Andria was surprisingly protective of her greenhouse. This was the fewest plants she’d had growing anywhere she’d ever lived, so each one received a larger fraction of her love.

Still, Gamora was able to persuade her to relinquish enough space for her to plant the crystal flower seeds she’d brought back from the Tourist Trap of the Future.

They seemed to respond to care like any other plant, but it helped that Gamora’s lab was beneath the greenhouse. When she took a break from her bot research, she could come upstairs to chat with them.

Dylan was so captivated by the setting that he began to paint it.

He sometimes lost so much track of time that Andria found him on the upper deck with his canvas at dawn.

“I should be annoyed with you,” she told him, “but the truth is that I find your artistic dedication sexy.”

Dylan could only blush — even after all these years.

Victoria had a room to herself, and it wasn’t a child’s room any longer. She decorated it to her nautical heart’s content.

It was even sound insulated so that she could make all the noise she wanted.

Connery had unlimited food and plenty of space to laze around. At his age, that was all he could ask for.

When Gamora saw the wedding announcement in the newspaper, she knew it was past time to strike.

She jumped on her hoverboard after school.

It didn’t take her long to find her way to the home her mother shared with her current provider.

f

She didn’t even try to disguise her handwriting. Manisha would never recognize it, but she’d know who it was anyway.

She slipped the note into the doorframe and rang the doorbell.

Then she was gone from sight with a soft woosh.

She still had a lot to learn about how to fly a hoverboard. Fortunately, she was out of sight behind the house before she lost control.

She couldn’t help herself. She had to watch from out of sight.

To her disappointment, Manisha’s new husband, Ash Sample-Baerwyn, was the one who came to the door. He walked out with his new puppy and looked around the house. “Damn kids,” he grumbled.

As he turned back to the house, he saw the paper that had fallen onto the welcome mat. Written in read, it said simply, “I hope you didn’t think I’d forgotten about you.”

Ash stared at the paper. “What the hell is this?” he said aloud — a little too loud. He was rattled. And he’d tell his wife about it. That would be almost as good as her finding it herself.

That same afternoon, Victoria arrived at Coffee Under the Sea, where a Simfest had already started.

Frederick was waiting for her. “Vickie! I wasn’t sure if you were going to come! It’s so good to see you!”

She grinned at him. “Sure! This is your first Simfest performance! I want to see it!”

They’d been out for coffee a few times since their dinner date. He was good company. When he looked at her, he had that hungry look in his eyes that told her he wanted so much more, and yet she hesitated. She didn’t mean to lead him on…

“Oh, look!” Frederick said. “It’s Shannon Reacher the acrobat! She can’t possibly plan to perform at a Simfest!”

“She’s someone important?” Victoria asked.

“The best in the business,” Frederick agreed.

“Maybe I can get her autograph!”

Victoria started in the direction of the coffee house when her eyes fell on an old friend.

“Danial! It’s been a while. How are you? Are you going to sing?”

“Hi Vickie. No, not this time. I’m mostly here for professional research. I think I’m going to wait a bit longer to make my big move. You here to watch your boyfriend sing?”

“Frederick? He’s not my boyfriend. But I did come to show him some moral support. This is his first Simfest as a performer.”

“Hey bozo! Learn to sing!” Jody Ursine-Sample shouted at the stage.

“What about Sasha? Is your wife with you?”

Danial flinched and then tried to shrug nonchalantly. “Sasha’s not feeling well.”

“What is it with you and Sasha?” Victoria asked. “Do you do anything at all together? I don’t think I’ve seen her since high school.” She wasn’t sure if she was joking or serious. What was it about Danial that always seemed so… off?

“It’s starting to hail!” Shannon Reacher shouted. “Run for cover!”

“Show me you love meeee….” The performer wailed from the stage.

“Yike!” Victoria said. “I thought I felt a drop, but this is crazy!”

“This Simfest is a bust,” Danial said. “Let’s get out of here and go see Sasha.”

“But what about Frederick?” Victoria asked. But as she looked around, she saw he was already running for his car. “OK, I guess I’m free after all.”

“This way!” Danial said.

“That’s your car?” Victoria demanded. “Where’s the rest of your family?”

“Just get in and get out of the rain,” Danial said.

“Well, it’s certainly comfortable,” Victoria said. “Where are we headed? I didn’t think you lived this way.”

“We’re not going to my house,” Danial said.

When they pulled up in front of Ygraine Memorial, the rain was like a river pouring from the sky.

“You’ll have to run for it,” Danial said.

“We’re at the hospital,” Victoria said blankly.

“Yeah,” Danial said. “Hurry, or we’ll get soaked.”

While they were inside, the rain slowed at last.

And the Simfest officially ended.

“Why didn’t you tell anyone?” Victoria asked at last, “after all this time?”

“Sasha was diagnosed with cancer shortly after we got back from our honeymoon,” Danial said. “She that that if our friends knew, they’d be different around her. I guess, it got to feeling like the only way to feel normal was to pretend for everyone else that we were normal.”

“Is there any hope?” Victoria asked.

Danial’s jovial mask finally fell. The face behind was bitter and tired. “It depends on what you mean by hope,” he said. “There’s hope she’ll wake up one more time. I stay by her bed every day because I’d hate myself if she woke up and I didn’t get those last moments with her.”

Suddenly Victoria realized why Danial’s music career had been advancing so slowly. A lot of things made sense.

Impulsively, she threw her arms around him. “You’re not alone,” she said fiercely.

Danial hugged her back. “Thanks,” was all he said.

So this is Danial Ibari’s big reveal.

This is my story justification for one of those absurd May-December romances that StoryProgression always comes up with. Sasha Saunders Ibari is the daughter of Beatrice Saunders (a.k.a. Buffy Summers simalike). She’s older than Dylan and could literally die any day now. When Danial emerged as a player in Vickie’s story, I tried to figure out what to do with that, and this is what I came up with.

I’m so friggin’ far behind on all my reading, but I’m trying to catch up. I really am

The next evening, Sawyer got off work with a purpose.

