fredag 22. januar 2016

3.3 Bring me unlife

warning: nudity, NSFW, language


     For the first time in ages, Skuld felt lighearted. She'd made a list in her mind of who should be the lucky ones that got to give her what she wanted; eternal beauty and youth. Why wouldn't anyone want to give her everything she wanted? Even Ian seemed a lot happier now that she was happy, and why shouldn't he? He wasn't allowed to be in a good mood unless she was. It was the natural order of things.
     And as much as she usually hated when he put his arms arpund her, she let him get away with it for a little while. He didn't just smell like a fish, his stupid, fat arms made her neck ache. But for now her mood was just to good to be ruined, and soon she'd start her quest.


     As it often did, the tv was making a small noise in the background, but when the anchor started talking Skuld seized the opportunity sneaking away from Ians arm. Tv- man had one of those random dull voices, and she swore his ugly face was grinning as the tune from the tv kept on: The brutal murder of a mother of two, has seemingly left Jericho policedepartment without any usable clues. According to our source, the victims wounds were surgical; making it a possibility the murderer were a doctor. The police are currently not answering any questions, but will be holding a pressconferance tomorrow.


 Skuld had never been happier about her father beeing retired, and Lucrecia was still in school, so she'd never seen this case at all. It was so good beeing a genious. That made sure she could study more subjects than most sims in university.... like medicine for instance.
     A witness supposedly heard the voices of two women in an alleyway leading to the site. The police are looking for a woman named Diana Summerset, who alledgedly fled town after the murder though her status is still unknown.    
     This was music to her ears- but really what was going on with that anchorman? He had to be so full of botox that he looked more like some creepy doll than a sim. Wondered how many times he'd been under the knife?


     Ian tilted his head a bit at the womans name: Didn't she go to school with us? He gave her a short look before turning his attention to the tv again.
     Uhm... I don't know. Maybe? Ofcourse Skuld remembered her, why else would she make sure that's the name she gave to the woman. She'd been pretty certain someone would hear it and the police name her a suspect.Unabrow should never had insulted her to begin with. Skuld had been waiting for the day where she could get even with her. It was never to late claiming justice for herself.


     She wasn't a fool ofcourse, and knew well that the police wouldn't hold Diana Summerset. And they were looking for her, or else there's no way the news would have gotten a hold of that name. But it didn't matter if she didn't go to jail either way, because the civilian sims judgment were so much more terrible than anything in prison anyway. The jails in Jericho was a joke. She'd loose friends, family would turn their back against her, loose her job and make it hard to find another. She'd be a pariah of society, just as she deserved. And sims rarely forgot things like this.
     Skuld kept listening in fascination as the anchor had given the screen to some on- place reporter. She laid out the gruesome details that their source told them of. They were pretty accurate, but why did they depict it as so brutal? They made her sound like some common butcher!! She'd spent a lot of time looking inside the womans corpse. What an insult.
     Ofcourse the presse was supposed to decide for themselves what was moraly right to do. But they always cared more about viewer- ratings than anything. Now it was just to wait for the what-ifs and the sims that had been in the area a week earlier and all that stuff.


     The chances of the police thinking about her insulting someone once as a teenager, that waited for years to set someone up for some uncomfort, wouldn't cross them. And no matter how you put it, Skuld was still a copsdaughter. It wasn't like they had any register of DNA from cops, because of privacy protection. They were still battling if it should be legal keeping DNA samples from known criminals. Sims were such cattle. So if they found anything from her, there wouldn't be anything to check it up against.
     I can't believe there's been a murder... and such a young woman to.She hadn't really been that young, why did he call her young?


     There's murders here all the time. That wasn't exactely true, but they were frequent enough, rising again as her dad had retired: The only difference is that this woman wasn't some lowlife scum, so they just make it into the news. She could pretend that she cared. Which she did, she kind of wanted to know what the police knew. Though she had already gotten one thing clear. She had to check the voluenteers better and to hide them. The longer time before they were found, the harder it was to find something that could connect with her. She'd been careless and that was unheard of.


     That's kind of a shame isn't it? Ian said. He thought it was terrible atleast: I mean, not that it makes it bad that this poor girl is in the news, but that the others aren't seen as good enough. And it was a bit harsh of his wife calling them lowlives and scum. But he didn't have it in him to correct her, she didn't mean anything by it. It was just a poor choice of words.
     Smiling at him, with that little grimace she knew he would notice, but not enough to mentioning anything about she said: Probably. But then we wouldn't have seen anything else than murder would we? And we don't care as much about more unfortunate sims as those more fortunate. She could pretend she cared to. It was good knowing what to say all the time.


     He added some herbs from their little garden to the meal. He liked experimenting with food, even if it wasn't always successful. Like adding cinnamon to spaghetti for instance, even if everything in him said it was a terrible idea. Ian was a good cook, and he took care of the house to. Skuld did a little here and there, but all in all it wasn't a lot. Her experiments were timeconsuming, but the ammount of simoleons her potions had started bringing in was otherwordly. Which was good, because he didn't make a lot. But he defenitly contributed. Not that it stopped Skuld from claiming they had pretty little, but he thought it was a bit odd. They had little, yet they had a nice house even if it was a bit run down, ate good food and had pretty clothings and a car. But she probably knew what she was talking about. Maybe it was just her that thought they had little, her family was filthy rich so making a good living probably felt equal to beeing poor.
     He heard her from a distance, those high heels clacking against the hard floor gave off a very distinct sound.


     He stopped her as she was walking out the door: Where are you going?
     What do you mean? She gave him a confused look. what was the problem.
     Where are you going after dark? A woman's just been murdered!
     She looked so hurt, it made his heart bleed: Don't you trust me Ian? Is that it? Are you afraid I'll leave you like your father did?


