#gchqintro

Born on Valentine's Day in Portland, Maine, Vale's parents weren't subtle when it came to naming him

Vale only lets a select few people call him Valentine; otherwise, he hates it

From a young age, it was pretty clear that Vale was exceptional. Incredibly intelligent, he was advanced for his age almost from the start. This was especially true when it came to music

Vale started teaching himself the piano as soon as he could read and understand sheet music when he was 6. Recognizing this, his parents enrolled him in piano lessons

It wasn't long before Vale was blowing the rest of the music students out of the water, and not much longer before he could hold his own with his teacher. Before he'd even entered middle school, Vale's teacher recommended to his parents that they seek an even more advanced teacher because Vale was extraordinarily gifted. So that's what his parents did

By the time he was a teenager, Vale was at the top of his game. He was accepted into Juilliard early and excelled there as well, and he only got better.

After graduation, Vale remained in NYC. He became one of the youngest members of the New York Philharmonic, quickly rising in the ranks even then. It seemed like Vale's rise to becoming a world-class pianist couldn't be stopped; it was an inevitability

It turned out that nothing is certain, as Vale learned one rainy night while walking home with his boyfriend. A group of men saw them and correctly surmised their relationship, and they attacked them both with hate in their hearts. Vale's boyfriend ran (to get help he said, though Vale noted no hesitation on his part), but Vale wasn't so lucky

After the brutal attack, Vale could barely move, and by the time the police found him lying on on the cold sidewalk, alone and wet from then rain, he was barely conscious

When Vale woke up in the hospital, he knew something was wrong immediately: his right hand was covered in a bandage, and he couldn't move it. He couldn't even clench his fingers, not even a little bit

That was when the doctors explained: his hand had been injured in the attack, and it wasn't just broken. There was severe nerve damage, and even with surgery, his hand would never be the same

Vale had the surgery, and eventually he regained most of the use of his hand. But he would always have a tremor, which was worse when he tried to focus on precise movements (as well as in other cases such as when he was stressed or upset, as he often was these days), and even when the tremor abated, Vale realized he no longer had close to the dexterity that he had before; he could no longer play the way that he had

His future shattered, Vale became distant and bitter. He never forgave his boyfriend, and he ignored his friends, hiding out in an apartment he could no longer afford. He moved back to Maine for a bit, but he couldn't take the way his family and everyone else he had known his entire life looked at him now, like he was broken. He needed to get the hell out of there

The solution came from Vale's grandmother, a former actress. She was retiring to Europe, and she offered Vale her opulent mansion in Port Carroll. She said he was just "watching it" for her, but Vale knew the truth when she told him he could make any changes he wanted. This felt a little like pity but mostly like love, so Vale accepted. Within a week, he had moved to Carroll, living alone in a huge, lonely mansion

The one condition for his grandmother's gift was that Vale do something with his life. So with help from her (Vale really did owe her a lot), he opened a musical instrument store in Port Carroll called Harmonic Resonance. It's sometimes difficult for Vale to be among budding musicians, especially pianists, but this is the only thing he knows how to do. What else could he do with his life?

Wanted connections:

Employees: these are people who work for Vale at the shop

Former friends/coworkers from NYC or Maine: people Vale knew in his old life

Ex-boyfriend: the man who - in Vale's eyes - left him alone on the streets of NYC, though maybe there's more to the story

full name : susan lenore (bellamy) whitlock-holmes nickname(s) : suzie date of birth : march 14 parentage: ryamond & dorothy bellamy (both deceased) siblings: none significant other: arthur whitlock-holmes (deceased) children: andrew whitlock-holmes (npc) gender identity : cis female ( she/her ) romantic orientation : heteroromantic sexual orientation : heterosexual

WANTED CONNECTIONS:

business associates

hookups, a single girl has needs, you know?

exes, could be from high school or summer flings, but very desecrate. she's not here flaunting her business

anything else!!

