Taffity Family Legacy

Generation 7, Chapter 2



Who am I?

I'd been in this little village for nearly a year when I found this spot over looking the coastline. When I was feeling particularly confused or unsure, or just needed some space, I came here and could spend hours staring out across the rolling surface of the ocean.

I knew one thing - I didn't belong here. I don't know how I knew it but "here" just didn't feel right to me.

Don't get me wrong though, I'm not unhappy! I adore Isaac and Amelia and thank the stars every day that I happened to end up in front of their home - of all the places - and that they took me in.

Isaac was an odd sort. He spent most of his time out in the barn where he did most of his tinkering. I never understood exactly what he was doing out there but Amelia said it kept him occupied and happy. I went out there once to ask him a question about supper and I couldn't help but be intrigued by the contraption he was working on.



"What is it?" I asked, forgetting my original purpose for seeking him out.

He continued muttering for several minutes and I was sure he was completely oblivious to my presence. Without warning he turned toward me and smiled. "Hmm?"

I blinked a few times in surprise, "What is it?" I pointed to the contraption on the table he'd just been messing with.

He turned back toward the table and looked down in surprise, as if he'd never seen the thing before in his life. "Well, I don't rightly know.."



"Oh..."

I must have stood their confused for a moment too long because he turned back to me. "Is there something you needed child?"

"Um...yes..." I had to think for a moment to recall what it was exactly but eventually brought up the supper question Amelia had sent me with and was able to leave him to his work.

I thought about asking Amelia about his work but never really got around to it after that. We both fell into a routine of leaving him to do his thing and just making sure there was food on the table at meal time.

------

In time, a couple years had passed since I'd suddenly been thrown into their lives. Telling everyone they were my Aunt and Uncle eventually led to me calling them the same all the time - even if there weren't others around to hear. "Would you like to come into the village with me today Su?" Aunt Amelia called up to me.

"Oh yes!" I replied and scurried from my bed. Going into the village was about as exciting as things got around here so I rarely passed up the opportunity.



After we went to a couple of shops, we'd stopped to let a cart pass and I spotted him. George.

Two years had done nothing to dampen the fluttery feeling I got in my stomach when I saw him. Though I tried to temper my obvious feelings for Aunt Amelia's sake, I couldn't help but lose all track of what she was saying as I watched him cross through the village.

"Su...are you listening?" she asked, snapping my attention back to her.

"Oh, well..." I looked toward George. He was walking away and hadn't even seen me. I felt crushed!



"Excuse me a moment Aunt!" I said quickly. If I didn't hurry, he'd turn into a building or disappear around the corner.

"Su!" she called after me even as I walked quickly away from her. I'm sure she was shaking her head in disappointment but I'd make it up to her later.



I was thankful that she called after me though, for it caused George to stop and turn back toward us. He smiled as he saw me approaching. "Miss Su, so good to see you." he said. He smiled and waved to Aunt Amelia as well but I'm not sure she appreciated the gesture. "How is my favorite farm maiden on this day?"

I blushed scarlet and chewed on my lower lip at his words. I'm sure it must have amused him that he could still cause me such embarrassment but he was good enough not to laugh at my expense.



"I am quite well thank you." I replied after I gained my composure. "I've been exploring lately as the weather has chilled a bit - there's less work to be done you see..."

"You should be careful with that Miss, wouldn't want you to catch a cold." he said. "Then who would I come to visit on my walk into town?"

I blushed again and looked down at the ground, pushing around a pebble with my shoe. "I promise not to catch a cold." I said. "But I do have something I'd like to show you...."

"And I'd be honored to see it." he said. He reached out for my hand and I longed for it, for that one simple touch but at the last moment he pulled back.



He nodded to me very stiffly and then quickly turned on his heel and disappeared around the corner. I frowned and turned back toward Aunt Amelia, who had watched the whole exchange. She didn't say anything but offered me her arm on the way back to cottage.

------

"Why did he do that?" I asked again as we tended the crops. I had no experience with boys to draw from that I know of but still, even I recognized that his behavior was odd.

"I don't know dear." Aunt Amelia said quietly. She'd been very patient with me as I'd talked about George non-stop since the day before. "But it's hardly appropriate behavior for him to reach for your hand anyway dear. The two of you ought not to behave in such ways."



"Why not? We didn't do anything improper. He wanted to hold my HAND!" I cried, a little too loudly.

"Su! Really! There's no need to shout." she scolded.

I frowned but didn't say anything more. I continued to pick the late vegetables in silence, stubbornly refusing to look up at her. I could almost feel her eyes on me a few times and wondered what she was thinking but she didn't broach the subject again.

