Introduction.
"Oh my, what is that?" Bennie Dean asked on day 1 of a new game file.
"I don't know, but I'm outta here," Henry McGlumm replied, "wanna pillow fight, Ben?"
"Anything if it means I don't have to look at that!" Bennie said, pointing towards the taxi that was just pulling up to their door and the figure that was stepping out of it.
Bennie and Henry made a quick escape into the house, Melvin though, wasn't as ... fortunate as the two of them, and he had to turn and take in the ... person that was descending upon him. It was a she, he assumed, at least the person seemed to be dressed in what appeared to be a dress.
"Oh hi," the person said, and from the voice, Melvin was certain it was a female, "my name is Phlegah Spirin."
"Oh hello, you are new here, aren't you?" Melvin replied, that being the kindest thing he could say to her.
"Oh yes, just newly arrived," Phlegah said, "I did want to live in Midnight Hollow, but they thought I should instead live here. in Riverview. I'm so very pleased to meet you. Say, I'm going to be a famous superstar actor one day, what do you do for a living? And do you know any celebrities? I'm sure that they'll want to help me in starting out my acting career."
"Ah, I see," Melvin said, "umm, I'm a scientist. Are you sure you should be that colour green? Is it really natural?"
"It is for me, Melvy," Phlegan answered, "I was asked that on The Face Simnation last week, you know."
"Oh yes, I remember that, you set a new record, I believe?" Melvin asked.
"I did indeed," Phlegah replied, "I was voted out by the judges within the first five seconds of being on that show. I can't believe the jealousy those judges had. They really dislike the colour green for some reason, I'm sure that you don't feel that way, do you Melvy?"
Phlegah reached out one of her hands for Melvin's cheeks, and he thought, 'wait, is she flirting with me?' He remembered the episode well Bernie's son was over watching the episode with them, and the swimsuit shot of his ... guest ... scarred them all for life.
"Umm, well, I do prefer white," Melvin replied, wishing he could get away from her.
"Oh white, yeah that's a good colour as well, Melvy. Say Melvy, are there any vampires or witches or fairies or werewolves around? I just love the supernatural!" Phlegah continued to gush.
"I think we'll know about that for sure tomorrow. But if you really want to see the supernatural, maybe Moonlight Falls or even Bridgeport would be better for you," Melvin replied, "say, it is hot out here, I'm sure you've got somewhere to go, don't let me keep you!"
"Oh thank you, thank you, Melvy," Phlegah said, "you are such a treasure inviting me inside your house. I tried Moonlight Falls and Bridgeport. Elvira chased me out of Bridgeport, and the Crumplebottom sisters of Moonlight Falls threatened to curse me if I set foot in their town. As I said, such prejudice against someone for being green. It aint easy being green, you know."
Phlegah pushed past Melvin and entered his house. Bennie and Henry were in the midst of their pillow fight, but made themselves scarce when Phlegah entered. Melvin was forced to stay with the unwanted guest.
"There are lots of people around Riverview, Ms Spirin," Melvin tried again, "and restaurants and libraries and art galleries and gyms. Why don't you go to one of them and see if you have any more luck."
"Oh! Of course, I should be seen out in public, my fans deserve to see me. And of course, Melvy you'll come with me. I'll buy you lunch for the great kindness you've shown me." Phlegah said.
"Ummm, that's not necessary Ms Spirin," Melvin tried once more, "I'm not hungry at all."
"Nonsense! Of course you're hungry. I know what you're thinking, I'm an actress and so I must be poor, but no, I'm not poor. And besides, you could do with a bit of colour to your cheeks, you cute man you," Phlegah said, oblivious to what Melvin was trying to say, "come along Melvy, you can drive!"
Melvin sighed but followed her out and got into the car. He drove to the Bistro and hoped for a table in the back corner, but no, she just had to get a table just inside the front door of the bistro, in full view of everyone coming in. Sims came to the door, saw Phlegah and left hurriedly. The Lobos twins ran out screaming and crying and even Lucky Perkins avoided looking too closely at Phlegah.
"They are obviously overcome by seeing us together, Melvy. Say, why don't you give me a compliment? I just love compliments!" Phlegah said, still totally oblivious to what was happening.
Melvin had to put a stop to this, right here, right now. So, even while she was paying for their meals, he was putting his words into place. "They are overcome by you, Ms Spirin, and my name isn't Melvy, it is Melvin, or Mr Taft. I am not going to feed your ego, you maybe used to people fawning over you and catering to your every whim, but that isn't the way we do things here in Riverview. You are an overly dramatic diva and ..."
Phlegah gasped at his words and slapped him across the face.
"How dare you Mr Taft, how dare you?" and her voice raised effortlessly through the octaves, "Good bye Mr Taft, and I hope that when I am famous you think back on how you treated me this day and you feel ashamed of your dislike for me because I am green."
Phlegah left at that point and headed towards a nearby garden where she could get some seeds and produce.
It wasn't her fault, not everyone could be the Sim Nation Beauty Queen.
