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Strange Tomato ([personal profile] strangetomato) wrote2008-09-13 07:46 pm

Drabble+: Realization

Prompt: Realization
Characters: Frances Worthington, Beau Broke
Wordcount: 700
Imagecount: 14
Warnings: language, if you consider "ass" a naughty word

This ended up being as much about Beau as it was about Frances, if not more, but sometimes you just get inspired.







"So, yeah, I've been buying those dreamcatchers from this old man in the trailer park for years," Beau said.




"Makoto St. Julien. He makes them. He was always over visiting Mom, and he gave me one of them for my childhood transition, and another for my teen transition. It was around that time that we were in serious financial trouble, with the twins in school too, so I looked into selling them. It turns out that they're worth a lot of money if you sell them to the right people. A LOT of money. So now I sell them to rich people and tourists at an exorbitant price, and give a cut to Makoto, though he insists I keep most of it."

"I think we probably have a few of those in the guest room at home, actually," Frances nodded.




"I'll bet you do. Sims just eat that stuff up. Yeah, they love anything "authentic", folksy, and salt of the earth, especially if it has some connection to ancient cultures."

Frances marveled at Beau's ability to understand people and their desires, and then use that knowledge to manipulate them. And fair enough, he figured. Why not?

"So anyway...," Beau continued, "That's the deal with the dreamcatchers." They chatted some more about their childhoods, and how different they were from each other, and how difficult it was for them, of all people, to grow up in that situation. It was a typical college conversation. Feeling bolder than usual, Frances was the first to bring up "the gay thing."




"Do you ever get that question? You know the one... when did you realize you were gay?"

"Yeah, of course."

"I hate that."

"Well, I'm sure they're just curious."




"Maybe, but nobody ever asks a straight person that. And I also don't even know. I didn't wake up one day and decide I was gay. I'm not sure of the exact moment I realized it. It was sort of always there... well, as far as anyone knows about their sexuality as a child."

"Yeah, exactly."

"My mother probably knew more than I did," he continued, "She always seemed so worried about me, that I was behaving in ways that weren't normal for a boy."




"Yeah, Mom probably felt that way at times too," Beau said, "but I think she probably just thought I was sensitive. She never said anything about it, anyway. I think she liked that I was interested in the things she did around the house. She liked the company. Dustin, my brother, was the one who picked up on it more than anyone, I think, and he tried to toughen me up. I suppose it worked too, to an extent. Yeah, It didn't make me any less gay, but at least I'm not a wuss, right?"




Frances started to laugh. It was one of those things that got funnier and funnier the more you laughed at it.

"Now I can kick your ass and stare at it too." Beau howled with laugher. "Well, hardly. Can you imagine me in a fight? Yeah, my bones would snap like toothpicks. But I'm tough enough. I'm no Dustin, but I can handle myself."




Once they caught their breath, Frances continued. "So did you have one of those moments of realization?"

"Yeah, actually, I did."

"Really? When did you figure it out?"




"In the air."

"What?"




"Yeah, I was being swung around through the air over Dirk Dreamer's head.




"One of Dustin's friends - very attractive guy. And I was fascinated with him. I thought it was just a sort of jealousy at first, like I wanted to BE him, but then that one day when he was carrying on and swinging me around...




"I was just soaring through the air, and it was so thrilling."

"I imagine that soaring through the air is always thrilling."

"Yeah, but it wasn't just that. It was the fact that he was paying attention to me. I had a crush on him. He was swinging me around and suddenly all I could think was, 'This is why I don't like girls.'"




Beau paused, and had a moment of uncharacteristic self-consciousness. "Pretty silly, huh?"




"Not at all."








 

[identity profile] themorganlegacy.livejournal.com 2008-09-14 04:44 am (UTC)(link)
I love it! This drabble was just perfect, and now I'm even more excited for the next chapter.

(... did I ever get around to posting in your latest update about how I could not stop reading this story once I got started, and how I love so much about it and am totally shipping several couples [and one trio] and how I'm dying for you to update? Because I totally meant to, and now I can't actually remember if I did or not.)

