Thursday 29 June 2017

2.12 Bugged


As the days pass it becomes clear that Guy has... 



Issues. 

He often insists someone is listening to his thoughts and scratches rabidly at his ears. Marko has already taken him to the doctor, and the police station to find the boy's parents, but it seems that there is nothing to be done at the moment. When pressed for his last name, Guy says it's Winterly and that he is, indeed, Tula's imaginary friend. His precarious hold on reality puts this statement into question, but Marko saw his transformation for himself. 

That still doesn't rule out that someone out there is missing him. He might have run away from home in his doll form, or any number of other scenarios. 



He is allowed to stay with the Winterlys for the time being. The police station is too small to accommodate anyone for more than a few days and is no place for a child. 

"What is this 'homework' you keep doing?" Guy never stops asking questions, "You're only giving them better access to your brain.

"If I don't give them some access, I'll just look suspicious," Tula decides to play along, "So I write down answers...from someone else!" 






This seems to satisfy him before he notices that the plates are just...a bit...too white. 

"I bet they're made out of teeth." 

Tula starts tuning him out after this. 



"You should really dust the place for prints," Guy suggests. How else will they find out who's been bugging the place? 



Krista's phone rings while she's inserting screws into her latest project. She doesn't notice it ringing, or when it stops, but she does notice when her phone begins vibrating with the second call. 



After all the screws are more or less secure, she picks up her phone. 

"Hello?" 



"Oh, Keith," she deflates slightly. 

He sighs, "You're supposed to call me Mark, remember?" Like his older half-brother, Keith also has an alias for his shady dealings. 

Krista rolls her eyes, which thankfully 'Mark' cannot see, "Of course. What is it, Mark?" 




He asks how her current project is going. 

"I'm nearly done, it just needs some, um..." she glances at the somewhat round hunk of metal sitting on her inventing table, "finishing touches." 

"I don't need all ten right now... just the prototype." 

She sighs with relief. There was no way she could have given him the final product! But the prototype? Now that, she can do. 



"So you want to meet...at the junkyard?" 

"Yes. Be on time." With that, Keith hangs up. 



They meet in a very tall bunch of grass next to the junkyard. 

"I brought the prototype," she says without greeting. 

"Good. I want to see a demonstration." 




She lugs the harvester forward with a huff. It's pretty heavy machinery. 

Keith pulls out his phone. "John wants a video, for, uh, evidence," Keith explains. 

Krista shrugs. Whatever works. 



No one else in the junkyard seems to notice pieces of scrap metal flying into the tall tuft of grass. 

"It's perfect for operations that require stealth. It can hold up to 100 kg of items, so it'd be pretty useful for any bank heists." 

Keith makes something close to a hissing sound. "We're in public you dolt, you can't just say stuff like that out loud!" 

Krista only belatedly notices some people about thirty meters away. She blushes, "...Sorry Keith." 

He wipes a hand over his face, "I wonder what in the world Mr. Valedictorian sees in you," he mutters. While not nearly as public about it as Tulip was, Paolo easily had the best grades in his class for every class. Keith is mystified about what a genius would want with his brain-dead sister. She's not even that pretty. 

For a moment, Krista's face reddens. "M-my marriage is none of your concern." 



"Yeah, yeah, whatever. You'll probably forget about this in a few hours anyways," Keith mumbles. Making fun of Krista isn't really fun now that he's older. He watches the short video again, then nods, satisfied. 

"I'll send this to John. He'll probably want another video once you finish with the real deal." 

"Sure," Krista says. Her face is still red and she can't meet Keith's eyes. She just wants to get home and "forget about this", as she apparently is so good at doing. 

Keith taps his phone screen and types a short message. "Ok, we're done here. John'll contact you later." 

Krista doesn't even say goodbye before making a beeline for her motorcycle. 



He makes a face as his half-sister speeds home. He doesn't like doing favors for people. 

His phone buzzes with a reply. He glances at it. 

A single thumbs up for the video. He scoffs; he would think Mr. Valedictorian's sister would be a bit more articulate than that. 

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AN: Guy has the insane trait. Sims 3 has borderline, if not outright, offensive depictions of mental instability, so I'm going to attempt to strike a balance between the sims 3 depiction and the often far more serious reality of mental illness. This chapter is more leaning towards the unrealistic sims 3 depiction. 


Wednesday 28 June 2017

2.11 Button-Eyes


Tula's "bestest friend" is beginning to get on her nerves. She can't spend any time by herself without him spewing angry nonsense. Most of it isn't even directed at anything, it's just angry sounds. 

"I'm trying to read," she hisses at him. Predictably, he only continues to rant as if she never spoke. Tula sighs, and wonders if she can convince her parents to give her enough money for ear plugs... 




