[neonhelper]

[jelevision]

her smile 🥺♥️

[supagirl]

[jelevision]

[jelevision]

[amariofthebooks]

Amari's favorite song (in recent years): "Go Crazy" by Leslie Odom, Jr.

[amariofthebooks]

blackfemmecharacterdependency​:

[amariofthebooks]

verachadha​:

It’s cold but it’s manageable! The fun part is the snow and getting to do all the outdoor things. I feel like part of me is meant to be in a tropical climate. Maybe one day. Oh, that’s still cool! Mine just has a nice view, but I love it. It’s still nice and cool out in the balcony. I saw the waterfalls and they are gorgeous! It was really pretty and a lot of fun! 

.

Cold but manageable, I think I can deal with that. I suppose we’ll see soon enough, either way. I’m also taking your word for it so if it’s anything worse, I will have a few words for you. The temperature doesn’t typically drop low enough back home for us to get much accumulation of snow when we do it. I don’t think there’s a bad view here. Unless it’s an interior room, maybe? Weren’t they? Everything is gorgeous or majestic here.

[merrock]

[amariofthebooks]

merrock​:

CHARACTER INFORMATION

face claim: Madeleine Mantock

full name: Amari Helene Jarraeu

nickname(s): Mari, more of a pet name, usually just goes by Amari

pronouns & gender: she/her, female

sexuality: unsure

birth date: December 31, 1994

birth place: Baton Rouge, Louisiana

time in town: 1 week as of November 3, 2022

housing: historical downtown

occupation: bookseller/owner of Bookends

family: at least a few half-siblings via biological mother who donated her eggs and occasionally acted as surrogate as well; has extended family, but both parents that Amari knew are deceased

personality: Amari knows that tomorrow isn’t promised to anyone, so she tends to look on the bright side of things, to search for silver linings, and she had never been one to hold a grudge, preferring to forgive and forget. She’ll do things on a whim, just to not miss out on an experience, but she’s not reckless. She loves life and forging memorable, lasting connections.

BACKGROUND / BIO

Trigger warnings: cancer, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, death, parental death.

Amari was born to her parents Lennox and Gisele Jarreau after being conceived via IVF (in vitro fertilization) through use of her father’s sperm and an egg from a donor who also acted as surrogate for the couple. After a few years of trying for a baby on their own with no success, and both going to get full work-ups from their doctors, it was discovered in 1992 that Gisele had advanced epithelial ovarian cancer, with the recommendation that she have both of her ovaries, fallopian tubes, and her uterus removed. While making plans for her treatment, surgery followed by several rounds of chemotherapy, the Jarreaus discussed how they still wanted children, at least one child, and decided to search for an egg donor and a surrogate. It was about a month after her final chemo session that the couple found both a donor and surrogate in the same woman, who they had stay with them after finalizing a contract agreement regarding the arrangement, witnessed and notarized, that the donor/surrogate would never try to claim any parental rights to the child born, or the any rights or ownership of the other eggs she was donating (that would be frozen). In the months that followed, the couple became good friends with their surrogate, offering to stay in touch with her after the birth, to give her updates on the child as well. When time came and Amari was born in late December 1994, the surrogate deferred the offer of holding her, fresh from the womb, and told the nurse to give the baby to her mother, Gisele. After being discharged from the hospital, their surrogate stayed with the family for about a month, occasionally helping them out with the newborn, when needed, before taking her leave.

The first few years of Amari’s life in Baton Rouge were filled with wonder, joy, laughter, smiles, and an abundance of love for the family. Her parents kept in touch with their former surrogate, the woman who had helped bring their daughter into the world, through phone calls and emails. Then they started to become more sporadic, less often, until the number they had was no longer in service and emails went unanswered. Even when they sent one with the devastating news that Gisele once again received a cancer diagnosis after finding a lump in her breast. Not wanting to have to endure more chemotherapy and possibly surgery, not wanting to lose that time, precious moments, with her husband and daughter, Gisele and Lennox agreed, although he was somewhat reluctant, that she would defer treatment for the time being. Instead, they decided to seek alternative treatments that would allow Gisele to spend and enjoy as much time as possible with those that she loved for however long she may have.

Amari’s 3rd birthday was spent in the house in Le Lamentin, Martinique where Gisele had spent many childhood summers, including the one during which she had first met Lennox when they were in middle school. There the three lived, with family and friends from both sides visiting, and no word from their former friend, despite still sending emails and calling that still disconnected phone number. Amari learned English, Creole, and some French, from her parents, learning more French when she began primary school on the island. She wasn’t spoiled, but she was treasured. Her parents instilled in her the values of friendship, love, generosity, honesty, and forgiveness in her formative years. And then, the summer following her 10th birthday, she was dealt with the harsh blow of losing her mother and dealing with the grief that followed.

In the wake of her mother’s death, Amari and her father Lennox remained in Martinique for the next couple of years before moving back to Baton Rouge, where several members of both Lennox and Gisele’s families, as well as a number of friends, still lived, just prior to Amari beginning high school. She wasn’t against the move, longing to be closer to her extended family, but it did take some adjusting and getting used to. She had an unexpected popularity, being “exotic” and only “known”  by only a very few of her classmates through blood or the friendships their family members had with hers.

