[name_f]Meredith[/name_f] [name_f]Amoi[/name_f] Renton (29) is Belle’s aunt, who’s pleasantly surprised by her middle name and Amoy’s first name being just a letter off. She’s glad she gets to see [name_f]Belle[/name_f] so much and she’s close with her family. Though she knows she and her family were raised better than her three cousins from her paternal uncle. All of them are female but given unisex, but much more male-leaning first names. It wasn’t a way of exploring or experimenting but rather felt like a sense of, “I wanted boys” from her uncle. How they’ve leaned into (or kept away from) their names has been their choice and one is very tomboyish – but doesn’t force her sisters to be the same. [name_f]Meredith[/name_f] finds it ironic in a sense that her own name was once strictly male but progressed into vastly female. She likes the vintage charm of it and finds it goes with her last name well. She currently works in AI programming, which she finds absolutely crazy what AI can do. But she’ll always find it cringe when humans fall for obvious AI schemes. [name_f]Meredith[/name_f] is child-free but it doesn’t make her love [name_f]Belle[/name_f] any less, and feels her parents are very grounded and focused on raising her.
[name_f]Meredith[/name_f] currently has a boyfriend though their relationship has a much more complex past than either could bargain for. They were engaged but the thought of marriage scared them both. It felt binding, like any chance before marriage is a chance of freedom, but once marriage occurred, it was literally a life sentence. [name_f]Meredith[/name_f] really didn’t want to feel this because she loved him, but she felt going further would ruin this. Ultimately they didn’t marry, and had time broken up. They eventually decided to give their relationship another chance, though they don’t live together. However they live very close to one another and love being a quick walking distance between their houses while also living their lives happily to themselves at home. [name_f]Meredith[/name_f] was surprised she even was engaged at one point, given she’s the type to always want freedom first without having to worry about it affecting anyone else. It was like the moment she moved out of her parents’ house, she enjoyed the freedom so much, that she couldn’t imagine moving back with another person. She and her boyfriend’s relationship way of staying together is mostly credited to their trust – trust that neither would cheat on the other, and honesty that cheating wouldn’t be an issue to begin with. She wonders if her cousins trust their parents, something she wouldn’t mind them feeling either way, and is just glad they trust each other.
[name_m]Garrett[/name_m] [name_m]Christopher[/name_m] [name_m]Sewell[/name_m] (28) is Meredith’s boyfriend, who’s happy at the boundaries and distance their relationship involves, which is especially pertinent thanks to the wider context of Garretts’ life. When he was twenty-two, [name_m]James[/name_m] fathered a daughter, [name_f]Erin[/name_f], with his on-off hookup [name_f]Izzy[/name_f] [name_m]Garcia[/name_m], an unplanned pregnancy that he admits neither of them was really ready for. In spite of these circumstances, [name_m]Garrett[/name_m] and [name_f]Izzy[/name_f] have always maintained a good relationship for their daughter, and [name_f]Erin[/name_f] spends an equal amount of time between both households.
When she’s with [name_m]Garrett[/name_m], he focuses more on her love of horseriding and swimming, as her mom’s interests are better suited for Erin’s creative side, not that he’s at all bothered by this. It did disappoint [name_f]Erin[/name_f] that her dad’s engagement was called off - she had a lot of ideas about bridesmaids dresses - but she’s understood as Garrett’s done his best to explain to her why this happened [in a child appropriate manner of course].
[name_f]Meredith[/name_f] has always been a wonderful maternal presence for [name_f]Erin[/name_f], and the fact she’s been so accepting of [name_m]Garrett[/name_m] not only having a daughter but maintaining frequent contact with his ex for Erin’s benefit is why he’s so committed to their relationship. There’s no indication he and [name_f]Meredith[/name_f] will be having kids together - at least not anytime soon - but it again is right for them both, which is paramount to [name_m]Garrett[/name_m]. Meredith’s also been kind enough to ensure [name_f]Erin[/name_f] has space at her place should she come over with [name_m]Garrett[/name_m], and ironically the more unconventional elements of his and Meredith’s relationship have made him more committed to her.
Cautaro [name_m]Sebastian[/name_m] Becerra (26) is a colleague of [name_m]Garrett[/name_m], who’s become friends with him thanks to their daughters. Cautaro also became a father at quite a young age, welcoming a daughter - Ayün - with his partner, [name_f]Sua[/name_f], and he felt [name_m]Garrett[/name_m] was someone who never judged this, even though their paths went differently, as [name_f]Sua[/name_f] and Cautaro have remained together. It was something even they worried about initially, in spite of their mutual commitment as parents, however they’ve always been happier together rather than apart, and Cautaro is relieved cynicism didn’t cause him to step away from the woman he loves so dearly.
