The Keats of Our Lives

SIDE STORY 2 - CERAS KEATS

2007-02-13T15:47:37Z

Loneliness…

There is only so much that the heart could bear …

She has given up calling him. It just doesn’t work that way. Calling him excessively would make her seem like a baby and she doesn’t want to be a baby in his eyes. Not her!

So she marks lines on a notebook that she kept hidden in the third drawer of her dorm desk.

Ten lines…

Ten days …

It is painful.

And that was when she met him – Fabian.

The first thing that Ceras noticed about Fabian is his scar. It reminds her of a similar scar that Yuki has on his back. She had ran her 10 years-old fingers over that scar once asking Yukiii where that scar was from. He had merely smiled his usual open toothed ‘Ceras’ smile, a smile where his sharp pointed teeth would rest lightly upon his pinkish lips as he rolled his red eyes upwards in amusement. It was a smile which he said …was especially for little Ceras…Ceras loves that smile …and she remembers the day when she asked Yuki to smile his ‘Ceras’ smile at the train station where he was seeing her off. Yuki had shook his head, ruffled her hair and laughed, “You are not little anymore, Ceras.” That broke her heart for days.

The next thing was the way Fabian eats sushi.

With a fork! Who else eats sushi with a fork besides him?

That pretty much concludes everything.

She loves the way that he makes her yawn over chess as he mulls over his next step to beat her.

Reaching into the depths of her mind, she remembers how 9 years old Ceras would always yawn as she waited for Yuki to ponder his next chess step. That was hilarious.

A fond childhood memory, never to be repeated.

Time with Fabian becomes a joy, a key to release the hold that other yearnings has over her. She embraces the release from her other yearnings. Marking ten lines in a notebook is no longer an obsession. Release comes twice a week at the school canteen.

It was within her expectation that things would move. She wanted that to happen. So when he made the move, she accepted his initiative with eagerness and anticipation.

Checkmate.

Side Story 1 -Fabian Rios

2006-11-03T18:19:48Z

Sorry for the unimaginative story title. As usual, comments are good XD
This is probably beyond PG13.

It helps to read Ep 172 for the background.

***

Get out, Fabian…get out Fabian…getttt out Fabian…
I don’t need you. Get out.

Wait! She hasn’t said that, hasn’t she? It is his imagination, that’s all. Fabian licks his dry lips as his mind combs the scene again. He sees the room clearly in his mind; the half-done bed, the window with its shade halfway-up, her bra stewed over her chair which was piled high with books; Spanish books which she has been struggling with since the day they met - she had walked in – he tried to make love to her – she rejected him by saying ‘Get out, Fabian.’ And yes oh yes… Fabian assures himself as he walks absent-mindedly back to his dorm, she didn’t say ‘I don’t need you. Get out.’

Why has he felt as if she did? He could almost hear it. It seems so frigging real. Her crisp voice saying with clarity, ‘I don’t need you….’ But it is all mere imagination and no more. A trick of the mind, perhaps? Maybe he is just feeling insecure.

Frustrated, Fabian slaps himself on the cheek once. Hard. The ringing in his ears distracts him momentarily. What’s the matter with you, Fabian? Are you mad? Why are you mulling over stupid details like some cranky old hag?

But he knows he has no answers for his questions. I have changed, haven’t I? Changed since I met her…He whispers to himself weakly as he fumbles for his room key in his jeans’ pockets as he stands in front of his locked room. I am no longer myself. Who are you, Fabian Rios? Who are you?

You have driven me crazy.

***

He wakes the next morning, feeling better about himself and Ceras.

Maybe she is just annoyed yesterday…you know how all women are…come on…you have been sleeping with scones of them since you was a baby.

But it isn’t true and he knows it. He doesn’t understand Ceras at all. Not a single bit. As he stands, staring at his reflection in the dirty bathroom mirror – an unshaven man with a 5 o’clock shadow, bulging eye bags underneath his tired looking eyes, a small but visible scar on the right side of his face as a result of a childhood fight with the school bully but nevertheless still a handsome man with the most charming eyes and a boyish smile ready for any girl or woman he fancies. Women love him. They all do. He could see it in their eyes when his blue eyes gaze upon their lovely powdered faces, feel it on their breath when they return his nonchalant kisses eagerly, sense it from their warm lusty bodies when they make love, hear their moans of pleasure as they move in rhythm with him. But nope, he couldn’t detect any of these from Ceras. She is the oddball amongst all women and yet the odder she is, the more he yearns to possess her. It is like reaching for that cookie jar on the top shelf when you were a 5 years old kid. The more you can’t reach it, the more you desperately desire it. Ceras is his jar of cookies and he is determined to have it and gobble it all up, every single last crumb of it.

As he reaches for his toothbrush, he glimpses upon hers leaning against his. Her toothbrush is pink in color and looks perfectly new next to his green toothbrush. Of course, you stupid Fabian. She hasn’t been over at all lately since her last Spanish test. And that was when? Last October. Yes, damn last sweet October. 3 months to be bloody exact.

He needs her. But since when has that need surfaced?

***

It was last May. His second year in this damn college, studying meaningless philosophy. It has been a chance encounter or rather she has sought him out for a purpose. Fabian remembered that call vividly.

“Hi. Are you Fabian Rios?”

“Why, yes. Who’s this?”

“Ceras Keats. Errr…I got your name from the registry. I am a Spanish language student and since you are one of the few native speakers here, I wonder if you could …”

And so it has started from there. They met twice a week at a campus canteen and she paid him $50 per month for the 3 hours Spanish conversations that they have. The conversations started dull and slow with him correcting her grammar patiently at almost every word she spoke. But as the weeks grew into months, he began to see her as someone beyond his schoolmate.

It was not difficult to get her into bed. She has caved in easily. It has been a surprise to him. She hasn’t seemed that sort of girl. The eagerness with which she has taken him has been disconcerting. But Fabian didn’t mind then. To him, women are a dime too plenty and it was to be a short relationship anyway.

