This is where me and @CherryBomb50 discuss our character concepts.
Olivia Mae Smith (24) is a young, ambitious woman with curly auburn hair and bright green eyes. She stands at 5’7" and is known for her infectious smile. She is currently working towards her MBA while also balancing a full-time job in marketing. In her free time, she loves staying active by hiking and trying new fitness classes. She also enjoys cooking and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen. Above all, Olivia values hard work, perseverance, and kindness towards others.
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Brenten Davie Smith (56) is Olivia’s father who calls her “ Olly “ from time to time, this being a nickname she prefers now. He loves his wife and all his children and is currently the dean at a college. Brenten loves his hometown of St. John’s, Newfoundland and often takes pictures. He is happy for Olivia’s success and he too likes to get active. Fatherhood was something he enjoyed just as much as caring for the turtle, Sage.
Anyone can join this game, so feel free and don’t be shy!
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Caroline " Carrie " Angela [Maxwell] Smith (53) is Breten’s in-law through marriage and mother to another Olivia and her two older siblings. Like her daughter, Carrie’s someone who juggles a lot of things simultaneously: she’s the deputy headteacher of a private school and also is involved in her local community garden work, which is intended to promote environmental growth and health. Brenten often jokes about having to get his wife to slow down - as he worries about how Carrie can take on other’s problems, striving to help as many people as possible without full consideration for her own well-being - but she entirely appreciates and reciprocates his kindness. Empty nesting now their kids have moved out is something she struggled with for a while, but now Carrie very much loves her space and the extra date nights she and her husband are enjoying.
Growing up, Carrie only had one sibling - her older brother, who’s 7 years her senior. This led to her deciding to have smaller gaps between her own pregnancies, as there was a distance between her and him until she was in her later years of high school. Carrie’s brother’s had quite a chaotic life - he has 5 kids from 3 marriages (1 child born to Wife #1; 3 born to Wife #2; 1 born to Wife #3) and his inability to settle led to every breakup, as he always acted on impulse without much thought for the needs of others. The fact he’s now sworn off dating and is focused on his family - kids and grandkids specifically - is a great relief for Carrie, who strove to be the opposite when she met Brenten when they were both attending the same lecture and sat together by chance.
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Fun fact (although kinda useless lol): I wanted to make at least one character every day in [name_f]April[/name_f] to prove I could do it for the month. I got obsessed and did it every day for [name_f]May[/name_f] and [name_u]June[/name_u] too. I will continue to do characters consecutively until I truly run out but I will hang in there. Today is the 100th day (no, not the last day) so here’s a centenarian!
[name_f]Else[/name_f] [name_f]Bernice[/name_f] [Ketton] [name_m]Eddison[/name_m] (100) is Carrie’s grandmother, who is also the grandmother of her brother. She is Olivia’s great-grandmother. She recently turned 100, a celebration the whole family enjoyed and a good time of appreciation. [name_f]Else[/name_f] only ever had one child, a daughter Mrs. [name_u]Maxwell[/name_u] [nee Eddison], but one daughter was all she ever needed. She and her husband have separated at some time in their mid-fifties but have since rekindled their relationship. At the time, she and her husband were only married at 18, given the way society at the time promoted younger marriages. Her daughter was married at 21 and had her first child, a boy, one year later. So [name_f]Else[/name_f] is used to the grandmother life - she’s been one since age 40 - something peculiar to see now. Else’s daughter waited until age 29 to have [name_f]Carrie[/name_f], the main reason for the sibling age difference. Else’s been a rock to her daughter when she had marital issues but her daughter’s marital issues were much more minor.
[name_f]Else[/name_f] has been troubled by her grandson’s 3 marriages and 5 children. She doesn’t want to be a strict grandparent but she always wants to steer her grandchildren in the right direction. Sometimes she gives off the impression that she babies her grandson more than her granddaughter, despite him being older than her and 60 years old now, something she is working on to fix just as much as her grandson is at fixing bonds with his family. It’s not that [name_f]Else[/name_f] likes [name_f]Carrie[/name_f] better than her grandson but more because she always felt [name_f]Carrie[/name_f] to be more responsible. [name_f]Else[/name_f] herself was an only child so she never quite understood sibling dynamics first-hand, plus her daughter was one as well, so the idea of [name_f]Carrie[/name_f] having three children and her brother having 5 overwhelmed [name_f]Else[/name_f] at first. Although not anymore, she loves all her great-grandchildren! She feels her daughter wanted two children to avoid some of the disadvantages of being an only child, so when [name_f]Carrie[/name_f] and her brother were distanced, [name_f]Else[/name_f] tried to get them back on track for the sake of her daughter, despite having no preparation for the three marriages he would end up having. Still, she knows he doesn’t regret any of his children and she doesn’t want him to, she loves seeing them around. [name_f]Else[/name_f] loves cooking with [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] in her spare time and is very virtuous, which is something she enjoys seeing in all her family members.
