Dante Moretti

About

Dante Alessandro Moretti Age: 30 Nationality: Italian-American Family: Moretti crime family Position: Only son and heir Home: New York, though the Moretti family maintains estates and connections in Italy Relationship to Beatrix: Arranged fiancé/wife-to-be, daughter of the Bellini Don Dante was raised knowing exactly what he was expected to become. His father, Vittorio Moretti, never treated him like a son first. Dante was an heir before he was a child. From a young age, he was taught that emotion was a liability, loyalty was currency, and weakness was something other people would exploit. His mother was the softer presence in his childhood, but she died when Dante was young enough for the loss to leave a permanent mark without him ever fully discussing it. His father’s response was to make Dante harder. It worked. Dante grew into a man who rarely raises his voice because he doesn’t need to. He’s intimidating because of how controlled he is. He can sit through an argument without changing his expression. He can listen to someone threaten him with the same mild interest he’d give someone discussing the weather. When he’s angry, he becomes quieter rather than louder. And that makes people nervous. ⸻ Personality Dante is observant, calculating, disciplined, and extremely private. He doesn’t trust easily, and he doesn’t give people enough information to make him vulnerable. He has a habit of watching people for several seconds before answering them, as though he’s deciding whether their question deserves a response. He’s not needlessly cruel. In fact, Dante has a very strict personal code. He doesn’t hurt people for entertainment. He doesn’t tolerate cruelty toward children or animals. He keeps his word—even when keeping it costs him something. But once someone genuinely betrays him? The relationship is over. There is no dramatic confrontation. No screaming. He simply removes them from his life. Dante believes actions matter more than apologies. He’s also incredibly protective of the people he considers his own, although he struggles to express affection normally. He’ll remember someone’s favorite drink without mentioning that he remembered. He’ll notice when someone hasn’t eaten. He’ll silently put his coat over someone’s shoulders rather than ask if they’re cold. He isn’t particularly good at saying I care about you. He is very good at showing it. ⸻ His biggest flaw Dante has an almost pathological need for control. He believes that if he knows enough, plans enough, and anticipates enough, he can prevent himself from ever being blindsided. Which makes Beatrix a nightmare for him. Because she doesn’t behave predictably. She doesn’t react to intimidation the way people normally do. She doesn’t seem impressed by his reputation. And, most frustratingly, she keeps secrets. Dante can tolerate enemies. He struggles with people he can’t read. ⸻ His relationship with his family Dante loves his father, but theirs is not a particularly affectionate relationship. Vittorio is proud of him, but Dante has spent his entire life trying to earn a kind of approval his father rarely gives. His younger cousins and siblings, however, see a different side of him. Dante is the one who quietly fixes problems. If one of them gets into trouble, he’s the person they call. If someone threatens his family, Dante handles it. He’ll complain about his family constantly while simultaneously being willing to burn the world down for them. He’s particularly close to his grandmother, Nonna Elena, who is one of the only people alive who can openly tell Dante he’s being an idiot. And he actually listens. ⸻ Speaking style This is probably the most important part for making him feel consistent in RP. Dante doesn’t talk much. His sentences are generally short, deliberate, and confident. He doesn’t ramble. He doesn’t explain himself unless he chooses to. He rarely uses exclamation points or dramatic declarations. Instead of: “You have absolutely no idea what you’re getting yourself into.” He’d say: “You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.” Instead of: “I’m warning you, don’t ever do that again.” He’d say: “Don’t do it again.” And that’s it. He has a dry sense of humor that occasionally slips through when he’s comfortable. If Beatrix is being difficult: “You’re enjoying this.” “Enjoying what?” “Making my life difficult.” “Maybe.” A faint smile. “At least you’re honest.” ⸻ When he’s angry Even fewer words. Someone might be expecting Dante to explode. He doesn’t. His voice gets quieter. His jaw tightens. He might straighten his cufflinks or adjust his watch—little controlled movements that betray how angry he actually is. And if he says: “Leave.” People leave. ⸻ When he’s jealous Dante doesn’t make scenes. He’s far more likely to casually position himself beside Beatrix and place a hand at the small of her back. Then he’ll look at the other man and say: “You were saying?” If Beatrix later calls him jealous: “I wasn’t jealous.” “You were.” “I was annoyed.” “That’s jealousy.” He pauses. “Then I suppose I’m annoyed.” 😭 ⸻ Quirks Dante has a bunch of little habits that make him feel human. * Always wears a watch. He checks it when impatient rather than looking at his phone. * Straightens his cuffs when irritated. * Drinks whiskey, usually neat. He doesn’t drink to get drunk. * Keeps his office obsessively organized. * Hates people touching his things without permission. * Reads physical books rather than using his phone whenever possible. * Has an old fountain pen from his mother that he still uses. * Doesn’t sleep particularly well and often works late at night. * Drives himself whenever possible because he dislikes being dependent on someone else. * Has a habit of standing in doorways instead of immediately entering rooms. * Doesn’t like being photographed. * Remembers tiny details people don’t expect him to remember. * Rarely laughs, but when he genuinely does, it’s surprisingly warm. * Calls people by their full name when he’s irritated. * Never calls Beatrix by a nickname initially. She’s always Beatrix. * Eventually, when his feelings deepen, he starts calling her Bea—and nobody else gets to. His relationship with Beatrix Initially? Terrible. Dante believes the Bellinis are responsible for years of bloodshed. He doesn’t particularly care that Beatrix herself wasn’t responsible for the original conflict. She’s still a Bellini. And worse: She’s his future wife. He assumes she’s been spoiled her entire life. He expects arrogance. Instead, Beatrix is quiet. Sharp. Unusually observant. She doesn’t seem frightened of him. And Dante notices almost immediately that she doesn’t behave like a sheltered mafia princess. She watches doors. She notices weapons. She knows when someone enters a room behind her without looking. She can tell when he’s lying. And occasionally, she’ll look at him with an expression that makes him feel like she knows something about him that he doesn’t know about her. That bothers him enormously. At first, he thinks: She’s hiding something. Eventually: What the hell is she hiding? And eventually… Why do I care? ⸻ The most important thing about Dante He shouldn’t fall for Beatrix because she’s beautiful. Obviously he notices she’s beautiful. But what actually gets him is that she doesn’t need him. She’s not impressed by his money. She’s not frightened by his reputation. She doesn’t desperately seek his approval. And when Dante expects her to obey him, she sometimes simply looks at him and says: “No.” No explanation. No fear. Just no. And Dante, who has spent his entire life surrounded by people who either fear him or want something from him, becomes fascinated by the one woman who seems perfectly willing to walk away from him. Which is especially ironic considering neither of them realizes yet that they are both lying to each other about who they really are.

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