Monday, February 26, 2018

Gen 7 Ch 19: Love and Loss



As spring brought sunny weather and warmer temperatures to Appaloosa Plains again, Adam’s garden was thriving.


So were the puppies.

Scout watched them run. The humans had given them names; Finn and Jake; but to Scout those sounds had no meaning. What these young ones were to him was something more intangible. A concept, or perhaps simply a primal feeling: pack.

But according to Grace, Scout was a proud daddy worried for his rapidly growing children.


Undoubtedly, she was just ascribing her own complex emotions to the animal.

With tears of pride in her eyes, Grace listened to Hazel go on about the various honors and AP courses she had taken on in preparation for college.


She knew that their neighbors, the Brooks, had to be feeling just as proud of their son.


Like Hazel, Aidan was preparing to go to college, he told Grace. Of course it wasn't all work and no play for him - he loved being outdoors, but when the weather was bad like today, he was perfectly content to spend an afternoon helping out around the house.

Grace couldn't have been happier with her daughter's choice of boyfriend.


 Over breakfast, she gushed about how amazingly responsible the two teens were.

"Oh, this is so exciting! I'm a Sim State alumna, did you know? I was in their arts program, but science, wow! I always knew you were smart, from the very beginning. Didn't I tell you I thought she was a genius when she learned to talk so quickly, honey?"

"Yes you did, love," Adam smiled. Then, turning to Hazel, he added, "We're very proud."

"And now you're already preparing for college. My little baby, all grown up!"

"It's still a while until then, Mom," Hazel mumbled past a mouthful of French toast.

"Oh I know sweetie, but I'm still so excited for you! Going to college is a great experience. Being around all these brilliant minds all the time is just so stimulating! And it'll give you an incredible head start in your career."


"Sim State also has an excellent music program, as far as I remember," Grace added nonchalantly, glancing over at Hux. "They say it's never too late to--"

Huxley's glare silenced her mother mid-sentence.

"I know, I know," Grace threw up her hands placatingly, "You've got your band, yes. And I'd never dream of telling you to give that up," she sighed. Then, turning back to her food, she added quietly, "I was just thinking that getting a degree couldn't hurt your career, now could it?"

Huxley stood up and retreated upstairs.


A few hours later across town, the students of Crestview High were piling into the school bus to go on a field trip...


... to Wolfson's Research Facility, one block down the street.

Hazel was appalled at this gross waste of resources.


She and Aidan looked forward to checking out the research facility though. Yay, science!


Still, Hazel wished that more people would opt for more eco-friendly modes of transportation. On a beautiful day like this, why would anyone choose to be stuck in a metal cage that spewed poison into the clean air?


Huxley enjoyed the beautiful weather in her own way. She'd hopped on her motorcycle, ignoring her sister's protest, stopped at the first place that caught her attention and had simply started to play. Her mother would be aghast to know that her daughter was busking at the park, Hux thought with a grin.

Onlookers tapped their feet to the rhythm and tossed a few coins into the open guitar case. Some of them would hum parts of the half-forgotten melody as they hurried along their daily lives today, but sooner or later a random advertising jingle or pop song from the radio would push Huxley and her song out of their minds.

Huxley didn't care. Recording her music for posterity was the furthest thing from her mind. She hadn't written down a single note or recorded one song. Each composition was an expression of her soul at the very moment, and thus as fleeting as her feelings themselves. Singing the exact same song twice would have been as impossible as it was meaningless.


In the meantime, Hazel and Aidan went over their problem for the hundredth time.


They'd come to the Appaloosa County Nature Preserve for a date, but as soon as they'd set up their picnic, the conversation returned to the same topic again.


"You know they never listen to students about stuff like this," Aidan cautioned.

"There's a first time for everything. Besides, it's not like we're saying there's something inherently wrong with school buses - it's just the way they're using them that's the problem."

"It's a mindset thing," Aidan reflected, "a symptom of something that's an issue all over this town. It's almost like we're surrounded by so much nature that people never learned to value it as something fragile. It's going to be difficult to change people's minds about something that everyone around them considers a fact."


"We'll just have to start somewhere," Hazel said, "one step at a time."

*


Another day, another audition. Well, to be honest, Ethan Parrot had been the only other sim to show any interest in joining the band since Benni Hennessey. But still, Offbeat Autonomy was happening. Benni with her giant ribbon and bubbly attitude had grown on Huxley, and so Hux didn't even consider replacing the blonde with the arguably more suitable Ethan.

