Author Topic: End of the Line Dynasty (4x4)  (Read 179054 times)

Offline saltpastillen

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It's nice to have some fun images to cheer up the gloom. It's always so sad when a lot of your sims die at the same time.

Offline Rikki8528

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Wow! Those did cheer me up.



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Offline hazelnut

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It's nice to have some fun images to cheer up the gloom. It's always so sad when a lot of your sims die at the same time.

It is sad.  Extending Carlotta and Mike's lives meant they ended up about the same age as Tabitha and Goopy (in fact, Mike was the youngest, according to the game).  I half-expected them all to go on the same day.  They mostly had a good innings, though.  I think Mike only made it to 50 or 51 but Tansy got to 53, Carlotta to 55, Tabitha to 56, Goopy to 58 and Eduardo to 64 (a record for this game so far).

Wow! Those did cheer me up.

The random madness is one of the best things about the game, I think :).

Offline hazelnut

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Re: End of the Line Dynasty
« Reply #198 on: December 27, 2013, 10:00:27 AM »
Detective Fiction



It was just after midnight when I left the station.  I was dressed for business: new trenchcoat and trilby, trousers a tasteful shade or two darker, shoes definitively free of gum.  The tie and hatband matched exactly – a nice touch, I thought.  The red clashed slightly with my hair but you can’t have everything.



My contact in the force had sent me to interview a woman about a missing car.  I’d thought I’d have to wait until morning but there she was in the garden.  To me, the night felt too chilly for a strappy dress but, hey, she had good shoulders.  And the rest.  I wasn’t complaining.



As she talked, I kept an eye out for trouble.  It seemed a quiet neighbourhood but you could never tell…



The latest book was going pretty well, although not as well as Alex’s real-life career in investigation.  Unfortunately, the not-so-mean streets of Monte Vista provided little in the way of material and Sam Argent, his hardboiled alter ego, led a far more exciting life than he did.  He spent more time in the library than on stakeout.



Even though the work was mundane, odd details made their way into the books.  He just hoped his clients thought he was making notes about the cases, rather than their faces, clothes and houses – and that none of them read his stories.



Some things, though, were just too bizarre for fiction.  The Grim Reaper as a witness?



Despite doing far more reading and writing than investigating, he soon made it to fully-fledged Private Eye and the mayor presented him with the key to the city.  It didn’t actually seem to open anything but at least it provided the title for his next bestseller: The Door to the Key to the City.



With his career maxed, he turned to writing full-time, pseudonymously experimenting with a variety of genres.



He dreamed of achieving literary greatness but time was just too short for producing masterpieces.



His adult birthday brought home the realisation that he’d have to concentrate on shorter forms and commercial, rather than artistic, success if he was going to finish his tasks in time.  Finally, he achieved his lifetime wish of becoming recognised as a professional author.



With the arrival of his royalty payments the following Sunday, he completed his skill requirements and suddenly realised what he’d been neglecting all this time.  The only people he knew were ex-clients and his own family – and he barely spoke to them.  Now he needed best friends and a mother for his future heir.  It was time to leave his study-bedroom and get out into the world again.

In his early days as an investigator, he’d met a wonderful woman, Helena Bannerman.  She was married but it was obvious that she was as attracted to Alex as he was to her.  Helena’s husband was much older than she was, so maybe later…  He hadn’t realised then how long it would take for ‘later’ to arrive.  Helena was an old lady now and his own final birthday was looming.  His ‘little sister’ had already had hers.



‘If in doubt, go to the library’ had always been his motto.  He spent a night studying charisma and then a day meeting people around town.  Maybe it was having been cooped up in his room for so long: he fancied everyone.  Most of them were too old, too married or too male, though.  He was about to head back to the library when he met her.  Eunice Church, the postwoman.  He’d vaguely noticed her delivering letters and complimentary copies of his books but they’d never spoken before.  Suddenly, the famous author was lost for words.



Did I really just use llamas as a chat-up line?

Eunice seemed to like him, llamas or no llamas – but then she said she had to go.  Maybe she was just changing out of her uniform, because he invited her over as soon as he got home and she accepted.  While he was awaiting her arrival, he got into the hot tub, hoping the bubbles would soothe his nerves.  It turned out to have been one of his better ideas.



