Prologue | Rules for this challenge | Chapter 0.2

Generation Zero: Beige - Starts with a HUMAN Sim

Appearance: Dark Blonde Hair, poor clothing style
Traits: Slob, Childish, Clumsy
Aspiration: Pick whatever you'd like. (Your goal this
generation is only to become a Mermaid and have your heir)
Occupation: Part Time Jobs ONLY
House Goal: None
Lot Trait: Off the Grid

A/N: This challenge is written in first person, and I started her as a teen for the purpose of the story. Also, I am ignoring the “don’t travel to other worlds” until she actually moves to Sulani. Poor Jazmin was miserable most of the chapter, as you can tell from her plumbbob in the pictures. But she kept fighting, and I’m really starting to like her.

Well, the storm never did let up last night, and I ended up eating in the pouring rain. But at least it was food. Soggy, but it filled the belly, which was important. Never have I had a better-tasting hot dog, even if the edges were a bit burnt.

I also got to meet a few of the area teens.. although I tried not to get too close to any of them, fearing that they might turn me in if they found out I was a runaway.

The morning was just as rainy, but I got to work okay, and did the best I could to learn what they needed from me. It was hard work, but nobody seemed to be asking any questions, which is just what I needed… and the paycheck, although small, helped immensely. I tucked every little bit I could save into a hidden fold in my shorts, and started counting the days until I could move to the beach.

However, it was still rainy. And after a night on the couch at Willow Creek Park, I was stiff, sore, and grumpy. For a while, it felt like things were never going to get better. Being on my own was certainly no fun at all. I finally decided to head back to the park and maybe try some fishing.. maybe I could catch something to eat other than hot dogs.

Unfortunately, the only thing I could catch were tiny fish… and all I ended up getting was dirtier. I felt like a real bum. I tried not to second-think my running away from home, but when you feel as miserable as I do.. it’s hard not to look back and wonder.

There was no way I was cooking a goldfish for dinner, so hot dogs again it was. At least the edges weren’t burnt this time. Maybe I was getting better at this.

Back to the couch – bench – whatever it was. Another uncomfortable night and an early morning of work makes for a grumpy Sim.

For something fun, I found a local teen (his name was Wolfgang.. what a weird name) and challenged him to a couple rounds of chess. I’m not very good at chess… but it turned out, neither was he. So the games were pretty evenly matched, and it ended up being a lot of fun.

When Wolfgang had to head home (which he thankfully did without asking anything about my home), I spent some more time selling frogs. It seems that I’m making more money from that than from my job, but that wasn’t going to make me quit my job.

That night, a conspiracy theorist showed up at the park and decided to share my hot dog dinner.. which I didn’t mind.. but all his paranoid talk was making me paranoid, too. What if people were starting to notice me hanging around the park a lot – and possibly turned me in? Maybe it was time to move to somewhere else.

After finishing dinner, I cleaned up best I could in the bathroom sink, and headed out for “downtown” Willow Creek. I was sure I could find an inconspicuous bench there for the night – and at least it wasn’t raining for a change.

After another few days of this, I managed to net a promotion at work. However, now they expected me to know something about Mixology. Short of trying to Moonlight at a local bar, I couldn’t figure out how I was going to get this skill. I spent some time fishing, contemplating what to do.

Later, walking around the town, I passed the Library. And then it occurred to me. Maybe the Library had a book on Mixology? So off to the Library I went.

I got distracted by the computers, though, and spent a few hours playing games and surreptitiously checking my old social media accounts. It seemed nobody knew where I’d gone. Which was a good thing. I thought about making myself some new social media accounts with my new name.. but what was I going to need with technology on the islands? .. Nothing.. that’s right. Nothing. So I didn’t make them.

Then it occurred to me that I needed to research Mixology – and the Library was almost closed! I had just enough time to find the correct section for tomorrow before it was back to the bench for me. Although I did make a pit stop at the local food booth and got some yummy popcorn shrimp. If only I had a stove of my own, I think I could make it now.

The next day after work, I did some more fishing while the other teens were at school (I didn’t want to give myself away by being at the Library during school hours!).. and then headed straight to the Mixology books in the Library. The rest of the evening was spent reading up on it, but I wasn’t sure I was making any progress. It sure didn’t feel like it.

A couple days later, I came back from work in a horrible mood. Worse than usual. I was just so angry. Why did everything have to go so wrong at home that I had to leave all my friends and family?

