Birchwood Isle Family Roleplay

Basic Information

Full Name: Jamie Elizabeth Rowe
Nickname, if Any: none
Age: 19
Birthday: September 9th
Sex: Female
Pronouns: She/Her
Current Grade/Year in School, if Applicable: College Freshman
Current Occupation, if Applicable: Animal Center Volunteer, Server at Hinter Den Sieben Bergen
Special Needs: encouragement to be social with other adolescents

Appearance

Height: 5'5"
Build: athletic
Hair Color: blonde
Eye Color: green
Distinguishing Features: pierced ears
Brief Description: Jamie is blessed to be "conventionally pretty," with blonde hair styled into a long wolf cut, large blue eyes, a straight nose that turns up at the end, and a subtle smile. She works hard to take good care of her appearance, setting aside money every week to have her eyebrows done and investing in a quality skincare routine. On the other hand, she wears minimal makeup, in part because she doesn't need it to improve her appearance and in part because she's protecting her skin from the chemicals in the makeup she might otherwise use. She also takes good care of her body, which is how she can maintain her slender, athletic frame seemingly without putting a lot of effort into it. For the most part, Jamie is a casual dresser, preferring jeans and t-shirts or hoodies over anything that's commonly "in-style." As much as she cares about her appearance, she doesn't want to allow it to define her, and her casual dress helps to take some of the common attention off of her.

Personality

What are your greatest strengths? humble; kind; conscientious; hard-working; gentle; compassionate; self-motivated; calm; studious
What are your greatest weaknesses? sarcastic; anxious; withdrawn; shy; bookish; nerdy; socially-awkward; private
What do you struggle with? Jamie is extremely shy, to the point that she clams up in social situations in which she is not personally in control
What are your hobbies or interests? reading; studying; astronomy; swimming; journaling; scrapbooking
What do you really enjoy? reading; swimming; school; fresh, leather-bound journals; completed planners; large book stores; home libraries; sunny days in the hammock outside; self-help books; church on Sunday mornings; spending time alone; science fiction novels; Star Trek
What do you really dislike? being forced to be social; being told where she can go and when; sudden changes to routine; being corrected for making mistakes; being called shy; being approached by large dogs; the argument that some adolescents make that they're "too old for this;" crowds
What are your favorite things? an old, tattered stuffed bear left over from her childhood; the quilt her grandmother made her; the library
What do you fear? large dogs
Describe your personality in 100-500 words: People's first impression of Jamie is generally that she's very nice. She's respectful, calm, has a strong sense of sonder for her age, and leans toward polite interactions without ever getting too deep with people. This often results in people only scratching the surface of her personality when they first meet her, and while most people like her, they often leave the interaction feeling as though she's a bit "spacey." Nothing could be further from the truth -- well, except for the fact she has a deep and abiding love for space! It's just that most people leave that first interaction feeling as though they didn't get to know anything of substance about her, and for a lot of people that translates into her not being a person of substance. If Jamie knew that people thought this about her, she would be deeply hurt, but fortunately few people have the guts to tell her something like that to her face.

Jamie doesn't like to be the center of attention. This has made a lot of her life difficult because, being very bright, she's spent a lot of time with adults focused on her growth and development and she has often felt as though she was in a fishbowl or a zoo. This has produced an interesting paradox. On the one hand, the amount of focus that has been centered on her throughout her life has resulted in stunted development, which means that she can be quite immature. On the other hand, she is incredibly self-aware and generally makes good decisions for herself -- like packing up her life and moving to Birchwood Isle at the age of 19, knowing full well what it would mean for her.

She's quiet and soft-spoken, gentle, kind, and shy. Socializing is hard for Jamie because she doesn't always understand people her own age, and she gets along best with people who are either older than she is or younger than she is. Even with those age groups, she tends to keep quiet until she knows for certain that it's her turn to say something, and then she stops when she feels that her turn is over -- which is often earlier than people actually expect her to stop speaking, making conversation with Jamie challenging at the best of times. She wants friends, of course; Every teenager wants friends. But she doesn't know well enough how to relate to other people and it has made building relationships especially challenging for her.

Relationships & Behavior

How do you normally get along with adults? The answer is complex. Jamie generally prefers the company of adults over people her own age -- or younger, for that matter. She finds adults easier to be around and, because they have learned how to control the way they express themselves, she experiences them as less judgmental than people her own age. However, just because they have better control over their facial muscles and a better filter on their words doesn't mean that adults aren't judging Jamie. While she likes them, many adults find her strange or immature, especially at first, and for most of them, she can be something of an "acquired taste." Those who have acquired a taste for her will defend her with their dying breath, but for now it's fortunate that she doesn't know how apt they are to judge her!

