WTiS: Curious Imperfections
When last we left the Curious clan, Pascal's attempt to get his gender-confused love interest, Wennie, out of the Strangetown Asylum had failed, and her powerful father hinted that the Curious family had some pretty dark secrets in their past that Pascal was unaware of. He was told that his brother-in-law might have some answers. In the meantime, the Curious brothers collectively decided it was time for some career changes, since the company they worked for was ultimately owned by Wennie's father. Lazlo has accepted a teaching position at La Fiesta Tech. Vidcund is going on a year long lecture tour. And Pascal is looking for answers to several important questions...
“You sounded pretty serious on the phone, Cal,” Tech had a feeling that his brother-in-law would want to jump right into the conversation without preamble, so gave him the opening once he’d sat at the table. “What’s on your mind?”
Pascal didn’t seem very interested in the gelatin dessert Tech had offered him. He honestly wasn’t sure where to start in asking Tech about the accusations Wennie’s father had taunted him with - that the elderly alien knew something about secrets that Pascal’s parents had taken to the grave with them. So, he decided the best course of action was just to be direct.
“Well, recently it was brought to my attention that there may be aspects of familial history of which I might be ignorant. Naturally I wish to rectify that, and I was informed that you may be in possession of knowledge concerning my parents that I am unaware of. Is this true?”
Tech was quiet for a moment, looking thoughtful. Finally he hmmphed quietly. “I’m guessing someone told you about your sisters, then?”
Pascal looked confused. “Sisters? Plural? I am afraid that I don’t understand, sir. We have only one sister.” He mentally noted that said sister was currently alternately arguing with and cheering over some daytime sensationalist talk show in the livingroom behind him, not paying any attention to their conversation.
Tech shook his head. “No, Cal. You actually have three, including Jenny. The other two - twins - are older than her, and your father Glarn had them while he was married to his first wife, Glabe.”
Pascal was startled. “First wife?” This was the first he’d ever heard of such a thing, and Pascal was finding that he really disliked the feeling of not knowing as much about his own family as he thought he did. “Father was previously married? And wait… did you say that he had the children? As in, he was impregnated and gave birth to them?”
“Yep,” Tech nodded with a bit of a smile. “I was his pollinator.”
This was stunning news. He would never have guessed that his mother was his father’s second wife. And now to find out that his brother-in-law was his previously unknown half-sisters’ father… well, it made Pascal’s usually steady head spin a little bit. At the very least, he found himself feeling a whole lot less positive of his assumed knowledge than he’d ever felt before, if there could be such a secret that he hadn’t been aware of.
“Well, what happened to the twins? Where are they currently?”
“That I don’t know,” Tech shrugged. “When I retired here to Strangetown, I spoke with Glarn about it, because of course I was curious as well. He told me that Glabe took them and left and though he had attempted to find them, he was never able to. Apparently Glabe was pretty furious at him, because she had found out he was seeing Kitty on the side and had gotten her pregnant.”
Pascal was glad that he hadn’t eaten any of his gelatin, because he likely would have choked on it upon hearing that. “Father was unfaithful? Tech, you must understand that I find that most difficult to believe.”
“Of course you do, Cal. By the time you and your brothers came around, Glarn had married Kitty, was settled down with her and Jenny, and was pretty much satisfied. He had no reason to stray after that. From what he told me, he was never really happy with Glabe in the first place. It was a bad match, he told me, and his big regret was losing the twins and that he couldn’t locate them. He and Kitty thought it best to not tell you kids about it, for fear of disrupting or upsetting you. Glarn wasn’t a bad person, Cal, and I won’t have you thinking it,” Tech said gruffly. “He was weak sometimes, but Sims often are. Once he married Kitty, that was the end of his infidelities. He loved her truly.”
“That… that is a relief to know…” Pascal replied quietly, glad to be reassured of that. He would have never imagined his father to be the type to stray in the first place, and finding that out had immediately birthed a whole host of worries over the perceived stability of the family he had grown up with, fears that it had all been a sham. He would trust that Tech was confident in his assurances. However, even if that fear was quieted, it was still unsettling to discover there was so much that he didn’t know about regarding his own family.
“Is this the only familial secret you are aware of, sir?” he asked. “Not that one is not enough and is quite stunning in its own right. But I was also told that there might be a connection between the Curious family and the reason why the military pulled out of Strangetown.”
Tech shook his head. “That was before I ever visited here, so I don’t know anything about it. I’m interested, though, Cal - who told you these things?”
