Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Chapter 5: Your Ass is on Fire


"I can hire a babysitter," Heath says to Marvin over breakfast, "You don't have to spend your Saturday watching Farrell." Much like Ashlynn did when she first moved in, Marvin has been working hard around the house to prove his worthiness to stay or earn his keep.  And it's entirely unnecessary. "You're family, Marvin. Not a servant."

Family. Like all the other kids he knew in the group home, shipped off from house to house, always hoping for a home, the word means more to him than he can say. "I like taking care of Farrell," he answers quietly, not looking up from his waffles, "And, I've asked Brad to come over later, if that's okay?"

"That's fine Marvin," Heath says with a smile, "I look forward to meeting him."


Brad arrives just as Heath is preparing to go out for his day of playing for tips in the park before his gig tonight.


"I wish my dad was that accepting," Brad sighs as he and Marvin are left alone with napping toddler, "You're so lucky."

"Believe me, I  know it," Marvin agrees.


Shasta has accepted that she can't have Marvin, so she tries to find romance elsewhere. Beau Broke has recently broken with Wren Dublin, and Shasta decides he's worth a shot.


Until she discovers the asshole trait that made Wren dump him. Are there any boys in this town who aren't complete jerks? Shasta wonders.


Elliot spends his Saturday in the park with Rochelle Sheffield. Though she's only just started school, Rochelle considers herself the adult in her family while parents continue to goof around and behave like children. Her desire to be grown up and serious all the time can make her a difficult playmate, as she prefers conversation to games, and absolutely refuses to play tag. Still, Elliot is drawn to her company, and forgoes the childish pleasures of the park to talk about school and books and other boring things with her.


Heath has his first gig at a private venue. The money is getting much better as he climbs he way toward stardom.


When Farrell outgrows his crib, it's time to start thinking about another addition to the house, or better yet, a move to a new house.


Despite his status as a headliner and his many wins at the frequent SimFests, Heath still performs his sing-o-gram duties. Because he needs the money to buy the house he has his eyes on.

"Dude, your ass is totally on fire," his client, Coby Sheffield, comments with childish giggle.

Luckily the gym has a shower room where Heath can extinguish the ass fire. The stupid sing-o-gram machine thing, Heath isn't sure what it's called, has been acting up a lot lately, and he decides it's a good time to stock up on shower in a can. Because while most of his sing-o-grams are delivered in the gym where showers are easily accessible, sometimes he's stuck performing out on the sidewalk, which would be a bad place for your ass to catch fire.


Brandi Broke was romancing her husband Skip and thought that a romantic sing-o-gram would help the mood. Not something Heath would choose to do at an intimate moment, but who is he to question the client?


Stupid machine! Why can't they get him one that doesn't try to set his ass on fire for two out of three sing-o-gram gigs?


All the hard work pays off, and Heath is finally able to afford the house next door.


The ground floor has three bedrooms and a bath for the kids, plus a large space to play in. The second floor is an open kitchen/living space with a half bath, and the top floor is Heath's master suite. There's even a small plot for Heath to do a little gardening, a hobby he hasn't been able to indulge in much since he moved to Storybrook.


New furniture, yay!


Undaunted by the assholery she's been encountering in her male schoolmates, Shasta perseveres. With prom coming up, she has no choice. Even though she wouldn't be the only girl to go alone, she is determined not to show up dateless. Brian Lecocq is a freshman, having just started high school, but he's shown absolutely no signs of the asshole trait. Sure, he's clumsy and absent-minded, but at least he's nice.


Shasta's date for the prom is secured.


Heath's heartfelt romantic ballads has garnered him a loyal following of female fans.


Marvin brings Brad out to watch Heath's gig at Doug's Hangout. Wednesday night is a slow night, and there's only one person in the audience besides his son and his date.


"You were at the SimFest the other day," Heath says, recognizing the girl from his earlier shows.

"I go to all your shows," she enthuses.

Heath sees this as an opportunity to sell his CD.


Heath learns that his fan's name is Bianca Carter, and she works as a roadie at the theater, hoping to be a rockstar someday.


She leans in suggestively as she tells him about herself, and, a little frightened to find himself actually attracted to another woman, Heath decides it's time for him to bolt, before something happens that he might regret.


