[name_f]Lilyana[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] Martinez (28) is Ramona’s best friend from college. They met in their first-year psychology class and quickly bonded over their shared love for thrifting and handmade jewelry. [name_f]Lilyana[/name_f] works as a freelance graphic designer and often helps [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] with designing flyers and posters for her counseling sessions. She is a free-spirited individual, just like [name_f]Ramona[/name_f], and loves to express herself through her unique fashion sense. [name_f]Lilyana[/name_f] is also an animal lover and has two cats, [name_f]Luna[/name_f] and [name_u]Leo[/name_u], whom she adores. She often joins [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] and the rest of their friend group for game nights and loves spending time with [name_u]Noah[/name_u], Ramona’s nephew. Despite her carefree attitude, [name_f]Lilyana[/name_f] is a responsible and reliable friend who always shows up when someone needs her.
[name_m]Karlo[/name_m] [name_m]Jakov[/name_m] Petrovic (29) is Anya’s brother, who’s recently gone on a date with [name_f]Lilyana[/name_f]. He’s not sure if he wants to stay with her however or if it’s really a one-date thing. Thankfully they have such a great friendship that if it doesn’t progress past one date, it’s still a solid friendship meant to stay. [name_m]Karlo[/name_m] is nervous about dating and [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] knows why; when [name_m]Karlo[/name_m] was 23, he used to be in a self-proclaimed “highly obnoxious” love-hate relationship with another woman. Honestly it brought out really bad moods in both of them, with them arguing all the time. They’d say they literally hated each other but if anyone asked why they’re together, they’d say it’s because they’re in love and meant to be. [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] told [name_m]Karlo[/name_m] that they should really split up for good because she’s seen both of them and they are both much happier when they’re not around one another. [name_m]Karlo[/name_m] and his ex reluctantly agreed, but now they’re happier and better people. [name_m]Karlo[/name_m] is glad he didn’t go down a toxic and unlikable path and he enjoys his friends who make his life better.
Despite Karlo’s past being “highly obnoxious”, he’s a friendly guy and loves game nights with [name_f]Lilyana[/name_f] and the other buddies. It’s kept his mind off [name_f]Viv[/name_f] and Brady’s conflict, and it feels nice seeing [name_f]Viv[/name_f] and [name_u]Brady[/name_u] so happy. He has no idea what decision they came up when it comes to kids, if they even made one yet, but it’s not his business so he avoids discussing it. [name_m]Karlo[/name_m] currently works as a CPR teacher, teaching others how to become CPR and First Aid certified at a class near the city clinic. His classroom is across the street from the couples’ counsel office [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] works in, so the two see each other a lot. Many of Karlo’s friends are CPR certified as a result of the class, some also certified in baby and child CPR. While a decision on children has not been made yet for [name_f]Viv[/name_f] and [name_u]Brady[/name_u], both know baby and child CPR - both stating that they never know when they’ll use this skill.
Elaheh ’ [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] ’ [name_f]Sara[/name_f] Nafisi (26) is someone [name_m]Karlo[/name_m] knows well, as she’s Anya’s best friend. Having graduated from college with a degree in telecommunications, Elsie’s recently gotten her big break and has started working in television, specifically being a production assistant for a popular network that specialises in documentary making. She’s recently travelled to work on her first actual shoot and had a wonderful time, coming back with a dozen stories about her experiences (although she hasn’t given away any spoilers for the content).
One of the younger members of a large Iranian-American family, [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] was quite fixated on proving herself growing up, namely when it came to independence. She was always adventuring about family events and learned to shout loudly so her older cousins and siblings couldn’t baby her - something worse than an actual insult for [name_f]Elsie[/name_f], who was desperate to not be seen as needing protection. This carried into high school, where [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] wouldn’t allow anyone to talk down to her or her friends, including [name_f]Anya[/name_f], who tends to temper the abrasive edge [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] brings to unfamiliar situations.
In spite of her fiery temperament, Elsie’s fiercely loyal and devoted to being open with her culture, as well as encouraging those she loves to be unapologetically themselves. While she might not have liked how they coddled her, this is something [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] always credits her three older siblings for, as they helped her start her pursuit in television. Aside from her career, Elsie’s enthusiastic about punk music and attending art shows, first and foremost the one’s [name_f]Anya[/name_f] and their other friends’ are involved in.
[name_f]Paribanou[/name_f] " [name_f]Pari[/name_f] " [name_f]Yasmin[/name_f] Nafisi (31) is Elsie’s older sister, but neither the eldest nor the sibling closest in age. She’s supportive of [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] and her unapologetic nature and [name_f]Pari[/name_f] knows many awesome people with the flaw of apologising too much - who she often tells never to apologise! Sometimes [name_f]Pari[/name_f] is surprised by Elsie’s assertion to let herself be known, but [name_f]Pari[/name_f] mainly worries it’s because she doesn’t think people know her well. She’s often played overly nice with some people and sometimes spoken her mind and it went wrong. [name_f]Pari[/name_f] feels nobody knows the true her, just little bits of how she can be. She doesn’t want to admit it but she worries too much about what other people think. [name_f]Pari[/name_f] used to be coddler but she’s learned from [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] not to do that and honestly, [name_f]Pari[/name_f] doesn’t like people with coddling personalities anyway. She worries she tried to use [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] as the coddled one to get it off of her and now she’s worried any babies or children in the family would get coddled even more. She’s glad [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] got that away but worries that someone else might not be as brave.
