What do we need a sister for?
Because taking sides in a heated snowball fight is no fun when there’s only two.
Showing posts with label Stephanie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stephanie. Show all posts
postcards from a fluffy moment of respite (and December birthdays)
December 2088.
What do we need a sister for?
Because taking sides in a heated snowball fight is no fun when there’s only two.
What do we need a sister for?
Because taking sides in a heated snowball fight is no fun when there’s only two.
boxes and squares #4.5: home is wherever you are, part 3
October 2088. Jordan Graham is 28, Maria Boone is 26, Johanna is 4, Lou Corelli is 29. Stephanie Nova is 28.
Maria felt tender and deflated about her sister’s underwhelming reaction to her news, and she didn’t know what to do about that, so she just took her sorry butt to work. For the last time, perhaps. If she was going to move her whole life into her boyfriend’s camper in a few days’ time, quitting this job was a necessary first step.
She had been so excited to tell Lou. But maybe that was dumb—Lou was always going to be Lou, too practical and grounded and allergic to joy. But if not Lou, Maria wondered who else would possibly be happy for her and this huge moment in her life?
Not her parents, for sure. Not her boss. Not her co-workers.
Thankfully, Maria could delay any more announcements until the end of their shift. It was all hands on deck tonight. Tonight was the reason she could only visit Jordan for twenty-four hours, so that she could make it back to help with this big lunch catering order they had due on Tuesday morning. And didn’t that feel silly now, knowing that she was going to quit and run straight back to him? If she didn’t have JoJo to come back for, she might have just blown them all off.
But, no, she couldn’t do that to Stephanie. Stephanie was a sweetheart and she didn’t deserve to lose the sous chef she’d poured so much energy and knowledge into. If Maria had learned anything at all about cooking, she’d learned it from Stephanie.
When Maria came here two years ago, it was just a lowly kitchen job. It was just something to fill her time and pad her budget as a widowed single mom. Who could have guessed that the people she met here would change her whole life so much?
boxes and squares #3: what dreams?
October 2088. Jordan Graham is 28, Maria Boone is 26, Lou Corelli is 29.
Soundtrack: “Dreams” by The Cranberries
Soundtrack: “Dreams” by The Cranberries
previously: what happened after Stephanie’s wedding // meet Lou
Before he headed out into the wilderness, while still in San Sequoia, Jordan stopped into a tattoo parlor in a quiet suburban shopping strip. Colette was never a fan of his only tattoo and forbade him from getting more. Why did he ever let her decide that for him? They weren’t married, and half the time they hardly liked each other.
Now, they weren’t together at all anymore and he wasn’t asking permission.
He wasn’t asking Maria, either, to be honest, though her opinion he absolutely cared about. This journey for him meant not letting women control his life anymore, and that had to include Maria, as well.
So, with a sizable chunk of his travel fund and a couple of ibuprofen, he settled in to commit vision to flesh. And he said a small prayer that Maria wouldn’t mind this one on him, because it wasn’t exactly small.
His travels would next take him up the coast and into the Cascade Mountains where he looked forward to being truly off-grid and out of cell reception for a few days.
Now it was time to go get lost and see what epiphanies he might find.
* briefly NSFW 😇
Before he headed out into the wilderness, while still in San Sequoia, Jordan stopped into a tattoo parlor in a quiet suburban shopping strip. Colette was never a fan of his only tattoo and forbade him from getting more. Why did he ever let her decide that for him? They weren’t married, and half the time they hardly liked each other.
Now, they weren’t together at all anymore and he wasn’t asking permission.
He wasn’t asking Maria, either, to be honest, though her opinion he absolutely cared about. This journey for him meant not letting women control his life anymore, and that had to include Maria, as well.
So, with a sizable chunk of his travel fund and a couple of ibuprofen, he settled in to commit vision to flesh. And he said a small prayer that Maria wouldn’t mind this one on him, because it wasn’t exactly small.
His travels would next take him up the coast and into the Cascade Mountains where he looked forward to being truly off-grid and out of cell reception for a few days.
Now it was time to go get lost and see what epiphanies he might find.
my sweetheart #8: honeymoon
September 2088. Justin and Stephanie Nova are 28.
The day after their wedding, Justin and Stephanie headed off for their honeymoon in Sulani. The brochure promised a private, secluded beach hut and the thrill of living off the island.
Stephanie especially looked forward to some time unplugged with her new hubby. But when they arrived, they found that the Wi-Fi connection was full strength, outlets powered up to charge their devices, and there was running water and a gas stove.
The day after their wedding, Justin and Stephanie headed off for their honeymoon in Sulani. The brochure promised a private, secluded beach hut and the thrill of living off the island.
Stephanie especially looked forward to some time unplugged with her new hubby. But when they arrived, they found that the Wi-Fi connection was full strength, outlets powered up to charge their devices, and there was running water and a gas stove.