BIOGRAPHY: (full)

susan lenore whitlock-holmes, born susan bellamy, has spent her whole life in carroll and she’s made sure the town remembers her name with equal parts admiration and unease. the daughter of father raymond bellamy, the beloved local priest, and dorothy bellamy, a woman who treated reputation like scripture, susan was raised to be polished, obedient, and above reproach. naturally, she became the kind of girl people whispered about instead.

eventually, susan married arthur “art” whitlock-holmes, the handsome, difficult heir to the whitlock-holmes funeral home. he was the love of her life and the worst man she ever knew, a man she mourned deeply and survived completely. officially, arthur died peacefully in his sleep after years of heart trouble. unofficially, carroll has never been brave enough to ask susan how peaceful it really was.

as a former funeral director and lifelong fixture of the whitlock-holmes funeral home, susan built her reputation on grace, composure, and the ability to comfort grieving families without ever letting them see the darker workings beneath the polished wood and lilies. now retired, she remains the true matriarch of the whitlock-holmes family: grandmother to six boys, keeper of old secrets, and the sort of woman who can silence a room with a look over the rim of her teacup.

full name : nicolas “nico” russo nickname(s) : nico, nic, nicky — family only and usually against his will date of birth : september 12 parentage: marco and caterina russo siblings: gianna “gia” russo, 37; massimo “max” russo, 34 significant other: none children: none gender identity : trans man romantic orientation : biromantic sexual orientation : bisexual

WANTED CONNECTIONS:

friends!

enemies!

lovers!!

anything else!!

BIOGRAPHY: (full)

nico russo grew up close enough to the russo family fortune to know exactly what it could buy, and exactly what it couldn’t fix. the youngest of three children born to marco and caterina russo, nico learned early how easy it was to be both watched and overlooked. his older sister, gia, was polished and responsible in the way eldest daughters often had to be, while his older brother, max, carried himself with the easy charm of someone who knew how to talk his way out of trouble. nico, meanwhile, became the practical one: the fixer, the mover, the person people called when something needed handling.

being a russo meant being surrounded by beautiful things, loud opinions, family expectations, and old money disguised as tradition. nico loved his family, but he never fit neatly into the version of him they tried to preserve. coming out as trans only complicated a place he had never fully felt comfortable in to begin with. some relatives loved him fiercely, some loved him clumsily, some treated his identity like something to whisper around, and some chose silence sharp enough to leave marks. nico learned to build himself anyway. he became a man on his own terms — not polished for family portraits, not softened for anyone’s comfort, and not interested in being treated like a lesson in acceptance.

his cousins, elio and elby russo, were part of that same golden family orbit, though each of them carried it differently. elio had always been the artist, nanu gio’s favorite, the brilliant one whose talent seemed to excuse everything from obsession to self-destruction. elby, the youngest russo sibling and only daughter, was adored for her beauty, charm, and wildness, even when she was busy proving she was more than something pretty to look at. nico loved them both, but love did not erase the old ache of watching other people be treasured while he was useful.

now thirty, nico arrives in carroll as a newcomer and takes on the role of elio’s gallery assistant, helping manage the less glamorous side of the art world: installations, shipments, clients, contractors, and all the little disasters elio would rather ignore. but nico’s real passion has always been architectural salvage. he has a gift for seeing worth in what other people abandon — old doors, stained glass, antique fixtures, broken mantels, forgotten pieces of houses with better stories than their owners.

BASICS

FULL NAME: Willow 'Wil' Álvarez NICKNAMES: Wil, Álvarez. AGE: 48 years old DATE OF BIRTH: 17 July GENDER: Unsure PRONOUNS: they/them ROMANTIC ORIENTATION: Unsure SEXUAL ORIENTATION: Pansexual STATUS: Single OCCUPATION: Late Night Radio Show host of the 'After Hours', art restorer, art forger.

POSITIVE TRAITS: Out-going, Resourceful Cautious. NEGATIVE TRAITS: Jealous, Stubborn, Self-Indulgent.

AESTHETICS: smooth voice on late night shifts, hidden painting behind and old cloth, used painted brushes neatly tied together.

BIO

TRIGGER WARNING: none

Willow 'Wil' Álvarez moved to Carroll at a young age, a new start their parents told them, Wil wasn't sure if they understood what they had meant and even now as an adult they still didn't. It took Willow a while to adjust to a new setting, a new school, making friends all over again, it all seemed overwhelming but in the end it all worked out for the best, with time they found their place and Carroll became their new home.

Wil had always been a bit of a troublemaker, getting in all sorts of situations, exploring places that they assumed to be hunted being one of their favorites, or to see if they could get in just because.

After graduating they ended up moving away to study art restoration something they were quite good at and actually enjoyed. They were able to find a job in their field, everything was fine and dandy until Wil got themselves into real trouble, they possessed quite the talent for forgeries, one thing led to another and well, they ended back in Carroll hosting a late night radio show, hiding out in the hopes things will settle.

