Sunday, March 23, 2008

Pleasantview: Strange

One saying that can apply to the Sims as well as real life is "Life is what happens when you're making other plans." This is true in tonight's subject - the miscreant known as Dirk Dreamer.

Well, shortly after ol' Dirky-boy got cheesified after slapping Terry Singleton, he grew up to an adult, so I moved him out into his own place. One of the Sims I aged with him was Meadow Thayer, a Sim who seems to die in more stories than in ones she makes it to adulthood. I figured I'd hook the two of them up, and Grilled Cheese her, too.
The main reason I hooked them up was Meadow didn't mind it when Dirk talked about Grilled Cheese. So far, she hasn't minded having it for every meal.She also didn't mind being proposed to over some Velveeta-Wonder Number Five. Which just goes to prove the old saying; "When faced with societal norms for behavior, women will continue to act in a way that baffles divine beings." At this point, she actually had zero chemistry with Dirk, even though he had two bolts for her.She was more than happy to Move In, bringing $6000 simoleons, and even better, NINE family friends for Dirky-boy, who is just rocketing up the Oceanography career. Seriously, he's at level 9 already. She also brought the video game machine they're playing. This pic was taken right before Dirk put down the controller and proposed Marriage to her. Which she accepted, and I somehow forgot to get a picture of... One strange thing was, Meadow turned out to have a job in the Business track as a Vice-President. This explains (weirdly) how she managed to Go To College between her First Kiss with Dirk and falling in love with him. I didn't even see her leave the lot. I guess the game won't let even an NPC have a Uni career without going to college, no matter how briefly.Another strange thing "happened" after I gave her a makeover and took her clothes shopping. I'd originally planned to Grilled-Cheese her too, but somehow, after she moved in with and married Dirk, I couldn't bring myself to do it - she didn't deserve it. Dirk deserved it, but she doesn't. When she was just a Townie, I had no trouble planning her baptism of Brie, but after Dirk fell in love with her and she moved in, she became one of "my" Sims. and, she hasn't done anything to deserve Cheeseification.
I'm just a big darn softie. Here's their house, which has been expanded in size, and upgraded since I moved Dirk in. I stopped myself from having them Try For Baby, because it would be odd in My mind if they had children before my "main" teens went to college; even though he is technically older.

Another thing I learned.... if you give a Grilled Cheese Sim a Secondary Aspiration, do it for the benefits, not for the Wants. Because, their Wants don't change. For this reason alone I didn't make Meadow even a Secondary GCS.

One last thing - if you age up Meadow Thayer, give her some bigger eyebrows... they were almost invisible on her until I changed her appearance.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Pleasantview: New Test Leper

Greetings, all. This is the Creator here. I know I said the next update would be pics of my Pleasantview families, but some transgressions must be dealt with... swiftly.
But first, a little background. This is Angela Pleasant's family; her husband (Lord) Thomas Singleton, and their twin daughters, Terry (with red hair) and Samantha (with the blonde hair). Angela is the host of Iron Chef Pleasantview.

Now, I left the Dreamer house alone for a long time, meaning Dirk is still a teenager while Angela, Lilith, and company went to college, got married, and had kids. This led to a semi-creepy occurance when Terry came home from school with Dirk one day when I was playing the Dreamer house.
Now, Dirk here managed to get a Crush on Terry just because she autonomously Caressed him while she was out of My control. Needless to say, being Lilith's niece, I wasn't about to let them hook up.

Today, I sent Terry on a blind date with David Ottomas, and Dirk showed up while the two of them were Downtown. Even though Terry didn't have a crush on Dirk, he got jealous and actually slapped Terry. Now, I am a benevolent Creator, a just Creator, and a fair Creator. But no one, NO ONE slaps one of "My" teenage girls without My vengeance. He's just lucky her didn't break her heart, even if he did short-circuit her date. Plus, he's good at taking care of his baby half-sister; so I wasn't about to kill him.... no, I had a better idea...

Ah, here we are at our miscreant's house now...

DIRK DREAMER!
What? Who said that? That voice... why is it familiar...?

It is My voice. Dirk. I am your Creator.

Really? The Creator is talking to me? Wow, I've heard rumors about you! This is really cool!

I wouldn't be so happy if I were you, Dirky-boy. I saw what you did to Terry Singleton at the Crypt O' Night Club.Terry. Hmph. She was on a date with someone else when she knows I liked her. That dude David doesn't even live in a house! Matchmaker pulled him right out of the Families Bin!

Well, that doesn't give you the right to slap her in public. You ruined her date, and now you're going to pay for it.