What’s the first thing they should do here? Skinny dipping in the waterfall? Sandcastles? Snorkeling?
my sweetheart #3: feral
August 2088. Jordan Graham is 28, Maria Boone is 26, Willow Nova is 7, Johanna Boone is 4.
one day before the wedding…
Jordan balanced six feet off the ground on a step ladder, with wires and electric candles in hand, while outside there were children’s voices counting down from ten, “Ready or not, here I come!” Then, whoosh. A streak of yellow and red and loose brown hair, breezing by with such force that the ladder swayed, even though the tiny girl couldn’t have weighed forty pounds. Maria’s girl, Johanna.
One of these kids would be the death of him. Or might have been, had his days not been numbered here. So, in that regard, he wasn’t mad. Someday he knew he would even remember the chaos of all this with fondness.
But, in any case, it wasn’t safe. “Not in the barn today,” he called out.
“I need to hide,” Johanna hissed from underneath the table, in something between a whisper and a dinosaur growl.
Johanna was the littlest of the bunch. Stephanie’s girls were bigger and should know better, but Johanna was only four. Jordan came down from the ladder.
Jordan balanced six feet off the ground on a step ladder, with wires and electric candles in hand, while outside there were children’s voices counting down from ten, “Ready or not, here I come!” Then, whoosh. A streak of yellow and red and loose brown hair, breezing by with such force that the ladder swayed, even though the tiny girl couldn’t have weighed forty pounds. Maria’s girl, Johanna.
One of these kids would be the death of him. Or might have been, had his days not been numbered here. So, in that regard, he wasn’t mad. Someday he knew he would even remember the chaos of all this with fondness.
But, in any case, it wasn’t safe. “Not in the barn today,” he called out.
“I need to hide,” Johanna hissed from underneath the table, in something between a whisper and a dinosaur growl.
Johanna was the littlest of the bunch. Stephanie’s girls were bigger and should know better, but Johanna was only four. Jordan came down from the ladder.
why are you here? #4: then go
previously: the last time she tried to hug him was a little awkward // Colette crushed all his hopes and dreams
There were two weeks left before the revised date of Stephanie’s wedding, which had Jordan occupied outside, much to Maria’s disappointment. She’d missed him while he was away with his boys. For the kitchen staff, it was still too early to start food preparations for the wedding, so their workload was the regular fare—catering orders and supper club prep. She wasn’t too busy to steal five minutes to go find him.
The weather couldn’t be more perfect, and everyone hoped it would hold for the wedding, but it was still too far out to know for certain. The barn was scented with the light fumes of fresh paint. Those would dissipate in the next two weeks. Banners of gauzy ivory chiffon draped the ceiling between hanging pendant lights. The lights weren’t turned on yet, but Maria knew when they were, it would be breathtaking in here.
Jordan stood at the back door, gazing out, absently, somewhere beyond the trees.
She stood next to him. God, I missed you, she wanted to say. Did you miss me, too? Did you remember me at all?
Instead, she booped his pink nose and said, “You’re sunburned.”
Oh, god, Maria, she said to herself, did you actually just boop that man on the nose?
Yes, she did. Thankfully, he didn’t look unamused by it.
my sweetheart #1: it wasn’t funny after all
May 2088. Cynthia Kim is 52, Robert is 54, Justin is 28, Stephanie is 28.
* this chapter takes place simultaneously with “why are you here? #2: little sparks catch fire” but from the Kim family's point of view
It was an ordinary summer morning. The children poured themselves some cereal. Probably most of it ended up on the floor, but who cared?
“Fine, have cookies. Fine, have ice cream. Dog food? What dog food? We don’t have a dog. Just be good. We’ll be out in a minute. Mommy and Daddy are just wrestling.”
It was a slow and sweet summer morning. Their wedding was imminent, finally, after all this time, and everyone was feeling playful and light. Both of them had to work today. Justin would pop over to the workshop for a few hours—he loved being his own boss and making his own hours—then Steph had dinner to serve tonight at the inn.
It was a charming summer morning that was about to take a terrible turn.
“Fine, have cookies. Fine, have ice cream. Dog food? What dog food? We don’t have a dog. Just be good. We’ll be out in a minute. Mommy and Daddy are just wrestling.”
It was a slow and sweet summer morning. Their wedding was imminent, finally, after all this time, and everyone was feeling playful and light. Both of them had to work today. Justin would pop over to the workshop for a few hours—he loved being his own boss and making his own hours—then Steph had dinner to serve tonight at the inn.
It was a charming summer morning that was about to take a terrible turn.
why are you here? #1.5: valentine
February 2088, three weeks after Maria’s birthday.
“Are you working Valentine’s dinner?” Jordan asked.
