Juniper Halls

Willow, Violet, Holly, Fern and Briar are five sisters living in a grand house with vast grounds. Their mother Marguerite was found dead, slumped over the kitchen table two days ago. Their father has sent Willow and Briar to stay in the city with his sister Rosemary. Violet and Fern have been sent to work in Madam Desmonda's bed and breakfast, where they have free food and board. Holly remains at home to cook and clean for her father.

Naturally, all five girls are grief striken, and cannot begin to comprehend their mother's death. Briar is convinced that they've been seperated on purpose.

I'd like to be Briar. Please make sure the other four sisters are gone, then you can make your own characters, or take Rosemary or the girls' father, or Madam Desmonda. The sisters descend in age as follows;
Violet, Fern, Briar, Willow, Holly. Holly is fifteen, and Violet is twenty four. The other girls can be anywhere between these ages.

Name: Briar- Ann Donovan
Age:18
Birthday: October 30th
Hair:Dark red and way, just past her shoulders.
Eyes:Large, grey-blue.
Complexion: Pale, though with a bit of colour in her cheeks, and light freckles on her nose.
Appearance: She's small, smaller than Violet, Fern and Willow, and curvy. She wears jeans, and long loose shirts, usually black or grey, though sometimes green or red, and black boots. She wears a chain around her neck, from which a silver square, in which an opal is set, hangs. It was a gift from her mother on her eighteenth birthday, and she never takes it off.
Personality: Briar is naturally suspicious and secretive. She's very determined, and can tend to fly off the handle. She often acts without thinking, and is afraid of being seen as vulnerable. She spends much time scribbling in a ragged black hard-back notebook.
Bio:Briar has lived all her life with her sisters, father, and (until recently) her mother. She has, for many years, been good friends with a boy named Aidan, who was her neighbour, and misses him greatly now that she's not living at home.

*note: If anyone wants to be Aidan once the sisters are taken, feel free.

Can I take Fern?

Name: Fern Lisa Donovan

Age: 22

Birthday: 19th January

Hair: corn coloured, she keeps its French plaited usually, loose, it reaches the middle of her back.

Eyes: as her name suggests, fern green.

Complexion: medium, she isn't prone to freckles.

Appearance: slender, but she has a strong, tall figure at the same time. She dresses in quite, but not overly, bright colours, greens, blues and purples usually. She's very feminine in the way she dresses, with blouses and skirts and skinny jeans. She wears the charm bracelet that her mother put one charm a year onto at all times.

Personality: Fern is the organised one who thinks things through. She waits on the breakfast tables and is friendly, but can be quite shy, she won't be the one to introduce herself, but once someone does make converation she's happy to join in. She's practical and has a good mind for figures, she has agreed to help with Madam Desmonda's accounts.

Bio: not much different to her sisters. She loves her family greatly and she's glad that Violet's with her. She has decided to make the most out of working at the B&B and make good connections- as well as loyal friends- with the people who stay there. She is detemined to find out what has happened to her mother.

Of course you can! That's great, Stella, thanks a mil.

Name:Willow Vine Donovan (I had to give her that middle name )

Age: 17

Birthday: June 21

Hair: Light brown, with natural highlights

Eyes:Light Blue

Complexion: Tan, she likes to stay in the sun.

Appearance: Athletic, she is skinny, and athletic, but not muscular, she is strong, but she the muscles don't show unless she makes them. She is 5'5 and no more then 115lbs.

Personality: She is a big tomboy, loves pranking people. She rather hang out with guys then girls unless it is her sisters.

Bio: (I don't really have anything for here, it's the same as the other sisters.)



If you want me to change anything just tell me.

Love the plot, Jas. I'll choose...

Name= Violet Eliza Donovan

Age= 24

Birthday= 4th March

Appearance= Violet is quite tall and very slim with dark blue eyes, slightly pale skin and shoulder length brown hair that she usually dyes black. She favours simple clothes, usually a pair of jeans, a plain t-shirt and a black hoodie. Or when working, a simple white blouse, a black skirt and black shoes. At the bed and breakfast, she helps by taking orders, cleaning rooms and sometimes she checks people in and out.

