pianoman

Name: Nico Valentino DiGiovanni

Age: 22

Gender: Male

Type: Aspect

Appearance:

Nico is a guy who looks like he should be taller than he actually is. In reality, he just about reaches 5’8, but there’s something about his personality, and the way he holds himself, as well as something about the way he’s in proportion with his height that means that ‘I thought you would be taller’ is often something people think when they really stop to consider his stature.

His dark hair is naturally curly, and if he would let it grow would soon spiral down into his bright, honey-hazel eyes. At lazy times of his life, this is exactly what happens, but usually, he keeps it shorter, often slicking it back out of his face and at least making an attempt to tame the mass that forever threatens to break loose. His upbringing makes him aware of what is considered to be socially acceptable on an almost unconscious level, and whilst he outwardly rejects those standards and norms, inwardly, they are often harder to shake off, and he falls back into habits of appearance and dress without even noticing it. Even on his most laid back days, he’s generally more well put together than most - he may forego a shave, or a haircut, yet his clothes will be good quality and immaculately presented and he has an inner style that cannot be denied, as much as he may prefer that it could.

His eyes are undoubtedly his best feature, especially set as they are in an overly-expressive face and combined with a smile that can rival the brightness of the sun when at full blast. Nico is a naturally charismatic man and between his eyes and his smile, he’s made more than one woman melt. He rarely abuses that, though - he’s aware that he could get a woman into bed with little more than a glance and a smile, but he prefers encounters to mean more than that. He likes to have a connection with the women he sleeps with, something real - even if that’s only for the night. He doesn’t just want to fool them, he wants to feel it too.

Personality:

Nico is naturally charismatic, and a humorous and open guy. He has a lust for life that little seems to be able to diminish and an unfailing (and often misplaced) optimism about how life is going. Something good is always just around the corner, as far as Nico is concerned. This optimism can, at times, make him reckless - he is always so certain that everything is going to turn out for the best that he doesn’t stop to think what may be the result if it doesn’t.

He loves music like it’s his first born - it certainly is the centre of his world. Nothing is more important to him. He’ll drop everything (and everyone) for the chance to perform. If he’s offered a gig when he’s prearranged a dinner, then he’ll go to the gig and not even think about the dinner. He’ll greet the dawn from the wrong side, up the whole night perfecting that latest song, then be dead for the rest of the day and not think anything of it. Often his head seems to be in the clouds because he’s disconnected with the world around him, lost in his music.

He is generally easy going and laid back, but when he does get angry, it comes on quickly, as though a switch has been flipped. His dark moods leave just as quickly though - it can make being around Nico an unnerving experience at times. Whatever his mood, Nico wears his emotions on his face - his is incredibly poor at hiding his true feelings - and an equally poor liar in person. If Nico is going to lie to you, it better either be in the dark, over the telephone, or by letter.

Sexuality:

heterosexual

Constants:

Peter Pan

* The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up - Nico definitely has a child-like nature about him. He lacks any real sense of responsibility and he is not very dependable (unless you’re employing him as a musician - then he’ll come through for you come hell or high water). His optimism also gives him an air of innocence that seems at odds with his family background. Someone who is as aware of the true nature of the family business shouldn’t be able to look at the world the way he does, yet somehow Nico manages it.

* To die will be an awfully big adventure - Nico has a confidence about him, as though he believes that the world can’t really hurt him. Partly this is because he can be reckless at times, but it is also because, deep down, he knows that, if things get really bad, he can give up and go home. He may have left the family, he may outwardly profess that his parents don’t want anything to do with him anymore, but he hasn’t cut ties completely and there will always be that escape route. That is not clearly apparent to anyone who knows Nico though, and he comes across as a guy who isn’t afraid of anything.

* Feels like he can’t go home - Nico and his parents fought five years ago and as a result, he left home. He now feels that he can’t go back. In truth, he won’t allow himself to want to go back, but it’s easier for him to sustain that by putting the blame for it on his parents, whatever the real truth of the situation.

City History:

The youngest son of Carmine and Andrea DiGiovanni and nephew to the Don DiGiovanni, Nico never felt like he fitted in with the family. He could play the dutiful son - he certain has the charisma to be able to move in the right social circles, but he lacks the cut throat heartlessness that he feels that the family requires of their heirs. He grew up in the lifestyle, attending the right social functions, mixing with the right people, but it soon became apparent - firstly to himself and then to his relations - that at all of those parties, Nico would much prefer to be the entertainment, than the entertained.

His mother had set him on the path, albeit unknowingly. She had always believed that every child should learn an instrument, and so set him to the piano as soon as she could. He took to it easily and quickly - even more quickly than he took to reading and writing. Other instruments followed over the years and though Andrea had quietly phased out the lessons, not wanting to encourage her son down the wrong path, it didn’t seem to matter. Nico simply taught himself, working things out as he went along. And the more involved and confident he became about his music, the less he was willing to tow the family line.

