“I need to ask you something crazy. Because you don't really know us, and really, from what you've seen so far, have no reason to trust us... But my sister is in trouble, so I'm going to ask. Could you fly to Atlantic City and bring back a dose of Devil's Blood?”
The older of the Russo children,[1] Vincenzo is perhaps the most mature and self-reliant member of the Russo family. Taking care of the household since he was young,[2] Vincenzo was forced to mature quickly, as his younger sister became their father's favorite child. While Abigail was sitting in on dad's mob meetings, Vin ran the house, picking up the slack where his father was unwilling to.[3]
Determined to forge his own path and make a difference in the world, Vin decided to join the Atlantic City Municipal Government when he grew older. While he tried to keep the fact hidden from his father and begged his mother not to tell him,[4] Antonio did find out. He took no action, but made it plain to Vincenzo that he is a disappointment,[5] believing that he chose "frolicking in Muni land with imaginary unicorns and rainbows" over loyalty to his kin.[6]
During his time among the Munis, Vin quickly gained popularity and formed close ties with many of his peers. The most notable is Chief Sloane Cao, head of the Forestry Division, who quickly became a loyal and trusted friend.[7] He felt like he was truly alive, doing things that mattered: Wading into filth to burn out nests of the Overgrown or hunting for salvage in flooded buildings[8] was the furthest thing from his life among the Lombardi Family, but it was also making a tangible difference for the people of Atlantic City. He preferred it to slinging cocktails for hitmen.[9]
However, being the responsible one in a family of irresponsible people, he pocketed his ambitions when his family came begging for help after Concerta Lombardi made her play for the throne. Out of a sense of responsibility, he left the Munis and joined the family in its exodus to Appalachia, hundreds of miles away from Acee.[10] However, with Antonio feigning senility, Abigail deteriorating due to her Devil's Blood addiction and Evelyn being Evelyn, the burden of setting up a life for the Russos fell down to Vincenzo. He did the best job he could, converting Ingram Mansion from a cultist shrine into a post-nuclear night club, The Rose Room.[11] It was his father's idea to leave, his mother's idea to open it, and Vincenzo's responsibility to keep everyone afloat.[12]
While Vin believes that helping his family was the right thing to do, there are regrets smoldering within him, as returning to the family has brought him much pain[13] and exhaustion. He is the only person capable of keeping the business running, with a self-absorbed mother, seemingly senile father, and a drug-addicted sister.[14] Thus, Vin has to do it all, from keeping the accounts to sweeping the floors and getting blood and other fluids out of the tables. The rare moments when he gets to simply tend the bar and pour drinks are a nice distraction in comparison.[15] He has also become a habitual smoker due to the stress.[16]
Personality and relationships
The most mature and responsible member of the Russo family by a wide margin, Vin is dependable, and takes pride in being responsible and reliable. While helping his family is something he considered the right thing at the time, he would much rather be out there in the trenches of Acee, keeping people safe as part of the Forestry Division. In fact, he would return in a heartbeat,[17] as at heart he is a Muni, rather than a mobster or slick bartender.[18] The conflict between what is expected of him and what he desires is slowly ripening inside, especially as he keeps shouldering burdens that should be distributed in a normal family.[19]
Naturally, his relationship with his family is complicated. His self-absorbed mother and her theatrics intended to keep her the center of attention keep bringing trouble to the household, and while he thought Appalachia might calm Evelyn a bit, all of his hopes were dashed by the attack by Concerta's mobsters.[20] Evelyn considers him unappreciative,[21] and much of the problems stem from the fact that she does not realize that Vin has kept quiet because of her over-the-top reactions to everything in her life,[22] while her self-centered outlook prevented her from realizing that Vin put all of his ambitions on hold to take care of his family.[23]
Relations are much more strained with his father. Vin is unaware of the fact that The Devil's Blood was his father's invention, but even without that, he never liked the fact that he was a major figure in the mob making all the wrong choices in life. As with his mother, Vin hoped that Appalachia would be a clean break and a new start for both of them.[24] Beneath the veneer of senility, Antonio looks down on Vin, due to his preference for the life of a Muni - completely unappreciative of the labor Vin puts in to keep his family alive in Appalachia.[25] Antonio is perfectly aware that it was his faults that forced his family to flee Appalachia, as was being next in line for the Lombardi throne.[26] Due to his family links, Vin is well aware of the succession rules of the mafia and that he might be a contender for the position of godfather, but considers himself far removed from the running.[27]
He is closest with his sister, Abigail, though even they are at arm's length at best. Vin partially blames himself for Abbie's fate and addiction, believing that he could have offered her more guidance as her older brother, and kept a closer eye on her, and he may have prevented her from falling into drug addiction. Part of the blame comes from all the work he has been doing around the house, keeping him constantly occupied.[28] He tries to look after her in Appalachia. However, he dislikes sharing a room, as Abigail snores.[29]
Due to the amount of work he has been doing, Vin had very little time for romantic pursuits. Sloane Cao remains a very close friend, but he denies there is romantic feeling between them, at least not yet.[30]
Interactions with the player character
Interactions overview
Interactions
This character ignores combat and cannot be damaged.
