Create a Family With a Twist

[autumn.leaves]

Mateus Levi Corte-Real (29) is the older brother of Nehlina and Tiago. While he doesn’t have much association with the friend groups, given that he is a few years older, he spends a lot of time with his little sister and hears about all the drama.

Mateus has always been the rebellious child, but for the most part his parents were unaware of his defiance. He is very intelligent and cunning, which is probably why he was so successful in medical school. However, his rebellious lifestyle has lead him to make many mistakes that he cannot take back.

The first mistake was during his third year of medical school, when he and his then-girlfriend, Lorelei, unintentionally got pregnant. Neither of them wanted children, so Lorelei planned to have an abortion. However, Mateus convinced her to go through with the pregnancy, because he couldn’t bear the thought of losing his unborn baby. Although they eventually broke up and Mateus was given full custody of their newborn daughter, who he named Belle.

The second mistake was getting back together with Lorelei. Four years after Belle was born, they started dating again and were soon engaged. But Lorelei suddenly called off the wedding only two weeks before it happened and moved away.

In the meantime, Mateus got back on the right path and worked hard in his part-time job in the hospital. Belle introduced him to her teacher, who he soon fell in love with, and they married only six months after they met. They now have a baby son together named Cyrus. The little family couldn’t be happier. Seven-year-old Belle loves her baby brother, and Mateus is relieved to finally be settled down.

However, trouble stirred up when Mateus received a call from Lorelei last month, informing him that she was tired of taking care of their two-year-old twin girls – who Mateus didn’t even know existed. But it explained why Lorelei ran off so suddenly before the wedding. Mateus ended up taking in the girls, Apple and Honey. The situation is stressful, especially since none of the custody is legal, but he and his wife love the twins just as much as Belle and Cyrus.

ETA: I just realized I accidentally said that Mateus and Lorelei had a son, and proceeded to say they named her Belle. My bad! I meant daughter. I changed it, don’t worry

[CherryBomb50]

[name_u]Abilene[/name_u] [name_u]Harlyn[/name_u] [name_u]Swan[/name_u] (29) is Mateus’s wife and mother to [name_m]Cyrus[/name_m]. She’s taken on a stepmother role. She’s the older sister of the late [name_f]Perla[/name_f] [name_u]Swan[/name_u] and admits she’s had a kind but rocky relationship with her sister, mostly on her end. [name_u]Abilene[/name_u] was always jealous of [name_f]Perla[/name_f] given her fantastic rowing skills and envied that [name_f]Perla[/name_f] and [name_m]Dante[/name_m] were such a wonderfully perfect couple while her relationship with [name_m]Mateus[/name_m] was very awkward at the time due to [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f]. That doesn’t mean she doesn’t grieve [name_f]Perla[/name_f], she wishes she was a better sister and feels she wants there for [name_f]Perla[/name_f] enough. [name_u]Abilene[/name_u] is questioning herself as a mother and that she should be there for her children and stepchildren more as well, even if she didn’t expect to be married to [name_m]Matheus[/name_m] so soon. She’s gotten some confidence back and adores being a teacher and knows it deserves its praise for being such a wonderful career and believes teachers need more pay.

[name_u]Abilene[/name_u] has always worried how [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] feels about [name_m]Matheus[/name_m] moving on so soon even if [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] wasn’t the most active mother. She sees herself as a happy stepmother to [name_f]Belle[/name_f] and would welcome the twin girls and doesn’t see them as any lesser than [name_m]Cyrus[/name_m]. [name_u]Abilene[/name_u] still admires [name_m]Matheus[/name_m] especially given his successful and courageous career in the hospital and [name_u]Abilene[/name_u] has even befriended the midwife there who helped her deliver [name_m]Cyrus[/name_m]. [name_u]Abilene[/name_u] knows Matheus’s life can get very chaotic and even she’s felt that way but she’s always had to keep a brave face and motivate [name_m]Matheus[/name_m] every time he improves in his life. She has a journal she keeps to vent about her stresses on the death of [name_f]Perla[/name_f] and the involvement of [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] and wouldn’t be so calm without it. She often feels like she’s in a position where she can’t get super emotional and that’s worried her sometimes but as a teacher, she’s always been a rock for her students.

[autumn.leaves]

Belle Amethyst Corte-Jonas (7) is Abilene’s step-daugther, Mateus’s eldest daughter by Lorelei. She’s very much the opposite of her daddy, being a perfect rule-following girl. Abilene has been her step-mother for a year-and-a-half now, and she absolutely loves her. They decided as a family that Belle would call her Mom, which makes Abilene feel so loved.

