Once again a string of warm and dry weather hung over the city. In general it was better than the opposite, as the air always seemed cleaner and easier to breathe. And it was a great excuse to pull out the summerwarderobe way to early, even if the same sims would end up with runny noses. But the lack of rain could also result in the watermagazines running dry; which could lead to restrictions watering the gardens. And it could cause an increase in electricity prices. Not that it mattered when it was warm outside, but the important part that it was something to complain about.
Bills and tending to gardens was something that kids wasn't bothered with. The most important thing for them seemed to be making lots of noise. And it didn't really matter if they were four or fourty of them, it was always to much sound.
Standing a good distance away, Aino looked at the other children. Despite recognizing some of them from school, she wasn't sure what to do. A part of her wanted to play with them, another one wanted to hide. Mum had said no one wanted to be friends with her, and she was right so far. The dolls hard joints pressed against her stomach, when she squeezed it close. Maybe she should've taken Dragonbow instead, atleast it was soft. Or maybe she shouldn't have taken toys with her at all.
The nurse was with dad, so mum and her were out of the house. Mum was shopping though, and had told her to wait at the playground. So she did, even if the only thing she wanted, was to be together with mum. When mum tried on different outfits, Aino thought it was like having a lifesized barbiedoll, because that's how pretty mum was.
But mum had been angry when she saw she'd snuck Ratatosk with her. Mum hated the doll for some reason. Aino didn't like not listening to mum, because mum got very, very angry. But she hadn't wanted to be alone on the playground.
Is that your doll? The boy asked her, poorly hidden disdain in his young voice. A part of Aino knew she shouldn't answer, it would be best if she didn't answer. But she did anyway: yes....
The boy looked even more confused; Why are you wearing pink? He was clearly a lot cooler then her, so she couldn't avoid answering. After all, mum had said she should wear it; so she did. Mum was always right, the outfit was a lot better to play in than the other she had- and the short hair was easy to mantain: Mum picked it out for me.
Your mum got you a girls shirt! The blond boy exclaimed with surprise; And have you play with dolls! Then he laughed at her, saying: That's sooo stupid! You're stupid and gay, and your doll is ugly and old! After sticking a very red tongue out to her, the way cooler looking boy ran off to play again.
She had to admit she wasn't happy about the pink shirt, she didn't really like pink. But mum said girls wore pink. That boy was strange, why wouldn't she wear a girlsshirt and play with dolls, because she was a girl? That was just stupid. And what was gay anyway? Whispering to Ratatosk she said: Mum was right about this beeing a better outfit. Almost all the kids leaves us alone. Except that one boy, but that didn't matter: I don't think your old though. Aino didn't care that he called the doll ugly, it wasn't important since she liked it herself.
As the blonde boy left, Aino heard a sound behind her. Turning around, she stood face to face with a girl that seemed interested in Ratatosk. The girl smelled really bad, but it would've been rude to say something. She probably didn't have a home, since she didn't look well and probably needed to go to a hospital. Aino felt all shy, but still managed to present a little smile: Hi... It was a bit embarassing talking to a stranger.
The girl looked a bit surprised, and blinked several times before answering, equally shy ofcourse: Hi. Her eyes were kind of milky, so she might be blind. That was probably why she seemed so surprised.
I like your doll. It was really nice of the girl to say that, especially since it had a burned face. But the girls face was a bit mangled. But if she saw the doll, atleast she wasn't blind. Maybe she needed glasses.
Thank you. Do you want to borrow it for a while? The girl nodded and held her hands out to grab it. But she changed her mind before even touching it. Maybe the burned face had scared her a bit: What's your name? Aino asked the girl since she hadn't wanted to play with the toy. Maybe getting to know kids weren't so difficult after all? Not that it meant anyone wanted to be her friend, but knowing someone and beeing friends weren't the same thing.
She looked a bit confused at first, before answering: I don't know.... She didn't remember her own name? She was probably homeless. Mum said that sims like that was a waste of life, but Aino wasn't sure what that meant either: Do you want me to give you one? I'm very good with names. Atleast she hoped she was good with names.
