#8701
8th Apr 2018 at 3:33 PM
Last edited by Nat 619 : 8th Apr 2018 at 3:44 PM.

Posts: 919
I'm back! Took longer than I expected, but the laptop is in good shape now.

âThis is your houseâŚ?â
âItâs hopefully just a temporary measure. Our last house caught fire, you see, and we needed to be rehomedâŚâ
âOh, Iâm sorry. Thatâs terrible.â
âThings will be resolved in time. So, Iâd like you to meet my children-â

âWhat? Children?â
â...Yes. I do have three children.â
âAnd you only thought of telling me now? I thought you said you wanted to have them with me?â

âI wasnât lying.â
âYeah, but I took that to mean the first time⌠I thought you and your wife hadnât had any. Itâs kinda shitty to just drop this on me now.â
âTheyâre nice kids, Roxxi. Iâm sure youâll get along just great. Letâs go in and see them, shall we?â
âAlrightâŚâ

âEllis? Could you fetch your sisters from upstairs? Thereâs someone Iâd like them to meet.â
âUm, okayâŚâ
âŚ

âWhoâs this?â

âThis is my new girlfriend, Roxxi. Roxxi, these are my children: Ellis, Aria and Saraya.â
âHi, kids.â

âHey. Nice to meet youâŚâ

âNow, Iâve got some good news for you all. Roxxi is pregnant. That means sheâs having a baby. Two, actually. Weâve found out sheâs having twins.â

â......â
âTwins?â

âThatâs right. Two little brothers or sisters or both, we wonât know for a while yet.â

âAre they gonna live here?â
âYes, they will.â
âUgh. Great.â

âCome on now, Aria, this is nice news. Donât you want to be a big sister again?â
âNot really.â
âBe kind, sweetheart. Let's not upset Roxxi, now.â

âSince when have you ever called me that? Thatâs weird. Donât do that.â

âSo whenâs she moving in?â
âNot just yet, but weâre going to make plans for it.â

âWe donât even have room for two babies. Where are we gonna put them?â

âAh, weâll make space. It doesnât matter if itâs a bit crowded! Not in a household with so much love to share.â
âI canât wait to get to know you better.â
âIâm sure youâll all be the best of friends once youâve got to know Roxxi. She really is a lovely woman.â

âWell, weâll be nothing but nice, wonât we, girls?â
âYeah.â

âDoubt it.â

âAriaâŚâ
âSure. Whatever.â

âWonderful. I want this to be a happy household again, okay?â

âWell, that went as expected.â
âNo kidding. You donât think we couldâve waited to drop that bombshell on them? They didnât even know I existed until a minute ago, and now theyâve got to deal with getting used to me and two babies.â
âMay as well get them used to the idea early on.â
â...I donât like the way youâve been keeping secrets and suddenly springing them on people. Is there anything else youâve kept from me?â

â...My former mother-in-law still lives with us. She canât afford to move out.â

â.......â
âSorry.â
â...Great.â
The next couple of months passed by, and the children and Roxxi had to try to get used to each other. Unfortunately, not every party was co-operating.

âHi, Aria. What are you reading?â
âYour crappy romance book.â
âAh⌠Well, it's a bit adult-oriented, so maybe you should find something more age-appropriate.'

'Yeah, whatever. It's weird anyway.'
'Listen, I feel you and me havenât really got off on the right foot. So Iâd like us to be friends.â
âYouâre not a friend, youâre a stepmother, and those are always horrible.â

âIn books, maybe. Look, I know youâre a smart girl. I know you like a lot of time to yourself, and you enjoy reading. You do pretty well at school and youâre really kind to your little sister. Iâve worked all that out just from paying attention to you.â
âSo?â
âIâm not the scary evil stepmother you think I am.â

âIs it true youâre a whore like Olivia said you are?â

â...W-What?â
âYeah, she doesnât like you. She said youâve got no class and youâre in dirty videos doing dirty things.â
âShe really said that, huh?â

âUh huh. I know you donât like her. Well, nobody does, but you donât like any of us either.â
âThatâs not true-â
âIt was written all over your face when you first walked in. You donât wanna be a stepmum to us kids, you just wanna have your own with Tate. Youâd prefer it if we were gone.â

âAlright, itâs true that I didnât expect any of you. Olivia, or you kids. But unlike her, youâre all really nice. Youâve got every right to live here. Hey⌠I know it mustâve been really hard, losing your mumâŚâ

âWell youâre wrong, because I hated her! She was a bitch! I donât need a mum, so donât try to be one to me!â

âAria!â
âJust leave me alone. Have your ugly babies with Tate and leave me alone.â
The week after...

âAnd thatâs two heartbeats!â
âAww⌠Theyâre looking good, then?â
âYep.'

'...Wait.â
âWhat?â
âHang on a second.â

âIs there a problem?â

âNo, no problem... Thereâs a third heartbeat. I see it now.â

âA thirdâŚ?!â
âThatâs right. Youâre having triplets, Roxxi.â

âThis is your houseâŚ?â
âItâs hopefully just a temporary measure. Our last house caught fire, you see, and we needed to be rehomedâŚâ
âOh, Iâm sorry. Thatâs terrible.â
âThings will be resolved in time. So, Iâd like you to meet my children-â

âWhat? Children?â
â...Yes. I do have three children.â
âAnd you only thought of telling me now? I thought you said you wanted to have them with me?â

âI wasnât lying.â
âYeah, but I took that to mean the first time⌠I thought you and your wife hadnât had any. Itâs kinda shitty to just drop this on me now.â
âTheyâre nice kids, Roxxi. Iâm sure youâll get along just great. Letâs go in and see them, shall we?â
âAlrightâŚâ

âEllis? Could you fetch your sisters from upstairs? Thereâs someone Iâd like them to meet.â
âUm, okayâŚâ
âŚ

âWhoâs this?â

âThis is my new girlfriend, Roxxi. Roxxi, these are my children: Ellis, Aria and Saraya.â
âHi, kids.â

âHey. Nice to meet youâŚâ

âNow, Iâve got some good news for you all. Roxxi is pregnant. That means sheâs having a baby. Two, actually. Weâve found out sheâs having twins.â

â......â
âTwins?â

âThatâs right. Two little brothers or sisters or both, we wonât know for a while yet.â

âAre they gonna live here?â
âYes, they will.â
âUgh. Great.â

âCome on now, Aria, this is nice news. Donât you want to be a big sister again?â
âNot really.â
âBe kind, sweetheart. Let's not upset Roxxi, now.â

âSince when have you ever called me that? Thatâs weird. Donât do that.â

âSo whenâs she moving in?â
âNot just yet, but weâre going to make plans for it.â

âWe donât even have room for two babies. Where are we gonna put them?â

âAh, weâll make space. It doesnât matter if itâs a bit crowded! Not in a household with so much love to share.â
âI canât wait to get to know you better.â
âIâm sure youâll all be the best of friends once youâve got to know Roxxi. She really is a lovely woman.â

âWell, weâll be nothing but nice, wonât we, girls?â
âYeah.â

âDoubt it.â

âAriaâŚâ
âSure. Whatever.â

âWonderful. I want this to be a happy household again, okay?â

âWell, that went as expected.â
âNo kidding. You donât think we couldâve waited to drop that bombshell on them? They didnât even know I existed until a minute ago, and now theyâve got to deal with getting used to me and two babies.â
âMay as well get them used to the idea early on.â
â...I donât like the way youâve been keeping secrets and suddenly springing them on people. Is there anything else youâve kept from me?â

â...My former mother-in-law still lives with us. She canât afford to move out.â

â.......â
âSorry.â
â...Great.â
The next couple of months passed by, and the children and Roxxi had to try to get used to each other. Unfortunately, not every party was co-operating.

âHi, Aria. What are you reading?â
âYour crappy romance book.â
âAh⌠Well, it's a bit adult-oriented, so maybe you should find something more age-appropriate.'

'Yeah, whatever. It's weird anyway.'
'Listen, I feel you and me havenât really got off on the right foot. So Iâd like us to be friends.â
âYouâre not a friend, youâre a stepmother, and those are always horrible.â

âIn books, maybe. Look, I know youâre a smart girl. I know you like a lot of time to yourself, and you enjoy reading. You do pretty well at school and youâre really kind to your little sister. Iâve worked all that out just from paying attention to you.â
âSo?â
âIâm not the scary evil stepmother you think I am.â

âIs it true youâre a whore like Olivia said you are?â

â...W-What?â
âYeah, she doesnât like you. She said youâve got no class and youâre in dirty videos doing dirty things.â
âShe really said that, huh?â

âUh huh. I know you donât like her. Well, nobody does, but you donât like any of us either.â
âThatâs not true-â
âIt was written all over your face when you first walked in. You donât wanna be a stepmum to us kids, you just wanna have your own with Tate. Youâd prefer it if we were gone.â

âAlright, itâs true that I didnât expect any of you. Olivia, or you kids. But unlike her, youâre all really nice. Youâve got every right to live here. Hey⌠I know it mustâve been really hard, losing your mumâŚâ

âWell youâre wrong, because I hated her! She was a bitch! I donât need a mum, so donât try to be one to me!â

âAria!â
âJust leave me alone. Have your ugly babies with Tate and leave me alone.â
The week after...

