Finding The One

Goth House, week 1: Mortimer, Cassandra, Alexander, and two new additions.

Cassandra: I've always wanted a big family. A loving husband, lots of children... That's all that really matters to me. I fell in love with Don, only to realize that he didn't particularly like the idea of getting married or having children - but I still loved him! I couldn't just stop. If I could make myself love the right sim, I probably would be married to Darren by now, but I just didn't feel that way about him, even if he is attractive. I loved Don.

And Don loves to woohoo. With anyone - he told me that up front, I guess I should give him credit for that. He told me when we got engaged that he'd be dating others as well, and I, well, I guess I was so in love that I accepted it. We did woohoo ourselves too, of course, and maybe I wasn't as surprised as he was when I ended up pregnant... Well, he knew I wanted children, didn't he? If I have to accept that he dates others, he'll have to accept that I'm going to have children.

Alexander: My sister Cassandra is the worst cook ever. She burns stuff every single time - she'll put a toaster pastry in the oven, then wander off to play the piano or something, and forget all about it until the fire alarm starts blaring. We had firemen showing up constantly here for a while, until Dad and I managed to convince Cass to stick to simple things like cereal and sandwiches until she'd had the baby and was a little less, um, ditzy?

But I guess she'd tell you it wasn't all bad. She met Mitch.


Cassandra: I've never known such happiness as the day my daughter was born. I didn't know it was possible to love someone this much. Here's this baby, this perfect little creature, and she came from me. I don't have words to tell you what I'm feeling right now.

I'm going to call her Daphne.


Mortimer: I have a grandchild! Isn't that amazing news? I couldn't wait to tell Brandi, so I asked her out for a date. We hadn't seen each other for a bit, because I'd been so focused on my studies, so she was very happy to hear from me. The dear girl, I think she was starting to wonder if I was losing interest. That's not very likely - Brandi makes me feel young again. It's because of her that I've found the energy to get back to my books, instead of moping around the house all day doing nothing, and I told her so.


While Brandi was talking about children, both her boys and Cassandra's little girl, I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Nina Caliente was standing across the room, staring daggers at us. It made me feel quite uncomfortable, to be honest. There was never more than a flirtation between me and her sister Dina, but apparently Nina feels otherwise. I ended that date fairly quickly - but the next time Brandi and I went out, Nina was there again, at the love maze, and when we continued on to a restaurant, she soon showed up there as well! I'm starting to worry about Brandi's safety...


Alexander: I'm a teenager! Finally! I decided right away that I'm going to be like Cass and have lots of kids. Now it's just a matter of finding the right guy to have them with... Girl! I mean girl, of course! Stupid slip of the tongue.

Anyway, I grew a beard. Beards are sexy, don't you think? And then I called up the matchmaker and asked her for a blind date. I mean, what's the point of having tons of money if you don't spend it on the things that matter? So that's how I met Tosha, and we hit it off right away. It was great. I really like her - the only thing that could be better is if she wore just a dab of cologne...

But I decided I wasn't going to stop looking around, if you know what I mean. It's the biggest decision I can imagine, after all, who I'm going to spend the rest of my life with. So I called the matchmaker again - but this time, she set me up with a boy! Her hearing must be going, because I asked for a female date!

Matchmaker: Nothing wrong with my hearing, boy. You asked for a male, and you got one.

Alexander: I did not!

Well, uh, I ended that date right away, of course. But then the next day Alon called me to ask me out, and, well, I did spend a lot of money on a date that never happened, so I figured I should at least give it a try... And we had a blast. Really. Alon is so amazing, and I find myself having all these feelings for him. Now I'm all confused. I don't know how to feel!


Cassandra: Men can be such jerks. And through it all, they'll insist that they're the ones that have been wronged!

I should start at the beginning, probably. Well, that would be when the stove caught on fire this one time - shut up, Alex! - and I met Mitch the firefighter. He's... he's... He has red hair! I've always had a soft spot for red hair. And he's sexy, and he likes children. I thought, since Don dates others, why shouldn't I? So I asked Mitch out - and who do you think shows up, and starts acting affronted?


Yes, Don Lothario, acting horrified that I had the gall to see someone that wasn't him. Why is it okay for him but not for me, I'd like to know? It made me furious. Well, I wasn't going to let Don get his neanderthal way, so Mitch and I continued our date, and through it all, Don sat there staring at us, fuming. The date went quite well in spite of that, and maybe because of the way Don was behaving, I decided he needed another taste of his own medicine - so Mitch and I snuck into the photo booth at Red's...


