Family names and related posts

Saturday, 26 July 2025

William Williamson - Week 1

William's Senior Year is here.

We're in Strangetown for William Williamson, starting with him leaving Campus upon graduating. 
He does not feel like throwing a party, which suits his Maxis-written bio: "While others may party and prank, William simply can't bothered by the day to day goings-on of a large campus. He's at school for one reason and one reason alone: to become a successful business man." 
The last bit is not true, though - William is a Fortune Sim, but not interested in a business career. Instead, he dreams of becoming Chief of Staff, top of the medical career. 

Just like Chaz Whippler, William went through his four years at uni without getting much attention from me other than making sure he wrote his Term Papers and got his skills. He left with several best friends under his belt but no romantic interest whatsoever.
Having arrived in Strangetown, he instantly heads to Tech Center Flats where he knows there is one apartment still for rent. His former fellow students Stella Terrano and Klara Vonderstein already live here. 

By the way, when I was looking up William on SimsWiki for some background info on him, I also found a wikipedia article about a US-American politician by the same name. The man died in 1972 and his wife's name was Clara. Coincidence...?
The top floor flat is still available, and William has a quick look around. It is a bit on the large side for one single Sim, and the rent is steep at over 2,000 Simoleons per week. But William has not spent much of his grant money during the last four years and arrives with a neat package of over 23,500 Simoleons. Also, he plans on starting his medical career as soon as possible, so money shouldn't be a problem. 
"I'll take it, Mr. Fairchild." - "Very good, Mr. Williamson. Now if you just sign here on the dotted line, please..."
As soon as the computer William was waiting for is delivered, he looks for a job. Five careers are available, but not Medical. 
He spends the rest of the afternoon settling in and then answers a call from Danielle Smith, a sorority member he knows from uni. She invites him for an outing in town, and he chooses "My Muse".
He is the only person to get off the taxi, though - not even Danielle is there! He could be upset about being stood up like that, but decides to make the most of the outing anyway. And he is lucky in meeting a townie by the name of Nathen Lee - someone he'll certainly befriend so that he can be made playable.
Back home, he spots Abhijeet Cho walking by. You may remember him as Bella Goth's partner and father of her first child since her unvoluntary move to Strangetown. The two men chat comfortably over plates of spaghetti (which is about the best William can offer, since he left uni with exactly ONE cooking skill point). 
Not much happens on Tuesday. There is no job for him in Medical, and so he spends his spare time skilling, talking to friends on the phone and finally making his way up to the roof top where he chats with Stella for a while.
Lazlo Curious walks by and is duly greeted but pretty much left to his own devices after that.
On Wednesday morning, the bathroom sink's tap breaks. William could of course call the landlord to have it fixed, but he has time and wants to skill (it is autumn), and so he does the job himself. 
Later, he attempts to gather the other tenants in the house on the rooftop by grilling hotdogs, but nobody appears. Only many hours later, when William is back in his flat, do Zaitrarrio Lee, Stella Terrano and Klara Vonderstein venture up and eat the now stone-cold hotdogs.
By Thursday, William still hasn't found the job he wants and decides to make an effort to socialize more, as long as he has the time. He invites Nathen Lee over, who brings Chloe Singles along. 
Later, he even joins Zaitrarrio Lee on the rooftop for a round of smustling, while Klara and Stella catch up on the latest TV shows. 
On Friday, once again William's wish to find a job in Medical is not fulfilled.
It is well into autumn now with rain for much of the day. When during a thunderstorm lightning hits one of the huge cacti near the building, the flames are put out quickly and nobody has to do the "fire dance". 

In other news, William invites Nathen over again to cement their friendship and bring it to the point where he can ask him to move in (it's too early for that, though). 
In many Sims' weeks, Thursday turns out to be the most eventful day. For William, it's Saturday, starting off with an unwelcome visit just after 2:00 am.
William hears strange noises outside his bedroom and calls the police just as the burglar puts the bar stools into his bag. 
Fearing for his safety, he watches everything from his hiding point on the balcony, and frantically waves at the approaching police car. 
The burglar makes it only half way down the stairs before running into the police officer. 
He doesn't get any further than that, but is handcuffed and lead to the car. William receives 492 Simoleons; poor compensation for three bar stools and his desk chair, but better than nothing.
Sseeing as he is already awake, he can just as well look for a job, right? Guess what - he is finally lucky and starts as a (rather unhappy looking) nurse straight away! 
His mood hasn't improved much by the time he gets home, in spite of a promotion to Intern right on his first day at the hospital. The burglary has left him VERY angry. Plus he missed the landlord's party for his tenants - free pizza might have made a small difference.
Sunday isn't much better, I'm afraid. There isn't anything as dramatic as a burglary, but poor William is unlucky with a chance card and is demoted back to nurse. 
Going back for a double shift (and a chance at getting back into his position as Intern) isn't possible with only half an hour left to his shift. 
William wants to end the week on a positive note and invites Nathen Lee over, by now one of his best friends. Surely a game of red hands, a friendly hug and a toast over a batch of freshly grilled hamburgers on the roof top will make Nathen want to move in? Well, I'm sure it would, but before William can ask, Nathen, who is in bad need of a shower, says good-bye - making him playable will have to wait.

