2.14 Do Aliens Walk Among Us?

Graduation Day finally arrives for the teens.

Dylan and Natalie are voted 'Class Valedictorian', Eric is voted 'Most Likely To Fulfill His Lifetime Wish', Dominic is voted 'Most Likely To Save The World', Maggie is voted 'Most Popular', and Jasmina is voted 'Most Likely To Get Married'.

Everybody laughs when Jazz says 'I was kinda hoping for 'Most likely to play the evil super villain in the next X-Men movie!' 

Jazz, however, wasn't the only one 'most likely to get married'. The next day the triplets got married in a secluded park, surrounded by family and friends. The weather had turned against them very early in the day, the angry dark clouds constantly threatened a torrential downpour.

The whole event was initially planned to be brief, but with the threat of rain, the tempo was increased.
First, Dylan and Jasmina said their vows, then Natalie and Eric, then Dominic and Margareta, then the celebrant announced them Husbands and Wives. The six newlyweds thanked everyone for coming, and at the first rumble of thunder suggested that everyone head to the reception venue. When Jade asked where the couples were going for their honeymoons, she was shocked to learn all three couples were headed straight to university.

Early the next morning the van arrived to collect their things. Maggie was a little annoyed. Why were they using a van when everyone was taking their own cars? Wouldn't car pooling be a better idea ?

Natalie had organized a rental house, one of the few in town were they could park six cars on the lot, and wouldn't have to share accommodation with strangers. From the outside it looked huge, a quaint two story clapboard house like many in the area, this one had a third story added.

The third story was ninety-five percent complete, as apparently the owners rented it out each term, and then used that money to continue the renovations.  Natalie also learned that 'parking for a half a dozen or more cars' actually meant 'plenty of grass in the front yard to park on'.

 The three bedrooms mentioned in the advertisement all had bunk beds. The top floor was a glorified attic, so the bunks were moved up there, and Nat had double beds delivered. Dom and Maggie discovered that their double bed left almost no space either side, bit both being athletic took to jumping over the footer rail to get in.

 Even Eric, Maggie and Jazz, who hadn't been raised in a house built my millionaires thought the kitchen was a little small. The microwave, the fridge and the oven all looked brand new, but other than those appliances it was empty. 

Maggie cleaned the kitchen, while Dominic went to buy groceries. The plan was for every to have their favorite meal on the first night, so he needed ingredients for mac n cheese, grilled salmon, dim sum, spaghetti and sushi. Luckily, the first grocery store he found was well stocked with everything they needed.

 There was an antique computer in the dining room, Jazz deemed it suitable for surfing the net, but little else.

 

Once everyone had settled in, they began preparing for the first day, reading course material, and checking maps. Dylan and Dominic were a little disappointed, They were both doing the same degree, yet had hardly any classes together.

Slowly the couples began creeping off to their rooms...

Natalie was astounded at how busy the university was. It was a veritable melting pot of cultures and ideas, and there were so many things going on at once. Natalie had expected university to be just like high school, only with more complex subjects. This was well beyond her expectations.

Dominic and Dylan played kicky sack while trading class notes

Maggie convinced everyone to shower with their partners, it saved water, and had other benefits.

Although this caused Dom to run late for a few classes. He then had to drive rather than walk to get there on time, so the benefits to the ecosystem where not quite as advantageous as Maggie hoped.

Jazz was the only one in the group who wasn't naturally athletic except for Natalie, and would sneak outside to do workouts whenever she could. Maggie caught in to this after a few days, and started coaching her in a subtle manner by dropping hints, and working out with her, rather than yelling at her like a drill sergeant.

Maggie spent a lot of time sketching her husband, but honestly felt like being at uni was a waste of time.

She felt like she was failing all of her classes

And even if she did pass, she had no idea what to do with herself after uni.

Dominic took his wife to gaze at the stars, and talk about the future.

Natalie was worried about her visions, lately when she had one it was blurry and feint. Not that in the past, her visions had ever been a wealth of information, but at the moment, all her visions were like looking through fog. 

She had planned on going for a run, however the rain changed her mind, and she decided to meditate instead. She sat cross legged on the porch. She slowed her breathing, and cleared her mind of all distractions. Natalie focused on the sound of the rain at first, as her mind calmed, she began to think of family, and what lay ahead for hers.

Her vision was of an unusual person, bald with pointy ears and greyish-green skin, Natalie considered pushing this distracting image from her mind, but it was one of the most clearest visions that she had ever had. Nat realised that in this calm state she had control over her 'minds eye'. Previously her vision was always from a fixed perspective, but in this relaxed state she could move her view.

Nat zoomed her view in closer, although she could not pass through the window. As Natalie got closer, she realized that the figure was female by the breasts bouncing under the t-shirt as the figure run. Natalie recognized the shirt, the band was only new, having celebrate their first chart hit last week, so Natalie knew her vision was either in the present, or the immediate future.

Natalie had found her meditation session to be a great boost to her psychic gift, and resolved to explore it further, and to find out more about aliens, as she was sure that was who her vision was of.

