Strangetown: Chapter Six
Nov. 22nd, 2007 10:26 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
strangetomato
Warning: sexual situations (but the teaser image may have tipped you off already), violence.
Chapter Six
Pascal hadn't been able to sleep, and by the early morning hours, the reason for this become very clear to him.
He was in labour.
Pascal was all about documenting new experiences, but this was a little much, even for him. His plans to take notes were quickly cast aside, even the mental notes.
His cries of pain caught the notice of his brothers, who were already awake and in the middle of an early morning chess game. They rushed into his bedroom to add to the panic and confusion.
They weren't particularly helpful, but having them there put Pascal at ease. It was always comforting to have Vidcund excitedly stammering out directions, and Lazlo slowly racking his brain for ideas, none of which were any good. They at least provided enough of a distraction to take Pascal's mind off the pain.
Before long, it was all over.
There she was. His daughter had been born. Lola had been right. It was a girl, and she did have Pascal's nose and the pale green skin of the aliens, just as Lola had predicted. Pascal held his baby and looked into her attentive eyes.
It was love at first sight.
"Oh, she's so sweet!" Lazlo exclaimed, "Like a little mint candy!"
Pascal had thought of many names for the baby, some female, some male, and a number that would work for both. He'd spent hours researching, and compiling lists, and weighing the pros and cons methodically. All of that was forgotten as soon as Lazlo spoke, because they all immediately knew that her name would be Mint.
"Yes, a little Mint." Pascal smiled. "She's absolutely perfect."
He felt like a different person. He was holding his daughter. His own child. She looked at him intently with her dark eyes. He wondered momentarily about her pollinator, who would most likely remain a mystery to them both. What he would know about him, or her, would be limited to the ways that Mint differed from him.
"I can't believe she's finally here." said Vidcund. "It's suddenly much more real, isn't it?"
"You're a father, Pascal!" Lazlo exclaimed. "Do you feel like an old man yet?" Mint's eyes searched around to see where the different voices were coming from.
"Don't mind them." Pascal addressed Mint. "Your uncles are a little odd, aren't they? They mean well, though. You'll see. We're all a little odd around here."
He placed her in the crib that had been waiting for her for weeks. He'd been waiting for her for so long. Lazlo and Vidcund continued to murmer with excitement.
Lazlo noticed something moving outside. "Ummm, Pascal? There's some weird looking guy outside."
"What does he look like?"
"He's thin... very pale... and he has... a mohawk?"
"Oh my god! That's Nervous! The young man that Loki's been testing on."
Pascal had told his brothers all about it, of course. They had been nearly as outraged as he had been. Vidcund had prodded Pascal for more details about what Loki had said about him specifically, but Pascal knew he really didn't need to hear it, so he'd glossed over most of the details. Vidcund had asked about Circe too, as he always did, with his usually look of resigned regret. Circe and Vidcund had once been best friends, though it seemed like a lifetime ago, and he still cling to the memory of what he had thought was a very driven, yet worthwhile woman. Pascal didn't entertain conversations about Circe for very long, and he wished his brother would just forget that she had ever existed.
Nervous paced back and forth, trying to decide whether he should ring the doorbell or not. What if Pascal wasn't happy to see him there? It had been a major risk on his part to come over here, and not just the physically risk that was posed by Loki and Circe. Nervous worried that Pascal would be angry, or even worse, that he would ignore him entirely.
As he stood there in the darkness, the sun began to rise. Pascal watched Nervous through the window for a few moments, wondering about him. What had this poor sim been through? What was going through his mind? Pascal was sure that he couldn't even begin to understand the inside of Nervous' mind.
Pascal opened the door and went outside.
Pascal reached out to Nervous, carefully, to give him a hug. It was clear that Nervous was fairly unfamiliar with the gesture, since he really didn't seem to know what to do. He eventually placed his hands on Pascal, with obvious reservations.
"How are you, Nervous? Are you okay?"
"Yes."
"What brings you over here? Is there a problem?" There was that concern again.
"No, I..." Nervous lowered his gaze. "I just wanted to see the baby."
Pascal smiled. "Well, your timing is perfect. She just arrived. She's down for a nap right now, though, but please... make yourself at home." Nervous didn't need to be told twice.
They talked for a while about the delivery, and Pascal was uncharacteristically whimsical about it. He embellished some of the details, since Nervous' eyes widened with every word. Nervous had very sad eyes. Pascal had noticed this about him right away. But when he spoke about the baby, Nervous' dark eyes seemed to brighten, and Pascal found that he wanted this more than almost anything else. Getting Nervous Subject to smile was no easy feat.