This week didn't quite turn out as expected, what with William getting his career off the ground with only two days of the week left, and Nathen leaving before he could be asked to move in. Still no romantic interest on the horizon for William, but next time I'll play this household, about mid-week spring will start, and that's usually guaranteed to bring on those romantic feelings.

Friday, 25 July 2025

Chaz Whippler: Week 1

Chaz's Senior year at uni is here.

No. 50 Bard Boulevard, Veronaville - a modest but neat-looking suburban home. 
It is the place Chaz Whippler has bought and just moved into. 

Originally part of a group of playable students, he has recently graduated Cum Laude in Literature. During his four years at uni, other playables were focused on, but now it is time to give him my full attention. 
According to his Maxis-written bio, he "really dislikes anyone he thinks is cooler than he is. He keeps looking for love in all the wrong places and wonders why he hasn't found it yet." 
Well, he certainly didn't find love at uni; although his lifetime want (typical for a Romance Sim like him) is to have 20 lovers, so far he hasn't even one! He started out with a crush on Ellen Frost, and that has remained unchanged, but that's all. 
Even more modest inside than out, the house only comes with a cheap single bed, cheapest bathroom and kitchen appliances as well as small table, one dining chair, one hard settee and a TV set. 
There are a few lamps, all of the cheapest sort, and a telephone and firealarm seem to be the only "luxuries". 
But Chaz doesn't worry - he has been wisely saving most of his student grants and can now play with almost 16,000 Simoleons. As his lifetime want is not career-oriented, he will not get a job unless absolutely necessary; that means of course that he'll still be relatively careful with his money. 
First things first, though - this attractive lady walking by the house, a townie named Camryn Lee, has to be greeted. In Strangetown, I have made Camryn playable, and she married General Buzz Grunt; that means I won't make her playable in Veronaville as well - but she'll still be a good candidate for Chaz' list of 20 lovers.
Soon after that, the Welcome Committee appears, consisting of Goneril Capp, Cornwall Capp and Titania Summerdream. 
Chaz can't believe it - not one, but FOUR ladies he's never met before all appearing on his first day at the new place! A dining table and chairs are set up almost as quickly as a platter of lunch meat sandwiches is made, and the group sit down, chatting and getting to know the newcomer. 
At 6:00 pm, the phone rings, and Chaz' former co-student and (still) crush Ellen Frost invites him along with several other recently graduated new residents of Veronaville to meet at Games of Glory.
We know them all: Tybalt Capp, Marla Biggs, Emily Lee, Chris Cho and Ellen Frost are there, and since they have all been to uni together, it is nice to catch up now and play a game of pool. 
Suddenly, Chaz finds himself sharing a table with Ellen, his long-time crush... and suddenly, their hands touch... and suddenly, red hearts appear over their heads! 
Congratulations, Chaz - you have just made a start on your lifetime want :-) (I had to stage this carefully, since Chaz wishes to be more than friends with his other co-students as well - but I didn't want Marla, Chris and Emily witnessing Chaz finally making a move on Ellen.) 

