Maxis taste Dare 15: Dates (aka Love for All Ages: Elder)
And coming in right under the wire is. . .
Yup, I finally got an idea for the elder portion of my self imposed Love for All Ages add on to the maxis_taste Dare 15. I'm telling you, I just could NOT figure out what I wanted to do with this one. I was tempted to go the easy route and trot out PT9 (*heartfarts*) or fall back on the super cute Goodies but, well, I just needed MORE.
Then I remembered a lovely old codger living in Pleasantview. A sim that, for many, embodies all that is "sim". A man of MYTH. Or, rather, a man MARRIED TO a myth.
Yeah, we're heading over to that big old mansion in Pleasantview for this one. But, I promise, it's not what you're thinking. Well, unless you're sharing my brain cell and, if you are, then GET OUT (or at least don't ruin it for others!).
(note: I've taken a bit of license here, mostly with hair color. You can blame that on Peculiar. I just prefer a certain gent as a towhead now. Does that make this AU? Who the hell cares!)
The creak of the hinge. The clack of her heels against the pathway.
Music.
Nothing could block the memory.
He had insisted they have a quiet night alone. He looked her over, like he always did, and proclaimed her the most beautiful woman he'd ever encountered before leading her to the dining room.
She complimented the red tulips and he reminded her they were her favorite.
Before the meal, he confided, he needed to discuss something with her. Something of great importance.
He didn't hide his nervous excitement. She craved such pure moments.
It was exquisite.
Their happiness.
"Father, there's someone at the door."
Mortimer grunted and rose from the piano bench. There were to be no guests.
"Practice your scales, Alexander," he instructed the boy.
In the few strides to the door, he carefully selected the words he'd use to turn away this stranger.
But she wasn't a stranger and Mortimer Goth was left speechless.
"Mortimer, do you recognize me?"
How could he not?
He didn't respond.
She could hear her son deftly plucking out scales on the piano. She longed to muscle her way past his father and race to him, grab him her arms and hug him. But unlike Mortimer, she knew Alexander wouldn't recognize her.
"May I come in?"
Mortimer stood aside and let her pass.
"Good creatrix," she sighed, "it hasn't changed one bit."
Behind her, dampened by the sound of their son's piano practice, Mortimer sighed. Despite the appearance, he knew it had changed. Everything had changed after that first long night when he'd waited until dawn for her return. It was unprecedented. They had never kept someone. He had been left, once again, alone in the cold beast of a house. But he wasn't. He could hear their sobs, their cries for a mother to soothe them. Their dark hair a constant reminder of the one thing neither his fortune nor his scientific accomplishments could replace.
Then, the rumors had started.
"You're very talented, A. . ."
His sadness hardened into anger as she dared to speak his name.
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm here for the wedding, of course," she smiled, straining to keep her tone light and casual.
"No. . .not now. You. . .you simply can't. . ."
"Mortimer. . ."
"No." She smiled despite herself. Him with his hands on his hips, his signature move, so determined to have the last word. "Not in her condition."
He expected her to be shocked but she merely nodded.
"That's precisely why I'm here." Mortimer's brow furrowed as he scowled. He had never enjoyed surprises or plot twists and she had handed him both. "I know everything, Mortimer."
"Please, lets not fight in front of. . .," she gestured to Alexander, still dutifully working the scales. "Can we please just slip outside and to our seats before she comes down?"
Mortimer sighed.
"Alexander, go outside and let Mr. Lothario know we are about to start."
She was surprised to see him there, under the wedding arch, just waiting. Not kicking or screaming, as he always joked he'd be if put in such a situation. Then again, she was sure Don Lothario had never been up against the stubborn anger of Mortimer Goth.
Pausing at the base of the staircase, Cassandra sipped air. She could hardly breath, stuffed as she was into her gown. She though she had heard, over the repetition of her young brother's piano scales, the sound of voices. Her father talking with someone? A woman? It must have merely been her nerves teasing her. Her father had made it very clear there were to be no guests, not even Cassandra's closest, and only friend, Mary Sue. He was, in a word, ashamed. Ashamed of her, visibly pregnant and squeezed into a white wedding dress.
Still, she hoped she was right. Hoped she would cross the yard and see Mary Sue seated with her father and brother, smiling in support.
She had been right, she had heard a voice. A woman's voice. But it wasn't Mary Sue.
"Mother. . ." It was barely a whisper but he heard.
"Mother?"
She didn't say a word. She wasn't surprised he hadn't recognized her. She had changed. A lot. And she knew, watching him fumble and stammer and struggle to produce a ring she was certain Mortimer had paid for, that he had not.
