Already in Progress, Chapter 17

Hello! Welcome back to the story! I would just like to point out that this is a very
important picture showing that Andrew and Perry have become friends and spend time
together doing guy things like, oh, cleaning the kitchen. This picture has nothing at all to
do with the fact that I think Perry looks very very nice in those jeans.
Very very nice indeed.
Now that we have established that important point, let’s rejoin our story: Already in
Progress…

AMETHYST: Perry, turn around. I’ll give you a backrub.
PERRY: Wait, I should be giving you the backrub. You’re the one who’s pregnant.
AMETHYST: Exactly. I’m pregnant, so you have to do whatever I want, right?
PERRY: Well, yes. Of course.
AMETHYST: And I want you to turn around so I can give you a backrub.

And later that evening, after easily the most pampered pregnancy ever in my game,
Harkon joined the family. He has his father’s coloring, but I’m not sure about the features
yet. All babies look alike.

Although given the way features run in that family, he’s got a good chance of looking
just like Da. (The fellow in the nifty uniform is Perry’s father Ilescu. I really should go
over to his lot and age him to Elder one of these days.)

I don’t know how the little guy’s going to learn to do anything on his own, though. He
gets spoiled rotten. If it’s not Da cuddling him and feeding him and playing with him and
bathing him and seeing to his every need…

…it’s Granddaddy. Forget maternal instincts – the women in this house have trouble
getting near the baby for the men. Not that Granddaddy’s enthusiasm for baby-sitting
doesn’t come in handy sometimes.
ANDREW: So, how’s the anti-gravity device on that car? Still working okay?
AMETHYST: …Yeah, Dad. Just great.
Oh, how awkward! Moving on…

Robin! What have I told you about toddlers and deadly poison! Why don’t you try
listening to me for a change?

The toddler in question is Mifune, seen here in slightly more of a close-up.
MIFUNE (proudly): Daddy, I peed!
ROBIN: Yep, you sure did.
MIFUNE: I peed! (happily) I big boy.
ROBIN: Mifune, big boys pee in the potty, not their pants.

ROBIN: Okay, Cillian, the triangle block goes in the triangle hole.
CILLIAN: No! Here!
ROBIN: No, see? That block has corners. The round hole doesn’t have any corners.
CILLIAN: Goes here!
ROBIN: No, see? That’s a triangle. See the three sides? Do you see any holes that have
three sides like that block?
CILLIAN: This one!
You’d think the oldest kid would be less of a handful, wouldn’t you?

You’d be wrong.
ROBIN: Fifteen dollars for a glass of lemonade? Are you serious?
GERARD: This is premium lemonade, Daddy. Each lemon was grown on a country
estate –
ROBIN: These are from our lemon tree. We live in the suburbs.
GERARD: – using only the finest organic gardening techniques –
ROBIN: Organic? Gerard, do you remember the big bottle marked “XXXX Deadly
Poisonous Pesticide XXXX” that you’re not allowed to go near?
GERARD: – lovingly hand-picked –
ROBIN: Lovingly hand-picked?
GERARD: – and gently massaged to bring out the highest quality juice –
ROBIN (surrendering to the inevitable): You’re going to keep this up until I give you
fifteen dollars, aren’t you?
GERARD (happily): Uh-huh.

There have been several birthdays at the Miller household. First was Byron. (And Lucky,
of course. They’re twins.)

Two days after that, it was Ryan’s turn. Ryan is an exact clone of Timothy in both looks
and personality. I don’t normally suffer from first-born syndrome, and anyway, Timmy’s
the middle child, so I don’t know exactly what went wrong.
At any rate, I have nine boys to five girls, and some of them are uninteresting clones. So
don’t be surprised if they start marrying each other. Or becoming monks. Or ending up in
an asylum. Or ending up in an asylum for monks who want to marry each other.
I’m just saying.

One day after Ryan (and three days after Byron and Lucky), it was Caryl and Jerome’s
turn to age up. Caryl finally dropped the braids, and I think it’s a good look for her. But I
still can’t figure out where Jerome’s chin went.

