Thanks for all your support!
These first bits were done before I'd read all the advice on screenshots and the magical tab key. So starting soon will be some good closeups as I catch up to where I am in the story (which is the beginning of generation 3). My current goal is to be more succinct for these chapters. Time's kind of slow when there's only one character, but I promise it'll pick up soon.Chapter 1: HuntingThe bed was perhaps the worst thing ever invented. Every time Pepper breathed, it creaked. When she could take staring at her ceiling no longer, she got up. Her throat ached and burned. She stumbled into the kitchen, wondering if there was anything in the fridge. It was stocked completely with Plasma Packs. They tasted flat, but eased her throat.
When the mailbox creaked, Pepper rushed out. Another letter from the Watcher? Perhaps now more would be explained. Unfortunately, it was just bills. With less than 200 simoleans, she'd have to do something about that fast. But what could she do?
She headed to the library for some research. Most of the careers listed sounded awful. But she picked out a couple books anyway.
It’s all in the Pour was filled with tasty looking drinks. Drinking was something vampire did, so it was a nice fit, but Pepper didn’t think that could pay the bills.
She also searched high and low for a book on vampires. But although there were plenty of books on genies, witches, and werewolves, she didn’t find any on vampires. Her luck wasn't completely bad though. Near the supernatural section she bumped into a handsome guy when she rounded the corner.
"Oh, sorry."
"No, I'm sorry," he said with a charismatic smile.
They shook hands and traded names. Brandon Singleton was running for mayor. Pepper explained how she was new in town, new to the whole Sim-thing really. He was easy to talk to and she was relieved to find no partners lurking in the back of his mind.
"You know," he said after she'd spilled her money problems, "If you're looking for a job, there's a position in my campaign. It's not much but..."
"Yes!" Pepper said immediately. She was still at a loss on how to even begin a job search.
"Uh...great." He said, no doubt surprised by her immediate response, "I'll send a car to pick you up tomorrow, 8:30 okay?"
"Sure." She gave him her address and they said their goodbyes. It was dark as she left the library, but it felt as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Part one done!
Now to get started on part two. Find a husband. She hailed a taxi.
She didn’t bother with the karaoke bar this time. The place next door looked more promising. Her throat felt dry and scratchy. The Plasma Pack from this morning hadn’t been very filling; her body craved something richer.
As she looked around the bar it seemed for a moment like she could see beyond the clothing and skin to the very core of the people around her. One man seemed to glow and Pepper felt drawn to him. She followed him upstairs and introduced herself.
Despite his cowboy hat, they got along fairly well and she had him laughing in no time. He quickly told her that he was happily married. But they had plenty in common. Eventually she couldn’t wait any longer.
“Can you hold out your arm?”
“My arm? Uh…sure.”
She held his eyes with her own until the last moment when she turned to sink her teeth into his exposed wrist. He was surprised, but didn’t pull away. He was much tastier than the Plasma Pack from this morning.
“So, you’re a vampire?” he asked.
“Yes…” she hesitated. Was he mad?
“I’ve never met a vampire before.”
“You don’t mind?”
“Nah, it’s cool.”
Pepper left the bar a different person. The night was suddenly clear and she could see into every shadow. So, this is what it felt like to be a vampire. She barely remembered calling the taxi to take her home and didn’t mind the squeaking bed.
The next day bright and early Brandon’s coworker Molly came and drove her to the city hall.
She spent the morning running errands for Brandon, but that afternoon she had a chance to meet her two new coworkers. As promised, it was mindless work, but at least she was getting a steady paycheck and could pay the bills.
She spent her days working and her nights, before she collapsed, into be searching for a suitable mate. Everyone seemed to be married or else was completely dull and unattractive. At least she got plenty of practice being a vampire.
There was Gavin, a paramedic at the hospital and he was quite tasty, but they had nothing in common.
Everyone at the fancy bar she tried were married or just not interested in someone who wasn’t a celebrity.
She found a hip bar up the hill from her usual haunts, but then everyone was too young. She had no desires to date a teenager.
On Friday, she was promoted just in time for the weekend. And to top it off she got a phone call from Barrington. He wanted to go on a date. A date? Wasn't he married? Had they broken up? Intrigued, Pepper left immediately for the horse farm. What a terrible place for a first date. They met outside the corral. And she knew something was wrong immediately. Never had she been so glad to get a phone call.
He’d brought his toddler! Not only was he still in a relationship with Juanita, but it had progressed into the next generation. What was his intention? Why had he invited her at all? She didn’t run screaming, but she kept the conversation strictly friendly. At least until night fell. She was thirsty.
She’d tasted better.
Saturday rolled around and Pepper took stock. Week one complete. She’d built a house, gotten a job, learned how to be a vampire, impressed her boss, gotten promoted, and skilled up in both charisma and mixology. She still sleeping in the world's worst bed, but more importantly, she was seriously lacking in suitable men. The only single men she’d run across were:
- Brandon, her boss. Attractive, but she was pretty sure it was against the law to date her boss.
- Quincy, AKA cowboy hat number one, police officer, and major bore. Plus, cowboy hat, yuck.
- Gavin the boring, but tasty paramedic.
Her legacy seemed doomed.
