Hellpointe Application

[justanothercop]

Application

Player Info
Player Name: Red
Player LJ: Don't have one - just contact me through Lewis's if you need to
Player Instant Messenger Type and Handle: LilLegalGuru
Player Email: LilLegalGuru@gmail.com
Are you 18 years of age or older? Yes

Character Info
Character Name: Detective Inspector Robert 'Robbie' Lewis
Character’s Age: Late 50s
Fandom: 'Inspector Lewis' TV series
Timeline: Through episode 5x03 - "The Mind Has Mountains"
Appearance: At 5'11" and looking more than a little world weary with his wrinkles and his tendency to slouch, Lewis isn't the most imposing of figures. However, his blue eyes and dark brown (slightly graying) hair give him a slightly boyish appearance. While he isn't in the best of shape he is still able to keep up with younger officers whether it be in running or using some physical force to protect himself. All in all, Lewis has average looks but the warmth of his personality and his big heart draws people to him. But - when he has to clean up and look presentable he is actually rather handsome.
History: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inspector_Lewis
Personality: When someone first meets Lewis many take him as just being another thicky cop. With a pronounced Northern English accent, many in the city of Oxford look down on Lewis as being uncouth and dense. However, Lewis uses the arrogance of those he encounters to catch criminals. What he lacks in higher education (he did not go to college) he more than makes up for in his ability to reason things out and read people. Even his Cambridge-educated partner, Hathaway, watches him in awe when Lewis gets going and has even commented to Chief Superintendent Jean Innocent that, "You have to admit - he is a genius."

Lewis, though, is a humble man who fully acknowledges his short-comings but bristles at the idea that just because a person has a fancy degree it gives them the right to look down on him or be above the law. He dislikes high society and hates social functions. It's not because he doesn't like being around people - he is just a very private person who is happy to do his job and not have any sort of fuss made over him. Additionally, when he attends dinners and such he sticks out like a sore thumb because of his accent and his lack of letters after his name. As such, the idea of scholars and privileged people are chips on his shoulder.

Inspector Lewis is not a man given to talking much about himself. Often described as 'enigmatic' one can look at Lewis and see that he is mulling over something or that there is a deep sadness in his eyes but he rarely says what he is thinking if it is not related to a case.

But - Lewis has not always been like this. When he was younger and the ever-patient 'bag man' for the infamous Detective Chief Inspector Morse, Lewis tended to babble on about his wife and two children (he loves kids and even now will take time out for them and protect them) - much to Morse's irritation. Back then, DI Lewis was Detective Sergent Lewis who, despite the snide remarks of his superior about his background and his education, was loyal to Morse to the end. DS Lewis preferred beating the pavement and chasing down leads and hunches (which often proved correct) to searching for the answers to life's mysteries in books. Street-smart, honest, and hardworking, the young DS was a happy-go-lucky sort who could always be found at Morse's side to be the designated driver.

However, not long after Lewis received his new position as a Detective Inspector, Morse took ill and died leaving Lewis feeling more than a little lost. Ever though they had not worked together for a bit prior to his death Morse was still, oddly enough, Lewis's friend who taught him a different way of looking at the world - through crosswords and anagrams, books and education. It was a way that would later help him in his career as a DI.

Lewis would have probably remained the cheerful Geordie the rest of his life were it not for his wife's death. Having her taken so suddenly in a hit-and-run completely devastated Lewis as Valerie was not only his wife but his best friend. What made it worse was that it took over five years for the man responsible to be caught so he lived that entire time in a very dark and very lonely world.

Drawing in on himself, the DI turned his back on living and threw himself into his work. Eventually, he took a post in the British Virgin Islands to help train police officer where he spent two years trying to pull himself out of hole he was in. When he returned to Oxford, Lewis remained completely shut off from others unless he knew them before his wife's death - like Dr. Laura Hobson.

As the years have gone by, Lewis has gradually started to open up a little but he will probably never be the happy-go-lucky sort he once was. He has an extremely kind nature which attracts people to him - especially women - but he never lets anyone get too close. Anyone who attempts to pry into his life without his permission will face his vengeful wrath. If it's not related to a case then he usually doesn't want to talk about it.

Lewis has never said much about the time between his wife's death and his departure for the Islands but he has mentioned how he crawled into a bottle for about two years after Val's death. The personal Hell he lived during that time is off-limits to everyone but it's safe to assume that the reason he refuses to talk about it is that it was an extremely dark time. When his wife died, part of Lewis died as well leaving behind a man who, while still very kind, has a quick temper and evasive nature and who has no use for religion of any sort.

In the recent year or so Val's death was finally solved and with that Lewis has begun to find some joy in life again. While he is still withdrawn and lonesome, the DI is starting to reach out to others again to the point of attempting to make room in his heart for someone new - Dr. Laura Hobson.

