The Branch Immortal Dynasty (Complete)

[Beks]

Oh. My. Goodness.

I probably laughed way too hard at all the people entering the Super Secret Cellar of Secrets (the SSCS?
Congratulations on your first immortal!

I’ve never read Bleak House, but I have read the Odyssey, and I heavily relate to the struggle of keeping the characters straight.

Great chapter as always

One can never laugh too hard at The Sims 3. That is my life philosophy. And thank you! Oh yeah, I remember the Odyssey being pretty confusing too. Wonderful, but confusing!

[Beks]

11 ~ Fear of Birds

by Goldfinch Branch

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I do believe Heron was more excited for our young adult birthday than I was. I found myself feeling rather nervous, actually. Even a bit terrified. I had done so well thus far in preparing to complete my requirements, whilst trying not to get too far ahead such that it would be difficult to spawn opportunities and such later. I had also put a great deal of pressure on myself in all things. That wasn’t going to change. But I began to feel the impending stress of throwing myself into my requirements full-on.

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The party didn’t help. Heron and I are both Friendly, so we love a good party, but I just kept on thinking about spinning into my new young adult outfit and not being able to change before all the guests caught a glimpse of me.

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It also didn’t help that cousin Ariel thrust his elbow through my collarbone whilst I was waiting to age up. That boy is such a...no, I won’t say it. It wouldn’t be proper, would it?

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I solemnly swear that I aimed correctly at the candles. I was just...pausing, slightly to one side, in this moment. Yes, that’s it.

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The elderly woman behind me is Francisca Vanderburg, long-lost princess and girlfriend of Charles. She is a vampire now.

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The outfit I grew up into wasn’t half bad, actually. Mismatched, but quite formal, which I prefer at any rate. I sat down and tasted the cake whilst Heron got overexcited about aging up in a bathing suit.

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What she aged up to is not particularly appropriate for such an important occasion, so I will not be including the photograph.

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Here I am as a young adult. I was very pleased at the array of high-collared and puff-sleeved options available to me in the young adult CAS wardrobe. However, I think the stress of recent weeks - losing my father, falling in love with Phillip, losing Twig, and most recently, getting jammed in the neck with my cousin’s beefy arm - took its toll. My final trait was Coward. At least the other four are commendable: Artistic, Friendly, Perfectionist, and Proper. I selected Visionary as my Lifetime Wish - I shall max both painting and photography, and be the very best at both.

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And here is my twin sister Heron. She kept on with her blue-and-orange-with-butterflies theme, which really suits her perfectly. She and I are very different, aren’t we? Heron’s last trait was Childish, added on to Friendly, Insane, Brave, and Cat Person. She chose Renaissance Sim as her Lifetime Wish. She likes to do all sorts of things, so that will do very nicely for her.

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My cowardice kicked in right away when I ran into Phil upstairs. He looked rather dashing in his tuxedo. I think he was surprised to see how I had turned out, although he should not have been.

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He wrapped me in a hug and told me that I looked beautiful. His hands on my bare back...well, I did say I was a Coward, didn’t I? Let us simply say that I could have passed out in that moment.

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Then I remembered that now, as a young adult, Phil and I were officially the same age, and that there were no longer any restrictions on our relationship. He was looking at me carefully, perhaps trying to gauge how I felt. If there was any time to be Brave like Heron...it was now.

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So I pushed my terror aside and I kissed him.

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And thus began our beautiful time together as grown-ups in love. We spent long hours painting together, and talking together, and enjoying each other’s company.

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Heron and I graduated together. Borrowing Phil’s motorbike and driving that to City Hall was very out of character for me. I don’t know what to say to defend myself, other than that I was extremely nervous about graduating and I wasn’t thinking straight. Heron graduated as Valedictorian (I was simultaneously thrilled for her and furious at myself) and was voted Most Likely to Save the World. I graduated with Highest Honors and was voted Most Popular. I was pleased to learn that my classmates thought so highly of me, but I would rather the school administration think more highly of me.

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If you are wondering what my mother has been up to since becoming immortal...the answer is, predictably, birds. We recently built an aviary on the lot, and Mother has added a number of wild birds to her collection. This is Freida the Falcon. Not pictured are Dodo the Cardinal and Poe the Pigeon.

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This is our aviary. It’s quite lovely, don’t you think? I wanted to practice transferring my painting skills to other areas, like architecture. I'm quite pleased with the way this first design turned out.

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Mother also spends a lot of time down in her secret cellar, where our museum pieces are being gathered. She is the only one allowed down there, naturally, and I think she relishes in the privilege of it. And I suspect she likes to imagine the long, grand future of the Branch family and all the great things we will accomplish.

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Shortly after my graduation, Phil took me out on a special date to celebrate. We went to the lodge at the top of the mountain, where there is a beautiful and truly terrifying overlook. I suppose I forgot to tell Phil about my newfound fear of heights.

