"Wow, this is...actually way better than what I was picturing," Ellie said as she took in the view of her lot. It was bare and surrounded by scrubby grasses but the path led towards a secluded beach where the waves gently rolled and seagulls cawed.
Good. I'm glad. Are you ready to get started?
"Yeah, yeah, give me a minute."
Ellie jogged towards the beach then cast her line.
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"I could definitely get used to this. Not the fishing but the beach, the quiet, that sort of thing," she said thoughtfully. "I can't wait to paint it all. It'll be fantastic."
I'm sure you will be great. But, we do need to discuss your spousal options.
"Wait, already?"
The optimal strategy requires Club access as early as possible and they are easier to maintain when the members are part of the household. I have compiled a list of candidates ranging from best to acceptable, calculated by traits, aspirations, known skills, and career levels.
"You've already made a list?" Ellie yelped as she caught her first fish, a large, juicy trout.
....I did say I was a planner. I am confused by your continued surprise.
"Not surprise, just, you know, wow, you really do have all of this planned out, huh?"
I do not. I am merely working with your talents and goals. That said, yes, I do have a wide range of plans based upon those things.
"Let me see that spouse list thing."
Ellie looked over the list and tried not to giggle. Or groan. The Wizard had clearly done exactly as she said, which rendered the excitement of meeting new friends and building a new life rather sterile.
"Okay, no more than three, all right? I'd rather not have an entirely full house yet."
Three is a perfect number. It relieves some of the pressure on the individuals of your generation.
"I'm almost afraid to ask."
Are you sure you want the complete breakdown?
"Might as well, this last fish is taking forever, I might as well go digging."
Very well. 144 skills across 9 generations comes to an average of 15 maxed skills per generation or 5 skills per sim for a 3 sim generation or 4 skills in a generation of 4. 55 aspirations across 9 generations comes to 6 aspirations per generation or 2 per sim, provided, of course, that the random aspiration is not time sensitive. Combine that with 29 adult career branches and the fact that you're going to want move members out and in, you're looking at 4 careers per generation. Unless, of course, the Vampire generation agrees to carry the 10 children burden and those children live in the house until they max a career. Any number over 4 would be hugely beneficial for the legacy. As for parties, you'll need 14 gold medal events per generation on average to complete those points.
"Yeah, we're not doing that last one."
It is a bit excessive, I admit. Have you made a decision?
"Yep, and just found this last crystal. Follow me, Wizard."
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"Hey, Salim," Ellie shouted.
"I'm in the middle of- oh. Ellie, nice to see you again. How are you doing?"
"Not bad. You?"
"Taking a break from my next bestseller. You?"
"Nothing much, just founding a legacy."
"Run that by me again?"
"You know, a legacy? Watchers and Wizards and Immortality and Points and stuff?"
"I thought that stuff wasn't real."
"It is. Really real. So, um, would you like to join my household? I wouldn't ask you to give up your job or anything, in fact, the Wizard says you should definitely keep it, but um, yeah? Please?"
"Well, I've always heard that Watchers are wells of inspiration and lord knows I could use that right now. So, um, that'll work. Yeah."
Welcome, Salim Benali.
"Holy crow, you weren't kidding!"
"Why would anyone joke about something like this, least of all me? I thought we were friends."
If you both are quite finished, dusk approaches and you have no furniture, no skilling equipment, and almost no money.
"That's what I get for not reading the fine print," Salim muttered.
Ahem. I have a plan. Off to the museum for both of you.
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"Huh, a computer for writing and an easel for painting. Nice move, Wizard," Ellie complimented as she cracked her fingers and got to work.
"That's...huh. So, what, you want us to write and paint all night? I have to work tomorrow," Salim pointed out.
I have begun your legacy club. Writing and Painting count towards points. How tired, hungry, and in need of a toilet you two are come morning is up to you.
"Got it."
