Create a family (but it's got a twist)

[wandering_willow]

[name_u]Mai[/name_u] Linh Tham (48) is the mother of [name_u]Axelle[/name_u], [name_m]Ben[/name_m], [name_f]Sapphire[/name_f] and 2 other children. She’s very supportive of all her children, despite [name_u]Axelle[/name_u] being her favorite. She never tells anyone who her favorite child is, though. [name_u]Mai[/name_u] emigrated from Ho [name_u]Chi[/name_u] [name_m]Minh[/name_m] at the tender age of eleven, and ever since, she’s wanted to open her own boutique. She found herself inspired by the small boutique situated below her childhood apartment, and often would go downstairs to help the woman who managed it with creating the clothes and making designs. She always dreamed of making royal-looking clothing, and even wearing it. As a child [name_u]Mai[/name_u] would even save up her allowance to buy fabric and thread and eventually, her own sewing machine, which she still owns and plans to give to [name_u]Axelle[/name_u] when she doesn’t need it anymore.

[name_u]Mai[/name_u] met her husband very early on in life- they met in high school. Her husband was the hot lifeguard and she was two years younger, so she thought she never had a chance with him- quite the contrary, as they’ve been happily married for 27 years!! [name_u]Mai[/name_u] once sewed him a cute scarf and a beanie hat to match, and he’s kept it ever since. When [name_u]Mai[/name_u] and her husband found that they were pregnant with [name_u]Axelle[/name_u], they were elated- but [name_u]Mai[/name_u] was terrified. She didn’t want to end up like her mother- Mai’s mother was a tyrannical narcissist who’s call the cops on kids for selling lemonade without a permit. She vowed to herself that Axelle’s childhood would be better than her own. She then had [name_m]Ben[/name_m], then [name_f]Sapphire[/name_f], then their two younger twin children. When [name_f]Sapphire[/name_f] came out, [name_u]Mai[/name_u] was the first person [name_f]Sapphire[/name_f] confided in. [name_u]Mai[/name_u] was naturally very accepting and supportive of [name_f]Sapphire[/name_f], telling her she’d love her forever no matter what. [name_u]Mai[/name_u] also supports [name_f]Luz[/name_f] and [name_m]Adam[/name_m], and loves them like her own kids.

When Mai’s husband was injured, she was devastated. She sewed him a quilt, and took days off from work just to watch over him. She hated seeing him in pain. Luckily he is recovering and he’s in physical therapy in an attempt to get better. [name_u]Mai[/name_u] has gotten back to working at her boutique, which she’s named “Mai’s Boutique.” A bit on the nose, she’d remarked, and she’s told [name_u]Axelle[/name_u] that they can change the name, but they told their mother that they’ll always keep the name.

[cara_murvolio]

[name_m]Trigger[/name_m] Warning (not blurred): death caused by negligence

[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] " [name_f]Kate[/name_f] " [name_u]Demeter[/name_u] Tarras (57) is the judge who precided over the trial of the joyrider who left Mai’s husband paralysed from the waist down. Criminal cases based around negligent behaviour are Kate’s speciality, as when she was only seven, her parents died after a carbon monoxide leak in their home, which was caused by no maintenance checks being provided to the building and the landlord actively putting off them as he didn’t want to spend the money. [name_f]Kate[/name_f] only survived because she’d spent the night at her granny’s house, and wrestled with guilt throughout her early teens, thinking if she’d been home, somehow she could have saved them. Although she’s managed to get out of this thought process, with the help of proper therapy and a very supportive family network - especially her grandmother who’s still alive and living in the cosy house all her relatives picture fondly when they’re not popping by - it’s what sparked Kate’s interest in criminal justice. While the man who’s actions led to her parents deaths was convicted and sentenced time in prison, she wanted to help others find closure, leading to her journey: first a junior assistant, then a prosecutor, and now a judge.

In spite of carrying a foreboding reputation for how she holds herself in the court room, Kate’s not a woman without empathy. She always makes time to speak to the families post-verdict and if someone shows genuine remorse, she’s willing to help them seek the right help; as she wants to prevent more terrible things happening instead of just throwing people away and not bothering to do more. With the young man who severely injured Mr Tham - so badly he’ll never be able to walk again - there was only excuses and a degree of victim blaming to make things even worse, which not only angered [name_f]Kate[/name_f] but disappointed her, as she’d hoped he’d see the error of his ways and think about the father who’s life he’d changed in a traumatic, needless manner. She was clear to not shame or attack his family though, people who’s guilt made up for his lack of, and explained to them why she chose a harsher sentence when the time came. [name_f]Kate[/name_f] herself is a mother - a single parent by choice - to three kids, all adopted. They all had ties to the legal system somehow but she never lets anyone make assumptions of them because of this, and while she’s busy, always has time for them - usually going on family outings to paint pottery, as her granny loves receiving the art as gifts.