She frequently publishes a variety of written works both in print and online, while also co-running a blog where she discusses and encourages activism. She’s passionate about her work and beliefs although she questions her role in her workplace. She’s a well-respected voice in the community, both for her writing and for her activism. She’s the first Iranian-American to be on the cover of a well-known magazine about human rights but to her co-workers, they mainly remember her for the time she embarrassed herself by gagging at an important meeting. Some co-workers make fake gag sounds around her but she’s tried to just ignore. [name_f]Pari[/name_f] has no children and doesn’t want children but has considered adoption if she ever wants one in her life. Some people act like she’s antinatalist despite her never saying anything against those who bring in biological children. It’s just another assumption that doesn’t apply to her. She feels her life is too busy and that she needs to work on being better with the family members she has before getting a new family member. Although sometimes she tends to not get along with some people in her family and doesn’t want blood to define how close she should be with them.
[name_f]Pari[/name_f] likes Elsie’s content - she doesn’t even know the spoilers and she’s happy that way. She doesn’t want to be spoiled and [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] knows that. She’s close with [name_f]Viv[/name_f] despite very different personalities and gets her hair done by her. [name_f]Pari[/name_f] isn’t so sure if the spotlight is what she needs because she feels she’d get even more judged if she had that much attention. But she enjoys Viv’s confidence and finds that a trait that doesn’t come nearly as easy. [name_f]Pari[/name_f] doesn’t mind having close friends regardless of their outlooks on life as long as they’re not shallow, especially given the fact that she knows people who act like they’re proud of being shallow.
mw: deadbeat ex [mentioned]
[name_f]Raeya[/name_f] " [name_u]Sunny[/name_u] " [name_f]Helene[/name_f] Matuszewsky (31) is one of Pari’s closest friends. On a surface level this confuses people - [name_u]Sunny[/name_u] has a decent insta following and was voted as ‘Most Stylish’ in their yearbook - but while she’s someone who takes pride in her appearance, she’s not shallow. Since falling pregnant, this has been further exemplified: [name_u]Sunny[/name_u] won’t allow any unnecessary coverage or questions about her unborn child to dominate starting a family, and she isn’t going to be releasing personal details about her baby to the world. Working as a news anchor is why people recognise [name_u]Sunny[/name_u] easily, and while she’s under no delusions about her status, she knows that it’s not unheard of for people on the smaller screen to have issues with others forming parasocial attachments, which is why she’s protective of her privacy.
It helps that her partner’s from a very low key environment himself, and not someone who overshares online. He’s an engineer - the brains of the couplr as [name_u]Sunny[/name_u] affectionately calls him - and the two met when they were completing their masters degrees, always being at the library insanely early to avoid a crush of people. In winter, they started walking together, as the darkness and quiet was eerier than what she anticipated, especially if travelling alone from her flat. More recently, Sunny’s partner started using he/they pronouns and she’s completely supported this, admitting she has her own gender fluidity, although she hasn’t quite settled on alternate pronouns yet.
To the surprise of no-one, Sunny’s nickname is tied to her nature. Her name also contains ‘ray’, but she’s undeniably someone with a positive, uplifting outlook on life, although at work she’s measured and composed, particularly as what she’s reporting on isn’t always going to be optimistic. Sunny’s vigorous in supporting and encouraging those she cares about, especially her older sister, who’s in the process of divorcing a deadbeat. While the Matuszewsky family tried to give him chances, he proved time and time again how little responsibility he was willing or able to shoulder, and it led to a cold war of sorts breaking out, only ceasing when Sunny’s sister realised she couldn’t handle such a self-centred person being in her life anymore: a massive relief for just about everyone close to her.
@mynameis1
@Era_Laine
@jinxed_peach
@olivelovesnames
@moonwriteen
@szinkle
@pandasian
@avenmaide
@wandering_willow
@chamwue
threadsurrection? 
Warning for aforementioned deadbeat and racial profiling.
[name_u]Andri[/name_u] Thapo [name_f]Chaka[/name_f] (31) is Sunny’s gender-fluid partner, who is smart and low-key, hailing from Lesotho. Originating from a heated climate, he is used to hot weather and loves calling their partner “ [name_u]Sunny[/name_u] “. It makes them so happy to see her! [name_u]Andri[/name_u] has become increasingly more vocal and less afraid on things that matter to him, although most of this is to [name_u]Sunny[/name_u], since they trust her. [name_u]Andri[/name_u] enjoys walking with [name_u]Sunny[/name_u] although admittedly he fears walking alone at night as well, feeling their mutual fear making walking together a little more comforting. [name_u]Andri[/name_u] fears this mainly on a racial aspect, since he fears people would profile him and immediately assume he’s suspicious due to his race. He’s thankfully never been assaulted or had the police called on him but he’s always felt safer on a personal level with [name_u]Sunny[/name_u] walking beside him. [name_u]Sunny[/name_u] was also the first person [name_u]Andri[/name_u] told about using the he/they pronouns and they’re pleasantly surprised at how mutual that has been as well. They would support [name_u]Sunny[/name_u] no matter what pronouns she chooses but never rushes her on the matter. Another close bond on this is Andri’s younger sibling, who was born intersex, and also wholly supports [name_u]Andri[/name_u]. The family had a lot of road trips growing up and played those cheesy car games while road tripping. [name_u]Andri[/name_u] can’t help passing those down to car rides they spend with [name_u]Sunny[/name_u] and states that when their kid-to-be is old enough to speak, they’ll be included in the fun too. His family life has been very great, he did see his parents separate when he was 15, but they’re back together and going strong. [name_u]Andri[/name_u] wishes he could say the same about the deadbeat ex of Sunny’s sister, but that ex doesn’t deserve any more redemption.
