I needed a break, and I also needed an entry for a writing contest on Boolprop. So here you go, a little Seth interlude featuring World Adventures to enjoy. π
It’s set between Sarah’s death and his return to Sunset Valley. I like to think it’s an anniversary of Sarah’s death – thus the drunkenness. He’s in Egypt researching ambrosia and he’s fairly close to figuring it out. The contest involves your sim telling another sim about something in their past. Only 5-7 pictures allowed. It was fun writing straight text.
Interlude
Fikry sighed and settled into the chair. The tide of tourists had ebbed, leaving exhaustion in its wake.
A shadow fell across the table. He sighed, looked up. A man in a linen suit stood before him, obviously drunk.
“I’m afraid we’re closed. We open again at eight in the morning if you would like to return.”
The man looked at him. No, the man looked through him. Looked through him to a very dark and lonely place.
“Return? Return? No one returns. Not even her.”
Time stopped. The water fountain nearby went silent. The world faded away and all that was left, all that he could see, was the stranger’s green eyes. They burned.
The man sat down. Fikry could smell the gin on his breath.
“They say that love is wonderful. Beautiful. Splendor in the grass and all that shit. It’s a lie. Love is hate.
“She left me alone. Alone in the dark. And she knew.”
“I was in the library. A place of solitude and repose, one would think. But no. She came, as always, to destroy my peace. She asked what I was reading. How does one answer that? ‘Go away’, perhaps, would have been my best choice. But I was lonely. And she smiled at me.
“One may smile, and smile, and be a villain.
“‘Words’, I answered.
“Words. What are words? Mere toys that we use to while away the empty hours. Distractions from the dark. We name the darkness, label it and categorize it and shove it where it can’t be seen. We hide it under our codes and rituals and cliches. And it grows.”
“I followed the code. I participated in the ritual. I just couldn’t quite handle the cliche.”
In the stranger’s presence Fikry’s self seemed lighter, thinner. Easy to break. This man, this smoldering stranger, had emptied him out.
He thought that maybe he should go. His wife must be worried sick about him by now.
He found that he did not care very much. And so he sat and listened as the stranger crackled and blazed.
“The ritual and the code were enough for a while. I smiled. I laughed. I told her about my day. I asked about hers. Underneath, the monster grew.
“She didn’t understand! She never understood. She made her waffles and thought that was enough.
“Have you ever stared into a waffle as the clock on the wall ticks away the seconds and the hours and the days? As the syrup fills up all the little square holes and there’s nothing to do but drown? But you can’t drown. You just keep breathing. Breathing in the damn syrup.
“And then, and then I saw it. It. Death. Death in life. Life in death. Fire. Death. Alone. All alone. So alone. So empty.
“This, all this here? It means nothing. Nothing! And when this stupid two bit play is over, what do you have? Utter darkness. No reward for suffering in the syrup. No punishment for your sins. Nothing. A void. A complete and utter void.
“And so you have to ask yourself, which is worse? Which is worse?”
Fikry felt light, empty, cold. The stranger kept on talking, his fire burning and burning and consuming all the world.
“And she knew. I knew she knew. She knew how to live forever. How to never grow old. How to escape death. So I asked her. She was my wife. Youβd think sheβd want to help me.
“But love is hate. Love is hate. Love…love neglected and shoved under ritual and codes and cliches feeds on the darkness and turns to hate.
“I thought…I thought maybe if she didn’t want to save me, she’d want to save herself. Who doesn’t want to live? Who would not avoid that utter darkness, that meaningless black pit, if they could?”
Fikry could not answer. He had become the meaningless black pit. He drifted in the darkness, silent and alone and stretched over the universe.
“So I set her on fire. I thought she would have ambrosia. I couldn’t imagine that she didn’t have ambrosia. I didn’t know. I didn’t know then what it required. She could never have killed anyone. She was gentle and kind and good.
“I killed her. I let her go. But she didn’t love me. She never came back.
“She never came back.”
The fire in the green eyes went out. In the silence, time once again passed. The fountain tinkled. The world came into focus.
Bit by bit, piece by piece, Fikry came back to himself. He came back to a single clear point.
He had to get away from this man.
He stood up, ready to run. A hand reached out and stopped him.
Everything went red and silent.
“She would not tell me what she knew. But I figured life fruit out for myself.”
