Caretakers Journal Week 7 – Tue-FriIt’s been a long week in The Facility following the loss of Gulliver. Nico felt it the most, having been close to both Jacqueline and Gulliver. Ace came in and immediately hogged the computer to play The R.E.F.U.G.E. No-one has got higher than level 2 before but he’s hoping to get there.
Ace’s settling in to the Facility was hampered somewhat by the reappearance of The Beast, at 7.30pm! I thought we had until the next full moon.
Watcher: I did too!
Sky: You didn’t research Werewolves enough. Fallon got really angry and then just exploded. It was unfortunate that it chose to terrorize Ace although, to be fair, he wasn’t the only one.
After the running and screaming had died down – just 2 hours – Ace went to check with Hector and Nico. Apparently he was worried about Fallon as he hadn’t seen her during the Reign of Terror. He also asked if she was seeing anyone. I hope they put him straight…
Rabbit: What is Nico doing?
Naked: He appears to be moving snow from one place to another. I can’t think why.
Happy: Who cares? It’s snowing! Isn’t it great!
Ace, it turned out, had spent the night napping on the bench by one of the fishing spots. It looked like he’d been enjoying the snow too, in between napping and playing games on his phone.
Fallon and The Voice built a Snowpal. In short, snow fun is helping cheer everyone up.
Even the Life Contemplating has come to an end. I’ve been left with a liking for mixology – OK – but Media Production? Where did that come from?
Jacqueline chose that night to visit and boy, was she angry. Apparently if you die by drowning you are forever a watery ghost and drip water everywhere. You can’t see it very well in this pic but her form was all rippling. Plus, if she stood anywhere for long, she left a puddle which Watcher kept worrying was a Bathroom Accident. I can understand Jacqueline's anger but there’s not a lot I can do about it now.
One last date, or I hope the 7th of many, and I achieved Soulmate with Flint. Ah – that man! So reliable, always available and very easy on the eyes. My first Graduate – he was always special. As it happens, I also maxed my Gardening skill and became a Freelance Botanist. That’s 3 Aspirations now – Friend of the World was the first – so I can start Upcycling all the furniture and décor! You’re going to see some changes over the next few days. Only upgrade slightly each time but we’ll eventually get a fantastically-decorated Facility.
The other Residents joined me at the beach to celebrate. Ace’s Materialistic trait will be in heaven! I led everyone into the shallows, checking they all had swim buddies and then let them decide for themselves. No leading them into deep water. I also kept a close eye on them. With the floaters, the beach loungers and the towels, there are plenty of places to nap here. Hector didn’t nap. He swam around with Nico and got his fitness up to 5. Time for Independent Living!
We had another houseparty. I’ve got Golds for all the possible parties – we don’t have a fire pit or a keg – and I prefer Dinner Parties which increase everyone's Cooking and Charisma more. But Hector was really tired so I didn’t want ask too much of everyone.
I will miss Hector – he’s the Neat one after all. We didn’t reverse his Snobbery but I would say that he’s very good at keeping it under wraps. He managed not to put on too much weight at The Facility, looking at no-one…
Watcher: Joel!
Sky: …and got quietly on with skilling. Good on you, Hector! He’s off to live in San Myshuno with Melissa as he is friends with her. She’ll be glad of his cleaning skills. He’s left us with a new bed, thank goodness!
As Hector goes, we welcome Zane to our ranks. He’s Neat and Squeamish! Those 2 traits definitely go together although I’ll be surprised if he’s happy to clean up our loo! Isn't it strange how, just as one Neat Resident leaves, another one turns up?
Watcher: Um - read the rules - we're only allowed one Neat Resident and I don't want to leave you to clean up everything.
Sky: But all the other Residents do some cleaning. I'd be fine.
Watcher: Well, if Zane graduates, we'll consider managing without one but don't blame me if we end up in a mess.
L-to-R: Deirdre, Ace, Fallon, Sky, Zane, Gabriela, Nico, Joel
Zane tried to get to know people by telling the “Now You See It Now You Don’t” story but since we all tell that one to anyone that will listen plus the plants, all Gabriela and Joel could do was carry on dancing politely.
Gulliver visited that night, also in rippling form. He was angry too so we left him alone. I was too tired to deal with that. Eventually he went outside and made a Snow Angel. It's perhaps just as well he was hot from being angry. If his watery nature had been cooler he might have got frozen to the snow.
After a day at the gym and then another carefully-monitored beach visit to rehydrate Nico, we returned to the Facility via Mt Komorebi. I have been having problems with the Residents staying in hot-weather or swimwear when we get home from the beach so a quick jaunt to the snowy mountains gets us all in cold-weather gear. Zane went over to get some food from the vendor who thought he was a Spellcaster. He is wearing one of their Winter coats. Maybe he’s trying to impress Deirdre. That reminds me, I really must take her on another trip to Glimmerbrook.