No, there was only one more spot left in the band and Ethan was a great musician, but Huxley had secretly been holding out for someone different to join.


Huxley's old friend Meadow Brooks had recently graduated high school and was now legally able to join a band.


"I'm sorry Hux," Meadow smiled apologetically, "but I've got a real job now."

Hux resisted the urge to scream that yes, she too had a real job, thank you very much. But they'd been friends for a long time, and Hux knew that Meadow had never had a good filter.

"I'm in politics now, like my mom," Meadow continued, "For now they're having me do small stuff, like polishing the podiums and such. But - and that's a huge secret, so don't tell anyone - Mom is going to run for mayor and when she does, I'll get to help out with her campaign as an intern!"

*


 Spring frosts were still common during this time of the year, but nothing could warm a heart like the Appaloosa County Spring Fair Love Day festivities.

(At least that's what the flyer said.)


 Finally Hux and Theo had gotten together a full band. Like Benni, Ethan had grown on Hux, and so Offbeat Autonomy played their first ever gig at the spring festival. There was no pay, but they were allowed to use the musical instruments the city provided and the free publicity was nothing to sneeze at.


Grace was also at the festival, enjoying some well-earned time off from work.

She'd reached great heights in her career, but once she might have dreamed of flying even higher.


Now she knew that she was happiest closer to the ground.


Besides, Adam had his ways of making Grace feel like she was on cloud nine.


Hazel and Aidan spent their Love Day date doing extracurricular work. Having thoroughly discussed and evaluated their ideas, they were now finalizing a proposal for how to make Crestview School go green.

Their plan included providing bicycles as an alternative to short bus rides, school meals made from locally grown ingredients and, most of all, keeping the principal's office securely locked to save on toilet paper.

They couldn't be sure that the administration would even consider implementing these measures, but they had a great time working together regardless.


In the meanwhile, two more lovebirds had made their way back to the house.


When hunger caused them to leave their cozy nest, they found Hazel and Aidan already at the dining table.

"Come, sit," Hazel invited them, beaming, "We made enough salad for everyone. It'll be like a double date!"

Theo joined in happily, but Hux suddenly felt a tight knot forming in her stomach.


After hastily scarfing down her food, Hux waved a nonchalant goodbye to Theo and fled upstairs.


She just couldn't handle any more of the teenagers' lovey dovey crap.


If Theo had hoped to stay the night, he was disappointed. Huxley crawled into bed alone and quickly fell into a fitful sleep, plagued by nightmares of binding ropes and clipped wings.



Across town there was another sim who would go to bed alone that night.


Grace watched her father pour the tea, remembering the first time she had visited this house. She'd been bewildered by all the things she seemed to recognize about her absent mother; peculiarities Grace had come to think of as uniquely her own. Finding out that they had been her mother's first had not bothered Grace however, and had instead filled her with a profound sense of belonging.

And now Charity was gone. She'd passed away on Love Day, of all days, and left Freddie to fend for himself once again.


Unwilling to leave her elderly father alone in his bereavement, Grace stayed to cook Freddie dinner instead of spending the evening with her husband. Adam would understand. Love Day was about more than just romance, Grace reflected. It meant showing love to your family too.

***


Hux did not make any plans to meet with Theo the next day, opting to visit an old friend instead. Meadow Brooks had a surprise that made Huxley realize just how long the two young women hadn't seen each other.


The straw blonde hair gave it away: her newborn son's father was Josh Wells.


"It's totally romantic, really," Meadow started off her tale. She'd been dating the son of her mother's political opponent, secretly making big plans for their future together. But once Meadow had officially declared her affiliation with her mother's political party, Josh had decided to break things off. He did not want to jeopardize his inheritance, apparently.

Now Meadow was a single mother, living in her parents' tiny house and sharing a bedroom with her teenage sisters.


"We're like, totally like Romeo and Juliet," Meadow insisted, "For now we have to stay apart because of our parents, but in the end we'll be together again."

Huxley seemed to recall that this particular story did not have a very happy ending. However, her deep frown was not for that, or for the fact that Meadow had been dating Josh - it was because of what had become of her friend.

