Desert Dreamers I
I am so happy to have finally reached this point because it feels contemporary where everything up until now has been like ancient history I needed to catch up on to get here, despite feeling entirely disconnected from it by now. The Sims I'm focusing on at present in-game are finally starting to come onto the scene, and I'm excited to relive their stories. The quality of the playing experience really improved for me around here, too, I think due to a combination of the Sims themselves and the situations I put them in to make sure I didn't fall back into an entirely predictable pattern. Of course, there are still the usual life markers along the way, but I tried to make it more interesting for myself this time. I hope that comes through.
(As a side note, I have to say that I enjoy my Sims infinitely more when they don't have traditional jobs or sometimes even any job at all, and one of the many positives of having generations of inherited wealth built up is that now there's enough money to get away with that!)
I know I just spent a paragraph talking about how different and exciting things are going to be now, but we've got a pregnancy to bring to term first. To be fair, this one was very, very unplanned on my part.
Fátima: Oof, that was an intense one. Somebody's getting a little impatient in there!
Gideon: Wait, are you having contractions right now?
Fátima: Most definitely.
Gideon: And how long have you been experiencing said contractions?
Fátima: Oh, I don't know... Two or three hours maybe?
Gideon: Two or three hours?!? Why didn't you tell me? We've got to get to the hospital immediately! Where's the go bag? WHERE'S THE GO BAG?!?
Fátima: Oh, I never packed one. Honestly, I thought you were making the whole concept up. It sounded ridiculous to me.
Gideon: Never packed one?!? Babe, what... Are you washing dishes right now? Come on already! We've got to get going!
Fátima: I'm not going to any hospital, no matter how much you beg me. In my country, women deliver their babies the old-fashioned way, without any so-called "advanced" technology. I survived my first pregnancy, and I'll certainly survive this one. Trust me, I know what I'm doing.
And, with that, their new son, Rafael, is introduced to the world enveloped in a sphere of shimmering lights.
Gideon: Great job, honey! I'm so proud of you. I never doubted you could do it for even a single second!
I think he's engaging in a little revisionist history there, but we'll let it slide this time.
At any rate, he's incredibly excited to meet his child, even if he never dreamed he'd become a father so soon.
Fátima is glad Gideon is so interested in working on his fathering skills, since being pregnant really hindered her mobility and she's ready to get out and explore her new surroundings. Being out in desert with nothing but nature to keep her company certainly helps put some of her homesickness at bay. It's not quite as lush as Selvadorada, but it will do.
She also takes advantage of a nearby food stand to test out some local delicacies. Personally, she doesn't think the food here holds a candle to the traditional dishes she loved back home, but she supposes she can get used to it.
Ana: Mom, where have you been?
Fátima: I was just out getting a feel for the neighborhood. Did Gideon help you with your homework?
Ana: I guess, but he's not nearly as smart as you are.
Fátima: Well, bless his heart for trying anyway.
Ana isn't sure what she wants to be when she grows up, but, for now, she enjoys playing pretend by examining her teddy using this doctor's kit Gideon gifted her. Of course, she pretends to his face that she hates it, since she's still wary of him.
Meanwhile, Gideon's lack of a nine-to-five job gives him plenty of free time to troll online forums while watching daytime cooking shows. Hopefully, this isn't his only goal in life. I think he just needs time to decide where his real passion lies.
At least Fátima is using her abundantly empty days to get in some physical activity! These two really need to find something more productive to occupy them soon, though.
That's better! Fishing will help them stock their fridge and save money on groceries, and that view's pretty impressive, even if it's not nearly comparable to the waterfalls in Selvadorada.
I would be more concerned about Fátima sticking her arm into a cold, dark hole like it's nothing, but she's survived being set on fire by jungle fireflies. I think she'll be okay.
After school, Ana joins them at the park, though they're a little too preoccupied with each other to pay her much attention.
Fátima: Well, well, well. This conveniently-placed leaf pile sure does look inviting, doesn't it?
Oh, you two are so bad. This is a children's park! You should be ashamed of yourselves!
I must admit, though, watching Fátima pluck stray leaves from Gideon's back afterward is pretty darn cute. I just hope they used protection this time; they don't need yet another mouth to feed so soon. (For the record, Rafael is at home with a babysitter, not being left alone to fend for himself.)
