Veridia Round 5: Hill Farm

[eulalia]

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I hope everyone isn’t sick of all the cute bébé pictures yet. Spring opens at Hill Farm with Eisu caring for baby Xiuying...




...Jia being Jia and tempting hypothermia...




...and Xiang and Drustan both having the flu, thanks to Arturo. :)




We don’t have church, but we do have A Cave™ with shrine and burial chamber, which is basically the same thing. This would’ve been perfect for Jia if kids could go to community lots alone, but alas. This isn’t Xiang’s thing, and Eisu doesn’t do caves alone, so congrats Dunk, you get to go spend the night in the dark cave!




Drustan: *hackcough* Great.

I suppose I could’ve had Drustan bring Jia, but they have some of the only responsible parents in Veridia. I don’t think letting a nine-year-old spend all night out in a cave would fly with their dads.




Spring is also shearing season. This should be a big deal for the whole village, but since it’s the sims this is probably the only mention you’ll see of it.








Luckily after a few doses of medicine from Helenet, Drustan and Xiang are both feeling much better. unfortunately that means she’s out of stock now, so no one else better get sick






Drustan: So we’re agreed? I’ll “stay” at yours tonight and you’ll say you’re staying here?

Glamaer: I mean, I don’t think Wulfric or Brigid will notice if I don’t come home, but yeah.






omg, I almost missed Xiuying’s birthday in the spring rush. 😭 She looks a lot like Jia. A calmer Jia.






Glamaer: Remind me why we’re spending the night in a dark, cold cave again?

Drustan: I dunno, Jia was talking about it and I just got a bug in my head. What if there are spirits here? What if we could meet them? Maybe even speak to them?

Glamaer: I dunno if I want to meet any spirits. Hey, who lights the torches in here all the time?

Drustan: Da said it used to be a priest, but the last one died from old age. So. I think some of the village elders or else Headwoman Norweni do it.






Drustan: I dunno, the thought of staying on the farm forever just isn’t very appealing. Chores and sheep and sleep and chores...

Glamaer: So why not leave the village for a while when we come of age? Your da did it.

Drustan: I don’t know if that’s what I want either. Isn’t this growing up stuff confusing for you too?




Glamaer: Nah.

Drustan: Well la-di-dah for you I guess.

Glamaer: I’m going to catch fish and marry Enna. It’s gonna be great.




Glamaer: Should we try making an offering?

Drustan: It can’t hurt. What have we got? I have some string and two acorns Jia hid in my pocket.

Glamaer: Um, I need my knife, so not that... three coppers, a fishing lure, and one of Gytha’s ribbons that she forgot and I keep forgetting to bring her.

Drustan: Better not use the ribbon. She’d never forgive us.




It turns out that sitting in a slightly damp cave all night is really boring.




So boring that Drustan even starts lecturing Glamaer on the best riverstones moves, which I'm sure isn't boring at all.

Glamaer: Wait—did you hear that?

Drustan: No?

Glamaer: Over there. I swear I heard something.




Glamaer: Mum...?




Drustan: I didn’t hear anything. Maybe it’s your ears playing tricks on you from a lack of sleep. This was a stupid idea.




And then Morwenna even scared him and I missed it with the game on two speed. 🙃 But dawn is here, so it’s time to go home.
















Jia: Scoundrels! Taste the might of my fury—

Xiang: Jia, what did we talk about?

Jia: *sigh* ...A sword is a weapon, not a toy. Doncha ever play make believe when you’re training, Baba?

Xiang: No.

Grownups are so boring, if you ask Jia.








Besides swordsmanship, Xiang is teaching Jia how to read with those books Arturo oh so generously donated. She’s a quick learner and even rolls a want to learn physiology, I guess so she can better imagine where to maim her make-believe enemies.






Drustan has romance on the brain this spring. I fear none of these wants will be fulfilled, except maybe that cooking skill point.




Gytha and Angus are an item now; he and Lucile here have a bolt but get along poorly; and that’s basically it for teen girls in the hood. (Oh, and Enna, who is also in a committed relationship.) I think you’re gonna have to ignore that romance secondary for a while, Dunk.






At least he has his best bro to gossip with.




After picking up that fiddle at Fial’s house the other week, Xiang decided he wanted to get his own. It turns out music is a lot more enjoyable when your father isn’t forcing you to take lessons.






It’s DEFINITELY lambing season. This is too many sheep.




Game: No problem.

Wait, that’s the one I wanted to keep.