There was one other funny thing about that date. After Mitch left, as I was about to head home, I noticed this very pale woman in an old-fashioned red gown standing in the foyer. I'd never seen someone looking like her before, so I thought I should talk to her - but just then the sun came up, and she made this hissing sound and ran away! I could swear there was smoke coming from her!

Very strange...


The next day when I woke up, I knew what I needed to do. I'm going to break up with Don, and ask Mitch to marry me. The whole engagement to Don was a mistake from the beginning, I was just too lovesick to see it. Mitch and I are much better suited to each other, and I love him even more than I thought I loved Don. That was just a dream, a fantasy - this is the real thing, I'm sure of it. And it's going to be better for Daphne, too, to know where things stand. She's a toddler now, already learning to walk and talk. You should've seen Dad's face when she said "Gwampa" for the first time! Oh, I love my family.


Well, before I could work up the nerve to call Mitch, he called me. He wanted me to come out with him on another date, and of course I agreed. But then, just as I was getting ready to drive off, I felt this movement in my belly... And I realized, oh my goodness, I'm pregnant! Well, I couldn't very well go haring off to night clubs in my condition, so I called Mitch back and asked him to come over here instead, and when he did, I asked him to move in with me. He said yes!

But he's still grouching about me standing him up. I don't understand - he knows it's because I'm pregnant, with his child I might add, and he knows I love him enough to want to live with him. I even told him that as soon as I see Don so I can give his ring back, I want to marry him! But Mitch still feels I stood him up by not coming to that date.

Men!


Moved in: Mitch Larrea, adult, family, Cancer, 6/8/0/8/3, turn-ons fatness and glasses, turn-off fullface make-up, LTW marry off six children
Grew up: Alexander, family, turn-ons facial hair and cologne, turn-off brown hair, LTW graduate three children
Born: Daphne, Gemini, 1/7/8/5/4

On The Prowl

Lothario House, week 1: Don

Don: I am Da Man! Everybody loves me - guys, gals, probably aliens too, only they're not around to tell me so. I am the most wanted sim in Pleasantview! Just ask the Caliente sisters, or Kaylynn Langerak, or Cassandra Goth...

Uh, yeah. Cassandra. There's that little problem of an engagement that I'm not sure how or why I ever agreed to. Don't get me wrong, she's pretty and everything - not to mention loaded - but she's kinda... dull. Variety is the spice of life, as they say. For once, "they" know what they're talking about!

So I date others. Big deal. It's not like Cass doesn't get her fair share of me, so why should she complain? I can go out with someone like Briallen Parry - yeah, that's a weird name, isn't it? - and still romance Cass later that night. Hey, I can manage lots of dates in one day, especially if I'm not working!


Then after you've been on a date, they sometimes call you up to ask if you wanna go out with a group of other people. It's not as much fun as one-on-one dating, of course, but it's a good way to meet new people - who you can get a private date with later on, if things turn out well...


I've discovered that guys are just as much fun as girls. In a different way, but sometimes you're in the mood for something different. Variety, I tell you. If I were to stick to one kind or the other, there wouldn't be half as many sims to seduce, and where's the fun in that?


It only gets tricky when someone sees you and gets all upset. Like Kaylynn when she saw me and Daniel Pleasant together. I mean, really, if she's been carrying on with both of us, how can she get angry about us having a bit of fun together, huh? That's just hypocricy, if you ask me. And Nina Caliente is a romance sim herself, she should understand, instead of going berserk because I was kissing Abhijeet. I thought she was going to rip my head off!


Speaking of Abhijeet... Photo booths can be used for other stuff than taking pictures, did you know that? Wow, that was just... the thrill of knowing everybody could hear us, and see the booth moving. I guess I'm a bit of an exhibitionist, but there's nothing wrong with that, is there?


I'm starting a collection of roses. I'm such a fun date, people bring me flowers afterwards, and my whole rooftop is full of bouquets. I'm going to need more space soon. Sometimes, when my date is extra special grateful, they'll give me a present, too.


