CAF With A Twist (Add-On Picture CAF)


[name_f]Emryn[/name_f] “ [name_f]Emma[/name_f] “ [name_f]Desiree[/name_f] Hardle (10) is one of Naomi’s friends, and while she isn’t the daughter of teen parents, she’s close with her Uncle [name_u]Reggie[/name_u], who is 24 with no children. She and [name_f]Naomi[/name_f] have been friends since age 6, when they were in the same class together, and they weren’t in the same class for the next 3 years, but made their friendship stay strong with the help of [name_f]Maya[/name_f] and [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f]. [name_f]Emma[/name_f] and [name_f]Naomi[/name_f] are finally in the same class again this year which always makes them happy. [name_f]Emma[/name_f] is one that likes to dress “girly but comfortable” and she has a lot of dresses, but they’re relatively casual dresses. [name_f]Emma[/name_f] gets this from her mother, who loves maxi dresses and [name_f]Emma[/name_f] claims she is going to do the same when she’s a mother too. [name_f]Emma[/name_f] knows one of she and Naomi’s buddies has separated parents and is worried these parents might get a divorce. [name_f]Naomi[/name_f] has been really close to this girl and has tried to help her navigate although [name_f]Naomi[/name_f] herself is worried this girl could feel distanced away from a side of her family, much like [name_f]Naomi[/name_f] is with her maternal side. [name_f]Emma[/name_f], [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f], and [name_f]Maya[/name_f] often make [name_f]Naomi[/name_f] feel better when she’s had doubts in her family life, something the Ballis family sometimes wishes for their circle of friends at times.

[name_f]Emma[/name_f] often comforts [name_f]Naomi[/name_f] when she feels “stuck in the middle”, especially having a parent like that, but more in the literal sense. This parent was the middle child between an older sibling who currently has a position on city council and is running for mayor alongside the youngest [name_u]Reggie[/name_u] who may be much younger at 24, but is already married and is the only one who wants to take up the role as heir to the Hardle parents’ coffee shop. [name_u]Truth[/name_u] is, that middle didn’t care for leadership, but felt pressure given the sibling dynamics. Neither of Emma’s parents really liked leadership and felt simply being parents to [name_f]Emma[/name_f] and her younger sister was enough. [name_f]Emma[/name_f] on the other hand likes it, although not as much as before. She used to always feel on top with her younger sister because she was the older one, but she’s come to her senses that her sister isn’t even 2 years younger than her, so she doesn’t need to be led by a 10-year-old. Still, [name_f]Emma[/name_f] is a kindhearted and comforting individual since the tragic passing of her sister’s goldfish [name_m]Bubba[/name_m]. [name_f]Emma[/name_f] is more of a collaborator now than a leader especially given her friend group although [name_f]Emma[/name_f] is a smart kid aspiring into the engineering part of STEM. [name_f]Emma[/name_f] loves to invite [name_f]Naomi[/name_f] over for sleepovers and [name_f]Emma[/name_f] is also a big fan of pop music and chick flicks, something everyone in her family knows.

Reggie was created by me.

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[name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] [name_f]Bonnie[/name_f] Vessing (10) is the third member of the quartet, and generally presents herself as a fountain of knowledge, albeit a lot of this is second hand information. The daughter of a couple’s therapist, [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] often asks her mom for insight into things, and she’s usually met with kid appropriate feedback [although this doesn’t stop her from trying to eavesdrop on conversations between her mom and colleagues sometimes]. It’s always just between the two of them against the world, so Scarlett’s valuing of her mother is amplified by her increasing understanding of why her dad isn’t in the picture - and it’s undeniable who she considers her greatest hero to be, not that hiding it’s ever something she does.

There was a point where Scarlett’s mom was close friends with Naomi’s mother, however their relationship has been strained since Dr. Vessing cautioned against the relationship she was getting into with [name_m]Aaron[/name_m], feeling it was a substitution and quick fix for dealing with unaddressed attachment Naomi’s parents still had for one another. To say the conversation went poorly would be an understatement.

In spite of this, there was never any insistence the girls’ shouldn’t continue their friendship, and Scarlett’s does her best to offer [name_f]Naomi[/name_f] concrete answers for things. She’s got a tenacious side to her too, and has no problem arguing with the richer kids [name_f]Naomi[/name_f] hangs out with, many of whom can’t fathom or relate to the fact Scarlett’s from a single parent household: a deep source of frustration for her. Scarlett’s father left before she was born, citing the expectations of parenthood weren’t viable for him [which translated into him not wanting to give up his bachelor lifestyle and take responsibility for a child]. Too many questions about him push Scarlett’s buttons, and she isn’t the sort of person to hold back her comments when frustrated.

Thankfully, her mom’s found a positive outlet for this by encouraging her to join the debate team - something Scarlett’s already loving - and she journals her thoughts and feelings more. The future is something she’s more conflicted about. Part of [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] wants to follow her mom’s footsteps and focus on counselling other’s, however she also wants to fight for what she considers important, and knows activism would enable this. [name_f]Emma[/name_f], [name_f]Maya[/name_f] and [name_f]Naomi[/name_f] have convinced her she doesn’t have to decide right now though: a good thing, given Scarlett’s mastered the art of complaining when she feels like it.

