August 2088. Stephanie Nova and Justin Kim are 28.
wedding song: “Ho Hey,” by The Lumineers
Showing posts with label Willow. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Willow. Show all posts
postcards from an ill-timed supernova
June, July, August 2088.
#1: sunshine girls
#1: sunshine girls
Summer of 2088 in Copper Hill, Michigan. The sun is hot. The local swimming hole is murky and nobody knows what hides in its depths.
“Dead bodies,” Bianca teases.
“Nuh uh,” Julia cries. “Stop it, I’m telling Dad!”
“Leeches.” Lily giggles, her fingers tickling up Willow’s shoulder.
“Seaweed,” Willow shouts, grabbing a clump. Throw, splat. Squeals, splashing, laughter.
The days are long and sweaty and sweet. In twenty years, when four little girls have become women swamped with jobs and family and life, when they think back on their childhood, this will be what they remember.
a short break from reality, #1: bugs
March 2088. Justin Kim is 27, Stephanie Nova is 28, Willow and Lily are 6, Benji is 19 months.
* briefly NSFW
The whole street in the plaza where Justin had just set up his brand new shop was infested. They closed up everything to fumigate for bugs. [SCCO mod removal error.] Unfortunately, for a worker-bee like Justin, there was no time to move his workbenches and equipment back home. No time to drape his works in progress. No opportunity to back up his files for remote work.
“It’s temporary,” his landlord offered. “I won’t be charging you rent for the weeks we’re closed down.”
“Well, I certainly hope not!” Justin said. “But what about my items? Are those sprays toxic to fabrics? Are people expected to bring those pieces into their homes?”
Martha rolled her eyes. “What exactly do you expect me to do about it? There’s bugs, so we fumigate. That’s what they said to do, so that’s what we’re doing.”
“Bugs,” his landlord said.
The whole street in the plaza where Justin had just set up his brand new shop was infested. They closed up everything to fumigate for bugs. [SCCO mod removal error.] Unfortunately, for a worker-bee like Justin, there was no time to move his workbenches and equipment back home. No time to drape his works in progress. No opportunity to back up his files for remote work.
“It’s temporary,” his landlord offered. “I won’t be charging you rent for the weeks we’re closed down.”
“Well, I certainly hope not!” Justin said. “But what about my items? Are those sprays toxic to fabrics? Are people expected to bring those pieces into their homes?”
Martha rolled her eyes. “What exactly do you expect me to do about it? There’s bugs, so we fumigate. That’s what they said to do, so that’s what we’re doing.”
labor day
previously: the adoption // which Madison does not support // Keri goes alone // Madison's new house
Madison was disappointed in her retirement. She hated the way her body had changed. She hated having all this time and no hobbies to fill it with. She hated that her daughter was gone constantly, and would soon be gone for years. She hated that her husband was still working, because it reminded her that she was not. She hated that her only granddaughter had a new "mother" now. There was a lot to be disappointed in.
Keri was stationed out in Washington now, deep in the snowy mountain forests on some military base. No cell signal, but she returned Madison's calls a couple times a week. She made a trip back home whenever she could, while she still could. But Madison might as well get used to her being gone. The big mission across the cosmos was always looming out there on the horizon, two or three years away. Like a mother given her child’s terminal diagnosis.
No, it wasn't that dramatic. Keri would be home alive again some day. Probably—an adventure like that was far from risk-free. She could only hope that she and Bryson were still alive to meet her when she came back. Five years was a long time at their age.
Madison just received the sad news that Micah Phoenix was dying—they went to high school and college together, they were in each other’s weddings. It was apparently that season of their lives now that their close friends would start to die off. Meanwhile, Madison's doctor told her that she was healthy as a horse—You have the heart and joints of a 25-year-old, you’ll outlive them all.
Sometimes that felt like a curse. So much time. What would she even do with it all?
empire
February - July 2087. Justin Kim is 27, Stephanie Nova is 27, Willow is 5, Lily is 5, Benji is 11 months.
Justin wanted to believe that he might look back on this time, years from now, and recognize it as the launching point of the best part of his life. Doesn't every great success story have an absolute low from which a person can only rise? In twenty years, when he’d made himself a successful career as CEO of several companies and holdings, when he gazed out over the landscape of his success—a warm and spacious home, happy children, spoiled wife, a yacht, a vintage Ferrari 250 convertible in red, and another one in yellow just for good measure—he’d look back on this moment and feel humbled and proud that he made it so far. So much treasure built with his own two hands. That moment, if it ever happened, felt so very far away right now.
