2.15 The Uneasy Peace

“This is just because he napped and can't go back to sleep right away.” Jyoti is saying to him. “It's not going to happen twice.”

“I understand.” Loki says quietly from his side of the cab.

“Caz, this is my goofy friend from work Loki, okay?”

“kay but no wadda.” The boy replies.

“Yes, it's too late to go to the beach again.” She tells her son with a chuckle.

“Maybe keep your smile to yourself.” She tells Loki when they've arrived.

“Sorry.” Loki says, awkwardly covering up his fangs with his bottom lip but unable to not be happy. “I just didn't expect this so soon, I can't help it.”

“My friend really likes a garden full of vegetables.” She makes up a story to tell Casimir, since his dad is a bit of a mess right now. “So, we're going to go look at the plants together.”

“How come I've never seen you look like that?” She asks, more teasing than anything. She's never seen this expression on his face. Has he never really been so open around her before?

“It's not just you, it became a habit somehow.” Loki picks up on where she's going with this. “Several people have told me that I look awful when I smile.”

“Those people sound awful.” Jyo says, finding herself coming to his defense.

“But look at your son, he's just so beautiful. Children are the best. How could I not be happy?”

She grins too. “Well that sort of attitude is contagious. You should lead with it more often.”

Loki laughs, lightheartedly, not having anything else to say.

“Goofy! fren.” Casimir adds helpfully. He's just now figured out how to use the word from the car.

“Yes yes, goofy friend Loki. Can you say Mister Loki?”

“Lo...gi.”

“LoKI.” She corrects him again.

“Kay.” Casimir says, over being taught anything at the moment.

Since Casimir seems to not have any problems with Loki, Loki actually get to hold him for a few minutes when they walk out into the garden under pale moonlight. Jyoti keeps her thoughts to herself, but there is a quickening of her heartbeat that she knows Loki can feel in some way from where he is standing. She has seen how fast he moves, she knows that nothing would stop him if he ran with the boy in his arms, no matter how much training she has endured, that she could never catch up. She doesn't think he would. Mercifully, as soon as they've arrived, her fears retreat because she sees the look on her sons' father's face.

His eyes shine in the darkness, but to Jyo they seem wet. “Thank you.” He says thickly. Children are the world, to Loki.

“ankyou.” Casimir parrots into his shoulder. “frennn.”

“Yeah we're friends.” Loki says.

He wants to hold him for much longer, but doesn't want to push it. He sets the boy gingerly down so he can use this time to explore and get out some of the energy he earned by napping during the party. “You have to be tired enough so your mom can sleep later too, you know.” He tells him.

But Casimir calls for 'uppies' instead of wanting to get put down.

Aww.

Okay I can kind of see it, she thinks. He would make an amazing dad, if he could ever settle down in one place, that is.

But Loki catches the thought (or is it a feeling) from Jyo, although he has been preoccupied and wasn't trying to be invasive or peek in. There's an acute sorrow there that allows him to see the first hand effects of what she has suffered, partially and likely more than he knows, as the result of his own choices.

“Are you alright?” He asks Jyoti.

She wipes a bit of moisture out from her eyes as it betrays her confliction. “I'm happy that we did this.” She says in a near whisper. Although that's not all of the truth.

Loki gives Casimir a little kiss and sets him back down again.

“You grow up well, alright? Your momma is strong, and you will be too.”

He distracts her with a favorite activity and they play soccer together under a blanket of stars. It's not romantic at all. But it is peaceful.

Jyoti does have a curiosity about their child. “My dad said something a while ago... about Casimir's eyes. It's a really foreign color to us, as nobody in our family has ever had bright green eyes. I know that you're just my friend from work, but what do you think about that? Have you ever seen something like it?”

“Hmm.” He hums, playing along. “I believe my sister Erin has that exact same shade of green.”

“Wow really? That's pretty cool, to know where it comes from.” She slips up but her boy is too young to catch on. “Or what kind of place... it can come from haha.” She finishes awkwardly.