[name_u]Andri[/name_u] is excited to welcome their first child with [name_u]Sunny[/name_u] and sees a deep connection as a parent-to-be. The Matuszewsky at first didn’t know what to think of [name_u]Andri[/name_u] when they met him because he was often shy and didn’t have as much confidence as now. Now they’re really comfortable with them and they’re excited to share a child within the [name_f]Chaka[/name_f] and Matuszewsky family. [name_u]Andri[/name_u] is glad they were given a chance by the Matuszewsky family since the family had such kind people, but they think the soon-to-be-ex husband of Sunny’s sister didn’t deserve that many chances. [name_u]Andri[/name_u] isn’t blaming the Matuszewsky family, after all they gave him a chance to thrive with [name_u]Sunny[/name_u], instead he blames the deadbeat for taking advantage of the Matuszewskys’ kindness. [name_u]Andri[/name_u] absolutely despises those people who do that, having a personal experience with a former engineering company bigwig who treated him badly and stated he’d “never find work” after he quit. [name_u]Andri[/name_u] is happy to have proven his former boss wrong, he found much better work, along with people who appreciate what he does. He’s close with [name_m]Karlo[/name_m] and [name_f]Lilyana[/name_f] too and while [name_u]Andri[/name_u] is grateful [name_m]Karlo[/name_m] and his ex became better people after breaking up, he’s also fine with what happened at the end of [name_m]Karlo[/name_m] and Lilyana’s date. The two ultimately decided they were better off as just friends and not a romantic couple, and [name_u]Andri[/name_u] is pleased by how amicable and nice they were about the mutual decision. [name_m]Karlo[/name_m], [name_f]Lilyana[/name_f], [name_f]Elsie[/name_f], [name_f]Anya[/name_f], and the rest of their friends are at a great spot in their friendships and seem so happy, which [name_u]Andri[/name_u] admires.
tw: messy divorce, dead-beat dad, abuse, neglect
[name_f]Kaelyn[/name_f] [name_u]Camille[/name_u] Broggle (4), pictured with her Grandma’s puppies, [name_u]Louie[/name_u] & [name_u]Holly[/name_u], is Sunny’s niece, who knows [name_u]Andri[/name_u] very well since she’s been staying with them more often during the messy divorce. [name_f]Kaelyn[/name_f] and her little sister have lived with many different people in their small lives. Their mom would go through depressive episodes when her husband left or abused her, leaving [name_f]Kaelyn[/name_f] and her baby sister to be neglected for periods of time. Their mom loves them so much but it was so hard for her to know what to do, and she would just call her parents or [name_u]Sunny[/name_u] to come get the girls. [name_f]Kaelyn[/name_f] is much closer to [name_u]Andri[/name_u] than her own dad, which is part of the reason her mom would like to get full custody – her kid doesn’t even feel comfortable around her own dad and has self-selected her own, so why should her bio dad have any control? Kaelyn’s mother is very passionate about taking care of yourself and respecting boundaries, so it’s very important to her that [name_f]Kaelyn[/name_f] gets a choice, but isn’t trying to convince her either way.
[name_f]Kaelyn[/name_f] is super excited for her little cousin to be born, but is worried to be pushed to the side by her aunt and “uncle”. [name_u]Andri[/name_u] and [name_u]Sunny[/name_u] aren’t married yet, but [name_f]Kaelyn[/name_f] thinks of [name_u]Andri[/name_u] as her uncle. He was shy when he met the family, but by the time she was born he was closer with the rest of the family, and [name_f]Kaelyn[/name_f] was immediately very attached to him for some reason. This caused a big argument between [name_u]Andri[/name_u] and Kaelyn’s father, who was jealous that [name_f]Kaelyn[/name_f] liked [name_u]Andri[/name_u] so much. He accused [name_u]Andri[/name_u] of “bribing” her, but [name_u]Andri[/name_u] would never do that and was very offended.
[name_f]Kaelyn[/name_f] loves animals and is called the “animal whisperer” of her family. Puppies, frogs, and birds are some of her favorite animals, but all animals are great in her eyes. She has a big and funny personality which lights up any room she’s in. Her family jokes about the “sibling norms” that have been flipped in Kaelyn’s home. Instead of the second child being the wild one, [name_f]Kaelyn[/name_f], the oldest, is. Her little sister is much quieter and very shy. She would prefer to snuggle up with her mom and color while [name_f]Kaelyn[/name_f] bounces off the walls and makes new friends. [name_f]Kaelyn[/name_f] is very protective of her little sister just because of what she’s seen in her home, because her little sister is very sensitive. Sometimes this annoys [name_f]Kaelyn[/name_f], but she thinks that it’s her job to protect her “sweet baby sister”.
Warning for aforementioned abuse, neglect, and drug-related death.
[name_f]Shantae[/name_f] [name_f]Melinda[/name_f] Broggle (2) is the equally, if not more, innocent sister of [name_f]Kaelyn[/name_f]. During her two years, she was fixated on why foods have different textures and why they don’t look all alike. [name_f]Shantae[/name_f] loves her stuffed animals and she’s not quite big and strong enough to hold the dogs [name_u]Louie[/name_u] and [name_u]Holly[/name_u]. When she gets presents though, they’re usually all stuffed animals. Most people joke 2-year-olds are the hardest to shop for: too young for small parts but too old for baby blankets! However Shantae’s mother, [name_u]Sunny[/name_u], and [name_u]Andri[/name_u] knew that just getting stuffed animals was a-okay for [name_f]Shantae[/name_f]!