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[name_f]Elsa[/name_f] [name_f]Bethany[/name_f] [Maxwell] Leadborn (32) is the eldest child born to Else’s grandson - Carrie’s brother - who’s pregnant with her first great-great grandchild! For his many complexities, it wasn’t a surprise that Mr. [name_u]Maxwell[/name_u] named his first child for his grandmother, and Elsa’s openly proud of this connection between them, even if Elsie/Elspeth/Elsbeth have been crossed off as potential baby names to prevent any confusion. Although she wasn’t phased either way about having a gender reveal, knowing she’s expecting a daughter has helped with planning things - namely the nursery - and she merely let her family know in a series of personalised cards, rather than smoke bombs, fireworks or anything with a potential fatality rate.
As an independent graphic designer [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] runs her own gift shop where she sells items showcasing her work, and more recently she’s begun collaborating with other artists. Partly this is so that once she goes on maternity leave there will be guaranteed stock to be sold in her absence, but she’s got her friend and business partner covering: she’s finance, Elsa’s artistry, and it works well keeping them in their preferred zones.
Growing up with a dad who went through relationships and marriages so haphazardly has led to a bit of cynicism where Elsa’s concerned; namely that no relationship can be absolutely perfect, but that as long as the effort’s there, happiness will be found. She’s always trying to be realistic and forthcoming with her husband, who she’s known since her teens when they belonged to a therapy group for children of divorces. Elsa’s parents were nowhere near as contentious as her husband’s, but the unrest of seeing more failed marriages and her half-siblings experiencing the same disappointment wasn’t something that ever sat well with her. Her mom did remarry too, but she’s remained with her second husband - free of any drama - although [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] never gained any half-siblings from her maternal side.
Since falling pregnant, Elsa’s confided more in her aunt [name_f]Carrie[/name_f] and eldest cousin on the [name_m]Smith[/name_m] side of the family, namely about how to speak to her dad about being a grandparent. What she dreads is a string of temporary grandmas being introduced to her daughter and causing a sense of abandonment, which [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] absolutely won’t entertain. All the no-nonsense, objective qualities she has are pretty much the opposite of her dad, and he found her a stern child to parent, which [name_f]Carrie[/name_f] and [name_f]Else[/name_f] thought was hilarious. In spite of this, Elsa’s determined to make things work for everyone so they can have the joy she knows they deserve.
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[name_f]Sophie[/name_f] [name_f]April[/name_f] Blanchard-Smith (30) is the eldest child of [name_m]Brenten[/name_m] and [name_f]Carrie[/name_f], as well as the cousin who Elsa’s confided in recently. As her siblings are 24 and 26 respectively, there was a bit of a distance between them as kids, so [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] spent a lot of time with [name_f]Elsa[/name_f], and they were each other’s maid of honour at their respective weddings: [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] to her husband, [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] to her wife. Unlike her cousin, [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] isn’t planning on starting a family just yet. She’s just finished medical school and is finally starting her career as an OBGYN, so pausing after so much studying and work will just ruin her momentum and drive.
In the meantime, [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] and her wife have 2 beloved pets - [name_m]Jonas[/name_m] the saluki and [name_u]Blanche[/name_u] the tortoiseshell - who are surrogate children for now. Her wife’s a zoologist, and it was when they were both volunteering at a pet shelter that the couple bonded, having met a few times through mutual friends before then. The first double date the couple ever went on was with [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] and her husband, then her boyfriend, to a local wildlife rescue, which was planned possibly to benefit Sophie…possibly.
Of all of Else’s great-grandkids, everyone’s in agreement that [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] has the most enviable hair, and her wife insists that if they have a baby through IVF, Sophie’s to carry them, so there’s a chance of the child inheriting. The texture is from Sophie’s maternal nan, who she’s very close to, being of a similar calm and collected manner (Sophie’s younger siblings used to call this boring, usually when she stopped them painting the walls). She also is often compared to [name_f]Carrie[/name_f] in how she juggles a lot of things, currently being involved in local advocacy for rescue animals, as well as attending yoga classes twice a week.
