#*cormac:intro

Cormac Riley - The Riley’s Reckoning in the City of Angels

Full Name: Cormac Aidan Riley

Alias: The Reckoning

Nicknames: Cor, Corbs (if you want to piss him off)

Age: 33 / Birthdate: 22.08. (Lion)

Nationality: Irish

Occupation: Hitman for the Rileys (Works in Logistics at the Dock if asked)

General: Cormac's journey has been one of self-sufficiency pushed to its deadly extreme. He started as a neglected child, forced to raise himself and his brother, developing a fierce, almost feral independence; A man forged in the crucible of neglect and the brutal discipline of the criminal underworld. He's a lean, watchful figure, his eyes often betraying a restless intelligence despite their hardened glint. He carries himself with a casual confidence, which belies his profession, an easy smile masking a mind perpetually calculating angles and escape routes. While inherently impulsive and capable of reckless bursts of action, particularly when pushed, he's an exceptionally skilled operative. His resourcefulness allows him to adapt on the fly, turning disadvantages into opportunities, a trait carved by a lifetime of fending for himself. His eyes, often shadowed by a certain weariness, can flash with a cold, calculating intensity or a spark of reckless abandon. He lives firmly in the present, dealing with each day's demands without much thought for tomorrow, a coping mechanism for a past he can't outrun.

Loyalty is the bedrock of Cormac's character, particularly towards his cousin Adrian and his younger brother. He lives day by day, a philosophy born from a childhood where stability was just a mere illusion. His work as a hitman for the Riley syndicate is less a choice and more a natural progression, a path laid out by his upbringing and the only "family" that ever truly acknowledged him. He views it as a job he's good at, a means to an end, and a way to protect the few people he cares about.

Early Life & Significant Events:

Born into a world of conflicting desires, Cormac Riley's arrival was not celebrated, but rather endured. His mother, the ethereal and ambitious singer Genevieve "Genny" Moreau, saw a child as an anchor, a threat to her glamorous career under the bright lights of the stage. She begrudgingly agreed to keep the baby-- only after the persistent insistence of Cormac’s biological father, Conan Riley, a rising figure within the formidable Riley syndicate, who, consumed by the brutal climb for power within the family business, had little time or inclination for fatherhood. His son was another name on a ledger, a minor detail in his grander schemes. As a result, Cormac spent his earliest years navigating an emotional wasteland – a mother who saw him as an impediment, and a father who saw him as an afterthought. Love and guidance were luxuries never afforded. Cormac's earliest memories are steeped in the conflicting worlds of his parents. His mother was rarely present, touring or retreating to her studio, leaving the boy to the care of nannies. Cormac remembers his father as a stern, distant figure, always preoccupied with "the business," speaking in hushed tones, and leaving a trail of expensive cologne and unspoken expectations. This dual neglect, from a famous, uncaring mother and a syndicate-bound, absent father, instilled in him a profound sense of self-reliance and emotional isolation.

The loneliness, which defined his early childhood, only intensified with the birth of his younger brother. With both parents perpetually absent – Genevieve on tour or sequestered in her dressing room and Conan immersed in the syndicate's shadowy dealings – Cormac, barely more than a child himself, became his brother’s sole guardian. He learned resourcefulness out of sheer necessity. This period forged an unshakeable bond and instilled a fierce, protective loyalty that remains Cormac's most profound connection, even if it's rarely shown. He learned to read people, to navigate dangerous situations, and to provide by any means necessary – skills that would later define his adult life. He formally entered the Riley syndicate in his teens, his transition from street kid to enforcer seamless. His early assignments were dirty, dangerous, and required the kind of detached brutality that came unnervingly natural to him.

Resent Past - Present:

By his early thirties, Cormac was a known quantity within the syndicate – deadly, reliable, but still prone to bursts of impulsivity that could cause headaches. Adrian, his older cousin, decided to send Cormac to Los Angeles and took him under his wings. Part of it was an expansion of the Riley syndicate's influence into the booming Coast and the other part of it was to get him away from certain "complications" back home (just a minor personal vendetta that got a liiittle out of hand). For Cormac, the move was a new chapter, a chance to operate with more anonymity in the vast, glittering city. He'd learned to navigate the city's complex social strata, blending into its glamour while operating in its shadows. While still impulsive, Adrian's influence and the consequences of past recklessness have taught him to think before he acts, at least most of the time. He's become more resourceful, adapting to situations on the fly, a necessary trait for a man in his large shoes.

For three years, he has thrived in the sun-drenched, yet equally shadowy, world of post-wartime Los Angeles. He lives entirely in the present, his substantial earnings from his "assignments" financing a fast-paced existence of late-night clubs, high-stakes poker games, and fleeting pleasures. Planning for tomorrow feels pointless when today could be your last.

Cormac keeps most people at arm's length. He's cordial but distant, preferring the solitude of his work. He's respected for his effectiveness and feared for his reputation, but few dare to get close to him, especially given his occasional unpredictable bursts of temper. However, beneath the usually calm exterior, the scars of his childhood endure. He is a man who knows how to survive, but the question remains: can he ever truly live?

Motivation and Goals:

1. To excel in his role as a hitman: He takes pride in his efficiency and the clean execution of his assignments. It's how he proves his worth.

2. To maintain the Riley syndicate's power and influence: Their strength directly correlates with his own security and status.

3. To protect his younger brother: This is an unspoken, deeply held goal. His brother is the last pure connection to a past he tried to make right.

4. Survival: Living day-by-day means avoiding capture, repercussions, and staying ahead of any threats, internal or external.

5. Unconscious Goal: While he would never admit it, a part of Cormac yearns for a sense of peace or a life where he isn't constantly looking over his shoulder, a stark contrast to his daily existence.

positive traits: loyal, honest, resourceful, reliable, independent, protective

negative traits: reckless, impulsive, elusive, can be short tempered, sarcastic

hidden Talents: plays the guitar, can dance, gardening, gambling

pet peeves: when someone doesn't own their mistakes, lies

likes: weapons, pets, spicy food, sports, speed, challenges

dislikes: rudeness, boredom, cinnamon, artichokes, suits

Connections:

Adrian Riley: (Cousin/Father Figure): The most defining relationship in Cormac's life. Adrian is the only one who truly "sees" him, recognizing his potential beyond his impulsive nature. He's a mentor, and the closest thing Cormac has to a father and someone who keeps him on his toes. Adrian taught him discipline, the intricacies of the syndicate's operations, how to handle various weapons, and how to control his impulsive nature – or at least channel it effectively. His cousin became the only figure Cormac truly respected and feared disappointing. It was also under Adrian's watch that Cormac began to prove his terrifying effectiveness as an enforcer and, eventually, a hitman.

Eoin Riley: Cousin (Details tbd)

Liam Riley: Great Cousin (Details tbd)