Post by Leo Cunningham on Feb 4, 2011 18:19:43 GMT -6
Name: Leonardo Michael Cunningham
Nicknames: Leo, always Leo. (Make any reference to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and you will be punished) Sometimes 'Turtle' by Owen Mason in particular. Previous forensic students have also taken to calling him Dr Lion as Leo=lion & he's a Doctor so Dr Lion- so imaginative.
Age: 39 (b: 11/11/1973)
Blood: pureblood
Appearance: Leo has very dark brown, arguably black, hair which is currently at a nice length of floppiness and he always wears it as such. He is fairly pale and has green, searching eyes, and is generally displaying some kind of short stubble, usually 5 o'clock shadow style. Leo stands at around 6 foot 2 and is fairly slim but toned - he makes the effort to keep himself in shape with his daily crack-of-dawn runs. His dress sense is smart casual, he often pairs jeans with long-sleeved smart shirts when not working and when at the lab he wears smart black trousers, a series of different coloured shirts, with some kind of smart blazer over them.
Personality: Leo can be extremely persuasive, warm and charming (when so inclined i.e. if there are ladies involved), displaying an air of easy companionship and a good sense of fun, even on first meeting. Much of his more passionate (and yes admittedly aggressive for he has one hell of a temper if worked up enough) side has calmed in recent years and he has mellowed, somewhat, which is a relief for other people around him. He has a very distinct sense of morality and is a keen, if a little blunt, judge of character. His sense of humour is dark, dry and morbid and he, as is required by his job, is able to deal with uncomfortable or difficult situations in an oddly detached manner, working through the problems to come to a solution that's beneficial for all, if needs be. Yet, underneath that cold, unfeeling exterior is a caring, extremely warm-hearted individual who would do anything for those who he really cares about. Besides a passionate side is not always a bad thing! While on such a subject, Leo can and will (if the chance is there) flirt in such an easy, laid-back, no-effort manner that you'd think it came naturally to him... but really he just spent way too many years chasing girls and learning when to shut up and what they really want to hear.
Background: Born to Jeffrey Armitage (brother of oh-so-famous Deatheater Alec Armitage) and Grace Armitage (nee Cunningham), Leo lived a perfectly normal childhood with one problem: from a young age he absolutely despised his family's ideals, background and expectations of him in particular. When he was of age to do so he notably changed his name to take his mother's maiden name (as he was admittedly closer to his mother than his father, and still is- she's the only one he keeps in contact with) as a sort of somehow-rebellious show of disdain. Never one to bow down to authority, to say Leo was a difficult and stubborn child is a bit of an understatement. When he hit puberty a wee bit more aggression was also added into the mix- he may not have seemed the most bulky bloke on the planet but he sure knew how to make the most of what he did have, namely a fantastic left hook. Any of his parents' threats to have him thrown out of the house, abandoned by the family, cut off from his inheritance really had no effect on him as he was always a great believer in making your own way in the world, not having to rely on anyone else.
He very reluctantly (read: went kicking and screaming) attended Hogwarts - the fact he was sorted into Slytherin and then spent several years surrounded by some muggle-hating, Pureblood-professing peers didn't help his disdain for 'everything Armitage' - and passed his exams, just about. The only things he had any real interest in while at Hogwarts were Potions, playing Chaser for Slytherin's house team, partying and sneaking out of the castle as much as possible and getting off with girls. Not the best mix if you hoped for top NEWT grades from your child. He did pass his NEWTS though, upon which he graduated Hogwarts and his parents finally (though they didn't have much choice when it came down to it, he'd want to do it all the more if they disapproved) agreed to allow him to take a gap year to "sort himself out once and for all". Leo happily went off travelling, telling his parents he'd be back the following winter only to basically become self-exiled from the family as he stayed away from the shores of England for good and his parents and siblings practically disowned him as he always had been quite vocal about his dislike for "the whole blood status bollocks" and this betrayal was just the final straw as far as they were concerned.
