How To Take Over The World - An Immortal Dynasty

[ArianaJade]

Once Again - Daniel

Once again I find myself explaining. Once again I find myself in the wrong. Though, as far as I'm concerned, I'm not. I didn't do anything. Look at me. Do I look like a bad guy? I'm still not the Evil one, and I'm still treated like I am.

Things don't change. People don't change.

People shouldn't expect others to change for them.

I'm a man with two daughters I never wanted, in a marriage with someone I don't know, and they expect me to enjoy it.



Not that I don't want Angela and Lilith. I love them. I just never wanted children, generally, not these children specifically. Stick with me. It's not my fault.



She was pretty, and I know that's no excuse. But it's not like I get any actual companionship from my marriage. It's all “Daniel, have you seen my work coat?” “Daniel, why haven't you bothered to wash up after yourself?” “Daniel, why must you spend so much time with your sculpting station?” Because it's nicer to me than you are, and it doesn't nag.

So forgive me for wanting some warmth in life.



We went out for a walk. The sun had never shone so brightly, and we laughed. I haven't laughed with Mary Sue since the day we were married.

Possibly even the day before we were married.



I don't know why I was so drawn to her. She wasn't the prettiest girl on the island, not by a long shot. The stupid little maid's hat and the heavy, badly-applied eyeshadow did nothing for her. But there she was, and there I was, and her eyes... wow. If they're the window to her soul, then her soul is gorgeous.

This island brings out the beauty in some people, perhaps. A beauty that wouldn't be there in a more normal town.



Don't get yourselves thinking I just lust after looks, though. She was funny, and interesting, and smart. Not smart in a Mary Sue I'm-going-to-read-a-book-and-ignore-you way, but smart in an interesting way. Like knowing the history of fortune cookies and being able to hold an intelligent discussion about football. None of this "it's only a game, Daniel. Eleven over-muscled blokes knocking a ball of air around a field".

Hell, I didn't think any woman understood football the way this girl does.



Maybe it was madness. Maybe it was frustration, or anger, or just sadness. I wanted to, that's my only excuse. Why shouldn't it be an excuse? I've lived sixteen years now with someone who should only ever have been a holiday romance. She can't meet my needs, neither can this girl, but I have needs and I'm entitled to try and fulfil them. To try and remember who I am.



"What do you think you're up to? You've got a wife! I've got no desire to be some other woman! If you want me, you're going to have to get rid of her, because there's no way I'm being second best. You don't honestly think I'm that kind of woman do you?"

No, I don't. I don't think I'm that kind of man, either.



"Hey, calm down!" I said. "I'll dump her. I'll move out and be with you, if you like. Our marriage is pretty much over, anyway, I'm just staying around for the children."

"Children?! How could you do this to your children? And if you think there's any way on this earth I'm getting with a man who cheats on his wife, just to be cheated on by that man when he's bored of him, you're stupider than you look by a long way."

"I would never do this to you. She's not right for me, she's never cared about me properly. Marrying her was a mistake. I'd never cheat on someone who was right for me."

"Once a cheater, always a cheater. And consider this me handing in my notice. I'll get someone else from the agency round."

"Don't, you don't have to..."

"A man, probably. I wouldn't send any more female maids to you!"



I expect that's the last time I'll see her. I shouldn't have done that. I should have talked to her for longer first, dumped Mary Sue first perhaps.



When I arrived back home later that evening, the house was predictably full of everything going on at once. It's the one benefit of staying round here and not moving out, I guess. At least it's busy enough to be distracting. Zane was pretending to be a racing car on the sofa. He was probably louder that an real racing car.



On the other sofa was my dear wife, clearly trying her hardest to block out the zooming coming from Zane and the sounds of the twins arguing further down the house. She barely looked up from her medical journal to greet me. Another evening of being ignored while she catches up on the latest developments in the world of keyhole surgery on cat ears or something. I left her to it.



I also skirted round the twins at the kitchen table.

