🌼 create a family with a twist

[A.B.Galaxy]

[name_f]Sophie[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f] [name_u]Collins[/name_u] (15) is another member of Zara’s band. She’s the lead guitarist and also provides backing vocals. Her fraternal twin brother is the drummer, and they’ve bonded more by being a part of a band. Sophie’s parents know about their kids’ involvement in the band and are very supportive. They aren’t aware that [name_f]Zara[/name_f] and Elaine’s parents don’t know about it. [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] was a little shocked when [name_f]Zara[/name_f] revealed she had a boyfriend. She also found herself feeling jealous. [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] has had a crush on her brother’s friend, the sixteen-year-old keyboardist of the band, for three years now. As the only one with a driver’s license, he’s everyone’s ride to the gigs. Their families are close and [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] hasn’t been able to talk to him much unless he asks her something, prompting a realization of the crush from her brother. He’s promised not to say anything and has, in his quiet way, been subtly encouraging her to speak up.

[name_f]Sophie[/name_f] works part-time at her parents’ cafe and is currently saving up to redecorate her room. In a couple more months, she should have just enough money. She’s also participating in a marathon held in a few months and has been running every morning before school to prepare. Her crush, who lives next door, joins her most mornings. They don’t talk a lot, but [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] still enjoys it. Like [name_f]Elaine[/name_f], [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] does well in school, though not counting maths, in which she struggles. She and [name_f]Elaine[/name_f] talk occasionally about their worries for [name_f]Zara[/name_f]. She seems to be determined in her pursuit of seeming older, and they hope nothing bad comes of it.

[kitkatcookie]

cw: parental neglect

[name_f]Destiny[/name_f] [name_f]Alannah[/name_f] Outhewait (17) is someone Sophie’s vaguely acquainted with, as a musical associate of her crush, but she hasn’t quite dared approach the older girl yet or mention her to the other band members, as Destiny’s reputation is one of being fairly cold. She’s not actually the ice queen some cite her to be - she’s merely reserved, and much more confident when playing bass opposed to socialising at school - and the fact her band’s called scream of ice-cream helps with dispelling some of the rumours regarding her reputation [Destiny finds it pretty funny actually]. What people do know is that Destiny’s home life wasn’t ideal: she’s been living with her grandparents since she was 9 thanks to her mother being a woman far more interested in pursuing a romantic partner than having a healthy approach to parenting. [name_f]Destiny[/name_f] was treated like a friend and most of the time her younger siblings - technical half-siblings, who are girl/boy twins and have just turned 11 - were left for her to care for, or ‘watch’ as their mum called it [perhaps to deal with what guilt she faced treating them like accessories]. This led to the three being placed in the custody of her parents, who she had sporadic contact with - as she knew they’d disapprove of her belief a husband would fix everything - and moving from Liverpool to Newcastle, where they’ve remained since.

The group formed by the younger teens haven’t had much contact with scream of ice-cream because they perform different styles of music [Destiny’s band have a dreamy, almost surreal mingling of rock and jazz, designed to emulate the fantasy books that united the members with a modern edge], and also as the older scene tend to not involve themselves with those below 16; partly because younger kids tend to be less organised, but also because they find the urge to mature quick can lead to disastrous results. Sophie’s twin has suggested they reach out to some of said circle though, as [name_f]Destiny[/name_f] would be able to speak to her about not trying to grow up too fast, as she’s a product of such a mentally - and while she has frustrations where her mum’s concerned that linger [they do have contact, but it’s seldom in person, as her mum now has a full-time job and is evidently ashamed to face the kids again], she knows getting pregnant at 16 and giving birth at 17 caused her to feel her youth was stolen, never mind the disappointment that ensued when Destiny’s biological father bounced.

What even [name_f]Destiny[/name_f] isn’t aware of - she has some suspicions, but with her A-Levels underway, she’s more embroiled in studying currently [wanting to attend music university more than anything] - is that another band has taken an interest in Sophie’s crushes abilities and want to ask him to also play for their group. This is something [name_f]Destiny[/name_f] doesn’t do, as she knows it can stir up drama or lead to people stretching themselves too thin, which is why no-one’s letting her know as she’d strongly voice her opinions against the idea. [name_f]Destiny[/name_f] has handed on some of her musical knowledge to her siblings - she’s casually taught her brother some piano songs and her sister’s a cellist - but the three are in agreement they’d never form a group together: they’re all way too prone to headstrong notions and Destiny’s convinced their grandparents would be driven mad by practice, as scream for ice-cream benefits from one of their membes having a large garage that makes for perfect rehearsal space.

[jinxed_peach]

[name_f]Faith[/name_f] [name_u]Ariel[/name_u] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] [11] and [name_u]Honor[/name_u] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] [11] are the twin half-siblings of [name_f]Destiny[/name_f], the two of them look up to her greatly and admire her abilities in both music and her stepping up to take care of them. Being younger they don’t really understand the toll that parentification took on their older sister but they try to pay her back in their own little ways like making her cards in art class or saving up pocket money to buy her candy to leave on her pillow. Their efforts continue despite the urging from [name_f]Destiny[/name_f] that they don’t need to do that.

They’re also pretty close with their grandparents and consider them their own parents, calling them ‘Mama’ and ‘Papa’ overtime as they’ve been in their care. They also now have begun calling their biological mother by her first name, a habit they picked up from [name_f]Destiny[/name_f].

Both of them are taking an interest in music like their sister and have been asking her to play with them and ‘jam’ when she has time. They’ve also been starting to ask if they can tag along to band practice but their grandparents worry it’ll be too loud and that [name_f]Destiny[/name_f] will feel worried about having to look after them once again. Sometimes when Destiny’s bandmates come over not to practice but just to hang out the twins intermingle among the older kids as they think they’re cool. The other members think the kids are sweet and funny in stark contrast to their older sister’s ‘icy’ persona.

