![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eulaliaPrev | Next
All the kids are still here at the start of winter. Sun is doing Eldest Daughter things, Senna is busy with her loom like usual, and Cináed is admiring his imaginary muscles in the
Norweni: A sword? No, put that away.
Cadwgan: What will you be teaching me, then?
Norweni: Hand-to-hand. Spearwork, hopefully.
Cadwgan: A sword is... I hate to say it, but more efficient than a spear.
Norweni: Mmm, your father used to tell me the same thing. But if you've got a big enough spear, you can sweep an opponent off her feet or stab her through the belly without ever leaving your horse.
Cadwgan: You can fight on horseback with a sword.
Norweni: True... but if you suddenly have compromised depth perception for some reason, a spear is easier. Eventually you'll hit something!
Cadwgan: Hopefully I won't be fighting anybody or losing an eye.
Norweni: *laughs* I'm sure you know the basics of swordwork by now anyway. Let's broaden your skills. If you really want to practice with the sword, we'll ask my friend Xiang or his daughter Jia.
Cadwgan: Um, not Jia, please. I don't think she likes me.
Norweni: And why is that?
Cadwgan: I guess because she's Sun's friend and Sun didn't like me very much at first?
Norweni: Then I'm sure it's all fine now that you're friends too.
Cadwgan: Right...
There are too many teenagers on this lot. Thank god some of them are getting shipped off to Diseta in a few days.
We might actually be able to fulfill this want! That dog is constantly haunting everyone else, surely he'll give Cináed a turn soon, right? Right??
Cináed has been noticing lately that Xiuying is really pretty. Especially with her hair cut like that. And she laughs at all his jokes, even the ones that are more silly than clever!
Sun: ...so you want to reject fancy things because some god says it's bad?
Cadwgan: That's... a close enough interpretation. The Watcher's Parables say that wealth for wealth's sake is immoral unless it's spread to all. None should have all if some have none.
Sun: You're wearing a tunic under that coat that probably cost as much as many people here could save in a year.
Cadwgan: It seems wasteful to get rid of it while it's still wearable. And my mother gave it to me.
Sun: You could always sell it and give the money to people. If everything's supposed to be equal.
Cadwgan: Hmmm...
Sun: I'm not being serious. Please don't sell your tunic. Only I get to see you with no shirt on.
Cadwgan: Now, I don't remember agreeing to that.
Sun: Here's your chance!
Cadwgan: What if I want to go swimming when summer comes?
Sun: Hm. We'll circle back to this idea. How did you get into this, anyway?
Cadwgan: The Parables? Well...
Cadwgan: There were bad storms last year right before harvest, up north near the border. Did you get any of it here?
Sun: I don't think so.
Cadwgan: Veridia was lucky, then. Some of the storms were strong enough to wash out the fields around several villages and towns, and much of the grain that was left caught a blight from the damp. Not something you want to eat unless you're truly desperate, and even then it'd probably make you sick. I went with my brother to help organize the relief and distribute food. And I was sitting on Acorn, looking around at these people who've had their livelihood washed away and homes flooded, and I think, what is it that makes me any different from them? Why am I the one on the horse, with a safe hold to return to and no fear of hunger?
Sun: You were born a prince.
Cadwgan: Yes—born. I've done nothing to earn it. My father might have fought to take his kingdom, but I haven't. His father didn't, nor did his father's mother. Not only have I done nothing to make me any better than a farmer standing in his ruined field, I've probably done less in my life to earn what I have than he does each day.
Sun: I've gotta be honest, I wouldn't have guessed that a prince would be thinking this way about the world.
Cadwgan: You're the child of a wealthy woman, but you still cook and clean and run errands around the village.
Sun: Yeah, well, Mum is big on self-sufficiency and hard work. We had a maid when I was little—Enna, she lives over by the coast now—but that was only because my parents couldn't keep up with all of us and the hall and still get their work done. It's not great if the town's blacksmith can't do her work because she's busy washing nappies.
