strangetomato: (rippwoohoo)
Strange Tomato ([personal profile] strangetomato) wrote2009-02-08 07:16 pm

Strangetown, HWC: Chapter Twenty-Nine - part two





Warnings: language, partial nudity, sexual situations, inappropriate dinner conversations



Chapter Twenty-Nine

Part Two






Things evolved fairly rapidly from there.




After such an extended dry spell in his love life, Frances was beside himself at this newfound easy access to a warm body, and Beau was not only warm, but enthusiastic too. It was like he had been starving, and had finally been allowed to help himself to the buffet. What a feast it was.

Frances was initially reluctant to rush into anything too physical too soon, but he also lacked the willpower to delay gratification any longer than was absolutely necessary, so he just went with it. He figured they'd done enough talking already, and now it was the time for more practical studies.




In the weeks and months that followed, they spent many an afternoon exploring this idea together in Frances's bedroom.




Frances decided that Beau's reports of tiny penises were grossly exaggerated. He wasn't sure what Beau was using for comparison, exactly, but he had been pleasantly surprised. He'd been expecting a lot less. Maybe that was the whole point, and Beau knew what he was doing all along. Anything seems impressive if you were prepared for something less, afterall.

How very sneaky of him. How very Beau.






"Have you ever...?" Frances completed the sentence with a wayward glance.

"Not that, no. Have you?"

"No. My previous experience was all at summer camp. It was pretty fleeting."

"Just BJs, huh?"

Frances shot him a look.

"Oh, I'm sorry... fellatio. Did you fellate each other in one of the bathroom stalls?"

"Don't be a smartass. And must you be so vulgar?"




Beau laughed. Frances was so cute when he was being all prissy and haughty like that. "But I thought you liked it when I was vulgar..." Beau nibbled his way across Frances's neck. It was obvious that he was right. "See? You can't fool me."

"You've figured me out." Frances smiled. "And, yes, I did meet up with him in the bathroom stalls. How did you know?"

"Well, where else would you go? I'm just doing the math." He clucked his tongue. "That's not exactly sanitary, now, is it, Frances? Naughty, naughty boy."

Frances ignored him, and resumed his exploration of Beau's mouth.




After a minute or two, he spoke again.

"Would you like to?"

Beau offered an uncharacteristically non-verbal response.




It wasn't the sort of thing you talked your way through, and actions were more than sufficient to get his point across.








"I'm glad it was with you," Frances said. "It means something, you know?"

"Yeah."

"I don't know," he said, rethinking his wording of it. "I feel like we have a connection here. Something real. You know what I mean?"




"I do."

"It was... really nice."

"I wouldn't have it any other way," Beau said. "I guess I'm just a romantic, when it comes down to it. I'm a bit of a family sim, you know."

"Oh, really? Does your mother know?" Frances smirked.




"I know. What would she say? She will be heartbroken."












Frances switched on his stereo.

"Let the right one in
Let the old dreams die
Let the wrong ones go
They cannot
They cannot
They cannot do what you want them to do"

"You only have one record in that thing, don't you? It's always the same music."

"That's not true. I'll have you know -"




Frances turned to meet a pillow to the face.






"Ohhh! Right in the lips!" Beau laughed. "That was a devastating blow."




"You're a dead man, Beau Broke."

"Bring it on, Franny."














Behind them, Tank cleared his throat.




"Oh, hey T-man," Beau chirped.

"Tank," Frances said, "This... umm..."

"Is exactly what it looks like," Beau finished.




After a moment or two of dead air time, Tank spoke. "I'm getting some dinner," he said, "Do you want to join me?"

"Yes, of course," said Frances. "Thank you."

"Yeah, that'd be great, T. I'm famished like you wouldn't believe. Been really working up an appetite."

"I can imagine."

Despite the fact that he didn't really want to, it was hard to avoid.




"So, Tank...," Beau began.




Frances looked over at him, and silently willed him to not saying anything that would embarrass him, or Tank, or both.

No no no no no just no.

"Where do you stand on the foreskin issue?"

OH DEAR GOD NO!




Tank didn't even say, "What?" He just stared at Beau like he was holding a gun to his head.




"Frances and I were... 'discussing it' earlier. We're representative examples of different schools of thought on the matter, and I was wondering whose side you fell into." Beau's smile was beatific.

"You're not serious..."




