VDSL: The Ellen Parsons Project : Gen 1.2
Previously on: Ellen and Thurston wed, the Parsons family acquired a bunch of useless junk from relatives they never even knew they had, Mandy became the official Parsons Feline Overlord, and a Barry Manilow song was bastardized in the name of comedy.
What's next for the Parsons clan?
So first things first.
Week 5 challenge: Secret diary of a call sim.
Yeah, this should prove to be "fun", what with Ellen and Thurston being co-dependently in love and the teen twins both being painfully shy (and fairly mean).
Since I'm not about to break up Ellen and Thurston's marriage (though they both have folks they could shake down for date gifts) I opt for the less shy of the teens.
You ready, miss Pearl?
"Ready? For my close up?"
Funny. Ready for your OUTING.
"I'm going out? Like downtown?"
Yup.
"How come?"
Well, it seems your father got pinched and has to lay low for a while.
"Pinched? You mean they caught him. . ."
Yes. It's bound to happen when you're a criminal. So you have to go out there and hustle to make the rent, baby.
OUTING SPAM:
*whispering*
You might want to look for teens, Pearl. He's a little old for you.
Pearl does a good job of meeting some new faces.
Including. . .
Cotton Temblor ( laridian ). While teen Pearl might not be able to date him (no, I don't have any adult/teen romance mods--just the wee bit you can do with ACR but nothing additional) it never hurts to get to know p_t folks.
Thanks to the magic of going downtown, Pearl returns home and it's like she never missed a second (gotta love that). She finds that her father, despite having to lay low, has phoned an old colleague to help her in her quest.
She wastes no time proving to Frank N. Furter ( xel_squirgle_ox ) how much work she needs.
"You think you can help me?"
Frank does his best not to laugh. He's seen a lot in his day and this girl reeks of failure. But Thurston asked him to do what he can and who is he to refuse Thurston? But that cat. . .lord that thing is freaking him out. Just staring like that. How can sims LIVE with them?
At least Thurston has a hot tub. Frank's feet are killing him.
Mandy: What the ever loving hell is THAT? Whatever it is, I don't like it. Miss Pearl, don't go to him.
But Mandy has little say in the matter (something she's quite bitter about, mind you).
Mandy: Don't you SEE what's going on here? Aren't you going to DO something? Where are your parents? How did I get in the middle of THIS?
"Aww, Mandy! Cutie girl. Who's a cutie girl!?"
Mandy: It's like having a conversation with a DOG. *shakes head*
From this angle, the fail just goes on and on. Frank wonders if it's not too late to see if Thurston would change his mind and offer up his son instead. Teen boy? Now there's something Frank can work with.
"First things first, missy. I'm here to give you advice and advice only, got it?"
"But I thought you were supposed to help me. . .you know. . .get. . .uh. . .practice?"
Mandy: Disgusting. Just disgusting.
Sorry, Mandy, but a challenge is a challenge.
"Ooh, if we get another piano we can sell it off and. . ."
Thurston and Ellen are already making plans for the gifts they are sure Pearl will snag.
Blissfully unaware that teacher and student aren't meshing (and that the Feline Overlord is highly displeased).
(I'd like to direct your attention to the painting on the far wall--THAT'S the one I forgot to show off last time. Isn't it lovely?)
Mandy continues to do the only thing she can do. Giving Frank the stink eye.
While still keeping tabs on Miss Pearl.
Mandy: OH that's just IT. IT has ITS bare hind quarters on MY couch!
Frank's none too comfortable with the situation, either. Bare buns on pleather? PLEATHER? He expected better from Thurston. Apparently crime doesn't pay as well as one would think.
And this girl? She just WILL NOT stop.
"WHAT did I say to you in the hot tub?"
"But. . .I thought you could show me how to touch. . ."
"Listen, sweetie. You're a nice enough girl but there is no way I'm going to let you paw all over me. Thurston or no Thurston. There are somethings I just do NOT do and teen girls are one of them. Get me?"
