Chapter 53
Mar. 15th, 2018 09:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
simtopi
+90 pictures
*applause*
♫"It's a little bit funny, this feeling inside....
I'm not one of those who can easily hide."♫
♫"I don't have much money, but boy if I did..." ♫
♫"I'd buy a big house where we both could live." ♫
The audience was small, and enraptured by Denise's voice.
On stage, she glowed.
♫"And you can tell everybody... this is your song...
It may be quite simple but now that it's done...."♫
♫"...I hope you don't mind that I put down in words..." ♫
She paused. It wasn't an intentional dramatic effect at the height of the chorus. Her band slowed, following her pace. She blinked, her eyes catching his across the room. It was only her professionalism that kept her emotion in check. He wasn't going to derail her show.
♫ "... How wonderful life is..." ♫
"...While you're in the world..."
Whatever hold Clara had over Clive was gone now. Not that it mattered anymore. Any affection that she held for him disappeared under her anger and sense of self-preservation. In the larger scheme of things, Clive was unimportant.
It was part revenge against Denise's family for what she did to Abigail*. For her mother who screwed up a chance with a man she was supposed to be in love with. He was the wealthy merchant that would eventually merge with the Bairds company, making them the richest family in the city. Abigail wanted that life more than the respect of the Coven. Abigail could have been part of it, but she screwed up and Denise was only a stupid girl who caught her.
Clara hated people who got caught.
(* chapter 39)
Otto: Hello my dear.
Clara: Of course you of all people would come back from the grave to torment me. You're not the first.
Otto: I'm sorry I had to disappear.
Clara: Making things disappear. Right. That's all you're good for. What do you want?
Otto: I thought I'd see you.
Clara: Well I don't want to see you.
Otto: Them's the breaks. We don't always get what we want, do we?
Otto: They mean to kill you.
Clara: Well, some people get what they want, it seems.
Otto: I'm not taking this lightly.
Clara: Am I supposed to be scared?
Otto: I spoke to Malcolm myself. He agreed, if you would throw yourself at the mercy of the Tribunal, the worst they may do is silence you... It's all I could do.
Clara: You must not have tried very hard. Great warlock of the Coven my ass. You might as well go back to selling wands and delivering magic kits. You wouldn't have gone far in the Coven if it weren't for my mother.
Otto: Is that what she told you?
Clara: It doesn't matter, she's dead now. I will be too, because there is no fucking way I'm begging them to save me.
Otto: You've always been wrong about me, Clara. I don't want to you to die. I've always cared about you. Every time you've come home bruised up, every time she struck you.... every tear you've shed... you don't believe it never hurt me too?
(* chapter 43)
Clara: Shut up. Find another hole to crawl into and maybe die for real this time. I don't need you. I never did.
Otto: Clara you can still live...
Clara: Think of what you're saying. So they silence me and take away my magic. What kind of life do you think that is?
Clara: Without my magic, I'm nothing. I'd rather die.
Otto: I wish me being in your life could have helped you, my dear.
Adrian: So you haven't given it a lot of thought?
Jasmine: What?
Adrian: I knew you weren't paying attention.
Jasmine: Sorry, got a lot on my mind.
Adrian: It's been quiet lately. That's a good thing, right?
Jasmine: Too quiet. And I'm not sure if that is a good thing.
Adrian: You know, I'm happy to not worry daily about the end of the world.
Jasmine: Can't help it. You never know what new and horrible thing is creeping around the corner.
Adrian: There's been peace and quiet for two weeks.
Jasmine: It seems like half a decade. Anyway, what are you worried about?
Adrian: I was talking about what you're going to major in. What are you going to do when you get out of here?
Jasmine: You're right. I haven't given it much thought.
Adrian: Do you even know what my major is?
Jasmine paused for a beat or two.
Jasmine: Of course I know.
Adrian: Uh huh.
Jasmine: Biology. And you're a senior. Did I pass the pop quiz?
Adrian: Gold star.
Jasmine: I would have imagined you the star forward of the Bridgeport team, making loads of money, drowning in lucrative contracts, surrounded by hot women.
Adrian: Seriously?
Jasmine: What, that's not appealing to you? You'd rather the glitz and glamour of the medical profession?
Adrian: What's wrong with that? I get to help people.
Jasmine: You're a great player, Adrian. The idea of going pro doesn't intrigue you? Not in the slightest?
Adrian: Okay, I admit it does. But I can't rely on an imaginary sports contract for my future. I don't have much else to fall back on.
Jasmine: You'll be fine.
Adrian: I'm serious. It's nice that you don't have to think of these things, but some of us do.
Jasmine: What's that supposed to mean?
Adrian: ...
Adrian: Forget it...
Jasmine: So basically, I should check my privilege before I say anything. Do you honestly think I'm just coasting by here?
Adrian: ... I didn't mean that. This has been a rough year and I feel like you're not taking any of this seriously at all.