She was more dramatic than even she had expected. Recovering quickly, she addressed her daughter directly.
"There is so much more out there. Oh, Cassie. . ."
Arms crossed over her chest, she looked so much like her father.
"Please, Cassandra," she closed her eyes as tears threatened. "I know this isn't what you want."
"But. . .it is," she implored. "Ever since I was. . .," she gestured wildly as her voice failed her. ". . .when we used to look at the photo album. . .you and daddy. . .I wanted a pretty dress and flowers and. . ."
"And a man who loves you, Cassie."
"He does. . .," she whimpered.
"No," Bella whispered. "He doesn't. Your father? He loved me. And I loved him. And. . .," she tossed her head in the direction of Don, ". . .and he came between us." Bella paused, unsure if now really was the right moment but knowing if she didn't speak, she would be forced to forever long for peace.
"Cassie, I cheated on your father. . .with Don. I was so ashamed, so scared I would hurt him. . .you. . .our family. . .I took your father's place on the ship. Then I convinced him. . .the Pollination Technician. . .not to bring me back."
Mortimer moaned. He had never wanted to believe the rumors but they were true. Bella, his Bella, had abandoned him in every way possible.
"You don't have to do this," she continued. "Please, let me help you."
"Mommy. . .," Cassandra fell into her mother's arms. "I don't want to. . .I don't."
"It's ok," Bella whispered. "Mommy's here."
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This was such a riot to do. AND, for the record, I like to think Bella was abducted by PT9 Smith of Strangetown. He was supposed to grab Mortimer but Bella made sure she was at the telescope instead. So taken was PT9 by the lovely Mrs. Goth, he agreed to not return her. Because he broke with protocol, he was fired (if you will) from his detail as a PT and banished from The Community (yes, I apply my Peculiar alien backstory to the Maxis 'hoods). As a punishment he was transitioned to elder prematurely before being sent to Strangetown (where we meet him in game). Bella has also been prematurely elder-fied. It's the price she paid to be returned to her family (a family she's been watching the whole time) and save Cassandra. (Bella was living in The Community, doing what I'm not quite sure. . .) (so, for me, the Maxis hoods exist on a planet separate from Peculiar and Nocheat--The Community has used many different planets for their breeding experiments).
Yup, I finally got an idea for the elder portion of my self imposed Love for All Ages add on to the maxis_taste Dare 15. I'm telling you, I just could NOT figure out what I wanted to do with this one. I was tempted to go the easy route and trot out PT9 (*heartfarts*) or fall back on the super cute Goodies but, well, I just needed MORE.
Then I remembered a lovely old codger living in Pleasantview. A sim that, for many, embodies all that is "sim". A man of MYTH. Or, rather, a man MARRIED TO a myth.
Yeah, we're heading over to that big old mansion in Pleasantview for this one. But, I promise, it's not what you're thinking. Well, unless you're sharing my brain cell and, if you are, then GET OUT (or at least don't ruin it for others!).
(note: I've taken a bit of license here, mostly with hair color. You can blame that on Peculiar. I just prefer a certain gent as a towhead now. Does that make this AU? Who the hell cares!)
The creak of the hinge. The clack of her heels against the pathway.
Music.
Nothing could block the memory.
He had insisted they have a quiet night alone. He looked her over, like he always did, and proclaimed her the most beautiful woman he'd ever encountered before leading her to the dining room.
She complimented the red tulips and he reminded her they were her favorite.
Before the meal, he confided, he needed to discuss something with her. Something of great importance.
He didn't hide his nervous excitement. She craved such pure moments.
It was exquisite.
Their happiness.
"Father, there's someone at the door."
Mortimer grunted and rose from the piano bench. There were to be no guests.
"Practice your scales, Alexander," he instructed the boy.
In the few strides to the door, he carefully selected the words he'd use to turn away this stranger.
But she wasn't a stranger and Mortimer Goth was left speechless.
"Mortimer, do you recognize me?"
How could he not?
He didn't respond.
She could hear her son deftly plucking out scales on the piano. She longed to muscle her way past his father and race to him, grab him her arms and hug him. But unlike Mortimer, she knew Alexander wouldn't recognize her.
"May I come in?"
Mortimer stood aside and let her pass.
"Good creatrix," she sighed, "it hasn't changed one bit."