"But. . .but. . .how am I going to win at this challenge and make money and do what I'm 'posed to if you won't. . ."
Frank sighs. It's gone from bad to worse. Now the girl is on the verge of tears. Thurston's daughter is on the verge of tears.
The only way to save the relationship score (which was negatory by this point) was to sit down and have an old fashioned hang out. Really, Pearl is HORRIBLE with relationship building (but in her defense, Frank may be a bit cranky himself, so he's a tough nut to crack).
Like Frank, I'm beginning to wonder if I picked the wrong twin for this challenge.
*points to window* If you squint you can see some loving going on there. Thurston and Ellen AND. . .
. . .Alan and his long time love interest, Tamara.
But Alan is so much more shy than Pearl (and meaner) and I've already settled on Pearl so Pearl it is.
You never know, maybe she'll surprise me and Frank.
She does manage to warm Frank to her a bit by the time he decides to call it a night, so that has to count for something, right?
"Ooh, tomorrow morning I'm going to get to work bright and early."
One thing is for sure. Pearl does not lack for self confidence. (and hindsight being 20/20, I can assure you she'll need it)
Amy "The Papergirl" Jones: This family doesn't even TIP me. I really need to get my grades up so I can graduate high school and get a job driving the low level carpool. Anything is better than THIS.
(warning: continuity error with clothing!)
"Sounds like your sister is having a great time with the paper girl."
Uh. . ..yeah
Alan, in a desperate ploy to get out of having a conversation about his Ho In Training (HIT) sister jerks the conversation to a topic he knows his mother can't resist.
Thurston wishes he'd stayed in bed. If there's anything worse than having to eat grilled cheese all the time it's talking about grilled cheese.
". . .and you're all a bunch of freaky aliens. I mean, not ONE of you has a face even close to template #1. . ."
Going outside offers Thurston little relief.
What has he DONE? He's pushing his daughter into the arms of a SERVICE SIM. And for what? The chance at date gifts? He loves his daughter but lets be realistic here. She'll be lucky if she nets the family a Bearly Butts chair. At least Thurston was smart enough to squirrel away a few simoleons so the family won't starve this week.
Mandy: I TOLD you this was a bad idea. But does anyone listen to the cat? Oh no. . .it's always the same thing. Oooh, who's a cutie girl and all that prattle. . .
"Ooh, Mandy baby. Who's a cutie girl? Who's daddy's cutie girl?"
Mandy: Daddy? DADDY?! You, sir, are no father of MINE.
While the kids are away, the adults will play.
Ellen embraces elderhood while. . .
. . .she embraces Thurston.
(see, I told you neither of them could be my Call Sim. They're all over each other all the time. How could I disturb that?)
Pearl is such a trooper. She brings Juan home from school and gets to work on him right away.
As snow begins to fall (and I swear, Viking Shoals has more weather than any neighborhood I've ever played. It's constantly snowing or raining--it snowed until spring was HALF OVER!)
Pearl warms up Juan.
*Pearl thinking* Just don't let him see my mom taking the trash out in nothing but her granny panties--damn, those are some huge draws.
*Pearl thinking* Oh good gravy. My dad too? Focus. Keep Juan from seeing them. Honestly, they aren't making this any easier for me, are they? Juan has some huge lips. . .
*Pearl still thinking* Holy crap. . .holy crap. . .holy crap. I'm having my First Kiss. I know it is cuz I can totally hear the music and see the hearts and. . .oh, man, are my parents still out at the mailbox in nothing but their skivvies?
*Pearl still thinking* Take THAT stupid old Frank N. Furter. I totally scored my first kiss and kept Juan from seeing my parents in their underwear. I bet I even get a cool gift cuz I think Juan really likes me.
Did Juan give you those?
"Yup. They're really pretty, huh?"
Yeah, not bad. But I prefer bird of paradise, myself. Did he give you anything else?
"No. Stupid cheapskate."
