#wormgameplay

CATCH UP: The Anoras say goodbye to their matriarch Mina, as Cyrus finally returns from the Homeland expedition. After the grim start, the family does the best they can to finally get their toy store running. These are very difficult days for Cyrus, full of big life changes, and even harder days for his children, having to navigate the grief and the hard work along with the usual chaos of their teenage lives. Is this rotation when it finally starts looking up for this clan?

...please, ignore Aranni and Gillian. Agent Gillian doesn't have any reason to attend Mina's funeral, but I used him to faciliate the photoshoot, so when he decided to stand in the frame, I let him. Aranni, on the other hand, has no excuse whatsoever. She simply crashed the funeral.

Alas, onto happier things! This is the Anora Residence. It's a small house, with the more expensive furniture mostly inherited all the way from Aileen and Adora (Mina's moms). Given that the family desperately needs more space and that they got various financial injections lately, I've rebuilt it at the start of this round.

This is what the Anora Residence looks like now! It's considerably bigger, so each of the remaining children has their own room, and the shared spaces are a bit roomier, too, to accommodate 5+ Sims using them often at the same time.

Plus, Io finally gets a car to restore! (Cedric wanted to buy her a car outright, but he could only afford the wreck. Little did he know that it was exactly what she wanted!)

Cyrus begins painting for a living. It's not much, but for the first time in his life, he can at least say it's honest work.

He's interrupted by a phone call. It's Iulius Fiera, who for some reason expresses concern for Cyrus in the wake of Mina's loss, and invites him for a night out. He makes it clear that it's NOT a date, since he also invited some other people. Oliver, for example. Cyrus agrees to go.

Wait. Is that... Genevieve? Well, it's Downtown, so technically, she's allowed to be there...

It's not a date bro, trust me. Also, nevermind the wolves.

Cyrus: "Excuse me for a moment."

He does mind a wolf.

Cyrus: “Genevieve.”

Genevieve: “What? Oh… it's you. Daring, aren't we?”

Cyrus: “Can we talk?”

Genevieve: “What about? I did it, but I didn't mean to. You won't get any sappy explanations out of me.”

Cyrus: “I don't want that. I… just wanted to see…”

Genevieve: “What? Cyrus, I know I'm asking a lot, but can you express yourself in complete sentences?”

Cyrus: “I wanted to see that you're sorry.”

Genevieve raises her eyebrows. “So you're bothering me just to stare at the monster from the woods and make sure she's miserable?”

Cyrus: “No. I think it would be... closure to know that you're mourning her, too. That you miss her, too.”

Genevieve: “Mina was family to me.”

Cyrus: “I know.”

Genevieve: “She was my first friend. One of the closest people in my life.”

Cyrus: “I know.”

Genevieve: “And you dare come to me and ask whether I missed her and whether I was sorry I killed her? Are you that stupid?!”

Cyrus: “I'm-”

Genevieve: “No. Sorry. To be honest, how would you know how it feels? I loved Mina. You fucked her sometimes, in between fucking half the town. You and I are not the same.”

Cyrus: “Now you're just trying to get a reaction out of me. I loved Mina just as much as you did. I thought we could bond over it.”

Genevieve: “I don't need to bond with you, Cyrus. I already own a vibrator.”

Cyrus: “I don't need to listen to this. Goodbye, Genevieve. Go fuck yourself.”

Genevieve: "Wait."

Cyrus: "..."

Genevieve: "You want to punch me. I can smell that rage, I hear that heartbeat..."

Cyrus sneers. “You killed my wife.”

Genevieve laughs again. “You don't even deny it? Here comes Mr Nice Guy…”

Cyrus: “And when I wanted to talk like people, you started insulting me for no fucking reason.”

Genevieve: “I insult everyone. Have you never read the news?”

Cyrus: "..."

Cyrus: “So yeah, I do want to punch you. But…”

Genevieve: “But?”

Cyrus: “That's not what I do.”

Genevieve: "Mhm..."

Genevieve: “You're scared to go toe to toe with a werewolf.”

Cyrus: "Spare me your taunts. I'm leaving."

Genevieve: "Alright. I thought you might've wanted to avenge Mina, but apparently not. Well, if you ever change your mind, visit the woods. You wouldn't believe how much I'm itching for a good fight."

Genevieve: "And Cyrus?"

Genevieve: "Bring your lucky knife. It's gonna be a fairer fight that way."

It seems that after that, Genevieve leaves. Cyrus follows her with his eyes, frowning. He wants to go after her and give her the fight she wants. He wants her to cry in pain for Mina. And... for him, for the sorrow and humiliation she has just made him feel. But he doesn't. It's not... it's not what he does. It's not what he's supposed to do.

