look how they shine

* collected gameplay and mini-stories from the Akiyama/McCarthy families

Fall 2088. Vale Akiyama is 28, Vicky Garth is 24. Blossom McCarthy is 29, George is 34, Abe is nearly 2. And welcome baby Abigail.

content warnings: childbirth, and... menstrual blood, I guess?

previously: Vale and Vicky get engaged // Blossom is the golden child in this family




🎶 Look at the stars

Look how they shine for you 🎶

—

In September, Vale and Vicky finished the last tour stop of their whirlwind musical summer. Being home again now, they were quite happy to settle into a cocoon of warmth and rest while they daydreamed of what might come next for them.

As for their wedding, they were both in agreement about one thing—it would be intimate but lavish. And if they kept the invite list small, they could spring for a destination wedding. Think of a swanky hotel on a tropical island, a long flight to somewhere they’ve never been before, sparkling waters and sandy beaches.

But that was all just talk for now, so they let the talk be as fantastical as they wished. No date set, no deposits paid. They’ve been too busy and too tired to make anything official. For now, they’re just enjoying their engagement and their raging musical success.

postcards from your next major crisis

February & March 2088.

*** content warnings: miscarriage, blood

#1: Cora Lawrence is doing just fine, thank you very much


Her life is complete, Cora tells herself. She doesn’t need a man. Especially not one like Luis-Fucking-Talbot. She is twenty-seven years old. Her biological clock is set to silent mode and folded away in her sock drawer. She owns prime real estate in downtown Sierra Nova and an investment portfolio that would impress most people twice her age. She buys fancy coffee and drinks it in silence after doing an hour of yoga at sunrise. This is going to be an incredible day, and Luis Fucking Talbot can go screw half his college campus if he wants to. Cora is filling her cup with zen, and it tastes just fine.

He probably has loads of STDs anyway.

postcards from your Valentine

February 2088.

* briefly NSFW

Here’s what a few special couples are doing on this romantic day.

—

Vale & Vicky, together 6 weeks – officially moving in together


“So it looks like your neighbor didn’t water the plants then,” he said.

happy divorce day, Stephanie Nova!

February 4, 2087. Stephanie Nova is 27.

Stephanie Nova could worry like nobody else alive. She worried every morning as she sent her daughter off to kindergarten that today would be the day Jeremiah came to snatch her out of school. She knew which cars belonged to which parent, and her heart skipped a beat whenever someone drove something new. She lay in bed each night, safe in the arms of her beloved, only to slide out of his embrace to double check door and window locks, her ears peaked at a sudden gust of wind or the howl of a wild fox.

postcards from up north (mini updates)

January 2087.


#1: puppy love


Blossom and George are all bundled up and ready to head up north to visit her parents.

real music

January 3, 2087. George McCarthy is 32, Blossom McCarthy is 27, Vicky Garth is 22, Vale Akiyama is 26.

* Where we left off with Vicky: making her peace about Dallas, but not about Summer. Her island in the sun. 

* And meet Vale. 


After his wildly successful New Year's Eve gig, Vale planned to stay with his sister for a few days before they traveled up north together to visit their parents.

Blossom's first pregnancy was an alarming milestone in their family, considering they were less than two years apart. It seemed too soon, although of course it wasn't soon at all. Blossom had been married for three years. He and Blossom had always had a lot in common until now. He'd been following her well-charted path for most of his life, exactly eighteen months behind. Now her path diverged from his in a way he couldn't see himself following any time soon. His career was fun and frivolous, his apartment in Catalina was small and possibly toxic, and he hadn't had (or wanted) a steady girlfriend since high school. He wondered if it was a switch that just flipped at some point, the desire to finally settle down?

all's well that ends well

November 6, 2086. George and Blossom McCarthy have been married for three years.

* briefly NSFW


George and Blossom never had time to take a honeymoon when they married three years ago. On the weekend of their third anniversary, the idea of a babymoon sounded very appealing. George worried that he'd been ripped off when he bought a vacation package for this place, but once he stepped into the lobby, his worries subsided. It was a beautiful hotel. Blossom kicked off her sandals and made herself right at home.

They checked into their room, freshened up from the long trip, and went down to the lounge for dinner.

the preggy report

September 2086. Blossom McCarthy is 27, George is 32. 


