🕊️ create a family w/ a twist

[A.B.Galaxy]

Linda Esmeralda Silva (48) is Vincentio’s wife and the mother of Val, Violeta, and their other three children. One of them is in high school while the twins are in college. She is a lawyer just like her husband and enjoys being able to discuss things about work with him. Linda is a very dedicated mother and has done her very best to always be there for her kids. Violeta has also told her about the coming baby and she’s very excited though she did tell her daughter that she should tell Jaxon soon so he can share in the excitement.

Linda is very close to the Kingston’s mother and the two are great friends. Both were ecstatic and supportive when they found out about Jaxon and Violeta. Linda thinks it’s wonderful that Val wants to be a lawyer as well but knows that at a young age things can change so she’s always mentioning other options that Val can think about should she change her mind. She enjoys watching murder mysteries, be it shows or movies with Val and Neve and introduced them to quite a few.

[CherryBomb50]

[name_m]Ernest[/name_m] [name_u]Jude[/name_u] [name_u]Kingston[/name_u] (56) is the [name_u]Kingston[/name_u] father and a friend of Linda’s. He’s currently the drummer in a band that he and his friends made in the late 80s called Slam that went on hiatus in the mid 2000s but is now reuniting. He and [name_f]Linda[/name_f] are close and he’s also close with his wife, who helped him be closer to the Silvas. He and his wife just learned of Jax’s fatherhood and have promised not to tell him but are mutually supportive of the idea of a new grandchild to be and bond with the [name_f]Silva[/name_f] parents since they also know but won’t tell. They do hope [name_f]Violeta[/name_f] tells him soon and feels she has a great way to surprise [name_m]Jax[/name_m].

[I_meme_it]

[name_f]Suzanne[/name_f] ’ [name_f]Annie[/name_f] ’ [name_f]Cynthia[/name_f] [Taylor] Taylor-Tremaine (58) is the bassist of Slam and a long-term friend of [name_m]Ernest[/name_m] and his family. Unlike some of the others, Annie’s aesthetic calmed down considerably from when the band formed and were much more flamboyant in their presentation; mostly as she doesn’t want to see her children or granddaughter being mocked in any capacity, and also as she’s moved away from this in her years pursuing folk music once Slam went on hiatus. One of Annie’s children - her second eldest child who uses he/they pronouns - is also in a band now, albeit’s folk metal, and she’s very supportive of him but is careful to not get too involved as she doesn’t want nepotism to be thrown at their name.

[name_f]Annie[/name_f] was arguably always the most private member of Slam and even now a lot of people are only just finding out she’s bisexual, having been with her wife since 1990. Part of this was influenced by her difficult experience coming out, due to her strictly conservative father refusing to talk to her, and also because of how she didn’t want her girlfriend to be harassed by anyone; but being publically acknowledge as a member of the queer community has been very uplifting for [name_f]Annie[/name_f] and she’s happy she made this choice. She and her wife frequently babysit their 4-year-old granddaughter for their firstborn and also own a charming rescue [name_u]Golden[/name_u] Retriever named [name_u]Frankie[/name_u] who loves her bandmates.

[kitkatcookie]

[name_f]Emmeline[/name_f] " [name_f]Minnie[/name_f] " [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] Wishaw (4) is Annie’s beloved granddaughter and ball of energy, who’s also the self-proclaimed number one supporter of Slam. When she isn’t looking for insects in the back garden with her trusty magnifying glass, [name_f]Minnie[/name_f] likes practising piano on the one owned by her dad, as music has likewise caught her attention and she’s been asking her uncle repeatedly to teach her guitar (he’s promised to when she’s a little older). She’s already quite popular within her neighbourhood and has made a lot of friends, but doesn’t have a best friend yet, as [name_f]Minnie[/name_f] can be a little indecisive at times. Having been born to Annie’s daughter and her husband, [name_f]Minnie[/name_f] is currently torn between loving being the only grandchild and also wanting a sibling due to what she observes with her friends from school, and how much they enjoy being from large families. Right now she treats the family pet - Twig the dachshund - like the companion she wants, insisting he accompanies her everywhere, and always wanting to go on walks with him.

[kitkatcookie]

bump!

