A Family Gathering

Guess what day it is?
Yep. It's Snowflake Day again, and this time, it is Hespa's turn to organise the party. She forgot the decorations and the food .... but she did lay on the music. I tried my hardest, made room for the pile of presents ....

.... and they end up at the front door.
Nice.

 Despite the fact that Hespa is still uncomfortable around people, she was determined to get the whole family together this year. This meant inviting William, Hannah, J1NX1E, S0NNY EM ... even Aunt Teagan.

Blaine stomped off declaring it a bust before the festivities began! How rude.

Oh and for those observant of you, yes there's a butler (haven't got her name yet, stay tuned in future updates). Drea's 'special surprise' for everyone. That was what he was organising in the last update. He also got himself a job too. In the Criminal career. This should be interesting, since his mother in law is in Law Enforcement (DNA Profiler)

Nessa was the first to open her gift. And was pleased that she got exactly what she wanted. A sonoflux guitar!

To celebrate, she strode outside to play her violin to whoever would stand and listen to her. Such is her dedication to her career!

Even the butler - who had literally only just started work that day - got a gift! It was a large, expensive painting that she hoped would go on the walls of her room.

Because Hespa kept her mouth clammed shut and refused to tell anybody what she wanted, got a rainbow light.

She wasn't sure how to take this. I'm guessing it's one of the booby prizes, because of the pop up announcement.

Sophie got a present. She was a little secretive about it though and wouldn't reveal what it was.
We'll find out soon enough.

She managed to grab Hannah and tease her about avoiding mom for so long. Hannah just ducked her head down and continued eating her meal. She wasn't about to spill any time soon.

Despite the poor organization (my fault there), Hespa's first attempt at a gift giving party ... was a raging success!!No doubt, to her horror, she'll be getting party invites for months to come now.

No Love So Enduring

I know I'm skipping back and forth here, but I thought I'd show you this. As I explained earlier, I wanted to try and rotate each Sim within the household, just to make sure that they all have some of their wishes granted.

I'm such a good genie/sim goddess, aren't I?

This time it's the turn of Shannon.

She doesn't want much. She completed her LTW at a very early stage so she simply goes through the motions when it's time for work. She has had fleeting wishes to create a masterpiece of great value and those differ with each fleeting wish. She wants to be friends with Hannah - who by the way, is noticeably absent whenever Shannon tries to call her. She also wants to see William married off. But since both of those Sims are not in the household, they are not under my direct control. So I can see these wishes being completely fruitless.

However, an idea came to me. Since she doesn't really ask for much, and I'm only keeping her needs going, just because. Why not try another angle? And at that moment, I couldn't have timed it better myself, the one Sim that I'd hoped to appear .... did.

The ghost of Austin Powers himself.

He couldn't keep himself away. Something always pulled him to wander the house. And that something - or in this case .... some ONE - was Shannon.

Normally, she'd be fast asleep in bed when he made his nightly hauntings. But as luck would have it, she was wide awake. Insomnia and possible hunger, causing her to wander the house whilst everyone was fast asleep.

She stopped in her tracks as Austin's ghostly form hovered in front of her.

Shannon: Oh, hi there.
Austin: Hi babes, what's up?
Shannon: Can't sleep.
Austin: Aww, why's that? Miss me?

Shannon paused, and sighed, a single tear threatened to spill from one of her pale eyes.

Shannon: I ... I guess so. It's ... so lonely here.
Austin: I know. I've watched you all from afar. And throwing yourself into your work is not a good substitute for companionship.
Shannon: I know. But everyone's growing up so fast, moving out and doing their thing. It's just so quiet around here.
Austin: So, you haven't found anybody else yet?
Shannon: Nobody comes close to you.
Austin: Ah, that's because you picked the best!

She chuckled at his self confidence.

Shannon: You always helped me to smile.
Austin: That, I did. That ... I did.

She sighed again, then paused to look at him. REALLY look at him.

