Michael O'Connell [Ireland]

[Michael O'Connell]

Name: Michael Patrick Seamus O'Connell
Nicknames: Mike, Mikey -- neither of which he likes
Age: 36
Date of Birth: December 6th
Gender: Male
Occupation: Jack-Of-All-Trades; not much that's legal
Heritage: Hedgehog (Mother - O'Connell); Unknown (Father)
Seed Rank: Light Seed
Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland

Appearance:

Michael is a hard man to miss in a crowd when he wants to be seen. He stands at 6'2", broad shouldered and with an obvious masculine strength about him. His build isn't massively muscled; he's got more of a dancer's physique, lightly muscled with just enough control to each one that he can be dextrous or damaging with the right manipulation. There's nothing effeminate about the Irishman. He's an alpha male with a clear, confident, cocky presence that carries its own aura.

His hair is a bright orange color, similar to a ripe pumpkin. He keeps it clipped for ease, though if left to grow out too long Michael's natural curly hair starts to show. His eyes are bright green, sharp and striking. There's definitely a hint of the Devil in them, whether they're dancing with amusement or burning with anger; it's not always easy to tell with him. He tends to keep his expressions varied to grinning roguishly, stone-faced, or smirking. The times when a person should be worried is when Michael's face turns oddly blank -- that's the calm before the storm of violence.

He has a jacket that he wears at all times. A tanned jacket of sturdy material that has multiple pockets all throughout it, some of them hidden. Michael uses it to keep his guns hidden since he doesn't go anywhere without packing his twin Desert Eagles. He's too paranoid, far too used to having to look over his shoulder or watch the shadows for fear that something will strike him. His clothes are otherwise without fashion flair. He prefers wearing things that are simple. This helps him to easily blend into a crowd when things get too intense. When he does make an effort to get dressed up, the Irishman can pull of a suit like no one's business. He can cut quite the devilishly handsome figure.


Distinguishing Features: His pumpkin orange hair is hard to miss in a crowd. His eyes are also the brightest shade of green on the spectrum. And while not a physical characteristic, as soon as he opens his mouth to speak, Michael's accent is impossible to miss.

Piercings: Triple piercings on right ear; double on left ear.

Scars: He's got a collection of scars from scuffles that he is proud of, centered mostly on his torso. A particularly deep one is on his back that is unmistakeably bullet related.

Tattoos: Several, and all a reflection of his Irish patrotism. A text one across the back of his shoulders that reads: "If you want praise, die. If you want blame, marry."
Another text one that spreads across his back reads: "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen."
An Irish cross is on his right shoulder. An Irish flag on his left. And on his wrists is a pair of words in black Gaelic text: "Ceall" (Wisdom; on left) "Meart" (Power; on right)

Sexual Orientation: Professional; no orientation needed

Likes:

• Irish Whiskey -- This is mother's milk to Michael. He never goes anywhere without making sure there is a flask of the stuff hidden somewhere on his person.
  
• Rugby -- His favorite sport, both to watch and to play. This is something that Michael can get into, using it to channel his aggression on the field. He is one of those super fans that will wear just shorts and paint on game days to support his preferred team of the season.
  
• Pubs -- Home away from home. Michael spends much of his time in them. He finds that these are easy places for a guy to blend in, since most people tend to mind their own damned business in the process of getting pissed.
  
• Boxing -- Another sport that the Irishman enjoys. He can scent a rigged match from the moment the first punch swings, and generally times any gambling bets he makes when he knows which way the victory will go.
  
• Guns -- Michael has two Desert Eagles that he keeps with him, holstered beneath the jacket that he wears. Since he avoids schools and airports like the plague, no trouble has yet come up from him carrying these pieces on him. He can readily appreciate guns that others have. Michael won't even hesitate to fanboy over them even when they are pointed in his direction.
  
• Ireland/Irish Patriotism -- He's got Irish blood in his veins, and the only thing that the man is constant on is the fact that he loves his country. Michael has been in a few rows from instances where people were unwise enough to disparage his country and countrymen. Though he'll readily agree that most Irish are touched in the head.
  
• Travel -- Never one to stay in one place too long, he'll take any opportunity to travel around to new places. There's never a logic to the trips that he goes on. Just any name on a map that sounds good and that he can reach without having to get on an airplane (too cramped).
  
• Sex -- If Michael were measured against the Seven Sins for ranking, Lust would definitely be his top runner. He doesn't see sex as anything more than entertainment to pass the time. Men, women -- as long as it's consentual and everyone present is an adult, then what harm is there in taking fleshly comfort to sate a need? There's little that he hasn't done. One of his firmer rules is that Michael views himself as an alpha male, and therefore will not be submissive to any creature.
  
