☀️ create a family with a twist

[kitkatcookie]

mw: abuse of power
tw: mention of domestic violence [not blurred]

[name_f]Serafina[/name_f] " [name_f]Sera[/name_f] " [name_f]Lilian[/name_f] Samaniego (18) is Gwen’s girlfriend and Tiny’s other favourite human, granted she jokes [name_f]Gwen[/name_f] wins first place in his heart as she was the one who instigated the rescue. Studying criminology, [name_f]Sera[/name_f] was the polar opposite of [name_f]Gwen[/name_f] in her teens: she was incredibly shy, preferred holding back from any confrontation, and actually experienced a lot of bullying from 11-14, but not from her peers. This stemmed from her older brother getting arrested for defacing the school with spray paint, and subsequently, teachers were incredibly harsh towards [name_f]Sera[/name_f]: constantly eyeing her with suspicion, questioning her academic successes (with cheating being the greatest insinuation they went for), and keeping her under basically unofficial surveillance. It caused her to shrink into herself, never feeling proud of her achievements, and considering dropping out early by the time she was in high school, but her family kept her going through this difficult time - including her brother, who felt incredibly guilty about how what seemed like an inconsequential joke turned into a shadow hanging over Sera’s head.

While they’ll never be as close as [name_f]Magda[/name_f] and [name_f]Gwen[/name_f] - [name_f]Sera[/name_f] will attest to the fact no-one could be - she hasn’t held any grudge against him, and their relationship has been repaired by him giving [name_f]Sera[/name_f] his old car so she could attend university, as the commute home worried her, instead of selling it for a much higher price. Since meeting her girlfriend, Sera’s come out of her shell considerably, showcasing how witty and fun-loving she is behind her shyness. She’s always someone you know listens with sincere caring - having chosen her degree because she wants to contribute towards helping others find justice - and since getting [name_f]Tiny[/name_f], she’s been volunteering once a week at a local shelter, loving every moment of being around the animals. Something else she’s passionate about is making drinks: [name_f]Sera[/name_f] works as a barista as well, and enjoys experimenting with smoothies and iced coffees, using her friends as test subjects (the only fitting word, she’ll admit), and thankfully her creations are more wins than losses. She’d like to become a bartender when legally able, turning down her cousins offer to teach her early (as trouble is something [name_f]Sera[/name_f] still avoids like the plague).

The situation regarding Gwen’s best friend is one Sera’s also involved in, primarily providing emotional support and advise in whatever capacity she can. It pains her knowing both what her girlfriend went through and also the ongoing situation, but she knows it could escalate if they’re not careful, and has been using her degree resources to help [name_f]Gwen[/name_f] in the process of contacting legal services for help. Her father grew up witnessing domestic violence and has always helped his children navigate boundaries in relationships, as he never wants to see them hurt by someone they care for. Unsurprisingly, Sera’s family absolutely adore [name_f]Gwen[/name_f] and have made it clear she’s always welcome to come visit - not impossible as they live a 45 minute drive away, and with Sera’s car, this is easy to do. More frequently, she jokes about taking [name_f]Tiny[/name_f] with them, as the little cat will be doted upon by her parents - even if their own cat, [name_f]Mona[/name_f], might be a little jealous.

[chamwue]

tw: mentions of murder but nothing graphic ; uncensored

[name_u]Bellamy[/name_u] [name_u]Madison[/name_u] " [name_u]Bell[/name_u] " [name_m]Edwards[/name_m] (18) is a member of [name_f]Sera[/name_f] and Gwen’s friend group and a fellow criminology major. Like [name_f]Sera[/name_f], [name_u]Bell[/name_u] chose her major because of her strong sense of justice: her older sister was murdered, but because the perpetrator had ties to the police, he managed to walk free. [name_u]Bell[/name_u] was only thirteen when this occurred, but since then, she’s vowed to take justice into her own hands and make sure criminals suffer the consequences of their actions. [name_u]Bell[/name_u] remembers her utter helplessness during the situation— the evidence was all there. Still, because of a lack of police initiative, the investigation dragged on and on, and when they finally found her body, it was too late. Knowing that the adults weren’t doing anything in the situation infuriated [name_u]Bell[/name_u], and she channelled all that energy into pursuing a career within the justice system and hopefully bringing reform to it.

It’s because of her sister that [name_u]Bell[/name_u] only tolerates nothing but the truth— she’d rather be hurt by the fact rather than have the truth obfuscated. The worst thing you could do to [name_u]Bell[/name_u] is to lie to her, no matter how big or small. [name_f]Gwen[/name_f] learned this the hard way when she lied to [name_u]Bell[/name_u] about misplacing a pen, and [name_u]Bell[/name_u] had to tell her that the fact that she lied felt worse than losing her favourite pen. Lying means a lack of trust, and [name_u]Bell[/name_u] sees no reason for her friends to not trust each other, even if it’s at the expense of feelings. The one exception [name_u]Bell[/name_u] has to this policy is if someone says they don’t want to divulge that information— [name_u]Bell[/name_u] believes in honesty, not in being a prick.

