Desert Dreamers IX
Previously: The family celebrated Harvestfest with movies, popcorn, cards, and a grand tofurkey feast. Rafael, rebelling against his dad's vegetarianism, made it clear he would have preferred the real thing. After the holidays, Ana gave an award-nominated performance as a vampiric refrigerator repairwoman and deepened her relationship with Gracie.
Even though Ana didn't end up winning that award, it certainly improved the strength of her resume, and the auditions are starting to roll in. She's not pleased she still hasn't graduated from commercials, but any opportunity is a welcome one.
This time, she's preparing for a role selling guitars, which means she has to brush up on yet another new skill to fully sell the character. She stays up practicing into the wee hours of the night...
Just kidding. She practiced for, like, an hour and then fell asleep in the bathtub for three more. It's honestly miraculous that Ana has done so well as an actress thus far considering how unwilling she is to do more than the bare minimum.
Meanwhile, Rafael has unceremoniously grown into a teen. He looks like a huge nerd but in a super adorable way, which makes me feel bad for finding him so uninteresting so far.
In an effort to quell his recent rebellious streak, Rafael's parents have bought him all the equipment his heart could possibly desire in pursuit of his until-now-unvoiced desire to become a viral SimsTube sensation.
Turns out gaming is his passion, and he's determined to turn it into a career by live-streaming every second.
Gideon: Hey, son. What are you up to this morning?
Rafael: Dad, please, you're ruining my stream! Get out before I start bleeding viewers!
Gideon: *chuckles indulgently* Okay, okay, but don't forget you've got school in an hour.
Geez, I don't know if Rafael's cut out for the cutthroat world of online gaming.
He is rapidly gaining followers after just a couple hours of play, though, so who's laughing now?
Rafael: What's up, world? You're watching a brand new series I like to call Rafe's Reviews. Today, I'll be testing out this nifty little gadget-
Gideon: *from the living room* Son, it's time for school!
Rafael: Daaaaaaad! What do I even need school for anymore? I'm going to be an influencer.
Gideon: *through gritted teeth* Honey, will you please go tell our son he can only be an influencer after school hours?
Later that night, Gideon decides it's time for a backyard bonfire since he's been feeling a little out of touch with nature lately. Apparently, a lot out of touch, considering it appears he's forgotten how to light a fire.
Gideon: What kind of man am I becoming? Can I even call myself a man anymore?
He becomes even more downtrodden when he realizes how little Ana and Rafael are enjoying this impromptu family gathering. If he didn't know any better, he'd think they were forced to come outside at gunpoint. There's a technology-starved emptiness in their eyes that chills him to the bone.
Rafael: I'm not addicted to technology! See? I'm swimming! Outdoors! And loving every second of it!
I see you slyly checking your follower count in between laps. You can't fool me.
Meanwhile, Ana is also pretending to engage in physical activity to impress her followers. My god, what kind of status-obsessed, social-climbing monsters have I created?
At least Ana passed another audition!
Also, she and I both only just now realized that Gracie has lived literally across the street this entire time. No wonder it was so easy for Fátima to repeatedly accost her on the sidewalk.
Ana butters her up before asking a favor: she needs someone to run her lines with her before her big performance.
Luckily, Gracie's all in. She even delights in channeling her own inner actress, even if she's not particularly gifted.
Afterward, they take a day trip to Del Sol Valley together, where they visit the Plumbob Pictures Museum.
Townie: Hi, um, excuse me, miss?
Ana: Oh, hello! Oh my god, do you recognize me from my award-winning role as spokeswoman for Vladislaus Hardware?
Townie: No... I'm... not sure what that means. I was just wondering if you could talk to that guy for me? My kids absolutely love him. They'd kill for an autograph, but I'm too scared to ask!
Ana: *sigh* Someday, that'll be me being endlessly harassed by the paparazzi.
Gracie: I have no doubt about it, baby.
Ana: Holy shit, don't freak out, but I think I'm being papped by proxy! I hope this photo turns up in a tabloid tomorrow!
Later, when they stop for coffee, Ana is positively giddy over her brushes with fame at the museum. She's experienced a tiny taste of the celebrity life, and she wants more.
These two colorfully-haired individuals are only minor celebrities in the grand scheme of things, so I can't tell if they're annoyed at Ana trying to nose her way into their conversation or aggravated at Thorne Bailey stealing the entire spotlight everywhere he goes or both.
Gracie: Good god, what is wrong with people here?!?
Actually... I could swear that's the hermit from Granite Falls. I'll be damned! He's really just been an actor all along, and apparently one who prefers to wear bikini tops when he isn't dressed up in fake hermit couture.
Ana is just trying to take in the Del Sol Valley scenery, but this guy chilling with a cocktail is kind of ruining the vibe.
Ana: I can't wait for the day my name is forever memorialized in one of these things.
They end their night at the hippest club in town, where Ana puts her newfound guitar skills to good use.
She seems to only be attracting creepy old men right now, but as long as they're tipping, she won't complain.
Yes! All that rubbing elbows with celebrities who have mainly ignored her has paid off. She's (barely) a star!
Ana: I know, I know, you can't believe you're seeing a famous actress like me in the flesh, but it sure is a shame to waste an entire bottle of alcohol that way.