[kitkatcookie]

tw: anxiety, kidnapping, implications of violenxe

[name_f]Avalon[/name_f] " [name_f]Ava[/name_f] " [name_f]Zara[/name_f] [Pierce] Tarras (19) is Kate’s youngest adopted child, who’s still living with her after deciding to not pursue higher education for the time being. Anxiety has always been a big issue for [name_f]Ava[/name_f], stemming from the abduction of her mother when she was six. It happened when Ava’s mother was walking to collect her from school and she never arrived - something that immediately set off alarm bells for the teachers, as while [name_f]Erica[/name_f] [name_u]Pierce[/name_u] was often late to pick up her daughter, if she couldn’t come she’d ask for a neighbour who’s son was in Ava’s year group to bring her back to their apartment block and watch her or send her home depending on the circumstances. In spite of a lengthy investigation, that still garners interest on forums and true crime podcasts to this very day, Ava’s never learned of what happened to her mom, although she’s almost certain she’s gone. While she’ll admit [name_f]Erica[/name_f] wasn’t perfect - she was a teenage mother with no support system who longed for love and acceptance, meaning some less than ideal men were in her and Ava’s lives - they loved one another dearly, and she’d do anything just to know definitively what happened that [name_u]March[/name_u] afternoon, on a day that started out so ordinary.

When she first was fostered by [name_f]Kate[/name_f], eight months after her mothers’ disappearance, [name_f]Ava[/name_f] was very reserved and dispondant. She’d sit alone, only speak when asked a question by someone, and barely slept at night, staying up in case her mom suddenly appeared to take her home. On several occasions, social services offered to move her to another placement, but [name_f]Kate[/name_f] would politely decline the offer every time, as she didn’t want to push [name_f]Ava[/name_f] out for processing her trauma and leave her feeling even more alone. This would pay off, as eventually - after six months of awkwardness around her older siblings and slowly starting to enjoy baking with [name_f]Kate[/name_f] (even if sometimes she’d just watch the process) - [name_f]Ava[/name_f] felt secure once more and began bonding with her new family. Her natural shyness meant she was never demanding anyone’s attention or making big displays of her achievements at school, but [name_f]Ava[/name_f] has a very playful sense of humour once she relaxes more, and began confiding in her siblings about her past more. She was adopted by [name_f]Kate[/name_f] - who she calls mama, as she can’t shake memories of the mother who vanished, something her mama’s never been offended by - when she was nine, and (ironically, as she’s teased about) became the most openly affectionate one of the three, who readily spent time with their adopted mother when the others were absolutely not interested thanks to teenage angst and not being homebirds like their sister.

Many people assume [name_f]Ava[/name_f] would’ve wanted to pursue a career in criminal justice herself but she’s always stepped back from it, as she knows she’s too emotionally sensitive due to her past, and would never be able to handle not finding answers. Once a week she attends therapy sessions, which mostly focus on her anxiety now and not just the past, as while panic attacks aren’t as prevalent in Ava’s life now, she still faces a lot of crippling nerves. She has remained in contact with the detectives responsible for her mom’s case though - if an update or revelation ever happens - and is actually close friends with the daughter of one, who’s attending university close to the city Ava’s family live in; so she’s frequently visiting or they’re going on bike rides together, a hobby they’ve both always loves. Instead she wants to work with animals and currently is employed at a shelter close to her home, where she cares for the abandoned pets and takes the dogs out on daily walks. [name_f]Ava[/name_f] has a pet cat herself, who she got after starting at the shelter, named Susie-Su (or Suz as she’s affectionately called by the family), and they curl up together to watch documentaries with [name_f]Kate[/name_f]. Thrifting is something else Ava’s got a passion for, and if her siblings ever need to find something when they’re all out together, she just magically can track it down.

[CherryBomb50]

Carter Jeremy [Smithens] Tarras (23) is the second-oldest adoptive child of Kate and is the adoptive brother of Ava but not biologically related. His parents gave him to his aunt and uncle since they could not care for a baby and he lived with them until they became very sickly and could no longer take care of then-10-year-old Carter when Kate took him in. Carter and Ava are very close with one another due to their mutual love for thrifting. Carter adores Ava as a sister and is also focusing in on the case, as his biggest fear is never knowing answers. That doesn’t mean Carter will always talk about it as he respects when she doesn’t want to talk about such a painful past. He too hasn’t decided to pursue a career in criminal justice but is great friends with a prosecution lawyer - Ayame. Carter knows Ayame has lost her father due to negligence and although the employers have faced consequences, he knows that it will never bring her father back. Kate has served as a special bond to Ayame following this, and the two have called each other from time to time just to vent out their grief and disdain from negligence causing death to their parent(s). Carter used to have a crush on Ayame but now perceives her best as a friend but this hasn’t affected their bond and they plan to be friends forever. He often flies out or even drives to see her and is close with Cary and the Cassels for their confidence. Carter is an R&B musician and is used to travel so it isn’t rare for him to go out of his city. Despite their different musical tastes, he’s worked with Ben Tham and has just gotten Tino Perri to be his publicist. He’s been asked by people about what happened to his adoptive sister’s mother but he doesn’t answer and hates when people speculate. He too is supportive of the detective team.

Ayame was created by @I_meme_it.

Cary and Tino were created by me.

[wandering_willow]

[name_f]Bellatrix[/name_f] [name_f]Theodosia[/name_f] “Trixie” [name_f]Perri[/name_f] (25) is the oldest adopted child of [name_f]Kate[/name_f]. She was adopted at the age of two, like her brother she was a very sickly child and her parents could no longer care for her so [name_f]Kate[/name_f] took her in without hesitation. Since then, [name_f]Trixie[/name_f] and [name_f]Kate[/name_f] have had a generally harmonious relationship and have loved each other unconditionally. When [name_f]Kate[/name_f] chose to adopt [name_u]Carter[/name_u] and [name_f]Ava[/name_f], [name_f]Trixie[/name_f] was ecstatic as she’d always wanted a friend to play with and has since been very close with her siblings.

