1.04 Unexpected Results

Things are hectic with finals coming up and Dustin's already told Meghan that he has no desire to see more than the end of one semester at university.

She has a lot to think about, but she feels herself slipping more and more out of the grasp of her classes and teachers and wanting to branch out on her own more seriously than ever before. It's not so far fetched to just leave Uni after midterms, is it? She's not as excited by the prospect of a second semester as she was by the first either, but that's not something she's ready to admit just yet.

They're finding a lot of joy in the little things right now, and are eking as much time together as they can.

Dustin is happier than he can ever recall being, and he's starting to understand so much about Meghan that had confused him previously. There's a part of him that empathizes with Loki's supposed desire to want to marry her and plan a future right away, but the reason he and Meghan get along well is that he never pressures her even though he's completely lost in love. He does everything he can to ensure that she feels supported, no matter what she decides in her own life.

She doesn't have to come with him when the semester is over, and they don't have to rush into anything if she does. She exhibits an incredibly cute shyness sometime that's harder than anything to resist. It's a good thing she doesn't ask for much, or she'd be spoiled rotten.

It's scary to be the one making the first move sometimes, but the thrill of being accepted doesn't fade or get boring over time. She never knows just what to expect with him and it's amazing. It's obvious that things between Meghan and Dustin will never be the same, but honestly she's looking forward to finding out how far they can go together.

The way she feels now helps her to realize that what she had with Loki was never really love on her end. Unless love has levels like a video game, and she was finally able to unlock rewards at the God-tier levels after beating the game. She hopes with all her heart that this is really it, because anything greater would probably kill her. 

The surge in her heart when he looks at her in a way she's never seen him looking at anyone before, it sometimes is almost too much to bear.

She hopes she never loses him, and tries not to fear the negative thoughts that nibble. The closer she gets to Dustin the more she finds she has no idea what her life would be like, or even who she would be, without him. She would probably break completely, and there would be nobody left to scoop up the pieces. Still, she's never going to regret taking this risk.

And it's better to keep her mind on more positive thoughts.

Things are still strained between the three friends, nobody's really spoken to Loki in a few days, or heard much out of him. 

Dustin and Meghan still study at the dining room table, but Loki refrains. He hasn't put anything together about the two of them being an item, and why would he? He still calls Meghan 'Andrea'. Meghan sees no need to correct this. Andrea is the name she uses for scientific papers and research, and she'll keep it that way, like a pen name. Why tell Loki anything that would hurt him more than she already has? Some of her secrets are Dustin's now too, and she knows that he wouldn't want to be praised for his actions that helped her so much when they were younger. Maybe she's assuming all of this, because in truth she and Dustin never really discuss it.

“I knew it!” She breathes with excitement, clapping her hands together firmly as the page loads in front of her. “Five sightings! Ha!”

From the other side of the table, Dustin frowns. “That can't be right... I mean, it sounds cool but that has to be people pranking the fraternity, sounds like something a jock would do, dress up like some fake, non-existent monster. I don't think bridge trolls and mothmen really exist, they're too specific. Oh! There's a headless rider that was sighted near the airport.”

Meghan scoffs. “It was probably just a drunk cyclist, riding with his head down or something. Those are never real. Unless it's a ghost thing, which would be creepy I guess.”

“Is this for class?” Loki walks in from the kitchen, his curiosity taking precedent over the awkwardness of being in the same room with his ex-girlfriend for once. He reads over her shoulder. “Cryptozoology?”

She nods, ignoring the hammer of guilt she feels at the sound of his voice. “The study of creatures that can't be confirmed by science, only by popular sightings, evidentiary claims and modern mythology.” She explains it loosely. “New Karl says he saw something weird last weekend, but he was drunk so nobody believes him.”

New Karl is the guy on campus who looks nearly identical to the Karl that they left behind in Aurora Skies. He too had something about him that put him squarely in the middle of drama or conspiracy, obliviously so in most cases. Meghan had got several people to call him that over the course of the last few months. It was oddly appropriate that he was the first person to sight the moth man in town this year. Even if most of the freshmen were confident it was actually a prank.

“You're looking up fake creatures based on the fact that a fake academic saw one when he was less than half awake?” Loki elaborates the question.

