Already in Progress, Chapter 10

Welcome back! Before we get started, I have a confession to make…Way back when, I
did a Very Bad Thing. I took families from one neighborhood, plopped them in the
family bin, and put them down in another neighborhood. I thought this worked quite well.
Well, no.
See, it turns out that doing that sort of thing can make your game go kablooie. And when
I started getting symptoms of impending kablooie-ness, I knew enough to know that the
‘hood was heading for Total Meltdown. So, I fixed it.
I spent an entire week taking reference photos and making notes on personalities and
another week recreating everybody in CAS in a brand-new ‘hood and cheating them back
their skill points and relationships, insofar as that was possible. (For example, although
Marcel and Yvonne are twins, they no longer recognize each other as family. I thought it
was more important that Yvonne recognize her husband and children.) Why didn’t I just
use SimPE? Because I don’t have it. I don’t play with hacks, mods, or add-on programs,
and all custom content is by yours truly, which explains why there’s so little of it and
why what there is is so lousy.
This means that some of the pictures you see here were taken in the old ‘hood, and some
were taken in the new. If you can figure out when the switch occurred, I will give you a
cookie. If you can figure out when the first picture from the new ‘hood showed up, I will
give you two. Here’s a hint: Some people are better (or at least different) looking now,
since I wasn’t able to create the same deformities in CAS as you can get through
breeding. Here’s another hint: When it comes to sharing cookies, I cheat.
And with that, let’s rejoin our story: Already in Progress…

Let’s start by answering the question that I asked you at the end of the last chapter. Yes!
We have a natural redhead! Wa-hoo!
(does happy dance around the living room)
He sure takes after his father, doesn’t he?

Since that little Victorian is just too darn small for a family of seven, the Millers have
moved. Now, I know you’re thinking “Wait a minute, seven? Ricky, Yvonne, Byron,
Lucky, Caryl, Tyrone – that’s only six.” And you’re absolutely right. What you don’t
know is that Jerome has moved in too.
Well, it’s an enormous house. There’s heaps of room.

He fits right in. Tyrone, in particular, is extremely fond of “Unca Jer.” And Uncle Jer has
a special place in his heart for his “Tyger.”

MIRCEA: Kitty, why do I let you talk me into these things?
KITTY: Because I always have the best ideas. It’ll be fun.
MIRCEA: I’m not so sure.
Yup, that’s right. Kitty and her partner in crime are off to college. Mircea looks so much
like his father now that I keep wanting to call him Galileo.
And what is Kitty’s brilliant idea?

Well, it’s my idea, actually. I find college far too long – it doubles a Sim’s adult lifespan
– and rather tedious to play through. Plus, my Sims always make more money than I
know what to do with. I also like building my colleges from the ground up. Sooo – why
not have my students move onto an empty lot and use their college money to build the
dorm around them? Then future students can furnish and decorate it, providing hours of
fun for the whole family!
Yeah, great idea, except that scholarship money doesn’t go all that far when you’re
buying walls. Which is why Kitty and Mircea are digging for treasure in their spare time.
MIRCEA: Kitty, tell me again just why I let you talk me into this?
Oh, not that old argument again. Let’s see how Mircea’s parents are doing.

Doing pretty well, actually. I decided I didn’t like the house they were building – very
poorly designed – so I designed them a new one and moved them onto a new lot to work
on it. They don’t seem to mind living in a little dirt-floored shack again. They will
probably live here until the end of their lives, since I’m building their real house with a
Middle-of-Nowhere handicap. (Only two items per build/buy tab per day: two squares of
foundation, two walls, two chairs, etc.)

Okay, so I guess Galileo will definitely live here til the end of his life. I didn’t think it
was that close.