The smelly girl liked long breaks it seemed, because it took a long time before she hesitantly answered: Okay
How about Lillian? She completely looked like a Lillian.
Uhm.. no. That's not it... The other girl didn't agree with didn't seem to excited though.
Lilly? Linn? Linnea? Liza? Maybe Aino wasn't the best to pick out a name. She'd given her doll a terrible name after all. It was probably supposed to have been something else.
I like Liza. It seems close. What did that mean? Close to what?
What was going on? Standing at a distance, Skuld witnessed the scene unfolding. For a while she'd thought the girl was talking to that damned doll again. It was a lot worse; she was talking to thin ain. Her daughter was in public, talking to something that wasn't even there. What if someone noticed?! This was humiliating. How could someone as perfect as her, have such a failure as a family? She'd chosen to forget that Ian had caught her as a murderer, and was innocent of his current condition. After all, he hadn't even been able to overpower her; a woman. He wasn't the only man incapable of that, but he was the only one still alive. But it wasn't because of him, but her because of her choices in the matter.
Smoothly hiding her anger, Skuld walked over the playground all the time having her heels sinking into the grass; hoping the other parents didn't notice the anger boiling within. This was so humiliating! They were all staring at that weird kid! At her daughter! Hers!! Why couldn't the rest of the family be as perfect as her!
Convinced that everyone else noticed, or even cared about that thin childvoice chatting with no- one, calling nothing by name; Skuld bit her teeth even harder together. Please don't let it be another imaginary friend. The girl was crazy with all the things she was imagining.
Aino stood still for a long while, moving her head like she was listening to someone. Then she nodded and said: I like drawing to! And playing with Dragonbow and Ratatosk. Dragonbow is a crocodiletoy with a pink bow. She giggled a bit whilst nodding again. Maybe she had to put the kid on medication? Or stuff her in an asylum somewhere. Wondered how that would affect her income? She had to calculate a bit on that, she wasn't certain what type of financial support was given by the city for psychological health issues. She was almost sure it wasn't considered healthissues unless there was chance of suicide, and barely even then. But Skuld had to admit, not even simoleons could make her feel better about giving birth to this lunatic.
Taking a deep, quiet breath to keep herself from grabbing the girl by the hair and scream in her face; Skuld kept her voice as low as possible: Aino.... Maybe it would help if she'd grabbed the kid by her hair more often. She immideately stopped talking, freezing even. Good, she should respect her mother! But the she went: This is my mum! Isn't she beautiful? To thin air.... for the love of what was good in this nation, why didn't anything go her way? She had a lot more important things to think about than having a crazy kid: Hey... why are you running away? Aino kept complaining to thin air: ....Liza... come back...
What are you doing? Skuld did her best pretending she didn't want to strangle the kid, and throw that doll into the nearest tree. Or beat the girl over the head with it.
I'm was talking to Liza! But she ran when she saw you. Didn't you see her? Giving the most honest look there was. Either she believed it completely, or was a really good liar.
Leaning a bit forward, a quick sideglance on the nearby parents, Skuld answered: Are you trying to be funny Aino? It's not.
What? Then she put up the most innocent face ever seen. Did the girl really try to trick her? That was not something Skuld appreciated. Not at all.
Tightening her muscles, Skuld tried all she could not to slap the girl. There were to many selfrightseous sims around. If they had only knew how tough it was beeing her, they'd let her do whatever she wanted: Why are you lying to your mum? So she tried the other tactic instead: You always embarass me. You are an embarassment Aino, that's why you'll never have any friends. That's why no one wants to be seen with you. Now, appologize.
Some obnoxious brat decided to use the nearby horse, making a damned lot of sound and generally beeing annoying. It also cut a quick stop for any further reprimanding her daughter. What little piece of shit, ruining her opportunity to release her anger this way.
I'm sorry mum. Aino still appologized, but then: But she was right here! I can't believe you missed her. The girl actually opposed her? This was not how she'd been raised.
No one was here! Skuld whisper- hissed: We're going home!
But I wanna talk more with Liza! Was she really opposing her again? That was unheard of!
