#Dove Lapahie

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Meanwhile, Smoke knows exactly who's in charge around this little ranch.

(If a Friendly horse is up in your business as often as this one is, I never want to have to deal with a Needy horse. >,<)

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Her purchase kicks off the first argument between them.

"Brenna, I know you love gardening, but spending almost half our entire bank account on a single fruit?! What were you thinking?"

Brenna sits her angry girlfriend down, and explains that she was thinking long-term. Yes, this is a big expense today. If they keep that little sprout of a plant sheltered and tended, though? Very soon they'll have a steady bit of income so that neither of them has to take a job they'd hate.

Dove sighs and admits she has a point - she only hopes they make up enough of the simoleons to pay their bills when they come due.

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Like many other Simblrs I have gotten slightly distracted by Horse Ranch. 😅 I made Dove Lapahie (right) immediately after the Gutierrez Family, then added Brenna Dullahan (left) and a dark gray mustang named Smoke for Dove. (Brenna is a Spellcaster; I don't even know why except that I have fun playing them.) They're good friends and hopefully soon to be more than friends, and both becoming good friends with Smoke.

They're fun to play while I figure out the new game mechanics of riding and ranching; I'd like Dove to enter some riding competitions eventually; maybe somewhere down the line the ladies will have a Science Baby together?

I WILL get back to the LZC on my next days off, but Diana's house is A Bit Much to deal with after a full day of work. :/

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Dove finally feels confident enough in her and Smoke's skills to enter a barrel racing competition. So she puts down her §100 and they throw themselves into the beginner competition.

She comes home with a silver medal and §150 more than her entry fee - not bad at all, for their first try!

Brenna makes sure to show her girlfriend how proud she is of her.

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Owning a horse isn't all "mount up and ride into the sunset;" Smoke takes a lot of care. Dove has to muck out his stall, curry him, and clean his hooves before she can put on his tack and ride him.

Once he's all taken care of, she urges him toward the beginner's jump in the back acreage. They've gotten a decent start toward barrel racing, but she'd like to be able to endurance race with him as well.

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As it turns out, Dove didn't fully sleep through Smoke's night-time antics, either. In the morning she makes a point of spoiling and fussing over him - and promising him a long, relaxing ride later.

Reassured, Smoke thoroughly enjoys the rest of the morning.

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Some time later, Brenna wakes to the sounds of splashing and nickering. She thinks a few choice thoughts about whoever designed this cabin and put the horse's watering trough right outside the bedroom window, but Smoke hasn't done this to them before.

His decision to drink - noisily - at this time of night might indicate another problem.

With a sigh, she gets out of bed and pulls on her coat against the night-time chill outdoors.

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(...let's just say it went pretty well. 😁)

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To celebrate, they spend part of the evening at The Oak Barrel on a gold-medal date, and are so focused on flirting with each other that they hardly notice the other people in the crowded bar.

When they get back to their little cabin, Brenna gathers her courage and asks Dove if she'd like to take their relationship to the next level.

Dove seems to like the idea.

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Meanwhile, Dove took Smoke down to the Equestrian Center and entered them in the Western Pleasure event.

They brought home their first gold medal; she hopes to add many more to their prize wall!

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Since Brenna did well with foraging and frog breeding that day, she suggests they go celebrate with a meal out at the Spice Festival. Dove enjoys her taquitos; Brenna's own samosas are just a little too spicy for her untrained palate.

She also gets to introduce Dove to Mischief Sage L. Faba (whose colorful language is due to her failure to finish the plate of challenge curry, not meeting Dove).

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It's not all work and new skills, though. Since Brenna accepted her first tentative flirts willingly, Dove does so more often now.

That evening she not only offers Brenna a flawless red rose, but asks to become official girlfriends.

(Of course Brenna says yes, does she look like a fool to you?!)

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Dove is the better cook of the two, so she handles most of the kitchen duties (though Brenna will pitch in if she's too busy - preferably with fruit or garden salad - and willingly cleans up).

Once the two-legged members of the house have all their needs taken care of, it's time to head outside and work with her Mustang. She and Smoke are very good friends now.

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Dove is a Romantic Sim. Sometimes she doesn't even realize she's flirting... with Brenna, though, it's more "accidentally" on-purpose.

At least until Dove finds out whether her good friend is even the slightest bit interested in trying for more.

Lucky for her, Brenna is interested.