Juillet Ciernik

He wondered what had happened, what if he let his mother burn in the flames, would he also be charged like her, or was she still after him? He wasn't sure, not turning back, but his instincts led him to the doorstep of another woman, Ivory. Surprised by the exasperated child seeking shelter that night, Ivory took him in until she got a grasp of the situation at hand.

Surely enough, the whirring of police sirens passed the home frequently, and the television was enough to give Ivory a hint of the matter when Juillet wouldn't tell, fainting from a mix of exhaustion and stress. Knowing it'd be for the best, Ivory took him to investigators the next day to clear up the situation and obtain his statement for his mother's murder investigation. Seeing as the boy had no one else he considered family, yet growing attached to Ivory, she was permitted to keep him for the time being. Eventually she did officially adopt him, given that their childhoods paralled the other's to some degree, and she was likewise attached to him as a mother would be. From that moment, Ivory became the only person he'd consider a parent to him.
During their years together as a small family, Juillet was able to grow from the trauma of his childhood, still an overall sweet person with good intentions for others, just as Ivory encouraged him to be. There would be a handful of rough days for him, some where the haunting memory of his previous mother would drain him for periods of time, but Ivory always held his hand through those times, understanding him as her own mother had once tried to take her life as a child. Apart from that, he continued to grow up, and soon enough, Ivory had also adopted Belot.

Now Juillet is established as a yoga and acrobatics instructor through connections over the years, previously living alone as to learn about independency and responsibility, yet at some point Chicory had joined his side as a roommate. He lives in London, enjoying the landscape of the city and the uncertainty that comes with each passing day.

When he started to live by himself, he did it so he wouldn't rely so much on others, but his family would frequently call to check on him anyway. He never exactly got the hang of things like cooking his own meals, afraid of the fire, nor was he the neatest person when his mental health dwindled from time to time. With that lifestyle, he figured it'd be fine to mostly eat foods outside of home, frequenting cafes and so on. It was at a couple chains where he'd noticed a familiar face, a stranger who seemed to have the same tastes as him. Chicory was a medical student who simply didn't have time to cook, and focusing was tough at the shared home she lived in. After a while of becoming Juillet's friend, they'd made a decision to live together for the others' benefit; Juillet's apartment was closer to her school, she would help him to fix his bad habits, and so on.
So thats the choice they made. The two were a heavily platonic pair initially, two silly people whose existences seemed to hype the other as they accomplished their own goals. Juillet is settled with his job and mostly watches as Chicory works hard at finishing her studying to become a neurologist, rooting her on. Still, when they spend so much time together, go out together, and at times become personal with one another's lives, Juillet doesn't realize they live like a married couple, like an established couple who's skipped many steps in others' usual milestones. When Chicory asked if their feelings were mutual, amusingly, Juillet is the one who'd become flustered at her confession and his realization. With the convenience of their dynamic as is, perhaps recognizing each other as a partner wouldn't be so bad he thinks.