Rotation 4: Chapter 1: The Fairchild's

 

   Eddie Fairchild seems to have been a changed man of late, the grief of his wife's death made him deeply focused on work and not his children. Especially little Eugenia, she was just a newborn when her mother died and Eddie completely ignored the care and feeling required of a father to his daughter. Thankfully his son stepped up and became a great caretaker for the little girl but recently Eddie feels there has been a switch in him. He feels not only guilt but also the urge to make up for years of failure on his part, thus he has been recently spending time with his little girl...but there is another girl yearning for his attention.

    Orthia saw her mother's death and the switch in her father take place. It impacted the girl deeply, yet she has mainly kept it within. Having inherited her father's serious disposition she focused on herself and not being a nuance to an already focused man. Her older brother focused on taking care of the baby and thus she sorta just fell into the background. She felt that feeling deeply and has internalized it, deciding to just do what she believes to be expected of her. Which is focusing on schools and the skills required of the oldest woman in the house such as cooking and cleaning. Eddie since having his heart opened and his brain less fogged seems to notice Orthia's approach to life, and it hurts him for she is only a girl and yet it feels too late. She will be a teen soon and well...it's just awkward. But he does let her know that he already has begun setting money aside for her dowry, something he hopes shows his affection for her. Yet, Orthia quietly longs for more.

    Even if Eddie is focusing on his duties as a father more of late, it doesn't change his utter passion and determination to succeed in his career. Working long hours, sometimes in the thick of night or early before morning dawn. It gives him an outlet for his pain and in a way allows him to feel close to the graves of his wife and deceased children who are buried so close to his butchering block. During a time where masculine lack of emotion shines, what else can we expect of such a man?!

    Adolphus as the only son and the oldest child understands his duty towards his family. He adores his sister, Eugenia, for she almost feels like his daughter. And if that were his only duty, he'd shine but he is the heir. The heir of a man like Edward Fairchild, surely must feel a weight and great expectation within him. And Adolphus does. He tries his best with the customers, but is still struggling. Not only is he in the stage of awkward teenagehood but there is also a sense of fear that he carries. He doesn't know what to expect next of the world, he is certainly ambitious though...that can't be denied. He wants to succeed, yet he is so scared on how to do that. Life isn't easy and oh how much he misses his mother.

    Little devoted Orthia Alice Fairchild grows into quite the beautiful teenage girl. This coming of age seems to impact her greatly, she knows she is dutiful and smart, she knows also that her family is on the rise, and she also knows the power of her beauty. Gorgeously dressed thanks to the increase in her family's wealth, she shines truly. Don't get it wrong...Orthia is still quite conservative with her Never-Nude trait and her father's seriousness, yet she also feels inner urges within herself. The power of flirtation and womanly graces washes over her as she ages, gaining the Flirty trait. Orthia is a popularity sim, with the inner determination to succeed and finally feel seen. She will use her skills and beauty to do so because well how else could she make her father be proud?! Greatness will come to her through a marriage that finally makes her father proud and gains his attention. She will make the Fairchild name shine as much as a young lady can...through a prominent match.

    The Fairchilds are indeed on the rise, becoming the first Bourneford family to open a storefront. This was the logical next step for Eddie Fairchild, establishing a proper butchery will only lead to them being further recognized and appreciated as community members along with likely attracting more customers. The fact he was the first is something that fills Eddie with a deep sense of pride, even though it still hurts Alice isn't alive to see it. In the next few days it seems Eddie was right, as the news of Bourneford having a proper butchery attracted many newcomers, even isolated families living outside of Bourneford lines came to shop. Quickly he pushed the exhaustion to the side and let his diligence take over, adding quite a good bit to the family funds. 

    With quite a large savings and the dowry of his eldest daughter sitting at $16,000, Eddie knew it was time for his family to showcase their success properly. Moving into this gorgeous home and bringing all their animals with them. The house is surely the best decorated and adorned of the whole community with imported wallpapers and furniture made by the best companies across England. The Fairchilds now reign at the top of what little society there is within the community. The house boasts a gorgeous white panel entry way, a proper parlor, a perfectly moody study and a gorgeous dining room with that famed green wallpaper. Eddie cannot help but feel immense pride, even with Alice gone, look what he accomplished for their children! 

