Serena uses the name 'Kit Edmund' when associating with people who aren't a part of her family or the criminal underground they inhabit. Most of her friends call her 'Kit'.

'Sera' or 'Rina' are family pet names, and her father often calls her 'mi carina' which means "my beloved"

28

She/Her

Serena's main job is as assistant at a few of the businesses where her mother sits on the board or chairman - it's not so much a stressful job as it is a means to give her something to do. She could be a socialite and not work if she so desired, but in her parents' eyes this gives her a means to the inner workings of the Family that she wouldn't have otherwise.

However, Serena tries to avoid this as much as possible by pretending to work in one place and really masquerading in another district as 'Kit Edmund', a program coordinator for a community center and as the occasional volunteer teacher for some of their programs when she can spare time for it.

March 17th

Karol Queiroz

5 FT 4 IN

Willowy, Lithe, Graceful

Dark Brown

Auburn Red

It naturally has a little bit of a wave to it, and she generally keeps it no longer than about mid-shoulder length.

She has several - most of them on her left arm, one on her right arm, and a scattered handful on each leg.

Three piercings in each ear, and a nose ring

Everything in Serena's closet is expensive clothing brands and professional business attire, and she has a shoe collection that takes up half of her closet. Fashion is almost a guilty pleasure, and even her casual wear like her jeans and t-shirts are designer and carry a designer price tag.

Because of her short stature, she favors boots or heels over plain tennis shoes or flats to try to give her a couple of inches.

That being said, she also has what she likes to call 'disguises', which are mostly the clothes she wears when she's going by the name 'Kit' - more 'street fashion' and what others would wear that don't appear to be in any way designer. She even thrifted some of them! She has to keep the outfits hidden for fear of them being thrown out, however.

Serena has perfected the art of a double life. She was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, the beloved little princess, the apple of her father's eye, and despite what she might try to do to mitigate it, she really knows nothing else. She's been given every advantage possible as a member of the elite upper crust and it shows. Well-educated, well-spoken, trained in etiquette and business, equally as comfortable smiling for the cameras at a gala as negotiating in a board room of one of her family's many "businesses". Friendly, but distant, haughty, as if you can count yourself lucky to be in her 'inner circle'.

But all of that is a shield for a world where sharks circle at the slightest hint of blood in the water. Behind the haughty rich girl façade, Serena is actually vibrant. Passionate. Born with her father's temper and her mother's quick wit and a mouth that can get her in trouble. She finds herself with restless energy quite often, giving herself into whatever project is put before her. Prone to quiet rebellions and taking what agency she can for herself.

Taking care of her family has always been a top priority. Blood and duty have been ingrained into her since childhood, and she has always seen herself as a protector - although that doesn't necessarily match up with her family's interests in terms of who or how.

Tattoos, piano, music, parties, bubble baths, spa days, trashy reality TV,

Insects/Bugs, cramped spaces, blood, the smell of gunpowder, art galleries, horseback riding, pretty much every etiquette class she had to take as a child

Serena is a firecracker! High energy, social, frequent party girl. She usually dominates in a conversation. It's a front, to keep others from probing too deep into her own personal life. Much of her interactions outside of her family feels like an act, both to protect the person she's speaking to, and to protect herself from them.

She may butt heads with her family, but she is still the beloved favorite daughter of the Bernardi family, and she knows in what situations she can't let someone forget that fact. She expects respect as a default and is often shocked and angry when she runs into a situation where she has to earn it.

Serena is no shy, innocent wall flower in the romance department. She is well aware that at any moment her parents could decide to use their daughter and her prospective marriage as a social and political tool, and she's done her best to avoid that fate at every turn. She wields her sexuality as a weapon, mostly and specifically against her parents, by only toying and dating around with people they wouldn't approve of.

She doesn't believe in a romantic fairy tale love. She knows anyone she's with has their life put in danger just by being associated with her, and it's a fear she can't shake. She tends to treat relationships like toys as a result, flings and FWBs rather than anything serious; something to have needs met and then say goodbye and move onto the next one.

Serena is a talented pianist, having been playing piano since she was a child. She loves it and tries to play at least once a day, often as a form of stress relief or when she needs to think. She has her favorite composers memorized, but can sight-read sheet music as well as play freehand. She has never composed anything of her own, though.

Serena is not a fighter. However, she is well versed in self defense - as a Bernardi and her father's favorite, she was expected to be able to hold her own if she was ever put into a position where she needed to protect herself with no immediate help around. She can defend herself hand-to-hand and can shoot and wield a weapon if needed. She is often praised for her marksmanship by her father, but she hates it.

Giovanni Bernardi - The Bernardi Patriarch is a man born and forged in fire. He is a third generation leader of the Family and has turned their organization into such a success that money hasn't been an issue in years and the entire shipping industry in their district is under their control. The brawns to his wife's brains. He has been an untouchable terror for the law enforcement ever since his initial rise to power after his father's death.

He has always had a soft spot for his daughter, but he is an old fashioned man and the power has all but transferred to his sons in his old age. He is still actively involved in the business however and oversees the operations as a Godfather should.

Giulia Bernardi - The Bernardi Matriarch is the real leader of the Bernardi dynasty, though it is a poorly kept secret. While her husband is the muscle of the whole organization she is the brains. All business and no rush actions. She is the one sitting at the negotiation table by her husband's side. Ruthless, cunning and the true strength of this family. It's her careful guidance that has made the Bernardi Family practically untouchable for all of these years. Where she came from is unknown, but she married her eldest son to another powerful family in order to further cement the Bernardi Family as powerhouses, and hopes to do the same with her other children.

She has high hopes for her daughter and daughter-in-law to succeed her in the family business, as her sons have (unfortunately) taken after their father. But it's the secrets that she has shared with Serena that damns the family, and it's that knowledge that the Law are after.

Gianni "Jack" Bernardi - The Bernardi heir and the current Underboss to the family. Serena's eldest brother. He was born with the crown on his head and the weight of the future on his shoulders. Volatile, cunning, ruthless, but really having received the worst of both of his parents and very little of the benefit. It is the hope of his mother that his marriage and the subsequent assuming of his wife's art forgery ring will give him a steady influence, but it is a deeply kept secret that Jack's likelihood to emulate his parents' success in the criminal empire is low.

Lorelai Bernardi (nee Abernathy) - Jack's wife and Serena's sister-in-law. The Abernathy family is another criminal family that has been the lynchpin to an art forgery ring for at least 3 generations. They are an old money family like the Bernardis, and equally untouchable - but they have now been bonded together so closely through marriage and business that to take down one, means to take down both.

Rotti "Ralph" Bernardi - The Bernardi 'spare', as he's called. Younger brother to Jack, older brother to Serena. Quiet, moody, sensitive, reckless, and somehow with a temper even worse than his brother's. Ralph and Serena are close in age and she loves him best, but she often worries over him because he is far more destructive than Jack. Desperate for their parents' approval, a total Mama's boy because Giovanni has poured so much of his time into Jack. He is often used as a hitman and assassin on jobs because it gives him a way to vent his anger.

Serena has a bachelor's degree in business administration with a minor in finance. It is absolutely not the degree she wanted - she was desperate to go into some sort of medical field, such as counseling, therapy, but her parents refused the support and forced her into something that would be more "useful" to her role in the Family long term.