[A.B.Galaxy]

[name_f]Marcella[/name_f] " [name_f]Cella[/name_f] " [name_u]June[/name_u] Compton (4) is one of Minnie’s friends from school. She also lives in the same neighborhood and the two often look for bugs together. [name_f]Cella[/name_f] likes to scare her older siblings with the bugs she finds before her mom makes her put them outside.

[name_f]Cella[/name_f] has an older sister and two older brothers, making her the youngest of four. She likes being the baby of the family and loves her siblings a lot. [name_f]Marcella[/name_f] absolutely loves school and her teachers. They often say she’s a little ray of sunshine. She doesn’t have a pet like [name_f]Minnie[/name_f] but has been asking for one. Her request for a rattlesnake was not accepted but her parents are thinking about getting a cat which [name_f]Cella[/name_f] considers the next best thing.

[chamwue]

[name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] [name_f]Aine[/name_f] O’Brien (4) is a mutual friend of [name_f]Cella[/name_f] and [name_f]Minnie[/name_f]. [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] is unintentionally the source of Minnie’s sibling-envy— she’s the youngest of five siblings with another on the way. Though [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] complains that the house is always loud and she has to share a room with the sibling closest to her age, she loves her siblings and would sacrifice her fruit gummies for them.

[name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] is a sporty girl, taking after her father and the second oldest sibling. She’s recently shown an interest in both soccer and baseball, which has led to a mild rivalry between their dad and their sibling: their father played baseball in college and nearly went professional whilst their sibling is playing soccer and plans to pursue it further when they’re older. Their sibling seems to be winning, though— it’s a lot easier to find 4-year old sized soccer balls.

She’s a little wary of the baby that’s due soon— [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] loves being the baby of the family and isn’t willing to give it up. However, she’s also excited to be an older sister. She discusses this predicament with [name_f]Minnie[/name_f] often— though her friend can’t relate, she can sympathise.

[kitkatcookie]

[name_f]Laoise[/name_f] [name_f]Eilidh[/name_f] O’Brien (13) is the eldest of the siblings and somewhat of a second mother to all of them because of this. It’s usually [name_f]Laoise[/name_f] who helps break up petty squabbles and fallouts because of how the others look up to her, and she does feel a little intimidated by the expectations unintentionally placed on her. [name_u]An[/name_u] aspiring STEM student, she wants to become an engineer of some sort - really anything will suit [name_f]Laoise[/name_f] - so she spends a lot of time at the library to study, as home can be a very loud place that destroys a chance at concentrating. She’s often accompanied by her dear friend, who lives two doors down and also comes from a large family, with the different space giving them a chance to enjoy some peace and also trade gossip (as [name_f]Laoise[/name_f] finds her little siblings can be very sneaky when they want to eavesdrop).

Having been born when her parents were only just out of high school, [name_f]Laoise[/name_f] has a lot of respect for them and this influences how she’ll go out of her way to help whenever they need her. Their longstanding romance is something she hopes to emulate one day, but this dreamy quality of hers is hidden by how put together she presents herself as, and right now dating absolutely is not for [name_f]Laoise[/name_f]- she has grades to think of! She’s also an avid and accomplished gymnast, attending classes with her sibling second closest in age, and this is where her drive stems from, as [name_f]Laoise[/name_f] loves doing well in competitions. Soccer isn’t her natural calling but she’ll play it with [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] when her aspiring professional siblings busy, and she has taught her little sister a bit more about flexibility on account of her own passion. Still, it’s university [name_f]Laoise[/name_f] has her sights set on, and she’s determined to win a scholarship.

[wandering_willow]

[name_f]Mairéad[/name_f] [name_u]Aoibheann[/name_u] O’Brien (31) is the mother of [name_f]Laoise[/name_f] and [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] O’Brien, who gave birth to [name_f]Laoise[/name_f] when she was just around out of high school- therefore she’s a lot younger that other mothers in Laoise’s grade, and is sometimes ostracized by the community. However, [name_f]Mairéad[/name_f] ignores any comments on her age in comparison to her daughter’s and knows that as long as she loves her it doesn’t matter when she had her. [name_f]Mairéad[/name_f] is a little anxious regarding the rivalry between her husband, who was the star of his high school basketball team, and her second-oldest who’s more interested in soccer in influencing Saoirse’s sport preferences- [name_f]Mairéad[/name_f] believes that [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] should be able to do what she wants, and nobody else- but apparently her family doesn’t agree with that, even though she’s a 4 year old girl who can definitely do both. As a result [name_f]Mairéad[/name_f] has become a conflict resolver in her house, and she hates all arguments related to sports.