How do you normally get along with teenagers? Because she isn't like other people her own age, Jamie tends not to get along with them very well. This is not her first time being a freshman in college and so a lot of the time, when she does open up with other people around her own age, they think she's a snob, or that she's especially nerdy (or geeky, for that matter), and she quickly feels othered and left out of their interactions. Some might find they like her if they gave her a chance, but she's so quick to shut down that regardless of their willingness to give her a chance, she's not willing to give them a chance, and in the end, everyone winds up getting hurt.

How do you normally get along with children? Jamie's relationships with younger children are surprisingly good. Despite her superior intellect, she relates better to kids in the middle age range (9-12 or so) than she does with teenagers and young adults. She has the capacity to sit and play with them for hours and is great at listening to them when other people her age or older struggle to let them go on for forever. Because she's most comfortable with this age range, Jamie knows how to ask targeted questions that get kids to open up, and when they open up with her, they become close. She deeply enjoys bringing out the best in younger kids.

How independent are you? Not especially, despite her age.

How do you normally react when you get into trouble? Jamie is most inclined to accept it when she gets in to trouble. She's not the argumentative sort.

Link to your discipline sheet: click here ✅

Orphan Village

How long have you lived at the Orphan Village? Just Arrived
Which House do you belong to? Willow House
Are you currently enrolled at the Orphan Village Academy or BWI College? BWI College
What jobs or responsibilities do you have at the Orphan Village? Jamie volunteers at the animal center and she helps out a lot with the youngest children in her house. She also tutors part time at the Orphan Village Academy.

How did you come to live at the Orphan Village? Jamie brought herself to Birchwood Isle when she learned of the Orphan Village. She is "voluntarily committed" in a manner of speaking. She felt it would be best for her.

How do you generally get along with caregivers and authority figures? Because she is polite and respectful, Jamie gets along well with most authority figures at home and at school.

How do you generally get along with younger residents? Jamie gets along best with school-aged residents of the Orphan Village.

How do you generally get along with your peers? Most of her peers find her weird.

Do you prefer to be adopted or remain in the Orphan Village? She's reluctant to admit it, but Jamie would love to be adopted.

Describe your ideal adoptive family. Jamie would do well as an only child or in a home that doesn't have other adolescents in it. She'd do well either with a lesbian couple or with a mixed-gender couple. Men make her a little bit nervous, but that's something she might be able to get over. The parents would need to understand her need for privacy and dignity and not push her academically. She doesn't need it, and pushing her makes things that much harder for her.

Is there anything else we should know about how you get along in the Orphan Village? If given the opportunity, Jamie will avoid social situations. She's very uncomfortable at community gatherings and will need to be pushed to attend, especially if and when attendance is mandatory.

Background

Describe your history in 150-1000 words: Jamie was always a strange kid. Her parents, a pair of teen parents who never had the opportunity to complete their educations and therefore took low-level jobs earning minimum wage, were barely able to support her. They struggled to understand their daughter who, in the beginning, came home at least twice a week from school with notes about being disruptive in class and lacking self-control. Her parents did their best, but both were overworked and under-involved in their daughter's academic life. At first, her grandparents got involved by disciplining her for the disruptions. Lost privileges from her mother's family, firm, bare-bottom spankings from her father's family. The disruptions continued, and in the third grade, her school contacted her parents about testing her. Not knowing what else to do, they first asked if the testing was free, and then consented when told that it was covered by the school's psychologist.

Everything changed after that. Notes home now reflected that Jamie was struggling socially in school. Her parents ignored them. Teachers encouraged them to let her skip ahead to the sixth grade. They asked if they had to pay for that. The school told them know, and so they skipped her ahead to the sixth grade. Then to the eighth. She graduated high school at thirteen years old and went on to university at 14. Her academic success was significant, and her parents didn't know what to do with her. Her tuition, of course, was covered by scholarships.

Meanwhile, Jamie drowned socially. She'd been given no time to figure out who she was or what she wanted with her life. She graduated with a degree in biology because she hadn't known what to do with herself and her advisors suggested that medical school could be a good path for a gifted child like herself. Not knowing who to listen to, she did what she always did: she did what she was told. But by the time she graduated from University at 18 years old, Jamie was exhausted mentally, emotionally, and socially. She collapsed, resulting in a two-week hospital stay, during which she learned about Birchwood Isle.

An adult in America, Jamie breathed a sigh of relief when she learned of the Orphan Village. She took the time to pack what she could, kissed her distressed parents goodbye, and set off for Birchwood Isle of her own accord, relieved that she might finally have the chance to be a kid. Now that she was legally ana dult in America.

Other

Is there anything else we need to know about you? Jamie is a true genius in a number of ways. She rejects the term "psychic" but she comes across as somewhat "gifted" in that regard, too. She's great at predicting things like odds, usually wins when gambling, and is extremely uncomfortable with this aspect of her personality.

