[FATE] Holiday with the Smiths

[Andor]

Roe, if you're going to stick with Randy, maybe Jed could be another victim of his "help". Maybe Randy was the one who advised Jed's father on the bank loan, or did something that removed his ability to pay back the bank?

[girlplay]

Good stuff, guys! I like the collaboration.

[Roekahs]

Originally Posted by Andor

Roe, if you're going to stick with Randy, maybe Jed could be another victim of his "help". Maybe Randy was the one who advised Jed's father on the bank loan, or did something that removed his ability to pay back the bank?

I like this idea. After giving it some thought - and trying to fit all the pieces between the stories together - here is my counter-proposal (or really just additional information for your consideration):
Randy would certainly have tried to mend the rift between Bernice and her brother and some of his involvement could have been bad advice - more likely advice that would have been better suited for someone living in a typical suburb than someone living off the land in the mountains. It might be really interesting if Jed doesn't even really know about Randy's involvement and then somewhere in the character dialogue it comes out and Jed has to deal with that information on the fly (and Randy has to deal with the repercussions). Note: I am not entirely sure how this would work, but secrets are always fun ... especially when they are finally unveiled ... and I am game

[Berith]

Application - WIP Name: James Anderson "J.A." Smith, Ph.D. High Concept: Love-starved, isolated overachiever. Position in family: Oldest son of Bernice, younger brother of Honey Bea Trouble: Cool, distant, and self-assured. Lacks empathy. Believes he did everything he was supposed to do and doesn't understand why he's unhappy and alone. Aspect 1: Loves his daughter to death, is heartbroken over their estrangement, is cultured and urbane. Dreams of marrying a younger woman with children to be a father again. Career and hobbies: Northwestern BA, Ph.D. in Economics from Stanford Graduate School of Business. Winner of the John Bates Clark Medal. Former full professor at Chicago, now holds an endowed chair at a smaller state flagship university. Was the youngest state chess champion in state history, seldom plays now. Enjoys travel, reading, tennis, cooking, fencing. Immediate family: Divorced, one child (Rowan). On civil terms with ex-wife. Almost got remarried once, but she left him, claiming he "didn't love her enough." Possible issues: - Resentful of domineering, unappreciative mother - Idolizes older sister, Honey Bea, who can do no wrong in his eyes - Supported Rowan's love of archaeology, is deeply disturbed by her willingness to throw her career away for pseudoscience. Knows that academic reputations are fragile and irreparable. - Has no real relationship with Randy, who was a preschooler when J.A. went to college. J.A. sees him at holidays and family functions and sends him well-curated, expensive birthday and Christmas gifts. - Father was a nonentity, J.A. became family's de facto male role model.

[Andor]

Originally Posted by Roekahs

Randy would certainly have tried to mend the rift between Bernice and her brother and some of his involvement could have been bad advice - more likely advice that would have been better suited for someone living in a typical suburb than someone living off the land in the mountains. It might be really interesting if Jed doesn't even really know about Randy's involvement and then somewhere in the character dialogue it comes out and Jed has to deal with that information on the fly (and Randy has to deal with the repercussions).

That sounds fine to me. Not so much incompetence as simply not understanding Jed's dad's resources and understanding of the world.

I guess I should actually name Jed's dad something other than 'Jed's Dad', huh? Okay, time to come up with an immediate family tree and timeline!

[girlplay]

I'm guessing that most people will be busy over the harvesttime festivals, so we'll stick with the original applications deadline of Nov 27th. Then again, I may just take everyone, depending whether or not we get more applicants. Anyway, please continue to work on your ideas and ask me any questions that you might have.

[ihinka]

@Berith So we can see where Ro gets her handsome and brains from

Joking aside... I think we'll need to work out some things if Ro's parents are divorced. Why? How did that affect Ro if it did at all. How old was she when it happened. Joint custody, or did dad raise her on his own. If the latter, again, why? Stuff like that.

[Berith]

I will happily defer to your preference, but my first thoughts are shared custody, divorced maybe when you were between 8-11 or so?

Why? Probably some combination of getting married too young, JA's emotional reserve, and the alienating effects of building a world-class academic career?

[ihinka]

Sorry I'm late to respond...

If Ro was 8/11 years when they divorced I suppose we can't say her being gay had anything to do with it. Though I'm wondering... If it was a bit later... say when Ro was about 15 and she came out to her parents and the mom was violently /psychologically, not physically/ against it, could that have influenced a divorce on top of other stuff?

If we go with that I wonder if Nana's stipulation would encompass Ro's mother as well, or not, since she was married into the family and is now not a member due to divorce.

But I could go with amicable divorce and Ro having a good relationship with her mother, which would serve to aggravate the rift between daughter and father.

This is all I have the brain capacity for at the moment -_-

[Berith]

If you'd like to have your sexual orientation be a factor in the divorce, I'm fine with that, as long as it was Mom's issue, not J.A.'s.

[ihinka]

Mom's issue, yes... I was just wondering if the mom was so opposed it that dad, who loves his daughter dearly would tell mom to take a hike

[Berith]

It could easily have been the final nail in the coffin.

[ihinka]

Than let's run with it

[girlplay]

Hi there. Just a reminder that we have only a couple days left for applicants to voice their interest and share their character and plot ideas. I'm grateful for the interest thus far and can hardly wait to get started!

[ihinka]

I'm excited to get started as well