View source for Emily Santangelo

== Background / History ==
{{Infobox Character
| name = Emily Santangelo
| image = To be added
| fullname = Emilia Maria Santangelo
| alias = 
<li>Em</li>
<li>Angie</li>
<li>Angela</li>
| gender = Female
| nationality = Italian-American
| birth = March 28, 2003
| birthplace = Liberty City, United States
| status = Alive
| related = 
<li>David Santangelo (father)</li>
<li>Unnamed mother (mother)<li>
<li>[[Joey Hunt|Patrick Jones]] (godfather)<li>
| associated = 
<li>[[Arthur Percy]]</li>
<li>[[Jamie Evans]]</li>
| factions = N/A
| rank = N/A
| factionstatus = N/A
| first = N/A
| last = N/A
| arcs = N/A
| writer = ProudHumbleGamer
}}
Emily Santangelo, born Emilia Maria Santangelo, is an Italian-American woman originally from Liberty City who relocated to Los Santos in 2025. She is an upcoming character in the GTA RP. 

=== Early Life in Liberty City (2003–2011) ===
Emilia Maria Santangelo was born on March 28, 2003, in Liberty City, to David Santangelo and his wife. She grew up in [https://gta.fandom.com/wiki/Steinway Steinway], a residential neighborhood in the borough of Dukes, where her family maintained a modest working-class household.

David was an Italian-American veteran of the United States Navy who worked in automotive maintenance, restoration, and vehicle painting. Emily's mother worked as a seamstress, primarily performing clothing repairs and alterations. Their combined income provided the family with a relatively stable upbringing.

Emily was raised Roman Catholic and baptized Emilia Maria Santangelo, although her family began calling her Emily during her early childhood. The nickname originated from David's admiration for Pink Floyd, particularly their 1967 song ''[[wikipedia:See_Emily_Play|See Emily Play]]''. David frequently played the band's music at home, and Emily eventually developed an appreciation for it herself.

Both parents introduced Emily to their respective occupations. David regularly allowed her to accompany him while working on vehicles, teaching her basic mechanical skills and encouraging her interest in automobiles and motorcycles. Her mother similarly introduced her to sewing and garment alterations, gradually teaching her to modify and repair clothing.

Another important figure in Emily's childhood was [[Joey Hunt|Patrick Jones]], a close friend of David's from their military service. Patrick had agreed to become her godfather shortly after her birth, although his continued military commitments initially prevented him from maintaining a regular presence in her life. Besides her parents and her godfather, Emily does not have any other family members.

=== Growing Up in Steinway (2011–2016) ===
Emily attended local schools in Steinway and generally maintained satisfactory grades, although she showed greater interest in creative subjects than conventional academic work. She particularly enjoyed drawing, painting, and experimenting with different materials.

Outside school, she continued learning automotive maintenance from David and clothing alterations from her mother. As her abilities developed, she began customizing second-hand garments and experimenting with her own designs.

During the early-to-mid 2010s, Patrick Jones completed his education and returned to civilian life, eventually purchasing a home near the Santangelo family. His proximity allowed him to become more involved in Emily's upbringing, and he frequently visited the household.

Around this period, David introduced Patrick to Eleanor Wright, whom Patrick eventually married. Following the birth of their daughter, Jane Jones, the two families maintained regular contact. Emily became familiar with Eleanor and Jane, while Patrick established himself as another dependable adult in her life. For several years, the relationship between the households remained stable. Patrick pursued a career in banking, while David continued working in the automotive industry.

=== Adolescence and Developing Independence (2016–2019) ===
As Emily entered adolescence, she became increasingly independent and began developing her own preferences in music, clothing, and personal appearance.

Her musical interests expanded beyond Pink Floyd to include alternative rock, trip-hop, industrial rock, shoegaze, post-punk, alternative metal, funk rock, and darker electronic music. These influences became increasingly apparent in her clothing, which frequently incorporated skinny jeans, fitted tops, leather jackets, heavy boots, dark makeup, and metal accessories.

Emily also developed a growing interest in motorcycle culture after seeing The Lost MC on television. Emily adopted elements of biker fashion despite having no affiliation with a motorcycle club. She frequently modified second-hand clothing using her mother's sewing equipment. Her changing appearance occasionally caused disagreements with her parents. David questioned her attraction to biker culture, while her mother was particularly critical of outfits she considered excessively revealing. On several occasions, her mother complained that Emily looked "like a hooker," prompting sarcastic responses from her daughter.