[name_f]Shantae[/name_f] is much more innocent and doesn’t quite understand what is going on with her parents. She has a good life and wonderful mother. She doesn’t understand what the deal is with her father, who she doesn’t perceive any familial connection with. Being the younger of two, she worries she was the one who made him leave, like if her existence was the final straw for him. Of course, given divorce proceedings, there wouldn’t be a way for a third child anyway, not like one should even exist under him. What’s been bothersome is that although he has made it clear that he’s not wanting the kids, that he’s grabby on everything else. He wants a huge settlement, which is loathsome, but at least it’s likely that he wouldn’t get it anyway, which doesn’t bother the girls’ mother as much. What’s more worrisome is that he’s desperate for the house, a beautiful home inherited by the maternal grandparents after they moved to a smaller condominium. The puppies even feel friendly with it and so do the kids. The house is perfect for the family liking and Mr. Broggle doesn’t even take care of it as well as Ms. Matuszewsky. His excuse is that his wife and kids can go live in the condo, but it’s in a senior/retired community where people under 55 aren’t allowed to live. In fact, most people in the community are 15-20 years older than the Matuszewsky parents!
What made Mr. Broggle so abusive and neglectful? Was he raised this way? Actually no. Both his parents actually grew up in that type of household themselves and did not pass on the cycle. This likely occurred because he did stay in contact with his grandparents despite this and went on a cycle of not caring how people felt. He just wants the messy divorce finalised so he can “enjoy the house in peace”. He claims he didn’t want a wife or children but he ironically wouldn’t mind having another lover “as long as there’s no marriage or kids and I can do whatever I want”. Life throws curveballs however, even in directions one didn’t see coming. And what he didn’t see coming was that he won’t get what he wants, the proceedings won’t even finalise, and he won’t even see another day…because he just recently died! He had a drug-related seizure recently, which was ruled an accident and was clearly proven that his now-widow was not involved in causing his death, throwing all murder speculation out the window. He had no will, so any inheritance simply went to his closest relatives. His widow has no desire to celebrate getting this, feeling the inheritance isn’t going to heal the hurt he caused the family. She only feels peace and solace and plans to donate some, while using anything else to better hers and her daughters’ lives. She can’t help but be relieved the divorce proceedings aren’t going on anymore, although she honestly didn’t expect the result. As for [name_f]Shantae[/name_f], she doesn’t know what major change happened but is really close and happy with [name_f]Kaelyn[/name_f].
[name_f]Shantae[/name_f] has recently taken a swimming lesson class to bring some happiness in her life. She is enjoying how fast she’s swimming. She also enjoys playing on the xylophone and doing any hands-on craft. She’s a flexible kid, doing somersaults and jumping jacks, although she hasn’t yet learned to cartwheel. Since she and [name_f]Kaelyn[/name_f] are at the time where they suck in all the new information, they’ve learned a lot of stuff simply for fun. The forefront of her mind is still on her mother, who she wants to “play with” and make her smile. However [name_u]Sunny[/name_u] and [name_u]Andri[/name_u] have been understanding that [name_f]Shantae[/name_f] and Kaelyn’s mother went through a lot and they’ll step in too to give the girls’ mother a break when she needs it.
TW: aforementioned abuse, neglect, and drug-related death; depression
[name_f]Laela[/name_f] [name_u]Juno[/name_u] Matuszewsky, formerly Broggle (34) is [name_f]Kaelyn[/name_f] and Shantae’s mother, as well as the older sister of [name_u]Sunny[/name_u] and unofficial sister-in-law of [name_u]Andri[/name_u] (not that it stops them from calling her this). Always a sensitive and thoughtful person, coming across less mature than [name_u]Sunny[/name_u] to pretty much everyone, meeting her now deceased ex was the worst situation for [name_f]Laela[/name_f]. Her tendency to take on other people’s emotions started early into the relationship, and being with someone prone to addiction sparked disaster for [name_f]Laela[/name_f] before she realised what was happening.
Diagnosed with depression at 19, her symptoms massively intensified thanks to the drain her then-husband placed on her. [name_f]Laela[/name_f] was the one with a full-time job, continuing to work in the media industry, specifically as a branding designer for fashion companies, however when her shifts were finished, she’d end up retreating into herself and getting relatively little done, even when her children were born. This is something [name_f]Laela[/name_f] still hasn’t forgiven herself for, in spite of the support of her parents and [name_u]Sunny[/name_u], as she never wanted [name_f]Kaelyn[/name_f] and [name_f]Shantae[/name_f] impacted by their fathers’ behaviour.
Having abandoned her married name the moment she decided enough was enough, [name_f]Laela[/name_f] wants to change her daughters’ surnames to Matuszewsky, but she also is scared that one day the girls will come to feel ashamed about who their father is if she does this. While he may have subjected her to verbal and emotional abuse, she doesn’t want any sense of inheriting this vicious streak to scare [name_f]Kaelyn[/name_f] and [name_f]Shantae[/name_f], as it’s obvious they’re nothing like the man who sought to break her down emotionally: all for control. Laela’s aware what he ultimately wanted was to keep her with him forever, yet she hasn’t assumed his death means she’s free from guilt and pain - her children help her overcome that.
Warning for property destruction, aforementioned abuse and neglect, and drugs.