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It was at this moment that Phil took my hand and asked me to be his girlfriend. “I didn’t get a chance to ask you when we were teenagers,” he said. “I think it’s about time, don’t you?”

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The word “Yes” was barely out of my mouth when Phil was kneeling before me, holding up a velvet ring box.

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I won’t share exactly what he said to me, because that would not be proper. But it was perfect. I said yes, of course, and watched as the most beautiful diamond ring I had ever seen glided onto my finger. Of course, it was not as beautiful as the face of the man I love.

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After that, Phil presented his other engagement gift to me. A goldfinch! Just like me.

“I hope you’re not afraid of birds,” he said.

I do not believe I am...but his joke made me wonder.

[Beks]

12 ~ Golden Sands

by Goldfinch Branch

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It was an exciting day at the Nest here in Hidden Springs. My mother had grown her first crop of teddy bears…

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...and I was marrying Phillip Shawkti, my lifelong intended spouse and also, conveniently, the love of my life.

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We exchanged vows in the lush garden that Mother created for us, right near the entrance to her (ahem) Super Secret Cellar of Secrets. (I have decided to call it the Vault of the Great Undying - at least when Mother is not around.)

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It was a small wedding, just the household, really - and while a massive gathering full of friends and relations in formal outfits would have been wonderful, I think we all needed something simpler.

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Heron vascillated constantly between laughing and crying throughout the ceremony. She expresses the emotions that I tend to bottle up inside of me, and for that, I am grateful.

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Mother had pretty much the same reaction. She passed on a lot of her weirdness to Heron, I think. She likes to say that weirdness is our family trait. I do hope my children prove her wrong.

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With a kiss, Phil became Phillip Branch, and I became the happiest woman in the world.

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Congratulations to us! (Our wedding photos are so lovely, I just had to share as many of them as possible.)

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I insisted on having a traditional wedding cake. Phillip looks angry about this, but in fact he was angry about the table the cake was resting on. Perhaps he knew it wasn’t formal enough for my tastes. I appreciated his support.

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We went up to the lodge on the mountain that evening to celebrate our wedding night. And even though I am a bit of a Coward...I was not afraid.

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This is about as improper as I am going to get for you all.

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As a distraction, here is Heron sliding down the long spiral staircase in the aviary.

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After our wedding and our night away, it was time for me to start working on my requirements. I applied for a job as an architect and got it, naturally. I began sketching out ideas right away. I had helped Mother with her design of the aviary and I was eager to show off my potential to my employer.

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I was also very mindful of my Lifetime Wish, however, which would require me to maximize my abilities in both photography and painting. Photography was the greater challenge, particularly in a small town like Hidden Springs that does not contain many landmarks. I could have spent my whole life photographing those mountains, but I needed to go somewhere to spread my wings, so to speak.

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I chose Egypt.

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I took the trip alone, which was both exhilarating and terrifying. I had never been outside of Hidden Springs before. I was mesmerized by the warm sun, the gleaming sands, the steep flat sides of the pyramids, the towering palms. There was so much to photograph!

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I whirled into my formal dress (one must look their best whilst traveling) and took off for the town to begin adventuring, keeping an eye out for landmarks and interesting sights along the way.

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I needed to collect some visa points for any future trips to Al Simhara, which meant that I did have to overcome some of my fears and venture into the tombs. For the most part, I stuck to the easier tombs near the market and such. Even so, my first time opening a sarcophagus was probably the most terrifying moment of my life.

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I only spent three days in Egypt, but I managed to raise my photography skill several levels and acquire a level 1 visa. And of course I collected as many photographs of the pyramids as I could.

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“Oh, Phil!” I cried upon arriving home. “I’m never going anywhere alone again. I need someone to defend me from mummies! I was so terrified, Phil…”
"You saw a mummy?"
"Well, no, not exactly...but I could have."
“Maybe you should bring Heron next time,” Phil said.

I think he may be right. Heron would have the time of her life raiding tombs.

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I happily returned to my work after the trip. It was a relief to settle into my old patterns. Besides, I had lots of ideas for new buildings after seeing the unique architecture in Al Simhara.

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Mother went to visit the Carlisles and found out that Ella, one of her closest friends in Hidden Springs, had passed away of old age. Mother comforted Ariel, Ryan and Ella’s son, and tried to ignore Eunice’s loud snorty sniffling nearby.

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With yet another loss among our family and friends, Phillip and I decided that it was time to create some new life. Oh dear, you weren’t supposed to see me in my undergarments! Ah, well...I’ll be a mother soon. There are more important things on my mind.

[Beks]

13 ~ Lots of Exciting Stuff

by Heron Branch

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I’m Heron! I’m Goldie’s twin sister. You probably knew that already. I like bright colors and toys and fighting off burglars. I fought off this one just by acting like a maniac. He was like, “Nope!” and he noped right off the lot!