Belle is a very quiet person for the most part, but she’s also a very sweet and caring person. In her book, everyone’s her friend. Despite this, Mateus and Abilene have discovered a bit of a jealous streak in Belle, now that she’s jumped from no siblings to three in just a couple of months. She does love her baby brother, but she’s hesitant about her sisters, Apple and Honey, who are the naughtiest bunch she’s ever laid eyes on – even though they look so much like her. The two-year-olds are quite the mystery to Belle, seeing that she never knew Lorelei, her birth mother.

Belle loves math, and sometimes Abilene calls her “her little mathematician.” But she struggles in every other subject, especially since she’s in second grade now and doesn’t have Abilene as her teacher. After two years of being in “Mom’s” class (the tiny school combines kindergartners and first-graders), she hasn’t really been able to adjust to a new teacher and new classroom.

[I_meme_it]

[name_f]Apple[/name_f] [name_f]Ianthe[/name_f] and [name_f]Honey[/name_f] [name_f]Eluned[/name_f] Corte-Jonas (2) are the twin sisters of [name_f]Belle[/name_f] and [name_m]Cyrus[/name_m]. The duo are the epitome of twins who love being twins, always wanting to wear the same outfits and constantly being found together; although it’s easy to tell them apart as Apple’s favourite colour is blue, whereas Honey’s is pink - the only point of difference they have currently. It’s a relief to [name_u]Abilene[/name_u] and [name_m]Mateus[/name_m] that [name_f]Belle[/name_f] and [name_m]Cyrus[/name_m] are so close, given how [name_f]Apple[/name_f] and [name_f]Honey[/name_f] are forever running around together, usually trying to find butterflies in the back garden. While they can’t articulate their happiness quite yet, they’re ultimately happier with their dad, as [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] was a very emotionally absent parent who quickly began to display her feelings of frustration where responsibility was concerned.

[CherryBomb50]

Sameer Sergi Mostafa-Rusu (4) is a friend of Belle, Cyrus, Apple, and Honey. He’s the son and elder child of Azra Mostafa and Florin Rusu and has a younger 3-year-old sister. He’s grateful for both his parents being active and loves playing with sidewalk chalk and using it for games like hopscotch and four-square. He loves talking about butterflies with Apple and Honey although Sameer prefers dragonflies. Whenever he hangs out with Apple and Honey, they talk forever and lose track of time and he always feels bad leaving them but it only makes him more excited to see them again.

Azra was created by @wandering_willow.

Florin was created by me.

[kitkatcookie]

Yánmèng " Tilly " [Táo] Yang (40) is the mother of Sameer’s best friend, who makes up a quartet between him and the twins. This development was a relief for Florin and Azra, as while it’s evident how much the girls’ mean to Sameer, they worried he’d feel some exclusion given their natural bond as twins. Tilly, her husband and their children - 11-year-old daughter, 8-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son - are newer to the area, having only been living in their current house for a year, following a decision to move. The passing of her father greatly impacted Tilly - having been an only child herself, losing her mother when she was starting college and requiring a year out to come to terms with her grief; something her dad greatly helped her come to terms with - so she wanted to be closer to where his memory is strongest, as he was a well-known doctor who was beloved by people for his kindness.

This process took a while, as Tilly’s an anesthesiologist and needed to find a new job at a fairly local hospital, but has been a great decision for the well-being of the whole family, and her late fathers’ best friend has become something of a surrogate granddad to her kids; having never had any children of his own. He isn’t Chinese-Canadian like Tilly and her family, being Hungarian actually, however knows a great deal about their culture, which is something always upheld in the Yang household. Tilly herself is trilingual, speaking English, Chinese and Mandarin; while her husband’s actually a translator, who works across a huge range of sectors.

Cycling is Tilly’s favourite activity - it both calms her while also being very personally fulfilling - and her children are also into it, using it to travel to school alongside her. She was a little intimidated meeting Azra, as being older she knows some assume she’ll be an authoritarian or dismissive because of the age gap, but the two have formed an unlikely friendship thanks to their son’s bond; with Tilly greatly respecting how Azra is with her own children, and they regularly organise events for the younger kids to be involved in. Tilly also helps keep her older daughter’s schedules in line - her eldest is starting to become enamoured with art, and her younger’s mad about gymnastics, passions she fully encourages them to pursue.

