The DeBateau Family - Week 1

Once upon a time in Belladonna Cove, Armand DeBateau and Jessica Peterson were an item. Armand was as rich as he was attractive; Jessica was only attractive. Everything seemed fine, and Armand was sure they were going to get married one day and start a family... when his business would leave him enough time.

Jessica was not willing to wait for Armand to sort out his priorities. She was sick and tired of always coming second to her man's business. The precious little time they had together was more and more spent arguing, and eventually, Jessica had to accept that Armand was not going to change - at least not for her. She broke up with him and moved out of his luxurious penthouse on the top floor of Belladonna Cove's most expensive apartment building. 

According to the DeBateau household biography, "When Jessica left him Armand spent a few months sulking and thinking the sun would never come out again. But when he adopted little Tara, she convinced him otherwise. He couldn’t be more proud of his heir!"

Armand's Maxis-written bio reads: "Business has been good to Armand. He's made his riches and been able to afford everything he's ever wanted, including the best schools for his daughter.". Now that he has all the money he could ever want, his focus is clearly on Family - it is his aspiration, and he dreams of celebrating the Golden Anniversary with a wife yet to be found. 

In the next picture, we see Tara as a pretty teenager, happily brandishing an A+ report. Fitting in with her bio, she is a Knowledge Sim who wants nothing more than maxing out all seven skills. Her bio says: "Tara is quite the scholar. She's happiest when she's learning something new. She's been trying to tutor her friend, Justin, but he's so easily distracted. Still, she does enjoy spending time with him."

The next and last Maxis-made picture shows her telling her Dad about her boyfriend, Justin Cleveland. Of course we have already met Justin, and knew about Tara being his girlfriend. 

The Cornerstone Condominiums look imposing from outside. The DeBateaus have the entire top floor to themselves. 

The apartment has two bedrooms with walk-in wardrobes and en-suite bathrooms for both Armand and Tara, an extra shower room with toilet for guests, a surprisingly small kitchen, large dining room with bar, and several sitting areas; two with fireplaces and one with a piano and computer. In the middle of the flat is a raised platform with a jacuzzi. There are statues, paintings and other expensive items everywhere - and Armand still has nearly 230,000 Simoleons in cash.

On this Monday, he has been picked up for work by helicopter, as befits a Business Tycoon like him. However, a wrong decision with a chance card results in him being demoted, and a mere limousine takes him home. He rushes inside as fast as he can. (I wonder why - he really was sprinting from the car!) 

Being demoted really was the last straw for Armand. To my surprise, he rolls the want to quit his job, and I have him do that promptly. I believe it is the first time a Sim has ever wished for that in my game!

Meanwhile, Tara is in her beautiful room with views across most of Belladonna Cove, doing her homework. (Needless to say, she attends Private School.) 

The phone rings - it is not Kimberly Cordial, the lady Armand wishes to marry (yes, that want is there, too), but her sister Samantha, inviting Armand, Tara and several others for an outing downtown. A taxi drops the group off in front of FM.

The adults all head for the dance floor right away. You can see Gabriel Green, Samantha Cordial, Vivian Cho, Carlos Contender, Connor Weir, Armand, and Ramir Patel.

Tara is hungry and does not feel like dancing with the "old people". Before she can eat, the clumsy waiter drops the food all over her. Another plate is brought, and Tara finally has her dinner. 

Afterwards, she and her Dad go upstairs for a spot of karaoke - they love it, but nobody else does :-) (They really sound quite awful, with next to no creativity points between them.) 

Another wish of Tara's is to have their photo taken. She will keep this forever.

Isn't it sweet how Vivian Cho watches Timothy Riley dancing, and has love written all over her face?

After Tara is off to school on Tuesday morning, Armand is at a bit of a loss as to what to do with all this free time he now has. As a busy Business Tycoon, he never really looked after himself, and decides it is now time to make use of the private gym on the ground floor of the building. From his face you can tell he finds his workout rather hard going (he really has not a single body point when the game starts).

Then it is my turn to decide: Somehow, I don't feel Kimberly Cordial is Golden Anniversary material for Armand; there must be a three bolt lady for him somewhere! Money is not an issue, and so he pays the Matchmaker the full 5,000 Simoleons. "This lady is perfect for you, Mr. DeBateau," she announces after having conjured an unknown townie. And indeed - Armand has 3 bolts for Audrey Collins! (I was so relieved and pleased to see that - so far, everyone the Matchmaker has conjured up during this round was a maximum of 2 bolts.) 

Uh-oh... who should come over for a spontaneous visit but Kimberly, just in time to witness Armand and Audrey hugging?

Kimberly is clearly NOT amused, and slaps Armand. Well, he accepted her ring when she surprised him at the restaurant, and although he sincerely wished to marry her, the wish rolled away earlier this morning - which prompted me to try the Matchmaker. 

Out of embarrassment, Armand quickly says good-bye to Audrey and busies himself at the mailbox. Kim still loves him, it seems. But three bolts are three bolts, and for me (and Armand) the matter is settled. 

The DeBateaus spend a quiet evening in, with Tara practising piano... 

 ...and Armand being so very proud of his little girl, who is not so little anymore.

Before he goes to bed, he thinks about ringing Kimberly, but decides against it. The slap still stings, even if he knows he sort of deserved it.