That were his thoughts till he made love to her for the first time.

Often, the first few minutes after sex, Fabian would know how long the relationship would last. At times, it is once, frequently it is a couple of weeks, occasionally a couple of months. He has never guessed incorrectly. But with her, it has not been a clinical analysis. With her, for the first time in his life, he wishesthat she would be the last woman he would ever make love to. And that was …yes…when his need for her desperately begin to grow.

Especially for Sue: 5 Casual Tops with Jeans for Teen Males

2006-09-08T10:20:30Z

Here is my first male teen set. I spent a lot of time on it... let me know if you like it. If response is good, I think I will make more :)

This set is especially dedicated to Sue for her unwavering support of my stories. Thanks, Sue. If your sub has expired, I shall be pleased to send this set to you directly. Let me know if this is necessary.

Hair: Peggy Sims 2, MTS2 (short hair with hairband)
Model: My CAS Created (Downloadable at MTS2 under my profile)
Mesh used: RabidAngel's TMFitJeans mesh which could be found at Sim Chic and SimsConnection.

TSR: http://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/sims2/?ID=356213,356214,356215,356216,356217
Simply Elau Forums (sticky): http://www.simplyelau.it/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7219
MTS2: http://modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=191475

All outfits are available for free at Simply Elau's and MTS2 because I want them to be free forever as these are dedicated to someone.Have fun!

YEAH!

2006-09-02T04:36:12Z

My K Dress (red recolor) is now a featured download on Simply Elau's homepage. That's Faye as the model, heehee.

Felt so honoured and happy that the thread is now a sticky!! Woo! If you want the red recolor, pls download from:

http://www.simplyelau.it or TSR (link below).

I am now working on a set of male teen clothes. I hope to get them published soon :)

Ideas for Yuki-Ceras

2006-06-25T05:44:39Z

Well...well...I am thinking of a tragic ending or a happy ending.
What do you people think? I am open to ideas *wink-wink*
But it won't be up so soon. For one, Ceras is still a kid, ya know.

And I need to get Lane-Clyde-Havie out first as well as Jayde-Lexie...
And are you interested to see Johan back? For some reason, people doesn't seem interested in my twins. I never have read anything said much about those poor twins or mine.

Two out of Seven

2006-06-14T14:51:58Z

Meanwhile Haze, in her junior year of college has started hearing low spiteful whispers of ‘femme fatale’ behind her back. Not that she particularly care. It would be good to be one anyway. After all, she intends to focus on ‘Critical Simlogical Deconstruction of the Feminine Role of Femme Fatale on Noir Theatre’ for her final year thesis.

She earnestly ticks the sims off her list…Another seven to go ... But two of the seven are proving to be difficult targets. Her pencil circles several times around the two names…

Endre Bivins

Havel Henke

Endre Bivins has continued to delude her charms. It has gotten to the point where he would refuse to stay alone in the same room with her and he always makes sure that he arrives with Havel for band practice whenever they are scheduled for one. It seems he is afraid of being alone with her and Havel is his shield. Despite the underlying tension, band practice continues and the musical combination of the three ensures that they bring in excellent money to pay the hefty dorm bills.

Havel Henke…that sim exasperates her. What a dumb Sim that knowledge geek was. She has been trying to flirt with him for the longest time and he seemed oblivious …Does he even know that she was flirting with him?

And he refuses even a friendly hug from her when she tries to congratulate him on getting on that stupid Dean’s list.

What was his useless excuse? I am sorry, Haze…my girlfriend might not like it. Damn, a Sim who doesn’t even know what flirt is, manage to get a girlfriend? What’s in god’s name is the world coming to? She hoped she won’t ever get to see that girlfriend’s face. Probably some ugly chick… blind in not one but two eyes.

But she would bide her time as always. That’s how she manages to secure those silly Sims anyway. Long hours of patience were probably what it took to get something you really wants.

‘Havel, you there?’

Damn the door is locked. Damn Damn Damn…

Wait- what was that sound?

She leans in close and hears the giggly laughter of a woman before someone jerks her away from the door harshly.

Haze turns around crossly and finds herself staring into Endre’s furious face.

Six Years...Disconnected Ties Part 2/2

2006-06-14T14:48:15Z

‘So boys, she is your mama, no longer Humphrey Grumpy. Mama has returned. Will you go and call her mama?’

Twin dirty faces streaked with tears looks up doubtfully at him.

‘But Yuki, she is scary…she scolded us this morning before we went school…so …why is she mama now?’

Ignoring the question which he himself has no answers to, Yuki pats Jayde’s head encouragingly, ‘ Don’t worry, she won’t be scary ever again…she is a nice mama now. Do it for Yuki, …ok?’ Yuki coos in that ever sweet voice of his and holds out two expensive toffee sweets (perfect for bribing innocent little Sims) to the two boys.

Twin dirty faces streaked with tears looks up even more doubtfully at him, unsure of whether to take the bait.

Silence…

finally…

‘Nope’. Jayde makes his decision.

‘Nope Nope!’, Johan parrots, keen to follow his elder brother’s cue.

As Yuki watches them grabbing their blankets over their heads, he sighs and leaves the room, switching off the lights.

This is more difficult than he thought. If sweets won’t do the trick for those two brats who have the sweetest tooth he ever knows, it is certainly going to be an uphill task. Popping one of the toffee sweets into his mouth, Yuki walks down the stairs slowly, one step at a time. What is he to say to his son?

‘So dad, how is it?’

Well, the truth won’t help Ethel or Karas a single bit. He will not tell them what he feels and knows.

He looks straight into the eyes of his anxious son. ‘Give them more time’, is all that he is willing to say in the end.

What Happened?

2006-06-14T08:52:49Z

Slowly, he opens his eyes, blinking and shielding them against the radiance of the sun shining on his face. As his surroundings focuses, Ethel sits up on the bed.

