Family names and related posts

Friday 28 August 2015

The Grunt Family: Week 6

For the previous week at this household, click here

The red farmhouse has long ago become the Grunt family home, while the original Grunt house is now the Powers' place.
Who lives here at the moment?
       
Dog Boogie and cat Kobe...
       
...another dog, Alegra...
       
...plus of course their humans: General Buzz Grunt, who became Captain Hero at 55 and has been on Permanent Platinum ever since (he is now 74)...
       
...and his son Ripp, who dreams of having woohoo with 20 different Sims and has already managed to get 16 names under his belt (pun intended) last round.
       
On Monday, Lavender Greenman and B'Elanna Beaker come visiting. B'Elanna is of course way too young in order to be really interesting for Ripp, but he does everything he can to ensure a quickly developing friendship with Lavender.
      
When Buzz returns from work, his colleague Frances Hart is with him. Ripp discovers that he finds Frances at least as interesting than Lavender.
       
Two attractive ladies at the table with him - Ripp can't eat, only think of what should be his next step.
       
On Tuesday morning, Buzz gets up very early. I only control him occasionally, but he is a neat Sim who hardly needs telling what to do anyway.
       
Not so Ripp, who hates cleaning, but is expected to do his share of housework, especially since his elderly father is still working full-time while Ripp himself has never worked a day in his life.
       
The Grunts still have relatives living elsewhere in New Maximiliania: Tank, the eldest son of Buzz, married into the Capp family. The Grunt-Capps are invited for a family gathering that afternoon: Callum, Carl, Carolina and their uncle Cornwall...
       
...as well as Christopher, Tank, his wife Hermia and young... hmm... what was his name? Sorry - with so many Capp kids and all their names beginning with a C, the name of the little boy has escaped me. How embarrassing is that!Maybe you remember that Buck Grunt has recently died in a fire, along with his Alien son Graham. Neither Buzz nor Ripp show any signs of being aware of their death.
       

Never mind - everyone is having a great time. The kids love playing with their uncle.       
"Is it true you have a magic lamp, Uncle Ripp?" - "Yes, it is true! But you know what, I've not once used it yet."
       

Meanwhile, Hermia and Cornwall play chess.
       
Later, the young people gather round the table for a batch of Ripp's hamburgers.
       
Tank, Hermia and their youngest son make the second shift, reminiscing their wedding party of long ago.
       
It is Wednesday, and Buzz washes all the dogs. (I told him to do that, thinking it would suit his neat nature, and seeing as he is up so early in the morning anyway.)
       
When his father is at work, Ripp works, too: on meeting and befriending ladies. Today, Hailey Hart happens to walk by, and Ripp is delighted to recognize yet another 3-bolt-match in her (he has at least 5 already!).
       
Alegra is now 32, a ripe old age for any dog. Mr. Reaper seems to think so, too, and turns up for Alegra's very last game of "fetch".
        
Just as Heather Huffington, who has so far been Ripp's True Love, appears, Hailey and Ripp have started flirting.
       

"Oh, he-hello He-Heather... It's not what you think..." Ripp tries to save the situation. But Heather knows only too well that it is EXACTLY what she thinks (being a Romance Sim herself), and is clearly not amused.
Regardless of her ill-timed visit, Hailey becomes Ripp's # 17 in terms of woohoos.
       
On Thursday, Buzz decides to make omelette for breakfast, with Boogie keeping him company.
       
Whenever Ripp has a spare minute, he talks to one of his ladies on the phone. That way, it has not taken him long at all to make Lavender Greenman (who is another 3-bolt-lady for him) his friend. Today, she happily accepts his invitation to come over, and even brings along her friend Mary Gavigan. Only a few hours later that same afternoon, Lavender has become Ripp's # 18.
       
Very early on Friday morning, Hailey Hart appears on the Grunts' doorstep to leave a present for Ripp.
       

Somehow I don't think he'll much appreciate this fountain, and so I sell it immediately. Still, it is the thought that counts, isn't it? :-)
       
"Oh hi Heather... it's... you..." Ripp is still a little unsure around Heather (who has been stealing the newspaper ever since she caught Ripp and Hailey flirting), but at least the two of them are friends again.
       
Perseida Powers has been walking by and is politely greeted in spite of her being too young for Ripp's list.
       
Buzz has another colleague in tow today: Romeo Monty.
       
On Saturday morning, Buzz is mopping up dog puddles as he has been doing all week.
       
Ripp has been working on Frances Hart ever since his father brought her home from work, and it looks as if today could be the day of success.
       
It takes until the early hours of Sunday, but finally, she becomes his # 19.
       