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[name_f]Lucy[/name_f] [name_u]June[/name_u] [name_m]Smith[/name_m] (26) is Sophie’s younger sister. [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] is getting married this summer, and isn’t sure if she wants [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] to be her maid of honor. She’s been obsessed with this question for months – years, even. Because while she and [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] weren’t close during their childhood, they have gotten closer over the years, and [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] was very surprised (and frankly offended) that [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] chose [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] over her. Why wouldn’t [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] choose her loving sister instead? [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] never brought it up but it has definitely run freely in her mind since that wedding. Truthfully, [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] has always felt left behind. Her younger sister, [name_f]Olivia[/name_f], is definitely her best friend – for sure. But [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] always wanted to be part of [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] and Elsa’s tight duo. At family events, [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] would ask if she could play with them, but the age gap was just big enough for them to not have the same interests, and too small for them to fawn over a “baby”. So [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] and [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] ended up being much more silly and mischievous than [name_f]Sophie[/name_f], and [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] pretended she hated her big sister for a long time so that she didn’t feel sad about it.
Now though, [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] has pretty much gotten over Sophie’s wedding – but isn’t sure if it’s right to have her as her maid of honor. [name_f]Carrie[/name_f] has told her that this is not something to get revenge over, but that has always been part of Lucy’s personality. In the end, it will most likely be [name_f]Olivia[/name_f], who is Lucy’s maid of honor, but it still is something that has been hurting Lucy’s mind for so long. She wants to show [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] that she loves her and wants to get closer with her older sister. As a little girl, she loved how similar [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] looked to her and pretended she was her twin. Her fiance has been very kind and helpful through out this, and supports her either way. The two of them have strong feelings on having kids, and both of them have “middle sibling trauma”. If they do end up having kids, it will only be one or two, and they will be close in age. For now, they are very happy with their kitten [name_f]Raya[/name_f].
[name_f]Lucy[/name_f] is very close with her great grandmama [name_f]Else[/name_f]. She always has, and is actually super excited for Elsa’s baby to be born, so that [name_f]Else[/name_f] has a great-great-grandchild. She always wanted to have a chid in time for [name_f]Else[/name_f] to meet them, but it doesn’t look like she’s going to have a kid soon. [name_f]Else[/name_f] has made it to 100 though, and she’s still going strong, so [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] still holds hope that her beloved great-grandmama will get to hold her baby someday.
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[name_m]Kiel[/name_m] [name_u]Timothy[/name_u] Maxwell-Orme (26) is [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] and Lucy’s cousin and one of Elsa’s paternal half-siblings in the family. He’s been a middle child as well to his maternal siblings but he’s also felt “middle” in terms of his half-siblings, being born to the second wife of Mr. [name_u]Maxwell[/name_u], Ms. [name_m]Orme[/name_m]. To some degree he gets Lucy’s frustration and feels like she needs more time to cope, but feels people can do whatever they want for their family members, not because it’s “owed”. [name_m]Kiel[/name_m] himself wasn’t the Best [name_u]Man[/name_u] at Sophie’s wedding, just a groomsman, since the Best [name_u]Man[/name_u] was a relative of Sophie’s wife. He feels it would be the same way for Lucy’s wedding, which he’s hoping for anyway. [name_m]Kiel[/name_m] isn’t much of a spotlight person and he was always the one who wanted an ensemble role back in school plays, never a speaking part. If [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] wants a different maid of honour, it’s her choice but it should be because she genuinely wants the person to play the role, not out of dishonour. After all, some honour names have ran in the family without the intention that the honoured has to “pay the honourer back” by naming a kid after said honourer. Ironically [name_m]Kiel[/name_m] and one of his friends both named their childhood hamsters after each other. [name_m]Kiel[/name_m] remembers his hamster dying and his cousins thought at first it was his childhood friend dying so that was quite an awkward moment. Now his friend has children
not named after [name_m]Kiel[/name_m], which he’s cool with. He’s close with his siblings although he remembers when he needed advice from [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] and tried to be as respectful as he can on this. In terms of his cousins, he is close with [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] and [name_f]Lucy[/name_f], but closest with the youngest [name_f]Olivia[/name_f]. He likes how she’s laid back with her cooking and being a good sibling without turning against people.
