Create a Family With a Twist 3

[Lindseylloyd052399]

I will post a picture (or, rather, a link–my computer isn’t as fancy as I imagine most of yours are ) and give a full name and age for my fictional person. I will then write a paragraph, give or take, about the person. The next poster will create a person that is related to the previous one in some way (it does not have to be by blood–it could be a neighbor, friend, coworker, anything). Ready?

Jasmeet “[name_u]Jazz[/name_u]” Singh [name_f]Arora[/name_f] (21) is an energetic and cheerful boy who is very skilled in electrical and mechanical engineering. He is the informal repairman of the neighborhood. He has a 13 year old sister.

[cara_murvolio]

[name_u]Daniel[/name_u] ‘Danny’ [name_m]Joshua[/name_m] [name_m]Phipps[/name_m] (26) is Jazz’s next door neighbour and a fellow mechanical engineer, which led to the two becoming friendly. [name_u]Danny[/name_u] lives with his long term girlfriend - whom he met at university - and they’re expecting their first child together, which has the couple incredibly excited. Having been estranged from his parents since he was 17, [name_u]Danny[/name_u] is determined to be the best father imaginable after dealing with a lot of rejection in life - although he’s still in contact with his younger brother and they’re very close.

When he isn’t working, [name_u]Danny[/name_u] enjoys windsurfing and swimming, as well as experimenting with cooking - a hobby he and his girlfriend indulge in together. They own a parakeet too - named Papaya - who was purchased on a whim just after they graduated.

[kitkatcookie]

Renee Abigail Newlander (26) is Danny’s girlfriend. Currently on maternity leave from her job as an archivist, she’s been teaching herself how to knit as a means of keeping herself busy throughout the day. Renee comes from a loving family, being the older of two siblings, who have embraced Danny and his brother into their fold - although she is sometimes embarrassed by her mum’s love of sharing old stories about her youth.

Alongside crafting, Renee enjoys painting and sewing gifts for her loved one’s. Having opted against a gender reveal, she’s used her artistic skills to create a neutral nursery remnant of a woodland forest, being ultra prepared for the arrival of her first child. When Danny’s working, Renee usually spends time with her close friend who’s another one of their neighbours, or one of her family members comes to visit.

[I_meme_it]

[name_m]Lucas[/name_m] ‘Luke’ [name_u]Oliver[/name_u] [name_m]Phipps[/name_m] (22) is the future uncle to [name_u]Danny[/name_u] and Renee’s unborn child. Having just graduated from university, Luke’s got his first apprenticeship as a graphic designer and is eager to begin working, with hopes on establishing further independence in the process - as he fears putting strain on [name_u]Danny[/name_u], especially now his brother’s expecting a child. Luke’s quiet and very shy around new people, being most expressive when it comes to his creativity - using poems and short stories as further forms of this.

Like his brother, [name_m]Luke[/name_m] enjoys swimming, but his favourite outdoor activity is hiking: especially in forests where he can take photos as references for his design work. He also enjoys reading or listening to audiobooks, as well as attending exhibitions and going to galleries, where he can admire other people’s creativity. Having been in a relationship for just over two years, [name_m]Luke[/name_m] is hoping on taking the next step and moving in with his significant other soon - accompanied by his beloved pet Labrador, [name_u]Murphy[/name_u].

[kitkatcookie]

bump!

[wandering_willow]

**

tw: toxic behaviour, character death, sh, smoking drinking etc

[name_f]Priya[/name_f] [name_f]Saraswati[/name_f] [name_m]Kumar[/name_m] [left] and [name_f]Divya[/name_f] [name_f]Kamala[/name_f] [name_m]Kumar[/name_m] [right, deceased] (21) are twins and former best friends, before the tragic death of [name_f]Divya[/name_f]. [name_f]Priya[/name_f] is the significant other of [name_m]Luke[/name_m] [name_m]Phipps[/name_m], and she’s madly in love with him. When [name_f]Divya[/name_f] was around, she tried to steer [name_f]Priya[/name_f] away from [name_m]Luke[/name_m] and every boy [name_f]Priya[/name_f] was interested in for fear of losing her- little did she know this only created more tension between her and [name_f]Priya[/name_f]. [name_f]Priya[/name_f] and [name_f]Divya[/name_f] were born into a loveless, arranged marriage, to two parents who absolutely hated each other but were forced to have children for the sake of honoring their toxic families. When they were three years old, they parents moved from Hyderabad to [name_u]America[/name_u]. [name_f]Divya[/name_f] was always the risk taker, and [name_f]Priya[/name_f] was a more timid and reserved personality- one time when they were in the third grade, [name_f]Divya[/name_f] and some of her friends peer pressured [name_f]Priya[/name_f] into skating on a dangerous lake with them, despite [name_f]Priya[/name_f] crying and telling them no. [name_f]Priya[/name_f] did it, and almost slid and fell- [name_f]Divya[/name_f] was completely unapologetic in front of her friends, but the second they got home [name_f]Divya[/name_f] asked [name_f]Priya[/name_f] if she was okay. [name_f]Priya[/name_f] was always confused by the actions of [name_f]Divya[/name_f], and wished she’d be a bit less confusing.

