David functions as the Smoke’s ringleader and figurehead, though he’s not the one who started the civilization—his parents, Maddy and Az, did. However, because Maddy and Az are old enough to scare young uglies who have never seen adult uglies, David is the one tasked with traveling to the cities and bringing in new recruits. He’s 18 years old, and though he’s an ugly, he exudes a confidence that Tally has never seen before. This confidence makes him kind of handsome, despite having scars, being too strong for pretty standards, and having an asymmetrical face. At first, Shay is in love with David and it’s possible that David reciprocated Shay’s feelings at some point, but he quickly falls in love with Tally. Tally is attractive to David because David is mature, and in turn he prizes maturity and sensible, clear thinking in others.