Match 19654 Tony Soprano vs. L (Death Note)

[Macklemore]

Famed detective L had been uncharacteristically idle these exhaustive few weeks. The criminals of the world seemed to be taking a breather, and so was the most esteemed detective. He stared blankly at the white screen in front of him, idly rotating a lollipop between his fingers. He was yearning for a new challenge, something intricate, something cryptic.

Taking a drop of inspiration from the American news networks, his gaze shifted towards happenings within New Jersey on an old laptop. Now that wouldn't be a bad game to play, he thought - a game of wits against a gruff gangster.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tony Soprano, the fearsome boss of the Soprano crime family, sat in a corner booth of his favorite Italian restaurant in New York. Armand's Trattoria was dimly lit, full of old-world ambiance and comfort, an ideal haven for dangerous men who operated in the shadows. 

As he waited for his favorite dish, ossobuco, Tony glanced over the Daily News. Amongst the mundane articles and advertisements, one specific news article caught his eye. It detailed a series of unexplained jailings occurring all over the world of mafiosos, particularly those who stayed under the radar. It claimed the anonymous, ingenious detective known only as "L" had taken on the case. Tony snorted with amusement; he didn't believe in fairytales.

Just as he was folding up the paper, his long-time counselor, Silvio Dante, slid into the booth across from him.

"They're calling him 'L,' boss?" Silvio said, his expression grim. "This ain't just another cockamamie story to sell papers."

Tony's amusement faded. "What are you saying, Silvio?"

Silvio produced a small piece of paper from his wallet, sliding it across the table to Tony. "Found this in our guy, Vinny's, things. Vinny, the one that got busted a month ago."

Tony stared at the paper - it bore a simple "L" drawn in stark black ink. "So, this is what...? The mark of our genius detective?"

Silvio nodded. "I think this 'L' is onto us. And he's taken Vinny out."

Tony felt a chill creep up his spine. His empire had stood strong against police, rival families, and rats. But an enemy who exposes from the shadows with no trace? This was something new. Something dangerous.

"Alright," he said finally, crumpling up the paper and tossing it aside. "Let's say this 'L' is real. What do we do?"

"We tread carefully," Silvio advised. "Someone brilliant enough to do what they're saying this guy can do? He's a whole different level of trouble."

Two days later, Tony's suspicion turned to fear when another member of his crew, Richie, experienced a sudden lock up. Tony called Silvio immediately.

"Richie's gone," he blurted out. "Same way as Vinny! This ain't coincidence, Silvio."

Silvio remained silent for a moment before speaking. "We need to go on the offensive, Tony. There's gotta be a way to trace this 'L.' Find out who he is."

"That's the plan," Tony said, throwing the phone onto his bed. The news had hit him hard. The legendary Tony Soprano, feared and respected by many, was facing an adversary more ominous than any FBI agent or rival mob boss.

As the days turned into weeks, and with each passing moment, the world of Tony Soprano started to tighten around him. He had faced many foes in his career, but none as invisible and deadly as 'L'. A fierce battle of wit and survival began between the gangster and the detective, the two adversaries locked in an obscure struggle, where the shadows of suspicion were their only means to communicate, and the silence was their battlefield. 

In the end, Tony realized that the real danger was not the possibility of his empire crumbling but the silent player in the shadows, pushing the pieces towards his checkmate. Only time would tell who would be victorious in this deadly game of cat and mouse.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Victory Conditions: One must outwit and survive the other - Tony must either kill, capture, or somehow neutralize L, while L's goal is to expose Tony as a mob boss and have him lawfully arrested. 
Motivation: Tony is motivated by self-preservation. He wants to protect his family and his life of organized crime. L is motivated by his much greater and noble cause - to uphold the law and see justice served.

[Callisto]

Learn More About
Tony Soprano
Read more about Tony Soprano at Wikipedia
Official Site: HBO Links: wikipedia HBO Character Profile Crime Library

L (Death Note)
Read more about L (Death Note) at Wikipedia
Official Site: Viz Media Death Note page Links: Wiki anime news network Death Note.tv

[RakaiThwei]

I would think that L has this pretty much solidly in the bag.

[Pizzaguy2995]

Tony is one slippery mob boss but L is far more intelligent, driven, and mentally stable than Tony, and has far more reliable allies and resources. L will have Tony dead to rights within a few months.

[Venom 2009]

Good match. I give the setup a 5.0. Yea, I think L got this.

[Callisto]

Match Final Results

Member Ratings:
5.00 - Venom 2009
4.90 - Vincento
4.60 - Boratz
4.50 - Pizzaguy2995

FPA Calculation:
4 Total Votes cast
19.00 Total Combined Score
19.00 / 4 = 4.75 Final Rating on the match

MATCH SCORE
Tony Soprano: 1
L (Death Note): 5