On the last day before exams, Natalie did a live interview broadcast with her fellow students entitled "Do Aliens Walk Among Us?". Several of her fellow students had some very interesting opinions. 

Chapter Notes:
 I could rant about lag, loading times, corrupt CC, inconsistent internets access, and blah, blah, blah.

Instead I will humbly apologize for the crap wedding shots, I had a grand plan for a two chapter wedding event, with three cakes, and three arches, and three celebrants and all I ended up with two crappy photos in the dark.... I'm hoping my save can cope with one more generation in the current house!

2.13 Merry Xmas, and five birthday cakes!

Between the recycling center and the junkyard business, combined with Joelle at the consignment store, Lilli manages to keep her finger on the pulse of Elba. "So, I hear from my cousin Sally, who is Nick's neighbor, who heard it from his daughter Amanda, who got it from her boyfriend, who is friends with Eric, that your grand-kids are all headed for university!", gushes Joelle.,"You must be so proud!"

"Very much so." enthuses Lilli, "The house will be so quiet with them all gone!". Joelle understands and sympathizes with Lil over the empty nest feeling.

A truck arrives delivering dozens of small crates and one two much larger ones. The crates are all marked with labels announcing 'FRAGILE', 'THIS WAY UP', and 'Made In Champs Les Sims'. "There's almost a hundred bottles here, and why did you even buy a Nectar making thingy?' asks Casey, having watched the delivery men unpack it and set it up in the basement. "Ahh, its finally arrived!', replies Marcus, dodging the question, "Are the nectar making guide books here anywhere?".

"A triple wedding? Are you sure? That sounds complicated!", says Casey in shock. "It makes sense Mum", explains Natalie, "First of all, its financially and environmentally responsible.", Maggie who is known to be eco-sensitive nods enthusiastically, "Secondly, we would all pretty much be inviting the same people to each wedding.","And thirdly it stops any fights over who gets married in what order."

"Dom and Maggie were going steady before I even met Eric, or Dylan met Jazzy, but Dylan is the oldest, but then also Eric proposed to me first.", Natalie explained. "We were even considering drawing straws when Mags suggested we could all get married at the same time.", Dylan inserts. "And Maggie's parents are getting on in life, we don't want to wait until next year!", Dominic added.

"And I suppose you have planned your careers, were you are going to live and all of your babies names too!", Casey said sounding a little grumpy. Eric reddened slightly, and developed a sudden need to survey the carpet. Jazz also reddened slightly, but with her dark olive skin tone it was less noticeable. Maggie and the triplets just stood expressionless, not certain of the intent behind Casey's question.

Marcus, who had been silent for the whole meeting had some idea of what was troubling Casey and broke the tension by saying, "We wanted to raise our kids to be independent thinking and self reliant individuals Casey, and I think we have done well, Dylan can you go get what looks to be the second most expensive bottle of nectar from the basement please?"

"The second most expensive?" asked Casey, "Of course, I'm saving the most expensive for the wedding toasts!", says Marcus happily.

Later that night Marcus and Casey had a deep and meaningful discussion about her earlier comment. Casey wasn't ready for her children to grow up and have a life without her, and she was disappointed that the children had planned everything on their own without needing to consult with her.

While spring and a grand spring wedding was just around the corner, winter was determined to hold Elba in its icy fingers for as long as possible, and on several occasions they got off the bus to discover that school was closed for the day due to the snow, which frustrated them to no end, as they had to wait for the next bus home.

More importantly Maggie was still floating on a strong 'B', and was desperate to raise her grades before finishing school as she didn't want to be left behind when the others went to uni.

Marcus explained to the triplets that their mother was feeling left out, so Natalie encouraged her mother to take her out hunting as often as possible.

In the last week of winter, Maggie's mother called the Jettstars house to let Maggie know that her father had just passed away.

"I can Boogie, I can Disco, and I can Smustle my butt off, but I have know idea how to Waltz, Mum, Dad, can you teach us?", Natalie asked one night.

The kids all got dressed up for their lessons.

On the second last day of school, Maggie finally broke her 'B' streak, and earned an 'A'

The next morning Eric stopped by to have a talk with Natalie. "I'm and adult now, and a responsible member of the community.", Eric said in a serious tone. "And as a responsible member of the community, it would be irresponsible of me to be seen smooching a teenage girl, so therefore until you age up, there will be no more smooching.", said Eric remaining deadpan.

"That by the way also includes no making out, no necking, no snogging, no sucking face, no tongue wrestling or tonsil hockey, no canoodling, no cuddling, no nuzzling, and definitely no amorous hugs until you age up appropriately!." he finished, straining to keep a straight face.

"Oh, so that's how its going to be now that your all grown up, is it Mr Eric Grayson?", Natalie arched an eyebrow. "Well just so you know, Mr all grown up, if you intend to deny me such a large collection of my favorite things all day, I fully except that you make up missing quantities of said activities the moment that I have dealt with those diabolical candles!" 

Eric's parents were the first guests to arrive at the party, Eric was shocked to discover his mother was finally pregnant, his parents had been trying for another baby since Eric was a child.