[kitkatcookie]

[name_f]Mollie[/name_f] [name_f]Samantha[/name_f] Hixon (11) is the best friend of [name_f]Faith[/name_f], who shares a strong bond with [name_u]Honor[/name_u] as well. The introduction between the trio occurred because Mollie’s older brother is in scream for ice-cream, and he invited her with him as [name_f]Destiny[/name_f] didn’t want her younger siblings feeling pushed out once practice started, while the Hixon’s were new to the area and [name_f]Mollie[/name_f] hadn’t had much of a chance to socialise. Being quite a shy girl who’s prone to holding back behind her two older siblings, the sweet nature of the twins being exactly what [name_f]Mollie[/name_f] needed to help her develop more confidence, and she quickly bonded with both of them, although as time went on, she and [name_f]Faith[/name_f] bonded thanks to a mutual love of a book series focusing on animal rescue stories. This is something Mollie’s passionate about beyond reading: she wants to become a zookeeper, specifically looking after small mammals, although she’s not too fussed on what specific animal to focus on, as long as it means she gets to see they’re well looked after and thriving in the environment.

Animals are a common love within the Hixon family, stemming from Dr. Hixon - the sibling’s mother - being an agricultural vet, who specialises in working on farms. This is what prompted the family’s move, as their former rural household had began to place a strain on the kids as secondary school loomed, thanks to the hour long bus ride it would have taken them to attend the nearest school. Although [name_f]Mollie[/name_f] loved the scenic quietness of her old home, the fact she readily and freely sees her friends with much more ease means a lot to her, and she’s developed more confidence since she started riding her bike most places; not in a sense she’s more talkative, but she’s firmer in standing by her opinions and beliefs. Unsurprisingly, the family have numerous pets of their own: ducks [name_f]Suzie[/name_f] and [name_f]Mavis[/name_f] - who were inherited from an old client of Dr. Hixon’s, who unfortunately became too physically limited to care for them - as well as [name_m]Tennyson[/name_m] the chinchilla and [name_m]Linus[/name_m] the sheepdog, who’s very old and cuddly.

While they’re more involved in their own pastimes and interests, Mollie’s older siblings still make sure there’s time for her, and she enjoys the time they spend together. A shared love of animals has bound them together, as well as weathering their dad’s love of puns - some of which are something else on the scale of deliberately cringe - and she’s very encouraging of their respective interests. Now she’s almost at secondary school herself, [name_f]Mollie[/name_f] has become more invested in her studies, knowing she has to work hard to achieve her goals. She’s confided in [name_f]Faith[/name_f] about not wanting to seem boring, but her best friend’s given her total support in this, and in turn, [name_f]Mollie[/name_f] introduced her first to [name_m]Tennyson[/name_m], who needs a lot of calm and quiet, something hard to ensure given how adorable he is.

[jinxed_peach]

Dr. [name_f]Rachelle[/name_f] ‘Storm’ [name_f]Susan[/name_f] Hanratty [30] is a vet who works at Dr. Hixon’s practice. While the latter specializes in large animal medicine, [name_u]Storm[/name_u] works with mainly cats and dogs, with the occasional smaller pet like a hedgehog or bird. She tends to go by her nicknames around the office, typically stylized in the form of Dr. [name_u]Storm[/name_u]. The moniker was gained when she was apprenticing at a vet clinic under a rather strict senior yet. [name_u]Storm[/name_u] being young and excited to prove herself was often rushing around the clinic trying to get things done, rushing to get errands, run labs, organize files and more. Often times it ended up resulting in items forgotten to be picked up, samples being tested for the wrong thing, files misplaced, or other chaos. In a fit of anger her mentor called her [name_f]Hurricane[/name_f] [name_f]Rachelle[/name_f]. Unfortunately for her, it stuck. That vet had a lot of connections to other vets in the area and soon everyone knew about her tendency to rush and ‘flood the city.’

Over time the nicknamed shifted into variants such as [name_u]Rainy[/name_u] [name_f]Rachelle[/name_f], [name_f]Susan[/name_f] [name_u]Storm[/name_u] (a play on her middle name and the [name_u]Marvel[/name_u] character), [name_f]Tornado[/name_f], and eventually what it is now [name_u]Storm[/name_u]. She learned how to take back the power from the nicknames that had initially started as something meant to take her down into something that she loves. She willingly uses it as her preferred name nowadays, in a funny way it actually matches perfectly with the rescue dog she’s recently taken in. His name is also a weather term!

Outside of work she and her partner are obsessed with bar trivia! They have a league composed of friends and a few colleagues that they take around the local bars to compete with called [name_f]Feline[/name_f] Fine. They’ve gained a bit of a reputation in the local areas. She tends to be the ringer in the group for any medical or animal questions.

She’s also currently in the middle of planning a big family trip for her and her extended family members. Her grandmother is turning 100 and they’re going out to Palm Springs to celebrate! It’s excited to think about getting to see her family again, work has kept her so busy that she hasn’t seen any of them in person in a few years.

[CherryBomb50]

[name_m]Todor[/name_m] [name_m]Drago[/name_m] [name_f]Anova[/name_f] (30) is Storm’s partner. He’s a third-generation immigrant from Vratsa, Bulgaria and a tremendous dog lover! He has 8 dogs currently - yes, 8. He didn’t get them all at once though. He already had a male Dalmatian and he picked up a stray female Labrador retriever. He didn’t know they weren’t spayed/neutred though and learned the hard way when there were 6 puppies! He was originally going to give the flood of puppies away but he got too attached and couldn’t give the little pups up. However he did get them all spayed and neutred which was a blessing in disguise since this is where he met [name_u]Storm[/name_u]!

[name_m]Todor[/name_m] loves bar trivia and enjoys the casual atmosphere with his friends, including Mollie’s mother, and loves the group [name_f]Feline[/name_f] Fine. His best subjects of trivia are puzzles, history, geography, and animals. His worst is pop culture - he’s not super “in the know” and that always trips him up! He’s a cool guy but that’s his kryptonite. Todor’s career is much more formal however, he and his family run a ballroom. [name_m]Todor[/name_m] is an amazing ballroom dancer for this reason although he doesn’t consider the career to be his life, given his more casual nature. He and [name_u]Storm[/name_u] are both casual people but love getting dressed up and going to the annual [name_f]Anova[/name_f] Ball run by the ballroom. From it, [name_u]Storm[/name_u] knows Todor’s family and [name_m]Todor[/name_m] himself knows a bit about Storm’s as well when he sees them. He’s actually rather close with Storm’s grandmother and she even attended the ball with her husband when they were both 96 - the oldest couple ever to attend the [name_f]Anova[/name_f] Ball. She’s now having a great life in Palm Springs and [name_m]Todor[/name_m] will also be flying out there with [name_u]Storm[/name_u] to celebrate!