I wanted to knit on the rocking chair but Fallon grabbed it while I was on my way. With the bench gone and all the beds occupied, the loo was the only “comfortable” place to do it. I know it looks odd but these socks aren’t going to knit themselves. I moved as soon as I saw Nico doing the Widdle Waddle.
We have all had to adjust to The Shower changing daily. We all know, in our heads, that each change means an improvement. But our hearts, well our hearts are finding it hard. We miss the massage jets and other upgrades that I’d done on the original Shower. We are all looking forward to the day when the daily changes reach the ultimate in showers and we can reacquaint ourselves with this vital member of The Facility.
Fallon is amazing. Not only does she have to contend with her alter-ego, she is the only Resident to reach level 5 in Gardening and in Painting. As she got level 5 Charisma at Hector’s leaving party, she is ready for Independent Living. Look! She’s even painted a picture of her future home!
I decide a Dinner Party will get everyone cooking again. Without a dining table, everyone gathers in the kitchen to eat and never leave it. I set the stereo to Classical to try to get everyone listening to it but that did mean no dancing. We have so many graduated Residents now that they fill the guest list. I’m very happy to have everyone together.
Fallon has been our most challenging Resident but her painting and gardening are unparalleled! I’m so proud of her. She’s found a small cottage in Moonwood Mill and hoping to join one of the Packs there. She’s left us a small telescope. I’ve heard they can be dangerous so I’ll be upcycling it as soon as possible
Nico upped his Charisma at Fallon's party so he’s ready for Independent Living too. Making sure that his scales got plenty of hydration was possibly the main reason we lost 2 Residents to drowning but I’m glad to call him a friend. He is, to my belief, the only Resident to never have caused a fire, passed-out or had a Bathroom Accident! Amazing. He has no living friends outside the Facility but he’s still a Loner so he’s built himself a small desert island house in Sulani. He’s promised to return for parties, especially as his leaving gift is a hot tub! A hot tub, everyone! I wonder if we can get everyone in at the same time!
2 new Residents arrive together. Malakai is a Family-Oriented Slob – I’ll have to monitor his conversations with Child-Hating Gabriela. Lola is High Maintenance and Loyal. We lost High Maintenance Sam to anger. I hope Lola won’t get quite so worked up.
L-R: Deirdre, Malakai, Gabriela, Sky, Zane, Ace, Lola, Joel
Progress+3000 – New Resident Independent Living by 3 skills to level 5: Hector & Nico (Charisma, Dancing, Fitness) & Fallon (Charisma, Gardening, Painting)
+450 – Skill levels over requirements 45(*+10)
+600 – New Aspirations: 3 (*+200)
+200 - New Skills at level 10 by Caretaker 2(*+100)
-100 – New Bathroom Accident: 1(*-100)
-500 – New Passing Out: 5(*-100)
+8910 Current scoreJoel: Charisma 8, Cooking 4, Dancing 5, Fitness 4, Painting 2; Non-Commital, Self-Assured +Cheerful+Clumsy
Deidre: Charisma 6, Cooking 2, Dancing 5, Fitness 4; Mean, Dog Lover +Insider
Gabriela: Charisma 6, Cooking 2, Dancing 4, Fitness 6; Hates Children, Party Animal +Active+Clumsy
Ace: Charisma 6, Dancing 2, Fitness 2; Materialistic, Geek
Zane: Dancing 2, Fitness 2; Squeamish, Neat
Malakai: Slob, Family-Oriented
Lola: High Maintenance, Loyal
Independent Living 10Hector: Charisma 6, Cooking 2, Dancing 5, Fitness 5, Painting 2; Snob, Neat, +Outgoing+Active
Fallon: Charisma 5, Cooking 2, Dancing 4, Fitness 4; Gardening 5, Mischief 2, Painting 5; Goofball, Green Fiend (Werewolf)
Nico: Charisma 5, Dancing 5, Fitness 6, Mischief 2; Loner, Child of the Ocean +Cheerful
Previous ResidentsSky: Cat-Lover, Outgoing + Good+Adventurous+Perfectionist; likes Fitness
(All household Sims have the Erratic trait)
I have gone through all the traits that I think are “unhelpful” so I’ve re-used the ones for those past Residents that
dieddidn’t graduate. I will be needing more new Residents before this challenge is over and I can’t avoid Paranoid for ever. If you have suggestions for interesting trait combos, do let me know. One trait has to be Erratic.
