Round 1: Loner 1

Round 1: Loner 1
Make it Pink

Ajay Loner is new to Strangetown, but he has already made himself at home with neighbor Lola Curious-Smith. Let's see how Ajay is doing...

Me: Good morning, Ajay. At it again, with your baby mama?

Ajay: She would be my wife if you would drop your silly Alphabet twist.

Me: Sorry, no can do.

Ajay: But her first initial matches my last initial. So if I went by Loner, Ajay. It would work.

Me: Nice try. Look, don't get me wrong, Ajay. I think you and Lola are a very cute couple. But if I make an exception for you guys, then I have to make an exception for everyone. And, what's the point of the twist if I allow exceptions?

Ajay: But we have shippers.

Me: Ha! You have shippers?

Ajay: Sure, we do. I've heard about the positive comments from your readers. I like to call our shippers "Lojays."

Me: *faceplam*

Ajay: So you have to let us marry, or suffer the wrath of the Lojays.

Me: I think I'll take my chances. And noone likes a Sim with a big ego, so cool it with the shipper talk. Now, will you tell me what I can help you with?

Ajay: Well, I'd like to get to the top of the Entertainment track.

Me: Finally, something I can achieve. And nice try with the want to propose to Lola, but it's not going to happen.

Me: Congrats on the quick promotion. You're on your way to the top.

Ajay: I'd rather be on my way down the aisle.
Me: Excuse me, what is the obsession with getting married? Aren't you a Fortune Sim?
Ajay: Yes, but my secondary aspiration is Family.
Me: Oh, I see. Well, I guess we can indulge your familial side then.
Ajay: You mean I can marry Lola?

Me: No way, Ajay! But, you can marry townie Amanda Alioto. I think she's into you, too. And both her first and last initials start with A.

Me: Congrats on another promotion, Ajay. Are you working on your mime moves? That arm looks painful! Anyway, what did you think Amanda?

Ajay: She seems like a sweet girl. And she's a Family sim, which is good, but physically I'm not very attracted to her. I prefer dark hair, not red.

Me: *tsk-tsk* Ajay, that can be fixed easily.

Me: Va-va-va-voom! Amanda is simply gorgeous with black hair. And she's the first Sim to try out some custom hair. What do you think Ajay?

Ajay: Me likey.

Me: And Amanda is the first townie to join the playable ranks.

Me: And she has an easy lifetime want. Well, it'll be easy if ACR behaves.

Me: Welcome, Amanda.
Amanda: Thank you. I'm excited to be playable. There were rumors that we could hear your voice if we became playable.
Me: It's true. So, it looks like you're doing some redecorating.
Amanda: Yes, Ajay gave me free reign to change things around so I would feel more at home.
Me: The bedroom is very pink, don't you think?
Amanda: But I love pink!

Me: Hmm, well we'll see what Ajay has to say about all this pink.

Me: Uh-oh, Lola decided to stop by for a visit. I wonder how she'll react to seeing her baby daddy's new live-in girlfriend. Thank goodness Ajay isn't home.

Me: *headdesk* Ajay, you would get a promotion today, wouldn't you?
Ajay: I'm a lounge singer, now.
Me: Well, go in the backyard and practice on the karaoke machine. And whatever you do, stay away from the house!
Ajay: But-
Me: No, buts, now skedaddle. *cursing ACR*

Lola: Look, Amanda, we can be adult about this. Ajay and I have a child together, so I'll always be in his life. I don't begrudge you for being with him. I can't blame you. He's a great kisser, isn't he? You're in for a treat, believe me!

Amanda: I can't listen to anymore of this.

Me: I agree. Why don't you an Ajay got out to dinner?

Ajay: Amanda, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?

Amanda: *gushing* Oh, Ajay! It's beautiful.

Me: Um, Amanda, you haven't actually seen the ring yet.

Amanda: It's so beautiful, Ajay. I'm very happy.

Me: Another promotion? You have done extremely well at work this week.
Ajay: Thanks. I need these promotions now that there is a wedding to pay for.
Me: You're telling me!

Erik: Congrats on your engagement, Ajay. Amanda is a great girl, and you're a lucky guy. I hope to find a girl to settle down with soon.
Ajay: I know someone who might be interested in meeting you. In fact, she's going to be Amanda's Maid of Honor. How about you be my Best Man?

