Almeric Davis: Week 1

We're back at No. 33 Mendoza Lane in Downtown Strangetown for the second Davis brother's week.

While Aldric has moved in with Stella Terrano at her rented flat, Almeric has decided to stay in the small but neat house the brothers bought with the savings from their uni grants. 

Here he is, watching a game of kicky-bag between his girlfriend Klara Vonderstein and Stella. Almeric aspires to become The Law. 

On this Monday, the welcome committee appears in the shape of Nervous Subject, Camryn Lee (wife of General Buzz Lee, formerly Grunt) and former townie Jill Smith. Just like his girlfriend, Almeric has only learnt the one compulsory cooking skill point in all his four years at uni, and so the only food he can offer his guests is a platter of lunchmeat sandwiches.

It is hardly surprising, therefore, that he is happy to join Monica Bratford and a bunch of other Sims at Bernard's Botanical Dining for a meal when she rings to invite him.

His...erm... interesting way of dressing (sorry - that's his everyday outfit since he graduated!) attracts the attention of the local Diva, a Ms. Miguel, but Almeric is only interested in food right now. 

Besides, he loves Klara, who has patiently waited back at his house for his return.

Since he does not find a job in Law on Tuesday and it's a beautiful golden early autumn day, Almeric decides to spend some of his free time keeping up his high fitness level. He sets off for a round of jogging through the neighbourhood and has a shower and a nap afterwards.

By the time he's awake and feeling hungry, Erin Singles happens to walk by and is asked to join him for a plate of spaghetti with meatballs. A potential best friend, Almeric thinks - ever the Popularity Sim. 

Another jobless day for Almeric is Wednesday, but he is not worried - there is still around 20k in his bank account, and since he can't walk around either in the flamboyant clothes he age-transitioned into or in his brother's old clothes all the time, he walks over to Cold Issue Clothing. 

Before browsing the clothes racks, he spots the latest "Autumn Gold" scent on the counter and buys a bottle as a gift for Klara.

"Klara, my sweet, I have just returned from clothes shopping... yes, something a little more daring and fashionable, I thought... taking a leaf out of your book," he smiles. It's true - after her makeover, Klara looks nothing like the prim girl at uni, and Almeric wants to follow suit.

His next door neighbour, good friend and former Professor Samantha Cho walks by, and he greets her warmly. 

But don't get any ideas, Sam! This one is taken; you may focus on townies for the 20 Sims you want to woohoo with.

The most remarkable thing happening on Thursday is that the computer breaks down, and Almeric calls the repair service since he only has one single mechanial skill point and I don't want to watch him getting electrocuted.

On Friday, he rolls romantic wishes about Klara and invites her over. She looks approvingly at his new outfit :-)

The two spend a romantic evening together. 

When he gets up on Saturday morning, Almeric wonders whether he'll find that all-important opening in Law today. 

He does not, but although this is disappointing, he knows just what to do to brighten his mood: He invites Klara over and then rings his brother. "Hey, Al, why don't you and Stella come over, too?" Aldric's recently discovered love of fitness shows - he browses the Simternet for an exercise machine with Stella looking on, while Almeric and Klara share a moment of tenderness. 

It is Sunday, and the last chance for Almeric this week to find the job he wants. Unfortunately, there are the usual five careers available but not Law. Never mind - there are other important things in a Sim's life, such as love. Knowing that Klara does not work today, he invites her over. 

Klara is not shy when it comes to telling her boyfriend what she wants, and surprise, surprise he wants the same ;-D

We leave the two at this point - and Klara has, by the way, just accepted Almeric's suggestion to move in with him. She adds a healthy 17,000 Simoleons to their now joint account, and next time I will play this household, hopefully Almeric is going to be lucky and can start work in his dream career, too.

It was nice if a little quiet to play Almeric on his own, with no job to go to or skill for. With Klara now living at the small house, too, money is definitely not a problem, and they could either move to a larger place or have this one extended.

Aldric Davis: Week 1

The brothers' Senior Year at college is here.

Here is the first of two weeks with one of the Davis brothers. We start of course with Aldric, since his name comes before Almeric in alphabetical order. 

The twin brothers have changed their hair since we last saw them, as I have noticed with a few other Sims since installing the Legacy Edition. Aldric is the one in the back.

This is how he used to look all through his college life, which is coming to an end this very day. 

Aldric is a Popularity Sim who dreams of becoming a General - he doesn't seem the type, but maybe spending so much time with the Grunt brothers who were his dorm mates and are the sons of General Buzz Lee, formerly Grunt, has influenced his decision.

Anyway, here he is in his graduation robes, giving the dorm's drum kit one last workout. 

His party goes well, with his girlfriend Stella Terrano looking on as his brother Almeric autonomously jumps into the arms of his girlfriend Klara Vonderstein. Both Stella and Klara have graduated a little before the Davis brothers and already live in their own places in Strangetown.

Aldric graduates and leaves, and his marginally younger twin brother Almeric is next. One of his guests is Professor Samantha Cho, whom he befriended. She is very proud of her student on this particular day. 

The brothers soon arrive at the modest townhouse they have purchased with the help of their saved student grants at No. 33 Mendoza Lane in Strangetown's downtown. I won't show you the inside as they are not going to stay very long - Aldric is about to join Stella at her rented flat in a minute.

But first, Almeric invites his Professor friend over, and Samantha accepts his suggestion to retire from teaching and move to Strangetown for good. 

