The Sim Design Junkie

R: I’ll grab our orders.

X: I’ll grab a table. *teasing* I know that look… How’s Rob? It’s been a minute.

C: Good! He’s good. He gets back tomorrow night.

X: Cool. Where’d he go this time?

C: Windenburg, then Verdemar.

X: Nice! How long is he in town?

C: *squinting* Nice try, Adebola. But this lunch is about you.

X: You’re like a dog with a bone…

C: Yeah, well, if you want us to have your back, we need to know from which direction the danger is coming. Be honest; is Yasmin gonna be a problem?

X: I’m always honest. That said, I really don’t know. I don’t think so, but I can’t promise it. As Ritchie pointed out, my contact with her will be minimal, possibly non-existent. It should be ok.

C: What happened exactly? I remember you alluding to the breakup being bad, but—

X: *deep breath* I… I cheated.

C: You what?!

X: Look, I’m not proud of it—

C: No shit! What were you thinking? I mean, what the actual—

X: I get it ok?! I’ve already been cussed out and beaten up enough for 2 lifetimes! I never hid what I did. I owned it then and now.

C: *awkward silence* Was it an ongoing affair? I mean, how long—

X: I… I don’t really know how to answer that. Technically, no, it wasn’t. *sigh* It’s complicate—

C: No. Uh-uh. Don’t do that.

 X: Don’t do what?

C: You said you own it? So, woocking own it. Life is complicated, but there’s right, and there’s wrong. Don’t pull that “shades of gray” bullshit on something this… consequential.

X: *irritated* I’m not. You asked, so I’m letting you know; it’s not that woocking simple. Physically I stepped out only once, but emotionally… I don’t woocking know how to explain! There was no flirting, no ongoing toying with the idea of… *takes a steadying breath* In a moment of desperation and panic—

C: My Watcher… It was Walker, wasn’t it? *Xander exhales in frustration* Son of a—

R: Well, shit… What’d I miss??

R: While you two were away, our team was assigned a new project, working with Yasmin.

C: With who?

X: My ex. *Coco’s frowns in question* Yes, that ex.

C: *heavy sigh*… and she’s the client?

R: No; owner’s rep. Callahan set up a meet & greet / site survey on Thursday for him, me and Zoe. 

C: Zoe? Does she know about you and –

X: No. And even if she did, she’s way too professional to bring it up.

C: And Yasmin?

R: Wild card.

X: Nah. Yaz is equally professional, if not more so.

R: That was before y’all had the break up of all break ups. On the bright side, you’re not client facing, so contact should be minimal.

X: If it were anyone else, I’d agree. But Yasmin’s super hands-on.

C: How long ago was the break up?

X: About two and half years? Maybe three—

R: But it was bad…

C: Wait, does she even know he’s in this studio? When you were together you would have been working on Grazyna’s team, not Luke’s. She probably doesn’t even know yet. *Xander & Ritchie look at each other*

R: You’re woocking right! Mm! You’re brilliant!

C: *shakes head, amused* Even so, you should make HR aware just to cover your ass if an issue does arise.

X: *sigh* Yeah. I’ll set up a meeting.

C: And for the love of gnomes, please stop dating colleagues!

X: *defensive* I’ve never worked with Yasmin. We met at a concert. Allegiant has only worked with us once before, and it was with Marcus’ studio. I don’t even think she was on that project. Believe it or not, I don’t run around woocking sims I work with—

R: We can discuss this more at Cooper’s, later. The staff meeting is in 20, and I need to make a few calls.

C: Fine.

X: Agreed.

R: Looky here! The king has returned!

X: *shakes head in amusement* Morning, Rich.

R: mOrNinG rIcH… That’s all you got for me? Welcome back! Had a good time?

X: Yeah. It was nice to see everybody—

R: Good! Hope you came back refreshed, ‘cause shit’s about to hit the fan.

X: *sighs* Can’t it wait ‘til my coffee kicks in?

R: Would that I could, but I need to warn you before the staff meeting.

X: *leery* Okay…

R: They’re announcing a new project. Octavia Moon & Thorne Bailey just closed on a unit uptown.

X: Cool. So, what’s the issue?

R: *lowers voice* They hired Allegiant as their owner’s rep…

X: *stomach drops* Oh, woock me…

C: And a good morning to you, too!

R & X: Hey, Coco.

C: Uh-oh… What’s going on?

X: Do we know who the actual rep is? *Ritchie nods solemnly* Woooock…

C: Seriously, what the hell is going on?

The rest of our honeymoon sped by slowly, if that makes sense. We did everything and nothing at all. We saw the sights, swam in the ocean, Obie took a sword fighting lesson from a local and even tried his hand at sparring. We stayed in… We went out… It was all around a great trip.

*alarm goes off*

W: *sigh* Time for check-in.

O: *groans* How about we “miss” the flight and start a new life on the run? Pretty sure the office would let me work from home if I ask real nice…

W: *giggles* Sure, but it’ll be on you to explain to Mia why we’ll miss the family cookout. I just got off her shit-list and have no intentions of going back on it!

O: *laughs* Will do. C’mon! We’re still on vacation for another 22 hours. No work email!

W: *chuckles* It’s not work. Imane is asking for our availability next week and… woah!

O: What happened?

W: My mom wants to know if your family would like to join us at The Lodge for Winterfest.

O: What??

W: Yeah… she says it’s a big year for both our families and she and Daddy would love to have them. Also, renovations should be done by late fall so there should be lots of room. 

O: *stunned* Wow, that’s… wow. I mean… I can ask, but it might be a stretch.

W: *concerned* Maybe not… We’ve got five and a half months to plan.

O: For Clem and Martin, maybe. I’m sure it would be fine. But for Ani and Ethan—

W: Look, the lodging and food are, of course, covered. Really, it’s only the flights they’d have to worry about and there’s plenty of time to comparison shop. Plus, we can help if needed. I mean, between us and my folks, we have enough points to spare.

O: I don’t know… I mean, it would be amazing! Don’t get me wrong, but—

W: Let’s just ask when we get home. No pressure, just see if there’s any interest and take it from there.

O: Yeah… sure. I’ll ask.

W: It’s gonna be fine, babe. If it’s a no, it’s a no. My folks won’t be offended.

O: It’s official… Dambele is now my happy place.

W: *chortles* Not Sulani?

O: Sulani’s a close second, but Dembele hits differently.

W: Interesting…

O: I said what I said! *both laugh*

W: No argument here. Aww… Look at that cutie over there.

O: He is cute. Of course, ours will be so much cuter!

W: No doubt!

W: So, the chairs and art are shipping—

O: Straight to our storage unit. They should reach DSV just before we do.

W: What in the worlds is that?!

O: Woah… I think that tree ate the others… *Walker snickers* Wanna check it out?

W: *snorts* Hell yeah.

O: That is a tree…

W: Who knew Womping Willows were real?

O: *chuckles* You’ve gotta admit, it’s magnificent.

W: Magnificent? It’s unreal! I wonder if there’s anything on Smoogle about it… Here we go. It’s The Zanbira Tree or the tree of the ancestors. There are multiple legends associated with it.

*giggles* It is said “The Watcher initially planted the tree in the rainforests of the Congo Basin, but the tree complained the dampness made its trunk swell. So, the Watcher moved it to the Mountains of the Moon, but the tree kept grumbling about the humidity. Pissed with the incessant whining, the Watcher tossed the tree into the dry part of Dambele, where it landed upside down with its roots in the air.

O: Huh… I can see that.