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Warning this time for sim pet death. :'(
Jia: What the fuck?
Drustan: Um... surprise!
Jia: Why do you have a goat?
Drustan: Nanny goat. It's a long story?
Drustan: So where are Da and Babá?
Jia: They went to Sun's wedding with Aunt Norweni. Everyone's supposed to be back today or tomorrow.
Drustan: Sun's... oh, Jia.
Jia: I don't want to talk about it.
Drustan: I'm sorry anyway. That sucks.
Jia: Yeah, well... I had to insist that they go. They shouldn't have to stay away for my sake. Da still loves her like another daughter, and you know how Babá relishes the chance to visit someplace new. So. Xiuying went too, since apparently she and Senovara are incapable of going more than two days without seeing each other. Uncle Elmet and the kids have been helping me take care of the sheep. Well, Loony lets them out of the pen sometimes, but other than that she helps.
Jia: Whose baby is that, anyway?
Drustan: Mine. Whose else would it be?
Jia: Spirits, is everyone having babies now? Where's her mum?
Drustan: Hopefully safely on a ship back to Huaxia by now. We, uh, had a fling and... she has important goals and dreams that she wants to accomplish, and I felt she deserves to do that without complications. So I told her to give me the babe when she was born and I would raise her here.
Jia: Oh boy.
Drustan: What?
Jia: Nothing.
Drustan: What?
Jia: Nothing! I'll let Da tell you. Just let me watch when he does.
Drustan: I can't believe I actually missed you while I was gone.
Jia: Me neither.
Drustan: Anyway... I know it'll be kind of cramped here, but, uh, I was sort of hoping to eventually move into a little cottage or something instead. Aunt Helenet's old place isn't still empty, is it?
Jia: No, Angus and Gytha are living there.
Drustan: Of course they are.
Jia: I'm leaving soon anyway. You'll have plenty of space.
Drustan: What? Why?
Jia: I need to. I need time and space from everything, Dunk. The thing with Sun… I don't think I can get over her if I'm here seeing her every single day. Aunt Norweni agreed to find me a place with the king's warriors, but even if she doesn't, I'm leaving anyway. I'll find somewhere myself if I have to.
Drustan: You really have grown up while I was away, haven't you?
Jia: Someone had to be a good role model and shit for Xiuying while you were gone.
Drustan: Oh, uh, I don't think I'm really role model material. Maybe you should stay after all.
Jia: Too late, Papa! You already signed yourself up for a lifetime role.
Drustan: ...Fuck.
Eisu: I hear a baby! Jia, whose baby did you kidnap?
Drustan: Oh, uh, Jia's not here. I sent her to the market for...
Eisu and Xiang: Drustan!
Drustan: Hi, Da, Babá—spirits, Xiuying, who let you grow so tall while I was gone?
Xiuying: I did!
Drustan: Um, I have something to tell you guys, hang on—
Drustan: So... meet your first grandchild! Her name is Una. Um, why... why are you two staring at each other like that?
Eisu: Never mind all that! Oh, she's just a wee thing, isn't she? How did you get all the way here from Thessos with her alone?
Drustan: We didn't, really, I had the extremely good fortune to hire a wet nurse who wanted to travel part of the way with her own babe anyway. I couldn't find anyone after that, but I did spend the rest of my money on a nanny goat and she takes the milk well enough. Luckily someone at the Evervale market was headed this way and let me hitch a ride on their wagon for free. I, uh, I spent all of the money you gave me, by the way.
Eisu: That's what it was for, though I admit I wasn't expecting you to buy a goat with it. You must be exhausted after all of that, lad.
Drustan: Very. Also, do you think Orla would want another goat? I'd rather just get the milk from her...
Eisu: So about Orla...
Drustan: I have a what? Really? How?
Eisu: Lad, I know that you know how babes are usually made—you have another right over there—so unless you and Orla were actually just playing fidchell together all that time...
Drustan: She never said anything! I didn't think...
Eisu: Maybe she was waiting until she knew for certain. Bad timing with the travel suggestion on our part, I suppose. But the boy is obviously yours. If the gods could put the two of you next to each other at the same age, I don't think even I could tell you apart.
Drustan: I... what did she name him?
Eisu: Duncan. A bit on the nose, but hey, why not. It's a good name. He's a sweet child. Orla brings him over here regularly.