"What? I didn't ask you for a kidney. I just want to know if you're cut or not."

"No!"

"You're not?"

"NO!"

"You are?"




"No, I'm not answering that!" Tank roared.




"Oh come on. We're all guys here."

Wasn't that the problem? Tank wondered. He turned back to his plate, and felt Beau staring at him.

"Beau, leave him alone," Frances said.




Tank dropped his head into his bowl. He started to laugh. They both stared at him, unsure if it was a good sign or a bad one. Then, when Tank didn't stop, they started laughing too. Soon they were all howling.




"What the FUCK, Beau? You're... asking me if I have a foreskin over macaroni and cheese?"

"Little dicks," Beau said, as he held up a spoonful. "They look like -"

"Everything looks like dicks to you," Frances said.




"How the hell did I end up here?" Tank was still laughing. "If I could have seen into the future, just months ago... I would have been so disturbed. And now... this is normal. This is my LIFE. What the fuck..."

They turned back to their bowls, and several minutes passed.




"Oh, and... yes, I'm on your team, Beau."

"Oh, reeaally. How do you -"




"Oh, he knows," Frances laughed. "I gave him an eyeful a while back." Frances could have probably answered the question for Tank, based on some prevous research of his into the Grunt family position on such things. On the couch in the living room. But, of course, he wasn't about to bring that up in front of Tank.

"So, I was dirt poor. What's your excuse?"




"Excuse? Do I need one?"

Tank couldn't believe he was saying so much, but Beau seemed to have that way with people. "I consider it a rare and welcome moment of benevolence from my father, for whatever the reason." Buzz did tend to dictate every other detail of Tank's existence, and even appearance, so the idea of him doing something that Tank would have no say in seemed more likely.

Beau nodded, happy to have gotten this much from Tank.




"Good thing too. Ripp wouldn't have ever forgiven him, I'm sure. Like he needed another reason to resent him."

"Did you resent him?" Beau asked. "I mean, I'm sorry if it's too personal..."

Tank arched an eyebrow. How could it get any more personal than it already was? "My feelings about my father are complicated. I don't know if resentment is really the right word."




"I didn't have a father," said Beau. "I never did. Yeah, he died while I was still a baby. I envy people and their fathers."

"Well, it's not always something to envy," said Frances. "I didn't exactly have touching father-son moments with mine. He was like a stern stranger that existed solely to judge me."

"Even that is better than nothing at all," Tank said.




They looked at him, waiting for more, but then he went silent again, and said nothing further.

"So," Beau said, "back to dicks..."




It wasn't long before Charlotte's wedding was just around the corner. Frances was trying to forget this fact, but Edie's increasingly frequent phone calls were making it very difficult.




"I love Charlotte, I really do, but she's making me wear a dress. A dress she picked out for me."

"Oh, the injustice of it all."

"How would you like to wear a dress, hmmm? You can take my place."




"I'm sure she would just love that."




"You got off easy, dear brother."

"I'm welcoming him to the family, don't forget."

"Yes, but you don't have to wear taffeta to do it."




"I hate public speaking."

"It's just a short toast thing. You'll do fine."

"Oh, kill me now."




"Don't tempt me. I'm at the mercy of Bridezilla, and I need to let off some steam."

"I can imagine."






"I guess I should let her have her moment. She's been putting so much of herself into this. You should see the venue."




"Knowing Charlotte, everything will be perfectly elegant."




"Well, she does have impeccable taste and a budget to rival that of a small country. I'm telling you, Frances. This wedding is going to be huge."




"She's right in her element," he said. "I'm happy for her."

"So how are things going with your new beau?" Even over the phone, he could hear the look on her face and how she was amused and delighted by the appropriateness of the name.

"It's been wonderful. He's just amazing, Edie."




"And you're bringing him to the wedding?"

"Do you think it's a bad idea?"

"It's a little daring," she said, "but I'll be happy to finally meet him."

"I want you to meet him. I think you'll really like him."




"Well, if your mood is any indication, I like him already," she said, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm sure the incoming call is Charlotte with more unreasonable demands. Can you believe she wants to dictate how I do my hair? I think I'm going to chop it off real short, so there's nothing she can do about it. It works for Lil."

"Good luck with that," Frances said.




Then, suddenly, the day arrived. It snuck up on him so quickly.






He thought he was okay with it, but when he woke up on the day of the wedding, he was filled with unholy dread.




