ULTIMATE DECADES CHALLENGE -1309 - FRI - ISABELLE'S NEEDLEWORK - WEEK 6 - DAY 41 - UPDATED DEC 7
THE CHALLENGE: https://i.postimg.cc/m2kK8RBn/morbids-ultimate-decades-challenge.png This challenge is based on Morbid's Ultimate Decades Challenge. It is a very involved challenge, and there...
After Reginald left to clear up the misunderstanding with Colette, Thaddeus ate some breakfast and then set out for his date with Isabelle. He was meeting Isabelle and the chaperone at Ye Olde Playground, which was located in The Bramblewood, and a fair distance from the Fletcher Farm.
When he arrived, he saw Isabelle sitting on a bench chatting with an older woman. He went over and bowed slightly to them both, and found out that the older woman was Agatha Crumplebottom, the village's matchmaker.
Agatha nodded to Thaddeus:"I am delighted to meet you. Parson Bernard informed me straight away of your intentions for today, and as luck would have it, I was free this morning. Now, I will be sitting over yonder, so please enjoy your time together and don't heed my presence."
As Agatha got up and walked towards some tables, she glanced back and thought how charming Isabelle and Thaddeus looked together.
When Agatha had gone, Thaddeus smiled at Isabelle and told her how lovely she looked, "Thank you for coming today, Isabelle. I know this might seem like an odd place to take someone on a date, but I had reason to bring you here."
Isabelle: "Oh no, I think it is a wonderful place for a date. The weather is good, and the sounds of children fill the air. Besides, I was admiring some of the playground sculptures and was rather intrigued by that ship..."
Thaddeus looked surprised: "You...you like that ship?"
Isabelle: "Oh yes, I ran my hand over the hull and the wood was so smooth. Inside, there is a ship's wheel and there is even a wooden cannon. I have never seen such a ship in person, but I did see a picture of a Viking ship once in a picture book, and it looks just like it."
Thaddeus shook his head in disbelief, "That ship...that ship is the reason I brought you here. You mentioned yesterday that you wanted to see some of my woodworking, and this is the best piece I have made so far..."
Isabelle: "Thaddeus, you made that? It is so beautiful, and the detail that you took to craft it...I am rather speechless. It must have taken you months to complete."
Thaddeus smiled and nodded, "Yes, it took a long time to craft, and I had many scrapes and bruises from my efforts..."
Isabelle looked at him, "Is that when you had the woodworking accident? Did you injure your eye when you were working on this piece?"
Thaddeus looked at Isabelle suddenly, "Oh...this..." he said and touched the scar.
Isabelle looked concerned: "Oh I am so sorry to bring up that memory and I neglected to bring some sachets with me. Oh, Thaddeus, I meant no harm in speaking of it..."
Thaddeus: "No...no, it's just...it's just I don't know why your uncle told you that...maybe it sounded better than what really happened..."
Isabelle: "I don't understand. Whatever do you mean, Thaddeus...?"
Thaddeus: "Oh Isabelle, I have such feelings for you...that I am afraid that if I tell you what really happened that you will think ill of me, and perhaps not want to see me anymore...and I don't think I could bear that..."
Isabelle: "Thaddeus...if we are not completely honest with each other, then there can never be any trust in our relationship. I have feelings for you, too, Thaddeus, and I know that no matter what you tell me, my feelings for you will not change..."
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Thaddeus: "You have feelings for me, too? Oh Isabelle, that makes me so happy. And, yes, you're right, we need to be honest with each other..." he said and took a deep breath, "When Finchwick had decided to create this community space, they commissioned me to craft some of the playground sculptures. I also crafted those swings and some wooden blocks for smaller children to play with. But that ship, that ship was my crowning glory. When it was finished, I received a substantial amount of simoleons, although it was not quite enough. You see, I had always wanted to open my own blacksmith shop, and I needed even more simoleons to do it. So, after receiving the simoleons, I went to the Gnomes' Arms Pub to celebrate. I might have imbibed a bit too much in the drink, and got talking to another peasant and told him of my earnings from the playground sculpture. We got on quite well, and then the peasant told me that he was meeting some others to play a friendly game of cards, and that I was welcome to join them. I am not one to normally do that, but I decided to play a few hands and then head home.
Well, at first, I was winning...everything seemed to be in my favor...and the other peasant bought more rounds of drink for us. In fact, many more rounds of drinks. I started to get an idea in my head and I felt I could win it all, and have the simoleons I needed to open my own blacksmith shop. And so, in the final hand, I placed all of my coins on the table, and in one swoop, lost it all. I could see the peasant and his friends chuckling at me. and they promptly got up and were going to leave. I asked them to play another hand so that I could have a chance to win some of my simoleons back, but they just laughed at me. And then my temper got the best of me, and I stood up and had words with them. One thing led to another, and we drew swords. I was not as steady on my feet as I should have been, and one of the peasant's swords gashed me in the face. I fell to the ground dripping blood and they ran off. The barkeep came over and dispatched a messenger to my house, and gave me a cloth to place over the wound. When my father came to fetch me, I was too embarrassed to tell him that I had lost all of my simoleons in a card game. I just told him that I had drunk too much, and my temper had bested me and I had accused someone of cheating in a card game, and we got in a sword fight. My father didn't say a word, and just brought me to the apothecary where they fixed up my eye as best as they could. It could have been worse, and I could have lost sight in that eye, so I was lucky. So that is what really happened, Isabelle...how I really got this scar..."