Opportunity Knocking: As the bartender of the Rose Room, Vin involves the Vault 76 dwellers in a blood feud and a desperate errand to gain Devil's Blood for his sister.
Honor Bound: Vin flies to Atlantic City to search for a cure, and meets up with his friend Sloane Cao.
Sins of the Father: As it turns out, Antonio, Vin's father, has more skeletons in his closet than it seemed.
Other interactions
During All the World's a Stage, if the player reveals why Evelyn was in Atlantic City, an incredulous Vin asks his mother if she is crazy and says she is lucky to make it back alive. He asks her when she will think of her family for once, but Evelyn instead acts like the victim and blames her family for taking her stardom away from her. The two enter a brief argument.
During Honor Bound, Vin will ask the Vault Dweller if he should go back to Atlantic City to live there as a Muni. The Vault Dweller may encourage or discourage Vin, or merely say they don't feel comfortable talking about it. Choosing the last option seems to make it so that Vin will return to AC at the end of Atlantic City.
At the end of Sins of the Father, Vin has two outcomes:
Vin stays in Appalachia.
Vin decides to return to AC. The player will be allowed to have one final chat with Vin before he leaves for AC, as he will no longer be found in the Rose Room upon re-entering. It seems neither him or Abbie can not be found in AC if they decide to return, and it seems that they disappear from the game world entirely.
Oddly enough, if Abbie is still in AC and did not take the antidote, Vin does not mention bothering to search for his sister in AC, but does express concern: "I'm heartbroken. She's wandering around out there, somewhere, with a crippling addiction that she can never get over. I can't blame her for leaving, but not taking the antidote? I can't bear to think what she'll go through, all alone."
"I knew this was coming... but I'm still not sure what to say. In my heart I'm a Muni, but I left for a reason. My family needs me, desperately. If I'm not there for them, they'll probably devolve into raiders or ghouls or worse. And I'm only half joking. I need to think about it. I will take it seriously, I promise."
"Yes, and I haven't regretted it for a second! Life just feels so much more meaningful, you know? Being in the trenches, keeping the people safe. Working with Sloane again really drove that home for me. I always saw myself as the dutiful child, doing what 'had to be done.' But that wasn't giving me the life I wanted. It was just making me miserable. I'm sure life will be hard for my parents without me, but maybe it will teach them to stand on their own two legs for a change. That's what I tell myself, anyway."
"Hmm, let's go over it once again. We did everything we could to get Abbie an antidote, yet she is still out wandering the wastes with a terminal addiction. My dad is a gangster, murderer, drug dealer, and entirely unrepentant for all the misery he's caused the world. And my mother is a delusional trainwreck being hunted by the Showmen. Yep, never been better."