     Where had that come from, it hurt when she said thing slike that. She didn't mean anything by it: No... I'm worried about you leaving after dark, when there's been a murder of a woman in a secluded spot. Besides, why are you just leaving? Weren't you planning on telling me? It wasn't common that sims just left without telling was it?
     Skuld looked at him again: Ian, sweetheart.... did her voice just sound a bit condescending: Nothing's going to happen. I'll come back you know.  
     It was probably just his mind playing tricks on him, she looked so sincere: But I'm making supper... Spaghetti with cinnamon, it was probably good.
     I can eat when I get back. Then she just got in the car and left. Wasn't that a bit rude? Well, she was probably used to different things from home than he was. They needed to talk about this.


     She was still in a good mood even after Ians nagging. Now she'd have a warm meal to come home to afterwards, and she wouldn't have to pretend that she actually wanted to talk with him. The only things he talked about was boring either way. She wasn't interested in the same things he was. He was a cheapscate anyway, always looking for a bargain. And he was actually proud of getting things on a discount. As long as it wasn't for her she didn't care that much though. After all, spending simoleons on Ian was a waste. Spending them on her was an investment, but she was pretty and smart, and Ian wasn't.


     Searching for bugs, always made her leave her thoughts behing. Not even Ian could annoy her then. She made sure that she used them whilst beeing alive in her potions. They weren't more potent that way, she just liked the thought about them beeing in pain. Even if it was silly, as bugs felt nothing.


     This time however it also made her thing about other stuff. She hadn't had any more weird dreams lately, but that didn't mean that the whole bottling essences didn't toy in her mind a lot. The hardest part was the whole bottling the essence of the dead thing. Skuld vaguely remembered Bashir working as a ghosthunter for a short while, probably hoping he'd find Orianas soul or something, the weirdo. But that wasn't the same thing, their spirits couldn't be bottled, they were to strong and feisty.


     The essence of life was what kept the spirit and body together, and when the sim died, that essence left the body, so it had to be harvested at the time of death. So it was a matter of timing really. It didn't disappear like in a nanosecond, it tended to linger a bit incase someone wanted to give them life back. Gathering essence from sims weren't a problem, but how was she supposed to gather an essence from a ghost, when they were already dead and didn't have an essence?


     A lot of sims wondered where bugs went in the wintertime for some reason. Some avoided the cold, some died, however some hibernated. Simply said they froze almost solid in wintertime, shutting down bodilyfunctions thus beeing almost dead, but still alive enough. Ofcourse not all bugs did it the same way, but it was still interesting.


     They were almost dead, but not really. Kind of like how she was almost supernatural, but not really. Not that it was anything to be proud of, but it was so far apart, that it didn't make her filthy and lesser like they were.
     However, her supernatural ancestors made sure she was a great alchemist, even better than most supernaturals. She knew that her grandfather was a vampire, her great- grandfather a witch, and ofcourse she'd heard of aunt Oriana and dad torching things on a whim.. So something was amiss from her great- grandmother on dads side to. She didn't know alot about her own mum, other than the fact that she was egyptian. But she had been married to a fairy, which meant that if he'd put a spell on her it might have tainted her or something? It didn't matter.


     The point was that she could do things that was for supernaturals, even if she wasn't one. She was but she wasn't. And the bugs were dead, but they weren't.
     Did that mean that if someone had a child with someone that was dead, the child would technically be dead? And then it would have an essence of life but still be dead? So if someone that was the child of a spirit and a sim, would have the flesh of the sim and the soul of the dead. But still the essence that made the soul and flesh stay together?


     That actually sounded logical. How come she hadn't thought about that before, but how would one have a child with a spirit? They didn't have intestinse, semen or eggs and all that stuff? And how would she find one? They didn't exactely write that on birthcertificats, and if someone froze for instance semen, and the sim that had given it died and the semen was defrosted and inserted into a living sim... it would still be from when the sim was alive.


     Which made the only option that someone had sex with a sim, and then kill the male at the same time he ejaculated..... Ofcourse she could have kidnapped some women, and locked them up and get some guys raping them. Finding men willing to commit rape was the easiest thing on simplanet, and then she could kill the guy when he came. But that was a lot of work and where would she keep them? She'd have to rent a space which mean payment, which meant it was possible to trace to her, and so on.
      But, she was a woman and that made it possible for herself to get pregnant. Which meant that she could have sex with a man, then kill him as he ejaculated in her and carry the fetus herself.


     However, men were gross and disgusting, and why would she give some random stranger the gift of entering her precious body? Even if would kill him? Then ofcourse it was the problem of Ian realizing she'd cheated and leave her; leaving her pregnant to fend for herself. She could cry rape, but that didn't mean he'd stay with her. And then she'd have to act like it had happened. But there was a better option, atleast for someone with her skills.


     Damn washingmaching, he swore when they'd gotten enough simoleons he was buying a new one! One that didn't run over the floor chasing him! And that was more enviromentalfriendly than this one. If it was going to run all over the house, the least thing it could do was to hang the laundry to dry, but no.... It wasn't that helpful!


     The entire house had the sweet scent of cinnamon after he'd seasoned the meal. Shaking the though off, he wasn't really worried about the spaghetti; he was still dreading talking to Skuld about what had happened. He tried his best beeing sensitive with her, but it was hard at times. Sometimes it felt like he just gave and gave, but never recieved anything back. Other times again, she was all sweet and loving, making him feel terrible for thinking like that about her to begin with.


     He just didn't know what to do at times. She'd had a hard life, he knew that and wanted to understand. But she never told him anything. There were times she seemed so emotionless that it was impossible reasoning with her, but he'd heard that could happen that sims just zoned out. Maybe that's what she did? He remembered Efraim doing it from time to time, but it still hadn't been like it was with her. He'd just zoned out, and keep to himself and usually felt embarassed and bad when he de- zoned. Skuld was just... well, not doing it the same way.


     Ian could hear her rummaing in her den. When had she come home? He knew she tried beeing considerate, but come on! She'd had to sneak behind his back, litterally! Probably when he'd been fighting that evil machine! Was she trying to avoid him? He swallowed the little irritation that tingled at the back of his mind. He didn't want to raise his voice at her, it was best to keep it calm. There was no reason taking a serious discussion when irritated, and he'd already decided it was better taking it tomorrow. Then they'd both have slept, and he'd be less emotional. For now he just leaned back on the desk and took a deep breath.