Pascal sighed heavily. “Wennie’s father - Ilias Yoshizumi.”
Tech raised an interested eyebrow. “Oh, the CEO of Megaplex Rex? I didn’t realize that he was Wennie’s father.”
“Yes. It all came up in the meeting we had with him and Wennie’s therapist. He almost seemed delighted in intimating that he possessed knowledge of my family that I did not. And he has refused to release Wennie from the Asylum.”
Tech was looking rather thoughtful, but he blinked at Pascal’s last statement. “He’s refused, has he?” the elderly alien mused with an unexpected expression of smugness on his face. “Ah, we’ll just see about that.”
Pascal definitely wondered what his brother-in-law was on about, but that wondering was sort of lost under other concerns. Now he had to consider whether or not to try and locate his lost half-sisters. Tech had been able to give him their names as Glarn had known them - Lola and Chloe - but there was no guarantee that Glabe Curious hadn’t changed those, so it was a very slim lead to go on. Still, Pascal reasoned, there had to be a finite number of alien hybrids on SimEarth, so that narrowed the search field a bit, if he did indeed decide to pursue this.
And there was still the matter of Wennie’s release from the Asylum, and what avenues they would have to take in order to circumvent her father. These things were weighing heavily on his mind as he picked up the ringing phone in the lab later that evening.
He barely had time to say hello before a harsh and tightly angry voice on the other end of the line began to speak.
“Alright Curious. If you want the crazy little freak, then he is all yours.”
Pascal was startled. “Ah… Mr. Yoshizumi? Excuse me?”
“You heard what I said,” Yoshizumi snapped. “You can have him. I’ll be down to Dr. Neuman’s office first thing in the morning to sign the release papers. And then I had better never hear from you, or him, again. Understand?”
“Sir,” Pascal was rather bewildered by this unexpected turn of events. “Thank you, but why - - “
“Don’t thank me, I’m not interested in hearing it.” There was a final sounding click and then the noise of a disconnected line buzzed in Pascal’s ear.
He lowered the phone slowly, still taken aback, but only for a few seconds. Then it hit him - Wennie was being released! She would be able to come and live with them and be a true part of his family at last!
It seemed too good to be true, and Pascal had to wonder at Yochizumi’s change of mind, but then decided not to question good fortune.
Angry at being pressed into a corner, Illias Yoshizumi slammed the phone back down on its base. That had to have been most galling phone call he’d ever had to make, and he wouldn’t soon forget it either. If the Curious family ever crossed his path again… well, there were plenty of ways for a man in his position of power to make lesser Sims suffer.
The next few days were an adjustment for the entire Curious family. Things in the house were already busy, with Lazlo starting in his new teaching position with La Fiesta Tech, and Vidcund packing and taking care of arrangements for his upcoming lecture tour. They cleaned and moved things around a bit in the house, and Pascal took the time to explain to Rally about the changes that would likely happen when Wennie moved in permanently.
Rally thought it was about time. He liked Wennie, she was almost like he imagined a mother would be, and she made Dad smile a lot more than he did when she wasn’t around. He was glad that she was moving in and that she and Dad would get to be together.
Truth be told, he could hardly wait, and he was the very first one to eagerly greet Wennie when Quinn finally brought her to the house to stay.
“I’m glad you’re coming to live with us, Wennie,” he told her as his Dad and uncles watched. “This is where you belong, I think.” It was something he couldn’t really tell anyone else, because Rally didn’t think that they would understand, but Wennie was like a sound that his father’s symphony was missing, and now that she was here, Pascal’s music would be complete.
“Thank you Rally,” she smiled and even looked teary, like what he’d said was really important to her. Rally was glad that he’d made her happy, just like she made his Dad.
“I am counting on you to take care of Wennie,” Quinn told him in that mock serious tone grown ups used when talking to children, but not expecting them to actually do as they were told. Rally rolled his eyes, because he was too old to be talked to like that, but he agreed that he would take care of Wennie. Of course he would. She was pretty much his new Mom, wasn’t she?
Besides, Rally knew the whole family would take care of her, and they were all happy that she was coming to live with them. Except maybe Uncle Vidcund, but maybe he was just grumpy because it was a hot day outside.
But Rally was glad to see that even he greeted Wennie and welcomed her home. Uncle Vidcund’s music was a lot less harsh than he seemed to want everyone to think.