I spent a while calming down in front of the Library’s mirror before I felt I could face the world again.

Then, I managed to get another skill level of Mixology – finally – for work. Which meant that I could find another place to hang out so the Librarian would stop giving me the fish eye.

The next day at work, my boss was so impressed, I got my promotion, and even a bonus! More money to tuck away. I was finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. With all my work with the silly frogs and at work, I already had over 2000 simoleons! Another week of this, and I should have enough money to move by the time my birthday arrived.

Prologue | Rules for this challenge | Chapter 0.2

Rules for this challenge | Chapter 0.1

Generation Zero: Beige - Starts with a HUMAN Sim

Appearance: Dark Blonde Hair, poor clothing style
Traits: Slob, Childish, Clumsy
Aspiration: Pick whatever you'd like. (Your goal this
generation is only to become a Mermaid and have your heir)
Occupation: Part Time Jobs ONLY
House Goal: None
Lot Trait: Off the Grid

A/N: This challenge is written in first person, and I started her as a teen for the purpose of the story. Also, I am ignoring the “don’t travel to other worlds” until she actually moves to Sulani.

Hi. My name is Jazmin … well, we’ll call me Jazmin Naiades. Pronounced ney-uh-deez. My real last name isn’t important anymore because I ran away from home.. and I’m not going back. The last name I picked has to do with mermaids. Why? Because they exist! I’m SURE of it. I’ve read all the fairy tales, and heard all the theories.. but you’re not going to tell me no fat sea cow-manatee thing fooled ALL the sailors. There had to be something more to the stories. My goal in life is to find one… to prove once and for all that they exist. At least to me. I’m the only person who needs to know, right?

But that’s a ways away. Currently I’m living moment to moment.. and sleeping at the Willow Creek Park. It’s cold this Spring morning, and there’s hardly anyone around.. which is a good thing, because I’m still exhausted from my trip here to the suburbs. I came from.. well, let’s just say the city. IT certainly wasn’t anything like this. This is green, and lush, and holds promise… despite the fact that there’s no promise of Mermaids. I didn’t have enough for a bus ticket all the way out to the shore, so this is where I landed. I guess I’ll have to bite the bullet and get a job in the area to make enough money for that ticket and a little bit of land to live on. I don’t need much.. as evidenced by the hard bench I’m currently on. I can’t go to school, because they’ll catch me and send me home. Plus.. What good is school anyway. They only tell us what they think we ought to know – and I don’t need that. I know enough already to know that I’m better off on my own. My parents never paid any attention to me anyway – but then, that’s all behind me now. So it doesn’t matter.

I push thoughts of where I came from behind me and dig through a trash can looking for a local paper. Perhaps there I can find some employment opportunities that won’t ask too many questions. Let’s see.. Lawn Mower.. Don’t have one of those… Retail Employee and Fast Food Employee.. too much paperwork to fill out at the beginning. So I guess that leaves me Babysitter or Barista. Always liked kids .. but working only two days a week seems like a bad start. I need more hours.. so I guess Barista it is. I don’t need to sleep in, anyway, right? Time is irrelevant when you’re living on a bench in a park.

I spend some coins I found on the ground to place a call to the number listed, and am quickly rewarded with my first job. But they don’t need to know that, right? Apparently I start tomorrow. Which means that I’m on my own for money today. My stomach rumbles loudly, reminding me that food wasn’t high on the list of priorities while you were on the run… but it’s rapidly rising up the ranks.

The pond has been ribbiting at me all morning, so my first thought is “Let’s catch some frogs and sell them at the yard sale table over there.” Well, it wasn’t quite as easy as I’d hoped, and I spent most the morning at it. But I had some frogs to keep to breed.. and some to sell.

Amazingly, even with a 50% markup, my frogs were selling. Miraculously, I now had a couple hundred dollars – which would certainly cover both transportation to work the next day and some food for my growling belly. Things were already looking up.

Then the skies let loose. For a moment, I considered grilling some hot dogs anyway.. but soggy food really didn’t appeal, so I went inside the park’s restroom area to wait out the storm. Before long, I was sound asleep on one of the benches, without a care in the world. Naps can fix everything. Least that’s what they seem to teach in pre-school, right?

