Conflict

Warning: One slightly graphic picture cut to make it slightly less graphic though still highly suggestive. Consider yourselves warned in a round-about kind of way.



Water thinks about it constantly. It's almost been a year since it happened, but that doesn't take away the anger or the hurt he felt when Demi left and took their two children with her to that creepy cult that lived far outside town. (Author's note: For the curious:Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)

He wasn't ever the sort of man who wanted to settle down and have children. From an early age, he'd pretty much said it wasn't for him. Never mind the fact that between high school and college, he'd had more serious relationship sex than he had meaningless sex.




But now he finds himself childless, technically, and in a new large and spacious apartment. Now when he can lead the life he always said he'd meant to, he finds himself decorating a room all in pink and carrying their toys left from their hasty departure to his new apartment. The hope is that they'll know that he was thinking about them always during their separation.

One room is already prepared for the day he gets his daughters back. But it's almost been a year already and he's no closer now than he was before at getting his daughters back. That's almost a year he's missed in their lives. Who's showing Shannen how to walk? Who's helping Melanie with her homework? The thought makes him queasy with anger.


So he just doesn't think about it. He keeps himself busy with work and the restaurant and meeting new people. It helps him not think.

Except those nights he goes to bed alone. His mind wears a trail looping over thoughts he'd prefer to not think about. His daughters sleeping at that creepy cult place probably being told that he didn't love them and wasn't looking for them. Demi falling for the words of Tristin Stratton who was even less worthy of trust than his sister Sofia.


If he looks like he's enjoying himself, it's just for show. To be polite, really. She called him. He doesn't really want to spread the pain. He doesn't want to talk about it anymore because all the talking he's done has done absolutely nothing to help him. And he doesn't really know what to do anymore.


It doesn't help, it doesn't make things better, but it is something. It stops the thinking letting his hand run along the crevice in her hip, fingering the delicate and rough lace of her underwear before it slides down her thigh. Feeling the strands of her hair brushing against his chest as she climbs on top of him, taking the lead and leading him away from those thoughts that fill his head when he is alone and goes to sleep.



She knows; he's sure she knows though he can't really find the words to say it again. Neither of them have discussed it. They've only carried on as if everything that had come before, their entire past hadn't happened. He's sure that he's being used as much as she's using him. Sometimes it feels ridiculous to find comfort in the silly repetitive ritual between two human adults. Sometimes he almost wants to laugh out loud about it.

But he doesn't. Not in any way that would be unusual. Though she has remarked on his smiling more at times. But she doesn't know, and he doesn't want to tell her. It's the smile of a man who doesn't really have much more to lose, who doesn't want to gain more just to lose it again. She doesn't really know what it's like to believe you're truly in love enough to give up everything only to have the one you were willing to give your heart to give it back and walk out with the two most important girls in his life.

If only there were a nice and neat way to end his story. You know, one of those beautifully poetic insights about life and love and maybe even the transient beauty of it all. But he's a realist, a pragmatist. It's almost been an entire damn year. What else can you really say?

********************************

So the last time I left these two Sam was saying some brave things. The words he can't say? I hope it's clear. He's not ready for a serious relationship. He's still hurting. And I totally get that from game play, lol.



Poor guy. Even though his chemistry with Sam is higher, I do believe that in his pixel soul he really loved Demi and he's really hurt by her leaving.

And, for anyone who might have forgotten, he really has tried everything. He's talked to the Mayor, but of course there isn't a police force to speak of, not that they can do anything with people living on the margins of town. And Water made a personal appearance over at the cult where he was promptly run off.

As for Sam, well, she was the one to call him once and invite him on an outing. Probably I will mention that later on. In the case of this entry, the inspiration came when I left the game running while checking up something or reading someone's post. When I went back, these two were hanging out at his house-- though they didn't actually make it past the lobby. Those darn comfy looking lobby sofas.

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Late Night Meeting

Last time we saw the cult-- I mean the Church for Wayward NPCs, Demi Love, partner to Water Mellon and mother of his two daughters, joined.

The last time we saw Joseph (AKA Mr. Big), he was on the run from Sofia Stratton, and so he went to the last place she'd think to look-- her own brother's church. (This update also includes information on the Church as well, for those just starting to read along with me.)



Quiet finally fell over the compound once everyone was in bed at their enforced bedtime.



