[name_f]Zoelle[/name_f] ’ [name_f]Zoey[/name_f] ’ [name_f]Dalia[/name_f] [name_m]Vennor[/name_m] (27) is the younger of Seraphina’s half-siblings and definitely considered the strange one of the pair in contrast to [name_m]Mawgan[/name_m]. Growing up, [name_f]Zoey[/name_f] often joked that the names chosen for her and [name_m]Mawgan[/name_m] scared [name_f]Seraphina[/name_f] off as they weren’t cohesive, but this humour was really a defense mechanism for [name_f]Zoey[/name_f]. She longed for a supportive and connected big sister who she could seek advice and share fun times with, but it quickly became apparent [name_f]Seraphina[/name_f] wasn’t interested in this dynamic for them.
The inconsistent contact they have is another sore spot between the three, as sometimes [name_f]Seraphina[/name_f] has engaged with them, then other times she’s unreachable. [name_f]Zoey[/name_f] believes it’s because of what she and [name_m]Mawgan[/name_m] represent, the end of Seraphina’s parents’ marriage, and that by avoiding them she doesn’t go through emotional distress, but it still isn’t something she’s entirely okay with. A few times she’s pondered asking [name_f]Seraphina[/name_f] about therapy - given it could help address the issues the divorce inflicted on her life - but [name_f]Zoey[/name_f] isn’t unaware this could only sew discord, as it could easily be misconstrued as a dig.
Working in television production - specifically the reality TV side of things - Zoey’s more than aware of how people love editing and manufacturing elements of their own lives, which is something she worries she’s guilty of. The estrangement from [name_f]Seraphina[/name_f] isn’t something many people know about, and she knows [name_m]Mawgan[/name_m] and [name_f]Livia[/name_f] aren’t looking forwards to explaining this to their son when he’s a little older, given how it could (and likely will) hurt him. So she’s trying her best to be the most emotionally available and accommodating aunt to him, should it compensate for Seraphina’s absence.
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[name_f]Dione[/name_f] [name_f]Samantha[/name_f] Prest (32) is who [name_f]Zoey[/name_f] calls her ‘work mom’, as she’s definitely the mentor of the younger woman. A production designer with a flair for the unusual, eclectic and bold, [name_f]Dione[/name_f] started in reality television herself, where she assembled sets and worked out the logistics of locations for dating shows. She describes this period of her life as ‘a little soul crushing’, given it exposed a lot of give and take: namely the pressure of being a public figure while not imploding your reputation, however it did make [name_f]Dione[/name_f] a more empathetic and reachable person.
Her early career was defined by her being very emotionally closed off, and prone to aloofness in self-preservation related mechanisms. She didn’t make many friends and worried a lot about being used, something she regrets a lot now, even though no-one holds a grudge. Dione’s own parents are pretty cool in demeanour and she also admits it’s an inherited thing, especially how reserved they all come across, but it’s not a lack of caring that creates this.
Once she moved into fictional media, [name_f]Dione[/name_f] relaxed a lot, and became more approachable. Her style was noticed by a respected quirky producer, who loves everything unusual, and she ended up moving, however her ties to reality TV remained, and this is how she met [name_f]Zoey[/name_f] when the younger woman started. The obvious resilience and determination [name_f]Zoey[/name_f] posssesses resonates quickly with [name_f]Dione[/name_f], leading to their bond forming.
[name_f]Dione[/name_f] herself is mother to a young son - born to her ex partner - who recently had a play date with Zoey’s nephew, something both children loved. While they’re not together anymore, her ex is a fully involved dad, and [name_f]Dione[/name_f] doesn’t hold anything against him. Their schedules were just impossible to align thanks to their work commitments, and they decided to part ways rather than develop a serious resentment; albeit shortly after their split, [name_f]Dione[/name_f] learned she was pregnant. Her son’s someone she never withdraws around, always wanting him to feel accepted and cherished, with [name_f]Dione[/name_f] truly wanting to uplift others…even if she struggles to express it.
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[name_f][/name_f][name_m]Lorenzo[/name_m] [name_m]Julius[/name_m] Prest (29) is Dione’s younger brother, who’s her full-blooded sibling, though only [name_f]Seraphina[/name_f] would probably consider
that[name_f][/name_f] a big deal. The only difference between [name_f]Dione[/name_f] and [name_m]Lorenzo[/name_m] was that [name_m]Lorenzo[/name_m] was not planned. Which [name_m]Lorenzo[/name_m] never minded, he jokes he’s the result from “planting the seeds of chaos”. He’s toned down those jokes significantly when [name_f]Dione[/name_f] told the Prests her unplanned pregnancy, and was there for her until she gave birth. He was ironically at the hospital at the time but
not[name_f][/name_f] there to see her – he literally had to get his appendix removed
the literal same day[name_f][/name_f] – and everyone practically agrees that only [name_m]Lorenzo[/name_m] would have that kind of unplanned chaos. [name_m]Lorenzo[/name_m] was happy for [name_f]Dione[/name_f] despite the timing of her pregnancy and comforted her on the difficult decision to split up before she realised her pregnancy even happened. He wanted her to follow her gut instincts and was convinced her ex was feeling the same way but didn’t know where to go. He’s convinced they’re both completely moved on in terms of romance. [name_m]Lorenzo[/name_m] himself had a lot of friends growing up, though things changed when they were teens and he was honestly the only one who didn’t want to be on the varsity team. He tried to keep up with them outside sports but it was just too obvious he couldn’t, especially as the only one. It was hard to lose that connection but he’s handled it. He wished he would have had that interest but his heart was elsewhere.[name_f][/name_f]
His mind is into cooking, as in haute cuisine Michelin style cooking. He’s had experience working on a restaurant like that before and he’s been one of the “underlings” for a chef in the area. He loves getting to cook for big celebrity events and for shows. He’s not as inclined with working behind the scenes of a reality show like [name_f]Zoey[/name_f] and [name_f]Dione[/name_f], though the Michelin restaurant he’s worked for actually appeared in a reality show challenge as a reward meal. [name_m]Lorenzo[/name_m] had a secret that he’s glad is finally able to be revealed, he’s a contestant on a famous cooking reality competition. The show has already finished filming but he had to keep it under wraps until stated, which means he had to have a good cover story as to where he was. He said he was on a nice island vacation (he adores tropical paradise), which [name_f]Dione[/name_f] thankfully backed him up for, though he was understanding if people didn’t believe him. Some people who worked with [name_f]Dione[/name_f] truly thought he was on a reality show, but mistakenly believed it was for some cheesy love show, which [name_m]Lorenzo[/name_m] couldn’t stop laughing over. His nephew believed he was abducted by robots, which in Lorenzo’s mind, is somehow less cheesy. While he is seen as more “out there” and not as put-together as [name_f]Dione[/name_f], he’s very serious and strong as a cook and he’s glad he finally gets to watch himself.
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[name_f][/name_f]
TW: xenophobia
[name_f][/name_f]
[name_f]Lucika[/name_f] " [name_m]Luck[/name_m] " [name_f]Tijana[/name_f] Šerbedžija (26) is a new acquaintance of [name_m]Lorenzo[/name_m], as she’s actually one of Zoey’s friends, who she met through their mutual interest in unique personal style. [name_m]Luck[/name_m] is also involved in television production, albeit she’s a stylist who works for the presenters of various shows, including local news networks and talk shows. It did frustrate [name_m]Luck[/name_m] at first that a lot of clients aren’t as bold as she is, however over time she’s been able to connect more with helping people express themselves in their own ways, which she thinks is very important.
[name_f][/name_f]
[name_m]Born[/name_m] in Vinkovci, [name_m]Luck[/name_m] moved from Croatia when she was 8, after her mama was offered a new job. It wasn’t an easy process for her, as the oldest of 3 children and the only one who went into school pretty much immediately. Other children made a lot of remarks about everything ‘different’ with [name_m]Luck[/name_m] and her family, that made her suppress her Croatian culture and routes for several years, as she was desperate to ‘fit in’ above anything else.
[name_f][/name_f]
This ended when she reached high school and it dawned on her how this behaviour had come from prejudice first and foremost. She’s now very connected with her culture again, and is pleased her younger siblings didn’t end up going through the same unhappiness she did. [name_m]Luck[/name_m] hosts her own pot lucks at work actually, where she encourages people to cook different foods and embrace new aspects of each other’s lives whenever she can. This started for her at uni, and she and her boyfriend [name_f][/name_f]- who’s Korean-American [name_f][/name_f]- are currently teaching one another Croatian and Korean respectively.
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