They play for awhile in silence after that. Loki knows that it's pointless to tell her that she's good at something like this because she practically breathes physicality, so there is a companionable silence while they play. Caz didn't feel like exploring after all, and watches his mom and her friend. They chat in small amount about her work and she asks him a few questions that scratch the surface of things she wants to know- things like when he first started to have visions or why he is so preoccupied with them lately and loses track of time. She learns that he invents things to sell locally and abroad, and there is a demand for many of his bigger machines now, so he's frequently overloaded with last minute manufacturing orders. He doesn't trust some of the delicate parts to assistants nor technicians, so he fills most of it by himself under moonlight such as this. He inquires about how well they've settled in.

Topics that are avoided are also many.

Instead, she compliments him. “You're not bad at this.”

“You could say I've spend enough time on it.” He remains neutral.

“Speaking of that, you've lived a long time, right? Were you really a similar age, when my parents were younger?”

“We were living in Aurora Skies.” He surprises her here by talking more about himself. “I still have extended family in the area. Your parents and I were all relatively the same age at one point.” He fills her in on some parts of her parents' awkward teenage relationship, and how they had pretended to be cousins in order to protect her mom. It had been a bit of an uproar at school when they first moved there as that town is a very closed off community. He talks fondly of how he enjoyed his time getting to know Dustin and his big dreams. When he tells her “I didn't choose to be how I am now.” She finds it believable, and unbelievable at the same time. Somehow the ability that he has suits him. Jyoti can't stamp down the sense that something big has been missing from his life. Something that he should have had all along, by the way he reminisces. Before she could really ask him about that, the sky begins to lighten and the stars began to fade. Another day, maybe.

She picks her boy up from where he was watching in rapt attention and thinks to herself how glad she was that this was a casual outing only, and not a date. There has been enough uncertainty, and the pressure being off is just what they needed to really connect. Not that she is expecting anything at all, anymore.

“Well, he's starting to nod off, so...”

The daylight comes and whisks away his would-be family for the foreseeable future. How does time always go by so fast? Loki resists the temptation to ask her to stay, to ask for anything more. He's crossed so many lines in chasing the future that he has never really considered appreciating the weight of one single moment before. “All right.” He tells her.

He has an uneasy feeling that he can't place, knowing as he does that things are going to change again soon, and that may be the last time that they are truly on friendly terms, considering all possibilities, and if the things he's seen are remotely accurate. “I would say take care, but let me take you home.”

“Sure,” she smiles at him.

He follows her back to the house but after a long night full of partying and visiting, everything is quiet.

These sh*tty little grins are the reason I write you as a villain so much, you know.

The little one still has just enough energy to read a little bit while Jyoti grabs breakfast.

Lobster tail, for breakfast. I guess when you live on the coast...?

Meghan (probably as Andrea, as the real Meghan can't be bothered) is ensuring a mood boost to anyone in the house who wears clothing,

...and Loki just doesn't want to go home yet. These were his favorite people, a long time ago. Some of them really still are, if he was being honest with himself.

Dustin can't leave the man alone any longer. “You brought her home safely.”

Loki nods, waiting.

“Let me take this opportunity to remind you that I am an honest person, so I'm going to tell you the truth. You already know that you are not good enough for my daughter, especially with the way that you chose to pursue her. She deserves better than you, and unfortunately for us all, that better man is dead. You could never replace him, and I won't expect you to.”

“Dustin-”

“No, no, I'm going to finish with what I have to say. There is nothing you can do to improve yourself in our eyes at this point, because as Meghan told you, we won't forgive you anyways. The bare minimum you could do is leave us alone completely, and as well as I knew you once, I think you probably won't have the willpower to do that. I will not ask you that, then, but I will tell you this- you have a son, whether you deserve him or not- and you have seen him one time to this day. Who is there for the child in the middle of the night, when he doesn't like the sound of the wind outside the window? Who reads him to bed, and teaches him to walk or helps him to eat? Not you.”

Loki, for all his ability to see the thoughts at the forefront of someone's mind, actually is unsure where Dustin is going with this.

“I want you to decide, Loki, whether you are in the boy's life, or out of it. If your inventions and experiments are more important, then go spend fifty years on those, and leave Casimir out of it. He deserves to have a father who cares about how is feeling, or what he needs, more than once every three years when the weather is fair.”

Loki frowns as this characterization of him. “I was going to let Jyoti decide that.”

Dustin clenches his teeth, hating the casual mention of his daughter's name. “She can decide, but that child deserves someone committed. If that can't be you, then leave right now.”