He hopped into his experimental wish-powered automobile.

And headed straight to Emily’s house.

“I couldn’t wait to see you,” Sawyer said. “I have something to ask you.”

“Sure,” Emily said. “But come inside. It’s freezing out here.”

“Where is Greggory?”

“Don’t worry. He’s tending to the horses.”

Sawyer didn’t ask why Emily still lived with her ex-husband. It was one of those things he’d never felt comfortable expressing affection toward his girlfriend while Greggory was around.

As soon as they stepped inside, Sawyer pulled Emily to him.

“Wow!” Emily said. “Elderhood has brought out the passion in you!”

“That’s not the reason,” Sawyer said. “I wanted to ask–”

“Can’t you two get a room?” Greggory asked.

Sawyer cringed. “This is my room!” Emily shouted back.

“Now, what was it you wanted to say?”

“I, uh, have an experimental medical treatment. I wanted you to test it out for me.”

Emily looked stunned. “That’s not what I was expecting, but all right. I trust you that this won’t hurt me.”

“That’s a lot of trust….” Sawyer admitted.

Afterward, she grinned a huge grin. “That was amazing!”

“Fabulous,” Sawyer said. “I was hoping it would have a useful effect. Underground Pharmaceuticals is paying me a lot of money to test it on people.”

“Is that what you came here to ask me?” Emily said. “I should be annoyed at you, but this drug makes me feel too happy.”

“Actually no,” Sawyer admitted. “I just got nervous. Actually, I wanted to ask–”

“Yes?”

“Would you like to move in with me?”

Sawyer didn’t think that Emily could look happier, but her face lit up. “Really? I thought you’d never ask!”

“You were always welcome to ask yourself.”

Emily shrugged. “I wanted to hear it from you.”

“When do you think you might move?”

“Let’s do it tonight! I just have to collect a few things….”

She sent Sawyer to her bedroom to gather her clothes. Greggory wandered in.

“So you and Emily are taking the big step?” Greggory said.

“Yes,” Sawyer agreed. “It was about time. I also think it’s disturbing that she’s been living with you since your divorce.”

“It made financial sense,” Greggory said. “Since she keeps getting demoted at work, we could maintain a better lifestyle this way.”

Sawyer nodded. “That’s reasonable.”

“I wanted to offer a bit of friendly advice,” Greggory said. “Emily is more than a bit… high maintenance. She expects you to deliver the world.”

“Stop there,” Sawyer said. “I don’t want advice from someone whose marriage failed.”

“There’s no space in your car,” Emily said. “We’ll have to pack mine. But I have to warn you. That car is out to get me.”

“The place looks so nice, now that I know it’s mine too! I can think of just a few dozen improvements I’d like to make.”

“I’ll draw up the mortgage papers,” Sawyer offered. “Until then, I think we should celebrate.”

“Wow,” Emily said. “The kiss of a joint mortgage holder has so much more passion!”

“Come upstairs,” Sawyer said, “and we’ll investigate this further.”

“I programmed the sleeping pod just for you.”

Emily drew back. “If I’m going to move in with you,” she said. “There’s something you should know first.”

Sawyer stood up, suddenly concerned. “What is it, Emily?”

“It’s this,” Emily said. In a whirl, she changed her appearance.

Sawyer blinked. “What is that? What are you doing with that cardboard?”

Emily too his hand. “I consider this my true form,” she said nervously. “I’m a robot trapped in a human body. I- I hope you can live with this.”

“Wow,” Sawyer said in astonishment. “I knew you were my perfect partner, but I never knew how much.”

“Let me show you how I can deal with your true self.”

“Now, come to bed.”

This was originally one post with Sawyer’s birthday, but enough happened that I thought it ought to get its own post.

This is Sawyer leaving the household. Mechanically, he asked Emily to move in with him, which brought the household up to eight sims. After this scene, I had the household sell its second house (Sawyer’s house), then had Sawyer and Emily move out and buy it. So they live in the same house, but it is no longer an active house.

Which is just as well, because having the active household live in two houses was a pain the butt. Not saying I wouldn’t do it again.

Emily was under my control just from the time she accepted Sawyer’s offer until the end of this scene, during which time I discovered she’s a Bot Fan! What an appropriate surprise for the love of Sawyer’s life.

I screwed up and failed to note Sawyer’s LTH when he left the household. Fortunately, inactives don’t gain happiness, so I should be able to look it up the next time I load the game.

“There’s so much of your fae heritage you haven’t experienced,” Andria said, “And now you’re already an adult.”

“It’s all right, Mom,” Victoria said. “I’ve learned a lot.”

Andria grinned. “Well, since I’m such a lousy teacher, I whipped you up something to help you learn anyway.”

Victoria stared at the sparkly powder. “Wh– what is this?”

“Try it out!” Andria prodded. “Just keep in mind that it doesn’t last. You have to catch as much of the Wisdom of The Fae before the effect fades.”

“All right….”

“Wow…. this is amazing!”

The wisdom of a thousand years of magic rushed into Victoria’s mind.

Along with access to powers she’d never imagined.

“Edmund!” she cried. “I have to try this out. Cast your strongest spells on me!”

“Really?” Edmund said. “If you say so….”

They picked neutral territory for their magical duel.

“I don’t want to hurt you–” Edmund said.

“Hee! Missed!”

“Take that!”

“Haha!” Victoria squealed. “I’m more powerful than you are!”

“Not without help, you aren’t,” Edmund said.

“Well, sure, but let me relish this moment anyway.”

Sadly, supercharged fae powers didn’t make everything better, as she discovered when she accidentally touched the stereo.

That evening was a special evening for the Samples. Andria stood outside in the night, communing with her garden.

Dylan saw her alone and went out to find her. “Are you all right, my love?”

Andria sighed. “I’m fine. I just wanted to enjoy the silence for a moment.

Dylan chuckled. “It’s true that we don’t get much silence in this household.”

At that moment, the doorbell rang.

“Aunt Rosie!” Victoria said. “Sawyer will be so happy to see you.”

