Angels Unawares: The Seraphim Immortal Dynasty (Graveyard Please!)

[Deme]

It came from here, at the store.

[loveSims]

Lovely update! I feel like crying while reading. R.I.P. Billy.

[ArianaJade]

I nearly cried when I read the last update. Poor Billy. I may be biased, but I think he's the best dynasty spouse. How old was he when he died?

[Deme]

I'm not sure what you mean by 'best,' so it's hard to say if I agree. But he is a pretty high-ranker no matter what combinations of criteria I use, and I think far and away my favorite (though we can maybe talk about some possibilities in Hidden Springs).

As for his age... I'm not actually sure. I didn't check it during the last few days before his death, but I'd have to pin him at late 80s or very early 90s. I was hoping that, since he was the first spouse, that maybe he'd have lasted a little longer.

Chapter 33: Moving Forward

I'm not sure who I'd say has it worst after Daddy died. On the one hand, you had the animals...

They're not as distractable as people, and they don't like change much. They're basically distraught, and it's all we can do to buff up their moods.

On the other hand, there's my mother. And like them, she can't be distracted. The human animal, the secret beast beneath the skin...

My mother wakes up and turns to an empty side of the bed; my mother gardens and stops and sees the dead plants. And I can't think of what to do.


So I paint. When I don't know what to do, I paint. Feelings become brushstrokes. Worries become gobs of pigment on my palate. And the light remains the light, letting itself be bound up warm and friendly.
"And it's my latest masterpiece!"
"That's wonderful!"

"...It's...umm...Your feelings?"
"Don't be silly! It's the inside of the mind of a squished bug!"
"Right. Obviously. It'll take the art world by storm."
"I know, right?"
"Wait...How many masterpieces is that?"
"...Umm...Five or Six?"
"Yes! Aster, you just supermaxed painting!"
"Wooh!"

With that out of the way, the last thing besides portraits I need is to do some more work. Time to bum off my neighbors!

"So, Lindsay, bestest friend... Can I restyle your house?"
"Ha,ha,ha... No. Last time I did that, I ended up with a gym in my attic."
"Attic-Gym was a great idea. They laughed, they laughed...But they'll see! They'll all see!"
They will rue the day they laughed at negative neo-surrealist pointilist celestial landscape!.... I mean... Attic-Gym!
Those fools will rue the day they laughed at a lot of things.


"...It's his obituary."
"They're saying we bought a new car with the insurance money! Those liars!"
"I think they're just kidding..."
"We'll be alright, don't you think? We'll do OK. Just like always."
"Uriel, sometimes I worry about your idea of 'OK,' if you say it's 'like always.' But you're right. We can keep going."


Keeping going means helping the kids with their homework, like a proper bookworm.

Orchid, meanwhile, has some friends to help her with her homework: a boy she forces into hours of tag...



And her own imaginary friend, Cosmos. I don't think they're as close as Evanthe and I were at her age -- I'm not sure that's possible.
"I like how much energy you get from Spagetti. Not to mention, if you eat it with someone, you can pull a Lady and the Tramp. Meet Cute, but with food...That's kinda great!"


"Playing catch, huh? Was it everything you ever wanted, Evanthe?"
"Oh, absolutely!"

And, after a good night's sleep, it's time for my darling girl to start her day with a work-out.

"Honey, that's not going to do anything. You're too young to really get into athletics."
"So what! I can at least get in some practice... And it's never too early to start getting ready to run TO ADVENTURE!"
"Actually, it's exactly too early... Oh, well. Nevermind."
"Ha-ha! Exactly!"


And Reed and I start our morning and my birthday with a little comfort. Now that it looks like things will get better after these hard times, that's something he and I want to celebrate in each other.

Besides, I still have work to do. That level 10 in my career won't reach itself!
I mean that literally. No one's ever asked me to do a renovation -- I'm always asking them. Maybe they think my melting all their clocks is a Dali rip-off? Good artists borrow, great artists steal, you know! It's a conspiracy -- the rocket society is making me have to drum up my own business!