Eunice was clearly impressed by his muscles.  They weren’t bad for someone who sat at a computer all day, he had to admit.  Their relationship progressed rapidly from there.



Very rapidly.





And before long, Eunice was throwing up.





Alex happened to come downstairs for a snack just as her suspicions were confirmed, so she was able to give him the good news at once.





Eunice spent most of her pregnancy relaxing, either at home or at the spa, although the mysterious compulsion to ride the family motorbike struck again…



…and she was at the library, fulfilling a wish to learn charisma, when the labour pains started.



With a surprising last-minute attack of sense, she drove home in the Motive Mobile.  She arrived just in time and baby Robert made his appearance in the conservatory.






Next chapter



Summary – Generation 6

Heir: Alexander
Traits: couch potato, neurotic, bookworm, perfectionist, loner, no sense of humour (from honorary degree)
Lifetime wish: Professional Author

Unique maxed career: Investigator
Two unique best friends: Elisabeth Bailey & Miki Stallings
Three unique skill challenges: Prolific Author, Speed Writer, Specialist Writer
Four unique opportunities: Add a Little Drama, The Case of the Footsore Floater, The Case of the Tattooed Thief, Digging for Dirt
Buildings bought this generation: Teatro Fantastico, Simcatti Industries
Properties owned: still none
Vacations used: still 1 out of 4

Offline pugster101

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Re: End of the Line Dynasty: Detective Fiction (27 December)
« Reply #199 on: December 27, 2013, 10:38:30 AM »
As, no rainboo.  :(
The Outcast Immortal Dynasty: http://www.carls-sims-3-guide.com/forum/index.php/topic,18970.0.html
The Dreamer LS Speed Run: http://www.carls-sims-3-guide.com/forum/index.php/topic,18639.0.html

We're off to see the Metro, the wonderful Metro Of Man!

Offline Rhoxi

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Re: End of the Line Dynasty: Detective Fiction (27 December)
« Reply #200 on: December 27, 2013, 08:08:04 PM »

Great outtakes. Definitely lifts the mood after so much death. With the short lifespans, 4x4 Dynasties really seem to get a lot of those! I love Alex and his detective outfit! So cute! Well, I'm glad he finally got out of his room, but it's disappointing that the green didn't pop back up again. Jane is just freaking gorgeous, though! She's certainly got the green thing going in every possible way.

Offline hazelnut

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Re: End of the Line Dynasty: Detective Fiction (27 December)
« Reply #201 on: December 28, 2013, 04:13:07 AM »
As, no rainboo.  :(

Sadly, no.  I wasn't really expecting to get a rainboo heir this time around, with two normal-skinned parents.  Jane's still keeping the colourful genes going, though, so fingers crossed for generation eight...

Great outtakes. Definitely lifts the mood after so much death. With the short lifespans, 4x4 Dynasties really seem to get a lot of those! I love Alex and his detective outfit! So cute! Well, I'm glad he finally got out of his room, but it's disappointing that the green didn't pop back up again. Jane is just freaking gorgeous, though! She's certainly got the green thing going in every possible way.

If you have helpers and spares around, I suppose there are bound to be a lot of deaths.  It just gets kind of concentrated in a 4x4.  The  whole thing is very quick, even if you play as slowly as I tend to.  I went back to my Household Skills family the other day but couldn't take the change of pace (plus, it was disconcerting to see Monte Vista with really filthy weather).

I suppose Jane is pretty much pure clone but I can forgive her that for the all-green colouring - and she is very pretty :).



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Offline hazelnut

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Re: End of the Line Dynasty
« Reply #202 on: December 29, 2013, 10:51:06 AM »
Private Celebrations and Public Notoriety

Eunice took her newborn son straight to his first cake.  She was already in mid-adulthood; if she was going to see Robbie grow up, he’d better do it quickly, even though that would inevitably cut down on her candy-stealing opportunities.





