A Closer Look
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"The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible."
― Oscar Wilde
LUCA
Masculine | from Lucania | Italian
GIOVANNI
Masculine | Yahweh is gracious | Italian
DAMIANI
Surname | to tame | Italian -
B A S I C S
◖BIRTH NAME◗
Luca Giovanni Damiani.
◖NICKNAME◗
He's mostly referred to as detective Damiani. His mother has a habit of calling him Gio from time to time, the same goes for a few of his childhood friends from the time where he wasn't too fond of his first name.
◖ALIAS◗
He has had a few during the years, none of them currently active, though he has a bad habit of giving fake names to people he's hooking up with.
◖BIRTH DATE◗
5th November 1991.
◖AGE◗
29 years old.
◖OCCUPATION◗
He's a detective inspector in Oxford, focusing on meta human crimes, including both crimes committed by and against meta humans.
◖RESIDENCE◗
He has a flat in Oxford, though he has a dream of becoming a house owner some day.
◖ALIGNMENT◗
The law, first and foremost, but he has a strong sense of justice and sometimes those two don't go hand in hand, surprisingly enough.
◖BIRTHPLACE◗
Rome, Italy.
◖NATIONALITY◗
Italian.
◖RACE◗
Meta human.
◖ABILITIES◗
He possesses a wide range of abilities, but they generally make him a highly advanced being physically, which compliments his natural intelligence well.
◖HEIGHT◗
1,88 m.
◖BODY TYPE◗
Fit, athletic, defined, slim.
◖EYES◗
A clear, green colour, almost piercing because of its brightness.
◖HAIR◗
Brown.
◖COMPLEXION◗
White with warmer undertones, tans easily, never gets sunburns.
◖TATTOOS◗
He has a few, but only in places that he can easily cover up.
◖SCARS◗
His race, training, as well as his job has given him a few and he will probably only gain more with time.
◖HANDEDNESS◗
Ambidextrous, though he mainly uses his right - it's a good trick when people around him is not aware that he can use both hands equally.
◖ZODIAC SIGN◗
Scorpio.
◖SEXUALITY◗
He's a picky bisexual; not that picky when it comes to casual partners, but he's definitely not the type to commit.
◖RELATIONSHIP STATUS◗
Single and rather alright with it.
◖LIKES◗
Home-cooked meals and red wine, both preferably Italian of course, summer and the sun, though the grey skies and heavy rains of Oxford has its charm as well, strong coffee and a casual cigarette now and then, though he normally puts a great effort into staying healthy, which he enjoys. Being outside, a solid suit, physical training and sports, especially football and field hockey, dancing, music, his family, being with friends, though he has moments where solitude is all he wants. He loves his job, loves being precise, the high of solving a case is beyond anything else. He enjoys enforcing the law, keeping bad people off the streets, making a difference in general.
◖DISLIKES◗
Not surprisingly, he's not too fond of criminals of any kind, though humans committing crimes against meta humans are a category for themselves. People who feel above the law, which mainly include upper class people, unwritten rules, bureaucracy, politics, and "old families", who expect you to follow their wishes simply because, he does not have time for that. He hates snow, he has never gotten used to it. He doesn't like overly sweet candy or most of the British cuisine, how open he might be to trying new foods. He's not good at losing, hates being looked down upon, being ridiculed. He's not good with certain types of people, making it hard for him to keep a stable partner, but he's just picky by nature.
◖FACECLAIM◗
Çağlar Ertuğrul.
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B A C K G R O U N D
"You have only seen the least of what I can do."
― Holly Black, The Cruel Prince
D E T E C T I V E
It's all about the job.
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Luca Giovanni Damiani was born in Rome, Italy, but moved to England shortly after. He never experienced Italy during his childhood and England is his home, even if his home was probably the most Italian in the entire city of Oxford. His mother, Agata, did leave her home country behind, but did all she could to bring it with her to the greyness of England. It has always been just the two of them, making him incredibly close to his mother, it would not be wrong to call him a mama's boy, but she is really all she has. She never told him about his father and he was never interested in knowing. Or, maybe when he hit his teenage years, he got curious, but it was also around this time that he realised that he would be better off knowing as little about him as possible. He finally put two and two together why his mum's face looked so strange whenever he mentioned him or if anyone else asked about his father and he decided that it was for the best that he stopped asking.
