#serra isn't his last name????

[abbysimsfun]

Sims In Bloom: Generation 2 Pt. 54 (The Game Tried to Take MY SON!)

cw: toddler peril. I learned a lesson about playing with unpatched mods but I played up a bit of drama despite not accepting what happened as canon. Only shot of Ash is above because more felt gratuitous for something that technically never happened because I reversed it.

The quiet house unnerved him. Conrad knew something wasn't right. He texted Heather, and in less than a minute his phone rang. "I'm sorry I didn't text," she sobbed through the phone. "Ash's daycare called and I...I...I'm at the hospital with him now. Doctors have him sedated."

"What happened?!"

"It was daycare," she repeated. "They said he was on the slide but then they looked away and...and they thought..." She broke down, and Conrad felt her pain through the line. Her fear shook the phone in his grasp.

"It'll be okay. I'm on my way there."

He embraced her when he walked through the door to St. Sims Hospital, and she fell into his arms. "He'll be okay," he assured her, but he didn't know any better.

"How did this happen?" she cried. "What kind of mother lets her son-"

"Stop. This isn't on you."

"If I didn't work so much, I could have been home with him. Maybe I could have..."

He pulled her close, feeling every tense muscle in her rigid body. "This isn't on you," he repeated. "And we're not gonna lose him. We'll all get through this together. We're a team, remember? That means Ash, too."

She was quiet. "Conrad... Do you believe in curses?"

"Like witches?"

She frowned as her thoughts pounded against her skull. "I don't know. Maybe. Maybe mermaids? But Mortimer Goth told me a story once about cursed Landgraabs, and I know how it sounds. But when Ash came along I thought about it a lot more than I should, and then I had to give him their last name. After tonight, I feel sick to my stomach. What if I cursed my son by giving him Malcolm Landgraab for a father?"

"There's no way Ash is cursed," he said quickly. "I know you're scared for him, but curses aren't real and Ash is one of the luckiest kids in the world. He'll get a Landgraab trust fund and he's got you for a mom."

She managed a smile, but when the doctor emerged from the pediatric care unit, she raced over to hear word of her son. "How is he? Oh, Watcher, please let him be okay..."

Dr. Serra smiled. "He hit his head pretty hard, but other than a headache for a few days, we think he's going to be fine. We want to keep him overnight for observation, but he's awake and he's asking for you."

Heather's whole body breathed with relief as she embraced her son's doctor. "Thank you!" she sobbed. "Thank you so much!"

Behind her, Conrad felt his muscles loosen. He'd been so focused on Heather, he didn't even notice his own fear at the thought of Ash in peril. "Thank you, Doctor. We're so grateful."

Dr. Serra smiled. "You must be Conrad. Ash asked for you, too."

Ash would recover quickly, but Heather wasn't so sure about herself. Even with Conrad's unflinching support, she felt torn apart by guilt over her son's near-fatal accident while she'd been working.

She was always working, trying so hard to earn enough to buy out her clinic from Ash's other family. ->

<- Previous Chapter | Gen 2 Start | Gen 1 Summary | Gen 1 Start

WCIF St. Sims Hospital? Sims 4 Gallery build by @pihe89/pihe89. Stunning build, simply put, and very popular (so many copycats). And it comes with a science lab and alien wormhole nbd. Two floors, so many varieties for rooms. Why would I build when people are this talented? It's in a second save and I'll use it again for babies, but hopefully we're not back here for any tragedies anytime soon.

How did this happen?!? Needless to say, Heather's guilt is also mine. I had too many mods and tested fate playing before updating them all! I played some Ultimate Decades Challenge generations and still have the Children and Toddlers Can Die mod installed (I like having options, I guess?), which only kills toddlers with hunger if I'm not mistaken. I was also having some mod issues after the Lovestruck update and didn't realize it until this happened, but the toddler needs bars stayed in the green while their needs deteriorated and I didn't know. Only the toddlers!

So I followed Conrad to work and when he came home Ash was gone and Heather had the 'lost a child' grief moodlet. Cue my internal scream! I revived him instantly with MCCC because this is not UDC and I have plans for this kid! I was so shocked I didn't take any screenshots of the whole disastrous event, but I couldn't pretend it absolutely didn't happen. And honestly the accident ties in with Heather's nagging fears the curse could be real, which is the one unintended benefit of this whole thing.

