Olthylwell: Chapter 1.0

8/8/2019 Olthylwell: Chapter 1.0

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Welcome back to Olthywell!

Last time, two women named Gretchen and Fable tricked the simself Faye intobeginning a legacy with a founder named Elyena Olythylwell. Not much else happened,besides Faye revealing that simselves actually have powers in this miniverse.

Now, we continue onto Elyena being a legacy founder. Onward!


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Elyena Olthylwell had always been a bit of an outsider where she came from, in theelven forest of Tasslewind. Well, it wasn't so much that she was an outsider, but that shewas too...human, too out of place in elven society.

So, when the chance came to move from Tasslewind Forest to the Sim town of GrereCanyon, she had jumped at the chance. And now she was here, standing in a field, with

the word Legacy running through her head.


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She soon found herself a job as a Playground Monitor, and spent her nights inDowntown Grere Canyon playing poker amongst sims, who never seemed to commenton her ears, to her surprise.


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She soon befriended a young man named Zane Meehan, and while she wasn't pickingup after schoolchildren or playing poker at the Lucky Shack, she was talking to Zaneabout everything from Tasslewind to Sim City.


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Zane, she asked, while they were sitting outside the Lucky Shack one day, why isn'tanyone ever asking about my ears? It seems like they would, everyone would ask a simabout their round ears in Tasslewind,

I dunno, I guess no one cares, Zane said, I mean, elves have been around forthousands of years, they're kind of familiar now,

Seriously? Elyena asked, I was kind of hoping people would ask me about them, Idon't know. I guess I thought it would make me unique,

Zane laughed, trust me Elyena, you are extremelyunique,

Elyena smiled. She liked this society a lot better than her own.


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It was only a matter of time before the inevitable happened. Elyena wanted to go on adate.

I don't see what the problem is, she said, I mean, a date isn't such a big deal,

Elyena, I just don't want to mess up our friendship, Zane said, dates between friends

generally lead to that,


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Well that's stupid, Elyena said, I mean really. Please, Zane?

Okay, said Zane, who just couldn't resist the face she was making, just one date,

Yay! she squealed before hugging him and beaming, I'll meet you at the One-Twenty-Five Cafe at seven!

And then she was gone, leaping down the sidewalk like a drunk ballerina.


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The date actually went much better than Zane had thought it would. They got coffee,something Elyena had never experienced before, and while she was contemplating theidea of mochas, he actually found that his friend was quite attractive.

He found himself just looking at her, watching the way her mouth moved and listening toher laugh.


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The actual meal was just as good as the coffee, though Zane did admit that he hadexpected them to sit on opposite sides of the table.

You are so cute when you're confused, Elyena said, and blushed at her words, I mean,well-

You're cute too, he said, and with those words, both of them knew that their friendshipwas utterly and completely ruined.


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They surprised each other when they kissed goodbye, and years later when Elyenalooked back, she would always smile at the thought.


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The days after that first date were followed by the best days of Elyena's single life. Alongwith two promotions came a barrage of love letters...


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...flowers...


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...and more dates, each somehow more unique than the last. Zane found that Elyenawas someone who managed to change everything around her to be more interestingthan before. Eating hamburgers at the best restaurant in Grere Canyon instead of theirfamous lobster was somehow the tastiest meal he'd ever had, despite the fact that he'dhad Londoste's most famous lobster.


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Even slowdancing was extremely fun when Elyena participated in it.

Elyena, he said, I love you,

Her entire face lit up like a christmas tree, and she squeezed him tight.

I love you too, Zane, she said, before kissing him softly on the lips.


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For the first time in her life, Elyena was nervous. She loved Zane so much, and soon shewould prove it. Her hands were shaking as she dialed his number, and her stomach wasfull of butterflies as he answered the phone.

Hello?he asked.Z-zane? Elyena asked, and mentally cursed herself for stuttering.

Elyena?he asked, worried, are you okay?Yeah, she said, want to go to Red's sometime?That diner downtown? he asked, sure, when?After I get off work tomorrow, maybe? she asked.Sure, see you then! he said before hanging up.

She hung up the phone and sighed, before going to change into her pajamas. Tomorrow

would be a long day.


