Murphy Finnegan
Bio and 3x3
Personal Information:
Name: Murphy Michael Finnegan
Place of birth: Paquin
Age: 38
Height: 5'11
Weight: 160 lbs
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Sandy blonde
Status: Married
Known Relatives: Michael Finnegan (father, missing, age 58), Bryony Finnegan (mother, age 56), Mary Finnegan (wife, age 28), Patrick Finnegan (son, age 2)
Religion: Christian
Languages: He speaks English and Mandarin, but both with a pronounced Paquin accent, which can take an effort for listeners to understand.
Quote: "D'ya like dags?"
Background:
Childhood:
Murphy was born in 2482. His mum Bryony was from a large family clan from Quincy, a depressed agricultural town on Paquin, and he lived with them for the first years of his life, while his dad Michael had wealthy parents who bought the couple a nice house on the hill in their neighbourhood in Tipperary, a desirable settlement on Paquin, when Murphy was about two years old. However, Michael’s parents were aloof, and he resented them for their inconsistent provision and their emotional neglect.
During Murphy’s early childhood, Michael often stayed away from home late, drinking at a pub called The Rat in Buchanan (the industrial area in which he worked), near a dump called Flushing Meadows where muck from furnaces, as well as horse manure, swarf, oil, and other garbage was dumped, so Bryony was alone raising Murphy. She turned towards her religion for comfort, and raised Murphy Catholic.
More than once, Michael left and stayed in lodgings in the Meadows called the Plaza Hotel, struggling to cope with his responsibilities. After some time, he would return in response to Bryony’s petitions. Sometimes, uncomfortable in the large house alone, Bryony would take Murphy and go to her family and they would spend time with his cousins and aunts etc. in Quincy.
One time when Michael returned from one of these sabbaticals, he bought his wife and son a dog, Rover, who Murphy grew very attached to. For a few years after that, Michael attended church on and off with his wife and son but eventually stopped, claiming he was too tired from working long hours at the factory, although he was still finding time and energy to go to the pub, and when he stopped going to church he went to the pub more and more.
Years passed, and Murphy pedestalised his father, who he rarely saw, and he was too young, really, to realise he was actually sad and angry about his father’s frequent absence. With money received from his dad's parents for his 13th birthday, Murphy bought himself a ‘scalley-cap', and he aspired to grow up to be like his dad, working with the factory crew and ‘sharing a social few’ at The Rat.
However, one November evening soon afterwards, Michael went out to drink after work as usual, but never came home. Surveillance footage showed he was involved (and injured) in a bar brawl and was seen leaving the pub, but he vanished somewhere between there and home. In truth the depressed factory worker had a breakdown and fled town.
Murphy's mother Bryony could not afford to keep the house, and her in-laws blamed her for their son's disappearance (rather than accepting any of the blame for their own failings or any responsibility for their grandson), so she and Murphy left, initially staying with her family.
Much of Murphy’s later childhood and early teens were spent there with his cousins etc., engaged in Paquin tribalism, fighting, protecting the family name, etc., and making allies that would last a lifetime. Also, during this time, Bryony and Murphy started to take in stray dogs and made money selling them, and the dogs bred, and before long they had quite a pack.
Later teenage years:
When he was 16, Murphy apprenticed himself to a locksmith to learn a trade. The locksmith lived in a neat little town called Brocton, and Murphy’s Ma moved to live nearby.
Out for a stroll one night, now 16, Murphy was dazzled by a con-artist who had stolen a gentleman's jewellery, and she slipped the loot into Murphy's pocket shortly before the law apprehended them both.
The next morning, they were taken before the local court, but Murphy was still under the influence of the chemical concoction the con artist had worn on her lips to make him confused and malleable when she kissed him. As such, he was unable to prove his innocence and instead added "Contempt of Court" to ‘his' crimes.
The stern judge and jury, already xenophobic about outsiders and ill disposed to Murphy and his ma and anxious to keep neat little Brocton neat and deter criminal sorts, decided on the punishment; Seven Years Transportation to Van Dieman's Land, a harsh continent on the opposite side of Paquin to Tipperary and Murphy’s other familiar haunts. His Ma didn't have the funds to accompany him immediately, but she promised to join him later. She left Brocton immediately and returned to Quincy, then the clan helped her get the money together to join Murphy in Van Dieman’s Land.
In Van Dieman's Land, Murphy found a more lax society than Tipperary or Brocton, and was parolled on a suspended sentence and put to work. He worked diligently, attended training and community groups including the local church, and pleased his parole officer who granted him considerable concessions. In a year, he saved his earnings and bought himself a cortex on hire purchase, and set out to make a living for himself doing an assortment of jobs for contacts he was making, for example gardening for parishioners or doing repair jobs for friends of his ma.
It was a time of promise and optimism. But between jobs, Murphy used fake ID and went drinking at a little pub called The Dirty Glass. A few months later, a coquettish new barmaid named Darcy O'Neill came to work there, and Murphy fell in love. He courted her, mostly by bragging about his prospects and businesses, and despite being some years her junior, his charisma and determination won her over.