Being level-headed has always been Cyrus' point of pride. He won't let himself get provoked into anything stupid and violent. He closes his eyes, counts to ten.

Iulius: "The audacity she has to show her face outside the woods! If this wasn't neutral ground, I would've showed her what's for after what she did to Mina!"

Iulius: "How did you even manage to speak to her?"

Cyrus: "...barely."

Cyrus: "Let's forget her. Let's think of... better things."

Iulius: "..."

Iulius: "What- What do you mean?"

Cyrus smiles. "I know why you've invited me here, Iuly."

Iulius: "Don't call me that!"

He's blushing. That makes Cyrus feel much better. This is his safe ground. This is what he does.

Cyrus: "The signals are impossible to miss. But you don't have to be ashamed. It's okay."

Cyrus gently takes Iulius' hand and leans in to him. "I'll gladly show you the world you want to see tonight."

Iulius: "..."

Iulius: "Just... be discreet about this..."

Don't blame me! Cyrus has had this in the back of his mind for a while.

It's then when Genevieve returns and attacks Iulius, not holding her fangs back. She catches him unaware while he is distracted with Cyrus, but it very soon becomes clear that it doesn't even matter. The fight isn't equal in the slightest.

Cyrus has seen Iulius Fiera fight before.

Cyrus has seen Iulius Fiera pulverize undead.

Cyrus has seen Iulius Fiera throw poor Krystal Celwitch around like a ball.

He has never seen him look so terrified, weak and slow.

Genevieve doesn't fight like Sim, she fights like an enraged wolf, but one that has the size and awarness of weaponry of a person. Iulius fails to even reciprocate her attacks in any meaningful way, and instead of that, he just tries his best to shield his face and vitals.

Unsuccessfully. Iulius screams. He's not the only one - the club turns into a cacophony of yells and screeches as the frightened onlookers fall into panic.

Cyrus wants to help Iulius, but he can't make himself get closer to Genevieve now, his Sim brain won't let him. She has the aura of an apex predator and Cyrus' insticts don't let him engage.

Cyrus: "Feli! FELICIA! HELP!"

He's seen her here tonight! And if anybody can stop Genevieve, it's her!

But Felicia Gere isn't there anymore. She must've left. And even if she came now and tore her mate away from Iulius, it wouldn't have changed a thing. Cyrus realizes Iulius has stopped screaming a while ago. Genevieve steps away. Her eyes are unreadable. The fur on her face is matted together with blood. Cyrus looks at her, unable to recognize the journalist anymore.

Death Himself appears to collect the soldier's soul. Cyrus lets Genevieve go without a word and drops down on his knees. He makes a plea.

And he succeeds! Iulius lives! Death Himself wills his flesh back together.

What did die, though, is the mood. There is going to be no date tonight. Cyrus was looking forward to everything he could do to a man so repressed and insecure as Iulius, but after having just barely saved him from dying a very sudden gory death, all he wants to do is just give him a hug. Iulius holds onto him for a while, like clinging to his dear life.

Iulius: "I was the biggest clown!"

Iulius: "The worst idiot!"

Iulius: "I feel so stupid for giving them the benefit of doubt!"

Cyrus: "Iulius, please, just follow me out. You're shaking. You shouldn't be in a night club-"

Iulius: "I'm going to eradicate lycantrophy like the plague that it is!"

Cyrus: "Sure you are, but not now. Let me take you home. You need some fucking quiet and rest."

Iulius: "She will pay for this!"

Cyrus: "Yeah, Nico is going to hold her accountable. You'll report it to him tomorrow, after getting some sleep."

Unfortunately, after the flop outing, the misfortune only continues. Hellene returns from work with Lee... and the flu. Oh no.

Ione, the household's sole Family Sim, gets out of bed to make the soup for her sick sister. Unfortunately, the cook of the family is Hellene (with extremely impressive Cooking level 6), and Io with her Cooking... level 0 manages to burn the soup in the process. Oh well.

But she takes it in stride, feeling like a good head of the clan for having helped in crisis. Hellene also doesn't mind. Healing soup is healing soup, no matter that it tastes like clay.

Cyrus doesn't know they have the flu in the house yet, so when he sees Wynn Fiera, his enemy, walk by (to steal the newspaper), he accosts them and invites them in. His intentions?

Set things straight.

Wynn is a bit distrustful at first, but then Cyrus tell them the news. He has retired from the business. He will no longer stand in their way or meddle with their clients. There is zero need for them to fight anymore.

They get a drink and end up talking for several more hours. It turns out they have more in common than they've thought, and can trade many stories about the underworld and the triumphs they achieved and moreso the mistreatment they've endured. Cyrus doesn't mention that he tried to seduce their husband, though.