âAnd thatâs two heartbeats!â
âAww⌠Theyâre looking good, then?â
âYep.'

'...Wait.â
âWhat?â
âHang on a second.â

âIs there a problem?â

âNo, no problem... Thereâs a third heartbeat. I see it now.â

âA thirdâŚ?!â
âThatâs right. Youâre having triplets, Roxxi.â
#8702
8th Apr 2018 at 3:39 PM

Posts: 4,549
lmao oh God, poor Roxxi.
Scumthorpe Files contributions
You'd think by now that I would've learnt,
Not to play with fire if I don't want to get burnt.
You'd think by now that I would've learnt,
Not to play with fire if I don't want to get burnt.
#8703
8th Apr 2018 at 4:23 PM

Posts: 1,145
Imagine finding out that your new, twice-your-age boyfriend not only has children... He's got a son born the same year as you! And then that he has a MIL who's an ugly-tempered vampire. You're going to live in a tiny shack with them, and you're about to become a teen mother of triplets. And you still don't even know half of what you've gotten yourself into... Here's to Roxxie, for still being a good person after all that!

#8704
8th Apr 2018 at 6:20 PM

"Is there anything else you've kept from me?"
Ask that one again, Roxxie!
I am Ghost. My husband is sidneydoj. I post, he downloads, and I wanted to keep my post count.
Group for Avatar Makers* Funny Stories *2017 Yearbook
Ask that one again, Roxxie!
I am Ghost. My husband is sidneydoj. I post, he downloads, and I wanted to keep my post count.
Group for Avatar Makers* Funny Stories *2017 Yearbook
#8705
8th Apr 2018 at 9:51 PM

Posts: 428
Glad to see you're back, Nat ^^
I loved the chapter as usual ^^
I loved the chapter as usual ^^
#8706
9th Apr 2018 at 3:51 AM
Last edited by Elynda : 9th Apr 2018 at 12:24 PM.

Posts: 875
The looks on those kids faces in that ninth picture. Saraya clearly unhappy, Ellis nauseated, but Aria: there's a seething rage there that doesn't belong on any child's face. But who could blame her, listening to all that bovine cack? Tate missed his calling in life, he should have been an actor! He just lives the part of a long suffering, patient and devoted father, doesn't he?
If I'd been any of those kids I'd have lost it at: "I want this to be a happy household again, ok?".
WHAT? WHEN WAS THAT? DID I POP OUT FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND MISS IT? WHEN, YOU SUPPURATING PUSTULE OF A MAN?
But, oh Ellis! You dropped the ball that time I'm afraid. I realise you were desperately trying not to hurl, but maybe later you could have had a quiet word with Roxxi. Something along the lines of: "You do realise what a fetid tuft of arse hair you are marrying, don't you?".
(Ah, a good rant - I needed that).
Glad you're back. Nat. Great post, as ever.
If I'd been any of those kids I'd have lost it at: "I want this to be a happy household again, ok?".
WHAT? WHEN WAS THAT? DID I POP OUT FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND MISS IT? WHEN, YOU SUPPURATING PUSTULE OF A MAN?
But, oh Ellis! You dropped the ball that time I'm afraid. I realise you were desperately trying not to hurl, but maybe later you could have had a quiet word with Roxxi. Something along the lines of: "You do realise what a fetid tuft of arse hair you are marrying, don't you?".
(Ah, a good rant - I needed that).
Glad you're back. Nat. Great post, as ever.

Simblr: Elyndaworld * Live Journal: Elandaer
#8707
9th Apr 2018 at 2:53 PM

Posts: 1,145
Quote:
Originally Posted by Elynda
Tate missed his calling in life, he should have been an actor! He just lives the part of a long suffering, patient and devoted father, doesn't he?
|
It's never too late! I mean, he does know someone who may help him set up a career in... uh, acting.
#8708
9th Apr 2018 at 8:17 PM

Posts: 919
Thanks guys
Well of course. He hadn't fully tied down Roxxi at that point - though carrying the babies certainly helped cement it for her. Trap her with the pregnancy, now she feels she can't change her mind. Perfect time to drop all those bombshells.
That might be the best description of Tate yet
Poor Ellis is well and truly ground down at this point. He feels completely stuck as well. At 18 he could technically leave himself, but he wouldn't abandon the girls. He doesn't have the strength to try fighting for them himself. After all, who would believe him? The same applies to telling Roxxi the truth. I imagine it remains one of his biggest regrets.
LOL does anyone want to see that? Raise your hand if you do.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Elynda
The looks on those kids faces in that ninth picture. Saraya clearly unhappy, Ellis nauseated, but Aria: there's a seething rage there that doesn't belong on any child's face. But who could blame her, listening to all that bovine cack? Tate missed his calling in life, he should have been an actor! He just lives the part of a long suffering, patient and devoted father, doesn't he?
|
Well of course. He hadn't fully tied down Roxxi at that point - though carrying the babies certainly helped cement it for her. Trap her with the pregnancy, now she feels she can't change her mind. Perfect time to drop all those bombshells.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Elynda
WHAT? WHEN WAS THAT? DID I POP OUT FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND MISS IT? WHEN, YOU SUPPURATING PUSTULE OF A MAN?
|
That might be the best description of Tate yet

Quote:
Originally Posted by Elynda
But, oh Ellis! You dropped the ball that time I'm afraid. I realise you were desperately trying not to hurl, but maybe later you could have had a quiet word with Roxxi. Something along the lines of: "You do realise what a fetid tuft of arse hair you are marrying, don't you?"
|
Poor Ellis is well and truly ground down at this point. He feels completely stuck as well. At 18 he could technically leave himself, but he wouldn't abandon the girls. He doesn't have the strength to try fighting for them himself. After all, who would believe him? The same applies to telling Roxxi the truth. I imagine it remains one of his biggest regrets.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TigerAnne
It's never too late! I mean, he does know someone who may help him set up a career in... uh, acting.
|
LOL does anyone want to see that? Raise your hand if you do.
#8709
9th Apr 2018 at 8:21 PM

Posts: 4,549
Quote:
Originally Posted by Elynda
The looks on those kids faces in that ninth picture. Saraya clearly unhappy, Ellis nauseated, but Aria: there's a seething rage there that doesn't belong on any child's face. But who could blame her, listening to all that bovine cack? Tate missed his calling in life, he should have been an actor! He just lives the part of a long suffering, patient and devoted father, doesn't he?
If I'd been any of those kids I'd have lost it at: "I want this to be a happy household again, ok?". WHAT? WHEN WAS THAT? DID I POP OUT FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND MISS IT? WHEN, YOU SUPPURATING PUSTULE OF A MAN? But, oh Ellis! You dropped the ball that time I'm afraid. I realise you were desperately trying not to hurl, but maybe later you could have had a quiet word with Roxxi. Something along the lines of: "You do realise what a fetid tuft of arse hair you are marrying, don't you?". (Ah, a good rant - I needed that). Glad you're back. Nat. Great post, as ever. ![]() |
I want to frame this and hang it on my wall. Marry me.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nat 619
LOL does anyone want to see that? Raise your hand if you do.
|
*raises hand*
Scumthorpe Files contributions
You'd think by now that I would've learnt,
Not to play with fire if I don't want to get burnt.
You'd think by now that I would've learnt,
Not to play with fire if I don't want to get burnt.
#8710
10th Apr 2018 at 7:03 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nat 619
LOL does anyone want to see that? Raise your hand if you do.
|
*Starts to raise hand*
Naked Tate... Do I really want that mental image? Again?
Oh, and those poor "co-stars"...Would I really to see anybody inflict THAT on them?
Never mind... They probably have clauses in their contract to preclude torture scenes.
*puts hand back down*
I am Ghost. My husband is sidneydoj. I post, he downloads, and I wanted to keep my post count.
Group for Avatar Makers* Funny Stories *2017 Yearbook
#8711
11th Apr 2018 at 3:56 PM

Posts: 919
Any of you who seriously want to, picturing you like this:

Also check this out, I commissioned again:

lmao I love you guys
Also check this out, I commissioned again:

#8712
11th Apr 2018 at 3:58 PM

Posts: 4,549
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nat 619
Any of you who seriously want to, picturing you like this:
|
I never gave you permission to publicly post pictures of me.
Scumthorpe Files contributions
You'd think by now that I would've learnt,
Not to play with fire if I don't want to get burnt.
You'd think by now that I would've learnt,
Not to play with fire if I don't want to get burnt.
#8713
15th Apr 2018 at 1:33 AM

Posts: 919
Oof, what to say about this one? I'm sorry the execution isn't perfect. It wasn't easy. You probably shouldn't read it in company, either.


