@PeregrineTookI'm glad you enjoyed the update. I wasn't sure what to do about those pink bars at first…
@FrancescaFioriToo funny that you analyzed the whole scenario and concluded that Massimo was just pretending disinterest, rofl. Poor Massimo, he's embarrassed enough about that as it is!
As for your side challenge, I'd be happy to oblige. Tell me which sims you'd like to see participate and I'll try it in a separate copy of my game file. Hehehe
I'm glad you like Laszlo--he looks pretty awesome as a teen, too!
@WhirligigYes, Massimo was the first to complete his requirements but has to wait for his mother's last promotion. Ahhh, so you agree that there's a spark of interest between those two? *waggles eyebrows
Massimo wasn't initially planning to make an enemy of the Benjaminz heir, but the opportunity presented itself on the last day of the week. Kinda like fate!
I've been having a hard time juggling who to have as helpers for which household in which generation…
@wfgodotI'm glad you like the No/chips exchange. I would have sworn that chips should have been the killer move to deal with "No!" but Massimo was unrelenting.
That's the Cowplant Love movie poster! I realize it's not in harmony with the whole Victorian Goth theme.
But my sims make copious use of cowplant essences for work (especially the vampires who can't buy reward traits), so they wish honor the contribution of cowplants everywhere.
As for Morgan, I don't even know why she shows up at 2 am. You know that if Massimo had phoned her, he would have got the angry "I'm sleeping!" reply. I've only played Morgan briefly as a teen in my Apocalypse Challenge, so having her move in as a young adult should be fun.
@CaterinaI'm glad you are enjoying the Sciarris. It's been really fun trying to figure out what makes them tick. The Vampire GP's new Build/Buy objects are also fun to work with. I aged up a bin clone of Laszlo to use as a test sim for something--he does not disappoint!
@AlexI'm glad you agree that Morgan will be a good fit for the vampire bloodline. She's at odds with her sister Siobhan, though, so I'm trying to figure out who else to move in Massimo, Laszlo, and Morgan…some sims who would bring some simoleons and skillz.
Great joke about the nail! Loved it!
Wow, your remark about a pink bar requiring multiple flirts! Now I feel a bit guilty about forcing Moss into a heteronormative relationship…
Haha, you and FrancescaFiori are way overestimating me! I didn't actually count the tiles one by one. I calculated the area for each lot then had Excel calculate the total number of tiles for each district. You both make it sound as if I went into Build mode for each lot and counted each tile with my cursor, LOL. I did want to move my Restaurant family into the smallest district though because, after the toddler ages up, they can go live on the restaurant lot.
Week 4 chez Moss Benjaminz, Part I
The Benjaminz Household as of Week 4/Sunday
• Jade Benjaminz (Founder) and Salim Benali (spouse/San Myshuno)
• Moss Benjaminz (Gen2 Heir) and Fern (his younger sister)
• Ulrike Faust and Maaike Haas (Free Spirits/Windenburg)
• Yumiko Murakami (formerly a gardener NPC)
• Akiko Faust (Ulrike's daughter with Akira Kibo/San Myshuno)
Sunday
Moss: At the end of our third week, I was completing my good-friends-with-three-townies requirement.
The only reason Clara Bjergsen became one is because I'd noticed that she and I had become friends during our off weeks.
My friends at high school gossip about Clara being a full-on cougar, but I'm just looking to be done with my requirement.
Moss: Now, Yuki Behr is a different matter entirely. I've had a crush on her since grade school!
When I'd be ready to move, I'd thought at the time, Yuki and I would be the same age at last!
Sophie: Thanks for inviting me over, Moss, but I thought you had your heart set on Yuki Behr.
Moss: Frankly, I've given that a lot of thought during the two weeks since I last saw her.
My future child, the next Benjaminz heir, will be a Musical Genius and a Musician.
Sophie: That's really cool, Moss! I love music, too!
Moss: I know, I heard you busking the other night. That's why I'm hoping you and I can get to know each other.
Sophie: I'm pretty sure I'd be your perfect partner, Moss! I'm a Music Lover with Level 8 Guitar.
Moss: Oh really? *pretends he hasn't been scouring all the townie data lately
And don't let me forget to mention that I think you're really pretty, too!
Moss: Now that we're good friends, Sophie, I'm allowed to age you up.
Here, I've lit the birthday candles for you!
Sophie: Oh wait, now that I'm a young adult and you're a teen, we can't be a couple!
Moss: Believe me, I'm dying to romance you, Sophie! But the sooner I move out, the sooner we can be together!