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This cop was very confused. The burglar practically waltzed into the back of the car and said, “Take me somewhere safe, please! Preferably somewhere with bars on the windows!” And the cop was like, “Huh?”

That’s just the work I do.

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Lots of exciting stuff has been happening. My sister was working on a design for her architecture job when she discovered that she was pregnant! Yay, a baby!

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She and Phil were both really excited, even if they couldn’t actually physically tell where Goldie’s stomach was. Like, you’re still floating on air, there, guys. Try again.

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Charles became an old man, believe it or not, after making one of his great big bowls of macaroni and cheese. I told him that if he doesn’t keep his mustache, I’m kicking him out of the house. And he said, “You mean I could go live with my girlfriend and son?” And I rephrased and said, “If you don’t keep your mustache, I’ll...eat all your macaroni and cheese.” And he said, “Fair enough.” (Spoiler alert! He shaved off his mustache and I ate all his macaroni and cheese.)

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This is his girlfriend. Francisca is an old lady, a princess, and a vampire. I didn’t know that you could be all three of those things at the same time. I think I want to be Francisca when I grow up.

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Except maybe not, because right after Charles aged up, Francisca died. I guess vampires can get old and die too. Charles was really, really sad. He just went over to visit her, and as he got to the front porch, he learned the news. He just broke down crying, the poor guy.

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At least Felix was in there. They hugged each other and cried a lot and gosh darnit this is making me feel sad inside too.

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Felix is a good boy. He was still only a teenager here, but in my opinion he was very mature for his age. He takes good care of his dad.

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Phil is working in the culinary career now. He still makes those weird kissy noises when he cooks things. I asked him yesterday if Goldie ever gets jealous of his food. He said, “Of course not. She knows that if I had to choose between food and Goldfinch, I’d choose Goldfinch.” I smiled, nodded, and ran out of the room to vomit.

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Goldie is actually really enjoying being pregnant, which kind of makes no sense to me. It just looks so uncomfortable. She even posed for her young adult sculpture while pregnant! She said she wanted to remember this time in her life, and also that purple dress. I never thought she’d be so pleased with how she looked in an automatically-generated outfit. Apparently the game chose well for her this time.

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I’m excited to be an aunt, though. I’m practicing all the necessary skills.

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Goldie went into labor in the middle of a painting. She kept yelling things like “But I didn’t finish my blueprint for work yet!” and also some very improper words that were very out of character for her. We all told her to get herself to the hospital, please and thank you.

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So she went. I don’t think she was very  happy about the timing. She’s a Perfectionist and she likes to finish what she starts. I was like, “So finish having the baby!” You know?

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She gave birth to a girl! A tiny baby girl. She and Phil named her Chickadee. Which is possibly the most fun word in the English language.

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I think maybe Goldie wasn’t quite as ready to be a mom as she thought. As soon as she got home little Chickadee started crying and stinking up her diaper. Sometimes I can read Goldie’s mind. At this moment she was thinking, “This is unacceptable. Doesn’t anyone know that girls don’t poo?”

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Phil is a really good dad, though. I can tell he’s going to be a total softie with Chickadee.

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Mother is doing well, if you’re asking. She doesn’t have very much to do anymore now that her requirements are all done. So she does whatever she feels like doing. Sometimes she goes to the library late at night and sits on the bench where she used to sit with Dad. I think she misses him a lot.

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But maybe not too much. I caught her flirting with Gary Shue, who grew up to be a fairy. I mean, I don’t blame her, even though it is a little weird to see her flirting with somebody else.

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She’s also very happy to be a grandmother. One of the things Mother always told me growing up was that you never have to do things the way you’re “supposed” to. Apparently this applies to holding babies. Except I’m not so sure about that.

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Speaking of flirting...guess who aged up to young adult finally! My best friend Felix! (Best friend aside from Goldie, obviously.)

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Felix is one of my absolute favorite people in the entire world. He’s weird, not exactly like me, but sort of like me. For instance, he really likes to dance. Especially when he’s tired. He tired-dances. Here he is doing a university cheer that he learned from absolutely nowhere, because he didn’t go to university. But somehow he knows how to do the cheer, and he does it all the time just to make me laugh. Unless i don’t feel like laughing. in which case I yawn. See above.

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I ended up staying at Felix’s all night that night, because I was tired, and I didn’t feel like walking alllll the way next door to my own bed, and also Felix is really cute and I wanted to see if he thought I was cute too.

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Well, he did.

[Beks]

14 ~ Bean

by Starling Branch

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Grim came for Twig before Twig was ready. See? He was literally about to pounce when the Reaper showed up.

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This is Twig saying in cat-speak, “But I’m not reeeeady!”