He enjoyed growing up in the university city, though he did find all the rich kids impossible and highly annoying. His mum worked at a restaurant as a waitress and they were just getting by and it showed in school. While the uniforms did mask the fact that he was no where near wealthy, it didn't stop the other kids. Luca was a bit of a feisty kid and he would often come home with bruises, but it was nothing compared to the other kids. He didn't hit too hard, but he always knew where to hit and the older boys slowly stopped picking on him. While he was regularly sent to the principal's office and his mum was called, it was also hear that she told him that he was not human and that that might have something to do with his skills. As soon as he actually realised this, he changed. His world view became something entirely else and it rubbed off on his behaviour. He became better at school, cared more, and took care of others, ensuring that not only his grades, but his reputation grew better. He especially excelled in sports, soccer and field hockey being his favourites and he was captain of the school's team for multiple years.
Around the age of 13, he realised that he wanted to put his abilities to use, since by then it was known that humans were not the only race. He saw his future in law enforcement and he went for it. He had both the physical and mental capabilities to be accepted and as a meta human he could quickly get specialised, something that he and others like him was scrutinised for - how could it be ethical that their race could carry them that far - but he didn't care, his mum taught him so. He knew that not all meta humans were in the position as him and in the end he just wanted to help, put his abilities to good use and he has definitely done so. He showed remarkable progress from the moment he started as a rookie, gaining the attention of not only the Oxford deputies, but he has no intention of leaving for London and the bigger, more secretive headquarters even if he has been offered a position. He wants to stay in Oxford, close to his mum, close to what made him who he is. Maybe he will some day end in London, he knows that it's almost inevitable at this point as he has already done cases for them, but he would like to stay as long as possible.
Luca enjoys his work and it consumes his life. He does enjoy going out with his friends, but he rarely turns off his work brain, never leaves his badge at home. It's just a habit of his at this point, he has made it this far and it has become a part of his identity. Most of his salary goes to his mum, even if she has told him to stop, but he's fine with it, when he has spent whatever he needs to spend, he cannot see why he shouldn't send some her way. Luca is in general a really popular guy at work, his primary circle of friends are fellow detectives, most of them meta humans, but definitely not all. Socialising with humans is difficult though, as they often judge him solely on the fact that he is a meta human and his life is too short to care for their inferiority problems. -
C O R E T R A I T S
➣ C H A R M I N G
adj. | charm·ing | ˈchär-miŋ
Luca lives up to his heritage with his ever-burning charm. There's just something about him, the way he smiles, the way he approaches people, the way he moves, the way he speaks. It's a natural part of him and it draws people to him, though it can make them feel both relaxed and anxious, depending on the person. Some might see him as coming on too hard, but it's simply the way he is, straightforward, moving quickly, sharp, charming, but in the best sense. He's not trying too hard, he seems to have found the perfect balance to a point where he can utilise this charm, especially for work. It's also a rather genuine charming attitude. It's not just a show he puts on to get people to warm up and talk, he is really like this.➣ A T T E N T I V E
adj. | at·ten·tive | ə-ˈten-tiv
Luca has a great talent of paying attention to his surroundings. He's meticulous and extremely observant, which makes him perfect for his field. He has always been like this, but it's a part that he has nurtured with his other interests such as minor problem solving skills; one thing is crime solving, another is something as simple as puzzles and sudokus. It's not something to only be used at a crime scene either, it's highly effective when it comes to reading people and social situations, something he's great at as well. He's a people person in many ways, not just due to his natural charms, so his attentiveness comes in handy in general. When focusing on the details as much as him, you can easy lose the bigger picture. He's great at remembering this at work, there he seems to have no issues with being overly attentive, but in personal relations it's definitely one of his greatest weaknesses.
