The Glorious Grisbys – A Facially Fabulous Town Jump (Chapter 2, Dec 23rd)

[Ausette]

~ The Glorious Grisbys - A Facially Fabulous Town Jump ~

• Chapter 1 - Laurel's Dream
• Chapter 2 - The Absent Alien

You can also also read my other stories here:

• The Jones Random Town Jump
• Big Brother Los Aniegos

[Ausette]

Chapter 1 – Laurel’s Dream



Once upon a time there was a lovely young Sim named Laurel Margaret Grisby. Laurel had a wonderful childhood full of joy and love and laughter. Her parents, Yvette and Walter, raised her to find humour in everything. But there was one thing holding Laurel back from true happiness in life: her nose.



In the storybooks, everyone married for love. But love was suspiciously small-nosed. Petite buttons and striking Romans adorned the pages of Laurel’s books. The only noses as large as hers were seen on ogres, trolls, and hags. Pretty princesses got their fairy-tale endings, but the hags? They were lonely as Laurel.



Well, Laurel was going to change that.

One day a man would love her. A man as strange and “ugly” as her. He would give her a beautiful wedding and a family of children who looked like her. And those kids would be raised to take pride in their looks, to be good and kind and fruitful, and to fill the earth with Sims who would never have to worry about being too ugly to fall in love.

Laurel's family would travel the world for her quest, but everything started in quaint little Riverview.



Ausette here! Yep, I’m starting a new town jump! I mean I breezed through the last one so quickly it seemed like the obvious thing to do. Things will be running a bit differently this time. First of all, I’ve decided that the Grisbys will jump town BEFORE the heir finds a spouse. This allows me to pull spouses directly from the pool of original townies.

Why is this so important? Because my goal is to breed the most ridiculous, facially-unique Sim possible from original townie genes. That’s right, I want my Sims to have elephant ears, Neanderthal brow ridges, and features that sometimes clip through the rest of their heads. I’ve already picked my spouses and let me tell you, some of them put Arlo himself to shame.



Laurel here is Handy, Artistic, has a Good Sense of Humour, and Hates the Outdoors. She’s reclusive but sweet.



She’s even sweet during routing tantrums. It’s the cutest.

“Hi there! I’d like to use the stove to make dinner but it looks like you’re already cooking. Thanks Dad, love you so much!”



Don’t think I’ve forgotten Laurel’s parents. Yvette wants another kid and I’m happy to indulge her for now.

“Oh baby, is that a phone in your pocket or are you happy to see m-“
“It’s a phone.”
“Oh good. I was wondering why it was singing.”



Yvette’s reflection is apparently startling enough to cause labour.



“Argh! There’s an elephant in the birth suite!”
“That’s my wife, you jerks.”



Say hello to River Grisby! I’ve decided to name the babies for their hometowns. River’s an Excitable Couch Potato who likes the colour brown. Nothing too helpful yet, but I’m sure he’ll be useful when he’s older.





He’s certainly cute; he got the big ears but he’s missing that characteristic Grisby nose.



Ack, don’t play on the stairs! You’re gonna break every bone in your body!



See, what did I tell you?!



“Whatever doesn’t kill me makes me stronger, loser! Bet you wish you had guns like these.”

River is now Mean-Spirited. Some little helper YOU are. Perhaps I shouldn’t have given him that vampire bear as a baby. Figures, I play the nicest family ever for a week and already I managed to create a total jerk.



And before we know it, it’s time for Laurel’s birthday! Poor thing, even on her birthday she gets laughed at.



Looks like we have a photographer! Laurel develops a Photographer’s Eye and decides to become a Visionary (max painting and photography). Heh, all the better to record the havoc I plan to wreak on her descendants.

Just like that, it’s time to move. Don’t forget to pack the gnome!



Even though he’s a jerk.

Yeah I get it, the bathroom flooded. There’s no need to rub it in.



The family arrives at a brand new house on the outskirts of Lunar Lakes. I’ll be doing things a bit differently than last time; instead of building a new house for each town like a crazy person, I’ll keep them in this one and adapt it as the family grows. Not only will it simplify things for me, it should add a charming legacy-like feel to the proceedings. I’m almost like a proper Simmer now, just with more cheats!



