CAF With A Twist

[CherryBomb50]

Warning for big age gap relationships and crime.

[name_m]Arcturus[/name_m] ’ [name_m]Russ[/name_m] ’ [name_m]Frank[/name_m] [Summers] Whinford (38) is [name_u]Jack[/name_u] and Danny’s father and Cleo’s uncle. [name_m]Russ[/name_m] is a surfer and find it his favourite hobby and he works as a lifeguard on the beach. Although he’s married, he was hit on before when he was 25 and dating his current wife. He told the other woman he was already with someone. The other woman was 18, which was not an age gap he was comfortable with, she was knowingly hitting on a man already in a relationship, and not to be petty but [name_m]Russ[/name_m] hated her strong perfume she always wore. He told her to get away and she cried, “But I just broke up with my former boyfriend!” [name_m]Russ[/name_m] especially turned this down because he hated the idea of rebounds. He told her to stop pestering him and she reluctantly agreed, only to move on to another man. While [name_m]Russ[/name_m] was 7 years older than her, he’s actually the youngest man she hit on. Most of her relationships weren’t real, she had a tendency to call men her “boyfriend” and a lot of these flings hardly lasted. She only dated these men if she believed they were rich and would dump them if they wouldn’t shower her with gifts. From what [name_m]Russ[/name_m] knows, she ended up getting into crime to steal her way into luxury goods instead of gold digging her way there, but she is in a relationship with another criminal. Rumour has it she and another friend got away with a massive heist but her friend turned herself in out of guilt, but she didn’t turn herself in and is still walking freely.

[name_m]Russ[/name_m] is glad he never pursued her but she was never really a “pursuit” for him to begin with. He was always close with his own wife and wasn’t married at the time of the flirting encounter, but happily did get married a year after. She was always his true love, even with lupus. He stated, “I do”, which included agreeing to be there “in sickness and in health”. He’s seen her as a strong person and even the little talks have been a meaningful way to bond with his love. The two are avid readers and both have similar favourite books. [name_m]Russ[/name_m] is also happily close with his three children and is grateful they’re all cool and great people who have nice friends. He doesn’t condone Cleo’s fight but he doesn’t hate [name_u]Cleo[/name_u] and hopes she too can find more understanding friends for herself. His sister is close with him and he is bonding better with [name_u]Ryan[/name_u] despite his past. He was concerned at first when she married him but he’s opened his eyes to [name_u]Ryan[/name_u], a lot of this being with the help of sweet [name_u]Cleo[/name_u]! He’s helped his children be more understanding and they’ve caught on, especially [name_u]Jack[/name_u]. The middle child is sensing this as well but for now she’s enjoying life like a 6-year-old and that’s the way she wants to be.

[cara_murvolio]

[name_f]Thalassa[/name_f] " [name_u]Allie[/name_u] " [name_u]Marie[/name_u] Whinford (6) is Russ’s daughter and [name_u]Jack[/name_u] and Danny’s sister. As the only girl, some people assume [name_u]Allie[/name_u] would either grow up a tomboy or feeling left out where her brother’s games are concerned, but she defies the expectations. [name_u]Allie[/name_u] absolutely adores superheroes - her dream is to write comics herself some day - however she’s distinctly feminine in her representation, always wanting her creations to wear pink and purple with pride, instead of having people assume such colours as weaker. When she isn’t playing games with [name_u]Danny[/name_u] and [name_u]Jack[/name_u], [name_u]Allie[/name_u] practices facepainting too: she absolutely adores butterflies and wants to replicate the look perfectly. Her mum’s been helping her work on her artistry - specifically her precision, which Allie’s very concerned about - and she’s always someone the little girl knows she can rely on where certain fears are concerned. It doesn’t diminish how much Allie’s dad means to her though - she does have an entire superhero, Dazzling [name_u]Man[/name_u], based off him after all.

[kitkatcookie]

cw: depression + parental death, illness

[name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] " [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] " [name_f]Zara[/name_f] Monarch (37) is [name_u]Jack[/name_u], [name_u]Allie[/name_u] and Danny’s mother, Russ’s’ wife and aunt of [name_u]Cleo[/name_u]. In spite of the lupus that’s put a hold on parts of Eliza’s life, this has never crushed her drive, especially where her children are concerned. They’re the absolute centre of her world and she takes pride in both their similarities and distinctions, encouraging them constantly. A constant fire remains about her nature, and this is what drew she and [name_m]Russ[/name_m] together when they met. The pair were both in their last year of university and working at the same restaurant, where [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] proved herself able to deal with the Karen’s they encountered, and - while it started as a joke - she’d end up coaching her colleagues in how to handle such men and women, which led to her meeting [name_m]Russ[/name_m] [who was almost always dealing with said customers, as he was someone working in the area they naturally flocked towards].

[name_u]An[/name_u] architect by trade, Eliza’s career is now a little different, partially to enable more time with her family. She’s a consultant for legal cases regarding improper building and preventable incidents relating to cheap materials or safety violations, and has also done some teaching on the subject; mostly running workshops for highschoolers who want to pursue architecture at college. This is what causes [name_u]Allie[/name_u] to be so certain about asking her mom for artistic help, even if [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] jokes a lot about how her only ability in this is when it comes to drawing or painting buildings. Although she took art in high school, this is what she focused on, as really it was an aid for her future hopes - not that she ever looks down on anyone who pursues it differently [and admits she’s in awe of those who have genuine talent]. She also enjoyed hockey and swimming, still being very involved in the latter sport, as water always proves calming, and she goes whenever possible with her family.

[name_f]Eliza[/name_f] decided to keep her maiden name after marrying because it was the sole thing she had of her father: he passed away when she was only 5 after getting into a motorbike accident, a devastation she witnessed impact her mother greatly. Being the older child, she was more aware of the depression that ensued following his passing, and sometimes had to act in a parental manner towards her younger sister during the worst periods for their mom’s mental health. It was the stress of losing her dad that caused Eliza’s lupus to first be diagnosed, and it’s something she struggled with a lot, thanks to how it could interrupt her plans for the future. The aftermath of Jack’s birth was a genuine shock to her though, and [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] had a lot of questions for herself when considering having more children. However, [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] knew she wanted to have multiple children more than anything, and she convinced [name_m]Russ[/name_m] she was prepared to go through another pregnancy; not wanting him to blame himself.

