Culpepper Pals: Winter 3: Bell

[beanstalk_sims]

Index / Boolprop




Hello! It has been some time! I worked a bunch, and then I went away for a week to visit my brother, and then when I came back I had covid, so that was fun. And then my bluetooth keyboard died. Things are (mostly) back to normal now anyway, and I've started playing Spring 4!! So I really need to turf out some updates before I get too far ahead!

Last time, autumn was a season of birthdays for the family! Brianna kicked things off by becoming a teen, who then gained an interest in yoga, Caroline Ember, and a future outside of Oasis Springs. Shari became an adult mid-week, and celebrated by dancing and a party. She continued her work at the vet clinic, and adopted new cat Mateo. Travis was the third and final birthday, growing into an elder just before Bonfire Night. There was a little mishap at the family’s Bonfire Night gathering, but everyone made it out unscathed. Shadow the cat passed away towards the end of the season, and Shari adopted stray dog Spatula. Shari also felt it was time to leave home – she moved to Brindleton Bay with her three pets.




It's very strange, the size of the Bell household has really slimmed down over the last few rotations! Not many of my households are made up of just two sims.

Anyway, it's winter in Oasis Springs, which naturally calls for a snow sand man.




And because the weather is so mild, Bri can train for cheerleading practise outside!

She just joined the cheerleaders this morning. It seemed like a good choice for her.




After a quick practise, Bri heads out to Thriftea, to meet up with her girlfriend, Caroline Ember.

The two of them had a bit of a falling out last time I played the Ember house, so I kinda wanted to see what the fallout from that might be.




"Isn't this place neat?" Brianna grinned, gazing round the room.

"I guess," Caroline replied, sounding bored, as she pulled her phone from her pocket.




"You're not excited to be somewhere new?" Brianna asked.

"Not really," Caroline shrugged, "Is that a problem?"

"I think..." Brianna took a deep breath.




"I think I want to date someone who is more interested in the world..."

"...Bri, what are you saying?"

"You're my best friend, Caroline, but I don't think we're right for each other. I think we should break up."




"You know what? I think you're right, actually," Caroline smiled, "I think we're meant to just be friends."




Well that whole thing went way smoother than I thought it would! The two of them happily drank bubble tea together and catching up, just as friends would. Not every relationship is a winner, I guess.

I used this opportunity to change Bri's aspiration to a teen one - she has the Drama Llama aspiration at the moment as I wanted her to gain the reward trait (Untroubled).




Brianna heads home for family time. I love getting all of them together! Bri takes it as an opportunity to catch her sisters up on her love life.

"...so we called it off. But we're still best friends!"

I love how they're all smiling. Like Taeko and Tania didn't marry their first boyfriends, and Shari has ever dated anyone ever.




Hardly anyone in this room is actually blood related. They're definitely family though <3




Bonnie Vatore follows Johnny around the house for some reason, it's kinda cute.

Everyone went home shortly afterwards, bringing Sunday to a close.




Monday morning arrives and I decide to head to school with Brianna.




Before lessons start, Brianna spends some time meeting new people.

That's the right thing to do after a break up, right?




Yuki Behr is not impressed by Wolfgang Munch.




Brianna and Caroline split up less than 24 hours ago, and classes haven't started yet today, but Brianna's got a new crush!

This is Cathy. I'm pretty sure the game generated her and I just gave her a makeover.




So naturally Brianna thought hanging out with Cathy after school would be a good idea. At the theme park - which was pretty much deserted - in the snow.

"Smile! This is going right on Social Bunny."




Try not to look so unhappy, Bri, jeez. You're hanging out with your crush, you're supposed to be happy.






That's more like it.




They're not officially dating or anything just yet, but who knows what the future holds!

They're pretty cute together!




Brianna heads home after that.

A successful hang out, I reckon!




Tuesday morning gets off to a rocky start.

Shari's old hedgehog, who stayed here after she left, passed away, and Brianna's woken up with acne. It's hard to tell which thing she's more upset about, to be honest.




Tuesday morning was very uneventful.

School days generally are, it seems.






That afternoon was Career Day however. Yes, I'm aware that sentence made very little sense.

Brianna spent hardly any time looking into the careers, instead she befriended Kaori Nishidake. They clicked so quickly Kaori asked her to be BFFs then and there.

It was quite funny to see Kaori feel so passionately about Bri, because part of the reason she and Marnie broke up all those seasons ago was because of how lukewarm/hot and cold she was.




Oh hey, Caroline.

This isn't awkward at all.




Bri and Cathy hang out that evening, and Cathy decides that actually she wants to be Brianna's BFF. So naturally I accept.

It was pretty crazy to watch how quickly things could change while playing, though I now think that the "be my BFF" thing comes up way WAY too often.




Their first kiss happened right after Cathy asked Bri to be her girlfriend <3




They head out for a quick trip after that.

Back to the theme park.




"Hey, I have a really crazy idea..."






Brianna needed to mess around on the tunnel of love ride for her aspiration, and Cathy was more than happy to help her out with that.