"Blossom McCarthy? I can take you back now."

Drown #14: we go on, part 3

September 2086. Stephanie and Justin are 26. Willow is 5, Lily is 4, Benji is 3 weeks old. George McCarthy is 32.


Stephanie was terrified when Cynthia suggested that they take the girls out for the day. "Willow needs the distraction. She needs to feel like things are normal again."

But was that wise? Jeremiah could be anywhere. That was how this all happened. They let their guard down for just a moment and he showed up and tried to destroy everything.

"But you can’t lock yourself inside a hospital for the rest of your life," Cynthia said.

"I guess you're right," Stephanie agreed.

So the girls went out with their grandparents and they had a nice day.

Drown #13: the story we tell, part 4

August 2086. Angelo Shaw is 24. Jeremiah Day is 29. Stephanie Nova is 26. George McCarthy is 32.

* disclaimer: bad courtroom writing, probably. I write chick-lit, not legal dramas. ;) 


Jeremiah glanced into the courtroom. Stephanie was already there with her lawyer, but the sight of her was wrong. At first, in his head, he tried to bargain with the universe that she'd just gotten really, really fat. But, no, that wasn't right.

Then he tried to bargain that she was having his baby. Some fluke of genetics, some unnatural accident. Then he realized that was impossible. No amount of math, no stretching of the years or dates, no lingering sperm on some forgotten towel could make that even remotely possible.

She was pregnant by another man. Judging from the size of her, she was almost due.

Amy & Blair: the wedding

June 2086. Amy Jones and Blair Schehl are 19.

wedding song: "You Make It Real," by James Morrison

Drown #12: hand in my pocket, part 3

June 4, 2086. 12:00 pm


"ID's please," the reception attendant said. "We have you in courtroom 1B at twelve o'clock for session one, and one-thirty for session two. The judge will be with you shortly. Please have your paperwork ready."

Drown #11: three little birds, part 0

January 2086. Stephanie Nova is 26, Justin Kim is 25.

Soundtrack, "Three Little Birds," by Bob Marley

* NSFW


Don't worry

Drown #9: the best laid plans, part 5

December 2085. Stephanie Nova is 26, Justin Kim is 25. George McCarthy is 31.  

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



Christmas morning, Alice wanted everyone home for the holidays. So Stephanie came home, leaving their things between several houses and cars. She felt displaced and homeless, even in her own childhood home. Stephanie had no idea where Jeremiah had to go. He didn’t say where he went, just that he’d be back to see Willow as soon as he got some things in order. He had no family here. Maybe Sheila and Ronnie took him in. They were nice people, Stephanie thought. She hoped that Jeremiah was good to them.

Jeremiah could have been anywhere. She didn't feel far enough away. It all felt like too little, too fragile, too temporary. Jeremiah was smarter than they gave him credit for. She couldn't wait for February first to come when he would be military bound to be in South Carolina.

George

age 31

George Winston McCarthy

story tag
simblr tag

age: 33
born: April 7, 2054 — Aries

toddler trait: fussy
child aspiration: mental, achieved
aspiration 1: fortune, wealth
aspiration 2: family, successful lineage
traits: ambitious, neat, boring, bookworm, family-oriented, business savvy, mentally gifted
MBTI:

religion:
politics:

loves:
hates:

education:
- Lakeside Heights High School, class of 2073
- Lake City University class of 2077, Political Science
- LCU, Law, 2077-2080
career:
- Lawyer (Business, level 3)
career history:
- retail cashier, 2071-2073
skilled at:

wanted to be when he was a child: President

orientation: straight
IFS: 2

romance:
- Blossom McCarthy, together July 2081, engaged September 2082, married since November 2083
romantic history:
- Jodie Larson, May 2080 to July 2081
- Bella Bradshaw, April 2080, fling
- Charlotte Centowski, 2071, again May 2076 to May 2077

parents: orphan
siblings: Blair Jones (foster), Vicky Garth (foster)
children: Abraham McCarthy
grandchildren: --
friendships: Blossom McCarthy (wife), Nathan Lind, Blair Jones (brother), Vicky Garth (sister)
enemies:

DNA:
weight: - 1.2
fitness: - 18.0

health history:

legal history: