#summer 1007

Trait-giver Zuri: I heard you've been stuck babysitting their egos.

Protector Kenny: Nah. Just living out my purpose as an Enamourer. How are you, Nebula?

Zuri: Good. I missed you, handsome.

Kenny: Starting with the compliments already?

Zuri: Only cause it's true.

Kenny: Thanks. But I wanted to talk to you about that.

Zuri: Talk to me about it? Am I that bad with the romantic interactions?

Kenny: No, you're great! If you were a mermaid, your lullabies would rival mine. I'm just wondering if that's a song you genuinely want to

sing. Do you get what I mean?

Zuri: I do. And, umm, not really but -

Kenny: Then don't sing, Nebula.

Zuri: But I actually like you, Kenny. It's not a flirty buff. But you give me an energized buff that I've never felt before.

Kenny: Energized, huh? I'm good staying friends.

Zuri: Is that what you want?

Kenny: It's not what I want but I don't want you to feel like you have to force it.

Zuri: I don't feel like I'm forcing wanting you. I feel like I have to force how to show it. I get that merfolk are wired to -

Kenny: Being a merman is just part of who I am, Z. My defining trait will always be self-control.

Zuri: That's not one of the traits.

Kenny: It is when Elohim is the one in charge of my coding. Look, I'll admit romantic attraction is a big deal. I like talking with you about your work and your life. Drinking bubble tea and watching dramas with you. And you and I can enjoy that with any other sim. 100%. But I also like the way you start biting your lip when you get impatient.

Zuri: See, you saying something like that should give me an angry or embarrassed buff but I get an energized one instead.

Kenny: I'm not using a lullaby. I promise.

Zuri: I know. I trust you. With Damie - with my ex, it was always either a lullaby or fear. Cause he would get - never mind...

Kenny: Hmmmm. *exhales* Um, I like you, Nebula. Sorry, just noticed I didn't say that when you said it earlier.

Zuri: It's okay.

Kenny *awkward laugh*: This feels awkward, yeah?

Zuri *awkward laugh*: 100%. I ran our coding through the Enamourer system. Just for fun. It said we have bad compatibility.

Kenny: I believe it. But I still want to see where this goes if you're genuinely interested.

Zuri: I am. So stop freaking out if I hug you or hold your hand or whatever. Like yeah, I'm forcing it a bit cause physical interactions are not really my thing. But it's still a choice I want to make. With you. 100%.

Kenny: Alright, alright. I'll chill. As long as we're stopping at the hugs.

Zuri: Yeah, that's it.

Kenny: Good. That boundary makes this easier for me. Being a pastor and all. I'll keep the lullabies and merman buffs under control.

Zuri: Sounds good. So, I guess, that's that? We're like a couple or whatever?

Kenny: Almost. I gotta take you somewhere first.

Zuri: Where?

Kenny: It's a surprise.

Zuri: I don't like surprises.

Kenny: Are you just saying that or do you mean it?

Zuri: I mean it! I really hate surprises.

Kenny: Okay, I gotta do the cheesy azure dolphin move at least.

Zuri: Oh, my watcher. Seriously, you do not.

Kenny: It's tradition! You can't be my sim without your own azure dolphin. Let's go.

Zuri: Your sim?

Kenny: I can't say that?

Zuri: Umm, I'll allow it.

Chapter 20.1

Moji: Start with her but then make sure that the selection process is random. Understood?

ServoLiam: Yes, ma'am.

Moji: And Dane, I want the lifeforce and pixels redirected to reincarnation only.

Protector Undane: Pixel donation does not make up for what you plan to do, Head Dreamer.

Moji: Are you questioning me?

Dane: As a long time friend of your parents, yes. Dreamers live for their legacies. And merfolk -

Moji: I know my roots, Dane. Dismissed.

Watcher Victoria: 1459 pregnancies and I've never seen something so foul.

Watcher Ungoril: What are you talking about?

Victoria: Don't play dumb. Dane is already hovering over Destiny's hospital like an overeager grimtern. This isn't an accident! This isn't even a common enhancement. What the void are you and Moji planning to do with my Destiny and the baby?

Ungoril: There's no plan. You saw Jesse turn down the appeal. We're keeping the baby. I don't know why she's in the hospital!

Victoria: Lies! All that shit Moji and Ravi used to talk about Odenna. But they're no better. How could you live with yourself knowing that your so called friends still pick and choose who gets to survive based on their fickle morals?

Architect Ravi: Why didn't you tell me, Moji? You can't keep making decisions like this for one or two legacy families that you love.

Head Dreamer Moji: I should just convince an entire generation of fairies to die emotional deaths instead?

Ravi: That is not the same.

Moji: It's worse! You keep lecturing me about my priorities. You keep telling me to keep my dreams realistic so that you can do it. But I don't need your permission, Ravi. Just like you don't need mine.

You and Walker can keep making your big boy decisions without consulting me. And I'll just keep "losing my cool over insignificant relationships" since that's all I'm good for. Zena took Desiree away from me and Jesse. And you tried to strip Oasis of everything that would have given Desiree back to Jesse. I will not let any sim get in the way of my legacies again. Jesse, Jason, Janiyah and Acadia's kids will have the life I want for them for as long as I'm here. I couldn't care less about anything else. So just keep shutting me out of most things since that's what you want to do. But stay the void out of my way!