Because Gwen’s best friend is within their friend group, [name_u]Bell[/name_u] has encouraged her to document everything her abusive boyfriend does. The girl’s situation reminds [name_u]Bell[/name_u] too much of what her older sister went through, and [name_u]Bell[/name_u] would rather die than see that happen to someone close to her again. [name_u]Bell[/name_u] has offered the girl a place to crash at her home if she needs to, and it seems like she’s there every other night. The only problem is that [name_u]Bell[/name_u] thinks she’s crushing on her a little bit, complicating everything. [name_u]Bell[/name_u] hates herself for getting a crush at such an inappropriate moment, but [name_f]Gwen[/name_f] and [name_f]Sera[/name_f] have reassured [name_u]Bell[/name_u] that as long as she doesn’t make a move right now, it’s okay to like her.

[CherryBomb50]

Warning for mass murders.

[name_u]Rocio[/name_u] “ [name_u]Rocky[/name_u] “ [name_u]Rosario[/name_u] Garza (18) is a fellow criminology major and good friend of [name_u]Bell[/name_u], [name_f]Sera[/name_f], and [name_f]Gwen[/name_f]. He is Diego’s younger sibling, using pronouns he/they. He’s heard of the horrors of another street in a nearby city, [name_f]Brinkley[/name_f] Drive, which he thankfully never lived on, and the [name_f]Brinkley[/name_f] Drive Killer from the 1970s as told by his grandparents. In the early 1970s, a man was divorced from his wife and his wife quickly moved onto another man, angering him. The woman and her new boyfriend moved into a nice loft on [name_f]Brinkley[/name_f] Drive which angered the ex-husband more that they were already living together. This man may have had understandable concerns, but he was a sociopathic maniac and one night, he shot them both dead alongside everyone else on [name_f]Brinkley[/name_f] Drive. It was unknown at the time why the [name_f]Brinkley[/name_f] Drive Killer took it out on the entire street but after killing them, he wrote a note on his ex-wife’s loft door saying, “I loved her more than I thought I ever did and more than anyone wanted me to. Find me under the bridge.” This has implied he had jumped off a bridge after the killings, but it turned out he never did and was actually in hiding. Then in the late 70s, when a new couple had moved into the loft his ex-wife once lived in, he murdered them too! He made an attempt to murder people on the street again but was taken away by police this time. The father of the original murdered ex-wife said he was a nasty and frightening individual but admitted the [name_f]Brinkley[/name_f] Drive Killer only wanted to kill his ex-wife, and everyone else he murdered was to spare them from knowing the details of the murder he just committed. The ex-wife’s father knew he would have died as well had the [name_f]Brinkley[/name_f] Drive Killer known where he lived. The ex-wife’s father also said that the [name_f]Brinkley[/name_f] Drive Killer was obsessed with violence and had a crazy instinct to keep shooting after the first shot, as if shooting and murdering was addicting to him. [name_u]Rocky[/name_u] finds the [name_f]Brinkley[/name_f] Drive Killer highly disturbing and has always said he’d never walk on that street despite the killings happening 40-50 years ago. So it makes sense that they’d definitely never associate with Gwen’s ex although they do want justice for [name_f]Gwen[/name_f] and her friend — and soon. [name_u]Rocky[/name_u] used to be uncomfortable about [name_u]Bell[/name_u] due to the murder of her older sister but became super close to [name_u]Bell[/name_u] and are now extremely close. Sometimes the trio enjoys having a male best friend who isn’t an evil cold-hearted person but also respect [name_u]Rocky[/name_u] for being non-binary and are proud they are open about their identity.

[name_u]Rocky[/name_u] has often been anxious due to the way his parents placed blame on him and [name_m]Diego[/name_m] for their poverty and despite his nickname, doesn’t want to “rock the boat”. Sometimes he fears that his anxiety could get in the way and never wants anyone else to think he’s making his problems seem worse than everyone else’s — he knows they’re not — but still believes he should work on his mental health. It hurts them when other people are in dangerous situations but feels somewhat better in a sense when they know they can help stop it. They suspect [name_u]Bell[/name_u] may be crushing on Gwen’s friend but like the others, they know [name_u]Bell[/name_u] isn’t in any rush to make a move and respect [name_u]Bell[/name_u] for being sensitive to what the young woman is going through.

[I_meme_it]

TW: domestic violence, abusive relationship

[name_f]Prudence[/name_f] ’ [name_f]Pru[/name_f] ’ [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] Winterbourne (18) is the friend at the center of the difficult situation, who’s only just managed to successfully press charges against her monster of an ex-boyfriend. Having been raised in the foster system and never knowing any of her biological family, [name_f]Pru[/name_f] was always looking for a sense of proper belonging, intensified after an adoption fell through when she was 14 (a situation that still affects her emotionally to this day, but she’s only opened up about it to [name_f]Belle[/name_f] and [name_f]Gwen[/name_f] on brief occasions, where she doesn’t linger long). This is what made her an ideal target of her now ex, who was waiting to find someone desperate for security and a sense of belonging, and by the time she was 16, [name_f]Pru[/name_f] was basically living with him.

