Compromise

I thought the wait during the past two weeks to hear of my sister's fate was the worst waiting I would ever have to suffer through. However, the mere two days I had to wait for ada and Ellothiel's return proved to be much more frustrating. Two days was how long ada said it would take for them to travel back to Aurora Skies.

When ada told me he had found Ellothiel alive, I was so very glad. I was even more glad that Garthon and Rieldir were not around because I began to cry from relief. It was not simply a few tears that flowed down my cheeks, but I cried with such an intensity that I have not since when I was a young child. The tears that I've held back through this mess in favor of appearing strong to comfort the others flowed out all in that one moment.

Ada had even more good news for me. Ellothiel was doing better than either of us could have believed. She wouldn't say anything other than that she was able to talk to someone who gave her the encouragement she needed to find enough meaning to want to keep living. Ada says there remains a bit of chill on her skin, yet she can smile, and perhaps more importantly, gather the strength to handle her grief.

It was in some woods where ada found Ellothiel. They went to the nearest town to buy a charger for her phone, and we now resting in a hotel. They rented a long-distance taxi, but even by car the journey would still take at least two days. I let Garthon and Rieldir know the news as soon as they got home. I think they are still somewhat bitter at how Ellothiel was treating them, but they want things to just return to normal as much as I do. They were quietly excited at the prospect of finally having their mother home.

Unfortunately, because they have some kind of mandatory tests going on at school, I wasn't able to call them in sick so that they could wait with Elioviel and I on the day ada and Ellothiel were due to return. I got Eli ready for the day, and we waited on the steps all morning.

100 Majesties- A 100 Baby Challenge Update #1

Yes, I've decided to add another challenge to my plate, and another 100 Baby Challenge at that! This one is going to be incredibly more casual than The Goddess' Order or my PGC though. There's not going to be a set release schedule or intricate plot. I just wanted to see what the 100BC would be like if I hadn't made it so complicated. Essentially, I'll be playing this world whenever I need a break. When I take enough pictures to form a decent update, and when I have enough spare time to put a post together, you'll get an update.

Something that will be different is that this challenge will be going back to the original generational way of doing it. Above is the mama that will start the challenge. Her name is Emmeline Majesty. Her children will thus be little Majesties, hence the title. Emmeline is Family-Oriented, Artistic, Over Emotional, Perceptive, and Kleptomaniac. I randomized her traits and replaced the two I liked the least with Family-Oriented and Artistic just to be less cookie cutter. Emmeline can be downloaded here.

The Search

I should have known.

I should have known something was wrong when Ellothiel didn't come back by her normal time. While it might be that she rarely eats anything anymore, she at least manages to find her way back here by lunch. However, noon came and went with no sign of her. I was too stupid to notice until I started clearing up the plates. It's just been so hard keeping my thoughts straight and coherent lately.

The grief lingering in my heart is quite unlike what I felt the last time I was here. I met Elrunamir and Ureliel when they were already so far along in their lives. Their passing hurt of course, but that pain was nothing like what struck my chest when I saw the lifeless body of the little girl I'd helped teach to walk and talk limp in Garthon's arms. There's no wiping the memory of her blood soaked face out of my memory.

Then there is Ellothiel. I have no choice but to watch her grow paler, grow weaker every day. Last time I was able to comfort her. This time there's no way I ever could. As badly as I want to ignore the truth, the truth is that it's now Ellothiel's decision alone whether she will live or not- and I fear she's leaning towards not.

PGC Round 2 Update #10

Capella found it strange that while she hated the sun so much when she was a vampire, it was now something she enjoyed dearly. Brendon had stormed out of the house that morning they had fought, and had not come back. Capella knew he was still in the city somewhere, but he wouldn't answer any of her calls. Capella knew Brendon was to blame for the argument just as much as she was, but she wished as she sat on the swing at the park that she hadn't been stressing him out so much. 

He had clearly been having a difficult time accepting his life after his birthday had come around. Capella hadn't known until after Brendon left that his children from his previous marriage had been giving him a hard time because of how he left them and his ex-wife. By manipulating Brendon, Capella had forced him to abandon the children he had loved so much. He had come to say that he loved Capella more than he had ever loved his ex-wife, but she wondered if the spell she used on him had just taken a long time to wear off. It had been very powerful. Perhaps it had finally wore off though, and that was why he had gotten so angry with her so quickly.

Gone

I wonder if there's something wrong with Zuri. Not that she's been sick or upset lately or anything like that, but she has recently been coming into my room every night to sleep next to me on the bed even though all I ever do is ignore her. I don't understand why she has seemingly become so attached to me. I suppose it's a good thing though that Eloril adopted a dog who is so accepting and full of love instead of a completely anti-social one. Zuri has also stopped chewing away at my furniture, so that's good too.

Oddest Looking Dog

Naturally, I miss Elrelas, Henduil, Silmalad, and Alyan now that they've left the house, but since I have Cirabel I find it much harder to be sad. Her recent birthday was a very joyous affair, and she is turning out just as beautiful as I anticipated. Bradley was glad she takes after me. The only thing Cirabel is missing is my ears. Since she's my first daughter in so long, I haven't been able to resist dressing her up in all sorts of pretty shades of pink. Cirabel seems to love everything pink so it works out great.

