Somebody To Love: Bachelor in Paradise ~ To Infinity…and Beyond! – House 2

Sul! Sul! This is Roxanna Llama-Llama reporting to you LIVE from Sulani! Well, Benny was right. There are mermaids in Sulani! And the discovery of two mermaids amongst the contestants in House 1 caused quite a heated discussion in the house. And apparently, from what Naomi said, there are more mermaids amongst the contestants in House 2. So, this afternoon we are heading over there to find out who they are.

Rick had gone ahead of us, and I stayed behind to ask Isla about something she had said…something about an evil siren in Sulani. But she didn’t know anything more about her. I have heard that twice now, once from Isla, and another time from a Sulani elder who mentioned a “sea witch” was after Rick. I had really thought nothing of it, but now that I know that mermaids DO exist, I think I may have to investigate this further with Keala Hoapili. But that will have to be another day. Let’s see what happens at House 2.

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The contestants had been asked to gather in the living room. So, here they were again. Gathered together for some impromptu meeting discussion. What were the producers up to now?

Cinnamon looked around the room. Was this another elimination challenge, or perhaps more solo dates? She certainly hoped it was the latter because she had plans to ensure that Rick only had eyes for her. Then she saw Roxanna and Benny arrive and knew that this couldn’t be good news.

Rick came to join them in the living room as they all sat down.

Roxanna cleared her throat, “A lot of you may have heard stories of mermaids. Mythical creatures some say, who can make a sim fall in love with them. We are here today because we believe that mermaids exist and that there are mermaids living in House 2.”

Octavia laughed out loud, “Mermaids in Sulani? Are you kidding me? That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard!”

Octavia realized she was the only one laughing. No-one else seemed to find this funny. In fact, they all seemed rather quiet.

“You’re kidding, right?” Octavia looked at Roxanna who shook her head no, “You mean there ARE mermaids in Sulani? In this house? Who are they?”

Rick went to the front of the room and told Octavia and everyone else that this is why they had come here, to find out who the mermaids were in House 2. Everyone was quiet and it seemed that all eyes were on Rick. He told them all that they had just come from House 1 and it was revealed that two mermaids resided there. One of the mermaids told them that there were mermaids living here, too, but they would not reveal who they were. They wanted everyone to be “merwoke” so that all contestants will know who are and aren’t mermaids going forward. Rick waited a moment for this to sink in.

“So, since we don’t know which contestants in House 2 are mermaids, I am giving them a chance to come forward before we reveal who they are,” explained Rick.

Rick looked at everyone and saw Charlotte glance at Nami and Coral glance at Merinda. Did Charlotte and Coral know something that no-one else in the house did?

And what was this? Now Nami was looking at Iris. There was indeed something going on here. Obviously, some sims knew something but didn’t want to say anything.

Rick looked around and thought he saw movement on one of the couches. Yes, he had. Iris had removed her sunglasses. Did this mean she was preparing herself and was coming forward to make the announcement that she was a mermaid? Rick waited a moment, but, no, she didn’t get up.

Rick had no choice. He blew into the conch shell.

At the sound, Merinda was drawn to the front and made an “Eek! Eek!” sound revealing that she was a mermaid.

Rick was rather surprised when Coral came to the front and revealed herself as a mermaid, too. He would never have thought that it would be Coral.

The room suddenly erupted into a frenzied conversation but soon dropped off to a worried murmur when Charlotte spoke up.

“Tarnations! There are mermaids here! Well, they aren’t the only ones who need to reveal themselves, and if that contestant doesn’t come forth NOW, I am going to spill the beans on her,” Charlotte said looking again towards Nami, “I don’t know if she’s a mermaid or not, but she’s got some type of powers. Honestly y’all, she can read minds!”

Suddenly all eyes were on Nami. “Oh no!” Nami thought, “My secret…she’s going to tell everyone! I need to do something!”

“Okay, okay, it’s true I have some powers. I can probe sim’s minds and find out about them. But that’s it. I can’t make a sim fall in love with me. How I wish I could.” admitted Nami.

Cinnamon spoke up then, “Are you a mermaid, too, Nami?”

Nami looked around at everyone and saw Rick looking at her, too. She thought she would never have to tell him like this. She just wasn’t prepared to do this now. But she had to. She took a deep breath and continued.

“No…I’m not a mermaid. But I know what it’s like to be different. I have tried to hide my secret my entire life, but I guess it’s out now,” Nami paused for a moment trying to steady her voice, “I’m half-alien. My father came from the planet Sixam and my mother fell in love with him. She knew he was an alien and she didn’t care. But I had a hard time growing up. The kids in my school….they made fun of me…they…” Nami was starting to tear up and her voice faltered.