For [name_f]Christmas[/name_f] last year, the family also adopted their first pet, a house rabbit who’s been named [name_m]Benji[/name_m]. This all came about thanks to two things: 1) Cautaro is a dog person while Sua’s a cat person and 2) a cat that kept making his way onto the property of the family home. It turned out that said cat had gotten lost after his owners moved to the area, and he began returning to see [name_f]Sua[/name_f], Ayün and Cautaro as they’d provide him food when he was getting hungry. Although Ayün became very fond of him and would’ve liked to keep him, [name_f]Sua[/name_f] and Cautaro took him to the nearest vet first, where it was confirmed he already had a family, who had been desperately looking for him after he went missing.
The experience did prompt Cautaro and [name_f]Sua[/name_f] to decide it was time for them to also get a pet, and [name_m]Benji[/name_m] was chosen as he’s not too energetic (they already have Ayün running around) but very affectionate and happy for a cuddle. Ayün has now started trialling nursery school and loves showing photos of her rabbit to her new classmates, all of which are taken on polaroid, as Cautaro works in the photography industry and likes working with older camera makes as well as digital, to keep his knowledge as varied as possible.
[name_f]Aylen[/name_f] “ [name_f]Ayla[/name_f] “ Gomez (26) is Jazz’s sister and a bunny lover herself, which Cautaro is a supporter of. She is very close as a Mapuche original. When she broke her camera, Cautaro and [name_m]Garrett[/name_m] helped her get a new one. She is a professional photo editor and loves to scrapbook. She has two rabbits. [name_f]Ayla[/name_f] is also very meek but very determined. Her biggest fears are loneliness and the unknown. Her reason to get up every morning is to make her day better, regardless of the previous day.
[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] " [name_f]Leila[/name_f] " [name_f]Jemima[/name_f] Mullander (23) is Jazzs’ roommate and a friendly acquaintance of [name_f]Ayla[/name_f] thanks to the living situation. On several occasions when [name_f]Ayla[/name_f] has visited [name_m]Jazz[/name_m], Leila’s been there, sometimes in the company of her older brother. At one point [name_m]Jazz[/name_m] asked about matchmaking him and [name_f]Ayla[/name_f], but [name_f]Leila[/name_f] had to put a stop to this by revealing her brother is gay, and at the time he had a boyfriend.
Being a very quiet person, having been what she calls a cliché in high school; [name_f]Leila[/name_f] values privacy a lot, especially that of her loved one’s. She was very much a shy, introverted overachiever, who people considered a bit of a nerd, not that the label really bothers her nowadays. As she never aspired to be popular, it didn’t bother her, but it was a stark story for her brother. He was a star member of the baseball team and absolutely a darling of their peer groups, meaning he really didn’t want everyone blasting his love life about the school.
Working at the same coffee shop is also how [name_m]Jazz[/name_m] and [name_f]Leila[/name_f] ended up as roommates, as [name_f]Leila[/name_f] herself is a biology student, who hopes to become a toxicologist. She’s not sure in what specific field yet, but forensics have always appealed to her [and her brother ribs her about this often]. Whenever she has a moment, [name_f]Leila[/name_f] loves few things more than curling up with a good audiobook, a nice hot drink and just lazing about; another aspect of being distinctly non athletic.
just a soft request that when people reference a character far back in the thread they link them as it’s a bit confusing
[name_f]Constance[/name_f] " CJ " [name_f]Jane[/name_f] Well (26) is the best friend of Leilas’ brother and a long-term acquaintance of the Mullander family. She was also first assumed to be his girlfriend by [name_m]Jazz[/name_m]. CJ and [name_f]Leila[/name_f] found this pretty hilarious but weren’t mean about the situation, as CJ does get why people assume wrongly. Their relationship’s purely platonic but she and Leilas’ brother are happy to link their arms while walking around town, and actually carpool together as they work pretty close by to each other.
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Recently CJ and her boyfriend actually got engaged. He’s currently abroad as he’s a haulage pilot and is involved in a longer term job, which they’re using to save up for their plan on moving into a bigger property when combined with her working over-time. They like the flat they’re currently sharing, but do want a garden [name_f][/name_f]- hoping to grow their own produce [name_f][/name_f]- and more space. It’s why they haven’t got a dog yet actually, as CJ and her fiancé feel it wouldn’t be fair.