➣ I N S T I N C T I V E
adj. | in·stinc·tive | in-ˈstiŋ(k)-tiv
With a strong instinctive sense, Luca often follows his gut. It's not something that's viewed as the best method and he knows how to follow the evidence, of course, but if he's got a hunch, he often follows it. He tries to maintain a facade of strictness and being fully law-abiding, following every protocol, but it's often not the case. Most see this as him being given a longer leash due to his race, that he cannot be controlled, or that his superiors are afraid to disciplin him because of his abilities, but when his instinctive nature often bears fruit, it's hard to correct him. He knows that he might be reprimanded just like everyone else if anything should happen, but he's confident in himself and his abilities to deduce based on little evidence and his own instinct mixed with his attentiveness.➣ P A S S I O N A T E
adj. | pas·sion·ate | ˈpa-sh(ə-)nət
His mother would probably tell him that he got his passionate traits from her hot-blooded side of the Italian family and she probably wouldn't be that wrong. It's not high and loud passion, screaming in the streets, and intensity beyond sensibility, but passion is what generally drives him. When he sets his eyes on something, he goes for it completely, even if it might be in a more quiet manner than one would expect. In most cases, he tries to contain his passionate nature, as he mostly feels embarrassed about it, the same goes for whatever he might feel passionate about in his private life. It just seems to be a bit out of control, it's even perceived as less masculine at times, which he shouldn't care about, yet he does. His passion makes him a dedicated worker, often emerging himself completely in work as it fuels him, sometimes to an excessive point, but that seems more acceptable somehow than turning his passion towards something else. -
A B I L I T I E S
Listed
Described
Some would describe Luca's abilities as the perfect law enforcement abilities, a lot have done so already, even though he can think of many other abilities more suited for the job, at least in Oxford of all places. His abilities are physical, enhancements of the normal, physical capabilities of humans, tailored for the close encounters - that happen extremely rarely in his case. He's quick and agile, he quickly adapts to new elements, and he can easily endure the challenges that he faces - especially if they're physical. He cares more about keeping his mind sharp than his body, though those go hand in hand, and he does use his abilities more than he would like to admit.
ENHANCED PHYSICAL ABILITIES
What could also be described as Enhanced condition is probably Luca's main ability, a truly ingrained part of him. The abilities are not visible and can go undetected, as he can pretend to simply be overly skilled, but they are simply the core of his meta human abilities. The facets are many, it being a overall enhancement of his physical capabilities.
Enhanced agility: Agility is the ability to rapidly respond or change by adapting its initial stable configuration, the ability to change the body's position efficiently, and requires the integration of isolated movement skills using a combination of balance, bodily coordination, speed, reflexes, strength, and endurance. Luca can go from one motion to another effortlessly, effectively dodge attacks, swing from things easily, spring, do back-flips, leap across rooftops, and numerous other gymnastic, athletic, and martial implements with little to no effort.
Enhanced durability: Luca's physical durability, the ability to resist damage, is extremely high, allowing him to take numerous blows of internal or external assaults before succumbing to the effects. This does not make him invulnerable, only more durable, as he will eventually succumb if enough force is applied, though he might be able to survive attacks that would normally kill humans, only sustaining injuries.
Enhanced stamina: Luca's body is highly resistant to the build-up of lactic acid in his muscles, allowing him to be physically active for considerably longer periodes of time than the average human. He will eventually become fatigued, if the build-up becomes excessive.
Enhanced dexterity: Luca can precisely control his movements and muscles, making him unable to be clumsy or fumbling. He can slip through a network of lasers, reach through dangerous narrow tunnels, keep perfect balance, or juggle effortlessly without ever tripping or wobbling. This extends to his entire body, all the way out to his fingertips. He can more or less only fall over when physically uprooted or pushed, though most times he can land on his feet. He can stand up right on even the most unstable of surfaces, such as a moving vehicle, a collapsing building, or an earthquake. He can even regain balance or bounce back to his feet quickly and perform feats such as shooting a gun, throwing a knife, or fighting at seemingly impossible angles and positions. This might be impaired slightly by alcohol, but he's still able to maintain it fairly well even then.
Enhanced reflexes: He has drastically enhanced reaction speed, allowing him to dodge bullets, catch flies in mid-air, dodge and maneuver around complex attacks, catch falling objects, block detriments, and react instantaneously to what others take more time to react to. Of course, it's harder to dodge objects moving at a tremendously quick speed, but that doesn't mean he doesn't try.
Enhanced combat: Luca is unbelievably skilled in most known forms of fighting, which is only enhanced with his adoptive muscle memory. He can be exceptionally proficient in the fighting traditions of a variety of cultures and has become advanced with his own individual methods of close quarter combat, including martial arts (from all over the world), boxing, and wrestling. This does not make him perfect nor invincible.
