Alicekai'd 1.32: Toast

 

     The filming for Twilight Werewolves is finally over, as is the court battle with Mark over Carlie. I don't fight him because his requests are reasonable. He said he wants every other weekend and occasional holidays to be determined between the two of us later albeit fairly. That makes perfect sense to me. In a way, I'm happy he wants to spend time with her, even if I secretly wish Geoffrey were actually her father.

 

     Mark getting his paternal rights only makes the time I have with her even more precious. I still have my nasty case of writer's block, but as I get almost a thousand simoleans a day from my book sales, I'm not too worried. Instead, I spend my time with my daughter.

     She's sitting up now, and I'd never before considered how freeing that would be. She no longer reaches for toys then screams when she can't get them. No, she's determined to do it on her own now, scooting along the floor. I'm a little less needed, but I also love her desire for independence.

     Before I know it, she'll be crawling, and then we'll really have our hands full.

     We. The idea is wonderful. Geoffrey and Bruno are almost constant fixtures in this house, at least during the day. Bruno's school bus now drops him off HERE instead of the Landgraab house. I need to buy him a bed so that he's not always napping on the sofa. School wears him out.

     Before I know it, the day of the engagement party arrives. Geoff and I are officially announcing it to the world.

     HE shows up, my future step-son, Malcolm. Geoffrey looks surprised to see him and tells him so to which Malcolm replies that he's here to support his only living parent. What a backhanded way of reminding his father of Nancy once again. Evil trait. Definitely.

     We don't hire a caterer. Instead, I cook the cake and huge turkey. Geoff hires a bartender, though.

 

     As I'm cooking, I turn and look at our guests, and I realize I need to make more gal friends. I don't really NEED to, I guess, but it's strange how only one guest is actually mine, Yui.

     Mitchell Kalani gets Malcolm's attention. "So, Malcolm, what do you think of your father getting married again?"

     I swallow a gasp. He has no idea the bag of worms he just unleashed.

     Malcolm turns to Mitchell. "I believe my father is wise enough to make his own decisions." Yes, it SOUNDS like he supports him, but I'm sure my fiance also caught the 'but he's not made the wise decision YET' undertone.

     "A very diplomatic answer," Mitchell replies. He tactfully decides not to press it.

     Geoffrey clears his throat rather loudly. "I'd like to propose a toast."

     "To Alice, and to my very good fortune to not only find her but manage to convince her to marry me." There are a couple of chuckles at his expression. His friends are all really happy to see him happy.

     I just stand here and blush. I haven't had a chance to get a drink because I've been baking and cooking this whole time.

     "TO ALICE!" everyone exclaims. I'm speechless.

     Malcolm leaves his glass sitting on the bar.

     Whatever. I'm madly in love with his wonderful father.

     I walk around the bar to kiss him on the cheek, but that's when Malcolm decides to open his mean mouth.

     "I guess even Dad deserves a trophy bride. At his age, he's going to need SOMEone to keep his bed warm at night. Cheers!" He holds up his glass in a mock toast and drinks some of it.

     Everyone, even the bartender, stops what they're doing and stares at Malcolm, shocked by his rude, uncouth, crass 'toast.'

     Geoffrey decides not to acknowledge his son's mock toast and pointedly continues the party anyway, giving everyone the cue to 'ignore the village idiot.' That's very mature of him. I, however, will not let this go, but I'll do what I can not to cause a scene. I take the empty bar stool next to him.

     "You're going to have to learn to live with it, Malcolm. Geoffrey and I are in love."

     His lips quirk suspiciously. "Oh, sure. I don't doubt it. Dad wants to spend his nights with some pretty, young thing. I wonder how long you'll last? I'd be surprised if you make it ten years. After all, you're eventually going to start looking old." He stresses the 'old' with a smirk.

     Out of the corner of my eye, I see the bartender snort and shake his head, not that impressed with the groom-to-be's absurd son.

     The guy's smarter than I am. At least HE kept his mouth shut about Malcolm's rude comment. I've got to learn not to be so easily baited.

     "You know, I really have no idea what I thought I'd accomplish by coming over here to talk to you. You are beyond hope and so not worth any more of my time."