In fact, the other day - on my day off, so I'd had plenty of time for dates - I netted several bouquets of roses, two hot tubs, and a pinball game. Isn't it great being loved? It more than made up for the trash can being kicked over. I suspect Kaylynn or Nina did that. Probably Nina, she lives right next door, after all. And she's very temperamental. Word of advice - don't cross her.


Gotta go now - I have a date lined up! Talk to you later.

Scariest concept ever?

The Dating Scene

Dreamer House, week 1: Darren and Dirk

Darren: Women. Who can understand them? Not me, I'll tell you that!

Take Cassandra, for instance. I've been in love with her for a long time, but she only had eyes for that loser Don Lothario. Still, I never gave up hope that she'd come to her senses. So when I got a phone call from her one night, asking me to come downtown with her, I thought... Well, it got my hopes up, to say the least.

But then I find out she meant for us to be part of a group - and Don was there, too! What's going on in her head? She knows I hate the guy, she knows I'm in love with her, and she invites me out with them so I can watch them smooch? No way! I'm not taking that quietly, that's for sure - a sim's gotta have some self-respect!

Afterwards, I went and sat down by the bar to drown my sorrows. After a couple of poured ones, I decided the bartender was hot. I mean, she wasn't Cassandra, but Cass didn't care about me anyway, she'd made that clear, and... Well, I figured I'd go home before I made a complete fool out of myself, but I did get Valerie's phone number. That's the bartender, Valerie.

Turns out she was still hot the next day. We dated a couple times, had ourselves a roll in the hay... I felt kinda bad about it afterwards, like I was using her or something, but I never led her to believe we were gonna get married or anything. I know she wants to get married and have lots of kids, but that's just not what I want right now, you know? Darleen and I were planning a big family, but she died. Then I thought Cass and I were going to end up together, but that wasn't in the cards, either. So for now, I'm just looking for a good time. But there's this little voice inside me that whispers I was only using Valerie to get back at Cassandra...


I stopped calling her after that, because I felt so bad about it. Chalk it up to a rebound thing, maybe. Like getting a haircut and buying a car - Dirk likes to tease me about having a mid-life crisis. But hey, I can indulge myself a little, right? We sold the computer and some statues to be able to afford the car (and the bills) but man, was it ever worth it!


Dirk is doing really well, too. He seems to have bounced back okay after losing his mother - as much as any kid can. He's still seeing that Pleasant girl, Lilith, and for all her attitude, she seems a nice enough kid. I do worry about my son sometimes, like when he comes home with stories about playing poker with vampires, but I gotta trust him to be able to take care of himself. He's too old for me to monitor his every move, and besides, he's gotta learn sometime, right? He's doing okay.


Well, like I said, I stopped seeing Valerie. But then I met Angharad Parry, and this time, I knew it was the real thing. She and I could've been made for each other, I swear. She likes all the same things I do - we even have the same favorite food! I don't know many adults who understand my fascination with toys, but she does. And she's not looking for a big family, either, she just wants a career - if anyone will hire her, seeing that she's not as young as she used to be.


We had an amazing time dating. She's just moved to Pleasantview with her late brother's family, she says. That's her sister-in-law, her nephew and two nieces, and a great-niece. They don't really have a good place to live yet, so we always met either downtown or at my place, but that's okay by me.

Dirk and I are managing to make ends meet, somehow. I do feel a bit guilty that he's working when I'm not, but he says he understands about my painting, and he loves his job, anyway. He got promoted to EMT! He says he wants to be a doctor when he finishes college - imagine that!


Sometimes Lilith brings him gifts after an especially good date. One night there were two vases on our porch when we woke up in the morning, and I thought to myself Man, that must've been some date! until I realized one of them was from Angharad. That really touched me, because I know her family doesn't have much money... And that's when I knew what I wanted to do.


On our next date, I asked Angharad Parry to be my wife. I'm happy to say that she accepted. I'm getting married!

Let's smustle!

Dead Broke

Broke House, week 1: Brandi, Dustin, Beau and baby Marlon

Brandi: Well, it's not easy raising two kids alone, you know. Especially not when you hardly have any money! So after Skip died, I decided to get myself a job. I found one as a security guard that promised decent pay, and since it was a night time thing I figured Dustin could babysit and I wouldn't have to pay for a nanny. I mean, they'd be asleep most of the time. And we did need the money.