Personality= Violet is a strong, highly independent young woman. She is used to looking after her sisters and as such is sometimes overly bossy and concerned, especially since their mother's death. Violet feels that it is her responsibility to look after the family.

Bio= When in company, Violet is her usual strong, independent self but as soon as she's alone she breaks down and falls into fits of depression. Violet was very close to her mother and misses her greatly.

Thanks Kit! Oooh, problem here dudes. Looks like you both posted bios for Willow at the exact same time (what are the odds?)...would one of you mind being Holly or Violet instead? Both of your bios are great, so maybe just change "Willow" to Holly or Violet, whichever you prefer. And thank you both for joining!


Violet,
[s]Fern,[/s]
[s]Briar[/s],
[s]Willow,[/s]
Holly

Name: Holly Marie Donovan
Age: 15
Birthday: April 27th
Hair: Light brown hair in soft waves that falls halfway down her upper-arms. She sometimes straightens her hair, and pulls half of it into a ponytail in public, and just a casual ponytail when she’s just hanging out at home.
Eyes: Dark blue with a hint of gray in them.
Complexion: Pale, but is able to tan if she is careful. Her skin is clear and smooth.
Appearance: Around 5’6” tall. She is very curvy, and very well toned with some muscle showing (she works out at home often to kill time.) She wears jeans and a tee shirt while out, but would rather just wear sweats and hang out at home. She wears the same simple sneakers at all times because she has inserts in them (flat feet.) She also wears a simple silver band around her right thumb, which was her best friend’s (Allie’s) ring. Allie had died of cancer four years ago and gave Holly the ring.
Personality: Holly puts on a strong face for everyone around, but she spends many nights in her room, crying. She has dealt with death before, and has learned to simply put up a defensive shield. Anytime her mother is mentioned, she acts indifferent. She views finding out what happened to her mother as another assingment, like homework, that she is required to do. She is very independent, and attempted to stay away from the family as much as possible. She does love her sisters, but never tells them that. She’d rather stay in the background where she can’t get hurt.
Biography: She has always been in the background at home, and is glad that her sisters are now out of the house. She loves them, but would rather deal with them in small doses, as she would with all people. She works quickly and efficiently, and always finds a chore or homework for her to do if she has free time. She doesn’t enjoy being with others; she’d rather just stay in her room, writing. She doesn’t see why they are trying to find out what happened to her mother. She thinks that she died, and there is nothing any of them can do about it. Her sisters convince her to help, since she is the only one left at home and will be able to find clues there that they couldn’t.
Other: If there are more characters, Holly is up for love, although she will be very distant until she grows to trust him.

Thanks JFW. So ya, now it looks like Violet is the only option for one of the Willows...hope this is ok with you guys.

Given that Kit and Cowgirl both called Willow at the same time, I think it's fair to presume that one of them has the right to Violet, since they'd already expressed an interest in this, so if anyone else cares to join, would they mind being Rosemary, the girls' father, Aidan, or making a new character?

Thanks.

Jas

I don't mind taking violet instead. I'll edit the bio in just a moment.

All right, I have put in my bio for Holly.

Also, when does this start? Are we waiting for more characters?

Hmmm interesting...

Name: James Hill
Age: 22
Gender: Male
Birthday: December 24th
Occupation: In between jobs at the moment
Hometown: Bermshire, England
Appearance: slightly shaggy brown hair, electric blue eyes, medium build
Attire: often wears dress slacks and button down shirts, simple black shoes, black fedora hat.
Personality: Sarcastic, one of those broken soul types(ever since his girlfriend of five years died anyways), can be a smart ass and likes to laugh
History: was the youngest son in an aristocratic blue blood family in England until his wealth, and grief, got the better of him and long story short he was disowned and kicked out of his house. He took his clothes, belongings, and what little money he had and left. He picked up a habit of gambling and stopped playing the piano, which he loved doing. His elder brothers and mother have tried to make contact with him but he is always on the move.
Current Position: Madame Desmond's Bed and Breakfast in New York City (let me know if u want the location changed..it wasn't specified..or maybe it was ..idk!)

