Under The Tartosan Sun
Table of contents: [ Spoiler ] Since this story has grown so much bigger than I ever imagined I feel like its time to borrow a page from some of my favorite SimLit writers and offer you a syn...
Forum Discussion
Chapter Fifteen
Welcome back dear readers. We are getting very close to the big day. As usual, I got carried away and this turned into a longer episode than I had planned. I do apologize for that and if you would like shorter episodes please feel free to say so. I promise if you make it on the end there are laughs galore! With that, on with the show...
With Londyn and Danielle's big day approaching there are lots of little tasks left to do. They have been busy picking out a wedding venue to host their happily ever after. It didn't take long for them to settle on having the wedding in Sulani, but the question was where exactly. Most people think of Tartosa when they think of destination weddings. Sulani is a close second for the number of wedding venues, and with its year-round tropical weather and stunning backdrops it's guaranteed to be a fairy tale event. Summer was the first to get a peek during one of the frequent planning sessions.
https://i.imgur.com/c5GKyMM.png
Liberty showed up the following evening to help with the planning and got her first look and the venue. "It's so beautiful! I can't think of a better setting! she said. "The ocean, the palm trees, it's all so breathtaking!"
https://i.imgur.com/7LdNfpW.png
The moms stopped by too. It was their first meeting and they hit it off from the start.
https://i.imgur.com/VQaHhPt.png
This next bit of the story, dear readers, is going to require your imagination. I couldn't get more than one of the friends and moms to even look like they were mildly interested in what was happening. So I wrote this part as if they were paying attention, but they were behind the camera and not in the shot. Sims and their short attention spans!
Next up on the agenda was the trip to Siobhan's Bridal Boutique in Del Sol Valley. Siobhan had lined up a selection of stunning gowns for the ladies, and with some help from Londyn's friends in the prop department at Plumbob Pictures, helped them set up a couple of pranks. The first to strut her stuff was Londyn...
https://i.imgur.com/CtciZaV.png
Followed by Danielle...
https://i.imgur.com/aRDSCcX.png
Londyn signaled Siobhan, the pranks were ready. Siobhan stepped up and let everyone know that the ladies were ready to show off their favorite dresses. Londyn led off...
https://i.imgur.com/3hL8agL.png
"Londyn Michelle Huntley! Have you lost your mind!"
catcalls and one rather robust, but still feminine aw-ooooo issue from the back
"That's my daughter you're whistling at back there! You wanna walk back to Tartosa? Keep it up!"
"What are you saying mom? You don't like this one? I thought why wait until I get Danielle back to the honeymoon suite, I'd just get her love motor revved up right there in the aisle!"
"You know what I said about setting aside that one dress" Summer said, "Forget that, I'll take one of those! Right! Now! Do you take Visa?"
"Oh Lord!" said Jennifer with her hands over her mouth, "I know Danielle. She's going to try and top that I'm pretty sure there are laws against what my girl is about to do."
"Londyn Michelle, are you trying to give me a heart attack?!?! I should have known you'd pull a stunt like this. It's a good thing I'm only 25. If I was an old lady the shock of that dress would have killed me!"
"Ow! My neck!" exclaimed Jennifer who was seated next to Ebony.
"Now what are you on about?" said Ebony turning to look at Jennifer.
"Your crack about being 25 made me do a double take so fast I got whiplash!"
"I'm surrounded by comediennes" said Ebony as she rolled her eyes
"Wait! What the heck is that godawful racket?" Liberty asked
"What. The. Plum?"
Just as the words escaped Summer's mouth the curtain parted and Danielle emerged...
https://i.imgur.com/CKQ5eMI.png
Summer was once again the first one to find her voice. "I may be single, and I'm not the one about to get married, but I'm pretty sure with that outfit in the room there won't be any revving love motors."
"Where was that armor when Travis was around" said Liberty
Summer weighed in, "With Travis a sword might be more useful, certainly more satisfying"
"Yeah, cut him off at the..."
"LIBERTY!!!" said everyone in unison.
"I was going to say knees! What did you think I was going to say?"
