Toby Scott: Week 1

Another "Scott" that I made playable by sending him to college. Toby's Senior Year is here, but it does not feature him much; he first appeared here for his Freshman Year at the 14-rooms dorm where I sent a bunch of former townie teens to make them playable.

It is time to check on him, now that he has graduated Summa Cum Laude and moved to this modest house on 38 Greaves Avenue in Downtown Desiderata. 

Next door lives Jared Starchild, and just around the corner a bunch of other guys Toby knows from uni have acquired their first homes. 

And here is the man himself: Toby Scott, former NPC townie teen, made playable by me sending him to college because of his surname being the same as a playable Sim in TS4. He was one of the few students who did not form any romantic attachments during those four years.

A Knowledge Sim who dreams of becoming Hall of Famer, he entered the game with a good set of skills. Now all he needs to do is find a job in the Athletic career, and eventually he'll have to max out his body skill. 

The house comes with some basic furniture, kitchen and bathroom installations. But Toby does not need two single beds, and none of the bedrooms is big enough to hold a double bed - some serious remodelling is in order. Good job that Toby has saved most of his grants during the four years at uni, and now has over 11,000 Simoleons to play with.

First, every piece of furniture and other items goes, except for the fire alarm. Then the walls are torn down, the wallpaper is stripped and the carpets from the former bedrooms are removed.

The upper left corner is now the bathroom, and the upper right the bedroom with a double bed and computer desk. The rest of the house consists in an open plan kitchen-dining-lounge area. 

Toby still has almost 4,000 Simoleons left, but since he does not know when he'll be able to start work in the Athletic career, he wants to exercise caution when it comes to spending money beyond what he deems necessary to begin with. 

He needn't have worried - half an hour later, he dons his sports outfit and sets off to work as a Starter.

After work (with no promotion, since he needs three body points), he spots Joshua Ruben walking past and invites his former co-student to join him for the grilled cheese he was just making for tea. "I think it'll start to snow early this year," he remarks; there is not that much he can think of for topics of conversation, since he and Joshua have never quite seen eye to eye while they were still living at the fraterniy house.

It's quite a relief, therefore, when Jack Kim - another former co-student of Toby's - rings and asks him to join them at the Lucky Shack for cards and drinks. "I've got almost all the old gang together," he says, and it's true; Jared Starchild, Jimmy Phoenix and Erik Swain are also there. 

Mrs. Crumplebottom is not such a bad sport when it comes to a game of poker, the boys find out. But eventually, Toby calls it a day and heads home: "Sorry, guys, new job and all that... need to brush up on skills. See you soon!" 

Toby's excuse for leaving the Lucky Shack was really just that - an excuse, since he has Tuesday off, which allows him plenty of time for acquiring those body points. But he also wants to buy new clothes and heads off to Cold Issue Clothing, which is within easy walking distance. To my surprise, the entire group from last night turns up as well, even though Toby has definitely NOT asked them. I hope this bug is not a sign of more to come that endangers my game!

Anyway, Toby ends up on quite a shopping spree, adding a good number of outfits to his meagre wardrobe. He also buys a bottle of perfume - not for himself, but for whoever will eventually capture his interest, since perfume is one of his turn-ons.

Just as he is ready to sit down with a plate of leftover grilled cheese at his red-themed dining table, Ashely Pitts walks by. Of course, Ashley being the founder of the fraternity Toby belonged to at uni, he is invited to share the meal, and the two "brothers" reminisce about the time when they always had their names on the Dean's List. 

On Wednesday, with all the required skills under his belt, Toby returns with a promotion to All Star. (It looks like the team bus is about to run over the hydrant, doesn't it!) 

The career rewards object is now available to him, and Toby decides to install it outside at the back of his house, with easy access from his bedroom.

His diligence in working on his skills pays off nicely when he is promoted to MVP the very next day. 

"Come in, Jimmy, come in, come out of the rain!" Jimmy Phoenix lives just round the corner and has turned up on his own accord.

He is joined by Faith Goodie, who was walking past just as Toby and Jimmy were about to eat the last of the grilled cheese. Of course Toby has heard of Faith - she is quite the legend in sports circles, having discovered running late in life and doing exceptionally well.

Toby is so focused on his lifetime want that on Friday after work, he does not rest until he maxes out his body skill. Well done, Tobs!

He rewards himself with a good long soak in the bath, the tub being a new acquisition thanks to a career bonus.

Saturday sees yet another promotion for Toby: He is now a Superstar. 

Passers-by Sanjay Ramaswami is his guest for the evening, and as usual, Toby also makes a few phone calls to maintain those all-important friendships.

Although Toby has rolled the (in my game) unusual wish to stay home from work, I still make him go on Sunday. And rightly so, as he returns with a smile and a promotion to Assistant Coach. 

He invites Genesis Lee over, a former co-student whom he has befriended over the phone all week. Without me doing anything, she offers to give him a backrub. 

Moments later, Toby has asked her to move in, and she grows up from young adult to adult.

And in spite of the serious look on her face, she is very happy - after all, she and Toby have just autonomously fallen in love! (Although there is not a single bolt of chemistry between them.) 

Genesis Lee, former NPC student, adds 1,000 Simoleons to the household. Her aspiration is Fortune, and she dreams of becoming a Prestidigitator. 

As darkness descends on the snow-covered neighbourhood, Toby's house looks particularly festive. When John Mole walks by and compliments him on the beautiful Christmas decoration, Toby invites him in. 

Inside looks equally festive, much appreciated by Violet Jocque, who happened to walk by earlier and was also invited in.

Toby cooks Crêpes Suzette, and Genesis lights and serves them - already they work well as a team. 