     The bartender smiles quietly as I get my drink and get up.

     The rest of the party goes pretty well. Geoffrey's sure to frequently hold my hand, and I have to wonder if it's in an effort to keep me from talking to Malcolm again.

     Malcolm, who'd noticed the bartender's reaction, spends the rest of the evening trying to insult the man, trying to get under his skin. The guy brilliantly rebuffs everything, even smiling just because he knows it's making Malcolm red in the face. Malcolm eventually storms out. I want to hug the bartender. I don't, but I'm sure to smile my thanks.

Alicekai'd 1.31: The Real Alice

 

 

     Geoffrey runs into the bedroom after his son with Nancy leaves. However, no matter how many times he apologizes for him, it doesn't sink in. Malcolm's right. I'm trash.

     Eventually, I convince him to go home, saying I'll be fine. He doesn't buy it, but he leaves, saying he'll call me.

 

     I'm trash with a really cute out-of-wedlock baby. I spend a lot of time with her. We're doing re-shoots for Twilight Werewolves, but I get home as much as possible. The nanny I hire is a great guy, but I want her to spend plenty of time with Mommy too.

     Geoff's called me a few times, but I haven't answered. The third time he called, I texted him and told him I don't want to talk right now. He's left it alone, but I know he's not done. I don't know what I'm going to do.

Please call me. 

 

     Geoffrey. I just can't shake everything Malcolm said. I don't deserve Geoffrey, and it's ridiculous of me to think I belong in his world.

 

Alice? 

 

     I sigh as I look at my phone. No. I'm having a happy moment right now. Do I want to break up with him? Hell no. Honestly, I don't know what to do.

     My phone rings again. I send it to voicemail.

 

Dammit, Alice. Why are you doing this? 

 

     Not now! I wipe under my eyes, feeling horrible for what I'm doing to him, but I just can't bear talking to him right now. My phone rings again. I let it ring... before going to voicemail. He doesn't leave a message.

 

     I make a pretend, dramatized gasp. "Big girl!" She's growing so fast. She's already rolled over, and before I know it, she'll be sitting up.

I'm at my wit's end. Call me or I'm going to bang the door down. 

 

It hurts too much, okay? I just can't. 

 

Not okay. You must know I don't agree with anything he said. I love you. 

 

     I swallow back my tears. Carlie, however, does cry. She needs a nap. I hear my phone ding like I got another text, but I ignore it, instead picking my daughter up and putting her to bed.

     Then, I silence my phone and go change into something comfy. Next, I go into the living room to veg out on television. I end up watching a competition chef show. It's really lame. It's perfect.

     I hear footsteps on my front porch. Geoffrey knocks. Dammit. I watch him peek into Carlie's room; he must be seeing she's taking a nap. That's probably the only reason he's not banging.

 

     He just stares at me through the window in the door. He folds his arms, his body language clearly telling me 'I'm not going anywhere.' 

     I sigh, get up, and go open the front door. I give him a blank look for a hello.

 

      "Well, at least I didn't bang down the door," he says. "May I come in?"

      I sigh again and turn around, headed back to the sofa. I leave the door open, letting that be the sign that he could stay or go.

     "Do you mind turning off the television?" he asks.

     I shrug, pull the remote out of the ether, and turn off the tv. It's not like I was really watching it anyway.

     "Thank you." He comes to sit next to me.

     "What have I done to deserve the silent treatment?" He waits for a response, but I don't know what to say. "You know I don't agree with him." Again, I give no response. "Alice? You do know that, right?"

     If Carlie weren't asleep, I'm pretty sure he'd yell the next thing, but as it is, he keeps just enough of a lid on it. "I don't see why I deserve this!" He lets out a huff. "What more can I do? Disown him? I can't do that, Alice. He's my son. Yes, he's the world's biggest jackass, and I see now how Nancy and I must've spoiled him. But he's going to have to get over himself if he wants to keep his father in his life because I am IN LOVE with Alice Dyer, for better or worse."

     He sits and waits for me to respond. The silence stretches out. I don't mean to give him the silent treatment; I just don't know what to say or more like, how to say it.

