The Beaker-Subject Household: Week 1

On the alphabetical list, the Beakers are my next household to be played. As you all know, they live in Strangetown in a castle-like mansion at No. 1, Tesla Court. What has Maxis had in mind when they created them? Let's start with the pictures that were already in the storytelling folder for them, and their Maxis-written biographies.

This is obviously Loki as a rather aggressive little boy, about to smash his dolls house.

And here is Loki again, now as an adult. He is watching Circe fooling around with one of the Curious brothers (I think), and obviously he does not like what he sees.

A fight ensues, with the other two Curious brothers, Circe and two other Sims watching - could they be Jenny Smith and General Buzz Grunt?

Apparently, the Beakers have patched things up as a couple. Nervous Subject is seen approaching their front door, while they seem to be talking about him, with Circe having her lie detector in mind.

Circe is creating either medicine or a virus, with her husband watching.

Let's now get to the house and start at the bottom. And by "bottom", I really mean bottom - there is a cellar with a single bed, a computer desk, a cheap stereo and book shelf as well as a mirror and a coffee table. Two house plants are a poor attempt at making the room a bit nicer. It is obviously intended for Nervous Subject, even though there is an unused bedroom upstairs (as you'll see in a bit).

On the ground floor, a large kitchen-dining area opens to a cosy living room with fire place. 

Also on the ground floor are a bathroom and what looks like a lab, with several items usually only available at certain career levels. There is a small sitting area outside, with a grill.

Upstairs are another small living room/study with fire place, two proper bedrooms, one with a full en-suite, another bathroom and an extra toilet. Out on one of the balconies is a small telescope.

The week at this household starts on Thursday. Although the household is wealthy in terms of possessions, there are only 2.465 Simoleons on their account. Here is Nervous Subject, ringing his mother Olive Specter, another Strangetown resident. Their family tree makes Nervous and Ophelia Nigmos cousins. Nervous is a Family Sim with the lifetime want of raising 20 puppies or kittens. I don't think I will let him stay here for long; the layout of this place does not offer itself to having many pets. Curiously, Nervous does not have one single skill point.

Loki and Circe are sent to one of the bedrooms right away to start on Loki's lifetime want - unusually for a Knowledge Sim, he wishes nothing more than to marry off six children and suggests that he could try and have half-Alien babies. Circe is not exactly the motherly type; she dreams of becoming Chief of Staff, which ties in with her Fortune aspiration. Their first attempt at trying for a baby is not successful, and I send Circe to work.

Loki's job is shown as Inventor, and he has today off. Therefore, he can take care of household matters such as paying the bills. Their account is down to a mere 1,865 Simoleons afterwards.

Poor Nervous Subjects goes into aspiration failure and needs help from the Shrink - a scene I have not witnessed in my game for a very long time!

Good job Circe is promoted to Resident! Her bonus is welcome, and although she will have to acquire three skill points for her next promotion, I send her to bed with her husband almost immediately - his lifetime want means time is of the essence.

Not much happens on Friday. I invest Circe's bonus in a telescope that will give Loki a chance to get abducted by Aliens and contribute to his own lifetime want, and have him spend a few hours there will it is still dark. No invitation aboard an Alien spacecraft is extended, though. 

Later, when he is at work, Circe and Nervous study together. Nervous with his poor skill profile can do with an improvement, and Circe needs skills for her career. She works the night shift and leaves the house at 5:00 pm today, two hours before her husband returns from work.

It is already Saturday by the time Circe returns from work - but it was well worth it: Meet Strangetown's latest GP! Good job she has the entire weekend off, since several skill points are now needed.

Nervous has invited his Mom over, and cousin Ophelia. General Buzz Grunt seems to be the topic of their conversation here.

As soon as she is up and has had a shower and breakfast, I send Circe to work in her lab.

Ajay Loner, another Strangetown resident, walks by and is greeted by Nervous.

Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to ask him in, as he is immediately picked on by Olivia. Nervous quickly says good-bye to him before a proper fight breaks out.

In the evening, Loki returns from work with Lazlo Curious in tow. That surprises me, as the Curious brothers are not his favourite people. But maybe this visit will give them a chance to make things better.

Sunday is off to a quiet start with Circe and Nervous having breakfast while Loki had to leave for work.

Many seems are out for a walk today, and one of them is Abhijeet Cho. Cho? Yes, as in Vivian Cho, a playable Maxis-made Sim in a different neighbourhood. Still, surnames are surnames, and just like I used to do in New Maximiliania, I aim to make townies and other NPCs playable if they have the same surname as a playable. Circe greets him, and I find that they are already best friends!

Nervous makes hot dogs for everyone. It is not yet winter, and the patio can still be used for outdoor meals. 

The hot dogs are ready just as Loki returns from work. The household and their guest enjoy a pleasant evening, having something bubbly with their hot dogs. Why? Has Loki been promoted? Is Abhijeet on the brink of moving in? No... all shall be revealed shortly :-) 

The reason for last night's impromptu celebration becomes apparent on Monday morning when Circe gets up and changes into maternity clothes. She won't give up her career, as that is crucial for her lifetime want, but for now she is on maternity leave. Let's see how she spends her free time.

The tap on the sink in the downstairs bathroom breaks, and of course it is practical Circe to repair it (last but not least because she needs another mechanical skill point for her next promotion).

She also spends a considerable amount of time in her lab. She is a scientist, after all.

But she also takes time to socialise. When neighbour Pascal Curious walks by, she dashed out to say hello and ask him in.

The two soon-to-be parents compare notes about such things as potty-training.

That evening, we have our first move-in of a former NPC: Townie Abhijeet Cho, who shares his family name with a playable Maxis-made Sim in a different neighbourhood. Abhi adds 8,000 Simoleons to the household account and has quite an array of things in his inventory. He is a Romance Sim who wishes to have 20 best friends and currently works as a Freelance Web Designer. I make him find his own place as soon as he has moved in, but not before the money he added is converted into objects for his inventory.

Tuesday is the best chance for the Beakers to visit a community lot. As before when I was playing New Max, I try to send each household to a community lot once a week. Loki has today off, and so he calls a taxi that takes the three of them (four, if you count Circe's unborn baby) to 88 Road to Nowhere.

While Loki stocks up on groceries, Circe meets and greets General Buzz Grunt and Pollination Technician Smith, two residents of Strangetown whose households will be played further on during this round.

Back home, I have Loki do a spot of gardening - possible only after I have flattened out the terrain near those bushes. As you will know, several of the Maxis-built houses have issues with accessibility, and I will amend them as I play them.

Just as it gets dark, a teenage townie walks by. His name is River Smith, and so he is of course warmly greeted - all Smiths are going to be made playable.

"So you say I have family here, right here in town?" River asks Circe. Yes indeed, he does! 

Wednesday is the last day of the week to be played here. At 5:29 in the morning, Circe goes into labour.

Half an hour later, Bella Beaker is born. She has her mother's beautiful brown eyes and skin tone. Welcome to Strangetown, little Bella!

As expected, it is Nervous who gives Bella her first bottle (on his own initiative), what with both her mum and dad working.

"Hello, sweetie!" Circe returns from work and spends some time with her baby daughter before returning to her studies in order to reach her next promotion. 

I rather like this household, although I feel a little sorry for Nervous - he did not get a chance to start working at his lifetime want this week. When their next offspring is on the way (remember: Loki wants to marry off six!), I guess I will make him quit his job and stay home with the children while Circe focuses on her carrer, and Nervous can find his own place and start raising those puppies and kittens.

This is only the third household I have played after my fresh start, and already we have our first in-game born baby and our first move-in of a former NPC. And... no death yet ;-)