Joseph couldn't sleep. He never could when they went to bed so damn early. Instead, he lay in bed looking to the ceiling, still half dressed in an undershirt and boxers. Nearby lay a pair of pants he left out and his old overcoat which Tristin had asked him to get rid of.

Joseph was no idiot. He's already gotten rid of his cell phone. Get rid of his clothes and then Tristin would ask him to get rid of his name. Joe was no sad little sim looking to fit in.


Near-by, he heard the girl in the bed next to him softly breathing rhythmically. One of the few plus sides of living out here was that at least Tristin was free with the women. For the most part. It was pretty clear that the one who'd given birth to his child was off limits though he never expressly said that. That only left the two others. And one of those two had a man who was coming around looking for his children.

He's been out just that morning. Tristin had asked Joe to stand near-by as he ran the man off again.

It'd been pretty tense. "Where are my daughters?"

Joe had to give it to Tristin; he could be as cold as Sofia. "They want nothing to do with you. Leave, Water."


Luckily a fight didn't break out because Joe wasn't sure what he'd have done. The man had a right to his kids, and frankly, Joe would prefer it if he took the older whiny one who was constantly yelling or crying over everything and anything.

The man left, though he was clearly not happy about it. Joe almost felt bad enough to help (and desperate enough to get the whiny kid out), but he couldn't risk pissing Tristin off. This was the last place Sofia would look for him with the last person Sofia would expect him to be with.

Anyway, it didn't matter. None of it did unless he couldn't get control of the business from Sofia. Right now, he was powerless and moneyless, and without even a damn cell phone. Joe only had his friends left.


Joe sat up carefully, the springs of his mattress squeaking just barely and still sounding too loud in the quiet of the room. He slipped his pants on and threw the coat on over. He'd only have to be outside for a moment. The tricky part was getting downstairs and outside.

The cold air burned the sensitive skin on his cheeks as soon as he stepped outside. A boy stood on the sidewalk waiting close to the doors of the church. He had to be freezing. All he had on was a long sleeved shirt. No one expected it to be so cold so far inland.

"'ey," Joe said casually. Teen boys didn't normally stand out front of churches in the middle of nowhere to pick up girls.

The boy reached out to shake his hand, slipping the tiny cell phone into his palm in one smooth move. Armando had said something about a new boy-- one no one would expect. Something about a boy of pedigree, the mayor's son or something like that. Said he would be useful or was it helpful?

"Thanks kid."

The kid did look pretty sharp. He didn't stick around long enough to chat, and he hardly seemed impressed with Joe. Just gave a nod and walked off down the road casually with out even a quip about the weather.

**********************

Woo, sorry, it's been a while. I swear I haven't completely defected to TS3. Mostly, I'm using TS3 to illustrate very old stories, so it's rather easy to get sucked into those again.

But I still have plans for this story! So I'm going to shoot for an update every week or so on this blog.

I'd also like to take this time to invite those of you who enjoy writing to Valley Sun Sims forum. I've already mentioned it to a few people who I knew enjoy writing. It's a nice way to meet people, and find new stories. Plenty of us are using TS3 for stories, but plenty of TS2 people have been joining as well.

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How I select couples

Lately, I have just noticed a lot of bloggers noting ACR scores for their couples, and so I started to think about that myself.

I am mostly going to blame Water Mellon (And by proxy Samantha and Demi) for this post because I was sitting and thinking about those three characters in particular. They are the perfect example of how I hook up sims.



Water was in college, being the Big Man on Campus, when he got fake arrested for the Secret Society. The police officer who arrested him was none other than Demi.

As soon as I saw her, I simply wanted her in my game. It was love at first sight-- for me. I didn't really care what Water or Demi felt chemistry wise. (It was a plus when I saw they did have at least one lightening bolt, but that wasn't until a bit later when they actually got to know each other.)

I could see Water being absolutely fascinated by her. They'd shared a car ride and a fake arrest. A girl who'd fake arrest somebody as a side job would have to be interesting, right?

The fun part came when it was time to find her. I really did have him call the police station hoping she'd show up. When they stopped showing, I had to reload the lot and try some more. But no, we didn't find her that way. He actually ran into her again one day and that's how we got her.

Well, after that sort of chase, how could he not fall in love with her and give her some life? (referring to my poor restriction on the NPCs of course-- in game they live forever unless one of the playables "marry" them to bring them to life) Their chemistry wasn't the best, but I imagine that he really did/does love her.

