Lobo's Den - The Comeback

“We’re back,” Diego Lobo said. “Talking with Cassie Goth about twenty-five years of music.”

“So, Cassie,” Diego continued. “After your famous… and heart breaking… break-up with Don Lothario, you dropped out of sight for several years.”

“Yes, I did,” Cassie said. “Ten years, in fact. So, really, it’s more like fifteen years of music and ten years of raising chickens and being a mom… but that’s not as catchy.

“Anyway,” Cassie continued. “After uni, Gwen had inherited a lot of money and a farm in the country. When Don and I split up, she offered me a place to stay ‘while I sorted myself out.’ I didn’t realize at the time that that was her way of saying ‘for the rest of our lives,’ but you know how it goes.

“The first thing that happened was I discovered I was pregnant,” Cassie said. “That was actually a pretty big shock. I knew that it meant I needed to make some big changes in my life. The biggest was that I stopped drinking. Thanks to Don, I’d already started working on that so it wasn’t as hard as it might have been. It was still very, very hard but it was what I needed to do for my daughter. I am now twenty-one years, seven months and… what’s today, Friday? … three days sober.

“So, like I said, I spent the next ten years working on a farm, raising chickens and a beautiful daughter,” Cassie said. “I didn’t do much gardening. Actually, after my first few tries, Gwen rather pointedly asked me to look after the chickens. Gwen and I got married, shortly after they made it legal. The first lesbian couple, and only the second same sex couple, to do so in the town’s old church. I also wrote music. I spent ten years writing music… because that’s how I express myself. Some people keep a diary. I write songs.

“Then, one day, I ran into an old friend,” Cassie smiled. “Octavia Moon was visiting the Finchwich Fair. I forget why… but we started talking.”

“Now, you know me and gossip,” Diego interjected. “There were some rumors about you and Octavia while you were with Don…”

“Let’s just say that Don and I and Octavia and Thorne, back before we three all hit it big, were neighbors, and became very good friends, and leave it at that,” Cassie said with a sly grin.

“So, Octavia and I started talking and kept talking,” Cassie continued. “I’ll admit, that show-biz bug had started nipping at me again and, with Octavia’s, and fairly quickly Thorne’s, support and encouragement, I got in touch with their producer. Which eventually led to Brookside, my comeback album.”

“And what a comeback,” Diego said. “Top of the charts, record-breaking sales…”

“Well, here’s the secret about taking ten years off and spending it writing songs,” Cassie smiled. “When you start deciding what to put in the new album, you get to pick the fifteen or sixteen best out of a couple of hundred.”

“Well, that’s a point,” Diego laughed.

“Honestly though, I was shocked,” Cassie said. “My fans are amazing. I mean, the fact that after ten years I still had fans amazed me. They have been so supportive… through my musical growth, through the ups and downs of my crazy life. They’re fantastic.” Turning to the audience, “You’re fantastic!”

The applause dwarfed the earlier boos directed toward the memory of Don Lothario.

“Alright, alright,” Diego said, calming the audience. “You’re all wonderful… now let the lady talk. So, Cassie… You were back in the spotlight.”

“I’d missed it,” Cassie said with a grin. “I really had. I mean, it’s madness. It’s music tours and hotels and promotions and recording sessions… but there’s that moment, when you’re on stage and the music is playing and the crowd is cheering. That’s magic, Diego. That’s pure magic.

“So, Brookside was a hit,” Diego said. “Not just a hit but a mega-hit… and after Brookside…”

“After Brookside was Firelight,” Cassie said, “which followed the same theme of healing, and growing and self-discovery. And yes, before you ask, because you always do… some of Firelight, but not all, was taken from those ten years of songwriting.”

“Now, you’re right I’ve asked you that before,” Diego conceded, “but let me ask you this - Ten years of songwriting. Are there songs we’ve never heard? What about them?”

“Well, some of them aren’t very good,” Cassie laughed. “But yes, there are songs from that era that never got recorded. Maybe they will someday. Maybe not. I keep saying, my music reflects my life. Those years were important to me… but that’s not where I am today. Not who I am today. I’m about moving forward, not back.”

“Alright, so, moving forward,” Diego said. “Forgotten Dreams, which was again a bit of departure from the two albums before it, though not in the same way as Haunted.”