EXTRA INFO (in no particular order)

Willow has been back to Carroll for about two years.

Has a collection of daggers that they have collected over the years.

As a hobby they enjoy designing figures, hoping to get a 3D printer in the future to make some come to life.

Wil likes being a show host, their radio show is from midnight to 3 am.

Has a couple of tattoos. tba

CONNECTIONS

Artist friends - 29+ muses (0/?)

Old time friend - 40+ muse (0/1)

A 'we can't stand each other but there's a pull there and it makes it complicated' kind of dynamic because I'm a sucker for those, annoyed at first sight - 40+ muse (0/1)

full name : Elena Victoria Hayes nickname(s) : Lena date of birth : August 9, 1990 parentage: biological mother name, biological father name (passed) siblings: only child significant other: single gender identity : cis female ( she/her ) romantic orientation : panromantic sexual orientation : pansexual occupation : doctor at Carroll Medical Center and Urgent Care

BIOGRAPHY: (highlights)

Doctor at Carroll Medical Center and Urgent Care

Lifelong resident of Manchester Park, returned after medical training

Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in childhood, requiring early self-management and medical awareness

Academically gifted; skipped a grade and graduated at the top of her high school class (Class of 2008)

Left town for college and medical school out of state

Known for staying steady during critical medical emergencies

Maintains a complicated history of attempted contact and distance with Ryker

BIOGRAPHY: (full)

Elena Hayes is a 35-year-old physician at Carroll Medical Center and Urgent Care who has spent nearly her entire life in Manchester Park. Born and raised there, she was a quiet academic standout from early childhood, skipping a grade and graduating at the top of her class in 2008 before leaving town to pursue higher education.

Her academic path took her out of state for both college and medical school, where she quickly distinguished herself in high-pressure clinical environments. During her training, she developed a strong interest in emergency and urgent care medicine, drawn to fast-paced settings where quick decision-making and broad medical knowledge were essential. She completed her residency in emergency medicine before making the decision to return to Manchester Park.

Elena’s return home wasn’t originally planned as permanent. It came after she finished her residency and chose to take a position at Carroll Medical Center, a decision influenced by both professional opportunity and unresolved ties to her past. Since returning, she has remained in the same community she grew up in, now serving patients who sometimes remember her as a student or recognize her family name.

Her childhood in Manchester Park was shaped in part by her early diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes, which required her to learn medical self-management from a young age. This experience became a defining thread through her adolescence and young adulthood, influencing her eventual decision to pursue medicine.

Outside of her medical career, Elena’s life has largely been marked by movement between education and training institutions, hospital placements, and brief returns home between stages of her medical journey. Those who knew her growing up often note that she was rarely still in one place for long after high school, yet consistently came back to Manchester Park during key transitions in her life.

comes from one of those classic, all-american background kinda families. both parents, two boys and a girl, in some no-special texas town. the definition of solid middle class.

but they were happy, too. that's why ford knows love and happiness are possible, and has always wanted that for himself.

he's the youngest of the three. was a late bloomer and always smaller than others. he used to get picked on. until that crazy growth spurt kicked in and he packed on the muscles. then heads turned his way for different reasons -- smart kid, star athlete, part of the student body. heck, was even junior prom king. the future was bright, everyone had big expectations for him, none more than himself.

in college, he got drafted into the nfl with the dallas cowboys because of that arm. enjoyed only two years as their quarterback before an injury killed his game for good. one minute, riding high. the next, face-down in the gutter.

people moved on from his hype while ford fell into a rut. there was lots of boozing, lots of sleazy sex scandals. whatever money he'd earned got squandered.

his sister pulled him out. got him to enlist in the marines with her and follow a new path. four tours ended in an honorable discharge from another injury. this time, they said he did the right thing. but that thing got two comrades killed and he came out of it with doctors saying he may never walk again. guilt said he shouldn't.

met his wife, she was his physical therapist. got him back up and on his feet, and they planned out a whole life together. or they did, until life dealt him a third blow: he was shooting blanks.

this news devastated the couple, they never recovered. she wanted her own children. she left, and while he didn't go after her, he didn't really move on, either.

seven years ago now, a friend of a friend offered him a coaching position with carroll high school's football team.