[name_f]Juneau[/name_f] [name_f]Briallen[/name_f] [name_m]Raines[/name_m] (28) is CJ’s acquaintance and a frequent customer at the coffee shop where [name_f]Leila[/name_f] and [name_m]Jazz[/name_m] works. She likes chatting with [name_f]Leila[/name_f] since she also likes listening to audiobooks and podcasts. [name_f]Juneau[/name_f] works as a retail graphic designer for a small company. She likes working from coffee shops and Latté Lab[name_f][/name_f] provides this opportunity. [name_f]Juneau[/name_f] met CJ while attending a local sustainability group in which Leila’s brother is also involved. It was fun to meet up afterwards at Leila’s workplace. [name_f]Juneau[/name_f] shares CJ’s desire to move to a bigger house. She loves her small, sunny apartment, but realizes she needs to expand her living space because she and her partner are thinking about starting a family.
[name_f][/name_f][name_m]Charles[/name_m] “ [name_m]Cas[/name_m] ” [name_m]Shelton[/name_m] Mullander (26) is Juneau’s acquaintance alongside the brother of [name_f]Leila[/name_f] and best friend of CJ. [name_m]Cas[/name_m] never officially announced himself as gay but his family knew pretty much the same time he did. All his social media profiles indicate he is homosexual and [name_m]Cas[/name_m] has never had a girlfriend. He’s someone who people could simply “figure out” is gay without being too stereotypical, but he respects when people ask. He’s proud though and doesn’t try to “act straight”. [name_m]Cas[/name_m] is fine with people saying he’s gay as he’s practically “out” before he ever had a moment to be “in”. So he’s grateful for [name_f]Leila[/name_f] telling [name_m]Jazz[/name_m] the truth that he’s gay and couldn’t cheat on his boyfriend with [name_f]Ayla[/name_f]. [name_m]Cas[/name_m] likes to live his life easily but doesn’t necessarily feel it’s easy, because there is that worldview assumption people have that people are “always straight” and can either be “male or female only”. [name_m]Cas[/name_m] is certain he’s male and only likes males, but his boyfriend at the time would consider experimenting with gender-fluid people who use “he” but also other pronouns. [name_m]Cas[/name_m] and his boyfriend only just got back together which he’s happy for, though the relationship has taken new turns since it’s not the same as entering a new relationship. [name_m]Cas[/name_m] has been worried at first because his boyfriend had gotten back together with a different ex[name_f][/name_f] before [name_m]Cas[/name_m] and broke up with that ex again[name_f][/name_f], but it wasn’t at the fault of either person.[name_f][/name_f]
[name_m]Cas[/name_m], who runs the local sustainability group [name_f]Juneau[/name_f] is in, is happy for [name_f]Juneau[/name_f] and her partner’s mutual decision to have children. [name_m]Cas[/name_m] has met Juneau’s partner and thinks their relationship is healthy and both are ready for parenting, outside the fact that they would need an upgrade on where to live. [name_m]Cas[/name_m] himself has pretty much been in the same flat for years, but he’s thought about moving into his boyfriend’s flat someday. [name_m]Cas[/name_m] is excited for CJ as well and her fiancé, though he’s not in any rush regarding what they should do next as a couple as it’s not his business. [name_m]Cas[/name_m] is very talkative and positive with CJ, and stirs up good conversations. [name_m]Cas[/name_m] is honestly glad he and CJ are dating different people because it keeps people from shipping them, but he laughs along. [name_m]Cas[/name_m] has a lot of weird memories he talks about and when he says, “Remember when…”, it will definitely be something crazy and likely started some inside joke. [name_m]Cas[/name_m] really loves reading and has made a reading list for the year, though he’s open for any suggestions.
[name_m]Eduardo[/name_m] ’ [name_m]Eddie[/name_m] ’ [name_m]Miguel[/name_m] Fuertes (27) is Cas’ boyfriend and fellow friend of CJ. Although his aesthetic and appearance indicate a career as an artist of some sort, [name_m]Eddie[/name_m] actually works as a mental health nurse. This is actually something his bosses approve of, as his punk style helps a lot of patients feel less judged thanks to him likewise going against the grain. He has a lot of time, compassion and caring for those he works with, although [name_m]Eddie[/name_m] is careful to not bring his job home so to speak.
