Vyn Scott - Week 1

This house is one of my favourite ones in New Max. It has always very much felt like a family home, and until recently, it was indeed the home to a lively, happy family. But last time I played here, a fire started by a short circuit in the Christmas decoration killed two of the three daughters of the couple living here, and their happiness ended.

Here is Cedric Stacks, formerly Cooke, now 64 and trying to struggle through his days as best as he can. He became Chief of Staff three days before turning into an elder and has been on permanent platinum ever since.

His wife Helena Stacks is four years younger and also on permanent platinum. She can hardly bring herself to do anything these days, so stricken with grief.

But here is Vyn Scott, the reason why we are here this week, and the friend who has moved in and is doing what she can to help the traumatised family to cope. Vyn is a former townie but has the same surname as a playable Sim in TS4 (Travis Scott), which makes her eligible to be a full New Maximilianian. She is 55 and dreams of having six gandchlldren. As she is too old to have children of her own (let alone live long enough to see them grow up and have kids) but shall have a fair chance at her lifetime want nonetheless, I will have her adopt two children, who in turn will have three kids each. By the way, Vyn is a Family Sim.

On this Monday morning, Helena finds it helps her to put her thoughts and emotions in writing.

Meanwhile, Vyn thinks maybe the Gypsy Lady can help her find a man to raise her future adopted children with. But the Matchmaker only turns up a two-bolt townie who is quickly sent on his way.

Two visitors brighten the afternoon and evening at this sad house: Vince Walter, recently moved to New Max for good, and Calogero Capp.

On Tuesday, winter officially ends (although there is still some snow left on the ground), and all the Christmas decoration goes back up in the attic.

Calvin Cho appeared to be Vyn's three-bolt-man, and she so wants a date, so I let her call him. He duly appears (in a rather optimistic outfit, I find), and although there is definitely a lot of attraction between these two, all of a sudden they are down to two bolts.

Also, it is time for Vyn's adopted child to arrive. Meet Geoffrey Scott!

He strides confidently into the house, immediately finds the kite on the wall, and goes out to fly it.

Later, he has his first meal with his new Mum and her friend Calvin, as well as with his new Uncle Cedric.

An exciting day ends, and a very tired but happy little boy goes to bed. The room still has the girly look from when the Stacks' daughters lived there, but I guess there will be a makeover tomorrow.

Quite touchingly, Vyn decides on her own to sleep in the other bed in the nursery, clearly not wanting her new son to wake up during the night in a strange place and feel alone.

Wednesday is Geoffrey's second day with his new family, and to help him settle in, going to school is in order. Cedric's car pool arrives at the same time as the school bus.

Two hours later, Vyn's second adoptive son is here: George Scott. (As you may know, I did not get to choose the gender or first names of each kid, only their age - baby, toddler or child.)

It does not take long for Vyn and George to bond.

Cedric can't believe this happened to him - due to the wrong decision with a chance card, he's been demoted. Actually, he is well into retiring age, but the wish has never cropped up, and now all he wants is to get his former position as Chief of Staff back.

The boys' room has indeed had a makeover, and although George and Geoffrey have not really had a chance yet to get to know each other (what with Geoffrey needing to learn how to do his homework, and George exploring the house and garden on his first day here), I am sure they will get along very well. George here seems to be thinking that life can't possibly get any better - he now has a Mum, a brother, and a really cool room with stars on the walls and a "planet" lamp! Yay!

I find Cedric and Helena snogging in the kitchen early on Thursday morning. These two clearly have their mojo back! The grief about so tragically losing two of their three daughters will never completely go away, but they see the possibility of feeling happiness again. Certainly, having Vyn and her two sons living with them has a lot to do with it.

When the boys are at school and Cedric at work, Helena unsuccessfully tries to pet a skunk while Vyn is taking care of the orange tree. It is a beautiful spring day, and no way would they spend all morning inside when it is so nice in the garden.

t 3:00 pm, the school bus drops off the kids. It was George's first day, and he is slightly disappointed with his first report.

Not so his brother: Geoffrey brings home his first A+!

Also, Jean Riley is with the boys. But by the time they have both done their homework, it is nearly time for Jean to go home, and only George gets to play Mary Mack with her for a little bit.

Cedric is all smiles when he comes home a few hours later, back at his old job as Chief of Staff! Still no wish to retire, though. I don't think any New Maximilianian has ever rolled that particular wish.

The boys finally get round to getting to know each other better over a game of chess until it's time for bed.

Vyn still pines for love, and to my delight, this time the Matchmaker does indeed conjure up a 3-bolt-man for her. But... it is an NPC student, Waylon Lam. Too bad! Their age difference is huge, but 3 bolts are 3 bolts, right?