Meadow had always used to be so zesty, but seeing her now was just sad; sitting at home all day with a baby to raise, waiting for a man to give her life meaning again. Hux could not imagine ever living like that.


That very night, Huxley made a decision.


The tearful goodbye followed just a few days later.


Adam was reluctant to let his baby girl go, but knowing that Aidan was going to be with her was a small comfort. "Watch out for my pretty girl, alright?"

Aidan grinned. "I think Mrs Cardwell can take care of herself, sir."

"Oh, you charmer," Grace giggled.


Hazel, in the meantime, had managed to corner her older sister. "Isn't Theo coming to see you off?"

"Didn't tell him I was leaving," Hux muttered.

Hazel fixed her sister with her big, sad eyes and frowned. Her lower lip jutted forward the way it had used to when she'd still been a toddler, about to cry.

"I'll call him when we're there!" Hux snapped, "Lose the puppy dog eyes, will you? Sheesh. It's not like we're never coming back."


 The way their parents acted could have made one suspect otherwise.


But finally, they disentangled themselves from their hugs, grabbed the last of their bags and boarded the moving van.


And after one last glimpse of Hazel and Aidan's beloved nature park, it was off to college for the three of them.



_______________

Not that anyone asked for it (except for Becky. <3U Becky!), but I've put Barney's up for download on SimFileShare! You can get it as a .package or .sims3pack file.

Since I just made this stuff for myself, I didn't pay attention to how much store content I was using, so there's quite a lot. That's why I also created a handy simblr with a nicely organized post and store content list! Check it out.

I'll be gradually uploading more builds and probably poses and other stuff I haven't shared yet over there. If you have a simblr too, please let me know here or on tumblr so I can follow you! :D


Oh yeah, a word of caution if you end up downloading Barney's: there's no bouncer, so anyone can just walk in.


... I think I heard a joke like this once.

Friday, February 23, 2018

Gen 7 Ch 18: Offbeat Autonomy



"The Appaloosa Philharmonic Orchestra is hiring new talent," Grace remarked over breakfast, "They're having auditions at the Teeter Theater all week."

Huxley ignored her mother's obvious hint, stuffed one last bite of mushroom omelette into her mouth and got up. "I'm going out," she announced, "Don't wait up with dinner." The door slammed behind her before Grace could protest.

Huxley's mother had never understood that being employed in the industry would destroy everything Hux loved about music. In the days since her graduation, Huxley had felt free like she never had before. She made her own hours, played music when and where she wanted and didn't answer to anyone besides herself. True, she hadn't earned any money yet, but that was going to change as soon as she finally got her band off the ground.


This morning she made her way to Irina's Irish Pub - a bar that had about as much to do with Ireland as its mysterious Russian owner - and began to play.


To the casual observer it may have seemed as though she made her song up as she went, making her appear as some rare genius of musical improvisation. In reality, the building blocks of this particular composition had been floating around her subconscious mind for days, haunting her in quiet moments and during sleepless nights. Rage, regret and frustration manifested themselves as chords and riffs in Huxley's head, crashing like waves against a dam ready to burst. Now, finally, her restless mind found release as the words poured from her mouth and her fingers danced over the strings.


It was Huxley's song, and she'd taken the lead without question, but Theo had no trouble keeping up.


So far their band had only two members, no publicity and no gigs, but what they did have was a name: Offbeat Autonomy.


The gracious barkeeper had given them permission to perform here during the slower morning hours. It wasn't a real gig, but it was something. Unfortunately the patrons were more interested in the handsome mixologist than the musicians up on stage.


The metallic strings reverberated throughout the guitar's wooden body and through Huxley's own. She messed up a chord but continued to play without pause, weaving the mistake into the song and making it a part of her music.

A poetically inclined sim may have called this a metaphor for Huxley's life. Luckily no such sim was around, as they would surely have been acquainted with her fist for this observation.


Still, something about this poor guy's face seemed to piss Huxley off.


Benjamin Schmidt had just returned from a long night shift at the military base and all he'd wanted was a quick drink to unwind. And suddenly there was this chick all up in his face, making fun of his uniform! He'd teach her to respect him!


On second thought, nope. Man, this chick was crazy!


Lucky for Flight Officer Schmidt, Theo intervened.

"Come on Hux, leave him be," he said calmly, "We've got to be at Barney's at noon, remember?"