"Something about a foot or so higher" replied Summer.
"I'm so relieved you came out wearing that getup. I was terrified you were going to try and one up Londyn and strut out here naked as the day you were born" said a very relieved Jennifer. "Now take that silly thing off so we can talk about dresses.
A few minutes later Londyn and Danielle re-emerge with photos in hand that Siobhan took of them in their favorite dresses...(WARNING huge photos under the tag)
Welcome back dear readers. We are getting very close to the big day. As usual, I got carried away and this turned into a longer episode than I had planned. I do apologize for that and if you would like shorter episodes please feel free to say so. I promise if you make it on the end there are laughs galore! With that, on with the show...
With Londyn and Danielle's big day approaching there are lots of little tasks left to do. They have been busy picking out a wedding venue to host their happily ever after. It didn't take long for them to settle on having the wedding in Sulani, but the question was where exactly. Most people think of Tartosa when they think of destination weddings. Sulani is a close second for the number of wedding venues, and with its year-round tropical weather and stunning backdrops it's guaranteed to be a fairy tale event. Summer was the first to get a peek during one of the frequent planning sessions.
https://i.imgur.com/c5GKyMM.png
Spoiler
"This is the place that Danielle and I picked out for our wedding" said Londyn, "it's in Sulani and it's almost in my parents backyard!"
https://i.imgur.com/qJ20okz.png
"Oh it's gorgeous! I would so love to have a wedding in a place like that if only..." Summer said with an air of wistfulness.
https://i.imgur.com/0bgprQc.png
https://i.imgur.com/ue6DcJV.png
https://i.imgur.com/uAotuIH.png
https://i.imgur.com/GaYSNYF.png
https://i.imgur.com/2OBBHjW.png
https://i.imgur.com/fBxbAD4.png
"And" Londyn added as she continued to swipe through the pictures "they can even hold the ceremony and the party afterwards after the sun goes down. It's just as stunning lit up entirely by candlelight." Londyn was quick to point out that the venue has an onsite kitchen to handle food prep, a fact that was of interest to Summer who had offered to handle wedding cake duties.
https://i.imgur.com/E8sZvJd.png
https://i.imgur.com/EBXMVO0.png
https://i.imgur.com/Eu5akfO.png
https://i.imgur.com/qJ20okz.png
"Oh it's gorgeous! I would so love to have a wedding in a place like that if only..." Summer said with an air of wistfulness.
https://i.imgur.com/0bgprQc.png
https://i.imgur.com/ue6DcJV.png
https://i.imgur.com/uAotuIH.png
https://i.imgur.com/GaYSNYF.png
https://i.imgur.com/2OBBHjW.png
https://i.imgur.com/fBxbAD4.png
"And" Londyn added as she continued to swipe through the pictures "they can even hold the ceremony and the party afterwards after the sun goes down. It's just as stunning lit up entirely by candlelight." Londyn was quick to point out that the venue has an onsite kitchen to handle food prep, a fact that was of interest to Summer who had offered to handle wedding cake duties.
https://i.imgur.com/E8sZvJd.png
https://i.imgur.com/EBXMVO0.png
https://i.imgur.com/Eu5akfO.png
Liberty showed up the following evening to help with the planning and got her first look and the venue. "It's so beautiful! I can't think of a better setting! she said. "The ocean, the palm trees, it's all so breathtaking!"
https://i.imgur.com/7LdNfpW.png
Spoiler
At this point, with the wedding getting ever closer, the planning sessions are a daily thing. Summer has been stopping by to discuss menus. The venue offers the kitchen and a caterer if the party wants it but they are free to supply their own and Summer jumped at the idea and was off and running. Summer has been busy learning and testing new recipes. "Londyn, by any chance does the venue have a barbecue pit?" she asked out of nowhere one night.
"I didn't think to ask, but almost everyone in Sulani has one. Even if they don't it takes almost no time at all to dig one" Londyn added.
