Blossom Moonbeam: Junior Year

Another year at Strangetown's La Fiesta Tech lies ahead, and we are going to spend it here at Canyon Commons Dorms.

To the playable students already living here, a new resident has just arrived: Buck Grunt, the youngest brother of Tank Grunt who has just begun his Sophomore year. Their middle brother, Ripp, has not gone to college. The other playables are Klara Vonderstein, William Williamson, Stella Terrano, the Davis brothers Aldric and Almeric, and Blossom Moonbeam. 

And it is Blossom who we are here for. Like the rest of the gang (except for Tank and Buck), she is now a Junior. A typical Family Sim, she dreams of seeing three of her own children graduate from college - but that distant future has not yet begun, since she is not even remotely romantically involved with anyone, in spite of there being several eligible fellow students around.

More often than not, Blossom prefers one of the small tables outdoors for her meals instead of the busy, noisy canteen. Apparently, Aldric is not all that welcome to keep her company, but he seems to be oblivious to that fact.

Indoors, the Grunt brothers share a table with Klara and Almeric for Buck's first meal at the dorm. "So there's actually three of you Grunt boys?" Klara asks again. Yes, there are three of them, but only two are here, obviously.

Buck is full of enthusiasm for this new chapter in his life and finishes his Term Paper even before he has decided on a Major; eventually, he chooses Mathematics. 

Remember Kay Kosmokos alias Spikey, who was so very interested in Tank while he wouldn't even acknowledge her most of the time? Now she tries her luck with his younger brother, but it looks like Buck is more interested in finding the football results online than her. 

One by one, the students acquire their skills and write their term papers.

Once the skilling is done and the paper written, they can do pretty much as they please. For Aldric, this means keeping his brother company, watching TV while Almeric is studying mechanical.

Blossom is neither the first nor the last one to finish her paper for this term, but more or less in the middle.

And Buck? Well, well, well - what shall I say: He and "Spikey" Kay have just discovered that they are three-bolters!! "You're it!" Kay exclaims, pointing at Buck. "Yeah, and you're it, too!" he replies, smiling. 

It is hard to see what's going on here, but funnily enough, the newfound lovebirds have chosen the tiny patch of sand in the corner behind the dorm's porch to autonomously cuddle under the stars. Stella watches them for a bit but then gets bored and goes to do something else. 

When Bottom returns from class, her first stop is often the kitchen - but not for food! She just loves to juggle bottles from the fridge. 

She has just made Monica Bratford her best friend, fulfilling a big wish.

One evening in the cafeteria, Buck serenades Kay with his brother looking on rather embarrassed. "What would our Dad say if he saw Spikey and Buck together," he wonders. Well, the General is not here, and besides, he has changed a lot since Camryn Lee came into his life. And not even he could stop a three-bolt love! 

Everyone makes it to the end of the semester, and they all do very well at their exams. 

This semester, Blossom only needs a logic skill point, which is quickly gained at the chess board.

Buck is once more first to complete his Term Paper. He is really doing his Dad proud, isn't he! (Am I the only one to be reminded of Star Trek Deep Space Nine's Odo, looking at Buck's hairstyle and face here?)

It is summer, and a very thundery one at that. The cactus in the mini courtyard is hit by lightning, but only the visiting cheerleader and llama mascot seem to notice the fire. 

Everyone else is simply too busy skilling and writing term papers. 

Blossom has just finished hers. 

Nothing like a dance session to loosen up those tight muscles after sitting at the computer for hours!

She also takes care of the bills.

Oh! Isn't William involved with someone else? (I am not sure, since I am not focusing on him this year.) Anyway, he is doing his best to chat Blossom up, and she doesn't tell him to naff off, but no hearts are seen flying. 

"Why does this keep happening?!" the students wonder, when the cactus is hit by lightning again only a few days later. Couldn't someone install a lightning rod on the dorm's roof?

