#quill-pen

[rom-e-o]

Manfred asking where babies come from.😅

Hey, he's a curious boy! You know he asks it with point-blank delivery, and 99% of the time, Emmrich is more than capable of providing a perfectly accurate and anatomically correct answer. He'll provide diagrams, all without so much as a blush. In his mind, there's nothing embarrassing about anatomy or procreation, and sexual behaviors are perfectly normal. Plus, I mean ... it's not like it's knowledge he has use for. It's not like he's a horrible boy

I can see the conversation starting in so many ways. Some humorous. Some somber. Some embarrassing, haha.

For example, if the team is passing through a town and Manfred sees a woman nursing her baby, he might point like:

"Tiny! Human?"

And Emmrich, after apologizing to the woman for Manfred pointing at her, gently corrects him, "That is an infant, Manfred. A newly born human! A baby."

"Baby? Baby! Cuuuute!"

"Ha! Very much so. Hmmm, that's right. I suppose you've never seen one before. No wonder you're curious! It's perfectly lovely to pay compliments to others, but please remember your manners and take care to not point next time, okay?"

"Okaaay!"

After all, Emmrich and Manfred mostly keep to the catacombs of the Necropolis, and there aren't many births there, haha. There are wonderfully staffed and clean medical wards, cozy homes, and other places for that.

Another possibility, albeit a macabre one, is that Manfred sees a baby for the first time when Emmrich is tending to the last rites of a group of victims after a terrible accident. Sad, but not impossible, considering Emmrich's line of work.

Now, the favorite option, imo? If Manfred asks at a completely inappropriate time.

Imagine Rook and Emmrich announcing to everyone that they're having a baby. I see them (him especially) favoring a more intimate approach, where they tell everyone the news individually.

When they tell Manfred, he just sits there for a moment before saying, "Baby?"

"Yes," Rook says, patting her belly. She's a few months along, but Manfred wouldn't have known what that meant. He just saw her tummy changing shape, nothing more.

"In a couple months, you'll have a new sibling! Isn't that exciting?"

Manfred leans forward, staring at Rook's stomach from a very close distance. Then, very gently, he pokes her. She laughs, and Emmrich encourages gentleness. "Carefully, my boy. Very gentle."

"Baby ... whereee?" he asks Another poke. "NO baby!"

"Well, it hasn't grown yet!" Rook says. "Well, not all the way, anyway."

"Growww?"

The realization hits both of them as Rook gives Emmrich an amused smirk. "Ah. You haven't had 'the talk' yet, dearest? That's surprising."

"Well, um ... why would he need to know?" Emmrich offers meagerly and with a little blush.

"Emmrich! Your own boy, walking around without basic anatomical knowledge? I'm positively shocked."

"He's a skeleton! He's never asked, and I'll confess, I had no reason to really think about it. At least not before meeting you."

"Aww, how sweet."

Meanwhile, Manfred is not satisfied. "Where? Howww?"

Rook lets out a delighted guffaw and Emmrich sighs, his cheeks now undeniably pink. He mumbles softly against his hand, "Oh, dear."

You see, explaining sex and procreation is all fine and dandy when they're concepts between to hypothetical people. But, explaining it to Manfred when Rook is pregnant involves a little self-admission. Something pretty much any parent could feel awkward about, I'd imagine, haha. It's already a big topic (so big that there are some adults that are even ignorant to how it all works, sadly) AND you add the caveat of Manfred knowing his parents did that deed. And Manfred isn't known for being timid or keeping secrets well, haha.

I imagine that's a LONG night of answering questions (lots of repetition) but ends with Manfred laying his head over Rook's belly and hugging her softly.

"New sibling! Yay!"

[rom-e-o]

So something just crossed my mind. How does Connie announce her pregnancy(ies)? Especially Starla, since she's such a surprise. How does it dawn on her? How does she feel about it? Does she share the news with someone else before Adonis if she's nervous to tell him considering his trauma around childbirth? How does she tell her friends/the Pack?