Sometimes she is a little more cautious with her son, as coming home to a house muddied by adventuring outside isn’t the most relaxing evening, but she’s willing to let him get a worm farm when he’s a little older [and her daughters are fully accepting of this of course]. They currently have two pet hamsters - Lolly and Jellybean - who are doted upon by the children, something Tilly and her husband find ridiculously charming; not that they admit it openly, as it’s terribly embarrassing as far as the girls’ are concerned. Tilly humorously made a pact with them years before about not being a cringey mom, and she’s determined to stick by the promise, even if it means she misses out on some laughs.

[I_meme_it]

Haitao ’ [name_m]Fergus[/name_m] ’ Yang (3) is Tilly’s son and Sameer’s best friend, who makes up the group consisting of them and the Corte-Jonas twins. Like [name_m]Sameer[/name_m], [name_f]Apple[/name_f] and [name_f]Honey[/name_f], the natural world is favoured by [name_m]Fergus[/name_m], who loves helping his dad with gardening duties; usually planting the fruit and vegetables the family grow - granted it saddens him knowing the bugs aren’t welcome to join in enjoying the produce. His sisters’ love of being ‘mature’ amuses [name_m]Fergus[/name_m] greatly, as he’s got a very silly sense of humour, but it only charms those around him, and the girls never mind, even if it’s not something they’re going to go for. A few times he’s made his mom breakfast when she’s worked a long shift: usually cereal with his eldest sisters’ help, and he’s always proud to see her smile at this gesture.

[CherryBomb50]

[name_f]Baojin[/name_f] “ [name_f]Jenni[/name_f] “ Yang (8) is the middle Yang child and an elder sister to [name_m]Fergus[/name_m]. [name_f]Jenni[/name_f] wants to be “mature too“ the way her elder sister does but she’s rather irresponsible. To give her some responsibility, [name_f]Tilly[/name_f] and her husband gave [name_f]Jenni[/name_f] an egg and told her to take care of it like a baby for the day. [name_f]Jenni[/name_f] found the idea ridiculous but soon got used to it and enjoyed it. However after the day, [name_f]Tilly[/name_f] and her husband replaced the egg with a plastic one telling her that the plastic egg is her new responsibility. [name_f]Jenni[/name_f] was confused but went along with it. Truthfully the replacement was for realistic reasons, a real egg can easily crack and would end up rotting, which would be disgusting. The fact that the egg didn’t crack at any point while [name_f]Jenni[/name_f] was taking care of it was a good sign at least that she was being a good “mother” to it. Not to mention, [name_f]Tilly[/name_f] and her husband were using the egg to cook dinner and didn’t want to tell [name_f]Jenni[/name_f] that because she would be heartbroken her egg would be “killed”.

[name_f]Jenni[/name_f] is just learning multiplication and is doing great in school. She feels a bit odd doing schoolwork the Western way since the Eastern part of the world studies differently but she’s always an attentive and active learner. She loves to laugh which is easy for her to do given Fergus’s jokes. [name_f]Jenni[/name_f] loves jumping up and down and dancing and she’s definitely into doing stuff that gets her body moving. She loves amusement parks and has enjoyed them especially more now that she’s tall enough to ride more rides this year. She finds the rides to be another “maturity boost” for her and while it’s more of a height thing than an age thing, it still helps that [name_f]Jenni[/name_f] isn’t afraid of any rides.

[kitkatcookie]

Li-hua " [name_f]Mira[/name_f] " Yang (11) is the artist of the family, as well as the eldest daughter and most naturally mature out the trio. A natural leader, [name_f]Mira[/name_f] isn’t the atypical artistic personality, being quite an orderly girl who’s firm and meticulous in everything she does - including organising her paints, chalks and pencils - but she’s absolutely joyous when it comes to visiting art galleries or exhibitions, something her parents try to make time for as much as possible. She’s easily inspired and experimental with her work, wanting to try out as much as possible so she can figure out a consistent style, and can name every artist she’s taken cues from [something [name_f]Jenni[/name_f] is amazed by, whereas [name_m]Fergus[/name_m] doesn’t really get what the whole fuss is about]. Mira’s learning Mandarin alongside her creative pursuits, having been raised bilingual but she now wants to follow in her parents footsteps and become confident in a third language. Her best friend speaks Hindi, which fascinates [name_f]Mira[/name_f], and being from households where cultural expression is encouraged, they’ve developed a fast friendship with a strong loyalty shared between the girls.

