Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Chapter 3.3- Mystical Psychic Power of Electricity



            “I got one, Rog!” Mariah’s sang out triumphantly. “Get over here! Come look.”
            It had been quite some time since Roger found Mariah pregnant, grieving and alone in her home and the pair were now nearly as inseparable as they were during their childhood. The renewed closeness hadn’t happened overnight, or even after several days.



            “Exercise is good for the baby, right?”
            “Shut up and dance.”
            The renewed closeness began with the interest Roger took in Mariah’s pregnancy. He devoured pregnancy books one after another and even begged to attend a birthing class with Mariah. To her relief, he didn’t throw her a baby shower. He merely threatened to.




            “I swear, you’re killing me on purpose,” grumped Mariah as Roger snickered. “I thought we were playing as a team!”
            “If this were a team game don’t you think we’d be sitting together?” he returned with a grin.
            Having Roger around again meant Mariah was once more venturing out of her house. She’d pretty much locked herself inside out of grief and shame and he’d noticed that. First, he asked her gently to go places with him. In frustration with her continual negatives he’d finally forced her to join him for outings. Soon enough her reluctance dropped away and she wanted to pick what they would do those spring afternoons.




            One of her first choices was a movie, some sci-fi-ish secret government agent flick that was the latest in a series. Roger had been highly excited about it, but regretted letting her go with him as she’d sat in the theatre snorting over the plotline. As the movie wound up she’d given up all pretense, openly heckling the screen as tears of laughter ran down her cheeks.




            He’d ‘retaliated’ by taking her to the nicest place in town to eat, where she had insisted on eating outside after one of the old biddies passed them to enter, making barely veiled comments about Mariah’s giant belly blocking her path.
            “Really,” Roger soothed. “It’s not about you so much as you really were kind of taking up the whole doorway. She was very rude about it though.”
            “Oh, don’t side with her. It’s because I’m pregnant without a ring on my finger, I know it,” Mariah scoffed into her pie. Cherry pie. This pie ought to be slathered in chocolate. She needed chocolate. Like now. Maybe Roger could order some chocolate cake and share… Ooooo! Chocolate cake and a lasagna. And a pickle! Yes! That sounded fantastic! But first, pie.
            “If you want a ring on your finger we could remedy that,” Roger said leaning forward, voice barely more than a whisper, his eyes sparkling in the candle light.




            “It’s a joke, Mariah,” Roger rolled his eyes as Mariah choked on a cherry, the heat on her cheeks visible. “You know no one is looking at your hand when they arent able to tear their eyes off your glowing face.
            She just wasnt sure he actually was joking, or if the compliments werent sincere. Roger had been strangely intense lately. It had put her off at first, but now she kind of liked this more confident, assertive Roger.




            He’d insisted he get to choose their next outing too, since Mariah made him eat outside in the cold. His choice? Bowling. Hers?
            “I’ve already got a bowling ball inside of me, I am not chucking one down that lane! Pool! Come play pool!”
            “I’m sorry, I couldn’t hear you over the LAME coming from your general direction. I came here to bowl!”
            They ended up compromising with skeeball instead. And Roger insisted on another chance to pick where they ended up since she’d again stymied his plans.




            “You’ve got to be kidding me,” Mariah snorted.
            Today, they were at the Love Day festival for its final day in town.
            “I am not,” Roger scoffed back. “And you promised that you’d do whatever I wanted and I want to see what that Love Tester is all about.”
            “We’re not a couple!” blushed Mariah. Blushing? Really? It was Roger, her very best friend! Blushing was for love sick puppies and people with crushes and oh dear PlumbBob, were her arms tingling even? “That thing is for couples!” she hissed.
            “Last time I counted we are two sims and two sims make a couple of sims,” he insisted, giving her a gentle push. “Love Tester. Now. Go.”