Okay, so I'm actually writing the answer to the other ask about Starla getting distressed about Connie and Bess arguing (and it has evolved into a short fic, of course, because the inspo is just too good) but I thought I'd take a break there and hope over to this amazing question! Ah, the pregnancies. Starla's is no doubt the most exciting one, especially as a first pregnancy. It's also the most complicated. And the most nuanced.

So, to preface, Ebenezer and Constance were originally never supposed to have kids. But then Sims 4 happened, and Connie almost died (a couple times) but they had the cutest little goober ever who waddled around and wore little capris like a diva. And so, Starla was canonized.

Constance is a character I originally envisioned being childless, but as fate would have it, she ended up becoming a mom in TS4 and the dynamic just worked. And then the kids kept happening. And it kept working.

That being said, onto the good stuff:

"How does she announce her pregnancies?"

Upon seeing that first positive pregnancy test, she immediately tells Ebenezer (even before her girls). She knows his fears about childbirth, and she's also scared (even before knowing the risk she's in). A baby changes everything, and naturally, she's got some trauma about experiencing a loss of autonomy when it came to her own body and how it was used.

There's fear, instantly. Ebenezer immediately insists she see a doctor. Regardless of the outcome, her health comes first. Across universes, it's Bess she chooses.

It's kept a very, very tight secret until after that first talk. In modern universes, Connie gets a test done to determine potential genetic pregnancy risks (since she doesn't know her bio parents).

Once it's determined that Constance is healthy and that the pregnancy has a high chance of success (but also a higher risk), that's finally when hope sets in. When Ebenezer realizes that maybe it's not too late for him to be a father. When Constance realizes that she is worthy enough to pass on a legacy.

As Scrooge is a public figure, announcements are made to the papers. But the festivities? Those are private but extravagant. Each baby is welcomed with a soiree, gifts, grand parties, etc.

Each baby also gets their own nursery, each decorated just for them.

"How does it dawn on her?"

One day, it just hits her.

She's working at the counting house/finance office one day, and suddenly ... it hits her. She just pauses her tallying and stares into the middle distance.

Has she missed her menses already? Maybe by a day or two. Not enough to raise suspicion. Does she feel nauseous? No. It's just like a switch is flipped in her and a little 'pregnancy' light comes on in her mental dashboard.

"How does she feel about it [her pregnancy]?"

I don't think she ever thought it would happen. After all, she had pregnancies terminated by Orin without her knowledge/consent. That trauma created a dissonance inside her.

Did she register that it was possible for her to get pregnant? Yes. Did she think it was reality? No.

Almost like a lottery win. It's possible, but in her mind, it was such a long-shot that it wasn't worth worrying about.

After the actual realization hits and the terror subsides, I think she's mostly cautiously optimistic. Heartbreakingly, she thinks she won't be a good mom. Even thought she likes the idea more and more of being a mother as she carries her baby, she does not feel confident in herself. That panic transitions pretty well into her post-partum depression.

Sharing the News:

Adonis: She always tells him first. Not only is he the father, but she knows his feels around childbirth and knows she owes him that honesty first and foremost. In the Classicverse, she leaves work early and waits until he's home. At that time, she dismisses Magda early so they can dine together. It's here that she breaks the news. They cry, both scared and happy, and he carries her to their room to help her change into something comfy. In the Modernverse, she also leaves work early and orders them takeout (she's not cooking here, lol). When he comes home, she breaks the news. The next day, she wakes up to flowers, her robe laid out, and a note: "Gone only as far as the bakery on the corner. Coming back to you with everything you need, as I always intend to. - Your Adonis"

Bess: After Adonis, Bess is always the second one to find out. Not only are they soul-sisters, but she looks to her for honesty about if the pregnancy is feasible or not. After Bess, the announcement is made to the others.

