Sitting On Top of the World: Day 13

After their unpleasant quarrel, it was surprising to see Reece and Keira sharing an amicable breakfast conversation in the kitchen the next morning. 

Could it be that Reece actually enjoys humiliation and mockery? 

Throughout the day, he carried his book around with him, and read it at every possible opportunity.

 

The tension from the previous evening seemed to inspire many of the sims to help one another out a bit more than usual.   

Reece watered Alysha’s dying plants; 

Deb collected dirty dishes so that Aileen could get a bit more sleep, and even Braylen pitched in to help.

 

When the sims gathered for Morning Meeting, they found Reece in the Super Sim position.  He told them that according to the schedule, it was a pretty quiet day.   

Jobs and skills in the morning, with time for independent relaxation in the afternoon.  That evening, Braylen would present the fourth and final common room painting to the household, and would have completed the requirements of his job.  Keira would also be on the hot seat to present a second book.  The sims looked at Reece expectantly, waiting for some negative comment, but he seemed completely matter-of-fact and undisturbed.

The only big event for the day, he continued, would be the 7^th Sim in Spot opportunity.  Only two sims still remained to do Sim in Spot.  This one was tremendously challenging.  The requirements were to have a date with a complete stranger, and have it go at least moderately well.

“Eet is obvious that thees is my forte!”  Braylen exclaimed.  “I will use my charm, my finesse, and the ladies, they will be eating out of my hand!”

“Better them, than me” Keira muttered, not quite under her breath.

The sims dispersed to their morning routines, Braylen choosing to paint at the outdoor easel in order to keep a close eye on locals passing by.  The morning gave him no opportunities—every sim who passed seemed to be male, elder, or both.  There was a rather surprising encounter between two elderly gentlemen—twins parted at birth?  Brothers from a different mother?  From their reactions, it’s possible that cloning was involved.

At last, Braylen saw his chance!  Dropping his brush, he ran hastily out to intercept the passing jogger.

“Pardon me!  I am so sorry, eet ees wrong to interrupt your workout, but I am an artiste and I cannot resist such a lovely face!  I beg that you let me introduce myself, and ask that you might pose for a portrait! When I see you, eet ees as if the sun suddenly leaps from behind the cloud!”

 The sim, Marci Queen, was completely overwhelmed by Braylen’s confidence and tactics.

 Working almost faster than could be believed, he presented her with a flower from the HRS garden.

 He alleged that her hands, too, would be magnificent for an artistic study –then kissed them dramatically.

He whispered that his, er, talents as a lover, would take her places she’d never been before.

 Reece, watching in disbelief from the yard, seemed astonished and a bit appalled by the whole thing.

Seemingly in no time, Marci had agreed to join Braylen for a romantic walk in the park. 

Apparently feeling that no one knows your strengths like you do, he didn’t hesitate to boast about his kissing techniques or his physique.

Marci seemed a little stunned, but she didn’t push him away.

 He even opened up to her a little about his life prior to joining the House of the Rising Sim competition.

 When Marci said that she needed to get home, to get ready for work, she assured him that she’d never had such an amazing time with anyone.

Braylen smiled smugly as he entered her information in to his contact list.  He was pleased, but unsurprised at his success—he’d had no doubt whatsoever that he was irresistible.

It did seem to have worn him out a bit, though—

 

That evening, the sims gathered to look at Braylen’s final painting for the house.  This one received by far the best reviews, even Aileen agreeing that it was both original and well-executed.

After looking at the painting, the sims trouped down to the dining room so that Keira could present her second book. Deb looked at the thick volume with apparent interest, and seemed unconcerned by Keira’s choice of title--Girl On Fire:  Deb’s Book.

Keira made a few rather half-hearted attempts to rile her up, but Deb only told her firmly but still pleasantly that she disapproved of her behavior, but had absolutely no intention of getting pulled into a brawl.  

 Between Deb’s sangfroid and Reece’s apparent enjoyment of his book, Keira seemed a bit puzzled and went off to bed without any further efforts to stir things up.