1.29 A Haunting Mantra

The next couple of days are strangely silent around the house.

Dustin can't decide if it's his own mortality that's bothering him, or the fact that he feels he let someone down, who maybe needed him in a difficult time. Then again, with what he knew when he knew it, how could he have ever helped Loki in the first place?

What's the point of overthinking it? Aren't we all, in some measure, just sitting in a fishbowl on someone else's desk? Is it really the end of everything, if we become self-aware and still only know how to swim back and forth in circles? We can learn more someday, maybe, or keep learning until we outgrow it. Until that day, let's all keep working towards our dreams. One lap at a time.

But for now, for Dustin, the words become a haunting mantra; “What kind of legacy are you going to leave behind?”

Meghan should be paying more attention, and honestly she's aware that Dustin's working through something, but usually he confides when the time is right.

She's discovered a rare species of insect that becomes stronger under the effects of radiation, and focuses a lot of energy on producing more of them. Is it a recessive gene somewhere that certain waves of radiation bring about in any bug? Do only certain species hold the keys to the plasma bug gene? Or is the key in the kind of radiation that's used?

In the meantime, she's going to be earning something like 4,000 simoleans per bug with research papers published on top of that, so she pours every bit of herself into her lab. It becomes and evolutionary arms-race among well-funded scientific community. Meghan's pen name, Drea Sparrow, is all over the papers. She's become an overnight sensation.

Fruit and veggie research is halted for the foreseeable future.

And I briefly halt aging and install a 'quick make'em car' mod so I can replace Dustin's car... which was cleaned up by overwatch...

And he makes a serious case for his wife to supply him with no less than three death flowers at any given moment.

Pretty sure the cue here told me he was heading towards the old 'freeze to death' outtro.

He comes back blue, and Meghan has no idea what to say to him. She can't believe it.

Eventually she settles on 'I'd better not see you out here working for the rest of the day!” And stomps in her hypocritically warm-weather outfit back inside.

He bites back a 'but I was so close!' and opts instead for the super mature 'Sure, whatever.”

Guess I could've happily made a purple legacy. He's pretty like this.

It's another snow day, sims are supposed to be out here enjoying it!

But as he resembles Violet Beauregarde even after a long warm shower he tends to agree with his wife's stompy opinions and decides to spend the rest of the day inside.

She didn't say anything about a sim getting his smustle on, though.

It's not in a roll, I just like to change a few curtains for each season.

They invite a few people over for a holiday party. Or, some kind of party. This is Darla Shift, in all her teenage glory. Poor thing has her dad's long face, so I gave her some short hair to hide it. It works for her.

And Zelda came over this time, the Mayor's wife.

Jet tries to invite people in but they insist on standing around and looking ridiculous instead. “I thought this was my house?” The boy mumbles under his breath. “Hey,” he says, his voice raising an octave, “I SAID you can all COME IN.”

The Mayor shows up, takes one look at the traffic jam and spins on his heal again to leave. Either this car is also a projection of his 'down home' persona, or he's really horrible with money and shouldn't actually be anywhere near city hall.

Leon makes an appearance this time.

Jyoti jokes with Eugene about beating up other kids in school. He's somewhat impressed that he can't tell if she's being serious or not.

More snow-homework. Thank you, Everet for being such a great example to the young'ns.

Dustin takes the small gathering as a sign that he should impress everyone with his newest show-stopping feat and begins to levitate.

The real miracle would be if the crowd outside was ever able to make it inside, however. Little does he know.

Until he gets a call from Eugene as Eugene is standing right in front of him. Maybe someone spiked the punch?

Ever since Eugene became what the kids liked to refer to as an 'oldie' he saw fit to complain and point out the most mundane of solvable problems to other people as if they should do something about it. Clearly (and now that he was eligible for senior discounts in certain establishments) there was no way an old man like him should have to make improvements to...anything.

“This thing is so flimsy I'm surprised it hasn't fallen off the table yet and broken. We should move it, someone will dance right into it one day and it's not going to be very funny then.”

“That's not really funny now.” Dustin replies, trying to figure out who he's actually on the phone with.

“You could fall and hurt yourself.”

Dustin talks into his phone while he's still talking Eugene off the ledge. “I'm telling you it's fine where it is, it' not going to fall! Hey, is this a prerecorded ad for your show? I'm getting an echo like it's you.”

The phone clears out for a second, then a single tone indicates a new call. Dustin feels trolled.