Marvin graduates with honors.


Heath runs into Bianca again at Marvin's graduation. "You aren't graduating today, too?" he asks her, his heart caught somewhere in his throat.

"No, silly," she laughs, "My little sister just graduated. Don't worry, I'm all grown up and perfectly legal."

Heath blushes a deep red. "I need to go," he mumbles.

"Okay," she smiles, "I'll see you tonight."

"Tonight?" he asks, wondering if he had somehow made a date with her.

"At your gig," she giggles, "You're playing at the Little Lennon Cafe tonight right?"

Heath's blush deepens. "Right," he says, "I'll be there."

Bianca giggles again, "Well, I hope so. It won't be much of a show without you."


Before his gig, Heath stops at home to see Marvin off. Marvin got a job at the bistro, hoping to be a chef, and Heath helped him to buy a small house a few blocks away.


"Don't be a stranger," Heath says, giving him a tight hug, "If you ever need anything, never hesitate to ask. This is always your home."


Bianca shows up to his gig that night as promised.


Usually when he sings, he keeps Ashlynn's image in mind, but tonight, he's singing to the girl directly in front of him.


After the show, he has a drink with Bianca. He used to be really good at this, he remembers, vaguely, like it happened in some other lifetime, he had been confident with women, flirting came so easily. No he's just a mess, stumbling over his words, blushing every time she glances him. And he feels guilty, though he has no one to cheat on but a ghost, he feels like every smile, every flirtatious joke he shares with Bianca is a betrayal.

"Look," he says quietly, "I'm not sure I should be doing this." He glances down at his toes, "Maybe you should find someone else."

Bianca lifts his face so he's looking into her eyes, "I'm not trying to rush you into anything, Heath," she says gently, "We're just hanging out. Maybe something will come of it, maybe it won't."


The next day is Shasta's prom. "You look beautiful," Heath tells her, "I wish..." He stops himself before finishing his sentence.


"I know, I wish Mom were here, too," Shasta responds to the words he left unsaid, "It's been hard, growing up without her. If it weren't for you...well, you've been a great Dad. Marvin told me what it was like to be a foster kid, and I know you could have put me there, that you didn't have to keep me..."

"I couldn't let you go like that, you know that."

"I know," Shasta whispers.

"I loved your mother," Heath says, kicking at the floor, "I still love her. But...Shasta, how would you feel if I, you know, if I started seeing someone..."


"Seriously?" Shasta's face lights up, "Nothing would make me happier than to see with someone, Dad. You deserve it."

____________________________________________
Heath is at level 9 of the Singer career. He's got like 6 SimFest awards now. 
Bianca Carter is part of the Carter family that comes with the populated version of Storybrook. As I mentioned before, I'm using the unpopulated version but I did grab a few of the families to move in to the town, as well as using a few of my own families. I did change her hair color between the scene where Heath first mets her to when he runs into her at Marvin's graduation. Because, it was naturally a greenish tinged blonde, and I couldn't deal with it. Maybe she spends too much time in the pool, and chlorine has damaged her hair, lol. So, I gave it good washing to make it a lovely platinum blonde.

29 comments:

  1. Well, at least Bianca doesn't seem like a hooker. I still disapprove of Heath dating a fan. Fans are crazy and it's would be hard for her to see past his fame.

    Marvin grew up very handsome! I hope you plan to keep a bit of him in the storyline. Just BTW, I think his boyfriend looks like Micheal Jackson... just a wee bit. :P

    I love seeing the kids growing up and getting their own partner interests. Shasta's man is quite the cutie!! I hope she has a good time at prom and doesn't get beat up!

    Did you make a Sheffield family, or was it just by coincidence that the game rolled that name for you too? Especially when Heath sang to Coby, I was like... Hey.. that name is familiar. But I guess MY Coby's last name was Christy.

    You are working so fast at this story. I love it though. The way you are making your legacy so much more than just a documentation of what happens in your sims' daily life. And at the end of each chapter you give a little more detail about how everything is progressing. You have such talent for writing Cat! It makes me jealous!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, I forgot to mention, their new house is absolutely stunning!! Did you make it, or was it a premade?