Still high on the Wisdom of the Fae, Victoria regaled their guest with stories of the origin of rain while the family assembled.

“I have to do this, don’t I?” Sawyer grumbled.

Gamora grinned. “Of course you do, Dad.”

“All right then, let’s get this over with.”

But he did stand a little taller when he saw everyone, especially his sister Rosie, assembled to cheer for him.

“Happy birthday to you…!” they sang.

“Don’t let your age get you down!” Gamora chided.

So Dylan’s baby brother became an Elder.

With characteristically bad timing, the doorbell rang just as Sawyer blew out the candles.

But for Sawyer, the interruption was worth it.

“Emily! I thought you had a late shift!”

“I got demoted again,” Emily said.

“Oh,” Sawyer said. “They have never appreciated you at the hospital!”

“I’ll deal with the hospital later,” Emily said ominously. “But it meant I could come to your birthday.”

“Good,” Sawyer said. “I had some ideas about how we might celebrate.”

“But for now,” come get some cake.

And Sawyer ages up!

This feels like such a momentous time for Generation 6, even though they all finished their point-generation functions a long time ago.

Springtime is the season of growing things. Andria, as a plant fae, felt Avalon’s rebirth in a special way.

She knew exactly what to do with all her extra energy.

“I’ve barely seen you leave your books for days,” Victoria said. “Are you all right?”

“Hush,” Edmund said. “I think I’m finally getting someplace.”

Victoria went to bed late, but was up early with a lonely old dog.

“This is what I get for all the love I give you? All right, then, have some more. Maybe you’ll bark loud enough to wake up the rest of the family.”

Before she could work Connery into a frenzy, her phone rang.

“Aunt Abby? No! You can’t be! Well, I guess if I can’t talk you out of it. At least I can do something about the rain.”

Great-grandmother Veronica’s weather machine was the perfect solution to two weeks of rain.

“You want me to go to a party?” Gamora demanded. “For an aunt I never see? I have research to do!”

“You can’t live on science alone!” Sawyer shouted. Then he stopped. “What am I saying? Of course you can. You can stay home if you like.”

By the time Victoria arrived at Little Cottage Park, the sun had already dried the grass.

The guests began to arrive.

Emily was first, though she was mostly just interested in some time with Sawyer.

Rosie Winter, Sawyer’s half-sister, surprised everyone by accepting her invitation.

Cousins Ash and Gina Sample-Baerwyn.

Abby’s half-brother Stanley Marmalade.

Along with his husband Jody Ursine-Sample and two older sons Chancey

and another kid whose name nobody caught.

Everyone gathered near the picnic benches

Where the guest of honor arrived.

“I’m so glad all of you are here to help me celebrate my retirement!” Abby said.

“Excuse me, Ms. Sample,” The festival vendor interrupted. “Do you mind if I take your picture?”

Abby gave her an ironic smile. “You realize that I’m now an ex-actress?”

“You’ll always be a celebrity to me!”

After she’d given Aunt Abby the applause and congratulations she deserved, Victoria had a wonderful time hunting for Easter eggs.

And so did Cousin Ash.

But she couldn’t resist the lure of the kissing booth.

“Five simoleons? This better be an amazing kiss!”

“Trust me, miss. You’ve never had one like it.”

“You’re a great salesman. Now I have to know!”

Afterward, the kissing vendor looked as if he’d lost his breath. “I should have paid you!” he gasped.

Victoria laughed. “That’s all part of the service, isn’t it?”

“Kisses!” called the cute girl at the booth next door. “Everyone welcome! Come and get a Love Day kiss!”

Chaim Sample-Erickson stopped by the kissing stall to think about it. “You think Abby would mind?” he mused.

“Come on,” girl said. “The wife has to let you have a little fun!”

Chaim chuckled. “You’re right. I think I’ll have that kiss.”

“Wait!” said the girl. “That wasn’t how this was supposed to go.”

“Oooh! Two hot men together!” Abby said. “Can I join in?”

“Eww!” Victoria cried. “I really didn’t need to hear that, Aunt Abby!”

“I heard sims only use 10% of their brain,” Jody Ursine-Sample told Sawyer. “Do you have any idea what might happen if we unlocked the other 90%? I have so many ideas!”

Sawyer scowled at him. “Do I even have to answer that? This is why you leave neuroscience to the experts.”

“You tell him, Sawyer!” Emily cheered.

“Like minds should stick together,” Sawyer told her.

“You seem to have found right mate at last,” Abby said. “Come have a snowcone with me.”

Sawyer nodded. “Emily’s intellect is second only to mine, though she’s had a difficult time convincing her colleagues at the hospital of her brilliance. I don’t have that sort of problem.”

Abby chuckled. “If she’s so much like you, little brother, I can just imagine.”

“I’ve been wanting to offer you personal congratulations, but it seems we’re so busy these days,” Sawyer said. “We used to spend so much more time together when we were younger.”

“I expect to have a lot more time on my hands now,” Abby pointed out. “Have you considered retirement yourself?”

Sawyer was aghast. “Never!”

Abby grinned. “All right. Let’s do lunch at the hospital then.”

It was time for a good old-fashioned pie eating contest!

“Ready! Set! Go!”

And up for air!

“This always seems like a good idea until I do it!”

A photographer from the Avalon Times was there to catch everyone at their most embarrassing.

“I won!” Victoria exclaimed. “What’s my prize? Oh…. more pie. Thanks.”

“Please!” Andria wailed. “No more pie!”

“You’re looking at Avalon’s reigning pie-eating champ!” Victoria crowed to Danial. “I’m not even sick to my stomach!”

Danial laughed. “Congratulations. The best sim won. I didn’t know you had such an iron stomach.”

“I didn’t expect you here at Aunt Abby’s retirement party,” Victoria said.

“Abby’s practically an aunt to me too,” Danial said. “You know my mom, Aminali, and your aunt were best friends, don’t you?”

“I guess I did sort of forget,” Victoria said. “I could never forget Aminali Ibari. I just sort of forgot you were her son.”