[geddy-leesbian]

A carved oak table tells a tale, of times when kings and queens sipped wine from goblets gold, and the brave would lead their ladies from out of the room to arbors cool. A time of valor, and legends born. A time when honor meant much more to a man than life, and the days knew only strife to tell right from wrong through lance and sword.

fantasy + cowboys + don quixote variety pack for Serennedy week

plus little snippet of a princess Luis story:

It's the moment of truth. Leon has hacked and slashed his way through what felt like endless waves of monstrous wolves and gigantic insects, navigated through a maze of a garden lined with thorny bushes, and solved a few puzzles. Finally he's reached the base of the tower. If the stories he's heard are true, there's a beautiful princess up at the top waiting to be rescued.

Scaling the tower isn't too bad. There's hardy vines growing on it, that Leon is able to use like a rope to climb up to the lone window at the tower's top. His heart races as he heaves himself through the window. There might be a beautiful princess in the room. A princess so beautiful and special that Leon will actually be attracted to her without conscious effort, and she'll be so grateful to finally be rescued that she'll agree to marry him right away.

Or the room will be empty, and Leon will just have to make peace with the fact he's going to die alone, because this whole “find a princess to rescue” thing was his last ditch effort after years of trying and completely failing to court women the normal ways.

Shutters magically snap shut behind Leon, covering the window, trapping him. The room is lavishly furnished. At the center is a large canopy bed, with intricately carved wood posts and lacy fabrics. And there's a figure in a dress laying on it. Success. It isn't until Leon gets closer that he realizes: It's a man. He approaches stealthily, dagger drawn and presses it to the man's throat.

“Oye, what the hell are you doing?! Barging into someone's bedroom, putting a knife to their throat?”

“There's supposed to be a princess here. You've got her dress. Where is she? What did you do to her?”

“Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but there is no princess here. Never has been. Just a very charming prince who happens to enjoy wearing his mother's dresses.”

“You're kidding.”

“No, you have the wrong castle, hero boy. But, while you're here… Untie my hands?”

“I can't believe this,” Leon complains, rolling the man over and using his dagger to cut the rope tying his hands together. “I went through hell to get here expecting my soul mate, and instead I get you.”

“Easy, easy. I may not be the princess you expected, but I'm not nothing either! Can the handsome and amazing Prince Luis Serra know his savior's name?”

“Leon.”

“Thank you, Sir Leon,” Luis purrs, before breaking Leon's brain a little bit by boldly going in for a kiss. “Now let's get out of here. Just a few flights of stairs, no more traps. Oh, and there's a dragon at the bottom of the tower that you'll have to slay.”

“Of course there is. Whatever.”

[allfleetingdreams]

'when it could be different' - a Serennedy oneshot

SUMMARY:

Luis Serra Navarro survives Valdelobos and returns to a country that wants his head just so he could reunite with a certain someone. He doesn't think he deserves another chance at life, but since he's still here and very much alive, he decides to make the best of it. It isn't every day you get another shot after all. ------------------------------------------------ Alternate ending to 'a little bit too late'.

ADDITIONAL TAGS / WARNINGS:

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Characters: Luis Serra, Leon S. Kennedy Relationship: Luis Serra/Leon S. Kennedy Word Count: 4,593 (completed) Tags / Warnings: Luis Serra Lives, Reunions, Second Chances, Guilt, Referenced Murder Attempt, Dorks in Love, implied past Leon/Ada, Game: Resident Evil 4 Remake (2023), Alternate Ending, PTSD (hinted)

