In this Exciting* Episode: Kari sells some violins, Johnny Zest goes to a pool party, and teenage Aidan annoys teenage Scarlet
*stuff happens, but your mileage may vary. Level of excitement might depend on how many other exciting things you read.
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We had Thought that Scarlet's father was an unusually handsome man. On a visit to the park to complete noble aspirations (such as frightening the local children and irresponsible Fishing, as per usual), Steve was invited over, and he arrived in casual wear.
Um. right. Father Winter robes are more becoming. It turns out the Steve is the regular Father winter shape. But! he is probably proud of his daughter for making a mess in the park. Unassisted, too! Pure initiative!
As far as traits go, Aidan is a neat child and Scarlet is athletic. I'm randomizing -- and gritting my teeth. Left to my own devices, they'd all be cheerful foodies.
One of the Major Pursuits of Kari's life has been biting as a vampire to preserve original townies, and, since give up that lifestyle, giving others a potion of immortality. Potions are copypastoed on an industrial scale. Family outings are entirely focused on giving any original sim I can find a chance at a long life. Grace Anansi of Realm of Magic is the lucky girl here, and is too gorgeous to let die. She, and many others, are sims I've never done anything with, and... maybe this will be her time. Loario and Scarlet are getting a bit tetchy on this visit.
And eventually the potions run out, and you're left with ghosts of those sims who were Unlucky. I wasn't giving up on Grace. With her, is Morgyn, Eliza, and one of the Caliente girls.
You can just give a temporary ghost another potion of immortality, and if it works they'll become mortal and solid, but you can also massage the stress away. And then mid-massage they transform back, with a bemused looking Kari wondering where her friend Vanessa went. It was pretty strange giving a ghost a massage in the first place, so it's not the first weird thing Kari's seen in her life. She'll be fine.
Max Villareal. Maybe he can be reformed by a good wife one day? Maybe not! But it's nice to have the option. Those are tourists visiting, because Kari's other pursuit (she's a busy lass) is fame. And a celebrity home apparently boosts fame gain. And it gives a steady supply of people outside to greet.
Childhood was also still happening for Aidan and Scarlet.
The family was attending the Starlight Accolades to support Kari.
Kari has to tell her son how he missed her speech. In a break from protocol, she thanked no one at all! And she didn't need no help from y'all, can make a half-decent video herself. Loario looks thoroughly bored. I rather hoped Kari would get the tiny bit of fame she needed to reach 3 stars during the evening, but alack, no.
The family traveled home from Del Sol Valley with one Nancy Landgraab. And she became acquainted with Aidan. Kari became a 3-star celebrity soon enough, at which point she began donating expensive violins to fans, swapping cash for fame.
It was hugely fortunate that she was asked for a selfie twice during her star placement ceremony. You know how frustrating that goal can be.
And she was asked for a third selfie while at the bowling alley. Kids at school, Loario at the lab, so it worked out well. --Kari quite her career once reaching level 10. It was her 2nd max career after all, aided hugely by her degree.
She also single-handedly completed the postcard collection.
Harvest Fest, unhappy gnomes:
This is Thursday, week 8. Kari is posing for pictures, Loario is being struck by lightning. He's the Elemental, yet he's being zapped not zapping.
It's quite deep, you know. Instead of light-hearted frivolity, we have a man here in the midst of an identity crisis. Or he would be, if being struck by lightning was a calming, introspective moment. My guess is one doesn't think about Much during a lighting strike to one's Person.
The children, by this point, are nearing the end of childhood. Aidan ages up on Sunday, though Scarlet is a few days younger. Both have finished all 4 aspirations, both have finished scouting. So there's no incentive to delay.
I do want to hold a proper Gold Party in every house -- not counting Kava parties, because completing that aspiration is routine. So on the day of Aidan's birthday, here is an
actual birthday party. And a rare chance to see the family in their party rags.
Despite being younger, Scarlet aged up too. The only difference is that Aidan was a maxed out A+ top student. He had filled that bar, and his sister hadn't. And that slight difference does carry over to high school. I'm sure Scarlet didn't appreciate that... plastic trumpet? horn?... here it would be called a vuvuzela... being blasted in her ear. I liked her hair she aged up with and kept that.
I'm still trying to figure Aidan out. Maybe he's trying to figure Aidan out too. The teens will not be teens long. I want to start university a week from this party. We're now heading into week 9, winter. Winterfest will be Wednesday --so that's a day off school and also time to get those last character traits. As much as I want to move on to uni and a new house, I'm not shortcutting parenting. The goal is merely perfection, not playing out every day of the life stage.
Kari will get her trip to the jungle in the next episode (putting her Selvadoradan culture skill to use!), as a final send-off to the founder, and Aidan and Scarlet will arrive in Britechester.
