⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙⋆⁺₊⋆Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄ ɬɧɛ ცყяŋɛʂ ʄąɱıƖყ Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ⋆⁺₊⋆•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙ (family is co-owned by Cat Waffle and Cinnabun Gryffie)
Cormac Byrnes, PhD (NPC) -- muggle professor emeritus of engineering -- father of Killian, adoptive father of Aldis ❤Siobhan Byrnes (NPC)--muggle pastry chef (retired) -- mother of Killian, adoptive father of Aldis
✿Aldis Reuben Byrnes (41) (NPC)-- muggle app developer at Snapdragon Solutions -- father of Torin and Skyla ✄ Fiana Arlin Byrnes nee Mercer (41) -- muggle (former) museum educator -- mother of Torin and Skyla (played by addaellis)
↪Killian Patrick Byrnes (NPC)-- muggle video game designer
Mercer line Desmond Mercer (NPC) -- muggle schoolteacher (retired)-- father of Caroline and Fiana ❤Aine Mercer (deceased) (NPC)-- muggle schoolteacher-- mother of Caroline and Fiana
↪Caroline Aislin Mercer (41) (NPC) -- muggle librarian-- mother of Candice ❤Aaric Eaton Mercer (41) (NPC)-- muggle sound designer-- father of Candice
↪ Candice Eibhlin Mercer (NPC)-- muggle drummer for The Dead Scandals
xxxUPDATESxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx CREATED June 2021 UPDATED --- UPDATES MADE ■ Age update ■ (recent update) ■ (recent update)
ACCEPTED BY:🕱мנ ѕρσσкѕ🕱[19 July 2021] UPDATES ACCEPTED BY:(crew do the thing here pls) ACCEPTED CHARACTERS: Fiana [19 July 2021]Torin [19 July 2021]Skyla [19 July 2021]
Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2021 3:18 pm
xʚĭɞxFIANAxxxARLINxxxMERCERx🏛xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Fiana is the mother of Torin and Skyla Byrnes. She works as a shop assistant in Synister Studio and is working on a project to establish a museum of magical history.
xxxʚĭɞBASICS🏛xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx PRONUNCIATION fee-ANA ARE-lin MER-cer FORMERLY KNOWN ASFiana Arlin Byrnes NICKNAMES Fi, Finny, Mrs. Byrnes GENDER female SEXUAL ORIENTATION straight AGE 43 BIRTHDAY August 14th, 2014 -- Leo LANGUAGES English, Irish Gaelic (fluent), Scots and Manx Gaelic (proficient), Latin and Sanskrit (rudimentary) BLOOD STATUSmuggle
FACECLAIMMiranda Otto strawberry blonde hair, green eyes. HEIGHT 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) WEIGHT 119 lbs (54 kg) APPEARANCE
xxxʚĭɞSCHOOLANDCAREER🏛xxxxxxxxxxxx EDUCATION ■ (never completed) PhD in Classics (Trinity College, left June 2044) ■ MPhil in Identities and Cultures of Europe (Trinity College, Class of 2042) ■ MA in Cultural Heritage and Resource Management (University of Winchester, Class of 2038 ) ■ BSc Hons English Linguistics (University of Winchester, Class of 2037)
CLUBS ■ Reading Group (throughout all schooling) ■ Fencing (only at Trinity)
DREAM JOB Museum Curator CURRENT OCCUPATION ■ Shopkeeper for Synister Studios (2054 - present)
■ Formerly: Secretary for Snapdragon Solutions (2044 - 2055) (11 years) ■ Formerly: Educator (2042 -2050) and research assistant (2040-2042) for the National Museum of Ireland (10 yrs) ■ Formerly: Research assistant for the Museum of Literature Ireland (2036 - 2040) ■ Formerly: Gallery assistant (2033-2036) and administrative assistant/ receptionist (2030 - 2033) at Westgate Museum (6 years)
xxxʚĭɞPERSONALITY🏛xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx SENSITIVEEasily touched or offended, Fiana is generally a sweet and soft-spoken wit who is equally quick to trust or hold a grudge. Although she has always been considered the more forgiving and less touchy twin, Fiana is simply not as expressive about her unkind feelings. Through most of her life, Fiana has dealt with mood swings and irritability that makes her both easy to upset and cheer up. Despite weekly swings and momentary touchiness though, both Fiana and her twin Caroline have always tried to believe in hopefulness and resilience in the face of uncertainty or despair.
