The X Factor: A Decker Dynasty (please move to graveyard)

[RainBeau]

So cute! Cycl0n3 is hard to understand, though. His nicknames for everyone were clever but a bit confusing. And Chris--bless. Hahaha Nice.

[MarianT]

I think Blair looked absolutely adorable in her wedding outfit. And who knew that the Cyclone's real name was Dave?

[hazelnut]

So cute! Cycl0n3 is hard to understand, though. His nicknames for everyone were clever but a bit confusing. And Chris--bless. Hahaha Nice.

I didn't think he'd use their real names online.  In fact, he'd probably use leet - but I that would get too confusing and it's bad enough remembering to type Cycl0n3 instead of Cyclone.  I have to keep going back and correcting it  .  I hoped the pictures had made it clear who he was talking about but I've edited the post to put in translations at the end and changed Tamara's nickname to the more obvious Tamtam.  Tamara --> Tammy --> Sindy is just too obscure.

I have no idea where Chris got his new hairstyle but it was too good not to share.  Especially with that expression

I think Blair looked absolutely adorable in her wedding outfit. And who knew that the Cyclone's real name was Dave?

Thank you.  I liked it too.  Most of the wedding dresses and hairstyles looked too grown-up for Blair but I thought that combination worked.

Well, he has to have a real name and there's always a David somewhere in my large Sim families.  It also means I can get out of typing Cycl0n3 some of the time  .

[RainBeau]

I didn't think he'd use their real names online.  In fact, he'd probably use leet - but I that would get too confusing and it's bad enough remembering to type Cycl0n3 instead of Cyclone.  I have to keep going back and correcting it  .  I hoped the pictures had made it clear who he was talking about but I've edited the post to put in translations at the end and changed Tamara's nickname to the more obvious Tamtam.  Tamara --> Tammy --> Sindy is just too obscure.

Ohh, okay, it makes sense now. But yeah, Tamtam is easier to follow.

[LemonBonBons]

So cute! Blair's wedding dress is adorable :3

[Anna33]

I like Cycl0n3's nicknames for people, I think Chris sometimes gets that hair when he joins the political career.

[hazelnut]

So cute! Blair's wedding dress is adorable :3

I like Cycl0n3's nicknames for people, I think Chris sometimes gets that hair when he joins the political career.

Thanks, both of you.

Politics?  Really? I thought it might be a career outfit but that's not a style I'd immediately associate with politicians .  I'll have to keep an eye out for Chris around town and see if I can find out what he's doing.

Edit: He's a criminal!

[hazelnut]

Dear Edie



Monday, Week 1

Dear Electronic Diary,

I’ve always used paper diaries before but hey, why not try something new?  Wouldn’t want Cyco calling me a technophobe again, ’cos I’m not.  I just hope he doesn’t hack his way into this.

Yesterday was hectic.  First days can often be busy – all that hanging around in the park or the library, hoping to meet the new people and maybe make it into their circle of friends.  Somehow, I never seem to manage that.

Cyco and Blair made their move early.  Engaged on Day 1?  They’re really trying to outdo the Desirables.  Tamara clearly has her eye on Xander Clavell, to no-one’s surprise.  She was all over him at the party last night.  I have vague memories of marrying the other two in previous lives but I don’t think I’ve ever ended up with Tam.  I’d been wondering about asking her out – the attraction of opposites and all that – but clearly it was already too late.



Maybe it’s for the best.  She’d probably want to party like that every night.  Oh well.  Back to the library again, I suppose – after I’ve cleaned up the mess from last night.

*   *   *   *   *

Wednesday, Week 1

Dear E-Diary,

I think I may have a girlfriend.

I hadn’t really taken much notice of Ayesha, our newest housemate.  She’s mostly been keeping herself to herself since she joined us.  She chats in the kitchen with Emma and sometimes plays chess with Blair or Cyco but I’d barely spoken to her.  Rumour said she wasn’t interested in men anyway.  Turns out rumour was wrong.

Ayesha and Blair had gone out somewhere for the day.  Tamara was in bed with flu and Emma was at work.  Cyco was fixing the plumbing, as usual, and I was following him around with a mop, also as usual.  Whoever built these houses did a rubbish job.  We seem to get blocked toilets and burst pipes most days.  I hear that next-door is just as bad.  We’d just about got the place sorted out when Cyco’s phone rang.  It was Blair.  The girls were at that new beach spa and wanted us to join them.  Well, obviously Cyco wanted to rush straight over – after all, he and Blair had been apart for several hours and he was missing her already.  I’m not sure whether that’s sweet or sickening.  I wasn’t so keen but I’d not visited the place before and it might be fun.  Better than slogging through another logic book, anyway.  Besides, if I didn’t go, poor Ayesha would be stuck playing gooseberry.