In spite of my Aunt's protests, I still waited for George to pass by most days so we could share a few precious moments at the fence. Now and then I saw her watching from the cottage but I never said anything about it.



"Will you come for a walk with me this evening?" George asked me on one such occasion.

I glance back toward the cottage and there she was in the window. Turning back to George, I nodded. "yes." I said quietly. "I'll meet you out past the fields?"

George readily agreed and we parted with a quick smile. I could feel Aunt Amelia's eyes on me as I reentered the cottage but she said nothing to me. I went about my chores quickly that day, as if doing them faster would make the hours tick by faster.

Finally it was time and I picked up a basket. "I'm going out for a walk." I said under the pretense of collecting berries or something. Aunt Amelia looked like she was going to say something but thought different of it and just waved sadly.

"I'm glad you came." George said, taking my hands in his as soon as I approached.



"I'm glad I came too." I said with another blush. He reached up and stroked my pink cheeks - something I'm sure would upset my aunt terribly if she was there to see.

Nothing inappropriate happened though, we sat under the trees for a long time and talked about lots of little things. It was peaceful and quiet. And he held my hand the whole time. When the stars began to gather in the sky, I knew it was time to get home and he walked me back to the edge of the farm. He carefully brought my hand to his lips and placed the sweetest, most gentle kiss upon it before we parted. "Until tomorrow maiden." he said with a smile.

I felt like I was walking on a cloud back across the small field and into the cottage. I saw Aunt Amelia's eyes travel to my still empty basket and back to my dreamy looking face. She disapproved but she said nothing that night.

"Where were you last night?" she asked the following morning, unable to keep it in any longer.



"I went for a walk." I said. It was a partial truth, I rationalized. I had walked to the meeting place with George and I had walked back.

"By yourself?" she pursued the line of questioning, clearly she thought otherwise.

"Yes." That one was a full lie - while it was true that some of the walk was alone I couldn't even rationalize that lie away. But it was worth it.

She merely nodded and continued to poke at the fire for a few minutes. "Were you with George?" she put down the poker and turned her attention completely on me.

I gulped a bit. She didn't look angry but I knew how much she disapproved of George. "Um..." I fumbled for an answer. "I know you don't like him Aunt but..."

"It's not that I do not like him dear - if he were behaving properly he would come to the house or you would have appropriate supervision..."

I was torn between feeling sad and angry that she distrusted me so much. "He's been a perfect gentleman!" I shouted. I'd settled on the side of anger. "We've done nothing wrong! And if you trusted me at all you'd realize that!"

And then I ran from the cottage and I ran from her.





I ran as far and as fast as I could until I very nearly collapsed in exhaustion. Stabs of pain shot through my legs and chest as I stopped. I wanted to fall on the ground and stay there for days while I caught my breath. It was in that moment that I realized just how foolish I'd been.

I hadn't paid any attention to where I was running TO, only where I was running FROM! I was surrounded by tall grass and tress on just about every side. Somehow I'd gotten myself deep within the forest and I didn't have the slightly clue how to get back out again.



"Well that was foolish." I muttered aloud.

I walked aimlessly for a while, trying to find my way out only I think I moved further and further into the thick trees. I called out for help meekly a couple times but no one came to my aid.

Pretty soon, everything started to look the same. I was sure I'd seen that tree a dozen times before. Was it possible I was going in circles? Considering I didn't know where I was, I suppose it could be.

The longer I walked, the darker it grew. I'm not certain if the darkness was from the night encroaching on the world of from the thick canopy of trees all around me but the forest soon became terrifying.

I may have tripped over a rock, I may have stumbled out of fear or I may have passed out from exhaustion. One way or another, I fell to the ground and once I was there I lost all will to try and get back up again.



I don't know how long I laid there in the dirt. I don't know what manner of bugs or beasts came by me. But at some point, I heard a soft voice in the distance. "Ah well, what have we here?" That sounded familiar...only not quite. I struggled to grasp at the memories but the flitted away like lightening bugs.

"This won't do, not at all deary." she said. Then the darkness closed around me completely.

------

When I opened my eyes, I was laying on the ground still but everything was different. The trees had thinned and there was a warm, cackling fire nearby. I slowly stood and realize it was near nightfall. I trembled from the cold and ducked closer to the fire, trying to warm my insides up. Who had made the fire?

I was too cold to look around though.



End Chapter

Outtakes
This is what happens when I don't pay attention to ALL the outfits


You haven't met him yet but still lol


I don't know WHEN they hired a maid, but I had to change her clothes lol




Suki + George

Project Unity: Season 2

Chapter 2

The mood in the medical ward was jovial and happy. In spite of the death of the Council members and the resulting turmoil it had caused, the surgeons felt confident with what they were doing.