[name_m]Kiel[/name_m] himself is a paramedic so he’s used to fast action, saving lives, revival, and quite frankly, little sleep. He will get up at night to answer calls and drive the ambulance. He’s learning how to operate emergency helicopters as well and takes flight school on the side to get educated. He’s often busy which is why he’s not letting drama stress him out during his already eventful career. He’s happy for Elsa’s upcoming baby, Lucy’s upcoming wedding, and Else’s upcoming…title of great-great grandmother? As for [name_m]Kiel[/name_m] himself, he’s already had his big moment – he’s recently bought a nice house, inviting them family there often. He’s not trying to brag on estates but he’s happy to be comfortable there. He’s let family stay there and while he’s the sole owner, he’s considered possible roommates. He’s currently letting one of his siblings stay with him in his house at the moment as long as the place is clean. [name_m]Kiel[/name_m] has had a friend of his ask to do a gender reveal party at his house which [name_m]Kiel[/name_m] felt odd about since this baby-to-be had no relation to him and he felt that friend was just using him for the estate. So he declined and the friend did it at her grandmother’s house and ended up trashing the place. All [name_m]Kiel[/name_m] can be happy for is that it wasn’t his place…and that it didn’t end up harmful at least. He sides with [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] on opposition to dangerous ways to gender reveal a baby and really enjoyed the personal card. [name_m]Kiel[/name_m] loves cards and always creates his own very crafty, so he enjoyed the personalisation of Elsa’s card for him as well as her kindness on everyone’s personal cards. Admittedly [name_m]Kiel[/name_m] used to be afraid to talk to [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] in childhood because he didn’t want he and his siblings to feel like they were “replacing” her so he didn’t consult her often even if he wanted to. Thankfully the relationship between him and his siblings, both full and half, are close and loyal now and he keeps his past family fears just a blink-and-you-miss distant memory.
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[name_f]Olivia[/name_f] [name_f]May[/name_f] [name_m]Smith[/name_m] (24) - known professionally as [name_f]Livia[/name_f] [name_u]Maxwell[/name_u] - is the baby of Kiel’s trio of cousins, who’s currently been jetsetting a lot given her modelling career is seeing major successes. Considered to be carefree and fun-loving, Olivia’s single status - and open disinterest in having a wedding - have relieved [name_m]Kiel[/name_m] a lot given the Lucy-Sophie grudge situation, and the fact the third-born daughter is someone free from holding on to resentment assures him a lot. On the contrary, Olivia’s arguably too forgiving, always wanting to see good in others and offering second chances to those undeserving, which has made her mother offer another kind of advice: trusting her instincts.
Growing up, [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] struggled with her own sense of belonging in the family. She wasn’t blind to Lucy’s desire to hang out with [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] and [name_f]Sophie[/name_f], leading to [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] sometimes feeling like a consolation prize of sorts, who was convenient opposed to actually being preferred company. This is something [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] keeps private though, having only confided in her parents and best friend about this feeling, as she sees Lucy’s in a more positive place now and doesn’t want to stir up troubles in the wake of the wedding planning.
The whole maid of honour drama was so exhausting [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] didn’t even bother talking to anyone about it, as she just wanted things to be settled between her sisters’, even if she didn’t tell [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] that [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] being given that honour made absolute sense to her, especially given [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] served in that role for their cousin. [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] knows that her own abstinence from getting involved was an issue of its own - [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] potentially felt let down by her - but she’s self-aware about her own sensitivity and didn’t want to create more issues with her upset.
Currently Olivia’s still living at home when she finishes up her shoots abroad, but this isn’t something to phase her. The sentimental qualities of her nature means being close to family is what she prefers, even if her dad jokingly grumbles about Olivia’s expansive wardrobe that takes up the majority of her bedroom. Recently she’s also took up a new hobby: pottery. This is something [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] was introduced to by a friend from school, and she’s putting a lot of effort into it, even if she’s under no illusions about the poor quality of her current creations.
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[name_m]Justice[/name_m] [name_f]Anthea[/name_f] McNeil, nee Sandelwood (31) is the older sister of Lucy’s fiance and acquaintance of the rest of the [name_m]Smith[/name_m] family, although the two aren’t especially close, partly because of how the age gap between her and the middle of the Sandelwood siblings means they didn’t spend much time together untill they grew older. There wasn’t really an intention by Mr and Mrs Sandelwood to wait 5 years between the births of each of their children, it was just something that ended up happening, but it hasn’t led to total detachment as they once feared could occur.