"I need one" Summer added sounding almost possessed. Summer has always been excitable, but now she was practically electrified with excitement for the job. "I've been learning recipes from Sulani to pair with the ones I've learned here and the ones Danielle and I grew up with in Willow Creek." Summer quickly added, "You should start working out now, because if you don't my menu is going to add two dress sizes. Just reading it will add one." This statement was met with gales of laughter. Summer knows how fitness obsessed Londyn and Danielle are, not to her degree though. "That reminds me, someday I have to tell you about my mom's crazy theory of the "curse of the Barrett women'" Summer said.
https://i.imgur.com/eQrew96.png
Liberty was getting into the fun and excitement too, but in her usual way, more restrained than Summer. Liberty has been working with Danielle to plan a bachelorette party and looking at dresses. Liberty is really getting into the wedding planning since it's feeling inevitable that Matteo is going to pop the question at some point. Liberty isn't trying to hijack the planning for her own gain. She's fully committed to helping her friends plan their wedding. Danielle can sense things are happening with Liberty and Matteo and she's been encouraging Liberty to take notes.
https://i.imgur.com/1ayreSL.png
"I didn't think to ask, but almost everyone in Sulani has one. Even if they don't it takes almost no time at all to dig one" Londyn added.
"I need one" Summer added sounding almost possessed. Summer has always been excitable, but now she was practically electrified with excitement for the job. "I've been learning recipes from Sulani to pair with the ones I've learned here and the ones Danielle and I grew up with in Willow Creek." Summer quickly added, "You should start working out now, because if you don't my menu is going to add two dress sizes. Just reading it will add one." This statement was met with gales of laughter. Summer knows how fitness obsessed Londyn and Danielle are, not to her degree though. "That reminds me, someday I have to tell you about my mom's crazy theory of the "curse of the Barrett women'" Summer said.
https://i.imgur.com/eQrew96.png
Liberty was getting into the fun and excitement too, but in her usual way, more restrained than Summer. Liberty has been working with Danielle to plan a bachelorette party and looking at dresses. Liberty is really getting into the wedding planning since it's feeling inevitable that Matteo is going to pop the question at some point. Liberty isn't trying to hijack the planning for her own gain. She's fully committed to helping her friends plan their wedding. Danielle can sense things are happening with Liberty and Matteo and she's been encouraging Liberty to take notes.
https://i.imgur.com/1ayreSL.png
The moms stopped by too. It was their first meeting and they hit it off from the start.
https://i.imgur.com/VQaHhPt.png
Spoiler
For Danielle's mom Jennifer it was her first time meeting Londyn in person. They had met a couple of times on video chat, when Jennifer and Danielle had spoken recently. "Londyn, it is such a pleasure to finally meet you in person. Come here and give me a hug young lady" she said.
"My pleasure, mom" Londyn chuckled.
"I'm so happy you came into my little girl's life. She's always been a happy go lucky child" Jennifer said with heartfelt gratitude, "but I've never seen her as happy as she's been since you two met"
https://i.imgur.com/mVSB9RV.png
As the conversation continued inside, Ebony and Jennifer learned of their common bond beyond their daughters relationship. They learned they both shared a love of painting and that they made their living with their artwork.
https://i.imgur.com/lSMtLKP.png
They also got their first look at the wedding venue, which was a hit. Ebony was really happy to learn the girls had chosen a spot so close to home. That day five years ago when Londyn stormed off after their fight, Ebony's last glimpse of her daughter that day was near the very spot where she was about to get married. Back then it was just a beach. The universe definitely has an odd sense of humor, as well as irony, Ebony thought to herself.
https://i.imgur.com/8dzUIBM.png
They did spend time going over details like menus, entertainment, and Londyn let the moms know that she had arranged for a dress shopping excursion for the following Friday.
https://i.imgur.com/eZVdyjI.png
The final bit of wedding talk came around to the subjects of names. "We've talked that over and I will be taking Londyn's name" Danielle said.
"I think it's really sweet. If that's what you want, I'm all for it. You're still my little Dani no matter what name comes after" mom added.