There was soft music playing of the speakers and everyone was smiling. “Alright, it’s time.” Dr. Hapsberg said. “Doctor Ryan…” she motioned for Freya to take over the operation.

Freya nodded and looked down at Julian’s back. He was knocked out of course – no one would want to be awake for surgery on their back. Finally she turned to the nurse who was cradling the device carefully and took it from her. It had only taken them a week to replicate it from the information that had been provided by the alien.

Within moments of the device being placed, the engineering marvel of it went to work and made the vital connections in Julian’s body. Freya’s happiness and excitement was cut short as Andy burst into the room. “You have to stop!” she shouted frantically.



“It’s too late…” Hapsberg said. Her words echoed in Freya’s mind, bouncing around as if bouncing off the walls of a cave. What if Andy had shown up five minutes earlier? Would things be different now?

Freya sat up with a start. The vivid memory that played across her dream was fresh in her mind. Thinking about Julian was too painful for Freya to permit during her waking hours so he was isolated to her dreams – which were more like nightmares. She checked her watch and sighed; she could try for another hour of sleep but that was looking like a grim prospect at best.



------

Captain Hunt nodded to Jamison as he left his office and crossed the bridge to the lift. “I’ll be back shortly; you have the bridge Mr. Jamison.”

“Very good sir.” Jamison said with a nod.

Hunt considered his position carefully as he made his way to Lady Ice’s suite. His first priority was to the ship and the safety of the crew; a point that was often lost on the Council. In these turbulent times, he’d had complete authority over every aspect of the ship but suspect that that arrangement did not sit well with Lady Ice.

“Ma’am” he addressed her after being admitted. He bowed his head slightly before acknowledging the person standing behind her. Though he wouldn’t show it, Hunt was disappointed to see Julian Ice standing behind his aunt.



“Captain, how good of you to come.” Lady Ice said with a cold smile. She didn’t bother to stand or even make a move toward him as she considered it beneath her. He didn’t bother to remind her that as Captain he was the only other surviving member of the Council – she wouldn’t have stood for it.

“Your communication indicated it was of great importance Lady Ice.” Captain Hunt said, trying to remain neutral and diplomatic.

“Oh it is Captain!” she said emphatically. “As you know, the Council chambers were one of the first places the rebels desecrated after their heinous attacks on my fellow Council members. As such it has lain in ruin for nearly four months now and before a new Council can convene, it’s important to have those chambers restored to the dignity they deserve.”

“I was not aware that a new Council had been selected.” Captain Hunt said, ignoring the majority of her statement.

“Well it has not, yet.” She placed a great deal of emphasis on the last word. “But the Families are considering their choices as we speak and within a weak I expect to have formed a new Council. So, as I said, it’s top priority that the Council Chambers are restored.”

“With all due respect; no it’s not Ma’am” Captain Hunt kept his tone level as he said it but he was firm. Lady Ice’s eyes narrowed and she opened her mouth to speak but Julian laid a gentle hand on her shoulder to still her words. “At this time, my first priority – and yours Ma’am – is to keep the ship flying and repair our defenses as soon as possible. Every engineer we have is dedicated to those tasks so none can be spare to decorate the Council chambers at this time.” Hunt paused for only a moment, he knew if he gave her more of an opening she would start questioning every decision he’d made in the last four months. “Your nephew himself can tell you of the potential enemies we have laying in wait the moment we let down our guard.”



Julian’s gaze, so far vacant, turned cold and icy as Hunt’s words dragged him into Lady Ice’s attention. “There are two alien vessels nearby ma’am. But they have made no move thus far and the fighters are on alert constantly.”

“You see – the fighter squadron will surely keep us safe enough to spare a few engineers for the job. It shouldn’t take but a day or two.” Lady Ice said with a confident smile. “I’ll expect them in the morning then.”

“No ma’am.” Hunt said firmly. “As I said, my priority is to the safety of the crew and the ship. The Council chambers will have to wait.” He nodded and dismissed himself before she could argue. It wasn’t proper protocol but his patience with Lady Ice had been wearing thin for months.

“How did it go?” Jamison asked as Hunt reentered the bridge. When Hunt didn’t reply, Jamison understood. “That well huh?” he said to himself.

------

“With Brandon’s death, we have to consider the possibility of surrender.” Lana said meekly. No one liked the idea but they’d suffered far more losses and had just lost a major leader and inspiration to much of the movement.

“No!” Meng said firmly.

“Would the troops even accept surrender at this point? After the Council was eliminated, so many of these people flocked to Brandon because of what he’d ordered. For the first time they thought the movement had a real chance…” someone else chimed in. “I imagine most of them would be enraged into a new fury by his death and unwilling to just give up.”



