The Highs And Lows of Entertainment

Sophie reluctantly agreed to go to the kegger party at the frat house, despite the fact that it was blowing a gale out there and the campus was covered in thick thick snow.

They assured her that there was a nice warm fire for when she arrived, and oh, did she relish it. She was freezing cold all over, especially her tushy!

Any chance of singing? On partygoer piped up.

Hang on, Sophie replied, just let me thaw out a little. Ohhh that feels so much better.

The radio was on and people were milling around, apparently disinterested. This party was soo going to be lame.

So Sophie grabbed the guitar from it's stand, pulled off her creativity aura - hence the bright luminous green glow - and started playing.

Everyone stopped to listen. Amongst them was Ludo Vicco, whom Sophie immediately farted hearts for ....

... what is it about Sim females and redheads? Really?

The evening drew on and it got later and later. Sophie was starting to feel tired ... and a little worried about making it back to the dorm to rest before class the next day. Plus, her aura was starting to wane too.

Sophie: Guys? I think I'd better go now.
Students: No, no! Stay, you're doing so well. Look, folks are actually staying for the party!
Sophie: O-kay, just two more songs then I'd better head off.

Slowly, the students filtered out, leaving a few stragglers behind. By now, Sophie's fingers were hurting and she could hardly keep her eyes open. Since nobody else was around, and the sofa looked so inviting ... and that fire was lovely and warm. She decided to risk forty winks.

Sadly, that wasn't to be, as the host spotted her and ordered her to leave. Grumbling, she reluctantly made her way back to her dorm and crashed out.

With only a couple of hours sleep, Sophie dragged herself to class. Knowing there was just a small window of opportunity between classes to actually eat something, she snagged a couple of apples from the fridge. Classes had been crap, her concentration was off because of her self inflicted sleep deprivation. So she grabbed a quick nap before sitting down to study ... HARD.

She was joined by a scruffy, stinky Sim with a distinctive body hair problem and tried her hardest to ignore him, but he insisted on chipping in.... constantly.

Hairy guy: Hey, you were at that kegger last night weren't you?
Sophie: Uh, yeah, I guess.
Hairy guy: I heard you were sensational.

She shrugged.

Hairy guy: Must have been one hell of a party. You've got dark circles under your eyes.
Sophie: Gee, thanks for noticing.
Hairy guy: Any chance of making appearances at other parties?
Sophie: I dunno. Listen, I've got to knuckle down here and study ... okay?
Hairy guy: Sure. Whatever.

She threw him a glare and he made his excuses and left. Just then, her phone beeped.

Hey Sophie. Heard you were awesome at the kegger party. Fancy joining us for our bonfire party? It'll be a blast.

Sophie thought about it and shrugged her shoulders.

Sophie: What the hell, I've got two years to study. You're only young once.

She texted back an affirmation and braced herself for yet another party. Unfortunately, this one didn't go down too well. She stood waiting outside for ages, but the music was far too loud and nobody heard the doorbell. So she ended up passing out cold in the snow!

Brushing herself off, she headed back to the dorm, where she received a load of irate texts, all complaining about how she SUCKED!

Yep, sadly, that's the price of fame. The public are fickle indeed. One minute you're on a pedestal, the next you're in the gutter.

Eccentricity Knows No Bounds

The minute Sophie arrived, she received a text message from home.

Hi Soph, good luck with your studies! See you soon and don't give up!

It gave her a much needed smile.

However, the minute she arrived at her dorm to claim her room, she started farting hearts for practically everyone there!

Whoa, hold on there missy, you're here to study. Not to chase after every student that's available!

She had a few minutes before the Student 'Meet and Greet', so she carefully unpacked her brand new easel (that she's spotted en route to campus and couldn't resist buying) and started painting.

She didn't get far. But that's against the point. She was here, she only had two morning classes, so the afternoon and evenings were hers to do as she pleased.

Rather than run, she decided to test out her wings and zoomed along at great speed towards the Student Union building.

She met up with a few interesting folks and immediately struck up a conversation with the llama mascot.

Sophie: So, it's your turn to be the mascot huh?
Mascot: Yep.
Sophie: Bummer. That must suck.
Mascot: Nah. In fact I enjoy meeting all the new faces here.
Sophie: Yeah, well, I'm more of an 'old face'.
Mascot: Oh, a returnee? What's your vocation? What are you studying?
Sophie: Fine Arts.
Mascot: Oh, nice one. I'm still undeclared. I can't decide which degree to choose from. There are so many!

