::1.3:: Panic Helpfully

 Sunflower purchases a toybox for her son's birthday, the first item in the house not bought for pure necessity.  She continues to struggle at her job; while her boss Gretel Sekemoto seems to like her as a person, Sunflower's near-daily neurotic breakdowns make her hesitant to promote her.

This makes it difficult to buy most things... such as furniture.  Currently, Roe sleeps on the kitchen floor in a thrift store sleeping bag.

Meanwhile, Denn Wilder has officially inserted himself into the narrative.  It's not uncommon for Sunflower to wake up to him letting himself into the house, or to come home from work to find him taste-testing her garden.

It's still pretty weird, but she's learned to chalk it up to "a werewolf thing."

And besides, Roe loves having him around, and that's more than enough reason for Sunflower to accept it.

"In school we're learning about Simthoven.  My teacher says he's the best composer to ever live!"

"Pah, you think your teacher knows music?  Lemme tell you about this banjo-playing mummy I fought in Egypt."

He's a spark of happiness in their decrepit shack, with enough stories to fill the void left by amnesia--but he never stays for long.

"Where are you going this time?" Sunflower never used to ask, too caught up in her own worries about her job and her son and her empty past to care; but lately, his comings and goings have only become another worry.

"Not sure yet.  I'll see where my feet take me.  Nowhere too far, I hope."  He smiles at her.

Then he leans in, and for some reason Sunflower isn't surprised or scared.

"Stay out of trouble," she murmurs.

"Of course."

There isn't much to do when Denn isn't around, in Roe's opinion.  And his mother always seems more anxious.  So, he spends hours at the library after school, devouring books filled with far-off folktales and high fantasy romance.  All of Denn's stories of his own travels make Roe feel adventurous.

Unfortunately, Roe also hates the outdoors.  With a passion.  So books are about as much as he can handle.

Everyone is more content when Denn is there.

Until Sunflower gets sick at work, and suspects it's more than nerves.

 She wasn't sure how Denn would take the news, but the answer is "with enthusiasm."

A pup of his very own!  Oh, boy!

"So you're gonna have another baby?" Roe is next to hear the news.

"That's the plan," Sunflower says playfully.

"Man," Roe sighs, "I wish Denn was my dad."

On most days, though, it feels like Roe's sentiments are already fulfilled.

 And things feel secure.

"Move in with us," Sunflower suggests.  "Roe would love it.  I would love it.  You wouldn't have to wander anymore."

His smile is apologetic.  "Sunny, I like wandering.  It's the werewolf way of life."

"What about that other werewolf in town?  She lives in a house, with her family."

"The journalist?" Denn grimaces.  "She was tamed by that witch husband of hers."

"Is that what you think I'm trying to do?  Tame you?"

"Of course not.  But we can't all be like that.  This is how my pack raised me."  His tone softens.  "I'm sorry."

She draws him in again to hide her disappointment.  "Don't be."

So he leaves again, and things are quiet again.

And he comes back, like he always says he will.  

It's not such a bad setup, Sunflower supposes.

 Uh-oh.  Trouble at midnight.

The burglar unwisely flips the lights on as he enters.  He was probably not expecting to find a child snoozing right in the walkway.  Roe, however, remains completely undisturbed by the intrusion.

 Luckily, Denn, who has just come back after two weeks out of town, hears the thief with his super-special werewolf powers and is able to catch him right before he can enter the bathroom and nab the toilet, which is probably the only thing in the house worth stealing.

Sunflower tags along to panic helpfully.

The commotion finally wakes Roe.

A sound defeat.

"Well, it looks like you have everything under control."  The elderly officer arrives on the scene just in time to watch Denn drag the thief out by his ears.

"But that man of yours," she gushes, once Denn is out the door; "Can I steal him?"

"You can't steal a person," is all Sunflower can think to say.

The next morning is plagued by more drama.  Now it's Denn's turn to panic helpfully.

A few hours later, Sunflower exits Lunar Lakes' glowing underground hospital with a baby girl, joyful but shellshocked.  It's her second child, but the first birth she remembers.

Denn waits for her outside, but when the cab arrives to take her home, he starts walking in the opposite direction.

"You aren't staying," Sunflower says, deflating.

"I'm sorry, love.  I just need some time to think.  Maybe hunt for a bit."  He pauses, eyes on the bundle in her arms, expression full of adoration.  "She's beautiful."

Roe is still at school when Sunflower settles her daughter in at home.  She had been hoping they could all decide on a name together, but it feels wrong to make the little thing go without one for even a few hours.  A name comes to mind, and it just feels right; like it's already familiar.

"Elisabeth," she whispers to herself; a quiet decision.

☾

Misc: I'm staying with my parents for the summer, and whenever my mom sees me doing something Sims-related on my computer, she asks, "Is that poor kid still sleeping on the kitchen floor in a sleeping bag?" 

The answer is always yes.

For some reason, it was a real struggle getting Denn and Sunflower to Try For Baby. Denn absolutely refused, no matter what I did, so eventually I just moved him in temporarily, then kicked him out again after I heard the pregnancy jingle.

Another annnoyance: I feel like 90% of my screenshots take place in that same tiny kitchen-slash-living room area. Their house is so tiny (and still is in-game) and doesn't have much by way of scenic varity, and quite frankly I am SICK OF IT. (!!!)

But until Sunflower saves up enough money to fulfill her "property mogule" requirement (which is a very difficult thing to do when you spend your entire YA life stage on maternity leave), the family is trapped in this gross little shack. And by extension, I am trapped in this gross little shack.

Anyway, here's some Chinese pop, and I may or may not have teared up the first time I listened.