Friday, January 1, 2010

Chapter 3 Family




When I get up, it’s late, the sky is dark. It seems quieter, but the silence is malicious. If silence can be malicious.

Waking up in a strange room dimly lit, it takes a moment before I realize that it’s dimly lit. There’s a candle sitting on the far table. Brandon must have put it there.


I’m grateful despite not knowing anything about the man. He couldn’t know how terrified of the dark I am. Utterly unable to function terrified.

Not sure what to do exactly, but I can’t sleep. I feel kind of weird getting up to peek out there and see if he’s out there still. This is his apartment. Where else would he go?

I’m sitting there for a while, waffling about whether or not I should just get up and peek when the door opens a crack and Brandon peeks in.

“You’re awake.”

I nod as I sit up.

He brandishes a glass of water. “Thought you might be thirsty. Mind if I come in?”


It's absurd his asking to come into his own room. Right away, I feel awkward. “Uh yeah-- I mean no.” I hop up and stand there stupidly as he hands me the glass.

“Mr. Smith stopped by earlier, but we thought it would be best if we didn’t wake you.” He sits down on the bed casually, his hands resting on his thighs. “Besides, I figure there’s things you’ll need to know, and I’d be the best one to tell you.” I worry as that twinkle in the eye of some joke only he gets is absent. It was something that made him look young, hardly older than me. Now he has this sudden air of maturity that accompanies bad news, and I don’t like it.

“Wait, this sounds like it’s not going to be good.” I take a few small sips of water to wet my throat before I put the glass down and plop down on the floor. “Okay.”

He kind of smiles at me again, and I almost smile back in my need to connect to someone human like I haven’t since Mom... I quickly push the thought out of my head. “While you’re here, you need to use the name ‘Smith.’” He pauses for a moment like he’s waiting for me to interrupt. “Aren’t you going to ask why?”


“Uh, well, I figure you have a good reason for asking. Should I ask why?”

“It would make the next part easier.” His tone is light, like two good friends sharing a joke.

“Um, okay. Why?”

“Mr. Smith, your dad, is the leader here. His name might give you some protection. Also, it would give you a tie to me.” He pauses again.


My father is the leader. It surprises me and frightens me to hear it. The idea tumbles around uncomfortably in my head until I realize that Brandon is trying to tell me something else with the second part of his statement. "What do you mean by that?"

“I’m trying to tell you that I’m your brother."

When I was little, I always wanted an older brother. I guess it kind of makes it better that my father dropped me off on my unknown brother’s door step rather than a complete stranger's. “You know, I don’t think that’s supposed to be revealed until the third movie.”


“What?”

“Nothing. So how're we.. I mean you're not like a full brother, right?”

He looks a little confused by that for half a second before he chuckles. "Ah, I get ya. Mr. Smith is my dad too."

"So you're my half brother."

"We don't really make distinctions like that here. We're related, so that's all that matters."

It’s a lot to take in, to be honest. That’s probably why these types of revelations are spread out over the course of a story usually. And here I am finding all this out at once.

“Listen, I think you should stay here for a few days.” Brandon says it gently as if it were more of a suggestion than a request. Still, something about it frightens me.

“Here? But-- why?”

“Well, Mr. Smith isn’t exactly the most patient man. Especially when it comes to Neutrals who are ordinary humans.”


"Ordinary human" he says like our father isn't one. I hadn't even thought about it in all the commotion and oddness when it should have been the first thing on my mind. Wildands full of roaming experiments with powers. Brandon didn't look like what I thought an experiment would look like. He hardly looked dangerous sitting here patiently explaining things to me, waiting for it all to sink in. But if there was any grain of truth left to anything I'd been told, they would have to be dangerous to live in what I was beginning to think of as comfort compared to what I'd learned it was supposed to be like over here.

