#I am going to distract myself with sims

[martiniwhims]

what's crazy is that i haven't played the sims in months, but i'm about to completely reorganize my simblr to make it easier when I actually start playing and posting for my story

[pastelispunx]

you know how in the sims they have the grilled cheese aspiration?

yeah , I've got that but with eggs.

[gildedsilk]

You Can Walk Home 🚙

Pt 1/2.

• Sim Jaeyun x Reader | Wc: 2K+ | Angst | PG-13 ༻

༺ Masterlist | Pt 2.

Tonight was supposed to be fun. A night out with friends, a break from the usual routine, a chance to breathe. Instead, it had turned into this—a suffocating silence stretching between you and Jake, thick with unspoken words and simmering frustration.

The car ride had been tense from the start. You could feel it in the way Jake gripped the steering wheel a little too tightly, the way his jaw clenched every time you shifted in your seat.

You knew this was coming.

The distance between you two had been growing for weeks, little things piling up like fragile glass stacking too high, waiting to shatter. And tonight, it finally did.

It started at dinner.

Jake had been quieter than usual, distracted in a way that made your chest tighten. Every time you tried to pull him back into the conversation, he brushed you off with a short answer, a small nod, a barely-there smile. You told yourself it was nothing—maybe he was just tired, maybe he had a lot on his mind—but deep down, it felt like something more.

So when you finally asked, when you leaned in and whispered, “Is something wrong?” his response was sharp enough to cut.

“Can we not do this here?” Jake muttered under his breath, barely glancing at you.

You blinked, taken aback. “Do what?”

He exhaled, rubbing his temple. “This. The questioning. The whole ‘What’s wrong, Jake?’ thing.”

Your stomach twisted. “I was just asking—”

“Yeah, and I’m saying I don’t want to talk about it right now,” he said, his tone clipped.

A few of your friends had started to notice, their laughter dying down as they exchanged uncertain glances. You felt heat rise to your cheeks, a mix of embarrassment and frustration swirling in your chest.

But you let it go.

You forced a smile, nodded, and pretended the lump in your throat wasn’t there.

The rest of the night passed in a blur. You laughed when you were supposed to, joined conversations when they pulled you in, but your mind was elsewhere. On Jake. On the way he was acting. On the growing ache in your chest.

By the time you both left the restaurant, the air was thick with tension. You barely made it to the car before it all boiled over.

Jake had just unlocked the doors when you spoke.

“Do you even want to be here?”

He paused, his hand resting on the handle. “What?”

“With me,” you clarified, crossing your arms. “Because it sure as hell doesn’t feel like it lately.”

Jake let out a dry, humorless laugh as he yanked the car door open. “You’re being dramatic.”

You scoffed, following him around to the driver’s side. “Am I? Because from where I’m standing, I’m the only one even trying anymore.”

Jake sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Y/N, I don’t want to do this right now.”

“Well, too bad,” you shot back, voice rising despite yourself. “Because I can’t keep pretending everything is fine when it’s not.”

He turned to face you then, eyes dark with frustration. “So what do you want me to say? That I’m tired? That I’ve got a million things on my mind? That maybe I don’t have the energy to sit here and explain myself every time you think something’s wrong?”

Your heart clenched. “That’s not—”

“I don’t need you to pick apart everything I do, Y/N,” he cut in, his voice firm. “I need you to just—let me breathe.”

The words hit harder than you expected.

Let me breathe.

Like being with you was suffocating him.

You swallowed, stepping back. “That’s what you think I’m doing? Smothering you?”

Jake’s expression faltered for a second, but he didn’t take it back. He didn’t correct himself. And that silence hurt more than anything he could’ve said.

You stared at him, the rain starting to pick up, cold droplets clinging to your hair and clothes. It felt like the world was closing in on you, and for the first time in a long while, you felt truly alone—even though Jake was standing right in front of you.

“I didn’t say that,” Jake said, but it didn’t sound convincing. “I’m just… tired, okay? And I’m not the only one who’s been acting like this.”

The sharp edge in his voice made you flinch, but you held your ground.

“I don’t want to keep having this conversation,” you said quietly. “I’m tired, too, Jake.”

His gaze softened, but only for a moment, before it hardened again. “Then stop making everything about us. I can’t keep doing this with you.”

It felt like the wind had been knocked out of your lungs.

You took a step back, feeling the wet ground beneath your shoes. “Fine,” you muttered, your voice thin. “Maybe you should just stop pretending to care.”

Jake’s face twisted with frustration, his hands falling to his sides. “Y/N, you’re overreacting—”

“You’re not listening,” you cut in, your words sharp. “You don’t hear what I’m trying to say.”

He stared at you, and for a moment, there was only silence between you, broken only by the soft sound of rain falling.

Then, finally, he spoke. “Fine. If you want to walk home so bad, then go ahead. You can walk home.”

Your heart dropped.

You didn’t say anything. You didn’t fight it. There was nothing left to say.

With a final glance at him, you turned and walked away, the rain soaking you even more as the distance between you and Jake grew.

[fallstaticexit]

Prev / Next / Beginning / Pillowfort

TW: Sim Spice

Transcript under the cut

Nancy Narrates: [I returned home in a daze. My whole self not entirely present in my body]

Nancy Narrates: [And when I closed my eyes for the night, it was with thoughts of her]

[such a pretty threat too] [I am so happy to have met you, Nancy]

Nancy: [moans softly]

Geoffrey: [murmurs] Hey baby, you're home. Malcolm has a cold.

Nancy: Ok, Geoffrey. Go back to sleep.

Nancy Narrates: [I had to get through it, as I always did. I couldn’t allow anything to distract me, especially when I had so much at stake]

Chester: I’d like Nancy to oversee the Dreamer Project.

Nancy: Me, sir?

Chester: I see what you’ve done in Del Sol Valley. I’m impressed, Nancy. That is the kind of initiative that I can trust to lead this business.

Chester: I have observed your work throughout the years. While inheritance is assured, are you prepared to take on the role of CEO? You have the potential, my daughter. Show me what you can do.

Nancy: I-I will. I’ll do great, father.

Nancy Narrates: [My father was ready to see what I was capable of. I had to give it my all]

[laughter]

Dirk: Mrs. Landgraab! Thank you for coming. Early as always. [chuckles] My apologies, I sent out an email that my 9am was running late. Please, take a seat. I have a few things I’d like to address.

[silence]

Dirk: [clears throat] Guess I’ll jump right in. First and foremost, budget is at the forefront, and we’re looking to reduce costs in any way we can without compromising infrastructure. This project has been a long held dream of mine. It’s personal, so it’s crucial that I make the right investment for the citizens of San Myshuno. If you look out this window, you can see the impact the Landgraab Company has had on this city; however, Feng’s portfolio aligns closely with our vision for The Dreamer Project.

Dirk: Lily Feng of Feng Enterprise informed me that they can cut costs by 10% by importing material from Tomarang that is affordable yet high quality.

Nancy: Is that right?

Lily: It is what makes us the best in the business.

Dirk: 10% does peek out interests-

Nancy: 20%! I can cut cost by 20% across the board.

Dirk: Hmm. Here’s how we’ll proceed. I’ll give you both 30 days to come up with a proposal, and whichever meets our requirements best will be awarded the bid.

Lily: Lovely.

Nancy: Perfect.

Dirk: Excellent. Thank you both for your time.

Lily: You know, they say to never meet your heroes, but you’ve been nothing but accommodating. Thank you soo much for the lead, Nancy.

Nancy: ‘Small modest firm’, right? You don’t think this is a fucked up way to ‘get your footing’ and ‘network’?

Lily: [coos] Ohh, did I bruise your ego?

Nancy: Oh, please. I meant what I said. The Landgraab Co. tops the market. I’ve put plenty of no name firms out of business, what’s one more?

Lily: Did you or did daddy do it?

Lily: Like I said, this is a man’s game. You’re either going to ask for what you want or take it by any means necessary. Not that I had to try very hard, you gave it all up sooo easily. I didn’t even have to beg.

Nancy: Funny. When I win this bid, you’ll be on your knees begging me for a job.

