šŸ•Šļø create a family w/ a twist

[name_f]Jenna[/name_f] [name_f]Therese[/name_f] Denlon (18) is the one of the cheersquadā€™s two captains who [name_f]Alessia[/name_f] has a good relationship with. Having gotten her college scholarship thanks to her achievements, Jennaā€™s very enthusiastic about encouraging peopleā€™s engagement with the sport, however she has a gentle approach when it comes to new recruits or middle schoolers who hope to make the high school team. A lot of people attribute her gentle nature to being the daughter of a respected nurse, and [name_f]Jenna[/name_f] herself hopes to become a midwife, absolutely adoring children.

Soon sheā€™s going to become an aunt: her half-brother, born from her motherā€™sā€™ first marriage, whoā€™s just turned 27, is expecting a child with his wife, who he married 3 years ago. [name_f]Jenna[/name_f] was his best man, something that made her parents very happy (although they arenā€™t biologically related, Jennaā€™s dad treats him no differently to her, as her brothersā€™ father walked out when he was 5 and hasnā€™t been heard much from since), and they have an excellent relationship. She actually helped him prepare for his first dance, as itā€™s frequently joked how all the grace went to her, while her brother was diagnosed with dyspraxia at 19.

In comparison to some of her friends, [name_f]Jenna[/name_f] knows she seems a bit unadventurous - sheā€™s happy spending her evenings enjoying old sci-fi shows or walking the family dog [name_m]Corky[/name_m], an Italian Greyhound - but given what her mom experienced with her ex, sheā€™d rather be calm and reliable opposed to living with reckless abandon. Jennaā€™s dated casually a bit but is presently single and happy that way, although she has recently started to consider she might be pansexual, something she wants to be certain of before coming out to those she knows well.

6 Likes

tw: mentions of missing people.

[name_f]Emmaline[/name_f] [name_u]Love[/name_u] [name_u]Jagger[/name_u] (Emmy) (17) is Jennaā€™s half-brotherā€™s step-daughter from his wifeā€™s previous marriage. Her and her parents moved to [name_u]England[/name_u] last year where Emmyā€™s mother [name_f]Vivienne[/name_f] is originally from to be closer to her elderly parents who are yet to meet the new addition to their family and [name_f]Emmy[/name_f] herself. She also has a young full-sister [name_f]Jaqueline[/name_f] (Jacqui) who is 2 years younger than her.

[name_f]Emmy[/name_f] has always been a trouble maker since she was young, this is due to her copying her biological fatherā€™s behaviour who has been in and out of prison on various charges. Back in [name_u]America[/name_u], [name_f]Emmy[/name_f] was kicked out of various schools due to her behaviour and moving to Manchester in [name_u]England[/name_u] was meant to be a fresh start. She met members to her family that she never even realised existed most importantly her cousin [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] who is the same age as her which she spends a lot of her time with who is a good influence for [name_f]Emmy[/name_f].

Sadly, [name_f]Emmy[/name_f] has had a tough time since her start at college in Manchester and has already got kicked out due to a fight she had with someone who was mocking her American accent. While having a walk around the city centre, she started talking to a girl named [name_f]Justine[/name_f] and her friends who invited her to a party across town. They exchanged numbers and [name_f]Emmy[/name_f] agreed to come but she was nervous about going by herself so she invited [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] to come along. [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] warned her about [name_f]Justine[/name_f] and her friends but [name_f]Emmy[/name_f] refused to listen. [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] decided to tag along to keep [name_f]Emmy[/name_f] safe however only [name_f]Emmy[/name_f] made it home that night. [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] was reported missing and the case is still ongoing but they have yet to find her. [name_f]Emmy[/name_f] feels extremely guilty for what has happened and she often blames herself.

6 Likes

cw: hostile divorce

[name_f]Elenoa[/name_f] " [name_u]Noah[/name_u] " [name_f]Magdalene[/name_f] Hepworth (21) is a part of the internet sleuthing community who are discussing the disappearance of [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] Jagger-Lyon, as well as a host a true crime podcast alongside her close friend, having opted to start it while she pursues her degree in journalism. Unlike many others though, Noahā€™s involvement is more personal: sheā€™s the older sister of one of the cheer squad members alongside [name_f]Jenna[/name_f] Denlon, having been informed of the case thanks to the sports association. Where active cases are concerned, [name_u]Noah[/name_u] and her cohost of The Hopeful Conclusion donā€™t get involved in discussing theories - itā€™s not their place and they donā€™t want to hinder anything - however theyā€™re serious about raising awareness, and this is what theyā€™ve done for [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f], hoping someone will remember something thanks to more voices asking for information to be passed onto investigators. Noahā€™s desire to pursue information comes from a sociological perspective: she believes in factual accuracy and ensuring the truth is whatā€™s prioritised.

Partly it stems from a childhood growing up between two warring parents in the midst of divorce, with a lot of hearsay and allegations being made on both sides, as winning the approval of [name_f]Elenoa[/name_f] and her two younger sisterā€™s became paramount. The three weathered a lot of cold war tactics and passive aggression, never being to the actual arguments, but getting a clear picture of the anger. Things have calmed down in the subsequent years - while Noahā€™s parents arenā€™t exactly fond of each other, theyā€™re able to be civil now - and as sheā€™s grown up sheā€™s come to recognise finances were the heart of the conflict. Her dad isnā€™t a man anyone would mistake for financially responsible [dealing in impromptu gifts that the girls loved to receive but didnā€™t understand the consequences of], and it took its toll on their mom eventually, causing her to despair as she was the person trying to save, budget and ensure funds for their children were sorted regarding the future.

Noahā€™s more similar to her in nature - being a bit brusque in how she conducts herself, wry humoured and very much the sarcastic one of the duo in the podcasting department - which has led to a lot of understanding on her behalf, and sheā€™s always mindful of her not becoming too stressed, as sheā€™s evidently the responsible parent still, who takes on the brunt of what her daughterā€™s need. They do see their dad often - itā€™s monthly because of him moving three hours away, after he was offered a better job helping with his alimony payments - and [name_u]Noah[/name_u] isnā€™t hostile towards him, but theyā€™re not the most warm when communicating [not solely because of the past, he just doesnā€™t appreciate her sense of humour; often being on the defensive thanks to them spending more of their time with their mother]. Certain events bring both sides of the family together, who have likewise been on poor terms in the wake of the divorce, and [name_u]Noah[/name_u] does her best to ensure her younger cousins arenā€™t uncomfortable or awkward, as sheā€™s the eldest grandchild of her maternal grandparents and second eldest on her dadā€™s side.