“Was he an experiment? Does he have powers?” I ask cautiously. As far as I knew, I had no powers, so maybe the man I'd just learned was my father was not an experiment. Maybe he had no powers either. So Brandon would be clear too. Somehow, that thought didn't help make them any less dangerous.

Brandon looks at me like I’m the one who’s been using a fridge to store cans of food. “He was the First. At least, that’s what they call him. He started the Revolution.”

Wow. There isn’t really much more to say to that. In school, we'd learned about the Revolution. It was the reason we were told to fear the Wildlanders. They'd broken free from the labs that were run by rogue corporations, and they blamed the Neutrals for it. Our governement basically fought a mini-war to keep the Wildlanders back and protect us. We read about it in the papers all the time- Wildlanders who made a vicious attack on the border and were driven back by special forces.

And my mother had been helping my father, leader of this group of Wildlanders, working as a spy.

"You going to be okay?" He asks.

"I think I would like to stay here a few days. 'Til I get my bearings you see."

"Good idea."


I stand up as he stands up. I've known him under two hours now counting the hours I've been awake, but I like him. I dare say that I trust him even. And I'm thankful that my father left me with him before he took off.

Next Chapter -->


18 comments:

  1. Whoo, that was a lot to process. I figured Brandon was related to Paula in some way and I can't wait until I learn more about their father. He seems like a very interesting character.

    The images here are very powerful (as usual). I really liked how the image of Brandon that preceded Paula's thoughts about him looking "mature" was very...mature-looking. : )

    (By the way, thanks for the PM. :p)

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  2. Ah....I see. Very very interesting development! I'm glad that Brandon is Paula's brother...he seems so nice.

    I'm waiting somewhat patiently to hear what their powers are....I'm sure you'll reveal them in a most awesome and thrilling way.

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  3. Well...no romance between Paula and Brandon then! I was wondering if that was where this might eventually lead but my mind generally always goes there. LOL. At least she's not with a complete then. Still a stranger but a stranger related to her.

    Imagine learning about something in history class and then learning that your father was at the centre of it all. I'd say Paula's mind must be sufficiently blown right now.

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  4. I admit I was expecting something more sinister about Brandon but I did not see the relationship of brother.

    Since her father is the leader, she could most definitely be the target of a lot of people who would want to take Mr. Smith down.

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  5. Wow. I was surprised at the revelation but it does make sense given how she was just dumped on Brandon like that. And the fact about her father just makes her existence that much more significant.

    Great work Lunar. Loving this story as always. I'm going to tip my hat off to a great world builder.

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  6. Thanks, Nicole. Henri is turning into an interesting character. His past is so long and complicated in some ways that it's daunting even for me to try and dig to the bottom of it.


    Oh, Rachel, it is entirely possible that I will sneak their powers in a very quiet and silent way too. ;) (Telling ya, you have to watch me.)


    LOL, Carla! I was wondering if anyone was expecting that. All I could think about was the kiss for luck in Star Wars ep 4 between Luke and Leia (which was short but not sisterly).

    And you know, somehow I didn't even think of it that way. Poor kid is going to have some issues. (Starting next chapter of course!)


    You're spot on, Gayle. That's the first thing that popped into my head too. Another element to keep in mind when considering her father and his behavior, I think.


    Thank you, Carnaxa. I'm going to have a little fun at some point exploring exactly how she sees herself. Once the shock wears off of course. She's got a few lessons coming.

    *blush* awe, thank you very much Carnaxa.

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  7. I was expecting romance at first, to be honest. :p

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  8. This just keeps getting stranger and stranger, but Brandon's behavior and reactions make sense now. He was protective, interested, but not flirtatious in any way.

    Paula's father, and the way he relates to his children, is so odd. Is that part of whatever 'experiment' he was? Fully human parents can certainly be remote but this is way out there.

    And I have to say I yelped with laughter over your comment about the third movie!! OMG how funny!!

    Your ability to use TS3 to illustrate your writing is nothing short of phenomenal. You use the pervasive creepy quality to maximum advantage.