[CherryBomb50]

[name_f]Nevara[/name_f] [name_f]Kourtney[/name_f] [name_f]Summers[/name_f] (38) is Eliza’s sister-in-law and is Cleo’s mum. She’s been the one who had to warm up [name_u]Cleo[/name_u] to the idea of [name_u]Ryan[/name_u] in jail and ease her into him when he was released. She does truly love [name_u]Ryan[/name_u] and wanted the best for him. She knew from the start that he was a wonderful man but she knew he was on a slippery slope with constantly breaking the law. When she became a mother, she knew single parenting was hard but she feared [name_u]Ryan[/name_u] would resort to crime and turning himself in made him more stable.

[name_f]Nevara[/name_f] still works at the coffee shop and has seen [name_f]Eliza[/name_f]. She’s been completely respectful of Eliza’s hardships with her autoimmune disease and makes things as easy as possible for her while still treating her like a human and not like she’s broken. She’s impressed by Eliza’s gumption of having three children, especially given her own desire to just have one child, but she finds Eliza’s children amazing and she bonds with her brother [name_m]Russ[/name_m] a lot. She’s not familiar with [name_f]Melina[/name_f], Ryan’s first daughter and her unknown stepdaughter. She would likely be in shock if she knew and would ask [name_u]Ryan[/name_u] why he didn’t tell her, although to be fair, [name_u]Ryan[/name_u] didn’t know she was his daughter either. Still, [name_f]Nevara[/name_f] wouldn’t be opposed to meeting her or her mother, given that she’s honestly wished she knew more about Ryan’s past. He’s been told a lot about her past, what it was like for her and [name_m]Russ[/name_m] to have kind but overbearing parents, and he’s known firsthand when they had rifts against [name_u]Ryan[/name_u] given his criminal record. [name_u]Ryan[/name_u] has been told about Nevara’s brother, sister-in-law, nephews, and niece. [name_f]Nevara[/name_f] has gotten along even better with [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] because she first feared she wouldn’t get along with [name_u]Ryan[/name_u], but yet again [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] proved she can handle anything.

[name_f]Nevara[/name_f] is an open person who would tell him anything, and while talking about exes isn’t something socially acceptable to discuss with partners, [name_u]Ryan[/name_u] knows about Nevara’s ex [name_u]Ray[/name_u]. [name_f]Nevara[/name_f] says they’re friendly acquaintances now and she’s friends with his brother [name_m]Kurt[/name_m] and the to enjoy making funny [name_m]Paul[/name_m] Blart jokes given Ray’s career as a mall cop. Interestingly, [name_f]Nevara[/name_f] has gotten into contact recently with Melina’s mother during a school reunion, since they actually attended the same school when they were younger, but [name_f]Nevara[/name_f] is unaware of her connections to [name_u]Ryan[/name_u].

Ray was created by me.

Kurt was created by @kitkatcookie.

[jinxed_peach]

cw: difficult home life

[name_f]Keziah[/name_f] [name_f]Nell[/name_f] Epsom [38] is a former classmate of [name_f]Nevara[/name_f] and mother of [name_f]Melina[/name_f]. She spent her time after high school traveling around and visiting various friends at their colleges. During one of her trips she met [name_u]Ryan[/name_u] and began their relationship, it lacked depth and was on and off for months before she eventually called it quits for good. Wanting to get her life back on track she and her sister moved into an apartment, being back with her family and someone to hold her accountable was good for both of them. Until during the first few weeks of their living together, Keziah’s sister had a pregnancy scare and was too afraid to take the test alone. To ease her fears, she offered to take a test herself to prove it was no big deal. Well, it actually was. Keziah’s sister’s test was negative, but hers was positive.

She considered other options briefly, but becoming a mother someday was always a dream of hers so she could continue to move back the familial trauma of her maternal grandparents. So she decided to keep the baby. Being that she used a nickname during her relationship with [name_u]Ryan[/name_u] - [name_u]Zia[/name_u] [name_f]Somer[/name_f] - to proactively protect herself since she had a sinking feeling that there was more to him and his life than he let on. She knew that the odds of finding him wasn’t in her favor to begin with. Unbeknownst to her, he used a false moniker as well, going by [name_u]John[/name_u], a variant of his middle name. So she instead decided to raise the baby with her sister, who would eventually earn the nickname ‘Auntie Dad’ from [name_f]Melina[/name_f].

A few years into Melina’s life she chose to go back to school and acquire her nursing degree. She worked in the ER for a number of years but always wanted to transfer into the mental health field. Which she finally did recently.

Another recent event that [name_f]Keziah[/name_f] initially had no idea about, is that [name_f]Melina[/name_f] discovered the single polaroid photo that she had of her and [name_u]Ryan[/name_u] during their fling. It was quite a shock when her teenager one day brought up a photo on her phone during dinner and asked if the man in it looked familiar. It was [name_u]Ryan[/name_u]. She felt the book of things between her and him had been decisively closed and didn’t think there was any reason for her to reach out to him herself, but she gave [name_f]Melina[/name_f] the option to do so if she wanted with a promise to support her. Though she didn’t really anticipate that she would in fact say that she did want to meet her father and do so so quickly. There was also a tinge of guilt that she felt after learning that all these years had gone by and [name_u]Ryan[/name_u] only lived a few cities over, his daughter was practically right under his nose and neither of them knew it. Her sister, whom she and [name_f]Melina[/name_f] still live with, although no longer within the walls of that first apartment after they upgraded when [name_f]Melina[/name_f] was around 10, has been very reassuring that it wasn’t her fault since she didn’t know. Her guilt was also worsened when she learned of Cleo’s existence, unknowingly keeping the girls from having their sisters was a sting, especially considering how close she is with her own.

The three of them have no been in contact via online messaging, though [name_f]Melina[/name_f] takes the lead on all the conversations. Keziah’s only really in the group chat to keep an eye on things. She did however pick up on the detail that his current wife’s name sounded very familiar. It was only during the recent school reunion that she made the connection of who it was. [name_f]Keziah[/name_f] kept her mouth shut on the subject since she didn’t know if [name_u]Ryan[/name_u] had informed her of his other daughter’s existence, but it feels that the truth will inevitably out as [name_f]Nevara[/name_f] has been asking about meeting up again with her for coffee and there’s only so many times she can say no before things start to get suspicious.