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Chaz has been wishing to get fit, and so it is only natural that he begins Tuesday with a Yoga session behind his house, out of sight of any passers-bys, or the paper girl and the mail carrier.
He does, however, greet the mail carrier - too good an opportunity to let go! And as you can see, his paunch is gone - after one single Yoga session :-D But he's not "fit" yet, and he'll use some of his time to work on that. 
Most of his time, though, will be dedicated to his lifetime want. And guess what - Marla Biggs becomes # 2 on his list of lovers. "You understand that I love you... as a friend," she states. "But I am always willing to help a friend!" 
Chaz thinks it is best to keep an open mind when it comes to those 20 lovers, and an open house will certainly help. 
That evening, he shares a large bowl of spaghetti bolognese with townies Adrian Lewis (who, because of his TS4-playable surname, is eligible to become a resident of Veronaville) and Carla MacCullough.
Wednesday sees Chaz and his former co-student Chris Cho relaxing on his bed. Soon after he has told her that the two of them can always remain best friends, she is added as #3 on his list. 
Of course Chris has long gone home by the time Emily Lee becomes #4! 
"You know it's not love... as in LOVE... right?" Emily knows a Sim can't help his lifetime want, and Chaz shall have his chance at reaching that ultimate goal just like everybody else. But he's not the man she imagines to spend her life with.
By Thursday, the plants in Chaz' garden need some attention. But it is no coincidence that he happens to be trimming the shrubs in the front garden at around 10:00 this morning - he knows the pretty mail carrier will be delivering the bills at this time. 
And his plan works out! Eventually, he ends up chatting not only with Celeste (the mail carrier) but also with two townie ladies who happen to walk by, Jill Fleig (left, red hair) and Shelby Barrett. 
And while Celeste not only has to leave to complete her mail round but also rejects Chaz' attempts at flirting with her, the other two ladies aren't immune to his charms. 
However, Chaz has been keeping an open mind, and he invites former NPC co-student Alan Riley over for the night. "I hear you have graduated... from the school of love..." Oh dear, Chaz, that's one of the worst pick-up lines I have ever heard! Still, Alan's name is added to the list. 
He grows up from young adult to adult, and moves in on the spot: 

Alan Riley, former NPC student, is a Romance Sim with the same LTW as Chaz. With his slightly Glam-Rock looks and easy-going humour, he'll probably have not too much trouble reaching it. 
There must be family money, because he has an amazing 12,000 Simoleons to his name, which of course I immediately change into items to put in his backpack - tomorrow morning, he'll move to his own place. 
As expected, Alan moves out on Friday morning. There are no hard feelings between him and Chaz - they know of their shared LTW and that it just wouldn't work if they remained together. 

Once Chaz is on top of this chores around the house and garden, he invites yet another one of his former fellow students over, NPC Carl Cho. Carl thinks it's fantastic to see Chaz again, and so slim!! 
Carl compliments the Mac & Cheese served by Chaz, who wisely does not mention that it was actually Alan who made a big bowl last night and all he did was warm it up. 
Somehow... their hands find each other across the table, and not long afterwards, Carl is Chaz' lover # 6. He moves in instantly (and will be out the next morning). 

Carl Cho, former NPC student; a Knowledge Sim who dreams of becoming Chief of Staff and has an impressive 17,000 Simoleons in the bank (and now in his backpack in the shape of objects). 
It's "good-bye, Carl" on Saturday morning. Carl casts Chaz one last, longing look at his lover and then boards the taxi that will take him to his own place where he shall pursue his medical career.
Next on Chaz' list to call is his old friend from uni, Tom Freshe. "Mmm... you smell nice..." he says by way of greeting when they kiss-kiss. It won't surprise you to read that Tom's name has now moved from friends to call to #7 on the list of lovers. 
Chaz tries his luck with Phineaus Furley, another one of his old uni friends. Phineaus seems happy enough to come over and catch up. 
But he is not at all happy when Chaz suggests they take their friendship to the next level, and leaves soon afterwards. "I guess he just wasn't ready yet..." Chaz sighs.
Because he does not want the evening to end on this unpleasant note, he invites townie Camryn Lee over. They eat together, and her eyes brighten when he blows her a kiss - and burps loudly immediately afterwards, can you believe it!! That doesn't deter her from becoming his lover # 8, though.
On Sunday, Chaz is at a bit of a loss - of the friends he has, only one is best friends with him AND has not yet been subject to his charms, and there is not much left to do around the house today. 
When he spots townie Sandy Fairchild walk be, he dashes out to greet her - and is delighted to find out that she is his three-bolt lady, and the only one at that!
Among all his romantic interests, there are many with 2 bolts, but Sandy is the only one with 3. This will of course mean that, once Chaz has achieved his lifetime want, he and Sandy are going to become an item for good. 
But that's still a long way off, and in the meantime, Chaz needs more lovers. Isabella Monty has become a best friend in the course of the week (all by phone calls), and when he invites her over that afternoon, she surprises him by being quite... open about her intentions, let's put it that way. You guessed it - she's Lover # 9 on the list. 

This is where the first week with Chaz ends, and he's nearly half way through with his LTW. I will be so glad when that's done! I must say that he has sort of grown on me a bit over the week, and I have to thank him for two new residents of Veronaville - with a third in the wings, once he and Sandy will be together properly.

I forgot about Adrian Lewis, the townie Chaz met on Tuesday and who should be made playable eventually. 

Finally, I am glad to report that after the last crash happened when I was playing the Wednesday of this week with Chaz, it didn't crash again for the entire rest of his week, which I played in one go.