The twins would often “switch places” for short periods of time in middle and high school- [name_f]Divya[/name_f] was the more outgoing and social twin who’d make friends wherever she went- and lots of boyfriends too. [name_f]Priya[/name_f] was smart- not socially, but academically. Whenever [name_f]Divya[/name_f] had a test, [name_f]Priya[/name_f] would step in and take it for her. While [name_f]Divya[/name_f] was a good person at heart, she got roped into dangerous activities by toxic friends despite [name_f]Priya[/name_f] and the girls’ parents warning [name_f]Divya[/name_f] not to do any of the things her friends told her to do, [name_f]Divya[/name_f] would just lash out at them. [name_f]Priya[/name_f] often came along to salvage her social status, as all she really wanted in her early to mid teens was a stable friend group- but instead, the other kids would call her an ugly weirdo (despite simping for and befriending [name_f]Divya[/name_f], her literal identical twin and looking the EXACT same as her). [name_f]Priya[/name_f] is a talented person- she’s an artist, and can do a hyperrealistic portrait of anyone under 10 minutes. She’d often draw her classmates, especially all the boys she had crushes on- but one time when she was a freshman a mean girl grabbed her notebook and showed these boys the drawings. They all laughed at poor [name_f]Priya[/name_f]- and [name_f]Divya[/name_f] just stood there watching. When [name_f]Priya[/name_f] asked why she didn’t help her, [name_f]Divya[/name_f] coolly responded that “she didn’t want to wreck her social life.” [name_f]Divya[/name_f] was very jealous of Priya’s talent, but she has talent too- she was a great swimmer, and was even on the swim team for some time, and commented that she felt happiest in the water. [name_f]Divya[/name_f] always wanted to be a mermaid ever since she was a little girl, and would go swim in the ocean every summer.

[name_f]Divya[/name_f] tried to “help” [name_f]Priya[/name_f]- she’d pull her into the dangerous activities to try and make her more popular, which involved smoking, drinking and drugs. [name_f]Priya[/name_f] didn’t like life on the edge, and just wanted everything to go back to the way it was when the twins were little girls and didn’t have to deal with anything like that- she even tried to pull [name_f]Divya[/name_f] out of the bad behaviors. She hated driving her twin sister home from parties hungover, but it was much too late- [name_f]Divya[/name_f] was addicted to the smoking, to the drinking…to the danger. And [name_f]Priya[/name_f] was too- soon enough her voice was hoarse from the smoking, she had bags under her eyes and she was no longer the well-behaved little brownnose she once was. She’d transformed…into a monster.

[name_f]Priya[/name_f] and Divya’s addiction got worse over time, and every time their parents tried to help them it was like rubbing salt into an old wound. Both sisters were living in a shelter for homeless people, and they’d smuggle cigarettes into the facility though they weren’t allowed. The girls’ parents finally decided to let them stay at their house when they were 19, and while [name_f]Priya[/name_f] was making a full on recovery and had picked up a job as a caricature artist, [name_f]Divya[/name_f] was slowly spiraling downwards until one day. [name_f]Priya[/name_f] knocked on the bedroom door and called Divya’s name, but [name_f]Divya[/name_f] didn’t answer. It took three hours to finally get the door open- [name_f]Priya[/name_f] did so with a [name_u]Bobby[/name_u] pin. And what [name_f]Priya[/name_f] saw would change her life forever. [name_f]Divya[/name_f] had hanged herself- and just a few weeks shy of her 20th birthday. [name_f]Divya[/name_f] left a not for [name_f]Priya[/name_f], sealed in a white envelope- she didn’t leave one for anyone else, though. It gave a formal apology, as in Divya’s eyes she’d ruined Priya’s life and an apology was all she could give- apparently, she did it because she had nothing left to live for, except [name_f]Priya[/name_f], and her staying alive would hurt [name_f]Priya[/name_f] more than it would help her. Apparently, [name_f]Divya[/name_f] had been planning to do this since she was 13 years old. [name_f]Priya[/name_f] was horrified, and dealt with extreme survivor’s guilt. She didn’t know [name_f]Divya[/name_f] needed help so badly, and if she could’ve helped her she would…apparently all it could’ve took was for [name_f]Priya[/name_f] to let [name_f]Divya[/name_f] know she was worth it- what a shame.

[name_f]Priya[/name_f] had [name_f]Divya[/name_f] cremated, and after her funeral she decided to take Divya’s ashes and dump them in the ocean. [name_f]Priya[/name_f] cried bittersweet ashes as she watched the charred, grey remains mix with the ocean, intermingling with the sea foam- and just like that, the waves lapped at the shore, and pulled the ashes far away. It had happened, [name_f]Divya[/name_f] was finally a mermaid. Perhaps the one thing that helped [name_f]Priya[/name_f] reclaim her life was [name_m]Luke[/name_m]- he actually met [name_f]Priya[/name_f] at the art gallery, and she was the first person he’d met who appreciated art as much as he did. They had a lengthy discussion about the meaning of a famous painting, and it ended with [name_m]Luke[/name_m] asking for Priya’s number. When [name_f]Priya[/name_f] met [name_u]Murphy[/name_u] and got to know [name_m]Luke[/name_m] a little more, she was instantly charmed- little does she know [name_m]Luke[/name_m] wants to propose to her soon.

[name_f]Priya[/name_f] will often take walks along the beach, and she wishes [name_f]Divya[/name_f] were there, accompanying her, listening to their favorite songs. Priya’s coming up on the twins’ golden birthday soon, [name_u]September[/name_u] 22nd, and she knows that will be super tough for her. [name_f]Divya[/name_f] always loved the song 22, by [name_u]Taylor[/name_u] [name_m]Swift[/name_m], and always yearned to be 22 years old and fantasized about being a 22-year-old- [name_f]Priya[/name_f] wishes [name_f]Divya[/name_f] could still be alive, so she could see her 22nd birthday. But [name_f]Priya[/name_f] is doing her best to carry on, with the help of [name_m]Luke[/name_m] and [name_u]Murphy[/name_u].