[name_f]Trixie[/name_f] works at the local high school as an art teacher. She went through four years of art school and has never been happier now with her job, in spite of some kids being total bullies. [name_f]Trixie[/name_f] herself experienced bullying- as a child she spoke with a lisp and was bullied kindergarten through second grade- luckily [name_f]Kate[/name_f] took the time to move her school and she had a better experience. By middle school, her lisp was gone. [name_f]Trixie[/name_f] makes it her mission to create a bully free zone in her class and though some say it is “corny,” she has hung up a Bully [name_u]Free[/name_u] Zone sign above her desk. She’s noticed that one of the Tran twins has been getting bullied, and she tries to help them with their struggles in school. As she’s very good friends with [name_u]Axelle[/name_u], she’s tried to make class easier for their little sibling and has even taking a liking to this sibling, as they’re a very talented artist and kind person.

[I_meme_it]

maturity warning: teenage pregnancy, time period sexism, child loss

[name_u]Andrea[/name_u] ’ [name_f]Drea[/name_f] ’ [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] Tarras (96) is Kate’s grandmother and the adopted great-gran of her three children, who’s definitely the beloved matriarch of their family. Life wasn’t easy for [name_f]Drea[/name_f], who became pregnant with her sons (Kate’s dad and his twin brother) when she was only seventeen after a rushed engagement that ended the second the responsibility of fatherhood was revealed. Due to the time and
the values it carried though, she was the one shamed for this, not the boy who abandoned his unborn children before any proper talk could be had; going to live with relatives in another state to avoid facing Drea’s parents, who were insistent he at least paid for his son’s upbringing.

After a lot of arguing - and more mud being thrown at her name, namely that she’d been unfaithful - [name_f]Drea[/name_f] was finally able to get monthly payments for her children to take some strain off her own parents. In spite of the odds stacked against her, and social stigma following her wherever she went, [name_f]Drea[/name_f] refused to give up on her son’s who she loved fiercely from the second she learned she was pregnant. She quit school early and began working an assortment of jobs to bring in extra income, eventually settling as a seamstress: the career she maintained until retirement - although if you need any advice on handling a sewing machine, she’s the woman you go to.

Losing Kate’s father - the elder of the twins who was always more boisterous and headstrong, as [name_f]Drea[/name_f] still remembers clear as day - was a crushing blow to her, only alleviated by her eldest grandchild’s survival and the support of her younger son, calling them her ‘miracle workers’ for how they helped her heal emotionally following the senseless loss. [name_f]Drea[/name_f] doesn’t care if you call her a stereotypical granny in how she behaves: providing treats, a place to stay and listening ear are what she’s proud of, and no-one can talk her out of this (with [name_f]Kate[/name_f] joking she’s wear the familial stubbornness originates, something [name_f]Drea[/name_f] never denies). Her surviving son, who’s now 77, is a grandfather himself now, and she’s always inviting her large family over to stay, resulting in gatherings full of the joy, laughter and warmth everyone knows [name_f]Drea[/name_f] deserves to be surrounded by.

~

@cara_murvolio Kate’s granny sounded so cute I just had to introduce her!

[wandering_willow]

[name_f]Safiyah[/name_f] Rahla [name_f]Matar[/name_f] (16) is Drea’s part time caretaker and the little half-sister of aforementioned Rahal [name_f]Matar[/name_f]- and, Aziza’s full sister. Like [name_f]Aziza[/name_f] and many of their other relatives, [name_f]Safiyah[/name_f] disapproves of Rahal’s fruitless relationship with [name_f]Angeline[/name_f] and tells him to date someone who will appreciate his unique talents and see him as a person, not a benefit. [name_f]Safiyah[/name_f], despite still being in high school, is wise beyond her years and gives out great advice to all of her siblings, and in spite of them loving and appreciating her, they never take her advice (or at least Rahal doesn’t), and continue to do things their way.

[name_f]Safiyah[/name_f] started caring for [name_f]Drea[/name_f] as a part time job three months ago solely for money, however she’s now come to enjoy Drea’s company and appreciates her witty, sassy sense of humor. [name_f]Safiyah[/name_f] finds caring for [name_f]Drea[/name_f] to be very fun. [name_f]Drea[/name_f] reminds [name_f]Safiyah[/name_f] of her great-grandmother who lives in [name_u]Jordan[/name_u], who’s actually older than [name_f]Drea[/name_f]. [name_f]Safiyah[/name_f] also knows lots of Drea’s family- she’s heard about [name_f]Erica[/name_f], Ava’s mom, and she thinks there might be a way that she’s still alive as she’s been following the true crime story for a while. [name_f]Safiyah[/name_f] loves true crime stories and often listens to podcasts based on them.

