Author Topic: The Drifter Chronicles - House 003 (COMPLETE)  (Read 31108 times)

Offline PeregrineTook

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Re: The Drifter Chronicles - House 003 - updated 3/18
« Reply #45 on: March 18, 2018, 01:06:56 PM »
Lyanna's so pretty!  I mean, all the girls are pretty, but quite conveniently, your heiress is the belle of the ball!  Fingers crossed that she takes up the challenge mantle despite daddy fearing his little girl shouldn't have to go through such things ;=)

Offline oshizu

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Re: The Drifter Chronicles - House 003 - updated 3/18
« Reply #46 on: March 18, 2018, 01:21:40 PM »
What a relief for Valeria to get her family secrets off her chest.
Just in time, too, because Tobias is now an elder in her family tree.
All three girls are beautiful!!! The middle daughter's coif makes her resemblance to Daddy all the more stronger!

I was shocked to read Eddard telling the Board that the Baratheons would drop the Drifter Challenge. Nooooooooo!
Eddard is wonderful, by the way. So steady, so accepting, so open-minded. For a loner, he sure seems great with people, at least those in his extended family circle.



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Offline FrancescaFiori

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Re: The Drifter Chronicles - House 003 - updated 3/18
« Reply #47 on: March 18, 2018, 02:16:16 PM »
I just love Eddard's non-reactions to everything. I guess after all that cowplant business nothing fazes him anymore. Or maybe he just got all of his angst out in his teenage years. Either way, he's a champion of unflappability, and I adore him for it.
I'm so glad Tobias finally gets to be a part of the family!
The girls are all lovely! I look forward to seeing what they get up to.

Offline commasplice

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Re: The Drifter Chronicles - House 003 - updated 3/18
« Reply #48 on: March 20, 2018, 11:13:00 AM »
Lyanna's so pretty!  I mean, all the girls are pretty, but quite conveniently, your heiress is the belle of the ball!  Fingers crossed that she takes up the challenge mantle despite daddy fearing his little girl shouldn't have to go through such things ;=)

And that's pre-makeover! I did change their clothes, but for once I didn't need to give them chins or butts or anything.

What a relief for Valeria to get her family secrets off her chest.
Just in time, too, because Tobias is now an elder in her family tree.
All three girls are beautiful!!! The middle daughter's coif makes her resemblance to Daddy all the more stronger!

I was shocked to read Eddard telling the Board that the Baratheons would drop the Drifter Challenge. Nooooooooo!
Eddard is wonderful, by the way. So steady, so accepting, so open-minded. For a loner, he sure seems great with people, at least those in his extended family circle.

Well, Eddard hasn't told the Board yet. He's just writing it in his journal and talking it over with Val.

I'm really proud actually of how Eddard deals with stuff. He was tense most of the time, though, poor guy.

I just love Eddard's non-reactions to everything. I guess after all that cowplant business nothing fazes him anymore. Or maybe he just got all of his angst out in his teenage years. Either way, he's a champion of unflappability, and I adore him for it.
I'm so glad Tobias finally gets to be a part of the family!
The girls are all lovely! I look forward to seeing what they get up to.

Thank you so much!

Offline commasplice

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Re: The Drifter Chronicles - House 003 - updated 3/18
« Reply #49 on: March 20, 2018, 11:22:59 AM »
Journal Entry, Valeria Holiday

We finally have a very comfortable house and a somewhat comfortable schedule. I got another promotion. My co-worker told me I’d advance faster if I would just work on my charisma and logic, but honestly with triplets, I’ve never had the time.



Eddard and I had a long talk. We’re not telling Lyanna about the Project. She’s so focused on school right now. He doesn’t even need to influence her to do homework. She sits down to play chess and two minutes later she’s done not just her basic assignments, but extra credit too. While she likes fishing just fine, we really don’t see her being content to forage and harvest to make a living.

Besides I want a normal life for our girls.

They have that now.



From: Eddard Holiday
To: Drifter Board of Directors, No Sim Left Behind
Re: Drifter House 003, Progress Report 011




Level 10 handiness has been achieved. Angling Ace has been achieved.



I went to the park, took down the boards, and found the Grotto. Valeria was at work and the kids were at school, but they all joined me later.



Some hours and some wacky looking fish later, I got Angling Ace.

