Pippin: We return to the Took household where Abernathy is getting in more time with his new favorite gal.
April: I see. The gifting of slowly dying vegetation is deemed romantic.
Abernathy: Yes. Yes indeed. It reminds us that life is short, and therefore, we must prolong your life through multiple pregnancies.
April: There seems to be an obscure metaphorical logic to that. I accept your morbid gift of vegetation.
Pippin: They're so cute...or something. And speaking of cute...
Pippin: Ericka is just lovely!
Jena: Oh. I thought it was supposed to be a picture of me.
Blurange Blur: No, Jena, you get to do a selfie with me!
Jena: Cheese!!
Pippin: Bestie selfie and spouse photos are done! Not that they're required, just that it's how I decorate. Anyway, Blur went on to enjoy some more time with his vibrant and wonderful Ericka who is definitely not a wallflower...
Pippin: unlike Asia Rouse.
Asia: (sigh) At least Toto wrote that great song named after me.
Pippin: No, sweetie, that was Africa, not Asia.
Asia: (sigh)
Pippin: Anyway, Blur also spent some time with Ericka and her family.
Blurange Blur: Wow, you really resemble your mom!
Ericka: So, you think my mom's hot? Or is it that I look old?
Blurange Blur: ...this is a trap. I'm not sure how to get out of it...I know! Distraction!
Ericka: Haha! Nice one, Blur!
Blurange Blur: Thanks for helping get me out of that awkward situation, Tiana!
Tiana: Uhh...I...wasn't...
Pippin: Yeah, Tiana's on the good friends list. And speaking of good friends, the now-teen Daisy Goth is definitely living in the friend zone.
Daisy: Wow, that was not the kindest way that could have been put, Pippin.
Blurange Blur: Yeah, he does that. Oh hey, the romance festival is in town! See ya, Daisy!
Daisy: ...bye...
Pippin: Friend zone!
Pippin: They made it a double date.
April: I am understanding this to be the sweeping of me off of my feet?
Abernathy: Yes. It. Is!
April: Then where is the broom?
Abernathy: I...uhh...
Pippin: Out-Abernathied again! Wait, is that Random Vampire Guy in the background? He's in
this story too?
Blurange Blur: So, Ericka, maybe we could get away from the crowd for a bit?
Ericka: Enter an unsupervised area to reek havoc? Sounds good!
Blurange Blur: Reeking havoc wasn't exactly what I had in mind...
Pippin: They're so cute!!
Ericka: Well, I am. He's just cute by association.
Pippin: Fair enough. And when they return home, Abernathy has one of his daughters over.
Abernathy: Jeanette, dear daughter, you remember my SimRay, right?
Jeanette: Oooo, I get to be transformed?
Abernathy: Nope. Figured we'd try out the mind control.
Jeanette: Wait, the...
SimRay:
ZAPJeanette: Must. Clean. House.
Abernathy: Mwahahahahaha!
Ericka: Hmmm, I might need to borrow that at some point...
Pippin: And the girl who plays in the trash finally cleans up some trash.
Blurange Blur: Ooo, harsh!
Pippin: And speaking of harsh things, the Gupta children went through the loss of their mother, Jayden, but then ended up moving into a house not far from the Tooks. Milo was invited to visit.
Pippin: But that wasn't our only message. Grim warned us that Maya does not have long left.
Milo: Shall we head out for a night on the town, my dear?
Maya: Indeed. Let's paint the town blue and orange!
Pippin: I think the saying is, "paint the town red."
Milo: No. Never red. It is a cheap, wannabe orange.
Maya: Well said. Let's order food.
Milo: Unacceptable! In the menu, these tentacles were orange. In person, they're vaguely red. Take them back immediately!
Maya: And I can't get my present open.
Vlad: Umm, that's not a present, it's actually the food.
Milo: Let's leave.
Maya: Agreed.
Pippin: And they're our first couple to enjoy some time at the Brindleton Bay lighthouse.
Maya: Oooooo, pretty lights!
Milo: Ooooo, pretty amazing!
Pippin: And then they head to San Myshino to renew their vows.
Milo: I do!
Maya: Me too!
Pippin: And then we get another message. This time, it's an invite to Ericka's birthday party.
Blurange Blur: You look amazing!
Ericka: Watch the hands, big guy!
Blurange Blur: But...it's going to be two whole days until we can kiss and cuddle again!
Ericka: You are such a whiner!
Pippin: Umm, guys...anybody notice what's happening out back?
Laura: Huhn, maybe the fire was supposed to go
inside the grill instead of
under it...
Pippin: But not to fear as the household and guests rushed to the rescue...
Pippin: Well, Gaivan kind of smashed the door into poor Tiana's face, but otherwise there was nothing to fear.
Tiana: Umm, OW!
Gaivan: I...the door...and it was...that I couldn't...so then...sorry.
Pippin: But Gaivan resumed making a cake and candles were placed and...
Blurange Blur:
Happy biiiiiiirthday to you!!!Pippin: Hmm, guess he inherited his great-grandfather's singing voice.
Pippin: She's so pretty!! However, poor Blur must wait two days until he can have romantic interactions with that beauty again.
Blurange Blur: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
Pippin: But the days passed fairly quickly and uneventfully, and finally...
Pippin: his cake was ready...at exactly the same time that his mother was passing away.
Pippin: And a now-young adult Blur and Ericka mourn for the loss of Maya.
Ericka: She was always so sweet to me!
Blurange Blur: I can't believe mom's gone...
Ericka: I had been looking forward to her being at our wedding.
Blurange Blur: ...I...I can't believe she's gone...
Grim: Ummm, you should probably ask her to move in.
Blurange Blur: ...huh?
Ericka: Okay (sniff) I'll move in (sniff sniff)
Pippin: Thanks, Grim. And so, we lose Maya, but we gain Ericka as a household member. Blur has finished the Chief of Mischief aspiration, has his collection in place, has maxed mischief, is at level 8 of charisma, level 6 of logic, and has his friends in place. Thigs are going well. Thanks for helping us along, Maya.