Lily: [tuts] Tell you what, when I win, my small firm won’t make a laughing stock of you. Instead, how about you come to my office in that sexy little red dress you wore and kiss my heels?

Nancy Narrates: [Oh, what an infuriating, little-]

Nancy: -BITCH! Excuse my language.

Judith: Oh, no need to apologize, I am living for this darling.

Nancy: And to parade around with that cocky fucking smirk like she’s already won. I want to see her fail so badly. I want to ruin her!

Judith: Then you make sure she knows who the hell you are and that she picked the wrong Landgraab!

Nancy: I can’t lose this, Judy. It’ll be the last thing I do if I did. My god, I’ve never been more stressed-

Judith: Hey, relax, love. Did you get the parcel I sent you?

Nancy: Yes. It said to run a bath and pour myself a glass of wine before opening- what’s this about?

Judith: I think if you were getting off regularly, you could focus properly. Clearly, your darling husband isn’t cutting the bill. So, I made a little purchase to help—clear the tunnels, so to speak. Ah, I have to go. Kisses darling! Have fun!

Nancy: Wait! What am I- [sighs] What am I supposed to do with this..

Nancy Narrates: [I had 30 days to win. I had to focus. No distractions]

[Don’t you want to know what it feels like? I can show you-]

[buzzing]

Geoffrey: Nance? Are you still coming with me to get the boys from practice?

Nancy: Yes! I’m coming!

Geoffrey: Okie dokie!

[lsunstreakerl]

v fun for the prompt thing! how about motogp max + all the ways charles tries to 'casually' arrange a hangout with him

- time travel anon, who is actually sim rig anon, and I'm just going to give myself an emoji actually

- 🎮

LMAO emoji might be the best way to go. wouldn't want to accidentally baptize you a third time. this ended up being 1.1k words and it's still technically only two separate incidents, but like- Charles is so down bad I simply couldn't condense it.

"So like- I am thinking it is like this, yes?"

Charles grins brightly at Carlos, who is staring blankly at him from the other side of the hotel bed.

"Charles- I am right here. I am shirtless, in your hotel room, and all you can talk about is Max."

Charles frowns. He doesn't want to upset Carlos, it's just that Carlos knows Max (!!!) and he needs to navigate this very carefully.

He reaches over to pat Carlos's chest, gets briefly distracted feeling him up before he sees the unimpressed face he's receiving.

"Charles."

"Carlos."

Carlos groans, flopping onto his back.

"I am getting cockblocked by Max, again, and he is not even here. When I get my hands on him-"

"Do you think he likes romantic dates or is he more of a 'skinny dip in the Monaco Harbor' kind of guy?"

Carlos's hand drops onto his face. He looks physically pained.

"Please do not go skinny dipping in the harbor. You live here. You will never live that down."

Charles frowns.

"It's not like I can just go to Spain, mate."

He's pretty sure Carlos's eye is twitching.

"What, exactly, is stopping you? Because if it means you'll stop waxing poetic about one of my best friend's waists, I will buy you that ticket myself, Perceval."

Charles sits straight up, duvet falling around his waist.

"You will?"

"Oh for- I was kidding- Dios, fine, fine. Sit back down."

Charles settles back down, batting his eyelashes in the way he knows other men go weak for.

"Thank you, Carlos."

Carlos scowls as he jabs at his phone.

"Do not thank me yet- he is a maneater, Charles. Don't go falling in love with him."

Charles has met many maneaters. Normally, it doesn't seem worth the effort to try and reform them- usually women, usually perfectly content with their lifestyle. Max is so stunningly captivating that Charles will gladly let him take chunks out of him, however much he wants.

"Maybe he just has not met anyone interesting enough yet."

Charles gives Carlos his most dazzling smile, dimples and all.

Carlos remains unimpressed.

"Right. I'm sending you your ticket- and you better put some effort in, because if I have to listen to you head over heels, and him bitching about your lackluster sex skills, I'll end it all, yes?"

Charles leans forward, pecking him on the forehead.

"Yes yes, best sex of my life, I understand. Sorry you are not fucking me tonight. I think Lando's up for it?"

Carlos huffs as he pulls his clothes back on, running a hand through his hair as he makes his way to the door.

"You are lucky you're pretty, Perceval."

------

"CHARLES!"

Ollie is shouting to be heard over the thumping bass, but Charles is in the habit of keeping an ear out for his children, so he leans in closer.

He notices with a slight shiver of horror that Ollie is nearly his height already.

"YES?"

Ollie gestures at Charles' new yacht around them.

"IS IT A HOUSEWARMING PARTY IF IT'S A YACHT?"

Charles leans back, thinking. He's actually not sure.

"GO ASK GEORGE."

Ollie nods and bounds away.

Charles should've told him to go ask Sebastian- it would've been hilarious. There's all sorts of drivers here, somewhat of an open invitation for his friends.

There's a tap on his shoulder, and he turns to find Lando grinning evilly at him.

He narrows his eyes.

"WHAT?"

Lando leans up right next to his ear, cupping a hand to be heard better.

Not that it matters, because he keeps shouting a decibel even louder than the actual music- potentially an attempt to sabotage Ferrari by blowing out Charles' eardrum.

"YOU'LL NEVER GUESS WHO'S HERE!"

Charles furrows his eyebrows.

"WHO?"

Lando turns him slightly to the side, and Charles' eyes scan the crowd. It's all people he knows, although Carlos and Fernando are standing next to-

"Oh my god."

He hears Lando cackling behind him.

"IF YOU DON'T TAP THAT I WILL!"

Charles whips around, shaking Lando by the shoulders while he contemplates dropping him overboard.

"DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT, YOU EVIL LITTLE TWINK."

There's a loud burst of laughter from where Carlos and Fernando and standing with Max, and Lando should thank his lucky stars that Charles is so easily distracted, because he gets to live another day.

Max has a wide grin on his face, a drink in his hand, and he's in the shortest fucking shorts-

Charles is not sure how he's meant to handle this.

It doesn't help that Max and Carlos are both wet, clearly having come back on deck from the water. The fabric is clingy, and Charles is going to die, because Max has a tattoo winding up his thigh, disappearing under the hem of his shorts and reappearing just slightly above the waistband. It must cross his entire hip.

Charles would discover a new element if it meant getting to figure out where else it goes.

He picks his jaw up off the ground and gets another drink, something bright and fruity and full of vodka.

Carlos rolls his eyes when Charles approaches, but Fernando lights up, grabbing Charles' wrist and tugging him closer into their little trio.

"CHARLES! This is Max! He is like you, yes? Young and fast! He is a MotoGP driver!"

Charles is a little stunned for a moment, because the only other time he's seen Fernando be so outwardly and obviously proud of other drivers is when it's his own karting academy kids.

Max laughs, and the sound is like silver in Charles' ears, pulls his attention like a magnet.

"We've met, Nando."

Charles could listen to him forever.

"And it's always a pleasure to meet you again, Max."

Carlos makes a gagging noise and turns away, and Max's eyes are sparkling as he grins at Charles, scrunched up into little crescents.

"I like the yacht! Very..."

He waves the hand not holding his drink, and Charles notices he has black nail polish, brain screeching to a halt as he completely misses the rest of what Max is saying.

It's quiet for a second, Max watching him half expectant and half amused.

Charles should probably respond.

"Thank you!"

Max bursts into laughter again, but this time it's because of Charles, and the feeling is comparable to when he snatches pole at the last second.

Charles made him laugh.

Max leans over, water droplets on his neck and shoulders, deftly swiping Charles' drink out of his hand. He raises it in a mock toast, and Charles wants to kick everyone else of this stupid yacht right now-

"Cheers to the yacht owner, yeah?"

Charles has the power of vodka and the French language in his pocket.

"Veux-tu m'épouser?"

Max drains his glass in a smooth pull.

"Still not drunk enough for French, solcito."

Charles chickens out.

"I said we should get dinner sometime!"

Max takes another step forward, right into Charles' space, fingers resting lightly on his forearm. Charles can't look away from him, blue eyes piercing right through him.

Max is still smiling at him.

"I'd like that."

[zzimoe]

New Simblr!