[name_u]Emilis[/name_u] [name_f]Lesedi[/name_f] [name_f]Chaka[/name_f] (29) is a “bonding buddy” to [name_f]Laela[/name_f] as she likes to call it. She’s intersex leaning female and uses she/xe pronouns. She’s often a good person for [name_f]Laela[/name_f] to have around ad she agreed with [name_u]Andri[/name_u] about not trusting Laela’s late ex. Admittedly, she didn’t know at first that there was legitimate abuse and neglect, she just thought he was an emotionless sack who didn’t appreciate anyone. Now that she knows, she’s far more understanding on [name_f]Laela[/name_f] and tells her she and her daughters are welcome with the Chakas anytime. She agrees that Laela’s daughters should take the Matuszewsky surname, feeling the neglect they’ve gotten was a sign they were never really Broggles. She understands Laela’s concerns about the switch but agrees that it would be worse if their surnames weren’t changed. How do the Broggles feel? [name_u]Emilis[/name_u] knows that the mother of the abusive ex would act all sweet but be planning some sort of revenge – ironic seeing that she herself didn’t even take the Broggle surname when she married! The father of the abusive ex wouldn’t care but only because he never considered [name_f]Laela[/name_f] as someone who “mattered” to him. Mr. Broggle had one also-abusive sister who used to bully [name_f]Laela[/name_f] a lot but she’s in prison for domestic violence and [name_f]Laela[/name_f] blocked her anyway, so what she says doesn’t matter. Neither of them are the type of people who would be influences however.
[name_u]Emilis[/name_u] currently works in a repair shop which xe’s realised that’s where Mr. Broggle’s true feelings came out. When he was alone, angry, or in a drug-induced phase, he’d flip out and break stuff. [name_u]Emilis[/name_u] would be told of these details after getting an odd vibe that so many things were being sent to xir from [name_f]Laela[/name_f]. Often times xe has seen multiple stuff sent to xir, usually by sellers who intend to refurbish items to improve their condition. But the items xe was getting were very damaged and looked like deliberate destruction. [name_u]Emilis[/name_u] even asked, “Who’s destroying these perfectly nice things?” especially since it seemed like a pattern at this point. A pattern to a bigger picture. From this experience, it’s made [name_u]Emilis[/name_u] more observant on small things and how it could be signs of bigger problems. Xe and Andri’s mother works in the medical field and is well-credited in early detection of certain types of cancer, so she’s been a strong influence on seeing it through, even if it’s in a different matter. [name_u]Emilis[/name_u] is an avid binge watcher of mystery and thriller shows and owns rare first-edition novels in the genre. Oddly, xe usually doesn’t touch the novels because of how special they are. [name_u]Emilis[/name_u] has a lot of decorative stuff in xir home that xe doesn’t actually use, like some old embroidered handkerchiefs and vases, so xe couldn’t imagine someone messing them up, let alone intentionally destroying them. [name_u]Emilis[/name_u] is also a nerd for entertainment [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] is part of, always finding it fresh and exciting. Xe loves the Nafisi siblings and is newly dating one of them, having met at a [name_u]New[/name_u] Year’s party and deciding to date afterwards.
[name_f]Nikita[/name_f] " [name_m]Kit[/name_m] " [name_f]Suzanne[/name_f] [name_m]Humble[/name_m] (28) is Emilis’ colleague and ‘work bestie’ as the shop manager calls the duo. She’s usually the person [name_m]Emilis[/name_m] can come to first when they’ve encountered a tricky customer, as [name_m]Kit[/name_m] can laugh off just about anything she witnesses, even if most people would just want to curl up in a corner somewhere. This resilient nature is because her parents are actually the owners of a funeral company, and [name_m]Kit[/name_m] worked for them in her teens, where the naturally difficult circumstances of the business could result in explosive reactions; worst of all being conflicts the Humble’s had to weather and referee between family members. Although she’s grateful for the experience, [name_m]Kit[/name_m] knew inheritance wasn’t for her, even if her older sibling hadn’t shown interest in taking things over.
Renewal is what her passion is, and even away from work she’s avid about DIY and upcycling, always having a project on the go. She built the enclosure for her two pet rats - [name_f]Pinky[/name_f] and [name_m]Brain[/name_m] - herself, going off the advice of her younger sister, who’s an animal shelter employee, and has also helped construct similar houses for the pets of friends, family and acquaintances, always loving to be practical in her accomplishments. Her own niece, who’s just turned 3, is too young to be asking for a pet, but the whole family know it will dawn eventually, and [name_m]Kit[/name_m] will no doubt be asked to help should a ‘yes’ be the given answer.
[name_m]Kit[/name_m] has been casually seeing a guy named [name_m]Marko[/name_m] for the past few months, although they’re very content to take things slowly. He had some unexpected surprises in life before meeting her, however even if it was more so personal preference, [name_m]Kit[/name_m] wouldn’t be offended by anything asked. In truth she’s the sort of person generally unphased about dating, so having a partner of any kind is a source of intrigue for those around her. [name_m]Kit[/name_m] tells them that at least [name_m]Emilis[/name_m] has a trade off in being able to ask about her colleague’s nephew, whereas most people can’t tell her something as substantial about the change in their own life.