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Anyone who watched the couple from the outside would suspect they were on the vergeof a breakup, as Zane seemed to be oblivious to the fact that Elyena was boring holesinto her menu as she stared at it.


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However, Zane was anything but oblivious.

Elyena, is something wrong? he asked, and she started, looking over at him.No! she said, in a voice two octaves above her normal one, nothing at all!Elyena, he said, I'm not blind,20/15 vision, mister, she said, you need to be wearing glasses,

He laughed.You know that's not what I meant, he said, and she sighed.


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Actually, I do have a problem, she said, shortly after the waiter dropped off their meal,my boyfriend is far too good looking,Why, he said, I must admit that sounds like a problem. I happen to have the samedilemma with my girlfriend,Seriously, my boyfriend is always getting doe-eyes from random girls, Elyena said, but,I think I've found a way to keep his brilliant looks, and stop the glares,

Oh? What's this solution, then? he asked.


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I think you'll find the answer to that question in this box, Elyena said, pulling a velvetbox from her pocket.Is that what I think it is? Zane asked.


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Is it? asked Elyena as he opened the box, the diamond ring inside glittering from thereflection of one of the overhead lights. Zane didn't answer, instead he removed the ringfrom the box.


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Isn't it the guy who proposes to the girl? asked Zane.In sim society maybe. Now, will you marry me or do I have to kill you?Oh, Elyena, you should know the answer to that. Of course I'll marry you, he said.


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In an excruciatingly slow pace, he slid the ring over his finger.

I love you Elyana Olthylwell, he said, even if you have weird customs,I love you too, Zane, she said, and same to you about the weird customs thing,


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A few tables away, Faye smiled, knowingly.

Well, seems that things are going very well, she whispered to herself, very wellindeed,


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Elyena spent most of her wedding day primping unnecessarily until it degraded into purecreation of funny faces.


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It was the best day of Elyena andZane's lives, and as they promised to love and cherisheach other until death do they part, they knew that no matter what, they would betogether.


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As soon as the ceremony was over, they consummated their marriage in a way that onlynewlyweds can.


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Zane brought in enough money to actually build a small cottage on Elyena's property,and she soon realized that now that she had an oven, she couldn't cook to save her life.She wasn't even sure how you couldburn spaghetti.


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Their wedding night led to expected results, but luckily Zane loved the idea of childrenjust as much as Elyena did.


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She was nervous, as the only sim movies in Tasslewind depicted dead-beatboyfriends/husbands who left their wives/girlfriends when they found out that they werepregnant, but Zane did his best to assure her of his love, and his love for the childgrowing inside her.


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Then one night, around 11, Elyena woke up with a strange feeling below the waist.

Zane? she almost squeaked. He rolled over, and didn't wake up in the slightest.Lazy bum, she muttered as she stood up, and started as she felt the wet spot on thebed.


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She stood up to find some vinegar or something to get the smell out of the sheets, butfelt something very painful below the waist.

ZaaaaaAAAAAAANE! she shrieked, and he started over in the bed.


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Little Ruylin Olthylwell was born a little while later, a bouncing baby girl with her mother'seyes, her father's hair color, and her skin was a mix between her parents' skin tones.


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Elyena thought she was the most adorable little girl who ever lived. Currently her earswere round like her father's, but Elyena knew that the points on the ears didn't growpointy until the child was in her toddler stages, so she hoped that Ruylin would grow intoher elven heritage.


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Both Zane and Elyena were natural parents, almost like they were made to have afamily.


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It was a few days before Ruylin's birthday when Elyena broached an idea to Zane.

So, want another one? she asked.Another what? he asked.Baby, obviously, she said, I mean really, we don't have anything else that matters,


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Let's just say that Zane was thrilled at the idea.


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Elyana was sporting a smile and a baby bump on Ruylin's birthday and she blew out thefour candles in one blow.


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Ruylin grew into a happy young toddler with no pointed ears, but a smile that made upfor it. Elyena thought she was even more adorable than before, if that was possible.


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Both of Ruylin's parents doted on their little girl, and soon she knew how to successfullyuse the toilet, walk, and sing a nursery rhyme that Zane had been sung when he was atoddler.