"I don't know if I even want to go," he said. "Can we just stay in bed all day instead?"




"Oh, you're going to that wedding, even if I have to carry you there on my back."




"There will be so many raised eyebrows."

"Hey, I'm your 'and guest,' so that can like it or lump it."




"True. The invite didn't come with any restrictions"




"Are you sure you really want me to go with you? It seems a little... ballsy."

"Yes. I know they'll wonder about it, but I don't care. I consider it a trial run."




"Oh, really?" Beau smiled at the implication.






Frances threw open his wardrobe. "Well, time to suck it up, I guess."

"Hey, I bought you a present."






"A present?"

"Yeah, for the big day."




"It's not my big day, Beau."




"Well, sure it is. It's our first formal event together. It's your sister's wedding. That's reason enough for a present, don't you think?"

Frances unwrapped it, and took out the cufflinks. They were shaped like acorns, and made of sterling silver.




"I saw some nice ties that reminded me of you too, but you said you had enough already, so I thought these would be small and tasteful, and something you'd like."

"They're beautiful."

"They're meant to be good luck, like a sort of amulet. Acorns are supposed to represent luck, prosperity, youthfulness and power. Also, spiritual growth, some say. Makoto St, Julien used to tell me all about those sorts of things. He's a really interesting man. Well, anyone that old has a story or two to tell."




"Wow. That's really thoughtful. Thank you."

"Also, they're nuts. Get it? Now you have balls on your cuffs."

"How could you afford these?"




"Dreamcatchers, Fran. Dreamcatchers." It was Beau's oft-mentioned solution to most common problems: the sale and liberal application of dreamcatchers.

"Yes, but you're saving that money for school, and for your future. You shouldn't have bought this for me."

"Well, I did. So there."

"I can't -"

"Yes, you can. I want you to have them. It's makes me happy, okay? Just take them."




"Well, thank you. I do like them. I like them very much."

"And a little luck never went astray, right?"

Frances had never given much thought to luck, thinking it as just another empty promise of the universe, but Beau was really able to sell it on him. Since Beau had cheerfully hung the dreamcatcher over his bed, it really had seemed like it had chased away his nightmares. "No, you're right. It could come in handy."




"So, do you feel better now?"

"A little."

"I don't see what your problem is. I LOVE weddings. When Alexander's sister got married, I snuck over to their place for the reception."




"They were trying to keep it low key, but I knew he would appreciate the company, and Dustin was there too. I danced my ASS off. It was wild."




"I love weddings. I love everything about them. I love the decorations. I love the formal wear. I love the food."




"I love the romance."






"I love the dancing."






"By the end of the night, Dirk Dreamer had his tie all loosened and was all sweaty. It was... yeah. Just yeah. I filed that image away for later use, let me tell you. God, was he ever hot. People get so primal at weddings. I love it."




"Don't expect that to happen at this wedding, okay? It's going to be limited to Sim City's finest, richest, and most buttoned-up social class."

"You'll be surprised. Once those ties get loosened, the perennially uptight are the worst offenders."

"Is that so?"

"Well, you're half fun when you let your guard down, you know." He winked at him.




"I don't know what you're talking about," Frances said, with only the traces of a smile. He was already buttoning up his shirt of choice. "Here, put this on." He handed Beau the suit he was going to be wearing.

"Oh, very nice."

"I thought you'd like it. I had it tailored to fit you, not that there's such a huge difference in size."

"That's very thoughtful, Fran."

"It wasn't anything, really. It's the least I can do. You're the one who's doing me a favour here."




Once he was suited up, Beau picked up a sweater from the closet, rubbing the material between his fingers. "This is so soft."

"Cashmere, " Frances said. "It's supposed to be soft. That's the whole point."




"Do you ever stop to think about how nice it is? Or are you so used to it that it's not even a luxury anymore? And you only notice when things are lower in quality..."




Frances thought about it, and realized how true it really was. It didn't sound all that flattering. "You're right. I've grown used to it. We take these things for granted. If suddenly it's not there, then I'll realize what I had, but maybe only then. It's terrible, isn't it?"




"It's not terrible, but you miss out on the thrill of being someone like me and experiencing it for the first time. It's like this magical moment when you finally have it in your hands. It's all about the struggle to get there, to see it all, to experience it all. If there's nothing left to gain, what's the point, you know? Yeah, I think we need things to look forward to. That's the key to life, Fran."