Theresea is invited to the Scrooge house and given a photo album made by Constance and Ebenezer. It has pictures of him and Ebenezar and Jen, and then photos of Theresea and Arthur. then, pictures of Connie with them. Then, she notices that Connie's photo how has a branch underneath it extending to the next page. It also says "Wife & Mother." Then, under her and Arthur's names, she then sees the words: "Beloved Parents & Grandparents." That moment is the second time in her adult life she has teared up in front of company.

Magda is asked if she has qualms about taking on some extra hours in the winter/spring. "Well, Constance will be on leave around then, and I'd feel comfortable if she had an experienced mother by her side. I fear I'm sorry help in that area." She then whacks him upside the head for being cheeky, then hugs him tight.

Gal/Addie: The ladies are invited by Constance to a group brunch. She, Bess, Gal and Addie are seated ... at a table for five. The seat next to Connie is open. A pitcher of orange juice (without champagne) is delivered to the table. Gal and Addie blink and stare, waiting for an explanation. Maybe it's an extra sea for TeTe? Wolf? But then Constance says, "Just practicing for when a sweet little girl joins us next summer."

Cratchit: Adonis may be a redeemed man, but he's still got an impish spirit. Once day, he drops a casual sticky note on Cratchit's desk while he's on a call. Bob doesn't see it immediately, as he's wrapping up a deal. When he finally does check, it reads: "I'll be requiring paternity leave next April, Bob. I hope a year is enough notice." Bob falls out of his chair upon reading. Wolf, from his office, can't help but be just a little impressed by his elder twin. Well played, he thinks.

[rom-e-o]

If Theresea hadn't decided to go into business (or maybe even if she hadn't managed to get a foothold in it) what else do you think she might have done/what was her fallback? Maybe it's just because of the clips I've been watching of Clair Huxtable, but I can see her being a killer lawyer.

Oh, I love that. I could see her being a great pro bono lawyer for people who are down on their luck/lower income/disadvantaged in the system. It’s so easy to feel discouraged when choosing a public defender, but TeTe is one of those people who would actually give a damn and try her hardest for every client.

This is a woman who talked her way into a job, into a relationship, into everything. She is wickedly smart, and she knows speech is her finest asset.

So she would absolutely use it to her (and her clients’) advantage.

The idea of going up against TeTe in court is terrifying. You can’t win. Whether you’re a sleazy shareholder or a litigious scalper out to blame an innocent person, she’s go for the kill and get it.

Now, the young caught shoplifting food and baby formula? Cases like that are dropped, or the fines somehow miraculously end of paid, along with a few gift cards for baby items sent mysteriously to their post box.

TeTe has ways of working her magic in every universe. ;)

[rom-e-o]

You know, in theory, there are universes where our Scrooge characters are all actors filming the stories like they're Hallmark movies (but better). And, in that universe, I like to think Bea is actually super sweet and kind out of character and she and Bess get along really well and are super close, and they look so much alike, people do refer to them as mother and daughter. Any scene she and Bess do, Bea can't help but hug her and apologize after the camera stops rolling and checks with her to make sure she's okay.

So there are universes out there where Bess and Bea have a great relationship. They just only happen to be the actorverses where they wouldn't be related.

Ironically, Abigail and Oliver are still nightmares in these universes.

Awwww, that's honestly so wholesome! You know, with how similar Bea and Bess look, it is kind of nice that there's one universe where (even though they are actually related) they can have a wholesome bond. It puts a very interesting spin on the dynamic. I always think it's sweet in actor interviews where they talk about having to play a mean character, then apologizing to their co-star afterword. With how cool/grounded Bess is, why can I imagine Bea apologizing after a vicious scene and Bess being like, "Are you kidding? That was SO GOOD! You were so intense." And if there's a scene where Bess has to slap Bea? I feel like she'd react like Callahan's actor in the behind-the-scenes look at "Legally Blonde on Broadway": "Did you see that? How she smacked me? She got me good! I deserved that." And DESPITE ALL THAT, Abigail and Oliver are still divas in this universe. Of course they are. Some people can not be fixed, lol. I am kind of in love with the potential of this universe, ngl. Movie-verse? Scroovie-verse?

[rom-e-o]

While she's evaluating Adonis and his relationship with Connie, TeTe taking out each of the girls one at a time, one-on-one with her so she can see what each has to say about the topic. She quietly compares notes between each conversation with the girls to see if anything doesn't add up like it should. But things ultimately do.

Okay, I know I need to respond to so many asks and usually try to do so in order, but I saw the notification for this one and couldn’t resist jumping in.

TeTe would ABSOLUTELY play detective in investigating Adonis. It’s just like her to call each lady in for interview-style conversations, especially as she gets to know them and trust them more and more. They are her daughter’s roommates, after all.

More than that, they are the women who have helped make her daughter feel SAFE again, and helped her find shelter in a new city. Plus, she’s pretty sure Bess is her soul-sister from another mister, and TeTe knows how rarely connections like that come along.

Their feedback is not only prized, but it is trusted.

Their testimonials would soothe her soul more than any business endorsement or gestures from him.

Why? Because Orin didn’t have those testimonials. None. Not even from his own family.

I am curious what each lady’s thoughts are, I’ll admit. 😂 I feel like they’d have very … sisterly things to say about him.

Tete asks about his flaws, and she’ll hear mostly about how he hates spiders and is a clean freak at times.

The most real one would be Bess, in my mind, as she knows his true biggest flaw.

“He’s a good man, but he’s unsure. Insecure. He nearly ghosted her out of a relationship because he was too nervous to make a commitment. He gets hung up on the past. You know how, when confronted, most people have a fight or flight response? Well, he freezes.”

And would TeTe see that as a con? Honestly, probably not (at least not a terrible one), especially when comparing him to Orin.

But the speed of their relationship combined with that flightless might give her slight pause. Him being her superior at work would also set off a warning bell, ngl.

“I’ve heard that he’s her supervisor at work. Is that true? … Ah. That’s not reassuring. He’s not using that superiority as leverage for her to maintain her employment, is he?”

It doesn’t look amazing on paper, but the girls can dispel her worries pretty quick. Most of them. 😅

“He’s not her direct supervisor. He made sure of that, to his credit.”

Again, she trusts their judgement and opinions, after all. Even after all that, she’d stay wary of him. Just to make sure he knows he’s being watched very carefully.

When TeTe finds out that Adonis sent flowers to Arthur’s grave on the anniversary of his passing and didn’t brag about it to TeTe, that’s when things start to shift.

She realizes, stars be praised, that he really might be different.

[rom-e-o]

Just for consideration for future doodles:

Emmrich in a sweater and slacks. With glasses, of course.

Hmmm, yes. I see you. 😏

I need to do a longe-sleeve sweater version, but I yearn for his concept art biceps.

[rom-e-o]

We've discussed it with the Scrooges, it only seems pertinent to extend it to our DA couples.

What do we think it was like the first time Emmrich popped a surprise erection around Wifey?

Aaaaah, yes. Hehehe.

Listen, the man is a gentleman with his brushes and razors and fine dressing gowns, but he's still human. Very human, very red-blooded, and very fascinated by the woman who has just inspired such a reaction from him. It's been a while since he's seen anyone serious, after all. ;)

I think it poses an interesting question ... when is the first time it happens at all, and when is the first time Wifey notices it?

I don't want to speak for Guinevere, but I can definitely imagine it happening quite early. After all, these Raven lovebirds move at a pretty fast pace with their first date and second date being pretty spicy (I read your ask like 'DAMN, good for them!'). Does it happen during their first kiss? Hmm. Emm may be a little too seasoned for a kiss to get him at full-mast, so to speak.

