Sim in the City XI: Older and Wiser
Previously: Zora had a third (and likely final) child, a girl named Willow, and reignited the spark with Miko over a romantic dinner at Chez Llama - that is, before they both got food poisoning and had to spend the rest of the night on the phone threatening lawsuits.
Phoebe: UGH, MOM, I HATE YOU! WHY ARE YOU STILL MAKING ME GO TO SCHOOL?!? CAN'T YOU SEE I'M PRACTICALLY AN ADULT ALREADY!!! I HAVE SO MANY MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO!
Zora: Whoa there, it's nice to see you again, too. I take it you had fun at your dad's?
Phoebe: Dad is so much cooler than you! And that's really saying something, considering we both know what a massive fucking dweeb he is!!!
Zora: Mmm-hmm, that's nice, honey.
Phoebe: My life is the worst! Why won't you let me do anything?!? I feel so stifled!
Zora: There you go, sweetheart, just cry it all out.
I see Zora has mastered the art of calmly ignoring Phoebe's teen rage, thereby denying her the attention she clearly craves.
And so she sulks off defeated to get ready for school.
Naturally, as soon as she got home from class, she rushed to finish this take-home assignment (which I'm pretty sure is actually a holdover from her elementary school days) so that she could go right back to her phone and planning her next big social event.
Meanwhile, I'm afraid Zora's days of carefree partying are officially over, as these days you're more likely to find her cleaning up after her hideously messy toddler daughter than grabbing a drink at a trendy bar.
Damn it. Why must Willow be such a little brat but look so adorable doing it?
Come on, Miko. Sure, she likes to throw around her food a little more than is necessary, but is it really fair to call your own flesh and blood "evil?"
Willow may be seriously misunderstood by the adults in this household, but at least her brother loves her unconditionally!
Speaking of Nico, I may have mentioned that he's a touch on the boring side, and that's still mostly true (I guess that's what I get for making him a good-natured nerd), but at least he's getting pretty good at catching fish. This one is half as big as he is!
He also likes to chisel away at rocks and stuff because I guess that's just what scouts do.
Zora: Son, I'm happy you've found something to be passionate about, but are you ever going to take that uniform off?
Nico: ...Nope.
Zora: Okay, but you do know it'll have to be washed eventually, don't you?
Nico: Just keep reading, Mom.
Phoebe: Ugh, I can't believe Mom left me on babysitting duty again! When will the tyranny end?!?
Phoebe: AAAARRGHH, I HATE YOU, YOU FUCKING STUPID UGLY CAT!
Nico: No need to disrespect Mr. Puds like that, sis.
I honestly don't know where all of this pent-up anger is coming from. I guess Phoebe can just sense adulthood on the horizon and she's ready to jump into it already, even though it's not like being a teen has really held her back that much from pursuing outside endeavors. Things could be much, much worse for her, truly.
Anyway, I decided that it would just be the cutest thing for Willow to meet up with Salim's twins, Ivy and Olive, for a little toddler play date before she ages up into a child. Naturally, it decided to start raining the moment they arrived at the park.
Ivy and Olive are eager to make friends with Willow, but she's not sure how she feels about them.
She does know how she feels about this giant ball pit, though, and how she feels is that it's excellent.
Ivy and Olive choose to bypass the ball pit and pretend they're piloting a spaceship instead, and can I just say that Ivy's hoodie is the cutest article of clothing to ever exist, I swear to God.
Nico, ever one to enjoy his solitude, makes a beeline for the pirate ship, where he can stand in the bird's nest appreciating nature all by himself, still in his scout uniform, naturally. You never know when an emergency scout meeting might be called.
Zora: ARRRGHH! I'M A BIG SCARY MONSTER WHO LOVES TO EAT LITTLE GIRLS' BRAINS!
Miko: Zora, stop that! You're going to frighten her!
Zora: What are you talking about, honey? She loves it.
She really, really does.
This is what the jungle gym looks like from Willow's perspective. Ah, the wonders of imagination.
Willow: *in toddler-speak* Come on in! The ball pit is fine!
After a fun-filled afternoon, it's time to wrap things up with a quick birthday party. Phoebe looks positively delighted she's been roped into joining a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday," but no one's more stoked than that random townie in the background with his green plastic horn.
Nico: No, wait for me! I can't believe I'm missing this!
Willow doesn't have time to wait for anybody. She's ready to be a fully mobile child and has the interpretative rain dance performance to prove it.
Like mother, like daughter. Zora will always be young at heart.