Basic Information

Where do you live? The Orphan Village
Are you married? If yes, to whom? Yes. Vance Schmitt
Do you have any children? If yes, list them. Yes. Owen (18) and Meghan (16)
Is your family open to adopting children or adolescents? Potentially

Appearance
Height: 5'9"
Build: Athletic
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Hazel
Distinguishing Features: Strong posture, expressive smile, and the faint tan lines of someone who spends a lot of time outdoors.
Brief Description: Katherine has the look of someone who is constantly on the move. Even standing still, she somehow appears ready to head out the door and tackle whatever task comes next. Years spent around athletic programs have left her fit and strong, though she's never been particularly concerned with appearances beyond being presentable and practical. She favors comfortable clothing, athletic wear, jeans, and weather-appropriate outdoor gear.

Her face is warm and approachable, framed by dark brown hair that she usually wears pulled back when she's working. She smiles easily and often, but there is an unmistakable confidence beneath that warmth. Most children and adolescents find her easy to talk to, though they quickly learn that a friendly smile should never be mistaken for softness. Kate is every bit as capable of holding a boundary as she is of offering encouragement.

Personality
Strengths: Organized; reliable; practical; adaptable; confident; hardworking; encouraging; resourceful; courageous; loyal
Flaws: Impatient; stubborn; controlling; competitive; overcommitted; struggles to relax; dislikes asking for help; can be blunt; sometimes dismissive of excuses; prone to taking responsibility for problems that aren't hers to solve
Likes: Hiking; swimming; camping; road trips; coffee with her husband before everyone else wakes up; organized sports; community events; fresh air; goal-setting; watching young people discover what they're capable of
Dislikes: Excuses; chronic lateness; unnecessary drama; clutter; wasted potential; excessive screen time; passivity; dishonesty; quitting; feeling trapped indoors
Vices: Competition
Fears: Heights. Elevators. Losing mobility.
Personality:Kate is a woman of action. When faced with a problem, her first instinct isn't to sit down and analyze it. Her instinct is to get moving -- she makes lists, develops plans, delegates responsibilities, and starts working toward solutions. This tendency served her well throughout her career and continues to serve her well at Birch House, where there is never a shortage of problems requiring attention.

She is deeply encouraging and genuinely enjoys helping young people discover strengths they didn't know they possessed. Few things make her happier than watching a child accomplish something they once believed was impossible. However, she is not particularly patient with self-defeating attitudes or endless complaints. Kate believes that confidence is built through action, not talk, and she encourages children and adolescents to challenge themselves regularly.

While she is often seen as the more outgoing and energetic half of her marriage, Kate's warmth should not be mistaken for permissiveness. She believes strongly in accountability, follow-through, and personal responsibility. Children who know her well understand that she is fair, supportive, and fiercely loyal -- but they also know that she expects people to keep their promises and put forth their best effort.

Relationships & Discipline

How do you normally get along with other adults? Very well. Kate spent years coordinating coaches, parents, teachers, and administrators, which taught her how to work with a wide variety of personalities. She might not have endless patience for difficult people, but she is usually able to find common ground and keep things moving forward.
How do you normally get along with teenagers? Exceptionally well. Kate enjoys teenagers and appreciates their growing independence. She expects a lot from them, but she also gives them opportunities to earn responsibility and prove themselves capable.
How do you normally get along with children? Kate gets along well with children, particularly active children who enjoy spending time outdoors. She enjoys teaching new skills and helping children build confidence through accomplishment.
Link to your discipline sheet: click here ✅

Orphan Village

What is your role at the Orphan Village? Co-Head of Birch House
Which house or building do you work for? Birch House
Do you live in the Village or commute? In the VIllage
Do you have any special training, certification, or skills relevant to your role? Kate spent nearly two decades working in public education, eventually serving as an Athletic Director. She has extensive experience organizing recreational programs, supervising staff, managing budgets, coordinating large events, and working with children and adolescents.
Do you prefer to work with a particular age group? Which one? Teenagers and young adults.
Do you struggle with a particular age group? Which one? Very young children can be challenging for her. Kate enjoys them, but she often finds herself relying on other adults for the patience required by preschool-aged children.

Briefly describe your caregiving or mentoring style.

Kate believes strongly in helping children and adolescents become capable, confident people. She encourages them to try new things, challenge themselves, and develop practical life skills. While she is supportive and approachable, she isn't interested in lowering expectations to avoid discomfort. Failure, disappointment, and frustration are part of growth, and she views them as opportunities to learn rather than problems to eliminate.

She is also highly structured. Expectations are made clear, consequences are predictable, and children rarely have to wonder where they stand with her. Most youngsters find her fair, even when they don't particularly enjoy the consequences she imposes.

Describe how you see your role in the village. Kate views herself as a builder. Her goal is to create opportunities for children and adolescents to discover strengths, interests, and abilities they may never have known they possessed. Whether through athletics, recreation, leadership opportunities, or everyday responsibilities, she hopes to help young people develop confidence in themselves and their ability to face life's challenges.