For the most part, this is exactly how I pick out sim couples. It's like a whisper from a sim muse in my ear (or possibly from the sims themselves while I'm playing).

It sort of makes for interesting relationships. Like Water's mother, Ann Mellon, and his father, Alec. They had no bolts (though they didn't have negative bolts either), so I imagine that they were best friends throughout their lives. They just happened to get lucky that they never found the kind of chemistry that Ann's brother Walter has with Lucy.


Anyway, just thought I'd share because I'm thinking about it now and I always find it interesting to see how other people play their games. Ever have couples where you just feel they must belong together in each other's lives despite the chemistry?

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Home

Demi had spent as much time avoiding Kaylynn as possible. When Kaylynn was downstairs, Demi was upstairs playing with the girls. If Kaylynn went upstairs, Demi found reasons to go downstairs.

Until that glass of water. Demi had been warm from playing with Melanie (who spent most of the time telling Demi "That's not how Daddy does it"), so she went downstairs for a drink despite knowing that Kaylynn would be downstairs.




"You know you're only holding him back." Kaylynn, with dirty soap suds up to her elbow, barely glanced at Demi and yet her words hit deep to the core of Demi's being.

Demi gasped as she lifted the glass of water to her lips, hoping the cool water would wash away the flavor of the salty tears she could almost taste.

"It's true. He should be living on The Hill. He was the oldest brother."

Kaylynn's shoes scuffed along the linoleum as she stepped closer to Demi like a snake charmer to a snake. Demi could feel her presence; it was suffocating.

"I have to go." Demi placed the glass on the dining room table and turned in one swoop so that she was heading towards the kitchen door.


"I know somewhere you can go," Kaylynn said in a low voice. Demi's legs simply stopped so that she was shoulder to shoulder with Kaylynn. She heard herself whisper, "Where?" As soon as Kaylynn spoke the answer, Demi realized that it had been on the back of her mind for a long time. She had known the answer. It would be the place where she would finally find peace.




The cab pulled to a stop as the driver muttered, "We're here."

Demi paid the driver, then stepped out with her suitcase in hand. She stepped through the door to enter the first building on the left where they had agreed to meet.

His diamond colored eyes took in the entire sight of her and rested upon her large suitcase in her hand. His gentle smile warmed and comforted her twirling emotions. Finally, she felt at home.



*******************

For any new readers and as a refresher, find out more about Tristin and his cult-- I mean church here.

I've always had a soft spot for Kaylynn. She's always been in the background of my game, just doing her job, and once leading that rebellion at the Legacy Household.

In the old 'hood, I noticed she did a lot of standing around and fuming. Perhaps it's just a coincidence, but the new Kaylynn also does a lot of standing around fuming. I like to think that perhaps she does have a little life, and the clone remember the indignities of her former life cleaning the toilets of the other sims while not being considered an equal.

In the new 'hood, it's probably impossible for her to get a respectable job with one of the shops. And it doesn't help that she sill wanders around in her maid uniform. (She should really see Bonnie, but she probably doesn't want any pity.)

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Kaylynn

Water didn't realize what he had done. He wouldn't understand either, Demi was sure of it. It wasn't just the suspected affairs, it was everything.

Demi put her head against the cool glass of the taxi's window as she thought back to last fall.


Water had come home late as usual. His restaurant was only open for the evenings, and he often stayed out until two in the morning or later.

Normally, Demi would be sleeping by the time he came home, but she had recently woken to feed the baby, Shannen, and couldn't go back to sleep. She remembered the sight of Water, bathed half in light from the table lamp.


Water had crossed his arms in that serious way of his that usually reminded Demi of a parent reprimanding their child. "I think we need a maid," he had said.


"A maid?" Demi had been a service NPC. She had not liked the idea at all.


"There is nothing wrong with a sim doing his or her job." Water went into the walk in closet to put on his pjs. As he sat down on the bed, he didn't look at her. "Look, I'm too busy, and so are you. Extra hands would be nice. And it just so happens that Kaylynn Langerak came by today looking for a job, but I didn't have any positions open at the restaurant. How about I ask her?"