Home! Now!!! Skuld snared at the girl. There was no way she'd let her get away with embarassing her like this: And leave that fucking doll here! Skuld hated that thing! Mainly because it made her daughter happy.
Aino didn't really want to leave with mum. She loved her, and she was so pretty, but she worried about what would happen when they got home. Ofcourse, whatever happened it would be something she deserved. Mum was always right. She wanted to be a better daughter, but didn't know where to start.
Passing some tall, ugly bloke that smelled a bit bad, Aino turned around to look at him. He actually smiled at her, but it didn't look very nice. Wonder why he did that? Mum had nearly walked straight into him. She'd seen him around before, but didn't really like him. Probably because of the smell.
Oh, now Aino got it. He was looking for Liza! That made sense, since they both smelled like they hadn't bathed in a while. Grabbing her mums hand, she made her turn around: Mum, look! There she is! The smelly guy was probably her dad.
Who? Skuld had already forgotten the name of the imaginary friend.
There! Liza! Aino pointed at the girl and the man: The one chatting with her dad over there!
What are you talking about? Looking at the kid on the swing, and an old man on the other side of the road, Skuld didn't even understand why she'd humoured the girl. That was it. The girl was insane.
Aino took another look at the two sims talking, before mum dragged her away. Couldn't she see them? Maybe mum needed glasses.
Aino smiled to herself. Mum had yelled at Ratatosk when they got home from the park. Aino thought it was funny that it looked like it was running to meet her. She wasn't stupid ofcourse, it wasn't like the doll got back on it's own. Someone had probably seen them leaving it behind, and maybe knew where they lived and put it on the porch. Which for an adult would've been a way scaried aspect than a doll that moved on it's own. But kids minds worked on a lot more innocent level.
You're my best friend. Aino smiled quitely at the doll. It was best that mum didn't see her smile, incase it made her angrier. But she was going to start beeing a better daughter now. She just wanted mum to be happy. It was her fault mum was mad so often.
When mum was done telling her everything she'd done wrong, whilst holding her by the hair; and what an embarassment she was; it was time for Aino to give dad his medication. Mum made it herself, but it was very secret. And the nurse that came by to give dad a bath, and took a look at him, couldn't know anything about it.
Aino thought mum was very kind for making dad medicine from scratch. And it was Ainos job to make sure dad got it, and she did; twice a day. At first she'd though it was supposed to go into his mouth, but she gave him a shot instead. Mum said she should do it, so she did. Even if Ratatosk insisted she shouldn't. The nurse that came by never said anything. But she also gave him shots with medication from the doctor. Maybe the nurse assumed it was marks from the same syringe. She was really good at giving dad his shots, so he never got those big, ugly marks he'd gotten in the beginning.
Everytime the lady in the chair was there, Aino made sure to ask her the same thing: Has anything changed? She still waited for her to nod, but she never did. She shock her head. Aino wasn't sure why the lady in the chair sat in the chair all the time, or why she didn't talk. But mum didn't see her, so she was probably an imaginary friend to. Kind of like Ratatosk. Well, she wasn't always there, but very often. And she wasn't always sitting, she shuffled around during the night, looking for something that she seemed to have lost. Aino had asked if she needed help, but she hadn't answered. That was stupid, because she was really good at finding things! Pretend friends were strange.
A trip to the vault had proved fruitless. It wasn't Skulds first visit, but the outcome was the same this time around. After taking that damned fairy out, her words didn't stop running wild in the mind. What was she supposed to do with the essences? She didn't have a clue. She'd just assumed it would come to her sometime, but it hadn't. It was just a bunch of useless crap she didn't have a need for.
Since Skuld was in such a bad mood to begin with, the sky opened up, signalizing that the dry weather was officially over. It didn't bother her at the moment. She'd rather be cold and wet, than sticky and warm. The view from this place was amazing, but she didn't care about it. The only thing on her mind, was her failure. She'd failed. How could she have believed a dream? What was she, a hippie?! Some of that new- age crap had unfortunately rubbed off on her, she was smarter than that! She'd killed so many sims for nothing.