PASSIONATEA romantic at heart, Fiana wears her heart mostly on her sleeve-- she has very many interests and curiosities and is very open and expressive about her interests. She’s constantly looking about, absorbing everything around her, and expresses cheer openly. Aside from her museum and linguistic passions, Fiana’s children-- her pearls-- are her pride and joy. Connecting with them meaningfully has been her top priority since their conception.
AMICABLEFamily and friends are everything and Fiana has time and again sacrificed her own mental health or dreams for her family. She tries quite hard to get along with and befriend everyone she encounters. With little time to keep in regular contact with different friend groups though, she is mostly left with positive but distant acquaintances. She always managed to face complications with a calm smile, even if she’ll collapse or explode once it’s over. She tries to hide her own misgivings and insecurities, expressing only the positive and cheerful.
INQUISITIVEFiana approaches the world with curiosity and interest, constantly observing and asking questions. She loves discovering new worlds and cultures, and enjoys getting to know and building connections with people around her. From her care and curiosity towards cultural and linguistic research to taking care of the household, Fiana has questions about everything: even if she doesn’t particularly like what she has to do, she will find a way to enjoy and be intrigued by something about it and throw her full effort towards it.
THOROUGHCohesiveness, understandability, and flow are the golden standards in both work and everyday thinking. Fiana has always loved reading and listening to stories about people and the way they live and she’s always willing to learn more or share what she’s learned. Moreover, she has a diligent mind that follows through with any anecdotes and theories, grounding them in other knowledge. This was built up through her studies, and she was generally an excellent student; even if she is no longer working, she carries this mindset to her parenting and homemaking.
ʚĭɞ🏛HOBBIES ■ Reading everything and designing ways to display or showcase things she’s read. ■ Fencing ■ Brewing Tea
ʚĭɞLIKES ■ Books. Visual novels. Research anthologies. Fashion magazines. Cereal boxes. Her kindle is always on her. ■ Tea and desserts ■ Cultures, languages, myths. People and the things they come up with! ■ Picnics -- bird watching and stargazing during them. ■ Hair accessories
🏛DISLIKES ■ Cleaning. Messes, but also cleaning messes. ■ Shopping ■ Arrogance and entitlement -- people who think they know more than the exhibit are usually (not always!) but usually full of themselves. ■ Heights ■ Being stressed, overworked, but excited by an idea. There is not enough time in the day for everything.
ʚĭɞSTRENGTHS ■ Active, interested, with good follow through. ■ Friendly and open-minded, gets along with most people
🏛WEAKNESSES ■ Spreads herself too thin-- she tries to handle everything herself and inevitably burns out ■ People pleaser-- her amiability makes her anxious to be pleasant and inoffensive with everyone
ʚĭɞDREAMS ■ Going back to working in a museum in a curator position ■ Writing and illustrating a book ■ Torin and Skyla finding their passions and loves
🏛FEARS ■ Torin or Skyla getting cancer and dying the way her mother did. Tor or Sky getting hurt in any way really. She knows they’ll be hurt over the course of life, but she fears them suffering through it alone. ■ Being alone, without or unable to turn to her or twin or dad. ■ Family feuds. Anyone in the family detesting anyone else.
xxxʚĭɞBACKSTORY🏛xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ʚĭɞ🏛EARLY CHILDHOODFiana Arlin Mercer was born just 12 minutes after her fraternal twin, Caroline Aislin Mercer. They were nearly opposites at first blush--Caroline was straightforward and headstrong, while Fiana was flowery and meticulous. The daughters of schoolteachers Desmond and Aine Mercer, Cammy and Finny were both friendly, enjoyed reading, and excellent students, although with different groups, aesthetics, and subjects. At first they fought over everything and competed bitterly at school.