[CherryBomb50]

Warning for addiction and attempted suicide.

Caes Montie Newlander (23) is a friend of the twins, a real friend, not a fake friend steering them in the wrong way. When the twins were in a homeless shelter, Caes would often visit them and give them food. He’s always been super nice to them but the bad influences in Divya’s life pushed him out — he wasn’t “cool” to them. Deep down, Caes was in love with Divya and had been since he was 15. He never told her due to the fact that she often had another boy dating her and he didn’t want to paint Divya in a negative light by having her cheat on them. Caes was less popular than Divya but he was a real friend of hers and the only other real friend besides her twin Priya. He’s also confiscated her alcohol and cigarettes despite her pleas and tried to help get her back on the right track. Unfortunately Divya’s “friends” convinced her that he way her took her drugs from her was cruel and manipulative and that she should get him out of her life and be more secretive about her addiction so it doesn’t happen again. Caes thought Divya would thank him later. Sadly, she never did. He is still haunted by regret that she died and consumed by everything he did “wrong”: he didn’t save her, he didn’t get her off her addiction, he didn’t even tell her he loved her. What kind of a person was he? He often hid his massive survivor’s guilt because no matter how hard it was for him, it was harder on Priya. He couldn’t imagine losing a twin so horribly. Caes even made made an attempt to end his own life by jumping off of a bridge. He had climbed over the railing and was right there, looking at the water below. Maybe this jump will take him out of life and he will be one with the ice-cold water, which will take him out if the fall doesn’t, like the merman to Divya’s mermaid. However he ultimately decided not to jump when he realised people would blame themselves for his death much like he had blamed himself for Divya’s. He could not wish that on anyone. Priya is the only one who knew about the suicide attempt.

He is still great friends with Priya and the two of them love to do artwork together. He’s Renee’s younger brother and he likes to do artwork with her too. He’s excited to be an uncle and motivates himself on looking forward in life. While Caes is currently getting therapy, he’s managed to make some money working at the local carnival and has made some good friends with the co-workers. He loves how accepting these people are and how real of friends they can be. Caes supports Luke and Priya and wishes he was as brave as Luke was. He’s always found the Phipps brothers to be very talented and likes how they’ve used the outdoors to their pleasure. Caes is excited to welcome Danny and Renee’s child when they enter the world and it’s given him a new perspective on life. Caes is not looking for love and it will be a long time before he gets back in but he’s grateful he’s got friends and family.

[kitkatcookie]

[name_f]Estelle[/name_f] [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] [name_f]Poppy[/name_f] Phipps-Newlander (3 months) is the newborn daughter of [name_u]Danny[/name_u] and [name_f]Renee[/name_f], who’s birth has been anticipated with excitement by not just them but their extended family too. Her delivery was thankfully smooth and without any complications, although [name_f]Renee[/name_f] was very nervous and credits her midwife to helping her get through the process without massively panicking. [name_f]Estelle[/name_f] ended up with two middle names because her parents couldn’t decide whether [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] or [name_f]Poppy[/name_f] suited her better, and ultimately decided to just go for both, although [name_u]Danny[/name_u] will not let anyone call this decision pretentious (which of course his dad has insisted on doing because of how his sense of humour works). Joking aside, [name_f]Estelle[/name_f] is a surprisingly sociable baby who likes meeting new people and never seems scared of being introduced to anyone, including [name_u]Murphy[/name_u].

[CherryBomb50]

[name_f]Jessica[/name_f] “ [name_m]Jazzy[/name_m] “ [name_u]Bryn[/name_u] [name_m]Jacobs[/name_m] (46) is the midwife who aided in the delivery of [name_f]Estelle[/name_f]. For a long time, [name_m]Jazzy[/name_m] wanted to work in a hospital but it wasn’t until her unplanned pregnancy with her daughter that made her decide to be a midwife. [name_m]Jazzy[/name_m] is nothing but grateful for how nice her midwife helped her through as she was very nervous. She was so unprepared to be a mother at 20 even though her paternal grandmother had given birth to her father at 20…or did she? It is true that the man fathering her was born when his mother was 20 — but he’s not really her father. And she’s not really her grandmother. And the people [name_m]Jazzy[/name_m] thought was her maternal side? Also not her biological family. She wasn’t adopted; she was actually switched at birth with another [name_f]Jessica[/name_f] born the same day, although the two babies had different middle and last names. She wonders how the hospital mixed them up given the rarity of such an event and worries that it may have been intentional. She doesn’t have the nerve to tell the family raising her that she’s not their relative and isn’t sure where to find her biological family. She’s not sure if her biological family knows about the switch and knows this could scar both families for life due to living a lie. Her daughter knows about the switch and [name_m]Jazzy[/name_m] is even closer to her for this, not just because she’s the only one who knows but also because she’s the only biological family member [name_m]Jazzy[/name_m] is in contact with.

[name_m]Jazzy[/name_m] has always found [name_f]Renee[/name_f] extra special to her because [name_f]Renée[/name_f] reminded her of her own daughter. Jazzy’s daughter also likes crafting and has since befriended [name_f]Renee[/name_f] and [name_u]Danny[/name_u]. [name_m]Jazzy[/name_m] also finds [name_f]Estelle[/name_f] precious and triple-checked to make sure she isn’t giving the wrong baby to the couple.
She knows [name_f]Estelle[/name_f] is beautiful and irreplaceable and can recognise her by her smile. She is also a supporter of Renee’s decision to keep a gender-neutral nursery and not finding out the gender until birth because that’s what [name_m]Jazzy[/name_m] did with her own daughter. It also gives her a special bond with [name_f]Estelle[/name_f] — [name_m]Jazzy[/name_m] was the first to know [name_f]Estelle[/name_f] was a girl!