With Elaine gone and a party coming, someone needs to repair the upstairs shower... And we let Evanthe handle this one.
"Maybe you should just stockpile broken things, in case someone needs to max handiness..."
"Oh, that's actually a really good idea, don't you think, Uriel"
"Yeah, it is, Ariel... But I think she's just saying that to get out of doing repairs."

I'm still away doing a bit of work... But when I ask Uriel to check in, he says that everyone's in formalwear.
My party's starting without me!



Gotta hurry back, gotta hurry back....


"Today's patented 'keep my Vampire boyfriend from burning in the sun due to a lack of self-preservation instinct' technique is... Indoor ghost-stories!"
"Keep working it, girl!"

Anyway, it's time for birthday sparkles!

I'm so excited!

Not bad, not bad... I'm not too worried about getting older, so no mid-life crisis for me.


Long kitten is long.

Because it's birthday cat!


And finally, my dear friend.

I think as long as we're aging up together, time isn't going to worry either of us.

"It looks like we'll have gotten through this generation's entry into Mature Adulthood without any sort of midlife crisis!"
"Mother, if you say things like that, Father's absolutely sure to get one now. You may as well have said he's two days from retiring!"
Oops.

----

Aster's Requirements
Lifetime Wish: Living in the Lap of Luxury
Career: Architect (9/10)
Supermax Skill: Painting
Building, Property: Hogan's Deep-Fried Diner, Romper Recreational Park
LTR: Innapropriate in a Good Way, Artisan Crafter, Extra Creative
Best Friends: Ariel Seraphim, Reed (Joy) Seraphim, Evanthe Seraphim, Lindsay Coulter, Helmut Roderickson, Jacob Roderickson, Ross Dorman, Orchid Seraphim, Gabriel Seraphim, Cyriaque Cantu, Ami Oakley
Black Ops: When Dream Come True, Scavenger Hunt: Rare Elements, A fishy science project, Outside Reading, Larger than Necessary Doorstop, Local Artists' Gallery
Portraits: Toddler, Child, Teenager, YA
Sculptures/Photos: Child (sculp), Teen (sculp), YA (sculpt and Photo)

Orchid's Requirements:
Lifetime Wish:
Career:
Supermax Skill: Martial Arts (unless travelling glitch, then athletics)
Building/Property:
LTR:
Best Friends: Aster Seraphim, Reed Seraphim, Linden Seraphim
Black Ops:
Portraits: Toddler
Sculptures/Photographs Toddler (sculp&photo)

[Deme]

Sorry for the delay; it's been the first week of School for me, so busy-busy!

Chapter 34: Landslide

I sigh and watch myself in the mirror. I primp my hair. Like I said, not bad. But I got it from my mom, those real firm lines around my mouth.
More than that, it's a reminder that while my time is infinite, the rest of reality is not. Time is moving, and I cannot catch up to it -- I'm an arrow trying to strike the running target, and in doing so, the happiness of myself and Reed and Vanthe' reduces: 1/2. 1/4. 1/8. 1/16. 1/32. Fractionally, fractionally smaller, because time continues moving.
"Stop." A voice behind me says. I don't turn so I don't see, and the voice keeps going. I know it, but he said stop so I'm stopping. I'm not even recognizing him, that's how much I'm stopping.
"I'm not as good at speeches as you... But I think I can manage this. When I look at you I see stars -- the most beautiful things in the world...And even if the stars change, we can't say when it was from here; the light takes so long to reach that something could have been changed for a long time...And still be beautiful. You're still the most beautiful thing in the world. You can not be stopped now, Honey."
I turn and see Reed there.



"Oh, boy. Rin died."
What?
"The bird died? Oh, Mom cannot know. Mom totally cannot know."
She'll be crushed!

"I need to build an exact replica of the bird and put it back on before she goes to chat with it. Uriel, you handle the body."
"...I can't. I'd end up moving the whole bird tree."
"Shhhh! Let Aster handle this!"

***

I'm not sure why I was expecting that to work. I mean, there's no good way to get a giraffe down here, and without that extending neck, nothing will push the mechanical voice button to slide it into the sculpted parrot, and the whole Rube-Goldberg device is useless!