Galileo Curious Couderc, 67 years old. Galileo was the son of Vidcund Curious and
Daisy Greenman Curious. He rarely hit gold aspiration, never made permaplat, and had to
send for a mail-order bride. On the other hand, he had three bolts with his wife and
seemed pretty content overall. Once he became an adult, he rarely lived in a completed
house.
Galileo originally had one full-blooded sister, two alien half-siblings by his father, and
one plantsim half-brother by his mother. Vidcund’s children Castor and Polluxa
predeceased Galileo, and Daisy’s son Thorn didn’t make the cut for the rebuild. Neither
did Galileo’s twin Hedy Curious Stewart and her husband Gabe. Galileo is therefore
survived only by his wife Lydia and his son Mircea. Lydia has some time left and will
carry on building.

Marcel and Zeeshan, in contrast, are doing great. They’ve even figured out a way to have
a pillow fight while they’re in different rooms.

Rosie graduated and moved back in with her dads. She got a job in a hospital right out of
school, and is generally so busy that when she comes home, she eats, takes a shower, and
goes straight to bed. Sometimes she even falls asleep in the shower. Her fathers agreed
that it was silly for her to pay rent on a place she’d never be awake in, and anyway she’s
the heir, so she might as well just move in straight away, since it makes inheritance so
much easier. Plus, someone should check on her occasionally to make sure she doesn’t
drown in her sleep.

Nevertheless, Rosie does occasionally have time to go out with some of the people from
work.

Which is how she met Robi Scott.
If you think I’m making it up about Rosie being colorblind, allow me to prove my point.
Robi has red hair. He’s wearing an olive-green shirt, purple pants, and red-and-green
bowling shoes.

Rosie thinks he’s the cat’s pajamas.

Getting a letter from him is enough to make her come out with that ten-Nice-points smile,
even though she’s only got one.
She is definitely over Aren.
And speaking of the Sanders girls and love letters, is Cassie ready to tell me about who
sent her one?

CASSIE (V.O.): I’ll tell you if you’ll give me some advice.
Okay…Where’d you get the piano?
CASSIE (V.O.): I’m getting to that.

CASSIE (V.O.): See, I went to the spa the other day, and I met this guy. His name’s
Alvin – Alvin McClellan. I like him a lot.

CASSIE (V.O.): So we swapped numbers and we chatted on the phone some, and I asked
him over for dinner. I made spaghetti.
Go on…
CASSIE (V.O.): And we were talking, and I asked him what he did – you know, for a
living – and he said he was a Numbers Runner.
And you want to know if you should be getting involved with a criminal?

CASSIE (V.O.): No…I was just surprised, you know? I didn’t think anybody could really
make a living at that. So I said “Does that pay good money?” And he was really
offended. I didn’t mean to insult him! And I invited him to two parties afterward, and he
didn’t come to either one.
Maybe he’s not interested?

CASSIE (V.O.): No, he likes me, I know he does! He’ll go out with me when it’s just us,
and he wrote me that nice letter, and he even gave me that piano after one of our dates. I
just don’t know what to do! I really, really like him, and he’s never been a jerk to me, and
– What do I do?
Well, if I were you, I’d just keep on taking it slow. I mean, you’re a young, attractive
woman without very much money, and he’s an older man, probably has a bit tucked
away. He’s probably worried that you’re not serious, and that you’re only after his
money.
CASSIE (V.O.): But I’m not! I mean, I’m serious. And I don’t care how much money he
has. I was only curious!
Then just keep on being sincere and see how it goes. Sorry I can’t be more help. I don’t
have the best track record myself…
CASSIE (V.O.) (dejectedly): Thanks anyway. I’d kind of like to be alone now.
Okay, then. Good luck…

Here we have Galileo – I mean Mircea – working hard to raise money for more walls. I
think he netted $300 this time around. And he gets straight A’s, $1,200 per semester,
unlike some people.
KITTY: What’s wrong with getting C’s?
$500 per semester, that’s what. And what are you doing to help out?

