[Sims] Tecza Round Robin Generation Yellow Part Four

[iceraptoress]

In spite of my worry over the change in Ebony, at first it made no real difference in our lives. But like any teenager would with a new hobby, she attacked her magical studies with enthusiasm.



And for the twins it seemed like a complete non-issue. Though they were as curious as children should be about Ebony’s Craft, neither expressed any discomfort or fear about it. They accepted it as just another facet of who their big sister was.



After her initial silence following becoming a Witch, I will have to admit that Ebony’s demeanor became more positive in general. She didn’t often wear her magical garb, but instead opted to present herself as normal a teenager as possible, with a new-found confidence over her looks.



Learning the Craft and its intricacies made her happier than she’d seemed since I’d known her. As Jihoon had said, it was something she had control over.



I worried she might neglect her more mundane studies in favor of magical ones, but the opposite proved to be true. She renewed her determination to learn and to eventually graduate from high school, no matter how long it would take her.



She was not the only one in the house who was progressing. Maroon grew far quicker than I wished, moving speedily out of the infant stage and into more independent toddlerhood. He remained a joy to have in the house in all respects, as his gentle nature and infectious laughter could bring a smile to even the most sullen face.



He completely won Blaze’s loyalty and love. The dog was a fast friend to Roon.



And always so patient with him, even through the difficult teething months.



To see him grow, and to teach him the skills that we had missed out on teaching Crimson and Ruby, was a true gift.



The twins also progressed. Again, far faster than I would have wished. But each milestone was a cause for celebration.



And it was with parental trepidation that I realized I suddenly had three strong willed teenagers in the house, each looking to test their limits and develop their independence.



Ruby was a handsome girl. Once again exercising control over her hair, she demanded to be allowed to dye the mousey brown locks. When I gave my permission, I believe she purposely sought out the most shocking red hue that she could find.



Now that she was a teenager, the relationship she shared with Ebony entered a new stage. They bonded as only teenage girls can, to act as friends, confidants, and playmates for each other.



Ebony was so pleased with this new development that she gave Ruby permission to move out of the nursery and share her bedroom. Ebony’s huge antique bed was moved to the attic to open up space, and the two girl decorated jointly as befitted their natures. Up there, they had their private space, perfect for sharing secrets and hatching girlish conspiracies.



But even after moving in with Ebony, Ruby did not neglect her former roommate, or forget the bond between them. She was as attentive toward Roon as ever, and I think was pleased to have new responsibilities for his care, now that she was old enough.



As with everything, Ruby took her work seriously, whether it was caring for Roon, finishing her homework, or completing some household chore. But she also approached every new task with a spirited gusto that frankly got of hand every now and then.



Crimson remained shy and reclusive, even upon becoming a teenager. He most definitely took after my side of the family in regards to his physical features. But unfortunately he also inherited my poor eye sight.



He was fastidiously neat and clean, to the point where it was a tad bit worrying when we noticed that he preferred scrubbing the stove to playing with his siblings.



But Jihoon and I hoped that it was just a quirk. In all other respects he was a serious and highly intelligent boy, with a keen interest in the hard sciences and research. I enjoyed having long discussions about his school work, or any other subject, with him.



He was also mechanically minded, wanting to know how things worked. We were pleased that most of the time when he took something apart, he was able to get it put back together again correctly. Although I did have to sacrifice a computer before he perfected this essential skill.



And being as shy as he was, he was far more socially sensitive than his twin.



He also ended up being the odd one out in the teenage relationship dynamics of the house.



But I really don’t believe that it bothered him very much. He was content to be alone, doing school work or research, chatting with other science-minded Sims online, or crunching numbers for fun.



And his relationship with Ebony did not suffer too badly. They were still close friends, still enjoyed each other’s company, even if she was now spending more time with Ruby.



Jihoon’s hospital had opened a learning annex for budding young scientists, which both Crimson and Ruby had been curious about. So one afternoon day while I stayed home with Roon, Jihoon took charge of all three teens and made the commute with them to the center, to attend some day programs. They were excited about it for various reasons.



