Durand The Philosopher

+1 Definitely makes sense

Huge +1

This whole idea is good on paper but terrible in practice.

No matter the colors we wear, we shall all ride together at the Highway of Hell. Congrats on becoming official Vatos.

"For twenty years i have served my country, and this is how they pay me back?" ~ Ricardo Crane [Genesis] Born in the State of North Yankton, a cold place that builds up men to be strong. Ricardo had a rough childhood, living with only his mother after his father passed away from sickness, only his brother beside him and on rare occasions, his cousin as well. The man grew up to be independent, to be strong and withstand things his family could not, he grew into a backbone that everyone can depend on. Years passed and at the age of 18 he felt a calling, soon after he joined the Boot camp for North Yankton's military. Passed without major issues, saved up some money while serving and after a few years, he left his old life and moved to US. He didn't keep any major contact with his brother or mother at that time. He knew his brother will fend for his family's needs. One way or another. Living in US didn't come easy though, working 9 to 5 jobs, barely having any money. After a while he gained his citizenship and having finished school and being a healthy man he decided to join the US Navy. Boot camp went through easy enough, he has known the pain of training and had the discipline to do so. He was a promising recruit. [After Boot Camp] Years passed and he was deployed into an active war zone. They were fighting Insurgents, many men had fallen in the conflict, but the quick wit, combat prejudice and good training proved to be crucial. Nothing can describe the feeling of almost pulling a trigger on a civilian that you suspect of being a Guerrilla. Be it a grown man, a woman or just a child. The Insurgents cared not for safety of their families, they wanted you dead, one way or another. The dread of that thought was something the soldiers had to endure and Ricardo was surprisingly good at enduring it. He saw death before, he saw how cruel the world was. That trauma changed him, he was left scarred and unfeeling, but there was a spark of compassion in his soul. Drive to save people instead of hurting them. Something he'd cling onto for a very long time. [Promotion] Sometimes being the only man to survive a mission is a true hit to the mental capacity of a man. All your friends have died... and you have to return to base, meet new ones and repeat this vicious cycle of mental pain. Being the last man standing didn't come without benefits though, Ricardo was getting promoted for his skills in battle and his tactical skill as well. Soon enough he became an officer and years later a (Lieutenant) for the United States Navy. He now led these young men to their doom instead of going there himself. Although he was carefully planning each move, you cannot get rid of the human factor and so some men died, but he was always on his toes. Always having plans from A to G at least, more if need so. He wanted these children to come back home safely and for that he was awarded. [The Medal] At the end of his career their base was attacked, he defended his soldiers with the determination never seen before in a soldier, he shielded one of them from a fatal bullet and took it for him instead. Many of his friends died that day and since he couldn't move due to the gunshot he wasn't killed by the Insurgents. He was left hospitalised for a long while and when his recovery concluded. He was awarded his Medal of Honor. He kept it on him at all times, holding it and thinking about his friends that have fallen in battle. After a time it became scratched and showed signs of wear. He never left it anywhere, he kept it with him at all times. [The Day] After returning from Deployment he got in touch with his brother for the first time in many years. He informed him that their mother was dead, and he had moved to Los Santos... Having nothing better and still being fairly young he moved there as well. With little money to his name and an old trusty phone he bought in a Chinese shop, he flew to the State of San Andreas. When he met his brother, he greeted him warmly. He soon learned that he was a taxi driver for the D.C.C and for a while they lived in relative peace. Ricardo soon learned how harsh the city truly was and having no income and staying over at a friend's place he decided that it was time for him to get a job. [The Betrayal] He learned that the Department of Sheriff's in Paleto Bay had opened recruitment. He applied and was taken in for an interview. He had a listing of being a military veteran, he was the perfect recruit for the job. Disciplined, physically fit. Yet, the Sheriff denied it. Because he talked too quietly. That enraged him, he returned to the friend's place he was staying at and started drinking. He couldn't believe what has happened. His vision, his only chance at a normal life has crumbled before him. Soon after that he learned that his brother is tied up in criminal activities, wanting to protect his brother at all costs, he followed his every step. Learned how the criminal underworld operates. He has never partaken in any crime though, until that one feral moment. [La Familia] The Aztecas allowed his brother to roll with them, seeing that he had no choice, he knew his brother will not back down. Having lost everything, his pride, his determination... he decided to join the family too. They rolled together for a while, ambushing people, robbing, cooking, gutting them left and right. At first Ricardo felt sick seeing this, but with time he grew thankful to Aztecas, they were the protection his brother needed, that he himself needed as well. A place to call their own, La familia to protect them. Both Ricardo's and his brother's Grand Grandmother was Mexican, they both loved her very much and she taught them a bit of her culture and language so they have fit right in. They were taken in as an exception, and from that point on onward they dedicated themselves to their new family. [From One War To Another] Criminal lifestyle proved hard for Ricardo, constant robbing and killing innocent, and not so innocent people. Soon enough he learned though, that a gang is not much different from a Military Unit, codes, callouts, clear comms. These are the things he already knew. Things he grew accustomed to in the Military, but he didn't expect he'll also take a part in the thing he most wanted to avoid. War, between gangs it was clashes of power and strength, to show dominance or get a message through, he has partaken in those before. Lives were thrown away just like back in the day. At that point he truly felt a familiar feeling. He was ready this time around, ready to protect his new brothers and sisters. He has left one war to join another. [Conclusion] Ricardo fights for the wrong side nowadays. Or at least what he thought was the wrong side, Aztecas allowed him to see through the masks to see corruption. He understood, although not on the right side of the law anymore, he still reminisces about his time in the Navy, still holding his medal tightly before every fight, thinking about these who lost their lives to protect their country and their families. He regained his Determination, and nobody shall dare to stop him from protecting what he loves. "For twenty years i have served my country, i was betrayed, cheated. Denounced. I shall never repeat the same mistake again" ~ Ricardo "Durand" Crane

[Houses] All stashes will be changed to furniture items with inventory space It's from the Development tab on Discord. It was changed last monday. I don't really know if they should be big or red, but they were changed.

+1 Absolutely.

Could ya send the code to me too? My hand hurts from all the M holding i've been doing lately.

NVM they are called aviators.

I mean are those really Navy pilots? Like Naval Naval?

What pilots?

Cool story and all but i believe that Navy don't have pilots. They are "Naval units" or "Boat Bois". On the other hand i feel very sorry for your family and upbringing.

Very touching and interesting story, becoming incredibly dark at one point. Sadly, it's a bit hard to read, i would recommend you to split your "block of text" into more readable pieces that are easy to swallow. Anyways, see you in Los Santos mister Conro- Sorry, Draose.

+1 Yeah, this is definietly something that should be more clear. Me and my friends were trying to buy a house and had no idea the scripts are even at play. Thus we got scammed of off our hard earned 60k. We have read through the whole rulebook and asked on discord but nothing pointed us in the right direction.

+1 All the way.

Cool use of motion blur.

+1 Definietly would help the truckers out. Especially the devoted ones.

Hello, my name is Matthew but most often than not people call me Durand. Feel free to use any of the both. Stumbled upon this place by accident while burnt out from GMOD RP servers, wanted to try something new and here I am. With 2 years of RP experience on my back i hope we can have some fun togheter as my character grows and reaches his personal goals in the "not so legal" parts of Los Santos.