"But come on Angela. You know the answers and I don't, so if you help me out we'll both know them. We shared a womb so we might as well share answers."

"You don't know them because you haven't tried to work them out. Shut up and do it."

"Can't be bothered. It won't take you any extra effort to let me peep over your shoulder!"

"Just do the work."

No prizes for guessing which one takes after her mother, is there.



I'll admit to spending the next day in a bit of a grump. To tell you the truth I'd never been rejected by a girl before. All through my teens I had various casual girlfriends, not always without a bit of overlap, and Mary Sue fell head-over-heels. Wish she hadn't, I might be free now.

It was also Zane's birthday, and he was packed off for a last day of junior school. I don't know why Angela mothers him so much. He must have got the hang of the bus ride by now, else he's stupid.



Lilith, I think, was still upset that Angela wouldn't give her the answers. By the fact she spent all night messing around with Alana's garden I don't think she'd bothered to work them out herself either. That's my girl.



We had an enforced party for Zane - "just family". As far as I know I'm not related to the boy, but I like him so I went along. Lilith excepted, Seb's family are much more like my sort of person.



Even if Seb isn't as into fun anymore. Alana's old and he actually likes her, so maybe I can't blame him. It's one weekend though, and she's not on death's door yet. One weekend for a mate who's feeling down. One stupid weekend.

It's not like I'm asking him to dump her, or cheat on her, just have a few drinks with me. Okay, a lot of drinks.



Maybe he'll be more interested now Zane's a teenager. Seriously, teenagers don't want parents around. Take it from me, I have two teenagers. Maybe he'll see some sense and drop this overly responsible family man rubbish.

And if not, I don't need him to have fun. Once again, I can go it alone.

[ArianaJade]

Zane's Teen Makeover

It's in a separate post because it didn't work with the main theme of the chapter, but here's Zane as a teenager.



His new trait is Charismatic. Basically because it works as a free Never Dull reward for friendship making, and he can't learn charisma until he's done with his supermax skill.



Everyday outfit.



Formalwear.



Sleepwear. It seems he's got his Dad's muscle tone.



Athletic, which I made for him even though he won't be allowed to do athletic either until he's done with his supermax.



Swimwear, ditto. But the photo's worth it for those muscles.

[PeregrineTook]

I enjoy how Daniel's "not" the evil one in the household, yet he's the one who's constantly perceived that way.  It's as if Seb was looking for a built in scapegoat so he'd look sweet and innocent.

[Shewolf13]

Grrr... I seriously dislike Daniel... I'd rather an evil one rather than one who makes excuses all the time.  You've done a wonderful job in bringing out everyone's personalities, Ariana ^^  I just really happen to dislike people like Daniel.  Nothing is ever their fault.

[Tilia]

Oh, Daniel.  Someone needs to call the waaaambulence. 

[SimBlip]

Wow!
You really captured Daniel's fear and regrets of commitment there.
That was deep. Especially, as Daniel delivers most of his news in a quasi nonchalent style. Well done!

[ArianaJade]

I enjoy how Daniel's "not" the evil one in the household, yet he's the one who's constantly perceived that way.  It's as if Seb was looking for a built in scapegoat so he'd look sweet and innocent.

Honestly, that was totally part of Daniel's role here. That, and as a contrast between Seb as he was at the start (a tiny bit of a womaniser) and what he became when he met Alana. Seb might be evil but at least he's grown up. Daniel hasn't.

Grrr... I seriously dislike Daniel... I'd rather an evil one rather than one who makes excuses all the time.  You've done a wonderful job in bringing out everyone's personalities, Ariana ^^  I just really happen to dislike people like Daniel.  Nothing is ever their fault.

I know an awful lot of Daniel-types, some of them women, and yeah I'm not a fan either. He definitely needs to step up and take some responsibility at least for his actions if not for his feelings. I'm enjoying exploring his personality, though, he's an interesting contrast to everyone else in the household.

Oh, Daniel.  Someone needs to call the waaaambulence. 