I'd ask the kids for help, but they're doing homework.


"This is so dull. Incredibly dull. Mind sappingly dull," Orchid declares.
"It's not that bad..." Linden mutters into his essay.
"'What do you want to be when you grow up?' what sort of question is that?"
"Well, I think for people who don't know what I want, I guess it's a good one."
"Right. For the spineless and the uninvolved! For people who don't feel like doing anything, and would rather think about what they might do. People who have no certainty, basically."
"...So you know? Right?"
"Ha-ha! Of course! I'm gonna be... A protagonist!"
"I think that's only in stories, though."
"Then I'll do something so amazing they'll write stories about me! That's what I was planning on doing anyway. What's life without adventure?"
"...I don't know."
He mutters, watching my daughter smile. She pauses in the midst of her speeches.
"...Do you know? If you don't, I bet you and I can look for something together. You can even be my sidekick!"
"I'd like that. See, this isn't dull at all."
"I guess not. Wonderful, sidekick! Ha-ha!"

Of course, because of that, Mom's left cleaning the bird tree after we move Rin. Is she sad?

I think so, but it's not as bad as I thought. She only sighs very sadly, and gets to work.
"We can always get another bird."
"Yes, I know. I'll wait for a while, though. I have other things to do... Worry not for me, Uriel."
She laughs.
"...Hey, Grandma?" Orchid asks, watching her carefully.
"Yes, my little hothouse flower?" Orchid grins at the nickname.
"...Grandpa is dead. And my other grandma... Is also dead." She states it flatly.
"I'm afraid so, dear." Mom smiled sadly and pulled her into hug. "Please, don't be sad. I don't believe that either of them, or Rin, either, would want us to worry after them."
"And you, Grandma, are alive." She said it with fervor. Not just a smile, but an earnest grin, spread across her face. "There's a dark secret here, isn't there? Don't worry -- I'll uncover it myself!"

...


"I wouldn't call it a dark secret, would you, Uriel?"
"You're involved. That almost makes it the opposite. A light secret."
"I hope she doesn't get too invested. I think she'll be dissapointed."
"Dissapointed? 'you're the descendant of angels and are being called upon a grand redemption quest to return us all to what is, in essence, heaven.' Yeaaaaah, that'll dissapoint miss narrative there."
You really think so?  Oh...Dear..."
"Sarcasm. That's what that was....Oh, nevermind. Enjoy your walk."

Meanwhile, I'm trying to find more work. I think Reed's worked on this guy before -- he likes dyeing hair to spice up the gene pool.

"Think about it! Your house would look so much nicer if it was spherical. Rolling homes are the mobile homes of tommorow!"
"I'm not sure about this..."
It's hard going. This town is opposed to architectural freedom!

But my name seems to be coming around -- I'm invited to a swimsuit party, and since Evanthe's been having a rough time, I of course take her with me.

The two of us mostly dance, but Evanthe compliments me on actually showing up in my swimsuit, almost like I was told to wear it!
...It's kinda dull, wearing what's expected of you.

Reed's out and about on his own when he gets his birthday.


My man's a bit more insecure about aging than I am, and he ends up with a midlife crisis. I should have listened to Orchid.
Of course, the kids are growing up so fast.


Judging by that stride, I think Linden is exploring his heritage as an unreal thing. It's baby steps, but it's something.


And Orchid's becoming something of a little fighter.
"Grandmaaaaa~! Don't pinch my cheeks!"
"Awww, but you're so cyuuute!"
"That's it! I challenge you to a duel, grandma... But with pillows, OK?"
"Of course dear."
They laugh and go have a pillow-fight.


And as night falls, Mom and I come to simmilar conclusions about the passage of time.
I decide to comfort Reed like he comforted me, and we celebrate our youth by finding a really creative use for the new tree house.


And a cold wind blows through the house, like a chill. It sends my mother running out to the yard.

Whatever Mom and Daddy say to eachother as ghost meets angel... Well, maybe I heard it, and maybe I didn't.