Wonderful interlude! I love the whole atmosphere, the idea of Seth traveling is fitting and frightening.
I find I want to know more about Sarah after this. What brought the two of them together? Or at least, I mean what drew her to him? Who was she?
It seems like she tried to live a normal life with him. It’s even sadder to hear him talk about the waffles, the regular side of life that seemed to suffocate him.
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Yay thank you!
The contest does involve romance in one of the rounds I think, so I imagine we’ll get another one of these later with more about Seth and Sarah. OMG, they were so cute when I had them flirting and stuff to get the wedding pic. So so cute. I was all “Man, why does he have to kill her?”
I think that she was drawn to his silence and reserve. She wanted to be the one to crack him open, to see what she presumably thought was the creamy nougat center under a cute layer of shyness. Whole lot of parallels with Jason and Lilith, really. Down to the approaching while reading and quoting/paraphrasing Hamlet. π
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βThey say that love is wonderful. Beautiful. Splendor in the grass and all that shit. Itβs a lie. Love is hate.”
I just love that part.
Great update π I love hearing from Seth’s point of view
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Thank you! I did think about whether Seth would curse like that, but this is drunk Seth. So I thought yes.
He’s also a little more sane here than he is by the time he gets to Lilith.
Yay I’m glad you liked it! π
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Oh drunk Seth is just so awesome β€
It would be cool if there was an game update so Sims can get drunk…
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Amazing story! Hope to see more of these, they really develop his character nicely. I especially enjoyed how Seth “crackled and blazed,” such great imagery.
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I really enjoyed writing straight text after banging my head against GIMP for the pictures for the last few updates, so I do plan on doing more of these. π Especially after the official story is done. And of course there’s quite a few rounds of the Boolprop writing contest left.
Yay I’m glad you liked crackled and blazed! It was a very last minute edit. I originally had burned but I was like “No, that’s too much use of the word burned.” and actually googled “fire sounds” to try and think of something else, lol.
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So very good! Honestly my favorite post ever from you. I enjoy a little more writing. The pictures are great as well!
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Thank you! π Yay, taking a little break and posting this seems to have been a good idea. π
I feel like I’ve learned all I can from the sort of poetic prose form of the last few updates and I wanted to see if I could still write passably well in long prose without pictures. And just taking seven pictures wasn’t too horrible. π
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what do you have your image settings on in the game?
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I have all the graphics options turned as high as they’ll go. Well – I had to turn the detailed lots down while in Egypt because with it set on 16 the game would randomly crash.
The pictures for this update are quite edited – a cartoon layer, an oilify layer, a screen layer, unsharp mask, etc.
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thanks =]
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Wow, this turned out so so well π
Love the photo of him in the hat against the sky: anf I like Fikry.
Some real revelations here, too – very nicely done. Will comment more later when I have time to reread.
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Fikry is an actual NPC in Al Simhara – had Seth befriend him and move him in before returning to Egypt. π
I love that pic too. Sigh, Seth is so adorable.
Yay thank you! π I am all happy that people like it and don’t mind it not being official Valley.
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Well….that really does explain a lot. I don’t know why it does (you haven’t really told us much more than you have in other posts), but for some reason, it does. I think it’s what Fox said: the suffocation. That’s something I didn’t think entered into his ability to go down this dark path. If he found the conventional married life to be suffocating, then with someone of his temperament, it isn’t strange that his marriage er…ended badly. But it’s so interesting that this is what it came back to, because even though we usually think of someone burning alive when we think of fiery deaths, they usually suffocate from smoke inhalation….. This is wonderful!
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I suppose I’m rather like Seth in that I’m not one for direct and logical explanation of events. π
Wow, I hadn’t even seen the bit about the smoke inhalation and suffocation. That’s brilliant.
Yay I am a happy person and you rock a lot! Thank you very very much.
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That bit where Seth says he thought Sarah had ambrosia – brilliant. I have more to say but it will have to wait a bit. I think this interlude turned out beautifully. Congratulations! And big HUGS!
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I know I was like all yay, omg, a new insight into Valley again!
It makes sense, I think, that he killed her expecting her to come back.
Thank you! And *hugs* back at you. π
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Popping out of lurkdom to say great job with this! Especially the bit about not being able to drown in the syrup. He’s certainly a very compelling villain.