This is why Mira’s the only person who knows her friend has a crush on an older boy who lives down her street. She’s admitted to her mum it seems fruitless - she’s 90% certain he’s seeing someone and he’s 17, which is too old as far as Mira’s concerned - but doesn’t want to dampen her friend’s spirits; although she drew a line at attempting to write an anonymous Valentine’s card, as she couldn’t stand seeing any humiliation happen. Mira’s been a bit wrapped up in this, much to Jenni’s displeasure as she goes to her big sister for advice on being grown up, but she made her sister a congratulatory poster following her successful care of the egg, which has eased this minor bump between them greatly. Although she isn’t as fond of cycling as her mum, Mira’s become more enthusiastic about hockey after a taster at school, and she’s admitted to her parents she might like to join a team once she’s older, as the comradery, precision and adrenaline are great as far as she’s concerned.

[CherryBomb50]

[name_f]Ishana[/name_f] [name_f]Beeja[/name_f] [name_u]Karma[/name_u] (11) is Mira’s BFF and proud Hindi speaker. She is the middle child of her family and she too also enjoys art. She’s actually quite shy making art herself and just likes to enjoy art made by others, but [name_f]Mira[/name_f] helps her break out of her shell. [name_f]Ishana[/name_f] is much more of a writer, which inspired her to write the anonymous [name_u]Valentine[/name_u] to the guy she likes, which was successfully stopped by [name_f]Mira[/name_f]. She does happen to have an unattainable crush on a teenage boy, which she knows won’t work, especially given her history of liking unattainable boys. However this is the only unattainable boy she’s seen in person, the rest are celebrity crushes. So she feels there’s a clear difference between these unattainable crushes. [name_f]Ishana[/name_f] hasn’t told her parents or siblings this and has no concrete plans to actually pursue him, but wears very girly clothes and as much makeup as she’s allowed to wear whenever she’s walking in an area he’s around. She has no idea that he’s seeing someone else and that the “someone else” is not her, which [name_f]Mira[/name_f] hasn’t told [name_f]Ishana[/name_f] yet as she doesn’t think [name_f]Ishana[/name_f] is ready to hear that. [name_f]Ishana[/name_f] loves seeing [name_f]Jenni[/name_f] and [name_m]Fergus[/name_m] because they remind her of her younger sibling. [name_f]Ishana[/name_f] is more of a follower personality than a leader but she will make some good occasional leadership moves, such as her successful leadership on a group project on planets, with astronomy being her favourite type of science.

[wandering_willow]

tw: not eating, divorce

[name_m]Matthew[/name_m] [name_m]Tomas[/name_m] Gonzalez (17) is the object of Ishana’s affections, not that he has any idea- despite being her neighbor and being acquainted with her, he’s got no clue about her feelings. [name_f]Ishana[/name_f] does make it quite obvious that she likes him, but Matthew’s just an oblivious person all-around. He’s more focused on his studies right now, and his girlfriend who he’s been with for just over a year. The two are inseparable and do everything together-unlike [name_m]Matthew[/name_m], his girlfriend has picked up on Ishana’s romantic feelings and feels very guilty about it (she imagines that [name_f]Ishana[/name_f] must think of her as her biggest adversary)- but she hasn’t informed [name_m]Matthew[/name_m], assuming he already knows and just prefers not to discuss it. Him and his girlfriend met in school- the two were in the same homeroom class and they clicked instantly. They both enjoy astronomy (no, NOT astrology), and will often sit on his girlfriend’s roof for hours just watching the stars and talking.

Apart from spending time with his girlfriend, [name_m]Matthew[/name_m] also enjoys skateboarding- you’ll often see him skateboarding around town. [name_f]Ishana[/name_f] often pines from her bedroom window for hours, to the point that her parents are getting worried about her. Being around Ishana’s age, I too am guilty of being a simp. He’s also on his school’s swim team and genuinely enjoys it, though he’d prefer to keep it strictly a hobby. When [name_m]Matthew[/name_m] gets out of high school he wants to study psychology- he wants to be a therapist as an adult. He’s dealt with some mental health struggles himself- he starved himself for four days when he was 14. Luckily his family got him seeing a therapist and he’s grateful for that. This was a coping mechanism for dealing with his parents’ divorce, which was abrupt and unexpected and took a toll on him. His girlfriend’s also had her fair share of struggles throughout her life- she’s got ADD and kids often made fun of her for her hyperfixations and sometimes erratic behaviors. [name_m]Matthew[/name_m] wants to help people who’re going through tough situations as he knows having someone there for him helped him a lot.