“Hello. House of Bills. Home of the four dollar fiver. Everything must depreciate, get a quote now!” After the appropriate amount of silence he adds a professional. “Can I help you?”

“Dustin.” Says a voice on the other end of the line. A much much lower voice than Dustin remembers, but it's unmistakable who it is.

“Loki.” He says. “It's been a few years. How... have you been? How's your uh...”

“Circe? My wife is fine. How's Andrea?” Emphasis on the pseudonym.

“Uhm, pretty great, we actually have some people at the house right now so I can't talk long. Did you want to talk to her?”

A moment of pause. “...No, no I wanted to talk to you actually.”

“Oh yeah, what about?”

“About a friend of mine, who gave you something a while ago. Wears bright colors, has long dark hair...”

“...did anything else stand out about her?” Dustin bides his time, trying to figure out what his friend is asking him exaclty.

“She was also a vampire. Glowy eyes, superior attitude.”

Dustin laughs despite himself. Was this some kind of new self-awareness of their kind? “Sounds somewhat familiar.” He acquiesces. “Likes to tell stories that are other people's to tell and not hers?” There's no reaction so he presses on. “Are you one of them now, is that why you can call us but never visit?”

He's rewarded with a casual chuckle. “No, no I could visit you whenever I want. It's because I am polite that I don't.” Dustin takes Loki's avoidance of the vampire topic as an affirmative.

“Polite to who?”

“A number of people. Look, let me get more pointed.”

Dustin does his best to make his eye roll audible. “Please do.”

“You can't talk about what Moira gave you, it's not something humans are supposed to know about and she could get in horrible trouble. Especially as her family is special, they uphold the law among our... well our kind. She could lose everything if it were to be exposed.”

“Aren't you going to set me straight on the reason she brought it over in the first place?”

“She's misguided. I'd never do anything to put you, Meghan or your children in jeopardy. That's provable by the fact that I stay away.”

“Is it.”

“It is. Believe what you like Dustin, but our years together were some of the best of my life and I wouldn't sully the memory of the times when we were together. I know it's unlike me to come out and say it, but it's the truth. Also,” He continues as if they're discussing what to order for dinner, “Can you tell Meghan that I did find something out, back when I was living in Twinbrook?” He never waits for a response, continuing quickly. “Her father is dead, he's not coming to look for her, she doesn't have to hide from him anymore. Her mother... well has she ever said anything about her before?”

Dustin shakes his head. This conversation has taken several odd turns in the last few minutes and it's hard to remember he's supposed to be hosting a party right now. “Wait, what? How do you know about-”

“He had gambling debt. Twinbrook is a large rural community, there's actually a huge problem with gambling and drugs that most people don't know about. He was found in a ditch, it was in all the papers. He was actively looking for her before that, but he was probably just trying to keep himself from getting into trouble if she ever spoke out about how she was treated and ...the things he did in that house. That's my theory anyways.”

“And her mother?” Dustin tightens his grip on the phone.

“Well, some of this is a matter of personal opinion mixed with the facts I did find, but I believe her mother was related to, or mixed up with the fae in some way. She went missing, the 'non-magical' community as we politely call your kind, believed that the fae reclaimed her- it was a local legend as apparently her mother was flighty and capricious, talking about magic openly when she lived there and asking people about the fae, as if she was with them and had become lost. However, local kids thought Meghan's father killed her and buried her on their land somewhere. It could be either, honestly.”

Dustin's gray eyes scan the air in front of him for a while, focusing in on nothing in particular. The chill in the air around her house... Meghan's stories of the white woman whenever she's not quite herself... the precious stuffed animal that she was never without as a child, then as a teen, that is in their bedroom even now...

“So what are you going to tell her?” Loki's voice cuts back into his thoughts.

Dustin sighs deeply. “I don't know. Part of it depends on why you're telling me all of this. Can she confirm any of this in Twinbrook's public records?”

“I think they've recently added older newspapers articles to their online collection, actually, so it may be there about her father. I'd leave out the stuff about her mother, I just wanted you to know, in case it ever comes up and- honestly, because I worry about the state of her mind. I have different senses now, and the glimpse I got before I changed-”

“So, we're being honest that you're a freaking vampire now?”

“Dustin-”

“Don't Dustin me. When the hell were you going to tell us? Why did your self-righteous friend have to come by, insinuate things, be obnoxious about her opinions and, what the Hell, man?”