Everything changed when they turned 15 and Aine was diagnosed with brain cancer. As Desmond picked up a second job to pay hospital bills, the twins struggled to balance their own schedules with hospital visits and taking care of the home. They bonded over their shared responsibility and concern, growing to trust and rely on each other through tense times. While the twins had been babysitting and pet-sitting to earn spare change since they were 13, they immediately turned to looking for part-time work. Cammy found work at a local library first, and a few months later, Fiana started as receptionist and administrative assistant at a local museum. Otherwise, the girls spent their time in their mother’s hospital room, keeping her spirits up or just doing homework. Unfortunately, after a hard struggle, Aine passed away just a year and a half later.
ʚĭɞ🏛EDUCATION and MARRIAGE After sixth form, Caroline and Fiana both attended the local University of Winchester. Fiana did a sandwich year in the midst of her linguistics program and started studying comparative mythology as a remote research assistant for the Museum of Literature in Ireland. During these years she improved her Irish Gaelic, her mother’s language, and dabbled into Scots and Manx Gaelic. Her museum experience and education fed into her first Masters directly working with cultural heritage work in museums.
While Fiana loved living with her father and twin, she was feeling a little extra by the time she graduated at 23. Not a few months after sixth form exams, Cammy had gotten pregnant. She and her secondary school sweetheart, Aaric, were engaged, but decided to wait on a wedding until after Cammy got her degree. Aaric had started working, and Grandpa Desmond doted on baby Candy. Meanwhile, Fiana hadn’t so much as had a first kiss or date. Her father would occasionally tease her about more grandchildren and while she knew he was only teasing, Finny started to feel like she had to be somehow undesirable or unfit as a romantic interest. When the Museum of Literature offered an in-person role in Ireland, Fiana took the opportunity to escape her home life.
After a year in Ireland and a particularly successful collaboration project, Fiana transferred to the National Museum of Ireland. Her new supervisor, Quinn, was aghast that Finny had been in Ireland for a year but still didn’t have many friends outside of work. Xe took Fiana out to various gatherings and activities, including xer school fencing club. The club captain was one tall, dark-eyed, and handsome Aldis Byrnes. There was an instant connection: Fiana found in Aldis a gentle and honorable inspiration, and Aldis found in Fiana an eagerness to learn, affection, and stability. Three weeks after meeting they started dating; a year later, they were married, and pregnant with twins of their own.
With the museum funding further education, Fiana applied to Trinity College to further continue studying cultural identities and comparative mythology. Aldis completed his masters in Data Science a year before the twins were born. After a few years working in cyber security, he started his own security development startup called Snapdragon Solutions. Juggling her new promotion to Museum Educator, her graduate classes, and caring for their new children, Finny carved out time to help the small Snapdragon team organize and streamline their workflow. With the added stressors though, Fiana quickly burnt out. She had faced mood swings and burnout before, but this time it was a new level of exhaustion and depression. With her studies in Latin and Sanskrit stalling as well, Fiana spiraled into suicidal thoughts. After three months of barely being able to find the energy to eat and cradle the kids, much less work or do school and housework, she made plans to take leave from the Classics PhD program. She never went back to it, but did continue her museum work after a month’s leave and starting on antidepressants.
ʚĭɞ🏛CHILDREN and FAMILY LIFEThe twins, Torin Sheamus and Skyla Corinne Byrnes, were Fiana and Aldis’s pearls, prides, and joys. Both parents adored the twins, and although keeping up with work and home was a struggle sometimes, the twins’ health, well-being, and education were uncompromisable priorities. As parents, they always expressed curiosity and support for Tor and Sky’s thoughts, interests, and dreams, treating them as much as possible as intellectual equals from a young age. Finny nurtured their inquisitiveness in people and the world around them, while Aldis encouraged resilience, hopefulness, and playful spirit in their lives. The twins were always the first to experience and comment on exhibits at the museum, and the first playtesters for anything the Snapdragon team worked on. After the parents’ weekend fencing group, the whole family would have picnic luncheons in St. Stephen’s Green. A few times a year Aldis would participate in a Game Jam or Hack-a-Thon, and the kids were always invited to participate and treated as an equal team member.