Marko was created by @CherryBomb50
[name_m]Kabelo[/name_m] " [name_m]Kaio[/name_m] " [name_m]Achilles[/name_m] Matuszewska (4 months) is Emilis’ nephew and the son of [name_m]Andri[/name_m] and [name_f]Sunny[/name_f]. [name_m]Born[/name_m] after a much anticipated, and excitement fuelled, nine months, [name_m]Kaio[/name_m] is already the absolute centre of his parents world, not that it’s been a surprise to those who know the couple even vaguely. Combining their surnames is a decision [name_m]Andri[/name_m] and [name_f]Sunny[/name_f] settled on after agreeing a double barrel choice would be a bit too long for easy writing, however [name_f]Sunny[/name_f] didn’t want to just take anything over regarding Kaio’s identity, and [name_m]Andri[/name_m] agreeing was the only thing she’d accept before settling on the birth certificate recording.
The waiting period was most aggravating for Kaio’s two cousins, [name_f]Kaelyn[/name_f] and [name_f]Shantae[/name_f], who insisted it was taking ‘forever’ when they’d see their aunt and uncle at family functions. [name_m]Kaio[/name_m] sharing a first initial with [name_f]Kaelyn[/name_f] has made [name_f]Sunny[/name_f] joke they need to choose an S name for the next baby they have, but really their son alone is all they want currently, completing their family. What [name_m]Kaio[/name_m] loves, aside from being fussed over by his parents, is the natural world, as being out in the garden among fauna and flora always puts him into the happiest of moods [although his temperament is usually upbeat].
Warning for aforementioned abuse.
[name_f]Carlina[/name_f] “ [name_f]Arli[/name_f] “ [name_f]Eliese[/name_f] [name_m]Humble[/name_m] (26) is Kit’s younger sister who is excited to meet [name_m]Kaio[/name_m], knowing her own daughter always gets giddy at the idea of kids. She’s an animal shelter worker, something she’s gotten fond of and loves to go to her job just to see the animals. She’s heard from [name_m]Kit[/name_m] that [name_m]Marko[/name_m] got a new job since being laid off, and she knows he’s not as enthusiastic as she is, but at least he’s happy and at least it isn’t in funeral companies. [name_f]Arli[/name_f] always felt awkward explaining that to people though she also disdains it because funerals are usually expensive. She’d get a lot of money if she took over the business but she is much happier in her career. The idea of working around dead people, let alone profiting off it, makes her very uneasy. If there’s one thing she can be content with in her parents’ business is that they were not the ones memorialising the late abuser Mr. Broggle. He never actually had a funeral and [name_f]Arli[/name_f] feels much safer having never met him. However, she’s not completely out of the loop, she knows that he and his imprisoned sister’s horrid ways were a result of their grandparents and not their parents, and she genuinely pities their parents since they were good people. [name_f]Arli[/name_f] is happy for [name_m]Kaio[/name_m] and knows [name_f]Sunny[/name_f] and [name_m]Andri[/name_m] are going to be awesome parents for him. [name_f]Arli[/name_f] is always about uplifting unproblematic people, not that anyone should be problematic to begin with. It’s just that her main coping mechanism when people mistreat her is to get away from them and focus her energy on better and nicer folks. She also feels she dodged a bullet because she almost named her daughter a name of a now-cancelled celebrity, though she didn’t intend to directly name the girl after her.
[name_f]Arli[/name_f] is also into upcycling like [name_m]Kit[/name_m], and at her baby shower for her daughter, she didn’t use a lot of packaging and used recycled decorations. Some of the decorations, which were gender-neutral, were passed on to [name_m]Andri[/name_m] and [name_f]Sunny[/name_f] to use for Kaio’s baby shower! She even let them keep the crib! A lot of Arli’s stuff for her daughter’s bedroom was mostly similar to her nursery other than the bed, which was bought thanks to a friend. Interestingly [name_f]Arli[/name_f] is on close terms with Mario’s friend [name_f]Anya[/name_f], who has since started working for a thrift shop for baby and child supplies. [name_f]Arli[/name_f] loves how helpful the shop has been but knows [name_f]Anya[/name_f] is very free spirited and isn’t talking about kids for herself yet. Sometimes [name_f]Arli[/name_f] herself admittedly likes to buy stuff for herself, like vintage toys that sometimes come in the shop. She, [name_m]Emilis[/name_m], and [name_m]Kit[/name_m] spend the day refurbishing them for fun and sometimes sell them back but [name_f]Arli[/name_f] definitely would keep them. [name_f]Arli[/name_f] loves her job at the animal shelter and can’t wait for her daughter to be old and responsible enough but for now, she’s enjoying every good time she has with the little girl, who’s bubbly and social with everyone.
Anya was created by @Lindseylloyd052399.
[name_f]Leticia[/name_f] ’ [name_f]Tisa[/name_f] ’ [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] [name_m]Humble[/name_m] (3) is Arlis’ daughter and very enthusiastic about being involved in upcycling, even though she’s not really allowed to get involved too heavily given her age. Painting and choosing stickers is something that keeps [name_f]Tisa[/name_f] content and happy, a positive given she’s a very excitable, and once that’s ignited it’s hard to get [name_f]Tisa[/name_f] to chill out. [name_m]Case[/name_m] and point is usually bedtime, when [name_f]Arli[/name_f] has to be careful what story she picks, should it lead to her daughter becoming impossible to settle down for sleep.
The only thing [name_f]Tisa[/name_f] loves more than her crafting activities is spending time with her cousins, the children of the oldest [name_m]Humble[/name_m] sibling. Using they/he pronouns, they’re completely fine with [name_f]Tisa[/name_f] calling them uncle, and she adores spending time with their kids. Although she’s an only child, sharing never causes issues for [name_f]Tisa[/name_f], as she always wants to get throughly involved, which is naturally part of everyone getting an equal share. This even applies to most of her toys, bar a few treasured stuffed animals that [name_f]Tisa[/name_f] absolutely won’t contemplate handing over, all of which have been tended to by her mom.