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The task of teaching Ruylin to talk fell to Elyena and when Ruylin finally said withhaltering syllables, 'mama', Elyena's squeals of motherly happiness could be heard inPleasantview.

Mama, you hurt?No, 'Lin, I'm just really, really, reallyhappy you didn't say daddy first,

Why?Oh, competitive parenting, nothing to worry your little head over!


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Karma caught up with her pretty quick for this comment and soon she was in the sameimmense pain she had been in when she gave birth to Ruylin.

Zane of course, was at work, because karma is a witch. Although if he had been there,he would probably be quite useless anyway.


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Meanwhile, Ruylin plonked away on her xylophone, oblivious to her mother's pain andassuming that she was probably just happy about something that didn't make muchsense again.


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Little baby Clytha was born that day with her mother's exact coloring, and Elyena onceagain felt like the luckiest woman on the planet. She had her loving husband, her nicehome, and her lovely daughters, and she sighed contentedly as she went to feed Clytha.


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It was as she was feeding Clytha that she thought of the word again, legacy. She hadn'tthought about it in a while, but she knew it meant something important in sim society butshe couldn't quite remember what.

She resolved to look it up on the internet the next time she had the chance.


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So, you're a big sister now, 'Lin, Elyena said after she'd put Clytha down for a nap.What sister? Ruylin asked, like kitty?

Elyena laughed.

No, a sister isn't like a kitty, she said, a sister is your sibling. Daddy and mommy areyour parents, and daddy and mommy are her parents too,No want sister! Ruylin said, want daddy and mommy be mydaddy and mommy!We are your daddy and mommy, but we're her's too, said Elyena, completely foreign tothe concept of explaining this, and you know what you have to do, 'Lin?What, mommy? Ruylin asked.You and Clytha have to protect eachother, okay? Elyena asked.No want! Ruylin whined, but okay, mommy. I protect Clyffa,

Good, Elyena said, laughing, now, are you hungry?


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The small office that contained the computer was soon remodeled into a nursery that fitboth Clytha and Ruylin's cribs, and would easily fit two beds, once the girls grew oldenough.


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It was the night before Ruylin's transition into child and her parents were just sayinggood night.

I love you, Zane, Elyena said, we are so lucky,Yeah, Zane sighed, happily, we are the luckiest sims in the world,What? Elyena asked, pulling away from her husband, what did you just say?Elye-I'm not a sim, she said coldly, I am an elf,Oh, I'm sor-


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I have always done my best to uphold my elven traditions!I know, I didn't-Have you no respect for my ideals? You think you can just call me a sim, compare me toyour kind, and I'll be fine with it?I don't see what is so wron-Of course you don't! Are you blind, do you not notice the ears? I am not a sim, so don'tcall me one!Elyena, I just mean-I need to take a walk. I'll be back later,It's below zero outside, Elyena, you'll catch your death! Zane protested.I don't care, I need to cool off! she said before grabbing her coat and stalking out thedoor.


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What did I do? he whispered as his wife walked out into the snow.


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Elyena walked for a long time until she couldn't feel her toes, and she reached a houseshe had never seen before while she lived in Grere Canyon. She decided to investigate,as serial killers don't exist in sim world, and as she grew closer to the house she spied afamiliar scent.


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She knocked on the door and heard a woman call for her to come in.

She entered and heard the woman call from around the corner that she was in the diningroom.


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Welcome, Elyena daughter of Rogan and Merth, said the woman, and Elyenarecognized her to be wearing traditional elven garb.


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You're performing a winter solstice ceremony, she said incredulously as she sat downat the tea table.Right, the woman said, there are tons of steps. Did you know before the whole teathing was elven, it was siman?What do you mean? Elyena asked, confused.Well, the last recorded winter solstice ceremony in Tasslewind Forest was a threethousand years ago, but records from Takemizu Village report an almost identical simceremony for the winter star happening three thousand eight hundred years ago.Strange how you can hardly distinguish between sim and elf sometimes, isn't it?

A shiver ran down Elyena's spine, and the woman smiled at her, softly.