After some insistance on Pascal's part, Nervous came inside to have lunch. It was pizza, since the Curious brothers were hopeless in the kitchen. All their years of focus on research had insured that. The pizza delivery service was very familiar with their address.
They sat and silently ate their pizza. Pascal was thinking about what he should do about Nervous. He felt obligated to do something, but he was at a loss for what the best solution to this problem would be. Loki was right about his lack of resources, and his lack of time. Nervous would obviously require a lot of attention, and he wasn't sure that he would be able to provide it. And if he tried to take Nervous in, would it bring the wrath of the Beakers down upon him? He did have Mint's safety to consider now too.
At the same time, he felt that he was guilty of condemning Nervous to suffering if he did nothing.
Pascal was torn. He had an idea of what he wanted to do, which was impulsive and rash, but he knew that this was most likely a very bad idea. He wasn't used to trusting his feelings over his rationality, but every time he looked at Nervous, he couldn't help himself. This was someone who truly needed his help.
In true Pascal style, he would wait a while before acting. If there was anything that required a well thought out plan, this was it.
Nervous hung around their house for a quite some time that day, wandering about the yard, talking to stray animals. He really was a very strange character. Pascal didn't disturb him, figuring that some unsupervised time would do Nervous a lot of good.
Inside, Pascal was putting his pajamas back on. He had resigned himself to a less exacting sleep schedule for the next little while, and since he had stayed awake all night, it only made sense to sleep now, while Mint was down for a nap too.
Pascal touched Mint's little head. She really was perfect.
He heard Nervous enter the room, quietly. He didn't say anything, but Pascal could tell that Nervous was very interested in seeing the baby.
"Do you want to hold her, Nervous?" Nervous did, but he was afraid that he wouldn't know how.
"Yes, but..."
"It's okay. I'm right here. You just support her head, like this, and hold on to her carefully. Do you think you can do that?"
"Yes."
Pascal handed her to Nervous. She was so tiny and beautiful, Nervous couldn't help but smile.
"See? It's not so hard." Pascal said. "I think she likes you!"
Holding the baby like that, Nervous felt very happy. His heart felt so large that he imagined he could easily reach into his chest and pick it up, pull it out, and show Pascal just how happy it was. It seemed to beating a lot louder and faster, yet he felt strangely calm.
Nervous felt calmer than usual, and more normal, while holding Mint. "I would never be able to guess that you've never held a baby before, Nervous." Pascal said. "You're really good at it."
Nervous just smiled, his gaze transfixed on Mint.
"She's very pretty."
"Isn't she?" Pascal beamed with pride. "I know that every parent thinks that their own child is the most beautiful thing the world has ever seen, so I'm hardly impartial... but I think she's just perfect."
"She is." Nervous said, and he placed her into the crib once more.
I have to go now." He said. "I have to get back." Pascal looked worried.
"Are you sure? Are you sure you'll be okay?"
"Yes, I think so." And without further comment, Nervous turned and left.
Pascal tried to put the worries out of his mind, and curled up in his bed. Mint seemed to be awake again now, but he thought he'd let the uncles get some much needed practice, while he got some much needed rest.
Being an uncle seemed to bring out the best in Lazlo. It even had him using the fridge for something other than storing leftover pizza. He picked Mint up an toted her around effortlessly, and she never cried when Lazlo held her. Vidcund figured that even a baby could benefit from Lazlo's calm.
This had been a very eventful week for Lazlo, since things were also beginning to heat up between him and Crystal Vu.
He decided that it was time to advance to the next level, so he called her up for a dinner date.
They took a cab into Sim City, to the trendy new restaurant, Londoste. Lazlo knew that this would impress Crystal, a woman of exquisite taste. She appreciated the finer things in life, and Lazlo hoped that he could deliver them. Lazlo still wasn't sure how he'd managed to catch her attention over other, classier men.
Crystal was attracted to Lazlo for that very reason. He wasn't like all those other guys. He was fun to be around, and it more than made up for his lack of refinement.
Crystal Vu was the most beautiful woman that Lazlo had ever met. She had icy blue eyes, a perfect complexion, and long golden hair. She was spellbinding. He hung on every word that passed through her beautiful lips.
The date went rather well.
Very, very well. Lazlo invited her back to his place.
Lazlo had convinced his brothers that buying a hot tub was a necessary indulgence, that it would help to clear their heads after long hours of research, but this was what he was really hoping to get out of it. Like the way that owning a telescope led to an abduction, the hot tub was his ticket to romance.
Crystal seemed to agree. They relaxed and got cozy.