‘Where am I’, he asks himself as he climbed out of the strange bed in his undies. He seems to be in a luxurious hotel room.

Ethel gets up shakily, head still groggy from his hangover. He tries to remember what happened yesterday night but he cannot remember. He has bumped into Gary and they have gone drinking at a pub …

What happened after that is a total blur.

Ethel washes his face and wipes it dry with the hotel towel. He needs to get home… fast. It is never a good idea to leave Jayde and Johan alone with Karas for long. He could just imagine her rage. He flinchs as he dresses.

That cut from her hurled vase has not healed yet.

***

It is a bright sunny day. She glanced at the clock besides her bed.

1030am!

She jumps out of bed in astonishment. It is unlike her to sleep in so late!

The twins should be demanding their milk anytime soon. She better get to them before they start bawling again.

As she dashes past the mirror, she thought she saw something strange. Pushing the twins out of her mind, she retracts her steps back to the mirror.

It is a good ten minutes of staring at her own reflection hard before she could say anything at all.

‘Jeez! Why do I look like this?’ she asks herself in bewilderment as she grabs her ponytails and starts untying them.

Whee!

2006-06-11T14:42:55Z

Almost half the story has been shifted over...what a daunting task!!
I am still trying my best, let's hope it will be completely here soon. I am such a perfectionist :( that it is killing me. I insist on having the whole story here even if you are not reading it (except for good old Sue!) lol.

e2b :)

Dear Journal: Moving House Once Again

2006-06-11T14:08:19Z

Dear Journal,

It’s been fun writing in you once in a while since Daddy gave me this book. My teacher said that writing journals would help me improve my audacious writing skills so I decide to keep going.

By the way, I admit I am lazy in updating this journal. The last time I wrote in here, I was a child but hey, now I am a teen ! Cool!

Hmm… we moved again. After Daddy got demoted, there was just no reason for him to remain in Simwood anymore, so he decided that we would return home to Strange Town where Karas, Ethel and Yuki was. Anyway, he was now a leading man once again and would probably become a blockbuster director anytime soon once again. Jeez, I hope he won’t uproot us again for Simwood when that time comes.

Anyway, a lot happened while we were away. Imagine our surprise when we return to find that Ethel and Karas have four kids – Fyn, Faye, Jayde and Johan! And the eldest, Fyn is only a couple of years younger than me. I am sure we will be good friends with each other. She seems one hot chick. On the other hand,Faye seems a pretty quiet child. She didn’t say much to us when we went over for a visit during our first day of moving back. Well, Jayde and Johan are cute but I hate babies so no more about them.

Well, Dad hasn’t change much even though he has become an elder. He is still as energetic as ever and it seems that he has been keeping a lover or two behind my back.

Well, a long time ago, I caught him sneaking a kiss with Dante, that budding starlet. For some reasons, I am always good at catching people sneaking kisses. Well, I do hope I will get to kiss someone pretty soon too…has my eye on that gal…but no more for now…no more no more…

New house is pretty big and spacious.

It helps to be a celebrity and a rich one at that, I guess. Dad got us a two-storey house and I got my very own room.

Man, that is good. Being a knowledge pursuer, I promptly decorated my room with a bookshelf and a notebook and yes, my favorite color is blue.

Daddy’s room remains pretty much the same as the old house over at Simwood.

He still retains his old pictures of mom, which I think is really sentimental. But unfortunately I don’t know much about mom except that her name is Sierra Notts and she gives me the name ‘Lane’. Other than that, dad refuses to tell me anything about her although I caught him staring sadly at mom’s picture several times lately.

Recently, Dad is seeing a new woman.

I think she looks a lot like my mom. That new woman is called Anne. She is a supporting actress; someone dad got to know after he was demoted. He seems pretty smitten with this Anne. She has been dropping by our house frequently lately. I wonder if they are serious about each other. They should be, considering he actually bothers to introduce her to me!

Ta for now. My hand is aching.

Lane Keats

Reminiscence, Divided Paths and New Lives Part 1/4

2006-06-09T06:53:01Z

Several months after Cooper’s death…

‘I am so proud of you, son. Today is your big day! ‘ Yuki hugs his son tightly before giving his new daughter in law, Karas Keats a courteous family kiss on her cheek.

‘Thanks, dad.’ Karas blushes. Yuki is so handsome that it almost hurt her eyes to look at him. Her own daddy is not even half as cute as Yuki!

‘Jeez!! Please don’t call me dad! Call me Yuki! I am still as young as you if not younger!’ Yuki winks at Karas and Ethel groans. His dad is still as playful as ever. It has taken him ages to get used to his dad’s playful ways but he is still learning something new about him everyday.

He still remembered the time when they had embraced by his family graves.

It has been a moment that Ethel would always remember. The time when he rolled out their family tree and Yuki had wept in happiness seeing it.

‘What is this, Ethel?’ Yuki had asked when Ethel rolled out that piece of black paper. They had been visiting Narcisa’s grave. It was her death anniversary and it also marked the first time that Ethel and Yuki had visited her grave together as a family.

‘It’s a family tree, dad. Our teacher, Amethyst has been teaching us about genealogy. With her help, I start this family tree of ours.’(*207)

Yuki looked at the tree. He gasped when he saw his name on it.

‘Ethel, this is…’ Yuki pointed at his name.

‘Dad, that’s you. You ought to be there, dad. You are part of our family after all…’

Ethel barely had time to complete his sentence as Yuki hugged him fiercely.

‘Thanks for accepting me into your life, Ethel. It has been a moment that I have been waiting for!’ Yuki uttered happily to Ethel.

‘So am I, dad. I am glad you are with me. I love you.’ Ethel returned Yuki’s hug.

In his mind, he was at last truly at ease with having a vampire for a father.

‘ETHEL! What are you waiting for? Come on!’