Despite these disagreements, Emily remained close to both parents. Her mother continued assisting with clothing alterations, while David maintained their shared interest in motorcycles and mechanical work. Emily also became more assertive during this period, developing a dry sense of humor and an increasingly skeptical attitude toward authority.

==== Patrick Jones' Departure ====
Beginning in 2017, Patrick Jones became increasingly absent from the Santangelo family's life. His visits grew less frequent, and he occasionally disappeared from Liberty City for extended periods. Unknown to Emily, Patrick's close friend Joe Marcus had been murdered in Vice City, prompting Patrick to pursue individuals he believed were responsible. David was aware of his friend's activities and repeatedly attempted to discourage his involvement. Although Emily occasionally noticed disagreements between the two men, neither explained the situation to her.

By 2019, Patrick's marriage to Eleanor had collapsed, and he had decided to permanently relocate to Vice City. David attempted to persuade him to reconsider but was unsuccessful. Patrick subsequently left Liberty City, ending his regular contact with the Santangelo family. Emily never received a complete explanation for his departure, and their previous relationship was not reestablished.

=== Death of David Santangelo (2020) ===
In 2020, David Santangelo contracted COVID-19 during the coronavirus pandemic. Although his initial symptoms appeared manageable, his condition rapidly deteriorated as he developed severe respiratory complications. He was eventually hospitalized but died despite receiving medical treatment.

David's death left Emily, then seventeen, and her mother without a significant source of financial and emotional support. The restrictions associated with the pandemic further complicated the period following his death. Emily became increasingly withdrawn and generally avoided discussing her father. Nevertheless, she retained her interest in automobiles, motorcycles, and Pink Floyd, all of which remained closely associated with the time they had spent together.

His death also affected her relationship with religion. Although raised Catholic, she began questioning the beliefs and traditions of her upbringing and became less involved in organized religious activities. With David's income no longer available, Emily and her mother were forced to adjust their household expenses and became increasingly dependent on one another.

==== Life After David's Death (2020–2024) ====
Emily continued her education following her father's death and graduated from high school in 2021. Despite her interest in visual arts and clothing design, she did not immediately pursue higher education. Instead, she began working a series of relatively low-paying jobs, including retail positions and occasional clothing alterations.

She also earned additional money through sewing, garment repairs, and other informal assignments, although these provided little financial security. Emily continued living with her mother in Steinway, contributing toward household expenses and assisting with sewing work. Their relationship remained close, despite occasional disagreements over Emily's appearance, employment prospects, and desire for greater independence. Although she occasionally considered leaving Liberty City, her limited savings and relationship with her mother kept her in Steinway.

=== Death of Emily's Mother (2024) ===
In 2024, Emily's mother died following complications from acute appendicitis after experiencing delays in obtaining medical examinations and treatment.

Earlier that year, she began experiencing persistent abdominal pain, nausea, and increasing discomfort. As her symptoms worsened, she sought medical attention, but financial difficulties and problems involving insurance coverage delayed the recommended diagnostic examinations.

She was eventually examined and sent home without receiving the testing that might have established the seriousness of her condition. Her symptoms were initially treated as a comparatively ordinary gastrointestinal complaint.

Several days later, her condition deteriorated dramatically, and she was rushed to hospital. Doctors discovered that her appendix had ruptured, resulting in a serious infection that had progressed into sepsis. Despite emergency treatment, she died from complications associated with the infection. Emily was twenty-one years old and had now lost both parents within four years.

The circumstances surrounding her mother's death substantially damaged her trust in established institutions. Emily became convinced that earlier diagnosis and treatment could have prevented the outcome, particularly blaming the financial and administrative obstacles that had delayed medical care.

Her resentment extended beyond healthcare providers and insurance companies to government officials and other authority figures. Although she did not adopt a specific political ideology, she became increasingly cynical toward institutions she believed prioritized money and bureaucracy over ordinary people.

Following her mother's death, Emily became more emotionally guarded and reluctant to depend on others. She frequently dismissed expressions of sympathy with sarcasm and avoided discussing personal matters. Her financial situation also deteriorated. Without her mother's income, she struggled to maintain the household through her irregular employment, while the apartment in Steinway remained closely associated with her deceased parents. By the end of 2024, Emily had begun seriously considering leaving Liberty City.

=== Leaving Liberty City (2025) ===
By 2025, Emily had become increasingly dissatisfied with her circumstances in Liberty City. Having lost both parents and struggled to establish financial independence, she eventually decided to relocate.