Another long pause. When Loki speaks again it's with an unmistakable somber tone. “Is that something that you believe in, hell?”

“You'd better have a point to this.” Dustin growls.

“I may come see you all in time. But, I don't know if you'd like me very much afterwards. Can't you just stay in your sandbox and play a little bit longer, do you have to grow up so fast?”

“That came out really condescending, Loki.”

“We're not the same as we used to be, are we? People change.”

“No, you were always kind of condescending, but seeing as I have no idea what we're talking about anymore I think I'd better get back to my guests.”

“I'll leave you to it, then.”

“Thanks for telling me about her parents, I'll consider sharing it- you wanted me to know so I can tell her when she's at her best mentally, right? Thank you for that.”

“You're ...welcome.”

“And Loki?”

“Yes?”

“You're a dumbass. We would have welcomed you no matter what you were.”

“Who's a dumbass, Daddy?”

“Nothing is. No one. Get back to the party, Jyo.”

“Bye, Loki.”

“See you.”

Dustin waits until he hears a faint click before smiling and ruffling his daughter's hair. “C'mon kid, let's go have fun.”

And oh what fun there is to be had...

Everet talks about the difficulties of having commitment issues to anyone who will listen...

As usual Dannigan wonders why the place is in such a shambles all the time (the dishwasher broke during the party of course).

Basically instead of the sims having any fun they all get makeovers while navigating the tide of routing failures.

"Houston, I said I can't get back to base. Garbage, garbage everywhere! It- it blots out the sun!”

This is not how Meghan pictured a holiday party with lots of people to be like.

May as well make the most of it.

Jyoti gives Kevin something for the holiday, probably a comic book.

Jet runs from the main party and ends up gaming in the garage with Christian. Too many people for his antics to stand out in in the first place, not worth it to work this kind of crowd.

I had to place several entrances for this one party so people can actually all leave later, as entering the party took them hours.

Then Jyo gets a gift, a new baseball.

The uh, the giftpile failed us this time.

Annnnd cue the 'great party' afterglow; dirty dishes and a hamper full of clothes upside down in the kitchen that nobody can recall moving there.

The iguana is also dead, just to make the night a little bit brighter.

He looks bored, not dead, but who am I to argue this?

Having never made it into the house, Zelda leaves with the food she brought early the next morning. Sims will probably be talking about this one for years.

Corrupt photos need to be replaced, too since the town was reset (43,000 objects ?!)

And the kids are trying to figure out why the living room has such posh decorations combined with so many plastic chairs.

It bothers some more than others.

"Just go get ready for school, Jet..."

Jet shakes his head, not ceasing to stare down the potted plant. "I don't want to."

What a surprise.

“Dad knows that we know he's at work, right? He doesn't have to leave these all over the house to 'keep an eye on us'. It's not like they're magic.” Jyoti reasons out loud.

Jet doesn't wait long to get started working with his new sketchbook.

Until they both can't resist running off more energy outside.

Leaving mom to clean up. But she doesn't mind so much. She's not going to find many new insects or plants out in the snow, so this is about all the exercise she gets if she's not working out.

Meanwhile Dustin finds himself at greater and greater venues.

As if being chased by some over-sized, cartoon clock, Indiana-Jones style, he races from show to show and takes on a crazy amount of work. He will leave a strong legacy behind. No matter what.

Going to as many shows a week as he can handle.

He won't abandon the places that he got his start at, but he's determine to make the most of his popularity now.

Meghan hacks a little money off of Simbook for old times sake.

“Thanks for watering the strawberries, sweetie.” She tells Jyo absent-mindedly.

“Sure mom, I like the snow and all but this makes me miss the summer. Winters here are short right?”

“I think we've got about a year left. Try to make the most of it.”

Jyo takes this advice to mean 'sleep in the igloo you made outside tonight'.

Oh wait, that's her brother sleeping outside. This moment is giving me flashbacks to when Jet was born and she fell asleep by the stairwell.

Dinner is also a flavored ice. I swear we didn't roll 'deadbeat parents'!

If you can't beat 'em, eat like 'em.

Dustin hasn't had enough work and decides to practice more at home. That stupid stereo distracted him or he would have nailed this one! He tries not to let out a string of explitives that might wake up the family.

Haha, make more embarrassed faces.

Tammy is the same yesterday, today, and for probably any trick he does near her ever. What's impressive about staying underwater for a few minutes? She does that every day in her sleep.

