søndag 16. februar 2014

1.2 Two Harpies with a stick is better than ten on a broom?

Vampires, witches, werewolves and mummies just to mention a few. Iva wasn't impressed, but if her publisher said so, he probably had a point. Most of their so-called powers were long gone and quite useless anyway. Irritating none the less. 
Jericho might be an old city, but more than modern enough to fight against racism. It hadn't gotten supernaturals to flock to the city, but atleast the few who lived here was generally not discriminated. She chose to forget the cliche- filled rasicm that filled her own book. After all, there were far more dangerous and scary things in this world than supernatural powers.  

You should lock the door. Jericho's a dangerous city for little girls. The low, icy voice was enough to leave Ivas mouth dry. Speaking of scarier things....
Adela, one of her two older sister stood in the doorway to her bedroom. That could only mean one thing


Her other sister, Valerie, followed close behind. Throughout Ivas  childhood, those two witches had tormented the entire family, neighbourhood and school. And witches they were, in every term of the word. Iva had, tohether with her brother and their parents, been relieved when the sisters had left at their age up. The witchcraft was a heritage from their father, and he claimed they couldn't help beeing mean. It was a part of it, he had said. 
Neither Adela or Valerie seemed impressed with her home. Though beeing polite wasn't their style anyway. The sisters still sent shivers down her spine, but to Ivas surprise the fear was gone. After all, they couldn't kill her with their witch magic. And if they tried any of their useless curses, well. Their dad was a more competent witch than either of them. 
Well, if it isn't my darling sister, Ivas voice was sugared as she talked. Why Valerie, you look absolutely smashing! Like a super villain from one of dads first movies. I guess that makes Adela the villains harlot. She served a smile with the words.


While Iva was quick to temper, the same couldn't be said about her sisters. Against normal, Valeria took charge of the situation. Oh, our little sister has finally grown up. The little writer will get far with her superior vocabulary. No wonder you're such a critically acclaimed writer. Her voice was as sarcastic as Adelas face. You should thank us instead of being so hostile. Why, you never know who will walk through the door in this city. Atleast in this part of town. No use arguing at that. They had all grown up in a priveliged home, on the "right" side of town. 


You've changes your familyname, Adela took over the conversation. We all know your not bright, but that's a dumb move. We Ichiro have much influence tied to that name. And money. It will get you far and quickly too, not to mention out of trouble. And what type of name is Sleitinn anyway? A bit exotic for you maybe?
It has a nice ring, Iva snapped at Adeal. Eventually she was going to write under her real name, so an artistic one was a great idea. But she had no intention of mentioning that to them. Besides,neither of us are ethnic enough for a name like Ichiro. We're a bunch of pasty whities, as my new surname fits that. 

Iva felt her temper boiling. Their father was a movie star, their mother a famous musician. But that was all she knew. The family history had died with their grandmother Isobel. And their mom told nothing, no matter how much she asked. It was what got her to be a writer in the first place. She wanted to investigate, to find the history of her family. And it was her passion in life, to write. But she wanted to make it on her own, not because of who she was. So she left her name and family fortune but not the town itself. She wasn't that needy of beeing on her own. Unfortunately her sisters was also here. She had hoped to avoid them in the large city, but no such luck.  


Maybe I could have kept the damn familyname if it weren't for you two hags! Why the bloody hell would anyone sane want to be related to the two of you? Your the most notorious criminals in town and everyone knows! She screamed the last part.
They weren't just ordinary criminals either. Every police in town knew they were going for leading the darker side of Jericho. Smuggling, trafficking, drugs and corrupting the town hall to mention a few, leaning on their family name while doing so. Though those two probably would have made it either way. But still, a bad reputation was starting to form behind it. A once proud name, slowly starting to wither. Iva had no plans to be a part of it.


You little bookworm, do you think you can escape that name? Reach for the stars as much as you want nerd, but your blood is as tainted as ours. I'd thrice curse you, but i doubt there's any need for that. She didn't raise that icy voice one bit. As Iva was to shoo them out the front door, Valerie turned around and gave her a parting gift, and said: Hope you'll lose your lust for icecream. 


D-d-d- damn h-h-harpies and their s-s-sticks. Iva snarled to her sistes as they walked out in silence. Leaving her shivering in the cold. 


Iva was used to it though. She had been blasted with fire and ice, turned into a frog and cursed with diseases. She'd still never been seriously harmed. Unimpressed, but still cold, she warmed herself to get rid of the chill in her bones. It should be unecessary on such a lovely day, but this was no ordinary cold.  
After the cold left her bones, she decided to get some groceries. 