“Forgotten Dreams,” Cassie said after a moment’s pause. “Forgotten Dreams is about a lot of what I was just talking about… that magic of being back on stage, back on tour, back in the spotlight… the good and the bad and the ugly of it. So, yeah, it’s different… where Brookside and Firelight are quieter, Forgotten Dreams has more energy. It’s Cassie the Raven Witch, instead of Cassie who bakes cookies for her daughter’s school bake sale.”

“You’ve said that your daughter Miranda keeps your grounded,” Diego put in.

“I’ve said Miranda keeps me humble,” Cassie corrected with a smile, “and she does. No matter how many albums I make or awards I win. No matter how loud the fans scream my name, I can always count on Miranda to roll her eyes and tell me how embarrassing I am.”

“That’s a good person to have around,” Diego said sincerely.

“The best,” Cassie smiled.

“Stay with us folks,” Diego said to the audience. “We’ll be back with more Cassie, after this…”

Lobo's Den - Haunted & The Lothario Incident

“We’re back with the Raven Witch herself, Cassie Goth,” Diego Lobo said. “Talking about twenty-five years of music.”

“Though really, we’ve only covered the first three so far,” Cassie put in. “So, we’d better get going.”

“So true, but…” Diego paused seriously. “Can we talk about Haunted?”

“I guess we have to,” Cassie said, a touch ruefully.

“Your third album, and definitely your most controversial,” Diego said. “I know fans are still very divided about Haunted. It was a real departure in tone from your first albums… critics have called it darker, more mature…”

“Let’s call it what it is,” Cassie said seriously. “It was much darker. It was more overtly sexual, and not always in positive ways… and I say that with the benefit of hindsight, and a lot of therapy… but I still think it’s very important.”

“I’ve said my music reflects my life,” Cassie continued. “Haunted reflects a time in my life that started in a very dark place. My last year of uni, I was in a very bad place emotionally. I drank too much. I had a series of flings with frat guys who were more than happy to tell their all buddies they’d ‘done it’ with the Raven Witch. I ended up losing almost all of my friends, except the ones who enabled me… and Gwen, who just would not be pushed out no matter how hard I tried… and I tried.”

“She stuck by you,” Diego said sympathetically.

“She did. She really did, for a long time,” Cassie said, misty eyed. “But she couldn’t save me. She said to me once, years later, that she knew couldn’t save me until I was ready to save myself, but she knew she had to be there for me, no matter how much it hurt her.

“Anyway, I managed to graduate, barely,” Cassie continued. “I moved to San My and worked on my music. When I wasn’t drinking myself half to death, that is. Then, I met a man who would change my life.”

“That would be Don Lothario,” Diego said. 

At the sound of Don Lothario’s name, the audience booed so loudly the host, and his guest, were forced into silence.

“Hey, hey, hey! Quiet down,” Cassie finally shouted, her singer’s voice cutting through the noise of the angry audience. “Don gets a bad rap, OK? He was a good guy.”

“Well, he did famously cheat on you, publicly and repeatedly,” Diego pointed out. “He used your fame to promote himself, and he, in fact, left you at the altar, while you were pregnant with his child.”

“Well, when you say it that way, it sounds bad,” Cassie admitted. “We can’t talk about Haunted, or my later music… my later life... if we don’t talk about Don. 

“I met him at a party, thrown by my producer for some of my more disreputable musical associates,” Cassie continued. “I remember, I was with my friend, Jess, and we were both working on getting drunk enough to go into a back room where these guys said someone had brought some ‘really good stuff’ that they said would ‘blow my mind.’

“So, just before I was about to go try seriously hard drugs for the first time… which probably would have killed me, if not that night, then soon… this guy comes up and steals my drink,” Cassie laughed. “Lifted it right out of my hand and drank it in front of me. Then he thanks me, looks me up and down and asks me if I want to dance.

“So, instead of OD’ing, I spent the night dancing with Don Lothario.” Cassie shook her head. “Of course, I think… what the hell, he looks pretty good. I’ll give him what he wants… what every man wanted. So, I suggest we go upstairs… and he said to me something that, at that time in my life, no man had ever… ever… said to me.”