[chamwue]

cw: brief mention of animal abuse

[name_f]Henrietta[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f] " [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] " O’Connor (23) goes to Dr Hixon’s practise for check-ups for [name_u]Rio[/name_u], her [name_m]German[/name_m] [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m]. She specifically goes to Dr [name_u]Storm[/name_u] for Rio’s health, as despite the rumours, [name_u]Storm[/name_u] is an excellent veterinarian and gained the trust of [name_u]Rio[/name_u] in a matter of a few visits. [name_u]Rio[/name_u] was a rescue and was extremely malnourished when [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] found him on her porch two years ago. Rio’s now back to full health, but it took a while for [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] to teach him how to trust humans again.

[name_f]Hattie[/name_f] is in law school at the moment, but her real passion lies in music. [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] comes from a family of doctors and lawyers, and it’s expected that an O’Connor either becomes one or the other. [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] knows she has the talent to be an excellent lawyer (thanks to countless hours spent in Mock Trial clubs in middle and high school), but she doesn’t find much joy in it. [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] knows she’d make an excellent prosecutor and enjoys it at the smaller scale she does it now, but she dislikes the idea of doing law for the rest of her life. Her other talent lies in instruments— [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] is self-taught and can play the guitar, bass, and piano near-professionally. She’s tried bringing this up to her parents, but they’ve waved her off a couple of times.

[name_f]Hattie[/name_f] is the second eldest of four siblings and is the only girl. She currently lives with her older brother and two of her friends in a flat near her law school. They all go to the same school, and Hattie’s starting to think her brother is also feeling the same way about their predetermined career path…

[jinxed_peach]

[name_f]Isadora[/name_f] ‘Izzi’ [name_f]Ada[/name_f] [name_m]Hastings[/name_m] (nee O’Connor) [19] and [name_m]Edmund[/name_m] ‘Eddie’ [name_m]Thomas[/name_m] [name_m]Hastings[/name_m] [19] are the youngest sister and newest brother-in-law of [name_f]Hattie[/name_f]. Izzi’s been sorta keeping the heat from their parent’s off of her sister. She’s always been sorta the black sheep of the family ever since she was a kid, the wild child of the O’Conner family and talking about how she wanted to go into archeology instead of medicine or law. But it turns out there’s been a wrench thrown in both her and her family’s plans. It all started a year ago when Izzi met [name_u]Eddie[/name_u] at a graduation party for a mutual friend. They hit it off instantly and spent the rest of the party kissing in his car.

Her parents hated that she had found a distraction from her college prep, but Izzi was constantly sneaking out to see him. There was a little pressure on their relationship as well. [name_u]Eddie[/name_u] had joined the marines and was heading to bootcamp. All the men in his family were military. The couple were determined to make the long distance work. [name_m]Just[/name_m] two weeks into his leave and Izzi found out about something pretty big. She was pregnant. [name_u]Eddie[/name_u] was the first person she wanted to know about it, but her mother found the pregnancy test in her bathroom. Izzi defended her actions, promising that she could still achieve a lot with her life even as a young mom and declared that she and [name_u]Eddie[/name_u] would be getting married. Reluctantly, her mother backed off, clearly unable to change her daughter’s mind.

As phone calls were limited, Izzi told [name_u]Eddie[/name_u] about the baby via a letter. He sent back a letter agreeing to marry her as soon as he got home from boot camp. They continued sending letters and phone calls back and forth until after three months he finally arrived home.

[name_u]Eddie[/name_u] and Izzi, now twenty weeks along, wed in a small ceremony at city hall followed by a reception at Eddie’s family home. There’s still been a lot of chatter about the ‘shotgun wedding’ on the O’Connor side of the family. Specifically there’s an aunt of theirs who’s known as the town’s gossip. But Izzi and [name_u]Eddie[/name_u] couldn’t care less, they’re too busy getting ready for a move to [name_u]Arizona[/name_u] where Eddie’s been stationed, and of course preparing for their incoming baby.

[moonwriteen]

(tw: sexual harassment , blackmail , abuse of power)

[name_m]Boniface[/name_m] [name_u]Sinai[/name_u] O’Connor (26) is the eldest brother of [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] and Izzi , as well as the eldest of the O’Connor siblings. He, much like his sisters , had many other interests than becoming a doctor or a lawyer - particularly horseback riding - but didn’t have as rebellious of a nature as the girls so when he finished law school two years ago he put on his most fitting black turtleneck, wrote a CV and went to work in an up-and-coming law firm specialisng in employment law. [name_m]Boniface[/name_m] earlier went to by the nickaname [name_u]Bo[/name_u] but his female boss told him that it’s unprofessional and not to upset her [name_m]Boniface[/name_m] started to go by his full name , even to family and friends, which makes it so that for example [name_u]Eddie[/name_u] , Izzi’s husband, knows him only by the full name. This is a change that shocked the whole family because they wanted their laid-back [name_u]Bo[/name_u] back , while the young man was becoming increasingly stress out to the point where most of the family was convinced the problem went beyond demanding projects. The only thing that would bring [name_m]Boniface[/name_m] solace was going to [name_f]Sunday[/name_f] mass - as an [name_u]Irish[/name_u] Catholic he held his relationship with [name_m]God[/name_m] in high regard. What helped was also horseback riding even if [name_m]Boniface[/name_m] would only find time for that every other [name_m]Thursday[/name_m] instaed of weekly.

[name_f]Hattie[/name_f] , who was living with him , got bummed out about how her brother buried himself in work just to not upset his boss who even would call him to inform about a new project in the middle of the night and [name_m]Boniface[/name_m] would reluctantly accept majority of the responsibility. [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] was worried because her brother became closed off and would no longer chat with her or her friends during dinner or play board games in the evening. He would come back home late at night being tipsy claiming that they had an office party. [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] and her friends who lived with [name_m]Boniface[/name_m] would try to talk to him about it and say to him not to go to the company retreat in [name_m]Stowe[/name_m] , [name_m]Vermont[/name_m] , which was not only a good place to see in fall because of the omnipresent orange leaves but also a world-class skiing destination. However, [name_m]Boniface[/name_m] was unable to refuse going there.