“Sounds about right.” Dustin agrees. “The pictures of the wings on these moth people are hilarious. Nothing at all like a fairies' right?” He asks his 'cousin'.

“Yeah. These are like a costume, I'm starting to think it's just a prank too, there's no way they could fly with wings that heavy.” Meghan nods. “Too bad, I wanted to meet one.”

“You think moth people and fairies are real creatures?”

“The fae are real for sure.” Meghan says without looking behind her.

“You can even buy fairy dust if you find the right little shop. Those are in bigger cities too if you know where to find them.” Dustin adds.

“That's probably just gold flakes in oil.” Loki says. He can't believe this is what they're busy looking up when they should be studying.

“Maybe,” Meghan replies mysteriously as if it's some giant conspiracy that only few people are privy to. Then she mutters to the side, talking to no one in particular. “I should have asked that one at the park for some, the fae we met when we were traveling, I didn't realize I'd need evidence later.”

“That would have settled things for Eugene.” Dustin chuckled. “As to whether or not there was a convention in town that day.”

“Finals are tomorrow.” Loki says, speaking to them the way a parent might reprimand a child. He's a bit lost on the random references to fairies and moth people and doesn't find it nearly as riveting as the two cousins seem to. Dustin and Meghan do not respond. “Good luck you guys.” Loki sighs, resigned to leave them to whatever it was they were doing. He sort of wishes he could distract himself the way they can, but that sort of thing is impossible for him, given his personality. He's been pushing himself too hard as usual, and his body screams for rest.

After midterms or 'finals' tomorrow there were only a few days left before the semester ended and break began. He didn't want to face his family without having something to show for his time here so far and so he had spent every waking second on his equipment and in his course materials.

He walks away, leaving the two to their 'work'.

Meghan makes the mistake of participating in clinical trials as a test subject for a new botanical sun screen the next morning. Throughout all of her finals she has trouble concentrating like she normally would. She was late for the first one because of a splitting migraine, made it on time to the next and tried her hardest, but for the third she outright cheats. Two of the exams she flunks spectacularly, including the one that she cheated on. The only test she gets a passing grade on is the first one that she really thought she had failed.

The testing center had given her juice to drink after the horrible trial and told her she needed to both rest and 'walk it off', so after class she heads straight home. She feels different, and wants to see if Dustin can tell something is off. It's not dizziness she's aware of, but her normal mental sharpness has been absent all day.

Unfortunately for her he's completely exhausted himself too and is asleep. He's passed all his exams which is not really surprising as the material bored the hell out of him, as he complained about it often enough, but nobody got enough rest in the last week.

Something's different about her for sure, but maybe she can sleep it off. She feels more alive and refreshed than ever before, but her mind is heavy, as if kept under a thick cloud. Logic problems and even tests have never been as difficult as they were today, and that part unnerves her. One of her life's dreams is to absolutely be the best at logical equations and to make breakthroughs with science.

She tried to nap but that nagging feeling of refreshment doesn't allow it and she heads out to use the school's experimental facilities on her own. She still pours her heart into working, she loves the thrill of the experiment, so is she just having an off day?

She thinks back on the semester and realizes that so much about University and even academia is not where she truly wants to be. She doesn't mind classes but so often she is able to look things up on her own before her professors can answer her questions. She loves the machines and feeling of expensive equipment obeying the whims of her fingertips, but there must be a way to get grants and use university money to be able to conduct experiments from home. She does not want a nine to five job, no way. She doesn't even think she wants to come back here. All of the opportunities she has had just make her realize that she wants to get started on building a name for herself in the scientific community as soon as possible.

She's going to tell Dustin yes, and go with him to Starlight Shores.

An odd feeling- for once the rain doesn't bother her, it feels nice. Normally when she's caught outside her first thought is about the dangers of pneumonia, or at the very least, melanoma, but she relishes the feeling of a cold evening rain and wonders if she's going more than the requisite amount of crazy.

What a strange day.

Grades come the next morning.

Dustin has an A. He is pleasantly surprised, but it confirms that he doesn't really belong here, and isn't learning much that he doesn't already know. He studied, but not to the point of having any real stress. Most of his time in between going to class has been spent playing soccer (which Eugene was completely right about) or eventually, gleaning time to be with Meghan.

He's ready to move on, but infinitely glad he decided to come here.