When [name_f]Mairéad[/name_f] was in high school, all the girls were fawning over her husband- he was a basketball player, and he was “that” boy who every girl was obsessed with. [name_f]Mairéad[/name_f] liked him from afar as he had a girlfriend and she decided it wasn’t a shot, until the two broke up- [name_f]Mairéad[/name_f] decided to shoot her shot, and the two began dating within a week. They attended the hugh school graduation ceremony in their gowns, but that was before [name_f]Mairéad[/name_f] realized she was pregnant with [name_f]Laoise[/name_f]. Her husband immediately got a job at the local auto repair shop as a mechanic, and she worked as a telemarketer to reel in some extra cash. The two lived with Mairéad’s family until the two could pick up their feet and get their own home. Soon enough, her husband decided to quit his mechanic job and go to college when [name_f]Laoise[/name_f] was about two- their second oldest had been born by then. He studied mathematics at a university and joined the basketball team. To keep income flowing [name_f]Mairéad[/name_f] also picked up a job as a seamstress, which she ended up really loving- she quit her telemarketer job after her husband finished college. He got his next job as an accountant when their third child was born.

[name_f]Mairéad[/name_f] and her fellow seamstresses have formed a tight-knit group of friends and they all often have gatherings, all their families have age matched kids. [name_f]Mairéad[/name_f] is beginning to suspect that her third child has a crush on one of her seamstress coworkers’ kids, and she’s tried approaching them about it but they always push her away- [name_f]Mairéad[/name_f] feels a bit guilty for not paying as much attention to some kids as she does others, but she’s hoping she can change that- she also wishes [name_f]Laoise[/name_f] didn’t have to fill in the role of a second mother. She’s hoping her sixth child who’s on the way won’t ever feel a bit neglected. She’s really excited to meet her sixth kid, and is brainstorming some names, though she hasn’t quite picked one out yet…

[chamwue]

[name_f]Athena[/name_f] [name_f]Elspeth[/name_f] Carnegie (32) is Mairéad’s best friend since high school and her (somewhat) closest confidant. Though [name_f]Athena[/name_f] and [name_f]Mairéad[/name_f] met in sophomore year, the two women have been inseparable. To all of Mairéad’s kids, she’s known as “Aunt Athena” and loves to be called that— though she doesn’t have children at the moment, [name_f]Athena[/name_f] would like to have a child of her own someday.

[name_f]Athena[/name_f] remembers the rumours [name_f]Mairéad[/name_f] had to deal with regarding [name_f]Laoise[/name_f]— she fiercely protected her best friend from unwanted whispers and even got detention for threatening to punch a girl for making fun of [name_f]Mairéad[/name_f]. Athena’s protectiveness over [name_f]Mairéad[/name_f] mainly was out of love for her friend but also because Athena’s mother had her older sister when she was 16 and had [name_f]Athena[/name_f] when she was 18. Teen motherhood is absolutely difficult to do— because of her mother’s immaturity, [name_f]Athena[/name_f] didn’t have the greatest childhood— but [name_f]Mairéad[/name_f] managed to raise [name_f]Laoise[/name_f] beautifully, and [name_f]Athena[/name_f] could not be prouder of her friend. Though [name_f]Athena[/name_f] isn’t a part of Mairéad’s seamstress friend group, she still keeps in touch with her at least twice a week, either by seeing her or via phone calls.

[name_f]Athena[/name_f] is an [name_f]English[/name_f] professor at [name_m]Brown[/name_m] University and specialises in the literary arts. She published her first poetry chapbook at eighteen, pursued creative writing professionally, and eventually gained an MFA. She is beloved by her students and scorns what the literary canon is right now; in her words, they’re all written by “dead old white men”, and there isn’t enough diversity within what the western world considers “art”. Outside of education, though, Athena’s been flirting back and forth with the school’s history professor, and she thinks the students have noticed— one of her favourite students has asked her if she was going to ask him out on a date anytime soon.