     "Alice, please just say SOMEthing."

     Fine. "He's right."

     "No he isn't."

     "Yes, he is!" I fold in on myself.

     "Then tell me why you think that, even if it isn't true."

     "For most of the time I've been here, I've been exactly as he described: promiscuous and easy. It's not really who I am. I went into this 'life isn't real, do what you want, what you wouldn't normally do because it doesn't matter' thing. That is what this world has to go on when it comes to forming an opinion about me."

     "I didn't form that opinion about you." He stresses the 'I.'

     "I know, and I don't know how you didn't. You somehow managed to see the real me." I take a breath. "And you were trying to get me to wake up, to stop acting like how I was acting, but it sank in too late." Another breath. "So, yeah, as far as this world is concerned, Malcolm is spot on."

     "When you say it 'sank in too late,' you mean Carlie? I love Carlie."

     "Kind of that's what I mean, but no." I think back. "I was going to break things off with Mark after that day you'd seen us together. It occurred to me that I was more worried about how YOU were upset than he was, but the next morning, the magic confetti showed up. It was too late."

     He sits and processes everything I just told him. I silently wonder which parts he finds the most interesting, which parts he must be analyzing.

     "There are some points I want to touch on with what you just told me, but they'll have to come later. Right now, all I can tell you is that you are yourself right NOW. You can't change what's come before, but neither can you let it dictate what comes next. You can't let people like him win or you'll never move forward. The point is that you're NOT that person."

     My mind goes back to the real world. "In the real world, I was so careful. I didn't even DATE that often because I'd read too many horror novels. I was always so cautious, not wanting to end up like the victims in the books. I felt like I was missing out, though, and I guess that's why when I got here, I did whatever I pleased without fear of the consequences." I sigh. "And then, thanks to SimTube, I earned the reputation of The Britechester Hussy."

     "I've asked that you not call yourself that."

     "If the shoe fits..." I leave my statement hanging.

     He pulls on my arm, unfolding them, and moves over me, pressing my back into the sofa.

     "Stop it. I'm going to get through to you, Alice. Don't call yourself that because it isn't who you are. Don't let other people try to convince you that you are."

     "But-" I mean to ask 'what else do they have to go on?', but he interrupts me.

     "Prove them wrong. You're not the only one out there with a wild past, and you won't be the last." His fingertips stroke my face. "We didn't come this far just to be shot back down by malicious words." He whispers, "I won't lose you over this."

     A few tears escape. "I'm not Landgraab material."

     "Plum yes, you are. He doesn't know what he's talking about. Don't you think I would know? You're so much 'Landgraab material' that it's going to make me go insane waiting for the day when I can finally call you my wife."

     Holy shit, that was hot, I think when he kisses me, holding my face in case he needs to stop me from turning away. Hell no, he doesn't have to worry about that. He loves me, the real me. He wants to marry me. I WILL be Alice Landgraab... because Geoffrey wants it... because he somehow finds me worthy, even after all the crap I've done. When he pulls back, I'm wondering if it's to check on me, I whisper, "I love you, Geoffrey."

     He breathes in and goes right back to kissing me, and that's all we do for what feels like hours. He doesn't try for more, the two of us only needing the feel of the other's lips. The simplicity is freeing, and it lets me know he doesn't need the wild Alice, that the real one is HIS Alice.

     I have never wanted more to stay in the Sims 4 game as a sim, in love with Geoffrey Landgraab. It's odd I once considered him one of the most boring pre-mades. He's not. He's perfect. And in this universe, he's mine.

     "I should go," he tells me quietly before lightly kissing me a few more times.

     No! "You don't want to stay?"

     He pauses. "Hell yes, I do plumbing want to stay, Alice, but I'd better not. For one, this robe you're wearing is doing its best to drive me out of my mind."

     "Oh." I blush. "I'm not... trying to be um, promiscuous. I just really want you to stay."

     He smiles. "Of course you're not, but I know my own limitations. And we're quickly approaching them." His hand moves to the air over me then balls into a fist before resting on his lap. "I just want to make sure you're okay."

