Generation 4b: Cali Coughs Up the DirtW: Cali, I don’t think we’ve met yet. I’m this dynasty’s watcher. Cali: Oh really? What do you do?
W: Uh, watch?Cali: Do you do make-overs, too? Aren’t you going to change me out of my matronly street clothes and French roll coif? I mean, I’m an adult but I’m still looking good!
W: About that, I’ve been having trouble with the game every time someone goes into CAS lately, so now I wait until multiple sims need a make-over. Last week, the game crashed and it took a whole day to recover this save file. So, you’ll eventually get a makeover but not yet. Anyway, as the newest member of this household, would you do us the honor of narrating this chapter?Cali: There’s so much I don’t know about living in a dynasty yet but, sure, I’ll give it a try.
Cali: About four days ago at the Shrieking Llama Bar, a polite teenager named Tetsuji came up to me and struck up a conversation.
Tetsuji: Haha, since you’re an adult and I was a teen, you were probably wondering why I suddenly came up and wanted to know your marital status, career, and interests.
Cali: Yeah, after I answered you questions, you left and seemed to be discussing something with two other men. Now, I know they were the founder and your grandfather Satoshi. Why you?
Tetsuji: In the family, I’m the only one with the Observant trait now, so I’d been scoping out “potentials” for my twin Minoru.
Cali: That clears things up. You were both cheeky teenagers at the time and I couldn’t understand why Minoru didn’t introduce himself to me until later.
Anyway, I’d like everyone to meet the latest addition to our family, Seimei, pronounced Say-May.
Ssshh, don’t tell Naomi I told you this, but our neighbor Otis Spencer-Kim is a son of Denzel from when Denzel worked as a pollinator. That makes Minoru and Otis half-brothers (and also explains why Otis is so cute, but you didn't hear that from me). The two of them have been best friends since childhood. I used to feel jealous about Otis because Minoru wouldn’t ever let me talk to him. Minoru had to explain to me that, because of dynasty rules, his best friend couldn’t be good friends with anyone else in the household.
W: That’s why Minoru had to boot Otis from the family club. Every time he looked, someone in the family was hugging Otis. So now, Minoru and I are very protective about Otis’ friendship.I can’t believe you won’t let anyone but Minoru even talk with him, Watcher! Why, the other day at the park I saw Otis and was walking over to say hello and you cancelled my interaction! The nerve!
W: Just move on, Cali. No need to get all worked up over Otis. Or is there?Whatever, this is a shot of Minoru and Otis as teenagers.
I haven’t lived here long but even I know that a dynasty heir, like my darling Minoru, needs to satisfy a number of challenging requirements to achieve immortality, which is a dynasty heir’s ultimate goal. One of the requirements is to max a unique career (as you readers already know), so Minoru has been very attentive to getting in the right mood for work everyday. He often invites over Otis in the morning and asks for an aromatherapy massage to boost his Focus.
W: I wish I had a best friend who would massage me every morning before work.Watcher, no one’s asking you.
Anyway, this household has many secrets, it seems. For example, the door to Grandpa Satoshi’s science lab is always locked for everyone except him. He leaves crystals and potions around on the floor for cloning, which drives the maids insane. They are dying to get inside the room to “put away” what’s on the floor. I fired this maid because he spent hours staring at the locked door instead of tidying up the rest of the house.
Yuta only socializes with one person, his best friend Naomi. He's let his relationships with other household members deteriorate, which is not hard since his work as third-generation dynasty pollinator keeps him pretty busy. He doesn’t even eat with us anymore, except at parties.
Aside from all that, I think Yuta and Naomi provide an excellent example of how
NOT to use a massage table. Why is Yuta outdoors giving Naomi a massage while Minoru is indoors trying to earn a gold medal on his house party? Not to be disrespectful, Yuta, but you are wearing your flirty suit. Go back inside to the party and flirt! And Naomi is Naomi…she’s constantly asking people for massages!
W: The list of objects that need to be locked away during parties grows longer—computers, gaming mats, easels, and now the massage table. *sighs wearily
Cali: Look who finally got makeovers! I got a pageboy and a very feminine sweater-skirt ensemble.
Minoru: When I aged into a young adult, I automatically got a haircut like Joaquin’s, complete with matching T-shirt and headphones. I was glad to finally be rid of that hobbit hairdo, but I’m not really digging this look, either. Watcher, can’t you give me another makeover?
W: You’ll have to wait until Seimei becomes a child, Minoru. Minoru: Oh, all right. *pouts
Cali: Hey, the most important thing right now is that we look after Seimei the best we can!
Minoru: You’re only saying that because you’re happy with your makeover. Me, I look absurd.
Haha, this is only time I’ve ever seen Naomi give a massage. She’s usually the one asking for them.