[A.B.Galaxy]

[name_u]William[/name_u] " [name_u]Liam[/name_u] " [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] [name_m]Hawthorne[/name_m] [name_m]Jr[/name_m]. (36) is the history professor that [name_f]Athena[/name_f] has been flirting with. His maternal grandfather is one of those “dead old white men” who’s writing she scorns but he thinks it’s quite hilarious and never did like his grandfather’s books anyway. [name_u]Liam[/name_u] comes from old money and his family is very well off. He’s mentioned [name_f]Athena[/name_f] in passing a few times to his parents but they don’t “approve” of her so he’s stopped talking about her. [name_u]Liam[/name_u] has no plans to stop talking to her though and is going to ask her out soon.

[name_u]Liam[/name_u] has always enjoyed history and knew he wanted to teach it ever since he was young. He started out as a high school history teacher right after finishing college and was his youngest sibling’s teacher during their senior year which was definitely interesting. Three years ago he began teaching at the college and enjoys working there. [name_u]Liam[/name_u] has a large group of friends which include the three he made in college, one of the teachers from the high school he worked at, and the newest professor at the college.

[CherryBomb50]

Giuliano Marcus Compton (36) is one of Liam’s friends from college. He is Cella’s father, as well as the father of her older sister and older brothers. He personally thinks Liam and Athena deserve to be together regardless of what anyone says. His grandparents, who were also quite petty, told him that he and his wife were “incompatible” but he proved them wrong and loves fathering their children and knows Liam has a shot at something truly beautiful with Athena. Giuliano works as an accountant with a fellow friend in their group, Mairéad’s husband, and helped her husband get the job. Giuliano also enjoys getting cakes from a cake baker also in their friend group.

Cella was created by @A.B.Galaxy.

[I_meme_it]

[name_f]Sabrina[/name_f] [name_f]Carolyn[/name_f] [Perry] Compton (35) is Giuliano’s wife and Cella’s mother. A makeup artist who mostly works on music videos thanks to her bold, unique style, Sabrina’s aspirations caused the disapproval when she began dating her future husband; as his grandparents considered it an unstable industry that wouldn’t sustain the couple or any children they’d have together. They also didn’t appreciate how outspoken [name_f]Sabrina[/name_f] was when she defended herself, as she’s always had a headstrong approach to things, formed by how self-sufficient she grew up being, as her single mother was constantly having to work long hours, meaning [name_f]Sabrina[/name_f] looked after her younger sister frequently. She doesn’t resent her mom for the sacrifices this involved, as she always tries understand how difficult it was.

The children are the most precious things in the world to [name_f]Sabrina[/name_f] and she tries her best to make time for all of them - especially her and Guiliano’s eldest, who’s just turned 11, and Sabrina’s particularly attuned to knowing how you can feel left out when you’ve got three younger siblings with their own demands facing your parents. It’s also [name_f]Sabrina[/name_f] who’s become dead set on getting a cat, as she longed for a pet herself growing up and understands Cella’s excitement (even if the rattlesnake was turned down). Sabrina’s part of a friend group consisting of other mothers’ who’s kids attend the same schools as hers’ and enjoys sharing stories of what goes on at her house, where she’s very much the one keeping things organised.

[A.B.Galaxy]

[name_f]Annalise[/name_f] [name_f]Isolde[/name_f] [name_m]Moore[/name_m] (30) is Sabrina’s younger sister and one of Mairéad’s seamstress friends. She’s been married to her husband whom she met through a mutual friend for ten years and the two have three children together. [name_f]Annalise[/name_f] is very close to her sister and appreciates all that [name_f]Sabrina[/name_f] did to take care of her while they were younger.

She is glad that her husband’s family were supportive of their marriage as she knows Giuliano’s family disapproved of his getting married to [name_f]Sabrina[/name_f]. [name_f]Annalise[/name_f] tries her best to spend as much time with her kids as she can since she’d always wished her mom had been able to. She loves to make crafts and paint and her friends often call her ‘the artsy one’.