---

[name_u]Ryan[/name_u] was created by @A.B.Galaxy
[name_f]Melina[/name_f] was created by @kitkatcookie

[kitkatcookie]

[name_f]Emiliana[/name_f] " [name_f]Emmy[/name_f] " [name_u]Sky[/name_u] Brechin (17) is someone [name_f]Keziah[/name_f] knows well: they’re Melina’s best friend and the person who aided her in finding the answer to her paternity question. A hopeful investigative journalist, Emmy’s usually in the midst of uncovering something, not that their parents always encourage this, as they don’t want to see their younger child getting pulled into some terrible drama for the sake of exposing truths. This side of their nature is something Emmy’s mother attributes to her own father, a reporter who specialised in organised crime, and growing up they were always the grandchild clamouring to hear the exciting stories he pursued. The other person who gets credited for this is Emmy’s sister, who was very popular in high school and frequently telling them stories about the ensuing drama that got exposed in an infamous gossip column belonging to the school paper.

By the time [name_f]Emmy[/name_f] and [name_f]Melina[/name_f] started high school, this had been removed thanks to the chaos it stoked, and while they might enjoy pursuing the truth, [name_f]Emmy[/name_f] wouldn’t want to stoke up conflict. While they love to uncover things - and have a bit of a nosey side, which they’re trying to own more - seeing people unhappy isn’t what [name_f]Emmy[/name_f] considers worthwhile for journalism, unless they’ve done something truly awful. This is why they’ve been very careful giving [name_f]Melina[/name_f] advice now they’ve tracked down her father, as she’s terrified of causing unhappiness in her father’s marriage, in spite of her interest in at least asking for them to meet. What she’s less certain about is how her half-sister could react to her, as growing up the Brechin siblings were very much surrogates, and she doesn’t know how [name_u]Cleo[/name_u] would respond to her becoming part of their life. Emmy’s tried to not be pessimistic when giving her advice - as she very much is their second sister - however xe doesn’t want to set [name_f]Melina[/name_f] up for hurt or disappointment either, and they wish their granddad was still here to ask for advice.

Having come out as non-binary when they were fifteen, [name_f]Emmy[/name_f] uses they/xe/she pronouns. What they focus on in the school paper is LGTBQIA+ issues and upcoming events, including starting a campaign to ensure pronouns and name changes are respected in the school environment. Emmy’s also been involved in attending protests with their family, and took charge of advertising one of their friend’s bakesales which was raising money for a local charity [although graphic design wasn’t something xe involved themselves in, as they’re self-confessed in their absolute lack of ability]. To some people [name_f]Emmy[/name_f] can seem a little too flippant and sarcastic - especially when being asked a question they dislike - however this is used to cheer up xeir friends when she’s called upon. Given their background, they and [name_f]Milena[/name_f] joke about the irony of their closeness: Emmy’s grandad exposed criminals, Milena’s father was in prison, however upon meeting when they both took interest in the same plastic duck toys at nursery [and developed a dramatic epic about a dysfunctional family], it was an immediate connection that’s proved unbreakable.

---

Melina’s credited to yours truly!

[CherryBomb50]

[name_f]Calpurnia[/name_f] ’ [name_f]Cia[/name_f] ’ [name_u]Sequoia[/name_u] Brechin (24) is Emmy’s older sister, who’s also been involved in gossip. She is currently in law school. She remembers the gossip paper was really crazy at school. She’s heard one of the students in Emmy’s year tried to make a website for the school gossip after the paper was removed but got caught and suspended and had to take it down. [name_f]Cia[/name_f] knows which student did it but won’t get involved with that, since it’s the school’s job and not hers. [name_f]Cia[/name_f] worked for the school paper but she wasn’t the one who wrote the gossip, she was the one who wrote the comics for the paper. She was popular because she was funny and a breath of fresh air in the newspaper. To be fair, some of the stories couldn’t be avoided, especially if they were on the news, especially when the basketball team got a new point guard after the old one was in a high-speed chase. The thing with these gossip writers in the paper at the time is that they often joined, thinking joining would make them immune from gossip themselves. This wasn’t necessarily true, they’d be part of stories sometimes and the usual revenge for having a story written about them was to gossip back about the writer who wrote it. [name_f]Cia[/name_f] herself hadn’t been free from rumours, she almost lost a scholarship when the paper falsely stated she prepared for big finals by smoking.

While that was the main drama on [name_f]Cia[/name_f], she herself has a juicier secret after high school, she’s had an annulled marriage. [name_f]Cia[/name_f] eloped to a man when she was 19 and he was 21, despite only dating for 3 months, because he told her that he wanted to get away from his “toxic” family and used pity to get her into marrying him. He claimed he would be “safer” being married to her but the marriage was annulled when [name_f]Cia[/name_f] learned he had married someone else prior to her and was still legally married to the other woman when he eloped [name_f]Cia[/name_f]. She got the marriage annulled and couldn’t trust him on anything. In terms of his family he claimed was toxic, [name_f]Cia[/name_f] doesn’t know anything about them since he never introduced them to her and claimed that was because he wanted to get away from them. [name_f]Cia[/name_f] approaches him with caution but usually just avoids him, although she’s not quite sure whether his family is good or bad, especially with the rampant crime around town. The only person she knew from his family was his brother, who was her own age and was close to her a lot following the annulment, but she hasn’t seen him in years now and nobody talks about him.

