Generally a bit cowardly, Lee really only is able to be brave when it's something regarding his family (including Stacey and her parents- even tho they don't deserve it). He's really laid back in general, but a hardass when it comes to things with his daughter, and money. He's very reliable and a solid friend to have. Always is the one who shows up to help you move with his truck. He's a romantic, but only after you're serious to have met his daughter as his formal girlfriend. Which- hasn't happened yet.

He's always planning the next thing. How are we paying for groceries this week? Ma's medicine is out on Monday- he picks it up the previous Monday.

Underneath the appearance of only recently put together exterior- he's got a rather grim outlook. He's high-handed since his father died, especially in regards to money and his mother's health. From the outside it seems cruel, at the very least disrespectful, but it's motivated by his fear of being left alone in the world to take care of Sandy. Has the potential to be unreasonably cruel. Has general commitment issues- because of Stacey.

Uses swears like common greetings- ie: "hey asshole! long time no see" It's nearly always said positively except when it's not-

Secretly freaky. (Off camera- sorry folks)

Lee and Stacey should never have gotten together. They met in band, and they only had enough people for one section of the class. He joined the more emo clique of kids in band- and wound up playing trombone. First chair of the trumpets sat next to the last chair of the trombones. She was a senior, which meant she was by default first chair just because she'd had the most practice. It didn't take long for them to become very close friends since the brass section wasn't very big to begin with. Their relationship mirrored that of the movie Juno- friends curious about their bodies ending up pregnant. There is something to be said about the fact it happened after she had graduated. It was his sophomore year when she was back from college (her family was more well off than his). Plus the fact that they did it 3 times in total over following 6 months; the last of which he had determined he was falling in love with her.

That's when she showed him the test and everything changed. She was 6 months pregnant by the time she'd figured it out. They were at waffle house and she felt her stomach move. Stacey had stood straight up- previously believing she was a victim of the 'freshman 15'. At first he was flabbergasted how she COULDN'T know, and it was only after he'd venomously accused her of keeping it from him for months, that he remembered she'd told him her periods were irregular. But the damage was done, he'd never apologized. She'd been very reserved with him after that.

Sandy was born when he was 15, nearly 16. Their wedding was scheduled for two weeks after Sandy was due. Her father had showed up to his trailer in a suit, with the cops. "So Les, your sons got some 'splainin to do."

Les was the best pop Lee could ask for. He'd gone to find him, and when he found him hiding in his room crying. That's all he needed to see. Pop was a man of god, and he knew the question was coming- "you're marryin' her?" It was more a statement than anything, but the curl of last word- still asking. His Pop had always been wary of Stacey.

In the years after, Elaine, Stacey's Mom had snuck over to the park twice while her husband was out of town. She brought an envelope of 500 dollars twice, two quilts for Sandy, and always dinner. Accumulations of cash found in pants pockets and her bunco game winnings were all she could keep from Vinny. Elaine loves Sandy. Now, they have a long standing monthly dinner where Elanie's bunco girls cover for her.

Lee got his G.E.D. and he's been keeping a low profile, sleeping around a little bit (with almost anybody) and working at Clark's. Lately things had gotten rougher than ever before, and as his mother gets older he realizes the loss of her disability check would cripple his ability to put a roof over Sandy's head. He's praying for his Ma to hold on until Sandy can graduate.

She's 14 this year, one more to go until she is the age he was when Stacey got pregnant. He's terrified.

Virginia has two wolves inside of her- one from her dad and one from her mom. She’s got the wish for big city life from her father- a man who loves music, drinking, partying, and the high of night life. Her mom was a witch. In practice anyway. Selma was a woman who believed that everybody got where they needed to be. She filled Virginia’s tour bus bound life a child with pockets of quiet.

Virginia’s an overconfident person. She’s impulsive. She’s reckless. But she’s also got a deeply wounded but huge heart. Trust is something she gives too easily, and she gets her shit rocked every time it’s broken. She seems to have object permanence issues- with things, and people. It’s probably a coping mechanism.

Ultimately she wants a big city life, but she wants a slice of calm at the top of the world. A place she can hang dried oranges across doorways and listen to Fleetwood Mac.

She never used to be an angry person- and then her uncle kicked her out. Now she’s quick to irritation, and eventually anger. Virginia’s also absolutely the person to put herself on the line to protect something she loves. She’s done it before, she will do it again. Secretly, she’s looking for the cause to hang her hat on- something to write about- something that means something. (@ pines holler 👀)

Virginia Selma Davis was born to Selma and William “Earl” Davis- they were in their mid-twenties when they accidentally got pregnant with her. Earl was in a NuMetal/Alt adjacent band- they never really made it big, but they had one local hit that led them to tour the country pretty much until he died. He was from Pines Holler, and he loved it there. Virginia was born on a tour bus- as neither of them had insurance as traveling musicians. So they took their chances on the bus. Luckily- she was perfectly healthy. Til the day she died, her mom claimed she felt Saint Brigid with her that night.

Selma was a witch of the christian variety- believed all the sorts of thing a pagan today might, but worshiped a Christian. It’s probably why people left her alone- she was in church every Sunday no matter where they were. That’s why Viriginia became so comfortable with strangers, arguably too comfortable with people. During their fourth tour, the band started to fade into obscurity- so they had to add songs to the set list that were more cover types. That’s what kept people coming to shows.

They got a bump in popularity for playing a rendition of ‘One Step Closer’ by Linkin Park. Her dad brought her out on stage almost every night during that tour to scream the ‘shut up’ section. People loved it of course- who doesn’t love an angry elementary schooler at a metal show. Earl made sure she always wore ear protection. It was the first night she fell in love with performing- and although she had a soft spot for her mom’s softer stuff- something about screaming your lungs out on stage broke apart every terrible thing that ever happened to her and freed her from it.

Like when her parents died. TLDR: car accident during argument about staying in pines for school while Earl heads to LA. Semi x car accident kills her parents.

She woke up to just one real relative left. Selma never really mentioned her family to Dylan or anyone, really. So Dylan Davis, her father’s brother, was the person sitting beside her hospital bed when she woke up. Dylan was the younger, more practical brother. He hated who his brother had become. They’d been thick as thieves, irish twins, until he’d run off to join a band in the next town over. He resented his brother for leaving him behind to manage their mother’s mental illness. Virginia was six when her father got the call about her grandma dying. She never knew what happened to her grandfather- she got the impression nothing good. Dylan would never cry in front of her, but in his room alone at night, she could hear the muffled drawing sobs of a man in agony.

Virginia was outspoken in school, she barely made it through senior year. She never applied for school because she already knew what she wanted. She wanted to play in a band. Over the course of her teen years, Virginia had been in at least seven bands that played a show. The last two were very serious. That’s where she met Lee, her and Rowan’s roadie. At first, Lee tried to corral her into a job, a place to stay, something. But eventually, he gave up. On really cold nights, he’ll check her normal crash spot outdoors to make sure she doesn’t freeze to death under an overpass. The rule is that she doesn’t talk to Sandy. Which is a very doable deal for her.

Rowan’s one of the only people that she ever felt took music as seriously as her, so she was sure he was the right person to start her next project with. So far, she’s been right.

When she turned 21, Dylan Davis served her with eviction papers. After a few attempts to get her to pay him rent, or for food he decided that she needed to take a hike. Virginia was so angry with him, they did not speak for three years. Now- they’ve got an arrangement where she can stay in her old room for $100 a week, and eat his food for $75 extra. If she pays $400 upfront she can stay and eat for a whole month. Virginia hardly makes either happen. But lately she’s gotten into the habit of saving money for the colder months. Just in case.