Ty Bubbler - Week 1

Ty's Senior Year at college is here.

After graduating from uni, Ty Bubbler bought this very small house at No. 28 Mendoza Lane in Downtown Desiderata Valley.

He saved most of his student grants and therefore can afford to get rid of the cheap furniture and appliances in the house as well as having the bedroom enlarged so that a double bed will fit.

This is what the house looks like after the makeover. Much better, I think! Since Ty does not plan on having children, he is fine with the limited space. 

On this Monday, not just one, but TWO move-ins happen: Ty first asks his former professor from uni over; her name is Heather Smith and she is happy to join The Valley's playable population. She moves out instantly in search of her own place, and we'll catch up with her many months from now when "Smith" is reached on my alphabetical list. 

Next is Sam Thomas, Ty's girlfriend from uni. The two of them were an item practically from Day One, and it is only natural that they now live together. 

They share the Popularity aspiration and both have career-focused lifetime wants, starting on the job search right away: Sam wishes to become The Law, while Ty fancies himself as future Celebrity Chef. Neither of them is lucky on this first day, though.

That means they are home to meet the Welcome Wagon, Herbert Goodie and the Bells (sounds like some 60s band name, doesn't it!). Ty grills a batch of hamburgers, which everyone appreciates.

After the meal, the guests are politely sent on their way so that Ty and Sam can shop for clothes - both their wardrobes leave a lot to be desired, especially in view of the colder season fast approaching. "Cold Issue Clothing" is very apt :-)

They buy what they want, not really needing to be very careful about spending, and meet a few fellow citizens, such as Tara Kat here. Then they walk back home, and I am relieved to say that the game did not crash; I had them walk both ways and kept game speed on "normal", not fast as I often do.

Getting up on Tuesday morning, Ty and Sam hope that they'll find jobs today, but nothing is available in Law or Culinary.

Mary Gavigan walks by and is greeted by Sam. The two ladies instantly hit it off, and Mary stays for lunch. The rest of the day passes by unremarkably; bills are paid, phone calls made and skills gained to take advantage of it being autumn. 

Sam has been lucky on Wednesday morning and found a job as Personal Injury Attorney; she can start right away. 

Before Ty can go about the daily job search, though, the computer needs repairing. By the time he has completed that task, if there was anything available in Culinary, it is gone.

With Sam at work, he has the day to himself and decides to make use of the beck hugging the house on three sides for some fishing.

A thunderstorm rages across Downtown at about lunch time, and lightning hits the large fir tree in front of the house. With the rain having stopped, I make sure to keep Ty busy indoors while two townies panic outside. 

Unfortunately, the tree is still burning brightly when Sam returns from work, and because I do not want her or Ty to come to any harm, I have him call the fire brigade, who of course saves the day. Then... my game crashes, and when I next enter the lot, the fire has never happened. Just as well! 

Thursday starts more or less the same as Wednesday: Sam is off to work, and Ty deals with household matters, makes the odd phone call and does some skilling while he has the time AND it is autumn. 

He also looks after the flowerbeds in front of the house.

He is still there with the watering can when Sam returns from work with a smile - and a promotion to Family Law Attorney. 

Ty spends Friday once more on his own, most of the time working on his cooking skill. He interrupts studying his cook book just long enough to greet Faith Goodie.

Sam is promoted yet again and now works as an International Corporate Lawyer. There goes the free weekend she was looking forward to, maybe throwing a party of their old friends from uni or going clubbing. But lifetime want is lifetime want, and Sam is grateful that she has been advancing so fast in her career. 

It is Saturday, and actually Sam wasn't due a promotion today, lacking a skill point. But she did well with a chance card and is home as early as lunch time, starting in her new position as Entertainment Attorney on Monday. 

She now has that free weekend, after all! (Although she should use it for skilling, since she now needs six skill points before she can realistically expect to be promoted again.)

Sam really wants to throw a party for her old and new friends alike, and the two set about preparing everything. A new, expensive grill (as per Ty's wish) is now on the back porch, and additional seating provided outdoors.

The guests are here: Brittany Upsnott, Jimmy Phoenix, Alegra Gorey, Heather Huffington and Tiffany Simpson all went to uni with Ty and Sam, while they met Mary Gavigan and Elizabeth Aspir only after moving to The Valley. 

Ty (in his party outfit) loves his new grill and produces some very nice bass with squash, having caught the bass in the beck by the house earlier this week.

Sam, also in her party outfit, enjoys the food as much as the company. Heather tells a funny story from when they were all at art class together, with Elizabeth (who didn't go to college herself) listening politely.

Sam is happy when the party ends with everyone in a great mood. Whether she'll use Sunday for skilling remains to be seen. 

Ty has finally found an opening in Culinary and starts as an Executive Chef right away on Sunday morning.

However, a bad decision with a chance card leads to him being demoted to Sous Chef, something he is really upset about. At least he wasn't fired and had to start the job search all over again! Also, he can prove himself by returning the same afternoon for his first shift as Sous Chef.

Sam has indeed been skilling most of the day, but she also has found the time for some phone calls to friends, and a meal of leftover spaghetti. 