Don't worry about it. The week's still young. You did really good with Juan.
"Thanks."
This challenge isn't stressing you out too much, is it?
"Nah, I'm cool. Why?"
Oh, just the beak outs and. . .
"Oh, don't worry about these nasty zits. I'm going to Oxy-cute them."
Go get 'em, Miss Pearl.
Alan, what are you up to?
This is clearly NOT your house.
(for the record, I didn't build it, either. It's from one of the MATY House of Phail threads--sorry but I forget who made it or I'd give credit where credit is due)
"EWWWW!"
Oh for heaven's sake. You do realize that by loathing Buffy Buffington ( mjo5oh ) you're not helping your quest to be heir.
"So. I don't care. She's GROSS. Not cute like my sweet Tamara. . ."
Lord help me.
But Buffy has a lot of money. You sure you don't want to re-think. ..
". . .sweet Tamara. . ."
(side bar)
Buffy Buffington is the lone child of:
Carter Buffington ( hjsnapepm ) (pictured here with Javier). Carter is a very talented (if not a bit eccentric) architect with a passion for birds.
Hey Chandler!
"Madame."
How are you liking your new assignment at the Buffington place.
"Fabulous, madame."
Don't sound so enthused there, Chandler.
(yeah, Chandler's my first butler. I told you the Buffington's were loaded. They don't even NEED a butler what with Carter being an obsessive compulsive clean freak)
And while Alan was at the Buffington abode, who should saunter by but Eliza John ( xel_squirgle_ox ). She's fab-u.
Now don't go thinking Pearl is resting on her laurels while her brother is being repulsed by rich p_t sims.
Seems Miss Pearl has found a niche market.
She brings home another BV teen, Opal. Despite not having strong feelings one way or the other toward her. . .
Mandy: *claws furiously*
It's at this point that I realize Pearl's niche (getting with BV teens) isn't going to be a lucrative one. Despite having a dream date (same as Juan) Opal is stingy with the gifts.
More effing roses.
Really, it's a good thing Thurston had a nest egg. The family would surely starve living on the re-sale value of two bouquets of roses.
Alan is such a family sim sometimes. It's nice to see him trying to get to know his younger siblings. There's a pretty big divide between the twins and the two younger kids. It's almost like they're strangers to each other (though I can't blame them when it comes to Robin--he's very mean and a bit aloof).
Mandy, still displeased about the whole Call Sim thing, mounts a protest.
Mandy: Yes, it's disgusting but desperate times call for desperate measures. That and my cat box is an abomination. I'd rather use the bamboo latrine.
No matter what they do (be it dishes or mopping up her pee or playing with her) Mandy refuses to like the majority of the family. In fact, the only sim she does like is Miss Pearl.
Mandy: Miss Pearl is MINE!
Yes, yes she is. This gives me an idea. . .
But first, another date for our Miss Pearl.
Another BV teen, Elizabeth.
Oh, crap.
Melissa has a bit of permafrost on her.
This doesn't bode well for the quest for date gifts.
This also makes me dislike BV teens a little bit more. Honestly, why did you come home with HIT Pearl if you thought she was so nasty? Just because Pearl's a quasi sex worker doesn't mean you can treat her this way.
And even after Pearl does all she can to make you happy (getting the date to dream status) you STILL only leave a damn bunch of roses?
See, this is how stereotypes get started. So when folks start saying "Bon Voyage teens are cheap." or "Bon Voyage teens are dirty teases." don't come crying to me that it's not fair. From what I've seen, both statements are cold hard FACTS.
Pearl is un-phased. She knows she did her part.
"And then I kissed her, just like. . .THIS!"
Mandy: MINE!
Well, I can see how Miss Pearl is hard to resist.
(side bar: It was only after I had Miss Pearl locked in to be the HIT that I realized it's perfect for her LTW to have 50 first dates--I love when I'm double dipping and don't even KNOW it--BONUS)
"SNOW DAY!!"
