1. To recap: This is my attempt at a Polyamory Project Challenge,
created by princedeej28. The point of the challenge is to
romance more than one Sim and earn enough points to make
Hugh Hefner jealous.
Last time, I chose Plot over Points. We will have to see how
well that pans out. At any rate, Vanessa has acquired an
imaginary friend with long floppy ears who goes by the name
of Frank. Corey and Bertie have patched up their differences to
care for her.
This may get depressing.

2. Vanessa has her good days and her bad ones. On her good days,
she still goes to work. Or at least, Bertie drives her around the
block a few times.
Sometimes they “go to work” several times a day. Frank always
waves goodbye.

3. Bertie has started growing strawberries again, regardless of my
feelings on the subject.

4. I don’t really see any way around it. Vanessa has a tendency to
come over and pick fights. Aggressiveness is part of the natural
progression of things, but it’s very hard to deal with when it’s
aimed at you.
Bertie makes liberal use of the juicer.

5. At first, Bertie and Corey tried to go on with life as normal, but
that didn’t work too well.
BERTIE: Mmmmm… Mmfff. (pulling back) No, Cowey,
sowwy. She’s about to do that thing again.
COREY: (groans) Oh, no. Not that thing with the –
BERTIE: Yes. (running past him) No no, Vanessa! Put it down,
okay?
Corey also needs to use the juicer on a fairly regular basis.

6. The household has developed a schedule of care for Vanessa.
Bertie and Corey are more or less on watches, as they used to
use on ships: four hours on, four hours off, with the dog watch*
to allow for dinner and for rotating shifts.
Often, they can get Zenon or Beverly to help out with the dog
watch so that they can have dinner together.
*The “dog watch” is a half shift: two hours instead of four. Using a dog
watch means that the same person isn’t doing, say, midnight to four every
single day.

7. Beverly is usually their go-to backup caregiver, since Zenon
find it difficult.

8. COREY: Beverly, I hate to ask this, but –
BEVERLY: Do you and Bertie want your break early today?
COREY: Yeah.
BEVERLY: Sure, no problem.

9. BERTIE: Squeeeeee! An eawly bweak! And both of us at the
same time! I know just what I want to do!

10. BERTIE: Whoa whoa wait a minute! Just wet me get my
bweath back!
COREY: I don’t know if I should do that.
BERTIE: I’m not cheating, I pwomise!
COREY: No, no. It’s just that I was thinking that maybe we
could put these pillows back now.

11. COREY: And then I was thinking that, as long as we were in
the bedroom, we could find a better way to make use of our
time.

12. BERTIE: Mistew McCwewwan, I wike the way you think!

13. Inappropriate? Debatable, I suppose. But when you’re a
caregiver, you have to take care of yourself, too.

14. The family comes to visit Vanessa fairly regularly. It’s not a lot
of fun for the kids; Cecil spends most of the time outside, and
Josephine plays chess with her mother.
Mothers probably aren’t supposed to cheat their children at
chess, but that’s Buttercup for you.

15. Albert is the one who spends the most time with Vanessa.
VANESSA: Hi, I’m Vanessa. Do I know you?
ALBERT: I’m Albert, Mom.
VANESSA: Albert? You’re an accountant, right?
ALBERT: That’s me.
VANESSA: Hmmmm. Do you have any brothers or sisters?
ALBERT: No, I don’t.
VANESSA: So you’re an only child.
ALBERT: That’s right.

16. VANESSA: I have a son named Albert who’s an only child. He
works as an accountant too. Are you him?
ALBERT: Yes, Mom, that’s me. I’m your son Albert.
VANESSA: Well, how about that. (perking up and calling to
Bertie) Hey, Bertie! He’s your son too.
BERTIE: He suwe is. How about that?
Albert sometimes has to make an emergency trip to the
bathroom after these conversations. He always comes out with
red, puffy eyes.

17. Vanessa seems to enjoy the visits, though.
VANESSA: I had some nice visitors today, Frank. I think it was
today.
FRANK:
VANESSA: My cousin Jeff, I think. A man younger than me,
anyway. He was awfully familiar.
FRANK:
VANESSA: Yes, I know. But we had a nice visit.
FRANK:
VANESSA: What did I do when?
FRANK:
VANESSA: With what visitors? I don’t know what you’re
talking about. Hey, will you juggle for me again?

18. Early on, Vanessa liked to paint. The results weren’t anything
to write home about, but she enjoyed it and it kept her from
going around and picking fights. Eventually, she lost the ability
to handle most of the brushes. Her painting came to an end
when Corey caught her about to eat a tube of cadmium red; she
thought it was cake frosting.

19. After that, she spent a lot of time on the piano, eventually
maxing out Creativity through sheer number of hours on the
bench. Her songs became less and less complicated, and she
ended with a repertoire of three songs: “Heart and Soul,”
“Chopsticks,” and the one you play using only the black keys
that drives everyone around you nuts after about five minutes.

20. When she lost even those songs, Vanessa would lounge on the
couch and listen to Bertie play. She would do this in preference
to anything else, including sleeping, bathing, or using the toilet.
She can’t have much longer.
And on that downer of a note, I will leave you.

21. Credit where credit is due: the part about “putting the pillows away” came
from reader Mzyra, author of The Ryman Legacy. Check it out.
Score for this round
Assorted romantic interactions x 4: 20
Woohoo x 1: 30
TOTAL: 50
Score as of last round: 570
GRAND TOTAL: 620
Relationship standings (Daily/Lifetime)
Bertie > Corey: 98/100. Best friends. Married.
Bertie > Vanessa: 24/36.
Corey > Bertie: 98/100. Best friends. Married.
Corey > Vanessa: 23/34.
Vanessa > Bertie: -50/-1. Portrait is 5/6 red.
Vanessa > Corey: -33/15. Portrait is 1/4 red.
Vanessa > Zenon: 90/90. Best Friends. Love. Two bolts.