The Branch Immortal Dynasty (Complete)

[mpart]

I love Sparrow. She has such a different personality from the rest of the Branches (who are awesome of course, it's just interesting to see how Sparrow stands out). Also, congratulations on getting so far in an immortal dynasty!! I know that with my lifestates one it was difficult to finish once burn out started setting in, but you can do it! You got this.

[Beks]

I love Sparrow. She has such a different personality from the rest of the Branches (who are awesome of course, it's just interesting to see how Sparrow stands out). Also, congratulations on getting so far in an immortal dynasty!! I know that with my lifestates one it was difficult to finish once burn out started setting in, but you can do it! You got this.

Thanks so much, mpart! Sparrow is quite different, yeah. Most previous immortals were, well, a little bit nuts (or a lot nuts), and Sparrow is definitely more level-headed. There's a coolness or calmness about her that I noticed right away when she became a toddler. I'm glad you're liking her so far! (I was worried she'd be totally unlikable, being so full of herself, but hopefully she's not coming on too strong in that way.) I'm cruising along with this dynasty at the moment, but I'll probably be very ready to be done by the time generation 8 comes along. We shall see!

[Beks]

53 ~ Walking On Air (Part 1)

by Sparrow Branch

After a long and rather uneventful time as a teen, my young adult birthday finally arrived. My most important birthday! The mischievous immortals were released from their prisons for the occasion. Definitely warranted, I think.



Even though my last age-up was rather horrifying, I felt more confident about this one. There was nowhere to go but up!



“Yes, I know I’m a work of art, Robin. You don’t have to say it.”



Ah, my final form! Except I couldn’t wait to start working out more regularly. My final trait was Ambitious. I’m aiming for the top of everything! I also chose Super Popular as my Lifetime Wish. I don’t think I’ll be needing much help with that.



It was a big day, my birthday. Finally, I was old enough to date Robin! I asked him if he wanted to go on a date with me, and he said yes. We drove up the mountain in my flashy new Vaguester.



I was a little worried that Robin would have trouble keeping up with me, since he’d just become an elder. Turns out I was the one who had trouble keeping up. Again…I need to work out.



We stood by the railing at the highest point in Hidden Springs, at Redwood Heights Viewing Area. That’s where Robin told me he thought I was really beautiful.



“You’ve grown up well,” he said, smiling shyly.
“I know,” I said, smiling coyly back.



It was strange weather that day - sunny, yet foggy. We couldn’t really see much of the town below us, and at times, the viewing deck itself seemed to vanish. Or maybe we were just seeing each other as adults for the first time, and everything else seemed to vanish.



We were just about to start getting serious when we were interrupted by a fairy wanting an autograph. To the cute old man with the cute little wings, I wrote, and signed my name with a flourish.



The old man fairy didn’t like it when I insisted that he leave us. The poor guy obviously didn’t understand what was really happening here.



THIS is what was really happening here!



I’d had something of a crush on Robin since I was a little girl. Now we were both so much older, and everything was suddenly real. I sort of couldn’t believe it. I mean, I knew that Robin would fall for me once I was old enough. But it still felt like a little bit of a surprise. A nice surprise.



Robin asked me to go steady, and as soon as I accepted, our mutual celebrity statuses launched us both into superstardom. We became five-star celebrities at the same time. Talk about destiny!



Destiny wasn’t done with us yet. Robin knelt right there and asked me to be his wife.



I said yes, of course. Who could say no to a diamond that big?!



All of this was happening so fast, but we were both very excited. We had a wedding to plan! We ended the date, and I decided to release some of my nervous energy by jogging down the mountain. Fitting into my wedding dress was absolutely essential!



On the way home, I stopped and called on Lizette. She’d aged up to young adult a few days before me, and while our “romantic interest” status had disappeared after her birthday, it came right back once I aged up. So to avoid any confusion or complications with my new partner, I had to tell Lizette that we could only be friends. She wasn’t happy about it at first. I promised I’d make it up to her in the future.

“Sorry, Liz,” I said. “You’re just a babysitter, and you’re also a woman. I’ve been destined to marry Robin ever since I was born. This is just how things are in an immortal dynasty. My duties are very important!”

Lizette seemed to understand, although she was sad. But she agreed to still be friends. Which will be helpful, because I need 20 of them!



The next morning, I graduated with highest honors and was crowned Valedictorian, although we opted not to attend the ceremony since my wedding was starting in a few hours. My classmates also voted me Most Likely to Be a Millionaire. They must not be aware that my family’s household funds is pushing three million already.

[Beks]

53 ~ Walking On Air (Part 2)

by Sparrow Branch

Robin and I threw the biggest wedding bash that had ever been thrown at the Nest, probably. We invited all our family and friends, including Mom’s three SimBots - my half-siblings. The wedding was a little chaotic because everyone was distracted by the SimBots (even though they arrived in human form).



We managed to get everything sorted in time for vows, though.



We make a gorgeous couple, don’t you think? (Ignore my great-great-great grandmother emerging from earth in the background. Lord knows what she was doing down there.)





And just like that, I was a Winterly! Which we would need to change at City Hall at the earliest opportunity.



It was the happiest moment of my young life.



I was even excited about the wedding cake, even though I try not to eat cake!



After everyone had eaten, it was dance time. Even Swanilda joined us all on the dance floor which had magically appeared on one side of the lot.



Robin and I danced together and were undoubtedly the best dancers in the group.



At one point, all five immortals (plus me, future immortal) were together on the dance floor! That was a dynasty first. (Well, Starling was way off to the side for some reason…but it still counts.)



After the sun went down and the guests began to depart, Robin and I retreated to my bedroom - which was now his bedroom also. There, we enjoyed a magical wedding night under a full moon which makes my skin look terrible but that's beside the point.



It was so wonderful, having Robin as mine. And I was his too. Even though I don’t like saying I belong to anybody. I guess Robin is the one exception. He is my king consort, after all.



Grandmother Meadowlark asked me at one point if I wanted to be sculpted wearing my wedding dress. Um, obviously! So later that night I slid back into my gown and posed like I’d never posed before.



Meanwhile, Goldfinch was still boogying down on the dance floor, “Afraid of the Dark” moodlet be darned!



I went to bed in the wee hours of the morning and slept late. When I woke up, I felt a bit sick. I knew I shouldn’t have eaten that wedding cake!


