Nolan O'Rourke
Nolan O'Rourke is the husband of McKenna O'Rourke and father of Sergeant Brody O'Rourke; he is a quarryman and a former Career. His application can be found here.
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| Background | |
|---|---|
| District | 2 |
| Age | 47 |
| Profession |
Quarryman Career Training Center Instructor |
| Height/Weight | 6'1"/190 lbs |
| Hair/Eyes | Red/Blue |
| Spouse | McKenna O'Rourke |
| Children | Brody O'Rourke (son) |
| Siblings |
Slàine O'Rourke (Oldest sister) Kathleen O'Rourke (Older sister) Fiona O'Rourke (Younger sister) Càit O'Rourke (Youngest sister) |
| Weapons |
Xiphos Sword ('Miló') Aspis Shield ('Akoúo̱') |
| Ship | McKelan |
|
played by Artemis | |
Contents |
Early Life
Nolan Seoirse O'Rourke was the only son in a family with 5 children, and from the very beginning was surrounded by women who would greatly shape his personality as he grew older. Though his father was insistent on putting a sword and shield in his only son's hands as soon as possible (as was O'Rourke family tradition), he was raised predominantly by his 4 sisters and mother. Though he wouldn't be able to pinpoint the 'when' or the 'how', Nolan could at least say that it was the women in his life who had made a gentleman out of him and instilled in him a powerful respect for the opposite sex.
Like his schoolmates and in line with tradition, Nolan attended the Career Training Center at the age of 12, immediately taking to the sword and shield. Unlike his predecessors, however, Nolan was of a kinder, more patient temperament and took more pleasure in the sport than the ideals of glory that returning victorious from the Games promised. He quickly shot up from the small, quiet redheaded boy into a young man whose stature rivaled his father's, growing comfortably into his xiphos sword named Milo ('Speak') and a heavy aspis shield named Akouo ('Listen'). As it was with the O'Rourke family, he named his weapons and regarded them with respect; he retired his old friends when his name wasn't called at his final year of the Reaping, though on various occasions over the years he'd be compelled to pick them up one more time.
Though Nolan had grown up in one of the larger cities of District 2, the bustling city life and its people had never truly been his calling; leaving behind his parents and sisters with well-wishes in their mouths and tears in their eyes, he made his way across the district to take up work as a quarryman. A young man of barely 19, he didn't waste time making his mark among his new colleagues; by now, he had grown into his body and was wired with muscle from years of swordplay and fistfighting. Of the few possessions he had brought with him, one of them included an old family book full of names (birthdays, marriages, children, deaths) and artwork from many generations ago that preceded even the Dark Days. It was from those books that he would pull the symbols and designs that now decorate his body.
Career Training
Being raised in a family of warriors and surrounding himself with roughneck quarrymen for friends, Nolan is an avid sportsman and despite his age hasn't lost his appetite for a good fight. His weapons of choice are a sword and shield, and following with family tradition has named both of them; Nolan's xiphos sword is called Miló ('Speak') and an aspis shield called Akoúo̱ ('Listen'). Though they're retired, he regards his weapons like old friends. Nowadays, when he's not picking up training weapons to spar with his son, Nolan likes to keep his skills up by roughhousing and boxing with the other local men.
Ever since Brody's bout at the Olympics, winning silver in wrestling and bronze in boxing and putting the spotlight on his father as his trainer, Nolan has been training other future Careers at the local Training Center in boxing, grappling and swordsmanship.
Marriage
Nolan has been married for 21 years to McKenna O'Rourke (née Shea), a former Peacekeeper, whom he considers the love of his life. He's very open with his affection towards her, and has absolutely no qualms about the fact that his wife wears the metaphorical pants in the relationship. However, his mile-wide jealous streak has shown itself more than once if he believes someone has called his wife's fidelity or honor into question; just as he is with his son, Nolan is ferociously protective of McKenna (whether she needs it or not).
They met when she was responding to a cave-in at the quarry Nolan worked at, and was tending to his injuries when a secondary cave-in was triggered; she threw herself over her patient, protecting him. Nolan regained consciousness first, unburying them and dragging them both to safety.
He was insistent on accompanying the woman who saved his life to the hospital, where she was given the diagnosis that she had broken her back. Utterly enamored by her bravery, Nolan continuously visited her during her recovery and physical therapy.
Nolan was persistent, trying everything he could think of to win McKenna over while she was finishing her medical degree as part of a deal she negotiated with the Peacekeepers. When she came to him saying she was pregnant, Nolan was considerably more thrilled than she was; he was a constant presence, loath to leave her side, and when McKenna finished her degree 8 months pregnant, he proposed.
Fatherhood
When Brody was hospitalized after being shot by Jins Revenue, Nolan and his wife took shifts sitting by his bedside while he was comatose; Nolan was the one at his side when Brody woke up.
Present
Nowadays, when Nolan isn't working the quarries (adamantly refusing to become a 'trophy husband'), he occasionally trains future Careers at the Training Center after Brody's success at the Olympics shone light on Nolan as his coach. As it was when he trained Brody, Nolan's specialties are boxing, wrestling, and swordsmanship (usually in tandem with a shield).
Tattoos
Nolan wears a variety of tattoos of artwork passed down by the O'Rourke family. (Images found here)
- Celtic woad tattoos (chest and back)- description TBA
- Dogtags (chest)- left tag with Brody's name; right tag with McKenna's
- Claddagh (heart)- Irish symbol of love; also contains his wife's name
- Celtic Shield Knot (left shoulder)- Irish symbol of protection
Trivia
- O'Rourke family naming dynamic is Irish
- Nolan is an Ancient Irish name meaning 'noble'
- Seoirse, Irish Gaelic form of 'George', means 'earth-worker'
- O'Rourke, anglicized version of the Gaelic 'Ó Ruairc' means 'descendant of Ruarc', the name of a chieftain family
- Nolan's sword Miló means 'Speak' in Greek
- Nolan's shield Akoúo̱ means 'Listen' in Greek
