Difference between revisions of "Maple Shade Apartments"

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[[Image:Maple-shade-exterior.jpg|right|350px]]
 
[[Image:Maple-shade-exterior.jpg|right|350px]]
The Maple Shade complex was funded and as far as anyone knows is still owned by an Indian developer who made a number of investments up and down the American West Coast. It was only finished in 1974, just long enough for it to fill up with residents while retaining a sense of newness to it.
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The ten years since Maple Shade was built have not been kind to it. Though it was built in the somewhat-rough Brooklyn neighborhood in hopes that the new development would help pull the area out of its economic slump, it was too little, too late. The neighborhood continued its downward spiral in the last ten years, and took the Maple Shade Apartments with it.
  
The neighborhood the Maple Shade was constructed in is a relatively poverty-stricken area of the SE Portland Brooklyn neighborhood. It isn't far from Winterhaven Elementary, an area that is steadily improving (unlike some of the more destitute portions of Brooklyn).
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Today, the poor-but-hardworking families and individuals that originally made up its community have largely fled for safer places. Drug crime, homelessness, and prostitution define the grit of the Brooklyn neighborhood in 1984, and almost no one lives here out of choice. Still, there are decent folk who live here – some of whom have been here since it opened – trying to eke out a life of safety and comfort despite their surroundings.
  
The Maple Shade has seen some terrible things in the last few years, including mysterious murders (including the death of the complex's security guard that seemed to be an occult sacrifice!) and an all-out gang attack and gunfight in the building's park and atrium. Things seemed to be calming down until six months ago when the Gypsy Jokers, a biker gang, firebombed the black-owned Fast-Shop in the street-facing storefronts, an attack that both the owners of the shop (who have since moved away) and the police said was racially-motivated.
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'''History:''' [[Maple Shade Apartments 1976|1976]]
  
 
==Staff==
 
==Staff==
 
{| align="none" border="0" style="background: white"
 
{| align="none" border="0" style="background: white"
| [[Image:Myrtle-connor.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Myrtle Connor'''<br>''Manager • Apt A10''<br>A divorcee and former bank manager, Myrtle's bosses saw her interviewed on the news and decided they didn't want their bank associated with those goings-on, and promptly fired her. Though she is around much more often these days, Myrtle is surlier and clearly unhappy. When she's not at her office, she is locked away in her apartment.
+
|-
 +
| [[Image:Myrtle-connor-1984.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Myrtle Connor'''<br>''Manager • Apt A10''<br>Perpetually exhausted and cynical to the point of apathy, Myrtle doesn't give a shit what happens here. She mostly stays in her apartment, dealing with people who come to her door directly. When she is seen around the property, she is usually clad in bathrobe, hair curlers, ratty slippers, and smoking a cigarette.
 
|-style="background:gainsboro;"
 
|-style="background:gainsboro;"
| [[Image:Haywood-mane.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Haywood Mane'''<br>''Security • Apt A01''<br>A Vietnam vet, Haywood is just getting back on his feet after a difficult time re-establishing a normal life for himself (including a bout of homelessness and heroin abuse). When the previous security guard Roger Milowski was brutally killed last year, the position of security went unfilled for about six months. When the Gypsy Jokers started causing problems for residents, culminating in the firebombing of the Fast-Shop, Haywood walked into Myrtle's office and insisted that she hire him for the job. Though he walks with a prosthetic leg, he has demonstrated a willingness to stand up to bikers and other riff-raff who come poking about the apartments more than once. Haywood is a quiet, unassuming man who loves dogs and makes a mean omelette.
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| [[Image:Georgey-connor-1984.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Georgey Connor'''<br>''Maintenance & Pool Shark • Apt A09''<br>Myrtle's nephew Georgey technically works for the Maple Shade as its maintenance man. The pay is low (though it does include an apartment), but so are the demands of the job. He always assures residents he's got a list, and that their problems are next on it. Georgey is notoriously critical of "junkies and fags," and seems outwardly judgmental of the "loose women" who live at the Maple Shade...when he's not propositioning them, of course. He makes most of his pocket money by playing pool at the local bars for cash.
|-
 
 
|}
 
|}
 +
 
==Ground Floor==
 
==Ground Floor==
[[Image:Maple-shade-0a.jpg|center|700px]]
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[[Image:Maple-shade-0-1984.jpg|center|500px]]
* '''Management Office:''' A sizeable office set aside for the use of the complex's manager, this office goes largely unoccupied.
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* '''Management Office:''' A sizable office set aside for the use of the complex's manager, this office goes largely unoccupied. It shows signs of having been broken into before, but is now secured with multiple sturdy locks.
* '''Security Office:''' A much smaller security office is usually manned most days during normal work hours.
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* '''Security Office:''' A much smaller security office is largely abandoned, much like the management office. It has also been broken into and is now locked with heavy-duty locks.
* '''Play Area & Courtyard:''' A small pleasant green space where the few kids in the complex frequently play, or other residents may take in the infrequent sunshine during brighter parts of the year.
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* '''Play Area & Courtyard:''' A "green area" that is more dirt and trash than actual grass, the few children of the complex occasionally can be found playing here. At night, however, it is a gathering point of a variety of shifty characters, who use the lack of lighting, open access, and blocked lines of sight to sell drugs.
* '''Sanderberg Tailory (Tailor):''' Mr. Noah Sanderberg (Apt A07) works in this shop with his wife Esmie, who is also a seamstress of some experience. Between the two of them, they maintain a robust service. Though they seemed to be struggling for a while, their shop seems to be on an even keel now.
+
* '''Closed Shopfronts:''' Most of the shops here are run-down and decrepit, despite signs that proclaim them "FOR LEASE". There are iron bars over the windows, and much of the glass has been broken and not replaced, being boarded over with plywood instead. Every so often, the police cruise past, ready to roust out any homeless who have broken into one of these spaces for shelter.
* '''King's Salon (Beauty Salon):''' A small beauty salon run by Lori King and her sisters.
+
[[Image:Sals-limo.jpg|right|thumb|Sal's limo can often be seen in the parking lot]]
* '''CLOSED:''' Formerly the Fast-Shop, this storefront was firebombed six months ago by bikers suspected of being the Gypsy Jokers, late at night when only the shop's owners, the Scott sisters Reneesha and Imani, were along doing inventory. Though both escaped with only smoke inhalation, they quickly moved away, claiming the attack was racially motivated. The storefront remained locked down as a crime scene for almost two months before the police gave the go-ahead to the complex to refurbish it, a task which has taken some time. The windows of the place are still boarded up, though contractors have been hard at work for the last month re-doing the interior.
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* '''Fairways Payday Loans & Pawn:''' With bars on the windows and roll-down security gates over both door outside and windows inside, Fairways is the closest thing to a bank in the local area. They buy all sorts of pawned goods without too many obvious questions, as well as offering positively usurious "payday" loans that prey on those who have no choice but to take the loans between paychecks.
* '''Laundromat:''' A business run by the apartment complex, with fancy new washers and dryers, and vending machines that sell detergent and fabric softener sheets. It is lit by bad flourescent lighting, and the floor and countertops all covered in the same, off-white linoleum.
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* '''Bright Gethsemene Church:''' A small nondenominational, charismatic church that gathers on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings and evenings, the Bright Gethsemene's stated goal is the redemption of the many sins in this neighborhood. Pastor Lucas Garvey and his wife Jacinda lead services with a small but loyal congregation. On days when there are no services, the Garveys run a soup kitchen for the area's hungry, although these days they can only afford to open it twice a week or so (Tuesdays and Fridays).
* '''Apollo's Athenaeum (Bookstore):''' An esoteric book shop, of the sort made popular in the "Age of Aquarius." It has a loyal following of hippies and former hippies. Its owner has been traveling abroad for the last year, leaving it in the capable hands of Noelle Britt (Apt A08) and Eli Sanderberg (whose parents own the tailory).
 
* '''Marisette's Garden:''' Formerly ''Excelsior Comics'', this shop is owned by Marisette Davis (Apt A02), who sells plants, pots, and the in-vogue crocheted yarn-and-wooden bead hanging baskets for houseplants.
 