[name_f]Safiyah[/name_f] is in Trixie’s art class. She admires [name_f]Trixie[/name_f] and sees her as a role model. She sees one of the Tran twins getting bullied in class often despite Trixie’s best efforts and while [name_f]Safiyah[/name_f] wishes she had the courage to go up to the bullies and tell them to stop, she suffers from severe social anxiety and is scared that they might bully her too. She’s seen this twin’s art and finds it very beautiful and wishes she had this kind of talent.

Safiyah’s currently dating someone, but she’s not quite sure they like her back and is scared they like someone else. Also, this person is regularly mean to [name_f]Safiyah[/name_f]. Safiyah’s friends are telling her to get out of this relationship but she’s too scared, as they two have been dating since they were twelve and [name_f]Safiyah[/name_f] doesn’t want to hurt their feelings…

[chamwue]

censored tw: violence, domestic abuse

[name_f]Viola[/name_f] Dahyun Baek (16) is one of Safiyah’s friends and the one who is the most against her partner. A self-proclaimed “significant other analyser”, [name_f]Viola[/name_f] is the one her friends go-to person to judge their prospective dates by their attitude and vibes. At first it was a coincidence, but as time went on Viola’s judgements became scarily accurate, causing her friends to trust her judge of character. [name_m]Even[/name_m] though she jokingly calls it her superpower, [name_f]Viola[/name_f] just pays attention to people and can tell if someone’s being up a front or is being genuine. In the case of [name_f]Safiyah[/name_f], [name_f]Viola[/name_f] just never got along with her partner, nothing their abrasive behaviour and subtle insults hurled Safiyah’s way. [name_f]Viola[/name_f] is frustrated with [name_f]Safiyah[/name_f] dragging her feet, but does understand that leaving abusive relationships is one of the hardest things one can do.

Perhaps the reason for Viola’s anger is because she saw it first hand: Viola’s mother was in a horribly abusive relationship after she divorced Viola’s birth father, and [name_f]Viola[/name_f] was thrown straight in the chaos. There were dozens of nights where little [name_f]Viola[/name_f] had her back pressed against the wall outside of the living room with a knife in her hand, worrying that she’s going need to step in. Thankfully, Viola’s birth father, who still co-parented [name_f]Viola[/name_f], helped get his ex-wife and daughter out of the situation and their relationship improved. Though [name_f]Viola[/name_f] loves her dad and mum, she thinks they’re much better off as friends than husband and wife. She slips by her dad’s and mum’s houses often, and even has a good relationship with her half-siblings.

Outside of her home life, [name_f]Viola[/name_f] is very much interested in fashion and is vice president of her school’s fashion club. She’s organising her first event for the club: a fashion show with clothes made of recycled material and has been very stressed out by it. Her biggest help during all of this is the president, and [name_f]Viola[/name_f] thinks she’s falling for him…

[wandering_willow]

[name_u]Oliver[/name_u] [name_u]Axel[/name_u] “Ollie” [name_m]Larson[/name_m] (16) is the president of the fashion club at Viola’s high school. He’s very passionate about recycling, so when he took charge of the club he decided to incorporate recycled material into their agenda. [name_u]Ollie[/name_u] always stands up for what he believes in and does it without hesitation, which is something that [name_f]Viola[/name_f] admires. [name_u]Ollie[/name_u] and [name_f]Viola[/name_f] had been friends since kindergarten, and now Ollie’s facing his worst fear- falling for someone. Viola’s beautiful, smart, funny, and Ollie’s a flustered mess around her. [name_u]Ollie[/name_u] doesn’t know much about Viola’s past but he knows that there was abuse in her family and that her step father made her life extremely hard as she was little, and feels very sorry for her though he tries not to let it show- [name_f]Viola[/name_f] doesn’t want pity, and for this [name_u]Ollie[/name_u] respects her.

Ollie’s also friends with [name_f]Safiyah[/name_f] and knows a little bit about her relationship- he’s very disappointed that her partner would hurt her like that as [name_f]Safiyah[/name_f] is such a great person, and nobody deserves to be bullied by the person they love the most. Ollie’s a very empathetic person and he doesn’t like seeing anyone hurt, whether it be [name_f]Viola[/name_f] or [name_f]Safiyah[/name_f] or anyone in his friend group. Ollie’s gone through some pain himself- his mother and father died in a tragic car accident when he was four, so him and his three older sisters (who were all named after trees, Ollie’s being an [name_f]Olive[/name_f] tree) bounced from foster home to foster home until they found the right fit- but they’ve been through their share of abusive ones too, some parents who would yell at them for showing emotion. [name_u]Ollie[/name_u] has tried to forget those moments as he is very happy with his new foster parents.

[name_u]Ollie[/name_u] discovered fashion when he was about seven- his sisters would put on fashion shows in the living room when their foster parents were gone. As some of their parents refused to buy them any dresses for their runway walks, [name_u]Ollie[/name_u] would always find himself improvising- quite literally turning trash into treasure. Whatever he could find could become a beautiful dress. He’d take silky curtains and turn them into iconic wrap dresses, and he would take cardboard and turn it into chunky high heels (that didn’t last very long, in spite of Ollie’s hard work). [name_u]Ollie[/name_u] discovered that he actually had a talent and decided to put his passion to work, joining every fashion club and even joining the middle school newspaper club just to put in an article about fashion.