Later, Gideon tries to make headway in his strained relationship with Ana by challenging her to a water balloon fight.
I'm not sure lobbing her squarely in the gut with enough force to knock her over is really the best way to get her to trust him, though.
Ana: I. HATE. YOUR. GUTS. DEMON. MAN.
Gideon: Aw, come on, kid, it's all in good fun!
Ana: You think this is fun? I'll show you fun, you big meanie!
Wow, she's got a pretty good arm for her age. Gideon had better watch his back.
Ana: *cackles maniacally* Okay, now that was fun! Let me grab another one. I'm about to kick your butt, old man!
Soon, it's already Ana's birthday, which is hard to believe. Fátima must have either had her as a teenager or adopted her, and either scenario is absolutely awe-inspiring. Fátima is so strong. Anyway, the family has decided to celebrate at this delightfully tacky Mexican restaurant that just opened up in Oasis Springs. It looks like the perfect place for a party!
By happenstance, Nadia and Erika are out on a date night at the exact same restaurant, which is quite the coincidence considering Oasis Springs isn't really a hop, skip, and a jump away from Brindleton Bay. Gideon invites them to join the birthday table.
Erika: Thanks for the invitation, really, but this night is meant to be about us, so-
Nadia: We'd love to!
Erika: Goddamn it.
Wow, Erika is really standing firm in her conviction that absolutely nothing will interrupt this rare night out for her.
Erika: Wow, this appletini is delicious! I just really wish my wife were here right now for me to share it with.
Fátima: I just think it's awfully rude of your wife to sit over there like she doesn't even want to associate with us!
Nadia: I swear to god, if you talk any more shit about my wife, I will end you, woman! I'm not afraid to throw down!
Gideon: Okay, nobody is going to throw down... Let's get this birthday show on the road!
Nadia: Christ, you infuriate me.
Fátima: Likewise... Oh, honey, you're so grown! You look beautiful!
I don't approve of this senseless feud, but Fátima is right about one thing: Ana is a super freaking cute teenager.
I know it seems like Rafael has been nonexistent this entire time, but that's because, well, he was a baby and babies are pretty boring. But he is now a toddler, so fun and excitement are surely on the way!
He's a darn adorable toddler at that. I swear, the day this game curses me with an ugly child, I'm quitting forever. But that's never going to happen so...
Fátima safely tucks him into bed for the night like the thoughtful, selfless, and protective mother she is (ignoring the fact that she seemingly left him with a babysitter for a good majority of his baby years... shh).
(As a side note, I have to say that I enjoy my Sims infinitely more when they don't have traditional jobs or sometimes even any job at all, and one of the many positives of having generations of inherited wealth built up is that now there's enough money to get away with that!)
I know I just spent a paragraph talking about how different and exciting things are going to be now, but we've got a pregnancy to bring to term first. To be fair, this one was very, very unplanned on my part.
Fátima: Oof, that was an intense one. Somebody's getting a little impatient in there!
Gideon: Wait, are you having contractions right now?
Fátima: Most definitely.
Gideon: And how long have you been experiencing said contractions?
Fátima: Oh, I don't know... Two or three hours maybe?
Gideon: Two or three hours?!? Why didn't you tell me? We've got to get to the hospital immediately! Where's the go bag? WHERE'S THE GO BAG?!?
Fátima: Oh, I never packed one. Honestly, I thought you were making the whole concept up. It sounded ridiculous to me.
Gideon: Never packed one?!? Babe, what... Are you washing dishes right now? Come on already! We've got to get going!
Fátima: I'm not going to any hospital, no matter how much you beg me. In my country, women deliver their babies the old-fashioned way, without any so-called "advanced" technology. I survived my first pregnancy, and I'll certainly survive this one. Trust me, I know what I'm doing.
And, with that, their new son, Rafael, is introduced to the world enveloped in a sphere of shimmering lights.
Gideon: Great job, honey! I'm so proud of you. I never doubted you could do it for even a single second!
I think he's engaging in a little revisionist history there, but we'll let it slide this time.
At any rate, he's incredibly excited to meet his child, even if he never dreamed he'd become a father so soon.
Fátima is glad Gideon is so interested in working on his fathering skills, since being pregnant really hindered her mobility and she's ready to get out and explore her new surroundings. Being out in desert with nothing but nature to keep her company certainly helps put some of her homesickness at bay. It's not quite as lush as Selvadorada, but it will do.