Ethel was jostled out of his daze. ‘Yes, dear…’ He stepped carefully besides Karas to avoid stepping on her beautiful wedding gown.

‘Kyo is here!’ She beamed cheerfully and Ethel found himself swooning again…Just how in the world could someone be so beautiful?

Ethel neatens his attire. This is the moment. Meeting the wife’s dad! Kyo has been away for a trip but he has rushed home to attend his daugher’s wedding.

‘I am glad to meet you, son!’ Kyo smiles as Ethel shakes his hand.

‘Please take good care of Karas.’

‘I will, dad. I swear I will love her today, tomorrow and every single day of my life.’

On hearing that, Kyo smiles almost woefully. ‘You remind me of my younger self, Ethel…that used to be something I said to Amber but she is dead…’

‘Oh, come on dad. Today is my wedding.’ Karas tries to distract Kyo before he sinks into further depression. It had been several years since her mom died of old age and Kyo had been depressed since.

With Yuki and Kyo as witnesses, Ethel Keats and Karas Cecil proceed to solemnize their wedding in the middle of the dead still night amidst a weird mix of human and vampiric guests.

A small bribe to the local police station has ensured that this midnight wedding party will take place undisturbed. Yuki has taken care of that. He certainly does not want any policemen breaking up his one and only son’s wedding party!

Ethel Keats and Karas Cecil: Of Families' Histories by the Graves

2006-06-08T08:12:25Z

Ethel stood in front of Jade’s grave. The family has decided to move Narcisa and Jade’s graves to a newly constructed cemetery in Downtown. They decide autonomously that it is simply not healthy to have a graveyard in the backyard of their house. It makes everyone grieve too much.

No one in the family knows that whenever Ethel was sad, happy, confused or simply emotional, he would pay his mother and grandmother a visit. They always assume that he is bowling in one of the many bowling alleys in Downtown. That is true to a huge extent but not true all the time. Whenever he has any spare time besides school and bowling, he would pay them a visit.

‘Mother, I bought your favorite tulips and grandma, some pink roses for you.’ Ethel beams at the 2 graves. He has not known his mother well but he knows that his mother loved him enough to give birth to him out of wedlock. She could have easily given him up for adoption but she had not and Ethel loves her for that. As for Jade, the loss of her was the greatest pain that Ethel has ever felt.

Ethel sits down in front of Jade’s grave. He leans his head against the cold hard stone slab. The tombstone feels cool against the warmth of his cheek and the sun. He is still trying to contemplate what he just saw. The vampire, Yuki Sohma… what should he do? It feels weird that there is a complete stranger in the house.

‘So you are here, honey.’

Ethel looked up in surprise at the sound of that familiar voice.

‘Karas! How in the world did you know I am here and aren’t you supposed to be in school now?’

Karas sits down alongside Ethel. She is in her private school uniform and her soft brown hair brushes gently against the fabric of her school skirt as she adjusts her skirt while sitting down. Ethel quietly observes these and he blushs lightly.

She is so beautiful…

‘I was driving to school when I spotted your car blazing past me on the opposite lane. You look distressed so I followed you. What is wrong, Ethel?’

Since she wants to know, Ethel is happy to oblige. Karas remains slient and occasionally nods her head as she listens to Ethel’s story. It is a strange story, at least, to Ethel and Ethel is doubtful that Karas would understand everything but still, he wants to tell her everything and so he did.

‘I understand how you feel, Ethel’ is what Karas says at the end of Ethel’s narration.

Ethel is skeptical. ‘How could you? You don’t have a vamp for a dad!’

Karas laughs. It is an ironical laugh and Ethel does not like the sound of her laugh at all.

‘Guess what, I did! My dad is a vampire, honey. I guess it is time to tell you about my dysfunctional family, isn’t it? Anyway, I am not ashamed of it. I love my family. And by the way, to start off, I need to confess that I lied. My name is Karas Cecil, it is not Karas Rai. Rai is the name of my stepfather, Kyo Rai. Cecil is the name of my mother.’

That is certainly news to him. What in the world is going on here?

‘My mother was made preggie by a townie and the townie refused to marry my mother despite her preggie. She gave birth to me despite the stigma of being a single mother. There aren’t many single mothers in Strangetown, you know! And she was the subject of gossip and ridicule. Everyone laughed at her and she was scorned. But to cut the story short, she met my dad, Kyo and he loved her enough to marry her despite me. He is a perfect Sim- young, rich, handsome, charming but the only catch? He is a vampire… but he is a great vampire. He only needs to feed once in a long while. That will be when mom, my brothers and I would ‘donate’ some of our blood to him. Yes, you might think this is grotesque but hey, it is better than letting Kyo risking his life sucking the blood dry of one of our townies, right? Anyway, with my two brothers, my mom and me …we have more than enough blood to go around for him. Kyo is really ancient, he is perhaps a few hundreds years old, and he has been really worried about my elderly mom dying on him soon but I guess that cannot be helped…’

Karas looked at Ethel anxiously from the corner of her eye as soon as she finishes what she wants to say.

Does her story shock him too much? Is he going to desert her?

Ethel blinked stupidly. He didn’t know what to say. To think that Karas had a family history so similar to him….

‘Karas… I didn’t know what to say… you have a vampire for a dad. How could you cope? And to give him your blood?!’

‘I love Kyo, Ethel. He makes mom happy and he sincerely cares for all of us, including me. He treats me like his own daughter and I am proud that he is my dad despite the fact that he is an undead…’

Karas paused. She wasn’t sure if what she was going to say next would offend Ethel but she believed that she should say it out.

‘Do you know why I share my family history with you?’

Ethel shakes his head. He is really perplexed now…he does not know what to think anymore.