Hey everyone, my name is Zel and I'm a 21 y/o uni student studying engineering and computer science someone help me /j

I started playing ts4 about 3 years ago and haven't let it go ever since. I'd say it is definitely my comfort place for cozy gameplay and as a way to distract myself from the hectic school schedule fs.

I just recently thought I'd join the community on here bc I've been lurking in the shadows for too long lol, but yeah, I just thought it'd be nice to share my excitement over my sims stuff, so here I am :D

I'm mostly maxis-mix, but do not have a set style so you may see me change the aesthetic depending on what I'm liking that moment. (I'm just a boy who loves cozy gameplay okay </3)

I plan on sharing my builds, sims, sceneries, lookbooks, cc finds, and ofc gameplay. I am also slowly getting into learning how to make my own cc too so do look out for that :) Also wcif friendly! so don't be afraid to ask if anything catches your eye.

I look forward to sharing and interacting with other new and continuing simmers on here bc ahhh I get so inspired seeing everyone's cool content fr you guys are so talented lol.

Please feel free to reblog, like or even follow to be mutuals and to continue seeing each other on the tl! It will certainly be appreciated!

[another-whump-sideblog]

Fixing Tracy Chapter 8: Domesticity 

TWs in the tags

Previous

Masterlist

Next

"Do you have a job?" Tracy asks as she helps Molly put away groceries. It's starting to strike Tracy as odd that Molly can afford all this and also spend the majority of her time with Tracy. Molly’s talked about past jobs, but never anything current.

“Not right now. Don’t worry, you’re not keeping me away from work or anything. This is where I want to be.”

“So how do you… afford all this?” 

“My parents were very wealthy, and I got all of it when they died.”

“Ah. That explains a lot.”

Molly laughs. “I’m not sure how to take that.” 

Hmm… Tracy tries to think of a way to direct the conversation that might give her helpful information. “Are you planning on getting another job any time soon?”

“Probably not. I don’t want to leave you alone all day.”

“I wouldn’t mind.”

“Still, if you got hurt, or needed me for something else, you’d have no way to get help. And I like spending time with you. I would miss you the whole time I was gone.”

That makes sense, logically. No one is forcing Molly to be here, she must be spending time with Tracy because she wants to. Tracy wants to ask what makes her so special, but she chickens out. She gets the feeling that whatever the answer to that question is, she really won’t like it. “Do you… have any friends? At all?”

“Mm… I hope someday you’ll consider me a friend.” She puts the last of the groceries in the pantry. "Do you wanna play Wii Sports Resort? I bet you can get a new high score at wakeboarding."

"Sure." She's really good at the wakeboarding game.

Molly grins and sets up the game. It makes sense that she has no friends, but it’s disappointing all the same. No one is going to come visit her and ask about the heavily locked basement. Tracy isn’t getting outside help.

A thought hits Tracy like a bus. "Am– am I the first person you've kidnapped?"

"Of course!" Molly hands Tracy a Wii remote. "First and last."

A chill runs down Tracy's spine. It's okay, it's fine. Just gathering information. It doesn’t matter why Molly decided to kidnap Tracy, that knowledge won’t help her escape. "Right. Um…”

Thinking of questions is hard. Maybe she should just try to make natural conversation, and see if anything important comes up?

“Do you have a favorite video game?” Tracy asks, partially focused on digital wakeboarding.

“I’m not sure. The only thing I ever play alone is The Sims, so I guess that would be my favorite?”

“That makes a lot of sense. You like taking care of the- hell yeah!” Tracy is momentarily distracted by getting a long string of 100-point tricks.

“Yeah.” Tracy can hear the smile in her voice. “I do really like games where I can take care of people. I’ve had to ban myself from getting any games like that on my phone, I always end up setting alarms in the middle of the night to check on them. Sims don’t have their needs drain when the game is closed the way so many mobile games do.”

Tracy’s turn ends. She didn’t get a new high score, but she got close. “You’d… set alarms in the middle of the night?” 

“They’d be so sad and hungry every morning if I didn’t!”

“They’re… not real.”

“That’s the thing— how do you know? I can’t bear the thought of telling someone that they’re not real if they actually are. Can you imagine, someone coming up to you and telling you you’re not real? That would be awful! I don’t want to risk it. What separates us from programs, really? People a lot smarter than me have theorized we’re all in a simulation. If that’s the case, would it be okay for someone to starve and hurt us because we’re not real? Even deleting those apps felt kind of like killing people. I couldn’t function for weeks afterward… But I’m okay now!” 

“You’re… actually crazy.” That shouldn’t be surprising for a kidnapper, but it somehow is.

“That’s not very nice.” Her tone is lightly scolding. Not angry at all, but definitely the harshest tone she’s used with Tracy so far. “You probably didn’t want to hear about my issues, though. What’s your favorite video game?” As she talks, Molly repeatedly does so badly at the game that it pauses to remind her she needs to land on the water with her board flat.

“I never really played video games before I came here— before you kidnapped me, I mean. I think I need to try a few more before I decide.”

The conversation continues like that until Tracy gets a new high score. Just… pleasant, even if the things Molly says are disturbing sometimes. Tracy’ll have to mentally go through the conversation a few times before bed to make sure she didn’t miss any valuable information. Even if she didn’t, though, building a rapport with Molly is good. That’ll… that’ll definitely benefit her somehow, even if she’s not sure how yet.

“You’re amazing.” Molly looks at Tracy like she’s… Tracy doesn’t even know. Definitely not something human. A beautiful painting, maybe? A sunset? A skyscraper?

“For… being good at Wii Sports Resort wakeboarding?”

“For everything. Everything about you is amazing.”

“…thanks?”

Molly stares at her for a moment longer, then breaks eye contact. “I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable. You barely know me, that probably sounded more like a stalker complimenting you than a friend. I’ll do my best to dial it back.”

“…I appreciate that.”

Molly fidgets with the Wii remote. “I think… I need to spend some time cleaning today. You won’t be able to relax if your living space is filthy! I’ve been putting it off a bit.”

The basement seems plenty clean to Tracy. "Okay."

"I've been keeping the cleaning stuff upstairs, so I'll go grab some stuff and be right back. Is that okay?"

"Yep, go ahead." Tracy feels like she should offer to help, but… she doesn't want to. This isn't her house, she doesn't want to be here and would leave if she could, she has no obligation to do any cleaning.

For the next several hours, Molly takes various cleaning supplies up and down the stairs (always making sure the bag with restraints isn't downstairs while Molly is upstairs) and cleans more or less the entire basement. 

Tracy plays some Minecraft, then starts a book that looks interesting. She's… enjoying herself. Is this the best use of her time? She could talk to Molly more, but did she really learn anything last time? She runs through the conversation in her head repeatedly, but can't find anything useful.

She puts the book back. She needs to think of more questions to ask, more information that might help her, she needs to do something because if she has time to enjoy herself she definitely has time to get something done but there's nothing to get done, she can't do anything she's useless–

"Are you feeling okay, dear?"

"I'm fine. Do you… need help with anything?"

"You're here to rest! I'll handle everything, don't worry. I'm basically done, anyway, I've just got to take the mop back up the stairs."

She's not pathetic enough to beg to help her kidnapper with chores, so she nods and heads to the kitchen. She'll just make lunch for both of them, Molly's okay with her doing that. It's really hard to just wait for helpful information instead of actively working towards escape, but… she can do hard things. It's not Tracy's fault that she's useless right now, anyway, it's Molly's, so there's not much she can do but suck it up and enjoy herself until Molly lets something slip.

Tag list: @whumpyourdamnpears

[simlicious]

Personal update!

Hey everyone! I started to write this at 9:40 am, then I got distracted and did not post it right away but I guess activity on tumblr at that time is low anyway.

I am happy to report that I am still going strong with my changed day/night cycle. It's not always easy, I don't get into bed early enough on some days and feel pretty groggy the next. But this is always where I get defeated - I think okay, sleeping in for half an hour won't be a problem... but then I go to bed even later and the cycle goes backwards really quickly. This time I am determined to stay strong even if that means I walk around like a zombie and drink 1.5 liters of black tea on some days to keep me awake 😆

I guess it takes time to adjust the evening routines too. On these "useless" days, I often play Anno 1800 which is engaging and relaxing at the same time. I often quit the game to mod this and that in the game, so my brain is pretty engaged still and this is how I like it most days.