Oh great. So now all the kids will be in the house and I'll have to put up with all of you all day. . .WAIT. . .Alan, can you make a call for me?
Excellent.
Alan calls up Buffy, Pearl greets her and now we have another sim for Pearl to date. And one who's NOT a BV teen.
(for the record, Robin made that mean snowman back there--I told you the kid is crabby)
"I love the way her hair makes her look like the bearded woman. Mmm, yeah!"
I can't say that I'm with you on that, Pearl, but whatever floats your boat. Go get her (but try not to mess it up, okay?).
"I shall do my best."
Wow. Swimsuits so soon?
"Yeah. Isn't her bikini HOT!"
Whatcha thinking about, Thurston?
"Well, I was just wondering if these bunkbeds are really that safe. I mean I'm practically through the ceiling here."
Thurston, I can see your thoughts you know.
"Oh? Ok, I was really wondering if it was worth it for Pearl to waste the whole day wooing that Buffington girl."
I think it was. They're on a date right now.
"Yeah? How's it going?"
Well, I think your daughter is really kind of smitten with Buffy.
"Yeah."
But her timing is still a little off.
*laughing* "Yeah, that sounds like Pearl all right."
And she could use to learn the meaning of the word "discretion".
"Yeah? What did she do?"
Well, lets just say you and Ellen might be getting a call from the school about some drawings Robin made.
"Drawings of?"
Sapphic love.
"Oh." *snickers* "So things are going well with Pearl and Buffy then?"
Yeah, not bad.
This was the first time Pearl didn't have a dream date. BUT she did find a sim she really likes AND it's a p_t sim. So I'm cool with it. So is Thurston. And, most importantly, Pearl.
It's not looking so good for you, Alan.
"What was that?"
Oh, nothing. Just continue staring into the waves, no doubt dreaming of Tamara, am I right?
"She's so cute. . ."
It's been a long week, what with all the dating. So when Friday rolls around I'm loving it.
Despite being all but ignored (for pretty much ever) Ruby finally lands a bit of face time. Thurston is proud that all this children are over achievers (and immediately rolls wants for all of them to go get into private school and/or go to college).
But the week is not quite over so. . .check out Miss Pearl there.
She's getting kind of smooth (or maybe Randy's just a terminal dork--which is very likely)
Well hello there, Helga Samuelson ( simmytizzy ). Helga is Ulf Samuelson's sister (oh, and since no one mentioned it I will. Ulf is named for Pittsburgh Penguins player Ulf Samuelsson who helped the Pens win the two Stanley Cups they claimed in the 90's).
Pearl doesn't pay much mind to Helga. She's too busy letting Randy peek up her skirt.
I figure every generation needs to have a scare from the scare crow. Alan draws the short stick (I still haven't figured out what provokes the scare or if it's truly random--either way, gen 2 has had a scare, so nicely done, Alan).
"Uh, Ellen, honey. I just got a call from the school about Robin. . ."
Ooh, let's not get in the middle of this.
*backs away*
*Alan sighing*
What's wrong, tomatillo?
"I really wish we could have another cat. You know, one that's not so. . .you know. . .one that's different from Mandy. I mean, I really like Mandy but she's just. . .you know. . ."
She's a one girl cat.
"Exactly."
Don't fret, my pet. There will be more pets in your future, I'm sure.
"You mean Mandy's going to have kittens?"
Not so fast. Mandy's not having kittens. . .YET.
*Alan beams*
And even if she does, you might not be here to see them, you know.
"Where will I be? Oh, you mean she's going to have kittens while I'm at college with. . .*sighs*. . .Tamara?"
I'm just saying there's going to be a Mandy legacy, as a kind of pet legacy. But I'm not sure you'll be a direct part of it. You may have to get your own cat if, you know, you aren't heir.
"Oh."
All righty then, back to seeing what your sister is up to with Randy, huh?
*disgusted shake of head* I'm so glad you don't care for Pearl and that you're a townie. I don't want your rat face in this legacy, creep ass Randy.