And now she needs to be mean on Social Bunny a few times.




The night ends with Cathy asking Bri to be her prom date. She said yes <3

...even though her YA birthday will happen before prom!




And she still had time to decorate the winterfest tree when she got home!

It was a busy day for Brianna!






Winterfest morning begins with half-hearted cheerleading practise.




"You decorated the whole tree without me, Brianna?"

"I got in really late! I'm sorry!"




Kaori then rocked up out of nowhere to ask if they could be BFFs. I'm assuming I had Bri say yes, I can't actually remember and I didn't write it down.




Kaori hung around to open presents with the family, anyway.

The angry maid in the background! Probably mad she has to work Winterfest.




Cathy soon appears, and man, she is NOT happy that she's no longer Brianna's BFF.

"Who the heck is this girl, Bri? I don't like that you're so close!"




"Cathy, chill, it's no biggie. Kaori and I are BFFs, that's all."

"Is that all?"




"You know what, Cathy? If you're going to be like this I don't think we should keep dating."




Happy Winterfest Cathy :(

"I have Candy Crush on my phone, maybe that'll cheer you up?"




"Brianna, do I need to be worried about you?"

"Nah, Dad, it's all good. Though maybe I don't need a girlfriend for a little while."

"I think that's wise."

Brianna needed to break up with a partner for her aspiration. She probably could have timed it a little better, though.




After a very dramatic morning, some drama-free family time is very much needed.




Bonnie drew pretty much all afternoon.










It was a pretty good afternoon, even if Travis taking himself outside to sit near Adora's grave broke my heart a little <3




Caroline dropped by unannounced in the evening, to ask Bri if she wants to be BFFs again.

Bri said yes, and hopefully that'll be the end of that. It's been a wild few days.




...well, where else are you meant to study?




Thursday morning!

And I was really confused to see everyone dressed the same. I know why it happened now, but when I was playing it was a bit of a surprise.




So! Brianna needs an enemy for her aspiration!

So I had her rudely greet someone she hasn't already met. Rashidah Watson was the unlucky victim.






It escalated quickly.

I love how the teacher is pretending not to see the fight.

"If I don't see it, it's not my problem."




Brianna won the fight, successfully gained an enemy, and completed her aspiration!

She gained the Untroubled trait.




It's exhausting completing your aspiration.






There was some kind of sports thing happening that night, though it was pretty uneventful.




It gave Bri an excuse to put all that cheerleading practise to good use though.




And Caroline was there, looking kind of out of place as the only one in her own clothes.

I guess Caroline isn't a sports fan.




"Did I hear you got into a fight today?"

"Yeah, and I won! It's been a pretty good day, actually."

"...I think I'm happy we broke up, Bri. But I'll always be your best friend."




Who else but a best friend would take part in a cheer demonstration with you?




Friday morning arrives, and with it a birthday!

Bri's teen years are behind her, and I can't wait to see what's next!




Her final trait is Non-Committal - and given the past few days, it's a perfect fit. I genuinely laughed when it came up!

A reminder of Bri's traits:

Brianna Caliente
Zen Guru - Spa Membership
Neat - Outgoing - Non-Committal
Socially Gifted - Untroubled - Responsible - Emotional Control - Good Manners




And before the sun is even up, Bri has upped sticks and relocated to the city.








Brianna - and Travis - now live at 920 Medina Studios in the Arts Quarter of San Myshuno.




First thing that happened post-move? Tori barged in and asked to be besties.

I have no memory of the two of them meeting. I had Bri say no anyway - Caroline is her BFF as far as I'm concerned now!








Brianna then went to the karaoke bar for most of the day, as it was Night on the Town.

She met Dolly and a few other sims.




She stayed for the Spice Festival, although nothing of interest really happened.






Travis, meanwhile, met Vlad.

Other than this, Travis has had a mostly quiet season - Bri definitely stole the limelight.




It's Saturday morning, the final morning of the rotation! I just adore the view from the kitchen.

Today is also a pretty special day for Bri - it's her first gig as an interior designer.




I haven't actually played an interior designer before, so this should be fun.

Plus at the time I was playing this we were watching a decorating show called Changing Rooms every week, so I was very excited to have a go at it in game.






The Spencer-Kim-Lewis family wanted a bedroom redone in purple & boho, which was fine.

I don't have any other shots of it for some reason.






I loved the whole unveiling thing, very Changing Rooms!

They seemed to like what Brianna did. Maybe she can push the boat out a little more with her designs next season.




All in all, a job well done.




And then it was time to go home and throw a New Year's Eve party.














New Years Eve parties are the least interesting ones to watch, because after a while they all just stop and stare at the TV, even though it's long before midnight.

Anyway. That was winter for Travis and Brianna!




Very excited to come back in the spring - to see what Brianna gets up to in both her professional and personal life! They'll be the Caliente family next season as that's Brianna's last name and she's kind of centre of attention now.

See you next time when we join Shari Kibo!!