Reaper's Genetic Legacy Experiment [Complete]

[Rhoxi]

Lovely. Just, lovely! I think now Mary won't struggle with self-confidence so much. 

As for going back to a more writing-what-you-play style, it kept us all very entertained for the first few generations, so I don't think going back to that is going to hurt your popularity and quality of story. I totally understand what you mean about how exhausting setting the stage for the story can get. Trying to finish up 14 generations of immortals in one giant epilogue got me pretty darned-well burnt out. I still haven't gotten that one last chapter up.  Point being, have fun. We'll be reading.

[cainspath]

I haven't the time to check on this again until now. I'm feeling giddy and curious. Darn.

And this is where I say that having background in magic terms is awesome. It's nice to see Mary getting used to her magic!

[SadieHamming]

I missed a couple of chapters, so I'll try to put my reactions in chronological order;
Noten is back Noten is back Noten is back Noten is back Noten is back did I say that Noten is back?!?! Noten is BACK! This just.... yeah.... I'm really, really happy about this.
Noten is still just as sweet. Hearing Noten talk about love with Mary was really touching. And it's really cool how Mary now has the torch of the family.
And can I say one more time, Noten is back! 

[Trip]

Well, what a way to end a chapter! I thought that Agnes' talk about finding love again was sweet.

As for the new direction in storytelling, there's nothing wrong with simplifying the story a bit so playing the game is more fun. Plus, I firmly believe that you'll still write it well.

[LivvieLove]

Whoa, nice epic battle scene! 
Also, I like that you brought us to a nice conclusion, then threw a twist right when we thought the update was coming to a clear conclusion  :=)

Aw shucks, I just have to keep you on your toes.
Thank you! I was trying to bring one set to a close and open the new set, the one of which Mary steps forward and we may just see a new generation... 

Lovely. Just, lovely! I think now Mary won't struggle with self-confidence so much. 

As for going back to a more writing-what-you-play style, it kept us all very entertained for the first few generations, so I don't think going back to that is going to hurt your popularity and quality of story. I totally understand what you mean about how exhausting setting the stage for the story can get. Trying to finish up 14 generations of immortals in one giant epilogue got me pretty darned-well burnt out. I still haven't gotten that one last chapter up.  Point being, have fun. We'll be reading.

Thank you! Mary is done with the struggles, which is good for me as I can finally start to rear up the next generation.
No worries with the Dojos, I can't even imagine how hard that must be right now, but for the record I think it's been wrapped up quite nicely, so no worries about the one last chapter. Thank you anyways, that makes me feel a little better about needing to switch back to a more basic style of story.

I haven't the time to check on this again until now. I'm feeling giddy and curious. Darn.

And this is where I say that having background in magic terms is awesome. It's nice to see Mary getting used to her magic!

Haha, no worries, I have your answers right about now!
Well, when I get the chapter up.
I'm glad you liked my explanation. I was just trying to give it a basis so it didn't seem silly with Agnes helping Mary train her skills.

I missed a couple of chapters, so I'll try to put my reactions in chronological order;
Noten is back Noten is back Noten is back Noten is back Noten is back did I say that Noten is back?!?! Noten is BACK! This just.... yeah.... I'm really, really happy about this.
Noten is still just as sweet. Hearing Noten talk about love with Mary was really touching. And it's really cool how Mary now has the torch of the family.
And can I say one more time, Noten is back! 

Yes! Noten is back! Tanned, muscular and ready to go! Though his story is really wrapped up he just has one more thing he has to do before it really becomes all Mary. Noten is always going to be the sweet, determined guy. He may not have been around for Mary before but hopefully the few times he can be will help make up for that.

Well, what a way to end a chapter! I thought that Agnes' talk about finding love again was sweet.

As for the new direction in storytelling, there's nothing wrong with simplifying the story a bit so playing the game is more fun. Plus, I firmly believe that you'll still write it well.

Funnily enough, on a random side-note before I moved them out of town completely. I had just moved Agnes and Falor out, then they started getting romantic according to story progression and my eyes bugged out - so I moved them out of Story Progression's way immediately. Horrifying experience, really. Sorry, just had to share that little tidbit when you mentioned Agnes finding love again. Thank you very much for the compliment. I will try to ensure the story stays enticing and exciting!
I even have a few ideas in mind.
But that should be saved for when they come up in story.

[LivvieLove]

Alec the Womanizer
Mary stood in the doorway to her temporary home feeling tired, hungry and curious. In a split second Mary could feel something shift within her, there was just something about this man that made her stand staring like a wide-eyed school-girl. When he turned around to greet her she felt her mouth fall open.

He was gorgeous too. His hat sat crooked on his head, giving him a rugged charm. His half smile and the light in his eyes made Mary feel things she was sure she never felt before.

"Hello there." He said in a charming voice. Mary hadn't even realized he had been talking to her and she was sure she felt weak in the knees.
"He-hello." She mumbled, shifting under his gaze. Edward, who had been growing increasingly upset at the scene, rushed past Alec - bumping into his shoulder roughly on the way - to interject himself between the two.
"Hello there SISTER!" He put extra emphasis on the word. Mary kept trying to look around Edward's bulk to look at the charming man behind him, but Edward would only move once again to make that impossible. "Gee - sis - don't you look tired, maybe you should go upstairs and have a rest, yeah?" Edward pushed the words out as he tried to usher her towards the stairs.

