forum The Esteemed Bradford Family (6/6 | CLOSED)

Started May 22, 2019 by @Moxie group

tune

(I'm sorry I fell asleep last night

Name (first, middle, and last): Amos Charles Bradford
Nickname: (if any) Ame, Charlie (less often)
Age: 16 going on 17
Sexuality: has avoided thinking about it at all costs after thinking he had a crush on a guy who lived near him, so he isn't sure.
Gender: Male
Father: Silas
Appearance: (I've got a face claim if you want) Amos has a long, narrow face, an oval shape. He's got high and slightly hollow cheekbones and a defined pointy jaw/chin. He's got a small hero nose, thin lips. His eyes are hazel, close-set and small. He has soft-arched eyebrows, very dark brown like his slicked-back, straight short hair.
Personality: Has adopted a confident, smooth demeanour from his father that only hides how much of a scared person he is. He's nervous around everyone except his mother, so quiet and reserved that he comes across sullen. His vision of himself is distorted by his father's attitude towards him: he's broken, hopeless. Though he has a dream he doesn't believe it will ever come true, and he's given up on ever developing his creative side. Earning his trust comes only with time and kindness, and even then the only honesty he shows is what his father has taught him to think. He's a pliable person, scared of confrontation and vulnerability which is frowned upon in his mind.
What they are planning on doing with their life: (College major, etc.) not planning on any higher education other than what his father and his tutor are teaching him because the latter is enough for him to take over the company the minute he turns 18. His dream, however, would be attending Newcastle University in a History of Arts course.
Likes: the arts, music, his headphones, quiet and small places, alone time, John Mulaney, routine
Dislikes: numbers, large crowds and noise, horror/thriller movies, dramatic and overbearing people
Favourite colour: Violet
Are they in a relationship back home? No, he wouldn't know how to treat his partner. Would he have to be kind to them, trusting and respectful like his mother was to him? Or should he be hard and commanding, channelling his father's attitude? Or, even worse, would he have to be open and tell them everything, know and accept his worse traits as much as his partner's? Bottom line, the concept of a relationship terrifies him.
Backstory (optional): As the only male cousin in the group of oldests, Silas was extremely hard on his son. He kept him home, schooled him alone, hiring a single tutor when he had to travel. Amos was kept away from his siblings and from his mother so that he could learn everything his father needed him to learn in order to take over the company as soon as he turned 18. The only time Amos was free to socialise with his family or do what he wanted was when his father was out working locally; then, his mother was his saving grace. She was the only one who let him be himself: he's actually a romantic, a creatively-fuelled kid. Instead of writing up business plans, he wrote poems for his mother and his siblings when they would talk to him (being so young, they never really lived a life where they knew their brother).
Other (optional):

Charlotte sat down on a seat next to the window at the back of the jet. She loved getting a glimpse of the island before they landed. They had taken a car to the airport where Grandfather had sent them a jet. Normally, they would have taken Father's, but Grandfather insisted they take one of his personal jets. They would land at a small airport in Vancouver and take a boat to the island. The island was so small that you couldn't land a plane there, so everyone had to arrive by boat. The servants arrived yesterday, and Grandfather and Grandmother would most likely be there to welcome them. Thomas's family was always the first of the siblings to arrive, due to Anastasia's need to always be on time. Charlotte rolled her eyes just thinking of her mother. But that was why she had a seat in the back of the jet. To avoid her mother. Hopefully, she would be able to avoid her all summer.

Mila had hardly noticed that they were on their way to the island. She was carefully perched on one of the longer couches, legs stretched out on either side of her in a split. This was the reason she preferred Grandfather's jet over their own. It was big enough to do her stretches in. She had a giant work book in front of her, pages filled with complicated math problems. She had figured that she would get some extra work done while flying into their vacation, but she was proving to be easily distracted. Her parents were having a rather animated discussion and her mother's wild gestures kept drawing her eye. Mila knew that they weren't arguing, despite not being able to hear a word they were saying through her headphones, but probably further discussing Charlotte.
Mila sighed, pulling herself out of her stretch as the plane tilted, glancing back at her sister. Hopefully, she will get some time away from the family…Especially mom. She wasn't sure what their current predicament was, but it was enough that Charlie had been tight lipped about it even to Mila. This trip should be good for all of us. A breath of fresh air.

Charlie lay her seat back and closed her eyes, hoping to catch some sleep before getting to the island. She had been up practically all night reading and was exhausted. She was about to drift off to sleep when a hand at her shoulder woke her. She sat up. It was her mother. "You shouldn't take a nap, Lottie. You need to get used to the time change and go to sleep when it's bedtime."
Charlie sat up, annoyed. "It's one hour Mom. It's not like its a huge time change. Taking a nap during the one-hour jet flight isn't going to mess up my sleep schedule!"
Her mother's expression didn't change. "You shouldn't take a nap. My decision is final."
Charlie clenched her jaw, trying to decide if it was worth the fight. "Fine." She pulled out her headphones and put them on, staring out the window and drowning out the world.

