Strangetown: Chapter Twenty-Six - part three

[strangetomato]

 

Warnings: language, sexual situations



Chapter Twenty-Six

Part Three






"Your hair!" She reached out to feel it. "I can't believe it."




"Do you like it?" He asked, anxiously awaiting her approval.




"I do." She liked it even more than she was letting on. Ophelia wasn't the type to show it, but she felt a little flush with so much more Ripp exposed to her. Seeing his ears and his neck, with his entire face revealed, she found herself thinking about what his other hidden parts might look like. "It's really nice. It opens your face up. Makes you look a little brazen, but that's only being honest..."

Ripp smiled, quite pleased with this reaction.




"So, how did it go?" Johnny asked.

"Yeah, did she like them?" Ripp added.




Ophelia's smile said it all. "She loved them. She wants me to bring down everything I have on hand, and she said I could even work there on Saturdays, her busy day. I'll get to learn about running a business, and she's even going to pay me too. It's so exciting."

"Well, I was going to say...," Johnny said, "she should pay you."




Johnny went to the sink and began to rinse out the empty can for recycling. "You should get paid, Phi. That's only fair."




"She's really nice, Johnny. It's all very fair. I think she's being quite generous in her devision of the profits. I have no way to sell them, so this is a start. I can get my name out there too."




"Congratulations, Phi." Johnny turned around and gave her a hug. Ripp hung next to them, like he was looking for a place to jump in. Once Johnny released her, he swept her up in a hug of his own.




"This is great, Phi. I'm so proud of you. We all know your flowers are awesome."

"Thanks, you guys." She turned to go upstairs.




"I'm going to need a hand carrying them over, if you're free to help me."

"I wish I could, but I have soccer practice." Johnny said.

"I told you that was one extra curricular too many."

"I couldn't turn it down. You know that." Sports had always taken priority over all of Johnny's other activities, and he'd be trying to get picked for the Fighting Llamas for ages.




"Yeah, I know," she said, "but Ripp will go with me, right?"

"Well, I'd just be sitting around here with my thumbs up my ass if I stayed, so yeah sure, why not?" He tried to pass it off like he couldn't be bothered either way, but he couldn't keep up the act for long before he gave himself away. If she were talking about heading over to the dump to spend the evening digging through garbage, he'd still be there, following her around and wagging his tail. "Of course I'm going, Phi. Do you even need to ask?"

She really didn't.




Ripp followed Ophelia to her workbench, where she started to gather her work. "I'm so excited, Ripp."

He leaned into her back and ran his hand up her arm. "I'm so proud of you." He rested his head against the back of hers and took a deep breath. She smelled sweet, or was that the flowers? To him, it was one and the same. The smell of flowers, and Ophelia. Both were delicate and beautiful.

Soon he found himself thinking about how the workbench was so conveniently located at about the height of his waist.






He could do some very good work at this bench.




He continued to gently stroke her arm with his fingertips, his mind reveling in the possibilities.

She closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of having him touch her like that, but just for a moment, and then she moved him along.




"Let's hurry up and get this over to the flower shop, okay? Florence closes at five."

"Okay, Phi."






"I'm very impressed with your work, Ophelia," Florence said. They were standing in the middle of her shop, examining the snapdragon bouquets that sat on the counter. "These are even better than in the photos."

"Thank you."

"These are going to be big sellers, I can just tell. Nobody else is selling this sort of thing around here right now. I don't think I've even seen any like this in Sim City."

"I had to grow the flowers myself," Ophelia explained, "since they're expensive and pretty hard to come by."

Florence watched as a puff of faint pink mist rose from one of the bouquets. She'd never witnessed such a thing before. There was something special about these flowers.




"You must be quite a gardener, then, because these are just lovely," Florence said, then paused, glancing over her shoulder. "So who's you're friend?"

"Oh, that's Ripp."

Since Ripp was on the other side of the room, Florence leaned in closer and added. "He's your boyfriend, yes?"

"Oh, no... not really. It's..." Ophelia didn't really know what to say, and she'd feel a little uncomfortable revealing it to Florence, even if she was able to find the right words. Was it really anyone's business, anyway? Maybe not, but she needed to work out a way to explain it to people. She'd probably need to offer them something, if they brought it up.

"It's okay. I understand. Not yet, ah?"




"Something like that," she said.

"Well, he's just darling. I think you should snatch him up as soon as possible." Ophelia wondered if Florence would have had the same opinion of Ripp before he cut his hair. He seemed to have taken a giant leap across some invisible line that marked a type of motherly approval. Now he looked like someone you could take home to meet your parents... not that she'd ever had to worry about that.

Ophelia offered Florence a kind smile.




"Since you'll be helping me out around here, let me show you around the shop a little."

"Okay, Ms. Delarosa."

"Please, dear. Mrs. Delarosa was my mother's name. Florence is fine." Ophelia followed Florence around the shop, listening intently to her every word.




Ripp wandered around, waiting, while Ophelia did her thing. He was careful not to touch anything, since she had given him a stern warning against it before they had entered the shop. Well, it had been stern for Ophelia, which was more like a gentle suggestion, but that was enough.

He liked the way the shop smelled. It was just like Ophelia's bedroom, and that was always a good association for him. He loved to just sit in there, whenever he could, watching Ophelia work on her flowers. He'd often imagine them together, in her bed, with the smell of flowers mixing with the intoxicating scent of her skin, just like it had been that night when he slept there.

He noticed someone looking at one of Ophelia's snapdragon bouquets and wandered towards them.

"You like that?" he asked.

"Yeah, it's nice." The woman seemed interested, but not nearly enthusiastic enough for Ripp. He thought that Ophelia's work deserved much higher praise.




"It's more than nice. This is really something. Just have a closer look..." He directed her in to see it. The woman listened intently, as he detailed the many merits of the bouquet. She seemed to be interested in buying it, but still slightly reluctant about it. Ripp felt compelled to convince her. How could anyone resist Ophelia's flowers?