Cadwgan: Anyway, when we returned, there was a man visiting from Queen Icena's court in Halswitha, and I asked about his pendant. He told me it was the Eye of the Watcher and, when I didn't know what that was, invited me to listen to some of the Parables. And I was still thinking about those villages, and it just... made sense to me.
Sun: Okay. Next question—
Cadwgan: I didn't realize this was an interrogation.
Sun: Aw, poor baby, did you think I dragged you out here to make out with you again?
Cadwgan: No.
Sun: You did!
Cadwgan: What's your question, Sun?
Sun: Okay, okay. Why does it have to be only one god? The rest of us do very well with the lot.
Cadwgan: That depends on what scholar you ask. Some say that other gods and goddesses are just different aspects of the Watcher; some say that they're actually what we consider spirits, since belief in different gods tends to be localized, just like spirits are often very localized.
Sun: Oh, like the big fish goddess in Evervale. We don't do that one here.
Cadwgan: Like the big fish goddess. I guess.
Sun: But I hear you talk about spirits.
Cadwgan: Spirits do real things. Like, um...
Sun: Like me and the twins! Mam calls us magic spirit babies sometimes.
Cadwgan: Sure.
Sun: So, spirits are real, but also only the Watcher is real? That doesn't make sense to me.
Cadwgan: They're different, or maybe just different aspects of the Watcher. I'm not a scholar yet, Sun; I've hardly begun learning. I'm just trying to answer your questions as well as I can. You can read my copy of the Book of Parables and see for yourself, if you like.
Sun: Nah, I'm good. D'you want to go make out behind the barn now?
Maddan: Hey there.
Norweni: Hmph.
Maddan: Alrighty then. Who pissed in your porridge today?
Norweni: Helenet finally told me some things about you. Were you ever planning to share, or did you just assume I wouldn't care if I found out?
Maddan: I don't see how it's any of your business.
Norweni: She's my friend and you've been in my bed, so I feel that does make it my business. Luckily for you, insulting someone and refuting parentage isn't actually illegal, though I'm tempted to petition for an exception. The king would probably give it to me if I asked nice.
Maddan: Ah yes, cronyism, very noble of you. You realize we were both just stupid kids back then, right?
Norweni: You might have been. Do you know how old I was when my mother died? Seven. Do you know who took care of my baby sister every day when our father was busy keeping the farm running? I did. You were a big strapping lad of, what, seventeen? Eighteen?
Maddan: I know you have trouble remembering this little fact, but we can't all be you.
Norweni: Just fuck off, Maddan. I'm trying to decide whether to keep you in the guard rotation. You haven't actually done anything here that should disqualify you, but I also don't want to see your face again for at least a week.
Maddan: Whatever you say, your highness.
Norweni: Don't be an ass.
Maddan: You liked it up til now.
Norweni: Ugh... Senna, where is everyone? This house was full when I left earlier.
Senovara: Uh... Kinny went to meet some friends at the pond, I think Cadwgan is helping Uncle Dinn and Kinet fix something at the farm, and I dunno where Sun is.
Norweni: Alright then. Thanks.
Let's abandon Norweni's relationship drama for her son's. :) Everyone thinks Kara is cute as heck, including Cináed, who is promptly ignored. I gotta say, I don't hate the idea of Jia and Kara. It's a little moot, though, since Jia is aging up next round.
A bunch of the other local teens show up to hang out around the campfire, including Jia and Acca and, shortly later, Xiuying.
Xiuying is confused about what's suddenly happening here but not opposed to it.
Cináed: Hey. You look extra pretty tonight.
Xiuying: I do? I mean, uh, thank you?
Cináed: D'you want to visit the market with me? We could get a snack, maybe dance if the bard is there.
Xiuying: I—yes! That sounds nice, Cináed.
Meanwhile, Jia is a little surprised when Kara starts flirting with her, but... why not flirt back? Kara is sweet, and maybe focusing on someone else will help Jia get over her feelings for Sun.