“Of course,” Maria said. “It’s not like I have a Valentine, silly.” She willed herself not to look him in the eyes and swoon. She was embarrassing herself enough already. “What about you, what do you guys do for Valentine’s Day?”
No, she didn’t really want to know, but it seemed like the thing to ask.
“Ha, no,” he laughed awkwardly. “Um, actually, we’re not like that. Not anymore. I’ll probably just work. I might as well.”
“Are you working Valentine’s dinner?” Jordan asked.
“Of course,” Maria said. “It’s not like I have a Valentine, silly.” She willed herself not to look him in the eyes and swoon. She was embarrassing herself enough already. “What about you, what do you guys do for Valentine’s Day?”
No, she didn’t really want to know, but it seemed like the thing to ask.
“Ha, no,” he laughed awkwardly. “Um, actually, we’re not like that. Not anymore. I’ll probably just work. I might as well.”
a short break from reality, #1: bugs
March 2088. Justin Kim is 27, Stephanie Nova is 28, Willow and Lily are 6, Benji is 19 months.
* briefly NSFW
The whole street in the plaza where Justin had just set up his brand new shop was infested. They closed up everything to fumigate for bugs. [SCCO mod removal error.] Unfortunately, for a worker-bee like Justin, there was no time to move his workbenches and equipment back home. No time to drape his works in progress. No opportunity to back up his files for remote work.
“It’s temporary,” his landlord offered. “I won’t be charging you rent for the weeks we’re closed down.”
“Well, I certainly hope not!” Justin said. “But what about my items? Are those sprays toxic to fabrics? Are people expected to bring those pieces into their homes?”
Martha rolled her eyes. “What exactly do you expect me to do about it? There’s bugs, so we fumigate. That’s what they said to do, so that’s what we’re doing.”
“Bugs,” his landlord said.
The whole street in the plaza where Justin had just set up his brand new shop was infested. They closed up everything to fumigate for bugs. [SCCO mod removal error.] Unfortunately, for a worker-bee like Justin, there was no time to move his workbenches and equipment back home. No time to drape his works in progress. No opportunity to back up his files for remote work.
“It’s temporary,” his landlord offered. “I won’t be charging you rent for the weeks we’re closed down.”
“Well, I certainly hope not!” Justin said. “But what about my items? Are those sprays toxic to fabrics? Are people expected to bring those pieces into their homes?”
Martha rolled her eyes. “What exactly do you expect me to do about it? There’s bugs, so we fumigate. That’s what they said to do, so that’s what we’re doing.”
postcards from your Valentine
February 2088.
* briefly NSFW
Here’s what a few special couples are doing on this romantic day.
Vale & Vicky, together 6 weeks – officially moving in together
“So it looks like your neighbor didn’t water the plants then,” he said.
—
Vale & Vicky, together 6 weeks – officially moving in together
“So it looks like your neighbor didn’t water the plants then,” he said.
postcards from your wildest dreams
January 2088
#1: welcome baby Eris
The Deppiesse family welcomes another little girl, Eris Lenore, to the family. This little one seems to have inherited almost everything from her beautiful mother, Lucy.
#1: welcome baby Eris
The Deppiesse family welcomes another little girl, Eris Lenore, to the family. This little one seems to have inherited almost everything from her beautiful mother, Lucy.
gameplay: Eris’s birth roll, and it looks like she’s destined to inherit a couple of unfortunate traits! She might not be the little sweetheart that Cassie is. Sounds like a fun sisterly dynamic to write about, lol!
another little side note: Eris was actually born years ago in my game, before the timeline rewind. I went back far enough that Cassie hadn’t even been born yet, and so Eris had to wait a long time in limbo to become part of the story again. She’s just been hanging out off-camera as a toddler this whole time, the same actual sim who was born all that time ago. Note that we have not actually seen Lucy in story since her honeymoon, so fake pregnancy happened off-camera, too.
For the record: Dallas and Lucy don’t have any other secret babies hanging out off camera. Only on-camera babies from now on, lol!
empire
February - July 2087. Justin Kim is 27, Stephanie Nova is 27, Willow is 5, Lily is 5, Benji is 11 months.
Justin wanted to believe that he might look back on this time, years from now, and recognize it as the launching point of the best part of his life. Doesn't every great success story have an absolute low from which a person can only rise? In twenty years, when he’d made himself a successful career as CEO of several companies and holdings, when he gazed out over the landscape of his success—a warm and spacious home, happy children, spoiled wife, a yacht, a vintage Ferrari 250 convertible in red, and another one in yellow just for good measure—he’d look back on this moment and feel humbled and proud that he made it so far. So much treasure built with his own two hands. That moment, if it ever happened, felt so very far away right now.