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[name_f]Maya[/name_f] [name_f]Lois[/name_f] Gamden (10) is the last member of the group. [name_f]Maya[/name_f] is loud and funny, but she also keeps the peace. When [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] gets to be too much of a show-off or know-it-all, she always helps to dial it down. She’s been friends with [name_f]Naomi[/name_f] since they were 5 years old, when [name_f]Maya[/name_f] moved into the same apartment complex as Naomi’s father. When they found out they were in the same class the next year, they were both so excited, and they’ve been besties ever since.

[name_f]Maya[/name_f] lives with her mom, dad, and her older sister. Maya’s parents own a coffee shop and she spends many afternoons there. She likes to hang out in the break room. All the employees love [name_f]Maya[/name_f] and her sister [name_f]Elaina[/name_f], and [name_f]Maya[/name_f] loves them too. Her favorite is [name_u]Gabby[/name_u], the cool college student who works as a barista and always gives her the freshest scones and muffins. The apartment is right around the corner from the coffee shop, and on the way to school, so [name_f]Maya[/name_f] and [name_f]Naomi[/name_f] often stop there before or after school for a treat.

While [name_f]Maya[/name_f] hates the snobby rich kids at her school, she often finds herself wondering how [name_f]Naomi[/name_f] doesn’t like her mom’s house. She imagines herself living in that big home, with its huge backyard and the pool she doesn’t have to share with the loud and annoying neighbors. She also loves going to Emma’s house, since she has a trampoline and a dog, two things [name_f]Maya[/name_f] would die for. Still, she loves the apartment and the coffee shop, and all the friends she has there.

[name_f]Maya[/name_f] loves being in leadership. She likes to take charge but that job usually goes to [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f], so leadership allows her to be well, a leader, at least for a little bit. She also likes volunteering at the animal shelter, homeless shelter, and elderly home with her mom and sister. [name_f]Maya[/name_f] is also on her swim team and is very good. She’s made county in butterfly, backstroke, and freestyle! She likes to help out at the snack shack with her mom and her swim team friends, and she also likes to play with her friend Katie’s little siblings, [name_m]Anders[/name_m] and [name_u]Shiloh[/name_u], who are 5 and 3.

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[name_f]Katrina[/name_f] ’ [name_f]Katie[/name_f] ’ [name_u]Hadley[/name_u] Rixton (10) is Maya’s friend from the swim team, who exists in a group outside of the quartet. Within their duo, [name_f]Maya[/name_f] is definitely the leader, something Katie’s always comfortable with. This originated when [name_f]Katie[/name_f] was invited to participate in competitions, and her anxious nature meant she almost turned down the offer, until [name_f]Maya[/name_f] stepped in and offered to help her prepare for this. It turned out to be for the best on two levels: not only has [name_f]Katie[/name_f] developed more social confidence, but she’s also a very talented swimmer, who’s come to see her capabilities by belonging to the team.

There have been a few occasions when Maya’s hung out with Katie’s friends, but they tend to come from that rich kid bracket she has no time or tolerance for. Thankfully, there haven’t been any fights between the girls, but everyone can tell there’s underlying tension, and [name_f]Katie[/name_f] feels it’s best to separate people rather than keep pushing for unity. While not as wealthy as some of her peers, Katie’s father is a very successful lawyer, and this is why she’s accepted by the upper crust kids; although more charitably, her sincerity at wanting everyone to be happy is appreciated.

At home, [name_f]Katie[/name_f] proves to be more assertive, helping maintain some order when [name_m]Anders[/name_m] and [name_u]Shiloh[/name_u] are running riot: teaming up to create as much mess and chaos as possible. Mrs. Rixton works from home as a journalist for the local tourism board, and [name_f]Katie[/name_f] clearly hero worships her, considering her elegant and strong willed in every impressive sense. Both of her parents are equally supportive of Katie’s swimming pursuits though, and she’s started to wonder if she should aspire for the Olympics, but hasn’t quite dared to say it yet…

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Warning: Unlikable bully.

[name_f]Icelynn[/name_f] [name_f]Makayla[/name_f] [name_u]Remington[/name_u] (10) is Katie’s friend, who doesn’t really like [name_f]Maya[/name_f] and her friends. She spread a rumour that [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] was being a show-off and know-it-all to cover up that she is both of those things. She told [name_f]Maya[/name_f], who had had been worried about this, but thanks to [name_f]Emma[/name_f] and [name_f]Naomi[/name_f], they made sure to keep the group friendship going and to patch up any misunderstandings from the gossip. [name_f]Icelynn[/name_f] didn’t actually want to break up their group, she just wanted to make things interesting. She and [name_f]Katie[/name_f] live on a street with several rich families, except there’s one empty lot randomly in the middle of the neighbourhood. According to [name_f]Icelynn[/name_f], the lot stays empty because it’s haunted. Here’s how she tells the story.

Empty Haunted [name_f]Lot[/name_f]

“Before the houses were built on the lot, all of them were empty. The land was run by a group of phantom worshippers. No, not devil worshippers, just phantom worshippers. The phantom worshippers held séances but used big bonfires instead of just candles. This way, they could get more phantoms in at once. In additions to phantoms; they also got spirits, ghouls, ghosts, spectres, and poltergeists. No, they’re not all the same, I swear. Spirits were the nicest of the bunch. However, they all stopped being friendly once the houses were being built. The phantom worshippers rebelled but they were overtaken by the rich builders who bought their way in and bribed the group with money if the houses went on the land. Any phantoms and likewise were exorcised after the homes were built to prevent them from being haunted, but many of these beings escaped into the last empty lot. The builders attempted to build a house there and bribed the phantom worshippers, but the phantoms and likewise overruled them all and haunted the builders, preventing the last lot from being built upon. The builders were never seen again and anyone who walks on that lot is never seen again. In addition, anyone who walks on these streets who doesn’t already live there will be possessed.