Since new habits need at least 6 weeks to be counted as a new stable habit, I will focus only on my sleep rhythm for the time being and allow myself to take a mental break from other projects to eliminate the inner expectation of working on those when I know it is unreasonable at this time. It also does me good to let go of any pressure to create TS3 content. I know it has been a while but it does nobody any good if I guilt myself because of it. I often get negative feelings around my simblr lately and it sucks, like I am really unsure about the few AI patterns I made and the poll made me really question what I should do since it is pretty divided. I do not know whether those are more random people who answered the poll or people who often engage in my blog anyway. So I don't really know if I should release those patterns at all or if people come and harass me over them if I do. But not releasing them would mean that energy to create them would be truly wasted, I think? If the images exist already, shouldn't they be used to make it count? Because thinking of that makes me uneasy, I put my creative energy into Anno 1800 for the time being which is not emotionally loaded. I am way too disorganized to really do beauty building, and most of the time I am just happy when my population get the goods they want 😆but modding another item that helps with that or editing other people's mods to fit my needs is fun and satisfying. It's a bit like editing tuning mods for Sims 3 (just with some more complicated layers added depending on the mod).

Knowing myself, I will get another pattern idea soon enough though, and sweater season is fast approaching which means I get into the mood of creating more cozy patterns, hopefully! I want to give a shoutout to people who have shown my patterns in screenshots lately. I admit I am not very active on tumblr at the moment and do not see everything I should. Memorable ones were @martassimsbook and @gittessimsadventuresog, but anyone else please feel addressed too! It means a lot to me to see my patterns in use, it makes me feel validated and useful and lifts my spirits. It also helps to dispel some of my negative thoughts (maybe patterns do not go obsolete after all if people are still using them). I'm really happy they are so useful to you! A lot of you probably do not post many gameplay screenshots but use my patterns anyway, I cannot forget about you 💜thanks for all the support!

[caelanfrostfounder]

//One of my greatest fears, if I am being honest, is that I'll end up like so many others in the family - stuck in the pattern of what's expected of them without ever having the grace to choose what they want. My greatest fear is that process has already started.

The duel was, as I am sure the annals the College will record, quite a scrap. I conducted myself well, my compatriots were the best our great society had to offer.

Let it be known that

Lady Tuera Ashama

Lord Atreyu-Cannamos

Lady Persephone Hellsing

and Lord Delamar Leonasius

Stood against a force better supported and well practiced than ours and emerged victorious, damage and all. Lady Persephone's hardware was tragically lost at the end of the combat, but I suspect a blow-by-blow is what future readers are looking for.

The duel was simple: Take and hold, a common training exercise turned towards competition. Leave the lords or ladies of the hill or don't leave at all.

Lady Cannamos's choice was impressive, a massive machine specializing in close in combat, thankfully the Arctic Blast was equally and more suited to the task. The entire fight I remained toe to toe and sword to fist with her, proper combat as my father would say.

//I don't have the faintest clue how I kept up with her - larger frames are more to chew through, passions know, but the damage even a few blows could have caused would have been catastrophic, I just barely kept ahead of her blows and Atreyu's shielding was invaluable. Got a few blows of my own in but largely I was a distraction.

Sadly, our team became separated, which is a tactical misstep I am willing to accept - Lady Persephone drew focus of Lord Argo and another, but the entire fight was behind cover. In many senses her sacrifice won us the day - I will have to repay her generosity.

//I made the choice I've made before - let one of the unit fall to complete the mission. I always felt like an ass when I followed that particular algorithm but Persephone didn't deserve to be left out in the cold like that.

//And while the fight was going I didn't really consider trying to save her - I kept an eye on her mech status and calmly watched as her hardware was whittled away piece by piece. I promised I wouldn't fall to that cold practicality again but it's already reflex - how much of the family attitude has already stuck?

Lady Ashama's machine was something quite unusual, seeming to consistently bend what was and wasn't nonsensical on the dueling grounds. I suspect her choice and skill are what won her those awards.

I won't speak on Lord Cannamos' machine - they've already given quite the account in the public records and I MUST say it was something to watch.

Lord Leonasius favored surprisingly subtle tactics given his personality - though I really should not be surprised that someone from the House of Sand seemed one way and fought another. I honestly had a difficult time keeping track of him.

Afterwards we were greeted by our classmates - nothing as gauche as a party, which I hear is common in the less civilized planets.

//Persephone seemed really broken up - some ass had sent her to this college without any practical mech experience, she'd only simmed before today! She was physically fine but her mech was dead, whatever kept the nanites coordinated finally gave up the ghost. I hate to say it but she didn't get a chance to really put up a fight, as soon as she was isolated she was disabled quite thoroughly. I got her to the common room and made sure she was alright.

Conversation was lively, I played a number of card games with people I am sure will be fast friends, and I turned in early, looking forward to a productive weekend. As mentioned, assisting Lady Persephone with her machine is top priority, effort like that can't go without reward.

//I was so wrapped up with glad handing I didn't get to know anyone, I didn't even get a moment to talk to Rewen, the one the Lady Cannamos was beating the tar out of that got this whole mess started. I have no idea what I would have said - Lord Cannamos appologized for the House and his family - but I'm worried I wouldn't have had anything other than witty banter.

//I don't want to think of myself as partially hollowed out but... I dunno what do I even do if that's already begun.

OOC Note: go give @atreyucannamos a read for their take on the session, it's quite the read ^^.

[anamoon63]

Hi guys, I am writing this in case anyone wonders why I have been kind of MIA lately. No, I haven't forgotten you, but I have had a difficult week, more than a difficult week, I have been through a real ordeal. Where or how it started it's a long story which I don't have the time or the energy to tell, so I'll just share a brief chronology of what happened during this past week.

Friday May 3 - I turned in my finished work and set out to do my sims posts, play and rest for the weekend since more work would be coming my way on Monday.

Saturday May 4 - My husband came down with the flu, I spent most of the day with him in the emergency room.

Sunday May 5 - I spent it taking care of my husband, who fortunately no longer had a fever. I barely slept two hours at night giving care and medication.

Monday 6 May - My birthday, we couldn't go out for dinner as usual, so we celebrated at home.

Tuesday, May 7 - My son comes down with the flu, too, another afternoon in the ER and sleepless night caring for him and bringing down his fever.

Wednesday, May 8 - My son starts to feel better, and begins to recover very quickly. I start working on the following translations, at the same time I take care of both my husband and my sick son, do food, laundry, order home medicines, and all kinds of small chores, including disinfecting things. It's like going back to 2020.

Thursday, May 9 - My husband no longer has a fever but does have a cough that won't go away and minor problems with his asthma.

Friday, May 10 - Mother's Day, my son was feeling fine, my husband still had a cough, and had a doctor's appointment at noon, when he returned, we celebrated at home just like on my birthday, I spent the rest of the day working, and juggling a thousand other things. In the evening my daughter started to feel sick, but still no fever.

Saturday, May 11 (yesterday) - My daughter woke up with a fever, another visit to the ER. She was prescribed flu medicine, painkillers and rest, and sent home.

And that's my odyssey so far. On top of it all, from Wednesday through Saturday we were in the middle of a heat wave with temperatures of 37ºC with real feel of up to 45ºC; at night we get a "cooler" temperature of 29ºC. So imagine a person with a fever of 38 ºC and with this heat, obviously it's not of much help.

Surprisingly, I haven't gotten sick so far, but I'm not claiming victory. I have been taking care of my family for a week, sleeping two or three hours a night, getting up at different times to check on them, or give them medicine. I don't have time for getting sick! Lol. Thankfully, everyone is better and last night for the first time in a week I was able to sleep straight through. Honestly, I don't need many hours of sleep, but I am routinely and usually I am in bed a 11 pm and up at 8 am every day, so all this did upset my sleep cycle a little bit.