Meanwhile, the cleanbot breaks down, filling nearly the entire porch with rubbish. I direct Buzz to turn the robot off and repair it, before turning it on again - it takes nearly all day to clean up the mess.

Do you remember how I have been thinking about moving Frances Hart in before, even though she is a townie?
She has the same surname as Matthew Hart and his family, and so I treat her as a relative of theirs. Also, the population of New Max is at an all-time low, so one Sim more won't harm :-) Now that she has such a good relationship with Ripp, I let her move in. She adds a modest 1.000 Simoleons to the Grunts' account, and has a few items in her inventory, which I let her keep. Although she's been working in a different career, her lifetime want is to become Chief of Staff. Her aspiration is Knowledge. So far, she has no 3-bolter in her relationship panel. I make her look for her own place immediately and will decide later on whether or not to make her move in with her "relatives", the Harts.
       

So far, there is one lady who has firmly resisted Ripp's charms: Goneril Capp.
Strangely enough, though, relationship points are at nearly 100, and so Ripp decides to try once again.

Before he can do anything further, though, Mr. Reaper appears for the second time this week. It is Boogie's turn first...
      
...followed by Kobe shortly afterwards. Both pets were in their 30s and have had very good lives with the Grunts. Their tombstones are moved to Gamesend Grounds.
       
Back to Goneril and Ripp.
She does not want to be hugged or goosed or held hands with...
       
...and she most definitely does not want to cuddle on the settee with Ripp, either.
       
However, after he has successfully handed her a red rose and smooth-talked to her...
       
...she decides to flirt with him on her own accord! (I did not influence this - she was a visitor at that moment, and could not be controlled by me.)

Still, when he tries to kiss her, Goneril pushes Ripp away again.

It is already past 8.00 in the evening when Ripp calls the Matchmaker.

He buys a bottle of love potion from her. "If this won't work on The Ice Queen, nothing will," he thinks.
And the Ice Queen melts!
       
Finally, a kiss!

But before Ripp has a chance to turn this kiss into something more, Georgia Newson comes storming out of the house and slaps him round the face. This is really strange - up until this afternoon, Ripp and Georgia had not even known each other, let alone have a history. But something must have rubbed Georgia the wrong way, as I saw her starting a shouting match with Buzz shortly before this scene here on the porch.

Speaking of Buzz, he has turned 81 today, and I doubt he will live long into the next round. As far as Ripp is concerned, I hope for him to reach his LTW during the first few hours of the next round (which is still a long time off).
Who will he settle with then? Heather or Hailey, or someone else?


Monday 10 August 2015

The Grunt-Monty Household: Week 7

Click here if you want to (re-)read Week 6.