[I_meme_it]

[name_u]Sparrow[/name_u] [name_f]Amelia[/name_f] [name_m]Jacobs[/name_m] (26) is Jazzy’s daughter and friend of [name_u]Danny[/name_u] and [name_f]Renee[/name_f]. Her mom decided to continue the practice of neutrality with her name, which is something Sparrow’s always loved, as she feels the bird gives her inspiration to be as aspirational and ambitious as she’s grown to be. Currently studying microbiology, with plans on specialising in fungi, and pays for the studio apartment she rents with her partner by working as an assistant manager at a local charity shop. While she’s now moved out, Sparrow’s always popping round Jazzy’s house to have lunch with her, or just to have a chat about what’s going on in both of their lives.

She credits her mom as the person who sparked her interest in the sciences, although she considers her nature a little too brittle to make for midwifery, and as she was starting to explore her options, microbiology intrigued [name_u]Sparrow[/name_u] too much for her to overlook. A co-captain of her school’s debate team and member of their astrology club (something she’s unapologetic about to this very day), she got into university on a scholarship, and worked very hard; stressing easily in spite of the fact she consistently performed well (something her friends still tease her about to this very day).

[name_u]Sparrow[/name_u] and her partner - who’s non-binary - have discussed starting a family of their own, which has been spurred on by how much they loved babysitting [name_f]Estelle[/name_f] when [name_u]Danny[/name_u] and [name_f]Renee[/name_f] went for their first date night following the birth. This has prompted [name_u]Sparrow[/name_u] to talk more to her mom about the shocking circumstances regarding her being switched at birth, and she’s made it clear whatever [name_m]Jazzy[/name_m] opts to do, she’ll unconditionally support her. In spite of it having just been the two of them, [name_u]Sparrow[/name_u] has two especially close friends - a guy and a girl - who she considers surrogate siblings, and their families are very supportive of [name_m]Jazzy[/name_m] too. Given their family plans, Sparrow’s asked her mom for permission to reveal the truth to her partner, as she doesn’t want them in the dark if they’re starting a family of their own.

[CherryBomb50]

[name_f]Moxie[/name_f] [name_u]Cameron[/name_u] [name_m]Westin[/name_m] (26) is Sparrow’s non-binary partner. As the hair suggests, they love dogs and they currently work to train service dogs as [name_f]Moxie[/name_f] knows many people in their life who need them for assistance. [name_f]Moxie[/name_f] has a beagle named [name_f]Minnie[/name_f] who isn’t a service dog but [name_f]Moxie[/name_f] loves cuddling [name_f]Minnie[/name_f] and knows service dogs aren’t meant to be pet or cuddled but [name_f]Moxie[/name_f] knows it’s important not to distract service dogs and would never do so. [name_f]Moxie[/name_f] used to be teased that their name sounded like “a dog name” but they’ve embraced that and turned it into a positive. [name_u]Sparrow[/name_u] and Mpxie have two mutual friends, a man and a woman, who are also into dogs.

Despite their love for dogs, they have considered the idea of also having babies — human babies. [name_f]Moxie[/name_f] and [name_u]Sparrow[/name_u] have discussed babies and starting a family but they won’t do it quite yet because [name_u]Sparrow[/name_u] asked her mother for permission before discussing the topic with [name_f]Moxie[/name_f]. [name_m]Jazzy[/name_m] said yes as she’s mostly afraid of her biological family or switched family knowing before she’s ready to tell them and trusts [name_f]Moxie[/name_f] and their family won’t spill the beans. [name_f]Moxie[/name_f] doesn’t know what to think and finds it absurd that they’d actually do that even if it was decades ago and has also wondered if someone there switched the babies maliciously.

[I_meme_it]

[name_m]Arrio[/name_m] [name_m]Rafael[/name_m] Montejano (26) is one of [name_f]Moxie[/name_f] and Sparrow’s fellow dog enthusiast friends, running a side business where he walks neighbourhood dogs, primarily for recent parents who’ve found themselves a bit overwhelmed. He admits he’s also blessed in the sense he can work from home, being part of the HR department for a local college but seldom required to be on-site for his work, meaning he can spend optimum time with his beloved, three-legged cairn terrier: [name_m]Bogdan[/name_m], who [name_m]Arrio[/name_m] adopted from a shelter, one recommended to him by [name_u]Sparrow[/name_u] and [name_f]Moxie[/name_f].

He lives alone but this is going to be changing soon, as Arrio’s girlfriend has just learned she herself is expecting a baby, and the couple are going to be living together full-time. While they have basically been doing this for the past 2 and a half years, she’s kept her own apartment, as Arrio’s brother sporadically was staying at his, and they didn’t want him to feel like a third wheel, but the revelation of their baby being conceived has meant they’re coming together - and of course, [name_m]Arrio[/name_m] jokes about becoming the kind of guy now needing the helpful service he requires (but his girlfriend’s confident they can handle [name_m]Bogdan[/name_m] and their child’s needs effectively).