[name_f]Icelynn[/name_f] will tell the story to anyone who will listen, with mixed results. Some kids think she just made it up to avoid non-rich people from visiting the street her family lives on. Some think Icelynn’s also-bratty older sister made it up. Other children Icelynn’s age believe it’s definitely real, given the empty lot looks spookier than the other houses, in which [name_f]Icelynn[/name_f] responds, “Get off our streets then”. [name_f]Icelynn[/name_f] herself doesn’t seem to be afraid of it and claims it’s because she already lives on the street so she’s unaffected. Many of the group members can’t verify the story and some get in debates over that but most usually go with it regardless of beliefs if it creeps out people they don’t care for. [name_f]Icelynn[/name_f] isn’t too interested in horror otherwise although she does have a black cat but doesn’t find the cat scary because he’s a purebred.

[name_f]Katie[/name_f] gets along with [name_f]Icelynn[/name_f] and the rich friend group for the most part although some people on the swim team tell her that [name_f]Icelynn[/name_f] is a bad influence. Deep down, [name_f]Katie[/name_f] wants happiness for people and that includes [name_f]Icelynn[/name_f]. [name_f]Icelynn[/name_f] swims too but isn’t on a team and only takes private lessons. She calls herself a team player but definitely isn’t. [name_f]Icelynn[/name_f] and her older sister don’t want jobs when they’re adults because they believes they don’t need them with the money they live off. [name_f]Icelynn[/name_f] isn’t much of a dreamer and considers dreams to be for “fools” but makes exceptions with her friends like [name_f]Katie[/name_f]. She would love to see [name_f]Katie[/name_f] be an Olympic swimmer. She believes [name_f]Katie[/name_f] has potential to succeed and that she’s the best swimmer on the team. While [name_f]Icelynn[/name_f] and her friends are very rich in their families, their group happens to be surprisingly equal on friendship and they all agreed not to have a “group leader” and to all take charge at the same level.

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[name_f]Valaida[/name_f] " [name_f]Lainey[/name_f] " [name_f]Brianne[/name_f] [name_u]Remington[/name_u] (17) is Icelynn’s older sister and the suspected creator of the tale of the Empty Haunted [name_f]Lot[/name_f]. It’s not a surprise that people suspect [name_f]Icelynn[/name_f] will take on more of Lainey’s traits as she gets older, given that she’s still ruled by snobby attitudes and bratty inclinations with her final year of high school impending post-summer break. The only obvious maturity [name_f]Lainey[/name_f] has in comparison to her sister is she never claims to be a team player: she’s firmly out for herself and her interests, but given the mass of the [name_u]Remington[/name_u] fortune - never mind all the connections her father’s forged over the years - she’s never going to use finances against those she’s friends with.

She’s friends with the school’s wealthy elite, and to give some mercy to her peers, doesn’t interact with those she’d be a total nuisance to. When she was readying to leave middle school, [name_f]Valaida[/name_f] asked her father why she couldn’t attend the local Catholic private academy, and was disappointed when he replied that he went through public school and felt it was important his daughters’ did this too. Really this is because - deep down - [name_f]Lainey[/name_f] knows she’s perceived as out of touch and overly spoiled by a lot of classmates, whereas at a school solely for her immediate peers, these traits wouldn’t raise a single eyebrow [well except from the teachers].

[name_f]Lainey[/name_f] and Icelynn’s mother grew up as a sociliate, which is why they’re both so infatuated with following this trend. She does put in some effort academically - it’s terribly uncouth failing your exams after all or averaging a D on report cards - but if there’s a family event to attend, [name_f]Lainey[/name_f] has no problem showing up without homework and shrugging off any questions. Her ultimate favourite subject is geography, as she would like to travel and maybe even involve herself in philanthropy: her mom did it and she’s Lainey’s idol after all; however it doesn’t mean her performance in this class is consistently dedicated.

Something unique she’s teaching [name_f]Icelynn[/name_f] - who she can be dismissive of given shopping, hanging out with friends and attending water polo practice is way more important than ghost stories and kid drama - is to never depend too much on a romantic partner. [name_f]Lainey[/name_f] dated a guy [another extremely wealthy student at her school] in her freshman year, and found him very possessive and demanding, things her self-interest and uniquely independent spirit absolutely were not compatible with. Since breaking that off, she’s not really wanted to see anyone else, and in truth is content with her friends and own pursuits. While she’s not the most affectionate sister, [name_f]Valaida[/name_f] doesn’t want [name_f]Icelynn[/name_f] going through this as well, even if she’s tempted to hold her own exorcism to stop the repeating of the ghost story her sister’s so obsessed with.