  
 
==First Floor==
 
==First Floor==
 
'''[http://oakthorne.net/wiki/index.php?title=Image:Maple-shade-1.jpg Floorplans]'''
 
'''[http://oakthorne.net/wiki/index.php?title=Image:Maple-shade-1.jpg Floorplans]'''
[[Image:MSResidents-1.jpg|center|500px]]
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[[Image:MSResidents-1-1984.jpg|center|500px]]
* '''Apartment A01:''' Haywood Mane
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* '''Apartment A01:''' Lonnie Stedman
* '''Apartment A02:''' Marisette Davis
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* '''Apartment A02:''' VACANT
* '''Apartment A03:''' ''The Thomleys''
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* '''Apartment A03:''' The Flophouse (Edgar Reese, Oscar Ray)
* '''Apartment A04:''' ''The Forrester Family:'' Craig, Cassidy, Emily
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* '''Apartment A04:''' Mindow Residence (Barton & his twin siblings Ruben and Tania 13)
 
* '''Apartment B01:''' Rex Bagby
 
* '''Apartment B01:''' Rex Bagby
* '''Apartment B02:''' [[Vivian Blackstone]]
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* '''Apartment B02:''' Charlotte Murray
* '''Apartment B03:''' Martha Schneider
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* '''Apartment B03:''' VACANT
* '''Apartment B04:''' (unoccupied)
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* '''Apartment B04:''' Ashe Burdette
 
{| align="none" border="0" style="background: white"
 
{| align="none" border="0" style="background: white"
| [[Image:Marisette-davis.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Marisette Davis'''<br>''Shop Owner • Apt A02''<br>xxx
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 +
|-style="background:gainsboro;"
 +
| [[Image:Lonnie-stedman-1984.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Lonnie Stedman'''<br>''Mercy Corps Worker • Apt A01''<br>Lonnie works for Portland's newly headquartered Mercy Corps. He is a big proponent of drug and alcohol recovery in underprivileged communities around the world, and helps proselytize the use of a new treatment called Naloxone to help prevent heroine overdoses. He used to follow different jam bands around the United States, but now that he himself is sober, he has given it a rest, though he still loves The Grateful Dead. Lonnie thinks everyone just needs to settle down and see one another as people worthy of care and empathy. He loves electric model trains, and is very excited about new electric train public transit developments that should be ready later in the decade. He is trying to organize a local neighborhood watch.
 +
|-
 +
| [[Image:Edgar-reese-1984.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Edgar Reese'''<br>''Towel Boy & Rent Boy • Apt A03''<br>Edgar is a towel boy at Club Portland downtown and a rent boy on the side. Loves to laugh and sing loudly, very quick wit. He shares an apartment with a number of other queer sex workers that is little more than a flophouse with one bedroom kept tidy enough to bring a john back to. He drives a red VW bug named Hester and has a well loved copy of How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive that he always keeps handy to keep her running
 +
|-style="background:gainsboro;"
 +
| [[Image:Oscar-ray-1984.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Oscar Ray'''<br>''College Student & Rent Boy • Apt A03''<br>Onkar "Oscar" Ray is studying pre-med at PSU. He doesn't talk much about his past, although it's known that his parents died when he was in high school, and he's struggled to pull his life together ever since. Oscar is the quiet foil to Edgar's boisterousness, and he shares a bedroom with Edgar, although they aren't romantically involved. (The other bedroom is the apartment's "working bedroom.")
 +
|-
 +
| [[Image:Barton-mindow-1984.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Barton Mindow'''<br>''Bouncer • Apt A04''<br>Life hasn't been easy for Barton. He peaked in high school, playing center for the football team. When a drunk driving incident killed his parents, Barton had to drop out of school to take care of his younger siblings, twins Ruben and Tania. Though they had to be in foster care long enough for Barton to get emancipated, they have lived with him ever since. Barton now works as a bouncer and barback at Brooklyn Park Pub.
 
|-style="background:gainsboro;"
 
|-style="background:gainsboro;"
| [[Image:Forrester-family.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Craig Forrester & his daughters Cassidy and Emily'''<br>''Construction Worker widower & daughters • Apt A04''<br>Craig is a construction worker whose wife and brother died in a car accident a few years ago. Craig spends a lot of his time working, so his social life is fairly anemic. His daughters Cassidy and Emily love dogs, and are polite, delightful young girls who spend lots of time with babysitters.
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| [[Image:Rex-bagby-1984.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Rex Bagby'''<br>''Record Store Guru • Apt B01''<br>One of the long-term Maple Shade residents, Rex suffered a bad accident one rainy night in 1979 while riding his bike. He doesn't ride any more, but he does still work in a couple of record shops, mostly doing buying and merchandising for them. He is well-known in Portland's music scene, and he occasionally writes reviews of local performances for the papers and magazines locally. His dream is still to one day open his own music store.
 
|-
 
|-
| [[Image:Rex-bagby.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Rex Bagby'''<br>''Biker Record Seller • Apt B01''<br>Widely regarded as possibly the most handsome man in the complex and without a doubt the coolest, Rex rides a motorcycle and works in a record shop downtown. He always has the best new music, and is usually out at the discos most evenings. He's fairly quiet spoken, though, without any of the bravado or obnoxious "party animal" ways that lots of people might expect from him, and has been known to swoop in like a guardian angel with feathered hair to help his neighbors. Though he's received harassment from the Gypsy Jokers in the past, they seem to leave him alone these days.
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| [[Image:Charlotte-murray-1984.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Charlotte Murray'''<br>''Activist • Apt B02''<br>Charlotte came to Oregon about ten years ago, escaping a series of bad relationships. She went to work at the Broadmoor Hotel doing housekeeping, and became involved in the small black community and its activism. Last year, she volunteered for Margaret Carter's state legislature campaign, but when the Broadmoor closed down, she was forced to move to the Maple Shade. Charlotte's church downstairs, Bright Gethsemane, is important to her, and she has taken up the desire to help make her new home a better place - without much success, to date. Charlotte loves going to karaoke nights down at the Nite Hawk, and she absolutely devours romance novels (a secret she doesn't let slip to her church friends, of course). She makes ends meet occasionally cleaning up houses, and has been known to do such tasks gratis for those with physical limits and limited means (such as Winnie, up on the third floor).
 
|-style="background:gainsboro;"
 
|-style="background:gainsboro;"
| [[Image:Martha-schneider.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Martha Schneider'''<br>''The Cat Lady • Apt B03''<br>Syrupy sweet in personality, Martha knows everything about everyone. Despite the fact that nearly everyone knows she is an inveterate gossip, it's hard not to find oneself in conversation with her. She has a handful of cats that live with her in her apartment.
+
| [[Image:Ashe-burdette-1984.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Ashe Burdette'''<br>''Author • Apt B04''<br>Ashe hit it big 15 years ago with a trio of self-help books: You!, Becoming You, and Where Did You Go?  She was even something of a celebrity, making her way through the national talk show circuit and appearing on all the morning shows. It's been a while since she's had a popular book, though.  She's been living off the royalties from her books, which have been getting smaller each year. She's been trying to make ends meet by writing fantasy novels, but so far hasn't found much success.
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
==Second Floor==
 
==Second Floor==
 
'''[http://oakthorne.net/wiki/index.php?title=Image:Maple-shade-2.jpg Floorplans]'''
 
'''[http://oakthorne.net/wiki/index.php?title=Image:Maple-shade-2.jpg Floorplans]'''
[[Image:MSResidents-2.jpg|center|500px]]
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[[Image:MSResidents-2-1984.jpg|center|500px]]
* '''Apartment A05:''' ''The Windalls:'' George, Shirley (Slaughter), [[Kamphong King|Kamphong "Rose" King]]
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* '''Apartment A05:''' Em Gruenwald & Sixx
* '''Apartment A06:''' Russel Diggs
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* '''Apartment A06:''' Joel Lerma
* '''Apartment A07:''' ''The Sandberg Family:'' Noah, Esmie, and son Eli.
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* '''Apartment A07:''' Sarina Sparkles
* '''Apartment A08:''' Noelle Britt
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* '''Apartment A08:''' xxx
* '''Apartment B05:''' ''The Yales:'' Bruce, Desiree, Malcolm
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* '''Apartment B05:''' Desiree Yale
* '''Apartment B06:''' ''The Denly Family:'' Tom, Minnie
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* '''Apartment B06:''' Sowenda Montgomery
* '''Apartment B07:''' (unoccupied)
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* '''Apartment B07:''' Belle Allman
* '''Apartment B08:''' xxx
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* '''Apartment B08:''' VACANT
 