While abroad, namely in America as it would happen, Leo (after having to use his considerable powers of persuasion) was accepted onto a foundation course at college. He'd always had a rather morbid fascination with the more science-based aspects of learning, particularly human biology, and it was through this that he realised his 'calling' was forensics, specifically forensic pathology. Having to prove a lot of skeptical classmates and professors only spurred him on even more and he stubbornly refused to back down or fail... through this time he realised he actually had an amazing work ethic, if only the subject itself interested him which nothing much at Hogwarts ever had. Finally getting down to it and working his socks off for many years, earning his doctorate and completing many residencies and a fellowship, Leo emerged as a fully-qualified, very sharp and perceptive, medical examiner/forensic pathologist who was remarkably good at detaching himself from the emotional/human aspect of crime scenes and dead bodies and diligently examining them for scientific purposes. His ability to behave as such makes him a fantastic pathologist that is able to remain detached, even under difficult circumstances. Leo then deparated from America and returned to England, spending the next couple of years working for the Home Office in a pathology lab based in King's College, London where he remains to this day with a great passion for his admittedly-morbid-at-times work. He has made very little attempt to re-connect with the family that he left behind and is known to blatantly ignore those he doesn't wish to associate with- some of his Armitage cousins he, admittedly, doesn't despise as much and so he can get along quite well with those select few individuals. He holds a certain disdain for his siblings (Tristan and Helena) and a deep-rooted hatred of his family but is oddly protective, in his own little way, of his mother.
Characteristics:
-He has a bit of a temper and a very passionate side that, if unchecked, causes major problems when he finally explodes in a fit of intensity.
-He stubbornly refused to blend in by adopting some of the pronunciation he heard around him while at college and thus adopt an Anglo-American hybrid accent- no, he happened to typify what some of his classmates dubbed 'a cute British accent'.
-Leo is meticulous down to the last detail and is rather tidy about everything, even his home is spotless, which seems odd considering he's pretty much a bachelor who has never been one for order particularly in other aspects of his life.
-Random fact time: Leo is left-handed.
-Random fact time #2: Oddly, he is good at magic. No, not magic magic but rather sleight of hand, card tricks etc. It's just a random thing he picked up while studying in the US but never really mentions it.
-Random fact time #3: He's very good with children; people are often surprised he doesn't have any of his own but he really is good at entertaining kids or, as he puts it, "Kids are great, as long as they're someone else's and so you can give them back when they get too annoying".
Other:
-He lives alone in a pretty bloody cool modern, state-of-the-art flat in London. He's a bit of a film and music buff so most of said flat is filled with floor-to-celing shelves crammed with DVDs and CDs.
-His preferred mode of transport is his beloved motorbike but also owns a black Toyota Auris for work purposes because, funnily enough, skidding to a halt on a motorbike actually isn't the first impression to make as a pathologist arriving at a crime scene!
Nicknames: Leo, always Leo. (Make any reference to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and you will be punished) Sometimes 'Turtle' by Owen Mason in particular. Previous forensic students have also taken to calling him Dr Lion as Leo=lion & he's a Doctor so Dr Lion- so imaginative.
Age: 39 (b: 11/11/1973)
Blood: pureblood
Appearance: Leo has very dark brown, arguably black, hair which is currently at a nice length of floppiness and he always wears it as such. He is fairly pale and has green, searching eyes, and is generally displaying some kind of short stubble, usually 5 o'clock shadow style. Leo stands at around 6 foot 2 and is fairly slim but toned - he makes the effort to keep himself in shape with his daily crack-of-dawn runs. His dress sense is smart casual, he often pairs jeans with long-sleeved smart shirts when not working and when at the lab he wears smart black trousers, a series of different coloured shirts, with some kind of smart blazer over them.
Personality: Leo can be extremely persuasive, warm and charming (when so inclined i.e. if there are ladies involved), displaying an air of easy companionship and a good sense of fun, even on first meeting. Much of his more passionate (and yes admittedly aggressive for he has one hell of a temper if worked up enough) side has calmed in recent years and he has mellowed, somewhat, which is a relief for other people around him. He has a very distinct sense of morality and is a keen, if a little blunt, judge of character. His sense of humour is dark, dry and morbid and he, as is required by his job, is able to deal with uncomfortable or difficult situations in an oddly detached manner, working through the problems to come to a solution that's beneficial for all, if needs be. Yet, underneath that cold, unfeeling exterior is a caring, extremely warm-hearted individual who would do anything for those who he really cares about. Besides a passionate side is not always a bad thing! While on such a subject, Leo can and will (if the chance is there) flirt in such an easy, laid-back, no-effort manner that you'd think it came naturally to him... but really he just spent way too many years chasing girls and learning when to shut up and what they really want to hear.