Shannon: I wonder.
Austin: Wonder .. what? What are you scheming ... woman?
Shannon: What it would be like to kiss you one more time?
Austin: I'd reckon it'd be as awesome as it always has been. Why? Want to try?
Shannon: I'd very much like to.

He rubbed his chin and eyed her playfully.

Austin: Well, you know ... we have to do this properly. You know, in the moonlight and stuff. That's how I got you in the first place.

She nodded her assent and followed him - to a degree, brick walls were a bit of a barrier for living Sims - outside, just under the tree where the playhouse was still standing.

Then without warning, she grabbed him, dipped him down and kissed him fully. She suddenly stopped, her cheeks all flushed.

Shannon: I'm .... I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me.
Austin: That's okay, hey, it wasn't just you. It take two to initiate a kiss!

And with that he returned the kiss with a really tender one. The sun was starting to rise over the horizon, and the townsfolk were stirring, getting ready for the day ahead. This meant that he didn't have much time left.

Austin: Don't forget me babes.
Shannon: I won't.
Austin: But don't keep your heart locked up just for me. I'm pretty sure there are many others out there who would appreciate you too. Just don't be too picky. Yeah?

And then, he was gone.

Ahhh  ... love. Eternal and enduring.

Chapter Seventy Four - It's a Salad!

Vacation over, it was time to head back home to the freezing snow covered land of Dragon Valley.
Sophie had gotten the cooking bug, much to Hannah's distress.

Are you SURE you can cook sis?
Yeah, hang on, this is a bit tricky..... wait... oh yeah!
You are chopping up a lettuce there, what's so tricky about that?
It's... technical. ... oh never mind, you won't understand.
How come?
It's.... how the French do it, mkay?

 

When's this dinner going to be ready? I'm HUNGRY!!
Nessa, be patient, this meal can't cook itself!
It's a salad.... sheesh, folks can die of hunger here ya know!!!

William, in the meantime, has suddenly developed a crush on a certain merman that was mooning over Will's mother Shannon.

Wow, he's hot! Wonder what star sign he is?
O-kay.

Speaking of Shannon, bless her, she's got her hands full with a house full of teens.
Poor Hannah was late for work ... again, and Shannon ripped her a new one.

But mom, I was hungry.

I don't care, you are not setting a good example here.
..... grumble grumble .... still hungry come to think of it.
Are you listening to me? You are GROUNDED young lady!

So Hannah slunk downstairs in the basement to sneak a sip of some elixir she'd found in the cupboards there. Still don't know what happened though.

In the meantime, Shannon desperately needed a promotion at work and because she'd fallen behind with her reports, she was going nowhere fast on the corporate ladder.

So, whilst the rest of the family were busy, or sleeping, she took herself into town to find a likely candidate to question.

However, as she was quietly interviewing this cute little Sim, the cold chilly air, and natural fatigue forced her to cut short her line of questioning as she decided to go back home to warm up all snuggly in her bed.

Chapter Seventy Three - Bonjour et Bienvenue à Champs Le Sims

.......... or in other words, hello and welcome to Champs Le Sims, where the weather is always bright and sunny and the locals are most welcoming!

Both William and Sophie arrived at Base Camp, where they decided to spend some time together (or at least Wills was going on his mother's orders to be a chaperone and make sure Sophie wouldn't get up to any kind of mischief)

They visited the local store, where she bought the proverbial incense holder - simply because she was told that this was the 'in thing' at the moment and it'd make all her school friends sooooo jealous to see that this one came from France.

Whilst she was there, she got the attention of a local, who was very keen on wanting to get to know Sophie.
So, she took this opportunity to ask the woman a load of cultural questions.... saying that she needed to know french history for a school project.

Noelle was quite happy to tell her everything she knew about this region of Champs Le Sims, and soon, they got along like a house on fire!! So much so that Noelle even made special arrangements for Sophie and her brother to visit the museum before everyone else!!

Wow, just look at those blinds. How cool are those?

So, taking the opportunity, Sophie hopped onto her newly purchased Kenspa and  took off to the museum, on her own.

