Strangetown, HWC: Mirror, Mirror

[strangetomato]

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the fairest of them all? Who's the most glamourous? The most dangerous?

Who has the power?






Dina smiled back at her reflection.



It had been disappointing that Don hadn't been there to see her, she thought as she fussed with her hair. He'd probably already left town. Nina hadn't been there either. The damn fool probably went after him.

She could have him, as far as Dina was concerned. Nina deserved him. Dina had no time for the Dons of the world. They were too messy. Too easy. Too obvious.

She liked her men mysterious. Wise. She like them with more subtlety.

The funeral had been much what she'd expected. They'd all looked, gasped. How dare she wear that dress? So glamourous. So familiar. They'd stared and whispered. Alexander, remote as always, had barely said a word to her.

They'd all watched, gawking, to see if she'd shed a tear. She didn't. She never did. Not at that funeral, nor Michael's, nor her father's. She never cried. It wasn't that she wasn't devastated, but she'd never give anyone the satisfaction of knowing it.

She remembered her father, lying in the casket, just like that. Eyelids shut, never again to betray his secret, for all the good it did him after death.




She remembered those eyes. Those dark secrets he hid behind his sunglasses, only rarely glimpsed. People thought he wore them for character. For the mystery. In that respect, the glasses had served him well. They gave him an unknowable, dangerous edge. Combined with his unnatural strength and his fearlessness, he'd risen quickly in the ranks of the family business.

The mystery had also been his downfall.

But Dina's memory was long, and her grudges long-held. Those who crossed her lived to never know what hit them. She'd had the last laugh. For her father, and for herself. She always did.

She thumbed the necklace at her neck. A family heirloom. Didn't want me in your family, did you? Well look at me now.

She always got what she wanted.

Comments

[smjosh1218.livejournal.com]

Dina is so fierce, I loved this entire thing. I especially love all the covert references to "the family business".

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Josh! I'm glad you liked it. There's more than one way to take Dina, but I've always leaned towards this angle. It's all a bit too deliberate to be mere coincedence that they showed up just as Bella disappeared.

Then her LTW sealed the deal for me, leading me to the "family business" idea. I love when LTWs shape a storyline for you like that. That's what's so much fun about a sim story.

[vallicious.livejournal.com]

I'm a lurker, kinda, (I love SHWC) and I just wanted to say that this was awesome. I love how much you flesh out the sparse Maxis backstory.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I really love taking the clues and suggestions in the game and running with them. (My only concern is with contradicting myself somewhere along the line, but I'm trying not to worry about that too much, since the game does it anyway at points.)

For the Calientes, there's that wonderful alien history, that family album photo that shows them all unhappy and without their father, and the fact that before she went after Mortimer, Dina had been married to Bella's brother, and was Mortimer's sister in law via marriage. It's such a layered story, when you start to examine it.

Thanks for reading, and for taking the time to delurk. ^_^

[katee412.livejournal.com]

This is just extraordinary, it amazes me how multifaceted you've made this despite the short length.

Now I feel silly for not letting my Dina be this awesomely resolute ;)

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I've developed her story more fully than this, but I think it's interesting to reveal it this way, leaving out many of the facts and details for later. No doubt we'll be seeing more of Dina as this mystery continues to unravel.

heheh. I've never really given Dina her due in the past, since I usually ignore her when playing Pleasantview (my previous Mortimers have never married her), so I guess she's making up for lost time. This version of Dina more or less demanded to be (one of) the brains behind the whole plot.

[petchy-14.livejournal.com]

Oh you did it again! Normally, I hate Dina's guts, Really - I almost hate her - but here where you showed her childhood and such.. Kinda made me feel sorry for her. Dang. (LOL!)
So Pleasentview used to be Mob-city? Black suits, Black Cars, and Black Sunglasses? Thats new!! And infact I do like it, mainly because it shows a difference of Pleasentview and TS3's Sunset Valley. Someone really needs to make a S3 Pleasentview or Strangetown (How awesome would it be with La Fiesta Tech or Bluewater Village attatched to the end?! Bluewater was *MADE* for TS3 xD)

Anyway, Great Mini-Update ^_^

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

That's funny, because I was also never much of a Dina fan, but she's growing on me in her own way. She's not exactly the sort of character you root for, but I do get a bit behind watching her do her thing, and it's been interesting to give her reasons for her actions, as warped as they may be.