Enhanced accuracy: Luca can achieve complete and utter accuracy on distant targets, with the activity in their brain center for aim, accuracy, and precision drastically improved. He only need to aim for an instant before he can precisely hit a target with a projectile. He can judge extremely long distances amazingly accurately, gauging the strength needed to launch a projectile, in order to hit a target accurately. If a target is moving, he can calculate the best method to hit the target as well. Visual obstructions like smoke and vegetation do not hinder his ability to get an accurate bead on his taget, and his intense focus on whatever he's targeting at allows him to shut out outside distractions. He can compensate for environmental factors that would normally throw of his aim like wind, air resistance, gravity, and radiant heat, which distorts the image of the target.
Enhanced swordsmanship: Just like combat and accuracy, Luca is able to demonstrate a natural aptitude for the ways of the sword, including anything sword-shaped such as fictional swords. He is able to wield a sword with incredible expertise in speed, power, and skill, allowing him to perform feats such as stopping and deflecting bullets, decimating large objects or areas, cutting through a solid material such as steel, and even hold back their strength to deal damage to their foes without killing them. He is able to operate with little or no effort, deliver skillful strikes to weak points with great precision and cut only and exactly what he wants. This ability also allows him to become naturally skilled with multiple swords or any bladed weapon regardless of shape or size to suit their needs in combat. This ability is something he rarely uses, as swords are not that common, but he does carry a knife for safe measures if anything else fails.
ADOPTIVE MUSCLE MEMORY
In a combination of mental and physical abilities, Luca can copy any movements after seeing it performed once, including acrobatics, martial arts, and other physical stunts. With these skills, he can become a master and incredible at what he does, by combining several forms and movements in rhythmic motions instead of using the same thing over. He can copy how a person aims, perfecting his already sublime marksmanship; if he doesn't know how to fire or use a weapon, though, he would still have to see it to be able to replicate it, but that's easier said than done in his line of work where he comes across all kinds of weaponry. He cannot mimic the superpower of others - believe it, he tried - as he's limited to what his body can already achieve, even it that might be a lot. He has to see it as well, he cannot read or hear about it, though films and videos do the trick just as well. Pictures can work, but since they lack motion, he would have to piece it together without the visual context, making it more difficult, at least within this ability. Since his foundation is already great, filling in the gaps is no issue. The mimicking is instantaneous and doesn't disappear, though they can definitely be polished, it all depends on how much he sees and the person performing it. It might be small, it can even be used to mimic behaviour, which often leads to either profound confusion or relaxation, since the other sees something they can recognise if it's patterned behaviour. This is often how he uses it, though it comes in handy in more intense situations as well and it has given him the basis of most of his specific, physical skills, even if he has trained in martial arts and weaponry for years to perfect it, since he enjoys it.
His natural understanding and perception of human muscle makes him capable of reading other people's movements easily, making it possibly for him to predict their movements and attacks. This has come in handy plenty of times, especially combined with his enhanced physical abilities, as it makes it easier to react quickly to others, especially attackers of most sorts.
ENHANCED VISION
Luca's vision is sharper than most, but in a very specific sense. While his eyesight in general is perfect, it might be somewhat clearer than the average human vision, it's mostly other certain aspect of his vision that makes it enhanced in a oddly specific way. As far as he knows, this only includes night vision and infrared perception. Night vision is exactly what it is: He has the ability to see perfectly well in low light conditions, even total darkness. His vision adapts to the dark, which can make him sensitive to sudden flashes or bright light in that period, though he has found that he can recover rather quickly. The adaption happens more or less instantaneously, he doesn't really know what it's like to not be able to see in the dark like everyone else. Everything stands out, though it's often on the more grey spectrum, not in colour, but since he's completely used to it, it doesn't matter much. In darkness, the green in his eyes seem to stand out more, as if they're glowing as a side effect of this ability. Infrared perception makes him able to perceive the infrared spectrum, temperature that is, allowing him to see temperature variations in objects and environment. Where night vision activates automatically, this is something he has more control over, though extreme heat or sudden changes in temperature are something he catches automatically. This ability is incredibly useful to him in terms of observation, as he is able to see the heat presences of any living target, but with the years a better understanding of temperature variations has given him other ways to utilise the ability; he can more easily detect lies or emotions based on people's temperature, most often the changes, he can sense physical conditions such as people being ill, and he can even track people by detecting lingering body heat. This also means that people can hide from him by hiding near or within major heat sources, since he won't be able to see the difference, and there's a limit to the distance that he can sense as well.