Drustan: I guess I should... go see her?
Eisu: Rather than surprise the boy, why don't you lie down for a bit and one of us will tell her to come by when she can.
Yeah, Dunk, a lot of things have changed while you were gone. :'(
We're a little out of order now due to my story posing shenanigans, but MOUSE IS BACK!!!!!! All my sims reset because I updated some hacks, and Mouse did too. You have no idea how excited I was when I tabbed over and he was just chillin' in the sheep pen. I was genuinely worried he wouldn't be returned before his life bar filled up.
Xiuying: Babá! Da! It's Mouse! He came back!
Mouse is once again the only king of his hall.
It's shearing season again and Xiuying was way ahead of me, rushing out with her scissors before I even noticed, lol.
Xiang prefers to have as little to do with the sheep as is reasonable and prepares a hearty lunch for everyone instead.
Xiuying: So you have two kids now? You know Aunt Helenet makes contraceptive tea, right?
Xiang: Xiuying, no teasing your brother until he's been home for at least a whole day.
Xiuying: I'm just saying.
Drustan: Yes, I know, mèimei, thanks for your concern.
Jia: Maybe we should ask her to give Dunk a remedial birds and bees talk?
Drustan: I think I liked it better when you weren't both ganging up on me.
Fine, we'll have a wholesome conversation about severed fingers instead.
This is Jia's reaction to me telling her to go practice with her sword. :D
Drustan: It smells like fish in here.
Glamaer: Well, it is a—Drustan! You're back!
Drustan and Glamaer spend a while catching up. Glam is surprised to learn Drustan has brought a baby home with him, but excited about the news too.
Glamaer: Enna is expecting again—maybe the two of them will grow up to be friends too, eh?
Drustan: That's a nice thought.
Glamaer: You should come over for supper sometimes soon. On a completely unrelated note, have you happened to see Orla yet?
Drustan: Um, no, but Da told me. And her.
Glamaer: Thank the spirits, I don't have to do it.
Drustan: I think she's supposed to bring... Duncan over tomorrow. Is it weird that I'm far more nervous about that than I was when Una was born?
Glamaer: You'll do fine.
Drustan: Well, at least one of us is confident about it.
Drustan only brought a few mementos home with him besides Una and an untidy pile of notes: a shell from the beach, a sketch he did of the road outside the Library. And the lightweight blue tunic he wore in Thessos, but it's far too cold here to wear it right now.
I sure did miss Mouse screaming at everything whenever he's high off his catnip (which is constantly).
How very dare you, game/mod I installed completely of my own volition.
Eisu: Drustan, lad, run around the corner and see if Angus has anything for a cough, would you?
Drustan: Oh... Angus, not Aunt Helenet?
Eisu: That is what I said. He has a little shop now—
Xiang: You two don't need to—*cough*—need to fuss over me.
Eisu: Obviously we do!
I'm hoping Drustan's time away from Veridia means he's matured enough to stop glowering at Angus whenever he's around with Gytha. 😒
Senovara: Can I see the baby? Pleeeeeease?
Xiuying: I guess so? I dunno where Dunk went, but I think she's awake now anyway.
Senovara: She's so cute! Hi, Una! Oh, I can't wait for my sister to have her baby.
Xiuying: You say that now. Wait til she starts crying in the middle of the night.
Senovara: Aw, she can't help it, she doesn't know how to talk yet. I'd cry too if I needed something and I couldn't say so or get it myself!
Eisu: Goodness, what a powerful attack from such a fearsome creature!
Mouse: Hehe
Drustan is taking his return to Veridia one day at a time—so much has changed, but he's still back here on the farm. Mostly he focuses on caring for little Una. (He is glad to learn that Xiuying has taken over his—and soon Jia's—farming chores; she's a lot better at getting the sheep to do anything than he ever was.)
Speaking of Xiuying, I noticed her checking herself out and it almost looks like she's actually looking at her reflection in the water. Except for the water being full of soap and non-reflective, I mean. idk, I just thought it was neat.
Elmet, Helenet, and the girls are here to meet Una and spend some time with Jia before she leaves. I just know Elmet is coming from the opposite direction because he had to go round up Lune from some sort of mischief.
Elmet: Soooo, I'm not gonna hear about any more drama between you, Gytha, and Angus, am I? Because I'm pretty sure I'm obligated to take his side at this point.