A drop of rain tickled her nose before finally giving in, dripping down on her lips. She'd had a lot of fun killing them though. She didn't have to stop, the list was still to be finished. It was just something so painful about leaving work half- done. She was a sadist or anything. Ofcourse Skuld knew it was wrong, and illegal. But the important thing was that it didn't affect her. Not even killing off the mayors son had harmed here. The police had eventually found he had high gambling debt, so they assumed he'd made a run for it. So once again she was safe from harms way.
Until someone decided to drain that damned bog. But by then she'd be all everliving, and on her way away from his place. She'd probably be powerful to. Maybe she could start a new life. In Egypt! Her mum was egyptian, so she wanted to have a new life there. She deserved to live in grandiose splendoure, and an ancient egyptian palace seemed rather fitting.
The heels of the shoes starting sinking into the ground that got increasingly soaked. Skuld didn't mind, she had the simoleons to buy herself new. For now she was deep in her own thoughts. This was just a minor setback. She'd make sure to keep the killing going, just for those last sims... and maybe a few more just so she didn't loose her touch. And by the time that was done, she was going to figure it out. Because failure wasn't an option. She was planning to save her daughter for last, because it turned out that the city payed extra for her, since Ian was "ill". And it was unecessary work trying to hide that she suddenly didn't have a daugter anymore.
It would be a dream to get rid of that kid and Ian. They were such a pain in the arse! Smiling at the thought, Skuld had trouble staying serious. To think she'd believed a dream! That was so silly.
Closing her eyes against the rain, enjoying the cooling effect the heavy drops had on her skin, Skuld let her thoughts loose. Sometimes she pretended that she was inside the components, visualizing what happened to them when new ones were added and prepared. But this time she did something more mundane; laughing at the idea that she'd thought some stinky, old bitch had any interest in helping her gain immortality.
Why would some ugly hag like that want to talk to someone as beautiful as her? Like anyone but her, could even be used for something as magnificent as finding immortality. Didn't she already know how to raise the dead? Not that it worked properly, since Ian had been weakened. And then she'd just kept poisoning him to make it worse. She was the best to have ever existed! To think she'd made up some mangled old bitch, that bore some fucked up resemblance to aunt Meave!
Decay. It smelled decay and rotting flesh, bringing tears to her eyes and stinging every time she drew a breath. Her nose made mucus on it's own, desperately trying to protect itself from the stench. Skuld was used to the scent of death, but not the type that felt like it had crawled up from the earth itself: Are you lost, love? And it talked. Nice. Holding her breath, Skuld wondered if her daughters clear insanity of seeing things had gotten to her. Was it contagious? Was this her own imaginary friend? Could she please have another one? The rain felt colder than it had earlier, chilling her all the way from the inside:... are.... who... Why didn't she talk properly? Skuld knew how to talk. For a second, she struggled the urge to stretch her own hand out and touch that thing, just to see if it was real.
Skuld expected to see the womans hands go through her own, maybe with a cold feel. But they were right there; icycold, and of all things: moist. A type that made it feel as if she'd squeezed them, the skin would bubble, then crack and gore would start flowing out of the fresh wounds. This was the same woman, it was her subconscious mind. But it was right there? Was her intelligence so otherwordly that it had manifested her own thoughts? She wouldn't have been surprised. But the woman didn't agree with her: I'm quite real princess. Then she pulled an unsettling grin, showing off bad teeth together with a wave of rotten smell. Skuld pulled her hands towards herself, hoping this creatures arms didn't fall off in the process. Old zombie movies had been a favourite, but not anymore.
It didn't matter how friendly the woman tried to be, Skuld still wanted to vomit at the sight. And even more that smell. It's voice sounded like it should have maggots and flies crawling out if it's mouth. She couldn't see anyone. But if she was to trust the smell... Not even the mucus in Skulds nose kept it away: You're doing very well.... So efficient... So talented...You are so much better than other sims... But this woman was clearly smart, and knew how to talk to someone as impressive as her. So Skuld just let her talk: Don't worry about anything. When you've got all the essences, I will find you. In your own laboratory. And then I'll tell you what to do next... But it's urgent that you work fast.
Laboratory? That was an interesting word to use for her workspace. Maybe she should adopt it for herself?