    In the upstairs there are five bedrooms, four of which Eddie is able to furnish. A proper bedroom for himself, in his moody favorite color of Brown. It is quite a large room, maybe too large for a widow like himself but he is content with it. Then he decks out Adolphus' room splendidly, ensuring it is fit for the heir of a family such as the Fairfields. To please his daughter, he allows her to decorate her own room which she does with a humble beauty. Then of course there is the nursery where little Eugenia rests and that will hopefully come to host the next generation. Although Eddie isn't concerned about in purest honesty, he wants them to figure out their futures on their own terms but of course with his guidance and support. That is what Alice would've wanted...

    Adolphus finally gives in to his father's pleas and updates his wardrobe with clothes to signify the family's new financial attainment. Adolphus is a rather interesting character because while he is ambitious, I feel he is more of a humble sort of young man. He doesn't need to be flashy to show his success but rather have it speak for itself. Likely this attribute comes from the fact that out of his siblings he lived in lower circumstances for the longest, plus he knows money and success will never make up for the loss of warmth that his mother took with her when she ascended to heaven. Despite this humble nature, he is a fan of their study and the vast library of books that just seemed to appear out of nowhere. It's in the study that his relationship with his sister really grows, he studies animal anatomy and butchering skills while his sister reads books related to cooking, cleaning and women's manners. Without their mother and no longer attending the school house outside of town, the two have resorted to self-education as a way to progress their minds and themselves. 

    One may think that Eddie would finally rest after opening a storefront and being the first to achieve a rise in social class, but the truth is that he simply doesn't know how to stop. Plus he doesn't want to, work gets his mind off of other matters that still feel too painful to bear even if it has been years. While at work, he gets introduced to Harold Proctor. Harold just moved into town with his family, hoping to one day build a glorious winery. This is another reason for why he enjoys his work...how else would he have the time and chance to talk to such people for so long? 

    With the increased space, Orthia has had the chance to show off and fulfill the role of the domestic caretaker. Even though she doesn't take care of Eugenia much as Adolphus would much rather do it himself, she does all the cooking and cleaning. It might seem quite the weight on such a young girl, but Orthia actually enjoys it. She feels for once like she is needed and is able to add something of value to the family. Plus, she knows it will help improve the skills needed to one day be a great wife and mother. 

    Eddie is truly enjoying being more involved with his youngest daughter. She is still so young and the guilt that was once there has washed away with the foundation of their affection growing stronger. After all, she is what Alice left behind and is a lovely little girl who deserves the love of her father. 

    Adolphus' best-friend, Billie Bray comes over to visit the house for the first time. He is truly in shock, which Adolphus quickly understands, it is crazy to go from a three room cottage to a house as big as this. Billie, himself, is still living in quite a small cottage. Regardless, after giving his friend a tour, the two boys go to the study to play a game of chess while Orthia reads her book. When her brother's friend leaves, Orthia realizes she feels a bit jealous. For she doesn't have any friends of her own and deeply longs for one, especially as she is a popularity sim. 

    Eddie continues to work himself to the bone, yet he loves it. Working with the animals, knowing when they're chopped up they're going to feed blossoming families, working at the register interacting with everyone, it's just overall a nice experience. Pride almost feels too small of a word to describe how he feels. He just feels accomplished, moving to Bourneford was the right decision after all...look at how it has progressed him into such a position of success. His children are sleeping in their own bedrooms, he has a proper study and a storefront. It's truly just a wild experience, yet is his health at stake?!