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Thank you! π
Yay for waffles and syrup! Err – I wasn’t sure if syrup was sugary because I don’t really eat it myself and so I googled it (I actually do a fair bit of research for Valley, lol) and apparently it’s made out of sugars. The more you know…. (ting)
And yes, he is compelling. I love him. A lot. *stares at pic of him in the linen suit and pith helment and drools*
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I never knew someone could be so petulant and yet so menacing.
Poor Fikry. I think his wife will have good reason to be worried about him. This “smoldering stranger” has a hypnotic way about him, not unlike a cobra’s eyes as it sways before the mouse.
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Yep. π Remember that painting of Lilith with the snake wrapped around her?
Seth is quite the nihilist. But he’s stuck – he’s seen meaninglessness but he hasn’t figured out how to make his own meaning yet. And so he burns.
And I’m thinking that Fikry’s wife is now a widow, yes. Hmm, would life fruit grow well in the desert?
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Probably wouldn’t grow well in the desert.
“Sir, do you have anything to declare?”
“Just this urnβ¦ full ofβ¦ cigar ashes, yes. That is all.”
“Very well, sir.” -chchunk of the Sunset Valley re-entry stamp onto Seth’s passport-
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OMG! That is so awesome.
*daydreams about Seth at the airport*
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Wonderful, as expected. This interlude has proved to me of your versatility, and therefore, your writing genius. Brava!
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Awww, thank you! π
It was a nice change of pace. Actually considering trying to do the next Valley update in the same style.
Yay I’m glad you liked it!
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I think that’s the last time I look at a waffle the same way. Or syrup. Seth is stark raving mad. Isn’t he? Fascinating that I wouldn’t bet lunch on it.
I love the way you repeat the same visual reference, pulling it apart and smacking the reader in the face with it.
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Heh. Seth is but mad north-north-west. π
I like to repeat things and thread patterns through the story, yes. Hmm. *imagines smacking people in the face with her monitor with Valley up on it*
Yay thank you!
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BB loves Seth π
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So does MM. π
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Added that poor man in your craziness Seth? I feel sorry for him.
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Fikry or Seth or both?
Seth is a sort of loose cannon loaded with insanity balls, yes. π
Thank you!
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Fikry, thanks for reminding me what his name is π
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I almost feel sorry for Seth in this one. It doesn’t seem like he has much control over his actions.
I definitely am unsettled on Fikry’s behalf. Seth wouldn’t be someone I’d want to run into in my travels!
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You know, a couple of people have said they feel sorry for Seth.
How much control we have over our actions is one of those eternal questions, I think.
Yay thank you!
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I have a theory about the reason Seth kills. One reason.
As well as living himself is it because he needs to know if someone has ambrosia? Like Lilith or Jason?
I really liked this Interlude and Seth. Wonderful Seth. π
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Interesting theory.
Yay I’m glad you liked it! And yes, Seth is indeed wonderful. I love him very much. π
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The way Seth is draining Firky just by talking to him is chilling… even though you have made Seth burning.
What a shame Sarah knew about life fruit, but not about death flowers.
It feels like he did not want to kill her and really expected her to come back… And technically that was possible, isn’t it? If her ghost got the ingredients, cooked it and ate it?
I loved this interlude! This is also the first World Adventures story I’m reading – I have to wait until Christmas to get mine π
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Thank you!
Actually maybe I should go back and edit that bit in Legend – haven’t really put death flowers in the mythos here.
And yeah, I think that’s what he was thinking about the ambrosia in his weird little Seth way.
Yay glad you liked it! π
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This piece was pretty insightful actually. I am impressed with the way you drew the life out of Fikry while he listened to Seth.
And it seems that Seth was never really quite all there. The way he tried to live within the “code” when his heart wasn’t in it. But I feel bad for Sarah knowing what she must have gone through.
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Thank you!
And yeah – Seth wasn’t always as insane as he is now but he’s never been terribly well-adjusted. And Sarah did indeed have a rough life of it I think.
Yay thank you and you’re all cool and stuff!
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HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE! ^.^
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Yay! I hope you had a good one. π
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Wee~! I’m finally back online again and YOU HAVE UPDATES!! ^^ Omg, I loved this interlude, it’s all Seth and his obsession! X) It’s kind of sad that he still thinks that Sarah betrayed him and hid things from him… Poor Fikry though! And unsuspecting victim!