"Edward, you haven't even introduced me to your friend." Mary said calmly.
"Oh... I thought you already knew Atrox?" Edward put his hand awkwardly on the back of his neck.
"Edward..." Mary's voice dropped, letting him know her patience was running thin.
Edward grumbled as he slowly moved out of the way. "Mary, this is Alec, a guy I used to hang out with back in the Bay. Alec, this is my sister Mary." Again, he put extra emphasis on what she was to him. Mary even noted a nice eyebrow raise on the emphasis of "sister."
"Yes, I am your sister, I think he gets that now." Mary said, growing really impatient.
Alec only laughed though as he gracefully walked over to greet her. She extended her hand to shake his, but he merely took it and kissed it. Mary felt her whole skin flush. "Pleasure to meet you, I must say, when Edward told me he had a sister I couldn't have even dreamed she would look nearly as pretty as you."

Before Mary could say anything, Edward gruffly grabbed her arm away. "Hey sis, can I speak to you in the kitchen?" Mary hadn't looked away from Alec by this point, so Edward gripped a little tighter. "Now."
Edward ushered her in quickly and looked behind him before he spoke again.

"Mary, please do me a favor and just go upstairs and don't come down until Alec is gone. Forever." He spoke in hushed tones.
"I thought you said he was your friend?" She returned his hushed voice.
"No, well yes, but no, a little but not now." Edward went back and forth. "He's the guy who taught me how to be a womanizer sis, he's the friend guys go to for advice on how to get a chick, not the friend you take home to meet your family, and especially not the guy you let meet your SISTER." His voice rose a little bit, and Mary was almost sure Alec had to hear a little of what they were talking about.

"Really, Ed, you learned how to be a womanizer from him?"
"That's besides the point! He's hitting on you sis! He doesn't want you because you're beautiful or awesome or how brilliant your personality is, he just wants to get you into his bed!" He spewed the last bit out all at once. "He's always been one to chase tail, but his favorite are those girly-girls."
Mary felt herself getting irritated. "And that matters to you?" She asked quietly.
"Doesn't it matter to you?! He doesn't care about you, not the way Thomas did!"
"Don't talk to me about Thomas!" Mary shouted. Alec had poked his head around the archway with a worried expression.
"Is everything ok?" He asked quietly, but he went unnoticed.
"Newsflash Edward - Thomas is DEAD!" Mary was so aggravated, and being tired didn't help. Alec decided now was a good time to mind his own business and return to the entryway. Mary's voice hushed again, "I'm a grown woman and I can sleep with whomever I want, and quite frankly Edward... maybe that IS all I want out of a relationship with someone." Mary was breathing hard she had gotten so worked up. Edward's face looked a little crushed and Mary came back down. "I'm sorry Edward, I'm just tired and grumpy."
Edward only nodded, unsure of what to say.
They stood for a few awkward minutes before Mylee entered the kitchen. She looked around a little confused, then saw the two of them. "Oh, Mary! I'm glad you're home." She said quietly.

Mylee had really come down a lot those past few weeks. She was growing older and feeling tired more frequently and that was really starting to show. "Your mother went out looking for you, did she tell you about the formal coming up?"
Mary looked confused. "Formal? What are you talking about?"
Mylee looked confused for a moment before she remembered what she had even said prior. "Oh, the formal - the Queen is hosting a Formal prior to the war tomorrow, she wants to meet up with as many diplomats as possible to see if there's an easier way to end this war without the violence. She would like your presence there as well as Edward, though she did say that Edward probably shouldn't come unless you're there."
Edward scowled, but Mary only laughed. "Don't take too much offense Ed, you should be honored that she thinks you're too great for the diplomats."
Mylee just smiled in an absent-minded way. "Oh, and Mary! Your mother left you out a dress she wants you to wear for it. She told me to tell you that - and these are her words not mine - 'I know you don't like dressing up, but pl-eease.' She put a lot of emphasis on the please."
Now it was time for Mary to scowl. Edward returned her jest, "don't take too much offense sis, you should be honored that mom thinks you're capable of dressing like a girl." Mary hit his shoulder roughly before smiling. All was well between them.
"I'm exhausted guys, I think I'm going to go upstairs and crash. I have some changes to make though first." She said with a grin. Mylee simply waved quietly as Mary headed upstairs, passing the womanizer Alec on the way. She didn't say anything, but she did wink at him which caught him by surprise. Mary was going to enjoy this.
When she got to her room - bland as it was it wasn't actually hers as she would've sought a better decorator - she cringed at the gold lump of silk on the bed. She shook her head and rolled her eyes as she imagined her mother picking the dress out for her. Well, she needed a change, she didn't imagine it would've been so drastic though.
Mary stood in front of a mirror and tugged on her hair that was growing out long. She tugged a little harder until it hurt and noticed she had pulled some extensions right out. She squeezed her eyes shut - this was going to hurt. She proceeded to yank every hair extension out handfuls at a time(*). Finally she stood in front of the mirror and smiled at her reflection.

"That's better." She mumbled as she massaged her scalp that now throbbed. She thought about planning a new outfit, but decided she was too tired to really act on it, so she threw on some comfortable pajamas and passed out. Bear, not wanting to be left out of the story for too long, decided to join her.


Downstairs, something sad was happening. Mylee stood looking at the ocean. Her heart still broken, never to be mended.