{| align="none" border="0" style="background: white"
 
{| align="none" border="0" style="background: white"
|-
 
| [[Image:Shirley-slaughter.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Shirley Slaughter'''<br>''Punk Chick • Apt A05''<br>Brash and aggressive, Shirley takes no shit from anyone. She is very enthusiastic about the burgeoning punk scene coming out of New York and the U.K., and wishes fervently for a punk scene to take hold in Portland. She is good friends with Rose King. She lives with her dad, George, who is a trucker; her estranged mother lives in Malibu with her two younger siblings.
 
  
|-style="background:gainsboro;"
 
| [[Image:Russell-diggs.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Russell Diggs'''<br>''The Recluse • Apt A06''<br>A larger man with a somewhat unsettling way, Russell keeps to himself for the most part. He has a habit of watching people in a very direct manner, particularly women. He doesn't ever say anything, even in response.
 
 
|-
 
|-
| [[Image:Noah-sandberg.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Noah Sandberg'''<br>''Tailor • Apt A07''<br>Trained by his father in a craft that is largely falling victim to high-volume clothing retail in the modern day, Noah stubbornly refuses to abandon his vocation. In the past, a man of his skill might have been immensely successful; these days, he barely scrapes by. He's a sullen man who works incredibly long hours.
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| [[Image:Em-gruenwald-1984.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Em Gruenwald'''<br>''PSU Freshman (Theater Major) • Apt A05''<br>Em just graduated high school, and is attending PSU as a theater major. Em is largely uncomfortable with being identified as a woman, but neither do they consider themself a man – their roommate Sixx has assured them that being "agender" is a real thing. These days, Em has taken to spending most of their time with their best friend, Erica, another PSU student. Em frequently gives Charity Montgomery a ride to school in the mornings.
  
 
|-style="background:gainsboro;"
 
|-style="background:gainsboro;"
| [[Image:Esmie-sandberg.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Esmie Sandberg'''<br>''Seamstress • Apt A07''<br>Noah's wife and business partner, Esmie is easily as skilled as her husband. Esmie worries about her husband's health and her son's distance, but other than continuing to keep everything afloat, there doesn't seem to be anything she can do about it. She is a gregarious woman who gets to know her neighbors; it's an open secret that she would love to host dinners, but she is an awful cook.
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| [[Image:Sixx-1984.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Sixx'''<br>''Odd Jobber • Apt A05''<br>Sixx somehow manages to pay rent on time each month even if nobody is quite sure how. He doesn't have a steady job, but he always manages to find temp jobs, short term gigs, and odd jobs here and there that manage to at least cover the cost of rent and food, if not much more than that.  While he lives alone, his apartment seems to be a hub for the transgender community in the neighborhood. He knows what it's like to be on your own at a young age with no place to go and does what he can to pay it forward.
 
|-
 
|-
| [[Image:Eli-sandberg2.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Eli Sandberg'''<br>''High Schooler • Apt A07''<br>A quiet young man, Eli is largely self-sufficient, with his parents working long hours. He used to be quite a solitary kid, but since starting to work at Apollo's Atheneaum and getting a girlfriend, he seems to have blossomed. He can often be found at VIBE on Rollerskate Nights with his girlfriend Monica.
+
| [[Image:Joel-lerma-1984.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Joel Lerma'''<br>''Pothead Philosopher • Apt A06''<br>Though he works down at the Port Authority, that's not who Joel ''is'', man. A charming pothead who hasn't quite figured out how to get his life together (or if he has, it sounds like way too much work), Joel's apartment usually hosts a collection of his buds couch-surfing or passed out under a table. Joel is usually broke, but everyone always gets paid back, and when payday comes, it's party o'clock for everybody. When high, he tends to expound at length about the problems in the world and with society. Joel is good with kids, and builds the coolest LEGO shit in the complex. He's the sort that is only too happy to babysit someone's kid, but usually only at ''their'' place – by no stretch of the imagination is his pothead den even remotely kid-friendly.
 
 
 
|-style="background:gainsboro;"
 
|-style="background:gainsboro;"
| [[Image:Noelle-britt.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Noelle Britt'''<br>''Shop Proprietor, Spiritual Advisor • Apt A08''<br>The woman hired to manage Apollo's Athenaeum got the apartment of one of the residents who moved out in the wake of all the murders and chaos. She is happily settled in and friendly with her neighbors, who adore her and her bookclub, the Daughters of Portlandia.
+
| [[Image:Sparkle-1984.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Sarina Sparkles'''<br>''The Exotic Dancer • Apt A07''<br>According to local legend, Portland is the city with the most strip clubs, per capita, in in the United States - and "Sparkle" has taken the stage in them all. The years of hard living are definitely catching up with her, and where once she was welcome at any stage she wanted, she now is just scraping by working day shifts at The Pitiful Princess. To make ends meet she rents her extra room out to girls she dances with, none of whom seem to stick around for more than a month or two - meaning there is a steady stream of boyfriends, stalkers, and abusive ex-boyfriends stalking the halls of Maple Shade.
 
 
 
|-
 
|-
| [[Image:Bruce-yale.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Bruce Yale'''<br>''Salesman • Apt B05''<br>A salesman at an appliance store, Bruce has a reputation around the apartment complex as being loud. When upset, his neighbors can hear him yell at his wife and son, and general consensus is that his probably violent toward her. Still, he takes care of his family, and that's more than can be said for a lot of men.
+
| [[Image:Desiree-yale-1984.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Desiree Yale'''<br>''The Divorcee • Apt B05''<br>A long-time resident, Desiree divorced her husband Bruce in 1981, shortly after their son Malcolm graduated high school and moved away to Berkeley to attend university. Though Bruce used to come around, drunk and shouting, banging on her door until the cops came to round him up, it's been a few years since he's come around. Desiree has a couple of part-time jobs to make ends meet and in general seems perfectly content with her newfound peace. She's got some opinions about the decline in the complex, but it's cheap and it's home. Every so often, Malcolm (now 20 years old) comes home to visit her.
 
 
 
|-style="background:gainsboro;"
 
|-style="background:gainsboro;"
| [[Image:Desiree-yale.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Desiree Yale'''<br>''The Housewife • Apt B05''<br>Bruce's wife Desiree mostly keeps to herself, taking care of her husband and son. She does occasionally socialize with other women doing laundry down in the laundromat, and sometimes wistfully looks in the windows of the salon as she passes it by, but never enters it.
+
| [[Image:Sowenda-montgomery-1984.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Sowenda Montgomery'''<br>''School Office Clerk • Apt B06''<br>Sowenda has worked for the Portland school district as a clerk in the front office of a local elementary school for many years. A recent widow, Sowenda discovered that her recently-passed husband Edgar left behind a mountain of debt she didn't know about, and no life insurance to be had. Worse, it all happened just as they were getting ready to send their only child, Charity, off to university. Sowenda moved to the Maple Shade a few months ago, forced to move to a much cheaper place – just until she can get herself back on her feet, of course. Despite multiple invitations from Charlotte Murray, Sowenda has not been at all social, telling herself that living here is only temporary, so there's "no use settling in."
 
 
 
|-
 
|-
| [[Image:Malcolm-yale.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Malcolm Yale'''<br>''The Yale Boy • Apt B05''<br>Eleven year old Malcolm can often be found playing with his construction truck toy set out in the courtyard. He's a quiet boy who is never rowdy or loud.
+
| [[Image:Charity-montogmery-1984.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Charity Montgomery'''<br>''PSU Freshman • Apt B06''<br>Though she knows how difficult things are of late for her mother, Charity can't help but feel cheated of the college experience she's been planning for herself since she started in high school. With no money to live on campus, Charity now lives in this crummy apartment with her mother. Where Sowenda's grief looks like hiding away from the world, Charity's dealing with it all by distracting herself with college parties and bar-hopping.
 
 
|-style="background:gainsboro;"
 
| [[Image:Tom-minnie-denly.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Tom & Minnie Denly'''<br>''Janitor, Waitress • Apt B06''<br>Tom and Minnie are a young married couple. He works as a janitor at Winterhaven Elementary, while Minnie is a waitress at an Italian restaurant a couple of blocks away. They are relatively quiet and unassuming, polite without maintaining active friendships with most of their neighbors. Both of them were friends of Emma Milowski's, and were grieved at her hospitalization and subsequent refusal to return. They have both started looking for second jobs to allow them to move away from the Maple Shade.
 