Alex was also aware that they had no time to waste.  He borrowed the family Motive Mobile and took Eunice out for a night of high-speed romance.  It wasn’t exactly a conventional night on the town: he was too much of a loner to want to tour the hotspots.  The fishponds were more to his taste: deserted and a lot prettier than was strictly necessary for their function.  Positively romantic, really.  Especially when he produced flowers from behind his back…



…and followed up with a genie ring.



To his relief, Eunice said yes, she’d marry him and no, she wasn’t bothered about a fancy ceremony. 



After a two-hour engagement, they had a private wedding on the beach…



…concluding with a swim as the sun rose.





Back at home, Jane was looking after Robbie.



She’d always loved children and now realised that the thing she wanted most was to have a little one of her own.  The only problem was, she didn’t have a boyfriend.  Unlike Alex, she spent most of her life outdoors, helping her parents with the garden or adding to her insect collection, but, just like her cousin, she hadn’t done much socialising.  In fact, had she spoken to anyone outside the family since leaving school?  It was time to put that right.

One of the first people she met was Anderson Cwik.  She sensed an attraction but he seemed stand-offish at first.  It seemed that he was slightly famous and needed to be impressed before he’d even speak to her.  She wondered what he was famous for: she’d certainly never heard of him.  She talked about cooking, gardening and her family until he agreed that she was his equal.  Then they moved on to more romantic topics.



Dating a celebrity had somehow made Jane more famous than he was.  The paparazzi were fascinated by her unusual appearance and took to following her almost everywhere – especially after her waistline started to expand.



The rest of the family were still managing to retain their anonymity.  Jane wondered how it was that Alex hadn’t become a celebrity.  It must be because he was such a recluse: he just sat at his desk writing all day.  Unnoticed by the journalists, Robbie grew up from cute toddler to studious child…





…and, the same day, Eunice had her elder birthday.



Jane spent her pregnancy dodging photographers.  One had just found her in the otherwise empty gym when she went into labour and sent him into a screaming panic.  Served him right.



She cut it even finer than Eunice.  Susanna was born just inside the front door.



She had her first birthday cake before the paparazzi could catch up with them.



Jane wanted to dress Susie in the pretty new clothes she’d bought but her daughter preferred to wear any old thing and watch Robbie playing with his funny doll.  She was fascinated by it.



Then the post and newspapers arrived, bringing a doll of her very own for Susanna – and public disgrace for her mother.  BABY SHAME FOR GREENIE JANE, screamed the headlines.  Honestly, did anyone care any more about unmarried parents?  Apparently they did, at least in Monte Vista.  Jane wanted to marry but she hadn’t been in any hurry.  Although, come to think of it, Anderson wasn’t getting any younger.  Maybe it would be better all round if she sped things up a little.  She phoned and invited her over.

He’d also read the papers, it seemed.  Even though he was the father of her oh-so-shameful child, it took a while before she could convince him that she’d done nothing wrong.  Finally, he agreed that it was all completely out of proportion and she was able to get on with the next bit.



In an effort to escape the paparazzi, they married in the walled garden opposite the house.  It had always been one of Jane’s favourite places.  As a child, she’d loved wandering around the maze-like paths or leaning on a sun-warmed wall, reading a book.  No-one else ever seemed to go there.  It was the perfect location for a private wedding: a real secret garden.



Not secret enough, as it turned out.  The paparazzi found them just as they finished exchanging their vows.  Jane ignored them and took her new husband home to meet their beautiful daughter.


Next chapter



As you’ll have noticed, I had Late Night as a Christmas present.  The sharp-eyed will also have spotted content from Island Paradise.  So far, mermaids have been noticeable by their absence and I’ve turned vampires off.  I left celebrities on but can already see why other people switch them off.  Poor Jane.  (Although I did find it funny that she could ‘dispel rumours’ to the father of her child and he believed her!)

Susanna appeared to be another greenboo at first but that turned out to be an effect of the warm Monte Vistan light.  She’s actually more of a pale turquoise.



She inherited May’s eye colour, so, like Jane, she has matching eyes and skin.  I was almost tempted to dye her hair turquoise as well :).



