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strangetomato
Previously on Strangetown, here we come...
Warnings: language, sexual situations, partial sim nudity, taxidermy of large wild animals, and some twisting of canon backstory (and there's nothing you can do to stop me).
Chapter Thirty-Two
He wasn't a bad man.
He kept telling himself that.
He wasn't a bad man, he was just a weak man, and women were his weakness.
All women. Any women. It didn't matter. One bat of a seductive eyelash, and he was putty in their hands.
Well, almost.
He wasn't pliable enough to agree to set someone up for an alien abduction.
That had taken much more convincing.
The Caliente sisters.
He'd always been completely entranced by them both, ever since they were children together. They were so beautiful, with a hint of exotic otherworldiness that he could never quite figure out.
He still relished the memories of playing doctor and post office with them under the gentle sunny skies of East Veronaville.
Then, into their teen years, he'd had his turn with both of them. As far as sexual intiations went, he couldn't have asked for any better.
Nina, especially, was always a willing partner in his explorations. They had some good times together. He missed those days.
For most of his adult life, he had moved around for school and for work, and he wasn't ever really all that sad to pack up and move on. He looked forward to a new town, and new blood, fresh conquests, but part of him always wished he could return to Veronaville.
But it was as they say... you can never go back.
Now he could never, ever go back. Not even to Pleasantview, since he had essentially kidnapped a woman and taken her away.
Here, to Belladonna Cove.
It hadn't really been kidnapping. Bella had gone willingly. She had thought it was romantic, being swept away like that, and she was impulsive. It had worked in his favour.
Yes, she had gone with him willingly. She was in love with him, or something close enough to it, but he knew his victory was a hollow one. She would never have chosen him if Mortimer was still alive. He had been everything to her.
Even dead, if she knew... if she remembered...
I maddened him. What did Mortimer have that he didn't? Bella should be his. She was his. They were meant to be together. Nobody could understand him like Bella. She was the one.
The only one.
When had he traded his sanity for his love of Bella Goth?
He hadn't expected it. He had been prepared to do as they asked of him, and nothing more.
Then, once he had her inside his condo, he figured he may as well go ahead and try his luck.
But she rejected him.
Nobody ever rejected him.
He apologized, and she had graciously accepted. She could have left, then and there, but she didn't. She forgave him.
Why had she forgiven him?
That surprised him, as did his reaction to it. He decided that he couldn't go through with it. He changed his mind.
He decided that he'd be going back to Dina and Nina with bad news. He'd do without the ultimate wish fulfillment. After that, he couldn't do it.
So, instead of showing her the new telescope, Don made them some coffee.
They sat together, and talked about life and love, and also, to his own surprise, loneliness.
How was it that she understood him so well?
But Bella had still wanted to see what he had invited her over for. She was looking to buy Mortimer a new model of telescope, like the one Don had, and that was the whole reason she'd dropped by. She wanted to see it, and what was he going to tell her? The truth?
So they went up, for just a brief moment.
He thought he could get away with a quick look, tell her the telescope was acting up, and that would be that.
Then she insisted she could get it to work. He had protested. He had opened his mouth, ready to confess. He was about to stop her, to blurt out the whole sordid plan, Dina be damned.
He really had been. He wasn't a bad man.
Could he have prevented it from happening? Could he have done things differently?
His guilt was slightly lessened by the fact that he had at least attempted to try to stop them from taking her.
At great cost to himself.
That was how he had met Circe Beaker. In the hospital. Once she became aware of the fact that he was also in the medical field, she had taken him to her office and offered him the option to do her a favour, to help her, and she'd see that he'd be freed from his condition.
His pregnancy. The thought sickened him, even now.
It wasn't something that the doctors were normally able to do, with the nature of alien pregnancy, and the difficulty of access. It was risky, and not condoned by the hospital, but Circe had assured him that she was capable of performing the task, and none would be the wiser. It would have to go under the radar, but she could make that happen.
So he had agreed, in exchange for doing some work for her. Many things could be said about Circe, but he couldn't call her a liar. She had been true to her word, and so he had been obligated to do his part in return.
At the time, he'd asked about Bella, but Circe had looked at him as if he had ten heads. There had been no Bella. There had never been any Bella. He'd been dropped off by a concerned citizen, alone.