When she finishes a whole chapter of her book and he still hasn't stopped, Tula decides to resort to drastic measures. 

"I will punch you so hard if you don't shut up." 

"But-," 

"Do you want to keep your buttons on your face or not!?



Persis came out here to paint, but instead hears her granddaughter violently threatening...thin air. She wonders if this is some kind of innocuous behaviour, caused by a lack of peers at home, or if this is something more serious... 



One of her threats seems to have worked, but now Guy is giving her a strangely terrified look. As terrified as button-eyes can seem, anyways. 

She looks behind her, and seeing that Persis has disappeared back into her bedroom, she switches gears. "Aw, I'm sorry Guy. I didn't mean it..." being invisible, and seemingly anchored to her, Guy could be quite useful. She can't have him so uneasy around her. 




Guy seems to easily forgive Tula, and the two chat about music. 

You see what I mean? Persis's eyes seem to say as she glances at Tula. She went to get Marko, the closest thing the town probably has to a child pyschology expert. 

Marko glances behind Persis, then gives a small shrug. It's probably not a big deal. 



At Persis's arched eyebrow, he sighs and rolls his eyes. Fine, fine, I'll talk to her. 

Persis smiles, satisfied with their non-verbal conversation. 



"You know, I think being a businessman could be cool," Tula does not yet realize that 'businessman' is not a general occupation title, "Like a CEO..." all those workers, at her beck and call... nice. 

"Tula, isn't it time for bed?" Marko says from the other side of the room, quickly approaching. 

Tula glances at Guy, hoping he can see the implicit shut up in her eyes. "Yeah, I just need to take a shower. Will you read me a bedtime story?" she asks sweetly. 

"Of course," Marko promises. Well, that was easy... 



Tula showers and changes into her pjs, then makes a show of racing to her room. 

"What story are we going to read?" 




"Well, actually, I wanted to talk to you about something first..." 

Tula does not like the sound of that. "But I'm tired. Can't we talk about it tomorrow?" 





"Tula, me and your grandma are a bit worried that you don't have anyone at home to talk to," he tries to phrase this sensitively, "And I want you to know it's ok if you feel a bit...lonely. You can always talk to us." 

Tula represses the urge to roll her eyes, "I'm fine, grandpa..." she tries to think of a way to get out of this conversation; she can't have her parents and grandparents worried about her. They're going to be hovering around her all the time. Just like Guy. Ugh. 

She comes up with an idea. "But I'm not lonely, I have a friend! I can prove it! Just give me a minute." 

Marko looks at the floor uncomfortably as Tula dashes out of the room. It pains him to see Tula go through this kind of phase. It reminds him so much of her father. Maybe I could start inviting my friends who have kids to come over for the holiday parties... 




Tula rushes back with a beaker of orange liquid. Marko narrows his eyes at it. It seems familiar... 

Just as Tula hands it to thin air, he remembers. "Isn't that from my chemistry set? Tula, it doesn't do anyth-" 



"See, grandpa? He is real!" Tula is a bit disappointed that she couldn't keep Guy invisible, but playing the "lonely shy kid" facade would only work for so long. Eventually she would get caught talking to herself again, and again, and again... that just wouldn't do. Kids only have imaginary friends for so long before it becomes unsettling. 




Marko....has no idea what is happening. 



Guy's real, that's what's happening! 

"So...how do I look?" 




"Not so imaginary..." Tula anticipates many, many more questions. 


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AN: I would have kept Guy as an IF for longer but he was starting to get on my nerves. His face is game-generated, but I gave him his hair colour. You can only have so many IFs turned real before the same 4 hair colours stop looking nice. 

Thursday 22 June 2017

2.10 Conductor




Tula is not phased in the slightest that Guy grew up with her. It makes total sense that her bestest friend is a kid too! 



"So, when you grow up, what do you think you're going to do?" Guy asks excitedly. Now that he can walk-and talk- the possibilities seem endless. 

Tula's not really sure, but an orchestra conductor could be cool- all those people, doing what she says... hmmm. 



She suddenly stops talking as her grandparents' door opens. 

"...Tula? Tula? Tuuuuulaaa?" Guy is ignored. 

Marko shuffles past, saying hello to Tula, then goes out the front door. Tula has no idea what he could need to do outside at this time of night. 



"Tula, what the heck? Heeeellloooo?" Guy waves his hand in front of her face. Tula slaps it away. 

"Quit it! I don't think they can see you," she hisses. Otherwise her grandfather would have said hello to both of them. 

Guy scowls, and Tula glowers back, "And if you keep on annoying me, I will hit you so hard that your stuffing will come out." 



They lapse back into silence when Krista comes out of the bathroom. 

"Hi mom," Tula says, shooting a warning look at Guy when he opens his mouth to talk. 