As will Miko, even though she's occupying the body of an elder these days. She's not willing to give up her crazy hair colors or kooky outfits just because she's older now. As beautiful as she still is, it breaks my heart to see her all wrinkled up like this because I just know it means her death is that much closer.
At least Zora isn't utterly repelled by her newly mature looks.
However, they have gone on a bit of a fitness spiral together, somehow convinced that if they just spend enough time on the treadmill, they'll live forever. If only that were true.
Willow, what is that devious look on your face at 6:00 in the morning? You're up to something no good, aren't you?
Oh, you just want to eat leftover birthday cake for breakfast without anyone catching you? Carry on.
Don't let the beautiful lighting distract you. Nico is definitely experiencing a moment of existential crisis over the fact that he's being forced to spend time with his kid sister that could be better used earning scout badges.
Oh, look, it's that eyeliner-smeared Renegades freak Phoebe enjoyed beating up so much. Unlike her sister, I think Willow may actually be into him. Either that or she's just highly intimidated by being in the presence of a real live teenager she's not related to.
Willow: Keep it cool. Keep it cool. Keep it cool.
Methinks our girl definitely has an inappropriate crush.
...And crush killed in absolutely record time the moment Eyeliner Boy starts senselessly mocking her.
Willow couldn't care less, but poor kind-hearted Nico just can't abide all of these misbehaved townie kids ruining such a beautiful park with their cans of paint and flour.
Okay, Willow, that's just mean. Your brother loves you! Why would you do this to him?
While at the park, she makes a new friend in this boy named Preston, who is actually Phoebe's friend Jane's little brother, so you know he's trouble. You can just tell by the look in their eyes that they're plotting public vandalism on a much grander scale together.
School! Why even bother, am I right? Just like her older half-sister, Willow's definitely getting a head start on being an obnoxiously whiny teen.
Willow: Mom, school sucks! I'm not learning anything from those imbeciles who call themselves teachers! Can I just quit?
Miko: Young lady, what has gotten into you? I was hoping the evilness would have worn off by now...
One of the only pluses of going to school is that she can invite Preston home afterwards and plot evil schemes with him under the guise of innocent dancing.
This is Willow's "wanna be best friends?" face. Very charming.
Nico: Ugh, those two have their music up so loud I can't even concentrate on my chess game. Youths!
Forever wise beyond his years, this one. Are we sure he's not a curmudgeonly genius trapped in a child's body?
Phoebe: UGH, MOM, I HATE YOU! WHY ARE YOU STILL MAKING ME GO TO SCHOOL?!? CAN'T YOU SEE I'M PRACTICALLY AN ADULT ALREADY!!! I HAVE SO MANY MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO!
Zora: Whoa there, it's nice to see you again, too. I take it you had fun at your dad's?
Phoebe: Dad is so much cooler than you! And that's really saying something, considering we both know what a massive fucking dweeb he is!!!
Zora: Mmm-hmm, that's nice, honey.
Phoebe: My life is the worst! Why won't you let me do anything?!? I feel so stifled!
Zora: There you go, sweetheart, just cry it all out.
I see Zora has mastered the art of calmly ignoring Phoebe's teen rage, thereby denying her the attention she clearly craves.
And so she sulks off defeated to get ready for school.
Naturally, as soon as she got home from class, she rushed to finish this take-home assignment (which I'm pretty sure is actually a holdover from her elementary school days) so that she could go right back to her phone and planning her next big social event.
Meanwhile, I'm afraid Zora's days of carefree partying are officially over, as these days you're more likely to find her cleaning up after her hideously messy toddler daughter than grabbing a drink at a trendy bar.
Damn it. Why must Willow be such a little brat but look so adorable doing it?
Come on, Miko. Sure, she likes to throw around her food a little more than is necessary, but is it really fair to call your own flesh and blood "evil?"
Willow may be seriously misunderstood by the adults in this household, but at least her brother loves her unconditionally!
Speaking of Nico, I may have mentioned that he's a touch on the boring side, and that's still mostly true (I guess that's what I get for making him a good-natured nerd), but at least he's getting pretty good at catching fish. This one is half as big as he is!
He also likes to chisel away at rocks and stuff because I guess that's just what scouts do.
Zora: Son, I'm happy you've found something to be passionate about, but are you ever going to take that uniform off?
Nico: ...Nope.
Zora: Okay, but you do know it'll have to be washed eventually, don't you?
Nico: Just keep reading, Mom.
Phoebe: Ugh, I can't believe Mom left me on babysitting duty again! When will the tyranny end?!?