It had never been kept a secret from Amari, once she was old enough to understand, that Gisele was not her biological mother, despite how desperately she had wanted to be. As she got older, she asked more questions and was told more about the woman who had given her egg and provided her womb; it turned out to be little that her mom and dad, and then dad could give her aside from what they’d already told her. She knew a name, an approximate age, that the woman had “had a daughter once” but she didn’t really know what that meant, and there were  several not of the greatest quality photos that they had of her, including a sole picture of her making a face while holding a newborn Amari up and away from her (the story from her parents is that it was her first diaper blowout).

As the months passed, Amari adjusted, somewhat awkwardly at times, to living life once again the the US, and to the education system. She enjoyed being able to hear stories and see pictures of her mother, and father, through the memories and lenses of others.

Following high school, Amari attended LSU for both her undergrad and grad studies, minoring in Library Sciences while getting her B.A. in Creative Writing and then her Masters in Library & Information Sciences. While she lived at college for her freshman and sophomore years, she made the financially sound decision to live with her dad in their old family home for the rest of her undergrad days as well as after she graduated, working full-time at a local franchise of a bookstore chain, while taking classes part-time towards her Masters, which she obtained in the spring of 2019. With her degree literally in hand, Amari found herself with a job as an Assistant Librarian at one of the community colleges.

Amari was thrilled with her life, she had good friends, none that she would consider great or her best friends, and she had only dated from time to time, not wanting to let it interfere with her studies, but she was ready to truly live, to fully live her life. She wanted to do right by her mother, Gisele, make her proud. Amari felt like she might have been on the way. She was dating again, and had even downloaded an app. She was spending time out with her friends. Then in June of 2020, Amari’s father, Lennox, contracted and subsequently died of complications related to the flu and bronchitis that turned into pneumonia after battling his illnesses for over a month.

Devastated by the death of her father, Amari found her doing something that she’d never thought she’d do: search for her biological mother. In the year that followed and the next year, she was never able to find out anything close to a last known location more than ten years old, but she was able to find out something else. Possible siblings. Older and younger than her. Sisters and a brother. She had tried to reach out to two of them, her possible biological brother, and one of her possible biological sisters. Neither of them had wanted to talk to her; they didn’t want anything to do with their surrogate and/or egg donor or her. And so Amari decided that the eldest, the one she’d somehow found out about last/most recently would be her best bet at finding and developing a relationship with a sibling. Perhaps her only chance. To maybe find out and know more about the part of herself that she’d never truly acknowledged, because it had never really meant anything to her before.

It was fortuitous that her search for a new job had led her to Merrock, Maine and the local bookstore in need of a new owner, just before she’d discovered that was also the location of another half-sibling, a sister who was older than her. It must have been a sign, fate, destiny. There was no way that it could be a coincidence, as far as Amari was concerned. She had the funds from inheritances and life insurance policies from her parents and other relatives. She could afford the move and the purchase. Amari would establish a life for herself in Merrock before taking a different approach than she had before with the others when it came to meeting and revealing herself and their relationship to her half-sister.

Unfortunately, after almost a month after her move to Maine, Amari discovered that there was a typo/mispronunciation from the private investigator she had hired and his resources. She should have received the information that her eldest half-sibling was last known to be in the hamlet of Merrick, NY, not the town of Merrock, ME. Now she has to decide: continue looking for a sister who might not even want to know her or commit to building a life in Merrock?

[amariofthebooks]

Hitting the beach!

[jelevision]

[beyondgenre-deactivated20260110]

I just want to live in big oversized sweaters and read while drinking hot coffee and look out at the rain from the comfort of my tiny cozy little home.

[amariofthebooks]

cagenewman​:

“You definitely take your coffee seriously,” he let out a laugh as she mentioned grants and funding and a proposal and hypothesis, shaking his head. “Just promise that you’ll share the results with me before you end up going public – I want all the top secret ino before the rest of the world gets it, and that seems pretty fair, since I gave you the idea, right?” Given how much he loved regular ole black coffee, he wasn’t sure that he would use the info to change his mind, but it was fun to tease. Nodding his head slowly as she talked about having been born in Baton Rouge, he thought back to his time on the road, any moments that he would have spent down in the south. “I’ve never been to Baton Rouge, other than to maybe pass through the area when traveling. Did go to New Orleans once, years ago. And don’t worry about the rambling, I get it,” he assured her with a laugh, taking a sip of his coffee and heading towards one of the sofas in the seating area. “What brought you to Merrock, then? If you don’t mind me asking.”

.

“Oh, that I do! I love coffee.” She hummed as she took a couple sips. “Oh, but of course! I might even bring you in as a consultant for it. Your name would definitely be in the credit. And I would share my findings with you as the study progressed. It would only be fair since you did give me the idea.” Her brow furrowed for a moment before she shook her head and chuckled. “Part of me really wants to try it. Which isn’t terribly absurd considering all the various kinds of studies that have been funded.” Amari’s smile grew as she listened to Cage. “Well, N’awlins is lovely and wonderful, and there is something to be said about celebrating and experiencing Mardi Gras there.” She followed him towards the seating area, taking a seat on a sofa near a corner window. “Oh, well, I am, or rather was, a librarian. I even have my Master’s. I was looking for a new job. Came across Bookends being up for sale. Just so happened to have the funds for the purchase. So now I’m here. Or there. And here,” she offered, keeping another reason to herself. “How did you like N’awlins?”

