Pippin: We return to the Took household to find the family heading off for an outing in Windenberg.
Ericka: Hey, are we going for some specialty coffees?
Pippin: Nope, even better! Come this way!
Pippin: Wow. That's a really great single-file line.
Ericka: Well, ordinarily I make them all hold on to a rope like a preschool class so no one gets lost, so I guess they're just in the habit now.
Pippin: ...that makes sense for this group, actually.
Ericka: Seriously? You brought Tessie away from her easels at home to make her paint here?
Pippin: ...maybe...but look at the great fishing spots for the elders!
Ericka: (sigh) You mean just like the great fishing spots at home?
Pippin: This sounded like a cooler outing before you started questioning things like that. I mean, just look at the great view!
Ericka: Alright, I guess that is pretty. Are you painting the scenery, Tessie?
Tessie: Nope!
Pippin: Let me guess, you're painting gnomes?
Tessie: No, silly Pippin! I'm painting a canvas!
Pippin: (sigh) Are you painting pictures of gnomes on the canvas?
Tessie: Oh. Yes then.
Pippin: And later, we return home to fid that Milo's unique bestie, Chelsie has come to visit. He spent some time catching up with her, but then had to work, so how does Chelsie fill her time?
Chelsie: Mine is a surrealist perspective on the hardships faced by unwatched Sims. What's yours?
Tessie: Mine's a painting!
Chelsie: Oh...umm...a painting of what?
Tessie: The Storming of the Beaches of Gnomandy!
Pippin: (facepalm)
Chelsie: ...let's just paint more.
Tessie: Okay! By the way, you're doing a great job!
Pippin: Uh, Tessie? Your hand?
Tessie: What about it?
Pippin: It's on Chelsie's...
Tessie: Oh! I was patting her on the back! I hear it's reassuring and congratulatory.
Chelsie: ...that's not my back...
Tessie: Umm, that would
clearly be your backside. I can tell because it's not on your front.
Chelsie: ...I think I need to leave now...?
Pippin: Yes. Run for your life, Chelsie! Anyway, Chelsie wasn't the only visitor to our household.
Ericka: Tiana! You look so...sophisticated!
Tiana: What a nice way to say old!
Pippin: And the gals get in some quality time together before...well...uh...
Tiana: He means before I die, right?
Ericka: Yeah, I think he had gotten too far and then couldn't figure out how to get around saying it.
Pippin: But, she's your best friend other than Blur and she'll be...and you'll be...because she's...
Ericka: And he starts channeling his inner Gaivan.
Tiana: Isn't Gaivan the guy who hit me with a door when Mom set our house on fire?
Ericka: Yep.
Tiana: Wow. Thanks for brining him up, Pippin.
Pippin: I didn't...he wasn't...Moving on, Tessie had a couple of fellas over to visit.
Tessie: ...so anyway, Mom said I can't only talk to gnomes and really need to interact with people, and I figured you guys are kind of like people, so we're interacting. With each other!
Arun: So, I'm "people," but I'm not sure Grandpa Fangs over there counts.
Vlad Countvlad Countactually: Well, peasant, I
am a count, and therefore
must count.
Tessie: "Count" is even in his name! Twice! Countvlad Countactually!
Arun: Haha! She doesn't even know your actual name!
Tessie: Umm, I obviously
do know his name since I just said it, Darren!
Vlad Countvlad Countactually: So, how's that "knowing your name" thing going for you there,
Darren?
Arun Darren: ...dang it.
Pippin: And she hugs her friends goodbye and sends them off before the vampire one burns away to ash.
Tessie: Bye, Darren! Bye, Countvlad Countactually!
Both: Bye, Tessie.
Pippin: Yeah, I think they've just accepted their new names.
Tessie: New names? But I only just learned the ones they already had!
Ericka: No, dear, Darren and Countvlad
are their new names. They legally changed them
right before they met you.
Tessie: Wow, that's great timing!
Pippin: Thanks, Ericka.
Ericka: I gotchu!
Pippin: Meantime, Ericka's husband has been enjoying living in his own fantasy world.
Blurange Blur: I am a rock icon!!
Ericka: Awww, he's cute. Let him have this one, Pippin.
Pippin: ...alright. Since I can't sass Blur, let's check in on Tessie...
Pippin: who just got her first promotion!
Tessie: Ugh! This outfit! I look ridiculous! I need to change before I use my new easel!
Pippin: Yes. The bunny slippers and bowler hat look is much more sophisticated than the plain white T-shirt and jeans.
Tessie: Wait, Mom seemed to think sophisticated meant "old," so are you saying...?
Pippin: No! I meant you look lovely. I'm sorry.
Tessie: Hmmm, this painting looks familiar. I can't help but think I've seen it before...
Pippin: You realize that same painting is right in front of you, right?
Tessie: Of course it is. I'm looking right at it.
Pippin: No, on the wall.
Tessie: No, silly Pippin, it's on the easel. Ah well. I'm sure I'll figure it out eventually.
Pippin: (sigh) Of course you will. Anyway, we leave this painting unfinished and on the easel in Tessie's section of the museum so it is merely decoration and not part of her collection as unfinished paintings have no value...other than sentimental, that is.
Tessie: Mental means having to do with thoughts and the brain and scent is smell, so sentimental must be thoughts about smells!
Pippin: ...sure...anyway, Tessie continues working on her piano skill...
Pippin: and her daddy, who is a rock star in his own mind, could not be more proud!
Blurange Blur: My little girl is the best pianist
ever!
Ericka: Ahem?
Blurange Blur: Umm, and my wife is better than the best? Sweetie? I love you!
Ericka: Mhm.
Pippin: Anyway, Gaivan had his lavender-haired vampire daughter, Danika, over...
Pippin: and they enjoyed some ice cream...
Danika: Wow, Dad! It's great that you wanted me to come over! And ice cream, too? Wow!!
Gaivan: It's...and the...because taste of...with the...because weight...and they...
Danika: Is this mint? Whoa! I'm...so shapely now!!
Pippin: And it's makeover time!
Danika: I look
awesome!!
Pippin: Yeah she does! I mean, the only lavender-haired child should get
some sort of special treatment, after all!
Erika: Okay, as long as Tessie still gets more attention, that's fine.
Pippin: No worries there.
Tessie: ...and there's a cloud, and there's another cloud over there, and there's one...
Pippin: Okay then. So, we have Blur simply waiting another week to hit elderhood, and then we'll have immortal number 6 in place. Meantime, Tessie has 6 more levels of her career to complete, a few more levels of piano and logic, and her parties. Things are going well for the Tooks!