    "Well, I'm certainly much better." I smirk. "Thanks to Dr. Geoffrey."

    His eyes close. "Holy plum, Alice. Don't start." He stands up before pulling me to standing.

    I giggle at his tortured expression.

    He 'thanks' me for my giggling by kissing me again.

 

     Oh. He really IS turned on, yet he manages, again, only to kiss me. Damn, this man has some serious self-control. I reach down and grab his ass. He jerks back from the kiss.

     "Don't. Not right now. I'm a hairsbreadth away from pushing you against the wall here and having done with waiting. But I'm determined to prove you're worth the wait. I came over here to fix things between us. Doing more right now would undercut everything, even if it's not true."

      I lightly kiss him. "I love you."

      He closes his eyes. "Cold showers and I are going to become very well acquainted over the next few months."

      I smile. "Well, there's lots of gray areas."

     His eyes open and pierce into me. "I'm not interested in gray areas right now, Alice." He kisses my forehead. "Which is why I have to go." He kisses me quickly again. "So you're okay?"

     "Yes."

     "Good. Goodnight, Alice. I love you." Another quick kiss, and he practically runs out the door.

Alicekai'd 1.30: Have Your Cake

 

     Oh my god. 

     He could be speaking Gobbledygook as far as I'm concerned because I think my ears turn off. Currently, my eyes are taking up about 95% of my brain power.

 

     All I can think is 'he's proposing!?' in several different ways over and over again.

     He holds up a ring.

 

     "Gerben schlergle machen be?" Yeah. That's about what I'm hearing right now, which makes utter zero sense to me. I think I've gone into shock. Maybe I'm actually hearing Simlish and am unable to translate. Have we all been speaking Simlish this whole time and I've lost the ability to translate?

      I stand here in mute silence, frozen in place.

 

     "Alice?" Okay. That was my name. I still can't bring myself to respond. "Alice, did you hear me? It's okay if it's too soon."

     "Too soon?" Oh, good. My mouth works. "No."

     His face falls. "Okay."

     "No, wait! I mean it's not too soon, but I didn't catch any of that."

     His lips quirk. "All right. I'll give you the short version. Will you marry me?"

     "Yes!"

 

 ...

      "Heaven. I'm in heaven. And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak. But I seem to find the happiness I seek, when we're out together dancing cheek to cheek." Yeah. I'm singing.

     "That's a nice song," Geoffrey says. Obviously, he's never heard it.

     "It's from an old movie where I'm from." Did he think I wrote it? I'm not THAT good.

     We're visiting Tartosa (which just HAPPENS to appear after I get engaged) figuring out wedding stuff. Geoffrey saw the dance floor and asked me to dance, so now we're up here looking like loons dancing to no music... hence why I started singing.

     We're getting married on Love Day. Yeah, it's kinda cheesy, but I want it that way. The only thing I DON'T like is that it's the end of summer right now. I'm going to have to make it through autumn and winter before spring finally gets here and then have to wait towards the end of spring. Still, that means tons of planning time.

     We book the wedding venue and then go and try cakes.

     "So you WANT the big wedding and all that?" he asks, sounding tired.

     "Yes, and I can afford it." As can he, but I'm paying my way. "You don't?"

     "I want what you want," he diplomatically replies.

     "That's a non-answer, Geoffrey." I pause and think. Then, my voice gets gentler. "Listen, I know you've already had the big wedding thing, but I haven't. I want my day."

     He finishes his cake selection, thinking.

 

     He smiles with a faraway look. "All right. I can understand that. I just want you to know all the pomp and circumstance isn't for me, but if it means I'm married to you at the end of it, I couldn't be happier."

     I grin. "Great! Let's go look at flowers!"

     He slowly gets up. "Or we could just go to the beach and watch the waves. It IS the last day of summer, after all."

     "Flowers," is all I reply. Yes, I know I'll technically have time for this later, but I'm only going to get a small break before the production team is going to be going over the script for Full Moon, the sequel to Twilight Werewolves. Then the filming begins. I'm going to be swamped.

     And having to work with that dickweed again.