Drustan: No? Also, why?
Elmet: The drama or the side-taking? Well, historical precedent, and he's my wife's son, remember?
Drustan: Oh. Yeah, no. Um, I'm just really trying to focus on Una.
This house is gonna need a bigger table soon too! How will we fit in family parties with all these kids?!
(huh, you know what, I feel like Drustan might like woodworking. no real reason other than vibes and there's a lot of math involved. *scribbles note*)
Xiang got sent to bed to rest, because he immediately became sick with something else after taking his medicine, but got up after supper to perform a duet with Mouse. 🎶🐈⬛
Xiuying popped out to the market, but nothing interesting happened aside from briefly running into Kara.
Kara: You look soooo pretty tonight!
Xiuying: Oh, uh, thank you. You do too?
And Faro came by to see Jia as well!
Faro: I guess we won't be moving into a cottage together anytime soon.
Jia: You could come with me, you know. Ply your talent as a traveling bard, maybe woo some hot guys or gals with your songs.
Faro: I'd like to, I really would, Jia, but I can't. My parents are getting older; someone has to help them with the farm now that Kinet… at least until the girls are old enough.
Jia: They could find a farm hand, Faro. People do that. And no offense, but you have all the constitution of a leaf.
Faro: They could, but they shouldn't have to. They have me, don't they? I know I'm not quite as sturdy as Kinet was, but I'm strong enough. I already helped with the sowing and harvest anyway, it's just a bit more.
Jia: I'll miss you.
Faro: I'll miss you too. If you fight any ogres, you have to get word to me somehow so I can finally compose that epic song.
Jia: Deal!
I know neither of you has done that yet, so I have to assume we're discussing the plethora of hot girls Jia's gonna seduce in Acornhill.
He is beauty, he is grace~
Why is this so funny to me? 😂 Wish I could’ve filmed them running in sync across the lot, I need to find a new video capture program.
Eisu and Xiang went out to socialize for a little while...
...but I mostly ended up following Senna around the lot.
I do NOT trust her with the axe-throwing station. Especially with the axes barely hitting the target and her practically falling over every time she tried to throw one.
Drustan: ...I guess I just don't understand why you didn't tell me?
Orla: You could've asked?
Drustan: Well—um, hold that thought, I hear Una.
Orla: Awww, she's so little—hi, cutie! She's your natural child, really? It's funny, your father swears up and down that Duncan is identical to you but Una hardly looks a thing like you!
Drustan: I mean, yes, I didn't just decide to bring home an infant for the fun of it.
Xiuying crossing her fingers that those two aren't going to do anything mushy or weird in front of her lunch.
Drustan: I kind of thought you'd bring Duncan with you.
Orla: Let him have a little bit of time to get used to the idea, alright? It's a big change!
Drustan: Okay, okay, I'm sure you're right... um, he doesn't think that husband of yours is his father?
Orla: He knows he's Bel's father.
Drustan: I hope he doesn't treat him poorly, because—
Orla: Of course not! Why do you think I would stand for that? Maddan's a bit grumpy, he's not evil. And he's not my husband anymore! For your information!
Drustan: Sorry, I—sorry. I'm sure you wouldn't stand for it.
Meanwhile, Jia and Acca are across the room eavesdropping on the drama, lmao.
Acca: It's so cool that you get to be one of the king's warriors! You're totally going to end up rich and famous, I just know it.
Jia: Pffft. I mean, I wouldn't mind a few songs, but I'm pretty sure Faro's the only one who would write them.
Orla: I'll bring Duncan around tomorrow, okay? Noontime?
Drustan: Sounds good.
I caught Xiuying autonomously snuggling her new niece. <3
Jia: Oh!! Da, Mouse is...
Mouse: Was I a good cat?
Grim: NO. BUT FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT, YOU WERE VERY ENTERTAINING. HERE, KITTY KITTY, WHO WANTS A TREAT?
Mouse, you were one of the top ten sim pets in my game. You had maybe even more character than Angry Corgi, which is really saying something. I'm glad his legacy will live on in his beloathed children.
Random stray cat who showed up immediately afterward: I heard there's an opening for a cat here?
Random stray cat: I'll just make myself comfortable while I wait.
Well, that's a bit of a downer cap on Jia's last day as a teen.
