The Beaker Family: Week 2

The first week with the Beakers is here.

We're going to spend a week with the Beaker family at their castle-like home at #1 Tesla Court in Strangetown.

 

Remember, last round Loki was taking the first step towards his lifetime want of marrying off six children when Circe had little Bella, who is so far their only child. 

Also last round, Nervous Subject moved out in order to give the Beakers more space for their growing family, and to find for himself a place better suited to further his own pet-related LTW. 

Circe is still diligently working her way up the medical career ladder, with the goal of becoming Chief of Staff. 

To make the house more family-friendly, I get rid of the small cellar room and make a few minor adujstments to the upper floor. More will happen as the need arises.

On this Thursday, Loki makes two important phonecalls: He quits his job, explaining that he is now a full-time Dad, and - per his wish - employs a maid.

Townie Blake Cho walks by and is invited to stay for lunch. The Beakers need friends in order to help Circe's career, and I am not sure whether Blake Cho is already known to other Strangetown residents; with his playable surname, he is certainly eligible to become a resident himself. 

Before leaving for work on Friday, Circe changes her baby daughter's nappy. 

Shortly after she has left, the Social Worker arrives with a boy in tow: Alon has just been adopted by the Beakers, and strangely enough, he is wearing a swim suit. Never mind - I just hope I'll be able to send someone to a community lot for new clothes without the game crashing on me.

It is also the maid's first day, and Loki tips her generously, hoping it'll make her do a good job. (Besides, it won't hurt to befriend her, since Circe needs more friends to advance in her career.)

This is what the house looks like upstairs now. 

The top left corner is still the master bedroom with en-suite bathroom. In the lower left corner is Bella's nursery with crib and changing table. Across the landing is another, smaller bathroom, and next to the staircase is Alon's room with enough space for a second bed (Loki wants to marry off six, after all). 

Alon's arrival is not the only important event for the Beakers that day: Bella turns into a toddler! Unfortunately, she has inherited her Dad's eyebrows, but she looks a cheerful little girl nonetheless. 

While her Dad is teaching Bella to walk, Alon is learning how to do his homework from his super-intelligent Mum, still in her lab coat from work.

There is no work or school on Saturday, and so Circe has time to teach her little daughter to talk. 

Upstairs, Alon makes his own breakfast - or attempts to, I should say; the muffin he produces is VERY dark, and not from chocolate :-D

His Dad later shows him the science toy he's always carrying around. The boy is fascinated, and admires his Dad for being so clever, just like his Mum. [I managed to play the entire Saturday without the game crashing, but soon into Sunday, it happened again...] 

On Sunday morning, Alon's muffin looks and tastes much better already. 

At 10:00, the Social Worker's car pulls up in front of the house, and another boy Alon's age is introduced to the family - also named Alon. This is impractical, of course, and the decision is made to rename the second Alon to Bjorn, after Loki's father. 

"I hope you don't mind..." Loki hesitates, but Bjorn-formerly-known-as-Alon smiles and says: "I now have a new Mum and Dad, a new brother and little sister and a new life - why not a new name!" Loki breathes a sigh of relief. Young Bjorn is so very reasonable!

But of course the Beakers can't stop at three children. Another one is in the making that afternoon :-) 

Both Circe and Loki enjoy the first meal with their growing family.

The children happily play together at the activity table. Alon says that tomorrow, he and Bjorn will go to school together while little Bella has to wait a bit before she can join them on the school bus.

Two beds are now in the room upstairs. There is not enough space in here for a third bed, but part of downstairs will be converted.

It is 10:00 am on Monday when the Social Worker and the maid's cars pull up in front of the house at the same time again. 

The boys are at school, Circe is at work, and so there are only Loki and little Bella to welcome the latest addition to the Beaker family: A girl named Brittany (she does not need renaming, fortunately).

The new bedroom on the ground floor is much to her liking! When Bella outgrows her baby bed, she'll join Brittany here; there is enough space for up to three beds.

Since her new brothers won't be home from school until 3:00 pm and her little sister is having a nap, Brittany is happy to greet Jill Smith as she walks by the house.

Finally, the school bus drops off her new brothers - Brittany is quite excited to meet them. Alon has brought along Zo Curious; unfortunately, she only gets along with Bjorn but not with any of the other children.

While Bjorn and Zo are playing catch outside, Circe returns from work. She has just been promoted to Specialist! Four skill points (and I think at least one more friend as well) are needed for the next step on her career ladder, but she won't be needing them all that soon - she heads to the bedroom immediately and pulls out the maternity gear she last wore when she was expecting Bella. If only she'd have twins! Then the Beakers would have the half dozen complete that Loki needs for his lifetime want. 

Good job Circe has a well equipped lab at home. That way, she can keep on top of her skills during maternity leave, and she spends good part of Tuesday doing just that. 

First Alon...

...and then Bjorn bring their first A+ reports home from school. For Brittany, it's only been her first day, and she has not yet learned to study, but I am sure she will soon catch up with her brothers.

That evening, a proud Loki watches his (so far) only biological child grow up. The "Beaker eyebrows" aren't that bad when she smiles such a happy smile! 

Wednesday is the last day of our week with the Beakers, since they started on a Thursday. With the kids all at school, Circe and Loki enjoy a quiet late breakfast - especially important right now for Circe, who is close to giving birth.

The peace & quiet last until 3:00 pm, when the school bus drops off Alon, Bjorn, Bella and Brittany, who runs straight into the lab to show her Dad her first A+ report. 

At 5:15 pm, Circe goes into labour (not in the bathroom, as seems to be the rule with most Sims, but in the bedroom!). 

Little Grainne has brown eyes like her Mum and pale skin like her Dad. She is named after Circe's mother. Boosting the family to five children is good, but Loki wants six... he does not want to risk the additional time for another pregnancy, and instead rings the adoption service for the fourth and final time. 

First, though, he comes to see his youngest daughter, and introduces her to Bella, who is the only one of the older four children to be awake at the moment - the others all had to have an urgent nap after school, before they can even think about eating, playing or doing their homework. 

We have to wait until next round to meet the last child the Beakers will be adopting. Loki is six days from Elderhood, and it's really going to require careful time management from my part if he is to see his lifetime want come true, all six getting married. 

Circe is done with having babies; she'll focus on her career again but of course will also be the best mother possible to the half dozen of young Beakers.

A community lot visit was not practical - there was too much going on with the children, plus I had enough crashes as it was... It still puzzles me what causes them; sometimes I am pretty sure it's the EA app updating, but that's not always the case when I check after a crash.

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 ;-)