KITTY: I’m talking to an architecture major to get building tips.
You don’t need building tips. I designed a very nice place, thank you.
KITTY: Yes, but what do you know about structural integrity and so forth?
Nothing, and I don’t need to. This is the Sims – I can make buildings float in midair if I
want. Why don’t you work as a barrista, make up some of what you owe me? You
certainly don’t seem to be able to make it up digging for treasure or painting.
KITTY: Nah, I don’t feel like it.
Fine! Then see when’s the next time I bother about your motive distress…Madam
Useless.

Here are Kitty’s dads. They’re doing pretty well. Hunter is just about to become an Elder.

…Which he does with typical lack of sartorial taste. Honestly, EAxis, is the person in
charge of clothing design colorblind or something?

Since Hunter’s LTW is Six Grandchildren (and because he doesn’t approve of Rosie),
he’s set up an appointment for Aren with Samantha Royce the Matchmaker.
AREN: Pop, do I have to do this?
PETER: You wanna live with your dad when he’s in onea his pouts?
AREN: (huge, resigned sigh) Okay, here’s $5,000, yo. Where’s my perfect match?
SAMANTHA ROYCE THE MATCHMAKER: Keep your shorts on, willya? I just have
ta clean the ol’ crystal ball a bit…

Um, no.
AREN: Yeah, sorry, lady. No good. This one’s my cousin.
SAMANTHA ROYCE THE MATCHMAKER: From what I’ve heard, that doesn’t stop
you, hon.
AREN: Yo! That was uncalled for!
Mmmm – the called-for-ness is debatable. But how’s Stacey doing?

Pretty darn well, I’d say. She’s been promoted to Fast Food Shift Manager, and still rolls
the want to stay home from work every day – whether it’s a work day or not.

Toby has quit his job to build robots. That leaves him more time for his true LTW: 50
dream dates.
Yeah, apparently Pleasure Sims aren’t supposed to want to be Mad Scientists. That was a
sign of impending kablooie-ness. But frequent dream dates keep this house very happy.

And since Stacey is happy, she can’t resist meddling in everybody else’s lives.
STACEY: Say, Jerome – When are you going to make an honest man of my brother?
BYRON (protesting, half-serious): Stace! Will you stop it? – Ow!
STACEY: Ha! Gotcha!
JEROME: I’ll make an honest man out of him whenever he wants. All he has to do is say
the word.

And later that very night…
BYRON: Oh, look, here comes Uncle Jer. What do you think, Tyger? Should I say it?
Huh? Should I?
TYRONE: (delighted shrieks)
BYRON: Was that a yes? Okay, then. (turns to Jerome, clears throat) Uncle Jer: “The
word.”
JEROME: Huh?
BYRON: I said “The word.” (uncertainly) Did you ever play that video game when you
were a kid? Where you were a janitor who survived the takeover of the spaceship because
you were asleep in the supply closet? And you crashed on this planet and met these little
alien guys who said they’d help you if you said the word…?
JEROME: And you had to type in “Say ‘the word’.” Yeah, I remember that one.
Frustrated the heck out of me. Why? (with sudden realization) Ohhhh…

JEROME: Oh, Byron! (sniffle)
TYRONE: Unca Jer sad?
JEROME: No, Tyger. Uncle Jer is very, very happy.
BYRON (muffled): So is Uncle Byron.
STACEY: Come on, kiddo. Let’s get you in the bath and leave these two alone for a little
bit, huh?

But in the midst of life and all that…Ricky did not live long enough to hear of his son’s
engagement. At the same time as the happy scene was going on upstairs, this was
happening downstairs.
In the bathroom, of course. I think it’s programmed in: “Important life event = go into
bathroom.”
YVONNE: What do you think you’re doing? You let my husband go right this minute!
REAPER: …ry. .ou c.. .lea. ..r .im if y.. ..ke.
YVONNE: How am I supposed to plead for him when he, you, and those stupid hula
zombies are all crammed in the smallest room in the whole house?
REAPER: …t’s ..t m. p…le., ..dy.

