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Great British Sim Challenge Rules

A Sims 4 History challenge that takes you through the history of Great Britain. Download the rules for you to play here (all Patreon, all free):

The Full Challenge

The Dark Ages (Iron Age - Medieval Era)

The Golden Age (Tudor Era - Victorian Era)

The Modern Age (20th - 21st Century)

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greatbritishsimchallenge

Feeling so sad and lost.

This change kills my blog. The mature flag had already left it at death's door as I'm constantly - incorrectly - flagged as mature. But this change is the nail in the coffin.

I suddenly cant view a bunch of people's simblrs.

No way in hell am I handing my ID to Tumblr.

So... that's it? I'm just cut out of simblr and essentially shadowbanned?

This feels so, so shit.

#and theres nothing i can do #i really wanted to see the challenge through to the end

Marina spent the following day with Amy. She tried to smile and nod as Amy chatted away, but her face was drawn and pale.

Hannah watched her worriedly from the corner of the room. When Marina had teleported to her bedside in the middle of the night, Hannah was so terrified for her sister's state that she wondered if she should call for a doctor. She had never seen her like that before, and hoped never to again.

Just as the three of them sat down for dinner, the butler came to notify them that William had arrived. Hannah and Marina exchanged nervous glances at this unexpected visit and sent Amy to her room with her guards to stand outside her door.

"William - what's happened?" asked Marina, inviting him to sit. "Is there news on the threat to Amy already?"

Marina tried to reach out and grab William's arm, but he swiftly pulled it away. He kept his voice official.

"No. I am here because I have spoken to Lolita. She thought it best to raise with me news of a different threat to the Society."

Marina said quietly, "Oh."

"I am sure you understand that we cannot risk your dalliance coming to light and bringing ruin to all we have done. I am therefore here to request your resignation from the Society. We can use the situation with Amy to our cause and you can explain that you wish for more time to be with your family."

Marina burst into tears.

"Will, I'm so sorry I didn't tell you. I thought it wouldn't matter... it was just... an escape... please... I've made a mistake. When it was you making the mistake, I stood by you!"

"You did," William replied, his official voice cracking and replaced with the anguish he was truly feeling. "And that is why I will never breathe a word of what has truly transpired. But... Rina... you must go. You know it as much as I."

William pulled a letter and quill from his pocket and spread it open over the coffee table.

"I have written a letter on your behalf. All you need do is sign."

Marina's hand trembled as she took the quill from William.

"I'm sorry. I... I don't have a choice," said William, his voice barely a whisper.

Marina took a deep breath and signed the resignation, "You do not owe me an apology, Will. This is no one's fault but my own."

The story is now in hiatus but will be back for the final part of Marina's story. Not completely sure when - Ea's recent decisions have left me feeling... unenthused... to play their game.

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Marina had just gotten back into bed when there was another knock on the door. She sighed, certain it was Ernest again.

Rubbing her hand over her face as she opened the door, Marina said, "Ernest, please - no more, I -"

Lolita stood in the doorway. To anyone else, she would have seemed expressionless, but Marina knew her well enough to see the fury that lay hidden in the tiniest flickers of her face.

"May I come in?" Asked Lolita, the formality of her voice only further confirming her fury to Marina.

Marina stepped aside silently.

Lolita paced a few times across the room before speaking.

"I presume your return home signals that Amy's safety has been secured?"

"Yes," replied Marina, watching Lolita worriedly. "Hannah has arranged guards for her protection. I've also written to William and he is going to hire a lawyer to investigate the source of the threat."

"Very good," Lolita nodded once, sharply, and then continued to pace.

"Lolita? What are you doing here at this hour?" asked Marina, sitting down with a mix of exhaustion and resignation.

Lolita's laugh was short and bitter, "I can assure you that I have asked myself that very question a dozen times over. "

Marina frowned. "Lolita-"

Lolita continued her pacing and her speech flew out with a speed and intensity that matched her furious energy. "That man - Mr Ernest - that I saw first on the street some time ago - you told me he was merely a neighbour - I believe you even used the word 'acquaintance' - and yet I have seen him for the second time tonight - leaving your home in the middle of the night - which tells me that you lied to me about his connection to you - all of the signs suggest that you have been conducting an illicit affair with a married man - do you deny it?"

Marina was too tired to lie and knew there was little point, "I do not."

Lolita shook her head, as if the tiny sliver of hope she had held on to had been dashed and now all she felt was rage.

"You have been conducting an affair that could bring down not only my law firm but all of our work for the Society in one fell swoop! It is the most reckless and needlessly self-destructive act I have ever witnessed - it casts severe doubt on your morality and your integrity!"

