@oshizu 
Glad you liked the reference. My four-year-old is way into the Jackson 5.
Yeah, I won't be sure about the nose until Thad's a teen. Ill be happy either way.
Salim nice and normal? Girl, have you seen his apartment? The man's a mess! I'm very fond of him, though. He doesn't get much play in this story, but I see him as being pretty easy-going and he's probably a nice grounding influence on his son.
@Caterina You got me! Yes, I always use double letters in my Sim names, purely because my mind automatically goes blank every time I have to come up with a name, so I made a rule and I have a running list of double-letter names going on my phone and now I just consult that and use whatever is most interesting to me at the time.
As for the restaurant, I'll let Morris explain, but I have to tell you I thought I was so brilliant. I honestly laid awake one night trying to come up with a solution to Tallulah and Jorge's proposal problem and when I thought of this I was like, "Yes! I'm a genius! It's foolproof!" and then . . . . well, you'll see.
@NexttoNormal I know, right? Those eyes! That kid is just too tragic. Yes, Salma is back for the long-haul. The very long haul, as I'm finding out. Butlers seem to be immortal. She was an elder when she arrived and she's already lasted through several elder-stage-length periods of time. I'm glad. She's awesome.
Chapter 84: Upper Echelon
Gemma, Ullal and Dimitri: Caaaaaaaaaake!
Salma: Wow! I never found all these ghosts creepy until this moment. This is the strongest test of my unflappability I’ve had in this house yet.
Arianna: What can I say? Ghosts love cake.
Pernille: I swear, this is the most-used chess set ever created.
Thaddeus: Yeah, the pieces are so worn down I can hardly tell which is the knight and which is the queen.
Pernille: Okay, that sounds really sad when you say it. Why do you have to make everything a tragedy?
Thaddeus: I was just making an observation!
Tallulah: Okay, now what? “The napkin rings are all wrong and the accent wall is two shades darker than I pictured it.” Dang it, Grampa Morris! *texts back* Just. Hire. Jorge.
Thaddeus: Should I be saying something?
Mallory: Nope. We’re just here to mark the passage of time and indicate that you’re completing all the aspirations.
Thaddeus: You know, this is all new to me.
Mallory: Yeah, childhood is a magical and *yawns* special time that’s unique for everyone.
Thaddeus: Oh, Drago. You’re my best friend. You’re the only one who doesn’t burst into tears every time you see me. Thanks, buddy!
Drago: *bites lip*
Arianna: Well, it’s a little ostentatious, but it does save time.
Diego: Oh, Morris. It’s so you. I adore it. Explain this to me again, though? Why a restaurant?
Morris: Well, here’s what we figured: When Lula tried to propose to Jorge she got the message that she’d need to dismiss him from her service first. So we figure the authorities somehow think he’s a butler. So we thought, we’ll convince everyone that he’s not a butler by getting him a different job. He can’t be a butler have another job at the same time, right? But we can’t invite him into the household, so the only way to get him a job was to start our own business and hire him.
Diego: That sounds . . .convoluted.
Morris: Convoluted problems require convoluted solutions. Or so we thought.
Diego: Oh, it didn’t work?
Morris: Nah. I’m keeping the restaurant, though. They gave it to me and I’ll be darned if I’m ever giving it back! Come see the private bar!
Salma: *butlers*
Diego: Morris, I’m enchanted. The downstairs is lovely, but an exclusive upstairs bar as well? It’s like you made it just for me.
Morris: Actually, yes. So the restaurant itself is called Echelon, and this part upstairs, accessible only to club members is called-
Diego: Upper Echelon. Oh, Morris. I just want to kiss your face off. So who’s in the club?
Morris: Well, so far just you and I.
Diego: Perfect. Absolutely perfect.
Diego: I notice a familiar painting.
Morris: Well, it’s just a print, of course, but I wanted you to feel at home.
Diego: Honestly, darling. You can stop trying to seduce me. I’m yours. If you come out with anything else now I might swoon.
So, yes, it was just a highly elaborate ruse as an attempt to convince the powers that be that I was not an employee of the Spiffendale family by making me an employee of the Spiffendale family. I have to say, however, that I made a darn good waiter, and if I do say so myself, I looked quite dashing in the uniform.
Morris: So, tell me what you think, but before you do, let me tell you what you should think: It has enormous potential. The staff lacks training, but the whole operation is clearly guided by the hand of a real expert whose love of fine cuisine shines through brilliantly despite a couple of minor hiccups. You can’t wait to come again.