They maintained distant but regular contact with extended family. Their playful Uncail Killian and paternal grandparents were available locally for babysitting. Once a year, usually over summer or winter breaks, Grandpa Mercer would visit them for a few weeks; other years, they would visit Aunt Cammy in England.
As the twins started school, Torin started getting back pain and balance issues. Initial doctor visits didn’t suspect anything and despite the family history, Fiana was mostly assured it was another issue, perhaps to do with sleep or the new stress from school. That changed suddenly then Torin passed out at school and was rushed to the hospital: there they found a quickly-growing tumor on his lower spine. The operation would cost him his legs. Fiana immediately feared cancer, and made sure Skyla was also getting the needed checkups. Aldis warned her not to get too paranoid, but the thought of her children dying the way her mother had was heartbreaking and mind consuming. Thankfully, Torin recovered healthily and Skyla seemed to be healthy as well.
As medical bills, and a full home renovation--ramps, bathrooms, flooring and furnishing--wiped their savings out, Finny made the controversial decision to resign from the museum. She was stretched thin between her positions already and decided that someone needed to be at home more and knew Aldis couldn’t leave his own company or swap roles, especially given how small the team was. Tensions over finances and long hours apart strained their marriage, but they managed to keep their one-story flat and return to a state of partial normalcy.
ʚĭɞ🏛THE WIZARDING WORLDThat normalcy changed shortly after the twins turned 11 with the arrival of Hogwarts Governor Wesley Edgeworth. Fiana took to the wizarding world with careful but open interest; Aldis was more hesitant but did eventually agree to send the children to Hogwarts. With fewer home responsibilities, Fiana soon got a part-time job--not at the museum like Aldis expected, but at Synister Studios, an art shop and studio in wizarding Diagon Alley. She learned more about the wizarding world and took the WOMBAT exams and befriending Zavier Moore, a linguist and translator for ancient runes.
Over the twins' second year, Fiana and Aldis tried to work on their marriage more, but the cracks had started to grow. By the summer, they submitted the final divorce paperwork and Fiana moved to a small flat in wizarding area. After some months of tension, it was clear the divorce was better for both of them. Fiana continued working at Synister Studios, but dedicated more time to learning about the wizarding world and started developing plans for a Museum of Magical History.
Christmas breaks would still be as a full family--something Torin insisted on. The first of these went more smoothly than expected and there was even a comment that it was like Aldis and Fiana never broke apart. There was a hint of getting back together, but the put a stop to it before anything happened. The next joint Christmas was perfectly civil.
xxxʚĭɞRELATIONSHIPS🏛xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx FAMILY ■ ChildrenTorin Sheamus Byrnes; Skyla Corinne Byrnes, (muggleborn)
■ Twin’s familyCaroline Aislin Mercer, librarian; Aaric Eaton Mercer, sound designer; Candice Eibhlin Mercer, drummer for The Dead Scandals ■ ParentsAine Mercer, schoolteacher (muggle);Desmond Mercer, schoolteacher (muggle);
■ Ex-HusbandAldis Reuben Byrnes, Developer and Founder of Snapdragon Solutions (muggle) ■ Ex In-law familyKillian Patrick Byrnes, video game developer (muggle), Siobhan Byrnes, pastry chef (retired, muggle); Cormac Byrnes, PhD, professor emeritus of engineering (muggle)
FRIENDS ■ Best Friend: Quinn O’Neill, former mentor (npc) ■ Zavier Moore, fellow linguistic enthusiast; ■ Driskol Abrams and family. ■ The Snapdragon Solutions staff ■ Former friends from work or school