Ricky Miller, round about 64 or 65 days old. (I didn’t write it down. Plus there was the
rebuild and all.) He rose fairly high in the Paranormal career track, but that was incidental
– just something to do while the kids were at school, really. He had definite hippie
tendencies and was much more relaxed about the whole parenting thing than Yvonne. His
LTW was Graduate Three Children from College (achieved). If I had Free Time, I’m sure
his secondary would have been Romance, since he never went a whole day without
rolling at least one want to woohoo. His purpose in life was to keep Yvonne content, and
he did it competently, if not particularly excitingly.

Mircea’s being a good boy and making money. See? We can even afford a nice window!
But Madam Useless is living up to her name, so I sent a random townie teen to college to
a) help out financially and b) keep the lot occupied so that arriving students can move in
without needing all possible scholarships and then some. Her name is Lexi Rossi, and she
really likes Mircea.

Mircea, in turn, likes both of his roommates.

…Although he does seem to have a definite preference. And Madam Useless?

KITTY: I want a home where you can’t dig holes in the dining room floor!
Sorry, Madam Useless. You owe me $3,000. If you keep digging up rocks that only sell
for $25 each, you’ll graduate before I start caring again.
KITTY: (frustrated scream)

In other news, Jasmine Scott has grown up into a very pretty teenager. Nice-point-
challenged, but pretty. She’s a Knowledge Sim who wants to become a Criminal
Mastermind. This fits perfectly, and I think I’ll let her.

The fellow in black is Perry Standin, who I built for one picture, for my D&D group.
(Doesn’t everyone do that?) Now that purpose is accomplished, he rakes leaves and
mows lawns for pocket money.

Jasmine likes him a lot.
Personally, I’m not sure how this will work out. He’s every bit as nice-point-challenged
as she is, but he’s also a) painfully shy and b) a Family Sim who wants baybeez, baybeez,
and more baybeez. Jasmine rarely rolls a want for anybody other than herself. Not to
mention that she bears a certain resemblance to his mother. I’ll just have to monitor the
situation.

MITCH: How could I have been so stupid? How could I have thrown it all away for such
a crummy product?
Yes, folks, Mitch put all his energy into backing Sporks of Steel. It’s really too bad that
they were actually made out of corn starch and tended to dissolve in the dishwasher. Or
soup. Or people’s mouths. And they tasted terrible.

ANDROMEDA: Come on, Frannie, cheer up. You’re a really good cook.
MITCH: But I got fired.
ANDROMEDA: So you need to focus on the job they’re paying you for instead of the
get-rich-quick schemes that come along sometimes. We’re already rich, so what does it
matter?
And speaking of rich…

…This is a pretty sweet set-up. Those light fixtures alone have to be worth more than I
make in a month. And they’ve got a maid, whoever “they” are.

And a gardener, and enough yard to make sure that he goes home at the end of the day
without getting everything finished. Who lives somewhere this nice?
Well, the mailbox says “Mayoral Mansion,” so I’m going to guess probably the mayor.
And look! Here he is.

Yup, Colin has made it to the top of the heap! He’s Permaplat now, so I could ignore his
every whim if I felt like it.

But I don’t. So he and Lee have plenty of parties, all of which are minimum Good Time.
I have the hang of parties now – just invite Toby and Stacey. They’ll make out and pillow
fight all night, driving the score up no matter what.
I realize that this tip may not be transferable to your game.

ROBIN: Is the ball shiny enough yet? Because I’ve paid you $5,000 each time and I’m
still waiting for that “satisfaction guaranteed” that the flyer talked about.
SAMANTHA ROYCE THE MATCHMAKER: Yeah, yeah. It’s guaranteed and you’re
gonna get it. Lessee, now…

Lexi Rossi. Two bolts and a tendency to stick her fingers in her ears whenever he says
anything.
Apparently, her interest in him is entirely physical.

Sandy Vijayakar. Two bolts.
(To be fair, Robin actually would like to be friends with this one.)