"Hmm? Oh hi sweetie," Krista mumbles absently. She was watering Persis' spotlight mushrooms for her, seeing as she's asleep and forgot, and is going outside to check if any of the plants are thawed enough to be tended to. 



After Krista shuts the front door, Guy bursts into giggles. 

"I didn't think I could be quiet the entire time," he says in between laughs, "I was about to explode!"

Tula quickly follows suit, laughing heartily, "Yeah, I thought I'd crack any second," she lies. Keeping calm doesn't really seem too hard, but it seems better to just go along with Guy. 

"Hey, I have a idea," she says suddenly, "I just need a glass of water..." 

***



Plumbbob, is he ever going to be quiet? Tula thinks acidly, I wonder if gluing his lips together would work... 

She takes a big bite out of her hotdog, "Wow this is really good grandma!" she accompanies the statement with a big smile. Persis glances at her granddaughter, and smiles a little in return. 

Pffft, adults are so easy to read, Tula thinks triumphantly to herself. Just a cute smile seems to go a long way. 

"Hey, Tula! Hey, are you ignoring me!? 'Oh look at me with my food and my tastebuds ooooh I'm so great!'

Kids, on the other hand, aren't as easy to sway... 



Tula primly places her hotdog on her plate, and fights to keep from jumping from the table and telling Guy to just shut up. 

"...right Tula?" 

Tula's eyes snap up to her grandfather's. Stupid fudging Guy, distracting me. "Sorry grandpa, what was that?" 

"You're excited for school, right Tula?" Marko repeats himself. 

"Oh yeah, I'm super excited!" she says truthfully. At least with other people around, I can just pretend Guy doesn't exist... 




Tula then twirls some her hair around her finger, deliberately lowering her gaze shyly, "But what if the other kids don't like me? Maybe I'll just stay home instead..." 

"'Maybe I'll just stay home instead'" Guy mimics behind her. Tulip digs her nails into the seat, but shows no other outward reaction. 

Persis looks up from her cereal, "School isn't that scary, Tula. I'm sure you'll make friends," she says reassuringly. 

Marko looks up from his book as well, "Your grandma's right. Just be nice and smile!" he grins widely in demonstration. 

Tula giggles on cue, "That's silly, grandpa." Besides, I already know that... 




She gets ready for school and is soon dashing out the door. 

"Hey, grandma, I think there's something wrong with your mushrooms... they're all kinda rotting. Maybe mom over-watered them last night?" Or maybe it was the extra cup of water Tula splashed on them, she can't be expected to know, right? 



Persis looks at the spotlight mushrooms. "No, those are just weeds. Easily fixed," she reassures Tula. Seeing the disturbed look on her granddaughter's face, she adds, "Your mom's not in any trouble, don't worry about it." 

"Oh, ok..." she says dejectedly. Man, I thought that would work... no one in this house is ever mad at each other. She thought it would be interesting to see. Oh well. 




After an intense and interesting first day of school comes the homework. Tula finds the work easy and wonders if she should really bother with any of this at all. 

Does it really matter if I write in what 10/2 is? she thinks as she lazily scribbles in a 5, Or that I show my work? Ugh. 



She can't escape her assignments with her mother hovering over her, though... 

"I'm done!" she announces, a smirk on her face. 

Krista looks up in surprise, "But you only started 10 minutes ago!" 

10 minutes too long if you ask me, Tula inwardly sneers. But it is true, she sped through her math worksheet, not troubling herself with writing out every. single. step. of her workings. It's not like the teacher doesn't know how to do it mentally. And it's easy to focus when Guy isn't lurking around, buzzing by her ear like an annoying mosquito. And all it took was asking him to gather some 'nila berries', she thinks with a smirk. He's been in the backyard for hours, looking for that imaginary fruit. 

"It wasn't too hard," Tula replies nonchalantly, putting her homework away. 



"Mhmm," Krista mumbles. 

"Mom, can I have pumpkin pie? I'm hungry," Tula asks. She has found that as a child one must ask permission for things. A hindrance, but a necessary one to be normal. 

"You need to eat your dinner, Tula, not dessert. There's hotdogs and Goopy Carbonara in the fridge." 

"If you get to eat meat, then I should get to eat dessert," Tula pouts, "What kind of a vegetarian are you, anyways?" 

Krista looks guiltily at her hotdog. Sticking to veggies is hard, especially when you have an inventing project to complete in a few days "or else" and don't have time to make something meat free. 

"Don't talk to me that way," Krista admonishes. The guilt in her tone throws off the delivery. She looks at her watch; if she wants to finish off 5 hollowed out cow toys by tomorrow afternoon, she needs to get started soon. 

Tula sees her opportunity, "Just this once, mom, I promise. I won't tell anyone..." 




Not having time to argue, Krista brings Tula the pumpkin pie. 

