Culpepper Pals: Summer 1: McMullen

[beanstalk_sims]

It’s Culpepper Pal time again! We’re back at the beginning of the rotation with the McMullen family – roommates Jo & Norah.

Last time, we saw the girls making friends and getting jobs. Jo is a Social Justice Worker in the Politics career, whilst Norah is currently a Clickbait Writer in the Social Media career. They went to festivals, attended protests, and just generally had a good time throughout spring. Norah developed a crush on premade Miko Ojo, but her gift of a tulip didn’t go down too well on Love Day. Miko tried to make it up to her at the end of the rotation by inviting her out for karaoke.

You’ll find the previous update here, if need be, and there’s a boolprop thread here with links to all of the Culpepper Pals updates.

The bright sunshine of the first day of summer! And according to the forecast, it’s going to be a hot week!

This is actually the second time I played the first two days of the rotation, the first time my game crashed and I hadn’t saved it a while. I was pretty annoyed, but have since started saving more often.

Jo spent the first day of the rotation at work, whilst Norah spent the first day of the rotation scrubbing the floor!

Thanks to Heather for pointing out where the bad smells come from – I’d managed to cover it up with furniture, no wonder I couldn’t find it.

That night, Jo threw a party for her aspiration.

First time round she had way more guests; I was surprised by the low turnout this time round. It’s just other people from the building mainly.

And the mixologist helped herself to the rotting food in the fridge.

One man’s trash and all that, I suppose.

“My followers will love this photo of us with my dirty dishes! Say cheese!”

Overall the evening fell a bit flat. The party only achieved the bronze level, which irritated me as I’d gotten it up to silver first time round. Oh well.

“That party wasn’t great and our flat smells.”

On the plus side, it’s beautiful outside!

Too bad they’re both off to work for a few hours.

The sun was still up and shining by the time they got back – Norah got promoted – and it seemed like the perfect time to throw a dance party!

This is mainly for Jo’s aspiration, but also because I’ve always enjoyed throwing the dance parties. They’re less pressure as they don’t have any set goals.

Apparently Father Christmas Father Winter will be attending the dance party. He’s obviously feeling the heat but still keeping his big warm hat on.

Also I have no idea what Caleb is doing in the background. Blame it on his vampirism.

Jo is in her element, Norah just seems amused.

“Dancing in the remains of a house of worship? How human!”

Jo even made herself a new friend!

This is Salim Benali, who just sort of turned up with everyone else. Him and Jo immediately got along.

Meanwhile, Miko and Norah had excused themselves from the party to flirt quietly in the corner.

Norah’s liked Miko for a while, is Miko finally starting to feel the same way?

Something tells me she might be…

Your squad could never…

I’m a tiny bit obsessed with the group dancing, I must admit. Overall, the night was a success, I think.

The next morning the sun was up bright and early, and a heatwave in the forecast. In the city, however, no pool, no problem – just break out the inflatable one.

This was actually a wish Jo had, I was more than happy to fulfil it.

“Who put this duck in here?”

I reckon Jo could’ve spent all afternoon there, only Salim invited out for coffee as it was such a nice day.

For some reason, he dragged Jo all the way to Windenburg, where it was tipping it down.

Maybe Salim’s not a fan of the sunshine.

“I left my paddling pool for this? You do know it’s a glorious day back in the city, right?”

“Yes, but this place has better coffee.”

Salim didn’t even have any of the coffee.

Still, they had a nice afternoon together, and are now firmly friends.

Back in the city, where there isn’t a cloud in the sky, Norah is performing her “I just finished work” dance.

She’s now working in the Public Relations branch of the Social Media career, which apparently requires that uniform.

Miko was invited over, as I thought it would be nice for the pair of them to have a quiet night in, rather than out partying or at karaoke.

It may also have been a booty call.

A booty call with a glitch??

I can’t say I’ve seen that before!

The peace and quiet didn’t last long, Kirby and Caleb decided to wake the building up with loud woohoo.

Jo knocked politely at first, but no one responded, which led to her angrily thumping the door…Never mind the fact they’re vampires or anything.

Shortly after, an angry Caleb came out.

“Look, this is my first girlfriend in like 30 years, let me have this!”

I’m not even going to ask why he was wearing gloves. Best just to let them get on with it.

Another morning, another beautiful day in the Spice Market…

But Jo is not having a good morning, it seems.