Jasmine: Maybe if you'd had paid closer attention earlier, you would have remembered me saying I've already got a lot on my mind. And no, I don't talk about it all that much, because do you really want to rehash the shit we've gone through lately?
Jasmine: I thought we could spend ten minutes without having to be serious about everything that comes after.
Even if the world ended tomorrow, there would still be a paper due.
Cecilia wasn't sure why she was working on it here. The Campus Cafe was a bit crowded tonight and between the cheerleaders and other freshman trying to impress one another, it was also loud. But when Cecilia got an idea, she couldn't just put it aside... she had to see it through.
Nora: Double espresso, cinnamon shot, soy milk, less foam.
Cecilia: I'm sorry...?
She looked up to see the new barista handing her a beverage.
Nora: You forgot to pick up your drink.
Cecilia: You remembered it was mine? Thank you.
Nora: It's no big deal. And I kind of needed an excuse to say hi.
Two weeks ago, Cecilia would have ignored her, made some kind of excuse, grabbed her drink and shuffled off, embarassed that she had forgotten something. But things were better now.
She couldn't pinpoint exactly when things turned around... maybe when she left Abigail's urn with her sister to dispose of. She couldn't attribute it to lack of ghosts.
After all, there was Marion.
"I was a Landgraab. Marion Landgraab." The ghost introduced herself politely despite Cecilia's initial shock. At this point, she wondered why she was suprised any more. At least this one was being nice.
"Well of course you're trepidatious, my dear. I imagine that your experience with the supernatural haven't been pleasant so far!"
"No, not really." Cecilia replied.
"Well." Marion said, with a gentle tsk-tsk. "Everyone has problems. But I hope you'll find out soon, not all ghosts behave this poorly."
Marion has visited nearly every day, and for once, Cecilia welcomed the company. Even if she were dead.
She learned that Marion was the grandmother of Malcolm IV. She was once a wealthy philanthropist, a beloved benefactor of Sims State University. She generously contributed to the development of many of the campus buildings, and it was her name that was virtually on everything.
This was why she haunted the grounds once in a while. She liked to "keep up" with her legacy.
Even for a ghost, Marion made Cecilia feel comfortable. It was as if she were speaking with her own grandmother.
Tashia: Hey Cecilia. Mind if I ask a favour?
Cecilia: Sure.
Tashia: Can you pick up some of the party decorations after your class today. I would, but I won't be done with rehearsals until after the shop closes.
Cecilia: It's not a problem. I'll take care of it.
Tashia: Sweet, thank you.
Tashia: By the way, I love this sweater on you. It's cute!
Cecilia: You think so? Thank you!
Tashia: I gotta run. Kiss kiss!
With Cecilia's new confidence, she felt less like an outsider and more like a functioning member of society.
Her relationship with her Tri Var sisters seemed to improve vastly. She actually felt included in activities. They joked with her. They hung out with her. They spoke to her.
Maybe the feeling of disassociation was all in her head after all.
When Nora approached her in the café, that momentary feeling of distrust went away. They chatted for a bit... she was easy to talk to.
Cecilia: Oh, we're having a party this weekend.
Nora: The Tri Var party. I know.
Cecilia: It'd be nice to see you there.
Nora laughed.
Nora: Oh I'm not going. Greek house parties... not really my thing.
Some time else, Cecilia would have been insulted. Instead she laughed it off with Nora.
Nora: Wouldn't mind hanging out with you sometime though.
Cecilia: That'd be great.
Maybe things were better because she had a guardian angel now.
"Clara St. Julien."
Malcolm: You stand convicted of crimes of conspiring against the Coven of Dark Witches.
Malcolm: For the abduction of Willow Marlen.
Malcolm: And for the murder of Kimberly Cordial.
Malcolm: Is there anything you have to say?
Clara: Get on with this. This so-called court is a pathetic joke.
Malcolm: And no one is laughing. The Tribune has declared their judgement.
Malcolm: Six of the nine have chosen your fate Clara.
Malcolm: By the next full moon, you will be put death.
The witches looked up, beyond Clara and into the audience of witches that had gathered to witness the trial.
Malcolm: Miss Marlen.
Malcolm: Would you like to make a statement?
A word from her and they would show Clara mercy.
She was the Heir, after all...
Willow: I don't have anything to say.
Next » [ Chapter 54: Victims ]
* some of the screenshots with Jasmine and Adrian were taken in 2013. All the other screenshots are recent. It took me a week to put the sims and the lots I needed back together from back-ups and another week to relearn how to play Sims 2, pose sims, and shoot scenes. I wish I could say it's as easy as riding a bike. But it was interesting.
I added this last teaser in 2013. That’s still part of the story, but I’ve pushed it to a different chapter and will have to be reshot
♫ Lyrics from "Your Song" by Elton John
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