Notes from an at-times-hopelessly-romantic watcher
-- I was so pleased that things worked out romantically between Sparrow and Robin. As soon as I instructed them to flirt with one another, the romantic wishes started rolling in, especially for Robin. (He wanted to kiss her as soon as he learned that it was even an option.) Their age difference is definitely…substantial, but I think they’re sweet together once you remember that this is just a game. If nothing else, Robin is 100% a gentleman. He waited his whole life for Sparrow, after all.
-- I don’t know why, but I laughed so hard when I was taking screenshots of the wedding and Starling popped up out of the earth in the background. I could have sworn she was in the crowd at the wedding. Nope. I should have known she’d be off wandering around the museum in her bathing suit like a weirdo.
-- Another laugh-out-loud moment was Goldfinch continuing to dance alone in the dark, long after the wedding ended and the zombies were out. She looked so terrified, but those dance moves never stopped!

[Beks]

54 ~ Rookie

by Sparrow Branch

I started tackling my requirements in earnest the day after my wedding. First up: the stadium. I walked in with a name and a sparkling smile; I walked out with a job as a Rabid Fan and the papers of ownership. That’s right, I now worked for myself! In a sense, anyway. I still needed to work my way up to the top, and for that, I needed to spend a lot of time at the gym.



So I went. I was only at level 3 of the athletic skill. To make myself feel better about my rather shaky leg lifts, I went ahead and bought the gym as well. I figured I’d feel better once more of the scenery was purple.



It wasn’t long before the paparazzi found me.

“All right, paparazzi guy," I said through clenched teeth. "I’m a hard-working rookie, destined for superstardom. That’s the hook for your article. Did you hear me? Why aren’t you writing this down?”



A short time later, I discovered that I was pregnant at the same moment I realized that the paparazzi in the silly hat was actually kind of cute. Generation seven was on its way!



I rushed home to tell Robin, but when I got there, I learned that he was out raiding the criminal hideout at the warehouse. That was a cool enough excuse that I decided not to be mad. My husband is a brilliant spy, and I can be proud of that, even though my thing felt much more important in the moment.



Pregnancy was kind of a weird time for me. I wore hideous clothes, put on some weight, and took a lot of naps. Those are three things that Sparrow Branch doesn’t really do.



Somehow, though, I found myself drawn to the mirror more than ever, in spite of the hot-pink-and-mud-brown color combo I was sporting. I think I can fairly say that there’s some truth to the whole “pregnancy glow” thing that people talk about. Or maybe it was just the bystander effect, like when you can’t look away from a car crash. My outfit was certainly car-crash levels of horrifying.

I certainly had the urge to work out still, and I quickly discovered that while I couldn’t use heavy-duty workout equipment, I could totally do jumping jacks in front of the stereo in the party room.



“Must…work…off…baby weight!”



When I did finally get to tell Robin, he was thrilled to pieces that we’d be welcoming our child soon.



In other Robin news, he achieved his Lifetime Wish of being a Culinary Librarian at last. After a life spent exercising, learning logic, and working long hours at the station, he finally got to sit down and read some recipes, something he’d always wanted to do. The recipe for aloo masala curry was the last one he needed.



Our baby wasn’t the only new member of the household. It had been a little while since we’d had a cat in the family. We welcomed Tamarack into the Nest, a Playful, Lazy boy with the cutest spots imaginable.



I mean, look at this little dude. Did your eyes just explode into hearts? I know mine did!

And after our last, rather aggressive kitty, Tamarack was a breath of fresh air. He even got along with Swanilda! I swear, they were having pleasant conversations whenever they socialized. Not that I can understand them, of course.



Tamarack: Hi there! You’re a dog, and I like dogs!
Swanilda: That I am! Welcome to our wonderful family of birds!

(That's just what I imagined they were saying here. I'm not the writer in the family, okay?)



Tamarack quickly became my best friend, aside from Robin. I didn’t even mind when he occasionally disrupted my beauty sleep in order to cuddle with me.



How could I resist?



I went into labor quite suddenly one evening when I was alone in the kitchen. I looked around for assistance, and I swear to you I heard crickets.



“Hello??? Is anyone in the vicinity??? I need to be escorted to the hospital, please!!”



“Sparrow, was that you?! Are you all ri--”
“Finally, someone shows up! Come on, it's hospital time. Stat.”



One extremely hard workout later, I walked out of the hospital with a new baby girl in my arms. Tanager, my daughter and the seventh heir of the dynasty, had arrived.



Robin jumped right into fatherhood, and I’d never seen him happier. He'd been waiting a very long time for this, after all.



I found myself pretty besotted, too, which I didn’t expect. Who knew it was possible to love something other than yourself so much? I fell head over heels for this baby girl. I wanted nothing but to cuddle her for the rest of time.



Well, that and work out. As in, I went for a long jog within hours of giving birth. It was a relief to be able to run again, and to be out of that horrible outfit that we will never speak of again.



It was a very happy time at the Nest…but sad too. Swanilda left us after an unusually long life.



Rest in peace, Swanilda. Thank you for finding a pink diamond for my mother, and for being a wonderful friend to all of us.



On the plus side, this was my first time encountering Grim, and he was very excited to meet me. I mean, of course he was. I’m Sparrow Branch, a hard-working rookie destined for superstardom!

[Beks]

55 ~ Boogie

by Sparrow Branch

Maternity leave lasted for what felt like forever once Tanager arrived. I didn’t know what to do with myself half the time, except drift around the house in my nightclothes (always a fun hobby) and wonder how my future athletic team was doing. (I hadn’t even met them yet.)



Of course, there was always more cuddling to do.



Between cuddle sessions and feedings, I worked out. I was getting stronger and faster every day.



This was largely thanks to Robin, who happily accompanied me to our private upstairs gym for my long sessions on the treadmill.

The day of Tanager’s first birthday, I found myself suddenly upset. I’d watched Robin do his weightlifting the night before, and while his strength and skill were impressive as always, I also saw evidence of the fact that he was pushing 90 years old. Perhaps Swanilda’s death spooked me, too.



Starling was the one who found me crying in the bathroom.

“It isn’t like you to be this emotional,” Starling said, with her usual frankness. “Aren’t you usually parading in front of a mirror, not crying in front of one?”
“I’m Dramatic,” I said. I sounded congested and gross. “I just don’t show it very often. Oh, Starling, what am I going to do when Robin dies? I don’t think I’ll ever be ready.”