“She was an amazing woman,” Daniel said. “I’m lucky to be her son. I guess I’m kind of here to represent her spirit.”

Elsewhere, Abby was still gracious to her fans, though it was clear celebrity had lost a lot of its luster over time.

“Perhaps Abby can settle down now for a dignified retirement,” Dylan mused.

Jody waylaid him on his way to the dance floor. “Your brother is a bit of an arrogant prig, you know?”

Dylan nodded sagely. “True. That’s not news.”

“Wait! Did you just eat dirt??”

“Ha!” Jody chortled. “It’s all part of my act! Have you seen my magic show?”

“I think I will avoid it now,” Dylan said.

“I think it’s time to dance!” Danial shooted. “Woo! Vickie, have you tried the Smustle?”

“I know it, but I’m not very good at it,” Victoria said dubiously.

Danial grinned at her. “Come on. Dance like there’s nobody watching.”

“There better be nobody watching,” Victoria said.

“Doesn’t this hurt your back?”

“Maybe your trying too hard,” Danial suggested.

Then Victoria’s eyes caught someone across the lawn. “I’ll be back, guys. I just want to say ‘hi’ to someone.”

“Hey, Rod! What are you doing here?”

“Vickie! Oh, I’m supposed to meet my sisters at Camelot to fill out some inheritance paperwork. They’re late, so I thought I’d kill some time here.”

Victoria looked at the Love Meter gave Roderick a teasing look. “So, what does the Meter think of your romantic prospects? Is there a hot girl right around the corner?”

Roderick smirked. “I have a better idea. Let’s see what it thinks of us.”

Victoria hesitated. “Oh, I don’t know.”

“Aw, Vickie. It’s just a game. I won’t hold you to it.”

“All right! Let’s see!”

Victoria felt him place his hand over hers, firm but not too tight. What do I feel? she wondered. What should I feel?

The Love Meter lit up.

“Ha!” Roderick exclaimed in triumph. “I’ve never seen a reading that high!”

“Clearly, we’re the two hottest people at this party,” Victoria said.

“I can’t argue with that,” Roderick agreed. “Our hotness must have overwhelmed the poor thing.”

“Well, I gotta go,” he said abruptly. “My sisters have to be waiting for me by now. Call me!”

Victoria found herself both disappointed and relieved to see him go. At least he’d gotten her out of the Smustle.

The sun began to sink, and the party was still going strong. Even Gamora decided to make an appearance near the end.

“These old muscles just don’t dance the way they used to,” Dylan complained.

“Here,” Andria said brightly. “Let me help you with that.”

“You two are so adorable!” Gina cooed. “I hope I’m that cute when I’m your age!”

“You’re not that much younger than I am,” Andria pointed out.

Abby bade everyone goodbye at dusk, and they headed home feeling tired and happy.

Though Victoria felt extra preoccupied. Flirting was guys was so much fun, but she was starting to want a whole lot more fun than that.

So. Much. Party. For a sim without the Party Animal trait, Victoria sure acts like it. OTOH, she does seem to have a real preference for the swinging single lifestyle, and her Irresistible trait feeds into it.

Finally remembered to turn on Dylan’s can in southern gentleman walk style. I can’t think of a character better suited to it.

Ha! I guess Chaim is bi. It was funny to see him go kiss the male kissing vendor just as Abby walked by. Guess they’re very secure in their relationship.

I was a bit disappointed that sims dancing the smustle on the same dance floor don’t synchronize. That would have been an awesome feature.

At last Avalon began to warm up. It had been a long hard winter. Never had rain been so uplifting. It certainly brought out the romantic in Winston.

It was a good thing that the rain was welcome because it rained nonstop for a week.

Gamora celebrated by testing for her green belt in Sim Fu.

Then going back inside to play video games with her father.

As soon as she was safe from hypothermia, Victoria returned to the dive site she had scouted during the winter.

She couldn’t wait to get beneath the water and discover what might be hidden there.

It was nothing like diving at Isla Paradiso. It was cloudy and raining above, so the light was dim. Visibility was further reduced by debris from the ocean floor that were stirred up by recent rainstorms.

The low visibility led to a close encounter of terrifying proportions. It was all Victoria could do to control her breathing as the enormous shark swam by close enough to brush its fin against her leg.

But at last she found her way through underwater boulders to a place of clearer water.

At last. This place looked promising. She was able to collect a few rare shells, but there was so much more to explore.

She returned from her dive to a secluded beach. The rain had not let up.

She took a few moments, standing in the chilling rain, to watch the beautiful herd of wild horses on the beach.

They weren’t terribly happy to see her, though.

Then it started to hail, and both human and animal ran for cover.

She hadn’t found much on her first exploratory dive, but Manu was pleased. Exotic shells weren’t as valuable as antiquities, but he had a market for them.

As she stepped out of the Arcane Institute, she heard a sort of roaring, chanting sound. She followed it toward the fortress of Camelot down the street.

It turned out there was some sort of protest going on.

A protest about jellyfish?

Curious, Victoria drifted through the palace gate, where she saw a familiar face.

“Roderick?” she said. “What are you doing here?”

“Vickie! Oh, hi!” Roderick set his sign down against the wall. “Fancy meeting you here!”

“What is all this?” Victoria said.

“You didn’t know?” Roderick said in surprise. “I was sure I told you. I’m the president of the local chapter of Avalon Tree Huggers. We march every month. This month is about invasive Pirate Jellyfish destroying our reefs.”

Victoria was aghast. “There are jellyfish destroying our reefs?”

“We’re almost completely sure Angelina saw one at the beach last Thursday.”

“Wow,” Victoria said. “I didn’t know you were such an activist.”

Roderick shrugged. “I don’t like to sit around waiting for things to happen. If I care about something, I get involved.”

“I’d never thought about it that way,” Victoria admitted. Was she just waiting around for life to happen to her?

Her thoughts were cut short by the sound of keyboard music. “Rod, I think your protest is over,” she said.