PREVIEW BELOW

With a deep breath, Luis charges into the downpour once more: almost sprinting, almost tripping, almost crashing again into someone. After a hundred excuse me s and coming through s later, he crosses the last two blocks and reaches one gray building which sits on the very coordinates he’d been given. Three stories; nondescript; menacing in the thick sleet of rain. Luis skims the vicinity for prying eyes and unwanted silhouettes, but as far as he’s aware, there’s none. A rusty bitter clog works his throat as his gaze falls back upon the building. His heart, already panicking due to the noise and the change of scenery and the tragic lack of sleep, shifts gears and kicks off in its fleshy cage. He’s here at last—and he is terrified. Would he be able to run? Does he even want to run? He spent months looking for anyone to inquire about a certain someone’s whereabouts, and now that he’s here, his throat is chock full of sand. He’d been nervous before, but this is different. He’d been scared before, but nothing tops this. He’d almost died before, but the fear of death had long since left him. His certain someone—he could be here, in this lonely apartment looming in front of Luis. Why turn back now? “They keep a close watch on him,” Ada Wong, of all people, told him when he finally found the right contact for his certain someone. He was keeping a low profile in a quiet town several miles away from Valdelobos when Ada had broken into his apartment one cold night, and Luis almost fought her out of confusion and fear. “Don’t want him to end up like Krauser. They pay him more. Make sure he’s taken care of so he won’t start acting ungrateful… Always have to keep your dogs leashed and loyal.” Luis remembers the shudder down his spine at the mention of Krauser’s name, the involuntary twitch of his shoulders as if another knife had been plunged into his back. He knows Ada saw it, too; saw the momentary flash of horror in his eyes, the hit of the replay button on his very face. …He’d never gotten over that.

[girlinthetardis04]

🧡LEVIATHAN🧡

Mammon had been acting weird. Leviathan noticed this; the second oldest seemed strangely paranoid for the last couple of days, more jumpy and scatterbrained than usual. Leviathan thought back to last week, but there wasn't anything unusual about his brother's routine. The only notable event had been that photoshoot at his modeling gig, the promo for a new idol group that recently formed. Leviathan knew this because one of the members was also the singer of the opening theme song of seasons 5 to 7 of Ruri☆Hana Demon Girl and- wait, that was probably it! Mammon had probably heard some rumor or leak on set and was refusing to share it with him! The nerve! When HE was a much more dedicated fan! Mammon probably didn't even know the name of the singer and yet HE got to be privy to exclusive information? That was so not fair!

Leviathan opened the door to his room as Mammon was passing by, pulling him inside by the wings.

"YOU! I know you're hiding it from me!"

"Wha- what? Is this about that Serra-fins or something figure I swiped last week? 'Cause I had nothing to do with it!"

"You stole my Winter☆Wonder☆Bunny Seraphina figure?! Wait, no, this isn't about that! It's about the secret you're keeping from me! I know you heard something on the set of that photoshoot last week, so spill it"

Mammon rolled his eyes.

"I ain't heard nothing on that set! Matter of fact, I had my headphones on most of the time, those models were dull as bricks"

Leviathan frowned deeply.

"For such a scumbag, you're a really shitty liar, Mammon. You've been acting real weird these last few days, so just tell me! Or I swear I'll drown you in my aquarium as fish food for Henry!"

The second born's gaze darkned, his eyes burning with a seriousness Leviathan hardly ever saw in his older brother.

"Listen carefully. If I'm telling you this it's not because yer threats are any good, we both know I could wipe the floor with ya. I'm telling because it involves the safety of one of our family, okay? And ya better keep your mouth shut after"

Leviathan nodded, too stunned to reply verbally. Mammon firmly grabbed his shoulders.

"Yara... she's not actually a demon. Lucifer found her in the Human World. Levi, she's human"

Leviathan completely blanked from the shock of such a reveal, barely paying attention when Mammon explained in better detail, confirming that Lucifer had told him himself. The third born felt as if his brain had bluescreened.

Leviathan didn't come out of his room for two days.

The first interaction he had with anyone was when he invited Yara for a series marathon, like they'd sometime do together.

He put on an episode of an old child friendly anime he used to introduce Yara to the medium. This episode in particular featured a pixie character pretending to be human to blend in with her friends since she was afraid they wouldn't accept her true nature. It had always been Yara's favorite episode, and now Leviathan had a good idea as to why.

"Y-you know, I don't really understand her. Her friends love her anyways, why would she be scared they wouldn't like her as a pixie?" he asked as nonchalantly as he could (which wasn't much) hoping the hint was subtle enough.

"Maybe she's just worried they don't like pixies. They're small and weak and can't really do anything. It's better for her if she stays hidden"

"Well, I'd still like her as a pixie. Or, you know, a human. Or an angel, or a ghost, or..."

Yara hesitantly looked up towards him, tilting her head quizzically.

"... you're not just talking about the episode, right Levi?"

Leviathan sighed. She could be a lot more perceptive than it was better for everyone sometimes.

"I am! ...but if you wanted to tell me...something, I'm here. If you want"

Leviathan looked at her expectantly. Yara narrowed her eyes.