     Skuld had an epiphany whilst searching for bugs: the most obvious solution to her little problem was to have sex with her husband. Then kill him with one of her many poisons as he ejaculated in her, and then quickly give him life back with another potion. She already knew how to raise the dead, atleast if she did it immediately after death. Before the essence had time to leave, and grim reaped the soul. It was brilliant! That way she'd keep her loyal dogs help and get a child with an unlife at the same time: Do you think I'm desirable Ian?


     He was pretty certain he had just been annoyed at something. But he couldn't remember what it was: You're a goddess.... She even smiled at him, seeming happier than she had in ages. It was something lovely about the entire situation: his wife casually undressed with a big, happy smile on her face. Ian still found himself wondering why on earth she'd wanted to marry him in the first place, she was out of his league. Not that he was complaining in any way, but sometimes he found himself wondering what others thought when they saw them together. Or what she was really thinking about him. It was a terrible thing of him to wonder about ofcourse, because she wouldn't have married him if she was repulsed by him.


     With an inviting smile over her shoulder as she turned around, she said: Come here then, little red ridinghood. Only Skuld could say that name to him and make it sound hot. But when he realized where she was taking him he couldn't avoid saying anything: Really? There? They were on their way down to her den in the cellar. He was barely ever there. But she nodded at him before walking down the stairs. As much as he wanted to be a strong man, he quickly followed. He had to be dreaming or something.


     What the fuck is that thing?! Ian jumped at the sight of that.... what the hell was it? This suddenly didn't seem so hot anymore. Skuld actually laughed sweetly at him: It's just a doll. 
      It's creepy.. yuck. Was that thing going to come to life or something? Looked like it's eyes were following them around the room. For some reason she kept giggling at him. He could have sworn she said they didn't have the simoleons to waste right now, and she'd bought some childsized doll? That just didn't seem right. Whatever they were doing he was going to have his back turned against that thing. Maybe it would come to life and try stabbing him in the back or something.


     How about you take your clothes off, it'll probably make this a lot easier... Skuld teased in between kisses. Trying not to show how grossed out she got by his scaly legs, she kept her act up. He should be thankful she ever allowed him to touch her. 
     I refuse having to see that.... thing there.. Ofcourse she knew it'd creep him out, she wouldn't have put it there if it hadn't. He didn't want to turn his back against that doll, but the option was looking at it. So better to take the chance of having it stabbing him in the back.


     Skuld was pretty good at keeping an act up when she needed something, even when it took forever. It was a bit entertaining seeing how much power she held over him. How could this even be a big deal to him? It was just putting that thing inside her, and that was pretty much it. Well, not that he didn't try doing other things to, but there was no way that gross mouth was getting anywhere near her ladybits, thank you very much. That was just sick, and probably had something to do with him beeing a fish.


     It wasn't that she didn't remember Ian always using a long time finishing, it was just that she kept forgetting the extent of the time it took before he even got started. Which just added to the time it took overall. And it wasn't that fun to begin with. But for once she had a pretty good cause to endure, and it made it easier for her to keep track of his pleasure. She'd been sure to place the bottles needed within arms reach, having it all planned out. To think it had taken her so long to figure out, it was embarassing. The best part was still that he wouldn't remember her doing it, since he'd be dead. And the dead don't remember, atleast when they get back to life.


     Men were so stupid!! Was he trying to prove something by holding her up so her feet didn't touch the floor? Why hadn't she thought about that?! Skuld wasn't a complete moron either, she'd make sure to have a pair of bottles on the floor, and on the shelf. But if he held her up, it meant she'd fall when he did! That was bad, she could loose that little time she had to bring him back from the dead. She could hurt herself!! Though she had to admit it held a certain fun to it.
      Slapping him lightly on the back, she tried getting in touch with him: Ian.... Ian.... Eventually she got a grunt back: Put me down... I can't do it this way, I have to have my feet on the floor...


     I won't drop you, he assured her. Ofcourse he wouldn't drop his wife, what did she think of him. 
     It's not that, I just...
     I won't drop you.... 
     But what about when you...
     Don't worry, he breathed, I won't be able to hold you like this then. Mainly he just hadn't wanted to sit with that ugly doll staring at his butt. What if it came to life of something?
     It was still good news for Skuld, because it meant it would be easier for her to calculate her killing him.


     Was he ever going to finish? Was it even supposed to take this long, she couldn't really remember. Come on, she was eager to try out her little experiment. She kept on looking at him, trying to find the perfect timing. Ofcourse there was a chance that he wouldn't make it right the first time, but then she'd just had to try again. He couldn't fail every single time after all. And why did he keep looking back at her? Didn't he understand that she wasn't doing it for his pleasure? She didn't care about his pleasure at all.
     She could see the potiong that would end it for him in the corner of her eye, moving her hand to grab the already open bottle.


     He fell straight down, like a rag that she'd dropped to the floor. No fighting, no surprised looks, he was instantly killed. No one could come here and claim her potions weren't the best you could get. There was no way he could have fought that off. And she'd timed it perfectly to ofcourse, now she just had to hope that she got pregnant by it.


     But she couldn't linger on her amazing success, she had to work before grim came visiting, and he was fast! She forced the liquid into his mouth, down his throat, to bring him back from the dead.


     What was happening? Why wasn't he waking up? Her potions worked, they always did. She hadn't tried it before ofcourse, or even sold any. Why would she help other sims overcoming death? They'd just die in the end anyway. And she wanted to be the only one that could decided if sims were allowed to carry on living: Ian? He was breathing, wasn't he? But why wasn't he waking up quickly, he was supposed to.


     Ian? She was getting agitatet. It was so typical of him not beeing able to do anything right. She checked his pulse and heartbeat, and they sounded pretty okay. But his breathing was a bit shallow. Skuld had studied medicine amongst others, but that didn't mean she wanted to help other sims with her skills. But if she was pregnant, she'd need help when she got bigger. And who would run her errands if not Ian? Unlike what the stories often told, the essence of younger sims weren't usually stronger than the ones of the older. Their essence was young and inexperienced. The strongest ones usually belonged to adults, when they were at the peak of their lives.


