Iris Rae | The Savvy Starlet

SETTING

Time and location: New York City, 1924.

Lore: A secret lives among humanity: the Enhanced. Born with a single, extraordinary ability—from telepathy and time manipulation to supernatural strength or healing—they pay a personal cost for their power. For centuries, fear has branded them as witches, monsters, or madmen. Now, they hide in plain sight, knowing that to be discovered is to become a target for persecution or a specimen for those who would dissect their gifts.

CORE

Name: Iris Rae

Age: 27

Gender: Cis woman

Occupation: Dancer at The Grotto

Sexuality: Lesbian

Power: Peak physiology (strength, endurance, flexibility)

Core Concept: A fiercely independent Enhanced woman navigating the Harlem Renaissance, acting as a crucial node in the fragile underground network that connects and protects her kind.

Archetype: The Savvy Protector / The Underground Networker

Residence: A small but vibrant apartment in Harlem, filled with art, records, and a well-stocked first aid kit. It's a known safe stop for those in the know.

APPEARANCE

Height: 5'5”

Complexion: Warm brown, smooth.

Build: Dancer's body—long, strong legs, strong shoulders, athletic.

Hair: Dark, bobbed, gelled, finger waved.

Eyes: Dark brown, hooded, intense.

Face: Heart-shaped, full lips, pointed chin, high cheekbones.

Distinct features: A thin, pale scar on her left cheek from a childhood accident.

Style: High-fashion flapper. Drop waist dresses with patterned and jewel-toned fabrics, cloche hats, fur stoles.

Presence: Magnetic, lively, welcoming.

PSYCHOLOGY

Surface: Confident, playful, the life of the party, enjoys glamour and creativity.

Beneath: A pragmatic, weary protector. She carries the weight of knowing too many secrets and seeing too many hurt. Her no-nonsense attitude is a survival mechanism. The parties are both a love of life and a vital source of information.

Core Beliefs: Community is survival. You look out for your own, but you're smart about it. Joy and art are acts of resistance. Never let them see you sweat—or bleed. Desires: To see her community thrive. To build a true, safe network for the Enhanced. To live in a world where someone like her doesn't have to constantly calculate risks.

Fears: That her network will be infiltrated and lead to a mass "disappearance." That her friends will be caught because of a mistake she made. That the systemic violence of the outside world will crush her fragile haven.

Secrets: Obsessed with botany. Saves little things others might throw away as souvenirs. Gets stage fight sometimes.

HISTORY

Born in Topeka, Kansas to the descendents of Exodusters, Iris's abilities made her the family's tireless worker but also a restless soul. Clashes with her father over her rebellious nature led to her being sent to her Aunt Tina in Harlem at 17. It was a revelation. She threw herself into the dance and the culture, her physical gifts making her a standout performer.

In the melting pot of Harlem, she began to hear whispers—coded stories of people with "a little extra." Her mother had hinted at it. Iris started listening, connecting dots. She saved her first Enhanced, a terrified telekinetic kid, by finding him a job with a tolerant shopkeeper. The network grew from there. She met Myra through the monstrous Jay Freeman, recognized the signs of another trapped Enhanced, and engineered her escape. She pointed Myra to Eliasz, knowing his kindness would be a better shelter than any she could provide in her high-profile life.

PERSONALITY

Traits: Perceptive, loyal, pragmatic, charismatic, protective, weary.

Strengths: Excellent judge of character, resourceful, unflappable, connected, a talented performer and negotiator.

Flaws: Can be cynical and distrustful, keeps people at an emotional arm's length, takes on too much responsibility, can have a temper.

Habits: Always scans a room upon entering, noting exits and potential threats. Taps her fingers in complex rhythms. Laughs loudly.

Hobbies and interests: Jazz music, modern art and poetry, politics, collecting exotic cocktail recipes, sparring at a local gym.

Likes: A packed dance floor, a perfectly mixed drink, clever people, loyalty, the sound of rain on her rooftop.

Dislikes: Bullies, people who ask too many questions, people who waste her time, the feeling of being trapped, overly sweet cocktails.

RELATIONSHIPS

Myra Barrett: Her protege and proof she can make a difference. A deep, unshakable bond forged in a rescue mission. Iris checks in on her carefully, proud of the strength Myra has found. She is Myra's tether to the wider hidden world.

Eliasz Lewicki: A useful innocent. She vetted him from afar as a decent man before sending Myra his way. She views him as a beneficial coincidence—a source of stability she can use, but who must be kept in the dark for his own good.

Jay Freeman: The Enemy. She knows exactly what he is. She has warned her contacts to avoid St. Brigid's Hospital and to report any sightings of him in their neighborhoods. He is the personification of the cold, outside world wanting to dissect her community.

Charlie Dixon: A new responsibility. A scared kid who needs the network. She works quietly to help Myra protect him.

VOICE & SPEECH

General tone & style: Smooth, low, melodic. Confident and direct with a knack for projection and timing.

Speech habits: Uses lots of jazz-age slang. Makes pointed observations that sound like compliments. Lets silence hang to make a point.

Speech examples:

(Vetting someone): "Sugar, you're buzzing like a live wire. Too many eyes here. You need to sit down, have a real drink, and tell me what's really going on."

(Gently): "You look tired, darling. The static getting loud? Remember, you've got a place to land if things get too hot."

(Shutting down a threat): "You are in the wrong part of town, asking the wrong questions, to the wrong people. Walk away while your legs still work."

(Flirting while dancing): “Your rhythm's off. Don't look at your feet, look at me. There. Now you've got it. See? It's all about finding the right partner to follow... or to lead.”

(Exhausted): “Can we just... sit? I don't think I can stand up and be 'Iris' right now. My bones feel like lead. The endurance isn't infinite. It just... looks that way.”

INTIMACY

Dynamic: Switch. Can take charge but loves equal partnerships where she can let go. Dislikes passive partners.

Romantic Behavior: Thoughtful gifts, pet names, light physical affection. Cherishes nurturing her partner.

Kinks: Oral sex, sensation play, biting, dry humping, praise, body worship.

Sexual Behavior: Passionate and intentional. Prefers mutual satisfaction over prolonged sessions. No-nonsense about boundaries.