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[name_u]Sable[/name_u] [name_u]Lynn[/name_u] [name_m]Hastings[/name_m] (10) is a classmate of [name_f]Naomi[/name_f], [name_f]Emma[/name_f], [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f], [name_f]Maya[/name_f], [name_f]Katie[/name_f] & [name_f]Icelynn[/name_f]. She is also the sister of one of Lainey’s friends, and is a true believer of the haunted house story. She is one of the main girls who tells the story to kids around her block, which is not the same block as [name_f]Icelynn[/name_f] and Lainey’s area. [name_u]Sable[/name_u] is very good at telling stories, and has even added her own twists to the tale.

She added to the tale that if a kid goes to the “haunted” lot, they will not only be possessed, but coming to the school will cause the ghosts to come to the school. Recently, one of the boys in the school, plus a friend of his, went to the haunted lot, and [name_f]Icelynn[/name_f] saw him and screamed “you’re in the lot! You’re now possessed!” And the boys ran out of the neighborhood on their bikes, fearful.

Now the two boys are avoided in the school, because it’s now believed the two kids are possessed. The two boys were cut off from the rest of the friend group, and they are deeply saddened by this, and are trying their best to convince the other kids that they aren’t possessed. The boys are scared though, because they actually believe they are possessed now, and the school is haunted.

This whole situation has caused chaos throughout the elementary school even to the younger kids up to 3rd grade. The school board is completely lost on how to handle the mass hysteria caused by the other students. [name_f]Icelynn[/name_f] and her friends are playing it up a bit, and enjoying the chaos thoroughly.

When you just now see the add-on CAFS and you get excited…

Tags: @CherryBomb50 @kitkatcookie @olivelovesnames @moonwriteen @I_meme_it

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[name_f]Aubree[/name_f] [name_f]Elise[/name_f] [name_m]Warner[/name_m] (21) is Sable’s cousin. She is currently in college studying to become a child psychologist. She often listens to Sable’s stories about the haunted house and tries to use them as case studies in her classes. [name_f]Aubree[/name_f] is fascinated by the power of suggestion and how it can affect people’s beliefs and actions. She is also an avid reader and enjoys writing short stories in her free time. [name_f]Aubree[/name_f] is a calm and level-headed person, and she is concerned about the mass hysteria caused by the haunted house story. She wants to help the affected children understand that it is just a story and that they are not actually possessed.

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[name_f]Hannah[/name_f] [name_u]Louise[/name_u] [name_u]Embry[/name_u] (20) is Aubree’s roommate. The two of them don’t share a major or many similarities, but they still enjoy each other’s company and will go out together. They met when they were paired as roommates, and quickly became friends.

[name_f]Hannah[/name_f] is majoring in Secondary Education and plays on the girl’s soccer team. She’s played soccer since kindergarten and loves it. Though she most likely won’t be playing after college, as she wants to become a teacher like her mom. She’s very close to her parents and her older brother, who support her in everything.

[name_f]Hannah[/name_f] has a close group of friends, made up of 4 girls and 2 boys. Her best friend is actually in the same class as [name_f]Aubree[/name_f], so sometimes they all hang out. [name_f]Hannah[/name_f], her best friend, and another friend are planning to get an apartment for their junior year of college, and share it. They have been planning and budgeting for months. Hannah’s boyfriend has been pitching in too, since he will most likely live with them.

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[name_u]Lauren[/name_u] [name_f]Jeanna[/name_f] Mandrakis (21) is Hannahs’ closest friend on her Secondary Education course, who’s planning on specialising in history based education, and a fellow member of her friend group. Growing up with the nickname ‘Mantis’ - as people couldn’t pronounce her surname easily - Laurens’ a very easygoing person, whose calmness influences others’ in a positive sense, helping chaos disappear from fraught situations. She’s going to be one of the roommates [name_f]Hannah[/name_f] moves in with next year, although it’s been a relief to [name_u]Lauren[/name_u] that the 4th girl in their group will be living with [name_f]Aubree[/name_f], so she won’t feel excluded from wider hangouts or dismissed.

Unlike a lot of her friends, who chose to attend university close by to their families, [name_u]Lauren[/name_u] moved pretty far from her family. It isn’t that she doesn’t love them or has had a poor upbringing, however [name_u]Lauren[/name_u] wanted to establish independence, in part thanks to having grown up in a small town where people usually don’t stray too far. Her wish to go further afield has been shared by her younger sister, who’s likewise planning on going to another state to study, so it’s a relief to [name_u]Lauren[/name_u] that her older sisters’ remained closeby, and her younger brother doesn’t want to follow his sisters’ footsteps.

When she isn’t enjoying history or fantasy books, documentaries and podcasts, [name_u]Lauren[/name_u] avidly plays D&D, belonging to her university’s society. She recently managed to convince her friend group to partake in a session and was delighted at how successful things went, in spite of some skepticism from one of the guys. It’s not like [name_u]Lauren[/name_u] insists everyone needs to have weekly meetings, but she’s found it’s really helped with her confidence in public speaking and giving presentations: much needed qualities for a teacher.

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Hongli " [name_u]Leo[/name_u] " [name_u]Ming[/name_u] (21) is another member of [name_f]Hannah[/name_f] and Lauren’s friend group. A biology student - who hopes to specialise in microbiology and pathology - Leo’s a second generation Chinese-American, who grew up with a strong connection to his heritage. He’s always made a point to involve his friends’ in celebrations, having had a Chinese [name_u]New[/name_u] Year party for the group earlier this year, which he co-hosted with his older sister, meaning their friend group’s mingled. Leo’s mom affectionately calls him ‘the adventurer’ of the family, as he loved exploring their garden as a kid and asking questions about everything, from the plants to visiting animals; leading to his enthusiasm for biology not being a surprise to anyone.