"That won't hurt your career will it?" Ebony asked. "I'm touched that you want to take the name Huntley, but dear I don't want you hurting your career just for that."
"No, it won't hurt anything. Quite a few big name authors write under more than one name" Danielle was quick to point out, and giving a few examples. "And even if it did, it's still what I want to do".
https://i.imgur.com/0CXX7aC.png
"My pleasure, mom" Londyn chuckled.
"I'm so happy you came into my little girl's life. She's always been a happy go lucky child" Jennifer said with heartfelt gratitude, "but I've never seen her as happy as she's been since you two met"
https://i.imgur.com/mVSB9RV.png
As the conversation continued inside, Ebony and Jennifer learned of their common bond beyond their daughters relationship. They learned they both shared a love of painting and that they made their living with their artwork.
https://i.imgur.com/lSMtLKP.png
They also got their first look at the wedding venue, which was a hit. Ebony was really happy to learn the girls had chosen a spot so close to home. That day five years ago when Londyn stormed off after their fight, Ebony's last glimpse of her daughter that day was near the very spot where she was about to get married. Back then it was just a beach. The universe definitely has an odd sense of humor, as well as irony, Ebony thought to herself.
https://i.imgur.com/8dzUIBM.png
They did spend time going over details like menus, entertainment, and Londyn let the moms know that she had arranged for a dress shopping excursion for the following Friday.
https://i.imgur.com/eZVdyjI.png
The final bit of wedding talk came around to the subjects of names. "We've talked that over and I will be taking Londyn's name" Danielle said.
"I think it's really sweet. If that's what you want, I'm all for it. You're still my little Dani no matter what name comes after" mom added.
"That won't hurt your career will it?" Ebony asked. "I'm touched that you want to take the name Huntley, but dear I don't want you hurting your career just for that."
"No, it won't hurt anything. Quite a few big name authors write under more than one name" Danielle was quick to point out, and giving a few examples. "And even if it did, it's still what I want to do".
https://i.imgur.com/0CXX7aC.png
This next bit of the story, dear readers, is going to require your imagination. I couldn't get more than one of the friends and moms to even look like they were mildly interested in what was happening. So I wrote this part as if they were paying attention, but they were behind the camera and not in the shot. Sims and their short attention spans!
Next up on the agenda was the trip to Siobhan's Bridal Boutique in Del Sol Valley. Siobhan had lined up a selection of stunning gowns for the ladies, and with some help from Londyn's friends in the prop department at Plumbob Pictures, helped them set up a couple of pranks. The first to strut her stuff was Londyn...
https://i.imgur.com/CtciZaV.png
Followed by Danielle...
https://i.imgur.com/aRDSCcX.png
Spoiler
Londyn and Danielle decided each of them would do two in-a-row to buy the prank team time extra time.
https://i.imgur.com/jtcJwvz.png
https://i.imgur.com/jCk3ynf.png
https://i.imgur.com/cL10D1p.png
https://i.imgur.com/uu8W9PY.png
Then they came out with their second choice gowns...
https://i.imgur.com/SmfyFCD.png
https://i.imgur.com/LLwIotk.png
And their favorites...
https://i.imgur.com/JeRCSNA.png
https://i.imgur.com/b5fCuNr.png
As the pranks were being setup, Siobhan asked the gathered friends and family what they thought of the dresses. None of them knew for sure which dresses Londyn and Danielle preferred.
"I loved Danielle in that second to last gown" her mom exclaimed! "It looks like something out of a fairy tale".
Ebony said "I thought that first one Londyn had on was gorgeous!"
"I totally agree with Ebony about Londyn's first gown! And if she doesn't want it can you set it aside" Summer asked? "If I ever get married I'm so wanting that dress!"
"I really loved that bohemian one Londyn had on, Liberty said "and Danielle's last dress was amazing!"
"I really wasn't impressed by Danielle's first gown" said Summer. "It reminded me more of a nightgown, not a wedding dress".
"For me the one I like the least was Londyn's mermaid gown" Liberty added.