Yeah, I think you might've lost your opportunity, Faro.
Cináed: Xiuying, could I kiss you?
Xiuying: Oh, I, yes?
Cináed: That's kinda hesitant for a yes.
Xiuying: Sorry, I'm just kind of nervous. I'd like it if you did.
Me, watching this play out in five whole seconds: 👁️👄👁️
Cináed: What are you doing? Can't you see we're in the middle of something here?
Kara: I was just—
Cináed: Just what, trying to steal my date?
Xiuying: Leave her alone! She's my friend and you're being really unfair!
Cináed: No, it's weird to get all up in your face as soon as I've kissed you! Ugh, whatever, I'm gonna go home.
I see you've inherited Diseta's hotheaded trait.
Kara: I'm sorry! I didn't mean to ruin your date!
Xiuying: Don't be sorry! You were just being friendly, Cináed is totally overreacting.
You're so right, Xiuying, this is not a green flag, I'm just not sure on whose part. Maybe all of you!
I saw Cadwgan RUNNING across the lot when he got home from work—turns out he had to play with Grendel.
Cináed: You're never gonna believe all this. So Xiuying and I were at the market and I kissed her and—
Senovara: You what?
Cináed: Uh... kissed Xiuying? That's not the outrageous part—
Senovara: But she's my friend! Why would you do that?
Cináed: Just because you're friends doesn't mean you own her or something. You're not frickin' dating her.
Senovara: But... she's my friend. Why can't you kiss someone else?
Cináed: Spirits, never mind! I'm not even gonna kiss her again, not that you care why. Everyone needs to stop being weird or I'm gonna go find some cave to live in and become a hermit.
Senovara: Who would do your laundry if you did that?
Cináed: Ughhhhh.
I knew sim ghosts could take baths, but I didn't know pet ghosts did too! Hi, Faun!
lol, j/k, Faun is actually here to torment Cadwgan again. It's a shame he didn't have a 'see ghost' want, because at least then we'd be rolling in aspiration points instead of just sleep deprivation.
Once again asking for therapy to be invented so I can send her.
Fial popped by to catch up with her sister and make sure she's not gonna weasel out of that birthday party.
Ruby is doing well, btw. It'll be a while yet before she's grown enough for riding.
Cadwgan: What's that face for?
Sun: What face?
Cadwgan: You're making that 'I'm plotting something' face.
Sun: No, I'm not.
Cadwgan: Uh-huh.
Sun: Well, if you insist—
Cadwgan: Aagh!
Norweni: Ahem. Do either of you want to explain what's going on here?
Sun: Eep!
Cadwgan: Um—
Norweni: *sighs* Surely you could find a better place for this than the barn. Cadwgan, when I told you not to cause trouble, I didn't think I had to specifically include my daughters.
Sun: I started things; don't blame him.
Cadwgan: Welllll...
Norweni: Okay. Cadwgan, the last I heard you were planning on leaving here to become a priest sooner rather than later. Sun, did you know this?
Sun: Of course. He hardly shuts up about it.
Cadwgan: I do so—I mean, I wouldn't lead Sun on about anything, including that.
Norweni: So why are you sneaking around?
Sun: We... didn't think you would approve?
Norweni: As long as everyone's on the same page and being safe, it's fine. Sun—
Sun: I already spoke to Aunt Netty. Please don't make me listen to another lecture.
Norweni: That's good, but find someplace better than the barn. I really don't want to walk in on you two again. Now shoo.
Cadwgan: I'm not sure if your mother is odd or if it's mine who is.
Sun: Mum is just really practical. Sometimes it's annoying, sometimes it's kinda nice.
Senovara and Xiuying managed to drag Sun away from her boyfriend long enough to go visit the market. Look, Senna isn't lagging behind everyone for once! I was so shocked that I took a picture of it.