As with many abusers, jealousy and a need for control sparked the worst of his actions: physical assaults which were coupled with subsequent days of verbal attacks, painting [name_f]Pru[/name_f] as the instigator and guilty party for his despicable actions. In spite of the couple living with two friends of Pru’s ex, they never intervened or even acknowledged the ongoing domestic violence, even when [name_f]Gwen[/name_f] was harmed while coming to her defense. It only served to further erode Pru’s faith in other people, coupled with her increasing fear her then-boyfriend could escalate to an even worse abuser if she attempted to leave.

It was her time with [name_u]Bell[/name_u] - enjoying the calm environment of her home and sharing much more stress free times with her group of friends - that helped [name_f]Pru[/name_f] work up the courage to go to the police, solidified after she decided to stay at a women’s shelter one night when she was worried her then-boyfriend might follow her to Bell’s. Since then, there’s been no contact between them, and Pru’s petitioning to get a restraining order formally put in place; although she’s had special circumstances allowed from her university, completing her sociology degree from the special accommodation she’s accessed through an abuse survivor charity. Being around other’s who’ve been in the same position has helped her confidence develop, although [name_f]Pru[/name_f] still has permission to stay with [name_u]Bell[/name_u] when she feels like it, and finds her presence especially comforting.

[chamwue]

disclaimer: this person is pru’s abuser. he’s a genuinely terrible person. as people aren’t just one-dimensional villaiins, i gave him reasons for how he became this way. this does not excuse his behaviours, nor does it justify them. as always, the faceclaim i use is NOT the person i am writing.

tw: child abuse, alcoholism, domestic abuse, abusive relationship

---

[name_u]Tyler[/name_u] [name_u]Jasper[/name_u] [name_m]Gordon[/name_m] (22) is Pru’s ex-boyfriend. [name_u]An[/name_u] unfortunate product of his circumstances, [name_u]Tyler[/name_u] has bounced from foster home to foster home up until he was legally an adult. Throughout his years in the system, [name_u]Tyler[/name_u] was subjected to horrific amounts of physical and psychological abuse, often at the hands of his foster fathers. This abuse has left [name_u]Tyler[/name_u] with the belief that he had to be in the one in control in order to never get hurt again as well as severe anger management issues and other mental illnesses. His lack of a support system growing up also led him to the wrong crowd as well, and [name_u]Tyler[/name_u] ended up meeting people who continued to enable his horrible behaviours.

When he started dating [name_f]Pru[/name_f], [name_u]Tyler[/name_u] was nice, loving, even. But due to the aforementioned issues, Tyler’s behaviour became erratic, ending up with him hurting the one he said he loved most and punching [name_f]Gwen[/name_f] in the nose. His inability to cope with the fact he was turning into the same people who had hurt him so many years ago led [name_u]Tyler[/name_u] to yell at [name_f]Pru[/name_f] and blame her for what he had done— which required a lot of cognitive dissonance and denial on his part. His roommates didn’t help matters either: they continued to reassure [name_u]Tyler[/name_u] that he wasn’t at fault, only further cementing his actions and allowing him to justify his abusive behaviour.

Being served with the no-contact order enraged [name_u]Tyler[/name_u]— but he knows he can’t do anything about it. He’s been laying low for a while, ruminating on the past months. Some days there are moments where he questions if he’s just like the people who raised him, but [name_u]Tyler[/name_u] washes down those thoughts with bottles of alcohol.

[CherryBomb50]

Judge Perceval Franklin Wilkinson (74) was the judge who served the no-contact restraining order to Tyler. Tyler is angered by him but Perceval says it was the fair and just thing to do after hearing out the case. He is the paternal grandfather of DJ and Iris, but has no relation to either party in the case. He’s been a lawyer for over 30 years before becoming a judge and during both careers, he’s been adamant about people living a lawful life. He has listened to both sides but has ruled in favour of Gwen and Pru. Growing up, Perceval has dealt with issues of his own after his parents considered him “embarrassing” after health problems he had during the drafting deemed him unfit to fight in the wars during wartime. Perceval has since been very pro-medical after being cured of his past health problems and one of his daughters, an aunt to DJ and Iris, is a doctor, to his pleasure. This aunt has children of her own who are now becoming new friends to Pru and Gwen. Still, he’s judged some serious medical malpractice claims as well so he isn’t biased towards doctors. Despite his serious job, he is still a kind grandfather and knows what’s right, always being a kind guide when he’s not at work.

DJ was created by @A.B.Galaxy

Iris was created by @wandering_willow.

[A.B.Galaxy]

[name_f]Matilda[/name_f] " [name_f]Tilly[/name_f] " [name_u]Frankie[/name_u] Wilkinson-Pruitt (50) is Perceval’s firstborn and only daughter. She’s also the aunt of DJ and [name_f]Iris[/name_f]. After learning about the health problems her father had and how doctors had been able to help him she’d decided she wanted to do the same for other people. [name_f]Tilly[/name_f] specialized in neurology as the brain always fascinated her and she really takes pride in her job.