“Here’s the dealio, Sparry-o. I understand exactly what you’re going through. We all do. Every immortal before you has had to deal with the loss of their spouse. Heck, some of us have been widowed for centuries. Am I talking about myself? Yes. Yes I am.”
“I forgot about that. You must miss your husband so much.”
“I certainly do, but I’ve also had lots of fun flirting with the rest of the spouses along the way. You find ways to make the best of things when you get to be my age. Anyway, you should know that while it’s hard, you're not the first Branch to feel this way. Plus, yours is the last spousal loss in this whole entire dynasty! You won’t even have to wait that long to see him again.”
“Really?”
“Really. No further comment. Dynasty secrets. Anyway, chin up, kiddo, okay?”



I felt a little better after talking to Starling (which is saying something, because 95% of what comes out of Starling’s mouth is complete nonsense). Besides, I had Tanager’s birthday to look forward to!



My last couple of birthdays had been rather sparse, but Tanager got to be surrounded by the whole crew.



And what a cutie! For a split second, I couldn’t believe I had produced something so cute. Then I thought about it for another split second, and I wasn’t surprised anymore. Tanager was born with the Slob and Excitable traits. Her favorite things: Dark Wave music, cookies, and the color grey.



Can you die from cuteness? I’m theoretically going to live forever, but I still think I could die of cuteness at any time.



Tanager was such a sweet and happy little thing. She seemed to smile at everything, even potty training.





She made Robin a happy thing, too. The two of them were virtually inseparable.





Tanager had more ancestors than ever to help her learn walking and talking. Everybody pitched in, and sometimes fought over each other to get a few minutes with our little princess.



My mother was lucky that she had an inventory full of toys for her granddaughter to play with. Suddenly there were mechanical cows scattered all over the house. Tanager played with and loved every one of them.



As Tanager settled into toddlerhood, I started spending more time at the gym. I’d transformed part of the main floor into a dance studio - all in purple, of course.



Is this not the most perfect arabesque you’ve ever seen? Yes, I agree.



I was never hesitant to boogie down in less classical ways, too.



And while chatting with another gym-goer, I unexpectedly achieved my Lifetime Wish! 20 friends in the bag, and plenty more to come, I’m sure.



At the end of my workout, Robin stopped by on his way home from work and asked me to dance with him. This man is still so romantic after all this time. (Well, it’s not a very long time for me…but it is for him.)



We may or may not have used that dance studio for more than just dancing.

Starling suffered another loss just a day after speaking to me about death. She’d been...well...frenemies with Gary Shue since the very beginning of the dynasty. He’d become an elder recently, but Starling was confident that he still had plenty of life left in him, being a fairy.



She was wrong. Gary called and invited her to meet him at Sandy's Theatrical Emporium one evening. He never made it - he passed away just as Starling was sitting down outside to wait for him.

Gary Shue was the last original Hidden Springs townie - at least of those our family knew. He and Starling hadn’t exactly been close, but Starling had held onto his friendship in hopes that he might be able to contribute his genes to the family one day. When he died, Tanager lost her one chance at an original townie partner down the road.



Of course, she was far too young for any of us to be worrying about that yet. Right?



Right.


Notes from a watcher who is seeing red
-- Yay, finally an heir with some new features! I absolutely love how Tanager turned out - she inherited Wesley’s hair color and Robin’s eye shape, while still carrying on that turquoise eye color that came from Arthur. And I’m pretty sure her wide jaw, which she shares with the previous three generations, came from Conrad. I’m so relieved that she’s not another Meadowlark look-alike. I adore her. And she really is the happiest toddler I think I’ve ever played.
-- Fun fact: Tanager is the first immortal since Chickadee to actually match her namesake in terms of the colors she wears.
-- I’m a former ballet dancer and was very excited to see what ballet would be like in The Sims 3. I have to say, it was a little better than I expected…but still terrible. So terrible I could barely peel my eyes away.
-- I just about screamed in frustration when Gary Shue died. I never expected him to live as long as he did, and I was getting stupidly hopeful that “well, he’s lived THIS long, what’s one more generation??” Apparently one more generation was just too long. As for other options for the father of generation eight, there really aren’t any good ones left. Felix Vanderburg is still alive and living next door, and his half-brother Osvaldo Haines is still kicking too. The problem, of course, is that Felix and Osvaldo are the sons of the original Charles Winterly. You know, Robin’s DNA donor? And Felix’s mother was Francisca Vanderburg, the sister of the original Sebastian Vanderburg, who was Arthur’s DNA donor. So…that would be a bit of a genetic mess, even for The Sims. It’d be like Tanager having a baby with her half-sibling. I’m currently trying to decide if such a pairing would be in any way not creepy. We might just have to go for a pudding face…or maybe let Tanager choose.

[Trip]

Are you still able to travel?

Even if not, I'll let you in on a dirty secret: the code for generating new sims in Egypt and China and tourists from Egypt and China is different. They draw from a set of facial templates meant to make sims look like they're from those locales, at least a little bit (France, University, and the future use the normal rules though) Sometimes there's an interesting tourist to be found. I'll see if I can dig up some examples.

[Beks]

Are you still able to travel?

Even if not, I'll let you in on a dirty secret: the code for generating new sims in Egypt and China and tourists from Egypt and China is different. They draw from a set of facial templates meant to make sims look like they're from those locales, at least a little bit (France, University, and the future use the normal rules though) Sometimes there's an interesting tourist to be found. I'll see if I can dig up some examples.

I haven't traveled in this file since Goldfinch and Heron's last trip in generation 2. I've been avoiding travel to prevent bugs - I'm not super familiar with travel bugs in general (Goldfinch's trip broke the family tree for a couple generations, but that's the only issue I noticed). I decided it was simplest to just avoid traveling altogether, although that decision isn't set in stone or anything. I really wanted to send Sparrow to China so she could learn martial arts and do the Physical Perfection LTW, but I was worried about traveling at such a late stage of the game, so I changed my mind.

However, I didn't even consider traveling to find a partner for Tanager, and now that you suggest it, I'm feeling very tempted to try! The tourist idea is also promising. I don't think I've seen any tourists around Hidden Springs for a long time, though. Maybe I just haven't noticed them.