• Art -- One of the few unusual things that Michael has come to like is art. He has an appreciation for art, enough that he has taught himself about art history, different pieces, and techniques. Being in an art museum is one of the few places the Irishman finds himself in a state of serene peace, gazing upon brush strokes of color and the expression of a talented artist.
  
• Green (Color/Money) -- The color is his favorite. Plus, money is always great to get hold of. He has lots of it, scattered here and there for rainy days.
  
• Celtic Music -- It's not exactly something he advertises. Listening to some chick belting gaelic ballads while a guy blows on a flute in the background isn't a choice in music that Michael lets people know he enjoys. He is actually rather embarrassed about liking it even if the music does speak to his Irish heart.
  
• General Sports -- Sports are manly. Michael enjoys the comraderie that comes with watching sports with others. There's a primal masculine tone to sitting in a bar with other guys to grunt and rant and cheer during sports events. He likes being smack in the middle of it.
  
• Fast Cars -- Not that he owns a car. To be more specific, he likes fast cars owned by other people. When he sees one that he likes, Michael will often find a way to take said vehicle for a joy ride. Once bored with them he tends to abandon them on the side of the road, unscathed except for worn tires and more mileage.

Dislikes:

• Cuddling -- Yes, he is a hedgehog in his animal form. If you'd like to piss him off then by all means, point out how tiny he is, and how "cuddly" he seems. Michael's bite is vicious. He won't hesitate to strike at people who think his form somehow makes him approachable for cooing and fawning. The attention is only annoying.
  
• Rules/Laws -- Michael doesn't like following rules. Rules are things for other people to use for their own lives. He prefers his own code of morality, which is Green for Go, Yellow for Caution, and Red for Stop. Laws are a quaint aspect of society that the Irishman enjoys breaking on a regular basis. There are a few of the more archaic ones that he's even researched and broken just for the hell of it.
  
• Authority Figures -- Of any kind. Having people trying to tell him what to do doesn't go well. This is especially true of police and their tendency to frown upon his illegal activities.
  
• Jail -- After his initial stint in juvenile detention, it's been his life's goal to avoid having to go to jail. As much as Michael hates to restrict himself, if he thinks there is a chance that he'll get arrested for doing an illegal act, he'll walk away from it to remain free.
  
• Leprechauns/"Americanized" Irish -- Nothing irritates him more than the Americanized, watered down version of how the country often stereotypes his people and their culture. This is true on an international scale. Midgets in green suits, shamrocks shitting rainbows, all the "Kiss Me, I'm Irish" crap that litters the international market. The quickest way to get a bar trashed is to put that kind of decor up for St. Patrick's Day. A true Irish establishment is Irish all year round.
  
• Commitment -- That's a taboo subject. Michael doesn't do more than one night stands. He doesn't call people later. He can't even stick with a sports team for more than a season. Commitment isn't something that the Irishman is built for, unless the right person comes along to pull a miracle.
  
• Babies/Kids -- Nope. Until they hit their late teen years, he wants nothing to do with them. To Michael, people are either teens, young adults, or non-existent. He has absolutely no interest in these crying shit machines with all their neediness.
  
• Weddings -- Nope. Nope. Even seeing photographs of weddings in photo frames get him twitchy. He won't go anywhere near a church if there is a wedding taking place.
  
• Women -- Walking baby traps. He doesn't trust women, as much as he'll sleep with them. Michael is strict about using protection. If he weren't still a half-assed Catholic, he'd have got himself fixed by now just to save himself from that paranoia.
  
• Pop Music/Country Music -- Put a pop music CD into a stereo. He will pull it out and snap it in half. Try to sing a country song during Karaoke night. This Irishman will smash your system. The sound of these music genres grates on his nerves.
  
• Routine -- The Irishman doesn't follow a daily routine like other people. He acts on impulse, following his whims, whenever the mood should take him. Movie theaters piss him off because he doesn't appreciate them telling him what time he is allowed to view a film.
  
• Banks -- He doesn't trust financial institutions. They're too easy to rob. He should know. So Michael keeps his money hidden around in places that can be accessed whenever he has need of emergency funds.
  
• Abusers -- This should be an obvious dislike. Seeing abuse in action, against women or children, immediately triggers Michael's violent temper. He has no issue with pounding someone's face into the pavement, since this causes him to see red.