Late teens, 20s:
Theirs was an emotionally intense and turbulent relationship, however, and she proved to be an abusive lover, frequently manipulating him and making him feel responsible for her bad moods. When he was 17, she pushed him to enter the Paquin Bare-knuckle Boxing League as her family were involved in the gambling mob culture around the League, and decided they could profit from her young beau. She did nothing to dissuade them otherwise, sensing profit for herself, too. Murphy’s business, meanwhile, slipped, as he was pressured into focussing on the boxing, and he sank into heavy drinking as a buffer against his toxic relationship and depressing situation.
By the age of 20, Murphy had become Champion of the League, a title he held against all comers for four years, until the outbreak of war.
As war loomed, Paquin was gripped with anti-Alliance fervour that held that the core planets were exploiting or neglecting the outer planets, through corruption or systematic uncaring policy, and Paquin’s fate would be better off free. Murphy witnessed rabble rousing speeches by agitators like Anna Masterson (who went on to be a political leader of Independent Paquin during the war) and Thomond Mac Cairthinn (pronounced ‘McCartan’) (who would earn a reputation as Masterson’s right hand man) outdoors in public, and in the pub.
When war was declared, Murphy (now 24) was pressed into service in General Grant Keogh’s Paquin Militia under Colonel Fionn MacCumhail (pronounced ‘Finn MacCool'), an experienced ex-Alliance military officer whose motto was ‘Fag an bealach’ (‘clear the way’, ‘charge’). With the Militia, Murphy saw action against an Alliance invasion force, but Masterson was jealous and distrustful of both Keogh and MacCumhail, and their forces were often given perilous assignments and undersupported in a reckless bid to undermine their reputations. The following year the Militia was outmanoeuvred and utterly overwhelmed, the Colonel was killed in action, the surviving men routed, and the force disbanded.
Murphy returned to Darcy after first getting drunk, and she put him straight back into the Bare-knuckle Boxing League. The following season (2508), he rose through the knockout League and regained the title of Champion.
Then, in 2509, Murphy was beaten by newcomer Wyatt Steele, ten years his junior. Darcy was scornful, and flirted with Steele. Murphy withdrew from the League, left Darcy, his partner of 11 years, and moved away.
Late 20s, Athenry:
Seeking to rebuild his life and start again, he returned to Quincy with his ma for about a year to be with his family who helped him, he sobered up, then moved to New Athenry, and went by his middle name Michael. His ma moved to be near him again too.
Getting a job as an agricultural labourer on an estate owned by Governor Trevelyan, the town’s senior politician, Murphy met a domestic worker called Mary, who worked on the same estate.
After six months courtship, they married (some time before Murphy's 29th birthday), and the following year they had a baby, who they Christen Patrick, but while Patrick was still a newborn, a terrible famine struck Athenry.
Trying to feed his family, ‘Michael' was caught stealing corn from the town Governor (who was corruptly hoarding a stockpile and selling from it to the black market for inflated prices). The accused was taken to Athenry prison to await a prison ship to take him into exile off world. He has his last conversation with Mary over the Athenry prison wall, and charged her to raise their child with dignity. He vowed to return if ever he can, but encourages her to move on.
Prison, faith:
On the prison ship, a Serco Transport called Botany Bay, Murphy returned to his real name, and after a period of reflection found that he could discern God’s hand in his experiences. Contrite, praying, he surrenders to God's leading in his life.
After prison:
However, arriving at a penal moon, Murphy linked up with a smooth con-artist named Bob Fraser who was serving some time having taken the fall for a criminal network he operated with. As Bob and Murphy's term in prison neared its end, Bob offered Murphy a place as a locksmith in a heist against the Gala Casino on Paquin. Deciding he can use the opportunity to return to Mary and Patrick, Murphy agrees.
Via his Ma, who still lived near Mary and Patrick, Murphy asks after his wife and son (who is now about 18 months old), but he discovers Mary is seeing a wealthy man named Seamus (pronounced ‘Shamus') Braden. He accepts that Mary's new partner can provide for her and their child better than Murphy himself can, and so he resolves to not complicate their lives by returning to them. He goes ahead with the heist any way, as he had given his word to Bob they would be partners in this.
The heist fails, though, and Murphy is arrested on suspicion of attempted theft.
Bob was a master strategist, though, always planning and thinking, and as per his backup plan he seems to be the target/victim of Murphy, rather than a co-conspirator against the casino they had been trying to clear out. As such, he takes Murphy as a lawfully indentured servant in ‘compensation'. Certain stipulations (a restraining bolt on his left ankle, for example, and the condition that he report in to Alliance officials once a week) of course, but the two resolve to lay low for a spell, and invent Bob's Sideshow, a travelling entertainment enterprise, while looking for other opportunities for heists or some other scheme to which they can apply their skills, Bob spending his waking hours working over the flaws in the last plan, and improving upon it, while searching for the next target to rob. After some time and misadventures, however, Murphy learns that Mary has left Seamus, who was overly controlling, and Murphy amicably ends his business with Bob to return to her.