Seb: 999? Yeah, we're going to need a waaambulence now please. [pause] What do you mean this is serious emergency calls only?

Wow!
You really captured Daniel's fear and regrets of commitment there.
That was deep. Especially, as Daniel delivers most of his news in a quasi nonchalent style. Well done!

Thanks! He's a strange character, but I very much doubt he's the type that thinks he's deep!

[Scalec]

Lilith is incredibly beautiful - it always makes me happy to see how the genes can turn out, and it makes me more happy to see them work out so successfully! And Zane's no slouch either.

Of course, Angela does have that unfortunate long face. Then again, I had a similar situation with one of my Sims in my Immortal Dynasty challenge and she grew up absolutely gorgeous. So we shall see.

Sebastian and Zane, I'm looking forward to seeing more of your evil exploits!
(And Zane, marry Lilith.)

[butterfly]

I'm loving this story a lot. Zane is a handsome teenager and I think he and Lilith would make some pretty babies

[ArianaJade]

Lilith is incredibly beautiful - it always makes me happy to see how the genes can turn out, and it makes me more happy to see them work out so successfully! And Zane's no slouch either.

Of course, Angela does have that unfortunate long face. Then again, I had a similar situation with one of my Sims in my Immortal Dynasty challenge and she grew up absolutely gorgeous. So we shall see.

Sebastian and Zane, I'm looking forward to seeing more of your evil exploits!
(And Zane, marry Lilith.)

I love the genetics in the Sims too, it always makes me happy when I get an interesting combination or some sims I didn't think were all that attractive manage to produce a really gorgeous baby. Angela's definitely not as attractive as Lilith, but you can't have everything! Quite a lot of their features are the same/similar, but it's that face shape.

I'm loving this story a lot. Zane is a handsome teenager and I think he and Lilith would make some pretty babies

I think they would too, but we'll have to wait and see...

And yes. A month and a half later I've finally had time to think about putting another update on this story. It's not the chapter I'm most proud of, but it's taken long enough already to get one so I can't really spend any more time editing it!

[ArianaJade]

Doubts



I'm not doing great at Evil lately.

Sure, I've got a few promotions. I've run around Sunlit Tides until I'm dizzy pulling off heists, confusing the local government's plans and even causing havoc at the Science Centre, but it's not proper Evil.

Of course I'd never say that to my boss. I'd get divorced.

And I don't want to be divorced.

But seriously. Befriending a local professor at the school? What in the name of the Watcher. What's that got to do with Evil? What's that got to do with taking over the world? What's that got to do with me achieving immortality?

Sometimes I wonder if I should give up. Many respected Evildoers have for a little while, and come back stronger and more prepared. But maybe I'm too old for that.



But he answered the door before I had a chance to run away.

I had no idea what I was there for. What's the point of being the boss' husband if you can't even get leaks of confidential information? But no. I'm only allowed what's relevant to my role, despite the fact that if I wanted to look through her desk at home I'd probably find everything anyway. Especially as I know for a fact her 'top secret' laptop password is ILoveSeb.

Cute, isn't she?



I love her too. More than she could ever know. More than I could ever tell her, because I'd sound like a sap and knowing my luck someone from work would hear and then I'd be the butt of every single joke for weeks.

But my god, I sometimes wish she could be immortal with me.

The book says that's normal. The book says it's my destiny, and mine alone, and when I'm secure in my immortality eight generations down there's a chance I could get her back and have her forever then.

The book says a lot of things, and I don't always like them. I don't like this at all.

I have to pull myself together. I was never like this before. I'm getting soft in my old age.



At home, it all continues as it was. Some of us are slated to live and others to die, but nobody else knows that. I should tell Zane. Someday. Someday soon. For now, I don't want to spoil his teenage years. He's not asking questions why he's been singled out for paintings and sculptures, he's not asking questions why we haven't had any more children. Good. I'm not sure how I'd tell him, anyway.