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Twig was the first pet of the Branch Immortal Dynasty, a total dear, a hunting master, and an absolute cutie patootie. Rest in peace, Twig. Please come visit. Please.

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Don’t let me smashing outfit fool you. I was heartbroken. I think little Walnut was mostly just confused. He stared at the urn and meowed a lot. So did I.

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We couldn’t be sad for long, though, because it was Chickadee’s birthday!

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Well, erm, her first cake sort of went up in flames. Thankfully Heron took care of that, and Phil was smart enough to turn away to avoid burning the baby at all.

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The firefighter that showed up got to join in the cheers for the second cake! See, look how happily he’s cheering!

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Okay, let’s try this again.

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This is our Chickadee. Is she not the cutest little bean you ever did see?! And I don’t call a lot of things beans, because I grow beans, and they are very special to me. This girl wouldn't even let us get a regular picture of her because she was too busy swaying side to side and looking up at the stars or whatever. Chickadee, our bean, has her daddy’s blue eyes and the hair color of...well, it took us all a moment to figure it out. Then I glanced at the photo on the wall in my bedroom and it hit me. She has Kyle’s hair!

Anyhoo, Chickadee is Good and a Genius. I think her mother is satisfied with those very respectable traits. Chickadee likes Songwriter music, Grilled Cheese, and the color lime, but since chickadees aren’t exactly lime-colored (wouldn’t that be something), she’ll be dressing in her bird colors. Obviously. Except not with too much black, because black is the color of starlings. My color.

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Chickadee’s first introduction to the world of toddlerhood was by way of the potty. I don’t think she liked it very much.

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Despite the excitement and joy of Chickadee’s birthday, I was still really sad about Twig. So sad that I started to go a little extra zany. As in, I sort of maybe flirted with Charles a little bit. What can I say? We’d both lost our lovers recently, plus also a cat, and he looks so dashing in that old-timey suit getup, and I was just having a hard day. Okay?

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Charles was not happy with my attempt at romance, but when we both immediately broke down crying about Twig afterwards, I think he understood.

Me and Charles together: “I’M JUST SO SAAAAAD.”

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There was another birthday. Phil’s! He had a bit of an accident at work, and couldn’t quite get to the shower to wash off the soot before adulthood hit him. He put on a happy face anyway, though, and managed to emerge from his birthday midlife-crisis-free. Only Phil is capable of that.

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And the very next day, Phil, wearing his athletic wear for no particular reason (hey, that’s MY thing!), achieved his Lifetime Wish of Culinary Librarian after cooking a plate of spaghetti. Go Phil!

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Twig did visit me a few nights after he died. He decided to be sneaky and float underneath the floor with only his tail sticking up. It was extremely cute and I just cried again because I miss him so much.

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And what do we do in this house when we’re sad? We make new babies! I made one with my science machine. (Like, I made one utilizing my science machine. I didn't...you know...never mind.) Specimen 4,140 was cloned happy and healthy and we named him Conrad. Welcome to the tree, Conrad!

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It was a happy time in the Nest. It kind of always is, except for the sad parts. Goldfinch was painting and Phil was teaching Chickadee her skills and Heron and I were just sort of hanging out when Heron wasn’t sculpting.

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It’s nice to have a daughter who’s crazy like me. Crazy is where it’s at.

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Heron started officially dating Charles's son Felix! All the more reason for me not to flirt with Charles ever again.

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Chickadee was a very good girl and learned all her skills very fast.

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And then she just spent all the rest of her time being super cute.

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Goldfinch got to paint her first official portrait for the dynasty, and the responsibility almost made her pass out. Not really. I think it was the fact that her daughter is already growing up that made her almost pass out.

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Conrad was a good baby, because all babies are good and boring. Walnut was really interested in Conrad for some reason. He kept going over to watch him through the crib bars. I know that cats are magical and can sense things that we humans can't, but what could possibly be so interesting about a baby?

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Soon it was time to age Conrad up! Specimen 7,991 took Specimen 4,140 to his very first cake.

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Awww, look at this sweetie! Conrad was born with the traits Eccentric and Loves the Outdoors. His favorites are a secret because his donor is a secret, but you can probably tell what his favorite color is. Orange ya gonna guess?

[Beks]

15 ~ Rubber Duckies, Clowns, & Mummies

by Heron Branch

It’s Heron again! Betcha missed me!

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Something is weird about Conrad. I was watching him playing the other day, and his toys kept disappearing in puffs of smoke.

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Then they’d reappear a few seconds later, and Conrad would be all like “Yay!” and keep on playing like his toy yeti hadn’t just vanished into thin air. I mean, I know yetis have magical powers and stuff, but I didn’t know they could disappear like that.

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Most of the time Conrad seemed like a perfectly normal toddler, though. He played a lot with Chickadee and cuddled with all the adults and ate and pottied and did all the things toddlers do.

