Nessa to the Rescue/Iona's Birthday

Nessa was way behind her sister in the Singing Career ladder. So she decided, bright and early, to head down to the park to watch the latest Sim Fest. Her timing couldn't have come at a worse moment.
 

 It was Iona's birthday, and Andrea, despite his exhaustion from the abduction ... and his daughter's ability to stay awake at unearthly hours ... decided that he wanted to throw her a party.

Blearily eyed, he arranged everything, inviting family only because he hardly knew anybody else. He even organised a special seating area, should the weather remain favourable.

Yes, it's a little crude, but we can work on that a little later on.

And then he had to go to work, dragging his heels along as he went. He rolled a wish to quit his job - as did Sophie. But, kiddo, you are going to HAVE to work. This is your LTW we're talking about. I'm not putting you back to square one. Not now. Andrea, well, we can work on that. Find something that you might enjoy that little bit more. Being in the Criminal Career can be a little taxing on someone who wants to be an Ark Builder.

Anyways, the day passed rather slowly. Sophie managed to catch up on her sleep, which put her in a better mood to help her daughter transition on her birthday. Nessa was still at the Sim Fest and loving/hating the acts that were there simultaneously. Shannon and Andrea were at work.

So it was up to her to bring Iona to the cake. At least the weather had stayed fine.

However, Iona wasn't. She had just pooped and was stinky. Talk about timing.

Screaming and squalling, she wriggled in her mother's arms, just as Sophie was blowing out the candles. Her head pounded at the kid's yelling, so she immediately put her down on the floor and stepped back. Hopefully the transition would calm her daughter down.

After what appeared a lengthy wait - Sophie's stomach growled with hunger - Iona finally morphed into the cutest little toddler ever.

But wait.

She wasn't finished just yet. Pink sparkles surrounded her ... and out popped a beautiful pair of wings!!

She was complete ... but far from happy. She was hungry, dirty and needed attention .... STAT.

Sophie was hungry ... and ignored her daughter to grab a slice of cake. Even poor Pat is getting a headache here.

Even her mother complained about Iona making a racket.

Shannon: Can't you quieten that kid down?
Sophie: Sorry mom, I've tried.

Poor Sophie. You've got to admit though Sophie, your parenting skills ARE a bit naff.


Luckily, Auntie Nessa arrived just in time to take over. Grabbing her niece, she expertly changed her diaper there and then without blinking. You can tell that Iona worships the ground Nessa stands on already. This is where she feels the safest.

And handed her a bottle of formula, whilst she helped herself to some cake.

"Nicely handled there sis," Sophie remarked, "she was getting a bit too much for me to handle."

Nessa just shrugged her shoulders and crammed the cake into her mouth.

Iona whimpered. Now she was starting to get tired and wanted some sleep. As Nessa was still eating, Sophie scooped up her daughter, played 'claw' with her, before taking her up to bed.

The guests had a mixed response to the party. Some left early saying it was MEH, others had a fairly nice time but had to go because of other duties.

I'll write a bio of Iona as soon as I get more details.

Andrea

 Andrea came back to earth with a bump. He was not pleased. Neither was the elder alien who accompanied him home to make sure he arrived safely in his own timeline.

In her eyes, he was of inferior stock. But, the pollinators weren't picky - they'd try anyone, as long as their program was successful.

So, when he passed out cold from exhaustion, she left him there and headed back to her mother ship.

He thought that nobody had witnessed this event, and tried to sneak back in the house without anybody seeing him.

How wrong he was, as he spotted his mother in law, sitting at the table, waiting for him. She'd been sleeping in the fairy bungalow outside and heard everything.

Shannon: Want to talk about it?

He shook his head. He'd rather not, thank you very much. Instead, he wolfed down his cereal and made his way upstairs, hoping to have a good night's sleep.

The light was on and his heart dropped. And even more so when he heard the plaintive wail coming from his daughter.

Pat: That kid's noisy
Sophie: I know
Pat: and stinky
Sophie: I KNOW, that's what they do
Pat: Hate it already
Sophie: Well tough, deal with it, I'm tired.