            “Really?” She’d whined once more, refusing to give in gracefully. “It’s not like this thing can actually do anything. It’s just a randomizer connected to a sequencer connected to little colored light bulbs that you pay to activate.”
            “And we’re going to activate it,” he answered, shoving coins into one of the slots. “You promised.”
            “I’m just going to laugh at the result. Unless it’s one of the blue bulbs down there. You know that right?”
            “And? You said it yourself, we’re not a couple,” his voice was suddenly low and cold. Mariah shrank into herself a little, frowning. She hadn’t meant to upset him.




            Her stomach sank, strangely disappointed when the first set of bulbs lit up after they squeezed the… Well, Mariah didn’t want to say what it was but she sure knew what it looked like.
            About to take her hand off the… the thing to gloat when she felt Roger touch her elbow and her stomach cartwheeled again, goosebumps erupted from where his fingers rested making her shiver.
            “It’s not done yet,” he whispered, his face so close to hers she could count his lashes. She hadn’t been expecting him to be so close and she caught her breath, her eyes dropping to his lips as she bit her own. “Let the mystical psychic power of electricity finish.”




            Mariah turned back to the machine, cheeks still aflame, hoping he hadn’t seen through her. Slowly, slowly, the colored bulbs lit up one after the other, climbing higher.



            Passionate. That top little red light blinked back at the silent pair. At first, she’d felt slightly giddy, her cheeks burning (again,) her neck warm, anticipation creeping down her spine, a sense of triumph filling her brain, her heart leapt with joy. Then she heard Roger take in a slow deep breath and fear, doubt and disappoint suddenly burbled up in her. She was pregnant. She was pregnant with Andre’s baby, her mother had just died, she was barely old enough to qualify as an adult, she had bills to pay, she was due any moment now, she didn’t have a job yet, Roger was her best friend and how could she get his hopes up to something that would surely be nothing more than a disappointment to him, why would he want her anyway, she didn’t know he liked her like that, how could he like her like that, she was being stupid and hopeful and gullible, she was an idiot and needed to spare him from the drudge that was her and her soon to be child. She was a moron.
            “Bathroom, b-baby, bladder,” she grunted before he could say anything, waddling away as quickly as she could, refusing to look behind her.


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            “I-Don’t-Want-Any-More-NEWSPAPERS!” Growled Mariah, the newspaper girl had put up her hands in defense.
            “You’ve paid for it, ma’am! I’m just supposed to deliver them!”
            “Then why are you asking questions?”
            “I just wanted to know about your-”
            “I don’t like questions! They make me angry and when I get angry?” She reared back as Roger came around the corner, fresh off his shift.




            “I get very Very angry!”
            “Please! Just call the office and cancel your subscription like you’re supposed to!”
            “I have! And you’re still here asking endless questions about things that don’t concern you! Delivering newspapers I.Don’t.Want!”




            AAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!! I’m going to eat you if you ever come back! Get out of here! Why are you standing there? Run little girl RUN!”


            Cackling as evilly as she could Mariah watched the poor, prying little girl run away shrieking her head off. Mariah had indeed cancelled her subscription several weeks ago and yet the girl still came. And every day she rang the bell when she delivered, and then tried to ask endless questions about the baby and when it would be here and, worst of all, where was the daddy. Today was the final straw.
            “And don’t Ever come back!”




            Mariah was still laughing when she finally spotted Roger.
            “Really?” Roger asked.
            Batting her lashes, Mariah pouted at his frown.
            “She’s been annoying me! And she won’t go away. Trust me she deserved-”




            “-Don’t even try to tell me she deserved that!” exploded Roger. Mariah didn’t believe it though. If he only knew what the girl had been doing.
            “Oh, Roger-”
            “-No! You don’t get the right to drive away a child like that!”
            “But she’s been a pest and around at all times and asking tons of questions-”
            “So you send her on her way without giving her nightmares and a complex! You are about to be a mother! It’s time you think like one!”




