1.5 From Pig's Ear To Silk Purse!

"Eat.. sleep.. eat.. work! Repeat. I.. am.. a.. corporate drone!", Drawled Venice, after a particularly long day at work, throwing herself at the bed next to Lil.
Venice had been promoted to 'Music Talent Scout', which essentially meant doing all the things she did as band manager for 'The Flaming Turkeys', as well as looking for new talents.

Before Lil could think of something comforting to say, Venice had already closed her eyes, Instead Lil just gently kissed her soulmate's forehead, and turned the light off.

When Lil was a child, she had spent all her spare time collecting things, rocks, bugs, leaves, anything to spend time alone. Not that Lilliana was a loner, more that there was no-one in her life that she wanted to be around. There were a dozen and a half or so older siblings ahead of her in line to the throne, and a half dozen ones behind her.

Her brothers and sisters where always plotting and scheming to get Mother's attention, and each other into trouble. Lilliana believed that her mother actively encouraged this as only the strongest, most cunning, most ruthless of her heirs would be chosen to ascend the throne. The Fae Queen, was only interested in the children that most mirrored herself. Lilli decided at an early age that she wasn't interested in the game, or the throne at an early age.

Now Lilli used her collecting skills to collect simoleons. Every shiny rock, piece of meteor, old bones that Lilli found, she would sell or trade. Gypsy, the family dog, also seemed to have great skill in finding valuable collectables, although she still regularly brought home feathers, cast off snake skins, and chip packets.

Lilliana had been using the gem cutting machine at the local consignment store after hours, rather  than paying for an out of town source, this raised the profit margin greatly. Lilly had also learned some of the more complicated and value increasing cuts from another collector, and was now bale to use the 'Heart Shaped' cut.

Lilliana yearned to keep some of the shiny jewels to start a new collection, however, every item collected and sold or traded, instead of collected and sold, was another simoleon in the bank.

Lilly had become very close friends with the elderly couple Horace and Gladys Blackwell, who owned the Elba Village Junkyard. She traded some of her collectibles, and some elbow grease regularly. Lilli had helped Horace clear one of the sheds at the back of the property that was overgrown with brambles. When the thorns were finally cleared the shed contained several mostly complete cars.

'Its beautiful!' gasped Lilli as the sun crept through the shed doors revealing a 41 Chev. Lilli and Venice had often hung out at a local Rock'n'Roll cafe, during the day, while waiting for gigs to start.
There was always a few hot rods parked  at the cafe, all chrome and flames. "What a shame to hide yourself away like this, such a pretty thing!", Lil told the old car.

Horace told Lilli, "If you like her that much, clean her up and take her home." Lilli's jaw dropped, "Oh wow, I'd love too, but we have a house to build, I can't afford to but something like this!".
"What?" asked Horace, "She ain't for sale, I never said she was for sale.", I said "If you like her that much, clean her up and take her home.", "Besides, Gladys tells me we have way too many cars on the lot", Horace added, improvising.

A week later Lil had the old 'Special Deluxe' up and running. Fairies were generally known for the gardening skills, but Lilliana was turning out to be an excellent Handyman, woman, person,fairy. mechanic, Lilli was ecstatic to pick Venice up from work in the new family car..

Lilli kept collecting, trading, and selling. Gypsy kept dragging things home for Lil, although a cast off feather was just as likely as a pink diamond. Venice kept working and getting promotions, performing concerts and playing for tips. Marcus just kept getting older and cuter.
Lilli was overjoyed one morning when she heard Marcus call his fairy bear teddy 'Illeebear'!

Venice was doing her "Eat.. sleep.. eat.. work! I AM A Robot!" speech, at the end of the day, while weary, they were both happy to see their renovations account had become rather fat.

Marcus was nearly old enough to go to school, when the couple called 'Bob The Builder'

Who, as previously, took care of all of the building permits

And delivered on the 'Same Day Service' guarantee.

It cost them almost their entire live savings to have the house expanded in almost all directions, but they felt it was fortunately worth it!

The kitchen was a bare minimum and temporary thing made up from the old kitchen, and other than the old bedroom, the house was almost bare.

