The Davis Brothers: Freshman Year

We're not leaving Strangetown yet, but are now going to spend a "year" at La Fiesta Tech, its associated college. 

The students I have moved to Canyon Commons Dorms are all Freshmen, and we are here because of the two young men at the far left and far right end of the row here: Aldric (left) and Almeric (right) Davis, twins who were born two minutes apart. 

Both are Knowledge Sims, but while Aldric's lifetime want is to become General, Almeric dreams of becoming The Law. According to Maxis, "The older brother by about 2 minutes, Almeric relishes his seniority and uses it to his advantage in every argument with his little brother.", while his younger twin "can't stand being the younger twin and was hoping he'd be able to get out of his brother's shadow when he went to college. Can he do that now that they're both at the same university?". 

The others here are Klara Vonderstein, William Williamson, Stella Terrano (just going into the house) and Blossom Moonbeam. The white-haired lady standing between Klara and William is obviously a professor who has come by to make sure the new arrivals know what they need to do (claim rooms, that is).

The single bedrooms are tiny, but the common areas rather generous with a large cafeteria, open-plan common room and a smaller room for those who require peace and quiet for studying, or maybe a meeting place that offers more privacy but is not quite as intimate as one of their own rooms. We have a TV set, a chess board and easel, but only one computer in the common area and another one in one of the bedrooms. 

The Davis brothers have rooms next to each other. Here, Aldric has obviously been trying to introduce himself to Blossom Moonbeam, but she looks rather bored. 

The dorm has 9 bedrooms, but with only six playables here at the moment, non-playable students fill the other three. This is Danielle Smith - I believe I have seen her here at La Fiesta Tech before, probably while palying the Tri Fruhm Sorority. Anyway, I will have one of my playables befriend her so that she can become a full resident of Strangetown eventually. 

Aldric has better luck with Stella Terrano, even though he looks a bit uncertain here.

Later, he joins William and Klara at their table in the cafeteria. They don't seem to be impressed with his table manners!

He and Stella become friends (as per Aldric's wish) over a game of chess. 

Klara is the first of the six to complete her term paper. Interestingly, while she then boosts her fun level by a game of SSX, William makes himself at home in her room by stretching out on her bed with a book.

Of the Davis brothers, Almeric is the first to finish his term paper. "Of course!" he exclaims, "I am the firstborn, after all!" 

Aldric and Stella engage in a pillow fight out in the rain, which must be quite welcome in the hot desert summer here. 

Indoors, Klara is dancing as if nobody's watching! (Well, nobody IS watching.) 

The twins may not always see eye to eye, but they sometimes to things twin-style at the same time, such as having a shower. 

So far, Almeric has been the only student who had not yet declared his Major. As soon as he rolls the wish for it, I have him declare his Major in Political Science. For once, he was not the first of the brothers to decide - even though he is the firstborn. (Aldric is majoring in Physics.) 

Uh-oh! There seems to be little chance of William ever becoming friends with Danielle Smith - apparently, she can't stand the sight of him, and pokes him whenever they come across each other. Poor Wills - he hasn't done anything! 

William meets fellow student Aaron Hart - a non-playable "relative" of Matthew Hart, Sarah Love's boyfriend.

The Davis brothers are slowly forming friendships with their dorm mates.

Almeric even makes and effort to befriend prickly Danielle Smith.

Blossom is up painting all night when really she should be sleeping - it's the end of term tomorrow, and exams are waiting!

While everyone is out sitting their exams, a Matchmaker leaves a mysterious lamp on the dorm's door step. We all know what is for, but I don't know yet who will eventually get to use it. 

The students (even Blossom, who only had about 3 hours of sleep!) return from their exams with an A+ and their names on the Dean's List - everyone except for Almeric, who inexplicably only managed a B. He did not miss any classes, acquired all his skills and wrote his term paper - no different from the other five. 

He still looks a little put out when, only a day or two later, he is the first to complete this semester's term paper (yes, Almeric, we know you are the firstborn and therefore feel you should be first in everything!).

Not to be outdone so easily, Aldric follows his "big" brother's lead only hours later.

I have only just noticed that, in true twin style, Aldric and Almeric have the same undies :-D "This semester, my name is going to be first on the Dean's List... I am the firstborn, after all!" Almeric says. Aldric believes nearly everything his big brother says (or so it seems). 

Blossom's aspiration has dropped to red because I have left her to her own devices once she finished her term paper. One of her wishes is to make a wish with the mysterious lamp, and so she summons the genie and wishes for the ability to cheat death (you never know when this may come in useful).

I love just observing what everyone is up to once they have completed their term papers, and one evening, many of the students happen to sit together at the same large table in the cafeteria. It sort of makes up a little for not sending them to a community lot - I just find it hard to do that when I want to make sure they all get their skills and write their papers, make phone calls to friends and so on.

Not long before the end of their first year, the students invite the Tri Fruhm Sorority girls over. 

Aldric tells DJ Verse that he prefers spending time one-on-one instead of as part of a larger group. 

Almeric would like to get to know Jessie Pilferson better... 

...and is delighted when she agrees to play chess with him. Unfortunately, he has to go to class before the match is over.

Aldric takes advantage of the empty cafeteria offering plenty of room for dancing on his own. 

Others prefer dancing with a partner - Blossom and William have chosen to dance together on their own accord, and afterwards, William charms Blossom. I expect pink hearts to fly, but they merely smile at each other and go to bed - each in their own room.

Exam Day is here, and as before, the Davis twins use the bathroom at the same time. "I hope I'll be as good as my brother this time - after all, I'm the firstborn..." Almeric muses. 

And indeed, this time all six end their Freshman year on an A+ and a spot on the Dean's List! 

This was fun; I would have liked more time for friendships with the other students, not just among the group. So far, we have no romance, although Blossom and William came pretty close the night before their exams. There are no three bolt attractions, either, but several potential future residents of Strangetown have been met: apart from fellow students Danielle Smith and Aaron Hart, there is even a Professor Cho.