@xaenyth @flauschtrud @Belalucina
A bit long, but the last of the dates
1300s - WILLIAM & FRANCESCA'S DATE - DAY 2
https://i.postimg.cc/Fs3vy59D/francesca-and-william-on-dat-cover.png
After Reginald had left last night to see Colette, William had dispatched the messenger with a note to Francesca to ask her on a chaperoned date today. Everything was set and his date would be this afternoon. William had thought long and hard on where to take her and finally decided that they would go to The Wild Fox Tavern & Inn, where a travelling troubadour was performing.
When William arrived, he entered the tavern and immediately saw Francesca seated at a table. There was a woman sitting with her, who he figured was their chaperone. He went up to them and introduced himself, and found out that their chaperone was actually the matchmaker, Agatha Crumplebottom.
https://i.postimg.cc/bY7QdbC4/meetn-agatha-crumplebottom.png
Agatha: "Ah, young William. I had the pleasure of meeting Thaddeus this morning on his date. For twins, you look so different. And I understand from your father, that you will be heir to the Fletcher Farm?"
William: "Yes, my eldest brother, Reginald, is in Knight training, and my twin brother, Thaddeus wants to open his own blacksmith shop. They are not really as interested in the farm as I am. And that is why I was chosen to be the heir."
https://i.postimg.cc/Yq2t6DsF/makes-things-better.png
Agatha: "Well, it sounds like your father has made a sound choice. And it always makes life easier when you have someone to help you with those farm chores and to look after those farm animals. Life is such a breeze when you are working with someone who enjoys the things you do," she said looking pointedly at Francesca, "Oh...but I have spoken too much and will let you get on with your date. The Innkeeper and I will be sitting at that table yonder discussing some new needlework patterns that I acquired. Enjoy your time together."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
After Agatha had gone off in search of The Innkeeper, William smiled at Francesca. "Thank you for meeting me Francesca. I was rather torn on where to bring you on our date, but heard that a travelling troubadour will be performing here this afternoon and I knew you liked music."
Francesca: "Oh! That sounds wonderful! I play the vielle (violin), and I am always interested in hearing new music. And dancing...my sister Colette taught Isabelle and I "The Carole"...and I so long to do that again. Do you know of that dance, William?"
https://i.postimg.cc/jd8tZ6pF/table-1-pose.png
William nodded: "Yes, my mother taught us that dance. My parents and my brothers and I usually attend the Spring Easter Festival in town and there is much merriment with dancing and singing. I believe there is one planned for this year. Perhaps...perhaps you might be attending?"
Francesca: "Oh, yes, the Spring Easter Festival. It sounds rather wonderful, but my sisters and I usually accompany my uncle to church. It is a very important holiday for him."
William: "Ah...that is probably why I have never seen you there. Because I would have certainly remembered you if I had seen you..."
Francesca looked at him: "You would have?"
https://i.postimg.cc/26j0cvR0/that-is-why-i-have-never-seen-you-there.png
William: "Why yes! I would have heard your laughter and been drawn to you. And we most certainly would have danced "The Carole" together...and perhaps if we had met then, we would have become friends..."
Francesca: "Friends? Oh I like that William, but there is nothing preventing us from becoming friends now...is there?"
And with that, Francesca and William became BFFs.
https://i.postimg.cc/pdx8DPRY/francesca-wants-to-be-friends-with-william.png
William smiled openly at Francesca, and then pulled something from his pocket, "Oh, I almost forgot, I brought you a gift. I saw it at the market stall, and I thought you might like it..." he said as he gave her a rose.
https://i.postimg.cc/YC7ZmmGX/and-he-is-going-to-ask-her.png
Francesca accepted the gift and inhaled the fragrance: "Oh, William, it is so beautiful. This must have cost a lot because this flower is not in season right now..."
William shrugged, "Well, I had some simoleons saved, and I wanted to give you a gift on our date today. I know it is not as great a gift as you gave me yesterday, but it looked pretty, and I thought of you..."