Matthew’s really scared for college- the prospect of moving away from home terrifies him. He’s got 5 sisters, some older and some younger. The oldest of the bunch is 25, and the youngest is a year older than [name_f]Ishana[/name_f]. His parents are from Mexico City, and moved to [name_f]Canada[/name_f] for a better life- all six siblings are fluent in Spanish, and use it to communicate and write notes to each other. His whole family knows he’s dating someone, and they’re extremely supportive of him- unfortunately, his girlfriend’s family definitely wouldn’t be. They’re strict Christians and Matthew’s family is agnostic- they definitely wouldn’t be thrilled with that, and dating is seldom heard of in their family so she’s had to keep their relationship a secret. Both come from larger families, though, which they bonded over. Matthew’s best friend and confidant is his older sister, who’s 19- she’s a boisterous extrovert with a great sense of humor, and [name_m]Matthew[/name_m] being more of an awkward introvert sometimes relies on her in social situations. She lives across the country, but he adores her and makes sure to do video calls with her every night no matter what. He’s also met her partner, and taken a liking to them. He’s planning on going on a trip to visit them by plane with his girlfriend in a month, but he’s keeping it a surprise!

[kitkatcookie]

Ann-Marie " [name_f]Anna[/name_f] " [name_f]Rachel[/name_f] Chesham (17) is Matthew’s girlfriend, confident and unintentional obstacle in the way of Ishana’a crush, who really doesn’t want to see the kid heartbroken by the reality of things. A soft-hearted, compassionate and thoughtful young woman, Anna’s relationship with [name_m]Matthew[/name_m] stemmed from the reassuring presence she has, with him never feeling judged or looked down upon by her. Part of this stems from how [name_f]Anna[/name_f] was treated thanks to her ADD - having tried hard to tone down her hyperfixations in middle school, hoping to be spared more torment and teasing - however she’s now comfortable in her own skin and is surrounded by people who are nothing but understanding and empathetic towards what she experiences and how her ADD manfiests. Currently, Anna’s absolutely mad about postit notes - using them to keep herself organised, and she also has a strong appreciation for aesthetics, having some of the neatest, most visually pleasing notes in class when she’s focusing on her studies. Her parents are very happy to indulge her stationary interests, and actually run their own gift shop, where [name_f]Anna[/name_f] helps out on weekends [being a paid employee for her dedication], following on from her older brother - who’s now 22 - who also got his work experience at the store.

Although some are cynical about her faith, [name_f]Anna[/name_f] genuinely believes in [name_m]God[/name_m], without feeling everyone around her has to follow this. She privately wishes her parents would calm down in their belief she and her siblings need to marry those also following Christianity, feeling it isn’t a promise of someone’s character: case and point [name_m]Matthew[/name_m]. Anna’s brother’s confided in her that his girlfriend at college is Jewish, and has only just revealed this to their parents. They thankfully didn’t take issue with this, but [name_f]Anna[/name_f] knows being non-religious is a much bigger issue for them, case and point being her paternal aunt, who has a strained relationship with her brother since she revealed she was agnostic following her return from years working abroad as part of a charity. She encourages her younger siblings to not view those outside of faith poorly - she’s the second born of four - and they thankfully are in agreement, however [name_f]Anna[/name_f] knows she wants to be with [name_m]Matthew[/name_m] long-term, and she is not going to ask him to convert or pledge himself to her families beliefs just to see her mom and dad happy.

Currently Anna’s making plans to study geology at university. Water skiing is something her brother and his girlfriend got her into when she visited them during the summer, and she belongs to her school’s netball team, being very regretful when she misses one of Matthew’s swim contests because she’s called to the court elsewhere. Their favourite dates are going for picnics outdoors and using Anna’s polaroid camera to capture wherever they’re visiting together. Thanks to the relationship, the pairs friend groups have come together - leading to a romance developing between two of their friends, something [name_f]Anna[/name_f] jokes a lot about with [name_m]Matthew[/name_m] given the circumstances - and she’s happiest being surrounded by those she’s close to. Given the stress Matthew’s felt regarding college, [name_f]Anna[/name_f] takes time to talk to him about the future, and she’s proud to be his main source of hype, always extending her ear to listen or providing him help on focusing on his strengths and capabilities.

---

@Tasia
@jinxed_peach
some tags for the forum ^u^

[Tasia]

[name_f]Sarah[/name_f] [name_u]Allison[/name_u] “Allie” Chesham (15) is Anna’s younger sister. Although she really loves her family, her relationship with her parents has been bursting at the seams lately. The reason is that [name_u]Allison[/name_u] is bisexual, which goes against her parents’ conservative expectations. She even had a crush on a girl she met at the school volleyball club. She waited six months before telling her parents, but alas, the conversation ended in an argument. It was after this that [name_u]Allie[/name_u] began to use her middle name instead of the first: a small sign of protest against her mother and father.

