Connie

Biodata

Background / History

Student and Caregiver

Connie lived with her sick father, Mr. Hood, at No. 7 Denton Street. She attended technical college during the day and worked at night to support him. Mrs. Caroline described her as hardworking, while Melissa Moriarty, another resident of the building, was her classmate 31.

Her father's dependence on the Red Apple Church's Fruit Honey strained their finances and caused repeated arguments. Connie suspected that the medicine was dangerous, but her father insisted that he needed it 33 35 48.

Employment with Chen Lun

Kent deliberately caused Connie to lose her previous job, intending to pressure her into working at the Bird-and-Flower Tavern for the Iron Fist Gang. Unable to persuade her to go there, he later blamed Chen Lun's intervention for ruining his plan 35 36.

Connie approached Chen Lun, whom she knew as Mr. Jack, offering to clean, wash clothes, and help Froy, whom she believed to be blind. Froy explained her financial difficulties, and Chen Lun hired her for two Silver Crowns per week. Connie arranged to work after her classes ended at four in the afternoon and offered to accompany Froy on weekend walks 35.

Iron Fist Gang Abduction

Kent gave Connie two tickets to the Dolphin Opera House after she declined his invitation because of her work. She accepted them to take Froy instead. On the way, the two women used a shortcut through a secluded alley, where Iron Fist Gang members surrounded them 36 37.

Connie tried to flee with Froy but was seized. Froy shot three attackers, then surrendered when the remaining men aimed firearms at them, asking that Connie not be harmed. Their captors took them toward Sewage Flats and the Bird-and-Flower Tavern 37 38.

Chen Lun intercepted the gang and rescued them. Connie cheered him on but was shaken by his supernatural abilities and the violence of the fight. Afterward, he sent her and Froy home under the protection of a stray dog and thirty or forty cats 39 40.

Recognition of Her Mechanical Talent

After learning that Connie studied mechanical theory, Chen Lun gave her the gang's mechanical gauntlets and blunderbuss to examine. She quickly produced structural diagrams and proposals for improving both weapons 45 46.

Chen Lun had initially intended only to test her aptitude, but her explanations convinced him that she might be a genius. He gave her two Gold Pounds for materials, workshop access, and payment for her work 46.

Father's Death

After investigating Fruit Honey, Connie refused to buy any more for her father, rejecting Chen Lun's offer of money for the medicine. Mr. Hood subsequently died from withdrawal 48 50.

Connie blamed herself for stopping his medication. Mrs. Caroline and the neighbors comforted her, while Chen Lun asked Froy to give her extra care. He also privately intended to bring Connie with him when he moved to the inner city, hoping her talent could support a workshop capable of continuously producing equipment. He did not raise the proposal while she was grieving 50.

Appearance

Connie is a young woman with chestnut-colored hair, a few freckles, and an appealing face, though her looks are described as not stunning 33.

Personality

Connie is hardworking and frugal. She balances classes, employment, and care for her father, avoids asking Mrs. Caroline for further help, and initially offers to accept less than two Silver Crowns a week. When Chen Lun offers ten Gold Pounds for her mechanical work, she takes only one for expenses; he insists on adding another as payment 31 35 46.

She is considerate toward Froy, warning her against carrying too much money in the unsafe Outer District and trying to make the opera outing suitable for someone she believes cannot see. Her admiration for Froy is mixed with insecurity: she envies the care Froy receives and privately feels inferior to her 36.

Connie is hesitant when seeking work but speaks confidently and enthusiastically about machinery. She also revises her judgments: after initially mistaking Chen Lun for a thug, she comes to appreciate his generosity and admits that she misjudged him 33 35 46.

Abilities & Skills

Mechanical Theory and Design

Connie studies mechanical theory at Cypress Leaf Technical College and demonstrates enough aptitude to impress Chen Lun 45 46.

• Produces neatly annotated structural diagrams for weapon modifications 46.
• Proposes altering Fierce Flame's internal structure and reinforcing its barrel to improve stability and reduce the risk of bursting 46.
• Recommends steel-ball ammunition to reduce wear and extend the firearm's service life 46.
• Identifies apparently redundant or ineffective components in Mad Hands 46.
• Requires borrowed workshop tools and purchased materials to attempt her modifications; no completed upgrade is documented in the supplied chapters 46.

Household Work

• Offers cleaning, laundry, and room maintenance as part of her employment 35.
• Is shown mopping the apartment and clearing breakfast dishes 45.
• Prepares breakfast for herself and her father 45.

Equipment / Items

• Mad Hands mechanical gauntlets — Given to her by Chen Lun for study and possible modification 45 46.
• Fierce Flame blunderbuss — A crude gang weapon she examines and develops improvement plans for 45 46.
• Design sheets — Structural diagrams and annotations supporting her proposed modifications 46.

Relationships

• Mr. Hood — Father whom she supports and cares for; his death leaves her consumed by guilt over stopping his Fruit Honey supply 31 48 50.
• Chen Lun / Mr. Jack — Neighbor, employer, rescuer, and sponsor of her mechanical work. He considers her a potential technical recruit, but has not formally recruited her 35 40 46 50.
• Froy — Employer's companion whom Connie helps care for and accompanies on outings. Froy advocates for hiring her and surrenders to protect her during the ambush 35 36 38.
• Mrs. Caroline — Landlady and benefactor whose previous help Connie is reluctant to burden further; comforts her after Mr. Hood's death 31 35 50.
• Kent — Former classmate who dropped out after two months. He sabotages her employment and helps the Iron Fist Gang target her and Froy 32 35 36 37.
• Melissa Moriarty — Fellow resident of No. 7 Denton Street and Connie's classmate 31.