Lazlo hadn't been blessed with an abduction like his brothers had, but he was getting a lot more action than they were, in the more traditional way.
Crystal was a lot of fun, and Lazlo was really taken with her. He wasn't sure if she was quite as serious about their relationship as he was, but he intended to find out. He was hoping that she would move in with him. Him, and all of his brothers, and their alien children.
Lazlo didn't even think twice about the details, and how odd they might sound to Crystal. It seemed normal enough to him.
Nervous returned to the Beaker mansion after visiting Pascal. The house would be empty, he knew, since Loki and Circe would still be at work. He had planned ahead. Leaving had been reckless, but he wasn't stupid. He had carefully timed his visit to make sure that the Beakers wouldn't notice that he'd left.
Even so, he felt very apprehensive as he approached the entranceway.
The silence reassured him. If Circe or Loki were around, he would hear them.
Yet Nervous didn't hear Loki and Circe approach him from behind the doors. They were very careful about it. Very calm.
"Why, hello, Nervous." Circe said, "How nice of you to finally join us. I take it that you've had a nice visit with the Curious brothers?" Nervous felt his blood turn to ice. He stopped, but did not turn around.
"Circe," Loki said, "I'm going to start making lunch. Why don't you have a little talk with the boy?"
"Yes, Loki. I'd love to."
Circe descended on him like a swarm of bees.
"How dare you! After all we've done for you!" Circe slapped him in the face. Nervous cowered, hoping that the proper amount of submission would settle her down before things got out of hand. He was wrong.
"I work hard to make money, and all you do is consume, consume, consume! You don't even appreciate it! " She shoved and hit him with surprising force. "The only thing we ask of you is that you stay away from those nosy meddlers! You can't return us this one common courtesy!"
Nervous said nothing.
"You don't seem to realize how good you really have it here! Maybe you need to be reminded... " Circe snarled. Nervous found himself being dragged through the mansion, and into the laboratory. He didn't struggle, and he didn't make a sound. He knew that he'd have to take whatever Circe was going to dish out, and he just hoped it would all be over soon.
She ushered into the one machine that Loki had never used on him. That, in itself, was enough to worry him. If Loki thought it was something best saved for special occasions, it must be very frightening indeed.
"That's a good boy. Now step inside." He placed his foot into the ankle-deep water, which was icy cold. Circe continued to instruct him.
"Now hold onto the handles. Tightly now. You'll want to get the full effects, of course. It'll do you a lot of good, Nervous Subject."
Once Circe had said that, Nervous started to panic. He didn't let on, of course, but he startled to tremble uncontrollably. Then he felt the machine beginning to take effect.
A powerful surge of electricity shot through his body. He burned all over. Then, it felt as if he was freezing, and all of his energy was leaving him. He was being sucked dry. His thoughts, hopes, and fears, everything was disappearing. The machine was after both his body and his soul.
Circe looked on. She was calm and serene.
He had managed to remain silent all that time, but now, finally, his screams echoed through the mansion.
Then it finally stopped. Nervous took one final gasp, and fell forward.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Nervous." Circe said in a soft motherly voice. "I had no idea that would happen. Let me help you, honey... What do you need? A glass of milk? Can I tuck you into bed, Nervous? Just say the word." She looked on, smiling.
Nervous lay silent and unconscious on the cold stone floor.
"So, nothing, then?" she purred, "Well, then have it your way." Circe started laughing uncontrollably.
"Oh, silly me! You can't answer me, can you? Who'd have thought that machine would suck so much life out of you?"
"You really shouldn't have done that, Nervous Subject. Now you're going to have to pay, I'm afraid. I simply cannot tolerate disobedient children."
Circe turned and left the room with a smile on her face. "Oh, that smells lovely, Loki, my love. I hope you didn't make too much, though. It seems as if Nervous won't be joining us for lunch today."
Nervous heard none of this. For now, his mind was quiet. This was a temporary blessing, for the worst was yet to come.
(Continue to Chapter Seven...)
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2007-11-27 12:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-11-27 12:19 pm (UTC)That´s a bloody good idea. Go me and Pascal! ^_^
no subject
Date: 2007-11-27 12:24 pm (UTC)Pascal's going to turn to another gal who's got a level head in tough situations. She might be able to help him develop a plan.
no subject
Date: 2007-11-27 01:11 pm (UTC)My life is always a risk ;P
But I don´t really want to get added to your story. I´d be too jealous if Pascal´s going to look at other gals... ^_^
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Date: 2007-11-27 01:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-11-27 01:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-11-27 01:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-11-28 02:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-11-28 02:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-11-28 03:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-11-28 03:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-11-28 03:24 pm (UTC)