Isabelle: "Oh, Thaddeus...I am so sorry that happened to you. But it sounds like you were set-up from the beginning. The peasant and his friends sound like common thieves, who were skilled at games of chance. I know nothing of the game of cards, but it sounds like you were swindled out of those funds. And I understand why you got angry...you were more angry at yourself...weren't you...?"
Thaddeus:"Yes, I was so angry at myself for having gotten into that situation and losing all the simoleons that I had worked so hard to earn. And my dream of owning that blacksmith shop was now further away than it was before I walked into the pub..."
Isabelle: "So, why did you think I would feel differently about you if you told me the truth?"
Thaddeus: "I thought...I thought that you would think me hot-headed, and one who gambles away their funds so easily. That I might not be a sim who was worthy of your affections because I could not provide for you. I know I can be hot tempered at times, but each day, when I look in the mirror, I am reminded of that incident, and know that I will never gamble away my funds again..."
Isabelle: "Oh Thaddeus, my feelings for you haven't changed. I know you are a hard-working sim and just seeing that ship that you crafted...I know that you take great pride in your work. In fact, after what you have told me, my feelings for you are now even stronger...and I...I find you quite handsome..." she said as she reached out her hand to touch his face, "May I?" she asked quietly.
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Thaddeus nodded and closed his eyes as she traced the scar with her fingertips. Her featherlite touch felt soft and caring on his skin, and he was suddenly overcome with a wave of desire. He quickly opened his eyes, and clasped her wrist in his willing her to stop, "Isabelle, you mustn't. You have no idea what you are doing to me..."
Isabelle: "Oh forgive me, I did not mean to hurt you..."
Thaddeus: "On the contrary, Isabelle, you have set me on fire with your touch. I have never felt this way before. My feelings are so strong for you, and I feel that my heart will burst from my chest. I...I burn for you, Isabelle and I am sincere in saying that I want no other..."
Isabelle's hand was trembling and her face was flushed, and Thaddeus realized he was still holding her wrist and released it.
Thaddeus: "Isabelle, forgive me. I...I didn't mean to utter anything inappropriate. I cannot put into proper words the way I am feeling about you..."
Isabelle: "I burn for you, too, Thaddeus. Yesterday when we met, I was so drawn to you...and I wanted to...I wanted to touch your hair, and your face, and feel your strong arms wrapped around me...and last night...I dreamt of you. I know this all sounds so foolish, and I can't explain why I feel like this. Is this wrong of me?"
Thaddeus: "Oh Isabelle, no, it is not wrong. I feel it, too. From the moment I met you, I felt we were destined to be together. And...and last night, I dreamt of you, too, Isabelle. I dreamt of kissing you...and now, having you so close to me, I want to feel your sweet lips on mine..."
Isabelle blushed, "Oh Thaddeus, you know what that would mean if you kissed me here with all these sims around? And the matchmaker would certainly see. It would be like you were pledging yourself to me..."
Thaddeus: "Yes, that is exactly what I had in mind. I want to pledge myself to you, Isabelle, body and soul. You are the most beautiful, kindest, talented sim I have ever met, and I feel that we have a future together. That is, if you will have me..."
Isabelle wet her lips, "Thaddeus, before I answer...I need to ask you something..."
Thaddeus smiled at her, "Alright...ask me anything sweet Isabelle..."
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Isabelle: "Well, I had heard in town that when a woman is wed, that she is expected to attend to her husband and family, and that the woman's husband will ask her to leave any commitments that she has. So, the woman's husband would probably ask her to leave her place on the Weaver's Guild and stay home...and it has always been a dream of mine to become a master-weaver, and I was wondering..."
Thaddeus interrupted: "...and you were wondering if I would be like this woman's husband and ask you to leave the Weaver's Guild?"
Thaddeus: "If you were to wed a sim who would not allow you to continue your craft, when you are obviously very gifted, then that sim is not the sim you should be with..."
Isabelle: "He isn't?"
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Thaddeus: "No, he isn't. The type of sim that you should marry is one who will encourage you to explore new areas and continue to pursue your craft. A sim...a sim like me..."
Isabelle smiled at him, "Oh yes, a sim who knows my dreams..."
Thaddeus:"Indeed. And I do believe that this sim would also take you in his arms and pledge his feelings for you no matter who is around," "he said cupping her face in his hands, "So...Isabelle...shall I bestow a kiss upon you now?"
Isabelle smiled at Thaddeus and nodded, and Thaddeus drew her close to him and gently kissed her. There were audible gasps from sims around them, but they didn't hear. They were lost in their own world, both locked in a kiss that neither wanted to end.
They parted slowly and Isabelle visibly fanned herself with her hand, "Oh my!" is all she said.
Thaddeus: "That was so much better than the dream I had of kissing you...so much better...and I will most certainly want to do that more often..." he said looking longingly at her. And Thaddeus smiled happily and knew that he had been right about his feelings for Isabelle all along.
And then Thaddeus got down on one knee and gave Isabelle a token of his affection: "My dearest Isabelle, I pledge myself to you. I give you my heart and will devote myself to you and only you, now and for all time. And together we will share our dreams together..."
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And Isabelle smiled and accepted the token and they kissed again. And all around them, the sims cheered and clapped their hands.
From where she was sitting, Agatha had suddenly heard a commotion and stood up. She saw Thaddeus down on one knee and Isabelle accepting his token of affection.
Agatha smiled: "Ah, yes. I knew these two would be the right match for each other. Parson Bernard and Ian Fetcher will be most pleased with the outcome of this date. Oh my! And look how they gaze at each other...a true love match has been made..."