He soon found himself launching into a routine that would make any casting crew proud. He'd show Johnny. If anyone could put on a good act, it was him.










The impassioned display, and subsequent handshake to close the deal, was not lost on Florence. She viewed this with interest, especially since his conversation had attracted other interested customers, and he had immediately went on to sell another one.

After he finished talking to the woman in the red dress, Florence approached him.




"Do you realize how hard it can be to move those more expensive products?"

"Didn't seem so hard to me... Ophelia makes lovely bouquets. What's not to like?"

Florence was thinking the same thing, but was directing it more at Ripp himself. She was liking what she was seeing very much.




"How would you like to work here on Saturdays too?"

"Me? I don't know anything about flowers..."

"You don't have to touch the flowers at all, darling, as long as you can sell them."




"So, I just talk to people and praise up Ophelia's work? That should be easy."

"That's the idea."

"Well, yeah, sure. Why not?" Ripp certainly couldn't think of any reason not to. It gave him more time with Ophelia, which was his most basic goal in life. He could also use the extra money, now that he wasn't getting playing gigs with his band anymore.

"Great. I'm looking forward to it."




Florence closed up the shop, and saw them to the door.

"Well, it was nice to meet you both," she said, "and I'll see you on Saturday."

"Thank you for everything, Florence," Ophelia said.




"Really, it was my pleasure, dear." Florence smiled, and her whole face lit up. She was one of those people who could win you over with just a smile. "I feel lucky to have met you. This will be great for the shop, and for you too."

"I hope so."

"People are going to love your work." Florence looked at Ripp, who was looking at Ophelia, and she turned to leave. "Well, you kids have fun."

"Take care, Florence," Ophelia said. They looked at each other and walked to the end of the path.




As they waited for the cab to arrive, he reached for her hands, and she allowed him to hold them. The oddness hadn't quite worn off yet, and her heart still leapt a little whenever he touched her like that, with obvious tenderness. Ripp had always touched her, here and there, but never something so definite and intimate as holding her hands. Now they stood there, hand in hand, in the middle of the sidewalk, where anyone could see them.

She looked over at him, and their eyes met. He smiled, but neither of them said anything. Words weren’t necessary. She could see that he was happy for her, and happy to be able to stand there, holding her hands.




Ophelia felt herself smiling too. After several minutes, she spoke.

"That look really suits you."




"Thanks, Phi."




Ripp loved compliments. Sure, most people did, but him especially. It likely stemmed from all those years where he heard Tank getting praised while he was only criticized. He loved to get attention in any form at all, but never more than when it came from Ophelia. He all but lived for her approval.

He wanted to please her and make her happy. Standing there, with the sun shining down, and a smile on Ophelia's face, he was exactly where he wanted to be.




They were easing into something more than just friends, and those small things were significant. Holding her hands was thrilling enough, for now. The rest could come later. Some things were more than worth the wait.

Still, he kept a condom in his pocket, just in case, waiting for that moment when he could finally become her lover. You could never be too ready, right? He could, and would, do it anytime, in any place. She just had to say the word. If she told him she wanted to fuck him right there in the street, in front of Florence Delarosa's flower shop, he'd just smile and start taking off his clothes.




"A penny for your thoughts," she said.

"I was just thinking how beautiful you are... and sexy... and how I'm lucky to be holding your hands right now." He took her hand and dramatically planted a kiss on it.




"Oh, Ripp. Stop trying to charm the pants off me."

"Well, there's no harm in trying, right?" He grinned. "One of these days, it's going to work, I can just feel it."

"Silly." She smiled. "You're too silly. I could get spoiled by all this attention."

"That's what I'm here for."




"Oh, is that why you're here?" she asked, "I was wondering what purpose you served." She reached for him and slipped her arms around his back. Given this unspoken permission, he eagerly did the same.




"You know, I wouldn't mind it at all if you tried that again... with my lips instead."

"Hmm, really..."

'I wouldn't mind that one bit. You might even say I look forward to it."

"Well, then who am I to deny you?"




The cab showed up before they knew it.




Soon, they were back at the apartment.

In the cab, Ripp had held her hand, but nothing more, even though she had been given the distinct impression that at least one part of his body would have like to do more than that. He was waiting for her to make the first move, she had no doubt. Everything rested on her, and as much as she would have loved to jump him right there in the back of the cab, she was enjoying this feeling of waiting, and of having him wait. Knowing that he wanted her that way, and wanted her badly, was almost unbearably delicious.

The fact that he loved her was even better. She was just waiting for him to say it.










Ripp stepped into the apartment, while Ophelia pulled a couple of stray weeds in the garden.

Johnny was already home, doing push ups in the living room like his life somehow depended on it. That was normal enough for Johnny. It was the sort of thing he did for fun, much to Ripp's bewilderment.




"Hey, guess what, Captain Hero... I'm going to be a salesman at the flower shop on Saturdays."




Johnny stopped pushing up, and silently rose to his feet. He looked at Ripp with a puzzled expression.




"Okay, what the hell is going on? First you get a haircut, and now you have a real job too?"




"Hey, I was always the one with a fucking job! I used to always work those shitty jobs in high school, and the band was like a job too."

"Yeah, that's right. It's was LIKE a job, but not really."

"You know what, Johnny?"

"What?"




"You can be a real dick sometimes." They stared each other down, and then exchanged a begrudging smile.




"Yeah, I know. What are you going to do about it?"

"I'm going to call you a dick."

"YOU'RE a dick."

"You're a dickHEAD."




"Dicksmack."

"Dickwad."

"Dickweed."




"A dick WEED? Really, Johnny? Am I really a fucking weed that grows on someone's dick?" By this point they were already laughing. "Like what — a tumbleweed blowing across a the surface of a dick? A tumbling, tumbling dickweed?"

"Yeah... you're not even a dick. You're just an accessory to a dick."




"I wonder if we could make a bouquet out of dickweeds? We could probably sell those at the flower shop." It was pretty stupid, but they couldn't stop laughing. They nearly fell over with laughter. Ophelia stood in the doorway and watched them in perplexed amusement.