Wennie had been visiting often enough on long weekends, so it wasn’t difficult at all for her to settle into living with the Curious men with no real problems. As Rally had observed on previous occasions, she didn’t do any of the cooking, but he decided that was okay, because he loved her and she was like a Mom in all other ways.
Even if she didn’t cook, she had no problem with cleaning up afterwards.
And she happily took care of the rest of the house, including Rexx, when all the other adults were busy with their various projects - Vidcund studying up in his field for his lecture tour, Lazlo still taking energy field readings, and Pascal hunting for new job opportunities, since he certainly couldn’t continue working for a company that was owned by Megaplex Rex.
“Cal,” Vidcund found his older brother in the kitchen one evening after dinner. The family adjustment to having Wennie in the house had gone well, and after a week it felt like she had always been there. Pascal’s brothers were glad to have her, because she took care of all the household details, leaving them free to concentrate on their work, and privately Vidcund felt better about the prospect of leaving Rexx behind when he went on his lecture tour, knowing Wennie would be there to mother to him. Not that he didn’t trust his brothers, but, well… like him, they were easily distracted by work. None of them were Family sims, after all.
“Yes, Vidcund?”
“The dates for my tour have been finalized, and I’ll be leaving in six weeks,” Vidcund told him. “As you know, I’m going to be gone for a year - - “
“If you are concerned about Arexx, there is no need…” Pascal began, wanting to reassure his brother that none of them minded taking care of the toddler while Vidcund was concentrating on his career and taking advantage of this incredible opportunity.
“No, this isn’t about Rexx,” Vidcund shook his head. “But I’m going to be gone for a long time and there’s something I don’t want to miss, so I’d appreciate it if you would get it taken care of before I go.”
“What?” Pascal asked, wondering what his brother could possibly be talking about.
Vidcund gave him a smirk. “Marry that girl, would you?” He turned around and stalked out of the kitchen, leaving a surprised Pascal to smile after him. His gruff brother. Well, it certainly wouldn’t do to disappoint him.
With a sudden shock, Pascal realized the enormity of what his brother had just asked him to do.
The very next evening, after a little bit of hasty and uncomfortable shopping in Metro, Pascal invited Wennie to join him on the highest observation tower above the house, where they both enjoyed spending time together under the clear skies and brilliant desert stars.
“Are you content with us, inamorata?” he asked quietly as he held her. He felt like he was out of breath, even though he actually wasn’t. “You are happy?”
Wennie was unbelievably happy. She had no idea what could have prompted the change of heart in her father, but like Pascal she wasn’t going to question it. Having a close family to take care of and be a part of, one that didn’t judge her or expect her to be something she didn’t want to be, was exactly what she had always wanted. She was glad to be useful, glad to have a chance to care for Rally and Rexx, and so so glad that she could be close to Pascal anytime they wanted, without having to schedule visits.
“Yes,” she told him. “This is what I’ve always wanted, Pascal. I have a family, and I have someone to love, and you and everyone accepts me…” She looked at him. “It all makes me feel… so much better. So much more in control of my life. Like I’m a real sim now.”
“I am gratified to hear it, Wennie,” Pascal smiled, and he really was. For Wennie to be happy and feel she had worth was exactly what he hoped for.
The time had come for the big life-altering event, however. Pascal felt ridiculously nervous, which was foolish, he knew, but he couldn’t help it. Before meeting Wennie, he could never have even imagined taking this kind of step with another person. “Come,” he nudged her to stand with him, turned to face her, and then was suddenly at a complete loss as he gazed at her. This… this was the realm of emotion, a realm where he was not in the least bit comfortable. But he wanted to do this right, if possible, for her sake. Because it should be special. It should be perfect. Oh, oh, what if it wasn’t?
Wennie tipped her head curiously when he didn’t move for a long moment. “Pascal?”
He started a bit. “Forgive me, inamorata,” he said sheepishly. He was going to disappoint her enormously, he knew he was. “I wish for this moment to be perfect for you, but I am not sure how to make it so. I thought I would know what to say instinctively, but that does not appear to be the case.”
“Well, what do you want to say?”
“I want… I wish to request that you unite with me matrimoniously.” Oh, for Hyperion’s sake! Was that even a word?
Wennie felt her heart jump in happy surprise, and then she smiled at him lovingly. He was so amazingly brilliant, so smart, and yet when it came to the basics and to emotions, he was sometimes so utterly clueless. It was just one of the many endearing things that Wennie loved so much about him
“Would you like me to help you?” she asked fondly, a happy flutter in her stomach.