And Riley's still sending IF dolls:


Offline LenaLJ

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Susanna is really the cutest!!
Nice going on getting the green back :)

Offline Rikki8528

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Welcome beautiful Susanna! Let us hope you make a beautiful wife!  :-X  ;)

Offline Rhoxi

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Aw, I love the swimming pictures. Such pretty scenery for the weddings. Monte Vista is just lovely. Glad to see you're enjoying your new Christmas presents.  ;D And is Susanna really a blue-boo? She looks green to me. The bright blue eyes on her are awesome. Now, are her and Robbie first cousins, or second? The 4x4s move so fast I'm having trouble remembering all the family ties.

Offline hazelnut

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Susanna is really the cutest!!
Nice going on getting the green back :)

Well, after Tansy and Mike insisted on having a second child, I thought I might as well go with it.  If Susanna hadn't turned out rainboo, I was planning for Jane to have more kids, although it would have meant a lot of fast ageing up and kicking out.  Whether the green will survive into the third town is anybody's guess...

Welcome beautiful Susanna! Let us hope you make a beautiful wife!  :-X  ;)

I couldn't possibly comment on her future marital status  ;).

Aw, I love the swimming pictures. Such pretty scenery for the weddings. Monte Vista is just lovely. Glad to see you're enjoying your new Christmas presents.  ;D And is Susanna really a blue-boo? She looks green to me. The bright blue eyes on her are awesome. Now, are her and Robbie first cousins, or second? The 4x4s move so fast I'm having trouble remembering all the family ties.

There were a lot of sharks near where Alex and Eunice were swimming.  With IP installed, I worried that they might go for the newlyweds but obviously they weren't feeling hungry (or do they only attack underwater?)

Susanna's exact colouring probably depends on your monitor.  On mine, she was definitely turquoise as a toddler, although she's looking more of a pale green as she gets older.  I wish the unusual skin colours were solid, rather than being a sort of overlay on a normal flesh tone.  A lot of my pastel Sims seem to look more unwell than colourful as adults  ???.

She and Rob are second cousins.  There's a family tree in the second post if it gets confusing :).

Offline hazelnut

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Re: End of the Line Dynasty
« Reply #207 on: December 30, 2013, 04:46:21 PM »
Growing Up Famous
 
“Mummy, what’s a fusslander?”
“A fusslander?  What do you mean?”
“I don’t know.  That’s why I was asking.  Granddad said it.”
“When?”
“Last night.  To you.  He said, ‘Sue fusslander’.  So what’s a fusslander?”



“No, sweetheart.  What Granddad said was, ‘Sue for slander’.  Slander means saying nasty things about people that aren’t true.”
“Kind of like bullying, then?”
“Yes, I suppose so.  Yes, it’s a sort of bullying.”
“But I’m not a bully!  Why did Granddad say I was?”
“Granddad?  He wouldn’t…!  Oh!  He didn’t mean you.  It wasn’t a ‘Susanna’ Sue.  Sue’s a doing word as well as a name.  It means taking the bad people to court.  Making them own up to being nasty bullies.”
“Like telling a teacher?”
“Yes, sort of.  And then they get punished.  I hope.”

Jane sighed.  Her daughter wasn’t having the easiest start in life.  It was pretty tough on her, too.  It had been a shock to find out how old Anderson was.  She’d known he was considerably older, of course, but to discover that he was already sixty when they married…

He’d made the most of the time he had, taking an equal share in teaching Susie to walk and talk.

“Your mummy’s a great cook, Susie.  She makes nice food.  Can you say ‘food’?



“No?  Well, maybe we’d better stop for a bit.  I’m hungry and you probably want a bottle, too.”
“Hungry!”



Even discounting parental pride, it was obvious from the beginning that Susie was clever.  She picked up all of her toddler skills at top speed and was soon ready for another cake.





That same evening, tragedy struck.  In the space of an hour, Jane lost both her mother and her husband.



And now her darling daughter was worrying about the price of fame as well as grieving for the father she’d hardly known.

“Why would anyone do anything so horrid?  What did we do to them?”
“Nothing.  Nothing at all.  It’s just because we’re famous.”
“Are we?  Is that why I got that half-price fishing class?”
“Probably.”
“But I don’t want to be famous, Mummy!  I just want Daddy back!”



