What a cool start for a dynasty. Poor Tristan, I have a feeling poor Martin is going to get conned into a dynasty! Hehe! I haven't played any sims on the greyscale slider yet; it sucks that it's buggy! Well, good luck on your dynasty this time around! A whole bunch of inappropriate immortals is going to be quite interesting!
Marvin's fate is a bit of a forgone conclusion. I love the inappropriate trait; it isn't nearly as difficult as mean-spirited, and it has fun little bonuses like sponge baths, laughing at birthdays, kisses as a way of saying "hello," and constant pajama-wearing. They're gonna be a fun bunch.
---
After Marvin turned 16, it was time for another move. Tristan was convinced that his work in Appaloosa Plains was fruitless, like every other time.
Tristan always muttered about a curse over Simnation, and out of his good will, he wanted to undo it with his magic. In his own world of strange, far-too-aware misfits, it was still strange to be magically-inclined. Some rumored that his “misuse” of it was a reason he was bound to Simnation in the first place. He thought that he would have the last laugh, but his magic was no use in breaking the curse or even weakening it. He was stuck in a nation of people who were dying out with each breath.
His biggest hope was that Marvin had his same abilities, and it was apparent that he did. Even bigger was his hope that Marvin would follow in his footsteps of good-hearted healing, stoicism, and detachment from the world.
Maybe it was too much time sneaking away to watch movies, but Marvin seemed much different.
He appalled Tristan by shaving part of his head and getting fitted for glasses. He even attracted the attention of Union Cove's teenagers and made plenty of friends. The roots were starting to grow.
When it came time for Marvin to turn 18, a local girl named Bubblegum offered to throw him a birthday party at one of the coolest venues in Union Cove when her mother was gone for a concert.
He smiled when he stood in front of his friends, dressed in some new clothes he got as presents. Of course, deep inside he knew that his father would be enraged to see such an act.
“A party?!” Tristan was seething. How could he have drifted so far away?
“I don't always have a birthday,” said Marvin.
“I can't believe that you'd go down this path.”
“Maybe I don't want to be a traveling warlock. Maybe I just want to live in a quiet town and make friends.”
“It's not that. It's just...there are so many consequences attached to this.”
Marvin went to sleep that night at the fire station, disregarding it all. He wanted to dream about renting a house with some buddies, setting up a garden, maybe putting some of his magic to good use and becoming a fortune teller.
Instead, he didn't dream.
At first, he was plunged into blackness, but behind his back was a desk and a man in a top-hat.
“Clavicula. I thought that they died out with Tristan.” His voice was deep, smooth, and disgusting.
“That's my dad. He's still alive, ya know.”
“I guess he is! I see that you're a very worldly gentleman.”
“I hear that all the time,” Marvin didn't need another person telling him that.
“I don't think a man should become too worldly so that he loses all ambition in a sea of nectar and hedonism,” the man said, “There's nothing wrong with settling down, but isn't it awful to settle down without a purpose?”
As hard as Marvin thought, he didn't have a purpose. Not then.
The man continued. “I've been known to send men on missions in the mortal world. Why don't you go to a little swamp town and raise a family? You could even live forever.”
Immortality was definitely a nice line in Marvin's worldly vocabulary. “Tell me more, old man.”
“Simply put, there's a recipe that will grant any man the power to live forever, eaten on a regular basis, of course. I like to withhold its properties until some things are done. Nothing warms my heart more than to see a man at the top of his career, the best in his field with a skill, and surrounded by a museum full of his portraits and a bunch of best friends. It's even better done eight times over!”
“It seems a bit difficult,” said Marvin, “But heck, I might be up for it.”
“In fact, I'd even say it will lift that curse your father is so intent on lifting himself.”
“Sold.”
“Excellent. Pick up the MultiTab at my secretary's desk on the way out; it's my gift to you. I have everything you need in there. Twinbrook is past the green arch of light, for June 21st, 2057.”
“Hey, thanks for this...Lord Basalta-Marx, right?” That's what the business cards said, anyways.
“Please, call me B,” he said with a grin. Marvin left to follow the light towards the green arch.
“I reel those suckers in every time,” B muttered as soon as Marvin was out of earshot. He got out of his seat for a glass of celebratory nectar.
---
Credits to a bunch of people for their Union Cove residents.