During the retreat his boss would make suggestive comments to him , try to get him to wear shirts instaed of turtlenecks and even try to unbottom them , also attempting to even get [name_m]Boniface[/name_m] drunk and grope him. However, as those actions were taken without witnesses , [name_m]Boniface[/name_m] was convinced noone would believe him that he was abused, let alone by a respected , classy woman like her who " just knows what she wanst and has a bit of a femme fatale nature (a comment [name_m]Boniface[/name_m] heard from a manager at the company, something in highnsight that he should have seen as a red flag). After the reatreat [name_m]Boniface[/name_m] came home drunk crying , because his boss humilited him by going up to him while seeing he was already drinking with his co-workers and then trying to get [name_m]Boniface[/name_m] to dance with her and touch her on the backless part of her dress. [name_m]Boniface[/name_m] was barely concious and so he couldn’t say no and got laughed at by all co-workers but one , who de-escalated the whole situtation and called a taxi to bring them home to other parts of [name_m]Vermont[/name_m], away from the place they were staying. However, [name_m]Boniface[/name_m] didn’t confess this to [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] or her friends , after [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] wanted to know what happend he just went back to the taxi , grabbing her hands and begging " Please don’t tell the others that I behaved like this" , then payed additional money to get to the house of his childhood friend from the stable , who he did horseback riding with since he was 7. He slept at the friends’ house and told him everything, including the thinly veiled threats made by [name_m]Boniface[/name_m] 's boss about making him lose his job and reporting him as the real abuser because " a woman will always be believed first". His friend from the stable is the only one who knows what happened, although [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] and her friends who live with [name_m]Boniface[/name_m] are stressed out of their minds.

[moonwriteen]

bump!!
@CherryBomb50
@wandering_willow
@jinxed_peach
@chamwue

[CherryBomb50]

Warning for incompetent parents, mental breakdowns, sexual harassment mentions, and this character is the brother of Boniface’s abuser. He is not an evil character.

[name_m]Edwin[/name_m] [name_u]Porter[/name_u] [name_m]Bolton[/name_m] (29) somewhat has heard of [name_m]Boniface[/name_m] but hasn’t been the same since his sister’s crime towards [name_m]Boniface[/name_m]. For a long time [name_m]Edwin[/name_m] didn’t like his family and he isn’t expected to like them much anymore. He’s considered moving to get away from them and he is starting to bond with [name_u]Storm[/name_u] and [name_m]Todor[/name_m] during [name_f]Feline[/name_f] Fine. However given Edwin’s nature, he’s not super out there on making friends for himself. Growing up, his parents were the type to act supportive and quite lenient, unless if it was for something they didn’t approve. His family attended a strict church and even as a child, [name_m]Edwin[/name_m] didn’t support it. He referred to the story of [name_m]Adam[/name_m] and [name_f]Eve[/name_f] as a “fairytale without a happy ending” which angered his family because [name_m]Edwin[/name_m] referring it as a “fairytale” rather than a true story. [name_m]Edwin[/name_m] grew up with a strained relationship with his parents and by age 11, he felt like they weren’t really that good at being parents and felt like he had to parent himself and his parents were just figureheads. He was also constantly bullied by his sister, which everyone perceived as simply sibling rivalry, but he never did anything wrong to her. His parents didn’t bother to stop the bullying and would even side with her, given her manipulative nature.

He feels the only way he got past having such a lacklustre family is through his role models, although his role models are long deceased. [name_m]Edwin[/name_m] was a history fan and feels he only got by from learning about the past and how that affects the present. When [name_m]Edwin[/name_m] was 23, he saw a then-5-year-old girl [name_f]Mollie[/name_f] Hixon running out into the middle of the street when a car was about to hit her. [name_m]Edwin[/name_m] raced to the middle of the street and pushed the girl to safety, narrowly avoiding getting hit by the car himself. Where did [name_m]Edwin[/name_m] get the gumption to run out and save [name_f]Mollie[/name_f]? Well, it was inspired by a historical figure, [name_m]Edwin[/name_m] [name_m]Booth[/name_m], who saved [name_m]Abraham[/name_m] Lincoln’s son [name_u]Robert[/name_u] from being hit by a train after [name_u]Robert[/name_u] fell on the tracks. [name_m]Edwin[/name_m] [name_m]Bolton[/name_m] loved sharing his name with [name_m]Edwin[/name_m] [name_m]Booth[/name_m] and considered him a good man despite what his family was like. While Edwin’s sister never murdered anyone, she was still an abuser and manipulative towards [name_m]Boniface[/name_m] in her advantage, and [name_m]Edwin[/name_m] believed his sister was way too similar in evil to [name_m]Edwin[/name_m] Booth’s brother [name_u]John[/name_u] [name_m]Wilkes[/name_m] [name_m]Booth[/name_m], who would end up murdering [name_m]Abraham[/name_m] [name_u]Lincoln[/name_u] himself. He has even written in notebooks about everything he disliked from 11 on until present day, especially he’s learned the secrets of his sister’s actions. [name_m]Edwin[/name_m] says he could use the notebooks for evidence of his sister’s behaviour should this be brought to justice but knows it’s not huge evidence and may even come off as speculation. Edwin’s career is an an author and he’s not famous but does make a good living from writing. He’s been asked if he’d ever publish his notebooks but he declined, believing it wouldn’t solve anything for him and he felt like this would make him seem like he would profit off of his sister’s crime, which is something he’d never imagine. [name_m]Edwin[/name_m] had always hoped that his sister would turn her life around, rebel to their parents, made a better life for herself, and became an amazing person. He genuinely worried how that would be seeing how disgusting his sister had become, to the point [name_m]Edwin[/name_m] didn’t like her. But to her, she was in a successful position and her narcissism made her believe she didn’t need any “turning around” for her life. He blocked all contact and then just mentally broke down, being in despair for quite some time after what his sister had done.