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I do try to update regularly, yes. π Although I’m taking this week off.
Yay I’m glad you liked it! And yeah, Seth has a very special way of interpreting reality. π
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Love the interlude! The atmosphere is great and I love the flashbacks with Sarah. Now, when I look at your chapters I realise that it must take extremly long to write them and then you have to edit the pics. Love it and would love to see Seth in a pyramid…
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Yay thanks!
They do take quite some time, yes. Even the ones without much text – it can take hours to find one right word sometimes.
It’s not a pyramid, but here’s an LJ entry with pics of Seth in a tomb. π
http://medleymisty.livejournal.com/28373.html
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Wow…pretty nice interlude! ( tough it took me almost a mont to stumble upon it)
Funny enough, i can finnaly understande your perspective and see who is beneath the ‘cold’ blood murderer Seth and began to feel sorry about his mortality
Quite peasured to notice you kept your amazing work even within the limitations of contest’s rules! =]
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Thank you! π
I am taking a vacation from Valley this week – it’s almost like coming off a drug, lol. But I think that both Valley and I will be the better for it.
I do love my Seth. I’m so glad he chose my brain to manifest himself in. π So yay, glad you’re beginning to see who he is too. π
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I have been thinking about Valley all week. I have been wondering what Lilith will do since she’s been so quiet…I just can’t think of anything because there are so many choices! Thanks for keeping me on the egde of my seat!
I love this post also! That poor man…I wonder if he was ever the same or kind of turned into a zombie lol. I wouldn’t be surprised. Keep up the AWSOME work!
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Hi!
I really am trying to get started on the next update – I think I’m going to go to bed now and I sort of get the feeling that all day tomorrow will be spent writing.
I know what Lilith is going to do. Heh. π I’m thinking that the next update will be mostly her internal monologue. Maybe. Or it may be in poem form and a sort of third person omniscient thing. I don’t know, we’ll see.
By poor man do you mean Fikry? Fikry’s dead, Jim. π Turned into life fruit, methinks.
Thank you, and I am going to keep it up. π
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Lol, poor guy. Made into fruit. BTW-in the story, does Seth eat the life fruit so he can live or does he just grow it? And how does it work? Like, when he kills someone, is there like a seed laying on the ground?
Oh my gosh, what if the seed is their soul? That’d be so cool!
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He does indeed eat it.
The seed and the soul idea work for me. π
Got a start on the next update. It’s not going to be done today. But I think it’s going to be pretty intense. It’s the climax of the Seth/Lilith garden discussion arc.
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Oooh! Can’t wait! ^.^
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A great look into Seth’s past. I think I am beginning to get a bit more of an understanding of Seth and his obsession, about why his wife did what she did and about how far gone into the darkness he has sunk.
It may be an interlude, but it certainly was a great way of showing a bit more of Seth and a great use of the WA expansion.
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Thank you!
Seth is very interesting and I love exploring him. I plan to do a few more of these for the contest and maybe just for fun if I come up with any premises on my own.
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Oh, nice, very, very nice! I liked this a lot. π
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Thank you! π I like it a lot too. π
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Fascinating!
I don’t know if you meant Seth to be this way, but Seth in this piece reminds me very much of a psychic vampire. A vampire that draws willingly on emotion, and energy. The motions fit well with how Fikry suddenly felt in Seth’s presence. I can only imagine that with that one, final touch, did Seth totally drain him of his quiet life.
Brilliant. π
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Oh yes, Seth is totally a psychic vampire. Actually he’s pretty much a vampire in every way except biting people’s necks and sucking their blood.
Thank you!
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I definitely saw the parallels to Jason and Lilith. Very interesting. I feel like I know Seth a little better now. And that kind of scares me.
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Oh no… poor Fikry! I’m guessing he didn’t escape?
It was so interesting to see the way Seth is able to hypnotize people, to memorize them so completely.
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Nope, Fikry became life fruit.
Yeah – Seth is like a vampire in some ways, and hey – Sims vampires can do that, can’t they? I know they could in 2. Can’t remember about 3 right now.
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Darn! Interlude! Still it’s a great chapter. It was interesting to view Seth from someone else’s perspective. Someone new. Egypt was beautiful.
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Yeah, I wrote this when World Adventures first came out. π It was for a competition on Boolprop.
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I liked it.
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