“Will we have to bleep this out?” Diego laughed.

“He said ‘no,’” Cassie grinned. “He turned me down. Flat. Me! I was shocked. He said I was way too drunk and when… not if, mind you, when… we slept together, he wanted me to remember it. I admit it. That was it. I was hooked… but let me tell you, when we did… well, I remember it.

“So, I ended up with Don,” Cassie continued. “We started going out regularly, and eventually I moved in with him.”

“Ok, I have to ask, because people always ask, where was Gwen during this?” Diego put in.

“We separated,” Cassie said. “Gwen's… Well, when I told her I was moving in with Don, that I was leaving, she wasn’t upset. She didn’t argue. She said that she understood this was what I needed. Looking back, I realize that she knew… absolutely knew… that we would be together in the end. She was willing to wait for me to figure it out.  Anyway, she moved to the country. She still came into the City from time to time, and we’d see each other, but mostly she stepped away. It was as if she knew that Don would be there for me when she wasn’t, and in a way she couldn’t be… and she was right.

“The thing about Don,” Cassie sighed. “Yeah, he was shamelessly self-promoting. Yes, he thought monogamy was when you embroider your initials on your clothes… and, let’s face it, he wasn’t the brightest bulb. But he started me on the road out of that dark place I was in. He got me to drink less. He got me focused on my music and my career again. More importantly, he got me to start seeing myself as worthy again.

“With Don, I redefined my relationships with men, with sex and my own sexuality, and with my music,” Cassie said with sad smile. “I found my self-esteem, again, thanks to him. When he left me at the altar, yes, it broke my heart… but I think it needed to be broken to really heal. That’s what Haunted is really about… being haunted by the pain of the past and laying those ghosts to rest in order to heal.

“Also, let’s not forget, Don gave me the greatest gift of all… our beautiful daughter, Miranda.” Cassie’s smile brightened. “Who is getting married soon, if you can believe that.”

“Oh, don’t remind me of how quickly they grow up,” Diego groaned. “We’ll be right back, folks.”

Lobo's Den - Raven & Spirit Dance

“Hal’loooo, Cassie,” Diego said. “Welcome back to the Lobo’s Den.”

“Hi, Diego,” Cassie laughed. “Always great to be on the show."

“So, lots of big news for you. Let’s start with the one I still don’t believe,” Diego smiled. “You’re getting ready to celebrate a huge musical anniversary.”

“That’s right, Diego,” Cassie replied, half to the host and half to the audience. “This summer we’ll be celebrating 25 years since the release of my first hit single, Willow Weeping.”

“Which came out when you were… what, four years-old?” Diego asked slyly.

“I was eighteen when Willow Weeping hit the charts,” Cassie laughed, “and yes, before you do the math… “

“I wouldn’t dare,” Diego interjected with exaggerated horror.

“I am forty-three,” Cassie continued.

“Well, you look fantastic,” Diego grinned, turning to the audience. “Doesn’t she look fantastic, folks?”

“Why shouldn’t any woman look wonderful in her forties?” Cassie said proudly, before looking abashed. “But, I will admit, I look young for my age.”

“What’s your secret? Botox? A little nip and tuck? The blood of virgins?” Diego turned theatrically to the audience and added, “I ask her this every time, folks, and she never tells me.”

“It’s magic, Diego. Pure magic,” Cassie said airily. “Actually, I’d feel better if I had a few grey hairs, some laugh lines…”

“Honey, I’ll trade my grey hair for your magic any day,” Diego replied.

“I’ll have my people call your people,” Cassie laughed. 

“So, twenty-five years,” Diego said, “and it all started…”

“With The Raven Headmistress,” Cassie said. “My father’s best-selling novel which they turned into a movie.”

“I loved that movie,” Diego put in.

“Well, they needed a song for the end credits, and my father suggested me,” Cassie said. “Actually, I think he insisted. He was always very supportive of my musical ambitions, and he knew I had written a song, Willow Weeping, that he felt would be perfect.”

“Now, as I understand it, your father wrote The Raven Headmistress and you wrote Willow Weeping in memory of your mother, Victoria,” Diego said gently. “Who passed away when you were still very young.”

