#dwalinrp

Thorin grows up on the road, bitter and reeling. He lost his brother, and his grandfather, then his father in quick succession, with never enough time in between to absorb the blows. His only remaining immediate family lay in the East. His sister had moved to Atlantic City after the fire, and given birth to two sons, Fili and Kili. She raises them in the shadow of Durin & Sons empire, Erebor’s sister-company, Blue Mountains Casino. Initially she had wanted nothing to do with it, but she has a level head on her shoulders and a mind for business, without their grandfather’s obsessive greed.

Blue Mountains flourishes, and Thorin visits, when he can, but his heart and mind are way out West. It’s not something he forgets, nor something he can give up on, and eventually his persistence earns him followers, though Dis calls them foolhardy. It’s a long road of odd-jobs and trust fund drains, and the pooling together or resources, along with many a favor owed here and there, when Thorin and his company gather enough to start a business.

Only to find someone else, through loopholes and far too much twisting of legal red tape, has come into the company name, and resurrected Erebor atop the ashes of the old. Smaug is savvy, seductive, and sharp as a whip. He’s also dirty, and Thorin intends to take him down and reclaim what is rightfully his.

Enter Bilbo, expert card counter and con artist. The rest is up to you.

But I imagine also in this AU that Dwalin is security and muscle; the clear choice for bouncer once they win Erebor back from Smaug. He’s also Thorin’s oldest friend and the one who keeps him on track when things get rough (and they always get rough: Thorin drinks too much and smokes too much and spends far too much time stuck in the past, bitter and needing closure and unsure how to get it).

Balin was probably treasurer or bookkeeper for Thrór, and the only level head to be found for miles. He has a stake in this, especially for his reputation, which was tarnished when the extortion accusations came flying in, but he would be more than content to retire and maybe lend an ear to Dis back in Jersey, should she need it. But he is loyal to Thorin, and to his brother, and if they’re going through with this ill-advised plan, well, someone should be there to keep them grounded.