This is what prompted [name_u]Sparrow[/name_u] and [name_f]Moxie[/name_f] to discuss starting a family officially, as understandably refocused their minds where the future’s concerned. Their other friend is child-free and intends on remaining that way until they’re at least 29, as they’ve got a lot of career milestones to accomplish and know it would be impossible to handle that amount of pressure, something Arrio’s been especially supportive of, as this friends’ mother can be quite demanding about grandkids from her only child. This surprised the group when it first happened, as [name_m]Arrio[/name_m] always seems the quietest one, but when pushed, he’s more than happy to speak up.

~

@A.B.Galaxy @moonwriteen @lever_du_soleil @chamwue @rachelheth @Tasia @jinxed_peach resurrection?

[kitkatcookie]

tw: ableism

[name_f]Yvaine[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] [name_m]Golding[/name_m] (25) is Arrio’s girlfriend and newly realised expectant mother. Although she’s a little nervous about the pressure’s motherhood promises, Yvaine’s determined to do all she can to provide the happiest life for she and Arrio’s child. She’s arranging maternity leave from her work as a teacher at a special needs school - a job she absolutely loves, and is thankful her employers and colleagues are so supportive of her - while overseeing her move from the apartment she was living in to live with [name_m]Arrio[/name_m] permanently. [name_f]Yvaine[/name_f] used to share her flat with her older sister, the two only being 10 months apart in age and having graduated the same year from university, but when her sister became engaged, she moved out, and [name_f]Yvaine[/name_f] was financially stable enough to maintain the lease, something she’s very thankful of given all the happy memories she associates with the building. She’s made friends with numerous other tenants and has promised to visit them, as it’s only a 15-minute bus ride away from it, and loyalty is something [name_f]Yvaine[/name_f] highly values, having maintained numerous long-term friendships; having met her best friend in kindergarten.

This was shaped in part by Yvaine’s upbringing. Her younger brother was diagnosed with autism when he was 3 and is non-verbal, something her father struggled with immensely, blaming his wife and abandoning the family for almost a year when she was 6, citing himself unprepared to care for a child with complex needs. It resonated deeply within his daughters’ and older son, and [name_f]Yvaine[/name_f] saw her mom constantly fretting at the impact it could have on her youngest child; refusing to resume the marriage when her estranged husband finally resurfaced. Yvaine’s parents have never legally divorced - to ensure there’s financial protection for their children - but she’s admittedly relieved her mom never agreed to a reconciliation, having not fully forgiven her dad for how he treated them. She’s been firm with him that if any of her children have special needs or disabilities, the first sign of bigotry or prejudice will be met with estrangement, as she refuses to let her own children go through the pain and sense of rejection she was exposed to.

[name_m]Arrio[/name_m] entered Yvaine’s life by chance, something she considers a fateful development. They both got the same bus back from campus every [name_m]Thursday[/name_m] afternoon, and one time ended up sitting next to each other thanks to how packed it was. [name_f]Yvaine[/name_f] was way too nervous to speak to him, but when [name_m]Arrio[/name_m] accidentally left his phone on the seat, she quite literally chased him down the street to make sure it wasn’t left behind; leading to him giving her his number in thanks [and he admitted to [name_f]Moxie[/name_f], [name_u]Sparrow[/name_u] and their other friend that he’d noticed her prior to them sitting together by chance]. PDA isn’t something the couple are big on - [name_f]Yvaine[/name_f] hates excess attention, being an introvert who’s confidence only manifests at work when she needs to take charge of a class or speak up to help a student get the space they need - but she frequently writes [name_m]Arrio[/name_m] little love notes to express her affection; many of which pop up in amusing locations.

[jinxed_peach]

cw: loss of a spouse, cancer

[name_f]Sabrina[/name_f] [name_u]Marlowe[/name_u] [name_u]Quinn[/name_u] [28] is a new friend of [name_f]Yvaine[/name_f]. They’re both in the same prenatal yoga class and [name_f]Sabrina[/name_f] is three weeks ahead of her in her own pregnancy, but that’s not the only way she’s ahead of [name_f]Yvaine[/name_f], Sabrina’s got a five year old at home as well who currently in the middle of a dance obsessed phase and is absolutely running her ragged with all the ‘spontaneous dance parties’ in their small apartment. She’s gotta get that kid into dance class one of these days…

It’s just the two of them in the home these days, and it makes things feel extra lonely despite the chaos. [name_f]Sabrina[/name_f] married her high school sweetheart not long after their graduation. They spent a lot of their newlywed days traveling and ended up naming their first child after the country they conceived in, as cheesy as it felt at first the more they talked about it, the more it just felt right. Their love for travel managed to continue after welcoming their bundle of joy, though they pulled back on the distance they travelled and started to stick within their own country instead of going across borders.

Things were good, happy, easy. Until her husband was handed a diagnosis of terminal lung cancer. It didn’t feel fair, he’d never smoked a cigarette in his life. There was talk of traveling once again but this time for experimental treatments that could give him a little more time, but in the end they agreed it wasn’t worth it. Instead they spend their time making memories with their child and with each other. They renewed their vows in a ceremony among friends and family just two weeks before his passing. Thankfully he went peacefully with [name_f]Sabrina[/name_f] holding his hand and quietly humming the tune of their first dance song, It Had to Be You by [name_m]Frank[/name_m] [name_u]Sinatra[/name_u].

Loosing the love of her life was just as hard as everyone says it is to lose a partner, and so young as well. She tried not to let her grief eat her alive, as tempting as that was. There was a child to care for and a life that she knew her husband would have wanted her to live. She started attending a regular grief support group were she met another friend of hers, and started trying to find her new normal. When she missed her period she was hoping that it was just stress, the alternative was too heartbreaking to consider. But after a nearly unbeatable craving for pistachio cannoli she knew that her disrupted cycle was due to a pregnancy, she had experienced the same craving when expecting her first child. While having another baby was something she always thought would happen, she never dreamed it would be her doing it alone. Though she still wears her wedding ring and doesn’t really consider herself to be single.