Emm strikes me as a guy who won't get that aroused until there is some deeper feeling. Once he starts to think she's the one? THAT really gets him going, in my mind.

What do you see for G'iney, in your mind?

For Isma specifically, I have an hc that it's two separate occasions.

The first time ever is when she slips into the water and he dives in without a second thought to retrieve her.

He pulls her ashore, and she's clinging to him. She's wet (all over, haha), breathless, trembling, and her face is incredibly close to his. When she does look up at him, her expression is one of blissed out relief. "Oh...thank you, Emmrich."

It's a painful throb in that moment, when he realizes how badly he wants her. Also, there's guilt. She nearly drowned, and now his anatomy is betraying him by getting hard at the aftermath of the ordeal?! He's nearly ashamed, and pulls away before she can notice.

The first time it happens and she notices? It's after their dinner date. Where he scolds her favorite non-color, lmao.

When they kiss after the meal, I imagine she's pressed back in that chair while he deepens the touch. He leans in, and when she starts gasping his name, she feels it. At first, she thinks it's some Watcher ornament or mage totem on him, but...nope.

Sensing her surprise, he readies himself to pull away, but Isma's hands quickly seize his shoulders.

"It's just ... been a while," she tells him softly, shyly, "Since a man has done that for me. I don't mind. I-I quite like it, actually. I'd also like if we could keep kissing, maybe?"

They don't go all the way (that happens in the coffin for her, haha) but her knee does find a very pleasant spot against his crotch, and the necking that follows is quite superb.

Btw, I'm curious of your opinion: I do see a lot of people hc that Emm and their Rook consummate their relationship on the dinner date rather than the coffin. I think it's fascinating so many people came to that conclusion. i like it. actually, but for Isma, I think he first time with him is in the crypt. (Sorry for the chill, girl.)

[rom-e-o]

So... FeFe always drops the craziest lore, and I just know we haven't heard the last of her tales yet. But I'm curious: What about TeTe? Does she have some insane factoids to drop about herself?

Considering what FeFe has shared, my mind runs wild with imaginations of what she has possibly NOT shared (and why, lol.) Oh, TeTe? She plays her cards pretty close to her chest, shockingly.

So, we know she came from Morocco to New York in both timelines. She was 18, and obviously, pretty spirited and confident.

Before coming to New York, TeTe was one of those ladies who got proposals on the reg. She couldn't run an errand without some guy waxing poetic to get her to look his way, I imagine.

"That's how I paid for my fare to come to New York," she tells the girls one evening after wine. "One day, I got sick of them, and I hatched an idea. I decided to hold a little contest. Or, well ... I decided to invite wagers. For a small sum, you have minutes to serenade me. Woo me. Convince me to stay."

By the end of an hour, she had enough to pay the fare five times over. So, she donated the rest and used the one sum to hop a boat/plane.

"That was my first business venture," she says with a laugh. "Or ... perhaps my first con. Depends on who you ask. To be fair, I did warn them of the risk beforehand, and they still placed their wager. Then again, men love a glimmer of hope just as much as they love a touch of skilled artifice. The lottery keeps drawing people in despite its terrible odds, after all. But you never win if you don't play. And they always play."

Other probably include:

She has been arrested for skinny-dipping. Three times.

She's had her birth year redacted from all public documents, U.S. and abroad.

She once played Russian Roulette for a business negotiation and lost, but only because the bullet jammed. "Used up a lot of luck that day, but not all of it."

On on occasion, when someone tried to abduct Arthur and Connie for ransom from his office (a frail millionaire and his toddler must be easy, they think, Arthur quietly placed Connie in Arthur's desk chair ... then grabbed them by the neck and slammed them into the wall so cause a nosebleed. TeTe then ran in, smashed a VINTAGE chair over their head, and dragged them by their hair to the sidewalk outside. Connie clapped and giggled the whole time. "Hehe, payback!"

So, yeah ... don't mess with TeTe. You'll get your shit rocked.