Culpepper Pals: Winter 2: Vatore

[beanstalk_sims]

Hello again!

I've started playing through Spring 3 in game (!!) so I'm playing catch up with updates again. Super excited to show you the Vatore & Ember updates, I had a lot of fun playing them.

Index / Boolprop




Last time, Max brought home his girlfriend, Taeko Kibo-Bell, to meet his parents. They embarrassed him a little bit, but overall liked Taeko. Lilith took her girlfriend, Candy Behr, to Geek Con, where after woohooing in the rocket the couple discussed their future. After finding out Candy doesn't want to be a vampire, Lilith realised staying with her girlfriend meant watching her grow old and die, and sought advice from her brother and his wife. In the end, Lilith decided to stay with Candy, and proposed. They spontaneously tied the knot at the Romance Festival. Other than that, it was business as usual for the Vatores - aspirations, goofing off, and Max getting accepted into university.




When I rejoined the family at the start of winter, I found Caleb sporting fun fashion again.

He usually has some kind of interesting outfit picked out for my arrival.




He then proceeded to sob over cake.

"I can't believe my baby boy is growing up!"

Yeah, me neither.




It's time for Max to become a YA! I can't quite believe we've reached this point either. How is the second generation now hitting adulthood?




Max's final trait is Squeamish, but he also got three additional traits: Responsible, Good Manners & Compassionate. My main plan for Max at the moment is to send him to university, but for some reason I decided to send him at the end of winter, leaving him without much to do this season.

A reminder of Max's traits:

Maxwell "Max" Vatore
Academic - Quick Learner
Perfectionist - Insider - Squeamish
Happy Toddler - Creatively Gifted - Physically Gifted - Speed Reader - Responsible - Good Manners - Compassionate






Max is probably fine with relaxing over winter, to be honest. He and Taeko are the same age again, so they can spend the whole of winter 'hanging out'




It is winter guys, what is wrong with you?? There may not be snow on the ground, but it's pretty dang cold out at the minute!




Later that afternoon, Kirby and Lilith had a quiet conversation in the one double bedroom in the house. Once the small talk was over, Lilith actually had something important she wanted to bring up.

"I know this house is big and all, but I feel like Candy and I would appreciate having our own space."

"You're leaving?!" Kirby replied, wide-eyed.

"We're literally moving across the street," Lilith said, smiling, "We scored a flat in Culpepper House. The one you and Caleb used to rent, actually."

Kirby smiled at that, "We had a lot of happy times there."




Kirby rose to her feet and pulled her sister-in-law into a hug, "We'll miss you, but I understand. And you're always welcome here, drop by anytime."

And with that Lilith and Candy moved onto the next chapter in their lives. I was feeling a bit overwhelmed by how many sims lived in the Vatore household, and so I've moved Candy and Lilith out for the moment. I won't be playing them as the rotation is long enough as it is, but they'll still show up in the background :)




Things were a lot easier for me to manage with only four sims and a dog. It was more relaxing to play.




Even with the family's constant attempts at freezing to death.

"Max, are those gummy bears in your pancakes?"




Monday morning, and Caleb is working for the first time in aaaaages.

Only he was unable to finish any pieces, it would drop from his queue and reset just beforehand. So he ended up not working at all this season. I have no idea why it was happening, but it was around the time of the Snowy Escape patch causing my game to frequently crash, so maybe it has been fixed??




So instead of working, Caleb gets to spend winter with his wife, which he's totally fine with.






That evening, San Myshuno gets its first snowfall of the season.

So how do the family react?




Well, Caleb gets his tablet pen permanently stuck in his hand, which is probably the reason why he looks so cranky...




...and Dolly is celebrating by becoming a teen!

They grow up so fast!




Dolly's new trait is Romantic, which inspired her aspiration - the Serial Romantic aspiration! I've never actually played it before, so this should be fun! It also gives Dolly the Alluring trait.

Unlike her older brother, Dolly is going to remain a vampire.




Kirby is pretty excited one of her kids is staying a vampire, and immediately starts educating Dolly on vampire life.