Is there anything else we should know about your role in the Village?
If there is a recreational activity happening somewhere in the village, there is a good chance Kate had a hand in organizing it. She has a difficult time sitting still and is constantly looking for opportunities to create programs, events, competitions, and activities that bring people together.

Background

Education: Bachelor's Degree in Social Work; Master's Degree in Educational Leadership
Work History: School Social Worker, Activities Coordinator, Assistant Athletic Director, Athletic Director
Current Goals or Challenges: Kate is working to establish Birch House as a place where children and adolescents can develop healthy habits that will serve them throughout their lives. She is also adjusting to the reality of having both of her children living under the same roof as the youngsters she helps care for.
Reason for Living on Birchwood Isle: Kate originally came to Birchwood Isle for her family. She believed the move offered her husband a chance to heal and her children an opportunity to grow up in a safer, more connected environment.
Brief History:

Kate grew up in a family that valued hard work, commitment, and community involvement. Athletics played a significant role throughout her childhood, teaching her lessons about teamwork, leadership, resilience, and personal responsibility. While attending university, she met the man who would eventually become her husband, a driven medical student named Vance Schmitt. The two quickly discovered they shared similar values despite approaching life from very different directions.

After graduation, Kate began her career as a social worker within the public school system. She enjoyed working with students and families, but over time she found herself increasingly drawn toward broader student programs and activities. Eventually she transitioned into school administration, where she spent years helping oversee athletic programs, extracurricular activities, and student leadership initiatives. By the time she left the mainland, she had become a respected Athletic Director known for her ability to build successful programs and motivate young people.

Like many families, the Schmitts were deeply affected by the Covid pandemic. While Vance carried the burden of working through the crisis as a physician, Kate found herself supporting both her family and her husband through one of the most difficult periods of their lives. When Vance proposed relocating to Birchwood Isle, she agreed.

For the last several years, Kate has devoted herself to helping her family build a new life on the island. When the opportunity arose to help lead Birch House alongside her husband, she immediately recognized it as a chance to combine everything she values most: community, mentorship, recreation, and helping young people become the best versions of themselves.

Basic Information

Full Name: Roland Jeremy McClain
Nickname, if Any: Jem
Age: 19
Birthday: April 11th
Sex: Male
Pronouns: He/Him
Current Grade/Year in School, if Applicable: College Freshman
Current Occupation, if Applicable: Barista at the Grind House
Special Needs: none?

Appearance

Height: 6'0"
Build: Muscular/Athletic
Hair Color: Blonde
Eye Color: Blue
Distinguishing Features: distinctive jawline
Brief Description: Jem's posture give him a distinct air of nonchalance, and he often has his hands shoved into the pockets of his athletic shorts. His hair is short, blonde, and worn in a spiky hairstyle. He smiles freely, the smile lighting up his blue eyes. You'll often find him shirtless in a pair of athletic pants or shorts (unless he's required to wear a shirt wherever he is) and wearing a pair of running shoes. Sometimes he wears a baseball cap, especially if he's wearing a t-shirt or tank top. His skin is slightly tanned from the amount of time he spends outdoors. He has long, thick eyelashes that give him a charming appearance.

Personality

What are your greatest strengths? athletic; humorous; self-assured; outgoing; respectful; gregarious; verbal; charming; team player
What are your greatest weaknesses? cocky; boastful; manipulative; volatile; aggressive; changing; stubborn; reserved; insecure
What do you struggle with? Most of all, Jem struggles with the fact that he was sent to the island as an adult only to immediately become classified as a minor who must be under the authority of an adult.
What are your hobbies or interests? Jem's main hobby is playing lacrosse. He loves it and is very invested in his sport. He also loves to work out and does a lot of it.
What do you really enjoy? playing lacrosse; video games in the evenings; hanging out with the guy at the pub; flirting with women; being complimented on his smile; grilled foods
What do you really dislike? professors who are tough on him; having to make decisions; being the one assigned to cooking duty; looking after younger kids; not having internet access or video games
What are your favorite things? an autographed baseball his brother gave him when he was ten; his lucky red t-shirt
What do you fear? failing out of school; being a "young adult" forever; never being allowed to leave the island; rejection
Describe your personality in 100-500 words: On the outside, Jem comes across as incredibly confident. He does know who he is, and he has a remarkable degree of self-awareness for someone his age. He won't tell anybody that he works on himself as much inwardly as he does outwardly (on his body) but he's done a lot of personal development work over the past couple of years and he's really just doing his best. Internally, he's insecure and often feels that he wound up on the island so that he could have more time to grow up from being too childish. But at the same time, he knows he can't grow up on the island so it feels as though he has to stay here until somebody else decides it's time for him to leave and grow up somewhere on the mainland. Jem doesn't like it, and this paradox makes him hostile toward adults often enough that it has become a battle between what he really wants and what he does to prevent that from happening.