*knock knock*
âCome in.â

âOoh, isnât this lovely? You, getting married!â

âI feel hideous, Mum. Theyâve been moving a lot today.â
âI bet theyâre just excited! Wonât it be nice for them, being a part of their parentsâ wedding day?â

âYouâre wearing white? Thatâs pretty bold.â

âBrie!â

âOh, Brie, donât be like that!â
âIâm just saying, Tate might send her back under the Trade Descriptions Act.â
âHeâs going to be making an honest woman of her. Theyâll be married by the time they have the babies. Itâs all good.â

âIâd rather have done it after. I look awful.â
âNonsense. Youâre practically glowing! A radiant bride if I ever did see one.â

âIâm gonna puke.â
âWhat was that, Brie?â
âNothing, Mum.â

âGood. No need to be jealous, cariĂąa. Thatâll be you one day.â
âI'm not jealous. Just nauseated.â

âUgh⌠must be more Braxton Hicks. Iâll admit, weâre a bit close to my due date for my liking...â

âWell, Tate didnât know itâd be triplets, did he? 33 weeks wouldâve been fine for a normal pregnancy.â
âWell, sorry for having two more than the standard.â
âDonât be silly, Roxxi. Why the sour face? This is a happy day! Do try to act like it. Iâll wait outside for you to be ready.â

âBet youâre regretting picking Tate now. Iâd at least choose someone with a better face. Is he good in bed, at least?â

âBrie! Youâre thirteen, for Godâs sake. Iâm not talking to you about that kind of thing.â
âWhatever. We all know it's a sham. Why else would anyone wanna marry an old man?â
'Don't talk about my fiance like that.'

'You didn't argue about his face, I'm noticing.'
'Yeah, well, I'm not blind.'
'Oh, so you do admit he's ugly.'

'Not as ugly as you're acting right now. Let's just go. I don't wanna be late.'

âI have to pretend to be happy for them, right?â
âPlease do. I donât think Dad will be happy otherwise. And we shouldnât embarrass Roxxi. Itâs her wedding too, after all.â
âThis is still stupid. Who does she think she's kidding? Why is everyone acting like it's some perfect romance?â

'Oooof...'

â...Are you okay?â
âYeah, fine. Bit of a stomach ache.â
âHas it been glowing green again? Cos you should really get that checked out. Itâs not normal.â

âNot recently, no.â
âI went on the internet and it said it happens when men are having a-â
âDonât be ridiculous. Stop looking at weird things on the computer, okay?â

'Ah, it looks like the bride is here!'

âOkay, itâs starting.â

And so the wedding of Tate and Roxxi Farrington took place.






'How lovely was that?'

âOoof⌠Oh GodâŚâ

âAre you okay, my love?â
âNoâŚâ

âOh God! I think that was my waters! I think Iâm in labour!â

âTold you she was cutting it fine.â
âThatâs not nice, Aria.â
âIâm not nice.â

âAlright, everyone, the weddingâs over. No reception. Iâve got to take my new wife to hospital. Thanks for coming, and the next time we see you, we'll be parents of triplets!â

âShame. Iâm hungry. I was looking forward to that buffet.â
âIâll take you two home and order us some food, how about that? I suspect Dad and Roxxi will be gone a while.â

âA takeaway? Awesome!â

'How long will it take for Roxxi to have the babies?'
'It depends on what they do. With it being triplets, they may deliver by C-section, but since she's already gone into labour, I guess they'll let it continue if there's no other complications other than them being premature. But multiple births usually are.'
'Will she stay in the hospital?'
'I would imagine so. At least for a few days, probably longer.'

'Where did Olivia go?'
'I... don't know. Doesn't matter... I'm here for you.'
'You don't look well, Ellis. You keep moaning like that. Are you sick?'

'...I just need to go to the toilet, then I'll see about getting you some food. Right? Back in a minute.'
But on a cursed day such as this, even a simple trip to the toilet wasn't just that.


'Please...'




âOh God! Oh my GodâŚ! It's really...!â

âShh⌠letâs get you wrapped up warm, huh? Come here, little one.â

âThere. Is that better? Iâm sorry, sweetheart⌠I shouldâve prepared. I let you downâŚâ
*knock knock knock*

âEllis! Whatâs going on? We heard a noise!â
'A noise?! Sounds like he's shitting a boulder! What kind of crap are you taking, Ellis?'

â...â

âWhoa, whatâs that?â

âHeâs a baby, Raya. Youâve got a little nephew.â
âDid you just poop him out?!â
â......I guess I did, yeah.â

âIt is an alien! Why did you lie before?â
âOh, Ari⌠câmon girls, letâs just go downstairs and sit down.â
'Can you even sit down?'
'......'

âOkay⌠I was in denial. I canât remember much, itâs just one night last year, when it was dark, I went out and was gone ages, remember?â
âYeah.â
âI saw flashing lights in the sky, and thatâs all I remember of it. I was so freaked out by the whole thing. They did something to me. Of course I researched it online, and found some weird sites⌠We all know alien races exist, but theyâre so uncommon here. Thereâs none in this town at all. Youâve seen the way supernaturals can be treated. They often form their own little communities, their own towns, but even there aliens are rare.â

âPeople have been claiming to be abducted for ages, but not many cases have come back with a real live male pregnancy.â

âYou just gave birth all alone in a toilet! Are you okay?â

âI'm fine. And I know. I guess thatâs better than being treated like some kind of lab specimen at the hospital, though. Still⌠poor thing, I need to get him checked out by a doctor. Just to make sure heâs healthy.â

âHeâs really cute, though.â
âHe is, huh?â

âBut why didnât you say anything?â

âAgain, I was deep in denial. I buried my head in the sand and pretended it wasnât happening. I didnât even know where to begin. Go to the doctor, claim Iâve been abducted, demand an examination? Then what if itâs positive? You think Dad wouldnât have made me get a termination?â

âWhatâs a termination?â
âAn abortion. They⌠um, kill the baby while itâs still too small to feel anything.â
âOhâŚâ

âSo I acted like it never happened, and ignored everything happening to my body. I knew, deep down, that thisâd happen in the end. I just couldnât face it. I still donât know how I will. We canât fit four babies here⌠Dadâs going to go mental.â
âWill he throw the baby out?â
âHeâs not touching the baby. If he throws me out, however, thatâs a different story⌠Ugh. Letâs just go.â

âGo? Are we gonna run away together?â

âOh, Ari⌠I canât bring up three kids. You think heâd let me take you?â
âWhy not? He doesnât care about me or Raya.â
âWe canât⌠Itâs not possible. Iâm just gonna take you two to the diner up the road from the hospital, okay? I donât know how long itâll take for me to be seen but when youâve eaten, you can come find me if you like, as long as you watch the roads.â

âOkay.â

âThanks for being so good about it, girls. Youâre lovely kids.â


*knock knock*
âCome in.â

âOoh, isnât this lovely? You, getting married!â

âI feel hideous, Mum. Theyâve been moving a lot today.â
âI bet theyâre just excited! Wonât it be nice for them, being a part of their parentsâ wedding day?â

âYouâre wearing white? Thatâs pretty bold.â

âBrie!â

âOh, Brie, donât be like that!â
âIâm just saying, Tate might send her back under the Trade Descriptions Act.â
âHeâs going to be making an honest woman of her. Theyâll be married by the time they have the babies. Itâs all good.â

âIâd rather have done it after. I look awful.â
âNonsense. Youâre practically glowing! A radiant bride if I ever did see one.â

âIâm gonna puke.â
âWhat was that, Brie?â
âNothing, Mum.â

âGood. No need to be jealous, cariĂąa. Thatâll be you one day.â
âI'm not jealous. Just nauseated.â

âUgh⌠must be more Braxton Hicks. Iâll admit, weâre a bit close to my due date for my liking...â

âWell, Tate didnât know itâd be triplets, did he? 33 weeks wouldâve been fine for a normal pregnancy.â
âWell, sorry for having two more than the standard.â
âDonât be silly, Roxxi. Why the sour face? This is a happy day! Do try to act like it. Iâll wait outside for you to be ready.â

âBet youâre regretting picking Tate now. Iâd at least choose someone with a better face. Is he good in bed, at least?â

âBrie! Youâre thirteen, for Godâs sake. Iâm not talking to you about that kind of thing.â
âWhatever. We all know it's a sham. Why else would anyone wanna marry an old man?â
'Don't talk about my fiance like that.'

'You didn't argue about his face, I'm noticing.'
'Yeah, well, I'm not blind.'
'Oh, so you do admit he's ugly.'

'Not as ugly as you're acting right now. Let's just go. I don't wanna be late.'

âI have to pretend to be happy for them, right?â
âPlease do. I donât think Dad will be happy otherwise. And we shouldnât embarrass Roxxi. Itâs her wedding too, after all.â
âThis is still stupid. Who does she think she's kidding? Why is everyone acting like it's some perfect romance?â

'Oooof...'

â...Are you okay?â
âYeah, fine. Bit of a stomach ache.â
âHas it been glowing green again? Cos you should really get that checked out. Itâs not normal.â

âNot recently, no.â
âI went on the internet and it said it happens when men are having a-â
âDonât be ridiculous. Stop looking at weird things on the computer, okay?â

'Ah, it looks like the bride is here!'

âOkay, itâs starting.â

And so the wedding of Tate and Roxxi Farrington took place.