PGC Round 2 Update #9

It was a beautiful fall morning, and things were going well so far as the residents of the Starr household started waking up. Capella and Brendon were getting into the mood despite the early hour. It looked like they were heading towards their normal morning woohoo when Brendon suddenly made a suggestion that didn't sit right with Capella. Brendon wanted to have another child. Capella thought he was just joking. When she realized he wasn't, the couple began to bicker. Capella had already given up her immortality and powers for him. He knew how much she hated children. How much more was he expecting from her?

Brendon didn't mean to get her so angry. Capella's dislike of children made her take off a bit more strongly than she should have. Brendon explained he had simply wanted to see if she would be willing to give him the chance to have a child who had his own unique coloring.  He would be willing to do everything for the child. Capella wouldn't have to do any work, teaching, or playing unless she absolutely wanted to. Capella pointed out she still had to carry the child for months.

However, right when Brendon was about to drop the idea, Capella went ahead and agreed. She would give Brendon this one chance, and only this one chance, to see if the couple could produce a child with his unique hair color.

Daughter

It was prom time for the teenagers. Elrelas, Henduil, Silmalad, and Alyan all pooled their spare money together in order to rent a limousine to pick up their dates and take them to the prom. What they got wasn't quite what the expected though. The limousine that picked them up had its heating brake earlier in the day. Since all the other limousines were booked for that day, the company only had the broken one left. The boys had to wear jackets and warmer clothes over their suits as they reluctantly got into the vehicle. The company refunded them a large percentage of their money, but naturally, they still weren't happy with the situation. Things eventually picked up for them at the dance though. Elrelas even won prom king.

Wishing

Some days it's very difficult dealing with all the noise that comes from Isilmar's room. His is on the second floor and on the other side of the house form where mine is, and yet I can hear almost every note that he plays on his guitar. I would get frustrated with him about it, but since he's becoming such a wonderful musician I don't mind listening most of the time. I asked him if making music is what he wants to do with his life, but Isilmar isn't sure. He's got the skill, but it's unfortunately clear he doesn't have the confidence in himself. I believe he can do it if he really wants to and is determined to work hard at it. The performances he puts on for the family are amazing. If he would just be a bit more proactive at getting other people to hear what he can do, I'm sure he'll see his gift properly then.

Tag

What is it like to have free time? I can't even remember what it feels like to have the smallest break. I suppose it's something similar to that one peaceful second where everything's quiet right before I slip into my nightly deep sleep brought about by exhaustion. Even with ada, Eloril, and Ortherion's help, I can barely keep up with Elrelas, Henduil, Silmalad, and Alyan. I'll be trying to teach one of them when another needs his diaper changed. I'll try to use the restroom, and all four boys will need to be fed at that exact moment. It's a constant cycle of changing jobs. Just when I begin to think everything is about to be taken care of, one more issue pops up.

I knew to expect some of this given my experience with Aravilui, Arluwen, and Amadrie, but I never realized how adding simply one more child would make the whole situation ten times harder. At least unlike the time with my triplets, I don't have worry about money or not having enough beds. The house will have just enough space to fit everyone comfortably.

Four

The past couple months have been some of the most particularly difficult ones I've faced since coming here. Not long after I received the news that I was having quadruplets, a thief broke into our house during the very late evening. Everyone else had head off to bed, but I was just about to go out to get the mail that we had forgotten about. Then, all of sudden, the alarm went off. Even after covering my ears, I still felt as if they were going to rupture.  The thief then came into sight. She seemed to be in shock, for she only stared at me and the alarm. She did run out the door a couple seconds later though.

It was after she left that all the others came rushing down the stairs. Ada and Eloril tried to follow her, but as they began to search outside they discovered there was no lead to show which way the thief had gone to. We resorted to alerting the police. Eloril dealt with making the report while the rest of us went back to bed.

PGC Round 2 Update #8

Capella thought she would have it easy with Pollux and Castor since she had Brendon and Sheratan around. However, Sheratan had to work a lot and Brendon always had to spend extra time tending to his human needs that Capella didn't have to worry about. That meant most of the time, when Pollux and Castor were at their crankiest, it was Capella's turn to watch over them. She was not pleased with the arraignment.

Things were bearable when she only had to deal with one child while Brendon took the other. I wonder if having Dislikes Children increases the time it takes a Sim to teach toddlers skills similarly to how Family-Oriented shortens the length. Capella and Brendon would start teaching Pollux and Castor at the exact same time, but it was so much easier for Brendon to finish. Pollux eventually was all taught by the time Capella taught Castor how to walk.

Unexpected News

Once Renduil, Rion, Sidhion, and Ortherion's winter break finished, they all became very busy with school work and activities. We began to see each other less and less. That's when ada took on the role of being the one to make sure the entire family spent at least a little quality time together each day. He always had this role at home as well- even though he was the busiest out of everyone. It never mattered if all we did was sit down and talk for a couple minutes. It never mattered if ada was exhausted and stressed beyond compare. Naneth, Eloril, and I were his family, and he would not forget us for anything.

So now that ada's here and has very little to be stressed about, he's easily fallen back into that role. Some days we really only can do nothing other than sit down and talk for a couple minutes. Then there's the days where we have the almost the whole afternoon to do whatever we want. We tend to head to the small lake to skate on those particular kind of days. Though I never fall, I've been staying on shore lately just to be entirely sure that I don't do anything to hurt my baby.

I've found out that I'm having a boy again. It's a little disappointing that I'll remain the only female in the house for a while longer. However, when I see ada, Eloril, and all my sons enjoying themselves without any cares, the fact that they're male and I'm female becomes irrelevant. All I see is family.