Beware the Ides of MarchThe White Legacy:Generation Three, Chapter Three

Hello again! This is chapter three of generation three. Seeing the same number under both “generation” and “chapter” makes me smile. Especially since it isn’t “Generation One, Chapter One” anymore. Not that “Generation Three” is all that much farther along…

Last time we were here, we lost our beloved matriarch Brie the ex-cow mascot. Baby Jade was born. Dez, Isis, and Brie (who was alive at that point) attended a big family barbecue at Cygnus’s house, during which Arc’s house burned down, taking his wife with it. He left and joined Merry in her professed attempts to destroy the legacy, but rashly didn’t check to make sure his son had indeed died in the inferno. Feldspar, who had in fact survived, was picked up by the social worker and subsequently adopted by Cygnus and Elle, who now have their six children (five of which are biologically theirs).

Merry: “…”

Arc: “…”

Merry: “…I still don’t get it. This is all so stupidly elaborate.”

Arc: “You always were thick.”

Merry: “Who are you calling—”

Arc: “Quit complaining. Look, Merry. It’s perfectly simple.”

Arc: “We’re going to kill Dez.”

Dez: “…”

Jade: *giggle*

PATRICK!! Hi, buddy!! It’s been ages!! I only ever see Snow haunting around here anymore! What’s kept you!?

Patrick: “Pardon my manners, Miss Author, but were you not just trying to spice the chapter with dramatic tension?”

Well sure, but then I saw you. Aren’t you happy to see me?

Patrick: “With all due respect, Author, I am far more interested in visiting my grandchildren and great-grandchildren than you.”

Oh. Well, pardon me. They’re in the dining room. Tell Toro and Brie to come by once in a while, would you?

Hmm… Callie…

Callie: “Mom knows that I have a bag of chips out here!”

That’s very interesting, but it wasn’t what I was referring to…

Callie: “Oh, the graveyard?”

Yeah. The graveyard. What are you doing out here, Callie?

Callie: “Waiting for the ghosts.”

You’re a little late, you know. Your Great-Grandpa Patrick is already inside.

Callie: “Really!? Where!?”

Uh… nowhere. Nope. There is no ghostly presence you should be hunting in the house. You better wait right here until your parents realize you aren’t in bed.

Dez, before you go to bed, why don’t you teleport out to the family graveyard? Your daughter seems to think she’s hunting ghosts.

Dez: “…”

Jade: *sniff*

This would be really adorably cute, if it weren’t for the weird teeth glitch she’s got going there. Creepy.

Callie: “Welcome home, Daddy!!”

Dez: “…rain…pajamas?”

Callie: “Oh, yeah. I just barely woke up.”

Dez: “…4PM?”

Callie: “I wasn’t up late waiting for ghosts last night!”

Callie: “How did he know!?”

Apparently, Dez has a death wish.

Go inside, Dez! Join Callie in time out!

Dez: “…”

Haha, I wouldn’t really send an adult into time out, would I, Dez? It’s not like I actually have any kind of authority in this house, much less over the reigning heir. That would be crazy.

Dez: “…”

Of course, the very same night…

Callie: “Come on, Grandma. Grandpa. Great-Grandma. Great-Grandpa. Anybody. Please?”

Callie: “Hi, Daddy!!”

Dez: “…go to bed.”

Isis: “Author. A word?”

What’s up?

Isis: “I notice that we are now twenty slides into the chapter, and I have had absolutely no face time.”

Hm? Chapter? Slides? I don’t know what you’re—

Isis: “Yeah, so when am I going to get face time?”

You just got it. Bye, Isis.

I don’t know what it is about these two, but they just seem to set themselves up for cute father-daughter moments. Of course, we’ve known that Dez is a cute father since Callie was a baby…

Isis: “Hi there, honey.”

Dez: “…”

Isis, what are you doing?

Isis: “Getting into more shots. Just because I’m not quirky and am just a cookie-cutter romantic interest does not mean I can just get shuffled into the background in favor of my daughters and husband.”

Dez: “…”

I couldn’t agree more, Dez.

Isis: “Mind if I join you, sweetie?”

Callie: “Eh, sure, Mom. I’m really just killing time until nightfall anyway. Not that I’m going to go out to the graveyard the minute the sun sets!”

Callie: “Whoa, look! It’s the Author!”

Isis: “What!? Where!?”

My first chess cheater. I’m so proud. *sniffle*

Isis: “Wait, chess cheater?”