Despite this, Allison’s relationship with her siblings is going well. She considers [name_f]Anna[/name_f] her friend and genuinely admires their older brother. Together with [name_f]Anna[/name_f], she hopes to instil in their youngest sibling patience and tolerance for others, regardless of their faith or orientation.

Apart from volleyball, [name_u]Allison[/name_u] is a keen swimmer and dancer. She is also active on TikTok, where she tries to play covers on the guitar. [name_u]Allison[/name_u] likes to make things cosy around her. Before the fight, she and her mum would often spend time together decorating the house or cooking dinner. After school [name_u]Allison[/name_u] dreams of taking a gap year and going travelling around the country with her friends.

[I_meme_it]

[name_f]Marnie[/name_f] Yasuko Kurimoto (15) is the girl [name_u]Allie[/name_u] had a crush on and a fellow member of the volleyball team, although the two didn’t speak much because they’re both more introverted, never mind the fact [name_f]Marnie[/name_f] had no idea there was another queer girl on the team aside from her and a close friend. The younger of two siblings, Marnie’s older sibling’s genderfluid - using they/them/he pronouns - and they’re both mixed race, born to a Japanese-American father and white mother, who met while they were both interning for the same programming company, and they now run their own company specialising on uplifting minorities within the industry.

Sports are very much a pastime for [name_f]Marnie[/name_f], as she’s determined to become an anthropologist, however it never diminishes the way she approaches what she engages in. She still belongs to the volleyball team as a reserve, having chosen to pursue this as a secondary interest to her dedicated role as part of the hockey squad. Marnie’s dad was also an athlete at school - being a star tennis player - and her older sibling belongs to their university’s swimming society, with her mum joking frequently about how she’s the sole member of the family who has no love for exercise or sports; solely relying on her high metabolism to maintain her figure.

Funnily enough, [name_f]Marnie[/name_f] and [name_u]Allie[/name_u] have come back into contact more recently, thanks to two of their friends becoming close while belonging to the debate team. Allie’s friend suspects the old crush might be rekindling within her heart, based on how bashful she becomes whenever [name_f]Marnie[/name_f] pays her one-on-one attention, having asked her about her musical abilities, as that’s something she completely wishes she could improve at (but she’s had to abandon those dreams thanks to her terrible coordination for instrument playing). Recently she invited [name_u]Allie[/name_u] to come with her to walk her family dog, [name_m]Finbar[/name_m] the Finnish Lapphund, indicating she might have taken some interest in the girl who’s taught her so much about the guitar…

[jinxed_peach]

cw: childhood illness, amputation, death

[name_f]Rosalind[/name_f] ‘Rosie’ [name_f]Monique[/name_f] [name_m]Henderson[/name_m] [16] is a mutual friend of [name_u]Allie[/name_u] and [name_f]Marnie[/name_f] who was on the volleyball team with them in freshman year before she switched to cheer where she’s been since. Though her leg may look a little intense or even traumatic, her life was anything but. When she was born the veins and arteries in her left leg were malformed in such a way that blood was not getting into her extremity. The lack of oxygen in her cells then caused the tissue to start dying, though doctors tried to restore the blood flow it was simply not happening. Her leg became infected from the necrotic tissue and in order to stop her from becoming septic they chose to amputate her leg.

Though she required a few follow-up surgeries after that initial amputation her life was very largely unaffected by her lack of leg. She never let it hold her back which allowed for her to develop a love for sports and athletics like volleyball and later cheer. As much as she loved the former something about cheerleading captured her heart in a way she had yet to experience, leading to her jokingly calling it ‘her first true love.’ She would love to continue to pursue it in college and maybe even afterwards in a professional team like in the NBA or NFL. It would mean a lot to her to be in the public eye like that so she could inspire other young girls and kids like her who may have a limp difference or other disability and let them know that they’re unstoppable.

However if that dream doesn’t pan out she would love to go into nursing, during her frequent childhood trips to the hospital or doctors for scans or appointments or surgeries the people who always made her feel the most at ease where the nurses who helped her. Specifically a nurse who had been there at the same hospital since she was born, unfortunately though she recently died due to complications from long-haul covid. The loss effected [name_f]Rosie[/name_f] profoundly and she’s been trying to raise awareness to the fact that the pandemic isn’t quiet over even though many aspects of life have gone back to normal.

She’s also been spending a lot of time in art class with hopes to create a special piece to gift to the surviving family of her nurse in her memory. She’s not much of an artist but it’s the thought that counts, plus her art teacher has been very supportive of her and any of her other students who may not be as artistically inclined as some.