Tamara King. Two bolts.
And the entire date wasted stompy-waving about the slope of the hill. So walk over to the
sidewalk and then say hi! Yeesh!

ROBIN: Oh, hey, Yvette. Thanks for calling me back.
That’s it. I am not trying for three bolts any more. Next time he calls the matchmaker,
it’ll be four bucks and a cabbage leaf. Maybe reverse psychology will do it.
So, who’s left on the list? Percy and Fran…check. Colin and Lee…check. The Miller
clan…check. Ah, here we go…

Jon and Emmy are still quite happy, and therefore quite, quite boring. Here we see Emmy
harvesting their orange tree. The oranges were actually Tasty, which is pretty good
considering that Emmy only has a bronze gardening badge, and Jon still has no badge at
all. Moonshine the cat has learned to shake and has been promoted as a result. So –
EMMY (V.O): Jon, I want a baby.
JON (V.O.): What?
What?

EMMY: I want to have a baby. I want to feel it growing inside me, and when it’s born I
want to cuddle it and love it and watch it grow up, and – (dejectedly) I know it sounds
stupid and it’s sudden and we’ve always had a life with no kids, but –
JON: Yeah, it’s sudden, but what’s stupid about it? Esme knows we could afford a baby.
EMMY: Well, you’re a model. And I’m old. And you don’t want kids.
JON: What’s my job got to do with it? It’s not my figure that’s going to take the hit. And
there’s lots of women older than you who have had babies just fine. You know Sue at the
agency?
EMMY: Yes…
JON: She had her first at forty and her second at forty-five, and they’re – well, they’re
obnoxious brats, actually, but that’s not because of Sue’s age. Everyone’s perfectly
healthy.

JON: I’m just worried that – Do you think I’d be a good father? My…father…wasn’t.
EMMY (firmly): I think you’re nothing like your father and any child would be lucky to
grow up with you. (uncertain again) But do you want to?
JON: Do you want to have a baby?
EMMY: Yes.
JON: Then I want to have a baby. In fact, why don’t we head upstairs and get started
right now?

And we have a lullaby on the very first try!
I was going to give this a shot eventually, since I’m curious about how the kid would turn
out, but then Emmy rolled the want for it, so I just moved up the schedule a bit.

Apparently, in the stress of moving everyone, I failed to take any interesting pictures of
Andrew and Opal. Here are a few shots to keep you oriented. First we have Chalcedony
and Mom, sharing their opinion of their new home.
Yup, their new home. Andrew finally made enough money that they could move to a
place that will (someday) provide rooms for all. Just as soon as I can afford the stairs!
Chalcedony looks very much like his father (and even more like his grandfather). I’m not
sure what, if anything, Opal contributed. A recessive red-hair gene, I think, and the
brown eyes. Andrew’s mother was blond. Apparently it didn’t come out of a bottle.

I’m sure you noticed that Chalcedony is now a teenager. Logically enough, his twin
brother Jasper is also a teenager. This isn’t a close up, but he looks just as much like
Andrew as Jasper does. Amy is not a teenager, but she’ll become one next time. But you
want to know the best part about this house?
It has a dining room table that seats five!
You can’t see it, but trust me: it’s there.

Both Mircea and Kitty have just graduated, leaving Lexi as placeholder. (This form of
gameplay doesn’t leave much time for taking pictures…I’ll need to work on that.) In the
meantime, though, look at what they were able to accomplish! They went from a bare lot
to 1.95 stories, with stairs, several windows, and flooring nearly everywhere.
It helps that Lexi maintains a 4.0 and dug up a $4,000 vase, of course.
KITTY (V.O.): I heard that.
Quiet, you. I need to check on your brother.

Oh great, another tree caught on fire. Stupid lightning!
Well don’t just stand there! Run away! Look, I’ll help you.
(Cancels “Fire!” interaction, directs Peter to run to a spot on the second floor, goes to
check on Aren satisfied that the situation is under control. Watches bemusedly as Aren
takes off running, tries to catch up with him.)

