AU History: This is the story Neal was told growing up: His father was from Leith, and worked for the Company. However, when the Company decided to take on a smuggling ring, Neal's father ended up in the line of fire, and was killed by the criminals he was going after. Unfortunately, since the smuggling ring was still active, Neal and his mother, as well as his father's old partner, all had to flee the system.
Neal grew up in a completely different part of the Jay, dreaming of one day returning to the Quad. He didn't remember anything about it, as he'd only been three years old when they left, but his fantasies were all about joining the Company himself and taking down the very same smuggling ring his father had been after. He studied hard as a kid and as a teenager for that purpose, even went so far as to teach himself how to use firearms so he'd be prepared for one day facing criminals head on.
When Neal turned eighteen years old, and had plans to head immediately for the Quad, his father's old partner decided he deserved to hear the truth: His father hadn't been caught in the crossfire - in fact, he wasn't even dead, although she didn't know what had happened to him in the end. They'd had to flee because his father had betrayed the Company, working alongside those smugglers and helping them evade Company guards. After he'd been caught, he'd sold out the smuggling ring in order to save his own ass, and managed to make enemies of everyone. That's why they'd had to flee.
Neal took learning the truth about his father with his usual grace: he ran away from home, and hasn't been in contact with them since. Because reaching out would mean having to deal with the truth, and that's just not something that happens in the world of Neal Caffrey.
His plans of joining the Company were also forgotten. Instead he found himself relying on his many skillsets to survive, and found that he was also really good at it. At least, when it came to using those skillsets to break the law. So he started stealing his way across the Jay, forging invaluable artworks and selling them as real, picking up statues in one system and fencing them in the next. He made himself multiple aliases, and got himself a bit of a reputation, though no law enforcement agency managed to even get a confirmed picture of him.
That is, until he made his way to the Quad after all. It's a mystery why he decided to go where his family was so despised, although some rumours say he was chasing after a girlfriend. In the end, though, he liked it there, and gradually made the system his home base.
Early on during his time in the Quad, he made it into the radar of one Peter Burke, killjoy and professional ruiner of Neal's fun. Actually, Neal put himself on his radar by introducing himself to him - mentioning nothing of his criminal activities of course, and there wasn't a warrant out on him yet, so the risk was small. But as it turns out, Peter would be the one to eventually connect his many thefts back to him. He linked the crimes together, and started taking on warrants to recover what Neal had stolen, and eventually was able to prove who was behind these crimes (for an extra bonus).
With a warrant officially out on him, Neal had to start being more careful. In theory. He saw it as a challenge, enjoying the chase, Peter always just a few steps behind him. He even kept in touch, sending him birthday cards, a nice bottle of hokk, and making sure to only ever call to chat when he knew he'd be waking Peter up.
Eventually Neal's luck ran out, though. He did some work for a group of criminals, but because Peter was catching up to him he was unable to finish the job. These criminals weren't too happy with him, and in desperation Neal called Peter to make him catch the group instead. He did, but he also caught Neal.
Neal was sent to Westhole prison, where he immediately started planning his escape. Fortunately for him, though, he'd grown on Peter. And Peter was worried about what a long stay in prison would do to someone like Neal. He started cashing in favors, using every connection he had, trying to get them to agree to release Neal into his custody instead. He fought for Neal's chance to redeem himself, and prove he could be helpful to the Quad as a hole. And it helped that while Neal had robbed half the galaxy blind, he'd also made friends with the other half. Some very important people were fond of him.
The deal went through. If he proved useful and was willing to do a lot of favors for the Company, they'd agree to release him. And so Neal was handed over to Peter, but with very strict conditions as to what would happen to both of them should Neal return to his life of crime.
It took some time for Neal to "prove himself" and work off the contract he had become bound by. But he liked working with Peter even more than he'd liked being chased by him, and the two of them proved to be a good team. And a year later Neal was given permission to rip up those papers (which he did, literally and dramatically), and do what he wanted with his life.