While Edwin’s not on any bad terms with anyone, he feels he will deal with a lot of hate from being the brother of the perpetrator and knows it’s already ruined his life, even if few know. Boniface’s friend at the stable sees the Boltons in a negative light and [name_m]Edwin[/name_m] feels this is rightfully so. Unlike his parents, he has no sympathy when they worry that his sister “will have a ruined career from this if she is revealed as an abuser” and that “this will ruin her future if it comes out that she lied of her victimhood”. His sister chose this, nobody else did. And [name_m]Edwin[/name_m] knows his life isn’t as bad as Boniface’s and that he wasn’t as wronged as he is. He wants his sister exposed but has had his fair share of not being listened to. He’s supported [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] and Izzi and is grateful they’re such warm and kind people. He’s always wondered if they hate him but never had the nerve to ask, which may be the better move considering they don’t know about the incident. He’s sent them well wishes but knows things are never the same and he’s slowly stopped going out in public and talking to people. The last public post he made was a month earlier when he was talking about his new book and stated a lot about the main character’s small town in [name_m]Wales[/name_m]. [name_m]Edwin[/name_m] was asked if he’s moving to [name_m]Wales[/name_m] and says he’s considered it but deep down; he feels he’s best not in [name_m]Wales[/name_m], not in the USA — but in the middle of nowhere, away from everyone else, abandoned from all contact where nobody knows where he is, and he wants to live there until he dies…but he won’t really pursue that. Because that’s what his sister wants him to do. He’s really going to stay right where he is and get evidence on his sister. [name_u]Truth[/name_u] is, he doesn’t know the whole story on her like [name_m]Boniface[/name_m] and his co-worker but he’s determined. And he also doesn’t know Boniface’s friend from the stable actually reads his books and knows he’s not a bad person.

[moonwriteen]

[name_m]Maximilian[/name_m] Zi-tao Buckhart (24) is [name_m]Boniface[/name_m] 's friend from the stable and also a reader of [name_m]Edwin[/name_m] 's books who knows that he’s not an evil person , just a little lost in the whole situation. He knows that [name_m]Edwin[/name_m] saved then-5-year-old [name_f]Mollie[/name_f] Hixon from being run over by a car because his mother told him so when [name_m]Maximilian[/name_m] was briefly teaching [name_f]Mollie[/name_f] how to ride a pony - however she very quickly got bored of it and was an atendee at the stable for only a few months. [name_m]Maximilian[/name_m] doesn’t share [name_m]Edwin[/name_m] 's atheism nor his liking of historical trivia - he was always much more of a math whiz, just like his sister who’s now a single mother of his nephew, who shares the same interst. [name_m]Maximilian[/name_m] had a hard time convincing his strongly Catholic family that his sister doesn’t need to marry the father of her son in order to be considered a good woman - especially because her sister’s former partner was neglectful and careless , so he probably wouldn’t make for a good father figure anyway or lead his son by example. Now his sister has support from the family even though her mother is still very much pressuring her sister to get married ASAP , which sometimes leads [name_m]Maximilian[/name_m] to be in the middle of the conflict because he wants to emotionally support his sister but also understands that his mother wants stability for her daughter and grandson. He knows that at this point his sister’s dream to become a vet and enter veterinary school are pretty much just squashed and she has to work hard making transcripts of boring on-line meetings for a local taxi company. She is also contemplating becoming a taxi driver herself but knows it would require her to have more flexible working hours.

[name_m]Even[/name_m] though for Maximilan the emotional labour was sometimes overwhelming he still welcomed [name_m]Boniface[/name_m] with open arms and didn’t invalidate his experience unlike some of Boniface’s coworkers who witnessed the assult first hand but still decided to make a joke out of it because of drunkeness. [name_m]Maximilian[/name_m] really wants [name_m]Boniface[/name_m] 's abuser to go to prison even though he also has faith that she has a chance to repent from her sins , much like [name_m]Boniface[/name_m] himself does and they often pray about it together. [name_m]Maximilian[/name_m] himself was named after the patron saint of drug addicts and prisoners - his maternal uncle was in prison for helping Chinese immigrants illegally enter the country and that’s why his mother decided to name him that , because she always had her brother in mind and was harshly interrogated in the case herself even though no evidence of her being involved in the process was found.

[kitkatcookie]

[name_f]Matilda[/name_f] " [name_f]Tilly[/name_f] " [name_u]Florence[/name_u] [name_m]Saunders[/name_m] (23) is someone [name_m]Maximilian[/name_m] knows pretty well, as she’s a roommate of [name_m]Boniface[/name_m] and [name_f]Hattie[/name_f], having been invited to live with them thanks to her close friendship with the latter. Unlike [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] - who she serves as a frequent confident to, especially given her career path and all the questions it’s caused her - [name_f]Tilly[/name_f] absolutely knows she’s happy in what she’s studying; granted she experiences some guilt about expressing this given what’s happening around her. Having just graduated with her degree in nursing, Tilly’s currently employed at a hospital fifteen minutes away from her home - she commutes on her bike - and is deliberating if there’s a specialist field she’d like to focus on going forwards. As someone who’s naturally detail orientated, and enthusiastic about furthering her medical knowledge, this seems destined for Tilly’s future, however she doesn’t want to rush into anything or miss out on much needed experience in the nursing field. It’s also beneficial that clients tend to gift her with chocolate and baked goods, which [name_f]Tilly[/name_f] always brings back to share with her roommates; an exchange for how they hear about the madness her job sometimes entails [although usually it’s more amusing than something seriously impacting her].

When the change in [name_m]Boniface[/name_m] became apparent, [name_f]Tilly[/name_f] did briefly wonder if the living arrangement was the cause of things. After all, she and the final roommate are friends of Hattie’s firstly, and while they’ve come to bond with him as well, she knows of the comparisons siblings place on themselves. [name_u]An[/name_u] only child who was raised primarily by her maternal grandmother, as her parents worked long hours to keep the family financially supported, [name_f]Tilly[/name_f] does admit she would’ve liked a sibling growing up, but understands there just wasn’t the money security for this to happen. Her parents are now thankfully able to take more time to themselves - following her dad being given an opportunity to train in engineering [the passion he put on the back burner when his own father suddenly passed away, meaning he needed to get a job quickly for the well-being of his mother and siblings], which [name_f]Tilly[/name_f] was delighted about. Not only did it mean more time for them as a family but its evident how fulfilling her dad finds his life now he’s in a career that challenges and rewards appropriately.