In my version of things in this story, the Calientes actually come from East Veronaville (where the Montys live), since the storyline dictates that they and Don moved to town just before Bella vanished. The palm trees do mirror those of the part of Pleasantview they moved to, so it's a nice visual consistency (though a touch confusing, I guess).

As for the suits and cars and sunglasses, you'll notice that certain other prominent families in Veronaville are prone to wearing suits as well. ;) I think it works out pretty well, since the details of what exactly the "business" career relates to is left very much up in the air.

It would be rather cool to see some of the Sims 2 hoods converted for Sims 3. Are there many new neighborhoods being created, now that CAW has been released? I haven't really been following it.

Thank you, and thanks for reading! ^_^ I might get around to a real update pretty soon. This was a bit of a warm up for getting back into it.

[petchy-14.livejournal.com]

Ah, now if it WERE actually Pleasentview then it would be funnier because it would be totally turned on its head; however, we were you know know that somehow and suddenly the storyline that the Goths were the center of Pleasentview wasn't true with the coming of TS3?! xD
I do, now you mention it, see the resemblance between them and Veronaville now - however, I thought VV was quite away into the distance as is Strangetown? Main reason I say this is because they have their own accent - which IIRC sounds like a typical midlands/south English mixed with a little hint of more easter European? Or something to that effect? Or maybe that was another story... Its odd how most people automatically assign "English" to Veronaville, just because of the Shakespeare and Architecture style... Also kind of cool though :)

I have little to no idea about whats happening in regards to 'hoods for Sims 3. The Exchange obviously is churning out them, but its generally a bad idea because they probably haven't thought to include the handy things like spawners, lots, roads, etc. MTS2 is set on the job - however, only heard whispers about making S2's 'hoods. Would be really cool to use the same time line and have ST set in the day's of the General's Childhood! Does he have any Siblings at all? mmmm~

Thanks for the Mini-update non the less!! Work yourself up to it, it gets the juices flowing and the words will just flow from your tongue :D

[Also, just a general question - how far off from the end are we, in your eyes? Half way? More? Just Curious!]

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Haha, that's true. I've taken the view that Sims 3 is an alternate history, so I'm not too worried about the inconsistencies there (and you'll see more on that later in the story).

Part of the reasoning for choosing Veronaville being where the Calientes and Don come from is in their surnames and Nina's bio mentions her "Mediteranean roots" and East Veronaville has a very Mediteranean vibe, which relates to the setting of Romeo and Juliet as opposed to the English setting of West Veronaville, which seems to relate to Shakespeare's England in its architectural style, as you said. (I don't think it's odd that people read that, since it strikes me as a somewhat obvious reference.) I do see Veronaville as being far away in the same sense that England is "across the pond" from North America, even though I think of those places as sim equivalents and not really anything exactly like our world. In the same way, I view Riverblossom Hills as a sort of Canada equivalent, with its two seasons of Winter. :P

I would say that things are about halfway in the story. We're getting very close to the major turning point, so that'd be a good midway mark for the story as a whole.

[petchy-14.livejournal.com]

I love our in depth discussions about the universe of S,HWC.. I think its really funny how much we talk about where things are and what this and that refer to! *grinz*

Ahhh, S3 as an alternate timeline, or an AU so to speak. Thats different to how I imagined it.. but it works better. I do wish that they wern't so flimsy with the whole natural Timeline, [I mean, in TS1 there was no name and little structure, so they could do whatever they wanted for TS2 in regards to that, but in TS3 it felt like we were told to ignore TS2 altogether.. as though it was a 'flop'.] and stuck to some roots.

Its odd, but for some weird reason, I find Veronaville almost a separate thing entirely from the ST and PV string.. funnily enough. So I think you doing some throwbacks and ties to there will be wicked, as long as you make sure that you keep it divided as well.
I see Riverblossom hills as a more Scotland area, however, South east of Pleasentview, and inwards. Strangetown FAR, FAR west and Veronaville somewhere entirely different.. I should draw them all out one day :D
Do you have any placement ideas?

