#pencelegacy

Little Amos had grown into a child, still lacking in social skills like he did as a toddler but confident with the assistance of his elder sister. Amos began to brace himself for the dreading school that lay ahead.

Claudia had since broken the news of her pregnancy and the whole family was excited. For Jemima's 10th birthday, Elmer and Claudia gifted her a violin in the hopes of distracting her from causing any more mischief to her family and peers.

It'd worked - but the scratchy notes the thin walls echoed weren't much of an improvement either.

A new century had arrived but no such fuss was made and Jemima's utterly boring routine of school was to be continued. This time was different however; A boy had caught her attention and he seemed to be on her mind 24/7 - she couldn't even concentrate in class!

His name was Edward Corrigan. Jemima knew his sister and brother, Emma & Samuel, decently well but she hadn't dared approach Edward - what if he thought she was dull? Or worse, what if he commented on her skin?

Cedric, whom she loved dearly, and a friend of his were always in Edward's sphere; so was Leonard, though he wasn't as involved. Jemima would've offered him company if the lot hadn't been advised to stick to their own gender outside. Though Jemima couldn't see it, Leonard looked between Jemima and Edward with a sort of melancholy jealousy one couldn't put a label upon.

The funeral of Ethel Pence took place on a suitably rainy day in the midst of October, 2 months after Elmer initially came to visit. As soon as she'd passed, he notified Denise and immediately set off home; the emotions were overwhelming and he couldn't bear to be around the shell of what was once his mother for any longer.

Everyone was there, including a few faces Elmer didn't recognise. However, to the side and hidden away from the crowd an old friend to both himself and his mother stood in solemn silence, bearing the stare of another more unwelcome figure only a few inches away. J.C

Naturally, the children were there too. Jemima was now introduced to the inevitability that followed each of them, but whilst Amos remained clueless throughout the ceremony, Leroy just couldn’t understand why or where his grandmother had gone.

Elmer couldn't bring himself to explain.

[Implied & non explicit NSFW]

The Forgotten Homestead, AKA the Brindleton Deane cabin 1898

"Charlie ..." A voice chuckled affectionately, subtle pink flushing on her face. Charlotte continued to kiss the girl on every digit she had to offer, stubbornly confident with her plan to make her the shade of beetroot. The girl stood up and walked away from Charlotte's romantic mischief.

... But to no avail would Charlotte stop showering her with intimacy.

"Diana?" Charlotte whispered, burying her neck into her blouse.

"You know," Diana (Bellefleur) began, "I thought I'd be alone forever. I was content with that."

Charlotte mumbled out a 'me too' before reaching for Diana's open neck, planting small kisses up and down before the girl she longed for walked away again in a teasing manner.

"Truly, Char. You're the only one I can stand being around ... Everyone else ... Well, it's different. They're different."

Charlotte smiled at her lover, "The only one you can stand, huh?"

" ... So you tolerate me?" She put on a fake saddened expression and recieved an amused scoff from the other, taking Diana's hands and holding them in her grasp.

"I like tolerating you." Diana uttered flirtaciously.

"Oh, really?" Charlotte stared into Diana's deep grey eyes - Though the latter wasn't a fan of them, Charlotte never failed to get lost in their whirpool of muted dark shades.

"I think what we do is a lot more than toleration." Whispered the brunette. Diana stayed silent, comfortable in the mere presence of Charlotte close to her.

After minutes of content silence, Diana spoke up, sighing happily.

"You make a good point. I don't tolerate you, Charlotte."

"I love you."

Charlotte threw Diana onto the bed in response, desperate for the intimacy of the one she'd been waiting for for years. The one she, in a matter of fact, didn't find rescuing her from a tall tower or from an evil witch, dressed up in silver armour; a prince. No, she found her princess through delicately written and intricate ladies magazines on the art of flower arranging, residing in the town of Brindleton Bay, and immediately comitted herself to her (and the seven cats she owned) despite her initial intention on attempting to take up the casual hobby.

And she was happy. They both were - though hidden, sheltered under the wooden roofs within their vast forest. Despite what the public would've thought about the nature of their love, it hadn't come as a bother to them. They loved and they lived happily, surrounded by flowers and sunny skies, cats and empty crowds, but most importantly: each other.

--

[ Credits to @antiquatedplumbobs for the character of Diana Bellefleur! Since I'm using the Antiquated Brindleton Bay save file, all characters that live within the area belong to her - including character traits and backstories! ]

In the later months of 1900, Claudia found herself pregnant once more. There was going to be a new addition to the household - and only she knew it.

November 1898

Snow arrived early in Brindleton bay and contagious jolliness coursed through the townspeople upon the countdown to Christmas. Snow had never been as thick as it was that year and the children took every advantage to make the most of it, spending most of their time at the Old mill pond - plenty of space to run and mess around meant more fun for everyone.