[name_u]Ollie[/name_u] is in Trixie’s art class and finds himself snipers by her unconventional, straightforward way of teaching- though he respects [name_f]Trixie[/name_f] a lot for trying to combat the bullies. He doesn’t see much of that in his other classes, where the bullies run wild…Ollie has never had a direct encounter with the actual bullies, but he has seen his friends get bullies and has never hesitated to stand up for them. He encourages anxious [name_f]Safiyah[/name_f] to come out of her she’ll and show the world how fierce, talented and awesome she is, but she’s still figuring herself out and she isn’t ready to speak up quite yet. She calls [name_u]Ollie[/name_u] a hypocrite as he still refuses to tell [name_f]Viola[/name_f] how he really feels about her…

:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ✧ I’m obsessed with these sparkles aaahhhh yay :･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ✧

[kitkatcookie]

tw: emotional abuse, anxiety

[name_f]Cecelia[/name_f] [name_u]Nyx[/name_u] [name_m]Larson[/name_m] (21) is the second eldest of the siblings and currently attending college, majoring in fashion communication and design - to the shock of absolutely no-one. The impact of certain foster parents, who clearly expected the [name_m]Larson[/name_m] siblings to ‘get over’ their trauma quicker than anyone decent would assume is possible, has led to [name_f]Cecelia[/name_f] having a lot of anxiety. It ranges across a spectrum of things - interpersonal relationships; academic success; walking home when it’s busy on campus - but she’s always been the most reserved of the four, albeit she’s clearly the most reliable one if you need someone to help you out last minute. This is mostly because [name_f]Cecelia[/name_f] has her own car - one she partially saved up for herself while working at a thrift store during high school (unsurprisingly assembling her wardrobe through the establishment too) - and the least hectic schedule as she’s usually hanging out with her roommates at their flat or out looking for sustainable materials for her latest project. She’s jokingly told [name_u]Ollie[/name_u] and her younger sister to attend university as it allows for partying to be scheduled around exams, as while she’s not the wildest of people, several of her friend’s DJ and mix their own tracks, meaning her cohort doesn’t need to go bar hopping for a dance party.

In spite of her nerves, being downright silent whenever meeting new foster parents for the first couple of years and speaking to them by whispering to her older sister, Cecelia’s incredibly supportive of her family and gives measured advise. Now Ollie’s president of the fashion club, she checks in to make sure he isn’t overfacing himself with projects or tasks, and has made it clear if there’s ever a crisis she’s happy to lend a hand (unless exams or uni projects are swamping her). Their other sister - the one between [name_u]Ollie[/name_u] and [name_f]Cecelia[/name_f] - is a definitive popular kid, which the siblings affectionately joke about a lot (namely she’s the A-Lister to their C status); but she’s been spending time at Cecelia’s recently to prepare her own university application, and Cecelia’s started teaching her crochet: one of her favourite means of relaxing, that isn’t listening to an audiobook or going swimming in the pool close by her apartment. Named for the cedar tree, she does sometimes wonder if this spurs her interest in the environment further. [name_f]Cecelia[/name_f] has been to several protest marches with her best friend - who’s also from the foster system, however they were never placed in the same home, instead meeting at school - and doesn’t use her car when it can be avoided.

When she’s feeling stressed, frustrated or just unhappy, it’s still her big sister who [name_f]Cecelia[/name_f] turns to for comfort and advice - the two sharing an incredibly tight bond, which arguably is a product of having the most vivid memories of the worst points of their lives.

[I_meme_it]

trigger warning: emotional abuse

[name_f]Bethan[/name_f] ’ [name_u]Birch[/name_u] ’ [name_u]Asa[/name_u] [name_m]Larson[/name_m] (24) is the older sister of [name_f]Cecelia[/name_f] and eldest [name_m]Larson[/name_m] sibling. Shortly before her parents passing - after learning the reasoning behind everyone’s names - [name_u]Birch[/name_u] decided to take her inspiration as her nickname, a decision her mom and dad found ridiculously endearing, especially as she could sometimes seem a bit moody. After they died, Birch’s resolve was strengthened - in spite of some people giving her weird looks when she started at a new school or was introduced to a new foster placement - and only a few people, not including her siblings, ever refer to her as [name_f]Bethan[/name_f]: namely because she doesn’t always respond out of habit.

[name_u]Birch[/name_u] was always the one who’d fight back when a foster parent belittled them or became angry at their emotional states. In one case, the siblings then-foster father forced her to sleep downstairs as a punishment for shouting back at him when they couldn’t sleep due to the trauma, and she was often labeled the ‘troublemaker’ for her protectiveness. In spite of these experiences, [name_u]Birch[/name_u] has remained resolute in supporting her siblings - it’s just that her career means she’s got more responsibilities now and so she’s bound by this part of her life (not that anyone holds it against her).

After studying textiles and visual communication at university, [name_u]Birch[/name_u] started her own fashion magazine - Hollow n’ Grams - with one of her roommates (a journalism student), and they’ve worked hard to build it up from a college publication into the increasingly successful indie product it now is. She’s in charge of the creative directory: organsing photo shoots; bringing in photographers; makeup artists and hair stylists; selecting designers to work with etc. while her close friend focuses on the writing aspect. [name_u]Birch[/name_u] is interviewing for a PA to help lessen her workload and give her more time to just hang out with her siblings, but she’s being a little cautious as the last time this happened, she instead met her significant other and couldn’t hire them based on principles.