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So did Chickadee. She can’t make her toys disappear, I don’t think.

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Goldie’s working hard on her requirements, stopping sometimes to play with her goldfinch, Georgia.

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I was the one who taught Chickadee how to talk. I taught her about very important things, like how I'm going to die one day and she isn't.

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She didn’t like that very much. I appreciated it, even though I'm psyched that I'll get to hang out with Grim forever and she won't get to. Ha ha!

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After many days of cuteness, it was Chickadee’s birthday again! I took her to her cake and we made matching smoochie faces to blow out the candles.

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Our little birdie became a slightly bigger birdie!

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Here’s Chickadee. I think she looks like Dad, which means she looks kinda like me, because I look like Dad. Except Chickadee has Dad’s hair color, so she almost looks even more like him. Maybe. She also looks like her own dad, Phil. This is getting confusing. Anyway, Chickadee got the Frugal trait for her birthday. Because she’s cheep. Get it?

After Chickadee’s birthday was over, Goldie asked me a very important question. It was the question, “Do you want to come to Egypt with me? I have to work on my photography skill and--” but before she finished her sentence I said “HECK YEAH!”

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I was a lot more excited about Egypt than Goldie. She likes Egypt just fine, but she’s not exactly the adventuring type.

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She’s more the drive-nice-car-and-look-at-scenery type. (She bought that car for herself for the trip. I do think Goldie has good taste in obnoxious patterns, even if she dresses like a schoolteacher from 1947.)

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When we got to Egypt, I got my first adventure, and my task was to take a picture of a mummy! Now that’s my kind of adventure. Goldie was really worried about me getting cursed by the mummy, though. She suggested I practice snake charming. I don’t know how serenading a snake is supposed to help me if I get attacked by a mummy, but I did like the idea of playing music with a snake. So I tried it. TRIED.

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Then we started mummy-hunting. Goldie came into the Tomb of the Burning Sands with me, even though she totally wanted to stay at base camp and read a book. (Actually I think she just didn’t want to hang out in a dusty tent. That would require sitting on the ground!) We became tomb raiding buddies and helped each other solve the puzzles and find hidden doors. It was super fun!

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I did all the harder stuff, because I am Brave and Goldie is a Coward. Anytime I saw a sarcophagus, I sprinted right at it and got it open any way I could, even if it took hours of pickaxing!

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I got caught in a few traps along the way. No biggie. I just hosed myself off with a shower in a can. Those things are the BEST.

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We had a long first day in the tombs, and we decided to sleep in one of the bigger rooms we found. We had a fancy tent and everything so Goldie would feel more comfortable. She ended up just freaking out about stuff OTHER than the tent instead. She was like, “Do you think there are any….clowns in this pyramid?” and I was like, “I think you have your supernaturals mixed up.” And she was like, “Clowns are supernatural?!?” and I was like, “Aren’t they?”

We explored all the parts of that pyramid that we could get to, and didn’t find a mummy. After that, Goldie decided she needed a break from tomb raiding. I decided to try and find a mummy inside the Great Pyramid, the biggest tomb of all! I was so excited. Even though I missed having Goldie with me, I had the best time exploring the tombs by myself.

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My favorite part was definitely the hidden bathroom I found behind a secret door. I took a long bath in an ancient bathtub with an ancient rubber ducky in it. (I remember my mother telling me once that rubber duckies can break through the space-time continuum, or something. And guess what? She. Was. Right.) I also used an ancient toilet, which unlocked an ancient tomb hole filled with ancient coins. Jackpotty!

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I explored and explored and explored. I looked in so many different sarcophagi. I disarmed so many traps. And still, no mummies!

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I stayed in the Great Pyramid for days, with the help of Mother’s Moodlet Manager that she’d loaned us for the trip. And even though I’m Brave and I love adventures and darkness and fire and all those fun things, I was starting to get a little loopy after a while. I just needed one photograph of a mummy! Just one!

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Then, on the last day...it finally happened. I unlocked a special golden room at the bottom of the pyramid and there were TWO WHOLE MUMMIES in there! I didn’t get a picture of one of them, because I accidentally set off a fire trap and burned him to a crisp. Sorry, mummy guy. But I managed not to stir fry the lady mummy. I got past the barrier and I looked her straight in the face! She came at me making a creepy moaning sound and waving her arms slowly! It was awesome!

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Then she attacked me! It was awesome!

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She beat me, though. I guess I’m not as good a fighter as I thought I was. Still, it felt like an honor to be flattened by a mummy. After she kicked my butt, the mummy vanished. I missed her right away. What if we could have been friends?

I wondered what Goldie would have thought if she’d seen the mummy. Then I stopped thinking for a little while, because I passed out on the floor of the tomb. Then I woke up, and I felt totally fine, which meant no mummy curse! I was happy, but also a teensy bit disappointed. I kind of wanted to know what it would be like to be cursed. Oh, well.