[amariofthebooks]

verachadha​:

Yeah? It sounds pretty amazing then, that you got to enjoy this kind of weather. Oh, don’t worry, me too. I love getting the space to myself but my friends are around too so it’s easy to just go over there to hang out, and we’re mostly outside anyway. So do you have one of those rooms that open right into the pool? I’ve got a view of the beach. I’m looking forward to checking out the park nearby! After this party, of course. It’ll be a nice way to wind down.

.

I am absolutely terrified about experiencing a Northeastern winter, my first true winter. This really makes me miss those times. I honestly don’t think that I’d ever realized just how much I missed island weather and island living overall. I missed friends and family and always recognized that when visiting. Ah, no, I don’t. Opens out towards the ocean, which I am more than okay with. Oh, that definitely sounds nice! I’m doing a hike to a waterfall and hot springs in a couple days. Planning on doing some snorkeling at some point. Could you let me know how the park is?

[amariofthebooks]

Island girl loving this island life trip.

[amariofthebooks]

luckylucasbrowning​:

He leaned in as she leaned into him, almost as if he was hearing a secret. Which is her case, he guessed that she was. He barely knew this woman, and she was already spilling her guts. He probably would do the same, as he was drinking even more than she was. “I promise.” he mumbled, nodding his head, grabbing his drink just as she had. Downing it, he turned his attention back to her, waiting patiently. “Hm. I don’t think I know anyone of that name.” He paused. “Do you have a picture of her? Like on your phone?” He asked, the name not ringing a bell. 

He glanced up at the bartender who had laid the food in front of them, giving them a nod of appreciation. A small laugh escaped Luke’s lips as she rambled on. “Wow, brand new.” He nodded. “Well, I was born and raised here. – Not here.. –Uh, Merrock. So if you need a hand with anything, feel free to let me know.” 

.

He glanced up at the bartender who had laid the food in front of them, giving them a nod of appreciation. A small laugh escaped Luke’s lips as she rambled on. “Wow, brand new.” He nodded. “Well, I was born and raised here. – Not here.. –Uh, Merrock. So if you need a hand with anything, feel free to let me know.”

There was a pronounced pout on her lips when Luke said he didn’t know anyone by the name. But then again, deep in the recesses of her brain, she was aware that she might not have been pronouncing it right, possibly slurring slightly, or maybe her tongue was just heavy? Amari tilted her head to the side before nodding her head and fumbling to pull her phone out. “I do. Or I can find one. I’m not like a creepy stalker and have pictures of her saved or anything.”

“Oh yeah, and I was not expecting anything remotely like this when I was preparing to move. I’m not complaining about being treated to this trip, because it’s amazing, I just…” she frowned and sighed. “I had plans, or ideas, you know? Spend several weeks getting settled in and accustomed to the town and people. Then I would introduce myself to my half-sister.” Amari smiled at him. “Thank you, so much. There’s a good chance I’ll take you up on that offer when we get back to town. Oh!” Her eyes lit up and she brought her phone up and searched for Thea Waldorf. Finding a picture that looked clear and good to her, she maximized and then turned the screen towards Luke. “This is her. She’s my half-sister.”

[amariofthebooks]

cagenewman​:

“I was going to say, I haven’t had a lot of decaf in my life,” the only time he would ever reach for a cup of it was if it was all someone had on hand, and even then, one would be hard-pressed to find Cage Newman enjoying a cup of coffee that wasn’t fully caffeinated. Still, stranger things had probably happened at some point in his life. “You could do that, though, see if there really is a difference in the smell, or if it’s all in our heads, you know?” That could be all the difference, too. “Coffee is coffee, but good coffee from a local place that you know puts a little extra hard work into making just the right cup is always going to taste better, no matter what. You’ll have to try it when we get back.”

“No better place for it,” he shook her hand, a firm, but pleasant grip before nodding his head. “Good to meet you, too, Amari. Where were you from before making the big move to Merrock?”

.

“My bad then,” she said with a jovial tone to her voice. “Oh, do not tempt me because I will set up an experiment of that sort. I’ll even apply for a grant and government funding. I’m already starting to formulate a proposal and hypothesis. And I have yet to begin my coffee. I hope you’re proud of yourself,” Amari said with a mischievous sparkle in her eyes and a teasing smile on her lips. She blew out a breath over her coffee in an attempt to cool it down before grinning at Cage. “Born in Baton Rouge, or just outside of, then raised in Martinique for several years, then my father and I returned to Baton Rouge proper again when it was time for me to attend high school. He felt it would be, or look, better for my college applications. Don’t know if it mattered since I went to LSU, which I absolutely loved, because where else nearby could I have then gone to grad school now I am rambling, for which I am sorry. I definitely need my coffee to help me simmer down.”