"Don't tell your dad," she adds hastily. 

Tula smiles as she takes a big bite out of her pie. 




Krista hurries off to the inventing bench. Those toys aren't going to make themselves, unfortunately. 




With Guy still looking for those berries, Tula doesn't really have much to do. Seeing her father unoccupied, she approaches. 

"What is it, Tula?" Paolo asks. Not sensing any annoyance in his voice, Tula proceeds. 



"Do you think you could teach me how to play chess sometime?" she asks seriously, "I heard it makes people smarter, like you..." she looks at the floor, playing with her hair and avoiding eye contact. 

Paolo smiles at his daughter, "You're already smart, Tula." His brow furrows at her shyness. He remembers being her age and being isolated. Could it be that she feels lonely? 

She beams at him, "You think so?" 

"Of course! But if you really do want to learn, I would be happy to teach you." She probably needs some time to come out of her shell, Paolo concludes, at least I had Xara and Tulip at her age, she doesn't have any brothers or sisters to play with at home... 

"You sure you aren't too busy? I know that being a soldier takes a lot of your time... maybe I shouldn't have asked, I'm sorry." Her cheeks turn red, and Paolo feels a pang of regret; he and Krista are so busy working, Tula must feel neglected now that she's older. "I can just ask grandpa..." The pang becomes a full-blown wave; His parents spend more time with his daughter than he does! 

"I'm never too busy for you, Tula." 

She throws her arms around his waist, "You're the best dad ever!" She inwardly cringes at how she sounds, but Paolo still pats her head affectionately. 

"Thanks, Tula. And you're the best daughter ever." 

And don't you forget it. 

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AN: 

Ugh. I don't like this chapter. I shouldn't be saying it, but I really don't. I feel like I've written too many cliches here and was waaaay too heavy handed with what I wanted to express about Tula's character, but there it is. 



Tuesday 20 June 2017

2.9 Hidden in Plain Sight




Shortly after the wedding, it's snowflake day! Marko throws a gift-giving party and invites the usual crowd. 



Persis wonders what's so funny about Tulip's skirt. She thinks her daughter is quite nicely dressed and does not warrant this party guest's ridicule. 

The stereo then proceeds to break down for no reason, pulling Persis out of her thoughts. She scoffs at the sparking appliance; her days as the home repairwoman are long over. Paolo can take care of that. 




The present opening commences. Tulip is placed next to her namesake, Tula. Tula doesn't really care about this hubbub with the colourful boxes. Her toy, Guy, is much more interesting. 



Tulip looks at her niece, surprised by just how much she looks like Paolo. There's no hint of resemblance to Krista, or any of the other Parrotts. Probably a good thing, too. The less she's tied to those guys, the better. 

A disturbing thought occurs to her. They might recruit her when she's older... it would make sense, after all. Aside from Pablo and Krista, the other Parrott children have yet to reproduce. To keep the family business running, the Parrott descendants of Tula's generation would have to be inducted into the criminal scene. And they'll try to make her one of them... 

Tulip looks away guiltily at the thought of her sister-in-law's criminal family. Tula may be apart of the Parrott family by blood... but she's still Tulip's niece. She owes it to Tula to try and stop this madness before it's too late. 




Tulip narrows her eyes at her now brother-in-law lurking in the party. Marko still insists (for some reason) that all family be invited to their get-togethers. He doesn't meet her gaze, but he must know she's there. 



And Paolo, ever so oblivious to the tension, claps happily after opening his present. A chess table! Too bad the house doesn't have space for it. 




Krista makes her displeasure towards her brother's appearance known. 

Pablo doesn't even flinch. She can boo and hiss all she wants, at the end of the day he's still her boss, and she still makes those gadgets and knick-knacks for him




Tulip watches the scene intently. Krista quickly falls back into a more neutral stance and Pablo claps her on the shoulder. 

"Tired of me already, sis?" Pablo says. Krista smiles weakly at him, but doesn't retort. 

The urge to butt in burns within Tulip. She'd love nothing more than to see Pablo behind bars... but she has to wait. Evidence needs to be found. She can't hide her glowering. As soon as she finds anything, Pablo is going down



Her absolute loathing for Pablo distracts her so completely, that she doesn't hear one of the Bedlington sons make a jab about Xara's quick procession of romantic partners after their father. Had she noticed, the rest of the party might not have gone so...smoothly. 



Xara, on the other hand, hears the insult loud and clear. She fights to keep her face expressionless. Bertram Bedlington was such an asshole. The only good thing that came from her fling with him was her son, Gregory. Her only regret about her current situation is that she's going to be tied to Bertram's family forever. 

The gifts are eventually distributed among the guests, and from there the party winds down. All the guests trickle out until the Winterly household is once again solely occupied by its primary inhabitants. 


Well, primary inhabitants +1.