The family dog, a brown lab named [name_f]Mocha[/name_f], is still adored by [name_u]Leo[/name_u], who has a collage in his room detailing their closeness since the pup arrived at the family home when he was 10 and his sister was 12. He a pet turtle himself - [name_u]Teal[/name_u] - who lives in the flat he shares with his closest friend, the other male member of the friend group, and Teal’s come to be affectionately deemed their mascot. Within the dynamic, Leo’s not a leader figure, but he’s definitely one of the most outgoing, having always been eager to embrace the others and get to know them, being a natural when it comes to conversation. His attitude towards topics is open, although he admits some things - economics and sports - absolutely cause his brain to turn into a state of white noise.

Although he hasn’t admitted it, [name_u]Leo[/name_u] has some suspicions he may be developing feelings for [name_u]Lauren[/name_u]. It was during their D&D session - [name_u]Leo[/name_u] being very open to playing, given his lure towards exploring - that he started to realise his view of her was changing, however he hasn’t spoken about this with anyone [as he’s worried about her learning through the grapevine then not being able to articulate his thoughts in a panic]. There’s always just been something about their differences, small town opposed to big city, that’s drawn them to talk openly and freely, with [name_u]Leo[/name_u] always loving to hear her perspectives and thoughts. And his other fear is the group somehow lapsing into disarray should [name_u]Lauren[/name_u] not reciprocate his feelings or if their relationship ended on a sour note.


{friend 3/6}

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[name_f]Ava[/name_f] [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] [name_m]Chen[/name_m] (23) met [name_u]Leo[/name_u] through their shared love of biology and they quickly became close friends. Originally from San [name_m]Francisco[/name_m], [name_f]Ava[/name_f] moved to the city to attend college and study environmental science. Her passion for sustainability and conservation is infectious and she often organizes beach cleanups and volunteer projects for her friends to participate in. [name_f]Ava[/name_f] is also an avid photographer and loves capturing the beauty of nature through her lens. She has a younger brother who is currently studying abroad in Spain and they keep in touch through video calls. [name_f]Ava[/name_f] enjoys trying new foods and exploring the city’s hidden gems with her friends. She’s always there to offer a listening ear or a comforting hug when someone is feeling down.

(Friend 4/6)

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[name_m]Anstace[/name_m] [name_m]Brose[/name_m] [name_m]Warner[/name_m] (22) is a fellow best friend for [name_f]Ava[/name_f], [name_u]Leo[/name_u], [name_u]Lauren[/name_u], [name_f]Hannah[/name_f], and the remaining friend. He’s Aubree’s brother, which is why he knows [name_f]Hannah[/name_f] a lot since his sister is her roommate. He knows his own roommate [name_u]Leo[/name_u] the most of the group, helping pick out their pet and club mascot [name_u]Teal[/name_u] the turtle. [name_m]Anstace[/name_m] shares a lot of Aubree’s belief that the ghost story in the neighbourhood was fake and likely a prank, but unlike [name_f]Aubree[/name_f], he secretly believes in ghosts. (If there’s something strange in your neighbourhood, who ya gonna call? GHOSTBUSTERS!) But he doesn’t tell anyone other than [name_u]Leo[/name_u] and prefers to talk about ghosts when it’s actually spooky season! [name_m]Anstace[/name_m] loves Ghostbusters and likes how it’s funny and not scary. He does ironically love '80s slasher films, especially the ones that aren’t even good quality, just because it’s a guilty pleasure. [name_m]Anstace[/name_m] won’t watch it in front of people who are scared of it however since he respects it, but he likes to mock the movies for “looking so fake”. He likes how [name_u]Leo[/name_u] is very authentic celebrating Chinese [name_u]New[/name_u] Year and agrees the holiday is an exciting tradition. [name_m]Anstace[/name_m] tends to be a nerd over holidays and while he doesn’t culturally appropriate on Chinese [name_u]New[/name_u] Year or other cultural holidays, he dresses all decked out on other holidays. [name_u]Or[/name_u] the time on [name_f]April[/name_f] Fool’s [name_u]Day[/name_u] where he painted himself the same colour as the walls and jumped out in the early morning to fool [name_u]Leo[/name_u].

[name_m]Anstace[/name_m] relates to Ava’s brother since he travels abroad and [name_m]Anstace[/name_m] had a past of studying abroad too. People would never guess he was a past foreign exchange student who studied in [name_u]South[/name_u] Korea! He misses [name_u]South[/name_u] Korea but is glad to be with his friends and likes the university he studies for. [name_m]Anstace[/name_m] is good friends with everyone here and is also excited every time they play D&D even if he was originally the cynical one when [name_u]Lauren[/name_u] got the group into playing. [name_m]Anstace[/name_m] isn’t afraid to have a change of heart and the group knows this. [name_m]Anstace[/name_m] grew up a “Lawful Good” as a person but feels more like a “Neutral Good” for now. He knows [name_u]Leo[/name_u] is always so intrigued to play and this motivates him more, although he hasn’t quite understood his crush on [name_u]Lauren[/name_u]. [name_m]Anstace[/name_m] did have a crush on [name_f]Ava[/name_f] before but this faded away and he’s glad he didn’t make the move during this temporary attraction period. He hasn’t told anyone though, what’s in the past is the past, it would be awkward to admit it now, plus it would make [name_u]Leo[/name_u] feel worse. He has a sense [name_u]Leo[/name_u] liked one of the women in the group, although he’s falsely in the belief it was a past crush and not present. Plus he didn’t know which one it was. He did tell [name_u]Leo[/name_u], “Don’t worry, I’ll always be cool if you like anyone more than a friend,” but didn’t discuss it further. [name_m]Anstace[/name_m] majors in computer science but jokes he wants to major “underwater basket weaving”. Oddly enough, [name_m]Anstace[/name_m] is both good at swimming underwater and basket weaving.