[CherryBomb50]

[name_f]Esmee[/name_f] [name_f]Rebecca[/name_f] [name_m]Crawford[/name_m] (16) is Rosie’s friend and also on the cheer squad. She and [name_f]Rosie[/name_f] have been friends prior to cheering though and [name_f]Esmee[/name_f] joined the debate team after [name_f]Marnie[/name_f] encouraged her. She likes to break the stereotype that cheerleaders aren’t smart and she’s an expert debater. She loves Rosie’s inspiring ways of cheering with her prosthetic leg and [name_f]Esmee[/name_f] believes [name_f]Rosie[/name_f] should be promoted to head cheerleader at some point. If not now, then during senior year. [name_f]Esmee[/name_f] is the niece of Rosie’s late nurse and she’s grateful for how her friend has been so comforting to her family and absolutely adores what her aunt does, planning to go into nursing when she’s an adult. She’s cool with [name_f]Rosie[/name_f] doing whatever she pleases when she’s older, whether it’s nursing or cheerleading, and [name_f]Esmee[/name_f] believes [name_f]Rosie[/name_f] would be excellent at either. [name_f]Esmee[/name_f] doesn’t know about the art piece [name_f]Rosie[/name_f] is crafting and she’d be beautifully surprised to see the finished project. She can’t imagine how much it hurts for her cousins, the children of her late aunt, and she’s made sure to be there for them as much as possible. Aside from cheering and debate, she and another friend, who is [name_m]Matthew[/name_m] Gonzalez’s sister, are both amazing at skateboarding and enjoy the stunts. [name_f]Esmee[/name_f] is very intelligence-focused and all her role models are smart people, but she’s cheery and fun and likes to prove you can be smart without being overly serious.

[kitkatcookie]

cw: ableism

Bethany " Beth " Selena Gonzalez (16) is Matthew’s closest sister in age and close friend of Esmee. A talented skateboarder, Beth’s also accomplished at rollerskating and enjoys rock climbing too: if it’s phsyical, she’s got an enthusiasm for it. She knows it’ll be what she pursues in the future - be it as a personal trainer or physiotherapist - thanks to how much sports have helped Beth handle her ADD. It used to plague her when she was younger, not helped by the fact certain teachers and neighbours compared Beth unfairly to her siblings; with several not even listening to when her parents attempted to explain her behaviour wasn’t thoughtless rebellion or antagonism. With the support of her family though, Beth managed to not be permanently dogged by these aspersions and assumptions, instead learning to focus on her talents, passions and what she found and took pride in. As she loved to tell people growing up, no-one else in the family is as fast or able to climb as well as her; although Beth became determined to introduce her siblings to this as she grew older.

Belonging to the school diving team - having perfomed excellently in several competitions and determined to keep doing well - she’s very supportive of those she competes alongside, although Beth has decided against joining any other extracurricular groups, as she wants to keep the pressure of winning out of them. Her friendship with Esmee confuses some people, thanks to how academics aren’t something Beth’s too interested in, but it’s the positive attitude her friend conveys that allows their bond to remain so strong. Beth isn’t someone you could mistake for the most upbeat or sunny natured - she’s a bit too blunt and prone to cynical humour for that - but given what she experienced as a child, she prefers to avoid lingering on the negative. Something Beth especially has no time for is what she calls the ‘trauma Olympics’ - where someone insists on undermining everyone around them’s struggles - and she ended up ending her friendship with someone she knew in middle school because of this, unable to handle the pessimism it shadowed over her.

Unlike Matthew - who’s happily involved with Anna - Beth’s quite indifferent about dating currently, being more enthused when it comes to keeping what free time she has to herself. As much as her friends mean to her, and she loves spending time with them - hanging at the skate park, mall or congregating at someone’s house - Beth has moments when she wants to be alone; usually listening to music and scribbling down her thoughts or pseudo-poetry [as she calls her collectives of words she likes placing together]. She doesn’t psychoanalyse herself about this - Beth jokes her mind never slows down enough to allow for it - but does voice her belief in the importance of allowing everyone time to just be alone with their thoughts, as it helps with processing life more. Beth does think she might do a gap year before uni - she’d love to go travelling in South America especially - however rushing is something she tries to stop herself from doing, as when she was younger she could be a bit prone to recklessness [usually when she ended up spraining her wrists scaling trees].

