[RPG] Running a “Chaotic Evil” PC in a morally ambivalent group

alignmentgroup-dynamics

So I've been running in a Shadowrun group for a while now and my character served as the group's only moral compass. He got killed in a rather dissatisfying string of events, but now it's time to whip up a new runner.

What I'm picturing is a Chaotic Evil counterpart to my former character's (mostly-)Lawful Good sort of character. I recognize that Shadowrun doesn't use the alignment system, but there's really no other way to describe the character otherwise, since I'll intentionally be playing him as edgy and amoral (and more than a little bit nihilistic), where the rest of the runners don't really care so long as they get their paycheck.

Is there any way for me to work in the over-the-top violence and wanton destruction of a Chaotic Evil character with a group that more veers for a pragmatic approach? Basically, I don't want the rest of the group turning the guy in to Knights Errant for the bounty, because he's useful, but I want him to be the sort of guy who everyone's trying to keep from kicking the puppy off a rooftop to calculate its falling speed (and humorous value).

Note that this isn't a system-specific question, alignments listed are used for reference and not because of any mechanical constraints.

EDIT: Do note that this is not a Stupid Evil character, merely a Chaotic Evil one. He's manipulative and greedy, and he will intentionally harm others just because he can get away with it, but he won't risk himself to do so, nor does he feel the need to intentionally violate moral codes just because they're there if doing so presents a risk to him, though if nobody's watching or if he can "get away with it" he will.

Best Answer

Check out Belkar, from the Order of the Stick. A chaotic evil character in a mostly-good-aligned party. See this quote:

Despite his kill-first who-cares-about-asking-questions attitude and lack of party loyalty causing the occasional problem, Belkar has proven to be generally effective as a party member [...] but, with carefully applied threats, the rest of the group have generally been able to keep the halfling under control and they consider him to be one of their own.

Note, though, that the OOTS keeping Belkar around has always been a bit of a stretch for willing suspension of disbelief, allowed mostly for narrative purposes, and often lampshaded by the characters themselves, so it might be a bit of a problem getting the rest of your party behind the idea of sheltering a psycho killer, but if you're fun and over-the-top enough, they might appreciate your dramatic value.

Another option that some might not like is getting explicit buy-in from the players, or at least some you think will be into it. Some might see it as a form of meta-gaming that takes away from the real roleplaying, but others might see it as a social contract that allows the party to play the roles they like and build the narratives they like.