Living in a small apartment, a 10 minute walk away from her momā€™s place, with her podcast cohost, Noahā€™s the proud owner of a tabby cat she adopted from a rescue centre who answers to the name of [name_f]Tawny[/name_f]. They feature animal cases on The Hopeful Conclusion too - such as the exotic trade and prolific abusers - with [name_u]Noah[/name_u] attributing her interest to her mother working as a forest ranger, having spent a lot of holidays outdoors with her and her roommate also owns a pet, albeit theyā€™re a little more easygoing than [name_f]Tawny[/name_f] who constantly searches for human attention. The two met at the open day of the college they attend, her cohost being from [name_u]North[/name_u] [name_f]Carolina[/name_f], and clicked almost instantly. This didnā€™t prevent [name_u]Noah[/name_u] from remaining close with her friends from school, regardless of whoā€™s moved where for school. Sheā€™s actually done promotional collabs with some of them, and frequently knits little hats, arm warmers and fingerless gloves to send them as gifts, being almost as enthusiastic about fashion design as she is reporting.

6 Likes

tw for brother thatā€™s a suspect of murder

[name_f]RocĆ­o[/name_f] [name_f]Carmela[/name_f] ā€œ [name_f]Rosie[/name_f] ā€œ [name_m]Fuentes[/name_m] (19) is Noahā€™s online friend and penpal, and is also intermingled in the internet sleuthing community. [name_f]Rosie[/name_f] has admittedly become a little too invested in it, but thatā€™s because she too has personal connections to the murder. While sheā€™s not told many people in the internet community, only [name_u]Noah[/name_u] and other people sheā€™s become close with, she and her family live in Manchester, and she knew [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f]. Not personally, she only ever heard her name occasionally, but they lived in the same area. Rosieā€™s older brother started mentioning [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] and behaving awkwardly within a few days of the disappearance, which [name_f]Rosie[/name_f] found very suspicious. Thatā€™s why she joined the Internet forum the second she heard of it, under the pseudonym ā€œbooksandroses, which Rosieā€™s quite proud of. She is a bit of a reading addict- she loves reading with all her heart and soul, and will often read during her school breaks. She has a reputation as a bit of a nerd, but she doesnā€™t care- sheā€™s happy, and thatā€™s what matters.

Rosieā€™s terrified that her suspicions are correct, and her brother did do it- Rosieā€™s brother is two years older than her, and her only sibling. In childhood the duo was very attached to each other and wouldnā€™t leave each other alone, but when he was around eight something just snapped. The sweet, lovable and amicable boy he once was underwent a metamorphosis into a vile, hateful child. Heā€™d scream, kick things and even tear off the wallpaper in his room. His parents didnā€™t know what to do so they put him in therapy, which seemed to quell the intense rage for a few weeks but he returned to his usual self, distant and angry. Because of her brotherā€™s outbursts, [name_f]Rosie[/name_f] felt the intense pressure to be perfect- she would constantly stress over exams and grades as a way to be the ā€œperfect daughter,ā€ to make it up to her poor parents. Despite all the constant problems and issues, [name_f]Rosie[/name_f] never stopped loving her brother. She thinks his behaviors may have been attributed to sudden bullying, but nobody knows, because her brother doesnā€™t like talking about it.

Rosieā€™s very close with her parents- they adore her and obviously favor her which is mainly due to her brotherā€™s actions. He may not be as crazy as he was at eight, and heā€™s more of an angry recluse, but [name_f]Rosie[/name_f] has no doubt in her mind that he had something to do with Evangelineā€™s disappearance, whether sheā€™s alive today or not. Apart from being a sleuth online, [name_f]Rosie[/name_f] also enjoys writing- sheā€™s often working on twelve stories at a time and sometimes forgets them, but she loves writing fiction. However, she plans to keep that strictly a hobby, though sheā€™d like to publish a book someday she wants journalism to be her main pursuit, which is part of the reason she bonded with [name_u]Noah[/name_u] so quickly. [name_f]Rosie[/name_f] is very intelligent in reading- in fact, sheā€™s in the same grade as [name_u]Noah[/name_u] despite being two years younger. She skipped grades in preschool due to her high intelligence and sheā€™s taken an IQ test and gotten a score in the 140s, which she tries not to brag about but is definitely proud of.

[name_f]Rosie[/name_f] tries not to pay her big brother too much mind, and tries to focus on the good. Sheā€™s doing very well in school- sheā€™s going to take next semester abroad in [name_f]Argentina[/name_f], which is where her parents are from- she chose [name_f]Argentina[/name_f] solely for that reason. Itā€™s school funded, which means she doesnā€™t have to pay for the opportunity- and she admittedly feels a lot safer with the idea of not living with her brother. In spite of loving him, sheā€™s scared of him and what heā€™s capable of. Luckily, she actually has some evidence against him- her brother and [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] were in the same part of town (Rosieā€™s brother said he needed to go there to ā€œmeet someoneā€ and kept his whereabouts that night discreet, only saying a general area of where he was). He also came home that night with claw marks on his chest and arms, presumably from a fight. [name_f]Rosie[/name_f] wants to report him to the police but sheā€™s too scared- after all, heā€™s her brother and she shouldnā€™t want to get rid of him. Right?

5 Likes

serious tw :exclamation: : attempted murder, description of injuries, age gap arguments

[name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] [name_u]Willow[/name_u] Jagger-Lyon (17) is the girl at the centre of so many questions. After disappearing for two weeks, it was discovered that [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] had in fact been located quickly, it was just that no-one had identified her. In a field beyond the suburbs where Justineā€™s party was taking place - whatever her intentions were for inviting [name_f]Emmy[/name_f], and if thatā€™s even her real name - a woman going out for a morning run found a girl laying unconscious on the grass, almost two days after the fateful night. Sheā€™d been severely beaten and strangled, to the point of losing conscious, at which point the attack had stopped. As police have surmised, whoever attacked [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] that night wanted to kill someone, and she was the first person they managed to get alone somehow. The witness immediately called 999 and the teenager was sent to hospital, where she was found to be suffering amnesia: a combination of the head injuries received and her memory attempting to protect her from the trauma of the attack. [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] couldnā€™t remember her own name until a week after sheā€™d been hospitalised - and she called herself [name_f]Lena[/name_f], the nickname her mum refers to her by - which made identifying her a difficult process, especially as she dyed her hair on a whim the night of the party but ended up wearing a scarf atop it, meaning people were still looking for a brunette. This was on top of the bruising and swelling from the attacker concentrating on her face and head, meaning her features only became recognisable once her body was properly healing.