“Pfft.”

Meghan, the genius, receives a C. She spent every second studying except for last night, and worked herself to unhealthy levels to attain this result. She probably should be furious instead of relieved. College isn't for her after all. She can't stand the snootiness of the professors and the distracted students who aren't here to take anything seriously and all fall in line to see who can do the stupidest things the quickest. She never went to a single party, and didn't even socialize that much.

Irony, ladies and gentlemen.

Maybe the new changes to her body are responsible, but she can't bring herself to care. It's a liberating thing after holding academics in such a high regard throughout the course of her life. Maybe she came here to find out that she doesn't really need here.

Her new devil-may-care attitude isn't lost on Loki, who is more than a little bit confused today too.

“Are those... flowers following you around?”

She nods easily. “Something went wrong in one of the tests this morning, it'll probably wear off? You know when you try out perfume or something and bees follow you around the rest of the day? I think it's like that, but with flowers.”

“It really doesn't seem like the same thing. At all. Are you sure being a test subject to make money is a good idea?” He'd also like to know why she's torturing him by dressing so scantily but he can't bring himself to ask about it. It's impossible not to appreciate the way her body looks in motion. Meghan has done nothing other than confuse him lately.

She shrugs. “I don't know, Loki.” The exhaustion in her voice is evident and so he doesn't press the issue.

Loki also got a C, and it's no real surprise given that he started the semester out mourning his grandfather and ended it mourning his relationship with Andrea. His future seems the most uncertain now.

Dustin tries that red snow cone, there is something really nice about it that he can't quite put his finger on... it's like a cross between a Hi-C and a Redbull. 4/10 when you're really starving, 9/10 if you wanted a kick of refreshing flavor. It makes him sleepy again too. And where have Meghan and Loki run off too? They all need to pack soon and then it's back to Aurora Skies.

Loki was invited to a party that night, and didn't want to go home. With finals concluded it all just hit him at once. He and Andrea were through, even with all his studying he didn't do well on exams, and he does not want to return to face his mother in two more days. This is the first time he's gotten drunk in his life, and it finally allows him the sweet release of sleep.

He eventually wakes up groggily after the bonfire dies down and a misty midnight chill crawls across his skin, and manages to wobble inside to pass out on the couch. Hannah Germanotta lets him sleep there for a while, but kicks him out in the early hours of the morning. She gets a kick out of watching his sleeping face for a while first.

He and Dustin are still enemies, but he's come to terms with that, feeling much better after being able to rest and downing several cups of coffee in the morning.

He's also decided not to clean a single thing for the rest of the weekend. This place can rot in hell, as the saying goes.

He meets Mika Moore when he's out visiting the quad that evening, and she asks him what's wrong. He finds it odd that she noticed actually.

He's only seen a little bit of her in class, but she is rocking her red miniskirt and he's having trouble focusing. He ends up telling her the truth without mentioning all the details, it seems like a lot's happened.

“We don't have much time before we have to head back from break, but maybe I can help keep your mind off of her for a while. Want to hang out a bit?” She inquires, biting her lip but smiling.

He sure she means that in a flirty way, and he doesn't understand. “Why do you want to hang out with me knowing I couldn't have a real relationship with you? I can't offer you anything, and we won't see each other again, I might not even come back here you know?”

“Oh I understand perfectly, and I don't want anything long term either. I'll level with you, you're hot and it's been days, we don't have to have a 'real relationship' if you know what I mean.”

He knows what she means this time. “Would you like to come to my place?” He asks her.

She smiles slyly and follows him.

Once there he can't help but have second thoughts about it. Mika is incredibly good-looking, but that just makes it worse. He panics and excuses himself, saying he needs to get something out of the garage really quick.

She finds him there, quietly crying. 

“I can't, I'm sorry, I can't betray her. Even if... she doesn't need me I can't demean what we had like this...” He says, trying to compose himself. He never loses his cool and this feeling of vulnerability is not exactly welcome. He doesn't know if he should be angry Mika had followed him to the garage or not.

She wonders for a brief moment if she should just leave him so he can get some rest, but the sight is moving and he's become more attractive than ever. She didn't know guys could be emotional like this. “Oh hun,” She sighs, “You really loved her. You don't have to apologize: we can just talk about it if you want to.”