Drustan tried to tell Jia about his travels and she was not having it. 😂
It’s also Una’s birthday! Unlike Duncan, Una’s looks definitely take after her mother. I seem to have lost her personality stats from my upload folder, but she's shy, very active, with ten playful and nice points. I think we're gonna have another chaos child on our hands.
Cute! You can keep that for your formal wear. 👍
Oh, girl, that's sad, we've gotta get you out of here.
Drustan has commitment issues, Jia is pining after her former best friend who just got married, and Xiuying is like 14, so good luck with that. Maybe Elmet is willing to marry Arturo for you.
Meanwhile, Dru's wants immediately rolled to this when Una aged up, which I feel totally affirms my decision to have him bring the baby home with him despite his commitment issues trait.
Drustan wasn't tired at all after the festivities wrapped up and Una was asleep. He popped out to the mead hall, but nothing interesting was happening, except I caught sight of this. It would be very funny, to me specifically, if Norweni's ex and current love interest hooked up with each other instead. Alas, I'm pretty sure Maddan is 100% straight.
Nothing interesting was happening until Drustan literally ran into Gytha. I was wondering what she was doing here at midnight until Enna popped up too. Clearly it's girls night!
Drustan: ...and I have a daughter now.
Gytha: You have more than that, dude. Orla—
Drustan: I know. Why does everyone think it's their duty to inform me when they aren't even involved?
Gytha: Maybe because you slept with my best friend and then left the island entirely while she was still pregnant without even telling her you were going? Not a great look, by the way.
Drustan: You—I—ugh, I'm going home now.
Gytha: Cool, try not to unintentionally father any more children on your way.
Drustan: >:|
I tabbed away on 3-speed expecting them to go to sleep, then realized they were just standing there telling each other dirty jokes. Go to bed!!
After one last night (for now?) in her childhood bed, Jia is off to Acornhill. She'll travel part of the way with a merchant caravan, but she's definitely excited to be venturing out on her own! We'll catch up with her for the rest of her round later.
Drustan: Una, come this way, sweetheart. You're kind of going the wrong way.
Again? Who keeps leaving the sheep pen open?!
Orla: Why don't you go say hi to Drustan?
Duncan: Do I have to?
Duncan: You just moved here?
Drustan: Er, no, I lived here before, and then I was away for a while, and now I'm back. So... uh, what kind of games do you like to play?
Drustan: Good try, lad!
Orla: *whispers* He's not very good at actually catching the ball yet.
Drustan: I noticed.
Una is just chillin' inside with Xiuying. I'm glad to have another tinkering OTH sim, it seems like everyone's hobby in this neighborhood is either music or nature!
Duncan: I'm hungry.
Drustan: Oh, uh, I can make you something to eat?
Duncan: How come you're not as good at cooking as Granda?
Drustan: Uhhh... good question.
Baby Dunk??
Duncan: It was like that when I got here?
While Drustan hasn't rolled any specific wants for her, Orla is definitely still carrying a torch of sorts.
Orla: It's nice to have you back! In Veridia, I mean.
Drustan: Oh, yeah, as nice as it is in Thessos, I did miss home.
Eisu is basically turning into this SNL sketch, lol. He would love to see Drustan and dear Orla wedded and everyone living in one big happy family here in the hall... I'm not sure how on board Drustan would be with those plans, though.
Xiuying: Hi! Da said I can do whatever I want when I finished my chores, and I'm all done now. Wanna go to the market?
Senovara: Okay!
Xiuying really wanted one of those wooden block puzzle toys that are all the rage with the teens these days. Rubik's sphere puzzles are OUT, block puzzles are IN.
Xiuying catches up with Aunt Helenet while Senna talks to Gwendolen Salter about... fish? That makes sense, I suppose.
Senovara: Do you want to see one of the dances Cadwgan's sister taught me? We didn't get a chance to try it at the wedding!
Xiuying: Sure, why not?
Gwendolen: They're not very good at this.
True.
Xiuying: Hi, Loony!
Lune: I want to dance too! Pleeeeeeeeeease please please please—
Xiuying: Okay, okay, one please was enough.
Xiuying: 'Kay, my friend is back, time for you to run along.
Lune: Aw, I want to hang out too. I'm not a baby like Fi or Faolán! I could hang out!