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The guy he dated before getting back with [name_m]Cas[/name_m] very much didn’t want [name_m]Eddie[/name_m] to remain in his career, which is why he realised they wouldn’t work out ultimately. Although he appreciated the concern and knew it was genuine, he believes in what he does, and knows his own boundaries when it comes to involvement or taking things on. He’s always mindful when it comes to his work-life balance, and this is something he’s always found [name_m]Cas[/name_m] not only understands but respects, which means a great deal to [name_m]Eddie[/name_m].
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Eddie’s sister, who’s a bit younger than him, is genderfluid and she’s been the person he’s spoken to most since his conversation with [name_m]Cas[/name_m]. She’s likewise got a bold fashion sense and career not linked to the arts which they joke about. By Eddie’s own admission he’s not artistically gifted in the slightest, so it’s best to enjoy and appreciate others works rather than embarass himself by getting involved.
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Catalina[/name_f] “ [name_f]Cati[/name_f] “ [name_f]Renata[/name_f] Fuertes (26) is Eddie’s gender-fluid sib who thinks he’s cool and has a lot of likeminded ideas. Xe likes to draw despite being lousy at it, and has a mutual mock for Eddie’s same artistic pitfalls. [name_f]Cati[/name_f] could never imagine tattooing on someone else’s body but xe and [name_m]Eddie[/name_m] love tattoos – but in these cases, the tattooist[name_f][/name_f] is the true artist here, not the tatttooed! Cati’s career is for the elderly. It helps when Cati’s around elders who also used to dress like funky hippies way-back-when though xey stay unbiased. Some of the old ladies like to dye their hair unnatural colours for fun and Cati’s proudly into that. [name_f]Cati[/name_f] has been rather catty[name_f][/name_f] in xir insistence that [name_m]Eddie[/name_m] should never get rid of the teal mohawk because “Cas digs it” (he does). But xe’s cool with no matter what [name_m]Eddie[/name_m] does and thinks his career as a mental health nurse is so kind. [name_f]Cati[/name_f] feels xe and [name_m]Eddie[/name_m] are badass in a sense, not the stereotypical sense, but more so because they prove anyone who says they “won’t grow up in their careers looking like that” wrong. [name_f]Cati[/name_f] lives in the same apartment complex as [name_f]Juneau[/name_f], but they’re not really neighbours per sé since they’re on opposite sides and [name_f]Cati[/name_f] lives on the second floor. Cati’s very specific about why xe wanted a second-floor room: first floor is too vulnerable for robbery and anything higher is too vulnerable for natural disasters. [name_f]Cati[/name_f] has gotten closer with [name_f]Juneau[/name_f] and her partner and is aware that the two thought about having children and moving elsewhere.[name_f][/name_f]
While [name_f]Cati[/name_f] doesn’t know when that will happen, xe wishes them well. [name_f]Cati[/name_f] often gives the vibe of not wanting kids, but xe do at one point or another. [name_f]Cati[/name_f] and a friend have an appointment later this month to freeze their eggs and [name_f]Juneau[/name_f] may even join despite planning much sooner than the other two. [name_f]Cati[/name_f] is grateful [name_m]Eddie[/name_m] is smart enough to know when to hold on and when to break away in his own life decisions and xe is the same. [name_f]Cati[/name_f] personally loves being single and isn’t the type to want to fit anyone’s expectations. Xe jokes about xir red flags: catty, lives in small apartment, doesn’t want kids until xey’re 40 with frozen eggs, and is really bad at being on time. That last one is practically a running gag. If [name_f]Cati[/name_f] claims xey’ll be there in a minute, it’s actually 5 minutes. If xe claims 5 minutes, it’s a half hour. If it’s a claimed hour, it’s actually an hour and a half. If xe promises next week, no one will never see xem again…just kidding, next week actually is next week, xe’s not that[name_f][/name_f] bad. [name_f]Cati[/name_f] loves the [name_m]Seven[/name_m] Dwarves and feels a bit of each of them in xir personality. Xe thinks the dwarves deserve more credit than the [name_m]Prince[/name_m], given they spent more time with [name_f]Snow[/name_f] White and that the [name_m]Prince[/name_m] has barely any character…but xe can’t judge [name_f]Snow[/name_f]. [name_f]Snow[/name_f] White wanted a [name_m]Prince[/name_m] to come someday, [name_f]Cati[/name_f] wanted to get xer eggs frozen someday – it’s nice to get what ya want.