She just shook her head at them, and continued walking into the kitchen.




Boys and their dicks.




"Okay, okay... Enough of this," Johnny said, "I'm going to go do some studying."

"Have fun," Ripp said, and then added, "You big green dickweed."

"Care to join me? We could run some lines, Dorian."

"Yeah, alright. Lead the way, Mr. Gray."






"So how'd your day go?" Edie asked, as Frances finally arrived back at the apartment.




"It was... interesting." Frances mulled it over. "I met someone."

"Oooh, really?"

"Not like that. I just met him, Edie. You know how it is... and he's not really my type anyway."




"Your type is all wrong for you, remember? It wouldn't hurt you to try something new."

"Yeah, well, it's just not like that. He's just..." Frances couldn't finish the sentence.




How would he describe Beau? Surely, he had never met anyone quite like him before. "He's just different, okay?"




Edie smiled, seeing the look on his face. It was subtle, but she was sure that her brother had been more interested than he let on. With Frances, you had to look closely to catch the tiny glimmer in his eye that betrayed him. He didn't like to reveal those things. Luckily, she had years of experience to draw from. "We'll I'm glad you're meeting new people, Frances. That haircut really seems to have made some difference. It suits you, by the way."




"Thanks." He ran his hand through it. "I think so too."




"Oh, and Tank called. I almost forgot."




"Really?" Frances hadn't expected that. He also hadn't expected his heart to still leap at the mention of Tank's name. He wondered how long that would take to go away, or if it ever really would.

"Yeah, he didn't say why. Probably just wondering if you're ever coming back."

"Is that a hint?"




"No, of course not. If you really enjoy sleeping on the couch, you're welcome to stay as long as you want."

"The couch isn't so bad."

"Maybe it's time to go back, though?"

"Yeah... I think it probably is."






"How was work?" Lucy asked.




"Brilliant."

"That good, huh? So I assume you decided to stop stalking him, and actually spoke to Mr. Worthington?"

"I wasn't stalking him, Lucy. I just had my eye on him. Every other time he came in, it was really busy, and I didn't have a chance to talk to him."




"Whatever you say, Sir Stalks-a-lot."

"Okay, yeah, you've got me, Lucy. I'm a dirty stalker, and everyone knows it."

"So, how'd it go?"

"It went very, very well, I think. He's just amazing."

"As good as you expected?"




"Better. He's basically my perfect man. He's hot - that goes without saying - and he's really cute and shy too. You'll love him. He's so cute, Lucy. I'm not sure he knows it yet, but he's totally going to be my boyfriend." Beau had always been a romantic, and he had a particular fondness for the sort of love story where one person pursued the other with a feverish dedication.




"Oh, I have no doubt that he will be, Beau. If I know you at all..."

"And you do."

"Well, I know how much you like to have a project, so that's good. Better than your last one, I hope."




It would be hard to forget the Alexander Goth fiasco.

Lucy couldn't help but notice certain similarities between the two. Beau really did seem to have a type.




"Trust me, Lucy. This one is 100%, genuinely interested in men. He even said so himself."

"Well, that's good to hear. Oh, speaking of projects... Creepy Chester called."




"Oh, Chester the molester? Is my schedule ready?"

Beau had also applied to work at Gieking Out, a store which specialized in gaming and other geeky pastimes. Chester was a nice enough guy, but had a certain socially inept creepiness about him, and the jokes all but wrote themselves.




"Yeah, you can start on Monday. You don't think two part-time jobs might be a bit much?"




"That's how you get ahead in life, Lucy. Constant work. I'd love to just lounge around all day, but where would that get me? Nowhere."






"One of these days, it will be my cash register that's being stuffed to the brim with simoleans. I need to learn everything I can about running a business."




"Just leave yourself some time for your new boy toy, okay?"




"Oh, believe me. I'm factoring that into my schedule." He grinned. "Yeah, It's a top priority." Lucy smiled in return.

"Oh, I have no doubt."

Beau just smiled, playful wiggling his eyebrows, and headed into his bedroom.




He took off his clothes and got ready for bed.




The last thing he thought about as he lowered himself into bed was Frances.








He thought about his pale grey eyes, his crooked nose, and his perfect lips.

He thought about his necktie, so carefully closing his shirt collar, and how effortlessly he could loosen that tie. He thought about his sweater too, which was no doubt expensive, made from fine cashmere. Rich and luxurious, just like Frances himself.




He imagined his hand traveling over the soft fabric, and feeling the body beneath it.

He imagined himself removing it, slowing pulling it up and over Frances Worthington's head, to reveal his silky smooth torso. The sweater discarded, landing in a pile on the floor, just like any other article of clothing, of lesser value.

Without those accoutrements to distinguish them, Frances and Beau would just be two naked boys in a room together.




He imagined a number of other things, and then he drifted into sleep.

---

Notes:

If you know where I went to steal the phrase, "a tumbling, tumbling dickweed," I'll be really pleased.

This has to be my favourite image that I've set up so far in this whole story. I love those expressions and the way that Ophelia is partly obscured by the rose. I feel like that shot really sums up their relationship quite well.

So what do you think? Did I deserve to be censored? :P The truly funny thing is that they censored the second pic, not the first. Yeah, that's right - the close up of Ripp and Ophelia's necks. I guess Phi's semi-exposed rack was just too much for photobucket (sort of like how it's too much for Ripp). That whole scene was added just because I wondered if I could make that shot work. Originally, it was just mentioned, which would have worked too (and maybe better), but there you go. It was a flight of fancy.

I had originally hoped to get the next chapter out too before I left town for all of August, but that won't be happening. That chapter features Nervous Subject in the first person, so it should be a pretty good place to pick back up. It has an ending that's not quite a cliffhanger, but would have left you feeling uneasy, so maybe it's best not to end off that way anyway. Things are really going to start to happen soon, so I look forward to it. Let's see if I can hint at it here in a cryptic way... *rubs hand together*

Someone's greatest fear will be realized, someone will make a difficult choice, someone will change their mind, someone will feel unworthy to fill the role they've been handed, someone will keep a memento to remember someone by, someone will move closer to discovering an awful truth, someone will fall in love, and someone's heart will break.