“That’s right,” Cassie said with a sad smile. “She died in a car accident when I was three. My father kept her memory alive for me, telling me stories about her. He always called her his Raven. Anyway, yes, we both wrote in her memory, in our own ways, so I guess the song and the story did fit together in that way.”

“I remember really feeling that, when I heard it,” Diego nodded.

“Well, I guess a lot of people did because it hit the charts,” Cassie smiled.

“Top of the charts for seven weeks in fact,” Diego said.

“The start of my musical career,” Cassie smiled. 

“Now, your first full album, Raven, came out the next summer,” Diego said.

“That’s right. I did Raven, and my second album, Spirit Dance, while I was at university,” Cassie said nostalgically. “When I listen to them now, I can remember the joy of that young woman… finding myself, exploring my music and life and love. I was so Sure of everything then. It’s a little embarrassing to think about really.”

“The music of your life,” Diego mused.

“It really is,” Cassie said eagerly. “My music has always really reflected where I was in my life. Raven is this young woman, just ridiculously excited about making her first album and still young at heart… a teenager in love with life, and with the love of my life, Gwen, for the first time.”

“That’s your wife, Gwen Silveroak,” Diego clarified.

“That’s right,” Cassie smiled. “We met in high school and when to university together. If my music reflects my life, she’s somewhere in every album. She’s got a couple of songs on Raven… I’m sure you know the ones.”

“So, Raven is the young woman, first album, first love,” Diego said.

“Then we have Spirit Dance,” Cassie said. “So sure of myself. So grown up, as only a nineteen-year-old can be. Really exploring what life has to offer… my first boyfriend, my first…,” Cassie laughed. “Well, a lot of firsts.”

“Now, you know I’m not going to let this pass,” Diego teased.

“I walked right into it, didn’t I?” Cassie sighed theatrically.

“So, Gwen is the love of your life,” Diego said, “but then you had a boyfriend… who, if I remember the gossip (and you know I do) was none other than Rohan Elderberry. How did that happen - the Raven Witch and Windenburg’s conservative representative?”

“There was a lot of exploring going on,” Cassie replied, with a hint of a blush. “I will say Rohan’s changed… though even then we had some great arguments about things. It made making-up fun. We’re not really close anymore but I have good memories.”

“Much as I’d love to hear more, we need to take a break,” Diego said. “We’ll be right back folks.”

Lobo's Den - Intro

“Hal’loooo everyone,” the host said with his signature howl. “Are we feeling fab’u’lous tonight? You should be. I know I am. I’m Diego Lobo and you’re in Lobo’s Den!”

“We’ve got a fabulous show for you tonight folks,” Diego said. “First, let’s spill some Hot Gossip.”

“It looks like heartbreak for heart throb Christian Harp. His whirlwind romance with sultry starlet Jenny Poole may be over.  The Urbz actress announced today that the couple has broken off their engagement. I think the real question on everyone’s mind is… will Alexandra take Christian back? 

“Make him beg, honey,” Diego said slyly.

“In Entertainment News,” Diego continued. “It looks like storm clouds, not rainbows, for Londyn Huntley’s Iris Productions. The superstar’s new production company is facing a downpour of legal action from Symphony Entertainment, claiming that top directors, writers and actors signing up with Iris are in violation of their contracts with Symphony. 

“An unruffled, and perfectly coiffed, Londyn replied to the lawsuits, calling them frivolous and a desperate attempt by Symphony to distract from their own bad press after their money man, Nick Alto, was convicted of racketeering.

“Ooo, loving you, Londyn.”

“In Society, the rich and powerful were out in force at Hugo’s,” Diego said. “Celebrity chef Hugo Villareal’s five-star restaurant hosted a fundraiser for brother-in-law and conservative representative Rohan Elderberry. Yes, folks, it was a night of rich, old men in boring suits and trophy wives in slinky dresses… 

“But wait… what’s this,” Diego adds, exaggerating for effect. “Elderberry’s eldest berry, Genie, caused a colorful stir when she publicly called on daddy to reject the conservative party’s anti-LGBTQ platform. 

“Well, I sure hope Genie gets her wish.”

“We’ve got a great show tonight, folks,” Diego grins. “Cassie Goth, the Raven Witch herself, is in the Den talking about twenty-five years of music. Come join us.”