She became acquainted with a loosely organized group of travelers preparing to cross the country toward the West Coast. The group consisted of musicians, artists, craft vendors, and other individuals traveling between cities in camper vans and converted vehicles.

After establishing contact with several members, Emily arranged to accompany them to San Andreas. She contributed part of her remaining savings toward travel expenses and offered to assist with sewing, clothing repairs, painting, and basic vehicle maintenance.

The journey took the group through several states and communities before eventually reaching Southern San Andreas. During their travels, Emily became familiar with the group's unconventional lifestyle and established connections with individuals who shared her interests in alternative music, fashion, and creative expression.

Upon arriving in Los Santos, Emily decided to remain in the city rather than continue traveling with the group. She subsequently parted ways with most of her fellow travelers and began searching for employment and accommodation.

=== Starting Over in Los Santos (2025–2026) ===
Following her arrival in Los Santos, Emily attempted to establish a stable life through conventional employment. She applied for positions in retail businesses, clothing stores, automotive workshops, and other establishments where her previous experience might prove useful. However, her lack of formal qualifications and limited professional experience made securing reliable employment difficult.

Most available opportunities were temporary, poorly paid, or offered insufficient working hours to cover her living expenses. With limited savings and few local connections, Emily struggled to maintain financial stability.

She eventually began accepting irregular cash work, including assignments offered by individuals involved in questionable activities. These occasionally included suspicious deliveries, handling goods of uncertain origin, and other minor jobs conducted outside conventional employment.

Although Emily had not initially intended to become involved in criminal activity, financial necessity increasingly influenced her willingness to accept such work. Through these assignments, she gradually became associated with individuals involved in petty crime and drug-related activities. Her involvement remained largely opportunistic rather than connected to any established criminal organization.

Emily also encountered employers and acquaintances who exploited her unstable circumstances, further reinforcing her distrust of authority and people in positions of influence. By mid-2026, she remained financially insecure and increasingly dependent on irregular employment, with little improvement in the circumstances that had originally prompted her to leave Liberty City.

==== The Beginning of Her Addiction (Mid-2026) ====
During the middle of 2026, Emily experienced a particularly distressing encounter connected to one of her temporary jobs. Following the incident, she returned to her accommodation and experienced an emotional breakdown. She spent much of the night crying, with the encounter bringing renewed attention to her financial difficulties, the deaths of her parents, and her continued struggles in Los Santos.

Shortly afterwards, Emily experimented with methamphetamine for the first time. Having already encountered individuals involved in drug-related activities, she was familiar with the substance's presence in certain social circles. Her initial use provided a temporary increase in energy and confidence, offering a brief distraction from her circumstances.

Over the following weeks, Emily began using methamphetamine more frequently. Her occasional consumption gradually developed into a recurring habit as she increasingly relied on the drug while managing irregular employment and personal difficulties.

Her growing dependence began affecting her sleep, mood, judgment, and reliability. She occasionally demonstrated unusually high energy and talkativeness, followed by periods of irritability, exhaustion, and social withdrawal.

Despite recognizing some of these changes, Emily generally minimized the seriousness of her substance use and resisted attempts by others to intervene. Her addiction also contributed to further involvement in minor criminal activities, including occasional drug-related transactions.

Although she retained her interests in art, clothing, and motorcycles, her growing dependence and unstable financial situation increasingly interfered with her attempts to establish an independent life. By the latter half of 2026, Emily remained financially insecure, increasingly dependent on methamphetamine, and associated with individuals involved in criminal activity. Her circumstances in Los Santos had deteriorated considerably since her arrival, leaving her future in the city uncertain.

== Personality and Morality ==
Emily Santangelo is an independent, outspoken, and sarcastic individual with a strong dislike of authority and being told how to live her life. She is creative and resourceful, maintaining a particular interest in art, fashion, music, and motorcycles. Although generally guarded about her personal life, she is capable of genuine compassion and loyalty toward those who earn her trust.

Emily possesses a cynical worldview, largely shaped by the deaths of her parents, financial hardship, and repeated disappointments with established institutions. While she maintains a basic sense of right and wrong and generally disapproves of unnecessary violence or cruelty, she is willing to engage in illegal activities when circumstances benefit her or demand it. Her growing methamphetamine addiction has further affected her judgment and behavior, occasionally making her impulsive, irritable, and unreliable. Despite her increasingly questionable decisions, Emily is not inherently malicious, instead operating according to a flexible moral code shaped by personal experience, survival, and distrust of others.
[[Category:Minor Characters]]