Again, this doesn't bode well for getting a date gift.
Mandy: Keep your filthy paws ABOVE the water, mister.
Mandy is officially changing her name to Dot Matrix. The Virgin Alarm will be fully functional very shortly. Thank you.
What are you smirking about, Miss Pearl? Looks to me like Ratface Randy walked out on you.
"Yeah, he said the water's too hot. He's such a puss."
So, you're happy about this? Don't you want to try and get a gift from him?
"I don't really care that much. I'm just thinking about Buffy and. . ."
HAND CHECK!
"Listen Randy, I. . .uh have some things I need to finger. . .FIGURE out. . .so I guess it's goodnight?"
Nice recovery, Pearl.
Another dream date, another bunch of stupid flowers.
Honestly, at this point I'm getting pretty damn fed up. Pearl's dated BV teens, townies, and a controllable sim and NOTHING. True, the controllable sim didn't get to dream date but. . .
Wait. The controllable sim didn't get to dream date.
So there's still a chance.
Now it's Saturday and this is the last day of the Call Sim mini challenge and Pearl's yet to score a date gift. In the course of a day I should be able to do two dates and hopefully land a gift.
Come on Pearl, you have things to do.
"He's such a COLD FISH!"
Pearl, calm down. . .
"NO. I'm tired of this crap. I don't even like him. I really like. . ."
If you'll notice there in the background is one Randy London.
Seems Miss Pearl made a booty call to Buffy after she called Randy for a date. So now I'm in a bit of a pickle.
A pickle I'm distracted from momentarily by a p_t sim sighting. Hello there, Delilah Marzo ( pinkposeysims ).
I keep Pearl distracted so she can't act on the booty call and since she didn't officially greet Buffy, there is no drama.
Hee hee. Except this.
Alan and Robin get bee-tacted post hiking.
Pearl manages another dream date with Randy and we get another p_t sim sighting. This time from Jackie Ether ( amaryssobellus )
Randy's barely off the lot before Pearl's back on the horn to Buffy and she's high tailing it over to the Parsons' place for some booty call action.
Pearl's so getting her leg dry humped.
"You know. . .I mean only if you want. . .I wouldn't mind doing. . .you know. . .more."
Ahh, young romance!
Pearl successfully bobs for cherries.
"Got one, too. So did Buffy!"
That's my girl.
On that high note, I bid a fond farewell to the week 5 challenge and welcome week 6. (oh and for the official count, Pearl managed to get NO gifts, not a one)
Week 6 challenge: The Quiet family.
*rubs hands together*
NOW we're talking.
Per the rules the first three sims to wander onto the lot will become the victims.
But not before Alan finally figures out he's in a quasi competition with his siblings for heir and takes a stab at winning me over.
That tuck in animation is super cute but it might be too little, too late.
We'll see.
Now, on to the killing!
Amy "Papergirl" Jones.
See, this is what you get for giving Miss Pearl the cold shoulder. Just wait until you get hungry and Petunia Cowabunga there offers you a sweet treat.
"Shuh. . .whatever. This place smells. I'm outta this dung heap."
WHAT!?
"Hey Ames!"
Amy flashes double thumbs up and makes creepy smiley face.
Uh, Miss Pearl, what the hell?
"Oh, I gave Amy a pass."
A WHAT?!
"A. Pass."
Don't be a smart ass.
"I just don't want her to get eaten by Petunia Cowabunga. She's too cool."
COOL?! She's at best a pain in the ass and at worst an anti-alien-ist.
"Nah. She's just a disgruntled worker who could use with 4 weeks paid vacation and a union to help negotiate other benefits. She's not bad."
Okay then. Time to try something else.
Is this one ok with you?
"Sure. I think she said her name is Rose. I think Petunia Cowabunga will like her."
Luck you, Rose. Off to the locked cowplant paddock with you.
"Here's another one for you."
Uh, I think I'm going to use my veto power this time and say no.
