Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Chapter 3.18: Standing Still

Michael can't help but share his elation over the plethora of skills that his newest grandchild posses.

"I only hope I live long enough to see Jolie have a child of her own. I know how much she has. . . struggled with her background," Michael says delicately.
Rickey shrugs, "We've all got our own hangups."


Meanwhile Lindsay gushes about art club to Jude.

"I want to be an artist," she says. "It's my calling."

Jude nods silently. He's not one to warn a sim against following their dreams.


Michael entertains himself by teasing Bodica with a cat treat. It's not like he has much to do these days.


The early morning hours find Claude's ghost trying to use the cauldron. Despite the impressive light display, he does not make anything useful.


Somehow, little Brooke is able to leave the house before the sun is even up. She fishes for over an hour before finally heading off to school.


Vera is looking for some red valerian root for an elixir she's trying to create. She shows up at World Trade Apothecary and Teas bright and early but the shop isn't open. She inspects the shrubbery to pass the time. Maybe she'll find some red valerian root just growing outside.


She finds a strange jelly bean bush instead. Against better judgement she picks a bean and eats it. It's not her proudest moment.


When she notices her newly blue tinged skin she panics and calls Jess.

"Jess, I ate a jelly bean from the plant outside the apothecary shop."
The line is silent and Vera continues, "I ate it and now I'm blue. Am I dead? Did I die, Jess? Is this some hallucination or something?"
Jess finally sighs and answers, "Good morning to you too."

Vera rolls her eyes.

"If you think you're sick why are you calling me?" he asks.
"I," she stops short and thinks for a moment. "I'm not sure."
"Perhaps a doctor would be a better idea?"
"I'm sure it's fine," she concludes. "Maybe I just won't eat anymore of those."
"That is probably I good idea."


During recess Brooke catches a squirrel friend. She names him Slappy and stores him in her bag for the rest of the day. During ballet Brooke asks Madam Upchurch for an old shoe box and gingerly places her new friend inside. Madam Upchurch doesn't ask and instead focuses on warm up exercises.


Brooke has an affinity for talking to the animals. At least they listen attentively and don't ask questions. They are the perfect audience. Cameo and Knight don't so much as neigh while Brooke gushes about her perfect pirouette.


You can never practice too much.


Jude and Cameo bond before another bout of training.


For someone that wants to be an artist, this is a terrible show of skill.


Lindsay tries again.


Satisfied with this vague rendering, Lindsay prepares for prom.


She is inspired to show off her artistic flair in everything she does. Including in her prom dress.


Art is not impressed with the weird deconstructed skirt his date has chosen to wear.


He hates me. He hates my dress. Ugh! Lindsay worries internally before finally blurting out, "Why didn't you just ask Elise Hoover to prom? Everyone has been talking about how much you like her."

Her words are shrill and awkwardly cut through the silence.

"Um, she's my chemistry partner." Arthur replies confused. "I like you."

Lindsay tries to hide the furious blush the rushes into her face. How does she always seem to plant her foot in her mouth?

"I like you too."

Somehow the limo outburst hasn't scared Arthur off and he asks Lindsay to go steady during the first slow dance of the night. Followed by a first kiss behind the punch bowl. Ending with being crowned prom queen. It has been a magical night for Lindsay and Arthur.


Brooke tries her hand at making a batch of blueberry quinoa muffins for the upcoming ballet fundraiser.


Attempt #1 is a complete failure.


Evil!Gnome


Bunny!Gnome


Amira!Ghost.


Attempt #2.


"These muffins taste like hot garbage," Brooke admits.
Michael chuckles softly, "Whatever happened to good old chocolate and vanilla cupcakes?"
"We're dancers, pawpaw, we have to be healthy."
"Eh, nothing wrong with splurging on something indulgent every once in a while."


Amira visits Michael.

"I miss you," he says.

Even though it looks like Amira is talking, all Michael can hear is a series of soft sighs and moans.

He pulls out his wallet and shows Amira pictures of the great-grandchildren, "This is little Brookie. She wants to be dancer. Lindsay has grown so much since you. . . left."


"Take me with you," he pleads.

Amira smiles sadly and lets her hand hover near his cheek.

"It's not the same without you."


When Amira disappear into the dawn Michael starts angrily shoving metal screwdrivers into electronics. If the reaper isn't going to come for him any time soon, maybe he can speed the process up.


Michele is asked to babysit her little sister while Vera attends the Tombo Derby to cheer Jude and Cameo on. With Lindsay out at prom and Michael constantly testing fate, Vera felt having a babysitter would be a good choice.

Michele reads True Fairy Tales until Brooke falls asleep.


Bodica surveys her kingdom.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
 Jesse Jones-Goode has finally passed on leaving Michael as the last man standing for Gen 2. Michael is 131 days old and my lifespan is set to 122. I don't know what to do at this point. He's too good at repairing objects to get electrocuted. I suppose I could stand him outside in a puddle during the next lightning storm. I'm giving Grim until 135 days and then I'm taking matters into my own hands.

Arthur and Lindsay are now an item. Yay!

Michele and Deric have a baby boy named Errol and Deric is finally a young adult. 

4 comments:

  1. Has Michael completed the jogging skill challenge or is he veggie?
    As far as I remember there was a set chance for sims at the end of their life span to die which doesn't change, so a sim at 122 days would have the same chance to die as one at 135 days.
    His funeral will be a celebration, no mourning!
    That's a cool evil gnome, I never managed to get this one.

    (that prom dress though!)

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    1. Michael, is actually a couch potato. I don't think he's ever worked out once. He's also not a vegetarian. He's just blessed with a long life. Poor guy.

      I have never had a funeral in my game. I actually just found out you could have one. I think if any sim deserves one it is Michael.

      I'm not sure how I got the evil gnome but I think he appeared because Amira was in the thief career.

      Lindsay's prom dress is AMAZING!

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  2. THAT PROM DRESS. Noice... seriously though that kid may be a keeper if he can put up with that. The limo kind of became a cute moment between them!

    Also Amira's ghost- I hate seeing the ghosts because I don't know if the sims actually can talk to their loved ones or know who they are, since you often have to reintroduce I think they don't recall without much effort (having no brains and all) but it'd great how he shared news with her and then hilarious he decided to upgrade an electronic right afterwards... x/

    Lindsay's painting is one I've still never gotten (even after that whole game year I spend making the Sparrows 'collect em all' in an alt save). The one with that guy is great and I love how it came out (the no face versions are my favorite for some reason, they seem like they're making a bigger statement than the sim intends to make).

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    Replies
    1. Poor Art has his job cut out for him. Lindsay is a bit of a blockhead when it comes to social and romantic interactions.

      The ghosts are rather heartbreaking. I feel like they don't remember who they are initially but that they regain their memories the longer they spend interacting with the living. Poor Michael would like to just be with his wife again. Little does he know that he is too good at repairing electronics and will not be able to electrocute himself.

      I like seeing the paintings they come up with too. I honestly have not seen a huge amount of variation before. Lindsay is the first to male some paintings I've never seen. She's cool like that.

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