Marina stood and tightened her jaw, "You believe I am unaware of that? You truly think this is news to me?"

"The very fact that you knew all of that and did it anyway only makes this orders of magnitude worse!" shouted Lolita.

"Why are you here?" repeated Marina. "Because I can think of few reasons of morality or integrity that would give you cause to stand outside my house in the middle of the night."

Lolita did not reply but shook her head as if judging the foolishness of her earlier self for ever going to Marina's home.

"Is it, perhaps, possible that your anger is not only at my betrayal to our work, but to a sense that I have betrayed you?" Asked Marina.

Lolita stopped pacing and stared Marina down. The both of them breathed heavily, never breaking eye contact. When Lolita did, it was as if she was given in and accepting a loss.

"You are right. I was not here tonight with moral intentions. I have not been able to stop thinking of our last fight - for fight is all you and I seem to do - when you accused me of not loving anything but my work. You were wrong. I knew deeply, profoundly, that you were wrong. And, in realising that, I came to accept the truth of why you were wrong."

Lolita looked at Marina. Her next words came out half in fury, half in surrender. “Against my better judgement, against my principles, against every sensible consideration, I love you. I love you so much I would endure scandal, ruin, the collapse of everything I have built, if only it meant I might have you beside me. It is intolerable and I am helpless to it. I love you, Marina."

For a moment there was the heavy, uneven sounds of Lolita's breath. Marina held hers, unable to breathe while she tried to process everything Lolita had said.

Lolita stepped forward and sank to one knee.

“I cannot fight you nor my feelings any longer," she said. "I love you. All I want from this life is to have you in it. Marry me."

Marina drew back, her hand slipping from Lolita’s grasp. She stared down at her in disbelief.

“How,” she said, her voice barely audible, “can you imagine I would accept such an invitation? You question my morality and integrity. You yell and scream at me as a governness would a girl. You..." Marina struggled to speak "...call your love for me intolerable and against your better judgement and then ask me to accept it? I would expecr such treatment from a sworn enemy, not someone who offers their hand in marriage.”

"I did not intend to offend you," Lolita replied, still unable to fully remove the anger from her voice, "but nor can I deny the conflict that this feeling brings. It is my integrity and morality that demands I speak honestly in all things."

"What you call honesty, I call cruelty. I could never be with someone who speaks to me as you have tonight. I wish for you to leave and to never see you again."

Lolita hung her head. "Very well."

Marina kept her eyes clamped shut and focused on fighting back her tears. It was only when she heard front door slam shut that she collapsed to the floor, sobbing.

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Marina arrived home and, with the peace of mind that Amy was safe and secure with Hannah, she readied herself for bed. Her exhaustion was so intense that she didn't even want to take a potion of plentiful needs - what she wanted was to close her eyes and, for a few hours, not have to think or feel anymore.

Just as she was getting into bed, there was a knock at the door. Marina groaned in recognition - there was no mistaking the soft but insistent late-night knock of Ernest.

"May I come in?"

“I am tired, Ernest,” she said. “It has been a long day, and I am not in the mood tonight.”

"This is the first night I noticed your lamps were lit in some time," he replied. "I was worried about you."

Marina sighed. “I'm sorry. Things have been… demanding.”

"Demanding?" repeated Ernest. "Are you sure that's all? Your work has been demanding in the past and you have still seen me."

"Ernest-"

"Marina - please."

Marina couldn't ignore the pleading in his voice and stepped aside to let him in.

"I haven't been able to forget that day on the street," Ernest said, as soon as Marina had closed the front door. "The day I saw how ashamed you were of me. And now - now I am an old man - you are finished with me. Tell me the truth - that's it, isn't it? That's why you haven't seen me in so long."

"Ernest -"

"Do not deny it. Do not tell me I am imagining. But.. Marina," he dropped down to one knee. "Please, do not cast me off - I love you. I will divorce my wife and marry you in a heartbeat, if you would have me - damn the consequences!"

Marina’s face softened with pity. “Ernest, you are so... kind... to speak as you do and I am honoured to hear you speak of your affection... but I cannot return it.”

He stared at her as if she had struck him across the face.

"But not for the reasons you think," she continued gently. "You are much too hard on yourself and my recent absence has had nothing to do with you or your age. I promise you that."

"I was so sure you loved me..." he whispered, more to himself than to her.

"I am spellcaster, Ernest. Did you know that?" asked Marina, before casting a small spell on the lamp next to her. Ernest leaped back in fright. "In fact, I am one of the spellcasters leading the fight for occult rights. I am regularly in the newspapers. I submit essays to prestigious journals on the matter. I have people write to me from all over the world. And you knew none of it."