Andrea rolled his eyes. Sophie's behaviour was strange to begin with and her obsession with her Imaginary Friend ... was now becoming worrisome indeed. Perhaps this was her way of coping with loss? He didn't know. He just hoped that insanity didn't run through the family. It couldn't get any weirder, that's for sure.

Instead, he just walked into the bedroom.

Andrea: Hi
Sophie: Hi
Andrea: Tired, off to bed, night
Sophie: Um, okay .. night.

And that was it

On another note: Shannon's painting skills are really coming along in leaps and bounds.
Here's her version of Van Gogh's Starry Night.

It's called, Mexican Morning.

Big Break!

If there's one thing you learn about the entertainment industry, it's that you'll never get anything done if you sit on your lazy butt. Which was why, when Sophie heard about the talent scout/proprietor searching for new talent at the Big Park venue, she knew she just HAD to get her feet under the table.

So, she hyped herself up for this meeting, by tormenting the life out of poor Pat, who was NOT amused in the slightest.

It was quite a role reversal actually, and made a change from Sophie getting it in the neck from Pat.

The long cold spell had finally broken and there was a warm front approaching, melting all that snow. Nervous, Sophie in her haste, dashed to the Big Park for an impromptu Sing-a-gram/audition, and forgot to eat anything beforehand.

During her performance, her stomach growled so loudly that she flushed furiously, wishing the ground to swallow her up. But the proprietor laughed it off and told her that he thought she was good enough to have her own performance.

"Don't forget," he said wagging his finger, "Mondays, 7pm, don't let me down ... and don't forget to eat. We don't want you passing out on us on the stage."

She stepped up onto the stage and looked around, not believing her luck! She was going to be performing here!

The stage props were sparse, but they'll have to do until she could afford to create her own setting.

Sparkle Fae was going to be HUGE!!!

Side Note:

I have NO idea what that ring of light signifies ... AT ALL.

Leopard Print Undies!

Tottering along in high heels, clutching her belly, in ankle deep snow.... Sophie made her way to the hospital. Outside, she was greeted by BL4IN3 who promptly told her to hurry up before shorting out!

Andrea wanted to go, he really did. But sadly, thanks to a rather vindictive Pat who decided to park his toy form butt right in the middle of the doorway, Drea just couldn't go no matter how hard he tried.

Oh come on Pat. Of all the places to put yourself? You choose .. here?

I swear, that IF doll, is more trouble than he is worth. I think it's time for an intervention.

Instead, Drea had a lovely proud smile on his face - as well as sporting some new threads (I decided that his fashion sense - or lack thereof - needed a makeover, so he got some fancy PJ's).

Yep, a few hours later and none the worst for her ordeal, Sophie emerged from the hospital carrying a little bundle in her arms.

Welcome to Dragon Valley ... Iona... (if you click on the name, it brings up a definition in a different link)

Because I did so well, keeping Sophie content throughout her pregnancy, I was allowed to choose her traits. So I opted to choose one from both parents. From Sophie .... Loves the Outdoors. From Drea ... Slob. Well ... someone's got to have it at some point.

Yes, she's a strange greenish colour. I suspect that it's an amalgamation of both parents' skin tones. Apart from that, isn't she a cutie?

Because of the fuss and ado around the place, the butler FINALLY got up off her lazy butt and decided to do stuff around the house. Although walking around in leopard print undies isn't quite what everyone expected!

Everyone is happy.

Except Pat.

Naturally.

Whilst Sophie was fussing over Iona, Pat could only watch helplessly at the sidelines, seeing his opportunity to become real, fading fast. And when Iona bawled her little lungs out for food ... that's when Pat showed his impatience and true colours.

Pat: That little snot's crying.
Sophie: I know, she's hungry.
Pat: Make her stop, it's annoying.
Sophie: I'm feeding her as fast as I can. Sheesh Pat, you're impossible.
Pat: Don't like it. Send it back.
Sophie: Perhaps I should send YOU back.
Pat: You wouldn't DARE.
Sophie: Keep pushing Pat and you'll soon find out.