Strangerville Mystery - Afterword

Well, I hope you enjoyed your visit to Strangerville.

I'm pretty sure that was my shortest "full length" story to date.

The Sims 4: Strangerville is an unusual expansion for the game, in that it is the only one I know of with a storyline-based adventure as the central theme of the pack. Most of the Sims game is much more free form, the stories being something we, as players, bring to it.

All in all, I found the adventure of Strangerville to be more fun than I expected. 

For a long time, I simply wasn't interested in Strangerville. The whole alien conspiracy vibe wasn't my cup of tea. I eventually did pick it up on sale, intending to use it for the stuff it came with (clothes, furniture, etc.). Then, an idea for a way to use the story snuck into my mind... 

What was Lucius doing when Vlad attacked at the start of Book 1? Now we know. 

(I actually had a whole scene I was going to put at the end of Faust bringing Vlad the news that Lucius had fallen and the time to strike had come. I cut it because I realized it didn't make any sense with the rest of the story. The whole reason I wrote this story, and I cut it.)

Anyway, I didn't want Lucius to be the point of view character. It kind of spoils the mystery of him. I needed someone else, but I didn't want to introduce a completely new character. After some thought, I decided Molly would be perfect.

Molly was an unexpected supporting character, a pre-made sim from the High School Years expansion who stumbled into teen Gwen and Cas's inner circle almost by accident. I felt like she deserved a chance to shine. The contrast between the solidly mundane Molly and the magical Lucius made them a great partnership. Molly being canonically a lesbian meant I didn't need to worry about the possibility of romance between them, keeping their relationship one of friends and partners in mystery.

Despite not wanting to introduce new characters, I realized that Molly and Lucius needed someone local to hook them into the mystery. The Sigworth family, a set of premade sims from Strangerville itself, stepped into that role. I played them for a bit, to walk in their shoes, and quickly discovered the joy of young Christie. I think we may see more of her in a future story.

The last bit that I'm particularly proud of, and that's all me, was bringing Lucius and the Mother Plant together in the context of Irish mythology. Regular readers will already know that I've struggled with "getting sci fi into my fantasy" at times... but this just clicked for me. Having already established that the Spellcasters in the Wyrd'verse are essentially elves, it wasn't a big step to link them to the Tuatha de Dannan and the Mother to the Formoiri. 

I enjoyed writing Strangerville Mystery and, again, I hope you enjoyed reading it.

Now, please forgive me, but I want to leave you with a more serious thought - the world isn't always good, but the simplest people can be heroes. Just by being good, by acting with kindness, compassion and friendship, we make our little corner of the world better. 

Onward

Strangerville Mystery - Ch 18 - The Aftermath

Rangerville, Thursday, May 20th, 2021, 7:45PM

The dying screech of the Mother of Flowers echoed across Rangerville, in the throats of every one of Her thralls and the quivering vibrations of Her strange plants. An eerie silence followed.

Slowly, the strange plants subsided, shrinking back into the dry earth. The enthralled citizens woke, as if from a nightmare. 

The sun set across the Great Western Desert, marking the ending of great and ancient horrors and a new beginning.

Ministry of Defense Command Center, Rangerville, Friday, May 21st, 2021, 10:30AM

"Sergeant Sigworth, the Ministry built this base, twenty years ago, specifically for Project Orchid," Colonel Gant said firmly. "Now you are telling me that, without consulting anyone, you and a group of unauthorized civilians took it on yourselves to destroy Orchid!?"

"Sir, yes, sir," Jess replied, wincing.

"Explain yourself, Sergeant," Colonel Gant snapped.

"Sir, the base, including the entire command staff, had been compromised by Orchid," Jess began. "Without my knowledge, the civilians in question had begun an independent investigation..."

"... and Dr. Prescott was able to deliver the anti-spore compound directly into what turned out to be an extremely vulnerable area of the entity, thereby destroying Orchid," Jess concluded. "I would just like to add, sir, that as the ranking NCO, and only member of the base command structure, uncompromised by Orchid, I considered these actions to be both right and necessary to preserve civilian lives. Sir."

"Sergeant Sigworth," Colonel Gant shook his head. "I honestly don't know whether to recommend you for a medal or a court-marshal."