[Trip]

Try looking at any Small Parks or Visitors Allowed lots for tourists.

[Beks]

56 ~ Record Setter

by Sparrow Branch

I’m a bit of a record-setter. On my first day as a rookie at the stadium - that is, on my first day as an actual playing member of the team - the coach was so impressed with my athletic prowess that she promoted me to starter on the spot! I got to leave my shift early, all set to start the next day with a generous pay raise. I set the record for the least time spent as a rookie in the history of the Hidden Springs Sparrows!



Of course, this only motivated me to work harder. I had to start winning actual games now. I spent hours every day working out, pushing my muscles to their limit, and occasionally going with the "Don't Break a Sweat" option because who hates smelling terrible? I hate smelling terrible.



My favorite way to exercise remained my long runs around town. Hidden Springs is just so beautiful.



It feels only right to add my beauty to it in this way. I do meld nicely with the purpley hues of the mountains and forests.

I also set the record for fastest opportunity acquirer in the dynasty thus far. I completed five out of six required BlackOps, all before my adult birthday.



“Oh, you need help with rebranding for the stadium? Of course! Just put my face all over everything. Do you need some sample photos? I can send you a few dozen to start you off with…”



And when I wasn’t busy with work or skilling, I was playing with Tanager.



Of course, I was busy a lot. So she got to play with her other family members rather more than me.



And no one more than her father, who was now old enough to receive a visit from Grim any day.



So naturally, it was Robin who brought Tanager to her birthday cake.





Our little Slob tucked right into her cake and got frosting all over her nose within seconds. There’s one key difference between us, I’ll give you that.



Tanager got all set up in her new wardrobe - and in her new Rebellious trait. I wasn’t sure what to think of that one. I’m hoping she doesn’t do anything too startling, like put hair dye in the showerhead or something. She’s still too young for major mischief, right?



Well, she showed no fear in expressing her true emotions from the get-go. Robin’s attempt at conversing with her fell flat the moment he opened his mouth.



Tanager seemed more interested in having her own adventures.



You know, in a sense I don’t blame her. Robin’s age was starting to show in his parenting style. It wasn’t long ago when I was the one having my cheeks pinched. I’m still a little traumatized.

Even I was confused by Tanager at times, though. For instance, she kept asking me about the other people around town she had seen.



“The kids at school look different than me,” she said to me one day.
“Oh, the pudding faces? Yes, all the other citizens have randomized clothes and a…certain lack of genetic diversity. We don’t really associate with them.”
“But aren’t your teammates other citizens? And your friends?”
“Well…I meant besides work and things.”
“Why do you call them pudding-faces?”
“Because…well, that’s what they are! You have unique features, sweetheart, because you come from a long line of original townies and Branches. Everyone else out there is just…random.”



That whole conversation made me feel uncomfortable. And the worst part was, I think Tanager knew it did. She was grouchy the rest of the day and seemed unusually focused on her social studies homework.



I don’t know if it was out of spite or what, but the very next evening Tanager announced that she was hosting a sleepover for some of her school friends. Three young boys came and spent the evening playing video games and chatting away with the heir to an immortal dynasty. It was all very weird and I was glad I had to leave for a game in the middle of it.



I figured my relatives could handle a few extra children for a night, and would represent our illustrious family well.



Life went on rather uneventfully as we waited for Tanager’s next birthday. I ate a lot of chile con carne and it was no big deal.



I continued to work on my requirements, with plenty of support from my husband.

And my husband continued his progression into his truest form: Old Man With No Sense Of Humor.



“Quick, Starling - trivia challenge. Tell me, what exactly is the function of a rubber duck?”



“Oh, I know this one! To break the space-time continuum! Obviously!”



“That is incorrect. Rubber ducks provide entertainment for children in a bath setting.”
“Um, I am absolutely correct, but you’re too young to understand. Also I’m declaring that I win this trivia contest.”

And she did. Robin had a negative moodlet for hours because he “lost” the trivia contest.



You know, I think everyone in this house is going a bit senile. Goldfinch has a tendency to sing old French travel songs while she cooks, but this tendency to cook hamburgers in midair was a revelation to all of us.

[Beks]

57 ~ A Serious Ghost Problem

by Tanager Branch

My name is Tanager, I’m the seventh Branch immortal, and it’s time for some changes around here!



I grew up into a teenager on the night of the full moon.



Yay, now I could finally do things!



But first, I had to snag one of Chickadee’s energy drinks from the party room and take it into the hot tub. These were two exciting things that I couldn’t experience as a little kid. Doing them together? Double the fun!



Eventually I had to get a makeover, though. I also decided that, from my teen birthday onward, I was going to live a Vegetarian lifestyle. You wouldn’t believe the amount of meat that gets consumed in a household full of hundred-year-old ladies. I wanted to do good things for the world, and this was a small way to start.



At my first day of high school, I met Alma Nagle. She invited me over to her house after school. I’d never been to any other houses in Hidden Springs, so of course I said yes, please show me your home and your life!

When we got to Alma’s log-cabin-like house just outside town, there was nobody else there. I asked Alma what her parents did for work and if she had any siblings.



“I have a little brother, Hasan,” she said. “I don’t know where my parents are. I don’t even know WHO they are.”
I was confused. “Your household is just you and your brother?”
“Yep.”
“But…that’s not possible, is it? Every household requires at least one adult. It’s Sim Nation law.”
“Well, if an adult lives here, I’ve never seen them. I’ve been taking care of my brother for as long as I can remember. ”

I was baffled by this conversation. I’d always wondered what it was like to be a “normal” resident of Hidden Springs, not part of a super special dynasty family. But this discovery of an incomplete household was troubling. I needed to know more.

So I asked my dad.



“Dad, you’ve worked in law enforcement for decades now. You must know about the incomplete households around town?”
“I’m aware of them.”
“So why hasn’t anyone done anything? Shouldn’t the mayor--”
“The ‘mayor’ is pretty much a figurehead these days. And I swear it’s a different person every time I see them. They just hand out career rewards, cut ribbons…that sort of thing. Hidden Springs is pretty much a free-for-all when it comes to how things are run.”
“Oh. So then…the incomplete households…”
“I’ll be honest, Tanager. I’m not sure there’s anything that can be done. Household composition is just one piece of the puzzle, and it’s been randomized for centuries. There hasn’t really been anyone with the political clout to change things for a long time - not since the Vanderburgs died off.”



