strangetomato | Strangetown, Here We Come: Chapter 32.5

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Strangetown, Here We Come: Chapter 32.5

Zoe pressed down on the last piece of tape and stepped back to observe her work.

The poster wasn't anything special. She'd tossed it together pretty quickly, cut 'n' paste style, while spending the night at her parent's house. It'd do the job, though, and she had been taping them up on every surface between her house and the hospital.

She was on her way to see Jaxy.

She was going to be okay, after her close call, but they were keeping her there for some counselling. Zoe was distrustful of therapists, having known a number of them through her parents. She hardly saw the need to pay someone to sort out her problems, especially when that person had problems too. Nobody was immune to that.

Still, Jaxy needed it. It was time for her to face her past, to deal with her problems, and every little bit helped.

Satisfied, Zoe turned from her work and looked down the alleyway, along the brick wall.

It was covered with posters, neatly arranged. They were slick, glossy posters, crisp and new. Not the sort of thing you usually saw on a city wall.

There was a man standing at the far end. He noticed her eyes on him and began to walk towards her.

As he stepped just a little too close, Zoe took a step back, giving him an indication that he should watch himself. "Can I help you?" she asked.

"I see you've been admiring my posters."

"Well, I saw them, yeah." Zoe wasn't in the habit of flattering people if she didn't mean it. "What's that all about, anyway?"

"I'm spreading the good news of the coming of the third age of sims."

Zoe didn't physically back up, but in her mind, she was already running down the street. "Oh, really?"

"A change is coming. A whole new universe. If we're ready for it, and if we're worthy, we'll be reborn."

"Uhhhh-huhhh..."

"You don't believe me?"

"Nothing personal, Mr. I don't really believe things easily."

"Mr. Humble."

"Huh?"

"That's my name."

"Okay, sure. Whatever." Zoe turned to walk away. "Have a nice day now, Mr. Humble."

"Don't you want to be ready for it when it comes? If we don't adapt to the change, if we aren't prepared, we'll be left behind."

Zoe kept walking.

"Don't you have problems that you'd like to leave behind? You could start fresh, be reborn, and all of this world's worries will melt away. It will be like starting over with a clean slate."

Zoe felt tears welling up in her eyes, but she kept her head up, kept walking on just as she had been.

"It will free you from the suffering of this world."

Against her will, she felt a tear escape down her cheek. It would be nice to believe him. Zoe could do with an easy answer just then. Jaxy could use an easy answer. Ripp and her parents and everyone she knew could all use an easy answer in one way or another.

If only it were that simple.

"Hey, wait!" He had to shout now for her to hear him. "I have a present for you. Take this computer, free of charge! It'll show you. It'll show you the way. Here, take it! It's free! It's yours if you want it!"

But Zoe was already gone.

Helena Summerdream had only been in a the city for a day or two when she saw the poster.

Drummer wanted, it said, as if it spoke directly to her. She had decided to skip university to come to Sim City, a move that hadn't really surprised her family, but was unexpected all the same. With Helena, they had come to expect the unexpected.

She pulled a tab off the poster and slipped it into her pocket. It was the ticket to her dreams. Her golden ticket.

She was going to be a rock star.

She noticed an old woman talking to a man down the alleyway.

Even after only a week in this neighbourhood, she recognized the woman as one who walked that street, begging for change. Helena didn't think she was being too presumptuous in thinking that she must have been a lady of the night in her younger years. Maybe she still was, when interest allowed.

She didn't hear everything, but she caught fragments of the conversation.

"... and all the pain and suffering of this life will fade away..."

Helena's thoughts drifted.

"... a fresh start... loved ones... another chance..."

She thought of her father, crushed to death and burning.

Nothing left to show for his life but a pile of smoldering ashes.

Her sister, off at Académie Le Tour, was dead set on bringing him back from the afterlife. She wished to beat Death at his own game. As cold, calculating, and brilliant as she was, she just might achieve that. Hippolyta thought about it all of the time. Everyday, she thought of nothing else. Everyday, she relived it. She thought of nothing but death.

While Helena, her twin, tried desperately to forget.

"... you'll start over... it'll be a whole new world... a new chance..."

Helena reached into her other pocket, and popped something into her mouth. It was a seed. Her parents were active gardeners, but they grew things that nobody in this part of the world would have any knowledge of. She bit down and felt a spark of electricity shoot into her tongue as she broke the shell. After a brief metallic sensation, it tasted something like licorice.

