lilacgatorsims

The baby boy was perfect. He didn't cry nearly as much as particularly demanding babies can, and his parents felt that their family was finally complete. There was only one problem left – what to name their son?

All of their childrem were named after some literary characters or authors, something Hazel and William were really proud of even if some of their friends critisied this approach. Of course they wanted to follow this tradition, so even before the birth they had decided that if a boy was born, they would name him Henry, after the character from Jane Austin's Northanger Abbey, and if a girl, she would be named after Shakespeare's Ophelia. However, when the child was born, his parents realized that Herny was simply too plain for a child born at the dawn of the new century. The boy needed a unique, bold, and unrepeatable name, just as the 20th century would undoubtedly be. After two weaks they finally came up with a name that met all their requirements, except... Everyone they told about it strongly advised them against it. Therefore the next few days were spent on a long debate on what to do with this problem.

"I think we should do it" Hazel said one afternoon as she and her husband lay in bed with their son, trying to solve this difficult dilemma. "If he is like us, he will appreciate our choice one day, and I wouldn't want him to hold a grudge against us for depriving him of the chance to stand out from the crowd."

William smiled.

"Alright, so be it," he said, leaning toward his son. "Heathcliff Henry Rosewood. Do you like it little one?"

The baby made a happy sound, something both parents misinterpret as a sign that their son is would love his name.

Kaspar and Johnny waste no time getting to work in their respective fields. Brenda even lends a paw, too! Cassandra is well into her second trimester just before the end of 1894. Malcolm was supposed to make it back by now, but there appeared to be a delay in his arrival. Maybe his ship got off course? Cassandra was nervous about whatever his reaction may be to her absence once he got home, but for whatever reason the Watcher was sparing her for the moment. But, would she be spared once the Goths and Landgraabs found out what really happened?

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keep reading for outtakes:

A Spunk, a Zest, and a Landgraab by name only walk into a farm. Sounds like a recipe for disaster or the start of a bad joke, am I right? It took little convincing from Kaspar and Johnny to get Cassandra to run away with them to Henford-on-Bagley. It wouldn't be easy, taking care of an entire farm for Kaspar's elderly boss, but with no heirs, Ian Moody made sure that his home would go to them after his death, making the pay off better than anyone could've imagined. They even get a bonus roommate/furry friend named Brenda!

On the banks of the deep end / Where your soul is your best friend / Searchin' for a reason / To go astray ♫

A ship departing from the Simerican East Coast port headed toward the Simibbean got caught in a storm and wrecked near an uninhabited island in Sulani. This castaway has no idea how he got to shore alive, but the only thing on his mind is how his unborn child would grow up without a father.

A/N: Thought I would keep Malcolm around at least for a side challenge: the Desert Island Challenge by @juicefizzing.

After months of planning, Johnny finally came up with a way to get Malcolm out of town for a while: a round trip voyage to the Simibbean. It was pure luck that Cassandra was with child, which ruled out her going with him entirely. While Johnny sold this mystery trip to his brother, Kaspar snuck away to see Cassandra for the first time since their brief goodbye in Willow Creek before the wedding. Her pregnancy was surprising, but Kaspar had made his decision the moment he saw her. They were going to help her run away.

It was only a few months after her fated marriage to Malcolm when Cassandra woke up to a quickening in her stomach that brought her to her knees. Could this mean what she thinks it does?

I got rain plans / Tells us where we've been / I got new hands / To pawn us west again ♫

While scheming on how to get rid of Malcolm playing chess with his new found friend Johnny, Kaspar spots his boss, Ian Moody, who has nothing but high praises for his gardening work, so much so that he wishes to hire him as his personal gardener. Kaspar would love nothing more than to get out of the tenements in San Myshuno and move into one of the farms in Henford-on-Bagley, so he negotiates himself and Johnny a room at 14 Nettle Lane.

Baby why am I missing you / When I ought to be kissing you / Tell me our love has just begun ♫

On the night of Cassandra’s wedding, Kaspar makes Rattlesnake Juice his home where an annoying comedian keeps him company. While the man begins mining his misery for material, Kaspar heckles back, letting slip the details that have been bottling up all night, including a slander toward the groom. Johnny wraps up his set the moment he catches the name Landgraab. With that familiar hate in common, they strike up a conversation that lasts well into the morning, hatching a plan that may very well end a marriage.