Isis: “Just what do you think you’re doing, young lady!?”

Callie: “How did she know!?”

Isis: “You see? Dez isn’t the only one who can play the ‘cute parent’ bit! Here I am, standing in the nursery!”

Not looking at your daughter.

Isis: “Details.”

Callie: “MOMMY! DADDY! I saw—”

HI TORO!!

Toro: “Pops said that you might like me to pop in.”

He was right!! I’ve missed you!!

Toro: “Author, I’m married.”

You’re also dead. I didn’t miss you like that.

Callie: “…and he said he was my Grandpa Toro, and that the Llamas would win the next World Cup!!”

Isis: “Sweetie, I’m very happy that you’re excited, but you know that it’s midnight and that you should be in bed, not the graveyard.”

Callie: “Mom! This is more important than a little bit of sleep! It was Grandpa! He died before I was born, and I just saw him!!”

Isis: “Callie, I believe you and I love you and I would love to talk with you about it in the morning, but go to bed. Now.”

By the way, this is one of the reasons Isis didn’t really factor into the early chapter. She’s taken up a new hobby, and it’s keeping her away from the center of the action.

Isis: “Ouch!! I just put my hand through the wall!”

Callie: “Come on, ghosts… where are you…”

Callie: “I am so tired. I can’t focus on this.”

Hm. I wonder why that is?

Birthday! Hooray! Eh, Dez?

Dez: “…”

You can’t see his face, but I am quite sure he is excited and smiling to see his youngest transition. He is most certainly not just stoically standing there.

So, where’d the lobster come from, Jade?

Jade: “Butler.”

And where’s the rest of your family on your big birthday celebration?

Jade: “Dunno.”

…at least she isn’t as bad as Dez.

Jade: “…”

Dez: “…”

Jade: “This is fun, Daddy.”

Patrick: “Beware the ides of March! (hahaha)”

Dez: “…!!”

You know, that would be Patrick’s type of humor postmortem, wouldn’t it?

Patrick: “Humor aside, Desmodus, go and pay a visit the kitchen. Your wife may require your attention.”

Isis: *humming*

…are you pregnant?

Isis: “Yup.”

What happened to your ultimatum? No more kids, remember?

Isis: “Dez and I are both Family Sims. You didn’t really think I meant that seriously, did you?”

Merry: “We’re running out of time, Arc.”

Arc: “Merry, for the last time. Everything is set in motion. We’re almost there, just be patient.”

Merry: “I’ve been patient for ages! I’m ready to move!”

Arc: “And don’t you make a single move until I give the all clear, or you’ll spoil it all!”

Merry: “Hmph!”

Dez: “…”

Chantelle: [Dez? This is Chantelle. I heard Isis is pregnant again, congratulations. Can I come this evening to talk to you two?]

Dez: “…”

Chantelle: [Great. I’ll see you then!] *click*

Isis: “Whoa!”

No kidding, “whoa.” I finally caught one of Isis’s pops!

Isis: “So you’re saying we’ve got a meeting with the head of your order this evening? Are we going to go meet her, or is she coming here?”

Dez: “…just wait.”

Isis: “WHOA!”

Dez: “…hi, Chantelle.”

Very punctual, that one. Knows just when to pop in.

Chantelle: “It’s my specialty.”

Chantelle: “It’s nice to meet you, Isis. Last time we met, you were asleep, so we never actually got to introduce ourselves.”

Isis: “Nice to meet you, too. I’ve heard a lot about you from Dez.”

Chantelle: “Have you really?”

Dez: “…is this about Merry?”

Chantelle: “No, thankfully. For once, this is good news. I—Dez, where’s your glow?”

Dez: “…turned it off.”

Chantelle: “…okay. Well, have either of you ever heard of the concept of the Oracle?”

Dez, Isis: “…”

I’d take that as a “no,” Chantelle.

Chantelle: “Well then, allow me to explain. I do love explaining things.” *ahem* “The Child Oracle is a baby born once in a great while who can predict the future. There’s usually only ever one alive at the time. They’re born at sporadic intervals, anywhere between ten and a hundred and twenty years. We as witch orders watch the Portents carefully for the birth of the next one, and they have come in your favor.”

Dez: “…meaning?”

Chantelle: “Dez, the Portents have prophesied that the next Child Oracle will be a girl this time, and the daughter of a witch or a warlock, and Isis here is already heavily pregnant. Oracles are usually born to families with significance—a legacy couple would fit the bill perfectly. That’s two things going for you already. If your upcoming child is a girl, you practically have it sealed. We are all very excited about this… which you would know, if you ever came to the order meetings.”