Klara and Almeric are so sweet! Whenever they set eyes on each other, a series of romantic interactions starts, in spite of them not having a single chemistry bolt between them. 

Blossom wishes to fall in love but so far has not found anyone who could capture her heart. She sticks to juggling bottles instead - her main activity when she is in need of fun and left to her own devices, and apparently tolerated by the cafeteria staff. 

Uh-oh! I thought I'd kept track of everyone's progress this semester, but I nearly forgot Almeric - 13 hours before the final exam, he is still lacking one body skill point and has not yet written his term paper...!! But he makes it in time. Phew! 

In spite of their varying states of (un)dress, everyone has done well once more with their exams. Now Blossom and most of the others start their Senior Year, while Tank is now a Junior and his little brother Buck not a Freshman anymore. 

This was fun but rather exhausting - visits to community lots are really difficult when nearly everyone is on a different schedule. But at least there were no fights here! Instead, the students all want to be friends with each other. 

I never expected Buck to find his 3-bolt-lady in an NPC student - who at first was interested in his big brother. 

Blossom still has plenty of time to find that special someone who will help her with her lifetime want; she can't have children at college anyway.

Tank Grunt: Freshman Year

Tank Grunt has just been dropped off by the taxi in front of Canyon Common Dorms, where he is probably going to spend the next four years, studying at La Fiesta Tech. How will be fare?

For one thing, he won't be alone! Six other playable students, all of them Sophomores, already live here: Almeric and Aldric Davis, Klara Vonderstein, Blossom Moonbeam, Stella Terrano and William Williamson.

This is the dorm, by the way. Finally, some of the students' accumulated grant money was invested in better beds. Also, there are now desks with computers in a few more rooms.

As soon as one of the townie students has left, Tank claims his room. 

It reminds him of home, before the house received a makeover in parts.

His first meal at the dorm's cafeteria is spent in the company of one of the townie students. She seems rather bold, talking to the newcomer about how she has never kissed a guy with so much paint on his face. 

Tank is not really interested, but he can't help looking straight at her door while working on his first creativity skill point ever.

Meanwhile, as soon as one of the other playables has acquired all their required skills and is still in a fit enough state, I send them to get started on their term papers. This term, Blossom is first to finish. From now on, she can largely do as she pleases.

Klara comes a close second...

...followed by William, who is one of those who now have a desk and computer installed in their room. The big wardrobe made way for a small chest of drawers in order to accomodate the desk. 

Tank never thought he'd finish his paper so early in the term, and feels rather proud of himself. "I wish my Dad could see me now," he thinks.

He then feeös it may really be time to get rid of the "camouflage" face paint he's been wearing all through his teenage years, and he must admit that he likes himself much better now.

Who would have expected Tank to be such an energetic, if somewhat fierce, dancer! 

Stella is next to finish her term paper.

The townie student keeps following Tank round. He is too polite to leave when she sits at his table uninvited, even though he has finished his meal already.

The next day, we have a couple: Klara and Almeric fall in love autonomously! (He is not "desperate for love" here, just returned from class with a very low fun level.) 

Aldric, too, has completed his term paper.

And after he has given his fun a boost by playing Red Hands with Klara, Almeric finally hands in his paper as well. Phew! 

The next day, Tank decides on his Major to be Drama. Because of this, he now needs two more skill points, but as it is autumn, he acquires them quickly. 

So far, all his efforts to make friends with his dorm mates have been fruitless. While often several of the playables happen to eat at the same time, Tank ends up sharing a table either with the spiky-haired girl or with a mascot. 

He tries his luck with Blossom, but she wants to eat on her own, by the looks of it.

Finally, he is able to join one of the others at the chess table. 

William even sticks around long enough for a conversation afterwards, but although relationship points are as high as 76, they are not friends yet. 

The Davis brothers have breakfast together one morning not long before their end of term exams. "I did not know what I wanted to major in at first, but now I am glad I chose Physics", Aldric explains. 