Meghan reads Jyo to sleep and then keeps reading.

At least, until it becomes clear that something's on her daughter's mind.

“Can I ask a question?”

“Sure sweetie, what's up?”

“How did you and dad meet? What made both of you decide to be with each other?”

Sensing her daughter's close attention, Meghan puts the book down and folds her hands in her lap.

“Well, let me ask you a question. Have you ever heard the saying, that actions speak louder than words?”

Jyo thinks a bit. “Yeah, but like, how can an action speak?”

“How people act tells you things. So if, you saw a young man escorting an old woman across the street, or helping her carry her groceries or something, what would his actions tell you about him?”

“That... he likes the old woman?”

Meghan waits for the punchline, but there isn't one. Her daughter's kind of clueless. “Or that he wants to help her, that might make him a helpful or kind person, right?”

“I guess.”

“So if that same woman looked like she needed help, there was a lot of traffic or she couldn't carry everything, and the young man went past her without doing anything, but he said he wanted to help, what would you believe about him, his actions or his words?”

“So, wait- you mean dad is like the young man and you are like the old woman.”

“We're the same age!” Meghan snaps before she realizes her daughter doesn't know how often she's looking at herself in the mirror, checking for wrinkles. “Sorry. What I mean is, boys will say nice things to you, or mean things to you, but it doesn't mean that's how they really are. When you're older you'll know who you like, and why, just like I did. I liked your dad because we were both there for each other, doing things to help each other. So, try find somebody who will treat you well, and help you, and be good to you, not just say nice things. Make sense?”

“Hmm, I guess so.” Jyoti rocks back and forth on her bed, contemplating.

“But don't go looking for anything like that for a long while!” Satisfied, Meghan tries to get back to her book.

“Thanks mom. Boys are pretty stupid sometimes though, you probably found the only good one.”

Meghan smirks. “I'm glad to hear that. They get better after a while. A good, long while. We're going to bed soon, okay?”

“Okay!”

Jyo gets time with her dad cooking after school sometimes.

“I'll eat the burnt ones!” Jet 'cheers her on'.

“It's not going to BE burnt this time!” She yells back.

A choking sound from behind her alerts her to the fact that Jets' still in the kitchen when the brownies comes out fifteen minutes later. “Are- are you sure you didn't burn anything?”

“You'd better not be dissing my cookies kid.” Their dad chimes in.

Not that he has time to help eat them all. It's like, showtime or whatever.

“I can't HEAR YOU?!” He shouts to packed house.

And then takes his good time getting ready for the magic to start.

A new part of his act?

Putting on two different shows at once.

No sooner has he started at the 'Hall of Fine Fellows', than his gig at the park begins.

And ends.

So that was a great glitch. Pretty sure he didn't get paid for either. But his stuff was set up at the park, and he was sent elsewhere for his gig, and the park closes before his gig can end, so he ran back and forth and changed clothes a lot. Fame has made him hard to work with. :p

“Please tell me I'm still going to get paid.”

“Boss says get out,” The bouncer growls.

Spring is probably in the air here.

The sky has been abnormally clear lately.

And the parents are finding themselves really happy when the kids finally get back to school after winter break is over, and the snow days have dwindled.

Actually, they're celebrating their new flood of income. Between Drea's discoveries and Dustin's hard work, they've made more money than either of them have ever seen before in their lives.

So the house goes from looking like this under all that snow....

To this.

And this.

And this.

New second floor, where Jyoti's room is moved to,

A new luxury bathroom,

And a beautiful entrance way, grand staircase, and marble flooring complete with a red carpet from door to door on the first floor.

Back to the time skip...

The kids won't admit it but they get lonely sometimes as their parents seem to only be asleep when they're home.

Is it worth is to work hard for nice things if you're just going to be lonely?

Mom sticks to snacks and grille cheese when she's not in the lab, there aren't many real family meals lately. Not like when the kids needed to be watched all the time.

And eventually the snow actually melts away...

Spring time.

~~~~~~~~~~

(Dustin's waving Jet off to school. I've never seen him do this before, so cute)

Hope you all don't mind the photo dump, it seemed like it was time to show more than tell. Too much going on!

Also, Jyo and her mom were doing the 'chat' interaction, but Jyo grabbed her feet like a toddler for a second, that was adorable and surprised me. I guess I've never had anyone chat with a kid when they were siting up in bed? The simplest things amuse me.