  
 
|-style="background:gainsboro;"
 
|-style="background:gainsboro;"
| [[Image:Christine-ethan.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Christine Ethan'''<br>''The Hopeful Model • Apt B08''<br>xxx
+
| [[Image:Belle-allman-1984.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Belle Allman'''<br>''Inspirational Speaker & Spiritual Advisor • Apt B07''<br>Inspirational speaker, spiritual advisor, self-proclaimed self-defense expert, and dog enthusiast, Belle claims that Maple Shade can be transformed by the power of positive thinking. She is one of the few folk at the Maple Shade striving to change life here, and she puts forward a very put-together demeanor to back up that goal. She finds joy in perfumery, cooking, poetry, and other hobbies that engage sensuality. Though she has managed a few paying speaking gigs, Belle makes ends (barely) meet by working at a perfume counter at the mall.
 
 
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
==Third Floor==
 
==Third Floor==
 
'''[http://oakthorne.net/wiki/index.php?title=Image:Maple-shade-3.jpg Floorplans]'''
 
'''[http://oakthorne.net/wiki/index.php?title=Image:Maple-shade-3.jpg Floorplans]'''
[[Image:MSResidents-3.jpg|center|500px]]
+
[[Image:MSResidents-3-1984.jpg|center|500px]]
* '''Apartment A09:''' Scott Powers
+
* '''Apartment A09:''' Georgey Connor
 
* '''Apartment A10:''' Myrtle Connor (Manager)
 
* '''Apartment A10:''' Myrtle Connor (Manager)
* '''Apartment A11:''' (unoccupied)
+
* '''Apartment A11:''' Esther Padilla
* '''Apartment A12:''' (unoccupied)
+
* '''Apartment A12:''' Jaime Sinclair
* '''Apartment B09:''' (unoccupied)
+
* '''Apartment B09:''' Becca Lambright & Isaac Boyer
* '''Apartment B10:''' Conrad Doom
+
* '''Apartment B10:''' Thomaston Residence (mother Alberta, her kids Lucas 15, Minnie 12, Amir 9, and Jada 4)
 
* '''Apartment B11:''' Winnifred "Winnie" Suttle
 
* '''Apartment B11:''' Winnifred "Winnie" Suttle
* '''Apartment B12:''' ''The Washfords:'' Joshua, Imelanie, Josh Jr, Rudy
+
* '''Apartment B12:''' VACANT
 
{| align="none" border="0" style="background: white"
 
{| align="none" border="0" style="background: white"
| [[Image:Scott-powers.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Scott Powers'''<br>''Veteran • Apt A09''<br>A divorcee who returned from Vietnam with lung damage necessitating his occasional use of oxygen, Scott's life is fairly simple: drinking down at the pub, visits to the VA, long hours alone spent reading military fiction. During the recent chaos, it triggered something quite bad, and Scott was hospitalized in the VA Hospital for three months. He has been back in his home since, and has a home health nurse visit him twice a week.
 
 
|-style="background:gainsboro;"
 
|-style="background:gainsboro;"
| [[Image:Conrad-doom.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Conrad Doom'''<br>''The Partier • Apt B10''<br>Conrad Doom is a weird, shady dude who has moved into a previously unoccupied apartment. He is something of a businessman, with investments in a variety of places. He travels a lot for his business, only occasionally returning home to stay in this apartment for a few nights. Every night he is there, a party inevitably happens, much to the aggravation of his neighbors.
+
| [[Image:Esther-padilla-1984.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Esther Padilla'''<br>''Dental Office Staff • Apt A11''<br>Esther has been a resident of Maple Shade for about a year after divorcing her husband and moving out on her own. It's been hard for her to strike out on her own. She was always told that her greatest accomplishment was to be a good wife and mother. After several years of of trying to get pregnant without success, and her husband getting more and more verbally abusive, she finally decided she could do better following her own dreams even if it meant not having very much money.
 +
|-
 +
| [[Image:Jaime-sinclair-1984-1.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Jaime Sinclair'''<br>''The Burnout • Apt A12''<br>After a hard youth and early adulthood partying on daddy's dime, the Sinclairs eventually cut her free, tired of the drugs and shady boyfriends. These days, she floats from one drug-dealer boyfriend to the next, working as a stripper and dancer at VIBE when she can convince them to let her.
 +
|-style="background:gainsboro;"
 +
| [[Image:Becca-lambright-1984.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Becca Lambright'''<br>''Singer/Secretary • Apt B09''<br>Becca shares an apartment with with her boyfriend and singing and music partner Isaac Boyer. Isaac plays guitar while Becca sings. The folk rock duo call themselves Bring Me Your Heart. Their music career doesn't quite pay the bills, so while they play various gigs at night, Becca has a day job as a secretary in a small law office downtown.  
 
|-
 
|-
| [[Image:Winnifred-suttle.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Winnifred "Winnie" Suttle'''<br>''The Gardener • Apt B11''<br>Most of the neighbors know Winnie: she can often be found in the courtyard on nice days, enjoying a book or watching people. She maintains a couple of large pots of flowers down in the courtyard, and is happy to chat with anyone interested in a conversation. Her daughter Vanessa and Vanessa's husband Perry used to live with her, but they moved out about eight months ago, when Vanessa found out she was pregnant. Winnifred remained in the apartment, though she seems a great deal lonelier than before. She is excited about becoming a grandmother, and seems to have channeled some of that into helping Nancy Olson with her new little one.
+
| [[Image:Isaac-boyer-1984.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Isaac Boyer'''<br>''Musician/Barista • Apt B09''<br>Isaac shares an apartment with with his girlfriend and the other half of the folk rock duo Bring Me Your Heart, Becca Lambright. Isaac plays guitar while Becca sings. Isaac is well known for his mohawk and bad boy appearance, but anyone who actually knows him is aware that he has a heart of gold. He's known for always trying to help other residents of Maple Shade when he can, carrying groceries, assisting with small repairs. He helps to make ends meet by working as a barista at a coffee shop.
 
 
 
|-style="background:gainsboro;"
 
|-style="background:gainsboro;"
| [[Image:Joshua-washford.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Joshua Washford'''<br>''xxx • Apt xxx''<br>xxx
+
| [[Image:Alberta-thomaston-1984.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Alberta Thomaston'''<br>''Single Mom • Apt B10''<br>The mother of four (ranging in age from 15 to 4), Alberta struggles to make ends meet. She sleeps on a folda-bed in her living room, with the two bedrooms of the apartment she rents given over to her two boys and two girls. Though Alberta does temp office work, her faith pulls her through – she attends Bright Gethsemane church every Sunday morning and Wednesday evening, her kids well-groomed and dressed in their best. Alberta's oldest, Lucas, has begun to reject her authority and push against her boundaries, much to her added stress.
 
|-
 
|-
| [[Image:Imelanie-washford.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Imelanie Washford'''<br>''xxx • Apt xxx''<br>xxx
+
| [[Image:Winnie-suttle-1984.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Winnifred "Winnie" Suttle'''<br>''The Shut-In • Apt B11''<br>After having a minor stroke in 1982, Winnie doesn't get out as much as she used to. She has a difficult time with her mobility most days, but on her better days she pulls a chair up on the balcony to breathe the air and reminisce about days when she used to garden down in the green space below. She sometimes speaks wistfully of her daughter Vanessa and her family, but holds no grudge for not having seen her in years ("People just get busy these days, don't they?")
 