She also takes advantage of a nearby food stand to test out some local delicacies. Personally, she doesn't think the food here holds a candle to the traditional dishes she loved back home, but she supposes she can get used to it.
Ana: Mom, where have you been?
Fátima: I was just out getting a feel for the neighborhood. Did Gideon help you with your homework?
Ana: I guess, but he's not nearly as smart as you are.
Fátima: Well, bless his heart for trying anyway.
Ana isn't sure what she wants to be when she grows up, but, for now, she enjoys playing pretend by examining her teddy using this doctor's kit Gideon gifted her. Of course, she pretends to his face that she hates it, since she's still wary of him.
Meanwhile, Gideon's lack of a nine-to-five job gives him plenty of free time to troll online forums while watching daytime cooking shows. Hopefully, this isn't his only goal in life. I think he just needs time to decide where his real passion lies.
At least Fátima is using her abundantly empty days to get in some physical activity! These two really need to find something more productive to occupy them soon, though.
That's better! Fishing will help them stock their fridge and save money on groceries, and that view's pretty impressive, even if it's not nearly comparable to the waterfalls in Selvadorada.
I would be more concerned about Fátima sticking her arm into a cold, dark hole like it's nothing, but she's survived being set on fire by jungle fireflies. I think she'll be okay.
After school, Ana joins them at the park, though they're a little too preoccupied with each other to pay her much attention.
Fátima: Well, well, well. This conveniently-placed leaf pile sure does look inviting, doesn't it?
Oh, you two are so bad. This is a children's park! You should be ashamed of yourselves!
I must admit, though, watching Fátima pluck stray leaves from Gideon's back afterward is pretty darn cute. I just hope they used protection this time; they don't need yet another mouth to feed so soon. (For the record, Rafael is at home with a babysitter, not being left alone to fend for himself.)
Later, Gideon tries to make headway in his strained relationship with Ana by challenging her to a water balloon fight.
I'm not sure lobbing her squarely in the gut with enough force to knock her over is really the best way to get her to trust him, though.
Ana: I. HATE. YOUR. GUTS. DEMON. MAN.
Gideon: Aw, come on, kid, it's all in good fun!
Ana: You think this is fun? I'll show you fun, you big meanie!
Wow, she's got a pretty good arm for her age. Gideon had better watch his back.
Ana: *cackles maniacally* Okay, now that was fun! Let me grab another one. I'm about to kick your butt, old man!
Soon, it's already Ana's birthday, which is hard to believe. Fátima must have either had her as a teenager or adopted her, and either scenario is absolutely awe-inspiring. Fátima is so strong. Anyway, the family has decided to celebrate at this delightfully tacky Mexican restaurant that just opened up in Oasis Springs. It looks like the perfect place for a party!
By happenstance, Nadia and Erika are out on a date night at the exact same restaurant, which is quite the coincidence considering Oasis Springs isn't really a hop, skip, and a jump away from Brindleton Bay. Gideon invites them to join the birthday table.
Erika: Thanks for the invitation, really, but this night is meant to be about us, so-
Nadia: We'd love to!
Erika: Goddamn it.
Wow, Erika is really standing firm in her conviction that absolutely nothing will interrupt this rare night out for her.
Erika: Wow, this appletini is delicious! I just really wish my wife were here right now for me to share it with.
Fátima: I just think it's awfully rude of your wife to sit over there like she doesn't even want to associate with us!
Nadia: I swear to god, if you talk any more shit about my wife, I will end you, woman! I'm not afraid to throw down!
Gideon: Okay, nobody is going to throw down... Let's get this birthday show on the road!
Nadia: Christ, you infuriate me.
Fátima: Likewise... Oh, honey, you're so grown! You look beautiful!
I don't approve of this senseless feud, but Fátima is right about one thing: Ana is a super freaking cute teenager.
I know it seems like Rafael has been nonexistent this entire time, but that's because, well, he was a baby and babies are pretty boring. But he is now a toddler, so fun and excitement are surely on the way!
He's a darn adorable toddler at that. I swear, the day this game curses me with an ugly child, I'm quitting forever. But that's never going to happen so...
Fátima safely tucks him into bed for the night like the thoughtful, selfless, and protective mother she is (ignoring the fact that she seemingly left him with a babysitter for a good majority of his baby years... shh).