     Adult sims would generally fight harder to avoid death then the younger ones, so their essence was stronger. Sometimes childrens, teenagers and even the elderlys essence was strongest, but generally it was the one of the adult ones. Ofcourse there wasn't a guarantee that stronger essences made a better potion for her to stay young and everliving, but it was best to be on the safe side.
All in all, it meant that if she'd gotten pregnant now, she needed to keep the baby atleast until it was a child. And she didn't want to take care of a child on her own! Ian had to do it for her! She didn't even like kids! Irritated she shouted at him: Ian! Wake up already! He was still breathing, she could see it.


     Sighing heavily Skuld came to a realization. She did have most of the education to become a doctor, but that didn't mean that she wanted to. Or that she had the instruments to make him better. She had to get some help for this. She sighed heavily again. This was so typical of Ian, now she had to get dressed. But the worst time was dressing his half- dead carcass to. His fat arse weighed a ton. She swore he just did this to spite her, he couldn't even die the right way!


     The ambulance came quicker than she had anticipated, but not before Ian had woken up coldsweating. She didn't like hospitals, they smelled and there were sick and injured sims there, and elderly. She didn't like them, they were a waste of valuable resources and a burden to society. The nurse had taken some samples of his blood and now she was waiting for testresults. She wasnt't worried about them finding anything that could incriminate her ofcourse. She wasn't dumb enough to make poison that was tracable. Atleast not the most dangerous parts of it. Not that she thought they would run a toxicologytest either way, atleast not for what she used. But it was better to be safe.
Working on him until the sun had risen, one could wonder why he hadn't woken up yet? No one had told her anything either.


     She heard the heavy door opening, revealing them to be able to withstand fire for a while. Most hospitals had those anyway, so did schools. It was probably the nurse with the testresults, so Skuld stayed put pretending to be to preoccupied with thoughts about her husband. Which she was, but mainly because it was so typical of him beeing this selfish.
     Everything looks good so far. That voice didn't belong to a nurse.


     Was that her littlebrother in a doctoroutfit? Why was he here? Oh, wait that's right. He'd probably finished the internship by now. Her kidbrother was a doctor. That was just so strange, did he perform surgery on sims to? Odin? Who in their right mind let him operate them?
     Skulds face must have revealed more than she'd like as he continued: Don't look so shocked, you knew I'm a doctor. 
     I just wasn't... She hadn't been expecting him.
     Just pretend you don't know me... As I said his vitals looks pretty good so far. His breathing is better, and he should be waking up soon enough. We gave him something to sleep on
.

     No one had told her that? Had she been sitting here oogling because they'd given him something to sleep on? When had they done that? What a waste of her time!
     Nurse didn't tell you? She tried not to sound irritated: No he didn't. 
     Well, he gave Ian something to sleep on after the treatment was done. Guy was a mess, but in pretty okay shape. I have some concerns though...
     Concerns? What concerns? She kept her face away from her brother, just in case she'd underestimated his intellect: What concerns? Will he be fine or not?


     We ran some test on his bloodsamples, due to the symptoms.
     And... she didn't like where this was going.
     And, he sounded very doctory: there were traces of muscimol in his system. What the actual fuck was he talking about, but if he was hinting at something Odin didn't give her the chance to speak: It's a psychoactive substance that effects the sentral nerval system found in...
     Amanita Muscaria, I know. Skuld interrupted him: Are you trying to tell me that Ian ate mushrooms?


     Well, maybe it was an accident or he did it on purpose. Believe it or not, we get a larger portion of sims drugged on that than you'd believe. That was strange, it wasn't exactely a pleasant drug to use. Which ofcourse Skuld had tried, had to figure out what she was working with after all.
     You really think Ian got high on fungi on purpose? Well, it was better than him expecting her to have anything to do with it. But she hadn't actually used any amanita in the two portions she'd used.
Maybe he was trying to impress you, with your name and all? You know who got drugged on amanita right? Was her brother actually trying to be funny with her husband laying in hospital? Even if he said he was fine?


     Not that Skuld actually cared that Ian was in the hospital, it was really just irritating: There's no proof of berserkers using that. There were certain siberian tribes that did, but....
     Well, they had tons of names for magical potions and amanita didn't have the same name then. It might be hidden in galdrasmidja or lyr or... or taufr.... And you know who the vikings worshipped right? He gave her a clever grin and wiggled his eyebrows.
     Odin, Skuld looked at him: My husband is in the hospital. What are you trying to do here? 
     He actually looked a bit guilty: Sorry, I just haven't spoken with you in ages. I just.. I'm sorry.... I was just trying to lighten the mood abit for the rest.


     The rest? What "the rest"? There's more? 
     He grimased: We found lappaconitin, sepentrionalin and cynoktonin in his system, it's found in the aconitum lycoctonum. Fuck, she hadn't thought they'd run any tests for that: Trollhatt, she said. There wasn't any point in her trying to pretend she didn't know what it was. Odin knew she knew anyway: Well, he can't be poisoned by it, he's not conscious after all. And if he'd had been trollhatt poisoning, wouldn't you be giving him coal and made him vomit?


     We did... He said to her: and I was under the impression that he was awake when the ambulance got to your place. 
     But... ofcourse there was trollhat in the potions she's used, but just one of them: if he'd been poisoned, he'd be conscious all the time. And wouldn't he have been in for a longer time before getting better? He collapsed first, and I wasn't able to get in touch with him.
     He's a meresim. Odin said it like is should mean something.
    So?