Francesca: "Oh? You really liked my gift? You didn't think it was silly? Because both of your brothers didn't think much of it, and your brother Reginald was going to use it in his slingshot..."
https://i.postimg.cc/YC18t8tX/blow-a-kiss-william.png
William: "Hmph...my brothers are so serious, they really can't appreciate a fine fossil like I can. You know, I have that fossil by my bedside, and all last night I kept looking at it. And when I did, it reminded me of you..." he said as he looked at her sitting there, "...and that fossil holds a special place in my heart..."
Francesca blushed suddenly, "Oh, William...that is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me..."
William: "Well, it's true. I mean I just went to the market and bought you something, but you actually had to find your gifts. I just wish I could grow such beautiful roses in my garden, but every year when I try, the bugs eat them up and I am left with a few straggly petals on a stick..."
Francesca: "Oh, yes those pesky bugs in the garden. Have you tried talking to the birds?"
William: "Talking to the birds? What do you mean?"
Francesca looked at him and suddenly bit her lip: "Oh William, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything...perhaps...perhaps we should talk of something else..."
https://i.postimg.cc/kD3d0wyQ/sa-francesca.png
William looked puzzled: "Francesca...whatever for? If the birds can help in my garden, I need to know..."
Francesca: "If I tell you, you may think I am silly, and...then not want to be my friend anymore..."
William: "Francesca, aren't friends supposed to be able to tell each other everything? So, no matter what you tell me, I won't find you silly...And for the sake of my roses, I really need to know about the birds..." he chuckled.
https://i.postimg.cc/VLHPjfMy/and-that-is-what-you-do.png
Francesca laughed, "Alright, I'll tell you a secret. If you talk to the birds and befriend them, they will help you with your garden. My uncle is always chastising me for talking to the birds and the wild rabbits...but I have a reason to. You see, if you become friends with a flock of birds, they will come to your garden and eat all the bugs, and then you don't have to spray your plants..."
William: "Well, that makes perfect sense to me, because birds like to eat bugs. But...but how do you befriend the birds? Do you just talk to them?"
https://i.postimg.cc/CLPGstmn/flirty-talk.png
Francesca shook her head, "Oh no, you have to give them gifts...and all the flocks like different gifts...the flock of birds I have befriended live in an old tree hollow right behind our house, and they like flowers...they love any type of flowers. So it's easy for me to give them gifts, because I just pick wild flowers in The Bramblewood and they just love them..."
William looked at her amazed, "Francesca, you are so smart! You know, I did see some birds flying around a tree hollow near our house. Maybe I will have to try that with them...."
https://i.postimg.cc/SRgF1qvM/oh-no-they-may-poop-on-you.png
Francesca: "Oh, but you better be careful, because if the flock of birds doesn't like you, you will get pooped on..." she laughed.
William laughed, too, "Ewww....well, I guess those birds are picky about who they have as friends. Maybe I should just let you handle befriending the birds and I will tend to the roses?"
Francesca smiled at him and looked longingly into his eyes: "I'd like that..."
https://i.postimg.cc/VLrHhWMZ/william-on-his-date.png
William suggested they go to the bar and order some drinks. While they were sitting there, William gazed at Francesca while she was speaking and was completed enthralled with her. He had never known anyone like her. And she was so cute....no, more than cute...she was beautiful...and when he heard her laugh, it just made him feel happy inside. And William realized that he was having feelings for Francesca, maybe already had feelings for her when he had stared at that fossil and had thought some thoughts that were more than friendly thoughts. He understood now how Thaddeus had felt last night about Isabelle and how Thaddeus had been ready to fight anyone who dared to try to be with Isabelle. It is how William was feeling now about Francesca.
https://i.postimg.cc/T2JD2Sb5/close-up-william-face.png
William: "Francesca, I have a confession to make. Last night when I looked at that fossil, I thought of you...only...I wasn't just thinking about you in a friendly way. I was thinking how nice it would be if you would have been there, and I could have held you in my arms and held you close to me, and stroked your hair...and...um...well, I confess I have feelings for you, Francesca. And today, just talking to you, they have become stronger..."
https://i.postimg.cc/QxjcpsDq/flirty-francesca.png
Francesca: "William, I confess that I have feelings for you, too. I couldn't stop thinking about you all night. No one has ever taken what I say seriously. My sisters and uncle think I am childish...because I want to have fun and go exploring to find new things. And you just seem to "get" me."
