Hi everyone, here's another pen pal chapter, this time featuring all of the pen pals. The pen pal letters in the chapter are as follows: Alex - Chance (Chance's letter here), Alex - Ella Alex - Len (Len's letter here). Analisa - Janessa (Janessa's letter here) Henry - Mathilda Paris - Robin (Robin's letter in this chapter). A big thanks to Shadami, Karilan, Bugsie2016, Shadyboop and sweetnightingale for being my Sims' pen pals. Because of their involvement, I am really enjoying this pen pal project. I would also recommend checking these simmers' blogs out. The pen pal project wouldn't be half as fun if their Sims weren't so fascinating. I have really enjoyed getting to know Chance, Ro and Janessa and am looking forward to learning about Mathilda, Ella and Len. This update is written in chronological order and begins where we left off in the previous chapter (Chapter 44: A Secret Plan). The Lotus Oasis, Al Simhara, 2031 Alex was searching for the boss of MorcuCorp. He was at the top of the stairs, which he hoped led down to the boss's office, when he received a message on his phone. It was a notification from the pen pal website that he had signed up to. The Queen of the Fae was looking for a pen pal. Hmm... thought Alex. Before anyone else could reply, he quickly typed out an email to the Queen of The Fae and sent it. Dear Ella, My pen pal notification tell me you are the Queen of the fae. I have known many queens in my lifetime, but I have never heard of you. So this made me wonder, have you heard of me? Surely you have, obviously, and if you haven't, well now you have. As rulers of kingdoms, it is my belief that we Royals must stick together. We are a dying breed, didn't you know? Anyway, I apologise that this is brief. I am in the middle of a battle, and since I am unsure whether I will survive this, I would like to die knowing I have had the fortune of speaking to a fairy queen. I do hope you will accept me as your pen pal, even if I may not live to reply. Yours truly, His Majesty The King A month later, Selvadorada, 2031 Analisa had been very busy researching into ancient Aztec diets. Her reading of the literature showed that her own research findings from the midden that her team had been working on would add some exciting new knowledge to what was already known. She had just taken a break to reply to her pen pal's letter when her mother walked in. "Santos just called to say he'd be coming over this Saturday," her mother said. "Yes," Analisa replied, not looking up from her letter. "He's taking me to Belomisia's new museum. Then he's treating me to a meal at that expensive restaurant across the road from the museum. It's called something like Restaurant Elitista?" Her mother got excited. "Ay Ana, you know what this means?" "I'll be broke this weekend?" "You'll be engaged this weekend." "Engaged and broke. Perfect!" said Analisa, and she frowned. "Ay mama, how does this sound?" and she read her mother the letter to Janessa. Dear Janessa, Thank you very much. I really appreciate you offering to help me with my English. It is why I set up a pen pal profile. A friend told me it was a good way to practice my English writing. I like your idea to write a word and I to write a word to you. Shall I start? I am not very creative, but this is my favourite word right now. ¡El Perro! which means, the dog! It is my favourite word because I love dogs and I am currently looking after my cousin's dog who is called Loki and he is really sweet. San Myshuno sounds fun. I have put in an application to go there to a conference. It will be later this year. You are right. My job is great. I am very lucky to be doing something I love. As for ancient foods we love today, the Aztec nobles ate a porridge. You mentioned you eat porridge, so you are eating a noble food. Lucky you! This porridge would be made of maize and it would be filled with honey, tortillas, chilies, or any food that they had access to. It is like in ancient England with stew. Just add anything you have around to the mix and cook it. Humans are practical. Yes, tourist attractions are often too crowded, but it is nice to go to say you have seen them. I often get asked when I travel, if I have seen the pyramids and they are so disappointed when I say I haven't. Your festivals sound cool. We have some festivals here, but I am often somewhere else when they happen, but I do remember attending a lot of festivals when I was younger. I remember one time in late October, my mother was tending a stall and I made such a fuss my grandmother had to pick me up to take me home. I think I was tired. The Day of The Dead festivals, or as we call it, Día de Muertos, can last a long time. I am sorry you do not like your job, but I am glad you have your hobbies. I used to work at a grocery store during my time at university. It can be tedious sometimes. However, people watching is fun. You like to play guitar? So does my cousin from Simsland. He is so annoying. He used to play it at 5 in the morning when he stayed with me. I am sorry you and your brother are struggling with work. I wish you both all the best. Also, is that Shayna in the photo you sent me? She is very sweet looking. I have attached to this letter a photo of me and Loki. Best wishes, Analisa Two Months Later, Brindleton Bay, 2031 "Hello Monka, hm. Who's a good kitty, coming to greet your papa?" Alex bent down to shake his cat's hands. He had been out all day at a conference in central Newcrest. "Alex?" Henry had emerged from the house. The two had fallen in love with the Coco estate in Disneyland and had decided to buy it. It would be their 'getaway cottage'. "Hello Henry," said Alex, still smiling at his cat. "I have some emails to attend to, then you and I can have the rest of the evening together. Sound good hm?" Henry beamed. "Yeah," he said. It was the two's last night at the cottage and Alex had been busy all week. Alex scanned through the dozens of emails. Most were about work, which he made note to read the next day, but tonight he wanted to spend time with Henry. He spotted his pen pal's letter on the desk beside him. Maybe he'll reply to that before joining Henry downstairs? Dear Chance, I am going to be blunt, your parents should be held responsible for their abusive behaviour. To never be taught some basic sex education or in fact some basic biology is abominable. I knew more than you at twelve. If you like I can send your school a firm letter from the king? Or maybe despatch one to your parents, since they are the ones paying the school to deny you your rights? I am truly sorry for this monstrosity. I cannot tell you how appalled I am. As you know, my friend is going through some family issues