Skuld was finally able to get some words out: But how.... Just to find herself getting interrupted again: Just think long and hard about me, and I'll know. I can smell it... She doubted that was meant directly. No way this stinker could smell anything else.
Why can't you just tell me right now? That would've been better for Skuld. She wasn't planning on sharing anything with this old horrorfest anyway.
Because you need my help to get the essences in order. And only I can do that.... Then she started staring into the distance, over Skulds shoulder. Quickly turning to check what she saw, she for once felt truly happy that no one was there.
Ofcourse, as soon as she turned around again, the manifestation was gone and Skuld was alone. But the scent of decay still lingered in the wet air. No footprints were visible, but then again why would it be? She didn't know anything about tracking. Somethings were best to forget, and this was probably one of those. Skuld was going to ignore it until she'd found everything she needed. Not that she believed it was real, but.... Well, how about she just thought that she wanted to finish the journey she started? That would work.
The rain suddenly felt very cold down her neck, the pleasant wash long gone. For once she also missed Ian. She could use his warm body now. But on the other hand, she had the number to "what's his name".
She'd even written his number in as "what's his name"... Ah well, she'd phone him anyway. But not meet before freshening up ofcourse. She had bought a new dress, might as well let someone see how perfect she looked in it. Who was she trying to trick, she looked perfect in everything.
NO! Ratatosks voice wasn't as shrieking as it once had been, but it was still pretty light. And it still liked yelling a lot. Aino and it had taken care of dad whilst mum was out. And they both enjoyed it. The doll thought they should stop givind dad his medication, but that was just silly.
Yes, Aino kept her voice firm as they argued: Dad needs it every day, at the right time. I've told you that several times. Now, stop arguing, or else your grounded. She was going to be a great mother someday. Well, they needed a dad to have kids, so maybe she wouldn't. But then she could adopt!!
NOOOOO!!!! Ratatosk and her didn't agree on dads medication. It said Aino should stop giving it to him, but then he'd die! That's what mum said.
That's it! You're grounded! Without supper! That was better than eating spoiled food. Mum made her do it sometimes, to keep her from eating to much. Or else she'd be fatter. That's what mum said.
Ratatosk started crying when it didn't get supper, so Aino felt guilty. The doll ate everything it could get it's wooden hands on, and would probably eat her to if given the chance. But still: I'm sorry. Hugging it even tighter, she said: Okay, you can have supper, but your still grounded! Drawing in the scent of old and dusty fabric, it made her calm even if her nose got a bit itchy. Mum got angry and thought she was ungrateful whenever she cried. That always made her feel guilty. So Aino had just stopped crying. She just wanted mum to be happy, and to be a good daughter. But everytime she fixed one of the bad things she did, she always ended up doing something else wrong.
She looked up when the door closed. Aino had heard mum walking, but hadn't been sure if she'd enter the room. And she got mad when she called through the door. But she wasn't unhappy about looking up: Mum! She exclaimed like a real fangirl: You look beautiful! She did, her mum was the prettiest in the world: You look like one of those women on tv. Mum really did, like she'd walked out of one of those series about the rich and pretty that went on tv. But her mum was a lot prettier than they were.
So you think I'm ugly the rest of the time? Skuld parried quickly. She really hated that doll, she hated when her daughter smiled. Ofcourse the kid should give her compliments, that was natural. But she was allowed to have some fun on Ainos behalf right?
No, she'd said something wrong again: I didn't mean it like that mum! I'm sorry, you're always beautiful. You were just like... new beautiful? With a hard knot in her stomach, Aino hoped she'd said it right this time. She didn't want to hurt mums feelings.
So now I'm old? It was even easier messing with the girls head, than with Ians. And he'd been so simple it wasn't even fun... who was she kidding, it was hilarious!
No! No! Mum you're not old! That was bad, beeing old. Mum hated beeing called old: I mean that you're different beautiful! Like, different from earlier! Was that the right way to say it? It took a long time without mum answering, so Aino continued: You're the youngest of all the mums! And you're the prettiest! I'll never be as pretty as you... Was that right then? Aino hoped it was right. Mum was so tall and slim. She would never be able to wear clothes like that when she grew up. She wouldn't fit mums dress even now. Sometimes, she heard the other girls in school take their mums clothes and makeup, and use it themselves. But Aino couldn't fit mums clothing. That's what mum said.