She spent the rest of her elder-life raising the children of the man her husband murdered in cold blood as a penance for her husband - who was now long gone. She couldn't help but still feel love for him, even if what he did was horrible. They raised a daughter together, a daughter who was also long gone. Mylee knew it was her time to join them. To meet her beautiful daughter and her husband in the next life.

So she did.

Mary awoke feeling heavier than before, and like a sixth sense, she knew. She got up and changed into something different.

It was truly a new day for her.
She was out in her favorite thinking spot when Alec found her.

Mary stood up immediately, feeling her privacy suddenly dwindling.
"No, please, don't get up for me." Alec said quietly.
But Mary remained standing. "What can I do for you?"
"Just coming out to admire the view, and possibly talk you into going with me to the Formal coming up."
"I didn't realize you got an invitation." Mary said flatly.
"I did, I own all the fleets in the Bay, I've come to offer my assistance."
Mary saw right through him. He was smooth, but far too smooth. "So you want me to go with you to the Diplomat's formal?" She rephrased the question.
He looked at her with his charming smile. "I would be honored if you would attend with me."
Mary sighed and shook her head, watching his charming smile fall. "I'm not your type." Mary said as she turned to walk away.

Alec reached out and grabbed her wrist to turn her around. "But who says you aren't my type?" He said in a deep, determined voice.

They stood inches away and Mary felt that same pull she felt when she first saw him. She closed her eyes tightly. "I'm not a girly kind of woman, Alec, and while I may look appealing to you now, I doubt you'd like what you saw after." She gave her best flirty wink to set him off.
Mary was just about to turn again when he grabbed her hand, suddenly his facade dropped and he looked at her sincerely. "Then let me prove to you that you are my type." He said quietly.

Mary was flustered, but she tried to retain her ground. "Ok then, how exactly do you plan to do that?" She asked playfully.
The look on his face reflected his uncertainty for a moment before his eyes lit up. "Come with me to meet the King today!"
Mary tried very hard not to look amused. She, too, had a meeting with the King she needed to conduct, though the King still recognized her as James, not Mary. Mary stifled a laugh as she thought of the look on his majesty's face when he realized who 'James' was, but then realized she needed to answer Alec. "Alright, I will go with you to meet his majesty." She said calmly, fighting the smile she felt coming on.

The ride was short to the Castle, and Edward glared daggers at Alec right as they left which put Mary in an even better mood than she expected. Alec probed her and asked her about things that were very surface-deep. He inquired about her favorite color, saying he could probably guess by the way she dressed. Alec was always very certain about himself when it came to women, and Mary could feel that. What surprised her was how horrible he was doing at guessing her out - she half expected him to have her figured out by now, but she found he missed every answer by a mile.
"Are you sure your favorite color isn't earth-tones or brown?" He said exasperated.
Mary laughed as she climbed the steps. "Nope, it's black." She said matter-of-factly. Alec looked stumped.
"I think you're lying to me. Women always wear their favorite color." Alec said finally. "I know some girls play hard-to-get, but you're taking it to a new level." He said, growing really frustrated that he was messing things up so badly.
Mary sighed, growing frustrated with his frustration. "Maybe you should stop trying to know me and start trying to get to know me." She said quickly. "I like the color black because it goes with anything. It's always been my favorite. I wear brown because when I was little I only had one set of clothing, and the only fabrics we could have were the color brown. Old habits die hard." Mary retorted as she climbed up the stairs.

Alec was frozen for a moment, unsure of what to say. "I'm sorry... I didn't realize..." He mumbled.
Mary stopped him, "people are deeper than you think." She said wisely.
As soon as they reached the top of the stairs they were greeted by the King himself in full-uniform. He walked over and gave full salute to Alec. "You must be Alec of Barnacle Bay, correct?" He said in his booming voice.
Alec nodded and returned the salute. "Yes your majesty. I'm pleased to meet you."
The king smiled. "Let's go in and talk about war. I'm afraid your girlfriend should probably wait in the study, she likely doesn't know much about strategy." The King assumed. Mary soured, but she held her ground. The king looked around intensely for a moment.
"Is everything ok, majesty?" Alec asked quietly.
"Yes, yes." The king kept searching. "I was just expecting a young lad from around here to show up soon. His name was James - man was he a complete genius with those war strategies." The king trailed off.
Mary burst out laughing and both the men turned to look at her, but she simply straightened up and with a wide grin said, "oh, sorry, don't mind me. I'll go wait in the study like a good female should." Mary kept laughing as she escorted herself to the study - which she was completely familiar with from her times meeting with Queen Carolina. She couldn't wait to see their face when the Queen got home and greeted her.

She waited in the study for a good hour, pouring herself a drink while she waited.
It was about an hour before Alec came back in, at first he seemed a little upset - probably because she wandered off into the Castle the King assumed she's never been in without an escort and for reacting in a way that wouldn't please a King - but Mary ignored him for the moment because Queen Carolina had popped in to see them both.