Frances understood what he was saying. Having things didn't make you happy. It had never been true for him, anyway. He had become much happier since Beau had come along, doing things that anyone could do for free. "Yes, you're right. You're completely right."

"You're a little bit like this sweater, you know," Beau observed.




"How's that? I'm expensive beyond what's practical?"




"No, you're impossibly soft and I want to rub you all over my body."




Frances gave his best coy expression, and reached for Beau's hand. "Do you want to go for a ride in my sexy new car?"

"Are we taking the chick magnet? Really? We're taking that to the wedding?"

"I don't see any reason not to. It's completely ridiculous, but I may as well use it, right?"

"Can I drive?"




"I don't know... can you?" He tossed him the keys. "Let's find out."




"Oh, hell yes! This is awesome. Is there time to take a swing by Pleasantview? There are some people I've really love to drive past in this thing."

"As long as we make it in time for the wedding, you're free to take any route you like."

"Awesome, awesome, awesome! Are you pumped for this? I'm so pumped!"




Frances said nothing, but smiled as he put his arm around Beau's waist and led him down to the car.




Once they were settled in, he fiddled with the dial on the car radio. "Oh, just perfect."

"Life is a highway
I wanna ride it all night long
If you're going my way
I wanna drive it all night long"









Beau started to sing along, shifted the car into reverse, and sped out of the driveway. Frances tightened his grip on the seat and door handle.

"Knock me down get back up again
You're in my blood
I'm not a lonely man
There's no load I can't hold
Road so rough this I know
I'll be there when the light comes in
Just tell 'em we're survivors"


With that, they were off.











(Continue to Chapter 29 - part 3)





Notes: I hadn't intended to break this chapter into three parts, but it was running long (I fear I'll overload the post limit), and I was running late. Since there is a bit of a natural break here, I'm posting this section now, and the rest will follow later in the week. By Thursday, at the latest.

Music is Let The Right One Slip In by Morrissey and Life is a Highway by Tom Cochrane.




[identity profile] 80sfiend.livejournal.com 2009-02-11 07:02 am (UTC)(link)
Yay update! :D This is so awesome :)

Frances and Beau are so cute as you know :D

Tank and the penis talk is epic!

Can't wait to see how the wedding goes! Very dramatic I'm sure :D I loved Edie and Frances' facial expressions on the phone :)

And yay Cassandra marries Darren :D They're married in mine too and have a little baby named Leo. :) Darren named him after his fave artist :)

[identity profile] traciandrus.livejournal.com 2009-02-11 06:41 pm (UTC)(link)
This was a great update. I love that Francis and Beau are hitting it off so well.

The talk over lunch was a LMAO moment. Dear lord Beau likes to pick on Tank doesn't he?
ext_122042: (Default)

[identity profile] strange-tomato.livejournal.com 2009-02-15 03:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Your favourite story? ^_^ Aww, thanks.

The changes in both Ripp and Tank and their relationship to each other has to be my favourite thing in this story. I guess I should include Buck in there too, because he also changes (gains confidence, etc.), but it's more subtle. Tank, especially, has a journey of growth throughout the whole story, and he's far from done yet.

The wedding is going to be fun, for sure.
ext_122042: (francesbeau)

[identity profile] strange-tomato.livejournal.com 2009-02-15 03:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Sexytimes are sexier when Frances is involved. This is a fact. *hands you a cultofrances membership card*

Surprised, are you? It's always the quiet ones, just like they say. ;) Well, really, being physically on top of a person as opposed to below them tells you very little about whether someone is a "top" or a "bottom" or the passive or aggressive partner. Heterosexual women are quite often found on top, right? It's exactly the same with two guys. You can do all of the same positions, more or less. Also, they don't have to fall into set roles (though they might - I'm sure it varies). Not to analyze it too much, but I just wanted to put that out there.

I have my own theories about the Beau/Frances dynamic, given that I've thought their characters through in great detail, but I'm not going to go into details unless it somehow has some relevance to the plot, since I don't do that for anyone else (with the exception of maybe Ripp - I've been pretty clear that he does everything and anything, given the chance). The boys deserve their privacy on the nitty gritty details, I think.

Like you said, though, I'm sure Beau is very encouraging, no matter how it all works. ;) It's not hard to translate his everyday behaviour to the bedroom.