Maybe I just want the two of them to have a little privacy of the heart -- I'm showing you the pictures, but that's just a single moment caught. Words are a continuum, where Mom whispers something as Daddy's whispering it back.

I will tell you, though, that for the first time in a while, I heard my mom giggle.

Our conclusion is this: Time's not a bad thing. Not when you hold precious things close after all of it.

Aster's Requirements
Lifetime Wish: Living in the Lap of Luxury
Career: Architect (9/10)
Supermax Skill: Painting
Building, Property: Hogan's Deep-Fried Diner, Romper Recreational Park
LTR: Innapropriate in a Good Way, Artisan Crafter, Extra Creative
Best Friends: Ariel Seraphim, Reed (Joy) Seraphim, Evanthe Seraphim, Lindsay Coulter, Helmut Roderickson, Jacob Roderickson, Ross Dorman, Orchid Seraphim, Gabriel Seraphim, Cyriaque Cantu, Ami Oakley
Black Ops: When Dream Come True, Scavenger Hunt: Rare Elements, A fishy science project, Outside Reading, Larger than Necessary Doorstop, Local Artists' Gallery
Portraits: Toddler, Child, Teenager, YA, Adult
Sculptures/Photos: Child (sculp), Teen (sculp), YA (sculpt and Photo), Adult (Sculp/ Photo?)

Orchid's Requirements:
Lifetime Wish:
Career:
Supermax Skill: Martial Arts (unless travelling glitch, then athletics)
Building/Property:
LTR:
Best Friends: Aster Seraphim, Reed Seraphim, Linden Seraphim
Black Ops:
Portraits: Toddler, Child
Sculptures/Photographs Toddler (sculp&photo), Child (sculp&photo)

[AnnBeiFong]

No need to apoligize for the delay! The story is still as wonderful as ever! That last picture, of Ariel and Billy, is sweet.

[alex51299]

Aww, I'm glad Ariel and Billy can still be together. 

[Deme]

So am I. Even if some family members get moved, I think Billy will always have a place.

Chapter 35: Infinite Complexity
I'm glad to see it -- Linden exploring his nature, I mean. In your blood, there's something in you that needs to be seen for you to be 'real' That's why painting is so wonderful -- even those things you cannot see can be shown.

He's really good-looking as a doll, I think. I hope there's some girl who can appreciate a body like a starry sky for him one day...

"No, it really does look nice, silly! No one's gonna tease you about it!"
Though I don't think he has to look too far for that...

Regardless of what form he's in, the two of them are really close friends. It's not exactly that they follow each-other everywhere... But the two of them seem to have the same ideas as to what to play at the same time, so they're always together, connected...
They say that the moment you're born, there's a red string that connects you to your fate. I've been looking, but none yet. It'd be sad if fate didn't have a plan for these two.
...Maybe if I go in and tie red strings to them...? YES! I need to go and buy several bobbins. There will be so many red strings, they won't be able to move!

Come to that, that'll make their teenage days much easier, right?

But not even Linden is spared the wrath of Orchid's pillow.

"This pillow of mine shines with an awesome power! It's burning stuffing tells me to defeat you! SHINING PILLOW!"
"No fair.... Using... Finishing moves..."
"Come on, Linden! A real man doesn't surrender!"

Speaking of wrath...

Echo's become a productive little hunter-kitty.
"I've always wanted to be a ball of cartoon effects...Whenever she actually tries to catch something, I get jealous..."
"...Cartoon effects? Life is not a cartoon."
"No. It's a story based off of a videogame told to the readers here. But they'll see what I mean."
"Nod and smile...Nod and smile... Wait. She can't see that."

Mom's still helping out the kids.

"When you look at Cinderella this way, you see it basically as an evolutionary struggle between two mothers, both trying to ensure the success of their offspring. The difference, then, between the 'good' mother as embodied in the linden tree and the 'evil' one is not so much..."
"Grandma. No one's going to believe I wrote this."
"Well, you're writing it as you see it, aren't you? Even if I'm giving you a way to look at it, it's your job to decide if that's the way you want to see it, honey."
"Duh! But that's so cool! So miuch drama, so much conflict! You've got to tell me all the stories from now on!"