Such a terror gripped Demi that she couldn't speak more than, "Oh no, not her." Water was not aware that service NPCs (at least during the time Demi had been one) all knew of Kaylynn Langerak. She had tried to plan an uprising on more than one occasion in the old land. Unfortunately, planning an uprising with a group of sims who basically disappear once they are no longer needed proved to be a difficult feat though Kaylynn came close at least once. Most of the Family was unaware of this fact, and Demi was not going to tell Water this because she, like many other past service NPCs, feared Kaylynn.


"Sure, why not?" Water dipped under the covers completely unaware of Demi's thoughts or worries. "Listen, I'm tired. Let's discuss it in the morning."

But Demi knew that meant he had already decided and nothing she could say would change his mind.

*********

Kaylynn's infamous uprising, which petered out when most of the elderly repair men and women could find nothing to fix."

Actually, that was my very first legacy house. It was with only the base game installed, and I had the classic Stuck NPC bug. Since that was before sims had inventories, I had to move the family out and leave everything behind. All of their paintings, and a crystal glass from the wedding of the second heir (the original Richard Mellon) that I had managed to somehow grab completely by luck after a guest set it down.

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Goodbye

Water Melon (approximately 34), Demi Love (unknown age- previously a Service NPC policewoman)

One of the last times we heard or saw anything about Water Mellon, it was revealed that he's actually Gabe's biological father. With Gabe being approximately 17 in human years, that means Water was approximately 17 when Gabe was born. Water most likely has no clue that Gabe exists.



Time: Right before the Summer Festival




"Demi." Water stood in the door way before her with his arms crossed stubbornly as if he would not let her pass. She hadn't expected him to be home during the middle of the day. For the past few weeks, he had been skipping lunch at home. His excuse had been that he was working late at the studio, and then heading into the restaurant right after.

Demi dropped the suitcase on floor with a thud. She was thankful that the children were already gone at a safe place even though she had never known Water to be violent. If anything, his crimes were simply loving too much.


"What're you doing?" Water's voice was tense and high in his throat.

Demi could hear the words in her head as clear as if she had spoke them. "I'm leaving you," she wanted to say with a lift of her head and a false bravado that she knew would break in the taxi on her way out of town.

Instead, Demi brought her hand to her face and pressed her fingers to her lips. Her eyes remained dry as if she hadn't really begun to believe she was doing it. As if she were simply taking a vacation with the girls and would be right back.

Water smoothly glided to her and wrapped his arms around her. "Demi Demi," he whispered in her ear. "You can't do this. Don't you remember all the trouble I had finding you the first time?"

If Demi could laugh, she could cry. She stiffly allowed him to hug her.

"I had to call the police station until you showed up at my door. Do you know how much money I spent on fines? Even today, you know they won't come if I call..."

Demi stepped back while slipping her ring off her finger. It wasn't a real wedding band. They had never had a real wedding. Water hadn't even loved her enough to marry her. She put it into his hands and closed his fist around it.

With suitcase in hand, Demi walked around him as best she could. She almost didn't make it; she was ready to give in, but she reached a second wind that helped her push past Water and step out onto the lawn in front of the house.



Water followed her out to the front lawn, but he did not try to grab her again. "Demi, what about the girls? Where are they? Demi?"

Demi's voice hardly sounded like her own. It rang clear and true in the clear afternoon. "I'll call you." She stepped into the waiting taxi refusing to look back.

********

I'm a little late posting this. I was sort of waffling about this or writing something on the spot, but since this is basically a prelude to Fall, I figured I should stick this in here. This is just part one. Two more parts to go.

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The Dress

The knife sliced through the red bell pepper making a quick clack each time the knife hit the cutting board. His hand gripped the knife as it violently cut through the delicate pepper. The scent of dry spices tickled his nose as the snapping of the meat browning in a pan filled his ears.



It was all therapeutic. Water was convinced that there was nothing good cooking could not cure. His spoon twirled in the pan, turning over the meat and revealing the brown side. The sweet scent of the cooking garlic and onions filled the little kitchen. This kitchen was not as lovely as his old kitchen in the old land, but it would do for now, until he could find a larger house with a large kitchen.



Water added the other ingredients to the pan while stirring. "You don't like my dress?" Demi had seemed surprised. Did he like it? Why ever would she think that? True, she had looked lovely, but she always looked lovely. The way her tousled blond hair swept across her face, even after she brushed it. The way the dress had hugged her curves and pinched in at her waste with a thin little belt... but the dress itself left much to be desired.