As soon as we arrived, Blair dragged Cyco off somewhere.  I looked round for Ayesha and saw her relaxing in the hot tub.  She looked up and called me over to join her, which didn’t seem like a bad idea, actually – and somehow, before I knew it, we were cuddling.



So I think I have a girlfriend.  Still not really sure though.

I wish I was confident like Tamara.  When I got home, she and Xander were dancing together in the kitchen.  I bet she doesn’t worry about their relationship.

*   *   *   *   *

Thursday, Week 1

Dear E-D,

I woke up this morning not sure whether yesterday at the beach really happened.  Ayesha smiled at me over breakfast but didn’t say anything much, perhaps because the others were around.  Or was that it?  Maybe we weren’t dating after all.  Perhaps we were just friends.  I decided that the safest thing to do was to invite her out in a not-quite-asking-out kind of way – so I suggested trying out the coffee shop.  None of us have had a chance to visit it yet.

It was a bit awkward to start with.  Maybe she wasn’t sure about us either.  We just sat there reading and not saying much.



Then she put down her book and suggested getting drinks.  She had some kind of herbal tea and I had something with cinnamon in.  Not sure what it was.  I didn’t really like it that much but it seemed to be relaxing.  Or it gave me courage.  Or something.  Suddenly, kissing Ayesha seemed like the only sensible thing to do.



Maybe I should drink more of that stuff.

As I was about to kiss her again, I noticed two of the local kids chatting and I realised something.  This scheme of ours isn’t just about our own survival.  It’s for them, too.  If the genius types manage to work out what the problem is, we can help them to have a future.  Maybe even a future together.  Who knows?



Then I got back to the serious business of kissing my new girlfriend.

*   *   *   *   *

Friday, Week 1

Dear Edie,

I wrote yesterday’s entry early and so missed out not one but two major pieces of news.  The big story is that Cyco and Blair got married!  They decided to foil Susan’s plans, miss out on all the fuss and just have a private wedding at the beach.  Sounds sensible to me.

So we all gathered round to congratulate the foolishly grinning groom and the blushing Mrs Sw0rd.  Except she said she wasn’t.  What?  Had I misheard?  Weren't they married after all?  The others looked equally puzzled.  Then Ayesha worked it out.  Of course!  The Wainwrights are a respected Sunset Valley family and what’s good enough for the Landgraabs is clearly good enough for them.  Cyco must have taken Blair’s name instead.  But apparently that wasn’t it either.  I got the distinct impression that they were both enjoying confusing us.  We guessed some more.  Had they combined their names?  Sw0rdwright, perhaps?  They finally relented and told us.  It’s simply that Blair’s taken his real surname.  He’s still going by Sw0rd – says his real name’s too boring.  Judging by the determined gleam in his new wife’s eye, that won’t last forever.

Then, after the lovebirds had disappeared upstairs and the rest of us were tactfully watching the TV with the sound turned well up, Tam announced that she’d proposed to Xander.



I’d thought it was just a fling – neither of them seems like the serious type.  But I suppose our project has made her think more about settling down and she says he’s changed, too.  He’s even been to university.  That was quick.  I thought he’d spent most of the time since Sunday round at our place.

So now we have another wedding in prospect.



I think it’s time to ask Ayesha out for a proper date – a film and then a romantic meal at the bistro, maybe.

*   *   *   *   *

Update

The date went according to plan – until the end.  Reasonably good film.  Great meal.  Then I turned to her outside the restaurant and asked her to go steady.  And she agreed, although she looked a bit confused.  I have a feeling she thought we were a couple already.  Then I gathered her up for a passionate kiss and we bumped noses.  And then she stuck her finger in my eye.  These things never happen in films.



Then she got really flustered.  I thought she was going to cry.  I was already crying, of course, but that was just the poke in the eye.  Well, mostly.

Partly.

I suddenly realised that I didn't like seeing her unhappy, even over something so trivial.  It would break my heart if I really upset her.  So I kissed her again, carefully.  And then I forgot about my sore eye and kissed her properly.



I’d been meaning to take things slowly but now I couldn’t wait any longer.  I knelt there, in front of all the other diners, and took the box out of my pocket.



Weddings all round, then.  Apart from Emma.  In fact, I’m a bit worried abut Emma.  I must ask the others whether they think she’s behaving oddly, too.