“So do I, Susie.  So do I.”

*   *   *   *   *

Time may not heal wounds, but it does make them easier to bear.  Jane won her court case and threw herself into raising her daughter.



Susie and Robbie caught Jane’s enthusiasm for hunting insects.  Both were fascinated by all things logical and scientific.

Then Rob had another birthday.





He asked for a Science Research Station as his main present.



A couple of days later, it was Susie’s turn.





Her present requests were more modest.  She’d always loved water: now she wanted a decent fishing rod and some snorkelling equipment.



Sue and Rob grew closer as teens.  They studied together for hours…





…but somehow both were too shy to take it further – at least, until the night of the afterschool club awards.  Rob should have looked handsome in his formal suit.  As it was, Sue thought he looked faintly ridiculous.  In which case, why was it that she found him so attractive?



As usual, the journalists were lurking.  They’d sort of got used to one or two hanging around the entrance during the school day but didn’t they ever go home?  Maybe that was why Rob made such a mess of things.  They were chatting in a friendly kind of way and then he tried to compliment Sue’s appearance.



It didn’t quite work.  Couldn’t he have chosen better words?  ‘You’re all green, like an alien – or a zombie’ wasn’t really the best way to a girl’s heart.  Then he asked her to Prom.  If the circumstances had been different, she’d have been only too happy to say yes.  As it was…

The paparazzi loved it.

Fortunately, Sue wasn’t as socially awkward as Rob.  When she saw how upset he was, she chatted for a while then drove him home in the Motive Mobile.  Once they were safely inside the house, she asked him to Prom.  He accepted.



The evening was a triumph.  His performance of the Chicken Dance totally won her over.  (OK, she was probably willing to be won.)  Neither of them put a foot wrong all night.  All their dance moves, however stupid, were eagerly taken up by the rest of the school.  Sometimes fame could be a good thing.



The following day was Rob’s birthday.  Sue pleaded and begged in a quite embarrassingly un-adult way until she was allowed to have a cake too.





And then they were grown up and ready to take on the world together.




Next chapter (interlude)
More outtakes
Next chapter of main story



Like Alex, Rob is named after two earlier Sims.  One was the eldest of the fourth generation of my legacy family.  Robert was a mad scientist.  A very, very mad scientist.  He was almost permanently stuffed, with garlic breath, until I got wise and started telling him to fertilise the garden with bell pepper instead.

Bob James was a professional author who specialised in satire.



His wife Suki was a Master of the Arts, who was primarily an artist.  Bob and Suki were my Ambitions testers and were also first reserves for this dynasty.  Susanna’s name is a vague nod to Suki but it was also the Name I Didn’t Quite Use in the Life States – Louisa was going to be Susanna until I changed my mind at the last minute.

Offline Rhoxi

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Re: End of the Line Dynasty: Growing Up Famous (30 December)
« Reply #208 on: December 30, 2013, 06:02:50 PM »

Oh good, they are second cousins! Yay! They shall make such pretty nooboos. I love Rob's nose, very handsome. She'll provide great colors, and he'll provide unique features (I hope!). Hm, yes. I don't think anyone is really impressed by the Chicken Dance, but I suppose it's as good of an excuse as any.  ;)

Offline hazelnut

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Re: End of the Line Dynasty: Growing Up Famous (30 December)
« Reply #209 on: December 31, 2013, 01:33:20 AM »
Oh good, they are second cousins! Yay! They shall make such pretty nooboos. I love Rob's nose, very handsome. She'll provide great colors, and he'll provide unique features (I hope!).

I hope so, too.  Of course, it could go the other way - her generic features and his colouring  ;).  The really interesting features are dropping out anyway.  There haven't been any Goole eyes for a while, for example.  On the other hand, I'm not sorry to lose the huge ears.

Hm, yes. I don't think anyone is really impressed by the Chicken Dance, but I suppose it's as good of an excuse as any.  ;)

That's what the pop-up said.  Twice, in fact, so it must be true  :P.