Bewitched Berries Epilogue: An Embarrassment of...Berries [Completed 14 Mar '23]

[Rhoxi]

Such classic teenage drama! Who's dating who, who's cheating on who, and to be upstaged at prom by one's own brother: oh my! Glad to see you're having fun with the new EP.

[oshizu]

I love how thoroughly you're exploring the High School gameplay with your NSB family. Oh dear - poor Koa. It all seems to be going wrong... I'm sure she'll turn it around.

I love exploring the gameplay in any new pack. After Weaver became a YA, i couldn't wait for Slate and Koa to become teens, haha!
Starting a challenge with teens is a favorite thing of mine, so High School Years adds a lot of new activities, despite all the bugs.
Haha, your Michaela already completed her requirements so you know how the Gray generation plays out. *winks

[oshizu]

Such classic teenage drama! Who's dating who, who's cheating on who, and to be upstaged at prom by one's own brother: oh my! Glad to see you're having fun with the new EP.

Yes, I'm really enjoying this pack and the way its content feeds into Koa's NSB requirements.
As you've no doubt guessed, Koa's doing both Drama Llama and (because it's easy though it takes days) Goal Oriented.
When Koa and Slate become YAs, I'll be eager to play the next generation of teens. Great incentive for not dawdling, I guess.

[oshizu]

4.18: I'm a Believer!


Week 18, Sunday (Year 2, 2nd week of spring)
Weaver: I'm officially turning this story over to our next heir, Koala.
Though she's not the "official heir" until she's a young adult, this timing makes sense.
One, we began moving at the next heir's teen birthday from my generation.
Two, after completing all my requirements, I don't have as much to say.
Anyway, I've been the main focus ever since I started high school. Now, it's Koa's turn.

From left to right, Slate, my wife Audrina and me, and Koala.


Koa: Slate's spent his life living in my shadow because he's the "spare."
How can I begrudge him his moment in the spotlight at the Prom last night?
Sure, I was initially disappointed about the Prom Royalty title, but today I'm really happy for Slate.
He was even fishing with his Prom Crown this morning until Papa told him to take it off.


We arrive at the Flea Market at 11 am. 
I'm missing two rare fossils, and one rare and one uncommon MySims Trophies.
Trading with this sim in the suit, I gain one of my missing fossils.
And look, there's a lady selling fossils right over there.


What luck! She only has four fossils for sale.
But one of them is exactly the rare fossil I seek!
Now all I need are two MySims Trophies: Lindsey and Goth Boy.


This vendor lady is positively incredible!
She not only sells me my last missing fossil but also trades me Lindsey!


By 1:30 pm, I've hit up everyone at the Flea Market to trade MySims Trophies.
I decide to go back to that vendor lady in the yellow suit.
We trade twice and, oh joy, our second trade nets me my rare Goth Boy!

Thanks to the lady in the yellow suit, our digging days are over, folks!
I'm a newly converted believer in trading collectibles at the Flea Market!!!



Monday
Today, I notice several of my schoolmates are gone. Apparently, they aged up since last Friday and graduated.
I go around introducing myself to the four new students.
This is Emilio Scott, one of the new kids. He's in the Chess Club, too.

I'm all fired up to tangle with Krishna, my Chess Club Rival, and declare him my enemy today.
Unfortunately, Krishna graduated so I am without a Rival.  What now?



Tuesday
After Career Day, we go to our fourth Chess Club meeting and get promoted to Co-Captains.
We both quit our Simfluencer jobs and Slate leaves the Chess Club.
But I still need to make an enemy Rival so I switch to the Computer Club.


You will never guess who my new Rival is!
It's that scumbag Aiden Lothario!  You remember my Prom Date, don't you?
Bring it on, loser!


Despite my maxed Fitness, I lose the fight to Aiden.
But I do declare him my enemy and have become an "untroubled" Drama Llama!

It's still early, so I decide to invite over my first boyfriend, Berjes Broke.
He hasn't phoned or visited since we met at the park a week ago.