Although she dotes on [name_u]Rio[/name_u], [name_f]Tilly[/name_f] does have a pet of her own: a gecko named [name_m]Fiero[/name_m]. He lives in her room and she’s renovated his tank so it has a little pair of curtains to give him privacy when she’s got friends gathered. Tilly’s grandma worked as a seamstress and passed on her skills to her children and granddaughter, although [name_f]Tilly[/name_f] admits she’s better with practical work than intricate artistry [not that it gets her down too much]. While very much a laidback personality, Tilly’s surprisingly sociable for her preference to chill out, and has a lot of friends through her course and current job; including a very cute medical technician who [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] and their other close friend are confident shares this attraction. She’s very enthusiastic about nail art too and gets press ons whenever she’s got holiday time off work, an interest helped by the fact her cousins a technician who allows for family discount. [name_f]Tilly[/name_f] also makes face masks - a skill she taught herself - and encourages spa nights for the roommates, never objecting to Boniface’s friends joining them if they’re around and willing to let the exfoliating thoroughly happen.

[szinkle]

[name_u]Reggie[/name_u] [name_m]Ornette[/name_m] Breese (26) works at the local bike shop where & only knows [name_f]Tilly[/name_f] as a kind costumer. He has done repairs on Tilly’s bike a few times & they have had some nice conversations, but that is the extent of their relationship.

[name_u]Reggie[/name_u] is an only child that was raised by his maternal grandparents (which has been a topic of discussion between him & [name_f]Tilly[/name_f] as they relate to each other in that aspect) on their small farm. His grandpa engrained a strong work ethic in him at a young age waking him up in the early morning to help him tend to the chickens. [name_u]Reggie[/name_u] always hated collecting the eggs because it always made the chickens angry, but loved watching his grandma use the eggs in the kitchen. His grandma taught him lots about cooking & baking which the ladies, especially his girlfriend, love.

[name_u]Reggie[/name_u] attended a 4 year university and got his bachelors in biochemistry and is currently working on getting his masters in molecular biochemistry & biophysics. He currently lives with 3 roommates that he met through his college courses.

[kitkatcookie]

cw: recreational drug use [mentioned]

[name_u]Camden[/name_u] " [name_u]Cam[/name_u] " [name_f]Abigail[/name_f] Nowark (24) is one of Reggie’s housemates and generally serves as the peacemaker if an argument or petty squabble breaks out over something. A history graduate, Camden’s parents are the sort of people she’d rather avoid, and chose a university far from them for these reasons. They were involved in a ridiculously pretentious art scene before she and her older brother were born, giving their children names for hotspots they favoured, and despaired when said kids started to develop their own interests that weren’t chasing the film industry, as both the Nowark’s themselves had done. Cam’s father in particular often claimed her love of history was merely an act of ‘petty rebellion’ and that she’d ‘see sense’ once she was older, chastising her when she wanted to go on school trips in spite of absolutely having the money for them, as he insisted she was just engaging to spite him and her mother. They often pushed her and her brother to schmooze with the kids of their friends, and this was successful at least: all of them bonded over the embarassing and exhaustive antics their parents engaged in!

It doesn’t surprise people when they find out [name_u]Cam[/name_u] was a consistent stoner in her university days. This typically helped her handle exam periods, when her dad would - once again - call to try and convince her she just needed to return home once she’d obtained her degree, and he’d set her up with an assistant job to one of his producer friends: aka a convenient means of trying to weasel his way into TVs good graces, with Cam’s work scrubbing his reputation clean. She weathered this without arguments, as unlike her brother, [name_u]Cam[/name_u] really can’t be bothered with the energy of reasoning with her parents, who refuse to leave their dream world of success and stardom - a period that ended before either one of their children were born. The siblings do see each other whenever they can, but Cam’s brother’s currently working abroad in [name_u]Holland[/name_u], meaning it’s vidchats and amusing postcard exchanges for them as of now.

[name_u]Cam[/name_u] was also the first roommate to introduce a pet to the house - with full approval of the others firstly. She owns a frog named [name_m]Ludo[/name_m], who was originally in an exotic animal rescue pet shop, and takes excellent care of him. Career wise, [name_u]Cam[/name_u] hasn’t been shocked by the fact she’s not a curator or documentary researcher yet: she’s involved in retail at a local history museum, as well as having a fairly unusal freelance role providing information to local ghost walks. The ghoulish parts of the past never go overlooked by her, and this niche had helped her make further financial progress, being able to afford a small car that’s utilised by the house whenever they need to make a longer trip [and the trains aren’t proving reliable or practical]. Where her parents are concerned, [name_u]Cam[/name_u] prefers to not say much. She’s not someone who opens up easily, being entirely forward thinking and hating to dwell on the shenanigans her mum and dad engage in [people have tended to just find it funny and not understood how emotionally exhausting such people are], however one of her roommates knows absolutely everything, which means a great deal to [name_u]Cam[/name_u].

[moonwriteen]