Pay for it? Aw, c'mon, it was only a little slap... I'll call her and tell her I'm sorry.... you aren't going to hurt me, are You?

No. I have something else in mind. Step over here; this is what I have planned for you.Oh, cool machine... isn't this one of those aspiration-changing jobbers? Changes your outlook on life and all that?

Yes, it is. And you're going to use it.

I... I am? But, I've always been a Wealth Sim.... why are you making me change my aspiration just for slapping Terry? Wait... I read about these things... they're dangerous if your aspiration level is too low... mine's low green. I don't want to use this thing.You labor under the assumption that I've given you some sort of choice in the matter. Which, I haven't. *click Free Will Off* *click Reprogram Self*
NO!!! * bzzzzzzt * Ow OW!!! This burns!!! Make it.... melty, bready goodness..... What the... make it * zzzzzrrt* cheesy..... must have cheesy... stop!!!!Cheese.... Grilled Cheese.... I... I must have it! I must have many.... many grilled cheese sandwiches! Must... have... them.... now!!! * runs into kitchen *

Now, don't be too mad at me. I made ol' Dirk a Grilled Cheese Sim partially because I've never played a GCS before.... I used his four Lifetime Reward points to give him a full Grilled Cheese track so he can Summon Grilled Cheese.

Still, I hope this teaches him not to hit girls. If she'd been in love with him and he'd broken her heart, he would have gotten drunk. Via her uncle's cow plant.

Sunday, March 16, 2008

You Are The Everything

Not much of a story to this one; but I thought I'd update people on how things have been going for our hero and heroine.

First of all, Deanna gave birth to a girl, Jessica Patience. The birth video was totally cut off by the wall Deanna is standing by. At least our hero is there to tell her she just had a baby.
Little Jessica was a very quick learner, but then again, couple Smart Milk with a Thinking Cap combined with Autumn and any toddler is a quick learner. Still, Deanna is a very good mom.
I got tired of their previous house thanks to the butchering of the roof I had to do to seal it, so I moved the three of them into this new house. It wasn't long after that that it was time for Jessica to grow into a child.
I then learned not to try to transition toddlers in a small space like that... I found it deliciously ironic that Jessica, with her one nice point, transitioned wearing the fairy clothes, with wings. Needless to say, Deanna and Jessica went shopping for clothes soon afterwards.

Of course, now that Jessica was a child, Brian and Deanna decided to have baby number two. Here's Tamara, being introduced to her big sister.
It looks like Tamara's going to be another brown-eyed, brown-haired girl like her sister. That's the one thing I hate about CAS Sims - they carry no recessive genes, so if Brian and Deanna have a third, she or he will probably end up with brown hair and eyes, too.

Next update, whenever it is, will likely introduce people to my families in Pleasantview, since they've been getting a lot of play time lately. :)

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

The Worst Joke Ever

Brian settled into the chair at the head of the table. As he looked upon the five men seated at the other end of the table, he couldn't keep his thoughts completely from Deanna, and their unborn child. He just knew he had to prevail here, in this meeting, but he was quite confident he would.
At the top levels of the Simprano crime syndicate, the true day-to-day power was wielded by five Underbosses. All cat burglars, street hawkers, counterfeiters, getaway drivers... all the rank and file answered either directly or indirectly to these five men. Whom in turn, answered to one person.

Brian.
"Gentlemen," he said, without preamble. "I've called this meeting for a very specific reason." He got up and walked around the five men seating around the table, and when he returned to his place at the head of the table, he pulled out a file from one of the syndicate's archives.

"It involved the termination contract on this woman," he said, as he pulled a picture of a red-haired woman with blue eyes out of the folder and pushed it and the file into the middle of the table. "I am here to inform you all that this contract is to be considered dissolved. This woman, and all her family, are to left alone by us, for now, and forever."

The five of them leaned over the table to read the file. The two elders at the table, Sluggo and Meathead, glanced briefly at the picture in recognition, and then back to me without a word, and assumed a neutral look on their faces. Bucketshoes, in the white suit barely gave the picture a second look - he was one of the more recent Underbosses, and this matter had been before his time. The two nearest to Brian's position at the table, made no attempt to hide their surprise.
"You're lifting the death mark on this woman?" the one on Brian's right, named Fishbait, asked incredulously. "Her testimony put Dredge and Sludge away for life for taking care of that old floater. She's got to pay for that!"

"Yeah, Dredge is my cousin," Coffin replied, on Brian's left. "He's gonna be locked up in that drywall-decorated six by four cell for the rest of his life thanks to her. Why should we let her off?"