Dulantzi " Dancy " [name_f]Carmel[/name_f] Loiola (26), pictured here with her beloved dog, [name_m]Tango[/name_m], is Catis’ best friend, who’s come to be very familiar with xeir ability to be late to just about anything. It all started when the pair were in high school together, and Dancy would joke she’d never know if [name_f]Cati[/name_f] was coming to class thanks to xir time keeping skills [and a few times their teachers actually asked Dancy if she knew where [name_f]Cati[/name_f] was].
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Sometimed Dancy voices her thought that the universe pretty much paired the two together as she’s very much the opposite: early to everything. She’s not a massively philosophical person, a little ironic thanks to her job as the secretary of a noted and respected academic with ties to that field, but coincidences do fascinate her. And hey, her punctuality is what won her employer over so much, so maybe the universe really does appreciate her and [name_f]Cati[/name_f] maintaining a sort of balance?
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Dancy also actually has ties to [name_f]Juneau[/name_f] [name_m]Raines[/name_m] funnily enough, as the older womans’ partner works at the shelter where [name_m]Tango[/name_m] was adopted from. She was a mutual birthday gift from [name_f]Cati[/name_f] and Dancys’ cousin, who joined forces to get her the little animal companion she’d long spoken of hoping for.
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Dancy herself is an only child but her cousin is the sister she always wanted growing up in every emotional sense. This is another reason why she values and appreciates [name_f]Cati[/name_f] so deeply, as Dancy actually lost her closest friend prior to meeting xem because that girl couldn’t handle the Loiola cousins’ closeness. It isn’t something Dancy herself dwells on now, however when she was younger it did make her confidence buckle somewhat.
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Ainhoa[/name_f] “ [name_f]Aina[/name_f] “ [name_f]Raquel[/name_f] Loiola (27) is Dancy’s cousin and pseudo-sister. [name_f]Aina[/name_f] herself felt bad given Dancy’s closest friend leaving, mainly since [name_f]Aina[/name_f] herself has an estranged half-sister. It’s not a surprise they aren’t close, but her half-sister often changed a lot and this was difficult to maintain connections with. Her half-sister recently got out of jail…but won’t tell [name_f]Aina[/name_f] what she was in for. [name_f]Aina[/name_f] feels it’s practically impossible to bond with her when she’s keeping such a large secret, though she’s reluctant to let go of things. [name_f]Aina[/name_f] admittedly hadn’t talked to CJ in a while but knew of her relationship. Though she was late to the party on knowing CJ was engaged…but was very happy and excited for her, finding cute feelings that everything is so great with the couple despite distance. [name_f]Aina[/name_f] admittedly finds that enviable, seeing she’s known some people who moved and still their live lives in [name_f]Jamaica[/name_f]. [name_f]Aina[/name_f] wishes she could but admittedly couldn’t be away from her family and feels like she belongs where she is “by the breeze and under the trees”.[name_f][/name_f]
[name_f]Aina[/name_f] thinks [name_m]Tango[/name_m] is adorable and wishes [name_f]Juneau[/name_f] and her partner well. [name_f]Aina[/name_f] has considered getting her own pet but insists on thinking about the perfect name first[name_f][/name_f] as she can’t imagine her pet being nameless for any time. [name_f]Aina[/name_f] has a bunch of names she’d give a pet. She found it cringey but genuinely enjoyed it. The way Dancy’s former close friend still bothered her, she never liked to be a third wheel nor a reason why something didn’t work out. But thankfully Dancy wouldn’t give [name_f]Aina[/name_f] up like that. [name_f]Aina[/name_f] thinks Dancy and Cati’s friendship is hilarious and that [name_f]Cati[/name_f] is truly “fashionably late”. [name_f]Aina[/name_f] works for a flooring business, being into home decor and is very nitpicky on colours. She knows [name_f]Juneau[/name_f] wanted to move to a different place to live and [name_f]Aina[/name_f] got into a “very geeky” conversation about what the place would look like. Admittedly, she doesn’t mind that this isn’t on [name_f]Juneau[/name_f]’s mind and supports Juneau’s real intentions. She almost accidentally blurted this out to Juneau’s partner while he was talking to Dancy, but thankfully Dancy saved [name_f]Aina[/name_f] from doing that! [name_f]Juneau[/name_f] and her partner have talked about it by themselves now and are thankfully on the same page to make this big move.