[name_f]Matilda[/name_f] heard about her father’s recent ruling from him and encouraged her two daughters who are about [name_f]Gwen[/name_f] and Pru’s age to try and befriend them. They both attend the same university as [name_f]Gwen[/name_f] and [name_f]Tilly[/name_f] is glad they’re making more friends. [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] and her husband met during their first year of residency and were both training in internal medicine then. They were married just as soon as they finished their residency and are both very happy.

[name_f]Tilly[/name_f] gets along well with her younger brothers, especially her brother closest in age who is the father of DJ and [name_f]Iris[/name_f]. They’ve all gotten much closer since their mother died two years ago and try to get together at least once a month. She and her husband have four children. The two daughters who have become friends with [name_f]Gwen[/name_f] and [name_f]Pru[/name_f] are the oldest and then they have two sons in their teens. They’re starting to worry about the oldest boy who has begun to get involved with the wrong crowd.

[CherryBomb50]

[name_m]Ed[/name_m] [name_u]Declan[/name_u] Wilkinson-Pruitt (50) is Tilly’s husband and father of the four. [name_m]Ed[/name_m] knows how hard it’s been for [name_f]Tilly[/name_f] and her side of the family when her mother died and has been extremely supportive and patient during that difficult time. He is also in medicine and is a doctor as well. He’s really proud of his children especially now that they’re off to do great things but like his wife, he believes his first son needs to be careful considering the peer pressure he’s gotten himself into. [name_m]Ed[/name_m] truly believes his son is capable of redemption but needs to do it quickly, as it’s causing a rift, especially with his other siblings. He’s super supportive of his two daughters getting to know [name_f]Gwen[/name_f] and [name_f]Pru[/name_f] and bonding with them. His other son is planning on a medical career like [name_f]Tilly[/name_f], to both his parents’ delight. He’s also been a cool brother-in-law to DJ and Iris’s father and their children are cool cousins as well.

[wandering_willow]

sighs why is it always a [name_u]Tyler[/name_u]

[kitkatcookie]

[name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] Wilkinson-Pruitt (19) is the firstborn child of [name_m]Ed[/name_m] and [name_f]Tilly[/name_f], as well as a new friend of [name_f]Gwen[/name_f] and [name_f]Pru[/name_f]. Following in the footsteps of her grandfather, Cecilia’s studying law herself with plans on becoming involved in the justice system in some capacity - although she doesn’t quite know if she could become a judge. For as long as the whole family can remember, [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] was asking her granddad questions about his career and taking it seriously; as well as acting as a mini leader of the four siblings, albeit her sister definitely was her right hand due to them only being 14 months apart in age. She belongs to the university debate team - carrying on from her successful high school career where she was a co-captain - and also the vegetarian society; something initially conceived as a joke because of how much of a big deal her youngest brother makes about her preferences, but she’s met one of her best friends through it, and enjoys sharing recipes (because you can’t stop [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] from planning on convincing her whole family to join her in some capacity).

To some people, [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] seems a little rigid and unadventurous: she knows what she likes and likes what she knows, but it stems from how much she wants to help others and anything major flagging up in her personal life could destroy her dreams. This outlook has led to [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] becoming close with [name_u]Bell[/name_u] - who’s perspective on lying she greatly understands - and corruption is something she especially despises in the system. She wishes, once she’s involved, that she could help bring about justice in some capacity for Bell’s sister, in spite of it being a clear uphill battle - but once [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] sets her mind on something, she’s serious about pursuing it. The feelings [name_u]Bell[/name_u] has for [name_f]Pru[/name_f] are also those she’s aware of, and talks to her about, as while the time still isn’t right for anything to happen between them, it’s evident how happy [name_u]Bell[/name_u] makes [name_f]Pru[/name_f] whenever they’re together - and for [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] it’s been wonderful seeing her flourish more now Tyler’s firmly out of her life.

Thanks to being a year above the group she does have another circle of friends she’s incredibly close to, and there’s now been some mingling between everyone, as [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] didn’t want to leave anyone out. Her loyalty is incredibly strong and she’s known a lot of her friends for more than 10 years, joking how hard she is to shake once she’s attached to you - but her stability and level-headed nature are appreciated because you always know [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] will do her best to support you. She’s also capable of admitting defeat when she isn’t confident about something and won’t press the matter either, as she absolutely can’t stand the idea of worsening someone’s predicament. Unlike some of her friends, she’s opted to remain at home while attending uni, as her family mean the absolute world to her, and [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] felt it was better leaving dorm space for those needing it when she can easily commute on a daily basis.

[chamwue]

[name_f]Amethyst[/name_f] [name_u]Rue[/name_u] [name_m]Graves[/name_m] (20) is a new friend of [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] and the newest addition to their friend group. [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] and [name_f]Amethyst[/name_f] became friends because they both happened to wear the same shirt that day— and learned they had the almost exact music taste. [name_f]Amethyst[/name_f], though extremely flamboyant, woke up late for her one 9:00 AM class for the week— causing her to turn up to class uncharacteristically dishevelled. [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] often jokes that she’s seen Amethyst’s forbidden secrets, and [name_f]Amethyst[/name_f] plays up the bit, often saying that underneath her ostentatious style is Cthulhu. [name_f]Amethyst[/name_f] fit into the group like she belonged there and is happy she found a new group.

