@oshizu I don't know what's up with the restaurant. It's a total mess. I'm hoping restaurants still work okay in new non-bloated files, but it's a good thing Echelon is just for fun because it loses money like crazy. We get about three customers a day, and at least one of them just walks in and turns around and leaves. Jorge's replacement refuses to wear the uniform and often takes off for half of her shift to go for a jog around Magnolia Promenade. It's still pretty nice for meeting people, but I'm thinking of selling it off soon.
@wfgodot Massages rock. I mostly use yoga and baths plus incense but the higher-level massages have really long-lasting moodlets and they're really helpful. The only big problem is getting the massage-er and massage-ee in the same place at the same time. Half the time it takes them so long to walk over they forget what they were doing and wander off. It can be very time-consuming.
I'm very glad you like Wendell. He's probably the most fun.
@Caterina Thanks! I agree. Tallulah can mourn very attractively. Two more butts now.
One butt forward, one butt back. Or something.
@Magpie2012 Thanks! I adore them, too! Brandy makes an excellent avatar, but who knows? Her kids might be even cuter!
@Alex Glad you liked the foreshadowing, and even more glad you enjoy my jokes.
Watcher's Note: I'm going to bump back down to three posts a week for now. I'm still figuring out how I want to pace things going forward. I'd like to have this go more-or-less real time, but I want to make sure I keep enough posts banked to stay consistent. We'll see how it goes.
Chapter 95: I'm Not Crying. You're Crying.
Tallulah: Well, that was nice, but I still miss my Jorge. I’m going to go cry it out and hit the sack.
Mallory: Phew! I’m exhausted. I don’t think I’m going to even make it upstairs. What a day!
Wendell: Okay, Mom. See you in the morning. Stay cool.
Watcher: Or not.
Morris: Um . . . no? No. NO!
Thaddeus: What? Just . . . what?
Wendell: My last words to my mother were, “Stay cool.” Who even says that? Of COURSE she was going to stay cool. My mom was the coolest!
Morris: Okay, what can I eat? There’s got to be an appropriate meal for “I just watched my daughter get reaped and my entire reason for existing has been obliterated.” Butter? Like just a solid stick of butter? That seems about right.
Watcher: Thad! THAD! We gotta talk!
Thaddeus: What are you even still doing here? Have you no decency? No respect? You failed us. You screwed it up. It’s over now. Just go.
Watcher: Look, yes! Yes. I screwed up. It’s bad. I know it’s bad, but-
Thaddeus: But you’re going to fix it? You think there’s anything you could possibly do to fix this?
Watcher: No. I can’t fix it. I can’t. I want to, and I’m sorry. I really am. I’m so sorry. But here’s the thing: we can do something else. People like you, and they don’t want it to end this way, so we’re going to keep going. Here. Drink this. You’ll feel better.
Thaddeus: People? What people?
Watcher: Forum people. Your fans, I guess you could say. I was about to give up, and they convinced me there was a way out of this mess, and I choose to listen to them.
Thaddeus: But the dynasty . . . you failed it. It’s a failure.
Watcher: Granted. Yes. Granted, it is a failure but it could still be a complete failure.
Thaddeus: I’d say the failure is pretty darn complete. Grandma Mal is dead.
Watcher: Yes, okay. Yes. The failure is complete, but the story isn’t. Not yet. The story needs an ending, and you’re going to go out and find one. Now drink up.
Thaddeus: I hope the look on my face adequately conveys my feelings about putting this substance in my body.
Watcher: Yes. Excellent skepticism. A plus. Now bottoms up!
Thaddeus: Who are these forum people, anyway? What do we know about them?
Watcher: Not a lot. They’re very nice. They like you. Judging by their avatars, they’re all very attractive . . . and one of them is a small dog.
Thaddeus: How does it type?
Watcher: She. It's a she. She's a she. The dog is female. And I’ve never asked about the typing. I thought it would be impolite. Would you just drink? I realize this is all new to you, but I’ve had several days to get used to the idea of moving on and I’m getting anxious.
Thadeus: Hey. Well all right, then. Ignoring for a moment Grandma Mal’s urn in the background-
Watcher: Right. I’m going to move that.
Thaddeus: I’m feeling a great deal better.
Watcher: Good enough to hit the bars?
Thaddeus: Actually, yeah. Do a little person-to-person charisma building. Sounds like fun.
Watcher: Great. Just pop into the closet for a sec. I need to change . . . something. And then we’re out the door!
Thaddeus: Sweet! Guys’ Night!
Watcher: Well, there’s a much-needed stroke of luck. Go get ‘em, tiger!
Watcher: Huh. Well there’s Omar. I’ve never really thought about it before, but he’s pretty cute.
Thaddeus: Yeah, I guess. So what?
Watcher: What do you think? Any sparks? You’re already best friends. It would be convenient.
Thaddeus: Sparks?
Watcher: Okay, we’ll put him down as a “maybe.” Let’s head to the Stargazer. Maybe the romantic aura will help us out.
Watcher: The scene is not jumping. In fact, it’s a little depressing. Let’s try the Blue Velvet. That’s where we found Goopy! That place never lets me down!
Watcher: Why are all the bartenders elderly tonight? So inconvenient!