      Delete
    2. Thanks Kate!
      Bianca is a fan, and that is a huge part of her initial attraction to Heath. But he's taking things really slow there (I guess he's learned a few lessons along the way), so they'll be able to get to know each other as people before they move to the next level.
      It's alwys a challenge to keep in touch with the kids when they've moved out on their own, The Sim day is so short, it's hard to make time for family visits. But I will try to keep Marvin in the story, I really like him too. And he is Family Oriented, so it would be in his character to stay close with the family. You are right, Brad does look a bit like Michael Jackson. I was focused on his Steven Tyler lips, but I see the Jackson, too.
      I'm happy Shasta finally found an unattached teen who doesn't have the mean-spirited trait. And he is cute, too, which is a bonus.
      The Sheffield family is Coby and Stina from Stardust. I plopped a bunch of those couples in my town here to see how they'd get on with story progression, and see what kind of kids they'd have. Elliot's friend Rochelle is Coby and Stina's daughter.
      The new house is premade, but I made some changes to it, using CC fencing in place of the base game fencing. And it originally was a one bedroom house with a 3 car garage on the first floor. I took out the garage doors and made the first floor into 3 bedrooms for the kids. I also changed the exterior wallpaper on the ground floor, originally it was all that same wood paneling, top to bottom, inside and out. I changed all the interior wallpapers, too. Because I can only handle so much paneling, lol. Oh, and I also changed the windows to use the one that came with Showtime. So I can have better views of the beach.

      Delete
  2. That greenish tinged blonde is really awful. In fact, I hate a lot of the EA normal colors. I think the only one I ever even use is the black.

    Also, I am so happy that Shasta gave Heath her approval to date and I think it is even sweeter that he asked. You really do have a wonderful founding family.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know, I kept wanting to refer to it as snot green. I have a bunch os blondes, reds and browns I've saved to the presets because I hate EA colors so much.

      I'm really happy Heath went the way he did. With that Commitment Issues trait, he could have gone all Foster Enmity on me (Foster was legacy funder of mine who was an asshole and proud of it, lol), but his wishes haven't really led him that direction. And I'm probably influenced by the fact that he's cloned from Riain, who is just a sweet guy by nature.

      Delete
  3. Wow Heath, you sure have a thing for blondes!

    I'm so glad Brad and Marvin moved out happily, and I'm excited to see the boys getting older.

    I think the gorgeousness of that house goes without saying but I'm saying it anyway. That house is gorgeous and I love it and I want it. O_O

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, it does seem that way. LOL, I didn't really it plan it that way, but so far every woman Heath has been interested in has been blonde.
      I'm really looking forward to seeing how Elliot and Farrell grow up, and how much they look like their mothers or father.

      The original house is available on My Sims Realty, it was made for Storybrook County. And I went on at length in my reply to Kate about what changes I made to it. =P

      Delete
  4. Brian looks a lot like who I assume his mother is.

    Yay award picture. =)

    Do they all look different?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you're assuming Portia is Brian's mom, then yes, and he does look just like her. But he got Bill's hair color, lol. I was hoping they would have more kids so I could see more genetic, but they stopped at just the one. Unlike Justin and Eleanor, who are up to like 6 kids now. @-@ And all of them look vaguely creepy.

      And no, the awards are all identical. Well, for singers, I've never gotten awards for any other kind of performer.

      Delete
  5. Hahahah! You need to post pics of those vaguely creepy kids.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will have to track them all down and take some pics.
      The thing with Eleanor is she has a long face and high forehead, which works for her, but she doesn't necessarily breed well. Though apparently she breeds often.
      And at least one their sons (only one child so far is a girl) has the Eyebrows of Doom.
      Yeah, I really do need take some pics, lol.

      Delete
  6. Marvin is such a cutie. I am happy for him that Heath offered him a home and didn't run him off.
    Shasta is going to Prom already! She was just a little toddler. :( They grow up too fast.
    Heath seems scarred a bit and is very hesitant to want another relationship. His contemplative moments really show the changes he has been through. Very fun to watch the family :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Zhip!
      Marvin is a really cute kid, and he aged up well.
      They do grow up so fast! Pretty soon it will just be Heath and the two boys left in the house. =(
      Heath is a bit scarred and trepidatious about getting involved again. His experiences really has changed him.