Ah, the sacrifices they make for the dynasty! Naomi has almost completed all of her requirements for immortality. All she needs is to make a fifth good friend. To kick her friendship with Shauna Wing up a notch, she resorts to giving a deep tissue massage. Go Naomi!
W: I noticed an alien spaceship hovering nearby last night. Was that you I saw get abducted, Tetsuji?Tetsuji: Yeah, but nothing much happened. *retains macho silence
W: Every time there’s been an abduction, the house has been full. I’d say we’ve been pretty lucky so far, but I’d probably jinx us, so I won’t.
Here’s Naomi at her birthday party, becoming an elder. *whispers: that fairy look really isn’t doing much for her anymore
Her best friend Yuta and three of her good friends are already elders, so she decides to eat ambrosia right away. And now, there are three Nishijima immortals!
Minoru and I take a break from swimming laps to renew our marriage vows. Shocking that I'm an elder already, right? Yuta and I are the same age, so the family threw a double birthday party for us recently at the Shrieking Llama Bar. Old age creeped up on me so quickly, just two days after our son was born.
I’m not bitter. I’d been so focused on my career that I’d given up on ever getting married, becoming a mother, being part of a family. I’m thankful to Minoru for having chosen me. *sniffle
Tetsuji is having to mentor fitness as part of his career requirement. He’s disappointed that I joined the family with Level 10 fitness. The family has been pretty fortunate in their choice of spouses—the founder’s wife was a Level 10 Ms. Solar System, Satoshi’s wife Elise was a Level 10 Doctor, and I joined the family as a Level 10 Interstellar Ranger. The only drawback is that the three of us hadn’t already achieved the skill requirements for Level 10. I wonder if the careers of all the not-in-the-world townie people are like ours.
Oh anyway, Tetsuji is a personal trainer, but he and Minoru have been hitting the spa a lot recently. When they join a yoga class, everyone who sees them sighs in envy and longing. Their yoga poses are a sight to behold, yes? That’s my Minoru in green on the front right. Tetsuji’s in yellow.
So, Seimei aged up to a child yesterday. I’m so grateful to have lived long enough to be here for that. I’d show you a picture of him, but the Watcher wants to save it for the next chapter so that Seimei can tell his own story.
Watcher, would you mind taking over? I’m going to go fishing for angelfish with Yuta for a little while before dinner.
Watcher? Watcher? I’m feeling so tired. What’s happening? I’ve hardly spent any time with new family yet. I’m not ready to leave!
W: Grim? Wow, you got here fast.Grim: It’s not often I get two for one. What gives?
W: Must be because we threw them a double birthday party since they were close to the same age.
Grim: So tell me. Why are they down here on the beach alone instead of at home?
W: I know, it’s mean of me, but the family still hasn’tl fully recovered from losing Denzel. If they had all witnessed the death of Yuta, who’s been with the fam for so long, and Cali, wife and mother, the household would have fallen apart for days…Am I being too selfish, Grim?Grim: Yeah, you are. Relax, Watcher. Your dynasty won’t fail just because you let a sim die while surrounded by their loved ones.
W: You’re right, Grim. I’ll make it up to them somehow.Grim: How? Build another pool? *smirks
W: Now, that’s a low blow, Grim, even for you! (How did he even know about that?)Grim: Hey, don't underestimate the Reaper. I have my sources. *grins evilly
W:Speaking of pools…is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s Satoshi doing a swan dive. Perfect form, too!Satoshi: Nice try at changing the topic. But, truth be told, ever since we made Diving a club activity, my diving has improved immensely!
W: Don’t get upset but I removed it from your club activities earlier. Your obsession with diving was making you late for work too often.Satoshi: Hmmph. Unfair! Isn't there any fun activity that we would automatically stop when it's time for work?
W: If only....
W: Happy now, Minoru?Minoru: Yeah, thank you for the new look, though you made me wait until Seimei aged into a child. I hated that hobbit look and the Joaquin look works for Joaquin but it’s so not me. I look like a different person! If only Cali were around…
W: Your new hairdo makes your droopy eyebrows stand out. I hadn't noticed before that you'd inherited them. Very nice!Uh, thanks?
W: So, who’s the photo-bomber?Very funny. You kept the uncropped version of that screenshot, too? That’s our alien maid. He’s a little odd so none of us talks to him much.
W: You best stay away from him, Minoru. You can’t see it in the snap, but he’s got a Romantic thought bubble while he gazes at you.No worries, Watchette. He’s not my type.
W: Just be careful, dear. You seem to have also inherited Denzel's pheromones. That maid may not be your type, honey, but everyone and their mother thinks you're their type.Okay, okay. Now can we please just have a moment of silence for my dearly departed Cali and long-time family friend Yuta? May you both rest in peace.
It's me, Seimei, Generation 5! Come hang out with me next time.