Yeah, it's true. Tank isn't just "one of the guys" in the same sense that Frances and Beau are. They are all men, but there is a serious divide there. Tank tries not to be freaked out by it, even though it does still make him uncomfortable, and I think he's doing rather well.

The fact that he's laughing is a good sign, right? He might be overwhelmed and embarrassed beyond belief, but he's not really unhappy. He doesn't really know what to make of it all, but he's going along for the ride. Good luck to him.
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[identity profile] strange-tomato.livejournal.com 2009-02-15 03:53 pm (UTC)(link)
You just have to be bigger and better than everyone else, don't you? ;) (And if we're talking about size, you've got us all beat, for sure. A penis > no penis.)

I'm fond of the dreamcatchers. I used them because of the money trick, where they're cheap to buy, but they greatly increase in value after you've had them for a couple of days and sell them back. Seems like something Beau would pick up on. I'm really liking the symbolism of it all now too. It worked out really well.

*nods* It's because Dustin has a huge wang. That makes a lot of sense now.

Aren't they the sweetest couple ever? ^_^

I'm glad that came through. I really did want it to be very intimate and romantic, because it's their first time, and it shows how close they're becoming in such a short time. Also, I didn't want it to feel cheap. I try not to get hung up on how I portray things or have a certain agenda that gets in the way of telling the story, but I can't help but be aware of sending messages with the way I do things. I didn't want Beau and Frances to become mere objects of "the female gaze." I'm a little more cautious about making things too titilating with two men, because I hate to think that this might take away from the feelings involved in it. I feel something of a duty to be sensitive about it and more aware of it.

It's hard to fully explain without writing you an essay (and I'll spare you :P), but it seems all too easy to fall into stereotypes and assumptions, and I'm more comfortable with using rough strokes *teehee* when I'm portraying m/f relationships, because I'm a active member of that group. It's not that I wouldn't do something hotter and purely physical with m/m, because that's only fair too, but it has to be balanced. Does that make sense? I'm sure I've discussed my reservations about the whole "lol buttsecks" thing before, right? Sex is sex, and I don't want it to be treated any differently. You know how I am with all these gender and sexuality issues. They're my pet issues, and I'm always thinking about it.

*puts soapbox away*

I really like the showering afterwards too. It is very realistic (Hey, I'm ~experienced~, so I know these things), and it's almost as intimate as the actual sex. I love the shot with Beau washing Frances's back, and how happy he seems. Those moments after the fact, when you're just so close, is what it's really all about.

Poor Tank. :P But yeah, look how far he's come. I'm proud of him.

Yeah, I don't want to take sides either, but I know I wouldn't do it to a child. I even resent having my ears pierced because my Nan took me when I was really young, and now I never wear earrings. It just seems so traumatic to do to a newborn, I agree. (Also, foreskins are fun. There, I said it. :P)

Can you guess which hair I'm going to be using on Edie? Hint: It's a somewhat recent Neena retexture by someone we know. ;)

Yeah, Florence is the flower expert, so why wouldn't you hire her? I love making use of details in the Maxis characters like that. So much fun.

I see Beau as being a present giver. He wants tonnes of money, but I don't think he'd horde it at all. He'd spend most of it on gifts, and probably charity too. He's just like that.

Cassandra/Darren is very OTP for me. There's no way she should marry Don (I think he's meant to bail out on her at the altar, for sure). Darren has been hiding this epic crush for years, so I think he deserves his chance to make her happy.

Yeah, Mary-Sue was there in her default dress. I think it's actually white with an Asian motif. She's good friends with Cass, so she was one of the only people invited to this small family wedding.

I love the thought of them cruising around in that car. Beau is like an excited puppy.
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[identity profile] strange-tomato.livejournal.com 2009-02-15 03:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks. :) Poor Tank has a lot to adjust to, doesn't he? He's really moving out of his comfort zone, which is good for him.
Yeah, she's marrying Malcolm. It's going to be huge, since both families are seriously wealthy, old-money families, with millions in the bank. (I used money cheats to make it so, because it makes more sense that way.) The marriage of the heir to the Landgraab fortune and the first daughter to marry in the Worthington family is a really big deal, and they're all pretty pleased to be merging their vast fortunes.

Beau is not at all what Frances's parents had in mind for him. He's the wrong sex and also the wrong social class. Not only is Beau unrefined, he was/is very poor, and the Worthingtons can smell poor a mile away.