 Eeps. Methinks that Pat's time in Dragon Valley - or at least in the Powers household will be short lived if he keeps on going with that bad attitude of his.

Coitus interruptus

I won't go into great storytelling mode today. Instead, I shall just summarize what has been going on since the last update.

Back home in Dragon Valley, Hespa is finding it really difficult juggling her job, lack of sleep and running away from Bonehilda. After one particularly gruelling day, she collapses in a heap in a snow drift.

So Boney had to be taken care of and is now exiled back in her hut until she is needed once more (probably never, but still..... )

In the meantime, Drea is trying his hardest to fit into the family. He attempts a little cooking. Mainly autumn salad (inappropriate for the time of year) because that's the safest option he could go for, without burning the place down!

It's also a great opportunity to get to know Hespa better.

Drea: Whatcha doing Sophie?
Sophie: Sneaking.

Drea: You know, you don't have to do that.
Sophie: I know, but I'm kinda stuck with it.

Hespa: *munches salad*
Drea: Salad good Hespa?
Hespa: *nods*.

The castle/house/family home is currently undergoing a few changes and is still a work in progress until I am completely satisfied with how it looks. Walls have been taken down, roofs removed and extra levels added.

It's starting to look more like a castle now. Oh, they have plenty of money, there's no worries there. I just wanted to tweak slightly to see how it looks. Hence the lack of windows on the upper level turret.

Haven't a clue who broke the dishwasher, but it was irking Sophie somewhat, so she decided to 'fairy repair' it.

Drea thinks that's kinda 'hot'. Seeing a girl getting her hands dirty. Between them they start flirting outrageously. Right in front of poor Pat.

Pat: Ugh, get a room guys.

Things start getting a little intense .... So Drea proposes a Woo Hoo (or at least a Try For Baby)....

.... in the tent ....

.... in mid Winter!

Drea: Hurry up there. I'm getting tired!
Sophie: The zip is a little stiff Drea.

Upstairs, Hespa had the right idea. I installed a stove/fire in her bedroom because she was complaining of the cold. So .... just before retiring to bed, she lit it to keep the room nice and warm. Although I'm not sure about the whole idea of actually standing INSIDE this thing as she is lighting it!

.... it was a good idea at the time ....

Because of the renovations, I had Nessa and Hespa share a room. They have a bunk bed between them. So whilst Hespa is fast asleep, Nessa decided that it is time to change careers. Working at the bookstore wasn't fulfilling enough. It was high time she followed in her sister's footsteps and try out her dream career as a Singer.

Just when Sophie and Drea were getting 'busy', they were interrupted by an 'important' phone call. Sophie was NOT amused.

Sophie: You are calling me ... NOW? You want ... what? Can't it wait?

Apparently she's got to go do a Sing a Gram right now. Because someone 'needed cheering up'.
So now they have a case of coitus interruptus.

That good idea I had earlier? Re: the stove/fire?

Not so good.

The bugger threw a spark out onto the rug and started a fire. And it took hold ..... FAST!

Poor Pat got caught right in the middle of it, causing Sophie no end of panic. Yes, that IF doll had been the bane of her life, but he'd been there when she needed him most of all. It would be a great gaping hole in her life if anything happened to him. (although, I have to admit, I was secretly wishing that something WOULD happen to him, get him out of her life once and for all .. but those dolls are virtually indestructible)

She was so convincing that he was in dire peril that she'd managed to get everyone involved in putting out the fire.

Poor Hespa, after a panic attack. Pulled herself together to call the fire service. By the time they arrived, the household had gotten everything under control

.... or so they thought ....

Poor Nessa didn't realise that her undies were on fire until she felt the flames licking at her skin.

In a panic, she shot into the bathroom to have a shower and put out the flames!

And in this whole mess ....

... Sophie, so chewed up about the whole incident ...
... promptly vomited.

Yep. There's no end of drama with this family, I can tell you.