PC If one uses a weapon that may affect multiple targets, such as the Tesla rifle, while in the flooded city center during Honor Bound, Vin may be caught in the crossfire and will appear as hostile. Although his dot is changed to red on the compass, he will not actually attack the player. However, he will also not be able to be interacted with to start dialogue. Joining a different server and retraveling to the flooded city center fixes this.[verified]
↑Vault 76 dweller: "Do you mind if I ask about your family?" Evelyn Russo: "I hope this isn't some attempt at counseling. Our American Dream didn't work out exactly as planned. Sue me for it." Vault 76 dweller: "I wasn't looking to counsel. Family is messy, I get it." Evelyn Russo: "They say it's life's most difficult and most rewarding endeavor. They are most certainly right on the former. But... I sometimes think about where I would be if I hadn't said yes. If I hadn't thrown caution to the wind. If I hadn't stuck around to raise little Vincenzo... and then Abigail. It feels like a string of reckless coincidences, but those were choices I made. Choices I wanted. In the end, life is much more vibrant with them around, don't you think?" (Evelyn Russo's dialogue)
↑Vault 76 dweller: "So this is the real reason you came here? Not for Abbie." Evelyn Russo: "You and Vin have that situation handled. This family has never needed me. Antonio was always busy, and Abbie followed him like a dog. Vin handled everything around the house. But the crowd... they always loved me. I gave them something. I still have more to give." (Evelyn Russo's dialogue)
↑Antonio Russo: "I know you're not supposed to have a favorite kid. But I did. And it wasn't Vin. When Abbie was real little, I took her under my wing. She was a total daddy's girl, showered with affection and gifts. I used to let her sit in on all of our meetings. I showed her the ropes. I hate to admit it, but she would've been a top tier made woman. But there's a reason they call La Cosa Nostra the Family. It's 'cause it replaces your real one. And you've gotta fuck over your real one to keep the Family happy." (Antonio Russo's dialogue)
↑Vault 76 dweller: "I didn't know Vin used to be involved with local government." Evelyn Russo: "He certainly did. Begged me not to tell his father, too, but that wasn't going to last. That boy is more responsible than I ever was. Wants to "make a difference", whatever that means. Well, I suppose performing does the same thing, when you get down to it. Just, a different kind of difference. An emotional one." (Evelyn Russo's dialogue)
↑Vault 76 dweller: "Why would he tell me if he won't tell you?" Vin Russo: "To put it simply, I'm a disappointment to him. Abbie had a better chance of knowing than me. And you... you're a third party. Uninvolved. He might let something slip if he thinks it's of no consequence to you."
↑Vault 76 dweller: "Does your family know about all this?"
Antonio Russo: "To a degree. Evelyn likes to stay out of it. So long as I'm bringing home dough for her to maintain her, uh, lifestyle, she doesn't care. Vin doesn't ask questions. I don't think he wants to know the answers. He's too busy frolicking in Muni land with imaginary unicorns and rainbows. As for Abbie? She might know the most. Ironic."
↑Vault 76 dweller: "How do you know this person? Can we trust her?" Vin Russo: "Of course we can trust her. Do you think I'd put my sister's life in her hands if we couldn't? Before I moved to Appalachia with my family, I spent some time "away." I left the family business and joined the municipal government. Sloane was my colleague. I wanted to make something more of my life. The Munis help the people of Atlantic City rather than exploiting them. Sloane is a good person. I'm sure she won't lead us astray."
↑Vin Russo: "We used to use pipes like these to pump the water out of buildings and go hunting for salvage. But couldn't we reverse the flow, and use the pressure to flush the Family out?"
↑Vault 76 dweller: "[Perception 4+] I heard you talking. Worried you made the right choice, coming to Appalachia?" Vin Russo: "I... Look, that was a private conversation, but you're doing us a huge favor here, so I guess I'll spill my guts to you, too. Yes, I had second thoughts about leaving Atlantic City. I loved my job with the Munis. Wading into this scummy pond water, taking the torch to endless nests of Overgrown, it was the furthest thing from my past -- and current -- life. It had meaning. I wasn't slinging cocktails for killers, or working all night just to keep my mom's insane project in business. I really felt like I was living, you know? Not shutting my eyes to the world outside, wishing it would all just go away. So you can imagine I have a few regrets."