Relationships & Behavior

How do you normally get along with adults? Most of the time Jem gets along well with adults (over the age of majority). He's charming and respectful, usually reasonably well-behaved, and adults generally like him from the jump. The issue comes in when a power struggle starts, him seeking his independence and them wanting to force him to obey rules that don't always feel fit for someone his age. He's volatile to the point of being violent at times, and it can be difficult for adults to get their hands on him if he doesn't want to be touched or handled. Adults are hardest for him because he considers himself one of them still, and they don't consider him one of them.
How do you normally get along with teenagers? They annoy him, especially now that he's clumped in with them, developmentally. He sees all of the mistakes they make and doesn't understand why they can't get their shit together.
How do you normally get along with other children? For the most part, Jem actually likes younger children. He's a father himself -- or he once was -- and he tries to do right by the younger ones. He's not perfect, by any means, but he works hard to be a good "big brother" to the younger ones, who often don't know better than to make the mistakes they do.
How independent are you? Very.
How do you normally react when you get into trouble? Jem will do whatever he can to avoid punishment -- to the point of putting up a physical fight if it comes down to it. He's explosive and volatile and he doesn't like people putting their hands on him.
Link to your discipline sheet: click here ✅

Orphan Village

How long have you lived at the Orphan Village? Just arrived
Which House do you belong to? Oak House
Are you currently enrolled at the Orphan Village Academy or BWI College? BWI College
What jobs or responsibilities do you have at the Orphan Village? Not very many because, between college and work, Jem's super busy. He has a lot going on. The main thing he's responsible for is helping to look after the younger kids.

How did you come to live at the Orphan Village? Jem's mother... Well, in his words, she stabbed him in the back. When his girlfriend left him with their two-year-old daughter, his mother decided she wanted custody, and one of the easiest ways to get custody from him was to send him away to a place where he would, in his words, be treated as though he was incompetent. Now she has custody of his daughter and he lives on Birchwood Isle.

How do you generally get along with caregivers and authority figures? It's hard for Jem. For two years, he's been the caregiver to a beautiful two-year-old daughter. Now he's had the tables turned on him and he's being treated, in his words like a little kid. He doesn't like having his freedom taken away from him and he's unhappy about having to follow somebody else's rules. He's respectful toward his caregivers, and they generally like him, but he hates being taken care of and it begins to show after a while as he gets more worn down.

How do you generally get along with younger residents? Jem sees potential in the younger kids, and when he closes his eyes, he can see the person that his daughter might grow into with time. They can be triggering for him because of what he's lost, but he works hard to be kind to the younger ones and makes a point of spending time with them when he's available and especially if the caregivers are busy.

How do you generally get along with your peers? Great. Jem gets along great with people his own age, for the most part.

Do you prefer to be adopted or remain in the Orphan Village? He'd rather stay here for right now. You'll know if that changes. And he doesn't have to be given the choice.

Describe your ideal adoptive family. n/a

Is there anything else we should know about how you get along in the Orphan Village? Simply put, Jem considers himself an adult and the people around him consider him a child. Or, at best, an adolescent. He struggles with this a great deal and he will do whatever it takes to "pass as an adult" around the village in general. He doesn't spend a ton of time there because of his commitments at school and work, plus his lacrosse schedule, but when he is at home he tries to play the role of an adult. For some people, this can really get under their skin.

Background

Describe your history in 150-1000 words: Jem was raised in a toxic family environment. His father left when he was eight years old, and it wasn't until much later that Jem realized that his father had to leave to get away from his mother. She was as toxic a person as there could be. The things she wanted always came first, and she was willing to use and manipulate Jem to get what she wanted. It made life at least a little bit easier that Jem was successful in nearly everything he did, since his success impacted the way she viewed her own reputation. He was a straight-A student throughout his elementary, middle, and High School years, a star athlete on the (American) football, soccer (football), and lacrosse teams, and teachers and coaches always seemed pleased with him. This made other parents admire her and the "work she did raising that boy" and she continued to live off of his reputation.

That is, until he got Aoife pregnant. It wasn't supposed to happen. She started out as little more than a sports groupie. At first, their relationship was built exclusively around sex. Jem enjoyed sex with Aoife and, like his mother, Aoife enjoyed the renown she got for being his girlfriend. But the pregnancy changed everything, and suddenly Jem had responsibilities he hadn't before. His grades slipped, albeit temporarily. He was sixteen years old and had a career in college sports ahead of him! The last thing he needed was a child! But he and Aoife did their best to make a go of it. In the end, however, the relationship wasn't that serious for Aoife, and she left, leaving him with two-year-old Collie to care for.