Amy will be the next, when she heads off to college. In the meantime, though… I believe
I said that Ricky Cormier was not boyfriend material for Amy, didn’t I? And it’s true, he
isn’t. Even with the chemistry boost that all Romance Sims like Ricky get automatically,
they have negative boltage. But that doesn’t mean that he’s not useful.
AMY: So, Ricky.
RICKY: So.
AMY: I don’t want to go steady with you. I don’t want you to come to college with me.
I’m not looking for a boyfriend right now.
RICKY: Okay…
AMY: But when I get one, I want to be good at kissing. And from what I’ve heard, you’d
be willing to help me out with that.
RICKY: Well, you know…

RICKY: …anything for a friend.
Being aspiration fodder is a good thing, right? At least he’s getting face time.

Stacey is having a bad night. As if attempting to stargaze in the rain wasn’t bad enough,
the telescope gets struck by lightning.
Well, she said she was stargazing. But have you ever noticed how when you walk past a
house and it’s nighttime and their lights are on, you can see everything that’s going on
but they can’t see you?
Me neither.

So Stacey decides to try a safer pastime, such as fixing the computer.

But this was probably the worst part of the whole night.
TOBY: Honey? All you had to do was tighten the transmiblick adaptator. It was easy.

And Tyrone has gone off to college, where he grew up into typically awful clothing.
While he goes off to get some better clothing and think up a good excuse for why this is
not, in fact, a picture of him, let’s you and me go off and check in on someone else.

JASPER: What do you mean, I can’t get a job?
JASMINE: It’s the rules. You’re the official Spouse.
JASPER: What rules?
JASMINE: The Mafia Challenge rules.
Um, Jasmine?
JASPER: Why do I care what those rules say? I’m going to go nuts if I don’t have
something to do all day.
Jasmine?
JASMINE: What’s wrong with taking care of Anne and Lucy?
Jasmine, the Mafia Challenge rules –
JASPER: I did not go to college to spend my life doing diaper duty! Beside, that’s what
your parents are for.
MITCH (mildly): I heard that.
Jasmine, will you listen to me?! Oh, right. Crap.

Well, while you enjoy this picture of Jasmine going off to her first day of work as a Bank
Robber, let me just clarify: Under Mafia Challenge rules, it’s perfectly okay for the
Spouse to have a job. A home business or a family business are also acceptable, provided
it’s not the primary source of income. However, under esmeiolanthe rules, this family has
waaaay too much money already, so Jasper won’t be working. Since his LTW is to Have
6 Pets Reach the Top of Their Careers – (laughs hysterically)
Sorry. Since his LTW is to Have 6 Pets Reach the Top of – (hoots with laughter)
Right. Let’s try this again. Since his LTW is to Have 6 (snicker) Pets Reach the Top–
(snort)
Since his LTW is not career-related, and isn’t happening anyway, it doesn’t really matter.

Although idle hands are the devil’s workshop, as they say. Since Mitch and Rommy have
the childcare thing down pat, Jasper has taken to spying on the neighbors.
Some of them object.
Um, Valerie? His wife’s going to be a Criminal Mastermind someday. The two of them
have two nice points between them. Do you really want to get on their bad side? Surely
just closing the curtains is easier?

Aw, what’s wrong, Kitty?
KITTY: Shut up.
It was the chance card, wasn’t it? I have this theory about chance cards…
KITTY: Well, it didn’t work, did it?
Actually, it just got another bit of confirmation. So –
KITTY: I don’t want to talk to you right now. Tell them about Simon, why don’t you?
Okay.

Simon’s become a pleasant little boy who likes to spend time with his parents.
SIMON: Ba, will you read me a story?
MIRCEA: Sure, I guess. What do you want to hear?
SIMON: Yay! Yay yay yay! I want to hear Pibble Wibble’s Frapny Jelnatz!
MIRCEA (groans): Oh, not that again.
SIMON (dancing around happily): Pibble Wibble! Pibble Wibble! (excitedly) And you’ll
read it at double-speed, right? And you’ll do the Frapny Jelnatz two-step and the
skadavink chant-march?
MIRCEA: Kitty, help me!
KITTY: Oh no I won’t. You didn’t ask what story first, you have to read Pibble Wibble.
Any Calvin and Hobbes fans out there? (I’m showing my age, aren’t I?)