            “Did you ever think that maybe kids just ask a lot of questions and don’t get what’s okay to ask and what’s not? Did you think that perhaps the message didn’t get relayed to her that you cancelled your subscription? Did you think that her parents could actually report you for that when she runs home and tells them? Did you want to be arrested?”
            “No-I didn’t-I just-OOooooh!”
            “What, so you get it now?”




            “No, it’s not-OOoooww-”
            “So you don’t get how it’s not okay?
            “It’s not that,” Mariah panted. “Rog, I’m in labor!”
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            Yeah, yeah cliffy. But- Roll Reveal!
            The Miscellaneous Fun roll is!



            No Strangers



            Hence why she’s chasing off the nosy newspaper girl. I’m not going to have many opportunities of ‘showing’ in story how that’ll play out other than Mariah doesn’t like to have people ask questions about her and likes her privacy, so you get that reveal now. Lol. Also, it's to kind of show that little mean streak and temper she still has.
            For those who follow my simblr and saw the gif of Mariah and the 3 wise guys at night: she went into labor like 5 different times since, for the life of me, I couldn't remember to put in the pregnancy controller to get everything shot. That take just happened to make me giggle with the 3 synchronized sims.
            Also, the next chapter is kind of a part 2 to this one. I’d originally intended for them to be one chapter, but there was a little too much going on to leave it as one long chapter. I promise a baby in the next one, for sure. ;)

24 comments:

  1. Bowling with a pregnant lady, Roger? Really? It's difficult just putting on socks!! He wasn't joking about the ring, any more than Mariah was joking about her craving for pickles.

    It's really sweet though, Mariah kind of saved Roger and got him out of his shell, when they were kids. Now he gets to repay the favour. And getting pregnant ladies to do something they don't want is quite the accomplishment!! That handle on the love machine does look like a ....ahem.... well, no wonder Mariah got all blushed :)
    And who's the rude lady complaining about her blocking the doorway? Just some random stranger, or am I just getting as neurotic as Mariah is?

    I can't wait to see the baby! Andre has pretty genes, even if he is a scumbag! And maybe Roger just has to move in to help her :D *crosses fingers*


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    1. I attempted bowling with hubs when pregnant with our oldest. Yeeaaahhh, not again. lol. No. He wasn't kidding. But Mariah can always manage to convince herself of whatever she wants.

      Aw! I didn't think of his doing all of that as a way to repay! You're right though. lol And he is continually looking for a way to pay her back. Hmm, now I wonder if he'll figure it out too?

      Lol, the random sim complaining was actually her Aunt Nalleli. Ha! But Mariah just stood in the doorway for aaaaages and wouldn't move so Nalleli threw a routing tantrum.

      I will probably show a pic of grown up baby well before she hits YA because she is a very important milestone for me. And OMG she's gorgeous! Playing with genetics with Andre and Mariah was a dream! I had like 5 candidates for this baby and I wanted them all. <3

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  2. THAT IS NOT A NICE CLIFFHANGER!
    *mutters something about hanging you off a cliff, see how you like it*

    Aggressive time over :) Sorry about that.
    This chapter was sweet, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of "Aw" when Mariah said the whole 'not a couple' thing. Maybe they can be passionate friends with benefits? Then again, look where the last romance got her.
    Ah well, Roger isn't a scumbag like Andre. (I can't believe I liked that guy *hangs head in shame*)

    I loved her yelling at the newspaper girl. Couldn't help but think that's the kind of adult I wanna be, the kind that terrifies small people that bug me. Future career for Future Carrie! :D

    I'm glad Roger and Mariah are friends again though :3 and I'm glad he's helping her. That, and he is pretty cute without those glasses on *shudders* ugh, glasses, even though I'm wearing them now. I wish mine were just accessories like sim ones, apart from I'd end up walking into a lot of walls...

    Getting off topic there! Anyway, the love machine handle did look a lot like a... Well, yeah. It is the /love/ machine after all ;)

    I can't wait to see her baby though. This comment really isn't in any kind of order. I'm referencing to different things at different times. Hehe :3

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    1. Yes, but the next one is already written and will be out soon. ;) So at least I won't leave you hanging for long.