Although thereā€™s been rejoice from the community and law enforcement to find that Evangelineā€™s alive - nothing next to the reactions of her family - she still finds herself frustrated. [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] cannot, for how hard she tries, remember anything about that night beyond a certain point. She became separated from [name_f]Emmy[/name_f] once [name_f]Justine[/name_f] located her cousin, ended up talking to a girl she vaguely remembers having glasses, getting a phone call from her mum and thenā€¦nothing. It canā€™t even be verified what order those events happened in, as locating the teens at the party has proven incredibly difficult, as most of them didnā€™t want to come forwards in case they were found out to be drinking underage, or considered suspects in Evangelineā€™s disappearance. The online sleuthing community are certain someone must have seen something [they actually think it was a random act of murderous impulse opposed to a personally motivated attack, given how the person seemed more fixated on quickly disposing of another life], but the current most popular theory is that if there is suspicion as to whoā€™s responsible, the witnesses are too afraid of this person to come forwardsā€¦

Since she was identified and reunited with her parents, thereā€™s been more discord for [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] to weather. In the aftermath of the shock, a row erupted between her dad and her aunt [Emmyā€™s mum, her dadā€™s sister], about what happened that night. There were existing issues between the adults of the family about Vivienneā€™s second marriage - her husband only being ten years older than her firstborn daughter, and her convincing him to leave behind his close family to benefit herself, seriously upsetting his younger half-sister - but they imploded in the days after [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] was met by her loved oneā€™s once more. Itā€™s now known that [name_f]Vivienne[/name_f] and her husband have separated, although he hasnā€™t moved out to ensure [name_f]Emmy[/name_f] and [name_f]Jacqui[/name_f] have his support, and things worsened when Ms. [name_m]Lyon[/name_m] [Evangelineā€™s mother] insinuated he should take the unborn baby back to the States to protect them from being pulled into the conflict. [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] was more aware of these problems than [name_f]Emmy[/name_f], as her own personal life was much more calm: she attended an all girls school on scholarship, enjoyed gardening with her mum and walking the family dogs [golden retrievers [name_u]Nelson[/name_u] and Delilah] with her dad and planning on her next steps in life, wanting to study sociology at university.

Now all of that has been put on hold. [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] spends most of her time trying to wrestle back some normality. Sheā€™s not returned to school - and wonā€™t be for at least three months, but her therapist has recommended taking more leave - and feels safest in her room, curled up with [name_u]Nelson[/name_u] and an audio book from her childhood. A few days ago, her best friend from school was allowed to visit, and seeing her familiar face helped tremendously, although reengaging with her full circle puts her on edge currently, as [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] knows someoneā€™s going to ask about the attack eventually [her grandparents tried prodding but it led to another row between them and her dad, who didnā€™t want his daughter subjected to more pain]. Worst of all though, her relationship with [name_f]Emmy[/name_f] is incredibly strained right now, and she doesnā€™t quite know how itā€™s to be fixed. While she tries her best to not hold resentment or anger, [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] canā€™t help but feel betrayed by how she was left alone - at a party she didnā€™t even want to be at, one she advised her cousin to not attend - and she doesnā€™t trust herself in voicing her feelings without thrusting more problems out into her family. What sheā€™s trying her best to focus on is healing, one day at a time.

4 Likes

cw: PTSD


[name_f]Marjorie[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] Friar [23] is the witness who found [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] while out for her morning run. At first she was convinced that she was dreaming, or that Halloween had come early. Through her panic she managed to call the authorities of the girlā€™s presence. Initially she believed [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] to be dead so she stood back as to not tamper with a potential crime scene. After looking closer though she saw the teenā€™s ribs moving faintly and didnā€™t hesitate to get down on the grass and sit beside her. Since she lacked any medical knowledge and believed that the young girl might die before help arrived she wanted to attempt to comfort her in case these were her final moments. She gently moved the hair out of her face, being careful of the wounds on her face, and spoke to her softly while holding her hand. Though she was unsure of the outcome of the situation she found herself calmly repeating ā€œItā€™s gonna be okay.ā€ and ā€œIā€™ve got you.ā€ over and over until she realized that there were police officers and EMTs in front of her who then guided her away from the scene.

She watched frozen as they took [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] away into the ambulance, never being religious in her whole life until she prayed that day. The police took her to the station so she could calm down and give a statement, as well as contacting the family members she lives with, her fiancĆ© and her mother. After a long day she was allowed to go home, advised to see a therapist as well. Since then she has been seeing a professional twice a week to work through what she had seen. Sheā€™s an avid runner and canā€™t go more than a day without getting out and getting a few miles down, however since coming across the badly beaten teen she canā€™t even look at her sneakers without getting a pit in her stomach. To fill her time now sheā€™s been keeping up with the case online and is hopeful that a resolution can come to give her, and Evangelineā€™s family, some closure.

It feels strange to be so traumatized from an event that didnā€™t effect her nearly as badly as it had those who were actually involved, but as her therapist has reminded her ā€˜trauma is relativeā€™ and she shouldnā€™t discount her own experience just because someone might have it worse.

She also would love to someday meet [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] again. She knows that she wonā€™t remember her, but thinks seeing her healing might help her with her own journey. Though only if sheā€™s ready to see guests. Until then sheā€™s been trying to begin to enjoy her old passions again, starting with a nice slow walk around the block.

6 Likes


Luca Timothy Pittman (17) is Evangelineā€™s boyfriend. He does not know Marjorie personally, but he is still incredibly thankful for whoever found his girlfriend who was distraught over not knowing what happened to her and is currently trying to find the person, but has not gotten far in his search. Now that he knows what happened, he feels a lot of guilt because he feels as her boyfriend it was his responsibility to protect her. He knew she was going to this party and advised her not to, but Evangeline told him she was going anyway. He had let her go, but now he feels like an awful person for standing his ground, or at least going to the party with her and stopping whatever happened that night from ever happening in the first place.

The guilt he feels is making him feel terrified to see her when visitors are allowed because he is worried she either wonā€™t remember him or blame him for what happened, and he isnā€™t sure what would hurt worse. He is currently trying to cope with feelings of guilt and self hatred by trying his best to find the person who killed Evangeline. He isnā€™t getting that far in his search but he is determined to find the person and he narrowed it down to a man in his late 20s who had a history of anger issues, and is suspicious of a guy who is the older brother of someone who goes to his school.

His parents and other close people in his life are worried about him, because as well as being obsessed with finding out who did this and whoever found Evangeline - he feels he has gotten so close trying to find her attacker, and knows he is close to cracking the case and that has taken priority until he does - he has become something of an alcoholic as well as a fiend for any drug he can find to help numb the pain he feels. He is getting more reckless as time goes on and isnā€™t allowed to see Evangeline, and everyone is worried heā€™s going to do something stupid. Which they arenā€™t exactly incorrect in thinking, because in his mind when he finds out whoever did this, he is going to make them suffer greatly to make up for his believed errors in not protecting Evangeline.