I briefly investigated other ways of gaining immortality. Perhaps if I don't have to take the Ambrosia, perhaps then there's more flexibility and Alana can come too. It didn't work out. Every book I read had the same conclusion: there's no way to immortality. Except mine, and that gives the answer I don't want.



So I have to work with what time I have left. I suggested she took up running – marathon runners are meant to live longer lives aren't they? She refused to become a vegetarian and extend her life that way.

“We've all got to die, Shark,” she said to me when I'd explained the health benefits. “I know you want to spend more time with me, but you can't have any longer than I've naturally got. Life just doesn't work that way.”

“I love you,” I said, because it was all I could say.



I worry what'll become of this family. Alana will leave us, and everyone seems to ignore Lilith. Mary Sue prefers Angela, that much is clear, and Daniel ignores everybody.



I worry what kind of rubbish my best friend is shoving into my son's head. I don't want him growing up like Daniel. Daniel's an arse to his wife, he ignores his family, and he's not even properly got a career. Zane could be more than that. So could Daniel, but he's running out of time to try.

Like I said, everything continues as it was. As it is.



Prom rolled around for the teenagers. I get the impression Angela was the only one looking forward to it. She'd even done her hair properly for the occasion, and was wearing something that wasn't splattered with flecks of paint.



Zane, and I quote, was “only going cuz there's girls.” Sounds like me at his age. I'm proud of him.



And Lilith was late.

“Lilith! You look like you're going to a funeral!” I could hear Angela grumble at her sister as they rearranged themselves into the limo.



“So? You look like something an old lady'd put in their drawers. Lilac's an old lady colour.”

“Black's a funeral colour.”

“Zane's wearing black, you're not telling him off.”

“Zane's a boy.”

“Well done for noticing, Angie.”

“Don't call me Angie!”

Well, I suppose if Zane ever asks, we can say we didn't have a second child to avoid all the arguments between them. It's a more normal reason than because the first'll die and the second won't. Less like favouritism.

I trudged back into the house, leaving Alana to snuffle into her tissue while the limo drove off. The windows were blacked out, I wasn't going to stand and wave off people I couldn't even see.



Inside, Daniel and Mary Sue were flirting.

And before you criticise, I didn't plan on doing it. It just angered me. How could he be one minute telling me he hated his life and Mary Sue, and he should never have married her, and he wanted to start seeing other people, and the next flirting?



“Are you an idiot?” I think I caught him by surprise. “She's boring and you never liked her seriously anyway!”

“Who?”

“Your wife? Remember her?”

“Mary Sue? Why wouldn't I remember her? She was here a moment ago.”

“Did you remember her when you were flirting with that maid?”

Silence. And then; “That didn't go anywhere.”

“By her choice. If it'd been left to you, you'd have been in bed with her by now.”

Silence again.



“Seriously, Daniel. If you can't stand Mary Sue like you say, do the decent thing and break it off. If you love her, then stop saying you don't just to get in some maid's pants.”

“That's not fair, it's not that simple...”

“No, life's not fair or simple. You think I don't know that either? Sort yourself out, and while you're at it pay some attention to Lilith. She's neglected and it's not fair on her. If you're so concerned about fair.”



I've got no idea what he said or did about Mary Sue, but at least he spoke to Lilith.

[PeregrineTook]

I'm still voting for Lilith to take things over.  It amuses me that she might be more evil than Shark at this point.

[Shewolf13]

I love Seb!  Just because one is Evil, doesn't mean they can't also have sappy moments!

[ArianaJade]

I'm still voting for Lilith to take things over.  It amuses me that she might be more evil than Shark at this point.

She probably is. And amusingly when she graduated high school in-game, she received the Most Likely to Take Over the World award. Not Zane, Lilith.

I love Seb!  Just because one is Evil, doesn't mean they can't also have sappy moments!

And Seb has a lot of sappy moments.

[Hallucination]

Oh, Seb. He's an affectionate guy, even if he's an Evil one.