I was beginning to feel the need to learn more for myself. So when the weekend arrived, I went downtown alone. I wanted to talk to some of my fellow citizens - and I also wanted to try out the new skilling equipment I’d acquired.



Turns out street art is a fantastic way to get people to talk to you! I laid down my first spray paint right in the middle of Subalpine Square, which was a perfect spot for meeting people.



I even saw my friend Jess from school. He told me that my street art was the coolest thing he’d ever seen!



I also met a distant family relation. Osvaldo Haines is one of the original Charles Winterly’s sons, so in terms of genetics, he’s kind of like my half brother. His vampirism has allowed him to live almost as long as my earliest ancestors. Crazy, right? He's also a major celebrity now, like everyone connected with my family.

I went to the square again the next day, where I chatted up more people and made some more ground murals. This attracted the interest of a police officer, whom I quickly introduced myself to.



“Nice to meet you, officer! My name’s Tanager Branch. You probably know my dad - Robin Winterly Branch? Anyway, I’d love to talk with you about what needs doing around Hidden Springs. I want to know what things are really like for citizens here.”
“But miss, you just spray painted--”
“Oh, don’t worry about that, officer. Just a hobby! I’m much more interested in your expertise about the political situation…”

I think I got him on my side. At least for now.



I spent the whole weekend painting and chatting downtown. Meanwhile, my mom was at the gym, maxing her athletic skill.



That night, Mom aged up to adult. She said she was relieved it happened outside in the dark where no one could see her “devastating appearance, and not in a good way”. She also went into a full-blown midlife crisis. This was not a surprise to anyone.



A new and very weird phenomenon started happening at the Nest. The first sign of it was the ghost of Peter Winterly, the father of Charles Winterly. Peter showed up on the front porch one night and scared the heck out of Starling! (And not much scares the heck out of Starling.)



He ended up hanging around the rest of the night, mostly enjoying our rocking chairs. Which was convenient, because rocking chairs are the realm of the old, and thus he got to meet my dad - the clone of his son.

Over the next few nights, more ghosts appeared on the lot. None of us knew where they came from - some of these Sims were supposedly buried in the mausoleum at the town graveyard, and others were safe in various people’s inventories. How they were able to haunt us from such places was a mystery that none of us could solve!



For example, my grandfather Wesley appeared one night and joined in the general chaos when someone left waffles in the oven. Wesley’s urn was still in Sandpiper’s inventory! It made no sense, but there he was all the same.

Sandpiper was thrilled to see him, of course.



“Wesley! I’ve missed you so! But how on earth did you get out of my inventory?”
“I don’t know, Sandy. I just felt an irresistible pull to re-enter the living world.”
“How strange! Want to play tag with me?"



Wesley agreed, of course, and very kindly pretended to struggle even though he didn't have lungs.



My mom reached level 9 of the professional sports career. She liked her new uniform much better than her past ones. My mom is kinda shallow.



She also achieved her last BlackOp, which required her to max out her muscles. She did so in a single afternoon. Her requirements were almost complete!



We all figured it was time to add another cat to the household, partly in celebration of Mom’s accomplishments and partly because Tamarack needed a fellow kitty friend. So we welcomed Fig into the family.



Fig, who was Friendly and Non-Destructive, easily befriended Tamarack. I’d heard some family members ooh-ing and ahh-ing over this cute little cat relationship - apparently the last cat before Tamarack was…a lot less pleasant.

So yeah! That's everything going on in our household lately. Till next time!


Notes from a ghostly watcher
-- Sparrow having a midlife crisis definitely fit in with her character as a Snob. Amazingly, though, Sparrow ended up having the most successful midlife crisis out of any Sims I’ve played. She completed seven or eight wishes, most of which were just wishes to flirt with whichever inconsequential male was nearby. I expected much worse.
-- I was baffled by the ghost problem for, like, a real-life week. I figured it was just a glitch, since glitches are common in long-term games like this one. Then I remembered the ghost gnomes that had appeared on the lot recently:



According to the wiki, these lil' cuties can summon ghosts to the lot! I guess that means ghosts from anywhere, including personal and family inventories. Once I (reluctantly) put the gnomes away into the family inventory, the ghosts stopped haunting. (Except Twig, the first cat, whose grave remains on the front lawn and who will have haunting privileges forever and ever.)
-- At this point in the game, I was still considering Osvaldo Haines and Felix Vanderburg as potential partners for Tanager. That is, until Sparrow was flirting with a random townie at the park and found out that said townie had a boyfriend: Osvaldo. Also, Felix had been calling various Branches to ask them on dates multiple times a week - mostly Goldfinch and Chickadee. I took this as an indication that he was missing Heron. So for those reasons, plus the extremely important reason of it would be genetically gross, Osvaldo and Felix are off the table.

[Beks]

58 ~ The Last Handshake

by Tanager Branch

On one of my first days of high school, my class took a field trip to the police station. I was pumped to show my friends where my dad worked - and see it for the first time myself!



Our timing couldn’t have been worse. Just after we went inside, Dad came out, having finished his shift. The moment he stepped into the sunlight he began to float.



My classmates and I were still inside, completely oblivious to my father dying just outside the front door.



But it was happening. Robin Winterly, at the age of 102, shook hands with the Grim Reaper.



It was the last time Grim would come for a member of the Branch household. Of course, that didn’t make it hurt any less.



Mom was down the street at the gym. She arrived at the station just in time to see Dad fly into his gravestone.



She was heartbroken. Sometimes her face doesn’t work properly when she’s feeling a difficult emotion...but trust me. She was heartbroken.



And I was, too. Our field trip ended and I was informed by my dad’s boss that he had passed away just moments ago. I could have said goodbye, if only I’d known.



Mom and I didn’t talk to each other very much - we were both so busy - but losing Dad brought us closer together.

“Don’t worry, Mom,” I told her. “We don’t have long to wait. You’ll see him again once my future daughter is grown up. That's only, like, a hundred years away!"



Life went on at the Nest, which, for the first time ever, was a house of only women. (Mostly crazy women.)



Mom went back to working on her requirements.



Sometimes very...dramatically.



She continued to practice her favorite hobby of Doing Things In Lingerie That Probably Shouldn't Be Done In Lingerie.