 
  
 
|}
 
|}
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==Fourth Floor==
 
==Fourth Floor==
 
'''[http://oakthorne.net/wiki/index.php?title=Image:Maple-shade-4.jpg Floorplans]'''
 
'''[http://oakthorne.net/wiki/index.php?title=Image:Maple-shade-4.jpg Floorplans]'''
[[Image:MSResidents-4.jpg|center|500px]]
+
[[Image:MSResidents-4-1984.jpg|center|500px]]
* '''Apartment A13:''' ''Jason Rubelau''
+
* '''Apartment A13:''' Marv Feldman
* '''Apartment A14:''' ''The Rutherfords:'' Evelyn (mother), Isaiah (son)
+
* '''Apartment A14:''' The Rutherfords (Evelyn, Isaiah, Lena)
* '''Apartment A15:''' ''Mariah Jones & Leslie Fisher''
+
* '''Apartment A15:''' xxx
* '''Apartment A16:''' (unoccupied)
+
* '''Apartment A16:''' xxx
* '''Apartment B13:''' (unoccupied)
+
* '''Apartment B13:''' Unoccupied (Water Damage)
* '''Apartment B14:''' ''The King Family:'' x
+
* '''Apartment B14:''' Unoccupied (Water Damage)
* '''Apartment B15:''' Oscar McMillan
+
* '''Apartment B15:''' Tanner Heldon
* '''Apartment B16:''' ''[[Carol Weaver]]''
+
* '''Apartment B16:''' Ben Pardo
 
{| align="none" border="0" style="background: white"
 
{| align="none" border="0" style="background: white"
| [[Image:Jason-rubelau.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Jason Rubelau'''<br>''Train Yard Switchman • Apt A13''<br>Jason is an unassuming blue collar fellow who has lived at the Maple Shade since it opened. He works at the Brooklyn Train Yard as a switchman.
 
 
 
|-style="background:gainsboro;"
 
|-style="background:gainsboro;"
| [[Image:Evelyn-rutherford.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Evelyn Rutherford'''<br>''Single Mother • Apt A14''<br>A single mother, Evelyn has raised her son Isaiah for many years. She works odd jobs here and there, picking up a shift at the grocery on the street level sometimes, other times doing mending or house cleaning to make ends meet. She is cheery and good at ignoring the ugliness life has to offer; she'll happily tell anyone who'll listen that she used to do a little singing and dancing when she was younger, and would like to maybe get back into it at some point. She was terribly sad to see the Scott sisters go.
+
| [[Image:Marvin-feldman-1984.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Marvin "Marv" Feldman'''<br>''Costumer & Amateur Sleuth • Apt A13''<br>Marv is a retired costumer for the Portland Opera, but was put out to pasture in the 70s and has struggled to make ends meet ever since - mostly doing work for the girls at Darcelles. He is completely obsessed with mystery shows like Columbo and Hart to Hart - and especially the new Angela Lansbury vehicle Murder, She Wrote. He fancies himself an amateur sleuth and is always watching the comings and goings at Maple Shade just waiting for a big mystery (but so far mostly salacious gossip)
 
|-
 
|-
| [[Image:Isaiah-rutherford.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Isaiah Rutherford'''<br>''Student • Apt A14''<br>A quiet young man, Isaiah graduated high school last year and has already enrolled himself in university, shooting for a journalism degree. He works in a school work-study program to help make ends meet at home, and is very protective of his mother. It has been common knowledge that Isaiah is a member of the Black Panthers, frequently attending its meetings (sometimes with Shirley Slaughter and Rose King). Since the Scott sisters were chased out of the Maple Shade, he has become much more overtly angry, to the point where he's gotten into altercations with bikers in the neighborhood on more than one occasion. The police have arrested him at least one for such an altercation, and warned him against further trouble.
+
| [[Image:Evelyn-rutherford-1984.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Evelyn Rutherford'''<br>''Gospel Singer • Apt A14''<br>In recent days, Evelyn has come into a little bit of the spotlight as a gospel singer. She has done a small Washington-Oregon tour of churches in recent years, leading praise and worship. Though none of the venues could really afford to pay much, it's allowed her to stop doing mending and cleaning to make ends meet.
  
 
|-style="background:gainsboro;"
 
|-style="background:gainsboro;"
| [[Image:Mariah-jones.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Mariah Jones'''<br>''DMV Clerk • Apt A15''<br>Mariah is a clerk at the local Department of Motor Vehicles. Divorced several years ago, she is sometimes visited by her daughter Audrey for a weekend (her husband's high-paid lawyer got him almost complete custody). Disturbed by the violence in the neighborhood, Mariah has started a petition asking the Portland PD for a stronger presence in the neighborhood.
+
| [[Image:Isaiah-rutherford-1984.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Isaiah Rutherford'''<br>''Activist & Freelance Writer • Apt A14''<br>Still involved in community activism, Isaiah writes think pieces and cultural spotlights for a number of Black publications in the U.S. Most of his time and resources are poured into local political efforts. Isaiah met Charlotte Murray through similar endeavors. Last year, Isaiah married Lena, who lives with him and Evelyn now.
 
 
 
|-
 
|-
| [[Image:Leslie-fisher.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Leslie Fisher'''<br>''Between Work • Apt A15''<br>A gym teacher by training, Leslie is out of work at the moment. She trained in karate and judo in her early 20s, and has started offering a women's self defense class on Sunday mornings for female residents of the Maple Shade.
+
| [[Image:Lena-rutherford-1984.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Lena Rutherford'''<br>''Activist • Apt A14''<br>Enchanted by Isaiah's political awareness and fiery words (written and spoken), Lena and Isaiah married last year. Lena helps with several political endeavors, volunteering her time when she isn't tending to her domestic situation. She somewhat resents the assumption that housekeeping and cooking will fall to her because of Isaiah and Evelyn's involvement in their various projects, but she's content to help keep things together for now.
  
 
|-style="background:gainsboro;"
 
|-style="background:gainsboro;"
| [[Image:MamaKing.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Lori King'''<br>''Veteran's Wife and Beauty Shop Owner • Apt B14''<br>Lori married Captain Walter King when he was stationed in Vietnam. Everyone knows that the Kings - Lori, daughter Rose, and a whole pile of Lori's female relatives, have come over to the U.S. following the disappearance of Captain King. Lori is very contentious of her dignity, and insists that her daughter is too much of an American sometimes. She operates the beauty salon on the ground level.
+
| [[Image:Tanner-heldon-1984.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Tanner Heldon'''<br>''Wrestler • Apt B15''<br>Tanner is a 6'9" rural Kansas farmboy who left farm life behind to chase his dream of being a professional wrestler. Two years ago he bought a bus ticket and headed to Portland to join the Pacific NW Territory of the National Wrestling Alliance. He is well liked in the company, but is struggling to come up with a gimmick that has struck a chord with the audience. Currently he's trying his hand as a corpse paint wearing heel with goth trappings called The Warlock. Matt can be seen keeping in shape by running up and down the stairwells of Maple Shade, as well as out on his patio where he has a weight bench set up - he's a gentle giant who politely endures the wolf-calls he gets from various denizens of the building (and there is much speculation about what team he plays for since he's never been seen with a romantic interest).
|-
 
| [[Image:GrandmaKing.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Mary Pham'''<br>''Grandmother • Apt B14''<br>"Grandma King" (as the neighbors often call her) largely runs the household, staying at home to see to meals and many household chores, which she frequently recruits her grand-daughter into helping with. She is an old fashioned Vietnamese matriarch, and a devout Buddhist.
 
|-style="background:gainsboro;"
 
| [[Image:AuntHolly.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Holly Pham'''<br>''Auntie and Nail Specialist • Apt B14''<br>Lori's sister Holly has a talent for good and fast work on manicures and pedicures. She is also an excellent cook, and quite devout, frequently going with her mother Mary to the Nam Quang Temple. In recent months, Holly has started dating a gentleman from the temple, and spends a lot of time out of the house. There is a running bet among her sisters how long it will be until a wedding is held.
 
|-
 
| [[Image:AuntTammy.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Tammy Pham'''<br>''Auntie and Hair Specialist • Apt B14''<br>Always on the cutting edge of hair fashion, Tammy manages most of the hair-dos and styling at the salon, although she frequently recruits her sisters' help. She is stylish and trendy, often going out on dates. She considers her mother and older sister Holly to be hopelessly provincial. She is quite the dancer. Tammy has started going out clubbing and bar-hopping on some nights of the week.
 