[identity profile] meetme2theriver.livejournal.com 2008-09-14 07:11 am (UTC)(link)
Eee. :D I've missed your writing. This was fun and cute, loved those shots from Beau's past in Pleasantview. Man, I want to install AL... *sulks*

[identity profile] muslemura.livejournal.com 2008-09-14 07:25 am (UTC)(link)
Wow! You're really making good use of the camera mod! The pictures of Beau in the air almost made my tummy tingle :P

Oh and Frances, I don't know if it's Beau, Edie, the run ins he's had with Tank (and Ripp) or the haircut, but I love that he seems to be coming into his own (is that the right phrase? My English is a little borked today. I need my coffee). Blossoming. It's written very delicately and believable.

The inclusion of the dream catcher 'feature' made me smile too :)

[identity profile] bondchick-nett.livejournal.com 2008-09-14 10:55 am (UTC)(link)
OH MY GOD! O_O;;;;; That's just so... RIDICULOUSLY TOUCHING!



*has a goofy grin on my face that just wont go away now*

Not that I'd want it to. ^_^

[identity profile] dothesmustle.livejournal.com 2008-09-14 05:36 pm (UTC)(link)
OF COURSE~!

I cannot wait for the Frances update. I love his new attitude now, he's more confident with himself and it makes me go ":DDDDDDD" ..as you can see. I'm loving Beau as well, any conversation between those two is just hilarious and sweet at the same time. (Bahaha, I just thought maybe their second kiss could be the suck face interactions, since Frances is the king of awkward, in a good way! Their first kiss is already accompanied by creeper chef(I'll never forget him).)

I love all the new animations. Every time I "discover" a new one in game, I think of all the cute possibilities they can have in sim stories. I saw the "watch stars" animation and immediately thought of Phi/Ripp. I'M BEGINNING TO FALL FOR THEM NOW. D: You could probably work Johnny into it, too. Johnny/Phi would be cute, too, since he has the choice of doing the whole hybrid thing with Jane and blahblah I'm rambling. XD

[identity profile] soniabigcheese.livejournal.com 2008-09-14 05:56 pm (UTC)(link)
That was beautiful. Beau's presence and influence is really rubbing off on Frances. He now has a whole new outlook on life, with a fresh new confidence.....
....or was it there all along, he just suppressed it out of lack of confidence?
I have to admit though, Dirk is cute and quite good looking in his own right. And as far as I know, he's the only teen male from Pleasantview who doesn't grow up looking weird. *cue Dustin with those piggy, too-close-together eyes, and Alex Goth with that 'gormless' expression*.

It's sweet how they both feel comfortable in each other's company. It's just a matter of time before Frances opens up to Beau.

[identity profile] ikichi.livejournal.com 2008-09-14 06:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh this was adorable! I loved the shots with Dirk and Beau (and seriously, Dirk is hot enough to make anyone switch teams). :D

[identity profile] vega-pleiades.livejournal.com 2008-09-14 07:48 pm (UTC)(link)
I find it interesting how gay people tend to flock together, especially in really closeknit communities. My ex-gf and I dated because we were the only girls in theatre that liked other girls.

My point is that sometimes gay people go out just because they're each others only choices.

[identity profile] 80sfiend.livejournal.com 2008-09-15 04:22 am (UTC)(link)
EEEKK!!! They are just TOO cute together. I love it. :) Gah seriously they are awesome. :)

[identity profile] madame-ugly.livejournal.com 2008-09-15 12:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Before I forget again, I just need to say I really like Beau as a fortune sim. That little hint of. . .ruthlessness?. . .in him is nice.
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[identity profile] strange-tomato.livejournal.com 2008-09-15 06:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, I think you're right. Suck face was pretty much begging me to use it on Frances at some point. There are some other options too... I really don't want to over-use that animation, so I'll have to think about it.

Hey, you don't know if that's a Beau/Frances kiss! *shakes finger*

Heheh. It's okay. I like rambling. :D

I like the under the stars thing for Ripp and Phi too. I actually wrote something just like that in one of the shorter things - the one about the "three closest friends." After Ripp imagines himself rolling around in the dirt with Phi, he likes to think of them lying there, looking up at the stars.

[identity profile] amaryssobellus.livejournal.com 2008-09-16 01:28 am (UTC)(link)
:D Nice! Aww, I love that Frances has found someone to bond with and maybe more?
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[identity profile] strange-tomato.livejournal.com 2008-09-16 12:27 pm (UTC)(link)
That's very true, isn't it? Especially in a small community, there might not be a whole lot of other options to choose from. Sometimes there aren't any options at all.