Celebrity songwriter Mickie Jameson had started an impromptu concert in the Camelot courtyard. Everyone clustered around him. There wasn’t a sign in sight.

“Wow,” Roderick said. “I guess that’s it for today’s protest.”

Victoria held out her hand. “Well, at least it stopped raining.”

Roderick was staring at her.

Victoria flushed. “What??”

“Come with me to dinner,” Roderick said.

Victoria’s eyes widened. “Are you asking me out on a date?”

Roderick’s lips twisted tauntingly. “Does it matter? Will you come?”

“All right! I will!”

“Follow me!” he cried and set off at a run.

“Hey!” she called from behind. “No fair!”

“Are you done killing that boss?” Gamora asked Sawyer. “I have an idea.”

“Don’t distract me!” Sawyer snapped. “10 more damage!”

“I finished reading the time traveling guidebook,” Gamora said. “I’ve planned my first time, and I’m ready to leave.”

“What?” Sawyer said, looking away from the screen for a moment. “Noo! He killed me! This is your fault!”

Sawyer stood up. “You’re planning to travel in time?” he demanded. “That is incredibly dangerous. You’re still a minor and should not be taking that sort of risk.”

“This is my project,” Gamora reminded him. “I have the guidebook. I’m pretty sure you can’t stop me.”

“Besides, there’s the possibility to study exotic future lifeforms and possibly aliens!”

“You make a persuasive argument,” Sawyer said. “But I’m coming with you.”

“Are you kidding?” Gamora said. “Of course you’re coming with me.”

“Wow,” Victoria said. “All of a sudden the weather is gorgeous. I never thought the rain would clear.”

“See what I mean?” Roderick said. “You have to seize the moment.”

“And this is delicious!”

“So long as you don’t order what he’s having!”

“Oh, there’s Uncle Chaim!” Victoria said.

“He looks like he’s on duty, so we can’t chat. But you should really meet him. He’s a wonderful guy. I think he’s going to be Chief of Police someday.”

“You have a pretty amazing family,” Roderick said. “I like watching you talk about them.”

“You mean listen to me, right?” Victoria said.

“No, I meant watch. Your face just lights up.”

“Oh, see that lady?” Roderick said.

“Who’s that?”

“She’s Sam Pistachio. You wouldn’t believe it to look at her, but she plays a mean guitar. I’ve heard her play down at the park.”

“She’s also insane, I think.”

They lingered over their meal and talked about their new life after high school. At last, Victoria stood up. “I have to get home,” she said. “It’s late, and I think we’re both tired.”

“Thank you for a wonderful evening, Rod.”

“Anytime,” Roderick said. “I mean anytime. You can call me any time.”

“Maybe I will,” Victoria said. “You’re so spontaneous. I like that.”

And she blew him a kiss.

“Wow, Vickie,” Roderick said. “If you could bottle that up and sell it, you’d make millions. I’m serious. Call me.”

They said farewell. Victoria watched him walk away and wondered.

Here we finally see how Roderick grew up. He turned out hot!

Note: Wow, the writer’s block has been really difficult to shake off, but here I go…

———-

Victoria had to return to reality. As much as she might wish otherwise, tropical vacations were not a direction in life.

“But what do I do now?” she complained to Mom after dinner one evening. All I want is the ocean, but ‘beach bum’ isn’t exactly a profession.”

Andria gave her a sly smile. “I have so much water fae in you,” she said. “You’re practically a naiad. Maybe you don’t need a traditional profession.”

“I don’t think I’m made for a life of leisure either,” Victoria protested. “I don’t want to be useless!”

“Hmm,” Andria said. “Why don’t you go talk to my friend Manu at the Arcane Institute? I think he will have some ideas. Don’t assume there’s nothing you can do with your life’s passion.”

That, at least, was advice Victoria could act on.

Manu did have ideas. Lots of ideas. The first thing he did explain to her just how valuable the ocean antiquities were that she had collected on her vacation. Museums were desperate for these relics.

It had never occurred to Victoria that her that her hobby might have that kind of value.

That afternoon, she rented a boat to scout the deeper oceans around Avalon Island.

The island was a frosty wonderland, far too cold for swimming or diving, at least with a wetsuit. The sun sparkled off the ice coating the branches of the winter trees.

Victoria was in luck. There were signs of a promising dive site within sight of Camelot. She would return in the Spring to see what there was to see.

At home, Edmund was developing new spells.

And experimenting on his family.

Gamora turned out to be especially vulnerable to his Animale enchantment.

She was not at all happy about it.

Edmund, on the other hand, was thrilled. He would have to watch his back, though, in case his cousin took the whole thing too personally.

Victoria made sure that Connery got proper affection when he trotted across the street from Aunt Abby and Uncle Chaim’s house. He was an old dog and deserved all the cherishing he could get.

One of Victoria’s high school friends, Roderick Winter, called her up one day. “The gang is having a mixer at Shady’s tonight. You totally want to go.”

Victoria didn’t need a whole lot of persuading. A night out dancing was just the sort of thing she wanted to get her mind off being an adult.

“You should come with me!” she told Edmund.

Edmund scowled. “Dancing and drinking aren’t really my thing.”

Victoria grabbed his arm and offered him one of her disarming smiles. “Come on, big brother!

And that’s how they both found themselves on the dance floor of Shady’s Nightclub.

Danial Ibari-Saunders found his way to Victoria while she was ordering a drink at the bar.

“Heeeey, Vickie Baaaaby!” He exclaimed. The slur in his voice told her he’d already had a few drinks.

Ugh.

“Hi Danial,” she said.

“You’re looking hot tonight!” he said. “Come dance with me!”

“I’m sorry, but I have other plans for this party,” he said cooly.

“I’m being an ass, aren’t I?” Danial asked a bit more soberly.

Victoria relented a little. “A little bit, anyway,” she admitted.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I just get carried away. I don’t mean to be insulting or anything.”

“Ooooh!” Jake Pradis cooed over Danial’s shoulder. “You two look so cute together!”

“Do I know you?” Victoria demanded.