      Lol. She is very gun shy when it comes to romance/relationships at the moment. Her mantra is "Burn me once shame on you, burn me twice shame on me." She might overlook one or two small things (Roger occasionally flying off the handle with her,) But she's determined not to make anymore missteps. After that... we'll get there. ;)

      Hahahahaha! The *love* machine with it's *love handle, eh? lol

      We'll see a larva next time and hopefully a grown up pic soonish. =D
      Ah! But Andre's goal was to deceive. He just got you too. Don't feel too bad. He did far worse to Mariah.

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  3. Love that Roger has thrown himself head first into Mariah's pregnancy. It's because he looooooves her and she loooooooves him. :) Loved how you showed the No Strangers part. Poor little traumatized newspaper delivery girl. That'll teach her to keep delivering those stupid newspapers that no one ever uses!

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    1. Lol. Well, we know for sure his side of things. We'll just have to see what hers really is, huh? ;)

      Yes! Down with the endless newspapers! =D

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  4. snort. Roger? Throw a baby shower? That had me laughing, lol.

    "you really were kind of taking up the whole doorway"--LOLLLLL

    Interesting that Roger brought up putting a ring on her finger. I somehow doubt he'd really propose like that, but maybe he was planting the idea in her head? Seeing how she reacted to the idea?
    Mm. Yes, I like this confident and assertive Roger too.
    Very smooth, Roger, pointing out that they technically ARE a couple. And I'm starting to think that Mariah may like more than just the confidence and assertiveness, hurhur.

    hehehehehe purple handjob!

    Whoa. Why was the newspaper girl asking questions about her pregnancy? Did someone put her up to it? Roger did have a point though. She had way too much fun tormenting the girl, and she better get used to kids asking inappropriate questions.

    WHAT! WE DON'T GET TO SEE ROGER'S LABOR FREAKOUT?! cruel cruel.



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    1. He's just a tad over exuberant. But he's trying to prove something.

      Yup, famous last words of many a person when spoken to a pregnant lady. He's lucky she was distracted by pie.

      He was testing her reaction. At that point they'd been 'going out' (unofficially in his head, lol) for almost a month. He's also kind of figured out that she's beginning to rely on him and he was wanting to see how that had developed in her head. If she'd said yes, even jokingly back, he probably would have jumped on board before she realized what had happened. But her choking at the idea at least let him know that she wasn't completely adverse to the idea. ;)

      He was fairly hurt at her insistence since they have been going out and doing a lot of 'date' type things for a while at that point. He's doing everything in his power to make sure she catches on to his intention without stating it just so she knows he's interested, despite everything else. Hoping she would begin to see what was going on so that when he felt she was ready he could make an official move. But, as you see, Mariah is stubbornly refusing to see things that way and is insisting she's nothing more than a drudge.

      Nah, the girl was just curious and thinks she 'loves' babies and hopes to play with it is all. My daughter has asked pregnant women far worse. ;)

      Hey now! I didn't say that! ;) You'll see what you see next time. =D

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  5. "As the movie wound up she’d given up all pretense, openly heckling the screen as tears of laughter ran down her cheeks." - that's my Mariah. But attacking the little newspaper girl was just plain mean!

    Andria baby! Now I'm curious if André will ever come back and suddenly want to be a part of his child's life. Probably not. But maybe?

    Those are some serious heels for a woman in labor!

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    1. Mariah will attack though, if she feels threatened. She's done it before and perhaps will do it again. It's by no means nice, and certainly not smart, but it's her way of dealing with what she considers overwhelming stress.

      We will indeed see Andre again. As much as I'd like to see his backside, he's not gone by a long shot.

      Hey now! There is never an excuse for not looking fabulous. ;) So long as she doesn't fall off of those heels. Ha!