Just then, a lecturer walked in and Sophie and the rest of the students just couldn't help but stare at him. It looked as though he'd taken a dip in the local pool. He ignored all the stares to wipe the white board and scribble down some notes.

Mascot: That must be the new lecturer. I heard he's a little ... um ... eccentric.
Sophie: Sounds as though classes with him will be  ... interesting!
Mascot: Yep. Anyways, I'd better go greet more students, make them feel welcome. And welcome back!
Sophie: Thanks. I'm feeling a little thirsty so I'll just grab a couple of sodas.

Unfortunately, the easel, plus the cost of the moving van, almost wiped out Sophie's pocket money and she was feeling a bit thirsty. So she rattled the vending machine.

Nothing.

She gave it a kick.

Still nothing.

A couple of body slams later and one of the cans jiggled from it's cradle and rolled down into the compartment below. After slugging the free soda down, she decided to whip out her guitar and start playing. After all, she DID have lofty ambitions to sing!

It got the attention of a rather suave looking Sim, who immediately invited her to his frat kegger party on campus.

Frat Boy: You'll be great for entertainment
Sophie: Gee, thanks, but I do need to study you know.
Frat Boy: Oh come on, classes don't start until tomorrow anyways, it'll be fun. And don't forget your guitar. You're really talented.

And that's when Sophie's good intentions went completely out of the window.

Pat Makes His Feelings Well Known

Even though being in the Singer career was a dream come true for Sophie, she found that she didn't quite feel so fulfilled. Ever since finishing her one and only term at college - and failing miserably, she'd had a long standing wish to complete a degree ... ANY degree, just to say she'd done it. Besides, singing wasn't as cracked up as she thought it would be.

Sooooo ... right on Spooky Day, she took the plunge and filled out her aptitude test in the hopes that she would qualify for some funding towards her studies.

Alas that wasn't to be. According to the results, she still hadn't worked hard enough with any of her skills to get even a teeny tiny foothold. But that still didn't stop her. Mind you, the test DID prove to be a little difficult for her this time around. Even the poor postman wasn't much help.

Postman: Morning! Happy Spooky Day!
Sophie: Do you know what the percentage rate is if someone sells a camel at the market and the government takes its cut?
Postman: Sorry, maths wasn't my thing at school.
Sophie: Yeah, mine either. Thanks anyways.

It was then that she spotted Pat. He'd overheard her plans for college and he was not happy.

Pat: So, when were you going to spring THIS surprise on me?
Sophie: I was going to tell you Pat.
Pat: Yeah, whatever.
Sophie: Pat, please. Stop acting like a child.
Pat: A child you say? You know fine well that I'm not allowed to go to college with you.
Sophie: Pat, I did try.
Pat: Obviously not hard enough by the looks of it.
Sophie: Look Pat, I need to do this. And stop being so clingy.
Pat: I hate you. Now go away.

With that he vanished briefly. Obviously to sulk in a corner. The way I see it, considering that he was originally a doll, he's got some serious abandonment issues. And the only solution is to be turned. The problem is, their relationship just isn't that strong enough for Sophie to do that. So she's stuck with a whiny brat of an imaginary friend.

Just then, the rain clouds gathered and deposited a whole bunch of water all over Dragon Valley. But that didn't stop almost everyone gathering to see Sophie off.

Nessa: You going to be okay sis?
Sophie: I'm ... not sure.

She looked frantically around for Pat. She hated leaving with  this bad atmosphere between them. But then she spotted him standing near the doorway, the physical as well as spiritual distance between them VERY noticeable.

Nessa: You know where we are if you need us.
Sophie: Yeah, I know. A phone call away.
Hespa: I'm so envious of you.
Sophie: You could come along too you know!
Hespa: I'm ... not so sure ... you know. Too many people there? It might get a little too crowded for me.
Sophie: Understood.
Blaine: Just go fulfill your wishes kiddo.
Sophie: Thanks.

She glanced across at Pat, who resolutely and defiantly stood with his back still turned. Sighing, Sophie picked up her suitcase and started towards the moving van. Just then, one of the patrol cars that her parents had, pulled up and J1NX1E honked the horn.

J1NX1E: Want a ride?
Sophie: Does mom know you're driving this? More to the point, I didn't know you could drive!?!
J1NX1E: Ah pfft, what she doesn't know won't hurt her.
Sophie: Thanks, but I think I'd be better off in the van.
J1NX1E: Okay, no problem. Don't forget where we all are and have fun!

And so begins a two year course on Fine Arts. Sophie is determined to knuckle down and get that degree - by hook or by crook?