‘I just want to let you know that having a vampire for a dad is not bad at all and having a dad is better than none. You should appreciate the fact that he came for you after all…I have never known my dad, Ethel…and Ethel… he is the only parent you have left now…’

Ethel hugs Karas tight. She is right! Yuki Sohma is his only parent now. Surely he must have loved him enough to look for him. Perhaps they could try to get along after all.

‘Thank you Karas for telling me all this. Now I know what to do when nightfall come along.’ Ethel kisses Karas softly on her left cheek as he strokes her soft brown hair.

I really love her…she is a replica of me. We are meant to be together…

‘Come, let’s go. We are late for school.’

‘Yeah, let’s get moving.’ Karas stood up and brushes the loose strands of grass off her skirt.

As Ethel and Karas walk hand in hand out of the cemetery, Ethel looks back at the Keats family graves and smiles.

Sorry, mom and grandma. Now that I have Karas, I might not be visiting so often now.

A Placid Departure

2006-06-07T14:08:53Z

Jade’s life has never been easier.

Ethel has grown up into a teen who loves spending time downtown and bowling and Phoenix is blissful with his wife.

Jade is pleased to note that Phoenix has also changed his appearance well. He is finally no longer coloring his hair every few days or wearing horrible flamboyant clothes. Now her son looks more like a family sim than anysim else.

Jade has also helped Sierra with a little image overhaul and now Sierra looks even more attractive to Phoenix than ever. As for Jade herself, she spends her days writing masterpiece novels while waiting for Cooper to come home from work and spent her early evenings tending to Narcisa’s grave .

It is just like any other day….till six pm came around. She has been in Ethel’s room, prompting the teen for dinner when a black figure appeared before her .

The faceless creature is holding a little list.

‘Your time is up, Jade Keats.’

Jade knows that this day is near and now that it is finally here, she has no regrets left in her life. Her life has been fruitful enough. She is glad and grateful to have spent her last days basking in sweet routine family life. Her only regret was that Phoenix is out of town working and she could never see him for the last time. As she glances at her weeping husband and a wailing Ethel, Jade holds out her hand for the customary mai tai and gestures, ‘Yes, I am ready.’

When Cooper looks up from his sobbing, he is devastated to find that Jade is … gone. Sobbing, Cooper hugs the tombstone of Jade Keats close to his heart, walks the long walk to the little graveyard and places his beloved wife beside Narcisa.

Goodbye, my love.

Parents Once Again

2006-06-07T13:48:27Z

After several days of grief and seeing Phoenix suffered two other breakdowns due to Narcisa’s death, the Keats family is slowly moving on. Jade and Cooper have a pressing task to take good care of Ethel so that he will grow up well. The elders are determined that no Keats would ever grow up badly and despite their grief, they attempt hard, really hard to cheer up for Ethel and Phoenix’s sakes.

Narcisa’s bedroom was demolished and Ethel’s teen bedroom built in its place. All pictures of Narcisa were neatly packed and tucked away. Narcisa’s masterpiece paintings were all sold to a private collector who was a great fan of Narcisa’s works when she was alive.

As life ebbs on in the Keats household, Jade tries to fulfill the role of surrogate parenting well. She taught Ethel potty training , read to him, baths him and put him into bed each night while Cooper goes to work as per usual.

Jade retires from her job so that she could take care of Ethel instead of having to hire a nanny. Jade is adamant that her family and herself would get over this tragedy. Having endured several tragedies in her family, Jade knows exactly what to do to keep herself from grieving. She keeps herself busy every single day from morning to night. Along the way, she developes a close bond with Ethel who has started to call Jade ‘mama’ when he was learning to talk. It is indeed a day of joy on Ethel’s birthday as Phoenix has also gotten a promotion at work to cartoon voice.

Could this be Love?

2006-06-07T13:23:45Z

‘This is really a cool theme party, wasn’t it?’ Phoenix grins charmingly at the lady who is dressed as a medieval princess next to him. ‘And that’s some awesome gown you have there. It looks just like the real thing.’

The lady smiles as she glances at Phoenix Keats.

‘Thank you for your compliment. You are not doing too badly yourself. That’s a good medieval hunter suit you have there. That knife looks almost real.’

She is pretty. She could be my 17^th lover.

‘What’s your name?’

‘Sierra Notts. You?’

‘Phoenix Keats but my friends call me FB. You could call me that too…’

‘FB…what does that stand for…?’

‘It’s a long story…you want to know?’

As Phoenix and Sierra chats on, the night passes quickly.

I had never talked so easily with someone before. She is different from the others out there. She...she actually attracts me!

‘Say, Sierra. You want to grab a bite somewhere? I am hungry.’ Phoenix clutchs his stomach and utters a pitiful groaning noise which makes Sierra laugh.

‘Ok, let’s go!’ Sierra grabs Phoenix’s hand.

I felt warm when she grabbed my hand. Could this be the thing they called love?

Despite Phoenix’s profound experience with female Sims, he has never really know what love is. In his world, Love is purely physical, a casual woohoo, a kiss, a casual reiteration of ‘I love you’, ‘Honey’, ‘Sweetie’. But he has never thought seriously about what these words means. He simply believes that these are words that Sims enjoy hearing and if these words could serve as devices to get him the Sims he wanted into bed, these words are perfect as his devices. But with Sierra, those words become difficult to utter. He actually feels nervous addressing Sierra anything other than her name. His standard phrase in addressing female Sims is to add ‘honey’ at the end of every sentence and looking earnestly into their lovely eyes. That usually turns the hapless female Sims on, making them swoon all over him. But with Sierra, he finds himself turning away more often than actually meeting her lovely hazel brown sparking eyes. He feels self-conscious and shy in front of her… what is it about her that attracts him sooo…much? He is not sure.

She exhibits a beautiful aura that I have never felt in other women before. Could she be the one? But this cannot be! I am a romance Sim. Romance Sims don’t fall in love! They woohoo!

As Phoenix and Sierra enjoy their late supper, Phoenix feels a strange compulsion from within him. It is unlike anything he ever senses before. He cannot control it. He has to do it.