Ernest was clearly unsettled, but forced himself to keep his tone of pleading affection, "It does not matter to me who or what you are!"

"But it should," interrupted Marina. Her voice was soft, but firm. "If you love someone, you should want to know every fibre of their being. The fact that you never felt inclined to enquire more about me - and I never felt inclined to tell you anything - just speaks to the... artificial purpose... of this relationship."

For a long time, he said nothing.

"So I am not wrong, then, am I? " he murmured miserably. "In my old, decrepit state, you no longer desire to know any fibre of my being."

Marina resisted the urge to argue with him and instead moved towards the front door. Ernest had clearly decided what this was all about, and Marina had no energy left to try and change his mind.

"I wish you well, Ernest. Truly, I do. But our time together must end."

Ernest hung his head, only briefly looking up as he reached Marina; his eyes lingered on her as though to memorise her face.

"Goodbye, Ernest."

"Goodbye, Marina."

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Marina teleported back to Hannah's, only to be immediately accosted by two guards.

"Stand down, stand down! I told you my sister would be teleporting back at some point, didn't I?" shouted Hannah. "This is Ms Marina. She will be teleporting back and forth as she pleases and is always welcome. Return to Amy at once."

The guards bowed slightly before disappearing up the stairs.

Marina blinked. “What in the Watcher’s name was that?”

"Amy's protection detail," explained Hannah. "I will serve as the spellcaster portion, while Verity is a vampire and John is a werewolf. Combined, we are prepared to handle whatever harm any occult or human could attempt to cast Amy's way. We will stay by her side at all times to ensure her safety - I've already tasked Mrs Jenkins with hiring a spellcaster cook who can brew us all potions of plentiful needs as required."

"Han," said Marina quietly, "All this is going to cost a fortune."

Hannah took Marina by the arms and said firmly, "And I shall pay every penny of it. What else am I to do with my money if not protect my family? This way you can return to work secure in the knowledge that the three of us have Amy protected."

Emotion welled in Marina’s throat. She pulled Hannah into a tight embrace. "I don't deserve you."

"Hmm, yes, it does look that way, doesn't it?" Hannah joked.

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"My Watcher," gasped Lolita as Marina told her about the letter threatening Amy's life. "And Amy? Is she unharmed?"

“She is with Hannah now. Safe. For the moment.” Marina clasped her hands to still their tremor. “But I cannot work until I know her security is certain.”

"Of course, of course," agreed Lolita.

"And..." Marina hesitated, "Part of that security may involve my stepping back from our work for a while."

Lolita frowned but didn't say anything in response.

"If the writers of this letter believe I have stopped working, they will have no cause to attack her," continued Marina. "I don't have to fully, of course. I can teleport to the offices at night and assist in preparing for cases. I just cannot attend court."

Lolita stared. “You would grant them exactly what they demand?”

"If it means keeping Amy safe, yes."

"Marina..." Lolita shook her head, "I am as appalled by this threat to Amy as you are, but... to cease or slow down our work when we have gained such momentum? Surely you knew you would face threat and danger when attempting to bring about change on such a large scale?"

"There is a significant difference between my facing danger and Amy. She did not ask for this."

Lolita shook her head again, "I am surprised. I did not expect you to fall so quickly at the first sign of difficulty."

Lolita's judgement bristled Marina. She replied, "And I am not surprised that you are behaving so callously, given you have never had cause to love anything other than your work."

For a heartbeat, pain flickered across Lolita’s face before she smoothed it away.

Still, Marina noticed Lolita's hurt and felt immediately guilty; she almost said I’m sorry, but the words snagged in her throat.

“I must return to Amy. I’ll write once I know more.”

“Very well.” Lolita bent to her papers, not looking up.

Marina lingered a moment longer, then turned and teleported.

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With Hannah and Amy returned to Windenburg, Marina became acutely aware of how lonely she was. With the plentiful needs potions giving her no reason to sleep or eat or even take a bath, all she had to do was work. She had never minded before, but since Hannah’s visit, her sister’s questions echoed in her mind like a refrain. She began to second-guess every decision, every case, every late-night impulse, wondering why she was behaving in the way that she was and struggling to answer.

In the evenings she tried to distract herself, sitting at Hannah’s old piano. But the notes came stiff and joyless, clanging into the empty rooms. She found herself listening more to the silence that followed than to the music itself.

One morning, sifting through her post, she noticed an envelope unlike the rest: the paper was coarse and oddly stained, with handwriting a jagged scrawl that barely held together as words. A prickle of unease ran through her.

