Burning

So this will be a fun write-up from an in-character point of view.

To start with, I Gary'd Aurora with a fireplace I bought specifically for that purpose. I suppose I'll nickname it The Incinerator.

Berry met an alien and war-dialed him until they were friends, then invited him over for Barley to meet. They hit it off, even though he was an elder, and in a flurry of romantic interactions he was won, wed, and bred. As the bloodline was secured, I implemented Phase Two: lifting Alien Tech. I got him a job as a Test Subject, and had him begin exploring the galaxy for loot. At first it seemed less than fruitful - but then a mega-windfall netted me several times the value of what I actually needed to collect. One gigantic rock analyzed at $13,808 and my remaining aging-off days later, and what's-his-face (alien names am I right?) cleared Alien Tech for me. Also 10 Athletics so that's nice too.

Then he died of old age.

Meanwhile, there are three small plants in Gen 3: Diascia (who somehow turned out Evil and Grumpy), Daisy (standard Loves the Outdoors and Green Thumb), and Eucalyptus (Good, Athletic).

I gave the older children Inappropriate when they aged up.

Berry became an Adult some time after Barley did and started up a fascinating career in Master Thief. Also the Alien cheated with her a little bit - just a smooch, but it made all of the younger children hate him a little bit. All of them. She's currently a Safecracker, and her traits are:

Charismatic (rebel faction)
Workaholic
Loves the Outdoors
Inappropriate
Athletic
Ambitious

So essentially perfect. She also has Multi-tasker.

Cale had a rough go of it, ending up with the traits:

Loves to Swim
Loves the Outdoors
Socially Awkward
Inappropriate
Green Thumb

And he got Symphonic. I can't complain! I just purchased Multi-tasker for him, too.

Camellia got Business, though her LTW is to lift Science. Sucks but I guess I shouldn't roll career wants until I can guarantee what career I get. She has:

Supernatural Fan
Inappropriate
Athletic
Green Thumb
Ambitious

And Multi-tasker.

---

She ... she killed herself. I don't - I can't - Mother ... why?

She just - she locked herself in a room and set herself on fire. I'll never forget the screams, for as long as I live. The paint on the metallic floorboards burned away, mixing with her ashes.

I just don't understand why.

--

Berry's friend is an interesting man. He's an alien, and I think he'll do. They have different strengths, but aliens are ... almost equal to us.

I applied my womanly wiles and had him in bed with me by the end of the day. Sure, days are longer than Mother remembered, but that's still pretty good. We had an informal marriage ceremony, and so I had an alien living with me.

For a short, short time.

There are humans who exert influence over us, for all that I might want to believe otherwise. Two men came in black suits. They were not poorly dressed, nor did they look like the thugs that come for our protection money. These were ... something else. They took my prize away, my mate.

I want him back.

--

My siblings are growing up around me, getting jobs. I brought children into the world.

I feel ... lonely. I'm going through the motions, but ... How am I supposed to do anything about - anything?

Is this how Mother felt?

Is this why she - died?

--

They returned my love to me, half-crazed and dying. He wasn't - useful to them anymore, he said - but the research was 'valuable.' They'd confiscated him and his ship - they thanked me and gave me a check, while I watched the man I'd married die.

I hate them. I hate all of them.

--

*The rest of the journal is charred beyond readability.*