Gift « The Slender Legacy

When Monet and Faust return from their very brief vacation, the oldest son – Cadmus – has grown into a child, while his younger brother, Esau, grows into a toddler. Cadmus now has the traits Genius, Good, and Technophobe.

Cadmus (top), Esau (bottom)

With that, Monet gets a wish to send Cadmus to Fort Starch Military School, the same school she graduated from. He’s off within a few Sim days, but not without a hug from his mother.

Faust disappeared for a while after this and when he came back, he returned with Carmen’s birth stone. Five children means that five birth stones now decorate the house, but right now, his main goal to to replace the heart-shaped rainbow gem he gave to his wife. In the confusion of the transfering of save files, I forgot to put that into the family inventory and it’s lost forever.

(From left to right)

Ruby | Cadmus – which I discussed in an earlier chapter.

Tanzanite | Robin – A non-traditional birth stone for December, it’s associated with calmness and serenity, as well as honesty. Occasionally it’s called the “workaholic” stone because it relieves stress.

(Again, from left to right)

Opal | ??? – Aah – this is actually a spoiler. I guess I forgot to take a picture without the opal there. Just pretend it doesn’t exist for the time being, yes?

Vampire’s Eye | Carmen – Now why did Faust give his daughter a vampire’s eye? Obviously this one doesn’t exist in real life. It’s meaning is quite clear, though, and perhaps ironic.

Fluorite | Esau – Fluorite absorbs negative vibrations, increases concentration, and makes people more decisive. No associated month that I can see, but I’ll have to research further on this subject.

Yellow Sapphire | Eldridge – Yellow sapphires promote righteousness and honesty. It’s also good for business. I guess because it’s bloody expensive.

When Faust finally gets home, it’s late at night and Monet is still awake – no doubt because she’s just given birth. Cadmus is surprisingly well-tempered for an infant. He hasn’t cried once. The first thing Faust goes to do is to say hello to his new child.

The second thing he does is show Monet what he got their child.

It’s a gem he found and cut himself. From here on out, Faust promises that with each child they have, he’ll present them with a “birth stone”.

Cadmus’s birthstone is a ruby. Birthstones are a centuries-old tradition. In 1870, Tiffany and Co. published a series of poems relating to the birthstones. These poems have to say about the ruby:

The gleaming Ruby should adorn,

All those who in July are born,

For thus they’ll be exempt and free,

From lover’s doubts and anxiety.

With its deep red colour, rubies are commonly associated with passionate love and friendship, especially when given as a gift. Could Cadmus a future flirt, perhaps?

After a night spent together, Faust and Monet return to their routine. Monet has gotten a number of promotions recently, the most recent one permitting her to wear the fabled red coat. I’m tempted to rename her “Carmen”. Maybe I’ll save that name for the firstborn daughter.

Faust, meanwhile, it out catching fireflies and the likes. He’s been murmuring something about “genies” lately, but for the life of me I can’t figure out exactly what he means. At least he’s happy, though, which is a lot more than I can say for our Monet right now.