The week with Toby is over, and a good week it was! He made great progress in his chosen career and at the same time managed to maintain all his friendships from uni plus found a new addition to the neighbourhood, falling in love with her on his own accord. (I seem to remember that during his Senior Year at the fraternity house, he developed feelings for Erik Swain, but never acted upon those feelings.)

We'll be back when the letter L as in Lee comes round again.

Sheldon Scott: Sophomore Year

We spent a "year" at Casteroff Dorms at Riverblossom Hill's Académie Le Tour a while ago, when Jacob Martin started college. You can (re-)read that post here.

Here is the dorm, with eight rooms, five of which are currently occupied by NPC students.

Sheldon Scott is the smiling young man in the white shirt, and of course you know Jacob Martin. If you remember, Sheldon first appeared as a Paper Boy in Riverblossom Hills. Because of his surname being a "playable" one in TS4, I sent him to college to that he became playable. He is a Knowledge Sim who aspires to become Mad Scientist. He is majoring in Physics. Both he and Jacob have just begun their Sophomore Year. 

Newcomer Sandra Roth makes up the third part of the playable trio. 

Sheldon needs a creativity point and goes upstairs where an easel can be found on the balcony.

Jacob is happy to see Sandra and celebrates her arrival in style, even though the dorm cafeteria may not be the most stylish place. He and Sandra have been best friends and first loves as teenagers, but now things have changed between them - not even a crush since Jacob grew up and left for college. Who knows; they may autonomously rekindle the old flame, but I'll let them decide on that.

Hooves flying and a high-pitched voice screaming - what else can it be than a fight between Cow Mascot and Cheerleader! The cow loses and limps off the scene.

Sandra wants to be friends with Sheldon whom she remembers from when he used to deliver their newspaper. They soon get reacquainted over a game of kicky bag. 

It seems that Sheldon's favourite place is his bed. I let him read a little before I make him write his Term Paper. After that, he can read to his heart's content, or do whatever else he wishes.

The next morning, Sheldon proves the good old Campus coach right when all he seems to be interested in is playing SSX. 

But eventually, he makes his way upstairs to the shower room, where he does not only take care of his own hygiene needs but even gives the shower a good scrubbing afterwards. 

Meanwhile, Sandra has decided she wants to declare her Major in History.

Upon his return from class, Sheldon can't resist the freshly fallen snow and builds a snowman. Of course he feels quite cold after that, and you can guess where he goes next... 

...his bed, of course! Does his daydreaming of Sandra mean anything? Not necessarily. Blond hair is his turn-off, and so I rather like to think he is happy for his best friend Jacob to have his teenage sweetheart living at the dorm now, too.

Every time Sheldon spots this NPC student, he wants to poke or slap her. As during his first year, he is still not really looking for friends, but has made two or three enemies at the dorm. Because I am sick and tired of the endless fighting, I have him grab a plate of pancakes so that the girl can leave the scene (and she does).

I half expected it, and Jacob and Sandra do not disappoint me: They fall all over in love again, upon Sandra initiating a romantic hug. 

Sheldon and Jacob share a meal towards the end of the term and discuss college life.

The next morning, a bit of pre-exam dancing is in order to calm their nerves. By the way, Sandra and Jacob now both show the wish to get engaged to each other, which I have locked.

Sheldon, Sandra and Jacob have all finished the first term of this year with A+ grades, and the grants have boosted their joint account to well over 8,000 Simoleons. 

Sheldon and Jacob eat at their usual table in the dorm's cafeteria, and Sheldon suggests they use some of their grant money to improve their rooms a bit. 

Sandra, who already had all the required skills for the second term of her Freshman Year, is first to write her Term Paper. 

The boys have indeed improved their rooms a little, with wardrobes (not seen in the picture), bedside tables and lamps. (Sandra's room received the same attention.)

After all three of them have handed in their Term Papers, Sheldon calls a taxi to take them to the Campus Boutiques. (They could have walked just as easily, but taxi rides are free, and it is winter, after all...)

Sandra makes her choice first, followed by Jacob.

Meanwhile, Sheldon (remember: he has maxed out cooking!) makes use of the public grill behind the boutique and produces a batch of burgers on a first come, first serve base. The outdoors tables and chairs are snow-covered, though. 

Good job that there are comfy chairs inside the boutique, and so the boys have their burgers there. I don't know what the boutique owner has to say about food odours sticking to the clothes on the sales racks...! 

Back at the dorm, Sheldon deals with the bills. 

Sandra and Jacob, now both in their new winter outfits, spend time together... that is, as soon as I make Jacob stop playing SSX when Sandra wants to talk, dance and kiss - all three wishes were granted :-) 

As usual, Sheldon retreats to his favourite place. He muses about how glad he is that Jacob and he are best friends, when he so clearly does not get along with some of the other students at the dorm.

Such as Trish Olfshki (or something like that) who gives as good as she gets every time she and Sheldon happen to be in the same room.

Jacob and Sheldon really have made this table theirs; they eat all their meals here together.

Sheldon surprises me when he rolls to wish to be friends with Melanie Bertino. She was one of the dorm mates he made enemies with during his Freshman Year, and they had at least one physical fight. Melanie moved out to make room for Sandra, and now I have Sheldon ring her. The "enemy" icon disappears, but they are still far from being friends. 

The Sophomore Year has ended successfully for Sheldon and Jacob, as has Sandra's Freshman Year. 

It wasn't a terribly exciting year at the dorm, but I like it that the two teenage friends are in love again, and that Sheldon seems gradually be coming to the conclusion that it is much better to make friends than enemies.