Crimson was thrilled over the opportunity to be exposed to some real science. He worked for the afternoon under the tutelage of one of Jihoon’s colleagues and did remarkably well.



Though Ebony wasn’t nearly as interested in the sciences, she enjoyed the chance to be out of the house and spending time with the twins. And she told me later, she had learned some very useful things about chemistry.



While Crimson was more into the hard sciences, Ruby had a better head for natural and biological sciences, and she’d long expressed the desire to follow Jihoon’s footsteps into a medical field. So, for her, the outing to the Annex was a chance to test the waters, so to speak, and see how she might fare in health care. She was glad that Jihoon himself would be on hand to guide her through the day program.



Unfortunately, Ruby herself decided she had no aptitude for medicine. Her test dummy “died” repeatedly throughout the day and though Jihoon did his best to encourage her, Ruby felt that the intense medical environment was too stressful.



Since they were in Arbor Bay, Jihoon also took the group for some shopping and an early dinner after they’d finished their programs at the Annex. This was, I knew, another attempt to expose the three to the larger world and encourage social interaction with other Sims.



Ebony and Ruby also took the opportunity to spend some of their allowance.



Jihoon reported that at first the three teens had kept to themselves, not showing any interest in approaching or getting to know others.



But when they encountered some Sims their own ages, the situation changed. Unfortunately, not for the better. Jihoon told me that serious fiery Ruby began each conversation by being confrontational. She argued and disagreed with everything that was said.



And though he wasn’t as demonstratively passionate about being contrary, Crimson really fared no better in his attempts at being social.



It seemed that, for the time being at least, our teen trio preferred the company of their own family, and that outsiders were not allowed.



Worrying, to be sure, and I was starting to question the wisdom of sequestering my family out in the middle of nowhere, where they could find every excuse to be reclusive and exclusionist. Would I do better by them, to move the whole lot into the city?

Jihoon continued to stress that I shouldn’t worry. Even if they didn’t socialize very far beyond their comfort zone, the children were all happy and healthy.



And I’ll admit that I had no desire to leave our home, isolated as it was. Out in the quiet country, in the fresh air, we were all content and close. I continued to revel in the feeling of family, secure in our circle of comfort.



I put my faith in Jihoon’s reassurances, and allowed myself to be lost in the bliss of being with him.



As I said previously, learning the Craft turned out to be all around positive for Ebony’s development. And as she gained ever greater knowledge through her studies, her prediction to me that being a Witch would be a help came true. She was able to leave the house easier, riding on her fast broomstick, rather than having to rely on her shambling walk.



And eventually she even began to experiment with teleportation, with which she could move from place to place around our home with greater speed and ease. It was gratifying to see her gain such benefits, and I was willing to rescind my reservations.



Especially when she applied herself so diligently to the perfection of her skills.



Except that not all her spells were done to provide benefit. Some of them were purely for the purpose of showing off.



After some reprimands, and pointed reminders that lightning-set fires and roaches were hazardous to the health of her family, she promised to show some restraint in the use of her more powerful abilities. But with each success, I could see her enthusiasm for the Craft grow, heedless of the depressing example her father had set for her. Honestly, what had the Craft gained that man, aside from misery?



Before long, Ebony provided me with a worthwhile answer - companionship and love. Porfiro, she told me, had conjured a magical feline familiar, a true friend who was considered a member of the family, and who even still had a memorial statue in the cemetery. Through her studies and practice, Ebony had now reached that same level of expertise.

She conjured a familiar of her own, and I at last understood some of her fervent desire to perfect her magical skills. Here now was a creature that could never leave her. As long as she had the ability to conjure him, he would be there for her, when all others left her behind.

She named him Sid.



While it was generally agreed that Sid would be an excellent companion for Ebony, the addition of the magical creature to the household was not without some strife. Magical or not, it was a cat. Thus there was some friction between he and Blaze over matters of possession…



… and territory.



But, to the relief of the rest of the family, these problems were quickly smoothed over. Both animals were remarkably intelligent and seemed to realize that it would go easier for them if they got along. Within no time, they were not only coexisting, but even seeking each other out to play.