Two months later, he arrived on Birchwood Isle. Alone. His mother sent him off under false pretenses, and it didn't take long for Jem to figure it out: She had full care of Collie now. She could adopt his daughter as her own now that she'd gotten rid of him and Aoife was out of the picture. Jem was furious, but he couldn't leave the island. He was stuck now, no longer an adult with a daughter of his own, but a "former father" now classified as a minor with no choice but to stay where he'd wound up, without aging while his daughter continued to grow older on the American mainland.

Other

Is there anything else we need to know about you? It would be wonderful if someone could help Jem get custody of his daughter, Colleen! She won't have aged much because he is, like all people joining the Orphan Village, newly arrived on Birchwood Isle!

Basic Information

Where do you live? The Orphan Village
Are you married? If yes, to whom? Yes, to Amber Nolan.
Do you have any children? If yes, list them. Yes, a sixteen year old daughter and twelve year old son
Is your family open to adopting children or adolescents? Yes.

Appearance
Height: 6'1"
Build: lean, athletic
Hair Color: red
Eye Color: blue-gray
Distinguishing Features: Some of his hair has begun to streak with white. He also has a strong jawline and a faint scar beneath his chin.
Brief Description: Elliot carries himself with the sort of quiet confidence that makes people pay attention when he speaks. Tall and lean, he moves with purpose and rarely appears rushed, even when he has a dozen things demanding his attention. Years spent walking school grounds, supervising students, and maintaining a large household have left him fit without making him particularly imposing.

Deep-set blue-gray eyes miss very little and often give the impression that he knows more than he's saying. Combined with his tendency to pause and think before speaking, many newcomers find him intimidating before they get to know him.

Despite that, there is a warmth to Elliot that becomes obvious with time. His smiles are genuine, if infrequent, and the lines around his eyes reveal a man who laughs more often than people expect. Most children eventually decide that he looks exactly like what he is: somebody's father.

Personality
Strengths: Disciplined; reliable; patient; observant; intelligent; principled; organized; protective; dependable; calm under pressure
Flaws: Stubborn; critical; perfectionistic; judgmental; rigid; demanding; intimidating; emotionally reserved; slow to forgive dishonesty; struggles to delegate
Likes:Reading; history; classical music; gardening; rainstorms; family dinners; fountain pens; woodworking; coffee; walking trails
Dislikes: Excuses; carelessness; lateness; disorder; broken promises; gossip; entitlement; recklessness; wasted potential; unnecessary interruptions
Vices: Coffee
Fears: Snakes (his brother died from a venomous snake bite that he didn't disclose).
Personality: Elliot believes that structure is one of the purest expressions of love. While some people see rules, routines, and expectations as restrictions, he sees them as tools that help children feel safe and successful. He is highly organized and naturally inclined toward order, but his desire for structure isn't about control -- it's about creating an environment where children know exactly what is expected of them and can rely on the adults around them to be consistent.

He is not a particularly expressive man. Unlike Amber, who often understands people through observation and emotional insight, Elliot understands them through patterns. He notices when routines change, when grades begin to slip, when a child suddenly stops participating in activities they usually enjoy. He sees details that others tend to overlook and is remarkably difficult to deceive. Children often discover that he knew what was going on long before they confessed.

Although he is strict and maintains high expectations, Elliot is deeply invested in the people around him. He remembers birthdays, favorite meals, important events, and small conversations from months earlier. He may not be quick with praise, but when he offers it, children know they have earned it.

Relationships & Discipline

How do you normally get along with other adults? Elliot gets along well with most adults, even if he isn't universally liked. He is polite, professional, and respectful, but he has little patience for irresponsibility or inconsistency. Adults who take their responsibilities seriously tend to appreciate him. Adults who cut corners or fail to follow through on commitments often find him frustrating. While he rarely starts conflicts, he is perfectly willing to address problems directly when he believes they need to be addressed.
How do you normally get along with teenagers? Teenagers often have mixed feelings about Elliot when they first meet him. He expects a lot from them and treats them as young adults instead of children. He holds them accountable, assigns meaningful responsibilities, and rarely lowers his expectations simply because something is difficult. While this can create friction initially, most eventually develop a great deal of respect for him because they know he takes them seriously and genuinely believes they are capable of more than they think.
How do you normally get along with children? Children tend to get along well with Elliot. They appreciate his predictability and consistency, even if they don't always have the words to explain why. Younger children often seek him out when they need help with a project, want a story read to them, or simply want to sit quietly nearby. While he can be stern when necessary, most children quickly discover that he enjoys their company.
Link to your discipline sheet: click here ✅

Orphan Village

What is your role at the Orphan Village? Co-Head of Willow House
Which house or building do you work for? Willow House
Do you live in the Village or commute? Elliot lives in Willow House with Amber and his two children.
Do you have any special training, certification, or skills relevant to your role? Elliot holds a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership and spent nearly twenty years working in boarding schools. He has extensive experience with child development, conflict resolution, academic mentoring, crisis management, and residential supervision.
Do you prefer to work with a particular age group? Which one? Teenagers
Do you struggle with a particular age group? Which one? No

Briefly describe your caregiving or mentoring style. Most of his effort goes into establishing routines, setting expectations, and helping children build habits that lead to success. He prefers to prevent problems rather than react to them, and he spends a good deal of time creating systems that make it easier for children to make good decisions.

