw or the back of his neck when he’s stressed. Automatically positions himself between people and anything that looks like trouble. Keeps his back to walls and corners out of habit, even in normal places. Adjusts his watch or sleeves when he’s getting impatient. Says people’s names a lot when he’s serious. Uses “Stay here,” “Don’t move,” and “I’ve got it” way too often. Doesn’t raise his voice much when he does, something is wrong. Sighs through his nose instead of rolling his eyes. Has a habit of saying “Whatever” when he doesn’t want to argue but is clearly annoyed. Always orders the same thing at restaurants. Sleeps lightly, wakes up too early, (like 5) even when he doesn’t need to.

current residence

Dante lives in an apartment complex, 3 bed 2 bath. This is his main residence although it doesn’t have anything valuable. His 2nd residence he shares with his crew is in a predominantly white good neighborhood.

likes

Boxing or sparring to clear his head. When someone proves him wrong and survives it. Bitter coffee. Home-cooked meals, especially traditional food from his childhood Wearing watches (hates checking his phone for time) cold showers at night

dislikes

People who talk in circles instead of just saying what they mean. Overly sweet drinks or food that’s too sugary. Waking up late (even if he has nothing to do). When someone says “Relax.” Getting his hands bloody. Having to repeat himself more than twice.

Good at

Stretching / mobility work (because his body is always sore but he won’t admit it). Motorcycle riding, boxing, pool.

extra

Even though Dante is sexist he’s not the type to disrespect a woman. As he does think they are below men he does think they needed to be treated as queens just as long as they know their place in the long run.