[CherryBomb50]

Acacia Riley Larson (20) is the third sibling of the four and a younger sister of Birch. Acacia is into swimming, originally just going to the pool to escape foster toxicity but has gone on to love it and never wants to stop. Truthfully she’s been a swimmer for a long time, having been taught by her parents when she was 3 and they were still alive. Having the name Acacia is ironic as the acacia tree is known to be water resistant and doesn’t need much water. Birch and her roommate have taken pool pictures of Acacia, to her pleasure. She’s often swimming by the pool at Cecelia’s apartment and is practically a “permanent“ guest there. She is the closest to her older sisters but Ollie is the one she finds the most interesting and believes he has the potential to date Viola. She knows a bit about Safiyah and is worried her relationship with her partner won’t turn out well and can’t imagine someone being so cruel to their partner. She gets along with Aziza but also with Gaia and she can’t choose to be friends with just one.

Gaia was created by @lemon_swirlxx.

Aziza was created by me.

[chamwue]

[name_f]Hanako[/name_f] " [name_f]Hana[/name_f] " Murakami (19) is a college student who works part-time as a lifeguard for money. She and [name_f]Acacia[/name_f] aren’t close, but Acacia’s a very familiar face— so much so that [name_f]Hana[/name_f] always makes sure to say hello to her whenever she can. [name_f]Hana[/name_f] and her coworkers often joke about how [name_f]Acacia[/name_f] is secretly a mermaid and lives in the pool. [name_f]Hana[/name_f] herself has become a lot more friendly with water: as a child she nearly drowned, nearly leaving her with a fear of the depths. However, she conquered her fear and now has a better relationship with water. She thinks her experience with nearly dying has made her a better lifeguard: [name_f]Hana[/name_f] feels as if she knows better than anyone how water can be very dangerous and can easily tell if someone needs help or not.

She’s currently a rising sophomore in college and is majoring in psychology. [name_f]Hana[/name_f] is dorming with her best friend, who isn’t really her best friend anymore as [name_f]Hana[/name_f] caught her cheating on her boyfriend, who happens to be Hana’s twin brother.

[kitkatcookie]

Yakeru " [name_m]Crew[/name_m] " Murakami (19) is Hana’s twin, who’s found his life massively rocked following the truth coming out about his now ex. Things seemed to change when [name_m]Crew[/name_m] signed up for an erasmus course as part of his archeology degree, which would result in him spending a year studying in Greece, and his then-girlfriend was very upset about this. [name_m]Crew[/name_m] always tried keeping any relationship drama away from [name_f]Hana[/name_f] - as even asking her best friend out intimidated him, given the closeness between her and both parties - but in the wake of the cheating, does wonder if it was a revenge decision. His ex was convinced [name_m]Crew[/name_m] would tire of her while away and end things - ‘probably for a fellow archaeology student’, were her exact words - so now, [name_m]Crew[/name_m] can’t help but feel she thinks her choice was justified, or at the very least not as bad because she’d decided he’d stop wanting to be with her. The truth couldn’t have been more different: [name_m]Crew[/name_m] really did love her and was determined to make things work while he was away - having asked for Hana’s help in figuring out ways to have virtual dates - and now, the senselessness, on top of the betrayal, hurts a lot.

Crew’s response to this has been burying himself in studies and applying for more hours at the aquarium where he works in the gift shop. His sister’s been his rock throughout the whole mess - a role reversal from when they were children and [name_m]Crew[/name_m] would always be there for [name_f]Hana[/name_f] when her fear of the water was powerful, never judging her or trying to push her out of her comfort zone as she built her confidence back up. While he’s never been the most outgoing person though, his peers have noticed a change in his usually quiet yet sunny disposition, and Crew’s dreading the cheating becoming known among the class - as he hates being the centre of attention under the best of circumstances, and being pitied or looked down upon is something he doesn’t want to be faced with in tandem with his academic pressures. He and [name_f]Hana[/name_f] have two mutual friends, whom they’ve known sincere childhood, and they’re the people who’ve been involved in figuring things out the most; as while [name_m]Crew[/name_m] trusts, and has opened up to, his uni circle - the fact his ex was best friends with his twin means there’s a lot more context to an already bad situation.

[chamwue]

uncensored tw: violence & underage drinking ment

Areum " [name_u]Aria[/name_u] " Jang (19) is a mutual friend of the twins. [name_u]Aria[/name_u] has been both [name_m]Crew[/name_m] and Hana’s confidants for this entire situation, trying to keep everyone’s tempers in check. [name_u]Aria[/name_u] had to subdue a tipsy [name_f]Hana[/name_f] from hurting her twin’s ex after she managed to land a (weak) punch. Thankfully [name_f]Hana[/name_f] got off with a scolding and wasn’t expelled, but [name_u]Aria[/name_u] knows that the incident will marr Hana’s permanent record for the rest of her life. Although [name_u]Aria[/name_u] doesn’t blame [name_f]Hana[/name_f], she wishes that the incident didn’t happen. The fact that Crew’s ex was also her friend stung— she had once helped the girl find a place to meet her secret fling without knowing any better.