Interests/Hobbies:

• Rugby -- Bashing and clashing with other people is always a fun time. Rugby is a way for the Irishman to get his blood pumping without having to break any laws. He finds this sport far more honorable than guys covering themself in protective gear to run around a field.
  
• Boxing -- Michael makes it a point to visit boxing gyms whenever he can. He likes keeping his muscles and his skills sharp. The Irishman has a deadly powerful right hook.
  
• Crime -- It pays the bills. Not that he has any. Michael takes pride in his skills when it comes to criminal activities. He feels like an artisan of the trade, finding new and more clever ways to do bad things. The Irishman has so many false aliases that he is a whole village on his own.
  
• Art -- Going to art museums, galleries, showings -- anytime that he can view the work of an artist, he's happy to behave himself. Michael has been to the Louvre more times than he can remember. Ironically, he despises art thieves. The Irishman even has some talent of his own that he has never bothered to explore. Unless you consider drawing genitals on bathroom stalls for a laugh artistic.

Aspirations:

• Not Settling Down/Getting "Trapped" -- He's going to do everything in his power to avoid getting sucked into a trap where he would get tied down with a wife, a kid, or any such family dynamic. Michael put the idea of having a family behind him when he left his mother behind to live on his own. He doesn't bother contacting her since it seems like too much of a hassle. There's nothing inside Michael -- as far as he knows -- that could adapt to having a family of his own.
  
• Locating Jamie Keenan-Kirkland -- Michael is intensely curious about his half-brother. So far the other Irishman has proven as elusive as a fox. However, he's sure that he's getting close to finally hunting down the other. They might not get along. Odds are good that Michael might even hate the other man. He just needs to find out for himself so he can put it behind him and move forward.
  
• Immortality -- Because let's face it; he's on the road to hell. The only way to elude the Devil is never having to face him to begin with. He doesn't have any desire to get old but he definitely doesn't want to die young.
  
• Forgiveness -- For himself, his past. This is part of why Michael continues to practice Catholicism as his religion. Even if he is bad at it. He enjoys the idea that there could be a chance for him to be forgiven for the bad things he's done. The concept that forgiveness brings peace is an achievement that he has been striving for, even if life tends to get in the way.

Fears:

• Paralysis -- If something happened where Michael would be rendered handicapped or unable to be mobile anymore, that would be it for him. He is fearful of the idea that he could lose his freedoms in such a way that he'd still be alive but without the freedom to do as he pleases. He doesn't want to get trapped by his own body.
  
• Incarceration -- Being locked away forever in an empty, dark place like a prison is an outcome Michael hopes never to encounter. He has been held overnight in the past, and that was fine. If faced with a long term prison sentence where he would never be free again, Michael would probably take the quick way out to the grave rather than live under any terms except his own.
  
• Claustrophobic -- Tight spaces, pressing crowds, small rooms -- he can't be in that environment long without going into a state of panic. Michael will lash out against any obstacle that is keeping him contained in these places, no matter the consequences. He literally cannot control himself when this panic takes him over.
  
• Damnation -- It's easy to be bad. This comes naturally to Michael. However, he still can't shake the memory of his grandfather's drunken ramblings from his childhood. Fire and brimstone, damnation in his future. There is a part of Michael deep inside that is struck with fear thinking that he is already damned. Even a sinner like him hopes that there might be a way for him to be forgiven for his past evils.

Personality:

Michael's personality isn't something that can be pinpointed as any consistent demeanor. He isn't a friendly guy sometimes. He isn't violent all the time. He can be kind at the most unexpected times, or inappropriately cruel at any given moment. The Irishman is predictably unpredictable. If there's a logic to the way he operates then it's a complete mystery. It's easier to figure Michael out by analyzing what motivates him in his life.

The Irishman isn't shy when it comes to getting what he wants. He feels a sense of entitlement; what's his is his and what's yours is his. There's never enough to satisfy his desire to acquire more of everything. Life is only worth the value that you put into it. Michael makes sure to have plenty of valuables around to live a literally rich life. He has plenty of money, and could easily retire without having to take another job. Retirement would be boring. Indulging in his many vices is his favorite pasttime -- the only exception being drugs. The Irishman doesn't need them because he has another way of getting his kicks.

He gets off on excitement. It's better than sex -- unless the sex is exciting, which isn't often because there is little that he hasn't already done. Michael has never been one to turn away an opportunity to cheat Death. The rush that he gets out of doing something dangerous is worth the risk to life and limb. It gives him a sense of empowerment when he defies the impossible or manages to pull off a clever stunt. He enjoys the notoriety that comes from being such a shining star in the underworld of international crime. If they gave out patches from crimes committed like they did for achievements in Boy Scouts, Michael would be bogged down with all his patchy swag.