'How lovely was that?'

âOoof⌠Oh GodâŚâ

âAre you okay, my love?â
âNoâŚâ

âOh God! I think that was my waters! I think Iâm in labour!â

âTold you she was cutting it fine.â
âThatâs not nice, Aria.â
âIâm not nice.â

âAlright, everyone, the weddingâs over. No reception. Iâve got to take my new wife to hospital. Thanks for coming, and the next time we see you, we'll be parents of triplets!â

âShame. Iâm hungry. I was looking forward to that buffet.â
âIâll take you two home and order us some food, how about that? I suspect Dad and Roxxi will be gone a while.â

âA takeaway? Awesome!â

'How long will it take for Roxxi to have the babies?'
'It depends on what they do. With it being triplets, they may deliver by C-section, but since she's already gone into labour, I guess they'll let it continue if there's no other complications other than them being premature. But multiple births usually are.'
'Will she stay in the hospital?'
'I would imagine so. At least for a few days, probably longer.'

'Where did Olivia go?'
'I... don't know. Doesn't matter... I'm here for you.'
'You don't look well, Ellis. You keep moaning like that. Are you sick?'

'...I just need to go to the toilet, then I'll see about getting you some food. Right? Back in a minute.'
But on a cursed day such as this, even a simple trip to the toilet wasn't just that.


'Please...'




âOh God! Oh my GodâŚ! It's really...!â

âShh⌠letâs get you wrapped up warm, huh? Come here, little one.â

âThere. Is that better? Iâm sorry, sweetheart⌠I shouldâve prepared. I let you downâŚâ
*knock knock knock*

âEllis! Whatâs going on? We heard a noise!â
'A noise?! Sounds like he's shitting a boulder! What kind of crap are you taking, Ellis?'

â...â

âWhoa, whatâs that?â

âHeâs a baby, Raya. Youâve got a little nephew.â
âDid you just poop him out?!â
â......I guess I did, yeah.â

âIt is an alien! Why did you lie before?â
âOh, Ari⌠câmon girls, letâs just go downstairs and sit down.â
'Can you even sit down?'
'......'

âOkay⌠I was in denial. I canât remember much, itâs just one night last year, when it was dark, I went out and was gone ages, remember?â
âYeah.â
âI saw flashing lights in the sky, and thatâs all I remember of it. I was so freaked out by the whole thing. They did something to me. Of course I researched it online, and found some weird sites⌠We all know alien races exist, but theyâre so uncommon here. Thereâs none in this town at all. Youâve seen the way supernaturals can be treated. They often form their own little communities, their own towns, but even there aliens are rare.â

âPeople have been claiming to be abducted for ages, but not many cases have come back with a real live male pregnancy.â

âYou just gave birth all alone in a toilet! Are you okay?â

âI'm fine. And I know. I guess thatâs better than being treated like some kind of lab specimen at the hospital, though. Still⌠poor thing, I need to get him checked out by a doctor. Just to make sure heâs healthy.â

âHeâs really cute, though.â
âHe is, huh?â

âBut why didnât you say anything?â

âAgain, I was deep in denial. I buried my head in the sand and pretended it wasnât happening. I didnât even know where to begin. Go to the doctor, claim Iâve been abducted, demand an examination? Then what if itâs positive? You think Dad wouldnât have made me get a termination?â

âWhatâs a termination?â
âAn abortion. They⌠um, kill the baby while itâs still too small to feel anything.â
âOhâŚâ

âSo I acted like it never happened, and ignored everything happening to my body. I knew, deep down, that thisâd happen in the end. I just couldnât face it. I still donât know how I will. We canât fit four babies here⌠Dadâs going to go mental.â
âWill he throw the baby out?â
âHeâs not touching the baby. If he throws me out, however, thatâs a different story⌠Ugh. Letâs just go.â

âGo? Are we gonna run away together?â

âOh, Ari⌠I canât bring up three kids. You think heâd let me take you?â
âWhy not? He doesnât care about me or Raya.â
âWe canât⌠Itâs not possible. Iâm just gonna take you two to the diner up the road from the hospital, okay? I donât know how long itâll take for me to be seen but when youâve eaten, you can come find me if you like, as long as you watch the roads.â

âOkay.â

âThanks for being so good about it, girls. Youâre lovely kids.â
#8714
15th Apr 2018 at 9:10 AM
Last edited by linesa : 15th Apr 2018 at 4:43 PM.

Posts: 428
Good chapter, Nat :D
Oh, poor Ellis, he sure didn't need/deserve that
Damn aliens and their experiments
At least, we know Charon will be a good kid.
And things will get better bit by bit later for Ellis and his sisters even if for now, it don't look like so ^^
Ha ha ha, if only Brie knew she'll be with Tate years later, maybe she wouldn't have acted the way she did XD
Oh, poor Ellis, he sure didn't need/deserve that

Damn aliens and their experiments

At least, we know Charon will be a good kid.
And things will get better bit by bit later for Ellis and his sisters even if for now, it don't look like so ^^
Ha ha ha, if only Brie knew she'll be with Tate years later, maybe she wouldn't have acted the way she did XD
#8715
15th Apr 2018 at 12:11 PM

Posts: 1,145
Quote:
Originally Posted by Roxxi & Brie's Mom
Good. No need to be jealous, cariĂąa. Thatâll be you one day.
|
Literally. That will, in the most literal sense, be her one day. She'll be walking around full of multiple babies from the man whose face she finds so nauseating. What was she even thinking when she...

And well... I was wrong. Roxxie didn't give birth during the reception. Because there was none.
It was a great chapter, Nat.
#8716
16th Apr 2018 at 3:26 AM

Posts: 29
Maybe he should talk to Krypton and see if he knows if the aliens would like their kid back.
I mean . . . in space . . .
You can't get any farther from Tate!
I mean . . . in space . . .
You can't get any farther from Tate!
#8717
16th Apr 2018 at 3:54 AM
Last edited by Elynda : 17th Apr 2018 at 11:58 AM.
Reason: Adding Title

Posts: 875
Great update Nat
.
You know what tailors say about weddings and funerals? Same thing - different suit. And any wedding with Tate as groom was going to have much the same emotional effect as a funeral on nearly everybody invited - and unfortunate enough not to have an excuse to give it a miss. It must have been a positive relief to everybody (except for Roxxi) when she had to be rushed to hospital. Because if the service was a puke-fest, think what it would be like after everybody had been stuffing their faces and getting rat-assed. It doesn't bear thinking about! Still, a little disappointing it didn't degenerate into a drunken brawl, because they're always fun. I'm sure Aria would have enjoyed the opportunity to fetch Tate a quick kick in the gonads when he was down. But that's just me being a sentimental old fool.
On a brighter note there was the advent of a certain butt baby we have all come to love.
I sometimes think it would have been fun if Tate had been abducted and impregnated by aliens - fun for everybody who got to watch him give birth rectally at any rate! But it's a fate I wouldn't wish on any butt baby.
And now, rather later than promised, time for an update from me. I thought this one would be easy compared with the previous one. I was wrong!
The Scumthorpe Inheritance: Chapter 16 "Flaming Thursday"

Strange are the twists of fate. What is it that brings certain souls together in a particular place at a particular time? Coincidence? A certain famous detective once remarked that he didn't trust coincidences, and perhaps neither should we. So it may be that it is more than mere coincidence that brings two particular young women to Riverblossom Hills, on this particular day. A day that started out like just any other...

âYeah Roxie, this is just how I figured on spending our first vacation in three years. Can't beat a nice drive in the country, I always say.

âOf course I had something more sporty in mind as transport, something with an open top, a nice convertible perhaps. Somehow the Woohoo 5000 doesn't quite cut it. Old Wiggsy certainly has some nerve asking us to deliver this thing!â

âWell, be fair Scarlet, our vacation doesn't officially start till Saturday. And since we were headed out this way anyway, why not deliver this thing whilst we're about it? And look on the bright side, we get a whole extra day to our vacation, and our travel expenses covered.

âAre you sure we're on the right road Scar? Shouldn't we have made a right back there?â
âSure, if we were headed straight for the beach, but this is the way into town. Trust me, I used to live here remember. Look, there's Dunwarren, that's the place where Betsy used to live when she was a kidâ.
âWell, she told us she lived there Scar: don't get me wrong, Betsy's a nice lady and all, but you never could be sure if she was bullshittin' you or not. I mean, look at it, it's a frickin' palace! And you might also recall she once told us she used to sing with the Simmettes. So how come she wound up selling grease burgers out of a crummy old van in down town Midport?â
âI dunno. Fell on hard times I suppose, it happens. And she could have been with the Simmettes: I mean, can you remember all the line-up changes they had? I can't. Anyway, last time I saw her she said she was headed back out this way, so maybe we'll run into her and you can askâ.