Being both [name_f]Hana[/name_f] and Crew’s unofficial therapist has given her burnout, though— [name_u]Aria[/name_u] has (for the time being) been hanging out with other people to not only give [name_f]Hana[/name_f] space but also to clear her own mind. [name_u]Aria[/name_u] is an aspiring law student and had to balance her social life along with her course load. It’s gotten to the point where [name_u]Aria[/name_u] now looks forward to long nights in the library where [name_f]Hana[/name_f] and [name_m]Crew[/name_m] won’t bother her. Their other mutual friend says she should set some boundaries down, but [name_u]Aria[/name_u] knows how hard it is for people from [name_f]Asian[/name_f] cultures to ask for help, and she wants to provide some comfort for the twins. She feels as if telling them directly would only hurt them right now.

Outside of Crew’s love life, [name_u]Aria[/name_u] is a dance captain in their university’s K-Pop dance cover club. The spread of K-Culture made her extremely proud of her country, and it’s a nice break from her courseload. She’s got a friendly rivalry with another dance captain, but she’s noticing it’s been delving into flirting.

[kitkatcookie]

tw: gambling addiction

[name_u]Sydney[/name_u] " [name_u]Syd[/name_u] " [name_f]Tamsin[/name_f] DeCoto (19) is the final member of the childhood friend group and the one with the middle ground in the ongoing drama enveloping them. Measured has always been the best way to describe [name_u]Syd[/name_u]: they’ve got a slower approach to decision making and the steps they take in life, which is why they’re only studying part-time right now, as their upbringing’s left them with fears they need time to work on separately - in spite of how much studying literature means to [name_u]Syd[/name_u]. Their father had a serious gambling addiction that controlled the DeCoto family rigidly and [name_u]Syd[/name_u] saw their mom being forced to hide money by opening secret savings accounts, on top of working night shifts to buy school supplies for them and their two siblings (one older, one younger) - which they know pained her, as she was raised Catholic and the deceit exhausted her conscience. In the end, Syd’s mom had to get a divorce, after their dad continuously promised to seek therapy for his addiction but never did, even using money from them and their siblings college fund to feed his habit: the tipping point that led to the marriage ending when their mom realised what he was doing.

This is why Syd’s so firm in setting their boundaries, and also why they’ve tried to steer [name_u]Aria[/name_u] away from serving as a constant therapist to the twins. While [name_u]Syd[/name_u] loves their friends and will always provide a listening ear or some advice (blunt as it may be), they don’t want to see [name_u]Aria[/name_u] stretching herself thin and this impacting on her studies, as they’re aware of how the guilt of the mutual ex friend roping her in has caused [name_u]Aria[/name_u] a lof of pain. Syd’s means of helping are trying to distract [name_m]Crew[/name_m] and [name_f]Hana[/name_f] to the best of their abilities by focusing on the future and, in their words, “not letting her (the ex) linger on when they’ve got so much more going for them”. Syd’s been considering arranging a road trip to their home town as a means of getting everyone’s minds off the drama but is apprehensive as the close quarters could mean less distractions, and they don’t want anyone getting more hurt. They were the least close with the ex - not because of personal dislike but their very different natures and interests - which [name_u]Syd[/name_u] acknowledges has protected them more, as the friendship was definitely through association more than anything else.

What they are invested in is [name_u]Aria[/name_u] and her friendly rival, something they find ridiculously cute, but wants the best for their friend ultimately and won’t play matchmaker unless [name_u]Aria[/name_u] wants this. [name_u]Syd[/name_u] had to be tempered as the middle child: seeing one siblings’ anger towards their father and the other’s devastation at the family breakdown - but the second they’re playing netball or rock climbing they’re incredibly competitive. They also enjoy hanging out at scenic spots to brainstorm ideas for their writing pieces - be it fictional, script based and journalistic - but recently have been getting more into live music thanks to their roommate, and (as much as they have cringey memories from childhood) [name_u]Syd[/name_u] has been considering songwriting as a venture too, something only a few trusted friends know.

[wandering_willow]

Da-eun “ [name_u]Lacy[/name_u] “ [name_u]Park[/name_u] (19) is an acquaintance of [name_u]Sydney[/name_u] and the friendly, flirty rival of [name_u]Aria[/name_u]. [name_u]Lacy[/name_u] is majoring in the arts- namely music and dance. That’s their passion- singing and dancing, the main reason they joined their school’s K-pop club. Lacy’s been infatuated with [name_u]Aria[/name_u] for a while now- they enjoy her wit, her talent and her passion, though they’re too anxious to say it to her. [name_u]Aria[/name_u] and Lacy’s relationship blossomed into a bit of a rivalry as both are competitive and had a natural drive to be the best- this competitive nature isn’t new to [name_u]Lacy[/name_u] though. Their twin sibling has always been “better than them” and loved more by their parents, who were oblivious to Lacy’s feelings in their childhood. Lacy’s family emigrated from Busan when they were seven years old, and settled in a small town in [name_u]Indiana[/name_u]- [name_u]Lacy[/name_u] felt very out of place there, and it didn’t help that their sibling was popular either. So [name_u]Lacy[/name_u] then decided they’d move to a big city someday and become “the best” without having to live in the shadow of their twin. [name_u]Lacy[/name_u] dotes over [name_u]Aria[/name_u], despite their friends advising them to be realistic and try to build an actual relationship with her apart from competition, [name_u]Lacy[/name_u] has already planned the wedding. [name_m]Little[/name_m] do they know that [name_u]Aria[/name_u] has begun to catch some feelings for them…