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And so, they worked. Ellie's initial paintings only barely made a profit, little more than enough to begin the next. But steadily as the night wore, they increased in value. Salim, on the other hand, wrote bestseller after bestseller. His books would pay off in the long but in the short term? Ellie's dedication made all the money. By Monday morning, they went from about 80 simoleons to a modest 930. By Monday evening, they had more than 2000 in the bank and, again, Ellie made most of it.
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Well, that's one way to show appreciation.
"Wizard!" Ellie shrieked.
I am required to document this legacy. Would you prefer I document instead your awkward attempts at courtship?
"Awkward-" Salim started.
Like a pair of awkward turtleducks. I would be more than happy-
"Yeah, no thanks, Wizard. That's just...blargh."
"Awkward?"
"Yes, sweetheart, we talked past each other for hours. Even the bushes were getting embarrassed."
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"Don't tell me it's not worth the effort," Salim said.
"Oh, it's definitely worth it."
First child of the second generation already. I thought you didn't want to move too quickly.
"Meh, life's too short."
Another night in the museum passed in short order. After Salim left for work, Ellie headed out to round out her household. After a lot of thinking, she decided on a pair of sims she hoped could live with a Watcher's weirdness.
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"Um, hi, I know you don't know me-" she began.
"Hi. Salim called and said you might be by. I'm Penny, by the way."
"Ellie. Nice to meet you."
They talked for a while, Ellie lightly treading towards her goal while Penny...
"You should see the things going on on the internet. Some of the Aliens are acting weird, and I mean even for them, they just stop and vanish into thin air. There's that new vampire that, like, even the Vatores won't get into, which is weird because they're top of the vamp heap, right? Know anything about that, hmm?" she finished teasingly.
Ellie laughed. "You can't believe everything you read on the internet."
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Penny turned serious. " I don't. I teach people how to fact-check online, remember? These things are happening."
"So, about moving in?"
"You should've asked that from the beginning. I just lost my roomie and the rent's too high on my own. I'd be happy to join, though I'd like one of those makeovers you hear about in the near future."
"Done. Once we've made a few points, I'm sure the Wizard would be happy to help you out there."
Indeed. Once the first aspiration is complete, I will grant you the access.
"Awesome. Well, I'll head back. Gotta few livestreams to host today. You're going after your last roommate, right?"
"Hopefully it'll go quickly."
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"No."
"Please?"
"No."
"Come on, Raj, we've been at this for hours and you haven't even given me a single opening."
"Because I don't want to go, Ellie. Who'll look after my mother? Hmm? I'm a high powered chef around here, I don't want anything to jeopardize that."
"I understand about your mother but you can visit her every day. And being part of a legacy wouldn't stymie your career. I'd appreciate you staying in it, actually."
Family. He wants a family.
"Raj, I know you're having a hard time finding someone to have a family with," Ellie slowly started.
"It's not that, I just want to adopt but it's kinda hard to do when it's just one parent, you know? Don't think I have the stamina for that. My mother won't be here forever."
"Well, you could co-parent my kids? I mean, it's a legacy and things are gonna get crazy. Quite frankly, Salim and I need all the help we can get. We'd love to add you as an equal parent."
"I still don't know, Ellie."
"Just take the gig," Geeta shouted from the next room. "You need to get out of my house and I want some grandchildren."
"We'll even throw in helping you start your own family, if you want," Ellie finished a little desperately.
Raj rolled his eyes. "Okay, fine, you convinced me. I'll help you with your food stuff and whatever and you let me be a parent to your kids until I can adopt one of my own, which you and the others will help me with. Deal?"
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"Deal."
Watcher's notes
I don't know how we got so lucky with the San Myshuno sims because seriously. It's like the devs knew we'd need some high achieving YA sims and stuffed the place. Penny and Raj are both at level 7 in their careers and their skills actually match that. Livestreaming Video Games allows her to get to the follower count she needs and increases her already high Video Gaming skill. As Penny had the City Native Aspiration, we rerolled it to Chief of Mischief. Salim comes with high level Writing and the aspiration to match. And yes, he and Ellie were such a pair of awkward turtleducks, I have never seen two sims, neither of whom is Unflirty, stick their feet in their mouths so much. They got it resolved, thankfully.
