The year is 1925 in New York City. Trapped in a loveless engagement, a speakeasy songstress falls in love with her butler instead, who is secretly behind the serial killings terrorizing Manhattan.Last Updated: 2/12/26

This story takes place from the late 1910s all the way to the early and mid 1930s. It details the attempts made by Fifi to hide her true nature from Dorothy and her daughter, Jackie, but she finds it increasingly more difficult as the years pass and her sanity deteroriates. Meanwhile, Dottie’s friend Vanny is becoming more and more suspicious of Fifi, and in searching for vengeance for her deceased aunt, she attempts to gather evidence against Fifi to get the latter incarcerated.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What gender is Fisticuffs?
A: I don’t know. Nobody does. In the story, they are masquerading as a cisgender man. Nobody except for Dorothy-Anne knows Fifi is “not a man.” They go by any pronouns (absolutely any at all) they do not care how you refer to them.Q: Is the mustache real or fake?
A: It’s real but don’t think about that too hard.Q: Will there still be a comic?
A: Despite the URL of this website I’m not sure if this is likely anymore. While yeah, the story is written with the vague idea of it being turned into a visual medium, I first need the time and motivation to do so. Maybe in the near future, but as of right now I work on this story purely for my enjoyment. :-)Q: Where does this story take place exactly?
A: Mostly in Manhattan, New York City. Some of my followers seem to mistake Manhattan for its own place, it’s just a small borough within New York City (the smallest one even).Q: What is the rating for this?
A: There’s a lot of drinking, strong language, gore, and sexual content, but nothing truly explicit is shown. Maybe 16+? :-|More questions can go to my strawpage though I may be slow to answer.

✷ NAME: Firdausi Cartier Accardi Guimont
✷ ALIASES: Fisticuffs, Fifi, Mr. Accardi
✷ GENDER: Unknown (They/Any)
✷ OCCUPATION: Butler
✷ HEIGHT: 6’0”
✷ BIRTHDATE: October 25, 1893 (32)
✷ NATIONALITY: French; French/Afroitaliani descent
✷ PROVENANCE: Paris, Île-de-France

The butler. Just the butler. Nobody save for Dorothy-Anne knows they are not a man… or something like that. Better known as “Fisticuffs,” courtesy of their employeress. Aloof and laconic, yet ambitious, Fifi is by no means a people person and will not engage in idle conversation, that is if anyone approaches them to begin with. Their intonation is very flat; they are not excitable nor are they easily impressed, and, despite their smarts, they are not good with reading emotions and struggle with making connections. They are also quite short-tempered. It’s rather easy to get on their nerves. Regarding things they do enjoy (a rarity in itself), Fifi is fond of the finer things, such as opera, interior design, and painting. They love pigeons and are a proud parent of about twenty.Unbeknownst to Dorothy-Anne, Fifi is harbouring a deadly secret. They are the true identity of the Manhattan Ripper, and they will do anything it takes to keep this hidden from her. They have no qualms about committing violence, especially if they believe it’s in their best interest.

✷ NAME: Dorothy-Anne Yoshida
✷ ALIASES: Dot, Dottie, the Daughter of the Pearl, Mademoiselle
✷ GENDER: Female (She/Her)
✷ OCCUPATION: Chanteuse
✷ HEIGHT: 5’4
✷ BIRTHDATE: December 25, 1891 (34)
✷ NATIONALITY: American; Japanese descent
✷ PROVENANCE: Lower Eastside Manhattan

The epitome of the flapper! Better known as Dottie or just Dot, this hot jazz baby takes first billing at Sergio Cardona’s cabaret “the Pearly Dove,” including the speakeasy it shelters underneath. She lives in an opulent Manhattan townhouse gifted to her by Sergio himself, where she throws the best soirées every other night. With this, Mr. Cardona “gifted” his butler to her, who she has affectionately nicknamed Fisticuffs.Despite the cherubic appearance, Dottie has both the mouth and liquor gut of a sailor. She’s the type of modern girl to drive her own motor and burn through three packs of Lucky Strikes. She can be loud and quite overbearing, but she is loyal above all else. All she wants to do is party! She loves her friends dearly; their wellbeing comes first, always.Her favorite things are dancing, drinking, going to the pictures, inappropriate gallows humor, and drinking more. She lives in a separate house from her fiancé Ricky, with whom she has a daughter named Jacqueline.

✷ NAME: Jacqueline Rose Fletcher
✷ ALIASES: Jackie
✷ GENDER: Female (She/Her)
✷ OCCUPATION: Little girl
✷ HEIGHT: 4’5
✷ BIRTHDATE: April 2, 1917 (8)
✷ NATIONALITY: American; Japanese/Irish descent
✷ PROVENANCE: Upper Manhattan

Fast-paced, plucky, and irritatingly effervescent, this scampy youth has more than just a few tricks up her sleeve. There’s never a dull moment with this curly cutie. Her bubbly personality & needless fun facts are sure to keep you on your toes! Guaranteed, her constant meddling, endless questions, and tireless jokes may give you a migraine. But how could you stay angry at a face like that?Beneath the sunny exterior, Jacqueline is a sensitive soul with not many friends to go around. Her father, Ricky, is hardly ever there for her; seems he considers his work duties & gambling hobbies more important than his flesh and blood. As a result, Jacqueline spends most of her nights at her mommy’s townhouse, and has become great friends with her house staff. Her hobbies include cheating at playing Parcheesi, ignoring her studies, and pestering whoever’s in an arm’s length.

✷ NAME: Vanessa Lorraine Briggs
✷ ALIASES: Vanny, Miss Briggs
✷ GENDER: Female (She/They)
✷ OCCUPATION: Garment worker
✷ HEIGHT: 5’6”
✷ BIRTHDATE: February 29, 1892
✷ NATIONALITY: English
✷ PROVENANCE: Oxfordshire, England

Vanny is nothing short of good intentioned. Reticent, addled, and a little overwrought, she prefers keeping to herself. Social interactions are exhausting and unfamiliar, and Vanny would rather play it safe. She’d much rather be alone, if anything, but her silence is (almost) never petulance.Her introverted nature deems them a complete shut-in, deliberately ignoring invites to outings and holing up in her room to fall asleep. She’s a pragmatist and does not see the point in doing much of anything with her life anymore. It’s already gone downhill for her. What’s next? Why hit her while she’s already down?The only motivation they have is their dedication to solving the mystery behind their dear aunt’s murder, who they cherished more than anything. They will do almost anything to stop the Ripper and stop more families from being torn apart.

✷ NAME: Marjorie Vargas
✷ ALIASES: Margie
✷ GENDER: Female (She/Her)
✷ OCCUPATION: Bartender
✷ HEIGHT: 5’8”
✷ BIRTHDATE: June 11, 1891 (34)
✷ NATIONALITY: American; Puerto Rican descent
✷ PROVENANCE: Corpus Christi, Texas

The easygoing muscle behind the Pearly Dove bar. Marjorie is laid-back and conversational, going wherever the tide takes her. Having come from nothing back in the south, she moved to New York years ago with her family and found out that the speakeasy business pays a pretty dime.Despite her bulky appearance, Margie is of the friendly sort. Even when she’s down on her own luck, she’ll sacrifice whatever is necessary to make sure her friends are OK. She’s hardworking, wisecracking, and above all, she knows how to make a good martini.She and Dot have been great friends for as long as the Pearly Dove has been operating its subterranean gin joint.