She broke the seal.

STOP THE SOCIETY OR AMY DIES

Beneath the threat was the address for Amy's school and a detailed description of her appearance.

Marina teleported at once to Hannah's and found her sister in the middle of making tea.

"Where is Amy?" she cried.

"At school - whatever is the matter?"

Marina thrust the letter into Hannah's hand. She watched Hannah’s face shift, first to confusion, then to something darker. Her sister’s hands crushed the paper as she tightened her grip on the page.

“If those bastards think they can touch a hair on that girl’s head,” Hannah spat, “they’ve no idea who they’re dealing with. Come—we go to her now.”

Amy was bewildered when they appeared at her school, swept her from lessons, and brought her home. She asked a dozen questions on the way, but received only clipped assurances: We’ll explain when we’re safe.

Marina sat beside her and explained the letter she had received, "And so, for now, you must stay by my or Aunt Hannah's side at all times."

"What... even when I need to use the bathroom?" asked Amy, aghast.

Hannah shrugged, "It's nothing I haven't seen before."

This only horrified Amy more as she turned back to her mother, "But this isn't real, is it? It's just a threat - they won't actually do anything to me, will they?"

"I will make sure that they don't," promised Marina, trying to give Amy a smile of confidence, "But in the meantime, we need to take some additional precautions."

She rose, her expression hardening. "I need to go. I must speak to Lolita."

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With the dinner over and Amy in bed, Hannah and Marina settled down for a hot chocolate.

“What did you think of Lolita?” Marina asked, almost too casually. “I can’t believe it’s taken this long for you to meet.”

“I liked her,” Hannah said simply. “I admired the way she spoke about your work. It sounds as though you really are on track to ‘change the world,’ as you put it.”

Marina eyed her sister, "what are you not saying?"

Hannah sighed, "I mean… it is more what the two of you were not saying. Your love for one another was quite palpable."

“Love?” Marina nearly choked on her drink. “No, no. Absolutely not.”

“Oh, come, Marina. Anyone could see it.”

“No,” Marina repeated, less convincingly.

“Very well.” Hannah sipped quietly. Marina watched her sister, restless under the silence.

“If I tell you, will you promise not to be angry? I’m so enjoying our ceasefire.”

Hannah chuckled at the metaphor. “I told you: I can disapprove and still love you. You may rest assured that our alliance is secure.”

Marina hesitated, then words spilled faster than she could stop them: Ernest and the continuation of their affair, the loveless marriage with Jace, the endless back-and-forth with Lolita. It came out raggedly, with gaps and tangents, and with an energy as though she’d been holding it back for years.

It took two more cups of hot chocolate, and Hannah pulled every face imaginable, but she held her tongue until Marina, flushed and exhausted, finally stopped.

“So yes,” Marina said at last, “there is chemistry with Lolita. Infuriating chemistry. But not love.”

Hannah exhaled and put down her drink. “You must be the luckiest and unluckiest person I’ve ever known.”

Marina frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Luck, to escape a loveless marriage respectably while still young. Luck, to conduct an affair twice without being caught.” She paused, then softened. “But the bad luck? To have had two romantic partners and never truly love either one of them. And...” she glanced at her sister “...to love someone deeply, and yet feel you cannot admit to it. That is a tragedy.”

Marina laughed uneasily, then quieted, drinking her hot chocolate in deep thought.

“May I ask one thing?” asked Hannah quietly. “Where does this all end?”

Marina rolled her eyes. “I’m not feeding you plots for your novels, am I?”

Hannah pressed gently. “What does your future look like, Marina? Do you wish to be Ernest's mistress for the rest of your life or do you want him to leave his wife and marry you? Do you wish to spend your entire acquaintance with Ms Lolita in perpetual denial, or do you wish at some point to confess and marry her? What do you actually want?”

Marina took so long to answer that Hannah thought she wouldn’t. At last she muttered, “I don’t know. I suppose I haven’t thought that far.”

Hannah nodded knowingly. “You are so focused on the Society and your work - dedicating every waking minute of the present for a future you can vividly envision - that you have not been able to give any thought to yourself. One day, you will achieve your dreams for the Society - I genuinely believe it. And when you do… what then? Who will you be? And who will be with you?”

The fire hissed softly in the hearth. Marina stared into her cup, unable to answer.

#great british sim challenge #sims 4 history challenge

"My goodness, this all looks quite delicious," remarked Hannah. "And you made it yourself?"