Here's an example of said cheats. Do you think I felt like going to Egypt for the camera? Ha, no. It came straight from the Buydebug catalogue. No, I don’t feel guilty. I still paid full price for this thing (and found it the same day for cheaper at the consignment store, grrr). Get snapping, girl!



Laurel’s first creation. I’m so proud.



River is apparently inspired by the setting because he’s suddenly SUPER into Logic. He wants a telescope, a chess table, a chemistry set, logic books, the works. I’m happy to oblige; potions are useful, and I have an ulterior motive for owning a telescope. Heh heh heh.

That’s right, I’m marrying in an alien this generation. Yeah, they’re not technically townies, but they have interesting faces and I haven’t had a chance to play around with them yet. And they fit Lunar Lakes to a T.



Will Laurel meet any aliens? And if she does, will they like her nose? Find out next time in the first full chapter of the Glorious Grisby town jump!

[hazelnut]

That's a great start.  I love the idea of breeding for interesting looks.  Bookmarked .

[Trip]

In the battle between the big Grisby nose and thin alien noses, you have any bets?

[Nimrod Mikkusu]

Alien noses\mouths\eyes but with Yvette Grisby ears. 

[KRae]

This should be fun! I'm looking forward to seeing how those faces develop.

[Beezy]

Ooh, this should be so fun! Good luck!

[Nimrod Mikkusu]

Yeah.  I may end up making something of the likes, too. I put Laurel and Arlo together in an emptied Sunset Valley, and bring ugly premades to use as spouses each gen. It will propably just be 5 gens instead of 10, with Laurel+Arlo being Gen 1.

[Ausette]

Thanks so much for the comments everyone! Really appreciate the support.

That's a great start.  I love the idea of breeding for interesting looks.  Bookmarked .

Glad to hear it! I always appreciate your stories too <3

In the battle between the big Grisby nose and thin alien noses, you have any bets?

I'm certainly hoping for the Grisby nose, it started this whole challenge after all . We'll have to wait and see which one wins out.

Alien noses\mouths\eyes but with Yvette Grisby ears. 

Haha, sounds like quite a Sim! Glad you're having fun speculating

This should be fun! I'm looking forward to seeing how those faces develop.

Thanks, I'm enjoying it too!

Ooh, this should be so fun! Good luck!

Thanks Beezy, I'm sure I'll need it!

Yeah.  I may end up making something of the likes, too. I put Laurel and Arlo together in an emptied Sunset Valley, and bring ugly premades to use as spouses each gen. It will propably just be 5 gens instead of 10, with Laurel+Arlo being Gen 1.

If you want! I'm hardly the first person to try this. Ridiculous Sims are fun for everyone.

[Ausette]

Chapter 2 – The Absent Alien (triple update)



It’s our first night in town and Laurel’s feeling restless. I am too, to be honest. I’ve never landed an alien spouse before and have no idea how long these things take.

Say, Laurel? Where are you going?



Omigosh yes, abducted on the first night! Correct Sim and everything! Didn’t even need to pick up rocks! This is all going perfectly to plan. Finally, some luck!



…Hang on a minute, that alien’s got curves! She can’t make babies with Laurel! Boooo! And to make things worse, she didn’t even show up in Laurel’s relationship panel. Poor Laurel got probed for nothing.



Yvette helps out by finding us some trinkets with the second-hand digger. I feel like she should be wearing PPE; those giant ears must be super-enhancing the digging sounds right into her eardrums.



Since she finds so many meteors I guess it makes sense that Yvette is the next to be abducted. Twice. Thankfully she makes it back in time for River’s teen birthday.





River grows up and becomes a Snob. It figures; he tends to look smug by default.



It’s fun when Sims have such expressive faces. Check out our off-duty man-maid for example.

“Tee hee, you’re the maid, that means you have to wash the birthday dishes!”
“How dare you! I’ll have you know maids are completely independent people. This isn’t The Sims 1 you know.”