Phoebe: AAAARRGHH, I HATE YOU, YOU FUCKING STUPID UGLY CAT!
Nico: No need to disrespect Mr. Puds like that, sis.
I honestly don't know where all of this pent-up anger is coming from. I guess Phoebe can just sense adulthood on the horizon and she's ready to jump into it already, even though it's not like being a teen has really held her back that much from pursuing outside endeavors. Things could be much, much worse for her, truly.
Anyway, I decided that it would just be the cutest thing for Willow to meet up with Salim's twins, Ivy and Olive, for a little toddler play date before she ages up into a child. Naturally, it decided to start raining the moment they arrived at the park.
Ivy and Olive are eager to make friends with Willow, but she's not sure how she feels about them.
She does know how she feels about this giant ball pit, though, and how she feels is that it's excellent.
Ivy and Olive choose to bypass the ball pit and pretend they're piloting a spaceship instead, and can I just say that Ivy's hoodie is the cutest article of clothing to ever exist, I swear to God.
Nico, ever one to enjoy his solitude, makes a beeline for the pirate ship, where he can stand in the bird's nest appreciating nature all by himself, still in his scout uniform, naturally. You never know when an emergency scout meeting might be called.
Zora: ARRRGHH! I'M A BIG SCARY MONSTER WHO LOVES TO EAT LITTLE GIRLS' BRAINS!
Miko: Zora, stop that! You're going to frighten her!
Zora: What are you talking about, honey? She loves it.
She really, really does.
This is what the jungle gym looks like from Willow's perspective. Ah, the wonders of imagination.
Willow: *in toddler-speak* Come on in! The ball pit is fine!
After a fun-filled afternoon, it's time to wrap things up with a quick birthday party. Phoebe looks positively delighted she's been roped into joining a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday," but no one's more stoked than that random townie in the background with his green plastic horn.
Nico: No, wait for me! I can't believe I'm missing this!
Willow doesn't have time to wait for anybody. She's ready to be a fully mobile child and has the interpretative rain dance performance to prove it.
Like mother, like daughter. Zora will always be young at heart.
As will Miko, even though she's occupying the body of an elder these days. She's not willing to give up her crazy hair colors or kooky outfits just because she's older now. As beautiful as she still is, it breaks my heart to see her all wrinkled up like this because I just know it means her death is that much closer.
At least Zora isn't utterly repelled by her newly mature looks.
However, they have gone on a bit of a fitness spiral together, somehow convinced that if they just spend enough time on the treadmill, they'll live forever. If only that were true.
Willow, what is that devious look on your face at 6:00 in the morning? You're up to something no good, aren't you?
Oh, you just want to eat leftover birthday cake for breakfast without anyone catching you? Carry on.
Don't let the beautiful lighting distract you. Nico is definitely experiencing a moment of existential crisis over the fact that he's being forced to spend time with his kid sister that could be better used earning scout badges.
Oh, look, it's that eyeliner-smeared Renegades freak Phoebe enjoyed beating up so much. Unlike her sister, I think Willow may actually be into him. Either that or she's just highly intimidated by being in the presence of a real live teenager she's not related to.
Willow: Keep it cool. Keep it cool. Keep it cool.
Methinks our girl definitely has an inappropriate crush.
...And crush killed in absolutely record time the moment Eyeliner Boy starts senselessly mocking her.
Willow couldn't care less, but poor kind-hearted Nico just can't abide all of these misbehaved townie kids ruining such a beautiful park with their cans of paint and flour.
Okay, Willow, that's just mean. Your brother loves you! Why would you do this to him?
While at the park, she makes a new friend in this boy named Preston, who is actually Phoebe's friend Jane's little brother, so you know he's trouble. You can just tell by the look in their eyes that they're plotting public vandalism on a much grander scale together.
School! Why even bother, am I right? Just like her older half-sister, Willow's definitely getting a head start on being an obnoxiously whiny teen.
Willow: Mom, school sucks! I'm not learning anything from those imbeciles who call themselves teachers! Can I just quit?
Miko: Young lady, what has gotten into you? I was hoping the evilness would have worn off by now...
One of the only pluses of going to school is that she can invite Preston home afterwards and plot evil schemes with him under the guise of innocent dancing.
This is Willow's "wanna be best friends?" face. Very charming.
Nico: Ugh, those two have their music up so loud I can't even concentrate on my chess game. Youths!
Forever wise beyond his years, this one. Are we sure he's not a curmudgeonly genius trapped in a child's body?