(Friend 5/6)

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[name_f]Binah[/name_f] Yến Giang (20) is the final member of the group and, in Hannahs’ words, the most iconic (Binah insists this is just from a visual standpoint - the hair’s hard to miss). A textiles, design and print student, Binah’s always been drawn to vibrant forms of self-expression, starting with the colours she dresses in, as encouraged by her parents. It began as [name_f]Binah[/name_f] wanted to always have her Vietnamese-American status displayed, and she still incorporates elements of traditional dress - such as patterns and jewelry alongside clothing pieces - into her day-to-day looks.

Not able to drive a car, [name_f]Binah[/name_f] gets around on her trusty moped, having been encourage to get a license in one by her mom, who had one of her own years ago. In spite of living on campus, she does her best to visit her family whenever possible, those close bonds being very important to [name_f]Binah[/name_f]. She’s the younger of two kids, having an older brother who’s just graduated himself, although they’re not the sort of siblings with similar interests or social lives. Binah’s always been the social butterfly of the two, loving to meet new people and explore new activities, while he knows what he likes and likes what he knows.

What [name_f]Binah[/name_f] isn’t so good at is keeping secrets, so Leo’s pretty confident she has no clue he’s crushing on Lauren…as [name_f]Binah[/name_f] would absolutely accidentally say something if she was aware. When [name_f]Binah[/name_f] herself developed feelings for her partner, they knew in about 3 days of her recognising her own feelings. She’s the sort of person determined to see her friends happy, even if that means setting them up on a date through her own means! (And while she’s a loud mouth to a fault, [name_f]Binah[/name_f] can have a surprisingly sneaky side when she wants something done.)

(Friend 6/6)

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[name_f]Maiya[/name_f] Xuan Tran (21) and [name_f]Binah[/name_f] have been best friends since childhood, having grown up in the same neighbourhood and attended the same schools. [name_f]Maiya[/name_f] comes from a Vietnamese-American family just like [name_f]Binah[/name_f], but she’s always been more reserved and introspective. While [name_f]Binah[/name_f] is outgoing and confident, [name_f]Maiya[/name_f] prefers quieter activities like reading and painting. She’s currently studying neuroscience in college and hopes to pursue a career in research. Despite their differences, [name_f]Binah[/name_f] and [name_f]Maiya[/name_f] have always had a strong bond and frequently turn to each other for advice and support.

Bonus [name_u]Friend[/name_u]!

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[name_f]Tuyết[/name_f] [name_u]Anh[/name_u] Tran (24) is Maiya’s sister who sometimes takes an older sister role to [name_f]Binah[/name_f]. She calls her bond with [name_f]Maiya[/name_f] and the friend group “The Outskirts” which are people who are not in the main friend group but are well-acquainted with at least one member and sometimes hang out with group members. There is no set number on how many people are from The Outskirts. In addition to [name_f]Tuyết[/name_f] and [name_f]Maiya[/name_f], [name_f]Aubree[/name_f] is also in The Outskirts and so is Binah’s partner, although the term is mainly used by the Tran sisters. [name_f]Tuyết[/name_f] is in nursing school to become an RN but like [name_f]Ava[/name_f], she’s also into photography.

She is a little older than the friend group and is often busy in nursing school but she’s very much on top of her game. For a long time she’s called a social life to be overrated but she’s found more excitement lately after a reconnection that she’s surprised to have. She had a pen pal when she was 12 and the friendship lasted 2 years although they never met in person. [name_f]Tuyết[/name_f] has recently gotten a letter from this pen pal asking if she’d like to reconnect. [name_f]Tuyết[/name_f] was excited to hear from her again and wrote a letter back about how much she misses her along with how she is now. She’s anxiously waiting for a letter back but in the meantime, she’s doing the things mentioned in that letter such as practicing her keyboard playing skills and playing with her new Shih Tzu, [name_u]Jerry[/name_u]. [name_f]Tuyết[/name_f] just adopted [name_u]Jerry[/name_u] from a shelter and everything’s been finalised, alongside getting his bed and food, so she’s very excited. She and one of her nursing school friends helped nurse a baby squirrel back to health, and while the squirrel has been set free now, she loves the bonding moment between them and the cute healed squirrel.

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[name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Mei[/name_f] [name_u]Anderson[/name_u] (28) is a close family friend of [name_f]Tuyết[/name_f] [name_u]Anh[/name_u] Tran and her sister, [name_f]Maiya[/name_f]. Although not related by blood, [name_f]Lily[/name_f] has been a part of their lives for as long as they can remember. Growing up in the same neighborhood, [name_f]Lily[/name_f] and [name_f]Tuyết[/name_f] formed a deep bond and have remained close ever since.