He nodded, dipping his head and rubbing the back of his neck. “Assistance would be greatly appreciated.”
“Okay, this is how it’s done. You get down on one knee,” Wennie instructed gently and smiled as he did so and looked up at her, starlight reflected in his glasses. “And then… you just ask - will you marry me?”
Pascal gazed up at her for a moment, that gentle effeminate face and dark hazel eyes. The love for him that was shining in them. He felt stupidly nervous and phenomenally lucky at the same time. Maybe they were both dysfunctional in their own ways, but at least they had found each other and could be dysfunctional together.
His heart was pounding. “Will you…” he began and then remembered something he’d almost forgotten in the confused uncertainty of the moment. He fumbled in his pocket until he shakily managed to pull out the ring box he had hidden there, and was able to hold it up in offering.
“Wennie,” he began again, at least managing to not stutter. Too much. “Will you… will you marry me?”
The ring was beautiful and as Wennie accepted it and slipped it onto her finger, she fell in love with it. It was a symbol of so much for her, far beyond just the prospect of marrying Pascal. It meant that she was more than just a freak languishing forgotten in an asylum. Someone loved her and wanted her to be a part of his life, and the life of his family. He accepted her with all her faults and phobias. She could never have imagined that something this wonderful would ever happen to her.
If she didn’t say something soon, Pascal was sure that he would messily disintegrate into a duotrigintillion pieces. Very frantic pieces. Luckily such a tragedy was averted as she stepped close and wrapped her arms around him, starlit tears shining in her eyes. Pascal embraced her in return.
“Of course I’ll marry you,” she sniffled against his shoulder. “I love you, Pascal. You’re every dream I’ve ever had come true.”
“I love you, Wennie,” Pascal replied, infinitely relieved, which he knew was a completely illogical reaction. They were in love, they had three bolts together, of course she was going to say yes. Why had he been so worried? It didn’t make any sense, but that seemed to be par for the course when it came to emotions. Still, he wouldn’t have traded the happiness and love he felt right then for anything logical.
“I apologize, that proposal was far from the perfection I’d hoped,” he told her after they’d both calmed down a bit.
“Pascal, it was perfect,” she assured, loving him so much. “In fact, it couldn’t have been any more perfect.”
Notes:
- A duotrigintillion = 10 to the power of 99
- I have caught up with my back log of pictures! This means I can actually play the game again, woot!! *does a happy tappity dance*
“You sounded pretty serious on the phone, Cal,” Tech had a feeling that his brother-in-law would want to jump right into the conversation without preamble, so gave him the opening once he’d sat at the table. “What’s on your mind?”
Pascal didn’t seem very interested in the gelatin dessert Tech had offered him. He honestly wasn’t sure where to start in asking Tech about the accusations Wennie’s father had taunted him with - that the elderly alien knew something about secrets that Pascal’s parents had taken to the grave with them. So, he decided the best course of action was just to be direct.
“Well, recently it was brought to my attention that there may be aspects of familial history of which I might be ignorant. Naturally I wish to rectify that, and I was informed that you may be in possession of knowledge concerning my parents that I am unaware of. Is this true?”
Tech was quiet for a moment, looking thoughtful. Finally he hmmphed quietly. “I’m guessing someone told you about your sisters, then?”
Pascal looked confused. “Sisters? Plural? I am afraid that I don’t understand, sir. We have only one sister.” He mentally noted that said sister was currently alternately arguing with and cheering over some daytime sensationalist talk show in the livingroom behind him, not paying any attention to their conversation.
Tech shook his head. “No, Cal. You actually have three, including Jenny. The other two - twins - are older than her, and your father Glarn had them while he was married to his first wife, Glabe.”
Pascal was startled. “First wife?” This was the first he’d ever heard of such a thing, and Pascal was finding that he really disliked the feeling of not knowing as much about his own family as he thought he did. “Father was previously married? And wait… did you say that he had the children? As in, he was impregnated and gave birth to them?”
“Yep,” Tech nodded with a bit of a smile. “I was his pollinator.”
This was stunning news. He would never have guessed that his mother was his father’s second wife. And now to find out that his brother-in-law was his previously unknown half-sisters’ father… well, it made Pascal’s usually steady head spin a little bit. At the very least, he found himself feeling a whole lot less positive of his assumed knowledge than he’d ever felt before, if there could be such a secret that he hadn’t been aware of.