“Perhaps…” Lana said. She was so quiet, only Meng ever paid her much attention anymore. The longer the rebellion had worn on, the less she spoke up. Now she was little more than a figurehead for the other mixed Quuvarii on the ship.

“What about a separation?” he’d broached the topic that they’d been debating since long before the rebellion fired up. If one of the sections of the Ark could safely be jettisoned from the rest of the ship, they could break off and form their own colony somewhere.

The group was silent. It was as if someone had suddenly turned off the sound in the room as each person looked to the next and back again. They’d had this discussion so many times; they could do it without speaking really.



And the conclusion was always the same. “It can’t be done.” Freya said. She was taking her time about getting some coffee and had overheard the same debate before. She knew the risks were too great to give the idea any real merit. “You would risk everybody’s lives, everybody’s home…” she had been looking between the various leaders of the Sons of Liberty but turned her attention onto Meng. “This is our home Meng…”

“I’m aware of that Doctor,” he said, not meeting her eyes. She knew, then, that he was giving the theory more serious consideration this time. The losses, the deaths – Brandon – all of it had shaken Meng’s resolve to the point that he would rather run away than finish what he started.



“No!” Freya shouted, dragging his eyes to hers. “For months you’ve destroyed everything around you all under the premise of reaching for something better – for a better life here! You wonder if your troops would accept surrender!? Well this is practically the same thing! You promised them a life here!” Freya couldn’t help but think of all the lives lost, all the destruction that had happened at the expense of the rebellion. “You’d be running away…” she said quietly.

Meng’s eyes were on fire, his features were rigid, he was angry but he wouldn’t respond to her. Not here and not now.

Freya narrowed her eyes at him. “You can’t seriously be considering this.” Freya had lowered her voice an octave but was no less fierce with her reprimand.

Meng took her by the arm and very nearly dragged her from the room while giving some sort of excuse to the others. “Why do you have to do that?” he hissed as he pulled her toward another room.



Freya struggled against his grip but allowed herself to be directed. They stopped and she was backed up against a cold wall; Meng was fuming in front of her. He was trying to control his emotions but she could always read him better than anyone else. “After everything…all the battles and deaths…you just want to run away? Why couldn’t you have done that when they busted you out of the brig and saved us all the pain?”

“Freya…” he warned, his voice was hard but he still didn’t look at her. She knew what she’d see in his eyes – hurt, rage, anger, sadness. “Sometimes…” he turned toward her finally, “You just have to know when to cut your losses if you want to keep your head above water…” She’d never expected to see the defeat on his face.



Freya thought of a half dozen replies and dismissed them all in favor of silence. She didn’t agree with him but she knew he understood that already and didn’t need to be berated.

“If we can separate – at least we could make our own society somewhere. It’s better than dying or staying here to be arrested.” Freya wasn’t sure if he was trying to convince her or himself.

Freya’s mood was tempered by the expression on his face and he dullness in his voice. “I’m sure you’re right…” she lied.



“No you’re not. You blame me – and Brandon – for all the death and now….now you think I’m running away.” Meng said. “And that it was all pointless right?”

“Maybe I do…” Freya conceded. “But I wasn’t going to say it.”

“Good, I don’t need to hear it.” Meng said, he lowered his head and put out his hand to lean against the wall. It was the first time Freya had seen him look so meek.

His face was only inches from hers and though she’d vowed to herself it would never happen again, she leaned forward and pressed her lips against his. His initial reaction was slow and unsure.



After a moment, his kisses became more insistent and he was leaning further into her, pressing her against the chilly wall. Freya felt the same sense of urgency and wrapped first her arms around him and then her legs. He lifted her away from the wall with ease and he carried her the few steps toward the bed.



End Chapter

Robby's Birthday Party

Today is my hubby's birthday so I decided to throw his simself a party in my game. It was attended by some of the finest people in the simming-verse. Enjoy!

Calling to reserve the hottest club in town - Elysium. I even paid extra for exclusive access. Didn't want any pesky EA mades showing up.


The birthday boy (Robby)


The birthday wife and party planner (me)


There was a pre-party gathering at Alex's apartment so we didn't have to cart a cake and all that to the club.






It's cake time!










Note to self, 16 people do NOT fit on one elevator lol


Alex showing his shyness ;)


Dancing at the club


























After Alex cut out early, Terra was less than thrilled! "He did what?!"


Grace is apparently a very dramatic little simmie...


Party is wrapping up, I don't think he's happy about it


After everyone else cleared out, Robby and I had a little...well...:P