xxxʚĭɞUPDATES🏛xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx CREATED June 2021 UPDATED 02 October 2022 UPDATES MADE ■ Updated to divorce ■ (recent update) ■ (recent update)
ATTENDINGHogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
YEAR First
HOUSE (Gryffindor -or- Hufflepuff -or- Ravenclaw -or- Slytherin)
DREAM JOB Journalism
xxxPERSONALITYxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
POSITIVE Torin always looks at the bright side of things. Even when something bad happens he focuses most on how it can get better and looks for the silver lining in everything. As such he always seems happy. He's first to point out something good about something or someone even if its something he doesn't like RESILIENT Torin is tough physically and mentally. He doesn't like things to keep him down and will tough things out to make sure they don't. He doesn't like to give up. He's a fighter FRIENDLY Torin will happily greet friendly strangers and he treats everyone like a friend. He is not shy at all and loves conversations EXCITABLE Torin gets excited about things pretty quickly and often. Even small little things that most might get an 'oh that's neat' will get him excited even if it's only for a moment. PETTY Torin hates being wronged or offended. He gets that accidents and normal misunderstandings happen. But when theres clear ill intent Torin doesn't forget and will usually be passive aggressive at best or deliberate revenge at worst BRAVE Torin is rarely scared and the few times he was he was steadfast. Even with his health scare he kept a level head. He refuses to let bad things have a negative effect on him if he has anything to say about it.
LIKES ■ blue ■ Meatballs ■ warm weather ■ decorating his wheelchair ■ heights ■ racing his sister
WEAKNESSES ■ Cartwheels ■ He holds a grudge for a long time.
FEARS ■ His sister being as sick as he was
FAMILY ■ Aine (deceased) and Desmond (maternal grandparents) Cormac and Siobhan (paternal grandparents) ■ Caroline and Aaric (maternal aunt and uncle), Candice (maternal cousin) Killian (paternal uncle) ■ Fiana and Aldis (parents) ■ Skyla (twin sister)
xxxBACKSTORYxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
EARLY CHILDHOOD Torin was the oldest of the twins born to Aldis and Faina Byrnes. He and his sister Skyla got along better than most siblings; they played a lot and cared for each other. He enjoyed football while Skyla learned gymnastics When he was in year two in school, Torin started having balance issues and some back pain. Initially the parents and doctors weren't too concerned till Torin started having worse issues very quickly and started simply feeling sick. Torin was a tough cookie and tried to hide how bad he felt not wanting his parents or sister to worry. But after passing out and falling at school, he was rushed to the hospital. Many tests later it was discovered he had a quickly growing tumor on his lower spine and was only going to get worse. Removing it would save him but his spine was damaged from how the tumor grew so he would have to use a wheelchair. Much to their relief when the removed tumor was tested, Torin didn't have cancer and his health got better after the surgery.
Getting used to having wheels was initially rough for Torin. He disliked having people have to worry about him or have to do things for him. He worried as they wanted to make sure Skyla also didn't have the same issue. Luckily it was only him who was the sick one. He would hate to have her have to use a wheelchair like him or have the cancer he luckily avoided. His parents tried to not have them see them fight but Torin knew making things work for him was not cheap and was definitely stressful. It was like when Skyla and him got into it sometimes when they were both stressed. That didnt mean they were anything more than frustrated at the moment. He didn't like seeming helpless and worked to be as independent as possible as his parents and sister already did so much to make it easier for him to wheel around.