One or more of these things apply to more than one person. Some of them apply to the same person.

I'm going to enjoy my break, and try to set out a plan of attack for the next few chapters, so I won't write myself into a corner (though it might be impossible, so I may have to figure out how to write my way out instead). I'll probably still be around, but no more Strangetown until September, I think.

Thanks for reading! I really appreciate it.








 

Comments

[hidden-kitten.livejournal.com]

The 'dick' exchange cracked me up, but not as much as seeing PHI give the ol' Johnny eyebrow to the guys. Good lulz!

I'm glad Tank called Frances :)

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Dick exchange... sounds like they're trading hockey cards, or something. :P That whole scene was pretty silly and stream-of-consciousness, and it was really fun to have Phi break out the brow there. She's picking up some of Johnny's habits, I guess.

Yeah, that's a significant detail, isn't it? Tank was the first one to make contact after their time apart.

[smjoshsims.livejournal.com]

Wow, it was short, but I loved it. I agree with you, that picture of Ophelia was really nice- I love the way Ripp's just content to be there, with her.

That pitcure DID NOT deserve to be censored- Sim boobies! never did anything to anyone, but wow Photobucket is awfully ~conservative~.

I like Florence's shop, they way that both of them work there, yay! Although I don't approve of the kissing going on. :\

Gieking Out! :D :D I LOVE the way you did the store, AND HIS SHIRT! Way to go Chester!

I love how my bb Beau works there, yes! Although, the creepy dreaming thing he did was a bit odd, but it's ok BECAUSE THEY ARE MY OTP. :D

I wish you the best, and I will be loyally awaiting the day you return for more Strangetown fun. Congrats on your wedding! :D

[smjoshsims.livejournal.com]

I also forget to comment on the Alexander Goth fiasco- LOL! More details pls? Was Alex straight or not? Oh wow, poor Beau. :D

[telephonication.livejournal.com]

I can seriously never have enough of this story. I jumped out of my seat when I refreshed my friend's page (you can tell I'm on LJ too much) and saw you had updated.

I'm so happy for Frances! Of course, happy for something he doesn't know may happen to him, but all the same, I'm happy for him. And I have this confused excitement for Ophelia and Ripp. I'm going to reread again, to get a better feel for how their relationship is, but this is great!

[dothesmustle.livejournal.com]

I refreshed my friend's page (thinking there would be nothing new) and did a happy dance when I saw "Strangetown, Here We Come" show up. XD I'm on LJ too much, too, haha.

YES UPDATE. YES FRANCES. YESSSS.

[dothesmustle.livejournal.com]

FRANCES YOU ARE SO CUTE I LOVE YOU AND YOU'RE ADORABLE AND YOUR HAIRCUT IS CUTE AND I LOVE YOUUUUUUUUU.

LMAO at the dick exchange! I was waiting for Dicki-Wiki. "Johnny you are not even a dick, you are a SEARCH engine for dicks."

I'm starting to soften up to the idea of Ophelia and Ripp. I still feel bad for Johnny, but Phi and Ripp will always be there for him and their whole triangle of ~love~ is sweet. :P

Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. FRANCES TIME. I feel bad for poor little Frances still having feelings for Tank. (Also by the way, I was discussing screen names with simonym and wouldn't Tank's screen name be something like TankGrunt(Year he was born in)? Pretty boring and uncreative. XD)

I'm Frances is getting less awkward-y with Tank, by the way. Beau is adorable he has such a cute little crush on Frances. His gushing over him was so. cute. I'm still a little unsure if he's only into Frances because he likes him or if he's just being an opportunist. I guess we'll just have to wait. :P

Oh man. Chester the molester made me laugh. Though the jokes DO just write themselves on him. I've never played him before...he just rots in the sim bin. I'll be happy to see what you'll do with him, if you do anything. Gieke power!

I had originally hoped to get the next chapter out too before I left town for all of August, but that won't be happening. That chapter features Nervous Subject in the first person, so it should be a pretty good place to pick back up.

OH. I am SO excited. I miss you, Nervie-kins! :P Another lovely update! :D And no things are going to happen! That means BAD things. I'm still a little torn up over Buzz'(s?) death. I still miss him. :( That whole "up and coming" talk...is making me excited and nervous. I don't want bad things to happen, but the have to happen, don't they?

Have fun on your break. Make sure you'll enjoy it! It's good to have no pressure to update.

Re: YES UPDATE. YES FRANCES. YESSSS. (Take Two)

[dothesmustle.livejournal.com]

Oh! To add to the screen names, simonym came up with "BABYFACE_XOXO" for Frances and "PimpMASTA69" for Ripp. We think Nervous' would be "xsonofdeathx." This is fun. XD

[cindyanne1.livejournal.com]

Awesome!

And no I do not think you deserved to be censored, lol! It's hard to tell who they have looking at those things to make those decisions, I swear! Sometimes I think it has to be a 12 year old boy. :P (Ooooh I see part of a BOOBIE and it makes me horny so I better censor that!) :P

Is Florence hot to trot for Ripp? The cougar! She better behave, lol!

The scenes with Ripp and Ophelia were beautiful. I think Phi is waiting for Ripp to say those three little words before she goes any further with him. :) And I don't blame her.

I found myself almost wishing Johnny would GO AWAY. Until the "dickweed" scene. Then I was laughing so hard I was crying. XD

I am also glad Tank called Frances and I hope they're able to get their friendship back. Beau is a cutie, but I'm still not sure if he's right for Frances. *taps chin thoughtfully* I would like to see them try out a relationship though. :D

Your hints of what's to come sound promising! Something to look forward to in September (which is traditionally my least favorite month.) And are you planning on getting Apartment Life also? Who knows what goodies it will bring to the story, eh? (I'm purposefully drawing out my legacy so I can use stuff from that EP in it, lol)


*sighs* I hope you have a wonderful August and a wonderful, wonderful wedding. I'm a wedding sap. Not for fanciness and hoopla, mind you... just for weddings in general. Just like I am for babies. :) It's the Family sim in me, lol!