Samantha Cho is 54 and a Romance Sim who wishes to woohoo with 20 different Sims. She has her work cut out for her since so far she only knows Almeric well enough to engage in a romantic relationship with him (if he is so inclined - he is, after all, an item with Klara Vonderstein). It's not impossible for her to achieve her lifetime want, though, and she'll give it a genuine try... ...after she has moved to her own place, which is easy since she has 17,000 Simoleons on top of the 20k starter money for new arrivals.

Meanwhile, Aldric has arrived at Stella's flat along Road to Nowhere in Old Strangetown. 

She is VERY happy to welcome him!

The flat comes partly furnished, but the two graduates have been careful with their grants and have plenty of money to play with. 

For now, I leave the kitchen unchanged except for lamps. The bathroom gets more luxurious and modern fittings, the bedroom (lower left hand corner, dark green carpet) is furnished and the small room sandwiched between bedroom and kitchen becomes a study with computer desk, bookcase and comfy armchairs to read and study in.

"It is so nice to finally be out of the dorm and have our own place together, isn't it!" Stella enthuses over the lunchmeat sandwiches that are their first meal together here.

"And it's wonderful to be best friends as well as lovers..." she says, gazing into Aldric's eyes. I don't think I need to tell you what happened next!

Well, one thing that happens shortly afterwards is the phone ringing: Buck Grunt, their former dorm mate and still at uni, invites them to meet him and a bunch of others downtown at the FM.

Aldric LOVES the karaoke machine and graces us with an enthusiastic rendering of Ooghi-Ooghi-Ooh (my all-time favourite disco song from the original Sims game!). 

He is then joined by Stella in the photo booth, but they really only take photos (everything else has already happened shortly before they were invited to the outing). 

By the way, Aldric has already landed a position as Junior Officer and will start tomorrow. To his surprise, one of the military people he met at the online interview for the job is also at the FM for a meal, and it looks like he recognises their latest recruit immediately.

The group is too large to all fit at one table, and Aldric shares the dining booth with his former dorm mates Tank and Buck Grunt as well as their Dad, General Buzz. A good opportunity for him to get some tips for the job from someone so experienced! He has an early start tomorrow, though, and he and Stella leave soon after the meal.

Tuesday is quickly told: Aldric is off to his first day as a Junior Officer. Leaving the flat in his brand new uniform, he worries whether anyone will ask him to have his hair cut as short as he's seen it on General Buzz. Stella has not yet found a job in Journalism and stays home, skilling the way only a Knowledge Sim in autumn can, talking to friends on the phone and having leftover sandwiches for her meals.

Nobody has said anything about Aldric's hair, but it has been hinted that he needs to get physically fitter, and he diligently spends a couple of hours in the evening doing Yoga.

His diligence is duly rewarded on Wednesday, when he returns home as part of Strangetown's Counter Intelligence.

The couple celebrate Aldric's promotion on the apartment building's rooftop terrace over a batch of hot dogs, freshly grilled by Stella and washed down with glasses of sparkling wine. 

As an added bonus to his promotion, Aldric has Thursday off, and since Stella still has not found an opening in her coveted line of work, he suggests they walk to the shops along their street for groceries and other things.

While he buys some clothes... 

...she greets Loki Beaker and a few other neighbours.

Back home, Aldric and Stella go for a round of jogging, resulting in him finally getting rid of the excess belly fat he's been carrying around for some time now.

The couple end the evening with a delicious dish of pork chops, but Aldric is determined to stay slim and become fitter, and only eats until he is full and not until the plate is empty, putting the rest in the fridge. 

Friday turns out to be a really good day for the couple. First, Aldric is promoted to Flight Officer. Earlier today, he took the right decision with a chance card, earning him a 2,000 Simoleon reward for apprehending "the enemy" by listening in on their phone conversation.

Then, Stella has not only finally found an opening in Journalism as a Movie Critic, but was promoted right away to Fact Checker. With her off the car pool is her colleague Lazlo Curious. The two are almost friends by the time he needs to go home.

Both Stella and Aldric have the entire weekend off, and when she greets him in the morning with a smile and a freshly baked omelette, he couldn't be happier. With the bonus he has earned and their careers being off to such a good start, he suggests they take a mini break on Twikkii Island. The shuttle is called, and they are off...

...to the Beach Hotel. Or so I thought! Only when Aldric gets off the taxi on his own, I realise that I forgot to add Stella to the booking.That's a shame, but I decide to have Aldric stay until Sunday night nonetheless - after all, it really was his wish to have an island holiday, not hers, and it won't matter that he will now be a little older than she is.

He may still be a bit on the pale side, but his beach figure is much better than it would have been at the start of the week :-D

The first afternoon passes quickly, and Aldric ends the day with a rather lonesome meal at the hotel's restaurant and a movie in his room. The next morning, he enjoys a private yoga session on the beach... 

...followed by a dip in the crystal clear water. 

He has a snooze in the sun before heading inside for another meal. 

It was all rather nice, but by evening, he is ready to fly home, and is dropped off in front of the apartment building in Strangetown a couple of hours later. 

"I've missed you, Stella..." (He very sweetly rolled the wish to flirt with her while he was on the island on his own!) Of course, it is still Saturday morning here, and Stella hasn't missed her boyfriend at all - for her, he has only just left. 

He found a pair of clam shell earrings on the beach and gave these to her. 

Although it's still Saturday here, Aldric has had his full week thanks to the trip to Twikii Island, and so our time with this couple ends now.

Aldric has always been one of those Sims I was never especially fond of while at the same time not disliking them, either. This week, he has grown on me - maybe because he has changed for the better (in my opinion) and really makes a nice partner for Stella. Both have achieved something in their careers, but still quite a bit of work ahead before they'll reach their respective liftime wants. 

Next will be Almeric Davis.