Arianna: Morris. Either allow the bartender access to Upper Echelon or just stop reviewing your own drinks!
Morris: I’m my own worst critic, Mom. I have to keep my standards high!
Arianna: Soooo, I’m not saying we need to close the restaurant, because it is a nice way to pass the time while the active heirs are at work and school, but technically we could fire Jorge now that we know hiring him didn’t make him propose-able.
Morris: I am NOT firing Jorge! That is where I draw the line. He’s the best waiter we have! He’s unbelievably obsequious. Oumaima Mitchell told me he called her “Ma’am” 47 times during her last visit! 47! She counted. People love him. He stays.
Jorge: Thank you, sir. It’s so nice to know that my effort are being appre-
Morris: HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO ME?! Get back to work!
Jorge: Yes, sir. Sorry, sir. Won’t happen again.
Arianna: Guys, you’re cute, but it’s getting late, and I’m not sure the lighting in the bathroom is good for Thaddeus’ eyes.
Morris: What does he need lighting for? The acoustics in there are amazing! I’m sure he’s skilling faster just by being there. Plus, he has Salma. How did we ever raise children before butlers? Don’t answer that. I don’t want to think about it.
Diego: Enjoying the view?
Morris: You’re adorable when you fish for compliments.
Diego: Hey, with bait as tantalizing as this, who wouldn’t go fishing?
Morris: If only one could catch angelfish that way.
Diego: So, I’ve retired.
Morris: Oh, yeah? Good for you! You’ll have more time to spend at Upper Echelon. You can help me decide what to do with the office area. I feel like it’s lacking a certain something. Probably a globe bar, but I don’t want to get predictable.
Diego: You don’t think maybe it’s time for you to consider retirement as well? It does present a bit of a conflict of interest, your owning a restaurant and writing poisonous reviews of all other restaurants.
Morris: Hmm. I suppose you’re right. I just feel bad for the paper. What on earth will they do without me?
Diego: I hear they’re thinking of going digital-only.
Morris: Ugh. How uncivilized. I’m certainly not sticking around for that.
Don: So, you’re what passes for a helper by Gen 8, huh?
Salma: Indeed, sir. Though I believe I provide different services than you did in your time.
Don: That’s right. And you’re not getting a portrait, either, I bet.
Salma: That remains to be seen. Master Morris is advocating pretty hard to add my image to the collection. However, I seem to be immortal myself, so memorializing me may not be necessary.
Don: Huh. That’s funny. We could have foregone this whole rigamarole and just become butlers. Instant immortality.
Salma: Not exactly. The Windenburg Butlering Academy is extremely rigorous. I could tell some tales, if I were inclined and if it were allowed. Suffice to say, some might find a dynasty a less grueling method of achieving eternal life.
Arianna: Honey, you’ve got to relax. There’s just not a lot I can do here if you won’t cooperate.
Tallulah: Sorry. I’m just frustrated. It’s so weird. The more impossible it becomes to marry Jorge, the more I want to do it. It’s all I can think about.
Arianna: Did I ever tell you about how I got engaged to your Grampa J?
Tallulah: No, I don’t think so.
Arianna: Well. he was non-committal, and even though I loved him to pieces I knew he’d never commit if I forced it, so I just left it up to him.
Tallulah: Grandma A, men are stupid. You can’t just leave things up to them. If you did, you’d never get anything accomplished.
Arianna: I know it seems that way, but believe it or not, it was barely a day or two before he came begging me to be his girlfriend, and then his wife. He came around quicker than anyone could have predicted, and we were both happy.
Tallulah: But Grandma A, this is totally different. Jorge wants to marry me. He wants it so much it’s eating him alive. We just actually, physically, legally or whatever . . . we can’t. Letting go isn’t going to change that.
Arianna: Maybe not. But some things just take time. Maybe if you relax and focus on your career and your son and get everything else taken care of, a solution will come along while you’re not looking.
Tallulah: I won’t hold my breath.
Arianna: Good! Exactly! Take deep breaths. In and out. That’s the best thing you could be doing right now.
Tallulah: I meant metaphorically.
Arianna: Works either way.
Morris: Diego! I’m doing it! You’re not looking.
Diego: Morris, darling, I love you, but I’ve seen it.
Arianna: Thaddeus, dear, can I offer you a bit of mentoring?
Thaddeus: Step into my office, Grandma A.
Arianna: It’s a very nice office. I’m glad Morris put one in for you here at the restaurant.
Thaddeus: Eh. It’s okay. Needs a globe bar.