Rules for this challenge | Chapter 0.1

This story has been probably one of my most successful stories ever. And it’s definitely the longest-running. It started with the need for me to test out how mermaids played.. And turned into not just a challenge, but an inspiring legacy with each main sim having their own personality and writing each entry like a journal. I had originally intended just to play it like a commentary challenge… but that first sim just spoke to me. Looking back, I’m glad she did. Meeting her and her descendants has been so much fun! The story is an uplifting and fun read about a family of mermaids who all start from humble beginnings and have some goals to meet to be able to pass the legacy on to the firstborn female of each generation.

I hope you all enjoy meeting my mermaids as much as I have enjoyed writing about them. I’m still a long way from finishing the story, and I will be continuing it… as soon as I have the time.

Back to Chapter 2.1 Part 2 | On to Chapter 2.3

First, we check on our goals…

Set #46 – Stylist - Aiden Ireland (heir)
Get to level 10 of the Style Influencer career (Stylist)
(Currently level 5)
Make over 15 sims

Set #21 – Chef - Brock Savage (spouse to be)
Get to Level 10 of the Culinary Career (Chef)
(currently level 4)
Master the Cooking Skill (level 7)
Master the Gourmet Cooking Skill (level 1)
Complete the Master Chef Aspiration
Cook All Base Game Recipes in Excellent Quality

Set #4 – Master of the Real - Maren Brink (roommate)
Get to Level 10 in the Painting Career (Master of the Real)
(currently level 4)
Master the Painting Skill (level 7)
Master the Photography Skill
Take and display 25 Perfect Quality Photos

Then.. back to playing!

Breakfast time. Brock is sleeping in.

After-breakfast-activities.

The late sleeper is finally up. And making food … again.

She loves this thing. I keep telling her to work on her motor skill on the computer, and I keep finding her here. Finally had to leave the art project on the table so she wouldn’t gravitate towards the activity table.

Working on Handiness again. I’m still convinced I’m going to get that all channels watched/listened to achievement.

Proposal accepted!

Maren… why do you insist on cooking in the rain?? When there’s tons of food in the fridge!?

She got her promotion, so here she is, hiring her agent. More money, yay!

It’s monday.. so since Angelina’s an orphan now, Aiden is stepping in to play the parent role.

Project done.. and it’s an excellent!

Angelina comes home with an “A”. Hooray!

Umm… guys.. you know it’s raining outside, right??

Having a dinner party for Brock’s aspiration.

After dinner music for all.

Dessert! And yes, Ashlie was one of the guests. It was nice to see her again.

Eating the cake. For a change, I let everyone have one slice. I usually throw cake out, because it makes sims fat.

Gold dinner party!

Aiden starts upgrading fireproof on all the fireplaces. Just to be safe.

Brock is still cooking….

… But at least it paid off.

Cleaning up after the party. It was noteworthy that the maid was actually DOING something instead of swimming.. lol.. so I took a picture.

A formal wedding. Because why not. They’re such a cute couple.

A very pretty wedding.

Fireworks!

Cutting the cake. Not sure why the confetti cannon, but it made for a good picture.

Awww.

Aiden works on his friend tally for his aspiration while the guests mill about. He’s at around 15/20 friends.

Gold wedding! Yay!

Harvestfest was largely uneventful. Everyone was busy with their own goals.

This made me hungry.. lol. It looks so tasty!

Maren!! I KNEW you cooking outside was a bad idea.

Brock races to the rescue. Maren looks incredibly confused.

Poor Maren has breakfast, then goes to work like this.

Someone’s actually using the furniture in the basement??

Playing on the playground in a rare moment when it’s not raining…

And.. she got one complete!

Just in time, too.

She’s so pretty. Aiden is obviously the ugly duckling of the family.. but I love him anyway.

Aiden giving his first makeover. I ended up not changing much except for her hot and cold weather outfits, but hey, it’s his first makeover!

Maren winding down after a long week.. and I guess Angelina’s “winding up”? Whatever she’s doing, it’s the end of the week.. and we got quite a bit done. Lots of promotions.

Here’s Brock’s list so far. Getting close to done with it!