Justin sat in front of his former boss, uneasy about the look of remorse on his face. “I’m so glad to hear that you’ve recovered,” Adam said. “But I’m so sorry to say, the job you had before doesn’t exist anymore.”
there you are
November 4, 2086. Justin Kim and Stephanie Nova are 26. Willow is 5, Lily is 4, Benji is three months old. (Ally Lind is 32, Bianca is 9, Julia is 7.)
* NSFW
* NSFW
the damage, part 2
November 2, 2086. Justin Kim and Stephanie Nova are 26. Willow is 5, Lily is 4, Benji is three months old.
Justin had been out of work now for over two months, and the most riveting part of his day was being judge and jury to sibling rivalries. They couldn't be sure whether it was because of the new baby or everything else the family had been through, but both girls had been acting out in different ways. Willow had become bombastic and sometimes prickly, challenging rules and boundaries with great ambition. She would dart out of the house without telling anyone, or run the hot water without being supervised, or open up the chat box on the computer and talk to strangers. Then Lily became ornery and ruthless about catching her sister's bad behavior. She followed Willow around, waiting to tattle on anything she did wrong.
Justin had been out of work now for over two months, and the most riveting part of his day was being judge and jury to sibling rivalries. They couldn't be sure whether it was because of the new baby or everything else the family had been through, but both girls had been acting out in different ways. Willow had become bombastic and sometimes prickly, challenging rules and boundaries with great ambition. She would dart out of the house without telling anyone, or run the hot water without being supervised, or open up the chat box on the computer and talk to strangers. Then Lily became ornery and ruthless about catching her sister's bad behavior. She followed Willow around, waiting to tattle on anything she did wrong.
Fall Festival at Coolidge House Country Inn
October 2086.
Here is where the girls went while the boys were left home alone. Sharon asked Stephanie and Maria to bring their kids into work today—they have a very important job to do. They need to brainstorm ideas for the fall festival. Sharon doesn't have any kids of her own, so she needs to borrow her employees' children for this task.
Here is where the girls went while the boys were left home alone. Sharon asked Stephanie and Maria to bring their kids into work today—they have a very important job to do. They need to brainstorm ideas for the fall festival. Sharon doesn't have any kids of her own, so she needs to borrow her employees' children for this task.
five in the bed and the little one said...
September 2086. Stephanie Nova and Justin Kim are 26. Willow is 5, Lily is 4, Benji is six weeks old.
the damage, part 1
September 2086. Stephanie Nova and Justin Kim are 26. Willow is 5, Lily is 4, Benji is six weeks old.
After a few weeks, Justin returned to see his doctor for a checkup. His ribs were healing as expected and the pain had gone away almost completely. The pain in his ribs had gone, at least. On a couple of occasions, however, he'd been hammered with a sudden and excruciating headache, worse than he'd ever experienced before. He was outside in the bright sunshine when it happened and he felt like throwing up and dying all at once.
"It sounds like you've had your first migraine," his doctor said.
After a few weeks, Justin returned to see his doctor for a checkup. His ribs were healing as expected and the pain had gone away almost completely. The pain in his ribs had gone, at least. On a couple of occasions, however, he'd been hammered with a sudden and excruciating headache, worse than he'd ever experienced before. He was outside in the bright sunshine when it happened and he felt like throwing up and dying all at once.
"It sounds like you've had your first migraine," his doctor said.
first day jitters
September 2086. Willow Nova is 5, Stephanie is 26. Jessica Pendleton is 24.
If you would have asked Stephanie a few years ago, she never would have guessed that she'd now be one of those Instagram moms who post pictures of carefully crafted school lunches for her children, made with love and fresh organic produce from her own garden. Surprise, surprise. Perhaps there were a lot of things never would have guessed about how her life would turn out from a few years back.
Willow hovered behind her in the kitchen, bouncing and giggling with anticipation. "Can I have a cookie in my lunch?"
"Of course," Stephanie said. "But promise me that you'll eat your fruit first."
"I promise!"
If you would have asked Stephanie a few years ago, she never would have guessed that she'd now be one of those Instagram moms who post pictures of carefully crafted school lunches for her children, made with love and fresh organic produce from her own garden. Surprise, surprise. Perhaps there were a lot of things never would have guessed about how her life would turn out from a few years back.
