Thief

So Master Thief is out of the way, Cale lost Symphonic right before MT was cleared, so that's nice too.

I got Camellia out of Business and was super lucky to find Science in the paper. Score!

And ... then Camellia died in a fire while tinkering with the fireplace. Irony is I'm pretty sure I was having her put on Fireproof. So yeah.

Diascia and Daisy are adults now. Diascia is my heir apparent, though she's working on Science - it might be better to let her Empress of Evil wannabe twin be the heir.

Eucalyptus became an adult and picked up Symphonic. I had her LTW as ISS, but Symphonic, man. Symphonic.

Six fires later (While the fireplace was supposed to be OFF) and I sold the fireplace. No need for more unnecessary accidental deaths.

Cale got Criminal. Then he quit Criminal in order to pick up ... Rock Star. Yep. At least he has the skill for it. It isn't a great lift but at least I won't have to take it on someone who doesn't have guitar skill.

Berry got older, and ranted herself to death in a decent, out-of-the-way spot the night she turned elder.

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I am not the heir.

But until my nieces are old enough, I suppose I'll do this. 

My name is Berry. I am the reason our family has the resources they have. I knew when we were young that we would need finances. Everyone needs money - and money is so easily gotten, if you just ... take it. 

So I trained, and I ingratiated myself to the criminal element.

I didn't tell Barley where I went or why each night, though I suspect she knew.

It is honorable, I suppose, to die while you are still your own self. She had borne her fruits well, and she was no longer necessary.

That is not to say that I believe my sister was an honorable person. She was sad most of the time, and I think she just could not bear the weight of her existence any longer.

I don't really understand that.

She served her purpose, though.

Camellia was always inventing, always coming up with new ideas, new plans. One of those plans backfired, and she caught fire. There was nothing we could do - she burned so quickly.

It is a pity. Her work goes unfinished.

--

The twins are ... unsettling, to me. They seem to take perverse pleasure in the misfortune of others, and I see them always ... plotting.

Diascia plans to finish the work that Camellia started, bringing the light of science back into the world. She claims it's for the good of everyone, but I don't know that I believe that.

Daisy followed me to work one day. She thought I didn't know she was there. The others did not take kindly to her presence - but I explained to them that she was a talented youth. They could use someone like her, I said. She'd need only a little bit of training to be every bit the thief I am - but I suspect she has no intention of being on the front lines, so to speak, for any longer than she can help it. She's smart. Cunning. She wants more from this life than I did.

I am growing old, and weary.

I do not want to inconvenience anyone, but ...

It is no matter. They can care for themselves now. 

I am still myself. 

It is time.

The knife will do.