Koa: Why don't I ever hear from you?
Berjes: I heard the rumors about you and the other guys!
Koa: Say what?
Berjes: Some blond dude was all over you Friday at the Spice Festival.
And Saturday, you went to your Prom with another guy. I believed we were exclusive!

Koa: How dare you! You've never even asked me out on a date, you cheapskate!
That "blond dude" phoned the very next day after we met, inviting me out to a restaurant.
How have you ever shown me you care? A few emojis on Social Bunny? Don't make me laugh!
You're a nice guy, Berjes, but we're better off as just friends.



Wednesday
I finally complete my main aspiration this morning!
You're probably wondering why I'm pushing to get so much done this week.
Slate and I are thinking of aging up early. I wonder what our parents will say?

Ironically, Berjes texts me directly for the first time ever. At least we agree about Aiden, lol.



Thursday
There's nothing new to do at high school, so Slate and I opt for early graduation this morning..
Because I never tidy up my bedroom, my parents have been pressuring me to seek a neat spouse prospect.
That's why Slate invites over his friend, Marvin, who's an outdoor-loving neat sim.

Hey, does this mean that Ahmed and I have no future?


Morgyn: It's good to know you're practicing magic. You're practically a Virtuoso now.
Koa: Thank you. And Papa says to give you this Potion of Rejuvenation.
Morgyn: I appreciate how the Berries have been keeping me youthful.
By the way, are your intentions toward my son Ahmed honorable?

Koa (sighs): He's your son?  I'm crazy about Ahmed, but my parents have different ideas.
On the other hand, our Watcher loves Ahmed to pieces, so who can predict the future?


Back home, Mama (who's a child of the islands) summons the Island Elementals.
The first two we meet don't have the most desirable traits.
Leinani Savea (left) is an adult and a creative, klepto foodie.
Rangi Ka'ana'ana is a young adult and a high-maintenance, over-achieving freegan.


I find the third elemental, young adult Fetu Savea, in the back yard.
We chat, we become good friends, and I learn he's a neat, music-loving freegan.
When Papa's returns from work, he and Mama agree that Fetu's the right one for me.
I can see that Fetu's pretty exotic. Does his neat trait mean he'll do all the housecleaning?



Friday
Morgyn: Watcher has favored me by keeping me a YA in each of her universes.
Weaver: Yes, we Berries also make sure to give you a Rejuv Potion every two weeks or so.
Morgyn: And now you wish to extend such preferential treatment to my son Ahmed?
Weaver: Yes, that's right.  Here's the plan *whispers
Morgyn: The plan's unusual but I'm not opposed, though I must insist on one condition. *whispers


Koa: From the day we met, I believed you and I would be together always.
Ahmed: That's what I thought, too, but Father tells me you've met someone else.
Koa: Not exactly. My parents have always told me that my fate lies in marrying a neat sim.
And now, Mama's introduced me to an Island Elemental who's neat, so…


Ahmed (sighs): Father warned me not to argue with you over your parents' decision.
There's no guarantee that I'll age up into a neat young adult, either. Just friends?
Koa: You know we'll always be friends. Oh, and my father told me to give you this.

Ahmed: Thank you. Wait, why did I become a Day 1 teen again?
Koa: I have no idea. Papa wouldn't tell me. He said my security clearance wasn't high enough.


Koa: Papa quietly blew out his birthday candles alone two days ago.
Tonight, he brings us to his favorite restaurant to celebrate Mama's birthday!
Now that our parents are both Adults, I ask if Slate and I can age up tomorrow, eight days early.
They both nod, agreeing that the timing couldn't be better.



Saturday
Ever since hearing that we'll age up today, my parents have been counting their chickens like crazy.
I'm still unwed, yet they've already renovated Slate's bedroom in shades of plum for their future grandkids.
They'll be done upgrading the new bunk beds while Slate and I are still teens.