I think if it were possible, I'd be a Family/Family sim, lol.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :)

Yeah, it's not really much to be censored for, is it? I think your theory might be right.

I actually did not intend for Florence to come off like she was attracted to Ripp. Now I'm curious about why you came to that conclusion. Was it this line?

"She was liking what she was seeing very much."

That was more about the fact that she saw some sales talent in him. Not to say that she doesn't think he's a catch, but she was just thinking about that for Ophelia, not herself. It's funny to think of her as a cougar, though. (For the record, they DO actually have 2 bolts of chemistry - LOL)

You're probably right about Ophelia. She knows how Ripp feels. She has to know, really, but she wants to see if he's able to admit it to both her and himself. Right now he says "you're beautiful" instead, but he means it to refer to more than just her appearance, and more than even that.

Glad you liked the dickweed thing. :P It was pretty silly.

That just shows that Tank is coming around, doesn't it? They'll be able to stay friends. It's still pretty early to say much about the Frances/Beau thing, since it's all just a crush at this point, but we'll see how that goes...

September is your least favourite month? It's always been one of my favourites. It's back to school time, and full of tweed and wool and corduroy. *swoon* I also love the bittersweet melancholy of autumn more than any other season. It's all about death, but it smells sweet and it's brightly coloured. What a beautiful contrast that is.

When is Apartment Life coming out? I'm really looking forward to that one.

I have a number of weddings planned for my sims in the story that will be coming up in future updates. Some are near, and some are far, and many have been planned for AGES. Some of them may change, I'm sure, but others are pretty set in stone. I'm a sap for weddings too, even though there are parts of them that I dislike.

You seem like a family/family sim, no question. :) I mean, you'd have to be, with all those children.

[xel-squirgle-ox.livejournal.com]

I was so surprised when I saw this when I came home!
So umm, here's more typing on the notepad while reading. XD

"Seeing his ears and his neck, with his entire face revealed, she found herself thinking about what his other hidden parts might look like."
Chants: COUNTER SEX! COUNTER SEX!
I feel like I should start to make up shout outs like in Rocky Horror. :P

The snapdragons are beautiful. I've never had anybody get a gold flower arranging badge in my game. They have magical powers or something, right?

Ripp's such a natural salesman! I love how you had him talking about Phi's plants to a customer before he actually was employed there.

Florence has the hots for Ripp! Oh God, that's great. The way she's dressed, she looks like she is sooo much older than them too. Definitely like a mom hitting on him. :P

...It's drabble time! I feel like such an obsessed fan right now, because I remembered the tenderly and condom ones almost word for word. I like how you added that line about him fucking her on the street though. ;)

"Oh, Ripp. Stop trying to charm the pants off me."
:More chanting!:

"Hey, I was always the one with a fucking job! I used to always work those shitty jobs in high school, and the band was like a job too." You know, that is really true. He may have been somewhat of a slacker (hell, his teenage job was one!) but he really did work his ass off.

The DICKWEED banter- ROFL! You just get better and better at writing the silly dialogue between them. It's just so natural.
...And then Phi does The Brow. That face will never get old.

Oh Frances, you get cuter and cuter every time I see you. How the hell is that possible?! The love for him- it's contagious! :P

Beau in front of the painting. The colors, the lighting... Such a beautiful shot.

I'm really curious to know why Tank was calling Frances. I know he's at his house still, but it just makes me wonder. I'm so glad that he's forgiven him now though.

Beau has been stalking Frances?! I'm not surprised, from how he acted in the previous part.

Oh man, Beau's pose is adorable in the picture where he says "he's going to be my boyfriend"

IT WAS ALEX GOTH! He sure has a type alright- rich boys.

Oh god, Chester the molester! I haven't heard that since high school. There was a janitor my ex boyfriend would always call that, because he was so creepy.

The last few paragraphs, with all the mentioning about Frances and his money in Beau's fantasy- As much as I would like to like him, I'm not sure if he can be trusted. :(

OOoh, Nervous narrating would be a great way to open up the story again! As much as I'm excited, I can wait. You having a wonderful time on your wedding day and afterwards is much more important. :D

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Lots of comments here... time to finally respond to them.

I like the "counter sex" chanting. I imagine that Ripp has a little voice inside his head that chants that too. ;) Keep it up, and maybe it will work. (Well, it's Ripp, so it'll probably work eventually, right?)

The snapdragons have healing properties. They restore all motives except energy, so if a sim was ill and confined to bedrest, the snapdragons would maintain their health perfectly. This will be relevant in the story at some point. For now, the trio doesn't know much about them, but they know that they feel better when they're around those bouquets. They have soothing, antidepressant qualities. They're probably one of the factors that has contributed to their current situation.

Yeah, that was the idea. Ripp sells things (himself? :P) anyway, so he just falls right into the role. Florence sees him in action, and knows that he's a born salesman.

You know, I didn't intend it to come off like she's hot for him, but she does think he's a catch. It's more like a "if I was a little younger, I'd be all over that" reaction. They do have bolts for each other, though, since Florence is a knowledge/popularity sim, and Ripp is now romance/family. That combination (romance/family) seems to cover attraction to all other aspirations, and I think the positive chemistry negates the negative - Ripp has bolts with almost everyone.

I extended the drabble a little for this, as you've noticed. I liked the idea of Ripp just taking off his clothes right there, if she asked him too. Where Ophelia is concerned, he's very obedient. And eager... I can't forget eager.

Johnny's being a jerk when he says that Ripp has never had a real job. The jobs might have been half-assed, but Ripp has always been something of a hard worker, in his own way. Johnny, on the other hand, has never had a paying job, but his resume must be ten pages long anyway.

I'm glad you liked the dickweed thing. I liked being able to include a conversation that used "dick" so many times. At this point, I just let my Johnny and Ripp characters write their own scenes in my head. They can be so amusingly childish.