Background: Born to Jeffrey Armitage (brother of oh-so-famous Deatheater Alec Armitage) and Grace Armitage (nee Cunningham), Leo lived a perfectly normal childhood with one problem: from a young age he absolutely despised his family's ideals, background and expectations of him in particular. When he was of age to do so he notably changed his name to take his mother's maiden name (as he was admittedly closer to his mother than his father, and still is- she's the only one he keeps in contact with) as a sort of somehow-rebellious show of disdain. Never one to bow down to authority, to say Leo was a difficult and stubborn child is a bit of an understatement. When he hit puberty a wee bit more aggression was also added into the mix- he may not have seemed the most bulky bloke on the planet but he sure knew how to make the most of what he did have, namely a fantastic left hook. Any of his parents' threats to have him thrown out of the house, abandoned by the family, cut off from his inheritance really had no effect on him as he was always a great believer in making your own way in the world, not having to rely on anyone else.
He very reluctantly (read: went kicking and screaming) attended Hogwarts - the fact he was sorted into Slytherin and then spent several years surrounded by some muggle-hating, Pureblood-professing peers didn't help his disdain for 'everything Armitage' - and passed his exams, just about. The only things he had any real interest in while at Hogwarts were Potions, playing Chaser for Slytherin's house team, partying and sneaking out of the castle as much as possible and getting off with girls. Not the best mix if you hoped for top NEWT grades from your child. He did pass his NEWTS though, upon which he graduated Hogwarts and his parents finally (though they didn't have much choice when it came down to it, he'd want to do it all the more if they disapproved) agreed to allow him to take a gap year to "sort himself out once and for all". Leo happily went off travelling, telling his parents he'd be back the following winter only to basically become self-exiled from the family as he stayed away from the shores of England for good and his parents and siblings practically disowned him as he always had been quite vocal about his dislike for "the whole blood status bollocks" and this betrayal was just the final straw as far as they were concerned.
While abroad, namely in America as it would happen, Leo (after having to use his considerable powers of persuasion) was accepted onto a foundation course at college. He'd always had a rather morbid fascination with the more science-based aspects of learning, particularly human biology, and it was through this that he realised his 'calling' was forensics, specifically forensic pathology. Having to prove a lot of skeptical classmates and professors only spurred him on even more and he stubbornly refused to back down or fail... through this time he realised he actually had an amazing work ethic, if only the subject itself interested him which nothing much at Hogwarts ever had. Finally getting down to it and working his socks off for many years, earning his doctorate and completing many residencies and a fellowship, Leo emerged as a fully-qualified, very sharp and perceptive, medical examiner/forensic pathologist who was remarkably good at detaching himself from the emotional/human aspect of crime scenes and dead bodies and diligently examining them for scientific purposes. His ability to behave as such makes him a fantastic pathologist that is able to remain detached, even under difficult circumstances. Leo then deparated from America and returned to England, spending the next couple of years working for the Home Office in a pathology lab based in King's College, London where he remains to this day with a great passion for his admittedly-morbid-at-times work. He has made very little attempt to re-connect with the family that he left behind and is known to blatantly ignore those he doesn't wish to associate with- some of his Armitage cousins he, admittedly, doesn't despise as much and so he can get along quite well with those select few individuals. He holds a certain disdain for his siblings (Tristan and Helena) and a deep-rooted hatred of his family but is oddly protective, in his own little way, of his mother.
Characteristics:
-He has a bit of a temper and a very passionate side that, if unchecked, causes major problems when he finally explodes in a fit of intensity.
-He stubbornly refused to blend in by adopting some of the pronunciation he heard around him while at college and thus adopt an Anglo-American hybrid accent- no, he happened to typify what some of his classmates dubbed 'a cute British accent'.
-Leo is meticulous down to the last detail and is rather tidy about everything, even his home is spotless, which seems odd considering he's pretty much a bachelor who has never been one for order particularly in other aspects of his life.
-Random fact time: Leo is left-handed.
-Random fact time #2: Oddly, he is good at magic. No, not magic magic but rather sleight of hand, card tricks etc. It's just a random thing he picked up while studying in the US but never really mentions it.
-Random fact time #3: He's very good with children; people are often surprised he doesn't have any of his own but he really is good at entertaining kids or, as he puts it, "Kids are great, as long as they're someone else's and so you can give them back when they get too annoying".
Other:
-He lives alone in a pretty bloody cool modern, state-of-the-art flat in London. He's a bit of a film and music buff so most of said flat is filled with floor-to-celing shelves crammed with DVDs and CDs.
-His preferred mode of transport is his beloved motorbike but also owns a black Toyota Auris for work purposes because, funnily enough, skidding to a halt on a motorbike actually isn't the first impression to make as a pathologist arriving at a crime scene!