On Wednesday, Armand invites Audrey over again. He can not remember ever having had so much fun with a woman - certainly not with Jessica, and not with Kimberly. 

The jacuzzi comes in handy - moments after this picture was taken, the two are best friends. 

Audrey's thank-you note after their first date has pride of place on the mantle.

Armand only has eyes (and hands, and lips) for Audrey right now, but I still want him to make an effort and get to know more of his neighbours. When Benjamin Baldwin walks by, I have him run downstairs to greet him.

Audrey has spent the night with Armand, and we find the two still fast asleep on Thursday morning.

One does not have to be Sherlock Holmes to guess who kicked the dustbin over!

Armand wakes up while Audrey is still sleeps. "I need to do something about Kimberly," he thinks. Yes, you do, Armand!

But first things first: He asks Audrey to move in, and she happily accepts! Audrey Collins is a Knowledge Sim currently working as General Practitioner, but her true ambition is to be Criminal Mastermind. She has several townie friends, and her inventory contains a pink flamingo and a rug. Her savings are meagre - she adds 1,000 Simoleons to their now joint account. 

"Here's to us!" Armando exclaims when he and Audrey clink glasses of bubbly over lunch. Audrey was lucky in that she found a job in the criminal career right away, but will only start work as a pickpocket tomorrow. 

She has noticed Armand's lack of physical fitness (not that she loves him any less for it - but she cares about him and wants him to be well and healthy), and suggests a run around the neighbourhood. 

Tara does her homework as usual. She wonders whether she'll get along well with Audrey; she quite liked Kimberly, actually - they had become friends. 

Armand's day has been so lucky already, what with Audrey accepting his invitation to move in, that he feels a little down only for a moment when the big old grandfather clock breaks down after he has tried to maintain it.

On Friday morning, Armand is busy doing other things and spots Kimberly walking by too late - she disappears before he can rush down to speak to her. He then rings her and tries to invite her over, but she declines. Only when he asks Samantha over, Kim agrees to come along. 

Armand instantly talks to his still fiancée about their relationship and how he does not see a future together. 

Just then, Audrey is dropped off after work - with a promotion to Bag(wo)man. She sees what's going on and instantly heads back to work.

Falling out of love has plunged Armand's aspiration into deep red. Kimberly thinks: "The man is crazy. Well, he must be, to go behind my back with another woman, and pick an arguement with ME!"

The two of them take their argument indoors, with Samantha helplessly watching on - she loves her sister and she is still friends with Armand. "This is like some VERY cheap drama on TV!" Kim exclaims. 

And finally, after many, many, many arguments, the option to break up appears for Armand. I am really sorry for Kimberly when I see her shocked expression. "You really mean it, don't you...?" she says with a trembling voice. Yes, Armand really means it. As has been said many times before, three bolts are three bolts. 

Armand is exhausted, and what he needs now is some comfort food. Good job he is able to make Grandma's Comfort Soup, after an old DeBateau family recipe! 

When Armand and Audrey get up on Saturday morning, Audrey gives her 3-bolt-man a much needed backrub.

They then ask Tara to join them in the music room, where Armand proposes to Audrey. She happily accepts his diamond ring, and the engagement does wonders for his aspiration :-) 

"There have been just the two of you all your life, Tara - I know we will all need time to get used to me living here with you now," Audrey says. So far, Tara has been very quiet, but it was her who prepared lunch for the three of them. 

And she joins in when Armand toasts this new chapter in their lives. "I guess I can get used to her - if she makes Dad happy, that's good," she muses. 

For Tara, happiness is spending an evening next to a well stacked book shelf, Thinking Cap on her head, and skilling, skilling, skilling!

Sunday starts off really well by Audrey returning from work with a promotion to Bookie.

But then, drama strikes when Tara, intent on making omelettes for breakfast, sets not only the stove on fire but also herself. Good job there is a fire alarm!

...or so I thought. Yes, the fire alarm is there alright, but it takes the fireman too long to get up to the penthouse. By the time he reaches the kitchen and puts out the flames, Tara is gone - and before I can have Armand plead with Mr. Reaper for his daughter's life, he disappears. 

This was really not planned! Poor Tara, and even poorer Armand - just as his life was looking as bright as never before, he loses his beloved little girl. 

He and Audrey stand in the kitchen and discuss whether or not to go ahead with what was their original plan for today. What plan?

To get married! They decide to still go ahead with it, but downsize the wedding to a very modest, low-key affair. The venue (King's Gardens, a Maxis-made community lot where I have added a wedding arch and other things) was booked anyway, and they know NOT getting married won't bring Tara back to life.

The new Mr. and Mrs. DeBateau are applauded by Samantha Cordial, Gabriel Green and Ramir Patel plus an unknown lady, probably a townie friend of Audrey's. 

Nobody is in the mood for cake, but to keep with tradition, Armand still cuts a piece for himself and Audrey before they head back home.

Just as the taxi pulls off with the newlyweds on board, I spot Gabriel Green and Samantha Cordial autonomously falling in love with each other. 

Back at their penthouse, Audrey falls into bed too exhausted to even think. Armand decides to try and get into the paranormal career so that he can have the special phone required to call Mr. Reaper - he HAS to try for Tara's sake, and his own. 

Will he succeed? It will be a long time before we find out.