"Mary? Oh my goodness, I didn't realize you would be coming tonight! I'm so glad to see you!" The queen gushed as she ran to embrace Mary. Suddenly, Alec's face cooled off.
"Sorry your highness, Alec here from the Bay had a meeting with the King, and apparently this James fellow was supposed to show up, but the King insisted that I wait for them to get done with their "masculine" stuff before letting me off a short leash." Mary laughed hard.
The queen looked shocked in a way that almost mirrored horror. "Oh my gosh Mary! I'm so sorry! He doesn't even know!"
"Who doesn't know?" The King's booming voice entered the room.
"I suppose it's time we let him in on the joke then, yeah?" Mary said, feeling a little like Edward when she spoke to the King and Queen in that manner - just slightly friendlier than she should.
"What joke?" The king looked upset, but the queen immediately grabbed his upper arm.
"Darling, do you remember James that used to come by after the history teacher at the old school recommended him to us?"
"Yes, of course I do! I invited him to have a look at the strategies here but haven't heard from him. He was always such a quick wit when it came to those charts." The king looked down at his wife who was trying not to laugh herself.
"Well, you see, Mary is James." She said quickly.
"Wait, what?" The king said, which was mirrored by Alec as they all turned to look at her. Mary just shrugged and waved in a cheeky way.
"But James was a-" The King sputtered.
Mary lowered her voice and with one hand pulled her hair back from her face, "putting the defensive line in sight is always a must when defending the home-front." Mary repeated a phrase she remembered talking about with the king in her more masculine voice.
Everyone stared at her in shock, save for the Queen who was holding a strained smile that looked like it may break into laughter at any moment. The king shook his shock off, "by watcher... I'm so sorry. How did this even...? Wait, no, I don't want to know. Come back with me and have a look at the charts... by the watcher I think I've seen everything now." He mumbled as he ushered Mary to follow him. Mary simply gave Alec a confident smile as she breezed past him.
"I'll see you outside, dear." She said to him and she shared an inside joke with the queen as she left for the strategy room.

It had long since gotten dark as Alec waited outside. He needed to confront this woman - or man - or whatever she (or he) was. Why in the world was she posing as a boy? Or rather, why was she posing as a girl if it was the other way around? Thoughts caused his head to spin. Mary soon joined him outside, "oy, over here." She teased.

Alec couldn't help but let the accusations fly. "So you're actually a MAN?!" He half shouted. Mary stood back, stunned for a moment before she burst into laughter.
"Woah there, hold on now. I never said I wasn't a woman." She laughed.
"They said your name was James though, right?"
"No, my name has always been Mary - if and when I took a name in the past and used it for other purposes is none of your business." Mary stated. "Now let's head home."
Alec and Mary shared a quiet ride until they got to the doorstep. "Ok, I want the truth, what is going on with the name James?" Alec asked suddenly.

Mary turned with a flair and looked at him. "Maybe if you're honest with me and tell me your true intentions you wanted out of tonight I might tell you why I went by James." Mary bluffed.
"Yes, ok, fine. I wanted to sleep with you, are you happy?" He said flustered.
Mary thought about her options for a moment before she turned around, "ok then." She stepped into him and planted a solid kiss on his lips.

At first he was completely stunned, he stood there staring at her blankly. She made an agitated face that he didn't pick up the hint right away, "then sleep with me." She mused.
He picked up the hint and pulled her close to him once again.

They made it up the stairs, stumbling, kissing and trying to keep quiet as they fumbled into Mary's room.

Where things got heavier and after two rounds of woohoo, they finally settled down.

Mary felt content with herself, feeling like she had finally had her first chance at a one-night stand to help her shake off the last bit of uncertainty she had for herself. While Alec on the other hand, was more sure he was falling in love with this crazy, unique, mystery of a woman that had won him over in one swoop of her hand. One thing was most certainly for sure though - Alec the womanizer had been taken down a level at the hands of a woman, and for one reason or another, he was completely ok with it.



*As a stylist, I really can't ever recommend anyone doing this. Ever. Please don't. It won't turn out the same way as it did in this case scenario! I promise!

[Serenity S.]

I don't know what to say... King must've been like this ---> 

[AnnaSimmery1234]

Wow. I didn't think Mary would go through with it! All I can ask is if you pressed "try for baby." 
You did a great job with that update, by the way. 

[LivvieLove]

I don't know what to say... King must've been like this ---> 

Haha, yeah, that was how I certainly saw it!

Wow. I didn't think Mary would go through with it! All I can ask is if you pressed "try for baby." 
You did a great job with that update, by the way. 

Thank you so much!
Hm, that would be a twist, wouldn't it?
That's all I have to say. 

Hopefully no one minds two updates in short succession, because I'm getting the real itch to play again now that things are moving! So, uh, yeah, if you have any complaints about that then... I don't know what to tell you!
Onwards - to the Formal!

[LivvieLove]

**Warning, the beginning text is basically events you've already read about, just told through Mary's perspective. Good for understanding her emotionally, not so good if you're bored easily, if so, skip down to the first picture.