She’s a little envious her cousins have each other while she’s an only child, but [name_f]Tisa[/name_f] sees them usually at least once a week, which keeps her content, much to her mom’s relief.
[name_f]Taylor[/name_f] [name_f]Sherine[/name_f] [Pierce] [name_m]Humble[/name_m] (32) is Tisas’ aunt, mom to her cousins, and sister-in-law to [name_m]Kit[/name_m] and [name_f]Arli[/name_f], having married their older brother six years ago. Technically, [name_f]Taylor[/name_f] and her husband started seeing each other in their first year of college - she was studying Applied Behaviour Analysis, which has led to her now career as a HR manager for a therapy clinic [and yes she has some wild stories] - however they were the definition of on-off until they reached twenty-four. They both weren’t ready for a serious commitment until then, and it’s something [name_f]Taylor[/name_f] doesn’t regret, as she knows if she’d tried too soon, everything would’ve blown up.
Her children - five-year-old son and 18 month old daughter - mean everything to the couple, even if their son’s now in a more manic stage of life, constantly zooming about the home and asking a billion questions per day. Recently, frogs began gathering in the pond in the family’s back garden, and Taylor’s infinitely thankful her husband’s a stay-at-home dad, as he managed to stop their eldest diving in to greet the new tenants. On the plus side, this has quelled the requests for a family pet, as the pond is keeping their son content [for now, [name_f]Taylor[/name_f] reminds herself when she thinks the dog debate will never happen ever again].
Having such a great relationship between her extended family, in-laws and her own, is something [name_f]Taylor[/name_f] credits to always keeping her grounded and able to problem solve calmly. Her parents had a difficult start as a couple, not their own fault but the relationship between her maternal and paternal grandparents was tricky. Taylor’s mom is very much a southern belle, born and raised in a tiny town in Mississippi, while her dad’s from upstate NY, and her grandparents spent the years before her birth having their own cold war about the relationship.
Neither side wanted to see eye-to-eye, which was worsened by the constant casual assumptions from both parties. A lot of stereotyping defined the conflict, and no-one would actually talk, so of course these assumptions ran riot. It was only when Taylor’s mom reached her breaking point, after learning of her pregnancy, that things resolved; with Mrs. [name_m]Pierce[/name_m] warning she’d cut off contact to protect her then-unborn daughter [Taylor herself] from the constant fighting. By the time Taylor’s younger sister was born, an actual resolution had been formed, although it did make [name_f]Taylor[/name_f] wary when introducing her parents to the Humbles’. Mercifully, there’s been no repeat of this warring, although it hasn’t meant her sisters-in-law were any less enraptured when [name_f]Taylor[/name_f] told this story of her family’s past.
[name_f]Jodie[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f] [name_m]Humble[/name_m] (18 months) is Taylor’s daughter and the youngest of two. [name_m]Born[/name_m] in a woman-owned maternity unit at half-past eight. She loves being a belle and loves fashion week. She doesn’t have a preference on states though. She wants to write. She can’t yet. She thinks the older [name_m]Humble[/name_m] is her best friend forever. She wants a whole bunch of puppies. It’s her dream growing up. The family can’t do it but she wants it.
[name_f]Sheila[/name_f] [name_m]Dittany[/name_m] [name_m]Pierce[/name_m] (28) is Jodie’s niece and Taylor’s sister. She’s even more out-of-the-loop about the past drama her parents had, mainly since it was resolved before her birth. She’s not always close with her grandparents but at least her cousins on both sides never treated her or [name_m]Taylor[/name_m] differently. [name_f]Sheila[/name_f] and [name_m]Taylor[/name_m] are very uplifting of each other and share a lot of respect for their parents. [name_f]Sheila[/name_f] is also good friends with her co-worker [name_f]Elsie[/name_f], who she finds extremely respectable for not letting anyone baby her. She uplifts [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] as well and admittedly loves Elsie’s fiery streak. It doesn’t mean [name_f]Sheila[/name_f] is angry her parents resolved their conflict before she was born. In fact, she’s happy for it. She’s just grateful they did it for the sake of the family. If this was happening during her teenage years or even her kid years, it would be a different story. She’s grateful for her parents, even if it’s in somewhat untraditional ways for her childhood. Like thanking them for giving her coins when she loses her teeth rather than relying in the “Tooth Fairy”, which she didn’t believe in.
[name_f]Sheila[/name_f] doesn’t really prioritise her grandparents, even if she doesn’t hate them. Though she genuinely wants to be on better terms with her cousins, who are away in their different states and lifestyles. She doesn’t mind how they are as long as they’re respectful. And she loves her brother-in-law being a SAHD, not that Taylor’s bond with her children is any less. One of [name_m]Taylor[/name_m] and Sheila’s cousins also stays at home to raise children, and used to be worried about this potentially leaving an uneven bond between the children with the parents. Thankfully Taylor’s husband gave some great advice on the matter. [name_f]Sheila[/name_f] has two “adopted” frogs from the [name_m]Humble[/name_m] pond, [name_m]Michael[/name_m] and [name_f]Patricia[/name_f], which [name_m]Taylor[/name_m] laughs about [name_f]Sheila[/name_f] always giving her pets “human names”, ever since childhood. [name_f]Sheila[/name_f] also has a cat named [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f] and a dog named [name_m]Joseph[/name_m], and Taylor’s kids love how [name_f]Sheila[/name_f] is intentionally doing this as obvious as possible. To make it even more corny, the cat and dog have middle and last names too; being [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] [name_m]Pierce[/name_m] and [name_m]Joseph[/name_m] [name_m]Richard[/name_m] [name_m]Pierce[/name_m] – and she’s still thinking of human middle names for the frogs too. She knows her niece and nephew want a pet too and she’s always feeling bad for them on that, though she’s happy that the frog pond is distracting that. She feels the kids should be a little older before a dog or cat enters the picture, especially since [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f] and [name_m]Joseph[/name_m] aren’t yet trained, but everyone can’t help but laugh when she screams “JENNIFER MARGARET PIERCE!” or “JOSEPH RICHARD PIERCE!” and it’s to her pets.