And some members of the family accepted Sid unconditionally, probably much to the poor cat’s consternation.



I will admit, however, that I always found Sid a touch unnerving. Though I was grateful for his existence in that he would always be there for Ebony, I could not help wondering about his very nature. Had he been created whole cloth, as it were, by Ebony’s magic, or summoned from some unseen plane of existence?

He seemed inordinately fond of the attic, attracted to the antiques. I often heard his small footfalls up there, pattering against the floor boards.



Or sometimes there were rustling noises. As well as distant sounding vocalizations. All of which left me wondering exactly what Sid was doing up there.



I’ll admit that often during these years, I found myself worrying for no discernable reason, waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop and ruin all the good aspects of our lives. A comfortable home, a loving partner, intelligent homebody children. It all seemed like it had to be too perfect to last.

But my fear did not manifest. Nothing bad happened to take it all away. In fact, things were going so well that Jihoon and I decided it would be selfish to not share our good fortune with someone not so lucky. With him being a doctor, and myself being an educator, our desire to help was strong, and since Roon’s birth I had harbored the desire to welcome another child into our home.



Though her real name was listed on the adoption papers as Erica, we were given the option to rename her, and we felt she was young enough to not be confused by the change. So, we called her Garnet, not only to continue our naming theme, but also help her to feel that she was truly a member of the family.

She was hesitant and shy at first, but we gave her all the love and encouragement that we could.



Mistreatment in her previous home had resulted in some behavioral problems, which we naturally understood and gently worked to correct.



She was about the same age as Roon, and the pair of them got on beautifully together from the moment Garnet was introduced to the nursery. Easy-going Roon accepted her as his sister without fuss, never showed any jealousy or resentment toward her for the extra attention she received, and encouraged her to play. I remarked often to Jihoon about the sweet boy the aliens had blessed us with.



And, as he had with Roon, Blaze took his responsibility as canine caretaker very seriously, watching over Garnet - and incidentally keeping her from his food bowl - with loving loyalty.



As I held Garnet, gently taught her the same trust I had tried to teach Ebony, it was reaffirmed that I had achieved exactly what I’d wanted out of life. Connection with family, closeness, and a purpose - that of being a guide to the next generation. As far as I was concerned, there could have been no higher calling for me.



It was good, this life. To be surrounded by vibrant children, talk, laughter and love.



Time was moving ever more quickly now. I was starting to feel my age, even as my children grew. I was, after all, older than Jihoon, and I could feel the impending approach of my elderhood. But I did not face it with any sort of trepidation, and that I was slowing down slightly did not mean I could not share in the joys of my offspring.



Maroon grew into a thoughtful handsome boy, with a flair for art that no one else in the family seemed to possess. He wanted to be surrounded by brightness and color.



As soft-spoken as his father, Roon was nonetheless extremely demonstrative with his affections. He made it a point to greet both myself and Jihoon everyday when the carpool dropped us off, if he could. It was important to him to reaffirm his love for each of us, a security blanket for him as much as Ebony’s cat was for her, or Crimson’s head for numbers, Ruby’s passion. His ability to show love was what Roon controlled and claimed as his own.



As she grew, Garnet learned from Roon’s example and tried to be equally as demonstrative. In her hugs I felt more of a clinging need, however, a slight sense of desperation. On a subconscious level, she wanted us to understand what we meant to her, and how grateful she was to be part of the family.



Though we did not keep her adoption secret from her, we also never treated her any different than the other children. She was as much ours as they were.

And in time our family love helped to peel back the uncertainty in Garnet, to reveal a fun-loving and bright little girl who liked nothing better than to laugh and to dance.



Much to my relief, time also proved true Jihoon’s repeated predictions that the teens would socialize when they themselves were ready to. I was surprised to discover one afternoon, that friends had been invited to the house. And Jihoon assured me that if they still wanted to visit after being subjected to a round of Ruby’s combative personality, then they had to be true friends indeed.