Emotional Outcry
The sun rose hazily in the Isla Paradiso skies, Mary stretched and yawned before she jolted awake from her hand touching something.
Alec was still in bed with her.
He grumbled and his eyes flickered open. He smiled up at her while she tried very hard not to let that smile get into her heart. She rolled her eyes at him suddenly causing his smile to widen. He cleared his throat of the sleep-fog and spoke: "so you never answered me yesterday..."
Mary scratched her head, "what are you going on about?"
"Will you go to the formal with me?" He said, reaching over and touching her hand.
Mary laughed loudly and rubbed her eyes. She shook her head before speaking. "You're a crummy womanizer." She mumbled.
"Oh? Why is that?" He sat up now, curiosity in his eyes.
Mary shrugged, "I gave you what you wanted! You already slept with me - you don't need to ask me to the formal to achieve that."
"Now if we're going on about that, you never did tell me about why you went by James. Since you've called me the crummy womanizer, you owe me an explanation." He teased, but Mary sighed and sat back again.
"Fine, fine." She said with an ice to her voice. "Short version or the long?"
"Short first."
"Old Isla had a dictatorship. They started taking little girls from their homes and using them to breed 'better' and 'more obedient' citizens by selling them to the highest bidder. Mom had me, panicked and shaved my head. I went by James from then on." She shrugged, giving Alec a level gaze who was staring at her in horror.
"Long story - please!"
Mary laughed dryly. "What, too much horror, not enough explanation?"
"I just can't wrap my head around it, that's all."
"The long story won't help you much then, because I don't know any other way to tell it. My father died when I was born."
"Wait, the father who's across the hall now?" Alec shook his head. "Hold on here, did we get drunk or something last night and I just missed it? This is likely just a dream then."
Mary smiled, "hold on a minute, I guess I need to go back further - you realize you're only making the long story longer, right? I'll sum this up gently. The Reaper's are a line of descendants from a woman named Agnes. She was a grand lady, taught me everything I know..." She saw Alec's face dropping off again so she clarified "-she is one of the most powerful witches that ever lived." Mary summed up, suddenly Alec's look went from confused to horror to somewhat acceptance.
"I always thought Edward was a little off..."
"No, silly, he didn't get it." Mary shook her head, but paused for a long second as she reflected. "I did." Her voice was much softer now. Alec tilted his head to the side as he listened, leaning on his elbow while sinking into the pillow. Mary sighed. "I have the torch of the family now."
"That sounds like that would be a difficult thing to bear." Alec noted quietly.
Mary shrugged, "better me than Edward." She joked, but on a serious note she thought about how she was glad her brother wasn't restricted as she was. She enjoyed watching him be free, and this burden is not a task he would've been able to bear.
"So, ok, your father died when you were born?"
Mary nodded, "I guess the one other thing I should explain is we've been able to resurrect people before."
"So wait - you're father's been resurrected now? Who else?!"
"That's a story for another day, do you want the long story as to why I go by James or not?"
Alec quieted.
"My father was murdered by a traitor to the rebellion on the night I was born. That rebellion he died in was the final show of force the rebels had left to overthrow Alfonso, who had made himself the Minister and who was manhandling the Island. After that day the rebellion crumbled. Alfonso started to take more liberties over the people and started to erect 'Finishing' schools for young girls to be raised into 'proper mothers' to give birth to 'proper citizens,' if you can see where this is going. When I was a baby, my mother was offered a position in the Palace, but she knew that bringing Edward and I to the light would put me in jeopardy. So I was Mary to Edward and my mom and James to everyone else. I went through school with Edward and excelled in Military Strategy which got me noticed by the King. As we grew up it became harder to hide my identity, but I managed. It wasn't until I was a grown woman - well, man, I guess? That my mother was able to help reveal the nature of the crimes that had been occurring beneath the King and Queen. I was suddenly free to be Mary again, but I had lived my whole life being James. I left Isla Paradiso and all of it's pain to find myself elsewhere. That's when I met Thomas."
"The Thomas you were talking about in hushed voices in the kitchen with Edward?" He asked lightly, trying not to bring up the fact that Mary had practically screamed about his death.
Mary nodded slowly. "I met him in Barnacle Bay, actually. He was a quiet, interesting, intellectual fellow. He always enjoyed a good bit of history and found me to be insatiably interesting. He spent a lot of time probing me for information from the Islands which, when I look back on it, seems a little harsh, but it was what I needed. He was the first guy I ever had strong feelings for, but those feelings got quite tangled when he finally revealed to me that he was sick." Mary paused, looking down in thought. "Very sick."
Alec for a brief moment reflected on his days in Barnacle Bay, when he wasn't drunk he was usually with women or looking at fine works of art he could steal for a low price and sell for a higher one. He never thought to go out and socialize beyond the women who would come to him begging for time, and the men who would come to him hoping to grab a few women on the way. It all seemed so trivial now as he listened to Mary - really listened to her. The way her voice fluctuates when something upset her, or how she would clench her jaw after mentioning something she was bitter about. It was so easy to guess how someone was feeling, but he was finding it much more interesting to actually hear it.
"As you likely know from yesterday, he died. For the last month of his life he laid in bed as I sat in the chair next to him. I didn't leave the house, I didn't visit with anyone. Our relationship was very intellectual and less passionate. I started to feel like a mother nursing her sick child than I did one lover caring for another. After he died though, I had no direction. I spun out of control and fell onto drinking. I tossed around going back to being James, as my life had been much easier then, but I just couldn't do it. Before I knew it I was responding to the Queen's plea and on a plane back to the home I once was so eager to run from, and now..." She shrugged. "Here I am. Congratulations, you've survived the long-winded sob story that is my life."
Alec was speechless for a moment, he sat up in bed and looked away. "I've spent my whole life being the youngest boy of several in my family. "I wasn't quite what my parents hoped for in a kid, so when I grew up I headed out on my own to find my own path. I was determined to do everything my brothers did - but better. I started to learn to read the signs people gave me and exploit them to get what I want. I was the kid who had nothing but wanted everything. That eventually led to me coming into a great sum of money, and thus the entirety of Barnacle Bay's Navy." He shrugged nonchalantly. "In the process of learning how to get what I want from other people, I forgot that other people had wants themselves." He looked back at Mary with thoughtful eyes. "You're an incredible woman, Mary. You know that, right?" He walked over to stand beside her.