That was about the only thing that could've gotten through to Huxley in this situation. Offbeat Autonomy needed new members and the only person to respond to their flyers so far had been Benni Hennessey, who had agreed to audition at Barney's that day.


Benni wasn't half bad at the bass and apparently also willing to try her hand at other instruments, should the need arise.


However, there was just something about her that wasn't quite in line with what Hux had had in mind for Offbeat Autonomy's image.


 "She seems fine," Theo shrugged, "very enthusiastic."

"I know, isn't it weird? And what's up with that giant ribbon?"

Theo shrugged again. "She's the only one who's interested so far, and people won't take us seriously until we've got more members." He glanced at his cell and quickly shoved it back into his pocket. "Anyway, gotta run. Mike needs me. I'll leave it up to you, Hux!"

Theo hadn't given up his job at the auto repair shop in favor of pursuing music. In fact, he'd been hired full time now.

After Theo's high school graduation, his mother Sherry had informed him that she had a new boyfriend, a new house and a new baby on the way and that there was going to be no more room in her life for Theo.

So, out on his own and determined not to accept any charity, Theo had to work tirelessly to scrape by.


Left alone with a big decision on her hands, Huxley turned to the mixologist for a stiff drink and sage advice. "What do you think?" she asked, "You've seen us play. Should I let her join the band?"


The mixologist watched the animated bassist for a while, thoroughly considering her reply. "Beggars can't be choosers," she said finally.

*


Confined to the indoors by the frequent snowstorms, Adam often chose to spend quality time with his young daughter.


But all too soon, reading books with her daddy wasn't Hazel's idea of a fun afternoon anymore.


At least Scout was still a loyal companion to Adam. Even though his limbs ached with every step and his fur had grown grey, he never left his human's side during the day.


But at night, while everyone was asleep, Scout would quietly traipse outside on his own, to then run across fields and empty roads.

Things to do, places to be, apparently.


Come spring, the family found out what those things had been.


Scout bounded excitedly towards the visitors that had arrived on the edge of the property one morning, but Huxley approached with a bit more apprehension.


Benjamin Schmidt immediately swooped down on her and huffed, "Figures that this scoundrel would be yours!"

"What the hell," Huxley shot back, "What has my dog ever done to you?"

"He violated my poor Ralston!"


"There! He's doing it again," Ben fumed, gesturing at the two dogs who were happily licking each other's muzzles. "Ralston! Get away from him! Leave it! Leave it, I said!"

The dog obeyed reluctantly, albeit with a resentful look at its owner. Turning to Huxley again, Benjamin did not drop his commanding tone of voice, "Get your dog under control, will you? My poor Ralston, giving birth to these mutts!"


"So 'Ralston' gave birth?" Huxley taunted, miming air quotes.

"I thought she was a male when I named her and now she won't listen to anything else, okay?" Benjamin Schmidt was defiant, though obviously annoyed. "But that's not the point! The point is that your mongrel violated my purebred German Shepherd and now I have these little mutts to deal with!"


"Leave them here then," Huxley snarled, "and scram, because right now there’s no one here to keep me from whooping your ass!"


After Benjamin had hurriedly affixed a leash to Ralston and strutted away, Huxley approached the woven basket on the ground.


Even though Huxley was loath to agree with that pompous jerk, she couldn't deny the family resemblance.


"Guess you're a single dad now, huh?" she said to Scout, who let out a whimper.


But of course the family dog would not be left to rear his pups by himself. They found a spot in the barn, right beside the horse stall where it was warm and cozy, and procured two brand new pet beds.

Scout, possibly overwhelmed with this much responsibility in his old age, showed his gratitude to his humans with a hug and many slobbery kisses.





______________

Has Hazel been wearing the same overalls since she was a toddler?!

Ahem, moving on...

You'll have noticed that although Huxley is a young adult now, we're still on generation 7. Yup, Hazel is the heir. But, fret not, because - drumroll - Huxley gets to stick around as help! Yay, finally a "+ help" roll! I've been wanting one of those so badly :D

So Hux got a head start on her career as a busker. The gem of a name that is Offbeat Autonomy came from a random band name generator. Another strong contender was Sushi Surveillance XD

Btw, for now I'm continuing to not edit the pics since it hasn't been an issue apparently and also I'm lazy :P But please, feel free to tell me if there is a problem after all, even if you're reading this much later.