As for Pat?
Well, he'll just have to suck it up and wait for her return

Blaine Attempts to Create a Protege

After a long hard slog of sing a grams, Sophie headed back home to see solace with the chickies. She used to find comfort with Pat. But, with their relationship still teetering on the edge, she found these gold coloured fluff balls soothing .. and adorable. S0NNY patiently waited his/her (I still haven't established a gender for this Plumbot, maybe a male?) turn.

Blaine, in the meantime, rolled a Wish to create a Plumbot of his very own. He'd managed to achieve some basic knowledge on Nanites and Trait Chips. So I put him to work.

And LO! He created .... BL4IN3.

Blaine: Now, remember B2 (his nickname for BL4IN3), you are still a basic model and very fragile indeed.
B4: What's ... 'fragile'
JINXIE: Oh, please...
Blaine: JINXIE, be nice.
JINXIE: I don't have to babysit this thing do I?
Blaine: Not all the time.
JINXIE: Well, I should hope not.

 Unfortunately, by the time Blaine had ... unsuccessfully ... debriefed B4 about how to behave in the house, it was time to go to work. (oh how I have missed the Firefighter Career) This time, he had his work cut out, as a medium sized earthquake hit the town, causing mayhem and damage all over the place.

He would have managed quite well, had he not spent half the night talking to B4 and answering that Plumbot's inane questions. And so his energy levels were quite depleted as he dealt with emergency after emergency.

Thank goodness for Sophie's quick thinking. Whilst heading back home from yet another sing a gram, she spotted a house still ablaze, with Blaine shorted out in the driveway, she popped in and put out the flames. (he seems to be doing that a lot - shorting out)

Blaine realised that he wasn't getting any younger and longed to retire. In fact, it was one of his Wishes (that I'd locked a long time ago). But he still hadn't achieved his LTW. So, unfortunately, he'll have to keep plugging ahead until he has managed to rescue ... 30? 50? Sims? I can't remember. I know he's not far off that target.

Back home, B4 was proving to be quite the opposite of a protege. He wandered around the house, wondering at plenty of things....

.... and having suicidal thoughts about taking a dip in the pool!!!

NOOOO!!! B4, you can't just do that, you'll fry! Hasn't Blaine told you that already?

Also, his memory chip must be malfunctioning because I found him standing right in front of one of the regeneration stations, complaining that his battery was going flat.

Blaine? What have you done? What sort of creature have you created?

Pat Disapproves of the Combo Bathroom

Despite Hespa gaining no qualifications during her life as an imaginary friend/doll. She actually GRADUATED!

Oh and get this .... not one single Sim made any derogatory remark about this 'strange new blue haired creature' in their midst. The Fae Council must be loosening the rules or something. Either that, or they're so used to this 'odd' little family that they've chosen to turn a blind eye - within reason.

Prior to the graduation, everyone was excited. Blaine looked slightly baffled.

Sophie, stuck in her 'sneak' mode, looked as though she'd gotten dressed in the dark in an outfit that I can seriously say W.T.F.????

The sun had broken through the clouds as they all waited for transportation to take them all to the Civic Centre.

For once, Sophie had absolutely nothing in her thought bubble as they gathered outside.

After the proverbial flinging of the mortar board and degree, Nessa approached Hespa and gave her a gift. I can't remember what it was, but Hespa was suitably delighted.

In the meantime, a merman was eyeing Shannon up and down and making all the correct noises of approval. Although I am baffled at his appearance because Dragon Valley is land locked as far as I'm aware.

Maybe there's a secret opening/tunnel that leads from one of the lakes to the open water?

Back home, Pat has decided that he/she does not like the Combo Bathroom in the basement.

Pat: I hate it. It's in my way.

No it's not. It's been there for years. *sigh* some folks are hard to please.

S0NNY EM, has found a brand new pastime.

Looking after the chickies in the chicken coop. I decided that they should be a little more self sufficient and placed the coop in their expansive garden. Rather than fruitlessly pursuing Blaine for affection, S0NNY can channel his/her love into these cute little things instead!

Back On Track

I just checked out the date of the last post and discovered that it was way back in September. Right around about the release of Sims 4. But, I've had my 'play' of 4. Started getting bored with it because I feel I wasn't progressing. More like being 'guided along' in game with no discernible variations that made that game challenging. And so I have returned.

And I never realised just how much I've missed Sims 3!

Really.

There have been some interesting developments during my gameplay so stay tuned for more updates!

In the meantime, as you've probably noticed, I've been creating a brand new banner.