Unlike with the [name_m]Smith[/name_m] sisters, [name_m]Justice[/name_m] and her two siblings are ‘even’ in their relationships, as she calls it. There’s no best friend pairing or sense of displacement thanks to a cousin, they’ve always existed in their own bubbles so to speak, meaning there isn’t a sense of resentment as to how interactions go about. It doesn’t mean [name_m]Justice[/name_m] thinks everyone should echo this though, she just wants her brother to not feel he has to take any sides when it comes to his in-laws, so [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] getting over her resentment of [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] has been a relief to not just him.
Being married with two children of her own now (her 3 year old son and 9 month old daughter), while working as an assistant lecturer in [name_f]English[/name_f] Literature means that Justice’s life tends to be fairly hectic, not that she’d have it any other way. She met her husband while they were both working as lifeguard’s as uni students, and served as the ‘voices of reason’ at the pool: namely being brave enough to confront entitled parents who didn’t believe in health and safety. Although their natural leader natures mean people assume this must cause clashes, the truth is the opposite, it helps the couple coordinate organising and finding some time for each other while raising their young family.
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[name_m]Amadi[/name_m] [name_m]Cleon[/name_m] Sandelwood (26) is Justice’s brother and Lucy’s fiancé, who’s very close with his sister despite the age gap. He’s a fan of bowling and loves old wresling video games even though he never cares about actually wrestling or watching it on TV. [name_m]Amadi[/name_m] loves having siblings and is close with he and Justice’s other sibling as well, doing many activities together. He loves his family and feels he can turn to them for support even though he fears what’s really on his mind. [name_m]Amadi[/name_m] has wanted to discuss to [name_f]Livia[/name_f] and her sisters the real truth behind his wedding drama, but worries others wouldn’t be okay. The reason why he and [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] are so unsure about stuff is more than just a maid-of-honour dilemma. The truth is, Amadi’s feeling like they’re not getting what they want out of the planning. It’s going by too fast, they regret not budgeting beforehand, and [name_m]Amadi[/name_m] feels the plans so far are nothing about him. Not that they’re all about [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] getting her way, he just feels the two of them were pushing too hard about making it all frilly and romantic without considering what they actually
want. [name_m]Amadi[/name_m] hasn’t even chosen a Best [name_m]Man[/name_m] yet and is too worried about similar drama to pick one. Both his siblings know he’s nervous and tell him it’s okay, and [name_m]Amadi[/name_m] feels some solace being able to talk about subjects with them that aren’t wedding planning.
In fact, [name_m]Amadi[/name_m] would go as far as saying he would have rather enjoyed engaged life with [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] rather than immediately jumping into talking about marriage. It’s not that he doesn’t want to marry her, it’s just that he’s worried the actual marriage would be just as stressful as planning. [name_m]Amadi[/name_m] has an ironically eloquent career but it hasn’t stopped people from talking about the wedding, only helping him avoid being in a negative light when he changes the subject. He knows people have already bought or have thought about buying gifts. He’s actually seen more hype from wedding guests than the people who have roles in the wedding. A date for the wedding is already chosen. He and [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] have already decided what they’re wearing that day and they’ve decided on the banquet hall they’re holding the wedding. [name_m]Amadi[/name_m] wanted an outdoor wedding but was advised against it because of potential weather. He is wearing a light grey tuxedo with a pastel tie; he usually prefers black or subdued colours but his original choice looked “more like funeral wear” so he decided to let [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] decide his outfit. He feels he can’t argue with the planners because they’re too logical but he hopes for something for himself. He is honestly not excited for the wedding and wants that day to be over as quickly as possible so he can settle down with [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] on the actual marriage. He sees with the awkwardness on the maid of honour that other people may also not be excited but he has to put a happy face for this because they’ll only be more dreading if he is too. He relates with [name_f]Livia[/name_f] but rarely tells her since he feels it will ruin the mood more, but he wouldn’t be surprised if she knew. What [name_m]Amadi[/name_m] needs is more time. Everything feels too fast with planning and hype and he dearly loves [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] and their relationship even though they’re not married. So does that mean no wedding? Not quite, he knows they’ve dug and dug deeper and can’t imagine everything called off, especially since the couple doesn’t want to split. He’s just having a hard time admitting he wants a break.