[CherryBomb50]

[name_u]Shaun[/name_u] [name_u]Henry[/name_u] [name_m]Moore[/name_m] (30) is the husband of [name_f]Annalise[/name_f] and also part of Liam’s friend group as a high school biology teacher at the school [name_u]Liam[/name_u] once taught at. Shaun’s family is a very kind and supportive family and his sister is a seamstress as well. His sister is also friends with the mutual friend who got them together. [name_u]Shaun[/name_u] hopes his children will be close with the children of his friends but knows it’s ultimately their decision.

[kitkatcookie]

[name_u]Alexis[/name_u] " [name_u]Alex[/name_u] " [name_u]Marie[/name_u] [name_m]Moore[/name_m] (28) is Shaun’s sister and general source of stability whenever he needs to depend on someone. Compared to some of her friends, [name_u]Alex[/name_u] enjoyed a very stable, happy upbringing and is incredibly appreciative of her family for how kind they’ve always been. She tended to gravitate towards fellow outcasts throughout her teens on account of being bullied due to her weight, as well as her alternative style influences, and had considered studying psychotherapy before it became apparent design truly gave her the most happiness. While [name_u]Alex[/name_u] is much happier in her own skin now, she struggled constantly with insecurities throughout high school - dieting on-off, fretting about her appearance, never dating because she anticipated rejection - and credits her best friend as the person who helped her overcome these constant self-critiques, as she felt more comfortable opening up to the other girl than worrying her brother or parents.

Their closeness is still apparent to this day, as [name_u]Alex[/name_u] is godmother to her children and plans on naming her best friend the same role in her own child’s life - as she and her girlfriend are currently going through the adoption process themselves. They’ve been together since they were 20 after meeting at a college party and realising they both hated the music - [name_u]Alex[/name_u] will confess to being a hipster with a small pool of favoured bands, something never failing to annoy [name_u]Shaun[/name_u] (so she plays it up for her own amusement) - which they still joke bound them through complaining. Admittedly she was a bit intimidated when it came to meeting [name_f]Annalise[/name_f] - as sometimes she felt Shaun’s girlfriends found her weird or too closed off - but this proved to be unfounded and they have an excellent relationship, strengthened by working in the same industry. [name_u]Alex[/name_u] is more involved in costume repairs, as her alternative style appeals to the dramatic flair of performance art, but she’s happy enough trying anything as long as her sewing equipment wants to play ball.

[chamwue]

cw: sexism within school settings

[name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] " [name_u]Alex[/name_u] " [name_m]Maynard[/name_m] (18) is a former student of Shaun’s and a senior at [name_m]Eastwood[/name_m] High School. She had [name_u]Shaun[/name_u]— Mr [name_m]Moore[/name_m]— as a sophomore, where she excelled in his class and passed honours biology with flying colours. As [name_u]Alex[/name_u] says, [name_u]Shaun[/name_u] had the “honour” of having her class as the first class he’s ever taught in his career, and she still stops by his classroom to chat. [name_u]Alex[/name_u] looked very different at fifteen than she does now, and [name_u]Shaun[/name_u] jokes about not recognising [name_u]Alex[/name_u] whenever she changes her hair colour. She met Shaun’s sister when she had to stay after school, loving that Mr [name_m]Moore[/name_m] now had the problem of dealing with two people who shared the same nickname.

The younger sister of (in)famous recent graduate [name_f]Angela[/name_f] [name_f]Lily[/name_f], [name_u]Alex[/name_u] knew going into high school would be hard. [name_f]Angela[/name_f] was cheerleading captain, prom queen, and your stereotypical popular girl… on the surface. Outspoken and headstrong, [name_f]Angela[/name_f] did not take shit from anybody— especially not the school’s admin. She vehemently opposed the school’s ban on “revealing” clothes like crop tops and tank tops, stating that “if adult men have problems with teenage shoulders, then they shouldn’t be in a school”. The admin tried to shut her down many times, but it didn’t work: [name_f]Angela[/name_f] was such an asset to the school’s reputation that the admin had to concede to some of her demands. She was accepted to [name_f]Columbia[/name_f] University as a pre-law student, which was evident to those who knew her.