Michael is cocky. It's obvious in the confidence of his swagger. He doesn't doubt himself. The Irishman doesn't have time to get caught up in questioning his decisions, or thinking that he might be about to do the wrong thing. He comes off as abrasive because he can do no wrong in his eyes and isn't going to let anyone else try to tell him that he's a creature with faults. His sense of humor is snarky. Michael doesn't generally bother to censor or filter what enters his mind, quite good about being blunt with what he is thinking. That's a straightforward honesty that can often come across as cruel to the objects of his opinion.

He's dangerous. You don't take Michael home to meet your parents. He isn't the kind of person that makes friends with others. There is a vibe of instability that the Irishman exudes -- not quite all there on some important level, his sanity slid askew enough that he's a ticking time bomb waiting to blow. It doesn't help that his temper seems always on the verge of meltdown. He lashes out with violence on instinct, merciless when crossed and without remorse when the dust has settled in the aftermath of him losing his temper completely. Michael lacks empathy towards others. He is a psychopath -- at the very least a sociopath -- that has a basic understanding of right and wrong, but doesn't care about navigating the bothersome effort of using a conscience.

Also, there's the fact that his animal form is a hedgehog. A fucking hedgehog. Being such a small animal when he has such a big personality doesn't sit well with Michael. Especially since people tend to pick him up, cuddle him, or raise a fuss over calling him stupid things like "cute". It's an affront to the Irishman's masculine pride when he is the subject of this type of abuse at the hands of other people. He's very likely to bite people that try it.

Family:

• Mother -- Mary Margaret O'Connell (Hedgehog)
  
• Father -- Unknown
  
• Half-Brother (Younger) -- Jamie Keenan-Kirkland (Fox)
  
• Grandfather -- Seamus John Michael O'Connell (Hedgehog)

Brief History:

Michael Patrick Seamus O'Connell was born to an unwed, young mother after a one night stand with a passing British salesman. His grandfather, a devout Irish Catholic, never took too keen to the idea of his daughter's disgrace. Mary Margaret gave birth to her son and was determined that as soon as she had made enough money to support them, would move out from under her father's roof to seek her own fortune without the fire and brimstone condemnations of Seamus. Unfortunately, this took time, so Mary Margaret had to struggle with balancing several jobs, and Michael was left often in the care of Papa Seamus.

Viewed as a symbol of Mary Margaret's sin, Seamus was a less than considerate caretaker for little Michael. The boy was too thin, too weak, too "unmasculine". Beatings were a regular event under the pretense of "manning up the lad", and on drunken nights when Michael defied his grandfather's "tough love", the boy was locked in a cramped broom closet until his mother would return home from the night's shift. Sometimes it was only for an hour or so. On occasion, this lasted all night. Mary Margaret finally found the courage to take her son out of that environment, moving them as far away from Seamus as her income would allow them. It was clear, as Michael grew into late boyhood, that the damage was already done.

A dark rage had sown its seeds inside of the young Irishman. Michael took it out on the other kids at his school, or those that he encountered when he went skipping off from school to seek better entertainments. He resisted all form of discipline from his teachers, viewing them as apathetic chumps that saw him as little more than another generic face that they had little investment in. His petty crimes began on these excursions away from school. Stealing was easy. Vandalism had its aspect of fun. Fighting was one of the real thrills that got his blood pumping. Michael's luck ran out one day when he was nabbed by the police after breaking into a residential home for some valuables and a sandwich. He was placed into a juvenile detention center as a minor.

While inside the center, Michael was informed about the news that he in fact had a half-sibling named Jamie. From the sounds of it, the other Irishman was headed down the same road. Something in the blood must have made them prone to crazy. Or else it was just the fact that they were Irish. While Michael initially had no interest in seeking out Jamie to build any kind of relationship with this sibling, over time he started to grow intensely curious about this little brat that shared his bloodline. He managed to behave himself, became a good little model juvenile in the system -- even convinced the monkeys in charge that he had decided to join the priesthood. They bought it, hook, line and sinker.

As soon as Michael was released at the tender age of nineteen he went directly back to his old life of crime. This time he was just more careful about how to avoid getting caught. Eventually Michael had built himself a respectable reputation on the streets and was eventually recruited by a local branch of the Irish mafia. This lasted for a couple of years until he encountered some Irish extremists. With a promise for escalated excitement, Michael became part of their nationalist agenda. After some successful clusters of terrorism he realized that being a hardcore extremist took too much effort -- he wasn't that intense -- so the Irishman became a freelance mercenary.

