"Ahaha, I can't believe she actually drove all the way down here, to spy on us!" Megan rolled back and forth on the bed as she nearly laughed herself into a coughing fit, "My prim and proper mother crouched in the dark, hands down her pants like some pervert! I knew she was a slut! How many times do you think she's rubbed one out to the pictures I've sent her?" '
"Seeing as she was desperate enough to drive over, I'd say quite a few," I replied from the bathroom as I finished drying my hair, "Are you gonna do anything about it?"
I could hear the grin in Megan's voice as she responded, "I'm gonna make her stew in her embarrassment for a week, really let the shame sink in. Then I'm thinking we close this chapter for good over the weekend."
"Hmmm, alright, but could you keep your plotting confined to Sunday. I'll need to go on up to Ode farm with the money I promised, judging from how quickly we're going through the cider."
I heard Megan sit up at that news, "I knew it was going to be a good seller, but I must have filled up over a hundred glasses tonight. Maybe we should look into other drinks and diversify our options."
"You know, sometimes I forget there's a brain behind those beautiful eyes of yours capable of thinking about more than just scheming and sex plots," I responded as I stepped out of the bathroom and walked over to the bed.
"This coming from the literal sex demon," Megan deadpanned as I kneeled next to her and quickly apologized with a kiss.
"Guilt as charged," I muttered as I pulled Megan down to the bed with me, "But all jokes aside, you're absolutely right. Drinks and desserts are definitely something we're going to invest in, I just don't have the skill set necessary to make the most of them at the moment."
Megan smiled and cuddled up to my side, "It's alright, knowing you, you already have a plan in place to make everything work out. Though I have to say that Monkey Bread didn't look half bad."
"Yeah, I just know I could make it better and charge people more," I muttered like a proper miser, making Megan smirk, "Well, I'm not going to stop you, after all, it just means more clothes and fancy things for me in the end."
A genuine smile spread across my lips as Megan quickly fell asleep against my chest, her soft body warming mine, and tempting me to close my eyes and let my thoughts drift away.
But I managed to stave it off to look at the day's report, needing to see just how much I had earned that night.
--[Day 9 Report]--
Simlife
Profits: +$53,525
Cost: -$38,480
Gross: $15,045
Modifiers: Fortune II [+10%]
Income: +$16,550
Total: $18,939
DateLife
Energy Spent: 0
Energy Gained: 0
Tantric Reserves: 5/5
Lust: +5
Total: 15/100
Any thoughts of going to sleep vanished in an instant as I stared at the five-figure number listed after income, 'That has to be some mistake...just last week I was only making a few thousand a night?! There's no way just adding a drink and dessert alone was enough to make up another $10,000?!'
[Ehem, I think I can clarify the situation]
'Could you, because this is really messing with my long-term growth plan,' I replied, grateful that the system had decided to make an appearance.
[When you created a desert and added the drinks, a decision was made regarding the rate at which people would order them.]
'What rate did you guys put to net me ten thousand dollars?!'
[100 percent]
I paused for a moment, blinking twice and ensuring I had heard the system correctly, 'You mean that every single person who walked in today ordered a drink and an entire bundt cake worth of monkey bread? That means I must have made nearly 300 cakes!'
[308 to be precise, and before you start wondering how that's even possible, don't. Just accept it for what it is, you're in a place called ToonTown, cartoon logic is king around here.]
After a brief pause, I ended up shrugging, 'Alright then, I won't split hairs over it, though, why the sudden boost?'
[Because you're going to need it, you know how expensive running a farm is, you would have had to wait months, hell, probably years, to get enough dough to turn that place around. And I don't know about you, but that doesn't sound like paradise to me. So we gave you a little boost, think of it like a balance patch, you want a challenge but not something soul-crushing.]
I chewed over the explanation and found it made a lot of sense, 'Well, I'm not gonna complain over free money, though maybe I should take it as a warning that things are about to kick up a notch?'
[Maybe things are, maybe they aren't, only time will tell.]
---
I had a broad grin on my face as I stepped off the bus and stood in front of Ode Farm. The expression had been fixed on my face ever since I looked that morning and saw what I had earned over the week.
Status:
Name: Raymond Young
Race: Primordial Incubus
Age: 26 [Eternal Youth]
Clock: Day 13
SimLife:
Level: 1 [4/10 DP]
Money: $84,518
Maintenance: $ 5,860
Properties: Ramon's Grill
With nearly 100 thousand dollars of spending money, I had far exceeded the 10,000 the quest demanded I raise for Ashe. So there was a confidence in my step as I walked up the long road towards the farmhouse, imagining the stifled look of surprise on the cowgirl's face.
However, when the house came into view, I frowned as I stared at the black SUV parked outside. The shiny modern vehicle stood out amongst the rundown farm, and I could help but frown, sensing that something was amiss.
Picking up the pace, I made my way up the hill, and as I drew closer, I caught sight of two men dressed in suits and ties standing by the car.
'If I were a betting man, I would say those are the Suits Ashe mistook me for and nearly shot me over. I'm surprised they haven't been riddled with shotgun pellets yet.'
As I stepped onto the hilltop, both of the Suits turned to face me with heavily shaded sunglasses concealing their eyes. But I could tell they weren't the friendly sort.
"Morning, gentlemen. Fine day, isn't it?" My words were warm and inviting, though I made it clear with my eyes that I could sense the trouble brewing.
Wordlessly, the two men stepped forward as one, creating a wall to block me from the house. "Sorry, sir, but you're gonna have to remain outside for the moment."
I stopped, my shoes crunching against the gravel as I stared at the two men, "I'm sorry, but I have business with the owner of this here farm, and I'm afraid it can't wait."
I took another step forward, but the two Suits moved in before I could cover an inch of ground, making it clear they wouldn't let me pass.
"Your business will have to wait, and I'm afraid the person you're trying to meet with is busy at the moment."
My eye narrowed, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I'm afraid that doesn't concern you," The Suit muttered, and I could feel his glare from underneath his shades, "Now get lost."
"I'm afraid I can't, you see, I've come a long way to get here. So I'm sure you can understand that I would rather not have come here for nothing," My voice dropped into a dangerous octave as I ignored their warning and stood my ground.
My response clearly pissed off the Suits, who stepped up to get in my face, but paused when they realized that they couldn't, as I stood a few inches above them.
Their fists balled up in frustration, and I tensed my body, ready to react if they wanted to start a brawl.
"Who the hell is this?"
I looked over as an unfamiliar and arrogant voice spoke up from the front of the farmhouse. Standing on the porch was a middle-aged man whose entire appearance screamed old money with an expensive suit, a luxury watch, and slicked-back hair.
The two Suits turned to face the moneybags, "It's unclear, Mr. Northwest, but he apparently has business with the farm owner."
"Is that so?" Mr. Northwest muttered, and he frowned as he stepped off the porch and walked towards me.
The Suits stepped aside but continued to glare at me as their boss stopped right in front of me with a smug, condescending look on his face, "I don't know what you want with this old dust bowl, but a bit of advice. I suggest you find another farm, because once I have my way, this place will be nothing but a bad memory."