4 Likes


[name_m]Xabier[/name_m] [name_m]Javi[/name_m] [name_m]Fuentes[/name_m] (38) is the private investigator involved in the attack and temporary disappearance of [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f]. Heā€™s heard of [name_u]Luca[/name_u] and knows [name_u]Luca[/name_u] is heavily interested in the case but has not revealed any information to anyone without solid evidence to avoid speculation. He admires [name_u]Luca[/name_u] and his passion for his girlfriend because it reminds [name_m]Xabier[/name_m] of his own fiancĆ©e. He completely understands the perspective of Lucaā€™s family being worried for him over this fixation of the crime and knows theyā€™re worried heā€™ll spiral down a bad road. But thatā€™s another reason why [name_m]Xabier[/name_m] is so determined to solve this case. He can be tense but heā€™s not the type to get his whole personality around that. He can be sleep deprived but heā€™s used to it.

The worry about the case is that Xabierā€™s biggest lead is his own nephew! Itā€™s so frightening that even his niece [name_f]Rosie[/name_f] believes heā€™s behind it. Now [name_m]Xabier[/name_m] is extremely cautious about avoiding speculation and doesnā€™t immediately accuse him of anyone, but heā€™s a prime suspect. Heā€™s not the only suspect, there was another young 18-year-old woman who might have been involved. This woman was known to be very dishonest and [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] always disliked her. Not too long before the disappearance, [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] called her out for lying to her. She asked, ā€œBeing dishonest isnā€™t cool. How will people react knowing that you are the person they chose for school valedictorian but youā€™re a liar?ā€ The woman asked, ā€œIā€™m school valedictorian? I actually got it?ā€ [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] replied, ā€œNo, you were never considered. I lied, see how it feels like?ā€ [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] already felt so betrayed by this lying woman that it made her feel more disdained by [name_f]Emmy[/name_f] than she normally would have been. Both she and Rosieā€™s brother had very serious anger issues but unlike [name_f]Rosie[/name_f], the family of the lying woman do not believe she is involved, not even as an accessory.

5 Likes


[name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] ā€˜Opieā€™ [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] Littlewood [36] is Xabierā€™s fiancĆ©e. Their relationship is sort of an opposites attract situation as sheā€™s very quiet and withdrawn while heā€™s much more extroverted and somewhat larger-than-life. Especially when heā€™s working on a case like the one about that [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] girl that heā€™s currently working on. The two met through her sister as she hired [name_m]Xabier[/name_m] to find out if her husband was cheated, unfortunately he was. Opie was very close to her sister during the divorce proceedings and subsequent custody arrangements of her niece and nephews. Though she found herself having a very juveniles crush on the PI and once the dust was settled on the split she asked her sister for the information to contact [name_m]Xabier[/name_m]. From then on the two hit it off and have since been together for some years now, being engaged for two of those years. While theyā€™re not in any rush to get married Opie thinks it would be nice to finally be able to call [name_m]Xabier[/name_m] her husband and become Mrs. [name_m]Fuentes[/name_m] though his work keeps him very busy and often out of town as well. Sometimes even at the price of his own body.

About four years ago while chasing an alimony dodger [name_m]Xabier[/name_m] finally corner the man in his apartment, thinking the case was ready to be wrapped up until the man suddenly pulled out a gun and shot at [name_m]Xabier[/name_m], he was hit in the shoulder but not seriously injured. More so frustrated that his subject got away and he had to temporarily stop investigating than the fact that he had sustained bodily harm. This outlook concerns Opie, sometimes feeling as if she cares more about Xabierā€™s wellbeing than he does and she worries about how this will continue in their relationship and future marriage. She loves him dearly and envisions herself by his side for the rest of their lives but wonders if hers will continue longer than his.

This anxiety is further exacerbated by the recent news sheā€™s received. Sheā€™s pregnant. Opie previously thought she would never be able to biologically have children due to being diagnosed with endometriosis as a teenager. At the time it was crushing to hear since she desperately wanted children of her own someday, though she learned to make peace with the reality of her situation and instead became a doting aunt to her sisterā€™s kids. She and [name_m]Xabier[/name_m] even both agreed that a child-free life was fine with them, if not for the best considering his work, but now that the seemingly impossible has happened Opie wants to keep the baby. Sheā€™s scared to tell him about the pregnancy as sheā€™s uncertain about how heā€™ll react to her going back on her word, as well as how the logistics will work as they already face difficulties with his work as a couple much less a family. Sheā€™s trying to be optimistic about the situation, but is finding that to be difficult on her own, instead venting to her sister over the phone while [name_m]Xabier[/name_m] isnā€™t home most nights. Her sister hates keeping secrets and is highly frustrated by the situation that her sister is in but is putting on a brave face for her. Sheā€™s considered providing Opie with an ultimatum, tell [name_m]Xabier[/name_m] or she will but considering that ultimatums are something that her ex used to do and part of the reason that their marriage crumbled she doesnā€™t want to do that until itā€™s necessary.

4 Likes

tw: emotional cruelty

Leona " Leonie " Madeline Littlewood [formerly McNabb] (37) is Opieā€™s sister and constant confident, who wants the truth to come out. When the girlsā€™ were growing up, their father attributed Opieā€™s shyness to the fact Leonie carries herself with quiet confidence. While she isnā€™t a social butterfly or particularly loud by any means, Leonie projects an aura of determination and authority, handling herself well when faced down by pressure or demands. This allows her to excel as her job in adult social care - being responsible for arranging care packages and financial assistance for clients dependent on benefits or requiring them - helped by the fact sheā€™s always been good at dismissing other peopleā€™s opinions. Helping others is incredibly important to Leonie - who began volunteering while completing her GCSEs and continued until she started moving up the ranks of her work [opting against university to head straight into administrative work] - although she admits sheā€™s not ideal for people facing work, as her brittle and straightforward nature can be considered off-putting; never mind the fact Leonie doesnā€™t handle mess well, being very emetophobic, which has led for some demanding nightā€™s out for her given this fear.

For quite some time, the sisterā€™s were different in terms of their future plans: Leonie became a mother for the first time at 29 and now has two sons, aged 8 and 4, and a 5 year old daughter, with her ex. While she tried to ensure the children didnā€™t know about the circumstances leading to the divorce, her eldest sonā€™s more recent behaviour have confirmed heā€™s cottoned on. Heā€™s become very hostile towards his father and sometimes feigns sickness while staying with his grandparents to avoid going for weekend visits, starting arguments when heā€™s there. Although she loathes her ex [having suffered a lot of pain realising what he was doing, as he cruelly mentioned on several occasions that Leonie wasnā€™t emotionally sensitive enough for his needs; attempting to frame her as ā€˜deservingā€™ of being betrayed to spare his conscience], she doesnā€™t want her son to endure any shame or pain, never mind how it causes upset for his younger siblings seeing him so worked up.