I observed that in many ways that boy - Mika Dashwood - seemed just as argumentive as Ruby. He appeared to enjoy the verbal sparring, to the point where he and Ruby were still engaged in battle long after Crimson and his other friend were bored with it.



I was relieved to see them getting along with far fewer traded insults when it came time to serve a teen-appropriate dinner.



Crimson wasn’t innocent of this type of behavior. He had more than his fair share of altercations with visiting friends, though his battles weren’t nearly as disruptive as Ruby’s.



And when it came to visitors, often Ruby and Crimson were of the least concern.



Neither of the twins seemed inclined to attempt to discourage this behavior in Ebony, I think they simply accepted it as Ebony’s version of their own confrontational social tendencies. And she knew better than to try any of those types of spells when I was around, which was why I might not have found out about it if not for a few disgruntled phone calls from neighbors.



While she had always been caustic, and the people in town who knew her generally accepted that, I received reports that her attitude toward others had been growing harsher of late, and she was more apt to respond with threats of magic, rather than just arguments.



Even Julian Cooke, who had been Ebony’s patient chess partner at the park for years, was starting to take exception to her behavior.



I wasn’t sure why she was taking the turn, seemingly for the worse, at this time. Worry about her weighed heavily in my heart, as my elderhood approached, and I began to realize that my time as Ebony’s guardian would be coming to a close in perhaps a matter of years.



Was she coming to the same realization? She certainly did not seem to share in the sense of celebration as I blew out the candles on my cake.



I was concerned about her, yes, but at the same time I had to be delighted at the prospect of entering the next stage of my life. I had made my transition, as they say, in the proverbial platinum, and I was well looking forward to the supposed leisure of my latter years.



But, as I feared, Ebony showed her unhappiness by leaving the party early.



I followed her upstairs, to discuss this problematic new development. I could not honestly say that I knew exactly how she was feeling, watching yet another person she loved growing old on his way to leaving her life. But I could imagine.



“My age changes nothing about how I feel toward you, little grandaunt,” I assured her.

“No, but you are getting older, aren’t you?” she replied, anger plain in her girlish voice. "And there’s nothing I can do to stop that! You’ll die and leave me, just like everyone else! You’ll be just another grave in the cemetery - gone! And I’ll still be here.”



“I’m sorry. Ebony, if there was some way that I could halt the process, I would…”

Jihoon had spied us leaving the party and joined us. I was glad for his silent support, because this was so difficult, a reality that I had always known was coming, but had never wanted to face. It was obvious Ebony had long felt the same way.



“No you wouldn’t!” she countered venomously, but then her tone dropped into quiet sadness. “You wouldn’t, because you can see what a horror it is to live forever.”

Oh that stung, because it was so very true. I wished I knew the right words to say, but I had the terrible feeling that there were none. “Ebony…”



“Why did you do this, Butter?” she asked darkly. “Why did you come here, teach me, open me up and give me love? Give me hope and a family and everything I ever wanted? You knew it would all get taken away in the end. You knew you would leave someday. You and Jihoon and the twins and Roon and Garnet. Eventually you will all leave. So why did you even bother making me happy?”



She couldn’t cry, the physiology of her undead body made it impossible. But from the expression on her face, I knew she would have been if she could have. The moisture in my own eyes had to speak for both of us.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, pained right through the very depth of my heart. “But, isn’t better for you to have known those things, even if they were fleeting?”

“I don’t know.” She shook her head and then retreated from me, from all of the pain of the situation.



“Is she right Jihoon?” I moaned after the door had closed behind her. “Have I done wrong, wanting her to know and experience love and a family, knowing that she would lose it all to the march of time?”

“Of course you haven’t,” Jihoon’s steady even voice was like an anchor for me to grasp. “Can you imagine what a dark creature she would be without what you’ve given her, Butter? Living in this old house without repair or funds, how long would it have been before there was no one to take care of her? She might have ended up feral. Or I might have come to check on her and have been forced to put her in an asylum. Butter, by offering her love, even if only for the span of your life, you’ve opened her up. Taught her self-determination. She has a choice now, of what road she wants to take from here, and she would not have had that choice without you.”