*   *   *   *   *

Saturday, Week 1

Dear Edie,

Today was my birthday.



All at once, it seems that middle age isn’t so much creeping up on me as rushing up and pouncing.  I wonder whether Ayesha fancies a quick wedding à la Cyco’n’Blair.  I’d like to see our kids grow up.  Or is it too soon to mention kids?  Maybe I should just stick to wedding plans for now.

Anyhow, back to Emma and her odd behaviour.  It’s not just me.  All of the others have noticed.  She had the sniffles the other day and we thought she’d caught Tamara’s bug but then she got over it.  She said her Simmunity had kicked in.  But then yesterday she slept really late – she only just made it to the diner in time to start her shift – and she looked awful.  Sort of haunted, as if she’d had a really bad nightmare and hadn’t really woken up from it yet.  She seemed quiet and withdrawn when she got back last night but she insisted she was OK and didn’t want to talk about it.  She seems more like herself today – except that she’s doing un-Emma-like things.  She came home from work singed – an accident in the kitchen, apparently – but instead of having a shower and then relaxing in front of the TV, we found her working out.  I’m sure Ayesha would say it’s a good way to relieve stress and it probably would be for Ayesha, but for Emma?  She’s built more for comfort than speed, as my mum used to say.  What’s with the exercising?



And Blair saw her writing a love letter (to Connor Frio, we think).  Also not Em’s usual style.  Blair said she was so surprised she nearly choked.



Emma's cooking’s changed as well.  She's always been a good cook, of course, but her style's changed suddenly.  The food’s not necessarily better, just different.  We think she’s adding more herbs and spices.  Or maybe just different ones.





The aftertaste can be quite surprising…



…but we all agree we feel better after eating it.  More alive somehow.  Whatever she’s doing seems to be good.  I just wish we knew what’s caused the change.

Next chapter

[RaiaDraconis]

I find myself really liking Stiles's voice. He has an interesting point of view on things. It's super-cute what is going on between him and Ayesha! Hmm, I wonder who Emma is writing to...? I suppose we must wait for that revelation to come to light.

Fantastic chapter!

[RainBeau]

I really like Stiles too. He sounds sweet. So many marriages! There won't be room to hold them all!

[lepapillonrouge]

It's like a matchmaker's heaven in this story.
I like Stiles too. I try not to make my dynasties in Sunset Valley due to ...really well-written stories from other people in Sunset Valley. Good luck on this! Can't wait to see Emma's side of the story.

[hazelnut]

I find myself really liking Stiles's voice. He has an interesting point of view on things. It's super-cute what is going on between him and Ayesha! Hmm, I wonder who Emma is writing to...? I suppose we must wait for that revelation to come to light.

Fantastic chapter!

I really like Stiles too. He sounds sweet. So many marriages! There won't be room to hold them all!

Thanks for the comments .

I'd never noticed until I started playing this game what an expressive face Stiles has - and he seems to spend a remarkable proportion of the time looking worried.  The voice just followed naturally from that.

I always knew that this household would take a lot of juggling, which is why I'm still on week 1 of the story (and not much further in-game) at a point when I was probably already on generation three with the Wan-Goddard-Landgraab etcs.  There's going to be quite a lot of moving in and out, particularly in the first household, as part of my plot to foil story progression.  Of course, it may not work and I may end up with a world full of clones anyway...

It's like a matchmaker's heaven in this story.
I like Stiles too. I try not to make my dynasties in Sunset Valley due to ...really well-written stories from other people in Sunset Valley. Good luck on this! Can't wait to see Emma's side of the story.

Well, how else do you beat story (non-)progression?  Look out for a lot more matches

In fact, I haven't played in Sunset Valley at all for a while and it's ages since I played anything more than a short game there.  It's actually quite nice to be back with the familiar old crowd and, since I've hardly ever had the Roomies as the active household before, it's also different enough to be interesting.

The next chapter will probably be from Emma's point of view.  Unless anything else unexpected happens, that is...

[hazelnut]

A Night With the Stars
www.starryabductees.org.sv

You are not alone!


6/1/13

EmmaH
Newbie
Posts: 1

Hi!  My name is Emma and I am an abductee.  This is the story of my ‘night with the stars’.

I work as a cook at the local diner, so I’m usually up later than my housemates.  In fact, they’re often all in bed by the time I get home.