The Bradford-Prescott family had just climbed into the car on the way to the airport. The toddler sat by the window, the baby was on Brooke's lap and she sat next to Amos, who was hunched against the other window.
An obscure 90s band played loudly, Silas's choice, and Amos deeply regretted leaving his carry-on and therefore his headphones in the trunk for the 45 minute drive to the airport. It was already hell.
The baby cooed at Amos, waving its chubby fist. Repressing a smile, the teen reached out to tickle his sibling under the benevolent eye of their mother.
Before Amos could even touch the kid, though, their father spoke up from the front seat.
"So, Charles."
Amos winced. Not my name, he was tempted to say. Charles was his father's choice, and Amos his mother's.
"Did you bring all the files I told you to?" he asked smoothly.
"I did, Silas," Amos answered over the messy riffing blasting from the stereo.

When the captain put the seatbelt sign on, indicating that they were landing soon, Charlie went and sat next to Mila. "We're almost there," she said, smiling and turning to look out the window behind them. She turned back to face her sister. "Are you ready?"

Name (first, middle, and last): Piers Carter Bradford

Nickname: TBD

Age: 17

Sexuality: Bisexual

Gender: Male

Father: James Bradford

Appearance: Medium thickness, dark hair that is kept short. His eyes are hazel that has a slightly stronger green coloration. His chin has a small amount of stubble and high cheekbones. His lips are quite full for a boy. His skin is an olive tone and is about 5'8 in height.

Personality: He tries to be the charming young man his family expects him to be, having proper language and poised. He comes off as cool and collected, but probably wouldn't know what to do in a dire situation except try and keep everyone calm.

What they are planning on doing with their life: He currently is working towards majoring in communication studies so he can build a business from the ground up and make his father proud. He wants to be able to be the provider his future family needs.

Likes: Exercise, the ocean, piano music

Dislikes: The rain, people who use him for his wealth, ignorance

Favorite color: Emerald green

Are they in a relationship back home?: No, not as of yet.

Backstory (optional): I just made this character, so we'll see where his story goes haha

Other (optional): He often runs his hand through his hair due to it being a bit longer as of late. He also plays a bit of soccer to appease his father's love of sports.

Mila shifted to glance at her sister as she sat, She was still wearing her head phones so she read Charlie's question from her lips. She frowned ever so slightly, to show her sister that she was a tad worried about the trip. Pulling down her headphones she shrugged slowly.
It will be nice to see Grandfather and Grandmother again. The entire family actually. It has been so long. Not to mention get some peace and quiet. She signed, hiding the movement of her hands from the watchful eyes of their mother. But mom is acting kind of off. Have you noticed?

Charlie started to roll her eyes, but she stopped herself partially through. Sorry, she signed. I definitely noticed. Did you notice her acting strange towards me especially?

Mila nodded, dropping one hand to squeeze Charlie's leg in support. You know mom, she's always got to be uptight about something. She paused, chewing her lip, her gaze darting from her sister to the window and back again. Do you think she already knows about…. Her eyebrows shot up suggestively. You know… She didn't dare sign it.

(Sorry my reply earlier was so short, I was in a rush)
Charlie shook her head aggressively. There's no way. I've been way too careful. I don't leave any trace online, and you're the only person in real life that knows. She paused and pressed her lips together and held her hands tightly in her lap. Charlie looked over her shoulder to be sure that her mom was truly occupied. I think, she slowly started to sign. I think I should tell her and dad and our cousins this summer. What do you think?

Piers drummed his fingers lightly on his lap along to the light tinkling of the piano keys in his ears. It was a beautiful piece. Debussy's Clair de Lune. Something about it just swept his mind away to something peaceful. That was until his younger brother – the 7 year old, not the 6 or 2 year old – came to complain to him. "I don't wanna be in charge of babysitting! That should be your job, not mine!" he whined. Taking out an earbud, he shook his head. Sooner or later he would need to learn that there were things that weren't simply handed to you. Though for the four brothers, a lot of things were.
Sighing, Piers patted the second eldest on the head.
"You aren't asked to do much. It won't be for long anyways. I'll switch off with you half way there if you agree to keep quiet. How's that?"
The child groaned, but held out a hand to shake. It was the way all four of the boys did things. In one way or another all the siblings were bound to need business edicate. Piers grinned, taking the tiny hand, giving it a quick shake before waiting for the plain to take off. Man, siblings were a handful…

Mila was so stunned that she didn't even bother to sign. She just raised her brows in disbelief at her sister, giving her that look they'd been sharing for years that clearly said 'are you sure?'. You know I always, always have you back Charlie. If you think you're ready…I'm ready to protect you. Mila signed carefully and low in her lap.