The woman her ex cheated with is currently his partner but things are far from harmonious between them. Both of them were in relationships at the time they started seeing each other - with children - and thereā€™s been open war between her and her ex-husband; who has a much more explosive temperament than the icy and restrained Leonie. She knows thereā€™s a lot of drama ongoing in their family, but hasnā€™t said anything of it, as she canā€™t fathom getting sucked into more discord [on top of whatā€™s already been going on recently]. What her children are aware of is that their pseudo-stepsiblingā€™s donā€™t see their mother; something Leonie and Opie suspect stems from her children being a little older, and much more aware of what their mum chose to do, leading to this estrangement. The most recent drama surrounding this has been her exā€™s partner claiming she was pregnantā€¦a statemant that ended up proving utterly untrue and Leonie suspects she just wanted to hurt the former spouses of her and Leonieā€™s ex, given all the anger unleashed. This headache has made her more insistent where Opie telling the truth is concerned, given how it hits close to home, and she doesnā€™t want to see lying destroy a bond forged from such genuine love and understanding.

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[name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] [name_f]Lily[/name_f] McNabb [5] is the only daughter of [name_f]Leonie[/name_f] and her husband. A bright young girl with a shy streak who tends to take after her aunt a little bit more than her mother or, thankfully, her father. She tries to keep up with her older brother but he tends to out match her a little bit since heā€™s older but it doesnā€™t stop her from trying. Sheā€™s also very attached to the women in her life, her mother and aunt. Some say that she was first to know about Opieā€™s pregnancy. While she was over at her auntā€™s house by herself while [name_f]Leonie[/name_f] took her boys to one of their activities, she was practically glued to her as Opie went about their day in the home, they also cuddled up on the couch to watch a movie that night and the young girl kept resting her head on her auntā€™s belly. [name_f]Leonie[/name_f] has considered these actions a fluke but Opie is a little more convinced that [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] knew something that she didnā€™t at the time.

[name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] also doesnā€™t know about what happened between her parents but was told in an age appropriate manner that her parents are living together anymore. The separation hasnā€™t really effected her life much as her father wasnā€™t really involved in her life before though she had picked up on how her eldest brother has been acting and has been distressed by his actions despite her lack of connection to her father sheā€™s upset by his negative attitude. Sheā€™s much closer with her other brother since theyā€™re closer in age and they sort of act like each others partner in crime much like Opie and [name_f]Leonie[/name_f] did when they were younger.

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[name_m]Alec[/name_m] [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] McNabb (8) is Evelynā€™s oldest brother and the newfound nemesis of their father, albeit his girlfriend was the one who began the Cold War within the house. It all began when she started pushing for him to call her ā€˜mamaā€™, something [name_m]Alec[/name_m] really didnā€™t want to do, as he knew his mum was going through a difficult time (although she wouldnā€™t divulge what left her so upset, given it was the way he and Evelynā€™s father had attempted to blame her for his behaviour), and when she began to push - in spite of [name_m]Alec[/name_m] trying to rebuff this with all the politeness a 7-year-old could spare - it really aggravated him.

What sparked the anger towards his father is [name_m]Alec[/name_m] was ironically the child closest to him. They have the most similar personalities: affable, gregarious and energetic, which used to bond them, as Alecā€™s dad encouraged his love of swimming, and his secret wish is to compete at the Olympics (only his best friend, parents, siblings, paternal uncle and Aunt Opie are aware currently).

This also unfortunately is a shared stubbornness, and so now conflictā€™s erupted, neither party are willing to back down - although many, including his paternal uncle, have pointed out Alecā€™s dad should step up being the parent and everythingā€¦

The pregnancy claim is something [name_m]Alec[/name_m] knows about - he has taken to eavesdropping about his dadā€™s house - and while young, heā€™s sharp enough to have suspicions it wasnā€™t truthful, even when he realised a baby hadnā€™t been conceived due to it never being announced to him, [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] and their brother. This is how he learned of how cruel his father was when speaking to his mum, as he couldnā€™t sleep one night and overheard a phone conversation where Mr. McNabb was once more trying to claim [name_f]Leonie[/name_f] was ā€˜too distantā€™ and ā€˜forcedā€™ him into the arms of another woman.

[name_m]Alec[/name_m] has responded with a new wave of silent treatment, but one person is aware of what he knows: his dadā€™s brother. Surprisingly, he absolutely adores his uncle - an athlete as well - and whenever heā€™s at their dadā€™s house, Alecā€™s hostility vanishes instantly. Heā€™s been doing his best to comfort [name_m]Alec[/name_m], in spite of his own anger towards his sibling for how he canā€™t accept he ruined the marriage (and that isnā€™t even touching the fake pregnancy drama).

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cw: ableism


[name_m]Louis[/name_m] [name_u]William[/name_u] McNabb [4] is the youngest sibling of [name_m]Alec[/name_m] and [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]. Heā€™s quiet attached to his sister and considers her his best playmate, though he mainly expressed that without his voice. He instead uses an AAC device to converse with his family. As a one year old he babbled a little but had yet to say his first word, beginning to worry his parents. [name_f]Leonie[/name_f] more so than her husband of course. They had him screened for autism but detected no signs other than his being non-verbal. They started with a low tech AAC book but when he was three they upgraded to the electronic device. Heā€™s also since been screened again for autism, and will continue to be for the next few years, but still has no other symptoms. Other than using technology instead of vocal cords to speak heā€™s a very normal child, he loves trucks and legos, watching [name_f]Paw[/name_f] Patrol, and getting down and dirty in the sandbox. Heā€™s just as socially outgoing as any other kids his age and doesnā€™t need to slow down at all when interacting with his friends, heā€™s gotten very good at using his AAC and thereā€™s hardly any wait between sentences now.

His father was never a fan of his using the AAC, often trying to take it away and ā€˜makeā€™ him talk which lead to fights with him and [name_f]Leonie[/name_f], as well as something that he used against her in response to how she ā€˜pushed him into the arms of another womanā€™ since she was ā€˜constantly undermining himā€™ when it came to making choices about what to do with [name_m]Louis[/name_m]. He also adores his paternal uncle too like his brother [name_m]Alec[/name_m], though their connection is not as profound as the eight year oldā€™s.