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Why did you yell at your husband for mistakenly calling you a sim? she asked, andElyena nearly choked on her tea.I-i don't know, she said, I was angry at the thought that I was thought of as something Iwasn't,But is a sim so different from an elf? the woman asked, they share many similarfeatures, they can interbreed, they are almost identical, apart from minor physicaldifferences, and major cultural ones.I-I just, I was just, when I was a kid-You shouldn't explain this to me, the woman said, I really have no use for theinformation,Then why did you ask? Elyena asked.


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So you would admit it to yourself, the woman said, because if you hadn't, you wouldhave gone home still angry at your husband, and you wouldn't let yourself understandyour anger,Are you some sort of spirit? asked Elyana, come to explain to me my mistakes? Am Idead in a snowdrift?

The woman laughed.

No, nothing like that, she said, I just watch out for people like you. People with alegacy,Why is that word so important? Elyana asked.Ask any sim besides me, the woman said, bluntly, I am not the right person to askabout legacies, trust me. I'm more into meddling,


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What's your name? Elyana asked, you know, so I can recommend you to the womenat the hair salon when I go to whine about how annoying my husband is,

The woman laughed.

My name is Faye, she said.Nice name, Elyena said, and you're a sim?

Sort of, Faye said, not quite. But I'm definitely not an elf, either,


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Why are you conducting this ceremony anyway? Elyena asked, you're not an elf,


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Sims are a curious race, Faye said, they scrape off bits and pieces from the worldaround them and add it to their own society, like a giant puzzle. At first they're afraid ofnew things, but then they adjust and accept it. It's why I consider elves, while they areextremely brilliant, to be a little off. They take so much longer to accept things,You don't have to tell me twice, Elyena laughed, the people in my village neveraccepted the fact that I was different,I know, Faye said, but remember: you are one of the luckiest people in the 'verse, and

never take it for granted. None of those people are half as happy as you are,

Elyena merely smiled and nodded.


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After the ceremony was finished, Elyena and Faye kissed each other on the cheeksand to Elyena's surprise, Faye recited the traditional elven farewell.

Vade in pace, meus amicus,* Faye said, I do hope to see you again sometimeElyena Olythylwell,Vade in pace, meus amicus, Elyena said, I hope to see you too.

*Vade in pace, meus amicus means go in peace, my friend in Latin. Latin hasbecome elvish for the purposes of this legacy.


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The house was silent when Elyena returned from Faye's house. She was confused andtired, and she wanted to apologize.


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Zane was still awake when she sat down on the bed, and he said nothing about the factthat she was getting melted snow all over the bedspread. He probably didn't want her toyell at him again.


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I'm sorry I yelled at you, she said, I shouldn't have, it was an honest mistake, and one Ishouldn't have gotten so angry at,It's okay, I just don't know why you were angry in the first place, he said, looking over ather, what was wrong?

Elyena felt even worse about yelling at him. He wasn't even angry at her.Well, I said that I'd always tried to uphold my elven traditions? she asked.

Yes, he said.That's not true. At all. See, tonight was the night of the Winter Solstice celebrations andthat particular celebration was the last one before I left for Simland,And? he asked.


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I had a tutor, named Marin, and she was to teach me the elven traditions. She was oneof the sweetest women I had ever met, and I promised her that I would be there for thecelebration.

At the last moment, I blew off the ceremony and went swimming in the Divining Pool,one of the most spiritual places in Tasslewind. Let's just say I didn't leave the forestvoluntarily.

She was so disappointed in me. I failed her so completely. She was the only personwho ever suspected that I could actually do something right when it came to tradition.

So, when winter came around, I started feeling really guilty, and so I snapped at you.And I'm sorry,


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I'm sorry, Elyena, he said, I know it must have been hard to leave your home,My home? Not really, she said, I was never home there. Here is my home, and italways has been, with you and 'Lin and Clytha,

Zane looked over and smiled at her.Come here, he said, reaching out his arms.


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You know, Elyena said, grinning, as she moved into his arms, we haven't argued oncein our marriage up to this point, and it's after the birth of our second child. This must besome kind of record!

Zane laughed.

It must be, he said.


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Do you forgive me? she asked.Elyena, he said, there was nothing to forgive,


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They spend the rest of the night 'forgiving' eachother.

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Olthylwell: Chapter 1.0