And it looks like she's keeping busy in other ways, too -- like finally putting those nectar-makers to work.

Umm...Don't tell her I said this, since she's so delicate and all...
But her first couple of batches are terrible. We call them fail nectars.

But nectar-making gives her some free time that's not taken up by gardening. And she spends those...

Still reading by Daddy's grave. I don't think she does it becase she's sad, though -- it's just her way of being close. And she'd be reading outside anyway.

But tonight, I'm not gonna worry about that! Let's leave mom to watch the kids and go on a double-date!

I thought I'd help Ross and Evanthe along, since they'd been having trouble. I want my best friend to be happy, even if she and her man can't be married.
Anyway, they loosened up after a while

I'm apparently so famous that I got these onion rings for everyone for free!
... From that terrible, terrible-looking bartender.
"Reed! Do something!"
"Alright, I'll see if I can't find her tommorow morning."
Good.
We have a good night, and get kicked out around closing time.

But Reed doesn't find her in the morning; apparently she commutes. One day, bad commuter fashion sense... YOU WILL RUE THE DAY YOU CROSSED ASTER SERAPHIM, YOU HEAR?!

Oh, but I do complete my 25th ice sculpture. So now we don't have to worry about who'll do museum pieces for the future generations!
Yes, recording our legacy will fall upon my noble shoulders. I will do my best to record with honor and integrity and...
Ooh, you know what would be cool? If I recorded us all as isometric shapes that represented our inner turmoil in the face of an uncaring world full of space-gophers!

"Whatever you're planning... Don't."
"But I never said..."
"No."
"Fine. I'll do fractals, then. I think Orchid makes a fine Sierpinski gasket."
"Like herding a cat..."

See, though?

Isn't she just like a Sierpinski gasket? Gabriel's kind of a Mendelbrot set, but that's a different story.

I'm trying to explain this idea to myself as I walk into the kitchen, and the phone rings.
"Hello again, Ms. Aster."
"Hi, Mr. or Misters Disembodied voice!"
"Aster, we -- I mean, I -- am not disembodied. I am a perfectly normal sim embodied in a pile of slowly-decaying meat, as are we all."
"...Oh, alright then!"
"Anyway, it is in our interests that you maintain your popularity. People are starting to consider your figure, and we would reccomend building up your athletics ski--"
"Now wait just a plum-picking minute! Orchid's good at sports -- she may one day want to work on her athletics full-time! And she can't do that if I do it!"

"I don't care what you think our interests are! I'm not doing anything that could endanger my perfect little hothouse Sierpinski gasket's chances, you got that?! Nothing! Popularity is meaningless!"
"But --"
I slam the phone down. My blood is boiling.

"(Rampage at 4 O'Clock. I knew this day was coming.) Hey, Aster! Look at this neat-o rock!"
"Ooh! A pretty rock!"

"I will love him and hug him and name him George and smother him like a mother hen, so he never feels unloved or neglected, and I..."
"(This was less than an ideal plan)...Princess, why don't you go outside and try out the new bubble bar."


Oooh, lookit the pretty bubbles...
"Disaster: Averted!"


"Or so I thought..."

"You know, Orchid... You're really cool. And brave. And you never give up."
"Thanks! You just need a bit of backbone; like with your dad. Don't just let him ignore you like that!"
"No, no, what I mean is I think you're..."
She looks up at him and it's all hopeless.
"Your dad's hamburgers... Are amazing! I love your dad's hamburgers! Nothing like burger breakfast!"
He gets up and runs away.

I give her a glance -- after all, she had to have noticed it. I guess I didn't need string, after all.

And she looks back at me, and I wonder if maybe I have telepathy, because after a while, she smiles like I don't have to say anything.
"Mother, you've gotta move your lips to talk! But don't worry about Linden -- I'll figure out what's got him so jumpy!"
...It may take her a while.

But she at least tracks him down to the treehouse.

And the two are off to search for distant adventure! And to spy on the neighbors, too.