Margarita's mother arrived shortly after with Margaret, Maggie's slightly younger sister

Jaimie-Lee from the facility next door also arrived with some of the girls. Jade and Sonya brought husbands, Lola brought her sim fu instructor, boyfriend, fiance, and Nina showed up with a much older vampire lady friend.

Secretly the boys were hoping that the cakes might some how set fire to the table cloth or something, so they could show off their firefighting skills that they had been studying in addition to schoolwork, Dom and Dyl had all the theory, they just want practical experience.

Not one of the five different flavored cakes suffered spontaneous combustion, despite this a certain hooded figure appeared from nowhere and queued for cake. Lilli glared at Grim across the table, Grim held her gaze for a moment before looking away. Lilliana had beaten him at 'Rock, Paper, Scissors' on several occasions, and besides, there was no way he was leaving before he got what he came for.

'A slice of one of Lilliana's home baked cakes, grab the old lady that he was here for and out of here', Grim told himself. Not that he feared Lilliana, a reaper knew no fear, she just made him feel like a kid caught with his bony hand in the cookie jar. 

When Grim left, he took Mrs Wong-Jonas with him, leaving Margaret a teen orphan and putting a dampener on the evenings festivities. Margaret was worried a social worker would come and take her away, but Casey and Marcus assured her that she could stay with them until she aged up, and that if any social worker did come, they would tie them up in so much red tape, that she would be an adult before it was untangled.

Chapter Notes: MERRY CHRISTMAS 2018!

Title, well Xmas, derr, and 5 cakes because Eric aged up a day earlier than the others, also I'm amazed at how many sims suffer from spontaneous combusting cakes, Ive never had one, I though with five in one party the boys could see what sort of firemen they would make, but noooo......  

Maggie and Marg had a rough week :o
SP? had already given custody of Margaret to someone after her father died. I was going to add her to my current hoard, but (A.)so many sims , and so much loading lag already... and (B) she will age up in 3 sim days anyway.

Technically, Natalie is now the main sim, but like a lot of RLCs I've read/am reading, I will wait until she returns from uni.

Both of the mystery house guests that I'm holding prisoner in the basement showed up to the party, and it wasn't until I had uploaded the pics to blogger that I realized.

Had error 12 for about 6 hours solid and none of the usual tricks worked until I fixed it by using MC on town hall to do a full reset.. 26,889 objects :o

Seeing as it takes form 60 to 90 minutes to do a full wardrobe change (Everyday/Formal/etc.), I hadnt saved for 8 or 9 hours and was quite happy with a 6 hour solution :)

2.12 Making Plans

Skitty has been looking for a mate lately, and there are not a lot of cats on this side of town Now that the snow is getting softer, finding a special friend is getting even harder!

Dylan, Natalie and Dominic build an igloo while discussing the future. All three of them are already engaged, and they talk about weddings and the possibility of university. Dom and Dyl hadn't considered further education as they where both keen to immediately join the fire brigade after leaving school. Natalie points out that both her fiance Eric, and Dylan's fiance Jazz both intend to go to university. Dominic is only interested in going if Margareta is. Natalie is keen to have her brothers attend university with her, as it fits with some of her 'better' visions.

On the other side of town, Marcus and Casey are making plans for future travel, as the kids are about to age up, and they themselves aren't getting any younger. The restaurant is packed, and although under dressed they decide to dine alfresco.

Dominic calls Maggie over to the house.

Maggie knows the Jettstar triplets almost always do things together, and while she doesn't feel smart enough to attend uni having only reached an A level at school recently, she knows if she doesn't go, neither will Dom.

Margarita also knows that if she does go, she will get plenty of help from her friends, and the 'attend uni'

part of Natalie's plan is set.

Marcus and Casey return home and change into warm dry clothes, they dance in front of the open fireplace to keep warm. Natalie and Skitty are studying the only public library book Nat could find about her gift. Nat closes "Clairvoyance, Precognition,  Extra Sensory Perception, and you!", and talks to her parents about the future.

"So when school finishes up, my brothers and I, and out partners will all have aged up, we plan on all getting married and going to university." Natalie explains. "I'm pretty sure its okay to marry one of your brothers out here in Elba, but I don't know about both!" Marcus jokes. Natalie and Casey both roll their eyes and groan.

Marcus, Dylan and Dominic all practice their Sim Fu, while Casey and Natalie

sort out details for birthdays, graduations, weddings, and university.

Casey decided to throw a monster party to celebrate the end of her children's teen age stage.

Casey invites her own triplet sisters, and their children.

As well as the girls next door, and several other of the kids school friends.

The house party goes off without a hitch!

Chapter Notes:

Been distracted by reading other RLCs, and playing games that wouldn't run on the other laptop, (eg Space Engineers, 1865+ hours according to steam.) Hence from Bi-daily posts to weekly....although I doubt either of my readers are overly concerned :P

Trying to juggle too many things, plus I'm not sure about how I'm going to deal with some of the next heirs rolls story wise (Nat).