"I think you know already"

Her older brother nodded.

"Yeah, I do. You're... human right? It's not, like, a problem...and it has no reason to be! I'm just saying, like...family isn't limited to just one genealogical tree, or one group or one species. Family is where your heart feels safe and makes its nest"

Yara looked at him with wide eyes, caught by surprise by his ready acceptance.

"Thank you. ...wait, is that a quote from season 5 of Ruri-chan?"

"Episode 23!" Leviathan nodded enthusiastically, before recomposing himself "but, but I did mean every word of it. Honest. You're still my little sister, human or demon. It would be unfair to treat you differently just because of what you are"

"I know you meant it. Thanks"

Yara snaked her way under his arm, Leviathan's tail unconsciously wrapped around her.

"I love you too Levi"

He held her tighter.

(cross posted from AO3)

[shadowqueenjude]

LUCIEN VANSERRA/ AUTUMN COURT HEADCANON THING

this has no basis in canon besides vibes, but in the fae side of Prythian (and the autumn court specifically), what if surnames were the names of the fae mothers to honour them? Like how surnames denoted an ancestor or your job? And this could tie in neatly to the religion of the Mother as well :)))

What I’m saying is using this headcanon, the Lady of Autumn would be Vanserra, or Serra for short :))

This is very interesting because many indigenous religions in our world used to follow the matriarchy system before the Europeans came and made everything patriarchy. And not many people know but in southern India there's a naming convention of giving the husband/father's first name as a last name to the wife and children. So, my last name is actually my father's first name. It would be quite interesting if it was a naming convention like this but on the lady's side instead. Of course, I highly doubt SJM would do this because her brand of "feminism" isn't feminism. Plus, Lucien despises his last name. If it was his mother's first name I highly doubt he would resent the name as he does.

[darkx-the-dragon-kn1ght]

Chapter 38- Part 13

Florence and Snow…what very specific names. Are those references to characters from the Orre games? I'll have to look into that later…

(Future edit: I did look it up, and I couldn't find any mentions of characters named Snow or Florence in either Colosseum or Gale of Darkness, so…the names are just there, I guess.)

But regardless…he asked for someone to look after the Pokémon, and that's what we're gonna do.

It's an Eevee, baby!! All those previous Eevee references in Spinel Town are paying off!!

To be honest, I have no idea where “Elio” came from. I just wanted his name to start with an ‘E’ because ‘Eevee’, and that name just kinda…came to me. 

Now, as for this other item here…

Ooh, I can use that for yet another encounter! Not now though, another time.

And now the matter of actually getting out of here…well. The captain may not have been able to figure out the layout of this place, and neither have I, but Xera came just a bit more prepared than he did…

There's no beating an Escape Rope, baby.

Also, the PokéDex entry, for the record:

As for the final actual encounter, we go back to-

Oh, the Egg hatched! And I was right about what it was! Brilliant!

Thorn because…cactus. Yeah. But fun fact: Thorn is also the name of a very cool character from one of my favorite book series of all time, Wings of Fire. Fun fun fact: Thorn is also the name I gave my Nymble (later Lokix) in Scarlet, who was a permanent fixture on my team for that game. 

…I really need to come up with a new naming theme for the next time I do a Pokémon playthrough…

Anyways, another Dex entry for y’all:

Now, after swapping out Thorn for the usual team back at a PC, we go back to Reborn City one more time, specifically to the eye-melting candy shop. Now- let me see if this is going to work…

Aha, it does! Usually you buy an ice cream from a salesperson who shows up in Opal Ward on sunny days, but that's never happened for me because the weather dislikes me greatly, so buying one at Spinel Town is the next best option.

And now, let me show you what's so special about this particular ice cream machine.

Well, we bought chocolate last time, sooooo…why not vanilla? Nothing suspicious about that at all!

I lied, the machine lied, we all lied!! It was a free Pokémon all along!! Surprise Vanillite, folks!

Frost isn't just a reference to the fact that it's an Ice-type, but also a nod to frosting- y’know, because Vanillite is based on a type of dessert. 