“I did,” replied Lolita, handing her a plate. “It is common among our class to consign such tasks to servants - but I think it a grand oversight. Too many wealthy Lords and Ladies sit idle and bored, having handed away every small task of life. To cook, to tend to children, to cultivate a garden - those are the fibres that give life texture.”

Marina raised an eyebrow to hear Lolita mentioning raising children, but didn't want to question it in front of Hannah and Amy. Instead she said,

"I told you, Han - Lolita is not what society would consider 'conventional'."

"I disagree," replied Lolita, "My public-facing life is as conventional as they come - it is only in my private hobbies that I differ from others."

“If you were entirely conventional,” Marina teased, “you’d have been married off long ago.” She laughed lightly, but when both Hannah and Lolita looked at her awkwardly, the smile faltered.

Lolita set down the carving knife and smoothly changed tack. “Tell me, Amy, how has your weekend been? I am impressed your mother has kept her promise not to vanish into the office. We have not seen her even for a minute - it has been most disconcerting without her. The sole consolation being, of course, that she is with you.”

Amy beamed, "It's been brilliant. I finally got to show mama round the stables at my school."

"Is this a finishing school you attend?" asked Lolita.

"It is - one that specialises in equestrian training. I mean to be a professional rider," replied Amy.

“And you shall,” Hannah chimed in warmly.

“Indeed,” Marina agreed, "Although your degree will demand a good deal of time. I doubt you’ll ride quite so often during those years.”

“Degree?” Amy blinked in confusion.

Sensing another awkward moment, Lolita interjected, “Your mother may have buried herself in study, but I assure you, there are plenty of students who do little but drink and cause mischief. You’ll find time to ride, I'm sure.”

The conversation drifted on to local gossip, the latest political debates, and family stories. When Marina complimented the seasoning, Lolita’s eyes narrowed in mock suspicion.

“Strange to hear you speak of taste. Do your potions now allow for such mortal frivolities as appetite?”

Marina gave a soft laugh. “I can still recognise flavour, even if I do not require it.”

“And yet you choose not to indulge. How tragic!” Lolita declared, though the sparkle in her eye softened the barb.

The evening ended in high spirits. Hannah and Amy marvelled at the quality of the cooking, and Marina, though outwardly composed, was inwardly pleased to see her daughter and sister draw so warmly to Lolita.

She told Lolita as much as she bid her farewell.

Marina said quietly, “I must admit, I hadn’t expected you to enjoy the domesticity of a family dinner so much.”

Lolita shrugged lightly. “I can prioritise my career and still wish for a family. Tonight was a pleasant glimpse of what might have been.”

Marina gave her a small smile. “It is possible to have both. I do.”

Lolita looked at Marina with a face tinged with sadness, "If only things were so simple. Goodnight, Marina."

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Marina closed her eyes and exhaled slowly, enjoying the cool linen against her bare skin as a pleasant contrast to the heat of Ernest's skin. For a time, they were silent. Outside, a carriage rattled over the cobbles, a dog barked somewhere far off. After the business and intensity of a day in the office, it felt good to be still.

“May I discuss something with you?” Ernest murmured, his voice breaking the quiet.

“Mmm, of course," replied Marina sleepily.

“Our meeting on the street, today...” He turned slightly, but kept his eyes on the ceiling. “It has affected me more than I expected."

"What do you mean?"

He moved to the edge of the bed, his head in his hands. "The way you looked at me... and spoke to me. As if you were ashamed to know me."

She sat up. “I wasn’t ashamed. I was simply protecting our privacy. I couldn't possibly have acknowledged the true nature of our relationship in public, could I?”

He nodded faintly, but Marina could see he was still bothered by it. “It’s hard not to think about the difference between us now,” he admitted. “I’m still in the same lecture halls as when we first met, but now have more grey hairs and wrinkles. While you...” He gave a small, almost rueful laugh. “You’re a youthful, beautiful success with a flourishing career."

Marina laughed lightly, "I happen to like your wrinkles. And the grey hairs. They make you look distinguished.” She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a murmur. “And as for the rest of you…” her hand slid along his hip, “…no woman could ask for more.”

As she pulled him back into bed, she thought about what he had said: he was right; he was no longer the untouchable professor and she the eager student. Now he was grasping at her attention, measuring himself against her life. And she liked it. More than she would ever admit.

#great british sim challenge #sims 4 history challenge

Marina and Lolita worked late into the night, the office quiet but for the rustle of paper and the occasional scrape of a chair.

They were down to the final few case files, none of which looked promising, when Lolita handed a case to Marina.

“This one is tempting. A human claims her spellcaster neighbour used Minionize to coerce her into selling a property.”