6 Likes

Talice [name_f]Victoria[/name_f] Boroughs (22) is the teaching assistant in Louisā€™sā€™ reception class whoā€™s typically assigned to keep an eye on him, so he isnā€™t being overshadowed by his rambunctious classmates. He and the other students call her ā€˜Miss Bā€™ affectionately, and sheā€™s very supportive of their main teacher: the schoolā€™s first nonbinary staff member who uses ā€˜Mx.ā€™ as their address, and Talice ensures the parents of the kids donā€™t misgender them when her colleague isnā€™t physically present. Talice was named as part of a compromise - her mum wanted her to be [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f], her dad wanted [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] - and while she disliked standing out so much as a kid with her name, itā€™s come to be fully embraced by her; so sheā€™s always empathetic and encouraging where the students with less conventional names are concerned, as she knows standing out isnā€™t everyoneā€™s favourite thing.

Teaching is what she always wanted to enter the field of - studying it directly at uni, unlike some of her friends who are now taking their PGSE courses post-graduation - which did surprise some people, given Talice isnā€™t an obviously authoritative figure. Sheā€™s soft-spoken and quite introverted, but her excellent handling of stress is what led to her excelling: no matter what erupts around her, sheā€™s prepared for it. This is something she attributes to her upbringing, although it isnā€™t what people assume. Talice didnā€™t grow up in absolute chaos or witnessing parental conflict - as some assume given the way she manages pressure - it was that her older brother has severe ADHD and regularly got suspended from school on account of his behaviour; in spite of her parents efforts to get more understanding and empathy from teachers. His reputation led to staff being wary of Talice until it was obvious how mild-mannered she is, but it didnā€™t cause a rift between them as siblings, and instead she wanted to help understanding be afforded where he was concerned, as what upset her most was the way he got written off over and over.

Heā€™s now a DJ, primarily working in Manchester and Birmingham, however he travels abroad to events during summer periods, and has a sweet tendency of buying his sister figurines; as sheā€™s avid about ceramics, the cuter the better. Talice does pottery in her spare time - attending classes with one of her close friends, who she met in secondary school - and while she knows her students are too young to be introduced to it, she does help them with clay modelling frequently, and encourages any and all artistic temperaments she encounters. She lives with two roommates [having met both at university], and owns a tortoiseshell cat named Bluetack - Tack for short - who the kids are obsessed with, always asking questions about him and loving whenever she brings in photos or shares a story about his latest adventure. Since the divorce, Talice has been spending more 1:1 time with [name_m]Louis[/name_m] at the behest of the headteacher, to ensure his fatherā€™s behaviour isnā€™t impacting on him too much [as the school playground rumour mill has made everyone very aware of Mr. McNabbā€™s attitude].

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image
[name_f]Penelope[/name_f] " [name_f]Nell[/name_f] " [name_f]Ariana[/name_f] [name_u]Linden[/name_u] (23) is one of Taliceā€™s roommates. They met in their first year of university during a shared class and became good friends. [name_f]Nell[/name_f] works as a midwife, having decided to follow in the footsteps of her mother. Sheā€™s in a midwife-led unit and enjoys her work immensely. [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] hopes to be a mom someday herself but it isnā€™t a priority right now. She and her boyfriend have been going out for a few months shy of a year and sheā€™s sure heā€™s the one. Her boyfriend is originally from Australia but moved to [name_u]England[/name_u] as a teen and he finds her adoration of his accent quite funny.

[name_f]Nell[/name_f] has a sizable family on her paternal side. Her dad is the oldest of five kids, three boys and two girls, leading [name_f]Nell[/name_f] to have quite a few cousins. Sheā€™s the oldest cousin as well as the oldest kid in her immediate family, having a younger brother. [name_f]Nell[/name_f] is particularly close to her dadā€™s youngest sister as they share a love of all things science. [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] had actually thought about a career in science but itā€™s more of a hobby for her. Aside from Talice and their other roommate, [name_f]Nell[/name_f] has another friend who she met in grade school. They are still as thick as thieves and try to make time to hang out together.

[name_f]Penelope[/name_f] heard about what happened to [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] because one of her cousins was at the same party. [name_f]Nell[/name_f] was horrified when she learned of it but is glad that sheā€™s back home now. She also knows about the McNabbā€™s but not because Talice works at Louisā€™ reception. Nellā€™s mother was Leonieā€™s midwife for all three pregnancies and the two became good friends despite the ten year age gap. Nellā€™s mom mentioned the hard time [name_f]Leonie[/name_f] was going through to her husband and kids after getting permission from [name_f]Leonie[/name_f]. [name_f]Nell[/name_f] feels bad for the kids and is even more grateful of her good family.

5 Likes

tw: smoking

[name_u]Finnegan[/name_u] [name_u]Tanner[/name_u] ā€œ [name_u]Finn[/name_u] ā€œ [name_m]Langdon[/name_m] (22) is the boyfriend of [name_f]Nell[/name_f]. Originally from [name_m]Gold[/name_m] [name_u]Coast[/name_u], QLD, he moved to [name_u]England[/name_u] at 15 with his parents- his two sisters are older so they stayed behind as they were already studying university, but his brother came with. [name_u]Finn[/name_u] was a rebellious teenager but he eventually came to terms with the move and is even grateful that his family moved, as if he wouldnā€™t have moved he wouldā€™ve never met [name_f]Nell[/name_f], the love of his life, who he isnā€™t sure what heā€™d do without. He even wrote her a song once- titled For [name_f]Nell[/name_f] and [name_f]Nell[/name_f] only, which she found adorable. She wants him to publish some of his music but [name_u]Finn[/name_u] is too embarrassed of it. Heā€™s a great singer, though, which only [name_f]Nell[/name_f] and his siblings know.

[name_u]Finn[/name_u] was born as [name_f]Faith[/name_f] [name_u]Tanner[/name_u] [name_m]Langdon[/name_m]- [name_u]Tanner[/name_u] is a family name, so he kept it when he transitioned at 16, but he wanted to distance himself from the religious meaning of his first name- his parents and the rest of his family are Christians, and he loves them all but wanted his name to reflect his own personal beliefs. They all support him very much and have been with him every step of the way, always being careful not to misgender him or make him feel uncomfortable and though they do trip up sometimes, they always apologize. [name_u]Finn[/name_u] is very happy that his family has been so accepting of him and his identity, as he thought theyā€™d feel differently.

Apart from singing and music, Finnā€™s also a lover of cats and emo culture- he likes dressing emo and whenever anyone makes fun of him he just laughs at them. Heā€™s also a smoker- which [name_f]Nell[/name_f] hates and tries to warn him about time after time again, and he wants to quit but canā€™t. However, he is trying for his girlfriend. Heā€™s been addicted to smoking since he was 14, and has only made plans to stop since heā€™s dated his girlfriend. Hes making plans to go to college too, which he never did, but he wants to go to music school. Heā€™s actually just sent his application in the mail and is hoping for a reply soonā€¦

5 Likes

tw: uncensored mentions of grooming, underage drinking, unhealthy relationship, longer post than i intended


[name_f]Alice[/name_f] [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] [name_u]Bryant[/name_u] [22] is a current student at the music program that [name_u]Finn[/name_u] is applying to. Though she has a baby face and is often thought to be a teen, and being rather young in reality too, sheā€™s lived quite a bit of life in her twenty-two years. [name_m]Born[/name_m] as the middle of five kids, the only singleton between two sets of twins, sheā€™s always felt a little bit like the odd one out, the only person in her family without a matching other half. [name_m]Even[/name_m] her parents had each other!