"...and that's where plasma packs come from! You'll want to make sure you always have some on you, just in case."

Dolly pulled a face.




"Mum, why even bother with the good vampire thing?" Dolly asked, "Why not just be the monsters we're expected to be?"

Kirby was speechless for a moment before answering, "Just because you can be a monster doesn't mean you should be."

"Isn't it easier? And cheaper??"




"The right thing isn't always easy, Dolly," Kirby smiled, "Besides, while you live under my roof, you'll follow my rules. We don't drink from people, okay?"




"No one understands me," Dolly complained, after Kirby had left the room.




With none of her other Culpepper friends teens yet, Dolly called over the one other teen she knew - Wolfgang Munch, who she met at the Romance festival in the spring.

"I just wanna be my own person," She ranted, "I don't want to be exactly like my parents!"

"I totally get it," Wolfgang replied, as Dolly sat down next to him.




"My family doesn't understand me either," Wolfgang said, frowning, "It's like I don't exist at home."

This seemed to wind Dolly up more, "Why can't they see we're nearly adults? We should be allowed to make our own choices!"

Dolly stood up and gave him a mischievous smile.




"I think we should try something..."




Dolly stood before Wolfgang in her new dark form, a power she'd only recently discovered. She was still mad. Wolfgang, however was smiling.

Apparently he approved of her dark form.




Wolfgang can't really remember how he and Dolly spent the afternoon, but he's sure they had a pretty good time.




As for Dolly, she was feeling better.




Leaving Wolfgang passed out on the floor of her bedroom, Dolly went downstairs and bumped into her Dad. He smiled.

"Your Mum said you guys had a disagreement. You're looking a lot brighter."

"Yeah, I guess I was just hungry," Dolly said, with a small smile.

Caleb nodded, oblivious, "Hangry. I get it."




"So how about some vampire training, hey? I think I could teach you a few tricks."

"Sounds good, Dad."






Once the sun started to set, Dolly headed out to a new hangout in Newcrest.

I wanted a place for teenagers to hang out, and picked a bar/lounge off the gallery with the Teen Hangout lot trait. It doesn't seem to make much difference, it mainly seems like adults hang out there.




I have Dolly join a club the consists of premade teens, seeing as none of her Culpepper friends are old enough to hang out yet. Wolfgang is also a member, and the pair of them are pretty close after their afternoon together. He's occasionally mean to her though, so he's a bit of a douche, but I guess Dolly is fine with that. For now, at least.

Dolly also now has the Incredibly Friendly reward trait, I think it'll help with her aspiration later on.




Pretty sure Darling Walsh feels a bit like a third wheel while hanging out with Dolly and Wolfgang. Most of the other club members had wandered off to the bar.






After some karaoke, Dolly manages to score a first kiss with Wolfgang. The first of many first kisses, I imagine!




I'm not sure if Wolfgang is into it, based on the look on his face, but Darling's expression is the real winner here - the look on her face is priceless!




Dolly ends the evening by asking Wolfgang to be her boyfriend, and he says yes. And just like that, I've made progress with her aspiration!




The problem with parents who never sleep is you'll never be able to sneak in when you're coming home late. Not that Caleb really minds, I imagine the vampires have no real concept of what's late.

"Did you have a good time, Dolly?"






Despite coming home, Dolly's evening is far from over.




Meanwhile, Kirby and Caleb are hanging out in the yard after weeding the plants, because apparently the Vatores just love being outside in the winter.

"Caleb, I'm worried about Dolly."

He smiled at her, "Why? She was in a great mood when she got home from Newcrest tonight. She was telling me all about this guy called Wolfgang. Do you think that's his real name?"




"I'm worried she's going to start drinking from people, Caleb," Kirby paused, "If she hasn't already."

"Did you see something?" Caleb asked.

"No," Kirby admitted, uneasily, "But she argued with me when we talked about plasma packs. Why would she do that if she wasn't planning to drink from people?"