“That's a bit unfair, don't you think? I have obligations to meet and I was just on my way out the door.”

“Then think about not coming back.”

“Dustin-”

“Enough. You spouted nonsense back in France, you're going to watch over her etcetera, but you can't even face us on a normal day. I don't believe for a second that your mind actually stopped maturing with your body, so act like a damn adult. Adults can take the hit for their children, even when it's inconvenient or troublesome. You can give up a little more time than you think.”

Loki subtly shakes his head. “That not what's going on here. I can't make you any promises, but I am not abandoning my son.”

“My grandson.”

“Yes, you won't believe a promise from me anyways, but I will be there for them.”

“You're right I don't believe you.”

“Alright, well I'll see you some other time if there's nothing else.”

Dustin shakes his head and smiles sarcastically. “Please don't.”

Loki resists the urge to roll his eyes. “Subtle.” He comments unnecessarily.

Loki keeps his smile to himself until he is on his way out the door.

There is nothing more to be said at the moment.

Loki leaves, and is immediately upstaged by Element the Suspicious' giant black limousine.

Dustin and Meghan head out together to greet the early hours of the morning like old people somehow manage to do. There's brunch at the local bar.

Iris Shift (Kevin's mother and the Fae woman who divorced Dannigan before leaving him was cool) still tends the bar at this establishment. She is working on becoming a 'nerd' as the humans call it. Here she is showing Drea that ink blot tests can be taken in a patronizing way.

Dustin took over her bartending duties, so the former Mrs Shift decides to have a little fun telling a ghost story. Meghan listens, completely absorbed.

The Fae have the best fantastical stories to share, after all.

“Some people don't know this, but Vampires are gargoyles, come to life.” She begins.

Meghan believes it all.

Dustin believes that he's ready for the big time of drink mixing, as it's what he's been practicing the most since his partial retirement.

Dustin believes wrong.

Dustin: Was I supposed to rim that drink with salt, or lemon?

Oh well, let's try to learn some more new things we're not at all good at!

Sleep-deprived, Meghan beings to act like a dog...

And Dustin is great at snapping her out of it these days.

Old people kissing.

He would be the sassy one here...

Okay okay you two, you're like seventy six at this point. How'd you get to be so spry?

They stay long enough to catch the attention of their favorite local detective. Dustin this time wants to know how he is doing, is he getting enough rest? They avoid the topic of news, certain he would share if he has anything.

Also does he even know... “My grandkids are the actual cutest.”

I should probably mention this, but Everet is now a full blown adult. In another life, he may have been able to strike out on his own much earlier but he's still stuck trying to tie up loose ends for the family. What a sweet guy.

Meghan is antsy. They haven't visited with Jet and Christian in a while, and now the young couple has their second grandson already.

So they pack up Caz for the day as Jyoti is working...

And head on over to visit their son.

Jet and Christian have a condo in this unassuming little building.

The cat smells three dogs on Dustin's clothes.

There are artistic displays in the fake storefront windows downstairs.

More importantly there is a cute new grandson to cuddle... Mal.

And the middle of the condo has its own private pool. That's exactly why Jet and his family are on the exchange with their house.

The dining room...

A huge, empty kitchen...

A living space...

Who cares if Jet can't cook? He's doing well for himself and his family. The work that he and Everet did exposing the corruption of Starlight is the most likely reason that the people here have been so welcoming. It makes the economic migrants that followed them here look like benevolent people who had been living in a twisted place by no fault of their own.

Jyoti stops by after a rigorous day flying with her squadron. She tells stories of how beautiful it all is from the sky, how many miles she can cover, and everything else is a secret. Her work is grueling but rewarding.

“You look great, sis.” He tells her with a knowing smile that she's learned not to leave well enough alone.

“What's going on?” She grumbles.

“We have new leads.”

“What, really?” The family has been in Roaring Heights for a few years at this point, and everything has been quiet.

“Yeah. There's a recently built research facility outside of town, of the northern edge of the inlet. A little gray thing with lots of solar panels.” He describes how it might look from the sky. “Keep an eye on it. It was built in a rush a year or so before we got here, permits were a mess, the builders claimed that the building would be associated with the local science center but that was not true. Rumor has it that the people who built it came from Starlight Shores, before everyone else did.”

Jyoti bites her lip. “Is that really enough to be called a lead?”