Erik: I'm really looking forward to standing up for Ajay in the wedding.

Erin: Yes, I'm looking forward to being Amanda's Maid of Honor as well.

Erik: You don't feel the least bit awkward, with being Lola's roommate and all?

Erin: Nope.

Erik: That's cool. I bet Amanda is going to look lovely in her dress. I wouldn't be surprised if it's pink!

Me: Well, we have to give Amanda some credit. The dress is not completely pink, but she did stick Ajay with a pink tuxedo. Now dear readers, please forgive me for gratuitous wedding photo spam.

Me: *channeling my inner wedding photographer* I love this shot of Amanda right before the big kiss.

Me: How's the wedding cake, guys?
Ajay: It's great.
Me: I'm really looking forward to seeing and tasting my own wedding cake. My baker is doing a custom design to match my dress.
Ajay: *not sounding the least bit interested* That's nice.
Me: I'm sorry to bore you with the details, Ajay, but I've exhausted the good graces of my co-workers. Anyway, it looks like your fixup may be working. I think Erik likes Erin.

Ajay: Yeah, maybe you'll have another wedding to plan soon. Now if you'll excuse us...

Me: Of course. Wow, even Amanda's fireworks are pink!

Ok, Lola and Ajay fans, Ajay is not a dog! Amanda and Ajay getting married was completely my doing. Ajay had wants to get engaged to Lola up until the time I had him propose to Amanda. Amanda is a Family Sim, but she never spun up wants to get engaged, get married or even have a baby. At first, I was thinking that Amanda was the worst Family Sim I've ever seen. On second thought, I realized that if I were in her position I wouldn't be eager to marry a man that just had a baby with another woman either.

The whole Lola showing up after Amanda moved in really happened. I swear this game has some secret AI to bring by the most undesirable walkby at the worst moment. I was saying to myself, "At least Ajay isn't home." No sooner had I said that, that I heard the promotion jingle. Come on, what are the odds? I really did send him to practice on the karaoke machine because I had already decided that Ajay and Amanda were getting married, and I didn't want ACR screwing it up!

You may have also noticed that this is the lot I was on when I started experimenting with custom content. From here on out, the Sims will have Rensim's Peau skin tones. See my post on custom content to see what else I'm using.

Random Fact: The title "Make it Pink" is a nod to Disney's Sleeping Beauty. In the movie, two of the fairy godmothers constantly argue over the color of Aurora's dress. Merryweather changes it to blue by casting the simple spell, "Make it blue," and Flora counters with the commad, "Make it pink."

Thanks to everyone for commenting. I'm so sorry I fell behind in replying to your comments, but I will get to them. I promise!

The Pets expansion pack introduced three new families, but not a new neighborhood, so I had decide where to place them. After reading the Kim family's backstory, it seemed fitting that they live in Strangetown, so they're up next. I hope I can get the Kim update out before I go on my honeymoon. The wedding is three weeks from today!!!! Stay tuned...

Round 1: Singles 1

Round 1: Singles 1
In Love and War

Kristen Loste, Erin Beaker, and Lola and Chloe Curious-Smith have decided to share a house in Strangetown. Can these four very different women live together in peace?

Me: I guess not. Girls, what's going on? Why are you fighting?
Chloe: Kristen was talking smack about my sister, and I want her to take it back.
Me: Take it back? What, are you twelve or something?

Kristen: I wasn't talking smack about Lola. Lola is my best friend. I was expressing my concern that she's getting too close to Ajay. With the Alphabet Twist in place, they can't get married, so I'm worried she's setting herself up for heartbreak.
Chloe: So you saying "Oh, my Will, I can't believe Lola is sleeping with Ajay. She's such a skank!" is just your way of expressing concern?
Me: Obviously, you missed the subtext, Chloe. Well, I'll leave you girls to duke it out. I'm going to check in on Erin.