Anyway, that is the reason why I wasn't here much, since the whole day I was too busy, and at night I was so tired all I wanted was to go to bed. I apologize if I've fallen behind on your updates, I'm not ignoring you in any way, I just didn't have the strength or the time, not even to play The Sims. If I did, it was just a little free play to distract myself.

Last week I told you that I was juggling a lot of things, well now I have even more things, lol, at times I feel really exhausted, and even a little cranky from lack of sleep, the first few days my feet and legs hurt so much from going back and forth, but I'm fine, healthy, and in good spirits. Today I believe, as never before, that the universe does not send you more than you can handle.

At this point my family is already in recovery, if I don't get sick too, it's likely by I'll be able to get back to my simming routine. Now, if I do get sick, I hope to recover as quickly as the others. Whatever happens, I'll be around. Know that, even if I don't comment, I read you, and I am with you, especially with those who are going through difficult times of any kind.

Ok, I said to myself this was going to be a short post, but I made a wall of text instead (for a change). My apologies if it's written in a sloppy or confusing way, I just wanted to write it quickly to let you know where I have been and what has been going on with me these days. I hope you are all well, please take care of yourselves, health is a treasure that can be lost at any moment, the flu is a nasty disease, we must never let our guard down and forget to take the necessary measures to prevent it.

Last, but not least, I want to thank all of you who have mentioned me, tagged me, sent me asks and/or stars to my inbox, commented and/or liked what few posts I could do these days, I appreciate it very much and I'll try to reply to you as soon as I can, though I've fallen so far behind that I don't know if I'll be able to find your mentions in my notifications. In any case, thank you very, very much to all of you for thinking about me in my absence. 💗 I'll see you soon, hopefully, with more sim adventures, stay tuned!

[changingplumbob]

Last night when I went to bed I did not go to sleep. Instead I stressed about today and decided to distract myself by reading some articles I need for info on a character. Long story short didn't get to sleep until maybe one am. Then I woke up at five am worried I'd miss my six am alarm.

Travelled in to the hospital to see the dietician and it went okay. Apart from me needing to check what the question was halfway through a ramble because I was so tired, did that several times. But she gave me some things to try.

What did I do on my computer after lunch? I know I used it. Definitely went in game. Oh took photos of Glenn meeting another spellcaster, and their horse being distracting in the background. Took a new profile pic for Pollock because I'd forgotten that when he aged up, then updated that household post. Played with some sims from @simmerbeans to get a background sim I'll need for my next rotation.

Then I just could not do anything more and put the laptop away. Watched the latest episode of Only Murders in the Building, it was either more bizarre than normal or my brain was too done to keep up.

Now it's finally late enough for me to have my last lot of painkillers and go to sleep! Sorry if my comments have been brief or nonsensical as you can see it's been a day. May be quiet tomorrow to while I rest up if my brain can't form words.

[theroyalthornoliachronicles]

Where oh Where am I?

Hi Hi Friends! :)

Hope you've all been enjoying the last days of summer and starting to get into the cozy vibes of fall (my favourite season)!

I've been around, but quietly working on Chapter Two and giving myself no distractions in order to get it done! Of course I was doing this on top of the near five jobs I work a week, plus I've also started streaming on Twitch as a new hobby, something I've wanted to do for a while!

I can say that as of now half of Chapter Two is written (it will not be nearly as long as Chapter One, as it all takes place in one day), and as of today I've got a few posts ready and in the queue to begin posting on 1 October! I'm so excited for you all to see what I've been working on! Each and every one of my sims are dressed and ready for a masquerade as well, so I hope you're looking forward to the fun (and chaos) coming in the very near future!

I'm going to try to start getting through my asks (I've had quite a few just sitting needing to be answered...my bad) over the weekend, but in the meantime, start mentally preparing for Chapter Two's arrival on 1 October!

And if you're one of those lovely humans who love watching people play games, don't hesitate to follow me over on twitch! I'd be every so happy if you came over and said hello! I'll be streaming a little chaotic medieval game called Pentiment, and looking forward to see more of it!

twitch.tv/alidethornolie

Much love to you all! And get excited for Chapter Two!

[fireflysparks]

So, I haven't been around a lot. I recently had to have a tooth removed, which was extra medical stress on top of my other health stress on top of my normal anxiety. 🙃 The procedure went quite well and was only mildly traumatizing, all things considered. But I am still healing, and eating has been even less fun than usual.

Meanwhile, I've been going through my Sims 2 CC again. I never entirely finished my past cleanse of it. 😅 And in time, my "testing" folder became completely unmanageable, so that when I did have some major crashing a week or so ago, I had to take out that whole folder to make it stop.

Another major (but very pleasant) distraction has been playing Palia. I absolutely love the world and the characters. And now that I found myself in a great little community of other players, I am playing even more often. It's a very nice escape from reality. Which I really need right now. And I think (I hope) I've made at least one really good friend from the experience that will last longer than the life of the game. However long that may be.

All this to say, I've been busy with things other than playing and posting Sims. I'm still playing my game a bit, and I still intend to finish posting my backlog of (mostly Pleasantview) photos. But I am taking a bit of a break right now. 🙂

Hope you are all doing well! 💕

[makoheadrush]

I haven’t been here in a while, haha. Once again. It’s been a shitstorm since the inauguration. Don’t want to give too much detail but I am in the group of people who may lose their job due to Trump and First Lady Elon taking a hatchet to the government workforce. My colleagues and I are terrified and there is a LOT happening behind the scenes that nobody is reporting on in the MSM. If you really want the low down go to the fednews sub on Reddit.

Anyway, burying myself in Sims lately, trying to write shit, and hoping to get back to playing Rebirth. I’d barely started playing then Christmas busy-ness happened and now I can’t get past the Midgardsomr. Definitely have to level up, so I’m riding around on a chocobo doing sidequests. Another good distraction from this dumpster fire going on around us.

I left Facebook and Instagram, for anyone who followed me there. Realized after that some of the groups I do volunteer work for only have a presence on Facebook so that is annoying. Not sure I want to go back to anything that the tech bros have a hand in, ya know? And of course I left Xhitter because fuck that shit. Never used it a ton anyway.

So I’m on Bluesky now as well, same name as here. It’s refreshing so far. Hopefully it doesn’t get ruined by some billionaire asshole.

[freezerbnuuy]

Act 5:14- Fear and Longing (Page 1)

LORE | CHARACTERS | ABOUT / WARNINGS | CHAPTERS

← PREVIOUS | BEGINNING | NEXT ��

Áine

Today's lesson was intended to be about alchemy and balancing potion ingredients, but there's a slight problem with one of the students that prevented him from doing any alchemy. Well, not exactly a problem - more an unexpected self-discovery that has led to his lack of thumbs. For many teenagers, a changing body was to be expected as they grew up.

Teenage witches had even more bodily changes to deal with - naturally, finding their animal forms. Verity carries a panicking grey cat in her arms, and the two of us hear a familiar Champs Les Sims accent echo in our minds.

"Miss Áine, I have no idea what I am doing! Verity, put me down this instant!"

"I think you should stay this way forever, Matis. You're a lot cuter and more bearable."

What Verity says has some merit. A feline Matis may be much easier to deal with than a human Matis. Even cats are easier to predict than he is.

There's a rustling in the trees and bushes. I brace myself and Verity holds on tightly to Matis, whose fur bristles. Someone pushes their way through the plants...

"And what do you think you're doing?"

"Yeah, what do you - Oh! Mr. Burnham?"

Verity's positive familiarity with the man forces me to relax. He seems a little well-kept for a Glimmerbrook resident. I wonder who he is?

"You know him, Verity?"

"It is a pleasure to meet you! You are Áine, yes? And this must be your...erm... fine establishment of a school!"

Verity looks to him and back to me. "This is Xander Burnham. He's a Glimmerbrook resident like us."

"Indeed. You see, I've heard about your...'school'...from young Matis. He's friends with my son. I don't leave our little village much - but with the witchfinders dwindling, now I can finally introduce myself."

"I see. So why are you here? You'd like to have your son join?"

Matis looks to me with an inquisitive look and tries to nod. This man is telling the truth.