Wills followed, but got bored rigid and went back to base camp to play chess.
Um, I don't think he's taking his role as chaperone too seriously. Don't you?

Are you kidding? She can take care of herself, she can't get into too much mischief now can she?
Wills, you ought to remember who she is the daughter of.
And I'm from the same stock 'o great goddess'.

Point taken.

Anyways, hunger got the better of Sophie, so she returned to base camp, where she decided to cater for everybody there, including the locals and the tourists.

Whatcha cooking?
Um, dunno really. Don't fancy burning the place down just yet. Whatcha recommend?
How many cooking skill points do you have?
Um, none.
Autumn salad. Can't go wrong with that.
Yes you can, you can slice off a finger!
Well, just be careful with the knife then.
O-kay.

And so she stood, chopping local fresh produce to make into a tossed salad.

Mmm, looks good.
I got a skill point just for that!
Well done! Chop off any fingers?
Nope.
Excellent!
Hope everyone likes it.
I'm sure they will.

After dinner, Sophie got bored. It was getting pretty dark outside by now, and it was still too early for them to retire to bed just yet. Besides, I think Wills superglued his butt to the chair, as he didn't even budge when Sophie called everyone to dinner.

Wills?
Yeah?
I'm bored. Play catch with me.
It's dark out there.
Don't care, wanna play catch.

*sigh* Fine, if you insist, but don't blame me if we lose the ball in the dark.
YAY!!!!

And that's what they did until Wills stomach started growling and Sophie desperately needed to pee.

Soon it was bedtime, and they retired to bed in the shared dormitory, whilst one of the tourists decided to tell those folks who were still wide awake ..... a ghost story!!!!

Wide awake the next day, Sophie suddenly decides she wants to talk to her twin sister Vanessa and be BFFs with her. So I dutifully oblige, since she had a spare space in her wishes boxes.

Hi sis, how's home? Same old same old? Oh, Champs Le Sims? Awesome. Going to the Nectary today with Wills. Nah, I'm not old enough to drink, so I won't be tasting any nectar. I promise. See ya, byes!

Sooo, whilst Sophie organised her trip to the Nectary, Wills decided to pay a visit to the local coffee shop and ordered Crepes for breakfast.

Crepes being his favourite food btw, he looks so happy there!

Sophie in the meantime, decided to help pick the grapes and other fruits around the orchard and vineyard, whilst Wills finally arrived at the Nectary and placed an order for a nectar making machine!!! Delivery as soon as they get home.

He tried to help Sophie pick fruit, but ended up talking to the trees!! (as you do)

They spent a full day at the Nectary, which meant that because of the remote location, it would have been very late for them to get back to base camp. So they spent the night at the nectary.

But just before they went to bed, they had a go at making some nectar, by wading barefooted in the vats!!

Wills was out  like a light. Sophie, however, had other ideas.
Instead of sleeping, she took a nap because she planned on going fishing before 6am.

Since there was no curfew as such, she could easily do this without any recriminations!!

And so she stayed by the bank of the Seine until the sky turned a beautiful pinky/purple hue with the arrival of the sun!

It was about 6:30am by the time Sophie arrived back at the nectary, and crashed straight out.

Wills, however, still buzzed about making nectar, decided to finish off the task by setting off both nectar makers.

Whilst the fruit was going through the whole brewing process, he decided to take it easy and take in a little sun.
Think there's something missing.

Oh yes, much better!

His nectar turned out just fine. Sophie's however, was vile, but he bottled and labelled it anyways.

It was their last day in Champs Le Sims, and they thoroughly enjoyed their stay. It was at this time that the zombies came out in full force.

One, getting a lot of attention from the locals!

Against her promise to her sister, Sophie DID try a nectar tasting session, and by the looks of it, she can't handle her wine!

Sophie, I think you need to aim the glass a little more to your left.... NOOO, your 'other' left!!!

Prior to that, she'd chosen ice cream for lunch!!

Sims have really odd tastes in food, don't they?