"Sir, yes, sir," Jess smiled.

Rangerville, Saturday, May 22nd, 2021, 8:30AM

"See, what did I tell you, man?" Erwin said. "Everything worked out fine."

"Containment efforts were underway," Erwin's contact said mildly.

"Hey, the entire army base, and most of the town, were gettin' mind-controlled by alien shrubbery," Erwin said. "The containment efforts weren't workin'. You knew that. You needed fresh eyes on the problem. So, you turned to your ol' buddy Erwin."

"Choosing to act outside the command hierarchy was a difficult decision, and a considerable risk," Erwin's contact replied. "There was no way you could have known that the 'fresh eyes' you engaged would be this effective." 

"Yeah," Erwin said. "I'll admit it. We got lucky."

"You managed to recruit not only an extremely talented engineer with the temperament to handle the crisis but also a psychokinetic active with first-hand experience of the hostile species," he said. "This would appear to go beyond random chance. It represents a degree of coincidence that would almost suggest predestination." 

"You gotta be careful talkin' like that, man" Erwin said. "You'll end up gettin' kicked out of the Agency, like I did. Course if you do, you could always come work with me at the curio shop."

"Perhaps I shall leave such observations out of my report," Agent Hunt replied.

Rangerville, Monday, May 24th, 2021, 6:30AM

"I thought you were dead!" Molly groaned.

"I told you the potion we took had a chance to hold off Death," Lucius said.

"A chance! You were unconscious for days," Molly sighed. "I thought you might be dying. I was going to take you to the hospital, but Christie kept telling me that your damn cat told her you just needed sleep... and I took advice from an eight-year-old translating for a magic cat! How weird is my life!?"

"I would have hoped that you at least had more faith in my potions," Lucius replied smoothly.

"You mean like that potion that put me to sleep for three days," Molly ranted, "and might have turned me into... and I'm quoting here... a twisted hybrid plant creature."

"Not, I grant you, one of my better efforts," Lucius admitted.

"You know, I don't think I'm cut out for this hero thing," Molly sighed.

"Molly, I've lived a very long time," Lucius said. "Believe me when I say, you are a fine hero."

"That might be more meaningful if it wasn't coming from a guy in his boxers, Obi-Wan," Molly chuckled.

"Yes, pants do tend to lend a certain gravitas to a moment," Lucius laughed.

Rangerville, Monday, May 24th, 2021, 6:00PM

"Well, Bonnie of the Bounteous Bosom tells me they're shutting down the sensor and hazmat projects," Molly said. "I guess they don't need them anymore."

"At least the colonel decided not to court-marshal me," Jess said. "The MoD is still 'investigating the incident,' and they're going to want to talk to you all."

"That should be good," Dylan said, glancing significantly at Lucius.

"I may be unavailable," Lucius said. "They're welcome to come talk to me in Henford... if they can find their way up the mountain. Those paths can be hard to follow when a dense fog descends."

"Why do I get the feeling those fogs tend to descend when people you don't want to talk to are trying to climb that mountain," Molly grinned. 

"Strange how that happens," Lucius smiled.

"I heard Biobro Brian was down in the crater," Molly added. "I think they had him looking at the Mother's... body, I guess. I hope we don't have to do this all over again."

"If they do something as unwise as trying to revive the Mother... well, you'll find the fog lifts for friends," Lucius said. "Also, you all have my phone number."

-------------------------

"You're really going back to Henford," Molly asked.

"I am," Lucius nodded. "I dread to think of the state of my garden after all this time." 

"I guess, after all this, you'll be glad to get back to your garden," Molly said.

"I will," Lucius said. "We prefer the quiet life, Huntress and me. What of you? Will you continue chasing FutureTech's problems from place to place?"

"You know, I'm thinking of putting in for a permanent position here," Molly said. "It might be nice to stay in once place for a little while."

"Well, Obi-Wan, it's been weird," Molly said. 

"Wyrd indeed," he smiled with that too-knowing smile of his. "I am glad to have met you, Molly Prescott."

"Likewise, Lucius or Taranis or whatever your name is," Molly sighed. "I'll see you around."

"I suspect you will, at that," Lucius smiled. "Until that day, fare well my friend."

-------------------------

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