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's fun how we can get so sucked into the world building side of things like that, but I find it fascinating to work out my own take on it all, even the geography.

I love how your version is a decidely more European approach, woth Riverblossom Hills being more of a Scotland equivalent, which makes so much sense if you're going to view Pleasantview as England (and it makes complete sense that you would use that as your own point of reference). Does than mean you're viewing Strangetown as if it were in the Middle East, in a sense? :P

I've tended to go along with the U.S.-ish vibe for Strangetown (like Roswell) and Pleasantview (seems California-ish, maybe?), even though I think I'd give them a different geography than a straight immitation of the real world analogies I have for them. As I said, I see them as their own thing, even though I sort of connect them to real world places in overall theme.

I was working on a simple map for it all at one point. I should look into it again, especially now that I've been thinking about Twikkii Island and how it would relate to Wanmami Island and Felicity Island from Castaway stories.

[petchy-14.livejournal.com]

Oh nooooooo, Pleasentiew is definitely NOT England! Like how you said, I find the Sims in their own world entirely with their own geography.. like Pokémon! [LOL]
I kinda see Strangetown as the Middle East, but I think it makes much more sense if its actually IN America because of the whole Roswell reference it gives. Veronaville is more Italy for me, I guess.
Pleasentview, for me, COULD be in England.. but I couldn't imagine some of the things which happen in there actually being over here. It gives an American vibe to it, for sure, but I feel it has throwbacks to almost every culture in itself. So I think it as being a more Universal Town with different nationalities in it than actually one of its own. The Pleasents, and the Brokes, are 'Native' and more American, wheras the Goths I see as being Long-Term English Settlers.

Like you, I see them as their own, but with hints and aspects of real world stuff. Maybe thats what TS3 has is actual cultural references to real world places, but TS2 lets you be imaginative.. mmm

Oh? I'd love to see it - I did a little searching for an old thread I had once which discussed the whole geography thing and had little dots and such for where places felt like they went.. but I have lost it, and its nowhere to be found. Oh well... those images needed to be burninated anyway xD
I think Twikki Island is west of PV, North east of ST, and Wanmami/Felicity/"MysteryRomanceIsland" are kinda north of that.. mm...

SUPER FAST SKETCHY MADE WITH THE PENCIL TOOL REPRESENTATION:

http://i47.tinypic.com/29z5rbs.jpg

I'll let you guess which places are which!!
^_^

[a-gates.livejournal.com]

Awesome!!! I loved it, especially how you can create such a story line with so few images and words. That's just rad.

In my game Dina married Mortimer as well. And then he died and she was left in charged of a very angry Alexander (they had negative relationship score) and yet when Alexander transitioned into an adult they had two bolts & I would catch both of them constantly checking the other one out on freewill... Anyhow
Great job! :D

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Thanks. ^_^ I think the key with this one was the fact that I do have the story fleshed out in great detail, but have only revealed certain details. There's so much more I want to say, but the time isn't right yet.

My Dina is terrible for that too! Heheh. She's actually slept with Alexander because of ACR (whether or not that's part of the story... heheh, I doubt it), and she slept with Dustin Broke too, among many others. She certainly gets around!

Pleasantview really is just a big soap opera, isn't it? :P

[a-gates.livejournal.com]

Which is why the twins are on the (Sim) TV :p

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Indeed. :) It makes sense!

[a-gates.livejournal.com]

What I find a bit weird is that when the twins are watching themselves on tv. O_o and that they enjoy it xD I'm thinking: are their egos that big or are they just that dumb... lol.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Haha! Yeah, I love that. It's so meta.

I like to think of them as actresses who act on a the soap opera, Pleasant View, which is a slightly exaggerated version of the actual story of the town. It amuses me.

[a-gates.livejournal.com]

That sounds like a good theory and is probably correct. I can just hear the twins arguing about who is the bigger star.

[poppyperson.livejournal.com]

Wow, this is really good. I'm guessing the funeral gown she ore was Bella's at Mortimer's funeral?