    Eugenia Apollonia Fairchild grows up into a proper child, sporting what seems to be the Fairchild signature color of Brown. She looks like a rather serious girl, which is fitting considering her mother died in childbirth when delivering her and her deceased twin. Anyway, Eugenia gains the perfectionist trait which is likely in response to seeing the aptitude of all her family members. Her father's sheer focus on work, the pressure her brother experiences as heir and seeing her sister so determined on appearing to be the perfect woman to lead an emerging society. She actually is quite rather nice and playful compared to her sister and father, likely because she grew up with her dear brothers' love. But she does seem to be rather shy....hopefully a trait that won't hurt her in the long run.

    Eddie decorates a gorgeous room for his youngest daughter, a room befitting a princess or at least that's how Eugenia describes it. A perfect feminine whimsy of purple, pink and florals. The little girl quite enjoys it as it feels so much more mature compared to the nursery, even though she would still likely be young enough for the nursery, but the Fairchild children grow up fast. 

    Much in the fashion of Fairchild maturity, her first dinner at the proper dining table with her family she discusses her excitement regarding school. Even though it sucks that she and the other children of Bourneford must walk to a school in another village, Eugenia is looking past that. She wants to learn and shine, like a Fairchild should. 

    Adolphus spends quite a lot of his day and even sometimes his night, improving upon his cooking skill which is a requirement of becoming a butcher. He doesn't feel forced into the profession, he actually finds it rather interesting but he does sometimes wonder what his other interests could be if he had the time to explore them. There is also pressure, he felt it when his mother died and his father avoided parenting, but this pressure is different. It's related to if he could ever compare to being such a great business mind like his father...

    Eddie's work-life balance, as we all know, is bad but it's been especially concerning lately. Orthia seems to be the only one to notice if out of all the children, and it deeply concerns her. Especially as it seems she is beginning to finally develop a relationship with her father, something which she is cherishing. He is finally appreciating and noticing her all because of her domestic devotion, and for him to potentially become ill before they have become even closer concerns her. She doesn't know what to do about it though, especially as her father seems to be making no comment of it. Should she say something to him...her brother?!

    Orthia's self-driven educational pursuits continue as she tries to increase her charisma skill by running through scenarios in the mirror. She has quite a collection of books on conversational advice and practice which are influencing her. Especially if she wants to be a proper popular society lady, she must know all the right things to say. It's what her father surely expects of her, plus her reputation has impact on that of her little sister. Thus she must strive to set an important example. 

    Even though things may seem great and Eddie wants to feel as though they're, he is honestly still in the thick of grief without his wife, Alice. He didn't know he had truly relied on her that much for more than just domestic needs and affection, she was his person he could turn to emotionally and mentally. He tries to suppress his feelings but they still arise in the worst of places like the butchery.

    Adolphus invites his friend, Billie and his mother, Mrs. Bray over for some tea and light conversation. The two boys, both heirs to founding families have quite the bond and it seems that his sister, Orthia is able to get along with Mrs. Bray who talks to the young lady about her mother. Orthia remembers her mother as she was a proper child when she passed but it was still quite meaningful to hear the stories that Mrs. Bray had to share. They of course also extended their sorrowful condolences to the mother and son as sadly two of Mrs. Bray's children passed in the previous rotation. It's the losses and yet the triumphs of every family in Bourneford that seems to tie them all together.

    Little Eugenia is a rather isolatory child, she only really likes her brother and father, and as for everyone else she pays little mind. It's been a concern especially as in class, she rarely speaks up especially if she is unsure of the answer. But that's just how she is and how she likes her little life to be. She'd much rather spend time by herself in the nursery playing with the dollhouse then being outside in the mud and talking to her peers. 

    Adolphus seems to notice this quality in his sister and makes sure to devote a good chunk of the time in his day to her. The two dance, laugh and just genuinely have a joyous time in the nursery. It's honestly one of the brightest places of the house and the one that feels the least heavy. Eugenia truly enjoys her brother and Adolphus feels similarly, he just hopes that she knows she can always come to him with whatever is on her mind. It's concerning to him in all honesty how their family keeps much to themselves and struggles to share openly, he sometimes wonders how different things would be if his mother was still around...