Many people end up together because of their proximity, and it's even more likely to happen with someone who's gay.
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[identity profile] strange-tomato.livejournal.com 2008-09-16 12:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Having someone to relate to is a very good thing for Frances. It's fun to create the backstories too, of course.

I love how the teens actually hang out on the playground. That's even what the interaction is called.

Frances is definitely becoming more confident in himself, and trying to open himself up to new experiences. Meeting someone like Beau, who is both like him and very unlike him, really helps him to step outside his comfort zone.
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[identity profile] strange-tomato.livejournal.com 2008-09-16 12:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you for the kind words. :) It's great to hear you've enjoyed it so far. I should have another chapter update ready soon. I'm aiming to post it tonight, if all goes well.
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[identity profile] strange-tomato.livejournal.com 2008-09-16 01:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks. This was one of those things that just got into my brain and I had to get it out before I moved on (since I really wanted to show off that new interaction too). I could have written it and put it aside for an upcoming chapter, but nahhh... why not just post it?

AL is good (I just typed "Al" - LOL). I'm really enjoying it in so many different ways. It has great items and Bodyshop content, and the new animations are great. Not to mention the whole apartment thing itself is a nice addition too.
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[identity profile] strange-tomato.livejournal.com 2008-09-16 01:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks. It's fun to play around with the camera mod. I feel like I'm improving my framing and angles with it. Now, I just need to get some more of the film conventions down... I've been reading up on that stuff.

Frances has gone through a lot lately, and he's learned a thing or two along the way, and is really using it to his advantage now. I think your phrase summed it up perfectly... he's blossoming.

Heheh. I was really hoping someone would get my nod to the dreamcatcher thing. Beau actually does make money by exploiting the rising value of the dreamcatchers in the game, so I wanted it to be part of the story too. ;)
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[identity profile] strange-tomato.livejournal.com 2008-09-16 01:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you. :) Glad you liked it.
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[identity profile] strange-tomato.livejournal.com 2008-09-16 01:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks. That's such a great new interaction.

Yeah, Dirk's not hard on the eyes, is he? ;)
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[identity profile] strange-tomato.livejournal.com 2008-09-16 01:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks. :)
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[identity profile] strange-tomato.livejournal.com 2008-09-16 01:16 pm (UTC)(link)
*snicker* I saw that "and maybe more..."

Perhaps, perhaps...
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[identity profile] strange-tomato.livejournal.com 2008-09-16 01:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, I like that "ruthless" side too, since it's not actually being used for nefarious purposes in Beau's case, like some other fortune sims we know. *glances at Circe* Beau isn't going to completely step on anyone either, but he does have the balls to wheel and deal his way into success in business (he's going to need it, since his LTW is to have 5 top level businesses and I do intend to achieve it).

It also made sense to me that he'd become a fortune sim, given his poor upbringing. Dustin's a fortune sim too, I think, though I get confused and think he's knowledge sometimes, and I think that's what I gave him as a secondary. Beau's secondary is family.
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[identity profile] strange-tomato.livejournal.com 2008-09-16 01:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks. They get on well together, don't they? Frances has been working on his confidence by himself lately, but Beau is surely a good influence there too. His energy is infectious, and he lures Frances out of his shell.

I agree. Dirk's a great looking sim. I don't mind Dustin so much, but Alexander is... ehhh. Meh, even.

*snicker* Gormless is such a great word.

You might be right about that, considering that Beau is on a bit of a mission there. ;)

[identity profile] eiou123.livejournal.com 2008-09-16 04:41 pm (UTC)(link)
This was awesome! I can really relate to the things that happened to Beau, The first crush and the "realization moment" but for me it was more of admitting that I was gay rather than realizing it. =D
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[identity profile] strange-tomato.livejournal.com 2008-09-16 05:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you. I'm glad it had the ring of truth for you.

So, for you, you suspected it for a while before you actually fully accepted it? I guess when you're raised to expect things to go a certain way (in most cases, kids are raised in a very hetero framework), it would be difficult to grasp that it isn't the case for you, especially as a child. It could even be possible to feel that way before you even knew much about what gay actually meant.

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