Themes: helping people, death, proving yourself, legacy
Dylan is wholly committed to their identity as “the doctor's heir”. They work at the clinic and help out wherever they can, dreaming of one day becoming a doctor themselves. They just wish their parent, Doctor Deer, would see that too. Instead, they favour their sibling Eliot, and so Dylan finds themselves always standing in the shadow of someone who could not care less about their legacy. Yes, Dylan sadly has some problems, and their high school endeavours are not yet good enough for medical university, but THEY WILL MANAGE. They will pull through, and they will show everybody. Be it through medicine, sheer grind, or their quite specific art.
In their attempts to impress their parent, Dylan will become more and more extreme, potentially setting off down a very dark path.
Everybody who lives in La Cage is mostly poor and desperate. The families and professionals living in Apartment Blocks are the ones who really try to keep some semblance of normality in their lives. The Block B consists mostly of tradesmen and people of other desirable professions. People with no exceptional wealth or status, but the ones who are good and honest at their job and are beneficial to the La Cage. Educated, but not burgeois - teacher, nurse, students, social worker or people jilted from Block A. They mostly want to stay far from the troubles and extreme ideologies (to a small degree of success) but are willing to help each other as much as they can - like a big family.
The Den used to gather local elders to play card games - a good excuse to gamble, drink beer, and of course, gossip. A few years ago, card games became suddenly trendy, and many local youngsters joined the Den. But the way they played was totally different: they were loud, bold, aggressive, seeking for adrenaline, wagering way too big. Now, the elders have all left the Den to these gambling freaks. Stakes are high and are becoming even higher. And soon it will be too late to back off.
An honorable, traditional artistic collective in La Cage, the Theatrical Taxidermy Society has been stuffing animals and delivering pithy social commentary for a long time. Some find the collections of birds with little hats and cloaks or Comrade Meerkat with their little lantern of progress a strange thing to find in the alcoves on their way to work, but the denizens of La Cage are now used to the sight. They know which windowsill to look on if they want some gossip told through stuffed mice. They marvel at the battles of old illustrated by the mangled taxidermy parrots. And they all turn up for the annual Great Taxidermy Expo, which always delivers a nuanced portrayal of the current affairs plaguing the neighbourhood in their main play - and a brand new specimen to boot!
“You matter. Shit happens and it can be hard to get back on your feet. This is when addiction catches you. Now remember sister, brother: you are not alone. You will never be any more. In our Addicts Anonymous meetings, we always listen with care, love, and respect. What is told and done within the circle stays within the circle, no matter what.
We care. You are safe. You matter.”