Rick was beside Nami in an instant. He took her hand and said, “Nami, come with me. You can tell me all about it in private.” Rick turned to the others, “If anyone wants to talk to me after Nami, I will be in my bedroom.”

As soon as they entered Rick’s room and sat down, Nami burst into tears. Rick didn’t know what to say but he felt Nami’s pain. All those years hiding this secret, it must have been so hard for Nami. As Nami told him her story between sobs…always feeling different…an outcast…having no friends…her dog…discovering fashion and how it had changed her life…Rick had a sudden urge to hold Nami in his arms and comfort her, to protect her from everything she had gone through. But he knew it was best to sit and listen.

After her sobs had subsided, Rick handed her a box of tissue. Nami smiled at him thankfully.

“Nami, this doesn’t change anything. I like you for who you are…your personality…your kindness…for being you. Your father must have been a wonderful man if your mother loved him so much, and it didn’t matter where he was from. Now that’s true love. Accepting each other for who they are,” Rick said sincerely.

“But there’s something else, Rick. This is not me. I mean…I don’t really look like this. I am wearing a disguise. I’ve come this far, I need to show you who I really am,” said Nami firmly.

“This is the real me,” said Nami quietly as she removed her disguise.

Rick got up and walked towards Nami, “With or without your disguise, you are still beautiful, Nami. Has anyone ever told you that?”

Nami shyly looked down, “No, no-one has ever said that. Only my parents.”

“Well, you are truly beautiful, inside and out, Nami. Please don’t let tonight dampen your spirits,” Rick said as he moved closer to Nami and held her hands, “I have always felt a strong connection with you. I don’t know what it means, yet, but I want the chance to find out…”

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door and Nami took a step back. “Oh! I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize I’d taken so much of your time. Of course, the others…the mermaids…they probably want to talk to you too,” Nami said and quickly put on her disguise again thanking Rick. At the door, Nami glanced back at Rick and then took a deep breath and walked out the door.

Rick took a moment to compose himself thinking about Nami and what she had revealed to him. “Come in,” he said.

It was Merinda. She looked very awkward as she entered his room. “Rick, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. Me being a mermaid and all. Well, I only found out myself when I became a teen. I didn’t know I was a mermaid. And it’s great and all, but I wanted to enter this as just another contestant. I had heard about you and thought you were terrific, and I just felt…”

“…Oh, I blew it didn’t I? I am going home, now, aren’t I? I should have just told you, in private, somehow…I just…I just…I just thought we would be a perfect match. We both cared for the environment. I just thought it wouldn’t matter…but now…I just didn’t want you to find out like this…I’m so sorry…” Merinda rambled on almost hysterically.

“Merinda, calm down. Everything is fine. You’re not going home,” said Rick.

Merinda looked relieved, “I’m not? Are you sure?” Merinda asked.

Rick laughed and took Merinda’s hands in his, “Yes, I’m sure. It doesn’t matter if you’re a mermaid or not. You’re still the same person to me.”

“Dolphina told me you were different…that you were special,” replied Merinda.

“Dohphina? MY Dolphina? You can talk to dolphins?” Rick asked incredulously.

“Yes, and fish, too. Dolphina told me how you go out in the water and clean up all the debris. Even the deep water where she swims. She thinks you are wonderful,” Merinda beamed at Rick.

Rick smiled. “Wow! To be able to talk to dolphins…that’s amazing. Well, when you see Dolphina again, can you tell her ‘thank you’ from me, and that I think she’s wonderful, too,” said Rick.

“Oh I think she already knows that, but I’ll tell her. And thank you, Rick for this chat. I feel much better now. And…um…Rick…I think you’re wonderful, too,” said Merinda as she smiled and opened the door and stepped out.

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Meanwhile, back in the living room…

“Well, I don’t know about everyone else, but I think I need a drink. I mean, come on, mermaids and aliens are among us as contestants. What next? Witches and warlocks? Sims turning into skeletons?” exclaimed Octavia.

“Well, actually about that last bit…um…sims turning into skeletons…you know I’ve seen some strange things in Selvadorada…” interjected Cinnamon.

“…Are you telling me that you’re going to turn into a skeleton now? Well, that explains a lot! What do you have? Secret skeleton powers?” interrupted Octavia.