“Hey, barkeep!” Java Weaver shouted. “Get some hot wing for my roommate before he makes a bigger ass of himself!”

This conversation looked like it was about to get really annoying. “Hey,” Victoria said quickly. “I see Roderick. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Hey!” she called. “Great party, huh?”

Roderick laughed. “I don’t know. I just got here. I was reading for an audition, and it just ran later and later. I hope that’s a good sign.”

“Oh! I didn’t know you were going into acting! My aunt is an actress.”

“Believe me, I know!” Roderick said. “It’s not like there’s anyone who hasn’t heard of Abby Sample. In fact, if you ever have a chance to put in a good word with me, I’d really appreciate it. This field is all about who you know.”

“Yeah, Aunt Abby says the same thing,” Victoria agreed. “She says you have to be very careful. There are so many people who can take advantage of new actors.”

Roderick looked embarrassed. “Yeah,” he said. “I noticed.”

Sensing that she was treading in territory not suitable for a dance party, Victoria guided the conversation back to safer topics about who was doing what after graduation.

When Roderick turned in for an early audition, Victoria found herself back on the dance floor. She’d had a few drinks and was ready to dance!

So was Danial.

“Ha! You’re really good at this!” she had to admit.

“Dancing is life! Life is dancing!” Danial replied.

“Yeah!” Vickie agreed.

Danial tried a bit too hard to be the life of the party, Victoria decided. When he relaxed more, he was more fun. He was even kind of attractive, though it wasn’t terribly appropriate to think that about a married man.

Where WAS his wife, anyway?

Meanwhile, Edmund ran into Joy, who looked equally uncomfortable with the loud music and the press of people.

“Would you like to dance?” Edmund asked awkwardly. She smiled at him. They both remembered prom.

“How is this supposed to go, anyway?” Joy asked.

“Like this, maybe?” Edmund suggested.

The both laughed at how stupid that looked.

“Let’s get a drink and get out of here,” Joy suggested. And that’s what they did.

After Joy left, Edmund found himself outside the dance club, waiting for Victoria to finish up whatever it was she did at parties like this.

Edmund’s eye caught a familiar figure lurking in the shadows.

“You,” he said. “Marisela Flynn. I’ve been trying to find you again.”

“Why would you want to see me again?” Marisela asked. “I’m not exactly a safe companion.”

“I’ve been doing research,” he said. “I know what you are.”

She gave him a half smile, and the moonlight glinted off her unnatural teeth. “So, what do you think now?”

“I want to know what your life is like,” Edmund said earnestly. “I’m also a create of magic, though I’m very different from you. There’s a lot we could learn together… don’t you think?”

Marisela sighed. “Life,” she said. “I’m not sure if you can call what I do life. Your magic is a happier sort than mine.”

“You sound like you don’t want to be what you are,” Edmund said.

“You’re very perceptive,” Marisela said, though it was hard to tell if she was serious or not.

“Hey Edmund!” Victoria called. “It’s dying out in here! You want to go home?”

It was well after midnight when Edmund and Victoria returned home.

She looked around at her brightly-colored, nautical-themed room. She’d converted the nursery into her own bedroom long ago, and she kept another bed in case Gamora wanted to sleep over.

For the first time in her life, she could see how…. young it looked. Some day, she might want to bring a guy home. How would that even work?

Andria noticed her daughter’s lost look. “Not really your thing is it?” she said.

“I guess it’s time to think about redecorating,” Victoria said thoughtfully. But what, exactly, did she want to represent her as grown woman?

It was too late to think about it now. Now she needed to sleep off the party.

Andria should have gone to sleep once she knew her children were safe in bed, but age hadn’t made her more practical.

There was romance to be had under the stars instead.

I’ve been staring at this collection of pictures for over a month. Gah. I hope I have kick started myself back to writing.

The bring drink to sim interaction is a total lag failure. I kept trying to buy drinks for other sims so that we could walk around drinking and talking together, but my sim kept struggling to find a place to put down the !@#$ drink platter, so she was never drinking at the same time as her conversational companion.

Roderick is three days younger than Victoria, and his birthday was on this party. I tried to age him up before the party so that everyone could be an adult, but the game would just not do it. So we have to wait to see his adult look and get a sense of his final trait.

Sadly, Manu seems to have disappeared. This has me highly annoyed, since he’s been Andria’s best friend outside of the family for quite a while. I’m not sure what happened to him, since I have NRaas homeless management turned off.

Graduation Day dawned crisp and clear.

Then, right before the ceremony, the clouds opened up, turning the melting snow into slush.

The graduation ceremony was mercifully inside.

At least both of the graduates had a lot to brag about.

Joy Reacher walked alongside Edmund. He had to admit that he enjoyed the company. They both had a wry appreciation for the pomp and circumstance that Victoria didn’t share.

Her favorite part was the end. Free at last!

By evening, the rain had abated. Aunt Abby took time out of her busy promotion schedule for her latest moving to meet the new graduates at The Round Table for a dinner celebration.

“I’m not as young as I used to be,” Abby admitted, “but there are some interesting roles for old ladies!”

Everyone brought their orders outside and shuffled to find places to sit down.

Edmund asked Joy to join them. “Mom has something planned at home,” she admitted, but she couldn’t help but smile at Edmund’s disappointment. “I can drop by for a little while, at least.”

Edmund at down, and his family immediately crowded in around him. “This didn’t work out quite the way I intended,” he told Joy apologetically.

Joy laughed. “It’s all right. I have to leave anyway.”

Edmund watched her back as she left.

“I can’t believe my kids are adults already!” Andria exclaimed.

“I am so proud of you,” Dylan told Victoria. “You’ve grown up into an amazing young woman. I am proud to be your father.”

“Wow, Dad,” Victoria said. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Feel the burn!” Winston interrupted.

“Firecracker shrimp, just the way I like it!”

Sawyer ate alone.

As they finished their meal, the chef sidled nervously up to Andria. “Are you Andria Sword Sample? The fae activist?” she asked. “You’ve done so much for us. Could I have your autograph?”