Bryony, meanwhile, was profoundly relieved that her son had been reunited with his wife and child. At last she felt able to act on a lifelong dream, and was accepted into a convent on Dyton, a moon of Greenleaf.
For his part, Murphy now accepts the bad stuff that has happened to him as being part of living in a broken world that is full of sin and rebellion against God’s good plan, and he believes that much of what has befallen him is simply consequence of his own sins. He sees he’s been given a number of second chances, and this time he plans to avoid criminal activity, reunited with Mary, Patrick, and Jesus. The family move to Charlestown, Greenleaf, to be near Bryony, and Murphy set up business as a recruitment agency, recognising the potential market in the migrant worker community.
Allies:
Mary Finnegan. Murphy’s wife. The two were separated for nearly two years when Murphy was sent to a penal moon for stealing food to so Mary could feed their newborn. She loves her husband dearly, and was only receptive to being courted by Seamus Braden while Murphy was in prison because Murphy himself had exhorted her to move on and to find a way to provide for Patrick, and she felt Seamus genuinely did care for her and could provide well for Patrick. However, it became apparent that Seamus was also very controlling and forceful, and despite being apparently genuinely interested in having Mary as his wife, Seamus was passive aggressive about resenting Patrick, and began to reveal that he didn’t respect Mary. Ultimately Mary took the strong choice to leave. Afterwards, Murphy returned to her and she willingly reunited with him, but their separation has affected their relationship and they are now finding their way forwards.
Bryony Finnegan. Murphy’s Ma. Murphy has remained close to his Ma, telling her almost everything, and she's faithfully kept his secrets and never condemned him. She is the only person other than Bob and his confidantes who knows about the true nature of Murphy's failed theft in the Gala Casino. She accepts and loves him unconditionally. She moved to Van Dieman's Land when he was deported from Brocton, although not before he entered his relationship with Darcy, moved to Athenry when he left Darcy, and still lived near Mary and Patrick to keep an eye on her grandson when Murphy was in prison. She has years of experience taking in stray dogs and rehoming them, as well as years of experience nursing sick dogs, though she has never completed anything like an officially recognised vetinary qualification. Finally, when Murphy was reunited with Mary, Bryony achieved a lifelong dream of hers and was admitted to a Cistercian convent on Dyton. She now works in an orphanage and school run by the Cistercians.
Murphy’s family. Much of Murphy’s childhood and teenage years were spent with his cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc., on his ma’s side. They’re a clannish lot, and Murphy is highly respected among them. They would come to his aid no questions asked.
Associates:
Bob Fraser. These two grew close during their time on a penal moon. Fraser is a charming and articulate intelligent man with no hint in his educated demeanour of his Paquin roots. He is self-interested, though, not above others suffering so he can enjoy comfort. Bob and Murphy are currently allied in a deception covering up their attempted heist on a casino on Paquin, where Murphy took the fall, when in truth they were co-conspirators.
Michael Finnegan. Murphy's dad has been gone some 23 years now - longer than he was actually around. But for all his soul searching, the man is a crippled wreck of his former self, full of guilt over all his bad choices, especially leaving his young family all those years ago. He has actually looked Bryony and Murphy up many times, but doesn't have the confidence or self-esteem to re-establish contact with them, even if he dearly wishes he did have.
Enemies:
Darcy O'Neill. Despite being demanding and demeaning, Darcy was actually very emotionally dependent on Murphy when they were together. Now she pines after him, and later lovers have tended to be abusive and have not helped her move on. Darcy's family are one of the powerful clans on Paquin, claiming descent from Irish kings of Tara on Earth That Was. The O'Neill clan hierarchs aren't likely to go out of their way to harm Murphy - Darcy is a low ranking member of the clan - but she does have an extended kinship network who might act on her bitterness towards him for his leaving her, if she compelled them to.
The Gala Casino, Paquin. The casino is working to affirm its suspicions that Murphy Finnegan's target wasn't Bob Fraser, but themselves. They were content to allow the man to become Fraser's indentured servant, as his restraining bolt and paperwork allowed them to keep tabs on his whereabouts and physical condition. Fraser’s releasing Murphy from servitude before the end of his sentence has made them even more suspicious. If they determine for sure he tried to steal from them, they'll want to make an example of him. Violently. We're talking IRA-inspired violence. Power-drills to the knees, that kind of thing. Bob will come under similar attack if the Gala Casino discover his involvement.
Seamus Braden. An insecure and jealous man. Seamus is also implacably lawful and made up his mind about Darcy's criminal ex, ‘Michael', while Seamus was seeing her. He was fiercely protective of her and through his friends in high places made it difficult for Bryony to visit Patrick, her grandson, as Seamus tarred her with the same brush he had coloured Michael. Now that Darcy has left Seamus and reunited with her ex, Seamus believes it is because she is weak and the criminal ex has her wrapped round his finger, rather than accepting she left because of his (Seamus’) shortcomings. He thus blames Michael, and is trying to get Darcy to talk to him, leave Michael, and come back to Seamus.