But one of Jerichos many foodtrucks tempted more than going home to cook a meal of her own. So instead she ordered a burrito, hoping it wouldn't make her sick. It didn't. It tasted as good as it smelled, leaving her with a happy stomach and slightly guilty mind.  


With a full stomach she decided to go to the summer festival, but few people has showed up. She sat in their lounge and started reading the paper. Just to get interrupted by the phone. 


It was an old friend of hers from school. Or more correctly, her brothers friend. She had pretty much been forced out with her brother in her child and teen years, and ended up befriending some of his friends. The guy on the phone; Gard, was one of them. But this wasn't just a call to chat up some old friends. As soon as she answered he asked if she read the papers today. No, I was just about to when you rang, her tone beeing humours. Noras dead. Gards voice was just as calm as usual. Nora was his younger sister. Or, one of them.
Iva was terrible at dealing with sorrow. She didn't know what to say or do, and had an uncanny knack for making things worse.Ofcourse she blurted out the worst thing someone can say in a situation like that: What? When? How? But she's just a teen. Iva had met the girl several times, but never really talked to her. She was like Gard. A quiet nerd and bookworm. A long silence followed. She was murdered, I don't really know a lot more at this point. It was just a tiny hint of his voice cracking up at the word murder. Who would want to kill your sister, she was so sweet? Even Iva realised that wasn't the right thing to say. She was a terrible friend. I don't know Iva. He sounded tired, and slightly irritated.


She desided to tell the truth. I'm sorry Gard, I don't know what to say. It's just such a shock. She kept talking withouth thinking things through. Nora was just so... lovely and innocent. You know, a delicate little flower you just want to protect and nurture. I just can't believe that little petal's gone. Only thing left in Jericho now is concrete and toxic vaste.
A long silence followed, leaving Iva desperate for words again. She just couldn't say anything right. And she was aspiring to be a writer? I called because I need a favour. Jericho daily wanted to write some words of memory about her. We didn't want to talk to some stranger, so we told them we would do so ourselves. She heard him draw a deep breath on the phone. Iva begged to herself that his next words wouldn't come. 
It was harder than we thought. Could you... He cleared his voice.. would you do it for us? Damn it. How the hell could she say now to such a request? Ofcourse, she said with a sympathetic voice, while cursing internally. How about we meet up later, and talk about what your family want to share? They agreed that he would call later, after discussing the matters with the rest of the family. Apperently the newspaper wasn't going to print it just yet. They were waiting for the police to investigate further, before releasing the detailed version of the tragic news. Awefully kind of the media, so clearly they had struck a deal with the police. 


Nothing beats beating up someone else when desperation strikes, and Iva was no exception. She preffered to whack a witch, pretending it to be Adela and Valerie. She was nowhere crazy enough to smack the terrible twosome around for real, but this was close enough. Iva was so consentrated she didn't hear someone sneaking up on her.

Well look at that! It's the lost daughter. The one who changed her name. Left the stars to be a star. Mom is furious! She turned around, looking at her twinbrother Marek. Good thing she wasn't the only one in the family that was bad with words. He had just joined the army, aspiring to be an astronaut one day. Marek was a great brother, and everything she wasn't. Athletic, kind, brave and loved beeing the center of attention. They had been close as kids, and would hopefully stay that way. He still lived with their parents by their wish. Someone had to take over the house, and family fortune, and he had accepted the task. As lightly as he accepted everything. It was just like him to stop by at the festivale, probably hoping to run into someone he knew. Or to meet someone new. Iva wouldn't have a friend in the world if it weren't for him. 


As any normal twins they desided to play a game of horseshoe together, pretending to catch up on the latest gossip. In reality they were competing. It hadn't excately been long since they last met, but life changed fast. Their mother was angry at her for the namechange, their dad didn't seem to care. And ofcourse Marek had a new girlfriend, Ingrid. Iva knew well who she was, quite the tart apperently, but she wisely kept her mouth shut. After all, it wasn't MAreks style to judge a woman for something like that.
Have you spoken with Gard recently? Marek dropped the seemingly innocent question just as Iva was to throw. 



Argh, damnit Marek. Now I missed. She knew he was grinning. Yes, yes I've talked to him. Silence followed as usual, waiting for her to say more. Don't worry Marek, he already told me about Nora. He asked me if I could write something about her for the newspaper. I know it's sad and all, but I don't get why the paper is so interested in this particular case. 
There was no following silence this time. Well, police found her in the trunk of a car, so it's not really that strange. It was Ivas turn to be quiet this time. Gard didn't tell you? They had a routine stop of a car, and got suspicious of the guys in it. The cop checked the trunk, and found the body. He continued to tell her more of it. The girl had been gone a couple of days. Since she was supposed to spend a few days at a friends house, no one had thought it strange she didn't call her family. It was first when she hadn't answered her phone, suspicion had risen.
Iva looked at her brother. You said guys, there was more than one? He nodded as he took her place at the game.  