Isis: “So if I do end up giving birth to this Oracle, what should we do? Is there anything we should do special to raise her?”

Chantelle: “Not particularly, no. They’re called ‘Child Oracles’ for a reason—they mostly grow out of their powers by the time they’re adults. I’ll be around to collect any prophecies she might make. Pay attention to anything she draws, says, or sings when she’s a toddler—don’t throw anything away. It might become important later. Other than that, she will be just a normal child.”

Isis: “This is all strangely exciting, you know what I mean, Dez?”

Dez: “…”

Chantelle: “Awfully sorry, but I’ve got to be off. I’ve got a sparkly meeting with the high-ranking members of the Order. We’ll be expecting you at the next meeting, Dez.”

Dez: “…”

Par: [Hi, Dez!! How are you?]

Dez: “…”

Par: [Good! Hey, do you mind if I come over this afternoon? I really want to show you something! It’s really great! I just learned how from Zircon yesterday!]

Dez: “…”

Par: [Awesome! See you then!]

Callie: “Bye, Daddy! See you after school! Don’t forget, today’s my birthday!”

Dez: “…I haven’t.”

Callie: “Yay!”

Nepheline: “Daddy, teach me how to dance! Please!?”

Par: “Of course, Neffy! After all, your daddy is the world’s best dancer! I danced all the way through college!”

Nepheline: “…so this is how you dance for real?”

Par: “Well, not really, but that’s okay, Neffy. Everybody starts small. But with a little practice, you’re gonna be the best dancer ever!”

Nepheline: “Cool! Thanks, Daddy!!”

Zircon: “Hey Dad, I think that’s the bus.”

Par: “O-kay.”

Emily: “I’m so glad you’re all such good friends…”

Nepheline: “Bye, Daddy!”

Par: “See you after school, Neffy.”

Par: “You’re not trying to sneak out to school without saying goodbye to me, are you!?”

Zircon: “`Course not, Dad. Hey, do you mind if I invite someone home today…? For a study group…?”

Par: “Studying? Sure!”

Zircon: “Cool! Thanks, Dad!”

Emily: “So, you’re going to go show Dez your big trick this afternoon, right?”

Par: “Yup yup!! Do you think he’ll like it?”

Emily: “Of course he will, baby. You’re much too adorable not to love.”

Par: “You’re sure you don’t want to come?”

Emily: “I’m sure. I’m going to run into the store today and make sure that new manager is handling things right.”

Par: “Love you, Emmy.”

Emily: “Love you too, Par. See you when I get home.”

Arc: [Um, hey, Dez. This is Arc.]

Dez: “…Arc?”

Arc: [Yeah. Listen, I’m really sorry I’ve been AWOL, I had a lot of things to think about.]

Dez: “…”

Arc: [Um, okay. Hey, I heard about Mom. Do you mind if I come over today? Talk a little while, maybe share a cup of coffee… visit Mom’s grave?]

Dez: “…”

Arc: […I guess I’ll take that as a ‘yes.’ See you, I don’t know, one o’clock?]

Dez: “…”

Arc: [Okay. See you then.]

Isis: “Hello, baby in there. Are you a little Oracle? Well, either way, Mommy loves you.”

Par: “Dez!!”

Dez: “…hi.”

Par: “How have you been!? It’s been so long!”

Dez: “…Arc’s coming, too.”

Par: “Really? Awesome! I’m going to go set up in the kitchen, okay?”

Arc: “…hi, Dez.”

Dez: “…hi.”

Arc: “It’s good to see you. Where’s Isis?”

Dez: “…asleep. She’s pregnant.”

Arc: “Oh, really? Congratulations.”

Dez: “…thanks.”

Arc: “You know, I’ve been thinking, and that coffee sounds really good. How about I go make us some, and then we can go see Mom’s grave?”

Dez: “…”

Arc: “So… yeah.”

Dez: “…I’ll be right there. I’m going to check on Isis.”

Par: “Hi Arc!!”

Butler: {Photobombing!}

Arc: “Hey… Par. I didn’t know you’d be here.”

Par: “See? Zircon showed me how to juggle! Oh, Zircon’s my son. He has my nose.”

Arc: “Sorry.”

Arc: “Hold on while I make some coffee, Par. What are you doing here?”