( recreational drugs , sudden kissing )
[name_m]Yannick[/name_m] [name_m]Georg[/name_m] Zimmerman (23) is the final roomate of [name_m]Boniface[/name_m] , [name_f]Tilly[/name_f] and [name_f]Hattie[/name_f]. He’s Swiss and spent most of his childhood and early adulthood in [name_m]Davos[/name_m] , speaking both Romansch and [name_m]German[/name_m] fluently. He’s an exchange student and will spend just the winter semester in the US while returning to Switzerland for the summer semester and finishing off hia degreee in history there. Being a fan of bike rides , hiking and moutains (obviously ) he also commutes on his bike to university and it always amuses [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] and [name_m]Boniface[/name_m] seeing both him and [name_f]Tilly[/name_f] preparing almost the same way for going out in the morning before splitting because [name_f]Tilly[/name_f] has to go to the Medical Faculty of the uni and [name_m]Yannick[/name_m] has to go to the humanities faculty. He’s quite the guy , always ready for adventures and fun even though he’s not particularly loud and conversations one-on-one is where he really shines by paying attention to the person he talks to, cracking jokes and lots of fun trivia and facts particularly about movies. When [name_u]Cam[/name_u] met [name_m]Yannick[/name_m] while he was repairing his bike in [name_u]Reggie[/name_u] 's bike shop. the movie trivia and trying to find out more about [name_u]Cam[/name_u] 's family somewhat annoyed her until she learned that [name_m]Yannick[/name_m] 's passion besides history is film and he would love to be a producer of a costume drama detailing the life of the Swiss philosopher Jean-Jacques [name_u]Rousseau[/name_u]. Upon listening to [name_m]Yannick[/name_m] 's imaginative idea [name_u]Cam[/name_u] reluctantly decided that it must at least be listened to by one of her father’s producer friends. The conversation left her quite agitated and got her flashbacks, so [name_m]Yannick[/name_m] offered her recreational drugs to relax. With the effects of the drugs [name_m]Yannick[/name_m] 's accent and jokes seemed irresistable to [name_u]Cam[/name_u] and while they both were totally enchanted, she spontaneusly kissed him rather passionately while going entirely off of physical attraction and the fun she had listening to him. She was surprised when the kiss was promptly returned and [name_u]Cam[/name_u] could swear that she would have wanted there to be more action if it wasn’t for the fact that [name_f]Tilly[/name_f] phoned [name_m]Yannick[/name_m] to ask when he’s going to come home and wheahter or not he can buy ingredients for spaghetti because [name_m]Boniface[/name_m] was pissed at everyone again and refuses to make dinner.

[name_m]Yannick[/name_m] was very happy about the turn of events with [name_u]Cam[/name_u] and told it to [name_m]Boniface[/name_m] as sort of a man-cave humbe-brag while they were drinking beer and watching sports together after dinner. [name_m]Boniface[/name_m] first got very angry at [name_m]Yannick[/name_m] for " talking about fliriting with girls as if they were the only thing that mattered in a man’s life " and then suddenly switched to anxiously telling [name_m]Yannick[/name_m] to be wary of all women , watching out for manipulation. After the recent development with [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] being constantly worried and [name_m]Boniface[/name_m] living with his horse stable friend [name_m]Maximilian[/name_m] most of the time… [name_m]Yannick[/name_m] feels that a woman has really hurt [name_m]Boniface[/name_m] for some reason , but he doesn’t know why or how. All he knows is if he wants to support his newfound friend, they must have an honest conversation.

[I_meme_it]

tw: sexual assault mention

[name_f]Helena[/name_f] [name_f]Claire[/name_f] Samvine (24) is someone Yannick’s become acquainted with, as she’s another roommate of [name_u]Cam[/name_u] and [name_u]Ronnie[/name_u]. A psychology graduate, Helena’s currently pursuing a placement that will set her firmly on the path towards becoming a licensed counselor, a dream she’s had for as long as she can remember. [name_f]Helena[/name_f] tends to be skewed more towards overachieving like [name_u]Reggie[/name_u], however her closeness with [name_u]Cam[/name_u] is undeniable, and they actually met while rooming in their 2nd year, being stuck in a house with a couple who knew no bounds when it came to PDA (PTSD they worked through together, [name_f]Helena[/name_f] likes to joke).

While she seems a little stoic and cool when first met, offset more by the natures of [name_u]Cam[/name_u], [name_u]Reggie[/name_u] and their other housemate, Helena’s got a great deal of compassion, especially where any kind of assault is concerned. She grew up in a household where her father was sexually abusive towards her mother, and attempted to normalise this on account of their marriage. The sole contact he had with his daughter once her mum was able to divorce him and obtain full custody of their daughter involved him explicitly calling his ex-wife a liar and telling [name_f]Helena[/name_f] if she married a man who treated her this way, it should be something she accepted due to their status as husband and wife.

Estranged from her father following the divorce - and it took her some time to see her paternal grandparents, as [name_f]Helena[/name_f] worried they’d take his side, or at least downplay her mothers’ suffering - she’s become an advocate for survivors voices, and wants to specialise in domestic abuse therapy thanks to what she knows her mum endured. Her mother now has a therapy dog - Zigzag - and [name_f]Helena[/name_f] herself has the second pet in their shared household, Spiral, who’s Zigzag’s brother. [name_f]Helena[/name_f] goes by her maternal family surname and doesn’t ever refer to her father with that title, instead calling him Mr. TB (short for Mr. Trash Bag), and that’s when she’s willing to acknowledge him.

She can seem a little frosty if pushed about this part of her life, and privacy means a lot to [name_f]Helena[/name_f], who’d rather not linger on her past too much. [name_m]Yannick[/name_m] confided in [name_u]Cam[/name_u] about Boniface’s outburst - thanks to wanting to pursue a relationship with her - and she put him in touch with [name_f]Helena[/name_f], who’s agreed with his suspicions. Approaching [name_m]Boniface[/name_m] isn’t something Helena’s going to do though, as she doesn’t want to overstep boundaries, however she’s told [name_m]Yannick[/name_m] that her number can be passed on if his friend shows an interest, as she’s always willing to talk.

[moonwriteen]

(content warning: animal cruelty and mention of puppy mills)
Dorian " Ori " Calvin Samburg (29) is a vet and the one who helped Helena and her mom get introduced to their furry friends, Zigzag & Spiral after they came to his clinic as abandoned puppies that someone attempted to leave in the trash.

When Ori was younger he used to deeply feel for animals and he still very much does, but now has developed the necessary skills to separate his feelings of empathy for the animals for the time when he needs to help them medically so as not to suffer mental problems himself or worse - subject the pets to medical malpractice.

Ori 's father - who’s a policeman - helped the county sheriff find the person who hurt Zigzag & Spiral and also charged him with animal cruelty after spotting the mother of the puppies being held in a small cage and severly malnourished. Ori was very happy that Zigzag & Spiral now have responsible owners like Helena and her mom , not to mention one of the dogs getting training to be a therapy dog.