James:

You never would have guessed it was there, the quaintest little bed and breakfast. Right in the heart of New York City. It was tucked into a sea of buildings and bustling traffic. It was a cozy retreat surrounded by a city of sin and loud noises. Or so the cab driver, Hogarth, described it. He was an older man, grey hair, bad left knee, dentures.

"Dezzy's is the best place in the whole city to stay," he jabbered from the front seat glancing into the rearview mirror every five seconds. James was attempting to get his cell phone to turn back on but seeing as he hadn't charged it in three days he doubted it was a possibility, "And you'll get no better service then at Dezzy's! And oh boy does she make a mean cup o coffee."

"Great, that sounds great. Do you think they'll have a room for me?" He said unexcitedly, still messing with his phone.

"Dezzy always has a room! Ah, what's your name son?"

"Max." He lied glancing up into the rearview mirror catching the old man's eye for a quick second. He had taken to changing his identity over the past few months. He wasn't as worried about his brothers finding him as he was other people. Just after he was disowned and kicked out he got in pretty bad with the wrong group. He became a perpetual gambler and got into debt, that he couldn't pay off. As soon as the gang he was indebted to realised he wouldn't be able to pay up they started coming after him. It didn't help that every city he stopped in he also gambled in.

"Whereabouts are you from Max, I detect an accent in your voice." Damn, he would have to get rid of that.

"Brooklyn." he lied, fixing his voice to get rid of the accent.

"Oh, for a bit there you sounded brittish to me."

"Nope," he flashed a smile, "born and raised in Brooklyn." He was going to have to find someone to help him with his little identity change. He was in New York though, it shouldn't be too hard.

The car pulled to a stop and it began to drizzle. James looked at the clock in the dash, 6:32.

"Here we are, Madame Desmond's Bed and Breakfast!" Hogarth said over excitedly. He put the car in park and cut the engine.

"How much do I owe you?"

"Fifty two dollars and eighty three cents. I'll walk you in." He added as James handed him the cash. James shoved his cell phone in his pant pocket and pulled his hat lower over his face to sheild the rain. He only had one siutcase which was on the seat next to him. He grabbed the handle and swung the door open, following Hogarth into the B&B.

"Dezzy!" Hogarth called once inside the small quiet lobby, which was more like a foyer with a concierge desk in it. "I brought you soem buisness!" A heavier set woman with short grey hair came from down the hall with a dish cloth slung over her shoulder.

"Hogarth! You know if you keep bringing me bodies I think I might run out of space to put them in!"

"You can thank me later!"

"Fern! Come out here and check this boy in!" Madame Desmond called down the hall. A blond haired girl popped her head out from a doorway and came down the hall, a bright smile on her face. Her green eyes were warm and friendly. Desmond and Hogarth walked down the hall arm in arm laughing and talking.

"Alright Mr...."

"Jones, Max Jones." She turned to the computer and started typing fervently.

"I'm going to need to see some id." She said looking up at him. Damn.

"Um, you know my wallet was stolen at the airport, with my id in it." He shrugged and half smiled.

"Oh, thats okay. I'll be right back okay." He was going to need to get that new identity soon.

Name: Aidan Miller

Age: 18

Birthday: April 17th

Hair: Black, medium length

Eyes: Hazel

Complexion: Somewhat pale, though not overly so.

Appearance: Average height, about 5'10''-11'' with a slight build. Wears plane clothes: jeans/dark sweaters on colder days; T-shirts/cargo shorts on warmer days. Whether he's wearing sneakers or sandals is also weather dependent. Wears a neon-pink entrance bracelet (the kind that you get when you enter an amusement park) on his left wrist, which hasn't been taken off ever since he got it; no one, other than him, knows why he hasn't removed it.

Personality: Sort of an opposite that counterbalances Briar: he appears calm and passive. He does no anger easily, and shows little passion for things other than the people he cares about. And caring he is, as well as supportive if need be--in fact, he puts the well-being of others far above his own.