Behind her, dampened by the sound of their son's piano practice, Mortimer sighed. Despite the appearance, he knew it had changed. Everything had changed after that first long night when he'd waited until dawn for her return. It was unprecedented. They had never kept someone. He had been left, once again, alone in the cold beast of a house. But he wasn't. He could hear their sobs, their cries for a mother to soothe them. Their dark hair a constant reminder of the one thing neither his fortune nor his scientific accomplishments could replace.
Then, the rumors had started.
"You're very talented, A. . ."
His sadness hardened into anger as she dared to speak his name.
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm here for the wedding, of course," she smiled, straining to keep her tone light and casual.
"No. . .not now. You. . .you simply can't. . ."
"Mortimer. . ."
"No." She smiled despite herself. Him with his hands on his hips, his signature move, so determined to have the last word. "Not in her condition."
He expected her to be shocked but she merely nodded.
"That's precisely why I'm here." Mortimer's brow furrowed as he scowled. He had never enjoyed surprises or plot twists and she had handed him both. "I know everything, Mortimer."
"Please, lets not fight in front of. . .," she gestured to Alexander, still dutifully working the scales. "Can we please just slip outside and to our seats before she comes down?"
Mortimer sighed.
"Alexander, go outside and let Mr. Lothario know we are about to start."
She was surprised to see him there, under the wedding arch, just waiting. Not kicking or screaming, as he always joked he'd be if put in such a situation. Then again, she was sure Don Lothario had never been up against the stubborn anger of Mortimer Goth.
Pausing at the base of the staircase, Cassandra sipped air. She could hardly breath, stuffed as she was into her gown. She though she had heard, over the repetition of her young brother's piano scales, the sound of voices. Her father talking with someone? A woman? It must have merely been her nerves teasing her. Her father had made it very clear there were to be no guests, not even Cassandra's closest, and only friend, Mary Sue. He was, in a word, ashamed. Ashamed of her, visibly pregnant and squeezed into a white wedding dress.
Still, she hoped she was right. Hoped she would cross the yard and see Mary Sue seated with her father and brother, smiling in support.
She had been right, she had heard a voice. A woman's voice. But it wasn't Mary Sue.
"Mother. . ." It was barely a whisper but he heard.
"Mother?"
She didn't say a word. She wasn't surprised he hadn't recognized her. She had changed. A lot. And she knew, watching him fumble and stammer and struggle to produce a ring she was certain Mortimer had paid for, that he had not.
She was more dramatic than even she had expected. Recovering quickly, she addressed her daughter directly.
"There is so much more out there. Oh, Cassie. . ."
Arms crossed over her chest, she looked so much like her father.
"Please, Cassandra," she closed her eyes as tears threatened. "I know this isn't what you want."
"But. . .it is," she implored. "Ever since I was. . .," she gestured wildly as her voice failed her. ". . .when we used to look at the photo album. . .you and daddy. . .I wanted a pretty dress and flowers and. . ."
"And a man who loves you, Cassie."
"He does. . .," she whimpered.
"No," Bella whispered. "He doesn't. Your father? He loved me. And I loved him. And. . .," she tossed her head in the direction of Don, ". . .and he came between us." Bella paused, unsure if now really was the right moment but knowing if she didn't speak, she would be forced to forever long for peace.
"Cassie, I cheated on your father. . .with Don. I was so ashamed, so scared I would hurt him. . .you. . .our family. . .I took your father's place on the ship. Then I convinced him. . .the Pollination Technician. . .not to bring me back."
Mortimer moaned. He had never wanted to believe the rumors but they were true. Bella, his Bella, had abandoned him in every way possible.
"You don't have to do this," she continued. "Please, let me help you."
"Mommy. . .," Cassandra fell into her mother's arms. "I don't want to. . .I don't."
"It's ok," Bella whispered. "Mommy's here."
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This was such a riot to do. AND, for the record, I like to think Bella was abducted by PT9 Smith of Strangetown. He was supposed to grab Mortimer but Bella made sure she was at the telescope instead. So taken was PT9 by the lovely Mrs. Goth, he agreed to not return her. Because he broke with protocol, he was fired (if you will) from his detail as a PT and banished from The Community (yes, I apply my Peculiar alien backstory to the Maxis 'hoods). As a punishment he was transitioned to elder prematurely before being sent to Strangetown (where we meet him in game). Bella has also been prematurely elder-fied. It's the price she paid to be returned to her family (a family she's been watching the whole time) and save Cassandra. (Bella was living in The Community, doing what I'm not quite sure. . .) (so, for me, the Maxis hoods exist on a planet separate from Peculiar and Nocheat--The Community has used many different planets for their breeding experiments).