"She's a new vampire," Caleb replied, softly, "Not many vampires choose the good vampire life straight out the gate. They rebel, go wild...most of us have been through it, Kirby."

"So...it's just a phase?" Kirby asked.

"It could be," Caleb said, "I mean, I went through it and came out the other side. She probably just needs to get it out her system."




"It'll be okay, Kirby," Caleb murmured, as he hugged her, "Whatever happens, we'll get through it."




So what's Max up to while his younger sister steals the limelight?

Whatever the heck he feels like, mostly. Just passing the time until his real life begins. I'm really not sure why I kept him home the whole week instead of sending him to uni asap.




Still, I let him have some fun - I sent him out on a date with Taeko.




"It's so good to see you!" Max grinned, "Are you ready to ice skate?"

"I thought you were joking when you suggested that on the phone."

"No, deadly serious - we're gonna ice skate!"




Well, they tried, anyway.




"So we're agreed, you're going to pick what we do on our next date."

Taeko laughed, "Yeah. Maybe not ice skating again."




"Actually, I have one more thing planned for today."

"Oh yeah? What's that?"




"Asking you to be my wife," Max said, grinning, "I know we're young, but honestly, it just feels right."

"Max...of course I'll marry you."




I can't imagine these two with anyone else <3

They won't be getting married for a little while yet. University first, I think.




Caleb and Kirby are thrilled for Max, and hold an engagement party for him and Taeko that evening.




The party was pretty uneventful, everyone just crammed into Dolly's room - the smallest bedroom in the house - to marvel at Dusty.

I'm probably going to stop inviting Dusty to these things. I love her, but no one wants to do anything other than stare at her.




I'm guessing Dolly wasn't super pleased about the guests hanging out in her room - or the fact Kirby hung around for a while afterwards.

Dolly left her there and headed downstairs.




Where Caleb was being an oblivious father.

"Oh, you guys are watching the cooking channel? Can I join?"




Caleb did ending up joining them for TV. And Kirby as well.

"So this is Wolfgang, he's Dolly's boyfriend apparently."




"Wait, if he's here, where's Dolly?"

"Oh...I don't know? She was here a moment ago. I'm sure she'll be back in a sec."




Or not. Dolly had actually slipped out to the teen club in Newcrest.

And switched on her vampire allure...




...for the sole purpose of scoring another boyfriend for her aspiration.

This is Malcolm Landgrabb, and she already likes him more than she likes Wolfgang.




Dolly was also completely oblivious to the fact her aunt was in the bar. But I get the feeling Lilith is a little impressed.

"My little niece has grown into such a vampire! Time flies!"




The night ended after Dolly scored another first kiss.

Malcolm looks a little terrified, but that's understandable.




Back at the house the sun is rising on the final day of the rotation. It was at this point I moved Max out and enrolled him at Britechester, we'll see what he gets up to at the end of the Spring rotation.




Cool your jets, guys, your nest isn't empty yet!




Kirby heads off to work, leaving Caleb watching the cooking channel (of course). He actually maxed out his cooking skill at this point.

Honestly I thought that was going to be it for the rotation, only I had just installed Snowy Escape and got a pop up about a festival...






Well Caleb had nothing better going on!

It was the festival with the snow sculptures, which were neat, but then I realised Caleb couldn't build anything other than snow pals which was a bit of a bummer.




And then I looked away from the screen for a moment to answer a question Rob asked, and Caleb took it upon himself to try skiing for the first time.




It went about as well as you'd expect.




He seemed happy he'd given it a go, though, so I guess that's something. Maybe he and Kirby can take a little mountain vacation at some point.




So that's where winter ended for the Vatores!

It had always been my intention to play one of Kirby and Caleb's kids as a "proper" vampire, but I didn't expect it to be so much fun! I'm really enjoying playing the Serial Romantic aspiration as well :D




I know Max isn't currently at home, but I couldn't leave him out of the portrait! I'm pretty excited to see what he gets up to at uni next season.

But before we get to spring I have one last winter update to write!

See you all soon!