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I just laughed at the whole situation, really.

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We had to go home at the end of that day. I was sad, because those were the funnest five days of my whole life so far. I love adventuring! I love tombs! I love mummies! I can’t wait to go back!


Notes from a Spooked Watcher

- Adventuring with Heron was so incredibly fun. Her personality is a hoot no matter what she’s doing (she’s Insane, Friendly, Brave, Childish, and a Cat Person), but she really seemed born to raid tombs. My favorite moments were when she cheerily showered herself off while still on fire from a trap, and when she got up after passing out from the mummy fight and just started laughing and pointing at nothing. Also the secret bathroom made. my. life. World Adventures is amazing and I need to play it more.
- We went to Egypt with two goals in mind: (1) get a lot of treasure and therefore make a lot of money, and (2) raise Goldfinch’s photography skill. The first one definitely happened. The second one did not. I was too busy looking for mummies with Heron. No regrets. Except we’re probably going to have to go back again, and I’m probably going to get distracted by tomb raiding again...but like I said. NO. REGRETS.
- This was my first time encountering mummies in The Sims 3, and they actually genuinely creeped me out. I felt spooked for the rest of the real-life day. 10/10 would risk getting cursed again.

[mpart]

I absolutely adore how insane Heron is. She's my favorite but all your sims have such wonderful personalities that it's hard to choose at times! I like her take on being a spare as it isn't one I have heard before. She just seems so happy with her lot in life. I love her and I don't want her to die. I hope she lives a long, insanely happy life.

[Beks]

I absolutely adore how insane Heron is. She's my favorite but all your sims have such wonderful personalities that it's hard to choose at times! I like her take on being a spare as it isn't one I have heard before. She just seems so happy with her lot in life. I love her and I don't want her to die. I hope she lives a long, insanely happy life.

Aww, thank you! I adore Heron too. She's so fun to play and to write. The day she dies is going to be the worst day ever. Luckily that's still far away, kind of.

[Beks]

16 ~ An Imperfect Perfectionist

by Goldfinch Branch

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It was a relief to return to the serene hills of Hidden Springs after our time in Egypt. I know for a fact that Heron would have happily stayed in those tombs forever, but I was desperate for home. I think I have become braver, a little, but I am just not the adventuring type. Of course, my travels are probably not over...I still have lots of photography skill to gain.

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I was glad to see that Chickadee had survived my absence, and that Walnut was taking good care of her. Mother says that by tackling her, Walnut is “teaching her the ways of the world”. Whatever you say, Mother.

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Walnut aged up to elder soon after.

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Charles got started right away on Chickadee’s ice sculpture. Sadly, we realized after I got back that we no longer had Chickadee’s toddler sculpture - Heron had made it, and Heron had not yet achieved the Ice Personality skill challenge, so the sculpture melted. Heron thought this was hilarious. My skin is still crawling at the thought of such an obvious gap in our otherwise perfect museum. I think our next generation is going to have to be a sculptor, so that this never happens again. The horror!

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I returned to my painting, and to my Phil. I do love our peaceful hours painting side by side.

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Conrad was a delightful addition to the household (and he inadvertently matched Heron’s color scheme). Chickadee loved to play peek-a-boo with him.

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Heron seems to have decided that her “thing” is teaching the household toddlers to talk. She spent hours sitting on the floor with Conrad, teaching him to say a mix of real and nonsense words, as is her way.

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Chickadee enjoyed her childhood, perhaps more than I had wanted her to. I was worried about her requirements and had hoped she’d spend all her free time at the telescope or chess table.

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She did spend plenty of time stargazing and such, but when my back was turned, off she’d run to change into her dinosaur costume and start playing computer games.

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She did seem to really enjoy her requirement activities, though. She was so proud when she discovered her first potion - a horror potion. I told her that if she ever uses it on me, I will shut her in a room with the lights out. She responded that only Cowardly Sims (like me) are afraid of the dark and that such a trick would only allow her to practice using her night vision. I suppose she was right.

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A tragedy happened on our lot. A small one, perhaps, but a big one for me. Georgia, my precious goldfinch, passed away of old age. I was glad that I was here for it and not off in some haunted Egyptian catacomb. Still, I was heartbroken. Georgia was Phil’s engagement gift to me, and I’m certain there could never be a replacement. (Besides, goldfinches are, appropriately, very rare.)

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There were happy moments too, though. Charles, nearing the end of his life, decided to pursue some new romance and ended up fathering two children - one with Minzi Cho, another with a newer resident named Tracy Haines.

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His child with Minzi was named Chip. Chip Cho. Heron immediately decided that this must be an abbreviation for Chocolate Chip, except backwards.