I bonded with our new kitten, Fig.



A few days later, I decided to throw a slumber party to take my mind off my grief, and to get to know my male classmates better. I might have to have a baby with one of them, after all.



All the boys were nice, and I found them all interesting - in spite of, or maybe even because of, their generic features. Marvin Bearden seemed particularly interested in getting to know me. He initiated conversations with me so often that my best friend, Jess Jacques, couldn’t really get a word in edgewise.



Max Blakely jumped right onto the family video game console and enthusiastically told me all about his favorite games. I love when people get excited about things, so it was fun to talk to him!



Closer to bedtime, I was on my way back from the bathroom when I ran into Jess in the office. We’d been good friends for a long time, but he’d never flirted with me before. It happened so suddenly…and suddenly I was flirting back!

Then he switched tactics and started berating my ignorance.



“Ha ha, you’re a level two nerd, and I’m a level THREE nerd!” he said.
“What does that have to do with anything?!” I shrieked.



“Nothing, Tan. I’m sorry. You know, sometimes really strange things come out of my mouth. It’s like I have no control over my actions. As if my social group status sometimes takes precedence over my personality.”
“I would say that sounds like a load of crap, but actually I think you might be onto something.”

So we were friends again. Social groups are the true load of crap, anyway.



After a busy night of socializing and feeling a bit fluttery in my stomach, we all laid out our sleeping bags. Near the front door of the Elder Flat. You know, as an act of rebellion? I don’t know. It was Marvin’s idea.



That weekend was prom. It was a relatively calm night - aside from being elected Prom Queen, I just danced the night away with my friends. (Specifically, I was spotted "tearing up the dance floor" four times.)



While I was there, Mom left the stadium with her final promotion and became a Sports Legend!



I decided to stay late after prom and mark the spot of my first successful election. I also hadn’t really done anything rebellious since my birthday. I wanted to see if I’d get caught!



I didn’t get caught. I even spent the night outside the school in my sleeping bag, just to see what would happen. In the morning, it was just me and my ground mural. No cops. No flashing lights. And when I arrived home, everyone was sleeping peacefully.

Someone really needs to whip things into shape around here.


Notes from an apparently very sneaky watcher
-- Robin was supposedly 102 when he died, although I’m pretty sure he was actually 104. Aging has become slightly buggy in this file and I think he gained an extra day or two at some point. While I’m sad to have lost our last mortal (and our last male), I’m relieved that there will be no more opportunities for intergenerational flirting. (I’m looking at you, Goldfinch.) RIP, Robin.
-- Tanager is probably the least rebellious Rebellious teen I’ve ever played. She’s just so nice and happy all the time - very little angst to speak of. And so far she hasn’t gotten caught for anything, including street art. Maybe that’ll start happening more when she’s older? I dunno. So far “Rebellious” seems to mean “So Sneaky There’s Not Even a Risk Involved Anymore LOL”.

[Beks]

59 ~ Activist

by Tanager Branch

My teen years were unusually busy for a dynasty heir. This was kind of intentional. Most of my ancestors didn’t really do much until they were young adults. I think that’s ridiculous. There was so much I wanted to learn and do!



Starting with protests. After the death of my father, and my night spent camping on city property with zero repercussions, I was feeling a little bit resentful towards the Hidden Springs police department.



I selected a spot in Subalpine Square and shared my views with the populace.



Which was…nobody, for a while.

Then I switched to a megaphone and started letting loose.



“Residents of Hidden Springs! It’s time for us to gather and declare our rights and needs! As so-called pudding faces, it’s your time to rise up and claim the rights enjoyed by dynasty families and playables!”



I was still learning what was needed around here, of course. But finally, a few people started gathering and listening! Osvaldo even joined in with his own megaphone. As the son of an original townie and a pudding face, he was in passionate agreement with my ideas.



The protest was a small one, but I was still really excited about it! I marked the spot with a mural so I would always remember this first step in my life as an activist.



When I didn’t have time to get downtown after school, I practiced my protesting skills at home with the topiaries as my audience.



Chickadee’s energy drinks were really helpful with all of this. Those things are kind of addictive.



We were still dealing with our ghost problem. We hadn’t yet figured out that the hauntings were caused by gnomes. Apparently this lady was the mother of Shanta Norris, Great-Grandmother Meadowlark’s old girlfriend. (This family connection didn’t make my mom any less angry about being walked in on while taking a bath.)



Most of the time, the ghosts just went straight for the rocking chairs upstairs. Unfortunately, that was also Goldfinch’s spot of choice.



Poor Goldfinch.



As for Mom, she was getting close to finishing all her requirements. She maxed out her career and got this as her final uniform. She didn’t seem to mind getting to wear heels and a backless dress to work every day, sports team be darned.



She also held her first autograph session outside the stadium after work. One of the first attendees was her very own boss. Based on said boss's physique (or lack thereof), I suppose it kind of makes sense that she's not exactly the real boss at Sparrow Stadium.



Our tiny Fig had her first birthday.



She became a beautiful - and fuzzy! - grown-up cat.



And she went right back to grooming and nuzzling her best friend. These two are so cute I almost can’t handle it.



After many days of school, homework, street art, and protests, I finally got to celebrate my most exciting birthday.





Of course I had to age up into a sports jersey. I am the daughter of Sparrow Branch, whether I like it or not.



I felt better after picking out my own clothes. My final trait was Avant Garde, along with Slob, Excitable, Rebellious, and Vegetarian. I chose Street Credible as my Lifetime Wish. I couldn’t wait to get started on my requirements and start making a real difference!

[Beks]

60 ~ Paint the Town

by Tanager Branch

I had much to do now that I was fully grown. There were so many paths before me - I had street art to create, a career to join and master, opportunities to complete…and I still wanted to be more involved with the people in Hidden Springs. Now, I finally had the time to pursue these things without school and curfews getting in the way!



So I returned to Subalpine Square, where I’d spent so many afternoons as a teen.



First item on my to-do list: critique my own artwork. Using my newfound avant-garde sensibilities, I decided that my tags and murals actually weren’t that bad. Actually, they were pretty good.



I also walked around the downtown lots and handed out flyers. I was going to hold another protest that afternoon, and I’d learned the hard way that attendance would be low without a little advertising.



And wow! People actually came! I wasn’t the only one holding a picket sign this time. People from all over Hidden Springs showed up to join the action.