"What? Weren't you just whining that I let Ames go? You should so off this guy."
No, that's Opie Griffith ( sixamsims ). He's p_t and. . .
"And so what. He shouldn't have come around our house if he didn't. . ."
. . .NO. He's awesome looking and your kids or grand kids or. . .
"Are you saying I'm going to be heir?"
SHH. I said no such thing. I was using the royal "your".
"Royal your? Pfffft. You so said I'm going to be heir!"
Wrong. It's still an open race between you, Alan and Ruby. You just happen to be heavily favored is all.
"I'm the heir, I'm the heir." *dances around*
NOT YET. Just let Opie go and help me find two more rubes to kill.
Now this makes me feel a little bit bad.
A child?
Well, as long as he's not a p_t child. (What? I already used my one veto so these two are so going to be the next two victims).
As you can see by the detritus there in the background, I'm going to try some stuff out with this pair (Chandler and Meadow).
Meadow first.
*guzzles potion*
"This doesn't taste like any energy drink I've ever. . ."
"HOLY CRAP! What's in this?"
"Secret recipe."
Ellen, you devious girl you.
Meadow passes some ashy gas but, much to my annoyance, flees the lot before she is devoured by the sunlight.
Damnit. That's the second escapee. I suck at murder.
Petunia Cowabunga: Mooooby some cake will make you feel better?
"Huh? What's going on? Am I on Candid Camera or something?"
Really, Petunia Cowabunga? Crotch sniffing?
Petunia Cowabunga: The fear scent settles in the groin and armpits. So delicious.
Tiny cake is tiny.
And Rose WANTS IT.
Waylon you should learn from Rose. Be careful what you try to consume while on the Parsons' lot.
Since Meadow escaped, Waylon has to take her place.
"This milk would make great cheese!"
Ellen, your one track mind never fails to astound me.
So, with Rose being drunk by Ellen and Waylon (newly plantified) taking Meadow's place, that leaves only Chandler.
But first, Thurston becomes an elder. (and poor Robin there in the background, became a teen but I forgot to get a neat head shot--I thought I did but must not have--I do that sometimes).
And Alan pouts because someone put soap in the fountain.
(I think it was Waylon but I can't be sure--no matter, he's going to be punished, guilty or not)
Now you may have noticed a few snaps back that Chandler Platz was aged up. Yes, yes he was. Since I didn't get to kill the freshly vampired Meadow. . .
. . .Chandler is my new vampire huckleberry.
And this time he's NOT going to escape.
How can I be sure?
Fire. FIRE!!
Death: You know, I don't get commissions from Acts of Boolprop. Nor do I collect on the cowplant shenanigans. You'd think I would but with the essence being consumable I'm not needed. Kind of a rip off it you ask me but. . .OH, that's right. I'm hear for a no-charge Chandler Platz.
Death: Damnit. The service out here is lousy.
Death: It says I have bars but the signal is dead. HAH! Oh, I made a funny. Oh, here we go. Yeah, I got an n/c here. Yeah, vampire. So much for being "undead" huh? *laughs*
Death hangs up then turns to Ellen who's stuffing a marshmallow in her maw.
Death: Ok, then, you're all set. You know, that smells good. Think I could get one of those for the road.
He's interrupted by a beam of bright light.
Death: Crap. I got another call. See you later?
"Yeah, probably."
"To Chandler!"
Opie is more than a little shocked by the Parsons families cold calmness in the face of such sudden and brutal death.
"I'm out of here."
WHAT?! No, just no way. I've already had an escapee Papergirl and vampire. There is no way I'm letting some plant half breed just leaf. . .I mean LEAVE.
Yeah, Waylon just up and escaped. So now it was pushing Monday morning and I still hadn't met my death quota. I really do suck at killing.
Whatcha got there, Miss Pearl?
"Mmm, LOVE note. It smells like vanilla."
*teasing sing song* Who's it FOR?