With her warm and caring personality, [name_f]Lily[/name_f] has always been a pillar of support for [name_f]Tuyết[/name_f] and [name_f]Maiya[/name_f]. She often takes on the role of a trusted confidante and older sister figure, offering guidance and advice whenever needed. Despite being a few years older, [name_f]Lily[/name_f] and [name_f]Tuyết[/name_f] share a strong bond, forged through countless shared memories and experiences.

[name_f]Lily[/name_f] is a talented artist, specializing in watercolor paintings. Her artwork captures the beauty of nature, with vibrant colors and intricate details. She finds solace and inspiration in the tranquility of painting, often spending hours immersed in her creative process.

In addition to her artistic pursuits, [name_f]Lily[/name_f] has a passion for animal welfare. She volunteers at a local animal shelter, where she helps care for abandoned and injured animals. Her nurturing nature and gentle touch have made her a favorite among the furry residents, who quickly learn to trust and love her.

[name_f]Lily[/name_f] is a firm believer in the power of connections and cherishes the relationships she has built over the years. She values the importance of friendship and often goes out of her way to make those around her feel loved and appreciated.

Recently, [name_f]Lily[/name_f] has embarked on a new adventure, starting her own small business where she sells her artwork online. She hopes to share her passion with the world and inspire others to find beauty in the simplest of things.

As [name_f]Tuyết[/name_f] eagerly awaits her pen pal’s response, [name_f]Lily[/name_f] continues to be a source of support and encouragement. She encourages [name_f]Tuyết[/name_f] to embrace the excitement of reconnecting with her long-lost friend and offers her unwavering support throughout the process. With [name_f]Lily[/name_f] by her side, [name_f]Tuyết[/name_f] feels empowered to explore new connections and embrace the surprises that life has in store for her.

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[name_f]Sương[/name_f] [name_u]Binh[/name_u] Tran (52) is [name_f]Tuyết[/name_f] and Maiya’s mother and [name_f]Lily[/name_f] Mei’s second maternal figure. [name_f]Lily[/name_f] Mei’s parents are still alive and doing great, but the parents of [name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Mei[/name_f] have been close to [name_f]Sương[/name_f] since [name_f]Sương[/name_f] and [name_f]Lily[/name_f] Mei’s mother graduated college together. Needless to say, [name_f]Sương[/name_f] was happy when her friend decided to move close by her and have their children well-acquainted with one another. [name_f]Sương[/name_f] works in farmland and grows a lot of the crops used in local restaurants and markets. She’s been into gardening since childhood and enjoys her role in farming even though she’s fine her children aren’t into the agriculture.

She’s become more aware on Leo’s older 23-year-old sister, who had a part-time job at a market before graduating from university and knows from [name_f]Maiya[/name_f] and [name_f]Binah[/name_f] a bit more about the former employee’s sisterhood with [name_u]Leo[/name_u]. Obviously [name_f]Sương[/name_f] is not getting into the business of Leo’s crush on [name_u]Lauren[/name_u], especially since neither she nor the girls know he is falling for her. This could be for the best, [name_f]Sương[/name_f] is eager but not very patient. After all, she knew her best friend since college and her husband even earlier, despite not yet being sweethearts with the latter until after college graduation. But [name_f]Sương[/name_f] knew he would marry her someday when she first started falling for him, which is why there’s no chance anyone who knew would tell her about Leo’s crush – she’d be too intrigued with rose-coloured glasses that everything would be great and problem-free for them since she had that luck in life. [name_f]Sương[/name_f] is luckier than most but she’s not in a fairytale life by any means; she oversleeps, can be gullible, and is awkward meeting people for the first time. She’s seen Leo’s sister lately and is glad for her new path but would respect her and other employees who’ve used her crops anyway. It’s been said before that [name_f]Sương[/name_f] doesn’t know [name_u]Leo[/name_u] likes [name_u]Lauren[/name_u], but does Leo’s sister know?

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Quang [name_u]Anh[/name_u] [name_m]Nguyen[/name_m] Tran (54) is Sương’s husband and the father of [name_f]Tuyết[/name_f] and [name_f]Maiya[/name_f].

[name_u]Anh[/name_u] is Sương’s loving and supportive husband. He’s a warm-hearted and easygoing man who complements Sương’s personality perfectly. Quang [name_u]Anh[/name_u] is known for his patience and steady presence in their family. He is a pillar of strength for [name_f]Sương[/name_f] and their children.

Quang [name_u]Anh[/name_u] and [name_f]Sương[/name_f] share a deep love for farming and agriculture. They’ve built their life together around their farmland, which Quang [name_u]Anh[/name_u] manages alongside [name_f]Sương[/name_f]. He’s as passionate about farming as [name_f]Sương[/name_f] and appreciates the hard work and dedication it takes to cultivate crops. Their shared values and interests have strengthened their bond over the years.

Quang [name_u]Anh[/name_u] is a man of few words but great wisdom. He doesn’t need to be the centre of attention and is content to support his family from behind the scenes. He’s known for his quiet confidence and is a trusted advisor to [name_f]Sương[/name_f]. When she’s enthusiastic and eager, he offers a calm and grounded perspective.

Quang Anh’s top priority is his family. He values quality time with [name_f]Sương[/name_f] and their children, cherishing every moment they spend together. He has a close bond with his daughters, [name_f]Tuyết[/name_f] and [name_f]Maiya[/name_f], and considers [name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Mei[/name_f] an extended part of their family.