At any rate, here's the PokéDex entry:

Aaaaand that's all, everyone! Those are (more or less) all the new Pokémon we can catch for right now! And that means we have everything we need now to prepare to challenge Serra- at least in terms of teambuilding. But that’ll have to come another time- and by another time, I mean after I get some darn sleep, aaaah-

(Future edit: And that also means the chapter is going to end off here! I had the foresight to screenshot the PC Boxes after all the encounters just in case, but not to screenshot the save screen, but whatever. So next time- and I know this is true because I already played it and I’ve got what I need to write the chapter- we’ll ACTUALLY check out the Voclain Estate and challenge Serra. No more delays, that sixth Badge will be mine, and so will that Herbal Extract, I hope!)

CURRENT TEAM:

Riptide

Species: Feraligatr

Gender: Male

Level: 49

Ability: Sheer Force*

Item: Protective Pads

Brave nature; Alert to sounds.

Glare

Species: Arbok

Gender: Female

Level: 48

Ability: Intimidate

Item: Black Sludge

Naughty nature; Highly curious.

Bloom

Species: Roserade

Gender: Male

Level: 49

Ability: Technician*

Item: Big Root 

Docile nature; Alert to sounds.

Prong

Species: Vikavolt

Gender: Female

Level: 49

Ability: Levitate

Item: Zoom Lens

Rash nature; Loves to eat.

Crater

Species: Camerupt

Gender: Female

Level: 49

Ability: Magma Armor

Item: Quick Claw

Hardy nature; Often scatters things.

Kirin

Species: Girafarig

Gender: Female

Level: 48

Ability: Sap Sipper*

Item: Odd Incense

Quirky nature; Thoroughly cunning.

CURRENT BOXES:

NUMBER OF RELOADS: 28

Previous

Next

Back to index

[msfbgraves]

[Touch is not light or frivolous to him and Daniel being so free with his touches - he mistrusts that a little.] Interesting. I wonder if John ever shares his concerns over Daniel's free-affection with Terry, or if he ever believes that Daniel doesn't love Terry/would cheat on him, since he's so touchy-feely? On a flip note, does Betsy ever wish John were a little more physically affectionate if she sees/knows how Daniel/Terry are?

Betsy might wish for it fleetingly sometimes but they are quite happily married, if you get my drift, and if John would touch her more than he does now that might get more than a little overwhelming for them both.

John doesn't share any suspicions with anyone (though he has hinted about things needing to stay 'decent' at those omega beta afternoons of Daniel's when talking to Betsy. That was btw one of the few times she got honestly annoyed with him, as Tory, Johnny and she herself love them). But John does watch Daniel very intently, and Daniel knows this, and it irritates him, but this is Terry's most trusted friend and most important ally. No good can come from saying anything. There was a little scene that one time when John was coming to the Silver house, and he saw Daniel. With a handsome Italian man. Probably beta. Well dressed. The type a boy like this ought to have been with, if you'd ask him. Standing on a street corner. Talking in low voices. And then the older man pulled him close, ruffled his hair, and kissed his cheek...

So John positioned himself right into his line of sight. There he is, staring them both down, and when Daniel sees him, he isn't even fazed. He lifts his chin, and calls him out: "John! So good to see you." Well, John has called someone's bluff before, so he walks over, and Daniel says: "Michael, you remember our good friend John Kreese?" And that beta looks at him as if he's feckin prey. Daniel gives him the tiniest smirk, and says: "John, you've met my brother, Michael?" And that beta can't even be bothered to tilt his head. Instead he hugs Daniel again, tells him to take care of himself, and then turns the full blast of his gaze on John as he walks away from him. "Buona serra," he says, in a tone of voice that tells John these would have been the last words he'd ever hear if he'd been staring down the barrel of a gun right now. So he straightens his back and nods. "Would you like some eggplant, John, while you wait for Terry? I made it fresh," Daniel says, and he does not want some feckin eggplant, he wants the steak his Betsy's cooking him, and he's got places to be. He keeps looking at the brother though, till he is out of sight, before he gives Daniel Betsy's best and makes his excuses. Daniel brightens at his mate's name, and wants to get them cookies, but they have cookies too, and he'll see Terry at the Stallion tonight. Daniel doesn't listen, walks back anyway so he has to follow him inside where Daniel gives him those cheesy bites Tory likes so much. And it looks so inviting but John can suddenly see traces of the brother in him and he can't help thinking:

We shouldn't have let the LaRussos regroup...