âWell maybe I will. But apart from solving those deep and perplexing mysteries, Scarlet, I don't know what else a couple of Midport City girls are going to find to do in a sleepy little hamlet like this. I know we both agreed to go somewhere quiet this year, somewhere where there won't be fires, earthquakes, alien invasions or whatever, but this place might be just too quietâ.
âOh there'll be plenty for us to do, this isn't exactly Deadsville you know. There's a couple of decent bars in the town, and a good beach just down the road in Winterton. Plus a few local places of interest to visit. But the main thing is to just relax for two blissful weeks: no fires, no equipment inspections, no routine maintenance, no rookies to train and no Chief Wiggs breathing down our necksâ.

âSay, look at that place! Spooky! Looks like something out an old horror movie. Is that one of the places of interest?â
âOh yeah, Castle Darke. There's a lot of strange stories told about that place, mostly for the tourists. You know the sort of thing: 'as you value your life, stay away from the old castle'. It used to be belong to some weird guy who claimed to a wizard or a warlock or something, and a lot of people around here believed it. At the age of nine I certainly did, along with all the other kids. Last I heard he disappeared in mysterious circumstances. I'm not sure who owns it now, or if it's open to the publicâ.

âAnd here we are. The old 'Conflagration Station' as they call it. Looks like they're expecting us tooâ.

âHi there, are you Fire Chief Sands?â
âThat's right. You were quick, I only called your people ten minutes ago!â
âWhat you mean you called? We've been driving half the night!â

âOh, you're not from Riverview then?â
âNo, we've come across from Midport, we're here to deliver your new appliance, heard you were desperate for a replacement. So here it is, a brand spanking new Woohoo 5000 ready for service".

âWell now, that's the best news I've had all day! We could could certainly use it, we've really got our hands full today â never known a day like it! Our crew are out attending a fire at Weaver's Farm, we've been getting reports of brush fires all over the place and I've been organizing volunteers to tackle them. Me and Mo here were just about to attend a chimney fire at St Freda's school, but now somebody just called in a big fire at the Roth mansion. We're not equipped for that, think you could handle it?â
âJust give us a few minutes to change into our gear and we'll be off. Oh, and I'm Scarlet by the way, and this is my sister Roxieâ.
âOh! Well that's just Dandy! Oh, and this is Maureen, my daughter, or Mo as we all call her. She'll write down some directions for youâ.
âPleased to meet you Mo. No need for directions, I used to live around her and I remember the way. Come on Roxie, let's saddle upâ.

âWell, that were a stroke of luck, weren't it Dad?â
âBetter than you think Mo. Do you know who those two are? The famous Flame sisters, that's who. Oh yes, I remember Scarlet when she was little, always a plucky little thing. Her parents were killed in a fire just after they moved to Midport, and so were Roxie's. But both girls were rescued by Jack Flame, who was Fire Chief there back then. Him and his Missus adopted them both, and they've been sisters ever since. They're fire fighting legends, the pair of them, just like old Jack before them. But, come on, there's no time to stand about yacking, I'll tell you more later. Let's move!â

âYou said it Scarlet! Can't beat a nice quiet stay in the country. I take it this many call outs in a day isn't the norm in these parts. Sounds to me like they've got themselves a fire starterâ.
âMaybe Rox. It reminds me of Flaming Fridayâ.
âWell today's flaming Thursday Scar. Which particular Friday are we talking about here?"
âI'm talking local history Roxie. Something I heard about it in school: the great 'Conflagration' that the fire house is named after. It must have been way back around the early 1900s, or thereabouts. They had a freak spate of fires here, all over town: house fires, brush fires, hayricks getting torched, chimney fires â even though it was the middle of summer and nobody was lighting fires - they never did have a good explanation for that. Could have been a fire starter, I suppose, but they'd have to have been flying around on a broomstick to have started so many in such a short timeâ.
âWell, after seeing that old castle earlier, that wouldn't surprise meâ.

"Neighbours say the family are all either at work or school, but we'd better check inside to be sure. We really could use a few extra hands on this, it looks like a lively oneâ.
âWe'll just have to manage as best we can. Let's roll out the hosesâ.

"This is not the first fire they've had here either. This place has had to be rebuilt a couple of times over the years. And they will keep using these wood shingles: very picturesque and all but real fire baitâ.

"I think we got it licked now Roxie. You finish up here and I'll go and check inside. Doesn't seem to be anybody at home, but we'd best sureâ.

"Oh, so you wanna dance some more, do you? Well, how about a little water music!

âCareless of Mr Roth to leave the conservatory door unlocked. Still, saves me having to break it down doesn't it. Hmm, nice in here, although a little hot I think, even for exotic species. Let's cool things down a bit shall weâ.

âAh, here you are! Having fun?â
âJust damping down in here. Mr Roth may be able to rescue some of these plants, although they're a little scorched, but his antique chess table is toast I'm afraid. Have you checked all the rooms?â
"Yep, nobody home. And now we'd better get our skates on, somebody just called in a big brush fire out at Marshall's Lane. Nearby residences at risk. I told 'em we'd handle it".
MEANWHILE...

"I wish you'd let me go up Dad. You're not as steady on your feet as you were".
"Nothing doing Mo, I'm not quite over the hill yet thank you! You just hold this ladder steady and pass me up those extinguishers when I calls for them".

"That's the way you do it!"

"Well, that was the easy part. Now there's a fearsome old dragon down below to tackle.

âWell, that's cleared out some the soot that was blocking it at any rate, there must have been a decades worth of the stuff up there. They're going to have a bit cleaning up to do now aren't they, and serve them right, I've told them before to get it swept.
"But it don't look like anybody's been lighting fires down here Dad. They're all covered with soot now, but when I looked at those logs earlier they hadn't been touched. It don't make any sense, a chimney can't catch fire by itself!"
"I can't figure it neither Mo. That fire was up high and drawing air in from somewhere other than down here. That's the trouble with these old flues is: no proper linings to them. And if they've been burning wood, that will have left a lot of tar and creosote up there, and it don't take much to set that off. Well, there'll be time enough to puzzle over it later, we've other places to be right now. But first I must have a few words with Miss Martha Trollworthy".
"Rather you than me Dad. Glad I never had her for a teacher!"

"It wasn't any of us Miss Trollworthy, Freddians honour. We all went over to the copse after morning school: you said the kids could rehearse their play over there if us seniors were with them. We'd have used the studio, but the Lynda Faye and her girls had already bagged it to practice their singingâ.
âVery well, Jane, I shall accept your word for it. And besides, I am confident that none of you girls would be foolish enough to light a fire after I had expressly forbidden it, especially on a hot day like thisâ
âBut what about Old Creep... I mean Miss Crawley? We didn't go inside, because I know we're not supposed to re-enter a building if there's a fire. I peeked in at some of the windows, but I can't be sure she's not in thereâ.
âWell, I can set your mind at rest on that score Sarah, Miss Crawley had to go into town on an important errand after morning school. I saw her leave myselfâ.

"Just as well she wasn't here, she'd had been certain to blame us, and she wouldn't have believed Silvieâ.
"That's enough Katy! I'm sure when Miss Crawley comes to know you all a little better, and understands our little ways here, she'll be as inclined as I am to accept Jane's, or any other Freddian's word of honour. Now, hush all of you, I suspect Fire Chief sands has matters to discuss with me.

"Mea Culpa, I'm afraid, Mr Sands. I issued what I believed to clear instructions that the fire place was not to be used until it had been properly cleaned and inspected, as per your advice. But clearly I did not make the matter plain enough to everybody. But I just can't understand why anybody would even want to light a fire on a hot day like this".
"Well me neither, Miss Trollworthy. But it doesn't look like anybody has lit anything in that fireplace. Frankly I'm at a loss to explain it. So I shall let you off with a warning this time, I don't like fining people in any case. But you must get that chimney swept and thoroughly checked over before you use it againâ.
"I shall, you may be certain Mr Sands. These girls will be away at their summer camp next week, and I shall get it done then".

"As soon as I can spare you both I want you and George to have a good look at that chimney Mo. I don't like mysteries where fire is concerned, I want to know how that one got started. You're both going to be kept busy over the next few days I reckon. And now we'd better check in and see how the rest of our teams are getting on".

âCharlie One to Zero Oscar, come inâ.
*Zero Oscar, receiving.*
âChief Sands here, give me an update Georgeâ
*Wilco Charlie One. Midport crew report operations concluded at Roth Manor, damage minimal. Now responding to brush fire on waste ground at Marshall's Lane, nearby residences at risk. Riverview appliance checked in at 14.00 hours, now proceeding to incident at Coad's Green. House fires reported at Nature Walk estate, unit 01 en route. Over*
âCopy that Zero Oscar. We're en-route there now. Charlie one outâ.
âMarshall's Lane! That's where Mr Cottle lives, I hope the old fellow is okay, he usually takes his nap this time of day. He might not know what's going onâ.
âWell he's in safe hands Mo, he couldn't want for better. Now let's go and see how Matt and Steve are getting on!â

"Oh my giddy aunt! Look at that mess! And practically on our own doorstep too, this isn't going to look good. I just hope nobody was in there!"
"They were newly built too. Not yet occupied, so far as I know. It's Mr Roth as own them, he was planning on developing all these empty lots too as holiday homes or somethingâ.
âOh dear. First Roth Manor, and now this. He ain't going to be a happy bunny!â

"These two have had it I'm afraid Chief. We were still out at Weaver's Farm when it was called in. And I've had to nurse that old bus of ours every inch of the way - she's just about ready for the scrap yard I reckon. By the time we got here there wasn't much worth saving".
"Well, you did your best Matt. We can't beat 'em all, you know that, and we can't be everywhere at once. And as for the 'old bus', I think I shall have a little surprise for you later on.