But, they still had eyecontact, why would they need to be more that one to get rid of a body? She wasn't a big girl. It sounds a bit odd that a murderer would take the chance of involving more people. Marek gave her a long stare, looking at her like she was daft. Hah! You missed, she laughed as the question made him unfocused.
They were probably in it together Iva. Iva's mind worked hard this time, but it still didn't make sense to her. But, it can't be so difficult to kill Nora, she was tiny. Was it a robbery gone wrong or something? Marek quit throwing the horseshoe, and put his arms on her shoulders. Iva. He said. What do grown men usually do to teenage girls, that would make them want to kill? 


She thought hard about her brothers words, while he looked at her. Waiting for the lightbulb to shine. Fortunately she got interupted by the phone. Her publishers sleasy voice was at the other end. Iva, sweety, how are things going? She mumbled some polite answer. I read the chapters you sent in, and sweety, the kids are going to love it. She pulled a face he couldn't see, and was able to get out a «great» comment here and there.
I've been thinking a bit. How about we make the book more adult and sexy. Oh no, she thought, but answered differently. What did you have in mind? He let out one of those laughters, that all semi-old men did when drooling over teenage girls. 
Well, how about we make the villain let loose his passion on some young girl. Like that little cutie they picked up from the trunk here the other day. She wasn't surprised that he knew, even if it weren't official yet. Rumors runs fast, even in big cities. Atleast now she knew what her brother had meant by his words. Sick to her stomach she didn't agree to anything and hung up. She then excused herself to her brother. Poor girl, she thought. No wonder Gard hadn't said anything about it. 


She was supposed to go home, but seeing her mother Lek, rollerblading, gave her a deep want to talk to her. Iva was close to her parents, but obviously her mother was more than furious at her for denying her name. To bad, she really could use her mothers comfort.  


As she sat down on a bench she was glad to find that atleast someone in the family cared, Rosalind. Her parents cat jumped up on her lap with no care in the world, demanding to be cuddled like only cats can. Poor girl, she thought to herself again, with the purring cat on her lap. She must have been terrified. What a horrible way to die. And that creepy publisher dared called it sexy?
Iva noticed that all to familiar anger boiling in her, focusing not to pet the cat to hard, she bit it back. She wanted to call him back and yell at him, but reason won. She couldn't afford him getting angry at her. She was comletely broke. Sighing she went home to write more.  


Only to find her own little kitten in desperate need of beeing hugged. She sweet talked Fatty, before putting her down on the floor.


  ..cutting her finger while cooking....


And trying not to think about the so-called sexy things her publisher wanted her to write into the trashy book. Next time, she was going to write a good old fashioned slasher novel.  

--------------------------
Long story, a lot of information. I have a confession to make: I kill sims all the time. Not to be mean, but to keep population down, and decrease inbreeding. So I was completely taken by surprise when Ivas friend called, and the tombstone- bubble appeared. It became a big part of the story, since it happened and seemed natural. As of now, what happens in the game, gets in the blog. 
As for the mean sisters thing, it's a cliche. But I tried a new gamestyle for this generation. I rarely ever controlled Ivas siblings, and the witch- sisters were really terrible. Everyone in the family have them in the red. Marek and Iva always got along well, so they did a lot together, since it seemed natural that way. 
Last, I don't know anything about books or authors, so the sleasy publisher isn't real. It just seemed fitting. 

lørdag 11. januar 2014

1.1 Introductions

Sarah, a kind and gentle girl, had been drawn into this mysterious world against her will. But despite it all, she was glad it had happened. In this strange and foreign world, she had met her love Tamlin. The fairy prince no one had been able to tame, until she came along. But she was just an ordinary girl, and he destined to be a leader amongst the fey. Long and hard they had fought to be together, until the council of fairies finally agreed. But their happines had been shortlived.
The dark prince of the vampire clans, Asmodeus saw it as a sign of weakness and declared war against the sprites. The feyfolk fought hard, but gentle creatures as they were, could not kill. Even when it was their very excistense that would suffer from it. They all looked to Tamlin who wished nothing more than to live a peaceful life with his beloved Sarah.
In her naive mind she had thought to make a difference, believed that the prince could be reasoned with.


As she entered the room in his mansion, she was again struck by his beauty and strong presence in the room. 


Like an ivory statue he stood as he had no care in the world. But Sarah knew the prince better than he was aware of. (They use to be princes right? Why the hell are they never kings? Note: Make up new title?)


