✦ PETER GADIOT, CISMALE, HE/HIM ✦ GAEL SANTIAGO the THIRTY-EIGHT year old has been in Hidehill for TWENTY-SEVEN YEARS (ON AND OFF) and was a EX-BOYFRIEND to Miyeon Kang, the murder victim. Whispers on the streets are that the BARTENDER AT MOON & OWNER/TATTOO ARTIST AT SORRY MOM who lives in HARTLEY AVENUE are said to be PROTECTIVE and SHORT-FUSED but I guess we’ll find out for ourselves. WRITTEN BY MEL.
TRIGGER WARNING: teen pregnancy, criminal activity, weapondry (bombs), military duty, ptsd, severe injury, alcoholism, burns
⸻ 𝐁𝐈𝐎𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐏𝐇𝐘
Gael was born into a very strict military family, the first decade of his life being spent being pushed to be the perfect son. Despite this endless force, he certainly was far from it.
When he was nine, his parents brought home his younger sister Scarlett, who Gael very quickly became protective over. The family of four soon settled down when he turned eleven at long last in Hidehill, Tennessee.
Perhaps the push to be the perfect son was what triggered the spiral into trouble, perhaps the desperate need for camaraderie. By the time he got to middle school Gael already found himself running with the wrong crowd, specifically older kids who had no buisness having such influence on a child his age.
I wasn't naive. He always says. I was a baby. Considering how deep he was he knew very quickly that there was no way out, but he could do his best to make sure Scarlett achieved everything she ever wanted. He was fine being the black sheep of the otherwise perfect family.
When he was sixteen, his girlfriend showed him a set of multiple positive pregnancy tests. He was going to be a father.
When this information came to light, his parents lost it. He would soon come to learn that his parents would only financially support him until he was eighteen and then after that, he was out on his own.
He enlisted in the military shortly after his high school graduation, wanting not only to shape up for his family, but to provide a life for his daughter.
He enters active duty in Iraq as a combat medic -- where he throws himself into his tour. He does everything he can to be the best soldier that he can be, knowing that the safety of his comrades falls on his shoulders.
His time in the military is ended by a severe injury after trying to get a soldier to safety following an attack on his encampment. While he survived with some major scarring following a bomb going off, the other soldier did not.
When he came home, he knew more than anything that he wanted his family to be complete. Therefore, he found himself armed with a ring wandering into the home he shared with his girlfriend to find it a wreck and that Ella was living with her grandmother.
It turns out, his girlfriend had begun to spiral into alcoholism following his departure for his tour, unable to cope with raising their daughter alone. When she had refused to seek help and had ignored her family's attempts, the home was deemed unsafe for Ella to remain in. And Gael had no idea.
While Gael was heartbroken that no one in his daughter's life had failed to tell him, the reason was understandable. They had not wanted him to do something stupid, give up his position or desert.
When he was nearing his mid-twenties, he had finally developed some amount of stability. This was when he developed a romantic relationship with an old friend, Miyeon Kang. The pair were together for a year before parting amicably, remaining close up until her death. When she got married, he was happy for her and was even present at her wedding.
He moved into his house on Hartley and out of Hadley Park shortly after the completion of his apprenticeship and shortly before his daughter completed high school.
He loves working as a Tattoo Artist, having always had a particular talent for art. As a child he filled sketchbook after sketchbook with his work.
His daughter is now finishing out her final year at an Ivy League university and he could not be more proud of her and all of her hard work. While she anticipates moving to New York City after graduation, she is beginning to insist that she come back home to be near her dad - something Gael is trying to put an end to for her own safety.
⸻ 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐍𝐒
He still has burn scars across the right side of his stomach and his side and on his right leg, something that he fears will effect the way any of his intimate partners see him.
Suffered severe hearing loss following the explosion and is still dealing with the effects of it.
He visits Miyeon's grave whenever he can and brings her flowers once a week. Something in him feels guilt for not being able to keep her safe.
His daughter consistently encourages her father to try to get back out there and it's not because he doesn't want to, but he's afraid of opening up or that the life he has led will be too much for someone to handle.
Picked up an extra job as a bartender at Moon and works a couple of nights a week so he can live rather comfortably and help out his daughter.
more to come.
⸻ 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒
Sister: Scarlett Santiago.
Daughter: Eleanor "Ella" Santiago ( npc )
Exes ( any gender ): Miyeon Kang ( deceased ), OPEN
FWB/Hookups: OPEN
Coworkers: Heather Jones, OPEN
All else are open!