I know all our pics are of the kitchen or living room, but I promise to send you some of the rest of the house soon. In fact here’s an angle I don’t think you’ve seen.

The house is over 40k. Unless Lyanna goes and does something super stupid, she’s going to make it to young adulthood.

But I think the time has come to tell you that we’re not going to tell her about the Project. I don’t regret doing it. I know my dad loved it and so did my grandfather before him, but it’s going to end with me. I don’t want my child to enter into a life of deprivation and danger when she doesn’t need to.



From: Evangeline Hecking, Drifter Board of Directors, No Sim Left Behind
To: Eddard Holiday
Re: Re: Drifter House 003, Progress Report 011


As a parent, I understand where you’re coming from, but don’t you think that should be your daughter’s choice?

Evangeline



From: Eddard Holiday
To: Evangeline Hecking, Drifter Board of Directors, No Sim Left Behind
Re: Re: Re: Drifter House 003, Progress Report 011


Evangeline,

Thanks very much for your phone call. Both Valeria and I really appreciate your insights and we respect your opinion, but after talking it over, we decided our original decision stands. You are more than welcome to approach Lyanna after she becomes a young adult, but not before.

I still remember how I felt when my parents told me about the Project and even though they told me I could say no, I always felt like there was this huge weight on me with the revelation. They raised me with the idea that I would almost certainly become a Drifter even if they never told me about the Project. Now I realize with the wisdom age brings that I was an enormous jackass at the time, but I felt like I had no options. That is not what Valeria and I want for Lyanna.

Respectfully,
Eddard

Text from Shireen Holiday to Cassana Holiday

Shireen: Where are you? Come home NOW

Cassana: ?

Shireen: Lyanna is freaking out. She needs us.

Cassana: W/Nathan. OMW.

Phone call between Cassana Holiday and Nathan Fyres

Nathan: What the hell happened? All I got from your text was that Lyanna wasn’t physically harmed.

Cassana: She wasn’t. But she’s kind of a mess right now. [long pause] Dad was sorting through some of the crap Uncle Steffon left him and he was using Lyanna’s desk to do it.

Nathan: She has a desk? You know, I don’t think I’ve ever seen her bedroom. Is it like yours?



Cassana: There’s a bed and a desk, okay? And some really creepy wallpaper. It doesn’t matter. Focus. The point is she sat down to write her journal and she saw a bunch of these old letters and she went through them.

Nathan: And she found out about Grandpa Lucas—

Cassana: What?

Nathan: Oh, I thought—never mind. What happened?

Cassana: You can’t tell anyone. Promise me you won’t tell anyone.



Nathan: I promise.

Cassana: Our dad is involved with this like secret government project. Our whole family has been like lab rats for generations. And the founder of our family promised that every first born child had to participate. Whether she wants to or not.

Nathan: ...

Offline oshizu

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Re: The Drifter Chronicles - House 003 - updated 3/20
« Reply #50 on: March 20, 2018, 02:49:01 PM »
Now I can't remember what the initial deal was with next heirs, because the founder and subsequent heirs always went through a period of hoping their first-born would continue the project.
Are we seeing a case of teen freak-out and misinterpretation here?
Poor Eddard! He's been so careful to hide the project from the girls but one thoughtless act....

Other than that, Eddard has done everthing right!
He seemed to really breeze through his requirements! I can picture him with his Happy+ Loner trait in the Grotto!
Nice work on surpassing the $40k benchmark on the house already!!!

Looking forward to the drama! :D

Offline PeregrineTook

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Re: The Drifter Chronicles - House 003 - updated 3/20
« Reply #51 on: March 20, 2018, 10:02:00 PM »
Wow.  Real nice cliffhanger work there!  Now we're all on the edge of our seats waiting to see if this is how the challenge continues or why it ends.  Fingers crossed that this is how it continues  ;=)



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Offline FrancescaFiori

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Re: The Drifter Chronicles - House 003 - updated 3/20
« Reply #52 on: March 21, 2018, 01:37:28 AM »
Yikes! It was all going so smoothly, and then the dramatic ending! That's entirely too much drama for a teen mind to deal with. And Lucas Munch! I've seen him a million times in my games and I never would have thought him the type. I'm definitely eyeing him more carefully from now on.