     I've never seen it myself, but we've learned about it. Meresims and other... supernaturals... tend to be a bit more resilient than usual sims. They can just handle a bit more of everything. Kind of lies in the name "super". Not that he wouldn't have died pretty quickly without treatment, but his body just takes a bit longer before the poison kicked in like it should. Most likely the uncousnciousness was a result of his body trying to fight it off, or some other form of shock.
     What? Why had she never heard about this before? I've never heard about that before. Meresims weren't real supernaturals anyway. Atleast that's what she'd dreamt. She couldn't even be bothered trying to explain it to him.
     Because it's not really that big of a different, they still die pretty quickly and the results are pretty few and not really verified. But the question still remains in how he ended up consuming it.


     She really had to stop making mistakes like this. She was a genious, she was supposed to do better than this- she had to be better than this. Good thing she was a decent liar and did her best to suddenly have an epiphany. Well, she actually had but more in the sense of getting a good idea: Oh... well... you know we have planters in the house with trollhatt in it. 
      Yea.. I'd never ask them to run tests for that for an adult, but since I knew you had that stuff around the house. You have a lisence to have that by the way? Nevermind, dad probably fixed you one.
     She tried not to get to irritated, so that's why they'd tested him for something so obscure? And ofcourse she had all her papers in order: But Ian has taken up this little herbgarden that he uses as seasoning. You know he loves to cook.... Maybe he got the wrong one without really noticing? I can't really imagining there beeing any other way if he actually ingested it.


     Then why aren't you sick? 
     What was with the third degree he was giving her? She didn't have an interest in answering all those questions. But she didn't want to make him suspicious either. Ofcourse there was only one thing to do if he got to nosy, but it was risky. Mainly because police always looked at friends and family first: Because I had to leave before he'd finished cooking. He'd eaten by the time I got home.
     From where?


      What do you want to know really, Odin? Are you trying to tell me this is my fault? Skuld turned around to avoid him seeing the lack of tears, but still keeping her voice sad and pretended that she blamed herself: Don't you think I know that already? If I hadn't had those plants in the house, Ian wouldn't ended up beeing poisoned... she sobbed a bit more until she finally hearing Odin letting out a sigh. The type a conquered man gives: I'm sorry. It's just not a common poisoning for adults. I need to ask questions to determine if I should contact the police.


     Say what?! What? She didn't turn towards him, just incase he could see how nervous she actually was: You want to call the police? For what?
     He kept still for a very long time, before finally answering: In case there's suspicion about deliberate poisoning. It's attempted murder at worst. 
     You think I tried to kill Ian? I'm your sister! She did her best to make him feel a lot worse about himself. And he should! To think of accusing her of something like that? It wasn't an attempt, she had killed him, but she was so god-like she brought him back to the living!Odin shouldn't ask her questions about how he'd been poisoned, he should worship the ground she walked on because he wasn't dead anymore!
     No, no.. I don't, really I don't. It's just standard, I have to ask. I know you wouldn't poison anyone!


     He continued: I know you wouldn't poison anyone! I'm sorry. He even wiped tears away from his eyes.
     Oh he knew that now, did he? And she hadn't actually meant for him to get this injured. It took time, and she had to pretend she was worried about him. Which she wasn't, because it should be fine now after all. But she really had to stop beeing so careless! This was ridiculous! First the woman, and now Ian. Skuld was disappointed in herself, she had to do better. She had to. Good thing that Odin believed her, or she could have been in trouble right now. That also meant that if the baby- thing hadn't worked, she'd just had to get rid of Ian in the usual way the next time around.  
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 poses: imho, k2m1too, annely sims, mary36jony, traelia, AG, k2m1too, extraordinair,

The doll is because of the misc fun roll for the record.

So, just ignore the clear and obvious illogical and silly things here. And if anyone wonderes how Skuld is supposed to know if she's succeded, even if she did get pregnant; she hasn't thought about it. Because in her mind it will either fail as in not getting knocked up, or it's a success.

And no, Skuld will never, ever, ever even consider selling any reviving the dead potions, because she wants them all to herself. That, and there aren't any ;) Other than removing occult state, and since ghost is one I figured that was close enough. And I know nothing about poisoning or hospitalwork; just mentioning it.

Thanks for reading

søndag 3. januar 2016

3.2 Auribus Teneo Lupum

warning: language, gore


     It was a rare occurance that someone would find the summerday in the city directly cold, but compared to Isla Paradiso it felt like going from boiling water to a glacier. Summerbreeze felt like icecicles and he was still partially waiting for his skin to burn as soon as he went outside the house. As long as he didn't slip up and forget sunscreen he'd be good.
     For Ian the honeymoon had been a beautiful experience, even if his new wife could seem a bit insensitive at times. The poor thing couldn't help it though, she'd been through so much in her young life. He'd enjoyed their time together, and it had been a nice gesture of his father- in- law to pay for their honeymoon. Others might have gotten insultet, taken it as a sign that he wasn't capable of taking care of his wife himself. Ian didn't have that problem, he knew his father- in- law well enough to know that wasn't the case.


     A couple of days before they left, she'd insisted on going for a walk on her own and he hadn't been difficult to persuade. This places sun was murder for his poor skin. He'd watched the rain start pouring down, trying to phone her just to find she'd left it at their room. Before he'd gotten worried enough to search for her, she'd showed up. Her clothes and hair soaked from the rain that had appeared as suddenly as it disappeared. She'd taken him completely by surprise when she'd straddled him. Her skin still damp from the rain, Skuld had tasted salty and had been all smiles and seduction. Ian loved seeing her that way; all free and careless.


     Now that they were back home whatever had ridden her those days was gone. Skuld was back to her usual self, working at her alchemytable barely noticing anything around her, including him. If he tried touching her, she snared at him to get off her. Ian understood, he'd already made up his mind that he'd be there for her. No matter how snippy she could be at times. She wasn't like that constantly, and he would save her no matter how long it took. Because he loved her.


     He'd taken up business by finding old things on the dump and fix it up, even if his lovely wife called it dumpster diving. And she was right, but how else would be able to find old things to fix? Sims didn't have the slightest idea to what they actually had in their homes. They took beautiful items and treasures and just threw it out like it was trash! Then went and bought some new factory- made, massproduced crap. Sims were strange in their quest to get the most modern and up to date furniture.
     He was pretty sure he'd never get used to the smell, and most that went past him mistook him for beeing homeless and/or poor. If they had known what they were missing and how much they polluted as a result of their consumer- personalities, maybe more sims would have thought about this?