Justin sat in front of his former boss, uneasy about the look of remorse on his face. “I’m so glad to hear that you’ve recovered,” Adam said. “But I’m so sorry to say, the job you had before doesn’t exist anymore.”
it's your day: Jack & Nessa
April 24, 2087. Happy 10th wedding anniversary to Jack and Nessa Phoenix!
digging through the old family photo albums, from April 24, 2077
(click for bigger)
—
postcards from the new management
March 2087.
It should be noted that around the time the fires started, midnight, long after the cafe had closed, Ian Thompson was spotted eating a bowl of Fruit Loops at the counter. He claims to have had nothing to do with the fires, but nobody else could be placed at the scene of thecrime accident at that time. The owner has graciously decided not to press charges.
It should be noted that around the time the fires started, midnight, long after the cafe had closed, Ian Thompson was spotted eating a bowl of Fruit Loops at the counter. He claims to have had nothing to do with the fires, but nobody else could be placed at the scene of the
happy divorce day, Stephanie Nova!
February 4, 2087. Stephanie Nova is 27.
Stephanie Nova could worry like nobody else alive. She worried every morning as she sent her daughter off to kindergarten that today would be the day Jeremiah came to snatch her out of school. She knew which cars belonged to which parent, and her heart skipped a beat whenever someone drove something new. She lay in bed each night, safe in the arms of her beloved, only to slide out of his embrace to double check door and window locks, her ears peaked at a sudden gust of wind or the howl of a wild fox.
it's your day: December birthdays
first, some quickie notes: It appears that this is Danielle's blog debut? I don't know how that's possible, since I've been blogging about her on Tumblr for ages, lol!
In other dimensions (TS3), Danielle was not conceived until April was 25, which made a lot more sense for April's story, considering the time it would have taken her to deal with some personal issues and feel ready to have a baby. But in TS4, Danielle was already in my game as a sim from the 2091 timeline, and has been paused as a baby FOREVER, and I didn’t want to keep her a baby any longer.
So if it feels sudden to think that April and Beau had her so soon after college, then that’s why. We’ll just imagine that everything is fine and nobody is traumatized by it.
*briefly NSFW
This December, after a dreadfully long babyhood, little Dani Jackson is finally working on her wobbly first steps.
In other dimensions (TS3), Danielle was not conceived until April was 25, which made a lot more sense for April's story, considering the time it would have taken her to deal with some personal issues and feel ready to have a baby. But in TS4, Danielle was already in my game as a sim from the 2091 timeline, and has been paused as a baby FOREVER, and I didn’t want to keep her a baby any longer.
So if it feels sudden to think that April and Beau had her so soon after college, then that’s why. We’ll just imagine that everything is fine and nobody is traumatized by it.
—
December 2086.*briefly NSFW
This December, after a dreadfully long babyhood, little Dani Jackson is finally working on her wobbly first steps.
there you are
November 4, 2086. Justin Kim and Stephanie Nova are 26. Willow is 5, Lily is 4, Benji is three months old. (Ally Lind is 32, Bianca is 9, Julia is 7.)
* NSFW
* NSFW
the damage, part 2
November 2, 2086. Justin Kim and Stephanie Nova are 26. Willow is 5, Lily is 4, Benji is three months old.
Justin had been out of work now for over two months, and the most riveting part of his day was being judge and jury to sibling rivalries. They couldn't be sure whether it was because of the new baby or everything else the family had been through, but both girls had been acting out in different ways. Willow had become bombastic and sometimes prickly, challenging rules and boundaries with great ambition. She would dart out of the house without telling anyone, or run the hot water without being supervised, or open up the chat box on the computer and talk to strangers. Then Lily became ornery and ruthless about catching her sister's bad behavior. She followed Willow around, waiting to tattle on anything she did wrong.
Justin had been out of work now for over two months, and the most riveting part of his day was being judge and jury to sibling rivalries. They couldn't be sure whether it was because of the new baby or everything else the family had been through, but both girls had been acting out in different ways. Willow had become bombastic and sometimes prickly, challenging rules and boundaries with great ambition. She would dart out of the house without telling anyone, or run the hot water without being supervised, or open up the chat box on the computer and talk to strangers. Then Lily became ornery and ruthless about catching her sister's bad behavior. She followed Willow around, waiting to tattle on anything she did wrong.
Fall Festival at Coolidge House Country Inn
October 2086.
Here is where the girls went while the boys were left home alone. Sharon asked Stephanie and Maria to bring their kids into work today—they have a very important job to do. They need to brainstorm ideas for the fall festival. Sharon doesn't have any kids of her own, so she needs to borrow her employees' children for this task.
Here is where the girls went while the boys were left home alone. Sharon asked Stephanie and Maria to bring their kids into work today—they have a very important job to do. They need to brainstorm ideas for the fall festival. Sharon doesn't have any kids of her own, so she needs to borrow her employees' children for this task.
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