[name_m]Justice[/name_m] is someone [name_m]Amadi[/name_m] turns to a lot since he finds her reasonable and they’ve related in many ways growing up. [name_m]Amadi[/name_m] took junior lifeguarding classes when [name_m]Justice[/name_m] first became a lifeguard because he found it very inspirational. While neither stayed in the positions, [name_m]Amadi[/name_m] still was inspired in a lot of ways by [name_m]Justice[/name_m] and now he has a career in public speaking. It helped him bond with Amadi’s husband as well and it’s made him happy as an uncle. [name_m]Amadi[/name_m] appreciates children a lot and agrees with how they play a role in the future. He hates when people say “for the children” in a way to boost their egos and virtue signal, which is why [name_m]Amadi[/name_m] gives reasonings specific to children when addressing topics about them. If he’s discussing topics about people in general, he’ll just say it helps people rather than a “think about the children” mentality to get more support. He’s supportive of what he knows about Elsa’s baby daughter to-be, believing she will be raised by great parents. Admittedly he would love to talk about the upcoming baby just to get attention off the wedding planning, but he also respects Elsa’s space and talks about other subjects too.
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[name_f]Vallia[/name_f] [name_f]Delphine[/name_f] McNeil (9 months) is Amadi’s niece, second born child of [name_m]Justice[/name_m], and ‘resident source of adorableness’ as her dad calls her - ‘cute’ is a word her brother hates being referred to as now, because he’s a trainee superhero y’know. Named in tribute to her mother, with [name_f]Vallia[/name_f] being a play on ‘valiant’, it hasn’t surprised anyone to see how much the little girl clings to her mom, always wanting to be close to her and in her company.
For [name_m]Amadi[/name_m], Vallia’s also been a source of comfort given the stresses he’s felt about impending wedding decisions. Being around her extended family makes her very happy, and this joy is infectious, something her parents are relieved about thanks to the stresses Amadis’ been facing. Of course this isn’t an end to things, far from it, but some relief from having to focus on the craziness isn’t anything [name_f]Vallia[/name_f] objects to providing.
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[name_m]Charlo[/name_m] “ [name_f]Char[/name_f] “ [name_m]Lucky[/name_m] Sandelwood (21) is Vallia’s auncle, the non-binary sibling of [name_m]Amadi[/name_m] and [name_m]Justice[/name_m]. [name_f]Char[/name_f] loves [name_f]Vallia[/name_f] sharing the curls they have and is also happy to see [name_f]Vallia[/name_f] and her brother. [name_f]Char[/name_f] always felt awkward being the youngest sibling and had a big fear of missing out, but is more than happy to be an auncle and not the youngest. [name_f]Char[/name_f] was a very inquisitive child and often tried to get involved in news if it piqued their interest. [name_f]Char[/name_f] admittedly knew more than they should in terms of personal business but they weren’t trying to be nosy, just curious. When they overheard one of the neighbours moving away and being unable to take the cat with them, [name_f]Char[/name_f] remembers trying to spend their allowance to buy the cat from them. Thankfully their family was understanding and they did end up keeping the cat. While [name_f]Char[/name_f] cringes at some of their past frenzies, they fully stand by getting that adorable kitty.
Although [name_f]Char[/name_f] was near impossible to keep away from stuff, that doesn’t quite mean that they want [name_f]Vallia[/name_f] or her brother involved in family drama. Especially now at a turning point where [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] is starting to get along more. People are happy [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] isn’t using grudges against them anymore. [name_f]Char[/name_f] is still in a pickle in terms of how [name_m]Amadi[/name_m] is due to his worries on wedding planning. [name_f]Char[/name_f] naturally was able to realise that [name_m]Amadi[/name_m] is very stressed out over the wedding. However he knows things are going better for [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] with her family so he doesn’t want to make things downhill again. [name_f]Char[/name_f] agreed to not tell anyone what [name_m]Amadi[/name_m] thought until he worked it out himself. While they feel reluctant, they’ll obey for the sake of Lucy’s rekindling. [name_f]Char[/name_f] asked if [name_m]Amadi[/name_m] is promising of Lucy’s change or heart and he said yes, and he’s not just lying out of love for her. [name_f]Char[/name_f] questions if this is the right choice but is adamant on not telling, just to avoid another family calamity of telling something they were told not to tell.