Stricken, he had blurted out the whole thing. Perhaps it had been the hormonal imbalance, but he nearly fell apart at the seams, right there in front of Circe.
Circe merely smiled, and told him that he shouldn't speak of such things, even if they are true, and that was unlikely. He was overwhelmed. Perhaps it was all a trick of his unconscious mind, she suggested. He wouldn't want to speak of something like that to the wrong people now would he?
He should not repeat it.
Looking back, this still seemed to have been good advice. He had listened to her, and he continued to listen to her.
He hadn't told anyone. Not even the detectives that kept showing up at his doorstep.
So then, with Circe's help, he had gone back home to Pleasantview within days of the abduction, and nobody was the wiser. He went back to his normal life.
But not really. He could never go back.
After that, the guilt came to him a little more each day. His every thought was about Bella.
Every day, he fell further into her spell.
It consumed him.
He'd even considered telling Dina and Nina that he no longer wanted his "reward." He considered telling them to shove it where the sun don't shine, but well...
He was a weak man.
It hadn't made him feel better. It had made him feel worse. He continued to suffer under the weight of his guilt, until Cassandra had come into his life.
She was so much like Bella.
He wanted her. He'd treat her right this time. It would absolve him, he had thought.
They took things slow. He didn't sleep with her, despite how much he wanted to.
He respected her.
Well, to a point.
He had decided, though, that she was going to be it for him. He'd settle down with Cassandra, and she might not be Bella, but it would be the next best thing.
Then, after he had already asked her to be his wife, he discovered the truth.
He found her.
Bella.
It had been Circe who had told him. She had taken pity on him, perhaps?
No, that seemed unlikely. She undoubtedly had her reasons.
He didn't know her all that well, but he did know that much about Circe. She always had her reasons. Any fool would pick up on that fact.
So carefully, cautiously, he had entered back into Bella's life. She had no recollection of who he was, or even who she had been herself. No Mortimer, no children, no past, and no reason at all to distrust him or refuse him.
There was a temporary pang of guilt, where he considered telling her the truth, and bringing her back to Pleasantview, but then she would know what he had done, and what he was.
He was a bad man.
No, he wasn't a bad man. He wasn't.
He wasn't, but the results were the same, either way.
And if he told her, he would lose her.
He was a weak man. So weak.
He felt bad about Cassandra, he really did, but he didn't care enough to go through with it.
Poor Cassandra. He really had cared about her. Really, he had.
Hadn't he?
He thought he had, but when the time came, he couldn't do it.
The wedding was a disaster, and it came crashing down all around their ears, but it was worth it.
It was all worth it.
His whole life seemed to be falling apart at the seems, but at least he had Bella.
Nothing else mattered as long as he had Bella.
And now, here in Belladonna Cove, they would be happy.
Bella was finally his.
All his.
"Is it her, dear sister?"
"Yes, I do believe so."
"Dear little creature. She's so much like Jocasta, isn't she?"
"She's the spitting image."
"I always knew in my heart she would return to us one day. Jocasta may have left, but I always thought the girl would feel the pull."
"She's so clearly one of our kind, and our daughters must always return."
"This is her heritage. This city was built on the backs of our founding mothers, whether or not the citizens even realize exactly what that means."
"Does Bella even know, I wonder? I doubt Jocasta would have mentioned us. She wanted to leave it all behind, and the girl surely does not remember. She was so young."
"That will come. What matters now is that she has come back."
"Yes, but who is that swarthy young lothario with her? I don't remember Mortimer being nearly so well-tanned or even half that rakish."
"He wasn't, my pet. He was whiter than goat's milk."
"Yes, and sourer than goat's blood, but how I adored that man."
"Yes, it's truly a shame that he has passed on from this world."
"So what do you suppose we should do, deary? Should we approach her?"
"No, let's wait. There's something not quite right about this. That isn't the Bella I remember. Even factoring in the effects of time, something has changed about her."
"Yes, you're right. I sense that too."
"Not only that... she looks different, don't you think? Her face..."
"Hmm, yes. Now that, I can't explain."
"Well, nevermind..."
"We will bide our time and wait. Then, with more knowledge, we will know how to proceed."