Gracie: I wish that asshole would move out of the way so I could get the perfect shot of my famous girlfriend!
Aww, we love a supportive partner!
Even though Ana didn't end up winning that award, it certainly improved the strength of her resume, and the auditions are starting to roll in. She's not pleased she still hasn't graduated from commercials, but any opportunity is a welcome one.
This time, she's preparing for a role selling guitars, which means she has to brush up on yet another new skill to fully sell the character. She stays up practicing into the wee hours of the night...
Just kidding. She practiced for, like, an hour and then fell asleep in the bathtub for three more. It's honestly miraculous that Ana has done so well as an actress thus far considering how unwilling she is to do more than the bare minimum.
Meanwhile, Rafael has unceremoniously grown into a teen. He looks like a huge nerd but in a super adorable way, which makes me feel bad for finding him so uninteresting so far.
In an effort to quell his recent rebellious streak, Rafael's parents have bought him all the equipment his heart could possibly desire in pursuit of his until-now-unvoiced desire to become a viral SimsTube sensation.
Turns out gaming is his passion, and he's determined to turn it into a career by live-streaming every second.
Gideon: Hey, son. What are you up to this morning?
Rafael: Dad, please, you're ruining my stream! Get out before I start bleeding viewers!
Gideon: *chuckles indulgently* Okay, okay, but don't forget you've got school in an hour.
Geez, I don't know if Rafael's cut out for the cutthroat world of online gaming.
He is rapidly gaining followers after just a couple hours of play, though, so who's laughing now?
Rafael: What's up, world? You're watching a brand new series I like to call Rafe's Reviews. Today, I'll be testing out this nifty little gadget-
Gideon: *from the living room* Son, it's time for school!
Rafael: Daaaaaaad! What do I even need school for anymore? I'm going to be an influencer.
Gideon: *through gritted teeth* Honey, will you please go tell our son he can only be an influencer after school hours?
Later that night, Gideon decides it's time for a backyard bonfire since he's been feeling a little out of touch with nature lately. Apparently, a lot out of touch, considering it appears he's forgotten how to light a fire.
Gideon: What kind of man am I becoming? Can I even call myself a man anymore?
He becomes even more downtrodden when he realizes how little Ana and Rafael are enjoying this impromptu family gathering. If he didn't know any better, he'd think they were forced to come outside at gunpoint. There's a technology-starved emptiness in their eyes that chills him to the bone.
Rafael: I'm not addicted to technology! See? I'm swimming! Outdoors! And loving every second of it!
I see you slyly checking your follower count in between laps. You can't fool me.
Meanwhile, Ana is also pretending to engage in physical activity to impress her followers. My god, what kind of status-obsessed, social-climbing monsters have I created?
At least Ana passed another audition!
Also, she and I both only just now realized that Gracie has lived literally across the street this entire time. No wonder it was so easy for Fátima to repeatedly accost her on the sidewalk.
Ana butters her up before asking a favor: she needs someone to run her lines with her before her big performance.
Luckily, Gracie's all in. She even delights in channeling her own inner actress, even if she's not particularly gifted.
Afterward, they take a day trip to Del Sol Valley together, where they visit the Plumbob Pictures Museum.
Townie: Hi, um, excuse me, miss?
Ana: Oh, hello! Oh my god, do you recognize me from my award-winning role as spokeswoman for Vladislaus Hardware?
Townie: No... I'm... not sure what that means. I was just wondering if you could talk to that guy for me? My kids absolutely love him. They'd kill for an autograph, but I'm too scared to ask!
Ana: *sigh* Someday, that'll be me being endlessly harassed by the paparazzi.
Gracie: I have no doubt about it, baby.
Ana: Holy shit, don't freak out, but I think I'm being papped by proxy! I hope this photo turns up in a tabloid tomorrow!
Later, when they stop for coffee, Ana is positively giddy over her brushes with fame at the museum. She's experienced a tiny taste of the celebrity life, and she wants more.
These two colorfully-haired individuals are only minor celebrities in the grand scheme of things, so I can't tell if they're annoyed at Ana trying to nose her way into their conversation or aggravated at Thorne Bailey stealing the entire spotlight everywhere he goes or both.
Gracie: Good god, what is wrong with people here?!?
Actually... I could swear that's the hermit from Granite Falls. I'll be damned! He's really just been an actor all along, and apparently one who prefers to wear bikini tops when he isn't dressed up in fake hermit couture.
Ana is just trying to take in the Del Sol Valley scenery, but this guy chilling with a cocktail is kind of ruining the vibe.
Ana: I can't wait for the day my name is forever memorialized in one of these things.
They end their night at the hippest club in town, where Ana puts her newfound guitar skills to good use.
She seems to only be attracting creepy old men right now, but as long as they're tipping, she won't complain.
Yes! All that rubbing elbows with celebrities who have mainly ignored her has paid off. She's (barely) a star!
Ana: I know, I know, you can't believe you're seeing a famous actress like me in the flesh, but it sure is a shame to waste an entire bottle of alcohol that way.
Gracie: I wish that asshole would move out of the way so I could get the perfect shot of my famous girlfriend!
Aww, we love a supportive partner!