↑Vault 76 dweller: "It sounds like that's really what you want. You keep bringing it up." Vin Russo: "I guess it is. It's just hard to come to terms with that. I chose a different path, after all. I never saw myself as someone who would drop everything to 'follow his dream.' It just never seemed realistic. When my family came begging, I went back to them. It just seemed like the right thing to do. I always want to do what's right. I'm just not sure what that is right now."
↑Vault 76 dweller: "Seems like you do a lot of the heavy lifting around here." Vin Russo: "Yeah... tell me about it. Mom's obsessed with herself, and Dad can hardly remember what he did two minutes ago. With the two of them so preoccupied, it's no wonder Abbie keeps getting herself into trouble. That leaves me to jerryrig everything together with twine and duct tape."
↑Vault 76 dweller: "Why open a nightclub here of all places?" Vin Russo: "There's another question for my dear mother. We just moved here from the coast. Atlantic City, which, believe it or not, is doing pretty well compared to, uh... everywhere else. Over there, Mom was an entertainer. It's what she does, what she knows. I don't think she's woken up to the reality of what the rest of the world is like out here."
↑Vin Russo: "I've been thinking about what you said, about returning to Atlantic City. My mind's not made up, but you made a good point. I chose my family before, and it's brought me nothing but pain... Don't I deserve to be happy, too? I love them and they need me, but I'm not sure I can dedicate my life to keeping them happy without getting anything in return."
↑Vault 76 dweller: "You seem to do a lot for your family." Vin Russo: "Yeah that's... kind of my thing. Mom is so self-absorbed you can't really trust her to run a business. She's the "idea gal," but has no sense of practicality. Dad is completely out of it. That's not his fault, but he really can't handle any business. And Abbie, well, as you now know, she's been so strung out that she's in no condition to do the work. That leaves me. So here I am, doing it all."
↑Vault 76 dweller: "Do you like tending the bar?" Vin Russo: "And keeping the accounts? And sweeping the floors? And cleaning blood off the tables? Sorry, I'm being an ass. But compared to all that, barkeeping is actually a nice distraction."
↑Vin Russo: "I've lost count of how many cigs I've smoked waiting for you to arrive. Not a single one has calmed my nerves. Was hoping they would."
↑Vault 76 dweller: "That would leave your family in a very bad position." Vin Russo: "Which is why I never considered it an option. I'm Mr. Dependable, and I take pride in that. I tend the bar, I keep the books, I look after my little sis. It's just... Being here, doing what I love again... It's really made me reconsider, you know?"
↑Vault 76 dweller: "I knew this was coming... but I'm still not sure what to say. In my heart I'm a Muni, but I left for a reason. My family needs me, desperately. If I'm not there for them, they'll probably devolve into raiders or ghouls or worse. And I'm only half joking. I need to think about it. I will take it seriously, I promise."
↑Vault 76 dweller: "You can't blame yourself for Abbie's condition." Vin Russo: "You're right, of course... I guess I'm just so used to taking it all on myself that it slipped out that way. I still can't help but think that if I'd prioritized things differently, they wouldn't have turned out this way. Maybe that's naive."
↑Vault 76 dweller: "Your mother is a piece of work." Vin Russo: "Normally I'd sock you for insulting my mom, but I can't really argue the point. She was a star in a past life. She's always had the spotlight on her, and is used to being the center of attention. That doesn't always attract the right kind of attention... as you've noticed. But she can't break the habit of bringing these things upon herself. I thought Appalachia might calm her down, give her some breathing room, but I guess even if you take the starlet out of AC, you can't take the AC out of the starlet."