Marina began reading, scanning each page with care. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Lolita watching her, as if waiting for something.

After a moment, Lolita poured herself more tea and said, too casually, “Speaking of neighbours…”

Marina didn’t look up, but her tone was dry. “That’s not exactly speaking of neighbours.”

“The meeting with Mr Ernest earlier,” Lolita pressed, “was… interesting.”

“Hardly,” Marina replied, eyes still fixed on the case.

"I disagree. You seemed very unsettled... which has led me to wonder - why? You say it was not financial. And yet your discomfort during the conversation and relief at its end would suggest at some sort of fracture in your acquaintance. Has there been a neighbourly feud, perhaps? Or something more sinister?"

Marina closed the case file. She could tell from the speed of the questions and intensity of Lolita's voice that she had been thinking about this a lot, "Why do I suddenly feel as if I am on the stand?"

“You said we could discuss it later. It is later.” Lolita said lightly, though her gaze was anything but.

Marina tilted her head. "Very well. Though I should say that the intensity of your interest in this matter leads me to question your motivations. In particular, to question whether you might be... jealous?”

Lolita gave a short, incredulous laugh, “You overestimate your powers, Marina.”

“And you underestimate your transparency,” Marina murmured.

They held each other’s eyes for a long time before Lolita abruptly began stacking the files. “None of these are suitable. If we want cases that can truly shape precedent, we’ll have to wait until Parliament passes the criminal legislation. Then we can target matters that will reinforce it.”

"The Society have been consulting the occult community on which powers should be limited for some time now. I will write to William so that we may discuss next steps."

“Good.” Lolita rose, gathering her notes and avoiding Marina's eyes. “We’ll leave the lobbying with them. Ask William to send us weekly reports on their progress. In the meantime, we should remain focused on discrimination cases. I'll have Derek gather more potential cases in the morning."

"Lolita..." said Marina softly.

“I’m heading home,” Lolita cut in, brisk now. “Don’t stay up too late.” She swept from the room without a backward glance.

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As Marina and Lolita left the courthouse, the protesters were already in full cry, their voices sharp with anger and placards thrust into the air.

“Shame!” they shouted. “Stop the occult spread now!”

Lolita didn’t even glance their way. “One wonders,” she mused, “if they have nothing better to do. How can they afford to spend so much time yelling into the void?”

"You should not be so dismissive," replied Marina. "Their fears are valid, if misguided."

"Misguided," scoffed Lolita. "Is a rather gentle manner in which to describe a bigot, no?"

"Yes, there are bigots among them who will not shift their view. But there are others who are simply afraid," argued Marina.

"Yes - afraid that the occult will unsettle their sense of all powerful superiority and remind them of their powerlessness."

"May I remind you that it was you who argued that I needed to be more inclusive of humans when making my case," pointed out Marina. "And before we had ever met, I was debating with the Society on the need for occult powers to be limited."

"I know all of this - and I still support that view - but if we are to take on the cases of humans with grievances against the occult, we must be wary of the validity of those grievances, lest we inadvertently enshrine into law the very prejudiced attitudes we seek to defeat."

Marina sighed, "You make a convincing argument... and it is yet another layer of complexity to all this. I do sometimes wish this could all feel as simple as it did when I dreamed of rights for the occult as an undergraduate."

Lolita laughed, "Idealism always gives way to pragmatism eventually."

"Or morphs into dogmatism... then devolves into cynicism," added Marina, to which Lolita laughed uproariously.

They were still laughing when a voice cut in.

"Good evening, Ms Marina."

Marina's laugh turned to a splutter as she tried to hide her shock, "Oh, umm, good evening, Mr Ernest."

He looked to Lolita, waiting.

"Ah, forgive me," said Marina quickly, "This is Ms Lolita Roy, KC, lead counsel and sole partner at my firm."

They exchanged polite nods.

"We were just heading back to our office," added Marina, more defensively than she intended.

Ernest nodded in acknowledgement, "I bid you both a pleasant evening."

"And you," smiled Marina. As he walked away, she let out a breath.

Lolita's gaze was sharp, "Do you owe that man a sizeable debt?"

"What? No. Of course not."

"I have never seen you squirm like that - like a fish caught on a line."

"I don't know what you mean," shrugged Marina as they walked into the office. "He is my neighbour, that's all."

"No one has ever behaved with a neighbour as you just did," replied Lolita dryly. "Come, Marina, confess."

“I have nothing to confess,” Marina said, her voice hardening. “And I owe you no insight into my personal life.”

For a moment, something like hurt flickered across Lolita’s face before she smoothed it into cool detachment. “Very well. Though such a declaration makes your invitation for me to cook for your family rather puzzling. I’d thought it a gesture of… friendship. Am I only hired help, then?”