 She pleaded to him, believing she could make him see the error of his way. Prince, I beg you. Leave the feyfolk be. They are kind and gentle and only wish to live in peace in their woods. He looked at her, seemed to take her words to heart. I hear your words, human. I was not always without a heart. His velvet vvoice turned bitter as he spoke. But you tore it out when you chose the treelover. I love you, and you will be mine. 

With those words he took control of Sarahs wil, infested her mind. She was helpless and a terrible time started for her. 


The vampire had many loyal followers, worst of them all was the two witches. Ignis with her fiery hair, and Crone with hair as black as her heart. Maddened with jealousy they tormented the gentle Sarah with their terrible magic, but deared not kill her. With right they feared the princes wrath. (Add more info maybe)


But despite the fear and pain the witches gave her, it was little compared to the prince. He violated her mind, fed on her every night and she was helpless against this beast and his primal passion. And she struggled to remember her beloved. Oh, if she only had told someone where she had gone. Uttered som short words about the mansion in.....(eh.... mansion in the.. woods? mountains? High- house appartment maybe. No...) the dark woods by the mountains. (That's got to be cheesy- dark and mysterious enough. )


Sarah heard a commotion downstaired, but thought none of it. The witches hated eachother almost as much as they hated her. It was not uncommon that they fought, and he let them. She was ashamed of herself. Last night, she had been tempted to give herself to him willingly. Looking at the ring Tamlin had given her, broke her heart. 


 You should treat your guards better, Tamlin said as he entered the vampires lair. They gladly let me pass. (Instert more dialogue between friends and foe)

 
Crone approached the fairy and called on the dark powers in her soul. But his heart was pure and good, and her spells fell dead to the ground. Tamlin was as most feys, unable to take the world to serious. In this time, it helped him, as he turned Crones dark soul agains it's owner.


Where Crones powers laid in bending the mind, shattering the will of her enemies, Ignis powers was that of pure destruction. Weaving the dreaded power, Tamlin cowered in fear. As Ignis smiled at Tamlins obvious fear, she was taken by surprise as he easily countered her magic. The force of nature was his to command, and fire was a part of nature. Ignis could do nothing but stand dumbfounded and stare as he let earth itself pull her to the ground. The firey one, Ignis had taken the same fall as her witchsister Crone.

   
The vampire rose from his chair, confronting Tamlin. You may have defeated my witches, but I will not fall for your trickery. Sarah was to be mine, not yours. He continued. And I have marked her now, she belongs to me.(bla, bla, bla. More creepy stalker romantic crap dialogue. Fairy- guy defeats vampire guy. Get to that later) 

Once again the door swung open. Sarah cried, but knew it was no point. The dark prince had no mercy for her. Please, she begged, please, no more.


She found herself in a pair of strong arms, Tamlins arms. She wanted to cry, to laugh, but her heart was to torn. The prince had marked her deeper than any of them yet knew. Tamlin, she whispered. You came for me. His voice was a soft whisper as he answered. I would not rest until I found you. We cannot linger for long, the enemies will come to it quickly. You know I cannot harm anything living.....


 
Iva slammed her forhead against the computerscreen. She knew it had been a terrible idea as soon as her publisher had mentioned it. You should write a romantic tale, he had said. About an innocent young girl and supernaturals. Teenagers love those things, and it's all about sales you know. We need to establish a name for you. A part of her knew he was right. She couldn't afford to say no to a contract like that. Or any contract for that matter. She still wasn't established enough to choose what to write herself.

She took of her glasses and rubbed her eyes, before putting them back on. There was no way she would put her name on that garbage. Cannot harm the living, she thought to herself. Vampires are bloody dead. Aren't they? She had no idea. Supernaturals interested her up a certain place. Not that she had a problem with them or anything. Well, she did with some of them, but it was their fault. As far as anyone knew, it was few of them left. Their lifespan as short as any other sim, they seemed to have problems adapting to it.

I'll have them ride away on a bloody unicorn, she thought to herself. That would make the teens swoon, wouldn't it? Whatever happened to interesting stories about fascinating subject; like doorknobs? She sighed again and kept hammering away on the cheesy story. Innocent girls beeing rescued.. she muttered.. .can't they damn well protect themselves?  
She had to go in and rewrite the whole damn thing. It was possible she had made the dullest main- characters in the history of simkind. She had to go back and rewrite most of it. It sucked to hard.

 ---

If you managed to read this far, welcome to my legacy story. Iva is actually generation 10 of the legacy, so she had family and friends in town. I didn't want to leave them all behind, so I just moved her out and treat her as gen 1.  
Iva is a writer if anyone wondered, and finds inspiration in the world and people around her. As I'm sure you'll see in later chapters.