"Well, we have a few people at our settlement looking for a proper tutor. The thing is, some of us are more experienced with certain aspects than others. I used to build houses, landscape, and carve statues. don't use magic much, and as a result I haven't really got a good way to teach the young ones… and if it helps, we have a suitable building for you to use that's much cosier and safer than this cave!"

"We use these caves for a reason," I explain to him. "We use them to evade witchfinders."

"Don't worry, we're well-protected by dense trees and high fences. I'd like you to accompany me and see for yourself."

"Áine, you should definitely go and see what Xander and the others have built. You'll be amazed!"

I think back to the natural familiarity of Tsuna's settlement. Perhaps it's ungrateful of me to picture stone houses, warm beds, and an actual proper building to use as a potential school. Perhaps I can get more people on board if I have a proper place to teach them.

"I see. Well then, let's take a look. Verity, Matis, class is dismissed. Hopefully next time Matis will have thumbs again and we can actually do some studying…"

Xander's settlement is a short walk away from the outskirts of Glimmerbrook, completely fenced off and surrounded by dense trees. When we enter, I cannot believe what I see…A painful yearning for Withernham tears through my chest when I see it. I pictured something far less quaint than the reality.

Beautiful plants and flowers line cobbled roads and little stone houses.

They even have a little farm, including chickens and adorable baby goats. The scent of wonderful flowers is a welcome distraction from the smell of farmyard animals.

I feel as Róisín must have felt, a longing for Withernham, for…dare I say it…a proper village to call home.

This must be one of Xander's stone carvings - a proud statue of a dragon, surrounded by two wolves- Wild magic flanked by his Practical brothers. A woman appears to be almost praying to it.

This lovely building is Xander's latest finished project, majestic and magical. This is the building he is offering me to use as a school. 

"The whole building?"

"The entire building." He gives me a confident nod. "I admit, we may have to use part of it for storage for the village, but otherwise, the rest is yours. It's all set up and ready to go whenever you are. You'll notice it feels a lot bigger on the inside than it does on the outside," he tells me, winking. "A witch's little secret, and a fair part of how I did so well in my business."

I can't take my eyes off of it. This is much nicer than a damp, cold cave...

[fellowstrangetownappreciator]

Wormville: Gen 1: Commerce Clash

Because I am fueled by hyperfixation, I've decided to write up a short fic as little bit of bonus content after each batch of introduced Sims!

This one focuses on Victor and Serenity, although it features Nico as well (in a very tightly controlled role, so his personality might not shine so much).

Other Sims that participate (though on a much smaller scale) are: Beatrice Jilleni, Aranni II. Beldine, Balthazar Elaho-Inipp and Agatha Elaho-Inipp.

Sims that are mentioned but do not have speaking roles: Lester Devir, Oliver Devir, Wynn Kent, Quincy Fiera.

For ease of reading, I color-coded the first word of every new line of dialogue. If you find it distracting, tell me and I will remove it.

CW: mild ableism (a character tries to deride another on the basis of his perceived mental instability, and another on the basis of her perceived intelligence), adultery, discussion of fantasy racism (fantasy xenophobia), mention of SA and forced impregnation (brief and very fantasified) (by that I mean alien abductions)

Just four friends having a good time! (lie)

A special event, hosted in the Splat, is underway tonight. Nico the Priest sits at the head of the dining table, looking quite shifty. This is going to be his first political occasion, and he can't hide his anxiety.

“Brothers, sisters and siblings in the Entity! I welcome you to this gathering.” He speaks out, the official tone sounding quite strange on his lips. “This is a public hearing in the matter of a new store that could soon open in our territory. I've received two pledges for a store specializing in occult and spiritual goods. One by the clan Beldine, represented by Victor here.”

Nico nods towards the man, who bows.

“And another one by the clan Elaho-Inipp, represented by Serenity. Hello.”

“Hello to you, too, Nico, Chosen of our Entity,” replies the woman sitting opposite Victor Beldine.

“Serenity, why do you wish to start an occult store?”

“As all of you know, no matter what you might think of us, my clan has always spearheaded occult knowledge in the community. We have been dedicated promoters of our faith, too. I only wish to continue the good work.”

Victor snickers. Serenity shoots him a look. “I must disclose that I am representing my clan, not myself. If the Elaho-Inipps earn the permit, I will gift it to my sibling, Lester Devir, as a sign of warm friendship and cooperation between our clans, and love that can never be shaken by politics.”

“We've barely even started and you're already attempting to buy the priest out. Incredible, just incredible.” Victor's voice cuts her off. “You vie for the permit not even for your clan, but for the Devirs, for the clan to which Nico also happens to belong, if I understand it correctly. And you think we will let you? This is an obvious conflict of interest!”

Serenity furrows her eyebrows. “Wanting to give a gift to my sibling, so they could have a business paid for with my money, is not bribery, you materialistic swine.”

Nico clears his throat. “Victor, your objection is noted. It is some suspicious behavior, Serenity. However, I myself will not touch any money coming to the potential store or from it, and I honestly don't care how many businesses my family owns, so consider me unaffected.”

“Thank you for seeing reason instead of jumping at the first opportunity to slander me.”

“Of course, friend.” Nico smiles, and then, still smiling, he beckons to Victor. “The floor is yours. Why are you interested in the store?”

“Money. Isn't it obvious?”

“Serenity, you might've misheard me. I gave the floor to Victor.”

“Thank you, Nico. I appreciate that you won't be swayed by your personal connections to Miss Elaho-Inipp,” says the young Beldine with palpable venom in his voice, before turning towards the audience. “My clan has long diminished the very real impact of magic on our culture and lives. We've always served the Entity and the community, but never provided any tangible resources to the less fortunate within it. I hope to change both. I hope to make the occult, both magic and worship, more accessible to you all.”

Serenity shakes her head in amusement. “What's next? Will the hairdressers sell you plumbing?”

“Funny that you say that. One of us is a witch, and it's not you!”

“You aren't a witch, Beldine.” A little bit of uncertainty creeps into Serenity's voice.

“Based on what? Magic isn't one of your clan's decadent inventions. You don't have a monopoly on it!”

“Maybe we should, for the good of all. You might want to stick to… what is it that the Beldines do?”

“Maybe you should stick to murder and arson.”

There are some muffled cheers coming from the audience. It's Beatrice Jilleni. While Victor shoots her a grateful smile, Serenity ignores her.

“I'm only a murderer and an arsonist in your sick head.”

“Go ahead then, prove your innocence!”

“Burden of proof lies on the accuser, Mister Victor. You can't just go around pointing at people and saying they set your ugly house on fire.”

“Watch your tongue. My father and brother died in that fire, and I will not suffer you making light of it, whether you were the arsonist or not.”

“Making light of it? The only thing that I'm making light of is how ridiculous you are being! I saved your house, and I saved the lives of Wynn and also your baby niece! And then you come around, you, who weren't even there, and start calling me a murderer! Ladies and gentlemen, Victor Beldine’s idea of gratitude!”

There's hearty laughter and supportive clapping coming from where the rest of the Elaho-Inipps stand, and notably also from Wynn Kent. Beatrice rolls her eyes.

Nico stops nervously playing with his hair and speaks up, “Enough, both of you! This isn't about the Splat fire. We're debating the magic store.”

Victor Beldine, mildly red in the face, quickly pounces on the opportunity. “True. We should discuss the frankly offensive idea of further increasing the reach and influence of the woman who openly supports her fellow worms getting abducted and used as breeding stock by the Sixamese government!”

He looks to the audience to meet with uncomfortable empty gazes and expressions of confusion. The only one who doesn't seem to be shocked is Agatha Elaho-Inipp, who stares daggers back at him. Nobody cheers.

Serenity finally shakes off her paralysis and starts her response with a guttural, bark-like sound. “Hah! What? No, really, excuse me? Is your inbred brain so small it only took me falling in love with Stella to radicalize you into a mask-off xenophobe?”

“That's not true.” Victor leans in emphatically. “I'm not xenophobic. I welcome Stella to our community, or at least, I would've welcomed her, if she didn't choose your wretched clan. But as much as I don't harbor aby prejudice against individual Sixamese, that doesn't mean I think it's alright for their government to systematically violate our people!”