I LOVE that brow pose, in case you can't tell. It's always fun to throw that in.

It's the new haircut. It just amps the Frances cute meter up a notch.

Thanks. Beau has this light, radiant quality to him, with his pale colouring, and he's almost glowing in that lighting.

The key to Tank's phone call is that he was the one to call, and not Frances. That's a big step. He returned to the aprtment after the kiss, and now he's going out of his way to check on Frances in Sim City.

No, Beau's not really stalking him. That's just Lucy pulling his chain. Beau has just been admiring him from afar, like anyone would when they have a crush.

Beau's talking about pretty dresses in that shot. :P I love that animation. (Oddly enough, almost all of my sims are interested in fashion.)

Beau likes rich boys... but is it a fascination with the way the "other half" lives, or is it just a coincidence? Is it a bit of both? Part of it, I don't mind saying, is that Frances reminds him of Alexander.

Chester the molester is just classic funny. :D I love it.

People seem to be reacting to Beau's description of Frances's sweater (which he started coveting in the first scene he appears in) as evidence that he's only in it for the money, but he also says, "Without those accoutrements to distinguish them, Frances and Beau would just be two naked boys in a room together." He's fascinated by the luxury, since it would be hard not to, but he's also interested in a Frances stripped bare of all of those things. The question is... if that really happens (as it might, since an openly gay Frances won't inherit anything), would he still be interested?

I'm looking forward to getting back to Nervous. It should be a good way to jump back in.

Thank you. It's getting close now. :) It should be a good time.

[redqueenofevil.livejournal.com]

Brava! What a fantastic ending to the chapter.

I just want to say that some of the passages in this story are (for lack of a better description) so delicious. I read them, and had to read them aloud to savor them again. Favorites include:

Ripp: She smelled sweet, or was that the flowers? To him, it was one and the same. The smell of flowers, and Ophelia. Both were delicate and beautiful. I could practically smell roses when I read this.

Florence watched as a puff of faint pink mist rose from one of the bouquets. She'd never witnessed such a thing before. There was something special about these flowers. This evokes the 'kid in a candy store' feeling that one gets when they experience something truly amazing. It's wonderful to see Ophelia's work showcased in such a way. Her floral arrangements have long been shown in your story, but it's a treat to see a new character realize what a masterpiece is.

Ripp: He liked the way the shop smelled. It was just like Ophelia's bedroom, and that was always a good association for him. While this could mean so many different things, especially considering the sentences that follow, these two sentences together made me squeal with delight. Perhaps I'm a sensual person, but there's nothing quite like association with smells. Since at this point in your story, romance between Ripp and Ophelia has barely crossed the platonic line, it's very easy to isolate these two sentences and wax poetic about so many places that evoke pleasant memories solely from the smells. I too, have an association with certain floral scents from happier times, and so this passage really struck a chord with me. A happy chord, of course.

Beau: I'm not sure he knows it yet, but he's totally going to be my boyfriend. This idealism made me smile. While I would normally shy away from stalker like personalities (having been stalked a couple of times before), there's something about Beau that seams innocent and idealistic. I hope things work out well between him and Frances. They're opposites, but opposites do attract. That's never a bad thing.

The reference to Chester the molester- I chortled when I read that line. I had a friend who had a cat for many years, and his name was Chester. But my mom always called him Chester the Molester, because he always bathed his teddy bear. I never imagined that other people used that phrase, and while the poor cat's long dead, this line (once again) evokes memories long past of the ginger cat and his bear. Of course, it doesn't help that Chester Gieke is also *gasp* a ginger. And now, I know why you were seeking out a flame shirt! *giggles*

I want to add that I think your story telling skills have flourished quite a bit since you started. Thanks once again for your work. Looking forward to the next chapter in September. Have a great wedding/break in August.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Thank you. It's nice to hear which parts you responded to. Did you really read them out loud? :) That's so cool.

I love smells, and how they are so linked to memory. It's interesting to try to write about how a smell makes you feel too, since it's such an intangible thing. Ripp has some associations between roses and his mother too, but he has since come to connect the smell of flowers with Ophelia. Either way, it makes him feel happy.

Johnny, Ripp and Ophelia take the flowers for granted at this point, but they really are a little bit magical, in a sense. It takes an outside eye to see how strange and wonderful they really are. I'll get into more details about the snapdragons a little later.

Ripp is thinking in a more platonic way in that passage. It's more about love, and just being near Ophelia, than wanting to do anything more than just hold her. It brings back memories of all the time he has spent in her room with her, while she worked on her flowers. Then, when he slept there that night, the smell even worked its way into his dreams. I'm very much a sensual person like that too, and I love fragrance. Scent is so evocative of memory.

That's the thing about Beau - he's an idealist and an optimist. He's pretty sure that he can get things to work out if he's positive and puts a little effort into it. The stalker thing was more of a joke on Lucy's part. Beaus hasn't been doing anything that crosses the line into actual stalking (which I'm sorry to hear that you've had happen to you - I've had a couple of very minor brushes with it too). He's just admiring Frances from afar. He's fascinated.

I think the differences in their personalities will keep things interesting for them if they become closer, as friends or more. It will help them to balance out their approaches to life.

You had a Chester the molester cat? That's too funny, and so cute that he bathed his teddy bear like that. Cats can be so obsessive over little things. I love their little quirks like that. My cat, Suki, is a licker too. She'd give us all a full-body lick down, if we let her. *snicker* I think she was raised by dogs, because she wags her tail a lot too.

The flame shirt is just so perfect for that type of character. :P I gave him a scruffy goatee too. He's pretty great. (Sadly, I lost all the great progress he had made in my game when the computer died.)

Thank you. I'm glad you think so. One of the reasons I started writing this story was to improve my skills and get back into the habit of writing, and it seems to be working. It's a lot of fun. After a little break, I'm sure I'll be rearing to go back at it. There's some good drama coming up, I think.

Thanks for reading.