She stood, looking straight ahead, watching the posters, observing the colours. Cars drove by and people walked pass, paying little heed to the young woman beyond a double take at her minty green skin and flaming red hair.

After several minutes, she saw a woman who was decked out in tourist gear from head to toe, and Helena started laughing.

She laughed and laughed.

She looked back down the alley at the odd man and the old whore and she laughed again. He wanted to give her a computer? Helena laughed and laughed and laughed.

What would a homeless woman do with a computer?

She listened to the man's message, and she looked at the woman's hopeful face. Was it true? Would the man really give her a second chance? It was nice to think so.

Suddenly, Helena found herself hallucinating, and she thought she could see the woman herself, reborn. Was she having a vision or simply imagining it? Standing on a cliff, a young child, looking out over a beautiful harbour. It was sharper, clearer, and more real than anything she'd ever seen in waking life.

It was as if the whole world had been upgraded.

Maybe she should also talk to that man. She could use a free computer, at the very least. How often did you get anything for free?

It was a good day. The sun was shining, and she had her golden ticket, and now she'd get a free computer too.

It was going to be a very good day.

(Continue to Chapter 33)

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It's the third coming of sims! You have to be ready. Heheh. Yeah, I included that mention in the RR Legacy, back when I was first starting to play around with including it in S,HWC. I threw a number of ideas and hints into that story. It was fun.

It really makes me wonder if Humble (the real person) had any idea what he was getting into when he included himself in the game. There are a lot of crazy-ass sim storytellers out there who are all too willing to turn him into a character. He did make it so he's an untouchable NPC, but there are ways around that. *wink, wink*

Not everyone ends up in the same place when they die or otherwise leave the world (including entering Faerie or some other realm/dimension), so there will never be a point when all of the characters move into the new game, but maybe some would wish to "do it all over again" and try to see if they can make it work out better the second time. I haven't fully decided on how it might be used in the story yet, but I have some ideas.

Helena only cheers on her home lot, but I use the hula mod to make her do it all the time now. The game helped to form her character that way, and it really does suit her extreme personality spread (and her taste for mysterious seeds). It's fun when things like that happen.

Thanks, Josh! I don't know if I really did anything special with it, but I'm glad you think so.

I'm going to do a chapter with Jaxy and Zoe pretty soon (after the Stella/Jayne one... and I actually recovered a little of my lost material, I'm happy to say), and I'll pull together all the bits and pieces about Jaxy's overdose and all that, with some backstory on both of them. I realize that I've been telling that part of their story almost entirely in drabbles, extras, and challenge entries, so some people might be left stratching their head. They deserve a little recap (and I'm also really interested in telling the story of Jaxy's tough life).

That cheering glitch was one of the greatest things the game has done for me to date. How could I resist turning it into Helena's seed-powered zest for life? The girl is a bit of a wild card, and that's going to be interesting when she's combined with the other members of the Shifting Paradymes, who are all in some stage of trying to reform and clean up their act a little.

Hippolyta does actually have a pretty significant role to play in this story, small though it may be. Her quest to revive her father just might be successful, with the right guidance. That's all I'll say for now (since it's a pretty big hint).

Well, I'm very happy to be able to provide a welcome distraction for you, and I'm very sorry to hear that you're going through that. I've been going through some difficult times myself, as well as stressful times in general, so I know how the small things can make all the difference. Thanks for reading, and I'm glad it was able to help, even just a little.

I hope you are well, and that things get better for you. Take care of yourself.

Heheh. Thanks. ^_^ He's just asking for it, don't you think?

Nope, she's an original sim. I have some vague notions that she's related to that Peterson woman in the trailer park in Belladonna Cove (I gave her the same last name), but maybe she's just a random homeless person.

Thanks. ^_^ How else can one explain the borked timelines and family connections of Sims 3? Well, I'm sure there are other ways (and I've heard some great theories), but this one makes the most sense to me. The prequel is really coming off as a re-imagining of those characters to me, more than anything, so that's how I'm taking it.

The resemblance to Brandi is purely sartorial. She's still back in her trailer park in Pleasantview at this point in time. It's just that those basegame clothes are the best I could do for something that looks like it came from a thrift store or was otherwise given away (those pants, especially). I guess that's why they also suit Brandi so well.

