Family
Long post
It'd maybe be better as a graph but I'm lazy and hate graphs. SO :
--
Rose and Jenny are cousins. Rose's parents are still married. Jenny was raised by her single Dad. Rose's mom is Jenny's dad's older sister.
(they live apart but see eachother so much they might as well live together. Jenny did live with Rose for a little bit as infants. then later as roommates. They all get along allright now)
Rose's parents often argued in her childhood, still do.
While it made her much more likely to curl up and bottle up her emotions, as well as letting people walk over her, she'd sometimes snap at Jenny as a consequence. Obviously felt awful about it, engaging in a guilt cycle of wanting to make up for it but not allowing herself to let any of her emotions out, repeating it.
(until she started cutting herself, finally ginding a way to relieve herself of pent up emotions without hurting anyone -not counting herself-)
Jenny has a great and loving relationship with her dad. She did sometimes feel like a burden but knows she isn't, courtesy of her dad reminding her how much she loves her everyday. He has always been very supportive. Even if he wasn't often home (which led her to venture into internet spaces, more on that later) they've always made the most of their time together. I'll maybe desbribe more, but her hdad was very codependent toward Jenny after his wife left him. (planting the seeds of Jenny's own codependcy toward Rose and especiallly Michelle later on)
Loves Rose like a sister, didn't like dealing with her snappy moods but never held it against her as she saw how it hurt her to act this way.
Feels very protective of her (and the people she loves), but especially Rose, after her bullying. Her strong temperament has caused her to have a more strained relationship with her aunt.
--
Charlotte has an older brother (9 years apart) with whom she never really bonded with due to their age difference. Their relation does improve in their adult life. She has a good relationship with her parents, although they did go through a rough patch during her adolescence, mostly due to their divorce (amical) which led to Charlotte acting out, such as dying her hair and smoking to be purposely "edgy/emo"
(something she knew they hated with a passion; since they associated it with her brother's own rebellious phase; where he almsot died by od at a party)
Felt a but lonely in her youth, often coming home to no one at home due to their job and having practically no relationship with her own brother after he left not long after he turned 18.
sometimes hangs out with her cousins. Specifically Clara.
--
Michelle is an only child but has lots of relatives. She loves her parents but has a complicated relationship with them. Half because she's deeply afaraid of coming out as bi to them (they're okay with homosexuality, as long as it's not their children. To Michelle's mom specifically, bisexuality is the worst, only sees it as a perverse)
Also because while her parents love eachother, they have fought a lot, arguments were common and due to work stress her dad lightly strangled her mom once. He has apologized after every signle time and since the stress went away has gotten much better. (it both angered and scared Michelle. But since her mom was okay afterward, they never talked much about it.)
(used to fantasize about killing her parents sometimes multiple times a day, more often than not her dad; felt bad later though which led her to let some behaviour slide out of guilt. Although the real reason why she never did anythins is because she's terrified of consequences)
( They separated once when she was 3-4 but got back together after her dad got his act back together)
Had a crush on one of her cousins once when she was 5 and it still haunts her
Started drinking (small sips) at 8 with her grandparents. Then smuggled some of her Dad's cigarettes in her late teens.