[abbycat900.livejournal.com]

Like always, I see the long descriptive comments and want to write something long and (I assume) entertaining as well. All I can really say is... This is probably my favorite chapter. I don't really see why you would have been censored. The 'dickweed' part had me smiling a lot. Ah, boys, how easily they are amused! I hope you have a nice break, and... a nice wedding? My memory fails me and I can't remember if you're already married, or not.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Hey, I appreciate your feedback, no matter how long or short the comment is (in fact, the shorter ones are easier for me to answer before my terribly short attention span kicks in). I'm glad you liked the chapter. I enjoyed writing this one because it was mostly a happy one, with people picking up the pieces and new things happening. It's a bit of a calm before the storm (ooh, was that another hint? *wink*).

Yeah, the censoring was silly. I got a good laugh out of it.

Dickweed has to be my favourite put-down of all time. It's so grade school, which Johnny and Ripp have no trouble regressing to. You said it... those boys really are easily amused.

Thanks. Yeah, I'm getting married. :) It should be a fun time. I'm looking forward to the beach-filled honeymoon too. We're going to Bermuda - I have relatives there, and we're going to be staying in their house while they're home visiting. I can't wait.

[indigoleo.livejournal.com]

Ripp would make a great salesman I should think, considering how everybody swoons over him all the time. :)

Photobucket is strange in what they consider lewd. Maybe it just has to do with who looks at them.

Someone's greatest fear will be realized, someone will make a difficult choice, someone will change their mind, someone will feel unworthy to fill the role they've been handed, someone will keep a memento to remember someone by, someone will move closer to discovering an awful truth, someone will fall in love, and someone's heart will break.
One or more of these things apply to more than one person. Some of them apply to the same person.

You're gonna say all that and then Leave me like that!? Ooo, you're mean. :D
Anyway, do enjoy your break. Everyone needs one. I've got vacation time coming up next month and I can not wait.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Yes, I agree. Ripp has good salesman charm. His personality is very well suited for it. In game, his sales socials usually work too. He's a star.

That's probably the case. I reposted that same photo to Photobucket and it's still there, so it has to be random, depending on who screens them.

That's right. Those hints should give you something to think about. ;) I think they're vague enough to not give really anything away.

Thank you. I'm going to enjoy the wedding and the vacation, when it's finally all over (since there was soooo much planning involved).

[ikichi.livejournal.com]

AH-ha! I finally remembered to have text edit open as I read!

Yay! the open leg pose worked! Fantastic!

But Phi... oh man! What are you doing! Well, I know, and I'm with you in theory, but...

HAHAHAH! Oh, France, Beau's gonna et you up. You don't even have a say in teh matter anymore!

Though... to be honest the fact that his "ex" was Alex Goth creeps me out a little. I don't think B's a golddigger- he's too hardworking and modest/not flashy for that, but maybe this fancy rich boys are more a fantasy than anything else?

....More heartbreak? T_T

Have a great break!

[xel-squirgle-ox.livejournal.com]

That's exactly what I thought about Beau after reading this. I don't see him as much of a golddigger because he is such a hard worker too, but it could be just a fantasy. :/

And quite frankly, the way he's so sure about getting Frances made it also seem that way- just a silly little dream. Not that I'm saying it's not gonna happen (hell, it most likely is) but who knows how his feelings about him will be like after he actually does get a business going, etc?

[sprinkledsims.livejournal.com]

Speechless. Great chapter once again!

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :)

[sofieamalien.livejournal.com]

Beau and Frances = <3! Beau is über cute! And Frances is really working that new hair style ;)

Lovely chapter! :) Can't wait to read more!

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Aww, I'm glad you think so. I think they'd make a great pair, if it all works out. They're both cute on their own, but as a pair they'd just melt hearts.

Thank you. I'll be happy to jump back in when I get back in late August.

[simsbarbie.livejournal.com]

I got in from this work this morning and saw this update and was very excited. I will sleep in peace now.... LOL

The scene between Phi and Ripp was absolutely hot, beautiful and hot again. I can see now more than ever how they can become something more. They compliment one another well and they can give each other what they need and crave. Johnny will/may see their love grow....He needs to open up his eyes. Then there is still this crap with the aliens, Jayne and Stella.

Frances and Beau, not gonna happen. I can see them getting busy from time to time, hangin' out at the coffee shop and what not...but for long term, Frances is going be with......someone else. I do not think Tank is into Kendall, and ima thinking he misses him some Frances and that hot kiss.

Lovely pictures, especially the ones with Ripp and Phi. I was a Phi and Johnny fan all the way at first, but seeing what Ripp and Phi can offer each other is just plain beautiful/sensual.

I will miss you and your stories. I can always read from the begining though. I skiipped the teenage years of Phi/Ripp/Johnny. I pray that your wedding is spectacular, and that you all just have a lot of fun. You have my blessings!!

okay, i'm going to sleep... *snore*

[swhedonberry.livejournal.com]

Beautiful chapter. I love seeing how everyone ties together in a sense. What I'm really looking forward to is what will happen to Ophelia emotionally if (more probably when) she gives into Ripp. If she chooses Johnny after she's intimate with Ripp, then Ripp could really undergo some emotional trauma. Never the father's first choice and never his love's. Major ouch!! Not to mention the fact that Johnny may never be able to be with Ophelia after she's with Ripp. Pain seems to be on the horizon for damned near everyone.

I hope that Frances can get over his Tank issues to find satisfaction with Beau. I'm also wondering about Lucy's impending relationship (friendship or otherwise) with Buck. Oooh, so many possibilities when you come back in September. It'll make a great birthday present for me!!

[simsbarbie.livejournal.com]

swendonberry, your reply to the story is awesome. Ripp could possibly undergo emotional trauma depending on what Phi's move is after they become intimate. hmmm

[swhedonberry.livejournal.com]

Oh, and wonderful wedding wishes your way. I'm planning my own nuptuals at current and am lavishing at the mention of anyone else's blessed event!!

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Thanks, and the same to you. I hope you enjoy the planning process.