[name_f]Amethyst[/name_f] abruptly cut ties with her previous group due to a ridiculous amount of drama: [name_f]Amethyst[/name_f] unknowingly slept with one of her ex-friend’s exes, and that “friend” tried convincing everyone that [name_f]Amethyst[/name_f] was a snake. The situation was made worse when the rest of the group discovered that said friend was cheating on her partner at the time with the same ex that [name_f]Amethyst[/name_f] had ties to. The entire fiasco was a headache, and though some of the other members weren’t at fault, [name_f]Amethyst[/name_f] knew she couldn’t talk to these people for a while for her own well-being. She remembers the first time she retold the incident to [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f]— the poor girl had to ask clarifying questions due to how messy everything was. [name_f]Amethyst[/name_f] is convinced she could turn that into a short film, and is actually doing so in her scriptwriting class— albeit with changed names and a different situation.

[name_f]Amethyst[/name_f] is an aspiring film major and has written and directed a couple of films in high school, even winning some awards. Her accolades have awarded her a full ride to university on a scholarship. She ended up as her parents’ favourite for the time being, which she dislikes. The [name_m]Graves[/name_m] siblings (Amethyst is the second eldest of five) were pitted against each other for their parents’ affection, leading to the siblings having less-than-pleasant relationships with each other. Amethyst’s older brother was always the apple of their parents’ eye, leading to the remaining siblings ganging against him in some sort of strange allyship. Once university acceptances came, though, [name_f]Amethyst[/name_f] was quickly replaced as the favourite. However, she used this opportunity to call her parents out for their favouritism, asking them point blank if they would still love her without her awards. Since then, she hasn’t spoken to them much. Her younger siblings have thanked her for her outburst, but Amethyst’s older brother called her ungrateful. For obvious reasons, she doesn’t speak to him either.

[name_f]Amethyst[/name_f] lives with the one friend she still talks to from her previous friend group. This friend has stuck by [name_f]Amethyst[/name_f] through thick and thin, and she’s forever thankful for that.

[A.B.Galaxy]

[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] " [name_u]Josie[/name_u] " [name_f]Blythe[/name_f] Wilkinson-Pruitt (18) is Cecilia’s sister and a friend of Amethyst’s as well. She doesn’t have quite as many friends as her sister, mostly preferring to spend time with [name_f]Gwen[/name_f], [name_f]Amethyst[/name_f], and [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f]. [name_u]Josie[/name_u] often gets dragged along by them when they’re hanging out with their friends which she doesn’t mind. She loves Amethyst’s flamboyant style and often wishes she was confident enough to pull off that sort of look.

[name_u]Josie[/name_u] was never that interested in law like her sister, or a medical career as her brother and parents are. She wasn’t sure what she wanted to do with her life until last year when she decided to pursue an architectural degree. Her parents supported her fully and she’s happy about that. [name_u]Josie[/name_u] is staying at home while going to university as well and has started to become worried about her brother, especially since they often confided in each other as kids.

She recently started working part time at a nearby cafe and gets along really well with her coworkers. Maybe really really well with one of the guys. [name_u]Josie[/name_u] has been…awkwardly flirting back and forth with him and he recently asked her out. She was beyond nervous and excited and couldn’t believe that he actually liked her. [name_u]Josie[/name_u] spilled the news to her sister and [name_f]Amethyst[/name_f] immediately as she looks up to both of them and appreciates their advice. [name_u]Josie[/name_u] is apart of the school newspaper as well and really enjoys it. She writes the news column and helps print the paper.

[kitkatcookie]

[name_u]Calypso[/name_u] " [name_f]Callie[/name_f] " [name_u]Fallon[/name_u] [name_m]Graves[/name_m] (18) is a newer friend of Josie’s, who met her because she’s the sister of [name_f]Amethyst[/name_f]. The sibling rivalry was something [name_f]Callie[/name_f] mostly tried to keep out of - as she was emotionally burnt out enough by the constant comparisons between the 5 kids - but she’d always come to the aid of [name_f]Amethyst[/name_f], the one who she’s maintained a consistent closeness with. Honestly there wasn’t an inciting reason behind the pair always having each others backs, it’s just always been that way, but Callie’s especially grateful for her bond with her sister, as Amethyst’s been helping her move into her student apartment early to escape from constant questions from their parents about her accomplishments. Callie’s chosen to major in graphic design - as art’s her passion above all else, but she wants to work with a range of mediums and also has a fondness for digital artwork especially, having been exploring it more recently in her free time. There have been disagreements between [name_f]Callie[/name_f] and her older brother because he thinks she should be pursuing another degree - presumably geology, as she’s got a passing interest in it - but she feels it’s more influenced by his anger towards [name_f]Amethyst[/name_f], and lack of understanding as to why [name_f]Callie[/name_f] feels so done with their parents.

She’s set to work organising her room to the best of her ability, and happily invites [name_u]Josie[/name_u] to hang out if her sister and the others are busy. It can be a bit crowded as Callie’s close friends who are preparing to attend school in other states tend to congregate there, as she’s not just welcoming as a host, but very creative when arraging her space. This includes the tank [name_f]Callie[/name_f] has for her pet turtle - Fraiser - who has his own feature page on her insta for how much she loves him.