Unfortunately for [name_m]Eastwood[/name_m] High, [name_u]Alex[/name_u] was cut from the same cloth as [name_f]Angela[/name_f]. [name_u]Alex[/name_u] knew she wanted to pursue art in the future and drew nude portraits of women as a study for her AP Drawing portfolio. She was reprimanded by the admin, who said that the subject matter of her art wasn’t “appropriate” for a school setting. [name_u]Alex[/name_u], in turn, responded by emailing the higher-ups a curt letter about the female body and how it was them who were sexualising it, not her. If they had problems with breasts, then that’s on them. [name_u]Alex[/name_u] received the support of her art teacher and her friends on the matter, which led to a compromise: the painting wouldn’t be taken down, but it would be relocated to a wing where only senior and junior classes were held. Though [name_u]Alex[/name_u] doesn’t consider this a full victory, she’s still very proud of herself for standing her ground.

[name_u]Alex[/name_u] is headed to UCLA next fall: she got her early decision and is relaxed for the remainder of her senior year. She can be found hanging out with her friend group— six members including herself— a mix of different majors and interests. If you were to ask [name_u]Alex[/name_u] how they ended up being as close as they are now, she would just shrug. She’s glad that half the group is staying in [name_u]California[/name_u] for university— the other three are headed to the east coast, and [name_u]Alex[/name_u] knows she will miss them to bits.

[kitkatcookie]

tw: xenophobia mention

[name_f]Astrid[/name_f] " [name_u]Aster[/name_u] " [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f] Jorstad (18) is a member of Alex’s friend group and arguably her best friend. What the faculty of [name_m]Eastwood[/name_m] High School are in agreement about is Aster’s undeniably Alex’s right hand woman, and a fellow protestor against the unfair attitudes applied to female students in a variety of areas. A darling of the [name_f]English[/name_f] department, Aster’s going to be majoring in linguistics, having aspirations to become a speech therapist, specifically in the ESL department due to how those learning the language can face more unfairness in expectations. Possessing a duel American-Norwegian citisenship, [name_u]Aster[/name_u] was well aversed in her second language before moving to [name_u]California[/name_u] when she was 13, however she remembers stories her grandfather told her about international business trips he went on where he faced a great deal of prejudice and unfair treatment thanks to not speaking [name_f]English[/name_f] fluently, in spite of no-one attempting to learn Norwegian in turn to accommodate him.

This is what pushed [name_u]Aster[/name_u] to forming the school’s ESL Society: specifically for students who learned [name_f]English[/name_f] secondarily where they’d have a place to share experiences, stories, opinions and even the languages they speak. Thankfully, this club wasn’t opposed but during the unofficial uprising in the face of the painting (Artgate as [name_u]Aster[/name_u] calls it) and double standards [name_f]Angela[/name_f] faced, there were some suspicions the club would be suspended or shut down because of her association with the conflict. Luckily this never happened, and Aster’s confident the current vice president will keep it running once she and her fellow co-president (another member of her friend group) leave for college - happy to have made a positive change for students in similar positions to her and her family.

The Jorstad family frequently visit their extended family, and Aster’s fond of these trips because it reunites her with her older siblings. She’s six years younger than her non-binary sibling and ten years younger than her brother, so they’re usually caught up in their jobs, responsibilities and now families: her brother recently welcomed his first child, Aster’s nephew, and she’s absolutely loving being an aunt whenever possible. This is funny to some, as she can seem quite stoic and a little moody to those unfamiliar with her, but Aster’s a surprising natural with children - reflected in her job as a junior swimming instructor at a leisure centre close to her home. She’s going to be staying close to [name_u]Alex[/name_u] for studies and this was further confounded by her nephew’s birth, as while she never planned on going far, being a part of his life is very important to her as she does miss her grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins more than she openly admits - as she doesn’t want her parents feeling at fault.