     So... flowers it is. I can't stop grinning, even if I can't decide between blue or red for the flowers. Well, technically, I'll order the flowers themselves closer to the date, but I still wanted to get an idea.

     Yui's going to be my maid of honor. She's so thrilled I'm marrying Geoffrey, feeling personally responsible for the two of us finally getting together. I suppose she did help the idea to grow in my mind.

     Geoffrey wants to ask his son Malcolm to be his best man, and he invites him over to my house one evening.
 

     I hear them at the door.

     "Hey, Dad. So this is where you've been hanging out. It's, um... cozy."

     Geoffrey chuckles. "It works for now." Hm. True. We're going to have to get a bigger house. I hear their small talk continue into the kitchen. Then I take a breath, straighten my shoulders, and go to meet Malcolm Landgraab, Nancy's son.

     Geoffrey introduces us. Malcolm waves but doesn't get up. It's fine. I guess he's nervous.

 

     "Nice to meet you, Malcolm," I say, putting on a gracious smile.

     "Likewise." His lips quirk like his father's do when he's amused, but something feels off. Perhaps it's the way he's looking at me like I'm a choice cut of beef. Yeah, that's weird.

     "So, what shall we have for dinner?" I make my way into the kitchen proper, my back to creepo.

     "Malcolm, don't," Geoff says... too late. As I turn around, I get scared out of my wits.

     He does some kind of 'hua!' sound, and I'm just glad I'm not holding something because it would've ended up all over the floor.

     "Not cool, Malcolm! What the hell?"

     He cracks up laughing.

     He snorts and laughs. "You should've seen your face! And your face right now!"

     "Yes, I'm sure I look as amused as I feel," I say in angry sarcasm.

     He laughs some more, delighted by my negativity. "Yeah. I can see why Dad likes you. You're hilarious."

    Geoffrey finally steps in. "Malcolm, she's right. That wasn't cool. I think you should apologize."

    "Augh! Dad! Really? You two need to lighten up. Fine, whatever. Sorry." Yeah, he totally didn't mean that.

     I endure his smirks all through dinner then decide to give myself a little distraction while Geoff talks to his son.

     "So I wanted you to come over to meet Alice," Geoffrey starts, but his son interrupts.

     "Yeah. Cool. You sure can pick 'em, huh, Dad?" He winks at me, and I wanna throw up.

     Probably realizing there will be no way to offer any kind of decent segue, Geoffrey just comes out and says it. "Alice and I are getting married."

     "Wait. What?"

     "Are you insane?!" Malcolm shouts. "She's only a few years older than me! And seriously, Dad. You want to sully the Landgraab name with this tart?"

     "I beg your pardon!"

     He smirks. "You can 'beg' all you want, but I know what she is. EVERYONE knows what she is or have you forgotten that video that was all over SimTube not too very long ago?"

 

     "That video has nothing to do with any of this."

     "How can you say that? Just because YOU'VE chosen to forget it doesn't mean everyone else has. The minute, no, the SECOND word officially gets out about you two, you'll be dragged through the mud. And another thing, so this means Mom's memory gets just cast aside? She's barely cold and you decide to put a piece of fluff in her place? Well, I won't stand for it."

     Instead of getting angry like I want him to do, Geoffrey looks like he wants to cry.

     "No, she's not being 'replaced,' but I'm moving on with my life." He pauses. "And I'd wanted you to be my best man."

     "Hahahahahahaahaha! You're hilarious! I'll give you this, Dad. Sure, she's hot, but she's not what I'd call Landgraab material."

     "I can't believe your puffed up ideas about our family. We're no-"

     "Puffed up? I can't believe your DENIAL of how important we are. Look, I totally agree that you want this woman, but I don't advise marrying her. There are other ways to get what you want, and from what I've heard, she definitely puts out." He wiggles his eyebrows.

     I've heard enough. I get up from the table and dash into my bedroom, close the door, and quietly cry. He's right. Everything he said in there had merit in it. I'm not Landgraab material. I'm trash. I hear Geoffrey ordering Malcolm out of the house and Malcolm loudly proclaiming he'll talk to him later once he gets his head out of his ass.