Culpepper Pals: Summer 3: Vatore 3

[beanstalk_sims]

Index / Boolprop




Who's ready to visit Max and Taeko? :)

Last time, Max and Taeko began their degrees, and completely dedicated themselves to their studies. There was very little time for partying or shenanigans, but the couple did manage to find the time to arrange a wedding and tie the knot. Mr and Mrs Vatore then went straight back to studying, but were able to spend some time together as a couple at the weekend.




Since the last update, Max and Taeko have moved from Britechester into Kirby and Caleb's old house in San Myshuno - I wanted the property to stay in the family.

You may also have noticed this update is titled "Vatore Three" instead of "University". Well...




Max and Taeko are no longer at university. I had them drop out.

Basically, I wasn't enjoying it. And I was really dragging my heels when it came to playing these two - to the point where I started a whole new Culpepper save rather than play them. So something had to be done.




So Max and Taeko are now both drop outs entering the world of work.

And while they look sad about it, they're actually just tense from the thunderstorm.




Taeko's new direction in life is all about music. She has the Musical Genius aspiration and I decided I wanted to make progress with that.

She's also working in the Entertainment career now - she's level 3 at the moment. Eventually I'll have her go down the Musician branch of the career. She also got the Creative Visionary reward trait to help with this.






So what about Max? He had the Academic aspiration, how will he proceed?

Well, he got a whole new aspiration - the Renaissance Sim aspiration! I'm quite happy with this decision, it definitely feels more like Max, if you know what I mean. He also took a job in the Detective career, level 3, which I'm pretty excited about. It's been a long time since I played a detective!

Max also got a couple of reward traits this season: Creative Visionary, like his wife, and Savant.




All of Max's whims seem to be to develop different skills now, and I'm fine with this.




Monday morning, and it's a fairly uneventful day.

Max and Taeko work on their skills, and Taeko goes to work.




She also got mad that she had to clean the place, even though it was entirely her decision to do so - I didn't tell her to do it!




Tuesday morning was also bright and sunny.

And brought with it some fun news...




Taeko is pregnant!






Despite the fact they've just started new careers and the timing is a little off, they're both thrilled about the baby <3

And I'm very excited to see what they'll look like!




Well, what else do you do after discovering you're pregnant?






They're a very musical family <3





Wednesday looks like it's going to be a gloomy day in the city, but don't worry we won't be here long...




It's Max's first day at work!

He looks like he's taking it very seriously.




Max's first case takes him out to Henford-on-Bagley.

At first I was wondering what kind of crime could take place in such a quaint, quiet little village, but then I remembered that it reminds me of the British soap Emmerdale, and no end of drama takes place in that quiet little village!




I think they sent literally every spare officer they had!






"We think a piece of Banksy art turned up, and none of could decide if it was genuine, and things got a little...ugly..."

"Right..."

"Well, Babs was mouthing off, right? Saying why would Banksy be here? But look at it! Just look at it! It's so obvious!"




Max left Henford with his clues, and went back to the station to process the criminals they already had.




Processing criminals to the soothing sounds of this lady just randomly jamming on the guitar.

"Okay, who let her back here? This is a restricted area!"




Back at home, Taeko is feeling pretty pregnant, and pretty promoted!




Thursday morning, and Max gets a spare five minutes to tend the garden before heading to the office - it's still full of Caleb's plants.






I didn't take many pictures of Max's second day at work, but I did notice some of his more interesting colleagues.

They both look pretty neat, and I want to know more about them!




...Taeko, honey, that better be only one baby in there.

She got a promotion on this day, too. Level 5 - she's now officially in the Musician branch of the career, working as a Jingle Jammer!




Thursday night is spent listening to Taeko play the piano.

A pretty chill evening, to be honest.




It's Friday! The baby is due!

I had Max and Taeko both use their family leave in anticipation of this. Most of their morning was spent just waiting.




Baby Vatore decided to put in an appearance around mid morning.




Ladies and gentlemen, it's a girl - meet Bonnie Vatore!




I aged her to a toddler immediately - it's tradition - and oh my goodness, she's so cute! She rolled the Angelic trait.

And here's where I made another life-changing decision for the family...




Oh, it's raining in summer in Henford-on-Bagley? Who would've guessed!

Anyway, Taeko and Max aren't just visiting...




...They're moving in!

Kirby and Caleb's dinky little cottage got an extension to accommodate them all, and I plonked down some random sim in the Old Salt House to keep it furnished how the Vatores had it.

I had been considering moving Max and Taeko in with another family for a while, and was originally considering Shari - but I don't want to play an active career & Shari's vet clinic in the same household. Besides, this makes more sense.




And I'm not worried about playing Kirby and Caleb twice this season as they're immortal.

"Look, Caleb! We've got a granddaughter! Isn't she beautiful?"

"(sniffs) So beautiful! (sobs) I love her!"




"This seems like a nice place to raise a child."

I agree. No regrets at all!




Bonnie loves her vampire granddad!




At that moment, there were the chimes of Death - which made me panic. But everyone was present and accounted for, so why was Grim drifting slowly through the neighbourhood??




Turns out an elderly fox was dying.

Thanks for giving me a heart attack! This isn't even the last time it happened this rotation!




At least it was a fox and everyone in the household was safe.

I love having them all together <3






It's Saturday morning, the final morning of the rotation!

I had Max and Taeko use the last of their family leave so they could all spend the day together...






Time for a family picnic, even though two members of the household don't really eat!

I'm going to be honest, I was a little disappointed by the picnic basket. I was hoping for something more like the basket in TS3, where they put down a blanket and get food out the basket sitting on the ground. This picnic was less fun.




Thankfully the family had a lot of fun just hanging out in the area, being cute. I took far too many screenshots of their family day.














Even though the picnic was a bust, the day overall was pretty great and I loved watching them all <3




Back home, Taeko spent the afternoon with her piano.

I think she's finally at the level where she can compose songs, which is great because she needs to write a few for her aspiration.




Bonnie passed the time dancing <3 <3




And Max and Caleb were outside cloud gazing - with a rooster on Caleb's chest. If that's not country living, I don't know what is!

And that's where summer ended for the Vatores - and the rest of the Culpepper Pals! A short update, but a sweet one all the same :)




I'm so glad I decided to combine these households <3 and I'm looking forward to visiting in the autumn!

Before we get onto autumn, however, I do have an interlude to post, about Tania's time in Strangerville! :)

See you soon!