No, you won't. And do you remember why? As much fun as it was messing with her daughters mind, she had things to do on her own right now. "What's his name" was waiting for her.
Because I'm fat and ugly, so I'll never have any friends? That was actually right, Aino didn't have any friends in school. It was probably the reason. She didn't really see why it was so bad beeing fat, but maybe it was something she'd get when older.
Exactly. You don't deserve love. After a longer break, to make sure that the girl internalized it, Skuld continued: Give me your doll. The girl actually had the nerve to hesitate, making her ask again: I don't like asking twice. Give me the doll. Now.
Quietly waiting whilst mum did her best to break the doll, Aino didn't say anything. Most of all she wanted to cry, because the doll hadn't done anything. But it was her fault for beeing a bad daughter. If she'd just said things right the first time, mum wouldn't have done it. But Ratatosk didn't break easily, so in the end the only thing that went was a chip from it's face. Aino knew she deserved it, she just wanted to be perfect like mum.
I'm ashamed that you are my daughter. Now go to bed. Skuld was mainly annoyed at that damned doll for not breaking. She'd tried pulling the hinges appart, but they had to be made out of dwarfsteel. And the wood was hard, but atleast she was able to break a chunk of its face off, when throwing it on the floor. The important part was that it made the girl unhappy.
Yes mum. Thank you. Atleast the little brat had the manners to thank her for the work she put into things.
This was so easy! If Skuld had known she'd gotten rid of Ian a lot earlier. And as much as she hated the thought of having a stranger inside her, it wasn't that bad. Not that "what's his name" was anything to shout "horray" about, but better than nothing after all. Atleast it took her mind off that disgusting kretin that had showed up at the henge. She didn't feel so cold any more; the stench of that thing was gone from her nose. She'd also decided it was her mind playing tricks on her; definitly a manifestation of her own grand intellect.
Skuld had barely finished putting her clothes back on and fixing up her hair before the guy stopped her: Leaving already? You can spend the night if you want to. Sheesh, what a gentleman. For once Skuld was happy about having a daughter: I can't. I have to get home to my husband and daughter. Why would she want to spend the night with that guy? She'd gotten what she wanted, so now she just felt like planting the heel of her shoes into his stupid face.
His stupid face switched place with a surprised one. What? Did he actually expect someone like her beeing single? You're married? And have kids? Wondered what surprised him the most?
There were many advantages to having a husband that always was bedridden; sims gave her so much sympathy and thought she was "brave". It was one of those words she didn't understand was used in that context: My husbands' been in a coma for a long time. Well, it wasn't really a coma, but whatever: And we have one daughter together.
"What's his name" didn't say anything for a while, before doing exactely what she expected: I'm so sorry to hear that. It must be hard for you. Wow, you're so brave. What an idiot, she didn't care about them. Or this guy for that matter. He just continued though: So... how old is your daughter?
What? Why did he care about her stupid kid: She just started school. Why?
Just trying to have a conversation. Really? Was this something sims usually talked about? Skuld had to remember that. She tended to forget that it was assumed she'd be very interested in her own kid: I really have to go now. She didn't want to stay a second longer, he was gross without clothes. His nipples were almost under his chestmuscles.
Okay. Just call me again if you want some company. She really hoped he meant sex. No way was she interested in talking with this guy.
She'd already forgotten his name. But what did she care. With that out of the way, it was time for her to get back on track. Eternity was waiting.
poses: simswhen, theianyx, spladoum, extraordaire,
Yes, that's the girl from 3.6, and I changed her outfit to something else. I wanted her to stand out as much as possible- artistic freedom is a good freedom.
Skuld was terrified that Aino would get compliments about beeing pretty, because she thinks it means as much to others as it does to her. I think Aino looks a lot cuter now atleast.
And just imagine there's hospitalstuff connected to Ian. I have so much CC to go through at the moment, that I didn't want to go and add more than I already have.
Thanks for reading