William: "Yes, Francesca...I understand how you feel. I love the outdoors, and even though I am committed to the farm, I love to go fishing. And, if the castle ruins were not so far from the farm, I would love to explore those everyday. To imagine what it must have been like to live there..."
https://i.postimg.cc/Sx7HNc4G/flirty-with-musician-in-background.png
Francesca: "Really William? I go to the castle ruins a lot...and I...I...like to make stories in my head about dragons and giant sloths who came to destroy the Kingdom..."
William: "Oh Francesca...where have you been all my life? I feel we have a connection...:"
Francesca: "I feel it, too, William..."
https://i.postimg.cc/qMsftsLF/gazing-at-each-othr.png
William: "And it seems like I have known you longer than just a day...and I...oh Francesca, I know this is sudden, but I wanted to know...do you think I would make a good husband? I work hard on the farm and would be a good provider...and I have dreams...Francesca...dreams of maybe winning a prize at the Finchwick Fair. You know...maybe for the best roses..." he said looking fondly at her, "...and I am not hot-tempered like my brother, Thaddeus is, and would always listen to someone's thoughts and ideas. And I am not like my brother Reginald, who sometimes has no sense of humor. I think I am pretty easy to get along with, although my mother says I like to eat...a lot...but I don't snore...at least I don't think I do. And I will be inheriting the farm, and it has lots of room. But right now, there isn't much...just our cow, and her name is Eda...and she likes it when you stroke her ear..."
Francesca interrupted: "You named your cow? Oh William...you have no idea how happy that makes me..."
William: "Um...that we have a cow?"
Francesca just smiled at him, "No...that you named her..."
https://i.postimg.cc/dVPXwhc9/before-kiss.png
William looked at her, "Well, I didn't think that was so unusual...but what I was trying to say was...oh, Francesca...I feel I can be myself with you, and I think you are the most unique and wonderful sim that I have ever known. You're so full of life...I just feel like I want to hold your hand and run in a field together, and hear your laughter as we run. And then fall down in the grass and gaze up at the clouds...and maybe...maybe I would even kiss you. So, do you think that I...that I would be a good husband...for...for you?"
Francesca: "Oh William, I...think you would be a wonderful husband. Are you...are you asking me to be your wife?"
https://i.postimg.cc/nr4f4Bv0/ARE-YOU-ASKING-ME-TO-BE-YOUR-WIFE-2.png
William: "Yes...I was trying to...I want you to be with me each and everyday...because then I will be able to kiss you....I mean, if you'll have me..."
Francesca: "William, I want to be with you, too. But I don't think we have to wait until we are wed to kiss each other..."
William: "We don't?"
Francesca: "No...we don't. Show me you want to be with me, William, and kiss me here...kiss me now..."
William looked around: "In front of all these sims? There will be talk...and the matchmaker will chastise us. And this will bind us together. Is this what you want?"
Francesca grinned: "Oh yes, yes I do. And I heard that kissing can be fun...and I think it would be rather fun with you..."
https://i.postimg.cc/9Mn8SMBZ/we-dont-have-to-wait-until-we-wed.png
William: "I confess I have wanted to kiss you...to feel your lips on mine...to smell your scent as I hold you close..." he paused for a moment and felt a heat build up inside of him, "...I have a deep desire for you, Francesca...so I will, I will bestow a kiss upon you here and now and make you mine..."
https://i.postimg.cc/pr1HsRm6/seductive-look-william.png
Francesca suddenly felt her cheeks grow hot hearing his words. William looked into her eyes, and pulled her towards him, and pressed his lips on hers. He kissed her, and her lips were soft and sweet under his...and he felt Francesca kiss him back. And in that moment, he wanted more and he knew that Francesca was the only one he ever wanted to kiss.
https://i.postimg.cc/x8dkkjrx/first-kiss-william.png
They parted and Francesca's face seemed flushed as she looked into William's eyes. And as William fumbled in his pocket for the token of affection he had for her, an elderly lady came over and started shouting at him.