[name_f]Cia[/name_f] is supportive of Emmy’s identity and pronouns. She can’t really blame [name_f]Emmy[/name_f] for getting excited by juicy stuff, had [name_f]Cia[/name_f] not been exposed to her high school paper when she was a teen, [name_f]Cia[/name_f] would have wanted to personally know it as well. She admires [name_f]Emmy[/name_f] making the school a more accepting place for people regardless of genders and sexualities. It’s just the turnaround the school needs. [name_f]Cia[/name_f] enjoys that [name_f]Emmy[/name_f] is so kind to [name_f]Melina[/name_f] and has been close to her for so long, helping her in terms of her paternity. [name_f]Cia[/name_f] is glad she knows her father as much as she can and he’s nicknamed her CIA given their mutual interest in crime studies. [name_f]Cia[/name_f] isn’t as outgoing as her sibling but still retains a touch of her popularity and is close with some of the people she went to school with. Some know she’s been married and annulled before, including the Epsoms, but they understand [name_f]Cia[/name_f] doesn’t want to make that her whole life. Like [name_f]Melina[/name_f], [name_f]Cia[/name_f] loves [name_m]Garfield[/name_m] as well, reading a lot of [name_m]Garfield[/name_m] and being inspired by that when she wrote her own high school newspaper comics. [name_f]Cia[/name_f] enjoys watching [name_m]Garfield[/name_m] & Friends and has read the vintage [name_m]Garfield[/name_m] comics. [name_f]Cia[/name_f] even nicknames her former brother-in-law “ [name_m]Lyman[/name_m] “ because he’s just like [name_m]Lyman[/name_m], talking to her and being a friend in her life and then…disappearing with no explanation and everyone giving the vibe that he never existed in the first place.

[jinxed_peach]

cw: teen pregnancy

Odell Celestine Murphy [24] is a close friend of Cia, they met in high school after both being the subjects of gossip in the school paper. When she was sixteen, the gossip column ran a story about how Odell was pregnant, using the amount of baggy hoodies she’d been wearing. She thought it was pretty amusing at first, in reality she’d been wearing the looser hoodies since she was feeling a little self-conscious about having randomly gained a little weight. However Odell would soon find out that the weight she’d put on wasn’t exactly for no reason. She was in fact, pregnant. In a way that made the gossip story even more amusing to her, somehow the school’s local rumor mill knew that she was expecting before she did. Though it wasn’t all fun and games.

Odell’s family comes from a long line of Irish Catholics and her parents are no exception. They weren’t too happy about how outgoing her dating life was, so to find out that her adventurous mindset had lead to her being up the duff without a ring on her finger, and at such a young age as well. Unsure as of what to do, she chose to keep rocking the baggy clothes until she couldn’t anymore. Thankfully due to her above average height, Odell had a more petite baby bump. Her tallness has previously felt like a curse since she used to be teased for it, but then it felt like a blessing.

It was actually Cia who she first told about her pregnancy. After the story came out about her supposedly smoking, considering her own luck with the seemingly prophetic nature of the gossip column she was a little worried about her classmate. Cia of course declared that it was false, but was curious as to why Odell, who normally rarely ever trusted the school paper, was suddenly so concerned. That was when she informed Cia that not only was the rumor about her true, but that she was much further along than the local gossipers assumed. This event solidified the two girls’ friendship as now they were the only two who knew that Odell had a baby on the way. Cia became a great source of support for Odell who also encouraged her to come clean to her family since she was approaching her due date. If she thought hiding her pregnancy was hard, hiding an entire baby would be impossible. So Odell steeled herself, and told her parents everything. Unfortunately, as predicted, they reacted very harshly and went as far as to throw her out of the house. Odell spent the night at Cia’s house before reaching out to her aunt who agreed to take her in. The combination of the stress and being so close to delivery lead to her going into labor just a week after she finished moving in to her aunt’s house.

Despite all the complexities in her teen years Odell has grown into a very competent young woman. She now works at a women’s clinic and happily helps many girls who are currently in the same spot she was eight years ago, keeping a photo of her and her child with her at work to show to any uncertain parents-to-be to let them know that there are happy endings to these things, and they’re very much achievable.

[Lindseylloyd052399]

[name_f]Isabel[/name_f] [name_f]Natalia[/name_f] [name_m]Sanchez[/name_m] (26) is a childhood friend of [name_u]Odell[/name_u] [name_u]Celestine[/name_u] [name_u]Murphy[/name_u]. They met in elementary school and quickly became inseparable. Despite not being related by blood, they consider each other as sisters. [name_f]Isabel[/name_f] has always been a free-spirited and adventurous person, much like [name_u]Odell[/name_u]. She played a significant role in supporting [name_u]Odell[/name_u] during her teenage pregnancy and was there for her when she was thrown out of her house. Isabel’s positivity and vivacious personality became a source of strength for [name_u]Odell[/name_u] during those difficult times.

After completing high school, [name_f]Isabel[/name_f] pursued her passion for art and became a successful painter. Her vibrant and expressive artwork often reflects her inner zest for life. Isabel’s artwork has gained recognition both locally and internationally, and she has exhibited her paintings in various galleries.

Isabel’s artistic talent and strong empathy make her an excellent advocate for social causes. She actively volunteers at a local women’s shelter, utilizing her creativity to organize art therapy sessions for women and children in need. She believes in the healing power of art and aims to bring joy and hope to those facing challenging circumstances.

Despite the geographical distance that separates them now, [name_f]Isabel[/name_f] and [name_u]Odell[/name_u] remain connected through their shared experiences and unwavering friendship. [name_f]Isabel[/name_f] often creates personalized paintings for Odell’s daughter, serving as a beautiful reminder of their unbreakable bond.

[MissMorland]

[name_f]Róisín[/name_f] [name_f]Emma[/name_f] [name_u]Murphy[/name_u] (41) is Odell’s aunt and knows [name_f]Isabel[/name_f] well. [name_u]Odell[/name_u] and her child still live with [name_f]Róisín[/name_f], something she enjoys. [name_f]Róisín[/name_f] never married and didn’t want children, so she’d always been worried about her house feeling empty. [name_f]Róisín[/name_f] tries to be the best great-aunt to Odell’s child but absolutely refuses to be called that. She’s not old enough to be a great anything, she jokes. She prefers Auntie [name_m]Sheen[/name_m] because it makes her feel cool. It’s a moniker that stuck ever since Odell’s child started talking. After [name_f]Róisín[/name_f] took [name_u]Odell[/name_u] in, her parents and brother interacted with her even less than they already did. She felt bad about that but knew she was doing the right thing. They haven’t reached out in the past eight years, and [name_f]Róisín[/name_f] doubts they ever will. She’s okay with that and is happy with the little family she has with [name_u]Odell[/name_u]. Two years ago, [name_f]Róisín[/name_f] started dating her next-door neighbor, something [name_f]Róisín[/name_f] never thought would happen. Her boyfriend recently proposed, and she said yes, happy that he’s willing to be a part of her family.

