Round 4 (Summer): Batavus/Mead
Last time at the Batavus/Mead house, the boys became roommates (and more); Books & Bobs had its grand opening on Main Street; and Wendy Royce seemed to have borked everything. But she didn't! And now it's summer! Let's go!
Things at Books & Bobs continue to hum along nicely, with the addition of a temporary sidewalk sale item.
It turns out Jasper had 4 of these giganto TVs in his inventory somehow. I don't remember him receiving them, but possibly some were Dream Date gifts? Check out his roster of loves:
Jasper's LTW is to have 50 First Dates, which... good luck with that. But in the meantime, these mysterious inventory TVs bring in some major simoleons!
Millie Mole-- possibly buying back her own gift-- is the first to bite and gets a gold shopping bag for her trouble. First time I've ever had one in my game! Piet sells another to a hobby leader, earning them anough to pay back the $16,000 loan to the town that they used to set up the business. There's even some left over to renovate the back room.
Before
After
So now they have a great little office/breakroom back there.
"Profits are way, way up!"
They're really starting to get the hang of this business thing.
Aw.
Aww.
Aaa! Ha, Jasper don't care!
And Piet can be convinced. Internal monologue: "JasperJasperJasperJasper."
"Jasper."
Piet has the next day off from his law enforcement job, so the boys start off the day with a group workout session. Piet then busies himself with the crossword to help earn the Logic points he needs for his next promotion, and Jasper's thoughts turn again toward his LTW. He rings up Tabitha Sweet and (wisely) chooses to meet her on a community lot for a date.
It's a great day to go to the beach, and by now, Jasper's got his date moves down. Such a change from his first week in Ste-Margo, when nobody was having it.
They both really want to woohoo somewhere but are stymied by the lack of any place private enough, so they have to settle for making out on a park bench in their underwear, which I guess is better? I don't understand your logic of shame!
Meanwhile, Piet has finished his crossword. :'(
When Jasper gets home from his date, he must feel like he's on a roll because he immediately calls Wendy Royce and asks her to move in.
This was the plan for last week before things went screwy, but it seems to go smoothly now. Wendy brings $20,000; a lot of skills; and 0 Neat points.
Piet has no clue about Wendy and Jasper's relationship and only really knows her as the lady who used to come in and review Books & Bobs, and Wendy wants to make nice with her new roommate.
Still, the two remain somewhat wary of one another.
The next morning, Jasper finds a bouquet from Tabitha and quickly moves to get rid of it. You are lucky you saw it first, mister! You've got a lot of balls in the air right now.
Still innocent of Jasper's many dalliances and pondering the reasons behind Wendy's sudden arrival, Piet struts off to work in a fine mood.
And Jasper heads down the street to Lucy's Garage to pick up some groceries.
He's all smiles until he finds that Lucy is kind of a dunce with the register, and then he gets a mite pouty.
Aw, Jasper! I think it might also be because Lucy is one of the few people in town he can't work up any chemistry with. What's not to love?
Jasper gets his promotion, bringing him one step closer to being able to rid the town of the menace that is Amy Tang; but his happiness is sadly shortlived.
Somehow sensing that his world is about to be shattered, Piet rushes inside to find his boyfriend and their weird new roommate doing it.
He is utterly crushed. He did not see this coming.
He is... stretching? Grief can make a person act in strange and unpredictable ways. That's the only way I can explain how Piet behaves in the next few moments.
While the guilty parties sort themselves out, Piet develops a sudden, intense interest in the outdoor lights.
He eventually makes his way over to Jasper, who still doesn't quite seem to grasp that anything's wrong. But Piet doesn't have any words for him.
Fair or not, his anger is directed at the newcomer. In his mind, everything was great until she showed up.
In a very uncharacteristic move, Piet resorts to physical violence. And then,
What are you doooooooing?!?!!???!?
What are you looking at???? Piet! Jasper!
This second bold attempt seems to snap Piet out of his fog, and he gives Jasper a piece of his mind.
And a smack in the face. Is this what they're teaching you in Vice Squad, P? :(
He reaches out for emotional support on the phone while Jasper and Wendy hightail it out of there.
Luckily, they have Books & Bobs as a second home base where they can hide out for a while. Wendy is making the most of her time by learning how to use the cash register.
She really is a sweet person. She just didn't realize quite what she was getting into when she hooked up with Jasper.
Jasper takes the opportunity to read up on Couples Counseling, which ends up not being helpful at all.
Back at home, Piet's family shows up to offer him whatever comfort and advice they can. He knows he can always count on them. (Sniffle.) Wim only stays for a brief hug before he has to go home, but the older Batavuses pow wow by the canal late into the night.
Piet thinks Jasper's betrayal is absolutely criminal, but Penelope isn't so sure.
She urges him to take a more judicious approach to the situation. After all, he loves Jasper, right?
D: It turns out, he doesn't anymore! D:
Frida, with the wisdom of age and many years of marriage under her belt, counsels patience. Things may not seem so bleak in a day or two. I hope not!
When Jasper and Wendy slink back home in the wee hours, Wendy makes a bee-line for Jasper's old room and goes straight to bed. Jasper, on the other hand, does his best to apologize and win Piet back.
He's finally starting to see how badly he's hurt their relationship.
Did I mention that Wendy is pregnant?
That was actually why I tried to move her in last round, and I'd almost forgotten about it until her motives started plummeting at the bookstore.
Another day, another round of apologies.
At last, a glimmer of hope.
And Piet slowly starts to feel a rush of love returning to his heart. "Jasper."
And Jasper is just thrilled to pieces.
Giddy with this small measure of success, he makes a move that would previously have seemed unthinkable to him.
But it's no good. The wounds are still too fresh, and Piet is not ready to expose himself so completely yet.
... Or is he? Jeez, guys. Pace yourselves.
So, um, take two then?
And there you have it. Piet's decided to let party boy Jasper give commitment a try.
"Say, what's that on your finger there, guy?"
Finally able to focus on his bun-in-the-oven, Jasper directs some affection toward Wendy's abdomen. But then he makes one tiny ACR gesture too many, and Piet's still-fragile psyche cannot. abide.
It's... kind of a bad time. There's heart-farting and heartbreak and birth-giving and dirty dishes on the ground. It's a mess!
And at the end of it all, little Grover Mead.
Phew. What a crazy summer, huh?
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