I wanted to believe that he was right, that offering and teaching love could not have been a mistake. And like Jihoon, I hated to think of what might have become of Ebony, had I not discovered her existence. At least, in that respect, I knew that what I’d done was the right thing. Wherever else she went from here, she at least had been given a chance and, as Jihoon said, the ability to choose the direction of her fate.

“Don’t worry,” Jihoon smiled to try and cheer me. “No matter what becomes of you or I, I’m confident that one of the children will always see to Ebony, should she need help. But I’m also confident that she’ll be able to find her own way, thanks to you.”



It was difficult to share in that confindence, but Jihoon told me that every parent had to trust that they’d raised their children right and that they’d done their best in preparing their child to face the greater world. That Ebony was a zombie, and not truly my child, made no difference. In my heart, I knew my gentle husband was right.

Honestly, the man should have been a therapist.

For a few days, Ebony made it clear that she did not want to be near me, and her depression was obvious.



Not even Sid’s playful antics could pull her out of it.



But eventually things seemed to smooth over. I suppose Ebony came to personal terms with the reality of the situation, and Jihoon felt what she experienced was analogous to any teenager suddenly realizing that they were growing up and that their parents were not always going to be there.

To cope, Ebony seemed to spend even more time with her plants, tending them with her usual care, even talking to them on occasion.



And some she began to harvest for use in potion making, as supplement for the regents she had learned to make. This made me a little nervous, as I well remembered that the concoction of Porfiro Tecza’s potions had ended in double tragedy. But Ebony assured me her draughts were benign and just for practice. Even still, I reminded the other children to keep their distance from those bottles.



In time, the family grew used to my advanced years and life went on as normal.



While Ebony cultivated her plants, and the children played and grew…



… I cultivated and grew a little something of my own.



Jihoon said it made me look well distinguished. Like a proper professor.

During a break in the twin’s final year of high school, we decided to take another family vacation. This time a long weekend in the North Woods. Admittedly not too much different from the clime we currently lived in, but it was nice for our entire group to have a change of scene, and a chance to, once again, socialize outside our tight knit circle.



Results were much the same as they were at home.



It seemed neither twin could keep their tempers, or their opinions, to themselves.



But the lot of us still managed to have a grand time, learning new dances and customs, getting exercise and, if possible, even fresher air than what we got at home.



And, as always, it was a joy just to be able to spend time together.



Jihoon, ever the adventurous Knowledge Sim, even took the two youngest out for a hike in the deep woods, in search of the home of the elusive Bigfoot. Apparently, they all had a fine time fishing in his company, though Jihoon managed to be the only one present who didn’t catch anything.



And in spite of all the usual initial arguments and unpleasantness, the twins and Ebony managed to somehow make some friends their own ages to spend time with.



The appeal of the vacation for the older trio was the freedom Jihoon and I gave them in deciding how they wanted to spend their time. For Ruby and Ebony, this meant sharing a room together on their own, and being able to order room service whenever they wanted.



While Crimson surprised us by opting to babysit the younger children when they fell exhausted into bed after a long day of hiking and fishing.



This left Jihoon and I free to pursue our own fun, and we certainly took every advantage of that opportunity.



Even after so many years, I do not think I could love this man more than I do. He has been my quiet steady partner in all things, and I am every day grateful for his presense in my life. It almost seems impossible to remember, sometimes, the younger man that I was when I first met him, so afraid I’d made a fool of myself, even as he was returning my interest. I am so glad we’ve been on this wonderful journey together.



As the year continued to wind away, Ruby’s volatile relationship with Mika Dashwood seemed to only grow more turbulent and as unpredictable as Ruby’s own personality. The only constant to her is her seriousness in all things, even in such an activity as harassing Mika. This is apparently meant to be playful…



But the more I see of them, the more I realize that Mika is learning what it takes to tame Ruby’s nature. That he is willing to keep at it is a testament to his fondness for her.



And his determination did eventually pay off.