"Always a wise course of action."
"Still, I will see to it that no harm comes to her in the meantime."
Kimberly Cordial watched as her sister produced her wand from inside her jacket. Even without the enchantment that prevented mere mortals from witnessing the act, her deft movements would have been difficult to detect.
"Just a small enchantment," Samantha said, "and that should be enough."
"Yes, sister. That will do."
"Be well, dear niece."
"Be well, Bella."
Notes:
It feels good to finally get more of the details on this out in the open. I was holding back while I worked out some of the nitty gritty details, and there's always a chance I'll want to change it again, but I figured it was time to just put it out there. There are more sides to this story than Don's, of course, but it gives you some of the facts (as unreliable as his POV may be).
I've been trying to find some common ground between the canon backstory information provided from all three sim games (well, I'm approaching Sims 3 a little differently, as you'll soon see). The continuity of the three games is a bit of a mess, but I've come to accept that and have tried to find my own logic within it. For Bella's story, I've used most of the details of the EA interview with Bella (including her having a therapist), and I've even considered elements of the Sims 2 PSP game (though not many, because it's WAY off the original game). It's been fun and inspiring.
The idea that Bella is descended from witches was first suggested by
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cindyanne1 as a rumour that she remembered floating around in the Making Magic days of Sims 1, and it's an interesting one. I'll admit, at first I scoffed at this and was slightly annoyed at EA's overuse of Bella imagery (which was becoming fairly nonsensical by AL), but then I decided to embrace the meta side of it all and just go with it. In my mind, Belladonna was actually Bella's grandmother, who was a politician who helped to build up the city which bears her namesake, but was also a powerful witch in those parts. She played both sides, as witches have come to do in this modern world.Simgaroop has also used Cindyanne's theories in The Broke Legacy, with an emphasis on Michael Bachelor (if you haven't already, you should check it out). I'm taking a more women-only approach to the witches. I've also decided that it's something you're born into rather than something you pick up from a witchy BFF, and thus altering the backstories of the Cordial sisters to fit this angle, and I also invented that family tie between them and Bella (I'm working under the assumption that their family tree is a fake, a cover story for their life on the non-witch side of the tracks).
Realistically, this will probably be the last update for the rest of the summer. I still have that short mini chapter that I should be able to post in the near future, but I'm expecting that changes in living arrangements and life in general will keep me from the computer, and that's not really a bad thing. A break would be sort of nice right now. I'm thinking of buying a netbook so I can easily type away while enjoying nature and travel, so maybe I'll get some writing done. I might even come back with chapters and chapters ready to go. You never know.
Anyway, thank you for reading! Have a safe and happy summer.
P.S. I love Circe. I didn't really realize how much until I started decorating her office. Anyone who can taxidermy a wolf is okay in my books.
(Continue to Chapter 32.5)
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no subject
Date: 2009-06-27 08:36 pm (UTC)This was delicious. I loved seeing Don's POV, and finding out exactly what happened was great,. Those Caliente sisters are so fresh.
(I also love that Don knew them when he was younger! That's awesome.)
I didn't realize that Circe had that wolf taxidermied. I thought it was Don's and was wondering what it was doing there.
The Cordial Sisters are so fierce. Their outfits- AMAZING. The black one is especially great, I love using it on Mary-Sue.
Bella's backstory is awesome. I love what you've done with it. I also love the way the sisters speak. ^__^
And Don's evil alien abduction abortion makes me sad and angry at the same time. :(
no subject
Date: 2009-06-29 01:11 am (UTC)I'm a big fan of the whole Pleasantview drama and how it might intersect with Strangetown. Don's side of the story is really only about half of it, though. All will (hopefully) be revealed one day.
My fake taxidermy failed? It would have passed if Don had mentioned it, but I'm not sure I would have been able to make such a minor observation in the style I was writing this (he's being very general, looking back over the whole thing at once). Maybe if I had show the wolf in one more frame without it moving. Or if I could have created some sort of glassy eye replacement (but that's too much work). He was mounted on a stand, but you can't see it very well. Ahh, well I tried.
Those are great outfits (and perfect for Mary-Sue), and I love that one of them even has ruby slippers! It's a cute little reference.