And I get another call.
"Ms. Aster, please. Allow me to apologize. I hadn't realize how seriously you would take my reccomendation."
"Do you have a name, Mr. Agent?"
"What? Of course. Of course I do. Yes, all sims do have names, and I am definately a sim, who has a name... Which is... Mr... Phone?"
"Alright, Mr. Phone. So what do you want?"
"I thought I'd offer you another opportunity, as an apology. The fusion lounge in-town has been looking for publicity, and you're just the jet-setter for the job... Bring a friend. You're still worried about Miss Evanthe, aren't you?"
"You're right! I should bring her for a drink!"

"Thanks Mister Phone!"

Reed, meanwhile, had been in the grips of a terrible, soul-crushing...

And incredibly mild midlife crisis. He's not really wanted to do anything to change his life at all.
...I guess that must mean I'm doing a pretty good job.


That's not to say he hasn't been working hard! He's maxed his cooking, so now he can make ambrosia if we need some more!
That's three skills he's maxxed. I'm impressed.


I'm working hard, too! I think Mrs. Grisby needs a more fun house: maybe a maze out of dividers between everything, so her guests have to go through a wonderful labrynth!
...Well, I didn't have the budget for that, so I hopes she likes the stuff I did do.


I guess she must have -- she sent the call to the architectural office saying I'd done good work...
And they called me to say I was promoted! Promoted! My last promotion~!
Except for get old and not die, I've done everything I need to become immortal!



Aster's Requirements

Lifetime Wish: Living in the Lap of Luxury
Career: Architect
Supermax Skill: Painting
Building, Property: Hogan's Deep-Fried Diner, Romper Recreational Park
LTR: Innapropriate in a Good Way, Artisan Crafter, Extra Creative
Best Friends: Ariel Seraphim, Reed (Joy) Seraphim, Evanthe Seraphim, Lindsay Coulter, Helmut Roderickson, Jacob Roderickson, Ross Dorman, Orchid Seraphim, Gabriel Seraphim, Cyriaque Cantu, Ami Oakley
Black Ops: When Dream Come True, Scavenger Hunt: Rare Elements, A fishy science project, Outside Reading, Larger than Necessary Doorstop, Local Artists' Gallery
Portraits: Toddler, Child, Teenager, YA, Adult
Sculptures/Photos: Child (sculp), Teen (sculp), YA (sculpt and Photo), Adult (Sculp/ Photo)

Orchid's Requirements:

Lifetime Wish:
Career:
Supermax Skill: Martial Arts (unless travelling glitch, then athletics)
Building/Property:
LTR:
Best Friends: Aster Seraphim, Reed Seraphim, Linden Seraphim
Black Ops:
Portraits: Toddler, Child
Sculptures/Photographs Toddler (sculp&photo), Child (sculp&photo)

[MarianT]

Congratulations Aster! Kudos on getting that look she exchanges with Orchid -- it's hard to catch shots like that.

[Sims3Clacla123]

Aw that was a cute update and it looks like Linden has a crush on Orchid. 
Congrats Aster

[Deme]

Congratulations Aster! Kudos on getting that look she exchanges with Orchid -- it's hard to catch shots like that.

Actually, it was pretty easy for me -- they held it for a pretty long while, actually. But I am glad to have caught it.

Also, I am frustrated. I had the chapter about half-done... And then my computer crashed and it's gone. GRRRR!

[Deme]

Chapter 36: Busy Night[/u]

Well, since I've completed all my requirements, it's time for me -- the grand and elegant Aster -- to commit myself upon the family housing... AND REDECORATE THE ART ROOM!

It needs this and this and one of those and do you think I can give it a cowplant or --
"No cowplants!"
"But..."
"They're banned!"
"....Oh, alright... What about this?"
“Aster, you can’t use the fountain of youth in here.”
"But... But... WATER FEATURE!"
"Get a different water feature! That won't make people immortal!"
"...Alright..."

And now my work's complete!

It's got doodads and whatsits to ensure the stable orbit of the planets and to inspire... It's got a couch for snuggles and a coffee machine for late nights, and a mirror in case I want to steal a soul or draw myself or something. Not for a formal portrait -- but art is about pushing boundries! Doing new things!