“I’ve done so much?” Andria said. “Really?”

“Because of you, the Fae Council is letting us come out of hiding. Thank you so much.”

The chef wasn’t the only fae who showed up at the restaurant.

“Are you… are you a fairy?” Edmund whispered.

The winged woman laughed “Some people call us that,” she agreed. “It’s as good a name as any.”

“I’d love to get some pointers on how to make people do your bidding,” Gamora said to Aunt Abby.

“Why do you think I can help you with that?” Abby asked.

“Well, you ARE a successful actress,” Gamora said.

“I don’t think acting works the way you think it does….”

“Oh, my stomach!” moaned one of the restaurant guests. “Is there a doctor in the house?”

Sawyer sighed. “I never get a day off of this job.”

“Here, hold still. This won’t hurt a bit.”

“Hey man, are you sure? Oh, wait that does feel better!” He grabbed Sawyer’s hand and shook it vigorously. “Thank you! Thank you!”

Sawyer cooly extracted his hand and shook off the other man’s sweat. “You’re lucky I was here. Gutbusteritis can have serious consequences.”

“This is for making amazing babies,” Andria said, and she swept Dylan off his feet.

“I think it’s time to go home, Dylan murmured.

So they did.

It snowed in the night, and in the morning it was clear that Spring would be pushed off again.

“This winter just goes on and on,” Victoria complained to Edmund. “It’s even too cold for safe diving.”

“This last cold snap doesn’t seem fair,” Edmund admitted. “Even the family weather manipulator can’t handle something like this.”

“Wait, I just had an amazing idea!” Victoria cried. “Let’s get out of Avalon and go someplace warmer! We’re adults now. We can make our own airline reservations. Let’s just go!”

“Take a vacation?” Edmund said thoughtfully. “I admit it never occurred to me.”

“Will you come with me?” Victoria asked.

“I would love to see a tropical climate myself,” Edmund admitted. “Of course. And you know Winston will never forgive you if he can’t come too.”

“I’ll talk to him. He’s going to a culinary magnet school. I’m sure we can make some kind of arrangement.”

Within hours, she was on the computer, making airline reservations.

Off to sunny Isla Paradiso!

———-

I was pretty sure that Victoria’s birthday was on the first or second day of spring, just when the snow had all melted. Then there was some gap in time before I played the game again, and we were back to snow covered landscapes. Not sure what was up with that. It’s likely that some of the Options settings for season length got tinkered while I was messing around with game mods, but usually the game keeps you in the season you already have.

So, the result is that Avalon gets an unseasonably long winter, and I get to try out NRaas Traveler!

Joy Reacher was included in the group that I sent to The Round Table to have dinner, but for some reason she didn’t actually stay to eat. Sigh.

The game created a fairy paparazzo, which kind of fed into Andria’s storyline, so I went with it. She did kind of get hit with the ugly stick, though. Then again, I really really enjoy all the different kinds of faces my gene pool produces.

Oh, and Andria and Dylan are all over each other autonomously, as you’ll notice. I only take shots of half of their shenanigans. It’s so adorable.

Edmund saw her across the street from Morgana Beach clubhouse as he left Victoria’s party. She was just standing there, silently, as if waiting for someone. Edmund could feel the waves of magic radiating from her. He was drawn like a moth to flame.

“My lady?” He called into the silence. Do you need help? May I be of some assistance? ”

She whipped around. “You,” she said. “Who are you?”

“I am called Edmund Sample” he said. “I am at your service.”

A smile played over her lips. “I would be careful pledging service to strangers you meet in the dark,” she said. “Anyway, I’m Marisela Flynn.”

You look like you’re searching for something, ” Edmund said. “This is an odd place to wander at night.”

“I’m always searching for something,” she said. “Sometimes I find it.”

As she spoke, the moonlight glinted of her teeth. Edmund started in surprise. Before he could be sure of what he saw, they were gone.

“I see that I’ve badly overstepped the bounds of propriety,” Edmund said. “It’s no business of mine what you’re looking for. I had the sudden thought that I could help. I’ll leave you in peace.”

“No!” Marisela said. “I’m sorry I have been so cold. I’m not used to people noticing me when I wander at night. Please stay. I’d like to know more about you.”

Edmund found himself talking about his fae blood and his quest to understand the unique magical underbelly of Avalon.

He even introduced her to Kalai.

Marisela hung on his every word and encouraged him to tell her more.

At last, Edmund realized just how lopsided the conversation was. “Now you know everything about me,” he said, “but I know almost nothing about you. I know you are magical as well. Tell me how.”

Marisela hesitated. “You’re right,” she said. “It’s not really a magical gift like yours, though. It’s more of a curse.”

“A curse!” Edmund said. “I have never encountered such a thing. Let me try to help.”

“I think you can help,” Marisela said, “but probably not the way you intended.”

She caught his hand, and suddenly he couldn’t pull away.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’ll try to make this hurt as little as possible.”

Then she sank her teeth into the tender flesh of his wrist.

Edmund gasped, unable to cry out. His wrist burned as she drank his blood. She held him firmly against his involuntary flinching so that her teeth tore his flesh as little as possible.

“What have you done to me?” he rasped as she let him go.

Marisela looked at him tenderly. When she spoke, her voice was sad. “I’ve done you no permanent harm. I’m sorry. It’s what I am.”

Before he could move again, she was gone.

He returned home, so lost in his brooding that he barely noticed the world around him.

He stumbled distractedly to a chair, where he could rest and let the last of the tremors from the blood-sucking subside.

Which left him victim to another one of Gamora’s pranks.

“A whoopie cushion? Seriously? Are we five?”

“What’s up, big brother?” Victoria asked. “You left the party early. Did you have a good time?”

“I think I have stumbled upon a creature of the night,” Edmund said without preamble. “I should have guessed that if fae lived on Avalon, there could be more sinister monsters as well.”

“There are rumors that one of our ancestors was a vampire,” Victoria said. “I guess it doesn’t shock me. There’s a lot about Avalonian magic that we don’t understand. Like, almost all of it.”