Ty returns at 9:00 pm, and Sunday evening sees him and Sam enjoying each other's company - that's what moving in together was all about anyway, wasn't it ;-) 

(Seriously - they've been an item all through college, but shared their first kiss only after Sam moved here!) 

It was nice playing these two. Their small house is just about holding what they need, but I'll have to place an easel somewhere next round since they both need creativity for their careers. For logic, a chessboard and chairs have already been set up on the front porch; not ideal in winter. Maybe when I play them next (when it's Sam's turn on the list) they should move somewhere bigger - they can certainly afford it now.

Sam Thomas: Senior Year

Welcome back to Desiderata's Sim State Uni.

Only three of the original playables are left here at the large dorm with 14 rooms: Sam Thomas, Jack Kim and Ty Bubbler, Sam's boyfriend. The others have either graduated or moved to one of the two Greek Houses on campus. 

To make things a little easier for the three remaining students (all Seniors), I move them to a smaller dorm of only 8 rooms.

We last saw Sam Thomas at her dorm last year in August, when I was playing Jimmy Phoenix through his Junior Year.

After their arrival, they need to do some skilling. When Sam has finished, she rings some of her friends to let them know about their move, and is then off to class. 

Ty may not come across as the most academically accomplished of students, but this semester he is the first one to complete his Term Paper and will now be left pretty much to his own devices. 

The proud shoulder pat says it all: Sam has just finished her Term Paper, not long after Jack Kim on the other side of the wall behind her bed has handed in his. She is majoring in Psychology and one day wants to be The Law.

According to her Maxis-written bio, she "makes friends with boys far more easily than she does with girls: she just doesn't understand why girls are so 'weird'. She enjoys baseball and Chinese food."

The next day, Sam wants to throw a party, and because she has also been wishing to join the Greek House (she was a Pledge as far as I remember, last time I played the Sorority), what better way to do that by inviting her "sisters" over. 

Heather Huffington and Tiffany Sampson are here, as are Brittany Upsnott and Alegra Gorey; only they are still outside on the porch and therefore not in the picture. The party is a success, and for the remainder of her time at college, Sam has all the privilege that comes with being part of a Greek House.

Although Sam and Ty have been an item almost from the very start of their Freshman Year, they have showed precious little interest in each other. Now, though, Sam surprises me by hugging her boyfriend romantically on her own initiative. The dorm cook has seen it all before, of course, and just continues to do her job. 

The next day, I catch Jack talking animatedly to NPC dorm mate Vamsi Simpson. If I remember correctly, she is a relationship with Kevin Beare and his 3-bolt-love. Turns out that Jack has 3 bolts for her, too! 

I don't know how this happened, but somehow I wasn't aware of Sam needing another creativity point. With only 15 hours before the end of term, I quickly send her to the easel on the balcony, and since it is autumn, it doesn't take her long to get that point. 

The next day, Ty can congratulate his girlfriend for having passed her end-of-term exam with an A+ just like himself and Jack. All three have their names on the Dean's List once again, something I didn't really expect for Sam after her very late completion of the required skills. 

Ty has to go to class right away, but Sam and Jack have time to reward themselves with a pile of pancakes and talk about what's going to be required of them now, during their very last semester. 

Sam needs a cleaning point, and can make herself useful at the same time - NOT by throwing the leaves about, but by raking them into neat heaps, of course.

And while Ty has beaten her to it once again and handed in his Term Paper before anyone else, she is not far behind.

Brittany Upsnott, one of her best friends and co-founder of the sorority where Sam is now a member as well, comes visiting on her own accord the next day.

Now that Ty can mostly do as he pleases, I worry about him: He is almost always at the computer in Sam's room, neglecting all his needs and going only to the bathroom or having a meal when it becomes really urgent. He does not miss classes, though.

Sam feels ready to tackle her final exam after a good night's sleep.

In the cafeteria, Jack waits for Vamsi to finish her breakfast. Having someone hovering over me like this would definitely creep me out!

Ty and a fellow student complain about how cold it is in the cafeteria, both of them wearing their winter coats for their meal. Jack doesn't seem to feel the cold - he is only in slippers and his bathrobe.

To calm any pre-exam nerves they may have, Sam and Ty engage in a game of darts.

Jack and Vamsi prefer dancing.

"We'll always remain best friends, won't we, Ty?" Ty wonders what Sam is trying to tell him.

All three of them have passed their final exam with flying colours!

Sam has graduated Magna Cum Laude in Psychology, Jack Summa Cum Laude in Literature, and Ty Summa Cum Laude in Philosophy.

Sam's sorority sisters are all invited for her graduation party.

A pensive Sam checks whether her taxi has already pulled up.

It arrives at nightfall, and Sam is waved good-bye only by Jack - Ty was so exhausted he went to bed already.

Sam has now moved to her own place in Desiderata Valley, where we are sure to see her again.

Ty's turn will come in the next round, when I will be at "B" on my alphabetical list.

Jack and Vamsi are just friends - so far. We all know what can happen when spring comes round, especially with three bolts...!