It also has a half-sculpted cat and some noms what for omning...Oh, and it's got that evil thing that came from under my earlobes...And Evanthe! Hiii, Evanthe!

Oh, kid fashion update!

Linden's hairstyle is super-popular. All of Orchid's classmates have it, too.

Also, here is Mom with a kitty.

How does she, a supposedly retired immortal, have more to do than I do? It's a mystery.


“Why are you at the gym? I thought you were visiting that kid with the identical haircut.”
”It’s where my father is.”
 ”How do you figure that?”
”It’s elementary, Mr. Uriel. My father is a minor celebrity, but he’s almost never at his house. However… Uncle Reed’s map to the stars doesn’t show celebrity *houses*. It shows celebrity *locations*, updated in real time. Ergo, I can pin down his exact location, and hopefully arrive before he leaves.”
”That’s good detective work, kiddo. So, you going in?”
”…I’m scared. I wanted Orchid to come, but I thought she’d get carried away… Will you go with me?”
”Of course, buddy.”


I can't imagine how Linden must feel. It must be turning his insides to good and then spreading them on bread like jam and then making the bread into a sammich.
"Hi... Dad..."
"Linden?! Uhh... Hi. Hi there... Ummm... How's your mother?"
"Good. She's...Great. Out with Aunt Aster right now, actually... Ummm... How's being a lifeless monster-man?"
"Can't complain, can't complain... How's school?"
"...Dad. Can we stop asking about the status of random things?"
"Alright...
So... Do you like computers?"

"I mean, I'm always hearing about how kids your age are into computers."
"Kids your age...Dude, you live in a technological near-stasis! All kids like computers! Forever!"
"(Mr. Urieeel) Yeah, dad. I like computers well enough."


"I actually have some really exciting ideas about maybe using computers for law enforcement...Umm... You know, to catch bad guys and stuff."
"That's really interesting, Linden. Hey, have you heard..."



And so that scary first 'real' encounter turns to warm laughter.

I wonder how everyone else is doing...

"HA-HA! I'm on top of the world!"
...Yeah, I bet Orchid's fine.


"I knew it! Not only are they worshipping the TV, they're holding a TV-worshipping party!"
"Uriel, let's not be silly. Come and watch with us -- I'm making popcorn."
"...W-well...Alright. But only because it's the finale of one life to sim...And because it's you."
"Thank you, Uriel."

What, you want to know what I've been doing while all this is happening?

GIRL'S NIGHT OUT! I'm following Mr. Phone's advice on this one, taking Evanthe with me. I think she's mostly OK with Ross being a vampire now -- I think -- but I'm not sure.


And of course we hit the dance floor at the Banzai Lounge, since we're here for a drink anyway.
"Hey, Vanthe...Can I go fishing with you sometimes?"
"Do you even know how to fish?"
"Yeah! I learned a little on a field trip as a kid! You take the line, you hook it with some bait, and toss it in some water like a river or a pond or a swimming pool...And fish spawn to take it!"
"...Why don't you take a lesson or two before coming with me. Why do you want to do this, anyway?"
"...Well... When we were younger...We were always together. And we're not so much anymore. We're like independant people. And that's OK and all...But I want to see you more."

"Alright, then. Let's start by playing some shuffleboard!"

"(Hey... Uriel?...Watch out for her for me, OK? I don't know what'll happen... After I'm gone, OK?)"
"(Ok.)"

Next up it's drinks!

I am less than impressed by this mixologist. She needs to have at least 3 extra arms to make her being this clumsy funny. This family needs a doctor so he can help.


"Here's to us."
"To us. Forever."
We laugh and down the drinks. It's basically closing time, so it's time to finish our whiskey or beer... We don't have to go home, of course, but we can't stay here.

When I get home, I notice something funny.

"Hey, this patch of grass is a little lighter than the other patches. Yaaay, for a patch of unusual color in a conformist lawn approach!"
Oh, and there's ghost-Elaine on the trampoline, getting impressive air for a dead old lady.
That's good, too.