Offline commasplice

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Re: The Drifter Chronicles - House 003 - updated 3/20
« Reply #53 on: March 22, 2018, 09:56:08 AM »
Now I can't remember what the initial deal was with next heirs, because the founder and subsequent heirs always went through a period of hoping their first-born would continue the project.
Are we seeing a case of teen freak-out and misinterpretation here?
Poor Eddard! He's been so careful to hide the project from the girls but one thoughtless act....

Other than that, Eddard has done everthing right!
He seemed to really breeze through his requirements! I can picture him with his Happy+ Loner trait in the Grotto!
Nice work on surpassing the $40k benchmark on the house already!!!

Looking forward to the drama! :D

You will get your answer on the heir part in the next update (in a few minutes). Honestly, once you get the knack in a Drifter challenge, making money is really no biggie.

Wow.  Real nice cliffhanger work there!  Now we're all on the edge of our seats waiting to see if this is how the challenge continues or why it ends.  Fingers crossed that this is how it continues  ;=)

Thank you! I hope you enjoy how it plays out.

Yikes! It was all going so smoothly, and then the dramatic ending! That's entirely too much drama for a teen mind to deal with. And Lucas Munch! I've seen him a million times in my games and I never would have thought him the type. I'm definitely eyeing him more carefully from now on.

I think the whole tree business was because of that weird bug and me not knowing what I was doing with MC Command Center.

Offline commasplice

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Re: The Drifter Chronicles - House 003 - updated 3/20
« Reply #54 on: March 22, 2018, 10:10:34 AM »
Journal entry, Lyanna Holiday

My parents have been lying to me my entire life. I don’t know what to do. I called Uncle Toby. I don’t know him really well, but after he calmed me down, he said I needed to talk to Mom. And he said if I still wanted to leave, it wasn’t like I didn’t have family I could go to.

I may have to run away where no one knows me. I would never see Cassana and Shireen again and that would kill me.

I don’t know what to do.



From Valeria Holiday
To: Drifter Board of Directors
Re: Well, the cat is out of the bag now.


It doesn’t matter how, but Lyanna found out. Eddard’s off somewhere in the neighborhood foraging crystals. I’m not sure why. The dragon fruit is ready for harvesting—anyhow she knows. She knows and somehow taken it from this kooky strange Project to some kind of dark government conspiracy. I have never really understood all the details and I can’t find Eddard.

She’s half ready to dye her hair to disguise herself and flee into the night. Can you email her and calm her down?

Valeria



From: Evangeline Hecking, Drifter Board of Directors, No Sim Left Behind
To: Lyanna Holiday
Re:  The Drifter Project


Hi Lyanna,

First of all, you do not need to participate in the Project unless you want to.

From what your mother said when I called her, it sounds like you came across some of the communications the Board had with your great grandfather Orys Baratheon. While the Board originally required participants to have their eldest child participate, that requirement is no longer in place. It has not been a requirement for years and years.

If you don’t want to do this, it’s fine. We will respect your decision.

Your mother gave me permission to share some of his reports with you. If you read them, you’ll see the only reason they didn’t tell you about the Project was because they felt they were doing the best thing for you.

I understand your father can’t be reached at the moment, but as soon as he comes home, I think you should talk to him.

If you have questions that he can’t answer and you decide you want clarification, email me.

Evangeline

Phone conversation between Eddard Holiday and Evangeline Hecking

Eddard: I think we’re good now. It was touch and go for a while.



Evangeline: I’m glad. This is purely voluntary. I hope she understands that now.

Eddard: It took a lot of talking, but she gets it. See…look, Lyanna isn’t like me and she’s nothing like either of my parents. She lives for school. She lives for academia. This kid is never going to be happy keeping a garden and foraging for collectibles. I don’t even think Lyanna would be content painting or writing. She wants a career.

Evangeline: The Project doesn’t preclude a career.

Eddard: No, but in her case…you’d have to know her to get it. I gave her all the stuff I have about the Project just so she would understand that we weren’t keeping anything from her. She’s reading it now, but I don’t think she’s going to be interested.



Evangeline: It’s fine, Eddard. I get it. I have kids myself. By the way on another subject?

Eddard: Yes?

Evangeline: I was snotty as hell when you were feeding yourself to that cow plant and I want you to know how sorry I am about that.



