2.13 Quit

Damaris stares at herself in the mirror. 

Did her dress always fit her so oddly? When did all of those wrinkles get there? 

Her lips quirk into a smile. At least she's still having fun! That's more than her friends in their office jobs can say. 

Still, she thinks with a critical eye on her outfit, maybe some glitter on the cat ears... that should balance everything out. 

Dot's, unfortunately, not having so much fun right now. 

"Alistaire, we need to talk..." Dot feels a lump in her throat. 

Alistaire's expression is as grave as her tone, "If it's about not being at your party-," 

"It's not just the party. It's you not being around lately at all." Now that the words are out, Dot's heart beats quickly. She's tried to think of a way to phrase things without sounding accusing, but the starkness of her words still makes her wince. 

Alistaire is silent, so Dot keeps going. "Look, we tried a compromise... and that didn't work... I can't keep going on like this, Alistaire." 

Alistaire swallows. "I see... I can't give up my work, Dot. I'm sorry." 

"I know. I'm not asking you to..." there's a heavy sense of finality when she says that. There's nothing left to try anymore. 

Dot tries to compose herself. "Good luck, Alistaire. I'm sure your designs will keep being great." She can't quite force a smile so she squeezes his hand. Tears threaten to fall, but she's able to blink them away.

Alistaire's own eyes are getting misty. "I'm sorry that it had to end like this, Dot." He wants to tell her that he did try, that she was worth the effort, but it feels too little, too late. 

She kisses him on the cheek and leaves him in the tattoo parlour. 

"Hi mom," Tatum pauses her game with Lucky. 

"Hi, sweetie." 

She's grateful when Tatum doesn't notice her downcast expression. 

She looks forlornly at her oldest child. She's not looking forward to telling Tatum about her breakup with Alistaire. 

Just when she was seeing him around the house regularly... Dot sighs heavily. 

Tatum, ignorant of her mother's troubles, considers her biggest struggle to be her simlish homework. She doesn't know why some dumb book character did that dumb thing they dumb did. Why does her teacher need her to know? 

Damaris is once again confronted by her nemesis. 

"Aw, sweetheart, do you think these will get you a man?" Sinbad has not gotten any less surly in his old age. 

Damaris purses her lips... 

And decides now would be a good time to retire. 

Sinbad doesn't have a ready response for this. No one's ever just quit to get away from him. 

Quartz's half sister, Dina, is...supportive?... of Damaris's retirement. 

Damaris's only regret is that her last ever song of her career was for Sinbad Rotter. 

Santos is becoming a regular fixture around the house. Dot doesn't react when he takes care of Kaira's dinner. 

"Bon appetit, Madame," Santos says with a corny accent. 

"What's her entree? Cordon banane?" Dot asks with an equally corny accent. 

"Actually, carrot puree tonight," Santos replies. 

Kaira stares unhappily at him. She just wants dinner! 

It's nice having Santos around the house. Dot is happy for her mother. 

Still, the pang of loneliness is hard to ignore as she falls asleep. 

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AN: I wanted Alistaire and Dot to work out... but he was seriously denying her invitations to hang out or go out on a date left and right, even when he wasn't working. I guess some things aren't meant to be :/