Marina looked around the office as the others did their best to pretend they were working rather than eavesdropping.

"We can discuss this later," Marina said quietly, before adding more loudly, "Derek - Ms Lolita and I will spend the afternoon sorting through the new potential cases. We are looking solely for those which have a human making a case against the occult."

"Yes, Ms Marina - right away."

Lolita said nothing, but her glance at Marina lingered long past Marina walking away to speak to the other clerks.

#great british sim challenge #sims 4 history challenge

The Windenburg countryside rolled away in an autumn tapestry of green, red, and gold as Marina’s carriage pulled up the long drive. Hannah’s new home, a sprawling brick manor softened by ivy, stood with quiet confidence against the drizzle.

Though they had exchanged letters since Hannah’s departure from Britechester, this was their first meeting in person. Marina was surprised at the nervous flutter in her chest as the butler showed her through.

Hannah was waiting the drawing room, teacup poised neatly in her hand.

“Marina,” she said with a smile that was careful but not cold.

“Hannah.” Marina matched it with a polite warmth as they embraced briefly before taking their seats.

“How are you? I have been following the papers,” Hannah began, pouring tea into Marina’s cup. “The protests against your cause must be challenging to manage.”

Marina accepted the tea gratefully and sipped. “They are troubling, of course. But it’s part of progress. There will always be resistance to change. What worries me more is the Society for Occult Freedom. They’re not just funding the protests; they’re doing their best to stir more animosity. They want humans to be so afraid of the occult that they will push for complete separation.”

Hannah’s mouth tightened slightly. “I am glad to be away from it all. Out here, there’s no politics -only the wind in the trees.”

“You’ve found peace, then.” Marina said.

“More than I expected,” Hannah admitted. “I watch Amy riding most mornings, and we dine together most evenings. She is becoming such a fine young woman - with a wicked sense of humour."

Marina's smile was tinged with sadness as she wished she could speak of her daughter with such effortless fondness.

"And…” Hannah continued, glancing around the room with something close to pride. “I enjoy having a house that is mine.”

Marina’s gaze travelled over the elegant furniture, the thick curtains, the faint scent of polished wood. “It is an incredible home; you have excellent taste. I hadn’t realised quite how much you had achieved from your writing.”

Hannah shrugged nonchalantly. “You know I have never wanted to push my success too far into your view... given your distaste for how I attained it.”

Marina’s lips curved faintly. “I take it that inviting me here means you’re past such qualms?”

"You make me sound petty and spiteful," replied Hannah coolly. "Have I ever behaved in such a way to you?"

Marina lowered her head in guilt, "No. You have been the most protective and loving of sisters... and I have failed to return even an ounce of -"

"Marina, stop. Your self-flaggelation is neither desired nor necessary." Hannah set down her cup. "I invited you here because I wanted to explain. Seeing Amy left behind time and again brought up... old feelings... when I was the child whose mother was too occupied with other matters."

"I am not our mother," replied Marina firmly, to which Hannah laughed softly.

"No, you most certainly are not. You are Frankie. And Zale. The best of them both - their heart and their mind... and you were right. We can hold different views on what matters in life and still love one another. You are always going to be my sister and I am always going to love you - even if I disagree with you."

Marina teared up as she rushed to hug Hannah, "Oh, Hannah. You are the best of Frankie and Zale too. Being alone in that house has made me realise how much I need you. You keep me grounded."

"If only we could both cease to be such stubborn mules, we could better enjoy the benefits we bring to each other's lives," laughed Hannah.

"Eurgh, if only!" laughed Marina, wiping the tears from her eyes.

The sound of quick footsteps came from the hall, and then Amy appeared, cheeks flushed from the wind.

“Mama!” she cried, rushing to hug Marina. "I didn't know you were visiting!"

"I wanted to keep it a surprise," explained Hannah, smiling softly.

Marina sighed in relief, not realising how much tension she had been holding, but feeling it melt away with her daughter's embrace. “I have missed you, my darling girl."

#great british sim challenge #sims 4 history challenge

With their success at court, work only became busier for Lolita and Marina. Letters for help came pouring in to the Society from people who longed to freely express who they were but feared the persecution. William’s tireless fundraising doubled their reach, and soon the firm was bustling with new clerks and secretaries, the office humming with voices, ink, and purpose.

Marina threw herself into the work, thriving in the long days spent shoulder-to-shoulder with Lolita, their focus sharpened by the knowledge of what was at stake. She still found herself feeling heady from hours of breathing in Lolita's bergamot scent and replaying every moment in which their hands brushed against each other or their eyes met for a heartbeat too long.

