mdebunny – Berrybloomsims

“You need to let it go now
Before you drown
I know that you won’t understand
But you need to let go of this hand
‘Cause I’m going down
And I don’t wanna take you down with me”

Provence’s legs trembled as she tried to push herself up off of the floor. Even with Hal’s hand helping her to balance, she could feel the gradual pull of the floor on her as she tilted to the side. She blinked twice as she looked up at what appeared to be two of her orange friend, smiling sheepishly. “Carry me?”

She watched as one of his thick eyebrows curved in an arch, taking note of the slight tug of a smirk on his lips. “You are utterly hopeless, aren’t you?” he teased, but still allowed her to crawl onto her back, her slender legs, wrapping themselves around his hips and her arms around his shoulders.

“Good thing I have you to take care of me!” Provence rested her head chin on the stop of Halloween’s head, leaning into the slender muscles of his back.

“You could at least try and help me out with that.”

It hurt to hear him say that. She knew that he didn’t mind coming to get her. That he would do it every night song long as it meant she was safe. But the guilt flared inside of her stomach because she knew. Provence knew that she took advantage of his kindness towards her. She pressed a kiss to the side of his head, taking in the soft scent of his hair. “Hey Hal,” she spoke softly against him, “thanks for everything.”

🎼🎼🎼

“Sometimes I get so high
Falling is the only out I see
And I don’t wanna take you down with me”

“Ember is looking for you,” Hal said.

“Ember shmeber,” Mango replied, scrunching her nose indignantly. “If he wants me to be home at night, he has to stop bringing blue boy over. The berry is a screamer Hal. He does so in French. My poor virgin ears can’t handle it.”

Provence laughed behind her. “Virgin ears? That’s a good one Mango. You’re one of the dirtiest berries I have ever met.”

“You know what?” Mango started then shook her head, “Tea. But I’m still not leaving.”

Hal sighed, “What do you plan to do? Sleep here?”

Mango looked over at the discarded mattress in the corner behind her. “I could just sleep here.”

“Mango,” Hal replied, his face contorted in disgust, the mattress had faded to a shade of brown-grey that made him not only wonder how it had been there but also fear for what had been done on it. “Do you want the plague? Because I’m pretty sure that’s how you get the plague.”

“Fine, I’ll go home, but if they’re doing it when I get there, I’m calling you so you can suffer with me.” She forced herself up from Provence’s lap, sticking her tongue out at Hal as she passed him by.

Hal crouched down next to Provence, giving her a concerned smile. “Do you think you can stand?” he asked.

🎼🎼🎼

“When I close my eyes
I’m fighting in the dark
Trying not to break your heart”

Hal could hear them long before he could see them. The sounds of their laughter drifted through the air guiding his steps. He found them, on the floor, of course, the bottle of vodka in hand, Mango trying to calm her waves of laughter as Provence pressed the mouth of the bottle to her lips. He wondered if their position on the floor was because they were too drunk to care or too drunk to stand. Intuition told him it was the latter.

🎼🎼🎼

“Sometimes it’s like an ocean
And it gets too deep
And there’s no way that now you could rescue me”

How many times had they done this now? Halloween had started to lose count, but he knew it had been at least twice this week already. At least he knew he could always count on Bergamot–you better call me Monty–Mint to call him whenever Provence got out of hand.

“How bad is it this time?” he asked, almost afraid to know the answer.

Monty hummed, a noise Hal was surprised he could hear over the steady beat of the music, “It’s not nearly as bad as last time. She seems pretty tame, at least for now. Mango showed up so they snagged a bottle of Vanilla Skyy and snuck off to the back of the pool house.”

Bless Mango.

“Where are they at?”

“They snuck off towards the back, where they keep the old Mermaid statue.”

“Thanks, Monty, you’re a lifesaver.”

I can only hope it will last this time.

But the truth is… you never know. Everyone has the secrets…

Soliel: Oh hey, Provence. I was starting to think we weren’t going to run into you today.

Provence: Sorry, I’ve been on toddler duty all day.

Halloween: You’re alone now. Does that mean that you’ve been relieved of your duties?

Provence: Yeah, Clover has her for now.

Halloween: Good, then dance with me.

Provence: I think I’ll pass.

Halloween: I’m not going to take no for an answer.

Provence: Ugh. Fine. But just one. And hands stay above the hips.

Halloween: Gross. Like I would try anything anyways, Prov.

[they head to the dance floor]

Halloween: This isn’t so bad, is it?

Provence: I guess not… for dancing with a dweeb.

Halloween: Hey, this dweeb is your best friend, remember?

Provence: Don’t remind me.

Halloween: But really… how are you doing? I know that this can’t be easy for you.

Provence: …I’m “not supposed to know” anything, remember? But it’s hard… pretending to be okay with it. To know what happened… and act like I’m not wishing that it was my dad walking down the aisle instead. How am I supposed to be okay with all of this?

Halloween: You don’t have to be.

Provence: …I wish that was true, Hal.

Eilif: Hello little bird. It’s so nice of you to join me in the realm of the living. Does this mean that you have reconsidered my offer?

Flora: Perhaps. I have a condition.

Eilif: A condition? How bold of you.

Flora: There is someone… I need you to promise me that no harm will come to them no matter what.

Eilif: A member of The Rebellion, I presume?

Flora: Do I have your word?

Eilif: Hmm, you are an intriguing girl. Fine. I will give you my word.

Eilif: Shh, my sweet dove. This will all be over soon.

Flora!

If you’re in there, you have to wake up!

Wake up.

WAKE UP.

Fable: I know she is of great interest to you my liege, but I worry that you are becoming far too reckless in your pursuit.

Eilif: Please. As if Blaze Turq and his band of misfits could ever scare me. It matters little anyway. Besides… this isn’t really anyway.

Voices in the distance…

SHIT! Someone give me something for her to bite down on.

Wait what the hell is going on?

Put the pillow under her head! HURRY, DAMNIT!