“Citizens,” I said, “For centuries, my family, the Branch family, has built a small empire on the far side of town - an empire in which the focus is entirely on ourselves. I come from a family with wealth and status, achievements and history - and what have my ancestors done with these resources? Nothing! They make sculptures and widgets, grow flame fruit and teddy bears, paint self-promoting portraits, and waste away in rocking chairs. We have all the resources and time in the world, and nothing to show for it!



“So I’m making a commitment today, fellow citizens. I will use my position as a Branch to make your voices heard. If we work together, we can fill the political vacuum that has plagued this town for centuries, and we can change things across this city and improve the lives of everyone!”



When I tell you that I’d never felt so alive, I mean it. To be surrounded by so many excited people, some of whom had been around for generations, and all of whom wanted to see Hidden Springs thrive…it was amazing. That protest was a huge success. I couldn’t have been happier, and I was so excited to do more in the future!

Well, there was one way I could’ve been happier. I noticed a face missing from the crowd.



“Jess, hi! It’s Tanager. I noticed you weren’t at the protest and I wanted to make sure everything was okay.”

Everything was okay. Jess had been working his shift at Starling Market (another example of Branch-funded, Branch-abandoned capitalism!), and was sorry he hadn’t been able to make it. When I met him at the bistro for a late-night dinner, he surprised me with a bouquet of flowers.



“I’ll come to the next one,” he said. “And by the way…you look beautiful. Is that a new dress?”

I’d always prided myself in never caring much about my clothes or appearance. And yet, I could feel myself blushing over Jess's comment. And like...not in a bad way.

We ate dinner quickly and went our separate ways, since it was already almost midnight. Besides, I had a lot of other things to do.



Such as attend graduation via motorbike, while the rest of my family stood around trying to cram into the motive mobile. Ha! Suckers.



I graduated as Valedictorian, which was a great honor. I didn’t receive a superlative award, though - I was the first Branch not to get one. I took it as a sign that even small things like senior superlatives were getting caught in red tape.



Later that day, Meadowlark started my ice sculpture. While she chainsawed away, I spent some time thinking. In addition to my standard dynasty requirements, and my dreams for Hidden Springs, I had one other very important task to do. And I needed to do it soon.

I’d spent a fair amount of time wondering who the father of generation eight would be. I couldn’t get married, but I still wanted to choose someone special. I’d made friends with a lot of townies and had even scoured the parks and community lots for tourists from other places. Somehow, though, my thoughts kept going back to one person in particular - a loyal friend who had been around since I was a child and who represented everything I was passionate about.



“Hi, Mrs. Jacques? I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Tanager Branch.”
“Oh, yes, I know who you are. Jess has been talking about you for years. The girl who wants to change the world, he says.”
“I’m flattered - and I’m sorry that I’ve never introduced myself before.”
“Nonsense! I’m just the boy’s mother, far too old to interest someone like you.”
“On the contrary, Mrs. Jacques. I’d love to know your thoughts about the townie aging rate for parents of young Sims. I actually am here to talk to Jess, though. Is he around?”
“He’s not here at the moment, but if you give him a call I’m sure he’ll come running to wherever you are.”
“Thanks, Mrs. Jacques.”



“Jess, it’s Tanager. Can you meet me in the square? Like right now?”

We met in Subalpine Square.



“Sorry to surprise you like this, Jess. But I have something important to say and I want to say it right.”

How do you say things right? Through a megaphone, of course!



“Attention, everyone! Anyone who’s nearby, that is. This is not a protest - this is a declaration. A declaration of love! I, Tanager Branch, am in love with Jess Jacques!



“That’s right, I’m in love with a pudding face, and I couldn’t be prouder of it! Also, I am just learning in this exact moment that I’m in love with a man who can create apples out of thin air! Oh snap, folks - I’m in love with a witch!”

It was true. Jess had apparently gone supernatural overnight!



“You didn’t tell me you were a witch, sir.”
“That's because it happened randomly in the middle of the night. Maybe someone ought to look into these random life-state transformations. Not everybody wants to be supernatural, you know."
"Are you trying to add something to my already lengthy 'Once I'm a politician' to-do list?"
"Yes."
"Oh, Jess. You know me so well."



In addition to feeling a little bit fluttery over Jess's interest in civil liberties, I was so relieved that he wouldn’t have to abandon his supernatural state to be with me, if he didn't want to. In my excitement, I kissed him.



Jess agreed enthusiastically to be my boyfriend, and to have a child with me at the earliest opportunity.



Earliest opportunity, you say? Well, I’d never seen Piper’s Pink Arcade up on the mountain before. We decided to do a little self-guided tour.



We also snuck into City Hall. I just had to christen the very seat of government my new workplace. It was an opportunity too good to miss!

We all know by now that I like to mark important spots with murals. Jess was very on board with this.



“Jess, you really don’t have to tip me. You know my family's net worth is nauseatingly high, right?”
“I was just thinking that if you had a jar for tip money, maybe you’d appear less criminal-y to that cop over there.”
“What cop?”



Oh. That cop.

Well, I finally got arrested for the first time. It was kind of unclear whether the problem was my street art or my…other deeds.



When the officer dropped me off at the Nest, she gave me quite a lecture on respectable citizenship. I assured her that I would be sneakier a better citizen in the future. More specifically, after I’ve painted the whole town.

Notes from a watcher who might have a new appreciation for pudding faces
-- Up until very recently, I hated the idea of Tanager getting together with a pudding face. The last thing I wanted for the final generation was boring, generic features. But then I got to know Tanager, and her character emerged as someone with a big heart for the people around her, regardless of their genetic interestingness. In the end, it just made sense for her to fall in love with one of the less fortunate townies she wanted so badly to help. Jess Jacques was her closest friend from childhood, and even back then I thought he was pretty cute for an EA clone. (His eyes seem a little bit bigger? Maybe? I'm probably imagining things.) In any case, Jess has turned out to be a great match for Tanager. After that eventful date that included (a) woohooing at the lodge, (b) woohooing in City Hall, (c) defacing public property, and (d) seeing Tanager get arrested, Jess announced, "I had a great time. We should get together again soon!" I think he's a keeper.