But whenever that tension began to swell inside of her, she would find, in Ernest’s arms, the release she needed.

#great british sim challenge #sims 4 history challenge

Tonight a post that wasn't supposed to be released for several weeks (doesn't even have pictures yet) posted. If you saw it and read it- pretend you didn't!

#so gutted #it contained some spoilers #great british sim challenge

Marina wandered without much purpose, her heels tapping over the cobbles in an easy, unhurried rhythm. The ghosts of her past would shimmer on street corners: Jace laughing and Will bent over double after too much to drink. Then there were the other memories - of locked doors and stolen hours; the warmth of breath in her ear and him saying her name as though it meant something.

"Good evening, Miss Marina."

The voice snapped her from the past. Ernest had called to her from the Physics building’s doorway. She realised with a faint jolt, that she had been walking right past it without noticing.

“Mr Ernest.” She offered a polite smile as he jogged over to her. “Still working much too late?”

He glanced down, fussing with his gloves as though they suddenly required great attention. "Old habits, I am afraid... I doubt I can say the same of you. Something tells me you are not out here studying for an upcoming exam."

Marina laughed softly, "No... actually, I'm a lawyer now. At a law firm not far from here. We've been celebrating a win."

"Well, then, I pass on my heartful congratulations," said Ernest with a small bow. "Are you on your way home?"

“I am,” she said, then hesitated, studying his expression. “I can always take the long way, if you’d rather we didn’t walk together.”

"On the contrary," replied Ernest. His gaze flicked to hers, and this time he held it. "I have often imagined what I might say to you, had I the opportunity to speak to you again. After our surprise encounter with the apple pie, I wondered if I had squandered my one chance. I am glad the Watcher is giving me another."

Marina raised an eyebrow slightly as she walked up to Ernest and began the journey back home.

"I want you to know," Ernest began after a few steps, "how much regret I hold for the manner in which our... relationship... ended."

Marina kept her gaze forward, "It was always going to end, Ernest. How could it not? Even if I were happy at the prospect of a life spent as a mistress - which I doubt - you were wracked with far too much guilt to ever truly enjoy what we had."

He nodded. "Indeed, and that is precisely where my regret lies. I viewed what we had with such shame... what I couldn't see was that my time with you was the greatest part of my day. We were not the shame; my sham of a marriage was the shame. It took me some time to realise it, but..."

Marina eyed him curiously.

"...sometimes, what is right in the eyes of society is not right for the individual. I have no doubt that Cora would leave me tomorrow if divorce wouldn't leave her reputation in tatters and break the hearts of our children. I feel the same. And I have asked myself many times over, is that right? Is that fair?"

"You sound like a lawyer," Marina said, giving him a small smile. What she wanted to say is how much he sounded like her - the same wistful wondering about a life beyond Jace, and the same conflicted shame of her feelings for Lolita.

Ernest gave a quiet laugh, "I doubt I could convince anyone of my case. They will just think me a lustful, selfish fool. And perhaps I am. Regardless, I wanted you to know how sorry I am for how I treated you."

"I appreciate that," Marina said, "but I think it important for you to know that I am not sorry. You may recall that I am the one who ended our dalliance, and I do not regret doing so. If I had stayed with you, I would have given up all my dreams for the future in order to hide in your shadows. That would not have made for a happy life."

"And look at you now," Ernest smiled faintly, "A successful lawyer. A happy life, indeed."

They reached their houses and stopped.

"Well, then, Miss Marina, I bid you goodnight. And, should I not see much of you in the future, I wish you a most happy life," said Ernest sincerely.

Marina looked up at the dark windows of the cold house and then said, "I am a different person now to who I was then. I have a career of great purpose. I am an strong woman of independent means..."

"Indeed you are -" began Ernest politely.

"So, there would be no risk of my getting lost in your shadow," she finished, her eyes holding his.

Ernest froze, realising what she was saying.

"I am not permitted to be anyone's mistress. But nor will I ever again be someone's wife. So, what does that mean for me and my desire? Society would say I live alone, untouched. And, to that, I ask... is that right? Is that fair?"

His breath caught, just enough for her to notice.

"Is your wife expecting you?"

"She has not cared for my comings and goings in a long time. I have spent many a night sleeping in my office," replied Ernest, his voice low and heavy.

Marina stepped back and walked towards her front door. "Then you have a choice," she said. "Go home and do what is right in the eyes of society. Or come inside and do what is right for you."

Ernest looked briefly to his house, then followed her inside.

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