"Because any harm done to her now would be meaningless. I have it on good information that her memory was lost, completely and irrevocably, due to the previous attempts to carry out the contract on her. For all intents, that woman is dead now, and her body is inhabited by a new woman who has done us no wrong."

Coffin snorted slightly, yet deferentially. "Are we supposed to ignore that she looks a lot like the woman you rescued from that asylum?"

Brian paused for a minute, then casually touched his finger to his lips. "Coffin, where is your father now?"
"My father?" Coffin replied. "He's home, in our villa, enjoying his retirement."

Brian tapped his fingers together. "And *why* specifically, is he home?"

The protest drained from Coffin's face as he understood what his Leader meant. "Because... because you forged the documents necessary to give him an alibi for the night he carried off his greatest smuggling score."

"And, given that, do you continue to object to lifting the contract on this woman?"

Coffin sighed, then got up from the table and bowed to Brian. "No, Leader. I will obey your decision."
Fishbait watched this display with disdain, then walked toward Brian. "I continue to object to lifting the contract on this woman. I don't care that she is your wife. This contract predates you. I will not consider it dissolved until it is carried out." He stood there defiant, looking Brian in the eye.
Brian had planned for this - he'd honestly planned on more than two objections, but Meathead and Sluggo hadn't reached such an advanced age in the service of the syndicate by opposing the Leader when he said what was to be. He got up, and walked over to the defiant Fishbait, who stood with his arms crossed.

It was time for a little Carp Diem. Brian reached inside his uniform, and took hold of something he held very close to his heart. Its surface felt slightly cold, but Brian grabbed its tail end with confidence, feeling the strong scales in his hand. With a move almost too fast to see, he brought it out and applied it with force to the side of Fishbait's head.
The sound of the dead fish hitting the side of Fishbait's head echoed in the room the way only a blow with a dead fish could. That is to say, not at all, but it still got the point across. So to speak.

Fishbait's eyes were wide when he realized what had just happened. His Leader had just hit him upside the head with a dead fish. "Holy mackerel!" he cried, as he stumbled to his knees.

"Bass, actually," Brian said, putting on his most commanding tone. "I did not hit you just for the halibut, but to remind you of some of the... corrective remedies I have available to me, as Leader. Do you need to experience.... any others?"

With those words, Fishbait's head went utterly white, and he dropped to his knees again, begging for forgiveness.
"Please, Leader, no more. I have realized the error of my ways, and wish your forgiveness. If you say this woman is to be spared, then spared she shall be, for all time."

(Now will be a small intermission, where small ice creams in very large boxes will be sold)
"Wait wait wait. Let me get this straight. You've guaranteed our safety.... yours, mine, our unborn child's, and that of any other relatives you or I may have, forever, by hitting one of your underbosses upside the head with a stuffed fish?"

"Bass, actually..."

"Bass, trout, catfish, triple-speckled-Wrightian-sporefish, it doesn't matter. Brian, this is the craziest thing I've ever heard, and that's coming from someone who spent several months locked in an asylum with Anne."
"Well, it wasn't just that, my love," Brian tried to explain. "It was the threat of the 'other methods' available to me that caused him to give up in terror."
"What other methods? You told me it's not worth the time to make sure someone stays dead. What 'other methods' could there be?"

In response, Brian moved to the bookcase, and took an old volume out of it. He did not open it, but turned and put it on the coffee table."This book contains much of the rules and traditions of Leader of the Simprano crime family. Even Leaders such as myself are bound to follow its guidelines, and respect its lessons from Leaders and Dons from ages past. I was required to read it as part of my indoctrinations, cover to cover. Now, if you read the section I've marked with the bookmark, you'll see why we are totally safe."

With a raised eyebrow, Deanna picked up the book and walked (well, waddled) over to the couch with it and sat down. She opened the book to the marked page, and read what it said there. She glanced at Brian, then resumed reading, a smile coming to her tanned face. Brian walked over and sat next to her as she read.
"Do you believe it now, Deanna?" Brian asked. "Those five words *will* keep my Underbosses in line, and through them, all my henchmen, everywhere, for all time, even if I quit my job."

Deanna smiled, and then closed the book, and scooted over closer to her husband. "I do understand now. I believe you, more than ever. We are truly safe."
"Now, we can think about other things... such as, what to name the baby?"

"We can't plan that yet, Brian. We don't know if it will be a boy or a girl."

"Well, it's bound to be one of the two...."

"Smart aleck."

"Your smart aleck."