Thanks. I've been deliberating on that for way too long, like I said. It's hard to make all the pieces fit together, but I think I've managed some fairly creative ways of doing so. We've see, I guess.
I'd glad you like the sort of language they use. It's a mish-mash of various sources for witches or wise old women, etc.
It sort of answers the question of why sims who are pollinated don't just abort the babies, doesn't it? It's a very dangerous procedure. Circe, however, has absolutely no problem with hacking up Don's bowels. She probably enjoyed it.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-27 08:47 pm (UTC)HOLY CRAP, YES.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-27 09:21 pm (UTC)Don. Just, Don. I love what you've done with him; he's just so...pathetic. Completely pathetic, and sad, and I'm not sure if I want to cry for him or beat him until his smart comes back. :( The aborted alien pregnancy just...ouch. :( Makes me wonder what sickened, Don though? Being pregnant? Aborting it? Both? Probably both, I think. The whole situation with Bella just makes me nauseous, though. Incredibly sketchy consent issues aside, SHE IS LITERALLY OLD ENOUGH TO BE YOUR MOM, DON. D:
No, he wasn't a bad man. He wasn't.
He wasn't, but the results were the same, either way.
This really cuts to the core of things with Don, I think. He's not a bad person, but he's doing a lot of very bad, even terrible, things. And at the end of the day, there's not really a distinction between the two. I'm interested to see what happens here, now. On one hand, Don has just about gone off the deep end where his sanity is concerned. On the other, guilt and shame still seem to be things he can feel, to a degree anyway. It'll be interesting to see where that goes.
Basically, for the whole first part of this chapter: THAT IS MY HEART, LEAVE IT ALONE. D:
So we have the what of what happened to Bella, but still not the why. Seems like we'll have to wait on one of the Caliente sisters for those answers.
Circe is so deliciously evil, I love her so much. In that way you love villains, anyway.
How fabulous are the Cordial sisters? I love this picture. I just do.
The whole "Previously, on Strangetown, Here We Come" thing made me giggle, which was nice considering there aren't much in the way of laughs this chapter. (kind of funny how Bella hasn't noticed that big-ass statue of herself, though. ;P).
YES.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-29 01:46 am (UTC)Don being sickened is, in my mind, a very likely reaction for a straight male to getting probed by aliens. Some of that might relate to homophobia, and the pregnancy doesn't help matters at all. But yes, I'm sure the abortion played on his mind, as much as he wanted no part in having a baby.
Hey, there's nothing wrong with liking the older ladies. ;) Bella is also surprisingly youthful, as we all know. You're comment on consent is interesting. It really is pretty sketchy what he's doing. He knows that she wouldn't if she knew, but yet he still proceeds.
Yeah, you said it well. He's not bad in the sense that he's a villain, but how many people are, besides maybe Circe? Even she could have some good intentions. I didn't mention it directly here, but I also imagine Don's family life as being less than happy. You'll notice he makes no reference at all to his own family.
Yes, the answer does lie with the Calientes. It will be revealed one day, but not for a while.
Circe is wonderful. All that evil is really there in the game, as far as I see it. She knows 238 different ways to make someone scream! D: I really appreciate how intelligent and ruthless she is. She's very powerful. It's too bad for all concerned that she's completely misanthropic.
The Cordial sisters are great fun, and one of the better new additions to the game. I was so thrilled to catch that shot with them threading their finger together at the same time, with the two different witchy extremes.
Heehee. Yeah. I do miss the laughs. The last (half) chapter was pretty serious too. Now that the drama is picking up, there'll be more of that. I guess I'll have to make sure I fit some laughs in, all the same.
Oh, but the statue is of her grandmother, who looks EXACTLY like her. Not her at all! :P
Thanks for reading! ^_^
no subject
Date: 2009-06-29 03:58 am (UTC)I guess, considering everything else that's involved here, I have a bit of hard time believing that homophobia is the biggest issue? It seems more like, for some men, the experience would feel more like a form of rape, with homophobia, in some cases, maybe Don's case, compounding and making a bad thing even worse? I guess the more I think about, taken seriously, an alien abduction and pollination has to be a pretty traumatic experience in and of itself.