Brock’s List: Cooking Recipes:

Fridge/Oven Recipes:

• Garden Salad (Fridge Only)
• Grilled Cheese
• White Cake
• Chocolate Cake
• Scrambled Eggs
• Mac and Cheese
• Eggs and Toast
• Chips and Salsa
• BLT
• Fish Tacos
• High Energy Protein Plate – (Requires “Energized” Emotion)
• Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Pancakes
• Pan Fried Tilapia
• Silly Gummy Bear Pancakes – (Requires “Playful” Emotion)
• Flirty Heart Cookies – (Requires “Flirty” Emotion)
• Spaghetti
• Strawberry Cake
• Angry Flaming Spaghetti – (Requires “Angry” Emotion)
• French Toast
• Fish and Chips
• (Sim’s Name) Signature Cake– (Requires Level 6 in the Culinary Career – Culinary Branch)
• Chili
• Blue Confetti Cake
• Blackened Bass
• Omelet
• Apple Pie
• Cioppino
• Chicken Stir Fry
• Tuna Casserole
• Roast Chicken

Outdoor Grill Recipes:

• Hamburgers
• Hot Dogs
• Tofu Dogs
• Veggie Burger
• Chicken Sandwich
• Steak

Gourmet Cooking Recipes:

Fridge/Oven Recipes:

• Garlic Noodles
• Black and White Cake
• Pasta Primavera
• Fruit and Yogurt Parfait – (Fridge Only)
• Caprese Salad – (Fridge Only)
• Butternut Gnocchi
• Chicken Saltimbocca
• Herb-Crusted Salmon
• Spinach Fritatta
• Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus
• Tiered Cake
• SimCity Cheesecake
• Rack of Lamb
• Lobster Tortellini
• Lobster Thermidor
• Monte Cristo Sandwich
• Trout Meuniere
• Baked Alaska

Back to Chapter 2.1 Part 2 | On to Chapter 2.3

Back to this family’s introduction | On to Week Two

Second update for today and my townie rotation… which is kinda weird, but that’s ok.

This is the first time I’ve ever had two “Bro”s in the same house.. so the Bro interactions are completely new to me. Kinda cute.

Getting jobs. As I said in the intro, Chuck gets an athletic career, Maya gets a Business one.

The house gets a bit of an upgrade. Moved the dining room/upgraded it, bought a TV, computer, and workout bench.. and changed the spare room to a nursery.

Maya tries out the new dining room.

While Chuck puts his new workout machine to use.

For a change, I allow the welcome party to happen, and this begins Gladys’ calling to ask Chuck on date after date. Very weird.

I have the hardest time getting these two together. I finally had to get both of them flirty by other means and get rid of their embarrassed moodlets via mirrors before they would finally be romantic. Which is strange, because by traits alone they should get along famously.

First kiss!

And.. trying for baby.

First day of work. Maya apparently slept in and has to pee.. good thing they’ll go while at work.

Baby bump alert! Chuck even seems to be excited about it, too.

Next day.. same old thing. She’s filling out reports, he’s working out. At least they can chat while doing it!

Maya needs a midnight snack. Pregnancy cravings and such. LOL.

I forgot she was going to need Logic.. so I add a chess table for them.

Chuck needs Charisma, so he’s talking to himself.

Harvestfest.. Chuck fails at gnome-appeasing.

.. While Maya succeeds.

I send Chuck to the Gym for his aspiration, and get the next milestone done while I’m there.

Baby time! Chuck is, apparently, unfazed, and keeps eating dinner like nothing’s happening in the next room.

Welcome to Carina!

I decide it’s past time to get these two hitched, so I have them get all flirty and she proposes… success!

Snow… ???  In Oasis Springs? Maya looks as baffled as I am.

Maya gets back to working on Logic while the baby is asleep. These next couple of days pass really quickly, and apparently uneventfully, because I didn’t take any pictures..

Well, at least she’s Angelic. Lucky Chuck and Maya. She’s cute, though. I did have to change her hair, though, because the one she had did not look right for a Carina.

Carina.. why are you sad…?  She has a “missing parents” moodlet and she’s being held…. because Sims Logic.

The house upgrade for the toddler…

…. And that’s it for the week!

See you in Master Simmer tomorrow!

Back to this family’s introduction | On to Week Two

Back to this family’s introduction | On to Week Two

Welcome back to my townie rotation. I’m doing two updates today, because this family’s week went by really fast with very few pictures… so I did two families’ weeks in a row.

Chet getting his job in the Culinary.. Gladys does too, but they have different aspirations. Spoiler: Neither will get there.

Chet helping out around the house while Gladys gets to work on cooking.

And this is what these guys keep doing. Boring.

Chet complaining about the rain. C’mon, guys, I tried to get you something else to do at the Flea Market. Not my fault it was raining!