"The garden's not doing very well... I think I may have to reduce the size to let the sprinklers do better work. Maybe set up a rotation."
"OOh, rotating plants? Let me help! They'd need a spinning disco ball, too, to make the rotating more fun! And maybe we'll add in some teacups and --"
"No, honey. I mean doing different plants at different times."
"...Oh. Yeah, that could work."


While mom's doing that, she also maxes the second career of her lifetime: she becomes a top-ranked Gardener, with a fancy title I can't remember and everything!

And for the rest of us, the kids' birthday party is getting started. Orchid insisted on it being a swimwear party.

Someone's even getting a present...
"Ummm...H-here, Orchid. Thanks."
"What for?"
"For helping me work up the nerve to talk to my dad."
"Oh. That? Don't be silly! It's the least I could do for my truest friend!"
She opens it anyway.
"Wow! A baseball! Thank you, Linden! Come on, come on! Let's go play!"

First up to the cake is Linden...

And Orchid right behind. The both of them immediately dash for mirrors and dressers.



Linden wanted to work some of his mother's roots into him, so as a touch of pride, he had his hair dyed with some green highlights and tips. It's much more visible in the back than in the front -- like a mullet, but with hair dye.
I think he's a pretty handsome young man -- certainly Charismatic.


And my little girl is sporty and beautiful, with her hair done up and, I think, a certain flair for...
The Dramatic. It's going to be an interesting next generation, I think.

Aster's Requirements
Lifetime Wish: Living in the Lap of Luxury
Career: Architect
Supermax Skill: Painting
Building, Property: Hogan's Deep-Fried Diner, Romper Recreational Park
LTR: Innapropriate in a Good Way, Artisan Crafter, Extra Creative
Best Friends: Ariel Seraphim, Reed (Joy) Seraphim, Evanthe Seraphim, Lindsay Coulter, Helmut Roderickson, Jacob Roderickson, Ross Dorman, Orchid Seraphim, Gabriel Seraphim, Cyriaque Cantu, Ami Oakley
Black Ops: When Dream Come True, Scavenger Hunt: Rare Elements, A fishy science project, Outside Reading, Larger than Necessary Doorstop, Local Artists' Gallery
Portraits: Toddler, Child, Teenager, YA, Adult
Sculptures/Photos: Child (sculp), Teen (sculp), YA (sculpt and Photo), Adult (Sculp/ Photo)

Orchid's Requirements:

Lifetime Wish:
Career:
Supermax Skill: Martial Arts (unless travelling glitch, then athletics)
Building/Property:
LTR: Opportunistic
Best Friends: Aster Seraphim, Reed Seraphim, Linden Seraphim
Black Ops:
Portraits: Toddler, Child
Sculptures/Photographs: Toddler (sculp&photo), Child (sculp&photo)

[alex51299]

Wow, Orchid and Linden aged up beautifully! Hilarious update. 

[Deme]

Thanks. I'm really pleased with how they turned out, particularly Linden. Good work, Evanthe and Ross.

I wanted to post some screenshots that won't fit into the next chapter. Or that would, but I don't feel like folding them in.

For starters, here's a shot of Orchid's bedroom. Once she's grown up, I'll probably do another image, maybe a floorplan. I have plans for the little corner of the room, if she'd be willing to cooperate with me on its use.


Also, the bathroom that's between Ariel and Orchid's rooms. It's done in slightly more Orchid's style than Ariel, but I may add a hanging plant somewhere to help ease the transition.


This is Orchid's propety, the public pool. New additions to the first floor (shown here) are the hot-tubs, fountain, and lounge chairs. Also added is a staircase to a functional up-stairs area, on what was the roof.

Which is now an outdoor play area with chairs and a slip-n-slide and grills and things for fun of all ages, I'm sure. Maybe I'll throw Orchid's adult birthday here.


I purchased a new set from the store recently and Master Suite stuff came out, so I decided Aster needed a new formalwear and formal hair -- this is replacing her wedding gown, since I was kind of getting tired of seeing it all the time. I may make more use of this hairstyle for her, though... If I don't use another style for her elder haircut, though maybe they can both be used.

[alex51299]

Those are great, but I can't see the picture of the bathroom.