And just so it's totally clear, because dropping r-bommbs is kind of "D:": I'm not equating alien abduction and pollination to rape; especially considering the extraordinary circumstances involved things are at the least no so black-and-white. More, I guess, I'm trying to imagine what the experience might be like from the point of view of the person it's happening too...
I'm so sorry. D:
There are older ladies, and there's that. D: On the other hand, the fact that Don was into Bella, and the revelation that Kaylynn is as old as Bella and Morty, makes me feel slightly vindicated in my belief that the Don-the-'pedo' characterization that seems to be a bit common might be a mistake. :P
Oedipus complex, y/n?It's a bit sad, but if I have learned nothing else from fandom-smut it's that consent issues definitely apply in cases of mind wipes, amnesia, "aliens made them do it," etc. For all my (sort of xP) joking about the age gap, dubious consent of what's going here is the biggest hang-up for me.
I think the big difference between bad people and people who do bad things is their ability to change. At this point, I don't think I could buy Circe doing good, except for purely self serving reasons. Don hasn't crossed the point of no return yet, for me; he could still turn around and do the right thing and I could believe. I guess, the difference between Circe-characters and Don-characters is Don-characters still have something in them that is capable of doing good. They don't have to, they don't always, and it doesn't absolve all the evil they've done. But they can, and sometimes they do. It's a thin line, but an important one imho.
I did notice the non-information about Don's family life, as well as the fact that he can't, or believes he can't, go home. Makes me wonder what the hell happened. :P I get the poor-family-life vibe off him too, despite the fact that he grew up well three times. I think it's the fact that both his parents died immediately after his adult transition; it practically begs to take advantage of the unresolved-parent-issues angle.
(....I kind of feel like he might have been an oopsie-baby. >.>)
Let's not forget Circe's coat hangers, too. D: (which, frankly, is kind of amazing that EA was able to get that little detail through). She is definitely a woman you want your side; unfortunately, she only cares about her side. :( (and possibly Loki, but he's dead, and her child)
I do think the occasional well-timed laugh is important when things start getting serious.
Oh, well, okay then. :P (I like your theory better than the idea that Belladonna Cove was built in Bella's honor or what ever nonsense, tbh. :P)
:D
no subject
Date: 2009-06-29 10:31 am (UTC)No, you're right about the similarities to rape, I think, and it could easily be viewed that way by some people. It's easy to see why some sims hate the aliens and want to stop them, or even destroy them. The aliens do make efforts to wipe the memory of the abductee, but that only makes it end up seeming like you've been a victim of the date rape drug from a certain angle.
and the revelation that Kaylynn is as old as Bella and Morty
That isn't goign to be a factor in my version of the story. I won't say too much more just yet, but I'm not buying it. I've found a way to explain it away, and I think it's a decent one. We'll see, I guess.
Yeah, that's a good point. Don might not be able to cancel out what he's done, but he might be able to at least attempt to make up for it in a heroic gesture, or some such thing (and he almost already did that, during the abduction). Then again, maybe he won't. He's invested so much in this now, and he's pretty fearful that the truth will come out.
I'm thinking something like for Don too. Not something really horrible or unhappy, but not a happy memory. Coming from Veronaville, his parents might even have been murdered.
Also, not to open another can of worms, but you can be poor and still grow up well. :P
It is pretty remarkable that they got that reference in. In the context, you can't help but think of the nefarious history of the coathanger and what it's been used for (or attempted to be used for).
I agree. I'll have to be conscious of that, and make sure it doesn't get too heavy. It's a sim story. It's needs laughs. Just look at the animations! :D
If that whole city was built since Bella was born, she's even older that we think she is. There's really no way to make every part of the canon details make sense, unless you include time travel (literally) and maybe even dimensional travel. It's pretty well impossible, but it's still fun to try.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-29 11:04 am (UTC)Well I'm intrigued about Kaylynn.
Also, not to open another can of worms, but you can be poor and still grow up well. :P
I was using poor in the sense of bad, not in the sense of no money. :P (although, that doesn't sound much better does it. Poor=no money=....bad....oh dear. D:)
It does seem like EA pretty much laughs in the face of time line continuity. I guess they didn't expect anybody to actually care. :P
no subject
Date: 2009-06-27 09:03 pm (UTC)Also, Don getting abducted and impregnated is just SO RIGHT, somehow. He just... deserves it. I first saw it when someone used Don as their guinea pig for a Multi-PT hack, I don't remember who it was... Then shortly afterwards it happened autonomously in my game. So I had to include it in my story, too.