Aside from her love of reading and creative writing - having penned several short horror, fantasy and mystery tales in her free time - [name_u]Aster[/name_u] is very into screenprinting: making designs on cheap clothing she buys and experimenting with images, aesthetics and colours. Her sense of humour is both dark and absurdist, layered in a maddening amount of irony for some, and [name_u]Aster[/name_u] can be a little too sarcastic for her own good (as many teachers will attest to when dealing with her). There’s something that can be a bit deliberately evasive about her when it comes to strangers, as [name_u]Aster[/name_u] admittedly prefers sticking with who she trusts, but she has become a little friendlier as she’s settled more in the States. [name_u]Aster[/name_u] also collects flavoured teas of any kind, being fonder of bitter flavours surprisingly, and for her birthday her friends got her a huge international selection box which she loves.

[A.B.Galaxy]

[name_f]Amelie[/name_f] " [name_u]Lee[/name_u] " [name_f]Colette[/name_f] DuBois (18) is the co-president of the ESL club and friends with both [name_u]Aster[/name_u] and [name_u]Alex[/name_u]. She is the third member of the group staying in [name_u]California[/name_u] for school and is going to study fashion design. [name_u]Lee[/name_u] has dual American-French citizenship and lived in [name_u]France[/name_u] until she was 14. Her mother’s side of the family is [name_u]French[/name_u] while her father’s side is American but they often visit [name_u]France[/name_u] to see the extended family. She loves having the ESL club and it was how she ended up meeting [name_u]Aster[/name_u] who then introduced her to the others.

[name_u]Lee[/name_u] has a younger brother who is in his sophomore year at [name_m]Eastwood[/name_m] High and the two are very close. He was the one who actually encouraged her to pursue fashion design as a career after seeing her work and she’s forever glad that he did. After [name_u]Aster[/name_u], [name_u]Lee[/name_u] is probably closest to the captain of the cheerleading team who is also in the friend group as the two of them spend a lot of time together since they’re both cheerleaders.

[chamwue]

tw: descriptions of emotional neglect

Sae-byeok " [name_f]Dawn[/name_f] " [name_u]Kim[/name_u] (18) is the fourth member of the group and so-called captain of the “East Coasters”— the captain because she was the first one to go. [name_f]Dawn[/name_f], along with [name_u]Alex[/name_u], applied to colleges through early decision and got accepted to [name_u]Yale[/name_u] University. [name_u]Alex[/name_u] was there when [name_f]Dawn[/name_f] received the news— it was also probably one of the few times [name_f]Dawn[/name_f] honestly “freaked out” about something. Cool, calm, and collected, [name_f]Dawn[/name_f] is known as the group’s rationality and the one they go to if they need advice on anything.

Dawn’s perpetual indifference to most situations is a façade, something her friends know all too well. Her Korean immigrant parents weren’t the best at supporting their daughter when she needed it, often lashing out at the girl when she did ask for help. [name_f]Dawn[/name_f] soon learned she couldn’t rely on her parents for support, so instead, she fully immersed herself in her studies. She slowly but surely drifted away from her parents, and now they barely talk. Her mother wants to rekindle their relationship, but [name_f]Dawn[/name_f] doesn’t know how to feel about that at the moment.

Around sophomore year, she met the group, and Dawn’s ice queen mask slowly but surely melted away. Though she still stayed calm and collected in front of others, her closest friends know that Dawn’s just as chaotic as everybody else deep down. It was also understandable why [name_f]Dawn[/name_f] was so eager to leave: the idea of being away from her parents gave [name_f]Dawn[/name_f] a feeling of intense relief. Though she’s going to be gone for school, [name_f]Dawn[/name_f] has promised the others that she’ll come down to [name_u]California[/name_u] for vacations.

Although this information isn’t publicly available to the student body, almost everybody knows that [name_f]Dawn[/name_f] is the class valedictorian. As [name_u]Alex[/name_u], [name_u]Aster[/name_u], [name_u]Lee[/name_u], and the others can confirm, [name_f]Dawn[/name_f] excelled at most subjects at school and was part of the girl’s varsity volleyball team. She took music electives and plays the cello. Dawn’s heard all sorts of rumours during her time in high school— that she was inhuman or that “of course, she’s good at it, she’s Asian”. She’s learned to take these comments (even the racist ones) in stride, paying no mind to gossip.

[name_f]Dawn[/name_f] says she’s going to be an [name_f]English[/name_f] major, but that’s a lie. In truth, [name_f]Dawn[/name_f] doesn’t know what she’s going to do in the future, and hopes she finds out soon.