Willow hovered behind her in the kitchen, bouncing and giggling with anticipation. "Can I have a cookie in my lunch?"
"Of course," Stephanie said. "But promise me that you'll eat your fruit first."
"I promise!"
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.
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 #14: we go on, part 2
September 2086. Stephanie and Justin are 26. Willow is 5, Lily is 4, Benji is 3 weeks old. Robert is 52. Jeremy is 70. Bryson is 64.
Stephanie spent hours going through a cycle of hope and disappointment and hope again. She called out to his nurses, "I think he blinked!" But it wasn’t a blink so much as a muscle spasm of the eyeball or maybe even a burst of REM dreaming. Then she thought she saw him move his finger. A twitch. The nurse wouldn’t say yes or no, just, "It could be." Then she went on with her work. Stephanie wasn't sure whether she was hearing grunts or exhales or perhaps just a tummy rumble.
"Do you think he's hungry? How can he be getting enough nutrients through that little tube for this many days?"
She was driving herself a little bit crazy.
Her mother demanded that she step outside to watch the sunset. "Come get some air with me, sweetheart. If it was a blink, then he’ll still be doing it when you get back."
Stephanie spent hours going through a cycle of hope and disappointment and hope again. She called out to his nurses, "I think he blinked!" But it wasn’t a blink so much as a muscle spasm of the eyeball or maybe even a burst of REM dreaming. Then she thought she saw him move his finger. A twitch. The nurse wouldn’t say yes or no, just, "It could be." Then she went on with her work. Stephanie wasn't sure whether she was hearing grunts or exhales or perhaps just a tummy rumble.
"Do you think he's hungry? How can he be getting enough nutrients through that little tube for this many days?"
She was driving herself a little bit crazy.
Her mother demanded that she step outside to watch the sunset. "Come get some air with me, sweetheart. If it was a blink, then he’ll still be doing it when you get back."
Drown #14: we go on, part 1
September 2086. Stephanie Nova and Justin Kim are 26. Cynthia Kim is 50, Robert Kim is 52. Keri Riley is 25. Alice Nova is 65. Willow is 5, Lily is 4.
I don't want to hear it. This isn't happening.
"Swelling on his brain due to repeated blows..."
Remember when we were kids, when we used to camp out behind my house in the summer?
"... induced the coma to give his brain a chance to rest..."
You said if we slept with our backs to each other we could see in all the directions and the monsters could never get us.
I don't want to hear it. This isn't happening.
"Swelling on his brain due to repeated blows..."
Remember when we were kids, when we used to camp out behind my house in the summer?
"... induced the coma to give his brain a chance to rest..."
You said if we slept with our backs to each other we could see in all the directions and the monsters could never get us.
gameplay notes on injury damage
notes for inflicting gameplay upon story characters:
This is sort of like the reverse of writing a story based on gameplay—here, I want to inflict gameplay upon my sims for something that happened in the story. Because otherwise, you know they'd walk around all smiley and happy and sim-like, even though something terrible just happened. TS4 sims don't have memories like TS2 sims do, so once their bad moodlets wear off, they completely forget that anything bad ever happened to them. No matter what it was.
And the moodlets are ridiculously short, most of the time. This brand new mod looks promising to help them last a little bit longer.
In game, the fight moodlet only lasts four hours, so that was kind of useless to me. I did let Justin and Jeremiah actually brawl in game, and yes, Justin loses every time against Jeremiah, lol! It must have to do with either their traits (Jeremiah's are much meaner) or their muscle strength (Jeremiah is stronger), because I think they're about matched on their fitness skill.
Anyway, this was more than just a little brawl, so I'll use several mods and cheats to inflict some lingering physical and psychological damages for these sims. (I am a cruel, cruel pixel-god, lol!)
This is sort of like the reverse of writing a story based on gameplay—here, I want to inflict gameplay upon my sims for something that happened in the story. Because otherwise, you know they'd walk around all smiley and happy and sim-like, even though something terrible just happened. TS4 sims don't have memories like TS2 sims do, so once their bad moodlets wear off, they completely forget that anything bad ever happened to them. No matter what it was.
And the moodlets are ridiculously short, most of the time. This brand new mod looks promising to help them last a little bit longer.
In game, the fight moodlet only lasts four hours, so that was kind of useless to me. I did let Justin and Jeremiah actually brawl in game, and yes, Justin loses every time against Jeremiah, lol! It must have to do with either their traits (Jeremiah's are much meaner) or their muscle strength (Jeremiah is stronger), because I think they're about matched on their fitness skill.