A little sad that he had an abortion, but... knowing Circe, she actually grew it in a pod somewhere and that's probably that alien kid that we saw in one of the previous chapters... with one of the Nervous clones? Hmm...
Also, Bella's face not being quite right... Is she a clone, like lots of players like to think? The PV Bella and ST Bella do have slightly different faces, though I like to think that was simply an oversight on EAxis' part... not expecting the players to bring back the "real" one in PV and have a good look at her face.
Well, anyway, great chapter. Nice use of Belladonna Cove and the Cordial sisters! Also, I just love Circe's office. Like my husband said, the comic book picture on the wall behind her 'looks exactly like the kind of crazy shit Circe would have in her office'. :)
Oh, and the snow globe, I've had that in my game for a while and used it in the beginning of a story that I didn't get very far with, 1-2 years ago, but this time I sort of forgot about it. D: Oh well, maybe I'll get a chance later, it's such a cool little piece of CC/salvaged stuff.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-29 01:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-29 07:43 pm (UTC)Like you said, most of it does make sense with the backstory because I'm trying to stick to that as far as that's possible, and I assume you're doing the same. Some of the "facts" are fairly straightforward, and then you have to spin off in your own direction to tackle the "why" of the matter. That's where the fun comes in.
Heheh. I fully agree about the sweet karma payoff of getting Don alien pregnant. It was Pixel who used him to test her multi-PT hack, I believe. Not to be a complete knob about saying "I did it first" but I totally did it first. :P Or well, my game did it first. It was my very first alien abduction and completely natural (I get natural ones now, but I have a hack to make the odds better).
It happened in one of my first Pleasantviews, and I posted about it on Sept. 28, 2007 (*ahem* but now I've said too much). That's where I got the idea to use it in this storyline. It's pretty cool that it happened to both of us and we both worked it into our stories.
As for what Circe might have done with the alien material... lets hope she didn't taxidermy it. ;)
The mention of Bella's face is meant to be a bit of a joke. She switched towns and now she looks completely different. I also think that's just sloppy work by the game creators (they didn't have SimPE, right? *snicker*). I have some ideas about that, but I also might just keep it as a mysterious joke.
Thanks. I'm glad you thought it suited Circe. I had a blast decorating that room.
I've also been dying to use that globe. I've had it in my game forever.
Thanks for reading! ^_^
no subject
Date: 2009-06-27 11:17 pm (UTC)And OMG the Cordial sisters even LOOK like Bella... it totally fits!
Count me in as another who likes your Circe. She's sooo evil but she's soooo cool! I also think she likely gestated Don's spawn in an incubator or something... even if it never comes into the story it seems like something she'd do, lol!
I hope you have a great summer and go ahead and treat yourself to that notebook. You deserve it! :D
no subject
Date: 2009-06-27 11:48 pm (UTC)I always thought of Don being a more manipulative character, actually, instead of being the putty in the other party's hands.
I really like the handling of Bella's abduction :D
ChildDon looks an awful lot like
Have you ever mentioned that Circe can taxidermify (?)? I don't remember but it could have just escaped me.
Yes, but who is that swarthy young lothario with her?
I LOLed at the irony xD
*pulls out Makin' Magic box from forever ago*
There's a picture of Bella with one of those old school TS1 wands (with the green plumbbob tip) on the back of the MM box. I'd guess that's part of the rumor's origin.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-28 12:09 am (UTC)Circe knows 238 different ways to make someone scream, and none of them are nice. She enjoys taxidermy and collecting coat hangers.
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Date: 2009-06-28 01:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-28 11:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-28 03:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-28 12:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-28 12:54 am (UTC)And you're going to make us wait the whole summer for us to find out what is going to happen next? DAMNIT! D:
Well, have a nice summer and I hope that the change in living arangements works smoothly for you!
...I miss you already. :Pno subject
Date: 2009-06-28 12:59 am (UTC)And man, Don looks pretty yummy with the grown out hair. I guess it makes him look like less of a douche. :P But I've got to ask- what is with that wolf next to him when he's talking to Circe?
no subject
Date: 2009-06-28 01:21 am (UTC)Hey Don, I know you're weak but you're weaker than I thought!
What's Circe's doing anyway? Trying to ruin his life (and Bella's)?
no subject
Date: 2009-06-28 01:27 am (UTC)That was an interesting approach to the whole Bella mystery (I see I'm not the only insane one who's trying to make the canon of the three games fit anymore! :D). Don is really a pathetic man, selfish and unable to do the right things due to his weaknesses.
I think those traits are going to kick his sorry behind in the future, especially now that the Cordial sisters are involved. What did they do to Bella?
Now I see why did he end up working for Circe, but I wonder what did he have to do in exchange of terminating his pregnancy (I assume)? Considering he's a Doctor, I wonder...
Have a very nice summer! :)
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Date: 2009-06-28 01:27 am (UTC)I have to say though, that wolf totally creeped me out. I thought it was alive and was wondering if it was supposed to represent Cerberus or something!
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Date: 2009-06-28 01:31 am (UTC)Also, Circe is hardcore. I love her to bits. I want to marry her so that she can taxidermy stuff. Or else have a LIVE wolf in her office.
Don is like a twisted version of Ripp. He's just had less friends to support him and care about him, and he's ended up being a lot more messed up even though he's essentially a good person.
Also the Cordial sisters look incredibly freaky. HUGE EYES AND HUGE MOUTHS ARE FRIGHTENING.
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Date: 2009-06-28 02:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-28 04:22 am (UTC)I loved Simgaroop's take on Bella - and I love this one too!! I know bringing witches into the mix had to be a hard jump for you - it is a big step to pull in magic, let alone aliens - and I think that Circe's interactions with Don really hint at just how evil she is. Every time I think that she has done as much damage as she can some new detail about her emerges and makes me shudder. Ophelia's aunt may have been crazy, but Circe is just... *evil*. No wonder she has the poor blond wrapped around her little finger!
As always, I'm loving this. I swear to you your writing is up there with my other favorite stories - of all time - including the James Herriot series and Pet Shop of Horrors. If it was a book, I'd buy it and snuggle it every night.
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Date: 2009-06-28 04:24 am (UTC)This line and the picture below it are win.
I love this take on the screwy Maxis storyline. I agree that they completely bastardized Bella and I'm glad you're trying to make that remotely sensical while sticking to the canon.
Random, thy name is lafemmedulac
Date: 2009-06-28 05:17 am (UTC)OMG BELLA POST!!!
I've become a bit of a Bella whore ever since Sims 3 came out, even though I can't play it XD
And Don always amuses me. I'm not exactly sure why he's always so sex-crazed in my mind, so I like to hear other people's opinions on how he works.
Where did you get the Bella/Mortimer snowglobe-type-thing? It's so nifty...
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Date: 2009-06-28 06:21 am (UTC)Great update. Every time I see a story with witches I lament yet again that there will probably never be an Apartment Life for mac. Or a Freetime, for that matter. These Cordial sisters are totally new to me. Neat!
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Date: 2009-06-28 07:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-28 12:04 pm (UTC)This little update was just ...lovely. It's always fascinating to see someone else's interpretation of the few hints we're given, and this was so well executed.
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Date: 2009-06-28 02:14 pm (UTC)However.. I kinda feel like we need a "Catch-up" post.. you know, to see the big picture of it all! I know that kinda makes me sound disrespectful and ungrateful, but I am a great lover of this story, and I just think that it could be daunting for new readers - maybe old readers too, who missed a lot - and a post explaining where the characters are all at would be brilliant for me.
Hope you have a Fantastic Summer, Good and happy times all round!
*Hugs*
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Date: 2009-06-28 11:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-28 11:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-29 02:53 am (UTC)Also the witches... What the hell is going on there? Niece??
Go, do the next update!
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Date: 2009-06-29 01:06 pm (UTC)Be safe and have fun (and have fun writing ideas!).
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Date: 2009-07-01 02:56 pm (UTC)I 'm more or less caught up now.
Date: 2009-07-10 06:00 pm (UTC)No More Anon
Date: 2009-07-17 02:09 pm (UTC)