In the meantime, after they both eat the soup (...Io contracted the flu as well), Hellene offers to do her sister's makeup in gratitude, so they have a bit of a girls' night in Hellene's new room. The family was finally able to afford the makeover chair Hellene's been dreaming about.

Next day, Hellene has recovered from the flu, but Io hasn't yet. Cyrus is very worried for her, but after she already had the healing soup, there is not much he can do for her (aside from just existing nearby to plead in case she dies), so he at least spends the afternoon tutoring Hellene in Mechanics.

Hellene: "So, Xavier was-"

It's no fun to recount her fun dating experience when her sister keeps interrupting her with coughing and choking, so she leaves it for later.

Edward befriends Trudy Beldine. Or... Frieda. He has honestly no idea which one. Let's just hope that she didn't catch the flu in the house.

Luckily, soon after the notification finally arrives that Io has defeated the illness, and a big relief washes over everybody. It's even safe to throw a birthday party for little Trevor!

This is him. He's a Popularity/Pleasure Sim now and his LTW is to be the perfect business owner with all the related badges. His fourth trait is Angler, and I've taken the liberty of deleting his Loves the Heat one as well, for which he rolled Cat Lover as a replacement. Given how often he was rolling wants about interacting with the family cats as a child, it fits great!

Melody Devir arrives at the party, and so does Sophia Jilleni. Sophia has been avoiding Melody and vice versa ever since it became public knowledge that Melody and Jacqueline Fiera have started dating, but now they autonomously play together. It's definitely not what it used to before Homeland, thought... and a lot of things between them are still hanging in the air unaddressed.

Melody also takes the time to bully Hellene. Or... to get bullied by Hellene. It's hard to tell who started it, they're both generally out for violence.

And, of course, Melody doesn't come alone. She takes her new brother Marlon to experience his first party, but since she has so much catching up to do and she knows he is a decent dancer, she just tells him to go dance with somebody, believing he's gonna manage. Marlon takes it as a task to fullfil and invites the nearest standing person, Yearning Elaho-Inipp. Despite her saying yes, it has a very "why are we doing this?" vibe on both sides.

It's not a bad party overall. Nobody dies at least!

Dear diary. I have decided to start journaling to document the discoveries I will make, as well as my daily life as a Sixamese citizen among the Followers of the Entity. I hope words will carry my excitement sufficiently!

The day after my arrival from La Fiesta Tech to Wormville, I had the honor of experiencing a major Sim event! Not only was I allowed to watch and document a mating ritual they call "wedding," but also participate as one of the "brides."

The entire clan Devir, Mina and Cyrus Anora, Terry Hanson and Wynn Kent arrived to celebrate with us!

Despite being one of the grooms, Balthazar demonstrated boredom. He seemed like he wanted to be somewhere else.

He and Zachary exchanged rings under the arch, just like Serenity and I. I could feel it was very significant. Agatha, standing next to me, tried not to cry. I asked her quietly what was wrong, and she just impulsively hugged me, so I hugged her back.

Then they proceeded to fight with pillows, laughing maniacally. Sims are strange species.

I looked at Serenity with a pillow in my hand and a question in my eyes, but she insisted on feeding me cake instead. We've completed yet another wedding tradition.

Later, Mina Anora approached me and tried to convince me her anatomically incorrect plush rabbit talked. I politely explained to her I was a member of a foreign species, not a child or a person uninformed about basic concepts.

It was a very fun day. I am happy about my union with Serenity, I am very fond of her. I also feel accomplished and grateful for being so easily accepted into her world. I now call myself Stella Elaho-Inipp. It is a name that is supposed to open many doors for me, but I know it will also close others. It's okay, though. I have made an informed decision.

The research institute also approved my application. Sixamese scientists have a very good rapport with their Sim colleagues, and after briefly listing my qualifications, and showing my degree from La Fiesta Tech, they have offered me a high-ranking position. It is going to be a good opportunity to lend my skills to a cause, and also continue exploring Simkind beyond my new family.

Serenity was supposed to also put in an application to an institution in her expert field, but she refused at first. Everybody was confused when she announced she took up what she called "gig work," but given that the financial situation of our family is stable for now, nobody complains.

Note: "It's stinky work."

Balthazar entered the police force in a different town. Serenity was quite shocked and asked him how comes they employed a worm, and he told her, and I quote, "Fake ID." I was curious about the concept of "police," too. I know the word, and I know the implications of its equivalent on our planet, but I didn't have an exact idea about what it was that Balthazar does now. He told me that he goes around trying to find people violating the town's law (like teenagers out after the curfew) and extorts money out of them in co-called "fines." I complimented him that he chose well, because I've noticed he's always liked telling people what they did wrong, and he called me a smart-ass.

Anyway, he claims it's going to be temporary, just like Serenity's "gig work."