“Well, what happened to the twins? Where are they currently?”
“That I don’t know,” Tech shrugged. “When I retired here to Strangetown, I spoke with Glarn about it, because of course I was curious as well. He told me that Glabe took them and left and though he had attempted to find them, he was never able to. Apparently Glabe was pretty furious at him, because she had found out he was seeing Kitty on the side and had gotten her pregnant.”
Pascal was glad that he hadn’t eaten any of his gelatin, because he likely would have choked on it upon hearing that. “Father was unfaithful? Tech, you must understand that I find that most difficult to believe.”
“Of course you do, Cal. By the time you and your brothers came around, Glarn had married Kitty, was settled down with her and Jenny, and was pretty much satisfied. He had no reason to stray after that. From what he told me, he was never really happy with Glabe in the first place. It was a bad match, he told me, and his big regret was losing the twins and that he couldn’t locate them. He and Kitty thought it best to not tell you kids about it, for fear of disrupting or upsetting you. Glarn wasn’t a bad person, Cal, and I won’t have you thinking it,” Tech said gruffly. “He was weak sometimes, but Sims often are. Once he married Kitty, that was the end of his infidelities. He loved her truly.”
“That… that is a relief to know…” Pascal replied quietly, glad to be reassured of that. He would have never imagined his father to be the type to stray in the first place, and finding that out had immediately birthed a whole host of worries over the perceived stability of the family he had grown up with, fears that it had all been a sham. He would trust that Tech was confident in his assurances. However, even if that fear was quieted, it was still unsettling to discover there was so much that he didn’t know about regarding his own family.
“Is this the only familial secret you are aware of, sir?” he asked. “Not that one is not enough and is quite stunning in its own right. But I was also told that there might be a connection between the Curious family and the reason why the military pulled out of Strangetown.”
Tech shook his head. “That was before I ever visited here, so I don’t know anything about it. I’m interested, though, Cal - who told you these things?”
Pascal sighed heavily. “Wennie’s father - Ilias Yoshizumi.”
Tech raised an interested eyebrow. “Oh, the CEO of Megaplex Rex? I didn’t realize that he was Wennie’s father.”
“Yes. It all came up in the meeting we had with him and Wennie’s therapist. He almost seemed delighted in intimating that he possessed knowledge of my family that I did not. And he has refused to release Wennie from the Asylum.”
Tech was looking rather thoughtful, but he blinked at Pascal’s last statement. “He’s refused, has he?” the elderly alien mused with an unexpected expression of smugness on his face. “Ah, we’ll just see about that.”
Pascal definitely wondered what his brother-in-law was on about, but that wondering was sort of lost under other concerns. Now he had to consider whether or not to try and locate his lost half-sisters. Tech had been able to give him their names as Glarn had known them - Lola and Chloe - but there was no guarantee that Glabe Curious hadn’t changed those, so it was a very slim lead to go on. Still, Pascal reasoned, there had to be a finite number of alien hybrids on SimEarth, so that narrowed the search field a bit, if he did indeed decide to pursue this.
And there was still the matter of Wennie’s release from the Asylum, and what avenues they would have to take in order to circumvent her father. These things were weighing heavily on his mind as he picked up the ringing phone in the lab later that evening.
He barely had time to say hello before a harsh and tightly angry voice on the other end of the line began to speak.
“Alright Curious. If you want the crazy little freak, then he is all yours.”
Pascal was startled. “Ah… Mr. Yoshizumi? Excuse me?”
“You heard what I said,” Yoshizumi snapped. “You can have him. I’ll be down to Dr. Neuman’s office first thing in the morning to sign the release papers. And then I had better never hear from you, or him, again. Understand?”
“Sir,” Pascal was rather bewildered by this unexpected turn of events. “Thank you, but why - - “
“Don’t thank me, I’m not interested in hearing it.” There was a final sounding click and then the noise of a disconnected line buzzed in Pascal’s ear.
He lowered the phone slowly, still taken aback, but only for a few seconds. Then it hit him - Wennie was being released! She would be able to come and live with them and be a true part of his family at last!
It seemed too good to be true, and Pascal had to wonder at Yochizumi’s change of mind, but then decided not to question good fortune.
Angry at being pressed into a corner, Illias Yoshizumi slammed the phone back down on its base. That had to have been most galling phone call he’d ever had to make, and he wouldn’t soon forget it either. If the Curious family ever crossed his path again… well, there were plenty of ways for a man in his position of power to make lesser Sims suffer.