“It's enough.” Jet assures. The place is tiny, but trucks come and go as if it were a warehouse. Those trucks, at least, some of them, are also going to the docks and the hospital.”

“What did you say?” Meghan turns back. “You shouldn't joke about a thing like that.”

“That's not all.” Jet says gleefully. “The permits are still a mess, so the city is trying to sort out what kind of research is being done before they can issue allowances to begin operations there. There's not been an answer and the city council keeps placing further development decisions on hold.”

“So what are you saying son?” Meghan asks.

“What I'm saying mom, is that they're clearly already in some sort of operation even though they have not been allowed to actually open nor complete expansions to the existing structure.”

“That's-”

“I'm not jumping ahead, a man who recently moved to town applied for work in the hospital and listed an empty lot near the facility as his address. The address was zoned residential until the owners of the facility bought it and applied to convert it for medical research, but like I told you that has not been approved.”

“Who are the owners of the facility?” Jyo asks slowly, not quite catching on yet.

'The same investors that are from Starlight.”

His sister nods, “I can see why you're keeping an eye on it.”

“Now we just have to wait, watch, and see what happens.” He says. We can't be open about any of our suspicions yet.”

Jyoti leaves with a bit of a thrill in her belly, she hopes there will be more good news for her parents soon, and some closure. She promises that if the observations she can make from the sky do not jeopardize the safety of the city of Roaring Heights, then she will share with him anything she can.

Meghan's in a good enough mood and generally crazy enough to eat her son's cooking.

Jyo gets back to jog under the stars. They've had leads before, she's not going to overthink it.

And before anyone is ready (especially the author)...

Casimir becomes a child.

...and he looks hecka awkward when he smiles, just like his dad.

But unlike his dad, he can be quite consistently helpful.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Everet's face-lines. This is clearly a continuity error with his Wishacy that I play although it's been a while. Sims that are in save files away from the RLC challenge as I write them, are considered to be in alternate universes/ dimensions or timelines unless they intersect in both stories. Everet in the wishacy will have children, but here in Roaring Heights, he has none. I didn't push it to happen as he's afraid to commit, and I've heard about how fast towns fill up with relations in this challenge. So that's my reasoning for keeping him around, wanting to see what he gets up to when I am not in full control. It's safe to say that he has a lot of fun here in Roaring Heights, but I'm curious for the other people who blog their stories, what is your position or approach to spares that go off to start their own legacies? Are they always in the same situation as the one they left, or do they begin a new timeline or concentric overlapping universe the moment they step away?

I'm Frogsnack at thesims3.com for those who want Sparrows to download (Spoilers as the next generation is there as well), although of course I don't knowingly have CC hair up there. Although I guess you'd still have to have Roaring Heights to download Jet's family there as it is (because the building has a shell). If anyone wants Jet or his family by themselves, let me know. .

This unnecessary series of photos is to illustrate the resemblance Casimir will have to his father Loki's family from Aurora Skies. Please enjoy;

From the left, Loki's sister Erin, Casimir, Loki.

Loki and Erin's parents, Gundrun and Bjorn Beaker

Caz is lucky he doesn't age up with these eyebrows, or I might've made him into a villain too. He and his father share the same bone structure, nose, eye shape and just about everything else except for hair (which is of course, is Dustin's: win!)

Erin is where his eye color comes from, so it's not some weird genetic mutation, which makes me very happy! I had no idea the game would pull genetics from an aunt or uncle! This changes. Everything. Not really in the story, but it's awesome and I can use it in future legacy planning or setups. I wonder if anyone has ever analyzed the code to see what all can be influenced in the genetics. I feel like ghosts whose tombs are not placed on the ground don't get sampled from in the game (The ones where the portraits no longer appear in the family trees) and I've heard that after grandparents, older generations are completely ignored and new children that are born will not pull from their looks or coloration. I'm also sure that I've seen some long living occults in my town pass on rare traits to great grandkids, but I'll dig a little deeper to confirm that.

Also Loki's ugly mug (although he's not bad under the right light and it is good for drama) is why this storyline ruins my challenge... maybe there's a way I can salvage it all and climb back up from this sharp and serious bone structure. Caz is the heir as Jyo gets only one, so Loki has essentially stolen the Sparrow legacy for himself. That selfish jerk. xD