Serenity smirks. “Curious, then, that the first thing that came to your head after I've integrated our first Sixamese sister into our community, was how I must support the forced pollination.”

Neither of them notices how pale Nico has gotten. Neither of them notices Oliver Devir leaving.

“It's not that you've brought in an alien, it's the way your family treats people's free will, and also that you curiously oppose us, who have been the principal advocates against forced pollination and have always supported its victims!”

Agatha Elaho-Inipp cackles in the audience.

“Have you ever thought that we didn't oppose you because of your anti-forced pollination activism, but because you have been calling us filthy murderers ever since forever?”

“Have you ever thought that we wouldn't be doing that if your mother didn't murder my uncle?”

The woman he mentioned stays quiet, while some of her clan members look openly uncomfortable. Serenity at the negotiation table falls silent, too.

Nico just sighs. “How about we all thought about the store now.”

This time, it is Serenity who wakes up from her melancholy and takes the initiative. “Okay. Let me start again, then. I think that the Beldines shouldn't receive the permit because they simply lack the capital to do anything about it. Mister Victor is about as financially responsible as my toddler daughter, and who doesn't yet know about the Beldine wealth sharply declining, will figure it out very soon.”

The audience whispers. Victor's expression goes very quickly from shock to indignation.

“How very classy, Miss Serenity, to bring my confidential information to light in such a manner. Wasn't it you who told me you will never try to use my financial… difficulty against me?”

“It was, Victor, but then you started screaming at me about setting your damn house on fire, so I don't know what you expected.”

“You've caught me off guard that time… and I don't believe you had good intentions in the first place. Just as I don't believe this is anything more than yet another of your detours and attempts to make me lose composure.”

“Wait, you have composure?”

“In any case, yes, it is true what was said – not the bit about my financial responsibility, thank you very much – but my clan is experiencing a… fiscal low.” Victor turns to the audience. “I assure you, however, that it is only temporary and there is a significant monetary supply coming our way very soon. It is safe for me to receive the permit.”

“Sure. Sure. And the entire Wormville knows they can trust you in that,” says Serenity with sardonic glee. “You, the crazy accusations guy himself.”

Before the Beldine responds, the priest intervenes. “Serenity, that's too much. Victor doesn't have the legal ground to accuse you of any of the things he does, but that doesn't mean that his word should be automatically dismissed. Or that he should be called crazy.”

“But he is crazy, Nico. I am, too. And so are you. In the eyes of the people outside, we're just a group of looneys. I don't think that it helps to sugarcoat and not to point out that some of us are a little crazier than others.”

“That is your opinion, your biased opinion, and not the subject of this gathering.”

Victor claps and points at Serenity. “Exactly!” he hisses.

Nico lets out a tired exhale. “And you, calm down as well. We'll have a talk about slander later.”

Serenity crosses her arms on her chest. “Anyway, my point still stands. I am actually looking out for the future of the clan Beldine. Unlike you, I do not think that your children should suffer for your malice and incompetence.” She makes a dramatic pause. “If you, Mister Victor, receive the permit, you will go into debt to cover the building and start-up expenses of the store. Then who will guarantee you don't die next week and the debt you've raked up won't fall upon your children?”

Victor sneers. “This is ridiculous! You call me the crazy accusations guy, and yet, all I hear from you are accusations, and they're not reasonable! Plus, if I didn't know I was speaking to an honest Sim who abhors violence, I would've thought you were threatening my life.”

Serenity shakes her head. “No, I wasn't! People just die around here almost every day, and pointing that out doesn't mean I want to kill you, for Entity's sake!”

“Well, your family has already eradicated the rest of my bloodline, so I wouldn't be surprised!”

Suddenly, the blond woman sitting next to Victor at the Beldine side of the table stands up. “Ehm, me? Sorry. You asked who would prevent the debts, if Victor had any, from getting passed onto our children. Aren't you fucking ignoring someone? Hello, I'm literally here!”

“Oh, pardon, Aranni. I just assumed that in case he died, you would jump ship and return to the general.” Serenity smirks. “And judging by his reaction, your own husband did, too. That sucks.”

“You know nothing about me.”

“I know, for example,” Serenity twirls her hair, “that the next ranked season in SSX 3 begins tonight. Aren't you worried you'll miss it? Shouldn't you be at your computer already?”

“Again, extremely classy, Miss Serenity. Might I request you stop demeaning my wife and return to the business at hand?” says Victor dryly.

Aranni II. puts a hand on his shoulder. “No, Vic, let her speak. I want to hear why does that prissy bitch think I'm not worth talking to!”

“Maybe because all you've ever done was go around the town and be a brat? Missis Aranni, not everyone is cut out to lead.” Grinning, Serenity raises her arms and shows off her palms. “I'm not coming from the place of sexism, I'm a female head of a clan myself!” As she lowers one of her hands, she presses a finger on the other against her temple. “It's just that it's work that demands brains. Not that Victor's any better equipped for that than you are… I wonder why it is him at the top and not you, anyway. Did you play rock paper scissors over who's going to lead the clan? Or did you-”

A harsh look from the priest stops her even before Nico gets to speak. “Serenity! If I'll have to chastise you for being a bad sport in this debate one more time, I swear I will just end it here and give the permit to Victor automatically.”

The Beldines exchange smug looks.

“What? You haven't heard her last time I was here! She called me all the names in the book! Even those I wouldn't even dare dirty my lips with! And I, I, I'm a ‘bad sport’ when I tell her that she has always acted like a total tool, and her husband has as well?”

“I frankly don't care what anyone has told you before, I just don't want to waste everyone's time making them listen to you repeatedly attack the Beldines’ intellects instead of discussing the matter we need to sort out. We clear?”

“I will remember this, Nico.”

Nico gives her a smile. “I'm sure you will, Ser. You've always had an excellent memory.”

Serenity Elaho-Inipp just sighs and lets her shoulders slump a little. “I'm sorry. I'm just so tired of being the civil one, when all I got for it were insults, accusations and threats.”

“My my, cry louder.”

“Victor, please, stop,” Nico groans. “You know what? I announce a refreshment break. We'll continue in ten minutes.” Right after he says that, he lays his head down on the table.

Neither of the feuding parties goes to fetch any refreshments, though. Serenity immediately disappears in the cloud of her relatives. The Jillenis wait for the Beldines to start a council of their own.

Agatha Elaho-Inipp seems to be coaching her daughter and whatever she's suggesting starts a lively debate on their side of the room.

Not that far from them, Beatrice Jilleni grabs Victor by the shoulders and gently shakes him, saying something that he seems not to like very much.

In the buzz of the crowded room, it's impossible to overhear what camp is saying what. Only these out-of-context snippets have been documented:

“-it’s not about making him cry-”

“-unbecoming of me to say-”

“-such dirt on you, he would've used it.”

“If she had such dirt on you, she would've-”

“Alright, I'll say it.”

“Fair enough, I will consider it.”

A bit later, Nico finally makes himself lift his head and all three of the debaters, Victor, Aranni and Serenity, return to their places.

Victor Beldine takes the floor first. “I humbly suggest that for the rest of the evening, we abandon the personal level altogether, and only focus on clans and business. When talking about each other, we quickly forget what we came here to do, and no one benefits from that.”

Nico gives him a smile, an unmistakably relieved one. Aranni looks at her husband as if she had no idea what he was on about. In the audience, Beatrice facepalms.

It's Serenity's turn to reply, and she takes an uncharacteristically long time. Against her whole judgement, her eyes find Agatha with a silent plea for help. Her mother shakes her head, completely stone-faced. It is exactly what she needed to “hear”.

“I disagree. I think the personal level is exactly what we need to focus on,” Serenity says, wiping the smile off Nico's face. “I know I'm on thin ice now. But I promise you, I mean no unneeded slight towards my opponents. I only maintain that our clans hold a very comparable station, and therefore it must be the quality of our character that decides.”

“I know you both, and I hope you understand that I can't solve disputes… as the priest… based on who I like more. Or who I think is the better Sim.”

“That is not what I'm asking of you. I aim to link Mister Victor’s scandalous shortcoming to why I think he would be less effective owning the new store.”

