Drown #9: the best laid plans, part 4

December 2085. Justin Kim is 25, Stephanie Nova is 26, Alice Nova is 64, Jeremiah Day is 28.  


In Stephanie's dream, she and Jeremiah stood in a mountain lodge in Three Lakes and he was trying to put a gift shop ring on her finger. It was neon green and made of plastic. Justin was about to fall off of the mountain, but he wasn't falling yet. He was suspended by nothing, just toppled back at forty-five degrees, his arms flailing. She was scared for him.

I need to help him, he's gonna die.  
You can't. We're getting married now. 
I don't want to. 
But you do want to, you said so. I heard you say it and you can't take it back.

The green plastic ring had jagged edges and hurt her finger. Once it was on, it melted into her skin and became part of her flesh. Inextricable.

Would you be scared if I fell off that mountain?
Yes. 
Don't lie to me, babe. 
I'm not lying. 
I want to see how scared you are. Show me your face.

But she was still watching Justin, afraid that if she glanced away for even a second the magic would break and he would start to fall.

I don't believe you. You're a liar. You weren't supposed to be a liar. You were the good one. 

then comes divorce... gameplay notes on marriage and divorce in TS4

We will call this a part two to my previous "first comes love... gameplay notes on love and marriage in TS4." Next comes divorce for an average 28% of my couples, who still happily reap a better chance of marital success than most real life couples do. Even so, I think I still let my couples throw in the towel much more frequently than most simmers do. What can I say? Relationship strife interests me? lol!

In TS4 in just a year of gameplay so far, I have had four married couples come to the brink of disaster, three of which are almost certainly going to make it through to their divorces. Bruce and Pamela, Keri and Justin, Stephanie and Jeremiah—I'm calling Bella and Cameron my fourth couple, even though they've decided to give counseling a try and not call it quits just yet, because they've given me enough chaos and fodder to be part of this study.

Drown #9: the best laid plans, part 3

December 2085. Justin Kim is 25, Stephanie Nova is 26.

* sensitive content advisory for Drown #9: the best laid plans, parts 1-5


When Justin got Stephanie back and was finally able to look at her in the light, he saw that she was pale in the face, vacant in her eyes, and shaking. His mother didn't even need to ask, she just said, "I'll take Willow up to bed. Come on, Willow. You must be so sleepy."

"We have to go," Stephanie said. "We have to leave tonight and go somewhere he won’t think to look for us."

Justin shook his head. "Not tonight, the roads are too bad. It’s too late. Steph, calm down."

"He’ll come here, he’ll find us here."

"You’re safe."

"We’re not safe. He’s gonna find us and kill us. He won't stop until he gets what he wants or one of us is dead."

"He’s just trying to bully you," Justin said. "He’s not really going to murder anyone. He didn't even try to hit me. It'll be okay. You need to rest now. We’ll think about what else to do in the morning."

Drown #9: the best laid plans, part 2

December 2085. Stephanie Nova is 26, Willow is 4. Jeremiah Day is 28.  

* sensitive content advisory for Drown #9: the best laid plans, parts 1-5


"That's better, huh?" Jeremiah said. "Just the three of us, just the way it's supposed to be."

Stephanie couldn't hide the mix of emotions on her face, wavering between annoyance and disappointment and terror, so she turned her face to the dishwater.

"They were nice people," Stephanie said. "I liked talking to them."

"So let me get this straight, your husband is home after three years at war and you’d rather socialize with two strangers?"

"I didn’t mean it like that. I mean … it’s not like we haven’t been talking at all."

"You’re right," Jeremiah said. "We have been talking. All we’ve done for three years is talk and I don’t want to talk right now, either. I can think of a hundred other things I’d rather do than talk."

"Oh," she said.

She didn't like the way he looked at her then. Not because he looked angry, but the opposite. He looked calm, eager, and expectant.

"But if you liked them so much, maybe we’ll have them over again some other time. You're upset now?"

"No, I’m fine."

"Good, because I have some good news. Tonight was supposed to be a happy occasion. So perk up. It can't get much worse, right? I already know what you did."

Drown #9: the best laid plans, part 1

*** please be advised that Drown #9: the best laid plans, part 1-5, may be troubling for some readers. Sensitive readers should review the general content advisory for these stories. 

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December 2085. Stephanie Nova is 26, Willow is 4. Jeremiah Day is 28.  


"Look, Momma!"

"Come sit with me, girlie."


"I’m not gonna break it."

"I know. I just want you to hold my hand."

"I won’t get lost."

"I know. That’s not why I want you to hold my hand."