Quang [name_u]Anh[/name_u] is respectful of Sương’s wishes and decisions. He understands her gullibility and is always there to provide a supportive presence. He respects Sương’s friendships, including the one she shares with Leo’s older sister, and is considerate of their connections.

Quang Anh’s love for [name_f]Sương[/name_f] is unwavering. He knew from early on that she was the love of his life, and he’s cherished every moment they’ve spent together. His enduring love is a source of strength for their family.

Quang [name_u]Anh[/name_u] is a loving and supportive husband who shares Sương’s passion for farming and agriculture. He complements her enthusiastic and sometimes gullible nature with his quiet confidence and wisdom. Their enduring love and shared values have created a strong and loving family. While he may not be aware of Leo’s crush on [name_u]Lauren[/name_u], he is a firm believer in love and would undoubtedly support Leo’s pursuit of happiness just as he did with his own pursuit of Sương’s heart.

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[name_f]Hanneke[/name_f] [name_f]Su[/name_f] [name_u]Anderson[/name_u] (27) is Lily’s sister and supportive of Quang [name_u]Anh[/name_u], with her family retaining a supportive relationship with the Tran family. She’s a friendly face around the small town although she’s very much well aware of the spooky lore being spread around the rich side of town. She doesn’t take it too seriously, knowing the majority of it is spread by 10-year-olds (with one 17-year-old [name_f]Lainey[/name_f] behind it), but having avid knowledge about the [name_u]Salem[/name_u] Witch Trials, she knows child gossip is not to be ignored. Granted, she’s glad no one is being killed due to these rumours, but she pities the two boys who were rumored to be possessed. [name_f]Hanneke[/name_f] works at the rec centre near the school and she’s seen some kids gossip about this, so she knows it’s spread. However, she took the problem in her own hands by spraying “anti-possesser” on the two boys to stop the ghost stuff from affecting them. Hopefully for [name_f]Hanneke[/name_f], no one will find out she was really just using sunscreen…

With all the Halloween talk, [name_f]Hanneke[/name_f] feels she should have found a costume by now. However, she’s been stuck. She’s against the idea of not having a costume for Halloween, so she just put on a white sheet this year and (ironically) became a ghost. She’s curious how many kids are going to that haunted lot this year but she’s not bothering to pass by there. She’s attending a Halloween party at the Tran house and her sister [name_f]Lily[/name_f] will be there too. There’s a costume contest that she’s not considering entering because she laughs she has no chance but her sister has the perfect costume this year so she’s going to support perfect [name_f]Lily[/name_f] in this. She loves the costumes a lot of people are wearing but some of the women, especially the ones dressed as [name_f]Barbie[/name_f], are worried they all seriously have too similar of a costume. [name_m]Even[/name_m] the ladies themselves are surprised when [name_f]Sương[/name_f] and Quang [name_u]Anh[/name_u] noticed this was the first year that nobody at the party dressed as a witch. [name_f]Hanneke[/name_f] was also the sole ghost which some people complimented but she snarked, “No! It’s not original!” Thankfully many people there haven’t even noticed who was under that sheet. [name_f]Hanneke[/name_f] also noticed the six people in the friend group (Hannah, [name_u]Lauren[/name_u], [name_u]Leo[/name_u], [name_f]Ava[/name_f], [name_m]Anstace[/name_m], and Binah) had a cute group costume and she was pleased that they were not the [name_u]Power[/name_u] Rangers.

Besides the costume contest; there was a scary movie playing, a cookie decorating area, a few little carnival games, and an apple bobbing station (Hanneke tried bobbing for apples but it was impossible with a ghost sheet). In the corner of Hanneke’s eye, she saw this couple leaving the party. They must have left early despite their great [name_u]Taylor[/name_u] [name_m]Swift[/name_m] + [name_m]Travis[/name_m] [name_f]Kelce[/name_f] costumes because they assumed they wouldn’t have won given how many people also dressed as this. [name_f]Hanneke[/name_f] didn’t even notice which guests they were behind the costumes until they left. It was [name_f]Jane[/name_f] and [name_u]Brennan[/name_u] Ballis-Tyler, who [name_f]Hanneke[/name_f] wouldn’t have guessed at first because she thought they were taking their kids trick-or-treating. She assumed maybe they were just at the party for a short time before leaving to do that. What was really going on was that [name_f]Jane[/name_f] wanted to leave for some time to help her sister [name_f]Alana[/name_f] but [name_u]Brennan[/name_u] worried [name_f]Jane[/name_f] was going to cheat on him and abandon the kids. [name_f]Jane[/name_f] was offended and put off that he would assume this as he’s never assumed this before but both of them feel the reason why [name_u]Brennan[/name_u] is assuming this is because of what his own sibling said. Brennan’s sibling may have came off as irrational to put that thought in his head, but it was only because they had a similar thing happen to them. It ended alright in the end but ruined trust from Brennan’s sibling. So while [name_f]Hanneke[/name_f] and the rest of the party enjoyed Halloween, there was some concern between the Ballis and [name_u]Tyler[/name_u] family way beyond Halloween.

Sable was created by @mynameis1.

Lainey was created by @kitkatcookie.

Icelynn was created by me.

Jane was created by @olivelovesnames.

Alana was created by @I_meme_it.

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