Although she’s more than happy to be the life and soul of any party she’s been invited to - being very popular at school on account of her kind, disarming nature - Callie’s typically pretty easygoing in all other situations. The one thing that shouldn’t be messed with are those she cares about, that will absolutely bring out the worst side of [name_f]Callie[/name_f]. She’s naturally protective of her siblings now their relationships have been repaired and hates seeing her friends be underestimated, especially because of how [name_f]Callie[/name_f] grew up being treated. Hyping others up is something she takes great pride in, and she’s become a master of compliments; something that does embarass [name_f]Callie[/name_f] a little as she doesn’t want to embarrass anyone with her inclination towards raising up those she cares about. Crotcheting is her favourite means of relaxing, and she specialises in fruit/veg inspired hats for people, the cutsier the better as far as she’s concerned.

[kitkatcookie]

bump!

[A.B.Galaxy]

Azalea " Izzy " Finley Graves (16) is the youngest girl in the Graves family and fourth of the five children. Even though she’s really smart, Izzy had never been great at written tests and so her grades aren’t very high. Her parents always made it a point to tell her she should be more like her older brother and later Amethyst which frustrated her to no end since she really was trying. Amethyst calling out their parents is something she’s really thankful for and as soon as she turns 18 she plans to move out.

Izzy has decided that she won’t go to college and knows that it’ll be a nightmare when her parents find out. She does plan to take an online business course since she wants to open a bakery with her three best friends. Her little brother helps as well and gets a cut of the profits. He’s their best taste tester and the two are very close, being the youngest. Izzy’s best friends are made up of her next-door neighbor who’s homeschooled and the two friends she made at the beginning of high school. Two of them are guys and the other is a girl.

Izzy doesn’t understand why her older brother got so upset at Amethyst but she guesses it’s because he was the golden child for so long. She doesn’t really talk to him much and is much closer to her sisters. Izzy has always been a rather mischievous child and that trait has not left her. She loves exploring the town and even better if she can get her friends or little brother to come along with her.

[CherryBomb50]

[name_m]Jarrett[/name_m] [name_m]Anthony[/name_m] [name_m]Graves[/name_m] (23) is Izzy’s older brother and their infamous eldest sibling. The big reason why he’s always been so bitter towards [name_f]Amethyst[/name_f] was because he was always the one his siblings disliked because his parents favoured him, although being favoured wasn’t his choice. Yet when [name_f]Amethyst[/name_f] became the favourite, none of the siblings got mad at her or given her the intense hate he got. His ways of trying to get his siblings on a path his parents would favour was something he tried to do to help them and was unaware it was only making things more toxic. He too has had high pressure when he was favoured but was not as outspoken as [name_f]Amethyst[/name_f] so he wouldn’t have called his parents out. He had been dealing with a lot of hidden negative feelings that he felt forbidden to express so he often just obeyed what his parents said. Calling [name_f]Amethyst[/name_f] “ungrateful” and cutting each other out of each other’s lives was a brash move he regrets, but he was just so tired of keeping everything bottled up. He’s realised he and [name_f]Amethyst[/name_f] do have a similar perspective on something: they keep blaming each other but it’s truly their parents that are at fault.

He wants to one day make amends with his siblings but knows it will be beyond difficult, especially for him and [name_f]Amethyst[/name_f]. Despite his bitterness, he’s learned it isn’t her choice either that she was favoured for the time being and isn’t going to get angry for her being favoured — after all he hated being favoured himself just to be hated by his siblings. [name_f]Callie[/name_f] is someone he feels he can rekindle better since she is very aware of the way the parents have compared the children and knows it was on them, to the point of being burnt out by it. But [name_m]Jarrett[/name_m] knew [name_f]Callie[/name_f] deserved a break from all the drama and lets her have her space, given that [name_f]Callie[/name_f] had never truly felt appreciated by their parents while [name_m]Jarrett[/name_m] was rather privileged. [name_m]Jarrett[/name_m] has tried to tell his parents to stop comparing them to him and one day will want to call them out on it since it’s ruined his relationship with his siblings. His two younger siblings are people he’s tried to bond with but his parents have messed that up by comparing them to him and treating every hangout like it’s a way for [name_m]Jarrett[/name_m] to “make them more like him” which is not what [name_m]Jarrett[/name_m] wanted and what made [name_u]Izzy[/name_u] stop talking to him. He wishes he had more friends like [name_u]Izzy[/name_u] and felt he never had much of a social life since he was always doing work to please his parents. [name_m]Jarrett[/name_m] is a successful medical school student but deep down, he’s not really so happy and wishes he had someone he could talk to who understood him…but he feels he’s destined to be villainised.