Soggy Bubbles. Neither were impressed.

This.. and cooking.. is what the rest of the week looks like. I decided early on not to get these two together, and I turned the kid’s bedroom into another bedroom for Chet.. so there’s no “getting to know you” photos.

I finally get bored enough to take them out to a bar to meet new people… and Chet is all smiles.. because apparently it’s Ladies’ Night.

Gladys meets and woos another elder.. the only guy at the bar that night other than Chet and her. But because they’re elders, they both get tired pretty easily and the night ends mostly uneventfully.

Chet working on his aspiration to meet people. None of them look particularly happy to meet poor Chet, though. .. Aaand.. that’s it for the week. They pretty much skipped the holidays, because neither of them were into the traditions.. and they just worked and skilled. Hence the lack of pictures.

Next family.. so on to the next post.

Back to this family’s introduction | On to Week Two

StrangerVille Index |

Starting Family Members:

EA’s description of this family: “George Cahill was a retired pilot who enjoyed taking his beloved plane Penelope for long flights across the world. After passing over StrangerVille there was a large flash of light causing his plane to short circuit and crash. George has since set up camp in the cargo bay of Old Penelope, and has lived on the outskirts of StrangerVille ever since. Although he has grown skeptical of the residents of StrangerVille he means no harm and mostly keeps to himself.”

George Cahill

Age: Elder (128 days)
Traits: Active, Paranoid, Hot-Headed
Aspiration: Public Enemy
Career: Currently unemployed

This family is starting out as EA made it. George will go work on the StrangerVille Mystery (someone needs to!).

StrangerVille Index |

StrangerVille Index |

Starting Family Members:

EA’s description of this family: “The Sigworth family is rather new in town. Jess, the mom, had to transfer to the StrangerVille National Base. After spending a few days on the base Dylan has started to notice something is a bit off about his wife. Although Dylan is doing all he can to reassure their daughter that everything is okay. Christie is starting to catch on and it is only a matter of time until she realizes what is going on.”

Dylan Sigworth

Age: Young Adult (20 days)
Traits: Perfectionist, Bookworm, Genius
Aspiration: Nerd Brain
Career: Currently unemployed

Jess Sigworth

Age: Young Adult (21 days)
Traits: Family-Oriented, Outgoing, Active, Infected
Aspiration: Successful Lineage
Career: Level 3 Military

Christie Sigworth

Age: Child (11 days)
Traits: Active
Aspiration: Artistic Prodigy
Career: Grade School C Student

This family is starting out as EA made it. Dylan will go into the Astronaut Career.

StrangerVille Index |

StrangerVille Index |

Starting Family Members:

EA’s description of this family: “The Eclectic Arts Household consists of three friends who have decided to cut ties with the modern world in order to explore their inner creativity. They received a large sum of money from their parents, and are using it to explore their creative dreams in a less hectic town.”

Alice Martin

Age: Young Adult (21 days)
Traits: Creative, Music Lover, Bookworm
Aspiration: Painter Extraordinaire
Career: Currently unemployed

Mark Eggleston

Age: Young Adult (21 days)
Traits: Cheerful, Art Lover, Bookworm
Aspiration: Friend of the World
Career: Currently unemployed

Leslie Holland

Age: Young Adult (21 days)
Traits: Bookworm, Geek, Goofball, Infected
Aspiration: Bestselling Author
Career: Currently unemployed

This family is starting out as EA made it. Alice will go into the Painter Career, as will Mark, and Leslie will go into the Author career.

StrangerVille Index |

StrangerVille Index |

Starting Family Members:

EA’s description of this family: “The Roswell’s are the oldest residents in StrangerVille. Ted Roswell has since become the mayor and has been aggressively pushing to get StrangerVille to be more technologically advanced. He has made some shady deals, but his crowning achievement has been the construction of the Crater Base and Secret Lab. Ted’s wife, Meredith, has been noticing Ted acting very strange at night. It might have something to do with his frequent visits to the Secret Lab to try and cover things up.”

Ted Roswell

Age: Adult (19 days)
Traits: Hot-Headed, Evil, Paranoid, Infected
Aspiration: Fabulously Wealthy
Career: Currently unemployed

Meredith Roswell

Age: Adult (23 days)
Traits: Neat, good, Outgoing
Aspiration: Fabulously Wealthy
Career: Currently unemployed

This family is starting out as EA made it.

StrangerVille Index |