No! No! Nonononono! Peter, I told you to go upstairs, not dance around the flames!
Hunter, you were upstairs, doing something else entirely. Why did you come out here?
Oh, crap! Aren, your father’s on fire. Do something!
(Selects Aren. Tries to give the command “Extinguish” on Hunter, but it won’t take.)
Come on, come on, come on! Why won’t you work?
(Notices that now Peter is on fire. Gives the command “Extinguish” on Peter.)

Oh, come on! Aren, go plead for your father, hurryhurryhurry!
The fire isn’t in your way! Just go around it!

Okay, well, plead for at least one of them.
AREN: Please, Mr. Reaper, sir! Don’t take both of my fathers at once! Please! Let me
play you for Pop, at least! You have to let me play you for him, right? Right?
GRIM REAPER: .h, fi... (sigh) . .m s. .ire. .. ..is so.. .f thin..

AREN: Yes! I won! I won! Ha HA!
GRIM REAPER: Yo. ..n’t ne.. .o ru. .t i..

Aren spent the rest of the night and the whole next day trying to cheer up his newly-
resurrected father.
PETER (thickly): I was older. He wadn’t supposed to go before me.
AREN: But you still have me and Kitty, Pop. And tomorrow I’ll get a job in Paranormal,
and I’ll work my way up to getting a Bone Phone, and we’ll get Dad back.
PETER: I din’t have much time left. Still don’t. By the time you get that done, I’lla gone
on anyway.
AREN: Don’t be silly, Pop. You’re gonna live forever.
PETER: No. I’m not. An I’m okay with that cause then I’ll get be with Hunter.
AREN: Don’t talk like that, yo! Listen, I have to go to the bathroom. Don’t do anything
drastic while I’m gone, okay?
PETER: Nah. I’ll just go stargaze for a bit.
AREN: Good idea. (claps Peter on the shoulder in passing) Be right back, yeah?

GRIM REAPER (furtively): .s he aro…?
PETER: He’s in the can. What kept ya?
GRIM REAPER: L..k, .t’s th. ..les. .e wo. .air a.. squ...
PETER: Yeah, well, he’s not here now and my time’s up. Let’s get a move on, huh? I
don’t wanna keep Hunter waiting.
GRIM REAPER: Rig.. ..is wa., M.. .uchs.

Hunter Sanders Fuchs, 55 days old. Hunter met his husband when he was still in college
and never rolled a single want for anybody else. He worked hard to become Captain Hero
and keep everyone in Sandersville safe. A dedicated Family Sim, he was very close to
both his parents, speaking with his mother almost daily until her death and frequently
visiting his father. He was very proud of both his children and called them regularly
while they were away at school. He was a great favorite of mine and I did not want him
to die so soon.
Peter Fuchs, 63 days old. Peter worked his way up from a trailer park to a nice
townhouse, finding true love along the way. He was a Knowledge Sim, and he was three
skill points shy of achieving his LTW to Become a Mad Scientist when he died. (His
progress was somewhat hampered by both his time in the Military career track and his
decided preference for spending time with his family instead of skilling.) Although Peter
only had three Outgoing points, he acted as though he had many more. He was easygoing
and rarely took offense at Hunter’s tendency to overreact to small things. He made
Hunter very happy, and for that alone I loved him.
He really was only one day from death when Aren pleaded for him.

On the lighter side, this picture has nothing to do with anything – I just love the face
Caryl’s making. Her toddler’s a better dancer than she is. (smiles)
Here are Death’s lines, in order:
Sorry. You can plead for him if you like.
That’s not my problem, lady.
Oh, fine. (sigh) I’m so tired of this sort of thing.
You don’t need to rub it in.
Is he around?
Look, there’s rules. He won fair and square.
Right this way, Mr. Fuchs.
See you next time, when hopefully there will be fewer visits from the Grim Reaper. Keep
your fingers crossed!

Already in Progress, Chapter 10

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Already in Progress, Chapter 10