Coral Island sideblog

i just nicked these from pinterest i know that's bad i just wanted to show that i actually followed through on an idea pretty quickly for once sjhdfkshjdf

HAZEL (she/her/?) is the eldest, is gonna work out of the Observatory in some sort of meteorology or astronomy field, not actually WITH Wakuu but alongside. They vibe, they assist, they collab unofficially. Probably extends that to hire Macy for astrophotography type stuff, to promote all their work and research at times, and just to have higher quality images to supplement work notes etc. She seems quite firm and stoic, but just takes her work and passion therein seriously, and her role as oldest sibling (and eldest child) the same -- she's got a dry, sarcastic, often dark sense of humour, cares deeply, but at this point in her life, having hit 35yo on her way to 40, she's civil and respectful to new people and gives them a shot, but is a little more passive and observant, giving time for new folks show their true colours before she decides if they're someone worth letting in and opening up around.

Gets along well enough with Chaem, working where she lives; holds some mild disdain for the Duckorns' family overall as a unit and entity on the island but has more patience for Bree then more still for Luke -- not just because he's really helped her out acquiring new equipment; Yuri probably makes the cut as one of her closest friends over time, and Pablo might be up there too.

I think she might romance Aaliyah, but I will be doing some serious headcanons and retconning of some of Aaliyah's military background & affiliation in the present, and maybe altering or at least adding context to why she's so dismissive and fed-up with talk of the town's progress, why she's vaguely pro-Pufferfish, etc). I really want to like Aaliyah more than I do, and with every update that adds or changes her content that seems further out of reach, so I'm taking the core of it and going to keep some of that edge and contrarian-type reactions she has to some things, but hopefully give it more depth and a more understandable link between what's going on her head and what comes out of her mouth, at times. Pablo is probably the next contender if I can't make Aaliyah work.

(Notes abt Aaliyah: It feels like the writers tried to make her Different and Unique and Have Her Own Opinions as a townie, distinct from her family, but they've basically just. Put her on the "wrong" side of a lot of town development and conservation (environmental and cultural) points and it's like...you didn't have to make the ONE buff, short-haired black woman so gruff and grumpy about the main plot, and other townies. I just think it was really poorly implemented and makes a character I already ideologically have issues with (military) even harder to like, and with her being one of 2 dateable women of such athletic build, of only 2 romanceable black women, it's just rough. It wouldn't be such an issue if there were more other characters like her, in design and in writing/personality/approach to progress made in game.)

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JUNIPER (she/her/?) is next, recently single parent to a toddler (3ish, which in Australian education contexts would have them not quite eligible for kindergarten, but yes for some other early childhood parent-led, educator-guided education and social systems). Far more capable than she currently believes she is, kind of going through a rough patch right now and pretty near constantly frazzled. Leaning Theo romance here, and do not have more of an explanation for that at present. Just feels right, for now. Mark or Alice, perhaps, as "back-ups" / alternative options that seem feasible.

I have in my notes that maybe she'd work in some sort of veterinary science or wildlife conservation/management capacity, but that's now feeling like a better fit for one of the younger siblings, actually. I think for her first year, at least, she might just pick up work at the inn or something, or as a cleaner at the different venues & businesses around the island, so there's some flexibility in her schedule. Also means I don't have to know what, or if, she studied and what she was doing before baby and split and move, just yet.

Friendly with the other parents of younger children (canon kid NPCs are all older than hers, but Just You Wait! I have an imagination and headcanon capabilities set on changing that lmao). Would probably be more proactive about meeting up, hanging out, and feeling on their level once she finds her footing and confidence again, but for the moment it's a constant stream of internal comparisons and feeling like they have their shit together in ways she never will -- especially Suki, who has a healthy and amicable relationship with Antonio, unlike June's relationship with her own ex and child's father. Probably finds a lot of peace and comfort spending time with Betty, Sunny & Eleanor, and even Emily, Randy when he's available. Ben would be a calming, grounding companion up to a point, but she'd have days and moods where it'd have the opposite effect, too. Eva, Lily, and Rafael's calmer, quieter, wallflower-leaning tendencies would probably suit her well, and I think the kid would be inexplicably drawn to them, too.

Definitely, like, had her shit together and had a plan and was confident and settled and optimistic for the future, but splitting up with her partner and all the drama involved there (specifics to be determined) and becoming a single parent, picking up the tatters of her life and grand plans and stability and following her older sister to this remote island... She's a bit of a mess, but here to recoup and rebuild herself, and in the meantime...it takes a village!

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WILLOW (they/she) is third of 4 biological siblings, but 3rd of 5 in the family overall. Will is... a sort of chaos incarnate, in her own way. They're interested in everything, for a while, but very few things stick for long. Does gig work and/or freelancing -- of various persuasions -- around the island: Barista at Raj's, works the till at the Beach Shack to give Sunny some time off his feet -- doing the same for Sam took a lot more convincing, tends bar at Fishensips on busy nights or when the Jumas need time off, consistently helps Takeba clean the bathhouse a couple times a week, probably takes a lot of gigs from the errands board (more cooking or forage-based types that are canonically available, but then im thinking of stuff like the Sims 4 Odd Jobs system so like food delivery, the kids demand a judge for their impromptu sandcastle contest and have pooled all the coins they found as payment, etc). Will try anything once -- Scott, Pablo, Kenny, Denali, Zarah and their various flavours of spontaneity and adventurous streaks are all great companions, for good times, and awesome stories. Loves hanging out near wherever Dippa is doing their art and vibing, either talking, joining in alongside, or just observing for a while.

I actually think it would be funny as hell to pair them with Luke. He's so buttoned up, she'd be this (manic pixie dream demigirl ISH, but give it depth and fuller character) quirky, loud, free spirit with more piercings, makeup and wild fashion choices than Leah, Yuri, Erika & Miranjani combined. Walter would HATE her. Bree would think it's a fling. Luke wouldn't hold Will back or drag them down, but would just be a sort of grounding energy, a point of stability and calm and quiet when she needs that reminder, to be held and allowed to slow down, to exist quietly away from the world after burning themselves out a little. There's something in there about opposites attracting, about being the balancing element that fits so well. BUT ALSO Willow might have issues settling down, and/or might be poly, so I will (haha) have to sit with that some more. Denali could be a really sweet additional or alternative option, perhaps?

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ROWAN (she/her) & RIVER (they/them) are about the same age. Rowan is the 4th born to their parents; River is their maternal cousin, who was taken in and effectively became a 5th sibling while they were still young, not sure exactly when or what age but probably in the realm of 4-8yo. I haven't decided who's the older of the 2 yet, and that'll honestly probably come down to whatever happens when I'm building their astrological charts as a character development tool. They call themselves twins, just between the pair of them. Have their own bond, being so close in age, and quite a few years younger than their 3 older siblings. Both a bit more introverted and reserved, Rowan tends to remain that way no matter how close someone gets, but River opens up and shows a lot more confidence and extraversion once trust is built.

They haven't received quite as much thought or attention just yet, but it's in the works. I'm beginning to think Rowan is probably going to go the animal career route, whether that's conservation, veterinary science, not sure yet, but something animal, wildlife focused feels like a better fit for her than it did for June. Probably still studying in some capacity, remotely. River is as much into creative pursuits as they are coding and programming, so there's some overlap, and potential for both competition and collaboration with Lily there.