The Grunt-Monty household still resides in the Veronaville-style residence I think suits them so well. It is, of course, one of the original Maxis-made houses from the lots & houses catalogue.
Antonio Monty (right) is 78 and has been on Permanent Platinum for three "years" - he became Celebrity Chef at the ripe age of 73. His sort-of son-in-law, Buck Grunt, is also on Permanent Platinum. He wanted to become Mayor of New Maximiliania and reached that goal already 25 "years" before turning into an Elder. I don't control these two other than making them greet other New Maximilianians walking by. 
I called Buck Antonio's "sort-of" son in law, because he is not married - not even engaged - to Beatrice, Antonio's daughter. The two of them are three-bolt-lovers and have been for a long time (since uni, I think), but neither of them has ever rolled the want to get married. Beatrice started out with the LTW of being Rock God but changed her mind inexplicably last round, when she suddenly decided she wants to become Hall of Famer. Her current job is that of MVP.
Her twin brother Benedick also still lives here. Like his sister and his father, he changed his LTW without me doing anything. Instead of wanting to have 20 best pet friends, he is now an aspiring Captain Hero, currently a SWAT leader.
Last but not least, we have Buck's half-Alien son Graham here. The teenage boy has NOT changed his LTW - he still wants to own 5 top-level businesses.
Monday is off to an interesting start when, just as the school bus for Graham and the athlets' bus for Beatrice pull up in front of the house, a Gypsy Lady appears and leaves a magic lamp for the family. It is not needed right now and put away in Benedick's bedroom.
Buck is unlucky with a chance card and gets fired. Well... he prefers the term "retired on mutual agreement".
But those who know him well can tell it affects him a lot. Nevertheless, he has reached his original LTW and remains on PP.
When Beatrice comes home, her good news make up for Buck's bad luck: She is now a Superstar.
Guests for the day are Pleasant Serva and Sarah Love (a colleague of Benedick's). They admire the artful display of paintings, plaques and photos in Antonio's bedroom.
On Tuesday morning, Antonio is the first to get up.
It's a day to celebrate, and Beatrice serves cheesecake fresh from her inventory.
The reason for the celebration? Buck is now an Elder! Strangely enough, it took him until 4:28 am for his age-transition... instead of at 6.00 pm the day before, as was expected.
Antonio is one of those good Sims who clean and tidy without anyone telling them to. In this case, I am not even all that happy about it - his son Benedick needs cleaning skill points for his career, and I'd actually like him to do all the cleaning in the house.
Graham does his homework as quickly as possible, because he then wants to go to...
...work at his shop, Graham's Greenery (formerly Inner Child Toys & Gifts).
To appear more respectable to his customers, who are all much older than the teenager, he dons his school uniform for working at the shop. (He decided that on his own - when he left the house, he was wearing jeans and t-shirt.) The shop is now at rank 6.
Late in the evening, Antonio returns from work. No colleague gets off the car with him, but he is not alone...
"It's about time, I think," Antonio says with a nostalgic sigh as he accepts his final cocktail. "I really want to see my dear wife again, it's been too long!" Antonio was 80.
Beatrice grieving her father. Little does she know that... no, wait, I'm not going to tell you yet.
On Wednesday, Hermia Capp comes to offer her condolences. The Capps and the Montys have always seen themselves as founders, and followed the events in each family closely.
Benedick has been promoted to Police Chief (still in his SWAT leader uniform here).
Graham manages to raise his shop to rank 7 and makes his Silver Badge for Restocking.
The sun has not yet risen on Thursday morning when Beatrice goes jogging.
Cousin Mercutio and his wife Sharla (Ottomas) have also heard of Antonio's death and come visiting to be there for the family.
B'Elanna Beaker, one of Graham's many half siblings, gets off the school bus with him today.
Cousins Benedick and Mercutio talk about science.
Graham's shop reaches rank 8 when he makes a sale to Björn Beaker. The lady with the red t-shirt is Ellen Freshe (nee Frost).
Friday is Benedick's day off, and he makes use of it by working on the skills needed for his next promotion.
Autumn has begun, and Beatrice and Buck are glad to have a fireplace in their bedroom on this chilly morning.
When everyone is either at work or school, Buck is happy to greet Jules Cleveland and Pablo Picaso.
Today, Meike Riley comes home from school with Graham.
Beatrice was promoted to Assistant Coach today and is accompanied by colleage Jonah Powers.
Today, Buck goes to support his son at the shop. Before the first customers arrive, he takes a little rest on the bench out on the front porch, while Graham makes sure the shop is in perfect condition.
It is Saturday, and Beatrice is not Assistant Coach anymore, but Coach.
Friends and family are invited to celebrate all those promotions. Daisy Jacquet, Romeo Monty, Cedric Cooke, Lilith Ottomas, Mercutio and Sharla Ottomas are there.
Jill Indie and Shaun Singles (son of Nervous Subject and Erin Singles) have also come over. It is a lively party, just the way I like it.
Nevertheless, Buck and Graham head to the shop to open up for the evening, and the business reaches Rank 9.
On Sunday morning, Graham indulges in some computer games. He's worked very hard both at school and at his shop every day, and it is time to let him relax a bit and be a kid.
Benedick works on his cleaning skill and is suprised to find out that the hand-made plate on the wall was once touched by a Ninja. I wonder where and when that happened!
Graham hopes to raise his first business to Rank 10 and goes to the shop later that day. He does not reach Rank 10, but makes his Gold Cash Register badge - it took him an incredible 63 transactions since his Silver Badge!!
Back home, the Grunts have come over for a family visit. Buck is happy that all is well now between him and his father, General Buzz Grunt; it wasn't always so.
Tank, Buck's older brother who married Hermia Capp, talks to Benedick.
Friend Delila O'Feefe was invited as well. She is the first to spot that some sparks from the fire place in the living room have fallen onto the rug and set it on fire.
Soon, everybody comes running to the scene.
The flames leap over across the settee and to the games table and chairs. Ripp Grunt, Buck's and Tank's brother, watches as helplessly as everybody else.
Benedick is the first to die...
...followed by Buck and Graham.
The fire is only satisfied when Beatrice is the only one left. (The party was still running - and funnily enough, the mood meter still showed "good time"!)
What a dramatic end to a week that was looking so promising! Of course I know what I am risking every time I have a Sim light the fire in a fire place, or burn a pile of leaves... but it is a risk I am prepared to take.

Will Beatrice stay in the much-too-large house all on her own? Is she going to find love again (there are several 3-bolt-men among her acquaintances), and how long until she'll reach her LTW?