[name_f]Róisín[/name_f] recently started working at the same cafe as [name_f]Nevara[/name_f], and they’ve become good friends. She doesn’t mind the commute to the nearby town as it isn’t too long and the pay is good. Once [name_f]Nevara[/name_f] started talking about her family, [name_f]Róisín[/name_f] realized who she was, having heard about her from [name_u]Odell[/name_u] and [name_f]Cia[/name_f]. She briefly mentioned this piece of information to [name_u]Odell[/name_u], who agreed that they shouldn’t interfere. [name_f]Róisín[/name_f] thought it would be difficult to keep her mouth shut, but it wasn’t. Last week [name_f]Róisín[/name_f] heard from [name_u]Odell[/name_u] that things had finally come out. [name_f]Keziah[/name_f] told [name_f]Nevara[/name_f] about everything, which led to [name_f]Melina[/name_f] and [name_u]Cleo[/name_u] finally meeting! Also, [name_u]Cleo[/name_u] and Odell’s child had a playdate recently, which they both enjoyed. [name_f]Keziah[/name_f], her sister, [name_f]Nevara[/name_f], and [name_f]Róisín[/name_f] all got together as well. It’s practically a sure thing that all four will be good friends from now on.

[CherryBomb50]

[name_m]Cristian[/name_m] [name_m]Miguel[/name_m] [name_m]Sanchez[/name_m] (41) is Róisín’s neighbour and fiancé, alongside Isabel’s uncle. While [name_f]Isabel[/name_f] never lived with him, he felt a relatable sense with [name_f]Róisín[/name_f] also having a niece like [name_f]Isabel[/name_f]. He has no children and while he’s had some exes, he believed he’d be “single forever” until meeting [name_f]Róisín[/name_f]. He knows more about [name_u]Odell[/name_u] from her and in return, [name_f]Róisín[/name_f] knows [name_f]Isabel[/name_f] more. [name_m]Cristian[/name_m] wishes he could paint but admittedly can’t, which he laughs about. His brother, Isabel’s father, is also a painter like [name_f]Isabel[/name_f] although he’s a fine artist and makes sure she still feels like it’s a talent of her own as well, and not simply following in her dad’s footsteps since he’s an artist. Isabel’s sister has a different career path, but is still supported by the family just the same. [name_m]Cristian[/name_m] does work for a shelter, although it’s for homeless people and he strives tremendously on keeping the shelter and food quality immaculate.

Pertaining the [name_f]Melina[/name_f] and [name_u]Cleo[/name_u] meeting, he’s thankful that things were much better than he worried about, especially with the past crime background. He’s glad [name_f]Melina[/name_f] and [name_u]Cleo[/name_u] got to meet after all. Odell’s child has been an important part of Cristian’s life lately since [name_m]Cristian[/name_m] is going to marry [name_f]Róisín[/name_f] someday and align with her family. So [name_m]Cristian[/name_m] especially adores seeing happiness in the child, especially with the interactions with [name_u]Cleo[/name_u] now. [name_u]Cleo[/name_u] has calmed down on some of her rebellion but she’s still fiercely loyal about her family, especially now that she knows her older half-sister [name_f]Melina[/name_f]. [name_u]Cleo[/name_u] likes to look out for her now and [name_f]Melina[/name_f] feels the same. [name_m]Cristian[/name_m] is happy for them and happy for his fiancée as well, because her role in people’s lives makes everything better.

[Lindseylloyd052399]

[name_f]Sofia[/name_f] [name_u]Marie[/name_u] [name_m]Ramirez[/name_m] (23) is Cristian’s cousin’s best friend from college who he has always considered a sister. They met in an art class and instantly bonded over their shared love of music and painting. [name_f]Sofia[/name_f] is now a successful graphic designer and often collaborates with Cristian’s cousin on various art projects. She is currently single and enjoying the freedom to travel and explore new places. Despite not being related by blood, [name_f]Sofia[/name_f] has always been welcomed with open arms by the [name_m]Sanchez[/name_m] family and considers them her second family. She is excited to be a part of [name_m]Cristian[/name_m] and Róisín’s wedding and help in any way she can.

[kitkatcookie]

[name_f]Yalitza[/name_f] " [name_f]Lina[/name_f] " Ana-Lorena [name_m]Sanchez[/name_m] (23) is Sofia’s best friend and Cristian’s youngest cousin, who met her best friend just shy of 15 years ago. Technically they’re ‘half-cousins’, as Yalitza’s dad is the paternal half-brother of Cristians’ father, and in many senses, she grew up in Isabel’s generation opposed to her own, but once she began to mature and feel less uncertain about the future, she began bonding more with [name_m]Cristian[/name_m] and his brother, effectively viewing them as additional uncle’s. When compared to [name_f]Sofia[/name_f], Lina’s the much calmer and quieter member of the duo, but this never bothers her. In fact, keeping things collected is what [name_f]Lina[/name_f] prefers, as she and [name_f]Sofia[/name_f] have encountered a lot of dramatic personalities of the years - typically thanks to their love of artistic expression.

The upcoming wedding of [name_m]Cristian[/name_m] and [name_f]Róisín[/name_f] has had [name_f]Lina[/name_f] absolutely delighted from the second she heard whispers, and she’s been quick to offer any and all artisit input she can provide to ease the couple’s stress. [name_f]Lina[/name_f] runs her own Etsy store, which focuses on hand-crafted jewellery and art comissions for celebrations, always being more than happy to do work for her loved one’s. She also sells her jewellery to private shops and has been involved in street vending too, usually around holiday periods when she can offer customised pieces for special occasions that people quickly fall in love with.

For how excited about her cousins’ romance she is, [name_f]Lina[/name_f] really isn’t fussed about dating herself, and it’s mostly because she’s focused on figuring herself out more. She’s working towards renting her own apartment, also hoping to get a rescue animal, preferably a dog or cat [although really any companion would be adored by Lina]. The main outlet she enjoys is nail art, getting her’s done professionally by a friend who’s properly trained in this. This also usually involves [name_f]Lina[/name_f] hearing about whatever gossip’s on-going in the wider community and social scene, something she mostly just takes at face value, as mapping a timeline of who’s dating who and who’s fallen out with who might just cause [name_f]Lina[/name_f] to faint from mental exhaustion.