Thank you. ^_^

Thanks. ^_^ I'm glad people seem to be liking the idea. It's a lot of fun and it really helps me to make some degree of sense from all of the canon info from the various games (which is no easy feat, so I'm pretty pumped about it).

Helena has already made a bit of an appearance in a shorter story thing (it's called Nice to Meet You, and you can find it under the Strangetown tag or in the story directory), but I guess this really is the first "official" chapter entry that she's been in. She'll be showing up again fairly soon.

Thanks. ^_^ I'm glad you like it.

Don't expect any huge changes just yet, but bits and pieces of the new game may leak in to this one. I don't intend to actually move the whole story to the new game (now more than ever, I'm not really interested in doing that), but this does give me the option to do so with a character or two, so the option to make a spin-off story is there when I feel the need to move on.

I'm more interested in what it's like to STAY in an old world/game, when many around you are jumping on a bandwagon to be transported to another one. The sims of S,HWC have their own concerns that are very much grounded in Sims 2 (the alien thing, most obviously), so that story will be told as far as I want to tell it in the context of Sims 2.

After that, if I decide to have someone go for it and be reborn to try it all again, well then that will be a new thing altogether (or maybe I'll just take up a premade from Sims 3 under this same idea and do that, some combination of the two, or maybe nothing at all... I have no idea if I want to go there yet).

Heheh. I'm glad someone else finds it sort of frightening. I'm kinda with Zoe on that one. I'd definitely be running away, but slowly, to avoid drawing attention from Humble. :P

The scenery in Sims 3 is gorgeous. It sort of makes up for some of the drawbacks (like the hideously frightening toddlers. *shudder shudder shudder* I will NEVER get used to them, because their faces are too adult-looking).

Oh, well don't worry. I have no intention to move this story over to Sims 3. I'm leaving an option there to possibly do a spin-off, if someone wants to take the bait and be reborn to start it all over again (but will they? or will they be happy to live out their current, imperfect lives, mistakes and all? There's the real question).

So, yeah... I AM sticking to Sims 2, more or less. I'll be dropping in some references to the new game in the context of this one, but the story of S,HWC lives and dies in the Sims 2 universe. You have no worries there. ;)

Thank you. ^_^ It'll be fun to play around with it, I think, and I'm glad people are finding it sort of novel.

Thanks for reading!

Ok, Mr. Humble as a S3 prophet? BRILL. (Though, with the name, that's prolly was Maxis was hinting at...)

I'm suddenly VERY uncomfortable with the idea of Helena and Ripp being anywhere near each other. Sure she'll help Phi out, but the kid screams "bad influence".

And Helena around Jax. That little drug like seed may be bad news for everyone.

Nice. I love these kinds of side stories.

And sims3 could be fertile ground for dreams. You always make such nice dream sequences.

(but part of me really wants Humble to be a cult leader, I do so enjoy a good cult)

I love this whole 'cult' concept, very cool way to bring TS3 into the mix, and the dream sequence was a great idea too. :D

So, how did you end up making Mr. Humble?

I find it just a tad ironic that while Zoe wasn't interested, Helena was, but Humble only approached the former, while the latter overheard.

I guess the rebirth aspect depends on where you are your life, and where you want to be. Fortunately Sims like Frances will have enough sense to not make the rebirth.

I'm sensing that Jaxy OD'd on something, yes?

Mr. Humble's dialogue, with pieces along the lines of "if we don't adapt, we'll be left behind" remind me of so many Simmers who thought "EVERYONE'S GONNA LEAVE TS2 BEHIND OMGGG." Well, I'm not budging for a long long time.

Heheh. Thanks. I'm having fun with it. (And you know he's actually a real guy, right? Yeah, it's like I'm writing rp fiction, except not at all, because I know nothing about the actual Rod Humble.)

Yeah, you have a legitimate point there. Not to mention their crazy super monster level of chemistry. Ripp will be lucky to find a pair of pants with a secure enough zipper to keep his junk from getting free. Maybe he needs a chastity belt.