Anyway, this was more than just a little brawl, so I'll use several mods and cheats to inflict some lingering physical and psychological damages for these sims. (I am a cruel, cruel pixel-god, lol!)
Drown #13: the story we tell, part 5.5
August 2086. Justin Kim is 26. Willow Nova is 5. Jeremiah Day is 29.
* content advisory for Drown #13: the story we tell, parts 5.4-5.5: violence/gore
The little voice inside Willow’s watch said, "Keep talking to me, Willow. Can you crouch down on the floor and cover your face?"
"I can't. Justin needs help," Willow said.
"We're coming to help. We'll be there in three minutes. We can count together. Do you like to count? But first, I need you to stay safe. Can you get away from the glass?"
Willow couldn't do that. She saw was Justin’s arm fall limp to the ground, and in the pit of her stomach she felt a panic rise up inside her. She knew she wasn’t allowed to touch the door locks, but there was no question about it. She had to unlock that door. She got out of the car and burst across the concrete.
* content advisory for Drown #13: the story we tell, parts 5.4-5.5: violence/gore
The little voice inside Willow’s watch said, "Keep talking to me, Willow. Can you crouch down on the floor and cover your face?"
"I can't. Justin needs help," Willow said.
"We're coming to help. We'll be there in three minutes. We can count together. Do you like to count? But first, I need you to stay safe. Can you get away from the glass?"
Willow couldn't do that. She saw was Justin’s arm fall limp to the ground, and in the pit of her stomach she felt a panic rise up inside her. She knew she wasn’t allowed to touch the door locks, but there was no question about it. She had to unlock that door. She got out of the car and burst across the concrete.
Drown #13: the story we tell, part 5.4
August 2086. Justin Kim is 26. Willow Nova is 5. Jeremiah Day is 29.
* content advisory for Drown #13: the story we tell, parts 5.4-5.5: violence/gore
Justin stopped for coffee somewhere halfway home, in the wilderness north of Milwaukee, where the speedway ended and he had to drive manual. The day had been long, and he needed to wake up.
"Willow?"
* content advisory for Drown #13: the story we tell, parts 5.4-5.5: violence/gore
Drown #13: the story we tell, part 5.3
August 2086. Stephanie Nova and Justin Kim are 26. Willow is 5.
Justin bought a cannoli at the cafe, but he didn’t have the appetite to eat it. He took a seat on the patio, overlooking the town square. He watched the door to the community center and his eyesight was just good enough to make out the rough shape of people coming and going. He could tell only as much as whether they were men or women or children, but he was certain that none of them had looked like Jeremiah so far.
He stopped just short of bringing binoculars because that would have been paranoid.
Justin bought a cannoli at the cafe, but he didn’t have the appetite to eat it. He took a seat on the patio, overlooking the town square. He watched the door to the community center and his eyesight was just good enough to make out the rough shape of people coming and going. He could tell only as much as whether they were men or women or children, but he was certain that none of them had looked like Jeremiah so far.
He stopped just short of bringing binoculars because that would have been paranoid.
Drown #13: the story we tell, part 5.2
August 2086. Justin Kim is 26. Willow Nova is 5.
Willow skipped to the car, singing, "Off we go into the wild blue yonder..." Then she stopped. "Hey, Justin? What's a yonder?"
"Uh, it's a sky, I guess."
Willow skipped to the car, singing, "Off we go into the wild blue yonder..." Then she stopped. "Hey, Justin? What's a yonder?"
"Uh, it's a sky, I guess."
Drown #13: the story we tell, part 5.1
August 2086. Stephanie Nova and Justin Kim are 26. Willow is 5, Lily is 4, Benji is 9 days old.
At less than two weeks postpartum, Stephanie was advised against any attempt to make the four-hour car ride to Lakeside Heights herself. But someone had to bring Willow down to meet Jeremiah for his visitation. Stephanie was still bleeding and tender from the labor, and she was sure the baby wouldn't have loved the trip, either. Stephanie's parents had volunteered, but she knew that Justin had to be the one to do it.
At less than two weeks postpartum, Stephanie was advised against any attempt to make the four-hour car ride to Lakeside Heights herself. But someone had to bring Willow down to meet Jeremiah for his visitation. Stephanie was still bleeding and tender from the labor, and she was sure the baby wouldn't have loved the trip, either. Stephanie's parents had volunteered, but she knew that Justin had to be the one to do it.
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