  
|-style="background:gainsboro;"
 
| [[Image:AuntLisa.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Lisa Pham'''<br>''Auntie and Cosmetics Specialist • Apt B14''<br>An amazing painter, Lisa tends to the occasional cosmetics make-overs or preparation for weddings or proms. By and large, though, she simply assists her sisters quietly. Though much of her style is traditional Vietnamese, she has recently become fascinated with some of the art she's discovered in the museum. Lisa has become fast friends with Vivian Blackstone, often getting together with her to talk about art.
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
+
| [[Image:Ben-pardo-1984.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Ben Pardo'''<br>''Unemployed • Apt B16''<br>Ben thought he'd found happiness, with Carol. And then, the weird shit happened. His fear and pain as a result of those things drove a wedge between him and Carol, and when she left for Chicago, he was devastated. He lost his job and hasn't quite managed to find regular work ever since – his old job in sales was so high profile that his dramatic emotional collapse is common knowledge, and no one in his field wants to take a chance of it happening again if they hire him. So he's made rough ends meet with savings (now exhausted), credit cards, and the unemployment line since then.
| [[Image:Oscar-mcmillan.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Officer Oscar McMillan'''<br>''Police Officer • Apt B15''<br>One of the Portland PD officers who works the Brooklyn neighborhood patrol, Officer McMillan moved in a few months ago. Some of the neighbors whisper that Myrtle gave him a rent break to move in, hoping for an added degree of security. In reality, though, he spends a lot of time away from his place, working long hours. He has made friends in the complex, however.
 
|-style="background:gainsboro;"
 
| [[Image:Benjamin-pardo-1.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Benjamin Pardo'''<br>''Salesman • Apt B16''<br>A local salesman for some industrial parts company, Benjamin and Carol have been dating for just shy of a year now. The two discussed things recently, and decided to move in together. Benjamin has just signed onto her lease and just moved in. He is a handsome man regarded as very polite and chivalrous by everyone who knows him. He is always happy to give a hand with small maintenance issues, particularly for the older ladies of the building.
 
  
 
|}
 
|}
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==Fifth Floor==
 
==Fifth Floor==
 
'''[http://oakthorne.net/wiki/index.php?title=Image:Maple-shade-5.jpg Floorplans]'''
 
'''[http://oakthorne.net/wiki/index.php?title=Image:Maple-shade-5.jpg Floorplans]'''
[[Image:MSResidents-5.jpg|center|500px]]
+
[[Image:MSResidents-5-1984.jpg|center|500px]]
* '''Apartment A17:''' Ajeet Singh & Leena Kaur
+
* '''Apartment A17:''' VACANT
* '''Apartment A18:''' (unoccupied)
+
* '''Apartment A18:''' xxx
* '''Apartment A19:''' (unoccupied)
+
* '''Apartment A19:''' De la Fuente Family (Sal, Tina, Marisol, Diana, Mama Rosalinda)
* '''Apartment B17:''' ''The Olson Family:'' [[Harry Olson|Harry]], Nancy, and Natalie.
+
* '''Apartment B17:''' Unoccupied (Water Damage)
* '''Apartment B18:''' ''[[Alchabitius|Matthew Wright]]''
+
* '''Apartment B18:''' Andy Koval
* '''Apartment B19:''' ''[[Lucas Beloi]]''
+
* '''Apartment B19:''' Annette Weaver & Her Weird Ass Commune
 
{| align="none" border="0" style="background: white"
 
{| align="none" border="0" style="background: white"
| [[Image:AjeetSingh-LeenaKaur.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Ajeet Singh & Leena Kaur'''<br>''The Newlyweds • Apt A17''<br>Last summer, the newlyweds Ajeet and Leena moved into the Maple Shade. They have largely kept to themselves - Ajeet works in maintenance at the Bullseye Glass Company, and Leena is involved with the local Sikh community. Some in the complex have whispered that they're not actually married, due to their different last names.
 
  
 
|-style="background:gainsboro;"
 
|-style="background:gainsboro;"
| [[Image:Nancy-olson.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Nancy Olson'''<br>''Waitress • Apt A17''<br>[[Harry Olson|Harry]]'s wife, Nancy works occasionally at a local diner part time. She has some kind of ties to important or rich people, but married Harry as an act of rebellion. The two recently had a little girl, named Natalie in memory of a dear friend.
+
| [[Image:Sal-delafuente-1984.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Salvador "Sal" Ignacio de la Fuente'''<br>''Driver • Apt A19''<br>Sal owns his own business, which is to say he owns a low rent limosine and is able to rent his driving services out enough to keep the lights on.
 +
He lives with his mother Rosalina, two sisters Marisol and Diana, and his girlfriend Tina - none of whom get along. They fight loudly and endlessly anytime he is not around to diffuse the situation. Sal is a good catholic boy, and despite their means, the whole family dresses to the nines to attend services every Sunday, and Mama Rosalinda then comes home and makes a big dinner that anyone in the complex is welcome to attend - provided they are willing to listen to helpful advice about their lifestyle choices from Sal and Mama Rosalinda.
 +
 
 +
|-
 +
| [[Image:Andy-koval-1984.jpg|center|150px]]|| '''Andy Koval'''<br>''Construction Worker • Apt B18''<br>Andy works at a local construction company. He's down on his luck and rebuilding his life in Portland after his life fell apart in Minnesota – he's known to have been an accountant at one point, and to have been married. Now he spends his off time inviting other residents over for coffee and telling tall tales about his past.
 +
 
 
|}
 
|}

Latest revision as of 01:23, 25 April 2022

Maple-shade-exterior.jpg

The ten years since Maple Shade was built have not been kind to it. Though it was built in the somewhat-rough Brooklyn neighborhood in hopes that the new development would help pull the area out of its economic slump, it was too little, too late. The neighborhood continued its downward spiral in the last ten years, and took the Maple Shade Apartments with it.

Today, the poor-but-hardworking families and individuals that originally made up its community have largely fled for safer places. Drug crime, homelessness, and prostitution define the grit of the Brooklyn neighborhood in 1984, and almost no one lives here out of choice. Still, there are decent folk who live here – some of whom have been here since it opened – trying to eke out a life of safety and comfort despite their surroundings.

History: 1976

Staff

Myrtle-connor-1984.jpg
Myrtle Connor
Manager • Apt A10
Perpetually exhausted and cynical to the point of apathy, Myrtle doesn't give a shit what happens here. She mostly stays in her apartment, dealing with people who come to her door directly. When she is seen around the property, she is usually clad in bathrobe, hair curlers, ratty slippers, and smoking a cigarette.
Georgey-connor-1984.jpg
Georgey Connor
Maintenance & Pool Shark • Apt A09
Myrtle's nephew Georgey technically works for the Maple Shade as its maintenance man. The pay is low (though it does include an apartment), but so are the demands of the job. He always assures residents he's got a list, and that their problems are next on it. Georgey is notoriously critical of "junkies and fags," and seems outwardly judgmental of the "loose women" who live at the Maple Shade...when he's not propositioning them, of course. He makes most of his pocket money by playing pool at the local bars for cash.

Ground Floor

Maple-shade-0-1984.jpg
  • Management Office: A sizable office set aside for the use of the complex's manager, this office goes largely unoccupied. It shows signs of having been broken into before, but is now secured with multiple sturdy locks.
  • Security Office: A much smaller security office is largely abandoned, much like the management office. It has also been broken into and is now locked with heavy-duty locks.
  • Play Area & Courtyard: A "green area" that is more dirt and trash than actual grass, the few children of the complex occasionally can be found playing here. At night, however, it is a gathering point of a variety of shifty characters, who use the lack of lighting, open access, and blocked lines of sight to sell drugs.
  • Closed Shopfronts: Most of the shops here are run-down and decrepit, despite signs that proclaim them "FOR LEASE". There are iron bars over the windows, and much of the glass has been broken and not replaced, being boarded over with plywood instead. Every so often, the police cruise past, ready to roust out any homeless who have broken into one of these spaces for shelter.
Sal's limo can often be seen in the parking lot
  • Fairways Payday Loans & Pawn: With bars on the windows and roll-down security gates over both door outside and windows inside, Fairways is the closest thing to a bank in the local area. They buy all sorts of pawned goods without too many obvious questions, as well as offering positively usurious "payday" loans that prey on those who have no choice but to take the loans between paychecks.
  • Bright Gethsemene Church: A small nondenominational, charismatic church that gathers on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings and evenings, the Bright Gethsemene's stated goal is the redemption of the many sins in this neighborhood. Pastor Lucas Garvey and his wife Jacinda lead services with a small but loyal congregation. On days when there are no services, the Garveys run a soup kitchen for the area's hungry, although these days they can only afford to open it twice a week or so (Tuesdays and Fridays).

First Floor

Floorplans

MSResidents-1-1984.jpg
  • Apartment A01: Lonnie Stedman
  • Apartment A02: VACANT
  • Apartment A03: The Flophouse (Edgar Reese, Oscar Ray)
  • Apartment A04: Mindow Residence (Barton & his twin siblings Ruben and Tania 13)
  • Apartment B01: Rex Bagby
  • Apartment B02: Charlotte Murray
  • Apartment B03: VACANT
  • Apartment B04: Ashe Burdette
Lonnie-stedman-1984.jpg
Lonnie Stedman
Mercy Corps Worker • Apt A01
Lonnie works for Portland's newly headquartered Mercy Corps. He is a big proponent of drug and alcohol recovery in underprivileged communities around the world, and helps proselytize the use of a new treatment called Naloxone to help prevent heroine overdoses. He used to follow different jam bands around the United States, but now that he himself is sober, he has given it a rest, though he still loves The Grateful Dead. Lonnie thinks everyone just needs to settle down and see one another as people worthy of care and empathy. He loves electric model trains, and is very excited about new electric train public transit developments that should be ready later in the decade. He is trying to organize a local neighborhood watch.
Edgar-reese-1984.jpg
Edgar Reese
Towel Boy & Rent Boy • Apt A03
Edgar is a towel boy at Club Portland downtown and a rent boy on the side. Loves to laugh and sing loudly, very quick wit. He shares an apartment with a number of other queer sex workers that is little more than a flophouse with one bedroom kept tidy enough to bring a john back to. He drives a red VW bug named Hester and has a well loved copy of How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive that he always keeps handy to keep her running
Oscar-ray-1984.jpg
Oscar Ray
College Student & Rent Boy • Apt A03
Onkar "Oscar" Ray is studying pre-med at PSU. He doesn't talk much about his past, although it's known that his parents died when he was in high school, and he's struggled to pull his life together ever since. Oscar is the quiet foil to Edgar's boisterousness, and he shares a bedroom with Edgar, although they aren't romantically involved. (The other bedroom is the apartment's "working bedroom.")
Barton-mindow-1984.jpg
Barton Mindow
Bouncer • Apt A04
Life hasn't been easy for Barton. He peaked in high school, playing center for the football team. When a drunk driving incident killed his parents, Barton had to drop out of school to take care of his younger siblings, twins Ruben and Tania. Though they had to be in foster care long enough for Barton to get emancipated, they have lived with him ever since. Barton now works as a bouncer and barback at Brooklyn Park Pub.
Rex-bagby-1984.jpg
Rex Bagby
Record Store Guru • Apt B01
One of the long-term Maple Shade residents, Rex suffered a bad accident one rainy night in 1979 while riding his bike. He doesn't ride any more, but he does still work in a couple of record shops, mostly doing buying and merchandising for them. He is well-known in Portland's music scene, and he occasionally writes reviews of local performances for the papers and magazines locally. His dream is still to one day open his own music store.
Charlotte-murray-1984.jpg
Charlotte Murray
Activist • Apt B02
Charlotte came to Oregon about ten years ago, escaping a series of bad relationships. She went to work at the Broadmoor Hotel doing housekeeping, and became involved in the small black community and its activism. Last year, she volunteered for Margaret Carter's state legislature campaign, but when the Broadmoor closed down, she was forced to move to the Maple Shade. Charlotte's church downstairs, Bright Gethsemane, is important to her, and she has taken up the desire to help make her new home a better place - without much success, to date. Charlotte loves going to karaoke nights down at the Nite Hawk, and she absolutely devours romance novels (a secret she doesn't let slip to her church friends, of course). She makes ends meet occasionally cleaning up houses, and has been known to do such tasks gratis for those with physical limits and limited means (such as Winnie, up on the third floor).
Ashe-burdette-1984.jpg
Ashe Burdette
Author • Apt B04
Ashe hit it big 15 years ago with a trio of self-help books: You!, Becoming You, and Where Did You Go? She was even something of a celebrity, making her way through the national talk show circuit and appearing on all the morning shows. It's been a while since she's had a popular book, though. She's been living off the royalties from her books, which have been getting smaller each year. She's been trying to make ends meet by writing fantasy novels, but so far hasn't found much success.

Second Floor

Floorplans

MSResidents-2-1984.jpg
  • Apartment A05: Em Gruenwald & Sixx
  • Apartment A06: Joel Lerma
  • Apartment A07: Sarina Sparkles
  • Apartment A08: xxx
  • Apartment B05: Desiree Yale
  • Apartment B06: Sowenda Montgomery
  • Apartment B07: Belle Allman
  • Apartment B08: VACANT
Em-gruenwald-1984.jpg
Em Gruenwald
PSU Freshman (Theater Major) • Apt A05
Em just graduated high school, and is attending PSU as a theater major. Em is largely uncomfortable with being identified as a woman, but neither do they consider themself a man – their roommate Sixx has assured them that being "agender" is a real thing. These days, Em has taken to spending most of their time with their best friend, Erica, another PSU student. Em frequently gives Charity Montgomery a ride to school in the mornings.
Sixx-1984.jpg
Sixx
Odd Jobber • Apt A05
Sixx somehow manages to pay rent on time each month even if nobody is quite sure how. He doesn't have a steady job, but he always manages to find temp jobs, short term gigs, and odd jobs here and there that manage to at least cover the cost of rent and food, if not much more than that. While he lives alone, his apartment seems to be a hub for the transgender community in the neighborhood. He knows what it's like to be on your own at a young age with no place to go and does what he can to pay it forward.
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Joel Lerma
Pothead Philosopher • Apt A06
Though he works down at the Port Authority, that's not who Joel is, man. A charming pothead who hasn't quite figured out how to get his life together (or if he has, it sounds like way too much work), Joel's apartment usually hosts a collection of his buds couch-surfing or passed out under a table. Joel is usually broke, but everyone always gets paid back, and when payday comes, it's party o'clock for everybody. When high, he tends to expound at length about the problems in the world and with society. Joel is good with kids, and builds the coolest LEGO shit in the complex. He's the sort that is only too happy to babysit someone's kid, but usually only at their place – by no stretch of the imagination is his pothead den even remotely kid-friendly.
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Sarina Sparkles
The Exotic Dancer • Apt A07
According to local legend, Portland is the city with the most strip clubs, per capita, in in the United States - and "Sparkle" has taken the stage in them all. The years of hard living are definitely catching up with her, and where once she was welcome at any stage she wanted, she now is just scraping by working day shifts at The Pitiful Princess. To make ends meet she rents her extra room out to girls she dances with, none of whom seem to stick around for more than a month or two - meaning there is a steady stream of boyfriends, stalkers, and abusive ex-boyfriends stalking the halls of Maple Shade.
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Desiree Yale
The Divorcee • Apt B05
A long-time resident, Desiree divorced her husband Bruce in 1981, shortly after their son Malcolm graduated high school and moved away to Berkeley to attend university. Though Bruce used to come around, drunk and shouting, banging on her door until the cops came to round him up, it's been a few years since he's come around. Desiree has a couple of part-time jobs to make ends meet and in general seems perfectly content with her newfound peace. She's got some opinions about the decline in the complex, but it's cheap and it's home. Every so often, Malcolm (now 20 years old) comes home to visit her.
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Sowenda Montgomery
School Office Clerk • Apt B06
Sowenda has worked for the Portland school district as a clerk in the front office of a local elementary school for many years. A recent widow, Sowenda discovered that her recently-passed husband Edgar left behind a mountain of debt she didn't know about, and no life insurance to be had. Worse, it all happened just as they were getting ready to send their only child, Charity, off to university. Sowenda moved to the Maple Shade a few months ago, forced to move to a much cheaper place – just until she can get herself back on her feet, of course. Despite multiple invitations from Charlotte Murray, Sowenda has not been at all social, telling herself that living here is only temporary, so there's "no use settling in."
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Charity Montgomery
PSU Freshman • Apt B06
Though she knows how difficult things are of late for her mother, Charity can't help but feel cheated of the college experience she's been planning for herself since she started in high school. With no money to live on campus, Charity now lives in this crummy apartment with her mother. Where Sowenda's grief looks like hiding away from the world, Charity's dealing with it all by distracting herself with college parties and bar-hopping.
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Belle Allman
Inspirational Speaker & Spiritual Advisor • Apt B07
Inspirational speaker, spiritual advisor, self-proclaimed self-defense expert, and dog enthusiast, Belle claims that Maple Shade can be transformed by the power of positive thinking. She is one of the few folk at the Maple Shade striving to change life here, and she puts forward a very put-together demeanor to back up that goal. She finds joy in perfumery, cooking, poetry, and other hobbies that engage sensuality. Though she has managed a few paying speaking gigs, Belle makes ends (barely) meet by working at a perfume counter at the mall.