That said, Elliot is both strict and very harsh when those expectations are ignored. He believes consequences should be predictable, meaningful, and enforced consistently. Children in Willow House quickly learn that Elliot means exactly what he says. There is very little room for negotiation once a decision has been made. While his punishments can be severe, he doesn't hold grudges. Once a punishment has been completed, he considers the matter settled and focuses on helping the child move forward.

Describe how you see your role in the village.  Elliot sees himself as a father, not only to his biological children but to those of Willow House as well. His responsibility isn't just to keep children safe and comfortable, but to help prepare them for adulthood. He believes children need guidance, accountability, discipline, opportunities to succeed, and adults who are willing to invest in them even when doing so is difficult.

Is there anything else we should know about your role in the Village? While Amber is often known for her ability to understand people, Elliot is known for his ability to create stable environments. The routines, schedules, expectations, and traditions that define life in Willow House are largely his work.


Background

Education: Bachelor's Degree in History; Master's Degree in Educational Leadership
Work History: Teacher - Housemaster - Assistant Headmaster - Headmaster of a private boarding school
Current Goals or Challenges:Building a lasting home in Willow House while helping Amber finally feel safe and secure after years of instability and fear, while settling his own children in a new environment.
Reason for Living on Birchwood Isle: To create a safe future for his family.
Brief History: Elliot grew up in a stable household as the son of two teachers. Education was highly valued in his home, and from an early age, he learned the importance of responsibility, hard work, and following through on commitments. While he was never the most outgoing child unlike his younger brother Levi, he developed a love of history, learning, and mentorship that would eventually shape the course of his life.

After completing his education, Elliot accepted a position teaching history at a private boarding school. He quickly discovered that he enjoyed life outside the classroom just as much as he enjoyed teaching. Over the years he became a dormitory master, then an assistant headmaster, and eventually the school's headmaster. During his career he became known for maintaining high standards while also developing strong relationships with students. Former students frequently returned to visit him long after graduation.

Elliot met Amber during one of the most difficult periods of her life. Initially their relationship was purely platonic and centered around helping her navigate challenges related to her marriage.  He watched her rebuild her life piece by piece and came to admire her strength, intelligence, and compassion. When her marriage finally ended, their friendship gradually became something more.

The years that followed should have been peaceful, but Amber's former husband continued to be a dark cloud over their lives. As the situation escalated, Elliot became increasingly concerned for her safety and well-being, as well as for that of his children. Discovering Birchwood Isle felt almost too good to be true. The island offered something neither of them had possessed in years: certainty. Together they chose to leave their former lives behind and begin again.

Basic Information

Where do you live? The Orphan Village
Are you married? If yes, to whom? Yes, to Karin Rubio
Do you have any children? If yes, list them. Not biologically, though Gabriel is likely to attach to children who come through Maple House and will consider them to be "his kids".
Is your family open to adopting children or adolescents? Yes, albeit cautiously.

Appearance
Height: 6'0"
Build: Broad-shouldered, muscular
Hair Color: Dark Brown
Eye Color: Brown
Distinguishing Features: Several small scars from his years as a firefighter, including a faint scar along one forearm and a small burn mark near his right wrist.
Brief Description: Gabriel is the sort of man who immediately comes across looking capable. Years spent working as a firefighter left him strong and physically fit, though age has softened some of the sharp athleticism of his younger years. His dark hair is beginning to show traces of gray at the temples, but that doesn't concern him. You'll always find him with a watch on his wrist, and he typically dresses for practicality rather than fashion.

While his expression often appears serious at first glance, it changes dramatically when he smiles. The children of Maple House know that his smiles are earned rather than freely given, which somehow makes them all the more valuable. Most days he can be found in jeans, boots, and a work shirt with the sleeves rolled up, looking more prepared to repair a fence than attend a meeting.

Personality
Strengths: Dependable | Calm under pressure | Protective | Disciplined | Patient | Honest | Practical | Loyal | Courageous | Observant
Flaws: Stubborn | Can be intimidating | Slow to trust | Struggles to ask for help | Holds himself to impossible standards | Sometimes overly protective | Overly blunt | Has difficulty admitting when he's wrong | Uncomfortable discussing his own feelings | Expects accountability from everyone
Likes: Woodworking | Home Improvement Projects | Early mornings | Physical excersise | Cooking family meals | Camping | Fishing | Dogs | Community service projects | Spending time with Karin | Smoking meats and barbecueing | Building furniture | Restoring old motorcycles
Dislikes: Carelessness | Excuses | Reckless behavior | Dishonesty | Bullying | Wasted potential | Excessive screen time | Laziness | Unnecessary risks | Being interrupted
Vices: Cigarettes
Fears: Death of those placed in his care.
Personality: Gabriel is a man of quiet certainty. He's the sort of man that rules his home with a quiet authority -- he doesn't scream it from the rooftops, it's there in the way he stands, acts, and how he chooses to proceed in certain circumstances. He rarely raises his voice and isn't the sort to talk simply to hear himself speak -- he observes, listens, and acts when necessary.