[CherryBomb50]

[name_f]Xulia[/name_f] [name_f]Claudie[/name_f] [name_m]Ramirez[/name_m] (10) is Sofia’s youngest sister who is always interested in Lina’s street vending, even if it’s something she doesn’t always necessarily buy. She also loves the nail art Lina’s other friend does and is excited to get mermaid-style nail art. [name_f]Xulia[/name_f] used to love the mall but doesn’t care for it as much after telling [name_f]Sofia[/name_f] and [name_f]Lina[/name_f] that “the mall said she was too old to get a picture with Santa”. Thankfully the two older girls cheered her up, while also pondering why mall [name_f]Santa[/name_f] is even here right now. It’s [name_u]October[/name_u]! For the most part, [name_f]Xulia[/name_f] likes being a kid and doesn’t care about makeup even if she loves nail art and bling-bling. She loves swimming underwater so makeup would just smear off her face anyway. She also likes multiplayer games online and is a fan of dance and music video games as well. She was quite disappointed when she learned Meow Mix wasn’t a cat DJing. She wanted to name her cat “Meow Pix” after that and because [name_f]Xulia[/name_f] stated the cat hair sheddings “looked like pixie dust” but nixed the “Meow” part after the Meow Mix conundrum. [name_f]Xulia[/name_f] still loves cats and enjoys how Pix stays so calm and isn’t distracted so easily. Dogs and mice play their tricks, but nothing gets in the way of Pix.

[name_f]Xulia[/name_f] is excited for [name_m]Cristian[/name_m] and Róisín’s wedding, but there’s some tension between within her younger brother. He really wanted to be the ring bearer but there’s some supposed competition (at least in his mind) that a boy on the [name_u]Murphy[/name_u] side of the family would get it. [name_f]Xulia[/name_f] knows her brother is at a disadvantage since the [name_m]Ramirez[/name_m] family isn’t blood-related to either the bride or groom but the real disadvantage? She’s overheard [name_f]Lina[/name_f] and [name_u]Odell[/name_u] saying that the role already was given out to a [name_u]Murphy[/name_u] boy. Xulia’s brother doesn’t know it yet and still thinks he has a chance, getting really hyped up about this role he isn’t getting. [name_f]Sofia[/name_f] and the eldest [name_m]Ramirez[/name_m] have tried to reassure the youngest [name_m]Ramirez[/name_m] that he’ll still have fun at the wedding and it isn’t always that special to have a role when the main focus is on the marrying couple. [name_f]Róisín[/name_f] herself doesn’t know about this internal conflict but she herself had a bad experience as a role, playing as a bridesmaid at Odell’s parents’ wedding, and dealt with an awful bridezilla…and groomzilla too. She isn’t surprised that [name_u]Odell[/name_u] turned to her and isn’t in contact with them. [name_f]Xulia[/name_f] didn’t want to be the one to tell her brother about this because it would “dream crush” him. But then she remembered last week (STILL October) he did “dream crush” her by seeing [name_f]Santa[/name_f] at the mall since he’s not “too old”. And [name_f]Xulia[/name_f] hasn’t forgotten when he “dream crushed” her way back when he stated she’ll never be a mermaid. So the next time she saw her brother talking about being the ring bearer, she told him, “Sorry, they already chose a ring bearer, it’s not you. Please stop hyping over the ring bearer job,” and ran away before he could react. But now she regrets it…

[ElisabethJulie]

[name_f]Isabella[/name_f] “Bella” [name_u]Marie[/name_u] [name_m]Santos[/name_m] (10) is Xulia’s best friend and classmate.

[name_f]Isabella[/name_f], known as [name_f]Bella[/name_f], is a vibrant and imaginative 10-year-old girl and Xulia’s best friend. She shares Xulia’s love for all things creative and fun. [name_f]Bella[/name_f] is known for her infectious laughter and boundless energy. She has a heart full of compassion and is always there for her friends when they need a cheering up.

[name_f]Bella[/name_f] and [name_f]Xulia[/name_f] are two peas in a pod regarding their shared interests. They bond over their love for dance and music video games, often competing in friendly dance-offs. They also enjoy playing online multiplayer games, forming a dynamic gaming duo.

[name_f]Bella[/name_f] is a budding artist with a wild imagination. She’s the one who introduced [name_f]Xulia[/name_f] to the exciting world of nail art. They often have “art days” where they create intricate nail designs and experiment with colours and patterns. Bella’s dream is to become a famous nail artist, and she’s always looking for new and exciting ways to express herself through her nail art.

[name_f]Bella[/name_f] is the kind of friend who will go to great lengths to make her best friend smile. When [name_f]Xulia[/name_f] was feeling down about the mall incident with [name_f]Santa[/name_f], [name_f]Bella[/name_f] organized a surprise mall outing to cheer her up. She’s also the one who coined the term “Meow Pix” for Xulia’s cat and always encourages Xulia’s love for animals.

[name_f]Bella[/name_f] knows about the tension between Xulia’s younger brother and the role of ring bearer at the upcoming wedding. She’s been there to provide advice and support for [name_f]Xulia[/name_f], helping her navigate the difficult decision to tell her brother the truth. [name_f]Bella[/name_f] is a peacemaker and is always ready to offer a shoulder to lean on.

[name_f]Bella[/name_f] is a loyal friend who values her friendship with [name_f]Xulia[/name_f]. She understands Xulia’s regrets about telling her brother the truth and is there to lend a sympathetic ear. Together, they navigate the challenges of growing up, all while sharing laughter, creativity, and a bond that can weather any storm.

Bella’s positivity and boundless creativity make her the perfect best friend for [name_f]Xulia[/name_f]. They share a love for artistic expression, gaming, and adventures, and Bella’s unwavering support is a constant source of comfort for [name_f]Xulia[/name_f]. Their friendship is a beautiful blend of creativity, compassion, and shared experiences, and they are there for each other through thick and thin.

[kitkatcookie]

cw: ableism; woo medicine (aka terrible medical advice)

[name_f]Ana[/name_f] [name_f]Consuela[/name_f] " [name_u]Connie[/name_u] " [Torres] [name_m]Santos[/name_m] (40) is mom to [name_f]Bella[/name_f] and her two siblings: one’s 12, the other’s 7. Some people have looked down on [name_u]Connie[/name_u], who opted to be a stay-at-home mother - focusing on raising her children, leaving behind a career in dermatology nursing until after her third child began attending school on a regular basis, but it was what she knew was best for her family. Her eldest was diagnosed with autism shortly after their 5th birthday, and accommodating their needs while ensuring [name_f]Bella[/name_f] never felt overlooked became paramount to [name_u]Connie[/name_u], a sentiment that strengthened more when she became pregnant for the final time. It isn’t a surprise that this warmth means she’s looked upon fondly by the friends of her kids, although being the rule enforcer has led to disagreements before.