     This dumpster didn't seem to contain any hidden treasure though. Ian irritatedly kicked it so the lid closed. It wasn't the most stable- income career.
     Skuld hadn't been to happy about it and didn't understand why he couldn't get a real job. He never said the same to her, even if he technically could. Alchemy wasn't even a job even if the potions sold pretty well from what he understood. To think that so many sims thought a simple ointment or drink could make anything alright! He did his best not to judge. If the sim believed it helped it was probably all good. She'd lightened up a bit about it when he'd brought home insects, metals and gems for her. Turned out his career could help hers.
     All in all their work didn't really matter. Skulds fund kept a relatively steady income, and they make an okay ammount of simoleons on their own. It didn't give them a high end life, but they were able to keep a rather good lifestyle without the big expenses. Atleast that's what Skuld said, he didn't have any control over their economy. She was better at it than him anyway, and he trusted her word, but she still complained about them not making enough. So it was a good thing that he was good at finding items on sale.


    The large, old workstation her dad had once given her was still in good use. It was one of the things she didn't want new. She liked this old one, the way it scented the basement and how the worn down wood always felt so smooth to the touch. It wasn't on her mind right now; it was the quest for eternal life and youth. It didn't matter where she looked, or what she mixed she wasn't capable the potential theories behind it. Which should be what she would imagine a potion like that would consist of! She knew more than enough about the subject, so why couldn't she figure it out?


     Beeing a genious, she wasn't used to not understanding. Things always came easily for her, it was simple. Then what was it that she didn't understand? Failing wasn't an option for someone as magnificent as her! She was better than this, better then anyone alive and she deserved the best of everything. Who else deserved to be young and beautiful whilst living an eternity if not her? Maybe she could talk to that bitchfairy again? Her mum was that overgrown mosquitos stepmum, so why not? What was the worst that could happen?


     Finding bitchfairy was an easy task; now she just needed to keep her tongue in place and call her Merete instead. Skuld was a bit ashamed of beeing married to a supernatural, but it also made her a good sim and Ian should be thankful she even wanted him. Standing outside a supernaturals house was embarassing to. Usually Skuld wouldn't show herself to close to any of "those", but she could live with it when it was to her advantage. Ofcourse Merete would love to help her, who wouldn't want to do everything to make her life better?


     Some old hag came limping down the hallway, leaning heavy on a cane; so Skuld put on her best pretend- friendly face. At first she thought it was bitchfairy, but the raisin lacked wings. No one liked the elderly did they? They reminded Skuld of what she wanted to avoid- to think this one had been young and pretty once. Well, atleast young.


     The old troll seemed startled for a second, maybe she hadn't seen her throught the glass- but that didn't keep her from starting. Maybe if Skuld hadn't been so heavy in thought about Merete, she would've gotten who the old crust was pretty quickly.


     May I help you young lady? It was something about the old troll that made it obvious she wasn't aware of where she was. Now that Skuld bothered looking she noticed the squinty eyes- Clearly the eyesight was far from good.
     I'm sorry, Skuld smeared on the sweetest smile, voice and manners: I was looking for Merete. I was under the impression she lived here. Then she had to repeat it again with a louder voice, as the old lady had problems hearing to.


     Finally she smiled: Merete's on the phone. Would you like to come inside and wait? Clearly the old troll didn't think about the fact she might have let someone dangeroud into her home. Not that Skuld was dangerous in any way, she just removed sims that didn't serve a purpose. That was different.
     I'd love to, Skuld said with her kindest voice: Thank you so much!


     She could actually hear bitchfairy walking and talking in another room. Why did it seem so silly that a supernatural used a cellphone? What was so special about the anyway? They couldn't even communicate with eachother without a simple phone? It didn't matter what they called themselves, they were still cattle.
     The troll was still looking at her, smiling, before finally saying: You're a very pretty young lady. Ofcourse she was, what a stupid thing to say. But she managed to force out a smile and gracefully, seemingly shy said: Thank you.... As long as the troll didn't offer ancient cookies or sticky old- sims candy.


     I used to be pretty in my youth to, the old troll said. Skuld doubted it, but still answered: You still are... making the old lady smile. She was a master at sucking up when she wanted to. It was a good idea to charm her, incase the bitchfairy got a big difficult. Not that she had any reason to. After all, who would wish to not make her happy?
     You look awefully familar though, she said out of the blue: What's your dads name? What was this about? Skuld was getting a bit irritated; please don't tell me that dad has humped this one to. Dad was so gross. She even started to wish Merete would be done on the phone soon, to save her from this old crust.


     With all the talking granny did, Skuld hadn't noticed the woman on the porch. As she entered she said: Now mum, let's not bother the guest all that much. I'm sorry, she talked to Skuld now: Mum's a bit forgetful at times. Aren't you mum? Is there anything I can help you with? 
     This was not like her, first she didn't know Merete lived with an old lady; then there was another woman present to? She really should have looked deeper into the adresse before visiting: I was looking for Merete.
     Mum, why don't you go and tell Merete that someone is waiting for her? The troll smiled and nodded finally leaving to tell bitchfairy. It was tough work pretending to be friendly.


     When the old lady first went, it didn't take long before Merete entered the room. She was far from as tall as Skuld remembered, but that supergirly cutesy voice was still annoying. The difference was that she no longer looked the part as age also had started taking a hold of the supernatural.
     Leah, take your mum out and grab something to eat. Me and this one have to speak a bit privately. Despite that voice she had a lot of authority going, even if Skuld couldn't remember that either. She mainly remembered the tale she'd told and ofcourse her first time seeing a sim dying. It was one of her best memories. Bitchfairy waited until they'd left the house before she kept talking.