Years spent responding to emergencies has taught him that panic rarely ever improves a situation. As a result, Gabriel has developed a reputation for remaining calm even when everyone around him is losing their heads. Children and adults alike often find themselves looking to him during difficult moments simply because he appears so steady.

Though many people initially find him intimidating, those who know him well discover a deeply caring man beneath the stern exterior. Gabriel believes that love and accountability belong together. He is generous with his time, fiercely protective of the people he cares about, and utterly devoted to his family, though he often expresses those feelings through actions rather than words.



Relationships & Discipline

How do you normally get along with other adults? Generally very well. Gabriel respects competence, honesty, and people who do what they say they will do. He tends to avoid gossip and unnecessary drama, which sometimes causes others to view him as reserved. Once someone earns his trust, however, they usually have it for life.
How do you normally get along with teenagers? Surprisingly well. Gabriel doesn't try to be teenagers' friend and doesn't concern himself with being liked. He treats teenagers with respect and expects them to behave responsibly in return.
How do you normally get along with children? Young children are often intimidated by Gabriel at first. Fortunately, this rarely lasts long. He is patient, dependable, and possesses an endless supply of terrible dad jokes. Children quickly learn that while he may be strict, he is also one of the safest people they know.
Link to your discipline sheet: click here ✅

Orphan Village

What is your role at the Orphan Village? Co-Head of Maple House
Which house or building do you work for? Maple House
Do you live in the Village or commute? Gabriel lives in Maple House with his wife.
Do you have any special training, certification, or skills relevant to your role? Former firefighter. Certified EMT. CPR and First Aid Instructor. Extensive emergency response and crisis management experience. Skilled in home maintenance, woodworking, and outdoor safety.
Do you prefer to work with a particular age group? Which one? Gabriel is most comfortable working with adolescents. He enjoys helping teenagers prepare for adulthood and believes they are often capable of more responsibility than adults give them credit for.
Do you struggle with a particular age group? Which one? Very young children

Briefly describe your caregiving or mentoring style. Gabriel believes children thrive when expectations are clear and consistently enforced. He emphasizes accountability, responsibility, honesty, and follow-through. While he is quick to correct poor behavior, he is equally quick to acknowledge hard work, perseverance, and personal growth. He wants children to leave Maple House feeling capable of handling whatever life puts in front of them.

Describe how you see your role in the village. Gabriel sees himself as a stabilizing presence. Whether that means helping a frightened child through a difficult night, responding to an emergency, teaching practical skills, or helping maintain village facilities, he wants to be someone others can depend upon.

Is there anything else we should know about your role in the Village? Gabriel strongly believes that every child deserves both belonging and accountability. In his mind, some of the most important lessons children learn come from adults who care enough to hold them to high standards.


Background

Education: Associate Degree in Fire Science
Work History: Firefighter, EMT, Volunteer Youth Sports Coach
Current Goals or Challenges: Learning to slow down and build a life that isn't defined by emergencies. Continuing to help children find stability, confidence, and purpose.
Reason for Living on Birchwood Isle: Gabriel originally came because Karin wanted to see the island for herself after hearing about it from her sister. He expected a brief visit. Instead, he found a community built around responsibility, connection, and involvement. The values felt increasingly rare in the outside world, and he quickly found himself falling in love with it as much as his wife did.


Brief History: Gabriel grew up in a close-knit working-class family where service to others was highly valued. His father worked in construction and his mother served as a nurse, leaving him with a deep respect for people who spent their lives helping others. After high school, he joined the firehouse and quickly discovered that he had found his calling.

For nearly two decades, Gabriel served as a firefighter and EMT. And through his work, he's witnessed some of humanity's best moments and some of it's worst. The work taught him discipline, courage, and the importance of staying calm while others panicked, but it also taught him how fragile life could be.

Throughout those years, Karin remained the center of his world. Their marriage weathered long shifts, interrupted holidays, and countless sleepless nights. The greatest challenge they faced together, however, came when they discovered that they'd never be able to have biological children. While Karin openly grieved the loss, Gabriel buried himself in problem-solving and practical solutions before eventually accepting that some things just weren't able to be fixed.

When Karin's sister introduced them to Birchwood Isle, Gabriel expected little more than a change of scenery. Instead, he discovered a community where people still looked after one another and where children were expected to grow into capable, responsible adults. It felt like the kind of place he and Karin had been searching for all along. Together they accepted positions at Maple House.