empire

February - July 2087. Justin Kim is 27, Stephanie Nova is 27, Willow is 5, Lily is 5, Benji is 11 months. 

previously: the damage, part 1 // the damage, part 2 // there you are // his parents moved up north

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.” 

postcards from a bug on the wall

July 2087.

In Fort Palmetto, half of the high school class gathers at the Collins residence to celebrate Jacob Collins' 15th birthday. The shady yard and chilly pool make the perfect place to ride out this mid-summer heat wave.  

real music, part 3

June 21, 2087. Vale Akiyama is 26, Vicky Garth is 22, Lauren Sanders is 14, Blossom McCarthy is 28, April Hutchins is 23, Ariel Beech is 19, Josie Booth is 20, Lara Nova is 34, Patrick Nova is 36. 

"real music, part 1," "real music, part 2"


Vale still had his bags to pack and a flight up north to catch for the long-awaited Copper Island Summer Solstice Festival. But first, he wondered what to wear for his big night. He tried on a few combinations and texted the selfies to Vicky.

     Vale: Which one says “musical superstar”?

     Vicky: I don’t know, but that vest says arrogant and pretentious.

     Vale: And the other one?

     Vicky: I don’t know, just pretentious I guess.

—

3rd quarter grades and graduation, spring 2087

June 11, 2087. Congratulations to this year's graduates: Selena Sosa, Dallas Deppiesse, Liza Hathe, and Marcus Sylvester! 

* grades at the end

Tonight we gather at the theater hall of the Casbah Arts Center in San Myshuno, California to celebrate graduates from the nation's universities and high schools. Students and their families have traveled from near and far to commemorate this great occasion.

it's your day: Sienna

June 2, 2087. Welcome, baby Sienna!

* A very sim-inspired birth for Aliyah's bundle of joy, because I didn't feel like posing sims. But then I'm glad I did it this way, because it came out quite amusing! 


Aliyah finally went into labor late in the evening, a few days before her due date. That was just fine with her—she was feeling restless and bored after being forced into early maternity leave. For four weeks, she hasn't been allowed to do any more work than answering phones part time, so she's actually looking forward to the exhausting job of motherhood.

calling dibs

May 23, 2087. Summer Phoenix is 21. Evie Bachman is 23. 



Day and night, Summer has been diligently rehearsing her lines for an audition. She will read for the lead role in a fun vampire movie, which is expected to be campy in a clever way and full of fun stunts. The heroine is headstrong and sexy, which she is hopeful she can pull off. She's even more confident about the fight scenes—mid-air, the script says. They'll be hoisted up on wires.

that fateful summer

This story is less about what's happening now, and more about what happened before. Luisa Palmer is turning one year old today—now let's talk about who she is and how she got here.


Laney Thompson first laid eyes on her Greek dreamboat on an otherwise unassuming Friday night, while out on a bar crawl with her sister. The Greek Dreamboat was Ingrid's name for him, although Laney wouldn't disagree that he was a dreamboat. That he was hers was another question. Laney knew that Andreas never belonged to her even for a moment, and sadly he never would be.