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Thanks. ^_^ She actually had it altered, as shown, so it was part of a different dress, but yes, it was made form one of Bella's dresses (somehow, I imagine Bella as one of those cartoon people with a closet full of identical red dresses — she's just that iconic).

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

It's time for me to be humbled by your generous comment! ^_^ Thank you. I'm looking forward to continuing with a new update soon. It's been too long.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Heheh. I've missed writing it, but sometimes you just lose the muse for a time. It's encouraging to know that people are looking forward to an update, so it really helps to hear that. Thank you! ^_^

[sullivansims.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com)]

This was wonderful. I always love your takes on the Maxis characters and I'm intrigued to see how Dina will fit into SHWC.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Thank you. You'll see how these pieces of the puzzle fit with the pieces in Strangetown soon enough.

[80sfiend.livejournal.com]

Yay Dina!!! :D I love her. :) She is always so fabulous to play for me. I love what you're doing with her, you are an amazing storyteller as usual :)

[oojijay.livejournal.com]

Sorry this is so much later, and I don't know if you'll even see this now, but I loved this wee back story into Dina's life, and wanted to ask where you got her outfit from? I love that it's sort of an altered version of Bella's dress.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Hey, thanks! ^_^ The outfit was created by combining Bella's top with the high waisted skirt by witheredlilies, which can be found here. It's a very useful mesh that can be combined with a number of tops in this way.

[oojijay.livejournal.com]

Oh cool, thanks so much for the link! Off to download :)

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

No problem! :)

[sphynxed.livejournal.com]

Only just saw the alien eyes behind the sunglasses-OMG!

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Ah, I'm glad you caught that! ;) It's my own little addition to the character of Flamenco, since he's sadly lacking in any alien features in-game. I think it's more interesting if he only seems to lack them to the general public, and he does wear those sunglasses...

[stinalotta.livejournal.com]

aaaah I just read through basically all of Strangetown, Here We Come and was trying to decide on where to leave a comment to tell you how much I LOVE it....when I saw this short and I think it's really interesting to see what you made of one of my favorite characters and I might as well comment here. Seriously, my Dina also married Mortimer but only long after gaining permanent platinum status and now I just let her (also permanently pregnant, it seems) run around on freewill and she's one of the most entertaining Maxis sims I have.

Anyway, let me praise you, because I tend to have problems getting into sims stories, but yours not only has well-developed characters and is very well-written, it also made me want to fix my simsgame in order to be able to play again. It also showed me how much I have under-estimated the Strangetown sims. Of all the maxis neighborhoods, it's the one I usually play the least with, but I might have to change that.

Another thing I really like is how you incorporate some of the elements of the actual game, how you don't try and make it seem as if they grow like humans do, no, they have transitions and aspirations and everything.

I couldn't even tell you which one is my favorite character. You have the ability to make the reader care for almost all of them (besides the obviously evil ones), you let them all explain what is going on to make them act the way they act and it never seems implausible.

Anyways, I'll stop gushing now, I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your story :)

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Thank you for this lovely comment and for the kind words you have for my story. You have good timing, because it really meant a lot to me to read this today. It really brought a smile to my face when I needed one. Thank you.

I'm really happy to hear you've enjoyed the story, and especially this Dina short. I think she's a wonderfully interesting character, and I really hope to do her justice in writing.

[kathe smith (from livejournal.com)]

I've been reading your stories since 2009. I loved them so much from the beginning, and it introduced me (and my downloads folder c:) to so many wonderful things. Over the last few months I've re-read S,HWC and it is still awesomely awesome after all this time. This short is especially good, and I just wanted to say thank you for the talent you bring to the Sims community.

*resumes lurking*

Dina's dress

[myshrahayden.livejournal.com]

Hello strange !
Thanks for supporting me in my story, I'm happy to have a friend like you ! ;)
I wanted to know, will Dina's dress be available for download (in a soon future ... ?)

Thanks, and good luck for SHWC,
Myshra Hayden

Re: Dina's dress

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

The skirt is available here. The outfit was created using that high-waisted skirt and Bella's original top (since her dress is actually a matching set of top and skirt).

Re: Dina's dress

[myshrahayden.livejournal.com]

Thanks ! =D