[amnesiacbjd]

Day 8: Helping out a Farmer

Pt. 1

I’m sure the Conti parents know exactly what’s going as Aeila and I deliberately don’t come down for breakfast at the same time. Our faces must be painting the clearest picture in the world but they don’t comment on it… verbally. Just as luxurious as the dinner was, the breakfast table now smells wonderful. There is coffee, warmed up bread and even some sweet fruit spreads for us to choose from. A-Va notices us sitting down together and joins us at the table. We continue talking about our plans.

The conversation reaches the topic “Where are you getting all of this nice food?”. I can see that the Contis have not thought about discussing this with strangers. Understandably, I think the unspoken thought in this moment is “If we tell them, will there be enough for us?” but it’s too late to not reveal it now and lying about it would immediately ruin everyone’s day.

“There’s a family with two kids here who pay us in groceries. They say they are getting it on a farm to the east. But I have to be honest: I don’t know if they can feed everyone, you know? So… maybe don’t spread the word too much?” explains Mr. Conti and his wife seems to be pleased with his honesty. 

Looking at my companions I think out loud “But maybe working at a farm would be a worthy cause. I think with more hands they can feed more people, right?” I’m not sure the Contis are 100% on the same page, but they nod along politely, finding that, at least, we are not complete assholes who just want to take.

With no other goals, we exchange genuine thank-yous and pack our bicycles. At the last second Mrs. Conti realizes that we have only two bikes to three humanoids and points us to a shed with eight and a half dusty bicycles inside. A-Va quickly identifies the most reliable one (A ladies bike with a yellowed, transparent skirt shield around the rear spokes) and with another round of thank-yous we start going east.

We mostly stay in the same street, going due east, but as the surroundings get a bit sub-urban again, we mainly just guess at the right direction. A-Va detects several robot signatures in the same location. “Could that be a farm?” We decide to find out.

It’s already starting to get dark as we reach an area that definitely resembles farmland. We spot some buildings and follow the path there. We now have a good view of the compound and there they are: At least three robots, similar to A-Va, packing up heavy machinery for the night. They all have different colors and their bodies are modified ever so slightly. While most of them appear femme, there is one masculine looking model, similarly slim and elegant. 

“Sorry there. I’m afraid we are closed for the day. Even if we weren’t there isn't much left to buy. Word gets around fast, it seems.” An older man emerges from one of the greenhouses that line the path. “Holy moly! Is that one of those aliens, I mean Octopeople that I saw on video? Kind of an honor to introduce my farm!” A bit unsure, Aeila offers to shake hands and the man dutifully grabs two of her three finger tentacles, squeezing them visibly. “Serra’s the name. What can I do for you?” - “We are wondering if we could work on your farm, in exchange for groceries.” I answer. “Pooh… Short answer is: get in line, pal! I have heard these exact words about a dozen times the last few days. I have enough volunteers. But the truth is: All the hands in the world won’t make the crops grow faster. I have added some more greenhouses with microgreens, but even those will take at least a couple of days.” He now turns to A-Va: “A couple of days ago I would have killed for you. But then five of your kind showed up and saved my life. But that also means I can’t really give you any more to do.” 

While passive before, A-Va now steps forward, talking through my phone: “I can get you about ten megawatts worth of solar panels and hook them up, too. Would that be useful?” Mr. Serra’s Eyes go wide. “That would be… the most useful. If that’s true, you would be at the top of my list, for sure.” - “Just… How to get them here…” I think out loud. We discuss the estimated distance to the solar warehouse that we started this adventure in and the state of the roads on the way. “My son has a truck that can go off road. If you can get it charged, you can use it.” - “Deal.” A-Va says and now it’s her turn to shake his hand with the perfect amount of pressure. 

Over the next few moments, the 5 other robots approach from the sheds they were working in previously and assemble next to A-Va. There is a silent briefing that only takes a few seconds. Not even as a question, A-Va turns to the rest of us: “We should be back by morning.” Then the six of them sprint off towards the horizon, making a bee-line towards the solar warehouse. “There they go. They are immensely helpful, but they do have a mind of their own.” Mr. Serra turns to Aeila and me “And I kind of love them for it.” he chuckles.