Agnes Crumplebottom: "You horrible, horrible sim! How dare you take advantage of this maiden?" she said as she smacked him with her purse. SMACK!
https://i.postimg.cc/BbGcw2Gk/and-a-smack.png
William tried to shield himself from the blows, but it was no use, "Wait! I...I was...I was asking her to..."LOUD SMACK!
Agnes: "Where is your father? Don't worry dear, I will make him right this wrong he did to you..." DOUBLE WHAMMY SMACK!
Francesca looked on, and couldn't help laughing at the situation before her.
https://i.postimg.cc/Dz8gW2gj/poor-william-just-proposes-and-gets-smacked-by-agnes.png
Agnes continued: ""How dare you! Have you no sense of decency? We have standards in this town you know! And when I talk to your father...he will have the minister come within the hour..."
William: "Stop! You don't understand...I was asking her to marry me..." SMACK!
Agnes: "To marry her? Oh...well, it's a good thing, because I would have ensured that you did just that...Imagine! Public displays of affection at The Wild Fox! So inappropriate. There should be a sign posted! I will speak to the Innkeeper about this..." she said as she straightened her clothing and strode off in a huff.
William rubbed his head, and Francesca came over trying to contain her laughter.
William: "So, um, do you still think kissing is fun?"
Francesca: "Oh, it most certainly is...and I just knew it would be fun with you! I can barely wait for what will happen next. Are you willing to endure another purse attack to be with me?"
https://i.postimg.cc/6pBbQJgg/and-the-answr-is-yes.png
William: "Indeed..." he said winking, and got down on one knee, "My dearest Francesca...will you be mine? Because I have never wanted anyone as much as I want you. I am pledging myself to you now, in front of all these sims...and I will do my best to make you happy, and to make you laugh everyday...and be the friend and the husband that you want me to be...:because I know I will endure anything to be with you for all time..."
Francesca smiled and accepted his token of affection and then they kissed again.
And then Francesca jumped into his arms and he looked surprised.
William: "What...what are you doing?"
https://i.postimg.cc/ZKqSQ7hh/HAT-ARE-YOU-DOING.png
Francesca: "Swing me around and around, William so that we will be dizzy with joy...and we will remember this day for the rest of our lives..."
William looked lovingly at her, "Oh Francesca, I will not soon forget this day..." he said laughing and happily swung Francesca around in his arms.
https://i.postimg.cc/xj6rLvNp/SWING-ME-AROUND-2.png
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Agatha had seen her sister Agnes enter The Wild Fox, and just as she was witnessing William and Francesca share their first kiss and thinking that she had secured another marriage contract, her sister, Agnes, had gone over and started pummeling William with her purse. Oh goodness! What was she to do? She then saw Agnes striding towards her.
Agatha: "Agnes, why did you hit poor William with your purse? I was chaperoning their date, and he was about to propose to Francesca and now he might have changed his mind..."
https://i.postimg.cc/P5BvJk5h/the-were-eing-inappropraite.png
Agnes: "Well, I thought he was being inappropriate...and I was protecting the girl's virtue..."
Agatha pointed: "Well, you have nothing to fear...there he is...down on one knee...I guess even your purse pummeling didn't deter him from being with the one he loved..."
Agnes looked towards William and Francesca: "Well they do look happy together..."
Agatha: "Yes, I believe they are. Afterall, it's Spring, and love is in the air..." she said as she smiled to herself.
https://i.postimg.cc/MZdcRBp9/LOVE-IS-IN-THE-AIR.png
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Notes:
The Medieval dance. "The Carole", seems to have been an early form of dance popular amongst all (both royalty and peasants).. Some have suggested that it may have been a couple dance. However, it has been generally agreed that it was a social group dance and that people took hands when performing it. Notably, it was a circular dance." (Wiki)
I couldn't believe what happened to William right after he had his first kiss with Francesca. Agnes Crumplebottom smacking him with her purse just as he was going to propose. As I said, sometimes the game gives you gifts, and I thought this was hilarious. lol
Tavern and Inn Build Credit. I placed this lot in Newcrest and named it The Wild Fox Tavern & Inn.
https://i.postimg.cc/CLnvdkGq/TAVERRNAND-INN-CREDIT.png
