Epilogue: One Last Song

3.31 The Unfortunate End of Ottoline Slender

That evening, Otto returns to the park with Hamilton in tow.

‘I’m telling you, Ham, I saw death eye-to-eye and lived to tell the tale!’ Otto exclaimed. She’s already described in detail what had happened. ‘It was tripped up!’

‘You sure you didn’t imagine it?’

‘Imagine it? Imagine it?!  Would I make up a story like that? The way I hear it, your great-grandfather was in league with him or something like that.’

‘Was he really?’

‘Well, I don’t know the full story to be honest. Dad was pretty tight-lipped about his parents. Who knows? Anyways, if you don’t believe me, I’ll prove it!’

‘Mom – .’

‘I know what you’re going to say! It’s dumb playing around with death! You sound just like your brother!’

‘Are you kidding? Go for it!’

Otto was beyond thrilled. ‘You asked for it.’

‘Citizens of Lucky Palms! I come to you to protest the atrocities of DEATH! Why do we all have to die, anyways? Wouldn’t living forever be a lot more fun? And what’s with that Grim Reaper joker?! Why’s he wearing that hood? What’s he hiding?!’

Otto continued ranting along these lines for a good while.

‘Nothing happened,’ Otto remarked to Ham after she was done.

‘That’s a shame,’ Ham sighed. ‘I would’ve liked to meet Grim, myself.’

‘Well, at least I knew he was exaggerating about that warning.’

‘What warning?’

‘Well, he said that if he caught me ranting again, there would be troub…Uh oh.’

‘TELL ALGERNON…I HATE HIS GUTS!’

And she died.

‘MOM!’ Hamilton wailed.

From the abyss, the Grim Reaper emerged, lightly brushing off smoke.

‘Two reapings in one day!’ he exclaimed. ‘What’s this town coming…rats.’

‘This again?!’ Grim groaned.

‘What did I tell you about ranting?’ Grim scolded.

‘Come on, Grim, be cool!’

‘Your grandfather’s definitely going to be hearing about this!’

‘But I – !’ Otto started.

‘No,’ said Grim.

‘But – .’

‘No.’

‘Can’t you just – !’

‘No.’

‘You used to be cool, man!’ the Otto-ghost grumbled.

‘Get in the grave.’

 

With that, Otto passed on.

Otto died at Level 9 in the Music career and as a human. Ironically, she was the first member of her generation to pass. Algernon was still very much alive and kicking (and a Super Villain), while Jessamine and Jackson had already aged into Elders with a loving family around them. Although she died young, she died in a true Rebel fashion.

 

3.26 Freckles

Time marches on, and Otto’s new bar is still under construction when she pays a visit to a relative.

Jessamine – the oldest of the Third Generation – has, herself, reached her old age. Having been married to Clark Bellamore for the better part of her Young Adulthood and Adulthood, she and her family life in an adjacent lot to the main household. She warmly greets her cousin.

Their life seems refreshingly normal in comparison to Otto’s party-hard mostly-Fairy household. The quiet almost astounds Otto, but she decides to stick around to mooch a meal off of Jessamine.

While awaiting the meal and talking with Jessamine’s son, Eos, Otto can’t help but reflect on her reasons for coming to visit Jessamine. It’s difficult to believe that so much time has passed that her favourite cousin is now on the verge of her old age and the end of her life is swiftly approaching, but such things are easy to miss when Otto, herself, can expect to live for a long, long time.

Or perhaps not.

Otto waited until Jessamine was seated before bringing up the discussion.

‘So what’s Veronica up to these days?’ Otto asked.

‘Not much, I guess,’ Jessamine replied. She narrowed her eyes. ‘It’s not like you to ask how relatives are doing. No offense.’

‘None taken.’ Otto took a deep breath. ‘Uh, look, Jess, this isn’t exactly a social visit. Well, it kind of us, but it kind of isn’t.’

‘Oh?’

‘I’m thinking about doing something drastic and I wanted your advice.’

‘Alright.’

‘I know you had Eos pretty late,’ said Otto. ‘Are you ever worried about him? I mean, you’re no spring chicken – .’

‘Gee, thanks,’ Jessamine drawled.

‘It’s just, does it ever bother you that you and Clark will probably be…you know…gone by the time he graduates from high school?’

‘Truth be told? It does. But Veronica’s here, and so are you. I think he’ll be fine in time, but it will be a rude wake up call for him when the time comes. Now, Otto, why are we talking about Eos? I don’t think this is what this visit is about.’

‘It isn’t.’

‘I’m thinking of forsaking the Fae.’

‘You’re crazy,’ Jessamine concluded.

‘Jess, look, maybe I wouldn’t be thinking about doing this if Hadrian was a fairy, but he’s a human!’ Otto argued. ‘I don’t want to outlive my son.’

‘You have two other children who are fairies.’

‘And I want them to live long, happy lives, but I don’t want them to fall in love with a Normal Sim and have to face the prospect of outliving them, and possibly any human children they have.’

‘How do you think Aunt Carmen felt? Nobody’s heard from her since Uncle Gareth died.’

‘Because she didn’t want to see her mostly human and Witch nieces and nephews die one-by-one.’

‘Otto, you’re not doing this because – .’

‘I need your support,’ Otto pressed. ‘I…I can’t be a fairy anymore. I won’t change, personally, but I can’t live for endless generations having to watch my family move on while I remain as I am.’

‘What about your powers?!’

‘Oh, I hardly ever use them. I’m not missing out on anything. It’s just, when you live for a long time, you start to take things forever. You start to miss little details.’

‘I’m worried about what I’ll miss if I continue to live as a fairy.’

3.5 Love, Young and Old

Some things to report regarding other members of the family.

Hana has gotten married to Peanut Ivy (this piece of work here). They’re having a child together, though they haven’t moved in, yet.

Also, remember how Harry got married to Deirdre? I don’t remember if I mentioned this in a previous post, but they had their child. Actually, they had twins! Selina and Arthur are about Otto’s age at the moment, and their parents are expecting another addition to their family.

Gareth is married to Melonie Younan-Swain, though they don’t have any children, yet.

Now, back to the main household.

Cadmus and Fawn had their two children later in life, and just as Al is preparing to enter adolescence, they have their final birthdays. Louis will follow them shortly, but Pierette won’t become an Elder for a while, yet.

Yup, sorry, buddy. It happens to all of us.

(Al just wants the cake.)

Fawn is also none-too-pleased about the change.

…Why is that baby thing still hovering around? I gotta remember to start deleting these things when the kids grow up…

…Speaking of growing up…

 

One of Jessamine’s closest friends is Shad Maldano. He’s a vampire fairy, she’s a witch. They’re unlikely friends in an unlikely place. Now both teenagers, they’re becoming more broadly aware of the world around them.

But one afternoon, while hanging out with him, she feels a surge of excitement that she had never felt before. Maybe there’s something possible here that she hadn’t seen before.