“I am NOT a skeleton nor am I going to turn into one. I was just saying that there are some things that are unexplained and that you should keep an open mind…” Cinnamon snapped back at Octavia.

“Will everyone just get along! It was so pleasant in House 3. We were all friends. We all got along…” said Iris in an exasperated voice.

“Well, sugah…this ain’t House 3 no more. And don’t you be thinking that anyone in that house was your friend. This is a contest, honey, and we are all after the same thing. And it ain’t friendship….” retorted Charlotte.

“Umm….did someone say something about a drink before? I am feeling rather parched myself, and I heard that Afu makes a great rootbeer float. Who wants to join me?” asked Benny trying to get everyone to calm down.

That seemed to work as everyone headed to the bar area and ordered a drink.

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Coral had been hovering outside of Rick’s door waiting to talk to him. She HAD to talk to him. But he was still with Nami. How much longer will he be? Oh gosh, maybe if she used the facilities and came back, he would be free.

Coral came back and found that now Rick was with Merinda. And then she heard Merinda say goodbye and the door opened. Coral stepped inside.

Rick turned around. “Coral!”

“Rick, I need to talk to you. To explain why I didn’t tell you I was a mermaid…I need to tell you the truth about my past…” stammered Coral, and before she knew what was happening, she engulfed Rick in a hug.

“I’m so sorry, Rick that you had to find out like this. I was going to tell you on our next date. Really I was. I just never thought I would feel this way…” Coral said in a halting voice.

Rick motioned for Coral to sit down. When they were settled, Coral told him about her family’s ancestral fishing grounds and how a whale felt that it was unfair that they had exclusive rights to the area. The whale attacked her family and she was thrown against a coral reef and had been knocked unconscious. When she awoke, her family were all dead. She was the only one left alive.

Coral paused for a moment seeming to relive the tragic memories, but then she took a deep breath and continued.

“The ruler of my Kingdom, did not punish the whale and said that we shouldn’t be eating fish anyway, since fish are our friends, not our food. He let the Kingdom make the judgment and they said the whale was innocent. It was also decreed that I was never to fish or eat fish again, or I would be banished from the Kingdom. I screamed at them all, and fled the Kingdom and swam thousands of miles until I ended up in Sulani. I do fish, but now use a fishing pole. But I don’t eat fish anymore. More out of respect for what happened to my family, not because of this decree,” Coral said sadly.

“Oh Coral. I am so sorry. I had no idea,” replied Rick as he took Coral’s hand in his, “I wish I could take all your pain away. I know how it is to lose your family. I have no family either. I’m sorry, too, that I seemed a bit surprised when it was revealed that you were a mermaid,” said Rick.

“And I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you. You know when it all happened, I was never going to go back to the ocean again. I was going to become a terra firma sim. I guess I played the role too well,” Coral let out an embarrassed laugh, “But I can’t deny my heritage. I am what I am. A mermaid” replied Coral.

Rick stood up holding on to Coral’s hands while he did so. “And it makes no difference who or what you are. I still feel the same way about you. I hope you still feel the same way about me…” said Rick as he gazed at Coral.

The moment was suddenly interrupted by Benny pounding on the door saying they were going swimming.

“Now that sounds like a great idea!” smiled Coral, reluctantly releasing her hands from Rick’s.

Rick laughed, “Oh sure, I bet you’re going to splash me with your tail!” he chuckled.

“You bet I am!” responded Coral already running towards the water.

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Both Merinda and Coral wasted no time getting in the water. It had been so long since they had gone for a swim.

Nami joined in the fun, too, or maybe she was just trying to prove to everyone that she wasn’t a mermaid.

Charlotte, Iris, and Octavia seemed happy chatting together at the bar. Or maybe Iris was just playing peacekeeper between the two.

Cinnamon and Benny weren’t far behind in joining the swimming party because Cinnamon was going to make sure SHE was in that water with Rick.

Cinnamon may not be a mermaid, or have special powers, but she was going to make sure she was noticed by Rick.

Roxanna was content to stay up-top and survey everyone’s interactions. Today had been a truly ‘enlightened’ day. Four mermaids discovered and even an alien among them now. Who knew what tomorrow would bring with the house parties. Until then, Wikki Wikki Wii from Sulani!

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Author’s Notes:

“To Infinity…and Beyond!” spoken by Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story (1995).

While Octavia and Cinnamon were having a heated discussion about who knows what, Iris autonomously threw up her hands. It was so funny, I had to take a screenie. It really was as if she was saying, “Alright, already, everybody just chill!” Just love those autonomous actions!

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