[CherryBomb50]

Julissa Clemence Wintergreen (19) is Lacy’s friend from childhood who has encouraged them to build an actual relationship, but supports them both all the way. When the dance captains had a friendly rivalry, she jokingly joined “Team Lacy” before finding out they secretly have a mutual attraction and now just wants to see them both happy together. Julissa is engaged to Malou Madani, who she’s been dating for the past 4 years and the couple plan to move to London, as Julissa has family there. Julissa has an older sister who is best friends with Dario and Pascal Madani, along with Dario’s fiancée Scarlet. For now before she moves, she wants to help Lacy and Aria get closer without making it weird and awkward. Julissa thinks Aria may be falling for Lacy but can never tell for sure. She and some of their mutual friends agree that Aria and Lacy have great couple potential. Julissa is a romantic but follows her head more than her heart.

Malou was created by @clemesque.

Dario and Pascal were created by me.

Scarlet was created by @I_meme_it.

[kitkatcookie]

[name_f]Anastasia[/name_f] " Stasi " [name_u]Dove[/name_u] [name_u]Wintergreen[/name_u] (25) is Julissa’s older sister and self-proclaimed ‘boring’ sibling due to the developments of her little sister’s life. Stasi works in marketing research for the cruelty free makeup industry, which she enjoys in spite of some considering her office based job uninspiring, as her own enthusiasm for cosmetics and dedication to veganism; still being an avid protestor at environmentalism/animal rights events, which she’ll drag just about anyone too if they ask too many questions about her weekend plans. The [name_u]Wintergreen[/name_u] family are originally from Cornwall, having moved to the States following a once in a lifetime job offer being made to Stasi and Julissa’s dad in the film industry (where he works as a screenwriter); but as the older sibling she has vivid memories of living there and frequently going swimming in the sea, which she missed when they moved. She was nine at the time and [name_f]Julissa[/name_f] was four, with Stasi’s accent garnering a lot of attention at the schools she attended - and traces remain when she says certain words even now. It’s their uncle, his husband and their cousins who [name_f]Julissa[/name_f] and [name_f]Malou[/name_f] will be near when they move, one of whom is also involved in the cosmetics industry, and Stasi talks to them frequently about this.

Stasi met [name_m]Pascal[/name_m] when they were both part of their high school’s [name_f]Media[/name_f] Society, although she knew about his dreams of becoming an engineer and was upset on his behalf when things fell through, leading to him ending up in law as his parents had always wanted. She’s admitted many times she couldn’t imagine having so many siblings - never mind the infamous one who Stasi merely calls “Her” - and prefers it just being her and [name_f]Julissa[/name_f], as their age gap meant they had optimum space when they were young, then grew closer once they were older and had more in common - still, she can’t convince her little sister to embrace the joys of outdoor swimming she shares with her friends. Currently, she lives with her best friend - who she met on the first day of middle school after they both forgot their PE kits and had to sit on the sidelines - and her rescus cat, Cluedo, who’s a tuxedo and named for his inquisitive nature (usually when it comes to human food, as Stasi’s best friend’s a chef). In spite of keeping away from “Her”, Stasi’s very supportive of [name_f]Scarlet[/name_f] and always volunteers to be the model for her makeup practices - although she’s got a suspicion [name_m]Dario[/name_m] and [name_f]Scarlet[/name_f] have some news they don’t feel ready revealing yet. One of their other long-term friends - from their high school gang - knows Pascal’s feelings for Stasi are more than platonic, but finding a second to talk to him alone about this is hard as she’s usually hanging out with both of them.

[I_meme_it]

Setsurō ’ [name_u]Roe[/name_u] ’ Hiyamizu (26) is Stasi and Pascal’s mutual friend, who’s aware of the feelings brewing on Pascal’s end. Working as a toxicologist, studying dominated Roe’s early-20s and he still jokes that time period can ‘out-dull’ whatever Stasi says now about her career - as he couldn’t go out to the same capacity as his friends: a combination of how much he wanted to gain his qualifications and also that he didn’t want his parents money to go to waste, as they helped finance his studies while [name_u]Roe[/name_u] worked a variety of retail jobs n order to keep himself going through school. This contrasted with his high school reputation: always up for a good time and regular life and soul of the party, who held a veneer of mystery about himself.

[name_u]An[/name_u] only child, Roe’s parents had almost given up hope on starting a family at the time of conception, and he loves them dearly. His mom’s a second generation immigrant while his dad moved from Kagoshima to pursue his own doctorate, and they’ve instilled Japanese cultural values in him, something that’s important to [name_u]Roe[/name_u] - and he knows he wants the same for his own children. He even spent part of his degree in his father’s home city by choice, coming to love its coastal location and made numerous friends there who he’s visited and invited to stay with him in return. Right now, [name_u]Roe[/name_u] lives by himself - excluding his pet corn snake, [name_m]Bronze[/name_m] - and knows he wants to become a father himself some day. Roe’s also open about his asexuality, although he isn’t opposed to dating, but with or without a partner, he’ll happily raise a family by himself as long as he’s got his friends.