As for Slate, they've added a bedroom for him in the basement.
Slate's decided against asking his girlfriend Alicia to age up with him today.
Still, he's a worried what might happen between them while she remains a teen.
So, he's invited Alicia over for what he calls a "room-warming party."


As for me, I age up then ask Mama to summon the elementals.
Fetu and I are already BFFs, so persuading him to join our household is a piece of cake.
Yesterday, to save Ahmed's pride, I told him my parents were forcing me to marry Fetu.
But, honestly, I'm incredibly attracted to Fetu.


Let's just say Fetu and I enjoyed a room-warming party of my own. 
Hot in, so hot in here. So hot in…Oh!
Fetu proposes when I tell him I'm eating for two (for three, if we're lucky).
We're engaged!


In light of my various romantic escapades, I talk Fetu into a private wedding, just the two of us.
After he gets a much needed makeover, we're off to his homeland of Sulani where we marry.

I know, right? Fetu is fabulous!
I'm a slob but he's neat, and we're both music lovers! We're a most perfect match!




Gallery Downloads
*Slipshod Mesquite (40x30): "Wyatt's Place CC-Free" by silrosse (aka jenba).
  A fantastic build that I extensively recolored/remodeled to suit the Gray gen.
*Key Point (40x30): "Sulani Beach Wedding" by ChrissieYT.
  Deleted 4 dining tables and added 2 small tables (for wedding cake & toasting bucket).

Progress: End of Week 18

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Residence: Slipshod Mesquite, Bedrock Straits (Oasis Springs)

Weaver (Gen3 heir) - Adult (30 days to Elder) [Completed Wed, Week 17]

Audrina (Laurent) Berry (Gen3 spouse) -Adult (33 days to Elder)

Slate Berry (Gen4 spare) - YA (24 days to Adult)
Traits: Inquisitive; Cheerful, Loves the Outdoors

Koala Berry (Gen4 heir) - YA (24 days to Adult)
Traits: Independent; Music Lover, Active, Slob
Remaining tasks
Skills: Singing 10, Parenting 0
Career: Athlete/Pro Athlete 4/10
✔️Aspiration: Bodybuilder
✔️Bonus Aspirations: Drama Llama, Spellcraft & Sorcery
✔️Bonus collections: MySims Trophies 20/20, Fossils 15/15
✔️3/3 failed relationships before finding a spouse with the Neat trait
Spouse: Fetu Savea; Children: coming soon

Fetu (Savea) Berry (Gen4 heir) - YA (24 days to Adult)
Traits: Music Lover, Neat, Freegan

Notes
*Trading Collectibles: I've become a huge fan of this aspect of the Flea Market.
  Weaver (Plumbite crystal) and Koa are my first sims to complete their collections by trading.
*Wants/Fears: I've tried disabling them but they're enabled whenever I leave CAS or travel.
  I turn on the setting, hit Apply Changes, turn it back off, then hit Apply Changes again.
  This works until the next time my sims travel or leave CAS, which is many times in a sim-day. Ugh.
*Pacing: Yes, we know we are moving very quickly. Koa and Fetu married only 2 days after they first met.
  What can I say?  She has max charisma.  Also, I can't wait to play my next generation of teens, haha.

[Rhoxi]

Just moving right along! Looking forward to a new generation of Berrys ... and Ahmed as a future spouse!

[Granny Lawlor]

Koa's doing great. Looking forward to seeing her nooboos with Fetu.

[Auranaris]

I can’t believe you’re already almost at plum gen! I’ll be curious to see what you choose for the name(s)
(Psst are your NSB sims on the gallery? I may need to steal Audrina for my own game…)

[Heart Foam]

Oooh. a Key Point wedding venue. That's really cool.

OMG. I would absolutely need Ahmed in my family. Yes. You have to have him.

[oshizu]

Just moving right along! Looking forward to a new generation of Berrys ... and Ahmed as a future spouse!

Ahmed is too lovely to let go!  Plus this challenge isn't HoF-bound...so, my game, my story! :p

Koa's doing great. Looking forward to seeing her nooboos with Fetu.