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Mother continued her crazy antics, all the more now that she’s immortal. She went to a party on the night of the full moon and nearly got attacked by a zombie - until she started mimicking it and laughing at its gestures. I think she scared the zombie more than he scared her.

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She doesn’t always go wild, though. (Well...she does. Note her choice of outfit.) Sometimes Mother will go to the library and sit on that bench outside where she used to sit with Father, and read books until the dawn breaks. I think she is still mourning him underneath those granny undies and thigh-highs.

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I was right to predict that my travels weren’t over after Egypt. I finally started getting some opportunities, and one of them was to deliver a painting to France. Honestly, France sounded much calmer than Egypt - perhaps it would be a quick, painless trip. I stuffed my inventory full of paintings and took off, feeling braver than I had in a while.

Of course it wasn’t meant to work out perfectly. Once I got to France, I learned that I wasn’t to deliver just any painting - it had to be worth at least 750 simoleons! I didn’t have any paintings of such high value with me, so I ran about town rather frantically looking for an easel I could use. I did find one, in the spacious foyer of a mansion belonging to Jean Luc Pivert. I quickly discovered that I could not use this easel. I had to make a rather embarrassing call to the travel agency.

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“Hello, travel agency? Yes, I’ve made a bit of a mistake, I’m afraid. I shall need to return home immediately. I did not bring the correct painting with me, and I am unable to use the sole easel in all of Champs Les Sims, and the man I am visiting has just started talking to himself. I need to leave. Please help.”

I was able to book a flight home that afternoon. I felt ashamed and frustrated. How could I have messed up one of the only opportunities I had received thus far?! At least I would have another chance, in two days once the moodlet wore off.

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I did have a couple of days at home to recover, although for once I was rather desperate to get back on that plane and get this opportunity over with. In the mean time, it was time to celebrate Conrad’s birthday!

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He was quite the adorable toddler. We were all a bit sad to see that little face change.

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Conrad grew into a very studious looking boy with rather terrible eyesight. He selected new glasses in his favorite color, orange. Conrad, who was Eccentric and a Lover of the Outdoors as a toddler, added Ambitious to his set of traits.

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He also picked a rather funny outfit for his pajamas. I overheard him telling Chickadee that he’s just preparing to be a superhero one day, in case that is necessary. He seems like a very practical boy.

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The two days passed, and I finally returned to France, much-more-valuable painting in tow. I transferred the painting to the very kind French lady who pretended not to judge me for my error.

Then, since I had only just arrived in France, I had the sudden, ridiculous compulsion to try my hand at a tomb. After all, maybe a higher visa level would come in handy in the future. I had begun to daydream about owning my own chateau in the countryside, and that thought drove me all the way to the Forgotten Burial Mound on the outskirts of the village.

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Specifically, it drove me right to a tomb hole full of insects. I screamed, shook them off me, considered passing out, regained my composure, and sprinted out of there. Why did I not learn my lesson last time? I am not a tomb person. I am not! Never again!


Notes from a Dumb Watcher

- In my defense, it is not very clear from the opportunity text that the painting needs to be worth 750 simoleons. I think it said so in the initial popup, but not in the information that gets saved into a Sim’s opportunity panel. In researching whether there was a usable easel in France (surprise! there’s not), I found that many other Simmers have made the same mistake with this particular opportunity.
- Chip Cho is one of the best names ever generated by the game. Charles’s other child, whom I have not yet gotten a picture of, is named Osvaldo Haines. Chip and Osvaldo. I mean. We’re really covering a range of names here, aren’t we?
- Incidentally, I just realized that Chip is (I think?) sometimes a nickname for Charles. So maybe Minzi decided to name her son after Charles? Awwww. I don’t know what Tracy Haines was thinking with Osvaldo. I’ve never seen that name in my life. Except in my other save file which generated that name for a baby just days after this one.

[fansidoodle]

I just want to pinch Conrad's chubby cheeks. I think Heron is my fave and yes, I will be quite devastated sad when she's gone.

[mpart]

Great chapter! I love, love Starling. Glad to see she isn't losing her madness in old age. Oh! I think I have a guess for who Conrad's donor is. Is it

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Ian Nali

by chance?

[Beks]

@mpart You are correct! Congratulations, you have won a virtual high five.

[butterfly]

I had a lot of catching up to do but I loved every second of it! I've never played enough World Adventures to encounter a mummy, but I think that's because I subconsciously want to avoid the mummies at all costs.
 I can understand the frustrations with the opportunities in this game, it's a nightmare for dynasty players, I'm hoping you'll be getting more of them soon!

[Beks]

17 ~ Adult Agitations

by Goldfinch Branch

The day arrived when Heron and I were due to age up to adults. We decided to throw a party and invite the few remaining residents that we were close to.