Xiuying: But we're talking about boring things. You don't want to be bored, do you?
idk about Lune, but I would like to hear whatever you're gossiping about.
Xiuying has rolled a want to go steady with Kara three times this round, and for all I claim to play want-based, I'm just like... I guess. I just don't really vibe with them.
(I'm not sure who I'd like to see Kara with. 🤔️ There's gonna be a few more sims aging into teens soon, maybe one of them will also be interested in blonde girls with half-fae charisma.)
Lotsa visitors to the farm today. Shortly after Orla and Duncan have left, Sun drops by.
Eisu: Hello, sweetheart. Look at you, you've certainly popped since the last time I saw you!
Sun: Aunt Helenet said the exact same thing this morning.
Eisu: D'you want to come sit down? Something to eat? I've got a pot of soup still on.
Sun: I could eat!
Sun: Sorry for not coming by earlier... I didn't want to make things awkward for Jia, coming to hang out with her father after...
Eisu: That's quite alright. I'm sure you've been very busy getting ready for the baby, too!
Sun: Spirits, yes. Cadwgan's mother sent us home with a bunch of cloth to make things for the babe, and Mum's been on a tear rearranging the hall.
I heard the most wretched noise in my headphones and was like 'wtf is that?'. And that turned out to be Mouse's ghost appearing. lmao @ those eyes.
Also hilarious: Elmet getting chased off by one of the new random wolves. I don't think he'll be adopting this one.
Some of the ewes have lambed, so milking is back on the roster of chores. Xiuying's father makes butter with it, or else it gets traded to Fial next-door for cheese-making.
Xiuying rather likes the sheep. Most of them are quite sweet, even if they have a tendency to nibble on her dress.
Xiuying: Nice hat. You steal that from Da?
Drustan: You used to be such a nice, sweet child. This is what I get for leaving you with just Jia's influence, I guess.
Xiuying: *snickers*
He does still have a face under there, btw.
Eisu is trying to ensure Una's first word is actually 'granda'; she is less than cooperative.
Una got left in Aunt Helenet's capable hands while the rest of the family heads over to the festival square to celebrate the equinox. Well, some of them are celebrating—Drustan is mostly sulking over being dragged along.
Aífe doesn't like Drustan's fashion sense, I guess.
Xiuying rolled a want to go steady with Kara again, so I gave in. Ehhh.
You can't have both of them, Kara. Mostly because one of them is (mostly?) straight.
>:/
:D
Drustan: Um... I was sorry to hear about Kinet. By the way.
Aífe: Honestly, I am so tired of hearing that line.
Drustan: Sorry?
Senovara: I think Mummy is getting ready to light the bonfire. Are you going to dance this year, now that we're old enough?
Xiuying: I dunno. It's a bit silly, isn't it?
Senovara: Well, I'm going to dance! *sighs* Sun is so lucky, getting to marry a prince and everything—it's like a song.
Xiuying: Oooh, someone has a crush—
Senovara: I do not! Yuck.
Senovara sneaks up and grabs a bit of the ashes once the fire cools enough—people say that if you make a charm with them, you'll meet your one true love before next spring. She needs all the help she can get to find her own charming prince.
Luckily she did it before Xiang autonomously cleaned up the bonfire, LMAO. Thank you, bby, but I think I'm gonna just pop into SimPE and turn off the autonomy on that action for next time.
Back home, Una spent the afternoon and evening with Aunt Netty.
Helenet: Upsy-baby!
Una: Eee!
Drustan: Thanks for watching Una, Auntie.
Helenet: Anytime! Thanks for letting me get my fill of adorable babies without going through the trouble of actually having another one.
Midnight puzzle time with the sheep! I'm starting to regret letting her get that.
While Drustan cleans the hall, Xiuying accompanies Eisu on some errands around town. First order of business is picking up some salt for butter-making.
Eisu: Looks like you're busy with that, so I'll just leave you here, shall I? Bye, sweetheart!
Xiuying: Da.
Their next stop was the woolhouse to start processing their fleeces
Xiang works on teaching Una some nursery rhymes when he comes home from work.
Xiuying: Ehhhh, that tickles!
Kara: Sorry!
We love to see it. Drustan has really been focusing on his children and his books this round.
A very long round ends with a cozy, calm family dinner.
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Date: 2026-06-01 01:25 pm (UTC)