She’s still got quiet a while to go before the [name_u]Quinn[/name_u] duo becomes a trio, even when it feels like it should still be a quartet. Having good friends and supportive family helps when the weight of her grief gets too heavy to handle.

[CherryBomb50]

[name_f]Emerald[/name_f] ’ [name_f]Emi[/name_f] ’ [name_f]Frances[/name_f] [name_u]Quinn[/name_u] (5) is Sabrina’s daughter and soon-to-be big sister. She’s kept her bonds with both sides of her family despite the loss of her father. Emi’s aunt gave her the locket she is wearing, a tiny picture of her father is inside. [name_f]Sabrina[/name_f] loves Emi’s locket and that same relative is planning to get [name_f]Sabrina[/name_f] a locket as well to surprise her.

Emi’s a loving dancer and adores the music, living for dancing her heart out. She used to honestly be a terrible dancer but is now doing better after watching dance videos. [name_f]Emi[/name_f] is good friends with another kid who wants to be in dance classes: a child of Yvaine’s older brother! She loves playing dance games and bopping to the moves. All of her music is modern upbeat dance style but she still happens to love [name_m]Frank[/name_m] [name_u]Sinatra[/name_u], asking who he was after she overheard it playing in the house. [name_f]Sabrina[/name_f] secretly thought to herself, “YES!” when [name_f]Emi[/name_f] expressed interest in him - her middle name [name_f]Frances[/name_f] was a feminised [name_m]Frank[/name_m] after [name_m]Frank[/name_m] [name_u]Sinatra[/name_u]. Her first name was related to her birthstone, which was also her father’s birthstone. When they found out she was due in [name_f]May[/name_f], [name_f]Sabrina[/name_f] and her late husband were planning to name her [name_m]Taurus[/name_m] with nickname [name_f]Tara[/name_f] since most people born in [name_f]May[/name_f] are a [name_m]Taurus[/name_m], like Sabrina’s husband. They ultimately decided [name_m]Taurus[/name_m] wouldn’t fit as a usable name, which was worth it because [name_f]Emi[/name_f] was born in late [name_f]May[/name_f], under the sign of [name_u]Gemini[/name_u]! However they did want a [name_f]May[/name_f] connection and almost wanted to simply name her [name_f]May[/name_f], but felt she should have a longer name and choose for herself whether to shorten it. They went with [name_f]Emerald[/name_f] and [name_f]Emerald[/name_f] decided she liked going by [name_f]Emi[/name_f]. They almost actually named her [name_u]Gemini[/name_u] after her true sign but they’re glad they didn’t do that, especially since her first name wouldn’t have connection with her late father. The same aunt of Emi’s who got her the locket is planning on getting her something emerald-themed on her next birthday in late [name_f]May[/name_f], and [name_f]Sabrina[/name_f] loves Emi’s closeness with said aunt.

[jinxed_peach]

[name_u]Leon[/name_u] [name_m]Thomas[/name_m] [name_u]Quinn[/name_u] [name_m]Jr[/name_m]. [to be born in July] is the soon-to-be little brother of [name_f]Emi[/name_f] and [name_f]Sabrina[/name_f] and her late husband’s only son. The latter of whom he will share a full name with. His mother is currently just three months pregnant with him and therefore is unaware of the fact that he is a boy, but she will learn of this information soon when she receives the results of her prenatal genetic testing. When she finds out that she is having a son it is going to reignite some feelings in her as she is still grieving her husband, though aided by her family, both her own biological one and her in-laws she will get through the difficult emotions. Eventually she chooses to name him in honor of the father that he tragically did not get to meet with a slight change being that she will refer to him as [name_u]Leo[/name_u] to mark individuality from his father’s memory, or possibly LJ for ‘Leon Junior’ depending on what she thinks will fit him better once she meets him face to face.

Despite having plenty of support people to choose from, [name_f]Sabrina[/name_f] will also end up choosing to go through labor and delivery with him all on her own. As intense as the idea sounds, to [name_f]Sabrina[/name_f] it is a time for her to remember and reflect on the memory of her husband as she gives birth to their child. Though during roughly the midpoint she has a brief breakdown in tears as she is devastated that her husband is not with her to welcome their child. She will then end up calling [name_f]Emi[/name_f] on FaceTime (who gets watched by one of her aunts), the little girl notices her mom crying and then tries to cheer her up with a funny story about her dad. Spirits lifted by her child, [name_f]Sabrina[/name_f] then will have an easy delivery without complication.

After his arrival baby [name_u]Leo[/name_u] is going to be loved by both sides of his family, and particularly his older sister. Several of them comment on his resemblance to his father. While [name_f]Sabrina[/name_f] will still feel that her family is missing an important piece, her son is the perfect addition.

[kitkatcookie]

Darcey Catherine Quinn (24) is Leo and Emi’s aunt, sister-in-law of Sabrina and the third of four children. A jewellery maker who went straight into a metalworking apprenticeship, opposed to bothering with the formalities of college, Darcey not only gifted Emerald her beloved locket, but crafted it herself for the child of her late brother. The two weren’t exactly inseparable growing up - it wasn’t a personal issue or gripe between them, Darcey merely had a closer bond with her younger sibling, who’s non-binary and only 2 years their junior, with them acting as a duo frequently - but once they’d matured more and she was figuring out her future, Leon gave her priceless advice regarding her choices, something she still treasures to this day. Knowing Emi and now her unborn nephew won’t get him as a father hurts her deeply, but Darcey protects her niece from this sentiment given they’re so young, and works hard to distract Emi from adult sorrow, instead having started to teach her how to make jewellery for herself using beads and little charms.