Simon reminds me so much of his father! One skill point before breakfast, each and every
day. And he thinks cleaning is the most fun anybody can have without reading Pibble
Wibble’s Frapny Jelnatz.
(Did you notice that now they can actually reach the toilet that’s been filthy since Kitty’s
first trimester, when she somehow managed to be sick in it from halfway across the lot?
Middle-of-nowhere + foundation = really, really hard!) And speaking of challenges…

Ruth Shankel (remember her? Aren’s daughter?) has become a child. Isn’t she nicely
enthusiastic about life?
But what you don’t know is that little Ruth here has a Desssstiny.
You see, I get bored with the same old, same old sometimes, and I’m willing to bet you
do too. That’s why I set myself little challenges sometimes, some of which you see and
some of which you don’t. I’m sure you’re not interested in the complete list; alert readers
will probably have figured out everything anyway. Suffice it to say that Ruth has been
selected to start an Officially Wacky Boolprop Challenge. (The rules don’t specifically
state that you have to start with a CAS Sim.)
Since she needs to be Officially Wacky (TM), Ruth will rise to the occasion by wearing
what I unofficially consider to be wacky EAxis gear: custom hair, questionable clothes,
and, of course, full-face makeup.

Her parents are still doing fine, by the way. Send them on a date and they’re both happy.
Valerie is the lowest-maintenance Romance Sim I’ve ever had – no number wants at all!
Good girl, Valerie.

Tyrone, on the other hand, is not a good boy. (And I don’t mean that in a nudge nudge
wink wink way, either.)
You see, even though Tyrone is a Knoweldge Sim, he keeps rolling wants to Ask Sim on
Date or Flirt With Sim. He never has anyone in particular in mind, and when I check his
preferences with boolprop, I get “My autonomous gender preference is for None.” So,
okay, he’s a little uncertain. I’ll let him flirt with whoever he seems to get along with.
Except that most of his interactions are like the one pictured above.
TYRONE: No, as a matter of fact I don’t think it’s a nice day out. What’s it to you,
anyway?

Colin has finally decided to retire and let someone younger take over as Mayor.
I couldn’t tell you who his successor is, though. I don’t follow politics much.

Of course, now that Colin isn’t Mayor anymore, he doesn’t get to live in the mayoral
mansion. Which is why they’ve moved to this lovely house. It’s right across the street
from the swimming pool and the playground, and just down the street from the library. A
perfect spot to raise a child.

And I’m sure you’ve noticed that Eileen is a toddler now. She’s also highly skilled at
Charisma, given that there’s a permaplat adult in the house to make her Smart Milk at
any hour of the day or night. Poor thing… unless she grows into that face, she’s going to
need all those Charisma points.

Sarah Jane has hit Teen, which means that she gets to try all sorts of more grown-up
things now. Like espresso.
EMMY: So, what do you think?
SARAH JANE: You drink this?
EMMY: Uh-huh.
SARAH JANE: All the time?
EMMY: Uh-huh. Good, isn’t it?
SARAH JANE: It tastes like mud with sugar in it! I have to go brush my teeth now.

So the whole “espresso” thing isn’t for Sarah Jane. She seems to prefer a less grown-up
style, too. Not that this is childish, per se – it’s just not the up-and-coming-young-
professional look she was sporting before.
She looks so much like her mother! (nostalgic sniffle)

Speaking of whom: Jon and Emmy picspam!
They do this all the time. Sarah Jane is resigned to it by now.

Sarah Jane is busy making new friends – such as Amy Miller, here – which fits right in
with her LTW of Have 20 Simultaneous Best Friends. I’m normally not all that good at
keeping up with the friend count, but I’ll sure try for Sarah Jane.
Yes, I play favorites. You’re only just noticing that now?