I.. I don't know how I'd react.. I know how some of my characters would react - James Luther would be interested and still be cautious, but seeing as he can make his own worlds, probably would take down the offer and stick with TS2, wheras Laurence Market/Lurker Maker would jump at the chance to get rid of his old mind, polluted with thoughts of his alive ex-girlfriend while he roamed the world, dead, trying to escape his own brain.. Well, Yea, I don't know how I would take it; Suddenly living again in a world perfect and detailed to the extreams. A world that is open and unlimited... It sounds like the Narnia Series' ideas of Afterlife/Heaven to be true!!

I need To get my game sorted - I *know* it should be looking better than what it does now. My Skins look fugly, and I can't help to think that there is something wrong with my Shading.. *shrugs* I'll work on it when I'm not so busy!!

Yay! Thats great :D I had an idea for a scene or chapter involving Phi.. I might write it out and post it on my Personal!LJ and make it Public so you can see it or just post it to my Sim!LJ and put it behind a cut and give full warning! (LOL)

I wonder if they just dissapear from the 2Universe and are reborn in the 3universe or do they remain in the 2universe and just..hang about...? OHhere is an idea, What would happen when the 2universe is forgotten? When the sun becomes dark and rules and law is broken forever, when the imperfect world becomes angry because the didn't listen to the strange man telling them to join his lifeboat off a skining ship..
WELL I HOPE YOU HAVE FUN WITH THAT :D *grinz*

Yeah, you're right, but at least she's not Gunnar, right? *snicker*

Thanks. I like doing them. I sometimes feel like I go off on too many tangents, but ahh well... nobody ever said this was going to be concise and to the point.

Yeah, totally. Dreams and visions. It'll be fun and trippy in that "I dreamt your face was all fleshy and pudding-y and it scared the crap out of me" sort of way. (And thank you.)

Well, it's a little fanatical, so that'll have to do. I've considered varying degrees of cultishness for this, but I probably won't go into too much detail (unless I feel a tangent coming on... sort of like a sneeze).

Thanks. ^_^ I'm glad you think so. I'm sure it'll be fun to play around with this idea.

I don't know, it was just eerie and haunting, in a way, they matter of fact way that Humble was saying it really connected with me, on an odd level.

That will be delicious. I actually thought it was cool that you never really focused on them, it made it seem like they were living lives outside of the Trio's, which is always good. You don't want to be known only by your connections, right? (No one wants to be "So and so's BFF forever.)

I can't wait to see it then. I'm very interested in seeing what's going to go down.

I did it the ridiculous way. I bred with him using InSIM until I finally got a kid that was a clone of him (at least 4 generations in, I think). It was amusing, at least. (Yes, I know I always do things the hard way.)

Well, maybe Humble had a reason to not approach Helena. Maybe her kind isn't even welcome... dun dun DUN. Or maybe he already had a hook in that other lady, so he was too busy reeling in the line.

Frances would never believe in such nonsense. You have no worries about him.

Yeah, she overdosed. I actually did write about it here, but I'm sure a lot of people missed it because it wasn't in an official chapter. I'm going to recap on that a little in an upcoming chapter, so it all makes more sense.

(I need to do a recap in general, I think, and I'm thinking about it.)

Yeah, there's a bit of a parallel there, for sure. These are the end times. *cues more ominous music*

At first, Humble really, really creeped me out - the coming of Sims 3 seemed ominous. People being left behind? Hooo . . but then Helena steps up to the plate later, and it turned more hopefull.

Either way, an awesome way to integrate Sims 3! And it's so good to see that Jax is recovering.

That sort of reminds me of something I once did in a testing hood. I stuck four Sims on a lot and bred them with anyone who walked by. After each Sim gave birth to 2 kids each (bringing the total Sims on the lot to 12) I moved out the 4 parents and the 4 children I found the least interesting. And then I repeated. Rod was one of the first to walk by (to deliver the Computer of Salvation, of course). His daughter was, uh, interesting. A bit awkward as a toddler, but she smoothed out well. On top of all that, her skin was green, despite neither parent having green skin, because that green skin was an improperly geneticized skin I got with a downloaded Sim.

Didn't you know? Not everyone can earn salvation. You have to be chosen first, before you can even try.

I probably skipped over it, considering it was posted just over a year ago, way before I started reading. I'll go read it now, because you were nice enough to give a link :)

He works at Maxis, right? I know they tossed a bunch of employee names in the various hood...

Now I have to go back to her first appearance to see if you told us who raised Hel and Lyta after the dad went splat. D:

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Strangetown, Here We Come: Chapter 32.5

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