Still loyal, still hardworking, still kind, Lewis has managed to keep parts of himself from being destroyed by suffering and hatred. But - he is and probably always will be haunted by the memories of his past that gives him an edge of cynicism that was never there before his wife's death.

Powers/Abilities: All Lewis has are his brains and sheer gut. He is a normal human being - just an extremely damaged one.
Limitations: I don't think he needs any as he is just a human being but if you need something more just let me know and I'll come up with something for him.

Writing Samples
Third Person Sample:
"Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork! Hathaway, I thought you said you would sort this out yesterday!"

The lanky blond remained facing away from the senior officer so he would not see the pronounced rolling of eyes. "Sir, I was called away by Innocent for yet another lecture on how your office is a mess. It seems," he replied, finally turning his chair so he could look at the frustrated-looking Detective Inspector Lewis, "I am now your designated keeper."

"You're just now catching onto that?" Lewis quipped with a slight smirk.

"Forgive me, Sir."

"Only this once, Sergent." Lewis tossed aside the file he had been flipping through and dropped into his chair. "So Innocent was brow-beating you again over me?"

"Something like that, Sir. Are you ever going to get this place in order?"

"Eventually."

"When?"

"I figured retirement."

Hathaway chuckled, shaking his head, and was about to set back about his work when a young officer poked his head into the office.

"DI Lewis?"

"Depends. Innocent send you?"

"No."

"Then, yes. What can I do for you?"

"Gentleman left a letter for you at the front desk. I asked him to stay but he said he was in a hurry. Here," he explained as he handed the letter to Lewis.

"What did this guy look like?"

"Scrawny sort, Sir. Looked like he hadn't shaved in days and he could have done well to meet with a bar of soap."

"Charming. Are you sure he wasn't looking for Sergent Hathaway?"

A puzzled look came over the young officer's face - he didn't get the joke. "No, he said DI Lewis."

Knowing the youngster was hopelessly lost Lewis decided to take pity on him and let the subject drop. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, Sir."

Hathaway grinned at the retreating form of the other officer and then looked over at Lewis. "A death threat?"

"Now, there you go, Sergent - always thinking the worst. For all you know this could be a letter from some love sick admirer."

"Knowing your luck with women, Sir, may I suggest police protection if it's a love letter?"

"Ha, ha."

Hathaway shrugged, "So what is it?"

"I'm getting around to that," Lewis mumbled as he tore open the envelope. "Ah, there we go." He pulled out a single piece of paper and began reading. With each word read the cheerful expression he had been wearing fell away, leaving him with a blank appearance.

"Sir? Are you okay?"

"Huh? Oh... yes, I'm fine. Just another nutter." He shoved the letter into the top drawer of his desk and went back to his files.

Hathaway wasn't buying it, though. He had been through far too much with Lewis to believe the explanation his senior officer had given him. "Forgive me for saying so, Sir, but you look like you've seen a ghost or had some terrible shock."

Lewis's blue eyes leveled on Hathaway. "A dirty letter - trash. I'll have it checked up on later."

"Oh. Okay." The blond still didn't buy the story he was being sold but the chill from Lewis's gaze was more than adequate to give him pause and leave the subject alone - for now.




Evening found Lewis on his own at his house. An empty house. A silent house. It hadn't always been that way. Fact was it had only been in the last few years that it had been so still. Two kids and a wife had a way of filling out a place. Of course, once the children grown and on their own it was a lot quieter but there had always been Val.

Valerie. His beloved wife, Valerie.

He took a long pull from his glass. He was working his way through the better part of a bottle of Scotch and wasn't sure if he would stop there before night's end. Absently, he rubbed his ring finger. Long ago he had stopped wearing his wedding band but sometimes - sometimes it felt like it was still there, a ghost from his past.

He had adored his wife. They had been so happy. Oh, sure, there had been the occasional row but what married couple didn't get into it now and then? But he had always been happy to get home to Val - even if Morse had teased him about it. It had never mattered - Val was not only his wife but also his best friend.

Most of the time, the memories of those dark days, weeks, and years stayed in the back of his mind. But every so often something would trigger them and it would all come flooding back to torture him anew - something like the letter he had received earlier in the day.

First Person Sample:
[AUDIO]
What the...? How does this thing even work? Bloody Hell... It took me long enough to figure out how to use the cellphone I had at home. This is the last thing I needed. What's this do?

[Obviously, someone does not know how to use the cellphone each new resident is given and is not please (and doesn't know his displeasure is being broadcast to everyone).]

Dammit, Hathaway - if this is your idea of a joke I'll see you writing parking tickets yet. Oh, forget it!

[The phone is tossed aside rather unceremoniously onto a bed and footsteps can be heard leaving the room, door slamming after them.]