"Bonnie gave it to me. She found it in the rafters of her new shop and thought I would like it." Water would have to remember to give Bonnie a call to thank her for that. The dress was all flowers and lace. It had an ugly collar similar to a man's dress shirt.

"You don't like it!" Water stirred the beans into the chili vigorously as he thought about his reaction and Demi's reaction to him. "You know what, just forget it. Would you leave please? I still have some cleaning to do."



The chili became dark red as the spices spread out, touching everything in the pan. "Demi, why are you acting this way? It's just a dress!"



The strong spicy chili smell hung in the air slowly filling the house. Perhaps it might even reach upstairs. She had to be hungry. "It's more than just the dress. God Water, are you that dense?" Tears angrily fell down her cheeks and she furiously started wiping at them. "Just go!"



Water placed the bowl in front of the empty chair then sat down with a bowl himself to wait.

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It wasn't a lighly made decision...

These events take place before Tierra De Legado.

Demi and Melanie; Aren't they precious?

Water is always working. In the morning, he goes to his chocolate shop and sells chocolates to everyone in town. Then he comes home for lunch and heads out to the diner where he stays until close to midnight.

All the while, Demi stays home and watches him run himself ragged to afford a fancy home.

Demi has never brought the topic of marriage up. She's allowed him to decide when he is ready to settle, even if this means he is never going to be ready. In the mean time, she has taken up studying a new guide to "lifelong Happiness."




While playing Samantha Kerr, the high school teacher, Water came over to visit. Before he settled down with Demi for sure (ok, mostly at my urging), he had a lot of fun with Sam.



Unfortunately, she wants to marry him. She doesn't seem to realize that at his heart he is a romance sim.


They had a lovely lunch. I refused to initiate anything unless they gave me a sign. For a while, they were completely uninterested in each other. They sat watching TV.

Then Sam mentioned something about meeting new people and marriage. Water looked very agitated as they discussed it. There were quite a few pauses, but they continued to return to the subject.

Water Finally walked out of the house and stood on the front lawn for a bit.

Yeah, how can you resist that strut?

Then Water strutted back into the house. His intent was clear.

It all went down hill from there.



Before Water came along, most of Sam's nights were spent sitting at home alone eating TV dinners in front of the TV. She was so lonely.


It's possible that Sam has some insecurities. Though sometimes she comes off as if she is too sure of herself.




Here she is autonomously bragging about well... you know.

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Water Mellon Down to Business

These events take place before Tierra De Legado.



Water was recently featured in Legacy Living's very first article about the local businesses.

He has been busy!


It all started with the chocolate shop. Water made gourmet candies for a company before he became a celebrity chef. As he was working, he came up with his own delicious ideas involving exotic flavors he'd picked up from his travels. So he thought, "why not?"






The paintings are painted by Water and his father, Alec, who runs a gallery. Water wanted his shop to look good and be inviting. So he leaves out the nectar juice for guests to enjoy.

Women flock to the shop to visit personally with Water. It's all about the show. Nevermind that one small box of chocolates costs $500 and the larger one is $1,000. For the way he makes the ladies feel, it is well worth it.



Water is indeed a romance sim. But he has selected his one, Demi Love. She doesn't help him at the chocolate shop (for good reason!), so that's supposedly why she wasn't mentioned in the article about Water.


Demi loves Water greatly, but although she had promised to help him in his next venture, she found she couldn't. Doctor's orders. She was pregnant!

Water wanted better than the little hole in the wall they were living, so he bought a little shop and turned it into "Water's Gourmet Diner."



It has a homey feel, but you can go and get some really fancy stuff for a pretty reasonable price. Plus, in what other fancy restaurant do you get to meet the chef? Water doesn't want anything between himself and the customers. He wants them to see exactly what kind of kitchen he runs.



To help supplement his earnings, Water sells his famous pies now at the front. It doesn't deter sims from eating there though.


Water has done really well. He started off with nothing, and he's continually won the Best of the Best Award. Thanks to all the cash he's raking in, Water was able to buy a lovely new home.

Just in time too.





Sorry! I hope this wasn't too long. Water is one of my favorite sims. I wasn't sure when he started out with nothing that he'd be able to pull all this off, but this has been what I wanted for him. All of this happened over a five sim day period. So it was like a year for him! Wow, he works fast.

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