Phoenix whips out his mother’s engagement ring.

It is an old ring but Cooper has taken such good care of it that it gleams as if it is brand new. Cooper has passed the ring to his son that morning and has made an unhappy Phoenix promised to give the ring to the Sim he would marry.

***

‘This is an important ring, my son to be passed down all generations of the Keats. Always remember that.’

‘But dad, why not give it to sis?’

‘She …wants it to be given to you. She said you would probably get married...eventually…’ Cooper says before pressing the ring into Phoenx’s hand.

Phoenix has left the ring box carelessly in his pocket that morning as he prepares for the medieval theme party that night. He had been greatly amused then. What in the world made Narcisa think he is ever going to get married? Professional romances Sims do not get married!

***

‘Sierra.’

Sierra looked up from her food. Phoenix swoons.

Oh god, she looks even beautiful when she eats. This is awesome….!

‘Can I marry you?’ Phoenix stammers awkwardly as he places the ring box on the table anxiously. For once in his life, he is confused, worried and does not know what to do with himself.

‘FB! We only knew each other for less than a day! But what a beautiful ring this is!’

‘I …love….you…I want to be with you…together!’ Phoenix Keats could hardly believe the words he just choked out.

Is this really him, saying those words? The words sound so wrong coming from his mouth.

‘I will, FB.’ Sierra smiles as she places the ring on her middle finger.

Phoenix blinks twice in disbelief. ‘You will? Serious?’

‘Yes, I will.’ Sierra laughs as she wriggles her engagement ring finger at Phoenix.

Phoenix reachs for the finger gently and kisses it.

With a flirtatious bat of her eyelashes, Sierra whispers, ‘ My house, tonight?’

Like a lost soul, Phoenix follows her, a lost soul smitten with Venus’ beauty and her aura.

***

That night as Phoenix sleeps peacefully on Sierra’s bed, Sierra Notts made a call, clad in her underwear.

‘Plan succeeded.’

‘You are really good, aren’t you? It’s less than a night and you have him wrapped around your fingers.’

‘Thanks to your love potion # 8.5 version 2.8. I took a triple dose of that and exhibited such attractiveness that he is quickly overwhelmed by it all.’

‘ You won’t forget my share when the time comes, won’t you?’

‘You will get your share, don’t worry.’

‘Good, it always pays to work with a scheming criminal mastermind like you. And remember the love potion’s effects will fade slowly over time. After which, he will awaken and you will be an ordinary plain chick to him.’

‘My plan won’t take more than six months.’

As the other party hangs up, Sierra Notts clicks her fingers in glee, smirks and clutches her fist tight.

I am going to get all the Keats’ fortune….hahaha… especially since that irritating sister of his is finally dead.

Determination

2006-06-06T14:45:06Z

‘God, this cannot be happening!’ Cooper shakes his head as he looks at Naricsa’s round belly.

‘Narcisa, would you mind explaining why you graduate with a diploma and a baby in tow?’ Jade sys a little too sharply for the comfort of Narcisa’s ears.

‘Mom, I …er…. It’s just an accident… I-‘ Narcisa stumbles before giving up letting her sentence lapse into nothingness.

‘ I always trust you to be the responsible one who do the right things and we entrust Phoenix to you and yet you come back with this. Now, will you take responsibility for what you did?’ Jade asks Narcisa while looking at her straight in the eyes.

It is without hesitation that determined Narcisa meets Jade’s stare unflinchingly and says, ‘I will, mom. It’s my mistake and I will pay the price for it.’

Feeling assured, Jade smiles and says softly, ‘In that case, we will support you all the way. I am glad you choose to face this problem, Narcisa. Not a lot of Keats chooses to confront their problems, you know. We will help you to take care of this kid together when it is born. Don’t worry about it.’

Narcisa could hardly believe her ears and there is a touching moment as mom and daughter hugs each other.

In her heart, Jade is relieved that her daughter has finally grown up to be a woman who can take care of herself. She is confident that Narcisa will be a fantastic mother. At that moment, she no longer cares who the father of Narcisa’s unborn child is. It is enough for her that Narcisa chooses to face her problem bravely instead of running away and Jade thinks to herself sadly, ‘Mom, you should have seen how brave your little grand daughter is.’

Phoenix Keats

2006-06-06T04:50:34Z

As a toddler, Phoenix Keats is nothing short of normal…well…perhaps too normal compared to Narcisa. Phoenix is not interested in anything knowledge-based. He only loves to play house with his plush toys or sit on his bum all day shaking to the rhythm of the expensive stereo in the Keats’ house. And yes, his favorite aspiration want is to be carried by Jade (*120).

Despite Phoenix being classified as non-knowledge based entity by Narcisa along the same lines with Cooper and Jade, Narcisa will often take time off from her learning to play with her baby brother. She loves her brother very much and in her little heart, views Phoenix as her one and only true friend. Besides, she named Phoenix herself and for that reason, Phoenix always occupies a special place in his sister’s heart. Most importantly, Phoenix seems glad to be Narcisa’s friend for he always grins a bright toothy grins when Narcisa plays with him.

As the days roll on quickly in the Keats’ home, it is Phoenix’s turn to become a child. A posh birthday party is held for the little toddler and Jade is so excited at the first real birthday party in her house that she dressees elaborately in a formal red gown exclusively for the obligatory picture taking sessions (121).

The birthday cake is promptly blown and Phoenix grows up into an adorable little boy.

As Jade cut the birthday cake and passes a slice to her newly grown son, she is astonished to find Phoenix missing..

‘Narcisa, where’s your brother?’ Narcisa looks up briefly from her “History in Time” reference book and replies, ‘Oh, he just run into the house to talk to Jenny Smith.’

Jade turns her head around, peers into the house and through the window, she sees her son bragging to Jenny Smith about how well he has grown (122).