“And then she said I had to do the dishes! On my day off! RUDE, I tell you.”
"WHAT? I CAN'T HEAR YOU AFTER ALL THIS DIGGING!"



“This infernal digging machine! Life is but a constant torment in this house.”

Hey, you’re the only Sim on this lot who doesn’t have giant ears. I don’t think you have a right to make noise complaints here.



“How come you’re eating our food? I thought you guys were basically robots.”

The only Sim crankier than the maid is of course young River.



“How DARE you Enthuse About New House to me?! I’m gonna shout at you now for no good reason.”



*Clap clap* “Yay, chaos!”

Mean and Excitable. Such an odd combination.



And then he whinges to Walter about the Good trait.

“I hate Good Sims, don’t you? They SAY they try to think of other people, but they never seem to think about ME enough!”



“Son, we love you but sometimes I worry a little.”



Laurel on the other hand is pretty much perfect, completing her Lifetime Wish within a fortnight of arriving. Painting’s a breeze as usual and even photography’s not too hard if you take daily pictures of the gnomes.



OMG an alien! This one’s female, but apparently befriending aliens makes it more likely for others to show up. Walter, you’re the one with Charisma, go out and say hi!



“Your nasal appendage astounds and disgusts me, earthling. And yet I am strangely attracted.”

Oh good, the aliens at least think Walter's hot.



“Carly, you’ll never believe it, there’s an alien on our couch!”

In desperation, I move the alien into the household the hope she has some alien buddies. Nope, the only Sims she knows are the Grisbys. I initially plan to steal her spaceship and then kick her out again, but then it occurs to me that her Logic skill would make her useful for exploring the digger holes. And that the “Steal Space Rocks” interaction with the science lab might come in handy sometime. And that her Nurturing trait would be good for when kids come along… At which point I have to admit I’ve grown too attached to kick her out, so Yumay becomes part of the household.



Oh let’s have her be friends with Laurel too, why not. She’s got the traits for it: Good and Good Sense of Humour, just like the rest of the family.



Yumay turns out to be one of the easiest Sims I’ve ever had the pleasure of playing. She skills like a dream, works out autonomously, and doesn’t even have to sleep.



Plus she gets on River’s nerves and that’s fine by me.

“You want me to have a good day? BOR-ING.”



Why couldn’t you be a dude, Yumay? You’d be the perfect spouse! Life is so unfair.

[Ausette]

“I apologise for being an unsuitable mate for your daughter. Now you on the other hand…”

No, you don’t want to kiss Walter, I’m pretending not to see that wish.



Aaargh I told you guys not to flirt! Great, now the kids have seen it.



River: “Dad! How could you?!”
Yvette: “Yay, Walter’s making a friend! Good job, sweetheart!”



Yeah, that about sums it up.



Oh no, looks like Walter might be free to flirt after all . Rest in Peace Yvette. Yvette was a very sweet Sim who loved to chat and cook with her family. She died at the age of ninety, only two days from retirement (i.e. one promotion from earning the chef fridge, grrr).



To my surprise, Yumay is hit hardest by the death. Guilt perhaps? No joke, she cries non-stop on repeat if I don’t assign other actions to her.

“Forgive me, Matriarch Grisby! I knew not of your primitive monogamous ways!”



“I have disrespected this colony! As penance, I must sing Yvette’s praises loudly and frequently!”

Yumay, I like you and all but please shut up. Your squeaky voice is genuinely getting on my nerves.



*whimper* “I shall grieve in the bathroom so as not to bother you anymore.”

Aww, now I feel bad.



Oh look, Yumay unlocked a snowman for us!

“Comrade Walter! I have built this memorial in the traditional way of my people. The ice represents the fleeting nature of our puny lives.”
“That’s very cute dear, but we’d like you to find us an ACTUAL alien.”



Yumay and Walter never flirted again, by the way. Of course it’s the respectful thing to do but their restraint breaks my heart a little.

“Yvette, whyyyy? Why did I flirt with the sexy alien instead of you?”



“We won’t be apart too much longer, my love.”