The next few days were an adjustment for the entire Curious family. Things in the house were already busy, with Lazlo starting in his new teaching position with La Fiesta Tech, and Vidcund packing and taking care of arrangements for his upcoming lecture tour. They cleaned and moved things around a bit in the house, and Pascal took the time to explain to Rally about the changes that would likely happen when Wennie moved in permanently.
Rally thought it was about time. He liked Wennie, she was almost like he imagined a mother would be, and she made Dad smile a lot more than he did when she wasn’t around. He was glad that she was moving in and that she and Dad would get to be together.
Truth be told, he could hardly wait, and he was the very first one to eagerly greet Wennie when Quinn finally brought her to the house to stay.
“I’m glad you’re coming to live with us, Wennie,” he told her as his Dad and uncles watched. “This is where you belong, I think.” It was something he couldn’t really tell anyone else, because Rally didn’t think that they would understand, but Wennie was like a sound that his father’s symphony was missing, and now that she was here, Pascal’s music would be complete.
“Thank you Rally,” she smiled and even looked teary, like what he’d said was really important to her. Rally was glad that he’d made her happy, just like she made his Dad.
“I am counting on you to take care of Wennie,” Quinn told him in that mock serious tone grown ups used when talking to children, but not expecting them to actually do as they were told. Rally rolled his eyes, because he was too old to be talked to like that, but he agreed that he would take care of Wennie. Of course he would. She was pretty much his new Mom, wasn’t she?
Besides, Rally knew the whole family would take care of her, and they were all happy that she was coming to live with them. Except maybe Uncle Vidcund, but maybe he was just grumpy because it was a hot day outside.
But Rally was glad to see that even he greeted Wennie and welcomed her home. Uncle Vidcund’s music was a lot less harsh than he seemed to want everyone to think.
Wennie had been visiting often enough on long weekends, so it wasn’t difficult at all for her to settle into living with the Curious men with no real problems. As Rally had observed on previous occasions, she didn’t do any of the cooking, but he decided that was okay, because he loved her and she was like a Mom in all other ways.
Even if she didn’t cook, she had no problem with cleaning up afterwards.
And she happily took care of the rest of the house, including Rexx, when all the other adults were busy with their various projects - Vidcund studying up in his field for his lecture tour, Lazlo still taking energy field readings, and Pascal hunting for new job opportunities, since he certainly couldn’t continue working for a company that was owned by Megaplex Rex.
“Cal,” Vidcund found his older brother in the kitchen one evening after dinner. The family adjustment to having Wennie in the house had gone well, and after a week it felt like she had always been there. Pascal’s brothers were glad to have her, because she took care of all the household details, leaving them free to concentrate on their work, and privately Vidcund felt better about the prospect of leaving Rexx behind when he went on his lecture tour, knowing Wennie would be there to mother to him. Not that he didn’t trust his brothers, but, well… like him, they were easily distracted by work. None of them were Family sims, after all.
“Yes, Vidcund?”
“The dates for my tour have been finalized, and I’ll be leaving in six weeks,” Vidcund told him. “As you know, I’m going to be gone for a year - - “
“If you are concerned about Arexx, there is no need…” Pascal began, wanting to reassure his brother that none of them minded taking care of the toddler while Vidcund was concentrating on his career and taking advantage of this incredible opportunity.
“No, this isn’t about Rexx,” Vidcund shook his head. “But I’m going to be gone for a long time and there’s something I don’t want to miss, so I’d appreciate it if you would get it taken care of before I go.”
“What?” Pascal asked, wondering what his brother could possibly be talking about.
Vidcund gave him a smirk. “Marry that girl, would you?” He turned around and stalked out of the kitchen, leaving a surprised Pascal to smile after him. His gruff brother. Well, it certainly wouldn’t do to disappoint him.
With a sudden shock, Pascal realized the enormity of what his brother had just asked him to do.
The very next evening, after a little bit of hasty and uncomfortable shopping in Metro, Pascal invited Wennie to join him on the highest observation tower above the house, where they both enjoyed spending time together under the clear skies and brilliant desert stars.
“Are you content with us, inamorata?” he asked quietly as he held her. He felt like he was out of breath, even though he actually wasn’t. “You are happy?”