"I don't know and I don't care. I found it and it's mine."
PEARL!
"What?"
What? Well what if it's for your brother. You know he has been going steady with Tamara. . .
*blows raspberry*
"It's not from *rolls eyes* Tamara. She's too much of a dullard to write a sexy love note. A note that smells like vanilla and *sniffs again* double bubble berry lip gloss. . .mmm."
You sure about that?
"Totally. Tamara smells like loose change held too long in a sweaty hand."
Pearl!
"Well, she does."
While the kids are all off at school, Ellen and Thurston race one another to see who can tan fastest.
It ends in a tie. They both toast up nicely.
Mandy: Yeah, that's right. I like him more than you. Kind of.
Mandy still has not made friends with any other family member except Pearl. But she does like a good hugging even if it's not from her first choice.
Well lookie here. It's Opal cracking ass and blaming it on Gordon.
While Robin and Alan enjoy the joke, poor Gordon bursts into tears. And that makes Robin (who brought Gordon home with him) mad.
So, I think we have a contender for Third Victim.
After Robin so kindly explains the game to Gordon, he's surprisingly fine with it.
In fact, he's kind of turned on by it.
(unfortunately for Gordon, Robin finds him repellent or this murder may have ended in some hot tub humping)
That's right, Opal. Have some cake.
And old guy out there by the mailbox, you can thank Opal (and her hiney burp) for saving your old butt from death.
Petunia Cowabunga: Eww, smells like a stale fart. I'm not eating that.
WHAT?!
Petunia Cowabunga: Foreigners always smell funky. They jack up my digestion too. Send it back and get me some good Viking Shoals food.
Now how on earth did you know she's a BV teen?
Petunia Cowabunga: Same way you did, dumby. That stupid vest. Foreigners are bad dressers, too. Gag.
Really, PC would NOT eat Opal. Opal would grab for the cake, get sniffed and then nothing. I even made her selectable and added her to the family and no go.
SO. . .
"I'm so sorry. . .I know you don't get paid for these but we had to finish this challenge and. . ."
Death: Don't get paid? Oh, that's only for Acts of Boolprop on LOCALS. This here's an out of towner. This is like digging up a gold nugget in your own backyard. Jackpot, baby.
"Hmm, I never knew it was that complicated."
Me neither, Ellen. You really do learn something new every day.
Just to prove that I don't completely neglect the younger Parsons children. And to prove that Ruby (in the previous pic) wasn't wearing a do rag. Just a big floppy hat. Seeing her like this, I like her a bit more. And when she completes a painting (after maxing her creativity on the piano) I like her even a bit more. BUT, she rolls family so that brings her back down a peg (she and Alan are both family while Pearl is pleasure--funny that I'm leaning toward the pleasure sim).
Since the weekly challenge is now complete, the rest of the week breezes past (as will the rest of this update).
Because I'm a glutton for punishment, I'm sending all the kids off to college.
Alan and Pearl head off first since it's that or transition to adult. The rest of the week is left to the elders and the younger two children. The elders putter around the house enjoying being old (and humping each other wantonly) while the kids amass some more skills to get good scholarships (and net their father some aspiration points in the process).
The ghosts show up (well, not Chandler, the spoil sport) and one gives Thurston a good scare (which he enjoys).
Robin does his Charlie McGee impression.
And tries to shake down his abduction parent for simoleons for college. (abduction parents are notorious deadbeats, for the record)
And just before Robin and Ruby are taken off to college (scholarships in tow--but no abduction one for Robin, sadly) we get one last p_t sim sighting. It's Chick Verse ( tiipiipii ). Howdy Chick.
That brings us right up to:
Week 7: DIY challenge.
Pffft. Hardly a challenge at all. I have yet to use a service sim in this household. BUT, Week 7 will be live from Academie Le Tour and La Fiesta Tech, so the scenery will change (and you know I'll force the whole college experience into that one week because college gives me a facial tick).
UNTIL NEXT TIME!!