since moving to carroll, ford's become a staple around town. he's thrown himself into things. volunteers for a lot. like on top of his coaching, he also helps with the little leaguers, too.

and you need an extra pair of hands? he's got both still. he's become everyone's favorite mr. fix-it. the guy they call when their sink gets stopped up, or they can't reach something, or their gazebo needs repairs etc etc. he totally accepts trades, if you're low on cash, too -- another reason why he's so well liked. hell, he'll even come deliver your groceries and pharmacy meds.

totally hiding that he's dealing with ptsd and insomnia, which he tries to overmedicate with.

born and raised in new orleans, louisiana. yes, he's got an accent he hides with a 'professional' one. the boucher family are involved in politics and southern comfort food. they've recently got their creole cuisine onto the frozen food shelves of most southern supermarket chains. they got several mayors and one notable governor in their history, too.

his father, olivier boucher, chased love over family and this didn't end well for him. she wasn't appropriate (ie: poor and unconnected). their whirlwind romance resulted in a difficult birth and him left alone with a new baby.

olivier crawled back to his family with tail between his legs. they weren't so forgiving to the bastard child. guy was a blemish in their line.

guy was put through private schools and raised mostly by a nanny. swept under the rug like a dirty secret, he was warned, repeatedly, to keep his mouth shut and do nothing to sully the family further. they paid for him because they had to, but he was seen as nothing more than a pesky pebble in their shoe.

he learned to follow the rules. kept quiet, head down, behaved. all ten toes kept in line. there was a certain yearn to please them and prove himself, so that's all he ever tried to do. nothing was ever enough.

his father did marry someone socially acceptable and went on to have legitimate, recognized children the bouchers could be proud of. they'd be entitled to everything, not guy. he was lucky they hadn't tossed him off entirely.

though a resentment has grown, the desire to earn his family's respect and acknowledgement has never truly gone away. everything he does, is with them in mind. an impossible, self-inflicted task of jumping up and down, waving his arms, and screaming for them to look at him.

guy's got it in his head he can properly claw his way up from the bottom all on his own. nevermind he only got this job in carroll because he's mayor winslow's second cousins and the family called in a favor -- he'd be out of the way and off their hands, what trouble could guy possible scrounge up against them in a small, far off town?

he's got aspirations bigger than that, though. mayoral ones. plans that will surely, finally, get his family to recognize he's worthy.

comes from a modest family that’s always had to struggle to make their way in the world. they were taught hard work pays off, don’t expect handouts. if you want something in this world, you’ve got to go out and take it.

like his sibling, was pushed into extracurriculars and expected to maintain a stable grade. but, as the youngest, definitely experienced more leniency, more freedom, than his elder sister.

to him, it felt more like their parents cared about their oldest child most. their focus and hopes were on her. because she was so perfect and better.

he was born mute, so this disability came with struggles he felt held him back, and like a liability to the family. they all had to learn ASL and spend money for expensive therapy and treatments, not to mention the gadgets just so he'd have way to express himself.

in school, he participated in rugby and track. immersed himself into drama, with the costume department. balanced a jock and theater geek persona, yet was somehow exceedingly average. this came with plenty of stress, most self-inflicted.

got stuck on a girl, bad. like, he did not play about her. anyone with something smart to say, they got his wrath. to him, she was perfect, could do no wrong, and totally thought they were soulmates. even purchased a ring to propose, planned for graduation.

he got dumped, instead. didn’t even get the chance to try proposing. she had bigger dreams than him, what he could offer, etc. he was just a little too small town, too safe, to handle those big dreams of hers.

literally pushed himself to ‘make it’ out of spite. and hurt.

his knack for costumes lead to fashion design. it was like developing characters to play. he was good, but didn’t feel he was great. that’s how he left design school claiming someone else’s work.

it propelled him into a limelight in the industry. got him the opportunity to travel to all the places, meet all the special people. work and train under some of the biggest names. he was labeled as a hot, new, up-and-comer, so everybody wanted a piece.

this came with a fast and free lifestyle. partied hard with these people. couldn’t risk losing his opportunity by bitching out. did whatever he had to, to put himself on top.

all it truly got him is a drug and pill addiction, which masks the depression and insecurity inside, and the fact he launched his career on a gigantic lie so now he can’t even fucking enjoy it.

he’s come back to carroll for a bit of a break from that fast and new lifestyle. only problem is, he's brought it home with him.