The Sim Fates smiled on me by sending an Elemental with the Neat trait my way.
I'd been considering some elaborate shenanigans so the Plum gen could get the Sulani Mana while Koa managed to marry a different sim who's Neat, but it all worked out in the end.

I can’t believe you’re already almost at plum gen! I’ll be curious to see what you choose for the name(s)
(Psst are your NSB sims on the gallery? I may need to steal Audrina for my own game…)

Thank you! The new High School Years has lit a blazing fire over my simming posterior, pushing me to play more quickly from one generation of teens to the next, haha.
And I've already chosen several Plum Gen names.
None of my NSB sims are on the Gallery, but I'd be happy to upload Audrina for you. Let me check my files for the youngest version of her I have.  I'll send you a message when she's uploaded.

Oooh. a Key Point wedding venue. That's really cool.

OMG. I would absolutely need Ahmed in my family. Yes. You have to have him.

As for that wedding venue, I am not that interested anymore in the full ordeal of the MWS wedding and all its trappings.
Nor am I committed enough to build my own wedding venue from scratch.
But I can't just let my sims tie the knot at a wedding arch next to the rocket ship in the backyard, can I? LOL

Thank you so much for supporting my bias toward Ahmed. His mother is a random townie (thank you, MCCC) but he has Morgyn's blond hair, green eyes, and full cheeks.
But Fetu meets the NSB requirement of a Neat spouse plus it's time to bring Sulani Mana into the legacy.

[oshizu]

During Koa and Slate's first week as teens, I posted about their Prom Night but forgot to include the screenshot I took of Slate winning Prom Royalty.
So here it is, lol. Slate looks so happy!

[Granny Lawlor]

He does look really happy. Koa really couldn't begrudge her "spare" getting a bit of the limelight!

[oshizu]

4.19: The Beat of My Own Plums


Week 19, Sunday (Year 2, 3rd week of spring)
Koala: My life's completely changed this past week!
Not only did I graduate early from high school, I also aged up and got married.
And to top it all off, Fetu and I will become parents in two more days!
From l to r, my husband Fetu, brother Slate, my parents, and me the Gen4 heir.


An Island Elemental until yesterday, Fetu's taking his new life in stride.
Papa quit his Space Ranger job and is devoted to mentoring Fetu whenever possible.
Fetu wants to learn everything about raising and mentoring our future child(ren).
No, Mama will NEVER mentor Fetu.
I heard what happened between Grandpa Haruto and Mama. Why tempt fate?



Monday
Taking the "stay-at-home dad" role to heart, Fetu is now an aspiring Master Chef.
He throws a dinner party where he serves Sweet and Sour Eggplant.
We all have one serving each, but only Fetu becomes Chopstick Savvy.
How he did master chopsticks so quickly? Is that an Island Elemental thing?



Tuesday
My shift ends at 9pm tonight and expect to go into labor around an hour later.
Believe me, I'm ready to give birth!
Despite my steel bladder, I'm constantly running to the bathroom.


Slate: As the Gen4 spare, I don't really need to max a career or anything.
Frankly, I'm running out of things to do.
Eventually, I'll inherit this house and look after our parents.
For now, I'm keeping an eye out on my girlfriend, Alicia Goth, who's still a teen.


Slate: What am I waiting for? I invite Alicia over, age her up, and propose.
After we elope, we try for baby although she'll have to live with her family until later.
By this time, Koa has returned from work, so I send Alicia home for now.


Koa: Fetu's thrilled that I give birth to girl/boy twins.
I wonder if our son will resemble Fetu? I certainly hope so!


Our twins belong to the Plum generation.
Heathers come in various colors, but our firstborn is named after Purple Heather.
We name her brother Damson, after a European variety of plum.
As a color, heather is closer to lavender than plum but it's a good name.



Wednesday
Fetu: The twins have their own room, but we place their bassinets in the living room.
We all have easier, quicker access to the twins this way.

