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A Noir Detective Story

Name: Lincoln Butler

Background: A former detective for the police department. Lincoln was eager to enter the war (WWII). Upon returning, the once confident, creative, vivacious man returned as a shell of his former self. Loud noises startled him, and his hand shook under the weight of a gun. He is haunted by the things he saw overseas, contributing to his drinking problem. When he returned from the war, he temporarily reclaimed his job. His “combat fatigue” made him difficult to work with, and made him unable to do his job. Finding himself unemployed while feeding his booze addiction, his wife left him, taking their two kids with her. She wished for a “proper man” who wasn’t damaged.

Lincoln works as a factory worker, the only job he could manage to find. He stuffs his ears to block out the loud noises. Some of his younger coworkers who didn’t fight in the war mess with him by pulling out the ear plugs, and laugh as he winces in pain at the sudden sounds. The older coworkers shake their heads, but never intervene.

Lifestyle: Suffering from undiagnosed PTSD from the war. Was extroverted prior to the war, making friends with everyone. Returned with survivor’s guilt when all his friends died in the war. Has trouble making connections now, and chooses to be a “lone wolf”.

Faults: A severe drinking problem, a heavy smoker, normally quiet and reserved, but has some outbursts of anger.

Body language: Slouched, never stands to his full height. Low, and droopy eyes.

Name: Valentina Russo-Pisano

Background: Sly, cunning, and incredibly intelligent, Valentina is one of Don Pisano’s most trusted advisors. Despite their closeness, she doesn’t know all of his secret dealings or past crimes. A stunning woman, people can’t help but to stare and admire her. She was a former business woman, attempting to turn her late father’s illegal automobile business into a legitimate one. She was married off to Don Pisano by her mother, however, and he inherited the business, undoing all of her hard work. As long as she cooperates with the Don, he allows her to oversee the business, but she has no managerial say.

Lifestyle: As the wife of a don, she seems to live a lavish lifestyle full of danger and elegance, but she mostly lives in fear. She is incredibly hardworking, and desires to run her father’s business the way she wants to without her husband’s interference. He shields her from doing “real man’s work” as he calls it.

Faults: She masks her fear and fails to make real relationships with people. She is a heavy smoker with a bad cough.

Body language: Stands tall and proud in public, but slouches in the presence of her husband. When by herself, or with Lincoln, she is less rigid, but not completely loose.