Needless to say, [name_f]Char[/name_f] is happy with [name_f]Vallia[/name_f] and the other McNeil sibling. They love their positive energy and can see it in all their family’s enjoyment of the kids. [name_f]Char[/name_f] has never really thought about having kids in the future and has thought a lot about jobs and their own non-binary identity but nonetheless, it doesn’t mean they feels less about [name_m]Justice[/name_m] or her children. [name_f]Char[/name_f] had a feeling [name_m]Justice[/name_m] wanted children anyway. [name_f]Char[/name_f] currently works in a construction company specialised in building shelters and habitats for those in need. They also build houses for people in poverty and find this the most rewarding. [name_f]Char[/name_f] has always been an open person and rarely favours anyone, so they like being able to know that the structures can support and protect people. They have a “bubble” as [name_m]Justice[/name_m] calls it, alongside [name_m]Amadi[/name_m], so the three never felt like anyone was trying to outdo the others. [name_f]Char[/name_f] loves superheroes especially a team of heroes and has a lot of teamwork ethic. They also feel that way with their nephew, Vallia’s brother, who can happily discuss what would make the perfect superhero team.
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[name_f]Maya[/name_f] [name_f]Roxanne[/name_f] Maxwell-Orme (25) is Char’s potential in-law who works as a swimsuit model. She thinks [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] is kind but says [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] should be more mature. As in, adapting with her family and not pointing out every reason against them. She has no ill will and she dreams of a good marriage on her and [name_m]Amadi[/name_m]. She was firm growing up but has chilled significantly, thanks to her girlfriend. Neither have dated a woman prior to each other. Right now she models local brands and is excited for her own role as a bridesmaid.
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[name_f]Shauna[/name_f] [name_f]Leanne[/name_f] [Orme] [name_m]Smith[/name_m] (57) is Maya’s aunt and some would call the matriarch of the family currently. Owning her own successful restaurant, Shauna’s always been a bit of a perfectionist, a trait shared by her brother - Maya’s dad - however they’re not the sort of people to apply undue pressure to their children. [name_f]Shauna[/name_f] only has one child herself, as she admits her career became so hectic it wasn’t reasonable to try conceiving before or after the birth of her daughter, who she loves dearly, and never fails in expressing her pride in [even if this embarassed [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] a little when she was younger].
[name_f]Olivia[/name_f], is commonly mistaken for [name_f]Livia[/name_f] [name_m]Maxwell[/name_m], the model, as they share a name. This is more complicated as [name_f]Livia[/name_f] and [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] are both related to [name_f]Maya[/name_f] and their names being identical was a coincidence neither part of the family realised until their birth certificates were finalised. To make things a little less complicated, Shauna’s always called her daughter [name_m]Olly[/name_m] to distinguish the two further, a name only used by close family members and friends - to most, [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] is always [name_f]Olivia[/name_f].
For how she’s a bit competitive, [name_f]Shauna[/name_f] wasn’t actually bothered by this accident and never compares the girls to one another, even if some people assume she’d be inclined towards this. Her Olivia’s success is something [name_f]Shauna[/name_f] praises but never puts others down using. When she and her brother were children, their father would sometimes use this tactic in the belief it encouraged them, however all it really did was create stress and tension between them as siblings, something they had to work on to avoid becoming a repetitive issue as they aged. Thankfully, this spirit hasn’t been passed on to their children.
Olivia’s credited to @Lindseylloyd052399
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CW: sexism
[name_f]Deanne[/name_f] " [name_f]Dena[/name_f] " [name_f]Victoria[/name_f] Orme-Kendall (63) is Shauna’s sister-in-law and parent to her niece and nephew. While she chose to stop after her daughter was born, [name_f]Dena[/name_f] jokes her kids decided to combat this by giving her 7 grandchildren between them, aged between 10 and 4 months. They’re the absolute lights of Dena’s life now, and she’s the first person to offer to babysit when needs be, although this doesn’t mean any of her extended family get let out, including [name_f]Olivia[/name_f], who the kids love spending time with.
To those [name_f]Dena[/name_f] works with, her natural talent for being a grandma is a surprise, as she can seem a bit standoffish in the work environment. She’s an editor for a magazine specialising in financial news and upon starting her career, faced a lot of sexism from those above her. [name_f]Dena[/name_f] had to fight a lot to get where she is, however she’s not the sort to project onto other women in the workplace, and does all she can to uplift her colleagues and employees, even if she isn’t straight forward in how she goes about this.