Erin: Hey, Glen, I hear the Capps have opened a new seafood restaurant in Veronaville. Would you like to check it out?
Glen: Hold your horses, there, girlie. Are you aksing me out? You're Loki Beaker's sister, aren't you?
Erin: *mumbles* Yes.
Glen: No offense, sweet stuff. You are totally smoking hot, but I'm not touching Loki Beaker's sister with a ten-foot pole. If things go south with us, I'll become Loki's next experiment.
Erin: It's okay, I understand. I get that a lot.
Me: It must be hard being Loki's sister.
Erin: Most of the guys in the Uberhood are scared of him. I haven't had a date in three years! I wish people would give my brother a chance. He's made some poor choices in life, but he's a good guy deep down.
Me: Say, Erin, have you heard of this river in Egypt?

Lola: Shooflea?
Me: Uh-oh! Lola, you're having a baby!
Lola: Yes, I guess Ajay and I weren't as careful as we thought.
Me: *sigh* Oh, well, maybe this will be my first non-abduction green baby.

Me: Maybe not.
Lola: Isn't she beautiful? Her name is Madison.
Me: Yes, she's cute. Welcome, Madison, you obviously take after your father.

Me: Wow, Kristen! Madison looks more like your daughter than Lola's.

Kristen: I do hope to have one of my own someday.

Me: Hang in there. A guy with a K-name is bound to walk by sometime. Maybe you should go to the Capp's new seafood restaurant with Erin. Consort has a son named Kent. And with you being a Fortune Sim, the Capp family would be a great family for you to marry into.

Kristen: Hmm, Kent Capp? I'll keep him in mind.

Me: Lola, how sweet. You invited Ajay over to see his new daughter.

Lola: Huh? I booty called him... but yeah, I guess he can see Madison too.

Me: You booty called him? Perhaps Kristen was right after all. Let's not make baby #2, ok? I'll be watching you.

Lola: *giggles* Oh, you're so funny!

Me: Totally unphased again! Sheesh!

Me: Good for Ajay. He's taking Madison to the refrigerator all on his own. At least he's not going to be a deadbeat dad.

With the exception of Lola, I want to strangle these women! All week, these girls did nothing but flirt with every guy who walked by and beat the crap out of each other. Not a single one of them made progress towards her lifetime want. I thought about moving Kristen and Erin out, but I didn't want to deal with the trashcan being kicked over every five minutes.

Madison is the direct result of ACR. I am shocked that two Fortune Sims who aren't even engaged to each other chose to try for baby. I really like Lola and Ajay as a couple too, but sadly there's that pesky Alphabet twist. But that's the point of a challenge, isn't it? Lola will have to deal with being a single parent and Ajay will have to figure out how to maintain a relationship with his daughter.

Speaking of Ajay, he's up next. Stay tuned...

Round 1: Grunt 1

Round 1: Grunt 1
The Grunt Sitrep #1

Though General Buzz Grunt was estranged from his wife, Lyla, he is haunted by her death. Can he recover and reconnect with his sons?

Me: Hey, Buzz!

Buzz: General Buzz Grunt, reporting for duty, ma'am.

Me: Please don't call me, ma'am, Buzz. You make me feel like an old woman.

Buzz: Just following protocol, ma'am. And it's General, if you'd oblige.

Me: Pardon me, General.

General Buzz: I have the sitrep on the Grunt household.

Me: Sitrep?

General Buzz: Sorry, ma'am, not used to talking to civilians. I mean, the situation report.

Me: Ok. Fire when ready, General.

General Buzz: My oldest boy, Tank, is preparing for college.

General Buzz: Tank is a fine boy, I tell you. He plans to study Political Science at Sim State and then join the military.

Me: Following in Daddy's footsteps, I see.

General Buzz: Unlike my middle son, Ripp. That boy is soft. Tank and I have tried whipping him into shape.

General Buzz: Look at him crying like a sissy boy. That's just disgraceful. Grunt men don't cry! Ripp is his mama's boy through and through. Soft like her.

General Buzz: He has no ambition. He tells me he doesn't want to go into the military. He just wants to party. His mama, Lyla, was like that. She was a socialite and couldn't handle marriage and family. My parents warned me about marrying someone hoity-toity like her, but I didn't listen. I was smitten with that woman.

General Buzz: And Ripp is just like her. He's becoming a bad influence on my youngest, Buck. After Tank and I run Buck through PT, Ripp dances and plays with him. PT is physical training, by the way.