[wandering_willow]

Chaewon “ Chae “ Hwang (22) is a good friend of [name_m]Jarrett[/name_m] [name_m]Graves[/name_m], who is also a med school student, and an exchange student from the city of Seoul. She came to [name_u]America[/name_u] when she turned 19, and she’s super glad to be there. [name_u]Ever[/name_u] since she was a little girl, Chae has dreamed of becoming a doctor- her parents told her it would be hard, but encouraged her nonetheless. Chae was always at the top of her classes in school, and some girls were jealous- as a result, they’d hurt Chae’s feelings and tell her she was stupid, even going as far as to smash her popsicle stick diorama of the Gyeongbokgung [name_u]Palace[/name_u] when she was in the third grade. Chae went to the school bathroom and cried- despite having a tough exterior now, as a child Chae was extremely sensitive and got hurt if someone even told her she was doing wrong. Something not many people know about her is that her parents are [name_u]North[/name_u] Korean defectors, and they always made sure to let her know how privileged she was despite being kind to her and even spoiling her a bit, when they could.

In middle school, the bullying just got worse- Chae came out of the closet in sixth grade, and she endured taunts of “Stupid Lesbo” wherever she went. She also came out as asexual a bit later in eighth grade, and people went so far as to call her a freak. Chae became mildly depressed, and her schoolwork fell back a lot. The bright little girl she once was became a depressed teenager who was failing all her classes. Her parents, concerned, sent her to a therapist- who was a good outlet for Chae and helped her through her middle school years. Contrarily, high school were some of the best years of Chae’s life- she made some friends and even a girlfriend, who broke up with her in sophomore year as she was moving to Daegu and didn’t want to maintain a long distance relationship, but the two went back to becoming friends as a long distance friendship was good with both of them.

Chae’s extremely good grades and 4.5 gpa got her into a university in [name_u]America[/name_u] on scholarship- when her parents read the letter of acceptance they were ecstatic, of course, but didn’t force Chae to do anything she didn’t want to do. However, Chae was even more excited when she read that beautiful letter- med school in [name_u]America[/name_u]! Chae had never been more overjoyed. Additionally, the school was paying for her flight to [name_u]America[/name_u]- her parents were nostalgic and sad, but they were glad their daughter was getting such a nice opportunity- she hugged and kissed them goodbye and just like that, she left for [name_u]America[/name_u]- and she was gone.

Chae didn’t make many friends at first- in fact, the first three months she’d spent in [name_u]America[/name_u], she was very depressed and homesick- she longed for the country she’d lived in her whole life, and her [name_f]English[/name_f] wasn’t very good. All that changed when she met her roommate, [name_m]Jarrett[/name_m] [name_m]Graves[/name_m]. [name_m]Jarrett[/name_m] was kind, funny and understanding- and Chae would consider him to be her best friend. She actually told him that her parents were defectors, and he solemnly swore that he’d keep her secret forever- Chae afterwards got really anxious, so she made him pinky swear- [name_m]Jarrett[/name_m], amused, decided to play along with Chae. [name_m]Jarrett[/name_m] then proceeded to tell Chae about his messy relationship with his siblings and parents, and Chae was completely understanding and encouraged him to talk to them more. Then, they pinky swore again. Both knew it was a bit childish, but they enjoyed the intimate moment. When Chae began to like a girl in some of her classes, the first person she told was [name_m]Jarrett[/name_m], who teased her a bit at first, but hugged her and told her to go for it- she did, and now she’s been dating her gf for two months. [name_m]Jarrett[/name_m] is really happy to have someone who doesn’t villainise him constantly, and Chae is glad to have someone who’s so chill and she can open up to.

Chae and her girlfriend had their first date at a roller skating rink- Chae’s a great skater and her girlfriend was the clumsiest person at the rink. [name_m]Jarrett[/name_m] went as a wingman/third wheel, and he’d often tell them how cute it was (how cute they were, too). Chae and her girlfriend finished off the date at her girlfriend’s dorm room, with some popcorn and a movie. Chae’s girlfriend actually has a cat, a black and white kitten named [name_f]Lola[/name_f]- Chae is absolutely in love with [name_f]Lola[/name_f] and thinks she’s the best thing since sliced bread. And her girlfriend, of course. For now, Chae’s happy as can be, because she has the best roommate, girlfriend and cat-stepdaughter in the world.

[kitkatcookie]

[name_f]Amaranth[/name_f] [name_f]Victoria[/name_f] McCowell (23) is Chae’s girlfriend and Lola’s owner, as well as the least coordinated person to ever attempt rollerblading or skating. Working as a freelance journalist, [name_f]Amaranth[/name_f] also writes horror novels on the side - having self-published one quite recently - and is used to having to tell people no, she isn’t using an alias for her work. Her parents were both hugely into Gothic subculture when they met and this has continued to present day, most reflected in the names chosen for their two children now their personal aesthetics have toned down a little. In spite of people assuming she must loathe the unusual quality of her given name, [name_f]Amaranth[/name_f] holds the exact opposite opinion, no matter how many publications hit her with the same question. She feels it helped ground her throughout school - where she was never going to win any popularity contests, partially thanks to how [name_f]Amaranth[/name_f] preferred avoiding the limelight at all costs and just getting on with things - as she navigated her own identity, and realised both the future she wanted, as well as her own pansexuality. [name_f]Amaranth[/name_f] came out post graduation though, thanks to a recent trend of people’s ‘token queer friends’ being looked upon with absolute disdain from her.