“Look. I said I didn’t have much to offer you and that’s true. But I gotta at least offer you dinner and a place to sleep now. Y’all OK with sleeping in the hay-barn? I think it should be warm enough by now.” It looks like the same thought of spending the night alone together between hay bales hits me and Aeila at the same time and we blush immediately. “Yeah, that’ll do.” I answer. He also knows what’s going on right away. We have no subtlety. “Come up to the house. I’ll warm up some stew for you.” He bids us sit down at a nice, rustic picnic table with raw bark on the edges on the porch. A few minutes later he brings us large, steaming plates of potato stew with peas and some other hearty ingredients in it, as well as a pitcher of homemade lemonade and leaves us alone. We devour it, already thinking about what comes next. When we get up he shouts from the kitchen window: “Make yourselves at home. Y’all be good now!”

[adalrikr]

He certainly hears her before he sees her - it's hard not to, with the way that she shouts his name into the empty air of the still academy, running towards him - but his heart seems to catch in his chest when he does.

It's Serra, of course it's Serra, it's always Serra. Serra who seems to plague him wherever he goes. Serra. Serra. Serra.

"... Serra...!" He isn't upset to see her... why isn't he upset? He thought he would be angered, or at least annoyed upon seeing her face again if they ever had to meet, but... he's not. In fact...

He's... happy. He's terribly happy.

"... I... I didn't come for you..." He had come to be a student, to learn about the world outside of Elibe and the magic that he could harness in a place like this.

Friends and otherwise being here was more of a welcome surprise than something that he never did expect. And Serra was the last one that he could have ever expected.

He would have thought she would want to stay in some sort of life of opulence wherever she was, definitely instead of travelling all the way from Elibe to some sort of foreign academy.

And apparently being here long before him? That was the biggest surprise of all.

"You... you were sick? Are... are you alright...?!" Something burns in his chest to know that she had been in pain, and probably all alone. Hadn't he... promised to stay by her side...?

Was he always taller than her? He wonders, as he looks only slightly down at her face. Had she always been so...

He closes the book that he had been holding awkwardly between them the entire time, swallowing down something that bubbles in his heart. Not that staring at her will help with that.

"... Serra... can I... can I kiss you...?" He doesn't wait for her reply, as if he is scared of what she could possibly say, even though he knows that she surely loves him. She acts like he is perfect, like he could hang the very stars in the sky for her - he couldn't, even if he wanted to.

He pulls her close as he kisses her, noting how small she seems in his arms. She's smaller than he is, seemingly as gentle and petite as she claimed that she was. After a moment, he steps away, cheeks burning as red as the blazes that he casts.

He quickly grabs one of her bags, slipping back into an old routine, trying to hide the flush that blooms across his face.

"Here... I can... carry this for you. Where's your room...?"

I Could Be Anything You Like

@adalrikr

No one could really blame Serra for sulking. Really, no one could! Because for once, she had every reason to. Truly, these last few weeks have been horrible! As the beginning of the month crested over the end of the old one, Serra found herself bedridden with some awful illness. It’d gotten so bad she’d had to leave the Academy! And in all her recovering and ailing, she’d entirely missed her birthday, and hadn’t even enjoyed being waited on hand and foot by the medical staff. Really, how dreadful it’d all been...!

Here she stands, now, in the sweltering sun, loaded with bags of her things, returning to the monastery. (That’s right — they hadn’t even sent a vassal with her to carry her bags! The nerve of some people, to let a lady languish like so...) Truly, though, despite the crease above her eyebrow, she was trying to be all strong about all of this. After all, she was back at the monastery now! The sun was shining, nature around her vibrant beneath, and she’d pinched her cheeks hard enough while staring at herself in the infirmary mirror to will a little color back to them. Today, she tries to tell herself, will be splendid, absolutely so...

And that’s when she sees him.

Purple hair, nose half-buried in a book, turning only just so that she can see his features and confirm that it is, in fact, him. A bag slips off her shoulder and to the ground. She drops another one. She barely notices.

Staring at him, now, in the midday sun, within a courtyard in the monastery, she remembers their final parting perfectly. (It replays in her mind nearly every hour, anyhow.) She’d always expected to see him again, soon after that.

But she hadn’t. Unlike in her fantasies, Erk never followed her to Ostia, nor had he shown up uninvited elsewhere in her life.

Until... now.

Is it really him... could it truly be—...?

Her heart is racing beneath her habit, burning brilliant. Her fingers move without memory or meaning. And before she knows it, to match the ferocity of her heart, she is running towards him.