"All in all I think we struck lucky today, things could have been a whole lot worse. Fortunately we had help".
ELSEWHERE...

"We'd better move fast Scar. Looks like the wind's bringing it this way. One spark on that thatched roof and it'll go up like a bonfire!"
"Looks like an extinguisher job too: no place to attach the hoses by the looks of it".

âOkay, time to rock and roll!â.

"I think we've got one that fights back here, Rox! As fast as I put it out, it springs up some place else. I'd better cover our six, or it'll sneak up behind us!"
âYeah, its a live one alright, I hope these extinguishers hold out. Normally I'd say just try and contain it and let it burn itself out, but the wind's carrying everything towards the house, Any minute now one of these burning twigs is going to land on that thatch and woosh!

"I think we finally got it backed into a corner now Scar. There's nowhere left for it to run!"

"This doesn't add up Scarlet. I know it only takes a stray cigarette butt to start dry grass burning, and grass is where brush fires usually start, but coming into town earlier it didn't look to me as if it had been dry enough for fire to take hold like that. And so many of them in one day! There's something very strange going on".

"I'm mighty obliged to you ladies. This old place might not be much to look at, but its the only home I've ever known - I should hate to lose it now at my time of life".
"I think it looks very picturesque Mr Cottle. It's the oldest house in Riverblossom Hills, isn't it?"

"Why that it is Miss. Do I know you? There is something mighty familiar about that face, now I come to look at it".
"I'm Scarlet, Mr Cottle. I used to live around here when I was a kid, you'd maybe remember me as Scarlet Rose. It's Scarlet Flame now. This is my sister, Roxieâ.

"Well, bless my soul, so it is! Yes, I see it now. Well now, fancy that! Our own little Scarlet Rose all grown up, and dressed up for fire fightin'! But it's fitting, considering what happened to your poor mum and dad. Oh yes, I heard about that. Sad business that was. But I'm right glad to see you backâ.

âAnd you're very welcome too, young woman. Riverblossom's going to need all the heroes she can get before long I'm thinking".
âWell, we're just passing through I'm afraid, Mr Cottle. We're actually supposed to be on our vacation, but the local brigade were having a busy day of it and we just happened to be here to help outâ.
âAh, I wondered what had become of young Matt and Steve. Well, lucky you were here then eh? Lucky for me, at any rate, and that's twice in one lifetime, though some folk was less lucky back then".

"Back then? Do you mean Flaming Friday, Mr Cottle. Scarlet was telling me about earlier. You remember that?â
âAye, that's it! I remembers it all right. Ain't nobody else around here that does: nobody but poor old Lemuel Cottle, and nobody minds what I says. Senile I am! Full of crazy talk! But there ain't nothin' wrong with my memory I tell ye!".

âAye, Flaming Friday was what they called it: I was just a wee lad at the time, but I remembers how it was. Why there was a couple of homes right here where we're standing: burned to the ground they were. Our place was damaged a bit, but my old Pa managed to fix it up. But nobody ever bothered to rebuild these two. Some folks said the ground was cursed, but that was all nonsense: they was good, righteous folk that lived here. Long gone now, and when I'm gone there'll, be nobody left to remember them.

âI've felt it in my bones there was somethin' bad brewing but, like I said, nobody listens to what a daft old coot like me has to say. And now its beginning again, like before, and maybe worse. You see it there? That's where the real curse lies, in that black fortress yonder. The curse of old Ahenobarbus Darke, damn his soul! And you mark my words, we ain't heard the last of it. This is just the beginningâ.

You know what tailors say about weddings and funerals? Same thing - different suit. And any wedding with Tate as groom was going to have much the same emotional effect as a funeral on nearly everybody invited - and unfortunate enough not to have an excuse to give it a miss. It must have been a positive relief to everybody (except for Roxxi) when she had to be rushed to hospital. Because if the service was a puke-fest, think what it would be like after everybody had been stuffing their faces and getting rat-assed. It doesn't bear thinking about! Still, a little disappointing it didn't degenerate into a drunken brawl, because they're always fun. I'm sure Aria would have enjoyed the opportunity to fetch Tate a quick kick in the gonads when he was down. But that's just me being a sentimental old fool.
On a brighter note there was the advent of a certain butt baby we have all come to love.
I sometimes think it would have been fun if Tate had been abducted and impregnated by aliens - fun for everybody who got to watch him give birth rectally at any rate! But it's a fate I wouldn't wish on any butt baby.
And now, rather later than promised, time for an update from me. I thought this one would be easy compared with the previous one. I was wrong!
The Scumthorpe Inheritance: Chapter 16 "Flaming Thursday"

Strange are the twists of fate. What is it that brings certain souls together in a particular place at a particular time? Coincidence? A certain famous detective once remarked that he didn't trust coincidences, and perhaps neither should we. So it may be that it is more than mere coincidence that brings two particular young women to Riverblossom Hills, on this particular day. A day that started out like just any other...

âYeah Roxie, this is just how I figured on spending our first vacation in three years. Can't beat a nice drive in the country, I always say.

âOf course I had something more sporty in mind as transport, something with an open top, a nice convertible perhaps. Somehow the Woohoo 5000 doesn't quite cut it. Old Wiggsy certainly has some nerve asking us to deliver this thing!â

âWell, be fair Scarlet, our vacation doesn't officially start till Saturday. And since we were headed out this way anyway, why not deliver this thing whilst we're about it? And look on the bright side, we get a whole extra day to our vacation, and our travel expenses covered.

âAre you sure we're on the right road Scar? Shouldn't we have made a right back there?â
âSure, if we were headed straight for the beach, but this is the way into town. Trust me, I used to live here remember. Look, there's Dunwarren, that's the place where Betsy used to live when she was a kidâ.
âWell, she told us she lived there Scar: don't get me wrong, Betsy's a nice lady and all, but you never could be sure if she was bullshittin' you or not. I mean, look at it, it's a frickin' palace! And you might also recall she once told us she used to sing with the Simmettes. So how come she wound up selling grease burgers out of a crummy old van in down town Midport?â
âI dunno. Fell on hard times I suppose, it happens. And she could have been with the Simmettes: I mean, can you remember all the line-up changes they had? I can't. Anyway, last time I saw her she said she was headed back out this way, so maybe we'll run into her and you can askâ.

âWell maybe I will. But apart from solving those deep and perplexing mysteries, Scarlet, I don't know what else a couple of Midport City girls are going to find to do in a sleepy little hamlet like this. I know we both agreed to go somewhere quiet this year, somewhere where there won't be fires, earthquakes, alien invasions or whatever, but this place might be just too quietâ.
âOh there'll be plenty for us to do, this isn't exactly Deadsville you know. There's a couple of decent bars in the town, and a good beach just down the road in Winterton. Plus a few local places of interest to visit. But the main thing is to just relax for two blissful weeks: no fires, no equipment inspections, no routine maintenance, no rookies to train and no Chief Wiggs breathing down our necksâ.

âSay, look at that place! Spooky! Looks like something out an old horror movie. Is that one of the places of interest?â
âOh yeah, Castle Darke. There's a lot of strange stories told about that place, mostly for the tourists. You know the sort of thing: 'as you value your life, stay away from the old castle'. It used to be belong to some weird guy who claimed to a wizard or a warlock or something, and a lot of people around here believed it. At the age of nine I certainly did, along with all the other kids. Last I heard he disappeared in mysterious circumstances. I'm not sure who owns it now, or if it's open to the publicâ.

âAnd here we are. The old 'Conflagration Station' as they call it. Looks like they're expecting us tooâ.

âHi there, are you Fire Chief Sands?â
âThat's right. You were quick, I only called your people ten minutes ago!â
âWhat you mean you called? We've been driving half the night!â

âOh, you're not from Riverview then?â
âNo, we've come across from Midport, we're here to deliver your new appliance, heard you were desperate for a replacement. So here it is, a brand spanking new Woohoo 5000 ready for service".

âWell now, that's the best news I've had all day! We could could certainly use it, we've really got our hands full today â never known a day like it! Our crew are out attending a fire at Weaver's Farm, we've been getting reports of brush fires all over the place and I've been organizing volunteers to tackle them. Me and Mo here were just about to attend a chimney fire at St Freda's school, but now somebody just called in a big fire at the Roth mansion. We're not equipped for that, think you could handle it?â
âJust give us a few minutes to change into our gear and we'll be off. Oh, and I'm Scarlet by the way, and this is my sister Roxieâ.
âOh! Well that's just Dandy! Oh, and this is Maureen, my daughter, or Mo as we all call her. She'll write down some directions for youâ.
âPleased to meet you Mo. No need for directions, I used to live around her and I remember the way. Come on Roxie, let's saddle upâ.