Then he plays catch with Tank, who is really trying hard to make friends.

Another couple of students fall in love autonomously that same evening when Aldric and Stella return from class together.

Spikey (that's Tank's nickname for her; her real name is Kay Kosmokos) has followed Tank to his room, but he does not even look at her and pretends to be awfully busy at his (switched off) computer. I feel a little sorry for the girl! 

In Stella's room, a typical Mascot fight breaks out. Who is going to win? 

The Llama!

Tank has tried to chat up Blossom... and failed. Poor Tank! But then maybe his choice of time and place was not ideal, what with the cook standing in the middle and Blossom just about to help stacking the dishwasher.

A little later, she can be seen dancing with William. 

In spite of all these happenings, the seven students return from their exams successfully - the first half of Tank's first year here is over, and the second begins right now. 

As always, the start of term passes in a whirlwind of gaining skills, becoming familiar with a new schedule and cramming in meals and phone calls to family and friends whenever possible. 

It is winter now, and I don't think I would still be eating outside when there is plenty of room at the long tables in the cafeteria. And again, Tank is handling his attempts at making friends not very well: Almost as soon as Almeric joins him, Tank has finished his meal - but in spite of remaining at the table to keep his dorm mate company, he heads inside.

Some of the students form study groups, such as Blossom and Stella here. 

Studying together must be really helpful, as Stella is (again) first to hand in her term paper.

Klara and William both need a body skill point, and choose to work out together. 

Tank is really taking this whole college thing seriously and concentrates hard on his term paper.

Once he's finished, he spots a cheerleader in the hall. Oh Tank, pointing and laughing when a cheerleader does a routine is NOT the way to go about it!

But the girl gives as good as she gets, and Tank has forfeited another chance at making a friend (or finding a romantic interest).

Speaking of which, Spikey is still around, and just like during his first term, Tank does not even acknowledge her. 

William has befriended Aaron Hart, an NPC student who because of his "playable" surname is eligible to become a Strangetown resident eventually. He invites him over one evening, and although their relationship is more than good enough for the proposal to move in, no matter how many times I try, the action disappears from William's queue as soon as it should be its turn. Strange, that! Aaron will have to wait until William moves to Strangetown himself, I'm afraid.

Danielle Smith has not really featured yet this "year", but maybe you remember her from the playable students' Freshman Year: Somehow, she does not get along with anyone, but still lives at the dorm. Now, William gets into a fight with her, with Aaron Hart and Almeric Davis looking on. 

Danielle loses the fight, and for several hours afterwards, she and William keep poking and slapping each other. I do wish these two had better things to do! 

It is near the end of his second term here when Tank finally makes his first friend in Almeric Davis.

Now that everyone has completed their term papers, and there is still an entire day to go before their final exams, I send the entire group to The Cacti Café.

Tank meets and greets several female students, such as Tiffany Riley here, but so far none of them has captured his interest.

He HATES disorder and dirt (it comes with growing up in a military household, I suppose), and really suffers when he detects an infestation of bugs outside the café. Well, as long as they are not inside... Anyway, they all head home soon afterwards, hoping to catch some sleep before tomorrow's exams. 

Nearly everybody sits their final exam on VERY little sleep, and the Davis twins are in such a bad mood that I had to drag them out of their beds and made them go - especially Aldric is in full Aspiration Failure mode, and I'm afraid the Junior Term will be off to a bad start for him. (I don't think I have ever had that happen in my game before - students not going to class or to their exams because their mood is so low.)

Nonetheless, all seven have achieved best grades and spots on the Dean's List, and their collective grant money is at over 17,000 Simoleons - maybe I will make a few more improvements to the dorm next time I play here. 

For now, Tank's Freshman Year is finished. As well as he did academically, as little did he achieve socially. One friend, a handful of almost-friends, and not a single romantic interest in sight - he'll have to do better as a Sophomore.