Oh, I bet these two will make good friends! *scribbles note*
Sun: Hi, Mam! Guess what—
~Scandalous~ gossip going around.
Just a
The house empties out a bit the next day when Sun and Cináed go to spend the rest of the season with Diseta. Senovara is still here, though, and quite happy to not have her routine disrupted again.
She's also a bit of an absent-minded sim, as you might've noticed by her being too absorbed in her reading to realize that the fire has gone out or that her breakfast bowl is so dirty it's emitting green fumes. Or that she never actually got dressed this morning.
Norweni: Senna, have you given much thought to what sorts of things you want to do in the future, now that you're getting older?
Senovara: Oh, yes! I want to keep doing my weaving, and then I'm going to marry someone nice and we're going to have six babies. And I think it would be nice to raise sheep like Uncle Eisu does—they're so cute and sweet.
Cadwgan: Six?
Senovara: I think that's a good number. And we'll have a dog. Named Rose.
Cadwgan: Of course.
Norweni: That's very... specific, but it's nice that you have some goals you're looking forward to. Speaking of, Cadwgan, are you still planning to go become a priest when you're of age or has Veridia lured you into a life of sheep farming?
Cadwgan: Oh, um. I suppose I am...
Norweni: Hmm.
Norweni decides to drop by the mead hall the afternoon before her birthday party, just to see how everyone is doing lately. She runs into Elphin again and spends a little while talking with him.
And then Wulfraed tried to make a move on her and was promptly rejected.
The face of regret.
Senovara: So you really did kiss my brother? He didn't make that up?
Xiuying: Well, yeah. It was all kind of weird, to be honest, but Da says everything about adolescence is kind of weird, so. I guess that tracks.
Senovara: But... why?
Xiuying: Um, Cináed is nice to me and kind of funny, and he kept calling me pretty, and it seems like something you do in that situation? And I wanted to try it.
Xiuying: Anyway... you aren't mad, are you? 'Cause, you know, I guess it's a little weird that it was your brother when you're my best friend.
Senovara: Nope! I'm not mad. Why would I be mad?
Xiuying: Okaaaay.
She is NOT mad, you guys!! She's jealous. That's DIFFERENT.
Apparently Xiuying is loyal enough to Jia that she also immediately hates Cadwgan, lmao.
Cadwgan: Hi there. I thought you were off spending time with your other mother?
Sun: Mm, but I promised to help set up before Mum's party.
Cadwgan: Not that I don't like it, but I can't say that this seems very helpful to her.
Sun: That's why I'm here extra early!
Fial: One cake, as promised!
Norweni: Thank you, Fial—it looks delicious.
I didn't really think of taking a proper birthday picture of Norweni, but she looks basically the same. Her face is a little softer, and I did swap her hair for a version with bolder strands of gray.
Helenet: So I notice that Maddan isn't here tonight. I hope that isn't because of me—I promise, I really don't care if you want to invite him to things. Though I might have to rag on your taste in men a bit.
Norweni: Eisu has you beat there. But er, no, we sort of argued about what you told me. I know it was a long time ago, but... he doesn't seem to have much regret for it.
Helenet: I can't say I'm all that surprised.
Norweni: Mm. And I... can't really get past that. So he isn't here tonight.
The party tonight is much more relaxed than the last few have been.
Dinn: ...and then he exclaims, 'My cabbages!'
Xiang: Haha!
Eisu: Well, who'd've thought we'd ever be this old, eh?
Norweni: Do you know what I realized this morning? I'm nearly twice as old my mother was when she died. That was a real trip.
Norweni: You know... I really do appreciate that you've been my friend for so long. You've been one of the true constants in my life.
Eisu: Aw, Wenna, you're getting so sappy in your old age.
Norweni: I'm not sappy enough or old enough that I won't still put you in a headlock if you push it.
Cináed: ...that's weird, right? To suddenly be hugging someone else like that right after I kiss her? Even if it's your best friend, which, like, I know they aren't because my sister is Xiuying's best friend.