He's never short on jobs to do. Michael has a reputation for producing results. If people can adapt to his hair trigger temper and bad attitude when it comes to the heirarchy of power, then they go to him for any job that needs a professional touch. The beauty of this is that Michael never had to do the same job twice, there is always an element of risk, and he makes a considerably large sum of money by getting his hands dirty when other people don't want to. It's a far cry from a nine-to-five desk job with dental benefits. Michael can afford new teeth all on his own. In fact, he has already had several replaced due to them getting knocked out from his more rough and tumble lifestyle.

Michael has an uncanny ability when it comes to controlling his vices. Simply put, he can't control himself at all. Especially when it comes to sex. He wants what he wants, when he wants it, so woe to those who deny him. This mentality led Michael to his most recent bout of trouble. After being caught dallying with a high-ranking mobster's wife (and daughter, though he was long gone before that detail came to light), Michael was forced to flee to France to maintain a low profile until the situation blows over. Or until he can figure out a way to eliminate that particular branch of the mafia that is on his stubby little tail.

OOC

Name/Alias; Hat
Age; 32
Favorite Pairings; Ire x World; Open
Do you want to be Cbox, Thread, or Both?: Both
Did you read the rules?

You shoot me down
(But I won't fall)
I am Titanium
You shoot me down
(But I won't fall)
I am Titanium

[Rated R] Another seedy hotel room. The place was filthy; rancid carpet, molding wallpaper, and suspicious stains all over the place. It didn't matter. Not like Michael intended to get comfortable here anyway. This was just a temporary pit stop at a place that took cash and didn't ask questions. There was also less chance of him getting interrupted. He had work to do, so untimely interjections from the outside world wouldn't do. In fact, the only sign that there was any other signs of life around was the sound of the couple in the room next door shagging loudly.

"Yer probably wonderin' why Aye brought ye here today." Michael stated to his guest after taking a few minutes to get the layout of the room. The man he spoke to didn't have much to say. Strips of ducttape wrapped around his mouth made the guy able to do little more than make muffled squeaks of alarm. Not that Michael could blame the fellow. Being tied up to a chair in the middle of a rundown hotel room in the middle of nowhere would make him anxious too. "An' t'be honest, Aye'm sort o' wonderin' why Aye had t'bring ye here m'self. However, it's not my place t'ask questions. Whatever y'did, it pissed off t'wrong paple. And t'ose paple paid me a lot o' money t'get rid o'ya."

The Irishman flashed a bright smile to the bound man. Aw, the guy was crying. Judging by the sudden smell in the room, he also just pissed himself. That wasn't the first time Michael's honest admission about his intention to kill someone had received such a reaction. He smirked to himself as he unbuttoned his jacket to sit on the foot of the bed, reaching inside to slide one of his prized Desert Eagles free of its holster. "Y'moight be askin' yerself: What did Aye do t'deserve t'is? Or t'inkin' yer crimes aren't wort' y'dyin' o'er. Now, t'at moight be true. Y'very well just could be a scapegoat. Or in t'wrong place at t'wrong toime. In t'care o' anot'er respectable guy, y'moight even get an ounce o' mercy."

"Yer just not so lucky. Aye'm a guy t'at gets his job done, yanno? It wouldn't be roight t'let you go when Aye've been paid t'do a job. So whatever peace y'need t'make; whatever God y'want to appeal to in t'is final moment, I'd advise y'start praying now." His smile strengthening, the Irishman leveled the barrel of his gun at the man's forehead. "If y'need some help, Aye know a good, standard prayer. Here it goes -- y'ready?"

"'As Aye lay me down t'sleep, pray t'Lard my soul t'keep. If Aye die before Aye--'" The Irishman abruptly sneezed.

BLAM!

"....Oh. Shite." He flinched, lifting an arm up to wipe a sleeve across his face. Blowback was always unpredictable, especially when he wasn't ready for the blood spatter. It wasn't like it was his fault for the timing. He should have picked a less dusty room for the deed. The sound of lovemaking in the next room had stopped, replaced with the sound of voices equally confused and alarmed. It was time to get a move on.

[Rina]

I really liked your application, Hat. The guilt that seems to be instilled into Michael's past is quite fascinating as well, especially as it seems to be able to show itself in so many aspects of his life. You also definitely know him from top to bottom with how in detail you went in with likes and dislikes. Anyhow, this app was very interesting and you are accepted! Feel to start role-playing in the IC Cbox or posting in the forum.