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Most of the original residents of Hidden Springs have died now, but a few of our favorites remain - including, of course, Charles’s son Felix, who has been dating Heron for years now. And who is now a vampire, perhaps in honor of his mother Francisca.

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Cousin Ariel was there, and most of the Shues, who started long ago as orphaned children and are now old men and old ladies (or fairies, in the case of Gary).

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As we started to cut into my cake, we all suddenly realized that Conrad was missing! He was quickly located playing on the playground outside the school. The silly boy just loves the outdoors so much that he can’t bear to come inside, even for a birthday party. We were just relieved that he was all right!

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Then it was Heron’s turn. (Note Charles thinking the incense is smelly in the background. )

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Heron and I both got midlife crises when we became adults, although neither of us rolled very many wishes. I mostly just found myself deeply self-conscious about my waistline and my wrinkles.

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Still, I had to pose for my adult ice sculpture. I sucked it all in and told Charles to be kind in his rendition (he always is).

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I may also have rolled the occasional wish to divorce Phil. This was only in my moments of fear or instability. Perhaps I was bitter that he was working so much, working for his last promotion at the bistro. I do not know. He does not deserve these wishes, and I will never fulfill them.

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My frustration with him may also have stemmed from the fact that Phil insisted on painting me in my undergarments for my adult portrait. He convinced me by assuring me that in the finished portrait, it wouldn’t be very obvious that I was only wearing a corset and garters. I can assure you that once he finished that white patch at the bottom, it was quite obvious.

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When he wasn’t working at the bistro (which, by the way, I recently purchased and renamed Phil’s Place), Phil spent a lot of time with Conrad. As the two clones in the family, they shared a special bond, and when Conrad showed some interest in learning to cook...well. It was only natural that they become best friends.

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Those were happy, busy days in our family. It was lovely having two children around, and for me, having both my twin sister and my husband as constant supports filled me with joy. There was always lots of food around, lots of dirty plates, and lots of laughter and conversation.

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Charles spent most of his time reading on his own in the living room. This was his lifelong favorite activity, and whenever he wasn’t needed for sculpting, we were happy to let him get lost in other worlds. He deserved it.

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Shortly after my adult birthday, I supermaxed painting. I had had the skill challenges completed for a while, but hadn’t yet reached level 10. To achieve that was incredibly satisfying, and my first major step towards completing my requirements. I was also at level 9 of my career as an architect, and near to maxing photography. The biggest hurdle remaining was, of course, opportunities. I changed the ringtone on my phone to a more noticeable sound so that I wouldn’t miss them as easily. And I waited. And waited. And waited.

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Conrad and Chickadee only had a few days together as children. They didn’t spend very much time together even then, largely because Conrad was always off playing outdoors somewhere and then zooming around on his broom. He’s a strange kid. I don’t even know where he got that broom, or why he prefers that over a bicycle. Wouldn’t a bicycle be safer?

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He did seem to like watching Chickadee experiment with potions.

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Even if he was sometimes more of a distraction than anything else.

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Poor Chickadee. She kindly said that it was her own fault.

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She and Conrad had a bit of an odd, but close relationship. Even though they are both quite bookish and enjoy intellectual pursuits, they are very different from each other.

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I suppose I must always give an update about Mother, because she continues to be her rather ridiculous self in ways that entertain us all. We discovered her rummaging in her own compost bin the other day. I’m not entirely sure what she was looking for...she must know that bin consists entirely of weeds and dead plants she herself has uprooted, right?

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Something rather more concerning happened soon after. One of Mother’s birds, Freida the Falcon, died of old age, as birds sadly do. Mother went to the aviary to recover the body and mourn her beloved pet. But instead of mourning...she did this.

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I do believe she was technically mourning, but her cries of despair came out as cheers and whoops - most strange and out of character. If this is how Mother is reacting to the death of loved ones this early in the dynasty, I cannot imagine what will befall her in future generations.

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And death does not wait. It came for Charles soon after his 90th birthday, whilst he was calmly reading in the living room.

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Heron and I were particularly sad to lose Charles. We had grown up with him as another father figure in the household, someone who was always there, always available for a piece of advice, a game of foosball, or a pot of macaroni and cheese. He was a dear friend to all of us, and we shall miss him greatly. Rest in peace, Charles Winterly.

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Of course, Heron took this opportunity to say hello to her old friend - or so she thought.

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Grim did not seem thrilled to re-encounter the little girl who had once asked him to read a bedtime story, now all grown up and wearing a bikini. He began insulting our house, of all things!

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Heron tried to lighten the mood with a few jokes, but Grim would have none of it. “Forget it!” I heard him say. “I don’t want to deal with your awful jokes until I have to.”

He won’t have to for a very long time, if I have anything to say about it.

[Trip]

We'll miss Charles (inspiration, icon, and role model) and especially Freida (birb). At least he'll live on in bad (good?) story progression choices.