      Delete
  7. Marvin grew up to be a cutie. Shasta looked very pretty on her prom night. Glad she found a guy that didn't have the asshole trait LOL.

    Yay he's maybe considering dating again. That's good, he has worked hard to provide for his kids he deserves some happiness for himself.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I swear, they all had the mean-spirited trait in her generation. So, Brian is a little younger, but he's not only cuter than all the other options, he's also nice. Though, absent-minded, lol.
      And I agree, Heath deserves some happiness in love and not be alone forever.

      Delete
  8. So happy Shasta managed to find somebody! She and Marvin have definitely aged up well.

    <3 Coby. I can't say I'm surprised that he and Stina are always goofing off and leaving their kids to their own devices. Poor Rochelle.

    Bianca seems lovely, I hope it works out for her and Heath.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know, it seemed like it took forever to find someone for Shasta.
      Coby and Stina, lol, I was sure they'd break up soner or later, since she has the Commitment Issues. But I always get the SP pop ups telling me how they've been seen holding hands on the pier and how happy they are. LOL, they are OTP even when I'm not controlling them. Rochelle has the Dislikes Children trait, which I can imagine must be hell living with parents like Coby and Stina.

      Delete
  9. Yay, she found a boy without the asshole trait! =)

    I hope Bianca doesn't turn out to be just a star struck fan because Heath's been giving so much time and attention to all those kids, half of whom aren't even his, he deserves some true love from a real woman in return!

    I also concur with others, Marvin turned out to be a really cute guy, I can see why Shasta had a crush on him even if they were step-siblings. Actually, would they even have been step siblings without a marriage in there? Adopted siblings I guess, and that's not 'incest' anyways! Oh well, hope he's happy with Brad!

    I love the new house, very light and airy looking.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree, Heath really does deserve some love and happiness after all he's been through, and how hard he's worked to provide a home for all these kids.

      Shasta and Marvin aren't even step-siblings because Shasta's mom never married Heath, and since they didn't even grow up together, it wouldn't be that sort of creepy non-incest. But he started rolling wishes to flirt with guys as soon as he moved in, and showed no interest in girls, so there it is.

      I am going to be so sad when I have to move the legacy out of this house. But it's not a good legacy house, there's no room for multiple generation. I really love being right on the beach, the views are incredible.

      Delete
  10. Alright. Scratch what I said earlier, seriously.

    /happy silly sigh.

    I hope Heath has found someone to heal the hole in his heart.

    And I was laughing over and over from the title on.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL, yeah, Heath did eventually find love again. The rules still wouldn't let him move her in right away. For the single parent rolls, you have to wait until the youngest child is at least halfway through the teen stage.
      It's hard to do that when you are a hopeless romantic like I am, but it's what I love about this challenge, having to work a story around randomly rolled parameters, and do things different from normal gameplay.

      Delete
  11. Asshole trait. <3

    Heath seems to manage very well with both career and single parenting. Well done! :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had a lot of kids with the asshole trait in that town!
      Heath did turn out to be a really great dad, even though he never meant to be one. At least not, not a single dad while he was so young.

      Delete
  12. Lol, I'm really glad someone figured out how to use the stove. :) Salads must have been pretty boring - especially for kids.

    Good for Heath! He may have finally found someone to love! He sure does deserve it. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Heath tried to be a good Dad, but cooking was never one of his things, lol.
      I was really happy for Heath when he did finally find someone.

      Delete
  13. I'm really glad Shasta gave Heath her blessing. I hope that means he can find love again. I'm also glad she finally found a guy without the asshole trait. Haha.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They all had the asshole trait! Poor Shasta couldn't find a decent guy her age. I was so happy when Brian aged up and she was able to hook up with him.

      Delete
  14. Can't believe all of the kids Heath is looking after by himself!
    I wonder if he will ever fine love :) maybe with Bianca?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Heath was just as surprised to find himself raising 4 kids on his own. He's doing a pretty good job of it, though.

      Hmm, maybe Bianca will be the one for Heath,,,

      Delete