Cadwgan: Uh... I'm not sure that I'm the best person to be asking this?
Girl...
Getting another year older doesn't feel too much different to Norweni, except that her old aches and pains are a little more bothersome in the cold mornings.
It's actually Yule today, and after a lazy morning for everyone here, Senna heads out to spend some time with Diseta and her siblings.
And Elphin happens to drop by shortly afterward.
Norweni: Uh. What are you doing?
Elphin: Trying to seduce you? I thought it was fairly obvious, but maybe not. My bad, I suppose.
Norweni: Why?
Elphin: Well, you seemed interested in me the other day, and you have to know you're an attractive woman. But I can back off if you're not interested.
Norweni: I'm not uninterested. But... I'm not sure I'm fit for a serious relationship any time soon. Or maybe ever.
Elphin: Who said anything has to be serious?
Norweni: Hm. Do you play fidchell?
Elphin: Do I play fidchell, she asks. Of course I play.
Norweni: Best of three, then?
Yeah, I'm sure your tales of fighting Brigid Salter will win her over, Elphin.
Senovara: I've decided that it's good you came here. You're much nicer than Kinny and not even half as annoying.
Cadwgan: Er, thank you. If we're being honest, you're much nicer than my sister too.
Senovara: D'you know how to spin?
Cadwgan: No, but perhaps you can show me at some point.
Senovara: Okay!
Senna also roped him into a snowball fight, which honestly is so cute.
Senovara: Oof!
Cadwgan: Oh shi—are you alright?
Senovara: I'm fine!
Cadwgan: Maybe we should stop now, though.
Congrats to Norweni for making pancakes and not burning them.
Sun and Cináed wandered back over too, eventually.
Senovara: Blech, do I really have to watch this all the time now?
Sun: Go somewhere else if it bothers you.
Senovara: But I was here first!
Sun: I'm older than you! You categorically cannot have been here first!
Cináed: Oh no, the prince has been teaching her big words again.
Sun: Both of you shut up.
Does she want to date him or just trump him in
Diseta visits the next day and Senovara tells her aaaall about Norweni's party. Diseta is much more interested in hearing more about what Senna is up to, though.
Norweni agrees to eat supper with Elphin at the mead hall. It's kind of nice to be doing something like this without expectations.
Sun also happens to be at the mead hall, and she does not approve! She can at least conceptually understand the Maddan thing (he is tall, dark, and handsome, if you can look past his personality and his nonsensical dislike of horses), but Elphin has grandpa vibes, if you ask her. (No one asked her.)
Norweni has enough self-awareness this time to not rush into whatever this ends up being. After dinner their date ends with a quiet kiss shared in a dark corner of the hall.
Not dark enough for Sun!
Norweni: Child, I know you aren't complaining to your mother about her and Shep all the time.
Sun: Yeah, well, they aren't always smooching where I have to watch them.
Norweni: And perhaps now you understand how I felt walking in on you and Cadwgan with your tongues down each other's throats when I'm just trying to hang up my tack.
Sun: Ew.... point taken. Please stop talking about kissing now.
Senovara: Are you really going to leave here next year? I'll miss you if you do. And I think my sister will too.
Cadwgan: Can I tell you a secret? I'm not certain that I want to go anymore. But I don't think Sun feels quite so serious about things as I might.
Senovara: I dunno. Sun has a lot of, um, what's the word... bravado? But she feels really deeply about everything. I don't think she would be kissing you if she didn't really, really like you. Also, I think Grendel would miss you too. I know you keep sneaking her table scraps when Mummy isn't watching!
Cadwgan: Err—it's not my fault that dog has the biggest puppy dog eyes known to man.
A nice, quiet end to the round here. Though I'm sure we'll see more of Senna and Cadwgan during Diseta's round, when we rejoin Senna's siblings.
Tags:
no subject
Date: 2026-02-28 03:30 pm (UTC)