Bio: Was Briar's neighbour, though isn't aware of the was quite yet (i.e. he doesn't know that she's moved, though he will find out soon). In all, he's lived a quiet, secluded life in a large house adjacent to the Donovan's.

Thanks Kit, JFW, Rory, and Phindin. The bios are great.
Ya, Rory, I was picturing this as set more in a rural area, except for Rosemary's house... I'm not sure New York is quite right...sorry, should have said that initially. No JFW, we seem to have all the central characters. If anyone else cares to join they can of course make a new character, but I reckon it should be ok to start now.

Briar

"Wake up, girls, this isn't a hotel I'm running here!" In the bed across from me, Willow stirred. Scowling, I shoved my notebook under my pillow and swung my legs over the side of the bed, wincing as the soles of my feet hit the cold floor. Aunt Rosemary rapped on the door more insistenetly. I hoped that it was hurting her fingers.

"Alright, alright, we're up." I yelled back. This time, Willow opened her eyes, blinked a few times, and hoisted herself upright. I watched her blearily take in her surroundings, and could see the grief creeping into her features when she remembered where she was, and the terrible circumstances which had brought her there.

"Morning." I forced a smile, and then set about gathering up my clothes for the day ahead, and piling them on my bed. I concentated deeply on each item, right down to my socks, not because I had any particular interest in how I dressed, but because it stopped my mind from wandering.

We began to dress in silence. Once ready, I crossed the room to my sister.
"I've written to Violet and Fern, asking whether they'll be able to get away on Sunday. I was thinking we could go meet them in the town...I've sent what few coins I have...I'm sure they'll send their wages back to Father, and he'll notice if there are any missing..." I sighed. "There's not much I can do about Holly for now, though...I'm not sure that father would want me writing to her...maybe he thinks if we're together we'll dwell too much upon the past," (it seemed like a travesty to refer to three days ago as the past), "and I'm not sure writing letters straight away shows that I'm trying to adapt to whatever chaneg he's trying to distract us with..."

I briefly considered the fact that he'd sent four of us away, as he couldn't handle five daughters as well as his grief, but we'd been fairly self-sufficient for a long time now. We weren't much of a burden.

"Girls!"Shouted Aunt Rosemary. "If you're not down this stairs in five minutes, I'm coming in with a bucket of cold water!"

"Alright! We're coming." I muttered crossly, then turned back to Willow."We'd better start making a move."

She gave me a watery smile, and I squeezed her shoulder before we headed down the stairs. Aunt Rosemary was standing at the foot.

"Well well well, if it isn't the ladies of leisure, finally gracing us with their presence."

I scowled. "If you want us down here earlier, then wake us earlier."

She glared at me. "Don't take that tone with me in my own house, girl. Here's me trying to help you, taking you in in yoru own of need..."

" Don't go playing the martyr on us." I spat back. We'd rather have stayed at home." No sooner were the words out of my mouth than I regretted having spoken them.

"Amongst your dead mother's things? In the rooms where her scent still lingers?"

I recoiled as if she'd slapped me. I wasn't going to cry. I rubbed my eyes fiercly with the back of my hand.

"See? Look what happens when we stand idle!" Aunt Rosemary exclaimed, gesturing towards me. "Go have yor breakfast, quickly, both of you, then there are chores to be done."

Willow-

Willow wanted to yell at their aunt. She wanted ot be around her mother's stuff, though she never told anyone. She bit back a smart remark and stormed past their Aunt. She wasn't going to even think about letting her know how badly she wanted to cry. She walked into the kitchen and quickly ate breakfast not saying anything to Briar.

Just cause your taking care of us doesn't mean you can treat us like we are just slaves! We just lost our mother! She screamed at her Aunt in her mind. A small smile made her lips twitch as she planned out a way to get back at her Aunt. A simple, innocent prank that would lead back to her or Briar would be fun. She let ideas flash through her brain waiting for the perfect one. No one was mean to her family and got away with it. Aunt Rosemary would pay, or Willow's sister wasn't Briar.