Before she has time to think further, she felt the familiar touch of Cooper’s arm on her shoulder and hears him whispers into her ear, ‘Our two children are really as different as light and day …’ Jade nods as she realizes that Cooper has just translated into words what she has felt exactly in her heart

‘Cooper, I think we have a lot of things to worry about…’

Meanwhile, Narcisa carries on reading her book oblivious to her surroundings…

*Picture 119 is edited out of this revised version.

Phoenix-Fire-Firebird?

2006-06-05T06:41:20Z

Jade is alone at home when she goes into labor pains. She is preparing a baked Alaska at that time when her waterbag broke. Jade feels helpless as she sees black smoke coming out of the oven but she is in too much pain to go over there and take the burned Alsaka out. It is only by a rare stroke of luck that Narcisa happens to return home from school at that moment to prevent a possible triple tragedy of burned Baked Alsaka, a churned mother and a roasted baby boy from occurring.

At this moment, Cooper has also rushed home. Apparently Jade has managed to call Cooper on his cellphone before she went into labor. He returns home breathless with anxiety only to find his new baby on the cold hard floor with a dirty diaper and Jade chiding Narcisa (*117).

‘But mom, it’s not my fault.’ Narcisa protests unapologetically.

‘Narcisa, If you hasn’t named this baby 'Phoenix', perhaps there won’t be any fire. I mean I just realized that a phoenix is a firebird and because of this firebird, we now have a fire which nearly killed us all!’

‘Mom, what you are saying doesn’t make any scientific sense.’

Mother and daughter continue to argue while Cooper gently scoops his son up from the cold hard floor where he is shivering profusely from the cold.

Cooper mumbles, ‘Poor poor Phoenix' as he changes Phoenix’s diaper and put him into his new crib before returning to the kitchen to pacify Jade and Narcisa.

Such is Phoenix Keats’ theatrical entry into the Keats family life.

Picture 116 is edited out of this revised version.

A New Preggie!

2006-06-05T06:26:03Z

While Cooper is sleeping and Narcisa is lost in her thoughts about brilliance and loneliness, Jade is sitting on the toilet bowl, wondering about the mysterious vomiting she endured yesterday (114).

‘Could this be a new baby?’

And indeed it is (115).

In a rare display of enthusiasm for anything non-knowledge based, Narcisa insists on naming her new baby sibling. Seeing her enthusiasm, Jade and Cooper agrees (albeit reluctantly) to Narcisa’s demands.

After a whole day pondering over the babies’ name books, Narcisa have two names in mind.

‘Daddy and Mommy! I have 2 names. If the baby is female, we shall call her Narcissi after me. If he is male, he shall be called Phoenix!’ Narcisa claps her hands and does a little round about in excitement at finding the perfect names.

Jade cringes at the name ‘Phoenix’ and Cooper’s heart went pita-pita as he calculates the odds of having a baby named “Narcissi.” But a promise made is a promise committed and the gracious parents agree to name the new child as what Narcisa proposes.

Loneliness

2006-06-05T06:17:00Z

As time passes, Jade and Cooper began to get used to their child prodigy so much so that it is no longer an event when Narcisa bought her A+ record card home for the hundredth time in a row (113).

Narcisa is greatly disappointed that her daddy seems more interested in sleeping than her record card but she comforts herself by proclaiming that ‘Geniuses are lonely people.’

Although Jade has been coaxing Narcisa to be more playful and outgoing, her persuading falls on deaf ears as Narcisa continues to keep her distance away from other Sims.

Being the lonely Sim she is, she could never seem to interact positively with people. She cannot dance or play cop and robbers well. And she does not know how to appreciate other children for the way they were after she has been spoilt by the heaps of praise that the Strangetowners keep piling on her. All these further propels Narcisa to stay away from children her age.

It really seems that Narcisa Keats would not even make a single friend even when she reaches teen-hood if this goes on…

Dear Shelley ...

2006-06-04T14:32:01Z

Jade sits in front of the computer, blinking at the computer screen in front of her. She ponders to herself, ‘Now, how should I begin?’ and decides that it is best to be honest.

‘Shelley, here we go…’ Jade says to herself as she begins typing the email.

Dear Shelley,

It’s been ages since I wrote to you. I hope you are not offended or anything but a lot of dramatic things have happened in my life and somehow I want to run away from them all. It might sound like a weak excuse but it is really how I felt at that point in time so I didn’t contact you or any old friends I know.

How are you doing in Simcity? It’s been a month since you moved there. I got to know the news from the local paper that the famous painter, Jean Shelley has relocated to Simcity with her lover, Jim Brooks to advance her career.

If you are wondering what I meant by “local paper”, yes…I am back at Strangetown, my dear. I had moved back to Strangetown after my mama’s tragic death. In order to avoid anyone I know, I had changed my face and my fortune by relocating back to Strangetown. So far, it has been a good decision as I am finally able to put my love for Shawn down. I also start to love another man, Copper Rossi. Recently, we got married. Yes, I had gotten married. I am sorry that I didn’t invite you but since you are so far away and such, I decide that not inviting you was for the best. It might seem thoughtless not to invite my best friend but I sincerely hope you would understand.

Everyone at Strangetown seems to be doing well. But my father, Travis seems to have been kidnapped by aliens and have yet to return. I have no idea how he is now but after what he did to mama, I have no love lost for him.

In fact, you are the only Strangetowner now to know of my true identity. Even Cooper Rossi, my husband doesn’t. I told him that I move to Strangetown in search of truth in my life and he accepted that philosophical excuse with no second question asked. He is sweet in that way…

I love you, Shelley and I always will despite our distance. I hope you understand my circumstances and forgive me for being such an escapist to escape from explaining to you my whereabouts for so long. Writing to you has been the most important thing that I want to do since I moved home but somehow I always lack the strength and courage to do so. I am sorry, Shelley and I know that it might seem strange to you or other Sims about my lack of courage to even write a letter but such escapism has always run in the Keats’ blood but I am going to try to change that…I won’t allow my kids to inherit my escapist traits. I wish they would always be as outgoing and decisive as you.