Naturally, it took shy Crimson longer to reach the same level of commitment in a relationship. It seemed he was simply too introverted, too… well, I hesitate to use the word “nerdy” to referr to my own son, but there it is… too nerdy to attract a girl.

But one day, at the park, he ran into Layla Hoppe, a young member of a nature commune that had recently set up camp, so to speak, not far outside of town.



Apparently their initial meeting did not fair any better than Crimson’s usual, for he came home grumbling heatedly about “frammiting hippies” and buried himself in hours of advanced calculus work.

But only a few nights later, Layla was invited to the house.



Crimson was apparently enamored enough to give getting to know her another try.



And this time, the results were far more positive. I was pleased that my son had apparently discovered the power of his own charms at last.



Within no time, both Mika and Layla were frequent enough visitors at the house that they often ate dinner with us and didn’t bother to knock when they arrived.



My long-held concerns could be fully put to rest as both twins finally blossomed into the typical social lives of teens.



Complete with its full perks…



… and parental-worrying benefits.



The twins were growing up, and in doing so, they were reaching out to wider circles, just as I’d always hoped they eventually would. That included not only friends their own age, but also their mother. Fleur Elise, now a successful and widely known journalist, was at this time living in Sim City with her fiancé.



Over the years, we had remained in touch with Fleur Elise, and on relatively good terms with her. The twins had sent her letters and pictures, they’d spoken with her on the phone and heard tales of her journalistic adventures in exotic places around the world. But neither of them had ever expressed any particular desire to visit her, content as they were with the security of our close family.

But now that they were expanding their horizons more, they both decided that they wished to meet her and spend time with her, so arrangements were made for them to take the bus to Sim City and stay with her over a holiday weekend, when she would have time to share.



Unexpectedly, Ruby found herself quite taken with and impressed by Fleur Elise’s notable work and the awards that she had won.



She spent long hours discussing the journalism trade with her mother, and finding out as much as she could.



The visit went well. Ruby and Crimson both felt they benefited from getting to know their mother better, and Fleur Elise reported to me later that she was grateful for the time spent with her children.



The twins were impressed with the city itself as well, ever so much larger and more alluring than the Arbor Bay that they were used to. And while Ruby said that she was sorry to be going home before getting the opportunity to explore every facet of this new environment…



Crimson said he could take it or leave it, and was more than happy to return home when the visit was over.



As a side effect of their trip, Ruby began to write a natural science blog online that attracted some modest attention. Fleur Elise used some of her connections to land Ruby a job interview with a small paper in Arbor Bay, and they were impressed enough with my fiery girl’s smarts and writing skills, that she was offered an after-school job. It wasn’t very glamorous to start with, but she was dedicated, and rose to the top of the intern ranks quickly. I was extremely proud of her for such an impressive accomplishment.



And I believe that brings us to the present day. Time has passed quickly.



Maroon is now a handsome teen, kind-hearted and gentle, with so many of his father’s features in his face. He seems to be always smiling. His first love is still art, and he has become quite good at it, but he’s also been showing more interest in socializing with others of his age, thankfully blooming much earlier than his older siblings in that regard.



Garnet is also growing up, and has shown an interest in music and dancing. Now that she’s a teenager, Jihoon and I have agreed to dance lessons for her, much to her happy anticipation. Though my eyes may be paternally jaded, I believe she is a beauty, and she has grown into a grace that I feel will serve her well in dance. Aside from looking forward to attending lessons, however, she is most comfortable at home, just like Ruby and Crimson were.



With any luck, though, Roon will help to keep her from staying at home too much. He is adventurous and eager to roam, and they are such good friends, I have the feeling that she will join him as he explores the world. It is good to know that they are so close, best friends to each other.



As for the twins themselves… they are both looking forward to taking their first steps into the wider world, whether that be to go to college, or some other endeavor. But there remains that understandable reluctance to leave behind the home, and the people, that they have grown to know and love so well.



In the meantime, before they take that final fall from the nest, there are still plenty of experiences to indulge in right here.



As for my beloved grandaunt… she remains a constant worry to me. Since my transition, she has retreated more and more frequently into the upstairs parlor, practicing at her Craft with an angry intensity. It pains me to see it, to recognize that she is slowly drawing away from the rest of the family, but I understand the reasons for it.