âWell, that were a stroke of luck, weren't it Dad?â
âBetter than you think Mo. Do you know who those two are? The famous Flame sisters, that's who. Oh yes, I remember Scarlet when she was little, always a plucky little thing. Her parents were killed in a fire just after they moved to Midport, and so were Roxie's. But both girls were rescued by Jack Flame, who was Fire Chief there back then. Him and his Missus adopted them both, and they've been sisters ever since. They're fire fighting legends, the pair of them, just like old Jack before them. But, come on, there's no time to stand about yacking, I'll tell you more later. Let's move!â

âYou said it Scarlet! Can't beat a nice quiet stay in the country. I take it this many call outs in a day isn't the norm in these parts. Sounds to me like they've got themselves a fire starterâ.
âMaybe Rox. It reminds me of Flaming Fridayâ.
âWell today's flaming Thursday Scar. Which particular Friday are we talking about here?"
âI'm talking local history Roxie. Something I heard about it in school: the great 'Conflagration' that the fire house is named after. It must have been way back around the early 1900s, or thereabouts. They had a freak spate of fires here, all over town: house fires, brush fires, hayricks getting torched, chimney fires â even though it was the middle of summer and nobody was lighting fires - they never did have a good explanation for that. Could have been a fire starter, I suppose, but they'd have to have been flying around on a broomstick to have started so many in such a short timeâ.
âWell, after seeing that old castle earlier, that wouldn't surprise meâ.

"Neighbours say the family are all either at work or school, but we'd better check inside to be sure. We really could use a few extra hands on this, it looks like a lively oneâ.
âWe'll just have to manage as best we can. Let's roll out the hosesâ.

"This is not the first fire they've had here either. This place has had to be rebuilt a couple of times over the years. And they will keep using these wood shingles: very picturesque and all but real fire baitâ.

"I think we got it licked now Roxie. You finish up here and I'll go and check inside. Doesn't seem to be anybody at home, but we'd best sureâ.

"Oh, so you wanna dance some more, do you? Well, how about a little water music!

âCareless of Mr Roth to leave the conservatory door unlocked. Still, saves me having to break it down doesn't it. Hmm, nice in here, although a little hot I think, even for exotic species. Let's cool things down a bit shall weâ.

âAh, here you are! Having fun?â
âJust damping down in here. Mr Roth may be able to rescue some of these plants, although they're a little scorched, but his antique chess table is toast I'm afraid. Have you checked all the rooms?â
"Yep, nobody home. And now we'd better get our skates on, somebody just called in a big brush fire out at Marshall's Lane. Nearby residences at risk. I told 'em we'd handle it".
MEANWHILE...

"I wish you'd let me go up Dad. You're not as steady on your feet as you were".
"Nothing doing Mo, I'm not quite over the hill yet thank you! You just hold this ladder steady and pass me up those extinguishers when I calls for them".

"That's the way you do it!"

"Well, that was the easy part. Now there's a fearsome old dragon down below to tackle.

âWell, that's cleared out some the soot that was blocking it at any rate, there must have been a decades worth of the stuff up there. They're going to have a bit cleaning up to do now aren't they, and serve them right, I've told them before to get it swept.
"But it don't look like anybody's been lighting fires down here Dad. They're all covered with soot now, but when I looked at those logs earlier they hadn't been touched. It don't make any sense, a chimney can't catch fire by itself!"
"I can't figure it neither Mo. That fire was up high and drawing air in from somewhere other than down here. That's the trouble with these old flues is: no proper linings to them. And if they've been burning wood, that will have left a lot of tar and creosote up there, and it don't take much to set that off. Well, there'll be time enough to puzzle over it later, we've other places to be right now. But first I must have a few words with Miss Martha Trollworthy".
"Rather you than me Dad. Glad I never had her for a teacher!"

"It wasn't any of us Miss Trollworthy, Freddians honour. We all went over to the copse after morning school: you said the kids could rehearse their play over there if us seniors were with them. We'd have used the studio, but the Lynda Faye and her girls had already bagged it to practice their singingâ.
âVery well, Jane, I shall accept your word for it. And besides, I am confident that none of you girls would be foolish enough to light a fire after I had expressly forbidden it, especially on a hot day like thisâ
âBut what about Old Creep... I mean Miss Crawley? We didn't go inside, because I know we're not supposed to re-enter a building if there's a fire. I peeked in at some of the windows, but I can't be sure she's not in thereâ.
âWell, I can set your mind at rest on that score Sarah, Miss Crawley had to go into town on an important errand after morning school. I saw her leave myselfâ.

"Just as well she wasn't here, she'd had been certain to blame us, and she wouldn't have believed Silvieâ.
"That's enough Katy! I'm sure when Miss Crawley comes to know you all a little better, and understands our little ways here, she'll be as inclined as I am to accept Jane's, or any other Freddian's word of honour. Now, hush all of you, I suspect Fire Chief sands has matters to discuss with me.

"Mea Culpa, I'm afraid, Mr Sands. I issued what I believed to clear instructions that the fire place was not to be used until it had been properly cleaned and inspected, as per your advice. But clearly I did not make the matter plain enough to everybody. But I just can't understand why anybody would even want to light a fire on a hot day like this".
"Well me neither, Miss Trollworthy. But it doesn't look like anybody has lit anything in that fireplace. Frankly I'm at a loss to explain it. So I shall let you off with a warning this time, I don't like fining people in any case. But you must get that chimney swept and thoroughly checked over before you use it againâ.
"I shall, you may be certain Mr Sands. These girls will be away at their summer camp next week, and I shall get it done then".

"As soon as I can spare you both I want you and George to have a good look at that chimney Mo. I don't like mysteries where fire is concerned, I want to know how that one got started. You're both going to be kept busy over the next few days I reckon. And now we'd better check in and see how the rest of our teams are getting on".

âCharlie One to Zero Oscar, come inâ.
*Zero Oscar, receiving.*
âChief Sands here, give me an update Georgeâ
*Wilco Charlie One. Midport crew report operations concluded at Roth Manor, damage minimal. Now responding to brush fire on waste ground at Marshall's Lane, nearby residences at risk. Riverview appliance checked in at 14.00 hours, now proceeding to incident at Coad's Green. House fires reported at Nature Walk estate, unit 01 en route. Over*
âCopy that Zero Oscar. We're en-route there now. Charlie one outâ.
âMarshall's Lane! That's where Mr Cottle lives, I hope the old fellow is okay, he usually takes his nap this time of day. He might not know what's going onâ.
âWell he's in safe hands Mo, he couldn't want for better. Now let's go and see how Matt and Steve are getting on!â

"Oh my giddy aunt! Look at that mess! And practically on our own doorstep too, this isn't going to look good. I just hope nobody was in there!"
"They were newly built too. Not yet occupied, so far as I know. It's Mr Roth as own them, he was planning on developing all these empty lots too as holiday homes or somethingâ.
âOh dear. First Roth Manor, and now this. He ain't going to be a happy bunny!â

"These two have had it I'm afraid Chief. We were still out at Weaver's Farm when it was called in. And I've had to nurse that old bus of ours every inch of the way - she's just about ready for the scrap yard I reckon. By the time we got here there wasn't much worth saving".
"Well, you did your best Matt. We can't beat 'em all, you know that, and we can't be everywhere at once. And as for the 'old bus', I think I shall have a little surprise for you later on.

"All in all I think we struck lucky today, things could have been a whole lot worse. Fortunately we had help".
ELSEWHERE...

"We'd better move fast Scar. Looks like the wind's bringing it this way. One spark on that thatched roof and it'll go up like a bonfire!"
"Looks like an extinguisher job too: no place to attach the hoses by the looks of it".

âOkay, time to rock and roll!â.

"I think we've got one that fights back here, Rox! As fast as I put it out, it springs up some place else. I'd better cover our six, or it'll sneak up behind us!"
âYeah, its a live one alright, I hope these extinguishers hold out. Normally I'd say just try and contain it and let it burn itself out, but the wind's carrying everything towards the house, Any minute now one of these burning twigs is going to land on that thatch and woosh!

"I think we finally got it backed into a corner now Scar. There's nowhere left for it to run!"

"This doesn't add up Scarlet. I know it only takes a stray cigarette butt to start dry grass burning, and grass is where brush fires usually start, but coming into town earlier it didn't look to me as if it had been dry enough for fire to take hold like that. And so many of them in one day! There's something very strange going on".

"I'm mighty obliged to you ladies. This old place might not be much to look at, but its the only home I've ever known - I should hate to lose it now at my time of life".
"I think it looks very picturesque Mr Cottle. It's the oldest house in Riverblossom Hills, isn't it?"

"Why that it is Miss. Do I know you? There is something mighty familiar about that face, now I come to look at it".
"I'm Scarlet, Mr Cottle. I used to live around here when I was a kid, you'd maybe remember me as Scarlet Rose. It's Scarlet Flame now. This is my sister, Roxieâ.

"Well, bless my soul, so it is! Yes, I see it now. Well now, fancy that! Our own little Scarlet Rose all grown up, and dressed up for fire fightin'! But it's fitting, considering what happened to your poor mum and dad. Oh yes, I heard about that. Sad business that was. But I'm right glad to see you backâ.