Ebony was right behind her with "Me too child, me too. It's not the cut, it's just so plain. This is your special day, your dress should be more elaborate".
https://i.imgur.com/jtcJwvz.png
https://i.imgur.com/jCk3ynf.png
https://i.imgur.com/cL10D1p.png
https://i.imgur.com/uu8W9PY.png
Then they came out with their second choice gowns...
https://i.imgur.com/SmfyFCD.png
https://i.imgur.com/LLwIotk.png
And their favorites...
https://i.imgur.com/JeRCSNA.png
https://i.imgur.com/b5fCuNr.png
As the pranks were being setup, Siobhan asked the gathered friends and family what they thought of the dresses. None of them knew for sure which dresses Londyn and Danielle preferred.
"I loved Danielle in that second to last gown" her mom exclaimed! "It looks like something out of a fairy tale".
Ebony said "I thought that first one Londyn had on was gorgeous!"
"I totally agree with Ebony about Londyn's first gown! And if she doesn't want it can you set it aside" Summer asked? "If I ever get married I'm so wanting that dress!"
"I really loved that bohemian one Londyn had on, Liberty said "and Danielle's last dress was amazing!"
"I really wasn't impressed by Danielle's first gown" said Summer. "It reminded me more of a nightgown, not a wedding dress".
"For me the one I like the least was Londyn's mermaid gown" Liberty added.
Ebony was right behind her with "Me too child, me too. It's not the cut, it's just so plain. This is your special day, your dress should be more elaborate".
Londyn signaled Siobhan, the pranks were ready. Siobhan stepped up and let everyone know that the ladies were ready to show off their favorite dresses. Londyn led off...
https://i.imgur.com/3hL8agL.png
"Londyn Michelle Huntley! Have you lost your mind!"
catcalls and one rather robust, but still feminine aw-ooooo issue from the back
"That's my daughter you're whistling at back there! You wanna walk back to Tartosa? Keep it up!"
"What are you saying mom? You don't like this one? I thought why wait until I get Danielle back to the honeymoon suite, I'd just get her love motor revved up right there in the aisle!"
"You know what I said about setting aside that one dress" Summer said, "Forget that, I'll take one of those! Right! Now! Do you take Visa?"
"Oh Lord!" said Jennifer with her hands over her mouth, "I know Danielle. She's going to try and top that I'm pretty sure there are laws against what my girl is about to do."
"Londyn Michelle, are you trying to give me a heart attack?!?! I should have known you'd pull a stunt like this. It's a good thing I'm only 25. If I was an old lady the shock of that dress would have killed me!"
"Ow! My neck!" exclaimed Jennifer who was seated next to Ebony.
"Now what are you on about?" said Ebony turning to look at Jennifer.
"Your crack about being 25 made me do a double take so fast I got whiplash!"
"I'm surrounded by comediennes" said Ebony as she rolled her eyes
"Wait! What the heck is that godawful racket?" Liberty asked
"What. The. Plum?"
Just as the words escaped Summer's mouth the curtain parted and Danielle emerged...
https://i.imgur.com/CKQ5eMI.png
Summer was once again the first one to find her voice. "I may be single, and I'm not the one about to get married, but I'm pretty sure with that outfit in the room there won't be any revving love motors."
"Where was that armor when Travis was around" said Liberty
Summer weighed in, "With Travis a sword might be more useful, certainly more satisfying"
"Yeah, cut him off at the..."
"LIBERTY!!!" said everyone in unison.
"I was going to say knees! What did you think I was going to say?"
"Something about a foot or so higher" replied Summer.
"I'm so relieved you came out wearing that getup. I was terrified you were going to try and one up Londyn and strut out here naked as the day you were born" said a very relieved Jennifer. "Now take that silly thing off so we can talk about dresses.
A few minutes later Londyn and Danielle re-emerge with photos in hand that Siobhan took of them in their favorite dresses...(WARNING huge photos under the tag)
Spoiler
https://i.imgur.com/03mhGsE.jpg?2
https://i.imgur.com/wPyjfPy.jpg?4
https://i.imgur.com/wPyjfPy.jpg?4