“Erk!”

It is him. It is him. That’s exactly his face, and the way he stands, and the way he holds a book, and—

She smiles. All of the heartache, and anger, and the eternal wondering, of why he’s not with her, and he still is greeted with a grin.

(And, of course, because it’s Serra, misplaced understanding.)

“I can’t believe it! Omigosh, it’s really you, isn’t it?” Her hands are clasped together, in front of her heart. Perhaps it’s to keep it from crawling out of her chest. “You must’ve heard, haven’t you? That I was ill. And you came all the way from Elibe just to see me... he he he! That’s just what I’d expect from you!” She basks in the idea of that — of him worrying about her, rushing to find her, coming all this way, just for her... “Well... I’m recovered now, but my constitution is still a bit weak, of course... Hm, how about I let you carry my bags back to my room?” She nods, self-affirming — seems fair to her. “Honestly, Erk... if you were so worried about me, you could’ve just come straight to the the infirmary!”

[nosebleid]

RE4 Remake + dailyquests

[abbysimsfun]

Sims In Bloom: Generation 2 Pt. 65 (Personal Lows)

cw: pregnancy loss (I'm so sorry I did not plan this.)

As well as life had been going for Heather and Conrad, reality came crashing down one Saturday when Ash was in the city with the Landgraabs. Both were spending the day at work, but Heather fell ill and called Conrad.

"Something's wrong. Can you meet me at St. Sims Hospital?"

Heather was admitted for tests, but Dr. Serra delivered the devastating news. "This happens more often than you might think this early on, but there's no heartbeat. I'm sorry."

"This is my fault," said Conrad. "My fear added stress you didn't need."

"This isn't your fault," said Heather staunchly. "Dr. Serra said this happens more often than you think. You didn't stress me out any more than the rest of our busy lives stressed me out. I've worn a glucose monitor since high school and I have to remind myself to slow down all the time. You make my life so much easier, Conrad. Not more stressful."

"This can be a difficult time for anyone," Dr. Serra said gently. "I'd like to refer you both to a colleague of mine, if you're open to it. Her name is Dr. Supriya Delgato, and she's a relationship and family therapist with a focus on grieving. I think you should talk to her when you're ready. She has an office upstairs and I can let her know she might hear from you."

"Yes please," said Heather. "Thank you, Dr. Serra."

Conrad was still apologetic when they returned home, trying to think of the right thing to say while an exhausted Heather changed into her pajamas. "I'm sorry. I should have been more supportive from the start."

"I'm glad you were honest with me, Conrad. For better or worse, knowing how you feel makes everything clearer for me."

"I do want a family with you. I want Ash to have a brother or sister, and I was looking forward to the parenting classes we were going to sign up for. I wish it hadn't turned out this way."

She embraced him. "Me too. But when I was about seven my mom had a miscarriage early, like me. She got through it, and she had Hazel a year later."

"Heather, I promise you, next time I'll be ready."

"I believe you. We don't need to think about that tonight, but I think we should schedule an appointment with Dr. Delgato like Dr. Serra suggested."

"I haven't spoken to a grief counselor since I was in high school," he admitted. "Back then I was too angry at the world to get anything from it."

She held him in a reassuring embrace. "I think this will be a good thing for both of us."

They went to bed that night feeling closer than ever, cuddling beneath the covers until they both fell asleep. ->

<- Previous Chapter | Gen 2 Start | Gen 1 Summary | Gen 1 Start

NOTE: This happened unexpectedly via the Heathcare Redux mod by adeepindigo and I was really sad about it. I'm sorry to anyone who hated this development especially after we all went through it with Conrad. I considered pretending it didn't happen since it happened SO early, but I appreciate the realistic storytelling supported by the mod nonetheless. And Conrad will be thrilled about the next one, because I'm literally sending him to grief counseling to justify me changing his trait to 'Would Love to Have a Child Right Now' without letting it flip over time. No chances taken, only plot! In all honesty Heather should have had therapy in high school so in some ways this is long overdue for them both, anyway.

NOTE 2: That last shot is the first time they autonomously cuddled (to sleep, my heart!) after the Lovestruck update. Honestly their level of flirty when they're together is usually sky high and blocks out most of their sad moodlets, hence the smiles despite this really sad installment. When it comes to Conrad, Heather isn't unflirty whatsoever.