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  6. I love Roger so much, he's so good to Mariah and it's lovely to see him paying back all the good she did for him when they were kids. I hope that eventually she sees how much he loves her and reciprocates.

    Wow, that rant at the poor newspaper girl! The poor kid's just doing her job and being a normal curious kid *hugs newspaper girl*

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    1. Roger is fantastically good for Mariah. He might want to rush in and follow Taylor's advice, but he also knows Mariah well enough to know that slowly works much better. I believe that, to a degree, Mariah *does* see how much he cares for her. She's just really trying to deny that in an attempt to protect them from getting hurt or losing the closeness they have now.

      She really was just doing her job. I felt awful shooting it even because it looked just terribly mean to the poor girl. But but but.. ;)

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  7. Wow, those are quite the heels she is wearing, lol

    It's nice to see them hanging out again, and rekindling their friendship. They are so cute together!

    And Mariah with the newspaper girl cracked me up, haha That's the sort of thing Colin likes to do---of course---he's not always the nicest of guys, lol

    And yay for baby! I bet the baby will be a cutie, with Mariah as the mom, and while Andre might be a schmuck, he is a very good looking one! :P

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    1. I ought to take a pic of some of my favorite heels. And I bought them when I was 4 months along with my daughter. lol.

      They're freaking adorable! I love them both bunches. <3

      Mariah has a bit of a mean streak in her. She doesn't pull it out often, but it's there. And lol, I could totally see Colin frightening off the poor newspaper girl too.

      I've seen her. I can't WAIT to show her off! I'm really excited about that. But I'm going to have to get some things organized first and I've got to finish the project that is at the front of my mind before I can focus on that. But it's coming! We'll see her in all her glory very soon. <3

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  8. Haha, I can't go see bad movies because I act like Mariah!

    Oh, poor little girl! But hopefully she won't come back. :p

    Agh! That's an evil cliffhanger! I want to see how Roger handles it.

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    1. I do too! I like to think too much Mystery Science Theater 3k growing up did that to me, but then again, there is no 'too much MST3k.'

      Nope! She won't be coming back. lol

      You'll see pretty soon! ;)

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  9. I'm so sorry it took so long to get here :'( I still love you, promise!!

    Ugh, this 'will they, won't they?' scenario is torture! They both like each other but both don't realise the other likes them and... *sigh* Sims. What can we do, eh?

    And ending it in labour?! MEAN CLIFFY!!!

    Short, I know. :( Sorry, I got here too late and everyone else said everything.

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  10. Gemma!!! *Hugs! Hi!

    Lol. Exactly. What can you do when it's sims? ;)

    Ending in Labor! And hey! It doesn't matter what anyone else said. It matters that you say what you think. ;)

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  11. I had to look that one up. I dunno if I got that on ANY roll I've ever done.
    TELL HER, dammit!
    Btw, when did Roger start getting hot?

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    1. It's proven interesting. lol. Grinding Layla and Iggy's careers before they passed helped with this roll a LOT. Someone's gotta stay home if you can't call a babysitter? lol. There was a proposed amendment to this roll on the MTS thread some months before this chapter was shot and I'm using that amendment. To make it a little more difficult it really means No Strangers. Only Friends or Family with a relationship level above acquaintances can be invited to the lot unless your child brings them home from school. But if they do, you have to befriend them before they leave. I went ahead and made the newspaper delivery person off limits on lot too. So it leaves only Paps and the mail person coming to the lot without being friends or better.

      Lol. He really needs to. =D

      Ha! When I stopped purposely putting him in derpy outfits and hair. LOL

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  12. The shots at the love tester were really cool! Though I had to laugh at Roger's uneven tan XD

    I loved how Mariah scared away the newspaper girl. Too funny! And a great way to justify the no strangers roll.

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    1. I have far too much fun crawling into objects for shots. Haha.

      Thank you! It's a tougher version of the no strangers rule to not even allow anyone on lot who isn't a friend, but I love it.

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