Generally considered the most patient and yet determined sibling, Darcey’s always been someone who prefers privacy, including how she handles grief. When her brother passed, she was careful to inform Sabrina of this well in advance, as she worried about seeming cold or even detached from the situation, when in reality she only mourned in the expected ways when given absolute privacy. It did also make her a little antiser about her own health and she’s been careful when organising doctor’s checkups, albeit nothing excessive to cause further strife within the family. Darcey also found keeping a diary very helpful to come to terms with things, and has let her sister-in-law know that if Emi ever wants to do something similar, she’s more than happy to show her the ropes.

Having just moved in with her girlfriend, the couple aren’t planning on starting a family yet, given their ages and both being relatively new in their chosen careers, but they have adopted an Italian greyhound - Luigi, whose name absolutely influenced their choice in which dog they took home - and dote upon him. Darcey’s careful when Emi or her other nieces, born to the eldest Quinn sibling, are around him thanks to his nervous disposition, but socialising him is important - especially given how loving her family is, exactly what he deserves. She’s also avid about biking, having taught herself BMX tricks, and cycles everywhere she can, although sometimes she has to relent and fall back on her trusty tiny car, known for having the smallest seats imaginable to allow for boot space. For Christmas, Darcey’s best friend got her a bread maker, which she hasn’t quite cracked yet, but her failed creations at least are making good compost at her parent’s allotment.

[jinxed_peach]

tw: terminal cancer and mention of accompanying symptoms (weight loss, coughing up blood, and others)

Leon Thomas Quinn [May 7th 1994 - December 28th 2022] is Darcey’s older brother, Emi’s (and later Leo’s) father, and Sabrina’s late husband. Pictured here holding a two year old Emi in a bistro in Lisbon. She and her mother were the absolute heart and soul of Leon’s life. From the moment he laid eyes on Sabrina during freshman orientation in high school he had begun to fall for her. They thankfully had several classes together and a friendship grew between them. The following year their school was having a winter formal, he was determined to ask her in a memorable way. So he spent three months learning how to play a certain song on guitar and in the lunch room one day he serenaded her and asked her to the dance.

That song he played for her? It Had to Be You by Frank Sinatra. Unknowingly kickstarting their shared love for his music.

They continued to date all through high school and at their graduation party he surprised her with a proposal, they married in an intimate ceremony a few months later. They both attended the same university, every summer and spring break was spent taking trips across the world. After graduation they celebrated with a backpacking trip across Europe. Upon getting home Sabrina found herself feeling rather sick and tired, as well as constantly craving the pistachio cannoli that they had in Italy. Funnily enough it was Leon who finally asked “Do you think you could be pregnant?” A trip to the doctor’s later and they found out he was right.

After doing the math they realized that they must’ve conceived in France, both that and their love for Frank Sinatra is what lead them to giving Emi the middle name that she has. A tribute to their love of travel and ol’ blue eyes.

When Emi was seven months old was when they started traveling again. It was critical to them both that they instilled the wanderlust in their daughter as well. Emi cut her first tooth in Vienna, said her first word in Budapest, and took her first steps in Copenhagen. By the time she had more stamps on her passport as a toddler than the average adult.

Things were good for the Quinns, trips they loved, a beautiful daughter, and of course each other. Though as they spent Emi’s third birthday in Shanghai, Leon started to feel as if something was off. He had a cough he couldn’t shake and accompanying chest pain. He initially wrote it off as being caused by the air quality in the city, but when it continued well into their stay in Prague he began to worry. Still he had convinced himself that it would go away on it’s own. When he found his jeans continually slipping off he started to realize that there was something more seriously wrong. Still, he knew there was nothing to be done about it in the middle of another country, instead hoping it could be dealt with once he was back home…

Over breakfast in their hotel one morning he fell into a coughing fit that wouldn’t stop. Drawing the concern of Sabrina as he covered his mouth with a napkin to protect her and Emi. When he pulled it away and saw the spattering of blood on the cloth he knew that they would need to cut their trip short.

Once they returned home the first thing he did was make an appointment to see his doctor. A few weeks later he was told that he had lung cancer. Sabrina was supposed to be there with him at the appointment that day but was called in to pick up an inconsolable Emi. Looking back she wonders if the little girl knew that something was wrong. After getting the news alone the first thing Leon did was get into his car and cry the entire way home. One he parked in their driveway he forced himself to pull it together before he went inside, not wanting to unravel in front of Sabrina.

With the future uncertain, they promised one another that they would enjoy whatever time they had left, whether that be fifty days or fifty years. Eight months of chemo later and he was officially in remission. Never once in the entire time did he cry in front of his wife during the duration of his treatment.

Things were good for a while, they were planning on going back to France for their tenth wedding anniversary, but when discussing their plans for the trip’s schedule. His cough abruptly returned. Leon had a sinking feeling about it, despite Sabrina’s optimism and hoping that it was simply benign and unrelated.

Sabrina was there beside him when he was informed that his cancer had returned, and that it was terminal. He was given seven months to live. Upon hearing the news, he sobbed.

Still trying to convince herself that things would be okay, Sabrina started looking into clinical trials in other countries. Each of them offering varying amounts of borrowed time. She begged him to consider enrolling in one, but they both knew that was betting a lot on something that wasn’t guaranteed and wasting time he didn’t have. They instead resolved to hit every location on their dream destinations, a goal achieved with the help of friends and family who partially financed certain areas of the trips.