[Beks]

61 ~ Adding to the Noise

by Tanager Branch

I maxed the street art skill in no time at all, and created my first masterpiece to boot - right on the front of the main house at the Nest. Now I just had to make six more masterpieces and I’d be done with my supermax. And I’d only been a young adult for a few days!



Speaking of which, I wasn’t pregnant yet, even after our escapades at City Hall and the lodge on the mountain. This time I invited Jess to my own little bedroom up on the top floor of the Nest. Surrounded by bright paint and a few of my earliest tags, we tried again and hoped for success.



Afterwards, feeling inspired, I wanted to see if I could get another masterpiece. I could. I did.



The next day I found myself feeling a bit icky. I spent the morning puzzling about paint fumes and wondering why I hadn’t felt any effects before now, considering I'd been using spray paint regularly since I was a teenager.



Then I stopped being an idiot and realized what was really happening. I was pregnant - with the eighth and final member of the Branch Immortal Dynasty! The end of it all was in my womb, and it felt weird as heck.

Since I was feeling so unwell, I decided to get the most expensive spa package. Hey, even a rebel needs a massage once in a while, okay? And I refused to let them give me a celebrity discount. That made me feel like a little less of a sellout.

And I used the experience to its fullest effect.



“That spa package was incredible! Everyone in Hidden Springs deserves to reach this level of zen and physical pleasure, regardless of their income! Spa access should be a basic human right!”

(In the midst of my ranting, I realized that my family owned the spa, and I could totally give out free spa packages if I wanted. The logistics might be a challenge, but I added the idea to my list of things I wanted to do once I started in my career.)



In the meantime, my tummy was expanding rapidly. I still tried to make myself useful by chatting with anyone I saw around town. This fellow wanted a word about all the parked cars around town that never seemed to move or be used by actual people.



“Wait, you’re - you’re writing down my idea? You’re actually going to do something about it?!?”
“I’ll try, once I’m employed at City Hall. At the very least I can look into parking regulations and see what’s causing the buildup of abandoned cars.”
“Oh, thank you, Miss Branch! You’re the first politician who’s ever even spoken to me.”



It was satisfying and important work - as was creating more street art. The latter activity was a bit tough on the lower back, though.

As the birth of my child grew closer, I started chatting with my great-great grandmother, Chickadee. I hardly knew her, really, and I’d forgotten that she was a world-renowned surgeon. Of all my ancestors, she was undoubtedly the one who had been most active in Hidden Springs over the centuries. I couldn’t believe I’d never thought to speak to her before!



“Oh, there is so much you’ll be able to do once you’re in a position with some authority,” Chickadee said. “I’m glad we’ll have a Branch on the city council, at the very least. We do own half the town, after all!”
“Yes, and that’s exactly why I think we have a responsibility to do more for people!”
“I couldn’t agree more, dear. Let me know if you need a helping hand with any of your projects, all right? I’m very busy at the hospital, but I can sneak off to ‘play golf’ once in a while.”
“Thank you. By the way…I just realized that you have the ability to tell an unborn baby’s gender.”
“That I do. Would you like to know yours?”
“Well, I’ve been eating buckets of watermelon, so I think I can make a good guess…but it’d be nice to know for sure.”



“Congratulations, Tanager. You’re having a girl!”
“Wow, I’m so surprised!”



Jess hadn’t spent much time at the Nest lately, so I invited him over to give him the news. He was ecstatic, and promised to stick around until the baby’s birth to help take care of me.



He didn’t need to stick around for very long. Early the next morning, I woke him up with my screams. I try not to be Dramatic like my mother, but some things are just worth screaming about.



The noise roused Starling, who was coming upstairs to try and sneak into my mom’s private gym. (She even wore the correct outfit for that activity. Nice try, old lady!) Starling seemed a bit overwhelmed by the fact that immortal number eight was just hours away.



Or maybe she was just overwhelmed by my boyfriend in his pajamas. I hollered over my shoulder for Jess to stop giving bad ideas to my great-great-great-great grandmother and get in the car!



On the way outside, I found Chickadee and asked her to accompany me to the hospital. She was the family doctor, and she and I had become extra close in the last few days. I wanted her by my side.



And she had to start her shift soon anyway. Chickadee had to walk right back into the hospital after escorting me out, but I didn’t care. I was carrying my daughter, the final heir to the Branch Immortal Dynasty. Welcome to the world, Bluebird.



The excitement wasn’t over. When I got back to the Nest, I found almost the whole family crammed into the lounge upstairs. Jess had beaten me home and was in some argument with my mother; Starling was stuck in the doorway wearing her swimsuit.



And as soon as I walked inside, my grandmother Sandpiper started violently upchucking onto the floor! It was a startling welcome, to say the least. I had started to speak when Bluebird started crying, adding to the noise and chaos even more.



Then my phone rang with some stupid celebrity opportunity, and Meadowlark entered the room in her nightgown, and Jess started accusing Starling of being an inadequate level of nerd, and I had to shout into the phone to be heard over all the chaos.

“Excuse me, 'publicity agent,'” I said, “I didn’t even know I had an agent, but anyway - I just gave birth to the last immortal of the Branch Immortal Dynasty, and I’m trying to introduce her to my family, but I can’t even hear myself over the noise in this house, and I’m only planning to accept political opportunities anyway. Thank you, but no thank you, and goodbye!”

I was flustered by all of this, and rather furious at my family for being so oblivious to the new baby in their midst. But then I thought about how fitting this kind of arrival actually was. Bluebird was the last of a long line of crazy and complicated women, and she was destined to usher in the end of the story - our shared ending. So she arrived quietly, in the midst of chaos. I knew she’d make her own splash one day - but not yet. For now, she was small, and the rest of us were too busy to notice her significance. Maybe that was okay.



So I nestled my little Bluebird into her crib, and I went downtown to apply for a job at City Hall. I got it, in spite of my brush with the police only a few days before. My first uniform was like some kind of awkward nod to my mother. But I went with it. It felt so good to finally be working for real.

And at the end of my first day, I’d worked hard enough to potentially qualify for my first promotion!



“So, boss, I’ve noticed a lot of…um, difficulties occurring around town, and I’d love to do more to help. What do you think about me moving up a level?”
“You want to be a Ballot Counter? Sure, be my guest.”



I went home as a level two future-politician and gave my little girl a snuggle. Things were moving so fast - I had to take a moment to revel. Rebels can revel too, you know.