Me: I think psychotherapy would be more appropriate.

General Buzz: I can't let up on Buck. He's prone to getting pudgy. That comes from his mama's people. They were rich and didn't know the meaning of hard labor. But not us Grunts. We're the salt of the SimEarth.

General Buzz: But the PT is paying off. Buck is fit as a fiddle now.

General Buzz: Since I'm a General, the military has provided some help around the household. This is our butler Avri. I ain't used to no butler. That was more Lyla's style. But Avri seems to be good people, and he's a decent cook.

General Buzz: The boys and I have rations together as often as possible. Avri was cooking this fancy lobster thermidor stuff, but I told him to cut that nonsense out. Peanut butter and jelly is good enough for the Grunts.

Me: I didn't know you had a dog, General.

General Buzz: I don't. I leave this out for the strays in the neighborhood. The military needs to recruit for our new K-9 unit.

General Buzz: I've always been partial to the four legs. Had me a dog when I was boy. His name was Tonka, a German Shepherd. That dog was smart as a whip. *sniff*

Me: Aw, General. You obviously loved your dog. It's ok to cry.

General Buzz: *wiping nose* Enough of that nonsense. Grunt men don't cry, I tell you.

Me: Looks like you have your first recruit.

General Buzz: This here is Rover. He's a fine specimen. A real beast.

General Buzz: Look at him gnaw on that bone. Strong jaw, good teeth. He'll rip the limbs off of any nogooders.

General Buzz: Some of the neighbors came by for a visit. I'm happy to see Circe with child. I don't care what other people in town say, Circe and Loki are good people.

Me: Yeah, good people who like to do weird experiments on other people. I feel you. They're just misunderstood.

General Buzz: The fellow with her is Ajay Loner. He's new in town. Intel didn't pull up much on him.

Me: *shocked* You investigated your neighbor?

General Buzz: I do background checks on all new people in the Uberhood, ma'am. We wouldn't want any spies slipping in among us.

General Buzz: Ripp's friend Puck came over. I don't like Ripp hanging out with that boy. Look at him, with that makeup on his face. Totally frou-frou. And what kind of name is Puck?

Me: This from a man who names his kids Tank, Ripp, and Buck?

General Buzz: Those are call signs, ma'am. The boys' real names are classified.

General Buzz: Lola Curious had the brass ones to come over, knowing my stance on the alien breed.

General Buzz: I wouldn't even eat my rations at the same table with her.

General Buzz: I tell you, those aliens are strange. They don't even mind eating spoiled food.

General Buzz: I met a lovely lady from Pleasantview, Nina Caliente.

General Buzz: Lola had the nerve to interrupt my conversation with Miss Caliente.

General Buzz: Listen here, Lola, I know you and your kind are out to steal our resources. It's not going to happen on my watch. My eyes are always on you.

Lola: Oh, General, you're so funny.

Me: Your threat didn't seem to phase her, General.

General Buzz: By Will, I think that alien half-breed is kinda sweet on me. Can you believe that?

General Buzz: It turns out that Ajay fancies her. He started flirting with her in my home. I tell you, that alien lover is no longer welcome here. He can take his green girlfriend and get the Will outta my house.

General Buzz: Now, Miss Caliente, on the other hand. That's a classy lady.

Me: Uh, General, about Miss Caliente...

General Buzz: What?

Me: Uh, never mind.

General Buzz: Well my boys are off to State, so Buck and I will hold down the fort until they return. Thanks for stopping by, ma'am.

Me: Thank you, General.

General Buzz: General Grunt signing off.

I've been looking forward to writing this update. I heard Buzz's voice in my head the whole time as I was playing their lot. It's funny how some households are easy to play while I struggle with others (like the one coming up).

Ok, Buzz and Nina are the reason I wrote my post asking if I should continue with the alphabet twist. I think it's poetic that Buzz is swooning over Nina when she is of alien heritage. Since I have decided to stick with the twist, we won't be seeing a Caliente-Grunt wedding.

A little bit of trivia: I did have a German Shepherd named Tonka when I was a kid.

Wedding update: The invitations went out in the mail this week (this post is my celebration!), and the RSVPs are starting to come in.

The Single girls are up next, so stay tuned.