âAnd you're very welcome too, young woman. Riverblossom's going to need all the heroes she can get before long I'm thinking".
âWell, we're just passing through I'm afraid, Mr Cottle. We're actually supposed to be on our vacation, but the local brigade were having a busy day of it and we just happened to be here to help outâ.
âAh, I wondered what had become of young Matt and Steve. Well, lucky you were here then eh? Lucky for me, at any rate, and that's twice in one lifetime, though some folk was less lucky back then".

"Back then? Do you mean Flaming Friday, Mr Cottle. Scarlet was telling me about earlier. You remember that?â
âAye, that's it! I remembers it all right. Ain't nobody else around here that does: nobody but poor old Lemuel Cottle, and nobody minds what I says. Senile I am! Full of crazy talk! But there ain't nothin' wrong with my memory I tell ye!".

âAye, Flaming Friday was what they called it: I was just a wee lad at the time, but I remembers how it was. Why there was a couple of homes right here where we're standing: burned to the ground they were. Our place was damaged a bit, but my old Pa managed to fix it up. But nobody ever bothered to rebuild these two. Some folks said the ground was cursed, but that was all nonsense: they was good, righteous folk that lived here. Long gone now, and when I'm gone there'll, be nobody left to remember them.

âI've felt it in my bones there was somethin' bad brewing but, like I said, nobody listens to what a daft old coot like me has to say. And now its beginning again, like before, and maybe worse. You see it there? That's where the real curse lies, in that black fortress yonder. The curse of old Ahenobarbus Darke, damn his soul! And you mark my words, we ain't heard the last of it. This is just the beginningâ.
Just a few disclaimers.
Apart form Dunwarren, Castle Darke, and St Freda's none of the buildings featured in the update are my own builds. Lemuel Cottle's house and the property next to it came along with Riverblossom Hills (http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=429780) I just redecorated the exteriors a little. The two burnt houses at Nature Walk were borrowed (with a few little alterations) from here (https://galadrielhs-simblr.tumblr.c...ed/Glennborough ).
All the sims featured are my own characters except for Matthew Loving, who just happened to be working at the fire station when I started work on the chapter, so I recruited him.
Apart form Dunwarren, Castle Darke, and St Freda's none of the buildings featured in the update are my own builds. Lemuel Cottle's house and the property next to it came along with Riverblossom Hills (http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=429780) I just redecorated the exteriors a little. The two burnt houses at Nature Walk were borrowed (with a few little alterations) from here (https://galadrielhs-simblr.tumblr.c...ed/Glennborough ).
All the sims featured are my own characters except for Matthew Loving, who just happened to be working at the fire station when I started work on the chapter, so I recruited him.
Simblr: Elyndaworld * Live Journal: Elandaer
#8718
16th Apr 2018 at 8:10 AM

Posts: 428
It's a good chapter, Elynda :D
Ooh, it seem these fires are from a surnatural origin if the inhabitants of the castle have something to do with it ?
Ooh, it seem these fires are from a surnatural origin if the inhabitants of the castle have something to do with it ?

#8719
16th Apr 2018 at 12:46 PM

Posts: 875
Thank's Linesa.
And yes, they are indeed supernatural: the aftermath, or the 'backwash' if you will, of Aubrey's recent conjuring. Well, all those fire elementals had to go somewhere.
And yes, they are indeed supernatural: the aftermath, or the 'backwash' if you will, of Aubrey's recent conjuring. Well, all those fire elementals had to go somewhere.
Simblr: Elyndaworld * Live Journal: Elandaer
#8720
16th Apr 2018 at 2:32 PM

Posts: 428
You're welcome, Elynda ^^
Ooh, I see :o
Good thing the firefighters managed to put these fires out ^^
Ooh, I see :o
Good thing the firefighters managed to put these fires out ^^
#8721
16th Apr 2018 at 2:52 PM

Posts: 919
Thanks, all. You give me life.
The aliens' timing could definitely have been a lot better! But he raised a good son in Charon.
I'm sure Brie herself never could've anticipated that being her future. I was glad to get the chance to redo this wedding with Roxxi's family there, given that they didn't even exist in my head the first time around. But since I've developed Roxxi and her story more, I know now all the reasons behind why things happened the way they did.
The story of how Brie became so bitter and hypocritical is yet to be fully explained. But one day, she'll tell it.
Very good point!
Can't disagree there! A reception might've been a fun disaster, what with Roxxi's parents talking a load of bollocks about their ~brand new son~ (who's literally only a year or two younger than them - yes, amazingly Tate is only 41 here), Tate and likely Roxxi too sneaking looks at that one guest's ample cleavage (thanks @BL00DIEDHELL for her sim!) and Ellis passing a green BM. And who knows what Olivia would've done.
Y'know, she still hasn't managed to do that. Something that ought to be rectified.
Fun in a trainwreck kind of a way - utterly terrible, but impossible to look away. Still, considering Bryan's triplets, too much trauma might've already been inflicted on alien youth.
Anyway, your update was good too.
Some great staging, and I definitely see the improvement in graphics.
Look what you've done, Aubrey! As if resurrecting an evil woman wasn't bad enough.

Quote:
Originally Posted by linesa
Oh, poor Ellis, he sure didn't need/deserve that
![]() Damn aliens and their experiments ![]() At least, we know Charon will be a good kid. And things will get better bit by bit later for Ellis and his sisters even if for now, it don't look like so ^^ |
The aliens' timing could definitely have been a lot better! But he raised a good son in Charon.
Quote:
Originally Posted by linesa
Ha ha ha, if only Brie knew she'll be with Tate years later, maybe she wouldn't have acted the way she did XD
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TigerAnne
Literally. That will, in the most literal sense, be her one day. She'll be walking around full of multiple babies from the man whose face she finds so nauseating. What was she even thinking when she...
![]() |
I'm sure Brie herself never could've anticipated that being her future. I was glad to get the chance to redo this wedding with Roxxi's family there, given that they didn't even exist in my head the first time around. But since I've developed Roxxi and her story more, I know now all the reasons behind why things happened the way they did.
The story of how Brie became so bitter and hypocritical is yet to be fully explained. But one day, she'll tell it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 101Asa
Maybe he should talk to Krypton and see if he knows if the aliens would like their kid back.
I mean . . . in space . . . You can't get any farther from Tate! |
Very good point!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Elynda
You know what tailors say about weddings and funerals? Same thing - different suit. And any wedding with Tate as groom was going to have much the same emotional effect as a funeral on nearly everybody invited - and unfortunate enough not to have an excuse to give it a miss. It must have been a positive relief to everybody (except for Roxxi) when she had to be rushed to hospital. Because if the service was a puke-fest, think what it would be like after everybody had been stuffing their faces and getting rat-assed. It doesn't bear thinking about! Still, a little disappointing it didn't degenerate into a drunken brawl, because they're always fun.
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Can't disagree there! A reception might've been a fun disaster, what with Roxxi's parents talking a load of bollocks about their ~brand new son~ (who's literally only a year or two younger than them - yes, amazingly Tate is only 41 here), Tate and likely Roxxi too sneaking looks at that one guest's ample cleavage (thanks @BL00DIEDHELL for her sim!) and Ellis passing a green BM. And who knows what Olivia would've done.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Elynda
I'm sure Aria would have enjoyed the opportunity to fetch Tate a quick kick in the gonads when he was down. But that's just me being a sentimental old fool.
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Y'know, she still hasn't managed to do that. Something that ought to be rectified.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Elynda
I sometimes think it would have been fun if Tate had been abducted and impregnated by aliens - fun for everybody who got to watch him give birth rectally at any rate! But it's a fate I wouldn't wish on any butt baby.
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Fun in a trainwreck kind of a way - utterly terrible, but impossible to look away. Still, considering Bryan's triplets, too much trauma might've already been inflicted on alien youth.
Anyway, your update was good too.

Look what you've done, Aubrey! As if resurrecting an evil woman wasn't bad enough.
#8722
16th Apr 2018 at 7:45 PM

Posts: 4,549
Quote:
Originally Posted by Elynda
Well, all those fire elementals had to go somewhere.
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Oh of course! I totally forgot about them! Goddamn son.

Damn it Aubrey! :P
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nat 619
Tate and likely Roxxi too sneaking looks at that one guest's ample cleavage (thanks @BL00DIEDHELL for her sim!)
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A cleavage you could ski down, one might say.
Fun fact: that lady is brand spanking new, made for that post specifically so she's still pretty underdeveloped, but I imagine she's a fellow pornstar.
Shame Tate didn't know Abraxas at this point, he could've completed the set.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nat 619
Still, considering Bryan's triplets, too much trauma might've already been inflicted on alien youth.
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Imagine if it'd been videoed.
Imagine being one of those triplets and watching your birth.
Scumthorpe Files contributions
You'd think by now that I would've learnt,
Not to play with fire if I don't want to get burnt.
You'd think by now that I would've learnt,
Not to play with fire if I don't want to get burnt.
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