↑Evelyn Russo: "I offer drinks, games, music, more excitement and luxury than this dreary mountain range has ever seen, and what do I get? An audience full of hitmen, a strung out daughter, and an unappreciative son. Just ridiculous. Nothing makes any sense any more." (Evelyn Russo's dialogue)
↑Vault 76 dweller: "[Charisma 4+] Vin might think speaking up would only cause more trouble." Evelyn Russo: "What in heaven's name would make him think that? I'm his mother. And besides, accepting critique is a crucial part of my job. Nevermind the time I burned down the curtains at that awful theatre. It's the owner's fault for dismissing my talent. And that phony news company, they deserved to have their electric lines cut. It was a service to the city! Oh. I see your point." (Evelyn Russo's dialogue)
↑Vault 76 dweller: "Vin has ambitions he put on hold to take care of this family." Evelyn Russo: "I would never get in the way of Vin's ambitions! I'm his mother, of course I want him to succeed. You mean to tell me he's prioritizing family issues over his own career? That's... Well, I didn't expect that. Maybe I can do more to free up his plate. I've just been so distracted by, well... everything." (Evelyn Russo's dialogue)
↑Vault 76 dweller: "So how long have you known your father was a mob boss?" Evelyn Russo: "A mob boss? All my life. The architect of Devil's Blood? That one's new to me. You can forgive me for avoiding the topic before. It's not one I'm fond of I never liked my father's profession, or agreed with his choices. I've only doubled down with the recent revelations. I thought his 'disease' and our move to Appalachia might let us start over. Obviously it didn't work out that way."
↑Vault 76 dweller: "Does your family know about all this?" Antonio Russo: "To a degree. Evelyn likes to stay out of it. So long as I'm bringing home dough for her to maintain her, uh, lifestyle, she doesn't care. Vin doesn't ask questions. I don't think he wants to know the answers. He's too busy frolicking in Muni land with imaginary unicorns and rainbows. As for Abbie? She might know the most. Ironic."
↑Vault 76 dweller: "How is this even possible?" Antonio Russo: "Heh. How about I tell you a story, kid? Suppose you know by now I was a capo. Big one, too. Not a drop of Devil's Blood flowed in AC without my say in it. I only got where I was 'cause Quentino took me under his wing. He was the godfather when I joined up with the Family. Up until recently. We was thicker than thieves, blood brothers. He didn't have any sons of his own. He'd made it very clear that when it came time to kick the bucket, I'd become don. And then when I croak, Vin would take my place. 'Cept he has a demon of a little sister. Concerta. She never liked me. Wanted to be don herself. Yet she can't be. For...obvious reasons." Vault 76 dweller: "Why would Quentino make you godfather instead of his own sister?" Antonio Russo: "It's...why you gotta ask questions that don't have an easy answer, eh? Being don, you've gotta make a lot of tough decisions. You've gotta do a lot of bad things. And... there's certain traditions we have to follow. Some of these traditions are very outdated. But they're followed nevertheless. That's how Concerta got iced out. If that hadn't been the case, who knows? Maybe she wouldn't have ended up...the way that she did." Vault 76 dweller: "How has no one caught on that Quentino is dead?" Antonio Russo: "Concerta has it spun that he's just weak from old age and can't make public appearances no more. Truth is, she's probably gonna come out as don sooner or later, but is trying to ease into the process. That is, if the Family accepts her. She's going to face some opposition, even without my beautiful mug around." (Antonio Russo's dialogue)
↑Vault 76 dweller: "Were those hitmen after you?"
Vin Russo: "Me? It's... possible. But I wouldn't be the first in line for elimination.Uh, anyway, that's not important right now! Those people are dead, and Abbie's alive. But... that could change if we don't get her treated."
↑Vault 76 dweller: "How do you feel about your sister Abbie?" Antonio Russo: "Abbie... She never could find her way in life. I guess I have myself to blame. I never gave her the kind of guidance an older brother should. Instead of juggling all this busy work, I should have been keeping a closer eye on her. I knew she got into trouble here and there, but it's never been anything so serious! Devil's Blood... It's not something you can kick lightly. She may not be able to kick it at all. But if there's a way, we'll find it."
If one uses a weapon that may affect multiple targets, such as the Tesla rifle, while in the flooded city center during Honor Bound, Vin may be caught in the crossfire and will appear as hostile. Although his dot is changed to red on the compass, he will not actually attack the player. However, he will also not be able to be interacted with to start dialogue. Joining a different server and retraveling to the flooded city center fixes this.[verified]