Now that I can cook, garden, and insta-upgrade, I've shifted my focus to magic.
Slate wants to take Alicia to the Magical Realm for a Rite of Ascension tonight.
So I'm preparing to learn spells and potions from the sages.



Thursday
Koa: Whenever the twins start crying, Slate is always the first one there.
It puzzles me at first, then I remember he's a family-oriented sim.
Last night, he confessed to me that he can't wait for me, Fetu, and our twins to move out.
He wants to live together with Alicia and their child as soon as he can.


Slate's been such a great help with the twins today.
Fetu and I have today off so we're trying to get as much done as possible until tonight.
That's when our twins age up to toddlers.


Damson ages up with his father's hair color, while Heather's hair is white.


Here they are again after their makeover. Too cute!
(Watcher only has two toddler hair cc for boys, so Heather has blonde hair for now.)


Welp, it's time to start skillin', chillun!
Um, a wee bit of toddler spam might follow. *coughs



Friday
Koa: Damson and Heather are identical twins as toddlers.
Do you think Damson will grow up to take after his father?
I'm guessing that he will inherit his father's nose…


Fetu and I are both off until 2 pm, so we spend the morning at the park.
I love being able to ignore the dig sites, lol!
And the twins love running around the open space!


I realize this might simply be my parental bias showing.
But, could the twins be any more adorable?
(That's a rhetorical question, in case you didn't get it.)


Weaver: Lately, whenever Fetu doesn't need me to mentor, I explore space.
It's really bothered me that I never found the last alien, a Live Red Coral.
Today, while Koa and Fetu are at work, I'm finally rewarded one from a space mission.



Saturday
Damson gives his Bun Bun some loving.


Heather has a heart-to-heart with her Bun Bun.


Soon after I'm back from work, the twins are ready for their bedtime.
Besides maxing Potty, they've reached at least Level 4 in their other skills.
Looks like they might be ready to age up Sunday evening!


Fetu get promoted to Chef (Level 6) tonight.
I'm thinking he should consult the Well to speed up his path to Master Chef.
Because he's a Freegan, he feels down about being a corporate sellout after every work shift.




Progress: End of Week 19

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Residence: Slipshod Mesquite, Bedrock Strait (Oasis Springs)

Weaver (Gen3 heir) - Adult (23 days to Elder) [Completed Wed, Week 17]
✔️Bonus collection: Aliens

Audrina Berry (Gen3 spouse) -Adult (25 days to Elder)

Slate Berry (Gen4 spare) - YA (17 days to Adult)
Traits: Inquisitive; Cheerful, Loves the Outdoors

Koala Berry (Gen4 heir) - YA (20 days to Adult)
Traits: Independent; Music Lover, Active, Slob
Remaining tasks
✔️Skills: Parenting 10
✔️Be good friends with all your children
Have a movie night with spouse & children every Sunday
Career: Athlete/Pro Athlete 7/10
Spouse: Fetu Savea; Children: Heather & Damson

Fetu (Savea) Berry (Gen4 spouse) - YA (17 days to Adult)
Traits: Music Lover, Neat, Freegan

Heather Berry (Gen5) - Toddler
Traits: Independent

Damson Berry (Gen5) - Toddler
Traits: Inquisitive

[Granny Lawlor]

Heather and Damson (mmm...love me some damson jam) are indeed adorable. Love both names. I wondered if you'd thought of Erica as a name. It's another name for the plant heather. Oh no - scrap that - I need flower names for my new challenge. Lol

[Rhoxi]

The twins are indeed adorable. A+ toddler spam!

[oshizu]

Heather and Damson (mmm...love me some damson jam) are indeed adorable. Love both names. I wondered if you'd thought of Erica as a name. It's another name for the plant heather. Oh no - scrap that - I need flower names for my new challenge. Lol

Thank you! No, Erica hadn't occurred to me. But no worries about the name Erica because I never switch my own sims' names mid-stream. ;p

The twins are indeed adorable. A+ toddler spam!

Thank you kindly for the A+, haha.