Par: “I came over to show Dez and Isis and Callie and Jade juggling!”

Arc: “…that’s… cool.”

Arc: “Where is Dez? What’s taking him so long?”

Par: “Wow, that smells really good.”

Par: “So Arc, where’ve you been? We’ve all been so worried! You know, Emmy and I could’ve given you a free room for a few days…”

Arc: “I found a room. …wait, Par, what are you doing with that?”

Arc: “Par, no! That’s not meant for you!”

Par: “Whoa… I feel…”

Arc: “Latimeria, I summon you from within the ward. Get in here now.”

Grim Reaper: “Time to go, Mr. White.”

Par: “W-what? Already? B-but I don’t understand! What about Emmy? Zircon? Neffy?”

Merry: “Hello there, Grimmy.”

Par: “Merry!?”

Grim Reaper: “Come along, Mr. White.”

Callie: “Uncle Par! Uncle Arc! I just got home from school, and Daddy said you were in here, and guess what? I got an A—huh?”

Callie: “Uncle Par? No! You aren’t dying, are you!? Grandma died on my last birthday! I don’t want you to go! I’m so tired of this!”

Arc: “Listen, kid. Get out of here. Right now.”

Callie: “No!! It was you, wasn’t it!? You killed Uncle Par!! Why would you do that!?”

Arc: “Seriously. Get out.”

Merry: “Let’s just kill her too, Arc. We’re on the inside now, no matter his wimpy spell circle. What does it matter if there’s one less brat running around? Better safe than sorry.”

Callie: “DADDY!! HE—SHE—THEY—”

Arc: “One is well enough, Merry. We need to get out before Dez gets here!”

Dez: “…Callie? What’s wrong?”

Callie: “They… they…”

Callie: “…Uncle Par…”

Dez went out to make sure Arc and Merry weren’t still on the lot or otherwise endangering his family, and Isis, once she’d been awoken by Dez and filled in on what had happened, went to make a few phone calls. Par’s family in particular needed to know what had happened. That left just Jade to help celebrate Callie’s birthday. Not that she wanted a big birthday celebration, anyway.

Callie: “…you know, this doesn’t look all that appetizing.”

Of course, the very same night… seems like everything happens “the very same night” around here…

The baby was a little girl they named Gismondine.

Let’s check in with the spares really quick, huh?

Really briefly as I was going along in Cygnus’s house, there was a 24-hour period when all six of the kids were… kids. I felt it deserved a commemorative picture. This is the soccer team Elle had been dreaming of. That’s why they’re posing in front of the soccer net.

For those of you wondering how Spar is doing, he’s thriving in the big family environment. He’s made friends with a couple of his siblings, most notably Aquamarine and Calcite (pictured [he’s the redhead in the striped shirt]). Cal is the closest to him in age—only a day younger than he is.

And finally, here’s the lazy family picture I took of them as they are right now. Sitting in the center are of course Elle, Cygnus, and Skip. In a semicircle around them, you’ve got the kids in order of birth (or order of joining the family, in Spar’s case). From left to right, we’ve got Celestine, Spinel, Aquamarine, Sulfur, Calcite, and Feldspar. Interestingly, both Celestine and Spinel (first set of twins) rolled Popularity, and both Aquamarine and Sulfur (second set of twins) rolled Pleasure.

You can probably tell, but I haven’t gone clothes shopping for any of these kids for their entire lives. These are their transition outfits. At least they all match, right?

Par spent the entire week leading up to this chapter with his kids. Though I get the feeling little Nepheline there wasn’t as interested in the story as she was the poor teddy bear’s ear. Zircon looks enthralled, though.

When the kids weren’t around to distract him, though, Par and Emily relentlessly three bolt stalked each other.

I don’t have pictures, but these two also went down to the music and dance hobby lot and participated in a dance contest, since I realized I had played this game all these years and had never had a sim do that before. Par won, of course.

So, here’s how the family stood before… well, before the events of this chapter. This family picture is obviously no longer accurate.

Emily: “Hello? Isis? Do you know where Par is? He should have been home by now…”

Zircon: “Hey, Mom. There’s a turkey downstairs.”

Emily: “…”

Zircon: “Mom, please. Eat something. Anything. It doesn’t even have to be the turkey. Come downstairs at least. Neffy is down there. Just go give her a hug.”

Emily: “…”

Zircon: “Mom… please…”

Emily: “…”

Zircon: “Fine!!”

I guess this is as good a place as any to end the chapter. Until next time.