Still, it’s early. There’s time for things to improve! Jo heads out into the neighbourhood after breakfast, to make the most of that early morning sunshine.

Did you know sims could collect posters off these things? Because I had no idea!

Jo’s got a small collection going now.

By the time Jo had made it back to the apartment after poster hunting, Norah is up and ready for her day off.

“Hey, what’s the plan for today?” Norah asked, as Jo hung up the phone.

Jo just grinned.

The plan for the day?

A good old fashioned dance party! I mainly threw it for Jo’s aspiration, if I’m honest.

“It is way too hot for that much movement.”

Agreed.

Father Winter is getting pumped!

I have no idea how my sims met him, but I love that he’s out partying with them.

Norah eventually did stop hanging out at the water’s edge, just to dance with her bestie.

I love these two <3

Gosh, how pretty are the Bluffs?

And the sun setting, just as the party ends.

Oh, look, another beautiful morning in San Myshuno!

What have Norah and Jo got planned for today?

Working hard!

Both girls are off to work, and they’re both gone all day.

Pretty much lost a whole day of the rotation to them working, but that’s the way it is sometimes.

Jo got up before it was light, but had to be content with sitting in the dark – as the fuse box had blown.

“…I love this apartment.”

Luckily, the landlord was somehow still awake and didn’t mind coming out to fix it.

I don’t risk having Jo or Norah touch the fuse box. I like them too much, I’d literally be holding my breath the entire time.

The landlord stayed well past sun up, catching up on his favourite talk shows.

I wasn’t convinced he was ever going to leave.

Later that day, Jo invited Salim over to test out the new ice cream machine.

I’d kind of forgotten about the ice cream maker, my sims don’t have tons of counter space, but it seems almost appropriate given the heatwave they’re having at the moment.

Norah came home just in time for ice cream on the balcony. Although it looks like a storm’s brewing behind her.

The girls are off out tonight, as according the calendar it’s “Night Out on the Town” which means all the bars are handing out free food and drinks. Who wouldn’t take advantage of that??

Jo and Norah head over to the Fashion District to meet Miko and Salim at the karaoke place.

Surprisingly, whatever storm was brewing over in the Spice Market is not happening here.

Cuties <3

Norah went home shortly after, she was feeling tired after a long day at work.

Salim and Jo have been getting on so well, Jo decided to give him an apartment key.

The pair of them watched the stars for a bit before calling it a night. Apparently, for both Jo and Norah, it was a successful Night Out on the Town day.

The following morning, Jo was out getting a cup of tea when a feeling crept over her…

“Something just doesn’t feel right…something big is going on…”

Meanwhile, upstairs…

“Miko, I’ve been thinking…do you think it’s time we got a place together?”

“Norah! I would love to!”

“This is great! We can start looking for a place later today!”

Norah and Miko celebrated their huge decision with woohoo…in the wrong bed.

Let’s hope Jo never finds out about that.

So Miko moves in, until the end of the rotation when she and Norah will move into their own place. At that point, I’ll be swapping Adora and Jo around because I feel like Adora needs the balcony more than Jo. Everyone is changing places!

Miko Ojo has the Serial Romantic aspiration, which I think I’ll be changing, and the Alluring trait. Her other traits are Good, Neat and Geek. She’s currently a Social Justice Worker in the Politics career.

That night, Jo and Norah threw one last party together, with all the usual guests attending – plus Kirby!

Jo and Kirby are finally starting to get along.

Miko and Norah snuck off from the main party to spend time together <3

This is the best time for the power to start cutting out randomly.

So the landlord was called over, and ended up joining in with the party because he has zero sense of boundaries.

“…and that’s the story of how my boyfriend proposed after only knowing me for a few days!”

“You are delightful and charming, but I just don’t like you!”

“All of Jo and Norah’s friends are slobs; I’m having a terrible time.”

Jo was having a good time though, she managed to steal a moment with Salim towards the end of the party…

A moment that was gate crashed by the landlord, because of course it was.

Who knows whether anything will happen with these two! It’ll have to wait until next rotation now…

Because summer has ended, and so has the era of Jo and Norah being roommates!

Jo has swapped apartments with Adora, and now lives alone at 18 Culpepper House. Miko and Norah, meanwhile, have moved into the building next door and now live at 2B Jasmine Suites. At least everyone is still in the same neighbourhood!

Anyway, that’s all for this time! See you soon!