Thaddeus: This is fun, though! Pranav and Akira agreed to come along, even though it’s 2 a.m. Woo guys night! I’m going to buy a round!
Watcher: Buy several! Live it up! Yeah, I’m going to call Akira the frontrunner. He’s pretty dreamy, and his prematurely grey salt-and-pepper hair is intriguing to me.
Thaddeus: Whatever. I’m having another drink.
Watcher: Excellent idea!
Watcher: Well, will you look what the cat dragged in? Only dead a few hours and you’re already hitting the bars, eh Mal?
Thaddeus: Grandma Mal! It’s so good to see you! You have to meet my best friends! My BESTEST FRENZ in the WHOLE WORLD! This is Prakira, and this is Anav and we all love each other!
Mallory: Bartender, give me a strong one. I clearly have some catching up to do.
Thaddeus: I’m really sorry you died, Grandma Mal. The Watcher is sorry, too.
Mallory: I know, hon. It’s okay. I’m happy. Really I am. And I’m excited you’re going forward. I can’t wait to see what happens! Oh, and if it matters, I vote for Akira.
Thaddeus: For what?
Mallory: . . . I’m guessing you’ll figure that out pretty soon.
Thaddeus: Okay!
Thaddeus: Oof. What a night. My head hurts. Why are you taking pictures of me in the shower? You know, you’re pretty smarmy sometimes.
Watcher: Am not. You’re fully clothed. This hardly even counts as peeping.
Thaddeus: I’m pretty sure it counts.
Watcher: Just get energized. You’ve got one more whim to take care of.
Thaddeus: Why? You said yourself we can’t complete the dynasty, anymore. Why am I still doing whims?
Watcher: Well, here’s what I’m thinking: We can still have eight immortals. We blew the Hall of Fame thing, but we can still have eight relatives of J Huntington III to get into Huntington Estates and get through that whole obstacle course and that sounds like a lot more fun than giving up and crying into a pillow, don’t you think?
Thaddeus: Okay, I’m agreed on the whole not-crying-into-a-pillow thing, but how do we get the eighth immortal into the house?
Watcher: Via your man-womb.
Thaddeus: There are at least six thousand other ways you could have said that, and at least two thousand of them wouldn’t have made me ill.
Watcher: Sorry. It’s been an emotional week. I’m a bit loopy. Go to work. I’m going to see if any cute male customers come into Echelon today.
Watcher: And I give up. Congrats, Akira! You win!
Thaddeus: I don’t think you’ve thought this through.
Watcher: I have! I swear! This is the best way. Now go research pick-up lines while I have someone read your Book of Life to top up your needs. I’ll have your Mom get Mr. Salt-and-Pepper over there in the right mood.
Thaddeus: You know I have a girlfriend, right?
Watcher: And . . .?
Thaddeus: You messed up my internal . . . business. Why can’t you mess with hers, too?
Watcher: I’m a little unclear on whose internal businesses I’m allowed to mess with. I know I can change yours once, but as for persons outside the household . . . it feels iffy to me.
Thaddeus: Why don’t you just ask?
Watcher: Because the answer is “You’re not official, anymore. Do whatever you want.” and I don’t like that. Also, I’m shy.
Thaddeus: *arches eyebrow*
Watcher: What? I am. Look, we’re doing this because this is what feels right to me. Rieko’s very sweet, and she loves you. I’m sure she’ll understand. Besides, you like this guy, yeah? You said you loved him last night!
Thaddeus: I do. Akira’s great. He’s very cute and he’s got a wonderful personality. It just feels a little forced.
Watcher: It is forced. It’s extremely forced. But the longer you wait the more ambrosia we have to come up with. Could you just work with me, please? I promise I’ll get rid of his bell-bottoms.
Thaddeus: Okay, but I want to stress that the bell-bottoms are not really the main issue.
Watcher: Soooo . . . keep the bell-bottoms?
Thaddeus: Heck no! They’re awful! Just . . . oh never mind. There’s no talking to you when you get in these moods.
Watcher: Pernille is going through a Squirrel Period, I see.
Watcher: Pernille, you minx! Did you just walk all the way out here from the back patio to enchantingly introduce yourself to this guy? What would Goopy say? I’d better tell Thaddeus to get a move on.
Pernille: So, Akira sweetheart, I see you’ve met Tallulah. She’s an elder like the rest of us, but has chosen to dye her hair because apparently she thinks she’s fooling anybody.
Tallulah: Hey. I went through an appropriate period of mourning and now I’m back in the game. Akira, darling, let’s get you out of those clothes.
Akira: Oh, am I getting a makeover?
Tallulah: Sure. We can do that, too.
Tallulah: Oh, I love that shirt on you!
Akira: Oh, my!
Tallulah: Let’s go discuss this further in the flirty bedroom, shall we?
Thaddeus: Okay, Mom. That’ll do. I appreciate your help, but I can take it from here.
Tallulah: Okay, if you’re sure. But do let me know when you’ve finished with him. I get the feeling Akira and I have a lot more to talk about.
Thaddeus: *sigh* Enough, Mom!
Arianna: Hi, there! Can I help? I just popped in to see how our dear Akira was getting on. Can I get you anything? Roses? Potions? Do you think Akira would like a nice massage?
Thaddeus: That’s it! EVERYBODY OUT!