Elsie was created by @I_meme_it.
[name_m]Taylor[/name_m] and [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] have AWESOME hair!
[name_m]Jack[/name_m] [name_m]Tobias[/name_m] [name_m]Humble[/name_m] (5) is Sheila’s nephew, Jodie’s brother and [name_m]King[/name_m] of the Pond as his dad calls him. In the past few months since the frogs began to gather, Jack’s interest hasn’t just focused on them but all amphibian creatures. He’s currently making a science project about them and he always wants to hear what his Aunt [name_f]Sheila[/name_f] thinks, as he totally hero worships her already. She’s helped protect his beloved frogs and has [name_m]Joseph[/name_m] and [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f] for him to play with - what could be better?
When he isn’t in the garden, Jack’s riding his bike or playing with his friends - the two aren’t really mingling at the moment because his mom and dad don’t trust this couldn’t lead to chaos. It’s not that Jack’s friends with anyone they’re concerned about but his rambunctious spirit means he’s prone to chaos and of course gets on best with other kids the same way. He has recently had his first sleepover though, and a
Warning for brief mentions of blood.
[name_m]Theodore[/name_m] “ [name_m]Odie[/name_m] “ [name_m]Carl[/name_m] Curio (30) is the father of Jack’s budding friend, the one he had a sleepover with. [name_m]Odie[/name_m] can sometimes be the corny parent when it comes to kids’ sleepovers at his house, though to be fair, they are only 5 and it’s the first sleepover for Odie’s son as well. He understands when people find him “too strange” as a parent, given his career in dramatic photography, but he loves his career and wouldn’t change it for anyone. He’s close with his younger sister [name_f]Liza[/name_f], who also loves dramatic productions, working in musical theatre. It also makes him happy that she’s with [name_m]Caleb[/name_m], a dancer and choreographer, which makes [name_m]Odie[/name_m] glad to see another guy who isn’t afraid to get into the dramatic arts. He loves hanging his professional photos around the house, though he only hangs the ones that are safe for a kid to see – none of the ones with fake blood! Odie’s 5-year-old son fears the sight of blood, since he’s trying to prove he’s “grown up” enough to not cry when he scrapes his knees, though he cries when he sees them bleed. [name_m]Odie[/name_m] used to question why it’s so taboo for kids’ cartoons to show blood but now he completely gets it.
[name_m]Odie[/name_m] knows his son can be very rambunctious with [name_m]Jack[/name_m], seeing he loves to play funny little tricks. Odie’s also got a 2-year-old son, who he knows his older son loves to prank. He gets this in a sense, his older son loves his brother but also likes to cause mischief. And he makes it clear when his parents are giving too much attention to the youngest. Odie’s encouraged the two to get along more and they have thankfully, so at least it doesn’t lead to fights. [name_m]Odie[/name_m] feels pranks aren’t really funny unless everyone’s laughing, though usually it leads to some prank war of sorts, which ends up with them both laughing. He’s currently banned his kids from using slime though because it always causes a mess, and he’s looking into “cleaner alternatives”. [name_m]Odie[/name_m] wants the house to be more organised before getting a pet, something [name_m]Jack[/name_m] relates to as he has wanted a pet too. Often times, any moments with [name_m]Jack[/name_m] and Odie’s older son have to be supervised, which usually means by both sides. This proved especially true when Odie’s older son begged for a frog as well. The Humbles and Pierces are great people and it’s best to stay close with them – it would be terrible if the two boys were bad influences on each other. When [name_f]Liza[/name_f] is around, someone Odie’s sons consider their hero-worshipped aunt, they’re more calm and use their love of watching performances to keep them happy but at peace.
Liza was created by @kitkatcookie.
Caleb was created by @ElisabethJulie.
[name_f]Juniper[/name_f] [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] [name_m]Green[/name_m] (25) is seen by [name_m]Odie[/name_m] as a role model and an expert at her career. Despite not being related by blood, she shares a high dream and passion for the things he believes in, while he feels it mutually on her.
She and [name_m]Caleb[/name_m] have a siblinghood transcending an average bond, and have a delight like no other. She wants to remain close in his life despite any changes the two have, and finds the good luck in the Curios for getting her there. Her family is tight-knit and their values are always with a purpose.
She is a doting breeder of animals in need, and makes sure they are well taken care of. She had desired to get pregnant one day herself, currently feeling several symptoms in her changing body that a baby could be the lingering cause. She is a thoughtful and hopeful individual who always prepares for the future.
Her spirit triumphs over her worries and her friendships guide the way. All who cross her path and choose to remain are never forgotten by her, and she promises the best for them all-around. She sees these people as life’s teammates and strives to work and play with them.