Then there was this old woman showing up on my doorstep, telling me she could set me up with the man of my dreams. I told her I'd met the man of my dreams, married him, and then he died - but she told me there were other men out there. I thought Why not? so I gave her some money. Apparently not enough, because she complained about it, but she knew I was poor, didn't she? She set me up with the mailman, and, well, it just wasn't meant to be. He's nice enough, but not the guy for me.


Well, I wasn't going to throw away more money on that gypsy, so once Dustin got home from school, I told him to look after Beau and took a little trip downtown. Just to check things out, you know? And that's when I saw him.


Mortimer Goth is HOT! And when I worked up the nerve to talk to him, he said the same thing about me. Yeah, so he's a bit older, but I don't mind that. He's a real gentleman, but he never made me feel like I'm only a foundation away from trailer trash (like some people say). Anyway, I had to get home to the boys, but we exchanged phone numbers, and I was feeling real hopeful.

Until I had to rush to the bathroom to throw up right after I came home. Oh man, another baby on the way. How am I going to afford to feed three kids?


Dustin: Yeah, so, my mom is like, desperate to find a new man. Doesn't she miss Dad at all? I do, all the time. He was just the greatest dad ever!

But I have Angela to keep my mind off things. Whenever I'm feeling down, I take her out on a date, and she makes it all better. It's nice to have someone to talk to, you know? I guess that's what I like about her. (Author's note: Dustin and Angela only have one bolt for each other, and he has red hair as a turn-off.)

But then this one time when we were sneaking out together at night, we got busted by the cops. I was real scared at first, thinking they'd clued in on what I do for a living, but I guess they're not smart enough for that. They just took us home and gave us a lecture. Mom, she didn't care much, she was too busy thinking the cop was hot. Jeez, she really goes for those geeky nerdy types... But then she did get a job as a cop herself, so maybe that's it?


I got promoted at work! Yay me! Then I went downtown to try to earn some extra cash by DJing. Well, let's just say I didn't exactly get the hippest people in town to get up on the dance floor... But I'll get better, you can be sure of that!


Sometimes it seems time just flies by, you know? Beau is in school already, and then Mom had the new baby. She named him Marlon - man, he's going to get more teased than I ever was. Mom has this thing for old movies, see... And the guys that star in them. Well, it could be worse. Anyway, Marlon is a toddler already, crawling around all over the place - I've got to teach him to walk - and of course I have to share my room with Beau. That's cool - we sold the pinball machine a long time ago, to help pay the bills.


Brandi: You'll never know how proud I am of Dustin for getting his act together! He's getting As now, brings home money, helps take care of his brothers... They both adore him. Sometimes I think they like him better than me!


I decided to cut my hair. I mean, if I'm going to be seeing a guy like Mortimer, I need to look a bit more sophisticated, don't you agree? It turned out pretty good, I think. Well, then I asked him out on a date. It was dreamy, except for that old bag Crumplebottom who went nuts when she saw us kissing. I wish she'd just take her bag and knock herself out with it! Well, then we had another date, and another, and another... We went bowling, we had dinner, we danced - you name it, we did it. (Giggle.) Yeah, that too! After we declared our love for each other, I invited him to my place and we snuck into my bedroom for some private time. Beau and Marlon were asleep, and Dustin was hanging out with some friend of his outside, so...


Oh, yeah, after one of our dates, Mortimer came by late at night to drop off a present for me. A big old statue! Now, what does he think I'm going to do with a statue, when I don't even have a couch or a desk in my house? Put it in a corner and look at it once in a while? Nah - I sold it, of course, and used the money to add a room to the house. We're going to need it - I've applied to adopt a child, and I was approved. Yeah, I know that sounds crazy, but finances aren't as bad as they were, and I really want a daughter... Of course, all that was before I started to suspect that Morty got me pregnant! So now I'm going to have five kids? Well, Dustin says he'll be going off to college, but still - I'll have to convince Morty to move in. I can't do it all alone. And it's his baby, anyway.


Dustin: Oh man oh man oh man, I just met the most amazing girl! Her name is Cara, I met her at work, and she is so incredibly pretty! I can't believe how wonderful she is! The very night we met, I asked her out on a date, and we spent the night just talking and flirting and kissing... At one point mom pulled me aside and told me Angela was ringing the doorbell, but I told her not to open the door. I mean, Angie's nice - but Cara! Oh man! I think I'm in love!

Maybe I can persuade her to come to college with me...


Born: Marlon Broke, Aries, 10/9/7/8/1