She turned to music at a young age to cope, starting with piano and moving into violin, then guitar, bass, [name_u]French[/name_u] horn, ukulele, trumpet, and a few other brass instruments. Sheā€™s a jack of all trades in that sense and she soon moved from playing music on instruments to writing her own. Her first original song was written in eighth grade and called Extra Piece where she likened her experience of being the only non-partnered individual in her family to that moment when youā€™re putting together some flat pack furniture and you mysteriously have another piece left over that you donā€™t know what to do with. Looking back she thinks itā€™s super cheesy but it still holds a special place in her heart now. She got a tattoo of a screw on her left shoulder blade to honor her younger self, though some have asked her if it represents her ā€˜having a screw looseā€™ which she never really confirms or denies.

Her music career continued into her high school years, on a whim she uploaded her acoustic cover of Slide Away by [name_f]Miley[/name_f] [name_m]Cyrus[/name_m] when she was seventeen. Overnight it gained popularity and hit a few million views within the end of the week. Suddenly gaining all that attention was bizarre but she didnā€™t say she didnā€™t like it. It felt nice to be paid attention to. After a few months a producer reached out to her, offering to help her put together an EP. Without even asking her parents about the idea she said yes and was flying out to L.A. during her schoolā€™s spring break.

It was overwhelming to be alone in such a huge city, but the producer, who was actually not much older than her (he had gotten into the music industry through his father who had been a producer himself), helped guide her around. They spent a lot of time in the studio going over the songs from Aliceā€™s journal. They picked out what where the best ones and set to recording them. By the time she had to head back home the EP had yet to be finished, so her producer offered to pay to fly her out each weekend to complete it. Once more, on an impulse, she said yes.

Over the next few weeks they put the fine touches on the EP and it was ready to be released by the time summer rolled around. [name_f]Alice[/name_f] flew back out to L.A., now accompanied by her family this time, to the release party. Hype for the album had built considerably due to her internet popularity and the party was well attended. She ended up sticking around for a while after her family had returned to the hotel room. Now alone again she turned to her producer, they spent the rest of the party chatting in a secluded corner and sipping on cocktails. They grew very close that night and when the party was really starting to finally clear out, the music and the lights were starting to be turned back on. She impulsively kissed him before thanking him and leaving to go to her hotel.

The next morning she woke up to decent acclaim for her EP. It wasnā€™t a huge hit by any means but it had broken into the indie market and many moderately sized articles and outlets had given her positive reviews. To celebrate she called up her producer and met him for brunch. There they discussed the EP and ideas for a follow-up, as well as the kiss that had happened. Her producer insisted that it be dropped and couldnā€™t happen again, he may have been only four years older than her but she was still a minor and he was her producer. They agreed to chalk it up to a drunken mistake and keep their relationship professional.

In the months after the EP release she commuted back and forth from her hometown to L.A. again until she graduated and moved out to [name_u]California[/name_u] by herself. Her parents were hesitant about her being along but having met her producer they felt comfortable in his being able to protect her. [name_f]Alice[/name_f] managed to settle into living alone well, she never really felt alone though. Her producer was always over at her apartment or she was at his, or they were both at the studio working on a full album.

As the months passed the album started coming together, and [name_f]Alice[/name_f] and her producer continued to grow closer. On her eighteenth birthday he arrived at her place with a dozen roses and a bottle of champagne, a few more days later he asked her out on a real date. She asked him about what he had said earlier about ā€˜keeping things professionalā€™ and he said that she ā€˜wasnā€™t a kid anymoreā€™ and could make her own decisions.

She decided to say yes.

The media picked up on their blossoming romance, some people were critical, and some where infatuated by their relationship. Her new publicist insisted that all press was good press and it would come in handy when her album finally dropped. [name_f]Alice[/name_f] herself didnā€™t really mind any of the critics of her relationship, to her it felt amazing to finally have someone who was all hers and felt the same about her. It felt like she finally belonged to somebody.

Their romance was finally overshadowed by her albumā€™s release the following summer, though the album itself was soon overshadowed as well by something that happened at the release party. [name_f]Alice[/name_f] was proposed to by her boyfriend. Once more she said yes.

The news were swirling with talks about the couple, and therefore her album. It was so exciting to be on the cover of magazines and articles, finally breaking from the indie circuit. That winter they married in a beach ceremony with family followed by a honeymoon in [name_f]Bali[/name_f] and things finally settled down media-wise. No longer the talk of the town but now with her new husband at her side she didnā€™t care whoā€™s attention she had, as long as she had his.

The next few years were largely the same cycle, work on music, attend parties, spend time with her husband, repeat. Making a second album was much more artistically draining, there was less inspiration in her life, she had grown comfortable. Too comfortable. Her husband, still working as her producer as well, would constantly push her to ā€˜try harderā€™ and ā€˜do better.ā€™ Sometimes his supposed encouragements ended up with [name_f]Alice[/name_f] running out of the studio in tears or with her throwing whatever was in her armā€™s reach at his head. But when her husband would show up at their villa with dozens and dozens of roses, she would forgive him. This was another event frequent in their cycles, fight, cry and/or scream, make-up, rinse and repeat multiple times a month. [name_u]Or[/name_u] per week if it was awards season.

Last year she attended one of her sistersā€™ wedding without her husband. He had ended up with a conflict in his schedule with another one of the artists he produced. The distance was somewhat welcome, giving them both time and space to breathe. While with her family who hadnā€™t been in very close proximity both emotionally or psychically, they started to comment on how she had changed. It was a sobering experience for her, learning that the stories she told about her husband were not exactly normal. It occurred to her that the two were just wrong for one another and brought out the worst in each other.

When she arrived home after the wedding, she shared a dinner with her husband, their last as a couple, and told him she wanted a divorce. He wanted to fight back, but realized that he had been dreaming of a separation as well and could not find the words to object. Two months later they signed the papers and made it official.

After her divorce [name_f]Alice[/name_f] spent a lot of time on her own, trying to learn how to be happy on her own again. She practiced a lot of self-care, put herself out of her comfort zone, and taught herself how to enjoy her own company. She went on ā€˜solo datesā€™ where she would go out to a clichĆ© date location like the beach, a fancy restaurant, dinner and dancing, by herself. Soon it became a regular fixture in her weekly plans. She also began often buying herself little things to cheer herself up, like flowers. After all these years she had finally learned that she didnā€™t need another half to be whole, she was whole all by herself.