Though they cancelled their anniversary trip, instead they planned a vow renewal. It was just as intimate as their first ceremony, but some how it felt more special.

Shortly after Leon entered in home hospice care as his conditioned worsened. Towards the end he was too weak to be out of bed for long periods of time so he instead set to writing letters to Sabrina and Emi to be opened after he was gone. He wrote as many as he could, including writing letters to be read at Emi’s potential future wedding or college graduation.

Being in Sabrina’s arms and listening to her softly hum the tune of their song while Emil laid her head across his lap was all he could as for in a final moment.

Emi’s sixth birthday will be the first time that one of his letters will be opened, Sabrina is already preparing for the emotional affair that it will surely be. Though there’s a certain excitement for both her and Emi to hear from Leon again, even if it’s only on paper. They’ve been ensuring that the new baby will know about his father in every way they can. Lately Emi’s been laying her head on Sabrina’s belly and telling stories about Leon. Sabrina knows that it’s still much too early in her pregnancy for her unborn child to actually hear their sister’s voice, but the sentiment is too sweet and she doesn’t have the heart to break it to her.

Though her grief comes in waves, she feels like things are gonna be okay. At least for now.

[CherryBomb50]

[name_u]Adair[/name_u] [name_m]Eilon[/name_m] [name_m]Golding[/name_m] (28) was [name_u]Leon[/name_u] Sr’s best friend and Yvaine’s older of her two brothers. He is a single father to a 5-year-old girl whom he adopted 2 years prior. He may consider dating, but he’s the type to take life 1 day at a time. [name_f]Music[/name_f] has helped [name_u]Adair[/name_u] cope and he’s especially a fan of indie and alternative rock. He’s heavily grieving over his friend’s death and still has disdain towards his own father for how he treated the family. He keeps his feelings of his father away from his daughter and [name_f]Emi[/name_f], especially since the latter lost her own father. [name_u]Adair[/name_u] never wants to come off as an ungrateful son and knows he’s lucky both his parents are alive, but [name_u]Adair[/name_u] despises his father’s ableism and never treats his brother like he’s a lesser person.

While [name_u]Adair[/name_u] prefers to be single, he supports [name_f]Yvaine[/name_f] and [name_m]Arrio[/name_m] greatly as a couple. He feels the two suit each other. Like [name_m]Arrio[/name_m], [name_u]Adair[/name_u] is also working in HR for the same college. [name_u]Adair[/name_u] is also appreciative of his other sister, 10 months older than [name_f]Yvaine[/name_f], and congratulated her on the engagement she had. From his late friend [name_u]Leon[/name_u], [name_u]Adair[/name_u] has gotten into culture a lot too and is doing a travel trip with his daughter in honour of [name_u]Leon[/name_u]. Adair’s daughter is actually adopted from a foreign country, which also made [name_u]Adair[/name_u] very fascinated by the world. His daughter doesn’t know too much about cancer but is aware it can kill and that people lose hair as a result of chemotherapy. It’s inspired the young girl to grow her hair long and get it cut to donate it as a wig. She remembers Adair’s friendship with [name_u]Leon[/name_u], and she can’t imagine her friend Emi’s grief - alongside the grief of [name_u]Adair[/name_u], [name_f]Sabrina[/name_f], [name_u]Darcey[/name_u], and others [name_u]Leon[/name_u] knew. In addition to other cultures, [name_u]Adair[/name_u] is also closer with his own Scottish heritage and is fascinated by the history.

[wandering_willow]

[name_f]Arwen[/name_f] [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] “ Wennie “ [name_m]Golding[/name_m] (5) is the adopted daughter of single father [name_u]Adair[/name_u] [name_m]Golding[/name_m]. [name_m]Even[/name_m] though she has no other parent, Wennie is a daddy’s girl to a T and the two are inseparable. [name_f]Arwen[/name_f] and [name_u]Adair[/name_u], despite not being biologically related, absolutely love each other. Wennie knows about [name_u]Leon[/name_u] Sr. and the tragedy that enlisted after his death, and is hoping that when she donates her hair it’ll make a difference to somebody out there. [name_u]Adair[/name_u] admires his daughter’s courage and determination to help the cause and wishes everybody could be as courageous and determined to help others and as kind as her, and finds himself inspired by her every day. Truthfully, Wennie didn’t have the best past- she was put up for adoption the second she was born.

Her parents were 14 and 15, and her mother wanted to keep her but her parents (Wennie’s grandparents) demanded that she put the baby up for adoption. All [name_u]Adair[/name_u] knows about Wennie’s bio parents is that one was [name_m]Black[/name_m] and the other was [name_f]Asian[/name_f], and they were teenagers who were “deemed unfit to raise a baby.” The couple was “deeply in love” but broke up soon after they were forced to give up their baby. However Wennie’s bio mom wants to establish contact with her soon and is actively trying to find her through a PI. While [name_u]Adair[/name_u] would be open to having Wennie have a connection with her bio mom, he knows he’s always going to be her dad no matter what. Wennie was bounced from foster home to foster home soon after she was given up for adoption until she fell into her father’s arms- he was enamored with the little girl and decided to keep her.

Now Wennie’s living her best life- she is good friends with [name_f]Emi[/name_f] and is helping distract her from the painful loss of her father and comforting her in the grieving process. Wennie is a kindergartner, and she’s ready to take on kindergarten with ease!!!