Her husband has retired recently and they’re quite the odd couple, as he’s always joking about something, but this sense of fun is why [name_f]Dena[/name_f] fell in love with him over 40 years ago. She’s fully aware of how serious she always is and being with someone who could cheer her up and help her relax is so important, with her husband likewise appreciating how pragmatic and responsible she is when it comes to her loved one’s.
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[name_f]Amanda[/name_f] [name_f]Marie[/name_f] Orme-Kendall (34) is Dena’s daughter who is also a strong woman. She is a hardworking single mother. She does not know which of the two guys she was with was their father. But it doesn’t change her. She teaches voice acting and loves summer reading. Her family confuses people. It’s not a problem for her. She is silly and spontaneous.
[name_f]Catherine[/name_f] [name_f]Dorathea[/name_f] Maxwell-Orme (30) is Amanda’s paternal cousin and technically a niece-in-law to [name_f]Dena[/name_f]. Admittedly she feels bad for Amanda’s situation as a single mother, though she admires her coping. She’s never met either of the believed fathers to Amanda’s kids and she’d rather not get involved with it. It seems [name_f]Amanda[/name_f] doesn’t care who the father is, though [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] herself couldn’t relate. [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] worries she might be the “absent one” in the family. Not in a parental sense since she knows she doesn’t want kids, but more so that she takes a lot of breaks and vacations, worried that sometimes her family would misperceive her. Catherine’s friend comes from a small family, and sometimes [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] wishes she had the same. It’s just so overwhelming for her to deal with: “I’m not
that Olivia”, “Actually we’re cousins”, “That’s not my last name!”, and more personal remarks like: “Your mother wasn’t my best wife”, “Why wasn’t I MOH in her wedding?”, “This wedding stuff is making me unhappy anyway”, and “Being a single mother is so stressful, but it’s rewarding, trust me.” It’s not that [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] doesn’t like her family, it’s just that she needs her own time because being around so many people at once is so frustrating. Though the wedding of [name_f]June[/name_f] and [name_m]Amadi[/name_m] thankfully went smoothly. The wedding was a nice traditional ceremony and the couple realised that marriage is so much more than just the wedding itself. They kept their wedding minimalist but their marriage fun and spontaneous. And thankfully everyone in the family enjoyed it with no conflicts.
Sometimes [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] feels pressure from her parents since she’s the eldest Maxwell-Orme of her siblings, but at least she’s glad not to be the eldest overall, because she can’t imagine more stress. Of course the real eldest is 101-year-old [name_f]Else[/name_f], who ironically only had one child. [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] wishes she was like [name_f]Else[/name_f] in her mindset and feels peace like that is why [name_f]Else[/name_f] lives so long. Though she’s understood Else’s life is far different now than when she was born, new people are entering but unfortunately the people she knew back then have all died. Catherine’s never thought of it that way. While she’s enjoyed her time for herself, she’s never wanted her family to “just die”. [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] works at an apartment complex so she’s sometimes stressed being around people who rent it out, though thankfully there’s not many rule breakers. She likes having a lot of time to vacation at least when she’s not at work. [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] loves to snorkel at the beach and to rock out at open mic nights and feels these are her true callings when she gets the chance. Still, she knows her family needs her and she’s not the type to irrationally lash out at people who want to be included. She truthfully has no idea how [name_f]Amanda[/name_f] can handle single parenting. [name_f]Nor[/name_f] can she understand Dena’s amazing grandparent nature, especially after the misogyny she went through. [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] is strong and has a fearless mentality, but really she’s had fears in her life and just overcame them. She doesn’t believe anyone can truly be completely fearless and believes everyone has to have something they fear. [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] just chooses not to let it hold her back, because her biggest fear…is being held back.
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[name_m]Stephen[/name_m] [name_m]Howard[/name_m] Inmate (34) works with [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] and is thrilled at the potential of being a father of Amanda’s children. While with [name_f]Amanda[/name_f], he became involved in various extracurricular activities, including making origami and papier-mâché. His trust and love earned Amanda’s respect, and he was given a lifetime of close and precious moments with [name_f]Amanda[/name_f] Orme-Kendall.
In his free time, he admires looking at the sky, and seeing buildings from afar. He dreams of living in a big and bustling city. He loves fresh air and enjoys rain. He wants to be a father one day, to doting little children and hopes [name_f]Amanda[/name_f] is their mother. He is aware there’s another guy, but his passion and enthusiasm gives him a desire to step in and accept fatherhood himself. People are close and dear to him.