Venice and Lilly decided to go for a dip in the recently expanded pool, when a though crossed Venice' mine. "You know Lil, as much as I love to see you in that piece of ribbon, and out of it... We need to buy you new swimwear, before Marcus starts bringing friends home from school.."

"You're right V", Lil admitted, "I keep forgetting how shy you humans are in public.. especially when you are such a pervert in private!". Lil bounced off the end of the board and dived into the water before Venice could make a comeback comment.

'We should probably get you some new clothes too, Lil. You always used to wear my stuff to parties and gigs, but I haven't seen you in anything but that one dress since we moved here."
"One dress?", huffed Lil, "I have ten of these, and they are all different!". Lil began dumping identical looking dresses on the bed.

"A Hint of Sage, Gentle Olive, Soft Olive, Olive Delight, Sage and Emerald, Sage and Shamrock, Peacock with a tint of Seafoam, Afternoon Peacock Delight!". "Seriously?" cried Lilli, "You cant see the difference?"

Venice squinted, cocked her head to one side, stepped forward, then stepped back. "Green, green, green, green, lighter green, oh no wait, that's the sun coming through the window."

The day before Marcus birthday, the had another shopping spree, as the last few weeks had been good to them, and their previously anorexic bank account had swelled again.

Marcus was given a set of bunks, and some new toys befitting the age he would soon be. It was primarily decorated in black, as Marcus had recently indicated it was his favorite color, despite a lengthy debate with Lil, how black and white were technically shades, not colors.

The Middle room was dedicated as a family / lounge room, and the gym equipment from the basement was relocated here.

On the other side of the family lounge was a bedroomfor Lil and Venice, with a private bathroom.
Venice favorite colors where black and red, Lil's was lime and every other shade of green...
Both insisted on using more of the others favorite colors, eventually they decoded on this.

The new kitchen was upstairs on the adults side of the pool, no expense was spared on new whitegoods. 

This is the view from the far side, looking across the pool to the kitchen.

Arial view from back and front.

Lilly and Venice sold the 41 Chev to a young couple who needed a family car, and purchased a pair of 55 Chevy Bel Airs.... Color matched, isn't that so cute!

The next day it was Birthday Time for Marcus.

Marcus aged up with those 'Oh my god, not those pigtails', that the game likes to emasculate little boys with, other than that, the only changes I had to make where his clothes.

When I got the option to choose his new trait, I already had two possible choices. Due to his upbringing in the game it had to be one or the other, so I flipped a coin.

(Not that I'm telling you yet, it will become obvious in the next few chapters.)

Chapter Notes:

In the last few days, I had concerns about the relatively short lifespan of dogs vs children.  I discovered that, just like a sim, dogs, cats, and horses, can have altered lifespans, and stages.

I don't like adjusting life spans mid game, so I looked for plan B. 20,000 LTR points for canine young again. Ultra grind, dunno If I will make it.

Rock stars, if played properly, are easy money, Collectors are crazy easy money, A Collector with a dog is Insane Crazy Easy Moneeez!!! I know a major part of the LRC is about finances, and while I am glad I rolled one of the easiest possible Gen 1 starts, in the spirit of the challenge I'm giving away free § ...  want some?

Nraas SP keeps informing me poor peoples cant afford houses with enough beds, so V or L track them down, get invited inside, and spend their own money to upgrade other peoples houses.

(Secretly its a criminal career scam to launder dirty money, but shush!!!)

I had a page and a half of notes and funny ideas written down for this chapter, I think I used about three lines, and free-styled the rest....

Marcus and Lil somehow got age reset. Gypsy and Venice didn't, Marcus had two days to school age last night, and thirteen to go when I loaded up this morning. He didn't lose any of his hidden learnt skills though. Lil has 198 to Adult. Fairies have crazy long lives, and Ive planned for that. I had Lil learn to fish, then make ambrosia for Venice, she got pregnant as a teen, how can she be a full adult before Marcus starts school ?!?!?

The only thing I haven't got a fix for yet is Gypsy :(

3 sim weeks (21 days) into the game, I start getting ERROR 16 messages, and I had to use a new save name. no problem since.. I looked it up, the error means my save is over 4GB.

I have created 3 support characters for the story so far, all elders. One just up and died before fulfilling their plot requirements, another got flirted at by a younger, and I mean much younger man, I hear they are engaged now...