himself. His family does not approve of our closeness. In fact, they do not approve of me at all. Like you, I doubt my friend will be able to resolve things with his family as of now, but we hope in time he will. I have another photo for you. It is of my friend and I in Brindleton Bay. I love him dearly. All the best to you and your husband. Yours truly, His Majesty The King The curtains rustled and a letter slipped through and onto Alex's desk. Alex frowned and picked the letter up. It read, Len Sawyer. Hmm... Alex thought and took it downstairs. "Henry! I found a weird letter on my desk from this guy who claims to be from a parallel universe." "Sounds like some scam, Alex," said Henry. "We can add it to the fire, since you've forgotten to fetch logs again." "It's hardly cold, Henry, that's why." "Not everyone's half Viking like you, Alex." "And? Your point, hm?" "You're like immune to the cold or something." "No, Henry. I just know what's cold and what's not and this weather isn't that cold." "It was snowing this morning." "So, hm?" "It's cold. You're just weird." "But a good weird." Alex kissed Henry on the cheek before retiring to the main living space to write his letter to Len Sawyer. He'd decided to respond despite Henry's advice. Dear Len Sawyer, My name is His Majesty the King of Simsland. You mention you are from another dimension and that you are in trouble. You also mention demons and that you are under attack. We are also having some trouble from the lands beyond life but our enemies are not demons. I wonder if other dimensions are having a similar kind of problem? I am sorry I cannot be of more help. Please do not hesitate to contact me again. I would like to know more about these demons who are attacking you. Kind regards, His Majesty The King That evening, Henry and Alex were getting ready for bed. "Henry..." said Alex. "Hmm?" "I noticed a pen pal request intended for you in the pen pal forum." "I know," said Henry. "It's like six months old. Are you going to reply to them, hm?" Henry didn't respond. "It's not fair to leave them hanging." "I know," said Henry. "I'll reply tomorrow." The next morning, Henry got started on his reply to his first pen pal request. His fingers were so sweaty, they kept slipping off the keyboard as he tried to type. "Uhm..." He wasn't sure what to say to her. He thought about rejecting her request, but it had been six months already and for some reason he didn't want to. "Uhm...." He opened a new email and wrote her address. Now that's a start. he thought. He practised multiplication in his head to relax. He thought of it as his yoga. You can do this, Henry. He typed in the pen pal's name. Dear Mathilda, He paused. Now what? "Uhm..." Yes, I can be your pen pal. He deleted that sentence and stared at the screen. Did that come off as rude? He played a number of sentences in his head. I would love to be your pen pal. He liked that one and was about to write, 'From Henry,' when a thought at the back of his mind made him conscious of the possibility that the pen pal might think him 'gushy.' He deleted the sentence. "Uhm...." Dear Mathilda, Hi. From, Henry. Henry sent the email and spent the rest of the morning staring at the screen. Robin's letter to Paris from Bugsie2016's What Are We Really Made Of? Dear Paris, I know it's been a long time since I got your last letter. About fourteen years now. If I'm honest, I completely forgot about it. There's been a lot that's happened since I last wrote. I'll start at the beginning to explain. Max and I got married. It was a small wedding and my sister says we both looked great. I'll enclose a photo if I can find one spare. I only really had one photo taken on my wedding day. Cameras are expensive and cost a lot to hire. They charge per photo too. I have a spare somewhere around here but please return it in your next letter. Another thing that happened was the birth of our first daughter, who is now fourteen. Her name is Aysla and she's a good mix of Max and I. We also lost our dog, Ninja, about 7 years ago. I don't know if I ever mentioned him at all. He was my best friend and I miss him. Anyway, that's nice of Lilith to teach you about positive thinking. Sometimes it's hard to remember to slow down and remember the positive parts of each day. I'm sure the dress looks lovely on you, Paris. You know, I kinda forgot until now that outside Glassbolt you can go to a store and buy clothing. Here, it's different, you swap clothing at a stall every month. And a lot of people make clothing for their jobs to sell in the city. Right now, nightmares are a little worse than normal but it happens and I have Max so things could be worse. I haven't a clue what it was I was making. I'd assume some type of bomb or something. I don't know. There wasn't too much of a hint at what it was and my memory of that place fades every day. How is Lauren anyway? I'm curious if you've done any dating in the time I've not written to you. Let me know if you have and if any were successful. Bye for now, Robin Haynes-Corleonesi P.S Max and I combined our names when we got married so it's Haynes-Corleonesi now. Fourteen years Later, Somewhere, 2045 Dear Robin, I have just received your letter. It took a year for the letter to find me but I have it now. Congratulations on your wedding. I am very happy for you both and the two of you look stunning. Notice, I have remembered to put the photo in with the letter. I have a terrible memory for these sorts of details so I wrote a reminder on the back of my hand. Usually I have Lilith to remind me, but she's not available at the moment. I am currently on a sort of trip. A long one, so if you don't hear from me, it's because I am not always near a post office. You have a child now? Aysla is a lovely name and wow, don't children grow up quickly. It still feels like yesterday I took my nieces home for the first time. That must have been about 23 years ago. My condolences to you about your dog. I am aware how much he meant to you. My nephew had a dog which he loved very much. Those two were almost inseparable. I wonder what happened to him? I haven't spoken with my family for years. As for the dress, it looked very nice, thank you. I wore it to The Vampire Lounge in Moonlight Falls. Have you heard of that place? I'm not sure you are familiar with the Simslander Legends, but Moonlight Falls is supposed to be a mythical land that sailors can stumble upon when they least expect to. As for whether I have dated since we last spoke, yes. In fact, I am also now married. To whom? You will never guess who, but ..... (Paris never managed to finish the letter) Comments are closed.
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