---

Matthew belongs to @wandering_willow

[CherryBomb50]

[name_m]Jayson[/name_m] [name_m]Alejandro[/name_m] Gonzalez (12) is [name_m]Matthew[/name_m] and Beth’s youngest sibling of the family. The eldest is 25, followed by a 19-year-old woman, followed by [name_m]Matthew[/name_m], followed by [name_f]Beth[/name_f], and then him. He’s somewhat aware [name_f]Ishana[/name_f] likes [name_m]Matthew[/name_m] but won’t say a word; he knows [name_m]Matthew[/name_m] is with [name_f]Anna[/name_f]. Sometimes [name_m]Jayson[/name_m] likes to act like he’s a teenager although he isn’t, which can get borderline obnoxious but that’s just how little brothers are. [name_f]Beth[/name_f] told that the real peak of teenage years is when being a teenager no longer feels “cool“. [name_m]Jayson[/name_m] is starting to have awareness on his elder siblings and feels bad for [name_f]Beth[/name_f] being seen so harshly by the teachers and neighbours. By them, [name_m]Jayson[/name_m] was compared the most to [name_f]Beth[/name_f] because [name_m]Jayson[/name_m] was closest in age to her but he never really understood or appreciated these comparisons because he and [name_f]Beth[/name_f] were two different people clearly living two different lives.

[name_m]Jayson[/name_m] is a lover of watching TV and playing video games. He has a lot of favourites and although he’s not yet a teen, he has entertainment that is geared towards teenagers, the main reason making [name_m]Jayson[/name_m] feel and act like a teen when he isn’t. He’s been wanting to do that since he was 10 but his parents told him to wait, eventually relenting when [name_m]Jayson[/name_m] was 12. He’s been more active outside than before by his parents’ recommendation and also by [name_f]Beth[/name_f], who’s taught him some skills, especially rollerblading. He loves rollerblading best and often likes to race [name_f]Beth[/name_f]. He’s also gone to his first concert, courtesy of the second-eldest, and he was so enthusiastic to go with her.

[Lindseylloyd052399]

[name_f]Hannah[/name_f] [name_u]Damaris[/name_u] [name_m]Hunt[/name_m] (25) is the girlfriend of [name_m]Matthew[/name_m], [name_f]Beth[/name_f], and Jayson’s oldest brother, whom she has been with since high school. Their daughter was born in 2015, and being a young mom was hard for her, but she loves her daughter so much. Hannah’s boyfriend is planning to propose to her on their next anniversary.

[kitkatcookie]

Christopher " Toph " Thiago Gonzalez (25) is Hannah’s partner and father of their daughter, as well as the eldest of his siblings. A body art enthusiast, Toph doesn’t work as a tattooist himself, and is actually in the process of becoming a dentist, something that shocks a lot of people when they hear about it. He’s working as a dental nurse while continuing school, a job that provides much needed experience while helping motivate Toph to press onwards with studying, and while some balk given his unconventional appearance, it only pushes Toph onwards to complete his goal; considering it important to deconstruct stereotypes surrounding academia. He started college a little later thanks to becoming a parent shortly before graduating high school, but doesn’t regret this decision for a second, as time with his daughter is the most important thing to him - although Toph never complains about his siblings wanting to spend time with her either, and actively encourages this bonding.

Following the birth of their daughter, things weren’t entirely smooth between Hannah and Toph. There was a great deal of pressure placed on their shoulders - especially by the Hunt’s, who felt their only child’s future was seriously compromised by becoming a mother at 18 - and for a while, their relationship was solely coparenting. Toph’s uncle - who’s an architect and real estate mogul - let the couple rent one of his apartments [as a baby on top of the younger kids would’ve been too much for his sister and brother-in-law to handle, even though they were kind enough to offer], where they settled down. Not being a couple for the early years proved a blessing in disguise, as when there were disagreements or the stress got too much, the distance allowed Toph and Hannah to move past these spats quicker, as well as founding good communication with one another. They officially got back together in 2017, following their daughter’s second birthday party - which was a lovely time for the whole family - and have steadily been together from that point on, something Toph’s incredibly happy about.

Since 2018, there has been a reconciliation of sorts between Toph and Hannah’s parents. By no means is there a close bond between him and them, but they’re a lot more reasonable in how they view him, and no longer treat the situation as one of him ruining Hannah’s life or somehow dampening her dreams, as she’s been able to set up her own business as a wedding photographer now their granddaughter attends school. Toph’s absolutely certain that he wants to have more kids with Hannah - their daughter’s already been asking questions, as her best friend has three older siblings, and of course her dad’s the eldest of five - but thinks he’d like to continue their family following the wedding, once that organisation and the associated craziness is over and done with. For their daughters’ recent 7th birthday, they got her a kitten: a grey and black tabby who’s been named Tigra by the family, after some discussions between the little girl and her parents, as she was a little overwhelmed at the choice [something Beth has been vocal about finding absolutely precious].