@oshizu Yup, that's Chi. He's adorable. I very strongly considered making him the spouse and using the gender customization options to bring in Gen 5, but Wendell sort of decided on his spouse himself through whims, so Chi is just a close family friend and fixture at all parties.
As for Dimitri *shakes head* . . . he's just sort of hapless. I had no such troubles with Don or Eduardo, but Dimitri is constantly getting rejected or caught cheating and his first eight or nine kids were all boys. He's pretty much the worst. Always in some state of embarrassment. After a while it just got funny, though, and I became very fond of him.
Yes, all of the spouse choices this time around are Eduardo's kids. I can't really blame the game for not generating any more kids or teens. Eduardo was nothing if not prolific.
@Joria Thank you! Your reaction is just what I hope for every time!
@Tilia Thank you for reading! I love the ghosts, too, but they can be pretty annoying. They love to possess things and break them. Having a full-time handyman on staff is necessary just to deal with that. I'm not sure what I will do when we run out of room for one. Still, the ghosts are not as annoying as Sims 3 ghosts. For one, they don't go around waking everyone up. The also fairly often do the dishes and clean spoiled food out of the refrigerator or take out the trash. They do tend to angrily kick the trash can over more often than I'd like, but overall they're nice to have around.
The pollinating thing is a lot of work, but it can be done mostly while the active heir is at school or work and I find myself at little at loose ends when I don't have an active pollinator going. I've also got my formula for seduction down pretty well, and of course there's the magic threshold, so it doesn't take too long. The only real issue is child gender. Of Eduardo's 43 children, only 10 were girls despite listening to pop music with the pregnant ladies whenever he could. Still, I like the pollinators. They're just quirky members of the family.
Chapter 28: Shiny Places
Mallory: So you see, friendly maid-
Friendly Maid: I have a name.
Mallory: I bet you do! Good for you! And that’s the sort of thing I’m going to care about and remember once we’re good friends. What do you say?
Friendly Maid: Well, it beats picking up ice cream bowls.
Betty: You know, I bet people expected the sappiness to go down a few notches once I died.
Morris: In your face, people! This is The Morris Show. All sappiness, all the time. Can’t stop. Won’t stop.
Betty: Awwww. Never stop.
Betty: I still hate this place, though.
Morris: I’m still really good at pretending not to hear you when you say that.
Betty: I do still love this nectar. Shoot, is this going to make a puddle, now? I hate that.
Bald Waitress: That’s it! I’d rather die than serve one more plate of sizzled brisket!
Everyone in the Entire Restaurant: No! Not her! She was my favorite waitress!
Reaper: Guys, none of you has any relationship with this woman. I’ve got it all right here.
EitER: Oh, bald waitress! We’ll never forget you! *uncontrollable sobbing*
Morris: Betty? Don’t you want your dessert? Oh well, no sense in letting it go to waste.
Wendell: Portrait of a Studious Young Man, Studiously Posed. Who is this devastatingly handsome Adonis in a sparkly suit? He exudes such mystery and charisma. His every move conjures Fosse and DeMille. He is Wendell Spiffendale, dynasty heir, party animal, and straight-A student.
Wendell: Hey! Layla Fyres! You aged up predictably hot.
Layla: Well, I aim to please . . . I guess.
Wendell: Wendell Spiffendale, Ladies Man.
Wendell: So, Catherine . . . traits?
Catherine: I’m warning you, they’re pretty good ones.
Corina: I’m just going to keep photo-bombing you guys disapprovingly until someone admits that I’m hot and a viable candidate for dynasty spouse.
Wendell: Corina, I love you, honey, but you’re a hot-headed snob, and you’re sort of frighteningly muscular, so I’m afraid you’re friendzoned. No hard feelings, okay?
Corina: Pffff! Whatever.
Wendell: Okay, then. Gotta start somewhere.
Dimitri: And the handyman is back in fighting form! Take that, bathroom sink!
Dimitri: Kacie Munch, you rainbow-haired goddess. Thank you so much for agreeing to this date. I’d lost my mojo there for a bit, but I think you might just be the lady to help me get it back.
Kacie: Honestly, Dimitri, and this may be the mood lamp talking, but I think the most alluring thing about you is that you never really had any mojo to begin with. I like that.
Dimitri: Okay, whatever works.
Lucien: Yeah, man. That’s right. That’s the image I was going for. It really expresses my inner Lucien.
Dimitri: So, I’m cooling it on the club for awhile, and just taking things nice and slow. I really appreciate you coming over, by the way. It’s nice to talk just the two of us.
Lillian: I agree, and I’m glad to hear about the club. This is a really nice threshold, by the way. I can’t quite explain it, but I feel like I could just hang out here with you all day.
*several hours later*
Lillian: Okay, I’m in a sauna full of dancing teenagers, and I’ve just tried for baby
again with a man I despise. What even is my life? Like, seriously, what is going on here? Someone help me out.
Mallory: Did we get boring? Do you think we’re boring?
Lucien: Nah, girl. We’re still on fire.
Mallory: I feel like maybe we’re boring.
Lucien: Did you want to spice things up a little? Maybe hit up the hot tub or something?
Mallory: Oh, gosh no. I’m exhausted. I just want to go to sleep.
Lucien: Same here, baby. We can be interesting in the morning.
Mallory: Good plan.
Wendell: I appreciate the support, Catherine, but this is not really a dance-y tune.
Catherine: Hey, Chopin is my jam. Turn it up.
Wendell: Ummmm . . .
Mallory: Curtis!
Curtis: What?
Mallory: I said, Curtis!
Curtis: What? I can’t hear you over these sick beats!
Mallory: Do you want to be best friends?
Curtis: What?
Mallory: I said do you want to be best friends?
Curtis: Do I want a fresh lens? No, I don’t even really do photography.
Mallory: *sigh* Okay, just give me a hug and maybe we’ll get the smiley faces.
Curtis: Sure! I love shiny places!
Mallory: Phew! Okay, that’s done. I should never have installed those subwoofers on this thing.
Kristen: You okay, Ms. Spiffendale?
Arianna: Huh? Oh yeah, I’m fine. Just a little bored. Want to do makeovers?
Kristen: Okay.
Lucas Behr: Can’t. Stop. Dancing!
Wendell: Shake it don’t break it, man.
Kristen: Wow! I am adorable!
Lucas Behr: Oh, gosh! Kristen, you look amazing!
Kristen: I know! I feel like the end of an 80’s teen movie or something. We should totally make out!
Lucas Behr: Oh! Okay!
Wendell: Ah, young love!