Zachary quit working at the diving company, and went back to school. He now comes to the hospital as a trainee, and goes through a rigorous education process to understand medicine. It has been taking a toll on him.

Luckily, Mirp was able to call help. Anyway, Zachary does not make significant sums of money now, but it does not matter, because the family has a large amount of material resources at its disposal.

As I understand it, Zachary has a youngling from a previous mating, called Fabian. I've seen the boy already, since Zachary invited him to come over to our house.

They played throw-a-ball, a traditional Sim game, during which two Sims stand opposite each other and try to cause mild head trauma with a hardened gummy object (ball). Citations needed.

In general, Zachary has adapted to life in the Slop (mansion) very well. He even wears the same pattern Serenity uses on some of the bed covers, probably for easier mimicry in the environment. Clever!

Serenity spends a lot of time tending the animals. I have yet to meet anyone, Sim or otherwise, who would have so much boundless entusiasm and care for the non-sapient around them as she does. And they love her, too! Even the wolves!

I do not share that talent.

Dear diary, today we were able to confirm our pollination is going smoothly so far, and if it continues, Serenity and I will welcome our second child. That is the number of younglings we've agreed to produce. I do not write about pollination or about our first daughter, Resistance, here, because this journal is not confidential and I hold the privacy of the larvae in high regard. You will not read much on the topic here, but I am beyond joyous.

Anyway, Agatha took Serenity and Balthazar to the Temple to pray. I go there as well, but this time I've elected to stay behind with Resistance. I must note that Balthazar was leaving especially grumpy, but he returned in unusually high spirits. He must have had a profound religious experience!

Serenity's "gig work" turned out to be juggling. I should have known.

Soon, a different occasion was afoot! We have dragged a tree inside, covered it in ornaments, and baked silly tree and Sim-shaped cookies. It was explained to me as a summoning ritual that the Simnation enjoys in wintertime. It originated from the church of the Watcher, but some Followers of the Entity celebrate, too. You see, if the ritual objects are in right place, a mythical creature that looks like an old Sim dressed in red appears. Said creature can then be observed laughing at nothing at particular, and if there are younglings at the premises, it conjures up a mundane object they can keep. In our Resistance's case, it was a cheap stereo tower.

Despite not being a youngling, Agatha took a great interest in the winter creature, and conversed at lenght about music. I have had so many questions myself and I definitely wanted to usurp its time, too, but the creature in red disappeared in the bathroom and it would be impolite of me to intrude.

Independently of the summoning ritual, we have also invited many Sims to practice "merriment" with us. Serenity bough an extra toy and encouraged Resistance to gift it to little Naomi Devir to forge a friendship. Seeing Naomi was the first time I had the opportunity to observe a Sim larva with zero percantage of Sixamese blood. I found it a little strange and uncanny, but I am sure I will get used to the sight.

Tangentially related to all of this, later that evening, another positive thing happened. (despite Balthazar's screams of pain) The sounds of struggle attracted the red creature, but also me. Balthazar went into labor, and with the marginal help of the red creature, I was able to deliver the larva. It's a healthy youngling, and Balthazar and Zachary named her Yearning.

Speaking of Balthazar, I worry for him.

It doesn't seem to be connected to his recent procreation. He has physically recovered very fast, and displays warm and fatherly behavior towards the newborn. However, he seems to be plagued by something else. He speaks about "visions" and "the great beyond". One evening I found him half passed out by the stairs. On my attempt to revive him, he mumbled something about "the rot" and then passed out completely.

I am also confused by the nature of his relationship with Zachary. I am not supposed to know this, but they were talking very loudly and forced this information upon my ears.

Zachary informed Balthazar he knew "about Terry" (Terry Hanson?), in a seemingly appreciative, congratulary tone. Balthazar's stress receptors seemed to, however, overload, and he stormed out.

Meanwhile, Serenity elected to finally enter professional science, and became an Animal Linguist.

She also had a new shed built in our garden. I inquired, she could only tell me it was a fully clandestine matter, and nobody was ready to know yet. She goes there at least once a day, and always locks the door when she leaves.

I am pleased to inform you that Agatha still lives, and according to her, old age hasn't been able to break her will to stay. She provides invaluable help with the younglings, even though she has something that she waves off a "resting sad face".

That would be all for now. I might soon write more. Tomorrow, Zachary has a semi-public court hearing with (or against) Victor Beldine. They fight over who gets to raise Fabian. I do not approve. They should both do it, that is the best for the larva. Serenity and Balthazar will go to support Zachary, and they've invited me, too, but I have declined. Victor is my friend and I do not wish to sit through possibly hours of my family being terrible to him, and vice-versa. My time will be better spent either with the children, or in the laboratory.

Stella Terrano Elaho-Inipp, signing off