Mary shook her head in a teasing way. "You truly are the worst womanizer - unless this truly is part of your plan, but I can't see how it is. First, you don't learn to leave a woman's room so she doesn't get any ideas when waking up next to you, then you still attempt to pursue her even after you've already gotten what you wanted out of her... shameful." She smiled.
Alec gave a crooked smile in return. "So will you, please, go to the formal with me?" He asked once more.

Mary sighed, "I suppose if it gets you off my case." Alec grinned at her, causing Mary to closer her eyes and look away, "now I need to get ready for this silly formal, which means you need to get out of here!" She said, shooing him with her hands.
"I look forward to seeing you," he kissed her cheek and began to gather his things before leaving Mary standing frozen, trying to sort through the different emotions she felt.
Palmira entered shortly after Alec left, carrying all of his clothes with. Mary tried to avoid the suspicious glare from her mother by looking elsewhere.

"It seems like you had a fun night." Palmira said softly as she picked up the belt that had been left by Alec from the night before. Palmira rolled her eyes and laughed. "Don't be so stiff, I was young once too, you know." She threw the belt back down. "Now, why aren't you wearing that nice dress I got you already? We've got to get going soon you know!"
Mary shook her head to get herself out of her daze. "I'm sorry mom." She said slowly.
Palmira looked at her with wide eyes, freezing for a minute. "Woah, something must have happened last night, I've never seen you so willingly apologize for something so small!" Palmira joked, but soon she got  more serious. "Is everything ok?"
"Yeah..." Mary shook her head. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just have a lot to think about."
"Edward was pretty concerned about you last night, you know? He doesn't seem to like you with this Alec guy." Palmira said in a motherly tone.
"Yeah mom, Alec is a womanizer, yet he seems a little too interested in me after I went ahead and gave him what he wanted." Mary joked.
"Then maybe he wants more than just that." Palmira softened with a smile. "Maybe he's after your heart?"
Mary gave a look of disagreement, but deep down, she was wondering that herself.
Palmira helped Mary through the complexity that was women's dress clothing before Mary could really admire herself in the mirror.

Palmira gushed: "I knew that dress would be just perfect for you! Oh my watcher Mary, my beautiful girl. You look stunning!"
Mary admired herself for a long moment, "I didn't even know I could look this pretty."
Palmira gently smacked her shoulder, "you're always pretty, you goof."
Mary smiled, "only a mother would say that."
"So sue me, I am one!"
They both laughed and stood together wistfully for a moment.
"What do you think I should do, mom?" Mary finally asked.
"About what? About Alec?" Palmira looked at her daughter.
"Yeah, him. Do you honestly think he could possibly care for me - moreso than the other girls he's gone through?"
Palmira looked perplexed. "I don't know sweetie, it's really hard to say. I don't know the guy at all, but from what I hear from Edward is that he runs a very complicated game. I don't want you to get hurt."
Mary looked down again, "me either, but I don't know if I'll have a choice in the matter."
Palmira gave her a sympathetic glance, gently rubbing her shoulder, "well, let's not think about it for tonight dear... tonight we have other things to worry about." Palmira said with anxiety in her voice. It was no surprise she was nervous, as tonight would be the fate of the country she's always called home.

When Mary made her stumbling entrance downstairs, many guys stood in awe, but only Alec jumped up to greet her. Mary had never been this dressed up before, especially not in a dress.

Everyone soon slowly piled up into a few vehicles to head for the formal. The car the Reaper's took was quiet most of the way, Noten was holding onto Palmira's hand and squeezing it every so often to remind her that he was there. Edward stared out the window, looking for girls as they passed by a group of them, while Mary and Alec sat awkwardly in the back, unsure of the boundaries that were set. They all arrived early, but the small room started to fill up quickly.

Edward, who had gone stag, soon found a nice blond woman - whose name he likely wouldn't remember - to pass the time with.

Mary actually kept a bit of distance from Alec when she could, watching girls as they would swarm him over time. She felt a twinge of jealousy, wondering if maybe she shouldn't have given herself up so easily. She would shake the feeling off when she reminded herself that she didn't expect anything serious out of him, he was a womanizer at heart. She shouldn't take his sweet words seriously otherwise she'll get hurt... right?
The thoughts were merciless, but Mary was quite relieved when a young gentleman representing Twinbrook came over and meekly asked for a dance.

She noticed her grandmother Emrin had showed up too, with Glitch next to her. She wanted the love they had for herself one day, but she just seemed to keep hitting and missing - at least she thought she did.

Alec had been shaking off the girls, not feeling on top of his game like he usually did. Something just didn't feel right about these girls like they once did. They all seemed skin-deep and feminine. Mary was clumsy, blunt and very real. She didn't care what people thought of her, and she kept pulling Alec back in like a moth to a flame. He figured she had to realize that she was driving him crazy, that learning more about her was never part of the plan. She's flipped all the rules back into his face and suddenly he was left open and vulnerable to her speculation. He could barely contain the jealousy he started to feel when he saw the lout from Twinbrook dancing with her - especially when the guy gave him the wink that said he thought he might get lucky.