She holds her arms out and he lets himself walk into her embrace. She smells so much differently than Andrea, another fragrance, something with lilac or having to do with summer. It's unfamiliar and it's wrong, but she's warm and welcoming and it helps him feel just a tiny bit better.

She stays late into the night and they make a small fire, telling stories of where they came from and what brought them here. Mika is from Apaloosa Plains, but her dad was Egyptian so she's traveled a lot. She turns out to be kind-hearted and understanding, and she stays over, but only sleeps on the couch after they talked for too long and it's too late to get her safely home.

Not that she believes that crap about moth men.

The next morning he stops her outside when he hears the door, worried she was getting ready to leave without saying anything.

She turns back to him and he says what he needs to quickly, still embarrassed that someone he barely knew saw him upset the way he was. “I want to thank you for staying, you did help me feel better, and we didn't really know each other before, so thank you. I won't forget it.”

She smiles and leans forward. “Loki I was always looking at you in class, but I guess it makes sense that you never noticed me because you had someone. I still think we could make an amazing memory before we have to both go home.” She brazenly puts her hand on the center of his chest. “Won't you give me something to remember you by?”

He swallows nervously. She's so beautiful. Is it wrong? His body betrays him while he's deciding and he finds himself already kissing her deeply.

She's incredibly good at it, and he pulls her in tighter, enjoying every second of this lapse in judgment. They break away, just a little. “There's a double bed upstairs.” He hums against her lips, his voice hoarse and urgent. He can almost feel his psyche yelling at him, screaming that he's going to lose any last chance with Andrea, but a part of him knows it's already more than gone.

It's safe to say they enjoy themselves quite a bit, judging by her after-the-event dance moves. He can't help but wonder (somewhat hopefully even) if he just started a family with the wrong woman.

“I'm glad I met you.” He admits after, still dizzy from not having consistent rest.

One last embrace before Mika has to get back to her house to pack. Loki agrees to look her up if he ever comes back here, but that's in doubt for him now too. Everything is.

This probably should make Meghan feel something, but she's too caught up in this awesome game of catch with Dustin. If anything it reminds her that she doesn't have to feel badly for him, it's not like he's acting broken anymore, and that's a good thing.

Dustin ignores it. If Meghan doesn't care, he shouldn't, but inside it strengthens his anger and resolve.

Bright and early the next morning the group shuffles out of the house, some carrying more luggage than they arrived with. The mood is somber with nobody really talking.

Loki wants to ask about this new outfit of hers and the continuing odd circumstances that seem to follow her every footfall, he desperately does, but a part of him is sure that she's dressed like this for attention (and there has to be a scientific explanation for the flowers). He wasn't with Mika to make Andrea jealous, but it would be nice if that was a byproduct of his fling. If anything it reminded him of how much he wants to be with her, and how badly he must have messed it all up.

The trip home is going to be a long one.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Have you ever looked up strange creature sightings in your local area? Turns out Ohio has a Bigfoot (with some crazy amount of sightings as in more than a hundred over the course of three decades), up north a 'lion' has been spotted randomly five times and in the Cincinnati area there are reports of a headless rider. And moth men? Those can be found at the lower edge of the state and in northern west Virginia. So yeah, great inspiration (that and it seems like the kind of thing Dustin and Meghan would spend their time doing instead of studying).

Meghan became a plant sim finals morning (I had no idea being a test subject could do that, I honestly thought it was a gardening opportunity). She is damn adorable, but it was an accident because I was unable to get her to take whatever cure in time for finals, and I had given her so many instructions trying to get her to do both finals and get the cure that she ended up merely standing outside, doing neither. Exasperated, I deleted the moodlet about it which turned her instantly. Go me, once again. >.>; We can't afford the 3k cure right now.

The grades system is kind of ridiculous. I know things like Science are actual skills, but why doesn't ability in that effect grades in science classes? Also, why doesn't studying before classes begin even matter? And exams, what makes them do better on stupid exams!? Is it only mood? If anyone knows any good mods that tweak this system please tell me! I will even beta test them, and gladly.

Meghan had the only double bed in the house they rented at college, so that's real nice. This whole event with Loki made me wonder if family oriented sims get a boost on new relationships much like hopelessly romantic ones do. Mika just about fell into his lap.