From: Evangeline Hecking, Drifter Board of Directors, No Sim Left Behind
To: Lyanna Holiday
Re: Re: The Drifter Project


Hi Lyanna,

After our phone call, I spoke to the other board members to see which of your questions I can answer.

IF you wish to participate,
•   The Board will give you a specific plot of land for free.
•   You will need to start from zero funds.
•   You may bring a few items with you, but if they have any monetary value, they will need to be paid for first. For instance, if an item you bring is worth 10 simoleons, the first 10 simoleons you make needs to be paid off immediately.
•   There will be requirements about the final value and construction of your house.
•   While you cannot visit your family home once you sign on, you are free to invite your family to visit your lot.
•   At some point, you will need to have a child who you will need to commit to raising to young adulthood.
As you will see, the above are all goals that we discussed. We ordinarily do not disclose all the particulars to our participants until they are young adults, but given the circumstances, we are going to bend that rule as much as we can.

Additionally, IF you participate, we can tell you that a requirement will be that you enter the Science career. There is at least one skill you will need to master and there is travel involved.

If you have negative feelings about aliens, this may be a challenge for you.

More than this we cannot disclose at this time.

You have some time and from what your parents tell us, you are a bright young woman with many roads open to you. We’re not your only option.

When and if you want to participate, we’d love to have you, but if you choose another path, you will have our best wishes.

Best,

Evangeline

Discussion among Lyanna, Cassana, and Shireen Holiday



Shireen: I’m just saying, you’ve been going on and on about the Science career for like forever.

Cassana: Lyanna can join the Science career without having to commit to a lot of crazy rules. Besides that hint about aliens. Ewww.

Lyanna: I don’t care about that. I think it would be super cool to meet an alien.

Shireen: We probably know some already.

Lyanna: I don’t know if I want kids, though. What if my partner works? Who’s going to take care of the baby? What if I’m a terrible mom?

Cassana: Then tell them no.

Lyanna: I need to think about it some more.

Journal entry, Valeria Holiday

I told Eddard I think Lyanna is going to participate after all.



Give that girl a list of requirements and she is all over it.

The dramatic atmosphere was building again. I finally told them all that no one was deciding anything today. And then I had Eddard take some photos. If nothing else this crisis has made it crystal clear to me that my babies are growing up so fast.







Offline FrancescaFiori

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Re: The Drifter Chronicles - House 003 - updated 3/22
« Reply #55 on: March 22, 2018, 06:55:41 PM »
Phew! All's well that ends well. I'm giggling that Lyanna is such an overachiever that the list of requirements is actually the thing that made her want to jump in an become a drifter. Nice that she gets to go into the same career she wanted anyway, as well.

The portraits at the end are so lovely! I can see both of their parents in all three girls.

Offline PeregrineTook

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Re: The Drifter Chronicles - House 003 - updated 3/22
« Reply #56 on: March 22, 2018, 09:07:52 PM »
Loved the shots of the girls at the end.
Looking forward to house number 4!!

Offline commasplice

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Re: The Drifter Chronicles - House 003 - updated 3/22
« Reply #57 on: March 24, 2018, 12:02:45 PM »
Phew! All's well that ends well. I'm giggling that Lyanna is such an overachiever that the list of requirements is actually the thing that made her want to jump in an become a drifter. Nice that she gets to go into the same career she wanted anyway, as well.

The portraits at the end are so lovely! I can see both of their parents in all three girls.

Well, Lyanna hasn't technically decided, but at least she's thinking about it. Glad you liked the portraits!

Loved the shots of the girls at the end.
Looking forward to house number 4!!

Two more entries before House #4

Thank you!

Offline commasplice

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Re: The Drifter Chronicles - House 003 - updated 3/22
« Reply #58 on: March 24, 2018, 12:08:00 PM »
From: Eddard Holiday
To: Evangeline Hecking, Drifter Board of Directors, No Sim Left Behind
Re: Drifter House 003, Progress Report 011


Lyanna hasn’t made any decisions yet. She keeps trying to force it and we keep telling her she needs to think about it longer.

Finally I have some photos for you that are not of our kitchen. The girls practically live in the pool.



We didn’t need it to bump the house value, but we bought a treadmill because Val and I both felt we could stand some exercise.



Here’s a better shot of the pool.



Hope you and your twins are doing well.