“It’s true,” Edmund mused. “There have been so many secrets for so long. We understand so little, even about ourselves, much less anything else magical here. It doesn’t have to be this way. I want to help bring enlightenment to our home.”

“I’m sure you can do it,” Victoria said. “Dark magical things are right up your alley.”

Edmund no longer felt sick. He felt energized. He hurried up to his room to begin sorting through old tomes of magical lore.”

There was a lot to find.

———-

I’m happy to kick January on the ass on the way out. I’ve played a lot ahead at this point, but I have had absolutely no inspiration to write. It feels like a victory to get something out! We’ll see if I can keep it up.

Marisela Flynn is Sean Flynn’s daughter from before I remembered to turn off fertility for him and Forest. She’s not Forest’s daughter. She and Edmund not only have heart-farts, they seem to have a lot of autonomous chemistry. I don’t know what her traits are.

Edmund is still sort of casually dating Joy Reacher. The threads are not resolved by current gameplay, so we’ll have to see how they all play out.

“This isn’t going to work,” Winston said. “It’s much too cold for swimming.”

“It’s not that cold!” Victoria protested.

Winston raised his eyebrows and said nothing.

“OK, it is kind of cold. But just a little bit! I brought my wetsuit.”

“Hey,” said the first arrival to Victoria’s birthday party. “You aren’t seriously planning to swim in this weather, are you?”

“All right, all right,” Victoria said as she stalked out of the water. “We’ll have the party in the clubhouse.”

The clubhouse was warm and dry and much more comfortable for everyone.

“Here we go! On to adulthood!”

“Better you than me!” Winston called.

“It’ll be you soon enough!” Victoria cried.

“So this is adulthood, huh? Am I supposed to feel responsible or something?”

“Hey,” Danial Ibari-Saunders said. “Now that you’re legally an adult and all, have you thought about settling down and having a family?”

“What? Are you kidding? Don’t I at least need a boyfriend to do that? Are you volunteering? Because if you are, I’m going to tell your wife.”

“Woo!” Danial shouted. “She’s into me! Do you hear that, guys? She’s totally into me.”

Victoria just had to roll with it. “You’re so persuasive. Where is your wife, anyway? Does she even know you’re here mingling with recent high school grads?”

Victoria was actually rather surprised that Danial had accepted her invitation. He’d been a senior when she was a freshman, and he’d been out of school for quite a while. Plus, he was the only one of her friends who was already married.

“Sasha’s not feeling well,” Danial said. “She sends her regrets.”

“Aww,” Victoria said. “Tell her I hope she’s feeling better soon.”

“Sure thing. You want to break out the karaoke machine?”

“You kidding? I love that thing!”

“So let’s fire it up and sing!”

They sang, and everyone else gathered around to listen.

But it didn’t take Victoria long to realize she was seriously outclassed.

“Hey, you make a great backup singer, Vickie!” Winston taunted. But he was right. Danial could fill the room with his voice. He sang like a pro.

“All right then,” she said as Danial completed his big finale, “time for something else!”

“Aww,” Danial called after her. “I was just getting warmed up!”

“I’m afraid to hear what you sound like when you’re at your best! But, seriously, let’s do something everyone can join in. This thing has to have something we can dance to.” She punched the buttons on the clubhouse jukebox.

“Eek!” Roderick squealed. “I love this song! Let’s dance, Vickie!”

“Hey, you’re not a bad dancer!”

“Well, I kind of practiced after your party when you folks went on vacation.”

“I’m hoping to make a career out of dancing,” Winston admitted to his classmate, Roderick’s brother Angelina Winter.

“Performance careers are a lot of work,” Angelina pointed out.

“I’m not afraid to work hard,” Winston said defensively.

“I don’t think dancing should be work anyway,” Angelina said. “And aren’t we supposed to be doing that now?”

“I think this party is getting too loud,” Edmund said. “Would you like to go someplace else?”

“Gladly,” Joy said. They slipped out the door together.

The clubhouse was full of friends having fun. Victoria couldn’t think of when she’d last felt so light hearted.

When Roderick went to get a drink, Victoria stole some time with her best friend Judith.

“What do you think of Roderick?” Judith hissed. “Isn’t he adorable?”

“Well, he is cute,” Victoria admitted.

“He’s totally into you!”

“Oh, come on,” Victoria chided. “Roderick’s into everyone.”

“I think Danial Ibari is the cutest guy in the room,” Judith admitted.

“Bite your tongue!” Victoria said. “He’s a married man. Hands off.”

Judith laughed. “I know, but I can look!”

At last, people began to trickle home. Victoria stood and watched the sunset through the picture window. She could see her parents flirting down on the beach.

In the silence, after all the laughing and excitement, she felt a little forlorn. Where did she go from here? School was over. She was supposed to have some idea of a career. But the only thing that really called to her was the sea. Could you get a job playing in the ocean?

Maybe things would be a bit clearer in the morning.

———-

Well, here we are, at the start of Generation 7!

I and I thought Vickie was beautiful as a TEEN. She’s just captivating as a YA.

She’s proving to be more interested in diving and building things than she is romance. She’s not going to turn around and get married a day or two after aging up the way Dylan did. I had been brainstorming a romantic storyline for her based on the attraction notifications and interactions from when she was a teenager, but I think she decided to spite me and fall for someone else. I guess we’ll see. I am DYING to see Gen 8 babies, but I want to give her time to do things the way she wants to do them.

The bit about Danial Ibari-Saunders being so great at karaoke is because I just learned that he entered the Singer career.

Roderick Winter, if I failed to mention it before, is the grandson of February Callender. It’s pretty cool to see her hair color still floating around. He and his two sisters are the kids of Sawyer’s half-sister Rosie Winter and Dylan’s high school girlfriend Corinna Shepherd. Those two gals have had a lifelong happy partnership, but they never bothered to get married.

Comments from the peanut gallery on Vickie’s romantic prospects are welcome. I can use all the input I can get.