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

She Just Wants To Be

Monday: 11:37 AM

Dear Diary,

It's me again, obviously. Brian and I just got back from our honeymoon. We had an absolutely fantastic time on the island. I couldn't hope to describe everything we did there. One of the first... um, well, second... things we did after checking in was head to the beach to soak up some rays. I made sure I wore plenty of suntan lotion, and made sure I turned over a lot since my skin is quite fair. Brian disagreed, he said it's quite excellent, but I think he's biased.
Brian also put on lotion, but he didn't turn over as much... he said he only burns if he does something silly. Well, now he has a new definition of what "silly" is. Yep. He burned like minute steak. I, however, got a very nice tan that hasn't seemed to have faded yet. I decided to rub his nose in it and show off the new swimsuit I'd bought. He didn't seem to hurt much... he says in his way up the ranks, he'd been subjected to more than a little sunburn...

I can't believe how good it felt to simply relax under the stars on a tropical island... pretty much of my conscious memories compose of that darned asylum and Brian, and lying alone in a hammock under the stars was such a new experience for me, I felt like I could have stayed forever.
Obviously I didn't, for I had my new husband with me, and that of course, felt more wonderful than a thousand hours under the stars ever could. Needless to say, that brought on some nose-rubbing in a different direction. Well, I'm feeling a bit of jet lag, so I think I'm gonna take a nap. After some food... I'm suddenly starving.

Saturday: 12:59 PM

Dear Diary;
I should tell you more about our new life. Brian makes enough cash that I don't need a job, but I still like to get on the computer and share financial advice. It doesn't earn me much, but any money coming in with my name on it makes me feel good. My stomach's been a little queasy since we got back. I probably just have lingering effects of the pineapple surprise...

Anyway, Brian's been busy with work. I don't ask him much about it - I know what I need to, and no more than I should. Once we'd settled in and he started his regular hours, he asked me one favor of sorts.
When we got here, he spent a lot of time fishing. He hadn't fished much, but seemed satisfied when he caught a largemouth bass. He quickly mounted it on the wall near the front door; and asked me the strange favor - he said, if he ever took the fish to work with him; I probably shouldn't ask him how his day went when he gets home. It's come off the wall once since we've been here, and when he came home. he'd brought a check for fifty-five grand! All he said was "Some superhero valued her life more than her money."

He's also managed to find a golden frame for that odd picture he painted of the Creator. He says he feels even more safe now, with it hanging on our wall. I have to admit, I do too, though my stomach isn't getting any better...
Sunday, 5:28 PM

Dear Diary;
Brian just left for work. The fish came off the wall again.
Brian hasn't been acting any different - he's been appropriately concerned about me though - I've been throwing up unexpectedly, and some days all i want to do is sleep and eat. Maybe I'm finally getting nervous about my safety. I love Brian, I trust Brian, and I believe him when he says I'm safe, but I still wonder sometimes how exactly he's guaranteeing our safety. Just thinking about it these days make me feel like I'm going to be sick.... erg; here's it comes again... excuse me for a minute!

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Romance

Dear Diary;

It's me again. Things have changed quite a lot since I last made and entry here. First of all, I'm now Mrs. Deanna Patience. Well, I suppose it's a big change from being Miss Deanna Patience, I guess. More on that later.

Brian and I had been riding in the limo for hours when it suddenly stopped in front of a house. It was still in the desert, and Brian said "We're here."

We got out of the limo (was I glad we had that blanket), and as I did, Brian said to me, "Welcome home, Deanna." This house is ours? I couldn't believe it. Somehow he'd managed to buy us a house and have it furnished while we were in the limo making.... uh... making wedding plans. Still no eraser on this pen...

Anyway, Brian waved off the driver, and the limo pulled away. I guess we didn't need it; since there were two Hunka 711s in the driveway! One red, and one pink? "Brian," I said, "not that I object to a little display of wealth after what we've been through, but why do you need TWO cars?"

"I don't, my love," he said with a smile. He pointed to the pink car. "This one is yours." I remember clasping both hands over my hands over my mouth in surprise... I don't even remember being taught how to drive! I'd also forgotten I needed my hands to keep the blanket in place, so I kinda dropped it. No one here but Brian, so it really didn't matter.

We spent the next few days pretty much getting used to the house and this town. Apparently this town we've settled in is named Strangetown. It's a small town in the middle of the desert, but still close enough to Brian's... uh, workplace. We went clothes shopping nearby... this town is small, but it seems to have everything we need.

Brian had been a little grumpy at the beginning... he kept looking at the walls in our bedroom muttering about weatherproofing and roofs. Planning our wedding and honeymoon cheered him up though... well that, and the painting he's been doing. The one he's hung up in our living room is kind strange looking though.