[madame-ugly.livejournal.com]

(comments in no particular order AND coming from MY computer, which is all better *does embarrassing happy dance*)

The pic of Frances (at the end, when Beau's fantasizing about him) is great. So too the pic featuring Alexander. That one had me snorting. Close your mouth, son, you're drawing flies.

Wow, you finally got to the flower shop stuff. How long ago did we see that in a drabble? (just ribbing you)

THAT was the pic that got pbucket all in a tizzy? Good lord. Cleavage? *shakes head* The fantasy hump pic was very nice (you probably already mentioned it in another comment, but what pose did you finally decide on for that). But I have to say, while I'm not surprised these were the two in the hump pic, I was kind of hoping for some boy love for the pbucket censored pic. Such is life (still a great pair of "dirty" pics, I do love me some dirty pics).

I really like the brevity (sp?) in this. Meaning, the dialogue doesn't have a lot of "saids" and direction. I know in my own stuff I often feel I'm doing to much direction and seeing this makes me realize it's not always necessary (and sometimes even distracting). I also like the one to two sentences under the pics. Lots of text is good, but I really like it when it can be summed up in just a few lines. Nice.

[gab75.livejournal.com]

I liked the photos on which Ripp is thinking of what he could do with Ophelia on the workbench. He looks so manly there. It's with pictures like this that we see he's ending his college years.

"Still, he kept a condom in his pocket, just in case, waiting for that moment when he could finally become her lover." Oh, there, I can feel the time were he won't have a condom or the condom will break up and a baby will show it's little face ... no ?

Oh, and I also feel that Florence likes Ripp more than in a professional way. All those questions about if he was Ophelia's boyfriend, and her attitude towards him ...

And I love the gay triangle, like Frances is still fond of Tank and thinks he's no chance with Beau while Beau is secretly madly in love with Frances and maybe Tank will fall in love with Beau ? (lol)

Anyway, that was a great chapter. And Frances close-up at the end was brilliant. You really made him sexy with both the picture and the description. I love your style and the writing. Bravo !

[gab75.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I also feel a little jealousy from Ophelia towards Johnny and Ripp when they talk about dicks. Will the trio will really happen ? If so, Johnny and Ripp have to fall in love too and I think Ophelia felt the "danger" (don't know if she would appreciate that...)

[lovelysims.livejournal.com]

The dick convo is so my husband and my little brother. so so so.

This was great! Thank you!

[simgarooop.livejournal.com]

THAT was the picture Photobucket censored?! I might understand the first one, but the second one? Man! They really have an odd censoring method, because I've seen way more explicit pics around here that haven't been banned yet.

Lovely chapter, I liked how it opens a lot of possibilities for the next few updates of this story, starting with Ophelia's new job with Florence DelaRosa. She seemed a little TOO interested in Ripp, though. Not that Ripp would had minded getting involved with an older woman in the past, but things have changed and he seems to be only interested in Phi from now on. Uh Oh... that's the last thing those three need at the moment.

Hee, I love how you are developing Beau. His bold and open personality complements Frances' nicely, and it's so cute how he strongly believes that Frances will fall in love with him one day. Right now it seems like his feelings for Frances are genuine, but I guess we'll have to wait and see if he loves Frances for what he IS and not for what he HAS. I also enjoyed the little talk with Lucy :)

Chester the molester, LOL. True story, there was a dog next door named Chester, who liked to uh... "molest" our legs if he found us outside. He was a bull terrier too :S. We called him the "Molester Dog", so that bit about Chester made me laugh a lot :D.

Your little riddle at the end has me wondering about what's coming up next. There are a lot of possibilities (as many as the lovely characters you've developed so far), but I +think+ Johnny is involved in some of them, the poor guy.

Have an awesome August (it's my favorite month :D) and an unforgetable wedding!

[meetme2theriver.livejournal.com]

We're back! We were away on holidays, so this is a slightly belated comment.

Anyway, great end to the chapter! I can't believe Photobucket censored the SECOND picture. Hahaha. That's ridiculous. The first one IS very suggestive, but hardly censor-worthy either, I think. It looks cool, too. :)

Ripp and Ophelia.. yeah, we all knew it would progress this way, but how's it going to end? I just can't see Johnny approving in the long run. Hmm. Isn't it time for their graduation soon too?

The opening picture with Ophelia, Ripp and the rose is very nice, it looks like Phi is smelling the flower.

Frances and Beau would make an adorable couple. Frances needs to see this and get over Tank already!

[aledstrange.livejournal.com]

WOW!! I can't believe they censored that picture either, close up or not, you can clearly see she is still wearing underwear and all i can see its nothing more than cleavage *shrugs*

Great update like always of course, I was kind of wondering if the famous shot was in fact on the flower bench :P it was! Nice work! :)

I'm loving Beau so much in your story, i don't usually play with him (or anyone Broke for that matter), but your take on him is really making me wish to (And gotta say that quick reference to Alexander just made my day :D he's my fav. pleasantview sim) I can't wait to see a bit more about Frances and Beau now

And Best wishes for the wedding! :D

[amaryssobellus.livejournal.com]

Great way to end it until Sept. Though the cryptic message has me on the edge of my seat with curiousity.

[tank-rae.livejournal.com]

Fascinating stuff, excellent writing. Also, I actually said "Oh fuck yes" aloud when I saw you had updated. I'm a huge fan.

Will Ripp and Johnny end up seeing each other, too? It seems like it's heading in that direction--I know, spoilers, but...hints would rock. :D

[simfinite.livejournal.com]

OPHELIA MADE THE JOHNNY FACE! (http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee103/nervous_subject/Strangetown/chapter%2026/snapshot_d4608541_f58508db.jpg)

That cracked me up. XD

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Hehee. She did. :P Maybe it's contagious.

[pnkpnthr334.livejournal.com]

The dick conversation was hilarious! It reminded me of George Lopez, except it was was "butthead, buttmunch..." Yeah...Ophelia needs to jump Ripp's bones already!!! It's driving me crazy!!!