I tend to see Don leaving Cassandra at the altar as the canon for Pleasantview. It happens every time I play it, since the potential is there (and, really, having him marry on the Goth property to move in and take Cassandra's name seems really wrong to me). It's one of those things that could go either way, but the ruined wedding is so much more satisfying, and just makes more sense to me, in the high drama of Pleasantview. Then Darren finally gets the nerve to confess his unrequited love for Cass, and they get together. Don is free to roam like a stray cat. Everyone wins.

The wedding was simple for a variety of reasons. One, Darren is not wealthy. Two, Dina is now the matriarch of the Goth family, so she's influencing how the money is spent. Three, Mortimer is sick in the hospital (though not dead yet - he spends a long time there before he finally goes). Four, after the public embarrassment of the full-blown wedding to Don that ended in ruin, Cassandra wants this one to slip under the radar, so she invites only her closest friend, Mary-Sue, and her family. Daniel is missing because they divorced after the Kaylynn thing - I play that train wreck out as it's suggested too, but don't have him marry Kaylynn. Poor Kaylynn is after all the wrong men, and is destined for single motherhood.

(Man, I love Pleasantview. :P What a beautiful mess.)

So now you know why. ;)
ext_122042: (Default)

[identity profile] strange-tomato.livejournal.com 2009-02-15 03:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, Beau isn't subtle at all. If he didn't have the protective association of being Frances's boyfriend, Tank might not be so receptive to him, but he's been sort of forced into it.

Otherwise, I think he'd be way more likely to just punch Beau in the face (not really, though... with Beau's size, that would be way too much like punching a girl. Beau is small and boy-sized, and skinny too, and Tank's not really the type to prey on the weak.)
ext_122042: (Default)

[identity profile] strange-tomato.livejournal.com 2009-02-15 03:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you. I'm glad you like it. ^_^ I'll have to thank Doey for spreading the word. Maybe I'll have to make her some flowers... or a new dick cozy.

Can i friend you?

No.

Just kidding... YES! :D *plus plus* Thanks for reading.
ext_122042: (Default)

[identity profile] strange-tomato.livejournal.com 2009-02-15 04:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks. :) A little string of "heeheeheee"s is the best sort of feedback.

I'm glad you're enjoying the changes in the dynamic here. I know how much people got into the relationship between Tank and Frances, so it's reassuring to see that it's still received well after these changes.
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[identity profile] strange-tomato.livejournal.com 2009-02-15 04:02 pm (UTC)(link)
I probably will do this. I can take a few screencaps, and maybe even finish that hand drawn map that shows the layout of where the towns are in relation to each other in my mind.

Sim City is by far my greatest achievement. It's been altered quite a bit from the original downtown hood.
ext_122042: (francesbeau)

[identity profile] strange-tomato.livejournal.com 2009-02-15 04:04 pm (UTC)(link)
It's great that your husband and his family grew to become so accepting of it. I always love to hear stories like that, because I like to think that most people would come around if they discovered that about someone in their own family (wishful thinking, I know, but that's how I am).

I would love it if everyone has at least one person in their life that changes their expectations like that. We'd all be a lot better for it. Sadly, though, it often doesn't get any further than an uncomfortable acceptance as long as nobody ever mentions it (and they'll "pray for them" or whatever *frowns*). We have that happening in my family-in-law. It's rarely discussed, and her girlfriends have always been described as "friends" only (usually in hushed tones), and any interaction with her father and her partner is always strained, at best. It's hard, you know? :(

Heheh. No debate, please. :P It's such a personal thing, and it varies by culture. I have to say that I wouldn't be able to hand over the decision to my SO like that. I'm WAY too controlling for that. He would never agree to it, anyway (he's pretty protective of that foreskin of his *snicker*), but I'd still need to have my say. (I guess I know which way he decided, huh?)

No, she certainly won't, but who can blame her? It's not exactly included in the model for a dream wedding. ;)
ext_122042: (francesbeau)

[identity profile] strange-tomato.livejournal.com 2009-02-15 04:08 pm (UTC)(link)

Well, Tank/Frances never really existed outside of Frances's head, but, as they say, I'm truly sorry for your "lots." :P

The story is far from over, but as things stand right now, there's no hope for a Tank/Frances, because Tank is not gay. Yeah, not even a smidge gay. Frances has made the wise decision to move on with someone who can return his feelings, and he deserves that.