Cedric had established himself as Jemima's closest friend. No, she didn't see him much and no, she hadn't dared step into his house and go face to face with that god awful brother of his after he displayed his rude nature off to her in front of everyone, but Jemima never forgot the small deed Cedric did for her on her first day of school. Leonard, on the other hand, agreed to meet Jemima on one condition: he bring his sister, Samantha. She didn't mind at all for it had seemed she was the only one he'd agreed to meet, condition or not. So as time had passed they too would become good friends, but Leonard wasn't as easy opening up as the rest of her friends were, and Samantha didn't seem too pleased to be within the presence of Jemima.

As the group were talking, Jemima heard a 'psst'.

"Say, could we talk for a second, in private?"

Jemima knew Samantha felt cold towards her, so for something as unusual as the two of them talking alone, feeling nervous was expected.

"Naturally...! One moment, boys."

"I needn't say this out loud, but I don't actually dislike you, Jemima. Your mark just ... Scared me a little. At first. I don't even notice it now." Samantha mumbled out quickly, eager to get onto her main point.

"In any case, it's only because I'm being forced to play with you thanks to my poor old brother and his attachment issues. That's why I want to talk to you ... I'd like to say thank you."

"To thank me?" Jemima breathed out. She felt cheated and fooled by Samantha's claim, for every dirty look she'd recieved now felt like her own past delusion or bad memory recall. Perhaps it was her resting expression?

"Don't you realize how much you've been helping him? He can actually make friends now!"

The mere idea that she'd helped someone come out of their shell, even slightly, filled Jemima with pride.

"And gosh is he a big fanatic of you - 'Oh, Sam, Jemima is just so bright and confident, I wish I could be just like her! I want to marry her and have twenty babies with her!" Samantha imitated her brother, putting on a squeakier voice for comedic effect to which Jemima responded with hysterical and flustered giggles.

"Gosh! ... Is that true?"

"Mhm! Just ... Not the babies part."

--

The conversation Jemima had with Samantha remained on her mind for the rest of the day, not only because she'd discovered someone who she'd thought found her only as an annoyance to be a hidden friend, but because Leonard's undercover feelings deeply touched her. After Cedric went home for dinner, Samantha held off leaving the pond so Jemima could have a chance to speak to her brother.

"- So I just wanted to say, I'm awfully glad you find comfort in our somewhat similar ... Uh ..."

"Facial features? Um, gosh, no - they're not similar, but -" Jemima stuttered out in attempt to keep her cool.

Leonard looked taken aback.

"Was this Samantha?" He replied, the worried expression palpable on his face.

Jemima’s voice shook, albeit not enough to be completely noticeable. If she messed this up, Leonard might crawl back into the safety of his home and stay there forever. He reminded her of a small, red crab learning to explore the outside of its shell.

"Well, yes, but worry not! There's no need to be embarassed. it's rather silly, actually. If you ask me, well, I suppose there's no suited word for it, but I think your eye looks very ... You. It's your signature attribute, your thing."

Leonard stayed silent, a small flush of red appearing on his full cheeks. This was beginning to become the case for Jemima too.

For Elmer Pence the new century had nothing to contribute to his mental well-being. Every day was the same: Elmer would go to work in the morning, finish at six o'clock and set off to the pub where he'd stay and drink his worries away, returning home anytime between eleven o'clock and some untimely hour of the morning. Naturally, the man got barely any sleep and when he did it was via passing out.

Claudia hated this side of Elmer and often tried to talk some sense into him. The couple who'd gone years without any arguements suddenly found themselves in the midst of one almost every day. After both Claudia and Elmer had finished their fair share of shouting, the latter would break down crying about how he didn't want to end up like his father and thus the fighting would end.

Claudia didn't know what she could do to help him, but she knew the Elmer she was used to wasn't gone. Her husband was still there and she tried to offer all the support she could possibly give.

With 1899 nearly over, cheery joy spread 'round town in celebration of the near and new century. For Elmer, however, there felt nothing to look forward after recieving his monthly letter from his mother, to which he should've typically recieved months before.

Dearest Elmer,

My sweet, sweet boy. My hands shake as I write this letter to you and I apologise beforehand for my careless handwriting. Nevertheless, I'll put it short and sweet: I've come down with something - today I sit at my desk with just enough energy to write to you, however most of these days I'm unable to even move from my bed. Oh, the company is ever so dull - I don't believe your father has paid notice to my state thus far whatsoever.

Whilst I'm wary of the situation we hold in our family, due to the increasing severity of my health I wish for you to come and see me. Perhaps, given your occupation, you could speculate the issue at hand.

Should you choose to, don’t forget to bring the children and Claudia. I love you ever so much, darling. Don’t fret. I’ll get through this.

Mother,

Ethel had written the date of which it had been when she'd written it, and at the realisation that his mother had expressed her worries about her rapidly worsening condition in April - 4 months ago - Elmer was set off on a frenzied panic. No longer were their humble savings going towards several more chicken, but rather 6 train tickets. The reason the letter had arrived so late remained a mystery, but Elmer took no time to think about it nor the infamous Henry Pence that he would inevitably come across despite their unspoken agreement that absolutely forbade the possibility.