     Eying her up and down for a while, Merete finally talked: If it isn't the little blondie that caused my father to die.. What could you possibly want with me? Clearly not one for pleasantries, but Skuld couldn't have cared less if the fairy liked her or not. That didn't mean she wasn't aware that it was easier catching flies with honey, and since this one had wings, Skuld did her very best beeing nice: It's nice seeing you again Merete. You know, my husband and I are trying to start a family. I just couldn't stop thinking about my own and the mother I've never met.... Taking a look around the room, Skuld wondered if Merete was really a granny in disguise because this room looked like it'd been designed by someone ancient.


     The old troll that had been in there made the place stink of old sims to, like moths and dust. Old sims were so gross. Merete didn't seem impressed with her smooth talking skills, but Skuld was sure she'd be persuaded eventually: Then I realized that you are the closest thing I have to her! She tried her best looking sad: I just wish to have some contact with you, and her. I'd love to get to know you better and....
     Cut the crap, that sweet voice promised flowers and sunshine no matter how hard she tried sounding like an authority: You just met your mother and halfsister and barely even looked at them. And you and your mother look quite alike, despite her beeing old and grey.


     That ugly old troll had been her mother?! They didn't look anything like eachother, no matter what that bloody fairy said! She was beautiful and the granny was hideous! It was a lot worse having Merete seeing straight through her though, but wasn't one of Skulds many talents making sims doubt themselves? Who was better than her making sims feel low and wanting to make her happy: That was... that was... She looked shock and ready to cry: But.. I wished I... could you phone them and make them come back? Maybe we could...
     Do you really believe that'll work? It wasn't easy tricking a trickster and Skuld really needed bitchfairy on her side.


     So instead she did what her type usually does when getting busted; got angry and accusive: I wouldn't have tried to trick you, if you hadn't...
     Didn't I just tell you to knock it off? Merete hadn't gotten any less cute, and clearly wasn't as dumb as she should have been: I'm a fairy. You can't pull that shit on me and expect it to work. Then she pulled a smug, victorious grin, irritating the heck out of Skuld. She hated fairies: Now spit it out, or I'll send you out of her puking gold to match your golden locks. Did she just make a terrible wordplay? That was so annoying! This woman was even more irritating than Ian!


     Skuld didn't have a habit of responding to threats, but anything to avoid more wordplay: You told me it was possible to live forever and you'll tell me how. Cutting to the core didn't help either as that giant mosquito actually laughed at her: Why would I tell you? 
     What was the point of responding with a question, she was supposed to "yes": Because I can make it happen! Who could do that if not her? She didn't want to end up like a stinking granny: After you told me, I can't stop thinking about it. I'm a great alchemist, probably the best that has ever been. If anyone can do it, it's me. 
     What are you waiting for then? Merete laughed at her again, she hated beeing laughed at.


     If I could, I'd done it by now. Acid dripping from Skulds lips, she hated that fairy: But I can't do it on my own. Whatever the secret is, it defies common logics. I haven't missed anything but none of my attempts have worked. You're a supernatural, you've got to know something!
     Merete kept laughing, making Skuld angrier by the second, but she was willing to humiliate herself to make this happen. And if she had eternal life, it meant she'd have an eternity giving this winged bitch a lot of pain: Just tell me what I need to know, and I'll share it with you. 
     That made that sweet giggle stop dead.


     No you won't, Merete said: You'd never share anything like that with anyone. Besides.. for once she decided to share the truth. Even with what little she knew, she'd gotten it was a dangerous path to walk. Maybe she could get revenge for her father that way: ..a potion isn't enough. Not for an ordinary sim.
      I'm not ordinary, Skuld spit out, completely forgetting about catching flies with honey. Right now she wanted to strangle them with her bare hands.
     You sure aren't, bitchfairy smiled acidly: but in this case you are. There's no way in any bloody abyss you'll be able to do anything like that without the help of a real supernatural. One who already knows the secret. And there aren't any. She finished the sentence with a smile.
     There was no doubt Merete wanted one for herself, but strangely enough Skuld trusted the fairy was telling the truth. Or else she'd rub her nose in it.


     Skuld was to depressed to go back home after the meeting with Merete. Instead she headed to the park. The idea had been to catch some bugs, but even that couldn't salvage her mood. Not that she'd given up in any way, but how on simplanet was she going to find a supernatural that knew how to do that? Especially if Merete claimed there weren't any. Hopefully it meant no- one bitchfairy knew of. She'd delved deep into the library at university and found nothing. The cities libraries and antique vaults were equally useless, same as the alchemyshop and the new clerk. And now even the same supernatural that told her, claimed it couldn't happen.


     Despite all, the worst thing was that her own intellect and sense of logics had failed. That stung. Not even the humiliation of asking for help mattered in comparison. How could she fail? She never failed, she was perfect! Skuld was the emmbodiment of perfection, and she'd failed.
     For now she just wanted to get in a better mood. Skuld bet none of the cattle ever had problems like this. Their problems were lesser than hers, just like the so- called life they lived. They weren't valuable, like her. She could kill them and raise them back from the dead with her potions, no one else could do that. Not that she'd ever bothered giving anyone their life back, why would she want to do that? She could turn sims into supernaturals, make them loose weight with a simple ointment. It would have made her rich, but she didn't want fat sims the gift of getting thin! Or to make it easier for thin sims to stay that way!


     She was really the closest thing to a living god that had ever walked the face of simplanet. Though  now that she'd talked to bitchfairy, Skuld found herself wondering if it was possible to strip the supernaturals of their powers completely, or atleast to block them from using them someway. She had to check that later on.     Skuld really wanted to imrpove her mood a bit, to be happy like that useless woman crossing that park. Just look at her, completely unaware of her important problems. Other sims just didn't feel things like she did. They were lesser than her; that woman was lesser than her. Bet she'd never had real problems. What a useless form of life.


     She just wanted to see what ordinary, unimportant sims did on their sparetime. That's why she walked after her at a distance. It wasn't like she had any off plans, it was all about seeing what cattle did. It had to be simple, beeing one of them. Didn't she have the car parked around the area? Not that it meant anything ofcourse, just a thought that went through her head.