Tank and Frances will remain friends, though, don't you worry. I like to think that can mean just as much as a romantic or physical relationship. Your best friend is there forever.

Thanks. :)

[identity profile] mixreality.livejournal.com 2009-02-15 05:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, baby!!! I can hardly wait!! And the mind-location of the towns, hoorah! And an improved downtown! You're gonna make me happy!

(I realized I haven't commented on the actual chapter. I don't have anything else to say but "OMG PERFECT!!!" for every chapter really, and that's boring :) )

[identity profile] smjoshsims.livejournal.com 2009-02-16 06:19 pm (UTC)(link)
*grins* I guess I do. It's a habit of mine, I APOLOGIZE. ;)

*nodnod* I have most of you beat in the size department. (This sounds so fresh! Well, I guess it IS.)

I love the symbolism of them, I love that you used it. Did you use the money trick on the Brokes? I tried, but it seems that AL borked them for me- they haven't been selling for more than $50 in forever.

I just guessed he did- Beau HAD to compare himself to someone, right? (And Dustin was the only guy around, and they're brothers- of course he'd see it once or twice.)

THEY ARE. I love them so much. (Enough to make them a reality in my gamer too, heh.)

I completely and totally understand you- to be honest, I've never read a Sim Story where a same sex relationship was treated with such care and intimacy as you have, most legacies just do the "two men fucking" thing and walk away. You're making it into something sweet, beautiful, and the feelings involved are very real. I've said it before and I'll say it again, you do an AMAZING job of making these characters so REAL, and it really shows that you care about them.

I love that Tank has come this far. ^__^

You're fresh, ST! ;) But I agree, it is so bad to do it to a kid, but then again (not that I agree) it's a lot worse if you do it when you're an adult. My cousin got his when he was in his 20's and it was brutal. *shudder*

Is it the one that Simgaroop did of the Raon M2F conversion? I love that one.

I see it, and I LOVE it. It's so realsitic, isn't it?

*nods* Beau definitely would be a gift giver. He's probably buy his mom a new house if/when he makes it big. (It won't really be covered, but Brandi still lives in the trailer in EPL. She didn't want to leave Skip, even though she got remarried.)

Don definitely bails on her. (In a darker drabble I had planned, Cass did marry him, and Darren too, and got divorced from both of them as she climbed the Corporate ladder. After playing her, I just couldn't do it.)

MS did loo fierce. If Cass did have a small wedding, she would definitely be there. (And I'm glad!)

:D It's funny you say that, because Franny actually DOES look like a puppy. :P
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[identity profile] strange-tomato.livejournal.com 2009-02-19 03:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks. :) Beau is so much fun. There's nothing like a really bold character, especially when they're a bit mischievous.

The barefoot suit is from Celebration Stuff. I love that they thought to include something so disheveled. It's great for storytelling. That one would be perfect for a destination wedding on Twiiki Island.

I just don't see Don marrying Cassandra. I think he's destined to leave her at the altar, causing a stir, not to mention an aspiration failure. I'm all about Darren/Cassandra. Now that I think about it, maybe Darren runs in to stop the wedding, or at least confesses his love to her just before the ceremony (like Niles did to Daphne on Frasier - I loved those episodes). Yeah, that's even better.

Frances is sexy PERIOD. He really does rock the dark colours quite well, though, doesn't he?
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[identity profile] strange-tomato.livejournal.com 2009-02-19 03:40 pm (UTC)(link)
There's probably something to that theory of Beau hiding his pain. I'm sure it's in there, and he's not so much burying it as he is rising above it. Beau doesn't dwell. He thinks living well is the best revenge, so he's going to make a better life for himself, and ignore the fact that his upbringing was difficult.

Yeah, it would be fun to see the looks on their faces. I don't show it, so you'll have to imagine it for yourself. Little Ricky Cormier's jaw hit the pavement, for sure. :P (Or whatever that townie kid's name is...)

Heehee. No doubt.

[identity profile] nonikk63.livejournal.com 2011-10-22 04:24 pm (UTC)(link)
The more I get to know Tank, the more I like him. In fact I believe I love him. There is so much more to him than what intially meets the eye. There is so much _heart_ in him. so much depth. But then you've given all of them depth and complex personalities, this story is so darn interesting and captivating, you really are a great writer. But the pictures, the pictures ... They are just amazing.

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