Some bees have moved into an old log out back, conveniently near the hive Xiang keeps talking about stocking.

Drustan: What did Shep say? Wood smoke? Okay, I can totally do this...






Drustan: NOPE, NO, CAN’T DO IT!










Jia: Watch this! Sun, watch me—

Sun: Go Jia, go!




Ta-da!






I was like, why aren’t Eisu and Dinn friends? And I guess this is why.




oh my fucking god, Drustan hasn’t even fully materialized on the lot and there’s ALREADY a fight. where are Norweni and Diseta, I need them to fine more people.




I finally made Aífe’s townie replacement, btw. This is, uhhhhh, Ebba. She came right over to introduce herself and join Drustan’s game.






Ebba: Oh, that’s your opening move? Interesting.

Drustan: Why is it interesting?

Ebba: Well, it’s not what I would pick if I wanted to win.

Drustan: Excuse me, you’re talking to someone with ten logic points.




Drustan finds Ebba’s confidence and dark hair very appealing. Maybe there’s hope for his dreams of a spring romance after all?






Drustan: Hey, that was a good game. You played really well—

Ebba: Ew, why are you talking to me? Go away.

Drustan: ...Okay.




Yeah, I don't know what happened there either, kid.






Mouse is a great and mighty shepherd. A sheepcat, if you will.






But an easily distracted one.




Helenet: I think you’re starting to win over Arturo with your pies.

Eisu: That’s good. He’s not easily an charmed man, is he?

Helenet: Ha! Spirits, no.




Eisu: If Arturo was living in the woods for who knows how long, and no one knew until you stumbled upon him... I wonder who else might be in those woods.

Helenet: I’m not sure I want to know. I have enough strange forest creatures in my house as it is.




The face of a Knowledge sim who has just mastered the logic skill.










Mouse would like some porridge, please.




He’ll take a nap while it’s being prepared.






Helenet brings Lune with her on her next visit—






Oh yeah, that’s Elmet’s child for sure.




Enforced Cousin Bonding Time, activate!




I just like his face.






Eisu: Who’s so good at walking? You are! Xiang, isn’t it remarkable how all our children are geniuses?

Xiang: Perhaps you might wait until she’s at least four before putting the weight of that label on her, love. But yes, you are very clever, Xiuying.








Drustan: I can’t believe you do that voluntarily.

Jia: It's—*huff*—fun! Didn’t you try to get Baba to train you once?

Drustan: Yeah, but then I learned there’s better and less painful things to do with my time.




I turned my back on you for five seconds, Jia!




Jia: DUNK WAS RIGHT ABOUT BEES!






She gets over it faster than Drustan, though.

Jia: Oops, too slow!

Eisu: I’ll get you sooner or later!

When Xiang gets home from today’s training with the town warriors, it’s time to visit the festival square!






Jia is going to defeat everyone at skittles.








Eisu: Now, don’t think you’ll just get that recipe out of me. Baking is a very precise art. And we’d never see you again if you weren’t coming over for more pie!

Elmet: Hey, that’s not true. Netty is very set on... what did she call it? "Enforced cousin bonding time"?




Eisu: It’s weird, but I think becoming, you know, was actually good for Elmet.

Xiang: Really?

Eisu: You didn’t really know him before it happened, and I’ll admit the depression era was rough, but he’s much more confidant now.

Xiang: I believe there are better ways to build confidence than a magical curse, but I’ll take your word for it.






Jia met Arduenna at the festival. I bet they would be really good at running scams together.




What if we DON’T dance in the flower bed instead of anywhere at all on the giant dance square I made?







* * *




Drustan volunteered to stay home and watch Xiuying while the rest of the family is out. The spring festival is always very... lovey-dovey, and he thinks he would just feel a little bit left out.




But Glamaer came over to hang out, and for the second time this round brought Lucile with him. I’d think he’s trying to set them up if I thought Glam was that emotionally savvy.






Glamaer: It’s so nice that we can be friends now even though we broke up. :)

Lucile: I mean, the town’s so small, it’s not like I’ve got a lot of other options.




Drustan: Remember when Gytha was trying to sneak bugs into your step-mother’s bed? Did she ever actually do that?

Glamaer: No, I convinced her it would be cruel to the beetles.




how dare you do this to me, game?






Drustan: Hey, Jia. Did you have a good time at the festival?

Jia: Yeah! I am so good at skittles. I hope I’m tall enough to enter the archery contest at midsummer!









That’s all, good night.