He knew about the real nature of his family’s business - Nico had always been a clever, inquisitive boy. He asked questions, and he listened to the answers, as well as reading between the lines. Whilst he never had anything actively against the criminal side of the family business, he didn’t really want any involvement in it either. He wanted to tread his own path, and so he avoided any attempts to get him involved, ignored the orders, did all he could until the day it all came to a head, shortly after he turned 17.

The family had thrown a huge birthday party for him. It had felt like half the city had been there - the ‘important’ part, anyhow. And it had hammered one thing home that, really, Nico had known for years - if he allowed his life to continue on in this way, it wasn’t going to be about him. Like that party hadn’t been about him. He’d just wanted to hang out with some friends. Something low key. Maybe go to a jazz club, see some new talent. Instead, his parents had taken the excuse of him turning 17 - 17, not even the big 18 - and had thrown this ostentatious party. He hadn’t even been allowed to perform at it. He was never allowed to perform. His cousin, Arienne, she was allowed. Hell, according to her own reports she was ‘forced’ to perform. But, she was a girl, and younger - still a child. Nico was becoming a man, and his parents knew where his heart lay. They would never encourage his music, not when they knew he would prefer to make it his entire existence. He knew what they wanted and, several days after the party, having seriously considered his options, he approached them to explain that he didn’t care what they wanted. That he had older siblings. He had cousins. The family had other people who would lay themselves at its altar, but he wasn’t going to be one of them and he wanted their support and blessing.

He was unsurprised when he didn’t get it. He walked out that night - his bags had already been packed before he gave his parents that one last chance - and he has never entered his childhood home again. As far as he is concerned, he has been formally disinherited and cast out. In reality, it is not quite so dramatic. If he went home, his parents would welcome him - as long as he entered it on their terms, willing to give up the ‘wasted’ life of a professional musician and take on a more serious career. he is also not actually banned or unwelcome from DiGiovanni events. He often sees the younger DiGiovanni relatives and if he turns up at a DiGiovanni party, as long as he is suitably attired, his will always be allowed in. His status as an outcast is mostly in his head, but he does ensure that it is (mostly) total. He still keeps the name though.

Since then, away from his family, he hasn’t been as successful as his dreams had him. Whilst an undoubtedly talented musician, skilled to a professional standard in a variety of instruments, as well as being able to sing, and write his own pieces, he has not had much luck making his way. He earns enough to get by, but he lives what he considers a hand to mouth existence. His apartment is small, but he spends more on rent than he strictly needs to, because he couldn’t imagine living somewhere that wasn’t pretty. Likewise with his wardrobe - he won’t make savings, because his clothes need to be of a certain standard. He doesn’t see any of this, because he doesn’t know any differently, but although he would consider himself poor-but-content, he’s not as badly off as he considers himself to be. Of course, he would love to be the city’s most famous musician - so no matter what the reality, he has an awfully long way to climb.

Special Skills and Abilities:

Musically gifted, plays a number of instruments including piano, saxophone and guitar. Has perfect pitch and picks up other instruments easily. His has a clear tenor singing voice.

Weaknesses:

Struggling artist - Nico isn’t as successful as he otherwise might be and a lot of that is down to his family name. There are numerous places in the city that do not seem willing to employ him, or even give him the chance to show them what he can do. He gets a lot of doors slammed in his face upon hearing the name ‘DiGiovanni’. He also has his pride, and refuses to work solely in clubs and bars owed by his family and their associates.

Family name - Nico will not trade on his family name, even though it would benefit him. This s not only limited to his professional life, but also to other aspects of his life. He will not take the protection that he could call on by wont of being a DiGiovanni son. Conversely, because he will not change his surname, he is left open to all of the perils that introducing himself as ‘Nico DiGiovanni’ can bring him. He would be a lot safer if he would change his name, but he won’t.

Skewed priorities - Nico always puts his music first. Always. He doesn’t even stop to consider any other choice. Friends, other jobs, relationships - he’s ruined all of these in the past. It doesn’t even occur to him to regret it.

Unrealistic - that optimism thing again, Nico doesn’t see the world as it really is, doesn’t take the right paths because he expects that things will turn out alright in the end.

Strengths:

Bounce back - the flip side of his optimism is that nothing keeps him down for long. You knock Nico down and he’ll bounce right back up and keep on going. If he sets his sights on something, he’ll keep at it - until he either dies trying. Or gets distracted by something shiny.

Family or Connections:

The DiGiovanni family

Residence:

A studio attic apartment in Little Haven. A tiny place, but one window opens out onto a small balcony and a great view over the Alexandrian library and surrounds.

Career:

Musician, singer and song writer - mostly plays in small bars and cafes - anywhere that will allow him to set up for the night and pay him something. Sometimes he’ll take a seat in an orchestra or band, though he has no long term arrangements.

PB: Darren Criss

Other Information:

Nico's handwriting can be downloaded here!