Growing up as an army brat, what drew [name_u]Connie[/name_u] to her husband is his stability: not just in his job as an assistant professor, teaching geography at a local community college, but how reasonable, level-headed and thoughtful he’s always been. He never cringed at her open displays of affection or protested how sentimental she is, even though he’s very stoic when you compare their natures. Still, he was moved to tears when [name_u]Connie[/name_u] made him a personalised piece of pottery for their 15 year anniversary: namely a vase painted like a global map [to the best of her ability, as she jokes when seeing what Bella’s created].

The main source of conflict and tension in her life is likewise linked to the past: one of Connie’s old friends became sucked into the pipeline of belief that essential oils and restrictive dieting can ‘cure’ autism. She also has a child on the spectrum, and becomes very defensive should [name_u]Connie[/name_u] suggest that there isn’t anything that needs changing. Their friendship pretty much has only withstood because [name_u]Connie[/name_u] worries about what madness this woman could inflict on her children should she be left to her own devices, and usually they’re disagreeing about the latest ridiculous meal plan being invented - currently it’s all about ‘clean eating’, which means any kind of group socialising becomes something of a debacle. Seeing someone with such good qualifications - a registered nurse - fall into this madness is upsetting to [name_u]Connie[/name_u], however she doesn’t want to just abscond given what worse could come of this.

[CherryBomb50]

[name_m]Marcelo[/name_m] “ [name_u]Markie[/name_u] “ [name_m]Julio[/name_m] [name_m]Santos[/name_m] (7) is the youngest of Connie’s children and the younger brother of [name_f]Bella[/name_f] and the eldest, the 12-year-old. He loves all his siblings, why cause drama with them for no reason? Thankfully he’s not belittled by them as well even though he’s the youngest. He’s kept away from the woo medicine and ableist ideology of “curing autism” but then again, does anyone need to be involved in such rubbish? He’s close with his mother, knowing this year is a great year for [name_u]Connie[/name_u], turning 40 and being married 15 years! He loves how his life has been this year as well, doing great in class and being excellent at tests with spelling being his best subject. His fave thing to do at home is watch cute little skits on TV. He watches little YouTube but being only 7, it is monitored and he can’t have his own account yet. Despite some content on YouTube being safe for children, his parents don’t let him watch children or pets on YouTube if the channels are run by exploiters and/or abusers. None of the kids have YouTube channels currently. There was an awkward moment when [name_f]Bella[/name_f], a Swiftie, had to take down her nail art channel because her username had “1989” on it and this would likely mislead people into thinking the user was 34 and not 10…cringe!

Markie’s best friend is the ring bearer for [name_m]Cristian[/name_m] and Róisín’s wedding, which has been awkward with the [name_f]Bella[/name_f] and [name_f]Xulia[/name_f] friendship given the envy by Xulia’s brother. [name_f]Xulia[/name_f] isn’t against [name_u]Markie[/name_u] being best friends with the other boy, after all she’s still trying to get her brother to feel better. [name_u]Markie[/name_u] also agrees with the positivity she’s trying to give. [name_u]Markie[/name_u] has a lot of younger sibling tendencies although he’s adamant about his siblings not touching his DC action figures. He’ll pretty much share anything else with them though, even splitting a cookie in thirds when there was just one left. He loves candy too, especially ones with bright colours. He got a mini gumball machine and loves to use it in his room. [name_u]Markie[/name_u] is aware he’s the final Torres child and used to wish for a younger one, but now he is proud of his place and a good, whole sense with the family. As for his bond with the eldest, he completely sees the eldest as the wisest despite an autism diagnosis and thinks people are literally “too scared of autism.” [name_m]Even[/name_m] if he doesn’t know the whole story on Connie’s ex-friend, he’s technically not wrong.

[cara_murvolio]

[name_f]Paola[/name_f] [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] Santons (12) is the eldest of Connie’s children and the sister of [name_f]Bella[/name_f] and [name_u]Markie[/name_u], who tends to be viewed as the one with added insights to life. She’s typically the person [name_f]Bella[/name_f] asks about the whole ongoing issue regarding Xulia’s brother and his jealousy, which she’s tried to keep out of. After all, Paola’s now at an age where her friends are getting into dramatic debates and arguments with each other, so hearing about it at home is something she’d much rather avoid whenever possible.

She also holds the coveted status of having been allowed to touch Markie’s DC figures. Not to play with, obviously, but she helped him tidy and organise them in a way that he liked, so this obviously has given her clout in the eyes of cousins who know how dearly he holds his superheroes. [name_f]Paola[/name_f] used to be a big fan of comics herself (she still is, but this isn’t spoken of much now dating and shopping are common social topics in her friend group), although she was always more into [name_u]Marvel[/name_u], which at least stopped fierce debates breaking out in the home.

Being older also means that Paola’s interest in the upcoming wedding’s both more mature and also prone to a wild imagination. She’s very much in favour of ‘true love’ and thoroughly believes this is what exists between [name_m]Cristian[/name_m] and [name_f]Róisín[/name_f], not that she shies away from voicing this. On the plus side the wedding has given her more enthusiasm for clothes, a topic her best friend is obsessed with, because [name_f]Paola[/name_f] thinks wedding dresses are amazing. In fact, she’s now considering if maybe designing them would be her dream job, after so many years feeling that part of life wasn’t going to be easy to figure out…

[CherryBomb50]

Warning for failed marriage and deceptive spouse.