The smug look on that man's face was too much for him to bear, so he finally cut in.
"Mary, I need to speak with you outside, it's important." He said quickly. "Forgive me, chap, for interrupting, I wouldn't if it weren't urgent!" Alec gave him a knowing smile, but the man only gave him a death stare for taking away his opportunity to win Mary over.
"Alec, can't it wait?" Mary asked in a hushed voice, feeling slightly angry that he would cut in on the one dance she had been offered the whole night.
"No, no it can't!" He said abruptly as he grabbed her by the upper arm and pulled her out to the quiet balcony. The sun was just beginning to fall, and the guests were slowly moving to the dining hall to get dinner.

As soon as Mary got out to the air she broke free of his grasp and walked far ahead of him. "What?!"
"That guy - Sir 'Twinbrook' was looking at you like you were a piece of meat!" He said, outraged.
"And?" Mary said, her tone reflecting her anger and impatience.
"And what? Don't you care that all he was planning to do was try to sleep with you? He was just flashing it around like some smug jerk too!"
Mary couldn't believe what she was hearing, "you would know, wouldn't you? What do you care who I sleep with or don't?! I'm just another girl you'll go through and throw away - in fact, you already have! You disappeared with girls who were much prettier than I was within arriving here - and 'Sir Twinbrook' was the only guy that actually seemed to be interested in me, so excuse me if I don't give a care what you have to say about that!"
Alec was taken aback. "You think I'm still trying to womanize you?" He asked with hurt reflecting in his tone.
"What else do you expect me to think of you?!" Mary threw her hands up. "You just admitted to me last night that your whole intent was to sleep with me! Congratulations! You did! Normally this is when you drop me for someone else! Yet you just can't do that, can you? I know womanizers making a living off of hurting women, but I thought I could avoid that if I just gave in for a one-night stand! I thought we would both come out winners from that, but apparently I was wrong."
"This is different!" Alec looked like he was about to pull out his non-existent hair. "You're different! I'm different! Yes I just wanted to sleep with you last night, but that was before I got to know you! You act like I've planned this all but you're dead wrong! Ever since I've met you you've switched things up on me! You're unpredictable and blunt and charming and lovely and everything I think I've ever desired in someone!"
Mary rolled her eyes and began to turn away from him, but instead he grabbed her by the wrists and pulled her back into him.

"What are you-"

"Mary, you mean more to me than every other girl I've met combined. Please let me show you that!" He pleaded as he pulled up from their kiss. Mary started to feel weak in the knees and her eyes started to water. She refused to cry in front of him, so she turned abruptly and walked through the hall and out. She made a quick passing of the Queen who saw her distress. Carolina was about to ask what was wrong but Mary held up her hand. "I'm truly sorry your majesty. I really need to make my leave. Forgive me?" Mary spoke quickly, as she could feel Alec following behind her closely - trying to catch up to her.
When the Queen saw Alec looking frantically for Mary and spotting her, she quickly nodded and made the connection. "Come by whenever you can, you're always welcome." She said quickly and they parted.
Mary made a beeline for the exit, running down the stairs and out into the road. She felt water falling down her cheeks, as her eyes fought the onslaught of tears. She didn't understand why this was so emotional, why this even mattered. She started to walk up the street, knowing it would take too long to call the car.
She could sense Alec behind her, keeping a good pace. Thunder started to roar in the distance as rain threatened to fall.

She could vaguely hear Alec as the rain started to pour lightly. "Mary, please! Just wait up a minute! Please?"
She stopped and stood there, shoulders slumped as the rain started to get heavier.