She removed herself from the public eye for a while after that, while she hopes to keep making music someday as itā€™s her passion (and she would hate to leave the fanbase sheā€™s accumulated with nothing else) she wants to rejoin the music industry after sheā€™s been able to live a little more ā€˜normalā€™ life and given herself more time to develop. Sheā€™ll return when sheā€™s ready. For now sheā€™s enjoying being a student, now and then she stills gets recognized but itā€™s no longer a huge ordeal like it used to be, now it feels more like meeting an old friend who has the same taste in music as you. Sheā€™s still got a few years of school left but sheā€™s in no rush, life is a ride that sheā€™s more than happy to take nice and slow.

4 Likes

tw: cancer, unhealthy work environment

[name_f]Honeysuckle[/name_f] " [name_f]Honey[/name_f] " [name_f]Rebecca[/name_f] Fell (23) is Aliceā€™s former rival. Another artist once signed to her now ex-husband, [name_f]Honey[/name_f] was something of a mirror image to [name_f]Alice[/name_f] in being a musician who was discovered at a young age - 16 - and subsequently began making her mark quickly at the insistence of those around her. The primary difference is Honeyā€™s discovery was a little more by the books in industry terms: her mother took her to open mic nights at well-known hotspots for producers and established artists when the teen made it clear what her dreams were, something that paid off fairly quickly. Honeyā€™s mother had been a professional dancer until falling pregnant and having to raise her daughter as a single parent - not a surprise unfortunately, as Honeyā€™s father was well-known for his philandering and inability to committ to anything [itā€™s rumoured he has other children alongside her] - which meant when her daughter was also drawn to the performing creative sphere, she went somewhat into overdrive to see her daughterā€™s happines and success achieved.

This led to Honeyā€™s career transforming her life in many ways: she left school and received home tutoring upon being scouted, initially providing backing vocals for established artists and was considered for a couple girl groups, but her tenacity, dedication to improving her craft and desire to pursue R&B [instead of pop, where she was first assigned] allowed her to be singled out as a soloist by 18 by Aliceā€™s ex. As [name_f]Honey[/name_f] had written numerous songs while finding her feet, her debut album - no sugar - was produced quickly, and she picked up traction fast for her soft yet strong voice, as well as her versatility with subject matter, sounds and malleable approach to branding. Her workaholic lifestyle cost [name_f]Honey[/name_f] some of her friendships from childhood though, as she was so absolutely devoted to music that spending time with her was tricky: when she wasnā€™t in the studio she was practicing something affiliated with her career.

Although they seldom encountered each other, [name_f]Honey[/name_f] and [name_f]Alice[/name_f] heard each otherā€™s names with increasing frequency. In a rather underhanded manner, the management of the label they were signed to saw both women as a perfect means of motivating the other: playing up their respective successes to either musician at meetings, and creating a competition to ensure both [name_f]Honey[/name_f] and [name_f]Alice[/name_f] were maximising content production. Having given up some of her most meaningful bonds and even becoming distant from the mother she loved, thanks to her management insisting [name_f]Honey[/name_f] needed to be seen as independent of adult authority to impress her audience, this was felt especially hard by her, and worked perfectly to make her even more wrapped up in her job. By 22, she was working on her third album, and finally the label was even considering a collaboration between her and [name_f]Alice[/name_f].

Then [name_f]Honey[/name_f] received the devastating news her mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer. While it was caught early and her odds were good, it snapped her out of the work frenzy sheā€™d been wrapped up in for so long, and she paused production entirely to be with her, in an absolute state of panic and shock til the moment she was back at her momā€™s house. It was this that snapped [name_f]Honey[/name_f] out of the fog sheā€™d been enveloped by, how her management had been so unreasonable and coerced her into forsaking normal enjoyments in life to give them a production line of hits, while isolating her more and more from ā€˜distractionsā€™. While with her mom, [name_f]Honey[/name_f] quit the label - a huge scandal at the time which unintentionally helped Aliceā€™s divorce not get too much heat - and decided to refocus on actually reflecting for the first time in what felt like forever. She was able to reconnect with old friends while establishing deeper bonds with fellow musicians sheā€™d met; helped her mom in her process of treatment, and even adopted a rescue black lab named [name_f]Dolly[/name_f]. Her motherā€™s now in remission - the only thing [name_f]Honey[/name_f] wanted at the start of her departure from work - and sheā€™s just gotten a new contract with a much better record label, who she researched in depth to be confident their values of treating artists like people and not robots were genuine.

Given their past, [name_f]Honey[/name_f] has considered reaching out to [name_f]Alice[/name_f] as well - not for that collaboration that was whispered of, but to finally get to know the person she was pitted against so frequentlyā€¦

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!! bump !!

[name_f]Francesca[/name_f] " [name_u]Frankie[/name_u] " [name_f]Madeline[/name_f] [name_m]Peterson[/name_m] (22) is a friend of [name_f]Honey[/name_f] and another musician. [name_u]Frankie[/name_u] isnā€™t signed to the same company as [name_f]Honey[/name_f] or [name_f]Alice[/name_f], but instead is signed to Garden of [name_u]Eden[/name_u] Records. [name_u]Frankie[/name_u] started off as a bedroom pop artist in high school, where she was making music and covers and uploading them on YouTube. One of her original songs, titled ā€œsweet summer hazeā€ (yes, with all lowercase) went viral on YouTube. [name_u]Frankie[/name_u] was only 16 at the time, and was studying to be a veterinarian. Instead, she was signed to Garden of [name_u]Eden[/name_u] Records four months later. She still went to school and graduated with honours. She currently is attending [name_u]Berklee[/name_u] College of [name_f]Music[/name_f] and plans to get a bachelorā€™s degree.

[name_u]Frankie[/name_u] met [name_f]Honey[/name_f] in a little get together among celebritiesā€” she noticed [name_f]Honey[/name_f] was being quiet and struck up a conversation with her. Theyā€™re closer friends now, but [name_u]Frankie[/name_u] was an audience member to the [name_f]Alice[/name_f] / [name_f]Honey[/name_f] feud, often scrolling through Twitter in a mix of awe and fear. While [name_u]Frankie[/name_u] loves her new job, sheā€™s incredibly anxious about getting involved in drama like that, even though she knows thatā€™s probably inevitable.

[name_u]Frankie[/name_u] lives with a roommate who doesnā€™t like the spotlight and their three cats: [name_u]Lemon[/name_u], Lime, and [name_f]Tequila[/name_f].

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