I'll become a young adult tomorrow before moving out, so we'll be the same age again soon!
And then I'll romance you until you see stars!
Sophie: Awww, you're my best friend now (and not Yuki's anymore--I saw that screenshot, grrr!)
Moss: See, Sophie? Nothing to worry about! Now let me start preparing to move out.
I still don't have my museum items!
Moss: As much as I love painting, it's nice to take a break and get some fresh air!
Oh hey, isn't that the Vampire Queen. *involuntarily remembers the dashing Massimo
Whoa, why does Massimo appear in my relationship panel as a Romantic Interest?! *smiles
Gah, what am I thinking? I need to make a second enemy who's in the Mori bloodline.
Moss: Hey you there with the outdated Fabio hair, are you Tamari Mori?
(It would so much easier if my enemies weren't so cute, just sayin'…)
Tamari: Yeah, that's me. Are you the Jolly Green Giant?
Why are you here? Lost your peas?
Moss: Oh please, you're so vain about your hair that I bet you use a curling iron!
Tamari: Of course, I do. Every morning. Don’t you?
Moss: Nah, mine's au natural…Hey, don't change the subject. I'm trying really hard to despise you! *starts a fight
Tamari: That'll teach you to pick a fight with me, dude!
Moss: Well, I may have lost that fight but I still declare your conceited self and stupid hair my enemies!
Tamari: I kick over the trashcan and play the guitar, trying to forget what just happened.
Man, what Moss said was truly hurtful! My hair's so not stupid!
Moss: Never one to lick my wounds, I seize the opportunity to explore space in the Mori's rocket ship.
Tamari: Dude, even we haven't taken that rocket ship to Sixam yet!
Moss: Tough luck, man! I find exotic fruits and other rare collectibles that I'll be taking with me when I move. Score!
Moss: Our Yumiko has Level 9 Rocket Science now, but she's only a Level 5 Scientist. How can we get her to fully upgrade the rocket ship?
What the Benjaminz really need, though, is one of these wormhole generator thingies so we can come to Sixam together!
Monday
Jade: I'm off to go nab my final promotion! Next time you see me, I'll be a Level 10 Master of the Real!
Moss: What shall I do about my museum items?
Maybe I'll paint a combination of large and medium paintings then submit my best seven!
Jade: I've maxed my career at last! Just as I'm standing in front of the house, that Eva Capriciossa comes along.
Salim: Jade, Jade, Jade! What are you doing? There's no need for you to be fighting! Come inside!
What are you thinking, Jade?! The Sciarri founder had to fight to level her vampire rank for her aspiration.
The Gen2 heirs also had to fight as a requirement for moving. But, you Jade, have no reason to fight! Sheesh!
Anyway, congratulations on maxing the Painter/Master of the Real career. Now Moss can move out!
Moss: I've heard that the other families are hanging up portraits of the founder and spouse before the heir moves out.
What a great way to honor the spouse's contribution. I want to paint a portrait of Papa before I leave.
My portrait of Papa is a masterpiece, so I make a copy of it and save the original for the museum.
In our foyer, I hang the copy next to a copy of Mama's museum portrait.
It's a very handsome portrait of Papa, if I do say so myself. His kind, gentle nature really shines through!
Moss: I'm going to miss living with my parents, but I'm just moving down the street.
When I get married, I hope I'll find as much joy and happiness as my parents have.
Moss: If my museum items weren't worth 3.7 times those submitted by Massimo the Stallion, I'd be upset that Watchette gave Massimo a much fancier museum exhibit. *shrugs
Moss: My moving preparations and Papa's portrait take much longer than I'd expected.
Finally, it's time for me to cake up.
And Watchette? Thanks for taking a shot of me crouching for my birthday leap. Very attractive!
As soon as I arrive at the Asphalt Adobe lot, I phone Sophie to invite her over then ask her to move in with her family.
I'll introduce you to her family and their household roles in the next update.
Next, I do the same with our elderly Yumiko (the not-blond, non-vampire Yumiko).
Moss: While Clara Bjergsen bakes a birthday cake and the others start working on our garden, I make a phone call to join a career.
I've already maxed Writing and Painting, so joining the Art Critic career is a natural choice.
The birthday cake is for a sim who will become the seventh member of our household.
You'll meet that sim next time. See you then!
An Important Message from Moss Benjaminz
Lately, I've seen a disturbing trend among our readers of referring to that vampire Massimo as "Mossimo."
Is that supposed to be our ship name? Are you trying to rub that whole incident in my face?
It was just a brief moment of weakness, okay? Well, maybe several moments…