In school he had some bullies at school that mocked him for his wheelchair but he just ran over their feet in class. Torin got used to just being different and honestly felt it made him special. Who else can say they had survived a bad thing growing inside then and he could pop wheelies whenever he wanted. He even found new ways to be active! With some ingenuity he and his dad worked his need of a wheelchair into sporty things. Not far from their 11th birthday the twins learned they were special! They were magic! He was excited to start burning some rubber at their wonderful sounding magical school
SCHOOL YEARS ■ FIRST YEAR (what happened your character's first year of school; this section will be added in after their first year is completed) ■ SECOND YEAR (what happened your character's second year of school; this section will be added in after their second year is completed) ■ THIRD YEAR (what happened your character's third year of school; this section will be added in after their third year is completed) ■ FOURTH YEAR (what happened your character's fourth year of school; this section will be added in after their fourth year is completed) ■ FIFTH YEAR (what happened your character's fifth year of school; this section will be added in after their fifth year is completed) ■ SIXTH YEAR (what happened your character's sixth year of school; this section will be added in after their sixth year is completed) ■ SEVENTH YEAR (what happened your character's seventh year of school; this section will be added in after their seventh year is completed)
xxx𝓟𝒆𝓻𝓼𝓸𝓷𝓪𝓵𝓲𝓽𝔂xxx xxxxx⇾Pʀᴏᴛᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ: First and foremost, Sky is extremely protective of her family and friends. From watching her brother get sick, to their lives get turned upside down, Sky has vowed to do everything in their power to keep those she loves safe and happy.... by any means available.
xxxxx⇾Oᴘᴛɪᴍɪsᴛɪᴄ: Despite life being a near-constant stream of hospitals, doctors, and tests, Skyla's always tried to remain optimistic. Her brother wasn't nearly as sick as he could be, her parents managed to keep their home afloat... and hey, she still had her family to count on. Luckily, despite the several bursts of bad luck, there always seemed to be a bubble of good.
xxxxx⇾Eɴᴇʀɢᴇᴛɪᴄ: Sky has always been an incredibly active child. From play fighting with Torin to her constant need to be in motion, Sky has usually found productive ways of getting her energy out. Unfortunately, it backfires any time she's got to stay cooped up and still.
xxxxx⇾Qᴜɪᴄᴋ-Tᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴇᴅ: Skyla is well known to go from 0-100 really quickly. She typically flares her temper when her protectiveness is triggered, but she can also snap in other situations. Bullies beware.
xxxxx⇾Iɴᴏ̨ᴜɪsɪᴛɪᴠᴇ: Sky has always been the type to ask "why". She loves to know how things work, and if someone tries presenting solid logic, she'll do her best to pick it apart in ways she can best get all the information. She also loves to be hands-on, and her curiosity leads to some interesting places.
xxxxx⇾Cᴏᴍᴘᴇᴛᴇᴛɪᴠᴇ: Typically against Torin, Skyla is incredibly competitive. Before he was wheel-bound, the two would duke it out, play soccer, or do sprints. Afterward, they took to wheels, with her using skates, her skateboard, or even her bike. Luckily, her twin matched her competitive nature, so they both had fun. There may or may not have been sore losers from time to time, though.
xxx𝒟𝑒𝓈𝒾𝓇𝑒𝓈xxx xxxxx⇾Help Torin get better xxxxx⇾Win at the Olympics
xxx𝐹𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓈xxx xxxxx⇾Needles xxxxx⇾Thunderstorms
xxxℬ𝓲𝓸𝓰𝓻𝓪𝓹𝓱𝔂xxx
xxx𝒞𝒽𝒾𝓁𝒹𝒽𝑜𝑜𝒹xxx Skyla is the younger twin born to Aldis and Faina Byrnes. She and her older twin, Torin, were better friends than most other kids with siblings, so she liked it a lot. As they got out of toddler-hood, both kids chose different athletic activities. She chose gymnastics, while Torin went for soccer. When they were in year two, Torin got really sick and collapsed in class. Luckily, Skyla was right there to alert everyone for help. He was taken to the hospital, where they did a whole bunch of tests. Apparently he was really sick and had a tumor on his spine. After they did a surgery, he was healthy, but wouldn't be able to walk anymore.
It was hard on the family, trying to rearrange their entire life to accommodate Torin's new needs. It also involved a lot of tests for Skyla, making sure she wasn't sick too. Luckily, she was spared, though ended up in fear of doctors, mostly for using needles to take her blood a lot. After Torin recovered, the kids found ways to continue their active competitions, usually her on her bike versus Torin's wheels. Despite their parents' best attempts to hide their new stresses, Skyla knew that everything was different now. This led her to developing her protective nature, though it also led to her being fairly dependent on her various family members.
