Lark Plays the Sims

Hi all! So here’s my recap of what happened gameplay wise.

Yes, Lorax is pregnant again. Yes, at some point Brendan had 3 kids with two other women not his wife. His wife had a kid with another woman. And for some reason Lorax and Brendan are soulmates. It’s awesome.

I did not plan on having Lorax get pregnant again. In fact, the option selected was woohoo... but I have a mod that does make a chance for risky... and he literally was just abducted so this could be an alien baby... no clue.

See all those gnomes in the background? They keep dropping seed packets worth $100. I had Lorax open a few, but he’s now got a fridge full of enough veggies and fruits to last him through the end of challenge so I’m just going to sell them.

And trust me, this is just the tip of the bucket. I’ll be documenting how many seeds I get at the end of each week.

So this is how much we earned.

Here’s our current progress.

And here’s our house after we did renovations. I’m going to allow myself to place any object Lorax steals or earns from promotions during the week. Other than that, I’m adhering to the rules.

Lorax emerged from the bathroom to find Brendan still there. “I’m pregnant.”

Brendan shoved the plate of food he was holding into Lorax’s hands. “Here, you need this more than I do. And... I think we both need to sit down.”

“This cannot happen again. I was dazed from my ordeal and unable to think rationally.” Lorax took a bite of food. “I still care for you. More than I should. But what I want and what I can have are two completely different things.”

“You can still have me.”

“I refuse to be your leman. I deserve someone who can give me all of himself. And you, frankly, cannot.”

“You’re right.”

“I often am.”

“I still want to be a part of our children’s lives.”

“I’m not asking you not to be. You cannot, however, have any claim on mine.”

“I suppose that’s fair.” Brendan pointed at Lorax’s baby bump. “Call me when that one is born.”

“I will.”

When Lorax returned dazed from his ordeal, he found Brendan there. It was the first time since Allerax’s birth that he’d come over. It was a fortuitous arrival, even if Brendan couldn’t figure out how to change a diaper.

“Thank you for being here when I could not.”

“Hey, my dad sense was tingling. Aliens, right?”

“Is that what they are?” Lorax was still dazed. Out of his mind. Which could probably explain what happened next.

Life entered a sameness for the next few days for Lorax.

Take care of Allerax.

Take care of himself.

Paint.

It was simple. Uncomplicated

It was boring.

Until...

Lorax called Brendan as he’d promised. But rather than have his former lover there for the birth, he sent him away. Not out of anger, but necessity. Lorax needed someone to get diapers, formula, bottles, and a crib. Brendan got volunteered.

Life went on.

Until...

“Put my key on the counter and leave.”

“Can we talk?”

“You can talk, but remember I’m the one holding a sharp, pointy object. So choose your words carefully.”

“I want to be here for our child.”

“I do not want, or need, your assistance.”

“That’s just it. You don’t know how much work a kid is.”

Lorax shot a glance that could melt iron at Brendan. “And you do?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Thank you for the words, but they are just that. Words.”

“I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“And yet you have succeeded beyond all measure.”

Brendan sank down into the chair Lorax had scavenged from the flea market. “I get it. I screwed up. We’re done. I accept that.” He leaned forward. “What I don’t accept is you throwing me out of our child’s life.”

“There is no child yet.”

“But there will be. And for the sake of our child, I’d like it if we were civil to each other at least. That means you’ve got to get all of your anger out on me now when the kid can’t hear it.”

“Fine.” Lorax grabbed a plate of food and waddled into the living room to eat. It was unwise to remain so close to so many possible weapons.

“You lied to me.”

“Tech--”

Lorax cut him off. “A lie of omission, perhaps. But still a lie. Worse. You broke a vow. You were untrue, unfaithful, and unkind. Why do you think I would even consider allowing someone of such low moral fiber near my child?”

“Because I’m its father.”

“A father provides guidance and care. You were merely an unfortunate genetic donor.”

Brendan broke down into gale upon gale of laughter.

“My words were not a jest.”

“I know.” He tried to stifle the giggles. “It’s just the way you said it. I come from a big family. One that despite all outward appearances is very conservative. It’s almost unheard of for a Doran to be gay. So, when you’re like me, you tend to overcompensate.”

“Four biological children is more than just overcompensation. A wife is more than just overcompensation.”

“I didn’t know you then. And I didn’t know there could be an us then. If you ask me to leave my wife--”

“I’m no homewrecker!”

“And there we are.” Brendan’s tone was sad, belying the smile on his face. “I’ll go. If you want your key back,” he fished around in his pocket and held it out.

“Keep it. I’ll call you when the baby is born.”

Lorax checked the mail regularly over the next week but no key.

When he had money, he’d have to get his locks changed.

Mostly he worked.

And wondered.

Brendan kept texting. And Lorax kept not answering. He missed Cassandra but she was at school. He didn’t want to bother her.

Instead he got a job. There was an opening at the nearby museum and Lorax’s years of painting would serve him well.

Lorax felt queasy. Incredibly queasy. He knew that as an elf his biology was different from those of a human, but it was too soon. It had to be his disappointment.

But a little voice in the back of his head told him he was wrong. He bought the first pregnancy test he could, hoping his fears were unfounded.

They weren’t.

He dug out his cell phone and called Brendan to ask him to meet him at the club.

Brendan hurried in not long after. “Lorax, are you okay? You sounded upset over the phone.”

“What else can I be when I discover that I’m carrying a child with an adulterer?”

“A child?” Brendan stared at Lorax’s stomach. “You’re pregnant?”

“I am.”

“But that’s great! That’s wonderful! Another child. I’m ecstatic!”

“Another child?” Lorax stared at him. “How many children do you have?”

“Including yours?”

“Yes.”

“Five. Four that are mine and one step-daughter.”

Lorax blinked. “I- I see. You’ve been busy.” He struggled not to cry. “Was everything you said a lie?”

“Not everything. You are the only man I love. The only person really. Everyone else is just a fling or an arrangement.”

“I need to go.”

When Lorax and Brendan climbed out of the leaf pile, Lorax felt certain he knew what he wanted. Knew it in his bones. “Marry me.”

Brendan froze then took a half step back. “I can’t.”

The heart which had been beating in breathless anticipation skittered to a stop. “What? Why?”

“I’m already married.”

“What?” Lorax’s voice was flat.

“My parents arranged it. I don’t love Candy, but she needs me.”

The excuse sounded thin to Lorax’s ears. “Then why not tell me this. Why keep this secret.”

“Because at first I was ashamed. I mean what teen can’t date because they’re already married? Then, it was because being with you made me feel something I hadn’t felt before, and I didn’t want it to end.”

“And now it is over.”

“It doesn’t have to be.”

“It does. I hold marriage as sacred. I will not disgrace your wife and myself by allowing myself to be a part of your philandering ways.” He held out his hand. “My key.”

“I don’t have it on me.”

“Then I expect you to return it in the mail.” Lorax turned away, not wanting to even look at Brendan any longer.

Lorax found the change he wanted in the arms of his boyfriend, Brendan. Brendan’s lips on his were enough to make him forget himself. 

“I bet this pile is big enough to woohoo in.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah.”

“What makes you think that?”

“I mean just look at the size of it! It’s huge!”

“I bet you say that to all the men.”

Brendan laughed. “No other men, Lorax. Just you.”

Brendan darted forward. His lips covered Lorax’s own. “I love you. I want to show you how much.” His hands came up to capture Lorax’s. “You’re the only man I love. The only one.”

Lorax let himself fall into the kiss. Let his inhibitions and reservations melt like he did in Brendan’s arms.