Inventory: A set of lockpicks, a sketchpad and a few pencils. His bespoke suit turned into something equally impressive and tailored, but in a style that actually makes sense in this universe.
no subject
Neal grew up in a completely different part of the Jay, dreaming of one day returning to the Quad. He didn't remember anything about it, as he'd only been three years old when they left, but his fantasies were all about joining the Company himself and taking down the very same smuggling ring his father had been after. He studied hard as a kid and as a teenager for that purpose, even went so far as to teach himself how to use firearms so he'd be prepared for one day facing criminals head on.
When Neal turned eighteen years old, and had plans to head immediately for the Quad, his father's old partner decided he deserved to hear the truth: His father hadn't been caught in the crossfire - in fact, he wasn't even dead, although she didn't know what had happened to him in the end. They'd had to flee because his father had betrayed the Company, working alongside those smugglers and helping them evade Company guards. After he'd been caught, he'd sold out the smuggling ring in order to save his own ass, and managed to make enemies of everyone. That's why they'd had to flee.
Neal took learning the truth about his father with his usual grace: he ran away from home, and hasn't been in contact with them since. Because reaching out would mean having to deal with the truth, and that's just not something that happens in the world of Neal Caffrey.
His plans of joining the Company were also forgotten. Instead he found himself relying on his many skillsets to survive, and found that he was also really good at it. At least, when it came to using those skillsets to break the law. So he started stealing his way across the Jay, forging invaluable artworks and selling them as real, picking up statues in one system and fencing them in the next. He made himself multiple aliases, and got himself a bit of a reputation, though no law enforcement agency managed to even get a confirmed picture of him.
That is, until he made his way to the Quad after all. It's a mystery why he decided to go where his family was so despised, although some rumours say he was chasing after a girlfriend. In the end, though, he liked it there, and gradually made the system his home base.
Early on during his time in the Quad, he made it into the radar of one Peter Burke, killjoy and professional ruiner of Neal's fun. Actually, Neal put himself on his radar by introducing himself to him - mentioning nothing of his criminal activities of course, and there wasn't a warrant out on him yet, so the risk was small. But as it turns out, Peter would be the one to eventually connect his many thefts back to him. He linked the crimes together, and started taking on warrants to recover what Neal had stolen, and eventually was able to prove who was behind these crimes (for an extra bonus).
With a warrant officially out on him, Neal had to start being more careful. In theory. He saw it as a challenge, enjoying the chase, Peter always just a few steps behind him. He even kept in touch, sending him birthday cards, a nice bottle of hokk, and making sure to only ever call to chat when he knew he'd be waking Peter up.
Eventually Neal's luck ran out, though. He did some work for a group of criminals, but because Peter was catching up to him he was unable to finish the job. These criminals weren't too happy with him, and in desperation Neal called Peter to make him catch the group instead. He did, but he also caught Neal.
Neal was sent to Westhole prison, where he immediately started planning his escape. Fortunately for him, though, he'd grown on Peter. And Peter was worried about what a long stay in prison would do to someone like Neal. He started cashing in favors, using every connection he had, trying to get them to agree to release Neal into his custody instead. He fought for Neal's chance to redeem himself, and prove he could be helpful to the Quad as a hole. And it helped that while Neal had robbed half the galaxy blind, he'd also made friends with the other half. Some very important people were fond of him.
The deal went through. If he proved useful and was willing to do a lot of favors for the Company, they'd agree to release him. And so Neal was handed over to Peter, but with very strict conditions as to what would happen to both of them should Neal return to his life of crime.
It took some time for Neal to "prove himself" and work off the contract he had become bound by. But he liked working with Peter even more than he'd liked being chased by him, and the two of them proved to be a good team. And a year later Neal was given permission to rip up those papers (which he did, literally and dramatically), and do what he wanted with his life.
A week or so later, he became a Killjoy.
CRAU: n/a
Original History: his wikipedia entry
Inventory: A set of lockpicks, a sketchpad and a few pencils. His bespoke suit turned into something equally impressive and tailored, but in a style that actually makes sense in this universe.
Samples: one & two
Miscellaneous Notes: