tw: emotional neglect - not blurred, estrangement
[name_f]Scarlet[/name_f] [name_f]Vittoria[/name_f] Laudano (28) is Dario’s fiance who’s served as a long-term witness to her soon-to-be brother-in-law’s inability to let go of his ex and the stress it’s caused the Madani family. This is an echo of the past for [name_f]Scarlet[/name_f], as her own mother had an obsessive need to not be alone, and would frequently become more interested in pursuing ex-boyfriends than spending time with her only child. [name_f]Scarlet[/name_f] ended up mostly looking after herself and still prefers independence, as she never has an easy time putting faith in other people due to her mothers’ emotional neglect. They don’t have much contact now, aside from polite birthday and [name_u]Christmas[/name_u] cards, but [name_f]Scarlet[/name_f] is aware she now has a stepfather who feels very awkward at the idea of meeting her.
Dario’s parents have always been tentative about [name_f]Scarlet[/name_f] as she works as a special effects artist in film and TV: a career that isn’t their ideal of stability. However, her success and tenacity have allowed her to be accepted by them - and in spite of [name_f]Scarlet[/name_f] not really approving of how they push all of their children towards their own line of work. Although they haven’t mentioned this to Mr and Mrs Madani, [name_f]Scarlet[/name_f] and [name_m]Dario[/name_m] have agreed in private that if their children aren’t going to be talked into pursuing anything that aren’t their true, authentic dreams. Scarlet’s suggested to [name_m]Dario[/name_m] that at least one of [name_u]Nico[/name_u] and Calliope’s puppies is sent to be given training as a guide dog, as she wants to see people benefiting in multiple ways from owning a dog: not just the happiness [name_u]Nico[/name_u] brings her and her fiance.
In spite of her unhappy childhood and estrangement, [name_f]Scarlet[/name_f] knows she wants children…and now there isn’t going to be a question of waiting, as she just discovered she’s 5 weeks pregnant. No-one outside of her and [name_m]Dario[/name_m] knows this yet, as truthfully, [name_f]Scarlet[/name_f] isn’t looking forwards to becoming the centre of attention - not just because she’s naturally introverted, but it’s something she’s never been used to or welcomed.