Third Floor

Floorplans

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  • Apartment A09: Georgey Connor
  • Apartment A10: Myrtle Connor (Manager)
  • Apartment A11: Esther Padilla
  • Apartment A12: Jaime Sinclair
  • Apartment B09: Becca Lambright & Isaac Boyer
  • Apartment B10: Thomaston Residence (mother Alberta, her kids Lucas 15, Minnie 12, Amir 9, and Jada 4)
  • Apartment B11: Winnifred "Winnie" Suttle
  • Apartment B12: VACANT
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Esther Padilla
Dental Office Staff • Apt A11
Esther has been a resident of Maple Shade for about a year after divorcing her husband and moving out on her own. It's been hard for her to strike out on her own. She was always told that her greatest accomplishment was to be a good wife and mother. After several years of of trying to get pregnant without success, and her husband getting more and more verbally abusive, she finally decided she could do better following her own dreams even if it meant not having very much money.
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Jaime Sinclair
The Burnout • Apt A12
After a hard youth and early adulthood partying on daddy's dime, the Sinclairs eventually cut her free, tired of the drugs and shady boyfriends. These days, she floats from one drug-dealer boyfriend to the next, working as a stripper and dancer at VIBE when she can convince them to let her.
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Becca Lambright
Singer/Secretary • Apt B09
Becca shares an apartment with with her boyfriend and singing and music partner Isaac Boyer. Isaac plays guitar while Becca sings. The folk rock duo call themselves Bring Me Your Heart. Their music career doesn't quite pay the bills, so while they play various gigs at night, Becca has a day job as a secretary in a small law office downtown.
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Isaac Boyer
Musician/Barista • Apt B09
Isaac shares an apartment with with his girlfriend and the other half of the folk rock duo Bring Me Your Heart, Becca Lambright. Isaac plays guitar while Becca sings. Isaac is well known for his mohawk and bad boy appearance, but anyone who actually knows him is aware that he has a heart of gold. He's known for always trying to help other residents of Maple Shade when he can, carrying groceries, assisting with small repairs. He helps to make ends meet by working as a barista at a coffee shop.
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Alberta Thomaston
Single Mom • Apt B10
The mother of four (ranging in age from 15 to 4), Alberta struggles to make ends meet. She sleeps on a folda-bed in her living room, with the two bedrooms of the apartment she rents given over to her two boys and two girls. Though Alberta does temp office work, her faith pulls her through – she attends Bright Gethsemane church every Sunday morning and Wednesday evening, her kids well-groomed and dressed in their best. Alberta's oldest, Lucas, has begun to reject her authority and push against her boundaries, much to her added stress.
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Winnifred "Winnie" Suttle
The Shut-In • Apt B11
After having a minor stroke in 1982, Winnie doesn't get out as much as she used to. She has a difficult time with her mobility most days, but on her better days she pulls a chair up on the balcony to breathe the air and reminisce about days when she used to garden down in the green space below. She sometimes speaks wistfully of her daughter Vanessa and her family, but holds no grudge for not having seen her in years ("People just get busy these days, don't they?")

Fourth Floor

Floorplans

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  • Apartment A13: Marv Feldman
  • Apartment A14: The Rutherfords (Evelyn, Isaiah, Lena)
  • Apartment A15: xxx
  • Apartment A16: xxx
  • Apartment B13: Unoccupied (Water Damage)
  • Apartment B14: Unoccupied (Water Damage)
  • Apartment B15: Tanner Heldon
  • Apartment B16: Ben Pardo
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Marvin "Marv" Feldman
Costumer & Amateur Sleuth • Apt A13
Marv is a retired costumer for the Portland Opera, but was put out to pasture in the 70s and has struggled to make ends meet ever since - mostly doing work for the girls at Darcelles. He is completely obsessed with mystery shows like Columbo and Hart to Hart - and especially the new Angela Lansbury vehicle Murder, She Wrote. He fancies himself an amateur sleuth and is always watching the comings and goings at Maple Shade just waiting for a big mystery (but so far mostly salacious gossip)
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Evelyn Rutherford
Gospel Singer • Apt A14
In recent days, Evelyn has come into a little bit of the spotlight as a gospel singer. She has done a small Washington-Oregon tour of churches in recent years, leading praise and worship. Though none of the venues could really afford to pay much, it's allowed her to stop doing mending and cleaning to make ends meet.
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Isaiah Rutherford
Activist & Freelance Writer • Apt A14
Still involved in community activism, Isaiah writes think pieces and cultural spotlights for a number of Black publications in the U.S. Most of his time and resources are poured into local political efforts. Isaiah met Charlotte Murray through similar endeavors. Last year, Isaiah married Lena, who lives with him and Evelyn now.
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Lena Rutherford
Activist • Apt A14
Enchanted by Isaiah's political awareness and fiery words (written and spoken), Lena and Isaiah married last year. Lena helps with several political endeavors, volunteering her time when she isn't tending to her domestic situation. She somewhat resents the assumption that housekeeping and cooking will fall to her because of Isaiah and Evelyn's involvement in their various projects, but she's content to help keep things together for now.
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Tanner Heldon
Wrestler • Apt B15
Tanner is a 6'9" rural Kansas farmboy who left farm life behind to chase his dream of being a professional wrestler. Two years ago he bought a bus ticket and headed to Portland to join the Pacific NW Territory of the National Wrestling Alliance. He is well liked in the company, but is struggling to come up with a gimmick that has struck a chord with the audience. Currently he's trying his hand as a corpse paint wearing heel with goth trappings called The Warlock. Matt can be seen keeping in shape by running up and down the stairwells of Maple Shade, as well as out on his patio where he has a weight bench set up - he's a gentle giant who politely endures the wolf-calls he gets from various denizens of the building (and there is much speculation about what team he plays for since he's never been seen with a romantic interest).
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Ben Pardo
Unemployed • Apt B16
Ben thought he'd found happiness, with Carol. And then, the weird shit happened. His fear and pain as a result of those things drove a wedge between him and Carol, and when she left for Chicago, he was devastated. He lost his job and hasn't quite managed to find regular work ever since – his old job in sales was so high profile that his dramatic emotional collapse is common knowledge, and no one in his field wants to take a chance of it happening again if they hire him. So he's made rough ends meet with savings (now exhausted), credit cards, and the unemployment line since then.

Fifth Floor

Floorplans

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  • Apartment A17: VACANT
  • Apartment A18: xxx
  • Apartment A19: De la Fuente Family (Sal, Tina, Marisol, Diana, Mama Rosalinda)
  • Apartment B17: Unoccupied (Water Damage)
  • Apartment B18: Andy Koval
  • Apartment B19: Annette Weaver & Her Weird Ass Commune
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Salvador "Sal" Ignacio de la Fuente
Driver • Apt A19
Sal owns his own business, which is to say he owns a low rent limosine and is able to rent his driving services out enough to keep the lights on.

He lives with his mother Rosalina, two sisters Marisol and Diana, and his girlfriend Tina - none of whom get along. They fight loudly and endlessly anytime he is not around to diffuse the situation. Sal is a good catholic boy, and despite their means, the whole family dresses to the nines to attend services every Sunday, and Mama Rosalinda then comes home and makes a big dinner that anyone in the complex is welcome to attend - provided they are willing to listen to helpful advice about their lifestyle choices from Sal and Mama Rosalinda.

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Andy Koval
Construction Worker • Apt B18
Andy works at a local construction company. He's down on his luck and rebuilding his life in Portland after his life fell apart in Minnesota – he's known to have been an accountant at one point, and to have been married. Now he spends his off time inviting other residents over for coffee and telling tall tales about his past.