Right when Éireann is starting to panic and I'm starting to research how teachers were replaced in incorporated territories in the old West (short answer: they usually weren't), Vasil Misilevič stops by and things start to get interesting.

Now, there's a couple things you should know about Vasya. The first is that despite being universally considered one of Kainai's more annoying residents, he's actually kind of a lifesaver when it comes to putting out fires. Does he also kind of give vibes like he would set those fires so he could save the day? Maybe. But in this case, the fire's already been set, by a certain Connecticut Yankee in Miss Gallagher's Bed.

The second thing you should know about Vasya is he carries a little bit of a torch for Éireann; at least he did in 1870 when he was her first kiss. Now, the reason I haven't shared this picture before that it's been two years and that kiss is the only thing that happened between them. ACR's threshold for first kisses is super low--they don't even have crush hearts--so I usually don't count them until they go somewhere. It didn't go anywhere, so I didn't count it.

When he shows up out of the blue after two years to kiss her again, though, I start to reevaluate.

Luckily, Éireann pops during harvest season (re: her two days off from her Maxis education career, which is perfect timing, so at least she's working with me) when there aren't kids around for her to corrupt with her loose morals (gotta love the 19th century). She spends those days trying to build up her relationship with Alessandro and get him interested in the idea of a baby. Maybe he just needs some time to process.

Except apparently he doesn't need some time to process, apparently he needs someone to kick his pixelated ass. Honestly, it's starting to get surprising at this point. They have a high LTR on both sides and Alessandro is a Popularity/Knowledge sim so his continued refusal only really makes sense if he's absolutely set on being the no-good villain in a country song. Maybe he hasn't heard how many of those songs end in murder.

Whatever it is, though, he isn't budging, leaving Éireann alone, unwed, and pregnant. And unless something comes along to save her, she thinks she's probably screwed.

Éireann and I are satisfied with our "first recorded shotgun wedding" plan right up until Alessandro has other ideas. This is when I start to worry--eagle-eyed simmers might have caught that Éireann was the only one with a love heart over her head the night they got jiggy with it and it seems that wasn't for nothing. Alessandro has no intention of making an honest woman out of Kainai's schoolteacher.

Éireann is pissed and I'm not far off either. Now, it takes two to tango and I was serious with that "if it isn't the consequences of her own actions" comment, but also? These are also the consequences of Alessandro's own actions: it is 1872, motherfucker, and you have way more power and way fewer consequences. But maybe he knows that because even Éireann's tears don't seem to move him.

And one day later, what does Éireann find but the consequences of her own actions? Normally I'm not one to shame, but Éireann is made of pixels and it's supposed to be 1872, so the shame is built into the time period. That being said, most of my shaming is actually worrying--schoolteachers aren't even supposed to get married at this point in history and there are no rules for backup teachers in the Homestead Challenge ruleset. Now, I'm all for playing loosey-goosey with the rules, but I'd rather not have to think about it and I know Éireann is probably thinking the exact same thing.

Thankfully, being in 2024 means I know something that Éireann doesn't: 1872 is the first recorded instance of the phrase "shotgun wedding."

When Éireann first starts spending time around Alessandro Rossi, I don't think much of it. Actually, that's not quite true. It's not a terrible couple, I don't think--despite his long tenure in Kainai, he's not particularly close to getting his own homestead. The pairing isn't terrible and so I sit back to see what happens.

And oh boy, does stuff start to happen. If you're wondering, "hey, Loch, didn't you miss some pictures of socializing or crush hearts or something?" that's a good question and no, I didn't. I have no idea how this progressed this quickly. I'm not shaming anybody, I'm just flummoxed.

Hong Tao isn't Miss Gallagher's only success. She's been doing quite well, teaching Kainai's children and has made close friends with many of them. She spends her days in the schoolhouse (or would if I hadn't realized I wanted to try out an actual schoolhouse after already making the building a community lot--hindsight, etc.).

Her days are much the same as each other: the school day starts and in come the kids. They go over reading, arithmetic, penmanship, etc. And then the next day is more of the same. Éireann loves her kids and she's proud of her work. But sometimes the days start to feel a bit...repetitive.

I'm seeing post-apocalyptic CC making the rounds because of the new Fallout show and 1. Hell yes. But also 2. I've just gotten into a groove and I don't need this right now.

Li Hong Tao's 1872 ends with his birthday and transition into a full-fledged adult capable of claiming a homestead and starting his own life, independent of the mines he's spent most of his adolescence in. He can't wait to get started.

While older people grapple with family and marriage and complicated relationships, Tao finally gets the courage to start making his own. He proposes to Paksskii where they first met, out in the Montana wilderness. He's more nervous than he expected--they've been courting for years, but he still adores her more than he can bear and it's hard to believe she could feel the same way sometimes.

But he need not worry. Paksskii is just as excited to begin a new life together.

Tsuna doesn't tell anyone in her life that she's met Homer, nor how long they spoke into the night that first meeting. He, too, keeps quiet. There's something wonderful about having a secret with just one other person--something you can keep to yourselves. And they did nothing untoward that night in the woods, after all.

Certainly nothing of any consequence.

When you have an actual nightmare about pink flashing, does that mean you're playing too much TS2 or not enough?

So, I'm on a road trip today to see an eclipse and look what I ran into/risked my life to take a picture of on the road up!

I can picture Lilith and/or Dustin spray-painting dicks on it in my mind's eye.

Tsuna's days are a little brighter after meeting Homer, even as the days get darker heading into winter. She even starts to repair her relationship with Kanti, entirely on her own and autonomously, which makes me very excited. It seems Tsuna is finally starting to see that there's a world outside Pavel Goryunov (an important lesson for us all to learn, honestly) and that Kanti is the only one who might understand how she feels.

After all, Tsuna knows steadfastly children bind you to a husband--and she can't begrudge Kanti for wanting to keep these little ones by her.

~ URL Song Game ~ 🎧

Thank you so much to @esotheria-sims for tagging me! I love a tag game. Here we go:

L: Love Will Come to You - Poets of the Fall

O: Old Town Road - Lil Nas X C: Clint Eastwood - Gorillaz

H: Horns - Bryce Fox

L: Little Lion Man - Mumford and Sons

A: Australia - Amanda Palmer

N: No Children - The Mountain Goats (+ live version where the audience sings that makes my heart grow three sizes)

D: Dreams - Brandi Carlile

E: Ex's and Oh's - Elle King

R: Reignite - Malukah

I nominate @moocha-muses, @yandereplumsim, @cupcakeyysims, @niamh-sims, and @keoni-chan!