The War of the Roses

The next morning had Harm out fishing in the pond in his boxers. Luckily it was still the height of summer or else he would have had a serious case of blue-bouncy things in his trousers - he'd freeze his nads off.

Meg noticed that Kimber had leapfrogged her in martial arts skill and started hitting the board-breaker. The rivalry even though cooled had now transferred from gaining the affections of Tosh (which Kimber had won) to the martial arts arena which Meg was kind of annoyed that Kimber had put in so much effort into making herself a green-belt.

She was determined that she was going to get her green-belt then challenge Kimber to a sparring contest. And meanwhile, Mac was having a very itchy problem with her nose.

Evidently she's allergic to being in close proximity with the erstwhile Jack Keeter who was spending his time dancing to the stereo.

Tosh on the other hand was making dinner for the rest of the family and was surprised to see Kimber come out in her new "blue belt". That deserved a kiss.

And then, Tosh levelled up to black belt the next day...after which he came out to cook dinner for the family.

But all was not too peaceful between Meg and Kimber. And there were definitely some rivalry between the two now.

Kimber wanted to challenge Meg to a sparring match and did so...pretty much getting up in Meg's face and saying, "Hey, you wanna show me if you have what it takes to take me down?"

"What's in it for me?" Meg replied smirking at Kimber.

"I'm not stepping away from Tosh if that's what you're implying?" Kimber replied as she stepped back into a Sim Fu stance.

"Didn't think you would..." Meg said, "But I'm not going to break Harm's heart after being with him; No, this is just a battle to see who's better at Sim Fu."

"Nice stance..." Meg taunted, "You'd look good in Black Belt Magazine if you ever reach black belt."

That taunt earned her a forward closed fist strike from Kimber which Meg blocked easily.

Kimber attempted a side kick which was deflected.

...then a palm-strike to the face which was countered by Meg yet again.

Kimber noticed Meg shifting position and got ready to duck as she rightly predicted Meg throwing a spinning roundhouse kick. Then followed up by a chest-level knife-edge strike all fingers extended in a spear-like gesture, the tips hardened by striking the martial arts dummy. Kimber followed up with a kick of her own, which was deflected by Meg.

And the fight was on. It became less of a sparring match than two trying to take each other out. All their aggressions came to the forefront; Meg seething over Kimber's apparent dislike of her and Kimber just outright wanting to wipe the smug look off Meg's face.

There were lots of kicks and punches involved in this fight; and both sides were more than happy to throw them.

"Nice kick, my Saint Bernard back home in Texas kicks harder than you." Meg taunted as Kimber aimed a kick for Meg's mid-section.

That taunt deserved yet another kick to the opposite side, which again Meg deflected with a smirk. And an overhead strike was deflected by Meg. When two strikes were recorded, both by Meg, the fight ended...without a nasty all out brawl.

"Good sparring match?" Meg asked, in between catching her breath.

"Yeah...I...think so..." said Kimber. "You kick pretty good."

"So we good." Meg asked meaningfully.

Kimber caught the question and nodded. "Yeah, we're good."

Kimber went back to breaking boards and Meg had her satisfaction with her win over Kimber in the sparring match (fight).

...and hallelujah...by gum...peace had just been declared.

Making Friends and Annoying People

Author's Note: I'm not a Harm/Mac Shipper - at least not after Seasons 6-10.

Considering the fact that Mac was doing her best to annoy people, Tosh and Kimber kept a sharp eye on her. But even so there were times when she wasn't able to be watched. So while Tosh cut gemstones, Mac wandered out of the house and headed down to the hospital

...where she met Gobias Koffi, whose primary traits were Childish and Over-emotional and Mac saw a ready target for her animosity.

She hated those who she considered weak having been surrounded by strong types in the military, yet being unable to land one that she considered strong.

"Hey, Koffi, you limp-wristed cream-puff, maybe if you developed a spine, your flirts might work better..." she snapped at him. The little man had a tremble to his jaw and he looked as though he would dissolve into hysterics at any moment.

What annoyed Mac even more was the fact that her heart registered flutters for this little milquetoast. She wouldn't be caught dead in the same address as him - the Creator is laughing at this point considering the fact that they were in the same postal code (the hospital).

Maybe she might be able to make something out of this piece of wasted breath. So she plastered an artificial smile on her face and leaned forward intending to attract him with her feminine virtues...

...and got rejected... How dare that little worm reject me...Sarah Mackenzie, the super-Marine. she fumed internally. I'll show that little panty-waist wimp that I'm superior to him. Stomping her foot on the ground she leaned forward and slapped him. (evidently physical assault is not actionable in the Sims 3) :D

...and then stomped off in a huff. She heard him whimpering in the background. "What a wuss," she muttered audibly. "A verifiable weakling." He wouldn't last a second on the battlefield.

Meanwhile Phil was having an animated conversation with River McIrish and found out that she was dating Ethan Bunch.

Tosh made breakfast the next morning and then spent some time in the gym (their home gym) working at the board breakers.

He'd hardened the callouses on his hands enough that he was able to snap oak boards. Eventually they'd be hard enough to slam through concrete blocks. He ate some lunch then cut gemstones...and in a contrasting frame of mind as opposed to the violence exhibited on those oak boards, he sat down at the piano and played Bach.

After all, Toshio Nakamura, ex-naval aviator, was a man of many contrasts.

Kimber spent time in the gym breaking foam boards and when Tosh was done playing piano he went downstairs to be with Kimber, utilizing training dummy while Kimber was breaking boards.

Then he moved over and started breaking concrete boards. While doing that, he achieved his black belt.

While Kimber achieved her green-belt. That called for a celebration.

And things settled in for the night.