So wish me luck in my newfound life and happiness. May you be happy and famous in Simcity. By the way, I bought 2 of your paintings- “Lone Rose” and “Single Stalk” the other day and both paintings are great. They bring me much joy and happiness and remind me of you every single day.

We may never meet again but I will always keep you in a corner of my heart.

Love Always,

Jade Keats

Jade sighs as she clicks the “Send” button on the computer screen. She has finally gotten rid of the last burden in her heart. It is good as she have other matters to worry about now. Jade smiles gently and touchs her swelling belly before getting up from the chair (with some difficulty due to her big belly) to relax on the bed, waiting for Cooper to come home from his new job as a team mascot.

Reminiscence

2006-06-04T14:29:43Z

As the black limo which brings the newly weds home from their honeymoon, drives away leaving a cloud of dust in its path, Cooper leads Jade by the hand to the letterbox.

‘It is essential that I do this.’ (96) Cooper closes his eyes and kisses Jade romantically by the letterbox at the side of their house.

Jade mumbles dreamily, ‘Of course, Cooper. This is where we first met… ‘ as she closes her eyes too and returns the kiss.

With that, the Keats walk hand in hand into their home together (ready for whatever life will bring them next).

A Roof Raiser Wedding Party

2006-06-04T14:24:00Z

Cooper moves into Jade’s house immediately after their engagement and the happy young couple decided that they would get married the very next day. That very night, the couple decorated the open space beside their house (87) to be ready for their wedding party tomorrow. Jade also picked out a beautiful bridal gown together with Copper at the shopping mall near their house. Everything was set for a roof raiser wedding party.

Jade calls Shawn to invite him to the party. But no matter how she tries, she could not reach him.

‘Cooper, I couldn’t find my uncle and his wife. It looks like we have to have our wedding without them.” Jade said in disappointment to Cooper.

‘Dear, you want to postpone the wedding?’ Cooper asks out of concern.

“No it isn’t necessary. I want to be married to you as quickly as possible…” Jade giggles as they make out on the sofa…

The very next day…

Jade invites some new friends that she had made in Strangetown- Matthew and Bella. Copper also invites his good friend, Jenny Smith along.

The wedding ceremony is simple yet elegant. Jade and Cooper exchanges their vows (88) with their wedding guests as witnesses.

‘Till death do us apart.’ Jade swears solemnly as she put their wedding band on Cooper’s finger (89).

‘And so it shall be.’ Cooper proclaims as he places Jade’s wedding band on her finger (90).

With that, the simple ceremony is over and Jade and Cooper seals their vows with a big wedding kiss (91).

It is now time for the customary toasts made to the newly married couple. Bella does the honors for that, looking a tad embarrassed at doing it in her swimsuit (she sneaks off after the ceremony to soak in Jade’s hot tub…)

‘…I am sure that Cooper shall be a great hubby for our lovely Jade here.’ Bella said as she concludes her long speech (92) and the couple kisses again at the urging of the party crowd.

The wedding cake is cut and Jade shovels the cake playfully into Cooper’s mouth (*94) and laughed when Cooper complains she has his white suit dirty with cream.

‘I feel so blessed.’ Jade says to Cooper, hardly believing that she could possibly be so happy within such a short time after Casey’s tragic death.

“I am blessed too. Your coming to Strangetown is the best thing that could possibly happen to me, my sweetest Jade.’ Cooper mouths earnestly to Jade as he looks deeply into her bluish-grey eyes.

Before long, the party is over and the wedding party is proudly remembered by the Keats as a roof raiser party which they will remember for the rest of their lives.

*Picture 93 is edited out of this revised version.

First Date

2006-06-03T17:22:15Z

Having a sweet dream of her and Cooper Rossi certainly boosts Jade’s mood for work the next day and she manages a promotion easily in her slacker career.

As she returns home whistling and feeling the cash bonus she have in her little pocket, Jade reminds herself excitedly, ‘He will be dropping mail tomorrow.’

Sure enough, the very next day, Cooper drops by Jade’s house with her mail and Jade tells Cooper of her promotion (76).

Cooper is really excited about Jade’s promotion and he proposes that they should celebrate by having dinner together tonight.

‘My treat, Jade. My treat!’

Jade giggled as she teases, ‘Is this a date?’

The shy Cooper blushes as he stammers, ‘Err…I suppose you could say that…’

‘It’s a deal then.’ Jade replies happily. It isn’t a surprise that she is too excited to fall asleep that night as she anticipates how her first date with Cooper would be.

***

Before Cooper left to deliver mail to other Strangetown residents that day, Jade and him ends up like this (77) and like that (78) and pink hearts floats from their heads up into the clear blue sky above them.

It is indeed a beautiful day.

A First Encounter

2006-06-03T17:20:27Z

‘Hi. Nice to meet you, stranger!’ The mailman greets Jade cheerfully (74) as she collects her mail from the mailbox.

She hasn’t been away that long and yet even the mailman changes.

‘You are new here? Today is actually my first day at this job and your house is the first I delivered mail to so I just want to talk to someone as I am really nervous.’

Jade smiles at the mailman who turns red in the face.

‘We all have our firsts in life…I am going to start on a new job too as well.’

The mailman gushes enthusiastically, ‘Oh really? What are you going to be starting on? Tell me all about it.’

And that is how Jade finds her first new friend in Strangetown, Cooper Rossi.

***

That very night, Jade dreams of her first new friend in Strangetown. It is a strange yet pleasant dream as she dreams of Cooper without his drab mailman uniform and spotting lovely black hair (75) instead of blonde hair. They are chatting together on the beach at Liquid Dreamz, her favorite haunt in Pleasantview…