Sim in the City VIII: Salim + Maki... 4Ever?

Previously: Zora worked on her fitness while Miko worked on her public protesting, and they still had enough time to work on making their first baby together. Phoebe grew up into a sassy little thing who's making friends and enemies in equal measure. Salim and Maki turned a years-long friendship into romance. And I really need to get these posts together faster because I'm so far ahead in-game it isn't even funny.


I almost forgot Zora still wasn't officially a proper adult, and it looks like she did, too. We were both caught off guard by her sudden (and anticlimactic) transformation upon waking up.


Meanwhile, pregnancy isn't treating Miko too badly, except for those moments when her bladder abruptly becomes uncomfortably full and she has to waddle miserably to the bathroom.


But she's not going to let that stop her from hitting the streets in support of her cause! She's determined to spread the word about Speak for the Trees all throughout San Myshuno and get a real movement going.


She's got a little morning sickness going on, but no big deal, she'll just force it back down her throat real quick before getting back to the grind.


...Or not. Poor Miko and also that lady unknowingly standing mere inches away from her rather realistic-looking pile of vomit. Luckily, it looks like it missed her boots and splattered all over Miko's instead.


But look! Her dedicated recruitment is working! I'm not sure what these guys are actually riled up about, and I suppose it could be something idiotic like men's rights, but at least they're passionate about the cause. Miko's enthusiasm is catching!


Miko: That's right, my fellow earth-dwellers! Let's make this a better planet for you, me, and the new lives, real or metaphorical, growing inside us all!


She then got distracted by a tempting ground cupcake, which actually might not be that good for the baby's health. Are you sure you want to eat that?


Okay, this is definitely not good for the baby's health. Miko, put that plate down before you entirely incinerate your womb!


In other news, Salim invited Maki out for a romantic art museum date, and I've got to say, I don't think they're all that interested in the art at the moment.


A little mural-painting to set the mood for taking things to the next level...


Oh, so now you want to play hard to get? I know you thrive on unpredictability, Maki, but I really don't want this to turn into another hot-and-cold Liberty situation.


Salim: I will just stare at this piece of art until my retinas burn out of their sockets, for what good is seeing in a world where I'm destined to be deprived of true love?

That's a little melodramatic after one rejected advance, don't you think?


Phoebe made another new friend! Her name is Jane, and their primary means of entertainment is the monkey bars.


Honestly, I'm not sure how much of this friendship is rooted in an actual desire for companionship and how much is rooted in a desire to show off. Only time will tell.


Exciting development on the pregnancy front: Miko has reached that stage where her belly is so comically massive it could literally pop at any second.


Geez, this woman doesn't let anything get in the way of brazenly talking up her cause and then soliciting donations from random strangers at the gym. What an inspiration!


She's also always available to give inspiring pep talks to Salim when he's feeling particularly down in the dumps about his romantic prospects (which is every other day).


Another night, another date, and Maki's already feeling frisky. This is a good sign. Let's keep it up.


Heck yeah, let's go! There's nothing more seductive than becoming the karaoke champion.


Well, he's certainly getting people's attention, but their reactions are maddeningly hard to read. Are they impressed? Are their ears bleeding? It's impossible to tell, but at least they aren't running in screaming hordes from the premises.


If only duets were admissible, he and Maki together would surely be a force to be reckoned with.


All right, we've got a winner! To be entirely frank, this is a 45/100, which isn't really a great score, but apparently it was better than everyone else, which is good enough for me.


It's good enough for Maki, too. Salim asks her to be his girlfriend again, and she actually says yes!


Baby time! I swear I was going to try to send Miko to the hospital to deliver like a civilized Sim being, but she started going into labor while Salim was off singing his heart out at the karaoke bar, which resulted in a good old fashioned bathroom delivery, an experience all Sims 2 players should be very familiar with.


She powers through like a champ, though, and delivers a boy named Nico!


And earns a promotion the very next day, what kind of superwoman.


Zora gets promoted, too! Piano isn't really her instrument of choice, but she's hoping it'll lead to bigger and better things.


Salim: It was a pleasure waking up next to you this morning, and you look adorable in those bunny slippers.
Maki: Thanks, babe. Last night was fun. Wanna power up with some brunch before the next round?


Salim is feeling the love this morning and takes the opportunity to bet everything he's got on a proposal.


A gesture which is roundly rejected!

Maki: WHAT. DO. YOU. NOT. UNDERSTAND. ABOUT. THE. WORD. NON. COMMITTAL?!?!?

Okay, point taken, but you could have let him down a little more gently, don't you think?


It's up to poor little Phoebe to keep Nico content while Zora and Miko are at work and Salim sleeps off his rejection depression. The girl gets an A for effort, but she clearly has no idea what she's doing.


As if his day could get any worse, Salim goes and immolates himself while attempting to dry the laundry. That damn lint trap! I knew my real-life laziness at cleaning it out would result in disaster!


Salim: Hey neighbor I hate who randomly invited himself into my apartment, a little help here?


Yeah, you better get your ass far away from here, you pathetic coward. If Salim burns to death and you dare to show your face around these parts again, you'll be a dead man, too.


Luckily, Salim managed to extinguish himself and live to see another char-smeared day.

Zora: Whoa, what happened to you?
Salim: Don't ask. Please just don't ask.


Let's keep our fingers crossed this signals an upswing in his luck.


Phoebe's at school passing around dirty drawings to her friends. Somehow, I'm not surprised, but I'm also not about to discourage it. Let the girl's curiosity thrive!


Looks like someone has entered their teenage rebellion stage a bit early.


Okay, Phoebe, as much as I want to support your right to assert your own identity, this is a bridge too far. You can't be sending kids to the hospital with uncontrollable bowels no matter how mean they are!


Anyway, here's her baby half-brother Nico, who's grown into a very full head of hair. A touch unrealistic perhaps, but I think it's adorable, and who am I to force him into a haircut?


Look at Phoebe and Jane cooperating to build the world's greatest snowman! I just hope that Jane never angers Phoebe enough to meet her laxative-wielding side because that certainly would not end happily.


Speaking of things not ending happily, Salim attempted to propose again and Maki rejected him again. I really didn't think this whole non-committal thing was so serious, but it looks like Salim might just have to settle for calling her his girlfriend for now, which I suppose isn't the worst thing in the world, as humiliating as the actual rejection feels in the moment.

Zora: Tough breaks, kid. Tough breaks. Now, if you don't mind, I'm just going to settle in here to see how this plays out...