Wennie was unbelievably happy. She had no idea what could have prompted the change of heart in her father, but like Pascal she wasn’t going to question it. Having a close family to take care of and be a part of, one that didn’t judge her or expect her to be something she didn’t want to be, was exactly what she had always wanted. She was glad to be useful, glad to have a chance to care for Rally and Rexx, and so so glad that she could be close to Pascal anytime they wanted, without having to schedule visits.
“Yes,” she told him. “This is what I’ve always wanted, Pascal. I have a family, and I have someone to love, and you and everyone accepts me…” She looked at him. “It all makes me feel… so much better. So much more in control of my life. Like I’m a real sim now.”
“I am gratified to hear it, Wennie,” Pascal smiled, and he really was. For Wennie to be happy and feel she had worth was exactly what he hoped for.
The time had come for the big life-altering event, however. Pascal felt ridiculously nervous, which was foolish, he knew, but he couldn’t help it. Before meeting Wennie, he could never have even imagined taking this kind of step with another person. “Come,” he nudged her to stand with him, turned to face her, and then was suddenly at a complete loss as he gazed at her. This… this was the realm of emotion, a realm where he was not in the least bit comfortable. But he wanted to do this right, if possible, for her sake. Because it should be special. It should be perfect. Oh, oh, what if it wasn’t?
Wennie tipped her head curiously when he didn’t move for a long moment. “Pascal?”
He started a bit. “Forgive me, inamorata,” he said sheepishly. He was going to disappoint her enormously, he knew he was. “I wish for this moment to be perfect for you, but I am not sure how to make it so. I thought I would know what to say instinctively, but that does not appear to be the case.”
“Well, what do you want to say?”
“I want… I wish to request that you unite with me matrimoniously.” Oh, for Hyperion’s sake! Was that even a word?
Wennie felt her heart jump in happy surprise, and then she smiled at him lovingly. He was so amazingly brilliant, so smart, and yet when it came to the basics and to emotions, he was sometimes so utterly clueless. It was just one of the many endearing things that Wennie loved so much about him
“Would you like me to help you?” she asked fondly, a happy flutter in her stomach.
He nodded, dipping his head and rubbing the back of his neck. “Assistance would be greatly appreciated.”
“Okay, this is how it’s done. You get down on one knee,” Wennie instructed gently and smiled as he did so and looked up at her, starlight reflected in his glasses. “And then… you just ask - will you marry me?”
Pascal gazed up at her for a moment, that gentle effeminate face and dark hazel eyes. The love for him that was shining in them. He felt stupidly nervous and phenomenally lucky at the same time. Maybe they were both dysfunctional in their own ways, but at least they had found each other and could be dysfunctional together.
His heart was pounding. “Will you…” he began and then remembered something he’d almost forgotten in the confused uncertainty of the moment. He fumbled in his pocket until he shakily managed to pull out the ring box he had hidden there, and was able to hold it up in offering.
“Wennie,” he began again, at least managing to not stutter. Too much. “Will you… will you marry me?”
The ring was beautiful and as Wennie accepted it and slipped it onto her finger, she fell in love with it. It was a symbol of so much for her, far beyond just the prospect of marrying Pascal. It meant that she was more than just a freak languishing forgotten in an asylum. Someone loved her and wanted her to be a part of his life, and the life of his family. He accepted her with all her faults and phobias. She could never have imagined that something this wonderful would ever happen to her.
If she didn’t say something soon, Pascal was sure that he would messily disintegrate into a duotrigintillion pieces. Very frantic pieces. Luckily such a tragedy was averted as she stepped close and wrapped her arms around him, starlit tears shining in her eyes. Pascal embraced her in return.
“Of course I’ll marry you,” she sniffled against his shoulder. “I love you, Pascal. You’re every dream I’ve ever had come true.”
“I love you, Wennie,” Pascal replied, infinitely relieved, which he knew was a completely illogical reaction. They were in love, they had three bolts together, of course she was going to say yes. Why had he been so worried? It didn’t make any sense, but that seemed to be par for the course when it came to emotions. Still, he wouldn’t have traded the happiness and love he felt right then for anything logical.
“I apologize, that proposal was far from the perfection I’d hoped,” he told her after they’d both calmed down a bit.
“Pascal, it was perfect,” she assured, loving him so much. “In fact, it couldn’t have been any more perfect.”
Notes:
- A duotrigintillion = 10 to the power of 99
- I have caught up with my back log of pictures! This means I can actually play the game again, woot!! *does a happy tappity dance*