EMLYN GRACE BARRETT • TWENTY-FOUR • DESIGN ASSISTANT • HGTV • CHLOE BENNET
Parent: Liam Barrett and (unofficially) Brendon Rulli
Siblings: Travis and Shawn Barrett (NPC), Anthony Rulli (unofficially)
Date of Birth: October 8th
Hobbies: Interior Design, Photography, Tennis
Emlyn’s mother died when she was very young and her early childhood with her birth father was extremely unpleasant. She was only eleven when police showed up at her house with an arrest warrant and her father attempted to use her as a human shield to escape. Liam Barrett was the man who rescued her.
She ended up in foster care after the incident, and her father was sentenced to a minimum of twenty years in prison. Much to her surprise, the officer who saved her continued to check in regularly until he eventually asked if she would like to come and live with him and his sons. Just before she turned fourteen, the adoption was finalized, and she officially became a Barrett.
Emlyn’s father was open with his children about the fact that he was completely asexual and aromatic, but they still had something of a second father in Brendon Rulli, who was their father’s best friend/platonic life partner. The Barrett and Rulli families share a home and the children were raised together.
She’s closer with her younger brother Shawn then she is with Travis, but all three Barrett kids get along well, despite the issues that led to their adoptions. It helped that both her brothers as well as her father could understand the issues that came with the life she had led, even if none of their stories were the same. Emlyn is also very close with Anthony, who see sees as her youngest brother.
With a lot of love, and a lot of therapy, Emlyn did well for herself in high school, and even better in college, even making time for string of several boyfriends to make her father and brothers nervous. She was able to put together an impressive enough portfolio to get hired by HGTV just a year out of college, and while she works behind the scenes now, she’s got high goals.
Emlyn is very friendly and sociable, though she keeps most people at arms length whether they realize it or not. She can be the life of the party when it’s called for, but she always needs time to recharge afterwards. Few people ever see negative emotions from her, because she tends to let them build up until she explodes in the privacy of her own home, and it often takes a phone call or visit from her father to calm her down.
Anthony Rulli - It might not be official, but Anthony is Emlyn’s brother in every way that matters. He’s been there since the day she was adopted just as much as Travis and Shawn have, and she’s very protective of the younger boy.
Hudson Buchanan - Emlyn can’t seem to stop acquiring brother figures, but Hudson has been in her life a long time too, as their fathers are close, and someone has got to look after that boy before he gives himself an ulcer over his younger siblings.
Ricky Jenkins - These two have been friends for a long time, and briefly had a fling, even if it was mostly just for Emlyn to amuse herself with her father and brother’s reactions. Ricky was completely on board with that.
Freya Cotter - Most people say their friendship doesn’t really make any sense, but Emlyn doesn’t care. The two girls get along well, for some reason, even if Liam doesn’t really approve.
Cora Wallen - Cora might be a little younger then Emlyn, but the two girls have been close since shortly after Emlyn was adopted, and she is the sister-figure that Emlyn desperately needs in the sea of men she was adopted into.
Dianna Lands - Emlyn and Dianna met in college and despite their focus different branches of design, they got along well and Emlyn has taken the younger girl under her wing.
Louis Santiago - The two met when Emlyn was part of a crew decorating a new building his business had bought. They clicked instantly and have flirted often since.
Julie Williams - Despite the age different, Julie and Emlyn have been friends for several years now, and Emlyn is impressed with Julie’s desire to be a social worker, given the pasts of Emyln and her family.
Stephanie Andrews - Stephanie is another one of the people in Emlyn’s life that falls into the ‘almost family’ category. Brendon Rulli helped raise Emlyn, and the Andrews children consider Brendon as their older brother. In a strange way, Emlyn figures that they’re almost cousins.
Jordan Stowers - Jordan is Emlyn’s ‘little brother’ Anthony’s best friend, and she’s pretty sure he has a crush on her, which is both sweet and awkward at the same time.