[name_f]Felicidad[/name_f] [name_u]Patrice[/name_u] [name_m]Ramirez[/name_m] (26) knows [name_f]Paola[/name_f] through her younger brother, the youngest sibling of the [name_m]Ramirez[/name_m] family. [name_f]Felicidad[/name_f] and [name_f]Sofia[/name_f], alongside [name_f]Paola[/name_f] and [name_f]Xulia[/name_f], have seen some good improvements in the youngest [name_m]Ramirez[/name_m] kid’s behaviour. He’s no longer angrily jealous of the boy who took the role and is more understanding now. [name_f]Felicidad[/name_f] felt deep down that her brother wouldn’t be a good choice regardless of closeness – he’d literally lose the rings! [name_m]Even[/name_m] if all he has to do is walk down the aisle with the rings on a pillow…oh boy. [name_f]Felicidad[/name_f] is also happy her little brother is getting along well with the boy who did become the ring bearer – the love being the two little boys of the community. [name_f]Felicidad[/name_f] gets along well with [name_f]Lina[/name_f], a friend of her sister [name_f]Sofia[/name_f], because [name_f]Lina[/name_f] actually sells her handmade products to Felicidad’s private shop!

She doesn’t quite have marriage fever and she doesn’t like to think about marriage for herself. Granted she’s glad this wedding isn’t about her and rather [name_f]Róisín[/name_f] and [name_m]Cristian[/name_m]. When [name_f]Felicidad[/name_f] was 20, she eloped her then-college sweetheart although he basically changed after marriage. He got more distant away from her but she was trying to be understanding. She felt like maybe he just didn’t want to rush into their married lives and talk too much about finances, houses, children, etc. given they were quite young. It wasn’t like he was dressing up too well when leaving, making work excuses, hiding his phone, or calling [name_f]Felicidad[/name_f] by mushy pet names. So she didn’t suspect he was cheating. Unfortunately for her, he was. He was just very good at hiding it. Not only had he been cheating on her with another woman, but he was marrying the other woman! That woman was [name_f]Cia[/name_f], a friend of Róisín’s niece [name_u]Odell[/name_u], who had married Felicidad’s husband after just three months. [name_f]Cia[/name_f] was told by the man that he needed to marry her for protection to get away from his dangerous family. [name_f]Felicidad[/name_f] now thinks he actually married [name_f]Cia[/name_f] to get away from her! [name_f]Cia[/name_f] did find out however and the marriage was annulled on Cia’s end after the realisation that her now-ex-husband was already married to [name_f]Felicidad[/name_f]. [name_f]Felicidad[/name_f] soon divorced her former husband after this controversy, in which her husband didn’t even try to take possession of any shared items because he knew the court wouldn’t rule in favour of him.

[name_f]Felicidad[/name_f] used to dislike [name_f]Cia[/name_f] over this, but [name_u]Odell[/name_u] helped them reach an understanding with one another. From this, [name_f]Felicidad[/name_f] became a better person in terms of solving conflict among others, which is why she was so happy when her little brother got over his envy. She and [name_f]Cia[/name_f] used to dislike that their former marriages were an elopement and not a wedding at the time they occurred but now they’re happy they didn’t go through all that planning and ceremony for something that ended so rotten. [name_f]Felicidad[/name_f] loves celebrations so that’s why she wanted a wedding at the time, full of flowers and balloons and jamming music, even though her whole family jokes that she wants her wedding to basically be just like her quinceañera. [name_f]Felicidad[/name_f] is perfectly fine without marriage in her life but wouldn’t mind a life partner someday. She likes having kid siblings to be able to talk about more lighthearted things freely, and especially enjoys seeing [name_f]Paola[/name_f], [name_f]Xulia[/name_f], and Paola’s fashionable best friend hang out. She finds the Santos’ to be such a sweet family and she loves to help out the [name_m]Santos[/name_m] kids whenever they have school fundraisers. She also enjoys when [name_f]Paola[/name_f] and her two friends get some nice stuff from Lina’s street vending. [name_f]Felicidad[/name_f] may be nervous about the wedding but not about the fact there’s a marriage going to happen – she’s nervous about her own role in the wedding. No, she’s not a bridesmaid and she’s definitely too old for flower girl, she’s actually involved in the wedding music. [name_f]Felicidad[/name_f] is a pianist and although she loves rocking out to loud music at parties, she loves doing peaceful and harmonising recitals. She’s a good piano player and she’s excited to be sitting by the side at the piano, but she’s never performed piano at a wedding before. This is another reason why she enjoys the kids so much, because any time she tells them, they get excited for her and motivate her that she can do this!

Sofia was created by @Lindseylloyd052399.

Lina was created by @kitkatcookie.

Odell was created by @jinxed_peach.

Cia was created by me.

[kitkatcookie]

[name_u]Kendall[/name_u] [name_f]Emma[/name_f] Sharply (12) is Paola’s best friend and sounding board where pondering the future’s concerned; who’s familiar with [name_f]Felicidad[/name_f] because she frequents her shop often, thinking it’s a ridiculously cool place. While some people assume [name_u]Kendall[/name_u] must be impolite because she has shallow tendencies, she’s actually a very polite customer, something she always tries to be thanks to her mom being a supervisor at a large department store, who often has to deal with Karen’s. [name_m]Even[/name_m] if she downplays her affection in public - it’s not super cool after all - [name_u]Kendall[/name_u] adores her mom and dad, who do all they can for [name_u]Kendall[/name_u] and her older brother.

Preoccupied with clothes and boys, the impending wedding Paola’s attending is something Kendall’s almost as invested in, loving to hear updates and the intricate details of the event: it’s the most romantic thing in Kendall’s eyes, and that’s incredibly impressive where she’s concerned. Surprisingly, she’s not looking for a boyfriend herself though. Kendall’s older brother has a girlfriend, and she never shies away from commenting on how gross the couple’s PDA is, meaning [name_u]Kendall[/name_u] doesn’t want to date anyone in case they expect this sort of intense affection. She gets her brother’s in love, but does it have to he so public?

Theough [name_f]Paola[/name_f], Kendall’s somewhat aware of Felicidad’s ex, although she doesn’t know the gift shop owner is the woman at the centre of this tale, and again it makes her wary. Her dad was actually married prior to meeting Kendall’s mom, and his first wife was a very demanding woman, constantly expecting more from him financially [while never having a job herself]. Although she feels guilty for thinking it sometimes, Kendall’s relieved she doesn’t have any half-siblings from that part of her dad’s life, as she knows his ex would turn things into a contest between the two parts of the family: specifically focusing on money. She’s encountered the woman a few times though, as she actually still lives in the same town as them, something many people belive is intentional.