After work on Thursday, I found I was the only one awake again.  Our food stocks were getting low, so I decided to make a couple of pies before bed.  I know it sounds mad when I’ve spent all afternoon and evening preparing food but I find cooking in my own kitchen soothing.  No noise, no fuss, no temperamental head chef.  Just me, the ingredients and familiar actions.  Chopping, stirring, tasting.  It helps me settle down for the night.  I was just putting everything away (my housemate Stiles gets really fussed if anyone makes a mess) when I heard a strange noise.  I looked out of the window and saw coloured lights in the sky.  How odd.  I ran outside to get a better look.



The lights seemed to be falling towards me.  The effect was strange, hypnotic.  I found I couldn’t look away.





Then a, well, a flying saucer, I suppose, appeared in the middle of the lights.  I could have sworn it wasn’t there a moment before.



A bright light shone on me, just like a theatre spotlight.  Then the beam became more solid somehow and I found myself being pulled up into the spacecraft.  I tried to run away but it was no use.  My feet were already off the ground.



Somehow, I was sucked inside and the saucer thing shot away from Sunset Valley and into the clear, starlit night, shimmering into invisibility as it went.



The next few minutes (hours? days? years, even?) are a blur.  I have vague memories of bright lights, questions, examinations.  And instructions endlessly repeated.  Instructions that I have somehow forgotten.  I just have a feeling that something is terribly important.  But what?

I remember a word.  A name?  ‘Tixxit’.  It’s connected with my captor.



Maybe it’s her (its?) name.  Or is it her(?) species?  Or their word for ‘me’ or ‘person’?  Of course, it could be complete nonsense.  Just my poor confused brain trying to fill in the blanks.  I feel so helpless.

And I’m haunted by a number, for some reason.  I have a feeling that the number ten is significant.  How?  Why?  What’s so special about 10?

My next clear memory is of hovering high above the house.



The lights were back, flickering all around us.  The spaceship spun gently down to the ground and Tixxit(?) and I were transported out on to the pavement in columns of green, swirling light.





Then (and this puzzled me more than almost anything else), the alien walked away down the road and disappeared outside next-door-but-one.  Why didn’t she get back in the saucer?



I stood outside the house for a while, hoping the dizziness would subside.  It must be early morning by now.  That is, assuming I wasn’t in another century entirely.  The town still looked the same, so maybe it hadn’t been long.



According to my phone, only a couple of hours had passed.  I wanted to talk to someone but they’d all be asleep.  And anyway, who would believe me?  I couldn’t even remember anything really interesting.

Eventually, I went to bed and slept.  Badly.  I haven’t had a good night since.  My dreams are horrible.  At least, I think they are.  I wake in a panic but forget my nightmares almost at once.  I know I must be behaving oddly in the daytime as well.  My housemates keep asking me if I’m OK.  I just feel so confused.

Then today I found this website.  Somewhere for people like me to tell their stories, however vague.  Thank you for reading.

*   *   *   *   *

7/1/13

EmmaH
Experimental subject
Posts: 14

Thanks for all of the supportive messages, guys.  I’ve been reading some of your stories and I realise we have a lot in common.  We’re not alone.

I like Ylloh’s idea that Sims from significant households get abducted more often.  My friends and I do have a plan, a hope for survival against the odds.  I think I remember being asked about it during the blank time but maybe that’s just wishful thinking.  I certainly have the feeling of being watched that a lot of you have mentioned.  Maybe Tixxit and her people are monitoring us.

Perhaps someday soon I’ll find the courage to talk to one of my housemates about it.

Yours in friendship, EmmaH.


Next chapter


I know this is rather a short chapter but it didn’t really fit with the rest of the story.  At the time, Emma's abduction was rather annoying.  I was concentrating on the collection and everyone’s relationships and was becoming uncomfortably aware that generation 1 needed to put in an appearance pretty soon.  I didn't have time for this!  I took screenshots because I’d not watched my only other Sim abduction all that closely but thought I wouldn’t use them in the story - until it occurred to me that it was a good way to deal with a couple of nagging problems I had with the storyline, so it went in after all.

Emma really has been behaving oddly, by the way.  That singed workout was entirely spontaneous and last night (my time) I caught her flirting with Cycl0n3, who now has a naughty reputation as a result.  Emma isn’t supposed to flirt!

[RainBeau]

I love it! I feel solidarity for poor abducted Emma. And it was all so mysterious and well-written!

[ArianaJade]

Wow. So many marriages!

I'd never noticed Stile's permanant worried look before either, but then again I don't think I've ever played with him. Or any of these sims. So seeing their nooboos will be fun.