He had good news for me, not two days after we moved in here. Apparently he and Lord Thomas' people had come to an agreement. Jen has become a full employee of his "cult"; sworn to absolute secrecy, in exchange for a hearty paycheck. When he told me the amount, I told him for that kind of money, I'd keep my mouth shut too.

One day before he had to leave for "work", he told me to expect a surprise visitor that evening. He hoped to be home in time to see the visitor too, but when he saw I was a tiny bit nervous, he gave me a hug and said "Don't worry my love. You'll smile when you see them."
He was right! Just after 8 that night, Tammy showed up! I couldn't believe it, and ran out of the house to greet her before she could even ring the doorbell! She was really happy to see me too, and I wasted no time hustling her to the dinner table. I'd discovered I really like to cook, so it was lucky of her to get here just when I'd made a plate of salmon. I could tell just from looking at her that she was off the medication, too. Like me, she'd kept the surname of Patience. Apparently, the paperwork needed to change your surname without a wedding makes it not worth the trouble.
Over dinner, I asked her where she'd been; wasn't she... sent by the Creator? And what of Carrie, Anne, Leslie and the others? Brian had told me he'd had the asylum we were in closed, but where were they now? She said it was complicated to explain, but what she COULD tell me was that she and Sandy had been "assigned" to take care of Carrie, Anne and Leslie... who had moved to a new outpatient clinic right here in Strangetown! Not only is it in this town, I can literally see it from our front yard! I'll have to visit them as soon as we get back from our honeymoon, I told her.

"Yes, Brian told us about the wedding. He didn't think you'd mind, but he wanted me to tell you he's invited them to the wedding."

"Mind? I'd insist on you all being here! Uh.... how's Anne and the whole 'fire' tendency of hers?" This made Tammy laugh. She said they haven't had to change the battery in the smoke detectors yet.

I'm skipping ahead a bit to the wedding. True to his word, he'd invited all our friends from the PRC! The only other guest was Warren from Sue's Hidden Kitchen... we'd become acquainted from that cooking contest I entered, and won, with that "Comfort Soup" recipe I'd learned!
It was a very simple wedding, being in the middle of the desert, but I loved it. I'd have married my Brian in that dusty old rec room in the asylum if we'd had to. The party was quite the Roof Raiser, once Brian had the bubble blower put up, and served the food. No risk of Anne cooking! One thing I should have done, though... was leave my new cell phone somewhere else besides my pocket. I was just shocked there was room for a cell phone AND me in this dress...

After the wedding party was over, and I'd said good bye to our friends, a taxi showed up and whisked us away for our honeymoon! I'd never been on a plane before (I don't think), so I was a bit nervous until we touched down on Twikkii Island. We stopped at a small shop to buy tropical clothes, then returned to our bungalow to check in.
....and check out a few other things too.

Bye for now, Diary! I'll catch up with you in a few days, I hope!

Dead Letter Office: Brian and Deanna

I was looking through my collection of snapshots taken during my asylum, and found several I didn't use for whatever reason. There's a few shots of B and D and their new house, too...
Bloody hard to stage a good drowning, even without the skill point bar.
Brian and Deanna's house, after decoration. Another house made before Seasons with an "Unsealed" top floor... where Brian and Deanna's bedroom is. Sigh. Which of course, I discovered after an hour of decorating it.
Brian's preferred hobby is Arts and Crafts. He does this "Viewfinder" thing a lot when he's idle. I just thought this unstaged shot was too good to pass up. The "Digital Angel" shirt will become a virus if I don't control myself.... Deanna's wearing it, Shannon Singleton is wearing it, and "Deanna Victim" (stay tuned) was wearing it too. It's just so awesome...
Here are Brian and Deanna seeing if either of them had Tinkering as a preferred hobby. They didn't. (Deanna's is Cuisine) I have to get Deanna some Active points somehow (legally)... she's only good for a few hours Tinkering on the car before her energy goes orange. Bloody hard to keep her and Brian awake at the same times.
I took a couple "Group hang out" pics doing the asylum. Never found a post to include them in, though. Jen isn't in this one... that's prolly why...

This one made me laugh. I was trying to pose B and D for their ending shots for "Hope"... when Deanna Victim walked by. This, obviously, is the teenage Deanna from "All The Right Friends". I wonder.... what if Deanna had noticed her... would she have snapped again? :D

We'll never find out... I deleted the "Victim" family (Dredge, Sludge, Deanna, and Floater Victim) because that would be just too darned weird. :)

More later if I get bored again. :)