Ori himself was expected to be a policeman but luckily his older sister had his back when the heat went towards him for not really being interested in fulfilling those expectations. She herself was always a tomboy who liked tinkering and being a " female handyman " , while also not being opposed to doing it in pink t-shirts and make-up. She currently has her own renovation & home decor company working with her best friend , who’s an interior designer. Ori’s father was a little disappointed that no child of his ultimately got involved with the police or justice system but seeing as he’s nearing an age when he may not be the most physically fit for active service in the police, he is contemplating working as an adjunct professor and further utilizing his degree in Criminal Justice to help young people who do want to go that path.

Ori has a fiancee and soon to be wife - their wedding is scheduled to take place on April 14th - who works as a barista her own coffee shop and coffee is her passion. Her French Bulldog Snuggles , used to be a frequent patient of Ori ‘s and it eventually turned out that Snuggles’ numerous respiratory and hip-related problems were due to Snuggles’ kennel not being compliant with American Kennel Club standards and being essentially a puppy mill - which his now-fiancee was not aware of at the time but now she volounteers with Ori at the dog rescue, warns people about the risk of buying from a puppy mill and how the puppies’ health suffers even though buying them might seem like a bargain due to the lowered price being caused by lack of appropriate health inspections on the mother , father and the puppies themselves - in Snuggles’ case he wasn’t even as much as wormed and vaccinated!

@Tasia
@Swimmere1223
@lilac_elixirxx

[CherryBomb50]

[name_u]Ori[/name_u] is so wholesome!

Warning for accident leading to amputation.

[name_m]Artur[/name_m] [name_m]Dimitar[/name_m] [name_f]Anova[/name_f] (30) is a bonding neighbour of [name_u]Ori[/name_u]. He relates to having a family history in a career he doesn’t care about. His family runs a ballroom and has the annual [name_f]Anova[/name_f] Ball, which his brother [name_m]Todor[/name_m] enjoys despite having a casual nature. While Artur’s been awkwardly single most of the time, [name_m]Todor[/name_m] is in a strong relationship with [name_u]Storm[/name_u], who is also a vet. [name_m]Artur[/name_m] himself, who works on advertising the ballroom, has never considered him a formal type and doesn’t like to be on the dance floor. Still, he’s well aware of how the dances go since he and his family have taught the moves for [name_u]Ori[/name_u] and his fiancée’s first dance. Artur’s wish to not dance in public may be due to his “somewhat secret” - one of his feet isn’t real, it’s prosthetic. [name_m]Just[/name_m] two years earlier, he lost his foot when it was ran over by a reckless driver while crossing the street. It had to be removed, which scared him, but he was grateful to be alive. He was actually in shock over what happened but also in shock that he wasn’t so close that he could have been completely run over. He doesn’t quite know what to think yet about his prosthetic foot. He still always wears long pants or high socks and fears people will see him differently with the fake foot.

It may appear that [name_m]Artur[/name_m] doesn’t want love of his own, but some pictures may prove otherwise. He and Ori’s older tomboy sister have pictures together building stuff together, some in a restaurant, and some photos outside on the sunset. These pictures aren’t scandalous in any way, but [name_m]Artur[/name_m] doesn’t want anyone to see them and feels more comfortable insisting they’re “just friends.” (Even though some of the photos don’t look like “just friends.”) [name_m]Artur[/name_m] doesn’t really want children and is content with his 2 cats and 2 dogs, who [name_u]Ori[/name_u] has helped take care of.

To de-stress, [name_m]Artur[/name_m] also loves to be out in nature. He enjoys camping and spending time in the wilderness, and he is always looking for new experiences. He is a passionate canoeist, and he loves exploring new places by water. He enjoys paddling his canoe through the calm waters of lakes and oceans, and his passion is never far away from his boat. He is a free spirit who is always looking for the next adventure.

Todor was created by me.

Storm was created by @jinxed_peach.

[lilac_elixirxx]

Aadvika [name_f]Fae[/name_f] Brimstone (31) is a colleague of [name_m]Artur[/name_m] and [name_m]Todor[/name_m]. When the [name_f]Anova[/name_f] Ball is not being held/ prepared for, there is not much profit coming in and there is not much to be done so it was Artur’s idea to put an advertisement out asking anyone if they wanted to hire the space out or even work for the ballroom as a teacher. Aadvika replied to the advert, saying that she would love to join the ballroom as a teacher, she was the first teacher at the ballroom and around and after and during the year she runs ballroom classes in the ballroom: One on [name_f]Monday[/name_f] for Kids, One on [name_f]Wednesday[/name_f] for Teens and young adults and One on [name_m]Friday[/name_m] for adults over 30 and the elderly community, as usually when the [name_f]Anova[/name_f] Ball is on, most of the people attending are part of the elderly community, that want nostalgia from their past or teens who love the American high school vibe of it, so the Ballroom wanted to encourage more adults and kids to come. Since Aadvika started 3 years ago, there has been over 100 more people attending the ball! When Aadvika spoke to some of her students in the adult class, she found that the reason why they didn’t go to the ball is because they thought they couldn’t dance and didn’t want to mess up!

At first, [name_m]Artur[/name_m] and Aadvika would have mild disagreements over times and there was often a lot of tension between them but now they are quite good friends despite the complete opposite personalities. Aadvika has been married for 5 years and she has a new born baby, [name_f]Joy[/name_f] (This is something [name_m]Artur[/name_m] is not happy about because she has to take time of work and [name_m]Artur[/name_m] has had to teach some of the classes when Aadvika can’t, but [name_m]Artur[/name_m] has managed not to reveal his prosthetic foot yet)

Unlike [name_m]Artur[/name_m], she wants lots of children and so does her wife but it can sometimes be difficult because they have to adopt or have a sperm donor. Their first child, [name_f]Joy[/name_f], was born via a sperm donor and Aadvika’s wife gave birth to her, but even to [name_f]Joy[/name_f] and Aadvika don’t have any blood connection Aadvika still considers her family.

At college, Aadvika did American [name_m]History[/name_m], but as soon as classes were finished she would head over to a dance class, or to the dance studio to practice. When Aadvika graduated, she started as a teacher in a high school teaching American history but decided it wasn’t for her. She was out of work for a bit relying on her Wife’s salary until she saw that advert and went for it. Aadvika is often quite impulsive which can be destructive to those around her but on the whole she is a bright, happy person and nice to be around.