Of course, she still has, and always will have, her magical familiar. For that I am grateful to the fickle magic that can bring such joys even after bringing such sorrows.



And she will always have the love of her pseudo-siblings. It warms me to see the affection that they feel for her, their never-changing companion who has been with them since the day they arrived in this house. But as each day passes, it becomes more and more apparent that they are progressing, moving forward, and… unfortunately… leaving her behind.



I’m sure they do not mean to, that they wouldn’t wish to cause her pain. But what is staying here compared to the siren call wonders of the adult world beyond the boundaries of our home? Perhaps one of the four will continue to live on in this house after Jihoon and I are gone. Perhaps none of them will.

Ebony knows this. The time of love, of family, of hope and belonging… it will come to an end. Whether she decides to remain here in limbo, or move forward in her existence is entirely up to her.



I can see it in her eyes, sometimes. It is a decision she does not want to make.



Jihoon asks me to take a break from my writing. Since my retirement, I’ve been spending more and more time figuratively “penning” my memories, chronicling my life. Though it has been a fantastic one, I don’t know that anyone would ever be inclined to read my words. I know that I have a rather verbose and dry writing style. But I write not in search of any sort of literary achievement or award.



I write because so much of my family history was lost. Jim and Annette Tremblor, Paragon heroes and my forebearers so far in the past that they seem more myth than history, were recorded as having had three children. The documentation of one of those lines, that of their youngest son, ended when a great great grandson was lost in an alien attack on a space colony. In my research, I’ve yet to turn up any evidence of the line of their oldest son. And my own line, begun by their only daughter, was fragmented when Obsidian Tecza left the family, and then again when my own mother fled from her home life.

So much lost. So many mysteries that will never be solved. So many connections that will never be made.

“Is it going well?” Jihoon asks me, referring to my writing. I assure him that it is, and that I’ve come so far, but I still have so much work to do. However, it is good to take a break, to fall into the presence of my husband and enjoy the feel of his arm around my shoulders.



I think back to those colorless days when I languished in Sim City, laboring under the mistaken assumption that the most important things in life were the accumulation of wealth and possession. Back then, I never would have imagined that I could be this happy, that I could know such fulfillment.

Thank goodness for my wonderful husband, who taught me that partnership meant more than just living together, more than just a weekend of self-indulgence. It is a steady and dependable love that is the most fulfilling



And thank goodness, or perhaps the weakness of Porfiro Tecza, for my great great grandaunt, who was the catalyst of color in my life. She gave me a family history, a connection that I had so been missing, and introduced me to both the good and bad of magic. While Jihoon may claim that I gave Ebony everything, it was she who opened my heart to possibilities beyond what I was satisfied to settle for, and gave me so much more than everything.



And thank goodness for my children. It is for them that I write, that they will know what joy each of them brought me. And so that when they look back and read these words, they will feel that family connection, which extends so far into the past. They will understand the richness of all the lives that came before them, people who they will never know, but whose actions shape who they are. They will read about the everyday events, about the simple discoveries and the loving laughter, and the difficult adjustments and the tearful moments.

I write so that my grandchildren will know. And so that their children in turn will know.

I write in the hope that all of these vibrant, wonderful, terrible, heartbreaking and joyful things will never be lost again.



Notes:

- First of all, there will be an outtakes post, I just wasn't able to finish it up in time to post with the rest of this. There will be lots of discussion of game glitches in that post, which made this generation a particular challenge to play.

- In regards to the task for the Yellow Generation, as per the rules, Butter did indeed succeed in meeting and making friends with 15 people via computer and telephone. He actually made more than 15, though I left off writing down their names and keeping track after he reached 15. Fleur Elise actually was not one of these, in spite of the story narrative.

- Once the twins reached teenager, I had them greet every new person they met by arguing with them, as per the challenge for the Red Generation. Because they were teens, though, they only had the option to do this with other teens.

Don't forget to vote for heir!

To the Heir Poll