Regards,
Eddard

Phone conversation between Valeria Lentz and Tobias Lentz

Tobias: How many school projects do they come home with?

Valeria: Too many. You are now speaking to someone who has legit rocket science skills.



Tobias: Nathan came by the other day. All he did was talk non-stop about Lyanna.

Valeria: [Sigh] I had the woohoo talk with the girls. I told them all about inbreeding and how cousin marriage is bad.

Tobias: And?

Valeria: Lyanna made Cassana and Shireen pull out their homework and they all did Punnett Squares. I don’t think they really understand.



Journal entry, Lyanna Holiday

It’s just that I don’t know if I want children.

Shireen says maybe my third trait will be unflirty or noncommittal and that’s why I feel this way.

I like boys just fine. I just don’t know if I want kids.

Mom laughed when I told her why I was hesitating. “Honey, if life had given me what I thought I wanted, you would be an only child and I would have missed out on your sisters. Yes, kids are hard work, but it’s not like you’d be doing this on your own. There’s a reason your dad stayed home with the three of you.”

“But what if the father of my child works too?”



She shrugged. “Then your child goes to daycare. Most of your friends did and they seem fine for the experience. It sounds like you’re more worried about the how of it than anything else. You’re a smart young woman. You figure out the how part as you go along.”



Aunt Pearl came over later for the pool party. She was looking at a picture of Uncle Steffon and she got all quiet. I heard her saying to Dad that she wishes that they’d had kids.

We had a good time at the party. After everyone had gone, I was helping Dad clean up out back and I wondered why Aunt Pearl and Uncle Steffon had waited so long.



“Well, aside from their age difference, it happens. Even people with normal jobs need time to get themselves established and it gets very easy to fool yourself into thinking you have more time than you really do.”

I thought about that for a while.

“Look, pumpkin. All this angst about having babies aside—don’t look at me like that—it’s a small house. It’s very hard not to overhear—you have to realize what a commitment the Project is. You have to realize how hard it is. Forget about babies. You start with nothing. My grandfather at least had a grill nearby. My dad did not. I didn’t either. It takes time for plants to be harvestable. I slept on a bench. I have no idea where the lot they would give you would be. Maybe you’d have a grill or a bench, maybe not. Have you ever tried to get clean—really clean—from washing your hands eight times?”

“But they said I would be working in the Science career.”



“Sure. But let’s say you age up on a Friday afternoon. You would go two and a half, maybe three days before you’d even draw a paycheck. That’s a long time.”

I found myself arguing with him, telling him that I had ideas of how I would survive and it was then that I realized I want to do this.

I think Dad did too. He got real quiet for a while.

“If you do this, then the best advice I can give you? Is to get started on that baby you aren’t sure you want to have as soon as possible.”

“But—”

“I’m aging up tomorrow, pumpkin. I’m going to be an elder. The clock is ticking for me. You think you have all this time, but life passes by so fast. If you do this, you’re going to want to be around to know your grandchildren. Trust me. So if you decide to do the Project, don’t put off having a family. Start on that as soon as possible.”

From: Eddard Holiday
To: Evangeline Hecking, Drifter Board of Directors, No Sim Left Behind
Re: Drifter House 003, Progress Report 012


It’s too bad you and your family couldn’t make my party. You were missed. Even though I’ve never actually met you in person, I feel like I know you.



I have been doing a lot of writing. This was taken in Lyanna’s room—I’m doing a lot of journal writing these days.



Valeria and I think we know what Lyanna’s decision is going to be, but it’s hers to make and hers to announce so you’ll just have to wait it out.

Regards,
Eddard

Offline oshizu

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Re: The Drifter Chronicles - House 003 - updated 3/22
« Reply #59 on: March 24, 2018, 12:09:41 PM »
Well, what a relief that Lyanna wants to continue!
Eddard started out with the roughest traits but had the good fortune of the most supportive wife of anyone so far (seems to me). Go Valeria!

Oh, you posted a new update just as I clicked "Post."
Modifying my initial post to remark on your latest. :D

Enjoyed the juxtaposition of Lyanna being freaked about children, Pearl wishing she'd had one/some with Steffon, and Eddard explaining the advantage of early family-building.
Eddard's been such a great drifter all around. You now have one more update before House #4, but I'm missing Eddard already.  :'(