Alongside work, Amaranth’s currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in creative writing, having been encouraged by her older brother. The two have always been very close - in spite of him being 5 years her senior - and she was his source of sanity during his wedding planning; thanks to his in-laws being very inquisitive about budgeting and assuming the couple were far more stressed than the reality…leading to more strain as they insisted on ‘helping’. This didn’t colour how much [name_f]Amaranth[/name_f] likes her sister-in-law though, a fellow writer - albeit she’s in the world of TV - and she assured her frequently that the McCowell’s didn’t think poorly of her because of her parents interference. Being a listening ear is something [name_f]Amaranth[/name_f] has always excelled at - in spite of how prickly she can seem at first glance - and she’s happily served the same role for Chae now they’re together.

Her girlfriend is someone she’s especially thoughtful towards, and she’s put all her energy into trying to help her move away from lingering on the worst parts of life. They met because [name_f]Amaranth[/name_f] chose to attend a few med-based classes to further her accuracy when dealing with all things gruesome, and she did worry a little about telling Chae this, as some of her exes haven’t wanted to continue seeing her thanks to what she writes. [name_f]Amaranth[/name_f] doesn’t hold this against people to the best of her ability though, as she can have a moody quality to her, and doesn’t want it to ruin her bonds with others. She has a small but close friend group who Chae’s becoming more acquainted with now they’re settling into being a couple, but their meetups are a bit less frequent thanks to a lot of Amaranth’s friends working long hours now they’re graduates needing to find rent money.

While she might be awful on rollerskates, [name_f]Amaranth[/name_f] is surprisingly (and ironically) very talented at ice skating. She’s been attending lessons since she was 6 and goes to the rink whenever possible, even if she’ll jokingly curse how her talents on ice don’t apply elsewhere. A few times she’s also credited this as to how Lola’s never bothered going near water, never mind walking through it. Going exploring at locations deemed spooky or even haunted is something else she really enjoys - as while she isn’t suspicious in nature, there’s something about the atmosphere she finds inspiring and breathtaking.

[kasatka]

[name_m]Marco[/name_m] Sebastián [name_u]Garcia[/name_u] (22) is Amaranth’s figure skating partner. Like [name_f]Amaranth[/name_f], [name_m]Marco[/name_m] has been skating ever since he was a young child. The pair have been skating together for three years, and have wonderful on-ice chemistry. Originally, [name_m]Marco[/name_m] had been romantically interested in [name_f]Amaranth[/name_f], which she quickly shut down. Thankfully, the pair are good friends now and laugh that off. [name_m]Marco[/name_m] also gets on well with Chae, Amaranth’s girlfriend. When [name_m]Marco[/name_m] was younger, his dream was to go to the Olympics, but as the pressures of life built up, he realised that he was better suited to local and regional competitions, despite his natural skill and dedication to the sport.

Instead of pursuing a career as a professional skater, [name_m]Marco[/name_m] is at university studying nursing - the same university Chae studies medicine. His dream is to become an emergency nurse, and is incredibly excited to graduate and get started with his career. He was inspired to follow a career in nursing by his older sister, who is a registered nurse. [name_m]Marco[/name_m] and his sister are incredibly close, and have grown even closer over the years due to their shared passion for healthcare.

Something [name_m]Marco[/name_m] cares deeply for is his heritage. He was born in [name_f]Argentina[/name_f], and despite no longer residing there, has made sure to keep up his Spanish skills. He speaks Spanish at home with his family, and adds Spanish translations to all of his social media posts. His dream is to move back to [name_f]Argentina[/name_f] one day in order to provide healthcare to the poorer regions of his home country.

[A.B.Galaxy]

[name_f]Solana[/name_f] " [name_f]Lana[/name_f] " [name_f]Mercedes[/name_f] [name_u]Garcia[/name_u] (25) is Marco’s older sister who has been working as an ICU nurse for the past year and a half. Though it’s a difficult job, she enjoys helping others and is happy working in the hospital. [name_f]Lana[/name_f] recently moved back into her childhood home to help her mom deal with her dad’s recent health problems. They didn’t want her to but she insisted since it would as through all their hard work that she and [name_m]Marco[/name_m] have had such a good life. She feels it’s the least she could do.

[name_f]Lana[/name_f] and Marco’s mom had wanted them to be closer in age as she was worried they wouldn’t be close. There was no cause to worry though, the two siblings have always been as thick as thieves even if they could argue terribly as kids. [name_f]Lana[/name_f] was thrilled when her brother decided he would study nursing as well and is so proud of him for wanting to go back to [name_f]Argentina[/name_f] to provide healthcare for the poorer regions. She tries to make it to all Marco’s skating competitions if she can and in turn he does his best to make it to her poetry readings.

[name_f]Lana[/name_f] has always loved poetry from a young age. She frequently gets her poems published in magazines and is working towards getting her book of poems published. [name_f]Lana[/name_f] got married last year to a graduating medical school student. He’s now in his fellowship at the same hospital she works at. And [name_f]Lana[/name_f] has a surprise for him, she’s recently found out she’s pregnant but hasn’t told anyone just yet.