Some of Sarah Jane’s friends aren’t so happy about recent developments, however.
SARAH JANE: What’s wrong, Timmy?
TIMOTHY (suddenly realizing his sneakers are fascinating): Well, now that you’re all
grown up, you won’t want to spend time with me. ‘Cause I’m just a kid.
SARAH JANE: But you’re my friend.
TIMOTHY: Yeah, but I’m a kid. And big people like you don’t want to play with little
people like me. Tyger doesn’t. And Amy doesn’t either.
SARAH JANE: Well, I do. Because you’re my friend. And we’ll always be friends,
okay?
TIMOTHY (looking up): Promise?
SARAH JANE: I promise.
TIMOTHY (grabbing Sarah Jane in a stranglehold): You’re my best friend in the whole
world!
SARAH JANE: Aw, thanks, Timmy! …Could you ease up a little? I can’t breathe.

But no matter how old Sarah Jane gets, she’ll always be Daddy’s little girl. Awwww.
Let’s see how other people are doing now. How about Cassie? We haven’t heard from
her in a while.

(softly) Hi, Cassie. How’s it going?
CASSIE: Oh, hi. (turns back to the bed, smoothes Bertram’s hair) He looks so much like
Alvin. He’s all I’ve got left of him now.
All you’ve got left of him?

CASSIE (V.O.): (deep breath) Yesterday – Yesterday, Alvin was extra-sweet. He asked
me on a date right there in the living room. We danced together, and he told me – He told
me I was the best thing that ever happened to him, and that he luh – loved me and Bertie
so much… (stops abruptly) I’m sorry, I –
It’s okay.

CASSIE (V.O.): And then he went to make Bertie dinner – Bertie wanted a hamburger –
and. And. (starts to cry) I’m so sorry. I don’t know why I’m crying.
You lost your husband. You’re sad. It’s okay to cry.
CASSIE (V.O.) (brokenly): I just miss him so much!
Oh, Cassie! I wish I could give you a big hug right now.

Alvin McClellan, 65 days old or thereabouts. As a never-before-married older man, he
had trouble accepting that Cassie was interested in him rather than in his life savings.
Once he finally believed it, he became a caring husband and father, always rolling wants
to spend time with his wife and autonomously playing catch with his son and tucking him
in every night. His generous life insurance policy means that Cassie will never have to
work dead-end jobs and eat spaghetti every single night again. Rest in peace, Alvin.

I said “Rest in peace,” not “Scare the pants off your son five times in one night”! For
crying out loud, it’s not like the poor kid’s not mourning you or anything – he cries all
the time! Heck, I didn’t even sell your bed!
Sorry, Alvin, but since you can’t behave yourself, I’m going to have to move your grave
to the graveyard. (does so) Really, it was five times. I counted.

Rosie and Robi would consider five manifestations in one night the fast track to platinum
status, but neither Marcel nor Zeeshan seem inclined to oblige. Neither do the aliens.
Robi’s on spaceship-watch every single night until his motive bars sink low enough that
he ends up in the red. And not just once per night, either – that’s the old way, and it
doesn’t work. No, this is minimum ten “Stargaze” interactions each and every night,
using the really nice telescope. Still no dice.

Tyrone wouldn’t give up on the whole wanting-to-have-romantic interactions thing, and
he still stubbornly refused to pick someone, so I had him check out one guy and one girl.
That makes his gender preferences equal, and opens up the option to Scope Room. I
figured that at least having him Scope Room would help narrow down the candidates.
Nope.

Nope, good old Tyger here seems to enjoy making life difficult. Everybody who lit up on
a Scope Room check was somehow unsuitable. Not just once, but over and over.

And I do mean everybody.
I have more pictures, but you probably get the idea. I think I’ll give Tyrone a time-out
until next chapter to see if that shakes his taste for unsuitable people.

Okay, okay, just one more. I can’t resist.
When Tyrone came over for Ryan’s birthday, he asked if he could bring a friend. I
clicked “Yes,” hoping it would give me some pointers.
I don’t remember this chick’s name, but I do know that she is the replacement Caryl
Cwik generated after the rebuild. In other words, Tyrone is now exhibiting Oedipal
tendencies. Oh no no no no. I don’t play that kind of game, thankyouverymuch.
Join me next time, when hopefully Tyrone will have worked through some of his issues.
Until then, happy Simming!

Already in Progress, Chapter 17

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Already in Progress, Chapter 17