Without anyone telling him to, Geoffrey bakes himself a (rather dark) muffin every morning, and Friday is no exception. Helena tells him how nice it is to have their breakfast together, and Geoffry - who has been told about her girls being gone - thinks how nice Helena is, even with her sad eyes.

With the boys at school, I give in to Vyn's wish of having a date and falling in love, and she calls the only three-bolt man she currently knows. Waylon Lam apparently can skip his college classes anytime he wants, and is there in a flash. By the time he leaves, they are at the pink hearts stage.

It is George's turn today to proudly bring home his first A+ report!

Gilson Gieke spends the afternoon, but nobody really has time for him, as homework needs to be done first.

Saturday is here, and everybody can get up as and when they please. George is first this morning, and I must say in spite of him having less practice than his older brother, the muffin he bakes turns out much better than Geoffrey's.

The day passes at a leisurely pace. There are phone calls to class mates the boys wish to befriend, and among each other, they finally become friends, too. Over their meal with Vyn and Cedric (Helena is at work - no such thing as a Saturday night off for a Rock Goddess), George talks about taking a plane to go on holiday this summer. Who knows, they might do just that.

Sunday is here, and Vyn and the boys travel to a community lot.

Both Geoffrey and George have rolled wants to go fishing, so Hunter's Park is the obvious choice.

And fish they do! Vyn makes her sons laugh when she pretens to fall over when throwing her line, and a great early summer Sunday afternoon is had by all.

Back home, Vyn makes herself an espresso and thinks about what she wants to do next.

You guessed it, didn't you? Three bolts are impossible to resist, and so Vyn asks Waylon Lam to move in with her. He instantly accepts, and grows up from young adult (remember, he was an NPC student) to adult. That still makes him more than 30 years younger than the woman he loves, but who cares! He already knows that Vyn's boys are adopted, but just to make sure, she tells him again that she won't be able to have children with him, and it doesn't matter, does it - they have their adopted sons. (Waylon's haircut really had to go. He looks much better now, I find.)

Of course Waylon doesn't mind one bit! What matters to him is that he now lives with Vyn. Is Vyn going to live long enough to see her lifetime want of having six grandchildren come true? Is Waylon going to be successful at finding a job in the athletic career (he wants to become Hall of Famer)? What are the boys going to be like as teenagers? Will Cedric and Helena be happy with the new addition to the family?

Rodney Scott - Week 1

You have probably all seen this, the smallest Maxis-made house, at some point in your game or in the lots and houses catalogue. It is hardly fit for habitation, because if you put a bed in, then you have no room for a table and chairs, and the other way round. But let's have a look, shall we?

Next to the front door (bottom middle) is a side table with a telephone. To the left, a toilet and sink. Further up (we're moving around clockwise) are a fridge and a counter with another sink. The cheapest stove sits by the back door, and out through that door and down a few steps is an outdoor shower. Back inside, we find another side table and a wood-burning stove in the corner. A single bed could just about fit in the bottom right corner, but then that would be it.
Who moves into such an impractical, tiny place, you may wonder?

It is Rodney Scott, ex townie who has recently become a resident New Maximilianian.

He has only just started his adult life and works as a Horoscope Writer, but what he really wants is to become Celebrity Chef - not unusual for a Romance Sim.

Mr. Humble has left his customary parcel with the computer on the doorstep, and the only empty corner in the house is now filled with a cheap desk and chair so that Rodney can look for a job in the culinary career (without success on this Monday).

The phone rings, and one of the handful of townie friends he has invites him out for a group outing. He accepts, of course, and since cooking is not only his dream career but also on his mind right now as he has not yet eaten, Copur Kitchen Cook-Off is the chosen venue.

While I am watching everybody and am on the lookout for any so far unknown townies, Clarence Gavigan serves chef salad for everyone.

He later adds hamburgers to the menue, and I witness a Contessa turning Calendula Capp into a vampire! Hopefully, vampirism won't be spreading through New Max now; it can be quite difficult to keep a vampire at his or her career, or make them look after children and pets properly.

Anyway, Rodney goes home soon afterwards, and shifts his furniture around so that he can put up a bed for his first night at his own place.

Here he is, bright and early on Tuesday morning. The foldaway bed may not be the most comfortable option, but it was alright.
Before he even gets dressed, Rodney looks again for a position in the culinary career, and again is not successful.

Back from his work at the paper, he first pays the usual Tuesday bills and then tackles the pile of leaves near the path.

Uh-oh... this looks bad!

Really bad!

Several hours and two burnt trees later, it is time to say good-bye to poor Rodney.
I have not had a fire in my game in a while, and certainly did not intend to be this newcomer's stint in New Max so short, but there you go.

There is another Sim with the surname Scott already living in the neighbourhood - we will visit her next.