"Why do you keep walking away from me?" He asked, his voice pleading.
"I don't know." She said quietly.
Alec made a sound of confusion, so Mary repeated herself. "I said I don't know. This whole thing is a mess. I shouldn't have pushed anything with you."
"Did you dislike it that much?" Alec's tone was nearing desperation.
"No!" Mary was quick to answer before she calmed a bit. "No. I did, and I think that's the problem."
"Why is that a problem?" Alec took a step towards her.
Mary turned around quickly and threw her hands up in defeat, "because I'm TERRIFIED. You're terrifying - I mean... this-" she made a motion between the two of them, "-is terrifying. I've never felt so strongly for someone physically and emotionally. It's only ever been emotional for me and I'm confused and I can't figure out if you're trying to game me or not which is... is hard." Her voice broke. "I'm not an emotional person. I never have been, so when I feel things deeply, it starts to mess with me, to mess with my state of mind - and when my body is thinking the same way as my heart is and my mind is doing something else... it's just too messy."
Alec had never seen her so out of sorts. Mary was always put together and calm, she never showed anyone this side of herself and that was incredibly apparent.
"I just don't know what to believe anymore."
He moved closer to her and put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm not trying to game you Mary. I swear to you, I'm not - at least I'm not trying to. You never let me explain myself." Mary made a nod that showed she was listening, so he continued. "When I first met you, you were pretty, but unconventionally so..."
Mary made a face that looked like she debated just leaving, Alec hurried to continue. "I mean that in the way of you're not the girl I normally pursue. I usually liked girls who were ditsy and open and flirty because they were easy targets. They were easy to read. When Edward introduced you as his sister, I thought I might flirt with you just to mess with his head but not go any further, yet you seemed oblivious to my charms after Edward told you what I was capable of, yet you returned every flirt and charm I would use on you with a grace and response that would leave me wide open. I thought you were stubborn and tough to win, but I wanted to try anyways. None of my usual methods worked on you and you just frustrated me!" His hand gestures got a little wild, and Mary again thought that she might just want to leave at this point. She started to turn around, feeling uninterested in his confession but he grabbed her shoulders. "No, please, I'm not finished... I just spent so much of my time thinking that I could win the game that was 'you' and achieve what I wanted once again, but instead you ended up smacking me so hard with reality that I don't think I'll ever see things the same way again."
Mary looked at him skeptically. "Oh really?"
"Yes! Yes really! I've literally spent half the evening shooing girls away from me because they were skin-deep and boring. They were ditsy and clumsy and so willing, but they weren't you. Suddenly you seem to be the only real person worth talking to, worth sharing my secrets with, worth... being with! In one night you've given me a reality check so hard that I woke up wanting nothing more than to know more about you and less about everyone else. You were the first girl to ever make me feel anything asides from lust, and I really want to see where it goes."
"Where what goes?" Mary took a step back.
"This-" he made the same motion Mary did earlier when she referenced the two of them. "This crazy, whirlwind thing that we've started. I want to see where it goes."
"Nowhere! It goes nowhere... I mean, how can I know you're not just trying to win me over? How will I know that once you have me that you won't get bored with me and leave?"
"You can't." Alec said, feeling out of breath. "You can't know, you just have to trust that I won't."
"Yeah, well what if you do?"
"Yeah, well what if I don't?" He countered.
Mary breathed heavily, feeling defeated. "I don't know if I can take any more heartbreak, Alec."
"Then trust me not to break your heart." He pleaded. The rain had now completely soaked them and Mary started to shiver. "Or at least trust me to call you a cab to get you home."
Mary finally nodded, but said nothing more. Could this possibly work? Wouldn't he just be chasing the next girl that seemed as intriguing to him as she was? But what if he didn't though, she really felt something for him, could it really be more?
They got in a cab and drove back to the empty house. Mary went up the stairs with full intent to go to her room to think when she noticed Alec still behind her. It was finally then that Mary spoke, "so, if we do this - I mean... if we try to become a couple, then what?"
"We take it a day at a time." Alec said quickly, hope starting to rise in his heart.
Mary was out of breath from climbing the stairs as quickly as she did. She looked around, wondering what other options she really could consider. She finally closed her eyes and shook her head. "Why not?" And she collapsed into his arms with a long kiss.

When they pulled back for a brief moment, Alec looked deeply into her eyes, "you're beautiful, Mary."
Mary rolled her eyes, "yeah, yeah. Less talking, more kissing."

They moved into her room once again where things escalated.

Only this time it was different. This time it wasn't a one-night stand. Mary and Alec were in uncharted territories.

But things were only looking up from here.

[PeregrineTook]

Wow, I missed two updates! 
Not saying I trust Alex as far as I could throw him, but I rather enjoy how bluntly Mary handles him.

[Hallucination]

Don't trust anybody who wears a hat that pretentiously.

[Rhoxi]

I tend not to trust "charming" types, myself. But from the way you've written this, I suspect that things will end well for Mary, and Alec will do his best to deserve a woman like her--which he clearly doesn't. I say, watch it, Alec; you're on thin ice with us readers, and there's going to be heck to pay if you mess with our Mary. Also, that dress suits Mary perfectly.

[Serenity S.]

Alec's hat nearly literally shouts "Don't trust me. I'm a dangerous man."

[LivvieLove]

Wow, I missed two updates! 
Not saying I trust Alex as far as I could throw him, but I rather enjoy how bluntly Mary handles him.

No, I just posted them one right after the other (practically, I had so many screenshots).
I love Mary's interactions with him. She's so used to dealing with Edward though that this is second nature for her. I understand everyone doesn't trust him, but as far as my planning goes I have no intention of drawing out any womanizing from him after this.
That doesn't mean he won't do it autonomously as soon as I let him free with the free will (which may or may not happen, depending on how the Bay will react when I put everyone back), but as far as I'm planning, he's looking up to be a decent fellow.

Don't trust anybody who wears a hat that pretentiously.

I literally could not stop laughing at this. I have no idea why, probably because that's what I was thinking as I was picking out his outfit!

I tend not to trust "charming" types, myself. But from the way you've written this, I suspect that things will end well for Mary, and Alec will do his best to deserve a woman like her--which he clearly doesn't. I say, watch it, Alec; you're on thin ice with us readers, and there's going to be heck to pay if you mess with our Mary. Also, that dress suits Mary perfectly.

I tend to avoid them myself, but you're right. I have no intention of acting on his past womanizer state - doesn't mean he won't do it on his own (which is why I refuse to say he's not going to do that anymore using a definitive). Once free will comes back on, who knows what these crazy Sims will do.
Back in the day, I sent Raven, Aurora, Giacomo and Khang on a vacation to get the Imaginary Friend potion ready for Falor and it became a full moon over Al Simhara and suddenly, Raven was kissing everyone. Khang just sat there watching (no negatives, it was like he enjoyed it or something) Aurora went running around base camp for no apparent reason and Giacomo just watched everyone act like lunatics.
So yeah, long story short. I have no intention of him being a jerk, doesn't mean free will won't have anything to say about that.

Alec's hat nearly literally shouts "Don't trust me. I'm a dangerous man."

Hahaha, that it does! I think that's why I chose it!


Anyways, for anyone interested, I have Mary, Edward, Noten and Atrox (along with Kaida) up on the Swap Shop found HERE.
Sorry for taking so long to get them up there.