Walter Grisby passed away to join his beloved Yvette in the afterlife. He was a good-natured Sim who could get along with everyone, even River. Walter leaves behind two children and one ridiculously over-involved alien.



“Grisby junior! I would not stand there if I were you!”
*sniff* “I don’t care what you thin-“



“ARGH! My back! Your scythe went through my back!”
“YOU TRY DOING THIS JOB WITHOUT COLLATERAL DAMAGE SOMETIMES.”

[Ausette]

Don’t worry, River survives and grows up to become a Vehicle Enthusiast. He's besties with the spaceship now.



His lifetime wish is to live in the lap of luxury and that money won't earn itself! Actually with Laurel’s paintings it probably will. But River’s already  maxed his Logic so I think he’ll make a decent doctor.



And he gets to terrorise the townsfolk, which is always a plus for River.



“Doctor, I can’t feel my arm!”
“Well your arm just isn’t very good then. Obviously.”



“Now onto criticising your family, total stranger I’ve never met before! It’s their fault you have such terrible arm-feely genes! Um, medically speaking!”



“Now, MY genes on the other hand…”

Oh River. I don’t know what I did wrong with you.



Meanwhile, Laurel has her Adult birthday before she’s (and I’m) ready. She’s getting old and barren and there’s still no alien husband to be seen. Sims who weren’t even born when Laurel came to town will be having kids soon.



Even the gnomes are better at this than me.



This is the rock pile. It’s like the opposite of a Zen garden because every time I see it, I feel angry. Where are my aliens?! I’m getting desperate here!



Honestly, Yumay’s starting to look quite attractive. Sure she’s the wrong gender, but she’s a bona fide alien. I’m sure I could rig something up to let her have Laurel's babies – some mods perhaps, or temporarily turning Laurel into Laurence through CAS. But Yumay is definitely into dudes.  I wouldn’t feel right forcing things when she’s so clearly not attracted to Laurel.



Although this makes me wonder again.

“Laurel, are you sure it’s normal for humans to practice kissing like this?”
“Sure is! Just hold still and pucker up for me.”



Yumay, I told you to stay at the library! Now how am I supposed to know if another alien has showed up…

…Wait a second…



*faints*

We have an alien with a Y chromosome! Wake up everyone! The father of the next generation is here!



“Nice night for a home invasion.”
“Affirmative.”

OH COME ON, tonight of all nights!



Nooo, ignore the burglar! He’s not important! I don’t care if he steals everything we own, stop dropping the Friendly Introduction interaction with the only male alien in town!



The police lady has you covered! You don’t need to stand there like a bunch of fools! Stop ignoring the actions I’m giving you!



“Unfortunately the burglar got away this time. Hopefully we’ll be able to catch him next time.”

Thank heavens the cop focused on Yumay, not Laurel. In all the fuss Laurel gets one last chance to run outside and meet the alien.



Finally, at LONG LAST, we’ve got him.

And Laurel, who’s never had a romantic urge in her life, pops a wish to flirt with Exugo.



“Hello sir, I hope it’s not too forward but I’m having a midlife crisis and I think you're really cute. How do you feel about that?”
   


*SPROING*

“...You want to stick me with your brolly? I suppose that’s kind of flirty…”



“He… he poked me and ran away!”



“I hope he comes back!”

Don’t you worry, Laurie. He will. I’ll make sure of it.

[Nimrod Mikkusu]

Invite Exogo over and have him move in!  Yumay can marry River instead!

[Trip]

Well, I guess if you had to change a spouse's sex, do it for the lady from the race of male impregnation. Who knows what other secrets they have!

But this is easier. I hope the interstellar flight back isn't rough! Or long. But space is big.

[Beezy]

Aw, poor Yumay! She didn't know of Simkind's monogamous ways! I guess you could say that Walter had..Close Encounters with The Third Kind! *badumtshh*

Looking forward to seeing Exugo and Laurel's relationship!

I know this isn't a common opinion, but I've always thought that Laurel Grisby was quite pretty. Sure, her nose is a bit large, but I love her eyes and face shape.