     Why would someone walk into a dark alleyway in this city, Skuld wondered as she followed the woman. Didn't she know these places were dangerous? Why would a single woman walk around in the dark and not expect something to happen? And why did she walk faster? She couldn't help feeling a thrilling senstion as the woman quickened her pace as she got closer. This was kind of fun. Why were cattle so easily terrified? Didn't she hear her clacking heels? It should be obvious that she was a woman, and everyone knew women were harmless.


     As the woman started looking around herself, staring into the shadows Skuld started having trouble staying serious. Finally the woman talked with a voice reeking of terror and uncertainty: Who... who is it?
     Skuld liked laughing at scared sims, but it was one thing she liked even better: Hi. She sounded as kind as possible, making her voice way lighter than it usually was. No one saw them after all, and there weren't any cameras either. But in case someone overheard them: I'm Diana... Diana Summerset. 
     Visibly realxing, the woman smiled back in the dim light and came closer: Wow, you startled me, she laughed, still a bit full of sinking adrenaline.


     I'm Khalia, her smile relaxed this time and she was short. A lot shorter than Skuld was. Almost the height difference of a man and woman.
     Khalia, Skuld repeated: That's an interesting name! Skuld said even if she didn't think so. Every name other than hers was terrible.
     My parents were originals, she laughed politely: Do you want to walk with me? Khalia sounded almost appologetic.
     Sure. Are you going far? Who knew? Maybe the woman had someone waiting for her, or meeting her halfway?
     Yeah, she answered actually looking a bit perplexed: I live on the other side of town, so I took a shortcut to the subway. She pulled a face at the thought.
      I'm going to the other side of town to, Skuld said: and my car's nearby. I can give you a lift. Atleast you won't get groped by strangers in my car. It was a tempting offer, it had to be. It was a lot better than feeling strange mens hands between the legs or on the breasts.


     Really? That would be great! Thank you! Seemed like Khalia didn't like getting groped either.
     No problem, Skuld smiled; We girls have to look after eachother; keep eachother safe. Right? Skuld had parked in a secluded spot, she always did. She just happened to have lots of valuable stuff in it; like knives, some potions, shower- in- a -can... just in case of emergency ofcourse.
     Khalia couldn't have agreed more.


     Look at that, female sims didn't look that different from males on the inside. Other than the female reproductive system ofcourse, but it didn't interest her that much. She acted completely different to; this one hadn't begged or even cried- she was just paralyzed and let it happen. To bad, Skuld liked it when they begged. But women tended to be braver then men.
     She'd taken the leatherstrap the woman had around the neck; it would be a shame letting it go to waste. It wasn't like Khalia needed it anymore now. Not that Skuld was going to wear it, but maybe she could use it for something someday maybe?


     She had to head home now, Ian probably wondered where she was.


     It was getting late and Ian had stayed up worrying about Skuld until he'd heard her taking a shower. She must have returned either when he was upstairs or in the kitchen. She probably didn't want to disturb him incase he'd be sleeping. Which would've been the normal thing to do at this hour. It was so cinsiderate of her, but he liked talking to her. So he sat quietly in the sofa waiting for her to come out of the bathroom.


     She looked a bit startled when she saw him, as she finally finished washing up. But it quickly dissapeared as soon as he started talking: Hi. Where have you been all these hours?
     Cracking into a smile, she answered: I looked for components, and completely lost track of time. I'm sorry... It was nice seeing how happy she was. She was so beautiful when she smiled.
     Ian just couldn't be mad at her for forgetting to call him: It's okay my love, I'm just happy you love your job so much. But you need to be careful so you don't overwork yourself.


       What was up with the look she kept giving him? She walked towards him, looking all sweet and giggly: What? He smiled at her: Do I look funny? Well, he kind of did actually, but that didn't seem to be the case. Biting her lips, whilst still smiling Skuld was beeing unusually cute as she slid up to him.


     He chose not to worry to much about it. He liked it when she was all smiles and without worries.


     I know you're here


     Why do you keep hiding? I can help you with what you seek. I was eternal, before my death by others hands. I know the secret to eternal life. We can help eachother. If you give me what I want, I can help you with what you're searching for.


     This is a good deal for you.


     What do you need? 
     It's simple, but a bit messy and timeconsuming. Only someone clever and patient will be capable of doing this. 
     I can handle it.


     I don't doubt it. What you need to do, is harvesting the essence of two sims; a male and a female. Then one supernatural each.
     How am I supposed to do that?


     You kill them. Then you capture the essence in a bottle. I assume you know how to do that?
     Ofcourse I do.
     Good. Then you need to harvest the essence of the two sims; then a supernatural each. Fairy, werewolf, witch, genie, vampire and ghost.
     What about meresims and plantsims?


      Mere and plantsims? They aren't considered real supernaturals. They are more.... freaks of nature. I don't need them. 
     And how am I supposed to kill a ghost to harvest it's essence? They are already dead.
    You aren't capable of figuring it out on your own? Maybe I should take my offer elsewhere...


     No need to, I can do it.
     Good, do we have a deal then? 
     We have a deal.


     Skuld was getting used to have recurring dreams. It was probably her subconcious mind trying to tell her how to find eternal life. And as much she usually didn't admit to this type of hokus pokus, it had happened before whenever she'd be gritting her teeth about something. It made theoretical sense, didn't it? One of each supernatural sim, to gain something that only they were supposed to have? But what would be the point of two common sims? On the other hand, why did she care? She'd figure it out as she went along. And if it was just a dream, what was the problem? It wasn't like sims actually mattered other than for her personal use.


     And kill a fairy? She knew just the one to start with. Come to think about it, she knew just the supernaturals and sims to get rid of.
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pose: annely-sims, simsimi, siciliaforever, traelia, ag,

So, "harvesting essence into a bottle" is just something I made up to make it some more exciting, and because alchemy uses bottles. It kind of beats finding a bunch of crap in game. It'll be explained in another chapter. And as it comes to illogical uses and absurdities, just pretend you don't notice.


Thanks for reading