“My… scandalous shortcoming? And what might that be? If it's what I think it is, then that would be low to bring up, even by your standards,” says Victor, visibly unsettled. “It was very long time ago. I wasn't even grown yet! Venerable Nico, I must protest the notion that a mistake of my childhood should be held against me now! Everyone whom it concerns knows I have paid my dues and became a new man since then!”

“I don't even know what you're talking about, Victor. But I presume you didn't kill anybody.”

“He shagged his wife's sister.”

Serenity's deadpan tone doesn't prevent the audience erupting in lively whispers. Agatha mouths, “language!” towards her daughter, but otherwise looks extraordinarily smug. Victor hides his face in his hands.

Aranni speaks up, silencing at least most. “Stop harping on it, for Entity's sake! I forgave him and he changed. It literally doesn't matter. And it doubly doesn't for the fucking store!”

“Yes, Serenity, I also don't understand how that is relevant to the store.”

“It's simple. It proves Victor Beldine to be unreliable and underhanded, two personality traits absolutely disastrous for a business owner.”

“But it doesn't. If I understood right, he was a teenager when it happened. He had a lot of time to change since then.”

“What if I told you he did it again several days ago?”

“What?!” say both Victor and Aranni at once.

“I saw Mister Victor and Quincy Fiera together at the Sweet Discretion.”

“That's absurd!” Victor exhales sharply.

Beatrice Jilleni speaks up from the crowd: “Yeah! I was there, too! They only spoke, they weren't alone together and didn't do anything inappropriate.”

“You are his cousin. Of course you would lie to defend him. I protest against your testament.”

Balthazar Elaho-Inipp comes forward, too. “I’ve seen them go to one of the rooms together. And I've heard the noises. Yikes.”

Aranni stands up again. She pushes the table over, kicks her chair away and begins walking off.

Victor is on his feet also, running after his wife. “Wait! I will explain!”

“You liar!” she screams. “Get away from me!”

He freezes in his step. “Aranni…”

But she doesn't listen. Sobbing loudly, she leaves.

Nico the Priest gently puts his hand on the researcher's shoulder. “Victor, come back. She won't speak to you now anyway,” he says softly.

For a moment, it seems like the Beldine heir is going to start crying, too, but he wipes his tears away and tries to cling to his dignity. He nods and follows Nico back to the table, which Serenity has lifted back up in the meantime.

“Are you satisfied?” Victor barks.

Serenity’s expression looks a little strange. She doesn't reply.

“You know that it's not true! Yes, Quincy and I spoke in the Sweet Discretion, but nothing more! We didn't even talk for long, we just exchanged pleasantries! She asked about Aranni, and our sons…”

“I… want to believe you, Victor, but it's just your and Beatrice's word against Serenity's and Balthazar's. I could ask Quincy…”

“Yes, ask her!”

Serenity looks down into the table. “She wouldn't tell the truth. Especially not to you, Nico, are you kidding me?”

“So who can tell the truth? Who can be believed in your eyes? Not me, not Bea, not Quincy, nobody who's at least a little associated with our family!”

“This is war. Of course my clan won't believe yours.” Serenity speaks uncharacteristically quietly.

Nico runs a hand through his hair in despair. “Please, Victor, sit down. We can figure this out.”

Victor Beldine takes a step back. “No. No! I will not do this anymore. I don't care about the stupid store anymore. Nobody here believes me! I can't be here, I don't want to be here, you all disgust me! I must-” He looks over his shoulder, shuddering. “I must go find Aranni. I must go find my wife…” His words disappear in a whisper. Then he turns around and storms off.

“So it seems like the permit is ours,” Agatha Elaho-Inipp chirps from the audience.

Beatrice Jilleni leaves as well.

Nico frowns. There's silence.

Then Serenity slams her fist into the table. “No, I can't do this anymore. This is you, mom, not me!” she says, eyes darting from Agatha to Nico. “I feel like garbage now. I shouldn't have done this. Sorry, mom…”

Agatha sighs loudly. “As you wish. You could've won the day.”

“But I don't want to do that by making people miserable and breaking families apart.” She straightens up. “Let it be known… that Balthazar lied. It was just an act. He didn't see or hear anything. And I only saw Victor and Quincy speak in a public setting surrounded by other people, and they weren't saying anything lewd. As far as our intel goes, he didn't cheat on Aranni again.”

“Serenity… why in the Entity would you…”

“It wasn't my idea, but I'm taking full responsibility. I agreed. And I don't want the permit, if it would be given to me only because I framed Victor and forced him to surrender.”

“I think I'm going to start drinking after this…” Nico shakes his head, looking down. “I guess it's okay, because you've told the truth in the end. But can somebody go fetch the Beldines?”

“I've got them,” says Beatrice Jilleni from the doorstep. Behind her, there walks Victor Beldine, pale and wet in the face, and Aranni II., who isn't looking any better. They both return to their chairs.

“While you were away, we found proof of Victor's innocence, Aranni. It's okay,” Nico says, trying to do some damage control.

“I know. I believe him more than I believe the Elaho-Inipp skank. I just had a… I just… I just blacked out at first.”

“And I believe it's our turn. I didn't want to bring this up at first. Bea advised me to do it, but I told her no, because these aren't matters that high-born worms such as ourselves should talk about in public. I didn't want to be that invasive and crass!” Victor's voice clearly betrays that he has, in the end, also been crying. It is filled with vitriol. “But since you have no limits and no definition of decency or honesty, I will put my manners aside as well!”

“I've backpedaled, though. When you weren't here, I fully vindicated you and admitted my fault.”

Victor sneers. “But you still made Aranni cry.”

“I'm genuinely sorry about that. I went way further than I wanted to. Sorry, Aranni. You too, Victor.”

“Setting my home on fire, killing my father, attempting to destroy both my reputation and my marriage, and all you have to say about that is ‘sorry’?”

“If you think I will drop to my knees and crawl around, you're mistaken. I will not plead for forgiveness. There are three things, one of which I've just apologized for, and the remaining two I didn't even do.”

“I don't think you would even be able to put together a plea so good to even make me consider forgiving you. And I am of the opinion,” Victor scowls, “that the people gathered here deserve to know what I saw that day in the Sweet Discretion.”

“And… enough is enough!” Nico puts both of his palms on the table. “No more testimonials. No more personal scandals. No more accusations. No more insults. I know enough. I have made my decision.”

The rest of the Sims at the table visibly tense up. Nobody dares to speak. Not even in the audience.

“I've decided… by the power of the Entity, neither of you are worthy to be the sole provider of whatever goods you even want to sell. You're both blinded by your hatred, vindictive, unfocused, and simply nasty to one another. Instead of trying to persuade me why your vision of the store is a good addition to Wormville, you wasted all this time trying to take down the other!”

“I guess… Do we get a second chance on a different date, perhaps?” said Serenity, evidently shaken by her failure.

“No,” Nico responds immediately. “No, because you will both get the permit. Since neither of you is worthy of doing it alone, you will do it together. Both of you can build and open a store, and if you don't like it, try to run the other one out of business by fair means.”

At first, neither of the parties replies. The audience is abuzz again. Victor looks almost disappointed he doesn't get to say what he wanted in the end, but the shock in his face overwrites it. Serenity leans on the table with her elbows and contemplatively lays her chin on her palms. Aranni frowns.

In the end, it's Serenity who finds the courage to speak first. “Thank you. I will make sure to give the permit, and the money, to Lester, as I've promised.”

“And we'll do our best, too. Thank you,” adds Victor hesitantly.

Serenity stands up and extends her hand towards him. The Beldine also takes a stand. He looks down at his hand. “I’d rather not,” he says dryly, turns around and goes, but not before properly tucking his chair to the table. Serenity shrugs and offers the gesture to his wife. Aranni smiles, “Go fuck yourself.”

Only some reflex or another allows the Elaho-Inipp heir to quickly withdraw before Aranni spits on her. Then the Beldine leaves, not an ounce of care for the chair etiquette.

Serenity gnashes her teeth, but manages to prevent herself from retaliating. This time.

“Ser?” Nico's voice makes her look in the priest's direction. He's extending his hand to her. Serenity Elaho-Inipp shakes it, before taking her leave as well.