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  9. I agree with S.B., this was very surprising, but given your well-placed clues in the previous chapter, it makes perfect sense!

    Also LOL @ "the third movie"!!!

    But LOL @ Carla's comment! I just about heard that *sigh* of no romance, lol! Maybe I sighed a little too. Ah well, there's still Mr. Brown Suit for her, right?

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  10. lol, Nicole! You too? I suppose I had an inkling that was coming.

    SB you bring up a very good question and one I was not expecting anyone to ask. Just what IS Henri's problem? This is something I've worked on exploring so I can understand his interactions with his children. I don't know when I'll get to it, but if it doesn't come up in the story I'll post the extra pieces I have for more insight.

    Of course Brandon has his own issues too which we will explore a bit.

    I wondered if anyone was going to get that reference or even notice it. XD

    Thank you, S.B. for that compliment. And thanks for reading and commenting.


    Laura, I'm glad this was surprising! I've known them too long, so I'm sure that I pollute the story. (I caught a minor slip in this chapter that made me have to re-arrange, lol.)

    If it gives you hope, there is definitely Mr. Brown Suit who is due to make a reappearance in her life sooner or later here. ;)

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  11. Well that explains Brandon's kind interest in Paula, brother! Well, half. Love the line about the third movie, LOL!
    With where my mind goes, I was expecting romance as well.
    And I still have this niggling concern about Brandon, I am sure I am off base, I usually am.
    And also, the father, Henri...interests me.
    Great update!

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  12. Heehee, at least you aren't alone with the expectation of romance. I think with most stories, there is an expectation that the main character will have a romantic lead somehow somewhere. And well, there is still the mystery of Mr. Brown suit. He's too cute to not see again!

    lol, I would love to hear your speculations. I'm up for those.

    Thanks for reading and leaving a comment, Drew. :)

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  13. Yay! What a phenomenal chapter! I love it!

    I'm glad Brandon is her brother. I'm glad the 'powers' came up and hopefully my burning question about 'half-experiments' will be answered sometime later. This is so good!

    Interesting that Brandon calls their dad 'Mr Smith' even when he speaks of him to Paula.

    Oh my, the daughter and son of The First One... that makes them really special. :)

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  14. Thank you Moondaisy!

    You always bring up good points. That's how I know I'm on track. Your question about half experiments will be answered sooner or later. Understandably, Paula is still in reeling in shock a bit, so she has some time before she starts going, "Hey..." Though I will admit that she's not always prone to doing that as you can see a bit here. She just needs some prodding.

    And yes, isn't that weird that Brandon talks of his own father in that way? There is definitely something there.

    I think it makes them special. Or makes them seem special. One of those two, lol.

    Thank you for reading, MOondaisy.

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  15. I'm so glad you commented on my LJ, coz now I've found another great story. :D Honestly, your writing is beautiful, just like what I'd read in books! I don't think I've ever read a sims story as well written before. I am enjoying this so much!

    I love Brandon's smiling eyes. They make me wanna smile too! ^^ I'm totally new to this world you've created, so I'm very very curious and have no idea what happens next.

    Also, Paula's teenager-sarcastic way of narration was so funny and.. I don't know! It just feels so real! I can't wait for the next chapter! :D

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  16. Thank you very very much, collidingwithme!

    You know, while I was reading your story, I saw a lot of similarities with my story. We're like your warped and darker sister. I think you'll see what I mean as we go along. XD

    Next chapter is this weekend, so you won't have to wait long.

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  17. I like Paula, even when she's faced with news no one could be ready for (a brother, her father is the "First") she has the wit to joke "You know, I don’t think that’s supposed to be revealed until the third movie". A definite LOL moment.

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  18. Thank you! Paula definitely was a character before this when she lead her normal life. I'd think she would bring some of her old goofiness to the table and use it to deal with her situation.

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